etched in stone.

The September issues have been locked and loaded on my bedside table, and they are the official curriculum on my first go-round this Fall as a non-student (P.S. Happy first day to everyone at Samford!). Landing at the top of my stack, though, has to be the Victoria Classics: Monograms. I found out about this from Splendid Sass and have been dying over it all weekend —we all know I love a good monogram (exhibits a., b., c., and d.).  I am loving the feature on Allison R. Banks, a fellow Samford graduate and one of my former professor's daughters. She is so incredibly talented and has been featured in Garden & Gun and other great publications.

To see more, head over to Splendid Sass. 

dry county.

I'm having visions of perfectly blown out, southern coif-fectioned hair after seeing Drybar's Southern Belle volumizing mousse in the Wall Street Journal. What's in a name? A lot. Give me a clean design, a buttery color, and a southern moniker, and I'll buy just about anything. I feel like my baby fine hair is about to take flight. One use, and I bet you'll be blessin' someone's heart.

Giveaway | Southern Living Weddings

You know it’s paradise found when my two favorite things, southern culture and weddings, collide into one beautiful, perfectly edited package. Dreamers and brides-to-be unite and run, don’t walk, to pick up Southern Living Wedding's latest issue. Goodness gracious, is it chock full of moss-draped, heavily accented southern hospitality. The pictures alone are enough to secure a copy, but between the DIYs, signature cocktail recipes, shopping guides, and ideas galore, it’s truly a steal. I think my favorite part, though, has to be the gorgeous, real, southern weddings. There's something for everyone, whether you're traditional, modern, or something in between. It’s one thing to dream, but it takes it to whole new level when the dreaming’s in your own back yard. Now, pour yourself a mason jar of sweet tea, curl up with a copy of Southern Living Weddings and dream a little.

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The most wonderful DIY ever. 

Signature cocktail, anyone?

How unique is this?!

To make your dreaming a little easier, Southern Living is giving b e l l e s & b o w s readers a chance to skip the shopping trip and have your own copy. Leave me a little something in the comment box, and I will draw for two winners at random. Comments will be considered until 12:00am on Friday morning, and I will announce the winner later in the day. If you can’t wait to see if you've won, I’ll understand; issues are on newsstands now. 

biscuits + gravy

If you've read this blog for any length of time, you know my obsession with weddings. It's 85% of the reason I have Pinterest. Enjoy. 

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Via Caroline Fontenot.

silver belles.

Favorite.

Whether the silver spoon is on the table or in your mouth, there's no denying that silver is the capstone of southern entertaining. Silver always has a story. Maybe it was handed down from your grandmother or mother. Maybe it was given as a wedding gift. Maybe it was found in a store to commemorate an occasion. Whatever the case, southern culture is steeped and served up over ice with a sprig of mint and a sprinkle of sugar in a silver cup. And really, what is more beautiful?

*All photos via Pinterest.

white hot.

Love the new lace & crochet trend. So vintage and southern.

Take a Seat.

Few things are quite as quintessentially southern than a perfectly set table. Beautiful linens, china, crystal, and silver cover and line a table, complete with well thought out, handwritten place cards. Some of my favorite pictures that I find are of tablescapes. Right now, I'm loving the unexpected use of gold plated utensils. They create such a warm environment. I can't think of any easier way to express yourself than setting a unique table for a group of family & friends. Take a seat, y'all.

Favorite.

Kate Moss' Great Gatsby inspired reception. Obviously this is my favorite. 

Photos via Pinterest.