A Touch of Southern Grace

Friday, July 5, 2019

Happy Hour Time

Well helloooo Friday! It is so nice to finally see you again! I can hardly believe that the fourth of July has come and gone. I used to view the passing of the fourth as the downslide of summer, but now it means that fall is just that much closer! I hope everyone has some wonderful plans for the upcoming weekend. Here’s to good times spent with friends and family and great memories to be made. Cheers!

“Laugh as much as you breathe. Love as much as you live.”

Drink Special!

Passenger List

½ounce brandy

½ounce dry gin

½ounce parfait d’amour

½ounce yellow chartreuse

1 dash pernod

Ice cubes

Shake with ice and strain into a chilled cocktail glass

Around Town!

Nashville, TN: Soul Music Festival at the Fairgrounds, Saturday, July 6, 2:00pm

Seaside, FL: Farmer Market at 30A, Saturday, July 6, 8:00am

Highlands, NC: The Get Right Band at Kelsey-Hutchinson Founders Park, Saturday, July 6, 6:00pm

Oxford, MS: Oxford Makers Market at Courthouse Square, Saturday, July 6, 10:00am

Little Rock, AR: Peach Fest at Faulkner Lake Orchard Wedding and Event Center, Saturday, July 6, 6:00am

Thursday, July 4, 2019

Fourth Of July Weekend Sales

A few things are always guaranteed when it comes to a long holiday weekend and one of those things is fantastic sales going on 24/7! This weekend is the perfect opportunity to stock up on some basic items and treat yourself to that dress you have been eyeing for a few weeks now… Below is a roundup of all my favorite sales currently going on!

Abercrombie// 50% off through out the store

Ann Taylor// 60% off select full-priced styles with code FIREWORK plus an extra 60% off sale styles

Anthropologie//Extra 50% off sale items

Banana Republic// extra 50% off sale styles, 40% off women’s style, and 30% off men’s styles

Brooks Brothers// Additional 25% off women’s summer sale

Country Club Prep// 20% off select styles

Gap// Extra 50% off markdowns

L.L. Bean// save up to 50% off

Loft// Extra 60% off all sale styles

J. Crew// 40% off full-price styles plus an extra 50% off sale styles with code FIREWORK

J.Crew Factory// 60% - 70% off online only

Kate Spade// extra 40% off sale styles

KJP// 20% off site-wide with code AMERICA

Madewell// 25% off sumer must-haves with code FIREWORK

Marks and Graham// 20% off everything

One Kings Lane// 15% off orders over $300 with code KL20YES, 25% off orders over $600 with code OKL25YES, 30% off orders over $900 with code OKL30YES

Pottery Barn// 15% off $100 or more, 20% off $500 or more, 25% off $1,000 or more, 30% off $3,000 or more

Serena and Lily// 20% off everything with code GOCOASTAL

Tory Burch// End of season sale – extra 30% off with code EXTRA

Vineyard Vines// additional 30% off sale styles with code JULY 19

West Elm// 20% off your entire purchase plus free shipping with code FIREWORKS

Williams Sonoma// 20% off your order with code SUMMER

Wednesday, July 3, 2019

Guest Post :: 5 Ways To Be A Better Party Host

One of mine, and almost everyone else’s favorite sayings out there is ‘the hostess with the mostest’ and that is something we all aspire to be when hosting a party. Some times though there is so much work to do on the tail end of things that it is at times a bit of a challenge to be at our best at the actual time of the party. Today Peter Minkoff is sharing 5 absolutely fabulous tips on how to be a better party host!

Throwing a party can be a bit of stress if you’re not experienced or you simply don’t know where to start. People often make mistakes when hosting parties, as they forget to divide their attention amongst all guests, or they’re trying to micromanage everything so, instead of having fun, they end up being too busy. If you’re looking to throw a party, here are some tips that will help you be a better party host:

1. Plan ahead

The organization is the key, no matter what you’ve heard before. Planning everything beforehand will help you be relaxed during the party. Make sure you have a complete guest list so you’ll know how to plan the catering and drinks. You don’t need to run around trying to keep everything and everyone in line, but at least try to ensure that everything’s running smoothly, and always have a plan B in case something happens. For those who prefer technology, there are some apps that can help you with organizing your perfect party. Many of them can let you create your personal to-do list or even a guest list. Also, provide your guests with all the necessary information, so they’ll be able to come without getting lost.

2. Make your guests feel welcome

A good party host will always personally greet guests as they arrive, and preferably introduce guests to each other, so they’d feel more relaxed. If you don’t have waiters serving drinks, offer your guests a drink. In case you have a lot of people coming over, it’s more practical to have a bar and a person serving drinks, so you can just point them to a bar. Make sure to mingle and talk to all your guests equally, throughout the party. If there are too many people, you can even create a game that can be used to break the ice and make people get to know each other better. Invite only the people you feel comfortable with and if there are any grudges between some guests, make sure to talk to all of them before the party so there won’t be any unpleasant surprises or altercations.

3. Create a relaxing atmosphere

The atmosphere will, of course, depend on the party itself. If you’re planning a disco party at the garden, make sure to get some strobe lights and a hire a DJ, but if you want just an intimate gathering, you can find nice, chill music like jazz, trip hop or reggae, and let your guests do their thing. Be sure to set the right mood by decorating the place with scented candle supplies as they can contribute to an intimate and friendly atmosphere. In case that’s not enough, you can add various bouquets or flower pots. The smell is extremely important especially if you have smokers coming, thus make sure to have a designated smoking area so there won’t be unpleasant odor during the party.

4. Consider your guests’ dietary habits

Even if you decide to hire a catering service, it’s important to check your guests’ eating habits and food preferences. If you want, create a survey and email it to them. Some people have food allergies, others are vegan or lactose-intolerant, so make sure to include various eating options so everyone feels full and satisfied. In case you’re cooking, be sure to make the food you’re familiar with, as dinner party isn’t the best time to try out new recipes you’ve found online, no matter how tempting they might seem. Also, if your guests will be standing, it’s better to prepare finger food or canapes, so they won’t have to struggle with knives and forks. Additionally, don’t forget to include dessert and coffee at the end of the party.

5. Relax and be yourself

It might be easier said and done, but the last thing you need at your party is to feel tense. Obviously, since you’re the host, you also need to be alert to a degree, but still, don’t forget to have fun. Don’t worry about cleaning up or dishes, because everything can wait till the next day. Focus on yourself and your friends, eat the food you’ve made and feel free to drink a bit more than usual. Dance, enjoy music, and don’t forget to joke and laugh!

In the end, there’s no such thing as a perfect host. Some people are hard to please and you should never focus on them. Instead, be grateful for all the friends you have in your life and remember that throwing a party is all about having a great time with the people you care about.

Sunday, June 30, 2019

Sunday Night Thought

Friday, June 28, 2019

Evening Dresses

Is it just me or does anyone else out there swoon at the idea of a summer and fall soiree? All seasons seem have their own special galas, fund raisers, events, and wedding, but I would say that summer and fall are definitely the high point of functions that require evening dresses.

Via

With black tie weddings becoming the norm, white glove events, and everything in between a long dress is a must! I always like to look nice to anything I go to, but I also like being a little conservative on what I spend to look nice when I can, and Quiz clothing has the most beautiful evening gown selection at an unbelievable price range!

Nude off The Shoulder Lace Mermaid Maxi Dress

Mint Sequin Lace High Neck Midi Dress

Yellow and Cream Laser Cut Tunic Dress

Red Bardot Ruched Fishtail Maxi Dress

Wednesday, June 26, 2019

Guest Post :: How To Organize A Memorable Office Party

It always seems that summer and the holiday season are the prime time to have a party, especially office parties, Today Peter Minkoff is sharing a few tips on how to organize a memorable party!

Summer is here and Christmas isn’t even that far away, so if you’re already dreading organizing all those office parties, here’s something that will certainly help. While some people have a natural talent for throwing a perfect party, the rest of us need a little help from our friends (and by friends, we mean the Internet). Here are a few tips to keep in mind.

Consult Your Guests

In order to organize a killer party that everyone will enjoy, you’ll have to please a large group of people, all with different tastes and ideas. While you won’t be able to satisfy everyone, you could organize an event that’s inclusive and respectful of your staff’s wishes. In order to come up with a good theme, try sending out a simple survey (SurveyMonkey or Google Forms work like a charm) and see what people are looking forward. This is also a perfect opportunity to see whether anyone suffers from any allergies or requires special menus.

Save The Date

If you want your guests to arrive on time and stay until the end, you’ll need to set a good date for your office party. While choosing a weekday might be convenient for you, most people will not be thrilled with the idea. Fridays and Saturdays are always better because most people are free to stay late and have a few drinks without any consequences in the morning. No one wants an entire office of sleep-deprived and hung-over workers.

Go Out Of The Office

Every office party should focus on your guests’ happiness and it should feel like a fun reward for their loyalty and dedication. So, why not get out of the office and host the event somewhere else, somewhere less stressful and more social? Office party doesn’t have to be held at the office as long as you have all your office staff present. Moving your party will give your guests a chance to see each other in a different light and a different environment which is always good for morale. An outdoor venue is also great since nature allows people to recharge and reset.

Organize Some Entertainment

Office parties can often get to a rough start, especially for staff that’s more introverted. So, in order to get the party started and create a pleasant and inclusive atmosphere, why not provide some fun entertainment? Music and team games are always fun, but in order to make your party stand out, you can think outside the box and invite a mind-blowing mentalist to keep your guests entertained. Even those who are super shy and work-oriented will let go and enjoy the show! Some party games like beer pong or even Pictionary will get a lot of laughs as well. And don’t forget to prepare prizes for the winning individuals and teams—the funnier the better!

Be Smart With Drinks

Christmas, Halloween and End-of-the-year office parties often contain a lot of alcohol—hell, you all deserve to let go! However, while certain companies don’t mind organizing a boozy event, others prefer to limit alcohol consumption and keep the behavior respectable. But, you can still offer a wide variety of drinks, but make sure to include different non-alcoholic options that will make avoiding booze more attractive. If limiting alcohol is a must, you can give out drink tickets (two or three per person) or ask your caterers and waiters to go easy on the refills.

Decorate For The Win

While your venue certainly matters, you can make any space more attractive and appropriate for your office party with some decoration. If you’re celebrating Christmas, make sure to get a Christmas tree, some lights and cookies. Halloween can’t go without pumpkins, bats, witches and ghosts (and you can ask your colleagues to dress up). The good thing about holidays is that you just can’t overdo it with decoration. While you might need some extra help with decoration, this is truly the best part of every party organization.

Even though it’s a work task, throwing an office party is not a chore! It’s a fun activity that brings amazing results and can benefit not only your staff but also your entire company. So, make sure to give it your all, listen to your coworkers and just have fun!

Thursday, June 20, 2019

Favorite Summer Dresses

One of my favorite things to wear during the summer months is a dress, for the simple reason that it can just get so hot and so humid in Nashville. This year I’ve been having a little bit of a hard time finding dresses that I really like; a lot of them are either too preppy, too boho, too young looking, or just a little too dressy to wear during the day.

Thanks to my late night internet shopping I have found a few dresses that I love and some can even be accessorized to be turned into a dinner dress!