Northern Belle

Here is the second installment of my guest writers.  They are given the words "Southern Belle" and then write whatever comes to mind.  This one is written by my best friend Noel.  Enjoy!

I spent the better part of my childhood and teenage years fighting against anything and everything southern. I hated the country roads. I hated the accents. I hated the music, from southern rock to pop country. I hated people calling me “Darlin” and “Sweetheart,” and I most certainly hated the fact that I was born and raised in the south. (Food didn’t count though. I loved the food.) This is of course very natural – to rebel against what you’re given. Every other place on earth seems far more interesting than what you’re surrounded by. I wanted to be a California surfer girl. Or live in New York City. Or be in a military family and live all around the world. Anything but the Deep South. I didn’t know WHY I hated it so much. I guess I just thought the grass was greener on the other side. Or maybe I just needed a reason to be unhappy. I tried to escape the south when I went to college, but a full scholarship brought me to the University of Georgia. I tried to escape the south when I got my first job, but a once-in-a-lifetime intern opportunity pulled me right back in. I tried to escape the south by switching jobs, but the most amazing person ever came waltzing right into my life. The nerve. Finally, a little over two years ago, said amazing person and I moved to New York City. I had waited for this all of my life. I may have cried a little. And that’s when – big surprise – my appreciation for the south grew. I became PROUD of where I grew up. I finally saw the beauty in those country roads and the delightfulness of a sweet Southern Belle accent. I would tell my coworkers stories of my childhood, exposing them to things unfamiliar to them. And I ran around with a big pot of grits, forcing them down New Yorker’s throats while screaming, “They’re the best thing EVER!” As crazy as it sounds, I have become more of a Southern Belle since I moved to New York City. I have become more aware of my hosting ability and more conscious of gift giving and thank-you notes. I make collards and grits on a weekly basis. I sew. And most of all, I love visiting the south and surrounding myself with the people that help make the south what it is. Southern Belles make it a unique place, which is why embracing those traditional qualities is so important. Though I might be watching from afar, I no longer suppress any form of southern-ness that I experience.

I may not be your typical Southern Belle, but I was raised in the south. And there are some things that just don’t leave you, no matter how far you go.

Noel is an advertising copywriter living in New York City with her wonderful boyfriend, Austin, and their dog Dagmar.  She will one day travel the entire globe and probably be voted president of at least two countries she visits.  She is currently completing 30 challenges given to her by her friends on her 29th birthday, and you can keep up with her adventures on her blog, Year of 30 Challenges. Be sure to check out her incredible photography on her etsy shop,aperturious, and buy a print before they're in MOMA and cost a million dollars apiece.*





*Bio written by Charity - sorry, I can't help but brag on her!  :)

Coca Cola Cupcakes

Happy almost-February, y'all!  I am so sorry I've been so slack in my posting; I tend to get stressed in January because I make resolutions that I can't keep because I overwhelm myself.  Anyway, here's to getting back in to the swing of things!
I've been trying to get into cooking and baking more, since it's healthier and way less expensive than eating out.  I started thinking about desserts my Mema (all southerners have a mema, or memaw, it's the law) made when I was growing up, and one thing she made, which I understand is a southern tradition, is a 7-Up pound cake.  However, I got sidetracked (surprise!) and found a recipe for Coca Cola Cupcakes.  There's nothing more southern than Coca Cola, and these were delicious and made a TON, so I took most of them to work.  They're great with a cup of coffee for a midmorning snack, or warmed with vanilla ice cream as a dessert with guests.  The marshmallows and coca cola make the batter seem like it'll be too watery, but they are the most light, moist cupcakes ever!  Here's the recipe, have fun!

Coca Cola Cupcakes



Cupcakes

1 C Coca Cola

1/2 C butter

1/2 C vegetable oil

1/4 C powdered cocoa

22 large marshmallows

2 C all-purpose flour

2 C sugar

1 tsp baking soda

1 tsp vanilla

1 C buttermilk

2 large eggs, beaten

Preheat oven to 325.  Line cupcake tins with cupcake liners (the silver metallic ones work best for this recipe).

In a small saucepan, mix cola, butter, oil, and cocoa.  Bring to a boil, remove from heat, add marshmallows.  Cover with lid until marshmallows begin to melt, stir well.

In a large mixing bowl, combine flour, sugar, and baking soda.  Add buttermilk, eggs, vanilla, and mix well.  Add ingredients from part one.  Spoon the batter into cupcake liners until they are approximately 2/3 full.  Bake at 325 for 20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.  Cool completely before frosting.

Frosting

1/4 C powdered cocoa

6 TBSP Coca Cola

1/2 C butter

1 1-lb box of powdered sugar

1 C chopped pecans (optional)

1 tsp vanilla

In a medium saucepan, mix coca, cola, and butter.  Heat over medium until melted, then bring to a boil.  Remove from heat, then add powdered sugar, pecans, and vanilla.  stir until well blended.  Let frosting cool until it's thick enough to frost cupcakes.

*I almost skipped the frosting when I made them because sometimes that overdoes the sweetness for me, but these cupcakes NEED the frosting.  It'll be very runny when you first cook it, but give it maybe 15 minutes or so to thicken up.  I just spooned it onto the cupcakes - not particularly "pretty,"  but DELICIOUS.  I did skip the pecans this time, and they were still great.

**I also need to let you know that these passed the "Husband Test" - my darling Blake ate about a dozen of these on his own!

Holiday Cheer

Happy Weekend, y'all!  At this time of year, it's important to keep our "Belle Hats" on, but it's as difficult as it is important.  There are so many ways this month that we can make people around us feel good, make our homes welcoming, and feel good!
It may seem like it goes without saying, but having a home that smells inviting is probably more important than anything else in entertaining.  If you have a luscious spread of food but your cats litterboxes are out of control,  nobody is going to want to eat, or for that matter, stick around for dessert.  What can you do to keep your home fresh without getting a steam clean every month?
I utilize a few different techniques.  First of all, I do try to steam clean about once a year.  I was thrilled with the results the first time I did it, and I just rented a cleaner from Home Depot.  I recommend that if you do this you also rent the fan to dry the carpets afterwards - It was a lifesaver.  You can rent the equipment by three hour increments, and if you're ready before you pick it up you can get it done very quickly.  Here are a few options for between steam cleans:

• Febreze makes vacuum bags that have baking soda and scent in the bag, so you don't have an overwhelmingly chemical smell in your home, but it does smell fresh and clean.  Be sure to vacuum anything upholstered too, especially if you have pets.
• Glade makes some great scented items, such as plug ins, candles, and oils.  I keep a neutral scent in the plug in (clean linen) in our foyer, so guests are greeted with a rush of "clean."
• This option can be a little more expensive, but if you can splurge I recommend it:  Scentsy is a company that makes burners and waxes to go in them.  They are long lasting, strong but not overwhelming, and there is such a broad variety of scents there will be something for everyone.  Plus they're really pretty.
• Okay, this is a topic that nobody wants to discuss, but with all the holiday travel and heavy food, plus the fact that this product is MIRACULOUS, it warrants mentioning:  Bathroom smells are gross, the end.  Poo Pourri is a product that you use that actually eliminates the problem before it...well...arises.  You put a couple of drops in the toilet before you use it and it makes a shield over the water so everything basically disappears immediately.  Keep a bottle of this on the back of the toilet or somewhere obvious but not overbearing for your holiday soirees.
• Anytime you bake something, it smells like home, so to get that great smell in a  hurry, I keep some ready-to-bake cookies in the fridge - when someone says they're coming over, pop them in and you're set - plus, you'll have a great winter snack fresh out of the oven when they arrive!

What are other issues you find you face more during the holidays than other times of the year?

Thank You

On this day of thankfulness, I just have a couple of things I want to express: thank you, gorgeous readers, for taking an interest in my blog (or for being a supportive friend - or both!). I get so excited to see that someone has left a comment, or get a sweet text on the day's post.
Second, I want to thank all of the Southern Belles who inspire me, and in doing so have inspired this blog. I am so appreciative of how I was raised by them and how I view the world because of them.
Y'all enjoy this day of family and friends!

Happy Thanksgiving!


(On another note, we set up our tree today...I do not recommend using kittens as Christmas Tree Ornaments.)

Welcome, y'all!

Admittedly, some guests are harder to please than others.

I have been struggling with many emotions since I got married a little over a year ago. I want to be hip, I want to be trendy and fun; but I want to be the gracious hostess and Southern woman I know I was raised to be. It occurred to me recently that those things aren't mutually exclusive! Lightbulb Moment! I can be trendy and fun while making the people around me comfortable and happy, too! After all, isn't the true meaning of class not a display of your means, but an emphasis on making those around you comfortable?
So many of us (myself included) are working on incredibly tight budgets these days. It seems like there's no way to have a gorgeous home, greet weekend guests, and work full time on such a small budget. I know I would personally benefit from a live-in maid, but I am very aware that is not going to happen anytime soon! I look forward to exploring what makes a belle a Belle, and prying that inner southern gal out of all of us - whether you're in New York, Hong Kong, or the mountains of North Georgia.
I'd love to hear a situation or a conundrum you need help with! We can figure these out together!

Have a great week, y'all!

Charity Caroline