Hospitalizations Happen, Life Goes On!

As many of you may know I have Cystic Fibrosis. This year I have been really cruising along compared to the horrible health I had in 2013; when I was in San Fran and had 6 hospitalizations in 8 months. Recently, I have been feeling great, being able to take trips, see friends, started real estate school and I am now studying for the test. I was able to do all of these things because my health has been my first priority. I still have had my bumps in the road here and there with oral antibiotics and increased airway clearance treatments. But I have been able to live my life and do my daily routine without the hospital. 

But as I kept talking about how great I had been since my last flu related hospitalization in May (And knocking on wood every time) I ended up jinxing my self. I ended up in the hospital this past weekend being very dehydrated, exhausted, coughing a ton and with a fever. Luckily it has been a while so it wasn't a complete pain, but I still wasn't feeling my best, actually far from it, so of course the tears did occur. But one thing my body does seem to do well (knock on wood) is bouncing back quickly. I have been on intensive IV antibiotics for the past 3 days and as of yesterday afternoon I felt like I could leave this joint (the hospital) and never come back. But obviously that won't be happening. I am awaiting test results to see what antibiotic I will be leaving here on and of course they are always very cautions of saying, "yes you will be able to go tomorrow" or whatever, since I have been promised that before and then not seeing it happen is probably the worst feeling.

But as I have been sitting here in the hospital for the past few days watching everything on Netflix. I have decided to try to seriously add a few more things to the list of my health todos to see if I could stay out of here for longer! 

1. To have a Half&Half and/or Heavy Cream Hot Chocolate every day in order to add the extra pounds the doctors have asked me to gain for the last year... and maybe with Christmas coming I will experiment with Eggnog

2. Try to go to the Salt Caves a few more times, perhaps going every other week or every week for a month or two. Considering there have been many studies on it that shows in addition to my regular CF treatments they can help. I did go to one in Ridgefield, CT back in september and have been meaning to go back ever since but haven't had the chance. 

3. Also remember to take all my extra meds as I like to call them. My enzymes (digest my food), inhaled meds, albuterol, insulin are what I consider to be my life or death meds (not to be too morbid, but I wouldn't be here without my enzymes for one). But obviously my vitamins are very important, as are my antacid meds, so I just need to work them into my day to day schedule so I don't become forgetful about them again! 

4. Lastly, remind my self how amazing it feels to exercise. How I love to run. Listen to music, and clear my mind while doing so! 

Because even though sometimes I really can't avoid a hospitalization. Even when I do everything I am suppose to, I can always try to the best and hope the rest falls into place! 

I hope you all have a fantastic Tuesday and that this ugly weather we are having on the East Coast isn't everywhere!! 

Ai Weiwei on Alcatraz

I recently came back from a Trip from San Francisco, and while I was there I went to Alcatraz, which I have been to before, the first time I fell in love with it, I wanted to move on to the Rock, but this time I actually went to see Ai Weiwei's instillation piece that is in a couple of buildings and areas that aren't usually open to the public. Many of his pieces depicted the horrible nature of countries that can't see paste their very traditional belief system and how they have imprisoned or exiled people for stating what they believe, he him self wasn't even able to make it to his own show, since he is stuck in china. However horrible nature of the topics he was commenting on with his artwork it all was so beautiful and made you smile, much like "99 Luftballoons" song by Nena, which actually has a deeper meaning of being a protest song. But Nena's song, not only had an upbeat tune, but it was also in another language, leaving most of the US to think otherwise in the beginning. 

Two of Ai Weiwei's pieces at first glance looked like traditional Chinese art, but when you took a closer look you could see that was not the case, they had specific details or were placed in a way that provoked to think about them in a different way. For instance the Traditional Chinese Dragon Kites, are commenting on how they are being restricted while still having the idea of being able to move freely as most kites do, but this one is even more imprisoned, being stationed in an old prison. The Blossom, which is made up of porcelain  flowers reference the Chinese history of ceramic artwork and has two possible depictions either it could be referring to Chinas Hundred Flowers Campaign that took place in 1956 (allowed freedom and ideas to flow) or the idea of the inmates receiving flowers, as this instillation was situated in the old infirmary section of the prison. 

But my favorite piece was the Lego portraits of those 175 people who have been imprisoned or exiled from their own country, they were just so beautiful and intriguing to take something as simple and playful as legos and give them a purpose and a way to get across an idea. Each portrait has a description that went along with them, to give you an idea of what they have gone through and where they are located around the world! 

At the end of the Alcatraz tour you were able to send postcards to those people in Prison, which was awesome. I personally felt that some of them might not understand what your saying in english, so I just drew a few pictures, cause I think everyone would enjoy getting some mail and a drawing! However, now that I think of it a lot of them were writers, so they actually may know English pretty well, either way... I participated haha. 

Happy Tuesday!! 

Here's a throwback to pick you up midday! 

Shaking off the Clutter!

I am finally back to my blog, after a long un-planned break, with the many wedding adventures I took this summer to starting real estate classes, my mind has been elsewhere. But with the fall beginning to start I have begun making more Fruit heads, which 20% of each purchase will be going to Cystic Fibrosis Foundation!! I have gotten really pumped about some of the Fruit heads because I am using more intricate ribbons that are embroidered and fall specific knick knacks to make them more festive and exciting!! I have even incorporated some Swarovski Crystals to some of them to give them a shiny elegant edge.   

Also the studio my dad and I share is getting a clean out... as it was really just becoming a storage area, with zero room to do artwork! Which was really hurting my art production... but hopefully now with room to move around, my inspirations will begin flowing!  

New Fruit Heads 

The Cleaning has begun and is Already looking better!! 

Before 

Before 

Lastly love this song and it's message... shake it off. 

For the CF Stuff, Life Stress and "haters gonna hate" 

CF Walk

Last Sunday we had a fabulous turn out for The Maddie Mockingbirds at the New Canaan Great strides walk... I guess word got around that it was going to be the best party ever, or maybe it was just such a beautiful day they decided to walk for a great cause. Either way I enjoyed seeing so many family and friends coming together for it! Even though I had a quick exit before the walk even started. I was feeling to very exhausted, sick and run down. Not to mention I also kept coughing as if I was going to cough up a lung. So I went home to rest and get rid of my fevers only to go into the hospital a day later and realize I have the Flu... THE Evil Flu. But I have been doing better since starting Tamaflu, and hopefully will continue!! 

Thank you to all of those that came and especially to all of those who donated!! As a

 whole Maddie Mockingbirds Raised $11,240 with all of the extra donations aside from the website donations! They were all so amazing and generous and will be going to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation to work towards a cure! 

The Whole Crew

Ohio Wesleyan Friends (OWU)

Friends from around Town!! 

The Crazy World

Recently on the news there have been so many horrible, sad and depressing stories about school stabbings and other people going crazy across the board. Even one from my alma mater which I find so bizarre, strange and scary. But I feel like there has been a change, ever since I heard about Shaun White Surprising a high schooler at her senior prom, I believe things are starting to look up. Maybe that is because I love Shaun White and have a very biased opinion, nevertheless you can't deny how amazing it is that he completely surprised a fan at their senior Prom, I mean, COME ON!! 

But also on a more personal level I went to my Pulmonary doctor today, and my Pulmonary Function Tests (PFT's) are much better then the last time... and I am feeling fabulous. I was feeling great before going to the doctor, but having that encouragement from the PFT makes me realize I am feeling well, it isn't me being in denial or anything! Last year I was in denial, almost pretending that I was well when I wasn't. I didn't want to face the fact that I couldn't keep my self well and didn't want to keep going back to the hospital! But now since my PFT's a great, I can get back life with my regular treatments and hopefully running!!! 

The great strides walk in New Canaan is right around the corner, and with the walk we are hoping to raise a great deal of money for Cystic Fibrosis, to keep people like my self feeling well and out of the hospital. I was ecstatic with the news I received today at my appointment, but at the doctors office I also saw a handful of CFers that were on oxygen. One person was too tired to do a PFT, which is essentially breathing in as deep as you can and then breathing it all out with as much force as possible. Even at my weakest I have always been able to do it, not saying that all my PFT's have been great, but still my effort was there. It is a total wake up call to see people who are that sick, especially when you and them share the same disease. Of course you can tell your self to work extra hard to not get as sick as them, but actions are a lot harder to follow through with then just saying it. CF is  a horrible disease that no one can really fully understand if you haven't seen it first hand, And it dose have the ability to kick my ass... BUT NOT TODAY!! 

So Please in honor of Maddie Mockingbird's (Inspired by my dad's restaurant Tequila Mockingbird) and Cinco de Mayo, Please donate to our Great strides team, The Maddie Mockingbirds, if you haven't already!! 

Via

The Beautiful Shaun White before his hair cut! 

Maddie Mockingbirds Last year in Ohio!! 

I Opened an Etsy Shop!!!

Since I moved back home to Connecticut, I have been trying to become healthier and stay healthy. Even though it is pretty much a full time job I have become very restless, I need to be doing something, I have applied to a few jobs and I have been babysitting but still nothing major has come through. 

That was until the other day I went over to Michael's Craft store, I needed something for a small project I was working on. While I was there I found numerous baskets of plastic fruit and my mind was going crazy. Earlier on this week I had planned to go to Michael's to pick up items to make my own massive bows instead of buying them. However, once I saw the fruit I immediately thought of using those instead. I remember when I was in middle school I had a Swatch watch that had a white background and had fruit all over it, I loved it and I often have tried to find it again, but never had any luck. So in my head the idea to put fruit on hair accessories was genius, however has been done before especially with Carmen Miranda and Chiquita Banana. But I was thinking to make them less over the top, but still fun and quirky, but without looking like you have a bowl of fruit on your head. 

Nevertheless my trip to Michael's got my juices flowing and once I came home I went to work. Since my thoughts were flowing so rapidly and naturally I decided to open my own Etsy Shop!! It is called FruitHeads!! So go check it out!! Also three dollars from each purchase from now until May 18th will be donated to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, in order to fundraise for our Great Strides Team! 

This was the watch I once owned and Loved 

Figural pieces from the Armory Show

Klodin Erb

I personally love drawing people, especially their faces. Each face is so different that makes it easy to want to study, whether it is more round or sharp in angles it is always very intriguing to me. So when I went to the Armory Show I loved viewing other artist's portrait and figural work. Here are a few that I really enjoyed, some bizarre, and just awesome. I am sorry for the slight blurriness in some of them, but with my CF and all my meds, my hands have a slight shake to them, especially when trying to stay still. 

Jocelyn Hobbie 

Hans op de Beeck

Pax Kaffraria

Cajsa Von Zeipel

The Colors are Following Me!

James Hugonin Binary Rhythm (IV) (close up)

This past weekend I went with my mom to the Armory Art Show and I found a few pieces I loved but also I felt like I was being followed by my 2D class from my freshman year of college, the color aid paper was chasing me. When I took the class the head of the art department would joke with us that we would never forget our 2D class and he has been completely right so far. Nevertheless it wasn't to long ago that I took the class… so only time will tell I guess. 

While viewing all the colorful square and triangle pieces, I think back to when I spent hours upon hours with an exacto knife and rubber cement and how many brain cells I may have lost inhaling it all first semester… I ended up digging some of my old color studies, or at least the ones I could find. After I viewed them, I like to believe I have improved in my own art world, I have found a way to enhance my messiness in good ways… with my own touch of the oil pastel rather then leaving remains of the rubber cement. 

Below are pieces from the Armory Show as well as my own pieces. 

Garry Fabian Miller Year Two, Silicate 5-6

Spencer Finch Color Test

Barry McGee Untitled (geometric) 2006 

Ekrem Yalcindag Barock in Istnabul 

Simon Evans The Eye, Part of a diptych

Detail

And below are some piece I found among my old work from my 2D class.

This was a series of 4, however the other two are settled in 

another pile of art somewhere

This was my favorite piece from the class, but over time the pieces seem 

to be coming off... I believe I may have gotten more rubber cement 

on my fingers then on the strips of color aid paper 

The Blue Red Cross piece