This Spring I celebrated 52 years young… the same age as Mom was when she passed. I’ve had many of these contemplative ‘moments’ over the last 30 years: welcoming our kids into the world and thinking about what she might have been thinking or feeling when she had us; making our first big purchases as adults and wishing I could ask her about her hopes + worries; turning 49, with trepidation as it was the age she was when first diagnosed with Stage IV MBC… but… this one hit different. I think because of how lucky I feel to still be here, to be making plans for next year, and the year after that; knowing that, in a mere 10 days from now (I just did the math 😔), I will officially have had more days ‘here’ than she did.
A friend of mine recently lost her husband and, in trying to find ways to help, I shared with her an episode of ‘All There Is with Anderson Cooper’, a podcast of conversations about navigating loss and grief. The episode I shared was the one with Stephen Colbert which, to my mind, is ‘required reading’ for all of us (because none of us will get out of here without confronting loss). Colbert urges us to remember that grief is a good thing (I’m paraphrasing!): as it means that we are HERE, that we exist, and we have loved. All miraculous + fleeting things. ✨
I’m reminded of Richard Bach’s writings that remind us that we can only experience pain to the extent we experience joy, and vice versa… not sure about you, but I want the full and complete depth of awe in this one life, and so - for that - I must accept that to experience the greatest joy there will also be deep sorrow.
Last year, on what would have been my mom’s 80th birthday, I posted this shot of a picture of Mom + Dad on their wedding day. Flash forward to this Spring, when a few girlfriends came over for a low-key bday afternoon and I was gifted this most-special painting. My dear + über-talented artist friend, Stacey, had seen my post, LAST YEAR 🤯, and proceeded to create this most magnificent piece of art for me. Stace didn’t know that this birthday was especially poignant, she only knew I would be so happy to have it… she incorporated my beloved hummingbirds AND a bloom from the peonies my mom planted so many years ago that continue to bring me both joy + solace every year (they are blooming in burgundy and white as I type 🥰).
What a gift to have photos of my mom to look at and to show my kids, and what an absolute delight to be gifted this art honouring my beautiful mama. ❤️ Thank you so very much, Stacey, I LOVE it and it has been officially added to my: ‘If the house is on fire, grab: ______.’ 💞🙏🏼💞
iPhone shot of Mom on her wedding day, July 2025.
A snapshot of some of the beautiful birthday fun from my sweet friends.
Susan, by Stacey Walyuchow 2026
My passion for women having portraits they love was seeded through losing Mom and not having a photo I knew she loved for the obituary; and, for the last decade, it has also extended to clean beauty, knowing that what she was using on her skin everyday was likely causing or contributing to her fast moving Cancer. Our skin is our biggest organ, we (and our loved ones) deserve safer beauty: in the shower, in our creams, and in our makeup.
I’m thrilled to announce that waterless-beauty company Olive Tree People is offering a Canada Day 🇨🇦 + Independence Day 🇺🇸 celebration this week (LIVE NOW) with 35% OFF SITEWIDE! Olive Tree People was created 23 years ago in Europe and is (finally!) available in North America… what a gift → the product AND the sale! 🥳 (and PS: we so believe in you loving these products that there is a 365 day return policy! #UnheardOf in beauty!)
We’ve been using both Oliveda (skin care + internals) and Olive Rose (makeup) almost exclusively for as long as they’ve been available in Canada and can attest that the formulas are lovely to use ✅ AND effective ✅.
A few faves:
OLIVEDA: F67 Facial Tonic (smells divine, smells even better); F59 Serum (every morning over the F67 for best absorption); F07 (day) and F74 (night) moisturizers… the internals (I01, I66 and I70) are also ahhhmazing and should not be overlooked as they help us from the inside out! 💪
OLIVE ROSE: the skin tint, mascara, and blushes are GOLD. I actually like all of O/R but those are my go-tos! (PS if you loved the mascara from the ‘old company’ you will love this one… the brush is a little different but you will get used to it and the results are 👌)
Also, if you are at all interested in becoming a consultant - with all the benefits of 25% off personal orders (that are STACKABLE during this sale!) and/or adding a revenue stream to your bank acct - now is the time to jump in… OTP is growing across the globe: clean, holistic, and philanthropic - they’re a great company doing great things. 🦋
I know life is busy between family, work, the World Cup (you guys: my dream of channeling Mama Kelce, and cheering on both Canada AND Brazil in the final, is HERE!🤞🥳) and so, if you’ve gotten this far, thank you for reading!
Wishing you a happy SUMMER… and please remember to hop into the pics and to choose safer beauty whenever and however you can!