Monday, October 11, 2010

I'M SHOWING A LITTLE SOUTHERN HOSPITALITY!

My business keeps changing y'all! It started out with me hosting tea parties, then I taught etiquette, then I got very into the tea industry and all things tea-ish. I've sold Taste of Gourmet products, all the while teaching Entertaining...Southern Style. I'm a Gemini and I change my mind all the time!!! So, now I've added yet another branch to my business...

I'm showing a little Southern hospitality and offering my new neighbors a "Welcome To The Neighborhood" basket!

It is proper etiquette to give the new homeowner a thoughtful gift. People who have just gone through one of the most traumatic undertakings ever and are surrounded by boxes will appreciate your act of kindness! The appropriate time to give a gift is either when you first visit or else have something delivered to the new house once the owners have settled in.

Ideas for Gifts:
~A subscription to the city newspaper or just a copy of the newspaper
~A list of handymen
~Important phone numbers (police, fire, hospital, et cetera)
~List of grocery stores and addresses
~Information of zoos, malls, churches, and hospitals
~Return address labels and other stationery, along with a pack of postage stamps
~Take out menus
~Gift certificate to a local restaurant
~Fresh baked bread, cakes, or cookies
~Local government & utility numbers
~Local maps
~Local magazines

When the economy took a turn for the worse, there were many empty homes in our neighborhood. Now, thank goodness, these homes are slowly filling up with families, young professionals, and retirees.

This is a small gift I put together in a basket to welcome one of my new neighbors. I chose a black basket, filled it with shred, and embellished it with my 'signature gingham ribbon.' I filled it with informative pamphlets for our area, take-out menus from all the restaurants here in our village, a local newspaper, and some Taste of Gourmet Morning Muffins.

I attached a cute rooster-stamped card (might as well let them know up front that I'm a rooster-holic) with the my name and phone number on the back.

The Taste of Gourmet Morning Muffins will be the signature treat that I prepare for each "Welcome to the Neighborhood" basket.

The Morning Muffins are a complete flavor explosion, just as they emerge from the box into your mixing bowl. Morning Muffins combine the flavor of oranges and cranberries. These muffins are moist and delicious and freeze so perfectly. You can make them all up at once and bring them out of the freezer as you are hungry for them! Muffins are a great way to give children (and us grown-up folks) a heartier, healthier breakfast. You can bake the batter in loaf pans or even in round cans for pretty circles of fabulous flavor!!! The Morning Muffins mix is only $7.95 per box and if you are baking the mini-muffins like I did, the mix makes 48 little precious muffins! You can purchase the muffin mix from me here.

Nutrition Facts: (The small print)
Dry Mix Only- 1 Muffin - Servings 12: Calories 159, Calories from Fat O, Total Fat Og, Saturated Fat Og, Trans Fat Og, Cholesterol Omg, Sodium 339 mg, Carbohydrate 39g, Fiber Og, Sugars 22g, Protein Og.

The Morning Muffins make a great gift for a housewarming party or to take as hostess gift! I'm also taking this as a hostess gift to someone I'm visiting this weekend. I found this cute little baking dish on sale at Michael's...
Filled it with some autumn-colored shred and placed the box of muffin mix inside...wrapped it all in cello, and tied it up with great ribbon...along with a monogrammed gift tag!!!



Remember y'all...Don't get caught up in social reciprocity...offer hospitality to strangers!

18 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hi Miss Janice!! You are the most wonderful lady!! What great ideas for housewarming gifts! I really like the black basket you've prepared!
Now is that a regular sized muffin pan - if it is, it's the biggest one I've ever seen. Maybe it's the little bite sized one? These sound so good.
Be a sweetie,
Shelia ;)

Miss Janice said...

Miss Sheila,
It's a 24 count mini muffin pan. Perfect bite-size flavor!

Nicole-Lynn said...

Genious! I absolutely love this idea.. I would love to be neighbors with you! :) They're going to love this!

BAH said...

How sweet! I think I need to move into your neighborhood! :)

Blondie's Journal said...

You have a lot of great ideas for the gift baskets...some I hadn't thought of. Thank you so much.

The muffins look delicious. I like that you can freeze them. Very nice!

XO,
Jane

Tammy B said...

You have to be the most hospitable person that I know. I need to move to your neighborhood. Anyone would be lucky to have you for a neighbor. Those muffins look yummy.

Mimi said...

Love your basket and I can almost taste those delicious-looking muffins! We do this in our neighborhood, too, and the recipients are always so very grateful. It just seems to make unpacking all those boxes a little easier.

Preppy Pink Crocodile said...

Great gift ideas! You are sure to be a favorite neighbor!

Whosyergurl said...

How wonderful! I wish I was YOUR neighbor! I moved here three years ago and not one person came a callin!
Hoosier hugs,
Cheryl

Bea said...

Miss Janice, you are such a caring person... would love to be your neighbor!

Lori said...

Such a wonderful idea. I don't feel so bad now. I have had many career changes over my life span.

Anonymous said...

These are amazing ideas...beautiful gifts...
BUT I really love the last line of your post today...and I'm going to copy it as a reminder...
Happy October :D
~victoria~

Michelle said...

You are so right, in the sweet feelings a new neighbor will feel when receiving such a kind gift! When we moved here in June, I was almost in tears when our new neighbors dropped by on the day of our 1st official day in our new house with dinner and flowers and a directory of the neighborhood and contact information. I was blessed beyond words!

I Do Declare said...

I wish you were my neighbor, Miss Janice!!!

highheeledlife said...

Miss Janice I may just have to move to your neighbourhood .. what a wonderful welcome you are extending !!! Fantastic idea!! HHL

Muffy said...

Miss Janice, love this post but your taste of gourmet link isn't working for me! BOO!

Miss Janice said...

Muffy,
I fixed it...ooops!!! Thanks for letting me know the link wasn't working:)

Dawn Marie said...

I feel the need to make muffins this weekend!