The holidays are a time of love, community building, and making memories that will last a lifetime. However, it is easy for them to also become a time of stress, business, guilt, and exhaustion if we aren't making an effort to be intentionally present & kind. Here are my tips to be the most present, kindest version of ourselves this holiday season. Go with the flow- of your breath I know, easier said than done for some of us. But, the holidays have one thing in common: people. And guess what, where people are involved, things are never going to go exactly according to plan. So, what can...

A special glimpse into my Autumn through these unedited photos I captured.

When starting out as a new photographer the information you consume can be both overwhelming and confusing. It is easy to get lost in other people's opinions of what makes a photo great and what doesn't. Do this, don't do that... Today I want to show you 5 things I believed when first starting out with my food photography. I hope by debunking these myths I can make photography seem more approachable and simple for anyone who is stepping out into this world. The perfect kitchen myth Myth #1: All food photographers have a perfect kitchen full of marble, concrete, and exposed brick. Debunked...

Seeds coffee has just opened a location in Lakeview in Birmingham! I popped in briefly yesterday to grab a cappuccino and snap a couple of photos with my phone, but I look forward to going for a longer experience in the near future. The store front has a pleasant, minimal design that continues into the shop. The addition of tiny green plants spread throughout the store added charm and whimsy. The menu has a modern, minimal feel as well. The staff were super friendly! And how was my almond milk cappuccino? The almond milk was steamed perfectly leaving the milk frothy, creamy, and light, and it...

As some of you may know, I recently gave up beer and liquor almost entirely this last year. I found it was giving me a little digestive trouble and causing me some strange health related issues. I now have a couple of glasses of wine most days, with the occasional beer or liquor mixed in. Photo: Creative Commons So, my question to all my readers... what is your favorite wine to drink? I must admit that I stick to Oregon Pinot Noirs most of the time (and mix them with coconut la croix... don't judge!) I would love to branch out into more earthy, less sweet wines, but feel I lack the knowledge...

Portrait by Lynn Gilbert Kindness “The sweetness and generosity and politeness and gentleness and humanity of the French had shown me how lovely life can be if one takes time to be friendly.” Julia Child, My Life in France Slow Living "One December Sunday, the three of us drove out to the Fontainebleau forest. The cloudy gray sky broke open and turned blue, the air was vigorously cool, and the sun shone brightly...we broke out a picnic basket brimming with sausages, hard-boiled eggs, baguettes, patisseries, and a bottle of Moselle wine. We ate lying against twisted grey rocks covered with...

As you've seen from my Instagram stories over the past year I have eaten a lot of Tropicaleo food at various pop-ups around town. And yesterday, all of my food dreams came true when they opened their doors for their grand opening event! As soon as you pull into the parking lot in Avondale, the sense of community is easy to spot. We enjoyed seeing the familiar faces of our neighbors laughing, eating, and having a great time. The lovely art work on the front of the building invites you in to see just what this spot is all about. The menu board boasts tons of unique entrees with roots in...

My morning routine matters. Creating a morning routine has always been a struggle for me. As a teen I always woke up at the very last minute and rushed to get out of the house in time for school each day. Choosing sleep over peaceful, morning rituals has been something I still struggle with to this day. I have finally created a morning routine that I am able to stick to and I find immense joy in it. I thought I would share it with you to inspire you to create your own! When I wake up each morning the first thing I do now is drink a full glass of water. (I have an adorable cat, who does not so...

We made a pretty exciting announcement on our Facebook page today ? Hope you'll check it out! Watch the video and let us know what you think! Video link!