When we think of cupcakes, cake, cookies...anything sweet we instantly have thoughts of happiness, whether from memories of mom and grandma baking in the kitchen when we were little, with wafts of sweet smelling treats floating through the air, to the smile a chocolate bar can put on our face to quell those sweet tooth cravings.  

But...think of sweetness as more than just a tasty treat, think of it in terms of how it makes you feel, the comforting fulfilling thoughts that are created when we have something sweet.  Take that feeling and turn it into YOUR "Sweetness".  Take those same thoughts and feelings and apply them to your dreams and goals, to your passion and be a more fulfilled, "sweeter" person.  Someone who is happier, determined and motivated to live a life full of achieved goals and happiness.

Be Sweet and Live the MAD Life!

Miami Art Basel is an event I've been wanting to do for years!  I live in Florida so it seems like it would have been something I've done before, but nothing ever lined up just right to make it all happen, but this year it just fell into place, I'm so excited to finally be going!  

I will be exhibiting with Art Blend Gallery at the Spectrum Miami show ~ "Discover SPECTRUM Miami—a juried, contemporary art show in the heart of Midtown Miami featuring an international slate of artists and galleries. It’s where contemporary meets extraordinary. Join us for a 5-day fine art experience, featuring music, entertainment and other special events."

In addition to having my art on display, my "Living the Dream"© painting is also the featured art in the VIP lounge and the cover of Art Blend magazine available in Barnes and Noble locations around the country, on Amazon, Hudson Booksellers and more.  I will be in Miami during this time visiting the show and meeting people as well as visiting other satellite art shows and events, I'm going to be immersed in art for 5 days, I can't wait!!

If you would like to come see me and my art in person I also have tickets available here.

Never give up!  Always know there are more opportunities and 2nd chances available, and they will always be there, just keep looking for the golden opportunity to present itself.  Encourage yourself to dream bigger, reach higher and always have a sense of fun and cheer while striving for your dreams and making big things happen!

It's so important to find balance in our life's, within and towards other people.  Balance creates a sense of calm and peace which minimizes stress and creates an overall sense of happiness and positivity.  One of the easiest ways to achieve harmony and balance is not to dwell on negative events or thoughts.  Sure, we all go through difficult times and are confronted with problems we have to figure out on a daily basis, but we get to choose how those problems affect us, try to find the positive angle to every problem and turn a negative into a positive.

One area that I find particularly negative is anywhere that someone has the option to comment online; far too many people think that they have the right to be verbally abusive to complete strangers, simply because they are not face to face with them.  I personally experienced this earlier today and was quite taken aback as it was directed at me for doing something nice!  At first I was hurt and stunned at the meanness directed at me, but then I realized, I didn't do anything wrong, my kindness was truly coming from the heart, and that this wasn't really about me at all.  This person must be going through something difficult or is just a negative person to begin with and find anything to complain about or other's to take their anger and stress out on.  I unfortunately became their target, but I'm not going to let it get to me, as I'm a strong person and have confidence that what I was doing was the right thing.  

It was a reminder to me not to let other people's negatively affect to me, to explain my side if need be, and then move on and not engage with that person any longer.   I've noticed these types of people will never admit the way they are behaving is wrong or they defend their words/actions by saying they have a right to their opinion.  But, there is a difference between having an opinion and expressing it in the right way versus being verbally abusive or bullying.  Whenever you are confronted with the latter, the best thing is just to walk away, be the bigger person and find peace and harmony by not letting the other person get to you, and be an example and support to other's who may also be dealing with these kind of issues.  It's simply not worth the stress it causes to engage with negativity, on any level ~ create harmony instead.

Creating fun, uplifting art is a part of who I am, it defines me in so many ways and comes from the deepest, truest part of my soul.  Over the years of being an artist and having the opportunity to share my gift with so many people, I've come to realize that it's about more than just painting a pretty picture; but how beautiful, colorful art impacts people in such a positive way.  I personally know how much colorful, fun art makes me happy, each time I get to paint and create new art I feel fulfilled and have a much more positive outlook on life.  

So many collector's and fans of my art have sent me the most beautiful, heartfelt messages about how my art has impacted them in a positive way, sometimes when they are going through a difficult time in their lives and how it has helped them through it.  One of the most impactful moments in my art career and as a human being was years ago when I received an e-mail from someone who had recently purchased one of my original paintings...it makes me tear up just thinking about it.  A young gentleman told me how he had to have my painting, it just spoke to him on such a deep, personal level.  When he received the painting he said he propped it up on the dresser in the motel room he was temporarily living in...he confessed he wasn't really in any financial position to purchase the painting as he was going through some very difficult life changes (he didn't elaborate), but that he needed this painting in his life.  Every time he would look over at the painting in his lonely motel room it would make him realize everything was going to be okay and gave him hope to keep moving forward and not give up.  He said he would even wake up in the middle of the night and kept a light on by the painting so he could look over at it and stay positive in the darkest, most difficult hours.  I never heard from him again, but I hope the painting still provides him comfort and hope, and that his life is much better and he's a stronger person for having made it through such a difficult time.

​To this day I am so moved by the fact that something I created from my own heart and soul would be such a beacon of light to another human being...it's one of the many messages I've received that motivates me to keep creating art that is positive and uplifting, I have been given a gift to help others in a very emotional and touching way, I can't ever give that up.  So, I've decided to start a new campaign I'm calling "Livin' the MAD Life"™ (MAD of course stands for my initials :) that is about uplifting and inspiring others to be positive and to help others in times of need.  To also try to stop bullying whenever we see it, whether in person or online...it's such a huge issue today that impacts far too many people in a negative manner.  I hope that with my blog posts and coinciding art in this new campaign I can do my part to spread positivity and inspire others to do the same.  

I will be creating little 6"x6" "Mini PoP's" for this campaign along with other fun, positive inspired art for "Livin' the MAD Life"™ products, with larger one's every now and then, that have messages of encouragement, strength, success, goals, dreams, love, motivation...any kind of image/symbol that promotes positivity.  There is far to much negativity and bullying in this world, I would like to do my part to brighten up the world just a little bit and hope you can help me do that!!  Please spread the word and share the "Livin' the MAD Life"™ blog posts I will be creating for this campaign to help create a greater, positive impact on everyone who reads/sees them.  Each of the little Mini PoP's will be available for purchase, a fun little piece of art to remind you, or to gift to someone, of how important it is to always be positive and encourage others to do the same.  My wish is that each one of these little Mini's can have the same positive impact and message of hope and inspiration, that my painting had for the young gentleman years ago.

You know what this means??!!  It's time to celebrate and have a giveaway!!  I'm going to be giving away this original 18"x24" "Poppy Love"© painting to one lucky winner :)  Valued at $1,500

The rules are very simple:

1. comment on this blog post, say anything you want! (well, so long as it's nice and positive, hehe :)

​2. you must also be subscribed to this blog, and verify the e-mail, (use the susbscribe box below) I will be checking to make sure everyone is verified subscribed who comments in order to make it fair to everyone. 

3. be sure to leave your first name in your comment

4. check back on the evening of the 4th or Monday morning to see who the winner is, I will be announcing the winner at the top of this post.

I will be randomly selecting a winner from all of the comments on Sunday evening (Oct. 4th) - That's it!! Good luck and thank you all so much for following my blog and making my facebook page reach 30,000 followers!