May 2011 Friendship Gifts

Well, Easter has come and gone. All the Easter bunnies have been safely tucked away until next year and all the jelly beans have been consumed! Even with my obsession over the Royal Wedding, I found the time to put the decorations away. This is my kitchen hutch now...dressed for Spring.

Earlier this week, I decided to make Strawberry Preserves for my Royal Wedding 'Royal Tea'. While in Walmart to purchase the needed ingredients, I found some cute canning jar tops with cute little strawberry-motif gift labels. It was then I remembered I needed to come up with something fast for my May 'Friendship Gifts'!

As y'all know, I always have 'Friendship Gifts' on hand to give to visitors to my home. They are also great to use when I'm invited to someone else's home...as hostess gifts. And sometimes, I just give them as a 'happy'.

Here I am...modeling the latest edition to my 'Hostess Apron' collection. It's a darling strawberry-motif apron with lime green ric-rac trim. I'm wearing my pearls and sippin' Chardonnay from my wine goblet with a lime-green monogram:) I found this darlin' apron at the Spring Festival in Mt. Dora, Florida last month. The vendor was Pig And Company and you can visit them online at their Etsy store here.

I love the little red gingham tops of the canning jars and the strawberry-motif gift labels, "From the kitchen of...Miss Janice".

Recipe for Miss Janice's Strawberry Preserves:

2 qts. strawberries
5 cups sugar

Place 2 qts strawberries in a pot with 2 cups of sugar. Cook the mix on high heat for 5 minutes. Add 3 cups of sugar and cook on high heat for 10 minutes. Remove the mix and let it stand {covered} for 24 hours. Can and seal!

The strawberry preserves were delicious with my British scones I prepared on Friday morning for the wedding:) I'm visiting my Royal Family in Georgia this week and will be taking some jars of the preserves to them. It's an easy and quick recipe to prepare y'all!

Remember, try to do something special for someone else everyday!

MISS JANICE'S PRISSY HOSTESS APRONS

Readers are always asking about my "Apron Collection!" Well, I like to refer to it as "Miss Janice's Prissy Hostess Apron Collection!" I have a lot of 'em...not sure how many and my collection just keeps growing y'all!

I'm a servant-less cook and want to make sure that I prepare and serve meals and beverages to my family and guests with grace and style. They are my new go-to outfits when I entertain. I've got them hanging up all around my kitchen... And lots of them are hanging in my poor guest bedroom closet...{no photos of inside that great big mess}!

Take a look at the ones I have already worn...

I found this cute tartan plaid apron at HomeGoods. I wore this hostess apron while serving my "Naughty Egg Nog" during the Christmas holidays!


I found this cute little pink "Party Girl" apron, with the animal print ruffle at a store in Mount Dora...can't remember the name:( I AM going to visit the same store during the upcoming Mt. Dora Spring Crafts Show!
Here I am serving Southern Praline Pie...a Taste of Gourmet product that I sell. I'm wearing a cute magnolia print hostess apron I found online at The Country Porch.
Here I am wearing my "G.R.I.T.S" {Girls Raised in the South} hostess apron and serving shrimp & grits in margarita glasses on a rattan serving tray...I found this apron at an Amazon store online...it's a must-have for the Southern girl who loves to entertain! Y'all saw this harlequin and fleur de lis apron last week--a cute find at The French Quarter Market. This was the perfect hostess apron to wear when I hosted my "Fat Tuesday Feast." Here I am serving "Bloody Mary Soup" in green Fiestware mugs on a black serving tray.

This is my cute little half-apron with a chic design of shopping girls from Bed Bath & Beyond. I wore this darling little thing when serving ham biscuits and iced tea in mint julep cups...on a silver tray, of course.

This a very cute solid black hostess apron, monogrammed in white. Love this apron, as I can wear it for lots of occasions. I found this apron at http://www.thepalmgifts.com/. The darling gloveables are from Sur La Table.

Lynn at LWhelanDesigns made this cute preppy Lilly-fied half apron, using Lilly fabric. Of course, I LOVE it! Musta' been enjoying "Chardonnay Hour" that night...with my monogrammed wine goblet!

Here I am baking red velvet cookies during the Christmas holidays, wearing my red Paula Deen "Hey Y'all!" hostess apron! Another must-have for any Southern girl! {Ignore the thick white socks I'm wearing...it was cold that day!}

I was looking on Etsy for a cute Christmas apron and found this precious hostess apron in a red toile Christmas pattern. Click. Buy. It was mine. I love it! It looked real cute with all my "Santa in France" loot in the kitchen during Christmas. Here I am serving Chocolate Chaud on a "French Santa...aka Pere Noel" tray. {By the way y'all...I miss Pere. He looked so cute in my kitchen!}

This hostess apron {from Carlton Interiors in Perry, Georgia} is perfect when entertaining during Christmas. It is embellished with Christmas ornaments...I wore it when I hosted a Casual Christmas Supper...from the countertop!

Well, when I saw this AdorAble polka dot apron at The Pink Monogram, I HAD to have it. Monica monogrammed it for me and Lord have mercy...it matches my polka dot Christmas dinnerware and the entire theme I used to decorate for Christmas on the porch! Here I am wearing the apron during "Merlot Hour."

Love this rooster print apron I found at Williams-Sonoma. Here I am, serving my husband dinner...some kinda' casserole! This apron looks good with my kitchen loot also!
I wore this cute hostess apron {from HomeGoods} on Halloween...dispensing treats for the kiddies and "Merlot Hour" for the adults! Of course, Miss Coco wore an outfit that coordinated with her mama's!

Here I am modeling a cute hostess apron I wore during the Thanksgiving holidays...from HomeGoods...OF COURSE!


Oh, I think I bought this absolutely precious candy-corn print apron at that same store in Mt. Dora...can't remember the name. LOVE it...Isn't it the cutest thing? Ready for a Halloween party!
Another precious Halloween apron...from HomeGoods. Loved wearing this "Trick or Treat" apron!


This hostess apron, designed by April Cornell, from HomeGoods, was perfect to wear during the Autumn season...
I looked real cute serving Pumpkin Pancakes to my husband!!!

So these are just the hostess aprons that I have worn. I have received many aprons as gifts and if you don't see one of your aprons here...it's just because I'm waiting for the perfect occasion to wear it!

Thank you for stopping by to visit with me.

Christmas on the Porch

Welcome to the porch at "The Roost!" Christmas is only 5 days away y'all! Lord have mercy, I just got all the Christmas decorations put up and it's about time to take it all down!

Last year, I used lime green and red decorations inside the cottage, but decided to take 'em out to the porch this Christmas.

I'm not gonna do much talking...just take a peek at the photos y'all!

*LOVE* the monogrammed polka dot apron I'm wearing. It coordinates perfectly with the colors of the tablescapes and decorations. I got the last one they had at The Pink Monogram!

My little message flag greets my guests by the walkway...

Photo taken during the sunshine hours!

The little tabletop tree at the waiting area...
Simple wreaths on the windows...all with polka dot bows!
I made all my own wreaths this year...just added the ribbon, picks, and ornaments!
I placed the "Merry Christmas" sign in the middle...found it on Etsy!

Another wreath on the side door of the porch...

The big tree...during the sunshine hours!
Top hat tree toppper and picks...
The deco mesh from HomeGoods is the the best stuff y'all! *LOVE* it!

Adornments for the tree follows...
Nightime has arrived...
The tabletop tree topper...
Closeup of the tabletop tree...
My message to all my blogging friends all over the world!
*LOVE* this little message sign:)

The table is set for dinner...

*LOVE* the centerpiece carousel wreath!
Placesetting...

Festive ornament adorns the napkin, tied with lime green Midori ribbon...


Custom-designed goblets...
Dove 'Peppermint Bark' and Hershey's 'Candy Cane Christmas Kisses' {my fave candies during the Christmas season} are the goodies...
The serving cart is set!
The perfect little linen towel...monogrammed, of course!

A little spread of pimiento cheese...a fave of mine!

Brie log & crackers on a festive holiday tray!
Y'all know my beverage napkins MUST coordinate with my theme colors!

"Signature Beverage" of Christmas Cosmopolitans*
Dessert {Double-Fudge Chocolate Cake with Vanilla Ice Cream} is served with a "Signature Beverage" of Andes Mint Coffee**...
Love these dishes from The Cracker Barrel...'Merry Merry' pattern.

I tied up the napkins with the same ribbon that adorns the trees, wreaths, and porch rail.
Andes Mint Coffee...Total yumness y'all!
Thank you for visiting with me today. I hope that you enjoyed the tour of the porch. My wish is that you all have a wonderful Christmas and enjoy the time with your family and friends.


*Recipe for Christmas Cosmopolitan
(I found this recipe in the Victoria Magazine 'Classic Holiday Bliss' and changed it to my preference)
2 Quarts light Cranberry Juice
1 1/4 cups gin
6 tblsp. fresh lemon juice
Fresh cranberries
Mix all ingredients in a large pitcher. Serve over ice and garnish with cranberry-embellished rosemary sprigs.

**Recipe for Andes Mint Coffee
Desired amount of brewed coffee
Desired amount Bailey's Irish Cream
Whipped Topping
Andes Mints, chopped
Add the Bailey's Irish Cream to brewed coffee, top with whipped topping and Andes Mints.