Hi, I’m Izzy!

I was a left brain gal for most of my life…a numbers girl…a CPA and Realtor. As a child I had no problem reciting multiplication tables or better, computing fractions or percentages. Writing was not my forte: however, during the last decade, my right brain began softly tapping me. I dipped my feet into uncharted waters and commenced writing. Today, I write about my passions: renovating, landscaping, and traveling…all the while, maintaining my eye for details.

Renovating

I purchased my first house on January 28, 1993 for $79,000.  A 2,000 square foot house with two bedrooms, two bathrooms, and peek-a-boo lake views from its .4-acre lot. The wood framed house was built in 1925 and sat completely untouched for seven decades.  

Everything in the house needed updating! Although it was my first renovation, I had worked closely with my Mami on properties she rehabbed and built. There were so many projects encompassing all trades:  electrician, carpenter, plumber, HVAC, landscaper, etc. As a CPA my first step was to prioritize items and come up with a solid budget.

In my experience, almost all renovation line budget items fluctuate and this renovation was not an exception. The outcome is what we “bean counters” call, a revised budget. The biggest hit with this property was the inspector condemning the house because of ceramic knob and tube electrical wiring. Throughout all the details, surprises, and budget adjustments I was fortunate to consult with my Mami, my superintendent, on my very first remodel.

I sold the house in September of 1995 for $156,000. I immediately began working on custom home plans for a lot acquired in 1992.

And this is a glimpse at how and when I was bit by the renovation bug. This new interest provided an opportunity to develop the right side of my brain, my creative side. I already processed the practical and numbers side of the equation. So, three decades later and my passion to renovate still runs strong.

Landscaping

From early childhood I remember my mother described as the woman with a “green thumb”. Her friends constantly approached her with questions regarding landscape and houseplants. My mom’s love for plants eventually manifested in my love for horticulture.

At the young age of 23 I was living in a fourth-floor Art Deco condo in South Beach, Florida. The white wrap around balcony longed for a burst of color to brighten its starkness. I turned to my mom for advice and a recommendation, just as many of her friends in the past. We decided the resilient and tropical croton would provide an exotic touch in Florida’s warm and humid outdoor growing space. The croton was the perfect choice for my first plant. 

I placed my codiaeum variegatum, or “Mammy” croton, on my east facing balcony and its display of bright yellow, red, and green colors energized the outdoor living space. The croton’s colorful thick and shiny leaves disguise the toxic milky sap inside the stem which is harmful to both children and animals. As a bride without children or pets, of importance to me was the sap could stain and cause skin irritation.

I lived in the Collins Avenue condo for almost four years during which time I accumulated more balcony plants.  Each additional choice required conversations with my mom and trips to a nursery. Through the next 30 years I continued to explore tropical plants.  As time passed, the conversations were less master and student and more friends discussing a collective interest.  When my mom passed in 2014, I inherited my mom’s “green thumb”.

Traveling

One can say I began traveling at an early age. My first international trip was on April 19, 1966. I was two years old. I was leaving Cuba. My parents and I arrived in the United States and began integrating to our new country. I use the word integration and not assimilation simply because my parents merged cultural elements in a complementary way, allowing our family to retain our unique Cuban qualities.

For the first decade living in Florida our travels were limited to trips in the state or neighboring states…driving vacations. As this was a time before seatbelts, the journey was half the fun. Cuban sandwiches and café con leche were enjoyed on the makeshift table by lowering the backseat center console and sitting on the floorboard.

During my teens we began air travel and I visited many states. At this age I began to take notice of the differences in geographic areas of the United States. There were different dialects, foods, and cultures. I remember my first trip out of the country. A work conference took us to Spain for two weeks. I can still remember the sense of home my parents felt being back in a Spanish country. I remember the excitement in their voices while speaking in their native tongue. Since I was too young to remember Cuba and life there, this experience allowed me a semblance of my heritage, I was too young to remember.

From this trip forward I was thirsty for travel! World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development recognizes the significance of bridging cultural gaps and deepening the understanding of cultural diversity. I am lucky enough to have the ability to travel and sometimes cross borders and experience different cultures. Occasionally, I am asked about my culture, Cuban-American. When this occurs, my eyes light up and with sheer excitement in my voice I share stories of my upbringing. I recognize and appreciate cultural differences in all travel.