Happy Hour Time

HAPPY HOUR TIME 

Welcome, Welcome to the first Friday of December, which just happens to be the month that contains my favorite holiday, Christmas! I hope everyone is having a fantastic start to the holiday season; with the lights, decorations, chance of snow, and the sense of Christmas magic in the air, how could it not be a great season thus far. I know that everyone is ready for finally be here; for me, after enjoying a long weekend the week ahead always seems longer then usual, so…thank goodness Friday is here again! Cheers to you and to the holiday season! May your weekend be merry and bright! Cheers!

“No one is born hating another person because of the color of his skin, or his background, or his religion. People must learn to hate, and if they can learn to hate, they can be taught to love, for love comes more naturally to the human heart than its opposite.” 

~ Nelson Mandela

Drink Special! 

Slinky Mink

¼ ounce raspberry puree

2 teaspoons lime juice

Dash of simple syrup

Champagne

Lime twist for garnish

Pour the raspberry puree, lime juice, and simple syrup into a chilled Champagne flute. Top up with Champagne and stir gently. Garnish with lime twist. 

Around Town!

Nashville, TN: Martinis & Mistletoe at Cheekwood’s Botanic Hall, Friday, December 6, 8:00pm

Franklin, TN: Franklin Christmas Parade at Main Street, Saturday, December 7, 2:00pm

Charlotte, NC: Soul of the South Uptown Food Tour at Center City, Friday, December 6, 4:00pm

Murrells Inlet, SC: Nights of a Thousand Candles at Brookgreen Gardens, Friday, December 6 – Saturday, December 7

Greenup, KY: Holiday Open House at the Jesse Stuart Lodge, Saturday, December 7 – Sunday, December 8

Hostess Gift Guide

HOSTESS GIFT GUIDE

Whit the Christmas season in full swing Holiday party invitations are starting to arrive in my email and mailbox. As many of you know Southerners are know for their manners and hospitality. That being said that holiday parties are always warm and inviting. It is not a rule written in stone but I always like to give the hostess of the party a small gift as a token of appreciation for the invitation and a wonderful time. Above are my top 8 go-to gifts for your party throwing friends! 

Here’s where to shop for my above top 8 hostess gifts. Click on the name of the item to be directed to the website.

1.             Eiffel Tower Bottle Opener

2.            Peppermint Bark Gift Set

3.            Limited Edition Golden Mug

4.            Tubéreuse Candle

5.            Monogram Cheese Board

6.           Scarlet Fondant Apron

7.             Little Flower Sea Sal Caramels

8.            Craft Cocktails by Brian Van Flandern

Prepster Life

PREPSTER LIFE

{Via}

The other day Rachel over at Makeshift Munch tagged me in her tag, Prepster Life, thanks Rachel for tagging me! As everyone knows in the south we are all about Lilly, bow ties, pearls, stripes, pastels, polos, and all things preppy for the most part. For blog named A Touch of Southern Grace this tag is pretty perfect!

Prepster Life Questions:

1.             What’s your definition of preppy?

2.            What are your favorite brands?

3.            What is your favorite Lilly print?

4.            Jack Rogers or Sperrys?

5.            Jeans or Khakis?

6.            Opinion on Oxfords?

7.             Duck boot, Riding Boots, or Hunter boots?

8.            Navy or Black?

9.            Scale of 1-10 how much do you love J. Crew?

10.         Favorite Ralph Lauren clothing item?

11.          Pearls or bows?

My Answers:

1.             Preppy – clean, polished, in control, well put together, pearls at all times, classic style with the occasional twist

2.            My favorite brands are Lilly Pulitzer, Kate Spade, Seven, J. Crew, and basically anything at Anthropologie

3.            My favorite Lilly print would have to be a toss up between the sailboat print and the Chin Chin print

4.            I love Jack Rogers, I even did a post on them, Jump Back Jack {click here to read the post I did on Jack Rogers}!

5.            I prefer Jeans over khakis for myself but men look better in khakis

6.            Oxford shirts are the best when you are in a pinch and can’t decide what to wear; jeans, leggings, pixie pants, or skit, an oxford looks great with all of the above! I also really like the oxford shoes that are out right now.

7.             Ridding boots, I don’t know what I would do without them, but on the other hand I could not get through a stormy day without my Hunter boots.

8.            Navy or Black… I choose both!

9.            How much do I love J. Crew? Is there really a number that can be assigned to that…I guess on a scale of 1-10 it would have to be a 10!

10.         My favorite Ralph Lauren clothing item is the classic button up oxford shirt; it is a wardrobe staple.

11.          Pearls, they go with everything and are acceptable at every event no mater the dress. 

Deck The Halls

DECK THE HALLS

Christmas time seems to hold a certain level of sentimental feelings for most people. For me personally the Christmas ornaments, holiday decorations, wishing for a snowy December night, and the family traditions that comes with the holiday season takes me back to my childhood. Despite the fact that the holiday season can be stressful at times there is something that always seems magical about this time of year; a hopefulness and feeling that the world is a better place then it really is because of what the season represents.  

Growing up Christmas has always been my family’s favorite holiday. When I was younger my family would always go to the Christmas Eve service at church and on the way home we would search for Santa’s sleigh in the sky, to my delight one Christmas morning I woke up to discover sleigh tracks and reindeer footprints in the snow outside my house. It is Christmas memories like this that I hold close to my heart that makes the season special to me. 

Like all families my family has Christmas traditions that have been in practice for many years. The first and my personal favorite Christmas tradition my family practices is making a trip to a Christmas tree lot the day after Thanksgiving to find the perfect Christmas tree and bring it home to be decorated. In my honest opinion there is nothing that will get you in the Holiday spirit like decorating a Christmas tree while drinking hot chocolate and listening to Christmas music! 

What Are Some of Your Favorite Holiday Traditions?

Bowtastic Gift Guide

BOWTASTIC GIFT GUIDE

I am so excited to be posting my very first Christmas gift guide! Is there a better way to start the holiday season then with a gift guide? It was pretty fun to create and come up with a gift guide so maybe I am overly excited about it. As many of you know I have a weakness for sparkle, glitter, and bows… I thought it only apporiate to do my first gift guide in a bow theme since bows seem to be on pretty much everything this season and the fact that I do have a soft spot for bows. Bow rings, earrings, shoes, belts, and so much more, it seems like it is almost impossible to go wrong when there is a bow on something to tie it all together! Here are some understated yet fabulous bow accented pieces for that fashionable friend who may have a love for bows! There will be more gift guides to come leading up to Christmas so keep an eye out! Hope you enjoy this Bowtastic Gift Guide! Click on the below image to be direct to my Polyvore where you will be able to find all the links to the below images. 

Cyber Monday

CYBER MONDAY

I don’t know about you but I prefer Cyber Monday to the craziness of Black Friday any day of the week! Multiple online sales you can shop from the comfort of your home all while lounging in bed drink a cup of coffee or may hot chocolate, it is the month of December after all! Below are just some of the great Cyber Monday sales I have come across. Happy shopping! 

Yes, you read the above image correctly; everything is 30% off when you order from the Kate Spade website with code: CYBER30

An additional 25% off of Sale items exclusively at freepeople.com

Amazing deals at Rue La La! 

Get 20% off your purchase from Vineyard Vines when you spend $200 or more with code: CYBER13

Receive 50% everything from J. Crew Factory Store when you use the code: GOSHOP and as an added bonus you receive free shipping today!

Lilly Pulitzer free gifts with ever purchase 

Sunday Night Thought

SUNDAY NIGHT THOUGHT