True Southerners: Top Ten {Tuesday}

{can you see all the pictures below? something is going on with my blog…}

I was born and raised in Atlanta. My mom is from Minnesota, but my dad is from Macon. (That’s halfway down the state of Georgia, for any of you that don’t know.) I have always been proud of my Southern roots. It was one of those, “American by birth, Southern by the grace of God” kinda things.

Then, I moved to Birmingham, Alabama. And I realized, I wasn’t Southern. I was an Atlantan. People in Birmingham were a little different–they had matching umbrellas and shoes, lots of monograms, big bows, coordinating outfits for all their kids and double first names.

It wasn’t wholly different from Atlanta, just about 2 degrees off. But I liked it!

If you’ve lived in the South, or every met a truly true Southerner, you’ll know what I’m talking about. The south is genteel, slightly sassy and very color coordinated!

My friend, Hilary from The Other Mama is a true Southern girl. So southern in fact that she started her own monogram business called, Mint Julep Monograms. (Otherwise known as Mint Julep Monahgrahms, y’all!) She asked me if I’d like to do a little giveaway for Mint Julep on my blog! And of course, I said yes. Or maybe “sho’nuff”. I can’t remember which.

As I was trying to decide how to go about a monogram giveaway on my blog, it got me thinking about the South. And the misconceptions, the myths and well, the truth about our great corner of the United States. So, here they are:

The Top Ten Things I’ve Learned from Living in Alabama and Georgia {and Florida, too}:

1. Southerners like monograms.

You know I had to say that one first, right? But honestly, who else would wear a baseball cap with their initials embroidered in a fancy font?

2. Real southerners know that Florida, Missouri and Oklahoma are not really part of the South. Bless their hearts.

3. Sweet tea is a staple. The only drinks available at potlucks and catered meals is sweet tea. Restaurants that ask “You want sweet or unsweet?” are avoided. {And despite my southern-ness that is my one downfall. My husband calls me a half-breed because I cannot bear to drink sweet tea. Please don’t revoke my Southern card!}

Travel Coffee Sweet Tea Cup

4. Southern Hospitality is real. When I lived in Alabama men opened doors for me, walked me to my car and tipped their hats. The women made food, hugged your neck, opened their homes and threw real parties. In fact, I had Lydia’s baby shower in Birmingham and it was called a “Tea”. Y’all. That is fancy!

Possible baby gift at a “Tea”

5. Southerners recognize the superiority of our food. As in biscuits, gravy, grits and cornbread.

6. A real southerner understands and uses the term “fixin’ to”. {For those Yankees out there, that would be akin to “about to” as in “I’m fixin’ to fix up some biscuits and gravy.”}

7. When snow flurries hit, you run to the store for milk. And we do not think it’s weird to close school because our kids can see their breath outside.

8. Soda is something you bake with. Pop is related to Snap and Crackle. Coke is what you drink with your meal. {And for the long-time southerner, you might even say Co-Cola.}

9. The more syllables, the more better.

10. We like monograms.

Did I say that already? But seriously, how cute is that?! And a few more for ya…

So, would you like to win $30 to the adorable Mint Julep Monograms? There are so many fun things to choose from–bags, Christmas stockings, baby clothes and more! This is the perfect Christmas gift, y’all!

To enter, just visit Mint Julep Monograms and tell me which item you like best–and if you can tell me in your best Southern accent–well, you might get bonus points.

That’s all–no second entries for tweeting and stumbling and all that stuff. Let’s just click to Mint Julep, LIKE them on facebook, ooh and ahh, then come back to tell me what you like. Of course, a good tweet never hurt anybody. Ahem.

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Link up your Top Ten list and join in the Top Ten {Tuesday} fun! All you have to do is WRITE a top ten list, PASTE it  below, LINK back to me in your post & then start LOVIN’ on the rest of the participants with facebook likes, stumbles, comments and tweets! For better and more succinct guidelines see my Top Ten {Tuesday} page!