How to be the Perfect Party Guest

This time of year, finding yourself the recipient of numerous invitations to holiday celebrations is expected. With all the holiday parties you’ll be attending with family, friends, and co-workers, you want to be sure you remain a candidate for repeat invitations and not become an addition to the ‘Never Again’ list that Hosts make out after the party. So brush up on your social etiquette and become the perfect party guest at any party, not just the holiday party. 

Honor the invitation

If it says to RSVP, then do so, and do so immediately. If you wait, you are now giving your host an added task of calling to find out if you’ll be there. If the invitation says, “Regrets Only”, then inform your host only if you WON’T be there. And if there is no RSVP request included in the invitation, it’s still nice to let your host know if you cannot make it.    

Plan ahead

Once you’ve decided to go to the party and after you’ve RSVP’d, place the date and time on your calendar and make all the necessary home and family arrangements. Don’t call the host at the last minute and ask if you can bring your children because you don’t have a babysitter. 

Arrive on time and…Bear Gifts

You don’t like to wait on late-arrivals and neither does anyone else; so don’t be that person that’s holding up the dinner party or who comes in and snarls at the picked over table of appetizers.

Bring your host a gift, but don’t make it flowers. They’ll have to excuse themselves to tend to them and even if the flowers are prepped in a vase, there’s always the question of where to place them…still a distraction for the host. Don’t bring a gift of food, either; the menu has already been established. If you want to contribute food for the party, call your host and offer ahead of time. Candles are nice to give; maybe even a ‘good’ bottle of wine. Just don’t ask, “Hey where’s that bottle of wine I brought?” If you want to open and drink it, then it wasn’t really your host’s gift, was it?

When the Party’s Over

Find your host/hostess, thank them and express your pleasure of the evening. Then leave. Don’t overstay your welcome and don’t try to be the last to go. It’s a party; not a sleepover. Show compassion to your host by remembering all the energy it took to make this a nice event for you and the other guests. Your host needs rest and you don’t want to be the one to prevent it.

After a couple of days, send a nice ‘thank you’ note (yes, it’s still socially correct).

This holiday season, remember these little details and secure your spot on the GOOD GUEST LIST for years to come. 

Include Everyone in Your Holiday Celebrations
Want to start a new tradition this year? How about making your Holiday Season a diverse one? 

Some people have family members who choose to follow a different religion than the rest of the family. Some may adopt the cultural habits of others. Embrace those differences. Find out more about them. Celebrate the uniqueness of all during this holiday season.

After all, this is the time of year to express peace and good will toward all, right?

Listed below are a few things you can do with and for family members, friends, and anyone else within your circle of acquaintances whose values, beliefs, cultures, or traditions are different from what you are accustomed to.

• Invite your friend to a dinner/celebration and ask them to bring their favorite dessert or a dish that represents their culture or tradition.  
• Involve the kids. Have them research a culture or religion different from your own and share an interesting fact during dinner. The family can vote for the most interesting fact learned.
• Understand that a need is a need in any walk of life. Combine your efforts and give to a charity in the name of both your religions.

Opening up to the differences of others will not minimize the importance of our beliefs or values in any way. Instead, it creates deeper connections through the sharing of ourselves. It gives us another way to grow and learn from each other. Remember, to share is to care. (Excerpt from my book, "Creating Bliss ~ Better Living In Seven Steps"

Remember, it’s not about your way or mine. It’s not about traveling in only one direction in life. It’s about inclusion, involvement, and support; and sometimes even adaptation. It’s about connecting to expand in all directions of life.

So introduce some new traditions into your family celebrations. Bring family and friends closer through the respect and acceptance of all. Do this and give the gift of love to all; the gift that’s understood and accepted in any culture or religion.

~~~~~Tell Tammy~~~~~

What is your favorite family tradition? Leave a comment below.

Avoid These Mistakes When Planning Your Holiday Party

Wow! Thanksgiving is over and December is here! Some of you are in full swing getting ready for the numerous celebrations you’ll be invited to and some will even host a few. So it’s the Host/Hostess that we focus on in this week’s article.

While some preparations are obvious, here’re a few areas that will require your attention to ensure your holiday gathering is filled with merriment and fun.

5 Actions to Avoid when Planning The Perfect Holiday Party 

1. Overdoing themes and decorations. Enhance your home with adequate trimmings without overwhelming. Strategically place decorative pieces where they give the best visual effect and lend the proper mood to the area. Make your party the theme; not the adornments. Don’t deck your halls to the point where guests get tinsel-tied each time they take a step. And be sure to arrange some of the decorations above eye level to be enjoyed by all of your guests; not just the first to arrive and the last to leave. Balance your decorations so they are enjoyed by the seated and the standing.  

 2. Overlooking food preferences. Consider all your guests when planning your menu. Provide an array of food and drink choices for everyone; Dieters, Vegans, Drinkers and Non-drinkers. Search the internet for Cocktails, Mocktails, and a variety of other GREAT RECIPES. And if you’re not sure what kind of substitution to make for one of your guests, check with them beforehand. Chances are they’ll be thrilled that you asked, and will be happy to share their favorite recipe with you and others. 

 3. Placing food out and forgetting about it. Try to serve food throughout the duration of your party. Especially if cocktails are offered because your guests will need to “feed” their drinks. Instead of setting everything out at once, have various trays brought out in intervals. This way, food stays fresh and your guests stay intrigued over the wonderful surprises that keep coming. They’ll also stay “upright” since you’re constantly giving them something to nibble on as they sip their drinks (if you know what I mean). 

4. Cleaning only the public areas of your home.    Cleaning only the public areas of your home. Include your personal areas when tidying up your home for your party; even if you plan to entertain in only one room. Don’t leave personal items lying around and clear medicine cabinets of anything you don’t want ‘accidentally eyeballed’ by your guests.

Now, for one of the Biggest Mistakes you can make…

5. Forgetting to enjoy yourself. Give yourself enough prep time to grab a nap or just relax 30-40 minutes before your first guest is due to arrive so you can greet them with a real smile that’s fresh and sincere. Days before your party, arrange for cleanup assistance so it’s not on your mind as you watch dishes stack up. Remember, this party is just as much for you as it is for your guests. So enjoy the fun!

Later, we’ll address holiday party fun as a guest. Don’t miss it!

~~~~~Tell Tammy~~~~~

What festivities are you planning over the holidays?

Happy Thanksgiving!

Here’s hoping that you and your family enjoy this special holiday of love and gratitude.

I’m thankful for all the blessings that have been and continue to be bestowed upon me. And today, I’m especially thankful for Daddy’s improved health and I’m hoping he gives us something else to be thankful for by getting released from the hospital today. We’ll see. Good luck, Daddy!

Speaking of parents:

It’s funny the memories that come to my mind along with the aroma of all the ‘usual’ things we eat. The cinnamon and other spices that punctuate my senses also transports Mama straight from Heaven and into my kitchen where her hand is on mine as I stir the gravy, and her cheek right next to mine as I bend to lavishly inhale the Sweet Potato Pie.

Of course, additional family memories crop up throughout the day as we continue to make more memories, but at least for a while, before Michael and I sit down for a quiet midday snack and before company comes, there’s that special moment that’s just Mama and me. And I’m thankful for the memories she continues to give me, even after she’s moved on.

May this Thanksgiving and each day forward be a blessing to you and yours!

Continued Bliss!

~~~~~Tell Tammy~~~~~

What special memories do holiday aromas bring to you? 

HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO ALL!

In addition to the obviously apparent things that I am thankful for, like my lovely family, my wonderful friends, my health, and of course, the birth of my new book; I am TRULY THANKFUL for the talent the Creator gave me that leads me to inspire and help others embrace life’s challenges, thus elevating their spirits and mine. 

Include Our Veterans in Your Holiday Celebrations

Since the holiday season officially kicks off on November 25th of this month, and Veteran’s Day is Friday, November 11th, why not combine them and plan a holiday tribute to all the brave people who have kept and continue to keep our great country safe. A businessman from Maine, Morrill Worcester and his family did just that in 1992 when they turned their gesture of allegiance into an annual holiday event that now includes all of America. With the support of volunteers, this event embodies elements of loyalty, honor, celebration, gratitude, and education. Check out their inspirational beginnings  and consider helping out in your area .

Holiday Bliss the Debt-Free Way

It's the first week of November and like most of you, all of us here at Image Design are gearing up for the holidays. In the coming weeks, we'll be sharing some of our tips and tricks for getting to and through the holiday season blissfully relaxed and stress-free, beginning with these tips for Holiday Bliss the Debt-Free Way.

Did you know that holiday spending is back to pre-recession levels? In the past few years, Americans spent more than $500 billion dollars over the holiday season; and about 23% of that was paid for with credit cards (money not yet earned). So what happens then? They go into the New Year owing considerably more than the year before; all in the name of the holidays.

Great holidays are not synonymous with over-spending. Let the following tips lead you to holiday fun without compromising your wallet and without entering the New Year wracked in debt:

1. Decide now on what you want to do regarding everything that's holiday-related; from shopping to decorating; from gift-giving to entertaining. A little planning now will save you a lot of impulsive spending later.

2. For workplace celebrations, determine ahead of time what your contribution will be. Then, if suggested contributions are more than you had budgeted, let the planners know ahead of time. Offer to contribute in another way that will keep you involved while staying within your personal plans. For example, you could offer to bake a holiday cake or donate a seasonal flower arrangement to add to the decorations.

3. Do not window shop. Instead, shop with a plan. Make a list of what you want to purchase, go to the stores that you think have what you want, then go only to the necessary departments of those stores. This may take a little work and a lot of discipline, but keep your goal in mind and you'll be ok. You'll save time and money this way, and just think of how proud of yourself you'll be in the end.


4. Make holiday entertaining both fun and therapeutic for your family and friends. Invite them to a casual pizza party where they can unwind from all the hectic goings-on. For added fun, everyone can bring a pizza topping, drinks, etc to share and you all can build your pizzas together or better yet, make it a competitive team event with little stocking stuffers of homemade treats as prizes. Put on a seasonal CD and enjoy the kitchen clatter, holiday chatter, and the enveloping aroma of fresh oven-baked pizza.

Create lasting memories by giving more from your heart. Follow these tips and when the decorations come down, your spirits will still be up. You'll be mentally healthy and happy; not debt-ridden and depressed.

Remember, Holiday Bliss is not about spending a lot of money, but spending quality time with the people you care about.