"WITCHEY BREW AND STEW" TABLESCAPE

Hey y'all! I'm joining Susan at Between Naps on the Porch and all the other dishaholics for Tablescape Thursday.

Husband and I entertained a couple of friends from waaaaay back tonight, with a "Witchey Brew & Stew" on the porch. Both girls worked with us on cruise ships for many years. Our friend Joy lives in Savannah, Georgia and is a native of my hometown, Augusta. Gail is originally from way up north...New York City. Lord have mercy does she have a Yankee accent! She now lives in West Palm Beach.

Earlier in the day, here's Mademoiselle Coco Chanel, getting ready for company...

Let the party begin! Welcome to "The Roost"...
First of all..."Here's What I Wore"
I was sporting my usual ponytail, secured with a black grosgrain ribbon bow. It was a very casual event, so I wore a casual white blouse and khaki slacks with a "witchey" apron I found at Home Goods. I wore my Cartier roll ring wedding band and a pair of festive pumpkin earrings.

The menu for the "Brew & Stew"...
The Buffet-Style Food Table...

Some witches are really pretty--the centerpiece for my food table...

My "Witches' Brew" in a darling Halloween punch bowl with a black polka dot ladle, from Home Goods...

I served the "Witches' Stew" in these cute Halloween mugs, also from Home Goods...

Toppings for the "Witches' Stew"--the bowls and serving spoons also from Home Goods

Creepy pigs-in-a-blanket...


Boo Y'all!

Boo-tilicious brownies adorned with Martha Stewart witchey picks...

The Beverage Serving Cart


Hallowine y'all?

The Dining Table
The Halloween-themed plates are from Home Goods, and I used natural wreaths as chargers, available at Hobby Lobby. The solid black napkins are secured with "witches' hat" napkin rings, from Dillard's. The festive hats are "Glitterville" party hats by Dept. 56. The black goblets were purchased at Hobby Lobby and the black flatware was purchased at World Market. The party favors doubled as my place cards and are tins of Orange Hot Chocolate--by Mary Englebreit, also from Home Goods. I couldn't resist this "good witch" as my centerpiece, from Stein Mart. The black and white gingham tablecloth was custom-made for Miss Janice. She's a good witch--my centerpiece...
Festive Halloween party hats...
Y'all don't forget your party favors!
My party favors doubled as place cards...

*Recipe for Miss Janice's Salad:
Toss together the following...
Mixed greens
Dried cranberries
Glazed pecans
Crumbled feta cheese
Trader Joe's Red Wine & Olive Oil Vinaigrette

** Recipe for Witches Brew:
2 3 oz. pkgs. lime flavored gelatin mix
1 qt. hot water
1 46 fluid oz. can pineapple juice
2 12 fluid oz. cans frozen orange juice concentrate, thawed
2 cups white sugar
4 1/2 cups cold water
2 liters ginger ale

In a large saucepan, dissolve the gelatin in 1 quart of hot water. Allow to cool. When gelatin is cool, pour into a large punch bowl. Stir in pineapple juice, orange juice concentrate, sugar and 4 1/2 cups cold water. Pour in ginger ale just before serving.

***Recipe for Witches Stew:
3 tsp olive oil
2 lbs ground turkey
2 onions, chopped
4 cups water
2 28 oz cans crushed tomatoes
2 16 oz cans kidney beans, drained, rinsed, and mashed
2 tblsp garlic, minced
2 tblsp chili powder
1 tsp paprika
1 tsp dried oregano
1 tsp ground cumin
1 tsp salt
1 tsp ground black pepper

Heat the olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Place ground turkey in the pot and cook until evenly brown. Stir in onion and cook until tender.

Pour water into the pot. Mix in tomatoes, mashed kidney beans, and garlic. Season with the chili powder, paprika, oregana, cumin, salt, and pepper. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 30 minutes.

Whew! A great evening with old friends and good food. Thank you for stopping by today. Don't forget to stop in and visit all the other tablescapes at Between Naps on the Porch.

HALLOWEEN CREATIVE GIFTING

When I was a trick-or-treater, we just carried a pillowcase around the neighborhood and people threw the candy into the case. Well, now I believe that presentation is everything, so here's a few ways I packaged the loot for the youngins.

Last year I celebrated Halloween in my Mississippi home. Our home up there is in a small gated community and I knew that I would not get very many people ringing the doorbell! I came up with a few treats for those who did.

Adorned with a cute black and orange ribbon bow, these miniature orange buckets stuffed with candy were so cute!

"Creepy Crackers" stuffed with candy inside paper towel rolls, wrapped in crepe paper, and secured with spider rings from The Dollar Store. That's right, I shop everywhere y'all, especially The Dollar Store.

"Bat Bags" full of m&m's, from last year's Martha Stewart Halloween collection.

This year, things are gonna be a bit different. I have been informed by a neighbor to expect 400+ trick-or-treaters! What? Yes, that's right...last Halloween, over 400 children chose my "front-porch" community as their must-do place to pick up Halloween loot! So, I've been a busy little witch...getting ready for the big night. Not sure who will be giving all this candy out, but I'm finally finished getting the packages together. This Wednesday evening, I'm having some girlfriends over for a "Witchey Brew & Stew." So, I'm all about the "Witchey-thing" this year!

Plan A: Get 'em while they last! These cute little bags are from this year's Martha Stewart Halloween collection. Full of candy corn, a cute black witch adorns the clear bags embossed with a spooky tree.

Sometimes Plan B is better than Plan A: These cute "Trick-or-Treat" bags are also from this year's Martha Stewart Halloween collection and they are full of miniature candy bars.

When the gift bags are gone, it's back to the old-style...not to worry! We have bags and bags and bags of this stuff!

Stop in to visit with me on Wednesday evening, when I will post my "Witchey Brew & Stew" tablescape. Thank you for stopping in today!

LILLY PHOTO OF THE WEEK

This week's "Lilly Photo of the Week" was sent in by Claire at Life of a Southern Belle. Y'all know the Belle, she has a precious blog and keeps us all posted about her life in South Carolina...featuring her husband Hank, her son Legare, her brother Ned, her Mama, and her beautiful daughter Lorelai. Here's Miss Lorelai, this past summer looking cute as a button, in a Lilly print sundress.

LILLY PHOTO OF THE WEEK--MISS LORELAI

Lorelai is now back at Clemson, studying hard! Thank you Claire for sharing this photo of your precious daughter.

Y'all don't forget to send me your Lilly photo...send it to me at Miss Janice {at} Miss Janice {dot} com. Thank you for stopping by today.

HALLOWEEN ETIQUETTE

Halloween used to be so easy! Now it's a complicated holiday with parents unsure about allowing their children to go trick-or-treating door to door. Whether you choose to allow your children to trick-or-treat in the neighborhood or attend a private Halloween function, there is proper etiquette to be followed on this spooky night:

For the givers--
~Make sure your home is well lit and confine your animals.
~Answer the door with the traditional greeting "Happy Halloween!"
~Don't give out fruit, marshmallows, or homemade treats. Children want CANDY and no matter how much time you spend on your gourmet homemade treats, their parents will probably make them throw it away.

For the trick-or-treaters--
~Only children up to twelve years of age should go trick-or-treating door to door.
~Of course, very young children should be accompanied by an adult.
~Always take a flashlight when trick-or-treating.
~The accepted hours to trick-or-treat are dusk to 8-ish. If the lights are off, there is no candy for you there!
~Don't tromp through the homeowner's flower beds.
~Ring the doorbell once and stand back. When the homeowner opens the door, say "Trick-or-Treat!"
~Don't be greedy...grab a small amount of candy.
~After you have received your loot, say "Thank you and Happy Halloween!"

LILLY PHOTO OF THE WEEK

This week's "Lilly Photo of the Week" was sent in by Mid-AtlanticMartha. The photo is of her rescued little dog from a local humane group, wearing a rescued Lilly bandana Martha found at a thrift store." His name is Spunky and he was placed in the humane society because he had to go into a nursing home--Lord have mercy Martha, I didn't know there was such a place! Spunky has a brother Martha was able to get from another rescue organization--someone had abandoned that doggy at a rest stop in South Carolina.



So, here's the "LILLY PHOTO OF THE WEEK," SPUNKY--Sporting his Lilly scarf!




Martha is so happy to give Spunky and his brother a second chance...isn't he just so cute y'all! Thanks to Martha for caring about these precious animals! Stop in to visit with her, she has a beautiful blog, full of tablescapes and home decorating ideas.


Don't forget to e-mail me your Lilly photo...send it to me at Miss Janice {at} Miss Janice {dot} com. Thank you for stopping by today!

LOVING AUTUMN!

Well, it was definitely sweater weather for moi yesterday, when I attended my "Flamingo Ladies Book Club" last night! I've been so busy lately and have been such a bad blogger. I promise to stop by and visit with all y'all and answer my e-mails A.S.A.P.!

So husband snapped this photo of me on our front porch as I was leaving..."Here's What I Wore" The black turtleneck is from who-knows-where...probably ten years ao. The skirt is the "Tulah Indigo Blue Denim Skirt," from Lilly. (The Autumn Tree is by Miss Janice).


I carried by Chanel 2.55 pocketbook, secured my ponytail with a Burberry scrunchie, and wore my Rolex Oyster Perpetual watch, along with my Cartier roll ring wedding band and the matching Cartier earrings. Here I am in a very Prissy-fied pose holding my gift for the hostess--from my October "Friendship Gift" stash!


My black tights are by Hue and the ballet flats are by Chanel.


The book for the month was Good in Bed, by Jennifer Weiner. It's a great book about a "fat girl"--she had a loser-daddy and a lousy former boyfriend. Read it...it's good!


Here's the Book Club hostess, Stacey Gilfillan...

Along with spiced apple cider, Stacey served a great "Signature Beverage," Rose Sangria...with freshly squeezed lemons, limes, and oranges! Awesome beverage!

Here's a peek at some fall-erizing I've been doing around "The Roost."

Pumpkins in the palms...

Some mums...

Little spooky black bird...
Autumn floral...I like to bring out my little feather wreath during this time of year...
Cornacopia on the sideboard...
Bunnies and pumpkins...
Fluffin' up the rooster...
Fallin' up the top of the frig...
Embellishing Miss Coco's portrait!
Not sure how Puff Kitty got in here...
Y'all have already seen the Autumn "Friendship Gift" tree...
Yes ma'am, it's Fall y'all!

Thank you so much for visiting with me today!