Sherri Ross

11
Jan
2013

Best Week Ever

categories: See Jane Write, women, writing

This week has been positively amazing. The energy, creativity, and ambition of the people I’ve been around has left me completely in awe of them and – my favorite word to wear out – INSPIRED. I realize that I use that word a lot, for a multitude of things, but it’s the perfect word to describe those events, people, organizations, music, that get me so pumped up..about Birmingham (Emily from Magic City Post – who was also a panelist at last night’s SJW event), writing (Javacia from See Jane Write), fitness (Daniel and Tanya), volunteering (Scott), fashion (Jennifer) and a million other kindred spirits in this city. Let’s recap the week for those of you playing at home:

Started volunteering with a theatre that I adore – Theatre Downtown
The WOD (workout of the day) from hell at Iron Tribe Fitness. My legs were shredded for 3 days, but I did those 150 squats!
Goal Setting Workshop at ITF – can be applied to ANY goal(s) and it was life-changing. I can’t wait to share the notes with you in separate blog post.
Lost 1/2 pound. I’ll take it!
My first Paint the Town Red meeting (PTTR) – it’s a digital arts festival benefiting the Jefferson Shelby Chapter of the American Red Cross. The art and events in the works for this year’s event are going to blow you away!
See Jane Write event – “Blogging and the Future of Community Journalism” One word – AMAZING!
Interview of PTTR folks for a Magic City Post article I’m working on
Tonight we are going to a loft warming party
Tomorrow (Saturday) is my fiance’s birthday! I will let him have “game time” with our new XBox while I rearrange my bedroom to create a very private, very “me” writing nook. It will be full of inspiration, perspiration, and hopefully good words. I’ll be sure to post pics when done. I am uber excited about this change of scenery and the timing works out well because he loves to game. 🙂
Tomorrow evening we are going to have dinner with friends to celebrate his birthday and then off for drinks and shuffleboard. (Do you know where we’re going?)
Sunday I am going to the Southern Bridal Show with a fellow bride-to-be (Jennifer mentioned above) and then off to a music jam at Das Haus.

This week and weekend couldn’t get any better. I will be sure to fill you in on all the details of the weekend. Be sure to wish @socialmediabham a very “Happy Birthday” tomorrow if you know him. Tip: If you don’t know him already, meet him. He’s amazing. Also, don’t forget the next Birmingham Dance Walk is coming up on Feb 2nd – you can get details and RSVP here. Can’t wait to dance down 2nd Avenue with all you lovely people! And lastly, be sure to tell your friends and family you love them. Today is an especially amazing day…don’t let it go by without telling them you care!

Love yourself.
Find peace inside.
Share happiness.

10
Jan
2013

Tornado Alley

categories: See Jane Write

Things have been moving at the speed of light these days at work, in my personal life, and extracurricular activities. I am not complaining – staying busy keeps my mind engaged, especially when I’m working with the creative talents behind the Jefferson Shelby County Chapter of the American Red Cross‘ Paint the Town Red event scheduled for April 20th right here in downtown Birmingham. I went to my first meeting last night – I’m volunteering as part of the Social Media team – and let me just tell you, they are planning AMAZING art for Birmingham. I cannot wait to go to this!

I have been busy with meetings and meet ups with See Jane Write, Theatre Downtown, Paint the Town Red, Magic City Post, the next Birmingham Dance Walk, and working my my goals and fitness thanks to Iron Tribe, losing weight, and seeing my man! Whew – I’m tired just thinking about the past few weeks and the weeks coming up. But they are worth it – these are some great organizations that do so much for our community.

The past two days of challenges for 31 Days to a Better Blog have been to 1) be more engaging on Facebook and Twitter and b) sign up for a blogging conference or seminar. Well, I’ve already blown #1 out of the park apparently as my sister, who I adore, posted on Facebook that I was updating too much and she was a little tired of it. lol! There are worse things, but it does tell me that I’m engaged. I loved Javacia’s tip today on posting more quality and not just quantity on social media – you can read her post here. And I’m also attending the See Jane Write event tonight: Blogging and the Future of Community Journalism. So I’ve got those two covered. I am still working on a new header, as well as whether I want to change my URL, title or platform. We shall see, but they are great tips in the series.

More tomorrow, lovelies! Until then….

Love yourself.
Find peace inside.
Share happiness.

09
Jan
2013

Weight Lost Wednesday #1

categories: Birmingham, goals, weight

I’ve decided to call these ‘Weight Lost Wednesdays’ because, taking a lead from my goal setting workshop last night at Iron Tribe, I WILL have lost weight every week so NAH! (I have to visualize it to help make it real.) And yes, I’m aware that the new year started on Wednesday, January 2, but I like to be fashionably late. I’m kidding. I didn’t start last week because even though I had decided to lose 100 pounds this year on January 1, I hadn’t formulated a plan or timeline yet (at that time) so didn’t weigh in last Wednesday. So, I’m a week behind, but I’m in it now! Here we go:

Beginning Weight: 287.5 (1/5/2013)
Current Weight: 287 (1/9/2013)
Gain/Loss: -.5 lbs

Not a great loss, but I’ll take it!

Not a great loss, but I’ll take it. I’m gearing up for the next Iron Tribe Fitness Transformation Challenge that starts Monday. That will consist of 40 days of workouts, paleo eating, and lots and lots of water. I’m participating in the Weight Loss Division so hopefully this will be a nice kick start to my weight loss goals.

I’m also planning the next Birmingham Dance Walk. It’s set for February 2nd – Groundhog Day – at 2:00 p.m. in the Loft District. You can find out more about it and RSVP here. We’re meeting on the corner of 2nd and 24th Street North, in front of Erdreich Architecture. We’ll dance walk down 2nd Avenue North so be sure to let your friends at Urban Standard, Rogue Tavern, Charm, Pale Eddie’s, What’s on Second, Jim Reed Books, and Sojourns know to look for us as we round the block. And EVERYONE is welcome; the more, the merrier. If you’re not familiar with dance walking, check out the video that started it all here. And we have heard rumors that Madge, the Magic City Dragon, may make an appearance.

Love yourself.
Find peace inside.
Share happiness.

08
Jan
2013

Keep Breathing

categories: Life

I’m cheating a bit tonight as I am in a state where I can’t really visualize what I want to say right now. Nothing bad, just overwhelmed. So, here is today’s post – the lyrics to one of my favorite songs to listen to when I’m having a rough time.

“Keep Breathing”
by Ingrid Michaelson

The storm is coming but I don’t mind
People are dying, I close my blinds

All that I know is I’m breathing now

I want to change the world
Instead I sleep
I want to believe in more than you and me

But all that I know is I’m breathing
All I can do is keep breathing
All we can do is keep breathing now

All that I know is I’m breathing
All I can do is keep breathing.
All we can do is keep breathing

All we can do is keep breathing
All we can do is keep breathing
All we can do is keep breathing
All we can do is keep breathing
All we can do is keep breathing now

07
Jan
2013

It’s a Major Award!

categories: award, blog

http://www.flickr.com/photos/table4five/2167379626/ — Image by
By Elizabeth/Table4Five via Flickr/Creative Commons

I recently received an amazing gift from my friend, Jennifer of Stellar Fashion and Fitness. She gave me an Inspiring Blog Award. This is such an honor as I am a huge huge huge fan of Jennifer’s – her blog, her attitude, her perseverance, her candor. She is funny, beautiful, ambitious, talented, and inspiring in so many aspects of life. Thank you, Jennifer, for the recognition and sentiment.

So, to give back to the blogging community, receipt of this award comes with the following tasks:

Display the award image on your blog.
Link back to the person who nominated you.
State 7 things about yourself.
Nominate 15 other bloggers and link to their sites.
Notify the bloggers that they have been nominated and link to the post.

Here goes!

I wanted to be an entomologist for most of my childhood. I LOVED bugs!
I got caught skipping school my senior year when my Biology teacher called my dad. That was not a good day. Kids, don’t skip school. It’s not worth it. lol.
I was boy crazy growing up. I have this wooden lap board that a dear friend gave me when I was younger. She painted me as a cheerleader on it (I was a Pee Wee and a Termite cheerleader in grade school). As I got older and used the board more often for doing homework on my bed, I started writing the names of boys I liked on it or went out with. I still have that board and it is COVERED in names. I wrote many over and over, but it’s hilarious to read them now and remember my teenage years.
I cannot live without Cherry Chapstick, lotion, or Wet Ones.
I used to work at the Executive Office of the President.
I have had pets my entire life. All dogs and one cat that was a terror and we gave it away. My favorite pup was a Chihuahua named Perky.
I had very bushy hair all through school. Think of awesome Afros in the 70s. My aunt would give me perm after perm. My friends called them “Poodle Perms.” I loved them!

And now, for the 15 blogs that I find inspirational:

There are definitely others, but there’s a start. Happy blogging and I hope you find some inspiration. I sure did! Thank you again to Jennifer for the wonderful award.