Looking Ahead

2014 is bound to be great.  John will receive his first communion.  Whit will start Kindergarten.  I will celebrate my 20th high school reunion.  Honey is taking golf back up.  And we’ve got some fantastic family trips planned.  We’re healthy and hope to get healthier, and we’re happy and plan to stay that way.

While I’m not one to fiddle with making resolutions, I am a seasoned and quite prolific list maker (some might call those two one and the same.) Honey and I usually start every year with little list of things we’d like to do over the course of the next twelve months.  Here’s what’s on tap for 2014…

The Family
1. Have two date nights every week.  That’s right ladies, we said every week.  We hope to go out once a month, but twice a week we’re unplugging and going to have good old fashioned card playing, star gazing, fire sittin’ quality time together after the littles have drifted off to never never land.

  
2. Make time for our oldest friends.  We have been so blessed to make new friends at every turn over the years since college.  But, in that time, we’ve accidently let some of our closest and oldest friendships slip through the cracks.  We live farther away from each other, we all have a houseful of littles, etc. etc. etc.  We are going to be more deliberate and more purposeful about making time for the guys and gals that have been there for the last twenty, and in some cases thirty, years. 


    

3. Get serious again about expectations and allowances around here.



4. Stick to our budget.  This year we were purposeful and realistic and 2014 is going to be the year we nail it :-)

5. Have more manicures and fresh flowers in my life.  I've already started on this one with a pink glitter DIY mani pedi and an arrangement I put together with $6 worth of stems from Trader Joes. Both have brought countless smiles to my face this week.


Around the House (in no particular order... some are weekend projects and some will take weeks)
0. Get the hole in the ceiling fixed before my new sofa arrives next week *squeal*
1. Tackle the laundry room – it’s a decent size and completely worthless in it’s current state. 
2. Transition the toys to the basement and turn the play room into a family study.
3. Bomb the play set in the back yard (it’s quite hazardous in its current state) and build a walk from the yard to the golf course.
4. Hang pictures in the upstairs hallway.  Oh, and paint it…flat paint + two boys + 4 years = nasty.
5. Make the coat closet work harder.
6. Clean out and organize the storage room in the basement.
7. Clean out and SELL anything we’re not using in the attic.
8. Repaint the numbered stairs.  It’s just time.


I'd love to  know what y'all are planning this year!!
xoxo

The New Years Feast

As far as I can tell, this was our eleventh year cooking the slow and so-Southern traditional new year’s feast.  I shared my invitation, free printables, recipes and party plans a few weeks back and boy did it ever feel good to have done all of that in advance.  All we did today was cook, watch football, play games and eat!  

 



 

 

  
 
 
 

Sister’s Mister offered to cook the pork, so we ditched the one planned with blackberry sauce and went with his.  It was every bit as delish and saved me a whole bunch of time.  Incredibly, this pic of the PCP’s plate at the kids table was the only one I got tonight.  He was most fascinated by his impending wealth after eating all those greens :-)

 

With that, I’m about to usurp the tele for the unveiling of the 2014 HGTV Dream Home!!

xoxo

Get the Party Plan, Printables and Recipes for your own so-Southern New Year's Feast!

See more from New Years’ past!

Hello, 2014!

We just had the best little time ushering in the new year last night!  We enjoyed a lovely grown up dinner at the club while the littles were all entertained at their own party in a different room.  It was some of the best fun we’ve had on New Years Eve since bestie E turned 35 (happy birthday, girl!).

 

 

 

 

We’ve got a day full of football watching, game playing and cooking planned.  I hope y’all enjoyed a lovely end to 2013 and are as excited as I am about what is bound to be a great year ahead.

xoxo

A Southern New Year’s Party {Free Printables}

For as long as we’ve been married, Honey and I have hosted a traditional Southern feast on New Year’s day.  And rather than writing about it after the fact, I thought it would be fun to do so before hand since I created a few fun printables for the occasion!

THE INVITATION
As soon as I laid eye on the Tiny Prints Vintage Celebration invitation, I knew it was “the one”.  Adding the notched corners was the perfect finishing touch.  And, with that, an elegant chalkboard theme was born.



THE TABLE
I always always use the party invitation as the first hint as to what’s to come for the rest of the affair.  I set the dining room table with a linen monogrammed runner, a so-Southern collard green centerpiece and loads of mercury glass candles.



 
At each place setting I used my white Butler’s Pantry china, Pottery Barn oyster bowls, sterling flatware, Waterford wine glasses and silver julep water cups.  It will also be my first opportunity to use my linen napkins with my custom monogram.  *swoon*





THE FEAST
I designed cards featuring our traditional, albeit meager, Southern New Years menu and tucked one into the napkin at each place setting.  It’s the same menu we’ve served for eleven years! 



Pork Tenderloin with Blackberry Sauce
2 tablespoons minced shallots
3 cups fresh or frozen blackberries
1/2 teaspoon chopped fresh sage
1 (14-ounce) can fat-free, less-sodium chicken broth
2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
1 1/2 teaspoons sugar
1 tablespoon butter
3/4 teaspoon kosher salt, divided
1 teaspoon black pepper
1 (1 1/2-pound) pork tenderloin

Prepare grill to medium heat. Heat a medium saucepan over medium heat. Coat pan with cooking spray. Add shallots to pan; cook 3 minutes or until tender, stirring occasionally. Add blackberries, sage, and broth; bring to a boil. Reduce heat, and simmer 20 minutes or until blackberries break down. Stir in vinegar and sugar; bring to a boil. Cook until reduced to 3/4 cup (about 9 minutes); remove from heat. Stir in butter and 1/4 teaspoon salt, stirring until butter melts. Keep warm. Sprinkle remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt and pepper over pork. Place pork on grill rack coated with cooking spray; cover and grill 20 minutes or until a thermometer registers 155° (slightly pink), turning pork occasionally. Let stand 10 minutes. Cut crosswise into 1/4-inch-thick slices. Serve with blackberry sauce; garnish with sage sprigs, if desired.

Hoppin John
1 c celery chopped
2 sweet onions chopped
1 green pepper chopped
6 slices bacon, ham pieces or ham bone - cooked
Salt and pepper to taste (about 1 tsp and 1/2 tsp respectively)
1 c uncooked rice
can of chicken broth plus enough water to have all the rice almost covered
container fresh black eyed peas (or two if you like a lot of peas like we do!)
Combine everything in a large pot.  Bring to boil and then lower to simmer for about 40 mins or until rice is cooked and veggies are tender.  You may need to add water if it cooks out before rice is done. 
I liberally salt and pepper it and Honey adds hot sauce.

Bacon Bourbon Greens
4 bacon slices
3 tablespoons butter
1 large sweet onion, diced
1 bottle ale beer
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup bourbon
1 teaspoon dried crushed red pepper
6 pounds fresh turnip greens, chopped
1/2 cup apple cider vinegar
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper

Cut bacon crosswise into 1/4-inch strips. Melt butter in a large Dutch oven over medium heat; add bacon, and cook, stirring often, 8 minutes or until crisp. Drain bacon on paper towels, reserving drippings in skillet. Sauté onion in hot drippings 3 minutes or until onion is tender. Stir in bacon, ale, and next 3 ingredients; cook 3 minutes or until mixture is reduced by one-fourth. Add collards, in batches, and cook, stirring occasionally, 5 minutes or until wilted. Reduce heat to medium-low; cover and cook 1 hour or to desired degree of doneness. Stir in vinegar, salt, and pepper.

Pirates House Pecan Pie
9 inch pie crust — unbaked
3 eggs — beaten
1/2 cup dark Karo
1/2 cup whipping cream
1 teaspoon vanilla
3 tablespoons bourbon
1 cup sugar
1/8 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons butter — melted
2 cups pecans — chopped
Beat eggs well. Add remaining ingredients. Pour into pie shell. Bake at 375° on cookie sheet 40 minutes or until center is set. Cool and refrigerate.
 
THE BAR
I figure there’s no better occasion than a New Year to fancy up my little armoire bar in the living room.  I positively cannot wait to mix up a few Hummingbird cocktails!!  (2 parts champagne, 1.5 parts St. Germain and 2 parts club soda with a twist of lemon)


 

 
 
RESOLUTIONS (& SOME EXCITING NEWS)
It would hardly be New Years without making at least one resolution.  But, seeing as it’s a party, I hate to be all womp-womp-I-will-start-exercising-and-shouldn’t-be-eating-bacon-greens-and-pecan-pie.  To that end, I will ask revelers to make note of one resolution that will be a pleasure to keep in the new year.  Aaaaaannnnnddddd….I am super duper excited to have been invited to share this little activity over on the Tiny Prints Blog today!!!  Hop on over and see little old me!!

   
 
THE FAVOR
One of my very favorite party favors is to send revelers home with breakfast for the next morning.  It’s easy, cheap and useful!!  In this case, I’m guessing the mini white powdered donut holes just might end up breakfast for the littles that were left at home.  Which might even be more useful than breakfast for myself the morning after a soiree :-)  The cupcake boxes are from Michael’s and I am using the coordinating Tiny Prints gift tag stickers for the labels. 



  

FREE PRINTABLES
You can download the menu, resolution post cards and drink champagne sign free here!

Dixie Delights New Year

And now that all those plans are made, I plan to sit back and enjoy Christmas and the rest of the year!
xoxo

See more from New Years’ past!

A Resolution

The W family is on the brink of its very own sort of fiscal cliff – Honey has decided to become our household CFO after ten years of turning his head on pretty much all expenditures.  I suppose it’s time…  *wipes tear from eye*

With this in mind and considering all of the “things” I’ve stashed away because they were 1) too good of a deal, 2) something I’d totally need “one day” or 3) all of the above, I have plenty of projects to keep me busy and one resolution for 2013 -



- To evaluate everything I buy and ensure it has a specific and immediate purpose (which will also help tremendously when Honey starts logging on to check the amex)

- To evaluate everything I commit myself and my family to doing/going/supporting/etc (I have always taken my role as guardian of our family calendar seriously but fear it may get out of hand as the baby is on the brink of having is own friends and activities)

- To evaluate everything stashed away in a closet or cabinet to ensure it's something we truly need (you know, so I don't go all hoarders over the years)

I haven’t made resolutions in eons but I’m pretty darn thrilled to be back in the saddle.  There are many good things to come in 2013!!! 
xoxo


(As a side note, I'm proclaiming this resolution to the "world" while under the lingering haze of nighttime cold meds.  UGH.  Please excuse any ramblings that don't quite make sense.)

Ringing in 2013

Although the littles stayed up with us to usher in the new year, it was a relatively quite night over all.  And this first day of January in the South brought dreary skies and the tenth anniversary of our traditional New Year’s Day eats.
    
I adore the juxtaposition of a little grit and a lot of glam, so silver, crystal and candlelight glittered over a simple length of burlap on the table.  I pulled last year’s Bonne Annee kraft paper pennant out for another go round.




Sister and her Mister made the delish pork roast and Honey and I made the rest of our standard fare – hoppin john for luck, bourbon bacon greens (I substitute turnips) for wealth, honey cornbread muffins, the Pirate's House pecan pie (recipe here), sweet tea and champagne.

 
Hoppin John

1 c celery chopped
2 sweet onions chopped
1 green pepper chopped
6 slices bacon, ham pieces or ham bone - cooked
Salt and pepper to taste (about 1 tsp and 1/2 tsp respectively)
1 c uncooked rice

can of chicken broth plus enough water to have all the rice almost covered
container fresh black eyed peas (or two if you like a lot of peas like we do!)

Combine everything in a large pot.  Bring to boil and then lower to simmer for about 40 mins or until rice is cooked and veggies are tender.  You may need to add water if it cooks out before rice is done.  
I liberally salt and pepper it and Honey adds hot sauce.



After stuffing our gullets we splayed out all over the den for a lazy day of watching football.  I’m already mourning the end of the holidays, as Honey heads back to work tomorrow.
 
Happy New Year, y’all!
xoxo

Celebrating a New Year

We’ll be ringing in a new year in a few short days and I thought I’d share some of my favorites from last year…

Champagne Cupcakes

find the recipe here

Champagne Jello Shots

find the recipe here

Collard Green Centerpiece

 See more here

Traditional Southern New Year’s Feast

find links to the recipes here

See all New Year’s here!

The PCP is going to work with his daddy today, much to his delight!  I’ll be taking down Christmas – at least it comes down quicker than it goes up…

xoxo

Flattered for the feature at No Minimalist Here!