DESIGNER. ILLUSTRATOR. PHOTOGRAPHER. PODCAST LOVER. FOODIE. THIRD CULTURE KID. ROAD TRIPPER. HISTORY ENTHUSIAST. CANCER SURVIVOR. WIFEY. STEP-MAMA. INTROVERTED EXTROVERT. CALIFORNIA NATIVE. AND ON & ON...I grew up a military brat — my dad was in the Air Force, which meant we moved around a lot. As a kid, I saw those moves less as "opportunities" and more like the universe was conspiring against my happiness.
We lived in the Philippines, England, Germany, and various parts of the U.S., with annual summer trips to Spain to visit my mother’s side of the family. At the time, all the moving felt like the universe was conspiring against my happiness. But in hindsight, it gave me adaptability, perspective, and an appetite for culture. I thrive outside my comfort zone.
I believe one of my fundamental strengths is being able to get out of my comfort zone and thriving on the experience. I have no problem meeting strangers and I truly believe everyone you meet has something to teach you. I took this philosophy with me when I set out on my own path to work in Europe, and it was only reinforced with every new country and experience I had. I relished working in multiple countries and discovering all the cultural eccentricities each place had to offer; from the Spaniards’ passion for food and storytelling, to the Germans’ obsession with efficiency, the Dutch’s love for boldness and creativity, and the Brits’ polite wit (they’ll insult you, but ever so charmingly), I’ve absorbed a little from every culture I’ve been lucky enough to experience. And I think — or at least hope — that all of it has shaped the kind of designer and person I am today. I’m curious about people, stories, and places — and I bring that curiosity into every project I touch.
Today you’ll find me living in Virginia with my husband and step-kiddos. I’m a Senior Product Designer for Elevance Health (formerly Anthem, Inc.). When I’m not working, you can find me creating some kind of art project, cooking up something delicious, editing my latest travel video, or volunteering.
Check out my travels on Travel Meets Taste https://youtube.com/@travelmeetstaste?si=jqLLPnFvx782oLjU
If you’re interested in my art prints, I have them available for purchase in my Etsy shop:
www.etsy.com/shop/rebelnature