Introducing…

My name is Serena.  It means peaceful, calm and quiet from the word Serene.  I, however, am not any of those things and I am a bit crazy on top of it.  I like it that way.  I believe I can do anything.  It doesn’t mean I can do it well, but it doesn’t mean I can’t do it.  There are a lot of things I don’t do well.  There are also a lot of things I do well.  It’s a balance.

I am a mother of 2 boys, 12 1/2 years apart.  Right now they are 16 and 3.  A teenager and a toddler.  It is a challenge. I actually wrote to TLC and told them they needed to make a reality show about teenagers and toddlers.  They didn’t respond but I am still hopeful.

CAREER: I am an accountant.  I am not a CPA but I have a master’s in accounting and financial management (MAFM).  I may still be a CPA one day.  I have the experience from my job but I haven’t taken the test yet.  There is still time.  I am waiting for my youngest to turn 5.

LOVE: I am a writer and illustrator.  I have one published children’s book called Vocabhallow that I am very proud of.  It didn’t sell much and I didn’t have the money to market it, but I did write and illustrate it and I used one of my favorite themes, vocabulary words.  I don’t think it has a large market with SAT words and oil painting canvas-like pictures, but I have more ideas.  I got pregnant right after I self-published it and I stopped writing for a while.  I will start again someday.

PASSION:  I am an artist.  I am an illustrator, I sketch, I draw and most importantly, I PAINT.  I love to paint.  I am the most critical of my art, but others seem to like it.  You can find it at http://www.serenaart.myshopify.com.  I also have a Facebook page and a Google Page. I work with a couple Painting Party companies as a freelance painter and it is very fulfilling.  It also helps me to catch up on bills and pay for extracurricular activities for myself and my children.

I decided in October 2014 that I no longer liked looking at myself in the mirror, I wanted to run a Spartan Race and it was time.  Since then, I have lost almost 20 lbs and I feel AMAZING!!!  I have been training, exercising, eating nutritiously and I forgot how much I love being active. In 2 weeks, I will be participating in a Spartan Super Race.  It is an Obstacle Course race 8-10 miles, 25-27 obstacles. Remember earlier when I said I am crazy???  This definitely proves it.  Again, I like it that way.

I also belong to Toastmasters, a public speaking and leadership club.  I am currently the President and the Treasurer.  This club is my theater. Talking has never been an issue for me.  Talking in front of people has never been an issue for me. Talking coherently, organized and focused, completely different story.  I learn something new every week from my Toastmaster meetings and I have met a lot of very great people and new friends.

I have a lot of friends and acquaintances.  I am still in contact with a friend of mine that I have know since I was 5 months old.  I am also in contact with a friend that I have known since I am 13 years old.  I have work friends, high school friends, college friends and friends of their friends.  I have a boyfriend (the father of my youngest).  I am a bit narcissistic and cocky but you either love it or hate it.  I am who I am.

I am 43 years old.  That is a lot of people I have met over time. I feel blessed.  I have a great support system.  I like to try to be a great support system.  I have a bit of ADD.  I ramble, but you either like it or you don’t.  I have been told to shut up.  I have been told to stop talking.  I have been told to make boundaries.  I am still being told but I try to keep it in check as best as I can.  Timing is everything.

One day I hope to meet Adam Levine.  I am like a lot of women in this world, I know.  I just think he and I would be great friends. Yes, of course I think he is beautiful.  I would love to touch the tattoos.  He’s married to a 24 year old Victoria’s Secret model.  I am OK with us just being friends.  I have to meet him first though.

This is me. The best I can be, me.  Welcome to my world.