MOURNINGFYRE

Some birthdays ask for cake. Mine asks for flame, bass, desert sky, and the kind of friends who will juggle on a lawn before heading into a festival packed with gems, art, music, and magic. Gem and Jam has become one of those places that feels braided into my personal calendar. It lands on my birthday weekend, which already makes it special, but the real pull is deeper than the date. It is the people, the music, the handmade art, the desert air, and the chance to step into a

Growing up in New Jersey in a family that adored hockey, I always admired the thrill of scoring a hat trick—three goals in a row. This idea resonates with me as I navigate the festival season, where I find myself repeatedly evaluating how I can attend events while maintaining a happy home life balance. Each festival presents a unique set of choices: Will I immerse myself in the atmosphere? Will I teach one or multiple classes? Should I host a vending booth brimming with props