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The Southern Merc Tutorial on Decorating Your Christmas Tree

11/26/2014

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I have owned a retail store for the past 11 years and Christmas, of course, is our booming time of year! We go all out! This year, my team of elves and I decorated 7 large trees for the store and countless table top trees. Over the years I feel I have perfected my tree decorating methods and wanted to share them with you! I like a Christmas tree to be very full and to have lots of layers. Whether your tree is fresh or faux, follow these simple steps and you’ll have your tree looking as fabulous as the ones you drool over in magazines!

Step 1: Lights 

My Dad (to whom we lovingly refer as "The Wizard") would tell you that this step is the most important one. He has a 10ft tall faux Frasier Fir that he puts over 1100 lights on every year. You have to put your sunglasses on just to enter his home through the front door. I am not as patient as he is, though I do believe you need a well-lit tree. If you have a pre-lit tree, then just plug in and you are ready to roll, unless of course some of your lights won’t come on! If you are putting your own lights on your tree then start at the bottom of the tree at the back and begin to work your way around. You also want to run the lights up and down the branches as you work your way around so that your tree has lights in the center as well as the outer branches. Remember you should have no more than 3 strands of lights connecting to each other. If you have a large tree you may need to run an extension cord up the center of the trunk to start a new strand of lights. If you end up with extra lights at the top of the tree you can run them down the center of the tree to help illuminate it from the inside out. 

Step 2: The Topper 

Many would save the topper until last but I like to put it on before I do anything else. If you choose to use a classic simple topper then this will not take you long. If you like to have a bow at the top of your tree, it is good to put it on first so you can place the tails where you want them without having to worry about bumping your ornaments. I like to put unusual things in the tops of my trees. You will see from the sample pictures that the sky is the limit! From wooden reindeer to chandeliers, we are willing to try anything! 

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If you choose something like a chandelier that lights up, you will need to run a separate extension cord up the middle of your tree to the top to plug the topper in. Do not plug this item in to your lights! If you choose to use a bird’s nest, or bird cage, wooden cut out, etc. you will need to affix it to the top of the tree with a little floral wire. If you will wrap the wire with floral tape first it will not damage or scrape your decorative items and will be easier to work with. Sometimes I also like to add large branches, or stems of berries in the top of the tree. These will usually secure themselves in the braches but if you have trouble, just grab your trusty floral wire.
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Step 3: Garland

If you are using any type garland or ribbon around the tree, now is the time to do it! You want to wrap the tree before you fill it with stems and ornaments. With paper or stiff garland you want to tuck it in at certain points to create a billowy effect. If you are using beaded or glass garland, you want to drape it loosely so it doesn’t look too tightly wound on the tree.
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Step 4: Stems

I love to add glittery stems or berries of some sort. I even love to add picks of pine and different greenery. You can see in the sample pictures that I added butterfly picks to the garden tree. This really adds some depth and interest to your tree and helps to create a nice full look. I usually have a higher concentration of picks at the top and then intersperse them through the tree all the way to the bottom.

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Step 5: Large Ornaments

I like to put on all the larger ornaments first. Be sure to work your way from the inside of the tree outward. You don’t want all of your ornaments dangling on the end of the branches and have emptiness in the middle. The larger ornaments are great for filling the spaces between the branches on the inside of the tree. Concentrate most of your large ornaments in the middle and the bottom of the tree. Sometimes they can be a little overwhelming at the top.

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Step 6: Small Ornaments and
Ornament Clips

Finish the tree by decking it out with the rest of your ornaments. If you have any ornaments that clip (i.e. flowers, birds, candles etc.) clip those on the outer tips of the braches very last. Don’t be afraid that you are using too many ornaments. It is my opinion that less is not more when it comes to your Christmas tree!

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Step 7: Tree Skirt

Last but not least, add the tree skirt. If you have a premade tree skirt that you love, go for it. If not, don’t be afraid to use an old quilt or yardage of fabric that matches your décor. I have even used table cloths before! Just find something that really goes with the personality of your tree and your room.
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I hope this little tutorial was helpful! Try out these tips and post your pics to The Southern Mercantile Facebook page. We’d love to see your handiwork! https://www.facebook.com/thesouthernmercantile


If you like some of the items you have seen in the pictures, head on over to the store page and treat yourself to some new Christmas Décor! http://www.southernmercantile.com/store/c7/Seasonal.html

-Roxie
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Thanksgiving at the Cabin

11/24/2014

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My mother-in-law is originally from a small town in North Florida. Although she was an only child, she has many cousins with whom she is very close. Those cousins now have children and grandchildren, so she has family spread across the southeast: mainly Florida, Alabama, and North Georgia. When she married my father-in-law, our small town became a central location. So, every Thanksgiving, her extended family travels to the Paulk family cabin. Tents and campers are set up, and sleeping bags are spread across the cabin floor. Most every house nearby is filled with extra family members. 

Although Thanksgiving can be easily overshadowed by the Christmas season, I love having a day dedicated to reminding us all that we should be thankful for those things that truly matter. If only we could remember to do that daily! I am very thankful for my own family I grew up in, but also grateful that I married into another loving family. I think it is wonderful that my husband has memories of playing football and sitting around the bonfire with his cousins, and now, my sons look forward each year to doing the same things with their cousins. 
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An amazingly delicious Thanksgiving feast is prepared, with everyone bringing their signature dishes. There is so much food that we have lunch, dinner, and even leftovers after that! My father-in-law happens to be one of the best cooks I know, and his dressing is to die for. For those of you who think I mean salad dressing, let me explain: dressing is the southern version of stuffing. It sounds simple - cornbread, bread crumbs, celery, onion, chicken broth, and seasonings - but dressing can be tricky. There is not much worse than choking down dry dressing with too much sage, while attempting to tell the cook how delicious it is. Here is his recipe, along with helpful hints:

Gary's Dressing

For Cornbread:
5 cups self-rising cornmeal
2 1/2 cups of buttermilk
6 eggs, beaten

Mix all ingredients well. Pour in a greased pan and bake at 425 degrees until light brown.

For Dressing:
cooled cornbread
16 slices of loaf bread, toasted and cubed
1/2 pound saltine crackers, crumbled
1 cup melted butter
1 cup celery, chopped
1 cup onion, chopped
8 cups (more may be needed) chicken broth
Optional: shredded chicken or turkey
1 tsp. pepper
1 tsp. poultry seasoning
1/2 tsp. of celery salt
1 cup milk
1/2 tsp. salt
1 can cream of chicken soup
6 eggs

Crumble cooled cornbread. Add cubed loaf bread and cracker crumbs. Set aside.

Cook celery and onion in butter until tender. Heat broth to boil. Add to the crumbled bread and crackers. Mixture should be soupy. Add other ingredients in the order given. Be sure mixture has cooled enough before adding eggs. Bake in large pan at 425° for 45 minutes to 1 hour.
Enjoy!
Click below for a printable PDF version of this recipe!

garys_dressing.pdf
File Size: 41 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

At Thanksgiving, dressing is served with turkey, but you can freeze a pan and pair it throughout the year with chicken or pork also. Most folks serve it with cranberry sauce, but since the Paulk family grows muscadine grapes, we serve it with muscadine sauce. Think muscadine preserves crossed with apple butter spices - yum! ***

We at The Southern Mercantile hope that you celebrate Thanksgiving by filling your tummies with delicious food surrounded by those you love! Take the time to appreciate the people and things for which you are truly grateful!

 For more information on muscadines, go to www.paulkspride.com

-Jorjanne

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Gift Tag Give Away

11/21/2014

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While we are in the Christmas Spirit, we decided to do one more giveaway in honor of Christmas Open House!  Today we are sharing a custom-designed gift tag we created specifically to use on our favors at this year's Open House!  Since the theme was "The Night before Christmas", we loved the idea of giving everyone something as they left that said "Merry Christmas to All and to All a Good Night!"  Feel free to use this image to make your own special gift tags, or you can even buy ours packaged with everything you will need!
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gifttag.jpg
File Size: 90 kb
File Type: jpg
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OR
Click HERE to buy our Gift Tag Kit!

-Tara
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Grammy's Caramel Corn

11/20/2014

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My Grammy's caramel corn is always a crowd pleaser at our events. There's just something about good caramel corn that takes you right back to a happy place in your childhood! Grammy died when I was young so I have very few memories of her. I am told we are a lot alike in many ways, and I know we look a lot alike. You can barely tell our baby pictures apart! She was a very creative person, an excellent seamstress, and a fantastic cook! 
This year we served the caramel corn in a big jar and provided cute paper bags for people to fill. You can see that it is also very cute served in little paper cones. However you choose to serve it, this caramel corn is sure to be a big hit at your next gathering! It would also make an excellent gift!   
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Grammy's Caramel Corn
8 quarts popped corn
1 cup butter
1 tsp. butter flavoring
2 cups brown sugar
1/2 cup white corn syrup
1/2 tsp. baking soda

Divide popped corn into two flat pans. In a saucepan, combine butter, butter flavoring, sugar, and corn syrup. Boil for 5 minutes. Stir in baking soda. Pour mixture over corn and mix well. Bake 1 hour at 250 degrees, stirring every 20 minutes.

**One of Grammy's Tips: Line pans with foil and coat with a nonstick spray to avoid sticking.

Enjoy!

Feel free to print and share with friends! Pass along the love of Grammy's Caramel Corn!  
-Roxie

grammyscaramelcorn.pdf
File Size: 136 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

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Free Santa Printable

11/19/2014

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To make Christmas Open House a grand and magical event, we think of the tiny details that make all the difference.  This year, since "The Night Before Christmas" was the theme, we tried to incorporate Santa Claus as much as possible! I found a vintage image of Santa holding a scroll, which I thought would be perfect for our food tags.  One detail that made this image even cuter was taking the time to cut out the actual silhouette.  
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If you love this image as much as I do, click HERE to find it and much more at The Graphics Fairy!  This is one of my favorite websites to find free, ready-to-use, vintage images.  Once you save this image to your computer, the possibilities are endless.  Food tags, gift tags, place cards...these are just a few ideas!
  
-Tara
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Christmas Open House

11/17/2014

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This past weekend my shop rang in the holiday season with its 12th Christmas Open House. This event has grown to be quite a big day for our little town. In fact, it is one of my favorite days of the year!

Preparations pretty much start on January 1st as the next year’s theme is planned, and we are already working on ordering holiday décor. Over the summer we begin working on the details of the invitations (we send out 400), the favors, the gift tags and the food menu. In the weeks prior to the event, there are many late evenings of working on window displays and decorations. This behind-the-scenes work is leading up to one big weekend! We close the shop the day before the event and do all of the decorating that day. We love to unveil a big surprise on Sunday when all of our guests arrive! 
All of this hard work sets the stage for an afternoon of gathering with our community and providing a whimsical atmosphere for them to visit, relax, and enjoy life!

The trees are dripping with ornaments, garland and elaborate toppers - this year we decorated seven! The stockings are hung on the mantel. The scent of new holiday candles fills the air, and the shelves are stocked with beautiful holiday décor and gift ideas. We always offer an elaborate spread of snacks and treats that have been inspired by our theme.  

Everyone is cheerful, patient, and genuinely excited to be a part of our little community. The lines are long, but no one minds. The shop is so full you can hardly move, yet folks are happy to crowd in and catch up, laugh and tell stories. I have heard many of our guests call this event a homecoming of sorts. There are many people who see each other just once a year - at Christmas Open House. 
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The second Sunday in November has become an anticipated day of togetherness for our little town. Everyone who comes out to join us has a good time and enjoys each other’s company. Selfishly, this day also does my soul a great of amount of good. I love to see folks relaxing and enjoying each other in my shop, which feels more like my home!

It would be so nice if The Southern Mercantile’s online community could gather with us on this one magical day! Since most of you couldn't be there, we are bringing a little of our open house magic to you! This week, Southern Merc is hosting an online Open House. We hope you will join us as we share with you our fabulous holiday décor, recipes, and printables. We also have a special sale planned for you on all of our Christmas merchandise.
Click the link below to shop our Christmas selections:
http://www.southernmercantile.com/store/c7/Seasonal.html

Drop in to the Southern Mercantile this week and see what’s happening! We look forward to kicking off the holiday season with you!
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- Roxie
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Fall in the South

11/4/2014

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The heady fragrance of the last honeysuckle and muscadines fading…the earthy scent of peanuts being turned up from the dirt…even the pungent smell of cotton defoliant lingering in the air.  Cheerleaders and marching bands sending football teams to victory… big red peanut wagons rattling down the road…wind rustling through crunchy, colorful leaves. Crisp, cool mornings…children disguised as superheroes and princesses running around… pumpkins & painted hay bales spotted in many front yards. Summer is gone and fall has arrived in the South!

I’ve heard that of the five senses, the sense of smell is most tied to memory. I would agree. Going to college in Atlanta, I can remember kissing my boyfriend goodbye with the scent of honeysuckle and muscadines in the background. I felt like I was kissing my home goodbye, too. Although I didn’t visit often enough for my parents, when I did drive down I-75 and began to smell peanuts through the air conditioner vents, I knew I was almost home. That was comforting to me, even if it didn’t take long for my sniffling nose and itchy, red eyes to appear.

Of course, tied to that dusty peanut smell, is the sight and sound of those red peanut wagons bumping up and down the road.  I remember watching my uncles fill those wagons in the fields, then taking them slowly but surely to the buying point.  Those trailers annoyed me as a teenager – they were always in my way. Now, though they do make me slow down, I am grateful for the peanut wagons (and cotton trailers and hay-balers and tractors and combines) and the economic impact they have on individuals and my community.

 As I grow older, I love this season more and more. While I enjoy my flip flops, I adore tying a colorful, cozy scarf around my neck. It is so much fun to attend fairs and festivals with family and friends, getting lost in corn mazes, taking hayrides, and choosing the perfect pumpkin to decorate. Kids dress in costumes for Halloween carnivals and trick-or-treating, while the teenagers wear their semi-formal dresses and bow-ties for the Homecoming dance. There’s nothing more exciting than cheering your favorite football team to victory, then watching the marching band’s halftime show, while anxiously waiting to see which beautiful young lady is crowned Homecoming Queen!

Fall provides a respite from scorching summer temperatures in the south. Summer is always too hot for anything outside, unless it is in or on the water. That makes us southerners truly appreciate fall. From a few minutes reveling in the cool breeze on my front porch, to festivals, football games, and family gatherings, fall provides multiple opportunities to celebrate being outdoors. And we southerners sure do enjoy a celebration! The south is my home, and I never feel closer to my home than in the fall.

-Jorjanne


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