The holidays are a time of year when friends and families spend lots of quality time together. A time when bad habits and annoying relatives can surface and leave a bad aftertaste. With this in mind, we whipped up a list you may want to peruse before breaking bread with your loved ones (and, ahem, their significant others). Because there's a difference between being open, familiar, funny -- and being just plain offensive. You may think you’re the life of the party, but are you really just obnoxious? Take the test and find out…
- Are You… A Rehasher?
Even if you find it endlessly amusing, retelling
the story of how your sister got that bad rash when she was 13
(while she's sitting next to her brand new boyfriend) or going
on about how much you despised your mother's dorky ex-husband
just isn't feel-good fodder for the table. If you’re prone to
digging up ancient history that makes everyone around you cringe,
it might be time to tone it down and keep your memories to
yourself.
- Are You… Mr. Messy?
Whether you drip gravy all over the linen tablecloth, drop a pile
of stuffing on the carpet, or plop a half-eaten piece of
pie-a-la-mode on the kitchen counter, don't rely on the host to
come to the rescue. He/she has plenty of other things to worry
about. If it's a familiar home that you're comfortable in,
it's easy to be lax about a mess, but that's no excuse. Get
off your rear, lend a hand, and clean up after yourself!
- Are You… A Jokester? If it's
not a joke you'd tell your grandmother then save it, especially
when impressionable wee ones are running around. You never
know who's listening, and next thing you know your
darling four year old could suddenly start dropping the F-Bomb...
now who's laughing?
- Are You… A Food Hog?
Sure the holidays are all about food, but
hogging the cheese platter, stuffing your face with fistfuls of
toasted almonds, or staking out a prime position so you can scoop
up those fresh-out-of-the-oven mini quiches is not going to
ingratiate you to other guests who also want a chance to nosh.
By all means go ahead and enjoy, but leave a little
something for the others.
- Are You… An Over Indulger?
No one likes a drunk, whether you're a good
or bad one, so don't be the person who starts
sipping cocktails during appetizers and is still downing drinks
during dessert. Even family members and close friends can become
uncomfortable around someone who slurs and stumbles through the
holidays.
- Are You… A Shouter?
Between the hobnobbing relatives, the clanging
in the kitchen, the squealing toddlers, and festive music, it
can be hard to make yourself heard. Tempting as it may be,
don't raise the decibel by shouting over the fray – if you find
yourself shrieking like you’re at a Metallica concert, it’s time to
bring the level down.
- Are You… A Couch Potato?
Even when you're hanging with old buds and
close cousins, it's not okay to leave the table in the middle
of dinner to watch TV. Holidays are a time to
relax with loved ones -- not spend the whole time curled up like a
couch potato. That said, sports lovers get to enjoy the game if
it’s a planned part of the festivities – just follow your host’s
lead on when to tune in or turn off.
- Are You… A Leftovers Bandit? No matter how delish the apple pie was or how much you love Aunt Rosie’s squash casserole, resist the urge to stockpile leftovers into the world’s largest doggy bag. Others may want to take home some goodies too, so don’t be the one to stuff all the leftover mashed potatoes into your bag.
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