A guest post by Alexandra Davis
Confession: Even though I was born in New Jersey, I identify more as a Southerner than a Northerner. This might be because I’ve lived in the South for more than half my life. But it may also be because of the many Southern traditions I’ve come to know and love. There is something so sweet about the Southern lifestyle, from sweet tea, pecan pie, and big front porches to genteel manners, accents, and stories.
Read More
Buttery, gooey, brown sugar-y. This was always the taste of Christmas morning in my house growing up. As it turns out, Moravian sugar cake is a holiday tradition that I share with many other North Carolinians, including my husband and his family! And it’s one that you’re going to want in on.
Read More
There are tons of ethical fashion brands for women, but finding ethically made fashion for men can be a bit trickier. There just aren’t as many options. Thankfully, I’ve found some awesome ethically made men’s footwear that I’m going to share with y’all today! This post is not sponsored–all opinions are my own.
What could possibly be more Southern than shrimp and grits? When I asked y’all on Instagram what you’d like to see in my Southern Traditions series, this was one of the first suggestions!
I confess that I feel a bit underqualified to write about shrimp and grits because, despite the fact that I served it at my very own wedding, I don’t eat it! I just don’t like the taste and texture of shrimp. So, I’ve enlisted a bit of help from my family and my good friend Google to bring you the history of this uniquely Southern dish (sources listed at the bottom of the post), as well as advice on where to find the absolute best shrimp and grits in the South! Read More
Shopping for ethically made clothes has become second nature for me, but every now and then I realize I need to shop for something that I’ve never thought about before from a fair trade/eco-friendly/sustainable perspective. I had one of those weird moments last summer when I realized that Wes and I really needed a couple of beach towels. Could I possibly find some that were ethically made? I set out to try!
A couple of weeks ago on Instastories, I asked you all to share your favorite Southern traditions, as I’m hoping to highlight many of them here on the blog. When my friend Maile messaged me that her favorite Southern activity is drinking wine in the summer heat, I knew that would be the first tradition I’d write about. We are right in the heart of prime porch sittin’ season as we speak!
Obviously, you don’t have to necessarily be on a porch to fully enjoy a fantastic summer beverage. Sit out on your patio, in your lawn, or by the pool…wherever you’d like to be! But, you get Southern bonus points if you can find a porch with a rocking chair (or better yet, a porch swing!).
Here are my suggestions for everything you need for a magical afternoon or evening of porch sittin’! Read More
Anybody else a big fan of the Kentucky Derby? Growing up as a horse-obsessed little girl, I watched it every year. Though I never raced horses myself, being immersed in the equestrian world taught me a lot about racing terminology, strategy, and culture. Once I met Wes, we quickly realized we had found our joint favorite “holiday.” I love horses and a good party theme (hello, giant hats), and he loves mint juleps and seersucker. A Southern match made in heaven! We try to have a party to celebrate the run for the roses each year.
The photos in this post are from last year’s party. The decor was our best yet! And, it was super inexpensive…we found ways to use stuff we already had, including my old horseback riding ribbons.
Many of us know about ways to “go green” on a micro level: taking reusable bags to the grocery store, using a water bottle rather than buying plastic, using good-for-the-earth dishwashing liquid. But I know that many of us, myself included, have rarely thought much about being eco-friendly on a larger level, such as how we design and furnish our homes.
I recently learned about a local-to-NC company called Caragreen, which produces sustainable, eco-friendly flooring and countertops (I actually won a giveaway they were running on Instagram….too fun!). They are headquartered right here in Raleigh, but they work to create amazing home interiors for companies and residences all around the country. I have really enjoyed learning about the way they do sustainable home design and wanted to share!
My initial reaction when I hear “sustainable homes” or “eco-friendly homes” is to think of ultra-modern, minimalistic tiny houses. What I hope to show you in this blog post is that you can still go for a classic Southern home even while using contemporary, eco-friendly materials!
One of my biggest challenges when I first started shopping for ethically made clothing was finding business casual attire. Low backs, distressed denim, and cute yoga pants are great, but they aren’t always office-appropriate.
So, I’m thrilled that today’s ethical outfit inspiration is both trendy AND office ready!
