me & my BIG ideas

enjoying the routine

WOW!  This summer has been quite a whirlwind.  I can feel Fall creeping in...and I love it. I am happy to be home and settling into my routine.  I find comfort there.

 

This picture was taken of Lauren, Kayla & Tyler at our friend, Tara's wedding.  I was in Amsterdam and couldn't make it.  When I got home and saw these pictures, I was blown away!  My kids looked SO OLD and SO GORGEOUS (if I do say so myself).  And Lauren looked like Grace Kelly!!!  The rest of the family looked equally as amazing.  Life really goes so fast.

Now for a bit of NEWS:  There will be a bit of a change in blogland!  I'm starting to complete the design for the official MAMBI blog.  It will be more focused on projects and inspiration as well as exclusive content with specific regards to mambi!  I will post the link here once it's ready.  THIS BLOG will become my personal blog...since that's kind of what it has developed into.  So, for family and friends...you will be able to keep up with what we're up to here.  And anyone else who may, for whatever reason, find us interesting...you're welcome too.  But I warn you, there will probably be a lot of baseball coverage, beach days, travel and kid updates.  

the freedom that comes with art journals::

My art journal is a place for me to write, experiment and to not be afraid of the process.  It's a place where my heart and soul can be heard yet not exposed.  In the process of learning about art and about myself, my art journal is mine and mine alone.  No editing, erasing or tearing out the imperfect pages...although I'm often tempted. 

I started this particular journal after attending Artfest and it has helped my creative voice speak out...even if I'm the only one listening.  I like it that way. 

The pages below were ones that I had to fight the urge to rip out.  I was playing around with new watercolors, brush and pens.  It was merely a spattering of nothingness but it stays as a reminder.  The perfectionist in me (diminishing as she may be now) doesn't like this.  But letting go of the need to be perfect in order to be okay is part of my lifelong lesson.  So I'm embracing it.

A "blank" canvas for my thoughts today:

You can learn to make your own art journal HERE.  Teesha Moore is the rock star of art journaling.  I was intimidated to start after seeing hers and taking Pam Garrison's class at Artfest.  Their styles were very different from mine and I wasn't sure how mine would turn out.  But I love mine.  It's unique and changing  every day. 

Find your style.  Listen to YOUR heart!

Home again....

Whew...I'm home from an amazing time in The Netherlands!  I was teaching at KKD, an event hosted by our European distributor, KARS.  I met so many new people and saw such beautiful sights.  What a fabulous country and hospitable hosts!

Patty and I worked hard but also had a chance to see some of Amsterdam's historical sights...such as The Van Gogh Museum, The Anne Frank House, the canals, architecture and little sidewalk cafes.  And what trip to Amsterdam would be complete without taking an uncomfortable stroll through the Red Light District.  Very....um.....interesting.

Here are some pictures of the trip.

That's all for now. 

I have to get some laundry done, get adjusted to this time zone again, go to the grocery store, etc.  I plan to relax this weekend before heading back to work on Monday.  I'm really a lucky person to get to travel and see the world while I'm working.  We work really hard on the road but we do get to find some time to enjoy our surroundings as well.

Lucky girl.

relaxation in full swing

my MAUI to do list

1. relax and enjoy the beauty that is HAWAII...CHECK!
2. read at least one useless, summer romance novel...CHECK!
3. celebrate kayla's sweet sixteen...CHECK!
4. eat, drink and exercise (yes, exercise)...CHECK!
5. see a rainbow...CHECK!
6. decide what we want to do on a whim...in progress!!

We're having a blast here on Maui.  I've been able to put the stresses of everyday life to rest for now and I am enjoying every minute I have here with Kayla.  We make good traveling partners.  Laughing, exploring, shopping, eating....which reminds me...we need to get down for breakfast (or maybe it's brunch by now).  ALOHA!

mambi update today:

Getting ready to high-tail it into the office.  We have SO much going on at mambi!!!  It's hard to even remember what's hitting the shelves and when.  We work about a year ahead...making it hard to keep you updated without letting out any top secret projects!  :)

I'm evaluating the mambi blog and think it's about time for a more concentrated effort to keep you informed and inspired!  So look for some changes in the near future!

As for today, I'm getting ready for vacation and I have some big deadlines to take care of before I go.  If I have a spare moment at work today, I'll take some pics or video and give you some peeks at what's going on!

Have a creative day!!

20 years!!

My 20 year high school reunion was Saturday night!  I had SOOOO much fun connecting with old friends, dancing, talking and staying out way too late!  Our reunion commitee did a fabulous job of creating a COOL atmosphere for us all.  No hotel ballrooms for us.  OH NO!  We partied it up at Sutra in Costa Mesa with the one, the only, RICHARD BLADE as our DJ!  The hilarious part was at the end of our private party...the bar opened up to the general public (read: young, scantily-clad people).  I think I may have seen some of my friend's kids there.  "I'm telling your mom you wore that in public!!" 

And a note to self:  Staying out till 2:00 am isn't easy at my age. 

Thanks to our reunion commitee and the entire Irvine High School Class of 1989 for a great night!!!!

getting ready for CHA-Summer

I thought I'd give you a little sneak peek of what's been going on behind the scenes at mambi...getting ready for Orlando.

We have more new product than ever before.  So much so, that we almost couldn't fit it all in our booth!!  We're all getting prepared to head out to Orlando...not so sure about the sticky, hot weather..but looking forward to seeing many familiar faces and seeing what's new out there!

find your inspiration anywhere

When I need a inspiration boost....I head to Anthropologie!  It's no secret, they have THE BEST displays!!!  I check out every nook and cranny, every vignette and then I take some time to look UP and look across the store.  Fresh color combos, interesting patterns and all kinds of new ways to use paper.  It gets my out of the box thinking in full swing. 

This tree (although not a great picture) was created using crepe paper streamers that were twisted and hung on branches.  Just COOL.

a bright future....

I was just looking through the past year in pictures.  WOW!  What a year it's been for me and my family.  I tend to be pretty open here but I haven't really told it all. So, here it goes.  I'm gonna tell "the story" quick and then I'm closing that chapter of my life and moving on.

The past couple years have been extremely difficult for me.  I have seen the end of my almost 20 year marriage.  With it...a lifetime of pain.  However, today, I am on the other side of the destruction.  My life is now filled with love, happiness and hope.  Feelings that I wasn't sure still existed for me.  And although most of what I built is now in shambles (with the exception of my business)....I am rebuilding an incredible life!!  I am blessed to have two of the most amazing children in the world (as grown up as they may be), a business and career that I love, a supportive and loving family and a circle of friends that I wouldn't trade for the world.

I moved from my home....with my daughter.  And I'm surprised how much the change in my environment has affected me.  Our little apartment is really different from the house I called home. 

The one thing you can count on in life is that things WILL change.  The variable?  How will you handle that change?  I will come out on the other side victorious.  Happy.  Peaceful.  Proud.

So that's it in the nutshell.  Life is filled with hills and valleys.  I'm leaving the valley and working my way to the top of a hill with an amazing view. 

These two have kept me strong through it all.

And now that I have my personal life in check...I'm trying to find my creative time again.  I just don't feel complete when I'm not engaging my creative soul on a daily basis. 

BRING ON LIFE...I'M READY!!!

back from CABO::

Ah, does it get any better than that?  That was the view from my room in Cabo Baby!!!  I just got back from an amazing trip with my family (the Gaines branch:: Dad, Judi, Tim, Chris & Katy).  It was so relaxing.  The weather was perfection.  The Pacificos were plentiful.  And who can beat great time with your family? 

I'm waiting for the picture swap...as I'm not in many from my camera.  But here are some cool shots from the trip.