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Dining With Gratitude

Monday, September 20th, 2010

Good Morning, Darlings!

Happy Monday to you all. I hope you had a fabulous weekend. On Saturday night we gave a dinner to thank some very special folks for being so good to us. Joining us were Spencer, Allison, LaToyin and Neil of Black Tie Barbecue, Laura Scholz, her husband, Tim and our new friends Teresa & Nicholas.

Menu

Grilled Shrimp w/cocktail sauce

Chips w/cheese dip

Grilled Ribeyes wrapped in bacon

Twice-baked stuffed Potatoes

Salad w/raisins, almonds and red onion

Garlic Bread

Pound Cake soaked in Lemoncello

Apple Pie

Sesame and Chocolate Cookies

Vanilla Ice Cream

Malbec, Chardonnay, Cava

Pellegrino

But first, you have to start with a pretty table. I dressed the table in all metalics to give it sparkle. Gold runners, candlesticks and napkins rings paired with silver chargers.

Before guests arrive. I ended up moving the candelabra because it was in the way of the a/c and blowing madly everywhere.

Candles lit and ready for guests

You’re Invited! Come On In.

Have We Become Too Busy For Manners?

Wednesday, June 30th, 2010

Good Morning, Darlings!

Recently I was told by someone I love that I have been misplacing my “pleases” and “thank yous.”  You can only imagine my mortification as I value manners above most things. Even though my schedule has resembled the timetable at Grand Central Station, I realized this was true. Busy should never equal lack of manners. My apologies have overflowed, but it got me thinking.

In this incredibly busy world of ours, have we become too busy for manners? Have we lost our ability to allow others to speak without interrupting their story? Has social media turned us into a bunch of self-absorbed ninnies? Have Facebook and Twitter and golly-knows-what-else made us bratty three-year-olds who always need to be the center of attention?

Gosh, I hope not. But I do think social graces have waned in a lot of us.

Take a moment today to tell those you love how you feel. Be lavish with your manners. Let someone tell a story without calculating what you are going to say next. Engage your brain before you open your mouth.

You won’t believe the difference in your quality of life.  And it doesn’t cost a thing.

xoxo, Patti

Today blogging to Dido – Thank You