A Whirlwind Move!!!

On July 8, 2014 I got word from 3 schools that they had chosen someone else as their art teacher....schools that I just knew I had! I was headed to Destin with friends for a much needed rest and was determined to stay positive.

On July 9, 2014 at 8:45pm I got a call from the superintendent of Monroe County Schools that would set in motion a complete upheaval of my life! The following Monday I drove to Monroeville for an interview...was offered the job and drove back down on Thursday to be introduced at the Board Meeting.  In those 3 days I was frantically searching for a place to live...Monroeville is small...really small...so rental property is hard to come by...but word of mouth and friends of friends helped me land a house to rent by the following Monday (one week from the interview)...on July 31st with the help of family and friends I was completely packed up and relocated to my new home! My neighbors are super friendly...it will take some getting use to living in a small town but I'm up for the challenge!

Myself and Valerie Lemmons will be spearheading the Fine Arts Department in the Monroe County High Schools!!!  I have no idea what this looks like as of yet...but we report for duty on Wednesday, August 6th...then I will fill you in!

Vestavia home for 13 years...

New home in Monroeville...

Deck sittin' goody from Sherrie!

Moving day goodies from Mrs. Ruth...

Simply Charmed - Magnetic Jewelry

To book a party simply email Mary Jane at meejean@bellsouth.net

Hostess a party and be eligible for free and discounted jewelry!

 

Your Life...Your Style...Your Jewelry!

Step 1: Pick your Pendant

Step 2: Pick your Magnets to Flaunt your Fashion

(just a sample of the MANY to choose from...)

Step 3: Choose your Chain

Step 4: Accessorize with Dangles

To book a party simply email Mary Jane at meejean@bellsouth.net

Hostess a party and be eligible for free and discounted jewelry!

Sweet Southern Art by MJ

So I finally broke down and opened a store on Etsy...I joined the site in 2009 and just got around to uploading pictures of my work.

I am setting up a tent at Art in the Park in Avondale on October 12, 2013...so I am busy painting and creating so that I will have things to sell!  My friend Ron Rabun is joining me and selling his copper jewelry...can't wait to spend a beautiful fall day in the park...come see us!

www.artinthepark.org

The Happiest 5K on the Planet!!! The Color Run!

So today was awesome!

Got up at 6:00am on Labor Day to wog a 5K!  It was raining...pouring!  Traffic was ridiculous!  10,000 + people were all trying to get into Barber's MotorSports at the same time...

Before!

The race was scheduled to start at 8:30 but they were sending runners out in waves...my niece Charlotte was wogging with me but her, Susan and Daniel were stuck on I-20 for over an hour trying to get to the venue...

Everyone is dressed in white...at every kilometer there are "color stations"...and volunteers dousing you with powdered color...there were 4 stations in all with a color party at the finish line.  I still have color under my arms that may never come off...I learned for the next color run I won't raise my hands and shout in the color stations....

Almost finished!

When we took to the start line it was 9:32 and pouring down rain...they were blasting music and we started the run by "throwing our hands up in the air sometime saying hey oh...baby let's go!" and off we went...I explained to Char that I don't actually run but I wog...walk a little, jog a little...I also explained how I choose a target (person) to get in front of close to the 1st mile and then make sure they are behind us at the finish line...today it was a woman with a tramp stamp showing through her soaked to the skin white t-shirt :)  We smoked her!  We jumped and splashed through every puddle on that track and even contemplated doing the slip and slide at the yellow color station but I decided I would probably break something!

Headed to the finish line!

After!!!

Thankfully I had put garbage bags and beach towels over my tan interior in the car :)  One of the definite highlights was going to lunch in Leeds afterwards...half of the patrons were from the color run!

If you get the opportunity...DO IT!!!

Much love,
MJ

Still tapping...after all these years!

Who would have guessed that when I strapped on tap shoes 32 years ago that I would still be tapping in 2012???

"Anything Goes" VHHS 1980

My first musical was "Anything Goes" where I was cast as a featured tap dancer...I borrowed tap shoes for the audition and had NEVER tapped before!  Tammy Towns had tremendous faith in me!!!  It sparked a love of dance and musicals that has never died out!












For our senior recital - Tammy taught us the Audition number from 42nd Street - a new (at the time) Broadway Musical...we started learning it in September...couldn't get all the way through it without almost passing out....it was so fast!!!  It took us till December to nail it down and be able to do it with some stamina...remember we only met for 1 hour once a week!  By March we had it!  Then she threw in the fact that we would also dance "We're In The Money"...back to back with the audition number!!!  We opened the recital and brought the house down.

Jackie O'Neal School of Dance

 I have NEVER forgotten that choreography...have taught it at least 3 times to different adult classes that I have taught and now, I am actually performing in 42nd Street!!!!  I never thought I would get the opportunity and I have almost aged out of the "chorus line" stage of my life....but I am having a blast!

Never, ever give up doing what you love!

Much love,
MJ

A new chapter...

June 1st - I started a new chapter in my life!  I am now the Program Manager for ArtPartners...a program within the non-profit organization VSA Alabama.  I am still teaching art full-time...but I am blessed to be able to manage this part-time job that is nourishing my heart and soul!

ArtPartners is a program designed to provide a socially inclusive environment where local community artists and VSA emerging artists living with disabilities or chronic illnesses can engage in meaningful relationship building through participation in the creative arts. This program services children as well as adults!

This unique annual program culminates with the ArtPartners Live Auction and Showcase on August 19 2012, an event featuring these works.

I am coming in at the tail-end of the year so it is my job to organize the mounds of artwork..and make sure it is ready for the auction...not a small task!

Here are some pics from our last ArtPartners session....enjoy!

Thirteen patients and their families were hosted at Greenvale Pediatrics in Hoover by Dr. John Cortopassi on June 24 to create art for VSA Alabama's ArtPartners program.

These awesome guys were my partners for the day....you know it is a labor of love if I painted "tiger eyes"!

Dr. Cortopassi with our Honorary Chairpersons...Grace, Lindsay, Alli and Ryan!

 

Oh my goodness!

Well, it has been one full year since I did my first half marathon!  When I finally crossed the finish line after 3 hours and 24 minutes...I swore I would never do it again...but what did I do?  Signed up to do it again!

 Now, I am 10 pounds lighter and have been "wogging" (walking/jogging) steadily for a year now...much more training that the first time around!  Although the last 2 months I haven't really done much except cross train....so....

Come Sunday, February 12th my goals are the same as usual....(1)wake up and go to the start line (2)finish the race (3)have at least one person come in behind me :)

Having done the race last year...I am familiar with the course and don't have the anxieties that I had last year...maybe that will help :)

I look forward to having another Mercedes Medal and the satisfaction of knowing that I can still accomplish anything!!

Enjoy the pictures from last year...I will post new ones next week...hopefully :)