24 Hours in Switzerland | Artist European Travel Vlog
Hey everyone! Welcome back to my blog or welcome if you are new here. I’m Carla the artist behind Arie Debren Art. Thanks for checking out my travel blog series where I am taking you along with me and my husband on our European vacation. We travelled to a few countries in Europe to celebrate our 18th wedding anniversary. And in this episode, we are visiting Lucerne, Switzerland. Now I have to be honest – Switzerland was the country I was least excited about. Mainly because I didn’t really know much about it. But I must say I’m glad we got the chance to experience it. Switzerland is absolutely gorgeous! Like, breathtakingly gorgeous! It was forecasted to rain shortly after our arrival there. But even through all the gray dreary clouds and even the rain once it started, you could still see the beautiful landscape that Switzerland had to offer.
We only had a day in Switzerland, so we just tried to take in the beautiful scenery as best we could. Lucerne, Switzerland is a small, relaxing town that sits on a lake of the same name. One of the things Lucerne is known for is the Chapel Bridge. The Chapel Bridge is a 650-year-old world-famous wooden bridge that unfortunately caught fire back in 1993. Only the 2 bridge heads and the water tower could be saved but the rest was quickly reconstructed 8 months later.
Within Chapel Bridge are these triangle panel paintings. Many of them were either destroyed or damaged due to the fire. But many were still in on piece. These paintings depicted scenes from the Bible, the lives of the patron saints of Lucerne, or Swiss national history.
Shortly after walking across the bridge, it started to rain. Lightly at first but then a little heavier. So, we decided to seek refuge in a chocolate shop. It was really busy in there as everyone had the same idea that we had. We tried to hold out for the rain to stop but it didn’t seem like it was letting up so when it slowed down some, we ventured out once more to explore the area. A lot of the shops were closed as it was a Sunday, but it was still nice to stroll through the Cobblestone streets. It started to rain heavier again so we ducked under an awning of a closed restaurant and just hung out until it was time to meet back up with the tour group. It was really nice to take a break from all the walking we’d been doing the last few days to just sit and listen to the rain as it hit on all the surfaces around us. Taking the time to stop and live in the moment peacefully.
After meeting back up with the tour group we went to visit the Lion Monument, another famous landmark in Lucerne. It commemorates the Swiss Guards who were killed in 1792 during the French Revolution. After taking pictures, we headed back to the hotel and had dinner with the group.
The next day we woke up early, had breakfast, and headed to Mt. Stanserhorn. Once we arrived at Mt. Stanserhorn we took a cable car to the top. We were told that the weather at the top of the mountain was completely different than at the bottom. So, the day before, Dwaynmon and I had to buy hoodies because we both forgot to pack any type of jackets. I’m so glad we bought something though because it was around 40 degrees Fahrenheit at the top of Mt. Stanserhorn compared to like 60 degrees in Lucerne. Because of all the rain we had the previous day it was still really overcast that morning as well. But we still had some really pretty views on the way up to the top. Once we reached a certain point though we couldn’t see anything but clouds. It was still kind of cool though feeling like you were up in the sky like that.
Lucerne wasn’t my favorite stop on the trip. But I also feel like we didn’t get to fully experience it because of the weather and time constraints. There was a castle there that we wish we could have toured by we just didn’t have enough time. But that’s ok because it just means we need to come back and visit again.
Thank you so much for reading. If you made it this far, please comment “rain” in the comments to let me know. And if you enjoyed this blog don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe so you know when I post the Venice vlog, the next city on the tour. See you guys next time. Bye!
18th Wedding Anniversary in Paris | Artist European Travel Vlog + Louvre Museum
Click the image to check out the vlog version of this blog over on my YouTube Channel.
Hey everyone! Welcome back to my blog or welcome if you are new here. I’m Carla the artist behind Arie Debren Art. Thanks for checking out my travel blog series where I am taking you along with me and my husband on our European vacation. We travelled to a few countries in Europe to celebrate our 18th wedding anniversary. And in this episode, we are visiting France. Now I must say that France was the country I was most excited about visiting. I studied French in middle school and high school and started trying to brush up on my French before our big trip. I was looking forward to trying to use the little bit of French that I knew but I was also nervous about the possibility of having to try to communicate in a different language. But as it turns out, most of the people we interacted with in Paris spoke English, so I really had nothing to be nervous about.
If you read my last blog, you know that we were meeting up with a tour group in England for this trip. We met our tour group at like 6 in the morning in the hotel lobby and we were on the road by 630, headed to France. But first we had to cross the English Channel.
Waiting on the ferry to take us from Dover, England to Calais, France.
To board the ferry to cross the Channel, we had to get off the tour bus and go into the Border Patrol office and show our passport. It felt kind of exciting handing the border patrol agent my passport and having him greet me with a very pleasant, “Bonjour!” and “Merci!” Like I’m legit in France, OMG! Well, I wasn’t there yet but you know what I mean lol.
Anyway, the ferry ride was about 90 minutes long. While on the ferry we grabbed a little breakfast. Sidenote, this is when we started to realize that they don’t cook their bacon well done in Europe. The whole week in a half we were in Europe, each hotel that we stayed in served breakfast, and it was like trying to find a needle in a haystack looking for a crispy piece of bacon. Is that just how they cook bacon over there? If anyone can give me some insight on that, I’d love to hear it. Please drop it in the comments and educate me because I’m genuinely curious.
The view from the ferry was really relaxing. We found a table right next to a window and enjoyed our breakfast while watching the waves of the English Channel roll by and the seagulls glide alongside the ship.
Once we arrived in Paris, one of the first things we did after checking into our hotel and having dinner was go see the Eiffel Tower. Have you ever gone to something expecting to be underwhelmed? Like this thing has always been hyped up but because you are a jaded millennial, you expect to be disappointed or not as impressed by the thing? This was what I was expecting my reaction to the Eiffel Tower to be, but to my surprise it was the complete opposite. Like I was fully impressed and stunned by how grand she is. It literally took my break away. I hear Parisians historically don’t think it’s a very attractive structure, but I disagree. I thought it was really cool and then when the sun went down and it was all lit up – magical!
Day 2 in Paris, Dwaynmon and I decided to separate from the tour group and go exploring on our own. We visited the Arc de Triomph first. The Arc de Triomph is one of the most famous monuments in Paris, France. It’s a monumental symbol of French national identity and military victories, particularly those of the Napoleonic era. Again, the jaded millennial in me was expected to be underwhelmed but the jaded millennial in me was proven wrong once again. I was totally impressed when I saw the Arc in person. Maybe it being in the middle of a huge round about helps with its grand presence but it was truly a work of art to me – just a beautiful piece of architecture. Apparently, this was not the original Arc. As the story goes, Napoleon had the original built to celebrate a French war victory. He thought it would be cool for the military to walk through the arch in celebration. But the original arc, which is located outside the Louvre Museum, was too small for Napoleon’s liking so he had this one built afterward. Unfortunately, he passed away before he could see it finished. Him having it rebuild was a good call I must say. This one was way grander than the original.
After being fully impressed with the Arc, we decided to head to the Louvre Museum. To get there we had to walk down Champs-Élysées, a world-famous avenue in Paris with lots of high-end stores. Louise Vuitton was doing some construction, and their scaffolding cover was a giant-sized Louise case. Like this was so extra but cool at the same time. Of course we had to take some pics in front of it.
As we made our way down the Champs-Elysees, we found a macaron boutique and decided to go inside and check it out. It was so pretty and everything looked delicious! We bought a few macarons to snack on later.
On our way to the Louvre, we went through the square where Cleopatra’s Needle is located and where King Louis XVI and his wife were beheaded during the French Revolution. We also walked through this really pretty park filled with trees and ponds. This was the moment that I realized I wanted to come back to Paris. With us being on the tour we only had a limited time in each city, so we didn’t get to see everything. For example, I only got to see Notre Dame from far away on a boat. I would love to go back to see that and just explore more. I really enjoyed the vibe of Paris.
So, the Viator app came in clutch again with getting us a tour guide for the Louvre Museum. Our tour guide was very knowledgeable of the exhibits. The Louvre is huge. They have so many pieces of art that there’s literally no way for anyone to see everything in one visit, or I think even a lifetime if I’m not mistaken. Half of the items they have aren’t even on public display. That’s how much stolen….I mean, borrowed art they have. Dwaynmon wanted to visit the Palace of Versailles during our visit to Paris but unfortunately it just didn’t fit into our schedule for this trip. But since the Louvre was originally a palace, it was a good compromise. I mean check out this ornate ceiling!
We couldn’t visit the Louvre without seeing Venus de Milo or Mona Lisa. The crowd to see the Mona Lisa was crazy as expected. I didn’t have enough audacity at first to shove my way to the front of the crowd to get my picture of her, but fortunately Dwaynmon did, and he convinced me to just get in there and go.
That evening we rejoined that tour group for dinner and a cabaret show. Unfortunately, I was not able to take pictures for obvious reasons, but I did steal some short videos of a few things we ate that night.
Dwaynmon and I both agreed that we really would love to come back to Paris again and spend some more time here. We just loved the feel of the city, and it seems like there is so much to see and do. Hopefully one day we’ll get the opportunity to return and have the full Parisian experience. Thank you so much for reading. Don’t forget to subscribe to my blog so you can be notified when I post the Switzerland vlog, which is the next country we visit on the tour. If you enjoyed this blog, please hit that like button and if you’ve made it this far please comment “macarons” below to let me know. Ok guys, see you next time. Bye!
18th Wedding Anniversary in London | Artist Travel Blog + Harry Potter Studio Tour
Click the image to watch the vlog version of this blog over on my YouTube channel.
Hey everyone! Welcome back to my blog. If you are new here my name is Carla and I’m the artist behind Arie Debren Art. Today is not an art blog but a travel blog. My husband, Dwaynmon, and I just got back from a week and a half long trip to Europe for our 18th wedding anniversary. I’ve posted a travel vlog series on my Youtube channel in the past when we went to Miami for our anniversary a couple of years ago. You can go check out that playlist if you are interested.
We have never travelled internationally before. We got our passports a few years ago and have been itching to get some stamps in them. And since we usually travel somewhere for our anniversary, we thought crossing the pond would be a great way to break into travelling internationally.
Dwaynmon was very excited. He had his bags packed months in advance for this trip. Me on the other hand – I’m a procrastinator by nature anyway so I was still packing the day we were leaving. I was nervous about traveling to a different country. As you’ll see later in this series we are going to a few other countries on this trip. I was cool with London but kind of nervous about going to the other countries where the primary language wasn’t English. But fortunately, we were with a tour group and had a tour guide for much of the trip. So, that helped me be more at ease exploring in unfamiliar territory.
My husband’s co-worker told him about a company called CostSavers that offers guided tours around Europe. They organize all the hotel accommodations, tickets for the site seeing activities, and the coach bus to shuttle you around from city to city. Plus, a well-informed travel director that’s there each step of the way to provide you with all the information you need to know about the city including restaurant suggestions and other things to see and do if you decide to explore on your own.
London was the initial meeting spot for the tour. Dwaynmon wanted to check out the Warner Brother’s Harry Potter Studio Tour, so we arrived a few days early to go there and explore London a little before hopping on the tour bus to head to the next country. On our first day in London, we found a walking tour on the app Viator. This tour guide walked us through Westminster Abbey and showed us where the Royal Family lived. Spoiler alert - it’s not at Buckingham Palace. But we did get a chance to see that as well.
After the tour we headed back to our hotel to freshen up as we had dinner cruise reservations. The dinner cruise was a whole vibe! Dwaynmon splurge for the VIP seats so our table was right at the front of the boat in front of this big window, so we had a perfect view of all the sites. Big Ben, London Bridge, The London Eye. It was so romantic, especially when the sun started setting. The food was pretty good. To be honest I’ve never heard anyone rave about the food in London, so I didn’t know what to expect. I kind of went into it with low expectations so I was pleasantly surprised that the food was tasty.
I feel very blessed and lucky to have a husband who wanted to celebrate our marriage in this way. I’m so thankful to him for organizing this whole trip. All I had to do was pack my bags and show up at the airport with him. So, I feel so fortunate to have a life partner that cares enough about celebrating the day we committed ourselves to each other to plan such a momentous trip.
On Day 2, we got up, checked out of the hotel, hopped in an Uber and headed to Harry Potter. The studio was a little ways outside of the city so we got to see what the London suburbs look like.
The studio consists of seeing the actual sets the movie was filmed on as well as many of the iconic props and special effects which were cool. Dwaynmon was totally in his element! There were several interactive exhibits on the tour. There was an activity book that you could grab at the beginning of the tour and stations to add stamps to your book. The stamps were kind of hard to see since they weren’t ink stamps. More like an embossed type of effect. It was fun finding the different stations throughout the tour though and stamping our book. We also got the opportunity to “act” out some scenes which was also fun.
Dwaynmon scheduled for us to have afternoon tea during the tour. This was a cool experience. Again, the food was yummy, and it was surprisingly a lot for the two of us. I was not expecting each of us to get a whole pot of tea to ourselves. We couldn’t even finish it all.
And of course, my favorite part of the tour was seeing the concept art! I wish I had more time to really study the pieces that interested me. But this place was packed, and you couldn’t really linger at each exhibit too long because there was always a crowd of people behind you waiting to see what you’re seeing.
All and all, the first 2 days of this European tour were exciting. I’m so happy I got to see a different part of the world and experience it with my person. I can’t wait to share the rest of our European adventures with you. This will be a series so make sure you subscribe so you don’t miss what we get into in France. If you enjoyed this blog, please like it and share it. And if you’ve read this far please comment “9 ¾” to let me know. Until next time, go out and see the world and let it inspire you. Bye, guys.
Are My Art Goals Keeping Me from Being a Good Mom?
Being a working mom with big dreams is a lot to manage.
As moms, we often feel like failures when we can’t live up to our own expectations of being a "good mom." When I imagined myself as a parent, I pictured this cosmopolitan corporate woman by day and Suzy Homemaker in the evening—dinner ready by 6, attending every ball game, keeping a pristine home like a TV sitcom set, all while staying perfectly put together with flawless hair, a fit body, and freshly manicured nails.
Fast forward to reality: I’m currently working overnight 12-hour shifts that barely leave room for quality sleep, let alone cooking dinner every night. I make it to most of my kids’ games, but attending every single one isn’t physically possible. My house looks more like “Married… with Children” than “Family Matters.” And self-care? Let’s just say if my husband started questioning his attraction to me, I wouldn’t blame him.
The truth is, being a working mom with big dreams is a lot to manage. Sometimes I worry whether I’m successfully juggling all the plates. My full-time job is already demanding, taking me away from my family for 12 hours a day. On top of that, I dedicate most of my "free time" to building my art business.
These thoughts constantly cross my mind:
Am I being selfish?
Should I dedicate my free time exclusively to my family instead of splitting it with Arie Debren Art?
Will my kids be negatively affected by seeing me constantly exhausted and stressed?
Interestingly, when I used to picture myself as a mom growing up, the future husband in this made up scenario was always a blurry figure in the background—not really doing much. Why do we do this to ourselves as mothers? We set these massive expectations and assume we have to do it all alone. Many of us were conditioned to believe that moms should effortlessly balance career success with perfect parenting, just like the TV moms we grew up watching. Those storylines rarely showed the exhaustion, the frustration, or the inevitable mom-guilt that those characters were probably feeling. (Sidenote: This is not to say that my actual real husband doesn’t do anything. He is very much involved in our kids’ lives. The point I’m trying to make is, as mothers, we are conditioned to believe we’re supposed to handle everything on our own when it comes taking care of the children and the household.)
The reality is, "Mothering is a job with ever-shifting requirements. That’s what makes it hard and impossible to do perfectly," according to Psychology Today.
So, are my art goals keeping me from being a good mom?
"Mothering is a job with ever-shifting requirements. That’s what makes it hard and impossible to do perfectly."
My honest answer is… sometimes. I do get wrapped up in Arie Debren Art when I could probably be more focused on my kids. But on the flip side, I am present as much as I can be for a person working a full time outside the home and trying to grow a small business at the same time. I show up for their games, support their interests, make sure they’re on top of their schoolwork, cook dinner when I can, and most importantly keep the lines of communication open with them. My kids think I’m weird for asking them random thought provoking questions out of the blue, but those random questions almost always lead to really great conversations where we all walk away having learned more about each other. And they feel comfortable coming to talk to me about uncomfortable things.
Yet, every time my kids make a bad decision, I immediately blame myself. When I get that dreaded phone call from school, my first thought is, "What could I have done differently?" Lately, it’s been, "If I spent more time with them instead of focusing so much on my art business or putting in overtime at work, would they behave better? Would they take their schoolwork more seriously?"
The answer isn’t black and white. The truth is, pursuing my art is part of who I am, and showing my kids that I am passionate, hardworking, and dedicated to my dreams can be an invaluable life lesson that I’m teaching them.
Maybe being a "good mom" isn’t about being perfect. Maybe it’s about showing our kids that life is a balancing act, that passion matters, and that moms are human too. I can only hope that whatever mistakes I’m making as a mom , they can forgive me for them and appreciate the fact that I’m trying my best to be my best for them.💖
Finding contentment in a busy artist life
Finding Contentment in a Busy Life
Lately, I’ve been feeling burnt out—drained, exhausted, and like there’s no time for anything other than just getting through the day. A close friend of mine recently told me I need to stop doing things for free (trying to build my portfolio and help out some family friends), and honestly, I think he’s right. Whatever free time I do have, I need to keep it for myself—unless it’s making me money. Not that money is everything, but time is definitely valuable.
That got me thinking: How do people make themselves content with life? I always find myself wanting more—something better, something new, something different. I envy those who seem satisfied with life just as it is. How do they get like that? Have they always been that way?
I’m sure mindset plays a big role. The people I know who are content just seem… happy. Their minds seem quiet. But the truth is, I enjoy being busy. I always have a goal I’m striving for. If I could just make all the effort worth it by attaining those goals, maybe I’d feel more at peace.
When I look at the people in my life, I see examples of contentment. My husband, for example, is happy with the way our life is now. Sure, he’s okay with improving our situation, but if things stayed the same forever, he’d be fine with that. My kids are content too—aside from the occasional new video game request, they don’t seem to constantly want more out of life. And then there’s my cat, Oso. As long as his food bowl is full, he’s good.
And my parents? They might be the most content of all. Retired, living in Florida, spending their evenings in the backyard, sipping wine, and listening to music. They don’t seem to have a care in the world beyond their basic needs.
If contentment means being in a state of peaceful happiness, when do I feel most content? I feel it after a delicious meal. I feel it when I finish a painting and it turns out exactly how I envisioned it. I feel it when I’m watching an intriguing documentary with my hubby, especially when he plays in my hair. I feel it when I’m at home—in bed, on the couch, outside on my deck watching the sunset, or in my art room (when it’s not a mess). These are the moments when my mind is calm and quiet.
But why isn’t this state of contentment ever-present for me? Because I’m always wanting more. Always pushing for better.
While researching for this blog, I came across an article on CNBC.com that suggests having 2-5 hours of free time a day is ideal for boosted happiness. On greatergood.berkeley.edu, Dr. Dorji Wangchuk describes contentment as "the knowledge of enough... How whole do you feel inside?"
Some strategies I found to help with contentment include:
Relax more
Slow down
Enjoy the now
Adjust your mindset
I know I can improve in all these areas. As an artist trying to build a sustainable business while working full-time, I’m constantly in “go mode.” I rarely take time to just relax and be in the moment. My mind is always on the next goal, the next skill to improve, the next project to complete.
But those who are truly content understand that contentment comes from within. It comes from mindfulness, from living in the present, and from celebrating the small wins. Maybe it’s time I start doing the same.
🎵I’m So Excited and I Just Can't Hide It!🎶
Hey guys! Welcome to another installment of Debren's Den where I share with you my inner thoughts and art life updates. You may be asking what's got me so excited that I’m singing old 80s hits. Well, if you must know (and I really want you to know!) my first event of 2025 is coming up very soon. February 23 to be exact. That’s next weekend! I’ve been a busy bee getting everything ready so I can kick off my 2025 market vending season with a bang!
Look at me rambling on and I haven't even told you about the event yet. I’ll be a vendor at the Atlanta Black Expo taking place at the Georgia World Congress Center, Sunday February 23, 2025. This will be the biggest event I have ever done! Come visit my booth to check out my original abstract realism art, art prints, canvas prints, greeting cards, and stickers. You may even get a glimpse of me live painting. 😉
I'll also be offering an Atlanta Black Expo exclusive print bundle - get both the “Black Love” and “Love and War” art prints (a bundle valued at over $100) for only $90! Again this is exclusive for the Atlanta Black Expo. You won’t find this sale in my online shop. So that means to take advantage of this great deal on these 2 beautiful prints, you have to be in attendance.
The base price for the tickets start at $15. But if you use my code “ADA” you’ll get $5 off your ticket price. The expo offers so much more than just the vendor market, though. Please visit the Atlanta Black Expo website to see the exciting program lineup and get your tickets before they are all sold out! www.atlblackexpo.com .
I look forward to seeing everyone at the expo!
Disney-Inspired Time-Lapse: Spaceship Earth Inktober
🚨NEW VIDEO ALERT🚨
Hey there, art lovers! Join me as I bring some Disney vibes to the sketchbook with a little ink and a lot of love. Inspired by my recent trip to Disney World and Epcot, this time-lapse shows me drawing Spaceship Earth from start to finish. Plus, you'll catch a few clips of my travel adventures. The video is live NOW, so go check it out! Don't forget to like, comment, and subscribe while you're there!😀
Welcome to Debren's Den!
We are excited to welcome you to Debren's Den, our new space for art lovers, enthusiasts, and supporters of abstract portrait oil paintings. We’ve recently launched a sleek, user-friendly website that showcases my work in a vibrant and engaging way, making it easier for you to explore, discover, and connect with the pieces that resonate with you.
This month, I am thrilled to announce the completion of my latest painting, titled Love and War . Love and War is the first installment of my newest series of paintings centered around the challenges of love and relationships. This piece captures the complex emotions of conflict and connection through contrasting colors and bold strokes. It embodies the essence of human experience, reflecting how love can emerge even amidst turmoil.
To celebrate its launch, I will be offering a limited edition prints of Love and War soon, allowing you to bring a piece of this journey into your own space. Keep an eye on your inbox for more details, as these prints will be available for a limited time only!
Thank you for joining me in this adventure. I look forward to sharing more about my art, inspiration, and upcoming projects with you. Stay tuned for more updates, and together, let’s explore the beauty of abstract art!