My Top Five (Personal) Moments of 2009

Ah...2009...you were so good to me and my family!

Some  moments that have stuck with me from this year...

5.  Joining a Zumba class!  This has been the BEST thing I have done for me, my health and well-being, and my sanity!  The excersize, returning to my "dance" roots while getting in (some kind of) shape, and getting a chance to meet some really great women!  The best part of it , beyond FEELING better, is that I WANT to go...which makes it a lot easier to go :)

4.  Watching my nephew, Austin (on the left), play with my son, Jack.  Austin is autistic, and doesn't always "engage" others in active play.  When we visited back home in Western New York over the summer, we were walking near my parents house - me, my two kids, my sister, and her two kids.  At one point, Austin reached for Jack's hands, and started singing "ring around the rosie" while spinning Jack around! This was incredible! Jack had been following Austin around for several days, tryin SO hard to get Austin to play with him, not understanding Austin's Autism.  You should have seen Jack's HUGE smile when Austin finally played with him!

3.  My two children going to school together for the first time! It was summer school, but it still counts! A couple hours to myself...Jack walking Ari to her class like a protective big brother...it was so cute!

2.  Finally making the connection with Jack's behavior and his sensitivity to food coloring.  I can't begin to tell you how much this has changed our day-to-day lives.  Jack is SO much calmer now, and no longer has a melt-down at the smallest problem.  His behavior at school is showing vast improvement, and he is following directions and rules much better. Sure, he's still an almost-5-year-old, and has his moments, but I used to be tense all day, not knowing Jack was going to have his next melt-down! If I could shout this info from the roof-top, I would.  I want nothing more than to help as many people as possible make this connection a LOT earlier than we did!

1.  Celebrating 10 years of marriage! I'm sure that someday, this will seem like a small feat...I want to reach 50 years together! But here, and now, I am really proud to be Mrs. D. H., and I am really proud of us, and truly Blessed to have such a wonderful husband.

I hope you had some wonderful, memorable moments in 2009...and I wish you many more in 2010!

My Top Five (Art) Moments of 2009

2009 has been a very good year for me! My top 5 "art" moments of the year...

5. Reaching almost 200 sales in my Fine Art on Etsy shop. It took me exactly 12 months to reach my first 100 sales, and in the following 6 months I doubled it. I have also had my first 4-digit $$$ sale on Etsy, original Artwork sold to several different countries including Australia and Singapore, and prints went to dozens of states and numerous countries as well.

4. Having three of my drawings selected to be used in the Mercer Frame Collection at Restoration Hardware Stores across the country. I think they have an incredible style, and was honored that my work complimented their collection.

3. Meeting a very talented Poet, miss Laura Mecurio Ebohon, who asked to use my painting . "Guarded" on the cover of her new book of Poetry. It is such a thrill, and very humbling, when someone connects with my work on a personal level. But then to want to have her work - her poems - associated with my Art is even a greater compliment.

2. Creating, thruout the year, several drawings and paintings that I am extremely proud of. Pieces that have pushed me further, that have captured something special. The Angel Paintings are a high point for me - I knew they were special as I painted them. They were pieces that consumed me for several days, all I wanted to do was paint! I love those paintings that obsess you for days on end.

1. Traveling to Italy and experiencing amazing, incredible, mind-blowing Art and Architecture. The opportunity to sit and sketch in front of Michelangelo's David, the chance to see the Sistine Chapel in person, standing in awe at St. Peter's...what a mind-boggling trip. (and a big thank you to my hubby of 10 years for making it happen!) I'm looking forward to returning to Italy, perhaps with fellow artists, perhaps with my children, so I can embrace the history and beauty even more.

I have to think of my top-5 non-art moments, too!