Whiskey in a Teacup: What Growing Up in the South Taught Me About Life, Love, and Baking Biscuits + Win a copy!

Simon & Schuster Canada sent me a copy of Whiskey in a Teacup in exchange for a sincere review. All opinions are my own and true as the day is long. 

Well paint me green and call me a cucumber! I’ve been all atwitter for Reese Witherspoon’s new book, so I was pleased as punch the other week when an advance copy arrived in the mail. (Bless your heart, @simonschusterca!) It’s Whiskey in a Teacup: What Growing Up in the South Taught Me About Life, Love, and Baking Biscuits, a guide to bringing Southern charm to your everyday life through family recipes (from Reese’s Corn Bread Chili Pie to her grandmother Dorothea’s Tea Punch), tips on entertaining and decorating, hair and beauty secrets and even how to speak like you come from the South. (If you’re wonderin’, it’s pronounced I shore doo lack the look of the them there jumbo shramp.) 

As you’d expect, the tone is warm, unfussy and invitin’ and Reese’s love for making special occasions special (and even the everyday ones!) is downright infectious. I’m itchin’ to put on a big ol’ hat, pour me a mint julep to go with a plate of Kentucky Hot Brown Bites and Paprika-Dusted Devilled Eggs and call it a Derby party for one. (‘Course Reese is a people person and would probably invite the whole neighbourhood but there’s nothing to stop you from tryin’ anything on a smaller scale.)

I would have loved to see more humour, but I did laugh at a few things. Like how Reese’s family and friends have been calling her mom her “Confetti Betty” ever since she figured out how to use the animated confetti effect for text messages. I just think that’s hilarious! And on the lemonade stand she and her brother had as a kid: “Being the loudmouth of the family, I was also the designated barker. I would flag down cars and harangue people into extra cups (‘Doesn’t your husband want a cup, too?).” LOL. Can’t you just picture it?

What the book does have in spades is heart. It’s about honouring family traditions and creating new ones, making sure loved ones feel loved and appreciated, and doing well by others. If that’s the Southern way of living, we could all use more of it.

A giveaway!

For a chance to win Whiskey in a Teacup and a matching tote (thanks Simon & Schuster Canada!), tell me why you want to win a copy in the comments below. This entry is mandatory.

For an additional entry, visit try small things on Facebook and like (or love!) this post and leave a comment, then tell me you did so and your name on Facebook in the comments below. (Shares aren’t necessary, but Y’ALL ARE SO KIND I RECKON YOU WILL!) 

For a third entry, follow both try small things and Simon & Schuster Canada on Instagram and tell me your handle in the comments below.

And feel free to tweet the following once per day and leave the url for your tweet in the comments below (one entry per tweet). Make sure you’re following try small things and Simon & Schuster Canada on Twitter for your entry to count.

It’s here, y’all! #Win Reese Witherspoon’s “Whiskey In A Teacup: What Growing Up in the South Taught Me about Life, Love and Baking Biscuits” + a tote from @trysmallthings  https://wp.me/p4xBed-6PQ 10/10 CAN #WhiskeyInATeacup

The contest is open to Canadian residents 18+ excluding Quebec and ends at 11:59 p.m. EST on October 10, 2018. The potential winner (chosen at random) must respond to prize notification within 48 hours and provide the correct answer to a skill-testing question, otherwise another winner will be selected.

Oh! And I see my friend Maria at bestdayblogger and Brandi at Yee Wittle Things are also sharing Whiskey in a Teacup reviews and a chance to win so be sure to visit and check them out!

Good luck y’all!

Update October 13, 2018: Congratulations Cassandra K!