When I became a grandmother and held Jack in my arms for the first time—I can’t even begin to describe how good it felt. It’s a love greater than I could have imagined. I still remember Jamie & Brooke sharing their big news with me. The whole family was gathered around the table on New Year’s Day, full of food and tired from cooking, when they made the announcement. It probably won’t come as any surprise that I flew out of my chair like I was on fire and grabbed the two of them and danced with joy. Truly, I thought I’d be 90 before I had my first grandbaby and, even then, wondered if I’d ever have any more. Never in my wildest dreams did I guess I’d have eleven just sixteen years later!

I think my favorite thing about being their Guinny is that I can just love, love, love them and then head home afterwards. I get to give them unconditional love without having to be the disciplinarian—my relationship with each of them is built on giant heaps of love. Whether I’m just eating ice cream with and watching every miraculous movement of my little babies or crabbing, playing games, or heading to the amusement park with my bigger boys, we just always have fun with each other. You know, had I known having grandchildren was so good, I’d have had them first! But as each baby grows into an amazing young person, it’s wonderful to see how our relationships evolve. Each one of our relationships is different and special in its own way.

Though no matter how our relationships differ, a few things are consistent throughout, and those are the lessons I’m tryin’ my best to impart on them. Of course, I try to teach them about getting in the kitchen and cooking, but the most important lessons are those I pass on outside of the kitchen. I try to teach them about forgiveness, to laugh daily, and to never take themselves too seriously. And above all, I try to teach them to never be ashamed of their ability to show love. Kindness, compassion, and love are what makes life so worthwhile, after all.

Speaking of showing love, it’s funny how things change as we get older, including how we celebrate Mother’s Day. When I was a young mom, I felt fortunate if I got some pretty flowers or if I was treated to a nice lunch, but now, even though I’m of course still a mama myself, I prefer to make the day all about the young moms and my Aunt Peggy. I’d rather do the cooking and hosting and spend my time showering the other wonderful mothers in my family with love than have any fuss made over me, and I’m sure I’m not the only grandma who feels this way. The way I see it, I had my fair share of Mother’s Days, and now I’m ready to let the women doing all the heavy lifting have theirs.

No matter how you’re spending the day this year, I’m wishin’ a very Happy Mother’s Day to all you mamas and grandmamas out there!

Xoxo

Paula

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1. Waste not, want not. Growing up with parents and grandparents who lived through the Great Depression, I was taught at an early age not to be wasteful.
2. Help those you can because you can’t take it with you when you go. Giving back to my community and communities where I operate businesses has always been a goal of mine. There was a time when I had very little, and now that I’ve been so blessed, I want to help those whose shoes I’ve been in.
3. Goals don’t mean anything if you’re not willing to put in the work.
4. When your time comes, you’ll wish you had spent more time with loved ones and less time working. Having had a thriving career later in life, this is something I’ve really come to embrace in the past few years.
5. Money can’t buy happiness or solve your problems. Take it from me, you’ll still have problems—some of them may just look a little different.
6. True friends stick by your side no matter what.
7. If you can read, you can cook. Cooking can be as easy as following a recipe (and paying attention). Once you’ve followed enough recipes, you’ll likely feel more comfortable to start experimenting.
8. Say yes—you never know where it can lead you!
9. Follow a recipe to the T the first time. After that, you can make it your own to suit your family’s tastes. If you jump the gun and make changes before you really know what to expect, you’ll never know if it was for better or for worse.
10. Don’t take everything so personally. Not everything bad that is done to you is done out of spite or cruelty. It often says more about the person doing the bad thing than it says about you.
11. There’s no more special relationship than grandchild and grandparent. There’s less pressure and a lot more spoiling when you’re a grandparent rather than a parent. I’m a proud Guinny to eleven of the sweetest children you’d ever meet, and my relationship with each one is so very different.
12. Check the expiration dates on your spices. Most of us keep our spices well past the expiration date and end up with spices lacking in flavor.
13. What doesn’t kill us makes us stronger.
14. Find what you’re passionate about and pursue that as a career. If I’d known when I was younger I could make a career out of cookin’, I may have had an easier go of things in those years before I started The Bag Lady.
15. If you can’t forgive yourself, you can’t expect others to do the same.
16. Accountability is important, but so is grace.
17. It’s never too late to find true love. As someone who found the love of her life in her late-fifties, I’d encourage those of y’all who haven’t yet found your person to keep the hope alive!
18. Family isn’t just blood—it’s those you love unconditionally. Michael and his children aren’t my blood, but I love them just the same. My friend Bubbles is the sister I never had. We all need to just open our hearts and expand the definition of the word “family.”
19. Food isn’t just fuel—it’s comfort, love, and kindness too. Food can say a lot if we let it!
20. Moderation is the key to life. A friend of mine told me about the 80-20 rule in nutrition where you eat healthy 80% of the time and can enjoy those less healthy items 20% of the time, but I’d say that rule applies to all aspects of life.
21. Admit when you’re wrong. Nobody is perfect.
22. There will always be someone better than you at something, so accept that fact and learn from them because the more you compare yourself to others, the more unhappy you’ll be.
23. Surround yourself with positive people because positivity is contagious.
24. Don’t take your loved ones for granted—you don’t know how long you’ll have them. Having lost my parents at an early age and my brother Bubba in 2019, this lesson is one of the most important I can share with y’all.
25. You can’t let fear hold you back. Speaking as someone who suffered from agoraphobia for years, I can tell you that it’s easier said than done, but working through that fear helped me to change my whole life.
26. You never know how your smile or laughter can brighten someone’s day, so do it as often as you can.
27. Aim for minimalism or at least your version of it. Having a lot of things won’t make you happy, so try to just keep what you need, what you use regularly, and those few items that truly do bring you joy.
28. Everyone has something to teach you. It doesn’t matter who they are or where they come from, I promise you that you can learn something from them.
29. Always be prepared for unexpected guests. I always keep a pound cake or some other baked good handy and my freezer is always stocked with the basics.
30. God always has a plan.
31. Learn from your failures, and if possible, learn from the failures of others around you.
32. Speak less and listen more.
33. Don’t take yourself too seriously. Lord knows I don’t! Life is more fun if you can laugh at yourself.
34. Take a stand for what you believe in.
35. Words mean something, so think before you speak.
36. Cook with love, and you’ll taste the difference.
37. People deserve second chances. I’ve been given my share, and I work hard every day to prove I’m worthy of ‘em.
38. Follow the golden rule: treat others as you’d like to be treated.
39. Don’t be afraid to ask for help. It’s a sign of strength, not weakness.
40. Be humble—we all put our pants on one leg at a time. Having more fame, success, or money doesn’t make a person better than any other.
41. You’ll never please everyone. Instead of focusing all your attention on those that take issue with you, focus on the positive relationships you have.
42. We are all worthy of love. God made us in his image, and there’s no better image than that.
43. The best kitchen tools can be found right on the ends of our arms. That would be our hands, if there was any question.
44. It takes as much bravery to walk away from something as it does to stay. “Quitting” gets a bad rap, but leaving something toxic, whether a bad job, a bad relationship, or something else, takes real courage.
45. The only thing in life that is constant is change.
46. Forgiveness is free.
47. You can forgive someone without making excuses for or approving of their behavior.
48. Don’t judge a book by its cover—you don’t know their story, where they came from, or where they want to go.
49. Stick an oven thermometer in your oven to make sure it’s calibrated properly. Your baked goods will thank you!
50. Mental health is just as important as physical health.
51. Bad habits can be hard to kick, but it’s worth doing! It took me years to quit smoking, but I’m so very glad I did it.
52. Take a good long look at your priorities. If you aren’t prioritizing what is most important you, you need to work on rearranging your list.
53. Everyone has a story to tell—be an advocate for them to tell it. Not all of us have a voice, so if you do, help amplify the voices of others.
54. You’re your own biggest critic.
55. You don’t have to know everything. I may be a cooking “expert,” but I’m not afraid to admit when I don’t have a good answer! After all, no one likes a know-it-all.
56. Your past doesn’t have to define your future.
57. Show gratitude to those who help you, whether they do so in a big way or small. I know I wouldn’t be where I am without help from friends, family, and strangers, and I always do my best to give thanks.
58. The best things in life are free. Kindness, love, compliments—they don’t cost a dime!
59. You can’t be in control of everything—you’ll waste a lot of time and energy trying to be.
60. Everything happens for a reason. We may not like it and we may not understand it in the moment, but in time, we will.
61. Stop wishing time away because before you know it, it will all be gone.
62. Learn to say no—you can’t please everyone, and you shouldn’t have to.
63. You CAN teach an old dog new tricks. People are capable of change, and it’s up to all of us to encourage that growth.
64. Leave your comfort zone—greatness never comes from staying in your own little box.
65. Stop making assumptions. I know y’all have heard that old saying…
66. Experiences are better than things. My family has been fortunate to take some wonderful trips together, and the memories we made on those adventures mean so much more than any material gift ever could.
67. Friendship is a two-way street. I’ve had friendships that fizzled over the years because I was afraid to reach out first.
68. You’re only as old as you feel—and it’s ok if you feel older some days than others.
69. It takes more energy to hold a grudge than it does to forgive.
70. Count your blessings—you may be surprised at how blessed you truly are.
71. Simplicity is often better than complex—especially where food is concerned. Some of my favorite recipes in the world are some of the easiest I’ve tried.
72. Success rarely happens overnight. Even if a big break can change things overnight, the hard work had to start long before.
73. In my book, kindness and compassion trumps success and intelligence any day.
74. Healthy, open and honest communication is the key to any good relationship, whether that’s personal or professional. The other person isn’t a mind-reader, and it’s important to remember that.
75. Take time for yourself. You can’t be there for everyone else if you’re never there for yourself.

Did any of these lessons speak to your heart? Do you have any to add to this list? I sure would love to hear ‘em. Leave me a note in the comments section. Until next time, this 75-year-old is sendin’ y’all love and best dishes.

Xoxo,

Paula

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The silver lining of such a stormy year is that it really helped us to find what matters most for each of us. For some, it was their physical health. For others, financial stability became a priority. For me, that would be my family and my friends. In that spirit, I’ve decided on two resolutions in 2021 that will help me to keep my focus where it belongs.

First, I’ve decided to embrace minimalism—or at least my version of it. In October of 2020, Michael and I sold our home, Riverbend. As we got older and slowed down a bit, we realized it just didn’t match our lifestyle anymore. It was too much house filled with too much stuff and too many distractions from good conversations with good people. So we are in the process of finishin’ up some renovations to the first house Michael and I built together—our beautiful Dogwood home. It’s smaller, cozier, and just feels like home. And I know many of you will recall this house, as it’s where I filmed my shows for years.

During that hectic move, I realized that I just didn’t have a need for many of the material items that filled my closets, shelves, and garages, so I took that opportunity to get rid of countless pots, pans, dishes, old appliances, clothes, shoes, trinkets—you name it. While I may never be a true minimalist, I can at least work towards it by keeping just those items that I really need and that really make me happy.

My second resolution, though, is my most important resolution of all—in 2021, I’m resolvin’ to be a better friend and relative. I’m promising to be more present, to be a better listener, and to truly be there when folks need me. I like to think I do all these things already, but who among us can’t be better at them?

While my business keeps me hoppin’, I never want to forget to put my family and friends above everything else. After all, I can’t take my business with me when I go, but I sure can take the memories I’ve shared with those I love.

Now, I’d love to hear from all my friends out there. What are your resolutions for 2021? Share with me in the comments section, won’t you? I promise I’m listenin’!

Happy New Year!

Paula

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I am so blessed to have a husband as handsome, funny, and supportive as Michael Groover. In honor of Valentine’s Day and my special Valentine, I thought I’d share this video we recorded a few years ago where we tell the story of how I met that loveable husband of mine—though I can say he didn’t seem that loveable on our very first meeting! I may have ran away that time, but when the good Lord (and my dogs) threw us together a second time, we realized we both checked all the boxes for one another.

I hope you plan on spending Valentine’s Day showing those people you love how much you care. Of course, a Valentine doesn’t have to be a romantic love—it can also be a grandchild, a friend, a sister, or anyone that you think could stand to hear that you’ll always be there for them.

And if you’d be so kind, I’d love to hear how you met your Valentine in the comments below.

Happy Valentine’s Day!

xoxo,

Paula

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As I turn 73 years young, I’ve taken a moment to reflect on the wonderful life lessons I’ve been fortunate to learn along the way, and since all good friends share with one another, I thought I’d share those lessons with y’all. Some you may already know and some may be gentle reminders of lessons you’ve lost sight of. Either way, I hope you’ll give them a thought or two.

1. There’s no greater gift than family. I know that I’ve been blessed more than most. I can assure you that, given what I’ve been through in my life, that I don’t take it for granted. But the one thing that money can’t buy is the love of your family. My family is the most important thing in the world for me. I’d truly walk through fire for my husband, my children, and my grandchildren—they are my world. Of course, if you’re someone who may not have many blood relations left, just remember that family is what you make it. Good friends can become family all the same. Treasure them and treat them well. Material objects are fine and dandy, but you can’t take it with you. What you take are the memories and the love you’ve accumulated over the years.
2. If you really want something, you have to work hard for it—don’t expect it to be handed to you. I’m proud to be an American; it’s a blessing to live in a land that allows and encourages you to work hard and fulfill your dreams. I spent too many years of my life waiting for good things to happen to me, but it wasn’t until I decided to take control of my own life that they started coming my way. After years of resenting my circumstances, I pulled myself up by my bootstraps, took my last few dollars, and started a business. I worked sun up to sun down for more years than I can count, and slow and steady, I built that business from a lunch delivery service to a restaurant in a motel to a stand-alone restaurant, cookbooks, television shows, and a whole lot more. Now, I’m not saying that hard work can conquer it all—I certainly had a few lucky opportunities over the years that got me where I am, but when they came my way, I grabbed hold as tight as I could and I worked even harder to prove I was worthy of them. My skills in the kitchen are what I’m known for, but it was my work ethic that got me to where I am today.
3. Food nourishes the soul as much as the body. I know that everyone today is becoming much more health-conscious, including myself. Since my diabetes diagnosis, I’ve learned the art of moderation and to love lighter, leaner dishes. But I’m a southern girl through and through, and I know that good old-fashioned comfort food makes me happy. Certain dishes bring me back to special moments in time—moments that mean something with people who mean even more. Food is more than sustenance for the body—it’s food for the soul, too.
4. Surround yourself with people that are encouraging and positive. I’ve always heard that if you want to know who a person really is that you should take a look at the people they surround themselves with. I’ve really taken that to heart, as the people that you spend the most time with surely play a big role in shaping your character, your morals, and your habits. I’ve found that when I surround myself with people who are kind, generous, and hardworking, I’m not only more kind, more generous, and more hardworking, but I’m also a much happier person. Positivity and encouragement are infectious, but so is negativity and resentment. Which would you rather surround yourself with?
5. You don’t have to look to movies or television to find heroes. The beautiful thing about heroes is that the greatest heroes are found right here in everyday life. Superheroes may be able to stop a speeding train, but superheroes aren’t real. The real heroes are the firefighters and police officers who risk their lives to protect ours, the moms that work three jobs so that her kids can live a better life, and the teachers who go out of their way to ensure that every kid has a full belly and a full mind. If you’re in need of a little inspiration, find the people in your life that inspire you, your family, and your community.

xoxo,

Paula

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Y’all know that my family has grown over the years to include nine beautiful grandbabies, and I even have one more on the way! Jamie and Brooke will be blessing me with another beautiful grandson this year, and I couldn’t be happier. But those of you with grandchildren know just how quickly they grow up, and mine are no exception! In fact, my youngest grandchildren, Bobby and Claudia’s triplets, are over a year old already. Plus, my first grandchild, Jack, turned 13 last year, and I still can hardly believe he’s a teenager!

A lot of y’all may have also heard that I lost my brother, Bubba, last year to pancreatic cancer. Losing him was one of the most difficult things I’ve ever dealt with because not only was he my brother, but he was also like a child to me—you may or may not know that after our parents passed away, a teenage Bubba came to live with me. But the loss of Bubba was a hard reminder that I need to make the most of the time I’m given with those I love. For all of these reasons, I’ve decided that this year, there’s only one resolution that matters—carving out more of quality time with my family from my busy work schedule and being present and mindful during that time.

With my family growing, I just want to spend every minute I can showin’ them how much I love them. After all, the people you love in life are really the only things that matter. It’s easy to get bogged down with bills and work, but when all is said and done, I’ll never wish I worked more—simply to have more time with my family.

Happy New Year!

Paula

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First and foremost, I’m blessed with a kind, loving, and large family. I’m married to an incredible man that makes me laugh daily, I have two kind, generous sons, Jamie and Bobby, who have married the most incredible women, Brooke and Claudia. I have a bonus daughter in my niece, Corrie, and a bonus son-in-law in her husband, Brian. I’m appreciative of the relationships I have with Michael’s children, Michelle and Anthony, and their spouses, Daniel and Ashley. I’m grateful for those who passed that loved me unconditionally and continue to do so in Heaven, my mother, daddy, and brother, Bubba, most of all. And of course, no Guinny could ever count her blessings without counting her grandchildren, of which I’m happy to count nine—though I’ll happily count those blessings twice! I’m also lucky to have lifelong friends, which have become family, many of which I’ve called friends since I was a girl, including my dear friend, Bubbles.

I also count my good health as a blessing. I have bad knees, problems with my eyes, and I still have to watch my sugars, but, overall, this old gal is doing just fine. I feel great, and that’s what counts!

I’m also lucky to have such a wonderful career and business. It’s been an opportunity that far surpassed my wildest dreams, and while it was, and still is, hard work, I owe such a big part of that to you all. You’ve supported me endlessly, and I can’t thank y’all enough.

I also have to thank the partners and team members that I’ve been blessed to work with over the years. They’ve turned so many of my fantasies into realities. And of course the staff at my restaurants who help share my favorite recipes and extend the Southern hospitality that means so much to me to all of you.

I’ve been blessed with a feast of plenty, and speaking of feasts, y’all, one of the biggest feasts of the year is nearly here! With Thanksgiving just around the corner, I figured you may be stressed with all the preparations—the guest list, the cleaning, family coming to stay, cooking. The least I can do is help with the menu planning. Take a look below to mix and match your Thanksgiving menu. Just pick an item or two from each category and you’ll have a feast to remember!

Happy Thanksgiving, y’all!

xoxo

Paula

Appetizers:

Sugar and Nut Glazed Brie

Cranberry and Date Roll-Ups

Shrimp Crostini

Goat Cheese-Stuffed Eggs

Prosciutto-Stuffed Mushrooms

Soup & Salad:

Creamy Pumpkin Soup

Thanksgiving Curried Squash and Apple Soup

Warm Apple and Goat Cheese Salad

Jamie’s Salad with Maple Red Wine Vinaigrette

Air Fryer Roasted Butternut Squash Salad

Breads & Biscuits:

Biscuits

Sweet Potato Biscuits

Cream Cheese-Filled Biscuits

Quick Cloverleaf Rolls

Organic Wheat Baguette

Main Course:

Roast Prime Rib of Beef with a Rich Pan Sauce

Orange Apricot Turkey

Rum-Glazed Turkey

Roasted Turkey with Maple Cranberry Glaze

Side Dishes:

Corn Casserole

Green Bean Casserole

Phyllo-Wrapped Asparagus

Vidalia Onion Pie

Green Beans with Walnuts, Cranberries, and Blue Cheese

Turkey/Chicken Stuffing

Oyster Dressing

Southern Cornbread Stuffing

Wayne’s Cranberry Sauce

Cranberry Salad

Buttery Buttermilk Mashed Potatoes

Aunt Peggy’s Sweet Potato Soufflé

Dessert:

Toffee Brownies

Bourbon Pecan Pie AKA Douglas’ Dark Rum Pecan Pie

Aunt Peggy’s Cheesecake with Praline Topping

Pumpkin Gingerbread Trifle

Mama’s Sweet Potato Custard Pie

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Claudia and I will be married six years in July. We knew we wanted a family, so we enjoyed each other’s company for a couple of years and got a dog. Dogs are training wheels for newlyweds who want kids. One dog turned into two, and they seemed to be doing fine under our care, so babies should be a breeze, right? Triplets? They’re not a breeze—they’re a hurricane, and my wife and I are soon to feel the full force of it.

In hindsight, there are countless reasons why I’m delighted with having super-twins (that’s the correct term for multiples more than two); however, at first I was terrified that we wouldn’t get a chance to get our feet wet with one baby to see if we could handle it. But I took comfort in the fact that the dogs were doing fine under our care.

With multiples comes the risk of premature birth (one of many risks), and our babies were born early—at twenty-six weeks and four days, to be precise. Our little ones were fragile and delicate, and they were in for a long hospital stay. Four months doesn’t sound very long, unless your tiny newborns are in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU for short). It’s not easy to spend hours on end every day in that unit feeling powerless to help your babies, but nothing matters more, and you’ll do it. Trust me on that.

The care that we received at Memorial Medical Center was excellent, and we are forever grateful to the team of doctors and nurses that cared for our babies. We forged relationships that will last for years.

Although I have been crazy about Claudia since the moment I saw her, I didn’t know how well I married until our babies arrived. She couldn’t love our babies any more or be more dedicated to them. To say she is a great mom is a tremendous understatement. She is a super mom and such a natural. I am a very lucky man.

Our babies are now home and thriving, and we have settled into our new normal. Caring for triplets is far from easy, but it’s all we know. Three is our watermark. Sometimes I think having one baby would be easy, but I know that isn’t true. Being a parent is hard no matter how many you have, and everyone’s circumstances are different. We know we are blessed beyond belief.

For a long time, I didn’t think I wanted children. Then I met the woman I wanted to marry and that changed. That’s what life is. It’s change—change and growth. Being married, and now having children, has helped me grow as a person and jolt me out of my selfishness and immaturity, and I’m loving it. At times it’s overwhelming and difficult beyond belief. I mean, with three babies, you need personnel. We are so fortunate to have a great family and solid support system. With their help and God’s blessing, we will survive and thrive. I know that to be true. And when my babies smile at me, my heart is filled with joy and excitement for the future.

Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to Disney World!

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