Joe Mathis

01/22/2023

It’s been a lot of fun to be a part of some amazing projects lately…

01/20/2023

My latest blog post touches on grief -- my mom died in September of 2019 and going through her things has been a weird process for me. Encouraged by Anderson Cooper I'm starting to write about it.

On the day of my mom’s funeral in September of 2019, my friend, Todd and I went to my mom’s room at the care center to get most of her last items.  I remember thinking that morning of how her …

12/31/2022

Sometimes I can't believe I get to do what I get to do --- I look at this flashback video of 2022 and remember each story that each picture tells -- and the thousands of others that are not included. I can't wait for 2023 and all the fun stuff happening at Rumbledrum.

12/19/2022

We would love to have you join us as we celebrate 2022 and look forward to 2023 at our office this Wednesday --

07/22/2022

This past month has been incredibly busy with new clients, fun events and lots of meetings preparing for fall gatherings. However, we were able to get away for a few days -- today, I was looking back to see what photos I have of the trip - and my favorite one was this guy's shirt that I was standing behind in line -- I really liked the design and thought it would be a fun watercolor project sometime. So there you go - now you know what I think about while "resting".

07/19/2022

Real Talk: 2022 has been crazy -- labor challenges, supply chain issues and of course food costs -- however, it has been so much fun to see clients intentionally come together to make great things happen! (And we are having fun looking back at some of our favorite events!)

07/16/2022

07/15/2022

As we walked into the hotel lobby, the Carlton Varney influence was prevalent. His fearless use of color and his tremendous boldness in choosing patterns influenced me greatly towards the freedom of maximalism. He brought new generations to be influenced by the matriarch of commercial designers, Dorothy Draper. He will be missed in a great way in our world that now will have just a little less color. I will be thinking of his wife and children and the tremendous team at his company.

07/11/2022

I've spent the last several months pondering concepts of rest and renewal. My family of origin was "always on the go" and even when taking time for vacation or rest, it was time for a hobby or reading or learning -- it's been a hard thing for me to understand how to just "be" and not "do" -- this thought is a good one.

01/27/2022

JOE: One of my favorite memories growing up was family picnics. My mom always made the most amazing chocolate sheet cake. Later in life, I learned that a lot of people call it a Texas Sheet Cake -- I could eat it hot, cold or in-between. It never lasted long in our family.

Today is National Chocolate Cake Day and it seems appropriate to share Joe's mom's recipe (Joan's Chocolate Sheet Cake) -- he says she pretty much made it from memory - but this is it.... Ingredients

Chocolate Sheet Cake
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 cup water
• 1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1 cup butter
• 2 cups sugar
• 1 -1/2 tsp. vanilla
• 1/2 cup buttermilk
• 2 eggs
• 1 tsp ground cinnamon (optional)
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 1 tsp. baking soda
Chocolate Buttermilk Frosting
• 1/2 tsp. vanilla
• 2-1/4 cups powdered sugar (sifted)
• 3 Tbsp. buttermilk
• 3 Tbsp. unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1/4 cup butter

Instructions
Preheat oven to 375-degrees. Grease a 14" x 10" x 1" sheet cake pan.
Sheet Cake
1. Add the flour, sugar, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon to a large bowl.
2. Next, add the eggs, buttermilk, and vanilla to the bowl and mix together. Set aside.
3. In a medium-saucepan melt the butter on medium-high. Add the water and unsweetened cocoa powder and mix together. Bring to a boil.
4. Remove from heat and pour into buttermilk mixture and mix well.
5. Pour into pan and bake for approximately 20 minutes or toothpick comes out clean.
Chocolate Buttermilk Frosting
1. Add the butter to a saucepan and melt on medium-high heat.
2. Add the unsweetened cocoa powder and buttermilk and mix well. Bring to a boil.
3. Remove from heat and add powdered sugar to the saucepan. Mix with a hand mixer (add to a bowl to mix if you do not want to mix in the saucepan).
4. Add the vanilla and mix together.
5. Spread on the warm cake.

01/18/2022

As MLK Day comes to an end, my hope is that we never stop dreaming, designing and creating a better tomorrow that is more diverse, equitable and inclusive.

01/17/2022

On this January day that we set aside to honor the work of Martin Luther King, Jr., I work to intentionally set aside time to ask myself some questions:

1. Am I further along on my journey of understanding the challenges of racism?

2. What can I do each day that makes this world better - especially in the area of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.

3. What kind of legacy am I leaving on the way that I impact this world?

01/16/2022

I want to use my words today to build up and encourage not to destroy. Will you join me in encouraging others?

01/09/2022

Yesterday was spent at my son's first club volleyball tournament. 11 hours of people watching, game watching, reading, grabbing some photos here and there, scrolling on my phone and eating food from a concession stand. It was pretty amazing!

I can't think of a better way to spend a day right now --- well except Angie and I spent most of the day bickering about which was better -- the front row with our toes touching the court and people walking behind us -- or against the wall with people walking in front of us. You guessed it, I liked the wall with no concern for anyone behind me and she liked to be close to the action.

I found myself loving being an observer -- a spectator -- I hardly spoke to the other parents - even those I know. I just watched the world of volleyball parents go by around me. Being a parent of a boys team made it great yesterday because we were on the same court all day and so we never really had to move, just backwards and forwards a few times -- kinda like the way I like to play chess.

This morning, I was reflecting on why the day was so good (well except for the mediocre nachos and the front row / wall row decisions) -- and how much I needed that time to just "be" -- it was a day without decisions. I needed that. It was a day without a lot of human interaction - I really really needed that. It was a day that I could think, read, watch and think. I could get caught up in my thoughts and no one really interrupted me.

I did a lot of deep soul-searching and having some glimpses into my favorite parts of "The Power of Moments" by Chip Heath and Dan Heath. I also started reading "Atlas of the Heart" the Brene Brown version of a mental colonoscopy.

Quietly in my head, I made short-term plans and long-range plans. I solved major problems and challenges. I mentally applied for jobs and had job interviews and moved across the nation -- and then came back to work harder than ever on a company that I love -- all from my "dad chair". I wrote a book, some music and imagined some things I would like to design. I listened to some of my favorite piano music -- the kind I can play anytime and I don't even need my earbuds or a piano.

I re-lived recents scenes of failure and success. I tried out different scenarios mostly with the same outcomes. I replayed conversations even one or two that I wasn't involved in firsthand. I thought about my habits, my challenges and tried to think of my good qualities and attributes.

Oh and I watched a lot of volleyball. Teenage young men - hitting a brightly-colored ball across a net sometimes gently and sometimes with force. And they kept on -- sometimes they won and sometimes they lost. Sometimes they played better than they thought and sometimes they missed their goal. Sometimes they were distracted and sometimes they were very focussed.

I've beat myself up a lot this past week. Seems like I've had a lot of hard conversations and I haven't handled most of them well.

And somehow yesterday sitting in my fold-up chair, I realized that is one of the best parts of this journey, we all have an opportunity to try again with the next day and do it a little differently. Make it a little better. Practice a little more. So here I go -- back in the game - after spending the day on the bench -- to play as hard as I can and not break too many bones.

01/05/2022

Today was supposed to be a “writing day” but in a lot of ways it’s turned out to be a “reflection day” or “relaxation day” or some may call it “laundry day.”

What I do know is that I have spent a lot of time thinking about my goals and dreams and plans for 2022.

In my circle of friends, it is common to determine a word for the year — usually after much thought, prayer, and meditation.

There’s been years it’s been really clear to me what my word should be and I remember last year specifically being a little confused or even struggling with what that word should look like.

Somewhere along the way I have determined that my word for this year is FORGE.

I think about Forge as moving forward — almost a perseverance. I also realize that the depth of the word forge can be new territory or trying new things.

Here we are on day five of 2022 and it’s becoming clear to me that forge is the perfect word for this year.

01/01/2022

This weekend’s event has been amazing so far — you will probably hear about the tiny details from this fun birthday party for months and years to come. I can’t even decide what my favorite thing is so far …. But I sure do like this rug we bought for the occasion.

12/25/2021

Merry Christmas?

My mom worked a lot on Christmas, especially in my early years — so we celebrated around the edges. Sometimes we gathered at the Olson’s the Sunday before and sometimes the Mathis’ on Christmas Eve. Sometimes we had family together on Christmas morning and sometimes we travelled. Nothing was ever the same, we just did what worked that year.

I have great Christmas memories mostly around decorating, gift giving and cooking. Y’all know that I’m the baby of our family and I was pretty spoiled at Christmas. My dad loved giving gifts and some of my best gifts were those when he worked to surprise me.

However, I am also very aware of the loneliness of Christmas - the pressures — the depression. My dad a lot of times had the Christmas “blues” — he would openly talk about his depression at the holidays and would always try to analyze it and figure out what caused it. He never came to great conclusions except maybe his own childhood had left his Christmas memories a little empty.

As an idealist (not perfectionist), I too, struggle with not having the perfect decorations or the perfect meal. The pie running over the edge of the pie plate in the oven early this morning could’ve easily sent me over the edge, too.

Through the years, I’ve learned methods to manage. Living vicariously through other’s decorations and parties has actually been a great thing. (Spending other people’s money is a fun thing that doesn’t lead to spending guilt — usually). Attending other people’s holiday parties and even buying and wrapping gifts for others helps.

As I transition to being the “older” generation, the responsibility of telling the stories and building memories has been a little more weighty. (See almost failed pie above) — this year, I even made my mom’s traditional cherry fluff salad. There are no calls this year to my aunts (and uncles) — no more than 6 people to gather for dinner and even the Christmas cards are more sparse.

Then I remind myself of what Christmas is all about — it’s about love — it’s celebrating the miracle of Jesus. Even for my friends who do not believe, there are still gatherings and gift buying. For my friends who believe differently, many traditions are shared the same.

The varied traditions make this season beautiful. The creativity in everything from tree decorating, cookie baking, and gift wrapping is inspiring. But most of all the love that is shared through gathering together for meals or exchanging gifts or sending cards or calling friends, is what makes this season so warm.

If you are feeling a little lonely or empty today, I encourage you to look around for those who are alone or who need a phone call and reach out. It may surprise you, how much better the day becomes when you fill it with love.

12/24/2021

In case you aren't following my public page -- thought I would share this encouragement to take your time, grieve when you need to and enjoy the journey!

I pulled the ceramic tree out of storage this year and hauled it around in the backseat for a few weeks. I thought about displaying it at the office. I thought about putting it on our piano at home. But I never took it out of the box.

Grief is weird that way. This is the third Christmas without my mom. She loved Christmas and decorating and getting everyone together. She loved buying presents and wrapping them. And she loved to make everyone's favorite pies.

I made pie this year for Thanksgiving and that was a little weird. First time I've made a pie since my college days. I think I might do it again tomorrow.

When we went through my mom's things, I kept very few Christmas things. Just the ceramic tree and a couple of ornaments. She didn't make the tree (contrary to popular belief). She bought it from a friend. It was a year that we were going to be traveling for Christmas and we decided to be creative in how we decorated the hotel room. She bought the tree for that -- but then decided it was too fragile to travel and so she found a 4' tree and bought special decorations for it. However, the ceramic tree became one of her most-prized Christmas treasures.

There are some new ones out this year -- I guess there weren't enough vintage ones to meet the need. We were walking through a store and saw them and Angie commented that I hadn't ever set my mom's up this year. I blurted out "I'm not ready." -- my eyes filled with a big ole tear. I asked that we move on and quickly attempted to change the subject.

I keep thinking about my fast and obvious answer of not being ready. And I remind myself that I can take my time.

I thought I would post something fun about getting ready for Christmas and as I glanced across Facebook -- a friend's mom died today -- another friend's brother passed away today. A photographer friend is in the hospital with Covid and it seems like I have countless friends who have lost someone this year.

Somehow, it seems like my Christmas encouragement today needs to be to take your time, do what you need to do, don't let anyone push you further than you want -- enjoy the memories, it's ok to think about them and it's ok to grieve.

Enjoy the journey and enjoy the moments and give space to those around you who need it. Don't let the holidays ruin a good cry.

12/24/2021

I pulled the ceramic tree out of storage this year and hauled it around in the backseat for a few weeks. I thought about displaying it at the office. I thought about putting it on our piano at home. But I never took it out of the box.

Grief is weird that way. This is the third Christmas without my mom. She loved Christmas and decorating and getting everyone together. She loved buying presents and wrapping them. And she loved to make everyone's favorite pies.

I made pie this year for Thanksgiving and that was a little weird. First time I've made a pie since my college days. I think I might do it again tomorrow.

When we went through my mom's things, I kept very few Christmas things. Just the ceramic tree and a couple of ornaments. She didn't make the tree (contrary to popular belief). She bought it from a friend. It was a year that we were going to be traveling for Christmas and we decided to be creative in how we decorated the hotel room. She bought the tree for that -- but then decided it was too fragile to travel and so she found a 4' tree and bought special decorations for it. However, the ceramic tree became one of her most-prized Christmas treasures.

There are some new ones out this year -- I guess there weren't enough vintage ones to meet the need. We were walking through a store and saw them and Angie commented that I hadn't ever set my mom's up this year. I blurted out "I'm not ready." -- my eyes filled with a big ole tear. I asked that we move on and quickly attempted to change the subject.

I keep thinking about my fast and obvious answer of not being ready. And I remind myself that I can take my time.

I thought I would post something fun about getting ready for Christmas and as I glanced across Facebook -- a friend's mom died today -- another friend's brother passed away today. A photographer friend is in the hospital with Covid and it seems like I have countless friends who have lost someone this year.

Somehow, it seems like my Christmas encouragement today needs to be to take your time, do what you need to do, don't let anyone push you further than you want -- enjoy the memories, it's ok to think about them and it's ok to grieve.

Enjoy the journey and enjoy the moments and give space to those around you who need it. Don't let the holidays ruin a good cry.

12/23/2021

May all your holiday place settings be merry and right!

12/16/2021

This morning as I sat down at my desk, I saw a list of trends for weddings and parties that Cheryl, from our team, had gathered this morning. (I'm old ok -- she also sent an electronic version) -- anyway, it is a lot of fun to look at the list and see things that we have already done, talked about or like to do.... I'm guessing that we will see this list on social media and blog posts in weeks to come -- however, my favorite thing on the list is .....

"Make a big deal out of the little things like place settings." This has always been a big deal to me -- and I think it is so important for a great guest experience.

Do you see anything on the list that stands out to you as a winner?

12/12/2021

Pantone has announced The Color of the Year for 2022 as Very Peri. I couldn't help but think of my mom -- periwinkle blue was one of her favorite colors. She also observed that following tough times such as bad economy and war, that fashion often turned to brighter colors that bring joy and happiness. And that is almost exactly why Pantone says they chose this color. I can't wait to see how we will use Very Peri in events this year and when we will do, my mom will be at the top of my mind.

12/11/2021

Surely you agree that the thoughtful gifts are the best.

Sometime in the late 1960’s, my brother, Chester, bought my mom 4 Fostoria Jamestown green sherbet glasses from the local gift shop in Coffeyville for her Christmas present.

He often bought our mother, nice, thoughtful and expensive gifts. She did not buy herself glassware and typically relied on items that she received as gifts or used items that came from auctions. My guess is that is why the glassware my brother gave her when he was a teenager became her prized possessions.

I’m sure it’s no surprise that when I was a kid, I loved to try out new ways to set the table and use these glasses for chocolate pudding or for a fruit cup. My mom was always supportive and encouraging of my wild ideas for centerpieces or placemats or table coverings.

As many of us are in the gift-giving mode this time of year, I hope that the joy and thought that you put into your gift brings joy and love for decades to come.

Even in my mom’s assisted living apartment, these small green glasses were on display for her to enjoy and to think back on the thoughtful gift.

12/03/2021

The other day, I jotted down 25 things that inspire me. One of the first things I wrote down was "MUSIC" -- I'm sure that would be on a lot of people's list.

This week I was looking at my Birkman Signature Report that examines how I am wired and how I interact with others. I was somewhat surprised that the report identified me a 99% musical.

In my growing up years, music was the center of my life. It was our main family past-time -- it was my career ambition. It was a priority to our family budget: concert tickets, records, instruments, sheet music and lessons and lessons and lessons. It defined us.

Somehow during my "busy" years of adulthood, it has been relegated to the back burner. I have tended to place music in the category of luxury or or even selfish.

Recently, I've worked hard to make time for music. I explore new music and I listen to well-loved tunes. I have a friend who shares my love of music and we often discuss new artists.

When my day doesn't go as planned (like today) or when I'm especially lacking motivation - music is always there to inspire me or make me feel better.

What role does music play in your life?

11/28/2021

I always get a little giddy when guests start to arrive for a party I’ve been planning for weeks. Olivia was the project manager on this one and Todd and I have only texted her 11 times today asking for answers she already gave us. Well — here they come….

11/13/2021

11/13/2021

This OdlR dress is amazing — such classic style….

11/05/2021

Olivia, RumbleDrum Project Manager, brought her furry friend Monte to shadow her at work today! Monte is going to take over our social media so check back for updates.

11/04/2021

Sometimes the best ideas come from cozy spaces. Tell us your favorite inspiration spot.

10/31/2021

In our office, we give out chocolate every day!

10/30/2021

Tell us in the comments - love it or hate it?

10/30/2021

I know - I know — your week just wouldn’t be complete without hearing about a great restaurant we tried this week. Todd and I were in Fayetteville on business this week and decided to check out Atlas The Restaurant — they opened at the beginning of 2020 and this is certainly a “Special Occassion” type of restaurant — amazing food — Chef Owned and Chef-Centered — highly recommend the octopus, the pork chop and the pompano — CHECK.IT.OUT and let me know your thoughts.

10/27/2021

I feel so guilty. I've told many of you very strongly that I have never had BBQ ribs in public - One of my many issues is how messy they are and I don't know a graceful way to eat them. Well, of course -- Todd has worn me down and today at lunch (for the second time) he "forced" me to split ribs with him. I thought through it -- I realized that today I also wore my flannel shirt for the second time -- and that it would be the perfect shirt to wear while seated at a BBQ restaurant. So there -- my messy secret -- I ate the ribs and loved them -- in public -- in a crowded place.... they are great. And I might just do it again tomorrow in another state --- of course, I did use 17 paper napkins....

10/27/2021

The RumbleDrum team is growing! Say hello to Kennedy Parker, Graphics Manager and Lauren DeGarmo, Director, Creative Team. Super talented, with a great sense of humor, they fit right in with the rest of our fun-loving team. Please join us in welcoming them!

10/22/2021

It's no trick! We love to create amazing guest experiences.

10/18/2021

What are you binge-watching these days? Tell us in the comments.

10/17/2021

The RumbleDrum team wishes you a happy birthday!

10/16/2021

More than 20 years ago, I picked up this set of a dozen dessert plates with the gold flora design from a flea market for a few bucks. I have downsized plates and dishes dramatically at least twice since then — every time thinking these are something I want to keep. Only having a dozen of them can be a challenge. They have made it through the gold is out / silver is in / gold is back in phase maybe twice. This weekend, they became the inspiration for the invite, the menu cards, the floor graphics and more and they were the underplate for the dessert. I think I will keep them around awhile.

10/16/2021

Todd and I sure had a lot of fun producing, designing, planning, coordinating, managing and styling this amazing party at The Momentary this weekend. Our client knows how to celebrate her friend’s birthday, promotion and more — you invite 6 friends on a private museum tour with the amazing director, Sandy - drinks at the Rooftop Bar and then a five-course dinner complete with a musical trio. I can’t wait to see the photographs from the real photographer. In the meantime, take a peek.