Pretty Southern

  • “The Help” and Southern Gumption

    Y’all hopefully have read the book by now. If not, go find a copy of “The Help” a.s.a.p This story by Atlanta’s very own literary goddess Kathryn Stockett is right up there with the great Southern stories of all time: Driving Miss Daisy, Steel Magnolia’s, and Gone With the Wind. This is a story about gumption, courage, and of course love below the Mason Dixon Line.

    As Southerner’s, we’re proud of Stockett’s strength. “The Help” manuscript was rejected 45 times before landing a publisher! Now, it’s been on the best-seller list since 2009 and is a major motion picture produced by Disney!

    “The Help” is coming to a theatre near y’all beginning Aug. 10. Keep your eye on PrettySouthern.com for an interview with the film’s stars, Bryce Dallas Howard, Viola Davis, Octavia Spencer (an Auburn grad!), and the film’s director Tate Taylor plus Kathryn Stockett herself!

    PrettySouthern was privileged to attend a sneak-peak screening of “The Help”…and it’s the best. The words stated by Aibileen “You’s kind…you’s smart…and you’s important” are even more powerful on-screen. “The Help” is a loving reminder to all of us, Southerner or not, that it doesn’t matter where you came from. Your strength of spirit can carry y’all anywhere!

  • The NotWedding

    A true Southern affair: The NotWedding on Thursday, July 21, is the event of the summer season! Complete with a sit-down dinner, an emotional ceremony and a dance-party reception, The NotWedding has become a killer alternative to a bridal show.

    Hand-picked vendors perform their services as they would at a real wedding, and the “wedding guests” get to hear the music, taste the cakes, and touch the linens… while enjoying a night of great food, dancing and surprises. The NotWedding will most definitely have an incredibly, very fun Southern wedding event, and y’all can attend for just $40.

    “The NotWedding combines some of the South’s best and newest wedding vendors to produce the ultimate fake wedding.” says NotWedding founder Callie Murray. “This year we are featuring a full Southern dinner from Sun In My Belly along with a dance-party reception led by the best new wedding band, A-Town A-List. We aim to inspire brides with new ideas, to promote local businesses and to encourage solid marriages, and we do it all while having a great time.”

    Hopefully y’all can make it, but if not, take advantage of The NotWedding Snag the Swag bonus offers! It’s a little way of connecting even more brides with awesome businesses. Unique wedding deals are offered at incredible prices, allowing brides-to-be (and everyone else who loves pretty things and good deals) an opportunity to experience new and unique options for their big day. Photography, Crafts, Stationary, Wedding Coordination, even Vintage Furniture Rentals to create your event truly one of a kind are waiting for y’all in Snag the Swag!

    The fabulous NotWedding event is at Ambient + Studio on Thursday, July 21 and tickets are available by clicking on The Not Wedding’s website!

  • Our Southern Girl in South America

    I grew up in the South, but I think this may be the closest I’ve ever gotten to a dairy cow!

    Atlanta is a special place. When I describe it to my English students, I often say that it is a big city made of many quaint neighborhoods (hence the sprawl). Growing up, I never realized how lucky I was to grow up in a big city, yet still fall asleep to the sound of crickets. I could ride my bike without the fear of speeding cars. There were a lot of trees and green space, open fields and lakes nearby.

    Santiago, like most big cities, has anything but quaint neighborhoods. I think it’s good practice for me to learn what it’s like to live in a REALLY big city. Pedestrians don’t have the right-of-way and buses have no problem scaring you out of the crosswalk. I’ve mastered the art of sprinting down slippery stairs to make an incoming metro train. At night, the crickets are replaced by car alarms whirring 15 stories below my window.

    But one thing these two homes of mine do have in common is their proximity to the countryside, or in Spanish, “el campo”. In Atlanta, it was easy for my family to hop in the car and drive between only an hour or two to the nearest mountain, lake, river, or canyon, I always drive safely knowing of https://towingless.com/ towing services. And I’m grateful that my parents recognized the importance of escaping to nature. To my delight, I’ve discovered Chileans are just as appreciative of the notion. So last weekend, we went.

    A quaint little vegetable market in Olmué, Chile.

    Our location was Olmué, about two hours by bus from Santiago. I really had no idea what my friends and I were doing. We stepped off the bus when the driver said so and started walking. We had reserved a “cabaña” a few days before, but there were no security guards or Google Maps to help us find where we were going. Mama, I can feel you cringing as your read this, but we did what we had to do: we hitchhiked.

    All eight of us climbed in to the bed of a beat up white pick-up truck and gave the driver the address of the cabin. He knew where to go. We were really lucky to find him, because the road was about three miles away. We offered him compensation for his generosity, but he would only accept a single can of beer. That kind of hospitality felt like home. The next day we went on a hike in Parque Nacional La Campana, a section of the Andes foothills where Darwin once researched. I tried to get as much fresh air in my lungs as possible, saving up for our return back to smoggy Santiago.

    The hike was steep the whole way up, but as these things usually go, the view was worth it. The whole trip was a reminder I think anyone can appreciate. Escaping from the everyday is important: be it the city, work, stress or responsibility. We all need to take a break and breathe.

    Olmué was a reminder that escape is always there waiting…but it’s up to us to go get it.

    Chelsea Cook

    Chelsea Cook is a journalist from Atlanta, who taught English in Santiago, Chile, and authored the series “Our Southern Girl in South America”.

     

  • Pretty Southern Beauty

    The Not Wedding is almost here! If you haven’t bought your tickets yet for this fabulous event on Thursday, July 21, then get on it by clicking on The Not Wedding’s website! The Not Wedding is proud to showcase the talents of Claudia Mejerle. She’s a true artist, posh stylist, and beautification extraordinaire who will be handling the bridal makeup at The Not Wedding.

    PrettySouthern was pleased to catch up with Claudia about her business as a wedding vendor…and her definition of Southern beauty is oh-so-sweet.

    When did you start your business?
    Hmmm…it’s kind of hard to say.  I have been doing makeup for as long as I can remember, so I am not really sure when to say it actually became a business. I suppose my first real paying customers came in 2007 for bridal makeup. It wasn’t until the beginning of 2011 that I took the leap to do makeup full time. Best decision of my life.

    What was your inspiration for creating this wedding venture?
    Well, there wasn’t ever a specific moment when I said, “I am starting a business.” It has just kind of evolved. I have always enjoyed doing makeup for friends and over time I started getting referrals to do makeup for weddings. My hobby just turned into a business and I figured if I could make a living doing something I love, I just had to go for it. I just love weddings and the excitement and beauty around them and I love getting to be a part of that. Even though I now do makeup for a variety of clients and projects, weddings are very special to me because that is what really launched my business.

    Frances Bohn on her wedding day (photo by Jette Fagela)

    How long have you provided your wedding service?
    For the past four years, I have done makeup for weddings as somewhat of a “side job”. I just loved it too much to not give it my whole heart, so in early 2011, I decided to follow my dream of being a makeup artist full time, and have continued to focus on bridal makeup since.

    Why are you excited about working with The Not Wedding?
    I am beyond thrilled to be a part of The NotWedding because, well, weddings are one of my very favorite things, and there is no doubt that this one is going to be faaabulous. I’m so looking forward to the chance to work with other talented, creative folks who love what they do and who also offer a service that enhances weddings in a unique way. I am particularly looking forward to doing makeup for The NotWedding bridal party as an opportunity to show how makeup can be used to enhance a woman’s natural beauty for a tremendously special occasion.

    What’s your favorite part about Southern weddings?
    The food, of course! But really, one thing that I love most about the Southern weddings I have been a part of or attended is how the bride and groom’s personality is reflected in many of the details of the wedding. A lot of people have started to steer away from tradition and have taken creative liberty to make their wedding their own. Weddings are beautiful anyways, but when the couple’s story and personality is seen in everything from the invitations to the getaway car, the experience is much more special for everyone. And in regards to the bride specifically, I love that you see her personality in not only her dress, but also her makeup. This detail is subtle but so important. Through makeup, I am able to enhance a woman’s natural beauty, so that she still looks like herself—her most beautiful self. It’s not about making her look like someone else. It’s about focusing on her natural beauty and focusing on what makes her unique.

    Claudia Mejerle creates a beautiful bridal look for Christin Rhodes (photo by Kyle Hale)

    What are some of the prettiest, craziest or funniest and most touching moments you’ve witnessed at a Southern wedding?
    One of the funniest moments I have witnessed at a wedding was actually recently at one of my best friend’s wedding.  I love how this particular couple really plays off each other and brings out each other’s personality.  And they did just that during an impromptu “dance off” to “The Devil Went Down To Georgia.“ They acted out the song lyrics, lip-synced and did a little do-si-do dancing throughout the entire song. Everyone circled around them and clapped to the beat of the song. It was hysterical how their dancing appeared to be completely choreographed even though it wasn’t in the slightest.

    How would you define a Southerner in the 21st century?
    I would define the quintessential Southerner in the 21st century with a list of positive adjectives: kind, warm, welcoming, polite, humble and generous. Even though the term “southern hospitality” may be a cliché and the label “southern gentleman” may be a common stereotype, I would say these words are pretty accurate in illustrating a true Southerner.

    How would you describe a lady? How would you describe a gentleman? Are their inherent qualities similar?
    To me, a lady is delicate, feminine and kind. A gentleman is chivalrous, masculine and a leader. While I feel that ladies and gentleman have separate roles, particularly in relationships, I do feel that there is overlap in that they both offer strength, but also have a softer, gentle side.

    Christin Rhodes is ready to walk down the aisle glowing in her Southern bridal bliss! (Photo by Kyle Hale)

    Where is the best location you’ve seen a Southern wedding and/or reception?
    The beauty of some friends’ wedding and reception location recently blew me away. The event was held at the home of the bride’s parents, on a mountaintop in northeast Georgia. The setting was phenomenal—surrounded by woods and a view of the mountains. The bride’s landscape architect father cleared a section of their property that overlooks the mountains and created a tiered lawn for the wedding ceremony. It was absolutely breathtaking—not only because it was obviously beautiful, but also because location has meaning to their family. I love when a wedding/reception takes place at a location that has some sort of significance to the couple, especially when it is one of the family’s homes.

    For more information on Claudia’s beautiful style, please visit her website and her blog.

  • 25 Things I Learned by 25

    If I’m lucky enough to live to be 100, then today is my official quarter life. I’ve had the privilege of living in the South my entire existence, walking on Southern soil for 25 years. I think I’m officially no longer a Southern girl but becoming a Southern lady. As we’ve launched PrettySouthern.com, the one question I always ask folks in interviews is “How do you define a lady?” The common theme is gentleness. Fine manners and gentility are swell; however, when it comes to making a great lady it’s about kindness: a compassion not of this world. This ideal truly gives me something to strive for in the coming years.

    Here are the top 25 lessons I’ve learned by my 26th birthday.

    #1: Accountability is everything. This attribute goes hand-in-hand with trust, faith, and all the other fine virtues in a human being. It’s one thing to say what you do and entirely another to do what you say. I’ve been thinking a lot lately about lessons we learned as kids “don’t talk with your mouth full”, “don’t speak unless spoken to”, and if our words and actions are all we can live by, then as adults we have to be even more cautious about what we say and when we say it.

    #2: Gumption. It makes you succeed when others tend to give up and fail. This year I read “Gone With the Wind” and in her story, Margaret Mitchell teaches us something very important about gumption. When we lose everything, gumption gives us the strength to keep calm and carry on. I like to think Southerners have gumption in spades.

    #3: Drinks are to be consumed with loved ones. Don’t drink alone, don’t drink with coworkers (unless you love them enough to call them friends or family). Drinking is a celebratory activity. I should save my liver to do it with those folks who mean the most to me in this world.

    #4: Standards. Your standards are yours and yours alone. This is a direct quote from my pal Dr. Milton Gay:

    “Be a standard for yourself. What is the handling of this situation such that, regardless of the outcome, I will respect myself for having done it this way.”

    #5: It’s okay to be sad. Another lesson from Dr. Gay: there is no “normal” when it comes to our feelings. There’s happy, sad, and everything in between. We feel joy, bliss and fun but then we also get depressed, angry and flat-out pissed. It’s okay to feel these emotions, as long as we know how to cope with them.

    #6: All single women should have a dog. Jones my super pup also known as Jonesy, Jo Jo, Indiana Jones, and Monkey has been my best friend for the better part of my twenties. If I hadn’t adopted Jones, I never would have met Becca Hancock, who got me working with Fetch which lead me to puppy-sitting Marley and eventually marrying his dashing owner Kevin Patrick.

    #7: Make a list of your wants and needs. It helps you actualize your heart’s truest desires. Then, as your life carries on, and you accomplish your goals, it feels mighty sweet to check them off your list.

    #8: Don’t be afraid to ask for what you want. I asked to be Editor of The Red & Black, for a certain salary starting a job, and even asked KP on our first “play date” when he came to pick up Marley. Have the gumption to ask the tough questions and your courage will help you succeed.

    #9: Focus on your strengths instead of your weaknesses. Maximize on the things you’re good at. Going through AutoTrader.com’s STAR Program and taking Strength Finders changed my life. By the way, my strengths are Positivity (in case y’all couldn’t tell), Input, Achiever, Learner and Maximizer. I encourage all of you to take Strength Finders if possible.

    #10: Change. It is a good thing. There’s been a lot of upheaval in my world recently, and all for the better. When I was a kid, I hated change. I loathed moving from Washington D.C. to Atlanta, but now in my happy existence deep below the Mason Dixon line, I’m damn glad to be a Georgian. Moving forward with “mature” adulthood I know there’s going to be even more change. Bring it on.

    #11: Remember historical context. Having the ability to look at your past actions, paves the way for our future. I can’t dwell in the past, but look to it for lessons and find a way to move forward. See #10.

    #12: Nothing other people say and do is because of you. It is a projection of their own reality, their own dreams. When you are immune from the actions and opinions of others, you won’t be the victim of needless suffering. Today, on my 26th birthday, I pledge to stop worrying about the actions of others, looking only to myself to set an example.

    #13: Find a way to escape. In this week’s column, Our Southern Girl in South America, Chelsea Cook writes about how she escaped her urban surrounding of Santiago, Chile, for a country retreat. While y’all can’t escape to South America like Chelsea, it’s important to remember to take a break from reality even if it’s just for a hot minute.

    #14: Speak with integrity. Let every word you state be in the direction of truth and love.

    #15: Live your dreams. We have tough realities to face: commitments to our families, lifestyles, car payments, mortgages which hopefully have low rates, bills, we can’t run away from them. But we can transcend everyday hardships when we dream. Our dreams, our passions, are all we can really live for…and when you dream, DREAM BIG!

    #16: Honor your commitments. If you made promises or vows, keep them. Nuff said.

    #17: “Never let anyone outside your family know what you’re really thinking.” This quote was uttered by Marlon Brando in “The Godfather” and I’ve started to mark my actions by those words. When it comes to important decisions only confide in those individuals you truly trust.

    #18: Make time to be on time. I used to have a serious problem with lateness and am constantly working to correct it. If I’m planning to be somewhere, I’ve started carving out time in front of that time to ensure I’m not late. It’s a sign of respect plus it helps with accountability (see #1)

    #19: Write To-Do lists. It’s a great feeling to know you set out to do something, whether it’s mopping the floors or launching a blog, and know you achieved it.

    #20: Celebrate your achievements. Whether they are little victories or huge undertakings. If you did good work, there should be good reward. As Sarah Silverman wrote, “Make It A Treat”! Find a way to treat yourself for working hard.

    #21: Dance, sing, act, create and play! Just let loose, let your hair down. I’m all for dancing like no one is watching, and if they are, hopefully they’ll start dancing too.

    #22: Truth. I’ve told a lot of lies in my 25 years and I’m not proud of a single one. There’s this saying there’s no such thing as a fresh start, but I am sorry for not always speaking the truth and can only strive to speak with integrity. Lying is the easy way out. I should always be honest with myself and those around me…no matter how hard it may be.

    #23: Beauty. There’s so much beauty in this world, particularly in the South. I loathe words like ugly and fat. Screw them. There was a time when I thought myself ugly because some mean people called me that…but I’ve grown up (see #12). There’s an inherent beauty in all of existence.

    #24: Freedom. Ah, sweet Independence. Our Founding Fathers fought for freedom from taxation without representation, and in today’s American society I believe freedom is having the courage to live the life you truly desire. We settle for jobs, lifestyles, because they’re comfortable. Yet as we’re free we should always be stretching to see how far our wings can carry us.

    #25: Love. If grace is unmerited thankfulness, then love is infinite joy shown to others and to ourselves. A few years ago I was introduced to this wonderful truth in “The Alchemist” by Paulo Coelho. It’s called The Soul of the World. All things are one. We’re all connected, intertwined, because we’re all here in one existence together. Growing up in a Christian household, I learned of God’s never-ending love. As humans, we’re fallible. But if we can always keep love in our hearts then ultimately we’ll make the world a better place.
    Truth, Beauty, Freedom and Love. It’s what I’ll continue living for in my next 25 years. We’ll be exploring more of these virtues every day here on PrettySouthern.com. Our journey is just beginning.

    What are some of the most important lessons you’ve learned in your life?

  • Pretty Southern Puppy

    Hi my name is Charlotte! I am a very active and sweet puppy who needs a forever home. I came to the Atlanta Humane Society from another shelter with some of my friends in hopes of finding that perfect family who will show me how to be a dog and spoil me rotten!

    At only 2 months old, life has been hard for me already. I’m looking for a home where I can cuddle up with my family at night and play with them during the day. I am a hound and therefore a active breed, so make sure you do a little research before adding me to your family. I was spayed on in July so I’ll be sweetly resting for a few weeks.

    Y’all, there are so many puppies available right now at the AHS. If you’ve been thinking about getting a dog but are on the fence, please just check out their website to see if your perfect pup is waiting for you. They have dozens of puppies less than six months old and even more older dogs looking for good homes.

    The adoption fee is only $150 and most of the pups have already been spayed or neutered. For more information, please call (404) 875-5331 or visit the Atlanta Humane Society’s website.