Southern Lady Celebrate Festive Fall Issue 2011

Celebrate. The mere word makes me smile. I loved Halloween as a child. It was an innocent time, when we dressed up in Momma’s jewelry, put on red lipstick, ran doorto- door playing gypsy, and collected all the candy we could in one day! Oh the fun of it—and the competition among the siblings to count the most candy pieces after trickor- treating was fierce. Everyone who knows me knows that I am not a pink girl. I am a red girl! But when it comes to the pink ribbons and celebrating with friends who have overcome breast cancer, I love pink. You’ll like the “after-the-race” brunch I’ve planned. Pink is the color and a reminder of the steps we are taking to conquer this disease. Join in the fun, and…

For me, fall and fun have always been synonymous. The season’s calendar is filled with so many occasions and holidays to celebrate— football games, Halloween, Th anksgiving. But before any of that begins, it’s back to school for the kids. I loved the excitement of going back to school and seeing old friends. But like most kids, I was a little nervous about the upcoming year. To help ease your children into the new school year, check out our backto- school party, a fun lunchtime get-together. We’ve even included a couple of behind-the-scenes shots so you can see our stylist, Jenny Fuller, and test kitchen specialist Loren Wood putting things together. If you love tailgating during the football season, you’re probably always searching for new recipes. You’ll find a few in this…

Shake It Up These acorn salt-and-pepper shakers blend in perfectly with a fall table setting. Available at michaelaram.com. Gobble, Gobble Your Th anksgiving won’t be complete without this beautiful turkey-shaped serving bowl in warm gold. Available at vietri.com. Cast a Glow These clever candles masquerade as wine corks. Pop them into an old wine bottle to set the mood for a romantic dinner. Available at uncommongoods.com. Take Your Seat Guests won’t be stumped on where to find their place at dinner with these chic placecard holders. Available at etsy.com/shop/MonkeysOnTh eRoof. Pour Me a Glass Looking for a stylish way to serve wine to your guests? Th is rustic yet elegant wine carafe is a must-have for your bar. Available at uncommongoods.com. Rustic Cutting Board Add a touch of the outdoors to your gathering by serving gourmet cheeses on this tree-stump cutting…

Pumpkin Martini Makes 1 drink Cinnamon-flavored syrup* (optional) Graham cracker crumbs (optional) 2 tablespoons pumpkin puree 2 ounces half-and-half ½ ounce vanilla-flavored vodka ½ ounce spiced rum ½ ounce butterscotch-flavored schnapps ¼ teaspoon pumpkin pie spice Dip rim of a martini glass in cinnamonflavored syrup, then into graham cracker crumbs to coat, if desired. Fill a cocktail shaker halfway with ice. Add pumpkin puree, half-and-half, vanilla vodka, rum, butterscotch schnapps, and pumpkin pie spice. Shake vigorously for 5 to 10 seconds. Strain into prepared martini glass. Serve immediately. *We tested with Monin cinnamon syrup. It’s available where Monin syrups are sold or at moninstore.com.…

Tablescape As a backdrop for the rich colors of fall, we covered the table in brown linen and draped it to the floor. Pumpkins and squash of various shapes and colors fill the center of the table, while Jack-Be-Little pumpkins line the perimeter of the porch.…

Kelley Moore knew early on she had a knack for entertaining. She threw her first party—a surprise birthday bash for her mother— when she was just 9 years old. “I grew up around parents who entertained all the time,” she says. “I realized when I was both watching my parents and becoming a young entertainer that it was a great way to make people happy.” Now, Kelley is a lifestyle and entertaining expert based in Seattle, and her clients have included Microsoft, Getty Images, Lexus, and Ronald McDonald Children’s Charities. She debuted her TV show, Moore to Life, on Seattle’s NBC affiliate KING 5 TV in 2009. And her design tips have been featured on HGTV, The Today Show, Ellen, The View, Rachael Ray, and more. Her book Cube Chic: Take Your…