favorite {southern} find of the week 9.10

Urban Electric is a lighting company based in Charleston, SC.  Their handmade fixtures are the highest in quality and look beautiful once installed.  Their style is simple and timeless... you will definitely not be disappointed. In addition to having great standard products, they will customize any fixture to your specifications.

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designer crush (southern edition) :: caldwell flake

I discovered Caldwell Flake while reading a daily post over at Haven and Home...boy, am I glad I did!! Their work is stunning! Caldwell Flake consists of the mother-daughter team, Lisa Caldwell Flake and Mary Ruth Caldwell.  They are based in Birmingham, AL and have been published in a few great publications.  Their work is a great blend of modern and traditional and I expect to see more of them in the future!

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guest post :: kim from "chattafabulous"

 I am so excited to have Kim from "Chattafabulous" here today to take part in my "Southern September" series!  I am so glad she took time out of her crazy schedule...she's currently in the process of moving...to share her favorite things about living in the South.
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First of all I'm so excited that Jade has asked me to participate in her series about all things Southern!  I read Jade's blog every day and I love her perspective on design and discovering new lovelies on her "Favorite Find of the Week" posts.

I am a southern "transplant". I was originally born in Pennsylvania and moved to South Carolina when I was in elementary school.  Eighteen months later we moved to Atlanta and I lived there until I moved to Chattanooga in 2001, so the South definitely feels like home to me.  There is so much I love about living here, and I am going to share the little things about living in the south that bring me joy.

1.  Sweet tea!  There is nothing more refreshing on a sultry southern afternoon than a big ol' drink of sweet tea on ice with a few lemon slices.  Heaven in a glass!

2.  Cicadas.  The music of cicadas usually starts up when summer is in full swing.  You can hear them after dark and I can't imagine summer nights without the hum of whatever it is they use to make that sound.

3.  Front porches. Gotta have a place to drink your sweet tea and listen to the cicadas!

4.  Azaleas, Dogwoods and Crepe Myrtles.  Hear this!  There is no place more glorious than the south in the springtime!  Have you ever driven through Atlanta's older established neighborhoods in April?  Plan a trip this spring - it is a breathtaking sight!

5.  Manners.  We still call our elders ma'am and sir here.  'Nuff said.

6.  Traditional design rules. It's true, the south's favorite interior design style is traditional, although quirkiness is always welcomed!

7.  Love of Country and Love of God - we feel it and proudly express it here!

There's so much to love about the South - and I'd love to post more but the Georgia game is about to start - go Dawgs!! (woof woof)

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southern living

Southern Living Magazine is a great guide to the Southern region and culture.  It has been around since 1966 and is one of my favorite magazines to get in the mail.  It is full of places to go in the South, decor tips, recipes, region specific gardening tips, and I love their idea houses! 

The 2010 Georgia Idea House:

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The Louisiana Idea House:

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This month is an especially good issue to pick up if you pointers on how to live the Southern lifestyle.  It covers everything from how to set the perfect Southern table to key design elements in a Southern home to how to write the most perfect, charming thank you note.

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favorite find of the week 9.3

Sugarboo Designs has been a favorite since the moment I discovered it a few months ago and I thought I would share it with you all.  It also fits into my "Southern September" because the company is based in Georgia.  The company is Sugarboo Designs and I absolutely LOVE their handcrafted, worn wood signs and frames.  I have had my eye on one sign in particular and I hope to see it under the Christmas tree in a few months (yes, I said it...a few months!!)

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Sugarboo Designs is owned by a beautiful couple who have two adorable kiddos.  You can tell they really love what they do and that is so important.  They have everything from art prints to antiqued wooden signs to wooden photo boxes.  I am a sucker for quotes and they have so many things to choose from!!

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it's the most wonderful time of the year

Can you feel it? It's football season!!! This is my most favorite time of the year!  Football is definitely a southern staple and trust me, down here, we take college football VERY seriously!! I am a born and bred, die hard Florida Gators fan so in the spirit of the first game this weekend...orange and blue rooms!

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it's official

I have officially deemed this month "Southern September"! After yesterday's post and the fact that I could go on forever about this topic, I thought I might as well devote the month to it!

I will be talking about Southern design, Southern style, just about anything to do with the South!!

Here's the part of the South I represent :)

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