Last week I turned 40! To celebrate we went on a week long vacation through the desert. We went to Joshua Tree, Palm Springs and to the tippy top of Arizona so I could visit some caves. It was a much needed break and I have a post planned to share all about it. I have been reflecting on what it means to be 40 and how I feel at this new stage. In my twenties I had no idea who I was or who I wanted to be and spent a lot of trial and error figuring that out. In my 30’s I figured it out. I knew exactly who I wanted to be and I spent most of that 30’s decade climbing an extremely steep mountain to get to the top of it. Only to find out once I reached the top (my goals, graduating and getting a job in the profession I studied in) that there was a whole entire valley down below to explore! From my creativity and the possibilities that go along with the creative world, to family and friends life just keeps on ebbing and flowing like a bubbling pie finishing up in the oven. I went from waitressing for 15 years to going back to school in my 30’s to redefine myself as a professional graphic designer. After five years of experience of being an art director in an in-house art department I think I have, according to Malcom Gladwell’s 10,000 hour theory, mastered graphic design! Ha ha! Not quite, but I have gained quite a bit of experience and lessons learned in the process – which I am super thankful for. It’s true a lot of the kinks are worked out at this stage. You don’t have quite as much drama in your life, you have learned who your true friends and family are and surprisingly still finding new people along the way!

Here is no particular order are a few things I am thankful for over the years since turning 40:

  1. I am pregnant with my first. We never tried and then when we did I became pregnant pretty fast. We had major plans, finish school, buy a house, have a kamillion $$$ saved. I am super calm about it which is weird. It does feel like it is taking forever until this little he or she arrives but there is a lot to plan in the meantime! I found out in March when I was still 39 and my due date is Thanksgiving day (November 22nd 2018) and I am and will be giving birth at 40!
  2. For my creative explosion period. I just cannot get enough. I am always thinking of or doing something where I am making, creating or learning about a new process. It brings me incredible joy and so I make it a top priority.
  3. For my husband who I have known for 17 years, married ten and now just having a baby with. He is my best friend, my rock and totally keeps me striving for my goals.
  4. My family, my sisters and parents. The struggle has been real but we fight it everyday because of love and family.
  5. My college friends, for Chelsea who was like my private counselor and made my class schedule every semester, a very talented illustrator who also loves animals and was like my number one supporter when it came to art- who I see rarely but is in my heart often. Aram who I watched struggle to find a decent artistic career out of school, never settled for a job outside his chosen profession and now is super successful, working his way up in the film industry in Atlanta. Luisa, Ivanna, Armene and Osanna who were my graphic design buds and we still make it a point to see each other, we aren’t the best at it but we try!
  6. Our friends through Jake’s old sound club days at the Knitting Factory. Soyon and Iain. They have been our friends for over ten years. They come over to our house when we need help installing things like garage door openers – nobody wants to do that but they help anyways. They have been around through the thick and the thin and we couldn’t do life without them.
  7. My work friends. There are many but the two that stand out are Emmanuelle who brings a shit load of class to the table with all of her French sayings and she always looks out for me and thinks of me. And Hana, who has opened up a whole other world of exploring art to me and am super grateful for that.
  8. My extended family, New York, Ireland, Maryland, Rhode Island and New Hampshire.
  9. For those 15 years waitressing. I learned so much on how to hold my own and how to navigate people, figure out what they needed/wanted so I could get paid! It really has shaped me for my role today and has helped me understand people.
  10. Thankful to my parents but also for being raised by parents who were not raised in the United States. My mom is from England and my dad is from Ireland. They have really shaped me to think outside the box even if that was not their original intention.
  11. Time to myself! It is super important to be alone with my thoughts. I need to recharge/re-focus and that is when I am the most successful at it.
  12. I have become really good at cooking. It is like doing art with food. I go in and out of phases but I cook quite a bit during the week for my husband and I.
  13. Gaining experience and learning major lessons both positive and negative from those experiences.
  14. Instagram – It is such a great platform to share all of my creative adventures.
  15. We bought a house in December 2016! It is a condo deep in the valley of Los Angeles but its ours and we can do whatever we want with it (within HOA rules – of course)!
  16. We both finally have decent/newish cars. One of them is even paid off!
  17. Our cat Tigre, we love him even with only one good ear. Yes he is very demanding but we don’t care.
  18. Hiking – I love exploring L.A.’s mountains. It is usually calm and peaceful, a great place to reflect. There are rarely any traffic jams on those trails!
  19. Being close to the beach, especially Malibu, it is a great way to spend the day.
  20. All that Los Angeles has to offer, the museums, the parks, the Huntington Library, the Descanso Gardens, all the great restaurants and coffee shops.
  21. Chocolate dipped soft serve cones – THE BEST.
  22. My mark IV, 5D Canon camera! Takes amazing pictures in all kinds of low lighting.
  23. For this blog, which helps me record all of my creative endeavors.
  24. Wood working! I have accidentally become a wood worker and love it!
  25. My evening walks with Luiza, we are trying to make a bi-weekly tradition of it!
  26. Ladies who Art! Founded by Luiza, Ivanna, Armene and myself. We have made an art club. We get together when we can and we make things together.
  27. Having a job in a field I wanted to be in!
  28. For all the amazing shows on tv. Game of Thrones, Westworld (confusing but still watch it), Big Little Lies, Barry, Last Week Tonight With John Oliver, Real Time With Bill Maher and so many more!
  29. For all of my art projects that I have planned in the future! So many good things coming your way!
  30. For my skills in InDesign, Photoshop and Illustrator.
  31. Coffee. A really good cup of coffee can change the world.
  32. Desserts: Ice cream, chocolate covered anything, cookies, brownies – I welcome all desserts.
  33. The internet! I know that sounds crazy but I knew life before the internet and it has changed all of us.
  34. Podcasts. I list my favorite here. I listen to a variety. I have completely stopped watching all the housewife shows and only listen to podcasts about it which is enough and keeps me up to date.
  35. Blogs! So many have grown to be entrepreneur power houses! Here are some of my favorites: A Beautiful Mess, Oh Joy, Style By Emily, Almost Makes Perfect, Chris Loves Julia, Young House Love, The Candid Appetite, and Half-Baked Harvest.
  36. Sleeping. Can’t get enough of it. I want to take all the naps.
  37. Really good shoes, I only buy here for dress shoes now. Where comfort and style co-habitate.
  38. Breakfast burritos, with potatoes, bacon, eggs and cheese.
  39. My own office/studio where I get to be creative and work.
  40. Getting to do it all over the next day, everyday!