I do think that if you bring something, it's borderline rude to take it back home with you. I've totally done it but only with people I know won't be upset.

Only when people ask/tell me to take home the remainder of what we brought would I do that. (Like, they're on a diet/gluten intolerant/hate beer/whatever.)

As for leftovers, our family has an unspoken rule of If You Want Leftovers You're Welcome To Them, But Load Up Your Plate/Tupperware Your Own Damn Selves.

My dad, when he goes to my uncle's for Thanksgiving, takes his own tupperware with him. Sometimes 6 or 7 containers. (My aunt makes a 20-pound bird no matter how few people are attending, so some years my dad goes home with practically half a turkey.)

And now I want turkey. First nog, now turkey. I am SO impressionable.

I think it's rude to take home what you bring unless you're asked to take it home with you.

I agree, but I also think the host should offer leftovers to guests, especially if they've brought stuff. Either way I think it's the host's call, mainly because:

I've thought of bringing a dish as a stand-in for a hostess gift

of this. I think it's a nice thing to offer your guests (at my mom's annual latke party, there are always WAY too many desserts and she ends up practically bribing people to take home cookies), but not something one should automatically feel entitled too. Once you bring food into someone's home, it's their food.

If I want some of whatever I am making to bring to someone's house, I will make extra and leave some at home. Although I do like it if I am offered leftovers of what other people brought or what the host made.

I need help. My twin sister has been trying to have a baby for over two years now. She's miscarried once and she thinks it's happening again. She takes a pregnancy test as soon as she misses her period. She got a faint positive this week. She went to her doctor who checked her HCG levels--they indicated she must just be days pregnant. So she's set to go back tomorrow to get her blood drawn and her hormone levels checked again. But she started spotting yesterday and is FRANTIC.

She calls me crying and I cannot console her. She reminds me that I don't have this problem--I'm not 39 and haven't miscarried. Then we hang up and I call to check on her a few hours later. She's calmer and seems ok. Then she calls me an hour later and she's spotting again.

I don't know what to say to her. I listen and try to be encouraging and positive but if she's going to call me every time she goes to the bathroom, I'm going to lose it.

I feel like a giant asshole but she's making herself CRAZY. It's so hard for them to conceive and she knows she can but she's convinced because of her miscarriage that she cannot carry a child.

Cashmere, that is such a difficult situation for you to be in. Isn't spotting in early pregnancy not uncommon and not always a sign of miscarriage? I've never been pregnant, so I could be totally wrong.

I listen and try to be encouraging and positive but if she's going to call me every time she goes to the bathroom, I'm going to lose it.

Oh man, how awful. I can understand her panic, but she's going to make herself sick if she keeps it up. Is there any way you can tell her gently that keeping calm is the best thing she can do for the baby right now? Maybe encourage her to distract herself with a DVD or a nice warm bath?

Spotting's pretty common. I spotted with Olivia. I keep telling her that. But every twinge to her is a cramp indicating miscarriage. I think she just gets so stressed about it that she can't think of anything positive. I want it to happen for her so much but I want her to enjoy the process and not stress about every potential problem.

Is there any way you can tell her gently that keeping calm is the best thing she can do for the baby right now? Maybe encourage her to distract herself with a DVD or a nice warm bath?

I'm trying to keep her calm. She's ok when she's busy. She's an extreme Type A (she's a corporate attorney) so getting her to relax and be calm is not an easy task. I'm hoping that it's just her hormones shooting up that is making her act this way.

And she's calling again.

Oh, Cash, that's so hard. Much peace~ma to you and calm~ma to her. And extra heaps of grow-strong-and-healthy~ma to the little one.

Anyone (Jilli or Plei) know of an online store that sells Clairol Professional haircolor products AND Special Effects dye?

(I have a local brick & mortar place I could go, but no time to get there and their online store is crap.)