SOUTHERN FAYETTE | COWETA
Southern Fried Picnic
Recipes for an Afternoon Outdoors
Self-Care Journey For Busy Women
What We're Lovin' A Few Of Our Favorite Things
MARCH|APRIL 2021 • ISSUE 1 • COMPLIMENTARY
Premium polyester glitter & handcrafted wood cutouts. Magic Marble vendor over 90 exclusive colors.
REFLECTIONS
“Easter is… Joining in a birdsong, Eying an early sunrise, Smelling yellow daffodils, Unbolting windows and doors, Skipping through meadows, Cuddling newborns, Hoping, believing, Reviving spent life, Inhaling fresh air, Sprinkling seeds along furrows, Tracking in the mud. Easter is the soul’s first taste of spring.” ― Richelle E. Goodrich, Making Wishes: Quotes, Thoughts, & a Little Poetry for Every Day of the Year
PUBLISHER'S LETTER
W
elcome to Southern Woman Magazine! I am beyond excited about this new journey with Southern Woman!
From the time I was a young girl, I have loved learning everything about the Southern side of things and meeting so many hospitable folks. My mama and daddy raised us up to respect others and always be humble and kind. I just love sittin’ on the front porch in the hot days of summer and having a cool glass of fresh sweet tea with a slice of lemon. I love traveling and seeing the South. The beautiful cascading live oaks and the array of azaleas that bloom in the spring. Hearing the tweets of young birds arising to welcome a fresh new day. So many beautiful blessings here in the South. I am truly blessed to be born and bred here. Growing up, Mama always told me that being a lady was important but being a strong woman was knowing that I am capable of handling anything that comes my way. Southern Woman will give y’all a glimpse of women that have made it through life by believing they can do anything their heart desires... carrying out their passions and also helping others along the way. You will also get a feel and taste of Southern goodness. Our family at Southern Woman welcomes y’all to come sit and stay a while. We are always here for family, friends and meeting new friends. It’s time to get back to the days of porch talk, bonfires, gardening, and good food. A Southern woman is always up on the latest fashion and beauty trends too—we like to look and feel our best! So we welcome y’all to come take this journey with us, and let’s have some fun. And always remember to be kind to one another in this life because none of us know what tomorrow will bring so be thankful for today! God bless, y’all!
Melanie Denney-Haas Publisher, Owner
4 SOUTHERN WOMAN
TABLE OF CONTENTS
March
48
REACHING FOR THE SKY
Take a look inside the life of Delta pilot Deena Seckinger who is living her dream and helping others to do the same.
April
52
Features
HOUSE OF HEARTS
Jenni and Billy Horne’s historic Newnan home is a place of art, creativity, love and healing. See the transformation from 1860 to now!
58
ART WITH PURPOSE
Artist Amber Stidham celebrates women in her new art installation, inspired by generations of strong and beautiful women in her life.
March/April 2021
5
In
This
Issue
Beauty
&
Style
Travel
&
Culture
2 REFLECTIONS
A Moment of Pause
18 GETTING READY WITH RAYDEEN
32 MODERN DAY MANNERS
4 PUBLISHER’S LETTER
20 SOUTHERN STYLE
34 WOMEN IN GOLF
from Melanie Denney-Haas
15-Minute Makeover
What to Wear this Spring
9 MAMA SAID
Southern Woman Selections Arts
&
Creativity
10 EASTER EGGS FOR ADULTS
Get Creative this Spring
LPGA Instructor Maeve Cromwell 72 PASSION AMERICA
Advice from Southern Moms 76 WHAT WE’RE LOVIN’
New Rules for the Modern Age
The Road Less Traveled Home
&
Garden Family
22 LESSONS LEARNED IN MY GARDEN
A Fresh Outlook for 2021 26 HOMEGROWN
Seed Starting with God’s Garden Girl
36 SPRING BREAK IDEAS
the Whole Family Will Love 39 KEEPING KIDS SAFE
in the Age of Technology Food
12 RISING STAR
Leah Belle Faser
Health
14 VINTAGE JOY
Inspired Vintage Jewelry
28 SOUTHERN AT HEART
The Healthy Well You
WITH SCARLETT
16 SOUTHERN WOMAN BOOK SOCIETY
30 SIMPLE LIVING
68 SWEET INDULGENCE
Recommendations from our Members
6 SOUTHERN WOMAN
&
Wellness
62 STIRRING THE POT
A Self-Care Journey
Southern Fried Picnic Chocolate
105 AUTUMN GLEN CIRCLE - FAYETTEVILLE - AZALEAESTATES.COM
770-461-0039
woman
SOUTHERN FAYETTE | COWETA
Publisher Melanie Denney Haas melanie.southernwoman@gmail.com Managing Editor Kim Antell kim.southernwoman@gmail.com Creative Director Mandy Inman mandy.southernwoman@gmail.com Editorial Contributors Bonnie Helander, Michelle Denney, Emily Evans, Scarlett Inman, Nicole Quevedo, Annie Singh-Quern, Dr. Laura Jones Cover Photography Leticia Andrade Leticia Andrade Photography lehphoto.com Cover Hair and Makeup Raydeen Martin Web Designer for SouthernWoman.com Country Fried Creative For inquiries about, or to be added onto our distribution list, please email southernwomanmag@gmail.com For advertising inquiries please email southernwomanmag@gmail.com
SOUTHERN Book Society
Love to read? Join the conversation on Facebook!
2021 by Melanie D Publishing, LLC
All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission is prohibited.
southernwoman.com
8
SOUTHERN WOMAN
. . . d i sa
MAMA Southern mamas (let’s face it...ALL mamas) give some great advice! Sometimes heartfelt, sometimes hilarious, always memorable. We asked women around town:
What does your mama say? a
IT’S A GREAT
If it has
tires or testicles, it's gonna be trouble! --Donna Huisman
YOU COULD give them the world on a silver platter, and they’d want it on gold! --Paula Slayton
more flies with honey than with vinegar. --Nicole Quevedo
nie's Mam
la ney - Me
Den Charlene
YOU CATCH
life if we don’t weaken. --Mary Swink
If you
WELL,
butter my biscuit! --Crystal Murphy
’
can t say something
....don’t say nothing at all! --Lori Denney
nice
IT’S NOT
what you say, it's how you say it. --Callie Faver
It’s better to be smart and play dumb than to be dumb and play smart! --Trisha Warner
WHAT HAPPENS
in the dark always comes to the light, honey, so make sure you have your makeup on! --Amanda Chipman
SOME DAY you'll hear my words come out of your mouth when you speak to your children. --Heather Anderson
WASH UP as far as possible... wash down as far as possible... then wash possible. --Lynn Summers Rogers
USE YOUR
own brain, not someone else’s. That’s why God gave you one. --Shirley Wallace Garland March/April 2021
9
ARTS | CREATIVITY
PUT ALL YOUR
Eggs in one BASKET...
10 SOUTHERN WOMAN
Easter egg decorating isn't just for the kids...give them the Paas kit you picked up at the grocery store and get out your own arts and crafts supplies to create some of these beautifully decorated eggs! From shaving cream and food coloring to soft yarn and lace, adorn your eggs to flow with your decor, or try something new and different just for fun. Paint and fabric and texture, oh my!!
March/April 2021 11
ARTS | CREATIVITY
RISING STAR
Leah Belle Faser By: Kim Antell
Pop-country singer-songwriter Leah Belle Faser has a new single out, and you’re going to want to check it out! With upbeat riffs and a catchy chorus, “Second-Hand Store” is Leah’s undeniable reminder to us to recognize our worth. “It’s a song about the feeling of not wanting to take someone back after they’ve judged you as unworthy next to the newer, shinier thing,” says Leah. She assures that while she actually loves thrift shopping and vintage clothing, the song is about not wanting to be the second choice in someone’s eyes because of materialistic things. With Burberry and Tiffany, you’ll have your epiphany / But worn-in boots and faded cords feel better than what she can afford / Gucci, Prada, and all the rest, always looking her Sunday best / You can’t buy what you’re looking for, but I ain’t gonna be your second-hand store
12 SOUTHERN WOMAN
“I can’t remember a time when I wasn’t singing,” says Leah. She remembers being around nine years old singing Patsy Cline’s “Walkin’ After Midnight” in front of a crowd, with her brother behind her on the piano, and feeling the rush of performing. “It was awesome! It sparked a fire inside that never really went out, performing in front of people. It gave me the courage to keep going. Early performances were very important in my development as a musician and an artist.” She has been collaborating with her brother, Hoke, for years, and even has him singing backup vocals on three of the songs from her EP, Crossing Hermi’s Bridge, released in
October 2020. “The songs were written in a transitional period in my life when I was making a decision to change schools and making a leap of faith to leave the friends I’d known for so long and the teachers that I loved for a fresh, new experience.” Leah plays acoustic guitar on the album and just got an electric guitar she’s excited to start playing and incorporating into her music. “When writing songs, sometimes I get inspiration from the instrument as well,” she says. “I’ll hear an electric guitar lick that I like, and it inspires me and sparks a feeling inside of me that makes me want to write a song about that feeling.”
“I turn the volume all the way up, crank it, and drive around."
Balancing school and her music career has taught Leah a lot about time management. “I do my schoolwork, and then I always make time for music because it’s what I love,” she says. “It’s easy for me to make that commitment and play gigs and give up going out Friday or Saturday nights to do what I love. I have very supportive friends who understand that I have to take those steps now in order to get to the next level. In the end, it’s worth it for sure!” The 16-year-old high school student just got her long-awaited driver’s license last year: “Best thing ever! I was so excited to get it so I could drive around and listen to music. It’s like my favorite thing to do,” she says. Broadway, new wave, pop, rock, country… She loves it all. “I turn the volume all the way up, crank it, and drive around. It’s great!”
Leah’s music has been featured on 94.9 The Bull radio and is available for purchase on multiple platforms. Watch the video for “Second-Hand Store” on the Southern Woman website and facebook page, and visit Leah’s website for more information on upcoming news and performances: leahbellefaser.com. March/April 2021 13
ARTS | CREATIVITY
14 SOUTHERN WOMAN
vintage joy Inspired Vintage Jewelry from JoyAnn Flowers By: Kim Antell Photography by: Brandy Floyd Vintage jewelry artist JoyAnn Flowers has been creating one-of-a-kind pieces from vintage finds for over 20 years, and her asymmetrical designs have become her trademark. She combines unexpected pieces that have fallen out of favor and lets them live out their full potential with a brand new purpose. “When I was little,” she remembers, “I loved going through both my grandmother’s jewelry boxes. My grandma would give me stuff that she had, and I would just tinker with it and put it together.” “I love vintage jewelry because I love the mystery of it, from having lived life before. I just love the story of it,” she says. “That’s how my style started. Even if I make a modern piece, I always put a vintage piece with it, because I like the juxtaposition of having something new with something old. It’s how I decorate my house, and it’s what I wear.” She sources almost all her materials from estate sales and garage sales, but so many other items come from people who just know she’s the vintage jewelry lady. “People will call me up and say they have a box of their mother’s or grandmother’s old costume jewelry. They say it’s all broken and they’re going to throw it in
the garbage otherwise, and I say, ‘No, don’t do that!’” she laughs. “Usually, I’ll end up making them something from that box just as a thank you.” JoyAnn also loves to browse thrift stores and antique malls to see what she can find, whether it’s close to home or when her family is travelling, and she’s found some really incredible treasures in her searches—pins from Stuart Weitzman and pre–World War II pieces that didn’t get melted down to make ammunition. “If they’re intact, I keep a lot of those pieces, as a collector, but sometimes the pieces are all busted, and I get to give them new life,” says JoyAnn. Her customers love that they are getting a piece that no one else will ever have. “That’s what I strive to do, even if it’s the same type of style. In my necklaces, I’ll use a brooch that someone gave me, and the person who buys it...it’s theirs. I can’t recreate that.” JoyAnn has spaces for joyajewelry at the Funky Shack Mercantile in Tyrone and at Kelly and Company Antiques in Fayetteville. She has also been a regular vendor at Peachtree City’s Shakerag Arts and Crafts Festival for 12 years. See more of her pieces at: FB: joyajewelry | IG: joyajewelrygirl | Web: joyajewelry.square.site March/April 2021 15
ARTS | CREATIVITY
READING RECOMMENDATIONS from Southern Woman Book Society members
American Dirt
Untamed
by Jeanine Cummins
by Glennon Doyle
Fiction/Hispanic-American Literature Recommended by Sarah Ruiz
Memoir/Autobiography Recommended by Melanie Denney Haas
The unforgettable story of a mother and son fleeing a drug-cartel to cross the USMexico border.
Inspirational and empowering!
Nine Perfect Strangers by Liane Moriarty Fiction/Psychological Thriller Recommended by Kristen Walker Soon to be a Hulu original series!
Win a copy of one of these books! For details about entering, join the Society at facebook.com/groups/southernwomanbooksociety 16 SOUTHERN WOMAN
The Mothers by Brit Bennett Fiction/Literature Recommended by Mandy Inman A novel about motherhood, friendship, and finding love.
The Detective in the Dooryard: Reflections of a Maine Cop by Timothy Cotton Memoir/Autobiography Recommended by Denise Prince A collection of stories and thoughts from Cotton’s years as a police officer in Maine.
March/April 2021 17
BEAUTY | STYLE
Gett ng
READY WITH Raydeen
Our cover makeup artist, Raydeen Martin, gave our managing editor a mini-makeover with this quick and easy look that can be completed in less than 15 minutes! A mom-on-the-go and minimal makeup wearer, Kim needed a look that’s simple for when she needs to get ready fast or needs to look fresh for her next meeting. Below, Raydeen tells us how to make it happen!
Step 1: Applying gently with your fingers, use an eye cream to reduce puffiness beneath and around the eyes. Step 2: Apply primer! This really is the secret to a flawless finish overall. Raydeen suggests a hydrating primer as well as a mattifying primer to fill in areas with fine lines, wrinkles, and large pores. Apply with fingers or a small brush. 18 SOUTHERN WOMAN
Step 3: Spray Airbrush Spray Foundation onto a Kabuki brush and stipple onto face, buffing in with a circular motion.
Pearls
of wisdom
Less is more! You do NOT need to apply foundation to your entire face. If your foundation color is well-matched, use it only in areas that need smoothing out or a little coverage. Raydeen used less than a pea sized amount on Kim’s whole face!
Step 4: Apply concealer to problem areas, using only a small amount where necessary. Pro Tip: The products Raydeen uses are buildable, so you could even dab another layer of foundation on a problem spot to reduce darkness or correct redness. (Raydeen did not use a concealer on Kim, but if you feel like you need it, use it!) Step 5: Apply liquid eyeshadow to lids using your fingers or a fluffy crease brush. Raydeen used Younique’s Moodstruck colors Reverent and Willed here. She applied Reverent to the inner corner of the lid and blended outward, and Willed from the outer corner blended in toward the nose with a blending brush. If you have hooded eyes like Kim, bring the color a bit farther up toward the eyebrow. The liquid dries quickly so you’ll need to work fast. Step 6: To simplify and bring the look together, Raydeen used the smallest amount of the Willed liquid eyeshadow as blush. (Literally, the smallest amount… It was barely visible on the blush brush.) Step 7: Scrub those lips with a lip exfoliator to exfoliate, condition, and prime the lips. Raydeen then applied Willed liquid eyeshadow as lipstick, too! (This eyeshadow really does it all!) Step 8: Finally, Raydeen filled in Kim’s eyebrows with a powder eyeshadow that matched her hair to complete her makeup.
To schedule a consultation, or for product inquiries, please email Raydeen at
RaydeenNoelaniMartin@gmail.com.
Purchase these products and more at:
youniqueproducts.com/RaydeenMartin. March/April 2021 19
BEAUTY | STYLE
SUNDRESS
Southern Style BY: MICHELLE DENNEY
This super cute sundress is perfect for warmer weather. The dainty floral print makes it ideal for any casual event. Pair it with the distressed, raw denim jacket for the cooler mornings and evenings. “Blue Bird” sundress $49.99 and “I’m Telling You” denim jacket $49.99, Pink Chair Boutique, Senoia
SANDALS The neutral colored “Tacoma” wedges are perfect for spring and summer. They look classy with almost any outfit you choose and are comfortable enough for a day at the park. $29.99, Pink Chair Boutique, Senoia
PRODUCTS
Spring is upon us, ladies! Time to shed those bulky winter clothes for cute spring dresses and sandals. Here are a few items you can pick up locally to add a little spring to your step!
The shampoo and conditioner you choose really does make a difference in how your hair feels and styles. Caviar Anti-Aging by Alterna makes hair shinier, smoother, and rebalances moisture, plus it protects your color. Shampoo $29 and conditioner $29, Twinology Salon, Newnan With spring here, a simple lip is essential. Versed Tinted Lip Oil works fabulously to create a subtle lip color while keeping lips moisturized. Plus, it’s cruelty-free! Versed Tinted Lip Oil $9.99, Target
Southelern Sty
20 SOUTHERN WOMAN
M am a know , n e m wo ho you u th e r n f us So know w o r ll e a v s e A un lah on ttle co u s, “Y o li a ld t o t u s p alway at least With into, so house!” n e u h t r t e v migh f you lea wipe o b efo re e c a ith aNEsY f r w t in you t N eat lip LLE DE M am a id, a grBY: MICHEhould keep th a t sa s c a se a r a that in m a sc o t g s in d iz d a volum r one tfit only hbor o u te o u ig c e A n . a y to t happ nday a ump in e n to b very Su p e p e a e h s u you oers yo s sta y u rc h -g : Alway h r c e e b h t m e of re. R em n e r sto r o c e th ach!” as a pe “p r e tty
March/April 2021 21
HOME | GARDEN
LG
essons earned by
in my
B
onnie
H elander
arden
As I reflect on the New Year, I realize I have been gardening in some capacity for over 25 years! Here are a few lessons I have learned (mostly through trial and error …and killing a lot of plants), and a few tips to make gardening easier and more fun in 2021.
22 SOUTHERN WOMAN
PLANT FOR PRACTICALITY Most gardeners cannot resist adding a new plant (or two or three) to the garden. But before long, what started out as a few innocent additions turns into a massive maintenance headache. I have had to do major cuts in my garden over the years to better suit my schedule, my age and my ability or willingness to maintain. Plants that are fussy or take too much maintenance—gone! I have downsized to a few garden beds and added more shrubs. I grow a few herbs and vegetables in pots on my back deck. Don’t be afraid to edit your garden. I want to enjoy my garden, not be enslaved to its upkeep. Even if you decide to simplify or downsize your garden, you can still grow vegetables or herbs in containers on your back deck.
PLANT FOR OUR SOUTHERN ENVIRONMENT One of the easiest ways to garden in the South is in raised beds—frames that sit on top of the soil and are filled with a mixture of native clay soil, top soil, potting mix (a soilless mix of peat moss, vermiculite and perlite) and compost. I have two raised beds in my shade garden, so I don’t have to dig around large tree roots. In these beds, I grow hydrangeas, camellias, fern, and hellebores. I just add a top dressing of compost each year to the beds and my plants are thriving. Raised beds are a wonderful solution for vegetable gardening as well. Happy plants are “hardy” plants in our Southern environment. We are in hardiness zones 7b/8a. Read the plant tag when you buy a new plant. Plant tags will give you a plethora of information on hardiness zones, sun/shade requirements, spacing, and if a plant is drought tolerant or deer resistant. Do a search online to learn more on planting and maintaining your new purchase.
IT’S ALL ABOUT THE DIRT! It really is all about the dirt! When I think of gardening in the South, I think first of the challenges of planting in clay soil. While it contains high amounts of soil nutrients, clay compacts easily, making it tough to dig, and retains water, making it tough to drain. Amending your garden beds with compost and other organic matter will make it easier to dig and for plants to take up soil nutrients. One of the best things you can do to enhance your garden soil is to start a compost bin. Add organic materials such as chopped leaves, grass and small twigs, and you will create your own “black gold” for your garden beds! This two-bin system allows you to turn the pile occasionally for faster results.
Pearls
Down South and Dirty! The State is well known for its abundance of "Georgia Red Clay". People often ask why the soils are red. The red color that is so evident in Georgia soils is due primarily to iron oxides. Soils form from the interaction of climate, organisms, parent materials, relief and time.
of wisdom
PLANT FOR YOUR PERSONALITY Share your personal style and family history in your garden by adding vintage pieces like this rusted wheelbarrow, used as a container for ferns. Be practical, but also have fun and express your unique personality. Want to grow the biggest tomato, create a fairy garden, collect gnomes, or grow prize-winning roses? Then find a place in your garden for these endeavors. Take a few risks—experiment with propagating your own plants or start your own beehive! Don’t be afraid to kill a few plants along the way as you experiment. I love to visit gardens where the homeowners have stamped their own personal style on their outside space. In my garden sits an old, rusted Franklin stove, filled with autumn ferns, that my grandparents used to warm the sun porch of their farmhouse back in the day. A portion of our wooden fence is lined with vintage tools from the farm where my husband grew up. These pieces remind us of the people we love and of our history. Make sure there is something in your garden that you treasure, that holds sweet memories, and that makes you smile!
March/April 2021 23
PLANT FOR WILDLIFE Provide a place for wildlife and your garden will come alive! Birds, bees, butterflies, and other beneficial insects are crucial to a healthy garden and provide entertainment and joy all year. You can encourage wildlife by providing food, cover, water, and space to raise young. Native plants are important to our native wildlife species and offer the best food sources—nuts, berries, grasses, and seeds. Large trees provide protection and places to raise young, and simple water features like birdbaths and fountains offer a water source. Plant a pollinator garden and watch the butterflies, bees, and hummingbirds flock to your space. Add bird feeders and a water source and you may be visited by the stunning red-breasted grosbeak and other colorful birds. Plant a native oak tree (Quercus), which according to research, supports the needs of more wildlife than any other tree. 24 SOUTHERN WOMAN
PLANT FOR SEASONAL INTEREST Your garden needs to inspire you year-round. Sure azaleas and dogwoods are spectacular in the spring, but what about the rest of the year? Many of us neglect the winter months in the garden, yet it is during these long, cold weeks that we most need some beauty and inspiration. There are several plants that bloom in the winter or offer interesting foliage or structure. Think about adding winter jasmine, hellebores (Lenten rose), American holly, or early spring bulbs. Make a design plan for each season that ensures your garden will be alive with beauty all year. Use containers where you need a pop of color and add focal points like garden statues outside your windows for added interest.
Top left: Hellbore (Lenten Rose) Bottom left: Winter Jasmine Top right: Dogwood Bottom right: Azalea
March/April 2021 25
HOME | GARDEN
home
grown SEED STARTING WITH GOD’S GARDEN GIRL Tinisha O'chelle Walker
What are the basics that I need to start plants from seeds (soil, trays, lighting, etc)? The basic things you'll need to start vegetables from seed are: seeds, seed starter mix, seed starter trays, and direct natural light or grow lights. You should know your specific planting zone, average last frost date, and average first frost date.
Are organic seeds better than non-organic and why? Organic seeds are not better than regular seeds, they're just organic. They don't perform better and don't reduce any chemical exposure.
What are the easiest plants to start? A few of the easiest plants to start are tomato, peppers, beans, and squash.
When should I transplant them to the garden? Most spring seedlings are transplanted to their permanent homes after the last frost.
How late is too late in the year to start seeds indoors? You can actually start seeds indoors at any time. Your seed sowing should be done with the specific ''days to harvest'' for that particular crop taken into account… basically, when you have enough of the appropriate weather for your crop to be ready to harvest.
Are there seeds I can sow directly into the garden? Most seeds can be direct sown into the garden at the appropriate time. Some seeds are direct sown in the spring, some summer, and even fall.
26 SOUTHERN WOMAN
When can I start direct sow seeds outside? You can direct sow your spring seeds outside after the last frost date.
Will my leftover seeds still be good to use next year? Yes, your leftover seeds should still be good to use the following year, even up to five years if stored properly in a dark place or refrigerator. Website: Godsgardengirl.com Social media: Gods Garden Girl
March/April 2021 27
HEALTH | WELLNESS
southern at heart:
healthy
By: Nicole Quevedo Some of the biggest things people think of about living in the South are Southern twang, fried everything, and sweet tea. I am a Southern woman with a capital S: I love living where the cotton grows, the rivers flow, and the stars are bright as the day is long, but I don’t quite fit into that fry-everything category. I do, however, have that sweet Southern twang, and I like my tea just a little sweet. I love fried green tomatoes, fried chicken, and buttered biscuits, but I also believe everything can be made healthier. I often hold a ladies (momma’s) luncheon where we have a fancy spread with whatever frittata I can throw together in a hot minute, sweet potato hash that you’d never guess is healthy, and a teapot full of Earl Gray tea paired with the most perfect antique tea cups. And I’ll don my apron and sweat in the kitchen in great anticipation of the laugh-until-you-cry moments as
28 SOUTHERN WOMAN
W I T H
T H E
W E L L
Y O U
my dearest friends sit around my dining room table while our children play their little hearts out. I love moments like this, whether sitting around my dining table with my best girls or with my sweet family. And while I love the Southern life, I’m rocking the boat with healthy recipes, meditation in the side yard, and seeing to the wellness of myself and those around me. I’m a nutritionist where I run a nutrition coaching business, a Reiki Master and a health and wellness business. I love what I do and have a passion for helping others, whether it’s with nutrition, healing from an ailment or trauma, or with a change of mindset. I am a true believer in the mindbody connection. I believe that everything we eat has the power to fuel our body for its greater good or to send us into a downward spiral in which we lose our connection to the world and all its beauty.I believe nutrition is more
than just what you eat. There is a connection we feel when we choose our foods. If we took the time to till a garden, sow the seeds, water the plants, and harvest our food, then we may have a sense of pride or feel a connection to the world around us when we sit down to our meal. Not only do I love the way foods make me feel—whether it is from the energy they give me or the love I put into making a meal for my tribe—but I also love the connection I feel to the world around me, which is why it is so important to get out and about and explore your surroundings. Go for a hike, walk the dog, get your best girlfriend and put those babies in the stroller and hit the pavement. Not only is this good for your physical body… it is good for you mentally and emotionally. Your physical body craves movement. Those muscles need to be moved and want to be moved. It is what
they were made for. Your mind is also desperate to be exercised. I know how that sounds, but think about it: When you spend time doing something you love, something that makes you happy, endorphins are released. Endorphins are the happy chemicals in the brain, and when you exercise, those little happy chemicals are sent out to help reduce stress and anxiety. Emotionally, a good long talk with your gal pal can help you release all kinds of emotions such as; anger, sadness, frustration and many others. Even walking your dog can help emotionally. My best girl, Socks, is great for when I need an emotional pick me up. She just knows when I need her. You see, if you stop to think about how you eat, when you eat and what you eat, you may start to notice how it can be connected to emotions, how you physically or mentally feel in that moment, or like we do most things in the South, connected to an event of some sort like a bonfire, birthday party, birth, death, and so on. We celebrate everything with some sort of meal, and that’s not a bad thing. It is just how we show we care. Often though, these meals are not the healthiest, and we tend to be gluttonous at times.
I encourage you to stop and look at how you go about your day. Look at what you eat and what your family eats. Start by making small changes like buying fresh fruits or vegetables to go with a meal or to have as a snack. Once that becomes a habit, make another change like adding in healthy protein options like nuts and seeds or peanut or almond butter to go with that apple. Each time you make a change you are setting yourself and your family up to succeed. Next, get outside and play with the kids, go for a walk, go to the park, or take a hike. The more you move, the more they will move and after a while things will become second nature for you. There are so many beautiful things to see and do here in the South. We have some amazing state parks, walking trails, places to hike and climb like Little Rock City in Sand Rock, Alabama. There are some really great farmer’s markets that have some of the most amazing locally grown produce as well as homemade breads and jellies and jams. It’s not just the South that has all the beauty though, all over the U.S. there are some amazing places to visit and see the wonders of this world. I am challenging you to get out and explore and see how you change for the better.
HEALTHY VEGETABLE FRITTATA 1 red onion, chopped 1 red bell pepper, chopped 1 orange bell pepper, chopped 1 yellow bell pepper, chopped 1 small zucchini, chopped 2 cloves garlic, chopped 1 Tbsp. avocado oil kosher salt and black pepper 12 pastured eggs 1/4 cup whole organic milk 2 ounces goat cheese 1/4 cup sliced scallions
Pre-heat oven to 425. Grease a 9x13 baking pan with butter, coconut oil or cooking spray. Place chopped onion, peppers, zucchini, and garlic in a large bowl. Drizzle with avocado oil and season with salt and pepper. Toss everything together and transfer the veggies onto a rimmed baking sheet. Bake for 30 minutes, flipping the vegetables halfway through. Remove veggies from the oven and allow to cool. Reduce cooking temperature to 350. Meanwhile, in a large bowl, whisk together eggs, milk, salt, and pepper. Add cooled veggies to the egg mixture and transfer into prepared pan and top with dots of goats cheese and sliced scallions. Pop in the oven and bake for 30 minutes or until the eggs have puffed up and are set through the center. Enjoy your healthy dish!
March/April 2021 29
HEALTH | WELLNESS
A
J O U R N E Y for
Busy Women
“Self-care is a sacred journey of honoring our bodies, minds, hearts and souls.” ~Annie Singh-Quern
by Annie Singh-Quern
created to empower busy women to embark and embrace a deserved lifestyle of self-care. Designed as an interactive read, it’s a thoughtful compilation of 75 selfcare practices, reflective exercises, and resources, including a self-care calendar and vision board. Recommended practices can be easily attained in and around the home without much cost.
A busy woman spends less than 30 minutes a day caring for herself. This time equates to 75 days over a 10-year period of 3,650 days! Frequently viewed as an indulgence and a privilege, self-care, in reality, is a necessity, and should be a right for women! Busy women’s lives are inundated with numerous roles and activities. Ironically, the fervor of such daily living is usually matched by a deep yearning for serenity and simplicity. We know intuitively that when we pause, we can hear the desires of our hearts and the little voices that speak our truths. Journeying to our cores also allows us to deepen the relationships with ourselves. However, slowing down and staying centered through self-care require persistence, patience, and being present. Journey into Simple Living: Self-Care Practices for Busy Women was
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Some simple ways to embark on a selfcare journey include savoring the sunrise (pg. 3), sipping a healthy tonic of water, honey and lemon (pg. 46), and seeking a leisurely walk (pg. 11). Strolling in silence (without the distraction of electronics) and engaging your senses with the sweet scent of magnolias, the happy hop of a cardinal or the whispering of leaves, are all part of being “in the moment.” Upon arriving home, recapture your nature experience (pg. 12) and treasure a fallen petal off the beaten path as a souvenir (pg. 13). In the middle of a hectic day, retire to your “sweet sanctuary” (pg. 39) for some peace of mind or shed stress away at the end of the day in the warmth of a shower. Whether you’re
indulging in a long walk, disappearing into your sacred space or enjoying a soothing shower, these activities will allow you to relax and recharge to face the next day in a calm and centered manner. The key to a lasting self-care journey is to intentionally choose simple ways to honor your body, mind, heart, and soul. Decide on a practice, schedule it in your calendar for a few days, then introduce another one but continue the first. Regularly folding self-care practices into your daily schedule will also allow you to ease out any negative influences. Accompanying reflective exercises create an additional avenue to connect with your inner self. The self-care vision board will provide a roadmap of your self-care journey. The calendar will help you track your progress. Over time, this simple, intentional living of self-care will flood your hours, days, weeks, months, and decades to create a deserved life of joy, meaning, and peace.
ABOUT THE BOOK AND AUTHOR Journey into Simple Living by Peachtree City author Annie SinghQuern seeks to empower busy women to embrace a simple living lifestyle for deserved joy, meaning, and peace. The book offers a thoughtful compilation of 75 selfcare practices, reflective exercises, and resources, including a self-care calendar and vision board. Annie Singh-Quern is the creator of I AM Phenomenal Woman/Celebrate Greatness, a platform that supports the personal and professional development of women. Here, regularly held pow wows, workshops, and annual events bring women together to communicate, celebrate, and collaborate their intrinsic greatness. Ms. Singh-Quern is the founder and CEO of COA Consulting, LLC, a marketing and communications agency that serves local businesses. The author lives in Peachtree City with her two children and among a tight-knit community of women. To begin your simple living journey, please connect with Annie SinghQuern for personalized autographed copies of Journey into Simple Living and other special offerings (Simple Living workshops, presentations, Coffee with the Author, etc.) at coaconsultingservices.com, annie@anniequernconsult.com or through Facebook.
March/April 2021 31
TRAVEL | CULTURE
Mind Your Manners!
MODERN DAY ETIQUETTE Emily Post might have had the leading edge on etiquette in the 1900s, but in the 21st century, much has changed and so must the rules. Southern Woman spoke with local etiquette coach Margarette Coleman about some new and different rules for modern day etiquette. 32 SOUTHERN WOMAN
Tell us your thoughts about Zoom etiquette: “Now that we’re all forced into Zooming and texting and communicating more virtually than we’re used to, we just do it, and it doesn’t necessarily have rules, or if there are rules, we don’t know what they are,” says Margarette. Determining the level of engagement is one hurdle that many businesspeople, and teachers alike, are facing. Margarette says, “What I’m seeing a lot, especially in young people, is because they don’t feel comfortable they won’t turn on their camera. And people who are in the room don’t know if they’re there or not or if they’re paying attention, and if they are paying attention, what are their reactions like?”
“Some people think of having the camera on as an invasion of privacy since it’s in their personal space,” she adds. In those cases, plan your Zoom call in a space with a blank background or wall, and make sure the space has limited noise distractions. Long story short: Turn on your camera, be presentable, and make eye contact as if you were in the room with your meeting mates!
What about meet and greet etiquette? We’re not really doing handshakes anymore, notes Margarette. So what do you do in place of that? “On the tennis court,” she adds, “we would normally shake hands, but we’re hitting racquets now.” It’s a bit of a discomfort to know what to do when we start seeing each other again. Some people are comfortable with it and some are not. The correct answer is to respect the other’s comfort zone and not push boundaries. Try an elbow bump instead!
Manners are all about viewing things through other people’s perspectives, says Margarette, and understanding that what you’re comfortable with might not be comfortable for someone else. “People don’t know a lot about other people’s situations. We just get what we know from our own families and environments,” she says, “but there’s so much more out there.” Margarette has a background in social work, teaching people life skills and communication, and when her family settled in Newnan, she wanted to start a career to help people overcome their struggles with the goal of bringing back common courtesies, graciousness, and respect. Visit her website, Everyday Manners (myeverydaymanners.co) for more information or to sign up for a class.
Pearls
of wisdom A common courtesy tip from Margar-etiquette on Twitter (@EverydayManners): If you must be attached to your cell phone, please turn it on vibrate when at an event/meeting/meal with others. You can keep it in your lap and discreetly check when necessary. It's disrespectful to others to keep it audible.
March/April 2021 33
TRAVEL | CULTURE
Despite growing up in and living in golf’s home country of Scotland most of her life, Maeve didn’t begin to play the game until she was 30 and decided to join her mom in lessons, where she found she had a natural ability. She played competitively in Scotland for the next 20 years before moving to Peachtree City with her family in 1997 and deciding to pursue a career with the sport. She joined the Professional Golfer’s Association of America on a course in Hilton Head, and discovered she was the only woman there. She passed the course but decided that it wasn’t for her. “I wanted to do the Ladies’ Professional Golf Association, so I contacted the LPGA in Daytona Beach and explained to them that I wanted to become a professional golfer, teaching golf,” she says, so she went through the four-year course of education, playing ability, and teaching skills to earn her certification. “This was a big thing for me, at age 50, to do this.”
WOMEN IN GOLF
A Conversation with LPGA Instructor
MAEVE CROMWELL BY: KIM ANTELL
If you think age 50 is too late in the game to start a new career, think again. Professional golf instructor Maeve Cromwell would be the first to tell you to go for it!
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At the time, she was employed in the shop at Canongate Golf, but moved into a teaching role as the only female in golf instruction throughout the whole of Canongate. When ClubCorp bought the courses, the head office contacted her to speak about women’s golf at a large conference in Monterey, Ca. where she was, once again, the only woman on the panel. “This was just so normal for golf, just sort of steeped in men, but fortunately, things are changing,” she adds.
A
GEORGIA
Tradition
Maeve says that for courses to be more well rounded, “having a female instructor is huge. A lot of women who want to take up golf are faced with only the option of a man who would teach them. As a golf course owner: Employ a female,” she says. “Then you’re going to encourage women.”
Each April, PGA pros and fans descend upon Augusta National Golf Club for the annual Master’s Tournament, one of golf’s most elite events, where the coveted green jacket is bestowed upon the winner.
Maeve has made strides at her home courses including instituting a women’s-only demo day at the club for women to try out golf products created just for them. And she recently won an award for being among the Top 50 Kids Golf Instructors in the country. She has taught hundreds of men, women, and kids over her years as an instructor, including taking players out onto the course for their first round. She wants her students to know all the ropes of the course—how to act and what to do when the ball goes behind a tree, for instance. “It’s all very well having a lesson and standing on the driving range hitting ball after ball, but there’s a lot more to golf than just doing that. You’ve got to get onto the golf course, and be brave, and do it! Get out there!” she says.
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The Master’s is one of the PGA’s four major annual tournaments, kicking off the pro golf season each spring. This year’s tournament is the 85th in history and will be held from April 8–11, hosting 84 players who have been hand selected from the best in the world. With tickets sold out, there is still plenty of opportunity to enjoy the scenery from the comfort of your couch. As the tournament coincides with the blooming of Georgia’s azaleas and rhododendrons set against the pristine fairways and greens, the course is a stunning backdrop for the championship event. Photo Credit: Julie Campbell - Augusta National Golf Course. Masters April 2009. Public License. Flickr.com Find photo at: https://www.flickr.com/photos/click_in_time2009/3680204100/in
March/April 2021 35
FAMILY
SPRING BREAK
BOREDOM BUSTERS BY: EMILY EVANS S P R I N G is here, and with that comes the
urge to get outside! Everything has that new feeling, the days are getting longer, and we are in that happy place of warm days without all the humidity. But there is one time during this season that stands out: Spring Break! Somehow that week is filled with all the promises of summer and long lazy days, but squeezed into the middle of that last push in the school year. So here are 10 fun ideas to help fill that time, both out and about and at home.
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2
FOR GETTING OUT OF THE HOUSE 1
COCHRAN MILL PARK
With four different trails, it is possible to find a hike for every skill level. Some of the park’s best features are its waterfalls. It can feel like you are in the mountains without having to leave South Atlanta! Picnic tables are available for lunching, or take a blanket to eat by the waterfall. This park’s website makes planning your visit easy—check trail statuses, map out which ones you want to hike, and see the weather for the day. Bonus if you have an iPhone: There is an app you can download!
3
FOR STAYING HOME 2
PINE MOUNTAIN AREA
The Pine Mountain area could occupy your whole week with all the fun and interesting things available! Between Callaway Gardens, Wild Animal Safari, and F.D. Roosevelt State Park, you can find something for everyone (not to mention the shopping for mom!). Callaway Gardens offers so many wonderful experiences it could be hard to pick just one: the butterfly pavilion, fishing trips, and the beach make up just a sample of what is offered. Right down the road is F.D. Roosevelt State Park with the Little White House, a museum, and stables that offer horseback riding. And don’t forget the Wild Animal Safari! Noted as the best drive-thru animal park, a visit to Pine Mountain wouldn’t be complete without stopping!
3
FIRE STATION TOUR
The fire stations in Newnan are doing tours! You can call ahead or just stop by to see the fire engines and meet the firefighters. They are allowing children to climb in the trucks, see the equipment and go down the slide. This is a fun and safe activity for kids of all ages, plus they can meet the men and women who help keep our area safe.
4
HORSEBACK RIDING LESSONS
Several stables within a 45-minute drive offer horseback riding lessons, and many offer them for children as young as three! They range in price, but the experience is so fun. Kids learn how to brush a horse, put on the saddle and have a riding lesson. For younger kids, this consists of staying in a pen and mostly riding in circles as the instructor holds the bridle. For older kids, there may be a trail ride, and some allow the horses to get up a gallop depending on age and comfort level.
4
PICKETT'S MILL BATTLEFIELD
This Civil War battlefield located in Dallas, GA, offers a look into the past. Explore trails, walk across battlefields and see what a pioneer cabin would have looked like in the 1800s. There is a museum that is open Friday and Saturday, but the trails are open seven days per week. The State Historic Site’s $5 per car charge includes access to all the trails and playground. Pickett’s Mill is noted as being one of the best preserved battlefields in the nation, so maybe it can double as an educational outing as well!
BUILD A FORT AND CAMP INSIDE
Using as many blankets and pillows as possible, let your kids turn your living room into the biggest fort they can imagine! This is a time-honored tradition that many of you probably remember doing as a kid. Your kids can play inside all day, and then you can let them sleep there that night. This is such a fun way to pass a rainy day, or one that may still be a little too cold to be outside. FLOWER WALK AND CRAFTS
With new blooms popping up, this is a great time to take a flower walk! Have a paper and pencil for your kids to write or draw the new flowers they see when in your yard or neighborhood. Then they can pick a few flowers to use in a craft later. You can let them dry out first or glue them down right away. This can be a fun way to learn the names of different flowers that grow right outside your door! HUNT FOR TREASURE
This is a great activity for kids of all ages! Find a few small toys and hide them around your house. For younger kids, you can verbally tell them clues to help find the treasure, and for older kids, you can write down the clues. If you have an older child who can read and a younger child who isn’t quite there yet, this can be a great way for them to work together! GET CREATIVE IN THE KITCHEN
Kids want to help in the kitchen, so this can be a great time to try something new! Have older kids complete the whole process: Have them help pick out the recipe, go shopping for the ingredients, and then help with all the prep and cooking. For younger children, you can give them two choices and then let them help with the measuring, pouring, and stirring. The whole family can get in on the fun! MAKE AN INDOOR OBSTACLE COURSE
4
5
This one takes the most time, but is so enjoyable in the end. If your kids are older, have them help set it up and be involved in the design (who knows, they may do it all on their own next time), but for younger kids, you may need to do most of the set up. Using objects around your house, make an obstacle course for them to climb, jump, crawl, turn around and walk in funny ways. You may find they want to spend hours just trying to master it or beat their siblings!
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FAMILY
By Dr. Laura Jones
March/April 2021 39
What are the first things I should do knowing that my child has access to the Internet? Set parental controls on devices restricting your child from going to inappropriate areas, and restricting sites from reaching your child by automatically suggesting content that they should view. There are many apps that can help monitor and guide children's online activity. Change the default passwords on devices that connect to the Internet. If a device comes with a generic password, that’s great—it helps you get up and running quickly. Fortunately (and unfortunately) many of those default passwords are listed on the Internet with the device type for the customer’s convenience in case they need them again. While we’re on the topic, don’t forget to change default passwords on Wi-Fi connected printers and routers. Have a conversation about the safety and security rules, and about what to do if something doesn't feel right or seems strange. Make sure the lines of communication are open and that they know who to go to if something bothers them. Set some basic rules or guidelines to share with children. What are the school’s rules about using the school’s devices? What are your home rules? What are children allowed and not allowed to post? Establish rules such as not sharing the Wi-Fi password unless given permission. In the cyber world, knowing your home’s network password is like having a copy of a key to a door. It’s important who that is shared with.
How do parents protect their kids while using school provided devices (both on campus and during online learning)? Don’t let them use school devices for personal use like gaming and going onto social media sites. There are a ton of malicious links out there just waiting to be clicked so that malware can get onto your home network and, in some cases, where adults are working from home, that bad activity can pivot onto the job’s network. Keep school, work, and personal devices separate. Also, be aware of how children feel about being on camera. It may be a “rule” of the school, but is there something in particular that makes the child uncomfortable? They may not want to “invite” others into their home, or maybe it feels a bit like an invasion of privacy. In this case, consider putting up a backdrop, using a virtual background, or turning their desk around so the rest of the room doesn’t show on camera. If children must work in groups or are asked to work together offline for projects, check to be sure that they feel comfortable and there is no cyberbullying taking place. If they are required to be a part of specific groups, use chat areas, etc., speak with them periodically to check on the interactions.
What is the right age to start talking with my child about being online? Once devices are placed into the hands of a child, begin speaking to them about the do’s and don’ts using ageappropriate language. Parents and guardians have long known that children can grasp complex concepts like sports, dance, and music. Yet we tend to hold back from talking to young children about being online. If we allow them to be online, we should make it a priority to speak to them about online safety and security—in an understandable way. Kids are smart, we must keep having the right conversations so they can succeed.
What should my child know about their online activity leaving a “digital footprint”? A digital footprint is the result of any online activity. The activity that took place while on the Internet will live on (somewhere) even if the information is deleted and after they log off the Internet. There is no such thing as completely erasing the history and the activity that took place. You can think about a digital footprint leaving breadcrumbs. Some breadcrumbs might be left on purpose because you meant to fill out a form or perform certain actions. Some of those “breadcrumbs” will be left behind unintentionally, where you may have been just browsing the Internet for example. Examples of a digital footprint can include: Browsing/search history. Even when you use the incognito feature, it’s still traceable. Text messages Pictures, videos and social media posts. Posts that you like, love or comment on also leave digital footprints even if the information is deleted. Children should be careful not to reveal personal information or to say things that could be considered cyberbullying. Older children should understand that what they post may be found later by colleges and employers. In some cases, information posted long ago can be found and made widely available to the public on social media sites (go viral).
Being online offers amazing opportunities to learn, grow, stay connected, and have fun. The Internet and its wonders have become somewhat of a lifeline to children, but we know that their time spent online must be guided and monitored. As we move deeper into the Digital Era, it’s important to continue to provide them with “in-home information” in the form of loving rules. We want to help children succeed by managing the risks of being online using good cyber-safety and cyber security practices. Dr. Laura Jones is known for her thought leadership in managing risk, including cybersecurity and technology. She has developed risk management programs for Fortune 500 companies, the Pentagon, and other large agencies. Having consistently served in newly formed roles throughout her career, she brings a trailblazer perspective to her engagements. Dr. Jones is a military veteran with 21 years of service. She enjoys writing children’s books about using technology and safely spending time online. Check out her book coming soon on Amazon, Cyber Ky & Tekkie Guy Talk About Cyberbullying, and her currently available title, Cyber Ky and Tekkie Guy Manage the Risk of Being Online.
March/April 2021 41
Kitty Yeager is a portrait of what it looks like to grow up Southern. Her manners are impeccable—every question is answered with “yes, ma’am” or “no ma’am.” And riding horses and passion for 4-H are in her blood.
42 SOUTHERN WOMAN
A small-town girl at heart, Kitty appreciates the close-knit feel of her Coweta hometown. She, along with her brothers, Ethan and Nathan, was raised on her family’s small farm just 10 minutes outside of downtown Newnan, and her parents, Ray and Ashley, instilled in her a deep sense of pride and gratitude for her community. “Growing up here, I know Newnan as small-town Newnan,” she says, “and throughout the years it’s grown up a ton. I kind of miss small-town Newnan because everybody knew everybody, and it’s just not like it used to be.” But Newnan will always be home to her, she adds. “I’m not a big-city kind of girl. I don’t like skyscrapers. I like to be able to look out and see far in front of me with not a building in sight.”
Kitty started riding horses at 6 years old...drill team through 4-H, dressage, eventing, cross country, ranch riding, Western pleasure. Through the years, she’s learned nearly every discipline. “Right now I’m doing mounted shooting,” she says. “I just want to be able, when I get older, to know what I want to do and that I’ve already tried everything. Learning all the different disciplines, it really taught me how to ride and how to communicate with other horsemen who have been riding their entire lives.”
That’s why, upon graduating from high school in 2020, she chose to attend Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College (ABAC) in Tifton, Ga. ABAC has the small-town feel she’s comfortable with, with friendly, but few, people. The ambitious Newnan High School graduate completed 42 college credits through dual enrollment with West Georgia Tech and earned several academic scholarships to help her out with her college career. In line with her comfortable country lifestyle, Kitty's major is agriculture with a concentration in animal science. “I’ve always grown up in the ag world, and throughout 4-H, I was a part of the Horse and Pony Club, Forestry and Land Judging. Forestry and Land Judging were really my favorite kind of things,” she says. “I love horses, don’t get me wrong, but it was just normal for me—it was kind of like a lifestyle. And Forestry and Land Judging were something different for me, and I found it really interesting. I just wanted to give back because ag has done so much for me, so I want to be able to give back to that industry and do my part.”
March/April 2021 43
Mounted shooting is as old as the Wild West, but it became a recognized sport in the 1990s when Jim Rodgers started the Cowboy Mounted Shooting Association and held the first competition with only three contestants. It has since turned into a national organization with clubs in nearly every state. “It brings old Western back,” says Kitty. “We use .45 revolvers, and there are shotgun and rifle divisions as well.” While there is a loose dress code of boots, jeans, and cowboy hats, some ladies take it way back and wear long skirts and corsets to compete, Kitty reveals. Ten balloons are set up around an arena which must be shot in a pattern while the horse and rider are timed. They shoot black powder rounds, or blanks, that will burn the balloon when shot within 18 feet. “Nobody’s in danger,” Kitty laughs. “A lot of people ask what we’re actually shooting because it sounds so dangerous.” She’s spent a lot of time training her horse Blaze not to flinch at the shots. “I got him when he was 10 years old and he was wild,” she remembers. “It was mainly about trust. He didn’t trust anybody. He didn’t like anybody. It was about six years that it took me to gain his trust and for him to understand that I wasn’t trying to make him do anything he didn’t want to do, and that he could listen to me without us getting into a fight.” Growing up with a dad who’s the coach of the 4-H shotgun team, Kitty learned to shoot from a young age— pistols, shotguns, bow and arrows, she’s proficient in all. She’s competed with both the shotgun team and the archery team, and her family often shoots rounds at Blalock Lakes in Newnan on the weekends. “It’s just fun for us...good family competition,” she adds. March/April 2021 45
Kitty joined 4-H when she started riding horses, and it’s one of the most important parts of her life. “4-H is home,” she says. “It holds a really special place in my heart. I met a lot of my closest friends and lifelong friends there. It’s taught me so much throughout the years about who I want to be, and it’s shaped me into the person I am today.” The best part for her as she got older was being able to see younger kids come in. “I was able to see younger kids come in and grow up as I did. It was a family kind of thing. The 4-H fairgrounds on Pine Road was home away from home. I think I spent more time at the fairgrounds than I did at home.” Kitty remembers being afraid of horses early on, but her mom, who’s also very involved in the program, pushed her in that direction, and she was hooked once she joined the Horse and Pony Club. She credits her instructor, Angela Dennis, for keeping her going. “She was who grabbed me and pulled me in and said ‘You’re home now.’” Other leaders like Don Morris who coached the land judging and forestry teams also made 4-H special for Kitty. “Not only do they teach you what you need to know for the club, but they teach you life lessons,” she adds. 4-H is all about volunteering, says Kitty, and giving back to the community. “We take things for granted every day, and you don’t realize until you’re doing it for somebody who doesn’t have that opportunity or that privilege, and just to see them glow and appreciate it, then you really appreciate it even more.” Working hard and not being scared of getting her hands dirty, along with doing what she can for other people, are of utmost importance to Kitty. “If you’re there for somebody, they’re going to be there for you,” she says. “You just never know when you’re going to need them.” “A huge thing in my everyday life is religion,” adds Kitty. “I may not go to church every Sunday, but Christianity is my foundation. Praying gets me through every day. Praying before every meal and before bed. Going to God with everything is a huge part of my life. That’s how Mama and Daddy raised us—that you lean on God. You trust that everything is in his hands and that he’s going to take care of you.” “Grace,” Kitty says, is the foundation of growing up Southern. “Be friendly, kind, and go through every day like it's your last. I don’t burn bridges. I try to be nice to everybody and to try to handle things civilly. Sometimes I don’t do a very good job at it, but I always try my best.”
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March/April 2021 47
REACHING
y k S
for the
What Dreams Are Made Of
By: Kim Antell Deena Seckinger grew up in a Delta Air Lines family, traveling the world as a passenger, but it wasn’t until she was 10 years old and her dad gave her an experience that lit a fire inside that she had any interest in actually flying the plane. “My dad was absolutely without a doubt my best friend my whole life,” she says. “He always wanted me to get into flying and he’d take me out to the airport and we’d watch the airplanes, and I couldn’t have cared less about it. Even being in the back of airplanes, going on trips, it was just never a thing for me. When I was 10 years old, he took me into a Delta simulator, and I actually got to fly the simulator.” It was the moment that changed everything for her. “I looked at my dad and said, ‘This is what I’m going to do for my job. I’m going to fly airplanes for my job!” With more determination than most, Deena started lessons at 15, soloed her first flight at 16, and got her license at 17 at Berry Hill Airport in Stockbridge. 48 SOUTHERN WOMAN
After graduating from high school, Deena moved to Sanford, Florida, to attend flight school at Airline Aviation Academy which was owned by a Delta captain. “I thought, well this is my ticket. If I go here, he’ll train me the way Delta wants people, and Delta will hire me.” “That’s all I ever wanted was to fly for Delta, specifically,” she adds. “I thought Delta was the most amazing thing in the world. The pilots looked so cool! They had the double breasted suit jacket and the hat, and they always looked so sharp! The paint scheme was so cool, and they had all the best airplanes. My dad worked there and he was in one of their commercials, so in my mind, as a little kid, my dad was basically a movie star,” she laughs. Deena was in a six-month accelerated program at the flight school, received multiple ratings— everything she was capable of earning at her age—and began teaching others to fly by the time she was just 18 years old.
The only thing missing was her college degree, a requirement for Delta pilots. She came home to Georgia to earn her associate’s degree in marketing from Clayton State College and her bachelor’s degree in marketing from Georgia State University. Meanwhile, she continued to build flight time. Upon college graduation, the economy had hit a major downturn, and Deena found it was a difficult time to get a job. She kept up with instructing, ferrying airplanes, flying corporate, charter, and sightseeing flights out of Falcon Field and DeKalb Peachtree airports, among others. And eventually, Deena was hired to fly a commuter plane for Northwest Airlines/Express Airlines as a First Officer on the Jetstream 3100 (a 19-seat turboprop based in Hattiesburg, Mississippi) and flew for them for three and a half years, before landing her dream job with Delta in 1999. She was hired as Flight Engineer on the Boeing 727 flying out of New York—a flight engineer, or second officer, is a pilot who is not in a flight seat and handles all of the airline systems and administrative duties. “It was absolutely amazing. It was just surreal,” says Deena about being hired on. “I always knew I wanted to fly for Delta, and I always knew it would be great, but until you actually get there, you have no idea how amazing it is.” “There is an absolute freedom that comes from breaking the bonds of earth and becoming airborne,” she says. In the cockpit, you hear “V1” and the decision is made to take off. “It’s like Christmas Eve with the anticipation. Then you hear ‘rotate’ and you ease back on those controls and you take this powerful machine off the surface of the earth and go airborne with it, and it’s just miraculous.”
By 2015, Deena worked her way up to being a Captain on the 737. But within the year, she developed a problem with her vision that grounded her for 26 months while doctors worked tirelessly to discover the cause and get her back in the air. She encountered several misdiagnoses, but wouldn’t give up. The Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville finally discovered that Deena had a magnesium deficiency that was the root of the problem. “They had a fantastic team down there,” she says. “They understood that not flying again was not going to be an option for me. I was only 45, too late to start another career, and there was nothing else in the world that I wanted to do.” “I took a hard look at what it was about flying (aside from the actual flying) that meant so much to me,” she remembers, “and the answer was simply that I love connecting people, helping people, being a factor in making a difference in people's lives especially when they never know it was me that did it. I love that I carry servicemen and women home to their families at the holidays or on various leaves. I love that I deliver children to visit grandparents on the other side of the country. While it breaks my heart to ever return a soldier to lay to rest, I take great joy in knowing that we do provide that service, and we give great comfort to their family and friends knowing they are cared for the entire journey.”
In her down time, Deena made the best use of her time helping others. “I was still at a loss for this other hole in my life. When I realized that being of service was and is an integral part of who I am, I began volunteering and filling my life with behind-thescenes work for others. Bloom was a huge part of making me feel whole, and I spent many hours volunteering in the Bloom Closet. I also taught classes at the women's day shelter in Atlanta to aid women who had become homeless. I taught on Mondays for a year and had wonderful experiences learning from those women.” 50 SOUTHERN WOMAN
Deena returned to work in 2018 as the First Officer on the Boeing 737 and began supporting others who were following the same dream she had. “I extended my gratitude to the skies and have given thousands of dollars annually to help other pilots follow their dreams. Often, those scholarships are based on not giving up or conquering fear because in the essays those pilots submit, they also get the opportunity I had when I was on disability—the opportunity to reflect on where I'd been, where I was, and where I was going all by boiling down what was core to my being.”
Deena’s three children, Olivia, Jax and Emily, have been her biggest cheerleaders through it all, she says. “I am grateful that this career has afforded me the opportunity to raise my children unschooled, and they are amazing people you would love to know.”
Deena upgraded to First Officer on the Boeing 767-400 in 2020, flying internationally on one of the largest planes in Delta’s fleet, a wide-body, heavy jet. She hesitated to make the decision, considering instead to wait until her youngest child graduated so she could be home with her for a bit longer. But her daughter encouraged her to take the opportunity.
“I have 15 years, six months, and a few days remaining as an airline pilot,” Deena says, “because the FAA mandates our retirement at age 65. It feels like it will be only moments before I take that retirement flight, and I intend to savor every one of those moments and use them to continue doing what I love while helping others in the process.”
“None of it would ever have been possible without my father's guiding hand and undying support,” she adds. “He thought that the sun came out just for me and the rest of you got to enjoy it.”
March/April 2021 51
The House of Hearts HISTORIC
NEWNAN
JENNI
AND
HOME
BILLY
HORNE
Artist Jenni Horne and her husband Billy are grateful for
Though the footprint of the house more than doubled
living in a main street community, rarely ever getting into
with a major addition in the 1970s, each new owner has
their car on the weekends, choosing instead to walk to a
maintained the history evident in the well-worn original
local coffee shop or market day on the downtown square
floors, front door, and windows of the front rooms. The
a block away, and embracing small-town living to its
home’s original owner, Colonel Brewster, lost his leg
fullest.
during the Civil War and lived his adult life in a wheelchair, so the doorknobs and windows of the
The heart-embellished railing that skirts the front porch
original three rooms were set lower than usual to
of their historic Newnan home is a reminder of the love
accommodate his reach, and the doorways are extra
and healing their home has provided for their family of
wide compared to other homes built in the era.
four. With its view of the courthouse clock tower and the neighboring Central Baptist Church on West Broad
And through the years, each new owner has put their
Street, the circa-1860 house has been home to only four
own personal touches on the home, making it a walk
families in its 160 years of life.
through local time and history.
52 SOUTHERN WOMAN
OF
The fireplaces in the home’s three original rooms were boarded up when Jenni moved in. Her family had an adventure uncovering them, hoping to find “buried treasure.” Unusable and unvented in their current state, Jenni brought them to life in a different way with her own original art and treasures.
With the house's addition in the 1970s, a large kitchen fireplace with a hearth was added. Jenni limewashed the brown brick and styled the mantle with her collection of rustic blue pottery and
In the dining room, which serves as Jenni’s art studio, an original fireplace is flanked by the “ghost closet,” a quirky nickname the family gave the home’s only original closet with a pint-size door. The authentic hardware is still in place—just a simple latch and lock.
natural materials. She decorates every space in her home in layers, with every piece she adds having a meaning.
March/April 2021 53
One of Jenni’s first projects in her home was renovating an old carport into a fun and funky outdoor living
Every home Jenni has lived in has a haint
room. Lacking a backyard, she created a floral haven great for entertaining and relaxing.
blue door, a Southern tradition of painting a door blue to keep bad spirits away. This back door is embellished with a brass knocker boasting the Brewster name and an antique dinner bell, along with the Horne name in metal letters above.
A chippy cast iron tub nestled at the back of a shade garden along the east side of the house is a perfect spot for potting and washing.
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Charming vignettes are sprinkled throughout Jenni’s home— collections from her kids, Jenni’s original artwork, and purposeful reminders of happy occasions. Birds, in particular, make an appearance in almost every nook and cranny.
When completing the addition, the home was transformed into a shotgun-style, with a clear view from the front door all the way through to the back.
Here, Jenni paints a rendition of her home next to the neighbors’ called “Friends and Neighbors” in her home studio. An art teacher for many years, she finds that she is a much better teacher when she takes the time to hone her skills as an artist. See more of her original artwork at jennihorne.com.
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March/April 2021 57
58 SOUTHERN WOMAN
You may recognize the work of artist Amber Leah Stidham from her massive murals around town. She painted the stunning “Lily” on the side of the Trek building in downtown Newnan, has several colorful walls to her credit in Ashley Park, and was a part of the Forward Warrior street art festival in downtown Atlanta last year. She’s also responsible for the majority of the murals in Junction Lanes in Newnan. A graphic designer for over 20 years in the corporate world, she was left feeling unfulfilled in her job. But when she took a leap of faith and stepped out on her own as an artist, doors began to open for her, artistically and spiritually. Amber’s work is a reflection of her growth, personally and spiritually. “Intuition is really important,” says Amber. “It doesn’t matter what religion or spiritual beliefs you have. I feel like through meditation, I’m able to hone in more on my intuition and knowing what roads to take and knowing what to say no to. Authenticity, not putting
on a mask, and really being myself...I feel like that comes through a spiritual practice, and for me, that’s meditation and reflection. The world can be a scary place if you let it, but really it’s all how you perceive it.” “I find that if I really slow down and step back a little bit, I actually have more time because it’s not so frantic. I feel like my life just kind of fell in place. And I feel like a lot of women have that same issue. I found that meditation and reflection and gratitude for what I have has helped me align myself with where I need to be. I feel like women are connected in that way differently than men,” she adds.
March/April 2021 59
To honor this part of her journey, she chose women of different ages and ethnicities that will be featured in her newest collection at the Cochran Gallery in LaGrange beginning in April. She began by drawing portraits of women and turning those into collages of different mediums built onto a birch panel. All of the women’s faces and bodies are done in graphite to bring awareness to the commonality of being women. Her project, "Reflection of the Soul," is about learning how to appreciate just living and our purpose of just being here and enjoying life. ”I think we put all these pressures on ourselves that aren’t necessary,” she says, “and it’s hard to deprogram yourself from that. I think as we get older we start to see that. If I could have told my 21-year-old self the things I know now, it would have been so much easier!” The women she features in her work are “enjoying their lives and taking care of their bodies and sharing their light with other people,” says Amber. She chooses women who are living their passions. She wants to show snapshots of their lives, and the souls behind the women. One of her subjects is her good friend, Janice, who Amber says is the epitome of holding other women up. “I’ve never heard her say a bad thing to anybody, and she’s just so wise. She would do anything for anybody.” Another woman Amber was drawn to feature is Raven, a young shaman. When Amber spoke to Raven, she revealed to Amber that she had a dream about twin foxes that Amber incorporated into the piece along with her full headdress. “I thought it was really beautiful to show her inner strength that way,” she says.
60 SOUTHERN WOMAN
Her inspiration comes from the women in her life now who are her support system, as well as the ones who have come before—her mother, her sisters, her grandmothers, and great-grandmothers—and she has added into the collection a few portraits of these women to pay tribute. “I see myself through them,” she says. “My Grandma Brown...I was with her a lot when I was little, and she was always such a rock. I constantly think of her anytime I have issues, and I just felt that she needed to be at the front of the show. I have one of my mom and my sister as well.” Amber’s main source of income as an artist, and a spiritual release as well, is her commision-based work, painting extensive murals within people’s homes and businesses. “I love the process of it, sitting down and designing something for a client. Everything is from scratch. It’s really rewarding to see other people enjoy your art on a bigger scale.” She started her company, Empire Murals, four years ago after helping her husband with some art projects of his own. “I’ve always been drawn to graffiti art, and would go on graffiti hunts in L.A. and Atlanta, and looked up to those artists that got to do that. So I decided I wanted to do that for a living!” For her new collection, Amber is taking a more stylistic approach where she works in a collage of mediums—graphite, acrylic, using spray guns, and wood—to create her pieces. Her show opens Friday, April 9 at the Cochran Gallery, 4 East LaGrange Street, LaGrange (mask required). View more of her private commissions, murals, and more on her website (amberleahart.com) and on her Instagram page (@leah.art.create). By: Kim Antell
March/April 2021 61
FOOD
tirring THE POT
S
WITH
carlett
COUNTRY FRIED PICNIC
Hallelujah, spring is finally here! I learned to be a lot more flexible years ago as my family got larger and, now, as the grandkids have gotten older. For several years now, we’ve been getting together for an Easter
62 SOUTHERN WOMAN
picnic dinner at the park. It works out well as no one has to rush after church to try to make it to several different family gatherings! Like I said, the kids are older—way past the egg-hunting age—so we have an egg toss! We pair up by drawing numbers then get in two lines and start tossing the eggs, taking a step back with each toss. You toss until you drop the egg, and the last pair with an unbroken egg is the winner! And of course, I have a prize for the winning team. We also play a game of kickball—yes, all of us play, and we all get very serious playing kickball! I made the mistake of bringing cold fried chicken to a picnic years ago, so now it’s requested! No, you don’t want to fix this all the time but what’s a Southern picnic without fried chicken? If you don’t have a cast iron skillet, go on and make that purchase; it’ll be one of the best buys you ever make for your kitchen. And of course, cold salads are a mainstay at any picnic. Here are a few of our favorite dishes for a picnic, and the great thing is, all of them can be made the day before!
SHOPPING LIST
Chicken All-purpose flour Buttermilk 1 can wax beans 1 can red kidney beans 1 can sliced green beans 1 can lima beans Red wine vinegar Vegetable or canola oil Red onion
Green bell pepper Sweet pickle relish Eggs Mayonnaise Dijon mustard Cayenne pepper Paprika Beau Monte Garlic powder Onion powder
Celery seed Butter Cornstarch Vanilla Cream cheese Marshmallow cream Grapes Strawberries Blueberries Blackberries
March/April 2021 63
BERRY CRUMB CAKES (makes 24 cakes) Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.
2 cups fresh or frozen blueberries 2 cups fresh or frozen blackberries 1 tsp. vanilla Heaping Tbsp. cornstarch (If you use fresh berries add 1 Tbsp. water.) Toss together and set aside. 3 cups all-purpose flour 1 tsp. baking powder 1/2 tsp. salt 2 sticks cold butter 1 egg 1 cup sugar
64 SOUTHERN WOMAN
Mix all together with a pastry blender, or I use my hands. Mix till pea-size crumbs form. You do not want it to be smooth. Line two 12-count cupcake pans. Place about 2 heaping tablespoons of crumbs in each paper liner and press down, saving almost half of the crumb mixture for the top. Fill each with fruit, then top with the remaining crumb mixture. Bake about 30-35 minutes, until the top is a little brown. Let cool.
QUICK FRUIT DIP
1 8 oz. package cream cheese, softened 1 small jar marshmallow cream Mix in a medium size bowl with a mixer for about two minutes till smooth and creamy. Cover and store in the refrigerator until ready to use. Serve with fruit of your choice. It goes really well with a sliced Granny Smith apple!
Pearls
of wisdom
Don't have marshmallow cream? Heat 16 large or 160 miniature marshmallows plus 2 teaspoons of corn syrup in the top of a double boiler and stir until the mixture is smooth.
FOUR BEAN SALAD 1 can large red kidney beans, rinsed 1 can yellow/wax beans 1 can sliced green beans 1 can lima beans, rinsed 1 green bell pepper, sliced into strips 1 small red onion, sliced into thin strips Place all in a large bowl. 3/4 cup sugar 2/3 cup red wine vinegar 1/3 cup oil 1 tsp. salt 1 tsp. pepper Mix together well. Pour over vegetables and stir with a wooden spoon. Refrigerate overnight, stirring a few times.
Pearls
of wisdom
It has nothing to do with the devil! A food is deemed "deviled" when it is spicy or prepared with mustard. Beau WHAT seasoning? Beau Monde seasoning is a mixture of salt, onion powder, and celery powder. Some versions include additional ingredients such as garlic, clove, bay leaf, nutmeg, allspice, mace, and others.
DOUBLE CRUSTED COLD FRIED CHICKEN You will need a large skillet (a cast iron skillet is best, but use what you have) and 2 cups of vegetable or canola oil for frying. 4 chicken breasts, butterflied and cut into two pieces 1 1/4 cup buttermilk (saving 1/4 cup for later) Put chicken and buttermilk into a large zip lock baggie. Refrigerate at least two hours (overnight is even better).
Heat oil in a skillet to medium-high heat and add chicken, not crowding, frying until nice and brown (about 7 or 8 minutes). Turn heat down to medium turning each piece over and cooking until nice and golden brown again about 6–7 minutes. Place on a wire rack to cool—this will keep the chicken crispy. If you use chicken on the bone, cooking time will be longer. Refrigerate until you’re ready for your picnic.
DEVILED EGGS
3 cups all-purpose flour, divided
6 boiled eggs 1/4 cup mayonnaise 1 tsp. Dijon mustard 2 Tbsp. sweet pickle relish 1/2 tsp. Beau Monde seasoning 1/4 tsp. celery seed 1/8 tsp. cayenne pepper Salt and pepper to taste Paprika
Take chicken out of the refrigerator and coat each piece with seasoning on both sides. Dredge in 1 cup flour, and lay out each piece on a wax paper lined sheet pan.
Slice eggs in half and scoop out yolk into a small bowl, setting egg whites to the side. Combine all ingredients except paprika. Mix well, adding more mayonnaise if it’s too dry.
1 tsp. salt 1 tsp. pepper 1/2 tsp. garlic powder 1/2 tsp. onion powder 1/4 tsp. cayenne pepper 1/2 tsp. paprika Mix all seasonings into a small dish.
Take the other 2 cups of flour and pour about 1/4 cup buttermilk over flour and mix a little. Take one chicken breast at a time, placing in flour/buttermilk mixture and press the flour onto each piece of chicken, and set aside on the sheet pan lined with wax paper.
Fill each egg with a heaping tablespoon of egg yolk mixture, and top with a little sprinkle of paprika. It’s a Southern thing! If you don’t have Beau Monde, it’s ok but it is a great seasoning to have on your shelf!
66 SOUTHERN WOMAN
find out why you can't beat a
dead horse Must be
21
.
and over to enjoy Please drink responsibly
. 17.5%
/
ALC VOL
- 35
.
PROOF Dead Horse Holler Distillery
- 4400
,
,
Ashe Road Bakersfield CA
93313
FOOD
the wonderful world of
68 SOUTHERN WOMAN
Sweet Indulgence! DARK CHOCOLATE is high in antioxidants, fiber, potassium, iron, manganese, copper and magnesium. It may improve your blood flow and lower blood pressure. It is good for your heart, and it It decreases oxidized LDL and can reduce insulin resistance. There is also evidence that it may protect your skin from the sun and improve brain function!
As always, everything is best in MODERATION. While chocolate has numerous benefits, the sugar and calories are not exactly waistline friendly.
Pearls
of wisdom
Chocolate Grows On Trees! Theobroma cacao, also called the cacao tree, is a small (13–26 ft tall) evergreen tree, native to the deep tropical regions of Mesoamerica. Its seeds, cocoa beans, are used to make chocolate liquor, cocoa solids, cocoa butter and chocolate.
Treat Yo'Self! La Madeline au Truffe by Knipschild, named by Forbes as the most expensive chocolate in the world, a single tiny sweet will cost $260 - about $2,600 per pound.
March/April 2021 69
70 SOUTHERN WOMAN
Easy Chocolate Cupcakes
Chocolate Dipped Cake Balls
No-Bake Chocolate Mousse Cakes
PREP 15 MIN
PREP 45 MIN
PREP 1 HOUR
COOK 20 MIN
TOTAL 35 MIN
30 CUPCAKES
COOK 30 MIN
TOTAL 2 HOURS
48 CUPCAKES
COOK 0 MIN
TOTAL 1 HOUR
3-4 MINI CAKES
Brownie Bombs with White Chocolate Sauce PREP 30 MINS
COOK 10 MIN
Cupcakes
Cooking spray
Crust
TOTAL 40 MINS
2 cups granulated sugar
1 box cake mix (any flavor), plus
3 cups ground graham crackers
Brownie Bombs
3/4 cup unsalted butter
1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 3/4 cup + 2 Tbsp all-purpose flour 3/4 cup natural unsweetened cocoa powder
ingredients on box 3/4 cup butter, softened
10 BROWNIE BALLS
1/2 tsp salt
3 cups powdered sugar
Chocolate Mousse
1/2 tsp baking powder
2 tsp baking powder
3 Tbsp heavy cream
.25 oz packet unflavored gelatin powder
1/3 cup oil
1 1/2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 Tbsp water
1/4 cup butter, melted
1 tsp salt
2 cups white chocolate chips
6 oz. whole milk
3/4 cup granulated sugar
2/3 cup canola oil
2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
8 oz. dark chocolate
1/2 cup cocoa powder
1 cup milk
4 Tbsp vegetable oil, divided
4 oz. milk chocolate
1 large egg
16 oz. heavy cream, very cold
2 tsp vanilla extract
Strawberries for garnish
10 milk chocolate truffles
2 large eggs, lightly beaten 2 tsp vanilla extract 1 cup hot water (or hot coffee or 1
PREPARATION Cake Balls
tsp instant coffee dissolved into 1
Preheat oven to 350F and grease a 9 x 13
cup hot water)
dish with cooking spray.
Chocolate Buttercream Frosting
1 cup salted butter softened to room temperature, 2 sticks 4 cups powdered sugar 1/2 cup cocoa powder 1 tsp vanilla extract 3-5 Tbsp milk
Prepare cake mix according to box. Spread batter into prepared dish. Bake approximately 30 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Let cool. Break cake into small crumbs. In a large bowl, beat butter until smooth. Add sugar and beat until combined. Add cream and vanilla, mix until smooth.
PREPARATION Cupcakes
Preheat oven to 350F and line muffin tin with cupcake liners. In large bowl, whisk together sugar, flour,
Stir in canola oil and milk, stirring until combined. Add eggs, one at a time, stirring after each addition. Stir in vanilla extract. Add hot water and stir until the mixture is evenly combined. Batter will be very thin.
paper. Stir cake crumbs into the frosting mixture. Using your hands, form into Tbsp-size balls. Place balls on pan, refrigerate for 1 hour.
Chocolate Coating
In a large bowl, microwave white chocolate and 2 Tbsp oil in 30 second intervals until melted. Repeat for semisweet chocolate. Dip cake balls into melted chocolate, return to sheet and refrigerate for 15 minutes, or until chocolate has hardened.
Fill prepared muffin tin cavities just over 2/3 of the way full and bake at 350F for 18-22 minutes. Allow cupcakes to cool completely before frosting.
Add milk, 1 Tbsp at a time, beating on medium-high speed after each addition for about 15 seconds until desired icing
Chocolate Buttercream Frosting
consistency is reached (the less milk you
In electric mixer, cream butter.
use, the stiffer the frosting will be).
Add sugar, one cup at a time until
Pipe icing on completely cooled cupcakes
completely combined. Stir in cocoa
and add sprinkles (if desired).
powder and then vanilla extract.
Serve and enjoy.
What a show-off!
Crust
Combine ground graham crackers and
8 oz. white chocolate, chopped 1/2 cup half and half or light cream 2 tsp unsalted butter
melted butter until consistently moistened. Pat into 3 or 4 mini springform pans
PREPARATION
(depending on the size of your pans).
Brownie Bombs
Spread evenly across bottom and halfway
Preheat oven to 375F. Line a baking sheet
up sides of each pan.
with parchment paper.
Bake 10 minutes at 350F to set crusts. Set
Whisk together flour, salt, and baking
aside and allow to cool.
powder. Set aside.
Line a baking sheet with parchment
cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
White Chocolate Sauce
PREPARATION
In a separate bowl whisk together oil, Chocolate Mousse
melted butter, sugar, and cocoa powder.
In a small bowl mix gelatin powder and
Add egg and vanilla, mix until combined.
water. Let sit for 5 minutes.
Add flour mixture and mix thoroughly with
In a microwave-safe bowl, combine
spatula.
gelatin and milk. Heat in microwave in 20
Roll dough mixture into 2-inch balls.
second intervals until gelatin is completely
Press a truffle into each ball and form
dissolved. Set aside.
dough around truffle so that it is not
In a separate microwave-safe bowl, melt
exposed. Place balls on parchment paper.
together dark and milk chocolate in the
Bake for 10 minutes or until slightly firm.
microwave in 30 second intervals. Once the mixture is smooth, cool for 5 minutes.
White Chocolate Sauce
Pour warm gelatin mixture into the
In a small pot, heat cream on stove.
chocolate mixture in 3 intervals, mixing
Once it starts to boil, remove from heat
after each addition until the mixture is
and add butter and chocolate.
smooth.
Whisk until smooth.
In a separate bowl, whip the cold heavy
Pour over brownie bombs when serving.
cream to soft peaks. Fold into the chocolate mixture in 3 intervals until
*Store white chocolate sauce in airtight
combined and smooth.
container in refrigerator. Reheat and pour
Pour the chocolate mousse into the
over brownie bombs when served.
crusts. Chill for 4 hours. Garnish with strawberries for serving!
Pick your favorite, make it, take a photo and tag us on Facebook or Instagram for a chance to win a year subscription!
#southernwomanchocolate
March/April 2021 71
TRAVEL | CULTURE
As a photographer, I’ve done a fair amount of traveling in my career and a good portion of it was behind the wheel of an automobile. In the spring of 2013, I loaded up my Dodge Magnum with camera gear, backdrops, stands, grip, wardrobe, and plenty of snacks for a soft start. What better than to reach out to a few people whom I’ve developed friendships with over the years to pitch my concept and ask to be my first subjects? Not unfamiliar with the roadways from South Florida to New York, I headed north and then east toward Long Island’s East End. I throttled up with five subjects in sight within the Tri-State area: a sculptor, a musician, a fishing captain, a racehorse jockey and a photographer, all known and respected within their professions and trades.
Passion THE ROAD LESS TRAVELED BY: William W. Combes
Seven years ago, upon the passing of my parents with whom I was very close, I came up with an idea to honor their memories and broaden my knowledge. This would be a huge undertaking, and unlike anything I had attempted to date, in my career as a professional photographer. My goal was to seek out individuals in all 50 states who are passionate about what they do. This became the Passion America project, making their portraits, then candidly photographing them at what they’re passionate about. 72 SOUTHERN WOMAN
A few weeks later, I returned to home base and spent the summer planning the next phase of this project. It was going to be a doozy, driving from Key West, Florida, to Skagway, Alaska, and returning home. I’ve been blessed to build some wonderful friendships on this amazing journey I call life, and with the aid of a few of them, I was able to get a few more leads for photography. Many subjects were acquired through cold calls. A “cold call” would be pulling into Anytown, U.S.A., toward day’s end and going to their visitor center, chamber of commerce, or diner to explain what I was doing. Eighty percent of the time, I’d have a subject lined up for the next morning! Passion America also came to be out of my love for this country. We hear of the negative within our great nation on a daily basis and it was my goal to seek the positive that is a part of what we are
March/April 2021 73
as a nation to inspire others with the hope that through dedication, all is possible. So many strangers were happy to open their hearts, homes, families, and businesses to be a part of this positive narrative. Two years earlier, I met a wonderful couple in Costa Rica while on vacation, whose home was in Southeast Michigan. While en route northbound for this project, I reached out and not only did we have a delightful visit, but Kristiane introduced me to an amazing woman, Jean Fisher, and her family. Now I’m a bit familiar with farming when it comes to bailing hay and shoveling stalls, but that’s it. The Fisher family is the definition of “the American Farmer,” and I was truly honored to peek inside their lives. It’s something most Americans never get to
"PASSION AMERICA ALSO CAME TO BE OUT OF MY
LOVE FOR THIS COUNTRY."
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see, and likely take for granted. Jean, the mother of ten, all homeschooled and the best behaved and loving children I’ve ever met, is also an award-winning marathon runner. I dare say, she is the glue of her family, too. Upon arriving at the farmhouse, and prior to even being introduced, five-year-old Stella came running to me, throwing her arms around me in the most heartwarming embrace I’ve ever felt! After introductions and explanations of my goals, we got to work, starting in the kitchen (classroom), then out back picking apples—which became a bit awkward when husband Ed came home for lunch from the fields and didn’t know who this strange man was photographing his beloved family, but all was made good quickly. So much so that later that day, I was photographing
Ed and his son harvesting the soybean crops. Samuel, their 16-year-old was kind enough to take me for a few passes on their combine in the soy fields. The following day, I returned to capture the Fisher children working together as a productive team while harvesting pumpkins. Leadership skills were exercised and had been instilled in them by their amazing parents. I learned a great deal in the time spent with the hard-working and loving Fisher family of rural South-Central Michigan: Work together and great things can be achieved. I departed a richer man! Take to the road, see this beautiful country, meet people from different walks of life; doing so enriches yours.
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March/April 2021 75
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Special selections from the Southern Woman team. These are the things giving us all the vibes!
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1 GRAPEVINE BUNNY WREATH by PnP Crafty Creations Handcrafted for indoor or outdoor use. $79.99, etsy.com
2 SHAY’S GEORGIA PEACH SOAP AND LOTION
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A luxurious combination of shea butter, goat milk, and honey. And it’s locally made! Available at Corner Arts Gallery and Studio, Newnan Soap $8, Lotion $14, shaysoaps.com
3 JIM ‘N NICK’S CHEESE BISCUIT MIX Fresh baked biscuits right at home! $3.00, available at Publix and Walmart
4 GEORGIA PEACH COOKIES by Melanie’s Sweets Cookies, cakes, cupcakes, and more! $40/dozen, melbsweet.com
5 BUMBLEBEE PATHWAY STONES Sweeten your garden walkway with these 12”x12” pavers. Also available in butterfly and dragonfly. Available at Mill Pond Gardens, Brooks $9.95, porterfamilynurseries.com
6 ROSE TUMBLER by Coppett Designs Unique t-shirts, tumblers, koozies, decals, keychains. $30, coppettdesigns.com
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Jonathan Wade | Leslie Wade | Stephen Greene
Over 60 Years Combined Experience. Treating Each Case With Personal Attention.
101 Devant Street, Suite 201 | Fayetteville, GA 30214 770.719.9290 | wadelawga.com