Do something.

We either get paid by the hour, week, month or even the year. I've yet to cash all those checks. Nor do I want to.

After working enough jobs you begin to realize that payroll will nearly never pay you your worth. I guess that's why I initially started to freelance and what ultimately led to my entrepreneurialism. I want to be paid for the value I create, not for how much time I spend at a desk, on the clock, nor how many meetings I doodle through.

If your current situation is filled with office politics and 9-5 redundancy, and you don't like it... it doesn't have to be that way.Your life does not want you to hate it. Your life wants to be loved.

But only you can do something about that.

Cyber Monday

Thanks everyone who has taken advantage of our Black Friday Sale. For the some that may forgot Friday, Here your last chance.

Happy Thanksgiving from Grits!

One year ago we started this journey and it's been one helluva ride. We've made a lot friends, extended family and some haters. Nevertheless, through all the obstacles we faced this year we wouldn't have made it this far without you.

Thank you for joining us every day, thanks for your support, but most of all, for everyone who decided to pursue their passion, thanks for doing the work, work that matters. No Grits No Glory

Happy Thanksgiving from Grits!

BTW Don't forget about the The Grits Black Friday Sale! from 12am- 12pm 40% Off everything!

Jimmy Houston

This past weekend was Houston's 2010 Art Crawl. For some who don't know exactly what that is, Art Crawl is a yearly event in Houston's Downtown and Warehouse districts, where more than 100 artists open their working art studios, exhibitions and sometimes even live in spaces to the public. Art Crawl is intended to give a little insight to the public about the contemporary art being created right here in Houston.

I hate to say that the first couple of spaces I saw were just so/so. That is until I ran into Jimmy Houston. [Yup that's his real name.] Anyway, Jimmy's paintings consist mostly of characters reminiscent of the cool illustrations and cartoons of the 30's/40's. But don't merely take my word for it. Shoot over to his blog and see for yourself. In the mean time, us at the Grits Chatta Box will continue to stay on the lookout for more emerging Houston artists like JImmy, who's definitely servin up some goodstuff.

Black Friday

The Biggest Obstacle

The other day, after having a long conversation with some friends, I came to the realization that the main thing everyone has in common, is fear. I believe it is truly the only reason anyone doesn't reach their fullest potential in life.

I often hear people say that they want to start their own business, pursue a dream, follow their passion. If you want to start a business, you don't need a degree, venture capital, loans, business plan or other "essentials" that often become distractions and excuses. So what's really the problem?

Far more than anything else, fear is the main obstacle that holds us back. So instead of pretending to be fearless, while buckling beneath the surface, learn to work it. Believe me it will never go away, but you can avoid letting fear make decisions for you.

Happenings

At Grits Apparel, we’re always trying to create new experiences for our customers. You may remember this poster as a free giveaway. So this a hint of things to come. #thingsthatmakeyougohmmm

New Chattabox

The new Chattabox zine is available and included for FREE with each order online, and it will be available at stores that carry Grits!

Adventure to Adventure

On the ride back from Stitched Up, I couldn't help but think about how much fun we had and I realized that this doesn't have to stop. You don't have to return to endless droning about nothing in your career. Well you can. But, all it's good for is making your boss rich, but not much else.

See, most people live check to check. Here is an idea. Instead of living check to check, how about adventure to adventure. I figured if you can’t live life like an adventure, it’s not worth doing.

So, what's my next adventure? I don't know yet. But, I know Grits is about to serve some goodstuff real soon.

No Grits No Glory

Stitched Up

If you wasn't in San Antonio, you missed out on Stitched Up. There were plenty of Sneaks and Freaks and Good Music. But this wasn't just another sneaker event (even though they still had sneakers) Stitched Up came correct with some of the dopest streetwear brands that Texas has to offer. What more could you ask for? Being that it was the first event dedicated to Texas streetwear there was plenty of hoopla, and hullabaloo. Actually, there’s still some hoopla (not as much hullabaloo). Here is couple of pics from the event to hold you over till the next one.

P.S. Big ups to Remix Label, Loyal K.N.G., Fresh Kaufee, 3Kings Clothing, Fur Face Boy, True Head, Mofoz Visual, Intellectual, Purely Rooted, Simply Complicated, Toodope, Nerdy Fresh and all the others I can remember right now. And last but not least All The Fans & Cool People We Met. Thank You!

Bayou City Soul Mix

I had a long day at Stitched Up yesterday and I am pretty beat. So instead of instead of my usual rants about work and passion, I figured you should check out a dope funk and soul mix I ran across a few weeks ago from the blog Bayou City Soul. The Bayou City Soul Project is all about the music of Houston. Created by Brett Koshkin, the project was to enlighten people who are not aware of Houston's history of soul music. Check the mix out it's certified dope. Personally I think there is no one in Houston that can mess with Brett on his diggin. You can download or stream the mix over at Peaceuvmine here.

P.S. I know that I am late on this, but I can't resist a good funk and soul set. Especially if the music is from Houston.

Go. Leap. Create.

Today's post is from my new friend Zee at The Middle Finger Project. She has some nice words about pursuing your passion and life as art. Enjoy the read.


If you think in terms of your life being a work of art, is yours a masterpiece, or a half-hearted attempt?

Just like a painting or a clay sculpture, you have full artistic control.

You can shape life however you wish.

You can do the things you long to do - you just have to give yourself permission to.

And that's always the hardest part.

Sometimes, when you know what the right thing to do is, but can't seem to get past all of the logistics, the solution is easy: Forget about them.

No time will ever be the perfect time. No situation will ever be the perfect situation. Nothing you do will ever turn out exactly as you planned.

The only thing that IS a sure thing?

Life is not forever.

Yours certainly is no exception.

There's simply no time for half-hearted attempts.

It's time to get out your paintbrush.

Go.

Leap.

Create.

Be.

You're an artist, whether you knew it or not.

Lazy Day

Sorry guys, I had to take a break and package shirts for the upcoming Stitched Up in San Antonio. So, instead of one of my motivational rants, here is a sneak peak into Grits Summer 2011.

Gritty Dreams: Junkfood Junkie NOW AVAILABLE!!

It is my honor & pleasure to announce that the Grits Apparel X Oven Fresh Dreams collabo "Gritty Dreams", is now available! This shirt is for all the people that love Houston and for all the people who love junk food! Get them while they last! (Much love to Oven Fresh Dreams)

BTW there is also a dope new zine included!!!

Harder Path

It just occurred to me that most of my oldest friends chose a harder path than we could have gotten away with.

It was tough at first, but it seems that it eventually paid off for some of us and for the others (including me) it will most likely to do so in the the future. We had no guarantees when we started to follow our passions. All we knew is what we were doing made us happy. So we took that leap and never looked back. And I'm glad we did.

This Weekend!

If you couldn't tell by the not so subtle post last week, we will be in San Antonio this weekend for Stitched Up presented by the people who do Sneaks Up . If you don't know about it, in a nutshell, Stitched Up is expo for Texas brands ONLY. So, for those in the area, Come out and enjoy the expo.


BTW we will have a couple of new tees ... and as usual free zines for everyone!

The moment

This is the moment when everything changes. Every aspiring entrepreneur knows the feeling. Its the moment when that little voice in your head says...

No Grits No Glory

Serving Grits

Hold on to your cutlery, another serving is coming.

Entrepreneurial fog

It seems most of my friends which are aspiring entrepreneurs or creatives are pretty much in the same place when I ask about their future plans. I mean they have aspirations. But their responses all seem foggy. Then I realize that as an artist there will always be a never ending fog. Whether its art or entrepreneurism there will always be a ever-present cloud of uncertainty. And there is no cure for it. All we can do is embrace the present and push forward with our passion. Plus having a good sense of humor wouldn't hurt.

Press

It's good to know people are really noticing our clothing. We got nice write up on the uber cool The Blot Says! They are a must-see for vinyl collectors, graphic novel addicts and just plain nerds. And as an added bonus, they are home grown! Check them out and leave a comment. You dig?

Video Vault

From the vault we picked The Cool Kids’ “Black Mags.” In Internet years, this video’s ancient, stretching all the way back to the summer of 2007. Remember way back when? George W. Bush was still crackin’ skulls; Tiger Woods was still secretly sexin’ up cocktail waitresses; and Amy Whinehouse was still somewhat sober. Some might call it the golden age. But that would be dumb, because it wasn’t. Anyhow, for old timers like me, 2007 still feels like yesterday.

Monday Musing

It has been a little over a year since I started Grits. In that year, Grits has grown from a lifestyle brand to more of a lifestyle project. I never realized how many people felt the same way about their 9 to 5's, careers and life. My only conclusion from this response is that EVERYONE needs to find meaning in the brief time they're living on this planet. Being a wage slave in the post industrial world will always leave your name on the chopping block.

I believe the best way to find meaning is to find a way to make a living that takes care of the bills and creates something that you can believe in. We are the happiest when we do the work that fulfills our sense of purpose. This isn't rocket science. We just need to get off our sorry asses and do work that matters.