Take only Memories

Blog Hop

2014-09-08T01:34:00.000-07:00

Hello Everyone! It's been a while... I've been pretty busy lately (which I love) so I haven't really had the time to blog for a while but when one of the sweetest people I 'know' nominated me to join the 'Blog Hop' I just had to say yes!

You should definitely head over to Mademoiselle Poirot, a gorgeous blog by Carole, a Parisienne living in London. She takes the most beautiful pictures, shares my love for food and has an impeccable eye for interior design. I've been a long time admirer and reader of everything she puts out into this crazy internet world. Thank you very much, Carole, for the nomination! Here we go!

Why do I write?

When I started this blog, I just wanted to have a creative outlet. The blog has changed a lot over time and since I started blogging I've met so many wonderful fellow bloggers. It's a great community and I'm very happy to be a part of it. I never tried to blog commercially but I love how blogging offers everyone the opportunity to express themselves and publish their own little 'magazines'.

What am I working on?

As always, I am working on many different things. I just can't seem to focus on just one thing. As you may know, I started working as a freelance illustrator last year. I am really enjoying it but don't like working from home all the time. So, right now I went back to the roots and am working at a film production in the art department. As you can see here I also take a lot of photos and love sharing them on my Instagram (another great community!).

How does it differ from others in its genre?

Quite honestly, I'm not entirely sure what genre my blog is. I mostly blog about the things I make and beautiful places I see. The world seen through my eyes.

What is my writing process?

After being very rigorous and writing once or twice a week for a year, I've really relaxed my process this year. Now I only write if I have something exciting to share. That might not be the best way to grow a bigger following but it works for me and I am very lucky in having very loyal readers (thank you!).

And now it's my turn to nominate two blogger. The first one is the kick-ass Nath from Beautycalypse who is on a great quest for ethical excellence. She writes about beauty, food and life with a no BS attitude and real insights into what products are ethical to buy and use.

The second nomination goes to the lovely Kate of Sole Satisfaction, a blog about life, design, food, Berlin and shoes! We 'met' via Instagram and I'm really looking forward to meeting Kate in person sometime soon. She has such great style, eye for design and the honesty she blogs with is truly refreshing.

Have a lovely week everyone! xx

Dramatic Art

2014-06-01T10:53:00.000-07:00

Hi Everyone, here are some of my new illustrations. As you can see, I'm definitely going through a 'colour phase'. Summer and it's gorgeous light and all the beautiful flowers are inspiring me to add loads of bright colours to my art. These are also all inspired by film (in one way or another...). As always, there are more new drawings on the tumblr. Hope you're all doing well! xx

Bursts of Color!

2014-05-09T06:58:00.000-07:00

Hello all! I hope everyone reading this is up and well. I've been experimenting more and more with my illustrations lately which has been fun. Here are a few pictures that are a bit different to my usual style. What do you think? I quite like the idea of just using some color and not filling in every inch of the person, like I usually do.

I also keep updating my illustration tumblr quite frequently. You can check it out here. xx

Feeling Silly - The Making Of

2014-04-24T02:07:00.000-07:00

If you're following me on my illustration tumblr, you may have already seen the finished version of this drawing. But today I wanted to share 'the behind the scenes', the 'making of' of 'Feeling Silly'. So here we go!

It all started with a vintage postcard that I found, of a small girl with braids that were being held up by balloons (I can't seem to find the image now...let me know if you know the photographer!). I liked it so much that I thought, I'd make it my own.

First I made a small, colourful sketch of it but wasn't happy with it so I started again and made a bigger, more detailed version. I mostly use the same process on any picture I make. I start by sketching it out with pencil, then going over the sketch with a black, waterproof marker and erasing the pencil. Then I do multiple layers of water-colour until it looks right to me. After scanning the image I 'tidy up' small mistakes and take out the texture of the paper around the image. I usually also play around with the levels and saturation a bit as well.

Et voilà, the finished image!

Flower Glory at the Botanical Gardens Berlin

2014-04-22T03:52:00.000-07:00

The long easter weekend might be over but I can still smell all the beautiful flowers I saw at the Botanical gardens here in Berlin on Easter Monday. Obviously, Spring is the best time to visit any kind of park but it's especially nice at the Botaical gardens. There are so many spectacular flowers and plants. And there are even more gorgeous, exotic plants inside the greenhouse. All the different colours and shapes are so inspirational.

What did you guys get up to over the long weekend?

The Magical Spreepark

2014-04-14T09:21:00.000-07:00

In the former East of Berlin there is an old, abandoned amusement park called Spreepark. It closed down in something like 2001 and has not been looked after since. Thieves cleaned it out pretty thoroughly. Everything but the big items is gone, and what is left is broken and/or grown over. In short, it's one of the most magical places I've ever seen. The only way to see the park (legally) is to take a guided tour or hop on a little tourist train for a 15 minute ride around the park. Sadly the park has now been sold and tours will only run through the end of April.

If you're in Berlin, make sure to catch the tour before it ends. It's like stepping into another world.

Little Catastrophe Fast Asleep

2014-04-10T09:33:00.000-07:00

You may remember the original photo from my 5 Things we can learn from our Cats post! Recently I've started experimenting with mixing photography and illustration. I often wonder what little catastrophe dreams about when she sleeps all day. I do hope it's something lovely like a field of wild flowers. xx

In the Sketchbook

2014-04-08T09:27:00.000-07:00

After university I took a very long break from drawing and sketching and I feel like I have a lot of catching up to do if I really want to take my illustration business seriously. And the more I'm researching other illustrators, the more I get inspired to draw and create and try new things.

Looking at these pictures I realise that it seems like I'm going through some sort of depression but I'm really not. Since I don't have models posing for me, I use magazines and fashion catalogues for inspiration. Isn't it crazy how almost of the models in magazines look miserable? Wouldn't it be way nicer to promote happiness and have them smile and laugh?

I've 'cleaned up' and posted some of these sketches on my illustration tumblr. Come and join me over there!

Taking Things to the Next Level

2014-04-04T04:14:00.000-07:00

Hey everyone, I know I promised a new blog design (and it's still coming!) but I got quite caught up with taking my illustration business to the next level. I now officially have a professional illustration website! Setting up the site itself took me a while, I wanted everything to be perfect. But what took the longest was deciding on a logo. Self promotion is such a funny thing.

A logo has to present you, the company, your work and look professional and inviting. Quite the task. Well, I tried all kinds of different logos but I'm pretty happy with it ended up being. Here it is:

I hope you've all been well! Have a wonderful weekend. xx

Wes Anderson Accessories Wallpaper

2014-01-19T03:45:00.000-08:00

Warning: I'm gonna out myself as a total fan girl here. I recently found out that Wes Anderson's new film The Budapest Hotel is the opening film at the Berlin Film Festival this year. I'm crazy excited about seeing it and, potentially, him. I'm almost tempted to go down to the red carpet to see him. Although not quite sure if I could handle the excitement.

Anyway, this news prompted me to make a Wes Anderson styled wallpaper for my computer. If you like it, you can download the white one here, the pink one here, and the green one here (they're 2560 x 1600 pixel each). Can you spot all his movies?

P.S. A big thank you to Erin of CO.IN Design Studio for letting me take over her amazing newsletter for the past week. It's a daily dose of inspiration. You can sign up for it here.

Remembering beautiful Munich

2014-01-02T05:33:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year, lovely readers! I hope you all had a wonderful start to the new year. Any resolutions. I've got quite a few, although I'm calling them 'New Years Wishes' this year since resolutions haven't really worked out for me in the past.

Right before my birthday and Christmas, we took a trip to Munich (which is in the South of Germany). I had only been there once as a child and I was completely overwhelmed by the beauty of the city and it's surroundings. Apart from the tourists, it really felt like a magical place from another time. To see more pictures of Munich, please visit my Instagram.

Merry Christmas from Take only Memories

2013-12-22T23:19:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas! I hope you have the most wonderful holidays and get to celebrate with your loved ones. We don't really have any Christmas decorations or a tree this year so I created a few Christmassy drawings to get into the holiday spirit. To see more of my illustrations, please visit my Tumblr.

Your favorite Instagrams of the year and the Stories behind them

2013-12-05T01:38:00.001-08:00

5. Yellow

This still life was taken on the beautiful Danish island Bornholm this summer. It was at a little café right next to the ocean. To be honest, I didn't even spot this beautiful scene. Someone pointed it out to me and I'm glad they did because I do love this picture.

4. Blue

This lone horse was looking out onto a loch in a very small village in Scotland (Wester Ross) this summer. A woman had just thrown an apple over the fence for it but it was a bit too daft to find it. Or maybe just distracted by the beautiful surroundings. Up on the hill behind me, the mobile banking unit (ha!) was parked next to an adorable village grocery shop. I do miss Scotland and hope to be back there soon!

3. Red

A beautiful canal in Berlin this fall. I cycle around the city on my bike a lot (I hate public transport) and love to take pictures along the way. I believe this was somewhere in Kreuzberg, an area I really like but rarely find myself in. The trees looked like they were on fire!

2. Green

My sweet little Catastrophe. All of the pictures of her are very popular on Instagram. Understandably, she is adorable! A few people have asked me about the color of her eyes. They are in fact green. In this picture the light really hit her eyes perfectly and my honey's green tshirt behind her brings them out as well.

1. Brown

My friend's lovely dog Maia and I jumping for joy is by far my most liked photo (and my personal favorite as well). I had gotten these beautiful boots as an early birthday present and wanted to capture them. It was a very spontaneous idea while we were taking her out for a walk and I had to convince my sweetheart to take this picture as he usually avoids photography. Maia and I jumped quite a few times. We had a blast!

Thank you so much for following, liking and commenting on my Instagram!

Happy Halloween!

2013-10-31T02:26:00.000-07:00

Happy Halloween, everyone! I've already seen so many Halloween party pictures around the internet that one could think it's a week long holiday. I think I'm going to sit this one out this year. Halloween doesn't really get celebrated in Berlin anyway. Although I'm sure you could find a party if you wanted to.

Here are some recent drawings from my illustration tumblr. They are somewhat Halloween themed. I personally would love to have a cat hat but I don't think my Catastrophe would be up for that!

How are you guys celebrating Halloween?

Turning 30: Week 47 - Never Stop Learning

2013-10-28T05:01:00.001-07:00

“Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever.”

― Mahatma Gandhi

Since graduating from uni and drama school, I've toyed with the idea of doing a masters degree. But uni is expensive (depending where you want to go) and the subjects I'm most interest in can also just be learned by doing. However, I think it's really important to keep learning new things. And there are so many ways to get a free (or cheap) education online nowadays that it would be silly not to make good use of it.

Over the past year I've taken quite a few online courses and really loved the experience. Here are my personal top three online education platforms, in no particular order:

1. creativeLIVE

creativeLIVE is a great platforms for, well, creatives. They have a lot of workshops for photographers, filmmakers, and other kind of creatives. And they also have workshops on the business side of being an artist. Co-founded by photographer Chase Jarvis (also check out his great show ChaseJarvisLIVE) and tech/business guy Craig Swanson, it really is a great way of learning a new craft or go deeper into your passions.

How it works: The workshops vary from 1-3 days, each 7 hours long. You can watch them live for free (they rebroadcast it free a couple of times for different time zones) or you can purchase the workshops afterwords.

2. Coursera

Coursera is an incredible platform that hosts online education in pretty much all subjects. The courses are taught by top lecturers from the worlds leading universities. I took a few courses but my favorite was a fantastic film history class by Scott Higgins, a top lecturer from the US uni Wesleyan. Coursera classes are time intensive and can be pretty difficult and demanding but you learn a ton.

How it works: Classes are several weeks long with quite an intensive curriculum. Depending on the class, you'll have to spend about a day on watching the classes, doing the course work, homework and taking tests. It's absolutely free and you get a certificate at the end!

3. Podcasts

Alright, this is a bit vague but I do listen to a lot of podcasts and find many very educational. You'll have to dig a bit to find the most interesting podcasts in your field but no matter what you're interest in, I'm sure there's a great podcast for it. My top favorite podcast is Sctiptnotes by screenwriters John August and Craig Mazin. It's all about scriptwriting and the film business which I find fascinating. What I like about podcasts that it's nice to be able to educate yourself while traveling, taking a walk or even doing the dishes. Apple even has their own iTunesU(niversity) but I have yet to try it.

Notable mentions:

My sweetheart is obsessed with Khan Academy and has taken multiple courses. I just started two classes on iversity, so far, so good, but I can't say much about it yet. Obviously TED talks are absolutely amazing and often educational.

What platforms do you use to keep learning?

P.s. I took this photo at the great and beautiful Trinity College in Dublin.

Photography: Autumn in Berlin

2013-10-17T04:23:00.001-07:00

Autumn is my absolute favorite season. I just can't get enough of the rich colors, pumpkin everything, cosy sweaters and gorgeous boots (the above were an early birthday present from my sweetheart, thanks!).

Since getting my DSLR camera I've barely put it down. And thanks to Instagram I've found a perfect outlet and daily reason to take and post photos. I love the challenge of finding interesting and beautiful images. I've always loved photography and am having the most fun learning more about it.

P.s. The gorgeous dog belongs to my good friend Jon. I'm fortunate enough to get to look after her once in a while. She really is the sweetest.

Turning 30: Week 44 - Kicking off the 10 week Countdown in Dublin

2013-10-07T14:50:00.000-07:00

One thing is certain: I've stayed true to my 'turning 30 solution' of traveling more. I'm typing this while sitting in an Irish pub in, get this, Dublin! My sweetheart and I are here to visit good friends of ours and to enjoy some Guiness and chips.

Today also marks the first day of the 10 week countdown to my birthday. It's time to review my goals and see what I still need to work on and what I have already achieved. What can be achieved in the last 10 weeks? When I look in the mirror on my birthday, what kind of person would I like to see?

I believe that asking questions like these and trying to feel how that day could feel can help to stay on task for the remaining days. Am I willing to be disciplined now or am I prepared to regret not giving it my best? I would like to be proud and really know that I have achieved something this year, that I have learned and grown. I don't think I'm quite there yet but I do think ten weeks are enough to get a lot closer!

What are you planning to achieve until the year is over?

A Traveling Vegetarian - The Scottish Highlands

2013-09-19T02:26:00.002-07:00

Traveling through a country where the national dishes include haggis, black pudding and meat pies can be tricky when you're a vegetarian. I fully prepared myself for living on a diet of toast, fries (or chips as they're called there) and shortbread. But as it turns out, even in the most remote places it really wasn't much of a problem. There is not a huge choice for vegetarians but for the most part, I had lovely food. Here are some tips on how to travel the Scottish Highlands the vegetarian way:

1. Breakfast at B&B's:

B&B's have a lot of visitors, obviously, and are mostly used to vegetarian travelers. A few times I was even offered veggie sausages or burgers! On other occasions they offered to just leave the meat out and make eggs, beans and fried vegetables. If you're like me and don't like the idea of your food being cooked in the same pan as meat, just ask for boiled eggs and have the cereal and toast that every B&B serves anyway. If you don't eat eggs but need something warm in the morning, just ask if they have porridge (they probably will!).

2. Dinner at Pubs and Inns:

There really isn't a lot of choice of restaurants in the small villages in the Highlands. Usually there is one pub or inn, if you're lucky there are two. Most will have a lot of meat, some fish and one vegetarian option. It's usually Mac & Cheese, veggie lasagne, or sometimes veggie burger. The food is pretty decent for the most part. Sometimes there just isn't anything vegetarian on the menu. In that case just ask! A couple of chefs offered to make pasta and other things for me (Scots are amazingly friendly!). Every pub or inn will have fries, so that is always an option.

3. In between snacks:

If nothing else works, fill up on snacks during the day. Shops and tea rooms are few and far between, so I suggest you get your favorite snacks before you start your trip and always keep them in the car. Most villages will have a tiny general store where you can get biscuits and other things. Tea rooms will have cake and sometimes sandwiches but there really aren't many around.

Most of all: Go visit the Scotland! You'll love it!

Turning 30: Week 41 - Dreaming of a little house and some Sheep

2013-09-16T14:58:00.000-07:00

Driving over the mountains, along the many lochs, through fog, rain and quite a bit of sunshine I found myself dreaming of a living in a remote little Scottish village. Preferably somewhere along the west coast, or Wester Ross as it is known there. A place so remote where sheep outnumber people, where the only shop in town is also the only tea room in a 50 mile radius, where once in a while a mobile banking unit roles through for the locals to get some cash out and everyone meets in the pub at night to drink ale, whiskey, to chat and to laugh.

Visiting Scotland was a wonderful experience and I was very sad to leave. I have fallen in love with all the animals, the breathtaking views, and the wonderful, friendly locals. Seeing cabers tossed, hammers thrown and flings danced (and the queen appear!) at the Braemar Highland Games, for a moment, gave me a glimpse into this rich culture. The past and the present seem very connected. Modern families still honor their ancestors by wearing traditional clothing and keeping history alive. Ancient castles have been passed down through the families and are still lived in today.

I can't seem to visit a place without dreaming of moving there. And quite often, I actually do. Even if it's just for a few months. Whether I end up living in the Scottish Highlands or not is not yet decided but I do know that this trip, the beautiful places I've seen and the wonderful people I've met will always stay with me.

Turning 30: Week 38 - Travel Dreams

2013-08-26T14:52:00.002-07:00

These photos were all taken on the beautiful Danish island Bornholm, where I am at the moment. I am so lucky to be assisting a workshop on travel journalism which I also get to take. As you can see, Bornholm is gorgeous and there is a ton to write about. You can follow my photo diary of the journey on Instagram.

My first workshop on travel journalism was in 2006 and don't remember much other than thinking 'what a dream job!'. I love nothing more than discovering new places and travel writing (at least in Germany) is also quite close to screenwriting. It's not fictional but you're telling a story, describing what you see, hear, smell and who you talk to. It's a wonderful exercise in really seeing and feeling your surroundings. In 2006 I was too young or too focused on other things to actually try to sell my story. This time I feel a bit more confident in myself to at least give it a try. We'll see what happens!

Altogether we're a group of eleven people, all staying in the same house (the house itself is so amazing that I've chosen to write my story about it and it's owner!) and we are having such a great time. It is so much fun to spend a week with a group of creative people who are eager to learn.

I hope you are all having a wonderful week as well!

Vanessa xx

Turning 30: Week 36 - Going with the Flow

2013-08-12T02:06:00.002-07:00

Even though I've never actively looked for illustrating work, over the past years I've done some here and there when people have asked me to. I started out doing favors for friends and illustrating flyers or similar things for free. Then people started asking me to work for free but they would offer me something in return.

At some point they started offering money. As I said, I never looked for that kind of work so it's not very frequent. There are so many people out there who actually studied illustration and are dying to work as illustrators and since I'm already pursuing another career that is nearly impossible to get into, I never saw a point in pursuing this as well.

A colleague from my last job recommended me to her new boss when she was looking for an illustrator (thank you!), and I had the pleasure to illustrate these fun animals for their website Key to See (they do a lot of events all over Germany, check it out). You can see the whole set of drawings here. I'm currently working on a second assignment for them which is equally as much fun.

Even though it's not quite what I set out for, I always love drawing and am very happy and thankful to be able to call it my work (at least for right now). The way I see it, making a living with art is wonderful, no matter what! I'm taking it as it comes and going with the flow!

Have a wonderful week, Vanessa xx

All drawings were made by me and commissioned by Key to See.

#Instarecipe: 3 Ingredient Cookie - No Added Sugar

2013-08-08T05:27:00.000-07:00

Hello Sweets, I just posted a recipe on Instagram. But I thought since this recipe is so easy, quick and delicious, I'd share it with you non-Instagramers out there! If you are on Instagram and would like to follow me, click here.

And this is what you need for the recipe:

- 2 soft bananas

- roughly a cup of oats (I used gluten free ones, making them even more healthy)

- a handful of raisins, chocolate chips, nuts or whatever you like

This is what to do:

Mash it all together, put little cookie shapes onto a baking sheet and bake it at 180 degrees celsius for 15 minutes.

It really couldn't be easier. You can also add some spices like cinnamon. Go nuts!

I originally saw the recipe on this website.

Turning 30: Week 35 - A Month Without Sugar

2013-08-04T23:53:00.001-07:00

Exactly one month ago I decided to go cold turkey and I stopped eating sugar. At the time I was going a bit overboard with chocolates and cakes and just felt like seeing if I could go without it for a month.

Why? I felt like sugar was ruling my life. While eating something sweet I'd be thinking about where my next fix could be coming from. It's no secret that sugar is really bad for you. It's bad for your teeth, it ages your skin and body, it increases your risk of heart disease, cancer and diabetes among other things. Taking some time off the stuff seemed like a good idea.

How? From one day to the next I just completely eliminated sugar from my diet. The first week I quit all sweet things. In week two I reintroduced fruit back into my diet. I waited until week three to try no-sugar chocolate and I baked these lovely no added sugar muffins in week four. I never substituted sugar with anything like coconut, artificial sweeteners or Stevia, I just cut it out.

How was it? Mentally it was an amazingly freeing experience. From the first day it was super easy and I didn't crave sugar at all. Before I started I wasn't sure I'd be able to do it but it really wasn't a problem. Physically, however, I haven't noticed any changes. My skin or mind haven't magically cleared up, I don't look ten years younger, and I didn't lose any weight.

Difficulties? Eating out was the main problem. I'm a vegetarian and quite often the only choices for me are sandwiches or salads, both of which might contain sugar (salad dressing as well as bread are often made with sugar). To be honest, I just let that slide. I don't eat out that often so I felt it was ok. I also had diet coke and ketchup a couple of times, which I shouldn't have had. Even though I didn't crave sweets I still had a craving for snacks after dinner so I usually had some nuts.

What now? For quite a while I thought I'd just continue living sugar free because it made me feel so free but right now I'm not sure anymore. The three main issues are: 1. The social aspect. It's just so nice to grab an ice cream or a piece of cake with friends or to be able to have the dessert when you're invited to someones house. 2. Too many limitations. As I mentioned, I'm a vegetarian and am already pretty limited in what I can eat, especially when eating out. Cutting out something else completely would be even more limiting and make my life just that bit harder. 3. I just really love chocolates, cookies, cakes and other sugary goodness. Basically I'm hoping to find more of a balance and only have sugar sometimes, not several times a day. I do hope it works out. Wish me luck!

Have you ever thought about cutting sugar from your diet?

Get Inspired by actress Susan Gross

2013-06-27T07:13:00.000-07:00

Susan Gross (by JP Miller)

Meet multitalented, funny and lovely Susan Gross. Not only can you see her in Stephen Soderbergh's Side Effects and Joss Whedon's upcoming In Your Eyes, she is also currently co-writing her own sitcom Checking the Gate. I had the pleasure of rooming with her for a couple of years while living in New York and, let's face it, we had a blast! I'm so excited that she has agreed to answer a few questions for the blog. So, buckle up, get a glass of wine and get inspired by the Susan Gross!

What made you decide to become an actress?

I never felt it was a decision actually. It just always seemed to be what I wanted to do and I never questioned it. But I would say that in the 6th grade (I was around 12 years old) a teacher singled me out, after my friends and I performed a skit from a book we had read for class called "Lizard Music". She said, "You're really talented and you should pursue an acting career." I guess it probably had more to do with it than I realized. I'll never forget that moment. Teachers really do matter. So I started performing in school plays, studied theatre arts in college and performed at my local community theatre.

What's the hardest part, for you, of pursuing a career as an actor?

Marketing myself! I could network all day and go to events and be social, but when it comes to mailing out headshots or following up on auditions, I'm terrible at it. Living in New York City and pursuing a career is very challenging because there are so many more people for casting directors to choose from. But I still believe that a lot of it has to do with luck and chance. At least I hope so because I have a stack of postcards that need mailing.

Checking the Gate (Photo by JP Miller)

Was there ever a point in your career at which you thought about quitting acting? If so, what made you stick with it?

This is a hard question for me. I don't think so because I would probably already be doing some other job. There are certainly days where I'm tired of auditioning, networking, etc. What makes me stick with it, is the feeling I get from performing, the laughs I hear in the audience and the times people have come up to me after a show to say how a performance of mine affected them. I also tend to do other creative things when I'm not working, like writing or street photography. Or if all else fails, I'll make my own video on the couch at my apartment. Even if I don't send anything out, at least I have kept the creative juices flowing and that's very important.

Do you think the film business is agist/Was your age ever an issue?

Maybe? I don't know. So far, I don't think my age has been a factor, I'm lucky to have good genes and look very young. I do think there are far less roles for women as they get older and really far less roles for women in general. Look at the majority of casting breakdowns or think about the last few plays, movies or TV shows you watched. How many women had strong roles in them (or as strong as their male counterparts)? This is why I started writing more and more and actually trying to get my writing produced. I would like to see more varied and interesting roles for women.

What was the most exciting moment in your career so far?

I'd like to share two stories, since theatre is such a love of mine but I'm now headed more into film and television. I had the chance to work with the playwright, Christopher Durang (who recently won a Tony for Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike) on the revival of his play The Vietnamization of New Jersey. He had been one of my favorite playwrights ever since I performed in Baby with the Bathwater at Roanoke College in Virginia (where I'm originally from). So it was thrilling to finally be living in New York City and performing one of his plays Off-Broadway! He was at our first rehearsal and many others, often asking the actors how they felt about the scene and what they would like from their characters. The night he came to see the show it was sold out and we had two curtain calls and a standing ovation. It was like I was finally living the dream I always pictured as a child. I was subletting an apartment on the Upper West Side and I would walk to the corner newsstand to check for reviews every day in the papers. It was such a thrill to see the New York Times give us a great review. Also my picture was in the Metro and Variety called me a sexpot. Haha! It was truly amazing.

As far as my film career goes, last year I had the chance to be directed by Steven Soderbergh in his latest film, Side Effects. It was one line but it was with Jude Law. To be directed and thanked by Soderbergh, felt huge to me. Plus, you know Jude Law's not too shabby either!

What was the best decision of your life?

Moving to New York City. I wish I had done this so much earlier in my life. New York is a place where anything is possible and once you're here, it really opens your eyes to how big the world is and how much opportunity there is for everyone. It really is a cultural melting pot. The energy is incredible. Sure, there are days when it gets to me and I want to run away to a cabin in Vermont. But I would always want to come back. New York taught me I could get a play produced, it has taught me to believe in myself and that there is a huge support system here if you meet the right people.

The Vietnamization of New Jersey; photo By Trevor Oswalt

What are your goals for the near future and how are you working on achieving them?

The biggest goal I have right now is to get my sitcom produced. I have co-written a sitcom with my friend Laura Kautza called Checking the Gate. Laura and I have been stand-ins on many tv shows and films and we wanted to write a show about what goes on behind the scenes and from the crew's perspective. It follows the lives of two actresses who stand in for two of television's biggest stars on a detective show. It takes you through all the drama on screen and (mainly) off screen. We also want to let the audience in on all the jokes and you'll learn all that film jargon you may not know. Plus it's a really fun story about two people, living their dreams and trying to catch their big break. They just didn't realize so many obstacles would be in the way including ex-boyfriends and diva attitudes! We wanted to also bring back the feel of the detective shows of the 80s, where it was so much fun to watch and tune in every week to see what will happen next. Laura and I are from two different generations (I'm the slightly older one), so we're hoping to appeal to all a wide audience. I feel it's important to give women writers and performers a voice and write roles with more depth but make people laugh too. But don't worry guys we wrote some fun roles for you too!

What is your biggest dream and are you confident that you'll achieve it?

Writing, producing and starring in my own sitcom like Tina Fey. Yes, I am confident I will achieve it (most of the time). I'm actively writing and trying to make it happen, we even filmed a teaser trailer for it. I guess that's all I can do and we'll see if luck and chance help out as well.

What's your advice for people who are trying to break into the industry?

If you can get into Julliard go! Haha. Seriously, connections matter and your training matters. I had an eye-opening experience once at a callback when a director didn't bring my headshot/resume with him and so the first thing he asked me was where I went to school. Training isn't everything, but you definitely need it in order to have a solid foundation to build from. I'm also a firm believer in having a theatre background. Move to New York as soon as you can. Do what feels right and be ok with failure. Persistance is really the key. Get some great headshots, audition as much as you can and get your face in front of casting directors as much as possible. If all else fails, write, write write! Or direct! Learn what the crew does, appreciate every person who helps in creating a film, TV show or play. Make your own web series! Stay in a creative mode at all times. It's at the times when you're creating and feeling that energy from creating, that amazing things begin to happen.

All about Susan:

Susan Gross lives in New York City and is currently studying at Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre while pursuing a career in television and film. She has performed with many theatre companies in Virginia, Boston and New York City. She is the playwright of a short play entitled If You Are My Soulmate, Why Are You Such An A**hole? which was produced at The Secret Theatre in Queens. A full-length version of the play had a staged reading with Alchemy Theatre Company of Manhattan at Theatre Row. She was most recently seen in Steven Soderbergh's Side Effects and soon you can catch her in Joss Whedon's upcoming film, In Your Eyes. Susan can probably be found at an Argo Tea co-writing the sitcom Checking the Gate or working on her new play, Cleoplastic.

Check out her links:

Web page for Checking the Gate

Teaser for Checking the Gate

Susan's p ersonal web site

Thank you so much, Susan, for taking the time out of your fabulous busy schedule to inspire us!

Dark Chocolate Coconut Balls - Vegan & Gluten Free!

2013-05-17T02:12:00.000-07:00

Since doing my cleanse I suddenly have wonderful cravings for whole foods. I felt so much better while cutting out gluten, lactose, sugar and many other things and eating more fresh vegetables and whole grains. Now I'm trying to find a balance eating healthy while not feeling deprived. I want to start sharing the changes I am making to my diet, exercise and wellness routines with you. They are part of my Turning 30 project, my quest for a better life! I hope I can inspire you to jump on the healthy wagon with me!

These dark chocolate coconut balls (or Bounty Balls as I like to call them) are vegan, gluten free with an option of making them refined sugar free. They are sweet as heaven and made from wonderful and healthy ingredients. Side note: let's not confuse healthy with low calorie, don't go crazy and eat'em all at once! I got the inspiration through THIS recipe by the wonderful Beth of Tasty Yummies.

Let's get started! Use organic ingredients whenever possible. They are pricier but your body will thank you. This recipe makes 23-27 balls, depending on the size. Here is what you need:

The filling:- 2 1/2 cups unsweetened coconut, finely shredded

- 1/2 cup coconut oil

- 1/4 cup maple syrup

- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

The choc coat:

- 6 ounces (170g) dark chocolate

OR if you don't want to use any refined sugar, mix these for the coat:

- 6 ounces 100% unsweetened dark chocolate

- 1 tablespoon coconut oil

- 1/3 cup maple syrup

Measurements for non-Americans: Let's face it, a lot of the online recipes are from the States and they tend to use cups (weird but who am I to judge). At some point I measured one of my tea cups and it was a close enough fit so now I'm always using that instead of converting measurements every time.

This is what you need to do:

1. Melt the coconut oil in a double boiler. As you can see, I filled a large pot with some water and let it boil, then put a smaller pot inside. The water doesn't actually touch the small pot. The steam is enough to melt it. But watch out, that steam is frickin hot! Don't burn yourself!

2. Mix all the ingredients for the filling in a bowl. Make sure all of the shredded coconut is covered by the oil.

3. Put the mix in the freezer for 30 mins. This will make it easier to form the little balls.

4. After the 30 mins, melt the chocolate in the double boiler. While that is happening, form the coconut mix into little balls.

5. When the chocolate is melted, use two spoons to dip the balls in the chocolate (one by one). This should happen quite quickly, before the coconut gets too hot and falls apart again.

6. Sprinkle some shredded coconut on top and then put everything back in the freezer. You can eat it after another 30 minutes or so. Keep the min the freezer or fridge so they don't melt. Enjoy!