Get Gussied Up

It is that time of year again when Christmas parties roll around. You will likley be seeing family and friends you haven't seen since the last seasonal event and need to make an impression that will last another year. You need to get gussied up.

gussy (v) - to enhance the attractivness of something in a showy way, usually followed by the word up

This phrase can be used in different ways, so make sure if someone says to you, "Well, aren't you all gussied up" that the tone isn't condescending! They may be implying that your outfit is a little... off. There is a difference in being stylish and going overboard. You can be stylish with a few interesting pieces of clothing or jewelry and keep your outfit reined in. If you do this and someone says the same thing, then you are spot on and your oufit can be a topic of discussion (in a good way) for the ladies.



A tad overdressed
Google Images

I think it is always better to be over dressed for an event rather than underdressed, but please... you know what is reasonable to get away with. Please do not walk into an event looking like Scarlett when you should be looking like demure, Southern lady (even though that dress IS amazing)! Batting your eyelashes will not save you from whispers and being uncomfortable all evening! 



A Month of Sundays

After the near disastor of losing this blog, I am back! Thanks to the hard work of two pretty awesome people I am able to continue posting here.

Obviously I haven't written in a long time. In the South there is a phrase for such a long time. It's called 'a month of Sundays'. This phrase can be used if you haven't seen someone in a while or you haven't done something in a while.

A month of Sundays actually sounds like a nightmare... like that "Groundhog Day" movie. It totally freaks me out to think about waking up to the same day over and over. If Jesus doesn't give you enough of a reason to do things the right way, imagine having an eternity of waking up to hell... just a thought.

Thankfully a 'month of Sundays' is only a saying used by people with pretty accents!

Example conversation:

"I haven't seen you in a month of Sunday's! I heard at church that your mama was doing a mite poorly."

"So good to see you, sug'. Yes, mama fell and broke her hip about a month ago. She so appreciated that lovely card you sent her!"

Don't you just love the way Southerners say things?

For a Yankee Dime, Dahlin'

I have pretty much taken the summer off of writing and am slowly getting back in the swing of things...

I'm sure you have been asked at some time for a small favor. Favors are no small thing in the South... I can hear you now, "Well, I only asked for that one teensy thing." That may be true, but favors have a snowball effect. It almost gets to the point where you are scared to ask someone for a favor, because there is no telling what they may ask for in the days to come. This isn't the case for everyone, but most of us know of at least one person who always asks for that favor. In social psychology this is called the "foot-in-the-door" approach. Once you are "in" with someone you are more likely to get under their skin and get what you want. This isn't so bad when it's a family member or a close friend, BUT when it's not it's very hard to stay pleasant!

My family has a phrase we use when asking for a favor. It's all about the Yankee Dime. A Yankee Dime is a peck on a cheek in exchange for the favor. For example, I could ask someone to do the dishes for me and give them a Yankee Dime for the work. As a child I was pretty sure that this meant I would get a dime for doing something. I learned pretty quickly when I never got any change that there had to be another meaning. :) While I'm sure other people use this saying and not just my family, it sure is a fun phrase to use... especially to fool the Yankee's!

So, next time someone asks, "What's it to you?" just say, "Why dahlin' just a Yankee Dime!"

A Bushel and a Peck

Growing up my Nannie would always say to us grandchildren, "I love you bushel and a peck and a hug around the neck." Once we reached the age to repeat it, we would say it with her. She still says it today and we say right back.

It's funny now because the youngest in the family is convinced that it is "I love you a bushel and a puddle." Of course no one would correct him. It's his and Nannie's "thing."

You can purchase this HERE.

I didn't realize until a few years ago that this was actually a song. Many of you that had this phrase either told or sung to you growing up may not have realized it either. I thought it was something my Nannie just said to all of us. I also thought it was a Southern thing, but I guess if it's up for claiming we would! If you want to look it up, you can find it in the Broadway play "Guys and Dolls" or you can hear Doris Day singing it.

Here are the lyrics:

I love you, a bushel and a peck!
A bushel and a peck, and a hug around the neck!
A hug around the neck, and a barrel and a heap
A barrel and a heap, and I'm talkin' in my sleep.
About you.
About you!
About you!

My heart is leapin'!
I'm having trouble sleepin'!
'Cause I love you, a bushel and a peck
You bet your pretty neck I do!
Doodle, oodle, oodle.
Doodle, oodle, oodle.
Doodle oodle oodle oo.

I love you, a bushel and a peck
A bushel and a peck, go and beats me all to heck!
Beats me all to heck how I'll ever tend the farm
Ever tend the farm when I want to keep my
Arms - about you -
About you!
About you!

The cows and chickens
are goin' to the dickens!
'Cause I love you a bushel and a peck
You bet your pretty neck I do --

What are a bushel and a peck? Well, they are types of measurements. I looked it up to make sure and a bushel equals about 35 liters while a peck is about 9 liters. So, if you love someone "a bushel and a peck" you must love them a lot! :D

It's a cute song and fun to see where the phrase comes from, but it's not as special as having someone you love say it to you!

Stick to Your Ribs

In the South we have a phrase that some people may not know. It is "stick to your ribs." This refers to a food that will keep you from being hungry for a while. For example, a bowl of sugar cereal is not going to keep you full. However, something like Brunswick stew or corn pudding is very filling. It is similar to foods which are also known as "hearty foods."

It is days like today that I would love some good, home cooked Southern food (warning to the reader: REAL Southern food is to be eaten with caution... too much can give you a heart attack). Rotisserie chicken begins to lose its appeal after a while and cereal does not cut it.

Cereal in a Chinese take out container. Excellent.

I consider good, southern food to be the original family recipes passed down through the generations. Like fried okra, fresh peas, pulled pork BBQ, collards, cabbage, cornbread (fried or baked), and the casserole dishes. Casseroles are a Southern thing. Casseroles are good for any occasion: funerals, new baby arrival, a quick "get together", when someone is sick, etc. Look in any church cookbook... especially a Baptist cookbook. About 1/2 of the book is going to be casserole recipes, 1/4 dessert recipes, and the last 1/2 is going to be miscellaneous things that could even include homemade counter cleaners. Any Southern woman worth a grain of salt is going to have at least 3 of these cookbooks in her kitchen cabinet.

Family BBQ in January, 2011.

In the South we also like to put up vegetables. This is sadly becoming a thing of the past, but my family still does it some. Black eyed peas, fresh peas, or tomato sauce are a few of my favorites. I really love homemade pickles. You have never tasted good pickles unless they are canned in a Southern woman's kitchen. And you are REALLY missing out if you have never had homemade jelly (this is not jam). I love jelly made with pears, apples, or Scuppernong grapes (the purples ones, not the green ones) from the backyard.

Scuppernong Grapes, by Will Cook

Southern food is a necessity, kind of like a cold Coke on a hot summer day.Come on down South for a taste of what we call "mama's cookin'." You are missing out if you don't have some food that will stick to your ribs!

Jerk a Knot in It

As far as I know "jerk a knot in it" is a Southern phrase. You can either be told to do this or have it done to you.

For example, this phrase can be used as an early warning system. If I was told as a child to jerk a knot in it, this generally meant that I had better straighten up or reap the consequences. When my cousin was little my Nannie had a spatula in the drawer by the stove. It had a smiley face on one side and a sad face on the other. She would tell her that young ladies behave and that she was going to jerk a knot in her if she didn't behave. You can imagine which side of the spoon she would get if my Nannie had ever used it for more than stirring grits (or course this was more playful banter than actual threat). See below for more consequences.

I wonder if it would really leave a smiley face print?

If this phrase is used as a verb it can likely result in having your hide torn up. It would go about like this, "You are on strike three. Don't make me jerk a knot in you." Panic begins to set in... you have really done it this time. Don't even try to run, because you can't outrun an angry Southern woman (my Nannie chased me through the backyard one time when I ran away from her -- it was more fun then anger!). You may even have to pick out your own switch to have your leg fried with. Or, the nearest object may be grabbed instead... something along the lines of a spatula, a flip flop, a fly swatter, and the list goes on. Feel free to tell me any other ones you can think of. If you were being smart mouthed you could even get your mouth washed out with soap or hot sauce. I never got hot sauce, but I did experience the soap a time or two. Not pleasant.

I have to put this in just for those of you who are horrified after reading this. This is not abusive if handled the right way. Obviously I was not traumatized by this since I am joking about it now. Now a days we all just tease about it. I didn't really experience much of this, because I was horrified at the very idea of having a knot jerked in me. Of course I would push my limits as far as I could, but I usually sat in time out and looked at that hateful wallpaper for what felt like hours (nice visual image, right). On rare occasions I may have had those DREADED words spoken to me: I'm disappointed in you. I still hate hearing that phrase directed to ANYONE! That would tear me apart. You can also be threatened to have a knot jerked in you if you are having a hissy fit. This is not a pretty combination.

This phrase may sound kind of odd, but it's just another one of those Southern thangs.



Source: Google Images

Throwing a Hissy Fit

Yep, if you aren't from around these here parts you may not quite understand this sayin'. A hissy fit is not a temper tantrum. If it was a temper tantrum it would be called that. A hissy fit has its own level. I have been know in the past to throw one a time or two... okay, maybe more than that. Another way to describe this is, "she had a fit and fell in it." I know, it sounds kind of silly.

For those of you who don't know what a hissy fit is, let me put an image in your head. Imagine a child having a complete meltdown. You've seen these children in the grocery store. It is past their nap time, they are hungry, and mom is only on aisle 3 of 8 (her list is probably longer than her arm). Whining leads to crying and crying leads to the great meltdown. Brace yourself. Uncontrollable crying ensues and everyone stares. Some children hold their breath and others flat out scream. Some do that thing where their body gets really tense and bows up as they fall on the floor (quite entertaining as a spectator, mortifying for the parent -- just walk away!). As a younger child (-6 years), I didn't really do those these things. I, of course, had to put my own style on the hissy fit. My parents have told me that I would get so angry that they were preparing for my head to spin (imagine The Exorcist). This was usually due to me being extremely tired or hardheaded... maybe both. If I didn't stop the hissy fit I was threatened with a "bathroom trip" or the car being pulled over to have my leg fried. Heaven forbid! From what I have heard I would usually calm down, followed by snubbing/crying. While I don't remember these, I don't doubt that I did this. I was and still am pretty strong willed.

Source: Google Images
Don't judge her. She had a rough day. :)

Now, you won't actually catch me having a hissy fit. No adult should have one of these, even though I have witnessed quite a few. It is time to put on your big girl panties and get over it. Sadly, we all have to grow up at some time. LOL

You may catch me threatening to throw a hissy fit if I am really mad. I am only kidding!  I have really made an effort over the past couple of years to work on patience (that is almost a curse word to me). It wouldn't be a good idea to push me until the avalanche of fury explodes. Most of my friends have never seen me "ream [someone] a new one".... I guess that's a good thing. I have to remember that after all... tomorrow is another day!

Don't Air Your Dirty Laundry

I really hate when I see a public screaming match or overhear a tacky conversation. Friends, this is called "airing your dirty laundry." You know those things that people used to (and sometimes still do) hang clothes on to dry? Well it would be a plumb shame if you accidentally put up the dirty laundry instead of the clean clothes on the line. That would be mortifying!

Source: Clip Art

Well, guess what? People seem to have forgotten which kind of actions belong in private and public. Having a hissy fit in a parking lot is NOT going to get you anywhere. Looking back on a moment such as that would probably make you want to crawl in a hole. A more extreme example would be that trashy show ('telebasura' in Spanish!) where people talk about who their "baby daddy" could be. COME ON! (Okay, so it may be a little entertaining to pause on, but REALLY?)

We are all guilty of talking in frustration, a.k.a- venting, but please do not say anything that you wouldn't say to your grandmother unless you get in a more private place... if not for your sake, do it for the majority of people around you. It shows a little class, or even manners!

Bite that tongue and don't air your dirty laundry! :-D