Classic Coke Float

1966 Coke Ad via Attic Paper

There are some things that are just meant to go together.  You know, like peanut butter and jelly, milk and cookies, myself and diamonds.  Oops!  Did that just slip?

If there's one thing that doesn't compliment me, it's baking.  If there's another thing that doesn't favor me, its heating my oven to 350 degrees to bake something in the middle of summer.

We're having some good friends over for dinner tonight and do you know what I plan on serving for dessert?  Yep, Coke Floats!  It's the perfect summer treat that's quick, refreshing and doesn't require an oven.  This Southern delicacy has been around forever but for those of you who may be living under a pile of rocks, here's the recipe.

Fill an ice cold glass with two scoops of premium vanilla ice cream.  VERY slowly, pour the Coca-Cola over the ice cream until it reaches the top.  Relax and enjoy!

Summer Southern Garden

So remember when I said I was attempting to teach my children to cultivate a vegetable garden?  Well here's a sneak peak at things actually growing!  So far, we've enjoyed fresh tomatoes, homemade pesto made from our Cinnamon Basil, Squash, Cucumber and Watermelon.  The blueberries were picked at a local farm and the heirloom tomatoes were a gift from a friend's garden.  I'm grateful that my in-laws have the space to allow us to explore this simple pleasure.  And to my mother-in-law's credit, she is the one who waters it daily so without her this would not exist.  Growing the garden has encouraged Luke to try new foods, especially more types of vegetables.  I promise, the food tastes better when you've grown it yourself!

Your Southern Peach

A Lady's Library

(Photo Credit:  Top to Bottom, Left to right:  Better Homes and Gardens, Apartment Therapy via Domino Magazine, Girl About O Town via Domino Magazine, Veranda, Flicker via Domino Magazine)

I'm a Pisces.  I'm a dreamer.  I'm creative.  I'm a reader.  I also live with three men.  Well, one man and two little boys.

I've always envisioned having my own library where I can relax, drink coffee and read in peace and quiet.  Having two boys, I'm sure this will always just be a dream but wouldn't it be nice to have a private spot like one of these to escape from the reality of life for a while?

In case you missed it, I recently posted a list of several books sitting on my own bookshelf.  I majored in English and have always enjoyed reading and writing.  I've also always loved photography which I inherited from my dear Mom.  Some friends recently asked me, "Why Blogging?"  Well, combine my interest in writing with my love of photography and you have a blogger!  It just seemed like a natural fit for me and I thank all of you for your encouragement and support.  Right now, I'm blogging from my couch in my PJs and  holding my sweet baby boy Jett.  (Yes, I've become an expert at typing with one hand.)  Maybe one day I'll have my own little creative space...no boys allowed.  It never hurts to dream.

(Flicker via Domino Magazine, Domino Magazine, A Trip to Holland, Unknown)

What's on your Bookshelf?

 (Sunset view from my Aunt Marty's porch 6/29/2008)
You can learn a lot about someone just by looking at their bookshelf.  I'm not talking about those bookshelves in tour homes where the literature is all handpicked for staging purposes.  I want to know what you've personally read or what you're hoping to read.  My Aunt Marty has the most extensive personal library I have ever seen.  I'm pretty sure it rivals her local public library.  It's pretty amazing to think that her brain has absorbed much of what sits on those shelves.  That's probably why she's one of the most interesting and witty people I know.  So I got to thinking, what would my bookshelf say about me?  I'll let you decide.  Here's fifteen books sitting on my shelf, not including my Bible, various travel guides and of course my collection of cookbooks.

Summer's Simple Pleasures

It's that time of year when kids and their parents alike begin to anticipate the return of schooldays.  Although the southern heat is here to stay for a while, the lazy days of summer will soon be replaced with back-to-school shopping, schedules and homework.  Children will be asking each other, "What did you do this summer?"  It got me reminiscing about our summer and some of the simple pleasures we enjoyed.

• Swimming playdates
• Consuming lots of ice cream and Popsicles
• Practicing Soccer
• Perfecting our Bubble Blowing
• Building Sand Castles
• Watering our Flower Garden
• Mastering the Slip and Slide
• Cooling off in our $10 Deck Pool

What's your favorite summer past time?  I hope you savor these last few days of vacation before the hustle and bustle of the school year returns.

Your Southern Peach

Sunday Best

I'm really excited to present this weeks "Sunday Best" via my new favorite website, Polyvore.  I discovered this website through a friend and fellow yogi of mine who is blogging at Simply Yogini.  I hope you enjoy this weeks featured look.

Your Southern Peach

Glam by mikkandme featuring Hermes bags

Maxmara dresses WHITE, 418 GBP
Giuseppe Zanotti Women's E00092 Studded Sandal, $324
Hermes handbags | Hermes.com, $4,200
Juicy Couture Multi Stone Embellished Cuff Bracelet, $233
Kendra Scott - Nasha Necklace (Gold) - Jewelry, $120
Kate Spade Women's Tia Sunglasses, $168
Duo Cream Eyeshadow - Unconditional Love, $32
Beauty Blog - Beautiful Makeup Search Beauty Blog, $60
CHANCE - Eau de parfum - Fragrance - Beauty -, 44 GBP
Paradise Pink Nail Polish, $2.80

I'm not Perfect, but my Chocolate Chip Cookies Are!

A dear friend recently complimented me and my new blog adventures by referring to me as the new "Martha Stewart meets Emily Post."  Of course I quickly thanked her and insisted that I was nowhere near the caliber of either of these fine women nor was I attempting to be.

Don't get me wrong, I am a huge, HUGE fan of Martha in so many ways from her business savvy to her vast domestic knowledge.  Not to mention, her ability to face scrutiny and criticism and continue moving forward with what she loves proves that she is a true Steel Magnolia. (Well, one of the northern kind, anyhow.)  But, I am not a perfectionist and Martha is a perfectionist!  That's what makes her work so compelling.  You will never see something "thrown together" or less than perfect.  Do I strive to be perfect?  No, it's not my nature. But I absolutely love beautiful things.  I'm not talking about fine furnishings or jewelry, (although they're not a bad thing) but I'm talking about walking outside and reveling in the colors found in nature or the aromas that fill the kitchen while cooking or the sparkle of diamond as it hits the light.  (Okay, okay the diamond was kind of a joke but you know what I'm getting at.)  We're all busy with life, families, careers and such and maybe we don't have time to perfect our lives in way such as Martha.  However, we can do simple things to make life more graceful (not perfect) such as placing a small bud vase near our kitchen sink filled with dainty flowers or setting the timer in the kitchen to de-clutter for 10 minutes or relaxing with some deep breathing before falling asleep. 

Now, regarding Ms. Post.  There's no doubt she was a fine, fine lady and the contributions she and her successors have made to society are immeasurable.  Once again, I am no Emily Post!  I do own her book and admittedly I have to reference it often.  The word etiquette sounds so uppity but it's really nothing short of having good manners and being thoughtful of others.  The best thing about manners is that they are FREE!  (Similar to a smile by the way.)  You don't need any amount of money to be grateful or courteous.  Etiquette is so obtainable these days too.  Follow Emily Post on Facebook or sign up for the email newsletter here.

In short, I adore Martha and admire Emily.  My friend knows this and I'm sure that's why she chose to compliment me in this way.  Before my "domestic life," I had a thriving sales career which I chose to temporarily put aside to maximize my time at home with my children.  I feel very,very blessed to have had this choice.  I know this time will not last forever which is why I'm embracing my domestic life by doing things like perfecting my chocolate chip cookies, cultivating a vegetable garden and teaching my children good manners.  It's the hardest job in the world, with no monetary value but the rewards are beyond words.  It's a "career opportunity" I could not pass up because these days will become memories when my children leave home.  Eventually, I will return back to my "professional career" but be sure that when my kids come home on weekends to visit, the perfect homemade chocolate chip cookies will be waiting for them when they walk through the door.

Your Southern Peach

Flower of the South

Driving around the last few weeks, I couldn't help but notice the explosion of color from the glorious Crape Myrtles.  They are literally in every nook and cranny whether it be an island in the Publix parking lot or growing wild along the highway.  I think the Crape Myrtle is sometimes taken for granted and overlooked.  All summer long they grace us with massive, colorful blooms yet we drive right by not even noticing their exotic display.

Although native to southeast Asia, Crape Myrtles were first introduced to South Carolina in the late 1700's by French botanist Andre Michaux.  Since then,  they have become known as "The Flower of the South."  They grow best in Zones 7-9 and prefer full sunlight and acidic soil.  You will see the Crape Myrtle display flowers in an array of colors such as white, lavender, bright pink, light pink and red.  After a long blooming season, they give a beautiful show of fall foliage and in winter, you get to fully appreciate their artistic multi-trunk form.  When the Crape Myrtle reaches full maturity she will surprise you again by shedding her bark to reveal beautiful shades of cream, tan, cinnamon and gray.

Now there's one topic that is common here in the South regarding Crape Myrtles and that is something many people refer to as "Crape Murder."  "Crape Murder," in simple terms, is the act of severely pruning the tree back to almost nothing in hopes to encourage larger blooms.  I'm here to tell you, step away from the pruning shears.  Let Miss Myrtle do her thing and she'll thank you in return with year-round interest and graceful, arching branches.  For more pruning tips and guided illustrations, visit Wilson Bros Nursery online.

I'm no garden expert, but anything (or anyone for that matter) that can look that gorgeous and effortless in the height of summer in the South gets a nod from me.  When all my annuals are dying off because I've missed a few days of watering, I gain a new appreciation for those blooms that make it look so effortless.  No wonder Miss Myrtle is affectionately referred to as "The Flower of the South."

Your Southern Peach

The Farm

For Mother's Day, my in-laws surprised Luke and I with our own raised garden bed.  It's really my first venture with vegetable gardening other than some herbs and tomatoes grown in containers on my back deck. While our first few seasons may be less than impressive, I'm looking forward to spending time with Luke and watching his interest for gardening grow.  My husband and I agree that some our fondest childhood memories were those spent visiting our grandparents.  I'm pretty sure my boys will say the same when they get older too.

Sunday Best

1.  Lauren Merkin Allie Clutch  2. David Yurman Earrings   3. Lanvin Dress  4. Juicy Couture Red Agate Sparrow Ring  5.  Stuwart Weitzman Heels

Horseradish-Crusted Wild Pacific Salmon

Tonight I tried this delicious recipe from Country Living.  I prepared the horseradish mixture while my husband grilled the salmon.  It presented a really interesting flavor and the horseradish paired nicely with the salmon.  Obviously I cut down the recipe since I was only making two pieces of fish.  Next time I might even reduce the amount of horseradish by about a third.  It definitely had a kick to it!  I served this along side some mashed potatoes and fresh sliced garden tomatoes seasoned with sea salt and fresh ground pepper.  We also enjoyed an alcohol free summer cocktail of three parts Pelligrino Mineral Water and one part orange juice.  Enjoy!

Your Southern Peach 
 (Photo by:  Charles Schiller)

I Scream, You Scream

(Flavors Left to Right- Peach, Butter Pecan, Raspberry Cheesecake, Mint Chocolate Chip, Chocolate)


Tomorrow is national ice cream day.  Apparently, Ronald Reagan declared July 18th National Ice Cream day back in 1984 and I'm just now finding out about it.  That's probably because everyday is Ice Cream day for me so why would July 18th be any different? I live within three miles of a Bruster's, a Dairy Queen, and a Cold Stone Creamery.  (By the way, click on the links to see their current deals and promotions!) Trust me, I give them plenty of business throughout the year.  However, in honor of National Ice Cream Day, I plan on trying one of these tasty homemade recipes tomorrow.  What's your favorite flavor?

(Thanks to Country Living for these beautiful photos and fabulous recipes.)


Your Southern Peach

My First Peach Cobbler

I made my first peach cobbler.  I made my first peach cobbler and it was delicious!  I know, I know, cobbler's are virtually fool proof but I am not a baker.  Baking is an art that I am far from mastering.  I can cook fairly well but as I stated in my previous post, Recipe Rebellion, I tend to get creative halfway through the process.  This does not work well with baking where measurements need to be more precise.  So anytime I actually bake something and it comes out remotely edible, I am very proud of myself.

Now, I know that a peach cobbler seems like an obvious choice for a blog titled, "Your Southern Peach" and I apologize for my apparent lack of creativity.  However, we are in the middle of peach season here in Georgia and it's one of my husband's favorite desserts so I figured I'd give it a shot.

After much time scouring the Internet for the perfect recipe, I finally grabbed my nearby copy of "The Lady and Sons Savannah Country Cookbook" by Paula Deen. (I know.  She's an obvious choice too, but hey, the woman can cook and there's no doubt that she is Southern!)  I like Paula's recipes because they're approachable and not pretentious.  At this time in my life, being a mom to two young boys, I'm looking for recipes that are simple yet delectable.  This one fit the bill!  Here it is, straight from the cookbook.

• 1 stick butter
• 1 cup sugar
• 3/4 self-rising flour
• 3/4 cup milk
• One 28-ounce can sliced peaches in syrup, undrained (See variations below for fresh peaches)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Put butter in deep baking dish and place in oven to melt.  Mix sugar and flour; add milk slowly to prevent lumping.  Pour over melted butter.  Do not stir.  Spoon fruit on top, gently pouring in syrup.  Still do not stir; batter will rise to top during baking.  Bake 30 to 45 minutes.  Good with fresh whipped cream or vanilla ice cream. 


VARIATION:  When available, fresh fruit is wonderful.  You may use fresh blueberries, strawberries, blackberries, cherries, apples, peaches, or pears.  Simply clean, peel, and core 2 cups (Your Southern Peach thinks it should be 3 cups) of fruit and mix with 1 cup sugar and 1 cup water.  In a saucepan, bring mixture to a boil and simmer for about 10 minutes.  Stir often, making sure sugar is completely dissolved.  Substitute this for the canned peaches.

Of course I used fresh Georgia peaches rather than canned peaches.  The recipe calls for 2 cups of peaches but next time, I would slice closer to 3 cups total.  The two key factors for success with this recipe are using self-rising flour and not stirring the batter.  The end result was very good!  The crust was more soft and cake-like versus crisp and flaky.  I served it to my husband with low-fat vanilla yogurt and he went back for seconds which is the greatest compliment a cook can receive!  I would love to try some variations of cobbler so if you have a recipe you'd like to share, send it over to me.  There's still six weeks left in peach season and I plan on making the most of it.


Your Southern Peach

Sunday Best

1.  Sonia, by ElieTahari  2.  Emilio Pucci Dress  3.  Paula Dorf "Blaze" Gloss  4.  Bittar Cuff  5.  Scarf by Emilio Pucci  6.  Lanvin Sunglasses  7.  Sierra Clutch by Elaine Turner

Sunday Best

"Great balls of fire! They're my portieres now! (she jerks down the portieres, pole and all; drapes the material over her shoulder; turns back to Mammy)  I'm going to Atlanta for that three hundred dollars, and I've got to go looking like a queen."

Green Curtain Dress 

Well, it's no secret that us Southern women take a lot of pride in our appearance.  I like to think it's part of our charm.  The curtain scene from "Gone With the Wind" is one of my favorite scenes because Scarlett shows that a true Southern belle can always find a way to gussy herself in hurry no matter what the circumstances.  

Here in the South, we have an expression we call "Sunday Best."  Traditionally, this referred to Christians wearing only their best clothes to church on Sundays, a custom from which many people have strayed.  I'm always disappointed when I see someone wearing jeans and a t-shirt to church.  If you can't dress up for a date with God than when can you wear your "Sunday Best?"  Is it really that hard to throw on a dress versus a pair of jeans?  I think not!


In order to encourage more "gussying up" for worship, I'm going to start featuring inspiration every Sunday titled, "Sunday Best."  I hope this will encourage all of us to leave the jeans and sneakers for the weekdays and save your "Sunday Best" for the Sabbath. 


Your Southern Peach

Tickled Pink over Pinkberry

1.  Watermelon Pinkberry 2.  Pinkberry Parfait  3.  Passionfruit Pinkberry  4.  Pinkberry Cone

Okay fellow Atlantans, as of June 25, 2010 we have our very own Pinkberry frozen yogurt shop.  If you haven't stumbled upon this yet or ventured out to try a taste than you are missing out on some good eats.  It's located just north of the city at the corner of Akers Mill and Cobb Parkway.  Most Pinkberry shops are located in California and New York but they are expanding quickly across the Southeast and also have locations opening soon in Miami, Nashville, Charlotte and New Orleans.

I've been waiting for frozen yogurt to make a come back and it seems that the trend is rising.  The thing I love about Pinkberry is that it's not trying to be ice cream.  It still has that tangy yogurt flavor which I love.  All Pinkberry flavors are non-fat or low fat and contain live active yogurt cultures which make it a great healthy treat.  The fruit toppings are all sliced fresh on a daily basis and most of Pinkberry's dry toppings lean towards healthier options like granola, yogurt chips, fresh coconut and various nuts.  They offer seasonal flavors as well as a 5-7 pm happy hour.  Atlanta based Pinkberry also caters events such as baby showers, office parties or birthdays.  You'll love the hip decor and groovy vibe when you walk through the door and the staff is incredibly nice.  They let you sample as many flavors as you want without giving you the dreaded evil eye.  I personally have tried the Original, Watermelon and Pomegranate flavors and all were equally delicious.  I'm thinking about Mango for my next visit.  You can tell my 3 year old Luke loved his trip to Pinkberry too.  That's him with the face paint, compliments of the local YMCA.  Check out the new Pinkberry in Atlanta and let me know if your tickled pink over Pinkberry!

Casual & Patriotic Cookout

After my return from frolicking around Reynolds Plantation, I hosted my family for a fun, kid-friendly cookout to continue our patriotic celebrations.  My older sister and I agree that the fourth of July is one of our favorite holidays.  Personally I don't miss the gifts, imaginary figures and costumes.  Independence Day is something that every American can celebrate and all it calls for is a great cookout and some fireworks.  And for those of you who are true fireworks fanatics, Atlanta's very own Lenox Mall hosts the largest fireworks display in the Southeast, a tradition from the 1960's! So go ahead and start planning a trip down South to "Hotlanta" for July 4, 2011.

As you can see from my photos, I finally got my flag displayed after struggling with the rope for an hour last week.  Where are the boy scouts when you need them?  I found some kid-friendly tumblers at Target along with the beach cruiser napkins.  After dinner we let the kids light sparklers and throw Pop-Its, which was tons of fun!  My sisters and I were always forbidden with playing with any type of fireworks growing up, so this year, at the young age of 33, I threw my first fistful of Pop-Its and I must admit, it was liberating.

Our menu consisted of BBQ Chicken, grilled Corn with Chili Powder and Lime, Potatoes Au gratin, a garden fresh Caprese Salad, Cherries, Cupcakes & of course Apple Pie.  We also had some iced cold beer and  patriotic Vodka Martinis made with Rose's Blue Raspberry Cocktail Infusions and a splash of Grenadine.

I hope you all had a wonderful weekend with family and friends.  I know I did.  Tomorrow I plan on visiting my local Publix stores to snatch up the remaining Pop-its.  They may come in handy during the Christmas season when someone takes my parking spot at the mall.

Your Southern Peach

Happy Independence Day!

Happy Independence Day everyone!  I've spent the last two days at the beautiful Reynolds Plantation in Greene County, GA.  My younger sister Jane flew in from Baltimore and we had a blast cooking up a storm in the kitchen while sipping on some mimosas and locally brewed beer from the Sweetwater Brewery in Atlanta, GA.  I'm finally back home now and looking forward to hosting my family for a cookout tomorrow.  I have the table set for ten but a true Southern hostess always has a few extra place settings off to the side just in case a few extras decide to join us.  I hope you had a wonderful day and God Bless America!

Elva Fields Love

Two nights ago I saw this designer featured on one of my new favorite blogs Oh Joy!  I absolutely love vintage brooches and wear them a lot in the winter on my coats and sweaters.  I  tend to let them sit idle in the summer because I feel they look a bit heavy and bulky.  However, I think one of these necklaces would look absolutely adorable with a sweet sundress or tank.

Coincidentally, my own grandmother's name was Elva so I went to explore the Elva Fields website to find out where they came up with the name. I knew I had to feature Elva Field's custom jewelry on my blog when I learned that the designer, Emily Wheat, was based in the beautiful southern state of Kentucky.  Don't be fooled though.  She's no backwoods girl just stringing beads.  She earned her graduate degree from The Bard Graduate Center for Decorative Arts, Design, and Culture in New York City.  The other thing that is extra special about Elva Fields jewelry is that a portion of every online purchase is donated to Backpack Buddies of Spencer County, a program providing school-age children in the company’s local rural community of Taylorsville, Kentucky with healthy meals and snacks each weekend of the academic year.  What a great cause!  If you like these pieces and want to see more, hop over to Elva Fields and check it out.  She also has a collection of beautiful earrings.