send hand-written thank you notes.

Little Rabbits, always remember the power and sweetness of a hand-written note. Everybody loves getting fun mail and it is becoming a rare commodity. When you start thinking you will just send an email to express your thanks to someone, think again. Think about how much you love receiving a hand-written note. Think about the power of handwriting. (Did you know that Sunday, January 23rd is National Handwriting Day?)

Mother Rabbit suggests having a collection of darling notes at your fingertips. It makes it more fun to write them if the notes themselves make you happy. And the task is easier when you keep a collection of notes for all occasions in a handy spot. Mother Rabbit also always buys pretty stamps and keeps a good supply. Make someone's day. Write a note and send it by snail mail.

always take the stairs.

When given the option of escalator or stairs, always take the stairs. This is a simple path is a little healthier lifestyle. I learned reading "French Women Don't Get Fat" by Mirelle Guilano that French women always take the stairs too.

collect favorite recipes.

Cooking is a way of handing down the history of your family. I recommend that you respect the power of favorite recipes in your life, and in the lives of your family. Memories are made over food lovingly prepared. Family recipes have the power to nourish the body and the soul.

Mother Rabbit's bunnies have been begging for a cookbook filled with the recipes that they have grown up on. For Christmas 2010, the bunnies received "Mother Rabbit Cooks Volume 1". It contains recipes that they beg for, recipes that we know by name, and that we would even call "friends". The most fun part was adding the story of where the recipe came from and photos of us enjoying the food. If you would like to take a peek at the pages, use the link below. (Just sign in with your email address and a password to view.)

http://www.cmphotocenter.com/photos/share.php?code=xuqpipyJIJ2qwSaU-dJ8lFtGN_mGoZ4Z&share_type=storybook

I realized this fall, looking at my overstuffed three-ring binder of recipes, that in the event of a house fire I would need to grab this 20 year collection of recipes as well as all of the photo albums. I was also growing tired of fielding calls from the girls for the ingredient lists for favorite recipes. This is fine and dandy when you are standing in your kitchen, but not as handy if you are hiking in Ireland or working out at the YMCA. I couldn't get all the recipes with accompanying stories & memories in one volume, but Mother Rabbit Cooks Volume 2 is already started.

Respect the power of your recipes and the memories that they provide.