Welcome to the same old blog, only different

January 27, 2016

63  comments

 

Welcome to the blog_pp
Welcome to the same old blog, from the same old me . . . just with a new name and slightly new look.

 

Leslie Anne TarabellaFor over a year now, I’ve played with the idea of having a more general blog than one focused solely on my small hometown. The original name, “Fairhope Supply Co.” was originally intended to be an on-line store, but when the writing side of my blog took off and my column was picked up by the local newspaper, the shop never happened, so I was forever having to explain that, “no, I’m not a store” (but it’s still in the back of my mind and I’m keeping the name!).


Leslie Anne Tarabella

I thought and thought of a new name, and because of some new writing opportunities, I’ve decided to pretend to be like the big-girl writers and just use my own name. Not my maiden name, but my real married grown-up name, Leslie Anne Tarabella. Rhymes with my “real” first name – Cinderella.

 

Do you like the new “me” with a red pocketbook and newspaper? My sweetie pie created this avatar for me, and I’m worried that it looks like I’m getting ready to whack someone with the paper instead of write for it. (Notice the pearls?) The dress was made green to look like one of my favorite dresses of all times I wore for my first son’s baptism 19 years ago, and just finally donated it to charity last year, only to hyperventilate and rush down to Emmy’s the next day, to find it G-O-N-E!!! Tragic.

 

Big News

Agghhh! It can’t happen fast enough, but this part of the news will have to wait for another day. 

 

Pink Typewriter

 

I love writing for you and it makes me so happy to entertain and perhaps give you a few moments of distraction from this frustrating world. Your encouragement has made this growth possible, and although I’m Nervous-Nellie about what is yet to come, I hope you continue to follow along and watch the journey I take with this new endeavor.

 

It may be like a delicate, beautiful flower unfolding, or a horrible, tragic train wreck, but it will be worth watching either way.

Leslie Anne Tarabella

And now . . . housekeeping.

There may be a few glitches and malfunctions over the next few days (weeks — months) but please don’t run away!

email

For those of you who have signed up for notifications of new posts by email . . . your subscription should already switch over to the new site, so you should continue to receive notifications under the new name. If it isn’t reaching you, just re-enter your email address and don’t forget to click on the confirmation message that will be sent to your in-box.

 

You can follow me on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and Bloglovin‘, but the best way to be notified of new posts is to sign up for email delivery. I promise to never sell your email unless I get a really, really good price for it. (Just kidding!).

 

Thanks to all of you (all y’all), and now . . . I’ll get busy!

 

  • Arlene Cocke says:

    Hello Ms. Leslie,
    This is just a thought–_
    How about an article about Mermaids?.
    They seem to be a hot topic and selling well in my booth Downtown
    They are pretty magical, they love the water and are not bothered by Mermaid hair and the heat of this long hot spell!
    Could not believe I overheard someone telling their friend that his wife hauled off to the Mountains, way too hot around here!,
    Go figure!
    Keep doin what you are doin, we love you, you are a constant in our hot every day lain-drum lives!,
    Arlene C.

    • Great idea Arlene! Everyone really is on a mermaid kick lately. I never thought about them having humidity proof hair, but they’ve learned how to live on the coast with perfect curls!

  • Colin & Diane McLauchlan says:

    Hi Leslie Anne,

    My wife and I are in the process of moving to Fairhope and interested to know if the “Pier Pickers” are still getting together. Any information you can share will be most welcome.

    Slainthe,

    Colin & Diane McLauchlan

    • Leslie Anne says:

      Welcome to town! I haven’t seen the Jubilee Pickers down by the pier in a while, but sometimes it depends on the weather. I actually haven’t seen them anywhere in a long time, so if anyone knows if they are still together, let us all know because they are missed!

  • I’m so excited for your new change and wish you all the best as you take this leap. How very exciting. I’m so proud of you putting yourself out there like this! EEK! I know it will go well. Can’t wait to hear what other news you have in store for us.

    • Leslie Anne says:

      Thanks Hope. I can’t wait until it’s official to share the news!

  • So glad you’ve finally decided to used your grown-up married name! Best of luck!

    Peace,
    Debbie@FlowerChildDesigns

    • Leslie Anne says:

      Thanks Debster.

  • Such exciting news!! Congratulations and I can’t wait to follow along! You go girl!!!

  • I love the new look! So exciting to see my blogger friends “growing up” and the transition to their big girl blogs like your and Heart for Dixie. The avatar is spot on, including the inference that you may be about to whack someone with that newspaper. Just a peek into your very unpredictable side! Congratulations and can’t wait for the reveal of more big news.

    • Leslie Anne says:

      Thank you Miss Darling Dr. Karyn! I would only whack something or someone is total self defense, you know.

  • Cinderella….er, I mean Leslie Anne, I love the new look and name! Cant wait to see what’s next!

    • Leslie Anne says:

      Ha! I taught children’s choir at church years ago and the children had trouble with my last name until I told them it rhymed with my first name – Cinderella. They never forgot Mrs. Tarabella again, and one girl, now in college, still refers to me as Cinderella Tarabella. Which hey . . . what’s not to love about that?

      Now . . . is your name “Cindy” also short for the Princess?

  • I am so very proud of and happy for you! What a big step to tell the world your full name! It is all a great new look and I love the idea of Cinderella in leather pants!

    • Leslie Anne says:

      Even Cinderella needs to shake things up every now and then! Thanks Kim!

    • Leslie Anne says:

      Why you did a great job with that wish, because today was the first sunny day we’ve had in a while! Mardi Gras is this weekend too, so we’ll kick off the parade season in good weather! Thanks Laura.

  • I can’t wait to see what next appears from that pink Royal! I cannot possibly see a train wreck in your future.

    Wish, wish, wish you hadn’t given away the green dress but maybe it will be magical on its new owner too!

    • Leslie Anne says:

      That’s a good thought about the dress I’ll cling to. Thanks for the positive hope!

  • I think it is GREAT Cinderella! You can whack anyone you want with that newspaper. 🙂 Love your writing and the blog looks wonderful. Good luck with your new adventure! And if you come to Georgia to catch up with Rhoda, you better find your way over to my place too. 🙂

    • Leslie Anne says:

      Now, wouldn’t that be a bloggerific treat!! I’d leave the newspaper at home so I could hold ice cream instead!
      Thanks for the good wishes!

  • Changes can be scary but good too and I have no doubt yours will fall into the “good” category! I had a favorite green dress similar to the one you loved but that was oh so many years ago when I was still a young single girl….even had my portrait done in it!

    I may be down your way later in February and hopefully time will allow me to get in touch with you…..it’s supposed to be a “working” vacation at my son’s painting my grandson’s room but I gotta have some “me” time too! If not this time, then later in the spring.

    • Leslie Anne says:

      By all means, send me a note. Would love to get to know you better! And wouldn’t it be fun if we could both have our green dresses to wear?

  • Love your new avatar Leslie Anne, and when I first saw it, [small on another blogs comments] I was trying to figure out what was in your hand, a cocktail perhaps…ha! A newspaper is perfect!! Love the pearls too 🙂 Good luck on your new project Cinderella, I know your coach will not turn into a pumpkin!

    • Leslie Anne says:

      Thanks Jenna. A cocktail was a definite option, but I went with the paper. Oh well . . .

  • Look at you, Leslie Anne, all out there with your picture and real name! Looks great and I wish you nothing but the best with your new blog look. So happy you are doing well!

    • Leslie Anne says:

      Oh Rhoda, thank you! You know what an encourager you’ve been to me! Thanks so very much, and I hope to be able to sit and catch up with you the next time I’m in beautiful Georgia!

  • This is so exciting. You look fabulous in the photo. Can’t wait to hear the rest.

    • Leslie Anne says:

      Thanks Sylvia. I had fun taking the photos, which is something I usually hate. The Husband did them and he’s the only one I’d trust! Thanks for reading and always having sweet comments!

    • Leslie Anne says:

      Vicki, you have excellent taste, if I say so myself! Hahaha! Thank you!

  • Congratulations! I have never mentioned it before , but totally admire not only that your writing keeps me in stitches but you also have the skills to enhance your blog with amazing and entertaining pictures and gorgeous photographs. Love all of it!!

    • Leslie Anne says:

      Well, I have learned a lot of technology skills in the past few years, but to be honest, right now, I’m crying between two different programmers and my husband, who actually thinks he just figured it out. If he’s right, the entire blog will temporarily go down, but be up working perfectly in a few hours. I need to cook that man something special tonight!

  • I likey! Yes, I did notice your pearls. I am having trouble with blogger right now and can’t seem to create any new posts. Uuugghh. I will stay with you through the glitches of course!

    • Leslie Anne says:

      Thank you sweetie. I needed someone just like you to hold my hand through this big awful mess!

  • I am just now getting this, so I guess I have my crappy email server to thank for that. Oh well — so glad to see the new launch, and you like like a movie star! The avatar is very cool, too. I can see most everything, and only a few slots over on the sidebar are blank with a question mark in the middle. Hope your big news comes soon! Good luck with all of it — I think you will be a famous writer someday, because we already know you are a great one.

    • Leslie Anne says:

      You are truly a dear, Ellen. And coming from a wonderful writer like you, I appreciate your kind words even more. Glad you can see the photos. I’ve traced it to a problem in my server, and it’s being looked into now.

  • Leslie,
    love your new look, can’t wait to see what’s coming!
    Rebecca

    • Leslie Anne says:

      Thanks Rebecca. Hang tight – soon, I hope!

  • Arlene Cocke says:

    Miss Leslie!
    Paleeze keep it coming!
    YOU help me keep connected with it ALL!
    Honest, refreshing, helpful, you cover it all and make my day!

    Your talent speaks to us with every posting!

    • Leslie Anne says:

      Oh, Arlene! Thank you. (attention everyone: I’m NOT related to Arlene at all, nor did I pay her for this kind endorsement).
      But I approve this message!

  • congratulations! I love it all, the new “real” name, the avatar, everything about this post.

    • Leslie Anne says:

      Thank you Nancy. I’ve never been an avatar before. Kind of cool in a nerdy sort of way!

    • Leslie Anne says:

      Ooo! Such high expectations! When I announce I’m getting a kitten everyone will be so disappointed! Ha! But thanks Sheron!

  • Margaret Neely says:

    Love the “new you”! You always make me laugh.

    • Leslie Anne says:

      I’m so happy you are such a faithful reader!

  • I am so excited for you. I still can’t wait to hear the really big news!!!
    I love the adorable avatar. It kind of reminds me of a Doris Day movie, which I loved!!!
    Have a wonderful day!

    • Leslie Anne says:

      Wasn’t Doris Day adorable? Quick bit of gossip . . . she visited Fairhope a few years ago and no one (hardly anyone) knew it! Thanks Sandy!

  • Yes, I love your new idea and the look, even if the space is empty. You’ve come a long way from the girl that didn’t want to use her name on her blog. I don’t know if it’s your blog or my computer but I’m not getting your pics! Dang, I want to see. Anyhoo, I can read what you are up to now. I don’t think it will make any difference with your followers that you’ve changed your blog name.
    Happy weekend……..

    • Leslie Anne says:

      Thank you Emily. Some are seeing the photos and others not. My own computer isn’t showing some of them. I’m working as fast as I can to fix it all up nice and tidy, so check back over the weekend to see if it’s better . . . or blown up like a firecracker in a watermelon!

  • Leslie Anne, I love the new look and I am so excited for you! I love your writing as a fellow Alabamian, but who wouldn’t. The picture of you is great, you look like Stephanie Powers from her Hart to Hart Days (are you too young to remember that show)? Best wishes! Pam @ Everyday Living

    • Leslie Anne says:

      Oh how I loved Stephanie Powers hair! I used to do that all-over flip like her! What a compliment! So glad you like the new look and I truly do appreciate all you fine readers!

  • Leslie Anne – I love it! It is so clean looking and I love the pic of you. I need to change your address on my blogroll. Can’t wait to hear your big news. Have a great weekend!

    • Leslie Anne says:

      I hope it will be even cleaner and better looking in the weeks to come. Little by little. So glad you like it Katie! Thanks for stopping by to read!

  • I love the new look and can’t wait to see what that is that you can’t yet share!!!!! I can just see it now, me telling my friends, “Yes, I knew her before she was famous.”
    Judy

    • Leslie Anne says:

      Thanks Judy. Don’t know about famous, but . . . oh well, we’ll see!

    • Leslie Anne says:

      Thanks James. It still looks a little bit crazy on my computer, so I hope you can see all the photos. Soon . . . soon!

  • Sharon Calvert says:

    Kudos, and good luck with the new blog!

    • Leslie Anne says:

      Thanks. I thought I would make it go “live” late at night when no one was awake, but it turns out half of you are night owls! Scrambling on my end to fix the photo problem. So glad you found me first!

      • MARCUS SMITH says:

        Looking good..always look forward to your blog by whatever name

        • Leslie Anne says:

          From one of my favorite readers and pastors, that means a lot!

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