Thank you Divas for your advice on where to find a new sofa. You prodded me out of my paralyzation and Monday, I met with an interior designer! She is going to help me get my living room/den looking like an adult lives there. This is long overdue.

I went looking for couches with my mom, and saw this one (at left) that I like. It’s relatively inexpensive - maybe too inexpensive, as I know that quality can cost a pretty penny. I’ll keep you posted on how the sofa search goes. In the meantime, any redecorating advice or stores I should be sure to visit?

The Guest Diva and metro columnist,
Wendi C. Thomas

My sweet sister is getting married soon in Chicago, and has asked me to help put together the after-wedding-feast food for all of the out of town friends and relatives who’ll be coming over to her house once the wedding and lunch/reception are over. The groom is Greek, and we’ll be feasting at the reception on lamb and spanikopita and pastitsio, so we don’t need anything heavy, and it needs to be pretty quick and easy to execute, since I’ll be dropping in from out of town the day before. One more wrinkle: There will be lots of kids there. I’d hire a caterer if I could figure out what to tell him or her, but I’m totally stuck for ideas. Can any of you Entertaining Divas help me out?

I’m not making any New Year’s resolutions this year. I’ve decided that bold new initiatives that struggle against the grain of my “actual” life haven’t worked before, so I’m trying for BALANCE, that elusive thing that involves discipline, choices, exercise, rest, friends … well, read for yourself in my column today.

Do you make New Year’s resolutions? Why, or what kind? Do you stick to them?

A girlfriend and I were talking the other day about how crazy the Christmas present-shopping-giving-getting thing makes us feel, and she asked me something I’ve been thinking about ever since: Is giving to charity in someone’s name really giving someone a “present”?

I guess I’d have to say yes. Especially in Memphis, especially this time of year, the needs are so great, and there are so many organizations who are working to fill them, that giving some of your holiday money where it can help other people seems only right. And do we all really need more stuff?

Of course, there are all kinds of places where your charity also gets you cool presents; sort of a best-of-both-worlds thing. My current favorite is the St. Jude Thanks and Giving campaign. Bet most of my girlfriends would love a sparkly Give Thanks or Hope t-shirt.

What’s your favorite charity this time of year? How did you decide what/where to give?

Another gift-y question from Marcy: “What do you buy for a man that has everything? He can and does buy what he wants and needs. Money is not tight for him. He is the special man in my life …”

Where do you go for the “little something” that he’d never think to buy for himself? Local stores? Favorite Web sites?