Blog - The Southern Source

Protein Shake Diet Raise your hand if you've ever created a truly disgusting smoothie? Too much powder, overloaded on the greens, not enough fruit, too much water... Yeah I've been there, and they've gone straight down the sink. It's pretty frustrating after you just prepped all the ingredients, assembled your blender, and then end up having to clean it all up without being able to reap the benefits! GOOD NEWS: There's a smoothie powder that helps to provide all the best ingredients without ... Read More about Chocolate Superfood Smoothie

Outdoor Entertaining Serveware

It's heating up here in the South which we are more than thrilled about. The first pretty Sunday, as my Dad would call it, is upon us which means we'll be having more meals outside. YAY! Backyard BBQ's and neighborhood pot luck's will all be served on the patio if weather permits, so I always make sure to have some different plates and cups that are better suited for outdoor dining and entertaining. Patio Dinnerware Light, and easy to clean outdoor serving platters are a must for spring ... Read More about Outdoor Entertaining Serveware

The Perfect Spring Sandal

Thank you to Vionic for providing the shoes for this post. Summer Sandals for Women Every year when Spring rolls around I begin to hunt for the perfect sandal that is going to carry me throughout all the sunshiny seasons. You know, that pair that pretty much goes with every outfit; that you can just throw on with skinny jeans, shorts, or a dress, and head out the door? Yep, and since I plan on living in this one pair of shoes for months, they’ll need to be able to hold their own. While the ... Read More about The Perfect Spring Sandal

Best Time of Year to Get Married in the South

Okay, let’s be real. If you're from the South, your weekends are pretty much owned by weddings and football all calendar year. This is nationally known and is laughable from the outside, but it's a real thing. Even The Knot warns brides of avoidable wedding dates if you're planning to be married in the great state of Alabama, and SPOILER ALERT: they are all in the Fall. This is such a bummer because the Fall really is an ideal time to be married in the South. The weather has finally climbed ... Read More about Best Time of Year to Get Married in the South

Spring Shopping Staples

Where to Shop Online for Spring| Women's Clothing Spring is right around the corner! I can feel it! As I mentioned a few weeks ago, I am gearing up for a few beach trips, and you can read about how I am preparing here. A big pay off for eating well and exercising is feeling confident in your clothing. I've been shopping around all week online and in stores for some specific pieces to wear in Miami, while trying to buy some things that will transition well for Spring and Summer, here in the ... Read More about Spring Shopping Staples

Unexpected Wedding Day Changes

Putting on the list of things I never want to do again: Spend an entire day wearing a dress with boning for 14+ hours Wedding Day Recap: What Would You Change? Of course, there are things that I would change about my wedding day! Some are big, some are small. It's hard to think of every last detail, so some small things are overlooked, while some of the other bigger things you ultimately have no control over. One thing I would have done differently is completely nixing indoor photos at the ... Read More about Unexpected Wedding Day Changes

Smoothie Essentials

How to Start a Smoothie Kick With swimsuit season right around the corner, I always find myself wishing I had started my smoothie kick earlier! Replacing one meal a day with a smoothie can be a great way to lose weight, or just add more nutrients to your diet. For me, smoothies are the best way to get fiber, collagen, and tons of super-foods into one delicious package. Before getting into a regular routine with making smoothies you'll need a few essentials to ensure your smoothie isn't just ... Read More about Smoothie Essentials

Cobb Salad

Cobb Salad with Homemade Balsamic Vinaigrette Some go-to salads for me are a kale Caesar and a good Cobb salad. Traditionally, a Cobb salad is full of different meats, like ham, chicken, and bacon plus vegetables such as, avocado, tomato, cucumber and red onion. Bleu cheese and shredded cheddar are also popular toppings. The best thing about making your salads at home is the ability to customize them with what you love and leave off the things you don’t. My ideal cobb salad has: ... Read More about Cobb Salad

Kale Caesar

Healthy Salad Recipes This year my bathing suit season is being pushed up a little earlier than usual. We have two trips to Miami coming up, so its CRUNCH(es) TIME! To prepare, I'll be cranking up the workouts with more strength training and intensifying my cardio. As far as "diet" goes, I'll be incorporating more veggies, proteins, and greens, so our household is about to become salad central! Later this week, I'll be sharing another one of my favorite salads... the Cobb ... Read More about Kale Caesar

Tuscan Chicken

I’m excited to finally share this recipe for Skinny Lemon Tuscan Chicken! It ended up being a massive hit on my InstagramStories a few weeks back, and I usually share recipes there first, so come follow along! One-Pan Dinner Ideas Coming home after a long day to prepare a meal that’s actually going to take you TWICE as long to clean up, isn't how it's supposed to be; ain't nobody got time for that! One-pan dinners are my new number one goal when it comes to developing recipes this year. For ... Read More about Tuscan Chicken

Top 5 Small Kitchen Appliances

Small Kitchen Appliance Must-Haves for 2018 1. Blender A blender is an incredibly useful tool to have in the kitchen. I fell in love with this DashTM Digital Blender three years ago, it does everything I need it to do, and more! It blends for smoothies, purees for dips and sauces, heats for soups, and freezes for margaritas! 2. Cuisinart Egg Central If you love making eggs, then you absolutely need this appliance. It’s small, lightweight and efficient. Long are the days where you have to ... Read More about Top 5 Small Kitchen Appliances

Hair and Makeup Artists in Birmingham, AL

GLOW is the South's newest beauty craze, but don't worry you won't have to spend hours behind a mirror practicing this new trend. No tutorials required!! Which is great because I know we all love some instant gratification, and that's what you'll get with this innovative piece of beauty technology. GLOW is an on-demand beauty app available on your smartphone. Their head quarters are in Birmingham, AL but they have GLOW Pros traveling all over Alabama to do weddings, galas and proms every week. ... Read More about Hair and Makeup Artists in Birmingham, AL

How to Host a Party: Entertaining Tips and Recipes

Tips and Recipes for Entertaining Today, I'm sharing some entertaining tips on seamlessly pulling off a any party at your home with no stress and little mess. I know we are all incredibly busy so below you will find pre-made appetizer ideas and how to elevate them with your own specials touch. Easy Party Appetizers I think it's safe to say I like to get creative in the kitchen, and you’ve heard me say “homemade is always better.” If there is an exception to every rule, the holidays ... Read More about How to Host a Party: Entertaining Tips and Recipes

How to Make a Cheese Board That Everyone Will Love

What to Include on Your Charcuterie Boards Cheese boards are the best, right? It makes the perfect little snack for a girls wine night, a dinner party, or a holiday gathering. You name a time and place, and I'll confidently say that a cheese board is always appropriate AND appreciated. One Thing I Never Leave Off a Cheese Board Although the definition for charcuterie technically includes only meat, it is perfectly acceptable to add cheeses, fruits, and other items. When ... Read More about How to Make a Cheese Board That Everyone Will Love

Raspberry Moscow Mule

The Moscow Mule The Moscow Mule has become one of the most favored drinks in America and for a good reason! With just three ingredients you can make this popular cocktail at home. The ginger beer is what makes this cocktail unique, and while there are many different brands out there, they are not all created equal. The fresh ginger taste is what differentiates a Moscow Mule in the cocktail world. Spice yours up by using a bold ginger beer like the one from Buffalo Rock Co. Some may not want ... Read More about Raspberry Moscow Mule

Most Affordable Wines – Best White and Reds Under $20

Best Affordable Wines If there’s one thing I have learned from my parents, it’s always to have a good bottle of wine on hand. Definitely not the most important lesson, but one that sticks with me, especially when the holidays roll around. My parents are seasoned vets when it comes to hosting guests for the holidays. Both were born and raised in the South, so southern hospitality runs through our veins. Growing up, they embraced an open door policy, and I have carried that same principle ... Read More about Most Affordable Wines – Best White and Reds Under $20

Blue Apron vs. Plated

$40 Off Your First Month of Blue Apron! Plated vs. Blue Apron If you're like me, you spent the weekend indulging in BBQ and beer, and probably need to pump the brakes! This Creamy Corn Risotto is light and meat-free, making it a great option for "meatless Monday". We received this recipe in our Plated box a few weeks back and I was a little intimidated when I read "risotto" on the recipe card, mainly because I've seen Scott Conant chop the hell out of chefs for under cooking this ... Read More about Blue Apron vs. Plated

What You’ll Learn After Your First Month Blogging

Well, that was fun... and kinda scary! First of all. Thank you to all my friends and family who have been so supportive during this scary, but exciting new venture of starting a blog. It’s definitely easier said than done to take something you’re passionate about, turn it into a tangible thing, and present it to the world, knowing you’ll face review and criticism. I learned quickly that your support system is everything! A friend from college who started her own gig earlier this year has been a ... Read More about What You’ll Learn After Your First Month Blogging

Birmingham Hair Salons

My hair person just opened a brand new salon in Birmingham, AL called Hairfolk. Check out their new digs! HairFolk Salon | Birmingham, AL Founded by highly sought-after hair stylist Eric Goss in September of 2017, Hairfolk is Birmingham’s newest high-end hair salon that specializes in expert cuts, styling and coloring techniques, such as balayage, and most importantly, stylists you can trust. This premier hair salon is NOW OPEN and is located in the heart of Birmingham’s Avondale ... Read More about Birmingham Hair Salons

The Yellow Hammer | Alabama’s Official Cocktail

Football season is right around the corner and there's no way you're cheering on the Tide without a Yellowhammer in hand. Get the recipe below, and fuel your team up by making some of my favorite game day appetizers like, Guacamole, deviled eggs, and hot spinach artichoke dip. Roll Tide! The Skinny Yellow Hammer If there were ever a drink to define a gameday experience in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, it would be the Yellow Hammer. Whether it's your first trip to Gallettes or your 30-year college ... Read More about The Yellow Hammer | Alabama’s Official Cocktail

Delicious Deviled Eggs

Classic Deviled Eggs with a Modern Twist Many southern deviled egg recipes include pickles, and I'm not opposed! My first true love is pickles. But, if there's one category of pickles that I HATE, it's sweet pickles. Bread and Butter pickles should not exist in my opinion. That's just ME! I know plenty of people who like them, and I am not here to be the pickle judge... While I'm listing off the things I don't like, yellow mustard is one of them. So now I've named two classic ingredients ... Read More about Delicious Deviled Eggs

The Ultimate Guacamole Recipe

Copy-Cat Chipotle Guacamole Recipe The hunt for a Guacamole recipe started a few years ago when I became obsessed with how Chipotle made theirs so perfect each and every time. While Chipotle got a bit of a bad rap in 2015-2016 for their E. Coli outbreak, you cannot deny their uncanny ability to serve what it quite possibly some of the best restaurant-grade guacamole we’ve ever seen. Well, sometimes you can’t get to a Chipotle to get your fix and that little “side” that they give you is ... Read More about The Ultimate Guacamole Recipe

Refreshing Grapefruit Margarita

The grapefruit and the orange are definitely cousins, but they couldn't be more different in terms of flavor. Grapefruit is bitter, slightly tart, and sour, with a hint of sweetness thrown in. You'll notice grapefruit isn't always the go-to fruit when it comes to mixing cocktails, but that's only because you haven't mixed it with tequila yet! El Barrio | Grapefruit Margarita I first stumbled upon this simple, yet delicious grapefruit margarita in Birmingham, AL at this fabulous ... Read More about Refreshing Grapefruit Margarita

Asian Meatballs

I adapted this Asian meatball recipe from an old Blue Apron recipe box we received last year. We LOVED it so much I have kept the recipe card and continue to make it! Read more about my experience with Blue Apron and meal delivery services here. Highly recommend trying it! How to Make Asian Meatballs 1 lb ground pork or turkey 3 cloves of garlic (minced) 2 scallions (cut and separate the white part from the green) 1 tablespoon freshly grated ginger 1/4 Panko breadcrumbs Salt and ... Read More about Asian Meatballs

Brät Brot

Lifestyle· Travel

This week we are celebrating big in the Magic City! After ten years of being nominated as a James Beard finalist, Frank Stitt has finally snagged his well deserved James Beard medal for Outstanding Restaurant and Outstanding Pastry Chef. Hats off to you and your team! But there's also a cool new guy in town, as Birmingham now has its very first German Biergarten. Photography by Stacy Allen | Mountain Side Photo Brät Brot | German Biergarten in Birmingham The owners of Brät Brot also own ... Read More about Brät Brot

May Snapshot

Hello Friends! I cannot believe May is already here. March and April were filled with wedding festivities, birthday celebrations, food celebrations, and 2 trips to Miami. This month is bound to be just as fun, and I have tons of goodies coming your way! I wanted to give you a little snapshot of things you can expect to see from me every month, and a sneak peek into what to get excited for during May! Blog Planning and Content Creation I've started to really hone in on the types of content ... Read More about May Snapshot

Strawberry Ginger BeerRita