We're too young to think colanders are exciting.

Welcome to (some semblance of) fame.

Bec, Em, Care--you asked for a shout-out on the blog. So attention everyone, these girls rule. And acting like we're still 17-years-old and in our prime, giggling away at "our" table in the Trinity lunch room everyday kinda makes my life.

It sure made Brittany's kitchen bridal shower even more fun today. I am beginning to see the allure of selecting stemware.

Get up, Alpha Delta Pi.

God's Architects

Eccentric artists and their creations fascinate me. Take 4 of such Southern artists and feature them in a documentary, and you can save me a seat/bag of Sour Patch Kids. LSU film professor Zachary Godshall's film God's Architects will be on tour across the South, click for a full schedule.

Work ofVicksburg artist Reverend H. D. Dennis. Photos courtesy of God's Architects.

p.s. There is a Southern Arts Federation? No one told me this? Welp, that's another one for the post-grad-job-search list.

Sometimes, I'm SUCH a girl.

Uh, yeah. My BFF's and I have annual photoshoots. We may or may not be infamous (famous?) in Montgomery for this.

For about a week, the scent of flowers has started midway up the staircase, snaking downward from my room. Despite the rather bizarre aroma-limbo caused by intermixing with the downstairs Christmas tree/cinnamon/yuletide scent, it been most enjoyable. I have become rather attached to a room harboring five arrangements.

Sidenote: Flowers are the way to my heart for the following reasons.

1. They're a blessing God didn't have to make gorgeous but He did.

2. They don't last forever (Thus keeping with my newly adopted You-Only-Live-Once [YOLO] mantra).

Alas. That is, I was attached until they died today.

So with the girliest-girl, domesticated notion in me I promptly went outside and hacked away at mother's camellia bushes and climbing roses until I created this beauty. Now, with my quality of life enhanced, I can ignore my next two story deadlines for a moment and read the January Southern Living that arrived today.

Though I really should sign up for one of those flower arrangement classes.

Happy 70th, Gone with the Wind!

This is one of my favorite parts. Work it, baby.

Gone With the Wind was released 70 years ago today! And let's be honest: She's flighty, difficult, and conniving--but somehow as little Southern girls, we grew up wanting a bit of Scarlett O'Hara in us. It's something about those green eyes, charm, wit, and sheer strength.

A recent conversation with my bestie Sloan:

Me: I mean, Slo, I feel kinda bad saying this, but I kinda want to be Scarlett O'Hara. That's so bad. She's horrible half the time. She flings herself at men.

Sloan: Ash baby, who do you think has been one of my role models since I was in grade school? Who revived Tara all by herself? It's okay, Ash. Me too. I love her.

Ah, so this is why we have BFFs. With my feelings justified and brains fresh from finals week, I decided I could ace this little test. How well can you do on this Real or Fake Scarlett O'Hara Quote quiz?

Report back with your score!

Traditional State Discount

Photo courtesy of Traditional State.

I declare, Harper Lee the Boykin NEEDS this collar around her precious little duck-carryin', curly-haired, bark-collar-wearin'-when-she's-rowdy neck. She's just like me, a born and bred Alabama girl. However, she is the favorite child.

Traditional State: Fratty flag belts and dog collars declare the Southern states loud and proud. Use the 25% off code from now until Christmas. Enter "christmas09" in the Apply Promo Code box. That brings that belt to about $22, and the collar to about $20 give-or-take. Mason reminded me to tell y'all to order by FRIDAY for Christmas Eve delivery.

I can think of a beau two that would look good in that belt. And I also know a couple of fratastic bird dogs that would rock that collar. Keep it up, Mason!

What do y'all think about Traditional State?

p.s. This is Harper on Easter, just in case you needed a visual. This is also a calm state.

Belle 'Til the End of the Ball

You, too, can look this perky at 1 a.m. Photo courtesy of New York Sun.

Christmas cocktails, debutante balls, and not to mention a certain stroke of midnight--one peek in the calendar shows you've got a lot of socialitin' to do this season. Follow these makeup tips from Amy Head Cosmetics, so that the batting eyelashes and lipstick that smiled back in the mirror at 5 p.m. are still stealing hearts at midnight...

Finish reading my story on MyScoop.

On Being a Debutante

2 cousins in gorgeous dresses and bouquets.

1 entire side of our extended family.

18 of my best friends in the world.

1 good band.

1 pretty wonderful hometown.

Yup--safe to say the weekend was literally a whirlwind ball.

aaaaaaa

Clockwise: The Samford crew, my cousin and I looking at our grandmother's queen portrait, and how gorgeous are my best friends in the world?

Implied Powers

Blue, Blue, and Brown by Mark Rothko.

“I must study politics and war, that my sons may have the liberty to study mathematics and philosophy, natural history and naval architecture, in order to give their children a right to study painting, poetry, music, architecture, tapestry, and porcelain.”

- John Adams

As I prep for my American Politics exam, I found a little inspiration at The Birmingham Museum of art in quote splashed across a wall. I must say I rather like studying the last batch of disciplines most of all. Thank you, John. And thank you, dear ancestors.

Sidenote: Just the quote as at the museum. Not the Rothko.

Style Rookie

Photo courtesy of The JC.

She's 13. She also has more style in her miniature blogging pinky finger than I've attained at age 21. And instead of being perturbed, like the Vogue editors, I'm enthralled. If you haven't caught on to the buzz yet, I do declare, you should start now...

When Hippies Roamed Atlanta

Atlanta's Piedmont Park enjoyed hippie culture. Photo courtesy of Boyd Lewis.

If you're a Georgia Peach, this article is a must read. Because we've all got a trippy playlist on our iPod, a poster of John Lennon from the college dorm room, and a baja hoodie. (Er, maybe the last one is just me.)

Continue reading on Like The Dew.

Dixie's Heart

I'm one of those types: home's never gonna be anywhere but little Montgomery (Even when I have my loft in the city.) Doing senior thesis research in De Bow's Review, an antebellum journal, I couldn't help but smile when my hometown was mentioned. Here's to hometowns!

"The capitol is located on elevated ground on Capitol Hill. The view from the upper part of the building is very extensive over the surrounding country."

(Still is, and Jeff Davis's house is in it's shadow.)

"There are many handsome private residences, built of brick, and several of them very expensive and magnificent."

(I gotta say I wish more had been preserved...)

"In this capital there are three newspaper establishments, The Montgomery Advertiser, The Confederation, and The Montgomery Mail, whose editors are scholars, and obliging gentlemen."

(Well, well, well, if journalistic traits are still in the water, I hope I drank enough.)

"The inhabitants of this metropolis, as well as of the whole state are citizens of liberal, hospital, intelligent, and obliging character..."

(I like to think they still are.)

Take the stress away, Johnny boy.

✓ Senior thesis submission and presentation

✓ History of Art, Architecture & Design III exam

__ Mass Media Law exam

__ American Politics exam

After today, my eyes are a little more squinty, thoughts a little fuzzier, and brain a smidge more exhausted. But with my new found study buddy, Lala.com, I'm hanging in there. It's like Pandora except get this--you PICK what song comes next. Genius, eh?

Current playlist:

*DISCLAIMER: I have a huge thing for covers.

Assassin - John Mayer

Half of My Heart - John Mayer

Forever and Always (Piano version) - Taylor Swift

Whatever You Like - Anya Marina

Such Great Heights - Act of Congress

She Knows Her Way Around - Act of Congress

Breakeven - The Script

Man that Can't Be Moved - The Script

Before the Worst - The Script

Hey Soul Sister - Train

Cousins - Vampire Weekend

Gather the Horses - Charlie Mars

Happier - A Fine Frenzy

One Day - Matisyahu

You & Me - Dave Matthews Band

Don't worry Pandora, I'm not cheating on you. I just can't help that I'm controlling and that may not work in our relationship some days.

Dear Mr. Editor...

1 newly-wed couple

Some of her Southern/French traditional style

Some of his more modern taste

1 New York Times makeover

And BAM--you've got this stylish Washington Square Park flat.

Andrew and Elizabeth nabbed hand-me-downs from family and scoured Craigslist for furniture. Of course, it helps when the Times sees your plight and enlists designer Brenden Kwinter-Schwartz to step in.

Just a little inspiration, considering in a few months I just may be decorating my first apartment. Fingers/toes/legs crossed that it's in Manhattan as well. Hey, a girl can dream.

Photos courtesy of The New York Times

A Glad Heart

I came home two days ago worn to the bone. The stress of school (I'm a nerd, i.e. I push myself to the limit), sorority president, and just holding up emotionally has been a little taxing. But God has just taken me under his wing and pointed out all the many blessings I have been given. Once again, I'm floored.

Father, your grace amazes me. We are undeserving of your gifts. We are not entitled. Yet you love us more than infinity. Mrs. Arnold reminds me of this.

And me?

I'm thankful I have a family. A big, fun Southern family. They're loud and yell "War Eagle" a lot, but I wouldn't have it any other way...

I'm thankful my cousin (and those like her) are safe in Afghanistan.

I'm thankful for true friends, and even the journey to find out who they are.

I'm thankful I can think and write, and sometimes still dance.

I'm thankful that this life isn't all there is.

Debs de la Web

Random dep photo courtesy of Flickr.

Deb⋅u⋅tante - (n.) a young woman making a debut into society.

Debs⋅de⋅la⋅Web - (n.) a Monday morning debut of distractions that have successfully kept me from diligent work on my senior thesis and media bias position paper. Dangit.

⋅ The Love List introduces the etiquette-based Sass & Class column. First post? Football game behavior, just in time for rivalry weekend--Weagle.

⋅ MyScoop online magazine caters to "fashionistas with a Southern drawl" and has just expanded into Mississippi!

⋅ Flower Magazine's "What Kind of Flower Are You Quiz" for those of us that didn't grow old of Seventeen quizes. I think I tossed my hair after getting Alabama's state flower--the camellia. Maybe. But as a joke.

⋅ A toungue-in-cheek post by Natalie Davis over at Alabama Political Parlor offers the inside scoop for AL politicos.

⋅ Alabama-based Wrapsody has some fabulous online holiday deals starting this Wednesday:

- 30% off adorable Greek gifts
- 25% off retiring Vera Bradley patterns and free monograming on all Vera
- Free shipping over $100!

In order of stockings: moi, sister, mother. Photos courtesy of Wrapsody.

Aight, your turn. What's distracted you towards a holiday/work-free mindset today?