My Story
Lisa I. Hwang
In May of 2021, I turned 50 years old. I'm embracing the empty nester life at my home base in Joshua Tree, CA established December 2018. I'm making a shift in my career as I prepare to go PT from my corporate finance job.
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I was born in Chiayi, Taiwan and moved to the US when I was 6 months old. Per my DNA test, I am 70%Taiwanese/Chinese, 25% Japanese and 2% Korean. I grew up on the east coast from Virginia, Georgia, Massachusetts to New Jersey. I lived in Philadelphia, PA and did a 3 year stint in Brooklyn, NY.
My background is in Accounting BS (1993) and Finance MBA (1998). I have been financially independent since I was 17yo. I put myself through college while working 40 hrs a week at two part time jobs and doing coop experiences. Since college, I wanted to be an artist. All the girls on my dorm floor were working on an art degree. But due to the financial struggles of my family, I chose to go the route of a stable job. At 24, I had a son. Motherhood took over and being able to financially support him. I became a single mom at the age of 29.
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I have always dabbled in being creative as an outlet.
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drawing, sketching, acrylic painting classes at community colleges
fashion design at Moore College of Art in Philadelphia, PA
B&W film development in Manhattan, NY
ceramics class at Fleischer Art in Philadelphia, PA
2004 - 5 classes toward an Interior Design degree
2008 -2010, launched Light Mosaics (mosaic jewelry, candle holders, vases) and Functional Finds (costume jewelry, repurposed vintage jewelry and functional hanging jewelry displays) on Etsy, craft markets and artist consignment shops in Philadelphia
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In 2010, I had to shift my focus to my son's goals and aspirations of playing college golf. We had to travel around the country to play golf tournaments. He was recruited to the University of San Francisco and played college golf from 2014-2018. ​After a couple years in the work force, he secured a job as the Assistant Golf Coach at the University of San Francisco this past year. I am a proud mom to see him achieve his goals and dreams. Now, it's my turn.
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In June 2016, I sold my house in Pennsylvania, got rid of everything, packed up my SUV and headed West. I always wanted to be out West. I wanted a change in lifestyle and environment. It was suppose to be 6 months of traveling around the West as a digital nomad but it ended up being 3 years with 3 months being in SE Asia traveling to Vietnam, Hong Kong, Cambodia, Thailand, Bali and Taiwan.
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In December 2017, I came through the hi-desert and lived in Wonder Valley, CA for 3 months to heal from the accidental death of my mom in October 2016 while she was vacationing in Japan. My dad also died in August 2017 from stage 4 colon cancer. 2017 was an emotionally hard year for me.
I left the desert and traveled some more. I came back to Joshua Tree, CA in September 2018. Then, I went to SE Asia for 3 months. There, I decided to make Joshua Tree, CA my home base and came back the end of December. I was going to build a house but bought a house instead in May 2019. I've owned 4 houses, and I wanted this to be my last house.
After settling in for a bit, I came up with the business name OMe Haus Studio in December 2020. I wanted to do something creative for the rest of my life. And here I am now trying to launch my little business while working FT in corporate finance.
Wish me luck as I embark on this stage in my life. Thank you for reading.
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p.s. grammar has always been my weakness
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