The next step...

Summer is coming to an end...

In just a few weeks, both my boys will be in school!

I have some special news on the way, so hopefully you'll stick around and check back soon!

For now, I am looking forward to what lies ahead and taking in every day as it comes. Life can be such an adventure if you take time to enjoy the ride. Ups and downs are really part of the journey to your destiny, something I strongly believe. If you have never fallen, you will never learn how to rise up and you can take that to the bank!

Anyhow, today is my youngest son's 5th Birthday!!!! Wow, I can't believe my eyes when I see how much he has grown these past years. He will be joining his brother this school year as he starts Kindergarten! Yay! Now...what to do with my free time?? Well, that's part of the special news I mentioned above, hehehe...

Before I go and until then, just want to give a shout out to my birthday boy! Yes, he is a SF Giants fan :)

Taking a breath....

Hey everyone!

Just wanted to check in and let you all know that I'm still around! I've been taking a little time to exhale and just BE. My little man, Josiah, just graduated Kindergarten and my youngest is starting this fall. Being that I have been a SAHM for these past 6+ years, it's been pretty emotional for me. I often stop and realize the truth about this quote--"the past is history, the future is a mystery, and the present is a GIFT." Time is surely one of those gifts that I just do not take for granted which is why I have made more effort these past weeks to be away from the computer and more present with my kids....

Also, my hubby has landed a new job that although he took a fairly small pay cut, it is located closer to home, great hours, and is one of the top fortune companies to work for. So, because he can be home more often and have more time to enjoy life as a husband and father, it's been such a wonderful change for all of us, especially the boys who love being able to see their Daddy before bedtime. Some of their favorite activities together are trips to the park, playing chess, working in the garden, and walks by the beach. And I have been so blessed to be able to have him home in time to eat dinner together as a family and for him to relieve me from time to time as I need my own little breaks....

So, thank you all for being patient with me and I hope you are enjoying your summer so far. I have a few projects in progress and upcoming collabs in the works! Be sure to check back and follow me on Facebook and/or Twitter for current updates.

In the meantime.... LIVE. LOVE. CREATE!!!!!!!!

3 Hearts Workshop | Art Journal In Progress Slideshow

Hey there...

About a month ago, Christy Tomlinson of Scarlet Lime, opened up an online workshop called--She Had 3 Hearts. This class has really given me an opportunity to dig deeper, not only into my creativity, but also within myself. So far, I've grown in my confidence and found courage to step out and explore who I am and who I've become. Not only does she teach all these amazing techniques with paint, pastels, watercolors, doodling, ephemera, and other mediums, but she is so down to earth, sweet, and inspiring as a person. I just LOVE her! She also has another workshop called She Art which I really want to take down the road. :)

On Flickr, I've joined the 3 Hearts Workshop group pool to share photos of my work with the community and also be inspired by others who are also taking the class. I've come to meet so many talented artists as well and love connecting with them. It's been so exciting and I just thought I'd share a slideshow featuring what I've done so far. It's something I really do feel proud of, knowing that lately I've been dealing with a lot of emotional issues about myself and dealing with personal struggles in my life. So, hope you enjoy this little clip and I will be adding more to this as I continue making more pages about the "3 Hearts" that I share with the world, my family, and myself.

xoxo,

Simply ME | Believe Art Canvas

Hello!!!

Today I wanted to share one of my mixed media art canvases that I recently worked on. It wasn't at all what I thought it would turn out to be. I seriously just took a leap of faith and experimented with it. After watching a few video tutorials that I searched on You Tube, I knew that I wanted to dig deeper into my creativity and let whatever I had inside, flow. If you read my post about my very first art canvas--My Creative Voice, taking a blank canvas to make something out of it can be very intimidating and scary. This being my second project, I had a little bit more confidence than before and learned to not fear mistakes. We all want to be perfect, but it's just not possible when we are all imperfect one way or another and that is perfectly normal because we are human. Right? Every little details, strengths and weaknesses, are what makes life beautiful as a whole....

The process that this took for me to create this, was really liberating. In the end, I felt like I had discovered a hidden part of me that I never knew existed. It was such an awakening for me since I struggled at times with my insecurities that I am not good enough or not as artistic like some of the most admirable artists that I have come to respect and love. Deep down, I crave to be different and to be able to achieve my own individual style.  Often at times, I think about whether or not I'm being who I'm supposed to be and not trying to be like everyone else. Part of me wants to be just like those who have inspired me, but then I also don't want to get too caught up in trying to be like others, that I end up failing to be true to me, which is why I tend to feel lost and frustrated at times when I create. I want to be original, real, and authentic, someone who is comfortable in her own skin without the need to be exactly like others in order to be satisfied and content with who I am.  Simply put, I don't want to be molded into someone else's shoes. Easier said than done, but I know I have to choose to look beyond my imperfections in order to embrace my uniqueness and stick to my own personal style. Like I mentioned above, our mistakes and flaws that we see in ourselves, all plays a part in becoming that unique and special person that we are.  All those little bits and pieces of good and bad, are what develops our character and qualities that set us apart from everyone else.  So, that is what I have learned so far in my journey in becoming a true artist, but simply being ME and who I truly am as a person...

 After applying gesso to the canvas, I randomly squeezed out acrylic and craft paint all over

 I used a old plastic card to spread the paint, mixing some of the colors up.

 While paint is still slightly damp, I splattered water on it and dabbed it dry with paper towel. I also used bubble wrap to add more texture and dimension.

 Once the paint was dry. I tore out hearts out of text book paper and planned where I was going to place them onto the canvas.

 I crumpled the hearts up for that aged and worn feel.

 I adhered the hearts using gel medium then, gave it some color using alcohol inks. I also added other stenciled shapes using paint.

Throughout the next few days, I added finishing touches with doodles, journaling, stamps, and paint splatters before I sealed it all with Mod Podge.

Title is BELIEVE | MATHEW 6:21 

"For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."

Journaling: "Living your best life takes passion to see your dreams come true. It takes passion to LIVE, to LOVE, and to CREATE the person you are meant to be. God destined you for an AMAZING purpose... Be true to yourself"

Thank you so much for reading through and hope you were inspired! I also have an upcoming post of some of my first Art Journal pages that I am creating for Christy Tomlinson's workshop--She Has Three Hearts. So don't forget to come back and visit!

xo,

Elderly Love....

The last week or so, Lola (filipino name for grandmother) has had a few visits to the ER because of her heart and gave all of us a scare. But, as we kept our faith and prayed for her, she came out of it okay. She is a fighter both physically and spiritually. Today, we decided to all go to the beach and take a walk with Lola. She has been advised by the doctor to try and get some exercise. She struggled at first, each step was a little challenging for her, but she kept going. After a short stretch, she wanted to turn around and go back, but we found a bench where she can sit and rest. All of us gathered around her and I could not help but take this picture of my boys sitting with their great grandparents (shown above). It made my heart simply melt.

As we started our walk back to the car, I know she was really pushing herself to take each step. She expressed that she was already tired and wanted to go home. We all congratulated her and enthusiastically told her that we were proud of her :) She looked at us and just gave us this big old smile! It was GREAT! She also said, "I'm happy. You're spending time with Lola."

Sometimes, I can't help but really admire elderly couples who have been married for decades and still hold on to one another with sincere devotion and dedication. It's such a gift and it is the example that I hope my husband and I hope to follow. Also, it is such a blessing to witness that they have lived to see the fourth generation. At 82 (LOLA-great grandmother) and 89 (LOLO-great grandfather), they are still very much alive and well with hearts and minds that are still strong and sharp. They do suffer age related weaknesses, but nonetheless, they have managed to keep going and refuse to stop living life as much as possible. 

Time is so short. I can't help but realize that these are the years to really cherish life with Lola and Lolo. It's amazing how their lives have made such an impact upon us that I know will last forever. My boys especially cannot go a day without wanting to be with them or at least see them since they live downstairs in our home. Their presence has definitely been significant in our home and in our family, always showing us compassion, love, and support. There have been lots of memories created with my boys that are priceless and precious, moments that I hope my boys will always remember. Every day, I hope to make every second count with them and to really treasure their lives as much as possible...

Josiah's First {Shutterfly} Photo Book :)

This finally arrived on my doorstep... :) And once I opened it, I could not help but get all teary eyed. Something about seeing your work and designs printed and reading the heartfelt words that I poured out on these pages, really resonates this sweet, fulfilling joy deep within... Especially when you see your son reading them with such enthusiasm and happiness that I created them about him and for him... Shutterfly does such a great job with these and I loved the look and feel of the photo pages overall. I also plan to make one for my youngest soon because I know he is anxious to have one of his own. Anyways, here's a few photos to share....

Front Cover

Some of my very first layouts dating back in 2007

Some of my recent layouts using my own ORIGINAL designs...

Josiah so happy with his first photo book

His eyes just melts my heart... I know he is thankful for it...

Josiah pointing at his favorite photo of him and one of his buddies at school....

*Sigh*.... I can't even express how much I love my boys and how much I cherish every single day with them. In just a few weeks, Josiah will be graduating from Kindergarten and going into the 1st grade while Lucas will be starting Kindergarten as well. Such an exciting and fun age they are in and I love, love, love being a part of their lives. So many memories and stories to share with them when their older, but photo books are so wonderful to have because I never know whether or not I'll be able to, just keeping it real... 

xoxo.

First Mixed Media Canvas | My Creative Voice

Last week, I was in this funky mood and it really stunk. I mean, I just couldn't shake it off and it felt like I was drowning within. Ever felt that way? If you want to know why I was in this little funk, you can read more about it here. Whenever I'm feeling that way, words are so hard to come by when I want to express what that is. So, after praying and meditating, I found a way to execute those feelings and thoughts.

I painted.....

Staring at a blank canvas can be so intimidating and a little scary. Before I started to put anything down, I worried about how I was going to do it, what colors to use, what to draw, and basically if it will turn out the way I want it to. Most of all, I was afraid to make any mistakes. Then it dawned on me, that MISTAKES are meant to happen as we go through life, isn't that right?? We all make mistakes and that is inevitable. Life is not perfect and so are WE. So, once I got over that fear, I jumped right into it whether or not I messed up. The only thing I let loose, was my imagination and it just took off from there. Yes, there were moments that I didn't like what I saw, but I kept going by painting another layer over it, redrawing and recreating textures and colors, and simply going with the flow. What was not so attractive before eventually became beautiful to me and that is the beauty of mixed media and art journaling. I felt like it reflected my life, how I've experienced such a difficult upbringing filled with so much pain, confusion, and resentment, but eventually became a life that has been enriched with grace, love, and joy....

On this 8x8 canvas, I gessoed it and played around with what I have on hand--craft acrylics, watercolor pencils, dry watercolor paints, heavy body acrylics, a butterfly rubber stamp, and india ink pens. I also experimented with collage using paper from an old book and gel medium. In the beginning I didn't expect to sketch out a portrait, but it evolved as I went along and in the end, I doodled the title--"I have a creative VOICE."  This is what the journaling reads....

"Creating art is my voice. Silence is my canvas where ideas begin to unfold and expressions of my heart can only be spoken through color and the creativity that flows through my hands. Spread your wings and fly."

I was a little reluctant to share this at first, thinking that I'm so new at this and cannot compare to the amazing mixed media artists out there. But, you know what, I'm doing this for me. This is what helped me get through the funk and gave me a sense of hope. I know that whatever I create is unique and straight from the heart which is authentic to who I am. Every artist starts somewhere and this is where my journey begins into mixed media art and art journaling. More to come....

xoxo,

25 Years Ago....

Just wanted to share a little bit about why May 21st is such a significant date for me (no, not because of the recent scare of Judgement Day). Every year, May and June always seems to be those few months out of the year, where I find myself a little down and depressed, especially when Mother's and Father's Day come around. This year marks 25 years since my beloved mother passed away from Leukemia and regardless of how so many years have come and gone, I still feel that pain and sorrow as if it were yesterday. Don't get me wrong, I do celebrate their lives and honor them during these special holidays and am very thankful that I can still cherish the memories I have of them. But of course, I still yearn and long for yesterday and often question what life would be like if they had lived. So, just wanted to briefly share what has been on my heart lately and how at times I tend to get lost in my emotions whenever I think of my parents being gone too soon. Yet, I do believe that one day when that moment comes, I will be reunited with them again and all I could do is live each day, one day at a time, living out my life the way they would have wanted me to, especially to be the best wife, mom, sister, and friend to those that are near and dear to my heart....

xoxo,

First 5 Years....

Hey y'all! Happy Wednesday!!!

Several months ago, I took advantage of a Groupon deal for Shutterfly--8x8 Photo Book for only $10-- and created my very first photo book of our first trip to Seattle as a family. The results were wonderful and my family enjoyed remembering our trip as we cherished these memories. So the next time Groupon posted this deal, I jumped on it immediately! Then just the other day I was going through my Groupons that I purchased, to make sure that I didn't forget to use them before they expired. So glad I did because I totally forgot about the Shutterfly deal which was going to expire in a week! I had not worked on it at all and felt really pressured to hurry and take advantage of it. 

Although, I wanted to make a cohesive album with a theme and color palette that coordinated together, I knew that time would not be on my side to create one. So, I realized that I still had all these digital scrapbook layouts that have not been printed (gasp!) and put in albums. Yes, I know... I am one of those! LOL! But, I finally did it today, by putting together all of my eldest son's scrapbook layouts that I've created over the years. It's definitely been a journey and I'm so glad I was able to document some of his special moments :) 

It's called---Josiah Robert Co | FIRST FIVE YEARS.....

Thanks for looking!!

Click here to view this photo book larger

Mother's Day -- Part I

Hope all you beautiful Moms had a wonderful Mother's Day! I just thought I'd share real quick some photos that highlighted my day.... 

beautiful orchids from my hubby

love letter from one of my sons--Josiah

My sons and I--Josiah and Lucas by SF China Basin

@ AT&T Park getting ready to watch the SF Giants MLB game!

And they won!!! woohoo!!

Josiah & Camryn the Little Giants

yummy Garlic Fries!!!

Lucas covering his ears because the crowds were going crazy, lol!

This was my FIRST time at the ball park watching the SF Giants and I loved it!! I'm so glad I got to experience it and see things happen live from a distance and not just on TV. Ever since last season when they began their journey towards the World Series, I can honestly say that I am such a fanatic and really hope they continue to defend their title as World Series Champions! Go Giants!!!! Yeaaahhhh!!!

My boys also had a blast as well and my hubby was happy that I had a good time! Also, my close friend and her family were with us which made it that much more memorable. We're already planning our next outing to their games soon! 

More photos to come!!!