My Aha Moment – a tough personal share encouraged by Newell Turner, House Beautiful, BlogFest 2012

In the “About Us” section of my website it states that I left high tech sales. August 1998. My bright, beautiful 5 year old daughter had a brain tumor removed and was left blind, nonverbal, and almost vegetative.  For four years I went with her to rehabs, hospitals, doctors, school. (Literally all over the world) I witnessed her character, wisdom, suffering, unconditional love…her greatness. It inspired me to try the things I always loved and wanted to pursue…like interior design…LifeIsShort. In 2002, I jumped in and started my design firm.  For eight years I stayed in the shallow end…pretty much one project at a time.  Eighteen months ago, I dove into the deep end…developed my website, hired employees, started taking on multiple projects. My daughter keeps it all in perspective…interacting with her humor, intelligence, love, and suffering, I have developed a Life Style. We give back. This is us in her room, simply designed with mattress on the floor, and textured fabric and art. The heart on the wall, in nail heads,  reads “love life” in Braille. She is giving thumbs up to “Is your mom crazy about design?” OK, maybe I had her at crazy.