Firsts are always exciting, always fun, and always eye opening.  This is my first blog post where I’m featuring someone.

I love it when I find people that are living their passion, and Gina Marie Dunn is doing just that!  She is an artist living in Dallas and I ran across her work at a cool little (affordable!) art gallery called Artisan Style (where my jewelry is being sold as well).  I noticed her art earlier this month at the gallery…she has an awesome heart collection that I just love (no pun intended!).  It’s not only perfect for Valentine’s month, but perfect for when you need a splash of red on your walls!

Gina Marie sells online through Etsy and does custom work.  Check it out!  She’s truly fantastic.

*Education: BA in Communitcations/Public Relations from Loyola University New Orleans, Minor inStudio Arts

*Current City/Hometown: live in Dallas, originally from Brooklyn, NY

*Tell me about your work in one sentence: With the subject matter of my paintings varying from cellular abstractions to modern landscapes, there is a dreamlike, organic aspect to my work that is always apparent.
*Describe your normal day. What would your *ideal* day be like? On a “Normal” day, I am up at 6:00 a.m. to get in a run before my husband and three kids are up at 7:30 (I am training for my sixth half marathon), then hubby is off to work and the kids and I spend the morning either hanging out outside if weather permits, playing with toys, or going to and from activities.  If the planets aligns and everyone takes afternoon naps at the same time I usually get some time to paint out in my studio. Painting time has been very limited lately with the arrival of our third child just three and a half weeks ago, but I look forward to painting more when the baby gets on a more regular schedule in the next few months.  Right now I am just enjoying my kids as much as possible because they grow so fast.

*What are your passions? my family and friends, art, yoga

*What are your goals? to become an internationally recognized artist and to raise a happy family in a loving home

*Who are your creative influences? Marc Chagall, Vincent Van Gogh, Joseph Cornell, Frida Kahlo

*Are there any other relevant experiences that shaped who you are today and what you do? It is in my blood to create. My mother is an amazing artist who has taught me so much about painting. I still have so much to learn from her.  She’s the only one in my family who will give me an honest critique!

*Is there anyone (celebrity, dead, alive, in your life) that you really look up to as an inspiration? While pregnant with my third child, I have painted more than I ever have in my life. The pregnancy was a very difficult one, full of concerns and worries, and to process all of the stressful news we received I took the term “art therapy” to a whole new level.  I painted through bouts of insomnia and turned them into productive hours in the studio. Luckily our prayers were answered and our son was born perfect and healthy, but the experience of carrying him has changed me forever, and I lovingly call him my little muse.  I feel some of my best work has been created in the past nine months.

*What motivates you on a daily basis?  Do you have a “guilty pleasure” that you can’t miss out on to get you going? On a daily basis, I am motivated by fresh air, sunshine and the laughter of my children. My “guilty pleasure” comes at the end of the day when the kids are in bed and my husband and I cuddle on the couch and indulge in our favorite TV shows and nightly dessert of chocolate chip cookies or an ice cream sundae.  I would rather run five miles every day mainly so I can enjoy dessert at night!
*What’s your working style?  Do you work for 12 hours straight nonstop, or do you take lots of breaks? Although I could easily work the day away if given the opportunity (I have too many ideas for my own good sometimes),  being the mother of three children under four simply does not allow for that.  My family is and always will be my first priority. Instead, I work in spurts, whenever I can carve some time out of the day, whether that is late in the evenings, early mornings, on Fridays when I have help at home, just whenever.
Website: web.mac.com/utopiapkwy
Art Blog: http://utopiapkwyarts.blogspot.com/
Etsy site: http://www.etsy.com/shop/UtopiaPkwyArtStudi0
Twitter: @lvartmom
Facebook Group: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=32300883549&ref=ts

I can honestly say that I can’t think of any negativity in my life right now.  Wow.  Writing that feels really good and almost seems impossible, but it’s true.  I work at always finding the positive in all situations, and it looks like it’s paid off!  I also work at being grateful for the things in my life, good and bad.  That’s what I’m here to do today too – to give gratitude for the negative things.

I’m by no means perfect and I absolutely do have negative thoughts at times, and “bad” things do happen, but I realize pretty quickly that negativity is swarming my brain.  When I realize it, I switch my thinking immediately.  Sometimes the negativity will leave almost instantly and sometimes it takes a little while, but I know it’s there so I will focus elsewhere.  Soon it’s gone.

I’m very grateful though for the negative things I do experience, whether in my head or in my so called “reality”.  (Isn’t it always in your head though?)  So…I’d like to give my negative thoughts and feelings a little message.

Dear Negativity,

I’m so grateful you exist.  Without you I wouldn’t know the positive.  In order to know what I want (a positive) I need to know what I don’t want (the negative), so it’s good that you’re around.

Negativity, you teach me so much and for that I’m thankful.  When something happens in my life that I perceive as negative, I always know that there’s a lesson to be learned.  Thank you for that.

And lastly, you challenge me and encourage me to be creative.  When something is not working or I’m feeling my limitations, you nudge me to find a new way.  I like that about you.  Thank you for encouraging me to grow.

With love,

Katrina

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I was listening to 1310am The Ticket this morning (sorry, Honey!).  It’s sports talk with lots of guy talk mixed in.  They had a segment about men going through mid life crisis, but then the segment turned more into how they are so unhappy in their marriages.  There were tons of emails coming in about how these guys hate going home because all their wives do is bitch, yell, and complain.  I would hate to come home too if I had to come home to that, so I don’t blame them at all!

It reminded me of what a lot of my female yoga students have told me.  They’ve told me that their husbands really encourage them to come to yoga class.  Their husbands say they’re a lot more relaxed and just better after taking a class.  I can totally see why!

As women we’re expected to basically do everything, especially if you’re a working mom…that’s a lot of work!  There’s so much that goes on from the time “work” is over until the time we lay our head down at night.  Where is “me” time??

So there’s work stress and then all the stuff that needs to be done once you get home but don’t have time to do it.  You’re just happy with getting dinner on the table, kids homework done, and baths!  Not only does stuff pile up in the house, but “stuff” piles up on your shoulders, in your hips, on your back & neck, and in your head!

Stuff piling up for a little while is pretty manageable, but eventually you bust.  You bust out yelling.  You bust out bitching, you bust out your back, you bust out headaches, and possibly even bust out a heart attack.

Ladies, we need “me” time.  Seriously.  You have to make time for yourself.  If you’re not good, how can you expect to be good for your kids, your family, or anyone else that needs you?  I understand it may sound selfish, but it’s not!

I obviously think yoga is one of the best things you can do for your “me” time.  It not only gets you moving and exercising, but it is so unbelievably awesome for your head…your mind.  It’s basically a moving meditation.  It takes you away from your worries, your to do lists, your responsibilities, and your stress.  It gives your thinking mind a break, and in doing so, you’re more productive and you can creatively come up with solutions to your problems.  It may give you a different perspective and you may even realize that everything is okay.  It’s okay to not be perfect.  It’s okay to just let go and not be so uptight.  It gets you connected to your true self and makes you feel more confident.

It gets all that “stuff” out of your body and out of your mind.  At first it may just be temporary, which is great…a little relief before you go home to your kids and hubby, but the more you practice yoga the more the “stuff” stays away.

I can’t stress (no punn intended!) enough how great yoga &/or meditation is for your “me” time, but it can be anything from a pedicure, to a massage, to just taking a long, hot bath.  I know it can be hard to find time, especially if you’re a working mom, but this is a must.  I promise you…you will be more productive (mentally & physically)!

I would love to hear your feedback.  Do you currently do yoga &/or meditate and if so, how has it made you better?  Are you one of those people whose husbands (or wives) encourage you to go take a class?  What else do you do for “me” time?  Has your marriage or relationships improved once you started doing yoga?  Let’s talk!!

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