Does Miss Janice Use Paper Plates?

Well, it's time for Tablescape Thursday and I just didn't have a thing to share today. It's been one of those days...running here and there like a chicken with my head cut off! So, this will be something different for y'all!

People often ask me, "Do you ever eat off of paper plates"? My answer is, "absolutely...but they must be stylish"! Actually, I love to purchase paper products with cute designs...So, when I'm busy, I just have a quick lunch or light dinner served on paper plates with paper cups, set on a serving tray.

Stylish paper products, pewter flatware, and a cloth napkin...perfect for a sandwich and some Southern-style potato salad!
This pattern is perfect to use at "The Roost."
Of course, my beverage napkin coordinates...
I'm ready for a quick bite to eat and to sip some iced tea from my "Weekend Waterford"!

Y'all simply must know that my table settings are not fancy all the time at "The Roost," but they must be a little stylish!

Before you rush off to Susan's for some fancy tablescapes, does anyone know where my friend Teresa Jane can find this cute "Create" plaque?

Wearing Your Sunday Best...

I am always shocked to see the way some ladies dress when attending church. Some dress like they've just been to a picnic...in the woods. Some dress as if they are strolling on the beach--wearing strapless sundresses, flip flops, etc. And...I may step on some toes here...but I can't believe ladies wear pants to church. I have never worn pants inside a church and never will! Now, before y'all start having a hissy fit...it's not just me. There are a lot of ladies out there just like Miss Janice! Here's a few photos of my "Sunday Best"...ready to go to church.

Black A-line dress, with three-quarter sleeves and a shawl collar...adorned with a Chanel brooch.

Black Ferragamo pumps and a 'Grace Kelly' Ferragamo pocketbook....I also wore pearl stud earrings and my rollring wedding by Cartier.

My "Sunday Best"...all laid out...just like I have always done on Saturday night! And...I'm not alone...

Recently I had the pleasure of being introduced to Gayden Metcalfe, the "Queen of Southern Etiquette--in the Mississippi Delta," and the author of The Official Southern Ladies Guide to Hosting the Perfect Funeral.

Gayden Melcalfe...So very Southern...and so proper!

She is also the author of "Being Dead is No Excuse: The Official Southern Ladies Guide to Hosting the Perfect Funeral"...Yes, that is important to Southern ladies!

She and I both agreed that pants or pantsuits are NOT appropriate to wear in the sanctuary of a church. Thank you Ms. Metcalfe!

My mama "Miss Pauline" chimed in on this subject also..."Well, I certainly would not wear pants to church on Sunday morning--I might wear them to Prayer Meeting or to Family Night Supper on Wednesday, but NEVER on Sunday morning"! Mama also complains from time to time that she can't find "church clothes" in the stores anymore. "I better hang on to the dresses I've got, 'cuz you just can't get pretty ones nowadays." Thank you Mama!

To further cement my belief, here's an article written by one of my favorite people--Ronda Rich, Southern Diva, and author of "What Southern Women Know".

Ronda Rich, a Southern Diva, author, and speaker...she's just plain darling!

"What Southern Women Know"...a must-have book for us Southern ladies and those who wish they were!

Ronda says she won't give up wearing her "Sunday Best." Thank you Ronda!

Ladies, please remember to dress appropriately when you go into the House of the Lord.

The "Mrs. Bucket of Palm Springs"

Today I'm featuring Miss Janice's Candlelight Supper. Several years ago, while living in Palm Springs, California, I was informed by a British friend of 28 years years that I was the "Mrs. Bucket of Palm Springs." "The Mrs. Who I asked"?

Hyacinth Bucket

Hyacinth Bucket (who insists it's pronounced "booo-kay") is the main character on the popular BBC tongue-in-cheek comedy "Keeping Up Appearances," and is married to her long-suffering husband Rrrrichard. Of course, out of curiosity, I had to watch the program to see this "Mrs. Bucket." It was hilarious! If you are not familiar with the show, you don't know what you're missing--if you enjoy British humor.

I guess that I do have a few Hyacinthean characteristics--she does have some grandiose ideas:

Regarding her milk...
She has insisted "She wants her daily two pints of milk to come from a very photogenic herd of cows she saw grazing on the Earl of Crawford's estate." this is a great idea I never thought of...

She has her best china and her everyday best china. of course Miss Janice has both of these...

She's been known to tell her guests, "Try not to brush up against my walls, I do hate it when people brush up against my walls"! y'all, i definitely tell people this--really, don't you just hate it when people do this?

Her advice when steeping tea or brewing coffee..."Pay attention to the quality of your water! I ring up my Water Board regularly to make sure they're piping it in fresh to The Bucket Residence and I strongly recommend you do the same. It never hurts for the Water Board to be reminded of their duties." it never hurts to remind anyone of their duties...

Talking about her pearl-white, slimline telephone...

...which she answers with "The Bouquet residence, the lady of the house speaking"!..."When my telephone, with last number redial and one-touch facility rings, it's always for me--unless it's for that unstylish Chinese Takeway. I've put Rrrrichard to ringing up the Chinese Ambassador to demand their number be changed. I will not have a Chinese Takeway only one digit removed"! i wouldn't want to be one digit removed from an unstylish establishment either!

She demands that her husband Rrrrichard must wear a tie when he is dead-heading the roses. i couldn't get away with this...but i would tell him to put on something cuter...

She's obsessively house proud, always polishing and perfecting her home. obsessively house proud I am...

The Bucket Residence...

She has an extensive collection of cookbooks and books on etiquette and entertaining. y'all know i have these...

"Keeping Up Appearances: Hyacinth Bucket's Book of Etiquette for the Socially Less Fortunate," by Jonathan Rice and Roy Clarke, is a must-have if you are a Hyacinth Bucket fan!Hyacinth is best known for her "candelight suppers," but her guests go to great lengths to avoid them. Hyacinth will spend the entire day fussing over the dining room table. i hope this isn't the case with my guests!

Today I'm featuring a romantic candlelight supper setting for two. If you followed my posts from last month, you are now saavy enough to be able to read this table setting and guess what types of food and wine I am serving.

Miss Janice's Candlelight Supper... Place Setting...
"The essence of the art of entertaining lies, I always think, in establishing an atmosphere of grace and decorum."
~Hyacinth Bucket

Chocolate, flowers, and romantic cards are all traditions on Valentine's Day. This day is not just for couples who are in love; it's for family and friends also. Remember that the day can be a thorn in the side of people who are not involved in a relationship so try to think of those who might otherwise feel left out--send them a sweet card or just bake them some brownies, something simple to let them know you care about them.

Thank you for joining me today.

Kindest regards,

Miss Janice
The "Mrs. Bucket of Palm Springs"

A Beautiful Tearoom in Naples, Florida

Oooh, South Florida...it's sunny and 75 degrees...and I'm having a prissy day! While strolling the shops on the posh Fifth Avenue in historic downtown Naples, Florida, I discovered Bramble's English Tearoom.

Along with offering a Light Tea, Cream Tea, Full Afternoon Tea, and Royal Tea, Bramble's also offers an extensive lunch menu with British favorites like shepherd's pie, and salads, sandwiches, and quiche.

How darling are these little teapot salt and pepper shakers!?
Our server Jane was very gracious and professional and had the most lovely British accent! I enjoyed a chicken caesar salad and the most wonderful tea--Blue Lady Black Tea (infused with coconut and mango).

Look at this lovely teapot...so very British!

My guest enjoyed the crab artichoke quiche and the pumpkin tea.

Have you ever seen a cuter teapot!

I am giving this authentic British tearoom "Miss Janice's Five Silver Spoons Award" for the lovely ambiance, great food and tea, and excellent hospitality!

FIVE SILVER SPOONS! for Bramble's Tearoom in Naples, Florida.

After lunch and tea, I browsed through the tearoom's quaint gift shop and purchased a must-have rooster teapot!

When I returned home, I wondered what type of dishes I might use with this cute little teapot...Then I remembered the precious black and while toile snack plates my best friend Teresa Jane gave me for Christmas. See that little rooster? These are so cute!

How cute is this with my new teapot?...Perfect for some Peach Brandy tea I purchased at the tearoom and some coconut macaroons...yum yum!

If y'all are ever shopping on the swanky Fifth Avenue in Naples, stop in for a wonderful and relaxing afternoon tea or lunch at Bramble's. They are located at 340 Fifth Avenue, Naples, Florida.

I thank y'all for stopping by today!

Tea and Red Velvet Cupcakes

Welcome to "Tablescape Thursday," hosted by Susan, at Between Naps on the Porch. Today, I'm featuring a sideboard tablescape to celebrate the romantic season of Valentine's Day.

"Tea and Cupcakes"...absolutely! Nothing sweet could be more Southern on Valentine's Day than a Red Velvet Southern Belle Cupcake. Pair these with chocolate and hazelnut-infused black tea--"Florence Tea" from Harney Tea for a wonderful afternoon treat.

A romantic sideboard setting...

There's nothing more Southern than red velvet cupcakes...and a cup of tea!

Here are some packages I will be giving as small tokens of love: A cupcake in a "to go" box, chocolate truffles in a small gold bag with a cherub applique' and cherub-motif tissue paper, and a wine-color toile print gift bag to hold a sweet gift of chocolate tea.

Sweet Treats...

If you are into American Idol, you might like the tablescape from my previous post on Tuesday of this week.

Thank you for stopping by and please join in the fun! Stop by Between Naps on the Porch and visit with all the other bloggers who are participating today in Tablescape Thursday.

Enough With Tea and Etiquette!

Whew! Enough about all the prissy etiquette stuff from last month!

I'm ready to relax and curl up on the sofa...It's American Idol time y'all! American Idol is my favorite reality television show and y'all should know that I'm still not over Clay Aiken loosing to Ruben Studdard! Paula, Simon, and Randy...and that new girl--who needs to let us get to know her a little better before she acts like she's been on the show forever--are baaaaack! Season 8 is off to Hollywood this week and it's about time, because I don't like the auditions...just show me the real talented singers, please!

Here's a few photos from a party I hosted last year for my American Idol Party Group of Friends. I hung a banner with photos of all the top 20 contestants. Each week as a contestant was eliminated, their photo came down! On the mantel, I displayed my picks to make it the Final Two--David Archuleta and Syesha Mercado (almost got it right, David made it and Syesha was third)!

American Idol Season 7 --Top 20 Contestants

I served Suddenly Salsa with chips--this salsa is made by Taste of Gourmet (Southern food products that I promote and sell). I also served Paula Deen's Marinated Shrimp Salad--y'all everybody loves this--along with some French bread.

Paula Deen's Marinated Shrimp Salad

"Don't forget your party favors y'all"! Normally at my American Idol parties I give each guest an American Idol-related party favor. Since Hollywood week always falls during the Girl Scout Cookie drive, for this event, I decided to support the Girl Scouts and served Girl Scout cookies for dessert, along with Irish Coffee. I was a Brownie and a Girl Scout and now as an adult, I have had the privilege of teaching etiquette to Girl Scouts. It's an excellent program for young girls and needed now more than ever! Each guest was sent home with Girl Scout cookies in an American Idol gift bag.

Very Casual Girl Scout Cookie Dessert and Coffee Buffet

Girl Scout Cookies for Dessert!

American Idol Party Favor Gift Bags

You will probably hear more from me about American Idol during this season--'cuz I just love that show! Thanks for stopping in--I'm off to browse some of y'all's blogs now!