Good Food!

We had a terrific class yesteday for Manners Boot Camp!  Twenty eight (28) kids, ages 7 to 13, showed up on a Saturday morning...for a class on manners.  Needless to say, some were not thrilled; while others showed confidence in that all-important 12 to 15 seconds.

Our dining tutorial is always at the end of class....it wafts in the background, luring them and helping them cope with mundane material such as first impressions, thank you notes, and introductions.

Three students informed us they were VERY thankful "at least there was good food." 

Ask YOUR child if they know how to navigate a place setting, properly eat a dinner roll and enter the chair at the table.  There are now twenty eight more mannerly kids in northwest Houston.  Thank you, parents!

Virginia of Contemporary Etiquette                                     +                      Joan of The Refinery: Etiquette

Me + Paula Deen

Well, I can HOPE to meet her.  Thrilled that I was asked to present a breakout workshop at Houston's Metropolitan Cooking & Entertaining Show in September.  Quite an honor.  And how I love that Paula Deen.

Houston Metropolitan Cooking & Entertaining Show

September 17 & 18





Cubicle Courtesies

If you are an executive with a luxurious suite, how blessed you are!  Many share offices these days and some are in a POD!  This set up does not allow much privacy whatsoever.  Since we have good manners we need to be considerate of our office mate(s).  Here are a few rules that will keep the peace...

1. Use an "inside" voice while on the telephone.
2. Speaker phones and cubicles do not mix.
3. Don't bring a tuna fish sandwich for lunch; unless you take it outdoors.
4. Discourage others from taking a break in your "space."

Curious...what are YOUR pet peeves?

Wedding Woes

I am attending two weddings this summer.  Such excitement, anticipation, planning, mmm...perhaps some stress.  More planning and then the occasional guest who is clueless.

I've heard tales of guests who call the Mother of the Bride and ask:

• My husband's sister will be in town for the wedding.  May I bring her?
• Is it okay if I bring my baby?
• May I bring a date?

We look at the envelope.  What names are written on it are the people (and the only people) invited to the wedding.

A wedding is no place for a baby.

If it does not state "and date" - then you go solo.  Weddings CAN be fun solo; you may meet someone!

...and they lived happily ever after!

Emily Posts

Love this quote!  And thought it a perfect addition to my "rant" yesterday!!

“Clothes not only add to our appearance; they are our appearance. The first impression that we make upon others depends entirely upon what we wear and how we wear it… What makes a brilliant party? Clothes. Good clothes. A frumpy party is nothing more nor less than a collection of badly dressed persons.”

Emily Post on “The Clothes of a Lady,” 1922

A MOB's Point of View

This is a rant....and I apologize if I hurt the feelings of Moms of Daughters. Ok, I want to understand.  WHY!  Why do young girls have to wear such revealing attire?  I attended a recent event.  There were 150 high school girls in attendance with their mothers.  It was a daytime, Christmas function.

I'm all about dressing up.  We ARE girls after all.  I'd venture to guess 80% were (SO!) inappropriately dressed my jaw dropped.  (But, since I know my manners they did not know my jaw dropped!).

Had I been an employer, I would not have hired oh about 130 of these young ladies.  Bosoms jiggling out of the tops of dresses, thighs exposed to who knows where, dresses so tight they looked sandblasted onto their bodies. 

Ok, I am a MOB (Mother of Boys).....but I am trying to teach young ladies on appropriate attire, how to look their best, how to interview.  What is the point?  Why do we even have the word "modesty" in our dictionary?

I do not get it.

Hostess Gift Go-To Guide

You've RSVP'd for the Christmas party. You know your manners and it's an act of kindness to give a hostess gift. Below is a list of lovelies….one of which is sure to make a happy hostess!  A fruitcake is NOT on the list.

For the powder room:

• Hand towels
• Pretty soaps
• Potpourri (evergreen, cinnamon scent)
• A small votive with candle

For the kitchen:

• Small serving pieces (Christmas-themed) may or may not be filled with Christmas cookies
• Spreaders and cocktail forks
• Christmas cookbook
• Home-made baked goods
• Tea towels
• Rosemary tree (for the cook)

For the bar:

• Wine
• Decorative wine bottle stoppers
• Cocktail napkins
• Holiday coasters
• Tin of "good" nuts
  
   

Miscellaneous:

• Christmas ornament
• Plant: cyclamen or poinsettia
• A special candle
• Christmas CD (your favorite music!)