Northern girls do not put large bows in their daughter's hair. Nor do we curl, tease or grow their hair out to extreme lengths. Nails are best left clipped short with clear polish, and ears are absolutely not pierced until 12. Makeup? On a child. NO WAY. Now I'm not saying my countrymen down south are part of those types of choices. Well, except the hair bow deal. Southern girls love them a big ole bow in the littles hair! Up here, we go for a clip. Cute, but a clip nonetheless. Variety, the spice of the salad bowl (since the melting pot is out).
Scandinavian work ethic, sensible behavior, thoughtfulness and keeping things modest and quiet are watchwords of the north. True north. At least my version of true north (minus all the times I wasn't quiet).
There are aspects of what I refer to as "southern" that I have to say, with all honesty, I covet. Maybe even yearn for. The north could use a bit of gentility from our southern friends on occasion. Some occasions.
Ask my Mom. I am sure she recalls me practicing a southern accent anytime my aunt Marlys visited. Alabama twang. Virginia has its own melody. Ah, so slow and thick, just like their sweet tea.
The accent is a fun accessory. Which leads us to the "sayings". I learned early on that "bless your heart" could actually have two meanings. Not saying anyone ever blessed my heart the second way, however. If your heart has been blessed the second way, keep in mind that it can be said in loving pity, not just righteous scorn. There is power in the rendering of the word "ma'am" when said in southernese. Truly. Attend to the phrase "y'all" sometime, and it is so much nicer than the northern version of "guys". As my aforementioned Mother likes to say, "I am no guy".
All that said, let me take you to the pinacle of southern gentility: the monogram.
Sigh with me.
Does it get any better? A sweet Sunday dress for your little girl, with a personalized letter embroidered in swirling script front and center. Crisp white-linen bedpillows with a soft blue monogram. Starched napkins. Shimmering silver flatware. Monogrammed.
Oh, friends. The loveliness.
Knowing how I covet the monogram, there is something slightly wrong with the fact that both of my daughters have four initials. AEJS and EKYS. Not possible for the traditional three letter monogram.
Whatever. There is nothing wrong with a single initial. Or what about a name? Embroidered Emblazoned front and center on a coming-home dress (for instance).
You see where I am going now, don't you?
I have a friendship with Etsy. If you don't know what Etsy is, you need to click on that link RIGHT NOW. Yep, see you in eight hours.
Recently, two packages arrived at my front door. They are harbingers of travel, and returning home! Both contained goods that perhaps render me grafted in as a southern belle- on a small scale. Nothing in them for those three racuous boys who grace our lives, for which I know they are thankful. Because nestled inside, awaiting their debut on two sweet black-haired, brown-eyed girls were darling things. Dah'lin, in southern.
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| Behold, the cuteness! |
I love, love, love the embroidered initials and adorable embroidered name that arrived at my doorstep. And I cannot wait to see my sweet Emma Kate in her new dress. Or her "coming home shirt" that matches her sisters! Her big sisters! :)
A little girls northern version of the monogram. Minus the other initials. Because that's how we roll.
Love from way up north!
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