#GWTW75…Celebrations never cease

Today is the 75th anniversary of the first time Margaret Mitchell’s book, Gone with the Wind was available for purchase. I know it’s been GWTW frenzy around the blogosphere lately, but for good reason. From social media meetups to movie premiere galas, Atlanta has been hopping this summer with all the excitement. NPR did a wonderful piece on the anniversary, which you can listen to here.

“I want to be famous in some way – a speaker, artist, writer, soldier, fighter, stateswoman, or anything nearly.”

– Margaret Mitchell, January 1915

I took the above images during my visit to the Margaret Mitchell House in Midtown Atlanta and the preceding quote is also from the exhibit. I wonder if Ms. Mitchell would have been surprised by the reach of her fame even all these years later. Considering her other contributions to society, in addition to her written words, I think she has achieved fame in every category to which she aspired.

If you still haven’t gotten your fill of GWTW, Georgia Public Broadcasting produced a fabulous documentary about the life of Margaret Mitchell called “Margaret Mitchell: American Rebel” which is airing tonight. Even if you don’t live in the GPB viewing area, you can still view the film in a web presentation tonight, as well as chat online with the director! Hope you’ll tune in!

Miami Beach, 1955

“So here’s to all those summer nights when my feet hit the sand and the waves break my fall and all my friends around me outnumber the stars…” – unknown

Hope all you friends are having a blissful day…wish we were at the beach together!

 

{image via Vogue Italia’s Curvy Blog}

Hart of Dixie

Is anyone else kind of secretly excited (but embarrassed to be so) about the new CW show called Hart of Dixie? What is it about the adventures of a city girl who moves to the south being such fodder for entertainment?

Maybe I’m just happy to see Rachel Bilson acting again or maybe I’m just a sucker for anything set in the sweet south. I guess come September we’ll see. Who else is going to watch? No judgment!

Adoring Adore

I’ve always struggled to define my style when it comes to my home. Don’t misunderstand, I know what I like and can put those things together…in small doses. As for the overall statement of my domain, things get a little muddled. Recently, I was very happy to discover a magazine that really captures many aspects of my style.

Open publication - Free publishing

Adore Home Magazine is a wonderful online publication from Australia and I can’t believe I’m just now finding it. All the images I’ve seen so far are really giving me inspiration for what I want to do in my home. Of course I don’t want to simply copy what lots of professional stylists have created…it just helps me to know that it’s possible to take what I like and make it look cohesive.

I love all the unexpected pops of color used for basic pieces of furniture. I’m definitely more maximalist than minimal so the eclectic vignettes and groupings of items appeal to me too.

Another magazine with similar styles is the British publication, LivingEtc. Its site has a great feature that allows you to search by type of room using parameters of color, etc. 

Is there a magazine or blog that really helps you define your style?

Welcome Summer!

This morning as I walked down the sidewalk, the air was a’ buzz with June bugs. It’s hard to believe an entire year has passed since I did a June bug post here on SBS. Maybe my fondness for them comes from childhood memories of trying to catch the little boogers while spending summers at my great-grandparents’ farm.

Isn’t it funny how something so small can represent such a dear memory? Sort of like every time I catch a whiff of cherry-vanilla scented Jergen’s lotion, I think of my granny. Our lives and calendars are so full these days…I want to be able to look back on this time warmly and not be sad because I rushed around so much I forget to make memories.

I think one of the things that made me fall in love with my southern beau is how he always reminds me to take life less seriously. He favors my great-grandpa in that way, and others...they are both outdoorsy types who enjoy hunting, fishing and just being outside. I'm not a big fan of hunting myself but as long as guns are kept securely in gun safes, I guess it's just another sport.

Speaking of sports, summer certainly is a season that brings plenty of them and summer officially begins today. Let’s spend this season enjoying the little things and really make it one for the books. Even if all that means to you is sleeping in 10 extra minutes or enjoying your lunch under a lovely shade tree somewhere.



And if your lunch happens to include a crisp, cold gin & tonic, I think that’s pretty great too! Happy Tuesday and Happy 1st day of Summer!
{images via the talented adwriter’s flickr photostream}

Anti-Recipe: Raspberry Eatin’ Mess

You might have seen my recent post featuring an oh-so easy dessert recipe called ‘Strawberry Eatin’ Mess.’ The title is my southern interpretation of the traditional British dessert, Eton Mess, which originated at Eton College and was enjoyed as picnic fare at the school’s annual event.

 

I didn’t think it could be improved upon until this weekend when we dished it up with fresh raspberries instead. Oh my goodness. It’s the easiest dessert to make and so pretty to present. I served them in vintage lowball glasses etched with my initial (although S could just as easily stand for southern!) and they got some oohs and ahs.

The Recipe:

Beat heavy cream with the whisk attachment of an electric mixer until soft peaks form. Crush vanilla meringues (mine were store-bought). Layer berries, cream, and crushed meringues. Enjoy!

Hope everyone had a fabulous weekend celebrating the dads, granddaddies, fathers & pops in your life! (Here’s a link in case you missed the tribute to my dad from last year)

Writing Wisdom from @emilygiffin

So I know I promised to do a post on the fabulous Emily Giffin, author extraordinaire who spoke at the skirt! Magazine Creative Conference. She imparted some excellent wisdom to our group, mostly pertaining to writing, but it could also really apply to whatever your dreams might be.

If you aren’t familiar with Ms. Giffin, she wrote Something Borrowed, the book recently turned into a motion picture starring Kate Hudson & John Krasinski. Something Borrowed is followed up by Something Blue, both of which I really enjoyed poolside a few summers back. Anyway…

I’m not going to try and list everything EG said, although I was furiously scribbling notes from my spot on the front row…hence the blurry pic! But here are some of the tidbits that spoke to me most and my thoughts on each.

EG: Don’t assume that other writer’s have an easier time than you…writing is just plain hard [but worth it!]

EG: Think of yourself as a ‘real’ writer no matter what your circumstances are. [In other words, call yourself a writer and you’ll be a writer. Don’t think that just because you haven’t ‘published’ a book or had your book turned into a movie you aren’t a real writer…this one meant a lot to me!]

EG: Every book in a bookstore is just the product of one person who sat down and wrote one page at a time. Also, editors are just people…all it takes is one person who wants to publish your book. It is possible. [When you think about it this way, it really does seem like an attainable goal]

EG: Don’t worry about being perfect and DON’T compare yourself to anybody else. [LOVE that]

I really appreciate Ms. Giffin taking time to come speak to us…it was one of the highlights of the whole conference for me. I’m embarrassed to say I still haven’t seen the film version of Something Borrowed but it’s on my to-watch list! If you’ve read her books or seen the film, what did you think?

{top image via Atlanta Magazine}

Seersucker Social, Social Indeed

Chalk it up to ‘city-envy,’ but after spending some time in Atlanta lately, it seems there is no shortage of adventures to be had in that famous southern destination. I was there this weekend for a conference, but little did I know such a stylish event was taking place just a few miles from me. It’s probably a good thing I didn’t know because I might have been tempted to skip my sessions and join in!



The Seersucker Social is a group bike ride which started from Woodruff Park and ended with a picnic at Oakland Cemetery. They even stopped for popsicles and peach mojitos along the way! Maybe wearing dress clothes on a bike ride through a bustling (sweltering!) city doesn’t sound like the most practical idea, but since when was being fabulous ever practical? {It's probably for the best I didn't try to participate in this adventure...with my lack of coordination and propensity for bumping into things, I would have probably needed an Atlanta bicycle accident attorney!}

All images were taken by the talented Cameron Adams, photographer and fashion blogger extraordinaire. He is known for his blog, The Chattanoogan which is a bit like that of the Sartorialist, but better because it’s set in the south!



It’s apparent from these smiling faces that great fun was had by all! Are you feeling some city envy too? Let’s quit our belly-aching and make an effort to improve our own towns, one fabulous day at a time!

{All images are from Cameron’s flickr set of the Seersucker Social and are used with permission via the Creative Commons License}

skirt Magazine Creative Conference 2011

I just got back from a wonderfully fun and busy weekend in Atlanta where I attended the Creative Conference, held by skirt! Magazine. I’ve been blogging over at skirt! for about a year and was really excited when I first heard about this event. As most conferences go, it was packed to the brim with information and just about every minute was planned with some sort of activity.

What set the Creative Conference apart was how many genuine connections were made. It might sound cliché to say “friends for life,” but I truly believe I will keep in touch with some of these ladies for a very long time. Even if you haven’t attended a conference like this, it’s so important to find a support system that serves as your cheering squad. And if you’d like to attend next year, you’ll definitely see me there!

I’ll be sharing more this week about some of the things I took away from the conference, including my up-close-and-personal with fabulous author Emily Giffin and how I won some cool loot, thanks to my 2nd grade teacher! Happy Monday y’all!

Quoted: Amy Vanderbilt

“The best-dressed women I know pay very little attention to the picayune aspects of fashion, but they have a sound understanding of style.”

-- Amy Vanderbilt

{image by noemi manalang via flickr}

SBS Bookshelf: Southern Stories for Summer

At the beginning of the year, I decided to try and read 100 books in 2011. With about 22 checked off my list so far, I am nowhere near my goal, but there’s plenty of time, right? …even if I don’t hit the 100-mark, I have enjoyed some great reads. Since some folks have more time in the summer to leisurely pick up a book, here a few page turners you might want to check out, and southern gems too!

First is Bloodroot by an author from my neck of the woods. Amy Greene weaves the stories of several characters together in her first novel, which is set in East Tennessee. I listened to the audio version and enjoyed the different voices that bring it to life. 

A short trip from East Tennessee to the Cataloochee valley of North Carolina leads us to Wayne Caldwell’s novel.  This one was a tiny bit slow getting started, but I’m so glad I stuck with it because the story was rich and deep. Oh the ties we have to this land of our’n.

Finally, the book with a most unusual title, but please don’t let this stop you from giving it a read. After hearing M. Glenn Taylor speak at the Southern Festival of Books (with Tom Franklin…another fabulous southern author!), I tracked down an audio version of this story at my local library (I guess you can tell I sorta like audio books?). From the first paragraph to the very end, I was drawn in. Trenchmouth Taggart will go down in history as one of the great southern characters and I can’t wait to see what else Taylor produces.

I’ve recently enjoyed these…what great stories are on your nightstand this summer?

I Heart Art: Mark Boomershine

I recently saw the work of Atlanta artist Mark Boomershine for the first time while shopping at a great vintage/consignment boutique. I was drawn to his bold use of color and cheeky subject matter. His Back on the Wagon painting  caught my eye as did his interesting last name.

These first few images are part of a series entitled Barnyard Menagerie and I just can’t look at them without smiling. As a southern girl with farm roots, the barn painting is probably my favorite, but they are all so wonderful & fun. Sometimes when I tell people I majored in Art History in college, they assume I’m an art snob. Hardly! I just know what I like…what speaks to me. 

These pieces definitely speak to me!

While walking around the shop in Atlanta, another fabulous painting caught my eye, but only on closer inspection did I realize it, too, was a Boomershine. The Rhett portrait is from the series called People I Grew up With and includes the likes of Wonder Woman, Clint Eastwood and others.

Any art lovers see influences of Jasper Johns or Robert Rauschenberg? Something about the vivid colors and use of text brings those two artists to mind.

You simply must visit Mark’s website and take a look around. I promise you won’t be disappointed. He so graciously granted me permission to use his images and seems like a very cool guy.

Hope this post added a shot of loveliness to your Monday!

Pink & Green Thursday June Blossoms

Just because I wanted to get in on Trish’s link-up, here are some lovely pink and green blooms, courtesy of Trader Joe’s in Atlanta. Sadly, I don’t have TJ where I live, but I get my fix on trips to Georgia.

Don’t you just love all these vibrant hues? You can’t help but smile at these cheery color combinations.

Hop over to Trish’s for some gorgeous pink & green cupcake confections!

Celebrating Bubbas

Today is National Bubba Day, created to celebrate the lives of Bubbas everywhere. This could refer to a person whose given name is Bubba, or just someone with this particular nickname. From a young age, I can remember my mom calling her brothers Bubba and I often call mine the variation Bubbie.

Apparently there are some negative associations with this word, but I just wanted to take a minute to shout hooray for all the beloved bubbas, southern or otherwise. If you have a bubba in your life, give him a big hug today!