Monthly Archives: December 2016

The Art of a Southern Holiday Season


southern
Curating a southern holiday season is a true art form. The American South, like most other parts of the world, is deeply rooted in culture and traditions- many revolving around the holiday season! Below are a few ways to insure a Southern Holiday Season!

Magnolia Garland
Magnolias are already a southern staple when it comes to greenery, and their leaves are perfect for southern Christmas decor. Magnolia leaves are deep green, shiny, and will keep for the duration of the holidays! I’m hoping to make either a magnolia garland or wreath this week!

img_8125Poinsettias
When South Carolinian Joel Roberts Poinsett served as the Ambassador to Mexico in the early 1800’s, he fell in love with the classic Christmas plant. He immediately shipped some home to South Carolina, where they were eventually named after him. Poinsettas are used to warm weather, so they’re perfect for our mild southern winters.

cocktail 1Polite Drunkenness
If there is ever a time to indulge, this is it! With all the parties and holiday gatherings, you’re likely to encounter an eggnog or two. Or hot toddy. Or mulled wine. Or spiked cider. Take your pick, really. While it’s appropriate to have a drink or two, keep it classy and don’t get smashed! We are southern ladies and gentlemen, after all.  😉

Cookie Exchanges
Cookie exchanges are one of my favorite holiday traditions. In my life I’ve mostly experienced them in the context of church lady Christmas parties (my favorite!). Cookie exchanges are a great way to experience a variety of holiday treats, while only having to make 1!

apple sauce 2Apple Butter
While apple butter originated in Europe hundreds of years ago, in America it’s a southern tradition. Made by reducing apples and spices, apple butter is spread on biscuits, served over meat, and added to baking items – my favorite being apple butter donuts. My mother makes apple butter every holiday season and throughout the year!

New Years Superstitions
This is one tradition I’ve been known to skip on occasion. It’s customary to cook a southern feast on New Years Day consisting of black-eyed peas, greens, ham, and cornbread. Consuming this meal on New Year’s Day is said to bring good luck and fortune to the new year!

What customs and traditions do you believe are required for a southern holiday season?

Gilmore Girls – A Year in the Life

ggGilmore Girls – A Year in the Life
I loved watching Gilmore Girls in my teens and early 20’s and I absolutely never thought I would get to see a continuation. I’ve been excited about A Year in the Life since it was announced, and it definitely lived up to the hype! Below are my exhaustive thoughts on Gilmore Girls – A Year in the Life! Enjoy!

Thoughts on the Gilmore Girls
– Emily – I loved seeing her deal with grief and thus becoming a more relaxed and thoughtful version of herself. The addition of Berta (and her entire family?) and how this story line represented such a shift in Emily’s life (remember how she could never keep a maid?) was perfect.
– Rory – I know this may not be the most popular view, but I always see Rory as a disappointment. I can relate to being a 30 something and still trying to figure out a life path, I’ll give her that. However, It’s just hard for me to root for a person who is sleeping with an engaged man, even if it is rich and handsome Logan, while she has a perfectly nice (albeit a little forgettable) boyfriend. But also remember when she slept with Dean, a MARRIED man? And when she stole a boat? For the duration of Gilmore Girls, everyone told Rory how wonderful and smart she was, but she never had to work for anything. I hated how during Summer she kept telling everyone in Stars Hallow that she wasn’t “back” and wasn’t part of the 30-something club. It just came off like she felt she was better than everyone in Stars Hallow. Overall, Rory is just a shitty person.
– Lorelai – Everything about Lorelai seemed to fit perfectly with her character. Her place in life, her relationship with Luke, her relationship with Rory, it all seemed perfect. Lauren Graham is such a good actress. We all know she’s quick and funny, but A Year in the Life gave us a few really beautiful scenes that showcased her acting ability.

Times I cried:
– The first 10 seconds of Winter after hearing clips from past episodes over the years.
– The funeral scene, the scene every GG fan was dreading. It was terrible. You can tell everyone in that scene was truly mourning.
– Lorelai not being able to articulate a happy memory with Richard in the midst of her grief. I get it. People are a mess when they’re living through the death of a loved one. It was heartbreaking to watch.
– Lorelai listening to Sutton Foster singing Unbreakable from the Stars Hallow musical. TOO MUCH!!!!
– Luke and Lorelai’s fight. It hurt my heart.
– Lorelai finally being able to articulate a happy memory with her father… and, not just a happy memory, but a memory of her favorite birthday when Richard saved the day after she had her heart broken.

Disappointing Moments:
– Tristan. Or, rather, fake Tristan. Is Chad Michael Murray THAT busy that he can’t take a day and film a cameo for Gilmore Girls?!?! Surly he can’t be…
– Stars Hallow : The Musical was a little long, especially since it didn’t really feature any known Gilmore Girl’s characters.
– Rory and Logan’s relationship. I hate that they were both cheating on their significant others with each other. I hate that Lorelai wasn’t incredibly angry about it. Everything about this was disappointing.
– Rory’s one night stand with the wookie. This seemed to come out of left field. What’s more disappointing than Rory’s one night stand was Lorelai’s indifferent attitude towards it!
– Sookie’s story line. I know there were times when the writers weren’t sure if Melissa McCarthy would be able to be involved, so I get that they had to come up with some bizzar situation for her absence- but it seemed a little phoned in.

Favorite Moments:
– Luke giving out fake WiFi passwords.
– Kirk handing Lorelai that brita pitcher on their way to Emily’s.
– Paris! Paris! Paris! It’s safe to say Paris was one of the best parts of the series! She’s such an over the top bad ass!
– Lorelai and Rory hanging out by the pool with their child servants during Summer.
– Jess. Every moment with Jess. Especially that last look! I’m Always team Jess… However, after watching A Year in the Life, I’ve decided that Rory doesn’t deserve Jess. SORRY BOUTCHA, RORY!
– In Omnia Paratus! I’m so glad we saw another glimpse of the Life and Death Brigade!
– Rory writing “Gilmore Girls” at her grandparent’s house. Very Little Women-esque!
– Lorelai doing Wild… along with 100 other middle aged ladies. How hilarious!
– Luke’s monologue to Lorelai about how he loves her with all his heart.
– Emily offering Luke’s endowment to Lorelai to expand the Dragonfly (mirroring the pilot episode when Lorelai asked for money so Rory could go to Chilton) under the condition that Luke and Lorelai visit her in Nantucket.
– That wedding. That truly perfect Gilmore Girl’s wedding.

Final Thoughts
– The last 4 words (revisited). I know this is pushing Rory’s life to be a reflection of Lorelai’s, Logan being Rory’s Christopher and Jess being her Luke, but I’m just not into it. I DID think it was a good and interesting way to end A Year in the Life – It took me by surprise and definitely got everyone hoping for more!gg1