Posted in About Me, Blog, Family, Travel

Get-a-way not far away

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Railroad Park, Birmingham Alabama

Hey there! Come on in! Have I got some tea for you! When is the last time you’ve been on vacation? I need one, maybe two back to back. I really need to getaway. But there isn’t any time for that! It is an everyday struggle to get a moment to myself, let alone a couple of days. I have way too much going on to leave the City.

Speaking of which, have you ever researched your City to see what is hiding within the concrete? There are always places to run away and hide for a couple of days. If you are anything like me and my family, it is crazy around home, all the time. There is hardly ever any peace and quiet, and when there is, it’s very minimal. My husband and I, as you know from previous posts, have been together for almost fourteen years. We have a huge family. People are always coming and going at the family home.

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Turkey Creek, Pinson Alabama

Every now and again, just to get away, Hubby will call on Friday from work, and tell me to pack us a weekend bag. I get all excited! I know we going on a get-a-way, not far away. You know, the hotel across town, or over in the next town an hour away. We disappear all the time. It gives us time to be alone, and be on vacation, while still close to home in case of an emergency. I love our getaways! The alone time in the rooftop pool, the room service at two am, the nightclub downstairs. Just a couple of days, one night even can be so rejuvenating. 

I especially love the one-day trips, to explore the city. I hear people say all the time, “There is nothing to do in Birmingham!” That is so not true. Birmingham has so much to do. There is such a thing as Google, and the internet. That search thing, it works wonders! We have a Zoo, Museums, dozens of Parks. The nightlife is awesome too. I love my city.

I especially love this place outside the city, Turkey Creek. I found this place from an elderly lady at the gas station in Pinson. I told her I needed a place to go swimming. She ultimately told me of Turkey Creek. She told me of how she enjoyed it as a child. Intrigued, I researched it. Located in Pinson, Alabama, only 15 miles north of Birmingham, Turkey Creek Nature Preserve is a great place for couples, or families, to get away and go for a picnic on the grass, swimming in the creek, or tube down the natural falls. Go bike riding,  hiking, fishing and so much more. We have been going here for years. We never knew it existed before that conversation. After a day here, I always feel like I’ve been away on vacation when I get back home. Even though it is technically near the city, it feels as if you are so far away.

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I want to challenge you. Take a few moments, and research your city. Open your mind to the millions of possibilities that your city has to offer. Find places that interest you, and take a day away from it all. Just disappear. And it doesn’t always take money. Most of our museums are free. Make precious moments with those you love, your children, your spouse. Plan a date with hubby, let him pick you up at the door, and go on a real date! How awesome that sounds.

Take the time to enjoy life. Oftentimes, we can go through life day to day, in and out of time, just like robots. There is no excitement, no joy. Make a point to enjoy your loved ones while they are here. If you can’t do a whole day, start small. Surprise hubby for a picnic on the grass at his job. It’s amazing what one hour of conversation and alone time can do. Tomorrow is not promised to any of us! Enjoy life, enjoy your city. Enjoy each other. A relationship can only withstand the time put into it. It takes effort and attention.

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Speaking of attention, my glass is empty again. Must refill! Until the next glass of Tea, stay blessed, stay southern sweet.

COPYRIGHT © 2016 SnoSouthernLife

Posted in Blog, Self Help

Are you living your dream?

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Hey my friend! Come on in, take a seat! I have a question for you, with a tall glass of sweet tea.
Are you living your dream? I mean, do you have a dream, and for some reason you never followed through, or something happened preventing you from living it. Or are you living your dream now? If you read my very first blog, about myself, then you know my dream. If not, go back and read it. There is some great information there waiting for you.
I have always wanted to just live free, and travel the world. Ever since I was a little girl, I was free spirited. I would always move from one idea to another, getting bored quickly. I always said I wanted to see the world, specifically Jamaica. A sort of bucket list of things to do. However, I let life stop me, I stopped myself, and never did it. No reason really. I just did not follow through. My husband and I have set a goal in a few years to sell everything we own, pack up what we can carry in a suitcase, (maybe two) and hit the road in our RV. No looking back, just travel and enjoy life. Why must we wait till retirement, when we are almost a hundred years old to enjoy life anyways? Who wrote that rule?
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I admire women who are living their dreams. It takes courage to step out on faith and just make that move to trust God to bless them with success in their adventure. I especially admire women who are single mother’s who take that chance, and make it on their own, become their own Boss!
Have you ever met someone, and right off, you could have sworn you have known them all your life? You just feel like family, have great conversations, encouragement goes forth, and you build each other up right from the start.
I recently met a young woman on Periscope, a live streaming app for your mobile devices. Kita J. is a woman who has many talents. She is a comedian and a blogger. She has numerous “characters” she portrays on her YouTube channel and website, such as Kiki, an over the top, Motivational speaker. Kita does all of this, through owning her own business, “Exist N Nature“.
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A  resident in Maryland, transplanted from Washington DC, Kita  J is living out her dream. She recently told me, she had a dream to be this well known artist that gives back to the community. “I started sewing as a young child around 5, I remember asking my mother to buy me a sewing machine to make baby doll clothing, and she did. I had this vision to attend Parson,  The New School for Design in NYC right after high school”.  However that wasn’t the case. As an adult Kita worked several jobs trying to stay focused. While taking orders from others, she soon realized being an employee wasn’t meant for her. On October 27, 2014, she finally followed her heart and dream. She resigned from her stable job, making regular paychecks, and became a full-time entrepreneur. Today Kita is an artist, custom clothing designer and entertainer! How dare you tell Kita J that she ” can’t do it. Just watch me!” she says. “Confident and secure, as a woman it is time for us to shine!”.  Kita also promotes and assists new Entrepreneurs get started or build their business.
I admire her. I want to be her. We all want to be a “Kita J” following our dreams of being our own boss! Everyone has a dream of something they always wanted to do. Some of us followed through with it, while others were mislead by life. The time is now! Take back that time, and get up on your feet, follow your dreams. If we never try, we will never know if we will succeed.
I to am going to shine! I to, am going to step out on faith, and just do it. I am Snow, I am Southern. I am my own Boss! So let’s speak it into existance. Manifest your dreams. Let’s get to putting our dreams on paper! You can do it, I can do it, let’s do it together.
Until next time, stay blessed and stay southern sweet. I’ll have the tea waiting.
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For more info on Kita J, Ms Kiki, or assistance with business promotions, please check her out at:
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