Christmas Greetings!

Merry Christmas to y'all!  I was fortunate to spend Christmas Eve with my family and we enjoyed a very casual supper.

These are some photos of the tablescape...


"HERE'S WHAT I WORE"  The tartan dress is by Brooks Brothers and the headband is Ferragamo.  I wore a black cashmere cardi and black Chanel ballet flats.


Now, all the rush is through and I am relaxing on the sofa...enjoying a Kahlua and coffee by the fire.

I wish you all a very Happy Christmas!

May the Fifth

May the 5th, 2013.  The day after the Kentucky Derby.  Cinco de Mayo day.  And, the first anniversary of the passing of my friend Jan Taylor.

We started the day with close friends over a light breakfast of Panera Bread food...I wore my Lilly Ricci shift in the 'Glam Toile' print, with white Bonanno sandals, and my Bosom Buddy Bag.

This was a day that we celebrated the memory of Jan and did the things she loved the most!

A toast to Jan Tay!!!

Later we ate again...Brunch food at the Clubhouse.

This was my feast before "Detox Monday" rolled around!

Later that evening...a Cinco de Mayo Supper.

My idea of celebrating Cinco de Mayo...a cute tablescape,

with cute adirondack chair napkin rings...

An umbrella in my drink...

and a Publix-bought, frozen margarita mix, served in a monogrammed goblet!  Hola y'all!

Chips with fresh salsa...

Fish Tacos!  Y'all know I love Fish Tacos and these were easy.*

Recipe for Fish Tacos:  {I found this recipe on the internet}

1 can Rotel diced tomatoes, drained with liquid reserved

1/2 cup sour cream

3 cups tri-color coleslaw mix

1 1/2 lbs tilapa, thawed

1 tsp ground cumin

1/2 tsp salt

1 tblsp oil

Corn tortillas

Mix the sour cream with 1/2 of the Rotel liquid.  Stir and set aside.  Mix the coleslaw with the Rotel tomatoes and the remainder of the Rotel liquid.  Mix well and set aside.

Sprinkle the fish with cumin and salt and heat in a skillet over med-high heat.  Place the cooked fish on paper towels to drain and then flake.   Serve on a tortilla with the slaw mix and sour cream dressing.

Needless to say, after the party weekend I enjoyed, Detox Monday was a shock to my system!  Now, I working out double-time to try to lose the calories I consumed over the weekend!

Shopping, Lunching, and Shopping Some More

My friend Joy has gone back home to Tybee Island.  Boo hiss!  Well, it's probably for the best, since we practically kill ourselves when we're together.  Shop Shop Shop.  Seriously, Miss Joy outshops moi!!!

I told Joy that she might like to go shopping with me down in Delray Beach.  I LOVE The Snappy Turtle and though Joy might like it as well.  Joy's life is full of color.  If you haven't seen the photos from my recent visit to her beach house on Tybee Island, take a peek.  Not only does she use bright colors in her home decor, she dresses in bright colors ALL THE TIME!  Snappy Turtle is just the shop for Miss Joy!  So, we headed off to Delray...Upon entering the store, I just had to get a photo next to their pink Christmas tree!

"Here's What I Wore"  White long sleeve blouse, J Crew skinny jeans, Lilly green crewneck sweater, pink 'LePlilage' Longchamp, Chanel sunglasses, Hermes cologne, Chanel 'Laser Pink' lipstick, pearls, monogrammed earrings, 'Oyster Perpetual' Rolex, Cartier wedding band, a green grosgrain ponybow, and monogrammed clogs!

The Snappy Turtle is located in Delray Beach, Florida.  I'm obsessed with everything in this store...visit their website here or like them on Facebook to see all the cute loot they have!  Joy and I left with lots of goodies and I'll be showing them in future OOTD!

Joy was dressed in lime green and hot pink...Joy is a J Crew girl and the skinny pants and ballet flats are J Crew, but I believe the top is from a Merchandise Mart in Atlanta.  Girl shops all the time.

Love Love Love these pink and green ornaments!

I think I must go back for this blouse...it's so me.

And these PJ's...I kept eyeing them and didn't bring them home:(

Why isn't the cute turtle in the dressing room for sale?!  I'm just now thinking that tissue box cover is adorable too!

I finally got to meet Diane Kaufman who is a friend of Joy's back home in Tybee.  Diane owns Mermaid Cottages and was driving back home to Georgia from a recent vacation in Cuba.  We shopped at some thrift stores in West Palm and Diane found these fabulous chairs--donated from The Breakers Hotel!  She got them in her SUV with room for more cute loot!

I brought home this cutie pie for my guest room...Crazy about monkeys y'all!

Lunch at the Havana Cafe...which I learned is a must-dine establishment in West Palm.

My first time to try a Cuban Sandwich!

NOT my first taste of real flan...fabulous!!!!!

For those who have known me since my Carnival Cruise Lines days, you know I have a serious addiction to Cuban coffee.  Nothing compares.  No, not even Starbucks!!!

Thank you for stopping by today.  Hope you are having a merry merry Christmas season!

Dining with the Nutcrackers

Last night we entertained with a little soiree...more about that party later this week.  Today I'm posting photos of a dinner we hosted last week.  I'm a little bit behind y'all!!

Welcome to the dining room...decked out with a Nutcracker and tartan theme.

This tree is adorned with tartan ribbon, nutcrackers, and green, gold, and red ornaments.

March on...

Gifts ready to go!

A tabletop tree sits on the sideboard...

Nutcrackers on the wall...

The chandelier is adorned with garland, ornaments, and tartan bows.

More Nutcrackers on the sideboard...

The table is set for an informal dinner...

The centerpiece...greenery adorned with Nutcrackers and little toy drums.

Candlelight...

The placesetting:  Lenox 'Christmas Holiday' placemat, gold charger plate, Lenox 'Eternal' dinnerware, red linen napkins with a tartan and nutcracker napkin ring, Mama's gold hollyberry flatware, and the holly goblets are from the grocery store!

Festive little nutcracker place card holders.

Get your party favors, y'all!  A Taste of Gourmet treat wrapped in festive nutcracker wrap.

Menu

Pimiento Cheese Spread with Petite Toast

Scarlett O'Hara Cocktails

Mixed Greens with Vidalia Onion Vinaigrette Dressing

Shrimp and Grits Cakes

Cheese Biscuits

Bananas Foster

Coffee with Flavored Creams

My brother J.D.'s all-time favorite treat...Petite toast and pimiento cheese, from The Fresh Market.

Watching the Gone With the Wind marathon on television recently got me thinking about these cocktails...the Scarlett O'Hara.  Just mix 6 ounces cranberry juice, with 2 ounces Southern Comfort, and a dash of lime juice.  Add a lime wedge and you have THE most genteel Southern drink evah!

A Southern presentation for a Southern cocktail...silver pitcher with a tartan bow, silver mint julep cups and silver straws, and Caspari tartan cocktail napkins.

Everything taste better in a mint julep cup!

Shrimp and Grits cakes...I must tell y'all that I cheated!  I got these from The Fresh Market!  LOVED them and am now addicted!

Cheese biscuits...also from The Fresh Market.  I could not have made these myself!

Dessert and Coffee was served in The Relaxing Room.  I'm wearing my tartan apron from my "Prissy Apron Collection."

Awhile back, I saw a recipe here for Bananas Foster and have been waiting on the perfect time to prepare this Southern delicacy.  The recipe can be prepared with or without alcohol, and I chose to go the no-alcohol route.  Y'all, this popular Southern dessert is delicious.

Mine doesn't look like the picture on the other blog, but trust me, it was delish!

I set up a coffee bar in The Relaxing Room...

I served the flavored creams from little cruets adorned with tartan ribbon...

Lenox 'Eternal' coffee pot and cups and saucers...

Thank you for stopping by to visit with me.  I'll be back later this week with a post about my Sunday night soiree!