Happy New Year!!! Thursday, January 01, 2015

I get emotional on this day as it signifies that we survived/get to live another year. Life is not always easy, however it is such a gift knowing that I made it through another year. This truly gets me pumped. :-)

2014 stands out as a year of empowerment as I chose to finally leave my corporate job and start my own company. I like to create and build things and during the last four years I successfully built two new concept stores for two large companies, Nike and Deckers. In 2011 I was hired by Nike Inc. to open a new concept store in Malibu, CA called Salvation. Salvation was to be a youth energy brand that sought out to introduce new thinking to the world of sports, art and fashion. The store would sell the best product from all of the brands within Nike's portfolio (Nike SB, Nike 6.0, Nike Sportwear, Hurley, Converse and Cole Haan) and would become a highlight in my retail career. I hired an exceptional team and created a new elevated consumer experience for anyone who stopped by. This truly was a cool store and I loved driving into work every day. After almost two years the project came to end and I was fortunate to be recruited by Deckers Inc. to open the very first retail store for the Sanuk brand. Sanuk's first ever company owned store was to open in Santa Monica, CA and would require someone as meticulous as myself to ensure every detail was carefully considered and executed. It was an incredible opportunity and extremely rewarding, however after almost two years (and four stores) I realized that I was tired of building other people's companies. It was time for me to do my own thing and finally create and start my own company and brand.

Another highlight of 2014 was seeing my gorgeous niece #alexiaireland turn 1 and be Baptisted (I'm her Godfather). My sister is my best friend and my most favorite person and spending time with her and my niece this past year has been a definite highlight.

Travel is also incredibly important to me and in 2014 I spent a Fab week with my family in Mexico on a Carnival cruise, spent several weekends at the Bacara Resort in Santa Barbara, visited San Francisco several times (I usually stay at the W), Napa Valley for the 4th of July Holiday and fun week in Portland in October visiting amazing friends. 2014 is also the year I vowed to never fly coach again. 1st Class on Virgin America is so much more Fab, hehehe. Fun year spent with my Fab Family and Friends.

Today I close the chapter on a good year and welcome 2015 with open arms as I'm certain this will be one of my best years yet. Excited you will all be joining me for the ride. Buckle up Fab Friends as it's bound to be a fabulous ride. Stay tuned...