REASONINGS

Before beginning Industry No.2, I thought long and hard about whether or not I should I create a blog. There are pros and cons to all projects, businesses, and adventures that we begin, and I thought I would share a few thoughts on blogging with you here:

Creating a blog takes creativity, commitment, and passion. These are all things that I have and want to pour into a business.

Blogging can lead to endless other possibilities. Creating a successful blog creates a platform. It can lead to collaborations with other talented people in the industry. It could be a step to a new job possibility that has yet to even be imagined.

Because you never know what can happen. It might just turn out to be the rewarding and adventurous experience I hope it will be.

I am so glad that blogging has become what it has today. I am also excited to see what becomes of it in the future. It is an industry that is constantly expanding, growing, and refining itself. That being said, as much as I love it, here a few reasons that make me a bit nervous to start a blog...

There are a lot of other blogs out there. How can one stand out in the crowd? This will take a lot of research and refining as time goes on. (It's a good thing I like researching).

Blogging is time consuming and takes away from other things. Creating a blog worth reading takes A LOT of time. It takes time away from family, friends, or other work possibilities.

Blogging has an interesting meaning in today's society. Many people don't take it seriously. As with any new industry, the way people view it is changing. (This is an interesting article on the idea of blogging).

There are scarifies to be made to create anything worthwhile. In the case of beginning this blog, I am very excited about all the possibilities that may become of it, and I know that even though it might be a bit daunting and unknown, the future is exciting. I can't wait to see what will be become of Industry No.2.

What are your thoughts on blogging? 

(The pictures above were taken by my very talented cousin Megan. We compiled these pictures a while back when talking about starting this blog. The pictures are of a dress that I bought in Barcelona on my honeymoon (I still wear it and love it). The drawings are of my parent's house, designed by my uncle Paul, who is an architect, among other things). 

THOUGHTS ON MOVING

Isn't this a beautiful photo? It was taken by Lee Brown, although I found it on thedailymuseblog.

Luis and I both have jobs here in California, and our family is in California, so moving seems a tad unrealistic at this point. However, we actually talk about moving to Europe someday. I think it would be amazing! We would like to move to Spain so that our kid(s) would learn Spanish fluently (And I would finally learn it as well). Also, I love the idea that for a weekend we could simply hop on a plane and be in a different country within a matter of hours.

Lately, however, I am dreaming of moving to New York. To either Manhattan or Brooklyn. I do realize how entirely different those two places are to live, but really both sound amazing. I think Manhattan for the idea of it, but Brooklyn because it seems more practical and calm for Elle, yet still close enough to the city.

Another photo of a Brooklyn townhouse. Photo from Brooklyn Home Company, by Emily Gilbert. Joanna from A Cup of Jo wrote more about this home here, and it was on her post that I found this picture. (I just love A Cup of Jo)!

I have learned that moving can be so difficult, especially when your friends and family are not nearby. However, I do think it is great to be able to experience more than one place and I am happy that I moved as a kid. That being said, I tend to get really attached to people and places where I live (who doesn't?) and don't necessarily want to move over and over. If you had to chose between Europe and New York to live...say for at least 2-3 years, where would you chose?

PS: I really enjoyed this post from thedailymuse.com on condos vs. brownstone buildings in New York.

PPS: This is one of my favorite New York real estate stories. It was featured in New York Magazine, and I also read about it on this post. 

GETTING STARTED

My husband once told me a story. While in college (in Mexico City, where they have wonderful art museums by the way) he, his fellow students, and their professor where studying an abstract painting. Many comments were made regarding the piece of artwork, but one student also said "I could do that." What his professor said stayed with my husband long after that day. The professor said "The difference between the artist and you is that he DID it."

I love this story because it reminds me that sometimes I need to just start and create whatever it is I hope to create. I am a dreamer and oftentimes forget to simply make things happen.

One of my daughter's favorite books is Olivia. In it there is a part when Olivia is looking at a Jackson Pollock painting and says "I could do that in about 5 minutes."

We all have goals and ideas that we would love to see come to life. My problem, oftentimes, is getting started. My other issue can be that I have too many ideas and become frozen because I cannot decide what direction to go in. (More on that in other post). Sometimes, however, just moving at all and gaining some momentum is all we need. What are some dreams that you would like to see become a reality by simply beginning and seeing where it takes you?

(Top two photos were taken by me of Luis and Elle at the Los Angeles Contemporary Museum Art, or LACMA. Bottom picture of a page from the children's book Olivia by Ian Falconer).