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The Southern Women’s Show in Birmingham

September 30, 2009 By Rhoda 20 Comments

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Again this year, last weekend my friend Debbie and I attended the Southern Women’s Show.   Snacking, browsing, people watching, shopping, watching fashion shows and cooking shows, that is just a little of what goes on at this event.  Oh, and a whole bunch of Southern women in one place. 🙂

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It’s a 4 day event and you can’t see it all in one visit, but we managed to pack a few things into about 3 hours.IMG_6756

We manged to get as many samples as we could possible find, including a morsel of cake from Ashley Mac’s, which I had heard rave reviews about.  That little bite was good, but I want more.  Now I wish I could remember who told me about this bakery.

We managed to eat our way around the arena, with extra stops for sample ice creams from Blue Belle.

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My friend, Shannon, with Southern Beauty Magazine and blog, right here in Birmingham, gave us the tickets, so we were grateful for that and she had a booth at the show. Thank you, Shannon!  You’ll be hearing more from Shannon, since she is going to come by and do a guest post for me one day soon.  We met last year at Blissdom and didn’t have a lot of time to chat and have just gotten back in touch again.

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The fashion shows are always fun to watch.

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These young ladies were from Stillman College in Tuscaloosa and did a fab job strutting their stuff.

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All shapes and sizes, they were dressed in black and had fun on the stage.

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Another colorful number, all featuring leggings.  I did my leggings duty back in the 80’s and it ain’t about to happen again, I don’t think.  🙂

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But, these girls were cute and sassy.

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We also watched a cooking demo by Lisa Shively, who has written a couple of cookbooks.  I had never heard of her, but she seemed to be a good ole’ Southern girl from NC and Georgia.  She demonstrated chicken pot pie and a fruit salad.

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Back to another fashion show, this time it was the older ladies who took the stage.

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And they were doing a pretty good job of strutting it too.

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I think I would be pretty nervous with all eyes watching me walk across a stage.

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And I was thanking the good Lord that my old middle-aged legs with wrinkly knees weren’t up there.  Talk about scrutiny!

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They did great and the finale was evening gowns.

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Very pretty dresses.

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It was hard to get great pics in motion.

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I had to admire these ladies for strutting it so well.  Good job, models!

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One last peek at all the evening wear.

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And from the fashion stage, we moved back to the cooking demo, where Franklin Biggs with Homewood Gourmet, showed off his specialty.  Baby bleu salad.

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I can vouch for this one, since I’ve been by his small restaurant many times and had this salad.  If you’d like to see how it’s made, click over to Homewood Gourmet for the recipe that is posted.  Field greens with strawberries, oranges, and toasted pecans, bleu cheese, drizzled with a homemade Balsamic vinegarette dressing. It is totally delish! I can see why it’s been a favorite for 18 years.

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And that was the afternoon at the Southern Women’s show, always a fun place to spend a few hours.  This is Bear Bryant and some other notables in a statue outside the Birmingham Civic Center.

Don’t forget, the Fall Inspiration Party is tomorrow, October 1st!!  Hope you’ll come back and link up.

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Filed Under: Travel 20 Comments

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. The Stylish House says

    September 30, 2009 at 6:50 am

    Rhoda,
    This looks like a fun event, and you would have made the perfect model!
    Cathy

    Reply
  2. Sue says

    September 30, 2009 at 6:57 am

    Rhoda, Can I please become an honorary southern gal? I was born right next to Texas! In the Land of Enchantment. Is that close enough? LOL
    There seems to be so much going on down there that I would love to do and see! How much fun you had!
    See ya tomorrow for the party!

    Reply
  3. Karen says

    September 30, 2009 at 7:07 am

    Looks like a fun day. Older ladies? Ouch.

    Reply
  4. Susan says

    September 30, 2009 at 7:18 am

    How fun!! And chickadee, you and I CAN wear those leggings again! Just in a diferent way this time around! No Flashdance accessories now!! Heehee!! Glad y’all had fun! The food looked yummy!

    Hugs,
    susan

    Reply
  5. Rhoda says

    September 30, 2009 at 8:25 am

    Of course you can, Sue! We’ll adopt anyone who wants to be a Southern girl.

    Karen, ha-ha! I guess I can say older ladies, since I AM ONE! LOL

    Reply
  6. Wanda Peratta says

    September 30, 2009 at 8:28 am

    Looks like that was a fun day. I am at the age where my legs need the leggings more now than back in the 80’s. HAHA

    Reply
  7. Ann says

    September 30, 2009 at 8:30 am

    Hi Rhoda,
    Looks like you had fun!!! Thanks for the great pics.I was just reading an old post of your’s about your visit to Florida. Well Plant City happens to be my home town. I also have relitives in Lakeland…and I just know those homes were in Walden Lake? Love the pics of downtown,and oh how I would love to have a cuban right now!!! My hubby is active duty Military so we move alot .But Plant City will always be home.I also have relitives in Alabama Its a small town called Centere? It’s in Cherokee county? Just wanted to say thank You for the pics.

    Many Blessing’s
    Ann

    Reply
  8. Katherine @ Grass Stains says

    September 30, 2009 at 8:55 am

    Rhoda, Ashley Mac’s IS the best! I don’t know if you had a sample of their strawberry cake or not, but it is TO DIE FOR. Much better than Edgar’s, in my opinion. Their frozen stuff that you can take home and bake is incredible. And they also have the most delicious sour cream biscuits you have EVER tasted. I am so lucky that their Bluff Park location is just minutes from my house!

    I’m having a yard sale on the 10th if you’ll be in town and want to drop by!

    Reply
  9. Anita says

    September 30, 2009 at 9:34 am

    This looks like great fun and plenty to snack on.
    Can’t wait for the post from your friend.
    thanks,
    blossom

    Reply
  10. grannyann says

    September 30, 2009 at 10:08 am

    That looks like a lot of fun. Thanks for taking us along.

    Reply
  11. Paula says

    September 30, 2009 at 11:33 am

    I love to go to these shows – they’re so much fun! Lucky you to get tickets: is it just me or are they getting really expensive??? I guess it’s a small price to pay for shopping, fashion shows, and food – but free is always better!

    Our Southern Women’s show is always earlier in the year here in Memphis (Feb or Mar) – but, we have the Merry Marketplace coming up in the next few weeks to raise money for our Junior League. Love that one: it’s my fave! I got to meet Alexandra Stoddard there one year at a book signing!!

    Reply
  12. Our Creative Life says

    September 30, 2009 at 12:32 pm

    I love that black/white zebra coat! Oh and Rhoda that is an awesome photo of you!!

    Reply
  13. Rhonda says

    September 30, 2009 at 1:31 pm

    Hey, girl! It’s Rhonda from the infamous Rhoda/Rhonda/Vonda yard sale trio in NC severals years ago! How are you?!? I keep up with you through your blog and have shared it with my very Southern-deprived friends out here in Colorado. BTW, my niece Nicole works at Ashley Mac’s. She brought one of their famous strawberry cakes to the beach this year for my birthday. It was scrumptious!! Check it out! And tell Nicole you know her old aunt Rhonda! Love you girl!!

    Reply
  14. Alicia says

    September 30, 2009 at 2:18 pm

    What a fun day Rhoda! I would love to go to something like that. I think all women have a hankerin to be a southern woman. How’s jury duty going?

    Reply
  15. Lou Cinda says

    September 30, 2009 at 4:13 pm

    What fun! And girl, you could SO pull off leggings AND give all those models a run for their money!!! You could strut it! Oh yes you could!

    Lou Cinda 🙂

    Reply
  16. Jane says

    September 30, 2009 at 6:35 pm

    Rhoda,

    What a fantastic event to attend!! I must be missing a lot of the social events Chicago has (although we do have an elite group that you must belong to) but I love the magic of ‘The Southern Woman’ title. You gals have your own mojo!!! 😉

    I can tell you had a great time and I want to thank you for sharing all of your great pictures. You looked fab, as always. I read your post with Kim. How lucky you both are to have gotten together twice now. Both of you, of course, are favorite ladies of mine.

    See you at your fall party. I have my post up along with a few other girls!!

    xoxo
    Jane

    Reply
  17. Christine says

    September 30, 2009 at 7:25 pm

    Hi Rhoda! What a fun show to attend. I am sure you had so much fun. I would! I am joining your fall party and my post is ready….Christine

    Reply
  18. alaurajane says

    September 30, 2009 at 8:17 pm

    Hi Rhoda; Wow what a great time you two had.. love all the great photos.. I will make sure I stop by tomorrow for your fall party, sounds like fun… have a good week.

    Hugs;
    Alaura

    Reply
  19. Susan B says

    October 1, 2009 at 12:19 am

    Sad that I missed the SWS this year–it’s always so much fun, but there were too many things going on in town last weekend! Ashley Mac’s is oh so yummy, too. I second Katherine’s opinion of the sour cream biscuits. Heavenly!

    Franklin Biggs is a hoot and his food is always delicious. Next time you’re in Homewood, you should pop in to O’Carr’s, on 18th Street next to Harmony Landing’s old spot. The chicken salad is to die for, and their cheesecakes are divine.

    BTW, the other gentleman in the statue is Shug Jordan, legendary Auburn coach (and the namesake of the stadium). War Eagle! 🙂

    Reply
  20. bj says

    October 1, 2009 at 1:13 am

    Hi, Rhoda..this looks like so much fun. I know you had a blast.
    I came over to link up for the party..will come back tomorrow.

    Reply

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Thanks for stopping by! I’m Rhoda, from Atlanta, GA and I love decorating and DIY projects. Decorating a home doesn’t have to cost a fortune and I’ve spent years thrifting at antiques markets and yard sales, finding those treasures that make a home unique. I’m here to inspire and encourage other women to find their own inner creativity. Won’t you join me?

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