Pretty Southern

Category: Featured

Featured

  • Jumping for Joy

    Growing up in the 80s I remember dancing to “Jump” by The Pointer Sisters. My little sister and I would prance across our family room belting out the lyrics, sing in the back of the minivan, and I’m pretty sure there’s an old VCR tape out there of this action. This photo by Blume Photography of Wenting & Lin during their downtown Athens bridal session totally reminds me of that awesome song. If anyone out there is getting married in the near future, I’d high recommend a) taking an awesome jump shot and b) adding “Jump” to your wedding playlist.

  • Classy Southern Wedding

    There’s a classic simplicity to Southern weddings. All it really takes to achieve the ideal affair is a true lady and a fine gentleman, as exemplified by this event captured by Blume Photography. Lauren & Brendan said “I do” at Perimeter Church followed by a fabulous reception at St. Ives Country Club in John’s Creek, Ga. The wedding party and guests noshed on fine foods then danced the night away. Our newlyweds ended the evening on a stylish note by leaving in a vintage Bentley. What’s your idea of a perfect Southern wedding?

    Brendan & Lauren head off to their first night as man and wife.

  • Just a Walk in the Woods

    Fall’s warm glow has settled on the South. Crisp winds, mild temperatures, and ever-present sunshine adorn our fair land. The leaves are turning their crayon box of colors. Isn’t it time for a walk in the woods?

    Pictured above is the White family hiking in Blue Ride, Ga., and brilliantly photographedy Blume Photography. Isn’t the little girl with the fairy wings just about the prettiest pixie you’ve ever seen? Photos like this remind even an old soul about the power of the imagination just by taking A Walk In The Woods. I might just have to go find my own pair of wings. For me I find inspiration in my own backyard surrounded by old trees listening to the birds sing. Where are some of your favorite spots to enjoy nature?

  • Tybee Island Wedding Chapel Celebrates Opening

    The Tybee Island Wedding Chapel, located on picturesque island in Georgia, held its grand opening celebration on Aug. 12. Festivities were presided over by celebrity host David Tutera of WE-TV’s My Fair Wedding. Tutera called the new wedding destination “a wonderful, important venue full of charm and character.”

    The Chapel was originally built by artisans to reflect the look of a turn-of-the-century Baptist church for the 2010 romantic drama, “The Last Song,” starring Miley Cyrus, Liam Hemsworth, Greg Kinnear and Kelly Preston. It was slated for demolition after filming wrapped. At the last minute, real estate entrepreneur Stacye Jarrell saved the Chapel and lovingly re-purposed it as a unique wedding venue. Nestled among live oak trees and Spanish moss, the building is quaint, romantic and elegant. The beautifully refurbished Chapel has elevated Tybee Island to a premiere wedding destination and is attracting interest from brides and wedding planners from across the country.

    For more details on The Tybee Island Wedding Chapel visit their web site. And if you haven’t been to Tybee Island, you might consider it for your next getaway. It’s about a four-hour drive from Atlanta and 20 minutes from Savannah. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution calls it the “Best One Tank Trip” and readers of Creative Loafing voted it “Best Beach Retreat.” It’s a laid back, eclectic island where you can truly get away and commune with nature. In fact, it was recently awarded the title “Healthiest Beach in the US” by Health Magazine. And who doesn’t want to go to the upcoming Tybee Island Pirate Fest taking place from October 6-9?

    To find out more about Tybee Island click here! Have you been to Tybee Island before, be it for a wedding or a vacation? If so, please tell us what you liked about it in the comments section below!

    [author] [author_image timthumb=’on’]https://prettysouthern.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/Karen.jpg[/author_image] [author_info]Pretty Southern contributing culture and lifestyle reporter Karen Hatchett is a life-long southerner and resident of Smyrna, Georgia. She’s a Marketing & PR professional, arts & music lover, jewelry designer and casual gardener.[/author_info] [/author]

  • Delectable Honey From Ross Berry Farm

    Like many Southerners, I use the word “honey” as a term of endearment. But I love that sweet, golden delight made by bees, especially drizzled on toasted muffins and hot biscuits. Man has always enjoyed the benefits of honey. It’s a sweetener for beverages and often cooked in cakes and breads.

    In the South, honey is usually a key ingredient in barbeque sauces. Medicinally it is used for treating burns and soothing throats. Many beauty products like soaps, lip balms and lotions feature honey. And local raw honey, which contains pollen, can help build immunities and alleviate the symptoms of some allergies. While looking for unusual holiday gifts a couple of years ago, I discovered raw honey from Ross Berry Farm. The honey was big hit and of course I kept a few jars. It’s incredibly flavorful and delicious! Looking for the best beauty products? Why not try these beauty products with cbd oil to achieve the beauty that you desire!

    In relation to CBD products as mentioned, you can also check out SmokePost CBD Dispensary available online.

    Recently I got a chance to chat with Terry Ross of Ross Berry Farm and Apiaries in Canton, Georgia. Terry and his wife Jeannie started their business back in 1994. “Originally the plan was to grow raspberries,” Ross explains. “But we soon found that organic raspberries were a fragile crop with a short shelf life. We couldn’t figure out how to ship them fast enough to market.”

    To help pollinate the raspberries, they got some bees. That’s when the magic happened. Ross Berry Farm is in an ideal area for harvesting honey. And as it turns out, raw honey keeps indefinitely!
    “Shortly after we got our first hives I found myself at the local library co-founding The Cherokee Bee Keepers,” adds Ross. Starting with two hives, the farm now has more than 45. “Our hives are scattered throughout the farm and in the north Georgia mountains, so the bees are able to find a lot of nectar sources,” he says.
    Once Ross and his wife got involved with bees, they realized how important bees are to our ecosystem. “Bees pollinate about 1/3 of our food supply,” he explains. He cautions people to be mindful of bees that visit their gardens, and tells me one thing that most people do wrong. If you want to learn how to get rid of hover flies on patio, please don’t use Seven Dust, he says. “Bees mistake it for pollen and it can kill them. If you have to use something, get liquid Seven. It’s best to spray in the evening after bees have gone back to their hives. Spray foliage and not flowers, so you keep the nectar safe for the bees.” You can find everything you need to know about gardening at Homegardenscare.

    I recommend the Georgia Wildflower Honey from Ross Berry Farm. It’s their most popular flavor. I was surprised to learn about the different kinds of pollen that go into making this honey such as cherry, poplar, kudzu, privet, blackberry, blueberry and wild crab apple! They also offer Tupelo and Gallberry Honey. You can purchase honey at their farm in Canton and at locations around the state, like Scottsdale Farms in Alpharetta, and Botanical Garden of Georgia in Athens. For info or to order online, visit Ross Berry Farm’s Website and click on Queen Bee Gifts.

    [author] [author_image timthumb=’on’]https://prettysouthern.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/Karen.jpg[/author_image] [author_info]Pretty Southern contributing culture and lifestyle reporter Karen Hatchett is a life-long southerner and resident of Smyrna, Georgia. She’s a Marketing & PR professional, arts & music lover, jewelry designer and casual gardener.[/author_info] [/author]