New Year's Eve

Today we are traveling to Tampa and tonight we will attend a progressive dinner party to celebrate the New Year. 

Here's What I'm Wearing on the roadtrip:  I borrowed the garnet gingham shirt from my husband's closet and paired it with the Talbot's crewneck and a pair of leggings.  The ballet flats are from The Gap.

HERE'S WHAT I'M WEARING this evening:  The Lilly Pulitzer "Janice" dress is fast becoming my favorite!  I'll also be wearing the Lilly Pulitzer gold murfee wrap with the dress and my gold Revas.

When the night is through, I'll be wearing these cute Nick and Nora champagne-motif  PJ's from Target.

Our host for a couple of days is hosting the final party stop at his house and will serve the desserts and cocktails, and lots of midnight revelry.  I am providing the party favors.  These are my favorites to give on New Year's Eve...Blackeye Peas!

Here's some New Year's Eve Toasting Etiquette tips:

• The host of the party should give the toast.
• Practice what you want to say.
• Begin your toast close to midnight...before the countdown.
• On New Year's Eve the toast is about a celebration, not the beverage.  It's perfectly acceptable to toast with a non-alcoholic beverage, although it's a tradition to drink champagne on New Year's Eve. 
• Be Short, Be Sweet!
• Clinking glasses is an etiquette faux pas.  Lift your glass and point it in the direction of the person delivering the toast.
• Remember to serve the most important guest first, then other guests, and the host fills his glass last.

Here are some of my New Year's superstitions!

• I'll be eating lots of blackeye peas, pork, collard greens, and cornbread.  They all are hopefully going to bring me money and good luck.
• I'll open all the doors to let the old year out and the new year in.
• No chicken for me on New Year's Day or I'll experience financial difficulties.
• I won't be washing any clothes...that's bad luck.
• I won't be taking any garbage out...again, bad luck.
• All my Christmas trees have been taken down...Mama says that leaving them up on New Year's Day is bad luck!

Are you superstitious about what you do on New Year's Day?  

It's New Year's Eve!

New Year's Eve! Blah, blah, blah!!! Tonight I'm wearing this cute little hostess apron during "Merlot Hour" ...it's says "Party Girl." While I am definitely a party girl, believe it or not, I've never really been into New Year's Eve. Just between me and y'all, I can't stand going to parties with a bunch of drunk strangers kissing me at midnight! It's just gross! I will enjoy watching Anderson Cooper & Cathy Griffin's coverage of The Time's Square Ball, a champagne toast with my Waterford goblet, and singing Auld Lang Syne.

I shall reflect back on the past year--thinking about what I did wrong and how to change that and what I got right and how to keep that going!

It's fun looking forward to the new year isn't it? This year, I decided to write down my goals for 2011...not resolutions--just personal goals I want to accomplish, places I want to visit, and of course, there are several goodies I want to buy!!! If you follow me on Twitter here, you can read "Miss Janice's Goals for 2011."

New Year's Gifts
Even though I'm staying home and not hosting a party this year or attending one...here's a photo of a gift I packaged for guests a couple of years ago. I used a four-pack box and filled it with a split of champagne, two inexpensive champagne goblets, some party horns, black shred, and my signature gingham ribbon.
Get Your Party Favors Y'all!
This is my favorite New Year's party favor of all time!!! It's a can of the Southern favorite New Year's Day food--Black Eyed Peas...wrapped in cello and adorned with a party blower! Remember, for every pea you eat, that's a dollar you'll earn in the new year! {That's what Mama said!!!}


It's Time for a Blog Break Y'all!
Please excuse me while I take a break from blogging for a short while. I need to do some computer maintenance, some work around the house, and possibly get a new blog design! {Speaking of blog design...does anyone know why my right margin has dropped down below the last post on this page?}

Before I close for my break, I want to thank all my readers for your precious comments on the blog. Y'all are so sweet! You may certainly still e-mail me with your questions and also follow me on Twitter at SocialGraces101...I'll still be tweeting "What I'm Wearing," et cetera.

Happy New Year to all y'all! I hope that you reach the goals you set and that you have a prosperous, healthy, and happy New Year!

Don't forget to open up the front door of your home at midnight to let the old year out and the new year in...it's a Southern thing y'all!

Chin Chin!

Miss Janice

It's New Year's Eve Y'all!

Well, it's the end of another year in our lives! I'm looking forward to 2010...hoping that the economy in our Country will improve and that people who are without jobs will find a good place to work and make a living. I'm also hoping that all y'all will be able to achieve the resolutions and goals that you have made.

What are you doing for New Year's Eve?

Will you be staying home and watching the ball drop in Time's Square? Continuing a tradition...as a Christmas gift, my Mother-in-Law gave me another New Year's Eve Ball Snow Globe, by Waterford...my collection of these is growing! It's the Times Square Ball and plays "Auld Lang Syne." Waaaaay cute!

Will you be hosting or attending a festive event? Remember that you should never arrive at someone's home empty-handed...and y'all know by now that Miss Janice always gives her guests party favors! I still love this idea for party favors...or to take as a hostess gift...Give them a cute little gift of champagne. This is a four-pack box, filled with a split of champagne, two inexpensive champagne goblets, some party horns, black shred, and of course--black gingham ribbon!

My all-time favorite New Year's gift for the hostess or party guests...a Southern favorite New Year's Day food--Black Eyed Peas. Wrap the can in cello and attach a party blower and {gingham} ribbon...voila, you are set!

Whatever you do this evening...be safe and have a Happy New Year y'all!

Chin Chin!

Miss Janice

It's New Year's Eve Y'all!

If I am being perfectly honest, New Year's Eve is not exactly one of my favorite holidays. When I was younger, there was so much pressure to find that perfect date...as I got older, it was annoying and gross kissing strangers--just because it was New Year's Eve...now, it is almost scary with people shooting off guns at midnight and the drunken crazy people on the streets. So...hmm, what to do on New Years Eve?

For me, it's all about the The Time's Square Ball, a champagne toast, and singing Auld Lang Syne.

My mother-in-law gave me this lovely 2009 New Year's Eve Ball Snow Globe, by Waterford, as a Christmas gift. It plays Auld Lang Syne.

What a tradition!...Americans have been watching the ball drop in Time's Square since 1907.

Well, you know it's not New Year's Eve without a champagne toast. Sipping champagne is a festive way to commemorate the New Year. You don't have to serve expensive champagne--just some bubbly to make a toast! Remember, you should never tap the goblet with flatware to announce your toast. Also, the clinking of goblets is an etiquette faux pas!...Simply raise your goblet in the air in front of you. Drink responsibly and have a designated driver!

Y'all know I have to give you a couple of ideas for gifting on this festive evening! If you are entertaining guests, why not give them a cute little gift of champagne? Use a four-pack box and fill it with a split of champagne, two inexpensive champagne goblets, some party horns, black shred, and ribbon.

If you are in a hurry and forgot to get a gift for your hostess, just take a can of the Southern favorite New Year's Day food--Black Eyed Peas...wrap in cello and attach a party blower...voila, you are set!

Should auld acquaintance be forgot, and never brought to mind? Should auld acquaintance be forgot? And auld lang syne?...

This evening, I'll be lifting my Waterford champagne goblet with a toast that we may all have a wonderful and blessed New Year! Don't forget to open up the front door of your home at midnight to let the old year out and the new year in...it's a Southern thing y'all!