Decorating for the fourth of July

Nothing increases your home's curb appeal more than the American flag!  Lord knows we've had our heated debates here in Georgia over our state flag but the you can't go wrong with "Old Glory!"  I've always admired people that fly the flag year round.  It's something I attempted to do when we first bought our house but then I grew tired of bringing it in and out when it rained and worrying about storing it properly.  There is a whole list of flag etiquette out there that I never realized existed!  My dear brother-in-law, who has proudly served our country as a Marine for almost 20 years, is quick to defend a flag that is not displayed or cared for with the utmost respect.  (And rightfully he should!)  Regardless of your political viewpoints, I encourage everyone to hoist those flags this Fourth of July in honor of our wonderful country.  For more information regarding flag display, flag disposal and US flag code, please visit the  VFW.  Try these easy Fourth of July ideas from Martha Stewart to help make the holiday extra festive and special.

God bless America,
Land that I love,
Stand beside her and guide her
Thru the night with a light from above;

From the mountains, to the prairies,
To the oceans white with foam,
God bless America,
My home, sweet home.
God bless America, My home, sweet home.

 

Georgia Peaches

It's peach season here in Georgia, which is home to forty varieties of the sweet, succulent fruit!  I was overwhelmed with their aroma as I entered the grocery store a few days ago so of course I grabbed a bag to take home with me.  Growing up, my Grandma used to refer to my sisters and I as her "Georgia Peaches" hence the inspiration for the name of this blog.  Since her passing a few years ago,  I can't look at a peach without thinking about her sweet smile or the way her eyes would light up when she laughed.

If you're near central Georgia, you can tour any of the three main orchards in Georgia,  Pearson Farms, Dickey Farms, or Lane Southern Orchards.  This is something I plan to do next summer when the kids are little older!

Want to expand your cooking horizons with the peach?  Try these recipes from Sweet Georgia Peaches  Do you have favorite recipe using peaches you would like to share?  If so, I would love to try it!  I want to explore cooking with this fruit while they're in season which officially runs until mid-August.

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Today I made homemade vanilla ice cream with my oldest son Luke.  What's the perfect accompaniment?  You guessed it.  Some fresh sliced Georgia peaches.

Simple vanilla ice cream

2 cups heavy whipping cream
1 cup whole milk
3/4 sugar
1 tsp. vanilla extract


Mix all ingredients and pour into a Cuisinart Automatic Ice Cream Maker

Front Porch Sittin'

In the south, there's an art to front porch sittin'.  The perfect porch involves a pair of rocking chairs, ferns, a ceiling fan and some iced cold sweet tea.  I've been thinking about giving my front porch a makeover for a while now and tonight I got to enjoy it in solitude during a perfect southern thunderstorm at dusk.  The rain was heavy, the lightning was fierce and you could feel the heaviness of the air dissipate as the rain fell.

It's been a while since us Georgians have enjoyed heavy rains so it's easy to rejoice over any amount of water we get from above.  I used to be terrified of storms, but now that I'm older I figure if God wants to hand pick me like that than I really don't have a choice, right?  Anyway, as I sat on my covered front porch enjoying the glorious storm, I was thinking of ways to improve it's appearance.  It has good bones.  It's already equipped with a ceiling fan, two rocking chairs, two hanging ferns and some cheerful red geraniums.  We use it often but I've somehow overlooked its decor.  It's a shame because it's the first room of my home you would see if you came to visit me.

So, I plan to give my porch a makeover very soon and promise to post some pics to follow.  In the meantime, enjoy these inspiration photos.  Wouldn't you just love to crawl up on one of these porches and watch a summer storm or sip on some iced tea?

Beautiful green shutters, rattan furniture, ferns and dark stain floors.  Photo from Southern Accents.

Love the whimsy and casual charm of the star chandeliers.  Photo from Southern Accents

Can you imagine having your morning coffee here?  Photo from Southern Accents

Of all the photos I found, this one most resembles my porch.  Simple and sweet but in need of something extra!

I love the contrast between the wood doors and the white trim.  Southern Accents

Divine.  Absolutely divine.  You can't go wrong with white columns and honey-colored rattan.  

Mmmm... a porch swing.  For a southern gal, it's the closest thing to heaven.  Photo from Martha Stewart

Clean and Simple.  I like the drapes to keep the sun out...photo from Country Living


For me, my front porch is a place where I can seek solitude, peace, fun, conversation or a simple breath of fresh air.  It does it all.  It greets visitors, it entertains my children, it welcomes friends and it provides a quiet place for me to relax.  Stay tuned for a porch makeover from "Your Southern Peach."

Broccoli Slaw

Slaw.  Cole slaw.  Cabbage.  However you refer to it, it's a southern specialty.  There are thousands of versions and everyone has there own personal favorite.  Honestly, I have never been a fan of cole slaw because I don't care for mayonnaise, which is a staple in many recipes.  However, I love this version made with crushed ramen noodles and shredded broccoli which can be found in most produce sections already bagged and ready to go. The other thing I really like about this recipe forgoing the mayo is that you can bring it to a barbecue or a pool party and not worry about it spoiling in the southern summer heat.  There's no cooking involved and it only gets better as the slaw sits in the dressing.  My husband gives this one a perfect 10 ladies so try it today and enjoy!

1/2 cup vegetable oil
1/3 cup sugar (or Splenda)
1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
seasoning packet from ramen noodles

1 pkg. broccoli slaw mix
1 cup sunflower seeds
1 pkg. beef flavor ramen noodles (broken up)

Mix oil, sugar, vinegar and ramen seasoning packet. In large bowl, mix together broccoli mix, sunflowers and crushed ramen noodles. Add dressing and toss. Let stand in the refrigerator for a few hours.

Gift ideas for Dad

Every year, Father's Day sneaks up on me and I find myself rushing around at the last minute trying to find the perfect gift for my sweet husband. Between Mother's Day, several family birthdays, Memorial Day and trying to get my garden planted, the month of June always takes me by surprise.  I find myself asking the same question, "It's June already?"  This year, I actually planned ahead and have Daniel's gift wrapped and ready to go for Sunday.  If you've procrastinated, here are some great gift suggestions compliments of "Your Southern Peach."

For the Fun Dad:  All in one Grill and Cooler from Red Envelope

For the Talkative Dad:   Family Conversation Topic Cards from  Red Envelope

For the Organized Dad:  Leather Cigar Case from Red Envelope

For the Sporty Dad: Zanerobe Colorblock Volley Swim Shorts from Nordstrom
(Nice eye candy, huh girls?)

 

For the Working Dad:  Smartcare Classic Fit Pinpoint Dress Shirt from Nordstrom
(My husband loves these shirts!)

For the Casual Dad:  Sperry Top-Sider® 'Authentic Original' Boat Shoe from Nordstrom

For the Cool Dad:  Ray-Ban Classic Aviator Sunglasses from Nordstrom

 

For the Distinguised Dad:  Crystal Decanter from Tiffany & Co. 

For the Indulgent Dad:  Westin Heavenly® by Speakman® Shower Head from Nordstrom

For the Groovy Dad:  Marvin Gaye Anthology Music CD

For the Cooking Dad:  Williams Sonoma "On the Grill" from Williams Sonoma

For the Coffee Loving Dad:  Nespresso Aeroccino Plus from Williams Sonoma 

For the High Tech Dad (who doesn't care how much you spend on him):  Outdoor Weatherproof TV from Neiman Marcus

No matter what, make sure Dad knows he's special by telling him how much you love and appreciate him.  Spend some good family time together, fix a nice meal and let him put his feet up (or go play golf in our case!)   After Daniel finishes 18 holes, we plan on relaxing up at my in-laws property where they have just finished building an outdoor pavillion near their pond.  How do you plan on celebrating Father's Day this year? 

Gallivanting

Gallivanting.  It's one of my all time favorite words.  

According to Merriam Webster to gallivant means:

to go about usually ostentatiously or indiscreetly with members of the opposite sex

Since college graduation, my best girlfriends and I regularly enjoy a "Girl's Night Out" together.  (It's also known as GNO in email language.)  My husband affectionately refers to it as "gallivanting."  During our college years, we made the most of our time socializing at "University of West Georgia" located in the quaint southern town of Carrollton.  After graduation, we all got smart jobs and enjoyed discovering the nightlife of Atlanta.  I suppose at that time in our lives these GNO could accurately be described as gallivanting.  How else were we supposed to find single, eligible Southern Gentlemen?  

We made a lot of great memories in our 20's which we still enjoy reminiscing about now that we're in our 30's.  Our GNO have changed a lot over the last couple of years now that we've all become moms and gracefully transitioned into the next decade of age. However the laughing, the friendship, the fun and the requirement for a great pair of shoes has not changed a bit.

We went to the beautiful Reynolds Plantation this past weekend for our "GNO."  We spent the first few hours catching up around this amazing kitchen island and indulging in some adult beverages.  Thanks to my sister's gracious in-laws for letting us borrow the house for the weekend!

 And of course, no true southern kitchen would be complete without Paula.

Scratch off lotto tickets just in case anyone was feeling lucky!

Later, we relaxed poolside.

We had such a great time at the pool and hanging out at the house that we never made it to the world famous Ritz-Carlton as we had planned.  But don't worry, I'll be returning very soon to explore the Ritz a little bit more and I promise to let you know just how fabulous it really is!

The next morning we woke up to these glorious Georgia Pines, drank a lot of coffee and returned home to our sweet little families.  Until next time....

Recipe Rebellion

Photo by Beth Dreiling Hontzas

Southern Living

I love to cook.  I have tons of cookbooks that I try to use with good intention but more times than not,  I stray from the recipe.  It's not that I'm such a wonderful cook that I don't need a recipe, because trust me, I do.  It's just that recipes can be restrictive for a right-brained person like myself.  I'm the type of girl that believes rules are made to be broken, but that's another story for another time.  For me, a recipe is a great starting point from which you can create your own masterpiece.  There are countless southern dishes I am dying to explore, so each week, I'll try a new recipe to review and share with you!  

Growing up, I went to a small, private elementary school where they served us hot lunches from their kitchen.  I always looked forward to the days we were served Chicken and Dumplings.  It's a dish I've always thought about trying myself but have been much too intimidated by the thought of making homemade dumplings.  My husband's grandmother once said she spent an entire day perfecting her dumplings at home while her husband was away at work!  So when I found this easy recipe for Chicken and Dumplings, I knew I had to give it try.  I made this a few days ago and like most soups and stews, it's even better the next day. I added a little salt and pepper to taste and doubled the poultry seasoning.  I would recommend cutting the biscuit dough into smaller strips (1 inch squares) as they do puff up pretty large in the broth.  The broth, or gravy as some might call it, had a good flavor and consistency like it had cooked for a long time.  Overall, my sweet husband gave it an 8.5 and I give it a 9 because I think some of the picky children out there might actually like this recipe!  I'd love to know if any of you try this one in your own home.  Visit me back here and share your thoughts.

Magnolias

It's summertime in Georgia, the Magnolias are in full bloom and they are absolutely gorgeous!  I'm blessed to live in an older neighborhood where there are plenty of mature trees and shrubs to admire.  Today when I was walking, I could not resist the urge to go touch one of the bright white blooms. Have you ever felt a Magnolia bloom?  They are very soft with almost a velvety texture.  They are also very thick and strong and their fragrance is heavenly.  I'm sure some of the neighbors were wondering what I was doing in their yards but I had a plan to sweet talk my way out of it had I been questioned.  Here are some photos from my neighborhood.

Since many magnolias are evergreen, which means they keep their leaves, they provide excellent year round home decor.  And you know us Southern girls are all about decorating our homes!  The large leaves are glossy green on one side with a brown underside which displays a nice contrast in texture and color.  Here are some inspiration photos to help you get started.

Redbook

 

Love and Splendor

 

Southern Living

 

Coastal Living

 

 Photos: Courtesy of “St.Louis Homes and Lifestyles” by Rob Grimm

Williams Sonoma 

Don't ya just love that! Those photos make me want to go out and plant a Magnolia in my front yard.  If you're like me, you're probably wondering how you can get your hands on some of that greenery. Fast.  Well, I'll tell you what I'm gonna do!  I'm gonna bake some cookies, go gab with my neighbor and then politely ask him with my sweetest smile if he minds if I take a few clippings from his Magnolia tree!  I'll keep you updated on how that goes of course.  For more ideas on how to use Magnolias in your landscaping, here is a great site with a lot of beautiful pictures.  And if you really fall in love, visit this site for tips on how to plant your very own tree!