issi-tohbi

[issi-tohbi]

Telework? Office hours? Yes!

Hey blog readers! Just wanted to give a quick update.

This last few weeks have held a lot of new things for me: contracts, cultural consultations, taking calls from my computer, planning an iPad upgrade. Amid all of that I’ve figured I need a more professional way to connect with my audience - and not just for art, either.

Telework is a new app that lets experts, instructors, tutors, etc. do paid video consultations! For freelancers, professionals, and those now working from home due to COVID19, work-from-home apps are much needed. Luckily, Telework has launched a platform to answer that demand. (And you can set your own hours by simply sliding an on-call/away button~)

If you need a digital artist consultation or tutoring for essay writing, English, or other literature needs feel free to reach me at teleworka.com/@issitohbi or if you find that you can benefit from a service like this, you can find out more here.

I hope all of you are staying safe!

[issi-tohbi]

Here’s some of my most recent sketches~ 

I’ll be doing a whopping 66 of these still! Why? Well, my iPad Pro has been slowing down. It works great! Just not for the jobs I’m doing as an artist, especially being that it’s only a 32gb model. I plan to sell it and combine the funds in order to get a 7th Gen iPad with extra space.

In order to keep the funds separate, I’ve made a PayPal pool where people can pay me for their sketch or even just send me a tip because they enjoy my content!

If you’d like a sketch, I’m doing sliding scale right now $3-5 for these above or $6-10 colored! Send me a message here, Instagram, or even Facebook.

[issi-tohbi]

What to Know Before a Psychic Reading

When people think of psychics, their perception is distorted by stereotypical portrayals in the media. People tend to think that the person predicting their future will tell them about specific impending disasters. However, this isn’t always the case and as such, people don’t actually know what to expect during a session with a psychic. Since people don’t know what to expect, they often don’t know how to prepare for a reading either. So, how exactly can one prepare before a session? Here’s what to know before a psychic reading:

Be Open-Minded

Being open-minded is extremely important if you want to have a successful psychic reading. You’re never 100% prepared for what a psychic will tell you, so because of that you should always keep an open mind and be open to suggestions. A psychic will be extremely honest with you, sometimes to the point of brutal honesty. On the other hand, the psychic may also bring up some points that you’ve never even considered before. It’s important that you don’t just simply dismiss what the psychic is telling you and instead think long and hard about it. Try to connect with your psychic and see what they see! Doing this requires an open mind and willingness to accept new suggestions, but can go a long way in improving the quality of your session and reading.

Ensure Credibility

Like anything, there are many fake psychics out there trying to scam you. These phony psychics are simply trying to get your money and will provide no real benefit to you. As a result, you want to be extra careful when preparing for a session with a psychic. Read up on reviews and try to ask around for others’ opinions when looking for a psychic for hire. Also, be on the lookout for common scams, such as asking for more money to reveal a specific detail. Having a session with a psychic should be a calming and eye open experience, not one that is about money and turning the highest profit. If you hear anything bad before your session or start to get bad vibes from your psychic, then you should probably look to take your business somewhere else. (Trust your intuition!)

Prepare Questions

While you should be open-minded about what a psychic may tell you or reveal, you should still have some questions prepared. Obviously you have a reason for wanting to seek out spiritual guidance, so your question will likely pertain to that. Additionally, these questions should not be extremely specific or restrictive. You should ask open-ended questions that can allow the psychic to provide you with the spiritual guidance you need to succeed. (And try not to use detailed questions test your psychic too much. Although you should be wary of fraud and being scammed, testing your psychic with specific questions relating to your life likely won’t get you anywhere and will just ruin the session. As mentioned before, other signs will point to whether the psychic is a fraud or not, not specific questions.)

Prepare Your Body and Mind

When preparing for a psychic reading it is important that your mind and body are prepared. Your mind should be completely cleared and totally focused on getting the most out of your session - if you need to direct your thoughts somewhere specific, they’ll let you know. In addition, you should be calm and relaxed in order to have the best result from your reading. One of the best ways to prepare your mind and body for a psychic reading is to meditate or do yoga before your session. Activities like these can clear your mind and calm your body, allowing you to think clearly and be open-minded. If you go into your session stressed and negative, your psychic will be able to tell and it will reflect in your reading. If you really want to get the most out of your psychic reading then you’ll want to avoid these negative feelings.

Photos by Jen Theodore on Unsplash

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2020 To Read: My reading goals for the year

It’s been a few years since I’ve consistently finished book after book for fun, so this year I wanted to set some specific goals. I’ll be reading one book a month, each month! 

*January: Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer

*February: “All the Real Indians Died Off”: And 20 Other Myths About Native Americans by Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz and Dina Gilio-Whitaker

*March: The Last Pow-Wow by Steven Paul Judd and That Native Thomas

April: This Bridge Called My Back: Writings by Radical Women of Color 4th Ed by Cherríe Moraga and Gloria Anzaldúa

May: Becoming by Michelle Obama

June: Touch My Tears: Tails from the Trail of Tears by Sarah Elisabeth Sawyer

July: Native American DNA: Tribal Belonging and the False Promise of Genetic Science by Kim TallBear

August: Pipestone: My Life in an Indian Boarding School by Adam Fortunate Eagle

September: There There by Tommy Orange

October: Bad Indians: A Tribal Memoir by Deborah A. Miranda

November: Rez Life by David Treuer

December: Turtle Lung Woman’s Granddaughter by Delphine Red Shirt

My bonus is Girls Auto Clinic: Glove Box Guide by Patrice Banks because despite growing up around cars, I’m still pretty ignorant to them and I honestly want to be a ~car girl~ lol They’re fascinating and if I can’t be a commercial pilot I might as well get good around other equipment! (CAU is expensive, I’d have to dorm, and I don’t want to go into debt. Or join the Airforce.) Anyways! I hope you enjoyed my list. What are you planning to read this year?

Asterisks (*) denote books I already own. If you would like to purchase one of the other books on my list (wishlist) or can hook me up with a signed copy, shoot me a message. Give the gift of reading & education this year!

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Seasonal Probiotics for My Sensitive Stomach

A couple years back I discovered probiotic juices were a thing, and figured it would be worth the try. Back then, nearly everything I ate bothered my stomach or would digest faster than it should so the juices really helped to curb that. (Usually. Sometimes I still had trouble.) Because I live in a rural area I’ve seen the costs rise beyond what any specialty juice is worth. Cue Jetson’s probiotic subscription falling into my lap!

I want to explain a little about the gut microbiome and probiotics for my readers that don’t know much or struggle with relating health issues. The gut microbiome refers to the trillions of micro-organisms that live in the intestines - that includes at least 1000 different species of bacteria. When we hear the word “bacteria” we often think it’s something negative, but the truth is that there is a lot of good bacteria our bodies need to be healthy!

Probiotics are made of good bacteria, and we know our gut needs good bacteria. But how do we get what we need, with so many species? Jetson seeks to answer this question with a seasonal probiotic that delivers over 20 strains - fresh. (Fun fact: probiotics decline with exposure to heat and moisture! Store-bought probiotics aren’t stored specially or renewed every month.) While other brands offer the same strains year round, this subscription seeks to diversify with each subscription and rotates each season to maximize diversity.

Jetson already stands out from the other brands with this, but even better is how they customize their product to be most helpful. With the seasonal changes there’s the addition of other things, like Echinasea or Vitamin C! They’re innovative - and obviously! I mean they're bringing advanced probiotics to people who need to repair their control center. (Oh yeah, that’s the gut, not the brain as science has previously stated. Seriously.)

FIT is one of Jetson’s summer probiotics and because Oklahoma basically skipped Fall, I decided to go with that. The main difference between their summer and fall probiotics is Melatonin, which I take already, so this was perfect for me. According to the bottle, FIT reduces bloating and supports normal fat metabolism and healthy immune functions for the season.

I’ve definitely been less worried when I go out to eat because my stomach hasn’t been as upset as before, which is so refreshing. It sucks to pass up on eating out and exploring the mall with family or having to pre-emptively take something to stop digestion. I’ve even eaten some spicy chips...Something I gave up because after 10 years of eating spicy stuff, my stomach just quit. There’s been a few days where I’ve forgotten to take it or eaten something I know is super unhealthy and the response isn’t nearly as bad.

Because of that, my bloating isn’t either! Just last month I was sad because the scale kept staying up there despite my rounds of B12 injections, intermittent fasting, and healthier eating habits. This month I’m seeing the numbers go down little by little with no drastic jump from bloating. This might not be important to you but for someone like me who has body image issues compounding other health issues, it’s a nice feeling. 

True or false: “Jetson makes Americans healthier starting with the gut through a high quality probiotic.” TRUE.

[issi-tohbi]

Quick & Easy Cheesy Bread with Marinara

One thing I hate when searching recipes is finding something that isn’t clear or that has an entire essay to preface it, so I’ll keep this short! When I was younger I was often told to get out of the way when things were being cooked. (Our kitchen was tiny compared to the more open concept of the apartment.) By the time I was invited to watch, I wasn’t interested in learning because my friends or theatre were more important.

That’s not to say I don’t know how to cook, because I know enough basics to get by. However, the fancier stuff still gets me so I’d also say I’m learning! I know this is simple and a non-recipe to most, but there’s probably other people like me out there who don’t know what order to do this or to even use garlic! This is for them ♡

So, there’s a bunch of ways to go about this, and no set ingredient or supply list as such! The main staple is the Pioneer Woman Pasta Sauce: Marinara but feel free to deviate. 

Buy or bake your bread. I prefer Italian style or french loaves for this!

Make your garlic butter. Dice & mash equal amounts of fresh garlic. Brown over a low heat. After adding a small amount of butter to a mini dutch oven, I watch for tiny bubbles and add the garlic. Once it’s cooked to your liking you can turn the heat off and add as much butter as you’ll need to cover the bread you’re using.

Prep the bread. So I don’t know how to explain this, but cut the bread long ways so that you have two half loaves that expose the inside. Spread as much garlic butter as you like!

Add your cheese! I bought Italian style cheese for this, but you can grate fresh of your choice if you prefer. Top the buttered bread with as much cheese as you like. (Within reason, it still needs to melt!)

Bake at 400°F. I don’t have a time for this because everyone likes different levels of crisp, but as long as the cheese is melted it’s ready to eat. Pro-tip: you can add a second layer of cheese and bake again if you want extra crispy.

Serve with cold marinara! Or however you like it, really. I prefer mine cold. 

The Pioneer Woman Pasta Sauce wasn’t my first choice but I was able to get a complimentary full rebate from @influenster​ to try it. (Usually I make homemade sauce.) NOT BAD! I could definitely go for canned sauce if it has a good taste like this. It was simple and classic, with a touch of something I can’t put my finger on. What made it stand out the most was the chunks of tomato and garlic included. The value is great, too, so I’ll probably try all of them and you should too!

[issi-tohbi]

At Home or Salon: Keratin Treatments

 Like most things hair related, I’m not afraid to try things at home or do them myself. I know the common rule is that if you aren’t a professional, you should go to the salon but my dad, mom, and gma all did cosmetology + barbering so I know more than average and I’m comfortable with that! Which brings me to how I ended up doing a keratin treatment at home.

A keratin treatment is a form of Brazilian hair straightening, like the Brazilian blow-out that was ever popular during the days of Jersey Shore (at least in my area lol) This type of straightening is semi-permanent and seals a liquid keratin and preservative to the hair using heat.

My hair goes all the way to my tailbone and I haven’t cut it since my gma died, so frizz makes it look really untamed, unkempt, and in need of a cut. Because I have the length, course strands, and thick hair I figured there’d be no harm in doing a home treatment!

Hint: there wasn’t!

The price difference is pretty large when it comes to salon v. home. At a salon you’ll pay anywhere from $250 to $450 based on things like hair type, length, previous processing, and other factors. And it makes sense: you’re also paying someone for their expertise and time. I used UNIQUE STEP, a new three step set from Nutree Cosmetics, that offers straight hair for 3-4 months. This treatment doesn’t contain formaldehyde and is enriched with thermo-hydrolyzed proteins so it sounded great to me! Not to mention the cost is $59.99* and they have other straightening kits available, so you can find the best one for you.

At first I was excited but when I had the product in hand I realized there wasn’t enough. My hair is 28″ long and pretty thick, so I usually use double to triple the amount provided for full coverage of my hair. The shampoo and conditioner are the perfect size though, at least for 4 uses! Since I grew up watching people get their hair done I knew how to dilute the first step for full coverage, but that meant it wasn’t as strong. I rinsed, air dried in front of a heater, straightened, and then washed my hair. 

The first look I took after straightening it shocked me. My hair has never, ever been that straight and it was the perfect look I was going for! Of course I had to jump on Snapchat to get some cute videos and pics. I knew it probably wouldn’t be as sleek, but I figured it would stay nearly as straight.

Which it didn’t...and that was my fault.

After it was completely dry again you could see some waves but my hair was mostly straight and there wasn’t nearly as much frizz. The week went on nicely and my hair slowly started to go wavy again, so I’m planning to do it again.

I was using my custom shampoo and conditioner, which are also a straightening type, from Formulate. The issue is with my hair length being so excessive for such a small amount of product. Since my hair is so thick it would probably need to be around 20″ or less to work with diluted or small amounts of the product. Since my hair didn’t adjust to my Formulate set, I want to try Unique Step set again in hopes that it’ll bond to my hair properly!

They also point out that previously dyed hair can lighten 0.5-1 level, which mine did. My hair is naturally dark and appears almost black in photos when not treated, but was currently dyed medium brown. I posted a photo from approximately 2 to 3 weeks after the keratin treatment and someone said they liked my red hair, because although it didn’t lighten too much, the red undertones have definitely made an appearance! I’m currently using their shampoo and conditioner twice a week!

Soon after contacting the company about getting Step One singles, I discovered that Nutree Cosmetics DOES offer a larger size of their step one - the salon size of 16.2oz, which is perfect for someone who has hair like mine and plans to re-up at home as well. And, while every salon will vary, there will be some that stock Nutree Cosmetics which means you’re getting salon quality product at home! (You know, since people will say that cosmetologists have access to products we don’t. While this is true, there are many products sold at beauty supply that are just marked up when sold to the public! Like: Redken, Biolage, etc.)

Considering trying this for yourself? Use the code FOLLOWME for 15% off of your order or check out this simple tutorial the company posted so you can see how easy it is for yourself!

*I received this product free to test & review. All opinions are my own, and no links are affiliate links.

[issi-tohbi]

October Means...Shopping for Holidays!

The other day I walked into Walmart with Keenan and the first thing we see is a large sign advertising layaway!

BEHOLD! The holiday season has begun. For me that means saving money and trying to find the best deals...which typically means some Black Friday and Cyber Monday shopping!

Beyond layaway and the various credit cards major stores offer, one of the biggest sale details of the season is Black Friday. My first time taking on the massive crowds was in high school, because I wanted to give Christmas gifts but with no working permit my funds were limited. I quickly figured out “Elbows Up” was a good motto to have, and the next year I expanded my ground and took my uncle along!

Here are some of the most helpful tips and tricks I’ve picked up over the last 7 or so years:

— Narrow down what you want or who you’re shopping for. You don’t have to get it all done in one day as stores will have sales again the following Monday, but potentially through the weekend. If you can narrow your list down to “shopping for fishing gear” and “furniture” you’ll be able to map out specific stores you want based on item or sales.

— Download apps! If you plan ahead of time the mall you’re going to or the specific stores you plan to check out, you can download apps for each of them. Some stores have search functions that tell you the exact aisle of a given item, while others have other deals or coupons right on the front page. This can be helpful for saving time AND money.

— Tag team with friends or family. If you know you’ve got a bunch of Dirty Santa’s and stocking stuffers to fulfill, take a few people along and put each person in charge of a single item. One person gets blankets, spa kits, coffee cups, or wine for everyone and then you divide and conquer the holiday season!

— The internet is your friend for Friday! Check out various sources online. Plenty of magazines and blogs post their tips for Black Friday, as well as display ads for sales. You can even find individual store ads being published here in the next two or so weeks for places like Target and Ulta or brands like Dell.

— Massive amounts of people are inevitable. But it’s easy to get around them if you have a goal in mind. Don’t be afraid to walk up and say “excuse me” to the group of people examining specs for various TVs when you know you want the 55″ Roku flatscreen!

Pro-tip if you have kids to take with you: stores have demos & other cool things! If your kids are old enough to wander the stores and respect stuff that isn’t theirs, cover your GameStop, Walmart, BestBuy, Apple Store, and other tech or gaming purchases. GameStop and Walmart will have console demos with games, and BestBuy & the Apple Store have demos for pretty much everything Complete your Disney Store or Hallmark stop and let the kids pick out an ornament while you shop.

See? Black Friday doesn’t have to be stressful! Notes, store apps, and coordination will make it a breeze even if you’re a first timer!

[issi-tohbi]

Got my Formulate set yesterday! I literally ran up the street when I saw it on my bench, and did my unboxing live because I couldn’t wait to open it lol For those of you who don’t know, Formulate is a custom haircare company that tailors shampoo and conditioner to your hair type and needs. They’ll send you 14oz of each with pumps, and deliver refills on a schedule that works for you.

I’m excited to announce two things: a partnership, and a GIVEAWAY!

For the few years that my hair has been long, I’ve gotten a ton of compliments on how beautiful it is but I always find that it’s hard to manage. The roots are greasy and the bottoms look like a broom no matter if I wash daily or make myself a miserable mess trying to hold off daily washing. It’s unbelievable to me that my hair is worthy of working with such an amazing company! 

As I did my unboxing yesterday I was literally seeing these products in person for the first time, which is how I noticed the Braille on both bottles. Now, I’m not blind nor do I live with someone who is but the fact that this company is catering to any disability at all is something that made me happy. So often those of us with visible and invisible disabilities struggle with the accommodations we need, and the ability to read labels on stuff you own definitely shouldn’t be a struggle. I’m proud to say that I’m a Formulate partner.

Now, what you’re really excited for: free stuff~

It’s simple, just enter here!

The winner will get their own custom 14oz shampoo and 14oz conditioner complete with pumps like mine!

Now I know there’s usually requirements, so if you’re willing to follow me on IG I definitely wouldn’t mind! But this is really just to get more people switching to better personal care that’s eco-friendly so just reblog & share it with your friends! I’ll edit this post with the IG, Twitter, and Facebook shareable links sometime this weekend.

[issi-tohbi]

What Kinds of Entertainers to Hire for Your Wedding

Planning my sister’s wedding has shown me that finding talent for hire that suits your theme, wedding style, and budget can be difficult. Here are some of the best types of entertainers to hire! You might even end up wanting more than one, especially if you have kids attending.

Planning a wedding involves months of making choices for one of the biggest days of your life. Is your wedding entertainment one of the things you can’t figure out? For you, it might not seem like a huge part of the day, but it will matter a lot to your guests. No one wants to go to all the trouble of throwing a wedding just to have everyone be bored to tears during the reception. (If you’re a frequent wedding guest, you’ve probably had this experience in the past lol) Hopefully this can remedy the issue for you!

A Live Band

One of the easiest ways of bringing live entertainment to an event is by getting a band to play. And every wedding needs music! Having a live band play at your wedding can make it more special, because the experience is special to that one night. You might even know friends who have a band, or you can get a band that’s special to you to play. Live music is something that many people have for their wedding, but it feels unique each time.

Wedding DJs

But sometimes live music doesn’t work for everyone - one issue with a band is that they’re limited as to what they can play. You might find that a DJ is much more fitting for your wedding. Any songs you play at your wedding with a band could all end up having the same sound - like acoustic or alternative covers. If you know already that you’ll want to have a wide variety of music playing, skip the band and get a DJ, or have a band play as an addition.

Professional Dancers

The people you invite to your wedding are all people that you care about, but they probably aren’t all great dancers. If you want to sit down for a break, it might be boring to just watch your friends and family dancing. To liven up the dancing at your wedding, consider hiring professional dancers for an event. There are a lot of interesting types of dancers you could get, like acrobats, who can put on a great show for your guests. 

Caricature Artists

Have you decided on party favors yet? There’s pressure for you to give guests something to take home, but there’s a good chance it’ll get thrown away within days or eaten if you do specialty cookies like my uncle did. To give your guests something they’ll want to hang on to, hire a caricature artist to draw your guests! This is something hugely popular at places like Disneyland, Six Flags, and state fairs because it gives people a memorable token to remember their day. Not only is it fun to get your picture drawn, but it’s also amazing to just watch artists at work.

Entertainers for Kids

It’s not uncommon for people to decide against having children at their wedding altogether. For some guests, not being able to bring their children or being unable to find a sitter leads to declining the invite. Sometimes this is taken into consideration, or the couple getting married has kids of their own. Allowing children can make it a more memorable event for families. If you do have little guests at your wedding, they could be the hardest guests to entertain, and the most likely to become unruly. Think about hiring an entertainer, like a puppeteer or face painting, who will keep the kids preoccupied for a little while during the reception!

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When To File Bankruptcy

Bankruptcy is something we typically think of in terms of businesses, but personal bankruptcy happens too. There are many indicators to let you know when it is time to file for bankruptcy. One tool you should use is to keep up with your finances by creating an actual spreadsheet that shows you exactly what your income to debt ratio is. Doing this lets you have a clear picture of what’s going on with your finances and allows you to catch problem areas before they grow into a colossal disaster.

With rising interest rates on credit cards, crushing medical debt, or life-changing events that caused you to fall behind, it’s easy to feel the constant stress involved with owing money. (Seriously, I’m still paying off debt from a year ago because of interest!) Bankruptcy can help you find your way out and also teach you some of the skills needed to manage better your financing moving forward. However, bankruptcy is an expensive and time consuming process that shouldn't be taken lightly. 

Here are a few ways you will know when it is time to file:

You are Juggling Credit Card Debt

If you find that you are short every month on expenses for daily living and are putting these things on a credit card, that’s a red flag that you’re falling into financial trouble. Many people utilize balance transfers to credit cards with lower interest rates or seek help from their bank.

This can be a useful technique if you’re actively paying down your debt. BUT if you’re continuing to run your credit cards up without paying down your total debt, you’ll soon find yourself in hot water. When the promotional period ends, and the interest starts accruing, you may find yourself worse off than before you made the transfer.

You Have Missed Payments

If your interest rates are already skyrocketing due to missed payments, it may be time to consider bankruptcy. Step one - if you believe your debt is manageable - will be to call your creditors and attempt to negotiate a lower interest rate. Fun fact: many creditors have hardship programs. 

These programs significantly reduce your interest rate and give you a more extended period of set payments to pay down your credit card. However, you will not be able to use this card anymore once you begin these programs if you are eligible. (Which could be a problem if you’re relying on credit for daily expenses...)

Your Wages Are Garnished

If you have defaulted on your payments and a creditor has taken you to court and won, the court may order your wages garnished. (This doesn’t just happen for child support!) If you’re already having a hard time paying outstanding debt, wage garnishment will be a crushing blow to your finances. If you know you’re going to be sued by a creditor, it’s better to consult a bankruptcy lawyer so you’re not left with the short end of the stick.

This will help you begin the bankruptcy proceedings so you can stave off the garnishment and begin to rebuild.

Many people try to fight off filing and believe they will be able to work their way out of debt. Filing for bankruptcy is enough to shake anyone to their core. It is an extreme, last resort but can give you a sense of peace and help you begin to rebuild your credit and financial situation. 

[issi-tohbi]

Biggest Differences Between City and Rural Living

There are differing opinions when choosing to live in the city or countryside. Both come up with different advantages, but also drawbacks as well. Some define “city life” as accompanied by dense population, air pollution, water pollution, sound pollution, light pollution, and stressful life. On the other hand “rural life” is viewed as an open space of land that has few homes or other buildings, and not very many people - a rural area has a low population density, that’s true. (But this can be beneficial!)

Living in the city and countryside are very different, but most of the time people from urban areas are dependent on cities for things such as better education and medical facilities. When it comes to weighing out the differences between city and country living experiences, it can be difficult to determine what’s true and what’s merely a humorous stereotype. Since I’ve moved from the City of Angels to a rural area in Oklahoma, I want to walk through some of the differences between city and rural living!

Cost of Living

The cost of buying a home is typically higher in big cities than in rural settings. The Carson, California house I grew up in most recently sold for $532,000 whereas our house in Shawnee, Oklahoma is only slated to be worth $65,000! Both are outside of large neighboring cities - Los Angeles and Oklahoma City. 

If you have your heart set on living in the city but think you can’t afford it, consider looking in a different neighborhood, or in a smaller city altogether. You might be surprised by the affordable prices you can find. For example, the average cost of homes for sale in Boston is climbing while neighboring rural areas are more affordable.

Transportation

If you’re living in a rural setting, there’s typically no way around it: you’ll need a vehicle! There’s no other way to get from place to place, although you’ll see people walking or riding bikes when they don’t have far to travel. Sometimes we have public transportation but it’s not nearly as common as major cities.

Living in a big city, a car might not be necessary. More than likely, you’ll ride a subway, train, bus, or another form of public transportation everywhere you go. Otherwise, you’ll walk. Having a car in a big city can be a major headache, the traffic is crazy, there’s no place to park and it’s often faster to walk than to drive.

Space

Big city homes typically do not offer much space. Of course, there’s an exception to every rule, but this rule is pretty hard and fast. In rural settings, you’ll have enough space for anything you can imagine. City houses are roughly the same size as the houses you’ll find in the rural areas, however, you may be able to find larger houses for more affordable prices, since many country houses are older. Not to mention all the yard space that comes with rural homes. 

Food

Let’s be real, this is one of the most important factors to some people. Living in rural areas, your eating-out options are confined to chain restaurants and maybe a handful of mom-and-pop places, however, most cities are populated with delicious food. Within a mile radius you’re likely to find Mexican food, pizza, Moroccan, American, and Asian restaurants - most likely all within a walking distance of your home.

Pro-tip: a trip to the big cities for date night or a business dinner can be a nice adventure while still allowing you to come home to a quiet setting only found in rural areas~

The debate of whether to live in the suburbs or the city is a never-ending battle. It comes down to your preference and budget, so go with your gut and you’ll make the right choice!

[issi-tohbi]

Here it is: Native Flash 001!

I hope you guy’s like it as much as I do! A couple things first.

If you get anything tattooed, regardless of donation, PLEASE SEND ME A PICTURE! I want to be able to include it here~

Second: you see the handprint? It’s inspired by MMIW and 50% of every donation will be donated to an organization that helps our missing and murdered indigenous women. Tag me in you pic, and add “MMIW” to the donation”

If your tribe’s way to say “settler” wasn’t added to this sheet and you want my typewriter style, I’ll be doing them for $5 so just send me a DM

At this point you might be wondering what I mean by donation. Well, since I’m not a tattooer, all I can do is provide the art. Just as you’d pay and tip the person who inks this on your body, I to would like compensation for my art if anyone is willing!

All forms of digital payment I accept are linked and listed here~

Suggested donation price: $5 for writing, $15+ for colored art, $20+ for “Break Glass for Sweetgrass”

[issi-tohbi]

UNDER CONSTRUCTION

My landing page should be here, yet here’s my blog, so I guess for now my major posts will all be double posted so I can put them here too.

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I finally finished something! This portfolio is comprised of some photography I’ve done since 2014! 

[issi-tohbi]

ENTWINED is HERE!

A year ago I revealed the cover to Jessa Russo’s novel Entwined, the third and final installment of the Ever Trilogy. Although the book was delayed from a Christmas 2017 release to this Valentine’s Day, the wait is well worth it! (Okay, okay, I just started. But I can already tell it’s going to be a good one!

For anyone interested, I’ll be live-tweeting my thoughts and some annotations as I go along. Follow @isitohbi and buckle up.

Without further ado, here’s a little summary and all the links you’ll need to jump right in!

“After years of collecting souls without even a moment’s pause, I’d collected the one soul I swore I’d never harvest. The one soul I’d promised to protect. Against my will and without my permission.” When soul collector Toby James met Ever Van Ruysdael, his second chance at life, his world, and his heart were thrown for a loop. After months of chaos, they’re finally in a good place. 

But fate has other plans for Ever and Toby, and now, both souls are on the line. All’s fair in love and war… when a Reaper comes knocking on your door.

Add it to your Goodreads To Read shelf Read Ever (Book One) ...and then Evade (Book Two) Get a Kindle copy on Amazon

Paperback copies for Ever and Evade are available through Amazon and Jessa; paperback copies for Entwined will be available shortly. If you buy copies from Jessa I’m nearly 98% sure you can have them signed~ (Website)

[issi-tohbi]

8tracks Spotify

she knows about me - roy woods / luving u - 6lack / can’t wait - dvsn / champion (ft travis scott) - nav / banana clip - miguel / changes - h.e.r. / flare guns - quinn xcii / tadow - masego, fkj / many words - droeloe / ocean (ft jacquees) - tk kravitz / easy - mac ayres / love ride - christian french / needs - elhae / the lost boy (ft skizzy mars) - lostboycrow / tonight - kidswaste

I appreciate likes and comments on 8tracks!