A Few Notes on the Holidays

I have a few scattered thoughts regarding domestics around the holidays I'd like to offer.

Sort through toys and clothes before the holidays. Not only will you have more room for your new goodies, but you'll also be giving others the opportunity to recycle your donated cast-offs. This is especially true for kids' things. Lord knows they outgrow their toys and clothes faster than they can unwrap presents!

If you throw a party formal enough to require cocktail dresses or other attire more formal than normal office wear, do NOT ask people to remove their shoes at the door. I recently saw an article about setting up cute little slippers and whatnot for guests. Nonsense! They went to the trouble to dress up for you - including appropriate shoes. Get over yourself and wash your damn floor the next day.

This is your last chance to order your planner refill, or to find a new one. Do it now, before it gets too busy, or before it won't arrive in time for the new year. When you receive it, make yourself a note on October 1st to order next year's calendar.

One of my favorite informal holiday parties is a Card-Writing Party. I usually invite ladies only, since we're the only ones who still hand-write Christmas cards and thank-you notes. We sit around the Christmas tree just after Thanksgiving sipping wine, enjoying nibblies and completing all our Christmas cards in one evening.

Don't forget to tip the important service people in your life. A good rule of thumb is tip them the cost of one "X". Our sitter, for example, would get the cost of one night's sitting, if we were to give her cash instead of a gift. Some other people you may want to consider tipping, or at least thanking, are teachers, delivery people, stylists, and maintenance or landscape keepers. Check out CNN's tipping guide for more details, bearing in mind they're on NYC incomes! Want to be truly thoughtful? Make a note in your new planner to thank these people, sincerely, next July, when they least expect it.

Finally, 'tis the season for copious shopping, and spending, and sadly, identity theft. Exactly one week before Black Friday this year, I had my first experience with ID theft, and let me tell you, it's maddening. Fortunately, we have ID Theft insurance AND a great credit union who supports us. What could have seriously ruined our holidays was resolved in a few phone calls. I strongly urge you to give yourself and your family the gift of ID Theft insurance this year.