Giving Back through Design

When it comes to giving back my heart is an open door especially when it comes to children and inspiring people.

I recently had the honor of designing a room for a young girl who “aged out of the foster care system.”  With no where to go her life was turned around by a remarkable woman - Lauren Burns. For more information on Lauren and her life saving organization to to www.theteenproject.com and to read the article about my involvement go to 

Foster teens have a new home

http://www.ocregister.com/news/garcia-242066-home-foster.html?pic=2

The Teen Projects Mission Statement

“To provide teens aging out of the foster care system with all of the resources and support of an intact family. To allow the greatest opportunity for a successful transition to adulthood.”

“The transition from adolescence to adulthood is a difficult transition, even with an intact family structure.  Recent studies have shown that the average young person must rely on parental support during this transitional period, and do not actually become self-sufficient until age 26.  By contrast, youth exiting the foster care systems do not have this option; they are cut off from their sole support system at age 18.

Where most teens are entering this time of their life with a sense of awe and opportunity, foster kids are left in a state of desperation.  Without a home to return to, they often sleep on couches, in cars or turn themselves in to the local homeless shelter.  For these kids the future is bleak.” 

From The Teen Project.

I want to thank Astek Inc. Wallpaper for donating this killer Down Town LA pray paint style wallpaper. 

For more information about Astek Inc. wallpapering go to

www.astekwallcovering.com

The big reveal!

The reaction! 

The best part of my job as a designer - the impact and positive changes it makes in peoples lives. 

35 - and three weeks

It is late. My body and my mind are calling me to bed.

It was another incredible week of my life.

I will share detail very soon.

35 and two weeks.

This weeks blog comes to you from New York City!

Today was a very exciting and surreal moment for me. In many ways its been one of those moments in life "we think about, but wonder when it will happen." For those of you who are getting to know me and my many works, first and foremost, I am a woman who believes in helping those in need. Always questioning, "how my education can serve others before myself."

Over the last few years my passion for helping others has grown tremendulously from working along side Habitat for Humanity partners to families on Extreme Makeover Home Edition.

Today, I am proud to announce another step in my journey - I am the ambassador for the "My Expressions of Kindness Campaign." To learn more visit www.expresskindnesscampaign.com. It truly is an honor to be the ambassador of something that I am deeply passionate about - and that is spreading the message of kindness.

It is my first time to the "big apple", and today at the launch, I had the pleasure of meeting many men and woman who share my belief in empowering others to live a life of kindness. This truly is a simple and beautiful message. My hope is that you will take the time to go to the website mentioned above and join me in helping raise $250,000.00 for three deserving charities. The best thing about it is it won't cost you a cent - only the joy of knowing that you will be helping someone else in need.

The next steps in my journey of life are unfolding...

I leave you with a quote of mine - "don't give because it makes you feel good. Give because others deserve your kindness."

May this inspire you today to reach out and bless someone in need.

35 - and one week!

The first week of my 35th birthday has taught me that I must learn the art of pacing myself. I must confess - I rush a lot. I’m always hurrying up to do this and hurrying up to do that. Early on in my career I became a pro at the art of multi tasking and meeting deadlines. My actions always reflected a schedule. A schedule I had to meet.

However today, my husbands gentle persistence paid off. I learned that meeting a goal wasn’t necessarily as important as understanding the journey of getting there.

I know this. I teach this. How could I so easily forget that it is the journey in life that is important - not the destination. Nevertheless, today I did forget - because I was rushing.

What should have been an exciting experience of opening a new bank account and depositing a healthy check, turned into a lesson of lack of preparation. I considered our deposit - just one of the many things “I” wanted to “check of the list.” What I failed to acknowledge was that it was something “we” planned to experience together. I forfeited turning to my husband and sharing “our” ideas – all because I was anxious to “get it done.”

I quickly realized that I took the joy of discovery out of learning and sharing with my husband.

My husband is a patient man. At times, I am not. My lack of preparation proved that I didn’t do my homework. For starters, I was unsure of what bank to go to. What type of account we needed to open, and what we needed in order to make it a successful transaction. I didn’t slow down and turn to my husband so that “we” could make the best banking decision for our future.

It took only one sweet look from my loving husband to remind me that he is my friend, my partner, and my biggest supporter. His display of patience and kind words reminded me that it is the experiences that we share in our journey that count – not how fast we can check things off our “to-do” list.

We didn’t get to deposit our money into a new bank account today. However, something greater happened. I learned to slow down and pace myself.

Corporate banking here I come.

35 and counting!

My husband just brought in a vibrant vase of flowers. They are a birthday gift from a business client - bold in color and pungent in their aroma. I can’t help but admire the detail of their beauty, and marvel at God’s great works. I guess I have always been that way - passionate about the simplest things in life, even wild purple flowers. I see beauty in all things.

When I think back over my life I have always been that way. As a child I wondered about “life,” and at 35 I still do. I wonder at times how we can be so kind to strangers, but find it difficult to tell our flesh and blood that we love them. Or why there is a wealth of food in the world, but millions are starving – right now, today. There are many questions we face in life; however what I have come to understand is that we have the power to choose to live an abundant life, and be the change we want to see.

Today, I’d like to share my passion for life and where is comes from.

Many people ask why am I so happy. Where do I get my energy from, and how can I be so giving. My inner peace and will to live an abundant life has not always come easy. I can recall more than a hand full of times where I have fallen short. However, it is because of Gods unconditional love that I have had the strength over the years to rise up and pursue a life of service.

I believe life itself is a gift from God. Every single human being born into this world has a purpose, and when understood, has the ability to live a fulfilling life.

It is your birthright.

I also believe the gifts and talents God has given me are so that I can inspire others to believe in themselves, reach their goals, and understand we are one world - one people.

Giving to others is a part of the fundamental fibers of my being.

Through many life lessons God has protected me, loved me, and carved out a journey I marvel at every single day. It is because of his love that I am who I am, and do what I do.

I am 35 today, and more than ever I am beginning to see Gods prophecy over me, and his plan for my adult life. I know there is much to do – so today I wanted to start by sharing where my inspiration and motivation comes from - God.