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New Post has been published on https://www.hgabmag.com/how-to-be-the-perfect-sesh-partner-stoner-girl-diary/

How To Be The Perfect Sesh Partner | Stoner Girl Diary

After 10 super stoned episodes Season 2 of Stoner Girl Diary is coming to a close… but not before we go out with a BANG! This Season Finale we rediscover one of our favorite eras, the 70’s, in an action-packed episode where we embark on a search for the perfect sesh partner. So pack a bowl and light it up! We’ll see you back here in November for a wicked Season 3!

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New Post has been published on https://www.hgabmag.com/the-stoner-states-of-america-stoner-girl-diary/

The Stoner States of America | Stoner Girl Diary

It has been a great year for us stoner ladies with just one more episode remaining in Season 2! This time we get excited for the November 2016 elections by taking a closer look at all the states voting for Marijuana Reform this year. We wish you guys the best of luck at the polls! And on this segment of ‘High History’ we discuss Women’s Suffrage and how women got the right to vote almost 100 years ago. Please share our adventures with all your stoner friends and keep on being the coolest people on the planet!

XOXO,

Stoner Girls

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New Post has been published on https://www.hgabmag.com/im-in-a-relationship-but-im-also-single-af/

I'm In a Relationship But I'm Also Single AF

A healthy relationship should always strive on one golden rule: You are together because you choose to be, not because you have to be. You and your partner are still two completely different individuals with totally separate wants, needs, and aspirations. The following list summarizes the main points one should keep in mind in order to have a relationship that feels as liberating as being single and as warm and loving as being committed to the one you love.

You are together but allowed to be apart.

There’s nothing worse than feeling guilty for wanting to do something your significant other doesn’t. If that other person gives you a guilt trip about going off and doing what makes you happy, they are clearly only concerned with their own happiness and not yours.

You each have your own goals.

Being a couple doesn’t mean you have to work towards the same things. You may share similar goals and aspirations, but no two people have the same exact dream. Even if the two of you are artists one of you may dream of being a classical artist like Van Gogh, while the other may see themselves as a guerrilla graffiti artist like Banksy. Either way, it’s important to work on your own happiness, separately, while somehow uniting together to take over the world.

You each have your own group of friends.

The best part of a new relationship is getting to make new friends. You get to surround yourself with your partners’ friends and meet the people that were there for him/her since before you came along. Those people will eventually become your friends too! The second best part of getting into a new relationship, is introducing your new love interest to all of your friends. Aside from the initial awkwardness, you know your friends are happy because you’re happy. Eventually, those once separate groups of friends (your friends and your partner’s friends), will become one giant awesome new circle! This is often one of the best signs of a strong and healthy relationship.

You compliment each other’s separate accomplishments.

There may come a time when you may fall into a deep well of desperation. You may lose your job, have no money, or just feel like you are completely lost in life. It is important that when you are feeling this way, remember to not take it out on your relationship or your partner. It’s okay to feel sad and express how you feel, but it is not okay to act passive aggressive or feel jealousy or hostility towards your partner because things are going well for them. Remember, misery loves company, so try not to fall into that trap.

You encourage each other to be alone.

The biggest mistake most couples make is jumping into a relationship and completely ditching the single lifestyle they used to live. Everyone knows that being single has its perks so why abandon that lifestyle all together? It’s okay to let your partner go out with his or her friends while you stay in and order takeout and binge-watch your favorite show. Trust me, you both deserve it!

You both know that you are thinking about each other even when it’s not expressed.

It is normal to miss you partner when you are apart. It’s hard to go from sharing every waking thought with them, to all of a sudden not being able to crack those inside jokes with each other. But even when you are physically apart, people in healthy relationships should always know that the other person is thinking about them, and you don’t have to text each other incessantly or call every 5 seconds to prove that.

Your time apart only confirms that you are meant to be together.

When you go off on a trip without your significant other every single person that tries to make a move on you only makes you miss your “bae” even more. They don’t laugh as cute as your partner does, they’re not as funny as your partner is, and they just don’t get you like your partner does!

Your friends invite both of you out because they know you are still fun to be around even as a couple.

There’s nothing worse than having a significant other that your friends can’t stand to be around. Whether it’s because your friends think your partner sucks or simply because they say you act different when you are around them, this is a tell-tale sign that there is something majorly wrong in your relationship.

Your friends don’t consider you a “normal” couple.

When you and your single friends get together they tend to make silly assumptions about couples like: “Don’t they get sick of each other?” or “Don’t they wonder what it’s like to sleep with someone else for a change?” But somehow you and your partner are always the exception to the rule. Your friends always seem to turn around and say “But not you guys of course! You guys aren’t a ‘normal’ couple.”

People assume you are going to spend the rest of your lives together even when you don’t.

Sometimes when you have something so wonderful and awesome, you don’t go around flaunting it for the fear of messing it up or jinxing it. But others see what you and your partner have and they know you will be together forever, even when you don’t want to admit it yourself.

You laugh when other people swear you’re single.

You and your partner have such an amazing relationship, it reflects in every aspect of your life. You guys make each other better people and because of that you tend to act so happy-go-lucky that people just assume that you are single. You giggle to yourself because you know the secret. The key is to act single while still being in a devoted relationship!

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New Post has been published on https://www.hgabmag.com/waiting-while-waiting-tables/

Waiting While Waiting Tables

Ever seen the movie waiting? Its a Rob McKittrick movie starring Ryan Renolds that tries to explain the common waiter through comedy . Even though the movie may exaggerate or not do a good job at realistically breaking down a servers daily struggles I think everyone should watch it, maybe then some sympathy for your waiters will be expressed.

I recently met a few friends out for a couple of drinks in celebration of someones birthday. You can imagine the scene at this restaurant. 9 plus guests at a table; young and thirsty. (If you are a server and get this kind of party at your section chances are you’ve judged us from the moment we walked in and you’re probably not so enthusiastic about waiting on us, you may have even tried to trade us off).

Our server was chill, pretty patient. A little eager to take our order and walk away but having been a server myself I wouldn’t blame her. The drinks took a bit long, but given that it was close to closing hour and she wasn’t the one making the drinks I wouldn’t take it out on her. Overall, I’d say her service was fair and at least deserving of the minimum 15% tip.

I was so disappointed when in search for my tab I opened someone else’s and saw they left $1.06 on a bill that was almost $30.00. Inevitably I couldn’t help being angered by this.

It’s just not cool.

Some will defend this person by saying tipping is “optional”. Wrong! Its pretty much a silent rule. If you go out to a restaurant, not a fast food joint, you must go with an idea of the extra money you will have to spend on gratuity. If you don’t have that kind of money to pay for service you’re in luck! Fast food Drive Thrus are at every corner nowadays.

Truth is, if you didn’t know, servers aren’t actually that happy to be tending you for $5.00 an hour (before tax). They don’t appreciate working late nights and giving up their weekends. Leaving work smelling like you worked in the fryer is not their choice of scent. Putting up with your yelling and complaints when they did not make the food is not worth your $1 or $2 tip. Having to give a portion of the money you earned to break off bus boys, bartenders and the house is fair but never fun for your end of shift profit. Not to mention credit card machines take a percentage of all card tips (tip your servers in cash, they’ll appreciate it).

Personally, I believe everyone should be certified to be allowed to dine in at restaurants by taking a course in “restaurant dining”, where they will be able to hands on experience the job of a waiter for a day to better understand the importance of good restaurant etiquette.

Most servers choose serving because of the fast money or flexible hours. Not necessarily for the love of the art, and believe me there’s an art to it (holding two pitchers with one hand and three + cups on another is not easy).

Don’t be a dick and make the shift harder then it has to be. If you’re having a bad day don’t go out to eat, where you may mistakenly take it out on your server.

Support the hustle, appreciate all services you get. You never know if tomorrow you may have to wait tables for a dollar or two.

[hgabmag]

New Post has been published on https://www.hgabmag.com/102-stories-a-messages-to-orlando/

102 Stories: A Messages to Orlando

Exactly one week ago we woke up on Sunday morning with heavy hearts and a mourning soul. Catastrophe had struck and a mindless act of violence brought grief to all those who stood for equality, love, and above all unity. 102 victims were greatly affected the day of the Orlando Massacre and so many more felt sadness, pain, and anger. We have recorded a series of messages collected during a vigil hosted in Miami, a neighboring city to Orlando where many had close friends and family affected by the tragedy. The event featured guest speakers with huge voices in the LGBT+ community, and a beautiful union of people who came together to speak out for those who were lost. The video titled: 102 Stories, contains a stunning recollection of these messages to Orlando.

Special thanks to The Wynwood Yard, Mortar and Pistil, and Prism Music Group for hosting such an inspirational and meaningful event for the community.

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New Post has been published on https://www.hgabmag.com/how-to-bounce-back-from-a-breakup/

How to Bounce Back from a Breakup

Breakups? We’ve all been there, whether it was mutual or brought on by you or your partner, a breakup can leave you in a lengthy funk if you don’t try to find ways to bounce back from it. Sure there are relationships that end and make you want to jump for joy and make your friends want to throw a party in honor of you being back in the scene, but there are some relationships which don’t work out for natural reasons and end up leaving you without a partner in crime.

Regardless of how a relationship ends, there is one common denominator; boredom. After sharing basically everyday with another human being there is always an inexplicable void which leaves way too much wiggle room for nostalgia and loneliness. You may happen to be someone who was so consumed by a relationship that you basically fell off the face of the planet far, far away from friends. Or even someone whose social life fell into the abyss of non-existence then these next 5 tips are for you!

Tip 1: Make your friends aware of your new relationship status

In the of endless social media channels, more and more people are opting to be more private when it comes to big life events. This may very well mean that some people never even knew you were in a relationship in the first place because you simply chose not to broadcast it to the world via a Facebook status. This being said, friends you lost touch with may have no idea that you’re in a funk or that you’re itching to find some new form of contact with the outside world. Pick three people you enjoy spending time with and get in contact with them and make an effort to grab a coffee to catch up. Making friends aware of a breakup can help you secure some invites to check out a new local hotspot and relieve the anxiety of having to get out there on your own. You may even get introduced to some great new people which will automatically be vetted by friends you already trust!

Tip 2 : Use some of the most popular resources online to meet new people

So maybe you’re fresh on the single train and not necessarily looking to meet potential love interests or even casual hookups. You’ve heard horror stories about being on Tinder and Bumble but what about considering using these apps purely to meet new people? The beauty of the multitude of apps there are for dating is that they can also serve a dual purpose; to flat out make new friends. With a new classification, Bumble has a BFF section which allows for all the thrills of swiping left or right without the pressure of having to make an insane first impression. Sites like meetup.com classify different interests and let you find groups that put together outings which are filled with people who share your immediate interests or can help you discover and indulge in some new ones.  

Tip 3: Volunteer

Remember those seemingly annoying requirements you needed fulfill in order to graduate high school? Meeting a certain number of volunteer hours was one of the most tedious and lengthy things I’ve ever had to do. It seemed like torture; considering I would rather watch paint dry in the comfort of my own childhood bedroom, while being emo and trying to deal with teen angst. Getting older makes you realize being in the service of others isn’t such a dreadful thing after all. With hundreds of nonprofits and amazing organizations that are in need of as many helping hands as possible, you may end up discovering a new passion all while feeling useful and fulfilled.

Tip 4: Take a solo pilgrimage to find yourself again

Traveling solo may be a daunting thought for many, especially after having taken trips with a significant other. The vulnerability of being alone in a completely different part of the world while being submerged in a completely different culture can provide an unprecedented sense of awareness and comfort.  If taking a long trip outside of the country is not a possibility, you can always take a road trip.

Tip 5: Engage in mindfulness techniques and put your body in motion

Nowadays it seems like talks about mindfulness are rampant, many seek out to be mindfulness gurus and spiritual gangsters t-shirts seem to proliferate in exponential numbers. Although following certain fads may not be ideal, the practice of being mindful seems to be a fad that most would benefit from following a break up. Engaging in a simple ten minute meditation daily can help you slowly ease your mind and stop negative thoughts surrounding your recent breakup. There are countless guided meditations online, as well as apps like Headspace which can help decipher your mood and with the aid of headphones clear your mind. However, if you’re not quite ready to reach inside of your mind and heart just yet, then you can engage in some good old fashioned physical activity. Just a half hour of cardio via a spinning class or some weight lifting can help release endorphins which will help lift your mood. You may even make some new buddies while you’re at it.

All these tips can help you get you over that initial lonely hump after a breakup. So don’t dig into that gallon of ice cream just yet (unless it’s dairy free) ’cause there’s still hope for you! Challenge yourself to try at least one of the tips on this list and you will find that break-ups can be an opportunity for new adventures!

[hgabmag]

New Post has been published on https://www.hgabmag.com/diy-how-to-clean-your-glass-pipes-stoner-girl-diary/

DIY: How to Clean Your Glass Pipes | Stoner Girl Diary

Dear Diary,

Today we decided to take the show on the road. We realized it had been a while since we had cleaned our favorite steam-roller pipe, so we got together to do a little “spring cleaning” and stepped out of the bedroom. We didn’t have any fancy glass cleaner so we decided to try out a DIY method that really did the trick! While we were at it, we decided to go back in time and revisit some of our favorite SGD moments. We included our favorite highlights, smoke seshes, and even our favorite ‘Smoke, Marry, Fuck’ rounds! It was great catching up, we’re about to go have a sesh then go play laser-tag, but we’ll be writing back very, very soon! Hope you have a fantastic #WeedWednesday(:

Smoke up!

XOXO,

Stoner Girls

DIY Cleaning Solution:

-Rubbing Alcohol (The highest percentage you have available.)

-Salt

-Ziploc Bags

-Pipe Cleaners/Q-Tips

[hgabmag]

New Post has been published on https://www.hgabmag.com/the-celebrate-me-generation/

The "Celebrate Me" Generation

The inception of social media allowed for a quick transfer of personal information from one person to another on an immeasurable scale. Before details of a persons life were not easy to attain, biographical books, movies or publications were the only way to search for this information. Of course, only those deemed significant enough would have this type of information published about them. Social media allowed for this to happen on the same scale, but with a quicker turn around time. Just a few clicks, some clever lines, and an unlimited platform to post endless times a day. Access to this way of sharing your life is not limited to celebrities, but to everyone, EVERYWHERE. Thanks to the easy nature and accessibility of social media today, we can share every moment of our lives. From the moment we wake up and take that beautiful picture of the first cup of coffee, to the comment of how great the last episode of Game of Thrones was before falling asleep. Celebrities have capitalized on such a huge market, and have captivated all of us with play-by-plays of their days. Today, some of those who have a found a way to capture an audience with this same type of sharing have become as important or even more important than some celebrities found on social media. Thus, creating this culture of celebrating yourself.

Writing this became harder and harder as I began to look into this idea of self celebration, I began to question whether or not this was a bad thing or not. Sharing allows people to express their talents and lives to an audience that otherwise would not be able to witness it. But where do we draw the line? Or do we even want to draw a line? Accomplishments have also taken a huge toll in social media. Before, inventing or discovering something new got you the recognition you deserved. A spotlight for everyone to see. Now, it  only takes a picture of yourself around half naked girls (Dan Balzarian), or a cleverly designed line to achieve success in this media. The fact that social media is structured to have individual profiles means its success is based on how many followers you have on a particular account. In the end everything circles around you. This makes the user switch to a way of sharing that focuses on themselves, and rewards them because the content is so personal that in the end its just a celebration of every part of your life.

Social media extends its reach and capability more and more each day, but we have yet to see how it will impact and shape our future. We’ve become ever more reliant on self expression through our channels, yet we begin to lose focus on reality. As much as social media connects us, it also drives us inward, creating online worlds in which YOU are the only person that matters and the next moment doesn’t exist if it was not published or liked by your circle. This over sharing is creating a content-to-reward system that is making every move we make feel like a worthy shareable moment…in our eyes. But as I finish writing this, I can’t help but think that the point i’m trying to make with this article is based solely on my own self-absorbed self-conduced opinion. So i’ll just go back to posting my carefully picked photos, and elaborate status updates to celebrate my glorious existence. Enjoy!

[hgabmag]

New Post has been published on https://www.hgabmag.com/orlando-shooting-when-a-tragedy-hits-close-to-home/

Orlando Shooting: When a Tragedy Hits Close to Home

Confused by the incessant calling from worried family members this Sunday morning I was shocked to hear that just miles from where I reside in Orlando there had been a huge massacre. One, which later was proclaimed, the largest in number of deaths the United States has ever experienced.

On a typical Saturday night at club Pulse in the Downtown Orlando area a man, who we soon found out was of the Islamic belief, shot and killed 49 people (leaving at least another 53 injured and in critical conditions).

At first only reporting 20 killed to later have found another room holding more bodies.

Though no pictures of the scene have been released for public eyes, witnesses and cops on the case have described the scenario horrific and gory to say the least.

Omar Mateen has been identified as the shooter. Though much speculations as to the motives have been raised, its being speculated that ISIS was the influence after Manteen pledged his allegiance to them via 911 call. It is still unclear, as per news reports, if it was directed and planned by ISIS or just motivated and inspired.

Taking place at a gay night club on “Latin night” in the middle of Ramadan, Mateen has disgustingly made history with one of, if not thee, worst hate crimes we have witnessed.

Social media has been, well, doing what social media does.

Earlier I stumbled across a tweet which made me feel some type of way. Stating how the media has withheld information from the public, failing to mention the two other accomplices of the gunman who apparently have not been caught. Also hearing of a news report where a witness on air via phone call began to inform us of the others involved when he is cut off due to “poor connection”.

None of this information being verified we can only hope the media is not holding anything from us. Understanding, it may just be best for our own peace of mind I would much rather know what situation is at hand clearly.

With the death of Christina Grimmie, voice singer, earlier this weekend as well (no said correlation to Saturday nights incident) it has been a truly saddening weekend here in Orlando.

Many have their ideas as to why we have been experiencing such violence and discrimination but talk can only do so much.

All we can hope is a good leader comes our way to bring us the long over due peace we wish for.. that leader has a lot of work to do.

Our hearts go out to all of the families and friends who have been personally affected by this tragic event and any other terrorism related or hate crimes. Sending you all the strength to cope with this loss.

If interested in helping raise money for these families visit https://www.gofundme.com/2942a444

[hgabmag]

New Post has been published on http://www.hgabmag.com/bongs-are-a-girls-best-friend-stoner-girl-diary/

Bongs are a Girl's Best Friend | Stoner Girl Diary

This episode is the 14th Diary Entry we’ve ever documented. We looked up the meaning behind the number 14, and it turns out this number represents forgetfulness. (Couldn’t help but crack-up a little bit!) So this is us reminding you, not to forget to watch this week’s episode where we receive some special glass gifts in the mail, as well as some really awesome fan mail! Thanks for watching!

-XOXO Stoner Girls

P.S. Don’t forget to participate in the #SGDHandshake Challenge. Just send us a video of you and a friend doing the Stoner Girl Diary Handshake, and enter to win a mystery box curated by Biz and Mari. Learn the handshake at @StonerGirlDiary via Instagram.

Glasswear sponsored by: @SmokeCartelGlass

https://www.smokecartel.com/

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New Post has been published on http://www.hgabmag.com/stoner-survivor-challenge-stoner-girl-diary/

Stoner Survivor Challenge | Stoner Girl Diary

Happy #WeedWednesday to you from ourselves, It’s time to go gather the weed from the shelves.

Mari and Biz will be your hosts for the day, so don’t even worry if you’re fighting with bae.

Grab a lighter, a bong, and some munchies for later, and don’t you forget that super dank eighter.

We love you for watching and we can’t say it enough, remember smoke weed and don’t sweat the small stuff!

-XOXO Stoner Girls

Styled by: @Tagvin https://marketplace.asos.com/boutique… (Use our promo code “Stonergirl” for FREE shipping worldwide!)

Special Thanks to: @Cannasmack

CannaSmack

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New Post has been published on http://www.hgabmag.com/skating-cured-depression/

Skating Cured My Depression

I’ve always considered myself an athletic person but at a certain age I realized the most active thing I would do was burn calories while walking to get a pretzel at the mall. Living in Miami you use a car to get from point A to B, so physical activity is not something that is part of most peoples routines, unless you count the people who are avid gym goers (I’m not one of those people). Now before I begin to talk about how  skating changed my life blah blah blah, I have to back up and start from the beginning. 

I grew up listening to Avril Lavigne’s “Sk8r Boi” so as you can imagine I’ve always wanted to date a skater. Something about that lifestyle always appealed to me, but being from Miami there isn’t much of a skating scene. Eventually I got older and I got into a serious relationship with an artist boy who knew how to skate. In my eyes I had hit the boyfriend jackpot. Needless to say I was in love with him and his carefree lifestyle. He could do no wrong in my eyes and I thought I was set for life. He could teach me how to skate and we would ride into the sunset together like two happy people in love. But I was wrong. I was too blindly in love to realize he was cheating on me. This broke me.

I sunk into a deep depression. Here I was 25 , feeling alone and lost in the world. My quarter life crisis had hit me hard. I didn’t know what to do with myself. So like in most relationships when there is a bad break-up I acquired many things; one of them being his skateboard. At that point several things crossed my mind. I could burn it, break it, or keep it, but as the days went by it just sat in the corner of my room that started to feel like a depressive museum of memories. I had to get out, so I took the board to the streets.

Although any memory of the past was painful, I remembered the tips and tricks my ex had given me and I attempted to skate. It was rough. Every day I would spend hours trying to get the hang of it. I would take some nasty tumbles and some scary falls, but a few scraped knees and purple bruises weren’t going to stop me from getting right back on the board. It was an obsession. I WAS GOING TO SKATE. I eventually got really good and realized I wasn’t hurting anymore. I realized that skating became my distraction from the pain. It helped time pass and in turn taught me so much more. I learned how to be happy by myself and be alone with my thoughts. It was a form of meditation. I remember crying like a baby as I pushed myself on my board for miles and miles on end. People would stare and look at me strange, but it was a way for me to process all of my emotions and forgive my ex for hurting me so bad.

I centered my thoughts on completing this task and future things I wanted to learn. As I look back on it, even falling and getting back up from my board was truly just a metaphor. Life will always knock you down but you just have to get right back up and keep trying. Learning how to skate was my lifesaver .Now every time I find myself troubled or heavy with emotions I go for a skate and clear my mind. It always does the trick. It has been one of my biggest teachers in the past couple of years and highly suggest you give it a try.

[hgabmag]

New Post has been published on http://www.hgabmag.com/11354-2/

5 Ways My Mom Kicked Ass at Teaching me "Dad" Things

Your dad should be your protector, your guide, the man who’d never let you down, never leave you astray in the moments you need him most, the only man who’d never break your heart … your ultimate superhero. Unfortunately, not all of us got to have this “fairly-tale” version of a father and, as I’ve discovered, not many of us had our fathers around at all while growing up and therefore were forced into a single-parent household.

As a young child, watching my father constantly leave for weeks at a time and come back randomly was both confusing and hard for my brother and I. Finally, after many disagreements and unsolved issues, my parents agreed that a divorce was the most suitable solution. From then on, my mother was a single parent – raising two children on her own. One of the toughest battles for anyone to fight. Not only did she do it with a smile on her face, but she made it look easy. Some would say I am unfortunate for not having a present father but I’d say I’m lucky to have a mother who was present enough to perform both parents’ roles. Here are five ways my mother filled the role of a father without even batting an eyelash:

1. She taught me to be strong I have always been a bubbly, happy, perky person. Not much can affect me and not much can bring me down.. but when something does, I take it harshly. Or, I used to. My mother taught me not everything in life is going to turn out as you had hoped. Not everything in life is fair; and when life hits you with a very tough reality, you have to be strong. You have to be proactive and you can’t just sit there and sulk. “When you’re facing hardships, as tough as it may be, always know that YOU are tougher” – she always says. Thanks to this woman, I have tougher skin than an alligator and when I’m going through a rough patch, I put my big girl pants on and deal with it.

2. Family first My mother believes it’s family over everything. This notion is more like a rule of life to her and she has instilled it in both my brother and I. So much so, it sometimes worked against her. There was no reprimanding my brother while I was present and vice-versa. We’d both defend each other to the point we’d somehow both end up grounded but at least we were grounded together. Because of her, I know what’s important and what is real. I love my family more than life itself and I’d do anything to protect them.

3. My first boyfriend I was in 9th grade (yes I was a late bloomer). I had met a boy who whispered sweet nothings into my ear and I instantly fell crazy in love. Puppy love, but love nonetheless. We were inseparable. After a couple of months, I introduced him to my mother and I must say, I have never seen her look so serious before or since then. She took the stance of a lioness protecting her cub. She was intimidating but not in an obvious way. She looked at him directly in the eyes and shook his hand firmly; Letting him know she meant business. Shit, even I was terrified. It demanded instant respect from him and he knew, even if there was no dad around, there didn’t need to be. If he hurt me, it was game over.

4. Driving Oh, my poor mother. After numerous empty parking lots, countless parallel parking spaces and I don’t know how many missed turn signal lights, I finally got the gist of driving. Even though she wasn’t the beast teacher (or I the best student) and constantly thought I was going to kill us both, she managed to survive many driving lessons with me. Granted, we’d usually end up arguing over something stupid but, secretly, I appreciated any time she spared to teach me. Working long hours and taking care of two kids on her own, I was sure that whatever time she made for me could have been spent making money to feed us instead.

5. My first heart break My mother cries like a baby during The Notebook and Titanic. It’s almost confusing to watch such a tough lady break down in tears. Underneath that harsh exterior, there is a hopeless romantic. When I experienced my first heart break, I was a royal mess. I didn’t want to eat, get up, go to school, nothing. I was the typical cliche. My mother, patiently talked me through it. Even though she couldn’t give me a man’s prospective, she gave me an insight to a mature woman’s prospective which was even more helpful. She shared past ex-boyfriend experiences with me to help me shed some light in my juvenile dilemma – and it worked. I had been blaming myself for my shitty ex-boyfriend’s behavior when she helped me realize I had done nothing wrong. Usually, a girl would need her father to reassure her (and then beat the ex’s ass) but my mother, calm and steady – un-broke my teenage heart without a fuss.

Regardless of time, money, exhaustion, etc. this woman managed to always have rent paid, food on the table, get us to school on time, teach us morals and values, support my brother and I in every crazy idea we’ve ever had and show us the world around us to the best of her ability. I could go on, but I’m sure you get the idea. Growing up with “just” one parent is more than enough if you’re lucky enough to have a mother like we did. So, to all the tough mommas out there – you rock! We wouldn’t be here without you.

[hgabmag]

New Post has been published on http://www.hgabmag.com/stoner-stay-classy-lady-stoner-girl-diary/

How to be a Stoner but Stay Classy as a Lady | Stoner Girl Diary

We’ve only just begun as we premiere our second episode of season 2! So snuggle up with your favorite piece and dive right into our newest diary entry, where we discuss tricks of the the stoner girl trade and play a game of trivia while getting really really stoned! Subscribe to our channel so you never have to miss out on any of our smoke seshes or crazy shenanigans. And don’t forget to have a productive week fellow stoners, we’ll see you here every other #weedwednesday with lots more fun!

Peace, Love, and Kittens,

XOXO

[hgabmag]

New Post has been published on http://www.hgabmag.com/11318-2/

How I Almost Died At The Beyonce Concert

It was an ordinary Wednesday, sifting through pointless promotional emails and setting up meetings for potential clients which probably had no real monetary potential. While using up my time in menial tasks in order to keep procrastinating bigger tasks, I managed to distract myself from the fact that I would be missing the one event that kept flooding every single one of my news feeds. The kick-off of Beyonce’s Formation World Tour was happening in 5 hours, just 3.8 miles from my office. 

Being the mega fan that I am, the FOMO that this caused me made it impossible for me to focus on anything short of scouring the libraries of my newly acquired Tidal trial membership. A membership which I was forced to obtain along with hundreds of thousands of others in order to be able to stream Lemonade, Bey’s new visual album.

After what seemed like an eternity of escapism, I received an email that would change it all. In an email with no subject line and one attachment my partner surprised me with two tickets to the one event I had been moping around about all day.

With two hours to showtime I jumped out of my chair in pure excitement and began getting dressed and ready by gathering every single thing I would need to be fully prepared for the show. I charged two iphones (one for SnapChat and one just in case I got that dreaded Cannot Take Photo message and didn’t want to sit there and think about which set of selfies to delete). Next I packed some shades (to shield me from all the inevitable basics), some lip balm to save my chapped lips after screaming for hours and some tissues (because who doesn’t want to cry after staring at Bey’s ass shake for two hours?)

It was now an hour before the show started and I got a text message from my partner saying she would have to miss the opening act because of a mandatory meeting. After getting reassurance that I would not be in the dog house by heading to the concert by myself, I hopped in an Uber and went head first into the black hole which is Miami traffic during rush hour, plus a sold out stadium concert.

After twitching in the back seat of that Uber with the anxiety of wanting to be at the stadium already, I finally made my way toward the multitude of excited fans. Realizing I was pretty hungry I made a pit stop at a pincho (shish kabob) truck, equipped with food and other essentials. I now B-lined toward toward the massive check line. As I took a bite into a pincho I started nibbling at the meat on it and suddenly realized I had literally bitten off more than I could chew. 

Thinking I could break down this massive piece of meat I quickly tried to maneuver it in my mouth in the most inconspicuous way possible. After about 5 seconds I noticed the people behind me turn around and heard a faint squealing sound. Puzzled I then became fully present and realized that I had produced that odd squealing sound! After one second of this realization I went into full panic mode. I was now choking and could not breathe, with one arm in the air and another pounding my chest I saw people staring blankly at me not knowing how to act or how to help.

When those around me were of no help I finally darted toward a security guard who was as useless as the eager Beyonce fans waiting to get inside of the stadium. Finally after about 3 whole minutes of agony and not being able to breathe a frazzled but determined member of event staff came out of nowhere and hit my upper back a few time. Her force was hard enough to get a reaction out of my 5 foot and 11 inch frame in order to dislodge the massive piece of meat out of my trachea.

    After essentially coming back to life this unnamed angel just stared at me and we shared an unspoken moment. One water bottle later I was back into the endless line into the stadium with one more battle story to share and the realization that I had in fact not really eaten anything and was starving again, except now I had a really sore throat.

Yes, I almost died before seeing the first show of the Formation World Tour but if that was purgatory I made it straight into heaven as I finally settled into my seat and was enlightened as Yonce got into Formation.

P.s. If you didn’t help me while I was choking because you were too busy trying to get it on the Snap then I hope you got a lot of views at least. But remember, karma is a bitch named surge pricing and she probably took the majority of your last paycheck as you tried to get out of the stadium after the concert in an Uber, so be grateful you still live at your momma’s house because you still haven’t learned any manners!

[hgabmag]

New Post has been published on http://www.hgabmag.com/11284-2/

Sluts, Whores, Skanks, and Hoes: The Art of Slut-Shaming

On Thursday, April 7th, Jacqueline Burgos organized the first Slut Walk in the local South West Florida area. This movement is popping up all over the country led by women who are tired of the frequent slut-shaming occurring in our society. The movement that was first initiated when a woman in Canada was sexually assaulted and the corresponding officers directed all of their initial questions relating to the case onto the victim herself. They asked her about her outfit choice and her actions on the day of the occurrence indirectly prompting her to take the blame for the assault she was a victim of. This common victim-blaming tactic can be found throughout a countless array of sexual assault cases, and the Slut Walk is an attempt to combat it, by embracing this once degrading word.

The word slut has taken over the (women’s) social world by a storm, actualizing its harmful potential. Enough to, metaphorically speaking, push women back into their gender role box: a box that tells us not only how to act, but how to think, speak, respond and dress. Society reciprocates and reinforces these gendered role boxes. The school and work systems, our family and friends, and social and televised media use repetition, discipline, and even visual occurrences to condition us and make this seem like a normality.

So, back to slut. One of the first times hearing this word I was in middle school, where I was taught that as a young girl, what I wore dictated the way I would be treated. We were told to not show our shoulders or thighs because our skin would entice the boys. Certain schools have even gone as far as banning leggings because they’re too tight!

“Don’t entice the boys.” This reasoning has been used for years and years, and it places the responsibility completely on the woman. In other words, if you dress provocatively you are giving permission for others to treat you with less respect. Not only does this not instill a sense of responsibility to boys and their actions, but it also takes this responsibility completely away from their mindset.

It’s one thing to get turned on, but it’s another thing entirely on how you react towards it. Whether we act on it, and if we do, the manner in which we act on it, is all on us. Your sexual desires are not an excuse to sexually assault another human being, regardless if you’re a man or woman.

Family is another institution that reinforces social norms. I remember entering my beginning stages of being young lady, when my mom begins advising me on my outfit choices and the messages they would send out. For example, if I show my legs, it’s best not to show my shoulders and cleavage, and vice versa. All so I could, essentially, avoid being perceived and treated like a slut. At a very early age it was constantly reinforced that I have the responsibility over the reactions enticed by my outfit choices. I am reminded of these reactions when I wear shorts out in public. I have a big butt and nice big set of thighs. I like them. And clearly so do others, considering all the stares, gestures, cat calls I receive on these occasions.

This became a journey of personal strength and growth to acknowledge and receive these responses without any personal attachment, which is a problem because I’m highly self-aware. Now, in present day, I find myself owning a harmless pair of hoop earrings and a choker necklace. With both accessories, I was informed about the messages they signal to others.

The choker means I liked to get choked, and the hoop earrings say I like to give blow jobs.

At least, according to an elderly regular where I bartend. And you know what I realized? Well what if I like both? What if I like to get choked in bed? What if I like to give men amazing blow jobs? So what? Does that make me less of a person? Does that make you want to treat me differently? If so, then why? Simply because of my sexual preferences that don’t affect you? Or because of how sexually liberated I am? What is it that scares people away from those who are sexually liberated? I mean those are the best people to befriend (and fuck). I mean, isn’t sex better when both people not only want it, but are also so sexually free and liberated? Where they aren’t constrained by what society and media says sex should be and how we should look while having it.

Women are sexy when they are free from these physical guidelines they feel they have to adhere to. Men are sexy when they express a fluidity of emotions, especially intimacy and connection in the bedroom. The sex is better when we are able to just react to the energy in the connection and not react to our perceptions of the situation.

This transnational SlutWalk movement, in my opinion, incorporates the general philosophy of NOT JUDGING. By respecting each person’s differences, and similarities, we are able to find deeper and more beneficial connections in the world we inhabit. Respecting the different ways of expression allows for open communication on both ends of the spectrum, because we aren’t pushed away by confusion and judgment, but instead pulled in by our genuine curiosity and desire for understanding. So that works for both sides of this equation, where any curiosity should be expressed genuinely and respectfully, and responded with the same.

The key is open communication on both ends of the spectrum. We are in this together, my fellow beings. Respect one another.

[hgabmag]

New Post has been published on http://www.hgabmag.com/420-episode-stoner-girl-diary/

The 4/20 Episode | Stoner Girl Diary

The Stoner Girls are back with season 2 of Stoner Girl Diary, and just in time for 4/20 (AKA stoner christmas). We are back this season with double the weed the and double the fun! Stay tuned for our latest episode where we give you the holy weed commandments and play the usual round of smoke, marry, fuck! Hope you enjoy all the latest improvements and see you back every other Wednesday.

Happy Holidaze XOXO