"Where Southern Flair
Meets Savoir Faire"©

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Books-Les Livres

In a New York State of Mind

The air is crisp; it's sweater weather; and Thanksgiving is just around the corner. This is the time of year that I miss New York City theTea and Sympathy most. As the city spruces up for the holidays the hustle and bustle on the streets increases, and the air is filled with a happy electricity, a sort of infectious spirit-infused energy that I just cannot describe. I loved spending my weekends roaming the streets of Manhattan at this time of the year, discovering its many charms. For example, one cool fall day, I put on my favorite hat and scarf and traveled down to the Village with my friend Vanessa. First, we enjoyed an English tea at the very famous Tea and Sympathy (110 Greenwich Avenue in the West Village). It's a cozy, eclectic, and completely unpretentious spot with authentic English fare. We were lucky enough to be seated at one of the two window tables. 

Tea and Sympathy

Cookbook shop NYCAfter our warm pots of tea, our finger sandwiches, and our scones with clotted cream, we wandered through the neighborhood's tree-lined streets, exploring the fabulous independent boutiques that sell everything from children's clothes to jewelry to luggage and gifts. Eventually, we stumbled upon Bonnie Slotnick Cookbooks (163 West Tenth Street). This charming little store occupies the first floor of a townhouse. The proprietress, Bonnie, sells antique and vintage cookbooks - everything from 18th-century rarities to replacements for worn-out Betty Crocker cookbooks. We had a great time leisurely browsing her stocked-to-the-ceiling shop where we discovered (and purchased) more than a few gems. I can't walk the streets of New York today, as we call Wilmington 'home' now, but I do think I'll make myself a cup of tea and pull out one of those vintage cookbooks in search of a heart-warming comfort-food recipe.

Cookbooks

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Language as Purty as a Speckled Pup

Land of a Hundred WondersOne of the things I loved about growing up in the South was learning the colorful, poetic expressions and collaquilisms of the dialect.  I still remember sitting in the parlor at Mrs. Hanks' antebellum-style house, listening to her give my mother a recipe for cooking chicken. She ended her instructions by saying: "And I promise you, that chicken will be more tender than a mother’s love."  

That's why I was so delighted to discover Land of a Hundred Wonders by Lesley Kagen. Lesley is not from the South, so you'd think that she'd be crazier than a road-runnin' lizard to attempt to write a book where all of the characters speak "deep countrified South", but she pulls it off brilliantly. I usually read at night, just before bed, when I'm worn to a frazzle after a long day's work. Soakin' up the language in Land of a Hundred Wonders each evening felt like sippin' a cold mint julep on a breezy porch after a day that had been hotter than blue hazes.

Here are a few of my favorite phrases from the book:

If I don'’t get cracking, next week's front page is gonna have all the pizzazz of a piece of one-ply.

See ya in the morning, y'all.  Good willin' and the creek don't rise.

I always feel tail-waggin’'happy upon seeing her.

I suspect the two of them might be having hot sex, which I think doin' before you're married is a lot like eating supper before sayin' grace.

(She) stinks to high heaven in the mothering department.

I swear, you two gals have less sense than a penny!

He's madder than a sprayed roach.

Life sure is unrelentin', ain't it?

(That) boy looks like something the dog's been keepin' under the porch...

Quit hollerin’ like a stuck pig...

Dumber than a stick of chew gum, is what he is.

"How ya been?" "Fine as frog hair."

I'm thanking the Lord in all His glory that we made it this close...

Please accept my deepest apologies for getting ya’ all worked up.

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Juicy Reading

Juicy ReadingOne of the things I love about being in the Ladies Who Launch network is discovering cool people like Kelly Epperson. I saw a post from Kelly on a Ladies Who Launch discussion board, with her intriguing website address underneath her name, http://www.whenlifestinks.com/. Her URL address piqued my curiousty, so I decided to click. I discovered that Kelly is the author of the book When Life Stinks, It's Time to Wash the Gym Clothes. She offers a sneak preview of the book, an excerpt called: The Message Is: 'Look at My Butt'. Since I hail from a family of booty-licious women (we all carry lots of junk in our trunks), I just had to take a look. In fact, for years, I've owned a magnet with a black and white image of a wholesome fifties school girl kneeling in her pajamas at her bedside. She is saying her nightly prayers, and her thought bubble reads: "Dear God, Thank you for the nice face, but the fat ass has got to go!" Here is the beginning of Kelly's essay:

The Message Is: "Look At My Butt"

They're everywhere. I thought it was a passing fad, but this fashion statement is sticking around. Teenage girls wear sweat pants with words emblazoned across the rear end. No matter the word, "Cute," "UCLA," or "Pinch Me," the real message is "look at my butt."
I shake my head with envy. Do it while you can, girls.
My fashion consultants, my boys, tell me I could wear sweats like that. "BIG" or "WIDE LOAD" tickle their fancy. They think "Danger: Hazardous Gas" would be hilarious. I think "Made You Look" would be clever.
As women age, more words fit on the gluteus maximus. The classic, "Does this make my butt look fat?" could be popular. Depending upon my mood, I'd wear "Yeah, baby, I still got it,: or :Thanks! No one has checked out my butt since 8th grade."

To read the rest of Kelly's hilarious writing on this topic, click here. And stay tuned for our next South 'n France newsletter where you'll have the opportunity to win a copy of Kelly's book! To sign up for our South 'n France newsletters, follow this link.

When Life Stinks book

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You Found Waldo, But Where’s Charlene?

Where's Waldo?Remember the "Where’s Waldo" craze of the early 90's? In the spirit of that game, we've got a South 'n France-inspired challenge for you.

1. Visit your local bookstore.
2. Grab a copy of Seth Godin's newest book, Tribes.
3. Look at the inside dust jacket of the book.
4. Find this picture The Bon Bon Queen of Charlene, The Bon Bon Queen, in the sea of faces that make up Seth's Tribe.
5. Extra credit: Buy the book and read it.

Seth Godin - Tribes
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The Dinner Party of Questions

Carrie and Danielle


Growing up, whenever I imagined myself as a chic and sophisticated adult, I envisioned lavish dress-up dinner parties and parlor games. I've always held this one particular image of an evening party at a sumptuous table where guests passed around a silver tray of questions written on paper. At dinner, we would read the questions aloud and each person would answer them. This would, of course, spark fascinating conversation, thought-provoking dialogue, and witty repartee as we dined on fine food and sipped red wine. In my fantasy, I was not the hostess of the party, but rather a guest. I have yet to be invited to such a party, so I may just end up hosting one myself. Goodness knows, I'm prepared. Over the years, I've collected quite a few of those books of questions. I own a few of The Book of Questions series by Gregory Stock, and a few books whose titles escape me as I type. I'd also like to own Garry Poole's The Complete Book of Questions: 1001 Conversation Starters for Any Occasion, (his questions look like much better dinner party fare than Stock's which tend to be a bit too heavily focused on ethical and political dilemmas for my taste). But, since I have no plans to host this long-dreamed-of dinner party anytime soon, I cannot bring myself to buy it.  

While I wait for that fabled dinner, I spend a little time each day with two women, whom I believe would make excellent party guests. Their names are Carrie and Danielle. They label themselves as "creative entrepreneurs", and they have designed a very successful business around words. It works like this: you lay out a sizeable chunk of cash, they interview you, they analyze your answers to their questions, and then they create your personal style statement, a two-word mantra that defines your essence and its expression. You can then use your Style Statement as a guiding light in making decisions about everything from your wardrobe to your vocabulary. It's meant to be a touchstone, reminding you of who you are and guiding you as you navigate through life. Being the new age-dreamer that I am, I am ALL over this idea. Therefore, I also fantasize about receiving the gift of a style statement one day! Until then, there's always the book: Style Statement: Live by Your Own Design.  

Carrie and Danielle believe that "being true to your self is all about living the right questions", so they have created a Daily Q&A forum that is a great substitute for the dinner party/salon. Each day, they ask and answer a question, inviting their community of readers (mostly thoughtful and creative international women) to weigh in on everything from spiritual triumphs to wardrobe choices to career struggles.  Their questions are good ones; the answers are even better, and you can subscribe to the daily email for free.

Here are some of my favorite questions asked by Carrie and Danielle in recent months:
What do you secretly desire?
In what way are you delightfully conventional?
What immediately comes to mind when you say the word, bliss?
What kind of award would you like to win?
What would you be doing today if you only had 37 days to live?
What do you collect?
What is the wish behind your biggest complaint?  (I think this question is brilliant; what a great way of looking at complaints!)
What do you want to be thanked for?
What's your best travel tip?
What has been your most significant beginning?
How do you define waste? (I loved Danielle’s answer to this one: Repetitive whining. What a waste of precious energy!)

Here's my question:  Girls, would you like to come to dinner?
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Will Next Season Go to the Dogs?

Tonight is the finale of this season's Project Runway and I'm on pins and needles. As I shared with you a couple of weeks ago, I've been watching each week's episode with friends and I'm completely hooked! Leanne has been my favorite designer from the first episode, but I'm happy to see Korto and Kenley in the final three. No one is more surprised then me that I'm actually pleased to see Kenley competing in the finale. For weeks, I railed at Kenley's whiny voice, ingratiating laugh and bad attitude. I was so appalled by her disrespectful back-talking to Tim Gunn and the panel of judges that I couldn't focus on her talent. But in last week's episode, she converted me with her bridal gown and bridesmaid dress.  

Project Runway is always encouraging its designers to use original materials (like fresh produce, shower curtains and auto parts) in their designs. Then again, sometimes Tim Gunn discourages unusual materials. Remember last season when Chris studded his runway collection with human hair? And just last week, Tim advised Kenley to steer clear of rope as an accessory, but he applauded her feather-inspired bridal gown. I also thought it was pure genius until Michael Kors called Kenley out on heavily borrowing her inspiration from designer Alexander McQueen’s fall 2008 collection show in Paris earlier this year. What do you think?  

Did Kenley 'steal' her inspiration?

Knitting with Dog HairWe've yet to see a designer incorporate dog hair into a collection, but there's always next season. Take a look at these trendsetters who are already sporting fashion designs made from their dogs' hair! You can even buy a book on the subject entitled: Knitting With Dog Hair: Better A Sweater From A Dog You Know and Love Than From A Sheep You'll Never Meet.







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Clients Weigh In On Bon Bon Calories


A gourmet who thinks of calories is like a tart who looks at her watch.
-James Beard

Last week, we released the caloric content of our bon bons. The response from our clients has been so interesting!  We’ve heard everything from:  “No wonder Fudge Brownie is my favorite bon bon flavor—it has the most calories (140)!” to this, our favorite response:

OK.  So I appreciate your responding to your customer’s inquiries about caloric intake but SERIOUSLY, they are SO GOOD, WHO CARES??!!!!!!!    I say: ‘If you watch your calories on your main meals (take the time to make a yummy salad or yummy lean dish as opposed to grabbing fast food), then desert is where you SPLURGE!!!’  Ah, I should have been a nutritionist.
 

Peace and MUCH Bon Bon love from your Bon Bon eating (with no shame or counting) fitness fanatic friend,
Caroline

It’s true that we do have many clients who are “fitness fanatics”, including several fitness instructors and a dietician. Why?  We believe it stems from the concept that “there ain’t nothing like the real thing” when it comes to being fully sated. Because we make our bon bons the old fashioned way with real ingredients, they are delicious and satisfying. You really can eat just one. In fact, not so long ago a customer called to place an order because “she was going on a diet”. She explained that although she intended to lose weight, she did not intend to give up chocolate; therefore, she was ordering “the best”. She planned to store the bon bons in her freezer and eat one whenever she craved something chocolate-y and sweet. 
This philosophy is right in line with that of Mireille Guillano, author of French Women Don’t Get Fat. Her book addresses The French Paradox, their ability to eat good food, drink fine wine, and remain slim and healthy. Guillano attributes the French women's penchant for slimness to their attitude toward food, a focus on the best and freshest ingredients consumed in moderation, and frequent, brisk walking. Her message is: “Be good to yourself, be good to your body, and enjoy!” 

As for chocolate, she is a big fan. Guillano advises us to relish the experience of eating chocolate. Take small bites. With each bite, take a moment to hold the chocolate in your mouth so you can savor the flavors and their nuances. When you allow yourself the pleasure of fully enjoying the experience (French women eschew all guilt around eating), just one piece of chocolate will feel like so much more. Oh, and Caroline, you’re right. There's hardly a mention of calories in the entire book.
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Literary Castaway

Cast Away Yesterday, I wrote about Pascal's favorite movie, Alexandre le Bienheureux. It seems that my husband likes every story where the man gets to be "left alone". Another favorite is the movie Cast Away. Pascal says that it's one of his lifelong dreams to live on a private, deserted island. One Frenchman's heaven is another Bon Bon Queen's hell. I prefer not to imagine going more than 24 hours without things like hot water, electricity, down comforters, refrigerators, and books. The closest I would ever want to come living the deserted-island lifestyle would be a role as Ginger, the movie star, in a Broadway production of Gilligan's Island: The Musical.

On Monday I mentioned Mama Gena's School of Womanly Arts: Using the Power of Pleasure to Have Your Way with the World. I said that it would be one of the ten books I would take with me if indeed I did have to go live on a deserted island. If I were packing for that fated trip today, here are a few other titles I'd take along:

Cork Boat: I love this inspiring true story of how John Pollack, a former Clinton speechwriter, pursued his childhood dream of building a boat made entirely of wine corks. It might inspire me to find a creative way to get off the island!

Cork Boat


The Sweet Potato Queens' Book of Love: If I'm going to be stranded on a deserted island (wouldn't it be so much nicer to be stranded on a dessert-ed island?), I'll surely be in dire need of some laugh-out-loud comedy. Any book by Jill Conner Browne always does the trick.

The Sweet Potato Queens' Book of Love


Creating Money, Attracting Abundance: I'm a new-age kind of girl, and one of the most thought-provoking books that lives permanently on my nightstand is Creating Money; Attracting Abundance by Sanaya Roman and Duane Packer. Its about the Law of Attraction and abundant thinking. There is so much depth to this book, I've been studying it for years. Of course, I probably wouldn't need money on a deserted island, but the principles are universal and apply to just about everything. This duo has written other great books like Spiritual Growth: Being Your Higher Self and Living with Joy: Keys to Personal Power and Spiritual Transformation. Since they're all by the same authors, can three titles count as one?

Creating Money


War and Peace: I have yet to read this 1200-page classic "masterpiece" penned by Leo Tolstoy. I suppose I'd have plenty of time to do so on the island. As an added bonus, the book is so big it would come in handy as a footstool.

War and Peace


Gone with the Wind: Of course I have read this classic (required reading for every Southern Belle), but a deserted island might be a good place to re-visit the feisty character of Scarlett O’'Hara. With God as my witness, I'll never spend time on a deserted island again!

Gone with the Wind

I've still got a few more titles before I hit my ten-book limit. And although I have no immediate plans for a retreat to a deserted island, I am looking for a few good titles to read. Any suggestions, dear readers?
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Girls Just Wanna Have Fun!

If you're a regular reader of this blog, you'll remember the Audrey Hepburn-inspired book signing we hosted recently in honor of Karen Quinn's latest novel Holly Would Dream.

Well, not only does Karen have a way with words, she's also great on video. Check out this fun video montage filled with fabulous, sassy real-life Audreys. It was created during her New York City book reading.



Karen's not the only author featured in the video. The woman who says she read Holly Would Dream in the bathroom and on the subway is Regena Thomashauer, author of numerous books including, Mama Gena's School of Womanly Arts: Using the Power of Pleasure To Have Your Way with the World.


Mama Gena's School of Womanly Arts


This book changed my outlook on the world (and is also responsible for bringing me and Karen together). As evidenced by the more than fifty reviews on amazon.com, you'll either love it or you'll hate it. As for me, if I had to go live on a deserted island and I could only take ten books with me, this would be one of them!
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1928 Versus 2008

One of my most prized possessions is a journal I found at a yard sale, written by a farm woman in 1928. I first wrote about her on this blog almost a year and a half ago.

I keep this 80-year-old gem of a journal on the edge of my bookshelf, and from time to time, I like to open it to the day of the year that corresponds with whatever day I happen to be living. It's always interesting to see how my old friend's life compares with my own.  

Old journal


July 27, 1928: Cloudy. Began to rain about 10-o'clock. Made pie this morning & worked out in the garden a while. Will cultivated the corn and asparagus bed. This afternoon I went to Mrs. Brieri's to see about weaving a rug.

July 27, 2008: 90-degree weather and scattered thunderstorms. Ate a few of the leftover petit fours I made yesterday (they were a hit at last night's dinner party!), while Pascal worked in his flower garden. We'll eat corn in our Nicoise salad for dinner tonight, but it probably came from an industrial farm fifteen hundred miles away, certainly not from our garden. This afternoon I took a nap after cleaning house, which included vacuuming the synthetic rug I paid too much for when I bought it at Lowe's.

They say beauty is in the eye of the beholder; I'd venture to say that progress is too...

Old journal

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