It is no secret that I love a good cocktail!  A few weeks ago I shared with you my favorite champagne cocktails.  Click HERE to find them if you missed it, they are definitely worth trying!  In this post I want to share with you my favorite gin cocktails.  In the winter I am more of a bourbon girl, but when the summer heats up, I am in the mood for a lighter, refreshing option.  Gin and citrus fruit are my go-to ingredients during summertime.  

The drink I have enjoyed the most this summer is a little something I came up with myself, called the Gin Roxie.  It is a take on the Gin Rickey with a little extra flair!  To make this cocktail you will fill your favorite cocktail glass with ice.  Squeeze the juice of a large orange wedge (or two of my frozen cubes), the juice of a large wedge of lime, and 1.5 ounces of gin.  Top it off with club soda and a lime slice and you have yourself a Gin Roxie.  This drink is so refreshing!  If I am sitting outside I love to sip it from my pretty floral, insulated cup from Paulk Vineyards winery.   

Whether you are getting together with friends or just relaxing on your screened in porch, I hope these recipes inspire you to take a little time and enjoy the simple pleasures of summer in the south!

To find a recipe card for the Gin Roxie, click HERE to visit our recipe archive.  Look around while you are there and find a little inspiration for your next summer soire! 

Check out our store for a great selection of recipe books, including this cute cocktail book, "A Spot at the Bar".

I love the 4th of July. I love decorating the shop with flags and buntings.  I love the color red, I love sparklers, and I love cook-outs and all of the traditional southern dishes that are served at them! I love the sense of pride that surrounds this special day, filled with concerts, parades, family gatherings, and fireworks.  

​My grandpa was a WWII vet and a history/government teacher so he never missed an opportunity to educate us on historical happenings and he did his best to instill in us a love of our country.  He was a patriot through and through.

Though my 4th of July celebrations have become a bit more simple and quiet as an adult, it is still fun to get together and reflect on the blessings of living in an independent nation.  Whether we get invited to a barbeque at a friend's house or just hang out with whoever is home on Alder St., we always eat well!  The meal always includes something off the grill, and of course potato salad.  We southerners love our potato salad. There are so many delicious versions of this classic dish.  I will confess to you that I have never been a fan of traditional, southern potato salad with pickle relish.  I much prefer the more interesting versions full of extra veggies, unusual dressings, and maybe even a little blue cheese.  Bacon ranch potato salad has quickly become one of my favorites, second only to my dad's famous potato salad.  

We have tweaked this recipe over the years and it has become one of the most popular versions of potato salad that we serve in our café.  Filled with boiled egg, celery, bacon, and ranch dressing, how can you go wrong? If you are looking for something new to try this 4th of July, head on over to our recipe archive and give this extra special potato salad a try.  ​

You will also find many other delicious recipes, perfect for your summer gatherings.  Happy cooking and Happy 4th of July!

You will find a great selection of cookbooks full of delicious southern recipes in our online store.  Be sure to check them out while you are here!

It isn't any secret that I LOVE to set a pretty table.  I love table linens, dishes, glasses, silverware... if it involves entertaining, I am in.  I thought it would be fun to give you guys some examples of ways you can set a beautiful summer table.  These tips will come in handy whether you are having a couple of friends over for dinner or hosting a large party or shower.  I had a great time using some things from my own collection as well as things we offer in the store.  

My first tip for achieving an interesting and beautiful table is to mix old and new.  I love mixing my vintage finds in with new decor items.  For this table I used a beautiful vintage table cloth, vintage brass candlesticks and my vintage silverplate.  

The white and green color pallet is so warm and inviting and was perfect for showing off gardenias and Queen Anne's lace from the garden.  

My next tip is to not be afraid to mix different shades of white and off white.  For this table I mixed old and new plates.  The off white vintage floral plates sit atop the large white chargers and each place setting got a fresh gardenia to make things extra special.  

Mom and I have had a great time collecting mix and match vintage brass candlesticks. We enjoyed them on the Christmas mantel last year and many of you gave them good homes during the holiday season!  If you are trying to think of other ways to use these beauties, I think it is a cute idea to re purpose these candlesticks as flower vases.  All candlesticks won't work for this but some have hollow centers that allow the flower stems to slide down.  While there is no way to keep the flowers in water, they will stay pretty for a few hours, long enough for you and your guests to enjoy during dinner.  

The next table is much lighter and casual.  I still used my vintage silverplate  for fun but mixed with more casual everyday dishes.  The zinnias and pittosporum were cut from my dad's yard and look so good in these textured white vases.  

When your table is as pretty as this one, sometimes it is nice to use a runner rather than a full tablecloth.  This grey woven runner was just the right amount of texture and color to add a little life to this table.  

If you are decorating your table for fun or for a special occasion, think of fun details you can add like these sweet little birds nests.  A little surprise on every plate!

The next table has a much more modern feel.  The simple white dishes, succulents and black and white linens are begging for a fabulous lunch in the garden or supper served fresh off of the grill.  If you want to mix things up with your linens, try using double runners across the table rather than one runner down the middle. If you have a very long dining table, you might need 3 to achieve this look.  Mixing in the wood, terracotta and blown glass makes it feel very fresh with a nod to the west.  I imagine myself sitting on a fabulous patio in Arizona, surrounded by cactus and a gorgeous orange sun set.  Ok, I am getting carried away.  Can you tell I am really in love with this table?  

I cut some of my biggest succulents for this table.  They happened to be blooming which was perfect to add a little length and drama to my arrangement.  Don't worry, they weren't wasted!  They were given to a friend to be potted where I am sure they will be very happy and make lots of succulent babies.  

Just one more shot of this because I think it is perfection!

The last table is a little more refined and traditional, set with woven place-mats, simple white dishes and plain stainless silverware.  A ginger jar shaped vase full of hydrangeas and gardenias adds a classic, southern feel. 

A place-mat is a great option when you are setting places at your counter or if you have a beautiful table you want to show off.

I hope you will have a little fun this summer dressing up your table, even if it is only for your family!  As always, we love to see how you are decorating at home,  so tag us on Facebook or Instagram!

To shop these beautiful tablescapes, visit our store HERE.

We had such a pretty spring this year here in South Georgia and Matt and I found ourselves out on the patio almost every evening.  The patio is always more fun with a cocktail so I decided to share a couple of my favorites with you.  These two cocktails require simple ingredients that are easy to keep on hand and are quick to mix up for unexpected guests or impromptu porch parties.  I purchased everything I needed at my local package store and my local Piggly Wiggly, definitely no fancy ingredients here!

Another delicious champagne cocktail is the Champagne Julep.  It is a crisp and bubbly alternative to the classic mint julep and is every bit as good! For this drink you will need: simple syrup, champagne, sugar cubes, and fresh mint.  I grew this mint in my little garden which makes it taste extra special to me!

Pictured here in a vintage champagne glass, this drink is traditionally served in a silver julep cup. See the video below for measurements and instructions.

If you love champagne, I hope you will take the time to try one of these delightful concoctions and let me know what you think.  From my porch to yours, cheers to the start of a happy and healthy summer!

If you get excited about fun and unusual cocktails, these two bar books are full of good ideas, and they are available on our website!  The French 75 recipe is from "Southern Cocktails" and I found the Champagne Julep, along with many other tempting libations in "A Spot at the Bar".  

To get all of the details on the tools and ingredients you'll need to make these two cocktails, along with measurements, check out my video below!

 I have done a lot of traveling over the last few years and at all of my shows the number one question I get is "what can I put in this dough bowl I just bought?"  The second most asked question is "what do people put under these bell jars?"  I thought I would take a minute today to show you a few of my favorite ideas for accessorizing your favorite home decor items.  Lanterns, bell jars, and dough bowls are easy to jaz up and even change out with the seasons.  This is a great way to breathe some new life into your home without having to make big changes and spend a lot of money.  Toss a new pillow on the couch and you will feel like you have a new room!  

I like to decorate in layers.  Whether it is a lantern, a bookcase, or a Christmas tree, layers help you to create a full design that is so much more pleasing to the eye.  You can see in the pictures below that I started with the plain lantern, then added my bells.  I had to knot the twine on one of the bells to make it shorter so that I would have different lengths.  

After the bells I tied a piece of cute ribbon on the top, and then attached some fresh eucalyptus with that ribbon.  

It just took a few easy steps to really spice this lantern up.  

If you choose to use something fresh like eucalyptus, just let it dry naturally and continue to enjoy it.  It will change colors but will still be beautiful!

I love decorating the inside of a bell jar!  Historically, bell jars or cloches were used to cover plants to create a greenhouse effect.  While I think this is beautiful, you have to be careful to air the plants out or they will get moldy. Bell jars come in all sizes and are such a beautiful way to showcase your favorite treasures.  As a rule of thumb, you will need as least 3 things, and I like to incorporate some kind of greenery or "fresh" looking element.  Don't be afraid to use old family pictures, or vintage cards at Valentine's Day.  Ornaments and bottle brush trees are great at Christmas, but for Spring, you just can't beat a good bird's nest!  If you have a little collection of real nests, that's even better.   

Think of your jar as a little memory capsule and have fun changing out the pictures and family heirlooms.  

Now on to the dough bowls!  Whether yours is big or small, have fun changing out what you put in it and don't feel like you have to stick with one "perfect" thing.  Before taking these pictures, Tara and I went around the shop and gathered up a few of our favorite things.  Tara supplied the fresh and dried eucalyptus from her tree and I have a never ending supply of dried hydrangeas!

This is a collection of two white vases that can remain empty or be a catch all for what's blooming in your garden.  I included one of our favorite Park Hill candles that is surrounded by a faux eucalyptus wreath.  

One simple change up and you have a completely different look.  I traded out the wreath for a collection of faux succulents.   

The next idea is a grouping of mossy orbs, classic pillar candles and a bird's nest.  I used the flame less candles that are made of real wax so that they look real but won't drip on the bowl.

If you lean towards a more simple style, you could use just the mossy orbs by themselves or with the simple pillar candles.  

At home, I love to use my vintage pottery collection around the house.  Here I mixed a couple of vintage pottery pieces with dried hydrangeas.  

The dried hydrangeas with the bird's next seemed to be the favorite of the day so I will leave you with that.  A classic southern take on decorating a dough bowl.

A little dried eucalyptus added a nice touch of a different color and a new shape.

Like I said before, don't be afraid to change it up!  Move your favorite things around from room to room and enjoy them.  If you liked what you saw in the pictures, a few of the items above are available in our online store.  We would love to send a little something your way!  Happy decorating!

Raising children, whether they are your own or not, is a honorable task.  If you're a teacher, aunt, mentor or friend, you've likely helped raise a child.  My hope is that the words I share send encouragement and comfort your way--meeting you where you are, sharing in the daily joys and struggles together.

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Last Mother's Day, I found my heart a bit conflicted.  Was I a mother?  I was carrying a baby in my womb and caring for a teenager in my home.  Personally, I felt very much like a mother!  The world around me, however, didn't seem to think so.  Harmless comments were made to suggest my time has not come yet, while Phillip and the foster child in our home planned to celebrate.  What I quickly realized is that it didn't matter.  It didn't matter what others think.  What mattered was the time I spent "mothering" an independent, rebellious, smart and growing child.  The child itself is the celebration.

​I've had the privilege of being "mothered" by many women in my life.  Teachers, coaches, Bible study leaders, bosses, mentors, friends, aunts, grandmothers, my Mother-in-Law and my own Mom.  Each one teaching me something different, shaping me into the woman, and mother, I am today.  Each one demonstrating to me how to be compassionate, fun, loving, kind, strong, thoughtful, resourceful, genuine, or selfless.  Each one playing their own important role in my story.

​I can look at the style in which I mother, and attribute certain traits to particular women. I joke that after watching shows like This is Us and Parenthood, I am better prepared to raise children...but the truth of the matter is that it has been the real-life men and women in my life who have modeled how to love and raise a child, not without making mistakes, but rather making them with grace.

​Mother's Day can be a strange time for those women who have not birthed children of their own--I've been there.  Many of those women wish(ed) for the opportunity to do so, but haven't known that joy.  Some women consciously made a choice to forgo motherhood.  Either way, for some, this day can become a time of frustration, sadness, confusion, disappointment or discontentment.  

​What I'd love to challenge you to do is take this time to truly think about the women who helped shape you, and choose to honor them, too, this Mother's Day.  Let your gratitude show by sending them a card, mailing them a package, or even just giving them a call.  Let's celebrate all of those that mother, in our lives and the lives of others! 

If you'd like our help in celebrating someone you love, take a look around the store.  We'd be so happy to send something their way!  We have tons of great Mother's Day gift ideas.  Shop small and share the love!

After picking more berries than our arms can carry, we develop a game plan to make the most of our haul.  We usually dip a good many of them in chocolate, make a few fresh strawberry milkshakes, whip up a cobbler or two, eat some with yogurt or cereal, and did I mention dip some in chocolate?

This year (after the initial chocolate dipping) I decided to recreate a Strawberry Crisp recipe that was shared with me a few years back by my friend Kaitlyn.  

This recipe is so simple to make, and uses items that you probably have in your pantry already.  It's a quick and delicious dessert that is sure to please a crowd.

The crunchy topping, made up of brown sugar, flour and oats create the perfect contrast to the soft strawberry center.

I've made this dessert twice already this season!  The last time I made it, I decided to try baking it in ramekins.  I love all desserts, but I especially love anything that is served individually.  There is just something so fun about being presented your very own dish!

They baked so beautifully, and I think that they may have even tasted better than usual!

You should know that this Strawberry Crisp, however, should never be served without a scoop of ice cream on top.

If this Strawberry Crisp recipe doesn't get you excited about Strawberry season, I don't know what will!  I hope you'll check it out and try it for yourself.  If you live in the area, you should definitely visit Paulk Vineyards pick-your-own strawberry fields.  If you don't, search your surrounding area and see if you can find one near you!  Make a day of it, with your family and friends, and start a tradition of your own!

​If you're looking for more fun ways to use fresh berries this year, check out our beautiful cookbook, Berries!

​I have made efforts to hire young people and listen to what they have to say in an effort to keep things fresh, new and relevant.  This is a hard balance because I also have to keep things as comfortable as possible for my older customers that absolutely do not want to have their receipt texted to them and they would really prefer to write me a check. (Yes, we still accept checks.) We are proud to accept Apple Pay, even though I have only ever had two people use it!  We offer as much customer service as possible, which we see as a draw and a reason for someone to choose to shop with us instead of a big box store. We offer complimentary gift wrap, we help you take your bags to the car, we will fill out your check for you if you forgot your glasses, and have even looked up phone numbers in the phone book for folks who have called and asked us to.  I can’t say I am crazy about looking up phone numbers for people when it seems like such a simple thing they could do for themselves but it is a simple way that I can offer an extra service and a way I can set my store apart from a Wal-Mart or T.J. Maxx.

​We offer a full service bridal registry with free gift delivery to local showers.  (Our customers never actually have to touch their gift, we take care of everything!)  One Saturday I received a phone call from our closest Belk store. The Belk employee was trying to help a customer that was choosing a gift for a bride that was registered at my store and the customer couldn’t remember the name of the bride, she could only remember that the bride was registered with me.  Though it pained me that someone drove to a neighboring town to shop at another store, located in another county, I still answered all of their questions. I didn’t make the sale and my county received no sales tax benefit but I still did what I could to be nice and helpful with the hope that everyone involved will have good memories of working with us.

O.k, I will get off my soapbox for today and let you have a break!  If you have made it this far and you are still reading, just try to remember that there are small businesses everywhere that are the lifeblood of the small communities where they operate.  If you are able to change your mindset set from what is easiest and cheapest to asking yourself what you can source locally or from a small business, not only will you meet some great people and receive really awesome customer service, but you will also be able to feel really good about doing your part to help someone stay in business, help someone keep their job, and help a struggling community to grow and thrive.  I know that I am writing this as the owner of an online store and yes, I would love for you to choose to support The Southern Mercantile! Just know that every purchase you make from us helps keep our store open in downtown Ocilla, GA. Not only that, every sweet email we get from you or encouraging comment on a blog post, helps energize us and spurs us on to keep trying to make great things happen for our little home.  We would love for you to drop by for a visit sometime! Tour our lovely shop, eat the best fried chicken you have ever tasted at Chicken Delite, and drive out to have a glass of wine at Paulk Vineyards. We love where we live and we can’t wait to show off all the things we are proud of! ​

In my own life, once I realized this concept, I could see how God had brought me through and into different seasons. In the same way that summer relieves into fall, I have had times of intense pressure finally break into peace and calm. Like the way winter turns into spring, I know God has given me something new to look forward to when I feel my life has become dull or tired. 

Recently, I have felt stuck or even misplaced at times as my life has become a conglomeration of multiple seasons. When Chris and I got married, our idea was to have our children when we were young so that we could enjoy life together even after they were grown, and so that we could be young enough to enjoy our future grandchildren. As I’ve said before, God must have laughed at us and our plan for the 12 years between our two oldest boys (Seth & Caleb) and Perry! 

​Perry has certainly been a blessing we never even knew we needed, but I have suddenly been thrust into raising two teenagers and a toddler, which can be a bit overwhelming at times! Since I was a stay-at-home mom when the older two were toddlers, I have also had to learn how to navigate being a working mom, even if it’s just part-time at The Shoppes. Fortunately, my mother has been a lifesaver, keeping Perry three days a week for me, so I haven’t had to worry about childcare. For the last year and a half, I have also spent my Thursdays at Paulk Vineyards with Perry in tow, working on blogs and newsletters, planning events, and helping out with the winery as much as possible with a nursing baby or into-everything toddler! For those of you don’t know, Paulk Vineyards is my family’s muscadine vineyard and winery. You can read more about how I became a part of the Paulk family by reading my blog Muscadines, Grandma, & a Husband.

​I have been pulled in so many different directions that I really haven’t felt like I was doing a very good job at any of my roles. There has been a feeling of discontent in my heart for a while that I know from past experience is God’s sign that I’m ready for a new season. Not discontent with anyone or anything in my life, but more of an unsettledness with my circumstances. That, coupled with some changes out at Paulk Vineyards, has led me to a difficult decision I honestly wasn’t sure I’d ever make. 

With a heart full of mixed emotions, I will be leaving The Southern Mercantile and The Shoppes at Fourth and Cherry to work full-time at Paulk Vineyards. I’m excited (and a little nervous!) about my new role and working with my husband, but I’m sad that I won’t be spending my days with my co-workers friends here. I’ll miss seeing regular customers who have become friends, as well as meeting new people and introducing them to the best chicken salads and pimiento cheese you could ever taste! Perhaps I’ll cook more at home now that I won’t be cooking at work; but, I still won’t want to wash dishes! 

Thank you all for the many wonderful memories of working at the best job I have ever had! Thank you for encouraging me throughout so many seasons of my life! Thank you for reading my blog posts, for praying for me and my family, and for supporting our online community!
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Shameless self-plug: if you don’t already, please follow Paulk Vineyards on Facebook or Instagram, or you can even sign up for our monthly newsletter on our website, www.paulkvineyards.com.