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Alabama Entrepreneur giving away 300 book bags to students

July 3, 2019 By Kara Kennedy

Inspired Southerner TC Counseling — Tammy Cauthen is making a difference in Birmingham.

Tammy Cauthen, entrepreneur and owner of TC Counseling, has a passion for transforming individuals and families by helping them make the necessary changes to enhance their quality of life. To help families start the new school year right, TC Counseling is giving away 300 book bags to students during their first-ever back-to-school Carnival on July 13.

Giving Back to the Community

Tammy recognized that some students in the Birmingham, Alabama area may not have the supplies necessary to start off the new school year on the right foot, so she came up with the idea to ensure students are prepared for their classes when the bell rings on Aug. 8.

Unfortunately, some parents can’t afford the basic supplies for their kids to go back to school which presents an undue burden on them. It also can take a toll on their children.

“We want to take the pressure off of parents, so we’re hosting this Back-to-School carnival on July 13 so families who may need a little help can get a running start into the new year,” said Tammy Cauthen, owner of TC Counseling. “We want every child to be prepared so that they can focus on and feel enthusiastic about learning.”

Inspired Southerner — TC Counseling is hosting first-ever back-to-school carnival

Back to School Carnival

This fun back-to-school carnival will be held at the Shields Conference Center at W.C. Patton Park in downtown Birmingham from 12-4 pm. It will feature carnival rides, a gaming truck with Laser Tag, XBOX, Playstation Nintendo and other video games, food, educational and safety programming.

In addition, and the best part of all, families will leave with brand-new school supplies and book bags. Parents who want a book bag must register at noon the day of the event to be eligible.

Company Mission

The mission of TC Counseling is to make an impact on the community by engaging with individuals and families through community outreach. The company also partners with other Birmingham-area companies to host events. For this event, in particular, she is seeking donations of supplies or money from those who may want to donate to the event or companies who may want to partner with TC Counseling.

“I hope to make this an annual event to celebrate families before they start the new school year,” Tammy added.

If you would like to make a donation or more information about the Back-to-School Carnival visit TC Counseling’s website or call (205) 601-6195.

In addition to the back-to-school event, TC Counseling hosts an annual luncheon for Jefferson County social workers.

Alabama’s Cherokee Rock Village is a scenic mecca for hikers

July 1, 2019 By Rebekah Ledbetter

Inspired Southerner, Cherokee Rock Village — Cherokee Rock Village offer amazing views to hikers and campers

Just an hour and a half north of Birmingham, Alabama off I-59 lies a getaway with amazing views for anyone who enjoys getting outdoors. Cherokee Rock Village offers a scenic mecca for hikers and campers alike. It is a park you need to add to your list this year.

Little Rock City

Atop Lookout Mountain, Cherokee Rock Village is home to unique sandstone formations. Known to the locals as “Little Rock City”, it’s perfect for hikers and climbers of all skill levels.

For just $6 per car (more for passenger vehicles and overnighters), you get an all-access pass to the trail. If you follow the drive down to the lot you’ll be at the beginning on one of the park’s trails. Cherokee Rock Village has over 14 miles worth of trails for you to hike!

The trailhead is at an easy access point beside the parking lot. Be sure to have your map in hand and you’re ready to take off. Additionally, apps such as Alltrails have maps that are accessible through your phone! If you follow the trail to the left, you’ll almost immediately find the rock formation that will give you this amazing view.

Amazing Views

Most of the rocks are easy to climb and almost stair-like. Most noteworthy, the last major rock formation does require a bit of climbing, but it’s not hard, especially if you have a friend to lend a hand. Once you get to the top, you will have plenty of room to walk around or just sit to take in the amazing view From the top you will see Weiss Lake, a 50.19 square mile Lake known nationally for it’s Bass and Crappie fishing!

If you follow the trail and your map, you’ll be able to find a hidden cave that is hidden inside the sandstone formations.

Another sight to look out for at Cherokee Rock Village is the natural stone arch, formed from the erosion of the sandstone. It’s also a geocaching spot! Click here for more information!

Adventurous trailblazers can grab a map and follow the Diamond Trail, which is 7.1 miles long with an elevation of over 1000 feet. This trail is open to hikers, mountain bikers, and equestrians. This elevation is why we call the Cherokee Rock Park a scenic mecca for hikers.

Secure Climbing Access

Furthermore, climbers also can find that some climbing routes have permanent anchors bolted into the rock, for easy and secure climbing access. So as long as you have your map, some good shoes, and bottled water, you will be set to explore all that Cherokee Rock Village has to offer.

Park Amenities

If you’re only staying for a day or overnight, the park offers amenities for campers and hikers. They include restrooms that double as storm shelters, showers, a picnic area, a camping area, a playground, a handicap accessible deck overlooking the mountain, and a designated camping area.

Cherokee Rock Village is a part of the Cherokee County Public Parks and Recreation system. For more info or to make reservations check out their website here.

Songwriter Alvin Garrett releases ‘This Hill’; Gives electrifying musical performance

June 24, 2019 By Rebekah Ledbetter

Inspired Southerner Alvin Garrett — Songwriter Garrett gives an electrifying musical performance

Inspired Southerner sat down with singer-songwriter Alvin Garrett at Workplay in Birmingham, Alabama, hours before his CD release party for his new album This Hill. After the interview, Alvin gave the audience an electrifying musical performance.

Favorite Song on This Hill

Q: What is your favorite track on your new album?

A: The one that means the most to me is the title cut, This Hill, because of what it means. It stands for hope, inspiration, love and loss. Because of hope, I have the inspiration to pursue what I love at the risk of loss. You can’t live on the hill if you’re afraid to take a loss. The imagery I am trying to get fans to visualize is to keep climbing, don’t give up and you can get up that hill.

The song itself represents my mentality, my life mantra; just let your hope inspire you to pursue what you love at the risk of loss. You can’t predict the challenges you’re going to face when you’re chasing your dreams. But you gotta face them or else it never happens for you. So, that song because of what it means, is my favorite.

Inspiring Lyrics

Q: What is one thing you’re hoping people get from this album?

A: Inspiration. Absolutely, because I feel the state of music, outside of the Christian genre, has become music with lyrics where you have to cover your kid’s ears. I wanted to write and perform music that my kids can listen to. At some point, I believe we lost the poetry of music. Parents need to be able to enjoy music around their children.

My music is not pop or kiddie music, but it’s just good old-fashion music that is in the spirit of the Motown and the Stax Records era. It’s good lyrics and instruments that can be played around children. Garrett has little girls and wants them to be able to listen and sing along to all of the songs on my album.

Q: Favorite part of your job?

A: OOoohh! I have many jobs that I am literally”all in.” I’ve been full-time in the music industry since 2002 after leaving corporate America. When I started out I did everything, from being in the mailroom to the boardroom. I am at the point now, where I can focus more on strategic planning and moving the company forward because I now have a team. I even have a publicist now, and it’s pretty exciting.

Ask me again ‘cause I feel like I got off on a tangent.

Doing less. My favorite part now is delegating. I find that I get so much more done. I have had to learn to trust people and empower them to do what they do and be great at it.

The Music Industry

Q: What’s the hardest part of your job?

A: Handing things off! *Lots of laughter*. It is. Well, I can’t turn off my eyes and ears. When you work for yourself, you have to do everything. I’ve done everything from writing songs to being the sound engineer.

Garret also states that he has had to learn to not to get involved with what his team is doing. He still gives them feedback, but he has to trust that they will do their jobs. He does this because he can’t be in five places at one time.

Recording Music

Q: Who has been your favorite artist you’ve worked with?

A: You know, I can’t say that I have a favorite artist that I’ve actually worked with because I value them all the same. But I will say that there is a favorite artist I have that has sung my music. R&B artist named Joe. Growing up, I was a big fan, and in my early songwriting days, I would always imagine his voice singing my songs. I would hear him in my mind, so when he started singing my music, I literally cried. I was like, “Oh my God, Joe is singing my songs.”

It’s an amazing experience to hear an artist that I’ve looked up to sing my songs the way you wrote them. Oh, he sounds amazing. WOW! That’s been my favorite experience as a songwriter.

Working with Other Musicians

Q: Dream artist to work with?

A: Not really, because of the experiences I’ve personally had in the music industry. I’ve grown to the place where I just want to do good business. I’m more about what I give to people through my business and my art than I am about who I want to work with. I was on the stage with Luke Bryan, I know he’s a big huge star, but he’s just a guy, he came on stage like “Hey, y’all know some Lionel Richie?” Luke Bryan coming on stage with my band saying, “hey guys let’s jam to some Lionel Richie!” It’s freaking Luke Bryan, he’s just a guy who loves Lionel Richie.

I have realized that I am sort of a celebrity figure to other people, I just feel like a regular guy, but to them, I’m somebody special. However, when it’s peer-to-peer, other musicians, they are regular people just like me. When we work together they all say adamantly “don’t bring that star stuff here.” We just want to work together.

Q: Any interesting fan or fellow artist stories?

A: I won’t say a name, all right, but there was this famous, famous, famous, producer-songwriter. I mean you can’t even count all the awards he has. The immense number of songs he’s written for people. I had the chance to be in the studio with him, not as a writer, but just the chance to be in the studio in his presence. Before we went into the studio, he made us wait about three hours in the lobby, but when we got in the room, you knew you were in the presence of greatness.

You just felt it and to hear him talk about his process and types of songs he writes, you’re like oh my god, I’m in the room with this guy.

Music History

Q: How important is the history of Stax Records to musicians in Birmingham?

A: Through my personal experience, Al Bell, who was the president of Stax Records actually reached out to me when he heard my song, Wait and wanted to meet me. Some mutual acquaintances told me that Al Bell wanted to meet me. I was like “WHO ME? Little Old Me??” We’re actually like brothers now. He heard the connection in my music to the types of songs he wrote during his era. So he’s excited that there is somebody out here carrying on that legacy of quality soul music.

Being in Alabama, and for someone of his stature and legacy to hear my sound and say “I want to find the guy who made that song,” it was just mind-blowing.
Purchase: This Hill

Alabama singer-songwriter Alvin Garrett celebrates the release of his new album ‘This Hill’ on June 7

June 3, 2019 By Kara Kennedy

Escape to this tiny home eco-retreat on 85 acres in North Central Alabama

May 12, 2019 By Kara Kennedy

Case Rock Cabin Inspired Southerner — Glenn and Rachel Evans built their sustainable tiny home on 85 acres on their farm.

Nestled in the woods on the banks of the Locust Fork River north of Birmingham, Alabama, Glenn and Rachel Evans have put their love of the environment and sustainability into everyday practice with their Case Rock Cabin a modern tiny home they built earlier this year as an eco-retreat on their farm in Blount County.

Glenn and Rachel built their tiny home as an eco-retreat on the back-side of their 85-acre farm, a mile and a quarter off of the nearest paved road. The cabin is only accessible by an ATV or four-wheel drive vehicle. Glenn, an electrical engineer, built it himself by hauling materials on top of a Polaris down steep terrain.

“We designed the home together,” said Rachel Evans, an artist and an Alabama teacher who home schools her children. “We wanted the project to be an example and a teachable moment for our children about environmental sustainability.”

Tiny home design

The home was designed with a modern, industrial aesthetic look and feel. It was built out of reclaimed and recycled materials with solar panels, a back-up generator, a water tank, a wood heater and a composting toilet.

Going off-grid

After they built it, Rachel and Glenn listed their tiny-home retreat on AirBnB. It’s an off-grid experience for those who want to get away from it all and unplug. When you arrive at this eco-retreat you will park your car, the hosts will check you in and you will then be driven to the cabin by UTV. Once you’re dropped off, it will be up to you to figure out how to get back and forth to your car or the main house. If the hosts are available, they will give you a ride to your car. The hosts also will schedule a checkout and pick up time for you at the end of your stay.

The perfect place to unplug

It has no wifi or TV and cell phone reception is spotty. But don’t fret, there is radio communication in case of an emergency. You’ll also have access to a blue-tooth speaker to play your tunes or podcasts. Once you arrive, you’ll be taught how to use the cabin’s electrical system, water system, and composting toilet. For back-up, there are YouTube videos available to show you as well. One special note is that there is no refrigerator so you’ll have to bring a cooler and ice, or you can purchase ice on site.

A dog friendly retreat

Bring your dog to Case Rock! Glenn and Rachel even provide pet bowls, old towels and pooper scooper bags; all you have to do is bring your dog’s crate, toys and food.

Case Rock sleeps six and has a composting toilet

The cabin sleeps six with two bedrooms, three beds and one bath. It’s stocked with breakfast foods including fresh eggs from Case Rock’s chickens. There is a one burner propane stove, an Instant Pot and gas grill for cooking; however, there is no oven. Shower outside in a shower heated by a propane instant hot water heater. For cooler days and nights there is a wood stove inside and for warmer days there are DC attic fans.

Guests staying at Case Rock also can bring their boats or tubes to use on Locust Fork River. There is only biking and hiking on the trails around the cabin. Guests are not allowed to drive or use motorized vehicles on these trails.

CaseRock Inspired Southerner — Guests can try their hand at fly fishing on the river.

Enjoy fly fishing or the white water rapids on the river

The river is relatively is located at the upper eastern end of the Warrior River Basin. The river is one of three major tributaries of the Black Warrior River that stretches across Blount, Etowah and Marshall counties. The area is very scenic and popular because of its white water and the area is great for hiking. Canoers and kayakers from all over the Southeast flock to the area during the spring and summer to try out the river’s world-class rapids. As far as Case Rock’s availability, Rachel and Glenn say it’s booked all of May and most of June.

Book now on AirBnB

“There are projects ongoing at our farm and we complete them together as a family,” said Rachel. “We love animals, traveling and camping. We meet so many interesting people when we travel. Case Rock is a way for us to combine everything we love about our farm and share it with the world in hopes of teaching people about the environment, sustainability and how to “unplug,” if only for a moment.”

You can follow the story of Case Rock Cabin on Instagram @caserockcabin or book your stay on AirBnB.