Johns Lake Neighborhood
TRADITIONS HOLD THE WAY FOR CONNECTION
TRADITIONS HOLD THE WAY FOR CONNECTION
MEET AMANDA
MEET AMANDA
The creative owner of Kossina Creative
The creative owner of Kossina Creative
Photography
Photography
CREATIVE PEOPLE, CREATIVE PLACES
CREATIVE PEOPLE, CREATIVE PLACES
Learn about Chef Brandi Artis and her love for good food
Learn about Chef Brandi Artis and her love for good food
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E L O C A L B E V I S I B L E
Founder&Publisher
Wendy Bloom
Editor-in-Chief&
CreativeWingwoman
Kattie Muñiz
SocialMediaDirector
Jamie Lee
Writer
Emma Drauer
Men’sLifestyleCurator
Adam Shuler II
“ROOTED” MEANS TO SETTLE INTO WHO WE ARE AS PEOPLE AND AS FAMILIES — FORMING CONNECTIONS.
This is my third issue with BLÜV, and each month I pick a loose theme to help guide the stories. When I think of November, I immediately think of the holidays. I am fully in Christmas mode. Watching movies with the family, playing Christmas songs in the car, soaking in all of it. But if I’m honest, Thanksgiving is my favorite. It carries that same spirit of generosity, selflessness, and quiet joy, just without the pressure of gifts. Don’t get me wrong, I love gifts. But there’s something special about gathering around good food and simply enjoying the people you love.
November slows me down in a way the rest of the year doesn’t. In Florida, we can finally go outside without melting. The days may be shorter, but somehow our time together feels longer. Work quiets a little. Life softens. I get to be present, or at least try to be.
When I landed on the theme “Rooted,” I was thinking about grounding. Food, traditions, stories, connections. What it means to settle into who we are as people and as families forming connections.
This is also the time of year when I reflect. I look back at what I accomplished, what we accomplished, and I think about the year ahead. Not through resolutions that disappear by February, but through the feeling of possibility.
So this month, I hope you felt that same sense of being rooted. I hope you had a beautiful, grounding Thanksgiving.
See you in the chaos of December!
Kattie Muniz
Editor-in-Chief & Creative Wingwoman
November has a way of grounding us. The pace slows just enough for us to notice the small things again: the way family gathers, the way food brings us together, the way traditions quietly anchor us. This issue leans into that spirit of being rooted: in our stories, our memories, and the places that shape us.
FEATURES & VOICES
“Traditions hold the way for connection.”
Why the rituals we return to (big or small) become the threads that pull us closer this time of year.
“Time doesn’t slow down, but Amanda does.”
Photographer Amanda Kossina opens her studio and her story, reminding us why capturing a moment matters long after the moment is gone.
“Creative People, Creative Places: Chef Brandi Artis.”
Inside 4 Hens Creole Kitchen, where one small stall in a buzzing food hall becomes a home kitchen filled with legacy, culture, and the flavors of grandmothers.
“One Seed, Many Fed.”
How 4Roots continues to grow food, education, and community proving that real change starts local and blooms big.
“Rooted isn’t stillness; it’s connection.”
Why slowing down, gathering close, and honoring where we come from gives the season its meaning.
Curated with gratitude, love, and local pride by the BLÜV team.
THE MAGIC ALWAYS HAPPENS RIGHT AFTER THE POSE, RIGHT BEFORE THE NEXT ONE IN THE MOMENTS PEOPLE FORGET THE CAMERA IS THERE.
When Amanda Kossina talks about photography, her whole posture shifts. “I’m in the business of holding time still,” she says “People come in carrying nerves, or excitement, or exhaustion. My job is to help them breathe long enough to see themselves the way the people who love them do.” She smiles as she says it like she knows how sentimental it sounds, but she means every word.
I first met Amanda at an Orlando Mom event and then I was fortunate enough to hang out with her at a leadership program for women. She’s generous with her space and her time, always checking in, always making sure you feel good about what you’re creating together. She’s the kind of person who brings both professionalism and comfort into the room, even when the “room” is just a phone call squeezed between life’s chaos
Because this interview didn’t happen in her studio with perfect lighting and curated sets. It happened over the phone between her sessions with families and the pre-Thanksgiving Costco run. She was in work mode, toggling between shoots, editing, and planning. I was pushing a cart past pallets of granola bars. And somehow, the conversation became an honest and vulnerable interview.
Somewhere between toilet paper and soda aisle, she told me several stories, but the one that stuck out the most was the little boy she photographed for six years, the unexpected loss, the moment she realized her images had become the way he would be remembered. I stood there in the middle of Costco crying, and she just let the silence settle for a moment before saying softly, “That’s why I do this. That’s why I have my own studio. So people won’t forget.”
Amanda didn’t always know this would be her calling. She took a photography class in college and loved it, but she didn’t think of it as a career. Instead, she spent sixteen years working as a producer, shaping stories, visuals, and print ads, learning how images guide emotion and how a single still frame can change the way people understand a moment. She didn’t realize it then, but the foundation for her future studio was already being built.
Her deeper connection to memory came long before that. Before she even graduated high school, Amanda had attended twenty-one funerals. She learned early how fragile life is how quickly details fade, how easily faces blur, how painful it is when you realize you can’t quite picture someone anymore. Photography wasn’t a pastime for her; it was a way to hold onto something the world tries so hard to rush past.
When she had her daughter, things shifted again. She set up her home studio to take newborn photos and felt something click. “I loved it,” she said. “Really loved it.” She trained and got certified in newborn photography and takes safety more seriously than most people realize. “Parents trust me with their whole world,” she explains. “I have to earn that every single session ”
From newborns came maternity, then families, then boudoir. Each one adding a new layer to the emotional purpose behind her work. “Maternity is powerful,” she says. “These women are literally growing life, and they deserve to see themselves the way the rest of us see them.” Boudoir grew naturally from there, though she laughs that it surprises people. “It’s not about being sexy,” she says. “It’s emotional. It’s confidence. It’s reminding moms reminding couples that identity and intimacy don’t disappear just because life gets busy.”
There is nothing frivolous about the way Amanda approaches photography. For her, images are the emotional archive of a family. A newborn’s tiny features before they stretch and change. The joy of a first birthday. A mother’s strength. A couple reconnecting A child whose life, tragically short, deserves to be remembered clearly and tenderly.
“I take this seriously,” she says. “Every session means something. Every family means something. These moments matter.”
Now in her own dedicated studio Amanda creates an environment where people can show up imperfect and walk away with something they’ll treasure forever. She helps people see themselves with softness and honesty She builds trust She captures truth And she honors time in a way most of us don’t know how to anymore.
In a world obsessed with speed, with filters, with easy trends, Amanda is doing something quieter, and far more meaningful. She’s keeping life still long enough for families to hold onto it. T
W h e r e R o o t s R u n D e e p :
R e d i s c o v e r i n g O r l a n d o a s a M a n w i t h P u r p o s e
You ever notice how life has a funny way of bringing you right back to where it all started? That’s Orlando for me. Every corner feels like it’s got a story, and half the time, that story includes someone I’m related to or a friend of a friend. I’ve got family and friends everywhere, so it’s hard to go anywhere without bumping into a cousin or two, sometimes three if the food’s good.
For me, being rooted isn’t just about staying put, it’s about staying grounded. My roots are made of Sunday laughter, grilled food that never lasts long, and those big family talks that always end with someone saying, “remember when?” That’s where my peace comes from, that familiar rhythm that says, you’re home.
After my playing career, I came back to Orlando and for the first time, I was really seeing it as an adult It felt like rediscovering the city all over again The same streets I grew up around had new energy The same neighborhoods carried more meaning I understood things differently, what community truly meant, what family really represented, and how purpose ties it all together
Coming home has been good for my soul, but it has also been good for business. In real estate, roots matter. People want to work with someone who genuinely knows the city and cares about it. That same connection fuels my philanthropic work too, whether it’s through the NFLPA Orlando Chapter or supporting local causes that make a real difference. Orlando rewards authenticity. When your heart’s in the right place, the right doors open.
or the men of Orlando, finding your roots doesn’t mean standing still, it means knowing where to plant yourself. We’ve got places that make it easy to do that. You can catch a cigar and conversation at Morse Code Lounge or Cigars on the Avenue in Winter Park, where the energy is smooth and the talks go deep. If you want something private and elevated, becoming a member at The London House gives you a refined space to connect with other driven men, talk business, and unwind without the noise.
But being grounded goes beyond where you spend your time, it’s about how you spend it. Strong men create rhythm in their lives. Whether it’s a morning run around Lake Eola, journaling over coffee at Craft & Common, or taking a quiet drive through Winter Park’s tree-lined streets, these small moments sharpen you. And if you’re a man building something, a business, a legacy, or a family, protect your peace the same way you protect your goals.
Here’s what I’ve learned, roots and standards are everything. In a world where everyone’s chasing something new, your roots remind you who you are, and your standards remind you what you stand for. Stay connected to the people who keep you honest. Build relationships that outlast the transaction. Be strong enough to lead, humble enough to listen, and wise enough to know when to slow down. When you move with purpose, success finds its way to you.
ROOTS REMIND YOU WHO YOU ARE, AND STANDARDS REMIND YOU WHAT YOU STAND FOR.
Nowadays, I find my roots in motion, a paintbrush in hand, a conversation that turns into a connection, or a quiet walk that reminds me how good it feels to be from here. Growth doesn’t mean outgrowing, it means expanding while keeping your foundation firm.
So yeah, I’m rooted. Not stuck, not settled, but steady. The kind of steady that lets you grow, give, and glow all while remembering exactly where you came from.
C r e a t i v e P e o p l e , C r e a t i v e P l a c e s
The first thing you notice at 4 Hens Creole Kitchen isn’t the food.
It’s the way the space feels lived in.
We’re standing inside City Food Hall on Alden Road, surrounded by the usual sounds of a food hall (orders being called, blenders humming, metal on metal), but Brandi’s corner cuts through the noise. Her line is neat and intentional, sauces labeled, seasonings stacked, fryers buzzing in their lane, not the star of the show. There’s a chalkboard with her kids’ lemonade brand on it. A tiny world carved out of shared space.
This is where Chef Brandi Artis creates.
And you can tell, almost immediately, that this kitchen is more than a business. It’s a container for her grandmothers, her cultures, her children, and a very deliberate choice to start over (again) in a new city.
The Place: A Corner of City Food Hall That Feels Like Someone’s Home Kitchen
City Food Hall is open and modern, the kind of place where you can wander without committing, sampling bits of different cities and cultures in one loop. But as soon as we walk up to 4 Hens (Brnadi, her wife, and their grandmothers), the energy shifts. It’s not fancy, it’s not staged, but it is extremely cared for.
Brandi’s kitchen is small, but it doesn’t feel cramped. It feels designed. Every pan has a reason. Every sauce has a story.
She walks us through the line like she’s inviting us into her grandmother’s house. Showing how everything is separated so gluten-free diners can eat safely, how her fish dredge is different from her chicken dredge, how the gumbo base is vegan and gluten-free without losing depth. Even the fryers are organized around intention, not convenience.
The food hall itself is bright and airy People drift by with coffees, egg sandwiches, and tacos But once you’re in front of 4 Hens, the world shrinks to a stainless steel counter, bright, colorful lights, and the smell of garlic, onions, roux, and something slow and familiar.
This tiny stall inside a big, buzzing food hall becomes its own place. It’s New Orleans meets Kansas City meets Orlando, standing on tile but rooted in someone’s grandmother’s kitchen.
The Person: A Creative Who Cooks With Ancestors in the Room
If the place is curated, Brandi is pure flow.
She’s Puerto Rican, Lebanese, and Black She grew up in Kansas City, raised more by grandmothers and aunties than geography
Brandi doesn’t talk about recipes like formulas. She talks about them like conversations with people who aren’t physically here anymore.
“I know how to make my mama’s fried chicken,” she tells me. “But that’s her recipe. This is my fried chicken. This is my legacy.”
You feel that line; the difference between honoring where you come from and daring to make something new.
And she does it without turning away people who don’t (or can’t) eat traditional Creole dishes. Her gumbo base is vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free, and still rich. She doesn’t use flour in her roux. She uses cornstarch. Her kitchen avoids crosscontamination with the precision of a high-end lab.
“I know what it is to not have options,” she said. “So I make sure people have options here.”
Even her kids are folded into the story Their lemonade line, Little Chicks, is sold at the restaurant. Their drawings and logos are scattered around the space. Her kids are growing up inside a legacy their mom is actively building in real time.
And that’s exactly how her Orlando restaurant feels: a space built by someone who has learned everything the long way, the painful way, the honest way.
Someone who cooks like her grandmother is standing right behind her.
Someone who believes food should feel like someone’s arms around you.
Someone who wants her customers to leave saying, Damn, that tasted like love.
“I want people to feel like they ate with an ancestor,” she said. “Like grandma fed you. Like that auntie with the arms made your plate.”
And honestly? That’s exactly what it tastes like.
Editor’s Note: I HATE grits (#sorrynotsorry), and Brandi’s grits are what has made me go back three times now since I interviewed her.
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Every day we wake up and we decide what we’re going to eat Most of us start with coffee and then we slowly ease into the morning with eggs, a croissant, or even a yogurt-parfait. While we’re enjoying our chaotic morning, have you stopped to think about the food you’re eating?
When founder John Rivers asked that question, he decided there needed to be a change and in 2015 he created 4Roots, a nonprofit organization rooted in the belief that food has the power to build healthy communities.
In order to address the broken food system in this country, Rivers began “small.” Here, “small” means taking action locally with the Orange County Public Schools (OCPS) system and its families One in five students in OCPS face food insecurity a statistic that helped motivate the 4Roots movement
What started as meeting the needs of OCPS families has grown into a multi-avenue philanthropic venture that serves as an amplifier for community impact. Today, 4Roots amplifies other nonprofits, collaborates with local farms, and supports systemic change. For example:
4Roots aggregates fresh-produce purchases and connects local growers with institutions and families. Helping farms reduce waste and improving access to healthy food.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, 4Roots launched its “Feed the Need” program, now called Meet the Need, which at last count served over 2.3 million meals made with 1.4 million pounds of rescued Florida produce reaching students and families when schools were closed
The organization is also developing the 4Roots Farm Campus a working farm, educational hub and event space in Orlando’s Packing District designed to educate youth, support regenerative agriculture, and create a gathering place for community action.
Despite being a relatively small team, 4Roots has outsized impact by asking, “How can we do more?” They partner with schools, healthcare providers, restaurants, local businesses and growers; building networks that extend far beyond a single-program model.
Through ongoing fundraising and community support, they’ve achieved significant milestones: broadening their farm campus footprint, expanding the number of families served, rescuing more produce from waste, and helping local farms thrive.
As we look forward, 4Roots continues to evolve by integrating food education, sustainable farming and health outcomes under one roof. Their next steps aim to deepen community engagement: more handson learning for K-12 students, programs linking food to disease prevention, and strengthening local food systems for resilience and equity
In a world where big systems often feel immovable, 4Roots shows that one small step a question over breakfast, a partnership with a school, a rescued harvest can spark one giant leap for the community.
WE ARE BLÜV
DECEMBER 6TH
DECEMBER THROUGH FEBRUARY 1ST
THE SŌL SOCIAL A women’s wellness and lifestyle experience - With pilates, Female Djs and women owned brand vendor market 9:30 AM - 1:00 PM
Outdoor Festival of the Arts
DECEMBER THROUGH JANUARY
DECEMBER THROUGH JANUARY DECEMBER 5TH
MAGICOFLIGHTSAT DAYTONASPEEDWAY
DECEMBER 5TH DECEMBER 24TH
DECEMBER 16TH
SUGAR PLUM FAIRY’S WINTER TALE At the Dr Phillips Center THE NUTCRACKER AT DR. PHILLIPS
PENTATONIX CHRITSMAS IN THE CITY TOUR
Adam Shuler II, a Global Real Estate Advisor with Premier Sotheby’s, combines expertise in luxury homes, art, and philanthropy to elevate Central Florida communities.
Olivia Shannon, Social Media Manager for Villatel and Orlando content creator, highlights local businesses, partners with top brands, and showcases the city’s arts scene to her 30k+ community.
Yomi Herrera
Personal stylist Yomi Gissel blends expertise and approachable energy to help clients express confidence and authenticity.
Demi Korrin Alvarado, an Orlando DJ, creative director, and entrepreneur, builds inclusive, community-driven experiences that fuse music, culture, and storytelling
T E A M
Publisher Wendy Bloom
Editorial Social Media
Kattie Muñiz
Editor-in-Chief
Emma Drauer
Writer
Daniel Reynoso Web Developer
Art & Photography
Amanda Kossina Photographer
Kattie Muñiz Graphic Designer
Jamie Nieves Social Media Director
Events & Administration
Jenny Gallard Operations Manager
