send a photo.

When I get a Christmas card without a photo or handwritten message - or at least a newsy letter, I almost throw it over my shoulder instead of putting it in the card basket.  I think to myself  'why did someone spend the postage on this?'

Mother Rabbit says: Send a photo(s) in your holiday greetings.

Holiday Photo Cards have been a tradition my whole life. My mother sent a photo card of my sisters and me every year.  We were usually wearing matching outfits.  I grew up thinking that Christmas cards were photo cards.  I have an album of all these cards and it is one of my greatest treasures.

I also believe that the parents should get in the photos.  While I think it is cool to see photos of my friends' children, what I really want to see is my friends.  Get in the photos.

My favorite Christmas card to date was in 2008 when our children and two sons-in-law could actually spell out M-E-R-R-Y  C-H-R-I-S-T-M-A-S!  This year I have been designing cards for other families - and having a blast.  Photo cards are a good investment of time and money.  Tis the season to be planning and sending your holiday greetings!

a true gift.

The week before I was heading to Dallas to visit my oldest bunny Emily (who is having a bunny of her own in March!) Jane called and said "I would like you to come for lunch on Tuesday... and I want you to invite four or five friends.  I know it is hard to see every one you want to when you are in town for such a short time."

Please take note of this.  This was a true gift of friendship!  I got to call my precious friends and ask if they could meet me at Jane's for lunch. Let's pass this grand gift forward whenever we can.  Next time you have a friend coming into town, ask the friend who she would like to see - and plan a lunch.

My "friend shower" was a mix of ladies who had not all been together before.  We had such a precious time that I don't think it will be the last time either.  I think Jane started something bigger than we expected.

maximize your spa experience.

Here is a great tip: When you treat yourself to a resort spa experience, purchase one treatment of your choice but spend several hour enjoying and using all the ammenities. Many resorts have steam saunas, plunge pools, whirlpool baths and deluxe shower facilities - arrive early and use them all before your scheduled treatment. If there is a fitness facility, arrive an extra hour early and get in a workout first. After your treatment, take the time to curl up with a book and lounge in your robe sipping the complementary tea or cucumber water... When you finally must go home, use all the yummy shampoos and lotions available during and after your leisurely shower.

This is how to maximize your expensive spa treatment. You only need one treatment to spend the whole day at the spa.

watch documentaries.

Next time you are perusing the video store (or Netflix) take a walk down the documentary aisle.  There are some delightful movies in the documentary category.  Thought I would share some recent favorites:

Buck
Documentary about the original Horse Whisperer Buck Brannaman. It is as much about how to relate to human beings as it is to horses.  You will want to meet this man after watching it. And you might even be in love with him.  Just saying...

The Pixar Story
Go behind the scenes at Pixar Animation Studios and trace the creation and history of this groundbreaking company.  (Did you know that Mother Rabbit has a secret desire to work at Pixar as a coffee girl or office helper? Anything to be around these creative geniuses.)

Fat, Sick & Nearly Dead
Follows two men who rescue their health with a two month diet of fresh fruits and vegetables. Wish that this was required watching for every person in America - and especially school children.  We have forgotten how to eat in the good ol' USA.

Babies
Watch four babies birth and grow in four very different parts of the world.  It is easy to forget into what different environments children are born... and yet some things are the same the world over.

hydrate.

I have a renewed appreciation for the importance of drinking water.  As of result of my husband's head & neck radiation treatments he has had tremendous difficulty swallowing, making eating and drinking a real chore.  At the peak of the radiation damage he had to go on "survival mode" for a week which translated to a minimum of 1000 calories and at least 2000 ml of water.  Translated:  This equates to about 66 ounces of fluid or 3 bottles of water per day.  Mike came close to dehydration twice which would have been a serious complication to his fragile health.

I came away from this with a new respect for water.  The massage therapist at The Little House Day Spa said that the Winnebago word for water is "first medicine".  We came face to face with that.  Remember that one of the smartest things you can do for a common cold is push lots of fluids through your body.

I remembered that Mireille Guiliano said in French Women Don't Get Fat that French women respect the importance of water intake and recommended drinking a full bottle of water first thing every morning to "hydrate".  Mother Rabbit has decided to make this part of her morning ritual again.

have quirky family traditions.

Silly or serious - get yourself some family traditions.  Maybe you bake and decorate a two layer homemade cake for every child's birthday... maybe you purchase an ice cream Dairy Queen or Culver's cake for the occasion.  Maybe you hide Easter eggs every year... even when your kids are 28 and 25. Whatever it is, it is never to late to start a good tradition.

We have a quirky family "thing" of calling out whenever it is 1:11 on the clock - or 11:11. Abby Bunny started this years ago... now we all join in.  So in honor of the calendar hitting 11/11/11 I wanted to celebrate the date at 11:11am - so I decided to BLOG!

Here's to a great tradition - posted in Abby's honor on 11/11/11 at 11:11am!

underwear day.

In honor of my recent birthday I had a rather fun private ceremony.  The preparations involved purchasing fifteen new pairs of underwear.  The secret ceremony involved collecting every old pair of underwear that I had - and throwing them all away. 

It is a real treat to put on clean underwear that even look clean & fresh! I recommend this.  You don't even have to wait until your birthday... just declare an Underwear Day.

dive into fall.

Go on a walk and take your camera with you.  Who can decorate like the Creator God?  Savor the colors.  Take deep breathes of the unique fall air.  Susan Branch shared that if you are having trouble sleeping you should step outside and take in long breaths of fresh air.  I think that crisp fall air is good for the soul - and you can quote me on that.

Sorry for the lack of posts.  Most of my advice would relate to "how to survive cancer treatments" which you can read on MikesLongRide...  This is a day to open your ears to leaves crunching under foot - and the fun of wearing your cashmere sweater for the first time of the season!