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southernmadesimple

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May 11

School portraits. Man, I love them. Some people don’t purchase them, but honestly I can’t reach my hand into my purse to grab my debit card fast enough.

It wouldn’t matter if she had a Pb&J stain and a milk mustache leftover from lunch. I’m buying it. The cheesy backgrounds, the strange pose she would never make in a normal encounter with her - it all hits me right in the heart.

I have a million pictures of her. I have a nice camera. I could probably (and this comes with no disrespect to the photographer) take a better picture of her on my own. But by golly, that #8 package with the 8 wallet photos, 4 8x10s that I don’t need and the option to add a bonus mouse pad with her face on it... that’s coming home with me. I don’t even have a wallet, but I don’t care. I love it. 😍

Do you buy your kids school pictures?

southernmadesimple

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May 10

I just got back home from vacation, but I'm 👌 this close to making a run for the Florida state line to go purchase a lotto ticket. ⁣
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I've been summoned for jury duty. Twice. In two different court systems. I feel like the odds of that happening to someone are pretty slim, right? What a lucky duck.⁣
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Before I go, I'm packing a ziploc bag full of these soft batch chocolate chip cookies so I can eat my feelings the entire way. ⁣
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You can grab the recipe if you'd like to make a batch and enjoy them while you're not having to report for jury duty. Dip one in some milk for me while I'm performing my civic duty, will ya? ⁣
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https://www.southernmadesimple.com/soft-chewy-chocolate-chip-cookies/

southernmadesimple

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May 9

southernmadesimple

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May 9

The one who first called me Mama turned 6 years old today.

She was 8 days past her due date. I labored for 25 hours. To this day, the child gets in a hurry for absolutely nothing....except to go to the beach. And that’s exactly where my little mermaid has spent her whole birthday weekend. I love her so much it hurts. Happy Birthday to you, T. 💙🧜‍♀️

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May 8

Six years old today.

My heart aches and is filled with extreme joy and excitement all at the same time. It’s done that since the moment I first heard her heart beating.

I’m a big ball of mush today, but never mind me. Today we’re having the most magical birthday party the gulf has ever seen to celebrate my beautiful baby. Happy birthday, Sweet T 🧜‍♀️💙

southernmadesimple

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May 7

When you’re Vogue and you know it. 😂

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May 7

Not a bad way to end the day. 🏖

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May 5

It's worth every thorn I got in my purple-stained hands. Worth dealing with the felonious south Alabama humidity. Worth the risk of running up on a snake in the grass. Worth every gnat pelting me in the face and mosquito bite on my legs and arms. Dewberry plum cobbler. Bluebell Vanilla ice cream on top. Lord have mercy. ⁣
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Yesterday I shared a video picking wild dewberries in the corn field across the road from my house. Dewberries and blackberries aren't much different. Dewberries primarily grow in the south and run wild. They're a bit seedier and thornier than blackberries. They're invasive, kind of a pain to get to and they'll bite you if you get too close. That's probably why I love them so much. ⁣
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You can grab this recipe for Dewberry (or blackberry) Plum Cobbler on the blog this morning - link in bio!⁣
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https://www.southernmadesimple.com/blackberry-plum-cobbler/

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May 4

South Alabama friends - Dewberries are ready!

Do you know the difference in a blackberry and a dewberry? It’s basically nothing. The type of vine they grown on is a little different. Dewberries are a bit seedier, and they grow primarily in the south. You’ll see kids picking these on the side of the road during this time of year. They’re wild, will stain your hands purple and will stick and itch the fire out of your skin.

But that’s what dewberry cobbler is for. It’s a cure all. 👌🏻

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May 1

The Tucker girls both got photogenic in their age divisions, and little Laken got second runner up in the school pageant today.

Thankful for this opportunity to show my girls how to cheer on their classmates when they each get their moment in the spotlight. Every little girl is incredible, and it’s so fun to get to celebrate that during pageant days. 👑

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Apr 29

Moms - When you’re asked what you’d like for Mother’s Day, are you one to actually say what you want? Or do you beat around the bush, give really vague clues and just assume people are supposed to know what to get you? OR do you prefer to just be surprised?

I’m a pretty direct person. I don’t usually wait to be asked what I want for certain occasions. I don’t make my husband ride a roller coaster of guessing games. I told him exactly what I wanted.

And look! Purple hydrangeas. I even got them early. Gah-lee they’re gorgeous. I’ve always loved hydrangeas, and purple ones just make me swoon. I think I like them even more than my tomato plants.

Good job, @stucker51454. You really have a way of picking out gifts. How did you know I really wanted these? 😉 ❤️

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Apr 28

I'm not saying I have a black thumb. I'd call it more of an 𝘢𝘭𝘮𝘰𝘴𝘵 sort of green, but with brownish hues. Like a 1960's chartreuse velvet couch. Retro. 👍⁣
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I say this because I've nearly killed my strawberry plants. I've not been the best plant mama. My tomatoes are great because as a plant mama, I do have a favorite plant child. It's always tomatoes. BUT I'm trying to nurse my strawberries back to health with my retro thumb. Bless it. ⁣
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I just want a bowl of this strawberry jalapeno salsa. That's the goal. Tomato sandwiches, mainly, but also strawberry jalapeno salsa. 🍓⁣
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What are you growing in your garden this year? I want to hear about it!⁣
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And you can grab my recipe for this strawberry jalapeno salsa by visiting the link in my bio!⁣
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https://www.southernmadesimple.com/strawberry-jalapeno-salsa/

southernmadesimple

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Apr 26

We had to have a little talk about freckles. I caught her with a washcloth trying to scrub them off of her face. She wasn’t mad they were there, just a little confused about why they’re there at all.

Mommy has freckles, daddy does not. Some kids in her class have them, but most don’t.

Raising girls in a society that defines beauty for you is hard. One day someone may try to tell her her freckles are less than. That her very own genetics and heritage aren’t beautiful. That’s where I step up to the plate and tell her otherwise. Freckles are more than beautiful. They’re millions of angel kisses. Infinity rays of sunshine radiating from her skin. Specks of pure sugar sweeter than Dixie Crystals. Each and every one of them is special.

I show her my freckles all the time. I show them to her like I’m proud of them, because I am. Mine never faded as I’ve gotten older, and I suppose this is why. God knew I’d be raising little girls into confident young women, and how sweet it is that we get to wear these freckles. Sugar specks. Angel kisses. I hope she always knows that her blueprint is beautiful. ❤️

This beautiful monogrammed hair bow from @southernbelleslikebigbows is one of our faves currently. Isn’t it lovely? 😍🎀

southernmadesimple

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Apr 25

I have a theory about egg salad. This may be met with a⁣ little opposition, but hear me out.⁣
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For me, egg salad falls into a group of 4 classic southern⁣ foods that I believe will begin to die out with my (millennial) generation. And I’m 𝘯𝘰𝘵 knocking millennials, but here’s my theory:⁣
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Egg salad, Potato Salad, Chicken Salad and Coleslaw are 4 foods that I do not predict we’ll still be bringing to the church potluck when we’re up in age. And it’s not at all because we don’t like them. ⁣
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It’s just… these are 4 foods that have given us some 𝘴𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘰𝘶𝘴⁣ trust issues over the years. ⁣
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I like egg salad, but I do not like 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺𝘰𝘯𝘦’𝘴 egg salad. Same goes with the remaining three. There are 𝘸𝘢𝘺 too many variations of these foods. There’s too many ways they can go terribly, terribly wrong. ⁣
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I had to learn quickly whose bowl of potato salad to partake⁣ of and whose to avoid during church functions. I’ve bitten into far too many cute little triangular chicken salad sandwiches, only to discover someone threw chunks of celery in there for giggles. I’ve scooped a plethora of egg salad onto a club cracker, only to crunch into enough raw onion to make my eyes burn and my heart ache. ⁣
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And don’t get me started on the coleslaw. ⁣
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I’m not saying people are wrong when they add these things.⁣
It all comes down to personal preference. ⁣
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Egg Salad is great, but I know it’s not for everyone.⁣
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And for the record, I make mine with cream cheese, crumbled up bacon pieces, Duke’s mayonnaise and sweet relish. And if you’re ever at a church function with me years down⁣
the road, I just might bring it to the potluck. It’ll be in this vintage Pyrex dish. ⁣
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There’s no onions in it, and you can trust me on that one.⁣
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You can find my recipe on the blog - linked in the bio!⁣
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https://www.southernmadesimple.com/cream-cheese-and-bacon-egg-salad/⁣
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#southernmadesimple #southernmade #southernfood #alabamablogger #foodielife #foodstagram #instafood #foodlovers #foodpost #foodcoma #homemade #homecooking #foodiecrew #hangry #goodeats #instayum #foodgram #ontheblog #eatingforthegram #foodstagram #foodblogger #foodpics #recipe #foodphotography #getinmybelly

southernmadesimple

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Apr 22

She’ll be six soon. She’s having a mermaid party. She’s smart as a whip. She’s been practicing her softball swing nearly every day trying to get it right. I imagine I’ll need to be practicing my swing in a few years in case someone gets the idea that it’s okay to break her heart. My beautiful child. ❤️

Isn’t this monogrammed hair bow from @southernbelleslikebigbows absolutely fabulous?! This photo is for T’s upcoming school pageant. Go back a few photos to see the one I almost submitted. 😂

Swipe to see a few snapshots of my Little Miss Enterprise photogenic pageant photos from 1996! I was a few months older than T at the time.

southernmadesimple

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Apr 20

Some people measure greatness in stars, but gold chocolate coins felt more appropriate. Five gold chocolate coins.

That’s five million bucks in sugar, you know.

Incredible job, @seanofthesouth. I really, really loved it.

Now please stop making me cry.

#theincrediblewinstonbrowne

southernmadesimple

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Apr 19

Southern women monogram everything. I can't tell you why. I have no clue who came up with it or why we feel that urge to immediately plaster our initials on something. I just know it's what we do. I've seen just about everything you can think of monogrammed. I even know a few people with monogrammed undergarments. (I lived in a college sorority house for two years, so not much surprises me.)

But have you ever seen a monogrammed bubble wand? That was one thing I had never seen before. Then the wheels started turning in my head. My little girls NEEDED a monogrammed bubble wand. You know, for obvious reasons only a southern woman can understand or halfway explain. But I couldn't find them online anywhere.

So I made them myself. Little girls should never have to go without a monogrammed bubble wand. 😏 (Swipe to see!)

So I wanted to spread the love a little bit! One of you will win a girls (or boys) bubble wand bundle! Each set contains 1 monogram wand and a bow and unicorn for girls, or a tractor and puppy dog for boys.

Here's how to enter:
1. Follow me (@southernmadesimple)
2. Like and save this post (You can save posts by clicking the bookmark in the right corner)
3 Leave a comment telling me what state you're following from.

That's it! Easy peasy!

For extra entries (completely optional:)
1. Share to your stories (please come back here and comment saying you did!)
2 Tag a friend who you think would like to enter (1 tag = 1 comment)

Open to US residents only. Ends 4/23/21. This giveaway is in no way associated with Instagram.

southernmadesimple

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Apr 17

Have you ever wanted to go back in time and slap some sense into yourself?

During my middle school and high school years (mid 2000’s) you couldn’t pick up a magazine without seeing a girl with straight hair. Someone ONE time made fun of my curly hair, and that was it for me. I straightened the fire out of my hair for years because I didn’t think my hair was “desirable.”

Insert eye roll here. 🙄🙄

I still straighten it. Old habits die hard. But dang y’all. It took me until I was nearly 31 to realize my hair is beautiful just the way it is.

And not giving two flying farts (excuse my language, Mama) what other people think of my natural hair is so freeing. Embracing how my hair naturally comes out of my head is something I’m currently loving. 💯

southernmadesimple

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Apr 16

I can’t look at this picture of my little red head without feeling my heart turn into Jell-O.

Regular Jell-O. Strawberry. Not that sugar free nonsense.

southernmadesimple

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Apr 15

We’re on the road back to Birmingham today to Children’s Hospital to discuss Laken’s eyes and where we go from here after her unsuccessful surgery.

Sitting inside Children’s for 10 minutes and watching things going on around you will make your problems feel real small. Laken’s condition isn’t very serious compared to others, but I’d move mountains to be able to take her place. Parenting is beautiful, but it does some work to your heart.

If you could, would you lift up our Laken in prayer this morning? 💗

southernmadesimple

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Apr 13

The child doesn’t take her helmet and glove off. I told her to hop on the golf cart so we could take the mail to the mailbox and the trash to the road.

Of course she had to get ready for such an occasion, just in case we ran into someone in our driveway who wanted to play ball. What a beautiful child.

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