Yes, that's me at age seven winning my first art contest. What a rush! It seems so long ago (it was). See the judges behind me? I'm surprised they had colored film when this picture was taken.

When I was ten I won third place in an art contest held by the Florida Department of Transportation. That was the Big Time for me! I was so excited and driven to continue to draw, sketch and paint. 

Then in high school, I decided I would go to college to study Fashion Design since I liked art and I liked clothes - logical. I needed a career where I could be creative and Mount Mary College in Milwaukee was a good school. 

My mom did a great job getting me the basics for school but my roommate Renee and I wanted to decorate. Because money was tight I would draw pictures from a fashion newspaper called Women's Wear Daily. We could tape these to our wall; we weren't allowed to use nails. I loved drawing the body and drapes of fabric on clothes. 

My parents and friends always encouraged my passion for art but I felt I should be doing something more "important" and didn't pursue it professionally. Recently, after running myself raged trying create an entrepreneurial career of inventing things I had an Aha! moment and realized I'm happiest doing my art. It's what I love and I've finally learned what living authentically means. That is what's most "important".