I make a homemade salsa that is really good and probably pretty healthy. Spinach dips and such can often be made with yogurt instead of mayo. etc... I generally don't cater to diets that people choose to but don't have to be on. Obviously, if people have serious health concerns you can have something special for them but sometimes I don't even understand or know all their restrictions. I think the key is just to have a bunch of food and a variety of stuff. I almost always serve fruit. A veggie tray is not a bad idea if you have a lot of dieters. Just use different types of dips and let them choose. Maybe shrimp, veggie pizza (light on the dressing), marinated mushrooms, wrapped asparagus or pickles, bruschetta, deviled eggs stuffed with spinach, hummus... Use whole wheat crackers, or is that whole grain, heck I don't know... water crackers seem light enough to me. Fresh foods and variety are the key words.

Ohh, same boat as you, only last year. What a tough time being a parent, no? Finally resigned myself (with a little support from DH), that if I/we didn't hear from DD, it was a probably a good thing. DD was busy, had work to do, making new friends, adjusting to living with 2 roommates (DD is an only child), and everything else that comes with going away to college. Also, the college DD attends, requires all incoming freshmen to do a First Year Seminar which pairs the freshman with mentors in groups. The upperclassmen (mentors) do things like meet informally on a weekly basis to answer questions about adjustment to college life, have bi-weekly dinners with the peer group, make a point of checking in on a student who seems may be having trouble, etc. Also, a mandatory first semester class was FYS, which was all about adjusting to college life. That class is held by the professor assigned for each major. DD went in undeclared and stayed with her FYS advisor through her entire freshman year. DD's professor/advisor had his entire group of freshman and peer mentors come to dinner at his home ~ a farm he shares with his wife. Nice BBQ, bonfire, music, get to know you, casual social thing. So nice of him to do so. DD declared a major at the end of her Spring semester. Now has a different advisor. DH & I were very glad the school mandated this FYS, as we feel it was sooo important that there was some support provided to every freshman as they moved to a new chapter in life. A safety net, if you will Had we heard from DD everyday, it would have been an indicator that she wasn't acclimating, or at least not trying to do so, if DD was still so "wired" to me/us. Would say I got a few texts, not many. Calls, less than texts. First time home was only 2 weeks into the Fall semester. DD had a "mini-meltdown/pity party" about the dorm room, how hard her classes were, how much work, yada yada. Well, as I wasn't the most sympathetic audience, I had a sit down with DD and let her vent, but then I asked DD if she would like to trade places with me, or with any of her high school classmates who weren't fortunate enough to have gone away to college. I think the light bulb went off for DD. After our discussion, it seemed as tho she had gotten it, and truly appreciated having the opportunity to be away at school. By the end of the Fall semester, DD couldn't wait to go back from Christmas Break. Thankfully, it all fell into place and worked out well. If you feel your DS is not isolated, and otherwise seems to be doing well, then I would just try to wait for him to communicate. I tried to sit on my hands, so as to let DD get into her groove at school, only texted if necessary, and responded to the texts DD initiated. I knew she was adjusting okay after the first few months, and I am confident in my relationship with DD being very strong at its core. I figured if she needed me, she would call or text. I also did some baking, sent her favorite cookies along with a mid-semester care package. While recently on vacation visiting family (DD is now a sophmore), I asked about a another family member whose DD is the same age as my DD, and who is now attending her sophmore year at college away from home. I was curious how much communication went on between that student and her mom/dad/family? Well, the person to whom I was talking had taken said student to her college orientation, as her parents were both working that day. The speaker at orientation told the parents (mine wasn't the parent), that if you aren't hearing from your child, send them a text or email, or even leave a VM on their cell, that you are sending them $$, or do they need anything? See how fast they respond. LOL. So, we just tried a little experiment after this vacation conversation to see if the advice was good advice. Heard back immediately from DD. We laughed so hard about how true that orientation speaker was. So, there is something to that particular strategy. Fall break isn't too far off. My DD attends a private college, so they have a fall break next weekend, but most big universities don't have the mini break, first time home will be Thanksgiving. Just wait till you see the difference in your DS. It was amazing watching from afar, my DD change into an independent young woman. HTH.

I think it's a great idea. My pantry has a fixture I found at an antique store. It was in the foyer in our last home. The top shelf - which is too high to reach - has my collection of rustic birdhouses. I also have an old heart shaped wooden butter mold and copper pans on the walls. There is a wooden National Biscuit Company (aka NABISCO) sign hanging inside above the door. I don't line the inside of drawers, but DD1 does. She is a huge Shabby Chic fan and their pieces are always lined with vintage or vintage looking paper. In one rental, she lined the walls of a small closet with paper. In another rental, her walk-in closet was so large she made it a guest room with a cot, rug, dresser, pictures and accessories. Our MBR closet is walk-in with double french doors, two small ORB chandeliers and we each have a three drawer dresser with bookshelves above. DH puts current books, leather storage containers on his and mine has a few containers plus things from traveling and family items. We each have an old windsor chair with artwork above. To the right of my shelves is a fabric board with cards, notes, tickets, etc from traveling and family. Here is a peak at my shelves: Here is a link that might be useful:

susanjf yes baklava is very much like it and to be honest I've never had potica (or baklava either!) but if I'm in the area there's a bakery in Virginia, MN famous for them. When I'm there I'll pick one up. It's more known in northern MN as are pasties, and I'm not sure if it's pasty or pastie! (I *am* sure it's pronounced pass-tee though, not paste-ees!), which for those who don't know are a, well, pot pie without the pot. A folded over savory pastry filled with meat, potatoes and vegetables but recipes vary. Many events in the northland feature pasties as the popular food concession. As I think back one of my secretaries (years and years ago now) used to occasionally bring in a "meat pie" that her daughter made. She never shared it though! I was just watching the Two Fat Ladies (and that's their show name and trade name - before someone is "offended" that I called them "fat") where Clarissa did a pastry with apples. Not the same but similar in concept and looked fantastic. But I can't imagine having the patience to hand press the dough into a 3'-5' circle, newspaper thin. I wouldn't have the patience anyway...