"You can discover more about a person in an hour of play than in a year of conversation." -Plato
4 Things // The Land of Fire & Ice
Iceland yay! Our trip is finally here. We made it! The midnight sun is beautiful. It never really sets. It's hard to ever go to sleep when everything is so beautiful.
Adventuring : Frolicking around with Mike in a Kukucamper and having total freedom to go where we want. Our cute camper has a bed and a stove.
Eating : Mike cooks us eggs and bacon with Cafe Moto coffee on the edges of cliffs with the most extraordinary views.
Photographing : The living watercolor that gives Iceland a new landscape around every bend.
Dreaming of : Right here, right now.
Inside Out :: Healing
Dear Wanderers,
I remember a girl named Kristen at art school. She was creating an album for a class assignment that documented her injuries. She had 4x6 prints and even a few polaroid images. The image spanned several images. Cuts. Bruises. The usual injuries in life. The album I turned in was a collection of images I shot in Cuba a few months before. My class spent seven days in Havana exploring the arts and meeting so many interesting people.
This year has been a tough one. My brother has labeled it "The year of hospitals". My friend Brian, who has lost greatly this year, has labeled it "The best summer ever". Really, what choice do we have?
My heart is frayed. Mike and I are torn around the edges. This summer, my dad will start chemo, so we will rally. This is a fight he will win. There has been so much heartbreaking loss and terrible diagnoses that we have fought and ran from. Right now, we are going to fight a very contained lung cancer and win. I know to be hopeful, but shadows of loved ones lost knock me over now and again.
I keep getting a bruise on my right arm. It’s on my inner bicep. It looks like someone tried to grab me. I’m pretty sure its from the metal on my camera strap. Every time I see it, I have that feeling of falling down, of having too much on my plate.
I’m the type of person who counts my blessings. This season of amazing events running alongside heartbreaking events is a confusing one. I’m looking to heal and express these feelings that are leaving me so raw. I don’t want to make a list of the tragedies. It’s not my way. I also don’t want to be too quiet or I may find myself breaking down and falling apart by the smallest of bruises.
So if anyone is interested in having the best summer ever, I’m your girl. I’m here to celebrate the small, beautiful moments and count them as victories. I want to honor these painful moments with living thoughtfully and enthusiastically.
To everything - turn, turn, turn
Love always,
Suzanne
Creativity Tell All // Heather Balliet from Amorology
Heather Balliet, owner of Amorology, a luxury event coordination and styling company, is such a good story teller. She dreams up and creates events that are so specific to her couples. I always look forward to what she will dream up next.
How do you continually stay inspired and creative?
Music greatly inspires me. Turning up the tunes and dancing in the kitchen or singing with my family always stirs something in me. Also, most of my ideas tend to come to me while I'm sleeping or dreaming so a good night's rest can make all the difference.
Is there anything special or unique about your morning routine?
Nothing unusual here! My hubby and I typically get up in the morning, get the older kids off to school, have breakfast together and then jump into a fun day of work.
If someone wanted to break into your industry, what advice would you give them?
Start with an internship. It offers a valuable amount of experience and education that you are unable to get without the risk of trying to go at it alone.
Did you always know this career path was ‘the one’?
No, I often say that this career found me. It wasn't until after my own wedding that people began approaching me to ask for assistance with their weddings. It quickly grew into something I knew I was supposed to be doing and a career that I was deeply passionate about.
What season inspires you most?
I love spring when everything is fresh and new again, and the flowers tend to offer the most variety. It's peony season after all, which is always my favorite.
What is the best advice you have been given?
Breathe and take a moment to slow down and step away. It helps to put everything into perspective.
What is your dream project?
Our dream project is to eventually open our own wedding venue. One day!
If there was a song that played every time you worked on your craft, what would it be?
It's so hard to choose just one song. We have a wide love for music as we mentioned before, and are often inspired by all types of songs.
Is there anything in particular you are obsessed with these days?
I am currently reading The Secret Keeper by Kate Morton and loving it. I'm in a book club which forces me to take the time to read each month and allow myself some down time which can often be hard to come by. Also, I am currently obsessed with the TV show Happy Endings and always obsessed with ice cream.
What would you do if you had $40,900 for a vacation?
I would love to go to Sweden and visit the home of my heritage. I have always wanted to experience Sweden first-hand with my children. I would probably also travel all over Europe for a month experiencing the rich cultures with my family.
Thank you Heather!
xoxo
Suzanne, Mike and the Wanderers
