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Guest Post: Christina Kwan of Tide & Bloom

6/27/2014

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I've been in awe of Christina Kwan ever since we met six years ago. The girl is fearless. She choreographed my favorite dance of my college career (U.R.A.Q.T., in case you're wondering), despite the fact that she was fairly new to dancing. She started Tide & Bloom to show the world her true and multi-dimensional self. She showcases her talent every single day in each post, photograph and feature on the site. To say Christina has guts would be an understatement. As she's another badass lady living in the South, I asked Christina to tell me about her love affair with the ATL. Here's what she had to say:
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I've spent 22 years of my life living in Florida and 4 of them living in Georgia. Of all those years, it's been here, in Atlanta, where I've felt the most me. I'm sure it's a confluence of many factors that I've landed in this place – my age, my career, my relationships. But when friends and family try to lure me to other cities, I can't help but feel an allegiance to ATL. I find myself sticking up for it, sticking up for all the flaws and all the hidden beautiful gems I've come to love. In the few years I've been here, it's really become my home. It feels like this is where I'm really from.
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I would never actually call myself a “Southerner”, but it seems like everything I love is centered around being here in the capital of the South. It's here that I've stopped being an artist and started all over again. It's here that I've learned the balance and boundaries of what works for me, creatively and professionally. It's here that I've learned what it means to begin adulthood. And it's here that I met the love of my life.

Perhaps my passion for this city is based wholly on personal experience and growth. But that's what it should be based on, right? Would I have become the same person had I chosen Houston, Brooklyn, the Bay Area, or anywhere else? Would my friendships have stayed the same, would my hand have made the same marks? Difficult to answer such huge what if's. All I know is what I've experienced and here in Atlanta, I've gone through what feels like a decade of growth. 

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The city isn't what knocked me down; it's what's been keeping me going. No matter where you live, your post-college journey is going to be a rough one. It's the first time you actually have control of everything in your life and it's also the first time that you realize it's scary as shit not having a school calendar to follow. The years pass and pass and you learn things organically, not by assignment, but by actual failures and success.

Atlanta is what some would call a “starter” city: relatively easy living standards, a flourishing job market, and a sense of hospitality that makes everything feel a bit cozier. For me, it's become a “staying” city. I can see myself actually sustaining a long life here without compromising comfort or opportunity. It's a city that is unpretentious and young enough to allow outsiders to make a splash, a difference. Oh, and it's also pretty dang beautiful.

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This city seems to fit so perfectly, stretching out with my wandering eyes and contracting in with my creative fears. I think I lucked out landing here, in a place so abundant with diversity and open arms. If you haven't visited, I strongly suggest an extended stay – in order to get a full-bodied sense of how easy the living really is here. I dare say it's the best city in the South (feel free to contend with me) because it's the only place that is so representative of all the best in Southern charm: food, design, natural wonders, and of course, people.
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What else can I really say? There's no other city that's ever come close. Atlanta, I love you.
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Why You Should Add Seersucker to Your Wardrobe ASAP

6/23/2014

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JCrew
PictureDress: JCrew Top: Kristensen Du Nord
It’s officially summer, so naturally, it’s hotter than hell in the South right now. The beau and I have been going to weddings nearly every other weekend since March, but June traditionally marks the heyday of wedding season. Why brides decide it’s a good idea to have a wedding in June is beyond me. I sweat just wearing a sundress; I can’t even imagine wearing a suit. It seriously felt like I was walking through the desert just going to my car yesterday after work, so the thought of even more fabric on my body is already making my skin clammy.

At each wedding we’ve attended, there’s been at least one guy in a full seersucker suit. My cousin's wedding a few weekends ago marked the highest number I’d seen yet (at least four). Now, while I find seersucker suits to be quite the fashion statement, apparently Southern gentleman value seersucker for quite another reason: IT’S LITERALLY THE COOLEST FABRIC EVER. Completely made of cotton, seersucker is woven so that some of the threads bunch together and only 30% of the fabric is actually touching your skin at any given time. WHAT A GENIUS IDEA. 

And obviously it’s great for everyday wear, too. Skirts, pants—even bathing suits—get a cute (and cool!) summer update when made with seersucker fabric. You better believe I’m filling up my closet with these chic finds. People say you shouldn't wear seersucker after Labor Day, but I say eff that. I'll be wearing these suckers year-round (and you should, too!).


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Slim-Leg Trousers: Burberry Scalloped Shorts: Lilly Pulitzer
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My Love Letter to Pimiento Cheese

6/19/2014

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Oh, pimiento cheese, how I love thee.

Seriously. Have you tried the stuff? I’ve become downright obsessed since moving to the South. Pimiento Macaroni & Cheese? GET IN MY BELLY. Pimiento Biscuits? WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN ALL MY LIFE?  Pimiento Sandwiches? GIVE ME THREE FOR BREAKFAST.

My first taste of this creamy spread came at the Pepper Place Market when my mom came to visit. As ma dukes and I were perusing the stalls, we kept catching wafts of something buttery and perfectly toasted. Lo-and-behold, one of the stalls was serving pimiento sandwiches, and we promptly gobbled one down for breakfast. With my fingers soaked in buttery grease, I knew I’d found a little piece of heaven. 

Traditionally made with sharp cheddar, roasted bell peppers and a bit of mayonnaise, this stuff is pure gold. A lot of people say the pimiento peppers add a “kick,” but I find them mild and slightly sweet in all the right ways. Doing some research for work yesterday, I came across a twist on this classic from Southern Living using goat cheese. And dare I say it might even be better than the original.

This stuff is so tasty I ate it right out of the bowl last night with a spoon. And I thoroughly plan on using the leftover cheese to make a pimiento-goat cheese sandwich for lunch today.

Pimiento-Stuffed Baby Bell Peppers
Adapted from Southern Living

Ingredients:

1 bag baby bell peppers
1 goat cheese log (or 1 container of Publix crumbled goat cheese)
1  medium jar diced pimiento, drained
1 Tbsp. chopped fresh basil

Instructions:
Preheat oven to 400°.
Stir together goat cheese, chopped basil and diced pimientos until smooth.
Cut top from each baby bell peppers, and scoop seeds from bottom. Feel free to rinse them clean to get rid of stray seeds.
Spoon cheese mixture into bottom (and top, if you’d like) of each squash.
Put in the oven on a baking sheet for 10-15 minutes. The goat cheese won’t melt, but you’ll notice that it starts to warm.
Serve and enjoy!

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KitchenAid Mixer Giveaway!

6/16/2014

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In honor of The Not-So-Southern Belle being nearly two weeks old, I’ve joined some of my favorite bloggers for a very special giveaway: a KitchenAid Artisan Design 5-Quart Stand Mixer in Buttercup ($350 ARV). We all know the kitchen is the true heart of a Southern home, so why not make it look pretty? I'm not going to lie, I'm pretty obsessed with this bright yellow color...can I trade my red one with whoever wins?! I kid.
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Organized by: Oh My Gosh Beck!

Sponsors: A Few Short Cuts ♥ A Labour of Life ♥ Behind the Plates ♥ Conservamom ♥ Freebie Finding Mom ♥ Fresh Fit N Healthy ♥ Libby's Library ♥ Missy Hacker - Be Justincredible ♥Mommyhood's Diary ♥ Put A Little Umbrella In Your Drink ♥ The Missing Niche ♥ The Not-So-Southern Belle ♥ The PennyWiseMama ♥ Wrap with Jolene

Rules: Use the Rafflecopter form to enter daily - all entries are optional. Giveaway ends July 14th at 11:59 PM EST and is open worldwide.

Are you a blogger who wants to participate in giveaways like these to grow your blog? Click here to find out how you can join an awesome group of bloggers!


a Rafflecopter giveaway
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I'm featured on Tide & Bloom!

6/14/2014

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Everyone’s journey to building a strong and healthy self-image is a unique one. Figuring out how to project that self-image is even more difficult; style is not just clothing or accessory, it is self-expression. Self declaration. We all go through times of confusion, struggle, and enlightenment, in order to figure all of that out. Today I’m excited to turn over the mic to my friend Victoria of The Not-So-Southern Belle, as she shares her own personal journey to a sense of style. She’s a saucy lil’ lady whose talent is as evident as her beauty and I’m so happy to have her words gracing these pages. So with no further ado… Head on over to Tide & Bloom to read the rest!

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Let's Bring Back the Art of the Handwritten Card, Shall We?

6/11/2014

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PictureBee is For Bear - Etsy
When was the last time you received a card? And I'm not talking about one thanking you for "joining the gym," or from your great-aunt for your birthday. I'm talking about honest-to-God snail mail from a friend just because they were thinking of you. You probably can’t remember, right?

Not to get all old-timey, but in an age where everyone texts, tweets, snapchats, etc., the idea of sending something handwritten seems antiquated—but that’s exactly why it isn’t. It’s novel; it’s different; it’s downright awesome. (Besides, your third grade teacher didn’t make you practice cursive over and over again for nothing.)

I’ll never forget the day I stumbled into a Papyrus shop waiting for my train at Grand Central; everything was just so beautiful, and there was such a vast selection. It soon became a game to pick the perfect card for different people in my life. There's just something so magical about finding a card that fits someone's personality. I'm a dork, I know, but I enjoy making my friends feel special because, well, they are.

Years later, I’d been convinced I was the only person who still sent cards on a regular basis. (Well, besides my mother; I guess the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.) Boy was I wrong. The idea of sending handwritten cards often and always is still very much alive in the South. Thank you notes, welcome to Birmingham notes, hey I’m glad we’re friend notes—I swear I’ve gotten more mail in the last couple of months than I have in the last few years. 

Sending a card is a small gesture that goes a long way. Most people just get bills in the mail these days, so why not send a little sunshine instead? Below are some of my favorite recent finds in case you need a little inspiration:


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Julie Ann Art - Etsy
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Snow and Graham
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Paper-Source
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Papyrus and Paper-Source
What are you waiting for? Send a card today!
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We Started the Kitchen Remodel!

6/9/2014

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We did it! 

Well, at least we started it. 

The gentleman and I have been talking about remodeling the kitchen for a while now, but the conversation was always in the abstract.

"Hey, we should..."  "It would be cool if we..."  "In a dream world..."

This weekend, we finally stopped merely talking about it, and I attempted to channel my inner Thor. Mainly because the beau knew I'd probably take a sledgehammer to his head otherwise.
I know, I know. I'm pretty pathetic. Either way, we got the wall down! We've still got a long way to go, but at least now we have more space? Also, since there is a huge hole in the kitchen we have to keep going, right? Below is said wall before and after:
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Eventually, we'll redo the entire kitchen (appliances, cabinets, everything), so stay tuned!
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The Southern Recipe Box: Granny's Zucchini-Nut Muffins

6/8/2014

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If I've learned anything at work these last few months, it's that the kitchen is the true heart of the Southern home. It's sacred in all of its secrets: how to season a cast-iron skillet, how to make Grandma's biscuits just right, and even how to share recipes. I'd always known my grandmother's recipe box was a cherished staple of the kitchen, but it wasn't until she gifted me with a box of my own (OK, so it's a more modern recipe book, whatever) that I understood its power. 

It isn't just a random collection of things to make my beau on a weeknight; it's my family history passed down from generation to generation in recipe form. Not to get all sappy about my lineage, but the strong women in my life won't always be there. This handwritten collection of recipes from both my grandmother's (plus a few from my mother) is a family tree of sorts. Some of the recipes are ones I've made so many times I don't even need to follow the instructions, while others were added just because someone aught to know how to make Granny's Lima Bean Soup.

Either way, every good Southern gal should have at least a handful of go-to recipes under her belt, and this recent edition to my recipe box is definitely one of them. Granny only started making these zucchini-nut muffins a few years ago, but they've quickly become a family favorite. Since this recipe yields about 36 muffins (if you make small ones, if you don't, it's around 24), I love to make a batch on Sunday and freeze the extras for the week (or longer).  

Granny's Zucchini-Nut Muffins

Ingredients:
3 cups flour
4 eggs
1/2 cup golden raisins
1 tsp salt
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp baking powder
2 cups raw zucchini washed, peeled and grated
2 cups chopped walnuts
2 cups sugar
1 cup light olive oil or canola oil
1 tsp vanilla

Instructions:
Mix flour, baking powder, cinnamon and salt together and set aside.
In a large bowl of an electric mixer, beat 4 eggs and sugar until creamed.
Slowly add 1 cup oil, mix well.
Add vanilla, zucchini, walnuts and raisins, mix well.
Fold in dry ingredients, only a few turns, don't over mix.
Pour into greased muffin pan.
Bake in preheated 375 oven for 20 - 25 minutes.
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Alright, Alright, Alright

6/5/2014

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Well, hello there.

Let me just start by saying please bear with me. I haven't really blogged in a while (personally, I mean); I'm nervous and rusty. Also, I'm used to hiding behind food. For those who don't know, I'm an online editor who has been writing about food since college on thefritteringconch.com, among other outlets. Branching out beyond that is huge for me. It's easy to write about how someone else's food tastes because it doesn't reflect on me in any way. Writing about my life, however, notsomuch. 

I promise Not-So-Southern Belle isn't a diary. Rather, it's a way for me to mark my time in the South. Not only do I have too much wanderlust to stay in one region forever (California, I swear I'm coming for you next!), but I'm also truly fascinated by the people and culture of this region. Not to mention, the South is totally having a moment in food, film and fashion.

If I'm being really honest with myself, part of my starting this blog has to do with my motto for the year: TREAT YO SELF, or as my beau likes to say, I DO WHAT I WANT! My move from New York City this last January really inspired me to take a look at life (also, turning 25 will do that to a gal). And part of doing what I want is putting on my big girl pants, and challenging myself to figure out my career, life and friendships.

In these last few months, I keep coming back to Matthew McConaughey's Oscar speech:

So you see every day, every week, every month, and every year of my life, my hero’s always ten years away. I’m never going to be my hero. I’m not going to attain that. I know I’m not. And that’s just fine with me, because that keeps me with somebody to keep on chasing. 


So that's what I'm doing. I'm chasing; I'm evolving; I'm living. Now, I'm realistic enough to know nothing I write on here will ever be life-altering or truly profound—and that's OK.
 With every post, I'm learning, growing and changing. And I hope you'll join me along the way, because I've still got a helluva lot I want to do in life.


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Welcome to the Not-So-Southern Belle!

6/4/2014

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    Victoria Margaux💋

    I'm a digital + social maven for Cinnabon and Moe's Southwest Grill.
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