Blog Birthday Giveaway

Update: We have our winners! Congratulations to:

1. Amy of Interpret as You May

2. Raelena of Throu the Haze Reads

3. Kerr of Say Cheese

Sunday marked five years since I started blogging. It amazes me how much time has passed and how much I've loved spending that time in this little space. As a thank you to you readers, commenters, visitors and friends who make it all worthwhile, I'm giving away some of my favorite southern-flavored cookbooks, copies of which reside on my very own bookshelf, and you have three chances to win!

The grand prize winner will receive: The Lee Bros.' Simple Fresh Southern, Porch Parties: Cocktail Recipes and Easy Ideas for Outdoor Entertaining and The Back in the Day Bakery Cookbook. The second place winner will receive two of the cookbooks, and the third place winner gets one of the cookbooks. All winners will be chosen at random. To enter, just leave a comment below before midnight on Monday, January 21, telling me your favorite southern dish, dessert or drink. Good luck and thanks for following The SoHo!

Weekend in Photos

This weekend, we had a much-anticipated meal at Red Farm. The last time we tried to eat there, they said it would be a two to three hour wait and we said, "Peace out." This time, we got there when they opened and had a fantastic early dinner, complete with Pac-Man dumplings. I went jeans shopping, which was surprisingly painless, and played with Christmas gifts. And on Sunday, we had friends over to watch the Golden Globes and eat chocolate cake. What did you think of the Globes? Tina and Amy were awesome, I just could have used a lot more of them.

Sweet Scenes

I really like this artwork by painter Joel Penkman. It captures all the sentimental, glossy, candy-colored loveliness of sweets. Hope you have a wonderful weekend! And here's a reminder about the January Photo Project because I love seeing your photos!

[available on: etsy; spotted on: the kitchen inc.]

Angel Oak

While down south, Jonah, my parents and I spent a day in Charleston. On the way there, we stopped on Johns Island to see the Angel Oak Tree. Big and beautiful with its wild limbs sprawled to the ground, it was a pretty amazing sight to see. A perfect blend of stunning creation and swampy, southern charm.

Soup Days

Hamburger soup is something my grandma always makes on chilly days. When I was a kid, I referred to it as vegetable soup. It wasn't until much later that I realized pounds of beef are mixed in with all those veggies. Anyway, it's a cozy, simple soup, perfect for stirring up on a cold day in January.

Hamburger Soup
Adapted from Food.com

1 tablespoon olive oil

1/2 large onion, chopped

1 1/2 lbs. ground beef

1 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon pepper

1/2 teaspoon oregano

6 cups water

2 (8 ounce) cans of tomato sauce

1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce

1 cup celery, sliced

2 cups new potatoes, cut into eighths

1 cup sliced carrots

1 cup frozen peas

1 cup frozen corn

In a large pot over medium heat, add olive oil and chopped onion. Cook for three minutes, stirring frequently. Add ground beef and cook until browned. Drain excess fat. Add salt, pepper and oregano. Stir in 2 cans of tomato sauce, six cups of water and Worcestershire. Cover and simmer for about 15 minutes. Meanwhile, chop celery, carrots and potatoes. Add to soup and stir. Continue cooking soup at a simmer for 45 minutes. Season more if needed. Add peas and corn and cook for 20 minutes. Serve with a big chunk of crusty bread. Serves 4-6.

Flat Infatuation

I'm a person who will buy the same shirt in three different colors if I like it. I've also been known to buy two pairs of the same shoes, so when the first pair wears out, I have a brand new pair to replace them. My mom taught me this shopping method, which is from the "I like what I like" school of thought, and I'll admit, sounds like it could be related to a diagnosable condition. Regardless, these flats fall under that category. They're the sidewalk skimmers from Madewell and they come in a whole host of colors and materials, all with that perfect flat style, just between round and pointy. I already own three pairs and can't help but think about expanding my collection.

[1. snakeskin 2. glitter 3. suede 4. calf hair 5. leather 6. patent]

Weekend in Photos

It was a full and happy weekend. We went to a friend's birthday party and saw Zero Dark Thirty, which was intense and amazing and my pick for Best Picture. On Saturday, we waited in the cold for an hour and a half to swing and it was totally worth it. It was the final weekend to see an interactive art installation by Ann Hamilton at the Park Avenue Armory, so we went with friends. The huge space was filled with giddy New Yorkers, swinging, giving each other pushes and lying on the floor mesmerized by a giant piece of fabric. It was really beautiful and a lot of fun. Plus, we had a designer sighting, Cynthia Rowley and Kate and Andy Spade all chatting together and looking stylish. We followed that with an amazing meal at Calliope, and the delicious baba rhum dessert blew our minds, almost as much as watching that piece of fabric. Thank goodness for all of that because I also finally un-decorated the Christmas tree, which I consider to be one of life's greatest bummers.