Spring and summer are such inspiring seasons for me. I don’t have to go far, the blooms and beauty that surrounds my home is breathtaking. 
I tell my son “ god is an artist” and he says “how do you know?” And I say “ look around. Look at all of these colors, who else could create such beautiful things!”
Some times it’s all so overwhelming! I want to capture each and every shape and color and I have to pause and remind myself that it’s already in front of me and there’s nothing to capture, I just need to sit back and enjoy it! 
So many nooks and crannies to discover and get lost in! This to me is the best childhood playground! Greens so vibrant and breathtaking! It’s like standing in a library of books and wanting to read each and every book. I stand here and I want to look at every growing thing, up close and personal and there’s just not enough time. Or is there, and we just don’t make enough time for it? Sitting down and using what’s around me for inspiration has allowed me to slow down a little and make more time for observations and appreciation for the beauty that nature provides. 
Category Archives: Inspire
1990’s Couture
I found my old sketch book from my younger days. At the time, I was living in Brooklyn, and I had to be around 11 or 12, maybe a little younger, but definitely not older, as we moved from Brooklyn when I was around 13.
For the longest time, I wanted to be a fashion designer! I wanted to live in NYC and go to the Fashion Institute of Technology. I loved fashion magazines and remember seeing vendors selling them out on the streets, down in the train stations or in the local grocery stores. My mom never purchased any magazines, so I was very excited when I got my hands on my first copy of Cosmopolitan. Not sure how I got it, maybe an older cousin or my neighbor. I can still remember slowly turning each page with anticipation. I loved the texture of the pages, the smell, and I just remember feeling so fancy. These may have been bridesmaids’ dresses. I had lots of older cousins either having sweet sixteens or getting married. It was a time of festivities. These look like fun party dresses. I remember really liking the one to the right with my chain straps. 
I might have wanted to be a hairstylist too! I’m loving the wide-leg pants here to the left and my chain straps again!
I still can’t believe I drew a cigarette in her hand. It must have been inspired by my father, who always had a cigarette in his hands! She looked cute in her outfit.
I went to a lot of weddings as a kid! I had thirty cousins in total, twelve from my mom’s side and eighteen from my dad’s side of the family. 
I can still remember a time in my life when I spent hours drawing and dreaming of a career as a fashion designer. Although I didn’t pursue that path, I still enjoy drawing and creating. I have many sketchbooks that I plan to start filling again. They say that the things you loved doing as a child often come back to you as an adult.
February Rest
I’ve been craving rest this February, and I’ve been surprised by how it has come to me in unexpected ways.
This house is full of life; it’s vibrant and active, filled with beautiful heartbeats that need different kinds of nutrients to thrive. A beautiful thing of course. They are the most precious things to me in this world. As their center, I sometimes feel like the dashboard or central station, responsible for keeping everything running smoothly. However, I realize I need a reboot, a new battery, a new charger to charge the battery! I need a new flow of oxygen so I can continue giving my loved ones the support they need to flourish. I’m slowly shifting my priorities this year to include rest in my list of things to do. I love my list, which includes tasks like doing laundry, cooking, cleaning, and food shopping. These are all privileges that come with the dream of having a big family. God has made my dreams come true, but there’s upkeep involved. The only way to avoid exhausting myself is to find rest in between and engage in activities that nourish me. This month, I’ve been intentional about adding those things to my to-do list. I’ve started reading a book, signed up for a watercolor class (I haven’t taken an art class since college), and I’m listening to an audiobook during my car rides. I even tried water marbling, which was so much fun! I’m definitely feeling more rested, and it’s so important to refill my own well-being.
Let all that you do be done in love.
I absolutely love this verse. It’s helped me to get through a lot of dirty laundry, dirty dishes, and just some things I don’t want to do. It’s helped me to stop and listen to my 6 year old tell me about his villager dying while playing Minecraft. Or stopping everything to listen to one of my daughters tell me about the day they had. It’s helped me to stop and help a stranger when I didn’t have the time. It’s helped me to admit that I might actually be wrong a lot! It’s helped me to stay up late and wash the shirt or leggings one of my children needed for the next day. This verse has supported me in raising my children, being my best as a wife, being a good employee, and hopefully being a good friend and family member. It’s guided me to listen more intently, support others, and try to be less irritated with those whom I love.
Most importantly, this verse has helped me forgive unconditionally and reminded me that we are all human and make mistakes. Above all, it encourages me to approach everything with love. I still need this verse as a daily reminder, and some days I fall short, but keeping it close to my heart helps me make kinder, more loving choices more often than not. If I could have my children remember one verse or mantra for life, this would be it.
Vision Board Night
I hosted a vision board night with some friends and my four children to wrap up January and set our intentions for February. The evening is definitely one of my favorite memories from 2026! It was so enjoyable to combine three of my favorite activities: eating, chatting, and creating. I felt right in my element and, as a result, didn’t do much creating of my own; instead, I spent a lot of time observing the creativity around me and soaking in the atmosphere. Watching people create is one of my favorite pastimes, as it offers a glimpse into their minds. You can learn a lot about someone through what they produce, and it was truly wonderful to discover more about these extraordinary women—and my little boy, too! I actually didn’t have to purchase much for this event, as I had collected many magazines over the years, along with lots of collage paper and other embellishments for my guests to use. I provided boards, old empty picture frames, and spiral notebooks for them to choose as their base.
Having worked with young children and my own kids for many years, I had plenty of glue sticks and scissors suitable for little hands, which also worked perfectly for my adult guests! 
One item that I did purchase, and which was well worth it for the event, was the Lamare Vision Board Book from Amazon. It contained over 1,000 images and motivational quotes, which was more than enough for nine people to share, with plenty of images and pages left over. I also asked my guests to bring any clippings, photos, magazines, or their own journals or boards that they’d like to include. I laid everything out on a spare table and everyone was free to collect, cut, and dream away!
I loved watching my daughters and my son gather together, chatting, laughing, and dreaming together. The process to me is always more exciting than the final product. I did love seeing what images they were propelled to paste down on their boards. 
Isabel’s pink tones throughout her board show her planning from beginning to end. She’s going to bring this board to life from beginning to end! 
Melinas, I love her “MAKE IT HAPPEN AND SHOCK EVERYONE” quote, the funny thing is, she’s going to be the one shocked, not everyone else. We all believe in her more than she believes in herself!
Lias is focusing on getting straight A’s! Yeah! Looks like she’s got some traveling plans, fitness, and eating healthy. I love her “slow progress is still progress” quote. So true Lia! You’re wise beyond your years!I love the things you love!
and for my grand finale…
This board is so you, Liam! Money, basketball, sneakers, 2023 must have been a good year? Jesus! Love your visions, so precious!
I finally finished a page in my journal. I decided to do a journal versus a completed board. Committing to a board or feeling like I had to fill up space on a board and call it complete was too much of a commitment for this erratic, chaotic, uncertain, creative, ever-changing MIND! I think I’m going to go month by month. I finally finished what I wanted to accomplish in January! I accomplished some of these goals, and whatever I didn’t, I can carry into February.
And that’s a wrap!
Love letters
Valentine’s Day is behind us, and the month of love, which we all know as February, has paved its way into March. However, that does not mean the opportunity to write or send love to someone is over. There’s even more reason to reach out to someone you love or someone you don’t know because the truth is there’s never a good reason not to. Moreloveletters.com is an online organization started by Hannah Brencher in 2011 that allows people to nominate loved ones needing extra support and love. Strangers can then sign up to receive these requests and handwrite their letters, which are then delivered to the person in need. I love this organization and think how amazing it is for someone to receive love and support from even a stranger.
Tiny Book of Tiny Pleasures
I found this adorable little treasure titled The Tiny Book of Tiny Pleasures, written by Irene Smit & Astrid Van Der Hulst on thriftbooks.com.
It’s a Tiny Book filled with simple joys and pleasures in everyday moments such as taking a warm bath or planting a garden—sprinkles on your ice cream or a pretty scarf. Drawing with chalk or spotting a bird’s nest. The possibilities of finding Tiny pleasures are endless. You can find them every single day. Even on your worst day, a tiny pleasure is sure to be waiting for you. Maybe it’s under a warm blanket or in a cup filled with tea. Maybe it’s a book or the simple glow of the evening moon. Maybe it’s a little lit candle or a nice cozy pillow.
A simple raindrop or a comfy shoe. Your favorite morning mug that holds a fresh brew of coffee. Wherever you look, you’ll find a little thrill. 
With winter coming to an end and spring right around the corner there are so many tiny and big pleasures awaiting you. 
I can’t wait for this one!
“I PAINT MY OWN REALITY”
“I Paint my own reality”, I included this quote over 20 years ago on my college graduation invitation. I heard the quote when we learned about Frida kahlo in one of my art classes. For the past 20 years, I’ve truly been the artist in creating this beautiful, abstract, colorful life of mine.
In my happy space
I love this adorable and creative calendar from MoonbyBrenda’s Etsy shop. It reminds me of all the little happy moments each month has to offer. February is bursting with love and kindness for ourselves and for others.
Do all things without grumbling…
“Do all things without grumbling or questioning, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world.”
His hands are small but his enthusiasm is big. Sometimes he makes little tasks more difficult than they are and take longer than they should, in the end though, he is learning and one day when his hands are bigger (hopefully his enthusiasm stays the same) he will be a big help.
