Southern Charm

I have rekindled my love for Southern Living.

I know, rekindled? Where did the love ever go?

Funny little story about my stubbornness, actually...

My mom always told me (as in, from a very young age when I had just learned to read and insisted upon picking up every piece of print I could find, including her copious copies of SL) that I should major in journalism and work at Southern Living.

Wrong. So, so wrong.

I REFUSED to go this path. And in some ways, I still do. Even as an English major, I don't particularly love writing. It is more of a necessary evil. I don't like to be told what I am supposed to write about. I'd rather just talk through my own free-floating ideas. Hah, surprise.

Anyway, out of spite, I guess, I snuffed my nose to anything Southern Living, lest my mother think she won the fight.

I like to call these my dark years. Because really, who was I kidding?

And then I grew up, accepting myself for the old soul I really am. And I realized that Southern Living people were my people. What had I done ignoring those beautiful tablescapes, delectable recipes, and page after page of Southern charm? Man, Southerners KNOW hospitality.

So I soaked it all up again.

And then this semester I discovered the SL twitter.

Shoot. That was the best transit ride home in some time.

Around Thanksgiving, they tweeted the article on their Christmas Gift Guide.

I can't even deal. Y'all, I seriously want everything on this list. Every item is sure to please any southern belle or beau.

And then I saw it. A most precious pie carrier. Made by Vonny, I didn't even know they existed, but as much as I like to bake and surprise friends and classmates with a sweet treat, I knew I would use such a stylish little tote on the reg.

Typical SL move, they linked up to a site where you could buy it (and the matching casserole carrier) monogrammed.

Lucky for me, my boss decided to carry the line of Vonny products. And that meant employee discount. Bonus: I know how to monogram. Merry Christmas to me from me.

I mean, please. Just tell me this isn't cute.

I think my Happy Birthday to me from me present will be that matching casserole carrier.

Swoon.

Moral of the story: don't turn your back on SL. And don't put Twinkies on your pizza. (Actually, that last one is from Heavyweights, but I think it is pretty sound advice, nevertheless.)

Because I'm A Lady, That's Why

I guess it's official... I'm out as a lady now.

This past week I was presented at the Poinsettia Debutante Ball at the Country Club. Bless it all. The entire debutante season ended up being a lot of fun with some sweet girls I enjoyed spending time with, but the ball was by far the most entertaining. My sweet friends from out of town came just for the event, and my precious buddies here in Birmingham altered travel plans to be there.

The night was such a whirlwind, I don't think we ever got a complete group shot. At least w

e got a few of us!

We all needed a little help getting ready for the night.

Next year I get to go with the red sash across my dress. Yippee Skippee.

Also, I kind of feel like I should be listening to this when I flip through all of the photos.

And this is just in case you didn't understand the title.

Fay's 12 Days

Let me just take a moment to introduce you to the greatest Christmas movie ever. It's a tradition in our household ever since I watched it in art class in elementary school.

I know, it's great. Don't worry, we have like six copies on DVD.

A Neighborly Christmas

Last week Alex, Caroline, Katie, and I went to see Andrew Ripp/Drew & Ellie Holcomb's Christmas show at Workplay! Typical, I only have iPhone pictures, but Alex posted some really cute photos of the evening on her blog.

We ran into this sweet friend who I was fortunate enough to have breakfast with this morning.

And this other friend who braved downtown Opelika with me earlier this semester to see Drew & Ellie.

It didn't feel much like Christmas, especially with Andrew repping the tank top mid-December.

Good news, you can still get Drew Holcomb and the Neighbors A Very Neighborly Christmas album for free on Noise Trade! At least do them the favor of promoting their album by tweeting about it or putting it on facebook!

Christmas Crinkle Cookies

So, I left my camera cord in Auburn. Of course, I didn't realize this until after I had remember to take it a few places over break. So there will be a lack of pictures for a while, unless they were taken with my iPhone.

Anyway, there have been so many Christmas parties and cookie swaps that I've had to pull out some of my favorite recipes! This one is one of my favorite go-to cookie recipes because it is definitely different than the standard chocolate chip or sugar cookie. I only have it because it was included in my Shakespeare study guide made by our sweet GTA. (This is why I love my major.) Fair warning, these cookies are more like a cake/brownie texture, but I think that's why everyone likes them so much!

• 1 stick butter, softened (SO important that it is soft)
• 1 1/4 cup sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
• 1 2/3 cup flour (not necessary to sift it!)
• 1/2 cup cocoa powder
• 1 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• Bowl of powdered sugar... the more the merrier

Beat butter and sugar until lighter in color and creamy. (Trust me, don't skimp on this step. That's why the soft butter is so important!)

Add eggs and vanilla and beat until well-combined. (You want this mixture to be lighter and fluffier.)

Add dry ingredients and mix until well-combined, making sure to scrape the bottom of the bowl so that it is all combined. (I usually add everything in slowly or else I cover the kitchen in flour.)

Use a melon baller or two spoons to make small balls of dough and drop them into the bowl of powdered sugar. Make sure you coat the whole thing in sugar! (I use a a Nordic Ware cookie dropper that I bought at Target. It is probably the greatest investment I've made in bakeware.)

Bake on a cookie sheet for 8 minutes in a 350 degree oven. Enjoy!