A GIVEAWAY TO CELEBRATE NATIONAL THANK-YOU DAY!

Today, I'm celebrating National Thank-You Day! What a great time to stop and recognize small acts of kindness. There are many reasons to write a thank-you note. Acknowledging a kind deed or gift are just a couple of reasons. Writing a thank-you note shows that you are grateful for the act of kindness shown to you. You are repaying kindness.

To be perfectly proper, thank-you notes should be written on 'monogrammed notes' or 'correspondence cards.' Monogrammed notes are good-quality folded notepaper, white or ivory, and include a monogram (or name) on the front. Correspondence cards, which have no fold, are made from three-ply stock, white or ivory, and measure 6 3/4 x 4 1/4 inches. Your name is printed across the top. Here are just a few of the pieces of my thank-you stationery wardrobe...

Monogrammed Notes...Begin writing on page 3 of the foldover card.
Monogrammed Notes...Begin writing on page 3 of the foldover card.


Correspondence Card...Begin writing on page 1.

Please do not e-mail your thank-you note--that is an etiquette faux pas! Begin your note by telling the person how thoughtful they are and how they always find the perfect gift for you. Mention the gift and how you will use it. Close by thanking them again.

Small children should be taught that presents are given to them as acts of kindness. If you want your child to be thoughtful and courteous, you must train them to send thank-you notes.

Failure to write a thank-you note is an etiquette faux pas and it will be remembered. It is never wrong or too late to send that thank-you note!

"Feeling gratitude and not expressing it is like wrapping a present and not giving it."
~William Arthur Ward

THE GIVEAWAY:

I am very thankful to all my followers and readers and I want to say thank-you by offering this giveaway...full of some of my favorite Paula Deen products.

Here's what the giveaway incudes:

The Paula Deen "Hey Y'all" apron...just like the one I wear!
A bunch of Paula Deen products...all my favorites!
All these products are from Miss Paula's collection...BBQ Snack Mix, Cake Mix, Cookie Mix, Cookie Tin, Gift Tags (2), Spatulas (2), Egg Whisk, Cupcake Cups

Chocolate Fudge Brownie Mix, Blueberry Muffin Mix, Bread Loaf Liners, Rooster-Motif Measuring Cups, Rooster Motif-Measuring Spoons, Recipe Cards, "The Lady & Sons--Just Desserts" book, latest editions of "Cooking With Paula Deen" magazines, and a Coupon Holder.

All the Paula Deen goodies will be stuffed insided this darling Paula Deen Market Tote!

HERE ARE THE GIVEAWAY RULES:

~For one entry please leave a comment
~For 2 entries, let me know that you are a follower of my blog
~For 3 entries, let me know if you are a new follower of my blog
~For 4 entries, let me know if you shared about this giveaway on Twitter, Facebook, your Blog, at your Church...wherever!!!

The giveaway will close Thursday, September 30th at midnight and I will announce the winner on Friday, September 1st! (Edited: that should read Friday, October 1st!)Good luck to y'all!

THE FIRST WEEKEND OF AUTUMN!

I hope y'all are enjoying the weather this weekend...getting out and doing all the fun things of Fall! Please be gracious and join me in congratulating Mimi at My Green Acre. Mimi is the winner of my "Mini Giveaway to Celebrate Autumn." She has a beautiful blog and you simply must stop in and check it out right here! Take a look at her blog header...being a Southern girl raised in Georgia, I LOVE IT! Mimi, please contact me at: Miss Janice {at} Miss Janice {dot} com, so that I can get the little apron out to you.

Last night I cooked dinner for 7 people...Lord have mercy, I'm tired today! It was a very casual dinner for close friends with 3 children. Here's the table set for the adults...

Age-appropriate table setting for the children...
Quick and easy hors d'oeuvres for the children...

Appetizer for the adults--Taste of Gourmet Special Salsa Dip*

This Special Salsa Dip is made with Taste of Gourmet's Suddendly Salsa Mix and the recipe is a favorite of Taste of Gourmet Customer, Tricia Perkins, of Alabama.

*Special Salsa Dip:
8 oz. less fat cream cheese
1 cup prepared Taste of Gourmet Suddenly Salsa
6 oz. shredded mild cheddar cheese

Spread the cream cheese on the bottom of a baking pan or glass dish. Top with salsa and sprinkle with cheese. Dip can be cooked at 300 degrees for 10 minutes or microwaved for about 1 1/2 minutes. Serve with tortilla chips.

You can purchase the Suddenly Salsa Mix from me by visiting my Taste of Gourmet site here. The box contains 2 mixes and is $7.95...just in time for tailgating and Autumn social events, and great to take as hostess gifts.

Tie a bow around the container...instant hostess gift or party favors!

This morning I crawled out of bed and made it to Church! YAY! I stopped in to browse a Craft Fair in downtown Stuart, which wasn't a big hit with me. Then it was off to lunch at Panera Bread.

"HERE'S WHAT I WORE." The shift is the 'Stephanie Engineered Raindrop Blue' pattern by Lilly. The navy cardigan is from J. Crew. This is another great 'transitional dress' that looks real cute sleeveless, with a cardigan throw sweater, or with a navy or ivory turtleneck sweater and tights.
I wore these navy leather 'Revas' by Tory Burch and carried my navy leather pocketbook by Ferragamo. I wore a pearl choker neckace, large pearl earrings, my rollring wedding band by Cartier, along with my green 'Chameleon' watch by Rolex. My ponytail was adorned with a navy grosgrain ribbon bow and my fragrance of choice was 'Ferragamo' by Ferragamo.

Now, I must go and try to nap...I'm off to the gym later. Please be sure to check back tomorrow--I'm hosting another giveaway!

Thank you for stopping by today.

A MINI GIVEAWAY TO CELEBRATE AUTUMN!

YAY! Autumn is finally here. Hopefully my neighbors will finally "get" the Christmas tree that is decorated for Halloween on my front porch. I've seen the looks of those people driving or walking by...like, she must be crazy--it's way too early for that!

I'm now in full pumpkin mode y'all...having fun around the house today eating pumpkin pie and sippin' some African Autumn tea (from Harney Tea)...going through all the fall editions of my fav magazines.

Burning pumpkin scented candles...in the guest bath...

Just about everywhere...

While shopping in HomeGoods the other day, I bought a precious Halloween apron to add to my ever-growing apron collection. As I opened the package, to my surprise, there was another little apron attached to it..for a little girl! Well, since I don't have a little girl, I thought it would be sweet to pass this cute apron onto one of my lucky readers.

Isn't it just precious???

A close up of the design...

RULES FOR THE GIVEAWAY:
I'm gonna make this real simple for y'all to enter. Just leave a comment...there's no need to blog or tweet about it. Just tell me what you'll do with it. Will you give it to your daughter, granddaughter, niece, or a friend's daughter? Maybe a little girl in your church, neighborhood, or school who doesn't have a lot of fun stuff? I would love to know! Of course, I'll be modeling my apron soon in an upcoming post and would love to feature a photo of the lucky little girl who gets this apron on that post. You may enter this giveaway until Saturday, September 25th at 12:00 noon. I will announce the winner in my blog post on Sunday, September 26th. Good luck to y'all!

THIS JUST MIGHT BE MY MOST FAVORITE OUTFIT!!!

I spent the afternoon at the Gardens Mall in Palm Beach Gardens...what a fabulous mall! I enjoyed a great lunch at California Pizza Kitchen. If you follow me on Twitter, you know that I just love California Pizza Kitchen. Then I spent forever at the Pottery Barn. I was so enticed by their Fall catalogue that I just had to check everything out. I bought some really cute things for the house and most of my new loot was on sale.

This cute rooster will go somewhere in my house...just not sure where!

More rooster love...a cute wine cork! Now y'all know this a must-have for Miss Janice.

Love this darling chicken wire serving tray!

I bought the mustard color vase on the right-hand side. Now I need to find the perfect arrangement for it!

"HERE'S WHAT I WORE." The dress is the 'Audrey Charmed' pattern by Lilly. The black sweater is from Neiman Marcus. This just might be my favorite outfit! (I'm wearing this dress in my Twitter homepage photo and also my Facebook profile photo). I love the colors and design of the dress and I adore the ballet flats I'm wearing! It's a great 'transitional' dress that looks good sleeveless, with a sweater throw, or with a black turtleneck sweater & black tights!

I purchased these cute ballet flats with the pearl embellishment from the Purple Poppy a few years ago. In the photo I'm holding my '2.55' pocketbook by Chanel with the gold hardware, but I actually carried this '2.55' pocketbook by Chanel with the silver hardware. (Lord me, I was walking out the door and realized I had the wrong pocketbook--have y'all ever done that?) I wore a pearl necklace and pearl stud earrings, along with my rollring wedding band by Cartier. My ponytail was adorned with a black grosgrain ribbon bow and my fragrance of choice was 'Wink' by Lilly.

Thank you so much for stopping in today. I'll be back on Thursday...the first day of Autumn! {Y'all should know that I'm checking the weather forecast like a stalker...lookin' for cooler temps.} On Thursday, I'm hosting a MINI-GIVEWAY to celebrate the first day of Fall! Be sure to check it out.

Jezebel Sauce...A Staple at Southern Socials

One thing I've learned about living in South Florida...when you live near one of the exits off of I-95, friends are always coming and going up and down the interstate and dropping in! A few nights ago, I enjoyed a casual "Girls Night Out" with a long-time friend who wass heading 'up the highway'. "Girls Night Out" ain't what it use to be for me...Now, it's some appetizers with a glass of Merlot, followed by a quiet dinner out. My, my how things change!!!

My friend called earlier this week and said she was passing thru, so I needed to come up with some nibbles...fast! Now, y'all know Miss Janice loves to entertain and I keep my Southern Entertaining Pantry stocked at all times. I served Taste of Gourmet's Jezebel Sauce as a dip with crackers.
I mixed 8 ounces of cream cheese with 3 tablespoons of the Jezebel Sauce and served with crackers...and some Merlot!

Love these little "Girls Night Out" napkins I purchased a long time ago...perfect for us Jezebels (aka little old ladies)...going out on the town!
The matching "Girls Night Out" paper plates...

Jezebel Sauce is an old Deep South recipe that is a staple at Southern soirees, potluck dinners, and church socials. Jezebel Sauce is made with peaches, apples, and apricots and flavored with hot mustard and horseradish for a "kick." The mixture of the flavors will trick you...like the cunning woman in the Bible that the Jezebel Sauce was named for.

It is tasty as a dip for chicken fingers and fried shrimp, or as a spread on ham, turkey, or roast beef sandwiches. It's the perfect party food y'all!

Nutritional Analysis: 1 tblsp. Calories 50, Calories from Fat O, Total Fat Og, Saturated Fat Og, Trans Fat Og, Cholesterol O, Sodium 50mg, Carbohydrate 13g, Sugars 9g, Protein O.

You can purchase the Jezebel Sauce at my Taste of Gourmet site here. The cost is $8.95 for 9-oz. jar.

The outfits have definitely become less-risque for my "Girls Nights out!" "Here's What I Wore" The jeans are my 'Saturday Jeans' by Ralph Lauren and the white blouse is from Coldwater Creek. I wore my brown cheetah print mules and carried my '2.55' pocketbook by Chanel.
The cheetah print mules are by Van Eli and the camel '2.55' pocketbook is by Chanel. Along with my rollring wedding band by Cartier, I wore my 'Oyster Perpetual' watch by Rolex, a gold Chanel charm necklace along with cheetah print earrings and my cheetah print scrunchie (yes ma'am, I'm bring back the scrunchie!). My fragrance of choice for the evening was Burberry.

Gifting Idea
I wanted to give my friend Lane a gift, so I thought she might like to have a pack of the cute little girly-plates and napkins, and also a jar of the Jezebel Sauce. I made a little gift tag with cheetah border...the crown in the logo for The Crown Restaurant in Indianola--home of Taste of Gourmet! Inside the tag is the recipe for the Sweet Jezebel Dip.
I wrapped it up in cello and tied it all up with a cute little cheetah print ribbon. Makes it memorable y'all!

Thank you so much for visiting with me today. Please visit my Taste of Gourmet site if you would like to order this fabulous Jezebel Sauce. I also have an Entertaining...Southern Style section--which will always be a work-in-progess!

Here's What I Wore

Today, I'm at my desk working..."Here's What I'm Wearing" I've got on my finest stretchy pants, a comfy tee shirt, some thick socks, and my hair is pinned up in one of those tacky clips. Between projects in the office, I'm running back and forth to the garage pulling out Autumn decos. Nope, there will be no photo of me today. But yesterday...

I was out and about town up in Vero Beach. I think I was looking pretty spiffy! "Here's What I Wore." The shift is the 'Oh Jackie' by Lilly, the navy sweater is by J Crew, the navy pocketbook is by Ferragamo, and the navy 'Revas' are by Tory Burch. This is a great transitional dress...100% cotton and cute for the summertime as well as the fall. It also looks great with an ivory or a navy blue knit turtleneck with navy tights.

I stopped in at The Fresh Market Grocers and bought some of their pumpkin stuff...coffee, Peeps, potpourri, pumpkin bread, pumpkin pie, and some huge pumpkins for my porch. I'll tell y'all, I'm just obsessed with all things pumpkin right now. I can't get enough of the aromas of Autumn. So yes, I'm rushing it!!!

Today, I'm a busy little bee getting out all my Autumn decos, photos of which I'll share very soon. I'm also working on a real Southern-y giveaway coming up soon!

Thank you for visiting with me today and I you are all enjoying the final days of Summer 2010!

Miss Janice Loves Taste of Gourmet

Southern Hospitality is alive and well in the South! What is Southern hospitality? Making guests feel comfortable and welcome in your home, showing generous kindness to guests, and sharing the best that you have with others. Hospitality is not something you have but something you give. What are some simple ways to show hospitality to others?

~Welcome a new neighbor with a gift
~Offer a nice beverage to workers in your home
~Taking a gift to your hostess
~Entertaining others in your home

If you've been reading my blog for sometime, you know that I love to entertain. I like to offer a "Friendship Gift" each month to guests who visit my home, and I always take a gift when I visit someone's home. My mama, Miss Pauline always said, "Never show up at someone's home empty-handed!" For this reason, the Taste of Gourmet company offers the most appropriate and best-tasting Southern food product gifts for Miss Janice!

About The Taste of Gourmet
In 1972 Evelyn and Tony Roughton opened the doors of The Antique Mall (out in the middle of a cotton field in the hot Mississippi Delta) and began importing 18th & 19th century country antiques from England. In 1976, to draw more customers out to the country, The Crown Tearoom was opened, serving lunch and afternoon tea. A few years ago The Crown Restaurant was moved into the quaint little downtown area of Indianola, Mississippi. The restaurant began to get quite a reputation for serving great food and their Southern hospitality. They were featured in Southern Living magazine, Cook's magazine, Food and Wine magazine, the New York Times, USA Today, Forbes, CNN, et cetera. They have also been featured on the Food Network's "Food Finds and Food Nation with Bobby Flay."

Years ago, I visited The Crown restaurant in downtown Indianola, Mississippi. The Crown is known by native Mississippians as a fabulous family-owned restaurant with great food...and, you can shop for cute Southern loot while waiting for your table. They offer books about the South, "Hey Y'all" tee shirts, salad dressings, bread mixes, pie mixes, soup mixes, dips, and other foods they prepare in the restaurant.

So...after a fabulous Southern meal and some shopping, I learned that they sell their food products through the family-owned company Taste of Gourmet. Well, this was a perfect match for Miss Janice! I love all the products offered--great Southern foods to prepare for my family and seasonal food gifts for new neighbors and hostesses throughout the year!

I am now happy to share these products and offer them to my friends and followers. Stay tuned for my "Taste of Gourmet" posts. You might want to take a moment now and browse through The Products Page You will certainly find that perfect product to give...making your gift Southern and making it memorable!

If you are in the Mississippi Delta, visit The Crown in downtown Indianola, Mississippi. Lunch is served from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday and they are open for shopping in the retail section from 9:00 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. Call for details at 662.887.4522.

The Crown restaurant...when you want to eat like a King--or Queen! It's oh-so Southern y'all!!!

TRUE PREP--FASHION RULES

I just finished reading the new book True Prep, the sequel to The Official Preppy Handbook. I'm not going to review the book here, since I'm sure hundreds of other bloggers will be doing that for y'all.

I did enjoy reading the list of forty-one Fashion Rules on pages 81 & 82...all of which I follow, except --"bags & shoes need not match"...oh my, I always try to match my pocketbook & shoes!



Preppy Dressers:
~Love to wear sportswear; however, we know that sweat suits are for sweating.
~Never let our underwear show...that would be tacky!
~Underdress
~Take care of our clothes...they need to last for years and years!
~Don't sport nose rings or have belly-button piercings...duh.
~Would never dream of having a tongue stud...please!
~Never caught on to the ankle bracelet mania...ankle bracelets--a sure sign of unpreppiness!
~Don't wear cell phones suspended from our CK Bradley belts.
~We dress our age, et cetera!

But what is the most important clothing article that preppies must have???

Fashion Rule #5:
~Every single one of us--no matter the age or the gender or sexual preference--owns a blue blazer!

I consider the blue blazer to be an investment...a jacket I can wear for many years. It looks great whether it's paired with a classic skirt, khakis, or jeans. I have invested in two navy blue blazers and both of mine are double-breasted.

I purchased this blazer many years ago at Trimmingham's in Bermuda. It has gold buttons engraved with my monogram and is made of a double-knit fabric. I love this blazer!

The engraved buttons...
Here I am--wearing the blue blazer in this photo taken about 3 years ago in Memphis, Tennessee...meeting Paul Burrell, Royal Butler to Diana, Princess of Wales, at an afternoon tea program. Mr. Burrell is ridiculously handsome y'all!

This weekend I wore my other double-breasted navy blue blazer...a great transitional piece to my wardrobe. This worsted wool blazer is by Austin Reed, as is the pink silk blouse and the ivory skirt. (Ivory/cream fabrics are perfectly acceptable to wear after Labor Day!) I have numerous pieces of Austin Reed and they are also great investments to wear all year long. My pocketbook and shoes do match and they are by Ferragamo!

If you like to dress in the preppy style or just want to live a preppy lifestyle, you might enjoy this new book True Prep, by Lisa Birnbach. I totally love the Stubbs & Woottons on the front cover!
Thank you for visiting with me today.

NATIONAL CHILDREN'S GOOD MANNERS MONTH

It's back-to-school time! Autumn is around the corner and it's time for children to hit the books and get involved in extracurricular activities.

National Children's Good Manners Month
Back-to-school time is a great time to start fresh with your child's behavior training. Good manners should start at home. Unfortunately if parents don't know how to behave, then children rarely have a chance to learn etiquette skills. Nowadays, most parents send their children off to daycare or school with the attitude of "You fix 'em--I don't have time."

Parents should take responsibility and teach their children how to behave before they send them off to school. Remember that today's children are tomorrow's leaders. Here's some tips that might help you get started teaching your child how to behave:

~Teach your child to share with others.
~Teach your child to wait their turn.
~Teach your child not to interrupt when others are speaking.
~Teach your child the importance of being honest.
~Teach your child the importance of good sportsmanship...not everyone will be a winner and children need to know that when they do not win, it's not the end of their world! Children should be taught how to lose gracefully!
~Teach your child the proper forms of address for their teachers. Children should show respect to their teachers and use titles when addressing adults; i.e. Miss, Mr., Mrs, Ms. In the South, some teachers are addressed as "Miss Janice", instead of Mrs. Gibson...it's a Southern thing y'all and a sign of respect! Also, I would like to add that parents should also address the teachers with a title and refrain from addressing them using only their first name.
~Teach your child how to accept others with disabilities.
~ If you show respect to others, your child will learn a valuable lesson from you. If you practice kindness by using words like "please, thank you, you're welcome, and excuse me," your child will learn another valuable lesson from you.
~Praise your child when they show good manners!

"Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it."

CATFISH, HUSH PUPPIES, AND COCA COLA CAKE

I must tell y'all that I'm having somewhat of a pity party this weekend!

Husband just got back in town. He has been gone all week to our other home--DeSoto County, Mississippi...visiting old friends and playing poker at Harrah's in Tunica (of course, he got to enjoy eating great Southern food at the Paula Deen buffet there!) Boo-hiss, I was not able to go!!!

I'm also missing out on a family gathering in South Georgia with my mama's relatives...they always get together on Labor Day Weekend and "fry-up" catfish and hush puppies all weekend!

So what's a girl to do??? I cooked my own catfish and hush puppies!!! Catfish, hush puppies, french fries, corn bread, and tartar sauce...

Us Southerners LOVE our fried catfish with the de rigueur hush puppies...we consider catfish as the other white meat. 70% of the world's supply of catfish comes from the Catfish Capital of the World--Belzoni, Mississippi. Belzoni hosts a World Catfish Festival every year...of course there's a beauty pageant with the crown going to the "Catfish Queen!" Lord have mercy...

Catfish is on the menu of every small-town family restaurant in Dixie! Southerners love all kinds of catfish, but of course, we are partial to the fried catfish! The de rigueur side is hush puppies. A lot of y'all Yankees probably have never tried hush puppies. Well, they are delicious and I have included a recipe* below. How did hush puppies get their name? The story goes that after the Civil War, when people were cooking fish, they would throw the scraps of the batter from the skillet to the barking dogs and yell "hush puppies"...a Southern tradition was born!

Now, we Southerners also love our Coca Cola, which of course was invented in the South. I decided to serve Coca Cola Cake for dessert. This cake is so popular in the South that my beloved Cracker Barrel offers it on their menu! "Thank you very much Cracker Barrel people...throw two pieces of that yummy cake in a bag to go!" Love it y'all!

I made some iced cold sweet tea and served the dinner. Husband liked it all. Thank you very much! When I served the cake, he snickered and asked me "Is this homemade?" Good Lord, why does he ask me such a silly question? Do y'all hate it when people ask you if a dish you serve them is homemade? It's like if you say "No, I bought this at Publix, they might not like it then." It's not an etiquette faux pas, but it certainly gets on my nerves when people ask me if I made something. So for that reason, I love these little napkins...

*Recipe for Hush Puppies:
1/2 cup flour
2 tsp baking powder
1 tblsp sugar
1/2 tsp salt
2 cups corn meal
1 sm onion, finely chopped
1 beaten egg
3/4 cup milk

Stir together dry ingredients. Add onion, then add the beaten egg and milk, stirring lightly. Drop a tblsp of the mixture into hot deep fat, frying only a few at a time till golden brown. Drain on paper towels.

I do hope y'all are having a fabulous Labor Day Weekend. As I mentioned above, mine will be a quiet one. I will be back on Monday with "Miss Janice's Labor Day Fashion Rules."

SEPTEMBER FRIENDSHIP GIFTS

I'm very excited about the gifts I have chosen to give as my September "Friendship Gifts." These are little gift bags filled with candied walnuts.

I chose this serving tray by Paula Deen..."Family and Friends" to display my gifts!
The cute little gift bags are also by Paula Deen..."From my kitchen to yours"! I love these colors for the season.

Candied Walnuts*...these are great to top off a mixed green salad or that pumpkin soup I know y'all are itching to have. They are also tasty alone as a snack! Love them!

My "Friendship Gifts" are ready to go...

*Recipe for the Candied Walnuts:
1 cup unsalted walnuts
2 tlbsp sugar
2 tlbsp butter
1/2 tsp salt

Melt the butter in a skillet and add the walnuts--stirring well. Add the sugar and salt--again, stirring well. Place the walnuts on a cookie sheet so that they are not touching. Bake at 350 degrees for 5 minutes. Stir and turn over the walnuts and bake again for 3-5 minutes. Cool completely.


Thank you for visiting with me today. I'm excited that September is here and looking forward to Autumn! Remember, "It is more blessed to give than to receive."