Leslie Anne: I'm sorry that you aren't close by. You could go into my dinner/housewarming/gift exchange closet. I have everything from: beautiful soaps, Christmas serving plates, crystal (modern) cake plates, serving pieces, beautiful candles, Chanukah candles and fancy tapers. You could choose. And we are not talking expensive stuff: range is from $4 (on sale) to $40 (annual gift exchanges==Nambe on sale).
And yes, when we have a wedding in the year I stalk the stores/registries and Geary's for their on sale nice items.
My mother said that you never go empty handed, so I'm prepared.
And, I said this on a different thread here: When I was 18 I was seated next to a gentleman, very famous, for a formal lunch. I was naturally shy then. We began talking and he was LOVELY. When I confessed how nervous I had been he said to me, "Always ask the person that you are speaking with about the most brilliant and fascinating person they know: themselves. You will be known as a brilliant conversationalist." He was right.
