rather than the usual bbq, i celebrated labor day with a shrimp boil that included the most magnificent cornbread topped with honey straight from the comb and these fresh figs right off the tree, just before sunset.

Believe, when you are most unhappy, that there is something for you to do in the world. So long as you can sweeten another’s pain, life is not in vain.

- helen keller

(photo via postsecret)

when i met susanne slater in yoga class a couple of years ago, i was instantly drawn to her kind spirit. it was months later, thanks to her humble disposition, that i found out she is a magnificent artist responsible for these beautiful paintings. although her art speaks for itself, i did an interview with her to find out a little more about her life behind the scenes.

Will you tell us a little about yourself and your art?

I started drawing as a child. Anything that I saw in front of me I set about drawing. As an adult I was forced to became practical and pursued a career in nursing. I spent  many years practicing and furthering my education in nursing. Ending with a master’s degree and teaching. Eventually I needed to get back to my artist side and am now fortunate enough to pursue art full-time.

Where do you gather inspiration for your art? What is the creative process like for you?

Inspiration for art is everywhere. It’s about taking notice, being open and allowing everything in. I am very inspired by other artists and feel energized when I go to galleries and museums. I may see a couple walking down the street with a dog, a corner café, interesting shadows or colors combinations. It all gets noticed and may be used immediatly or show up later.

What projects are you working on at the moment?

I paint street scenes and have several local paintings going presently. Little Italy has been a favorite venue lately, as well as Balboa Park.

What are 5 things currently making you happy?

My dogs

My husband

Yoga

Painting

Friends

What is the best advice you’ve ever been given?

Don’t wait until its too late, pursue what you love and are passionate about now.

What is the quality you most admire in a person?

Honesty

Which talent would you most like to possess?

Speak fluent French

you can see more of her imaginative work here.

how adorable are these rosie music prints?

a little bit in love.

found via red velvet

this may be the most beautiful song ever made.

a few weeks ago my friend, minna, emailed me a link to a documentary we had previously discussed while in talks of love called how will we love. i finally got around to watching the hour and a half heart-warmer last weekend. this film interviews a few couples (including the grandparents of the director) who open their hearts and profess a life-altering love they have experienced. i was moved from beginning to end, observing the divine love these individuals have unearthed with another human being. the couples reveal challenges they have endured and truths they have discovered over time.

you can watch the how will we love? by clicking here.

not too long ago, i happened upon and instantly fell in love with the charming artwork of krista smith. bestowing expressive eyes, bountiful hair, darling attire and passionate souls, she captures such incredible depth and emotion, while portraying a sense of innocence in every character. take a look at an interview with the saturated canary and some of her adorable creations.

Can you tell us a little about yourself?

Hello!  My name is Krista.  I have two sweet kids, Niamh (8) and Philly (5), and have been married for almost ten years to my husband Philip.  I stopped working full time in February 2010 and began pursuing my dream of selling artwork and being published.  Right now I’m in the process of sending out manuscripts to publishers and designing new character-based art.  I love to draw, write, run, lift weights, play sports, and most of all hang out with my little guys and hubby.

Will you describe your art?

I’ve been drawing figures since I was a little girl.  My grandmom is an artist, and I started by copying her fashion girls.  Over the years, I developed my own style.  I like to play with the proportions of the face and body…big eyes, pouty lips, lots of hair, and big shoes…There is definitely an element of fun and quirkiness to my artwork; I think it’s a reflection of my spirit.

As an artist, what do you find most challenging about what you do? What do you love most about what you do?

The most challenging part for me is pushing through the days when I get discouraged.   Rejection letters or emails are never fun.  And some days there is no forward progress…so, it is natural to get a little discouraged and start questioning if I’m doing the right thing.  I usually end up in tears wrapped up in hubby’s arms…And he encourages me like no other.  The world seems promising again after a nice talk about set backs and dreams that will surely come true.  Even if I have to be patient!

Thing I love the most—being my own boss.  Hands down.  I like the feeling of being in charge of my own schedule.  It frees up time for my children, and that is something I truly appreciate about being a freelance artist!

Where do you gather inspiration for your art? What is the creative process like for you?

Inspiration comes from every direction…from my own childhood memories, watching my own kids, a song, movies, someone I meet, even a random person I pass by.  It could be a sparkle in someone’s eye that makes me think—I gotta put that on paper.  Sometimes lyrics create a girl for me…sometimes a movie (I love drawing up pretty monsters…I use to watch the black and white monster movies with my dad all the time!)  Life is so beautiful and offers so much to be inspired from, even in the every-day simple things.

Which of your own illustrations are your favorites?

Last year I drew each of my sisters and our best friend as a witch.  There are four of us, and I called them The Sisterhood of Witches.  Each of us has our own personality, and I tried to capture it.  I think they are really cute grouped together as a Halloween decoration!  I also love my zombies, nerds, and a new line of characters I’m working on called Ragamuffins.

What projects are you working on at the moment?

I just sent out a children’s book manuscript.  I am currently working on three more stories, trying to tweak them to the point where I’m completely happy with how they are written.  I hope to send them to publishers by the end of September.  Artwork-wise, I am designing new stamps (and may go completely digital this fall), getting ready to re-open my Etsy store with lots of new artwork, and crafting here and there, tooJ.  I like to create something handmade.

What other artists influence you?

My grandmom, anything Disney (when I retire, I want to move to FL and be a Disney character:), Nuno Da Costa (a fashion illustrator that I love!), and many other creative people I’ve met through blogging.  There is an amazing number of talented, artsy women in this world; and I love meeting them and sharing their love of creativity!

Outside of illustrating, what other interests/pastimes do you have?

I love to run.  Well, maybe I don’t love it every day…but it has been a good friend to me through the years!  Running de-stresses me, keeps me feeling healthy, and sets a good example for my kids.  I need to do it.  When I miss a day, I feel like my day wasn’t complete.  My next goal is a 50 or 100-mile run.  I have always wanted to try that challenge!  I also like golfing, going to the beach, and hanging out with our families!

What are 5 things currently making you happy?

1.  My new rainboots.  LOL, I got them for $12.50 (on clearance) at Target.  They are so cute!!

2.  Family sporting events.  We took the kids to their first pro football game this week, and it was such a good time.

3.  Battlestar Gallactica!  Phil and I just got into the set of dvd’s, and now we are hooked!

4.  The Help.  Read the book and saw the movie.  Amazing.

5.  Playing golf.  I’m terrible, but I have that one brilliant hole each time that keeps me hoping;).

What is the best advice you’ve ever been given?

Love your job.  Because then it will never feel like work.

What is the quality you most admire in a person?

Compassion.  It will move a person out of their comfort zone to help another in need.  Whether it is just a word or a small gesture, I think it is the most refreshing thing to see—people caring for people.

What do you most value in other people?

Godliness.  The Lord is the center of our family life.  I especially value the godly women in my life—I’ve learned a lot through them about who I am and who I want to be.

What is your idea of a perfect day?

Hmmm…Sleeping in, good coffee, playing with kids, doing something active with Phil, (a couple diet cherry cokes thrown in somewhere throughout the day), watching a family movie, and then a yummy dessert!  And it has to be a really warm day.  I don’t like cold weather:).

Which talent would you most like to possess?

I’d love to be a great cook.  And baker.  I lost out on these family genes unfortunately.  Although, I’m a fantastic sampler for all the cooks and bakers I’m related to.  I’ll take home any food they make and try it out:).

the artist

i spent part of my morning yesterday at the cove in la jolla watching the waves. there is an area of massive boulder i had visited a couple of times before and never realized just how many heartfelt testimonies were engraved in the rock. i took many more photos than i am posting, but chose my favorites to share.

Beginning today, treat everyone you meet as if they were going to be dead by midnight. Extend to them all the care, kindness and understanding you can muster, and do it with no thought of any reward. Your life will never be the same. -Og Mandino

“That is some proposal,” I thought, when it came into clear view at five o’clock in the morning, a couple of weeks back. A request like this one, upon waking, brings a person to their senses in no time. I immediately recalled recent moments when I have regarded those closest to me contradictory to this statement, not to mention the strangers on the street I have barely acknowledged.

To live with such intensity requires an awareness not easily diverted by flippant thoughts of self-indulgence and petty fears. This guileless dare evoked a composed response, while I sat munching on my breakfast of strawberries and peaches. How do I begin? It sounds simple but must be tougher than it looks, or else everyone would be doing it.

I started with the people I consider nearest and dearest to me. To look someone I love in the eyes and understand where he or she is coming from, without contemplating my own wishes, puts my unspoken tactics to the test. Not an easy undertaking, but definitely a skill worth polishing.

A few days ago, life permitted me an opportunity to take on this challenge with flying colors. I didn’t do so well. Instead, fear hindered my empathy and provoked a defense mechanism, which disabled my capacity to love wholeheartedly. Love is not always the easiest option, but I know when I choose it over all other responses, even the most unexpected results are easier to swallow.

Hindsight is 20/20. Circumstances can change in an instant. And if we are lucky, we eventually learn to love those closest to us as if they are going to be dead by midnight. It may take a bit longer than I would like, but I’ll keep practicing until it becomes second nature.

known more as a dish for winter nights than summer days, i cooked up a batch of black & pinto bean chili as a hearty addition to nacho night. i use a different recipe each time i make this hodgepodge. for this particular meal, i wanted more of a texas-style flavor so decided to stick with fewer spices and more chili powder. all ingredients were fresh and from the local farmer’s market, when possible.

Bean Chili

2 cups of dried black beans

1 cups of dried pinto beans

8 medium size tomatoes (washed and cut in quarters)

2 onions (diced)

2 red bell peppers (diced)

1 hatch pepper or anaheim chile pepper (finely diced)

4 cloves garlic (chopped)

10 tbs. ground chili

10 tbs. ground cumin

3 tbs. ground paprika

2 tbs. ground coriander

1 tbs. salt

2 tbs. olive oil

soak beans in water overnight (or at least eight hours). using a strainer, drain and rinse beans well and place in large pot covered with water. bring to a boil and simmer, covered, for an hour. drain and rinse beans well and set aside. heat oil in a large pot over medium heat for 5 minutes. add chopped onions and spices and cook until slightly wilted. add pepper and garlic, stirring occasionally. in a blender, puree tomatoes and add to pot of vegetable mixture. bring to a boil and add beans. simmer, covered, for 30 minutes. season to taste. top with slices of avocados, cheese or onions.

when traveling with another person, we sometimes come to a junction. it may be in the best interests of one person to go one way, to see certain sights, gain certain experiences, learn particular lessons, and for the other to go in another direction. this is a difficult time of challenges, maybe hard choices.

blending journeys sometimes is not always best, or even possible. we can accompany another on his or her journey, but there may be a price to pay for that. we may forgo our own journey and become passive observers. we can ask or insist that the other go along with us on our journey. but for the most part, he or she may be as bored and restless as we would be if the situation were reversed. sometimes we need to let go. sometimes we need to say good-bye.

feel all your feelings. although you may need to feel angry for a while, clear all resentments from your heart as soon as possible. say good-bye with blessings and love toward the other, thanking that person for all he or she has helped you learn. remember that any curses you place on another will ultimately come back to harm you.

grieve your losses. say your good-byes. then let each travel down the road that he or she needs to go. holding on won’t help. let both be free to plan their own journeys, map their own trips, and embrace and enjoy their destinies.

set others free to achieve and experience the path that leads to their highest good and you, too, will become free to find yours.

melody beattie

XOXO

is it the face of a child

is it the thrill of danger

is it the kindness we see in the eyes of a stranger?

is it more than faith, is it more than hope

is it waiting for us at the end of our rope?

is it the one you call home

is it the holy land

is it standing right here holding your hand?

is it just like the movies

is it rice and white lace

is it the feeling i get when i wake to your face?

is it the first summer storm

is it the colors of fall

is it having so little, and yet having it all?

is it one in a million

is it a chance to belong

is it standing right here singing this song?

i say it’s love.

this song gives me chills every time.