A Taste from Down South

Image: Southern Flourish, Spring 2010 Issue

I've been following a blog called "Everyday Musings" by Olivia Rae, who is based in Charleston, SC for several months now. Through a visit to the blog earlier this year, I learned about an up-and-coming online magazine called Southern Flourish to which Rae is a contributor.

The spring issue of Southern Flourish just launched and i'm super-excited. As a girl who grew up in the Carolinas and fondly recalls her Southern upbringing, this magazine speaks to some of my own story and the wonderment that is life in the South. One of my favorite aspects of growing up Southern is the appreciation that I have gained for bringing touches of beauty to everyday life. The South embraces elegance, finery, and decorum. Rather than stifle them, Southern men pride themselves on their lady-folk's ability to pull together classy dinners on the lawn complete with fancy flowers, ornate fabrics, and carefully-chosen place settings. While 'ere a Northerner might scoff at a woman who takes "too long" to get dressed, a good Southern man knows how important just-the-right-look can be for a woman who is making a social appearance and realizes that a cake that takes 24 hours to prepare is probably better than one that can be whipped up from a box. And this is what makes Southern Flourish wonderful; it embraces the good life that is life in the South.

While there is certainly both good and bad to being Southern, there are many things about the South that are very good and this magazine celebrates them: freshly-picked bouquets of spring flowers to brighten a room, a smartly-calculated sportcoat and bowtie combination ala shaggy Southern gent, the incredible culinary offerings and climes of Southern beaches, ahh I could go on and on. This magazine, though, is not just about a culture of over-accessorization. It includes discussions on topics such as organic agriculture, sustainable fashion, and buying local. All around, a good read if you're hoping to brush up on Southern culture or just looking for a little something to whet your visual palate. Not a fan of the South? Have a read; I think you might find yourself surprised at all it has to offer.

“A culture is made-or destroyed-by its articulate voices.”-Ayn Rand