34.

Happy Birthday to me.

It’s so quiet outside… the calm before the storm of the fireworks blasting off into the sky. Its 10:30 and I have been creating patterns since Iza went to bed at 7:15 and Kurt at 8pm. Tomorrow (or in 1.5 hours) I turn 34. I have turned off my phones in anticipation of birthday calls from family – a tradition since I could stay awake long enough to see the ball drop. I would love to talk to anyone, but that would disrupt the peacefulness of the moment (potentially waking Iza or Kurt).

I suppose I am not super excited about this year’s number. Years ago I thought to start rounding to the nearest 5th year. So instead of today being 34, I would be 35. Next year I will be 35 too and until 2019 when I will be 40 for 5 years in a row. I never implemented it, but I still think it is a good idea. 34 is not really a milestone, it is just a number. 35 and 40 might be more interesting numbers to dress up for… although I do feel there is much to be celebrated this year, much more so than other years. I have never been happier than I am now, especially in this very perfect moment at my desk, looking out at the silent night with the twinkling stars and the pin dropping silence. It’s awesome.

The biggest celebration for me has been our move to Guatemala. It has taught me patience, the importance of time and the ability to dedicate myself fully to living. 3 gifts I have given myself by opening my mind up to something new. I feel fulfilled. (Of course I wish my time was more free to play with Iza and make things with Kurt, but I know I am still not ready to leave some of the creature comforts I have grown accustomed to.)

Every year on my birthday / New Year I write my goals (really original, I know). I am still working on them, but here is a rough draft for 34/2015: 

  1. FAMILY: Try for another baby, work harder on sign language with Iza, focus more on play for the family.
  2. HEALTH: Yoga every morning and detox more often.
  3. LIFE: Remember how precious time is. Relish in the little moments.
  4. SELF: Stop biting my nails (wow is that ever repetitious – maybe on my list since I was 12)
  5. CREATIVITY: Draw everyday and post something new.
  6. TRAVEL: Visit the States at least once, take advantage of Guatemala and Central America and adventure.
  7. WORK: Go out with a bang!
  8. SIT: Take more breaks, enjoy the view.
  9. EDUCATE: Read more often. There is so much to learn about.
  10. FUTURE: Really focus on all our passion projects to meet our goals for sustainability.

Signing off. Happy Ball Dropping, y’all!

A BRAND New Year: Happy 2015

Dear Family and Friends,
Another year gone by… seems hard to believe that we are already writing another New Year’s letter. Let me start with, we hope you have the most Happy Holidays this year. We are thrilled that you are apart of our life, and while we live far away, you are all close to our heart.

It has been quite the year for The Brand Fam. We have moved 6 times (2 in NYC at the start of the year and 4 times in Guatemala) and each time we have literally built a home that suits the house style, the needs of the kitchen, etc. We have gone in and out of our storage in Newburgh 10 times and even living in Guatemala we ventured back for 1 visit to get what we needed. Rache has completed two very intense work projects, and Kurt has had very little time to paint due to all our moving which has given him an expansive amount of time for thinking and preparing for execution. Iza is walking, talking and eating us out of house and home… she is a kid. We are different than we were last year this time, and it feels good to be heading in a new direction, one which is hopefully forward towards our future goals.

Looking back is pretty scary, but also enlightening. We have made so many bad choices, but have had so many learnings which have helped to shape our current goals. We are happy as a family and fulfilled in so many ways, and as most people say, “these are the best years of our lives.” We work hard, play hard and rest hard. In between we are really breathing towards the little moments and finding salvation in our love for each other.

What have we been doing?
A LOT. Everything from working on our art, to learning Spanish, to working with Rache’s clients, to building a long-term business plan, and executing on all of it. We have been working our butts off, and all mostly without power and internet. We are learning the ways and customs of life without our creature comforts, living in an emerging market. Ultimately we are in the throws of ‘finding our voice’ and trying to build something sustainable.

We Miss Everyone.
We are in a place where time stands still in someways and Groundhog Day appears regularly, and it is far away from what we know. The busyness of NYC, the solitude of Ormond, the snow and toasty fires in Cincinnati, the salty sun-rays of Maryland,  the conversations from Vermont / NoHo, the laughter in Lancaster, and the clever shops of Berkeley. We are here: our home in Guatemala. It has been a beautiful adventure, and one that we needed to reignite our zest for life and recharge our batteries (odd phrase since having no power has literally offered enough sleep to truly recharge), and one that we will force ourselves to continue until our lease ends. That’s right folks, a 1-year lease. Somehow we can commit to a child, but committing to a lease is very difficult. 🙂

Our Goals are BIG
This coming year we plan to hunker down and not go anywhere; focus on our passion projects and make things happen for ourselves. Kurt’s studio projects and Rache’s patterns are two very tangible directions… but there is a lot more about to happen. We will share parts and pieces throughout the year, but we hope you are there with us in spirit and rooting us on, regardless.

Kurtis-Brand

Patterns-by-Rache

 

 

 

 

We wish you all a Happy and positive start to your New Year. We see this as a fresh start for us and we hope our passion has reignited you too.

Love, blessings and a million hugs and kisses. 

Raco-Love

 

Kurtis, Rache & Iza