If I made a list of all the best movies in all the world? Steel Magnolias would be at the top. It’s funny and witty and poignant and sad and it makes you cry buckets of tears and then laugh out loud with tears running down your face.
I just re-watched Steel Magnolias.
For the 4,145th time.
Why?
Because it never disappoints.
Ever.
It’s like a friend that you can always count on.
There is so much about joy and life and laughter and love to be gleaned from the scenes of Steel Magnolias and surprising, eye-opening, amazing life lessons to be learned along the way.
So in honor of the greatest movie that’s ever lived…
…. here’s a little Steel Magnolias wisdom.
1. Be kind
Especially to your hairdresser.
They have feelings, too.
Sitting in a hairdresser’s chair you can almost feel the weight of the day rolling off your shoulders along with snippets of your hair.
It must be something they learn in class at beauty school because hairdressers are always so full of wisdom and brilliant observations like “When it comes to suffering, she’s right up there with Elizabeth Taylor.”
And besides, you never know when you’re going to need 14 dozen eggs or an extra can of Aqua Net.
2. Have courage
Especially when you are new to town and you just walked all the way to Truvy’s beauty parlor in your oversized shoes. Especially when life has handed out challenges and you may or may not have a husband who just left you behind.
Find your courage.
Find your strength.
Speak your truth and say “Miss Truvy, I promise my personal tragedy will not interfere with my ability to do good hair.”
Life is a little overwhelming right now.
I get it.
I understand.
But one day you’ll be at a wedding in a dress that the bride gave you with the most amazing pair of glasses and extra bread rolls in your purse and your waist will be eighteen inches and your dress will be extra-princesslike and your hair will be high.
And you’ll have the courage to introduce yourself to the bartender.
3. Know how to rock a bad hair day
When life gets a little challenging and your husband doesn’t really pay any attention to you and ignores your beauty parlor and doesn’t help you carry the eggs to the car and your son just drives away on a motorcycle and forgets to take out the trash.
Don’t worry friend.
You got this.
Ignore the fact that your new assistant just teased your hair to the sky and backcombed your bangs into something that looks like a helmet.
None of that matters.
Just put on seven-inch heels and tie a scarf around your head and take out the trash yourself and tell yourself, “Smile. It increases your face value.”
And remember.
True beauty comes from within.
4. Always help others in need
Make yourself available to help those who might need a helping hand.
If someone is getting married and they need a groom’s cake? Be a good friend and step in with a little imagination and an armadillo cake pan.
Be bold.
Be imaginative.
Be creative with your cake choices.
Don’t hesitate to go the extra mile and make the cake red velvet with armadillo icing.
Let them have their armadillo cake and eat it, too.
5. Be true to who you are
This is perhaps the most important life lesson of all and one of the hardest to remember.
You are unique.
And special.
And brilliant.
Truly.
There is only one incredible, amazing, wonderful you.
And when the church is full of 400 of your closest friends and your handsome groom is waiting at the end of the aisle and your father takes your arm and the doors open to the most amazing array of pink swags and pink garlands and pink bridesmaids and yards and yards and yards of pink tulle…
….hold your head high and greet the world like the incredible steel magnolia you were born to be.
And later?
When someone compliments you on your pink decorations just shake your head and laugh and tell them it’s actually pink…
…it’s actually “blush” and “bashful.” 🙂
PS Do you have a favorite line or scene from Steel Magnolias? Here’s another favorite of mine “Laughter through tears is my favorite emotion.”
And the best movie line ever: “I would rather have 30 minutes of “wonderful” than a lifetime of nothing special.”
And if you want to make the wreath I pictured in the post?
Here’s how to make a magnolia wreath.
Steel Magnolias is one of my very favorite movies. It is time to watch it again!
What a wonderful post. It makes me want to go back and watch this heartwarming movie. I love all the quotes you shared too. Here's another one that I Iove: "Smile, it increases your face value", (Truvy Jones) xoxo
One of my fav movies of all time!
My Friend, you are “Amazing”. You are such a Good Storyteller. I wish I was your child when I was growing up … your children are very Blessed to have a Mom as Good, Kind, and always Positive (maybe sometimes just on the outside) but nonetheless Blessed. Thank you so much for the Wonderful Slice of Positivity and Wonder. Have a “Sparkling” Day…XO
Hi, KariAnne! Steel Magnolias is my all time favorite movie! Have you ever visited Natchitoches, Louisiana where the movie was filmed? And did you know that the house where M'Lynn and Drum Eatenton lived is now a bed and breakfast, and you can actually stay there? Here's a link if you want to check it out! https://steelmagnoliahouse.net/SMH_Guest_Rooms.htm Natchitoches is a sleepy little town with wonderful restaurants and shops, and lots of historical sites, and if you go when there are no events scheduled there, it can be a quiet romantic getaway. Or, if you like crowds, they have festivals like the Christmas festival in the movie, complete with fireworks! Not far outside of town, there are old plantations that you can visit and feel like you are walking back in time. Here is a link to get you started: https://natchitoches.com/ Thank you for all you do -- I have to go watch Steel Magnolias now for the millionth time!
Brilliant! Thanks, Rita
One of my favorite movies. It’s such a classic. My mom has terminal leukemia and is in late stages. I go to see her every other week. I was with her a few weeks ago and she is looking for something to watch on tv. She turns on Steel Magnolias. Honestly I did not want to watch that movie with her at that moment I could not look at her but we watched it. She told me what a great movie it is. Ugh! She is stronger than I am. It makes me cry to think about it but I’m glad we have the memory because she now sleeps most of the time and I doubt there will be any more movies for us. I pray for strength like May Lynn or whatever Sally Fields character was named. Thanks for letting me share Karianne.
Hugs, Jeanine. It's hard to lose your mom. With both of my parents, I felt like I was losing them inch by inch. I am blessed with beautiful memories.
Perfect post about a perfect movie- thank you for your words!
I love Steel Magnolias! Growing up in the South, I knew someone just like each one of those characters. I think my favorite line is Clairee telling her dear friend, the irascible Ouiser, “Ouiser, you know I love you more than my luggage.” Southerners know how to navigate through hard times, especially with loss of a loved one. I will never forget when my daddy died, and the mountains of fried chicken, casseroles and zipper peas starting arriving, the pastor very calmly remarked as he headed out with a to-go plate, “We will eat our way through this.” A little levity never hurts.
My absolute favorite movie ever! Full of quotable quotes - I too never grow tired of watching this movie. Another great one….."The nicest thing I can say about her is all her tattoos are spelled correctly."- Truvy
It is a movie you never forget, laugh, cry, it gives everything and the best people ever to act are right in there. What a lesson it has to tell. Yes, I must have watched it more times than I care to remember, but wow, it never fails. Thanks for yet another great post.xx
Love this movie and all the stars!!! My favorite part is when one of them tells Sally Fields to hit Weezie!!! to let her emotions out! Lol I feel like a steel magnolia, as I am 69 and live in the south and have survived many ordeals, some life altering.
Slap her MaLynn. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Ylo0fUNT9vc My favorite part. The older I get the more I realize that I am slowly becoming Ouiser Boudreaux. “I’m an old southern woman! And we’re supposed to wear funny looking hats and ugly clothes and grow vegetables in the dirt. Don’t ask me these questions. I don’t make the rules!”
When Quiser says to Clairee, "Have you lost your mind?" And when Truvy (Dolly) says," I’m so confused I don’t know whether to scratch my watch or wind my butt."
What woman who ever watched this classic did love it, relate to it, and then never forget it. "If you don't have anything nice to say about anyone, come sit by me" Its not that I love talking bad about people, its just this line made me laugh so hard. And there aint nothing that can replace a good laugh. Loved this post.
My absolute FAVORITE movie of all time!! you are right, it never disappoints, and I know all the lines :)
I love this movie too! My favorite scene is at the cemetery when Sally Field's character is so upset after burying her daughter and wants to hit something! Weezer is offered up!! Reminds me that there can be laughter even in our most horrible circumstances! I need to go rewatch the movie now!!
Bravo👏🧡
It is impossible for me to choose one quote. I think of the characters and just smile. It is very hard to find a movie that has it all. This one does. Makes you laugh out loud and cry too. I love the south and know so many people just like the characters. You are a storyteller for sure. You have the knack of telling a story and people just want to hear you! Have a blessed day
GREAT post! Thank you.
Love this movie! blush and bashful!
Thank you. I’m going to post these five lessons on my mirror as a daily affirmation.
"I'm not crazy, M'Lynn, I've just been in a very bad mood for 40 years!" - Ouiser That's what menopause sounds like! LOL I saw this movie for the first time when I was going through that period of time. So, I could relate. I can't count how many times I've seen this movie. It is in my top ten. Most of my top ten are Southern movies. Southern women know how to rule!! I have to admit I am an Ouiser by heart. Love to get in the garden, wear funny hats and wear my overalls with my pearls!! "Very good, Annelle! You've spoken like a true smart-ass!" - Clairee
Young and carefree, my best friend and I went into the theater to watch Steel Magnolias. I came out of that theater forever changed and hadn't been able to watch it again until just recently when that best friend turned sixty and I realized that she wasn't go to die young from her juvenile diabetes. Steel Magnolias is an intense, gamut of emotions movie.
"The only thing that separates us from animals is our ability to accessorize!" xoxo
I have never watched Steel Magnolias. (slowly backs out of room in shame). ;-)
What a beautiful post, KariAnne. Thank you, dear Friend. XX
As a type one diabetic this movie left a big mark on me, I thought Jackson was very careless with Shelby's life. My husband and I agreed to adopt when the time came because it was so difficult at the time to have children without messing your body up. We married relatively young, and waited over 10 years, but ended up having our own children because the insulin pump came out and so many more things that make living with diabetes a bit easier. I have 2 sons and wasn't going to try for more because I was having kidney problems, which thankfully reversed after taking blood pressure meds. I am now 65 and have had diabetes for 49 years with minimal complications, YEAH. So the part with Shelby still bothers me so much. Otherwise the is wonderful. The story is based on the authors sister who had complications from type one diabetes.
Oh my, this was great! You had me in stitches the entire time. As always, your stories never disappoint. One of my all time favorite movies that I can watch over and over again. Tears and laughter, family and friends, rolled into one glorious and memorable film. So many wonderful moments throughout, but the cemetery scene gets me every time. Truly touches my heart in more ways than I can express. Love it all. Thanks for this.
Yes, eat that piece of wedding cake, don't listen to those chiding you about the calories. So much of Steel Magnolias had food, talk of recipes, county fair, the kitchen, the wedding reception and even Weesa with her bag of tomatoes. Cause a few peanuts in your Coke tastes a little better. Great post
The BEST MOVIE EVER!!!! There are so many fabulous quotes too. Great post thank you ❤️❤️
I enjoy this movie every time I watch it. I love this line from Claree: "The only thing that separates us from the animals is our ability to accessorize". There are so many other great ones too of course. Thanks for this post.
“You know I love you more than my luggage”. My grown kids and I still say that.
I could not leave a comment for today Friday April 28th blog. Just letting you know
I love this post! So many true and wonderful lines!
Years ago my mother, sister, daughter and niece went to downtown Houston to see the play Steel Magnolias. We thought it would be a comedy. During the weepy part, we discovered that none of us had hankies or Kleenex. I cried so much that my dress hem became my hankie. Thank goodness my dress had a full skirt! My daughter and niece dried their eyes and blew their noses on my frock also. When the SM movie came out I put a tissue box into my purse before we went to see it. I agree with you, Kariann, SM is an all time favorite.