Southern Lady Celebrate Easy Spring Parties 2013

Have you noticed the beautiful flowers this spring? It seems a bit early, but who can argue with gorgeous blossoms? Those magnificent orange roses on the cover make me smile. In this issue, we have some wonderful celebrations planned, including one of my favorites—tea! There is something about having tea that makes us all feel like royalty. From my very first afternoon tea, I was hooked. When I host a tea, I am able to slow down and enjoy the moment, especially if I pull out my blue-and-white china. One of the most exciting parties for this year is our “An Everyday Bouquet Party.” Being creative and trying your hand at flower arranging is a most fun time. How can you mess up flowers? Just putting them together is such a joy.…

Spring is here, and she brings with her those wonderful carefree weeks that allow us to relax outdoors and to slow down a bit to enjoy our families and friends. There is something about this season—the warmth of the sun and the gardens coming into bloom—that takes me back to my childhood and my most precious memories of family gatherings. My love for flowers grew out of watching my mother over the years piddle in her garden every morning. She would then artfully arrange and place the blooms around our home, and today, it’s the grandchildren who follow her around making “tussie-mussies,” small handheld clusters of flowers. For a complete, colorful, and creative lesson in making arrangements, check out “An Everyday Bouquet Party” on page 27. Bring in an expert, or…

The tradition of teatime, which extends back generations after being lent to us by the British, is the quintessential offering of hospitality and grace. It is friendship and kindness at its finest as you enjoy your guests and indulge in a cup of aromatic perfection. It certainly takes some practice to create an unforgettable teatime experience, but an adept hostess learns from each opportunity, and I’m delighted to share with you a few of my tricks. The first rule of thumb is to be sure to make each guest feel welcome and at ease as she or he arrives. Do this by greeting each person individually and sincerely. Invite them to make themselves comfortable, and then direct conversation to each of them throughout the time together around a table you’ve thoughtfully…

Jan Moon has been baking since she was in the 4th grade. Back then, though, the craft consisted of anxiously staring through the front of her Easy-Bake Oven, waiting for a cake to rise. Today, she has behind her an entire career dedicated to food—and beautiful food, at that. In fact, in all her years of styling food and developing recipes at prominent cooking magazines, as well as her time owning and operating a cupcake bakery, Jan has stood behind a simple motto: “You eat with your eyes first.” “So, I want my cupcakes to be really beautiful with really fine ingredients,” Jan says of how those words drive her current business. She opened Dreamcakes, in Birmingham, Alabama, in 2009, and its success has grown across the Magic City. She and the bakery…

as warm spring days replace wintery weather, celebrate by inviting f riends to a flowerarranging party. Gather a variety of colorful blooms, vessels, and flower-arranging essentials, and learn alongside your guests the art of crafting beautiful arrangements that will suit any occasion. No need to go all out when planning décor for this party. Simply cover a work table with craft paper, and let flowers serve as the main focus. Set up a spot for each guest, and provide her with her own vessel. Then place floral foam, floral tape, and scissors in the middle of the table for everyone to use. Group the flowers in crates, buckets, and bins, and label each so guests will learn the names of the blooms as they construct their designs. Invite a local florist or…