Mardi Gras ~ A Southern Season

Ever had that feeling after the Christmas and New Year holidays that all the excitement has come and gone? And what are you left with.....? Just hanging around waiting on spring?

Not in the south. Not. Even. Close.

Just a few days after the new year (January 6th), a beautiful thing begins....CARNIVAL SEASON.  The excitement is insane...it's a close rival to football season in the south. (Don't get me started on football, yanks. That is an argument you will never win!)  I will make a safe bet that the majority of yanks have never even heard of Carnival season before. That, my friends, is something I can't even imagine.

Originating in Mobile, Alabama, Mardi Gras can actually be traced all the way back to Medieval Europe. Today, it is most recognized as a holiday of New Orleans. Of course, I was raised in Hattiesburg, conveniently located 1.5 hours from both locations. Hattiesburg has not really had much celebration until recently. Although, for the 3rd year (I think?) the burg has proudly hosted their own little "Hardy Gras" named after our main street running through town, Hardy Street.

I could spend all night explaining Mardi Gras traditions, but really it is more about the underlying meaning of what Mardi Gras says about Southern culture. Even though the following is completely my humble, southern opinion, I am sure that almost all southerners will agree:

-We love to find a reason to have a party....and go ALL OUT.

-Once we have a theme, we live and die by it. Wear the colors- from head to toe. Don't try to make an excuse. You honestly will be the only person who doesn't dress up.

-Speaking of dressing up- we love to get ridiculously gaudy with it. Sequins, beads, massive hats, etc are highly encouraged.

-It's gonna get loud. Either get excited or get away.

-Food...duh?! There's a dish for every season- and King Cake is...well, king. There is NOTHING worse than a crappy excuse for a king cake. I guess the yanks wouldn't know the difference anyway!

-We need absolutely nothing to have fun. Stick us out on the side of the road with our friends, family, food, drinks, and a radio...we will literally sit there all day waiting on a parade that lasts an hour. Call us simple minded if you want- to us, it's just a different type of tailgating.

- Our holidays are not just one day. We have 67 pre-parties that come before the actual holiday...and the actual holiday is considered a 5 stretch. Yes, we do get out of school for this yanks- sorry we're not sorry!

I guess my only question left is---- what do yanks do for fun?

A King Cake visual for all the yanks. There is a plastic baby hidden inside somewhere. If your piece has the baby, you have to eat it. Yep, it's tradition. 

Shhhhh.......

Home on the Range

Huntin' vs. Hunting

We spent the weekend in Hattiesburg visiting with my family. Of course my mom, sister, and I went about with our womanly shopping duties while the men went huntin'. My dad has been an avid deer hunter since before I was born, and I know that this time of year, Dad is always out huntin' on the weekends and holidays. 

It has been nice to see my Dad and Curtis have a common interest....or not so common. My Dad has been giving Curtis the rundown on the ways of Mississippi huntin'.

After visiting Iowa my first time, I realized that the type of hunting Curtis and other midwesterners do things quite a bit differently. 

First and foremost, I am not fluent in hunter's language, but I know what tree stands and shooting houses are. In my mind, pretty much huntin' necessities---Not so in the yankee world. While we were in Iowa, I look out the window of the Ladwig's cabin (where us women folk were cooking vittles and watching over the children) and Curtis, his Dad, and their other friends were just wondering through the woods with guns! If I were to partake in this style of hunting, I'm pretty sure I would end of accidentally shooting some other hunter that was out doing the same thing as me! Or, with my luck, not shoot some random bum that was actually wandering up to mug me. How do you even tell the difference? The only type of huntin' I know of is sitting in absolute silence in a deer stand or shooting house for hours. I guess maybe this is another way southerners are lazy? Or, as I would say, "preferential towards comfort." We just sit back, relax, and wait for the deer to cross our path. Fact is, Yankees go hunting- Southerners go huntin'. Now we all know the difference. Ya learn something new everyday! 

Do you know what a pheasant is? Nope, I didn't either. I had to google how to spell it. Enough said. 

I'm not even going to go into white camo. I'm pretty sure some of my fellow Southerners are going to read this and think- "White camo....What the heck is white camo?" Now, I'm no expert, but a few short years ago, I didn't even know white camo existed. Yep- this girl is purely Southern.

HEY- sister...I can totally see you. Pffffft....white camo....

Opposites Attract? 

You know, when I started brainstorming about writing a blog I went through thousands of ideas. I kept wondering what made my life unique. There are millions of blogs on marriage, fashion, food, DIY projects, etc. I finally settled on the topic of mine and Curtis's cultural differences because I felt like that was pretty unique and I could take it in numerous different directions about all the topics I mentioned in the last post; food, family, traditions, etc.  (Side note: If you know of some other chick out there writing about life with her Yankee husband, PLEASE by all means point me in her direction. I need as many allies as possible)

I do think Curtis and I are opposites in a lot of ways (no worries- you'll hear all about it) and maybe we have a few things in common. BUT, when I really started to think about it, aren't all couples for the most part opposites? There always needs to be one person that takes the lead, one person who is the clean freak, one who is the disciplinarian with the kids, etc. I would genuinely like to know: Is there really some couple out there that is extreeeeemely similar? Two clean freaks? Or even worse, two slobs? Two OCD people? Two introverts? To be honest, I can't think of one thing that Curtis and I are extremely similar with, except for the fact of neither of us ever giving up in an argument- HA! Oh geez...

I'm truly wondering which would be more of a disaster. Two opposites or two extremely alike? Don't get me wrong, you're still going to enjoy reading the ridiculousness of our opposition, but I'm interested to hear about your marriage, relationship, friendship.  Come on now, don't be shy!

Yankees are from Mars- Southerners are from Venus

I've always wanted to start a blog. I thought for months...heck, YEARS to try to figure out what I could write about.

Then, I married a yankee.

I never realized the amount of pride I had in my home state, or in the south until I started dating Curtis. We have our own civil war within our home about once a week. No exaggeration. Our "civil wars" are not series of battles over anything of importance,  but usually over our ideas of the way things are supposed to be "just because" and realizing that the other person has never done things that way....and isn't interested in starting now. It's hilarious....and actually become blog-worthy.

Food, traditions, words, sayings, childhood activities, holidays, family, image....you name it- I'm sure I'll touch on it at some point throughout this blog.

For you yanks out there: This blog is in no way intended to rag on yankees and all the weird, ridiculous things you do. Heck, I married Mr. Midwest after all. :) Maybe this can be my own personal form of therapy- and your dose of comedy. Enjoy............. y'all