Category: #bloglikecrazy


Nov
2015

Thank You

categories: #bloglikecrazy, Uncategorized

Mr. Sheuster telling me I never have to grow up…I’ll take it. #macysparade #findingneverland

Of course I’m going to get all sappy today. I know so many friends and family have experienced loss and trying times this year and my heart aches for them. I am hoping that through all the darkness and grief they are able to see the silver linings that still shine behind the scenes. I know it’s hard, but we still have so much to be thankful for. I can’t speak for them, but I woke up this morning. That is huge – so many did not. Most of the people I know have food, shelter, clothing, and FREEDOM. So many do not. So, as you go through the day – celebrating or not – spending time with family or not – please take a moment to say a prayer or send love to those who are not as fortunate. Even better, consider giving back with your time, talents, or resources to the many wonderful local organizations that can help those in need. If you need any suggestions, please let me know. And, last but not least, take a moment to tell someone you love them and WHY you are thankful for them. Even better, tell someone you don’t know that you love them and are thankful for them. I plan to freak someone OUT at Shoney’s today. Join me, why don’t you?

And thank you to all my friends and family for making this and every day so special. I am blessed beyond measure and I try to remember that each day. I am thankful for the good, the bad, and the ugly that you all bring into my life that makes it so much more bright. You all help give meaning to my life and give so many reasons to keep on keepin’ on. Thank you for the smiles, the tears, the hellos, the goodbyes, and the forevers. I love you.

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Nov
2015

Clothes Shopping Makes Me Sick

categories: #bloglikecrazy, Uncategorized

plaid-dressy

Recently, my fashionista fab friend, Jennifer, asked me if I wanted to have a shopping field trip to my favorite store, Torrid. Let me preface this by saying I HATE shopping for clothes in person. I haven’t shopped for clothes in a physical store in years. As it happens a lot of time, when you are a big girl and the selections are limited, you want to go less and less. Add to that the feeling that nothing fits or looks right, and you pretty much want to bury yourself under your covers and never come out. But, women need clothes and I’m no exception. For me, clothes shopping is akin to going to the dentist – I never go with anyone because I don’t want them to see me cry, sweat, or scream and I get terribly overheated and come out looking like world’s largest radish. So, I browse and click from the comfort of my laptop and try things on privately in my home where I can prance and dance (or burn them) all in secret.

Poor Jennifer had no idea what she was asking when she extended the invitation. Since we are extremely close, I knew I could confide my apprehension to her and she would understand. And she did. But she also asked me to go because she knew I wanted help. I’ve told her more than once how much I love her style and how much I need some style tips and wardrobe suggestions. So, putting my fears and ill feelings aside, I agreed.

Still full of ickiness on Saturday when we met, I was soon at ease. She came in like a fairy Godmother – no kidding – bibbitying and bobbitying all over the store, gathering armfuls of clothes for me to try. Outfit after outfit went from her arms to the saleswomen to the dressing room. I went ahead to the room to mentally braced myself for trying on clothes in the store and in front of someone else that I knew. End result? No big deal at all! Jennifer put the cutest things together, was extremely sweet and supportive of all my insecurities, and quickly squashed any fears that lingered in the dressing room. I felt 16 again, giggling and trying on outrageous outfits alongside tasteful ones and even posed for pictures. PICTURES. AS IN EVIDENCE. AND MY SMILE WAS REAL IN THEM! (blackmail photo above)

She’s not a personal shopper by trade, but the girl has ALL the skills to be one and I know she’d love the opportunity to help anyone with tips and ideas. I asked her for shoe, jewelry, and outerwear advice along with the outfits we put together. We both left with some great outfits and I didn’t vomit. HUGE win. Because of Jennifer I can say with certainty that I will venture back into Torrid in the future to shop and try clothes on. Sometimes all we need is a fairy Godmother!


Nov
2015

Got Art? Birmingham Does!

categories: #bloglikecrazy, art
Courtesy of SarahWoodallArt.com
Courtesy of SarahWoodallArt.com

Birmingham is awash with talented artists, from music to media to art and more. We are fortunate to have some of the best in the business right in our figurative backyard. Before I moved to Birmingham I never really cared that much about art, local or otherwise. However, after falling madly in love with Naked Art (thanks to my good friend, Lee) not long after moving to Birmingham, I jumped on the art bandwagon. Naked Art appealed to the non-conformist in me, carrying all types of strange and wonderful pieces by local artists. I had never seen anything like it before and I was hooked. Since discovering Naked Art, I have slowly, but steadily, grown my art collection and it’s full of some of my favorite artists like Sarah Woodall, Vero Vanblaere, Scott Thigpen, Chad Moore, Chris Davis, and others.

Sarah Woodall’s skylines are a must have for any Birmingham lover. She does commission work, but you can usually find her pieces during the year at ArtWalk, some of the monthly Art Crawls, and her web site sarahwoodallart.com. Being in love with all things Birmingham, we actually have a few of her pieces on our walls, some received as gifts and some just gifts to ourselves. From her depictions of Vulcan, the infamous Magic City sign, and more, Sarah creates masterpieces that work well in any decor.

Another one of my all-time favorites is local celebrity Vero Vanblaere. Vero actually owns the previously mentioned Naked Art gallery and that’s where I first discovered her work. Her pieces are so unique, many whimsical, and all tell a story. Vero also does commissioned work and her pieces can be found inside Naked Art, as well as many festivals around town. Vero’s talent has spilled over into filmmaking and she recently released her first short film Bottomless to rave reviews. 

Chad Moore’s photography business is called Piffle Pics and the name is perfect. His photography cracks me up. I’m not an art connoisseur (or even that good with words), so the best way for me to describe it is pictures with characters inserted into them, usually in somewhat ironic or funny situations. They’re not always funny though; my favorite piece by Chad is a “You Are Beautiful” photograph that he did.

Chris Davis is another local boy made good. Between his commissioned playful dog portraits, clay platypi, and Vulcan beards, his art can be found all throughout Birmingham. Add to that his amazing graphic design skills, improv and comedy acts, and you’ve got a first-class artist.

Rounding out my the top of my list are Scott Thigpen, John Lytle Wilson, Delaine Derry Green, and Eric Johnson. Thigpens creations are beyond witty, Wilson’s robots and unicorns feed my inner child, Green’s vintage-inspired pieces make me wish for simpler times, and Johnson’s Birmingham metal works give me the warm fuzzies.

Do you have any favorite local artists? If so, who are they and why? Tell me in the Comments below. 


Nov
2015

Birmingham’s Got Your Back

categories: #bloglikecrazy, Birmingham

It’s no secret that I am in love with Birmingham. I dub myself “Birmingham’s Unofficial Cheerleader” (at least until they create the position for me). What thrills me to no end is that I’m not alone. Birmingham is a city full of love for one another. We have helped launch hundreds, if not thousands, of books, movies, businesses, incubators, and more just from supporting each other in our endeavors.

Take Carrie Rollwagen and Amy Bickers. Active members of the Birmingham community, they decided to launch Kickstarter campaigns to try and publish books that they wrote. Success! Completely crowd-funded books by local authors because Birmingham believes in its own. Another great example is Sidewalk Film Festival, a local independent festival that recently had its biggest year due in part to thousands of Birmingham believers shouting from the rooftops how amazing it is over the years.

On a personal note, I’ve found so much support in groups like See Jane Write and Birmingham Girls Club, created to help other like-minded women find and build their own tribe. For example, I’m sitting in a coffee shop right now with a room full of other women, blogging and writing. My blogging buddy, Jennifer, and I put the word out earlier this week that we were going to be setting some time aside to just work on our blogs this weekend and invited others to come along and here we are. This is the power of our community, supporting one another even with no words and just the clicking of keyboards.

I believe in Birmingham. She believes in you. Birmingham’s got your back!