Choosing Christmas, An Advent Devotional from All Things Southern
En guard, y'all! The trap of Christmas Crazy is set and waiting to spring. It’ll promise “more is more” but deliver “less and less.” I love Christmas! Flat out love it hence my vulnerability to become trapped by the Christmas Crazies. Christmas Crazy jumps on me the first day I notice the seasonal home decor lining store shelves, and from there, the drum beat only gets louder.
The Belle of All Things Southern Proposes Banning the Butt Defense
When my kids were little we had a standard rule for sibling conflicts. It was all about taking responsibility for your own actions and reactions. Simply put, no one was allowed to employ the Butt Defense. Granted, I didn’t call it the Butt Defense back in the day. That name materialized on the spot in that last sentence and I left it because, well, it’s just
On Blazing Trails and Leaving Evidence
Hey y'all, I'm in a full out run of preparation. I'll be leaving for Guatemala this coming Monday, part of a Compassion Int'l mission trip. Amidst all the packing and double checking of the packing, I've turned my kitchen into an assembly line to put good food in the freezer for my beloved farmer to enjoy while I'm away. It's what you do when you were raised by a good Southern
When Words Come Due
Getting these thoughts down won't be easy. I know that as well as I know my own name. I also know I should be working on the manuscript that's under deadline. And I was, until this piece ambushed me. Words that have been politely bidding their time in the corners of my mind, marinating like nobody's business, have suddenly demanded to take shape in black
Compassion in Action and 30 Days of Thankfulness 2016
Hey y'all! It's time for our annual event 30 Days of Thankfulness drive. If you’re new to my front porch gathering, this may be the first you’ve heard of such a thing. If you’ve been around a while, you know that every year my readers and I spend the month of November demonstrating our gratitude for all of our blessings, rather than simply expressing it in
Extra! Extra! Read All About It
Hey y'all! I've got a ton of things to talk to y'all about. So much so, that I'm about to burst. My newest "baby", my storytelling cookbook, Hungry is a Mighty Fine Sauce, published by Barbour Publishing, hits shelves in tomorrow morning, Saturday, Oct. 1st! At this point, I feel a whole lot like my man when the crops are maturing and he is anxious to put a combine in
Remembering Mike Blakeney
Dear All Things Southern friends, I prepared your newsletter tonight with a sore and tender heart. So much so that I almost didn't send it at all. To be honest, it would've been easier not to do this. And yet, I decided I had to because I wanted you to know about the passing of a great friend of this community, Terry Michael Blakeney, Sr.,
Join my Hungry is a Mighty Fine Sauce Launch Team and get an advance copy free
Hey y'all! My storytelling cookbook Hungry is a Mighty Fine Sauce is releasing Oct.1st, 2016 and I'm beside myself with excitement over this project because it's literally brimming with all the things I love best. I stuffed it full of delicious family recipes that are tried and true. Then I added inspirational thoughts, belle tips, storytelling, and humor -- because life is better when you're laughing! Can I get an
SHINDIG 2016 — Life Well Blended
UPDATE as of 8/12/16: Ticket sales for #Shindig2016 are open at Brushfire! Seating is limited and it's a first come first serve basis, y'all. Your $25 #Shindig2016 ticket includes a Chick-fil-A lunch and a sweet treat baked from a recipe found in the Hungry is a Mighty Fine Sauce cookbook! You can order your #Shindig2016 t-shirt when you order your ticket! Heads-up, they're $15 on Brushfire but
Buy 1 Get 1 Free Humongous Giveaway
Hey y'all! The release of my next book baby is drawing every closer. It's hard to explain this feeling. (Mamas out there, I can only liken it to how it feels when your belly is big, the birthing is near, and the room is ready----only without the swollen cankles. Somebody say "halleluyer!") I would be speaking of my storytelling cookbook Hungry is a Mighty Fine Sauce. Yep, I've named this child,