Hvala, Danke, Merci, Köszi, Grazie, Spasibo, Mahalo, Gracias, Thank you.

*Bosnian, French, Hungarian, Italian, Russian, Hawaiian, Spanish, English. "'Thank you' in many languages"

I'm trying very hard to get my thank you notes before the holiday. I was going to buy card stock and stamp them, but my suggestion for a 28 hour day hasn't been approved yet, so I bought some simple blank thank you cards and have begun to address them. I have around 50 gift thank you's and maybe 20 "thanks for coming" thank you's. I needed some inspiration on what to write without sounding impersonal or cheesy and I found a great essay/advice column on Thank you etiquette. Here is a summary, for your viewing pleasure. This article was originally published at The Morning News.

"...I will also grudgingly tell you the hidden secret of thank-you notes: They improve the frequency and quality of the gifts you receive. People like being appreciated, and if they feel you actually notice the nice things they do for you, they’re more likely to give an encore performance.

1. Greet the Giver
Let them hear their ow name and see it in ink. No typing or pre-printed.

2. Express Your Gratitude
Avoid the "just writing" trap. You are not ‘just writing to say’ as in I am just writing to say; that's stating the obvious. Write as if whatever you say is happening in the moment.

Never directly mention money. All cash denominations become ‘your generosity’ or ‘your kindness.’ If you feel the giver overspent, the farthest you can go is appreciated: ‘Your generosity is appreciated,’ or ‘It is such an extravagant gift—your kindness is appreciated.’

If you’re writing to thank someone for an intangible (such as them putting you up at their place while you were in town for the weekend), first define what the intangible thing is, and then make the gift sound as attractive as possible. Don’t say: ‘Thanks for letting us crash at your place.’ Instead say: ‘Thank you for your hospitality.’ The point of writing the note is to create a simple expression of a heartfelt sentiment.

3. Discuss Use
Say something nice, but don't lie, find something positive.

4. Mention the Past, Allude to the Future
Fit the giver into your life.

5. Grace
Say thanks again.

6. Regards
Wrap it up.

A thank you is for thanking the giver. It isn't a life achievement newsletter.

Don't forget to mail it.

-Leslie Harpold, 1 October 2003

I think there is incredibly sound advice here. I was clueless what to write in each, but I actually feel a bit better now.

Engagement Party Recap

What a great day we had Sunday. So many people showed up, many stayed a while, some for a quick hello, but we had such a blast. The first guests arrived around noon (while I was still in shorts, trying to unfold chairs), and the last few party goers got going at 10:30 pm or so. I'm pretty sure I said no more than hello and thanks for coming for the first 3 hours. We decided to cater and cook, which worked out wonderfully. Mike's dad and sister ordered a sheet cake and we also made some sweet plates. Even though we've been engaged since Christmas Eve, it's strange how I feel "more engaged" now. 2 more years to go before the big day, or sooner if my money tree starts blooming.
From top to bottom: Mike and Sam (Me); Me, my sister Erica, and my future sister-in-law, Lauren; brother and sister

It's My Party

We're heading over to the house in a minute. I'm anxious about the weather. It's pretty damn gloomy outside. Oh well, we'll just get 'em all drunk and no one will notice. I made the icebox cake last night. I thought it came out well, I guess we'll see who vomits first. See you in a few hours.

A few more days...

I've become completely obsessed with the weather for Sunday. We have a tent for the backyard, but I really don't want rain. Please? Can't it be partly cloudy in the mid 70's so I can blow my hair straight and not have it morph into Roseanne Rosannadanna?

I'm getting more and more into adding "personal touches" lately. Now that the decorations and favors are bought/made, the future sister in law and I decided to make a few side dishes to add to what's being catered. Lauren makes a great taco dip and cookies, and I'm going to make buffalo wing dip and icebox cake, or what I've always called "fat cake". I hadn't had it in years, so I was jazzed to find the recipe, if you can call it that.
I enjoy cooking, but I don't want to go overboard when I know I'll already be anxious, so this is a great dessert to satisfy my need to make something.
photo courtesy Smitten Kitchen
3 cups heavy cream
3 Tablespoons sugar
1 Tablespoon vanilla extract
2 (9-ounce) packages chocolate wafer cookies
Unsweetened cocoa (or chocolate shavings)

These proportions are for 6 servings apparently, but here is the breakdown for making it bigger or smaller:
1 cup heavy cream
1 Tablespoon sugar for every cup of cream
1 teaspoon vanilla extract for every cup of cream
Just under 1 (9-ounce) package chocolate wafer cookies (Nabisco Famous Chocolate Wafers are awesome)
Unsweetened cocoa (or chocolate shavings) for garnish

In a cold, large bowl (preferably metal), beat cream, sugar and vanilla with an electric mixer on high speed until soft peaks form. The cream should whip to about twice its original volume.
On a flat serving plate, arrange 7 cookies side by side in a circle, keeping 1 cookie in the center. (I'll make it bigger than that to serve more people.) I'm also thinking of using a trifle bowl instead of a serving plate.

Spread with 1/2 cup whipped cream, making a circle covering the first wafer layer. Repeat with remaining cookies and cream, making 11 layers of cookies (or however many you feel like making) and ending with a layer of cream. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for a few hours or overnight. This is where the magic happens. The wafers will absorb the cream while it sits, resulting in a cake-like dish with layers of chocolate and cream.
To serve, dust top lightly with cocoa powder or chocolate shavings.

Of course there are other ways to make icebox cake. I know a popular shape is a log, but I like this way, I find it easier to assemble.

After reading a few experiences with the cake, I started worry I wouldn't find the Nabisco wafers since they aren't even on the Nabisco website. Happily my local Stop & Shop was very well stocked, so crisis averted. I need to stop worrying about cookies, it isn't healthy.

Evidence

Here is one of the ways I'm blowing money (preparing) for the engagement party:

Mini paper lanterns with cherry blossom design. We're hanging them above the deck. Precious, aren't they?

Money, That's What I Want

It's a good thing my father and future father-in-law are kind and generous. I've spent a bit of my own dough already, and this is just for the engagement party. We wouldn't be eating if they weren't helping. I've spent @ $160 on dishes, cutlery, tablecloths, and so on. $150 has gone to favors, which I have to say, are damn cute. I just spent $70 on lanterns to hang in the backyard. I spent @$40 on invitations and another $50 on stamps. The food, chairs, and tables aren't coming out of our money, for which I'm eternally grateful. Tables and chairs with 1 tent is going to b @$300, thanks to a wonderful friend of the family. That leaves food and booze. Good lord.

160-cutlery, etc
150-favors
70-decoration
90-invitations
=$470 (I'm dry heaving)

300-chairs, tables, tent
?-food, booze