Secret Source Sunday: Society Social

Today's Secret Source is Society Social! Society Social is the go-to place for your entertaining furniture needs from The Cocktail Party table (above) to chairs, tables, couches, and their famous bar carts. Society Social will have you wanting to host more cocktail parties! Southern Hostesses always love cocktails and we love SS's mission - "Entertain with Sophisticated Swagger."  


Society Social's founder Roxy is just as fabulous as her creations. She checks every piece before they ship out to their lucky new owner and her products have fancy names like The Tipple Trolley, The Madison Mixer, and The Hostess.


Although I do not have a piece of Society Social just yet, I plan to order the Sedgewick in gold and hopefully The Cocktail Party in white this year for a special treat.  Southern Hostesses love Society Social and all that it represents - live sparkly!

Photo and Image Credit:  Society Social

Outdoor Saturday: Table in a Bag

Do you frequent outdoor events like concerts, picnics, tailgates, or beach outings? If you spend time outdoors, you need to add the table in a bag from Crate and Barrel to your wish list! It rolls up to fit in a bag similar to a camp chair bag and is easy to put together whenever you need it. Whenever I use it, people constantly come up to me to ask where I got it. It's great for the beach for drinks, cell phones, magazines, and my Sirius satellite radio, which are all beach essentials to me. I have now started giving it as wedding gifts to my outdoorsy friends because it is so versatile. I use it in the backyard regularly for parties too. Last night at a concert in Memphis, I brought my battery operated tea lights and capiz votive holders to give a little glow to our table set-up.  Fun!

Party Friday: Garden Harvest

Harvest dinners are meant to be simple, elegant, and laid back. At this dinner, the focus was on food cooked by regional chefs and supplied by local farmers.  Since the meal would thrill any foodie, we highlighted it with a chalkboard menu and simple printed menus on mustard colored cardstock. The barn at Heartwood Hall is beautiful, so we did not need much for decor. My Southern Hostess friend Sarah helped me arrange flowers bought locally in custom-made pottery vases. We especially loved the Mountain Valley Spring Water glass bottles on the table, and dessert served in mason jars - very Southern.  Burlap toppers and white napkins pulled it all together.  Southern Hostesses love harvest dinners with friends and family!

Southern Thursday: Artist N.J. Woods

Oh, how much do I love art by NJ Woods?!  NJ is not only a Southerner, but a Memphian! Her use of color is genius as she depicts living in the South "way, way, way back in the day." Her paintings are whimsical, colorful, and simple... if you haven't already started collecting her art, you should start collecting it today!

Wonky Wednesday: Cupcake Liners

I love cupcake liners!  These gold sparkle cupcake liners are extra special for your homemade treats!  They are so glam that they would be perfect for many events, especially weddings. Cupcake liners are great for more than cupcakes though; you can also put nuts and candies in them. Party guests will love the small portions that they can pick up and take with them!  So fun!

Tapas Tuesday: Sweet Tea Popsicles

It's getting hot outside, so how do Sweet Tea Popsicles sound? Refreshing! Here's how to make them... Make a pot of hot tea of your choice. I like Earl Grey Tea! Add 1/2 cup of sugar (or more to taste) and crushed mint from the garden (optional), juice of 1/2 lemon, and then pour into popsicle molds. Freeze and enjoy! What could be more Southern?

Party Supply Monday: Acrylic Candelabras

Rocco Acrylic Modern Candelabras from Lamp Lust are staple centerpieces at my large events; here are two events pictured that I have used this favorite party supply of mine. I have a collection of them in clear and mirror that work perfect for dinners and galas. They coordinate with many themes from Glam Rock to British Invasion. Since many event spaces do not allow candles, they are thrilled with the battery operated tapers that I use. Guests are equally awed by the glow of the faux tapers! These candelabras are also perfect for baby showers, wedding showers, Mardi Gras parties, bachelorette parties, and birthday parties. Rocco Acrylic Candelabras are very glam and definitely a great piece to add to your party collection!

Secret Source Sunday: Luna Bazaar

Luna Bazaar is my favorite source for votives, tissue decor, parasols, paper fans, and paper lanterns!  I have frequently purchased from their website for large events and small parties, and appreciate the great quality of their decor.  They stock items that are great for weddings, showers, and birthday parties!  These items also make great gifts!  I keep a large stock of various votive holders (like the capiz one below) in many colors so I can create different table centerpieces for parties and dinners.  Southern Hostesses love Luna Bazaar!

Outdoor Saturday: Galvanized Fence

Have you ever considered a galvanized metal fence in your garden? This was my back patio at our cottage at The Carneros Inn in Napa Valley and I love the galvanized fence around it. I also loved the deck, teak patio furniture, market umbrella, outdoor shower, stone path, and giant rosemary bushes! What's not to love?! I would definitely love to recreate this fence (and the whole patio) in the backyard! Beautiful, relaxing, simple...

Party Friday: Backyard Table Setting

I love setting the table - especially outside on the patio. I threw this together last minute (that's why it's good to have your own party basics like chargers, linens, and napkin rings), but I thought it turned out lovely. I bought the napkins, tablecloth, and blue hobnail glasses last year at Anthropologie - I love them!  My rattan chargers are from Target, napkin rings from Pottery Barn, plates from McCarty Pottery, and my Laguiole flatware is from Sur La Table.  It's casual but fun for a backyard cook-out!  Pull out your cloth napkins and set the table tonight!

Southern Thursday: Tony Chachere's

Tony Chachere (sa-shur-ee) Original Creole Seasoning, is a staple in any Southern Hostess's kitchen. It is "an extraordinary blend of flavorful spices prized by cooks everywhere." We love it on chicken, meat, and seafood but you can pretty much try it on anything, even soups and salads.  Oh, and french fries!  Tasty!   If you do not have it in your spice cabinet already (for some odd reason), then treat yourself to a shaker of Tony Chachere's today!

Wonky Wednesday: Lemonade Bar

Last weekend, I went to a "Cooking with Herbs" workshop at Millstone Market and Nursery in Memphis, where there is a delightful teeny tiny shop next door called Nest.  I thought their drink set-up was absolutely precious so I thought I would share a photo.  I will definitely try this at a cook-out one day... very welcoming!

Tapas Tuesday: Cream Cheese & Pepper Jelly

Photo by Leslie from food.com

Now here's an appetizer that any Southern Hostess can master - cream cheese smothered in pepper jelly (bought from your local farmers market, of course.)  You can serve it in these tasty phyllo pastry tarts or simply with crackers.  It can be made in a matter of minutes and is sure to please any palette.  Enjoy!

Party Supply Monday: Chivari Chairs

When the basic white folding chair just won't do, I suggest the Chivari Chair.  My personal favorite is the Chivari Chair in Ice (aka Lucite), but it is also available from most rental companies in black, white, silver, gold, and natural wood.  These chairs can instantly dress up a party from ordinary to extraordinary.  They are more expensive to rent, but they are worth it since they double as decor.  Chivari chairs are super fun for a wedding , a shower, or even a bachelorette party.  I would love to have a set of my own stored away for parties, but I just rent them for now!   

Secret Source Sunday: Fancy Fortune Cookies

Fancy Fortune Cookies is the best source for custom fortune cookies in all flavors; you even have the option of adding your own personalized fortune inside the delicious cookie.  I have ordered these before, so I speak from experience when I say they are very tasty and cute. They also make a giant fortune cookie, which is great for a gift or for a party dessert. There are cookies for all occasions and holidays - a new twist on dessert! Order them for a party, and you will really impress your guests!  

Outdoor Saturday: Picnic Table Love

Picnic tables are a must in any backyard!  They add lots of extra seating and give that country look to the outdoor space.  We love to have friends over and set the table with all different themes.  At less than $100 each, they also make a great gift!  They are durable and look better with age - the more weathered, the better! They are also great to use when gardening or working on other outdoor projects!  

Party Friday: Banana Moo Lu

Banana Moo Lu is like a party in a bucket to me!  I have buckets for all occasions (Christmas, Valentine's Day, Easter, Football Season) from Banana Moo Lu and I have given them as gifts many times. They make a special gift because they can be personalized with name or monogram or school.  The drink tub is fantastic for parties and tailgates!  Load it up with treats and it's a party in a bucket!

Southern Thursday: McCarty Pottery

There are few tangible things that I love more than McCarty Pottery from Merigold, Mississippi.  My McCarty collection is obscene, and my mother and sister are equally obsessed collectors.  My favorite day trip is a ride into the middle of nowhere in the Mississippi Delta to Merigold "where the magic happens."  Made from Mississippi mud, the signature of McCarty is the Mississippi River that is portrayed in most of the pieces ranging from plates, mugs, goblets, platters, canisters, candlesticks, figurines, moon chimes, and vases.

McCarty Pottery has been around since the 1950s, but this Southern Hostess did not know about it until I received my first piece of McCarty pottery during my freshman year at Ole Miss in 1997 - after that, I was hooked, obsessed, in love. All of my plates and bowls are McCarty-  I use McCarty everyday!

Visiting Merigold is the best way to see the entire collection for purchase. I go to McCarty three to four times a year to stock up on gifts for others and for myself!  Once you are finished shopping, you can walk out and enjoy the beautiful garden at McCarty.  Make sure you meet Lee McCarty when you stop by - he's a sweet, sweet man!  Treat yourself to a fun day trip to the Mississippi Delta!  I'm looking forward to my next trip there with my Southern Hostess bestie Sarah in a couple of weeks!

Wonky Wednesday: Moroccan Poufs

Moroccan poufs are very popular in home design, but I think they are fabulous for parties as well.  I have not found anyone who rents them locally here, but I believe many rental companies are starting to purchase them to rent.  Whether or not the party is Moroccan-themed, they are beautiful and casual at the same time. I'm not going to lie, I would love a few poufs around the house for lounging and entertaining!  I think these poufs are so popular and useful that they here to stay for a while and I am glad for that!

Party Supply Monday: Burlap Placemats

Burlap placemats are great for any Southern meal from a formal brunch to casual BBQ.   They go with almost every theme!  You can purchase them ready-made online or create your own with a little burlap and paint. You can add numbers, words, or a monogram - Southern Hostesses love monograms!

Secret Source Sunday: Tops Malibu

Southern Hostesses live for unique party supplies, and we love small companies like Tops Malibu that create their own unique products, such a these fantastic Surprize Balls, Treasure Candles, Surprise Cornucopia, and Sparklettes.  Tops Malibu products are handmade in the U.S.A. by local artisans, which makes it even better - Southern Hostesses love almost anything that is "Handmade in the U.S.A."