Tag Archives: friends

Apr11

Kisses, hugs & handshakes Oh My!

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Kisses, hugs & handshakes Oh My!

Our lives are always ever changing and dynamic as ever. Some may have it all figured out, others are just happy letting it take its course. For us we always want more as a family. More time, more hobbies, more security more more and more of whatever.

After 17 years of my husband being in Kuwait and “letting it take its course” he finally decided its time for much “More” by moving “home” as he calls it. What that more is we have yet to see as our lives unfold with our very courageous (on my part at least) leap of faith.

Leaving my family, friends and life as I know it to a city, province and country that is completely and utterly new. The move to Canada was always inevitable in my husband’s eye. After all our girls and himself are Canadian ….It is their home, their future and their opportunities. But still we go back to all new to me and I basically have the opportunity to reinvent myself and start everything from scratch. New home, new friends, new lifestyle and new everything.

Among so many things to adjust to, which I’m sure i’ll touch base on every once in a while, there is one major thing that I’m finding very different & sometimes awkward and that’s our greetings. Back home the most common way of greeting each other is the 2 cheek kiss. Peck on the right, peck on the left and you’r set. Yes its stereotypical but true Middle Easterners are just really touchy feely in that way. When I was in college in the States it was always a “hello hug” simple and straight to the point. Then off course there’s the universal handshake when its someone you just meet or not very close too. Yet i find myself in Canada standing awkwardly more often than not. I’ve met several people and we have passed the polite handshake yet I realized I’m always the one that’s reaching in for a “hello hug” and because Canadians are known for their politeness they respond. Does that mean there isn’t a hug?? Am I supposed to just walk into a friends house and shrug and say “Hey whatsaaaaaap!”?? Hmmmm I should try that Because up until now (3 months into our move) I still wonder……..

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So until I figure out my greeting I’ll continue Making Life Memorable in my own way in our new home!

Sep16

The Guest List

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The Guest List

So you’re having a party and decided on your Theme!! Woohoo step one check.

guestlist Next step is your guest list….sounds simple right? Nope! This I think is one of the hardest decisions, after all it is what makes the party really work.

Some guests are a no brainer…Family comes first! Grandparents, Aunts, Uncles & Cousins. I know that sounds like a party on its own but you do have to invite kids!

This is where it gets tricky… How many and who (or is it whom?) to invite?

It’s a standard that you should invite the kids age plus one. So if your child is turning 4 then you invite 5 kids. The first time I read that I almost fell out of my chair laughing. There was no way I am able to limit myself to just that, my girls and myself are too social for that.

The easiest way to help in deciding how many people/children to invite is according to the space you’re having the party in.

Almost all the parties I’ve had for the girls were in the garden so I’m pretty generous when it comes to numbers.

A good rule of thumb is to figure out seating. You should have 2.5 seats per child (the child + parent) this off course doesn’t include adults that come without kids (Grandparents, aunts, Mom’s best friend ….etc).

Next you may want to consider siblings. I have a rule not to invite Jennah’s friends to Zeenah’s birthday and vice versa. With that said I do have specific friends (you know who you are!) that have both age groups that I do invite.

Now how do you prepare the list…. I usually divide a nice white crisp A4 paper into 3 columns, yes as old fashioned as that sounds I like to have it on paper and in my purse so I can add and cross as I please.

The 3 columns are Family, Friends, Children.

Each column is then divided into Adult & Child. You can download my word document and fill it out.GUEST LIST

Here’s how it works…. First column for each Family member you’re inviting you have a column for their child/children. So my sister column one and her 2 kids in the next column.

The Friends column is actually the parent’s friends, but your child actually has to know their child and enjoys playing with them too…. so for example my friend “ABC” and her child “abc”.

Now that Jennah has been in school for a while some parents have become my friends but their children are no longer in the same class or school.

Here is where you as a parent need to make the hard decision of cutting people out. Sure you love “Mommy H” but your daughter doesn’t play with her “Son Y”. Off the list they go. No guilt, if you want set a date with the mom over coffee or dinner and enjoy the company of an adult!

Finally the kids column….this is where I use the child’s age plus one. These are usually children that are new friends, in her class and basically I have no knowledge of. I’ve let Jennah (almost 7) decide on those. That way your child can feel involved too.

After all it is THEIR birthday and “Making Life Memorable” for THEM!