Finding Joy in the Now

I'm not too old, but I'm definitely not young. I was born when the world was analog. I remember Batibot, cassettes, Betamax, and when Debbie Gibson was at her peak. I used a typewriter to write the first draft of my college thesis. I didn't have apps to tell me where to eat; I just wandered until I smelled something good.

I'm turning 46 in a few months and, just this morning, I caught myself marveling at the simple pleasure of an empty hamper. The opinions of others start to matter less, and my own inner peace matters more.

When I look in the mirror, I see a person who's been through a lot and, hopefully, has a lot more to go. I see a collector, gathering the moments, not things. I'm collecting the memory of my daughter's expression when she made that accidental ollie, and my son's face during his first bike ride.

I'm grateful for the past, excited for the future, and just happy to be here for the ride.

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When chocolate meets art

I heard it's National Chocolate Day, so I thought I'd share this video about Orlando's newest and sweetest attraction.

Hand-Painted Bags That Tell Your Story

Most bags today look like they were produced by bored machines in a dimly lit factory. You can walk into any mall and find rows of identical leather (or “leather-like”) things, all claiming to express individuality. Ironically, though, they all look exactly the same. Then there’s Abby Verano . Her bags are not mere accessories; they’re declarations. Each one is hand-painted, touched by an actual human being with an imagination. Abby doesn’t just sell you something to put your wallet and smartphone in; she sells you a story, a vision, a little revolt against the tyranny of sameness. Her tools are simple — brushes, acrylic paint, bags made from pandan leaves, and creativity. No duplicates. No clones. Just one-of-a-kind art pieces you can carry.

'The Immigrant' by Michael Murphy

Michael Murphy is a master when it comes to optical illusion. His most recent work, The Immigrant , is a three-dimensional composition made of 2,300 black wooden spheres suspended with translucent fibers. When you view the sculpture from the right angle, the seemingly chaotic array of objects suddenly aligns to form an image of Michael's partner Natasha Vladimirova. The imagery was inspired by the contributions immigrants make in enriching the society and economy. Natasha is an immigrant and it is with her help that the artwork was made possible. Michael studied sculpture at Kent State University and received his masters degree from The School of the Art Institute of Chicago. The Brooklyn-based artist became famous when he created the first fine art portraits of Barack Obama during his 2007 presidential campaign. His work has been featured in various publications and websites and can be seen in numerous permanent installations around the globe.

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