YOU MIGHT BE A SOUTHERN LADY IF...

You "Might Be a Southern Lady" if...you have fancy deviled egg plates!

Southerners loved deviled eggs. The deviled egg is the perfect party food and a beloved staple at Southern events. Nobody can eat just one...they are most definitely the first food to go at a party!

The savvy Southern hostess makes sure she has a deviled egg plate for every occasion.

Here's my to-go deviled egg plate...a must-have for picnics!

My standard glass deviled egg plate...great to carry the stuffed eggs to a church reception or to the home of the bereaved before/after a funeral.
Love this 'Friendly Village' deviled egg plate, from Johnson Brothers. It looks awesome with my 'Friendly Village' dinnerware during the holidays!

De rigueur deviled egg plate here at "The Roost," from Arthur Court.


This deviled egg plate by Spode is darling to use at Christmastime.

For those prissy occasions, I use this deviled egg plate in 'The Old Country Roses' pattern, by Royal Albert and coordinate with my teaware in that same pattern.

Southern ladies have recipes for all kind of deviled eggs--spicey, garlic, low-fat, crab stuffed, Tex Mex, Tomato Basil, et cetera. But my all-time favorite recipe is for Traditional Southern Eggs, by Paula Deen:

Paula's deviled eggs, served on my Arthur Court deviled egg tray...so very Southern y'all!

Traditional Southern Eggs
(Makes 12 eggs)
6 large eggs*, hard-boiled and peeled
1/4 cup of mayonnaise
1 1/2 tablespoons sweet pickle relish
1 teaspoon prepared mustard
Salt & pepper
Paprika
Sweet gherkin pickles, sliced
Pimentos

Halve eggs lengthwise. Remove yolks and place in a small bowl. Mash yolks with a fork and stir in mayonnaise, pickle relish, and mustard. Add salt and pepper to taste. Fill egg whites evenly with yolk mixture. Garnish with paprika, pickles, and pimentos. Store covered in refrigerator.

*I can't stand a skimpy deviled egg y'all, so I always boil more eggs than I need to make my stuffing plumper!

Easter is just around the corner, so make sure you have your deviled egg plates ready to go! No matter which recipe you choose to prepare, I hope you enjoy them! Remember also that there is dining etiquette to be followed when eating a stuffed egg. Deviled eggs are intended to be eaten with the fingers...using the three-finger rule ladies---the thumb, the index finger, and the middle finger. If some of the stuffing falls onto your plate, you would use a fork to eat that part. Some people {like myself} only like the yolk...so, I use a spoon to eat only that part. I think it would be tres tacky to lick out only the yolk!!!

Whether you are attending baby showers to bridal showers, picnics or tailgating parties, funeral reception or potluck meals...if you want to be the belle of the buffet, show up with deviled eggs!

Thank you for visiting with me today!

JUST ANOTHER PRISSY DAY

Yes ma'am y'all...today was just another prissy day in paradise! I attended a luncheon and meeting of the Stuart Woman's Club, stopped at Starbuck's for a fix, then into Dillard's to check out some Lilly. {Got to get my Spring/Summer wardrobe together!}

It was rainy and chilly in paradise today, so "Here's What I Wore"...
The pink cashmere sweater set--with precious pearl buttons--is from Saks Fifth Avenue and I wore my favorite lunch-y slacks, purchased at Macy's years ago.
Here's a photo of the little teapot brooch I wore...
The pocketbook I carried is a black shoulder bag with a BIG pink magnolia. The pink and black ballet flats are by Rangoni. I wore little teapot-motif earrings, my gold Rolex, my Cartier rollring wedding band, and a black grosgrain ribbon on my ponytail. My fragrance of choice today...'Coco Mademoiselle', by Chanel.

Well, the prissy part is over and I'm off to the gym!

Later tonight...American Idol!!! I'm such an 'Idolholic!' Here are my favs...#1 being my most fav and then down...

#1 Siobhan Magnus--what a voice!
#2 Aaron Kelly--gotta love the voice on this cute, young Georgia boy!
#3 Michael Lynch--great voice...a little cocky though.
#4 Crystal Bowersox--definitely can sing, I'd throw coins in the bucket if I heard her sing at a subway station...not that I'm ever at a subway station:)
#5 Katie Stevens--she's the pick of all the preppy people, I'm sure! Definitely has a great voice and way too cute!

So, who is going home tonight???? Lacey or Tim Urban. I'm sorry, but someone has to go!

BUNNY LOVE IN THE FOYER

I love this time of year...Spring...Easter...and bunnies! Today, I'm joining Marty at AStrollThruLife for Tabletop Tuesday. I looooooooooove Tabletop Tuesday, 'cuz I can just show y'all the top of one of my tables and voila, I'm done!:) I'm on the bunny trail to Easter Sunday, and I'm starting in the foyer of my cottage. I bought this mirror and table at World's Away in Memphis, Tennessee. I'm not sure how long I'll keep these two pieces, but I sure love them for now! My sweet bunnies are there to greet you when you enter "The Roost."
Love the style of this table. It's just perfect for my foyer.

Love this little handsome bunny...of course I had to embellish him with a gingham ribbon!

Another little bunny to keep his friend company...

Love this mirror...just love it!

It's got my initial...what's not to love? Monogram on everything, yes ma'am!

So that's my little foyer table here at "The Roost." Thank you for stopping in today and don't forget to visit with Marty for other tabletop pretties.

O'FLAMINGO COCKTAIL PARTY

It's been raining all day today in South Florida...I've been running around town in these little Wellies...

But, I'm ready for a cocktail and here at Bedford Park in Tradition we have the "Flamingo Cocktail Group" which meets {ahem, drinks} once a month for cocktails. This month Sandra Henderson, who is also one of my bookclub members and an Atlanta girl, is hosting O'Flamingo Cocktails! There will be green beer, appetizers, and cocktails...of course! While I'm not sure about green beer for moi, I'm sure it'll be loads of fun partying with the hostess from Atlanta!

"Here's What I'm Wearing." The pullover cardigan is the 'Gloria Cotton Sweater in Grass Green,' by Lilly. The white cotton turtleneck is by Ralph Lauren. The capris are the 'Pink Resort Capri,' by Lilly. I'll tie the Lilly 'Jubilee Scarf' around my neck...love this scarf!
Well, until Miss Tory Burch comes out with grass green and Lilly pink leather Revas, I'm stuck wearing these gold Revas. I'm wearing my silver engraved earrings with the matching engraved bangle bracelet and the matching ring. I'll also wear my silver 'Oyster Perpetual' watch by Rolex and my rollring wedding by Cartier. My ponytail will be adorned with a pink grosgrain ribbon bow and my fragrance for the evening will be 'Wink,' by Lilly.I'll carry my own personalized goblet, given to each hostess of 'Flamingo Parties,' by the founder Stacey.
Of course, I never show up at someone's door empty-handed! So, for the hostess, I taking these white chocolate covered green drizzle pretzels...
Packaged with a little bit of St. Patrick's flair...

I hope y'all have a wonderful weekend and thank you for stopping by to visit with me!

NAPKIN ETIQUETTE

Nothing says more about your table manners than the way you use your napkin. The napkin is a beautiful accessory at the dining table and there is definitely napkin etiquette to be followed y'all!

Most napkins are square...cocktail napkins are 4 inches, tea serviettes are 12 inches, luncheon napkins are 14-16 inches, and dinner napkins are 22-26 inches.

In formal tablesettings, the napkin should be white, ivory, or a pastel color, matching the tablecloth. In the formal setting, the napkin must be placed in the center of the service plate with the monogram facing the diner.

Here's a formal placesetting with the napkin in the most proper place...on top of the plate.

For informal settings, napkins may be any color or pattern...gingham, polka dots, floral, et cetera--to add color or to coordinate a theme. In the informal setting, napkins may be placed to the left side of the plate, left of the forks {not under the forks}. They may also be placed under the plate, in the goblet, wrapped around flatware, or any other place the hostess chooses to display them.

Here's an informal placesetting, with the napkin to the left side of the forks...

Here's a proper Afternoon Tea Setting. The tea serviette is adorned with a teapot-motif napkin ring...with the point of the serviette facing the diner.

There are numerous books written about napkin folding and fancy folding styles. The rule of thumb to remember is that the fold should always be closest to the plate. However, this isn't really all that important. What is important to remember is that you should not iron the napkin folds flat {iron the napkin but not the folds} and that all the napkin folds on your table face the same way!

Here's a napkin wrapped around the flatware and adorned with a paper napkin ring which coordinates with a golf theme...an informal tablesetting.
Here's an informal tablesetting for children--using paper napkins folded with the folded edge nearest to the plate and placed to the left of the fork...

This rooster motif napkin was used at an informal breakfast setting and is folded in such a way as to display the cute little rooster...

Napking rings are one of my favorite table accoutrements. They make a lovely adornment for napkins and are only used at an informal tablesetting.

When using napkin rings, set the table with the point of the napkin facing the diner. After the napkin has been removed from the ring, the ring should be placed at the top left side of the placesetting. At the end of the meal, the napkin should be placed back in the napkin ring, with the point facing the center of the table.

I have a confession to make y'all! While I was looking back at photographs of my tablescapes, I noticed that I have not always placed napkins in my settings facing the correct way! GASP!!!!

This is incorrect...

Again, incorrect. Cute, but incorrect!

A holiday display...incorrect!

Fourth of July bash...incorrect!

How did I make those mistakes? Who knows? I'm so rushed with everything I do in life and I have no excuse. Except for the pink & green one...I wanted to show that Lilly pattern! Does it matter? To me, absolutely! I am a perfectionist and certainly don't want to confuse any of you who may be learning to set the table properly. So I dearly apologize!

Now, sometimes I do get everything right...

This is the correct way a napkin should be placed inside the napkin ring...

I was having a good day when I placed this napkin inside the cute snowflake ring...

Correct placement of the red napkin inside a Christmas tree-motif napkin ring...

Totally organized at Halloween when I placed this solid black napkin inside the cute witche's hat napkin ring--the correct placement...

So remember y'all, this the way the napkin should be placed after the meal is complete...facing the center of the table!

Whether you are dining at McDonald's or at the Ritz...here are some napkin etiquette rules you need to know:

~Wait for your host or guest of honor to take their napkin and place it on their lap. Then pick up your napkin and place it on your lap. Fold large napkins in half and place the fold towards your body. Open small napkins completely.

~Do not open your napkin by shaking it; open it discreetly under the table.

~Do not block your lipstick on your napkin, use a tissue.

~Do dab the corners of your mouth with your napkin--don't wipe your mouth!

~Unless you are eating lobster, wearing a bib around your neck at the table is totally tacky! {Only children under the age of 5 wear a bib!} You may take a napkin and spread it across your chest and then use the other hand to eat really messy foods...that is acceptable.

~Please don't use your napkin as a handkerchief...that is just gross!

~If you need to leave the table during a meal, place your napkin on the seat of the chair. A napkin is never returned to the table before the meal has ended!

~At the end of the meal, the hostess will pick up her napkin and place it loosely on the table, to the left of the plate. At that time, you should also place your napkin on the table. If napkin rings were used, return the napkin to the napkin ring, with the point facing the center of the table, to the left of the plate.

So that's it for napkin etiquette! I hope you have learned something new and useful to YOU today. Remember, it is never correct to point out an etiquette faux pas that someone has made. That would be tacky! However, I simply had to tell y'all about my napkin etiquette faux pas!

Thank you for visiting with me today.

TAKING TEA WITH ALICE

The movie Alice in Wonderland is out in the theatres today! Are you going? I'm excited to see this adaption of Lewis Carroll's Alice in Wonderland, starring Johnny Depp, as the Mad Hatter and Mia Wasikowska, as Alice Kingsley. Just for some fun, I decided to dress the kitchen table and "Take Tea with Alice." Here's the whimsical scape...
So many times I read Alice in Wonderland as a young girl, following her adventures as she fell down that rabbit hole...

Please take your seat...

"Husband" is the Mad Hatter and I'm Miss Alice...today!

Cute little Alice tea plates...

"I wish I hadn't cried so much!" said Alice, as she swam about trying to find her way out. "O Mouse, do you know the way out of this pool? I am very tired of swimming about here, O Mouse!" I adore the teacups and saucers!

I used blue gingham napkins to coordinate them with the placecards...

The placecards...

"This is most curious tea party I've ever been to," said Alice.

I'm late, I'm late, I'm late, I'm late...

"Why yes, I'm very fond of tea, " said Alice.

The first course--savories...White Rabbit Egg Salad Tea Sandwiches.

The second course--Mad Hatter Scones...

The third and final course--The Queen of Hearts Fruit Tarts

Sweet treats in little Alice in Wonderland teapot-motif containers...

The sweets inside...

I'm linking up with two fabulous bloggers today. Lady Katherine is hosting a tea party at LadyKatherineTeaParlor--stop in and visit with the sweet Mississippi Belle! Also, check out all the awesome tabletop vignettes over at Marty's site, AStrollThruLife.

ope you have enjoyed visiting with me today. Thank you for stopping by.