Sunday, December 15, 2013

Joan Fontaine

Joan Fontaine has passed away at the age of 96.    I loved her performances in so many movies...especially  as Mrs. de Winter in Rebecca.  She won the Academy Award for Best Actress for her performance in Suspicion, another one of my favorite movies.

A glamour shot of Joan Fontaine...back in the day.

A photo of Ms. Fontaine in her later years.

Olivia de Havilland, who played the part of Melanie in Gone With the Wind, with her younger sister Joan...in happier days.  The 97-year old Olivia is living in Paris and the two sisters never spoke to each other since the 70's.  I've seen this happen with my friends...sisters who don't speak for many years and then one passes away.  I cannot imagine this.  SO very sad!

Rest in peace Ms. Fontaine and thank you for the memories you have given us.

Thursday, December 12, 2013

Christmas Gifts From Henri Bendel

Henri Bendel...The Ultimate Girl's Playground!

I'm just in love with everthing at Henri Bendel right now...all their adorable accessories and handbangs are just too cute!  Take a peek at some of my Christmas Gift Ideas:


This chic teapot would be a lovely gift for the lady who love to take tea.

How chic is this prissy matching teacup and saucer?!


I love all their key chains and this one is just too cute with the polka dot wellie charm!

I also need this precious brown-stripe bow charm.  I adore all the cute key charms to attach to the handle of my totebags.

Collector mugs are all the rage and of course, this "Cafe Girl" mug is just too chic!

This adorable scarf in the 'Finishing Touches' pattern would look fabulous worn around the neck or a ponytail, or tied onto the handle of a totebag.  LOVE it!

I wish that I had started earlier collecting their Christmas tree ornaments.  love love love the hat boxes in their iconic stripe.  Go here to look at the ornament collection.

If you don't live near a Henri Bendel store, check out their online site here and "Like" them on Facebook for up-to-the minute promotions.

Tuesday, December 10, 2013

Friendship Gifts...From Pepi and Pedro

My little elves Pepi and Pedro are back!  This morning they were busy preparing their elf food "Friendship Treats."  Even though they are a bit rogue at times, they know that it is better to give than to receive!


We used the same recipe from last year...
Elf Treats:
~Frosted cheerios
~Mini marshmallows
~Yogurt covered raisins
~Yogurt covered pretzels
~White M&M's


Pepi and his cousin Pedro are napping this afternoon, but will be up in time for Merlot Hour!

Friday, December 6, 2013

Christmas Decor

Since I spent the last month in Georgia, I'm really behind on decorating for Christmas.  This year, I believe I'll keep it low-key, since I'm not really sure what I'll be doing.

Remember the turquoise tree on the front porch that had orange pumpkins for Halloween?  Well now it's a coastal Christmas tree...with starfish, pink flamingos, and other coastal ornaments I've collected.




I've managed to twinkle up the bedroom with a couple of sparkly champagne-colored tabletop trees...Paris-themed.

They are both loaded with Eiffel tower and fleur de lis ornaments.



Joyeux Noel!

Paris-inspired gift wrapping, of course!

I placed a white feather tree on top of my vanity table and it's my "Shopaholic Girl" tree!

The ornaments are shopping girls and their bags from Saks, Neiman Marcus, Bonwit Teller, Bloomingdale's, and Gucci.





I hope y'all are enjoying the Christmas season!

Wednesday, December 4, 2013

Oh-So Cute Southern Stuff

I'm always on the hunt for cute Southern stuff.  Thanks to Southern Living magazine I have discovered StephanieCreekmur's products.  Take a peek at some of my faves...

Oh My Darling notecards.  These are just too precious!


Lord knows "Lord Have Mercy" is one of my favorite sayings and the notecard is just too precious...

 "Bless Your Heart" is also a precious Southern saying and one that I wish more people would use in a kind way.  "Bless Your/His/Her Heart" should never be used to make fun of someone...please!


  I love to keep a stash of cute pencils on my desk.  Right now there are so many choices available, but these are a must-have for this Southern lady!  They have "Southern sayings" printed on them.

 All Southerners must have a "Hey Y'all" sign somewhere inside their home...

 Cute "Merry Christmas Y'all" gift wrap...

 These coasters are so cute to place around the house at Christmas time.


Visit Stephanie on Facebook, Twitter, or keep up with her at her blog site here.  Her products are available for purchase on her website and her etsy site.

Sunday, December 1, 2013

Southern Praline Pie

During the Christmas season, give the gift of food...everybody's gotta eat y'all!

Southern Praline Pie...oh how Southerners love this sweet pie.  Imagine the taste of fabulous praline candy found in the French Market of New Orleans.  That's the flavors found in the Southern Praline Pie!  The Praline Pie has a rich, dark, sugary, crunchy flavor and texture that is just delicious!

I love serving this pie to my guests...it is such a Southern favorite!

You can call it by the Mississippi-Louisiana name and pronounce it PRAW-LEAN or you can say PRAY-LEAN...either way, it tastes great!

You can order the Southern Praline Pie mix here.  One box of the mix is only $7.95 {makes 2 pies} and is great to have in your Entertaining Pantry.

The Southern Praline Pie mix is the Taste of Gourmet "Product of the Month" during December.  Taste of Gourmet has a "Product of the Month" each month...a fundraising product to benefit St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.  Purchasing the Southern Praline Pie mix during the month of December will generate a $1.00 donation to St. Jude Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee.  The hospital is devoted to research and treatment toward eliminating chronic childhood diseases like leukemia and is the only childhood cancer research center designated by the National Cancer Institute.

The Taste of Gourmet Southern Praline Pie mix doesn't have nuts, but I added chopped pecans to the recipe...
Recipe for Southern Praline Pecan Pie:
1 box of Southern Praline Pie mix
2 eggs
1 stick butter
1/2 cup milk
1 cup of chopped pecans
1 unbaked pie crust

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.  Follow the directions on the box of the Southern Praline Pie mix.  Add the eggs and butter as directed.  Stir in the milk and pecans and pour into the unbaked pie crust.  Bake for 45 to 50 minutes.  Serve warm with ice cream or whipped cream or serve cold and it's just a good!  Oh-so Southern y'all!

This Southern Praline Pie mix makes an awesome gift!  Wrap it up on a dish and tie it up with a festive bow...presentation is everything!