The Blog
Welcome—I’m glad you’re here.
This blog is a nifty area for anyone seeking creativity, healing, and a more balanced sense of self. Here, you’ll find a spattering of stories and tools that share tips, tricks, anecdotes, and recent news in my life.
Feel free to wander through posts on creative healing, where art becomes a place to release and reconnect. Explore body confidence and eating-disorder awareness topics, filled with compassionate insights, tips to put into practice, and community-centered conversations. For the makers, dreamers, and entrepreneurs, there are pieces on building meaningful projects, starting nonprofits, and living a creative life with purpose.
No matter where you begin, I hope something here helps you feel understood, supported, and sparked with new possibilities. Take your time. What’s the rush? I welcome you and am grateful you stopped in.
Topics include: Creative Healing, Art Projects & Tutorials, Eating Disorder Awareness, Body Confidence & Self-Worth, Parenting & Homeschooling, Personal Stories, Nonprofit Projects & Impact, Mental Health & Mindfulness, Entrepreneurship for Creatives.
My Eating Disorder Story Blog Post- on White Pine Center For Healing
Eating Disorder Awareness Susie's Story This is a brief post, just letting everyone know that a blog post about my Eating Disorder Story is up on White Pine Center for Healing's website. It includes my own reasons why Eating Disorder Awareness Week is soooo important...
Photo Restoration Projects: Bringing Old Memories to LIFE
Recently, I equipped my business with a brand new negative scanner and my dreams have come true. Inspired by my mom's wish to see an old slide of my grandfather as an actual image ("I've never seen this before, you just have to look at it through the viewfinder or up...
Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS) Awareness Month – My Personal Experience
HAPPY EHLERS-DANLOS SYNDROME AWARENESS MONTH Hi everyone! Just spreading some awareness for EDS Awareness month. If you don't know what EDS is, it stands for Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome. It's a condition that affects the connective tissue, making people who manage the...
#HappinessErie- AWE Art Gallery Show- Gallery Night, Erie PA
Happiness Erie Photography Entries and Backstory Recently, I had the opportunity to share three of my fine art photographs during Erie PA's April 26th, 2019 Gallery Night. In this blog post, I'll be sharing my entries and their descriptions. I'm quite proud of these...
On the Topic of Chronic Illness, Gravity, and Acceleration… And Listening to Your Intuition
The Universe Speaks I'm a big believer in signs from the universe. And nah, that doesn't make me crazy. It actually makes me a better creative professional. I connect dots. I create associations. Sometimes I create relationships between 2 seemingly unrelated items or...
Why Intermittent Fasting is NEVER Effective
I said it, and I'll say it again: Intermittent Fasting is a waste of your time. And look, I don't get on a soap box often. Typically I'm a go-with-the-flow, comfort and empathy kinda girl. But this I stand by. If ever I could print a message on my epitaph, it would...
Visualize your Future and Get More Clarity with This Fun and Easy Drawing Exercise
This Drawing Exercise was developed to help get more clarity in my life and visualize my reality and future experiences I wish to manifest. It's great for kids and adults, and I recommend revisiting it every couple months or so– for funsies! There is power in...
4 Steps to Make a Chronic Illness Flare-up More Bearable
I write this to advise myself, though if it speaks to you- then making this public has been worth it. I've been sick. The past three days I've rendered myself incapable of being in the light, serving others, and instead have been stuck laying or sitting comfortably,...
For When You Start To Wilt
Feeling drained? Incompatible with your current life? As a marketer, I can tell you the quick fixes, the fast this or that’s that can get you feeling great, smiling again, and being the most productive you you can be. But as a fellow human? I’ve decided I’m just going...
Overcome Your Fear of Lack in 4 Steps
“Where are you Christmas?” Overcome your fear of lack in life in 4 steps. Lately, each day I’ve found myself either waking up in an anxious rush, or huddled up in a small, sad cocoon. With all the knowledge I have learned in the high performance realm, I instantly try...
Attachments – How to Notice and Release Attachments to Uncomfortable Thoughts
3 Steps to Release Attachments to Thoughts and Feelings We attach ourselves to people, places, things, ideas, beliefs, the past, the future, the outcomes, fears, blame, fate… But what one attachment serves us all? None. No attachment... attachment to nothing....
Why my self-love looks different than yours, and why that’s ok- By Guest Blogger Megan Reinbold
Enjoy a blog post by Megan Reinbold, Her Art is Heart’s June guest blogger! I spent a lovely afternoon taking photos of Megan, her baby-bump, and her pupper-dups– Ruby– all throughout her ridiculously swanky abode. I felt like an uber guest, getting pampered with...
How To Deal With Change and Other Yellow Lights in Life
How to Be OK with Change in your life: The light is yellow. It was green, and yet suddenly- maybe when you weren't expecting it, maybe when you had already committed at a stable pace to head through the light ahead of you... it changes. Do you slam on the brakes? Do...
4 Steps to Getting Unstuck in Life and Making Fear Your Friend
Make Fear your Friend by following these 4 crucial steps Get unstuck in life by turning that pesky Fear into a friend! You're ready. You've sat down and attempted to discover where you want to go on your next journey, and even pin pointed the stops you're going to...
What we can learn from the Cleveland Killer’s Desperation
You may have heard about the man on CNN who shot and killed another man on Easter Sunday, streaming it Live to Facebook. You may have heard he did so after having lost all his money gambling, and dealing with a breakup from his girlfriend. You may have heard his name...
The 1 Post Break-Up Question to Ask Yourself – What Do I NEED to be Happy?
The Post-Break up Question you need to ask yourself After a break up, we're often thrown out of wack. Kept in this ping-pong type insanity of wishing they'll come back, and hoping to high heavens they don't. Then agonizing that we feel like victims, and being too...
Taking better care of yourself leads to better self-esteem!
Enjoy a blog post by Kimmy Casey, Her Art is Heart's April guest blogger! I spent a lovely sunny day, photographing Kimmy, her daughter Riley and husband Jerry out at their house, with fancy rain-boots in toe! From witnessing stickers on the walls and furniture,...
Start Your Engines, Get In Gear… And Drive.
Ready... set... I get it. It can be hard to get moving. Whether it's first thing in the morning, or perhaps it's a project that as you mashing the pause button over and over. It may feel like every step you take is hit by 5 obstacles that either make you stop and...
Medication Reflection- By Guest Blogger Sean Temple
Introducing a blog post by Sean Temple, for His Art is Heart! "How many times has someone told you to take a pill to fix something wrong with your body? It starts out small. We have experienced headaches requiring aspirin or ibuprofen to alleviate the pain. We have...
Why I Suck at Life, and You Probably Do Too
I admit it, I'm not great at breathing in life. And I bet, if you say you feel anxious, or suffer from an anxiety disorder, you probably have this problem too. I also bet that if you have a dysfunctional autonomic system, you suck at breathing too. And this isn't said...
Giggles for Gratitude- A Visualization Technique that Gets You Grounded
I have no clue how, when, or whereabouts this started. Actually, it's rude to begin a blog post with a lie. I'm pretty definitely, positively sure this started on my daily commute to a job I used to work... and HATED. Oh, I tried to like it. I tried to sit myself...
If It’s Not Broke (and it never is)- it’s Abundant!
Recently, I've gotten away from diving in and writing a blog post. I got sucked into my old habits of overthinking and analyzing my choice of words, so much so that my initial, beautiful message came across inauthentic– at least to me. I'm breaking down that barrier,...
Thump Away ‘Dem Feelin’s!
Here is the first ever Sunday Sessions with Sooz!! I recently got back into the swing of things on YouTube. In the past, I used to upload vlogs and offer helpful tips I used in recovery to overcome debilitating anxiety, depression and eating disorders. There were over...
A Song for My Winged Friends
So, I think I may be starting a band? Or... maybe I already have? I've started recording music and songs I write and calling myself A Serious Artist, to poke fun at the idea... However, I'm really liking the idea!! Last night a song came to me and I recorded it. It's...
I Saw Myself in a Mirror Today and Judged
I saw my past in another person today. At first I blamed them, judged them... but then I paused. I allowed myself to feel their struggle: unapologetically, unbiased. And in doing so, I saw myself in a new light. I realized I was not blaming them, judging them- I was...
Build, Heal and Connect Your Heart
It’s Always About the Process
Ya know, I record music in my spare time. I like to write my own songs, and make new arrangements of old favorites. This one here? That I'm sharing? One of the first ukulele songs I learned and still a favorite of mine. I tend to nerd it up, play ridiculously for my...
Frozen Fishy Memories
So this one day I went out to my car near my apartment building and saw this. And so, upon seeing this, I captured this. So here's this. If I were give this photo series a message, it would be "Don't put your dreams on Ice." or "CAPTURE the moment– even if it's...
Let Loose, Get Kickin’ !
I always think of that one scene in Garden State, where Natalie Portman's character says: You know, back in High School I was a clown. I was in theatre, I was big (in spirit) and loud! I laughed, I danced, and I made weird noises... a lot like Natalie Portman in this...
Marvel the Unknown
When I was 15, I snuck out of the house with my older sister one night to enjoy a full moon. I believe it was Summer, and I had never done that before. We were both good girls, obeyed our parents, didn't do drugs, drink, and other shenangins. I didn't even swear! But...
Releasing the Judgey McJudgerson Within
I'm a Virgo. No, seriously I am. If you're creepy, you may know my birthdate and try to correct me "Nah-uh Susie, you're a Libra! 'Says so in my Glamour/Marie Claire/Cosmo/Whatever I read!!" And then I would counter and tell you the grand story of how my grandfather...
“You’re Doing It Wrong”
Recently, I decided to enter my first juried art show since college. I'm talkin', it's been almost 5 years! Admittedly (understandably?) I'm a bit nervous! I looked through all my work, trying to find the "perfect" entries. Hah. Perfect. What a concept! I decided to...
Trippy 70’s Blonde Vintage Dress Shoot
Model: Sarah Bennett of www.bennetttrails.com See more art at www.susiehosterman.com instagram: @srhosterman YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/showorker/
Share Your Spark: Sarah Bennett, the Multi-Passionate Soul
You could say Sarah Bennett, of Bennett Trails blog, is my tutee (hah! Funny word, right?) Months ago, she asked me to tutor her in graphic design and photography. She has big dreams to start her own Etsy shop and loves the process of learning as much as...
Why I Fear the Morning Alarm
Every morning, my alarm goes off. Actually, every morning, my alarm goes off a few times: 5am, 6am, 7am. It gives me a choice, a decision to make right off the bat. Before my cognition has even received the memo that “Hey! You’re awake!” I am thrown into this...
Share Your Spark: Graffiti Portraits with Sarah of Bennett Trails
I had the great opportunity to photograph my crafty-pal, talented designer, photographer, and multi-passionate grllll: Sarah Bennett. She is the author over at Bennetttrails.com , and always a joy to hang with, taking sewing classes with, or just shootin' the shit...
Let The Mind Play
Life has been stressful lately. The new year has brought on a spurt of creative energy and at first I was enthused- motivated! I sewed, I drew, I collaborated! And yet now, weeks after, that energy persists and my mind has grown weary. I have overwhelmed myself with...
Graffiti Wander
To dance among the paint, light in hand, steading the gaze, illuminating.
Don’t Make It a Thing
So I wasn’t always this way. I wasn’t always easy to laugh, easy to forgive, nurturing and patient. I didn’t always have the ability to laugh at myself for the mistakes I make, or even to allow myself a Big Ole’ FAT ugly cry when I was upset. In essence, I used to be...
“She is Me”
I took the job. Ridiculously happy? Me? Ermmm YEAH!!! This new job solves so many problems in my life! Moolah! Opportunity for leadership! Creative development! It opens up a world of possibility! But man, is this a transition period. Following that pure joy comes...
Doorways and Windows
No one said life was easy Actually, I’m pretty sure the majority of those you ask say it’s pretty. Damn. Difficult. We are bombarded with decisions to make. Some are tiny, fleeting; one’s you don’t even really feel like you need to waste time distinguishing from...
Share Your Spark
Honestly, I love making music. I found it has become my greatest, most therapeutic outlet. I taught myself to pick up Luis, the newest addition to my Strings family (Fender, Eugene, and Luis) whenever I’m feeling the desire. The key was teaching myself to pick up the...
Maternity Portrait Photography Session For My Sister (Pregnant with Twins!)
Maternity Photography Shoot for my Older Sister, Sarah As I write here, I am visiting my sister Sarah in her rural house where she plays on the piano while her husband sits next to her on the couch, running cake-decorating ideas past her. They work as a team,...
How A Vintage Shop Photography Shoot Changed My Life
How A Vintage Shop Photography Shoot helped lead me to the answers... You know, I did not envision this life for myself, but boy am I a fan! If you had asked me a few years ago if I would ever be in charge of a vintage shop photography session, I'm not sure what I...
Daily Routines of Famous People
https://podio.com/site/creative-routines Podio has posted an interesting interactive design displaying different famous people's daily routines. It's fascinating seeing how other creative minds worked and even what they might have been doing in their spare time (if...
Line Drawings
Line Drawings Recently, I've gotten into drawing. In the past I used to doodle abstract stuff, but lately I've tried to mix my abstract style with more representational depictions. I started out with a cat (*meow*). Last night I made a human form and I'm pretty happy...