Erin Shaw Street

Happy Birthday Elvis: How Does The King Continue To Rock Your World?

Today would have been Elvis' 76th birthday -- long live The King! I always try to do something to mark this day and August 16. This year we're going to do something new and go to Chuy's Mexican Restaurant.

Known for their touch of Elvis throughout the restaurant, they are having an all-day celebration, and anyone who comes dressed as Elvis or Priscilla gets a free meal. (That would be Nate).

In starting this day, I did a search to see just how many times I wrote about Elvis this year alone. Let's just say it comes up as a key theme. Here's a collection of some of these posts. (Unfortunately this doesn't have the story that I wrote for Southern Living about "must-sees" of Elvis history between Memphis and Tupelo. Have to get a copy of that to share ... )

How did Elvis change my life again this year?

Last summer I met a very special friend in Elvis, my Aussie pal Mandy. I knew we'd be great friends when, at running camp, she told me that she came to the States with the dream of riding up to Graceland on a Harley. Yes!

Today she celebrates her "Hen's Night" (what we call a bachelorette party) with peanut butter and banana sandwiches in Australia. Cheers, Mandy!

I love how Elvis continues to influence so many people and bring people together.  So, for his birthday, let me know: how does Elvis continue to rock your world?

And, my year in Elvis:

Elvis Tree Shines On

The reveal of our annual Elvis-themed Christmas tree

Trick or Treat! Thank you, Thank You Very Much 

Nate in his "Elvis From Hawaii!" jumpsuit, thrilling neighbors and his mother

Happy Birthday Elvis: My Journey Into The World of Elvis Impersonators

Reprint of my 2001 journey into the world of Elvis tribute artists

 

Brits and Grits

After starting the new year by riding an a parade float and watching the giant moon pie drop in Mobile (video to come), we drove through the pouring rains to return to Birmingham and a house full of Christmas decorations needing to be put away. But instead of doing all that, we've spent the weekend with a delightful house guest from across the pond, Robert.

Robert has put up with my silly questions about his homeland of Wales, of which all I can remember is hurdling toward the countryside on a train watching a young girl shove her face full of Kit Kats. Turns out that Wales has much more to offer than that and Tom Jones. It also has lots of karaoke and The Porthcawl Elvis Festival in his hometown. Sweet.

We dug out our kettle for Robert, who brought his own tea from home (along with a nice bottle of whiskey and his guitar -- my kind of houseguest!)

Today we took him up to Vulcan, during which time a cup of tea would have been lovely because it was FREEZING.

Then for ribs at Jim N Nicks, the latter of which blew his mind. Yee, I love showing people Birmingham and indoctrinating them into the ways of Southern food.

He just asked, "What are grits?" So glad he's going to be in the South for an entire year.

Tomorrow he heads to Tuscaloosa to start his postdoc with Shane, but he'll be back. Tell us what you think he should do and we'll pass it along ...

 

Related Posts:

Moon Pie Madness

Back In L.A. 

Moon Pie Madness!

Writing from the beautiful Battle House in Mobile, Alabama, where I am transfixed by a 600-lb homage to a Moon Pie outside my hotel window. It's dropping in T-minus 14 hours, and I'm here to witness it for the magazine. (Here's an SL blog post about the Moon Pie madness sweeping the city.)

Just as exciting, we're riding in the New Year's Eve Parade. On a float.

Since I haven't been in a parade in about 28 years (during which I rode in Clearwater's Fun N Sun parade in Officer Friendly's Car for winning the safety slogan contest thank you very much) I'm not entirely sure what to wear.

But since this parade celebrates the beginning of Carnival season, I am thinking these will be our outfits:

Yes, that's Nate's Elvis cosutme. And what New Year's Eve would be complete without gold sequins?

Throw in some masks ...

And Moon Pies:

So long, 2010. May 2011 bring everyone their version of huge Moon Pies and gold shoes.

Elvis Tree Shines On

The Elvis tree has been up for a few weeks, but I haven't had a chance to take photos until now. (On a side note, I'm not crazy about the quality of the photos. Having trouble with my SLR and just resurrected the point and shoot. If only I knew some photographers ... )

In the meantime, here's a glimpse at the tree. I moved it to the front hall so all could behold.

A few additions this year:

• Animal print ribbon (a salute to the jungle room of course).

•  A slew of black velvet portrait ornaments, started with one received  during an ornament exchange: black velvet that sings "I'll Be Home For Christmas." (As soon as someone opened that, everyone said, "Erin needs that. She has an ELVIS TREE!") I immediately found out where they came from (K-Mart!) and cleared out their supply along with ...

• An Elvis socking that lights up and also plays music. Naturally.

 

Related Posts:

Elvis Tree: Hunka Hunka Valentine Edition

Elvis Tree 2009

Elvis 75th Birthday: My Journey Into The World of Elvis Tribute Artists

Trick or Treat! Thank you, thank you very much.

 

Nate was a huge hit tonight during our trick or treating. The best part? He asked to be Elvis on his own. Even better? He knows all the words to "Jailhouse Rock."

Though he was a little shy to sing them on people's doorsteps as we went house to house. Not as shy to score some candy (it seems like this is the year that it's clicked for him). I advised him to say "Thank you, thank you very much," but he was too busy trying to keep his wig on.

Alas, come 7:30, Little Elvis was curled up asleep on his chair, wig and glasses by his side.

  

Halloween Preview: TCB In A Flash

Nate tried on his Halloween costume today. Needless to say, I think it's the best thing ever.

Related Posts:

Elvis Monday: Long Live The King

Mandatory Margarita: Elvis Birthday

Elvis Tree: The Valentine Edition

Elvis Monday: Long Live The King

To remember the 33rd anniversary of the day Elvis rose to the heavens, I bring you this gem: a video of Elvis Week 2010 in Memphis. Yet another year has gone by that I haven't been at Elvis Week.

Have actually only done it once, in 2001 (which was a significant year because of its tie to Elvis intro song/2001 medly). This is the story that resulted. 

Needless to say, a tad bit envious of these fans who made the journey. Check out the footage around the 40th second ... some gems of tribute artists.

Recently a friend asked me, "When did your Elvis thing begin?" I told her the truth: it started at a seafood restaurant on Clearwater Beach, where my friends and I watched a tribute artist, laughing at the kitsch value. But like so many others, I started wondering what was it about him that captivated -- and still captivates us? 

I know my answer. What's yours? TCB EAP, TCB ....

Related Links:

The Elvis Tree: Valentine Edition

August 2: Updated Manifesto

George Michael Lives In My Closet (Practical Tips For A Rockn Roll Closet From My Sister)

Here's a little secret: my closet has always been a bit of a disaster. As in:

As much as I'm organized in many areas of my life, my closet isn't one of them. I've always been like this, with a closet full of books, and letters, and vintage dresses stuck in between albums and bits of ... stuff. My sister on the other hand has always been one with color coded clothing and shoes lined up in perfect rows. (Even in high school she had this dry erase board where she wrote each and every thing on her "to-do" list, including things like "take shower" and "do sit ups.")

Fast forward: now she has a house where everything has its place. And I have a house with a gold dining room stacked to the brim with Elvis paintings and mismatched cups. And that closet, oh, that closet. There's a method to my madness until ... there's not.

So when Megan offered to organize my closet for a Mother's Day/birthday gift, I was thrilled. I've tried to clean out and organize my closet (and just about every other room in the house) many times, hauling out bags of clothing but always inevitably sitting on the floor trying to figure out what to do with the bits of mismatched jewelery and concert ticket stubs.To keep or toss the four-inch red and black platform shoes, the ridiculously expensive ones scored for $30 at a consignment shop and worn once? I could never decide.

Then came in my sister, barricading herself in the closet of chaos on a Friday while I was working. She removed everything from the closet, sans sentimentality. It looked liked this:

I mean, seriously? But I did what she asked, pulling out the clothes that I actually wear, parting with dozens of pair of pajamas (I am a pajama fiend), giving up the scarves I wore in college that will never be fashionable again (except maybe at my 90210 talk at Ignite 2 in a few weeks).

She worked much of today too, resulting in this:

 

I can actually walk in the closet, and even turn around. The clothes are color coded, which is not easy when you have tons of leopard print. And my beloved "Kill Bill" poster? She kept it and framed it, and it's now the background to my **accessories nook.** I have an accessories nook:

 

Here she is with some of her handiwork. (Note that she worked in my suggestion of including some of my favorite albums right above the shoes.)

And she even found a way to include Lee Greenwood next to my jeans:

Here she is celebrating her success. Not many people actually want to organize a closet, let alone their sister's, so major thanks to her. Now I can actually see what I own, and don't feel as overwhelmed when I walk in there. No more mornings of feeling helpless to figure out what to wear because I can't see it.

Instead I walk in, see what I have, surrounded by patterns and colors that I love (not to mention my George Michael album -- always good to see GM in the morning).

Now the question is: can I keep it this organized?

For a full tour of the closet, complete with Megan's inside tips for organizing, here's the video tour:

 

Related Links:

Make Yourself A Stiff Drink: The Beginning of The Closet Renovation (Video)

Megan's Magnolia Musings: Megan's Blog

August 2: Updated Manifesto

August 2: The day the Lincoln penny was released, as well as the day I was released into the world. (Thanks Mom.) 

Last year I wrote this on my birthday. It included this mini-manifesto:

I believe in the power of storytelling.

And sweet tea vodka.

Of family and supportive friends.

And Elvis, always.

Now that I'm a year older, it's time for an update. (It could be much longer but I want to distill it here.)

(Right below the photo of me and Karin with my newest treasure ... )

I believe in the power of storytelling. I know my story and am sticking to it.

And that stories help us connect, and that's why I'm here.

I believe in moving forward no matter what -- propelling oneself by running, or walking, or putting one foot in front of the next.

Learning the lessons of travel, and of embracing the lessons at home.

Of family and supportive friends, who keep me strong at the broken places.

Of spontaneous dance parties, which the world needs more of.

I believe in the art and books that lines my walls.

And my book, which is being born.

And Elvis, always Elvis.

So friends, you know me. What else should I add to the manifesto?

Related Links:

What I Learned At Camp

All Saints Day

Mandatory Margarita: Birthday Edition

This is how my week started off. Well, sort of -- it was Tuesday, but still.

That's Elvis in my cup. How good are friends who know you so well they send you your hero in a cup?

The Mandatory Margarita Club strikes again.

When I got to Cocina, I was exhausted from a long day of work. But there they were, with a glass 'o Elvis, all packed in a booth with chips and salsa. Instant pick me up!

I've written about the Mandatory Margarita Club before and have to do it again because of the gratitude I felt being surrounded by such caring, smart, funny women. How did I get so lucky to fall into this group?

It was Karin who gathered us, and was the only one that I knew the first time I dropped in for snacks and chat. (Of course I can't share what we discuss ... what happens at the MM Club stays at the MM Club.It's juicy.)

In this year we've evolved from acquaintances to friends. I know that I could call on any of these girls and they'd be there in a snap, and vice versa. I care about their hobbies and their families and their jobs and genuinely want to hear what's happening in their lives (of course thanks to Facebook the convo doesn't stop at the dinner table)

This week several new pals joined us and helped me kick off a little early birthday celebration.

I can't imagine a better gift than this and the circles of friends from which I draw energy and inspiration. Some are in Birmingham and some are very far away, connected only by the Interwebs or telephone, but connected.

Thank you, thank you very much ...

 

Related Links:

What I Learned At Camp: Part I  

Happy Birthday Elvis: My Journey Into The World Of Elvis Tribute Artists