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With Easter right around the corner, this week we will #southernchat about Easter Traditions, a topic suggested in one of our earlier chats. Everyone has their own special traditions for Easter – from family to eggs to baskets. Some of my favorite Easter style pieces are oh-so-Southern-inpsired, keeping it classic but still spring fresh. Seersucker, straw, pastels, stripes and floral scents help set the stage for an Easter gathering you’ll never forget.
My own traditions growing up were family events that brought us closer together. My grandmother always put together special Easter egg hunts at her house, leaving little clues in each egg that led to the next. After the last egg, the next clue helped us to find our Easter baskets which were filled to the brim with treats. The wooden baskets we found were handcrafted by my parents and painted in soft spring colors, mine with a bunny and my sisters with a chick on it. They went perfectly with the Easter dresses my sister and I would wear as we made our way to Easter brunch at my grandmother’s country club.
This week, we have a special guest, Liza Graves, co-founder of styleblueprint.com. I very much related to the Easter memories that Liza had to share.
I grew up honoring Lent, with a grandmother and all of her sisters who gave up liquor each spring for 40 days and then got quite tipsy at the annual Easter party, held at my grandmother’s on a 3-acre lot on the river in the second oldest house in town. It was THE party to be invited to. Ham biscuits, coconut cake and sparkling punch, spiked and served out of a punch bowl, were always mainstays on the buffet table. Sometimes my grandmother & her sisters would get a little tipsy, get into arguments and storm off to their respective homes, all within one block of one another – just in time for the caterer to leave and everyone to proclaim that it was the best party yet.
I do think that everyone has funny Easter traditions, but the big Easter Egg Hunt at a friend or neighbor’s house, lent, smocked dresses, ham biscuits, coconut cake and family spats that end in hugs are something that most southern families have in common!
I love Liza’s spin on Easter, and I can’t wait to hear all about your Easter traditions, too! I hope you can join in the fun.
#southernchat: Easter Traditions (Monday 3/25/13 9:00PM est)
Q1: What Easter Traditions do you & your family have?
Q2: When you think of Easter, what elements come to mind?
Q3: What are some of your favorite southern foods on the Easter table?
Q4: What are the perfect pieces for a classic Easter outfit?
Q5: What southern goodies will you be filling the Easter baskets with this year?
Giveaway!
Special thanks to Liza for coordinating this week’s giveaway – a $50 gift certificate from our friends at Kayce Hughes! With stores in Nashville, Chattanooga, and now, Atlanta, what better place to outfit your whole family for the Easter holiday than here. Just join in the chat by using the #southernchat hashtag sometime from 9:00-10:00pm est on 3/25/13 and you’ll be automatically entered to win.
Easter Style: Rachel Zoe Straw Hat, ASOS Cork Clutch, NARS blush, Happ & Stahns Eau de Parfum, J.Crew Seersucker Dress, Gucci Necklace, Butter London Polish, Sperry Wedges.
Spring has nearly sprung and these are some of my must-haves for setting the perfect Spring table this year. I’d love to know what you need for Spring … what would you add to the table?
wooden egg from west elm / heirloomed linen napkins from icemilk aprons / egg crate from anthropologie / organic sea salt from st. helena olive oil co. / bubble drinking glass from canvas / my favorite riondo prosecco / egg cup from match pewter / egg platter from martha stewart for macy’s / big picture farm goal milk chai caramels from eat boutique / honey dipper from brook farm general store / wax resist easter egg party invitation from minted / wheatgrass seeds from terrain / french urn pedestal dining table from restoration hardware.
With daylight savings time underway and the sun shining just a little bit longer, I figure it’s close enough to spring to go ahead and start the celebration with a little giveaway – don’t you think?
My favorite time of year is coming near, when the weather gets warmer (and by warmer, I mean hot here in the South) and when people come out of the woodwork to have fun and gather together for no reason at all. Spring weddings come to life, and long weekends to the lake & beach are more frequent than not. Fresh fruits & veggies are plentiful, and the grill is always on call to be fired up.
I am so proud of the new heirloomed collection linens and think they are just perfect for Spring entertaining. I worked hard to keep them simple, yet still distinctive and to keep a balanced juxtaposition of a luxurious linen paired with the rustic, simple kraft pastry packaging. And, I am so thrilled to share that I’ve just added (just now!) the option to have the table runner embroidered if you so wish. You may either have a single letter monogram for the center of the runner, or an “established” date on the detail tag on one end to commemorate a special date. I love the personal touch, and hope you will too.
And now … onto the Spring Giveaway! Hope you’ll join in for a chance to win the heirloomed table linens gift package – a set of four napkins and table runner.
As always, entering is so simple. …
1. Click here to repin our Spring Giveway pin on Pinterest
2. Leave a comment below telling us you repinned it so you’ll be entered to win.
And, for “extra” chances to win ….
1. Pop over and “Like” the IceMilk Aprons Facebook Page
2. Tweet this : I just entered the Spring Giveaway to win an @heirloomed tabletop linens gift package from @icemilkaprons! http://bit.ly/ZyySov
3. Visit icemilkaprons.com and sign up for our e-newsletter
4. Follow @icemilkaprons on Instagram
5. Follow along on Pinterest
Remember to leave a comment below for EACH “extra” chance to win so they will be counted towards to your overall chances to win! You’ll get more chances to win, and we will get to connect on some of my favorite sites. Be sure to enter by Friday, March 22, 2013 at 5PM EST.
EDITORS NOTE: The winner of our giveaway is Leslie of Leslie’s Desserts! Congratulations and thanks to everyone who entered to win! xo
Giveaway entries must be submitted between 3-12-13 and 3-22-13 at 5PM EST . Winner to be chosen at random and will be announced by 3-25-13. Open only to US residents. No purchase is necessary, of course. Some restrictions may apply.
As the first official day of summer fast approaches and kids are out of school, families everywhere are preparing for summer vacations. Whether you’re off to a cozy cabin in the mountains or a quaint cottage at the beach, you’re not only embarking on a great vacation but creating a tradition with your family.
I was so thrilled when I caught the tail end of an interview with Ricky Lauren, wife of the fashion-fabulous Ralph Lauren, who has just come out with a special new book – The Hamptons: Food, Family, and History. There are few brands as all-American as the iconic Ralph Lauren, and this book exudes the same tradition and classic influence.
During the interview, Ricky talked about how special their Hampton’s home has been to their family, as a gathering place for them, their friends and their children’s friends. It has been a place that has kept them close, with food and special memories at the heart of it all.
The book takes a look into the kitchen, a collection of family photos and stories and I can’t wait to get my hands on a copy!
I have noticed several celebrities who have come out with cookbooks giving a nod to the family members that inspired them. I was so tickled when Gwyneth Paltrow gave an IceMilk Aprons shout out in her funny Mother’s Day column on LA WEEKLY { check it out here } last month, so I wanted to return the favor with a little look into her first cookbook – My Father’s Daughter.
My Father’s Daughter: Delicious, Easy Recipes Celebrating Family & Togetherness – what could be a more perfect theme? She found her passion of cooking from her father and shares her favorite family recipes and family stories. Sure to be a heirloom treat!
And, if you haven’t signed up for Gwyneth’s GOOP emails, be sure to pop over to do so. I love her picks & tidbits, and know you will too.
The unofficial start of Summer – it’s Memorial Day at last.
And, a happy 150th birthday to Bacardi Rum! I simply adore their vintage-inspired commercials that are running now in celebration. The glamorous look, the excitement in the music, the simplicity of it all. And the tag, “150 Years of Starting Parties” just couldn’t be more fun.
How are you starting a party this long weekend?
Yesterday, I celebrated 2 years of marriage to my amazing husband.
We had the most wonderful wedding weekend I could ever have imagined and I love reliving the day by looking at photos and watching our wedding video. I will have to share photos with you all soon … since it’s been two years and all …
I always wanted to follow the “traditional” anniversary gift list of gifting rules. Year 1 – paper. Does a card count? Year 2 – cotton. I’ll have to get creative. But, as you know I live for tradition so don’t let me fool you into thinking we don’t have a tradition each year.
I am lucky enough to have been passed down china from my grandmother and great grandmother, so needless to say this was not something we registered for. This did give us the opportunity to register for one of my most favorite things of all – Match Pewter. Oh, the patina is to die for and there is really nothing I love more than a good serving piece.
My husband-to-be gifted me a gorgeous platter as a wedding day gift and from that day forward we vowed to spend the rest of our lives together, and to continue our collection. We love to entertain with family & friends and these make a great, memorable addition to the party.
Year 1 – fork + spoon.
Year 2 – a gravy boat.
What piece will we celebrate with next year? I’m open to your thoughts – but might have my mind set already …
if there is one thing i love, it’s a wedding. have it take place in a restored barn in north carolina and I couldn’t possibly love it more. some of our wonderful friends, jen & alex were married at the gorgeous bascom in highlands, north carolina and as you can clearly see it couldn’t have been a more lovely affair.
the gorgeously neutral colors of the bridal party perfectly complemented the gorgeously worn wood of the towering barn-building, which is actually an arts museum currently as well. the space was just beautiful, with a boxwood backdrop for the ceremony itself. a wonderful breeze brought to life the large paper globes that hung from the complementing ceiling all night long.
the perfect reflection of this laid back couple, the whole occasion was simply gorgeous and effortless. i adored jen’s veil which looked about as heirloomed as it comes, and the soft look of her classic dress – she was just stunning don’t you think? And the rich color of alex’s suit was just perfect, i am a big fan of the suit and tie look – especially for an outdoor wedding.
though it was nearly impossible to choose just a few photos to highlight for this post, i quickly decided my favorite shot was the one above of the darling couple sitting in the most perfect setting and lighting i have ever seen. how simply perfect? and of course, one of my favorite parts of the evening was when alex got up on stage and serenaded his new bride – and all of us guests as well! it was the perfect evening for a perfect couple and we couldn’t be more thrilled to have been a part of the weekend wedding.
best wishes to jen & alex for a lifetime of wonderful memories!
images via : Alea Moore Photography
i had the extreme pleasure of being contacted by the lovely brooke boling, a talented photographer in Nashville, TN, to partake in an “American Honey” wedding shoot she was styling and shooting. i instantly fell in love with the theme and how she described the detail & palette and instantly knew I had to be a part of the shoot.
was the shoot inspired by country music? i cannot be certain … but am surely a fan of Lady A, nonetheless. when i received the gorgeous images from brooke’s shoot, i was instantly smitten with her craft and attention to detail. i adore the tiny details and the rustic approach she took with the styling and loved seeing some of our aprons and kraft recipe cards scattered amidst the other wonderful components of this shoot.
i do hope you enjoy all of the lovely collection of images that brooke put together below, and you can click over to her blog to see more images from the shoot!
So, I teased it in yesterday’s post, but to me suspenders are *no* laughing matter.
To say I’m obsessed is a bit extreme {though, spot on}. I have long adored the throwback style of suspenders, much like the comeback of a proper hat or the blazer, in my opinion suspenders should be holding up the trousers of men, women & children alike for years to come.
A child in suspenders – simply could not be cuter. A guy in suspenders – none more dashing could be found. A lady in suspenders – classic with a fabulous sense of pushing the style envelope towards the j.crew side of life.
I was fortunate that my darling husband and all of his best men agreed to wear them in our wedding {not sure I was budging on this point, but regardless …} and it made me smile the whole day long.
Somehow the most perfect combination of rugged and hard-working, paired with Southern gentleman.
And so, I will start my Fall search for the perfect pair. Perhaps a simple stripe, or a riding-style of leather suspenders might suit my fancy. But, if you’ve found the perfect pair, do share.
image love : kiddo suspenders {via pinterest} / my own wedding images {via heidi at our labor of love}
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