An Abundant Life - A Beautiful New Year

A few weeks ago I went to a beautiful event at the marvelous Friki Tiki that I was invited to by the gorgeous Ivonne Camacho. It was a Cover Launch for the magazine, "Red The Luxury Life" by Sandra Smith Doghmi, with PR and Marketing by Ivonne Camacho and her company AbsolutModerne that featured Marco Maranghello and so many illustrious and wonderful people in fashion, design, entertainment and the arts that the room was a glittering dreamscape of so much loveliness and style. That evening I met the gorgeous Carole Garber, and our photograph was taken by the marvelous Victor Kaminski. When I reposted the photograph with the true gratitude I felt for having the beautiful memory from that beautiful night, I was in the process of planning for the one year anniversary of YES Gallery and that evening at Friki Tiki and the beautiful photograph Victor Kaminski created with the gorgeous Carole Garber and me enjoying the evening began connecting us all together in a lovely way that because of all of their kindness and generosity brought Ivonne and Victor out to YES Gallery for the one year anniversary celebration.

It would have been a gift enough to have them take the time to attend and share time with me at the celebration because I know how busy they are, but not only did they take the time for a visit, Victor created the most beautiful photographs of the evening and his presence and Ivonne's and the friends that Ivonne brought with her along with the beautiful way she has of connecting everyone together and making everything feel so special made the evening not only memorable, but like a dream come true. I felt like a princess, and the event that was already such a special one to me was made even more special by the time and support and love they shared that evening and afterward.

There were so many beautiful people there that night, with music and a visual installation by the marvelous Visionary Module and live painting by the marvelous Marcio Donasci keeping the flow of people inside and outside enjoying art of all kinds. I read a short story that I had written many years ago as a monologue at first, but when it was too long for that I had put it aside and forgotten about it until I was looking through my files and trying to decide what to read that evening. Titled "Presents of the Actor" it speaks of the heartaches and joys of following our creative dreams, and though it focuses on acting, I thought when I reread it after all these years that it could speak to anyone who is an Artist of any kind. I heard afterward that it did resonate, and people told me they were moved by it, and it was such a joy for me to read it in that space at this time as I look back to the time that I wrote it and reflected on where the road has taken me up until now.

The past year at YES Gallery has been so filled with beautiful people sharing their beautiful gifts and inspiration and blessings to help make that beautiful place possible, and the one year anniversary celebration was even more beautiful than I could have imagined. With so much gratitude I thank Ivonne and Victor, Visionary Module and Marcio Donasci, and all of the beautiful people who were there on that beautiful evening to help ring in a new year and make it such a special celebration!

With The Beautiful Ivonne Camacho

At YES Gallery

Photograph By The Marvelous Victor Kaminski

 A Glimpse of the Evening

With Music and Visual Installation By

The Marvelous Visionary Module

Live Painting By The Marvelous Marcio Donasci

And Event Photography By The Marvelous Victor Kaminski

Blessings,

Jannie Susan

An Abundant Life - Lovely Recipes

I've written about Chef Seadon Shouse in these pages before, and also about Halifax, the restaurant in Hoboken where I met him where he in the Executive Chef. As I've written in the past, every experience at  Halifax is a beautiful one, and the design of the restaurant itself which is a creation of Chef Shouse is part of what makes it so enjoyable. The food that I've had there at events and dinners and lunches and brunches has always been as lovely to look at as it is wonderful to taste, with even the scents of it adding to the over all experience of freshness, goodness, light and life. The times that I have been blessed to be at Halifax are some of the most happy and holistically enjoyable and fulfilling, and it's always a place where I am happy to be.

A few weeks ago I saw a post on Chef Shouse's Instagram page about a cookbook and memoir he had just published. When I saw that it was available at Halifax among other places, I sent him a message that I'd be in as soon as possible and that if he was available and had the time I'd love to have a signed copy. We arranged an afternoon, and I was able to pick up my book and see him for a few moments. He's always so busy with the many projects he's working on that it was an added blessing to have some time to say hello and speak with him.

The book itself is a work of art, with wonderful people who were part of putting it together. From the photographs to the layout to the color of it and even the title, it's something that is a treasure to have. There are recipes in it that are some of the things that I love to have at Halifax, including his Lobster Pasta that I always tell people I almost always order every time I am there.

Although I love to cook, most likely I will continue to go to Halifax to enjoy the creations that he makes and the special experience of being there, but having this lovely book give a lovely insight into the Chef and his vision and the way he thinks about food. I've put the copy of the book in YES Gallery with a note that it is part of the gallery collection and is not for sale but that it is available at Halifax. It seems so right that this work of art by a Chef who is always creating beautiful works of art and design in his restaurants and in the food he creates would be a part of YES Gallery. If it's not there when you stop by, it's because I have it at home, being inspired by his stories and his recipes and the beautiful way he sees the culinary world around us.

"From The Hill By The Sea"

By Chef Seadon Shouse

Available at Halifax Hoboken

Blessings,

Jannie Susan

An Abundant Life - Into The Garden

A few months ago I wrote about an introduction to Hudson County Commissioner Anthony L. Romano and how through our conversation about my work in the community and the current project I'm developing with a group of people from around the world, "Education = Power In Choice (EPIC): Empowering Communities Through Food System Education" I was introduced to some of the wonderful people working within the Hudson Country Department of Health and Human Services and their network of outreach for alleviating, addressing and overcoming food insecurity. Some of the people I was introduced to work with Rutgers Cooperative Extension, and I wrote an update about that wonderful meeting a few weeks ago. Continuing on from that I was then introduced to the Garden Director for the 4-H Family Learning Garden in Lincoln Park, and I was blessed and honored to attend a family learning event there this past week.

Gardening is near and dear to my heart, and so much of the work that I have done in the community has focused around a garden in some way or another. I started a community garden in NYCHA Housing when I was the Director of an after school program on Manhattan's Lower East Side, and that led to my being introduced to NYC Cooperative Extension where I taught community nutrition education, many times bringing gardening programs and community gardens into the educational model and bringing guests of the programs out into the neighborhood gardens whenever possible. Learning about where food comes from is such an important empowerment tool, and helping people to understand that they can grow their own food is life giving and inspiring in so many ways. Spending time in the garden is healthy for mind, body and spirit, and having access to healthy food in a healthy environment can affect every aspect of well being for the better.

The afternoon I spent in the 4-H Family Learning Garden was transformative for me, reminding me of my own history and why I do the work that I do and why I develop the programs and projects I develop. Seeing the families and adults and children together in the garden is such a beautiful experience, and the garden itself is so full of goodness that every moment feels like you're in another and more beautiful place than you were when you walked in.

I was given a gift that day of a Holy Basil plant, and it's scenting my home and YES Gallery now because it was so big that I was able to divide it into two planters. The plant itself is beautiful to see and to smell and to use in food and tisanes, and the history it has of where it came from and that beautiful visit to the 4-H Family Learning Garden in that lovely park brings memories of a beautiful afternoon with beautiful people in the community every time the scent wafts through the air.

In Lincoln Park

On A Visit to the 4-H Family Learning Garden

Jersey City, New Jersey

Blessings,

Jannis Susan

 

An Abundant Life - Basic Brilliance

When I was 18 years old I met someone at a party who changed my life. It was one of those meetings that you know there's something to it, and it led me to so many things that were beautiful and inspiring and that stay with me now after all these years, bringing a smile to my face whenever I remember that time and the places this person brought me to. One of the places was Hawaii, and in those days my Mother was always my guide to how to pack and what to wear for every occasion. She still is in a way because I learned so much from her about style and presentation and how to look for clothing and find wonderful classic pieces at thrift stores and for discounted prices. When I went to Hawaii I needed pajamas that I could wear, "in case the family likes to lounge in the mornings or evenings," and I found them with my Mother's help at Marshall's, separates for a dollar each, and the pants needed to be dyed because they were white and the top was ecru, and my Mother taught me how to dye clothing using tea bags. I kept those pajamas for years and they wore so well, not every losing their color or looking old. On the plane I wore linen because my Mother told me that it always looks chic and, "it's expected to wrinkle on a plane." I forget where I found the outfit, but the pants I had for years also, and most probably the shirt too.

The other day when I was going through my emails I saw that I had some points that were expiring at Sears, so I took a trip to the mall at Newport to have a little shopping trip. I needed flip-flops and for some reason Sears always is a favorite place to go anyway and just wander around. Until I was on my way over this time around I couldn't understand why I love it so much, but then it came to me that years ago when I was very little my Mother used to take me to Sears sometimes in one of the areas near Boston. I don't know where exactly it was, but I remember going with her and as I walked there this past week all the memories came back about the entry way where there were gum ball machines and snack machines, and how I used to love to get the little toys and not the gumballs and how the snack machines had Cadbury fruit and nut bars in them which were and still are something that for me is comfort food.

Sears has become a go to place for me for so many things. Usually I write about smaller businesses and individual people who own them, but the beautiful memories from those years ago at Sears and my continuing experiences of finding wonderful things there made me want to write a little bit about that store now. From shoes to socks to dresses to Levi's to winter boots, dress shoes, flip-flops, you name it, going to Sears is always just a wonderful time. Maybe it's just the memories, but I think it's something more. Their sales are always great which adds to it, but I think it's the fact that this is a place where you can always find something you like and there are always lots of choices and it just feels comfortable to be there. There is no snobbiness, no feeling of you don't belong, just a place to shop that's actually pretty quiet too with no loud music or crowds of people or anyone bothering you, just helpful staff who check in with you and find prices and give you information when you need it.

I found my flip-flops this time around, and a few other things just to have fun with. It's nice to have a place where not only are the memories precious but the things you find there in the every day are always just what you need.

Wearing A Summer Dress From Sears

At A Recent Very Chic Rooftop Party

In New York City

Blessings,

Jannie Susan