Outdoor Saturday: Vintage Christmas Yard Sign

It just isn't Christmas at the Heros home until Frosty graces the front yard at my parents'  with his presence. Our vintage Frosty sign has been our signature Christmas piece since I was a child. I love that my parents still put him in the front yard - I think he looks pretty good for being nearly 30 years old (and never repainted!) My favorite Christmas ornaments and decor are always the pieces we have had the longest - I remember decorating the house every year with my family. We love Christmas - it has always been our family's favorite holiday! Probably the main reason that it is our favorite time of year is that it is when we spend the most time together - Southern Hostesses love to spend time with family during the holidays. Is there anything better?!

Party Friday: Custom Wine Labels

Photo Credit: Nancy Nikko, Etsy

These custom wine labels by Nancy Nikko are so much fun for the Southern Hostess who loves a monogram. And who doesn't?! I love the labels with the first names too - I found them when I was browsing on Etsy. These would be fun for an anniversary, rehearsal dinner, or a wedding! Sometimes we love a certain bottle of wine, but not the label so this is a great way to disguise it. These labels would also make a great gift- there are lots of wonderful items on Etsy, so check it out when you have the time!

Southern Thursday: Jan Sevadjian Bridal Book

When it comes to planning a Southern wedding, Southern Hostesses must remember to order their bridal books! Jan Sevadjian customizes the most beautiful books with gorgeous interior pages to hold your photographs, invitations, gifts, and guest names. I ordered mine from The Stovall Collection in Memphis and picked it up last week! This is my future monogram - very exciting! My married friends laugh about how they never filled theirs out but I have already started on mine (of course), adding my Save the Date and Engagement Party invitation! Jan Sevadjian, based out of Dallas, also customizes gorgeous baby books, guest books, and photo albums!

Wonky Wednesday: Custom Ornament

For as long as I can remember, my mother has always had a custom ornament made for each family member (and our pets) every Christmas. I love putting them on the tree at my parents' house! One year a swimmer ornament, the next a cheerleader. I This year, my mom and I picked out a special ornament to mark 2012 as the year that Scott and I got engaged! I think it is a precious! This is our first ornament and I look forward to having one every year... I supposed our 2013 ornament will be a bride and groom! What are your holiday traditions?

Party Supply Monday: Gold Flatware

What's on my wish list this Christmas? This Southern Hostess wants gold flatware! I love the Wallace Goldplated Antique Baroque set! There is something fun and glam about gold flatware - it's so unexpected on the table! I wouldn't use gold flatware everyday but rather for parties and special dinners. I think it will look fantastic with my Annieglass or with plain clear glass plates! Gold flatware is great for a cocktail and dessert party too... or a Bachelorette dinner party! Dear Santa... 

Party Friday: Ole Miss vs. Mississippi State

Ole Miss: 
We Might Not Win Every Game, But We've Never Lost a Party. 

Last weekend, Scott and I headed south to Oxford for the annual Egg Bowl where our teams (Ole Miss and Mississippi State) battled it out for the golden egg. The "best" team (Ole Miss) won and the egg returned to it's lovely home in Oxford, where there is always a party! Now the Rebels are bowl eligible, which is so exciting!  We had a fun day on the Square before the game with my sister and her family. Here are some of my favorite pics... Hotty Toddy!

My Niece Madelyne and Sister Christie

Go Rebs!

Southern Thursday: Pickle Forks

Scott and I received our first wedding gift! It's a beautiful silver pickle fork from my Maid of Honor Sarah's parents! It doesn't get more Southern than that! I love the note on the card - "Sarah said you love pickles." Ha!  I will like them even more when I pull out this beauty when making a Bloody Mary! What a special gift that I will keep forever... isn't it gorgeous?!

Wonky Wednesday: Christmas "Glitter" Village

It's Wonky Wednesday and today I am loving Christmas decorations! When I opened this box with three of my six glitter houses, I was so excited to start decorating! I always set up a glitter village during Christmas with sparkling houses, bottle brush trees and vintage deer... it's precious! I purchase a new glitter house (by Cody Foster) each year and write the year on the bottom of it. I have my eyes on the house I will purchase this year at Sugar Magnolia in Oxford, Mississippi. I am going to Oxford next week for a meeting, so I will probably pick it up then! It's become my Christmas tradition... what is yours?

Secret Source Sunday & Party Supply Monday: Land of Nod

This Southern Hostess found a great online deal on Black Friday - 15% off and free shipping at The Land of Nod, a fabulous shop for children's furniture and decor. I do love free shipping... who doesn't?! I purchased this gold metallic cotton garland to decorate for the holidays all the way through New Year's - I love garland more than one should! Garland is one of my top party supplies! It is versatile enough to be used for birthdays, showers, and bachelorette parties in addition to the holidays. I love how simple (yet glam) that it is! Can't wait to hang it up when it gets here! 

Outdoor Saturday: Christmas Wreaths

Have you decorated for Christmas yet? I helped my fiance get in the Christmas spirit by sprucing up his house for the holidays. Southern Hostesses love a wreath on the front door during the holidays, so I picked one up for $5 on Black Friday at Home Depot. I just removed the plastic red bow, and added a giant bottlebrush star ornament that I love! 

Party Friday: Save the Dates!

On Friday, my fiance Scott and I picked out our Save the Dates at The Stovall Collection in Memphis! There were so many options that I loved, but we finally narrowed it down to one. We went with a simple and classic Crane card similar to the one below but in navy with a monogram. As much as I was tempted to do something more trendy, I went back to my Southern Hostess roots and opted for classic and timeless instead. I can't wait for them to arrive! 

Southern Thursday: Mississippi State Cheese

It's always an exciting time when the Missississippi State Cheese arrives! Even an Ole Miss fan waits eagerly for MSU Cheese in the fall. My favorites? Cheddar Spread (left) and Edam (right!) It's delicious and makes a GREAT gift!

More info on MSU Cheese from their website:

The MAFES Sales Store (also called the MSU Cheese Store) is a unit of the Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station and is housed on the campus of Mississippi State University. The store exists as an outlet for the research and educational products produced by MAFES Research Support Unit Dairy Manufacturing Plant and by the Department of Food Science, Nutrition, and Health Promotion.

Order some today! Oh, and try the crunchy peanut butter too!

Party Supply Wednesday: Stripey Straws

Southern Hostesses love paper stripey straws for dinners and parties! You can find them in a wide range of colors to match your color scheme for all holidays and events. I am using red and green ones for a holiday party next week! They are an inexpensive party supply that makes a big impact. I like to keep a pewter julep cup full of stripey straws on the bar year round! I think adults enjoy them as much as the kids! I know I do... of course, I like red and blue straws on Ole Miss game day! Hotty Toddy!

Tapas Tuesday: Mulled Apple Cider

Now that the weather is cool, it is time for one of my favorite adult bevs.  Whether you are tailgating, answering the door for trick-or-treaters,  or just sitting in front of the fire, Mulled Apple Cider is a festive delicious treat.  I got this recipe from the Pioneer Woman.  This concoction really hits the spot, and it makes your house smell fabulous.  Enjoy!

Ingredients

• 4 Whole Cinnamon Sticks
• 1/8 teaspoon Ground Cloves
• 8 Whole Allspice Berries
• Orange Peel from 1 Orange
• Lemon Peel from 1 Lemon
• 1/2 cup Maple Syrup
• 6 cups Unfiltered (fresh squeezed is great) Apple Juice
• 1/2 cup Dark Rum (optional)

Preparation Instructions

Place cinnamon sticks, ground cloves, allspice berries, orange peel, and lemon peel in a medium saucepan. Pour in maple syrup and apple juice, then bring to almost a boil. Reduce the heat to its lowest setting and simmer for 30 minutes. Remove from heat and serve in mugs.  Add 1/2 cup of dark rum (or more) if you choose.  Enjoy!

Party Supply Monday: Fine China

 

Southern Hostesses love to entertain and pull out the fine china. Recently, I picked out our china, Herend Golden Edge, while setting up our wedding registry. Isn't it lovely?! This Herend Golden Edge is classic, and I love the scalloped edges. One of the main reasons I picked this pattern is because I could not choose just one Herend color that I liked the most. It all came together when I picked out the Chinese Bouquet Multicolor Salad Plate (below) as an accent because I did not have to choose just one color. I cannot wait to start collecting my pattern, and I promise to use it for all sorts of special occasions!

Secret Source Sunday: Sucre

Today's secret source is Sucre in New Orleans! Sucre is "a sweet boutique" that offers chocolates, gelato, pastries, and macarons of all flavors. In a city known for its culinary delights, Sucre has made its mark as NOLA's best sweet shop! They specialize in the flavors of New Orleans, and offer many gift package and party favor options. Their goods are as beautiful as their storefronts, which are clean and modern. With two locations in The Big Easy, you will have to stop by on your next trip to New Orleans! If you can't make it there, then you can always order their goods from their delightful online shop!

Outdoor Saturday: Big Sur Lantern

My favorite fall outdoor decor piece would have to be my Big Sur Lanterns! They come in three sizes (I love having the trio) and look fantastic when lit up with a candle inside! If I want to jazz them up a bit, I will hang grosgrain or satin ribbon in various colors on the handle! These are great decor that can be used inside and out! I have already purchased several of these for Christmas gifts! 

Party Friday: Paperless Post

Great news! Paperless Post has answered our prayers and added PAPER to their "paperless" line!!! YAY! I absolutely LOVE their whimsical designs and I am so excited to order my first "paper" party invitation from Paperless Post for the next shindig! Love!

Southern Thursday: Four Roses Bourbon

Next week, this Southern Hostess has a big event and we will be serving Four Roses Bourbon - the folks from Four Roses in Frankfort, Kentucky will be here to serve bourbon cocktails during cocktail hour. Excited! I just love their name and logo - so Southern! After a long absence from the US (even though it was the top selling bourbon in the 30s, 40s, and 50s) to focus on Europe and Asia, Four Roses Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey is back!

Tapas Tuesday: Black Bean Corn and Feta Dip

Easy and delicious...

1 can of Bush’s black beans

1 can of Del Monte whole kernel yellow corn

1 bunch of green onions

1/4 cup of apple cider vinegar

1 tablespoon of olive oil

1 tablespoon of sugar, honey, or preferred sweetener

3/4 – 1 cup of crumbled feta

Directions

Drain the beans & corn, combine in a bowl. Add the ACV, olive oil, & sugar. Chop up the green onions & dump them in with the feta. Stir carefully so the feta doesn’t fall apart. Best if chilled over night. Serve with Tostitos Scoops. Enjoy!

Party Supply Monday: Custom Golf Tees

When planning a wedding, Southern Hostesses love all the special touches. My word of advice... don't forget the groom! He may not be interested in caterers or florists, but he probably has his own ideas too. My fiance Scott is an avid golfer, and wanted custom golf tees to pass out to his friends, groomsmen, and golf buddies! We ordered 1,000 custom tees for $58 from Par Golf and Scott LOVES them! We did natural color tees with navy font to keep in wedding colors. I have to admit, they are pretty cute and we plan to use them for welcome bags, bachelor party favors, and more!

Secret Source Sunday: Meri Meri

Meri Meri is a fabulous stationery and party supply company that started at a kitchen table with scissors and glitter and one employee in 1985 in Los Angeles. Now distributing their products worldwide, Meri Meri has grown to a big studio about an hour outside of London, England and includes 20 designers who still love glitter! Their products are fantastic quality - they are available at many stores and online in the USA. I love all their attention to detail and the fun themes, like Big Rig and Howdy Cowboy! Their party goods make me want to throw a party!

Outdoor Saturday: Zing Zang Bloody Mary Mix

It's Outdoor Saturday and that means football! There are few things I love more than drinking a Bloody Mary on a crisp fall Saturday morning in The Grove at Ole Miss... I wish I was there right now! I must say that I love Zing Zang Bloody Mary Mix - it's delicious! Look what I discovered in Oxford - single serving bottles of Zing Zang! These are perfect for taking to outdoor football tailgates before the game... enjoy!

Party Friday: Party Favors

My niece is having a Haunted Sleepover tonight with a few friends. To make it extra fun, we made some spooky party favors and put them in some glitter take-out boxes with a skull sticker and some ribbon. We got some fun Halloween games like Spooky Bingo and they will each get a flashlight to play "spotlight tag." Here are the party favors - I think they turned out pretty cute!

Southern Thursday: State Pillows

Southern Hostesses love these state pillows by Cat Studio. Wouldn't these look so cute at the lakehouse or the Florida pillow at the family beach condo? This Tennessee pillow would be a great gift for my parents for our cabin in PickWick! They are made by Cat Studio, and although they are based out of California, I see a lot of Southern influence in their goods. They make pillows, dish towels, glasses, mugs, aprons, beach towels, and more! At $160 per pillow, they are an investment... but a fabulous conversation piece! 

Wonky Wednesday: Groomsmen Gifts

As you know, this Southern Hostess is engaged! With the upcoming wedding in April, it was time that my fiance asked his groomsman to be in our wedding (since we have been engaged nearly two months!) Scott wasn't too thrilled about calling them up and saying, "Will you be my groomsman / usher," so we had to think of something a little more "us" to do. 

Since our wedding is in Memphis, we picked a Memphis beer, Ghost River, added some chocolate music notes & chocolate golf balls from Memphis favorite Dinstuhl's Fine Candy Co. and a pair of Elvis sunglasses... just in case The King makes a visit to our wedding! ;) Then we rode around town and left them on their doorsteps. We got quite a few phone calls and texts last night... very fun! Scott still has a couple of deliveries to make today... hopefully they don't read my blog and see this before they get their boxes! Something tells me that they probably don't. :) Did you notice the navy gingham tear-off napkin in the bottom of the box? Love that! 

Operation Groomsmen is complete.

Tapas Tuesday: Taco Soup

It's getting cold outside, and that means it's time for taco soup!  Here's one of many recipes you can find on the internet... 

1 lb lean ground beef (or turkey)

1 onion, chopped
1 pkg taco seasonings
1 pkg dry Ranch seasonings
2 large cans diced tomatoes, undrained
1 can Rotel tomatoes, undrained
1 can black beans
1 can pinto beans
1 can whole kernel corn

Brown meat and onion. Drain. Add seasonings. Drain beans and corn. Add to meat along with tomatoes. Simmer until well blended and hot. Eat and enjoy.Add a bit of grated cheese or sour cream and this simple soup is perfect for cold nights.

Source: Cooks.com

Party Supply Monday: Michiemay Paperie

Today's party supply is by Michiemay Paperie. These glam banners, which range from $30-$42, are so fun for special events and parties! I love their sayings - L'amour, Swoon, Bonjour, and Cheers! These would be fun for wine club or a bachelorette party! 

 

Secret Source Sunday: Paper Mart

Today's secret source is my favorite place online to order ribbon and packaging supplies - Paper Mart! I love ribbon, and you can order 50 and 100 yard rolls of beautiful grosgrain ribbon for $2 - $5 a roll! Can you believe that price? I have their ribbon in almost every color, and it always comes in handy when wrapping gifts! Their double faced satin ribbon is also fabulous and affordable. They also have the cutest containers and gift bags - I have ordered samples of many of their goods for our upcoming wedding! I have always loved packaging and gift wrap, so that's why Paper Mart is one of my favorite sources!