From awkward schoolgirl to Caterer to the Stars, Mary Giuliani weaves together a collection of hilarious memories, from professional growing pains to her long journey to motherhood, never losing her sense of humor and her love for everyone’s favorite party food, pigs in a blanket.

Mary’s utterly unremarkable childhood was everything she didn’t want: hailing from a deeply loving yet overprotective Italian family in an all-Jewish enclave on Long Island. All she wanted was to fit in (be Jewish) and become famous (specifically a cast member on Saturday Night Live). With an easy, natural storytelling sensibility, Mary shares her journey from a cosseted childhood home to the stage and finally to the party, accidentally landing what she now refers to as “the breakthrough role of a lifetime” catering to a glittery list of stars she once hoped to be part of herself.

Fresh, personal, and full of Mary’s humorous, self-deprecating, and can-do attitude against all odds, you’ll want to see where each shiny silver tray of hors d’oeuvres takes her next. You never know when the humble hot dog will be a crucial ingredient in the recipe for success, in building a business or simply making life more delicious.

"A unique look at a unique culture. If you're trying to figure the Japanese out, this book provides another important piece of the puzzle."--Terrie Lloyd, Founder & Publisher, Jap@n Inc.; CEO LINC Media, Tokyo In Japan: A Guide to Traditions, Customs and Etiquette veteran Japanologist Boye Lafayette De Mente unlocks the mysteries of "Kata"--the cultural forms that shape and define Japanese etiquette, character, and world view to this day. These forms are responsible for creating the unique traits and talents which distinguish the Japanese people. Kata governs virtually all interactions in Japan and remains the key to understanding Japanese customs, business etiquette, and daily communication. De Mente's 70 essays include: "The Art of Bowing" "The Importance of the Apology" "The Compulsion for Quality" "Exchanging Name Cards" "The Dangers of Speaking English" "The Ritual of Tea" In these short, clear essays, De Mente unravels the complexities of Japanese culture by exploring the origin, nature, use, and influence of Kata in Japanese life. By delving into Japanese history and the collective Japanese psyche, readers will experience the modern expressions of this ancient culture and specific way of thinking.

ENTERTAIN WITH STYLE AND FRESHNESS! Libation-loving siblings Andre and Tenaya Darlington show you how to make cocktails from every era, reimagined for a contemporary palate. Dial back the sugar, and load up on quality ingredients. The New Cocktail Hour shows you how to mix incredible craft cocktails and gives you a complete history of classic recipes and spirits. You've never seen a cocktail book like this before! Unique features include: 214 vintage and modern recipes, complete with tasting notes Tips on pairing cocktails with everything from pizza to oysters Suggested brands for building a well-stocked bar Seasonal ideas for syrups, shrubs, and garden-to-glass drinks Advice for hosting craft cocktails parties at home

Completely revised and updated with a focus on civility and inclusion, the 19th edition of Emily Post's Etiquette is the most trusted resource for navigating life's every situation From social networking to social graces, Emily Post is the definitive source on etiquette for generations of Americans. That tradition continues with the fully revised and updated 19th edition of Etiquette. Authored by etiquette experts Lizzie Post and Daniel Post Senning-Emily Post's great-great grandchildren-this edition tackles classic etiquette and manners advice with an eye toward diversity and the contemporary sensibility that etiquette is defined by consideration, respect, and honesty. As our personal and professional networks grow, our lives become more intertwined. This 19th edition offers insight and wisdom with a fresh approach that directly reflects today's social landscape. Emily Post's Etiquette incorporates an even broader spectrum of issues while still addressing the traditions that Americans appreciate, including: * Weddings* Invitations* Loss, grieving, and condolences* Entertaining at home and planning celebrations* Table manners* Greetings and introductions* Social media and personal branding* Political conversations* Living with neighbors* Digital networking and job seeking* The workplace* Sports, gaming, and recreation Emily Post's Etiquette also includes advice on names and titles-including Mx.-dress codes, invitations and gift-giving, thank-you notes and common courtesies, tipping and dining out, dating, and life milestones. It is the ultimate guide for anyone concerned with civility, inclusion, and kindness. Though times change, the principles of good etiquette remain the same. Above all, manners are a sensitive awareness of the needs of others-sincerity and good intentions always matter more than knowing which fork to use. The Emily Post Institute, Inc., is one of America's most unique family businesses. In addition to authoring books, the Institute provides business etiquette seminars and e-learning courses worldwide, hosts the weekly Q&A podcast Awesome Etiquette and trains those interested in teaching Emily Post Etiquette

In What's a Hostess to Do?, entertaining expert Susan Spungen explains everything you need to know to host a party effortlessly and with elegance. Susan shows the hostess how to make it look easy--whether the occasion is an informal brunch, a sit-down dinner, a buffet for a crowd, or an impromptu birthday celebration. It's all arranged in 313 easy-to-digest entries that take readers through every aspect of entertaining. The tips are time-saving ("Ten Great Assembled Dessets"), money-saving ("In Praise of Cheap Wine"), energy-saving ("Ten Jobs to Delegate"), and face-saving ("How to Handle Uninvited Guests"), plus there are 121 recipes to make entertaining easier than ever berfore. With helpful illustrations and full-color photographs, What's a Hostess to Do? is a stylish and instructive guide filled with expert advice from a party-throwing pro.

Shall we promenade? Dear Reader, Welcome to the definitive guide to navigating the social season. Learn about etiquette in all its forms. Within these abundant leaves you will be gifted with all the instruction and patronage necessary to take your place in society. Sort your Dandies from your Rakes, your Merry Andrews from your Bucks. All of the menagerie of beau monde's are contained within. So read on dearest reader and bury oneself in the pool of knowledge that will equip oneself to Woo a Duke and become the talk of the ton. Yours sincerely Lady Whistleblower

Have you ever wished you could live in an earlier, more romantic era? Ladies, welcome to the 19th century, where there's arsenic in your face cream, a pot of cold pee sits under your bed, and all of your underwear is crotchless. (Why? Shush, dear. A lady doesn't question.) UNMENTIONABLE is your hilarious, illustrated, scandalously honest (yet never crass) guide to the secrets of Victorian womanhood, giving you detailed advice on: ~ What to wear ~ Where to relieve yourself ~ How to conceal your loathsome addiction to menstruating ~ What to expect on your wedding night ~ How to be the perfect Victorian wife ~ Why masturbating will kill you ~ And more Irresistibly charming, laugh-out-loud funny, and featuring nearly 200 images from Victorian publications, UNMENTIONABLE will inspire a whole new level of respect for Elizabeth Bennett, Scarlet O'Hara, Jane Eyre, and all of our great, great grandmothers. (And it just might leave you feeling ecstaticallygrateful to live in an age of pants, super absorbency tampons, epidurals, anti-depressants, and not-dying-of-the-syphilis-your-husband-brought-home.)

Highclere Castle, known as 'the real Downton Abbey' bustles with activity at the best of times, but it is never more alive than at Christmas. Christmas at Highclere is a look behind the scenes at the routines and rituals that make the castle the most magical place to be throughout the festive season. Lady Carnarvon will guide you through Advent, Christmas preparations and Christmas Eve all the way through to the day itself, and beyond. Learn how the castle and grounds are transformed by decorations, including the raising of a twenty-foot tree in the saloon, the gathering of holly and mistletoe from the grounds. All the intricacies of the perfect traditional Christmas are here: from crackers and carol singers. The festive feeling is carried through to Highclere's Boxing Day traditions, the restorative middle days and the New Year's Eve celebrations. This book also tells the story of historic Christmases at Highclere - of distinguished guests warming themselves by the fire after a long journeys home through the snow, unexpected knocks on the door, and, always, the joy of bringing family - and staff - together after a busy year. As well as telling the stories of Highclere Christmases past and present, Lady Carnarvon provides recipes, tips and inspiration from her kitchen so that readers can bring a quintessentially British festive spirit to their own home. Lady Carnarvon divulges the secret to perfectly flakey mince pies, the proper way to wrap presents so that you and your guests are guaranteed a Christmas to remember. Lavish, celebratory and utterly enchanting, Christmas at Highclere is celebration of one of the UK's most beloved historic houses and is the perfect gift for any Downton Abbey fan.

Birthday parties for kids are getting more and more expensive these days. How many parents have been shocked to realise that they just dropped GBP500 on their four-year-old's party? Soleil Moon Frye's new book will feature more than 15 parties that you can throw for your kids that are not only inexpensive but wildly inventive and fun. Each party in the book will include two crafts, one game and one recipe - ALL of which you can put together with your child. Aside from crafts and recipes, there are countless tips and ideas that will inspire you. Some of the parties featured in the book include: the fairy party, the pirate party, the movie-on-the-lawn party, the camp party, the 80s party, the rainbow party, the Halloween party, the luau and much more. Throughout the book are gorgeous and colourful images by photographer Meeno Peluce. (Anybody who had access to a TV set in the 1970s will remember Meeno, who is also Soleil's brother.) Timely and fun, this book will be a must-have for anybody who has kids and loves entertaining.

Embrace veganism and keep the whole household happy and well-fed - without making a different meal for everyone.

Not a fan of tofu? Fear not - this vegan cookbook includes over 100 healthy, delicious recipes that will appeal to adults and children alike, using grains, pulses, and other meat- and dairy-free alternatives as the base ingredient. You'll find options for every meal of the day, whether you're looking for quick lunch box ideas for vegan kids or preparing a big dinner for the whole family.

"The good stuff" box on each recipe gives an expert breakdown of nutritional value, so everyone is getting the nourishment they need. An additional "flex it" section on many recipes gives busy cooks an option to easily add meat or dairy to their meal, perfect for pleasing non-vegan members of the household or families wanting to go "flexitarian".

This is everyday food for everyone, with nutritionally balanced vegan meals and flexible options - There's a Vegan in the House is the essential cookbook for any household venturing into veganism.

Through photos, interviews, how-tos, and recipes, this book offers a guide to creating your own Cowboy Christmas and a celebration of the style, traditions, food, and family celebrations unique to the lifestyles of American cowboys. Featuring ranch families, rodeo cowboys, and communities with western-style Christmas celebrations, this book will highlight the things that make a Cowboy Christmas special. Each chapter will feature traditions, recipes, decorations, and stories from the interviewees.

Q. What makes you smart, sophisticated, generous, and stylish all at once? A. Throwing a great dinner party. Q. What doesn't? A. Brunch. Rico Gagliano and Brendan Francis Newnam have written the ultimate guide to hosting a soiree: an easy-to-follow manual for maximizing your party's spectacularness and saying no to brunch plans. They're just the gentlemen to do it. Each week on their podcast and public radio show, Rico and Brendan share the urbane wit and adult pleasures of a terrific dinner party with nearly a million other listeners as they discuss life, art, culture, news, and what's for dessert. Dinner parties are the key to a grown-up, civilized, satisfying life--and throwing one is easier than you think. The Dinner Party Manifesto demystifies invitations, food, drink, and decor, and shows how you can uncork memorable conversations and laughter that rolls into the wee hours. It also includes funny--but practical--solutions to common party pitfalls, including a formula to determine who gets the last piece of food on a communal plate, and a guide to making the ultimate dinner party playlist. In the bestselling tradition of Adulting and I Like You: Hospitality Under the Influence, this is an entertaining, informative book about how to become the most interesting person you know.