I'M OFF TO BOOK CLUB

Tonight I'm off to my book club meeting--The Flamingo Ladies Book Club of Tradition! We will talk about the book we all read, "Stealing Buddha's Dinner," enjoy hors d'oeuvres and cocktails, and socialize!

"Here's What I'm Wearing." These are my ultra comfy jeans, 'The Saturday Jean', by Ralph Lauren and the white blouse is from Coldwater Creek. It's quite chilly here in South Florida, so I'm wearing my hot pink pashima shawl.

To jazz up the outfit a bit, I'll wear black leopard print mules and carry my Chanel 2.55 pocketbook with the silver hardware. My earrings are silver disks trimmed in gold--of course, monogrammed--and I'll wear a choker with the matching monogrammed pendant. I'll wear my 'Oyster Perpetual' watch, by Rolex along with my 'Return to Tiffany' silver bracelet, by Tiffany and my rollring wedding band, by Cartier. I'll also wear one of my silver rings, by Chanel. My ponytail will be adorned with a black monogrammed ponytail cover. My fragrance of choice for the evening...Burberry!

Y'all know I'm not about to show up at someone's home with a gift. I found a cute flamingo-motif plate at HomeGoods, added a layer of green shred, and included some breakfast breads--so my hostess will have something to look forward to in the morning! {Bannana Nut Bread & Chocolate Bannana Nut Bread} I wrapped it all up in clear cello and added a hot pink ribbon. The package is embellished with a cute hot pink flamingo decal. My sweet blogging/twitter/FB friend Margaret at 2PreppyGirls sent some of these to me and I'm happy to share them with my Flamingo Ladies!

I'm off now and thank you so much for stopping by.

ANOTHER TURTLENECK DAY IN SOUTH FLORIDA

It's cold down here in South Florida today! I'm off to the fabulous Sawgrass Mills Outlet Mall in Fort Lauderdale {over 400 stores y'all!}...looking for some lretail love from Burberry, Ralph Lauren, Le Creuset, Crate and Barrel, Teavana, Starbucks', and Marshall's...and "Here's What I'm Wearing," the brown turtleneck is by Ralph Lauren and the khaki skirt I found at Target and love it!

I am accessorizing this outfit with my Gucci logo ballet flats and the matching Gucci pouchette pocketbook. My necklace is a goldtone choker with a monogrammed pendant and the matching monogrammed earrings. I'm also wearing a gold charm bracelet, my rollring wedding band by Cartier, and my 'Oyster Perpetual' watch, by Rolex. My ponytail will be secured with the cube scrunchie, by Louis Vuitton. My fragrance of choice...Burberry lotion and cologne.


Oh, by the way, I'm tres excited that my early favs on American Idol made it through the first elimination. I love Aaron Kelly {just might be my Clay Aiken fix for this season}, Casey James {if he's good enough for Kara, he's good enough for moi}, Michelle Delamor {Miami girl--loved her outfit, her look, and her voice}, and Siobhan Magnus {who knew I'd like the Glass-Blower from waaaaay up North with a big tatoo?}

I'm finishing off the day at the Cheesecake Factory with a friend! Thanks for stopping in for a visit with me:)

YAY! IT'S AMERICAN IDOL TIME Y'ALL!

Are y'all ready for American Idol? I know I am! Ryan is back with Randy "Dawg", Simon, and Kara. Miss Paula is gone...will you miss her? I'm looking forward to one of my all-time favorite people, Miss Ellen Degeneres joining the judges! The Top 24 have been chosen and tonight the girls will sing, Wednesday night the boys will sing, and Thursday night four contestants will be eliminated!

Do you already have a favorite? Do you think it's gonna be a year for a 'girl winner' or a 'boy winner?'

Who is your all-time favorite American Idol contestant? It's no secret to all my friends that Clay Aiken is mine! I still cannot believe he lost to Ruban Studdard! While Clay has had many looks...okay, hairdos, I still love the nerdy, Opie-Clay look.

I am pumped to hear the talented singers perform! I've hosted and attended many American Idol parties and this is the sidebar of one...I took the opportunity to serve Girl Scout Cookies and milk for dessert and also had American Idol party favor bags, stuffed with the Girl Scout Cookies!

Thank you for stopping by today!

A LITTLE BIT OF GROCERY STORE ETIQUETTE

Etiquette at the grocery store...yes ma'am, it's necessary to talk about, 'cuz some people don't know how to behave when shopping for food!

Several years ago, I was shopping for groceries while living out in Palm Springs, California at an over-priced, gourmet grocery store--Jenson's. I was standing in line to go through the checkout and all of sudden I'm almost being pushed down by a cart...and, it ran over my foot. I was, of course startled, and turned to see what was happening behind me. This {elderly and very mean and grouchy-looking} man said to me, "Well, get out of my way and I won't bump into you again!" I just gave him the "Miss Janice look." {That's the look "husband" says I get when I look like I'm gonna hurt you.} I didn't say a word, but I thought..Oh my, your mama didn't raise you right Mister! In today's world, there are sooooo many people who were not raised right. So yes, there is etiquette to be followed, even at the grocery store!

~Don't ride the heels of another shopper with your shopping cart.

~Don't leave your cart in the middle of the aisle--stay to the right.

~I believe that it is dishonest to taste-test loose candy/peanuts--like they have in the bins at The Fresh Market. I see people doing it all the time and at the very least, it's just plain tacky!

~'Ten items or less' means just that y'all!

~It looks real tacky when you rush to get ahead of someone in line...real tacky!

~Don't ask to get in front of someone, "because you have to make an appointment" {I hear this excuse all the time!}

~If I were working as a checkout clerk, I would think that you are THE MOST rudest person evah if you talked on your cell phone during the entire transaction! Haven't y'all seen people do this? They talk on their cell phones, while swiping their debit cards and making gestures at the checkout clerk to communicate. This is soooo rude and the cell phone madness has got to stop!

~Don't abandon your cart in the parking lot...it's so trashy! I love that The Fresh Market will not allow you to take a cart outside of the store--smart, very smart! They don't want their parking lot looking all junky-fied!

~Try not to go to the grocery store looking like something the cat drug out! Years ago, I was totally embarrassed to be seen by one of my mama's best friends, Jeannie Pryor at the grocery store in Augusta, Georgia. Mrs. Pryor always looked like a million dollars. She had not seen me for some time, and that day I looked...well, not my best; basically, I looked like I had gotten ready to leave the house in no time at all! {Y'all know Southern ladies believe that if you can get ready to leave the house in less than 30 minutes, you probably shouldn't be leaving the house at all!} Even when you're rushed, put yourself together!

"Here's What I'm Wearing" to the grocery store today...Comfy, but stylish black pants and the matching hoodie from Ralph Lauren. I'm pairing it up with a hot pink tee shirt, also from Ralph Lauren. Y'all, this is my go-to-last-minute outfit--you know, the outfit you wear when you don't feel like wearing fitted clothes or something fancy! This says, "Okay, I'm dressed very casual, but, I took the time and definitely accessorized it!

The black mules are from Lilly Pulitzer {worn with hot pink socks}. I'll wear the silver choker with the monogrammed drop pendant and the matching monogrammed ring and earrings. Along with my rollring wedding band from Cartier and my 'Oyster Perpetual' watch, by Rolex, I'll be wearing my 'Pink Polo' cap, by Ralph Lauren and a pink grosgrain ribbon on my ponytail.

I'll tote my cute little pink 'Le Pliage' pocketbook, by Longchamp.

I think mama' s friend, Mrs. Pryor would think this outfit was okay! Bless her heart, she's not well and is living at Brandon Wilde, a swanky retirement place in Evans, Georgia. I don't think people will notice that I'm in a rush and that I'm super-tired when they spot me in this outfit...it's so very preppy!

I'M HAVING ANOTHER CASUAL AND FUN DAY!

I'm heading down to South Beach today to do a little shopping, have lunch & esspresso at the News Cafe, and do some people-watching! "Here's What I'm Wearing." Well, this outfit is definitely way too conservative and preppy for the South Beach crowd, but I have to be ME! The quilted puffer vest is by Lilly Pulitzer, as is the hot pink turtleneck. The khaki skirt is one of my fav skirts and is from Tar-jay!

I'm wearing gold 'Revas', by Tory Burch and carrying a canvas tote pocketbook by Ralph Lauren. My earrings are gold monogrammed letters and I'll wear my gold charm bracelet, along with my rollring wedding band, by Cartier, and my 'Oyster Perpetual' watch, by Rolex. My pontytail will be adorned with an ivory grosgrain ribbon and my fragrance of choice...'Wink' by Lilly.
I hope y'all are having a wonderful week. It's a beautiful day here in South Florida! Thank you for stoppping by to visit.

DECORATING THE KITCHEN ISLAND

After all of the Christmas holiday decorations came down, everything in the house looked sooooo empty! I want a very cozy feeling in my cottage, so I'm constantly doing things to make it feel homey! This is the small island in my kitchen--take a peek...
Now y'all, ever since I went to see the movie 'It's Complicated,' I am craving chocolate croissants all the time. I confess that I didn't bake these beauties, I bought them at The Fresh Market Grocers. They are ridiculously good! {If you saw the movie, didn't you just love that scene with Meryl Streep and Steve Martin in her bakery...making those croissants...} By the way, I loved everything about that movie...her home, her kitchen, her bakery, that outfit she wore in the opening scene, Alec Baldwin--oh, I just loved it all!

My assistant in the kitchen here at "The Roost," I would like to introduce to you Jean Paul.

Love bunnies everywhere...

My pot rack...

Love this little rooster, made for me by Nancy at SouthernLady-Nancy...

Y'all know about the gingham issues I have. Here's a cute little gingham runner and some towels hung on the side of the island...

Jean Paul and I both want to say "Merci" for stopping in to visit with us today.

A LITTLE VALENTINE IN THE KITCHEN

Today, I'm joining Laurie at BargainHuntingWithLaurie for her sweet Valentine's Party.

A romantic dinner, champagne, chocolate, sweet Valentine cards, and roses are all traditions on Valentine's Day.

Here's the sweets I packaged up to give as my February "Friendship Gifts."

The side bar in my kitchen...gifts and a Valentine Tree.

The little Valentine Tree closeup...

Cute little vintage Valentine cards I made...

Across the room, my hutch has a little Valentine embellishment...

My red rooster dishes, from the "Country Living" line, available at Kmart...

My "Valentine Banner," BE MINE! {Y,all, I got this cute little banner from Stacy at Crafty Sweethearts on Etsy. I have tried to link up to her site there and now I cannot find it. If you are interested in one of her banners, e-mail me and I will get her e-mail address to you}.

Red hearts in the apothecary jar...

Red toile bowls...love these, from the "Country Living" line at Kmart!

Valentine's Day is not just those couples who are in love; it's for family and friends also. The day can be a thorn in the side of those people who are not involved in a relationship, so try to remember those who might otherwise feel left out.

Thank you for stopping by and don't forget to stop in to visit with Laurie and see the Valentine goodies from other bloggers!

I'M HAVING A VERY FUN AND RELAXED DAY!

Today, I'm having a fun and relaxed day. After a visit to the gym for a good workout, I'm off to lunch, a little bit of shopping, and then to the theatre to see "The Blind Side." {Guess I'm a bit behind, as everyone else has already seen this move!}

Forget about "What I'm Wearing" to the gym--it's not pretty y'all! But, "Here's What I'm Wearing" for the fun part of my day...The ivory turtleneck is by Ralph Lauren, and I found the black quilted vest with the faux fur collar at Macy's. {I'm wearing this now as it would be tres tacky to wear anything furry here in South Florida after Valentine's Day!} These are my fav jeans--"The Weekend Jeans," by Ralph Lauren.

My pocketbook is "The Boulogne," by Louis Vuitton. This is my go-to pocketbook...you know, the one you always carry! I'll be wearing these cute monogrammed clogs, available from ThePinkMonogram. My watch is the "Oyster Perpetual," by Rolex, my rollring wedding band is from Cartier, the cute silver drop earrings and charm ring are by Chanel. The "Return to Tiffany" silver bracelet is, of course, from Tiffany's. My ponytail will be adorned with a Burberry scrunchie!

I have just discovered that it is 46 cold degrees outside...not happy with that y'all! So, I guess I must wear a jacket--this black quilted jacket and scarf by Burberry.

Thank you so much for visiting with me today. Now, I'm off to the gym!

A HOME TOUR...IN SWITZERLAND!

Lord Have Mercy, someone in Switzerland has been reading my blog! I'm so happy to have met Dr. Cornelia Stamm Hurter through my blog...She's from Switzerland and I'm from the South in the United States, but we both love to decorate our homes and entertain. Y'all take a peek at her lovely home....This gorgeous home will be 100 years old this year!

First, I would like to introduce to you Dr. Hurter's daughters...Nora-13 and Maude-10, in traditional costumes as guests of honor at last year's Spring Opening Procession in Zurich, Switzerland. Don't they look so cute y'all?!

Here's Miss Nora on a ski-holiday last week...in Zermatt at the Matterhorn!!

So happy to see a tea setting among Dr. Hurter's photos..."A Meissen Tete a Tete," or Tea for Two! {Deutsche Blume or German flower pattern}

How stunning is this Drawing Room....

On a sideboard...The vase is from Meissen, the candlesticks are Royal Copenhagen, the tureen on the left is from Nymphenburg and the one on the right is from Meissen.

The dining room...

Another shot of The Drawing Room...

Halloween tablescape set for a children's party...
Dr. Hurter spent 18 hours decorating this stunning tree with over 1,000 ornaments!!! Now y'all, this is what a Christmas tree should look like!

The table set during the holiday season...

Thank you to Dr. Hurter for sharing the photos of your beautiful home and thank you to all my readers for coming along on the tour! Y'all feel free to send me photos of your home. I love to peek inside and so to my readers! Send your photos to me at Miss Janice {at} Miss Janice {dot} com. Have a wonderful day.