Betty Crocker comes to the rescue. Again.

I'll admit it. I'm a little nervous about having so many people come to the house tomorrow. Certainly, I've hosted parties before. Tea Parties, Office Parties, even an Around-The-World Dinner Party for Don's clients. But Don has opened our open house to so many this year! As usual, Betty Crocker comes to the rescue. Her Picture Cook Book was an engagement gift. It's full of tips that have saved me on many on occasions. Don't these look delicious? I picture our dining table looking this elegant on New Year's Day.

how to be a modern parent

When my brother William and I were growing up, children were to be seen and not heard. But now things are different. There is a lot more emphasis on what children themselves want to do. Still, Don and I believe in limits. (William doesn't--his kids are unruly!) How did I acquire confidence as a parent? From a book that's been my bible since the day Sally was born. Doctor Spock says parents should trust their own instincts. He says the natural care that kindly parents give children is a hundred times more valuable than their knowing how to pin a diaper just right. What a relief that was to Don and me.

for a special treat, new year's balls you can eat!

I'm beginning to get RSVP's from Don's coworkers for our New Year's Day party! I didn't even know he'd invited people from the office! (Don's good at keeping secrets, especially from me. I don't think he means to be secretive, he's just a very private person.) Usually, our New Year's shindig includes just people from the neighborhood. But since some of his coworkers are coming in from Manhattan, I feel we should go a little fancier this year. So in addition to my usual Butterscotch Haystacks, I'm adding Molasses Balls to the cookie trays. Festive!

Invitation to our New Year's Open House

My husband Don works with many talented artists. One of them is Dyna Moe who did the invite for an Open House party we're having on New Year's Day. Hope you got one!

our daughter, the artist

Don isn't sentimental, but he's kept this in his study since last February. Isn't that sweet? He thinks Sally might grow up to be an artist. I think that would be ok. As long as she isn't a beatnik, too!

shhhh...what the kids are getting for Christmas

Chatty Cathy and Robot Commando are at the top of the list Sally and Bobby wrote out for Santa this year. Of course, their hankering is due to commercials they see on TV. Almost everyone has a television set these days. I'm glad my husband picked a business with so much potential!

a family favorite holiday cookie

It isn't Christmas around our house without a plate of homemade haystacks. They're simple to make yet everyone likes them. And they're elegant enough to serve to guests. They were a big hit at a Christmas Tea Party I gave yesterday. Lots of guests asked for the recipe. Here it is, girls!


from my recipe box

sally's birthday party

My husband Don is in advertising and is always playing around with new gadgets. He was first on the block to get a movie camera but I have to nudge him to pull it out for family occasions. Here's some footage he took at our daughter Sally's birthday party a couple of years ago, which will give you a glimpse of what our house looks like. It turns out he wasn't the only one with a camera that day, someone was making a movie of him!