Celebrate National Thank-You Day!

The Ultimate Holiday Site...a spinoff from the Hallmark Channel, says today is National Thank-You Day!

I hope y'all will join me today in celebrating!  It's a great time to stop and recognize small acts of kindness.  There are many reasons to write a thank-you note.  This morning I will be catching up and writing a few thank-you notes.   Acknowledging a kind deed or gift are just a couple of reasons.  Writing a thank-you note shows that you are grateful for the act of kindness shown to you.  You are repaying kindness!

To be perfectly proper, thank-you notes should be written on 'monogrammed notes' or 'correspondence cards.'  Monogrammed notes are good-quality folded notepaper, white or ivory, and include a monogram {or name} on the front.  Correspondence cards, which have no fold, are made from three-ply stock, white or ivory, and measure 6 3/4 x 4 1/4 inches.  Your name is printed across the top.  Here are just a few of the pieces of my thank-you stationery wardrobe.

Monogrammed Notes...Begin writing on page 3 of the foldover card.

Monogrammed Notes...Begin writing on page 3 of the foldover card.

Correspondence Card...Begin writing on page 1

Please do not e-mail your thank-you note--that is an etiquette faux pas!  Begin your note by telling the person how thoughtful they are and how they always find the perfect gift for you.  Mention the gift and how you will use it.  Close by thanking them again.

Small children should be taught that presents are given to them as acts of kindness.  If you want your child to be thoughtful and courteous, you must train them to send thank-you notes.  

Failure to write a thank-you note is an etiquette faux pas and it will be remembered.  It is never wrong or too late to send that thank-you note!

"Feeling gratitude and not expressing it is like wrapping a present and not giving it."
~William Arthur Ward

Getting Ready for the New Year!

Whew! I'm exhausted y'all! Looking for a quiet spot on the beach to relax and think with some peace and quiet:) This is what I need...
Pepi is down for his long winter's nap...bless his little heart! He's been so busy:)
My thank-you notes have been sent for all the Christmas gifts I received...You can read here and also here about my thank-you note etiquette tips.
As I've said every New Year's, I'm NOT a fan of New Year's Eve parties. I am always exhausted by this point and just want to stay home and watch the revelry from Times Square...wearing my PJ's and sipping some champagne.
However, I've been known to give these cute little "New Year's Eve" gifts to friends...
This is my go-to "New Year's" gift...the Southern must-eat on New Year's Day black eyed peas, wrapped in cello, tied with my signature gingham ribbon, with a party horn attached!
This year I'll be tweeting my "2012 Good Intentions List" on New Year's Eve over at Twitter...check it out. No goals, no resolutions...just "Good Intentions!"

Happy New Year to all y'all and I'll be back soon!

Practicing What I Preach.

Recently, I was contacted by one of my readers who thought I might be interested in a project being promoted by The Bert Show (an Atlanta radio show). The Bert Show is trying to get 400,00 hand-written thank-you letters so that each member of our armed forces deployed outside the United States will receive a letter of gratitude on Thanksgiving Day.

As my reader mentioned, I am always reminding y'all of the importance of writing thank-you notes, and this is the perfect opportunity to give y'all some practical homework.

Each letter should be heartfelt, handwritten, original, and free of any political statements. Remember that the purpose of the letter is to express gratitude for service to our Country.

All letters must be on 8 1/2" x 11" paper or smaller. DO NOT USE glue, tape, staples, cardboard, glitter, or otherwise attach anything to the paper. DO NOT send cards or photographs. Feel free to include your mailing and email address...you may get a response. DO NOT send any donations:)

For more information, you can go to The Bert Show website here.
Submit your handwritten, individual letter in a standard business-size envelope and mail to:

The Bert Show's Big Thank You
780 Johnson Ferry Road, NE

5th Floor
Atlanta, GA 30342
"Feeling gratitude and not expressing it is like wrapping a present and not giving it."
William Arthur Ward

I hope that each of you will take up the challenge and Practice What I Preach! I'll close with this fabulous video...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=reDiz5nkxK8

GIVEAWAY TO CELEBRATE NAT'L ETIQUETTE WEEK 2011

PLEASE NOTE: Due to the shutdown of Blogger for a couple of days this week, I have extended the deadline to enter this giveaway to Sunday night at midnight, EST, May 15, 2011.

Yes, there is National Etiquette Week y'all! It was established by Sandra Morisset in 1997 and is observed May 9-13th. This is a time to recognize civility and good manners...and it all begins with you! During this week, I hope that y'all examine and improve your etiquette skills. Here's a list of Miss Janice's top five etiquette faux pas:

~Failure to R.s.v.p....will surely get your name taken off Miss Janice's party list!
~Not sending a thank-you note...how very ungrateful!
~Talking while chewing your food...so disgusting!
~Using a toothpick in public...Miss Janice absolutely cannot stand this!
~Forgetting to say "Please, Thank You, Yes Ma'am/Sir, or Excuse Me"...a sure sign to others that you have no manners!

Every year since I began this blog, I have hosted a 'Very Proper Giveaway' in celebration of National Etiquette Week.

The winner will receive their choice of either a set of monogrammed foldover notecards or flat correspondence cards, from 2PreppyGirls. Proper thank-you notes/cards are must-haves for your stationery wardrobe ladies:) To be perfectly correct, thank-you notes should be written on 'monogrammed notes' or 'correspondence cards.'

The foldover monogrammed notecards from 2 Preppy Girls are appropriate to write thank-you notes. {They may also be used to extend a formal invitation or to send a short message to a friend}. Write on page 3 of the notecard. The proper monogram for this style of card would be your first, married, and maiden name initial, in that order. If you are single, use your first, last, and middle name initial, in that order. You will be choosing from these 2 Preppy Girls foldover monogrammed notedcards here.

The correspondence card may also be used for thank-yous, informal invitations, and short notes. They are flat, heavy cards, with a name or a monogram. Write only on the front of the card. You might want to choose from one of these 2 Preppy Girls' correspondences cards here.

In addition to the thank you notes/cards, the winner will also receive a copy of etiquette expert Letitia Baldrige's book, "New Manners for New Times." This is Miss Janice's go-to etiquette reference book. Ms. Baldrige covers everything you need to know about etiquette.


Ms. Baldrige is recognized universally as the country's leading authority on business and social etiquette. She was the White House Secretary for Jacqueline Kennedy and since that time has published more than twenty books. Here's a photo of Letitia Baldrige at a White House State function in the 60's. Can you even imagine having such a wonderful job???



In the photo below, the First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy is arriving at the National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C. Ms. Baldrige is seen emerging from the limo. November 3, 1961. I adore this photograph!




Here, you see Miss Janice with Ms. Baldrige at the Southern Lady Event in Destin, Florida several years ago. I begged the editor of Tea Time magazine to schedule a sit-down for me with Ms. Baldrige. I was honored to meet her and receive her wealth of information regarding my role as etiquette consultant in today's world.

Here are the rules of the giveaway y'all:

~To receive one entry, you must leave a comment and tell me what you are going to do during the upcoming week to promote civility!
~To receive two entries, please let me know if you are a follower of my blog (an old proper friend or a new proper friend)!
~To receive three entries, you must post about my giveaway on Twitter or Facebook...just let me know!

This giveaway will close on Friday, May 13th at midnight E.S.T. I will announce the winner on Saturday, May 14th. Good luck y'all!!!

A GIVEAWAY TO CELEBRATE NATIONAL THANK-YOU DAY!

Today, I'm celebrating National Thank-You Day! What a great time to stop and recognize small acts of kindness. There are many reasons to write a thank-you note. Acknowledging a kind deed or gift are just a couple of reasons. Writing a thank-you note shows that you are grateful for the act of kindness shown to you. You are repaying kindness.

To be perfectly proper, thank-you notes should be written on 'monogrammed notes' or 'correspondence cards.' Monogrammed notes are good-quality folded notepaper, white or ivory, and include a monogram (or name) on the front. Correspondence cards, which have no fold, are made from three-ply stock, white or ivory, and measure 6 3/4 x 4 1/4 inches. Your name is printed across the top. Here are just a few of the pieces of my thank-you stationery wardrobe...

Monogrammed Notes...Begin writing on page 3 of the foldover card.
Monogrammed Notes...Begin writing on page 3 of the foldover card.


Correspondence Card...Begin writing on page 1.

Please do not e-mail your thank-you note--that is an etiquette faux pas! Begin your note by telling the person how thoughtful they are and how they always find the perfect gift for you. Mention the gift and how you will use it. Close by thanking them again.

Small children should be taught that presents are given to them as acts of kindness. If you want your child to be thoughtful and courteous, you must train them to send thank-you notes.

Failure to write a thank-you note is an etiquette faux pas and it will be remembered. It is never wrong or too late to send that thank-you note!

"Feeling gratitude and not expressing it is like wrapping a present and not giving it."
~William Arthur Ward

THE GIVEAWAY:

I am very thankful to all my followers and readers and I want to say thank-you by offering this giveaway...full of some of my favorite Paula Deen products.

Here's what the giveaway incudes:

The Paula Deen "Hey Y'all" apron...just like the one I wear!
A bunch of Paula Deen products...all my favorites!
All these products are from Miss Paula's collection...BBQ Snack Mix, Cake Mix, Cookie Mix, Cookie Tin, Gift Tags (2), Spatulas (2), Egg Whisk, Cupcake Cups

Chocolate Fudge Brownie Mix, Blueberry Muffin Mix, Bread Loaf Liners, Rooster-Motif Measuring Cups, Rooster Motif-Measuring Spoons, Recipe Cards, "The Lady & Sons--Just Desserts" book, latest editions of "Cooking With Paula Deen" magazines, and a Coupon Holder.

All the Paula Deen goodies will be stuffed insided this darling Paula Deen Market Tote!

HERE ARE THE GIVEAWAY RULES:

~For one entry please leave a comment
~For 2 entries, let me know that you are a follower of my blog
~For 3 entries, let me know if you are a new follower of my blog
~For 4 entries, let me know if you shared about this giveaway on Twitter, Facebook, your Blog, at your Church...wherever!!!

The giveaway will close Thursday, September 30th at midnight and I will announce the winner on Friday, September 1st! (Edited: that should read Friday, October 1st!)Good luck to y'all!

Merci Beaucoup Suburban Princess!

I have a super-busy day and all morning I've been working on my social network pages and enjoying a little 'Dunkin Decaf' y'all! I want to say thank-you to my blogging friend Suburban Princess. She knows I love roosters and sent me a darling rooster-motif coffee set. Suburban Princess, a proper thank-you note is "in the mail" to you!

Yesterday and today I have been working on my Twitter roll, my Blog roll, and my Facebook Page. Honestly y'all, there is way too much information out there coming into my little brain! (Too much going out from moi, as well!) So, I have deleted my own Facebook Fan Page, I'm thinking about stopping my blogposts from feeding onto my Facebook page, I'm deleting people I'm following on Twitter who don't tweet back or just want to sell me something, I'm unfollowing bloggers who don't blog anymore, et cetera.

Now, in the process, I may have deleted YOU--Some I deleted intentionally for the reasons stated above and some by mistake. This is not personal! If you are still blogging/tweeting and if you want to remain in these social networks and communicate with me, please let me know!!! If you don't ever communicate with me, then how do I know???

I hope y'all's day is wonderful! Thank you for stopping by to visit.

Don't Forget to Say Thank You for Christmas Gifts!

I hope that y'all enjoyed the holiday season and were able to spend time with your family and friends! Now that all of the gifts have been unwrapped, proper etiquette dictates that you send a thank-you note for gifts you received. This is the perfect time to teach children that presents given to them by friends and family are given to them as acts of kindness and thank-you notes are appropriate. You might also teach your child to send Santa a thank-you note! Before I show you the styles of thank-you notes I'll be sending, take a peek at a few of my Christmas goodies...

My friend Joy gave me this Lilly canvas print in the center. Isn't it the cutest? I framed some Lilly shift notecards and added them to create a cute Lilly grouping in my Lilly-fied office...{Maybe I'll add a topper later!}

Y'all, these Lilly canvas prints are just too cute!

My friend Teresa Jane gave me this Lilly "Chin Chin" pillow hanger...love this! I'll probably start closing my post with..."Chin Chin, Miss Janice!"

The rooster obsession continues...I can't stop! Teresa Jane gave me these darling oven mitts in the La Petite Ferme Toile Spice pattern, by Waverly. I am seriously in love with this pattern! Y'all are going to see a little more of this fabric print showing up in my breakfast room. Obsessed.

Toile and roosters...Love.


Look at this little tassel Teresa Jane gave moi...it's a sage color harlequin design.

These are little paper plate holders that I got from Teresa Jane. I got this small one and a larger one. Love the little Eiffel Tower plates and of course I had to gingham it up! These will be great to use throughout the year...'cuz y'all know Miss Janice uses paper plates!

Just my style!

Thank-You Note Etiquette
To be perfectly proper, thank-you notes should be written on 'monogrammed notes' or 'correspondence cards.' Please do not e-mail your thank-you note--that is an etiquette faux pas. Failure to write a thank-you note is one of the biggest etiquette faux pas you can commit and it will be remembered!

A very proper thank-you note--my 'Monogrammed Note'...

My 'Correspondence Cards' are also appropriate for a thank-you note...

In the business world especially, writing a thank-you note sets you apart from the crowd. This is my Etiquette with Miss Janice thank-you note...{with the Southern magnolia theme, which carries out my brand}

Now, I normally do not use a thank-you note that says "Thank You" on the front. But, a few years ago, I found these darling red toile cards at Hobby Lobby. I use these to send to family members...Mama, J.D., etc.

Remember, you will never go wrong sending a thank-you note!

Feeling gratitude and not expressing it is like wrapping a present and not giving it.

William Arthur Ward

Ooops! I almost forgot...

Chin Chin!

Miss Janice

It's Thank-You Time Y'all!

I hope that y'all enjoyed the holiday season and were able to spend time with your family and friends. Now that all of the gifts have been unwrapped, proper etiquette dictates that you send a thank-you note for gifts you received. This is the perfect time to teach children that presents are given to them as acts of kindness and thank-you notes are appropriate. To be perfectly proper, thank-you notes should be written on 'monogrammed notes' or 'correspondence cards.' Please do not e-mail your thank-you note--that is an etiquette faux pas. Begin your note by telling the person how thoughtful they are and how they always find the perfect gift for you. Mention the gift and how you will use it. Close by thanking them again!

Failure to write a thank-you note is an etiquette faux pas and it will be remembered! For those of you who need a little help with your notes, The Art of Thank You, by Connie Leas is an excellent reference book. This book has many meaningful ways to say thank you. It explains why we write thank-you notes, when to send a thank-you note, what stationery to use for thank-you notes, and how to compose a thank-you note. Remember, you will never go wrong sending a thank-you note!

Feeling gratitude and not expressing it is like wrapping a present and not giving it.

William Arthur Ward