It’s Christmas Eve and Hanukkah starts this evening!
I’ve poured a glass of egg nog with a touch of Amaretto and a slice of cheesecake! Playing my Holiday CDs, the 1989 movie ‘Prancer’ is playing (Sam Elliot, Abe Vigoda and Rebecca Harrell) and I’ve been using entirely too much tissue paper while wrapping – for I just ran out!
Manolo my pooch, he is happy that I’d gave him his long awaiting Christmas gift early …..a bone marrow bone! Later on dinner with friends for more laughing, piano playing and lots of calls to make!
This is the time to share and spend time with love ones! It is also is the time to be thankful and wish the utmost best to others who may not be so fortunate, that they may find peace during this Holiday and the days ahead!
It’s that time of the year again! Time to visit, have dinner, share gifts and catching up! This is when YOUR children are told to be on their best behavior! This is where you try to get out of your mind; that you know your kids are absolutely crazy and how dare you let them out of their world; into the crazy world of having Thanksgiving dinner with other people! The ones that don’t live with you, but they have asked throughout the year – “How’s things going?”
The truth is it’s chaotic! Your busy with the day to day stuff; that you can’t do everything – even though you think you are Super Mom or Super Dad! So the Thanksgiving Holiday is finally here and you now have keep your word on the dish you said you’ll bring and start prepping…your children! “Guys lets set some guidelines for dinner!”
“Be respectful, say PLEASE and say that little thing like Thank You…..a lot! And no fighting!!!” You are hoping by the time you reach your destination, that your military tactic of running the guidelines will some how stick! Only to remind yourself that these are little people and it’s probably going to be a bust within 20 minutes of your arrival; maybe 10 minutes!
Then you also decide perhaps to give yourself a mental pep talk! Yes, you will be saying “Sorry” more than often that not, demand time outs throughout the entire day and hope your little prayers are answered for that favorite inappropriate word that you giggle about at home………… isn’t said! 🙂
Nevertheless, you are going to have a good time and it’s about family, friends, family and all the food you like! For those next visits…….I have a little help for you!
You remember the book “The Sisters of Travelling Pants”, written by the beautiful Delia Ephron?
Well here’s another great book she has written called “Do I Have to Say Hello? Aunt Delia’s Manners Quiz for Kids and Their Grown Ups”
It has a quiz for you and your children, just to see what things to brush up on when venturing out amongst the world!
This delightful book shares her encounters with her nephew shown with funny illustration depictions by the famous Edward Koren; cartoonist for The New Yorker magazine.
The book doves into many scenarios; such as bubble gum, a bathroom wait, the playground and how to handle that horrible thing on a dinner plate!
The book is so much fun and can be easily shared with children. It’s doesn’t feel like a lesson; giving you a resource to have some really good results! You may find this may also be good for some grownups as well <you probably are thinking of a few people, right now!>.
Well I have to head back to the kitchen! Wishing everyone the best during the holidays! Happy Thanksgiving!! Enjoy!!!!
Table Manners Copyrighted Material (c)
Letia 🙂
Delia Ephron the daughter of screenwriters Phoebe and Henry Ephron. Her movies include You’ve Got Mail (starring Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan), The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, Hanging Up (based on her novel), and Michael. She has written novels for adults (Hanging Up and the recent The Lion Is In) and teenagers (Frannie in Pieces and The Girl with the Mermaid Hair), books of humor, (How to Eat Like a Child), and essays. Her journalism has appeared in The New York Times, O the Oprah Magazine, Vogue and More, The Wall Street Journal, and The Huffington Post. In 2011 Ephron won an Athena Film Festival award for creativity and panache as a screenwriter.
Edward Koren has lifetime freelance relationship between Koren and The New Yorker. The magazine has published thousands of his cartoons and illustrations, including dozens of full-color drawings published on the magazine’s cover. He has also contributed to many other publications, including The New York Times, Newsweek, Time, GQ, Esquire, Sports Illustrated, Vogue, Fortune, Vanity Fair, The Nation and The Boston Globe.
It’s that time of the year we take stock and show appreciation to those who are important to us!
So it’s with these thoughts in mind….to all my readers, I wish you a joyful Holiday season! Enjoy!!!!
North Pole Mini Cupcakes Every kid dreams of visiting the North Pole for the holidays, so turn sprinkled mini cupcakes into a snowy wonderland with a striped straw through the side and a simple “North Pole” tag. By Ashley Rose, Sugar & Cloth, photography by Jared Smith Photography . See other ideas at Food Network
Letia Mitchell LifeStyle & Design® 