Last Minute Mother's Day Gifts

Mother's Day is almost here and while some people might think this is a holiday created by the greeting card companies to increase sales, I'm not buying it. According to my sources, Mother's Day got its start around the turn of the 20th century when a young lady from West Virginia wanted to honor her mother and it took her three years to get the holiday made official...leave it to a southern girl to do right by mama and set a good example for the rest of us! 

Do we really need a reason to celebrate mom? I think not. We should celebrate the women in our lives daily, but often things get busy and we fail to make note of just what they mean to us. So Mother's Day rolls around and gives us a chance to make up for it! 

I'm sharing some incredible Mother's Day gift ideas and I hope they inspire you to put some heart and soul into making Mom feel special whether its Mother's Day or all through the year. And Mother's Day isn't just for moms....special grandmas, aunts, sisters, step-moms, godmothers and mentors all need to be told they are loved and appreciated too! 

Gifts for New Moms (and Moms who Love Pink) 

These great tote bags from Dash & Albert would make a perfect gift for a new mom who might be celebrating (or getting ready to celebrate) her first Mother's Day. They are stylish and chic, but functional too. Who says diaper bags can't be fashion forward? 

Plus, there's the fun zipper pouch from Sugarboo Designs with the great quote from Audrey Hepburn. Help mom corral those miscellaneous items in her purse or tote with one of these cute organizational tools. 

Gifts for the Mom Who Loves to Feather Her Nest 

Most moms are always on the go and much-needed quiet time at home can be a real treat. The popular Ibiza throw by Pine Cone Hill is a great gift for mom to enjoy during a cozy night at home or a Sunday afternoon nap. 

Some great-smelling candles, such as these from Simpatico would be a great complement to this too. They are clean burning and after all the wax is gone, they double as a beautiful hobnail vase...it's like two gifts in one! 

You could even take it a step further and create a whole day of relaxation for mom, maybe to include a special breakfast and lots of quiet time for her to do what she enjoys most. It might be just what she needs! 

Gifts for the Glamour Gal Mom 

If your mom likes all things that glitter, jewelry is a safe bet. Lenny & Eva holds a special place in my heart because it was started by a lovely lady in my hometown of Cookeville, TN. My southern beau has gifted me with a few different pieces from the Lenny & Eva Trousseau collection and I love mixing and matching them. 

Some of the pieces have sentiments and quotes, while others are made up of beads and charms, but all have a whimsy that is unique. 

Another great line of southern-made jewelry is Louisiana-based Grandmother's Buttons. This line is made up of pieces that are hand crafted with vintage buttons, 100 years old or more! 

Gifts for the DIY Crafty Mom

If your mom is a DIY type, you might want to give her an experience she'll always remember. One idea for a great gift is to treat her to a class or workshop. 

You might remember that I took a class a few years ago where I learned all about the wonders of Annie Sloan Chalk Paint. 

I highly recommend this experience and if you're in Knoxville, the Back Porch Mercantile is the place! Plus, there's even a special deal going on now for a discounted class session. This is even something you and your mom could do together! Who doesn't love some quality time with their momma? I know I do! 

All these great Mother's Day gift options are available at the Back Porch Mercantile in Knoxville. This is a fabulous local gift shop with lots of charm and personality. Every time I visit, it's impossible to leave empty-handed...plus it's the place I send my southern beau when he needs inspiration for birthday gifts, Valentine's Day, etc. 

Stop by and tell them I sent you! Or you can call today and reserve a spot for you and your mom to take a workshop in Annie Sloan Chalk Paint! 

The Back Porch Mercantile 

865-247-4532

5052 KINGSTON PIKE

KNOXVILLE, TENNESSEE

37919

Fall Fantasies: #SmellsClean

My southern beau likes to joke that my super power is empathy, and he's sweet to say that. But the truth is, my real super power is my sense of smell. I'm challenged in the vision department, having worn coke bottle thick glasses (and sometimes contact lenses) since kindergarten and I've heard of how people can have a sense that grows stronger to make up for where another is weak. 

Maybe that explains my crazy sensitive nose. I smell everything without even trying. People's perfume or deodorant. The kind of laundry detergent or fabric softener someone uses. Cleaning products. I'm just really aware of the smells around me. Sometimes this is great, but other times it can be a burden. 

Because my sense of smell is so finely tuned, I want to have pleasant smells around me, especially when I'm at home. 

Every time I walk into my home, I take a big whiff which alerts me to what I might find. Maybe it sounds crazy, but I feel conditioned to do this. If the garbage hasn't been taken out or the dog has had an accident, I smell it immediately. 

My beau has tried to break me of my habit of smelling people, at which apparently I'm not as stealthy as I think. It usually goes like this: 

He comes toward me for a hug. We embrace. He hears "sniff, sniff." 

Him: Did you just sniff me? 
Me: Oh, of course not...I was just breathing. 
Him: You totally did. Do I stink? 
Me: Um, no. But I do smell something weird. 
Him: You ALWAYS SMELL SOMETHING WEIRD!!!!! 

I'm not picking on him, really. But I guess after living alone for nine years, I had gotten used to not having anyone else's smells to contend with. 

Since cooler weather has slowly been making its way into East Tennessee, I've been enjoying open windows and not having to run the air conditioner. But when you've been gone during the day with no air running and the windows shut, the house can smell stale and musty when you first arrive. 

This is exactly what I was faced with yesterday, after being out for the majority of the day. When I got home, it didn't stink exactly, but everything just seemed sort of stale. I immediately opened the windows and lit a couple of candles. 

Candles have always been my go-to for a quick good smell fix. And fall candles are so fun, with their autumny, pumpkin goodness. One I'm really loving right now is Glade's Sage & Thyme Market. 

It isn't overpowering, but after a few minutes of being lit it freshens up my space. And that's after having an old smelly dog, the beau's gym clothes and other potentially odoriffic elements. 

I like to keep different candles on hand, depending on my mood. And I don't like to spend a fortune on a candle either. I've been known to snag some great ones (never even lit!) at yard sales or thrift stores. And sometimes if I'm grocery shopping, I'll cruise the candle selection near the cleaning products. 

I love it when my house is clean, but even when things are a little cluttered, I love it when my house smells clean. I feel happier and more peaceful when my environment is pleasant smelling. Don't you? 

What are your favorite smells of fall? 

Disclosure: This post is sponsored by SC Johnson, A Family Company. All thoughts & opinions are my own.

College Memories: Nostalgia for Years Gone By

You know how when you're younger and you hear old people talk about how things have changed, and how they used to be and maybe how they long for things that once were. When we're young, we're so naive...we think "but it won't be like that for me."

Then you find yourself at 32 years old, shopping for tweezers to pluck a few errant chin hairs and are smacked right in the face with the reality of what those old people were talking about.

Tonight I stopped by the brand new Wal-Mart that just opened near the University of Tennessee. Classes haven't started yet, but there were a few random students and their parents shopping for rugs and lamps and such. I didn't really need anything (does this ever stop me from shopping?). But mostly I just wanted to check it out and see what all the hype was about.

It was really just your average Wal-Mart. But the fact that it's so easy to access from campus is sort of strange to me. Maybe it's because when I was in school, piling into a friend's car and making a late night trip to Wal-Mart was something of an adventure. Then, the closest one was at least a 15 minute ride away. Plenty of time for talking in the car, maybe listening to some awesomely bad music from the early 2000s.

Nobody told me how much I was supposed to enjoy those times while they were happening. I'm not sure who this wise person might have been, but at the time it was the farthest thing from my mind. Those four years flew by in a flash. From my first day of college when my parents and best friend left me crying on the front steps of Hess Hall (they were crying too) to the day I graduated with so many dear friends and family cheering me on.

I feel so grateful for those experiences and I certainly don't take them for granted. In a way, my time at college was extended because the fall after I graduated, I accepted a full-time job in the same department where I'd studied. I spent seven more years working for the university and also was able to get my graduate degree.

When I left that position a few years ago, the University had been where I spent almost every day of my life for eleven years.

What's more, I live less than one mile away from the place to this day. I've watched so many things change about the campus and the surrounding areas. Some for the better and some, I'm not so sure. I still don't know if this whole Wal-Mart thing is actually necessary.

Lots of beloved spots have shut down, with new ones (or parking lots) popping up in their places. I don't like to live in the past, but this time of year always makes me reminiscent for college days. When those students head to class in a few weeks, most won't think for one second about how one day they could be the chubby 32-year old buying tweezers while younger, cooler people who haven't even been born yet peruse rugs and lamps with their parents.

Do you ever find yourself looking back at memories of school days? Or maybe you hated school or have bad memories of that time. Be encouraged my friend...no matter what's behind, there's surely something better ahead!

Back to School Teacher Gifts Under $5

Summer officially goes until beyond Labor Day, but many schools around the country (or at least around the south) are back in session. Knox County (where I live) students will head back into the classroom on Monday and that's where they'll stay for the next ten months or so until summer rolls around again.

During each school year, teachers are hard at work shaping those young minds. Since I grew up with a mom who also happened to be a teacher, I got to see firsthand the impact my mom had on her students.

Even now that some of her previous students are all grown up, many still say she was their favorite teacher. We've all had a teacher (or several if we were lucky) who made a difference for the better. And he or she probably didn't receive the thanks they deserved....or the pay. While a bigger paycheck for your child's teacher might not a reality, there are plenty of other ways to show your appreciation for their dedication.

There's no reason to wait until Christmas or even the last day of school to give teachers a small token of thanks. And it doesn't have to break the bank. Here is a whole round-up of back to school teacher gifts under $5 that are sure to please even the strictest of folks.

Go Germ Free - 

Teachers' days are spent with students who pass germs around like wildfire. Hand washing is a must, but why not make it less of a chore?

A bar of soap wrapped in pretty craft paper and tied with twine makes a great back to school teacher gift. Another simple idea is to buy a decorative soap dispenser and pre-load it with great smelling liquid soap. Your teacher (and his/her immune system) will thank you! 

Tasty Treats & Delicious Drinks - 

You've heard the way to the heart is through the stomach, but a shiny red apple just won't cut it for today's teacher. Their schedules are packed to the brim so they usually appreciate a snack they can eat on the run. These individual servings of popcorn are a healthier alternative and come in a variety of unique flavors. Plus popcorn is a whole grain, right? 

Another simple and affordable teacher gift option is to fill a pretty jar with something you know the teacher will like. Whether it's a variety of gourmet herbal teas, classic candy options or even some sort of homemade treat, the contents will be appreciated and the jar can be used again. 

Sweet Stationery - 

Teachers have to write a lot of notes...the ones you want to receive about your child's latest amazing accomplishment as well as the less than brag-worthy behavior. With school budgets already stretched thin, teachers usually end up paying for these types of things out of their own pockets or going without. 

There are so many great stationery options available, for a steal! 

Super School Supplies - 

Another category of items that make great back to school teacher gifts are school supplies. Again, much of these types of things are often paid for out of teacher's own pockets. So every little bit can go a long way to help a teacher out and make him/her feel appreciated!

This only scratches the surface of great back to school teacher gifts you can buy on a budget. It takes a little creativity, but even for $5 or less you can find some fun things. 

Other affordable back to school teacher gift ideas:

• Gift cards to a favorite restaurant or coffee shop
• Treat basket filled with snacks
• Extra rolls of paper towels or boxes of Kleenex
• Lip balm and hand lotion
• Manicure sets
• Gift certificate for a massage (perhaps several parents can pitch in on the cost of this)
• Bouquet of flowers from your garden or local grocery store florist

What other teacher gifts can you think of? If you're a teacher, what types of gifts would you most like to receive? 

Savor the South: Okra and Pickles & Preserves

I was excited to get an unexpected package in the mail and even more excited when I opened it to reveal the newest volumes in the SAVOR THE SOUTH Cookbook collection: Okra and Pickles & Preserves. 

The cookbook series, published by The University of North Carolina Press, includes other editions such as Peaches, Pecans, Buttermilk, and Biscuits. These are great little cookbooks that pack a punch with some wonderful recipes and commentary from major southern food writers and experts .

Okra: A Savor the South® Cookbook is written by none other than the fabulous Virginia Willis. She's just great and her insight on the "bright green, heat-loving vegetable" includes slime busting tips, and fifty recipes for how to make it more delicious (26 southern dishes and 24 global dishes). I love fried okra, but I hate standing over a skillet...so the oven fried version below caught my attention when I was thumbing through the book.

Photo by Scott M. Porush

Oven-Fried Okra

From OKRA: a Savor the South^® cookbook by Virginia Willis. Copyright © 2014 by Virginia Willis.  Used by permission of the University of North Carolina Press. www.uncpress.unc.edu

Let’s face it, there’s really nothing like fried okra, but this oven-fried version comes darn close. I prefer to use organic canola cooking spray. It has little flavor, a high smoke point for high-heat cooking, and no aftertaste like some cooking sprays seem to have.

Makes 4–6 servings

·         1 cup fine cornmeal (not self-rising)

·         1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper, or to taste

·         Coarse kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

·         1/2 cup buttermilk

·         1 large egg, lightly beaten

·         1 pound okra, stem ends trimmed, cut into 3/4-inch pieces

·         Cooking spray

Place a rimmed baking sheet in the oven. Preheat the oven to 450°.

Combine the cornmeal and cayenne pepper in a shallow dish. Season heartily with salt and pepper.

Whisk together the buttermilk and egg in a large bowl. Add the okra and season with salt and pepper. Stir to combine and set aside to marinate, about 3 minutes.

Using a slotted spoon, remove the okra from the buttermilk and add it to the cornmeal mixture. Dredge the okra in the cornmeal mixture. Remove the baking sheet from the oven and spray it with cooking spray. Place the okra on the heated pan and lightly coat it with additional cooking spray. Bake for 25 minutes, stirring once. Stir and spray again. Cook an additional 10–12 minutes. Remove from the oven and season with salt and pepper. Serve immediately.

Pickles and Preserves: A Savor the South® Cookbook is written by Andrea Weigl, the food writer for the Raleigh News & Observer. It begins with some great how-to information for the novice canner (such as myself). The best part to me were the "Don'ts" because I guess with canning it can go south really fast if you don't do the right thing. This is my year to can y'all...I just feel it!

Until then, here's a refrigerator pickle recipe that I know won't be too hard.

Spicy and Sour Refrigerator Pickles

From PICKLES & PRESERVES: a Savor the South^® cookbook by Andrea Weigl. Copyright © 2014 by the University of North Carolina Press. Used by permission of the University of North Carolina Press. www.uncpress.unc.edu

I don’t think my husband and I could survive without a jar or two of pickles in the refrigerator to serve with hamburgers, hot dogs, and pulled pork sandwiches. So it really says something that this recipe has become our go-to recipe for cucumber pickles. I’ve even used the same brine to pickle jalapeño slices. 

I first tasted these pickles while judging a cooking contest at Burt’s Bees corporate headquarters in Durham, North Carolina. The recipe is adapted from Beth Ritter’s winning entry. Ritter says it appeared in the Fort Worth Star-Telegram years ago and was attributed to Dock and Opal Everett, who used to own a produce stand in Waco, Texas. I use a mandolin to make quick work of slicing the cucumbers, jalapeño, and onion.

Makes 2 quart jars

·         2 pounds pickling cucumbers, such as Kirby, cut into 1/4-inch slices

·         1 jalapeño, seeded and sliced

·         1 onion, sliced

·         4 cups white vinegar

·         1/4 cup pickling salt

·         3 1/2 cups sugar

·         1 1/2 teaspoons celery seeds

·         1 1/2 teaspoons turmeric

·         1 1/2 teaspoons mustard seeds

·         1 tablespoon black peppercorns

Combine the cucumbers, jalapeño, and onion in a large bowl.

Heat the vinegar, pickling salt, sugar, celery seeds, turmeric, mustard seeds, and peppercorns in a medium stainless-steel saucepan over medium-low heat. Stir until the sugar and salt are dissolved, about 10 minutes.

Pack the vegetables evenly into hot, sterilized jars. Ladle the brine over the pickles, leaving 1/2 inch of headspace. Seal the jars with lids.

Let the pickles sit in the refrigerator for 5 days before eating. These pickles are good for 1 year but best within 3 months.

So there you have it. Two great new cookbooks and tons of new recipes...You should snatch these up! They are available where books are sold. Also, be on the lookout for the next editions in the SAVOR THE SOUTH series, Sweet Potatoes and Southern Holidays.

Friday Favorites: Oil Pulling, Junior League, and New Age Wine

Happy Friday to you! I hope you've had a good week. What's on your agenda for the weekend? Saturday morning, I'm headed to a local charity rummage sale put on by the Junior League...my dear friend and I have attended together for several years and found some incredible treasures along the way.

Here are my top three tips for finding great stuff at yard sales and rummage sales (in case you were wondering):

1) Take an empty tote bag or duffel bag with you to haul everything around in.
2) Look for potential in everything you see, but realize you can't bring it all home with you.
3) Be brutally honest with yourself and don't purchase things just because the price is right.

Speaking of Junior League, you might be aware of my affinity for vintage Junior League Cookbooks (at least I'm in good company with the likes of Ms. Julia Reed). I've amassed a pretty great collection over the years, but since I only have limited space, I try to buy them only when they seem like a really special find. I ran across one such book recently and for the low price of $4, it's now mine.

Some Like it South: A Cookbook by the Junior League of Pensacola, Florida is a wonderful addition to my vintage Junior League cookbook collection. When I'm having trouble making a decision, I base my purchase selection on how many congealed salad recipes a cookbook has. In this case, it's 12. Not to mention 17 casseroles! That's the sign of a good southern cookbook and this one has casseroles and congealed salads for days. 

Another reason I liked it was it has a series of sample event menus at the beginning (A Beach Picnic, Easter Dinner, A Hunt Breakfast). I'm such a sucker for these! 

You can find vintage cookbooks at second hand stores, rummage sales and used book stores as well as on sites like ebay and etsy. They are a little slice of history to me and I treasure my collection! Stocking your southern kitchen? Here are my top 5 southern kitchen must have items. 

Oil Pulling - 

Okay, so you might know about this already. I just heard of it. Apparently oil pulling is a thing where you swish oil around in your mouth to remove toxins from your body. And it's also supposed to contribute to better health in a bunch of areas. My southern beau said it sounded like black magic bulls4!t (pardon his crude language). But he's kind of a cynic. So I decided to try it. 

You need unrefined, organic coconut oil. Or sesame oil. But I went with coconut. Then, you just get a teaspoon of it and put it in your mouth. It's really odd because it starts out all waxy and solid, but then it immediately liquifies. You have to keep the oil in your mouth for 20 minutes. I'm not going to lie...it was kind of gross. Not the taste, but more just the idea of swishing something in your mouth for that long. 

However, after my 20 minutes were up, I spat it out and looked in the mirror. My teeth were so much whiter! Seriously, I couldn't believe it. Who knows if this was a fluke since I've only done the oil pulling one time. We'll see. Anybody else doing this? 

Wine Tasting

Saturday night my beau and I are headed to a wine tasting party. Everybody is supposed to bring two bottles of wine so there's enough to share with the group. After being pretty anti-social for awhile (just keeping busy with work), I'm glad to do something like this. 

I'm thinking of taking a couple of bottles of New Age, an Argentine wine that is best served on the rocks with a lime slice. I had it for the first time at Christmas and found it refreshing. 

Do you have a favorite vino that's your go-to for special occasions? I'm not a big drinker, but I enjoy a glass of wine from time to time. 

If you made it through this long and random post, congratulations. I hope you have a wonderful weekend! 

Southern Celebrations: How to Host a Mardi Gras Party

Mardi Gras is such a festive time, but not all of us can traipse to New Orleans (or anywhere) to take part in the official celebrations. It's still possible to enjoy the festivities, by throwing your own Mardi Gras party for family and friends.

I shared some tips for a DIY Mardi Gras party on Knoxville's WTNZ Fox43 and I wanted to share them with you as well!

The central focus of any good party is always the food, right? My idea for a DIY Mardi Gras celebration is to set up a make-your-own grits bar. It's sort of like a hot fudge sundae bar, except with grits. The best thing about grits (besides their being tasty) is they are affordable. You can make up a whole mess of grits without spending much money.

Then, gather a variety of different toppings and let your guests go to town!

Possible topping options for a Mardi Gras grits bar include:

• Shrimp
• corn
• feta cheese
• roasted red peppers
• sun-dried tomatoes
• sauteed spinach
• chives or chopped onions
• creme fraiche 
• andouille sausauge
• jalapeno peppers  
• chow chow, relish, etc.

Other food to serve for a Mardi Gras party might be anything and everything that is local to New Orleans or Louisiana. Zapp's chips, Abita beer (or root beer), Tobasco, pralines, etc. Whatever you can find and think your guests might enjoy! It's your party after all. 

You might also want to put together some fun Mardi Gras party favors for your guests to take home. I found these adorable yellow polka-dot take-out containers at World Market. Combined with green and purple tissue paper, they made adorable favors! I filled them with pralines (prah-leens, y'all!), tiny bottles of tobasco and traditional Mardi Gras chocolate coin candy. All of this was from World Market too...but you could probably find similar items at a party supply store or craft store. 

Finally, whip up a batch of beignets from the world famous Cafe du Monde! Don't forget the powdered sugar! Enjoy them with a cup of Cafe du Monde coffee for the complete experience. You could serve this as a late-night snack to give your Mardi Gras guests a boost or even just send them home with a gift basket as a souvenir to help them remember your festive gathering! (source for Cafe du Monde items - World Market). 

Happy Friday folks and Laissez les bons temps rouler, y'all! 

Friday Favorites: January 17th Edition

Happy Friday y'all! I hope your week has been a good one. There's so much to do this time of year...it still has that newness (like a brand new composition book) and so much promise. What will it bring? How will you meet the challenges and joys of the next 12 months? 

Heck, sometimes I think we need to focus on the challenges and joys of the next 12 minutes. Here are a few things I'm enjoying right now. I'd love to hear about what has your attention lately too. 

1. Sarah Jessica Parker for Hallmark Gold Crown 

A new line of lovely stationery from SJP, exclusively at Hallmark Gold Crown stores. They are playful and pretty...perfect for a friend or sweetheart.

2. Almond Pound Cake

I'm no baker. In fact, the last two cakes I made went into the garbage. I had big plans for a baking post and then it was mostly a disaster. That being said, I can eat baked goods like a champ. My southern beau came into some homemade almond pound cake and I've been enjoying it this week. Here's a recipe that looks reputable if you'd like to make it yourself. Also the photo goes with the recipe. 

3. Peppermint Tea 

I'm an iced tea drinker from way back. I've always been skeptical of hot teas and felt like they were a waste of time. Since having the flu, I've changed my tune. My new favorite hot tea is this peppermint variety from Traditional Medicinals. It's a wonderful way to end the day.

4. My Bright Abyss by Christian Wiman

I started reading the book "My Bright Abyss: Meditation of a Modern Believer" this week. It might be over my head, but I'm going to stick with it, based on the reviews. I have no idea where it's going and I can't wait to find out. I wanted to read more in 2014 and a recent trip to the library yielded this. So far, I came across this passage that I like: 

God calls to us at every moment, and God is life, this life. Radical change remains a possibility within us right up until our last breath. 

 I hope you have a wonderful weekend!

A Southern Holiday: Gifts Made in the South

There are so many talented and creative folks who call the south home. This is why I've decided to buy local, southern-made goods and items this holiday shopping season. Not only does it support southern purveyors, artisans and merchants, but it's also a fail-safe way to make sure the people on my holiday list are delighted with what they receive.

Since I'm visiting my pals at Knoxville's WTNZ Fox43 this morning for a segment, I decided to share some of the southern made holiday gift items that I've gotten so far. 

1) Hostess Gifts & Stocking Stuffers 

You should never show up to a party empty-handed, whether you bring a covered dish, flowers or a plant, or a bottle of wine. For some folks in my family, a bottle of wine could be substituted for a jar of moonshine, but you get the idea. 

Here are some great options for southern made hostess gifts, which could also double as teacher gifts, stocking stuffers or items for a white elephant gift exchange. 

1) "Christmas Candle" from oil & wax soy candles {made in Nashville} Available at Knoxville's Rala or online

2) Original Salted Caramels from Shotwell Candy Co. {made in Memphis} Available at Rala or online

3) Sea Salt Chocolate Bar from Olive & Sinclair Chocolate Co. {made in Nashville} Available at Three Rivers Market or online 

4) Muddy Pond Sorghum from the Guenther Family {made in Monterey, TN} Available at Blackberry Farm

5) Baby Buns Lavender Soap from Wild Hare Soap Co. {made in Knoxville, TN} Available at Three Rivers market or online

2) Gifts for the Foodie

Not sure if you're shopping for a foodie? If you have someone on your holiday shopping list who reads cookbooks for fun, subscribes to a zillion food blogs, and loves eating local, it's a safe bet a foodie is in your midst. I highly recommend this cookbook by my friend Carrie Morey. Pair it with a package of her famous Callie's Charleston Biscuits (available at Fresh Market and other retailers) to make the foodie on your list oh so happy.

3) Gifts for the Fashionista

Europe and NYC no longer corner the market on high fashion. Make those fashionistas on your holiday list pleased as punch with the gift of custom denim and jewelry made right here in the south. 

Marc Nelson Denim is based in Knoxville, Tennessee and creates custom fit and small-batch run denim made in America (in the south). The men’s and women’s collections can be found in boutiques and specialty retailers across the U.S. as well as the company’s online store. 

Knoxville shoppers can find Marc Nelson at Bliss as well as other area retailers. I just got my first pair in the slim boot style and they make me feel like a rock star.

Another great southern made item for the style-setter on your holiday shopping list is Lenny & Eva jewelry. Now in boutiques all around the country, this brand was started by a sweet gal from my hometown. She's even graced the blog before when I featured her photography from a vintage southern wedding (to die for). 

Knoxville folks can find a wide selection of Lenny & Eva at Bliss (or you can check for a store near you using the store locator). 

4) Gifts for the Art Lover 

The gift of art is always a good idea because it allows you to present someone special with a one-of-a-kind piece that you chose just for them. The south is home to lots of talented artists, but two I happen to really like are Beth Meadows and Brian Pittman. 

Beth is known for her colorful mason jar art while Brian's pen and ink drawings center around cathedrals and other architectural marvels. Beth Meadows and Brian Pittman are extremely talented and I love supporting their creative endeavors. 

Both have work available at Knoxville's Rala and Brian will be on hand Friday, Dec. 6th for a First Friday event.

These are just a few of the locally made items that caught my eye this holiday season. Are you supporting local merchants and artisans? I'd love to hear what some of your favorite items are! 

For more southern gift ideas, check out these other posts featuring local and DIY holiday gifts. 

Quick & Easy Low Calorie Snack

I'm a foodie from way back. I was a foodie before the term even came to be. I've always loved food; talking about it, reading about it, making it, eating it. In college, my good friend Stephanie used to joke that two of her favorite things were eating and snacking, and I wholeheartedly agree with her.

I think snacking is great because sometimes I'm just not hungry enough to eat an entire meal. However, it can be challenging to come up with healthy snacks that aren't boring. During a recent trip to Trader Joe's, I stumbled on a product that I've decided is my new favorite snack. 

Trader Joe's British Style Crumpets, in the cinnamon variety. I always had a general idea of what a crumpet was, based on watching British movies or television. But I'm certain I've never had anything like this. 

The only product I can really compare it to is an English muffin, but crumpets are so much better! When toasted, crumpets are spongy and soft on the inside, crunchy on the outside. 

At only 110 calories each, crumpets are delicious and filling. I've been enjoying them with Eden Organic Apple Butter, which adds about 40 calories for a perfect quick and easy 150 calorie snack option. 

All this talk of crumpets has me thinking about jolly England. I traveled there for the first time after graduating from high school and have been fortunate to visit a couple times since. Here is goofy, 18-year old me with one of the Buckingham Palace guards...like how we color coordinated our outfits? 

If you love snacking on apples, check out this post with a few great healthy apple products and recipes. Another healthy snack choice is oatmeal. I have a few suggestions for making oatmeal taste better, if you're so inclined. And if a sweet, not-so healthy snack is what you're craving, I insist you try my Ritz Cracker Candy...but trust me, you'll want to make a double batch. 

Do you have a favorite Trader Joe's product you'd like to share? I apologize to folks who don't have a Trader Joe's nearby...but maybe your local grocery store or bakery has a crumpet equivalent. If you have other ideas for how to enjoy these delicious items, please let me know!