We moved to Nashville in December and  since then we’ve slowly grown to love this city. One of the top things on our list when we arrived to music city was to find a good, authentic, Mexican restaurant. At least to our taste buds, we never found that place. We searched, we researched and nothing caught our eye as the answer to our evening and weekend crave for Mexican food.

My wife and I were born and raised in Chicago which I consider the Mecca of all food. Name the country you feel like dining at and you can find a restaurant that will take you there.  Mexican food is Reina’s favorite food and even though she is Puerto Rican she gives my Momma a run for her cooking in the kitchen. So as you can expect, we went to Mexican restaurants in Chicago all the time. Let me rephrase that. We went to  Mexican joints in Chi town, ALL THE TIME. The best of the best are mom and pop joints with nothing fancy about their place, just amazing home cooked dishes.

Tonight everything has changed for us here in Nashville TN. Tonight we can finally say, OH MY GOODNESS…Amazing freakn tacos, 3 minutes from where we live. I was skeptical at first since we struck out so many times, but hidden in a East Nashville neighborhood was an amazing Mexican taco stop shop!  When I drove up to their parking lot there was no fancy sign, no valet parking, no flapping banners, just a hand written sign saying “MAS TACOS”. It felt like I was driving up to a roadside taqueria in Mexico, in the middle of nowhere.

Until a month ago, MAS TACOS was simply a 1974 Winnebago that drove thru town making tacos for all walks of life in Nashville. The only way to find out where they would be was to follow them on twitter.  Seems like word is getting around like wild fire, as it should be. They are  pretty rad.  So not only do they travel Retro style, they now have an open pit stop HERE! Since then I’ve been following them, waiting for the right moment where my soul longed for a taco and I would make my way to that exclusive part of town that night, to test the waters…That day came this evening. Instead of regular water, I had a fresh watermelon water. I ordered a chicken taco with the works and a pulled pork taco with the works. The sauce on these tacos blew up in your mouth with flavors of Mommas kitchen spices and the kick of spicy heat! Diego enjoyed a corn on the cob that I believe is grilled and slightly toasted. It had a distinct flavor, like nothing I’ve ever had.  It was incredible. My description of the tacos, the food and fresh drinks  do not give them justice. The menu is insanely awesome.

When you walk into Mas Tacos there is nothing glamorous about it, but a totally rustic and trendy place that was creatively restored.  They did a great job of recreating a road side taco stop in Mexico for sure. From the random art work on the walls, old faded wood, a vintage fan, to the un-matching chairs and tables.  If you peek into the kitchen you get a front row view of the chaos going on, with wooden crates full of Coca Colas from Mexico, fresh veggies all around, pots cooking, cooks sweating, your order being written on the paper plate it will be served in. One of the cooks looked like he played basketball for a 1970 team… A  young lady colored in beautiful art happened to sit at the table with my wife and boys to talk about MAS TACOS and how it started. She turned out to be the founder and owner. I never would’ve guessed it. She was super cool.  She is a Tennessee native, a chef who traveled through Latin America, worked in NY kitchens, only to return back home and do what she loves best. Glad you came back!!!

Not only do they make amazing tacos, but what an awesome story. You better believe we are going to be regulars at MAS TACOS. This place is a must!! Follow MAS TACOS and bring your friends. You are gonna dig this joint, I guarantee it.  You’re gonna wish you lived in East Nashville! Tonight’s menu was going to feature Cactus(nopales) with Chorizo. Soon they will be open for authentic breakfasts, including  Chilaquiles! Haven’t had that in a while.  There are a few things I would love to see on that menu and on the path MAS TACOS is going, I know I will see them being served very soon! What else can I say? We found what we’ve been looking for. I am already thinking of what I will have next time we dine in…“MAS TACOS POR FAVOR!!!”

Tell them “fuser’s blog” sent you!

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I share my story and journey very often, through music, poetry, design, photos, conversations, film ideas, food and more. I never get tired of it, cause it’s constantly moving with new chapters and episodes. To be quite honest, it’s because it is all I know. I constantly read blogs, listen to music, watch films and search for all sorts of inspiration.  I wonder if I can ever be as good as them… The answer is no. I can only be me. I am not good with fancy words nor philosophical thoughts. Though, I am constantly impressed by those that pull it off well and are just brilliant by nature in doing so. Some people are just great!

It takes me a bit longer to learn stuff, but once I figure it out I hit the ground running. I’ve tried covering popular songs in the past, but I am just not that great of a musician to pull it off. I enjoy writing but it doesn’t reflect much in my grammar. (need a full time editor) I don’t read music nor can compose a classical piece, but can I start to write you an original melody and song that is  in my head, in  just  a few minutes.  I stay close to what I know, cause it’s my strength. Which I know isn’t always the greatest choice. I have to continue to push myself to grow as an artist. I have to work harder at it!  So I stick to creating from what’s inside and sharing my story. I ride my past,my  present and future story to the max. I find different ways to tell it. Different colors to paint it. Different melodies and words to sing it. It’s the most valuable thing on this God given journey. My story and I want to share it with YOU.

I challenge you to stop trying to find the perfect story outside your own. Stop pretending to be someone you are not.  Stop hiding behind what appears to be perfect when you know it is not. This world can see straight thru us. Tell your story! Keep it real, keep it true.  There is beauty in the imperfections. The impact of your story is far greater then what you think it can be. Your story can change the world. Your story might be the only “Jesus” people will ever hear and see on this earth. Your story is the greatest song ever written.  There is no greater way to fail and to succeed then as who God created…Which is YOU. So be kick ass, be YOU my friends!

How do you share your story?

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What matters most, to you?

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No matter what your career endeavors may be, you need to stay true to YOU! The minute you feel you have to drastically change who you are, what you do and how you live for the big break, you have lost every essence of YOU.  It’s tempting to follow the crowd. It’s tempting to blend in. It’s tempting to steal ideas and succeed with them.  It’s an easy fix and at times it may seem as it is an easy way in, for that big meeting…

I guess some people feel they need to scream to be noticed. Others sneak around the back door to get noticed and all those methods may work… But often times when you stick to your guns, work hard, dedicate yourself to the work you do, continue to be loyal, genuine(even when it hurts), people take notice.  It’s a matter of time before that opportunity will come knock at your door. Now don’t misunderstand me…Times change, methods change, styles change but the core of what you do shouldn’t!

It’s always cool to be asked for creative advise. It’s what I love diving into. I am familiar with it, because I constantly ask for advice. I am a learner. I look for inspiration. I read blogs of regular dudes doing phenomenal things and it inspires me to think! and to dig deep inside my heart and mind. I listen to all types of music, to get inspiration and create the unique song deep inside. I watch films, to inspire me as an actor and filmmaker.

I take pride in people taking my advice and doing something great with it…Even when I don’t get props for it. It’s something I am learning in leadership development and service…It’s not easy to do. By nature we want to be recognized, applauded etc…So it stings when someone uses your idea and smacks their label on it without ever asking you. It all comes down to what you are trying to accomplish and become. Obviously there are tons of ideas that are close to my heart and will remain there until they birth out…Whether it’s a film idea, a song etc… The moments that really crack me up is when someone asks for creative consultation and direction. Once you give your input, they tell you it’s not what they are trying to do…A few months later they used it anyway and possibly built an enterprise with it. I get it! We’ re all trying to be innovators. The next big idea…It’s already there..in YOU.

My point is this. Be successful by being YOU.  It is better to fail as YOU, then to succeed as someone else. Now I know we all carry imperfections and blurry pasts. Max Lucado said it best, ” It’s against God’s nature to remember forgiven sins.” We all have a 2nd chance. Take it, run with it. Block out the critics. Matter of fact, take their words and make them fuel to keep you going. Consistency, Integrity and Patience will get you there. Try it, before you know it they will notice.

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This album cover visualy describes what goes on in my head...

It gets crazy inside my head sometimes. So much I wanna do, so much I love to do, so much I wanna keep doing, and so much I have to say no to. I am just not sure it’s all possible or not. I hate saying no, and maybe that’s a start for me. I am a story teller by nature, it’s in my Santoyo blood.  I love writing stories and memories from my childhood…. I love films. I have a few film ideas that I create per week. Some I write down, others drift off into the sunset on my drive back home. I love writing music, creating melodies and hooks. Sometimes I hear a full orchestra in my head with syncopated percussion and ambient sounds in the background. I love being on stage performing with my band!!! It’s a rush!!! As far as I can remember I always enjoyed the thought of being an actor.  I enjoy the challenge of  becoming a character and bring him to life for the camera.  It’s awesome!I love being in a production environment. There is this urgency in the air to create a masterpiece through shooting, editing and designing…

I am passionate about people. We love being in community, organizing community, leading community anything having to do with passionate people.  I love to talk and talk and talk and talk. I enjoy listening to people talk about their dreams and in return I enjoy encouraging them to share about how those dreams can become a reality. I love talking about Jesus…It’s a deep passion of mine. I am fascinated by his words, his life, his friends, his conversations and his parties. I love to entertain people through food. We’re always inviting strangers over for dinner…It’s just something we love to do…

A piece of my heart is in Cambodia. I’ve been quietly working on a huge arts movement that would impact 3rd world countries… Now do you see my dilemma? Yes I know…Focus on one thing. Focus on one thing. Focus on one thing…It’s easier said then done my friends… Can all this vital parts work together for something I am not seeing?

I was fortunate enough to sit with this totally rad dude who lives in Franklin TN… He’s a cultural architect, an artist, an entrepreneur, a painter, an author, a chef…this dude  rocks!  It was truly  an honor that he would take time to sit down for coffee  and talk with me… I was in desperate need of some creative advice and I sure got it! There has to be a core to my creative chaos and madness. It is all stemming from somewhere. The question is, what is that eye of the storm in my creative passion? How do I narrow it down and corner it! I need order…Big time!!! It’s something I am working on…

What are your thoughts and Insight? Anyone else suffering from Creativechaosthatneedsorder?

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Here is a track WE recorded but it  never quite made the full length album…Check it out below …Let me know your thoughts on it… Like it, hate it, crush it, burn it, just don’t ignore it.

Click right HERE and listen “Home“

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Sometimes pictures portray things that aren’t. They should say “False advertisement”.  Sometimes it seems things are better when you are up closer…Like the famous saying goes, “the grass is greener on the other side”… We all know it’s not…Only in our dreams…and even then it’s cutting it close.

Pirates at Zions 1st Bday

The truth is I, Reina, Diego and Zion don’t have it all together. We love to share our pictures, our adventures, our thoughts, our dreams, our art and our faith. It may seem everything is perfect…but it’s not. It is very far from it. I am not the greatest dad, I try to but I don’t quite get it all yet. Just when I think I have disciplined my boys right, they’ll make a public show, where I get punked…  I am not the ideal husband. I’ve dropped the ball in our marriage plenty of times and messed it all up too. I’ve managed to  scrape by here in a new city doing what I can to keep the lights on. Working odd jobs when inside I feel I am capable of more…Seems like I have an amazing musical  and acting career, but I really don’t. Working at it though… So don’t be fooled by our pictures, videos, blogs etc…It’s not what we are trying to do.

The little Pirates

One thing is for sure. We enjoy doing life and sharing it. We are passionate about art, faith, music and it’s the reason we share it. We are passionate about people. Y O U..It is why we do what we do… No matter what has come our way, we’ve remained happy. No matter how tough things have gotten we have not given up. No matter how much of a rookie Dad I am, I am on a quest to be the best Dad I can be. No matter how much I may have screwed up in the past, my wife loves me and I love her, and we’re in this for the long run… No matter what, we have a blast doing life and sharing it with you! The people! It’s amazing to be who you are and know you are not defined nor judged  by how many times you fall, but how many times you rise above the obstacles.

One thing of the many we don’t know how to do is TO GIVE UP… That is not part of our vocabulary…I love heroic war stories…Not only of actual wars, but war stories of ordinary people facing life and who triumph despite of __________________. I am sure we can all fill that blank. Be encouraged. Rise above the mess, leave it behind and live the greatest life you ever have and share it… That is the whole point…Make a difference in the world you are part of…Don’t be afraid to share what you’ve gone through or may be going thru…It’s a valuable story worth telling. It’s meant for someone out there to hear. I love the saying at our church… “Everyone is welcome, Nobody is perfect, and anything is possible”…I think that’s how it goes…close enough…

hasta luego

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One day my kids will open up this book filled with stories, thoughts, triumphs, failures,prayers, songs, ideas, photographs and sketches. They will sit around the fire place and tell these stories to their kids. It’s the story of our lives. The memories of their fathers, the lessons they learned and the most amazing adventure we had together. I keep this in mind everyday when I wake up and tuck them into bed at night.

What will your book say one day?

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Creating culture begins at home. Every evening, me, Reina and the boys have dinner together. For Reina and myself this is new. It wasn’t common for us to have dinner with our families at one table and all together when we were growing up. I remember when my Mom cooked dinner, everyone ate at different times. Sometimes I ate dinner watching TV, ate dinner outside but it was rare to have everyone together at the table. Unless it was a family gathering or party.  When Reina and I got married, we wanted to start a new culture in our home. One being that we would eat together at one table with our kids.

So every evening  right before dinner, the TV goes off, we all set the table together, Diego prays for our meal and we dig in. We play music while we dine, we laugh and we watch Zion make a mess with his food. It’s amazing. It is something new for us, but normal culture for the boys. One day our boys will grow up with memories of dinner at the table together while the songs of Ruben Blades serenaded us. One day our boys will pass on this new culture to their children and share stories of their childhood.

I look back and remember many things from my childhood. Some are great memories and some are not so great. Regardless of it, it’s part of my past but doesn’t necessarily have to be part of my future. I can sit here and complain about how things could have  or should have been…But instead I choose to create a new culture in my home.  A new foundation. You can do the same. This can be the case for many areas of our lives. Don’t accept things for what they are…You have the power to create a new culture in you and those around you.

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