I am beyond excited, beyond proud and simply beyond the moon to have a Southern Smash article in the National Eating Disorder Associations (NEDA) Making Connections magazine. During NEDAwareness Week, Southern Smash received wonderful support from the organization. Shortly after our Southern Smash: LSU event, NEDA asked me to write an article summing up our Awareness Week experience. I was so honored they would think of me and could not wait to write the piece…it was another full circle moment…
Blogging is always a gamble. When you click the ‘Publish’ button, you are putting yourself out there, boldly stating your story, opinion and emotions. Inevitably, the doubt creeps in: Will people think it is dumb? Cliche? Uninteresting? Boring? The list goes on. Blogging makes you so vulnerable. And when you go the extra step to post it to Facebook, well you may as well post a naked picture. But then the thumbs up, shares and comments come pouring in and…
In 2008, I joined Woman’s Fitness Center here in Baton Rouge. I joined that particular gym because of its women-only and caring environment. For the most part, the Fitness Center was about empowering and motivating women to become healthy. My membership expired when I went to treatment. I did not renew it upon my return because a gym membership was not in the best interest of my recovery. I still love what the Fitness Center is all about and recommend…
The first Saturday in May. My favorite day of the year. Girls on the Run 5k! I was out the door before sunrise, locked and loaded with everything ‘She-Power’. Sparkle headbands, braided pigtails, crazy running pants and of course a tie-dye one of a kind GOTR T-shirt. Bring it. I was ready to GEAUX. But no matter how prepared I was with glitter and pink, nothing ever quite prepares me for the magic that is Girls on the Run of…
If you know me, then you know my GaGa. For those who don’t know me, let me introduce you to my GaGa. Meet GaGa… By definition she is my grandmother, but by the grace of God she is my best friend, my second mother, my confidant, my soul mate. Throughout my life she has been an unwavering pillar of strength, the epitome of a strong, southern woman. We talk on the phone every night. She has stood by my side…
A year or so ago, my therapist gave me an assignment to watch a YouTube video on vulnerability. What I thought was sure to be another lesson in dragging my inner-child out of the closet, turned into an experience that shook me to my core. The TedX lecturer spoke on the power of vulnerability, something I was discovering to be true in this journey of recovery and in life. Her name was Brene Brown, Ph.D., LMSW, a research professor at the…
Anger. Frustration. Annoyance. All are feelings I simply suck at. I am so far removed from them I don’t even know where to begin or how to ‘feel’ them. I am working hard right now on getting in touch with these lost feelings and, frankly, I’m feeling annoyed with having to do so. I don’t like not being good at something. That alone frustrates me…but nonetheless, I am plugging along in my therapy homework. Recently, I had a few encounters…
As my feet continue to try and touch the ground, my heart is overwhelmed with gratitude to everyone who made and continues to make Southern Smash possible. My SMASH gratitude list is too long to Tweet and too important to squish in a Facebook status. Therefore, I felt this was the best place for my thanks rundown. So, in no particular order, here it goes… To my mom, dad, SuSu, GaGa and every adopted family member in between: Thank you…
February 17, 2013 My dearest son, On your first birthday I can’t help but reflect back on the magnitude of this year and its many blessings. You entered this world one year ago today. And one year ago today, my heart filled with more loved than I ever knew was possible. You completed our family. You were what we had been waiting for. When I married your father six years ago, we knew we were destined to be parents. But…
To say life is busy right now is an understatement. A huge understatement. Meetings, Planning, Feedings, Designing, Packing, Laundry, Promoting, Bath Time, Sharing, Marketing, Entertaining, Dirty Diapers, Tweeting, Cooking, REPEAT. LIFE. IS. NUTS. Southern Smash is in two weeks and it is CRUNCH time. Plus, Jordan and I are leaving to go skiing next week. Oh, and did I mention my son turns one this weekend. Needless to say, the petting zoo and over-the-top themed party got scratched from my…