4 things...hello fall

The first week of fall is here and although it still feels like summer is lingering, mostly because of the weather, I am ready for the beauty of Fall.  I love how new season's seem to bring new adventures. Summer to me always feels full of bright, happy and fun times where Fall always feels full of intimate, special and personal joy. Mike and I have begun feeling that special joy of Fall with the move to our new place. It is the perfect time of year to create a new personal space.  Now that the big move is coming to an end I was fortunate to get some time to enjoy the things that come around this time of year.Moved by: SD film festival.  I went to the world premiere of a film about Chelsea King from Poway, Ca.  It was a touching documentary told from her brothers point of view that brought a mixture of emotions out of me.  I would highly recommend it.   Chelsea's Light: A Brother's Journey.

Noticing: signs of fall in San Diego.  Ghee the weather doesn't seem to change but...TV shows return.  Hello Scandal!

Watching:  Scandal along with the rest of my fall line up.  Watching new shows, drinking warm drinks, and snuggling up in blankets on the couch with Mike sums up some of my favorite things to do this time of year.

Dreaming of: my brothers wedding next weekend.  I am ready to sit back, relax and enjoy the wedding as a bridesmaid instead of a photographer.  I am looking forward to every bit of it.

Have a great rest of your weekend everyone.

xoxo,

Suzanne

4 things...An artist

I've been thinking a lot lately about what it means to be an artist.  What "keeps the music playing". I've been thinking about what keeps me inspired: my muses, my friends, my family and my experiences.  I've always needed my voice as an artist to be about people. Telling someone's story.  About composing their story in a way that is filled with optimism and with it adding a drop of hope into the world.  As I grew to understand myself better as an artist, I saw hope and optimism return as themes over and over again in my work and in my life.  Even my most subversive younger work had a freedom to it, a hope, an optimistic outlook.  Hope and optimism have inspired me as an artist.  What keeps you going? What adds meaning and inspiration into your days?Remembering : Botticelli.  The first time I saw The Birth of Venus in person at the Uffizi in Florence I wept.  Sweet happy unabashed tears. I love remembering how profound that moment was to me.  I really felt the staying power of art in the world.  How this one pairing has been seen by so many. I felt grace connected to all of the artists and art lovers before me.

Watching : a routine Travis Wall choreographed on sytycd called ". ". This piece was everything. I think it's difficult to craft dances about joy without it coming across as false.  This dance felt like the best happiest moments that move on circles and disappear the second you realize them. This dance was a gift. I love that I could sit on the couch and hold Mikes hand and share something really beautiful with him.  I'm always so grateful that Mike loves theatre and dance too.

Dreaming about : Mike and I are going on a big trip in November. I've been pouring over ideas. We will be in Europe for 1 week and Asia for 1 or 2. So many choices my head is spinning.

Reading : the creative habit by Twyla Tharp. What a fascinating woman. I love how deep she delves into a project.  I'm hoping to create my rituals that free me up for more time for art and love.

Happy weekend ya all.

xoxo

Suzanne

4 things : Around the World

I'm on a mini around the world trip. I guess we could call it around the world in 20 days. San Diego - Iceland - Italy - Dubai - San DiegoI met someone while I was traveling in college and they explained to me that not all tickets are round trip. Some of them just keep going until you arrive back at home. I was so amazed and grilled him with tons of questions. I remember we were sitting on the edge of a cliff on the most western point of Portugal. He was Australian and said they were really common. I asked him so many questions that eventually he said "I have a girlfriend." I laughed a little because he caught me off guard. I assured him I wasn't faking my interest in RTW tickets just to hit on him. Boys. A few years later I took my own year long trip around the world. It was one of the coolest things I've ever done. If I had my way all my tickets would be around the world.

Reading - lonely planet Iceland. I am obsessed about going back for a longer trip. Loving - an exhibit I saw in Reykjavik called Twosomes. It has inspired me to set aside some time to delve through the archives and search for stories. Hopefully I'll be sharing what I find soon. Dining with - Cristina and this weekends beautiful bride and a few of her friends and sisters. Cristina was explaining that at her new job in Dubai she only has 22 vacation days. There was a slight pause and I was certain that they would say 22 it isn't so bad but instead their mouths dropped and in unison they said "no. Cri no. How awful" Let me clarify, in the States 2 weeks vacation equals 10 days. I'm very pro-vacation,  it sounds like the Italians know what they are talking about. Dreaming of Dubai I'll arrive tomorrow. I'm so curious to see what it all looks like. What is real and what is imagined? Happy weekend, Suzanne

4 Things...Intern Addition

Suzanne is off wandering the world and doing what she does best-shooting weddings. She is currently in Iceland, so us interns at Shewanders picked Suzanne's brain for a couple of things to write about. Lately, these have been on Suzanne's mind (with our own input here and there)... 

Dreaming of: The Grant Bridal event and hanging out with my pals. Suzanne attended a gorgeous get together at The US Grant Hotel. The theme was A Mid-summer Night's Dream, and it was like a fairy tale. How fun it must be to gather around with friends and vendors for an evening to enjoy each other's company and brainstorm.

Missing: Catalina Island. Suzanne spent a night in Catalina with Mike and his mother. Their trip looked so wonderful. It is nice when family can get together for a little getaway.

Watching: The Other Woman. Hanna suggested that Suzanne and the rest of us check it out. Definitely putting that one on the must watch list.

Thinking of: The ALS ice bucket challenge. It seemed a little bit silly at first, but after learning that people are actually donating money as well as pouring ice water on themselves for extra effect, it seems like a pretty cool way of getting more people involved with donating and being more aware.

xoxo,

The Shewanders Team