Time to choose the gift wrap

By Leslie Anne Tarabella / July 1, 2016 /

I realize we’re celebrating Independence Day, but as a good Southern woman, I have to get my act together and decide on a wrapping paper theme for this coming Christmas. Last year, I foolishly believed my husband when he offered to take care of wrapping the gifts, and as God is my witness, I ended…

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To be 16 in the summer

By Leslie Anne Tarabella / June 28, 2016 /

Summer in the South for a 16 year-old consists of parents who bother him more than the heat, and days filled with friends, food and future adventures waiting just around the corner. Too old to stay home with his mama, but not yet old enough to be set totally free, it’s a summer for finding…

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True love found in the cafeteria

By Leslie Anne Tarabella / June 24, 2016 /

My college son returned home for the summer and I could tell he’d found a new love back at Samford University. It was a shock to realize he’d actually become quite fond of not one, but several ladies on campus. It’s true. The cafeteria staff has stolen my son’s heart.   It’s difficult for me…

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A Father and a (Southern) Gentleman

By Leslie Anne Tarabella / June 14, 2016 /

If your father is a gentleman, consider yourself blessed. And if he’s a Southern gentleman, you won the big prize. But more frequently, we’re seeing a new kind of Southern daddy. One who migrated here from parts unknown.   I was introduced to a regular, run-of-the-mill gentleman when I was in my twenties and first…

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Modern brides love Mason Jars more than fine crystal

By Leslie Anne Tarabella / May 31, 2016 /

As the calendar of civility marches on, I can tell by the stack of invitations on my desk that we have now entered my favorite time of year . . . wedding season. But even though these once scrawny babysitters have grown into beautiful brides, something makes me fear for their futures — you see,…

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Memorial Day — The Meaning of Taps

By Leslie Anne Tarabella / May 27, 2016 /

Memorial Day will be celebrated this weekend with ceremonies across the United States. Often, the traditional “Taps” will be played signaling the somber end . . . the end of the day, the end of soldier’s lives. The origins of the song are mingled with legends and folk tales, so it’s difficult to find hard…

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The Ransom of Red Chief self defense plan

By Leslie Anne Tarabella / May 25, 2016 /

This story can be found in my book, “The Majorettes are back in town” Putting aside the current politically correct, social and ethical storm of the bathroom gender issue, we should step back for a moment and realize that from the instant children were invented, mothers have always worried that some type of boogey man…

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Betsy’s charismatic cottage

By Leslie Anne Tarabella / May 23, 2016 /

  After years of fast-paced action raising two boys and operating a large real-estate office with her husband in South Florida, Betsy Adams settled into what has to be, one of the most charming cottages in Fairhope, Alabama.   What started out as a plain, two bedroom house soon became a cozy home that’s just…

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Lane cake’s a ‘Lame’ cake for our state dessert

By Leslie Anne Tarabella / May 18, 2016 /

In my never ending quest to sprinkle a touch of class on our dinner table conversation, I approached the topic of current events and informed my son and husband that the Lane cake had recently been named the official State Dessert of Alabama, to which my son replied, “Lame cake?” and my husband said, “Is…

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No Privacy!

By Leslie Anne Tarabella / May 11, 2016 /

  Let’s face it. Privacy is dead. Our laundry is being aired whether dirty or not, and we can’t always pin the blame on social media. The last haven of modesty and decorum has slowly eroded to the point that now, even the doctor’s office is a berth of lax security and breech of trust…

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