Category: New York

The + and – of a new town…

So here are a few of the pros and cons of relocating to a brand new city that we have experienced and are experiencing. Some say we’re crazy and honestly I agree… It just feels so right in our hearts. Erwin McManus said it best, “when we are passionate about God, we can trust our passions”.

(negatives)

We left everything and everyone we knew behind, so we didn’t have a whole lot of people in this town, or at least no immediate family. We had to learn our way around. Find the right place  and area to live in. Trying to plug into a brand new social pipeline, in our case the arts pipeline…music, design, film, etc… Finding jobs! Dang has it been tough! Finding the right schools, daycares, babysitters for our kids. Make friends. Make a life  in this town, from square one again. Finding Good pizza and Latin food. Finding things to do. Find a church we can call home.

(Positives)

Meeting new people, making great friends, meeting new families. It’s a new town. So we get lost very often, but in the process we discover great things in this town. Networking more then ever to collaborate with other artists, film makers/ talent agents, designers, Songwriters and more…Our communication and network tools have improved for both Reina and I. Jobs? it’s been tough, but we’ve had strong leads and opportunities are here, just need to be consistent on knocking doors and refining my resume and bio’s etc… Schools? they’re here and they sound great. One more year and Diego starts pre-k. Babysitters…Still working on that. Our dates consist of bring the boys along…Watching late movies=the boys sleep…we love this town and really wanna stay here and grow super old here…Once the jobs and school kick in, it will feel a little more secure. Good pizza? It’s not Chi town pizza but we’ve become huge fans of Pie in the Sky pizza. Latin food?…maybe we’ll open one…LOL. Church to call him. Check!

Overall the things that seem like negatives turn out to be positives. We’re growing in so many areas of our life. We’re growing closer as a family. We’re appreciating more and more the things that matter. Faith in God providing is our one and only vital sign keeping us alive. It’s an awesome journey that’s been worth it. In no way has it been easy, but it’s paying off in ways we never imagined. At the end of the day, no matter what happens, we’ve grown, we’ve learned, we’ve lived, we’ve taken the chance to pursue our dreams, and we’re diggn it. CONSISTENCY, INTEGRITY, PATIENCE…remedy for success. What may not make sense right now, will soon…Hebrews 11:6

-fuser and the crew”

“GREATNESS isn’t determined by fame,wealth,talent or education but by how much it takes to discourage you. Refuse to give up!”-Rick warren

 

LaUnicaReina…next HGTV star in the making…

Since the first day I met Reina, she’s always been a unique and creative person, marching to the beat of her own drum. Always had a cool way of messing with fashion and design. Reina walks into a room and immediately tells me what she could do to it, to give it more life and more personality. Beyond her creative skill, she has a great heart and a passion for helping people. As we made plans to relocate to Nashville, we also looked for a school where she continue her education. From the first day we discovered Watkins school of art and Design, Reina totally fell in love with the school. It was perfect for what she would be pursuing…Interior Design. I tell her she has what it takes to become the next HGTV design star! The creative passion and vision, the heart for people, she’s hott!, and outstanding personality and endless design ideas…Perfect fit, wouldn’t you say?  We’ve been waiting to hear back from the school to see if she got in or not…It’s been a long few months waiting for that answer. And it finally came today. Reina has been accepted for the Interior Design program starting this fall!!! I am so freakn excited for her!!!  This is the beginning of another new season in her life! A step closer towards her passion….We know it won’t be an easy journey, but we’re sticking together and gonna push through…I look forward in being by her side as she has been by mine through my creative art and musical endeavors! Start telling your friends about LaUnicaReina… She’ll be doing some minor design and decor very soon. So if you have a few rooms, places, and venues that need some life, let her know! Booking now.

It hasn’t been easy starting brand new in a totally different city, but the journey has been amazing so far. We’ve learned to trust God with everything, cause literally it’s all we’ve had. With the support of our family and a few friends we’ve managed to survive financially!  We’ll have some tough days and then BAM! an opportunity opens giving us hope and trust in our dreams once again. We knew what it was gonna take to pursue our dreams, and we’re taking it day by day.  I am looking forward to the great moments and stories here in Nashville with my wife and boys. Whatever happens, we know it is going to be worth it, and God always manages to do something great with the good and bad.  As much as we would love to get totally comfortable, we always leave enough room to let God orchestrate what’s best for us. Thanks for all your prayers and support. We are on a mission to create, art, music, film, community and more, for many to enjoy! So stay tuned… Make sure you visit HER page and congratulate her!!!

-fuser+

 

What? Where? Why? Huh?

It is still a surprise to many! Here is the explanation again…

WHAT? Me, Reina, Diego and Zion now live in East Nashville TN.  In 2007 after working for Univision in the News Production dept, we all packed up, left Chicago and relocated to Homestead Florida and lived there for 2yrs. There, surrounded by the beautiful ocean and endless beaches,I worked as the creative arts and worship director at Life Pointe Church…A really cool church in South Fl.

I recorded my first full length album with my band “the Saturn project” and donated 100% of all the proceeds to an amazing humanitarian project in Cambodia. Buy music, Do good. For every 1,000$ we sold in Cd’s, houses were being built by for families living in the dumps of Cambodia! Fresh water wells built as well…It was an amazing run, with tons of flight miles across the globe, Cool shows and beautiful people I hope to see again.

WHERE? After 2 yrs in Florida, my wife and I decided to take another huge leap. We packed up and moved to Nashville TN to pursue our passions and dreams. It was a rush, it was scary, and it was sad all together. But it was something we knew we had to do at that moment in time. So here are some of our crazy plans as we speak…

WHY? Just to give you a quick FYI, Reina is amazing artist/designer/decorator…She has a super gift with colors, materials, visions, ideas, and people! So…Reina is planning on attending an arts and design school for Interior Design here in Nashville TN, which we are all super excited about! I am currently looking for a job in the TV/Media world…It’s been a process but I know it takes time. In the mean time Reina and I have been working odd jobs to survive and pay our bills.

HUH? I am an artist/singer/songwriter…I write tons, play tons, and can’t stop and probably never will. My task has been to get out into the Nashville music scene share my music…see what the city thinks, network with other musicians, songwriters and artists and collaborate and see where this boat may go. I am still the front-man for the band “the Saturn project” which we hope to work on a 2nd record. In the meantime I have been writing songs for my upcoming Solo EP debut. It’s a scary thought to be on stage alone but I am looking forward to the challenge.

WRITING? yes I write a lot!! Some of it makes it on my blog, and others don’t. From poetry, short stories, screenplays and more. I have been compiling some personal stories with a creative twist and maybe try and put together a small book. We’ll see.

FILMS? Yeah, I have a few ideas that I have been chewing on for a long time. I’ve been working hard to develop these films and find someone who would want to bring them to life…That’s the surface of what’s going on in our Santoyo world…If I share everything, then it will spoil the surprises!  Thanks for Reading…I love when you guys visit me. Until next blog…peace

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