island def jam | Shelley Oto

Life has been good — great and now absolutely flipping amazing. The past couple of months I’ve been dedicated to working my ass off. DEDICATED. I haven’t been inspired to write in awhile, simply because I’ve been to busy “doing” and less interested in “talking” and “writing.” I finally feel like I can take a moment to breathe. I didn’t say a “week off” I said “moment.”

I’m inspired and I’m listening to my intuition with my projects. Three weeks ago I received a call from the Oprah Winfrey Network regarding Unite for Green. I was asked to submit my story. Regardless of the outcome I think that’s pretty flippin cool! Lol. My Unite for Green team members have also started dialogue with some major companies and synergies are being formed for the beginning of the school year solar concert, as well as the programming for the coming year. Amazing companies such as Island Def Jam have signed on to support Unite for Green, alongside additionally forming synergies with the NBA, Whole Foods and AEG.

Life happens and the most challenging part of this entire project is keeping the ball up in the air because dropping it is just not an option. In fact, the challenging part of this entire project is keeping the ball SOARING through the air. It truly didn’t matter how many or what came up in my life — this project has come first. I simply have had to save the tears for later. The work is paying off in ways I can’t describe and ways that I don’t think I’m even aware of at this point. The conversations and phone calls I’ve had surrounding this project has been nothing but blessings after blessings. Everyone has worked soooo hard and the students are some of the most amazing individuals I’ve ever worked with.

Additionally, there have been some CRAZY turn of events and I have a strong feeling there are going to be some MAJOR changes happening in my life very soon. I’ve had a great month! I made my trip to Las Vegas and got to hang with my dance family, the Jabbawockeez and one of my very best friends Fayeboogie :D. It was my first time seeing their show and it almost made me tear up seeing some of their old routines and hearing music from past shows. Mad nostalgia. I’m really proud of them. Post show – we all hooked up and drank and soon found ourselves in a lounge that could’ve acted as a freezer! It was a lot of fun!

A couple of weeks later … I found myself in beautiful New York City. I had the time of my life. I was only there for 36 hours but I got it in! I was trying to be responsible and get lots of sleep for an important meeting i had the next day … but in the 11th hour I decided to roll. I met up with my close friend Crazy Legs and Shah Wonders at a venue called Sutra where Pete Rock was playing. There I also saw a friend Dj Waynski and was completely entertained listening to the sweet sounds of Dj June from NYC. She’s a Japanese female DJ (wooohoo) and she was killin it!

I’ve had more friend in the past month than I’ve had in the last year! I’ve missed a lot of people and it’s felt incredible to get some QT time in. I’m so thankful for the relationships in my life, for my family, the blessings and the direction my career is going/heading. I had roommates for all of 4 days when one of my bestie’s came to town from the bay area. RJ and Dennis! It was nice to have their company and have chance to catch up.

The lessons learned in the past year haven’t all been easy but I suppose they were important lessons that I needed to learn. (maybeeee not alllll of them though.) 🙂 I AM SHOWING UP for everything in my life right now! It’s not a game! Get reach for the Honey Live Soul Series coming in May, the JW rooftop Series anddddd the Unite for Green solar concert! Check out my recap of this last month …. Peace and Love!

Me and Phil 🙂

Fayeboogie, Rainen, Ben and me! Vegas Baby! After the show...

ME and PHI!!!!!! straight fam bamOf course me and my feylaaa!

Fayeboogie, Rainen, Ben and me! Vegas Baby! After the show...

They took my camera and hid it the locker!

OMG this was by far my favorite photo! priceless. HAHAH

Inside the Freezer Lounge. They wouldnt let me bring my camera in but I did it anyways! Who wants to spend time in freezer if you cant capture the experience?