Feature Friday with Andrew Kutz & Tyler Coldwell

Happy Friday y'all! How has your week been? Doesn't it seem like they're flying by? We can't believe it's already June. Any plans for the weekend? We have a very fun (and last minute) trip planned that we can't wait to tell you about!! 

This week's FF is so cute and relatable for a number of reasons. They argue over what they want to eat (#same), they are big on family (#same) and one of them came out around the age of 20 (also, #same). Wait until you read how they each knew each other were "the one", it's one of those perfect moments you only see in the movies. We're excited to share Andrew & Tyler's story with y'all today. Take a look...

Where are you from? Andrew: born outside Seattle and raised in Newville Pennsylvania Tyler: born and raised north central Ohio

Where do you live? Currently we just moved back to the West Coast to Downtown Los Angeles.

 What’s your Instagram handle? Joint: AKTC0702 Andrew: ABKUTZ Tyler: TJCOLDWELL

Age: Andrew=29 (till July, holding on to my twenties) Tyler= 30 (we don’t discuss it)

Relationship status: Engaged

What is your favorite place you have travelled to and why? Paris, it’s where we got engaged.  Andrew flew into Paris to surprise me and propose outside Sacré-Cœur Basilica (sacred-heart basilica) for 24 hrs before flying back. 

How did you guys meet? Who asked out who? Tyler had decided last minute to go to Vegas for his best friends 30th birthday. Tyler and his friend, Vanessa were leaving a local bar to go to another place to continue the celebration. As Tyler was backing his car out of a spot so Vanessa could get in, she spotted Andrew walking towards her and asked him for a favor, she said her best friend was trying to leave her and he should call him a D-bag. To which Andrew obliged and yelled “hey Tyler, your a deuce.” Tyler being very puzzled looked like who is this guy. Vanessa laughed the whole way to the car and they left. About an hour later they came back and saw Andrew going between groups of friends at the bar. Tylers’  friend spotted me (Andrew) and said hey that’s the guy.  At that point I thought I should actually introduce myself and said “Hi I’m Andrew”.  After some time talking Tyler and his friend decided they were heading home while I was going to join other friends at a club near.  Upon leaving we exchanged numbers and I said I would call him or message him from a hour after I get in.  Well that hour came and when I was walking out to head home I walked to my car which was towed.  Upon letting Tyler who was still up came back with “I can come get you,” I was surprised at how nice and genuine he was and accepted. I put him through the ringer that next 24 hours when I not only introduced him to my parents who were in town for the holiday but also had him join us all for the car at the impound but also tell him that my mom said she wouldn’t mind Tyler calling her mom.  This one night lead to several other crazy events the next few days but have been together ever since. 

How did you know each other were “the one”? Andrew: there were two moments for me that I knew Tyler was the one, the first one that night we met and he offered to pick me up but also that night after meeting his three dogs we also cuddled that night and it’s the first night that I fell asleep on his shoulder in his arms and woke up in that same spot the next moment.  The second is right after we moved from Vegas to DC and were out with friends after getting back from his best friends wedding in the Dominican that I had decided to get the ring from Tiffany’s and when I found the perfect one the look I had on my face and the realization that I was more than happy to say he is going to be my fiancé.  

Tyler: the moment I knew Andrew was the one was when I had to leave on Monday (the weekend we met). I extended my trip and left Monday instead of Sunday. When I got in the car and said goodbye to Andrew and started driving I felt this awful feeling of pain. The further I drove the more it hurt and I wanted nothing more than to turn around and go back to him. I realized then in that moment that I never wanted to live another day without him. Even though I knew I would see him in a few days it was too long. He was the one for me and I was excited to see what our next adventures would be together. 

Any big plans for the future? Where do you see yourselves in 10 years? First we see ourselves married, we are big on family and are looking to foster/adopt.  We are also looking to continue to grow Tyler’s real estate/ development firm here on the west coast while having opening Andrews Coffee/ wine bar.  Ideally we are looking to settle down in Seattle with our own house big enough for the kids but also my larger family to visit and spend more time with us. 

How would you describe your home decor style? Well Andrew’s idea of furniture when we met was two bar stools and a couch and bed ( both of which were inflatable). Meanwhile I came with a fully stocked household with accents like my home was staged for sale. While admittedly almost all of the style is mine (Tyler’s) it’s because I do it for a living. Our perfect home style is a nice transitional farmhouse style as it is our roots but also keeps us in the trendy LA and developer community. We always want the house to be warm and inviting for guests while comfortable for us. 

What is the last show you binged watched? We regularly watch the real housewives of anywhere, but binge watch would be Grace and Frankie. ANDREW would choose Unearthed but I’d rather do my taxes. Lol

How do you guys handle arguments? AND what’s the silliest thing you’ve ever fought over? Typically over dinner and a bottle of wine.....sometimes it takes a few bottles but then we get to a resolution. The silliest argument we ever had was picking out what to eat after a night out. I wanted tacos and Andrew hates Mexican food. Lol

How old were you when you came out and what was your experience like? Tyler- I came out when I was 20 years old. I had met a guy who I found myself attracted too. I had eased into everything first telling my best friend I was bisexual and later my mom suspected and ask me. I told her she was right and all she said is “ now don’t you feel better that is out, I already knew and nothing is going to change as long as your happy.” My Dad on the other hand (divorced parents) threatened to hit me and said I was lucky I caught him in a bad mood. We don’t really have a relationship as see each other every few years. 

Andrew-I didn’t officially tell my family till the February before Tyler and I met in 2016.   For me it was waiting for that moment to feel safe and that it was the right time.  I wasn’t completely out as I had also dated Women prior and for me it was who I felt comfortable with and it didn’t matter if it was a male or female, It’s the personal connection that makes a relationship not the label. 

Have you faced any backlash as a couple since coming out? If so, how do you deal with that? Andrew- Yes- not from our friends and family though but from other guys in the community. Mainly the story of how is this guy the one when I wasn’t and how are you really going to make that work when you can’t make it work with me or even make time for me. 

Tyler- We tune it out. It’s not worth our time and energy as we both have very rewarding lives already and we know what we mean to each other. All of the rest is white noise. 

What is your favorite thing about one another? Tyler- my favorite thing about Andrew is how he is always so supportive and would move heaven and earth to make me happy (including Moving across the country and away from his family for my career). He is my strength when I am weak and my hope when I am beaten. I think the phrase I like best is that he is “the butter to my bread and the breath to my lungs”

Andrew- My favorite thing about Tyler would have to be the amount  of compassion he has and even though he’s the sensitive one he never loses the drive for the things or ones he loves.  He is always there for a family member or friend and regardless of obstacles makes sure that he is there for them or will find a way to be. He compassion is what many see right away and what makes him a true friend and soon to be husband

Feature Friday with Nate Smith

Hey y'all!! Happy Friday!! How has your week been? We've been at the beach the past two days celebrating PJ's birthday as our boy turned 32 yesterday. We're down in Aly's Beach with our friend Shaun Smith who was kind enough to let us stay with him. We're having a blast and can't wait to tell y'all about it!

This week's FF is a bit different than what we normally post, but has such a great story to tell. His bravery and courage (in more ways than one) is inspiring and we think you'll enjoy learning a little more about his story. Take a look below to see what we mean...

Where are you from? The U.K.

Where do you live? Georgia

What's your Instagram handle? nate_smithws

Age: 16

Relationship Status: Single

What is your favorite place you have ever travelled to and why? My favorite place that I have ever gone to is the United Kingdom because that is where I was born and I always like going back and getting to see all of my family.

Who is your favorite artist at the moment? Favorite song? My favorite song at the moment is No Roots by Alice Merton, although my favorite artist at the moment is Old Dominion.

What is your proudest accomplishment? My proudest accomplishment so far in life would have to be when I got accepted for a full ride scholarship to Emory University as a freshman in high school.

Describe your home decor style: My home is still what my parents want it to be since I am in still in high school and live with them. I live in a 4 story house in the city, with a very modern design and almost all glass exterior. The inside decor consists of mainly crisp and rectangular shaped furniture, with some round objects placed throughout the house.

What is something you wish you would've known when you were younger? I wish that when I was younger that it was ok and should not be frowned upon to be gay, I grew up believing that it was a sin and that I must pray to become a child of god, as time went on I realized that I was who I was and wanted to remain who I was. Basically I just wish I had known there is nothing wrong with being gay and that it is ok to reach out for help when you are in a dark place.

How old were you when you came out? What was your experience like? So I actually just came out this about a month ago this year, and I had of course told a couple of my closest friends before this and was pretty sure that my parents knew, but it wasn’t until I started following PJ and Thomas and saw how happy they were, that I decided to come out to everyone. I of course had immediate acceptance from my closest friends and best friend actually cried because she was so happy for me. They were also of course some people who weren’t so accepting and I lost about 25 followers which does not seem like a lot but it really showed me how there are people in this world who may I may not be able to be friends with but it doesn’t mean that I can’t still be nice to them because everyone has a right to their own opinion. My family is a different story though, my sister thinks it is amazing, my mom has accepted it but doesn’t like it, and sad to say my dad does not really talk to me since he found out, although the benefits outweigh the downsides by a long shot. For the first time in my life I truly feel like I can be ME and not worry about what everyone else will think about me and I have never been happier.

You came out while in the military. What was that like? So many people get confused or don’t believe me when I tell them I am currently serving in the US Army National Guard as a Private First Class (PFC). As it is well known when living in the states you must be 18 to serve in the military although an exception was made for me so that I could serve due to my abilities. I was born with an eidetic memory meaning that I only have to see or read something once and remember it forever, this also allowed me to learn 4 languages and excel in much of what I do. About a month ago I decided to go ahead and come out which meant that my Platoon and Company would be soon to find out, which was always a big discourager, but I knew that I couldn’t wait forever. Most of the soldiers were accepting and said that they would see me as no different, just as much of a soldier, and were not going to stop trusting me with their life over who I am attracted to. Some were less accepting and no longer wanted to have me within their company but my company commander simply removed them instead. They weren’t real happy about that. Have to admit that even the accepting were a little uncomfortable showering together with me after that bc we all shower in a group shower together when in the army, but they quickly learned that I was not going to just sit there and stare at them shower, just as I hadn’t before.

What did you learn about yourself in the coming out process? I honestly learned a LOT throughout the coming out process. I learned that I could actually be a very outgoing person when I didn’t think that I could ever be a truly outgoing person. I learned that I didn’t need to be shameful of my body and that if I simply embraced it that life was so much better. Most of all I learned that I was fine the way I am and that if I just allowed people to talk to me that maybe I can find someone to love someday, which I wasn't sure was gonna happen. 

Who is your biggest inspiration and why? So I kinda answered this above and I know that it may not seem like something so simple or someone like Thomas and PJ who I don’t even know could make such an influence, but they really can. I started following PJ and Thomas about a month before I came out and the fact that I could see that they were so happy and that while not everyone was accepting of them that they still lived an amazing life with many friends, and were happy doing what they were doing, really just made me smile. As time went by I started considering the fact that this may be true for me too, and so I started talking to my best friend about the idea of coming out and she jumped at the opportunity to convince me. I spent like an hour with Rita (my best friend) looking at PJ and Thomas’s page and seeing how happy they were, and eventually decided that if there were people who were unwilling to accept me than that was there problem, that they simply weren’t my true friends, and that I should not revolve my life around what everyone else thinks. 

Feature Friday with Anthony Valdez & Austin Stapp

TGIF friends! Doesn't it seem like these weeks are flying by? How is it already almost the end of April? Our friend Ashley from South Carolina is coming to stay with us this weekend for her birthday, which happens to be today! Happy birthday, Ash!!!! We also have something fun planned on Saturday that has to do with old homes in the downtown area that we will talk about next week. What are you up to this weekend?

We are so obsessed with this week's FF's story, y'all. For some reason, it feels familiar to us and really reminds us of our own story. Isn't that weird how that happens sometimes? Of course, it's unique and special because it's their own; with their "love at first bite", little parties they throw, and love of Mofongo (YES), we found it to be such a fun read. We think you will, too. Take a look below...

Where are you from? We were both born and raised in opposite sides of Texas. Both from rural towns, Anthony is from Linn in south Texas, and Austin is from Eldorado in west Texas.

Where do you live? We both live in Austin, Texas now.

What’s your Instagram handle? @ajvaldez and @austinryanstapp

Age: Anthony is 24 and Austin is 23

Relationship status: Dating, coming up on 4 years. 

What is your favorite place you have traveled to and why? In August Anthony surprised Austin for his college graduation with a trip to Puerto Rico. This trip was significant for us in many ways including celebrating our third anniversary together and it was also the first time that we traveled together without friends or family. We instantly fell in love with the culture surrounding the island, everyone on the island embraces differences and celebrates life in such a unique way...not to mention the delicious food (Mofongo – if you don’t know what this is, look it up! You won’t be disappointed). This will forever be a very memorable vacation for us not only for the beautiful destination, but also because of the important milestones in our lives together.

How did you guys meet? Who asked out who? We met at Texas A&M University. Our first date was on August 23, 2014 at Sonic Drive-In. Anthony had a strawberry limeade and Austin had an ocean water. We sat in Austin’s car for a couple of hours and talked all night. After Austin ordered the second round of tater tots, I knew it was love at first bite. We actually consider this day our anniversary since we have been dating ever since and no one officially asked the other. We’ve had many more tots since then.

How did you know each other were “the one”? We have always heard, “when you know, you just know.” And this is definitely true for the two of us. After a few days of knowing each other, (4 to be exact), Anthony had a drink or two and let the words “I love you,” slip out. Of course, these words can either really freak you out, or let you know that you feel the exact same way. Being that drinks were involved, we decided to wait and see if the feelings were still there in the morning.

They were.

Knowing that you have found “the one” is such an incredible feeling, and it comes with loving and growing together through the pains of life. Our lives have had plenty of pains, but we are lucky enough to have be each other’s “ones” to get through it all.

Any big plans for the future? Where do you see yourselves in 10 years? We both love living in Austin, Texas but wouldn’t be opposed to trying out a different state or even country together. We’re both fairly new to the “adult” world and are still figuring it all out. In 10 years, buying a home, marriage and starting a family are all in the plan. But for now adopting a golden retriever may be the best place to start.

How would you describe your home decor style? Mid-Century modern with classic and artisanal touches. We both love design and décor and take pride in our home being a reflection of who we are creatively. Our goal is to always make sure our guests feel at home and comfortable. While we don’t always initially agree on the same style choices, we somehow manage to come to an agreement that we are both pleased with.

What is the last show you binged watched? Schitt’s Creek. If you haven’t seen it, then please change that.

How do you guys handle arguments? We hash it out for a few minutes and both get a little sarcastic THEN we realize how unreasonable the argument may be, and take a moment to breathe and talk it through. We usually sit down and talk about why one of us became upset in the first place and why the other may have made the situation worse. After that, we try to establish things we will both work on in the future to avoid a similar situation. A kiss usually seals the deal.

How old were you when you came out and what was your experience like? Anthony – I was 20 when I came out to most of my friends in college and was 22 when I came out to my parents. I grew up knowing love and support and that hasn’t changed.

Austin – I came out to the majority of my friends and family when I was 19. Both my friends and family have met me with love, understanding, and acceptance. I have been very fortunate.

Have you faced any backlash as a couple since coming out? If so, how do you deal with that? We have both been lucky enough to have a strong support system that loves and accepts us. Though every coming out experience has its trials, in the end we have realized that those who love us are happy to see us be ourselves. In the difficult moments, we remember that we cannot be the best version of ourselves unless we can forgive others, accept ourselves, and work towards acceptance for all. We truly believe that love conquers all.

What is your favorite thing about one another? Anthony – My favorite thing about Austin is his willingness to always make someone smile. He will go out of his way to make sure those around him are happy and have a reason to laugh. I guess you can say he has a pretty contagious smile. When there’s a special occasion or even when I am having a bad day, he’ll do this thing where he’ll throw me a “party” and cooks or bakes, decorate the entire apartment in balloons and streamers and sometimes even a banner and makes everything about me. It’s definitely very silly but it never ceases to make me smile.

Austin – My favorite thing about Anthony (oh goodness how will I ever decide!)…My favorite thing is his compassion for others. He is always willing to go without, give his, or check on someone when he knows they need it most. He is a loyal and fiercely faithful friend, has an electric presence, and a giving heart. He meets strangers and friends with that beautiful smile, lights up the room, and makes everyone feel important. I am very blessed to know and experience him in this regard and so many others.

Feature Friday with Michael Garcia

Happy Friday y'all! How was your week? What do you have planned this weekend? We're continuing our search for a car for Thomas today, and cleaning the rest of the weekend. We may POSSIBLY be going to Atlanta tomorrow for the March for Our Lives, but we have to make sure we get everything done that we need to!

This week's FF discusses dealing with criticism and why it doesn't affect him, his favorite some at the moment (YES Chris Stapleton), and how you can create your own family who love and accept you for you. We loved reading his responses and going through his pictures and we think you will, too. Take a look below...

Where are you from? Denver, Colorado 

Where do you live? I live in Denver Colorado but I will be moving to California in September! Yay! 

What’s your Instagram handle? @__MichaelGarcia 

Age: 21 

Relationship Status: Single. I’m a romantic person and I believe in love and I won’t settle for something that is there to pass the time. I think if a relationship comes I’m not oppose to it but I’m also not looking. I’m focused on my career and building a future for myself. 

What is your favorite place you have ever travelled to and why? New York City because it is such a magical place. The environment and energy is amazing! I remember first going there and it was just a whole new world! There was so many different types of people and everyone was so accepting and happy! 

Who is your favorite artist at the moment? Cardi B is my favorite! I listening to a variety of music, from country to rap! Haha 

Favorite song? Tennessee Whiskey by Chris Stapleton

What is your proudest accomplishment? Proving the haters wrong! The best revenge is success. I would get bullied most of my childhood/teenage years and having those people that said I would never amount to anything see me succeed is the best feeling because I’m able to say you didn’t break me and look how far I have got in life and you’re still stuck in the same place. 

How would you describe your home décor style? Modern very simple. I love white with accent colors! 

What is something you wish you would’ve known when you were younger? I wish I would’ve known that God is Love. I believed for a long time that God didn’t love me because I was gay. Luckily I made friends with one of my best friends now who taught me that God is love and now I know that I can have faith and trust in God and myself! 

What is one thing still left on your bucket list? Going to visit the Eiffel Tower because it’s such a romantic place. Well I heard it was. Lol

How old were you when you came out and what was your experience like? I was 14 years old and it was a pretty traumatic experience. My family wasn’t accepting. It was hard to deal with that at such a young age. 

What did you learn about yourself in the coming out process? I learned to love and take care of myself and you are who you surround yourself with. Although my family wasn’t accepting I learned that I can create my own family. Family isn’t blood but it’s the people who love you for you. 

Have you faced any backlash or criticism since coming out? I have. As I share my story and make it more known I constantly get hate or criticized. But I think there will always be people out there to try and tear you down. I personally don’t let it affect me. In the past it would. I would think to myself why are they saying that? Why did they make up this rumor? Why aren’t they accepting. But I live my life for me no one else. I love myself and I’m proud of who I am. :)  

Who is your biggest inspiration and why? I have two people that inspire me everyday. 

My best friend Olivia. She is super women! She taught me to not only love myself but to love others. She taught me what family really meant and I can never repay her for that.

Also Shane. He has been such an inspiration to me and teaching me to love myself and embrace my story instead of being embarrassed by it.

Feature Friday with Erik Markewich

Happy Friday! How has your week been? We've been adjusting to Thomas going part time and being home more and we gotta say, we're absolutely loving it. Thank you for the well wishes regarding Thomas' wreck. He's doing fine, but his car isn't, so we are looking for a new car as we speak!

We took a couple of months off from Feature Friday but FINALLY we are back with a brand new feature and we are so excited to share it with you. Erik talks about the moment he came out to his parents, what he's learned about himself from coming out, and facing your fears head on. Get to know Erik a little more below...

Where are you from? Brandon Manitoba, Canada

Where do you live? Toronto Ontario, Canada

What’s your Instagram handle? @erikmarkewich

Age: 25

Relationship Status: Single… and slowly coming to terms with it. I wear my heart on my sleeve, so it's sometimes a hard thing to come to terms with.

What is your favorite place you have ever travelled to and why? I started overthinking this way too much, thinking I needed to choose a place like Barcelona, Dubai, or Shanghai (I worked on a cruise ship for 7 months) but then I stopped to think: what is the one place that makes my heart beat like none other? It’s easy. NEW YORK CITY. People ask me why, why do I love it so much? It's not a simple one word answer. I could say it's because of my passion and love for theatre, and yes that has a huge part of it, but something happens to me the minute I step foot into NYC. The passion and love that city has in it is like none other. I have visited many times; for long and short periods, and it's now my favourite place to bring friends and family as I believe it's the one place I can truly be myself. I have always said my heart lives in New York, I am just trying to find a way to go and find it.

Who is your favorite artist at the moment? Favorite song? I am such a late comer, I know, but I was just recently introduced to Troye Sivan and I literally cannot stop listening. So at this moment in time Troye is at the top of my most played on my iTunes list (Beyonce you will always be number 1 in my heart).

Something about Troye's style and his openness in all of his songs is so powerful, especially coming from a young gay man. The acoustic version of “Youth” is my go to on my commute to and from work. I connect so much with the truth behind it and I truly feel it hits ‘love’ directly on the head. As a huge lover of love, I find it refreshing to hear a song that just says it like it is.

What is your proudest accomplishment? I think I would have to say when I got hired for my first professional musical theatre show (which was CATS) at Rainbow Stage in Winnipeg, Mantioba. I started dancing at the age of 9, and as you will read a little farther down, it wasn’t easy for me being a male dancer in such a small city, but I never once thought of quitting. I loved it so much. I loved the dedication of the art form, the energy and adrenaline of being on stage. I felt like I was on top of the world whenever I danced. So to work for so many hours and days, to have it finally pay off to book my first professional show, and that show being CATS, was a huge accomplishment for me. Also to be working in a theatre that I grew up going to as a child, and wishing and wanting one day to be on that stage, was a surreal moment for me. I have now gone on to work in 14 professional shows and my heart still tells me never to give up.

How would you describe your home décor style?  As a musical theatre performer who travels constantly for work, I long for the day that I can finally call a place home. Currently I am subletting and kind of living out of a suitcase here in Toronto, so my home decor style (at the moment) is either my 3 piece luggage set, or whatever is in my storage locker haha. That being said, I daydream about what my place will look like. It will be clean and modern. I am a big fan of midcentury stylings, and I believe every home should have touches of yourself in it, so I will find a way to bring my love for theatre and film into my home with art.

What is something you wish you would’ve known when you were younger? I know that this may be cliche or sound like a broken record, but the thing my younger self needed to hear was “it gets better”. These three words were circulating at the time of my grade 12 year in high school. Just as I was coming out, the ‘It Gets Better’ campaign was also starting. But at that adolescent time, I didn’t believe it. I am a hands-on person, I needed to know for myself that it was going to be okay. So looking back on those younger years and those feelings of doubt, shame, and fear I had, I wish older me could show a quick 30 second video of how great life is going to be in the years to come. Obviously I am young, and have so many amazing things to come, but I am also so very proud at where I stand today. [I think] that 17 year old me would smile through the pain knowing that only good things, and good people, are on there way!

What is one thing still left on your bucket list? This may come to a surprise to my close family and friends, but one thing I have always wanted is a tattoo. The reason why I don't have one yet is because I don't know what I would get. I believe permanently placing something on your body should have a good reason behind it. So, I will wait until that day comes and when something happens or hits me and says, “place me on your body in writing so you can remember this moment always.”

How old were you when you came out and what was your experience like? I was 17 and living in Brandon, Manitoba, which has a population of 50k. Small town prairie vibes and I was a male dancer. They weren't the easiest teenage years for me, but I was not gonna give up my passion of dance just because it was not the normal thing a guy should do. My coming out experience was beautiful though, and still means a lot to me to this day. I had told a few close friends prior to telling my family, but it was the day I told my parents that I believe I faced the fear that comes with coming out, and it couldn't have been a more life changing moment for me. When people ask me how I knew the moment was right, I say that I really didn’t, it came to me out of no where. I picked myself up, wrapped myself in my childhood blanket, and walked downstairs to my parents sitting in the living room and said I needed to tell them something. It was at that moment when I faced them and said the words “I’m gay”. We talked and cried and laughed for about an hour, hearing stories from them about friends they had that were gay, and how much they love me, and want nothing but the best for me. It was because of my parents that being able to say that I am gay became so easy, because I realized that I am surrounded by so many people that love me for ME, and my sexual orientation doesn't matter, as it doesn't change who I am, just who I love.

What did you learn about yourself in the coming out process? Everything. Simple as that. If I didn’t come out as a gay man, strong and proud, I wouldn’t be where I am today. I would be living in fear, back in that closet, wanting and wishing for so much more. I have learned that facing fears can be one of the most rewarding things you can do. It opens so many new doors that you may not have been able to open without looking that fear in the face and concurring it. There are so many people out there that let a fear stand in the way of doing something they’ve always wanted to do, or completely changing their life for the better. I have realized that in order to live and learn, you are going to make mistakes along the way. You are going to be faced with fears and doubts, but facing those fears has truly made me the happiest I have been in my life. I admire those fearless and risk-taking people.

Have you faced any backlash or criticism since coming out? I believe that in some sense, everyone who comes out will face backlash or criticism. For me, I didn’t really face any head-on. I was lucky. I was bullied behind my back in high school, but I had a group of friends that I stuck close with and they helped me through those 4 years. Then after coming out, I moved from small town Brandon, to big city Toronto. It was then I realized I could be whoever I wanted to be. Living in a big city, with so many people living their own lives, being too busy to care about your own, was a huge help for me to truly find myself and be me. Working in the musical theatre industry also allowed me to be with like-minded people, and obviously with more gay people than in any other industry haha. In that business, I am critiqued daily on my eye color, my height, my body type, and so on. I have had to grow a thick skin, so when it comes down to being criticized for being gay, I simply brush it off and keep moving forward. I know that some people don't support me being gay, and that's fine. That is their view. But those people are not a part of my life. The ones that I call friends and family are my true loves, and love me for who I am!

Who is your biggest inspiration and why? My parents. It would be silly for me not to choose them. As I said before, I wouldn’t be where I am today without them. From them driving me to and from dance class, all of my school play rehearsals, the amount of money they put into my training, and dealing with the annoying teenager I must have been. On top of it all, they have been and always will be my biggest fans. They have not missed one performance of mine. They are the ones that always pushed me to keep going, to never give up, and to follow my dreams. So yeah, they are my biggest inspiration. The love they show for their 3 children is beyond words, and the amount they have given to us, I could never thank them enough. It wasn’t until this year and becoming an uncle for the first time, that it showed me what a beautiful thing having a child is. I look forward to the day I have my own child, and I can raise them the way my parents did to me. With the love and support, to the moon and back.

Feature Friday with Ariana Offray & Hannah Glover

Happy Friday! What are you up to this weekend? We will be finishing up this presentation we've been working on nonstop and maybe find some time to work on the rental house, too. It's our last weekend home before we leave on a big trip out of the country. It's our first time traveling out of the US so wish us luck! We are so excited!

This week's FF is SO FUN, y'all. They seem like the most down to earth people that we wished weren't all the way across the country so we could actually hang out with them. Ariana and Hannah's style is unique, seemingly effortless and so California cool. And don't get us started on the look and feel of their Instagram and blog. Swoon. As if that weren't enough, what they have to say about each other is pretty darn sweet as well. Take a look below to see what we mean...

Hannah (left) & Ariana (right)

Where are you from? Ariana was born and raised in Pasadena, California while Hannah was born in Savannah, Georgia but moved around. Hannah spent her childhood primarily in Atlanta, Georgia, and finally settled in San Diego, California when she was around 12 years old. 

Where do you live? We currently live in Pasadena, California and we couldn’t be anymore obsessed with it!

What’s your Instagram handle? Y’all can find us on Instagram @theangelinos_

  Age: Ariana turns 23 on January 30th, and Hannah turned 21 on November 21st. 

Relationship Status: We’re two women in a happy relationship. Although Hannah loves to say that we’re married!

What is your favorite place you have ever traveled to and why? We haven’t had the opportunity to travel much. Honestly, it’s tragic to say the least. Ariana’s favorite place she’s traveled to is New Orleans. Her entire family is from New Orleans, so Ariana grew up with creole culture. New Orleans is like no other place. The food is amazing, the culture is full of life, the architecture is original and it’s diverse. Hannah’s favorite place she’s traveled to so far is New York City. In 2016, Hannah spent New Years there visiting her best friend. It was probably life changing. New York is pretty much the opposite of LA, and she loved the experience of visiting a city like NYC. But, it made her realize all the reasons why she lives in California (like the lack of seasons/snow)! We both love traveling and wish we could go more places. 

How did you guys meet? Who asked out who? We met on Tinder. We need a moment of silence for this one…like, guys… Tinder! Who knew an online dating app would match the two of us so perfectly. After about two weeks of chatting on Tinder, we met in person in May of 2016 and hit it off right away. We just knew it was right. In November of 2016, Hannah asked Ariana to be her girlfriend in her dorm room on the night of the 2016 presidential election. We kind of laugh about it because we won’t ever forget our anniversary date because of the significance of that night. 

How did you know each other was the one? I think we both kind of knew the day we met in person. Something felt different. Ariana knew during our second date. We stayed out talking until 2 AM in Hannah’s car in a random parking lot after seeing Deadpool at the movies. Hannah knew for sure during our third date at a museum, which was also the first time Ariana wore her glasses in front of her. (she was insecure about wearing her glasses for the first two dates)

Any big plans for the future? Where do you see yourself in 10 years? Our goals are so in sync! In 10 years, we see ourselves traveling a lot more, getting married, having children (we hope for a boy and a girl) and buying our first home and renovating that home (if it isn’t picture perfect already.) We want to make our home truly ours, so we’ll probably be ripping apart a few things to make sure we’re satisfied. 

How would you describe your home decor style? Our home decor style is a blend of mid-century, traditional, farmhouse and modern. We especially love us some original hard wood floors *faints* 

What is the last show you binged watched? So, let's talk about this. We binge watch shows like there’s no tomorrow. It might be a problem. The last show we binge watched from start to finish was Broadchurch on Netflix. We’re currently binge watching Law & Order SVU. We clearly have a thing for crime and medical tv shows. 

What is something you wish you would have known when you were younger? Ariana wishes she knew everything would turn out alright regardless of any difficulties she was facing at that time. Knowing everything would be okay probably would have saved her a lot of anxiety. Hannah wishes she knew she was gay sooner. This also would have saved her from a lot of everything. 

How old were you when you came out and what was your experience like? Ariana was 17 when she came out. Honestly, her parents reacted in a calm manner. They’re Christians so the terror was real before coming out. They listened, asked questions and then didn’t mention it at all until she was about 20 years old. Considering how it could have gone completely wrong, Ariana’s coming out experience was better than she could have seen coming. 

Hannah was outed by her ex boyfriend when she was 18, but she thought she came out when she was 19, until her younger sister confessed that everyone knew for months before she officially came out. Their reaction was more negative than expected, and the experience was a lot more difficult than she expected, but after a year or so everything turned out alright. 

Have you faced any backlash as a couple since coming out? How do you deal with that? We’re fortunate enough to say we haven’t faced any backlash as a couple. Especially as an interracial couple. We get stares from some people in public, but we mostly ignore it. No one has directly said anything to us, so we continue to live our lives and mind our bidness. 

We love the look and feel of your Instagram! What made you decide you wanted to share an account together? It all started with Ariana. She has always wanted to start a YouTube channel, but her anxiety held her back for years. Around April of 2017, about a year into our relationship, Ariana felt confidant enough to start her YouTube channel and that was the beginning of our online presence. A few months later, Ariana randomly suggested starting a blog together and we jumped right in. Creating a joint Instagram seemed a lot easier than maintaining separate accounts, so we joined forces. Honestly, it’s probably one of the best things to happen to us!

What is your favorite thing about one another? Wow, the list goes on and on, doesn’t it? My favorite thing about Hannah would have to be her crazy good planning skills. I’m not talking planning our dates or what we’re eating that night, I’m talking planning her life, our life. She pictures where she wants to be in a year, 2 years, 3 years down the line and she plans what she needs to do to get there. It has to be a talent or something. I’m not a planner at all so I truly admire this about her.

I love so many things about Ariana, but my favorite is how genuine she is. She’s so grounded about who she is as a person, and she literally could not be fake if she tried. She’s always completely true to herself, and I really adore that about her! Her therapist once said she’s like an island, and I really feel like that's true! She really grounds me and keeps me centered on the present and on what’s important. 

Feature Friday with Andy Mientus & Michael Arden

Hey you, happy Friday! What do you have going on this weekend? We plan to work on an upcoming project that we can't wait to tell you about in the next week or so. Also, there will most likely be hours of binge watching Shameless. We are so obsessed with it, we are watching close to 3 hours of it a night. It's becoming a problem.

We are so excited for this week's Feature Friday because they're two friends of ours and their relationship is so inspiring. It's likely you are already aware of Andy and Michael's relationship, but they've opened up about how they make their relationship work while both being in the entertainment industry, their cool new house, and their favorite trip they've ever taken together. Take a look below to see what we mean...

Where are you from? Andy is from Pittsburgh, PA, Michael is from Midland, TX

Where do you live? We split our time between a tiny apartment in the West Village of New York City and a big old Catholic church upstate in the Hudson Valley.

What’s your Instagram handle?  @andymientus and @michaelarden 

Age: Andy is 31 and Michael is 35.

Relationship Status:  Married.

How long have you been married? 8-ish years

What is your favorite place you have ever traveled to and why?

A: We took an amazing road trip once from Portland all the way down to San Francisco, stopping whenever we saw something interesting. We slept at a creepy old mansion in Eureka, drank wine in the Russian River, and took a million photos at the Multnoma Falls. Totally magical.

M: We just had the chance to work together in Tokyo and visit Kyoto. We both fell in love with Japan. I would say it’s a tie between that and our Pacific Northwest Road Trip. 

How did you guys meet? Who asked out who? We met years before we would start dating at the opening night of a short lived Broadway musical Michael was starring in called The Times They Are A-Changin. We became friends and talked often for probably 4 years before we became more than friends.

You both have very demanding careers. Is it hard being away from each other so much? How do you make time for one another? We knew early on that we worked well as a couple because we were both as invested in our own careers and artistic pursuits as we were in each other. We like to think that we go through life side by side, looking in the same direction rather than looking at each other. Thus, whenever our work keeps us apart, we focus on being excited that one of us is getting an opportunity to further his own dreams and try to do what we can to support that rather than be sad about what that means for our time together. We have a whole lifetime to be together. Some apart time to focus on ourselves is good too.

How would you describe your home decor stye? Ecclectic. We have very different interests but we are both collectors, so we both bring lots of strange objects into our house that have to all coexist. We also have picked up a lot of memorabilia over the years from various artistic projects, as well as souvenirs from all of the travel we have done independently and together. As for furniture, we both lived apart for many years and then together in various spaces, so there are pieces from all of those eras thrown together. I think what brings the whole mess into cohesion is that nothing is just for show- everything either has a purpose, a story, or both.

What is the last show you binged watched?

A: British Baking Show. We can’t get enough.

M: Abstract on Netflix. It’s an incredible series about design and designers in all forms. Get into it!

What is something you wish you would have known when you were younger?

A: That things never go according to Plan A. Plan A is a fantasy. 

M: That struggle is part of life. It will always exist. But it will seem insignificant in the long term. Take a breath, have faith and courage. It’s all gonna be okay.

How old were you when you came out and what was your experience like?

A: I was 24. Michael was actually the first guy I was ever with, so my queerness was more mysterious before we got together and thus I didn’t feel the urge to come out before then- I wasn’t quite sure if I was bi or just a really open minded straight person before that. Getting together really made me confront and embrace my queerness for the first time. Luckily my family and friends and even my ex-girlfriends were amazingly supportive, so it was really no big deal. 

M: I was a Freshman in High School, so a BIT younger than Andy. On the first day of school, my English teacher, Shelly Wright, asked us to write an essay about what we learned about ourselves over the summer. I felt compelled to say that I discovered I was a gay man. For some reason, I never hesitated. She pulled me aside later that day in the hallway to thank me for my honesty and to tell me I always had a friend and ally. I think that first interaction shaped my whole coming out experience. I was given room and support and a sense of pride because of her gesture. It’s something I’ll never forget. 

We see that you've recently purchased a not-so-typical house. Tell us about it! Yes! We bought a church! Steeple and everything. In the summer we had a conversation about selling a house we owned in LA which we didn’t use much anymore and either buying an apartment in New York (we rent) or getting a country house upstate. Michael started looking casually and found this church and we just fell in love with it, so suddenly that abstract conversation was a very real decision and we had to work very fast to sell and move so that no one snapped up the church before we could. We spend Christmas there with friends and it was so worth it.

What is your favorite thing about one another?

A: I love the scope and scale of Michael’s imagination. Whereas most people would see the church online and say, “wouldn’t that be cool,” before closing the window and going back to their day, he springs into action and makes it reality. The same is true when he dreams up a creative project or a fun night out. Most people settle for ordinary and safe but he strives for what seems impossible, which is a great way to live your life. 

M: Andy is the smartest and most insightful person I have ever encountered. Every good idea I have comes from him. His mind is constantly working on or revising a thought or notion. And so many times his ideas are sprung from his sense of humor and play.