His Girl Friday: A Fabulous 1940s-inspired Photo Shoot with And How! Imaging

Posted on July 6, 2014 by Crashing Nightingale

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, I love photography. I admire it and truly think it’s one of the best inventions. We’ve spent over a century documenting moments in our lives and photographs have preserved those moments long after they have passed.

I have to say, I’m a lucky gal to have some really talented photographer friends. I love coming up with concepts and different looks for a photo shoot and it’s super swell when these talented friends bring these ideas to life. I recently did a photo shoot with my good pals of And How! Imaging. My husband and I worked with them before and you can view the photos here. They are the sweetest people you’ll ever meet and their work is fantastic. They are a wife and husband team, Amy and Chuck Rouyer, and live right outside the Music City capital of the world, Nashville, Tenn. Amy is the photographer and her husband assists her on the photo shoots. Although their work doesn’t stop there, they put a lot of time and care into each photo shoot and the post-production. Then Amy delivers the photos to you like a perfectly wrapped birthday present. And when you open it, your eyes fill with delight. The photos just instantly invoke happiness!

I had the concept of a 1940s look and talked to Amy about this. They had tons of terrific props for the setting; as they did for the first shoot I did with them. They gave lots of creative direction with poses and the different looks for each picture. They took time to make sure the lighting was just right. I appreciate when someone takes time to study these things each time they get ready to capture the photo. You can tell they have done their homework because they always pass the test flawlessly when you’re working with them.

I always think we should pamper ourselves and when we think about this, our minds go to a massage, pedicure/manicure or some other spa-type treatment. But I truly think a timeless way to pamper yourself is a photo shoot. Hire a professional and let them do their work. And once they’re done, you have a spectacular product (your photos) that you can cherish for decades. So I HIGHLY recommend you contact them and book a photo shoot. What are you waiting for?? Jump on over to their website and check out their work! ☞ And How! Imaging. You can also like them on Facebook or Instagram. 🙂

Now, feast your eyes on these fabulous photos from our forties-inspired shoot!

Fireworks & Freedom

Posted on July 4, 2014 by Crashing Nightingale

Today is one of my favorite holidays! I love celebrating on the 4th of July for many reasons. I love hanging out in the summertime, swimming, cooking out, summertime drinks, sunny days and cool nights. There is just something extra special about July 4th that invokes fun for me. Perhaps its all the sparkles or the colors red, white and blue that bring a smile to my face.

One of the biggest monuments that represents this day is the Statue of Liberty. Lady Liberty has been watching over our nation for over 120 years. She has welcomed immigrants and visitors to the United States for over a century and is one of the biggest landmarks in the world.

She is a robed female representing the Roman goddess of freedom, Libertas. She holds a torch up high with one hand while holding a tablet in the other with the date of the American Declaration of Independence inscribed on it, July 4, 1776.

She is the product of Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi, a French sculptor. Bartholdi had the help of another famous sculptor, Gustave Eiffel, the famous designer and builder of the infamous Eiffel Tower in Paris, France.

Parts of the Statue of Liberty were displayed before she was fully unveiled in America. The torch was exhibited at the 1876 world’s fair in Philadelphia where visitors could climb to the torch. Her head and bust were displayed at the 1878 Paris World’s Fair. She was dedicated on October 28, 1886 where she finally found her home in Manhattan, New York City. She was christened La Liberté éclairant le monde or Liberty Enlightening the World. She truly is the ambassador to freedom and does it well.

There are lots of symbols that represent this patriotic holiday but my favorite has to be Lady Liberty. She has held her post and position for over a century, being the most gracious host for our nation.

Whether you like to entertain with fireworks or have a more low-key celebration, I wish you lots of happiness and fun on this colorful day. Be safe and enjoy this sparkle-filled day!

Living True in the Name of Vintage

Posted on June 18, 2014 by Crashing Nightingale

Most of us have a motto we live by. “Live each day to the fullest,” “Live fast, die young,” “Where there’s a will, there’s a way.” For Tammy Pope, she not only lives by a motto, she named her vintage business after the words she lives by.

Tammy Pope is the lovely owner of Live True Vintage in East Nashville, Tenn. Tammy had her grand opening of her eclectic business just a little over a year ago on May 18, 2013. The road to getting the place business-ready was not easy. If you look up the definition of “blood, sweat and tears,” I’m pretty sure you’d see a picture of Tammy pouring herself into whipping the building into shape. While most people would have given up on a run-down building, Tammy did not and the fruits of her labors show when you walk into the store today. Tammy has the whole store displayed in such a charming and appealing way. She definitely gets a A++ in decorating.

When asked to describe her shop, the first word she said was “fun.” She went on to explain that when girls come into groups to try stuff on together, even if they do not purchase anything, they say they have fun. This is the biggest compliment to her. She also says she gets to listen to The Cramps instead of local radio station Jack FM, which she was subjected to when she worked for the United States Postal Service. I have to admit, being a music lover myself, it is nice when you can listen to what you want while you work.

She opened the business out of necessity. “First I started doing Ebay and Etsy. It was going good and I would set up a flea markets,” explained Tammy. She would also commission pieces and paint furniture. She kept accumulating items and first bought a little vintage bus and showcased at car shows. When it started to look like she might have to get a storage unit to store all the vintage treasures she was finding, she started looking for a residential business. After looking for a long time she found the building she currently occupies.

She described her experience with opening up her business as, “Super satisfying….any progress is your own.” There was no electricity during the first three months and she started having other problems with the building. She stated it’s, “been like a fun roller-coaster.” And how she elaborated on that was the feeling you get when the roller-coaster is about to crest at the top of the hill and the feeling as you’re plummeting down (she also did an amazing demonstration of being on a roller-coaster). Even though it’s a wild ride, when the roller-coaster stops, you’re wanting to go again.

Coming up with the business name didn’t prove to be a cake walk as one would think. When she started to create her online stores on Ebay and Etsy, she used the search tool to ensure there wasn’t another name out there. Every name kept coming up taken. Out of a fit of frustration, she threw her head and fists to the desk to at least take a moment to breath. That’s when she looked at her hands and decided to type in the words that are tattooed at the tops of her fingers. She entered the words, “Live True”, and BAM! the name wasn’t taken and the answer had truly been right at her fingertips the whole time. “Live True is my business motto. I’m not apologizing for anything,” stated Tammy. I’d say one can’t argue with that because these two words have a big meaning and is a phrase everyone can understand.

I asked her if she had any favorite items she enjoyed selling. “I like t-shirts because they’re always so funny.” She had a Dolly Parton t-shirt that sold in one day. She also likes country and western concert tour shirts, especially from the 70s and 80s. “It makes people so happy to find these t-shirts.” She likes to see people’s faces light up when they discover a t-shirt from their favorite band, musician or tour. As someone that still owns some of my band t-shirts from back in the day, I can see why people get so happy when they find their favorite. Her favorite part about owning Live True Vintage is seeing everybody and when her friends come to visit. She also enjoys the shows that are showcased at the shop. There is a space in the shop that bands and musicians can set up and play a show.

To close out the interview, I asked Tammy for some closing remarks or what I like to call, “Famous Last Words.” She said this, “Support small businesses. If you can’t come in, you can share a status [on Facebook].” She also pointed out that other small businesses help each other out and support each other. Live True Vintage is a charming little shop that not only delivers a great message with it’s name, it also delivers the best vintage products in town.

Live True Vintage is located on 3123 Gallatin Pike Nashville, Tenn 37216. You can also go like her Facebook page at Live True Vintage or Instagram at livetruevintage.

Black Cats, Broken Mirrors and Ladders! Oh My!

Posted on June 13, 2014 by Crashing Nightingale

If you’re a superstitious person, I would imagine today is the day you are avoiding black cats walking in front of your path, ladders, umbrellas indoors and a myriad of other superstitious things we avoid on Friday the 13th. Or maybe you’re not but you’d partake in a Friday the 13th marathon with Mr. Voorhies just to get your kicks for the day.

I do admit, I am a little superstitious. But I’m into the strange and weird so I enjoy the fun of it mostly. I use to be a waitress and if I was cleaning a table and a salt shaker spilled over, I had to throw a little bit over my shoulder. I still do it today but it occurred, as expected, much more often working in the restaurant industry. I’m also a horror movie fan and the Friday the 13th films have always been my favorite classic horror slasher flicks.

There is only one day in the calendar year in 2014 the 13th falls on and it’s today, June 13th. In 2015 it will occur three times. So make sure you stock up on your luck for next year 🙂

For those that fear the date, they are considered Paraskevidekatriaphobic (Go to NPR’s link for pronunciation). Then there are those that consider the fear of this date to be quite ridiculous and so silly that there was a group of Chicago businessmen that formed the Anti-Superstition Society of Chicago in the early 1940s. These gentlemen had more of a fun time with Friday the 13th instead of fearing it. Life magazine documented their jolly event to show the world these men were not afraid of any black cats or crossing under any ladders.

Below is how Life magazine explained the meeting in their January 6, 1941 issue:

At 6:13 p.m. on Friday, the 13th of December, 169 audacious and irreverent gentlemen sat down to dine at 13 tables in Room 13 of the Merchants & Manufacturers Club of Chicago. Each table seated 13. Upon each rested an open umbrella, a bottle of bourbon and 13 copies of a poem called The Harlot. The speaker’s table was strewn with horseshoes, old keys, old shoes, mirrors and cardboard black cats. Before it reposed an open coffin with 13 candles. The occasion was the 13th Anniversary Jinx-Jabbing Jamboree and Dinner of the Anti-Superstition Society of Chicago … [which] meets regularly on Friday the 13th. (There have been 13 Friday the 13th’s in the last eight years.) Behind the ribaldry of its recurrent dinners lies the very sound thesis that superstition annually costs this country an inexcusable sum of time and money. People postpone trips because of mirrors and cats. Businessmen defer decisions because of calendrical coincidences.

To combat these persistent bogies, the Society has assembled much counter-evidence. According to mathematical laws of probability, one of 13 guests of different ages at any dinner party may very well die within a year. But the ratio of probability will soar even higher if 14 guests attend. One corpse out of 18 is a 50-to-50 bet.

Happy Friday the 13th Readers and remember…don’t go swimming in the lake, don’t have sex, don’t do drugs, don’t go out, don’t slip and fall in front of the killer and certainly don’t say, “I’ll be right back!” 😉

Sweet Chum O’ Mine

Posted on June 6, 2014 by Crashing Nightingale

They say laughter is the best medicine. Well I believe best friends are the fountain of youth because I can’t help but have the best time when I’m around my friends.

June 8th is National Best Friends day and what a wonderful day it is. Buddy, pal, chum, girlfriend, gal pal, “brother from another mother,” whatever you call your best friend, celebrate the day that is dedicated to your friendship. I don’t know about you but I consider my close friends like family. They know just as much, if not more, about me than a family member.

Best friends come in all forms: male, female and let’s not forget our furry friends. Sometimes we even marry our best friends, which is how I feel about my husband. A best friend can be someone you’re related to or not; as sometimes those that aren’t are just as much blood-related as those that are. They are our “partners in crime,” the one that stands by our sides through thick-and-thin. We acquire friends in various ways and times in our lives. At times I have met someone who then becomes my friend and I think, “Where have you been all this time?” I feel as though I’ve known them all my life.

I hold my friendships dear to my heart and don’t know how I’ve gotten through life without them. They’ve been there when I needed someone to listen, give me advice or just let me vent. Through the fun times and the tough times they’ve held my hand. We experience life with them, sometimes doing things we’d never do on our own. They bring out the best in us. Time just flies when you’re hanging out with your best friend or friends. They put a smile on our face and define the phrase, “good times.” They make our hearts swell with love and delight.

I’ve had many great adventures with friends and some great conversations. Pondering and questioning life or pushing the limits that we encounter. I can’t wait to look back at the end of my life and reminiscence on the fun times I’ve had with all my best friends. They pick us up when we’re down, keep a smile on our face and are usually our saving grace from any madness we encounter. We share our lives with them and they share theirs. They are the instant cure for the blues. Don’t you just love hanging out with your best pal and saying, “Remember when…..”

They are in hundreds of photos as we capture the moments that have brought us closer together and what made us best buddies in the first place. They celebrate with us our milestones and are by our side during our setbacks. They are our therapist and sometimes we must think they hold telepathic powers as it seems you can just look at your best friend and you both know what each other are thinking. Even our pups are called “man’s best friend.”

So celebrate the day, June 8th, that is dedicated to a person or animal that brings joy into your life. I know I will be 🙂