Wonky Wednesday: Paddywax Candles

I am obsessed with candles - it's almost ridiculous. It runs in the family, I promise. My latest new favorite brand is Paddywax Candles! I buy them at DK Booksellers in Memphis, but you can also buy them online. The Lavender and Thyme is my favorite but I really like all of them! Their packaging is fun too - the small tin is good for travel (yes, I take one with me when I travel) and the glass one above is a recycled wine bottle. Good for the planet and they are based in Nashville, Tennessee - love that!

Tapas Tuesday: Homemade Chips with Blue Cheese Fondue

Because everyone has a mandolin for the kitchen now, house potato chips aren't as hard to make as they once were. Cut up at least four cups of thickly sliced potatoes, either on the mandolin or by hand. Fry in peanut oil at 350 for a few minutes until done. Remove and drain on paper towels. While still hot, sprinkle chips with kosher salt. Place chips in bowls and drizzle generously with Blue Cheese Fondue:

1 1/2 cups good quality mild blue cheese or Gorgonzola

1 - 1 1/2 cups heavy cream

Light salt and black pepper to taste

Heat saute pan over medium-high heat. Crumble the cheese and place it in the pan. As it begins to melt, add the cream. Simmer over meduim-high until the sauce thickens and reduces by about one-quarter. Season with a little salt and pepper.  

This is a great app before dinner or a football game. Enjoy!

P.S. This is also good served with already made heavy kettle chips, for an easier version.  Just warm them up in the oven. Be careful not to burn them!

Party Supply Monday: My Favorite Supplies

I love love love party supplies!  I am constantly mixing and matching my favorite supplies to come up with something fun for packages and parties. Right now, our wedding (set for April 27th) is on my mind so I am trying to create fun ideas for gift packaging, party favors, and welcome bags. Here are the supplies I am working with - lots of navy and gold with a splash of fuschia and clover green! 

My favorites? Washi tape, grosgrain ribbon, paper straws, bags, and Jack Daniels, of course!

Secret Source Sunday: Mardi Gras Outlet

 

Southern Hostesses love Mardi Gras, but we also love Louisiana inspired parties throughout the year! Our favorite source, Mardi Gras Outlet, sells a lot more than Mardi Gras beads, masks and doubloons! You can find all sorts of party supplies on their site, especially great crawfish and shrimp boil decor! What does this Southern Hostess love the most? It's a one stop shop for all of my Louisiana food and drink needs, such as Aunt Sally's Pralines, Cafe Du Monde Coffee, and Pat O'Brien's Hurricane Mix! Love that!

Outdoor Saturday: Wooden Signs

Outdoor rustic signs are so fun for Southern Hostess parties! But if you're like me and don't have a bunch of wood laying around in the backyard (or a backyard at all), then it's good to know that you can order blank signs online. These signs from Primitive Arts are fantastic! You can order plain ones so you can paint them yourself! These would be so fun for an Oktoberfest party - I would paint BIERGARTEN on them! What would you paint on them?

Party Friday: Banter Banners

Southern Hostesses are always in the know with the latest party goods such as these fun and simple banners from Banter Banner. Banter Banners have catchy sayings, phrases, and words. They are a great addition to your party supply collection and can be used throughout the year. I ordered the XOXO one today! I particularly like their motto: "Everyday is the occasion." I think so too!

Southern Thursday: Monogram Cocktail Napkins

We Southern Hostesses love almost anything with a monogram on it! When setting up a bar, Southerners love to pull out their monogrammed cocktail napkins for guests. Whether the monogram is printed or embossed, these napkins are always in style. Monogram cocktail napkins also make a thoughtful gift and they are often inexpensive! I think it's fun to have them in a variety of colors to go with every holiday or theme! But don't just save them for weddings or special occasions, you may also bring them out for happy hour whenever you wish!

Wonky Wednesday: Quartz

Southern Hostesses love unique accessories, and this Southern Hostess loves these quartz tealight holders from Vivaterra! I can imagine how they would sparkle when you light them up! At $42 a pop, they are not cheap but they are a beautiful reminder of of the power of nature!

Tapas Tuesday: Tuzzi Dip

Photo Credit: TasteBook.com

This is one of my favorite Southern recipes! It's perfect for fall football watch parties and tailgating! Even I can make this one! 

Ingredients:

• 1 lb hot ground sausage
• 1 (10 ounce) cans diced tomatoes with green chilies (Rotel)
• 2 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese

Directions

Brown sausage in skillet and drain. Heat tomatoes in saucepan and add cream cheese. Stir until cheese melts. Add sausage. Mix well. Serve with tortilla chips or corn chips! Enjoy!

Party Supply Monday: Custom Totes

Southern Hostesses love custom party supplies! These totes by Wedding Chicks would make a fabulous welcome bag at a wedding or just a fun $10 gift! I ordered some samples (you can order in bulk or individually) so I will post when I receive them! You can have your bridesmaids' names put on them too! Love that!

Secret Source Sunday: Shop Sweet Lulu

Shop Sweet Lulu is a great site for ordering beautiful party goods for all of your celebrations! You will fall in love with all the stripes and polka dots! You can shop by color, which is super helpful when shopping for wedding or holiday supplies. This Southern Hostess especially loves how they package their orders - they include a cute little card and a piece of candy and a bunch of pink crinkle! Enjoy checking out their website!

Outdoor Saturday: Al Fresco

The weather is cooling down and it's time to start dining outdoors! Southern Hostesses love dining al fresco, especially at brunch! I took this photo at our engagement celebration brunch at Fish Out of Water in Watercolor, Florida - I had the Quiche Lorraine with cheese grits (my mouth is watering right now) and it was fantastic! I just love to dine outside (weather and temperature permitting)... especially at the beach!

Scott loved his delicious dish as well!

Party Friday: Candy Bridal Shower

Here is the most amazing bridal shower I have ever seen! It was hosted in 2011 to honor Dylan Lauren, daughter of Ralph Lauren and founder of Dylan's Candy Bar in NYC, before her wedding. This is such a fun theme for candy lover Dylan - every detail was amazing! It was featured in Martha Stewart Weddings, and I think the pics are great for inspiration!

  

Southern Thursday: Niven Morgan Gold

Southern Hostesses love luxury candles, soaps, lotions, and home scents. My favorite? Niven Morgan Gold by the talented Niven Morgan. Gold by Niven Morgan smells absolutely amazing - I LOVE the bath salts, bubble bath, candles, hand soap, lotion, and room spray. I buy them as a treat when I want to spoil myself, but they also make a fabulous gift!  I make sure to swap out my regular hand soap when company is coming over (am I the only one who does that?) for Gold hand soap... everyone comes out of the loo raving about it and asking where to buy it! 

Niven finds inspiration around the globe and brings it back to Dallas, Texas, where he creates all sorts of amazing scents, so you are sure to find one that you love as much as this Southern Hostess loves GOLD!

Photo Credit: NivenMorgan.com

Wonky Wednesday: Minimergency Kit for Girls

Southern Hostesses always like to be prepared in a pinch. I love my Minimergency Kit... I always keep it in my purse! So excited that the Miniemergency Kit is now available for girls! This would be a great gift for my nieces - they would love the glitter nail polish and glitter band-aids. The polka dots make it extra girly! I think this would be a fun treat for them for the wedding weekend since they are junior bridesmaids in our wedding!

Tapas Tuesday: Feta and Spinach Rolls

Sarah says... 

I got this deliciousness off of pinterest.  As I have been trying to be a vegetarian on and off for a year, I picked this as a meat free appetizer to serve during football weekends.  They are feta cheese and spinach rolls.  Sooooo easy to make.  Enjoy!

Ingredients

• 2 tubes Pillsbury (or whatever brand) crescent rolls, 8 ct
• 4 oz crumbled feta cheese (I use a little more of both cheeses)
• 4 oz shredded mozzarella cheese
• 3 oz fresh baby spinach (about half of a pre-washed bag), chopped
• 2 oz black olives, finely diced (*this ingredient is optional)
• 1 egg white, beaten
• 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
• dash salt and pepper

Preheat oven to 350. Begin by chopping the spinach and olives and putting them in a large mixing bowl. Add the feta, mozzarella, red pepper flakes and salt and pepper. Toss thoroughly and set bowl aside.

Party Supply Monday: Burlap Vases

Burlap vases (or candle holders) are my party supply of the day because of their versatility. They can be used to hold flowers or candles, so they are dual purpose. The DIY Southern Hostess could probably make her own with a glass vase and burlap, but they are also available from many websites and local shops. You can tie colorful ribbons around them for a pop of color if you use them as candle holders. They are rustic, but elegant and beautiful in their simplicity. Burlap vases are great for baby showers, picnics, weddings, or even football tailgates (in The Grove at Ole Miss)!

Secret Source Sunday: ACME Party Box Co.

 

Southern Hostesses love unique party goods, and ACME Party Box Company has a great offering of high quality products ranging from picnics to birthdays to weddings. Started by two creative working moms who could not find the stylish and earth friendly party supplies they desired, ACME Party Box Company works with artisans and craftspeople to create products that are reusable, recyclable, and sustainable. Their party boxes are designed to bring convenience by creating a one stop party shop for your special celebration. The best thing? Their products won't end up in your trash bin like the big box party store supplies, but rather they will be put away and pulled out for celebrations for years to come! Party goods that are beautiful and also good for the Earth? Love that! 

Outdoor Saturday: Bamboo Gardening Gloves

Southern Hostesses love to garden! Gardening is a lot more enjoyable when you have the right tools. Bamboo gardening gloves are my favorite type of glove for gardening because they are durable and the fabric is breathable. 

These gloves are 100% Biodegradable and Eco-Friendly... and they make a great gift!

Party Friday: Tissue Decor

Have you considered using tissue balls as decor for a party? This Southern Hostess is inspired by the tissue ball decor by Martha Stewart. The great thing about tissue decor is that it is very affordable and easy to put together! I love the silver cups - it's a new twist on a centerpiece. The tissue garland in the background would also make a great photo backdrop! You can get tissue balls and fans in all sizes and colors at your local party supply store, so use  tissue decor at your next party!