Fundamentals

“No, not her, the hot one!” He whispered way too loudly to his friend. My friend and I had been out at a bar enjoying some cocktails and chatting about all the amazing things going on in our lives. We hadn’t invited conversation with these men, we hadn’t responded to the one guy when he asked if his buddy could have my number, before his buddy responded with the above “whisper”. We hadn’t gone out seeking attention from men. I was in a happy relationship at the time and so was she. But, in our society if a female puts on a nice outfit and a splash of color on her lips, men and women alike...

Happy holidays to you and those you love! May you be surrounded by peace, joy, and love.

This has been one of the lessons I've learned that has truly been life changing. In a world where our worth is tied so deeply to our productivity, saying no can feel close to impossible. "Can you stay late today? It would help the team so much." "You haven't been to our house for Christmas in 2 years. We expect you here, you're young, traveling should be no issue." "I saw your price on your website, but I know a lot of other people in your industry that charge a lot less. So, I'd like you to do this work at a lower rate." NO!!!!!!! No. I value my rest and need my down time. Thanks for...

"I just really worry about your health. You've got so much going for you, if you lost the weight you could have it all!" I try to ignore comments like this, but man, they really hit hard when they come from people I love. In my gut, it's always felt wrong to me when people discuss someone's health based on their physical appearance. Slim, tall bodies are toted as being the epidomy of health, while anyone in a larger body is considered unhealthy. Forget the nuances of eating disorders, physical illness, and mental illness that can all contribute to a slimmer figure that society views as "...

As thanksgiving draws close this year, I'd like ot take time to highlight an article I had the privalege to write for Al dot com last year. The sentiment still rings true for 2020. "Well-meaning friends and family always want to encourage and uplift one another with comments like, “You look beautiful,” “Your hair is so cute today,” “Your skin looks so good. You have to share your nighttime routine with me,” or “You look good. You must’ve lost weight.” These compliments aren’t wrong. They aren’t inherently bad. But, what if, this holiday season we could change it up? What if instead of...

This Summer I released my first ever mini food photography course! It was exciting and scary to put my work out into the world. But, once I started seeing folks have so much success, it made all the hard work worth it. In this course we covered my 3 favorite angles for food photography. And we went over step-by-step how to capture a photo using each one. Jen Barnett said, " I enjoyed the course so much and I loved that I didn’t have to be perfect to feel like I was improving. I’m looking forward to the next one!" Jen was so much fun in the class. She soaked in all the material like a sponge...

A few years ago I got the amazing opportunity to appear on a local morning show, Talk of Alabama . And, y'all, it was so much fun! When I first got the email inviting me to appear on tv, my anxiety shot through the roof. "Me? I can't appear on tv. I'm way too nervous. It will be a mess." But, after some encouraging chats with a few close friends, I decided I simply couldn't pass up this opportunity. When I set out to really make a name for myself with a desire to help other female creatives, I knew there would be big, scary opportunities like this. So, I gathered up all my courage and agreed...

I love learning fun facts about folks in my community, so today I thought I'd share five things you may not know about me. 1. I used to be a personal trainer Yup- you read that right. I used to be a personal trainer. I have 3 fitness certifications. If you've followed me for a while, you know I've had a complicated journey with diet culture and the fitness world. Today, I'm starting to understand that physical activity can be part of a mentally healthy lifestyle. Instead of using exercise to change or punish my body, I'm learning to enjoy movements that bring me joy. 2. I love singing 1940s...

I quit diet culture. Ok, let's go back a little bit. I thought I had quit diet culture years ago. I thought I was practicing intuitive eating. But, wellness culture had simply become a not-so-different replacement. Ok, wait, wait, wait. Let's go allll the way back! I've suffered with migraines and anxiety for my entire life. I remember being a small child and visiting doctor after doctor trying to get my headaches to go away. Tried medication after medication- but, nothing cured my headaches. So, when I stumbled upon a "mockumentary" (that I thought was a real documentary) that claimed eating...

I come from a long line of courageous women. Strong-willed, independent, and bold. These qualities run deep in my blood. As I begin to take steps toward dreaming bigger than I ever have, it is the knowledge of those who came before me that propels me forward. Working with my hands in the kitchen takes me back to being a young girl, watching Grandmama bake. Tiny moments can empower us, if west them.