Old leather couch, hand-me-down lamp from grandma's estate, and a snapshot of the dog...that's preppy!

By Linda Merrill, Hometalk

I grew up in the very "preppy" town of Duxbury, Massachusetts. We were so preppy, in fact, that we got a mention in the 1980 Official Preppy Handbook. The thing I really came away with was that being a real "preppy" was something innate. There were those born to the preppy life who were never particularly comfortable there and others who became preppy and fit right in.

The preppy lifestyle is not just about fashion (although Nantucket red chinos, Top Siders without socks, and Polo shirts with upturned collars were certainly de rigueur), it's about a lifestyle. It has the patina of old money and country club tradition, but with a more colorful and casual exuberance. It's definitely not about age, as much of the clothing works for generations and certainly some truly Boston Brahmin preps keep their clothes for that long! True preppy style derives more from the windblown feeling that you've just pulled your skiff in after a bracing morning on the water

By Perri O. Blumberg, REDBOOK

Photo Credit: Ryan McVay

No matter how much you plan ahead, Thanksgiving always ends up being stressful. These three tips will keep you calm on Turkey Day.

1. Don't cook it all yourself!
You'll wind up exhausted (and enraged). Use the free site potluckness.com to assign dishes and desserts in an organized way. It's simple: Guests click to bring things you've requested, like apple pie, stuffing, even gear (e.g., an extra high chair or serving platter).

2. Get a head start.
Ward off that panicky feeling you wake up with Thanksgiving morning by making a dent in your to-do's the night before. Chop veggies, prep one side dish, set the table, stock the bath-rooms, and arrange a bar so guests can serve themselves when they walk in. Now rest easy!

3. Keep the kids out of the kitchen.
It'll make for a much calmer day, says Lisa Kothari, a party-planning expert based in Seattle. Her fave activities: Have the older children teach the younger ones the

Mercury retrograde: think before you speak!
Expect rampant foot-in-mouth syndrome during Mercury's retrograde period in Sagittarius, November 24 - December 14. Not only will you be more inclined to speak before you think, but even your most innocent comments could well be misconstrued. Snafus galore will be par for the course during this transit -- and under the domain of the Archer, your blunders will be all out in the open!

At times like this, humor can go awry, so make sure your jokes translate and are not ill-timed. Missives that seem hilarious to you may fall flat -- or worse, seem offensive to the receiver. Consider your words carefully and weed out anything that sounds brash, judgmental or preachy. One minute, you may think you're just horsing around; the next minute, you've alienated someone.

Explore how numbers play a role in who you really are with a free sample Numerology Personality Profile!

Also keep in mind that you're more likely now to fall into the mightier-than-thou trap, so it's best to avoid politics,

My finished turkey, roasted to perfection!Confession: Prior to Saturday, I knew very little about cooking a Thanksgiving turkey, let alone what makes a great turkey recipe. The week of my first annual Friendsgiving (think potluck Thanksgiving with friends, the weekend before the legit family shebang), I was frightened and SO thankful when The Stir readers gave me some great advice about throwing together a grand meal.

More from The Stir: Turkey Brine Secrets For Your Juiciest Bird Yet

I had done my research, bought my 19-pounder, and picked out my recipe, care of Tyler Florence. I'm not generally one to toot my own horn, but the end result was tender, juicy, and essentially, nothing short of outstanding. Now I feel like it's only appropriate that I share my newfound tricks with you!

Read on for 5 tips to making the most moist, delicious Thanksgiving turkey ever:

1. Butter is better: Coming to terms with the notion that your turkey isn't going to be the healthiest thing you've ever eaten is step one. Step

ISNT THANKSGIVING WHERE THE PIONEERS AND THE INDIANS TRADE AND SHARED FOOD ? WELL WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU SAT AND HAD THANKSGIVING DINNER WITH A INDIAN LET ALONE A FAMILY OF INDIANS -- IN FACT WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU SAW AN INDIAN -- EXACTLY WHAT DID THEY BRING TO THE THANKSGIVING TABLE -- BUFFALLO -- IS THERE ANYONE ELSE THAT DOESNT GET THIS -- I MAY HAVE MISSED SOMETHING CAUSE NO ONE ELSE SEEMS TO EVEN WONDER ABOUT THIS -- I MEAN THEY DO LITTLE SCHOOL THANKSGIVING PLAYS IN SCHOOL BUT ITS ALWAYS A KID DRESSED UP LIKE AN INDIAN -- SO WERE THEY THERE OR NOT -- IF NOT THEN WHAT IS THE THANKSGIVING ACTUALLY FOR -- OK I KNOW WE ARE SUPPOSE TO BE THANKFUL FOR OUR STUFF BUT WHAT WERE THE PIONEERS BEING THANKFUL FOR AND OR THE INDIANS -- AN THERE YOU HAVE IT --

THANK YOU

PIXIE AN DUDE

Hogan sito quest'anno in autunno e inverno abbigliamento interpretazione della bellezza della tuta originariamente maschile di cross-genere, gli uomini, attraverso l'uso di dettaglio, tessuti, elegantemente convertito in abbigliamento femminile; Hogan Interactive Serie Fusion 4 città grande stile, alla progettazione di famose attrazioni sui vostri vestiti, borse, stile brillare attraverso.

Hogan collezione 2012 direttore creativo Karl Lagerfeld design ispirato da una foto di questa stagione, un uomo, una barca di canottaggio amici circa quattro settimane. Foto di uomini vestiti in classici pantaloni bianchi e blu giacca doppio petto, portato fuori serie a tema uniforme in autunno e inverno. Vento aveva code rigide o cappotto Knight, bordatura, combinato con tessuti di lusso, l'effetto morbido o modelli di fiore, leggerezza visiva. Imbattuta Board caso ci sono due tacchi alti colore, orecchini d'oro a forma di anello di oro e argento filato e l'eleganza della gonna al ginocchio.