Thanksgiving Season Friendship Gifts

Although I'm busy putting out Christmas decorations, I also have decorated for Thanksgiving...the cornucopia is up and the Thanksgiving tree is decorated on the front porch {I'll show y'all photos of the tree this week}.

I've had this cornucopia forever and I just love the colors!

I decided to make the ever-favorite Pinterest "Thanksgiving Blessing Mix" treats to give as my "Friendship Gifts" during November.

I found these cute little cups with the turkey-pilgrim motif at Target.  They were 20 for $1.  Score!

I added all the ingredients {bugles, pretzels, candy corn, nuts, and dried fruit} and wrapped in cello.  Then I attached this cute little tag that shows the meaning of each ingredient!

Tied it up with raffia.

These were very inexpensive to make and a great idea for this season of thankfulness!  I made tons of these...some to sell at my garage sale yesterday, some to sell at the Church Bazaar, and of course, some to give as "Friendship Gifts."

I'm thankful that this toxic week is coming to a close.  Social media has been so full of negative messages about the election.  I'll admit that I'm disappointed with the outcome.  With the exception of one Presidential race and voting for a democrat boss, I've voted Republican since I became a registered voter.  All of us have issues that are important to us...Lord have mercy, even my husband and I don't agree for goodness sake!  However, there is no reason for hate.  

I wish that I could share with y'all some of the tacky and mean messages I have seen...from BOTH party supporters.  I will just say that I'm hoping that we all {moi included} start the new week off in prayer and good thoughts of hope for a better Amercia!

January Friendship Gifts

Y'all know I love to have my "Friendship Gifts" on hand for guests who drop by "The Roost." I was trying to decide what to give for January and chose these cute little calendars...the kind with the magnet on the back side--to stick on the frig! Of course, I had to tie a little gingham ribbon on each packet {I honestly don't know what's wrong with me and this gingham thing! Don't worry, I'll get over it one day and move on.}

My "Friendship Gifts" in a little wire basket...
Perfect for the rooster-obsessed friends!

I do have some friends who love anything tea-ish! {Yes, Miss Kara, I'll send you one!}

Live Well...Love Much...Laugh Often!

I'm keeping one for myself...{the rooster one!} Thank you for stopping by today.

Chin Chin!
Miss Janice

MISS JANICE'S FRIENDSHIP GIFT FOR OCTOBER

I've been thinking...what in the world am I going to give out to guests who visit at my home during October? What should my October "Friendship Gift" be? When I began my decorating for Autumn, I wanted to have a small "Halloween Tree" on my foyer table. So, I purchased this darling Halloween urn from HomeGoods... Then I gathered some branches from dead bushes in my yard and sprayed them black to form the tree. Okay...what to put on the tree? Yes ma'am... my "Friendship Gifts!" I hung these cute mini-size favor boxes--available at Michael's Crafts. They are filled with Autumn-colored shred and Dove chocolate candy, embellished with Martha Stewart spooky stickers, and adorned with festive Autumn ribbon for hanging.


The "Halloween Tree" in the Foyer...


Don't you just love this cute little tree! Now I'm ready to send my guests home with a special treat, while still enjoying the festive arrangement on my foyer table. "Friendship Gifts," Very Southern...Very Sweet!

Thank you so much for stopping by and visiting with me today.

FLAMINGO LADIES BOOK CLUB

Well, when I moved back to Florida, I just knew sooner or later a flamingo would come into the picture...maybe on the front of our Christmas cards, as the centerpiece for one of my tablescapes, on the coffee table on the front porch, et cetera. I sure never thought I would join a book club named "The Flamingo Ladies Book Club!" Well, tonight I attended my first "Flamingo Ladies Book Club...and Social Hour!"

I was actually very excited that the first meeting would be at the home of my neighbor Stacey Gilfillan. Stacey and her husband live in the same model of home we do and the home we actually wanted to buy, but we couldn't do the transaction quick enough. So, I was looking forward to seeing the inside of Stacey's house. Y'all know how I like to look at other people's stuff...

"Here's What I Wore"...
The white blouse is the "Essential White Shirt," from Coldwater Creek, the jeans are my "Saturday Jeans," by Ralph Lauren.


My ponytail was adorned with a cheetah print scrunchie (yes ma'am...still wearing scrunchies). I wore my silver monogrammed drop pendant choker, silver Chanel drop pendant earrings, my "Return to Tiffanys" silver bracelet, and of course, my Cartier roll ring wedding band*. My shoes--cheetah print mules by Van Eli and I carried my tan Chanel 2.55 pocketbook. My lipstick was "Copperglaze Brown," by Revlon and my nail polish was "Tutti Fruitti Tonga," by Opi--very basic, since I've been doing a little gardening this weekend. My fragrance of choice this evening was one of my very favorites--Burberry!


*Note to Kate at AugustVows: I've included a seperate shot of my Cartier roll ring wedding band, just for you! Husband and I have the "his and hers" set--very classic, very Cartier. The jewelry comes with the Cartier Certificate and seal--very timeless...les must de Cartier!


Now y'all know Miss Janice would never dream of arriving at someone's home empty-handed...so I carried along one of my "Friendship Gifts" for September to Stacey--a toile-decorated jar of "Miss Janice's Cinnamon and Apple Tea."


I was a member of a great book club when I lived in California and have since been waiting patiently for the right club opportunity to come along and now, this is definitely my kind of book club. Stacey was an excellent hostess and I had the most wonderful time!

SWEET TEA AND BOILED PEANUTS

I've been doing yard work all day long and I'm ready for a glass of iced tea...on the Porch--at The Roost! The little tea towel is an inside joke with friends back in Mississippi!

The lazy days of summer are here! Sunny days at the beach or lake, taking in a movie at a nice cool theatre, relaxing on the porch under the cool breeze of a ceiling fan...with a good book...

June is National Iced Tea Month
In 1904 a gentleman by the name of Richard Blechynden was trying to sell his hot tea at the World's Fair in St. Louis and because there was a heat wave, no one wanted any, so he added some ice and iced tea became popular. Like most Southerners, I began drinking iced tea at a young age. Iced tea is considered the beverage of hospitality, the table wine of the South, and sometimes referred to as the champagne of the South.

Take the heat out of your summer, slow down, and join me in sipping some great iced tea! Today, I'm enjoying a longtime Southern favorite, Lipton Iced Tea.

The Southern Country Caviar
What goes well with iced tea in the summertime? I'm lovin' some boiled peanuts! Pronounced "bald peanuts" below the Mason-Dixon line, boiled peanuts are an acquired taste, but to Southerners, they are addictive. They are a true Southern delicacy and most Southerners would tell you to enjoy them with sweet tea, a coke, or an iced cold beer!
If you are from the Deep South, you've no doubt driven by "Boiled Peanut Stands" on the side of the road. Everybody loves 'em-I know y'all have bought them on occasion!If you can't find a roadside stand, you can buy them canned (available at Publix, Walmart, et cetera). They may be eaten straight out of the can or placed on a plate and covered with a paper towel, and heated in the microwave for 30 seconds. You may also make your own...here's a recipe.


Recipe for Boiled Peanuts in a Crockpot:
1 1/2 quarts raw uncooked green peanuts
1/2 cup salt
2 1/2 quarts water

Wash the peanuts well. Place the peanuts into the crockpot, add the salt and water; stir. Cook, covered on high for 5-7 hours. Add more water if necessary, to keep the peanuts covered.

Miss Janice's Summer Friendship Gift
All my summer houseguests will receive a can of boiled peanuts as my friendship gift throughout the summer. What an easy way to say "Welcome" to guests and give them a little bit of a Southern delicacy to take home! Here's my "Friendship Gifts" for the summer:
Very easy...very Southern!
Thank y'all for dropping by today. I'm off to relax with my sweet tea and boiled peanuts...the whole can, by myself--yes ma'am!

Happy May Day!

Fewer and fewer people celebrate May Day anymore. I think it's such a sweet tradition (bringing in May) to create a May Day Basket and leave it on someone's door handle--just ring the bell and run! You can give them to friends, family, or elderly neighbors. The basket can be of any shape or style and contain flowers, cookies, candy, or maybe even tea and scones. Here's one of my May Day Baskets. I used a green toile container, added some fresh spring flowers, and a green gingham ribbon to tie the basket to the door handle...very simple...very Southern.

Since it's the first day of May, I thought I'd also show y'all my "Friendship Gifts" for the month--Mint Julep teabags. They are inside the cute little thatched-style, cottage boxes and wrapped in cello, then tied with spring-ish gingham ribbon...definitely Southern.
Thank you for stopping by today. Remember, it's the little things that you do for others that makes the day special and memorable.

HIPPITY HOPPITY

Spring is definitely here and Easter is just around the corner. Easter is a time for Christians around the world to celebrate the life and resurrection of Christ. It's also a time for new suits and dresses, bonnets, white shoes, chocolate bunnies, and colored eggs.

Here comes Peter Cottontail
hoppin' down the bunny trail
Hippity hoppity
Easter's on its way.

Here at "The Roost," I'm getting for ready for Easter...Bunnies are popping up all over the place--y'all take a look.

This sweet bunny in the foyer is passing out candy...

This cute bunny just might be up to no good...stay out of the nest! You cute little bunny...stay away from that cabbage!
This bunny is bored stiff and laid out on my buffet in my breakfast room..."please, Miss Janice...paint these walls and jazz up those windows"!
This little bunny lights up my favorite cookbook...The Southern Living Cookbook.
This rabbit looks a little spooky...Good Lord, this one looks ridiculous!

This one is hob-nobbin' with some Waterford...
This rabbit is tiffed...'cuz it just blends in with those painter-white walls!

This is a proper and well behaved little bunny...staying close to Miss Janice's stationery!
This special bunny lights up my dishwashing area all the time...


Easter Gifting...
Easter is also a time to give sweet gifts of candy in pretty spring wrappings or in a Easter basket. Here's a photo of the Easter Basket I did last year for mama--the goodies before I placed them on a white serving tray, surrounded by yellow shred...





The finished gift, wrap in clear cello, tied at the top with a yellow bow, and adorned with a teacup!

This is an idea for a sweet gift for a friend...I placed a tin of Green Citron Tea, available at HarneyTea.com, inside a pink gift bag, added a pink polka dot ribbon and a gift tag I embellished with a bunny stamp and a rhinestone...

I've also been busy getting together my April "Friendship Gifts." You may visit this post to learn more about these type of gifts. Candy is the treat inside the clear cello bags and I folded cardstock in pretty spring colors and stamped the foldover sheet with a bunny to make it festive.
A little Hippity Hoppity treat...

Thank you for stopping by today and I hope that you are enjoying Spring...remember to Make it Special...Make it Southern.

Ladies Who Garden Luncheon

Welcome to "Tablescape Thursday," hosted by the Hostess with Mostess, Susan, at Between Naps on the Porch.

Happy Spring y'all! Springtime is the perfect time to plant some flowers in your garden, bring out the birdhouses, and welcome those sweet little birds back...or maybe even organize your Spring wardrobe!

Last year at my Mississippi home, I hosted a Luncheon with a "Ladies Who Garden" theme. If I were to host this event today in my Florida home, it would be a "Ladies Who Need to Garden" theme.

For the tablescape, I coordinated my Franciscan "Ivy" china with some Majolica "Green Leaf" pieces; then, I tied in the garden theme by adding a birdcage, bird's nests, and some ivy.

Menu

Cream of Carrot Soup
Bird's Nest Egg Salad*
Fresh Tomatoes, Cucumbers & Sliced Onions
Tomato Basil Beer Bread
Herbed Mint Iced Tisane
~
Aunt Gladys' Lace Cookies*
Lemonade

Ladies Who Garden Luncheon Tablescape...

Bird's nest place card holders and flower seed party favors carry out the garden theme...


Sweet little bird's nest holding the place card...

Birdcage as the centerpiece...

Bird's nest under the cloche...

Luncheon Menu...

Bird's Nest Egg Salad...y'all, the noodles are crispy, not wet!

*Recipe for Bird's Nest Egg Salad
1 egg
3 cups chow mein noodles
1/4 teaspoon garlic salt
Egg Salad:
4 hard-cooked eggs, chopped
1/3 cup mayonnaise
1/3 cup finely chopped celery
2 tablespoons finely chopped onion
2 tablespoons minced fresh parsley
1 1/2 teaspoons ground mustard
1/2 teaspoon lemon juice
1/4 teaspoon seasoned salt

In a small bowl, beat egg. Add chow mein noodles and garlic salt; sir to coat. Drop by 1/3 cupfuls onto a greased baking sheet. Using your fingers, shape each into a nest, making an indentation in the center of each. Bake at 350 degrees for 11-13 minutes or until set. Cool for 2 minutes; remove to a wire rack to cool completely.

In a bowl, combine the first eight egg salad ingredients; mix well. Just before serving, spoon 1/4 cupful into each nest. Makes 6 servings.

Tomato Basil Beer Bread...

For a light dessert, I served lemonade and some of my "Aunt Gladys'" Lace Cookies.

Light dessert stand--Aunt Gladys' Lace Cookies with Lemonade...

*Aunt Gladys' Lace Cookies

1 egg beaten
1 tablespoon flour
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup melted butter
1 cup cooking oats
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon vanilla

Combine all ingredients. Drop a very small amount of dough (1/4 tsp., as it spreads thin) on greased and floured wax paper-lined cookie sheet. Bake at 350 degrees for about five minutes until slightly brown at edges. If underdone, the cookies will not come off the paper. Allow cookies to cool on paper before removing. Makes 80-100 cookies. Cookies look like beige bits of lace. (Okay, Miss Janice's cookies look like brown bits of lace.)
Don't forget your party favors y'all! An easy party favor for this event...packets of flower seeds on a bed of moss, wrapped in cello with an ivy print bow.

I decided to give out the seed packets as my March "Friendship Gift." This is a very inexpensive small token of love to give to those who visit your home!

My "Friendship Gifts" for March...
Ye sleeping buds, break
Open your green cerements, and wake
To fragrant blossoming for His sweet sake.
~Margaret French Patton

I'm so happy you stopped by for a visit. Enjoy the Springtime y'all and remember to Make it Southern...Make it Memorable!