Craving the South

     Happy Tuesday! Recently, I have been obsessing over everything related to the South. I've been wishing that I could live in the deep South, like Georgia or South Carolina. Both sides of my family come from the South, so I guess I count as a second generation Southerner? Something about their way of life is so appealing; they seem so relaxed and carefree, they care about tradition, they have the best food (in my opinion), and their accents are to die for. Their values are different from most other places in that they care more about how they look and Friday night football and barbecues and thank you notes. My beliefs are probably a little too liberal for most Southerners, but other than that, here are some of the things I love the most about the South:

I found these ideas on Tumblr, sorry I don't know the source!

15 Ways to Channel Your Inner Southern Belle
1. Plant a magnolia tree
2. Tailgate!
3. Never leave home without your makeup
4. Eat grits (my favorite grits are with shrimp!)
5. Call everyone "Darlin"
6. Make some mint juleps (except they have bourbon in them...so I'll stick to sweet tea!)
7. Always wear pearls
8. Join a quilting circle (this one's not for me)
9. Bet on a horse at the Kentucky Derby (or just watch the race on TV)
10. Monogram anything and everything (this can get expensive really fast)
11. Pledge a sorority (Kappa Alpha Theta, here I come!)
12. Give your man bow ties (or just admire them online)
13. Throw a crawfish boil (I would totally do this if anyone from where I live actually ate crawfish)
14. Embrace needlepoint - slippers, belts, pillows (again, I'm simply not talented enough for that)
15. Mind your manners

Classic Southern Films
1. Gone with the Wind (As I've mentioned in a previous post, it's one of my favorite books and I love the movie just as much!)
2. To Kill a Mockingbird
3. Steel Magnolias (LOVE this movie)
4. Fried Green Tomatoes
5. Sweet Home Alabama
6. Forrest Gump (my all-time favorite movie ever)
7. The Notebook (what girl doesn't love this movie?)
8. The Help

Southern Dining
Drinks: Bourbon (again, not for me), Milk Punch (contains Bourbon), Mint Julep (also contains Bourbon), Sazerac (contains whiskey), Whiskey Sour (so much alcohol!), and Sweet tea (finally!)

Sides: Buttermilk Biscuits, Collard Greens, Corn Bread, Deviled Eggs, Fried Green Tomatoes, Macaroni and Cheese, Mashed Potatoes, Okra (so good when it's fried)

Main Course: Chicken Fried Steak (or just fried chicken), Fried Catfish, Jambalaya, Ribs, Shrimp and Grits (my favorite!)

Dessert: Bread Pudding, Peach Cobbler, Pecan Pie, Sweet Potato Pie

I'm feeling my Southern roots!

Carpe Diem,
Brooke