National Hot Tea Month

Y'all know I love to celebrate every occasion and since January is National Hot Tea Month, I'll be sippin' hot tea every chance I get.  After the rush of the holidays, I'm ready to relax, organize my stuff, and plan for the new year.

To sit and have a cup of tea is one of the most relaxing things that you can do.  It's not the actual drinking of the tea, but the ritual of boiling the water, preparing the tea, and patiently waiting and anticipating quiet time.  It slows you down from your hectic pace and gives you a chance to take a deep breath and relax.

I do love to visit tearooms when I travel or when I'm at home.  In the past I've been able to locate lots of tearooms on Tea Map and The Tea House Times.  Unfortunately, it seems as though proper tearooms are becoming a thing of the past and that's a shame.  Taking tea in a tearoom is so relaxing and gives us a chance to practice proper etiquette.

If you are taking tea at home, you may serve at the dining table.  This is the correct place setting...The hostess pours the tea for each guest and serves them individually from the right-hand side.  Teacups and saucers are never passed around the table.  After all the guests have been served tea, the hostess serves herself and the tea begins.

If you choose to take your tea at the coffee table, it is called a "Low Tea" and this is the proper setting.  Remember when taking tea at a coffee table, pick up the teacup and saucer together.  The teacup should never be more than 12" away from the saucer.

Yes, there is tea etiquette to be followed.  My favorite books are by one of my favorite etiquette teachers, Ms. Dorothea Johnson.  These books are must-reads for those who take tea for business or pleasure and to teach children about the etiquette rules observed at afternoon tea...from the invitations to the thank-you notes.  You can order these books at my "Miss Janice Recommends" page.

"At tea, as in any other interaction, we are not free to act merely as we please, but we must act with mutual consideration, as befits our independence."  ~Dorothy Johnson

Today it is so cold here in Georgia and I'm only going to leave the house to go to the gym.  Right now I'm enjoying an "Elevenses Tea"...tea with a little treat.  Harney Tea is my absolute favorite and I steeped their "Florence" tea and am nibbling on shortbread while I'm piddling around the house.

Lilly Pulitzer for Target

This will be me on April 19th!  Yes, I will be that crazy Target lady.  I will be camped out at Target for a prime spot in line to shop the Lilly Pulitzer for Target sale!

Lilly Pulitzer is offering a limited edition collection of 15 exclusive prints, which are original works of art created by Lilly Pulitzer artists.  This collection will be available at all Target stores in the U.S. and Canada and also online beginning April 19, 2015.  The collection is made up of apparel, accessories, and shoes for women and girls.  There will also be home accents, outdoor entertaining accessories, beach gear, travel essentials and more.

Here's a peek at the the cute loot coming to Target.

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?  

After Christmas

Well, all my Christmas decor is down and the house looks so bare and empty.  


I decided to keep my cotton boll wreath up...for now.  I rehung it in a new spot over the sideboard.  My house has been decorated with lots of holiday decor since right after we moved in...first Halloween, then Thanksgiving, and Christmas.  So now, without the extra fanciness to fill in empty spots, I'm really going to have to focus in January to pull things together.  I can't wait to find some more cute loot to help make it warm and cozy.  There are so many places in Georgia to shop for french country goodies and the hunt is the best part!

Today I browsed through this book by Carolyn Westbrook, The French Inspired Home.   My Georgia home is ever-so humble (and that's just fine with me), but I still love to look at pretty pictures and somehow bring in little bits of french style to "The Roost." Ms. Westbrook is the author of several home decor books:  Carolyn Westbrook Home, Through the French Door, and a Romance with French Living.

If you like French decor, you will love all her books because they are all full of pretty pictures!  Thank you for visiting with me today.

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!

How Do You Like Your Eggnog--Naughty or Nice?

To celebrate National Eggnog Day, I'm re posting my favorite recipe for the holiday beverage.

After an evening at the Nutcracker, invite friends back to your house for a nightcap. Eggnog is an excellent choice and is an annual Christmas tradition going back to the 1600s. Eggnog is a descendant of a British drink called posset, which contained eggs, milk, and ale. It may be spiked with wine, brandy, or the ever-popular choice of rum.

I always offer nice eggnog (soy nog and nutmeg)--it's actually very tasty and lactose-free, cholesterol-free, and contains no saturated fat. Now, my naughty eggnog is just that--quite naughty, but very popular!

Recipe for Miss Janice's Nice Eggnog:

1 quart Silk Nog (from grocers)

1/4 tsp. nutmeg, plus extra for garnishing

Stir and pour into glasses and garnish with nutmeg.

Recipe for Miss Janice's Naughty Eggnog:

1 quart eggnog (from grocers)

1/2 pint whipping cream

Desired amount of rum--I use one cup--I mentioned it was naughty, right?

1/4 tsp. nutmeg, plus extra for garnishing

Whip eggnog and whipping cream until thick. Add white rum to taste. Stir and pour into glasses and garnish with nutmeg.

Merry Christmas y'all!