All I Want For Christmas

A good book to read....
Happy Kids...

A warm cup of coffee on a cold winter morning...

Something to soothe dry skin..... Memphis ribs at the best BBQ joint in Germantown, Tenn....

The DVD to my new favorite show - GLEE!

Some cute boots to warm my toes... What about you? What do you want Santa to leave under your tree?

Free PR Tip of the Week: Silence is Golden

In the wake of the Tiger Woods scandal, I’d like to give you a piece of public relations advice: shhhh.

It’s a natural inclination to try to fill silence, to defend ourselves against detractors, to make things right when we’ve done wrong … and generally say anything that pops into our head to fill an awkward lull in the conversation.

It’s an old reporter’s trick – they ask a question, the interviewee answers, and the reporter continues to look at them expectantly. Pay attention to what happens … the uninformed start jabbering because they cannot stand the silence. The smart ones just look back and keep their lips zipped.

So practice keeping your mouth shut. I find a great way to do this is to ask your kids a question, then just keep looking at them after they answer. Stare long enough and they’ll admit to stealing toys from Santa just to get you to stop looking at them.

Tiger, if you’re listening, decline the interviews. Quit making statements. Stay home and turn off your ringer. Trust me, someone else will do something stupid and the headlines will shift.

I Am Pleased To Announce....

That I completely finished my Christmas decorating since we last talked. Do you like what I've done with my tree?

Obviously I am completely kidding, as evidenced by Martha's moniker at the bottom of the above photo! However, I did get lots of comments from folks who subscribe to my blog ... and therefore respond via email instead of on the comments box. (Not a subscriber? Look on the right-hand side of the page for the "subscribe" button and sign up today!)

I thought you'd enjoy some of the responses I've received ...

Girl, If I could get over this disastrous stomach virus, I would finish putting up all the decorations in the boxes that my lovely 3 year old has opened, looking for his presents from Santa. Ugh!

I actually have completed all decorating except for the tree - which we will get this weekend. Settle down though, you really can't be considered behind the curve b/f December even arrives!!

I dug the Christmas cards out of the closet......I think that can be considered not even started yet!

We never seem to find time to decorate until the last minute, which is why we always have a last minute party!

This year we are hosting a baby shower on dec 13^th, so I guess we have to get cracking!

I have done quite a bit of shopping and wrapping, but I am nowhere near done though.

I figure the people who decorate this early (and this includes the people who send me a Christmas card thanksgiving week) either make Christmas the number one priority in their lives (which I don’t have time or the inclination to do) or they have nothing else to do.

I don’t work, but I have a ton of crap to do-running coach, tennis captain, room mom, football practice taxi, etc!!!!

Hope that all makes you feel better-we aren’t slackers-we have real stuff to do!

Whew - I'm glad there are others out there! XO, my good friends! (and feel better soon, Kel!) Amy Mac