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INSIDE THIS ISSUE SPRING SUMMER 2016 68
Holiday Specials
How To Greet Spring with a Colorful Southern HEY! ...........14 Breakfast In Bed For Mom..............................................17
Entertaining
A Party for Your Princess................................................21
Recipes
4th of July Southern BBQ................................................76 Keeping It Simple: Avocado Grilled Chicken..................81
Crafts/How To
DIY Photo Coasters.........................................................25 Painting (is always a) Party!................................................27 Moss & Floral Monogram Letter....................................90
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Wedding
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This Ain’t My First Rodeo! Thoughts from the Mother of the Bride.........................49 Things to Consider When Planning Your Big Day.........54 The Quintessential Southern Bridal Tea.........................58 Your Big Day Directory....................................................61 Wedding Stories.............................................................68 Here Comes the Bride…in the movies!........................78
Southern All the Way SOUTHERN HOLIDAY LIFE
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The Funky Junk Trail.......................................................40 Where in the South is that?............................................82 Southern Brand Favorites...............................................84 Advertiser’s Directory.....................................................89
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Demo 2016 Boat models 50 Boats on the Water & 50 Boats on the Land Top-of-the-line gear & accessories demo the New 2016 Connelly Stand-up Paddle Boards Register to win great prizes - Enjoy fun, food, & Live Entertainment RussellMarine.net
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L E T T E R
F R O M
Teamwork makes the dream work, right? Well that was definitely true when making the cover of this magazine happen. And, what’s even cooler, if you will, I had not met most of the people involved with this cover shoot until a little over a month ago.
“Alone we can do so little, together we can do so much.”
We all met at a bridal expo at the Ballroom of the Mansion in Carrollton. We talked about how cool it would be to do a stylized wedding shoot for this issue of Southern Holiday Life. Lots and lots of ideas were tossed around and our circle of experts continued to grow.
— Helen Keller
To say that the shoot went off without a hitch is an understatement. It couldn’t have been more perfect. We met individually with all the parties
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involved prior to our Big Day, and traded ideas some more, but ultimately my mom and I gave control to the experts. We told the florist, the dress shop, the venue... “Keep it Southern...” We also had a little stress when it came to the weather for the day... All week, it had been forecasted to rain. And, all week I stayed positive. There was talks of back up plans and what happens if... I wasn’t hearing any of it. There really wasn’t a backup plan... It all had to happen that day and like I said earlier team work made the dream work!
Enjoy Life!
Kelly
C O V E R
Memories in the Making
Vintage Car Rental provided the 1949 Chevrolet 3100 truck for our bride and bridesmaids at the Barn at Buffalo Creek in Carrollton, GA. Simple Elegance Bridal and Formalwear dressed the ladies for this photo shoot. Floral arrangements were done by Kudzu Creative Designs and the chairs were provided by The Vintage Rental Company, which manages the events at the Barn at Buffalo Creek. For more information on each of these companies, check out their listing in the Southern Holiday Life BIG DAY Directory.
GENERAL MANAGER
EDITOR
ADVERTISING MANAGER
GRAPHIC DESIGNER
FOOD EDITOR
Leisel Caldwell
Kelly Caldwell
Lavoy Caldwell
Kit Pepper
Shea Goldstein
info@lakewedoweelife.com
news@lakewedoweelife.com
holidaylifeads@gmail.com
southernholidayadservices@ gmail.com
southernholidaylife@gmail.com
256.357.4557 | 877.959. LAKE (5253) | 104 West Broad Street | Wedowee, Alabama w w w . S o u t h e r n H o l i d a y L i f e . c o m
S outhern Holiday Life
is published annually by parent company Caldwell Sales Inc. which also produces Lake Wedowee Life and Friday Night Life magazines. All content in the publication is protected by United State copyright law and many not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, displayed or otherwise published without the prior written permission of Caldwell Sales Inc. © 2008-2016 Caldwell Sales Inc. SOUTHERN HOLIDAY LIFE
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How To Greet Spring with a Colorful Southern
HEY!
Welcome your visitors and the seasons with a stylish entry way. One of the best ways to finally get over those winter blues is to get outside into the sunshine and get your hands dirty. Creating the perfect entry is a great first project of the season, and not only makes for an eye-catching display and wonderful curb appeal, but will help chase those winter blues away as well. Creating curb appeal and a welcoming entry for your guests is as easy as following a few steps.
Start with color. I n the spring, color variation is a must. Choose at least three colors for your entry and repeat those hues in varying plants for great impact. A beautiful color combination for spring would be pink, purple, and yellow flowers.
Vary your texture. se lots of greenery in your entry, but make sure to choose a couple U of different textures for visual interest. For example, using two different kids of fern or a trailing plant.
Vary the heights of your plants. ou’ve probably heard the saying, “Thriller, filler, spiller.” Abide by Y that rule of thumb when planting. Using various heights in your planters allows for the biggest impact and a more well-rounded look.
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What’s in the Planter? Kimberly Queen Fern Rubylite Rose Calla Lily Leopard’s Bane Rose Splash Select Hypoestes Foxtail Fern (Asparagus Fern)
Money saving TIP At the end of the season, re-purpose spent potted perennials by planting in your landscape to enjoy during next year’s season.
Dichondra
Spring planter TIP Since the spring growing season isn’t very long, pack plants tightly into the pot for instant impact. SOUTHERN HOLIDAY LIFE
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Breakfast In Bed For Mom What does Mom want for Mother’s Day (besides lots of sleep and a full-time maid)? Breakfast in bed! The truth is, no one deserves it more than Mom. If you don’t already make it a habit of serving your mom breakfast in bed on Mother’s Day, now’s the time to start. You can touch your mom’s heart by this simple gesture. Get her some pretty flowers from the guy on the side of the road, make her some breakfast, take it to her in bed and kiss her on the cheek. Tell her you love her. Tell her you appreciate her. Tell her you’re sorry for that time you threw your entire wardrobe into the dirty laundry because you didn’t want to clean your room and that made it easier on you. And you knew she would wash all of it. The truth is, you could serve her a cold pop tart and can of diet Coke and she would be so happy because you did it for her, but why not make her something special? Go all out for Mom. After all, she deserves it. She’s a jack of all trades — a chef, nurse, taxi driver, teacher. She’s your biggest advocate.
For this recipe, I obviously subbed Italian sausage for Canadian bacon and homemade cheddar waffles (again, not difficult) for the English muffins. I topped them with Italian sausage, an egg sunny side up and hollandaise sauce. Get all of your stuff ready first — literally on the plate — before The truth is, you you make your could serve her a cold egg. Obviously, make the Italian pop tart and can of sausage first and diet Coke and she keep it covered, then do your would be so happy… waffles. The crispiness of the Italian sausage combined with the sharp cheddar in the waffles, the lemony hollandaise and egg — OH MY. It’s just absolutely insanely delicious.
Italian Sausage Eggs Benedict Over Cheddar Waffles …recipe on Page 19. SOUTHERN HOLIDAY LIFE
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WAFFLES 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour 2 t baking powder 1/2 t baking soda 1/2 t salt 1 tablespoon granulated sugar 1/3 cup melted unsalted butter 2 large eggs 1 1/4 cup buttermilk 1/2 cup sharp cheddar cheese, grated HOLLANDAISE 3 egg yolks ½ lemon, juiced ½ tsp cayenne pepper 1/3 cup salted butter ALSO NEEDED ½ lb. Italian sausage, removed from casings, crumbled and browned 2 T salted butter 4 large eggs Salt and pepper
To make the waffles, stir the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt and sugar together in a mixing bowl. In another bowl, whisk together melted butter, eggs and buttermilk. Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and stir until just incorporated, then add the cheese. Make waffles according to your waffle maker instructions. To make the Hollandaise, beat egg yolks, lemon juice, salt and cayenne pepper together in a microwave-safe bowl until smooth. Slowly stream the melted butter into the egg yolk mixture while whisking to incorporate. Microwave on high for 20 seconds; remove and whisk again before serving.
To make the eggs, heat butter over medium heat in a small frying pan. Gently add eggs (I cook one at a time) to pan, sprinkle with salt and pepper. Cook for a minute or two, until the white starts to set slightly, add 2 T of water and cover. Steam until whites are completely set and immediately remove from heat. To assemble, spoon Italian sausage over waffles, add an egg and drizzle with Hollandaise. Serve this with fresh fruit and toast, and watch mom’s face light up. To really do it right, make her a Mimosa with Prosecco and OJ. Provide a couple of her favorite magazines, the remote control, and demand that she relax and enjoy the morning at her leisure.
Italian Sausage Eggs Benedict Over Cheddar Waffles
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Lacey Hughes loves a good party. With two little ones, she always has a reason to celebrate.
A Party for Your Princess For some people, planning a party is second nature. To the rest of us, it takes a great deal of planning and thoughtful preparation. Hopefully today’s piece will give you some great insight and spur some ideas when it is time to plan your next event. Think of your theme as the glass slipper — the most important part in planning and the driving force behind all your decisions. The theme is the foundation upon which your party lies. But remember when making this all important decision to factor in the guest of honor’s likes and dislikes, all the while, trying to be as creative and unique as possible. My daughter, Ava Greer, LOVED princesses when she was three and loved to dress up Think of your in princess dresses theme as the glass and glass slippers! She couldn't get slipper — the most enough! The store shelves are usually packed with premade Cinderella items, but I wanted to make it as unique as possible.
important part in planning and the driving force… behind all your decisions.
I found a lot of great accents at our local discount stores. I used wands as decorative pieces to make my theme more realistic. The internet is bursting with templates that can be traced and used to handcraft your own banners or add spice to your invitations. I knew I wanted it to be super elegant. So I had a vision of a royal banquet in mind. I crafted …con’t on Page 22.
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…con’t from Page 21
The favors were crowns and wands for the girls and we had a chest plate and sword for Paxton.
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the chair covers by creating my own pattern and sewing them to fit my specific chairs. It wasn’t an easy task, but I’ve definitely gotten good use. I knew
I wanted it to be super elegant. So I had a vision of a royal banquet in mind. I crafted the chair covers by creating my own pattern and sewing them to fit my specific chairs.
Now, the food was lots of fun! I decided to make white pumpkin cake bites. I bought different sized crown cookie cutters and went crazy! I did crown sandwiches, crown fruit kabobs and crown cookies. My friend Carrie, aka THE BEST CAKE DECORATOR EVER, helped me with the cookies and the cake! She came over and we did some major team work!
I bought blue vinyl and cut out little Cinderella and glass slipper Silhouettes. We got plates at the dollar tree to make it seem like a Royal You are going to celebration. The favors were forget something (I crowns and forgot the candles), wands for the girls and we had something will a chest plate probably go wrong and sword for Paxton. Our (My husband got little prince that the wrong colored attended! They were for sure balloons)… inexpensive trinkets that wouldn’t turn your wallet into a pumpkin at midnight! Most importantly, remember it’s all about the fun. You are going to forget something (I forgot the candles), something will probably go wrong (My husband got the wrong colored balloons), and the weather doesn’t always cooperate. But your little blessing will be overjoyed that this was their special day and love you happily ever after!!! SOUTHERN HOLIDAY LIFE
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Virginia Bittinger is a true blue Southern Belle, junkaholic, artist, and creator of cool and lovely things. She gets excited and makes stuff, paints stuff, and recycles stuff. A former textile designer, Virginia is now a vendor on the Funk Junk Trail at Junk Mama’s General Store in Fayetteville, Georgia. There she also teaches art classes and holds Dixie Belle Paint workshops. Virginia is the author of the blog ArtsyVaVa.
Mixed Media Art
DIY Photo Coasters Coasters are a staple in every home. And, with this easy technique you can display your favorite photos while also protecting your furniture.
What You Need: Start by printing out a few of your favorite photos. If you don’t have a laser printer, print the photos and take them to your local office supply store and have laser copies made. The colors will bleed if you use an ink jet printer. If there is writing on the photos, they will need to be printed in reverse.
4-inch Stone Tiles Photos printed on a laser printer Dixie Belle Clear Coat
Spray Bottle Filled With Water Scissors Paintbrush Felt Pads
When buying stone tiles, it is best to buy them at a tile store where you can pick the tiles individually rather than buying a pack. The tiles should be smooth with as few holes in them as possible. Clean the tiles to remove all dust. Add a generous coat of Dixie Belle Clear Coat to the photo and place image side down onto the tile. Smooth out any bubbles. Allow to dry completely. Once dry, spray the tile with water. Using your finger, gently rub to remove the paper. Continue to spray the tile with water until all the paper is removed. If a milky finish appears, spray with more water and continue to remove the paper. Add several coats of the Dixie Belle Clear Coat to seal the coasters. Place felt pads on the bottom of each coaster so the stone won’t scratch your furniture. Be sure to make a few extra, because these coasters will make a meaningful gift for someone special. SOUTHERN HOLIDAY LIFE
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With Dixie Belle Paint…
Painting (is always a) Party! I’ve spoken to many people through the years who have been so surprised at just how easy it is to paint with Dixie Belle Paint. I thought I’d take this opportunity to share some tips and tricks to make painting even more fun and Easy Peasy! The simple steps of painting with Dixie Belle are; Clean and Paint. There’s no need to wax nor seal, however we do offer those too if you need them. Using Dixie Belle Paint is so simple we have 2-year-olds help paint their own furniture! I think encouraging creativity when children are young is always a Of course, good thing!
Junk Mama’s General Store in Fayetteville, GA turned an old piano into a Dixie Belle Paint Display.
Of course, you can still paint over something which hasn’t been cleaned. I’ve done that plenty of times and what you can get is a nice rustic, chippy look. It’s one of my painting secrets to get that old timey look, plus then it’s only one step!
you can still paint over something which hasn’t been cleaned. I’ve done that plenty of times and what you can get is a nice rustic, chippy look.
Wet sanding is another fun and different technique. After painting, simply take a damp cloth and rub it along the edges and other spots you’d like more of a chippy, worn look. The paint will rub off in larger pieces rather than when sanding where it just evaporates.
Tracie Merritt of Refurbish in the Middle in Marion South Carolina experimented with new colors Apricot and Mud Puddle in the Dixie Belle Paint line.
I think the best advice and tip I can give is to just do it! If you don’t like it, then paint over it! There is no such thing as a mistake, actually some of my mistakes have turned out to be my best and most favorite pieces! So grab yourself a jar of Dixie Belle Paint, stick your brush in and go to town!! You’ll be glad you did! Happy Painting Y’all!
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Mike Macon, our DIY Contest Winner, rescued this waterfall dressing table from a thrift store in Birmingham. It needed a shelf replaced and some additional repair.
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Macon then painted with DBP colors The Gulf and Fluff before adding new hardware. Now it is at home in a little girl’s room.
Tracie Merritt got creative with this dresser using DBP Mint Julep and a vintage map of an old colony. She distressed it to have the original orange peek through.
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Little Black Dress quarter
Norton’s Floor Covering Quarter
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Mudd Puddles Pottery quarter
Tracie Merritt transformed an old china cabinet into a new book case. Penny Nittolo of Eklektik Styles in Griffin, GA used DBP Drop cloth and Mud Puddle to bring new life to this end table.
Mike Macon brought new life to this Victrola Cabinet using DBP Hurricane Gray and Driftwood. SOUTHERN HOLIDAY LIFE
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Lineville Clinic Quarter
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SHOP
Local
SHOP
Funky SHOP Southern
DIY CONTEST
Do it with paint!
WINNERS Mike Macon Just Repurposed Hanceville, Alabama This piece was one of two-piece set. The customer purchased it and the buffet. They were in fairly good shape considering they had been in storage for quite a while. The customer who we purchased them from had been in our store and thought we could give them a new life with what we do, and that we did. This is one for the "don't be afraid of color" category. This Jacobean style China cabinet was painted with Dixie Belle Paint Company's mineral paints in Flamingo and accented with Driftwood. It was then sealed with Minwax Polycrylic. The glass was missing and we had to replace it and the hardware came from previously repurposed pieces of the era of this piece and was spray painted with Krylon Metallic Brush Nickel. 34
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April Najmeh Roanoke, Alabama Bonnie Harris Lexington Vintage Athens, GA
This was a dresser that I transformed into a entertainment center. I first sanded and cleaned and then removed the drawers and drawer slides. Its painted antique white and mint green and distressed and sealed with wax.
I bought a plain white bench off the salvage truck for $10. Using Dixie Belle Paint Company Mineral paints, I decided to give the old bench a facelift! Barn Red, The Gulf, and Drop Cloth revived the old girl and a few new pillows really set it off! See More of Bonnie’s work on the Funky Junk Trail.
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SHOP
Local
SHOP
Funky SHOP Southern
DIY CONTEST
Do it with paint!
WINNERS
Tracie Merritt REfurbish in the Middle Marion, South Carolina This china cabinet was purchased from an older gentleman. It was one of my earlier pieces. I used Miss Mustard Seed’s Milk Paint in Mustard Seed Yellow and Ironstone to accent. It gave it a springy, fresh breath of life and was easily finished with Miss Mustard Seed’s Furniture Wax.
Stacey Billings Spangles & Forks Prairie Village, Kansas This headboard and footboard were brought to my by a client that was requesting a bench to be made. They were some of the only possessions that were salvageable from her late father’s home. I was able to custom build a bench using the headboard as the back and the footboard as the front. It was sanded, primed and painted a gorgeous teal color before being distressed. I then wiped a dark stain all over it lightly and finished off with a sealant.
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First Capital Insurance quarter
Cultivate Create quarter
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Dari Delite Quarter
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The Funky Junk Trail makes for a great road trip and this collection of stores is awesome! We now have reached three states of junky awesomeness! The Funky Junk Trail embraces originality and, of course, the thrill of the hunt! Southern Holiday Life is proud to include the following stores on the trail. Each one embodies the spirit of the trail, and all are a unique and eclectic mix of old and new. You can be sure that none of them are your grandmother’s antique store! Happy hunting and be sure to share your treasures from the trail on social media! Use the hashtag #funkyjunktrail so we can all celebrate your finds!
Alabama 1. Southern Holiday Shop, Wedowee, AL 2. Two Guys and a Girl, Attics to Antiques Roanoke, AL 3. Wehadkee Trade Days, Rock Mills, AL 4. Birds of a Feather, Oxford, AL 5. Alabama Street Makers Market, Alexander City, AL 6. Off the Beaten Path, McCalla, AL Georgia 7. Table Talk, Senoia, GA 8. Junk Mama’s General Store, Fayetteville, GA 9. Broad Street Mill, Griffin, GA 10. Lexington Vintage, Athens, GA 11. The Nest, Carrollton, GA 12. Feathers & Twigs, Carrollton, GA Mississippi 13. Cathy’s Bargain and Consignment, Lucedale, MS
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Southern Holiday Shop
Wehadkee Trade Days
104 West Broad Street
66276 Highway 22
Wedowee, AL
Rock Mills, AL
256-357-4557
1st & 3rd Saturdays, 7-1
Thurs, Fri & Sat 10-5
This is the place “where the real pickers shop”! Approximately 40 vendors gather in the old Wehadkee Yarn Mills building showing and selling their wares. The old mill is a treasure all its own. You can’t miss it when traveling on Hwy 22 West from Roanoke, Ala. toward the Georgia Line. It is the big red brick building sitting on the banks of the rocky Wehadkee Creek. The mill is one of the oldest mills still standing in the southeast.
Where the Funky Junk Trail begins! Our little shop gives you an extension of our magazine, offering our customers an eclectic mix of repurposed furniture, handcrafted custom made furniture, home décor, boutique-style clothing now in extended sizes, handcrafted jewelry, gourmet food products, gifts, bath and body products and of course Dixie Belle Paint!
Two Guys and a Girl, Attics to Antiques 3355 Highway 431 Roanoke, AL 334-863-5865
All the vendors are very friendly and helpful and there is a large array of “stuff” to discover from primitives, farm tools, glass ware and kitchenware to art, woodworking and of course funky junk. There is ample parking and an easy pull up for loading your purchases. They say “It pays to be early for the best picks and the hot biscuits.”
Wed 8-noon
Birds of a Feather
Thurs-Sat 10-4
502 Main Street
Frank Fetner, Mike Fisher and Beverly Hill are collectors from way back and decided to open a store to make room for other treasures. Fetner has a large Santa Claus collection and you never know what he will be willing to let go from his personal collection... For a price that is. This hometown shop offers a variety of antique treasures including, but certainly not limited to, vintage glassware, McCoy and Hull pottery, collectibles, small furniture, lamps, vintage keepsakes, and so much more.
Oxford, AL 256-403-2991 Tues-Sat 10-6 A charming little shop located on Main Street in Downtown Oxford, Birds of A Feather is the epitome of the Funky Junk Trail. Owner Lisa Scott is always on the hunt to bring treasures back to her customers. She specializes in Vintage, Antiques, Restorations, Architectural Salvage & Unique Gifts. Birds of a Feather recently started carrying Southern Brand Favorite Dixie Belle Paint Company paint.
Alabama Street Makers Market 149 Alabama Street
Off the Beaten Path Antiques & Gifts
Alexander City, AL
13086 Hilda Drive
256-392-5555
McCalla, AL
Tues-Fri 10-5:30, Sat 10-3
205-913-4200
Alabama Street Makers Market strives to provide customers with the best hand made products from Alabama and the South. The inventory is ever-changing because their creative vendors never stop, well, creating! When you shop at the Makers Market you are supporting local artists, creators, craftsmen and food makers. Be sure to give them a like on Facebook to stay up to date at the market!
Wed-Sat 10-4:30 Located off the beaten path in McCalla, the shop offers a variety of antiques, repurposed and handmade items and gifts. Listed as one of the top ten antique stores in Alabama to find that one of a kind treasure, you will love visiting owners Cindy and John Berry. In addition to repurposed fun, the shop also carries boutique clothing and jewelry.
Pull our directory on the go by visiting www.shopsmallshopsouthern.com from any mobile device. SOUTHERN HOLIDAY LIFE
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Table Talk of Senoia
Junk Mama’s General Store
770-599-9700
125 Fisher Ave, Fayetteville, GA
Sun-Mon 11-4; Tues-Fri 10-5; Sat 10-6
770-461-4607
Table Talk is great stop on the Funky Junk Trail. Since this is the wedding issue, we asked what wedding items they wanted to highlight... We were told they don’t have a wedding section at Table Talk, they have a Divorce Section!
Mon-Sat 10-5
Table Talk carries national brands Archipelago, Caldrea, MIK Wright, Naked Bee and Swan Creek Candle Company as well as regional favorites Savannah Bee Company and Candace and Kids Soap Company.
Junk Mama’s is a unique boutique of hidden treasures old and new. They have a mishmash of whimsy, recycled stuff, antiques, vintage and re-invented treasures. It is a great place for the DIY person. Junk Mama’s carries Southern Brand Favorite Dixie Belle Paint. Check them out on Instagram, Facebook or their website www. JunkMamasGeneralStore.com
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Broad Street Mill 324 East Broad Street Griffin, GA Wed-Sat 11-5 A charming collection of shops in one convenient location. The Broad Street Mill is just a block away from downtown Griffin and has so much to offer. The Chicken House, purveyors of fine foods, specializes in gourmet all natural food products as well as spices and teas. Bonjour Boutique is an upscale fashion boutique in the mill while Sweet Southern Salvage and Eklektik Styles are also two shops not to miss. They feature repurposed and unique finds in home decor and more. If the stress of the trail gets to be too much, you can always release the tension at Yoga at Planet Bliss. The Mill is truly a one-of-akind shopping experience.
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Lexington Vintage 1743 Lexington Road, Athens, GA 706-227-6867 Tues-Fri 9:30-5:30, Sat 10-5 Lexington Vintage is about everything reclaimed, restored, & repurposed. Former Oconee teacher Bonnie Harris opened Athens’ newest go-to artisan marketplace in November of 2014. Find unique home decor, whimsical upcycled furniture, vintage & antiques, handmade jewelry, architectural salvage, local art & booth rentals for funky junk lovers. Creative classes are held monthly with an emphasis on painting and upcycling furniture. Also, don’t forget to look for Rocket, the 10-foot rooster, perched 25 feet in the air above the shop.
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The Nest 121 Bradley Street Carrollton, GA 770-838-7933 Tues-Fri 10 -5:30, Sat 10-3 Located in the heart of downtown Carrollton, The Nest offers a great variety of items including vintage, repurposed, and antique furniture, The Plaster Paint Co. brand chalk paint and man cave musthaves. The Nest prides itself on supporting local talent, and carries many items created by local artisans like children’s clothing, goat milk soap, original art, jewelry, unique candles, local honey and shea butter. The selection is constantly changing and these one-of-a-kind finds go fast so be sure to follow The Nest on Facebook and Instagram to be the first to see and snag the newest treasures.
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Feathers & Twigs 506 Maple Street Carrollton, GA 770-214-9191; Mon-Fri 10:30 -5:30; Sat 10:30-4:30 Most Saturdays Granny will greet you with goodies at Feathers and Twigs. The family-run business features different vendors from West Georgia including art by Charlotte Scarce. The owners pride themselves in ensuring the store appeals to all ages. They sell refinished furniture as well as a variety of antiques. Feathers and Twigs also carries Miss Mustard Seed Milk Paint and Uncommon Scents Candles.
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Cathy’s Bargain & Consignment Shop 1017 Winter Street, Lucedale, MS 601-258-1464 Mon-Sat 9 - 5:30 p.m. Cathy’s Bargain & Consignment Shop sells used, repurposed, recycled antique items and furniture. It’s a treasure hunters dream and an easy detour from the Mississippi Gulf Coast. Variety is the spice of life at Cathy’s with an assorted collection of unique and one of a kind items. With so many vendors and consignment items, Cathy’s really has something for everyone.
Junk Mama’s QP FJT
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Events benchmark our lives. When Uncle John was born, after Susie died, when Buster married Margaret all set the time frame, the setting of our family stories. A wedding is usually a happy event in which family members descend upon each other, traveling near and far for the opportunity to smother kisses on little ones, and wear their Sunday finest — girdles and Spanx covered in chiffon, each lady fanning herself as men folk shift foot to foot uncomfortable in formal wear. Guests make the effort to attend, not for the deviled eggs, or a slice of wedding cake thick with buttercream frosting, but for love. The whole idea of it: L_O_V_E. The covenant of marriage brings people together because it begins a new generation, a new arm to the family, a new timeline. And with that new arm brings hope. The hope that someone will get it right.
This Ain’t My First Rodeo! Thoughts from the Mother of the Bride
Weddings summarize the couples initial love story, with future chapters in the cue. One of the things I hate about weddings is that there …like the are two stories, but we bridesmaid who only see the obvious story of the beautiful hates her dress, or bride, the handsome the persistent groom, the gracious parents, the adorable mother-in-law to flower girl who trips on her dress up the aisle, be who wants the the dance between father and daughter, the groom’s sister to cutting of the cake, the be a bridesmaid, toasts with familiar the mother who’s humor. This story appears to be the same divorced and story as all other stories, has a biker and feels like a memorized custom, boyfriend… rather than an original romantic tale. I’m interested in the backstory, the juicy stuff — the messy parts of real living; like the bridesmaid who hates her dress, or the persistent mother-in-law to be who wants the groom’s sister to be a bridesmaid, the mother who’s divorced and has a biker boyfriend, the uncle who came un-invited because he is loud and drinks too much, all the nuances that tell a whole story. …con’t on Page 50 SOUTHERN HOLIDAY LIFE
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I guess I want to know those stories because the saying is true: Misery loves company. I am in the throes and woes of planning our family’s second wedding.
And if my daughter says to me one more time she got a DEAL on this or that, I will scream, it is not a deal if it is still out of our budget!
No, this ain’t my first rodeo. I see right through the wedding scammers. Those who prey upon good people’s emotion charging way too much for the ONCE IN A LIFETIME, YOUR SPECIAL DAY, Of COURSE, YOU WANT THE BEST. Those professional sales people to have it down just like a good funeral director. Selling to vulnerable people who just want the perfect setting for the perfect day…cause let’s face it, no day after will be perfect. Am I a bit jaded? You betcha.
And if my daughter says to me one more time she got a DEAL on this or that, I will scream, it is not a deal if it is still out of our budget!
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We have survived both of our tantrums over who’s invited and who’s not, the price of photographers—I’ve got a camera for that price, if you get married here, you must use this list of caterers, this cleaning crew, and, oh, you have a band? Well, the music can only be .25 decimals and over by 11 p.m. I remind her, and the various wedding vendors: This ain’t my first rodeo. Wedding conundrums exist, and can’t be shuffled under the rose petals, or Uncle Al’s toupee. Planning a wedding and still talking to your family by the end of it is the ultimate parenting challenge. You think potty training was bad? Middle school? A wedding is the last and final challenge of parenting, and I can promise you, I am trying to do it well. I wake up channeling Princess Grace but end up going to bed feeling like the Tasmanian devil in the endless cartoon of life. My challenge is to keep it affordable, and authentic. It seems like all the vendors vie for the inevitable photo that will make it to social media. Photographers now stage getting ready, stage the moment you give your child a gift of jewelry to wear, stage getting hair done. I mean when does it end and real living return? And all this talk of her special day. We hope and pray! But let’s face it. Two out of five brides will have more than one wedding. I remind myself: This ain’t my first rodeo.
No question my cackles are up. Wedding planning is strategic warfare. Yet, with each decision, memories of my daughter’s childhood emerge, floating through the air like a contrail of a plane. I am holding my child wrapped in her pink blankie; her head tucked in the nook of my neck. I can smell the baby lotion on her little body. I see her tap dancing as Annie for six nights at the local high school with the live dog wandering the stage as she belts “Tomorrow, Tomorrow”! I remember sitting on her suitcase trying to zip it up for her summer as a camp counselor. Memories continue to drift in and out of my head as I shop on line for cheap plates for our causal fare. My heart bursts with pride because I know she and her husband will have a God-led, and intentional, marriage. I click from one website to the next and I pray that first and foremost she feels loved—always. That she feels protected, not smothered, and feels she is supported to grow and to be creative, to live her best self. I hope her husband challenges her but never threatens, directs the marriage but does not control it, that they keep open minds and open hearts to always listen to each other. I hope they live each day as the gift that it is, and seek opportunities to laugh, and to share with others their gifts and talents. And to serve, always. For there is another famous saying: Love conquers all. Even wedding planning.
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b y
V e n e s s a
L o w r y
Things to Consider When Planning Your Big Day Venessa Lowry is the owner of Southern Traditions and More. She has more than seventeen years experience in event/ wedding planning and consulting. She can take care of every detail from start to finish.
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There are so many things to consider when getting married these days and cost is probably at the top of the list. According to website Cost of Wedding, the average wedding cost in the United States is $26,444. Now, before you go take out a loan to pay for your big day, there are some things to consider.
BUDGET... BUDGET... BUDGET! We really can't stress this enough. Choose a budget that fits your family’s finances. Weddings are fairytale events no matter the cost as long as you focus on what's most important to you for the big day. Before you make too many decisions, try planning your budget by working backwards. Look at everything that you will need to spend and see how far the money goes. When you are done, you might realize some things are more important than others. Decide what works for you and your family. A beautiful wedding is not always about the amount of money you spend; it is about how wise you use your
budgeted money to make it look like it was all designed just for you.
Keep it Local If you have a tight budget the best thing to do is to not do any kind of destination wedding (destination means anything away from bride or groom’s hometown). Normally your hometown churches are the most reasonable when it comes to rental fees. You may consider your family home, garden areas or someone’s backyard (where it wouldn't cost a thing). Staying local for the Big Day also saves on travel expenses for the bride and groom’s families.
Question Everything About the Venue If you decide to rent a venue, you can't ask too many questions before signing an agreement. What time can you get into the facility to decorate? How much time do they allow for your reception and clean up? Do they allow outside vendors to come in? Do they allow breakable bottles and glass
dishes? What is included in the rental fee? Do they allow use of the whole property? What are the restrictions? What does all-inclusive mean for this venue? If they say they have everything you need, you need to find out if that is included or if additional fees apply? In most cases it is an extra expense or they allow you up to a certain amount of tables and chairs and then the price increases. In other words, the better educated you are, the chances for sticker shock reduce significantly. Protect your budget!
Ask the Expert! Consult with a wedding coordinator or planner! You will be surprised how much advice and resources they will have to offer you. Many times hiring someone to work with you from start to finish helps you to not make purchases that are unnecessary or sign a contract that isn’t what you want. Allowing outside vendors to come in is always a money saver and an experienced wedding planner can assist you with ideas that will stretch your dollar even more.
The venue in these photographs is the Barn at Buffalo Creek and its managed by The Vintage Rental Company of Carrollton, GA which also provided the furniture and dishes. Flowers were provided by Kudzu Creative Designs and the bridal gowns and wedding attire was provided by Simple Elegance of Bowdon , GA.
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Venue $1,000 - $20,000. Ask exactly what the price includes with that amount of money. It may be just the building or may include everything you need. You need to make sure there is ample parking for guests and always consider the handicapped when choosing a venue.
Size Matters Decide on the number of people your budget can handle to be in the wedding party. For every person that is up there, the cost increases. More bridesmaids mean more flowers, more gifts, more invitations. The more people you have in your wedding the more expensive it becomes. Size isn't limited to the wedding party either. How many people are you inviting to the wedding? That matters when ordering Save the Dates, invitations as well as deciding how to cater the reception and how many layers your wedding cake will be.
What's It Worth to You! Dress $1,000 and up Photographer $2,000 - $3,000
Caterer varies greatly. Get an approximate price per person and decide how many guests your budget can accommodate. A dinner usually runs less expensive than appetizers. Flowers $1,000- $5,000 The time of the year that you choose can help with flower expenses. When things are in current bloom they are cheaper than off-season flowers. This figure also depends on the number of people in the wedding party as well as the locations that need decorating. Cake $300-$1,000 Invitations $5 - $10 per invitation Entertainment for reception $300 - $5,000 As you can easily see by adding these few things together you will know if your budget is adequate to do the type wedding you want. There are many more costs associated with weddings but these are your top dollar expenses to take off your budget immediately.
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It’s Spring in the South, y’all! That means lots of bridal teas and showers, weddings and marriage celebrations. As a food writer and recipe developer, I have a tendency to plan and organize almost everything in my life around food. Yes, it’s exhausting. I’ve hosted and catered a few bridal teas, so I want to share with y’all my take on organizing a tea around all those goodies – as opposed to planning your food around the tea. I’ve put together a few themes along with accompanying food to match.
The Quintessential Southern Bridal Tea: Planning Your Event Around Food by SHEA GOLDSTEIN, DIXIECHIKCOOKS.COM
Pink and Black Bridal Tea for when you want to serve fruity, cutesy dishes. Courtesy atnannstable.com
Strawberry Mimosas 12 Ounces Raspberries, Frozen ½ Cup Strawberries, Frozen 2 T White Sugar, To Taste 1 Cup Half and Half ½ Teaspoon Vanilla Extract 1-2 Bottles Champagne (or 1-2 Liters of Soda like Ginger Ale, Sprite, or 7 Up) Strawberries For Garnish, If Desired In a medium sauce pan, combine raspberries, and diced strawberries. Heat over low/medium heat until soft (~8-10 minutes). Add sugar to taste. Cook for another 5-7 minutes stirring frequently. Cool for ~5 minutes. Blend or puree. Strain. Return to sauce pan. Add cream and vanilla. Stir until combined. Pour into an ice cube tray. Freeze for 4-6 hours. Pour champagne into champagne flutes (about ½ way full). Add 3-4 ice cubes to each glass. Garnish with additional strawberries if desired. Courtesy bakingbeauty.com
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Blue Cheese Salmon Meatballs “Love” Macarons Pink macarons Vodka Gold luster powder Mix 1/4 t of gold luster powder with enough vodka (few drops) to make a paint consistency and you’ve got edible paint. It’s always best to start with a very small amount because a little goes a long way. Before I painted the cookies, I brushed them with pink petal powder to make the color of the cookies a little pinker and less peachy because, well, I like pink! When you’re finished painting, let the vodka evaporate and you’ll have perfect left-over luster powder to use another day. Courtesy sweetstoimpress.com
Pomegranate Jeweled Jalapeno Cheese Ball 1 block (8 oz) Organic Valley cream cheese, at room temperature 4 oz shredded cheddar cheese 3 T sour cream 1 garlic clove 2 scallions, chopped 1 jalapeno pepper, deseeded and diced 1/3 cup pomegranate arils 1/3 cup pecans, crushed Combine cream cheese, cheddar, sour cream, garlic, scallions and jalapeno in a food processor until smooth. Fold in pomegranate and refrigerate for 30 minutes. Remove from refrigerator and form into a ball. Roll in pecans and return to fridge until ready to serve. Courtesy dixiechikcooks.com
1 14 oz can salmon 1/4 cup blue cheese, crumbled 1/2 cup oatmeal (not instant) 2 egg whites 1 T coarse ground mustard (deli style) 1 tsp sea salt 1 tsp pepper 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce Dipping Sauce 1 cup mayo 1/4 cup sour cream 2 T chili garlic sauce (in a plastic bottle in the Asian isle – or you could just use hot sauce) Begin by mixing all meatball ingredients together and refrigerate for 30 minutes. Keep in mind the longer this refrigerates, the better. Preheat oven to 375°. Spray a baking sheet with cooking spray. Make meatball mixture into about 14-16 meatballs and bake for 15-17 minutes – turning halfway in between. You could also fry them in a frying pan on medium-high in a little oil for a few minutes, flipping after about 3-4 minutes. Serve with dipping sauce. Courtesy dixiechikcooks.com
Raspberry Beignets 8 oz. block cream cheese, at room temperature 1/2 pint fresh raspberries 1/2 cup sugar 1 packet active dry yeast 1/2 cup warm water 1 cup evaporated milk 1 stick Country Crock Butter 1/4 cup granulated sugar 1 egg, whisked 4 cups all purpose flour Canola oil, for frying Powdered sugar Dark chocolate, melted Fresh raspberries, for garnishing Combine the cream cheese, raspberries and sugar in a stand mixer on low until combined; transfer to a bowl, cover and refrigerate. Dissolve the yeast in warm water in the bowl of a stand mixer. Add milk, butter, sugar and egg; mix on low until combined. Add flour, 2 cups at a time, mixing on low until completely incorporated. Cover with plastic wrap and let rise for 3-4 hours, until doubled in size. Punch dough down and roll into a large rectangle (about 16x12) and cut into 2” squares. Place a T of raspberry filling in the middle of each square and fold up, pinching edges together to seal. Heat oil to 375 degrees and fry in batches, transferring to a paper towel lined plate. Drizzle with chocolate and sprinkle with powdered sugar. Courtesy dixiechikcooks.com …con’t on Page 60. SOUTHERN HOLIDAY LIFE
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When you want exotic, citrusy fare, decorate with yellows and whites. Courtesy ladynann.com
Lemon Tiramasu 4 T brandy or 4 T white rum juice and zest of 2 lemons 4 T sugar , divided 1 (9 ounce) packet sponge cake fingers (or more) 16 oz mascarpone cheese 1/4 c homemade lemon curd 2 large eggs , separated 2/3 cup heavy cream Mix together the lemon juice and brandy. Add 2 T sugar and stir until it dissolves. Set aside. Whip the egg whites until they form soft peaks. Whip the cream until it forms soft peaks. Beat together the remaining sugar, mascarpone, lemon curd, egg yolks and the lemon zest. Carefully fold the cream in the mascarpone mixture, followed by the egg whites. Stir the lemon juice mixture. Dip the ladyfingers in the juice mixture (they will soak up the juice very quickly so you only need to leave them in it for a second). Layer them in whatever dish you’re using to serve (springform pan, trifle dish, mini dishes of some sort). Spoon half of the mascarpone mixture over the biscuits, dip remaining ladyfingers and arrange as you go. End with mascarpone mixture on top. Level the top using a knife, cover and leave in the fridge for at least 8 hours for best results. Remove from fridge, garnish and serve. Courtesy thewickednoodle.com 60
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Algerian Orange Mint Pesto Crostini Pesto: 1 cup mint leaves 1 cup parsley 1 cup cilantro 1 small bunch chives 1 t ground cumin 1 t red chili flakes 1 1/2 tsp sea salt 1 tsp ground pepper 3 T. balsamic glaze (I actually used balsamic vinaigrette) 2 T. minced garlic
1/4 cup lemon juice 3 T. lemon zest 3 slices bread 1/3 cup drained Dole mandarin oranges (reserve juice) 2 T. extra virgin olive oil 3 T. pine nuts Crostini: French baguette, sliced thin Gruyere cheese, sliced Plum tomatoes, diced
Pesto: Combine mint leaves, parsley, cilantro, chives, cumin, red chili flakes, salt, pepper, balsamic glaze, minced garlic, olive oil, lemon juice and zest, bread and mandarin oranges in a food processor. Pulse for 2-3 minutes, until a thick mixture is formed. If the mixture seems too thick, add some of the reserved mandarin orange juice until it’s a pesto like consistency. Garnish with a drizzle of olive oil and pine nuts. Crostini: Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Slather the pesto on slices of the baguette, top with cheese. Place in oven for 3-5 minutes, until cheese has melted. Top with tomatoes. Courtesy dixiechikcooks.com
Mango Lime Jalapeno Daiquiri Jalapeno Syrup: 1 fresh jalapeno, cut into quarters 3/4 cup water 3/4 cup granulated sugar Daiquiri: 1/2 large mango, diced and frozen 1/2 cup ice 3/4 cup rum 1 lime, juiced 3 T jalapeno syrup 1 dash sea salt Make the jalapeno syrup by combining the pepper, water and sugar in a sauce pan over medium high heat. Stir for about 5 minutes, consistently, until sugar has dissolved. Drain into a mason jar; cover and discard peppers. When the jalapeno syrup has cooled, blend the daiquiri ingredients until smooth. Garnish with lime wedges and jalapeno slices. Courtesy dixiechikcooks.com
Bagel Bites with Everything Bagel Cheese Dip Pretzel Dough 3 T. butter 1 T. King Arthur All Purpose Flour 1 cup whole milk
1 T salt 1 T Dijon mustard 8 oz. Cabot Everything Bagel Cheese, shredded
Make pretzel balls; set aside and cover. Melt the butter over medium heat, add flour and whisk. Add the milk and salt and mustard and bring to a low boil. Add cheese, reduce heat to medium low and whisk until smooth. Courtesy dixiechikcooks.com
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BEAUTY & FASHION Genesis Weight Loss and Sam’s Sunshine 924 Main St Roanoke, AL 334-863-5677 or 334-863-0098 Find Us On Facebook: Sam’s Sunshine at GWC Sam’s Sunshine solutions are all natural, anti-aging sunless tanners formulated with antioxidants and pure botanicals to make the skin look radiant!!
Gypsy 26 Main St Senoia, GA 770-727-9047 Find Us On Facebook: That Gypsy Store The GYPSY is located in the heart of historic downtown Senoia. Offering a wide selection of the latest trends in ladies jewelry, accessories and gifts! Embrace your unconventional side — at Gypsy! Open Mon-Sun
Little Black Dress 49 Main St Alexander City, AL 256-234-9099 www.littleblackdressonline. com Little Black Dress is simply a fun women’s boutique “For the Simple Girl That Just Wants Everything!” Open: Mon-Fri: 10:00 am to 5:30 pm and Sat: 10:00 am to 3:00 pm
Mississippi Miracle Clay
Simple Elegance 107 Wedowee St, Bowdon, GA 770-258-0494 Find Us On Facebook: Simple Elegance Bridal and Formalwear From Prom to Pageants, Days of Whimsy to Weddings, and Formalwear to Fun... Simple Elegance Bridal and Formalwear, is setting the NEW standard in personal style and service. Our professional staff isn’t here to “Sell a Dress.” We are here to fit your size, your occasion and your style! We offer big city pizzazz with small town personalization. We believe that when you look your BEST, we look our BEST!!! Open: Tue, Thu, Fri and Sat
Steele Chiropractic 89485 Hwy 9, Lineville, AL 256-396-2058 www.Dr.SteeleChiropractic.com A Lori Steele Sewell massage offers stress relief for the Bride To Be and her mother too! Open Mon - Wed: 8:00 am -12:00 pm and 2:00 pm - 6:00 pm.
Summer Rains on Main Wedowee, AL 256-357-0106 Find Us On Facebook: Summer Rains On Main A Beautiful Women’s Clothing Boutique We specialize in today’s latest fashions, boots, accessories, and more! Open: Tue - Fri: 10:00 am to 6:00 pm and Sat: 10:00 am to 2:00 pm
BonJour Boutique & Antique Decor at The Broad Street Mill
Online and Local Retailers http://www. mississippimiracleclay.com/
324 E Broad St, Griffin, GA 770-441-4854 Find Us On Facebook: Bonjour Boutique and Antique Decor
Mississippi Miracle Clay products contain minerals supportive of healing and detoxification and replenish the system with minerals such as silicon, magnesium, sulfur, etc. Give it a try, you will be impressed.
A unique shopping experience in downtown Griffin, GA. Upscale boutique clothing, plus size, baby & children’s, gift, decor & antiques. Open Tue-Sat: 11:00 am - 5:00 pm
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Alabama Street Makers Market 149 Alabama St, Alexander City, AL 256-392-5555 Find Us On Facebook: Alabama Street Makers Market We strive to provide our customers with the best hand made goods possible. We believe when it comes to gift giving, items that are unique are special. Open: Tue-Fri: 10:00 am to 5:30 pm and Sat: 10:00 am to 3:00 pm
HM Drugs 17216 Hwy 431, Wedowee, AL 256-357-4614 Find Us On Facebook: H & M Drugs Local Bridal Registry and large selection of gifts for every occasion. Free gift wrapping. Open Mon-Fri: 8:30 am - 6:30 pm and Sat: 8:30 am 12:00 pm
Just a Little Frosting Hwy 9, Ashland, AL 256-354-3337 Find Us On Facebook Just A Little Frosting We do birthday cakes, wedding cakes, catering, or just special occasion events. We love to help make other people’s ideas come to life. Please give us a call if you would like to discuss, options available, pricing or want us to create something special for your next event.
Main Street Coffee Shop 15 Main St, Wedowee, AL 256-357-4238 Find Us On Facebook: Main Street Coffee House
BRIDAL REGISTRY & GIFTS Lowery Drugs and Gift 3705 Hwy 431 Suite B, Roanoke, AL 334-863-6337 Find Us On Facebook: Lowry Drugs & Gifts A full retail pharmacy with a drive thru window for easy pick up. We offer home deliveries for the shut in/handicapped as well. A full line of retail gift items from birthday gifts, children’s clothing, adult clothing, baby gifts and bridal registries and accessory items. We offer vinyl lettering and monogramming. Scout, Coton Colors, Cafco, M. Bagel, Emily Ley Journal Calendars RYU, Haul Couture, Corkcicle just a few of the many lines we carry.
Mudd Puddles Pottery
pottery makes for a unique gift to some special or a great addition to your own collection.
Off The Beaten Path Antiques & Gifts 13086 Hilda Dr, McCalla, AL 205-913-4200 Find Us On Facebook: Off the Beaten Path Antiques Gifts Off The Beaten Path Antiques and Gifts offers a variety of antiques, repurposed, handmade items and gifts. They are located just off I20 between Birmingham and Tuscaloosa. Open Wed-Sat: 10:00 am - 4:30 pm.
Southern Holiday Shop
Online, Craft Shows & Local Retailers www.MuddPuddlesPottery.com
104 W Broad St, Wedowee, AL 256-357-4557 Find Us On Facebook: Southern Holiday Shop
Mudd Puddles Pottery is beautiful functional stoneware handmade in northwest Alabama. Many of the custom designed pieces represent the best of the south; Crosses, Leaves, Cotton Bolls, Magnolias and Monograms. What southern girl doesn’t love monograms? Our
Southern Holiday Shop is a unique gift shop and clothing boutique, offering Southern made products including gourmet food, handmade soaps, candles, home decor items and local artwork. The Our Glass Boutique located in the shop has the latest
styles in ladies clothing from small though extended plus sizes. Open Thur.-Fri: 10:00 am-5:00 pm and Sat: 10:00 am-3:00 pm
Tabletalk of Willowdale 53 Main St, Senoia, GA 770-599-9700 Find Us On Facebook: Table Talk At Senoia Table Talk in Historic Downtown Senoia is not your typical gift shop; they like to offer a little humor and sarcasm within their gift selection. A beautifully decorated store with a large selection of cards, candles, Georgia made products, home decor and more. Open Mon-Sun: 10:00 am-5:00 pm
The Nest 122 Bradley St, Carrollton, GA 770-838-7933 Find Us On Facebook: The Nest Vintage Decor & More! We rescrew, reglue and renew every piece of antique furniture. We also have vintage and eclectic decor, vintage inspired gift items. Come in, get inspired! Tues-Fri: 10:00 - 5:30 , Sat: 10:00 - 3:00
CAKES & CATERING We serve specialty coffees, sandwiches, fruit smoothies, and desserts! We Cater Too! Let us help with your next shower, tea or event.
Mama’s Secrets Online and Local Retailers 334-319-7098 www.MamasSecretCookies.com Mama’s Secrets are made with all natural, whole ingredients! We believe in Quality, not Quantity! We do everything from individual favor packaging to bulk orders for weddings, showers, or any kind of special event, exactly how this all got started!
Southern Sisters Gourmet Online and Local Retailers www.SouthernSistersGourmet. com We offer a culinary line of blends and mixes, providing simplicity in the creation of entrees, sweets & confections, savory and sweet dips and cheeseballs, frostings, fillings and pies, seasonings, rubs and dipping oil, and soups to savor!
The Chicken House at The Broad Street Mill 324 E Broad St, Griffin, GA 678-603-1064 Find Us On Facebook: The Chicken House
The Chicken House, purveyors of fine goods. Where French Country meets Vintage Industrial also selling Organic Coffee, Teas & Spices and vintage furniture, home decor, kitchen tools, etc.! Open Mon-Sat: 10:00 am to 5:00 pm
WM Grocery 190 Village Lane, Wedowee, AL 256-357-4914 www.wmgrocery.com Let Mrs. Kay and her team from WM Grocery cater your next corporate event, private party, birthday or wedding reception with a custom-designed cake, gourmet desserts, and food specialties.
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DECOR Birds of a Feather 502 Main St, Oxford, AL 256-403-2991 Find Us On Facebook: Birds of a Feather Vintage Birds of a Feather Vintage, Antiques & Restorations is filled with wonderful, unique and vintage items,furniture, jewelry, gifts, architectural, and art. Open Tue-Sat: 9:00 to 5:00
Cathy’s Bargain & Consignment Shop 1017 Winter St Lucedale, MS 601-258-1464 Find Us On Facebook: Cathy’s Bargain And Consignment Shop
do consignment and booth rentals we get new items in everyday. Open Mon-Sat: 9:00-5:30
Feathers and Twigs 506 Maple St Carrollton, GA 770-214-9191 Find Us On Facebook: Feathers and Twigs Carrollton You never know what you will find at Feathers & Twigs! We carry all sorts of antiques, vintage furnishings, and recycled home goods. Open Mon-Fri: 10:30 - 5:30 and Sat: 10:30 - 4:30
We sell new, used, repurposed and antique items. Because we
Junk Mama’s General Store 125 Fisher Ave, Fayetteville, GA 770-461-4607 Find Us On Facebook: Junk Mama’s General Store A unique boutique with hidden treasures old and new. Located in the Historic District of Fayetteville, Georgia. Come visit! Open Mon-Sat: 10:00 - 5:00
Lexington Vintage 1743 Lexington Rd, Athens, GA 706-227-6867 Find Us On Facebook: Lexington Vintage Athens
with an artistic twist. Find vintage, repurposed & upcycled items, funky jewelry, local art, antiques, & unique home decor & gifts. Open Tue-Fri 9:30 - 5:30 and Sat: 10:00 to 5:00
Two Guys a Girl Attic to Antiques 3355 Highway 43, Roanoke, AL 334-863-5865 Find Us On Facebook: Two Guys and a Girl Attic to Antiques Vintage items to include glassware and pottery (McMoy and Hull, etc.), small furniture, lamps, and very much more. Merchandise is constantly changing. Open Wed: 8:00 12:00 and Thu-Sat: 10:00 - 4:00
A multi-vendor marketplace
EVENT PLANNING & VENUES Plan-It Hannah
Rice Pavilion
Carrollton, GA 678-492-4336 www.Plan-itHannah.com
2554 Co Rd 32, Wedowee, AL 256-596-1681 Find Us On Facebook: Rice Pavilion
We Specialize in Everything Events. From start to finish, let Plan-It Hannah handle it. All packages can be customized to fit your specific wants and needs. Any service for many budgets. We offer Free Consultations with a custom quote. Call today and let us give you peace of mind for your wedding plans.
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Beautiful venue on Lake Wedowee available for rent for wedding, receptions, reunions, parties ,church functions, and company events. Kitchen, picnic tables, handicap accessible
The Ballroom at The The Barn at Maple Street Mansion Buffalo Creek Carrollton, GA 678-321-7850 Find Us On Facebook: Maple Street Mansion Ballroom
648 Laurel Rd, Carrollton, GA 770-842-4417 Find Us On Facebook: The Barn At Buffalo Creek
Barn weddings aren’t for everyone. Want to comfortably seat 150 guests or more? Then The Ballroom at the historic Maple Street Mansion may be the perfect venue for you on your big day. We recently reopened and are hosting weddings again. Features include a lobby with a gas fireplace, spacious ballroom, separate buffet room, and more.
The Barn is a perfect place for your Rehearsal Dinner or Reception dressed up or dressed down the Barn creates a special charm. Exchange vows in an open field behind the Barn surrounded by trees and bordered by the Creek. A beautiful rustic venue for your wedding or next big event. Do not delay, call for available dates.
FLORAL & DESIGN Wehadkee Trade Days
Kudzu Creative Designs Carrollton, GA 678-378-5124 Find Us On Facebook: Kudzu Creative Designs
66276 Hwy 22, Rock Mills, AL Find Us On Facebook: Wehadkee Trade Day Multiple vendors with lots of inventory offering vintage, rustic and shabby chic merchandise. Open 1st and 3rd Sat: 7:00 - 2:00
A GMF Designer with over 20 years experience in all aspects of floral design. I specialize in custom wedding and event floral arrangements, and artificial silk botanicals for your home or office. I love the creative process, and especially helping brides make their vision come to life on their special day. I don’t have a retail store. I only make and sell custom florals. I would love to transform your space for your next big event or party.
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Carrollton, GA 678-321-7850 www.chroniclepro.com A cinematography team specializing in capturing your big day in an authentic, artistic, and cinematic way. Each wedding film we produce is a heartfelt love story, a memento to be cherished for generations to come. Rather than letting those wonderful memories fade as years pass, enjoy it again and again with a Chronicle Productions wedding film.
Hammett Music and Entertainment
Douglasville, GA - Online 770-871-9411 Find Us On Facebook: Wouldn’t It Be Cute If
SOUTHERN HOLIDAY LIFE
Chronicle Productions and Events LLC
We specialize in custom, hand crafted, hand painted, quality wood signs for your wedding, reception, birthday or event. Let us customize the perfect sign or signs for your next event. Personalization for gifts, home decor and we make wood cake stands, boxes, shelves and benches.
Wedowee, AL 256--357-4681 Find Us On Facebook: Roger Hammett Music and Entertainment for all venues and events. Weddings, Parties, Corporate Events, Picnics and Festivals.
Farmhouse “Once Upon A Barn” 5987 Co Rd 26, Wadley, AL 334-863-2520 Find Us On Facebook: Farmhouse Once Upon A Barn The Farmhouse “Once Upon a Barn” is the perfect venue for your rustic wedding or event! Beautiful indoor seating for 150 people, back patio seating, gorgeous farmhouse tables & white chairs available. We are peacefully located in Wadley, AL about 15 minutes from Lake Wedowee. Call to let us help plan your special day! We also offer catering services!
SPECIALTY Memories In The Making Vintage Car Rental Carrollton, GA 770-900-2388 Find Us On Facebook: Memories In The Making Vintage Car Rentals Vintage car rentals for your special day! We can help you with your wedding day or any other special occasion.
The Vintage Rental Company Carrollton, GA 404 219-6967 or 770-842-4417 Find Us On Facebook: The Vintage Rental Co The Vintage Rental Company has a large selection of beautiful vintage furniture groupings, custom-built tables and benches, vintage dishes and accessories to rent for your next special event. Call for information and availability for your next party, wedding or photo shoot.
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We have been told for years that Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, and it could not be truer when it comes to weddings. Every bride wants to be unique and different on her special day, but with very few exceptions, she drew her inspiration from brides that walked down the aisle before her. We asked our readers and fans to submit their wedding stories and once again the Southern Holiday Life faithful didn't disappoint. We hope you enjoy the following wedding stories and may be even gain a little inspiration for Your BIG DAY! We will continue to accept Wedding submissions throughout the year. For more information, visit our website www.southernholidaylife.com.
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ur wedding took place on a Friday in May. Foxhall Resort was beautiful. A place you visit once and know that is where your wedding will be. Foxhall was the only venue we toured and we fell in love. A traditional wedding in songs, rituals, and vows but at this beautiful venue. The venue was set up on a hill that overlooked the entire resort. You could see small rivers, hills, and lakes for miles.
Crystin Wise & Michael Hollis May 15, 2015
Foxhall Resort & Sporting Club: Legacy Lookout
The weather had been predicting rain for over a week. I was crushed. Luck was however in our favor because it was cloudy for pictures and the sun came out for the ceremony. On the day of the wedding myself, bridesmaids, and close family enjoyed a day in the bridal suite. The groom and groomsmen had a day to shoot skeet and ride four wheelers on the resort.
The pre-ceremony activities were relaxing and fun to prepare us all for a fun night. Our photographer arrived at 11 that morning and captured every moment possible throughout the entire day. I had asked my dad to arrive earlier than the rest of the family. After all we had been through I wanted us to 68
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share a moment to ourselves on this day. I had decided to give my dad a “first look� at me in my wedding dress. This provided us a time to cry tears of happiness and a words of wisdom to be said between us. The words and pictures of this time will forever be close to my heart. My husband and I chose not to do a first look but to read each other a letter we had written the night before. This took place inside our venue with a door in between us so we could only hold hands and not see each other. As tears were shed and laughs were shared I grew more excited to marry this man. After we read our letters we quickly had to split and begin the many pictures. I loved it! Knowing we were making memories we would forever look back on made this process even better for me. Pictures flew by and before I knew it I was being rushed into the bridal sweet to touch up hair and makeup. It was almost time, then there was an accident. While touching up her makeup one of my bridesmaids dropper her liquid foundation on the floor. It shattered and her dress was covered in makeup. My sister rushed over to help and ended up getting makeup on her maid of honor dress. All I could do was laugh. It was almost ceremony time and makeup covered their pretty red dresses. Luckily, with the help of the wedding director, his staff, and dawn dish detergent the dresses were cleaned just in time! It felt like forever standing in the bridal suite waiting for the bridal party to begin out the doors. My dad and I were ushered to the front entrance of Legacy Lookout where we would have a longer walk together. As the wedding director signaled us to come, I froze. I looked up at my dad with tears in my eyes and asked that he say a prayer for the future I am about to begin. Once the prayer was finished butterflies filled my stomach as I now could not stop smiling from excitement.
When we first walked out the doors I was amazed at the people who came to support us. I was at a loss of words seeing this beautiful land set up for my wedding. The flower arrangements, the bridesmaids, and my future husband all looked surreal.
sang it to the bride and groom before going to fix their plates. We rated everyone with a number of kisses. It was great entertainment and kept the lines down at the buffet. Dinner was great and the dancing continued throughout the night.
No wedding can ever go perfectly though... My 2 year old flower girl began to walk down the aisle to quickly turn back around and sit on the ground. Her brothers (the ring bearers) quickly went back to her to get her down the aisle. My mother could not get the unity candle to light because the wind continued to blow out the flame. Once everyone had a good laugh the ceremony continued with ease.
It was time to cut the cake. This was something my husband and I had joked about for months. Was it going in someone’s face? The photographer caught a moment in which my groom was “warning” me not to put the cake in his face, but nothing could have stopped me. Still to this day we laugh about it and look at our cake faced picture in our dining room.
As we kissed for the first time as man and wife we knew it was time to celebrate. Family pictures were taken and the reception had begun. We played a game with our guest during dinner. Each table chose a love song and
The reception was full of dancing, laughing, and fun. The night ended with us walking through sparklers and waves goodbye from all of our family and friends. The best night to begin the rest of my life.
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lake and I met in 2013 while both working for Alabama Power Company, and what started as a friendship turned into a relationship later that year. We were engaged in October 2014 after Blake proposed at home and then surprised me with our closest family and friends for a party at The Peerless in Anniston, AL. We both knew that we did not want a long engagement so a spring wedding seemed right. We set the date for April 25, 2015. When discussing where we would get married many locations came up, but ultimately we desired to be married in Roanoke. Blake’s family friends offered us their home and farm as a venue for the ceremony. White Fence Farms overlooked Roanoke and the moment I stepped into the back yard I knew that was the perfect spot! The view was breathtaking and I could literally picture us standing there on our wedding day. Several people asked me if we would have a back-up plan in case of inclement weather, but I kept insisting that we would not worry about that until the week of the wedding.
Jacki-Lyn & Blake Lowry April 25, 2015
The week leading up to April 25 was a whirlwind. All week the local weather stations were forecasting an elevated risk of severe weather for that Saturday. To say I was worried was an understatement, but I continued to stay positive and pray for the best. As Friday approached I knew that a backup plan had to be made but continued to tell everyone we would wait until the last possible minute to change plans. White Fence Farms was my dream wedding location and I wanted to keep it there if at all possible.
White Fence Farms Roanoke, Alabama
The morning of the wedding I woke up at 4:30 am to a horrible thunderstorm. I checked the radar and felt relief when I realized that the storms would be gone by mid-morning. The day seemed to be shaping up perfectly. It was warm and overcast but not dreadful weather. Around 1 pm my bridesmaids and I headed over to the farm to start pictures. Blake and I had already decided that we would not be seeing each other before the ceremony which was something that we both felt strongly about. As we were finishing photos I decided to look at the forecast for the remainder of the day. That is when I got really worried. The hourly forecast was showing rain to begin around 5 pm. I kept 70
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praying that everything would work out as it should and to stay positive and thankful for our wedding no matter what. Around 3:30pm my photographer approached me and suggested that Blake and I go ahead and see each other. She was so sensitive to my desire to wait but was worried we would not get the photos we wanted if a storm came later that evening. She also made me feel confident that my worries would melt away once we saw each other. When I was walking up to Blake, he was facing away from me. I remember I just wanted to run as fast as I could to see him. I had picked out a dress that I thought he would love. I felt sexy, yet classy. I couldn’t wait for him to see me. As he turned around and I saw his face it was like the biggest sense of calm came over us both. We cried…which is funny because I do not cry happy tears ever. We spent about 5 minutes just standing there talking alone. The photographer said it was one of the most awesome first looks ever and I think the photos she captured really show that. Blake and I then walked away from the photographers for a private moment to pray. I remember we stood in the middle of two large trees and just prayed to God that our marriage would glorify Him. I will never forget that moment with Blake. As guests arrived I saw several members of our wedding party checking their radars. I remember looking once again and saw a band of storms approaching Roanoke for the west. I pulled a few of my bridesmaids together and we all prayed together. I specifically asked the Lord to give us 30 minutes rain free. At this point, we were getting married outside, rain or shine. At 5:30 on the dot, the prelude started and I looked out the window and saw a few rain drops come down. By this time I was at peace with the rain…after all, I was going to leave that ceremony Mrs. Lowry either way! When I walked out of the house with my father, I thought I would be walking in the rain. To my surprise it was not raining. It was dark outside and I could hear thunder approaching but not a drop. The entire ceremony we heard thunder and felt the cool breeze. The last part of our ceremony consisted of us putting together a unity cross made of wood and steel. We had two musicians sing during this part of the ceremony. The song we chose was called This I Promise You. The song was performed for us at our engagement party and I fell in love with the lyrics. As we walked back up to our preacher and stood waiting for the song to be over I felt a rain drop on my shoulder. I remember looking up to the sky and realizing that God was telling us our 30 minutes was up! Preacher Stan looked at us and asked if we wanted him to interrupt the song. We both said yes. He began to speak over the
music and it sounded as if it were planned. I really do not think our guests know that it was not. We shared our first kiss as husband in wife with small raindrops coming down. As we walked down the aisle (very quickly) I thought about how blessed we were. Our family photos were taken immediately following the ceremony. Somehow we managed to get nice pictures in the rain anyway!
We took one large group photo of the wedding party under the same two trees Blake and I had prayed under early that afternoon when a huge bolt of lightning went across the sky. Everyone starting running to their cars at that moment! Blake and I were driven to our reception in an old car owned by John Tinney. Blake’s father drove us and as the rain was pouring down and he couldn’t get the windshield wipers or the defrost to work, we just laughed! It was literally one of the best moments of my life. For all the planning and prepping that went into the wedding, ultimately it all worked out and was out of our control. When we arrived at Blake’s parents’ home in Roanoke the rain had just ended. Everyone was waiting for us and gave us a huge welcome when we got out of the car. I went inside to take the bolero off of my Allure Bridal gown. I wanted to change the look of my dress from classic to a sexier, party look. The sweetheart, mermaid fitted gown was perfect with a sequin belt. I also removed my veil and added red lipstick. For the ceremony I wore a pair of custom sapphire earrings that Blake gifted me at our rehearsal dinner but decided to put on my chandelier style party earrings for the reception. The reception was held at The Barn on the Lowry’s property. The theme of decorations was a rustic, elegance. Every table was decorated uniquely and we had a custom bar and cake house built for us by Blake’s uncle Robie. 300 guests attended and enjoyed live music by The Kurt Thomas Band. We danced the night away until our sparkler send off. Photography by Coton and Clover Photography based in Birmingham. Wedding planning by Venessa Lowry (groom’s mother). Side note: A few days after our ceremony one of the two large trees which are in a lot of our wedding photos fell over.
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women of my family took charge of decorating and planning my wedding and I couldn’t have pictured a more perfect day. Having a 6 o’clock wedding in August, you know it’s going to be hot, but we had fan blowing in the back for circulation. The groom and groomsmen wore vest with their sleeves rolled up and my bridesmaids wore short dresses because of the heat. The day was gorgeous. I rode into the wedding with my dad on his prized possession his Harley Davidson motorcycle. Our son was pulled in on a wagon right before me with a sign saying daddy here comes mommy.
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decided to build my own wedding venue while planning my very own wedding. While it was extremely stressful, I am now a proud owner and operator of my very own special events venue. My wedding was the first held at our venue and I cannot be more proud of how it turned out. I handpicked or created everything in my wedding (including the tables). All buildings were created by my grandfather and all smaller details were completed by my father and husband. My wedding was a mix of rustic romantic. My grandmother made my cake and mismatched fabric napkins for each guest. I had monogrammed pint glasses for favors that my guests loved. Brass candlesticks, vintage china, fabric bunting, and sweet chalkboards are what my wedding was made of. My wedding will be more special to me because of all the love (and sweat) that each member of my family put into it.
Harley Smith & Blake Cummings August 15, 2015 Fetner Farm Roanoke, Alabama
Alex McCrite & Bradley Swinney October 24, 2015 McCrite’s Cottonwood Estate Hampton, Georgia SOUTHERN HOLIDAY LIFE
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ur wedding took place at 5:30pm in the First United Methodist Church in Roanoke, AL. The reception was held on my daddy’s farm.
After Ryan and I got engaged, of course I dove right into finding the perfect venue. After much research and discovering that nothing pleased me for the price we would have to pay, I decided to talk my dad into letting us restore one of his old barns. After much convincing, he caved in and we began the long road to cleaning up the farm. I honestly shoveled hay out of the barn one day! After many, many days of hard work on my family’s part, the wedding day came and went without a hitch! After a rainy MONTH, (it seemed like), May 30th was one of the most beautiful days of the summer. We married in the church that I grew up attending. We were so pleased with the ceremony and the beautiful music. My Spanish teacher from high school and his wife came and played the harps as people entered the church. All of our closest friends took part in the wedding and we danced the night away (literally) to the Route 66 Band. I love to sing, so I got up on stage and sang to Give My Three Steps with the band. We even ended the night riding away on my uncle’s tractor! It was a day that we will never forget!
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had our wedding at our church at 6:30 in the evening on the most beautiful May day you could ever envision under the pavilion on the grounds. The theme for the wedding was Vintage Chic and the colors were mint, coral and different shades of cream. I bought my dress from Simple Elegance in Bowdon, Ga. We got our tan tuxedos and mint colored Bridesmaid dresses from there as well. Two of my family members did all of the flower bouquets and arrangements. We used The Vintage Rental Company in Carrollton, Ga. for several pieces we wanted to incorporate in the wedding that included a deep coral Victorian style couch, chandeliers, isle runners, etc... At the reception, we did a barbecue buffet with macaroni and cheese, chips and baked beans. There is not one thing I would change about my wedding other than to be able to relive the day again and again. We kept it in a well controlled budget but I was still able to get everything I wanted. I feel like many brides think that in order to have a beautiful wedding you have to spend a lot of money, but working with the vendors that I chose and doing lots of DIY projects I was able to get the wedding of my dreams.
Mallory McMurray & Ryan Stewart May 30, 2015 Roanoke, Alabama
Rebekah & Mitchell Bailey May 9, 2015 Liberty Baptist Church SOUTHERN HOLIDAY LIFE
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4th of July Southern BBQ by SHEA GOLDSTEIN, DIXIECHIKCOOKS.COM Here in the South, we definitely have our tried and true traditions; fireworks, family gatherings, good beverages and of course, BBQ. Sometimes I like to switch things up a bit from the regular Independence Day fare. I’ve put together several mouthwatering, crowd pleasing recipes for this year’s July 4th cookout. Let’s start with a fun appetizer, Watermelon and Wine Pepper Jelly – how fun! Serve this over cream cheese and scoop with crackers or pita chips.
Watermelon and Wine Pepper Jelly 6 cups chopped watermelon (Bradford Watermelons) 1 1/4 cups “Adele” Muscadine Wine (Mercer House Estate Winery) 1/4 cup red wine vinegar 12 jalapeno peppers, sliced 2 cups raw local honey (Bell Honey Company)
2 cups sorghum syrup (Carolina Bay Farms) 1 package Sure-Jell (powdered pectin) 1 t butter 10 whole cloves 2 cinnamon sticks
Place whole cloves and cinnamon sticks in a spice bag. Pour honey and sorghum syrup in a small sauce pan and add spice bag. Bring to a simmer and cook 20-30 minutes or until spices are well infused in the honey/sorghum. Remove from heat and set aside (do not remove spice bag). In a large stock pot, add watermelon, muscadine wine, red wine vinegar, jalapeno peppers, butter and Sure-Jell. Bring to a rolling boil over medium high heat, stirring often. Remove spice bag from honey/sorghum mixture and discard. Add honey/sorghum mixture to watermelon and return to a rolling boil. Boil hard 5 minutes. Remove from heat and ladle into prepared canning jars. Top with lids and seals and process in a boiling water bath 10 minutes. Remove jars and let rest on your kitchen counter-top 24 hours undisturbed. Jars are sealed when button in middle of lid is completely depressed. Store in pantry up to one year. Opened jars must be refrigerated. Courtesy cookingwithmaryandfriends. com 76
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Salsa Grilled Shrimp 1 lb — Extra large (16-21 ct) shrimp, peeled and deveined ½ cup — Tomato-based salsa Extra virgin olive oil 6-8 — Bamboo skewers, soaked in water for about 20 minutes Skewer 5-6 shrimp near the tails, then — with another skewer — near the tops. (Make sure they are fairly close together, as in the photo.) Place skewers over a wide bowl, so that shrimp are suspended, and refrigerate for about an hour.
Buffalo Bleu Burgers Burgers: 1 lb. ground round 2 T Worcestershire sauce 2 oz. crumbled blue cheese (I used Stilton) Salt and Pepper 4 Brioche buns, split in half 1 ripe tomato, sliced
Heat grill to high. If using charcoal, pile it high so that grill is very hot. (We're going to cook these shrimp very quickly.) Brush shrimp liberally with olive oil. Place skewered shrimp on hot grill and cook for about 3 minutes. Turn to grill the other side; baste grilled side liberally with salsa. After grilling 1 minute on the other side, shrimp should be mostly pink. Flip one more time and baste other side with salsa. Turn off heat and allow shrimp to rest on grill for about a minute. Serve with lime wedges as an appetizer. Serve over a bed of buttered rice as a main dish. Courtesy unorthodoxepicure.com
Buffalo sauce (I use Moore's - my favorite) Slaw: 1 bag angel hair cabbage 1 1/2 cups mayo 2 jalapenos, diced (or maybe 1 depending on how big and how much heat you like) 1/3 cup tomato, finely diced 1/4 cup yellow onion, diced Salt and pepper to taste Combine the ground round, Worcestershire sauce and blue cheese, salt and pepper. Grill burgers until done. Make slaw by mixing all ingredients; salt and pepper. To assemble burger, add a tomato slice to bottom bun, followed by blue cheese crumbles, burger, slaw and drizzle with buffalo sauce. Courtesy dixiechikcooks.com
Grilled Pork Tenderloin The BEST Potato Salad 3 pounds red potatoes, washed and cut into chunks 1 1/2 cup mayo 1/2 block cream cheese, at room temperature 1 T horseradish sauce (not prepared, but the sauce you find near the mayo) 1/4 Vidalia (yellow) onion, diced 1/4 cup hamburger sliced pickles, diced 1/4 cup green olives, diced 1/4 cup jarred pickled jalapeno slices, diced 4 bacon slices, crumbled (feel free to use more if you're a bacon lover) 3 sprigs fresh Rosemary - stems removed 3 sprigs fresh Thyme - stems removed Bring a dutch oven to a boil over high heat, drizzle with olive oil and add the potatoes. Boil until fork tender. If you have a stand mixer, it will definitely come in handy right now. If not, use a large mixing bowl with a big wooden spoon. Drain the potatoes and dump into the mixer (or bowl). Add the rest of the ingredients and combine on “stir” for just a minute or two – we don’t want mashed potatoes. Salt and pepper to taste. Courtesy dixiechikcooks.com Shea Goldstein, of Dixie Chik Cooks, is one of the newest contributors for Southern Holiday Life. She is a selfproclaimed Southern Belle who’s “thinking about what’s for dinner while eating lunch.” She began her blog in 2010 as a way to document her recipes for her children and family members as well as share her food and culinary experiences with others.
1 3-4 Pound Pork Tenderloin ½ Cup BBQ Sauce (I like Sweet Baby Rays) ¼ Cup Grape Jelly 2 T Sriracha Sauce (Or Your Favorite Hot Sauce) 2 T Worcestershire Sauce 1 Clove Garlic, Minced 1 Teaspoon Black Pepper I In a large bag whisk together BBQ sauce, grape jelly, Sriracha Sauce, Worcestershire Sauce, garlic, and pepper. Place pork tenderloin in a large ziploc bag. Pour half of sauce mixture over the pork. Remove air from bag. Marinate for at least 1 hour in the fridge. (Can leave it set overnight if you'd prefer too!). Store remaining marinade in an airtight container in the fridge. Grill or bake pork tenderloin for 40-50 minutes or until it reaches an internal temperature of 160 degrees F. Let rest for 5-10 minutes. Brush with additional sauce before serving and/ or serve with sauce on the side for dipping. Courtesy bakingbeauty.com
Naughty Girl Cabbage Salad 8 cups savoy cabbage, loosely packed and shredded 1 cup cucumbers, diced (skin on—use English cucumber) 1 cup fennel & fronds, sliced thinly 1/3 cup green onions, with tops, sliced thinly 1 cup dried cranberries ½ cup dried mangoes, diced 1 cup parmesan reggiano, freshly grated ¼ cup capers, drained Dressing 1 t sea salt 1 t coarse ground pepper ½ cup Greek yogurt, plain ¼ cup fresh ginger, grated 2 T garlic, minced 1/3 cup apricot fruit jam ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil 2 t serrano pepper, minced 2 lemons, juice In a very large bowl, combine the cabbage, cucumbers, fennel, green onions, cranberries, mangoes, parmesan, caper and toss together with your hands. In a medium size bowl, combine the salt, pepper, yogurt, ginger, garlic, jam, olive oil, serrano pepper and lemon juice. Whisk together until a smooth creamy mixture. Pour about 2/3 to ¾ of the dressing on the salad and toss well. Reserve the remaining dressing for individual drizzles when serving. Courtesy allyskitchen.com
…more recipes on Page 78.
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Boozy Mint Chocolate Chip Root Beer Floats This recipe for Mint Chocolate Chip Ice Cream (for 4 servings use 1 regular ice cream scoop each) Pinnacle Whipped Vodka, about 1 oz per serving, but to your discretion ;) Diet root beer (or feel free to use regular root beer, but that's what I used) Whipped cream Maraschino cherries Sprinkles Make the ice cream according to directions. Place one scoop into a glass, add vodka, root beer (until the glass is full), add whipped cream and top with a cherry and sprinkles. Serve. Courtesy dixiechikcooks.com
Wasabi Sriracha Deviled Eggs
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Cherry Coke Float Cupcakes For the Cupcakes: 1½ cups all-purpose flour 3 T cocoa powder ½ t baking soda ¼ t salt ¾ cup granulated sugar ½ cup unsalted butter, at room temperature 1 egg ½ cup buttermilk ¾ cup Coke (don’t use diet) 1½ t vanilla extract 1 (21-ounce) can cherry pie filling For the Glaze: ¾ cup powdered sugar 2 T Coke For the Icing: 1 cup heavy whipped cream 4 T powdered sugar Maraschino Cherries, for garnish
6 eggs, hard boiled 1 cup mayo 1 T wasabi powder + a tiny bit of water to make a paste 1 squirt Sriracha 1 T salt One handful rice noodles (they're translucent) 2 T canola oil
1. Make the Cupcakes: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F and line a standard muffin pan with paper liners; set aside. 2. Sift together flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt in a small bowl and set aside. 3. In a mixing bowl, combine the sugar and butter and beat on medium-high until light and creamy, about 3 minutes. Add the egg and beating for an additional minute. In a large mixing cup or small bowl, combine the buttermilk, Coke and vanilla extract. (Make sure you wait for the foam to go down when measuring the Coke and don't worry if your mixture looks curdled when you add the buttermilk.) 4. Beginning with the flour mixture, add in 4 parts to the butter mixture, alternating with the Coke mixture. Beat each addition just until incorporated. Give the final mixture a good mix with a rubber spatula to make sure it is thoroughly combined. 5. Divide the batter evenly between the muffins tins. Bake for 18-20 minutes, or until the tops spring back when touched lightly and a toothpick inserted in the center cupcake comes out clean. Cool for 5 minutes in the pan and then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely. 6. Fill the Cupcakes: Once cooled, use a paring knife to cut out a cone shape in the middle of each cupcake. Add a spoonful of cherry mixture (2 to 3 cherries) to the well. 7. Glaze the Cupcakes: In a small bowl whisk together the powdered sugar and coke. Let sit 5 to 10 minutes to thicken. It should drip off of a soon very slowly. Using a small offset spatula, drizzle a little of the glaze onto the middle of each cupcake and then gently spread it over the top. 8. Frost the Cupcakes: Beat the heavy whipping cream in a chilled bowl with whisk attachment (or hand mixer), beginning on low speed. Once the cream gets frothy begin adding the powdered sugar, 1 tablespoon at a time, increasing speed as the cream comes together until you reach medium-high speed. Whip the cream until it holds stiff peaks (if you dip a spoon in it, the whipped cream should stay on the spoon when you turn it upside down). Pipe the whipped cream onto cupcakes as desired and top with maraschino cherries for garnish. Courtesy dixiechikcooks.com (recipe adapted from browneyedbaker.com)
Cut eggs in half and remove yolks, transferring to a mixing bowl. Reserve the whites on a serving plate. Combine the yolks, mayo, wasabi paste, Sriracha and salt. Spoon mixture into each egg white equally, cover and refrigerate. Heat the oil over medium high heat in a saute pan. Add noodles, and cook until slightly brown and crispy, about 30 seconds - turning with tongs frequently to prevent burning. Transfer to a paper towel lined plate to let drain. When ready to serve, break rice noodles into small pieces to garnish deviled eggs. Courtesy dixiechikcooks.com
I recently read an article talking about how Vegas weddings were on a decline. It’s still the number one place to get married in the country, so why the decline? This question hasn’t really been answered, just theorized. I’ve only been to Vegas once and I was under 21 (I still snuck in a slot machine or two), but I can tell you that the city depicted in films doesn’t compare to the awesomeness that is the Vegas Strip. Before the Wolf Pack hit the town in 2009, Vegas was already up to no good and that can clearly be seen in 1992’s “Honeymoon In Vegas.” Nicolas Cage is noncommittal, but his girlfriend, Sarah Jessica Parker, is giving him an ultimatum. He opts for wedding bliss and off to the city of sin it is. Once there though, he’s conned by Caan, James Caan that is, and loses over $60k in a card game and Caan asks for a weekend with his fiancé to pay off his debt. Complete with adventure, thrills, a five-year old Bruno Mars’ musical performance as Elvis (YouTube it!), Hawaii and a skydiving group of Elvis’s, this is one film you can’t miss or must revisit!
Honeymoon In Vegas (1992)
Here Comes the Bride... in the movies! by Andy Petty Andy Petty is a true movie lover, on a lifelong mission to see any and all films in no particular order and to know all things related to creating a motion picture that can change your life.
The year 2003 made Vegas cool again with the creation of “What Happens In Vegas, Stays In Vegas” slogan and ad campaign. With that “anything goes” mentality, the sin city was now a hot bed for films containing endless shenanigans. “What Happens In Vegas” is a cautionary tale about how the city and its many vices can alter your mind and accidentally get you to say “I do.” Don’t worry, it’s a comedy, with Ashton Kutcher and Cameron Diaz having too much fun on the town and winding up hitched before they soberingly discover they can’t stand each other. Matters worsen when Diaz wins $3 million on a slot machine and suddenly their plan is foiled by fate to get divorced.
What Happens in Vegas (2008)
The following year led to the greatest Vegas disaster flick of all time, “The Hangover, “ but instead of talking Vegas, let’s shift to a wedding-themed genre all its own, the Bachelor/Bachelorette party. 2009’s “The Hangover” became the highest grossing R-rated comedy in history following 4 buddies who go to Vegas for a bachelor party. Instead of going the typical route of showing us what actually happened that night,
The Hangover (2009)
we instead see the next morning and the disappearance of the groom-to-be. It spawned two sequels and a Golden Globe for Best Comedy/Musical. Now, bachelors aren’t the only ones who can wreak some wedding havoc, and while 2011’s “Bridesmaids” didn’t quite make it to Vegas (our made-of-honor got a little wacky on the plane), pure comedy heaven still ensued throughout. Kristen Wiig plays Annie and she’s thrown in a whirlwind of tasks and duties to make her best friend Lillian’s wedding the best ever. The only problem is she’s broke, jobless and threatened by the other bridesmaids. Made up of mostly slapstick humor, the movie also contains unexpected heart and truth when dealing with the wedding process. Friends and family from both sides …con’t on page 80 of the aisle are thrown together for the
Bridesmaids (2011)
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…con’t from page 87
special event and it can often be a scary and tedious experience. Audiences embraced “Bridesmaids” and it made the box office champion of today, Melissa McCarthy, a star and earned her a Best Supporting Actress Oscar nod from the Academy. So, having talked about the most known bachelor and bachelorette comedies of all time, I just want to take a moment and recommend their independent twins that are just as fun. If you loved “The Hangover,” check out “I Hope They Serve Beer In Hell,” based on a New York Times #1 Bestseller from Tucker Max. The bridesmaids are up to no good, and let me stress no good, in “Bachelorette.” They’re mean, jealous and cruel to the core to their supposed best friend and bride-to-be while throwing her a bachelorette party, but we can all find a little humanity in their actions...slightly, and in a little dark comedy produced by Will Ferrell and Adam McKay.
I Hope They Serve Beer In Hell (2009)
So, if you survive the engagement and the bachelor/ bachelorette parties and the big day has finally arrived, there is only one thing left…Say “I do” to some of my favorite wedding themed movies in the past few decades. Since we all need a little Steve Martin and Diane Keaton involved with our wedding day, let’s begin with “Father of the Bride.” This 1992 remake gave us the Walt Disney version of what it’s like to have love and support from our family. Throw in a comedically talented wedding planner, having the fortune to get married in your childhood backyard and then watch the magic unfold. I love how a remake can become a new classic and that is definitely the case here.
Father of the Bride (1992)
Speaking of wedding planner, 2001’s “The Wedding Planner” is another favorite of mine. Jennifer Lopez plays an uptight planner that takes her job very seriously, but is sidetracked when she is saved from a near fatal traffic accident involving none other than Matthew McConaughey. Turns out McConaughey’s character is a pediatrician which definitely doesn’t hurt, save one tiny hiccup? He also happens to be the fiancé to her latest client. What could possibly go wrong?
The Wedding Planner (2001)
Now, actress Anne Hathaway has quickly become the millennials answer to America’s Sweetheart, she’s also been the subject of two completely different wedding themed films. First off, let’s start with the darker side, a more
Rachel Getting Married (2008)
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gritty vision of a wedding party that deals with family secrets and harboring feelings toward one another. “Rachel Getting Married” is a story about a young woman played by Hathaway as Kym, who is released from drug rehab to attend her sisters wedding, only to be met with the things she so desperately wants to move past in this powerful drama. Without revealing too much, Kym isn’t liked very much in the family, and though she loves and wants to be a part of them, a constant clash of resentment exists. Hathaway earned an Oscar Nomination for her role, and while a tough film to watch, it’s rewarding all the way to the very end. Anne Hathaway then traded her darker side for a comedic one the following year with “Bride Wars,” a film that proves just how important location matters for the big day. Hathaway plays perfectly well alongside Kate Hudson, two best friends who want to be married at New York City’s Plaza Hotel, a 20-year wish.
Bride Wars (2009)
As fate would have it, they get engaged the same year and now it’s time to plan, but a clerical issue with the planner has accidentally placed them getting married the same day. Friends become enemies and the war has just begun in this PG-rated comedy.
And there’s more... There is no doubt I’ve left some of the best wedding themed greats of all time out. I know there is too much to tackle here. Dust off that DVD shelf and show the youngsters the great Julia Roberts combo of “My Best Friend’s Wedding” and “Runaway Bride,” two great 90s classics. One of my favorite wedding party scenes isn’t “Wedding Crashers,” although a great movie, but is the 2003 Will Smith comedy “Hitch,” playing over the credits of the film as they dance to Heavy D & The Boyz “Now That We Found Love.” Weddings also come in all different cultures from around the world. For instance, have you ever been to a Punjabi Hindu wedding? Check out “Monsoon Wedding” for an amazing movie experience from India. And last but not least, “My Big Fat Greek Wedding,” the highest grossing independent comedy of them all is coming back to the big screen this May and I can’t wait to see what the Potokalos family is up to now, some fifteen years later in the sequel “My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2.”•
Tracy Carpenter lives in Wedowee and loves to create regardless of the outlet. She likes to draw, paint, bake and cook.
Keeping It Simple
As winter fades and spring takes off, this welcome change of seasons also provides a time to ponder positive changes for your life. On a physical level, I often feel an urge to “spring clean” to get all the cobwebs and dirt out of neglected corners when the sunlight shines through our picture windows. However, as the hours seem to fly by faster and faster, I’ve realized there is truly only so much we can do in a day, week or month. There are many things you can do to simplify your life, get organized, plan ahead, limit your time on your phone and computer. Personally, one of the hardest things for me to do is to simplify my meals so I can enjoy company more. Don’t get me wrong. I love having family and friends visit but by the time they arrive I’m too exhausted from cleaning and preparing meals to enjoy our guests to their fullest. Kelly Caldwell, editor of Southern Holiday Life, frequently shares her single-girl adaptations to my meals. and it is teaching me meals can be simple and still be good.
Avocado Grilled Chicken Salad with Black Bean & Corn Salsa GRILLED CHICKEN SALAD 2 Cups of Tyson Grilled and Ready Chicken Chunks or Strips 1 Avocado, Diced 1-2 Cups homemade Black Bean Salsa (or store bought if you are in a hurry) Salt to taste Queso Blanco Cheese Melted Thaw and warm the chicken pieces according to instructions on the package. Once warmed I like to cut the chicken into smaller pieces but you don’t have to. Add the avocado and black bean salsa to the chicken and gently mix.
Here’s a recipe she gave me that is light, quick, versatile and sure to please. It is perfect for a picnic, unexpected company or just a quick meal on the deck with family after a long day at work. Give it a try, add whatever your tastebuds are craving and make it your own but above all else — keep it simple.
BLACK BEAN & CORN SALSA 2 cans black beans drained and rinsed 2 cans yellow corn drained 1 can Rotel tomatoes
1 bunch cilantro chopped package of taco seasoning olive oil
Mix canned ingredients. Add cilantro. Drizzle taco seasoning and olive oil over mixture. Refrigerate overnight if possible to let flavors meld. You can also add chopped cherry tomatoes if you like. Here are a few of the many ways you can serve this dish: As a chip dip, paired with Tostitos • Added to a bed of lettuce in a taco salad bowl and topped with white cheese and sour cream • In a burrito or taco • Lettuce wraps • Top a plate of pasta • Put in mini fillo shells for an appetizer SOUTHERN HOLIDAY LIFE
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Where in the South is that?
Andy Petty always takes his camera when traveling through the South. Can you guess where he visited this issue? We will help by listing the towns.
A
B
Atlanta, GA Blue Ridge, GA Buchanan, GA Carrollton, GA Centre, Alabama Douglasville, GA Dublin, GA Morrow, GA Pigeon Forge, TN Turin, GA Villa Rica, GA
D
(Hint: Atlanta, Carrollton and Villa Rica were used twice.)
You can find the answers at southernholidaylife.com
E
C F
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Southern Brand Favorites
Southern Brand Favorites is our way of introducing readers to incredible entrepreneurs and products made right here in the South. The criteria to be a Southern Brand Favorite is simple we have to love the product, it has to be made in the South, and it’s available to purchase in the Southern Holiday Life market area.
Dixie Belle Paint Company
Dixie Belle Paint Company is located in Land o Lakes, Fla. and has a line of beautiful chalk mineral paint in designer colors, several glazes and clear coat products that are "easy peasy" to use. New colors and glazes are being developed and continually being added to the line for more choices and customization. The newest colors include Tea Rose, Terra Cotta, Mud Puddle, Apricot, Amethyst, Bunker Hill Blue and Daisy. Earlier this spring, DBP introduced its Best DANG Wax! The wax is eco-friendly with No Petroleum distillates and no toxins. The DBP girls even use the clear wax in the office to soften their hands! Dixie Belle Paint can be used on wood, metal, laminate, and glass, ceramic; you name it, with no prep work! All water based with soap and water cleanup. How does Dixie Belle Paint work? Dixie Belle Paint has superb adhesion qualities which allow you to skip the sanding and priming prep work required of other paints. Using 150-220 grit sandpaper, sand the edges, high points and area where there would be normal wear. Dixie Belle Paint will simply fade away. A large jar will cover a large size dresser and 2 nightstands, the small jar, a coffee and 2 end tables. Dixie Belle Paint is thick and adding small amount water as you paint is recommended. Doing that will also make it last longer! Check out the website www.DixieBellePaint.com for instructional videos and tips.
Mama’s Secret Cookies
Mama's Secret Cookies are fantastic little cookies that have recently been made available to the public in East Alabama. The Secrets as the family named them many years ago have just the right amount of sweetness. Secrets are pure Southern goodness baked into small round balls and dusted with powder sugar. Secrets were first baked in South Alabama but are now baked in small batches in Auburn Alabama. Irma "Mama" Robinson, explains that for three generations, our family’s contribution to social events has been the melt-inyour mouth creations they call Secrets. And I learned early of their importance says Irma. "My grandmother served them as the last delight at her parties. My Mama served them at every baby and bridal shower and even gave them as wedding gifts to the bride and grooms to enjoy. Secrets are not to be saved only for special occasions. They’re perfect for any gathering: from weddings to tailgates, potlucks to gifts. Secrets are a favorite everywhere they’re served. Mama says “you best be careful when eatin’ Secrets because the fine white suga’ will tell on you if you’re not careful! The Mama’s Secret Cookies brand is growing and showing up in new stores every week. Be sure to check out their Facebook page and www. MamasSecretCookies.com for new store locations.
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Shopping Guide
Dixie Belle Paint Company Birds of a Feathe r in
Oxford, AL in Griffin, GA Cathy’s Bargain and Consignmen t in Lucedale, M S Junk Mama’s Gen eral Store in Faye tteville, GA Lexington Vinta ge in Athens, G A Off the Beaten Pa th Antiques & G ifts in McCalla, AL Southern Holid ay Shop in Wed owee, AL Online at www.D ixieBellePaint.c om Broad Street M ill
Mississippi Miracle Clay
From the depths of the earth... truly a miracle of healing. Mississippi Miracle Clay is a rare magnesium bentonite clay that formed from the ashes of a volcano a million years ago. It contains many minerals used for healing, detoxification and other therapeutic purposes. The company offers a variety of skin-care products but our favorites are the Muscle and Joint Mineral Rub and the Hydrated Clay. Leisel Caldwell, general manager of Southern Holiday Life, used the mineral rub on her back after a full day of walking on concrete and the soreness was gone! Another fan of the product swears it's a A MUST HAVE for us "older girls" She tried everything she could get her hands on for acne, dry skin & wrinkles. At 54 she still had all three. She used the original soap & the clay for 2+ years but not devotedly nor exclusively. Then, she ordered the Southern Beauty Set along with an extra bar of soap for the shower and used it as directed. The acne completely cleared and people noticed a difference in her complexion in two weeks!
Mama’s Secret Cookies
Southern Holid ay
Shop in Wedow ee, AL Online at www.M amasSecretCoo kies.com See Facebook pa ge for additional locations
Mississippi Miracle Clay
Southern Holid ay
Shop in Wedow ee, AL Online at www.M ississippiMiracle Clay.com See Facebook pa ge for additional locations
Mudd Puddles Pottery
Southern Holid ay
Shop in Wedow ee, AL Online at www.M uddPuddlesPott ery.com See Facebook pa ge for additional locations
Southern Sister’s Gourmet
Southern Holid ay
Shop in Wedow ee, AL Junk Mama’s Gen eral Store in Faye tteville, GA Online at www.S outhernSistersG ourmet.com
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continued! Mudd Puddles Pottery
Simply Southern Pottery made in Winston County, Alabama by two Southern Girls. Mudd Puddles Pottery is beautifully functional stoneware handmade in northwest Alabama. Many of our pieces represent the best of the south; monograms (What Southern girl doesn't love monograms?!), Crosses, Leaves, Cotton Bolls and Magnolias. Each piece is wheelthrown or hand-built. The pottery balances form and function to bring grace and utility to each piece of pottery. It is food-safe, microwaveable, oven-proof, dishwasher-safe and lead free.
Southern Sisters Gourmet
Southern Sisters Gourmet is full of personality and passion for their gourmet food business located in Mississippi. Sister Claire Easley is the mixologist for the dips and mixes and Sister Kay Allison is the marketing guru and photographer for the team. The “Sisters” definitely know how to make great food that is easy to prepare. The mixes and dip only need a few simple ingredients added to have a spectacular appetizer, salad, dessert, or main course. Get ready to fall in love with this easy as ever Southern Chicken Salad. Chicken salad in the South is the quintessential dish to have at wedding receptions or bridal showers. Like a wedding itself, it can be all gussied up for a frilly affair or dressed down for an weeknight meal. We have eaten it on crackers, made sandwiches, stuffed tomatoes, made salads, and eaten it with forks! Well, our Southern Chicken Salad is now our best seller, the making of it taken over by Bill, Claire’s husband. Bill handpacks each one that goes to our customers. A quarter cup of southern grown pecans goes into each bag. And while we think it’s pretty in the package, your friends and family will delight at just how yummy it tastes.
You will love how easy this incredible product is to make your own. With the addition of grapes, apples, crushed pineapple or raisins, a sweet salad can be made. Pickle relish can be added for a totally different savory taste. You are the gourmet chef! It’s your decision! 86
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A D V E R T I S E R S ’
Affordable Tire and Repair, 39
GLL Marine, 16
Mama’s Secrets, 50
Alabama Street Makers, 47
Gypsy, 47 Halls Gas, 33
Memories In The Making Vintage Car Rental, 62
Happy Trails Restaurant, 33
Mississippi Miracle Clay, 5
HM Drugs, 18 HM Drugs, 20
Mudd Puddles Pottery, 30
HM Drugs, 53
Norton’s Floor Covering, 30
Boondocks, 24
HM Drugs, 8
Broad Street Mill, 43
Junk Mama’s General Store, 48
Off the Beaten Path Antiques and Gifts, 46
Bank of Wedowee, 38 Best Brands Plus, 33 Birds of a Feather, 48 Bonner Heating and Air, 39
D I R E C T O R Y
Steve Morris, Attorney at Law, 26 Summer Rains on Main, 26 Superior Gas, 26 Superior Pest Control, 88 Tabletalk of Willowdale, 45 Tanner Health System, 4
Perryland Foods, 29
The Barn at Buffalo Creek, 52
Just a Little Frosting, 51
Plan-It Hannah, 50
The Nest, 45
Chad Lee, Attorney at Law, 39
Kudzu Creative Designs, 74
Rice Pavilion, 53
Charles Thompson Contruction, Back Cover
Lake Wedowee Body Shop, 32
Russell Do It Center, 13
The Vintage Rental Company, 61
Russell Lands, 9
Traylor Retirement Community, 10
Lake Wedowee Life, 88
Cultivate Create, 38
Simple Elegance, 72
TREC, 20
Lakeside Market and Grill, 16
Small Town Bank, 12
Two Guys a Girl Attic to Antiques, 44
Cathy’s Bargain and Consignment Shop, 47
Dari Delite, 38 Dixie Belle Paint, 42 Dixie Chik Cooks, 32
Leisa Williams Waldrep, RE/MAX Lakefront, 28
Southeastern Quilt and Textile Museum, 24
Walker Cadillac Buick GMC, 3
Lexington Vintage, 46
Southern Holiday Life, 50
Dr. Michael Edwards, 30
Linda and Grady Stone, RE/MAX Lakefront, 24
Southern Holiday Shop, 37
Wedowee Building Supplies, 88
EHC Pharmacy, 19
Lineville Clinic, 32
Feathers & Twigs, 46
Little Black Dress, 30
Southern Holiday Shop, 87
Wedowee Lake and Lands, 8
First Bank, 18
Lowry’s Drugs and Gifts, 37
Southern Home Comfort, 29
Wedowee Landscape, 18
Main Street Animal Hospital, 32
Southern Sisters Gourmet, 43
Wedowee Marine, Inside Front Cover
Main Street Coffee Shop, 28
Southern Union State Community College, 12
Wehadkee Trade Days, 44
Main Street Food Mart, 13
State Farm Insurance, Ken Seiffert, 33
WM Grocery, 56 and Inside Back Cover
Docks Plus More, 39
First Capital Insurance, 38 Fort McClellan Credit Union, 20 Frank Goolsby, Better Homes and Garden, 10 Genesis Weight Loss, 37
Waste Solutions, 20
Steele Chiropractic, 26 SOUTHERN HOLIDAY LIFE
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Moss & Floral Monogram Letter This fun project is simple and inexpensive, will look wonderful for a front entry as well as for a wedding or shower, and adds a beautiful personal touch to your space. And what Southern lady doesn’t love a monogram?
Step 1: Using the dry brush method, paint the sides of the letter with paint color of your choice. White acrylic paint was used for this project. This doesn’t have to be perfect. Leaving a little of the cardboard showing makes the finish look aged. Step 2: Cut the sheet moss to size to cover only the top of the letter. Hot glue into place, making sure there are no gaps in coverage. 90
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For weddings, make his and hers initials, spell out the word ‘love’, or even the entire last name. This project would be perfect for the front doors of a church, hung in an outdoor setting on a tree or limb, or used at the reception. Personalize your moss and floral monogram with your wedding colors and flowers.
What You’ll Need: Cardboard letter Sheet moss or bagged moss Ribbon Flowers Hot glue gun and hot glue Paint and paintbrush
Step 3: Add your flowers, ribbon and any other embellishment you might like to the front of your letter. Step 4: Hot glue ribbon to the back of the letter for hanging.