{Giveaway is Closed} The winner is Susan from NC!
I’ve met so many fascinating, talented and creative women since I started blogging all those years ago. One of them is Leslie Anne Tarabella, who is as Southern as I am and lives in Fairhope, AL. I’m trying to remember when we first met and it’s been in the last 4 years, I think when she came here to Georgia for a visit and we got together with another mutual friend (who Leslie Anne introduced me to via email, if I remember right). She was longtime friends with Rachel, who I’ve shared here on the blog with her beautiful Victorian house off the Marietta Square, the Trammell House. I’ve shared the Trammell House two times, so check this one out too. Leslie Anne lived in Marietta for many years with her husband and then they moved closer to home in Fairhope, AL.
{the 3 of us 4 years ago touring another local house: me, Leslie Anne, and Rachel, 2 of the most charming Southern girls I know!}
So, back to when I first met Leslie Anne online. She used to use a fake name when she left comments on my blog, because she was nervous about putting her real name out there. She started her blog, Fairhope Supply Co. several years ago and when she would visit from the blog and leave a comment, I think she called herself Hope. I thought that was hilarious once I found out her name wasn’t really Hope. It wasn’t until years later that she finally started using her real name and I got to know her as Leslie Anne. She’s so cute and witty and a great writer. I’ve met up with her in Marietta and Fairhope and always have fun with her. It’s no wonder that her book is entertaining and funny too, since Leslie Anne is such a happy positive Southern gal!
Leslie Anne has been writing her blog for over 5 years and she’s also a contributor to AL.com and her blog is filled with her Southern stories about home, family, church, and more. Leslie Anne says she’s an accidental author after her blog was discovered and she was asked to be a newspaper writer. The book is a compilation of her most popular blog posts and columns, with witty stories and fun anecdotes.
On a side note, I have to ask her though if she makes up these Southern names woven through her stories. Southerners are known for their 2 name handles, but some of hers are a little suspect. There’s Great Aunt Vina-Mae, cousin John-Jack, Rosie Belle, Billy Mac, and many more. I have to get to the bottom of these Southern styled names! Are they for real? I honestly don’t know anyone with names like this. But Leslie Anne has a fun way with words and you’ll enjoy her short stories.
Leslie Anne and her rescue dog, Doug. Go read the Doug story, it’s cute! She has another dog, a beagle named Lois Lane.
There’s a whole section on Our Charming Southern Ways….oh how fun these are! I relate so much to these Southern ways, since my family is Southern to the bone too. From Are Southern Women Prettier to Humidity Threatens our Crowning Glory, these humorous Southern anecdotes will have you chuckling along and nodding your head, especially if you’re Southern too.
The other book sections involve our Precious Southern Families, Our Darling Southern Manners, Our Delicious Southern Food, and our Divine Southern Churches. And by the way,Leslie Anne married a guy from New Jersey and calls him her Yankee husband.
If you’re Southern (or even if you’re not, you’ll enjoy Leslie Anne’s cute and witty book. She does have a Fannie Flagg style of writing, with humor and hilarity. It’s definitely a feel good book that will have you smiling as you’re being entertained with words. She reminds me a bit of the old newspaper columns here in Atlanta and two of my growing up favorites, Lewis Grizzard and Celestine Sibley. I loved reading their columns in the newspaper when I was young and looked forward to their columns every single week. They are both gone now.
From Leslie Anne’s blog….Although my viewpoint is from my life in a small Southern town, I’ve learned that people everywhere love their families, dogs, good food, God and a good story . . . not necessarily in that order, of course.
If you’re in Birmingham, Leslie Anne will be signing books at Barnes and Noble at The Summit at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, Feburary 17th, so mark your calendars!
Here’s a little snippet from the book about being Southern:
Some folks call themselves Southern just because of where they were born or where the moving van dropped them off. Others know they are Southern because the South lives within them. You can see the sparkle in their eyes when they see a friend walking they way or someone mentions a fish fry with hushpuppies and grits or suggests, “Let’s go out and sit on the porch.” The answer is never “I’m watching my cholesterol,” or “It’s too hot.”
Rachel and Leslie Anne’s friend, Beth, hosted a really nice book signing party in Marietta before Christmas and Mark and I went. It was so fun to meet Judy (above right) who is a faithful reader of Leslie Anne’s and my blog. Hi, Judy, great to see you that night. She was so sweet!
Rachel set out a beautiful spread of food in her dining room and it was such a fun night. You can see I was noshing on the goodies in this pic.
Back to the book….you’ll also hear a few Bless Your Hearts along the way. I also see on Leslie Anne’s blog that she’s not a fan of sweet tea either…just like me. I get the strangest looks when I tell people I don’t drink sweet tea. Like how in the world could I possibly be a real Southern girl?! For some reason, when I was growing up in a house that had sweet tea in the fridge at all times, I just never acquired a taste for it and never did drink it. I see some of you mentioned peach tea and oh my yes, I love some peach tea. Totally different flavor!
Today I’ve got an extra copy to give away of Leslie Anne’s book, so please leave a comment below and I’ll choose a random winner in a week to send the book to.
Tell me where you are from and if you are Southern or Northern (or Midwestern or from the West Coast) and what do you all think about the South? If you’re Southern, I know you’re proud to be a Southerner, but it’s fun to hear what the rest of the country thinks! And while you’re answering, do you drink sweet tea?
Leave a comment to be eligible to win the book!
If you’d like to order the book, you can find it here:
Nita says
I’m a southern girl born and bred married to a southern man born and bred from Georgia. Training Union? Yes and I loved our Sunday night sessions. Sweet tea? Yes I love it now but actually grew up drinking milk. Still love my milk. Don’t have any relatives with double names but recently my friend’s daughter named her two little girls Ruby Jane and Annie Rose. They really are the only double names I personally know! lol
Love Leslie Anne’s title of the latest book but I have to confess I’ve never read anything by her but look forward to reading my very first one!
Rhoda says
THis is Leslie Anne’s first book, so you’re right on time.
Karen Happel says
I’m an avid reader and love reading southern history and all things southern.
Always enjoy your blog.
Leila says
I’m a sixth generation Georgian and so very proud to have been born and bred in Atlanta
I now live in SW Geotgia (small town) where watermelon, peanuts, pecans, corn and tomatoes are plentiful and, if course, I love them ALL.
No, I do not drink sweet tea. I can’t wait to read this cute book
Brenda says
Oh my, As a Georgia born and raised and still living here Southern girl I am looking forward to reading this book–only thing better would be winning a copy–just waiting to see of I need to order it!! I have had plenty of sweet tea in my past, but just have water now for health reasons.
Bonnie Auld says
I grew up in Michigan, but we’ve lived in middle Georgia for 30 years. The last four of our seven children were born here. While expecting number four, my love for sweet tea grew enormously (however, I still like to taste more tea flavor than sugar). I’ve learned to use y’all in normal conversation. And, ‘yes, ma’am’ and ‘yes, sir’ roll off my tongue. My fourth child has the typical double name, Emily Ruth (Ruth comes from my mom’s sister, and my sister). Michigan still feels like home, because that’s where I grew up, but my in-laws are from South Carolina, and as Southern as they come. I’m a book lover, and Leslie Anne’s book sounds like one that I’d like to read and pass on to my sister-in-law.
Chelle says
I was born & raised in WA State, but my grandparents on back were all Southern until back when they came from Europe. I grew up with my aunties, uncles, cousins galore, many great-aunties & uncles, etc., and boy, they sure can cook! Nanny always had a pitcher of sweet tea in her fridge. Daddy was British by birth, so I was also raised to enjoy hot tea, take tea time, and so on. When I graduated high school I moved to Texas and lived there a few years, learned to love sweet tea, fell even more in love with chili, barbeque, and Mexican food. Then I moved to West Virginia and lived there over 13 years. I learned about fried green tomatoes, creamed tomatoes over biscuits, and a few other things. I absolutely feel Southern at my heart & soul, and I always have done.
Mikki says
I love your blog!! I was born and raised in Washington state and married a Southerner. My mother loved the south and always dreamed of meeting her Aunt’s family from NC, and instilled a love for the South in me. My husband and I moved to Charlotte,NC and she visited us often and her dream was realized. I fell in love with the south and it’s ways as well. We currently live in Spanish Fort, AL. We are only 1/2 hour from Fairhope. It is such a charming town.
Sherry Myers says
Born and reared in NC. Went to college in Tennessee. Fell in love with a Midwesterner from Michigan (born in NC,) married, lived there for three years. We fulfilled a dream and moved back to my hometown in Eastern North Carolina. We would live no where else! I love the South. It is part of my soul. Grits, gravy, and pig pickins, along with sweet tea, and the genteel charm of gracious hospitality is, has, and always will be my comfort zone! When I saw the title of the book, I thought, “majorette,” now there’s a word I haven’t heard in ages! God bless all Southern Hospitality blog fans! Thank you, Rhoda!
Tanya Weiss says
Although my roots didn’t start growing in the south until I was a young teenager because my father was military, I’m Southern through and through. Both of my parents descend from Florida pioneer families and when they left their Panhandle Florida home for the military, we always came back for visits and eventually to settle down. And, yes, I can believe those names – there’s a few in my family as well!
I would love to read this book and Leslie Ann sounds like a hoot! Thanks so much for sponsoring this giveaway.
Leslie Anne Tarabella says
That Florida panhandle is where I grew up, even though I was born in and now live in Alabama. North FL is South and South FL is north. Some people don’t understand that!
Brenda Ray says
I was born and raised in Minnesota. Just 3 years ago my husband and I sold the family home and moved to Fairhope, AL! (He’s originally from Haleyville, Al). We absolutely love it here and have NO regrets what so ever!. I tried to drink sweet tea, and now don’t feel so bad that I don’t. I’ll never say “it’s too hot” to do this or that, I love the heat and the humidity. The hospitality of the people here is amazing. I have read Leslie Ann’s column weekly, in fact I read it out loud to my husband every Sunday! I am looking forward to Leslie Ann’s new book, even if I don’t win, I know where to get it! 🙂
U. Zacharias says
Born in Germany, but I’m a true Girl Raised in the SOUTH! South Carolina that is! (GO TIGERS!) I wouldn’t trade living in the south for ANYTHING. Can’t wait to read the book, and love your blogs!!
Pamela says
I’m a military brat raised by a southern mama. I’ve lived in South FL since my dad got stationed there in the 50s. South Floridians don’t seem to have any place on the map of the country to truly call their own unless you’re born and bred in Miam-uh, as they pronounce it. So I’ve always wanted to be a southern lady even though I don’t have a cute accent or know all the ways of being truly southern or have the proper manners needed to fake it. I grew up on gallons of sweet tea and cornbread with milk for dessert but I get headaches from tea nowadays and my belly doesn’t love milk!! So sad.
Shari says
I was born in Atlanta to southern born and raised parents (Sparta, TN & Palatka, FL), grew up in west central Florida near the Gulf of Mexico, and currently live in your mama’s old strawberry stompin’ grounds, Plant City/Dover (as we’ve previously discussed) so I’m southern to the core–and damn proud of it! 🙂 Sweet iced tea? It runs through our veins! There’s a fresh pitcher made in my house every day, regardless of how cold the weather is. My southern country boy husband won’t drink hot tea but he would surely shrivel up and die if he didn’t get his daily dose of sweet iced tea.
I’m an avid reader and I’m always drawn to books that are set in the south. I’m currently reading Dorothea Benton Frank’s book, Plantation. Mary Kay Andrews is another southern favorite. Would love to add Leslie Anne Tarabella to the list!
Leslie Anne Tarabella says
Mary Kay Andrews has been a huge inspiration and help to me during this new venture of book publishing. She’s so sincere and demonstrated to me what hard work and real talent look like. You’d love her if you got to meet her at one of her signings sometime.
Julia says
I am from Southern California, so that must count?? I love visiting the South. The food, the history, and the people are just wonderful!
Wendie says
I’m a Georgia girl and it’s so nice to know there are a few other southern ladies out there like myself who don’t like sweet tea. 🙂
Bonnie Brown says
I was born in Vidalia, Georgia ( where the onions come from) and still live there. I have always treasured my Southern heritage. I grew up with so many wonderful traditions and gracious , genteel Southern women who influenced my life. Good manners, respecting our elders, extending hospitality to all, and being properly dressed for every occasion were staples of southern life. My growing up years were spent in a town about 10 miles from Vidalia. A town of about 250 people with high standards and big hearts. Our joys and sorrows were felt by everyone because we were such a close knit community. It was a magical place to grow up. Dinner-on-the-grounds at church, weddings, community picnics, sittin’ up with the dead ( yes they really used to do that because the body didn’t stay at the funeral home – i t was brought to the residence), tea parties and luncheons for brides, splendid Christmas parties with beautiful silver tea services gracing the table, sitting on the front porch at night listening to the crickets and enjoying the smell of honey suckle, and yes, we drank lots of sweet tea and I still love it to this day. Oh! And every well bred southern girl was taught to write thank you notes! That seems to be a lost art these days! Leslie Ann’s book sounds wonderful. I bet I could identify with lots of it’s characters!
Rhoda says
Best onions ever from Vidalia, definitely a Georgia treasure!
Janice Feaster says
I’m born and bred Kansas; however, I became Southern when I found myself in Scarlett! I love sweet tea, pecans, casseroles, good manners (especially in a true gentleman), pickups, dogs -why, I could go on and on! I have to tell you I was a majorette in the college because music majors were required to be in marching band, and wearing that cute outfit was the only way I could stand the thought! Unfortunately, I couldn’t twirl the baton, but that didn’t matter– too much! So glad I’ve found you now and would just love to read your book!
teresa says
Hmmm. I was born in Ca. and have lived North, South and East with Montreal and Brussels thrown in for good measure, but currently live in Cincinnati, what I consider the northern-most southern town. My Ky. friends, however, differ and refer to it as the southern-most Northern town! and constantly try to get me to move the 6 miles across the river. I have to admit, all my friends are from Ky. and so friendly and welcoming to “foreigners” that I often wonder why I haven’t taken their advice!
I’d love to read this book, but reading the comments here has been almost as good!… and no sweet tea for me. I don’t mind the taste, but prefer to eat a real sweet or som spoon bread! (I adore southern food, especially that of rural Ky. YUM!!!)
Patty says
I live in Connecticut but we did have hopes of moving south when we both retired. Unfortunately due to health reasons we are staying here. This book looks very interesting and I know I would love it. Thanks for doing this.
Patti Davis says
Hi Rhonda, I’ve been enjoying your blog for close to four years and have never posted a reply, but this hit too close to home. . I was born and raised in Philly (Philadelphia) and don’t have a southern relative, but I’m a southern girl in my heart. I’ve been subscribing to Southern Living (my favorite magazine) for over 20 years, I drink sweet tea for breakfast, and the rest of the day because I never had a cup of coffee. My favorite fruit is a juicy peach. I love gardening and guess what my favorites are, magnolias and crêpe myrtles. As I was writing this I even had a southern accent. Haha.
Katie says
Hi Rhoda,
I’ve lived in Colorado, Texas, Tennessee and now reside outside of Chicago. I’ve lived here for almost 7 years, but my accent still puzzles many. To the northerns I sound a little southern and to the southerners I sound a little northern, lol. I’m not sure what I would consider myself, but the south will always have a special place in my heart. And I love sweet tea!
Rhoda says
Hey, Patti, that is too funny! OK, after that intro we will adopt you down here in the South.
Nancy Celeste says
I don’t see a comment place so I will start here. Oh my goodness, us kids would fight to finish Daddy’s tea with all the lemons and sugar left at the bottom of the giant glass when he was through. I was born and raised in Central Louisiana. Too many stories to tell. It does make me sad that when you say “Bless your heart” people think you are being sarcastic. My son was born in Marietta GA but I don’t remember the name of the hospital? I think Georgians have the best accents of all. My Mama and my sister and I would sit and read Lewis Grizzard out loud to each till we cried in pain from laughing so hard. Tell your mama I said how she’s doing.