hi! i'm McCall!

I'm a proud and imperfect mom of two tiny humans and founder of Southern Smash. I smash scales for a living and help others smash the mental health stigma by sharing my eating disorder story. I believe resiliency is cultivated through the practice of gratitude and that there is always light, even in the darkest of times.

About

Southern Smash

Speaking

On the blog...

Save the Nipples: Meeting My Plastic Surgeon

When Your Mammogram Isn’t So [Squishy] Funny

Beating Cancer to the Punch: My Journey to Prophylactic Mastectomy

Betrayed By My DNA

When Your Therapist Says ‘Tell Me More’ – Don’t Run

Breathing Easy & Flying High

mccalldempsey

Public Speaking...but make it 2020 🤷‍♀️ .

Public Speaking...but make it 2020 🤷‍♀️ . . . . @veritascollaborative . #businessuptop #veritascollaborative #veritassymposium #edrecovery #maintainingrecovery #keynotespeaking #conferencecircuit #virtualspeaking #zoomallday #canyouhearmenow #dresstoimpress #waistup #speaker #momlife #working mom #eatingdisorder #mentalhealth #smashthestigma #southernsmash #allianceeda #jacksonville #florida

PROUD MOM MOMENT! This guy played in his first go

PROUD MOM MOMENT! This guy played in his first golf tournament today. For some eight years olds that might not be a big deal, but it’s only been recently that Manning has shown interest in golf. The last thing @jordandempseygolf and I want to do is pressure our kids into playing something they don’t want to. Jordan’s best quality as a dad is that he has not once forced our kids on the course. He comes from the mindset that sports and golf should be fun! Manning is a kid who is happy wherever he goes. Literally. He’s just pure joy...what a wonderful trait! But today he saw the starting tee and I could tell he was really nervous all of a sudden. I put my arms around him and he asked me, “Mom, what if I come in last?” I smiled and immediately said, “Daddy and I will be the proudest parents on the planet!” We don’t know what he “finished” and we don’t care. Today was just getting out there and having fun! I’m so so proud that despite the first tee jitters he got out there and hit the ball without hesitation and proceeded to have a ball. I think we can all take a page from Manning’s book! Show up, feel the fear and have FUN anyway! GEAUX Manning!!! And thank you @firstteenorthflorida for the wonderful experience!! And shout out to our Three for the lucky hat! @davislove3 ⛳️⛳️⛳️ . . . . . . #firstteejitters #golfer #littlegolfer #havefunfirst #firsttee #firstteenorthflorida #coachdaddy #proudmom #son #boymom #momlife #jacksonville #pontevedra #florida

Have you ever thought about what a precious gift y

Have you ever thought about what a precious gift your body is? How insanely miraculous it truly is - the vessel that carries our soul through life? Most of us don’t because society tells us to shrink down to find our worth, rather than relish in the beauty that already exists . I injured my back (non-exercise related) over a year ago. I have given my body the time and rest it needed to slowly heal and recently, I started running again. Run/walk/wog call it whatever you want. I used to think I had to push myself to the brink to call myself a runner and now I know my movement is only defined by one thing: JOY! This week I slowed down to catch my breath and took in how wonderful it felt to be outside and moving my body. My heart and mind immediately went to our angel @clairebooth. Born with cystic fibrosis, Claire fought her entire life to simply take just ONE deep breath. What would she have given for healthy lungs and a healthy body? And yet so many of us spend our days beating up and picking apart our perfectly healthy bodies. I sat there and cried (in the middle of the road) thinking of Claire and missing her terribly. She lived a life so big so EXTRA. Next time you fall into the thin ideal trap or run yourself ragged to hit a made up number on the scale, think of Claire and look at your body through a different lens. Next time you scowl at your stomach rolls or cry over cellulite, think of our Claire. Channel her unapologetically authentic, quirky self. Take a deep inhale, soaking in the wonder that is your body and exhale out the negative. And to my Claire...love you always. Breathing deep and fly high sweet angel. 💕 . . . . . . . #cysticfibrosis #fucf #clairebear #inhalegood #exhalebad #joyfulmovement #findgratitude #bodyimage #daretoloveyourself #bodylove #selflove #eatingdisorder #edrecovery #movewithlove #pontevedra #florida

Since meeting with Dr. Defazio (my reconstruction/

During this strange and shitty year, it is more im

During this strange and shitty year, it is more important than ever to find gratitude in the little things. Yes, I realize many days it is so hard to find the silver lining without shitting rainbows and feeling fake as hell. Trust me, I embrace the shit every. damn. day. of 2020. BUT...today was a really great day. No particular reason. It just was. And that reminded me of one of my biggest lessons from my time in treatment @carolinaeatingdisorders... There is nothing fun about residential treatment. Sure you might share laughs and build bonds with other patients, but treatment isn’t usually at the top of one’s ideal vacation lists. One day, I sat across from my extraordinary therapist and said, “I’m having a great day. And it feels weird. And I don’t know why.” She immediately told me to write that down - to journal about the JOY and gratitude I was feeling that particular day so that on a not so great day, I could look back and remember what I was fighting for. Ten years later, I still carry that lesson close to my heart. With all the uncertainty this year has brought and a prophylactic double mastectomy on the horizon, I have to make a conscious effort to find daily gratitude. And I do. I find gratitude in my family (although tiny humans can be exhausting), my tribe, my amazing work family @allianceforeda and the life saving work we do. But still, there has been a weight on my chest, its heaviness hard to shake when I wake up at 3am going through “what if” scenarios. My “good” days have been far and few between. So today, as I sat in carpool line (oh so thankful to be there), feeling rested, content and joyful, I recalled Christy’s joy lesson all those years ago. But instead of journaling today’s JOY, I share it with all of you in hopes you might remember to write down your JOY. Who knows what the hell tomorrow will bring! So I’m choosing to remember today’s joy. Won’t you join me? Tell me your JOY moment today 🌈⭐️

Each year in high school, @sjabatonrouge hosted Ca

A birthday tribute to my mom’s perm. 👩🏻‍

A birthday tribute to my mom’s perm. 👩🏻‍🎤 There is not another mother who could rock an 80s perm and shoulder pads like you! Annie...you’ve been holding me up since day one. You’ve dedicated everything to raising Jess and me to be ferociously independent women, ready to fly the coop and conquer the world. You instilled in me (and continue to) how to speak out and stand strong in my values, as well as know when to listen and sit with others in empathy and kindness. You load up your suburban and head east to be by our side in a moments notice. Never hesitating to say “I’ll be there”. You are my best friend and my daily phone call(s). I am a better mother because of you, striving every day to be half the momma you are to me. Wishing I was with you today, clinking glasses 🥂 and playing cards ♠️. Thankful for you every day! Happy happy birthday momma! There’s no one quite like you and we are so lucky to call you our ANNIE! Cheers to you, your perm and my forever built in bestie! 🍷♠️🥂 Please help me wish our Golfing/Dancing Queen a happy happy birthday!! 🎊🎁🎉 . . . . . . #happybirthday #mymomisbetterthanyours #hurricaneannie #alwaysreadyforagame #golf #cards #mybestfriend #loveyou #motherhood #mom #beyondblessed #cheers

Let’s not fool ourselves. Dog day is EVERY day.

Let’s not fool ourselves. Dog day is EVERY day. Thankful for my crazy lil cuddle bug. 🐶 💗 . . . . . . #nationaldogday🐶 #englishbulldog #hilltopbulldogs #englishbulldogsofinstagram #therealqueenelsa #nomanners #allcuddles #spoiledrotten #lovemyfurbaby #pettherapy #dog #fourleggedbaby #bullie #notaquietsleeper #jacksonville #florida

My eyes welled with tears as she lifted and molded

My eyes welled with tears as she lifted and molded my breast to the perfect position for each image image. She not only lifted my breasts as if they were pancakes, but moved my entire body. ‘Butt out here, lean over here, arms up, arms down’ Once again, my body felt like anything but mine. I choked back tears, picture after picture. Squish after squish. Waiting for it to be over. She kept asking, “You okay, honey?” I would muster a smile and nod, not disclosing the deep rooted history that goes far beyond a simple mammogram... <continue reading> NEW BLOG // link in bio // “When Your Mammogram Isn’t So Squishy Funny” . . . . . . . . #chek2mutation #genetics #genetictesting #breastcancerprevention #beatingcancertothepunch #prophylacticmastectomy #herewego #mammogram #newbie #positivethoughtsonly #embracingthesuck #andmarchingon #jacksonville #pontevedrabeach #florida #mdanderson

2020 Back to School Pictures on point 🤦🏼‍♀️ When you get that negative Covid test and can officially start school!! I’ve been dreaming of this day for 63,815 days. Bye kids! 👋🏻 🦠 🏫💙💗 . . . . . . #backtoschool #covidstyle #mamaisfree #enjoyingitwhileitlasts #thirdgrade #kindergarten #palmerstrong #loveourschool #hurricanemanning #miraculousmarjorie #godblessourteachers #pontevedra #jacksonville

Because life wasn’t exciting enough in 2020 🤦

Because life wasn’t exciting enough in 2020 🤦🏼‍♀️ Marjorie decided it was a great day to spike a fever, which of course sent me into a tailspin. She was happy, dancing, eating popcorn and rocking a 101 fever. School starts Wednesday. My parents were coming today so my mom could come to my appointments this week. All out the window. I took Marjorie to the urgent clinic and we did both a rapid an molecular test. They also examined her and lungs, ears and throat clear (Praise God!). Given her history we did both tests to be 110% sure. And the “easy swab” was anything but easy. Doctors in general send Marjorie into a tail spin, but nothing sushi and target can’t fix! Rapid test was negative 🙌 and we will wait 3-5 days for molecular. We will hunker down until then, but I know in my momma gut this is her typical yearly cold (she has horrible allergies and has had a runny nose for over a week). But better safe than sorry. Nothing in life goes how we want...especially 2020. There were plenty of angry sobs on my part today. I wanted to hug my parents. I wanted the kids to start school Wednesday (and so did they!) and I wanted to get the ball rolling with my mammogram tomorrow. All in time. Putting my faith in accepting uncertainty with humor and grace. At this point I have to laugh because I just can’t make this shit up anymore. I’m cuddled on the couch with Elsa, my heating pad and a glass of wine. Here’s to whatever the hell tomorrow brings! 🍷🤦🏼‍♀️💗 . . . . . . #jesustakethewheel #covid2020 #mymedicalchild #jesustakethewheel🙏🏽 #miraculousmarjorie #bribedwithsushiandtarget #bravegirl #urgentcare #thankfulforallergies #payingoffhermedicalbillsforever #jacksonville #florida

A night away from the tiny humans does a body good

A night away from the tiny humans does a body good...and can create a stillness that is frightful. As a mom, life is never quiet. Ever. My therapist encourages me to embrace the rare pauses I get in life, which I prefer not to. This morning I woke up to blissful quiet and then the sadness set in. My eyes opened and my heart felt heavy with sadness. The gravity of current life sank in during the quiet. Tears rolled down my cheek into Jordan’s chest. How is this our reality? But in true form, Jordan held me closer and then had me laughing within minutes. Our noise (aka children) joined us for a few hours on the beach and life was back to normal - breaking up fights and trying to put sunscreen on wild monkeys. The stillness brought me the realization that my body will be changing soon and that the future is so uncertain. But today also reminded me of one thing that will never change: My gift of recovery and ability to show up and be present for my family...whether it be in a swimsuit or sweats. I am there. Always and grateful. Weekends were always the hardest in treatment. It’s the stillness that can be excruciating, that that is the space where we feel and grow. I don’t know what tomorrow will bring, but I’m sure it will be noisy, messy and I’ll work hard to be present for every wild minute. 💗💙 . . . . . . . . . . #stillness #sadnessinthequiet #embracethepause #feelthefeels #recovery #edrecovery #selflove #bepresent #reality #beachday #everyBODYisbeautiful #sundayfunday #putthesuiton #beYOUtiful #daretoloveyourself #doublemastectomy #prophylacticmastectomy #chek2mutation #momlife #momblogger #pontevedra #florida

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