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      • Hotels
      • RV and Camping
      • Smith Lake Rentals
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    • Feature Nonprofit - Easton Todd Earnest
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    • In His Wakes
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    • LSLAA Charity Art Auction 2020
    • Winston County Arts Council
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    • Prize Winner Registration
  • Content
    • #spotsonsmith
    • #howilake
    • #mylakelife
  • About Us
  • Contact
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    • Ambassador
  • AFFILIATES
    • Free State Outfitters Co.
    • Nogginhed Tshirt Co.
    • Ms. Smirks Boutique
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The Lakeside Life Blog


Lewis Smith Lake Alabama | Smith Lake Alabama

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11/1/2019 0 Comments

AMAZON LAKE LIFE - launched!

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The Lakeside Life magazine is very lucky to be recently selected and recognized by Amazon as not only an #amazonassociate (aka #amazonaffiliate) but also an #amazoninfluencer.  

Along with the new status, our team had to decide whether to roll out our Amazon picks on our store pages or our magazine page, and how best to do it.  We are first and foremost a lake living community magazine, dedicated to our lake community in every way, so our goal is to select products from reputable brands that we are already affiliated with by vendors through our store, OR that are sold by our local retailers who are also a part of the Amazon team and seek to extend their products to a wider audience, OR brands that we know and trust from our own lake experience or that of friends and neighbors we have "laked" with for decades.  

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We boldly decided to roll out our status on all platforms so that we can show a more diverse amount of products and vendors that we support and believe in.  We set up our wide-reaching Amazon store using the Instagram account @amazonlakelife as the basis for that with a logo that fits our brand using "lake life" as the theme––a shortened version of our magazine name––and we matched the logo to our local store @lakesidegear using the same logo with "lake gear" as the theme.  From these pages, @thelakesidelife_smithlake and @lakesidegear, plus our professional marine audio company @masterpoaudio, we can offer recommendations in any way we see fit through those markets.  Again, our overall goal––show you more of what our brands, retailers and affiliates in the lake arena are offering.  It's fun having several ways to find the products we all need and want.  

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Check our BLOG again soon, we'll have some select items to show you in the future.

AND...this isn't all, we still have some exciting changes going on in the background as we grow and change, and we'll keep you posted...stay tuned!  

NOTE:  You can still purchase directly through our store, our e-comm, and our local or national affiliates, PLUS you now have an additional way of convenient shopping, from the comfort of your home, for products that help you enjoy the lakeside life.  Please...never hesitate to reach out to us for recommendations and direction on anything you are interested in.  We're out there shopping all the time, and chances are, in our decades of lake life, and 22+ years on Lewis Smith Lake in Alabama, we've seen or heard of the product you want, and we'd love to help direct you to the best pricing and highest quality items available.  Choose @amazonlakelife!
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3/3/2019 0 Comments

The Lakeside Life Logo and Colors

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Picking our logo was lots of fun, we put some serious thought and ideas into the mix and it finally shook out to be what it is now, a simple teal upside down triangle with various complementary colors.
The TRIANGLE... how did it become a symbol for us?  Importantly for the founding family, and foremost, there is an obvious Christian connection to the Trinity.  Also, historically, an upside down triangle was used to symbolize water which seemed to fit well for a logo about a LAKE.  In mathematics and engineering, a triangle is known to be exceptionally strong, and psychologically it can represent wisdom and stability.  A triangle has 3 sides and the number 3 happens to play a huge part in the personal lives of our founders, and the lake in general, and it is a collective favorite number of the team. Smith Lake has 3 main channels - Ryan Creek, Rock Creek and Sipsey Fork, and the lake lies in 3 counties we cherish:  Cullman, Walker and Winston.  ​
PictureGoogle Map drawing by The Lakeside Life Team
If you consider connecting lines from key anchor points at pivotal ends of the lake like Cullman, Double Springs, and past the dam to Sipsey (i.e. "Sipsey Fork"), you will have an upside down triangle.  Even drawing lines from each anchor city from Cullman, Double Springs, to Jasper, and back to Cullman, you'll still have a triangle formation. There are TONS of other fun reasons we chose the shape for our lake, so check back soon for more about our logo, and we'll update it here when ready (i.e. have you ever noticed all the triangles in the design of our favorite #spotsonsmith Duncan Bridge?  Look everywhere, you'll find a triangle is a great symbol for our lake in many ways).  One thing about our logo that we cherish most - it is completely unique and authentic! 

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What about our company COLORS?  Our main company colors are teal green, creamy white, charcoal, black or navy blue.  Obviously Smith Lake is known for its gorgeous clear greenish waters.  Based on an individual's perception, the waters are sometimes said to appear to be hues of emerald, jade, greenish turquoise, teal, aqua and other colors.  In different seasons, under different lighting, in various weather, or at different times of the day, the color of the water changes often in a 24 hour period.  It can appear not only greenish, but blueish, or even greyish in photographs, but it is definitely a shade of green a majority of the time, especially on bright clear summer days.  Our teal is a nice combination of all the colors seen in the lake.  
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Teal mosaic, Pinterest
PicturePantone color strip
"A definition of Teal:  Teal is a blue-green colour. It can be created by mixing blue into a green base, or deepened as needed with black or gray." We often use several different Pantone colors from palettes of teal and aqua in production of our logo and products.  Teal is said to symbolize "morality and renewal" and evoke feelings of "tranquility, optimism, restfulness, reflection and understated elegance."  We thought that was pretty cool!  The colors of navy blue, charcoal and black (sometimes we use brownish, khaki & taupe hues) were chosen as natural toned colors to simply provide a nice contrast and complement to the base colors of creamy white (like fluffy clouds on a summer day) and shades of teal (like the crisp clean cool greenish waters of Smith).  ​

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To combine the TRIANGLE and COLORS, and settle on approving a final design, we borrowed ideas from the past, special to our founder, Syndi.  She lived and worked in New York City in her twenties, and she fell in love with many buildings beyond her West Greenwich Village neighborhood that were adorned architecturally in an Art Deco style featuring bold straight lines and triangular shapes and points.  The Chrysler Building was a strong focal point from her 7th floor apartment, and as you know, the building features triangular shapes at the crown.  Syndi also had a favorite place to visit and shop in Manhattan... Tiffany & Co.!  Her favorite gifts since have always come wrapped in a tiffany blue box with a signature white ribbon.  So... to combine concepts for the logo, she wanted a font that was classic, a green color that was as close to a shade of tiffany blue as possible (but in a greenish tone), plus a tone of white, and she hoped for a subtle nod to the lovely angles often found in Art Deco styling.  So after several renditions and ideas, the green triangle logo we have now was finally born from team input, and Syndi approved. 

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The Chrysler Building, New York City, britannica.com
We hope you like our logo and colors as much as we do.  We have noticed lots of companies around the lake adopting these colors to use in lake merchandise and we LOVE it!  We are HERE FOR IT!  Enjoy using these colors that have now become a symbol of our lake, and often adopted as Smith Lake's official colors.  ​​​
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1/1/2019 0 Comments

Smith Lake Homes - Rustic Tiny Living on Smith Lake - The Williamson Cabin

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The Williamson Cabin, Bob Calvert Mountain, Cullman AL. (The Adrew Williamson Family is pictured at the entrance).
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Article Companion Blog:  See original article "Little Cabin in the Woods" in the 2018-QTR4 issue (Vol.1, Iss.4, Winter, DEC 2018)
of The Lakeside Life magazine
to learn more about this project and about the home and homeowners

Designer:  Emma Doss, featuring products from Seibels Cottage
​Photographer:  Scott Eric Day Photography & Videography (www.scottericday.com)
PictureDesigner Emma Doss, Seibels Cottage.
We really enjoyed covering the Williamson cabin.  It truly is a beautiful little home, in a very magical setting deep on a wooded lot that borders Smith Lake from the highest point in Cullman County, Bob Calvert mountain.  Its history is still being unfolded as the owners, Andrew and Meg Williamson, are taking their time in the next few years to restore the cabin in a way that will preserve history but also provide proper living areas for their family of four.  

The tiny home speaks for itself in rustic appeal, and it served as a fantastic backdrop with all the natural elements and textures to showcase some special staple pieces from Seibels Cottage in Homewood, Alabama. Seibels is truly a one stop shop for all things lake decor. Their carefully curated products and designer services can raise the level of sophistication in your lake home overall one piece at a time. Seibels allowed Designer Emma Doss to pick the pieces, design the shots, and direct the overall photo shoot, and she did an incredible job working with us in such close quarters.  

Below we're highlighting individual items shown in the article beginning on page 39-50. Click the photos to go directly to complete descriptions & options of each product on Seibels' website.  


ENTRYWAY

The outdoor entry was already prepared with mums, plants, and pumpkins from the Thanksgiving holiday, but adding a beautiful natural rug with a fish print, just pulled the lake in better. The rug was nestled between the flowers and plants that anchored the entry.  
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Natural Coir Doormat with Fish Stencil, Seibels Cottage.
LIVING ROOM NOOK

​A cozy nook in the living room is defined by an Old Hickory chair with loads of character, alone it embodies the feel of lake living. Sitting beside a leather couch adorned by a luxurious faux mink throw and lush pillow, the nook is instantly warm, cozy and inviting. The pieces that tie this space together are the framed Lake Map, the Birch Lamp, Bark Candle and of course the must-have cow-hide rug making this arrangement an exclamation point right at the front door area.
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Old Hickory Two Hoop Chair, Seibels Cottage.
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Aspen Bark Table Lamp, Seibels Cottage.
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Large Lake Map framed, 27"x39", Seibels Cottage. Check out all the other maps on this link as well!
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Tree Bark Candle, comes in 5 enveloping fragrances, Seibels Cottage.
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Fabulous Furs Couture Throw Ivory Mink, Seibels Cottage.
​KITCHEN

Be sure to check out the original article for more photos of the small kitchen. Not much had to be added in the kitchen to elevate the lake feel, there was already functional rustic decor like iron pots, metal collanders, rustic bowls and cutting boards.  

But there are always ways to add touches of "lake" to the mix. A couple of tea towels with a rustic feel, and a beautiful fish bar tool atop an elegant old barrel wood cheese & charcuterie board. Just the right touches.
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Uncorked Fish Bottle Opener, Seibels Cottage.
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Barrel Cheese Board with Fish Bottle opener and Custom Tea Towel, Seibels Cottage.
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Custom Tea Towel (Ham), Seibels Cottage.
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Custom Tea Towel (Beef), Seibels Cottage.

LIVING ROOM - FIRESIDE

In tight quarters, it doesn't require much decor near the fireplace to get cozy, items in this area should be small, easily moveable, and very functional. Create an area inviting to those entering from the cold to take immediate reprieve in the warmth.
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Barrel Stave Bottle Opener, Seibels Cottage.
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Metal House Log Holder, Seibels Cottage.
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Mango wood and leather folding stools, Seibels Cottage.
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Fairhope Fishbone, Seibels Cottage.
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Richard Bishop Decanter Gift Set, Seibels Cottage.
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Brazilian Cowhide Rug, Seibels Cottage.

BEDROOMS

​Tiny bedrooms call for serious comfort and lush bedding. The master is in the loft, so there isn't any room for extra furnishings, the king bed takes up the whole area, so lighting and plush pillows help pull together a cozy resting area. Functional, well made and  handsome bedding with good lighting and a couple of whimsical touches for the boys' room was easy to accomplish.

MASTER
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MASTER: Bedding from Seibels Cottage. Call Seibels for information on bed linens.
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MASTER: Bedding from Seibels Cottage. Call Seibels for information on bed linens.
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MASTER: Bedding from Seibels Cottage. Call Seibels for information on bed linens.
THE BOYS' ROOM
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Bedding, Lighting, Plush Animal Sconces, and Framed Fish Prints from Seibels Cottage. Call Seibels for information on bed linens.
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Custom Fish Print, Seibels Cottage.
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Wire Pulley Sconce, Seibels Cottage.
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Bedding, Lighting, Plush Animal Sconces, and Framed Fish Prints from Seibels Cottage. Call Seibels for information on bed linens.
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Custom Fish Prints, Seibels Cottage.
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Wall Toy (Link is for White Tailed Deer), Seibels Cottage.
Links for other items above:  
BEAR:  https://seibelscottage.com/collections/gifts/products/wall-toy-black-bear
MOOSE:
https://seibelscottage.com/collections/gifts/products/wall-toy-moose

In this companion blog to the article, we've highlighted the feature products in each room seen in the article, but if you want to know more about any items that are not linked, just call Seibels Cottage at 205-879-3558 or visit the website www.seibelscottage.com. Don't hesitate to ask for Designer Emma Doss, who can help guide you on choices perfect for your home that will help make a statement of the spots in your home that you are seeking to spruce up. Enjoy shopping with Seibels Cottage!

We will soon post behind-the-scenes unseen photos here as well, in a slideshow. Check back soon!  
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11/23/2018 0 Comments

RECIPE - Game Day Gourmet Burgers - Big Daddy's Buffalo Burgers & Smith Lake Smashed Potatoes

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Big Daddy's Buffalo Burgers

So who's it gonna be for the 2018 SEC Championship - UA v UGA?! As for us, well we are definitely a house divided, and we enjoy the banter on game day. We are originally from South GA, born and raised, but we moved to Birmingham back in 1997 and once we discovered Lewis Smith Lake, we never looked back. We are definitely Alabamians now, almost 22 years on Smith Lake and at least one of us is a full blown Tide fan. But, we do have a heart for the Georgia Bulldogs too, so we are torn by birthright indeed.  Our son is a self-professed "Auburn Tiger" along with some other members of the family, so we've had 2 weekends in a row of game day division in the household.  So... are you cheering for the Crimson Tide or are you a Dawg fan? The SEC Championship is a fun game to watch no matter what.  Nothing we southerners love better than to good-spiritedly duke it out over football! And another thing we love to do on game day is EAT! It's always interesting to try a new recipe we can cook up quick, slap on the table, eat and get down to the more serious business of cheering on the team.  This one can be done on the grill, or in an iron skillet on a stove, making this a very versatile recipe regardless of whether you are comfortably at home, or lucky enough to be in the action tailgating. Try it out!  Recipe provided by our reader, Eric W. Bowman.  Thank you Eric!  

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INGREDIENTS:
  • Hamburger meat (we got ours from Brickyard Meats - best fresh meat in our area)
  • Sliced cheese (your choice - we used Baby Swiss, Muenster.  We also chose Blue Cheese for topping & you could add fresh bacon bits if you want to get crazy)
  • Onion (we used 1)
  • Sliced mushrooms (we used fresh sliced, 2.5 cups)
  • Sliced jalapenos (we used 2 fresh ones - slice in half long ways, clean out seeds & membranes, cut halves in half, and then into thin strips)
  • grape-seed oil (about 4 T)
  • balsamic vinegar (to taste)
  • Tony Chachere's Creole Seasoning (to taste) (we also added a fav--Bully Sauce Sweet Slobba Rub for good measure!)
  • Tabasco Sauce (to taste)
  • Buffalo Sauce 
  • Ranch Dressing (or Bleu Cheese Dressing)
  • Mustard (mustard is optional—use your favorite kind—we like gourmet deli, grainy with a little horseradish in it.)

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INSTRUCTIONS:
  • Using a cast iron skillet, saute sliced onions, mushrooms, and jalapenos in grape seed oil & balsamic vinegar (season slightly with salt, pepper & a pinch of garlic powder).  When ready, remove from heat and place in a bowl on paper towels to remove excess oil.
  • Pat out large hamburger patties to desired thickness
  • Season hamburgers with Tony Chachere's Creole Seasoning, and Tabasco sauce (remember we added a little dose of Bully Sauce Sweet Slobba Rub here, and we also added some Buffalo Sauce at this stage for seasoning too). Fry in same skillet until desired doneness.  {You can definitely grill these, but it was a rainy day when we first tried the recipe, so the iron skillet was the easy go-to.}
  • When burgers are done, place sliced cheese of your choice on top while in the skillet and allow to melt.
  • Once you've taken the burgers out, place them on a paper towel and allow the grease to drain off.
  • Now you will be ready to plate the burgers to serve.  Place burgers on the plate, cover each patty with a portion of the sauteed onions, mushrooms & jalapenos.  
  • Drizzle buffalo sauce, ranch dressing and mustard (mustard is optional).  Add fresh ground black pepper (optional).
  • They can be put on buns or eaten without.  We ate without since we had lots of chips around for game day, and we had a carb loaded side too (see below).

Serve with your favorite roasted veggies.  We like to roast broccoli or fresh brussell sprouts with this kind of gourmet burger.  Another favorite side is our special Smith Lake Smashed Potatoes.  Finally, be sure to have either spicy pickled okra or our favorite Wickle's Pickles Dirty Dill Spears - just the right amount of heat to keep this dish as amped up as the game.  

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Smith Lake Smashed Potatoes

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INGREDIENTS:
  • 2 lbs baby potatoes (mix or choose one style - Red, Yukon Gold, Purple, etc.) 
  • 1 T kosher salt, plus additional for seasoning
  • 2 T unsalted melted butter
  • 2 T olive oil
  • 2 T white vinegar
  • 2 T chopped fresh chives or green onion tops
  • Whole tiny grape tomatoes 
  • Fresh ground black pepper

​INSTRUCTIONS:
Preheat oven to 450 degrees F.  Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper or tin foil.  

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Add potatoes and 1 T kosher salt to a medium saucepan.  Cover with water and bring to a boil.  Reduce heat and simmer until potatoes are tender, about 20 mins.
 
Drain and place potatoes back into saucepan.  Add butter and toss to coat.  Transfer potatoes to prepared baking sheet, spreading them out in a single layer.  Use a glass or heavy mug with a wide base and smash each potato to about ½” thickness.
 
Bake for 15-20 mins, remove potatoes from oven, and turn each with a spatula.  Drizzle with olive oil and continue baking for 15-20 mins more.
 
Once baked, removed from oven, sprinkle with vinegar, chopped chives or onion tops, salt and pepper.  For garnish & fresh flavor bites between, sprinkle a few fresh tiny grape style tomatoes over the crispy potatoes.  Serve hot immediately!
Beverage recommendations
  • Southern iced tea with lemon, of course, and we have a tasty recipe for that as well - just message us!
  • Or try out a nice cold beer in a tall frosty mug from a favorite local lakeside shop like Cabin Fever Beverages or Cornerstone Beverages.  They always have some great cold beers on hand for you to choose from.   

ENJOY & get back to the game - there's a championship on the line!  GO DAWGS & ROLL TIDE!!!  And Super Bowl is coming up soon too.  A lot of good football left.  GO TEAM!
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0 Comments

10/25/2018 0 Comments

Smith Lake Local - SPOTLIGHT - Catching up with CAROL BERRY of "Community with Carol"

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Carol Berry, Smith Lake, Fall 2018 - Photographer: 3G Marketing
Smith Lake and Cullman resident Carol Berry - who was featured in our 2018 Quarter 2 Issue in the article “Changing Lives One at a Time, Restoring Women Outreach" - has recently begun a new venture in Cullman as a weekly contributor and columnist with local newspaper The Cullman Tribune writing a series named “Community with Carol" focusing on community awareness.

In addition, she will educate and inspire us through public speaking, posts on social media and her blog. You will find her featured on videos, local radio stations and television spots. We are very excited to announce that Carol will be reaching out to Smith Lake area residents with recurring spots in The Lakeside Life magazine and blog beginning at present and with a first article by early 2019.
Carol is married to Johnny Berry, and they are parents to 4 children, 3 grandchildren, and a beloved dog named Arnold. Most people who know Carol know that she puts God first in everything she does. In fact it is the first thing that you’ll know for certain about Carol. She is a very active member of her local Catholic church, but she is a Christian with a mission. 
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As a lifelong resident of Cullman County, Carol is passionate about her community and known as a positive force for charitable causes. She has owned and operated a successful local business as well as founding and directing the local nonprofit Restoring Women Outreach (RWO) which has been instrumental in changing so many lives in our area. One of the key contributions from that organization is the goal for those who are involved to give back to the community and promote good citizenship, and RWO has been successful in doing just that. Carol now has a platform to further that goal to a larger audience.
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Carol Berry, Smith Lake, Fall 2018 - Photographer: 3G Marketing
PictureCarol Berry, Smith Lake, Fall 2018 - Photographer: 3G Marketing
​During a recent political campaign, Carol became even more aware of local organizations and public service-minded individuals. This experience ignited her idea to share those type of encounters and interactions in more ways. She is interested in educating the community regarding current charitable and community endeavors, by personally introducing us to those organizations and individuals to discuss their missions, their services, their needs, and providing us with all the contact information necessary to get involved.  ​By showcasing nonprofits, she will help facilitate change by inviting contributions and/or volunteers, and generally motivating citizens to "get up, get out, and get involved."

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As The Cullman Times 2017 “Unsung Hero” award recipient, we have discovered that Carol lives her life as a definition of that title. Her demeanor is often described as soft-hearted, sweet-spirited, and never self-seeking. These attributes make her a sincere and motivating public speaker. On a myriad of topics, her delivery is candid, kind, funny, and determined. She will attack a topic with precision and conviction, displaying gumption, humor and soul, then closing with an upbeat and constructive message. She definitely enjoys encouraging others through God’s word.

Carol's comfort in public speaking makes her a perfect host for live and recorded interviews, so you will enjoy her companion videos on topics from her articles and blogs. She demonstrates a noticeable ease, gracefully guiding an interview allowing the subjects to tell their story passionately within a concise timeframe. Through this medium, she helps deliver a message in a relatable and respectful manner, often discussing uncomfortable topics with thoughtfulness and integrity, sharing the goals and passions of people and groups who want to bring about change, and doing it all while inspiring others to join in. 

​​To keep up with everything “community” - catch up with Carol on her weekly column in The Cullman Tribune and on her social media sites:  Facebook @carolberrypublicspeaker and Instagram @carolberry_speaker. Do not hesitate to reach out to Carol if you need her to help promote positive community or charitable causes in your area, or if you need a motivational speaker for an event in your community, school, church, or business. She’s a true servant of the community, and ready for any challenge.  

Below are video links to some of Carol's first interviews through "Community with Carol" for The Cullman Tribune. (Click the video hyperlinks to access the Facebook videos).  You may also view these videos through The Cullman Tribune sites or Carol's Facebook page - click links above.  
  • Video featuring Jerry Jacob with Grace Place
  • Video featuring Dusty Baker with Cullman County Commission on Aging
  • Video featuring Rachel Bryant with Karma in Cullman
  • Video featuring Katie Murphree Loyd with Cullman's "St. Vincent de Paul"
  • Video featuring Julie Hall with Cullman's "The Link of Cullman County"
  • Video featuring Melissa Dew and Sharon Kane with Cullman's "Flourish of Cullman, Inc."
  • Video featuring Kelsey Rice with Cullman's "Hope Horses, Inc."
  • Video featuring Jeremy Hogan with Cullman's "Saving Forgotten Warriors"
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9/22/2018 0 Comments

Smith Lake Product - SPOTLIGHT - "Kurt -n- Cathy" "BIG BRIDGE, SMITH LAKE" T-shirts for Great Causes

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Kurt & Cathy Bowden (w/Todulz) at Big Bridge on Lewis Smith Lake, 2018. Photo by Jenny & Carl Beckman (JWB Photography)
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The Lakeside Life celebrates the ultimate Smith Lake love story of Big Bridge mural fame—Kurt & Cathy Bowden—with a ​limited edition t-shirt featuring a custom print of a painting, a watercolor with line and wash, of Big Bridge designed by local artist Scott Brown (see link below for our previous blog on the artist ) & printed by Nogginhed of Huntsville, AL.   

Please read below how proceeds will benefit our local area.  ​ (Also, find the articles on Kurt -n- Cathy in links at the bottom of this blog). 
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PictureKurt & Cathy Bowden (w/Todulz) at home on Lewis Smith Lake, 2018. Photo by Jenny & Carl Beckman (JWB Photography)
The Answer - Smith Lake's Famous Romance, Kurt & Cathy Bowden
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If you read our article titled "The Answer - Smith Lake's Famous Romance, Kurt & Cathy Bowden" in the Spring 2018 Issue of our magazine (see links below), then you know a little about our good friends for whom this project came about.  We have had the pleasure of getting to know the Bowdens much better since doing the article, and have had the joy of spending lake time with them as well.  And, by the way, they are no strangers to watersports.  We've already had Kurt Bowden riding a Slingshot Wake Foil for quite some time now, and honestly, we can't find a watersport that he can't master, including our Sky Ski Hydrofoil.  Kurt and Cathy are such a fine example of the best in lake people - fun, outgoing, welcoming, kind, open and sharing - they remind us how we all feel as though we meet no stranger on the lake.  Where our boat docks are like backdoors in this neighborhood that shares one common backyard we love and cherish, and it binds us together - Lewis Smith Lake.  We feel lucky to have met these new friends & neighbors who we now share a very special bond with, as we identify with so many of their life experiences in a profound way with incredibly deep empathy and caring. 

(beautiful wedding photos below - the wedding was right here on Lewis Smith Lake near Big Bridge)

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Proceeds from the new Big Bridge t-shirt will be donated 50/50 to the following entities:  
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1)  Winston County's Meek Schools in Arley, AL "The Heart of Smith Lake" (for art supplies) in memory of the Bowdens’ beautiful daughter Dianna Bowden.
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2)  The Humane Society in memory of the Bowdens’ Yorkipoo, "Todulz."

Shirts will be available to pre-order through late fall 2018. Don't miss out on the opportunity to own or gift one of these buttery soft thin and comfy Bella Canvas t-shirts made for us by Nogginhed Tshirt Co. of Huntsville, AL - also a Smith Lake business owned by Smith Lake residents Allison and Darren Sackett.  Join us in celebrating Smith Lake's infamous couple, Kurt & Cathy Bowden, while doing something wonderful for our lake community.  

To order these limited edition shirts, go to the SHOP tab on our website and click the external link for the shirts, OR click the link in the BIO on our Instagram & Facebook, OR just click Nogginhed's site for this shirt here:  http://lakesidelife.nogginhed.com/lakeside_life/shop/home
FUN READS:  Here is the former blog on artist, Scott Brown, and feel free to check out the articles on KURT & CATHY in our previous issues as outlined below:
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See this link for the former blog on Scott Brown, the artist:  
​http://www.thelakesidelife.com/blog/smith-lake-local-and-small-business-spotlight-artist-scott-brown​
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2017 - 4th QUARTER - The Lakeside Life
pages 36-37 - - - Kurt -n- Cathy article
LINK:  https://issuu.com/lakesidelife/docs/tll_digital
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2018 - 2nd QUARTER - The Lakeside Life
pages 52-55 - - - Kurt -n- Cathy article 
​LINK:  https://issuu.com/lakesidelife/docs/tll_qtr2_final_web​​​
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9/3/2018 0 Comments

Business Spotlight - UnSalted Waters - Meet Jamie Burnett

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Unique and Original Lake Products

We had the pleasure of getting to know Jamie Burnett, creator of Unsalted Waters through social media in the last several months.  All of us were female entrepreneurs, embarking on new ventures in the lake industry in Alabama - and all of us true creatives with original ideas and different ways to express them.  We were drawn to Jamie for her creativity, fun spirit, and authentic product designs. Unsalted Waters quickly became a favorite lake product page to watch.  We had to know more, so we reached out to her, and we just had to inquire about that fun name for her company.  We found out we have so much in common, and we've become very big fans of Jamie, and UnSalted Waters.  We know you will feel the same.  

She is branching out from Lake Martin into the larger lake scene, by bringing her fun and creative decals designed for outdoor living to Smith Lake and other lakes in Alabama.  We hope to collaborate with Jamie in other ways, but for now, we celebrate her originality and creativity, and the UnSalted Waters brand.  Read below for more about Jamie and her company.

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To order the Smith Lake Alabama Initials "SLA" decal–click or copy/paste this link:  https://unsaltedwaters.com/products/smith-lake-alabama-decal-sla-sticker
To order the Smith Lake American Flag decal–click or copy/paste this link:  https://unsaltedwaters.com/products/smith-lake-american-flag-decal-sticker
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UnSalted Waters is lake lifestyle brand that was created in 2017 by Lake Martin and Auburn resident, Jamie Burnett.  
 
She and her husband grew up on lakes their entire lives and wanted to raise their boys the same way.  They'd spend the day on the boat, pulling their boys on a tube or wakeboard and then explore, find a slough to anchor and have lunch. Watch the world go by, enjoying time together having a little adventure on the water.  ​
After years of gas station t-shirts and unsuccessful searches for lake merchandise to give as gifts, She kept thinking of the perfect name for a brand that encompassed everything they love about the lake.  She didn’t want to use the words lake or life or explore, even though that was what she wanted to convey.  She wanted something unique that spoke for itself without using words or phrases that seemed so common. After a couple years of thinking about it, it came to her. UnSalted Waters, a connotation on uncharted waters, exploring freshwater, an adventure, a lake lifestyle.  It said everything without explaining anything at all.  It’s a brand for those that love freshwater adventure, those that love to explore the lake and take their boat out in search of someplace new; a new restaurant, a hidden slough, a rope swing or a beautiful home to behold.  It’s for those that may not check a box describing themselves as watersport enthusiasts or a fisherman, even though they may occasionally fish or pull a tube.  It’s a brand for those that seek freshwater adventure in a pontoon boat, a canoe, a bass boat or personal watercraft, any boater out looking for adventure.  ​
She started with Lake Martin, as that's where her inspiration has come from, but UnSalted Waters is really for anyone loving our warm southern lakes.  All of the products she carries are produced here in Alabama using local screen printers, local embroiderers, craftsman and printers, right down to the tags on the merchandise.  That was important to her—to shop local.  She gets a lot of messages asking where her store is, but it's only online at unsaltedwaters.com and in a couple of small stores locally.  As mom and business owner it was also important to her to not take away time from her family, so she works from her home office and ships daily as new orders come in.  If you get a shipping notification at midnight, she actually packed your order and printed the shipping label at midnight. At the end of the day, she wanted to provide a high quality product that you can't find anywhere else.  Something unique to your experience on the water.  Even if it's just a decal on our cup, you're able to take a piece of the lake with you until you can return. 
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This summer, UnSalted Waters offered a special t-shirt for Goat Island on Lake Martin giving 50% of the profits to help the goat owners pay for the care of the goats.  She was able to give them a nice sum to go towards medical expenses and food.  She felt led to give back in some way and knowing how many love to visit the goats on Goat Island, it seemed like the prefect opportunity to use the brand she had created to support something that everyone could enjoy.  
 
Her website, unsaltedwaters.com, has become not only an online store but since she started the blog in early 2018, a place to share local stories of other lake entrepreneurs, fresh and easy lake recipes for a day on the boat and fun cocktails.  A little something for everyone who loves an adventurous lake lifestyle.  

You can find UnSalted Waters online through Facebook as @unsaltedwaters or Instagram as @unsalted.waters - so go check out what she has to offer, and watch closely for beautiful lake posts, and classy lake products. 

We welcome Jamie to the Alabama lake scene and wish her the best in her unique and original endeavor - Unsalted Waters ™! 

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