By Sarah Kuper Vestavia Hills High School teacher Jennifer Brown was named Alabama's Teacher of the Year last May. As such, Brown has served as the official spokeswoman for Alabama public school teachers for nearly a year. She has engaged other teachers across the state, and now Brown is trying to include local legislators and PTO members in the dialogue, especially since the … [Read more...]
All Dolled Up: Jean Clayton’s ShowHouse Bedroom Has a Playful Addition
By Donna CorneliusWhen Jean Clayton of Christine’s on Canterbury designed an upstairs bedroom and bathroom for the Decorators’ ShowHouse, she brought along another complete dwelling place – for dolls. The three-story dollhouse has been in her family for quite a while, she said. “I bought it in Atlanta about 40 years ago for my oldest daughter,” Clayton said. “A lot of … [Read more...]
Forty and Fabulous: Decorators’ ShowHouse Celebrates Anniversary With a ‘Showstopper’
By Donna Cornelius The Decorators’ ShowHouse turns 40 this year, and it’s showing no signs of aging. The Alabama Symphony Orchestra fundraiser started in 1976. The first ShowHouse was a stately Mountain Brook house modeled after George Washington’s Mount Vernon. This year’s event, set for April 9-24, opens the doors of a Mountain Brook house that was built by Katherine and … [Read more...]
In Business – and Lovin’ It: Mountain Brook Mom Owns 13 McDonald’s Stores
By Donna Cornelius Lots of moms and dads take the kids to McDonald’s for a fun and casual night out. Ashley Kaple’s family meals at the popular fast food chain are no different, except for one thing. When the Kaples go to McDonald’s, there’s a good chance she owns the store. The 34-year-old Mountain Brook resident owns 13 McDonald’s in places such as Trussville, Leeds, … [Read more...]
Imagination Station: Lesley McRae’s Upstairs Bedroom Is a Haven for Creativity
By Donna CorneliusLesley McRae’s muse for the design of her Decorators’ ShowHouse room is someone she knows very well. “With this room, I had my own daughter in mind,” McRae said. Charlotte McRae, an 18-year-old Mountain Brook High School student, writes poetry and paints, her mother said. That’s why the designer’s ShowHouse space – an upstairs bedroom – has places … [Read more...]