I Love {The Nutcracker}

I positively love every.single.thing. about the Nutcracker ballet.  My very favorite rendition…and I’ve seen A LOT as a self professed Nutcracker lover… is the American Ballet Theater’s 1977 production with Gelsey Kirkland and Mikhail Baryshnikov. 

For a more modern two minute update, y’all absolutely HAVE to see this ad!!  The Bailey’s drinking Nutcracker lover in me thinks it’s just perfection!  I’d love to see the whole ballet done in this manner!!

And just for kicks, I’ll leave you with this image.  Yours truly as Clara in Ballet South’s 1993 Nutcracker.  One of my proudest personal achievements of all time and a dream come true to a sixteen year old ballerina.  It was the real deal… countless rehearsals, the Savannah Symphony Orchestra, sets, costumes, press pictures, reviews, bleeding toes and all.





xoxo

I Love {Southern Homes & Gardens}

I was recently introduced to Southern Homes & Gardens and just can’t say enough good things about their gorgeous and so-Southern decor, accessories and gifts.  When they offered to send me the preserved boxwood wreath I’d been head-over-heels for, I jumped at the chance.  *squeals with delight*



 
I have big plans for this beaut – I’m thinking topped with a luxurious satin ribbon at the holidays and perhaps paired with burlap for my front portico in the Spring.  But for now, I used a large clear suction cup to hang her atop my antique foyer mirror.  With the leaves already falling from the trees, I can’t help but smile every time I see this lovely piece of green.



For what it’s worth, this is one of the best made preserved boxwood wreaths I’ve seen.  It’s full, bright, ready to hang and LUSH… the thing is heavy!

 
While I was at it, I went ahead and updated my DIY oyster shell frame with a snap from our latest family photo session (thanks Kristin Leigh!).



And just to get y'all droolin', some of my other Southern Homes & Gardens favorites are…

Cotton Wreath – I searched to high heavens for one of these last year

 TONS of lanterns

Gorgeous pillows – I love love love this one!!

Very affordable runners and placemats

Preserved Boxwood Topiary Ball to go with my wreath

Lovely decorative hand towels – would be smashing in my kitch!!

Blue Crab Art - perfect for John's new room! 

Yeah… so I could totally spend a fortune in one fell swoop.  Should I ever find myself in Montgomery, I will certainly check them out in person. Thank you, Southern Homes and Gardens, for the gorgeous wreath!!
xoxo

Southern Homes and Gardens

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See more of my FOYER here!

PS.  My  friend Kelly at Eclectically Vintage has a room in the Apartment Therapy Room for Color Contest - check out her inspirational "Cheery Rainbow" room and vote HERE!!! 

I Love {Bronwyn Hanahan Art}

Bestie S has amassed quite a collection of Bronwyn’s art and, after ogling it for quite some time, I finally sprung for my first piece!!  I am pleased to present my new fall door decor…



… it even inspired me to replant my pots - and that's saying a lot. It really couldn’t be cuter and is my new favorite thing about football season!!  It’s made of wood, sprinkled with glitter, topped with a bow and ready to hang.  What more could a gal ask for?!?



(And this is somewhat off topic, but we also got our Tech flag back up in the back.  Yee haw!  Go Tech!  THWG!!)



Bronwyn is a Southern artist (love that) and the mastermind behind loads of darling door decor, fabulous frames, wonderful wall art and much much more!  She has something for every occasion in her coffer.  Here are a few of my favorites…

You can find these and much more in her etsy store.  Also, be sure to like her facebook page to find out about her daily deal and other special offers.

Thanks, bestie S, for picking up my football and delivering it to my door.  You’re too too good to me :-)

xoxo

Find me at: My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia, Savvy Southern Style, DIY by Design, Tatertots and Jello, A Stroll Through Life, French Country Cottage, No Minimalist Here, The36th Avenue, It's Overflowing, Shine on Fridays, DIY Show Off, House of Hepworth, 52 Mantels, I Heart Nap Time, The Frugal Girls,Six Sisters Stuff, One Project Closer, Jennifer Rizzo, Le Chateau des Fleurs, Common Ground, Liz Marie Blog, Not Just a Housewife, Miss Mustard Seed, Sugar Bee Crafts, Elizabeth and Co, Rain on a Tin Roof, Coastal Charm, Uncommon Designs, Mop It Up Monday, The Tablescaper, A Lived In Home, Monday Funday, The Scoop at Cedar Hill Ranch, Remodelaholic, Evolution of Style

I Love {calliespondence}

It’s an amazing place, this blog world.  One of Honey’s friends married this darling girl that I never really got to know until I started blogging – even though she lives close enough to visit and our paths often crossed at events and football games.  She’s the creative wonder behind calliespondence – a paper goods outfit that offers custom wedding invitation suites, birth announcements, stationery and anything in between.  And I do not exaggerate when I say that the girl is just as fashionable, proper and delightful in real life as her designs are on paper. 

Callie recently did a giveaway for a set of personalized gift stickers and I was as pleased as punch to have WON!  Imagine my joy when these pretties arrived in my mailbox last week…



Let me assure you that if you can dream it, she can do it.  Oh… and in addition to running her own small biz while keeping up with two precious littles, Callie also pens one of my don’t miss daily reads – the calliespondence blog. 

Go check her out!
xoxo

PS. I saw Medieval Times Atlanta has a Living Social deal right now for $36 adult and $29 child tickets.  It seems that their JULY20 coupon code (expires thursday) can also be applied to bring it down to $30 adult and $23 kids.  Not cheap but a very entertaining night out for sure considering dinner and entertainment are included.  Read all about our visit here!

I Love {Grits Bits} + A Giveaway

THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED.  CONGRATS Gypsy Heart ON THE WIN!!

There’s no denying that Southerners have a convicting, albeit perplexing to our friends above the Mason Dixon, love affair with grits. They are part of our past, our customs, our hospitality and our sheer Southern-ness.

Many moons ago, Sister and I stumbled across Diane Pfeifer, accomplished Atlantan and purveyor of Grits Bits (think the ubiquitous cheese straw but flavored and better and even more Southern…if that’s possible), at the Junior League’s Mistletoe Market. Somewhere between a couple of babies, a move and life in general, they completely slipped my mind. So, imagine my delight when the fine folks at Grits Bits came a-knocking on my door I-don’t-even- know-how-many years later!!

Suffice it to say that I fell in love all over again at first bite. The Variety Pack (think sweet, savory, spicy and cheesy) was not only spot-on for a delish and so-Southern gift, but was practically begging to round out a little cocktail hour on the porch. And let’s face it, I adore a reason to uncork a good cold bottle of pinot.
 





Grits Bits has recently expanded into gift baskets and I am currently racking my brain to come up with some sort of soiree in which to enlist their services. I mean, how marvelous is this Atlanta Sip ‘n Snack gift set chocked full of Grits Bits, a glass bottle Coke, Georgia Peach Jelly Bellies, Georgia peanuts and a peach shaped chocolate?!?! Where was this eleven years ago when I was searching high and low for items for my out-of-town wedding guest bags?


It seems I’m not the only one raving about these delish little bites these days – Diane just brought a little bit of the South up to DC for the First Lady’s Legislative Wives’ Luncheon earlier this week, and spent a few days rubbing elbows with the likes of fellow Georgians Paula Deen and Tricia Yearwood!!!


 
Now, compliments of Grits Bits (website here), I am giving away a variety pack in cheddar, butter cookie, Vidalia onion and jalapeno flavors! There are three ways to enter and the giveaway is open to US addresses only.
 

 
Post a separate comment for any/all of the following…
1. Like the Grits Bits Facebook page and let them know Dixie Delights sent you – leave a comment letting me know.
2. Follow Grits Bits on Pinterest and leave a comment letting me know.
3. Follow my blog and leave a comment letting me know.
The winner will be announced Saturday May 25.
 
Put some South in your mouth, y’all!
xoxo

I Love {Mary Pratt}

I’m back today with another of my favorite local artists – Mary Pratt of Pink Chair Studio.  Mary is mother to my dear friend Anna, grandma to two of the most darling little girls you could ever hope to know AND a stunning artist.  I’ve had the great pleasure of getting to know her over the last few years and always look forward to seeing her at Anna’s parties, gatherings and events.  This is the piece that started an instant and all-encompassing love affair with Mary…


…can you even believe the gorgeousness?  I literally swooned right there in Anna’s kitchen. 

This portrait of a family friend’s daughter is equally as marvelous.  I’ve seen this child in person and I can honestly say that this perfectly captures her!  I sure would love to have one of the boys (I’m putting that out there on the off chance Honey is reading.)



It should come as no surprise that I’m drawn to her coastal pieces.  Here are a few of my favorites…








Soooo…after admiring Mary’s work in Anna’s home and through her Facebook page for a good long while, I was absolutely positively thrilled when Honey told me I could work with her on a piece for our bedroom for my Christmas gift.  I loved the idea of a diptych after seeing the aforementioned peacock painting and wanted something coastal in my muted colors.  Imagine my absolute delight when she presented me with this…  (that would be the second time I swooned in Anna’s kitchen).  She used thick gallery wrapped canvases - the two 20x24” pieces make for a total size of 40x24”.



I truly couldn’t have dreamed up anything more perfect and I cannot wait for y’all to see what we’ve done with it!!!  One of my favorite Christmas gifts of all time!
xoxo

Find Mary Pratt at Pink Chair Studio here!

I Love {The Cloche}

One of my favorite decorative accessories is the cloche.  There is just something about those gently curved glass domes that make whatever is tucked underneath immensely more fabulous than it might otherwise seem.

My most prized cloche in the collection is in the den.  I have one bronzed baby shoe from each little nestled inside with a picture of them taken at Wormsloe Plantation in Savannah.

The powder room vanity holds another favorite.  Inside this tall cloche I have a glass egg and birds nest resting on a bed of moss.  Curly willow twines around the height of the piece.

These mini glass pedestals with cloche tops had me at hello.  I use them to house all sorts of little lovelies on various occasions.  I had a set of six and cried real tears when an unfortunate mishap left me short one top. 
  
And seasonally you’ll find a cloche here or there.  Right now I have a tiny cloche over a black glittered pumpkin on my kitchen table.

I’m excited to finally be participating in Marty’s Cloche Party!!
xoxo