Bracket Madness - Southern Food Style

I love late March and the NCAA basketball tournament.  There is so much excitement, especially when my favorite teams make the bracket - Go Bears and WaHooWa!

But what makes watching the games even better is down home, good Southern food.  You can't beat a day in front of the television eating some of the classics.  But what is the best?  There is just no way to choose!

Well this year, I saw that Garden and Gun magazine has put together the "Ultimate Southern Food Bracket" to help pick a winner.  Like the traditional brackets, you log your picks and then follow along as the people's voting narrows it down the best.  What will come out on top?  What is your favorite Souther food?

Link

Until tomorrow . . .

100 Years of L.L. Bean

Happy 100 years L.L. Bean! 

In honor of their 100 year anniversary, L.L. Bean has pulled out all of the stops.  I really love how they have embraced their heritage and are celebrating the years of expertise that are built into all of their products.  

100th Anniversary

They have kicked off a celebration that includes {among other things}:

Limited edition products, the 100th Anniversary collection, that are "Inspired by the past, built for the future;"  

Collection

An anniversary book;

Books

A program donating up to $1 million to the National Park Foundation;

Million Moment

but my favorite by far is the Bootmobile!

Photo Credit

I've been aware of L.L. Bean for a very long time, having mostly used the great canvas tote bags.  But now, being on the East Coast where weather is a consideration in daily attire, I can't wait to get my first pair of Bean Boots! 

Until tomorrow . . .

Missing The South

Any magazine that has these articles:

"The 50 Best Southern Foods"

Article

Writes about the "Blessing of the Hounds

{which marks the start of fox hunting season in November} 

Article

And has more bow ties on its homepage than are in the entire state of California

{yes, it's a bit of exaggeration, my CA based father owns at least three of them. . .}

Article

is a magazine that stays at the top of my reading pile.

I have just recently discovered "Garden & Gun" and have enjoyed reading almost every article.  I can't wait until I get my first print copy!  If you enjoy any and all things Southern, you should take a look.

Website

Until tomorrow . . .

Sue Devitt Beauty

I don't wear a lot of makeup on a day to day basis.  But one of my go-to products for everyday is the Eye Intensifier Pencil from Sue Devitt Beauty.

Website

Eye Intensifier Pencil

My first experience with Sue Devitt was about 10 years ago when I randomly found her products at a counter in the mall.  The first two items I tried out were; a liquid eye shadow {now discontinued} and this pencil.  From the first time I lined my eyes, I could feel the difference in how the color went on.  I was very surprised at how smoothly the pencil glided along my lashes as I applied the color.  Even after a fresh sharpening, there is no pulling at my lash line.  The pencil is also soft enough to be used as a shadow in addition to a more defined liner.  I haven't mastered it yet, but when I am traveling this is great for paring down my makeup bag.  In addition to the soft feel and versitility, I love the great color choices.   Check them out here.  My current favorite are: Golden Triangle {an olive greenish} and Ava {a purple.}

Ava

Golden Triangle

I was also given the Hydrating Marine Minerals Destination Eye Pallette in Kinimanjaro {shades of purple} for Christmas and I am looking forward to trying it on my next night out.  The mix of colors is going to create a nice smoky eye.

The line has now extended to many other great products aside from traditional makeup items including skin care, fragrance and brushes.  Sue Devitt herself, a celebrity makeup artist, also gives beauty tips on the site so people can re-create her beautiful red carpet looks.

What do you think?  Have you used Sue Devitt?

Until tomorrow . . .

Chocolate Covered Strawberries

I think my favorite dessert in the whole world is a Chocolate Covered Strawberry.  My first encounter with this delicious combination was while I was working at an event to support my mother.  A local Orange County bakery, Rockwell's, had provided the biggest, most beautiful strawberries dipped in both white and milk chocolate.   Not only were they double dipped, but they were decorated to look like the strawberries were wearing tuxedos.  The mix of crunchy chocolate and softer sweet strawberry, was absolutely divine and I have been hooked ever since.

Even in pictures they look amazing!


Until tomorrow . . .

Flowers To Brighten Up the Cold Winter Days

Most people usually think of flowers when the temperatures start to climb up the thermostat and the sun starts staying out later than 4:30pm -- myself included.  But this year, after purchasing a Paperwhite potted kit at Target, I started to take note and look around for flowering plants that can provide color to even the bleakest of winter days.  While my mind immediately went to the classic Christmas Poinsettia {not really a flower per se}, after doing some googling on the subject, I found some familiar names make their debut by peeking out through the snow or waiting for that colder weather, whatever climate you may be in.

Camellia

Crocus

Crocus

Cyclamen

Lenten Rose

Paperwhites

Iceland Poppy

Witch Hazel

Source

I just love how bright and cheerful these plants are!  Maybe spring isn't really that far away!

Until tomorrow . . .

Snowflakes

Not having grown up {for most of my life} around snow, it feels like as soon as the magic of the holidays are over, all of the happy snowflake imagery disappears.  Gone are the majestic scenes of people skating on ponds or images of children, eyes shut tightly, sticking their tongues out as far as they can go, catching snowflakes with huge smiles.  It all turns to shut down airports and people bundled up tightly, fighting to walk in the wind and snow while passing in front of temperature gauges that say no more that 15 degrees.  


Frankly, I think all of this takes the fun out of snowflakes!  While I'm not a fan of the 32 degrees it take for snow to fall, I think snowflakes themselves are absolutely beautiful and just because Christmas is over, I don't want to forget that. 

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 A fun way to combine a love of Star Wars and snowflakes!

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And if you are curious, a link to the biography of William "Snowflake" Bentley -- the first man to photograph a snowflake in 1885


"Under the microscope, I found that snowflakes were miracles of beauty; and it seemed a shame that this beauty should not be seen and appreciated by others. Every crystal was a masterpiece of design and no one design was ever repeated., When a snowflake melted, that design was forever lost. Just that much beauty was gone,without leaving any record behind."  - William A. Bentley


Until tomorrow . . .