By LISA SMITH MOLINARI | Special to Stars and Stripes | Published: December 14, 2020 “Lilly, wake up!” I whisper-yelled to my sleeping daughter, who looked as if she’d slipped into a coma overnight, “It’s seven-thirty! We’re leaving for the Christmas Fair in thirty minutes!” Lilly emitted a deep groan, clearly indicating that she’d forgotten the plan that we’d forged the night before: Get up early and be first in line for St. Matthew’s thrift shop Christmas Fair. I’d been frequenting thrift stores and yard sales my whole adult life. In college, I’d buy lambswool sweaters and Levi’s jeans to keep up with my preppy peers. In law school, I bought furniture, clothing and housewares because I was flat broke. As a young Navy wife, stationed in the English countryside, I began collecting antiques and vintage items with other military spouses for fun. After our son was born, I bought lots and lots of toys and games to use when he needed home therapy. When our da
By KATE MAISEL | Stars and Stripes | Published: December 14, 2020 Thoughtful, entertaining gifts can be hard to find at the best of times. As the window closes on holiday shopping, it can seem all but impossible to find that special item that says “I thought of you, even if I bought this close to the last minute.” If this sounds all too familiar, we have a literary suggestion and you might want to pick up one for yourself as well. Humor columnist Lisa Molinari has compiled her weekly missives into a book, “The Meat and Potatoes of Life: My True Lit Com.” The chapters are grouped into seasons of the Molinari family’s life, taking readers all the way from wedding to empty nest, with plenty of mayhem involving three kids, one dog and many moves in between.