Search Results for: blog the office christmas party to go or not to go

The Office Politics Game

Like it or not, most offices are full of some type of politics. Even non-traditional offices like a school for example, still require that you play the diplomat in political ‘games’. In my opinion, office politics is a rather disdainful term for savvy networking. When you play the “game” you are essentially learning the culture in which you’re working. I had fully intended to begin a series on how to handle sticky situations at work and happened across a game that teaches you how to play. . .office politics. It is a social dilemma game used by human resources departments … Continue reading →

Safe Cocktail Alternatives

Most pregnant women know that consuming alcohol can be dangerous to the baby. Experts are not in agreement regarding a safe level of alcohol consumption during pregnancy. Some may tell you that one glass of wine on Christmas or New Year’s Eve is fine. Others prefer to be more cautious and advise patients to avoid alcohol completely. The holidays and toasting seem to go hand in hand. Whether you are having a family get together or will be hosting a New Year’s bash, you may miss toasting with friends and loved ones. There are some great alternatives to the typical … Continue reading →

Fashion Trends-—Getting It Right For Your Holiday Party

Are you still searching for just the right outfit to wear to your next holiday party? Yesterday I provided tips on what to wear to informal family gatherings and low-key office parties. But, if you’ve been lucky enough to score an invite to a fancy black-tie event or a cocktail party, a soft turtleneck sweater and khakis are not going to cut it. That’s where the following holiday fashion trends might come in handy. Holiday Fashion Trend #1—-Red Dresses. To avoid looking like a version of Mrs. Claus you might want to stick with a sexy fitted number. Regardless, the … Continue reading →

Fashion Tips for Holiday Parties

What are you wearing to your next holiday party? I’ve got another Christmas shindig coming up on Saturday night. It’s just an annual get together with a group of friends I used to work with. There’ll be lots of kids and lots of food, which means I don’t need to break out my black strapless sequined number and mile-high Manolos (wait, I don’t even own Manolos). Regardless of whether you are attending an office party, family get-together, neighborhood potluck or a black tie affair this holiday season, you’ve probably spent some time wondering what you’re going to wear. Different occasions … Continue reading →

Easy Holiday Cookie Bar Recipes

Have you seen that commercial where the mom finds a note in her son’s backpack that says he needs 60 cupcakes to take to school… by tomorrow? The woman just so happens to have all the ingredients in her pantry (including frosting and decorative sprinkles) for 5-dozen cupcakes. If it were me I would have a.) Gone to the bakery and bought the cupcakes or b.) Told my son he would be taking cookie bars to school instead. Cookie bars (or bar cookies, whichever you prefer) are one of the easiest cookie recipes out there. Talk about saving time, energy … Continue reading →

Parade Safety Tips

Down here in the South we celebrate Mardi Gras or Carnival. In fact, the season just got underway. Tyler has been begging me to take him to a parade but I have been reluctant to do so. I definitely didn’t want to take him when we were in New Orleans. In the 20 odd years I’ve lived there, I can count on one hand the times that I’ve actually been to the parades. But since we are here in Mobile, where Mardi Gras originated, I’ve decided that maybe I should go ahead and take him. It’s definitely more family-oriented in … Continue reading →

Making Old Toys New

A few days ago, I wrote about how to give life to old board games. Here are some more ways to stretch the fun out of old toys, while your children are counting the days until they get new ones. Challenge your children to build the tallest tower of Legos or blocks that they can. Can they build one higher than themselves? Can they build one so high that it will touch the ceiling? Take those blocks, spread them on the floor, and try to make the biggest square or rectangle that you can on the floor. Use those same … Continue reading →

Skipping Christmas – John Grisham

Author John Grisham, most famous for his thrillers “Time to Kill,” “The Firm,” and “The Pelican Brief,” departed from his normal genre to write “Skipping Christmas,” and took a hit from the critics because of it. The movie based on the book, “Christmas with the Kranks,” also tanked at the box office. With all this negative press, I got curious and picked up a copy of the book. Our story begins with Luther and Nora Krank taking their daughter Blair to the airport the Sunday after Thanksgiving. Blair has joined the Peace Force and is going to Peru. Nora is … Continue reading →

Last Minute Gift Ideas For Your Co-Workers—Good Eats

In a previous blog I listed some gift ideas you don’t want to bestow upon your office mates. Then I wrote a blog about some gift ideas that may be welcomed with open arms. I received a comment from a reader about one of my favorites—FOOD! The reader and I both agree that when it comes to last minute gift ideas edible treats are the way to go. After all, according to retail analysts, food is a hot commodity this holiday season. What’s more, everybody eats, so how can you go wrong? That said; if you are still hunting for … Continue reading →

Gift Ideas For Co-Workers

What do a stuffed rattlesnake, a stained potholder, a bag of frozen potatoes, a statute of Cher, and a partridge in a pear tree have in common? Okay, nix the bird in the tree, and you’ve got the makings of a list of the oddest gifts given to co-workers by fellow co-workers during office present swaps. According to a recent survey of 250 advertising and marketing executives, the most off-the-wall office gifts tend to raise questions about the givers holiday spirit. No kidding. We went through an entire list of them in my previous blog, but I failed to mention … Continue reading →