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Hosting a Wedding Shower

2/26/2015

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PictureRoxie
I love hosting parties.  Birthday parties, Christmas parties, wedding and baby showers … I do not discriminate!  If it is worth celebrating then I am ready to party!  I thought I would share with you one of the parties that I hosted recently and let you in on a few of my tips for throwing a successful gathering.  This past October, Jorjanne and I hosted a wedding shower for our gal Tara.  Tara and Phillip are getting married in March and we couldn’t wait to celebrate this precious couple!  An evening in October was chosen as the date and invitations were ordered! 

The Importance of Nice Invitations
I cannot stress enough the importance of a beautiful invitation.  This sets the tone for your entire event. 

I found these particular invites on Minted, and knew the minute that I saw them that they had Tara’s name written all over them!  They perfectly summed up the feel of the evening I was planning and were also a nod to Tara’s personal taste and style.  When your guests receive a beautiful invitation in the mail, it immediately makes them want to be a part of the event.  I know that costs are sometimes an issue when deciding whether or not to send invitations.  There are many creative things you can print on your own computer if ordering custom invitations are just not in your party budget. 

I know it has become trendy to send evites or Facebook invites.  I also know that some of you will disagree with me on this point but let me make it very clear how I feel about this issue.  I do not think eviting or any other kind of impersonal electronic invitation is appropriate for showers, weddings, and other formal events.  I know these mediums of social interaction have their place in the world, such as kids’ birthday parties, community events and casual get-togethers, but using them as an invitation to a meaningful event in one’s life is just tacky. 

The Guest List
Your party budget will usually dictate what size party you plan.  I tend to like smaller get-togethers but as our little circle grows the list keeps getting bigger!  When planning your guest list, keep in mind the comfort of your party-goers.  You want folks to feel comfortable with each other.  If you invite a hodge-podge of people with no connection, you are setting yourself up for an uncomfortable evening.  Jorj and I decided to invite our Fourth and Cherry family as well as Tara’s and Phillip’s immediate families.  You can see from the pictures that we had a great turn-out!  (Our Fourth and Cherry family is always growing!)
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The Location
I live in a tiny 980-square-foot house, but I am blessed to own a beautiful building with a nice big Café dining room!  When I entertain, I usually do it at The Café!  If you are planning a large party, consider renting a venue.  If this is in the budget, it will make things a lot easier on you (the hostess).  You will not have to worry about set-up and clean-up, and you will have help!  If it is a smaller party or if you have a large home, then by all means have your get-together at your house!  I think inviting people into your home is such a gracious way to make folks feel loved and included.  It is so personal!  People don’t open their homes up to guests much these days and if you do, you will see, it goes a long way to make your guests feel important.  It is also so much fun to get to use all your pretty things!
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Choosing the Menu
Whether you are planning heavy hors d’oeuvres or a meal, you want to make sure that it is something that the guests of honor like!  In this case, after much discussion with Tara and Phillip, we decided on traditional southern fare of pot roast cooked with carrots, potatoes, green beans and Vidalia onions.   We served this up with warm yeast rolls and sweet tea, of course!  I have found that simple meals like this are always a crowd pleaser and you (the hostess) don’t have to spend hours and hours in the kitchen preparing high maintenance, frou-frou food that no one wants to eat. 
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For Dessert we served my dad’s famous bread pudding along with red velvet cupcakes and amaretto sour cupcakes.  All three were a big hit!  Click this link  to find the recipe we used for the amaretto sour cupcakes. http://buicupcakes.com/2014/02/16/amaretto-sour-cupcakes/
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We also decided to serve beer and wine and one signature cocktail.  Tara’s drink of choice is the amaretto sour, and we thought it appropriate to welcome our guests for the evening with a specialty cocktail.  I would like to add that every good, southern hostess knows that providing a little cocktail goes a long way in helping your guests relax and enjoy each other’s company!
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The Decorations (My Favorite Part!)
Decorating for an event is just one of my favorite things to do!  For this party, I drew inspiration from the color palette that Tara has chosen for her wedding.  Blush, Ivory and Navy set the tone for the evening!  I also wanted the party to have a vintage feel as Tara, Jorjanne and I are all lovers of all things vintage!  I spent a month scouring EBay for vintage pink damask napkins.
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  It took me no time to order enough for the party.  This might seem costly but it really wasn’t.  If you keep your eyes open and are a savvy shopper there are deals to be had!  I ordered ivory polka dot lace to cover the tables, which was completely beautiful with just a touch of whimsy!  A very sweet friend let me borrow miss-matched tea glasses and mixed flatware for the occasion.  Since the napkins, glasses and silverware were all an eclectic mix, I opted for plain white plates.  Didn’t want to go too overboard with the mixing and matching!  If mixing patterned china is more your style, then think about using the same napkin and tea glass on all tables.  Having a little continuity helps ground your tablescape and helps make sure the guests see what you want them to see.
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I ordered white and green hydrangeas from my local flower provider and cut all other greenery and florals from my dad’s and my yards.  Using what you find right in your own back yard will not only stretch your budget, but I think it just looks prettier and more genuine.  What better way to make things feel personal than to collect your floral embellishments from your own back yard!  The arrangements for this party were displayed in clear hobnail jars.  Perfection!
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I wanted the hydrangeas to have a pink tint.  Floral spray paint can be purchased from your local floral provider or craft store.  If you don’t use too heavy a hand, your tinted flowers may be prettier than the real thing!  Helpful Hint:  I didn’t have any floral paint so I used regular, pale pink spray paint.  Worked like a charm, just be careful not to over-do it!

The Timeline
I am not one to like to play games or to feel the need to provide entertainment.  If you get the right folks together, they provide their own entertainment!  For this party, we had a short cocktail time while folks arrived and got comfortable.  This was followed by a buffet dinner and dessert.  When the bride and groom had finished eating we moved right along to opening presents!  Your guests really appreciate it if you keep the evening moving! 
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You can see from the pictures that we had a great time celebrating the upcoming marriage of Tara and Phillip!  I hope my little tips were helpful.  I am sure we will be talking more about entertaining in the future!
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Some of my favorite entertaining items are available for purchase at The Southern Mercantile!  Click  HERE to head to the store!

If you are always looking for good party ideas and menu ideas, follow The Southern Mercantile on Pinterest.  We are sharing new ideas every day!
https://www.pinterest.com/thesouthernmerc/

Thanks for reading; we hope you will continue to share The Southern Mercantile with your friends.  We just love to see our little online community growing!


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Thank You Printable

2/24/2015

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Just in case you didn't have time to make your own thank you cards last week, we're sharing a free 4" x 6" printable thank you card today! 
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thankyou.jpg
File Size: 319 kb
File Type: jpg
Download File

The wreath image was created by We Lived Happily Ever After, a blog that shares tons of great graphics and printables! 
(
http://www.welivedhappilyeverafter.com/2014/01/4-free-wreath-graphics.html)
All I did was insert "thank you" in a simple text to finish off the card.  Now you can print your very own and begin showing your gratitude.
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- Tara
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The Art of the Thank You Note      

2/19/2015

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PictureTara
Throughout the years I have become quite a little note writer.  I have found it to be a good opportunity to show someone how much they mean to you--and believe me, it means a lot to them.  There is just something about a handwritten note that time cannot erase.  For things as simple as a call, or as big as a Kitchen Aid mixer, thank you notes can have a special way of exhibiting gratitude and love.  With my wedding only a few weeks away, you can imagine how busy I have been writing!  Thank you notes can have a way of becoming overwhelming, burdensome--and let’s just be honest; a real chore.  

**Notice what I have said, “CAN have a special way of exhibiting gratitude and love” and “CAN have a way of becoming overwhelming, burdensome, etc.” 

It’s all about attitude!  If you are genuinely writing because you are appreciative and care--it will show in your words!  If you are well organized, timely and grateful--it won’t become overwhelming!  I want to share my tips in honor of the art of the Thank You note.

Get organized
Purchase an address book, make an excel spreadsheet--do something so that you don’t have to call your mother and ask for your great aunts address for the third time.  You’ll be glad you did, and you’ll be able to add to it throughout the years.

Put your stamp on it
Any old stamp will send mail--but you’re trying to send a message!  It is such a special touch when the stamp coordinates with the envelope--it shows thoughtfulness and preparation.

  If you’re like me, your local post office doesn’t offer a wide selection.  Well, the USPS has a nifty website where you can view all available stamps! https://store.usps.com/store/browse/category.jsp?categoryId=buy-stamps&categoryNavIds=buy-stamps

After checking them out and choosing the perfect ones, you can order them, or have your post office do it!  It usually takes a week for them to come in.
My personal favorite at the moment:
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Pick a pen
Everyone has a favorite pen, pick it up!  As long as it is a legible color, you’re A-OK.  Choosing your favorite pen as opposed to just any old utensil will make all the difference.  My favorite pens and markers: 
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The search for good stationary
Choosing appropriate stationary is key to make writing and receiving the notes even more fun.  Sometimes, I even make my own by printing on a flat card! 
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Monogrammed, floral, gold foil, postcards, patterned--the possibilities are endless!  This is a perfect way to show your creativity and personality.  A pretty card is a good way to introduce your pretty words.  My personal favorite, Rifle Paper Company, has adorable thank you cards. https://riflepaperco.com/shop/greeting-cards/
You can also shop stationery here at The Southern Mercantile! 

Now, for the important part; grab a blanket, turn on some music, set out all your tools and get cozy on the couch.

Before you start writing, I think it is important to reflect on who gave you the gift, your relationship with that person, the thought behind the gift, and how you will use it.  Thinking about all of these things are a way of “brainstorming” for your note.  You should mention the shower, party or occasion in which you received the gift--and let them know you are glad they were there!  Tell what is special about the gift, and if possible, relate the gift to the giver in some way (I try to use a memory). And last but not least, I think it is always a good idea to take the chance to thank them for other things they have done for you throughout your life.  If you do these things, your note is sure to stand out from the crowd. 

People do not hesitate to give good gifts to those who are grateful.

Happy writing!
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Southern Love Letters

2/9/2015

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Is there anything more romantic than a love letter? From little folded notes with “I like you. Do you like me? Check yes or no” to pages and pages of pledging undying devotion, nothing touches someone’s heart like the written word. 

Somewhere, packed away, I have a small collection of love notes from days (and boyfriends) gone by. My favorite reads something like, “Girl, I like you more than white likes rice!” Although this fella did his best to impress me, I couldn’t help but laugh to myself. This southern expression has more to do with keeping an eye on or sticking close to someone - like white on rice.

I also have a large collection of letters and cards I received from my husband during the days of our courtship. We were high school and college sweethearts who married after 5 1/2 years of dating. I love to look through this collection to see how our relationship has grown and changed over the years - from lovestruck teenagers to newlyweds with nothing but time together to working parents longing for time together! 

Although love letters are certainly not an exclusively southern tradition, some of the most romantic are definitely southern. My pastor, who is also quite the historian, shared with me some beautiful love letters written by civil war soldiers to their loved ones back home. Check out www.jessicajamesblog.com to read their eloquent words of love and affection. People just don’t write letters like this anymore!

For example, read this letter General “Stonewall” Jackson wrote to his wife during the Civil War:

Sept. 25, 1862
Darling, my heart turns to you with a love so great that pain flows in its wake. You cannot understand this, my beautiful, bright-eyed, sunny-hearted princess. Your face is the sweetest face in all the world, mirroring, as it does, all that is pure and unselfish, and I must not cast a shadow over it by the fears that come to me, in spite of myself. No, a soldier should not know fear of any kind. I must fight and plan and hope, and you must pray. Pray for a realization of all our beautiful dreams, sitting beside our own hearthstone in our own home—you and I, you my goddess of devotion, and I your devoted slave. May God in his mercy spare my life and make it worthy of you!…
Your soldier
(copied from http://www.jessicajamesblog.com/2014/02/civil-war-love-letters-from-stonewall.html)
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    General Stonewall Jackson and his wife Mary Anna

What if we brought back the tradition of the love letter? These civil war soldiers had no problem declaring their affection for their wives back home. Can you imagine the joy those ladies felt as they carefully opened those precious envelopes containing their loved ones’ expressions of devotion? Wouldn’t it be wonderful to receive such a letter? And, how much fun would it be to write such a letter, knowing how meaningful it would be to the recipient?

Here at The Southern Mercantile, we encourage you to share the love this Valentine’s Day! Write a letter to your loved ones, expressing how much you care for them. This isn’t exclusive to romantic love, either. You can do this for family, friends, your mail carrier, your hair dresser, even total strangers! We’ve mentioned the mission of Hannah Brencher before. Check out www.moreloveletters.com for how you can bless a total stranger with your own love letter.

- Jorjanne
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The Southern Mercantile            Recipe Club

2/6/2015

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Almost every southern cook I know has a recipe box or binder full of cards and slips of paper collected over the years from family, friends, and magazines. This is in addition to a cabinet full of cookbooks - from beautiful glossy picture-filled hardback books to spiral bound paperbacks filled with covered dish supper favorites and the name of the cook. I can still picture my Mama’s dark wooden recipe box with flowers painted on the top. She would pull it down from the cabinet above the stove, and we would know something delicious was about to happen in that kitchen.

When I got married, I received a recipe box, a couple of binders, and plenty of blank recipe cards. At the time, I had no recipes of my own to write on the cards and put in the binders or box! My mother-in-law gave me an old binder full of her and her mother’s recipes. This binder has become precious to me. Over the years, I have learned to make a few of those recipes, including my husband’s favorite - fresh peach cake for his birthday.

Now that I have learned how to cook, I have lots of recipes in my everyday repertoire, and love gathering more. My problem is I have not organized all those recipes. That is one of my goals for this year, and the solution is The Southern Mercantile’s new Recipe Club! Join our email list on the homepage to receive all our recipes in a printable format perfect for 4”x6” cards.
http://www.southernmercantile.com/
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If you don’t already have a recipe box of your own, or one our Club Cards will fit in, you can order our favorite box by Rifle Paper Company. Choose from three different designs to match your kitchen and personality. 
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To purchase one of these beautiful boxes, click here.

I look forward to organizing all my recipes this year - both old standbys and new favorites. Of course, I will still use recipes found online and in cookbooks; but, there is something nostalgic about reaching for a full recipe box. You can almost feel a connection to the cooks who have shared those recipes with you as well as the many southern cooks who have come before. And, what a wonderful gift for those who will come after us. One day, perhaps I can pass on a full recipe box to my daughter-in-law to help her become a great southern cook.

-Jorjanne
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