lane cake

Can You Guess This Classic Southern Dessert?

Phyllis Lifestyle 4 Comments

Layer cakes are absolutely essential to Southern culture. It is completely acceptable and quite common, actually, for more than one layer cake to appear on dessert tables at holiday gatherings, baby showers, church suppers…you get the idea! One of the more discrete Southern classics is the distinctive Lane Cake. Also referred to as Prize Cake or Alabama Lane Cake, this …

cheese-pepper biscuits

Let’s Talk Biscuits!

Phyllis Inspiration 5 Comments

Whether or not you’re a Southerner, it’s no secret that biscuits in the South are a way of life. Born out of necessity and frugality, biscuits provided a high-calorie breakfast for those who worked a lot and did not have much to spend on meals. Now our nostalgic and familiar staples are found in nearly every Southern restaurant and home …

Galentine's Tea

Happy “Galantine’s” Day!

Phyllis Lifestyle 7 Comments

Valentine’s Day really does just make me smile! It’s the first bit of brightness and celebration after an often long and dreary January—what a breath of fresh air! This day is celebrated in many ways other than romance. Some families have delightful Valentine’s traditions, and now, “Galantine” celebrations seem to be the thing to do! Which honestly, makes so much …

birthday cake spread

Home Bakers…This Is For You!

Phyllis Inspiration, Lifestyle 6 Comments

Now, this is an announcement that I am beyond thrilled to share with all of you! Bake from Scratch magazine just unveiled their third annual cookbook! Covering both sweet and savory, Bake from Scratch: Volume Three is filled with artisan recipes for yeast bread, pies, birthday cakes, and so much more. I am particularly excited about the plethora of birthday …

New Year, Lots of New Magazines!

Phyllis Inspiration 20 Comments

Can you believe it is another New Year? It seems like we just started 2018. We have so many wonderful things going on here at Hoffman Media. Did you know we now own the Original Sewing and Quilting Expo? And the Martha Pullen Company? We are so excited about these wonderful additions to our company. More to come on that! …

notecards

Five Memorable Christmas Gifts to Give

Phyllis Inspiration 1 Comment

It’s no announcement that I absolutely love finding the right gift for someone. It’s part of what makes Christmas so special! There are those moments when a gift idea comes to us with ease, and we happily make our purchase knowing that it’s “just the thing!” However, there are those years that we are simply stumped. Indecisiveness and an excess …

vintage Christmas tea party

Are You Steeping Your Tea the Right Way?

Phyllis Inspiration 13 Comments

Holiday tea parties are nothing short of magical! Tea parties are near and dear to me because they feel like such an elegant occasion, but they are fairly simple to prepare. The china, place settings, and sweet and savory finger foods are all key elements, but a tea party is only as good as the quality of tea served! And …

Vietri Santa Gift Set

We Have a Winner!

Phyllis Giveaway 9 Comments

I am excited to finally announce the winner of the Santa Doll and The Magic of Old Saint Nick: The Adventure Begins book by Vietri founder Susan Gravely! Congratulations to Gayle Cooper! I truly hope that this gift brings you and your loved ones joy this Christmas season. This book is not only wonderful for reading to children but also …