Discover Your Inner Southern Belle!

 I discovered a darlin' blog yesterday called, The Sunshine Diary.
sunshinestatetheblog.blogspot.com

This 'lil cute thang has the biggest most infectious smile ever! 

Well, along with these two well mannered children.

Look at those pearly white smiles!

Just reading her posts make me smile.  

She exudes lightheartedness, playfulness, and optimism.

Plus, I immediately like anyone that says they like to, as she put so eloquently,  throw back a cocktail or two, or three, or four.  

What? 

She says she is a 20 something New Yorker who recently moved to Florida, so she could finally be the Southern Belle she was meant to be!

Being from the South myself, this got me to thinking...

What makes one a Southern Belle?

My bro invited his 'lil high school sis up for his West Texas State Univ. fraternity party. 
What were my parents thinking! Boys, boys, and more boys! 

Diggin' those '80's eye glasses, poofy hair, and faux (oopsie) pearls!

Here goes, this is what I have learned and experienced, being from the south myself.

1.  wikipedia.com 

Southern Belle (derived from the French word belle-meaning beautiful) is an archetype for a young woman of the American Old South's upper class.  The "Southern Belle" epitomized Southern Hospitality, a cultivation of beauty, and a flirtatious yet chaste demeanor.

2. urbandictionary.com

Southern women appreciate their natural assets:  

Clean skin.  A winning smile.  That unforgettable Southern drawl.

Things I know for Sure!

Manner's are important to a Southern Belle:

 You never address your parents or elders without:

"Yes, ma'am."

or

"Yes, sir."

Always, Always, did I say Always?  Eat with delicate fingers.
It is polite to keep one's utensils next to one's plate or gently resting on the edge.

Expressions you will hear from a Southern Belle:

"Y'all come back now, ya hear."

MY mother's favorite:  "Well, bless your heart!"

EVERY mother in the neighborhood will ask:  "How's your Mamma?"

This 'lil sweet Southern mama actually made her darlin' daughter remove a word she didn't deem "Appropriate" from her blog.  Dag-nabit, can't get anything by these Southern mama's!

Southern Belles Can't live without the following:

Hi-heels

Colorful strapless dresses

A tan (I've known some girls that would bring out the Crisco to get their tan on).

The beach

The lake

Pearls
Sweet Tea

Make-up ~ especially mascara and lipstick!

Nobody can hold a candle to this little Southern Belle!  Ootsie knows how to wurk it!

From Urban Dictionary

The 10 Commandments for Southern Belles

1. Never cuss in front of your Mamma or mammy.
    (or semi-cuss in your blog or give your daddy the finger)
   

    When I was a teenager, I wanted to tell my daddy off, because I'm sure it had to do with me NOT GETTING MY WAY.  But I knew better, so when he turned his back
~

    I flipped him off ~ Yea~ I'm talkin' the finger!
OOPSIE

    He must of heard the cursing echoing from that finger because he immediately turned around, Busted!

     Thank goodness my daddy has a sense of humor, he scolded me, then I witnessed a chuckle.

 And I never felt the need to do that again.           

2.  Your daddy (and Rhett Butler) is always the perfect man.

                ~that's perfect man #2 in the background~

                  Can I get an "Amen" on that Southern '80's hair and Brides Maid dresses?!

             The bows on those hineys are...well....yea...ugh....BIG!  WHY?

3.  Never wear white after Labor Day or before Easter (I think that one changed!)

4.  Never try to pass faux pearls for real ones at any special event.  

    I broke that rule already, as seen in the above photo with my bro.  But, really ladies, who cares.

5.  Always say yes mama and yes sir.  No matter who you are talking to.

6.  Never go out without "putting your face on" because you never know who you will see.

     This is so ingrained in me, that I can't even go to the gym without my face on!  

7.  Never pretend to be drunker than you really are.

     I have no idea what they are talking about????

8.  Never smoke at a country club, on the street, or anywhere besides your house or at a very close     

     friend's house.

9.  Never forgive yankees.  (just remember you could be Scarlet O Hara if they had not have won the

     war.)  I disagree, a real lady has a forgiving heart!    

10.  Never accept the defeat by the enemy.

I'm not so sure about some of those rules,
but I do know it is a lot of fun being a girl from the South.
Because we have that "Inner Southern Belle Mojo" to be...girly, glamtastic, and very, very glitzy!
Just ask these Southern Belles...

Yea, we're talkin' to you sista!