Taking life day-by-day as a writer, romantic, and explorer in the mountains of East Tennessee. I'm making it up as a go along, and this is where I share my journey.
Heading to brunch on Saturday morning resulted in a life-altering encounter with a homeless individual in downtown Knoxville.
As I get out of my car, I start loading up with my backpack with my back and driver doors open.
"I'm coming up behind you." I've now tuned in clearly to what the hollering is about.
Read on for the full story.
Read MoreGallow the Greyt is a retired racing greyhound from Abernathy Kennels at Derby Lane, but first and foremost, he's my boy. We've been together for five years, and in this post, I share his adoption story and a few important details about greyhound adoption.
Read MoreIf you asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up at six years old, I would have told you straight: a writer. I'd already written plenty of short stories, including an illustrated children's book about my cat that was published in spiralbound and distributed to local children's libraries. At twelve, I established my pen-name: A. G. Stephens, who would someday author a slew of Young Adult fantasy and dystopian novels akin to Harry Potter and Scott Westerfield's Uglies series.
Read on to learn about my journey to becoming a writer and what's up next.
Read More"Doing nothing out here is better than doing anything in the city."
I can't believe I was the person to say that. While the city has always pulled me, with its seemingly endless opportunities, a constant exposure to newness, and the buzz of fellow humans living their lives, the quietness of the woods has stolen my heart. Even up to the day we left for a weekend in the Obed with friends visiting from St Pete, I was reluctant to enjoy myself out in nature, climbing and hiking. Danger, uncertainty, weather, gear, accessibility, so many thoughts were trying to keep me from enjoying the pure beauty of this planet. I am not nearly as strong as nature; she knocked me down and set me straight.
Read MoreSince June, I've resigned from the professional position I worked up to for three years, became a full-time photographer, sold my house, bought a school bus, packed everything Alhen and I owned into that bus, and moved to Tennessee. I'm writing from my temporary room in Alhen's mother's log cabin in the woods, staring out at the trees, surrounded by beauty and peace.
Yesterday, I caught up with Meg of Root for Food, an Insta-famous food blogger I had no idea lived right down the street from me until we got connected. We met at Love Food Central with her pup Iroh and though we hadn’t hung out but once in a group before, we clicked immediately like old friends.
We touched on a lot of topics - some health and nutrition, the book Better Than Before which we’re both reading, and largely: running online businesses.
Read MoreWhen I was younger, I was a competitive baton twirler (AKA pageant girl). It's a hostile environment for young women who are just learning to determine their worth. In this world, worth is determined by strangers based your talent and your appearance, compared to the other women in your division. You are watched, criticized, sized-up, scored, and placed in order of value with your peers, often girls you know and like, who you may (often) end up being "less than".
Read MoreEthical, conscious, intentioned living with Amelia Bartlett.
Welcome to my corner of the internet. Poke around, and you might discover fun surprises. If you want to know more, let’s chat.
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