Happy Birthday Lady Katherine!

May I introduce to you my friend, Lady Katherine. Today is her birthday and she's such a special lady, I'm having a tea party for just Katherine and myself to celebrate her!

Here's Lady Katherine enjoying tea in her home in Mississippi...
I am delighted to take part in the Birthday Tea Party being held in blogland for Lady Katherine at Lady Katherine's Tea Parlor! Lady Katherine is a Mississippi girl who loves to visit tearooms just as much as Miss Janice. She was one of the first bloggers I ever connected with--we are both Southern girls, we love all things about etiquette, and we love tea parties!

Katherine, I am so glad to have become one of your blogging friends. Even while battling breast cancer, you still make the time to create special memories for your husband and your children! You are very special to me and many other bloggers and today I wish for you the best birthday ever!

This is my tea tablescape--a Light Afternoon Tea for Two...just me and you! A Light Afternoon Tea is a lighter version of Afternoon Tea. Afternoon Tea consists of three distinct courses: Savories, scones, and sweets. Only scones and sweets are served at "Light Tea." In this photo, there are vanilla scones with strawberry preserves. For the sweet treat, there are coconut macaroons and lemon bars. The tea is a White Peony "Bai Mudan," grown in the northern Fujian Province of China, and it's a very light and delicate tea, just right for a Light Afternoon Tea with you and me.

Happy Birthday to you Lady Katherine! I'm sure I speak for all your blogging friends in saying that you are truly an inspiration to all of us. We love you and continue to pray for you always. Be strong and have a wonderful day!

Hat, Glove, and Corsage Etiquette

It's that time of year--time to show off your new spring hat, some prissy gloves, and a beautiful corsage!

While sipping a cup of White Vanilla Grapefruit Tea (available at Harney Teas), I browsed through one of my favorite books published by the former Victoria Magazine editor, entitled The Romance of Hats. This book is full of delightful pictures of all different styles of hats and tips on how to wear them. Hats are a beautiful accessory and certainly popular to wear on Easter Sunday. You may keep your hat on while indoors, but should remove it at dusk. Gentlemen should remove their hats when entering a building. Hat pins are lovely adornments to a hat and should be pinned on the right side of a lady's hat and on the left side of a gentleman's hat.

Make it Southern...A lot of Southern gentlemen still tip their hat to a lady (some men were just raised right)!

The Romance of Hats...A pretty book, loaded with beautiful pictures!
Oh-so pretty and romantic...

All y'all know by now that you may start wearing your white shoes and carrying your white pocketbooks on Easter Sunday...Here's Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy with Young John Fitzgerald, Jr. on Easter Sunday 1963...
There is also etiquette to be followed when wearing gloves and corsages. Proper etiquette dictates that gloves are removed when entering a building, whether it is a tearoom or a church. It is not considered proper to shake hands while wearing gloves (only the Queen of England can get away with this) or to eat or drink while wearing gloves. Remove your gloves in a lady like fashion, one finger at a time. Always hold your pocketbook and gloves in your left hand so that you will be ready to shake hands at any time.

Remember, only the Queen of England may wear gloves while shaking hands!

Corsages are a tradition in the South and may be worn on Easter Sunday. Corsages are pinned to the clothing on the left shoulder.

The Palins, wearing their corsages (and boutineer) on the left hand shoulder.

Corsages may also be worn as a "wristlet," attached to a ribbon and tied around the wrist.

Whether you are attending Church, an Afternoon Tea, a wedding, or any other fancy event, remember to practice proper Hat, Glove, and Corsage Etiquette.

Thank you for stopping by today!

HIPPITY HOPPITY

Spring is definitely here and Easter is just around the corner. Easter is a time for Christians around the world to celebrate the life and resurrection of Christ. It's also a time for new suits and dresses, bonnets, white shoes, chocolate bunnies, and colored eggs.

Here comes Peter Cottontail
hoppin' down the bunny trail
Hippity hoppity
Easter's on its way.

Here at "The Roost," I'm getting for ready for Easter...Bunnies are popping up all over the place--y'all take a look.

This sweet bunny in the foyer is passing out candy...

This cute bunny just might be up to no good...stay out of the nest! You cute little bunny...stay away from that cabbage!
This bunny is bored stiff and laid out on my buffet in my breakfast room..."please, Miss Janice...paint these walls and jazz up those windows"!
This little bunny lights up my favorite cookbook...The Southern Living Cookbook.
This rabbit looks a little spooky...Good Lord, this one looks ridiculous!

This one is hob-nobbin' with some Waterford...
This rabbit is tiffed...'cuz it just blends in with those painter-white walls!

This is a proper and well behaved little bunny...staying close to Miss Janice's stationery!
This special bunny lights up my dishwashing area all the time...


Easter Gifting...
Easter is also a time to give sweet gifts of candy in pretty spring wrappings or in a Easter basket. Here's a photo of the Easter Basket I did last year for mama--the goodies before I placed them on a white serving tray, surrounded by yellow shred...





The finished gift, wrap in clear cello, tied at the top with a yellow bow, and adorned with a teacup!

This is an idea for a sweet gift for a friend...I placed a tin of Green Citron Tea, available at HarneyTea.com, inside a pink gift bag, added a pink polka dot ribbon and a gift tag I embellished with a bunny stamp and a rhinestone...

I've also been busy getting together my April "Friendship Gifts." You may visit this post to learn more about these type of gifts. Candy is the treat inside the clear cello bags and I folded cardstock in pretty spring colors and stamped the foldover sheet with a bunny to make it festive.
A little Hippity Hoppity treat...

Thank you for stopping by today and I hope that you are enjoying Spring...remember to Make it Special...Make it Southern.

EXCERCISING FOR A GOOD CAUSE!

Most of us know someone who has been diagnosed with Alzheimer's. It's a devastating disease that robs a person of their ability to handle everyday activities and eventually their dignity. Recently, I learned that a childhood friend of mine who was also a bridesmaid at my wedding has been diagnosed with Alzheimer's. I am not posting her name out of respect for her family; but bless her heart, she's been a devoted wife for 35+ years, mother of two sons, a grandmother, and has always been considered one of the most beautiful girls in the city of Augusta, Georgia. But above her beauty and accomplishments in life, she's a fine Christian lady just like her mother. It just broke my heart when I heard the news!

Tomorrow, I have an opportunity to contribute a small amount of money and energy to help raise funds for the Alzheimer's Association. The Alzheimer's Association Memory Walk 5k race is the nation's largest event to raise awareness and funds for Alzheimer care, support, and research. Since 1989, Memory Walks have earned more than $230 million for the cause. So, bright and early Saturday morning, I will put on my workout pants and hit the pavement.

I was first introduced to 5k races by my trainer in Palm Springs, California. Leslie Shuffleton was an olympic rower and a great motivator for Miss Janice...who was at that time, a lazy, out-of-shape, former high school cheerleader. She encouraged me to enter my first race...it's was a 6k race up Tramway Road in Palm Springs. The Tram Road Challenge is one of the toughest road races in the West, starting at a 500' elevation and ending at 2,643' elevation in 3.7 miles. I trained for about four months and ended up crawling up that steep road y'all! When I crossed the finish line, I have to say I was very proud of myself. After that, I was hooked and participated in the race every year that I lived in Palm Springs and found whenever I was training...just climbing that mountain relieved all of my stress. That is what walking/jogging or any form of exercise does for me today. It's just a great stress reliever!

Here's a photo of Miss Janice and Leslie Shuffleton after my first race. Now that's Leslie's medal I'm wearing...she insisted that I wear it because "I was the winner that day," puleeeze! My entry bib, and a photo of moi looking delirious after I crossed the finish line! I know, I need to learn how to make my photos "clickable to enlarge." I just haven't got a clue!
Y'all know I'm going to show you What I'm Wearing tomorrow, but first I must tell you that recently, I received a comment from another blogger, Kathie Truitt at Hillbilly Debutante:

"Miss Janice, I am sure I speak for others when I say we want to see more pictures of YOU. Please accommodate." Hmmmm, Miss Kathy, my friend Teresa Jane has been telling me the same thing. Honestly, I kind of feel uncomfortable splashing photos of myself all over my blog and I'm so busy...sometimes when I leave the house, I am by myself, so there's no one to take my photograph. I promise, I will definitely start posting some photos of moi modeling my outfits. However, not tomorrow. No ma'am! That's not the day to start...when I'm going to jog for three miles. Oh no, I'll do it another time. So Here's What I'm Wearing for the 5k race...

My trusty black jogging pants for a cool morning with a plain black tee...pretty plain, huh?

Well, Miss Janice can't go out with a totally boring outfit! I'll have the hair in the usual ponytail, my Chanel cap, and yes I know they are out of style--but I'll be wearing my Burberry scrunchie. Yes, Miss Janice still wears scrunchies! I'm not throwing away my Burberry scrunchie!!! I will be wearing my pearl stud earrings...alas, but no pearl necklace--can't have it flopping all over the place! Since, I'll be timing myself, I'll have to wear my silver and gold Rolex. I'll throw on my jogging shoes and to add a bit more style, I will wear my Chanel fanny pack--to hold my Burt's Bees lip balm with pomegrante (no posh lipstick for the race y'all) and my I.D --just in case I fall out, Lord have mercy.
So, I always try to beat my own personal best...36:50--hey y'all...I'm doing the best I can!

Thank you for stopping by today. I hope that all y'all are able to get out this weekend and participate in some form of exercise!

I'M HAVING AMERICAN IDOL WITHDRAWALS!

Hey y'all, what's this about the President speaking to the Nation on American Idol night? Excuse me, can't he do these speeches on Friday or even Saturday night when there's nothing to watch on television? Well, that's okay, 'cuz we're off to enjoy a cookout with friends! And...Here's What I'm Wearing.

It's gonna be a little chilly outside in South Florida tonight, so I'm wearing my MollyB denim jacket, a pink Lilly turtlneck with a silver necklace monogrammed with my initials, and my Ralph Lauren Saturday Jeans.

I must confess that I have caved!!! Yes, Miss Janice is falling into the South Florida trap of wearing flip flops before Easter. I guess I need to rewrite my own rules! (But you will NEVER EVAH see me in white before Easter...please don't think that will ever happen)! So anyway, I'm wearing these flip flops with the cute dots that match the jacket, my hair will be up in the usual ponytail with a pink grosgrain bow, silver monogrammed earrings with the matching bracelet, my Cartier wedding band, and Christian Dior "Palm Tree" nail polish and Chanel "Laser Pink" lipstick. After a few spritzes of Lilly "Wink", we're out the door!

Goodness gracious, where are my manners? Before I forget, I simply must show you a gift I received in the mail over the weekend from MineHeartSpeaks. She recently had a massive giveaway and my name was on the list of bloggers who received thank-you gifts from her.

She sent me some "movie night" goodies..."Loves Comes Softly," a nice, romantic movie; popcorn with a cute little container and GOOBERS (chocolate covered roasted peanuts)! Bless your heart girl! You are just too sweet!

Here's my little surprise happy!

Y'all have to visit her blog--she's a fine Christian lady who loves her family and is very interested in learning all that she can about etiquette. Also, a girl after Miss Janice's heart...she loves...that "HOT NOW" sign at Krispy Kreme! Thank you so much for that act of kindess!

And, thanks to you for dropping by today! I hope you have a wonderful evening . Pick up some Krispy Kreme doughnuts...you only live once y'all!

Tea at the Ritz...an obviously "Prissy Day"!

It was 75 degrees and another beautiful day in South Florida. Tea at the Ritz. On the beach...in Naples...it was obviously a "Prissy Day" y'all!

The Ritz-Carlton, Naples, Florida

Here's "What I Was Wearing"...
A simple black skirt from Talbot's, a green shantung silk blouse from who-knows-where (definitely from a Southern store though), my pearls, and a cute petite Ferragamo pocketbook.

I love this little Ferragamo pocketbook...it doesn't hold much...but it's tres cute!

My trusty Ferragamo pumps (I promise I do have other shoes y'all...), gold Rolex watch, pearl earrings and bracelet, and my Cartier wedding band.Let's go inside for tea...in the Lobby Lounge of the Ritz. Needless to say, everything is beautifully appointed down to the last detail! Afternoon Tea at the Ritz-Carlton is a ritual steeped in tradition since the hotel opened in 1985. Tea is served using fine Wedgewood china, decorated in the delicate "India" pattern. Every detail of the service and its presentation is attended to with the utmost care to ensure that each experience at the Ritz becomes a treasured memory.
Of course, there was a pianist playing soft music on the baby grand...just perfect for Afternoon Tea. Now y'all know this gentleman never tires of watching all the prissy ladies strolling through the Lobby of the Ritz!


The simple, yet elegant tablesetting. Notice the crisp white linens, and that the cup handle is placed in the 4 o'clock position and the fold of the napkin is closest to the plate.

I chose to take the Traditional Tea Service, which consisted of freshly steeped loose leaf tea and a selection of dainty tea sandwiches, freshly baked scones, and fruit tartlets and pastries. Two teas were served whith this service--the very professional server Dominique suggested the Vanilla Rooibos and I chose the Thunderbolt Darjeeling. The Rooibos is a caffeine-free herbal infusion, not a tea. The vanilla beans gave the rooibos just the right sweet taste. The Darjeeling (champagne of teas) was a very brisk tea with a hint of muscatel. Here's the tiered tea tray with all the goodies...just for Miss Janice! While enjoying my tea, I practiced every dining etiquette rule I've ever known and I must say, it was so nice to be surrounded by others who were doing the same! It goes without saying...there were no pinkies raised in this place!
The Ritz even has their own logo of the lion and crown on the tea tray!

Sugar cubes, a must for Afternoon tea...

Devonshire cream and fruit preserves were served with the scones and although I did not taste the preserves...aren't the little containers just too cute!
Now y'all know I simply must award the Ritz-Carlton "Five Silver Spoons." Thank you to the waitstaff for your impeccable customer service!

Congratulations to the Ritz-Carlton, Naples, Florida...

Miss Janice's "Five Silver Spoons" Award

If you are ever in Naples, Florida, please Make it Memorable and phone up a reservation for Afternoon Tea at the Ritz. Afternoon Tea is served in the Lobby Lounge from 2:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. at the Ritz-Carlton, 280 Vanderbilt Beach Road, Naples, Florida--or visit the Ritz online here.

Thank you so much for stopping by today...remember to "Take Time for Tea"!