What I’m Watching This Month: Sweet Magnolias and My Small Dose of Summer

Hello, my Darlings!

It is not my usual London Fog, but there is something almost ceremonial about making sweet tea during the first week of summer. It feels like my small way of welcoming the season without having to rush outside and pretend to be someone I am not.

So tell me, what summer drink are you sipping on this season?

I have been thinking about experimenting in my kitchen and creating a few simple mocktails to rotate through the warmer months. Nothing too complicated—just something pretty, refreshing, and fun. I think that may be my small dose of summer this year.

Speaking of summer, the new season of Sweet Magnolias has dropped on Netflix, and I could not be happier. I have been a fan of the series since the first season premiered in 2020. There is something about the quiet small-town setting, the sisterhood, and the way the women walk through the trials of life together that keeps me coming back.

If you have not had the pleasure of watching it, Sweet Magnolias is based on the novels by Sherryl Woods. The series follows three best friends—Maddie, Helen, and Dana Sue—in the small town of Serenity, South Carolina, as they navigate career changes, family, love, friendship, faith, and the many unexpected turns of womanhood.

Helen has always been my favorite. There is a strength and elegance about her that I admire. She carries herself with grace, but she is not untouched by life. She has hopes, disappointments, dreams, and moments where she has to gather herself and keep going. I think that is what makes her so compelling to watch.

The women of the show have the kind of friendship I long to have for myself. They have a ritual called “pour it out,” where they share their feelings, fears, joys, and struggles with one another. Of course, they usually have their cocktails in hand, hence the phrase “pour it out.”

It is such a special moment to be vulnerable and honest without the fear of judgment.

So this summer, I will be “pouring it out” with them—with my mocktail, of course. I am learning that it is good for me to say certain things out loud, to acknowledge my wins and losses, and to give myself space to be honest about where I am.

For me, Sweet Magnolias is the perfect summer show. It feels like sweet tea in a glass, a long conversation with a trusted friend, and a gentle reminder that life can still hold beauty even when it does not go according to plan.

Another thing I want to mention is that while watching the show, I have also been reading the books. I will say, the books are a delight to read. They offer more detail and give a little more understanding to certain parts of the show.

So ladies, give yourself permission and time to curl up on your sofa, make a refreshing drink, and find your show this summer season.

Until next time,

Xo,
Georgiana