Are you looking for new Christmas music this year? Everyone’s familiar with the tried and true carols and holiday songs, but if you’re like me you start getting a little tired of even your favorite tunes by the time Christmas Day rolls around. There’s no escaping Christmas music at this time of year–every store, restaurant, and radio station plays a nonstop blitz of carols starting as soon as Thanksgiving dinner has been cleared off the table. But never fear, there’s a cure for that musical tedium! Why not search out original holiday songs by independent artists and make a compilation CD for yourself? Great new Christmas music that you have never heard before, and aren’t likely to hear being played over the sound system of every mall and grocery store. Here’s a few ideas to get you started.

• Feel Alive (It’s Christmas Day) by Joe and the Jungle–This original song by the indie rock band combines cozy warm lyrics, heartfelt strings, and a blend of voices harmonizing to create an atmosphere of peaceful Christmas spirit.
• The All-Purpose Carol by The Chenille Sisters–A sparkling country music feel and a dose of good-natured humor liven up this song that combines several holiday traditions and carols into one.
• This Christmas by Peter Mayer–A heartfelt pop tune that urges us to think about the true nature of giving and how we display love at this time of year. Very poignant.
• Doin’ That Holiday Thing by Johnny Pierre–Fun-spirited, lively, and fast-paced with a homey country twang in Johnny’s deep voice.
• Daddy Don’t Take the Christmas Tree Down by John Dameron–A Christmas song for all ages featuring a cheerful children’s chorus and a bright, happy tune that will get your blood pumping and your toes tapping.
• The Ghost of Christmas Past by David Kurtz–This instrumental solo acoustic guitar piece is lovely and yearning, evoking the spirit of the holidays while remaining completely original.
• I Poked You on Facebook (Merry Christmas) by Clinton Yorke–Tongue-in-cheek witticism and pop-techno rhythms craft a clever song for the Facebook generation.
• Horn Jubilee by KevOZ–If you like Manheim Steamroller, you will love this bouncy instrumental holiday song. (Also try A Very Merry Christmas from the same album.)
• Fiesta ChaCha by Lounge Magic–A sprightly, old-fashioned feel with a Spanish flavor. This is unique, fun, and joyous–just right for the Christmas season.

As you can see, there is a wide variety of original Christmas music available in every possible style and genre. Not every song will appeal to all people, but it gives a good sampling of the possibilities. Some of it is silly, some of it is heartfelt, some is more traditional, but all of it can help stave off the boredom of the same old carols and songs. Now go out there and find some new tunes for Christmas!

The holidays are only a few weeks away. Everyone is running around, checking off their shopping lists, baking cookies, sending out Christmas cards and a myriad of other jolly activities. Filing insurance claims or time spent in the E.R. doesn’t usually factor into the equation, but it requires some vigilance and common sense on our parts to avoid just that. Holiday time is magical, but the added hustle and bustle, the excess of lights strung up around the house and the general risk of an accident goes up at this time of the year. Thankfully, a few precautions can keep the holidays running smoothly and stress free (at least until January when the credit card bills turn up).

Tip #1: Make sure your decorations aren’t outdated. Do you still have the same lights that your parents were using in 1952? Modern lights are much safer than their older counterparts. They don’t put off as much heat for one, which lowers the chance that a little one in your house might burn their fingers. Also, old wiring is more prone to shorts, which could lead to a house fire. Newer lights, especially LED lights, are better for your budget too since they use less electricity.

New, shatter-proof ornaments might be something for you to consider as well, especially those with small children in the home. Nothing quite ruins the holiday spirit like a trip to the E.R. to remove glass from little Johnny’s foot.

Tip #2: Keep an updated fire extinguisher handy and make sure everyone in the house knows how to operate it. From turkeys going up in smoke, candles burning to the new wood burning kit that some well-meaning relative just HAD to get for your kid, there are plenty of opportunities for an accidental fire. Another good idea is to post the P.A.S.S. (Point. Aim. Squeeze. Spray) method in an easy to spot space, since it’s easy to lose your head in an emergency.

Tip #3: After the presents are opened, the screams of joy are shrieked and the six cups of coffee are downed by Mom and Dad, remember to pick up all the wrapping paper, bows, ribbons, bits of tape, and the ten million annoying little plastic bits that have been wrestled off the packaging, all of which pose a choking hazard to small children and pets alike. What looks inedible to you is shiny and tempting to them.

Holiday safety is a simple affair with a little vigilance on your part. Here’s to a happy and safe Christmas this year!

About the Author

This article was written by Phill from the Fire Safety Store.

Planning the perfect family holiday reunion can be a nerve wracking experience. When you’re a vegan with two dogs and in a long-term relationship, trying to get all your relatives under one roof can be one of the most stressful things. Having dealt with all the schedules and details of my past holiday reunion with my relatives, I’ve learnt the hard way, so let me share a few tips to make your holiday reunion planning go smooth and easy:

1. Plan ahead.
If you have relatives all over the country, you may need to give them a few months’ notice about the upcoming reunion. Coordinate with your relatives as to which date is easiest, and check your home and neighborhood if it can accommodate everyone. Some may need to stay in nearby hotels and other relatives that live along the area, and may need to reserve a space beforehand. Also check in advance if your house is conducive to pets, young children, and older men and women, as your relatives are invariably sure to have one or all of these in their household.

2. Coordinate.
Whether you call, write, or post on a private event page on your favorite social network, get everyone’s contact details at hand, and ask them about special needs, like a space for their newborn, or your garage space to park their vehicle. If you can get everyone to communicate beforehand and communicate with each other, you can get a feel about everyone’s needs, wants and ideas, with hopefully little surprises you have to deal with when they arrive. Check head count, time of arrival, and all the other pertinent information to head off any bombshells.

3. Have a potluck/Order in.
While my household is used to eating vegan fare, some of my uncles and aunts are strictly meaty. For any dietary needs, like diabetic meals, have a potluck. Ask them in advance what they plan to bring just so you don’t get three pans of stuffing, and two pies with no main dish. If your family is not really the cooking type, hire a caterer and split the expenses beforehand. When I offered last year to cook a full vegan holiday meal, an aunt offered to cover the expenses of a home cooked meal bought from a restaurant. It made preparation so much easier, and I got to cook some of my dishes as well. Everyone was happy with the feast.

4. Designate tasks.
A nephew who had recently bought a camera was assigned to take the photos. My niece who loves to plan events created a program to keep the children and the adults occupied between meals. My aunt set the table with her expert hands. Everyone chipped in to help, and this made us all bond over the event we all helped create. I had time to enjoy the event as well, not being cooped up trying to cook for everyone, or set all the tables and the like.
Planning the perfect family holiday reunion really is not just for one person to stress over. It being a family event, try to get everyone involved and have the time to host and enjoy the reunion as well. Trust me; you’ll thank yourself in the end!

About the Author:
Rachel Book is a part-time researcher and analyst for an online retailer of natural Christmas trees. The resident vegan of the family, she is once again in charge of planning a vegan menu for this year’s big holiday reunion.

It’s that time of year again! The weather is turning crisp and cool, leaves are changing to vibrant autumn colors, and the holidays are just around the corner. First up is Halloween, a favorite for the child in each of us, a magical and spooky night filled with delicious goodies, fun costumes, and frights galore. To help make the most of the holiday, pick up a copy of Halloween Delights by Karen Jean Matsko Hood. More than just a cookbook, Halloween Delights is a treasure trove of creative ideas to make your fright night celebration one to remember! The book is also packed with extras, like information on how to grow your own pumpkins, interesting facts about the history, folklore, and symbolism of Halloween, and a helpful glossary of cooking and baking terms.

I’ve been impressed with each entry in Hood’s Cookbook Delights series that I have seen so far, but this one honestly blew me away. From the clever to the creepy to the downright ghastly, each recipe is a masterpiece of ingenuity that will delight, scare, and gross out your Halloween guests in the best way possible. The variety of recipes is staggering, enabling you to choose just how ghoulish you want your party to be. The Halloween Haunted Forest Platter, for example, is a really creative way of dressing up the ordinary vegetable platter that will entice even kids into nibbling on healthy treats, and it’s a really cute idea. (Imagine a forest of broccoli trees haunted by egg ghosts and other creepy, edible creatures.) If you’d rather horrify your guests, there are recipes like the Boogers and Slugs Halloween Cake and Chocolate Slime, foods that may sound or even look disgusting, but are guaranteed to be delicious. The Bleeding Human Heart, a heart-shaped gelatin that oozes thick grenadine blood when cut into portions, is one of my favorites–there’s no doubt it’ll make an impression!

Halloween Delights is so full of fun and creative ideas that my kids literally could not stop poring over it. They had a blast helping me try out some of the recipes in the kitchen and have been begging to try out more ever since. We made Witch’s Hat Chocolate Cupcakes, Creepy Crawly Spider Cookies, and Jack-O-Lantern Cheeseburger Pie. All of the recipes were easy to follow and turned out fabulous, not just in taste but in visual impact as well, which is at least half the fun with a holiday like this. I was also pleased to find a number of recipes that are designed for feeding large crowds, which will make planning a party all the easier. This is the ultimate Halloween cookbook, crammed with enough ideas to see my family through all the spooky parties we will ever throw. Now the only problem is picking which recipes to use–and how to prevent my kids from wanting to celebrate Halloween all year long!

Halloween Delights Cookbook – Paperback ©2008

Labor Day, the first Monday in September, is a creation of the labor movement and is dedicated to the social and economic achievements of American workers. It constitutes a yearly national tribute to the contributions workers have made to the strength, prosperity, and well-being of our country.

More than 100 years after the first Labor Day observance, there is still some doubt as to who first proposed the holiday for workers.

Some records show that Peter J. McGuire, general secretary of the Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners and a cofounder of the American Federation of Labor, was first in suggesting a day to honor those “who from rude nature have delved and carved all the grandeur we behold.”

But Peter McGuire’s place in Labor Day history has not gone unchallenged. Many believe that Matthew Maguire, a machinist, not Peter McGuire, founded the holiday. Recent research seems to support the contention that Matthew Maguire, later the secretary of Local 344 of the International Association of Machinists in Paterson, N.J., proposed the holiday in 1882 while serving as secretary of the Central Labor Union in New York. What is clear is that the Central Labor Union adopted a Labor Day proposal and appointed a committee to plan a demonstration and picnic.

The first Labor Day holiday was celebrated on Tuesday, September 5, 1882, in New York City, in accordance with the plans of the Central Labor Union. The Central Labor Union held its second Labor Day holiday just a year later, on September 5, 1883.

In 1884 the first Monday in September was selected as the holiday, as originally proposed, and the Central Labor Union urged similar organizations in other cities to follow the example of New York and celebrate a “workingmen’s holiday” on that date. The idea spread with the growth of labor organizations, and in 1885 Labor Day was celebrated in many industrial centers of the country.

The form that the observance and celebration of Labor Day should take were outlined in the first proposal of the holiday — a street parade to exhibit to the public “the strength and esprit de corps of the trade and labor organizations” of the community, followed by a festival for the recreation and amusement of the workers and their families. This became the pattern for the celebrations of Labor Day. Speeches by prominent men and women were introduced later, as more emphasis was placed upon the economic and civic significance of the holiday. Still later, by a resolution of the American Federation of Labor convention of 1909, the Sunday preceding Labor Day was adopted as Labor Sunday and dedicated to the spiritual and educational aspects of the labor movement.

The character of the Labor Day celebration has undergone a change in recent years, especially in large industrial centers where mass displays and huge parades have proved a problem. This change, however, is more a shift in emphasis and medium of expression. Labor Day addresses by leading union officials, industrialists, educators, clerics and government officials are given wide coverage in newspapers, radio, and television.

The vital force of labor added materially to the highest standard of living and the greatest production the world has ever known and has brought us closer to the realization of our traditional ideals of economic and political democracy. It is appropriate, therefore, that the nation pay tribute on Labor Day to the creator of so much of the nation’s strength, freedom, and leadership — the American worker.

Greetings to All!

This weekend is Labor Day and thought it would be a great time to remind ourselves about the history of Labor Day. Take some special time and relax and enjoy your family and friends. Take care!

KarenJean Matsko Hood and family

By Joy Bauer, M.S., R.D., C.D.N.
Source: Yahoo

If your holiday celebrations are leaving you feeling fat, achy, and lethargic, you’re not alone. Millions of your fellow revelers are in the same swollen boat.

Good news! This 3-day detox will blast away bloat, boost energy, burn fat, and ensure you regain your mojo in just 72 short hours. The meals are vegetarian (no meat or poultry—you had your fill on Turkey Day), and they’re loaded with the ideal mix of antioxidants, protein, fiber, vitamins and minerals. Here’s how it works:

• Follow the same daily menu for three days in a row.
• Eat only what is listed on the menu–no added sugar, honey, sugar substitute, salt, salad dressing, condiments, etc.
• Drink only what is listed on the menu—no soda, fruit juice, alcohol, or diet beverages.
• Enjoy black coffee or tea at breakfast (regular or decaffeinated).
• Drink two 8-ounce glasses of water within 30 minutes of eating your lunch and dinner meals.  Drink as much additional water as you’d like throughout the day.
• Drink one cup of regular or decaffeinated green tea after your lunch, afternoon snack, and dinner.
• The plan is vegetarian, but if you’d like to make it vegan see simple substitutes at breakfast and dinner.

Ready, set, go.

Daily Menu

Breakfast

Joy’s Protein Power Smoothie

In a blender, combine ¾ cup skim milk (for vegan plan, substitute soy or almond milk), ½ banana, ½ cup frozen raspberries, ½ cup frozen blueberries, 1 scoop vanilla whey protein powder (for vegan plan, substitute soy, rice, or pea protein powder), ¼ teaspoon cinnamon, and 5 ice cubes. Blend until smooth and frothy.

Optional black coffee or tea

Lunch

Drink two 8-ounce glasses water (with optional lemon) within 30 minutes of eating. Drink as much additional water as you’d like during the meal.

Large spinach salad

• Unlimited spinach leaves
• Unlimited antioxidant-rich produce (Best choices include bell peppers, tomatoes, carrots, red onions, broccoli, and sliced beets. You may also add cucumbers, mushrooms, celery, and cauliflower.)
• ½ cup red kidney, pinto, or black beans
• 1 tablespoon toasted, chopped pecans
• Dress with 1 teaspoon olive oil and unlimited balsamic or red wine vinegar

1 pink or red grapefruit

1 cup green tea

Snack

½ cup unsalted pistachio nuts (in shell)

1 cup green tea

Dinner

Drink two 8-ounce glasses of water (with optional lemon) within 30 minutes of eating. Drink as much additional water as you’d like during your meal.

Unlimited baked, grilled, broiled, or poached fish

Good choices include cod, halibut, haddock, and wild salmon, seasoned with fresh lemon and black pepper (for vegan plan, substitute Sautéed Tofu—see recipe below)

Unlimited steamed broccoli with optional fresh lemon and black pepper

1 cup green tea or naturally caffeine-free herbal tea

Recipe: Sautéed Tofu

• Oil spray (canola or olive oil)
• 1 block extra firm tofu, drained and pressed for at least 30 minutes
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• Fresh lemon juice or balsamic vinegar

Liberally coat a large nonstick skillet with oil spray, and preheat the skillet over medium-high heat.

Cut the tofu into 1-inch cubes. Add the tofu cubes to the skillet in a single layer and cook, without stirring, for 2 minutes.  Toss the cubes and cook for 6 minutes, stirring every few minutes to brown the tofu evenly on all sides. Add additional oil spray as necessary to prevent the tofu from sticking to the skillet.

Add the garlic and sauté for 30 more seconds (watch the pan closely to make sure the garlic doesn’t burn).

Transfer the tofu to a plate and dress with unlimited fresh-squeezed lemon juice or balsamic vinegar.

By MarthaStewart.com
Source: Yahoo!Green

Why buy fancy wrapping paper when it will only end up crumpled in the recycling bin? Every year, Americans spend billions on ribbons, paper, and bows, only to see them ripped up and tossed away.

These creative, eco-friendly gift wrap ideas make use of materials already lying around your home — maps, shopping bags, even kids’ artwork. Did we mention they don’t cost a cent?

Biodegradable stuffing

Biodegradable stuffing cushions small, fragile items just as well as plastic bubble wrap or Styrofoam peanuts, a recycler’s worst nightmare.

Potato-chip bag gift wrap

Give a new life to empty potato-chip bags by dressing up your gifts in them. Cut open a potato-chip bag along its seam to reveal the shiny white or silver inside of the bag. Flatten the bag, wash it with soap and water, and air dry. Then wrap your present and adorn it with ribbons and homemade cards.

Cloth gift wrap

In Japan, the art of wrapping gifts in cloth is called furoshiki, and it’s brilliantly eco-friendly. Use scarves or towels (which become second gifts) or fabric scraps leftover from other projects. Secure open ends with a button, safety pin, or knot.

Stamped shopping-bag gift wrap

Have shopping bags around the house? Repurpose them into festive gift wrap. Cut an open paper shopping bag along one fold and scissor out the bottom of the bag. Wrap your gift in the paper. Dip one end of a wine cork into ink or a dark fruit juice and begin stamping patterns.

Vintage and repurposed paper gift wrap

Easy to find and work with, vintage and repurposed papers add pop to presents. Layer several colors and textures, or add vintage beads for a finished look.

Kids’ artwork gift wrap

Children’s drawings make for inexpensive and delightful homemade gift wrap, especially for family members. Have kids doodle on Kraft paper, calendar pages, shopping bags, magazine pages, and phone book pages.

story by Jess Chamberlain
photos by Thomas J. Story
Source: Sunset Magazine

This is not a story about a poorly decorated home in need of a makeover and a splash of holiday cheer. Owners Nadia Bizzotto and David Youngson are themselves in the design business (she founded the handbag company Two Loops; he’s a sales agent for the likes of Kikkerland), and their two-year-old house in British Columbia’s Okanagan Valley is cleanly modern—even their four whippets and two cats hew to the prevailing earth-tones palette.

But when their friend Paige Russell, a ceramist, asked to help deck their place for the season, they were thrilled. “We love Paige’s homemade sensibility,” Nadia says. “She shows us how warmth can still be modern,” adds David. Just call Paige their holiday fairy.

DIY holiday cards

How to: With a 1/16-inch hole punch, notch the top center of the front of a blank folded card, then make seven notches along the bottom. Behind the top notch, attach the start of some embroidery floss to the card with a small piece of double-sided tape.

Wrap the floss around the front of the card seven times, so that it lies in a different bottom notch with each loop. Cut the floss and attach the end to the piece of double-sided tape. Print a holiday greeting using a date/number stamp and ink pad.

Get it: Large teapot ($145) and cup ($20) from the Spout collection by Paige Russell.

Wintry tablescape

Create a merry scene along your dinner table runner.

How to: Punch stars out of card stock using a star craft punch. Sprinkle them along the runner, and intersperse miniature trees among candles. Porcelain and wood beasts, inspired by Old World ceramic collectibles, double as placecards—Paige writes the names on them with a colored pencil. A small bowl of nuts sits forkside at each place setting, accompanied by a nutcracker (and a metal jack, just for kicks).

Get it: Coupe plates ($32 each) and bowls ($27 each) by Heath Ceramics. Spout dishes ($48/set of 4), Müzo Collectibles animals ($24 each), and the Woods trees ($15 each) by Paige Russell.

Advent tree

The calendar meets the holiday tree—and it’s not just for kids. Get full instructions and templates for making your own–including tutorial videos from Paige–here.

Simple snowflakes

Try a newfangled take on the traditional grade-school project.

How to: Plan your design on paper (figuring out how many snowflakes you want, and where), then mark it on a wall. Punch circles out of card stock with a circle craft punch. For a wooden or textured wall, place thumbtacks where you want the dots to be, put a piece of removable double-sided tape on each tack, and place your dots. For smooth surfaces, put a piece of tape on the back of each dot, and place.

Get it: Supplies for all these projects (craft punches, card stock, tape) from craft stores like Michaels.

Record display

Album covers and song lyrics— a tribute to the couple’s love of music—adorn the entry wall.

How to: Print a lyric from each album on white paper, then mount it on foam board with double-sided tape. Trim sides. Attach a strip of foam board high on the back of each album cover with double-sided tape. Hang each on a wall with a single small nail (under the center of foam strip). Place lyric cards next to the albums with double-sided tape.

Get it: Find old albums at flea markets, antiques stores, or on eBay.

By Amanda Greene? for Woman’s Day
Source: Yahoo

The holidays are here, and chances are you have your fair share of parties to attend. You know the rules: Bring a bottle of wine and follow up with a thank-you note. But what if you’re the one throwing the bash? We talked to partygoers from around the country and found out what they have to say about hosting dos and don’ts. If you’re planning to open up your home this season, read on to learn everything your guests are too polite to tell you.

1. Put some thought into the food you serve—and how you serve it.
Any holiday party guest will appreciate being served a full meal, but if there’s nowhere to sit and eat, it can be more trouble than it’s worth. If you’re planning to serve a buffet meal, your party guests need enough surfaces to eat on. “How can you cut meat without putting down your plate?!” asks Doug from Atlanta. Maghan from Gainesville, Florida, seconds that: “Not planning the wineglass-plate-fork scenario makes it awkward for everyone. Either have plenty of seating and wineglass surfaces, or commit wholeheartedly to finger foods.”

2. Be upfront about the guest list.
“I find it annoying when people hide the guest list on Evites,” says Agnes* from New York City. “I want to find out if I’m going to know people there or if I should bring a friend.” She also wishes hosts understood that it’s helpful for guests to know the size of the party, which influences whether they plan to drop by, be on time or arrange to travel with friends.

3. Make sure there’s enough room for everyone to mingle.
You don’t have to have a huge house to create a welcoming atmosphere—you just have to be smart about how you set up the party. “An overcrowded [food] display is a real turnoff,” says Brynn from New York City. She wishes hosts would avoid a stampede at the appetizer table by creating separate areas for the drink and food stations as well as remembering to leave trash receptacles in clear view.

4. Make an effort!
“If you don’t care to make things festive, then don’t bother throwing a party,” says Brynn. “The holidays are special, and should be treated that way.” She wishes every host would encourage guests to dress up, throw on seasonal tunes and decorate the house. According to Maghan, a hostess should remember that lighting is crucial for setting the mood and creating a party atmosphere: “Bad overhead lighting is such a mood-killer! If it’s at night, well-placed lighting is invaluable.”

5. Don’t forget about the bathroom.
Partygoers have serious gripes about the state of the restrooms at holiday bashes. Marie* from New York City says, “Cleaning your bathroom is just as important as making the perfect cheese plate or holiday punch. Nothing will tarnish my impression faster than a bathroom straight out of a gas station with empty toilet paper rolls to boot.” Leslie* from Chicago also stresses the importance of keeping the bathroom stocked with toilet paper: “Don’t make your guests have to come out and awkwardly ask for more.”

6. Don’t try too hard.
Organized party games and icebreakers are fine in theory, but unless your gang is gung-ho about playing, they just end up making people feel uncomfortable. “Forced party games are a clear sign of desperation. If guests can’t simply enjoy each other’s company, you should maybe reconsider your friends,” says Allie from Seattle.

7. Make it clear whether kids are welcome or not.
Agnes remembers one party she attended where a couple arrived with a newborn baby and the woman proceeded to breastfeed in the middle of the room. “That might be fine if everyone else has babies or kids in tow, but in a room full of 23-year–olds, it was very odd,” she says. To play it safe, specify “adults only” or “kids welcome” on the invitation.

8. Keep Fido and Fluffy out of sight.
For an allergic guest, a surprise four-legged partygoer can ruin the night. Consider keeping pets in another room or having someone watch them for the night. Even if none of your friends is allergic, there’s no guarantee they’ll love your furry friends as much as you do. Maghan puts it this way: “Your dog is not that adorable. The slobber and scrapes [guests will be subject to] aren’t cute at all.”

9. Don’t be a neat freak.
Parties get messy. No matter how hard hosts may try to prevent it, people will spill their drinks or leave a ring on the coffee table. “I hate being told that red wine won’t be served because the hostess doesn’t want stains anywhere,” says Brooke from Los Angeles. “If you’re that uptight, don’t have a party!” Brynn dislikes having to take off her shoes before entering a party. “Nobody likes walking around in someone else’s house barefoot or in just stockings. If the tenants downstairs will throw a fit over too much clicking and clacking, then perhaps you shouldn’t be having a party. If it’s your white rugs you’re worried about, maybe you can splurge on a few area rugs for the occasion.”

10. If you can’t afford a party, don’t have one.
Chances are your guests will bring a hostess gift to your shindig—and you really shouldn’t ask for anything beyond that. Luba from Atlanta hates when hosts ask her to bring specific items to their party or request donations to cover the party costs. Isabel from San Francisco recalls a particularly uncomfortable situation in which a host asked for financial contributions the day after her party. “It’s tacky to invite people over for a party and send a follow-up email the next day asking each guest to contribute cash commensurate with how much they ate or drank. Just ask us to bring over some wine instead.”

*Names have been changed.

Photo: © Luke Stettner/Getty Images

Original article appeared on WomansDay.com.