Pantone's Color of the Year - Marsala

Pantone announced its 2015 color of the year as Marsala.  I would call this color a light shade of burgundy.  I love this color because it goes well with golden yellow, taupe, black, gray and is a flattering shade to spice up a look.

I bought these Hunter boots the other day in the Damson color.  Kinda Marsala?

I have this buffalo check scarf from The Gap...kinda Marsala?

The Gap also has cute skinny cords in Raisin.  I have these and I love them too...Marsala-ish?

I love the J Crew cardigans and I have the "Tippi" cardigan in burgundy...dark Marsala.

Do you bangle?  I love all of the bangles by Boweties and Bangles and of course I love them in garnet and gold!  Bows and Arrows carries all the cute ones..again, my version of Marsala!

Of course, I have to have the matching nail polish...Essie's "Tom Boy No More" is the closest shade to coordinate with all my Garnet {Marsala} and Gold.

Y'all have a great day.  It's cold and misty here in Middle Georgia...a great day to wear my new boots!

National Soup Month

Did you know?

I know...it's also National Hot Tea Month, National Oatmeal Month (I won't go there), and National Whatever Else Month!  But yesterday was rainy and cold, not to mention we watched the National College Football Championship Game...Boo Hoo, Florida State wasn't there!  I find myself craving the comfort of piping hot soups during these times, so I made a big pot of the Taste of Gourmet Positively Smashing Potato Soup...

It's a deliciously flavorful and perfectly creamy potato soup that is easy and quick to prepare.  Just add milk and simmer.  Well, I added a little bit of diced onion, carrot, celery, red bell pepper, red potatoes, and whole corn kernels.  Lord have mercy y'all, this is a great soup!  The mix makes 1 1/2 quarts for $9.95.

Remember to practice proper soup etiquette:

Hold the spoon just like a pencil between your index and middle fingers with the thumb up.  Spoon the soup away from you toward the center of the bowl.  Don't fill the soup spoon completely full.  Place the soup spoon on the plate in the 10:20 "I am finished" position in between sips and when you have finished.  Never leave a soup spoon in a soup bowl.  Also, do not blow on your soup to cool it down and do not slurp your soup.

Enjoy the soup season!

Monogram Monday

Today I'm wearing a vest that I bought at TJ Maxx.  It resembles the Excursion Herringbone vest from J Crew...but it was a fraction of the cost.   I decided to monogram it.  I love puffer vests and love them even more monogrammed.

This is the J Crew Excursion Herringbone Vest.  I tried this vest on in the store and I looked like a Lumberjack!  I never buy knockoffs or fake stuff...I don't think my vest is a fake, it's just another version of the J Crew vest...and not as long and Lumberjacky-looking!

 

I always say that I'm matchy-matchy, so the pattern mixing I'm wearing today is way out of my comfort zone!  Cheetah, tartan, and herringbone...with jeans.  Lord have mercy!

Y'all have a great week!

Comfort Food Giveaway

January is a great month to enjoy some comfort food...those foods that make you feel warm and content.  I'm offering a giveaway of some of my favorite comfort foods from Taste of Gourmet.

The winner will receive:

~One box of Mama's Meatloaf Mix.  Each of the two mixes in the box makes a two-pound meat loaf!  There are recipe suggestions on the box and also at Taste of Gourmet.

~One box of White Chili Soup Mix.  This soup is hearty and healthy.  Add canned beans and chunks of chicken to the tasty vegetables and spices already in the mix for a meal ready in minutes.  Two mixes are included.

~One box of Positively Smashing Potato Soup Mix.  Flavorful and perfectly creamy potato soup that is easy and quick to prepare.  Add milk or water to the mix.

Your comfort food will arrive in a gift package...straight from The Roost.

This is a great gift to use to stock your own Entertaining Pantry or to re gift to someone else.  Head over to my Instagram and follow the simple rules to enter this giveaway.  I will announce the winner of this giveaway on Tuesday, January 13, 2015.

Good Luck!

This giveaway is closed.  Congratulations to Instagram.com/becky_joelle , she is the winner!

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.