Nov
2012

No Way! A Giveaway?

categories: giveaway, holiday
http://www.flickr.com/photos/stevensnodgrass/8205052316/
Image by Steve Snodgrass via Flickr/Creative Commons

Anyone who has met me likely knows (already) that I am very excitable. Most every day I act like a kid on Christmas morning…animated, childish, loving, and happy. I am constantly in awe of things around me, full of wonder, and think miniature anything is the cutest.thing.ever. All that to say I am a kid in a candy store today, excited to be doing my first blog giveaway!

Thanks to my friend Rachel Callahan earlier this month I attended an Alabama Blogger event at The Outlet Shops of Grand River to get some fashion tips and learn about the newest Fall trends from Tracy James Robinson of Chic Made Simple. It was a gloriously successful day that ended with me discovering my new favorite clothing store, Maurices, and buying way too many cute clothes. In our swag bags, the Shops included a $50 Gift Card to give away to one of our wonderful blog readers. I’ve decided to make this a fun giveaway voted on BY the people, FOR the people.

Picture Perfect Holiday Giveaway

I’m sending you on a picture-taking field trip. Below are the criteria:

  • Picture #1 – Yourself with a holiday elf
  • Picture #2 – Yourself with any item sold at the Shops at Grand River or by any of the parent shops associated with the outlet stores found at Grand River. (Example: if you own a Coach purse or a piece of Le Creuset, take a picture of yourself with it. You can find a complete list of shops here.)
  • Picture #3 – Yourself with your favorite thing in or about Birmingham.

Bonus points for creativity and originality!

Your submission will be the 3 pictures emailed to me at sherri at yougotrossed dot com. All 3 pictures together will count as 1 (one) entry into the contest. One entry per person.

I will choose 3 finalists from all entries and post them in a new blog post on December 7th. I will then enlist you, my faithful blog readers, to vote on your favorite set of pictures in the Comments section of that post and the one with the most votes at 5 p.m. on December 14th will win the gift card…just in time to get some holiday shopping done at the best outlet stores around!

Happy picture taking!

If you haven’t visited the Shops yet, I encourage you to do so. Ever since moving back to Birmingham a few years ago, I’ve been a frequent guest of them. I love that I can tackle any and all gifts in one place at one time for any occasion. The drive isn’t far, the deals are phenomenal, and the selection is outstanding.

Love yourself.
Find peace inside.
Share happiness.


Nov
2012

Director of Awesomeness

categories: Uncategorized
Image by robinsonsmay via Flickr/Creative Commons
Image by Sam Howzit via Flickr/Creative Commons

We’re almost to the official end of the #bloglikecrazy challenge. I missed more days than I wanted/should have in November, so I’m extending my challenge and also hope to keep it going. Reading the other ladies’ blogs this month has been nothing short of inspiring. I’ve loved this challenge and can’t thank Javacia and See Jee Write enough for doing it. I’ve been inspired to write more, read more, work out more, appreciate more, love more, and think more. That’s the biggest one – thinking. I can’t stop thinking about what I want for my future, as well as Birmingham Dance Walk, my blog, my city, and my passions. I’m trying my darndest (that’s a word in the South, right?) to mesh them all together and I’m struggling with the best way to do that. I get wild hairs A LOT, but they are usually great ideas…it’s just hard sometimes to merge those new ones with my already budding ideas and all the things I want to accomplish. I’m getting there..slowly, but surely…but sometimes the next step is a little elusive. Some friends and I were joking on Twitter recently and it got me thinking even more. What started out as a joke of me running for Mayor of Birmingham then turned into Chief of Staff which turned into creating a position akin to Duchess or Ambassador of Birmingham. Basically I would love to be the official “cheerleader” of Birmingham. I know many people more qualified than I am who have just as much passion (if not more) than I do, but I would still love to do it. How does one create and implement that position? That’s my current stumper and I appreciate any and all feedback. I think we ended the Twitter conversation with me becoming Director of Community Development and Awesomeness. We can make that happen, right. Can I count on your vote?

Big news coming later this week and a giveaway! Stay tuned and check back often.

Love yourself.
Find peace inside.
Share happiness.


Nov
2012

How You Like Me Now?

categories: mantra, music

Ayeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee! How was your Thanksgiving? Mine was FANTABULOUS! We had a delicious lunch with my dad’s side of the family in Clanton (our norm) and spent time teasing my uncle, playing with tots and teens, and giving my dad and brother heck for anything and everything. I love Thanksgiving. lol! Then we had friends come up for the weekend from Mobile and grilled out another fabulous feast last night. We were all asleep by 9 p.m. It wasn’t the tryptophan…there was no turkey at any of the tables. It was ALL mashed potatoes. My mashed potatoes. With goat cheese. You’re welcome. 😉

Now the boys are playing Call of Duty and Black Ops on the Xbox (friend brought his up…I’ve never really seen or played with one before) and his wife and I are geeking out on laptops and tablets. It’s been a wonderful Thanksgiving already and the weekend has just started. We love these friends and consider them family. I met them through Daniel and they’ve been along for the ride ever since he and I met. We couldn’t ask for better (or more sarcastic – yay!) friends and we adore them. It’s wonderful to spend the holidays with friends and family you hold dear to your heart. I hope you all got to do the same.

Today’s #bloglikecrazy writing prompt makes me soooooo happy! It’s ‘Music Mantra.’ I can tell you right now what my Music Mantra is and has been for a few years now…”How You Like Me Now?” by The Heavy. I first latched on to this song when I was interested in moving back to Alabama (from Northern VA/DC) and landed my current job. It was the first one I interviewed for, it was an amazing opportunity with a great company, and when I found out I got it I was beside myself. As a matter of fact, I was in the car driving home from work when they called to tell me and as soon as I got into my apartment complex I pulled over, got out of the car, and did a happy dance in the parking lot. Then I finished the drive to my apartment, went inside, and squealed and yelled for a good 10 minutes. Then I called everyone I know. I heard the song the next day on the way to work and THAT.WAS.IT. It was mine. I still consider it my song and if I’m ever having an off day or not feeling great about myself or my achievements, I fire it up and I’m instantly transported to that day and time and how amazing I felt about. I also cranked it up to 10 in the car on the way out of Virginia the day I moved back to Alabama. Here you go…crank it up!

Love yourself.
Find peace inside.
Share happiness.

(Author’s note: I will admit that I haven’t listened too closely to all the lyrics or looked them up. I enjoy the chorus and that’s what I use for my mantra – just in case the lyrics are less than stellar. lol.)

  • Comments Off on How You Like Me Now?

Nov
2012

Beauty of a Woman

categories: girl, woman

“The beauty of a woman is not in the clothes she wears, the figure that she carries, or the way she combs her hair. The beauty of a woman is seen in her eyes, because that is the doorway to her heart, the place where love resides. True beauty in a woman is reflected in her soul. It’s the caring that she lovingly gives, the passion that she shows & the beauty of a woman only grows with passing years.” ~ Audrey Hepburn

Today’s #bloglikecrazy writing prompt encouraged us to answer the question “Why Do I Love Being a Woman?” That’s an interesting subject for me –  I wanted to be a boy during my younger years. I am not sure if I had a gender crisis when I was younger or if I just really enjoyed the more masculine toys and games, but I distinctly remember enjoying insects, playing with balls, super hero type games with the local chums, and being very upset that I was a girl. I recall one afternoon throwing a ball against the back of the house and crying for hours that I was born a girl and not a boy. I was a tomboy at heart and I loved it. I have no idea what brought that on, but it was there. I think part of it was not being as girly as all the other little girls in my class and kind of standing out (in the beginning). I was tough; I played tough and I liked it that way. I wasn’t a wuss and didn’t want to be around any. I was into bugs (most little girls were not), I was a huge nerd already (robotic arms and microscopes for Christmas), and I liked playing ball.

All that changed as I got older and I got into the dolls, makeup, clothes, and all that fun girl stuff. But it took me what I consider a long time. So yes, today, I very much enjoy being a woman for so many reasons..the main one being that all those things that made me long to be a boy when I was younger are now just as acceptable for little girls as they are boys. Girls, teens, women are achieving great things and erasing gender lines and boundaries every day. I love that we can now vote, work, even be President. How amazing is that? We are still striving for equal respect and pay in the work place, but we’ve come a long way, baby. We are the whole package – the soft femininity of beauty with the rock solid strength of brawn. There is nothing we can’t do; we can run families, corporations, causes…we can create anything our beautiful minds can think of…we can conquer anything we choose to…we can love like no one you’ve ever known….and we can leave the greatest legacy humanly possible – a child. What do YOU love most about being a woman?

Love yourself.
Find peace inside.
Share happiness.


Nov
2012

All in a Day’s Work (and the grand tip total!)

categories: art, charity, forest perk, friends

I last posted for #bloglikecrazy on Thursday. I knew posting Friday would be tricky because I work all day and then had an event to go to that night right after work. I was right. I had planned on blogging on Friday when I got home from the event, but ended up staying out until later than expected (happily) and didn’t make it. I blame my missing days on Friday and all the goodness that came with it.

I previously wrote about guest bartending at Naked Art Gallery on Friday evening for their Kitschmas Holiday Opening/3rd Friday in Forest Park and also trying to collect tips for the Crisis Center while I was at it. I don’t volunteer at the Crisis Center (yet), but I have many friends that do and some that work there, as well. It was a natural choice when deciding on where to donate any tips I might make on Friday night. I scooted over to Naked Art a little before 5 p.m. on Friday with Crisis Center literature in hand, ready to take on the masses.

I’ve been to 3rd Friday in Forest Park many times and it’s always a good showing. I think this one was particularly well-attended because a lot of the merchants were kicking off their Black Friday specials that night and there were carolers and other entertainment to start the season. I was also advertising free hugs with drinks and tips during my stint from 5 – 9 p.m. that night. I had no idea how many people were going to take me up on that offer, but I know I hugged at least 100 people. I had the time of my life! Friends, co-workers, Janes, neighbors, everyone came out. I was so tickled to see so many familiar, beautiful faces in the crowd and even happier to be serving them. What was the best part of the night? Swinging a little girl around in circles during her hug. Best.moment.ever. It was even better than counting the tips tonight to the tune of $208! I am floored and in awe though I am not surprised. Birmingham shows me everyday how generous her people are. I’m honored to call you friends. Update: I ran into a friend this morning (11/19/12) at the grocery store who wasn’t able to make it out on Friday night, so gave me a donation in the parking lot and she got her hug. New total is $213!

I cannot begin to thank you all enough for supporting our local artists, merchants, and non-profits. The Crisis Center thanks you. Vero and Naked Art thank you. I thank you. And if you didn’t already get your hug, be sure to stop me the next time you see me and ask for it. They’re FREE and I love to give them!

As always,

Love yourself.
Find peace inside.
Share happiness.

images taken by David Phipps, courtesy of Mr. Phipps and Naked Art