HOLIDAYS 2020

 Holiday Greetings Everyone!

Wherever you are on this wonderful, beautiful planet I'm sure you may be experiencing some type of hardship or challenge during this holiday season due to the pandemic.  Stay strong!  We will get through this together!  Listen and follow the guidelines presented by your government leaders.  Wear a mask😷, social distancing and wash your hands.  This is following basic pandemic etiquette. 

I'd like to take this opportunity to also announce that my memoirs, Cleansing My Aura, are now available on Amazon.  Search...ilona torraca.  You may also be interested in reading my other books for all ages.  Thank you. 

Many of you may also be unemployed and feel sad that you may not be able to afford gifts for your loved ones.  This is alright.  There are many gifts you can give that are free.  Cooking meals, cleaning for a loved one, giving affection, giving your time to listen, reading a book to someone, teaching a skill you may have to the younger generation or making someone laugh.  Be creative!  Exercise your imagination.

The holidays are a special time for us to come together and celebrate whatever they mean for us.  We have different faiths, religions, spiritualities and moral guidance codes.  Let's celebrate this diversity this year.  Let's tolerate, accept and respect these diversities within humanity even more than ever before.  We need to start doing this now.

Thank you for being a follower to my blog and may God bring you peace, health and prosperity in 2021.😀

Love & Peace,

Ilona

DRIVING ETIQUETTE

1)  Do not try to put on make-up while driving.

2)  Do not hold your phone while driving.

3)  Do not eat while you are driving.  (yes, I am guilty of this)

4)  Do not flick your cigarette butts out the window.

5)  Try not to smoke while driving in front of children.

6)  Do not drink and drive.

7)  Do not do drugs while driving or get behind the wheel while high.

8)  Always strive to wear your seat belt.

9)  Use proper seating for children in the back seat.

10)  Do not try to discipline your children while driving.  Stop the car first.

PERSONAL SECURITY ETIQUETTE

1)  Always be aware of your surroundings.

2)  Choose well-lit parking areas.

3)  Walk confidently and walk with purpose.

4)  If you can run...RUN! *Don't stay and fight!

5)  Have your self defense items out and ready to use.
(HollaHers/HollaHis, Sock it to me or Stun guns & pepper spray)

6)  Always lock your CAR & HOME doors as soon as you are inside.


Taken from Damsel In Defense.   www.alanasdefense.com 

TELEPHONE ETIQUETTE

Do not answer the telephone unless you recognize the telephone number and you have at least 48 hours to return the phone call.

WHAT TO LOOK FOR IN A GENTLEMAN

1)  Always carry a hankerchief.
2)  Always wear a white undershirt or collared pollo shirt.
3)  Likes to wear 3-piece suits.
4)  Wears a hat throughout the year and a topcoat in the winter.
5)  Keeps their love life to themself and doesn't share details with another male or female.
6)  Never curse or use negative language in front of a lady.

LADIES FIRST

1)  Always give up your seat.
2)  Always open any door for them.
3)  Give them the right of way.
4)  Pull out their chair before a meal.
5)  Order their dinner at a restaurant and pour their wine.
6)  Always let a pregnant woman sit down on the train.

PHONE CALLS

Traditional etiquette dictates we must not make any phone calls after 2100.  But, in modern times, I guess we can call and talk to anyone at any hour.

And etiquette dictates that ladies need to lock their car doors 24 hours a day.  But, my mother, Eileen keeps her car doors open 24 hours a day, because she can't always find her keys.

QUEBEC, CANADA

Today we celebrate St. Jean Baptiste Day.  Happy celebration!!!!  Enjoy!!!!!

SIGNATURE DISH

My signature dish is macaroni & cheese.

1)  Saute fresh garlic and onions in EVOO.

2)  Then add ground beef to frying pan.  After cooked through, then set aside.

3)   Boil any type of pasta, drain and then set aside.

4)  Cut up fresh broccoli and cauliflower and boil until tender. 

5)  Add the pasta, beef and veggies together in the pot and add as much shredded cheese as you want.

5)   Add your favorite seasonings and voila!  You are done!

Love this dish!  Cooking therapy is very good for me.  Wish I had my own kitchen.

PANDEMIC MINDFUL SEX ETIQUETTE

Taken from the Wall Street Journal dated April 20, 2020...……...

1)  Don't have sex if you don't want to.

2)  Remind yourself that it's OK if the sex isn't great.

3)  Have compassion for your partner.  If you're having trouble focusing, assure your partner it is not his or her fault.

4)  Breathe.  Slowly and deeply to help calm your nervous system.

5)  Mentally scan your body for areas of tension.

6)  Pay attention to touch.  (Try touch Reiki)  Direct your mind back to the present if it starts to wander.

7)  Open your eyes.  Make gentle eye contact with your partner.

8)  Try something new.  It doesn't have to be overtly sexual - consider a bubble bath or a massage.


Popular Additions:
candle burning, aromatherapy, playing love music, pillow talk, and playing footsies under the table while you are eating dinner at a restaurant (but don't let children see this)

PANDEMIC ETIQUETTE

Hi Everyone,

Here are a few ways we can stay close during this pandemic.

1) fist bumps
2) elbow bumps
3) foot bumps
4) head bumps
5) hugs are good
6) kissing with face masks on
7) hip bumps

Try these.  The virus will not spread using these ways.

Have a great weekend!!!!!!!!!

Love & Hugs,
Ilona

CORONAVIRUS

Dear Global Citizen,

At this point in time I am sure you have been advised by your government leaders on how to properly behave during this global pandemic to ensure control of the virus transmission.  Please listen to them and practice good hygiene etiquette.  Everyone on the planet needs to maintain the 6 foot separation for social distancing, thoroughly wash hands with soap and water periodically throughout the day, use hand sanitizer, carry tissues or handkerchiefs for coughs and sneezes, wear a face mask and disposable gloves as much as possible and clean surfaces.  I believe we can all come together as a global family and fight this virus.  We will win.  No one knows when this will be, but eventually it will happen.

We need to all practice patience, kindness, positivity, and proper manners and etiquette.  While we are all ordered to remain in our homes for a period of time, you can take this opportunity as a family unit and learn etiquette skills.  Many of your questions can be answered on the Internet and check out some YouTube videos on how to set a table or how to communicate properly using technology.  And yes, while we remain in our homes living with others, some form of conflict may happen.  It is important to practice healthy conflict etiquette for the benefit of yourself and others.

Remember, we are all in this together on a global level.  If you do feel loneliness due to isolation, please seek someone to talk to for help.  Talk therapy is very good.

Be healthy and safe,
Ilona J. Torraca, M.Ed.
President & CEO

P.S. If you need something to do, please check out my two books on Amazon.  A New Day and Cool Money.  Available in both Kindle and paperback versions.  Thank you.