Levi’s® "Shape What's to Come" Event Pics

I'm so pleased that I had the opportunity to attend the Levi’s® Art Basel "Shape What's to Come" Event.
It was an depth panel discussion with eight amazing women artists that caused me to walk away inspired...more to come later this week!

The panel

Custom mini-cupcakes with the artist's work imprinted on top. Sweet!

Each artist had a jean jacket to paint/design. They were all beautiful.

South Beach Sunday Shocker

This is Frank...Santa's very first tranny elf.

Mom & Dad, I think I might have a friend joining us for the holidays...
Frank tells me he loves the Big D.

Levi’s® Art Basel Event

This coming Saturday, I’ve been invited to attend an Art Basel event sponsored by Levi’s® and their new online community for women called Shape What’s to Come; a global platform to connect women with others in the industry so that through collective mentorship we can share, inspire and grow.

Along with other bloggers, I’ll have the opportunity to participate in a panel discussion with some of our generation’s most influential female artists, ask questions, and hear them discuss the business of art as well as the inspirations that lead to their success.

I’m really excited to be a part of this…AND I get a free pair of jeans to boot! Thank you Levi’s®.

Meet Blaine.

Blaine is a world traveler slash Naval Officer who, just recently, relocated from Bahrain to Miami…of all places.

I met Blaine at a good friend’s wedding in Topeka, Kansas three years back and managed to keep in touch from time to time during our stint overseas. In the three short days that Blaine has been here, he’s explored pretty much the whole of Miami, Miami Beach, and a good portion of the Florida Keys. It’ll be interesting to see how his overachieving tendencies fare in this laidback city where everyone is forty minutes late to meetings.

I asked Blaine to give me his initial thoughts on the city. He said, “I just heard "I'm too Sexy" by Right Said Fred. Everybody is yelling in Spanish. I can smell the Atlantic. This place is great.”

Charming. Mine was more like, ”Holy crap. Where's my bulletproof?”

Little Havana...and The Adorable Men That Live There

If a trip to Miami is in the cards, you’ve got to add Little Havana to your list of must sees.
It’s quirky, colorful, and best of all…full of old men…who love the camera.

It's Just Not the Same Without Family...

I went to the grocery store last night—bought olives, okra, and an ice cream sandwich for my lonely Thanksgiving feast of one. If I had to choose one to be thankful for, I’d pick the okra for sure.

Happy Thanksgiving All!

Love is Waiting...for Heather & Aaron

Not only is Heather Hale an exceptionally talented creative, she’s a clever, witty, go-getter. Heather and her husband, Aaron, opened an online store called Love is Waiting to help raise money for their Ethiopian adoption.

Love is Waiting offers a variety of African and adoption inspired products—designed, with love, by Heather herself. You can read more about Heather and Aaron’s inspiring story on their blog. Check it out and support a good cause!

Can’t wait to sport my new JAMBO shirt!

View Our Superbowl Video Online...

http://www.crashthesuperbowl.com/facebook_share_video.html?video=9441

Charles: The SoBe Dancing Fool

Another normal Sunday in South Beach.

Life Advice Friday

“Take the advice of others with a grain of salt. Everyone is going to have an opinion. Follow your gut.”
~Guy Tomcheck

I always ask people for their best piece of life advice—it's about time that I share the wisdom.
Have a wonderful weekend...don't do anything stupid.

Our Amateur Doritos Commercial

Aside from the choice of female casting, I think it came out pretty well...if I do say so myself.

Heather Buchan Rocks

Heather is a crazy talented designer that I had the pleasure of working (and living) with overseas.
I recently received her stunning wedding invitation in the mail and had to share it with you all. Love.

You’ll see more of Heather and Stephen here in a month or so…
They are flying me all the way to Bonny Scotland to capture the most important day of their lives. And yes, all the men will be wearing kilts…and I couldn’t be more pleased about it.

I can already hear her saying in her funny Scottish accent, “You weird American.”

My Adorable New Bike…

…and the German engineer (aka. Tim) who put it together.
Aren’t they both darling?

It’s Official: I’m a Raven Runner

Meet Raven...the man who started it all.

There’s something about long distance running.
After the sixth mile (give or take), you begin to feel unstoppable — like you could carry on running forever. During these first two months in South Beach, my runs have been a modest two to three miles, which, on the beach, feels more like five.

Last week, I stumbled upon an upbeat group of runners that run eight miles everyday on the beach, rain or shine. When you complete your first eight, they give you a nickname and you get put on the List. The furthest I’ve run since completing the Chicago Marathon in 2006 is ten miles—and that was a good four months ago. Needless to say, I was hesitant about running the full eight. Two days later, my knees are still sore, but it’s totally worth the nickname: The Yellow Rose.

from ravenrun.net

Over 35 years, 8 miles a day, 100,000 Miles, never missing a day. Raven's story.

In 1970 Robert Kraft came back home to South Beach from Nashville and Las Vegas, where he tried to make it as a songwriter.

He started running with some boxers from the 5th Street Gym and slowly built up to 8 miles. He made a New Years resolution to run 8 miles a day for one year starting on January 1st, 1975. He found the benefits mentally, physically and spiritually were all positive so he kept running 8 miles a day on the sands of South Beach.

He has run everyday since. (never missing a day). Over 900 runners ranging in age from 9 to 79, from 61 different countries and 47 states have completed at least one 8 mile run with him.

Everyone who completes the 8 miles gets a nickname and is added to The Raven List. This is a run, not a race although many of the Raven Runners train for races, Raven trains to come back tomorrow.

Raven has the longest known world running streak on the sand and in the same location. He has seen every sunset, never been caught in rush hour traffic and turned what was a negative into a positive becoming an inspiration to others.

Ok So…

It was my last week in the Big D when I get an email from Match.com with the subject: Search Men in Your Area for FREE! I thought to myself, hmm…let’s have a quick look at what Miami has to offer.

Shortly after pulling together an amusingly random profile page, the emails begin to pour in.
My initial reaction was to cancel my account, move back to England…and herd donkeys. However, I stuck it out for the entire month, went on three dates with two stand up gents, and received heaps of emails that people would donate their kidneys for.

This one takes the cake…and still manages to make me shudder.

Subject: Tough Cookie...

So there is one person on here that I would like to meet for a drink.
Following Murphy's Law, she is of course, the one that didn't write me back. Who might that be you ask? Ask not for whom the bell tolls...

It is to be expected that a woman of your charm, personality and good looks would not bother with profiles that have no images. With that in mind, I had a "shoot" scheduled for this afternoon. I was then going to post, re-write and wait... fully confident that upon viewing my picture you would:

1. Drop whatever you were doing
2. Clear your calendar for the next three days
3. Email your phone number
4. Sit by the phone and wait for me to call

I would wait a good twenty minutes before calling you, allowing you to sit and squirm, and then you and I would begin the process of setting Miami on fire. But the cable guy is 2 hours late and I had to reschedule the shoot for next Monday. I refuse to allow the cable guy to decide my fate. Google (he gave me his name to search)... and you will see a picture of me playing poker at a 10k world poker tour event about 18 months ago. Please take into account that I had flown from Monte Carlo the day before, couldn’t sleep on the plane, had been playing for 11 hours and had just lost the pot that would have made me chip leader in the tournament.

While this normally makes for fantastic dinner conversation, I will spill the beans in advance. I am a professional poker player. Worked on Wall Street for 8 years, then left it all behind for the road less traveled.

I have been wildly successful at what I do. My life is travel, fun and excitement to the tenth power. What makes me so good at what I do is my ability to read people…and I just think we would be a hit....

One drink, fair maiden? Given just 1% of your confidence, I believe I can win the other 99%....

Sincerely,
Mr. Match…who will remain anonymous


Shudder.

Night Photography

For my Photography class, we had to go out and experiment shooting in the dark. Some of these get a little cheesy, but it was a fun assignment nonetheless.

Happy Halloween!

My niece, Brenly, and nephew, Ethan.
I swear, when I have a kid, I'm going to dress it up all of the time. Cuteness!

Meet Josh

Meet Josh.
He’s my fit and foxy roommate.
Put your shirts down ladies, this one’s got a boyfriend.

It’s always amusing to talk ‘boys’ with Josh.
He’s skillful at adding creative commentary to any man dilemma—from a dude's perspective, of course.

Such as, my situation with the vertically challenged gentleman who thought we’d make a good pair.

“I mean, seriously, what was he thinking?” ~Me

“I have a small human saddle and I’m gonna ride you like a pony.” ~Josh

He juices, practices yoga AND he’s funny.
(sigh)
I think I'm falling...

Observing the Sabbath in South Beach

I found this flyer on the beach and it made me laugh.
What’s better than amateur strippers on a Sunday? Umm…FREE BBQ! Hello.

Letter Home

This was my first assignment using Final Cut...slightly embarrassing.

Just a Few Beach Photos to Remind You of Summer...

My Very First South Beach Visitors

I’m sure many of you recognize these faces from American Crumpet.

Angie and Jo, two super talented designers who I worked with in England, took the time out of their Harry Potter Orlando adventure to visit their tanner-than-normal English sister. I miss them already (tear).

Quote of the night:

“Jo, what do you think of South Beach?” ~MB

“It’s kinda like Barcelona…only much bigger chested.” ~Jo

Miami Trend Report: Ladies & Gentlemen...The Unitard is Back. For Reals.

Admit it...we were all fools for believing that Gumbi would never make a comeback.

A Trip to the Everglades...

This weekend I went on a 15-mile cycling tour in the Everglades.
The winding pavement path was a wee bit wider than Jared, pre-Subway, with crocodile infested wetlands surrounding. In other words, it was pretty much an invitation to die.

And I Thought Everything was Bigger in Texas…

Yeeeah, I might as well pack away the WonderBra…there's no competing with these monsters.

I need a t-shirt that says, Small Boobs, Huge Heart.

My Walk to School

image found on My Health Bridge.com

This morning I set off to school in a great mood. It was seventy-five degrees and the cool breeze made me think of autumn…and male models in tweed.

I pass by a number of locals on my journey—like the guy on the bike who made fun of my tan lines, and the scantily dressed woman who was handed a wad of cash as she exited her daddy’s vehicle. Do you see how I make up stories to trick myself into feeling safe and secure? It’s my new favorite game. The pepper spray on my key chain is my backup. Touch me and I’ll set your eyeballs on fire…jerk.

My most recent encounter involves an old man with a cane.
I’m a sucker for old people. In fact, I prefer them to babies. As I’m walking toward the elderly gentleman, I find myself reminiscing about my grandfather. I always found it so charming that he would sit outside in the Texas sun and whistle along with the birds. With this memory in mind, I smile tenderly at my new Miami grandfather before hearing him seductively say, “Hey Baby…”

True story.

Just another thing that I’m questioning here in Miami…other than my cup size.

It's a Crack Party in SoBe!

My Sunday was spent on the beach.
I counted two men, twenty-two women and three grandmas in thong bikinis (please see below).
That’s a grand spanking total of fifty-four butt cheeks. Now—my eyes are 100% desensitized to the b-crack…and I hate to admit it, but my crystal clear bikini of a tan line is kinda (barely) making me want to join the party.

Beach Hell No #1

Something with the tan and/or lack of lycra reminds me of that bad Kevin Costner movie, Waterworld.