Southern Porches

A few months ago, I posted about the art of "Front Porch Sittin''"  Yesterday, my husband willingly pressure washed our humble little porch so it's looking all fresh and clean just in time for some cooler weather.  I'm still working on sprucing up my space and have added an all weather wicker table, a wind chime and some pottery.  This week I'm gonna paint the address plaque and replace the numbers.  I'll post a picture when it's all done but in the meantime, here's some more inspiration for you to enjoy.  Happy Front Porch Sittin'!

Tropical ad Easy Going

Rustic and Romantic

Eclectic and Funky

Elegant and Timeless

Casual and Inviting

Private and Intimate

Bright and Retro

Spacious and Low maintenance

Sunday Best

Playful by yoursouthernpeach featuring platform sandal

TIBI NY 100820170 TURQUOISE SILK -, 304 GBP
Dune Jola Corsage Platform Sandal, $106
Fetish Clutch, $95
Multi Color Crystal Pin, $122
Anita Ko Rose 18-karat rose gold diamond earrings, $3,450
MAKEUP Ulta.com - Cosmetics, Fragrance, Salon and Beauty Gifts, $8
Urban Decay Cosmetics - Stardust Eyeshadow
Bobbi Brown 'Extra' Balm Rinse, $55
Amazon.com: OPI Ate Berries In The Canaries 0.5 oz.: Beauty, $20
Allure Best of Beauty Eyes: Best of Beauty: allure.com

How I found yoga and why I practice

I found yoga almost eight years ago. I often contemplate if yoga could be the answer to things like world peace and reducing illnesses like diabetes, depression and cancer.  That's how much I love yoga. 

I like to say I "accidentally" found yoga because I began my practice alone one day in my living room via some random yoga DVD whose title I do not remember.  I was newly engaged and starting a new sales career but secretly, I was overcome with anxiety and panic inside.  Do you know the difference between Anxiety and Panic Attacks?  Anxiety is a feeling that lingers for an extended period of time and includes symptoms like muscle tension, fatigue and difficulty concentrating.  Panic attacks come on suddenly causing an accelerated heart rate, trembling, sweating, hot flashes, chest pain, faintness, shortness of breath and a terrible feeling of being detached from your present self.  I suffered from both daily but did not talk about it to anyone.  I was not depressed so to speak, but I was living a life blanketed by fear.  To the outside world, I was a blushing bride and a successful professional but something was missing. I was desperate to try anything that would help me manage the feelings of drowning in my own thoughts.  I did not want to take antidepressant medications and I did not want to "talk about my feelings" to a therapist who didn't even know me.  This was something deeply rooted inside my own mind that only I could heal.  Then I found yoga in my very own living room.  Alone.

The first time I practiced, a feeling of joy rushed over me.  My mind was not racing uncontrollably as I focused on the poses, my breathe and my gaze.  I experienced that wonderful feeling of being present, listening and feeling my breathe go in and out of my body and nothing more. For the first time in a long time, I was in control of my mind and it was one with my body.  They were not battling each other anymore.  In Sanskrit, the word yoga is derived from the Sanskrit root "yuj", meaning "to control", "to yoke" or "to unite."  Being able to unite my mind, body and spirit through yoga gave me a high I had never experienced before.  I felt whole.  I felt like I was living with purpose.  Every single time I finish a yoga practice now, I silently give thanks for my physical and mental health.

Over the past eight years, I've experienced marriage, jobs, pregnancies, miscarriages, children, broken bones, loss of loved ones and everything in between.  My yoga practice has been there every step of the way.  I've come to realize that much of my anxiety was rooted in my quest for perfection and not loving myself completely.  The beauty of yoga is that it is a practice and it doesn't require you or even ask you to be perfect.  It simply asks you to just be.  

Some of you may wonder if I physically practice yoga everyday, meaning engaging in poses and such.  The answer is no.  I physically practice a few times a week.  However, I cannot get through a single day, and sometimes a single hour, without practicing the mental aspects of yoga.  For me, the most challenging yet most rewarding aspect of my yoga practice is my ability to keep my mind focused and free of fear, self doubt and criticism. You may also wonder if I still suffer from anxiety and panic attacks.  The answer is yes, but very rarely.  The difference now is that I am able to acknowledge these thoughts without allowing them to consume my entire being.  Did yoga make me a more perfect person?  Absolutely not.  However, because of yoga, I am more grateful, more positive, more loving, more spiritual, more hopeful, more confident, more accepting, more kind, more patient and most importantly more forgiving.   

My yoga teacher often says that the challenges we face on our mat help us to face the challenges we meet in life.  I couldn't agree more. We all have challenges whether they are mental, physical or spiritual.  It's how we choose to face them that matters most.

 

Words of Encouragement to a New Mom

Lorene, about two weeks before her passing. 

Tomorrow is my husbands grandmother's birthday.  Her name was Lorene.  She would have been 92 but she passed away almost two years ago at the young age of 90.

I had the pleasure of knowing her for about about fourteen years.  The things I miss most about her are her laugh, her wit and her sincerity.  She was the type of lady who said what she meant and meant what she said.  If she paid you a compliment, it was genuine.  She wasn't the type to blow smoke, if you know what I mean.

After the birth of my first son, I had a very difficult time adjusting to motherhood.  I adored my son but life as I knew it had changed...drastically.  It had nothing to do with the baby.  It was me.  I left a successful sales career, our newlywed social life was non-existent and my husband started Emory's MBA program the day after I gave birth. I had help from my family but many times I still felt terribly alone and questioned myself as a mom.  When my son was eight weeks old, I fell after a nighttime feeding and broke the cuboid bone in my left foot.  That injury left me confined to a wheelchair for six weeks and feeling residual pain for about a year.

As a young pregnant woman, the first question people ask you is, "Is this your first baby?"  As soon as you zealously answer, "YES!!!," you see a smile come across their face, as if they know something that you don't know yet.  It's as if there's a secret motherhood club and no one will tell you the truth behind the rite of passage.

After the baby arrives, you will feel like everyone is watching your every move and judging your every parenting decision.  Strangers, who would have never given you a second glance in your previous life, will suddenly approach you out of nowhere to point out your shortcomings as a first time mom.  They will say things like "You forgot to wipe down the handle on your grocery cart" and "Why  did you quit nursing so soon?" and "You should really make him wear a hat in this weather" and "Can your baby breathe in that baby carrier?"  These types of comments made me question my capabilities and my confidence.

This gets me back to Grandma Lorene.  After Luke was born, she never criticized me or tried to instruct me how to do things like so many women do with new moms.  But she had one of the greatest influences on me during that time in my life.  Other than my own family, she was the only person who ever verbally complimented me as a new mom.  On several occasions she would quietly pull me aside and lovingly say, "Amy, you're doing a great job with that baby."  Those few simple words of encouragement, coming from her, a 90 year old domestic goddess in my eyes, meant more to me than anything in the world.  And that's what I miss the most about sweet, beautiful Lorene.  

Maybe her wise soul realized that I was struggling or maybe she recognized that I was trying really hard to figure out my new role in life.  Perhaps she had been through a similar experience.  I'm not sure.  As a second time mom now, I'm much more confident and care a lot less about others opinions of me.  Maybe it's because I still hear her softly whispering from above, "Amy you're doing a great job raising those babies." 

Football, Fashion and Oatmeal Lace?

Football season.  Just those two words get me excited for the upcoming fall season. It's my favorite season for so many reasons, football being just one.  I don't have a strong alliance to one particular team other than the Atlanta Falcons.  I really just enjoy watching football! 

In regards to watching sports on TV, football is my favorite.  Baseball moves too slowly and the sound of squeaky basketball shoes drives me bananas.  I love watching golf, but only when I'm napping on the couch on a quiet Sunday afternoon.  Hockey's great in person but I can never follow the puck on TV.  Soccer's nice for the eye candy but that's really about it.

Football is high energy, aggressive and raw.  There's something intriguing about men trying to tackle each other while carrying around all that heavy gear.  (Make of that what you will.)  But there are other reasons why I love football and football season in general.  There's the food factor, there's the pre and post game festivities, there's the adrenaline rush of trying to sneak in a flask of liquor to a crowded stadium and of course there's the fashion.

No other sport has such extreme displays of fan fashion.  Some football fans even go as far as wearing a wedge of cheese on their heads!  I'm sorry but I would voluntarily be excommunicated from a state before wearing a piece of cheese on my head!  Leave it for the nachos.  I'm more likely to route for whichever team's colors better suite my complexion that week.  I know, I'm a fare weather fan.

That gets me to the point of this post.  Football, Fashion and  Oatmeal Lace.  This talented designer is a woman after my own heart, incorporating Football and Fashion!!!  I'm not the least bit surprised that she is a southern girl...  smart and fashionable. I've actually been a fan of hers for a while but when she recently started making stylish clutch purses inspired by collegiate colors, well I had to introduce my readers to her.  Whether you're a young college girl or seasoned alum, these clutches are a must for the upcoming football season.  You can see more of Oatmeal Lace Designs at her blog or more importantly, check out her shop on Etsy.  Tell her Your Southern Peach sent ya!

Sunday Best

Wonder by yoursouthernpeach featuring Balenciaga dresses

Balenciaga Contrasting zip front dress, 1,335 GBP
Acne Patent court shoe., 175 GBP
FLESH STUDDED BRITTANIA CLUTCH, $1,495
Dream Sky Cuff, $295
Avril's Boho Style Orange & Pink Cocktail Ring, $30
Disney Couture 'Alice In Wonderland' 14ct Gold Plated Black Keyhole..., $20
Givenchy 694 Dark Brown > Givenchy Sunglasses > 694 07NC > UK, 109 GBP
PEARL&IVY PEOCOCK HAIRBAND-ORANGE ORANGE/MULTICOLOR NATURAL FEATHERS -, 65 GBP
MAC 'To the Beach' Bronzing Powder, $22
Amazon.com: SpaGlo Peacock Teal Mineral Eyeshadow- Warm Based Color:..., $9.99
David Yurman Eau de Parfum Spray, $75
Lancome Absolue Precious Cells - Advanced Regenerating and..., $145

Shrimp and Grits

Prepare yourself.  I made this delicious recipe for Shrimp and Grits tonight from one of my favorite blogs, "Joy the Baker."  Her blog focuses primarily on baking, which I mostly just look at and admire from my computer screen.  However, when I saw this recent post featuring Shrimp and Grits, I knew I had to try it right away.

I love Shrimp and Grits but I've never ventured to make them myself.  Sure, we eat grits a lot on the weekends when we indulge in a big breakfast, but they're nothing fancy.  Just a little salt, butter and cheese.  Typically we use old fashioned white hominy grits by Aunt Jemima but for this recipe I used yellow corn grits by Dixie Lily.  I may never go back.

This recipe is pretty much perfect in my opinion.  The only side note I might add is the amount of cheese may be a bit much.  However, the way you "dress your grits" is a very personal thing.  I also like to add the butter to the water when I add the grits.  I think it helps prevent them from clumping.  I used shrimp that was already deveined and cooked to help speed up the process.  I just heated them for a minute in the bacon drippings to warm them through and then added the additional ingredients.  It is super easy and the combined flavors with the garlic, lemon, bacon and scallions are oh.so.good.

Shrimp and Grits by Joy the Baker

4 cups water

1 cup stone ground grits (also known as polenta)

salt and pepper

3 Tablespoons unsalted butter

1 cup sharp cheddar cheese, shredded

1 pound shrimp, peeled and deveined without the tails

6 slices bacon

4 teaspoons fresh lemon juice

2 Tablespoons parsley, chopped

1/2 cup thinly sliced scallions

1 large garlic clove, minced

Bring water to a boil.  Add grits to the boiling water while whisking to prevent clumps.  Add a bit of salt and pepper.  Lower heat, bring to simmer and cover until water is absorbed.  Follow the directions on your box of grits or polenta.  Cooking times vary.  Once thick, remove from heat and stir in butter and shredded cheese.

Rinse and pat shrimp dry.  Fry the bacon in a large skillet.  When cooked through remove from the pan and add shrimp into the bacon grease pan.  Cook until shrimp turn pink.  Add lemon juice, bacon, scallions, garlic and parsley.  Cook for another three minutes.

Spoon the grits into a serving bowl and top with shrimp mixture.  Serve immediately.

Enjoy and have a great weekend!

Summer Love

For most of my life, I've lived within 10 miles of the the Marietta Square.  However, I've never visited it quite as frequently as I did this summer.

My oldest son Luke developed a huge "crush" on the square which resulted in at least a bi-weekly visit this summer.  One week we went there...every.single.day.  Yep, five days in a row, in the blistering heat, with my 10 week old and my three year old.  It's free and more importantly, I like to support the local ice cream vendors.  I think we may have kept a few of them in business this summer.

Another local mom asked me, "What to you DO there?"  Well, that's one thing I adore about kids.  They make the simplest things fun!

 Here's how we occupied a few hours on the square or "train square" as referred to by my little man, Luke.

• Toss pennies in the enormous water fountain.  Or, if it's empty, get inside and run laps, which I'm sure is illegal or something but we never got caught.
• Snack time in the Gazebo, free of pesky, dirty pigeons.  Sorry Mary Poppins.
• Visit the Welcome Center, located near the REAL train tracks, which also has a public restroom, rocking chairs and old ladies that love to hold small babies.
• Make friends in the kid's play area equipped with a vintage train replica.
• Perform a live, free concert or dance show on the Glover Park Stage.
• And for us "housewives," watch cute lawyers exit the courthouse and eavesdrop on a first date compliments of eHarmony
• Create a homemade Do-Rag for your infant so he doesn't overheat from being outside too long.
  .

But wait, there's more to this area than just the simple things in life!  All joking aside, the Marietta Square really has been trying to revitalize this district for the past several years.  It still has a long way to go before it rivals the historic squares of Roswell or Decatur, but they're moving in the right direction.  There's now a variety of fun things to do such as art classes via the Marietta Cobb Museum of Art, "Brew with a View" at The Strand, live performances at Theatre in the Square and weekly wine tastings at Marietta Wine Market.

Being somewhat of a Marietta native, I honestly love that this area is gaining some much deserved attention.  There is an abundance of fascinating history and culture surrounding sweet little "Merry-etta."  Why travel downtown when you can check out some of these latest happenings?  Tell them "Your Southern Peach" sent ya and they'll probably look at you like you're crazy but hey, you never know!

For more events and happenings on the Historic Marietta Square District, visit there website. 

I broke all the rules on vacation

Have you ever heard the saying, "It's not vacation if you're traveling with your kids?"  If you're still having to parent, discipline, change diapers and wash bottles than you're not truly "on vacation."  However, last week on our beach trip, I found ways to relax the reigns a bit to help me relax as "Mom" of the family.  Here are some rules I broke on vacation.

• I didn't recycle.  Not one bit.  I feel horribly guilty about it.  I'm sorry Earth.
• I let my child walk around barefoot.  A lot.  He only suffered one cut on his toe.
• I let my child eat one of these every single day.  The look on his face was priceless.
• We let our oldest son sleep in our bed with us every night.  He never does this at home.
• I enjoyed cocktails before 5 o'clock.  Really no surprise there, right?
• I didn't obsess about germs and cleaning.  However, I couldn't escape my laundry duties. 
• I gave up on trying to get the "perfect" family photo in our coordinating outfits.

Like I said, there are still things I couldn't get away from such as laundry, wiping bottoms, 3 AM feedings, preparing meals, baths and grocery shopping.   However, by giving in on a few of the little things, I lightened my parenting responsibilities and was able to focus on more important things like helping Luke perfect his CANNON BALL!  Are there certain things you do differently when vacationing with your kids?  Post a comment and let me know!

Sunday Best

Daring by yoursouthernpeach featuring Theory dresses

Theory Taliana silk-crepe dress, $415
Betsey Johnson Diza Heel - Black Gold, $114
Lauren Merkin Allie Galaxy Double Flap Clutch, $250
lady marmalade mushroom ring at kate spade, $59
Isharya 18-karat gold-plated filigree earrings, $225
Hermes cashmere shawls | Hermes.com, $980
Dolce and Gabbana 4087 Green Havana > Dolce & Gabbana Sunglasses >..., 176 GBP
Urban Decay Cosmetics - Stardust Eyeshadow
Van Cleef & Arpels - Oriens Eau De Parfum Spray 30ml/1oz, $68

Tellus

 

Last week, my mother in law suggested we visit Tellus, a science museum located in the quaint town of Cartersville, Georgia.  When I first caught wind of this idea, my mind started racing with images of pushy crowds, lots of walking with a baby strapped to me via my Baby Bjorn and my three year old overtly proclaiming, "This is BORING!"  Well, I was proved wrong.

First, let me apologize to the Cartersville folks.  I expected some shabby attempt at a science museum simply due to its rural location.  However, Tellus is spectacular, all 120,00 square feet!  It could easily be a major attraction in downtown Atlanta and I have no idea why there has not been more hype around this relatively new museum.  While it is quite large, I didn't have that feeling of being overwhelmed, which I so often do with museums.  I've been known to have a few anxiety attacks when faced with large crowds.

Tellus boasts a variety of interesting exhibits such as a mineral gallery, a fossil gallery, a science in motion gallery and "My Big Backyard" just for the kids! A 120-seat digital planetarium and an observatory with a state-of-the-art 20-inch telescope is also located at Tellus.

Yes, all the exhibits are visually interesting but let me focus on the kiddos.  The highlights for us were:

• The fossil dig, where kids can use paintbrushes to wipe away sand to uncover fossils of all kinds. Buried beneath the sand are shark teeth, snail shells and other fossils.  Kids get to pick one fossil to take home as a free souvenir.
• Gem Panning with a working water wheel and plenty of gems for children to find and take home.
• Collin's Family "My Big Backyard" which is an amazing interactive zone for kids of all ages.  (The adults really have fun too!)  Kids can explore things like weather, light, sound, magnetism, gardening and more! 
• The Planetarium has several different shows but we saw the "kid-friendly" show sponsored by Sesame Street, featuring the lovable Big Bird and Elmo.  They learn about the Big Dipper, the North Star and take an imaginary trip to the Moon. 

Despite the long drive, Tellus delivers.  For those of us who are "scientifically challenged," it provides a  hands-on learning experience and introduces the little ones to complex concepts in a fun atmosphere.  My oldest son is already asking when we can go back to Tellus and secretly, I can't wait to return too!

Your Southern Peach

Good Morning!

Good Morning from the beautiful Gulf Coast! We're vacationing at Okaloosa Island, Fort Walton Beach, FL.  The water and the beaches are crystal clear.

Happy Thursday!

Your Southern Peach

Blue Mason Jars

Last weekend I finally got to slip away for an hour to go to a nearby antique market.  I was on the hunt for one thing.  Aqua blue mason jars.

Growing up, anytime I had dinner at my best friends house, we always drank from mason jars. (sweet tea of course)  It was a completely foreign tradition to me that I never quite understood but always appreciated.

John Mason, a tinsmith and inventor of the mason jar, was actually a native of Philadelphia.  I'm not for certain, but I'm guessing the mason jar was quickly accepted by southern farmers to preserve the abundance of their crops. As a natural progression, these charming and inexpensive domestic beauties became glassware for us southerners.


Well, leave it to the crafty  folks to make something out of nothing.  Check out these beautiful photos that feature simple and elegant ways to show off your pretty glass jars.  I love their casual elegance and vintage charm!

(Top to Bottom, Left to Right: 1.  Dreamy Whites  2. Elizabeth Anne Designs  3. Etsy   4.  Alyssa Ettinger  5. House of Turquoise  6.  Craft Gossip7. Thrifty Fun  8.  Country Living)

Your Southern Peach

.

Sunday Best

Glow by mikkandme featuring Christian Louboutin shoes

Bottega veneta dresses RED, 812 GBP
Christian Louboutin Relika pat shoe, 525 GBP
MARC JACOBS C301465 BEIGE PATENT LEATHER E3698, 415 GBP
Blissful Blossoms - 24K Earrings, $555
MONTSE ESTEVE Ring, 1.550 EUR
Totes Stick Umbrella - Green : Target, $50
Laura Mercier Oil Free Tinted Moisturizer - Makeup - Bloomingdales.com, $42
shu uemura 'Gem Glam' Flawless Glow Powder, $55
rose cologne spray 100ml, 70 GBP
WEN Lavender Cleansing Conditioner - 16oz: Beauty, $28

Lululemon Salutation Nation

via

I'm headed to the Marietta Square this morning to participate in Lululemon's Salutation Nation. Their Marietta showroom is finally opened to the public!  My friend Angie, who blogs at Simply Yogini, is an educator for the company. Next time you're at the square, stop in, check out the showroom and tell her Your Southern Peach sent ya!

Happy Saturday!

Daily Inspiration

We're all busy.  We all keep a calendar.  We all wish for more time to focus on what's really important to us.

If you're anything like me, the moment your day begins, you're out of the starting gate like the underdog at the Kentucky Derby.  My daily life is filled with constant chatter, noise and energy.  My yoga teacher would optimistically refer to this sound as "OM," or the sound of universal existence.

I'd like to say I meditate daily but I don't.  However, I like to stay grounded by planting little inspirations around my home to remind me of my values and what's most important to me in my daily life.  I hope you enjoy these photos and take some time to make your home a temple of daily inspiration.

A bowl filled with seashells, collected from various vacations, and a vintage cross sits on a dresser at the entrance of our bedroom.   It reminds me of our family beach trips and the Creator of it all.

Omamori hanging from my bedroom door.  The white one was a gift and is supposed to bring good luck to women trying to conceive.  The purple one I bought at the Meji Shrine in Tokyo and is supposed to bring you harmony and balance.

 I purchased this smiling Buddha in Shanghai.  I have no idea what the inscription actually reads but I know that Smiling Buddha's are associated with happiness, contentment and prosperity.  The small bag contains several little tokens that are explained in the next photo.  Both of these sit on my dresser.

 Coincidentally, I received all of these small gifts during a very difficult time in my life.  I had just miscarried for the second time.   Ganesh is known as the "remover of obstacles."  The Acorn is a symbol of patience, new beginnings, new growth and long life.  My husband received this fortune when we finally found out we were expecting again.  I took all these little "gifts" with me during my labor and delivery as encouragement.  I still look at them everyday to remind myself to never take life for granted.

This is a photo of the inside of one of my kitchen cabinets.  (I apologize for the horrible photo!)  I tore this page out of a Real Simple magazine a few years ago.  The caption reads, "Praise is like sunlight to the human spirit.  We cannot flower and grow without it." ~Jess Lair 
It's a daily reminder for me to praise my children and my husband.  

And finally, this is a plaque hanging right next to my front door as you exit.  (You don't really notice  it on the way in.)  I like to think of it as a blessing to all visitors who exit my home.  So often we focus on how we welcome our guests but consider what will be their last impression.

Do you have little inspirations you would like to share?  I love to hear your comments and ideas too.

Your Southern Peach

With this ring, I thee "web"

Ring from Luke and Bracelet made by Luke

Last year, my younger sister got married and moved to Baltimore, which, by the way, is still south of the Mason-Dixon line. In preparation for my older son's role in the wedding, we bought a Calliou DVD which featured a short story about Calliou's own debut as a ring bearer.   

Since then, Luke has been trying to understand why Aunt Janie moved away.  Last week, I was explaining to him that Aunt Janie fell in love, got married and moved to Baltimore to live with Uncle Bill.  This conversation led to Luke asking a multitude of questions like, "Did it hurt to fall in love?"  and, "Mommy, can you teach me how to fall in love?"  It's so difficult to define love to a very curious three year old.  I explained to Luke that I fell in love the moment he came out of my belly and I looked into his eyes.  He then asked, "Did I love you too?"  I laughed and said, "Yes, that's when we fell in love!" 

So, a few days later, we went to Pigtails and Crewcuts to get Luke's hair cut.  After the cut, the children are allowed to pick a prize from the treasure box.  Imagine my surprise and sheer delight when Luke chose this ring, brought it over to me and said, "Mommy, with this ring, I thee web."  Yes, web.   That is not a typo.  It was one of those special moments that I'll remember forever.  Luke saw how absolutely tickled I was by his "proposal," so all afternoon we practiced "falling in love," which consisted of him putting the ring on my finger and saying, "With this ring, I thee web.  Now we can kiss Mommy."  I promise you, it was a game I never got tired of playing.  If I get to be the love of his life for the next thirty years, I'll consider myself one lucky lady!

Sunday Best