Lululemon Outlet Opening Day - Desert Hills Premium Outlet

The Lululemon Outlet store at the Desert Hills Premium Outlet Mall opened on November 6.

We’ve finally got a Lululemon Outlet Store within a reasonable driving distance of San Diego and I had the privilege to be a part of opening day. The store, nestled in the massive Desert Hills Premium Outlet Mall, opened on November 6, 2015. As expected, a line of Lulu addicts started to line up outside the door about an hour before opening time. Once the ribbon was cut, it was on!

I supplied music and of course, my custom Lululemon vinyl from 12-inch Skinz.

Here’s the setlist:

• Cosmo Klein ft YNOT - When Doves Cry (Clean) (Extended)

• DJ Snake & AlunaGeorge - You Know You Like It (Promo Only Clean Edit - Remix)

• Tori Kelly - Nobody Love (Select Mix Remix)

• Taylor Swift vs Lauryn Hill - Blank Space (DJ Skillz Throwback Blend) (Short Edit)

• Lauryn Hill - Doo Wop (That Thing)

• Maxi Priest - Close To You (Clean)

• Matoma ft Notorious B.I.G. & Ja Rule & Ralph Tresvant - Old Thing Back (Intro Clean)

• Soul For Real - Every Little Thing I Do (Intro Clean)

• TLC - No Scrubs

• Thalia ft Fat Joe - I Want You (Intro Clean)

• R. City, Adam Levine - Locked Away (Select Mix Remix)

• Mann - Buzzin'

• Celeste Buckingham - Run Run Run

• Ella Henderson - Ghost (Oliver Nelson Remix) (Radio Edit)

• Calvin Harris & Disciples - How Deep Is Your Love

• Ciara ft Missy Elliott - 1,2 Step (Genisis Remix) (Clean) (Extended)

• Kenze vs MAKJ - On & On (Clean) (Extended)

• Avicii - The Nights (Promo Only Intro Edit)

• Ariana Grande - One Last Time

• Jason Derulo - Want To Want Me

• Mr. Probz - Waves (Robin Schulz Radio Edit)

• Duke Dumont f./Jax Jones - I Got U (Radio Edit)

• Alesso - Heroes (Basic Tape Remix) (Clean) (Short Edit)

• Usher, Nicki Minaj - She Came To Give It To You (Select Mix Remix)

• Ed Sheeran - Sing

• Ce Ce Peniston - We Got A Love Thang (Select Mix Remix)

• Mariah Carey - Emotions (Select Mix Remix)

• Boyz II Men - Motownphilly

• Father MC - I'll Do For You

• Usher f./Juicy J - I Don't Mind (Promo Only Intro Edit)

• Kygo ft Ella Henderson - Here For You (Clean) (Extended)

• De La Soul - Ring Ring Ring (Intro Clean)

• Iggy Azalea f./Jennifer Hudson - Trouble (Promo Only Intro Edit)

• Ingrid Michaelson - Afterlife

• Chris Brown f./Tyga - Ayo (Clean)

• Maxwell - Sumthin' Sumthin' (Intro Clean)

• New Edition - If It Isn't Love (Extended)

• Fifth Harmony, Kid Ink - Worth It (Select Mix Remix)

• Nelly, Jeremih - The Fix (Select Mix Remix)

• Ashanti ft Irv Gotti - Rock Wit U (Awww Baby) (Remix) (Intro Clean)

• Fergie - L.A. Love (La La) [Select Mix Remix]

• Major Lazer & DJ Snake feat. MO - Lean On (Yaldah Remix) (Audio1 Edit) (Clean)

• Kygo ft Parson James - Stole The Show (Extended)

• Adele - Rolling Deep [DJ Steven S Turntable Kartel Mashup]

• Ariana Grande & The Weeknd - Love Me Harder (Promo Only Intro Edit)

• Drake - Hold On We're Going Home (Promo Only Intro Edit)

• Lillywood & Robin Schulz - Prayer In C (Robin Schulz Radio Edit)

• Me & My Toothbrush - Show Me (Clean) (Extended)

• Coldplay - Clocks

• Flo Rida f./Robin Thicke & Verdine White - I Don't Like It, I Love It

• Tove Lo - Talking Body (Clean)

• OneRepublic - Counting Stars

• Jessica Sanchez f./Ne-Yo - Tonight

• Music P & Marque Aurel - The Feel Good Funk (Clean) (Extended)

• Kolombo - Ur The Finest (Clean) (Extended)

• Lika Morgan - Hit Me (Clean) (Extended)

• OMI - Hula Hoop (Promo Only Intro Edit)

• Avicii ft Zac Brown Band - Broken Arrows (Intro Clean)

• Michael Jackson, Justin Timberlake - Love Never Felt So Good

• Daft Punk f./Pharrell Williams - Get Lucky (Promo Only Intro Edit)

• Pitbull, Chris Brown - Fun (Select Mix Remix)

• Charlie Puth, Meghan Trainor - Marvin Gaye (Select Mix Remix)

• Tori Kelly - Should've Been Us (Lost Kings Remix) (Clean) (Extended)

• Macklemore & Ryan Lewis - Downtown (Promo Only Intro Edit)

• Another Bad Creation - Playground (Intro Clean)

• Michael Jackson - Remember The Time (Select Mix Remix)

• Rappin' 4-Tay - I'll Be Around (Select Mix Remix)

• Kid N Play - Ain't Gonna Hurt Nobody (Select Mix Remix)

• Monie Love - It's A Shame

The Time I Almost Cried While Playing a Sam Smith Song

That sweet voice was singing through my headphones and into my ears.

“You say I’m crazy, cause you don’t think I know what you’ve done …. But when you call me baby, I know I’m not the only one.”

And I got emotional, right in my DJ booth. “Why the eff was I about to lose it over a Sam Smith song?”

Did I really almost cry while listening to a Sam Smith song?

There are many reasons why we cry. But ultimately, it’s when that emotional switch is flipped inside our head. Crying happens when we hurt, physically or emotionally; or when we are moved or inspired; or when we empathize with someone’s somber or euphoric emotions. We also cry when we cut a white onion, but that’s not what this is about.

I was recently watching this video about they key factors in finding your perfect job. It’s worth the 5 minutes, so watch it before you proceed with this article ... and yeah the guy does get a bit annoying so if you want to skip ahead, go to the four minute mark.  

Okay, hopefully you actually watched it and would agree that the key takeaway was this powerful statement:

Everyone should have a dream so deep, that when accomplished, the only response are tears of joy.

Have you dreamt that deep?

I can truly only reflect on one time in my life this has happened to me. It was back in early 1995, I was halfway through college and I had written a letter to Beckett Publications asking for an internship that summer

Beckett published magazines that covered the sports collectibles industry and I was a longtime subscriber. With a hopeful future in journalism it was a dream of mine to work at the company and write about sports, especially about sports collectibles (baseball cards, autographs, etc.)

When I sent the letter, I was not answering an open call for interns, or responding to any type of job bulletin board. It was just a shot in the dark, just a total dream of mine and one of those, “I’ve got nothing to lose, so might as well try moments.”

The initial letter was sent to Dr. Beckett himself, and naturally was met with no response. And after a few weeks, gave up on that dream. But all was resurrected when a chance phone call to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch led me to chat with Tom Wheatley, whose name  I remembered from bylines in Beckett articles. As a freelance writer for the magazines, I figured he might have a better idea of whose name should be on that second letter. My dream was rekindled.

Approximately one month after that second request was sent, I received a phone call from the guy I sent that letter to. He was inviting me to Dallas to spend the summer as an intern in the editorial department.

I hung up the phone, walked toward my mom and started to cry.

I hadn’t experienced happiness like that before. And more so, I certainly hadn’t dreamed like that. I had did not have an “in” at Beckett.

The realization of a dream, one that I had worked relatively hard to achieve made my emotions completely overflow.

---

For many of you following along, you know that I recently left my day-to-day job to devote myself to building my business and become a top San Diego wedding DJ.The decision was less a “dream realized” and more about honing in on what was important in my life and eliminating things that were no longer sparking joy.

I’ve quickly experience what so many others who have made similar moves before me have said, the more joy you allow into your life, the more joy will naturally find you.

Back in August when I wrote that blog post that got shared more than 12,000 times I didn’t have a dream attached to it. I wasn’t asking for anything. But it resulted in a similar situation as described above ...  phone call, like the I got 20 years ago, asking me to fly to another city to contribute and share my talent with a group of people.

This time I hung up the phone -- well, tapped “end call”, since we don’t hang up phones anymore -- walked toward my wife, and this time I didn’t cry.

You see, I didn’t have a dream of DJing a worldwide conference for Lululemon. In fact, with the trip just three weeks out, I didn’t really emotionally process what was happening. I was just excited and so grateful for the people around me that were happy for me and knew how “big” the opportunity was.

Fast forward to the first day of the conference and 15 songs into my first set.

It hit me.

As alluded to earlier, it was Sam Smith’s “Not the Only One.” This song is emotional enough if you really focus in on the lyrics. And at approximately 7 a.m., with just about 100 people in the lounge focused on their conversations and breakfast, I had this moment of solitude as the music was playing in my headphones.

That moment, realizing I was DJing in Vancouver, for a clothing brand I adore and have worn for many years, coupled with the music got to me.

DJing for Lululemon was not the dream, but DJing and doing things on my own terms was. I was living that moment. And I almost cried … okay my eyes welled up for approximately four seconds.

It was one of those situations where I had to purse my lips and stop focusing on the music, think of something happy and move on. Otherwise I would have looked like some awkward dude standing in the corner crying.

At the beginning, I mentioned that hurt, joy and inspiration is what makes us cry … or at least makes me cry. And if achieving a dream so deep also makes us cry, are we crying because we are happy at a dream realized, or sad because a dream realized means it’s no longer a dream and we’ve reached the end of a journey.

I’m not sure. But what I do know it’s amazing to want something so bad and finally get it.

Go ahead, dream big. Dream deep. And then have a good cry at the end.
 

Elizabeth and Jonathan’s Dance Party - Quail Haven Farm Wedding

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Elizabeth walks down the aisle during her wedding ceremony at Quail Haven Farm.

Jonathan and Elizabeth's San Diego area wedding at Quail Haven Farm (October 17, 2015) was a wonderful event with plenty of unique DIY touches. From the centerpieces, to the signage and even the wine -- which was hand crafted by both the father of the bride and his brother. 

But what was most remarkable was the surprise gift given to the couple, a hand made quilt that was contributed to by several different family members. It was a presentation that I have never seen in all my years of hosting weddings.

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Friends and family presented Jonathan and Elizabeth with a handmade quilt as a wedding gift.

My favorite sign of the night was this one. Elizabeth and John are both officers in the San Diego Police Department. I joked that this was the earliest the cops had shown up at party, but luckily we didn't get shut down. 

And this cake ... it might just be the best wedding cake I've ever seen.

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Wedding sign

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Unique Wedding Cake

This wedding took place at Quail Haven Farm, technically listed in North San Diego County in Vista, but almost seems like Fallbrook. It's a great, secluded venue. It's perfect for couples looking for a rustic, outdoor wedding.

It was a great night, with a lot of 90s, a favorite of the couple. Here's a quick video and the setlist below:

This is a brief  video of Elizabeth and Jonathan's dance party, shot at their wedding reception at Quail Haven Farm. 

Wedding Party Entrance

• Maroon 5 - Sugar (Select Mix Remix)

First Dance

• Goo Goo Dolls - Come To Me (Clean)

Father/Daughter Dance

• Darius Rucker - Won’t Be Like This For Long

Open Dancing (First Set)

• Al Green - Let's Stay Together
• Frank Sinatra - The Way You Look Tonight
• Jackson 5 - I Want You Back
• Mark Ronson f./Bruno Mars - Uptown Funk
• Michael Jackson - Billie Jean
• Flo Rida, Robin Thicke, Verdine White - I Don't Like It I Love It (Select Mix Remix)
• Earth Wind & Fire - Sing A Song (Hot Classics Remix)
• KC & The Sunshine Band - Boogie Shoes (Hot Classics Remix)
• Markie Mark & The Funky Bunch - Good Vibrations (Select Mix Remix)
• Deee-Lite - Groove Is In The Heart (Select Mix Remix)
• Tone Loc - Wild Thing
• OMC - How Bizarre (Select Mix Remix)
• Marvin Gaye - How Sweet It Is
• Emotions - Best Of My Love
• Frank Sinatra - Summer Wind
• Louie Armstrong - Cheek to Cheek
• Toploader - Dancing In The Moonlight
• Hootie & the Blowfish - Only Wanna Be with You
• Backstreet Boys - I Want it That Way
• Beyonce - Love on top
• Silento - Watch Me

Cake Cutting

• Colbie Caillat - I Do

Open Dancing (Second Set)

• Matoma ft Notorious B.I.G. & Ja Rule & Ralph Tresvant - Old Thing Back (Clean)
• Elvis Crespo - Suavemente
• Celia Cruz - La Vida Es Un Carnaval
• Cupid - Cupid Shuffle
• Taylor Swift - Shake It Off
• Walk The Moon - Shut Up And Dance
• Justin Bieber - What Do You Mean? (Promo Only Intro Edit)
• Journey - Don't Stop Believin' (Live)
• Inner Circle - Bad Boys
• Charlie Puth f./Meghan Trainor - Marvin Gaye
• Eagle Eye Cherry - Save Tonight

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Bride & Groom

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Squad Goals

Vendor Love
Venue: Quail Haven Farm
Photographer: Cate Batchelor Photography

Other weddings hosted by DJ Kanoya Productions

Melissa and Gus’ Slow Motion Wedding Video - Hotel Del Coronado

For their San Diego wedding reception (here is their setlist) at the Hotel Del Coronado, the slow motion video booth was rolled out for Melissa and Gus. Lots of dancing, glittery dresses and glitter all around. 

And here's the full video from the booth! 

A slow motion video booth is a great way to remember the people that attended your event as well as all of the fun they had while they were there. For more information, submit your event details on the "request for quote" page. 

5 Things I Love This Week - Episode #3

The World Series, a Disclosure song, a running belt, a website builder and an old commercial

1. The Fall Classic
I've always loved watching the playoffs and championship games in just about every sport, but nothing compares to the World Series. Maybe its the fact I've been so privileged as a St. Louis Cardinals fan to have had a buffet of playoff baseball and even more so, October baseball, to consume during my lifetime. I have so many great Cardinal baseball memories, like Darrell Porter jumping into the open arms of Bruce Sutter, the David Freese triple, Ozzie's home run in 1985 against the Dodgers, and yes, even game 6 of the 1985 World Series (he was safe).

After a 100 win season, my Redbirds went a bit cold in the Division Series, but I'll still enjoy watching this year's sans St. Louis Fall Classic. 

2. Magnets by Disclosure ft. Lorde
Lorde’s voice over the production work of Disclosure. I’m in!

The Fitletic hydration belt is, for me, the perfect companion to runs of up to 10 miles. 

3. Fitletic Hydration Belt
It’s no secret that hydration is important when exercising and one of my key pieces of running equipment is my hydration belt. If I plan on running for 30 minutes or more, I always wear my 16 oz. Fitletic belt. It holds two eight ounce bottles, and includes a water resistant neoprene zipped pocket that holds most cell phones.

The belt also has integrated race bib toggles to secure a bib number and loops to hold gels and other similar nutrition. I prefer belts so I can keep my hands free as I’d rather not have anything weighing my arms down or wasting strength gripping onto a bottle.

4. Squarespace
Overhauling my website was a pretty big effort, especially since I was doing it on my own. After researching different template based platforms, I settled in with Squarespace, which admittedly I was initially turned onto because of their Superbowl commercial.

The templates are beautifully designed and after an initial learning curve, are easy and intuitive to customize. Above all, however, it’s their customer service that is amazing. Whenever I have a question, I email their support team and have a response within 15 minutes. I feel like I have my own in-house information technology department.

Not only do they answer my question, but they also help with work arounds and alternatives when what I’m trying to accomplish doesn't exactly work with their platform. I highly recommend Squarespace if you are looking to revamp your web presence.

5.  K Tel Record Selector
I’ve always been a fan of organizing gadgets. I have a feeling if I was a DJ in the 60s I probably would have had  a few of these to organize my records. Check out this fun vintage commercial: