Living Well Etc.

After many years of visiting our great state of California’s countless wineries, I've found the key to creating the perfect wine tasting experience.   Furthermore, I'm sharing it with you.   Shhhh...we don't want everyone learning about this.   It's our little secret. Create a Moment with the Pourer Just about everyone loves attention and the pourer at the winery is no different.   This person usually knows quite a bit about the wines and most often wants to share it.   So, inquire about the wines, how the grapes are grown, and where.   Ask questions, even if you consider the questions to be too simple.   The plus side is that you just may learn more as well.   My favorite question is, "What am I smelling in this wine?   I can't seem to identify it." Now if the tasting room is empty besides you and the pourer, usually, the more you engage this person, the more he/she will share.   For example, during a visit to Silverado Vineya...

  Holiday dinners with the Italian side of my family are some of my best memories.  With Thanksgiving coming up very soon, those memories are playing with my sense of reality, as fond memories tend to do.  I just want to jump into those visions and be that little girl watching my grandpa, as head of the family, command everyone to "mangiare" (eat).  These events were full of playful banter and the occasional heated discussion that always ended in laughter and wine.  Nevertheless, for the most part, they were centered around dining—cooking, drinking good wine, sharing, and eating.  One really can't just sit at the table and chow down though.  This is especially true at the Italian table.  I noticed this on our latest trip to Italy as well.  Our interactions with one another are very important.  And we weave our interactions around the meal.  It's like an intricate dance of interaction and precise utensil usage, all the wh...

  The Hostess Gift An invitation to another’s home is a privilege and honor, so the good guest would behave as such.   Guests should bring some type of gift such as a bottle of wine, flowers, or even a single rose as a token of appreciation.   Note : It’s much easier for the host if flowers are already in a vase.   Dollar stores usually have nice ones in stock.   One dollar and done! Must-Follow Rules Guests should avoid picking up or reading notes laying around, entering rooms uninvited, putting feet up on the furniture, or indulging in anything unoffered.   After the gathering, guests should also write a thank-you note thanking the host for including him/her. More by Rebecca How to Avoid the Biggest Party Planning Mistakes How to Create a Great Guest List Party Hosting Reluctance: Why and How to Overcome it?

  Dear Rebecca, What are the biggest party mistakes people typically make?   Is there a magic formula to planning correctly? Just Asking Dear Just Asking , No one wants to sit next to a bore or attend a party and not know anyone but the host.   These two mistakes are preventable.   Always create a guest list with ultimate care.   And don’t sit two shy, quiet people next to each other; neither will initiate a conversation.   I also find it especially offensive when a host expects his guests to cater his party or if it is to be held in a restaurant , expecting the guests to pay for their owns meals.   Very poor manners. Always consider who your guests are, what they prefer, and provide it.  This is your magic formula.   Most sincerely, Rebecca More by Rebecca The ABCs of Party Planning How to Create a Great Guest List Party Hosting Reluctance: Why and How to Overcome it?

Dear Rebecca, What do children and teens learn from their parent’s throwing parties ? Parent Dear Parent, Children of all ages learn everything from their parents.   They learn all their manners , which is basically how we treat others and ourselves.   They also learn etiquette, which is the protocol, how we behave, or how we are expected to behave in public.   So, if a child’s parents throw raucous parties with alcohol and loud music, the child will believe that this is what is expected at parties.   If the parents cater to their guests, treating them as special, the child will learn that he/she should treat their guests as special.   Parents are their child’s best teachers to teach him/her about life and being a good person. Pro-Tip Involve your child in the planning and preparation of the party.  Teach him/her how to focus on guests' needs. Most sincerely, Rebecca More by Rebecca Q & A: The Best and Worst Parties I’ve Hosted or At...

  The Worst Party Dear Rebecca, What is the worst and parties you’ve attended or given as well as what made them so? Wondering Dear Wondering, The worst I hosted was for my daughter’s 12 th birthday party. My planning focused on all the invitees: gift bags, a variety of games with prizes, birthday cake, candles, and the lot.   The one thing I didn’t plan well was to make sure that my daughter was the center of attention.   I expected her to be a cohost and cater to the guests.   Not good.    Huge mistake!   This was her special occasion, her party.   Children want to feel as if their birthday party is all about them.   They need to win some of the prizes.   They need to be the center of attention.   They need to feel special.   So, this was a good lesson for me.   Message to daughter: Sorry, Shannon.   You are special to me.   The Best Party One of my dear friends hosted a wonderful...

  While enjoying one of my favorite past times, I had an epiphany.  I realized that there is etiquette involved when gardening, which I should have realized sooner.   After all, there is etiquette involved and expected in every aspect of our lives.  Except, I hadn't really thought much about "Gardening Etiquette" and what that might entail.  And, how about you? I wonder what all of you think of this concept.  Do you think there is etiquette when gardening (for our plants, for our land, for our neighborhood, etc.)?  The thought and question have my mind working as a mouse on a little wheel.  So, let's get that mouse running full speed here. Respect for Our Plants First, consider how we treat our plants.  Since we care about our plants and want to treat them with respect , we would also want to consider their comfort.  Yes, this means planting them where they would thrive and not in some dismal spot where they would suff...