GIVEAWAY WINNER!!!

Congratulations to {Carolina} Girl, Sweet Southern Pearl! You are the winner of my "Very Proper Giveaway," the book by Letitia Baldrige..."New Manners for New Times."

Carolina Girl is a new blogger. She's a student getting ready to attend college and said "she would take this book with her to school as her own personal go-to etiquette book."

After visiting her blog, I realized she and I have a lot in common...We are both from the Deep South, we both spent several years in the Cotillion, and we both have mamas who taught us etiquette at a very early age!

On May 21st, she is being inducted into the National Honor Society (just like I was at her age) and just look at the classy outfit she will be wearing...

To top it off, she's a Jimmy Buffett fan--just like Miss Janice! Here's her and her mama at a JB concert recently...

Congratulations to you Carolina Girl. I hope that this book will be a useful reference for you to turn to regarding social graces--for the rest of your life! Thank you also to all my readers who entered this giveaway!

A Giveaway to Celebrate National Etiquette Week!

Yes, there is National Etiquette Week. It was established by Sandra Morisset in 1997 and is observed May 11th-15th. 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 class!

In celebration of National Etiquette Week, I'm having a "Very Proper Giveaway." The winner will receive a copy of etiquette expert Letitia Baldrige's book, "New Manners for New Times."
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. This is Miss Janice's go-to etiquette reference book. Ms. Baldrige covers everything you need to know about etiquette.

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 this photo, 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. I begged the editor of Tea Time magazine, Barbara Cockerham, 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. Awesome evening!

So, let's talk about the rules of the giveaway...
~To receive one entry, you must leave a comment and tell me what you are going to do during the week to promote civility!
~To receive two entries, please let me know if you are a follower of my site (an old proper friend or a new proper friend)!
~To receive three entries, please post about my giveaway on your site with a button or whatever!

The winner will be announced on Friday, May 15th. Good luck to you and please remember to practice proper etiquette always!

Mother's Day Brunch

It's Tablescape Thursday and Susan at Between Naps on the Porch is once again hosting this awesome event. Susan is definitely the "Tablescape Queen," so stop in and check out her beautiful blog and all the tablescapes linked to this event!

Today, I'm featuring a Mother's Day Brunch tablescape. This Mother's Day, I will not be able to travel home to Georgia to visit my mama. However, she will be celebrating this special day with my brother.

Mothers are the most important people in the world. If you are lucky enough to still have your mama, please honor her everyday and make this Mother's Day special for her. In the South, ladies judge a gentleman by the way he treats his mama. I can tell you that my brother loves and respects our mama and treats her like she's the Queen. He's always driving Miss Pauline all over the place (to church on Sundays, to the beauty shop for her standing appointment every Friday morning, shopping, etc.--mama loves to scoot)!

A sweet Southern tradition on Mother's Day in the South...ladies are given a red corsage if their mama is still alive and a white corsage if their mama has passed away.

Today's feature is a Brunch that I had last year for my mama at my home in Mississippi.

Mother's Day Brunch Tablescape...Brunch egg casserole*, fresh mixed fruit, Southern-style biscuits, orange juice, and coffee.

Mother's Day Brunch Place Setting--The china is Accoutrements, designed by Anna Griffin for Lenox. The napkin rings are monogrammed, of course, and a silver tray is used as a charger plate .

Brunch Egg Casserole...

*Recipe for Brunch Egg Casserole
4 cups seasoned croutons
2 cups grated cheddar cheese
8 eggs, slightly beaten
4 cups milk
1 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. pepper
8 slices bulk sausage, cooked, drained, and crumbled

Combine croutons and cheese and place into a greased 3-quart baking dish. Combine eggs, milk, salt, and pepper; mix until well blended and pour over the crouton mixture. Sprinkle crumbled sausage on top. Bake at 325 degrees for one hour. Serves 8-12.

I hope that y'all have a wonderful Mother's Day!

Youth fades; love droops; the leaves of friendship fall; A mother's secret hope outlives them all.
~Oliver Wendell Holmes

Lilly Photo of the Week

When I first saw this photo, I knew that I just had to feature it as my "Lilly Photo of the Week." Look at these darling girls!!! Have you ever seen a sweeter photograph?
I am so grateful to Tiffany Hoffman for sharing this family photo. Here she is (in the center) with her sisters--Miss Jinette on the left side and Little Miss Julia on the right side. How absolutely precious are they in their Lilly outfits! This is their Easter photo taken in front of the big fountain at Balboa Park in San Diego.

Miss Jinette is wearing the Lee Shift printed sateen in Multi Bam Patch and the Abygale Lilly Pink Cardigan. Tiffany is wearing the Kyle Shift printed sateen in Multi Bam Patch and the Paley Cardigan Passementerie in Lilly Pink. Little Miss Julia is wearing the Julia Multi Patchtastic Shift and the Abygale Lilly Pink Cardigan.

Tiffany said that her mom loves to dress the girls up and take photos for every holiday. I certainly understand why! She is definitely one proud mom, I'm so sure!

Thank you soooo much Tiffany for sharing this photo! You and your sisters definitely Made it Memorable for your Mom!

Y'all don't forget to e-mail me your Lilly photo...send it to Miss Janice {at} Miss Janice {dot} com. Have a wonderful week!

Run for the Roses

And they're off! Tomorrow, at 6:04 p.m. E.S.T. it's post time for the 135th running of the Kentucky Derby. In the world of sports, there is not a more moving moment than the one when the horses step onto the track for the Kentucky Derby post parade and the band strikes up "My Old Kentucky Home." Those ladies decked out in their spring outfits and gorgeous hats, what a fashion parade!

On Derby Day it's time for mint juleps*. It's not surprising that mint juleps are popular in the South, mint is a symbol of hospitality and this drink brings forth the ideal image of genteel gatherings sprinkled with that sweet Southern drawl...

*Recipe for Miss Janice's Mint Julep
1 tblsp. granulated sugar
8 mint leaves
1 tblsp. water
4 oz. Kentucky bourbon
Crushed ice
Sprig of fresh mint

Place sugar and mint leaves in a small bowl. Bruise mint well and muddle with sugar until they form paste. Add water and stir well. Add bourbon; pour into julep cups (which have been frosted in the freezer) and fill with crushed ice. Insert sprig of fresh mint and silver straw. Each julep should be made separately.

It is considered proper to drink mint juleps with a sterling mint julep straw/spoon. Simply use the spoon to stir the julep and sip your beverage through the tiny hole at the end. This is one of the very few times a lady should use a straw to drink a beverage. It's also acceptable to use a straw when you are drinking a coke out of a can or when you've "taken ill and are in the bed."

A sterling mint julep straw/spoon...stir with one end and sip from the other.
Could you possibly get more Southern?
I will be watching the race with friends...no fancy event. "Here's What I'll be Wearing." A very casual, but just darling Lilly shift with a butterfly print. The white cardigan sweater throw is from Land's End. I just love the embroidery work on this cute dress!

Since I simply cannot find a white cover for my Lilly Bermuda bag handle, I'm going with the lime-ish green cover and a lime-ish green ribbon bow for my ponytail. I'm wearing my brand-spankin' new white Bonanno's. The jewelry--a pearl bracelet, the matching pearl stud earrings, and my Cartier roll-ring wedding band

Hostess gift...hmmm, I found this Mint Julep mix at TJ Maxx awhile back. I kind of like the package, but that thing attached...and that tacky ribbon. No ma'am, it's cute, but not chic enough for me...

I took the julep mix out, placed it in a silver mint julep cup, made a gift card with several recipes on the back, and tied a silver mint julep straw/spoon with a green dotted ribbon. I wanted it to be Southern...and Memorable.

Saturday will be a fun-filled day for me. I'm starting my day running in the Turtle Trot 5K race in Jupiter, Florida. After freshening up, I will explore the town, come back home, rest a little and get ready for the Derby!

I hope that y'all have a wonderful weekend. Thank you so much for stopping by today.

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.