Miss Etiquette

Growing up with a mom who made sure I knew all about manners & etiquette this topic is one I'm really excited to discuss and debate. I encourage comments and questions so please ask away. I'm here to look up stuff so you don't have to. Enjoy my blog! *Disclaimer: I can't claim to be an expert on the subject but I love researching and am sure I'll learn a thing or two myself!

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Oops! How to Recover from 5 Common Wedding Etiquette Mistakes

We all would like to think of ourselves as cool and calm and collected. We wish we were the Kate Middleton or Meryl Streep of poise, always knowing the right

[missetiquette-blog]

Mind Your Manners: 7 Money Mistakes To Avoid At Restaurants

If you’ve adopted one of these habits as common practice in the name of saving money, then it’s time to come to the realization that you simply can’t afford to eat out right now.

Oh Dave Ramsey...how I love thee! If you can't afford to tip the correct amount and you are guilty of any of the items mentioned in this article you should probably stay home until you aren't making these restaurant mistakes!

[missetiquette-blog]

15 International Food Etiquette Rules That Might Surprise You

Think it’s easy to exercise polite table manners when traveling abroad? Think again.

I, unfortunately, don't have any International trips scheduled at the moment but I will reference this article when I travel abroad next! 

[voxamberlynn]

[missetiquette-blog]

It's true! You can't control your friend, your husband, your wife, a family member or a coworker's mood or reaction but you can work your hardest to remember that everyone has their demons and it's nothing you can control. What you can do is let these reactions bounce right off you. Remember the Law of Attraction. What that person is putting out into the world, they usually get right back...so stop that chain in its tracks! Try to put good out in the world so that it comes right back at you. Smile...it might rub off! Don't only think good thoughts, feel them.

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Hey fellas! Suit 101 is something I know nothing about so I thought I'd share as well as learn about the rules of how to dress a man in style. This is a great article with sound suit advice.

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What the power is I cannot say, all I know is that it exists and it becomes available only when man is in that state of mind in which he knows exactly what he wants and is fully determined not to quit until he finds it

Alexander Graham Bell

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Hitting up a party, what do I bring?

You’ve been invited to a holiday cocktail party. At a loss for what to bring? Creativity just simply zapped after all your DIY presents? I’ve been there. Since I’ve been cooped up for most of the month, I’ve had a little extra time to think and think and do some more thinking. Sounds exhausting, right? :)

First, you can never, ever go wrong with a bottle of wine! Are you on a budget? Here’s a few wines that I like to gift and/or drink: 

Apothic Red ($10). This wine is super easy to drink. Maybe too easy? Goes well with everything from pasta to pizza.

Souverain Sauvignon Blanc ($10-$13). The grapefruit in this wine is delish and the awesome herbal aromas will hit your nose right away. Goes well with goat cheese.

Looking to spend just a tinsy bit more? Try Girard Petite Sirah ($25). This wine is jammy, peppery & spicy. Oh…and yummy! All the best (y’s) out there! Or if you prefer a white, pick up a bottle of Cloudy Bay Sauvignon Blanc ($27). Hello limey, citrusy goodness! This wine has a great finish and could even be enjoyed without food! 

Some other ideas are gourmet chocolates, cocktail napkins, nice crackers, stuffed olives or whatever you may feel the host fancies. Go crazy…maybe shop on Etsy and get a 2014 calendar for them, wine tags, salt and pepper shakers, candies or monogrammed napkins!

Even though you secretly want to have a glass of wine that you brought or sample those candies, keep in mind that hosts are not expected to serve or share the hostess gifts. They are simply a thank you for inviting their guests to their party and are to be enjoyed whenever they feel like it.

Go enjoy that cocktail hour and let me know what you ended up bringing! 

[missetiquette-blog]

I love Skinny Confidential’s holiday party tips! hope everyone celebrated their respective holidays in style. I know I had a fantastic Christmas and still have a few more family gatherings to attend! What about you? I will spend New Year’s Eve celebrating a friend’s wedding so till 2014, Happy New Year’s…may 2014 bring you many blessings!

[blamecanada]

There is no designated time for anything in your life. You don’t have to have your first kiss at any certain time, you don’t have to get married in your 20′s and you don’t have to do anything just because other people think it’s best. In fact, you will be much better off if you just do what your heart says. The day you stop caring what other people think is the day their opinions don’t mean anything, because you’re not there to give them weight.

10 Things I Wish I Could Have Told Myself 5 Years Ago  (via thatkindofwoman)

Good to remember. One of my goals is to live my life not by a clock but by my heart. What about you?

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I've been MIA from this blog for some time now. How rude you must think! My heart just wasn't in it so I needed a little break. Work and life just got in the way and I let them!

On Friday, I'm about to undergo surgery and am truly blessed to be part of a clinical trial for a Hybrid Cochlear Implant at the University of Iowa. I've considering blogging about the experience of this trial, what it is like to be hard of hearing, possibly researching resources for others that are going through the same thing I am.

Needless to say, I'm a hard person to offer support to. I don't easily give up control and/or let others help but for those who could use a little support and are easier to lend a helping hand to, I really, REALLY like the blog entry by Design Sponge that is connected to my post. This entry offers some great tips to those that aren't quite sure how to offer their support to those going through a tough time. 

I hope everyone is doing dandy, had a wonderful Thanksgiving and are staying warm heading into the Christmas/holiday season! 

[missetiquette-blog]

Wedding Toast Tips

I just returned from a wedding so several of my upcoming posts will probably touch upon wedding etiquette. The toasts by the maid of honor, matron of honor and best man were really good this past weekend!

For those needing a little extra help, here’s a few tips I’ve picked up along the way:

1) Keep it short!

2) The best speeches might include brief stories, fitting proverbs and sentimental stories about the bride and groom. Humor works as long as it is a toast and not a roast!

3) Unless you give speeches for a living, plan your speech ahead of time and practice it.

4) Hopefully the DJ announces you’ll be making a speech over a mike otherwise avoid clicking silverware or glassware to get the attention of wedding guests. Simply stand, raise your glass, and repeat the words “May I please have your attention?” as many times as needed.

5) Refrain from excessive celebration before the speeches (ex. shots of tequila) so you don’t accidentally tell the wedding guests anything inappropriate. You know you’ve been at a wedding where this has happened!

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Don’t reserve your best behavior for special occasions. You can’t have two sets of manners, two social codes—one for those you admire and want to impress, another for those whom you consider unimportant.

Lilian Eichler Watson

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So "no way, jose" to being a tailgating arsehole!

Fall is almost here and this morning I woke up to some lovely weather news from weather.com. This weekend, we are in for some Fallish weather folks! Bring on the boots, leggings, sweaters, etc!

I'm assuming most of you are somewhat immersed in American football at the moment. While I haven't been to many tailgates in my lifetime I'm pumped about getting invited  to one tomorrow with my lovely friend, Cass. In preparation for the Cyclone vs. Hawkeye tailgate in Ames, IA (really I'm not going for the game, just the tailgate, of course!) I thought I'd search the web for some Tailgating "Dos and Don'ts" so I don't make an arse out of myself tomorrow!

Check out this awesome list by Adam Kramer, national college football lead writer for bleacherreport.com: Tailgating Dos and Don'ts: A Guide to Game Day Etiquette. My fav suggestion is not to "ice" any bros. I've never been iced and that's because I've never done the icing. :) What's yours? Oh, p.s. don't do any mooching, it's just bad form! Bring your drink of choice, your koozie, some meat, a side and your lawn chair. You'll be set. Oh wait...don't forget water, lots of water! Go Hawkeyes!

One more thing...are you looking for a healthy, yet delicious tailgating recipe? Try this at your tailgate party this weekend: Cookout-Ready Confetti Bean Dip--by Karla of Healthful Bites! It's delish!

[missetiquette-blog]

I Forgot My Phone

How awesome would it be if we all just forgot our phone unless we had to take/make a call? I know it's hard not to catch everything and I mean everything on instagram, facebook and twitter. This video really hits home. I'm guilty, my friends are guilty, my family is guilty. Let's try to change this futuristic pattern!

I promise next time you & I are out together, my phone will stay in my purse!

[missetiquette-blog]

How to behave properly in yoga class and handle those awkward situations so that you and your classmates have a positive experience!

I decided to check out a community yoga class a few weeks back with one of my partners in crime. We were the only two there for about the first 15 minutes of class. I was really enjoying what felt like a personalized session, starting to get into my yogi groove when in waltzes a man wearing jeans (what?!), no yoga mat with a staring problem. Ruh roh! There goes my concentration!

There was more than enough room, mind you, where the man didn't need to be within a foot of anyone. I should mention that I seem to attract the weird ones so maybe this all makes sense. So what does he do? Yep, you guessed it...positions himself within a few inches of me invading my very precious personal space. Am I the yoga teacher? Was my underwear hanging out? Food in my teeth? Nope! Throughout the class he looks at me in only the way a experienced creeper can during every pose. Then when I think I might have been able to block him out, he farts...not just once but twice...in the happy baby pose. Yes, accidents happen but when you combine all these things together it just gets to be too much. So, in addition to the yoga class etiquette guide mentioned in my  post, I'd like to add a few extra rules:

1) Take beeno before the class to prevent gas.

2) Wear deodorant.

3) Don't be a creeper!

4) Within reason, give a girl some personal space to do all her poses.

That's all for now folks! Any tips you can think to throw in?

[anapobs]

[missetiquette-blog]

Thank you (in any language) can never be said too much. I'd like to add "tak" to this list!

[missetiquette-blog]

Because friendship can't handle the truth!

Because friendships can't handle the truth! Brought to you by UCB Comedy. http://www.twitter.com/ucbcomedy http://www.facebook.com/ucbcomedy Directed by Matt...

Oh mylanta...a friend of mine who is engaged to be married forwarded this along to me recently and I busted out laughing after watching this engagement comedy video by UCB Comedy!

I'm going through another "everyone's getting married" phase. This also occurred in my mid twenties and now it's happening again. Thankfully, I love almost all of my friend's choices so I haven't REALLY had to deal with this yet! To summarize here are the key points of how to respond to your friend when she tells you she's getting married to the most ill-suited man that she could have come into contact with...EVER (without lying)! 

First what you want to say: Are you out of your mind? No!!! Run! Run! 

Here are the steps you should take to salvage your future friendship:

Step 1: Stall with excitement

Step 2: Excitedly state the facts

Step 3: Turn into an offensive gay man stereotype

Step 4: Focus on unimportant details

Step 5: Just start saying the names of movies

Step 6: Just focus on the ring

Step 7: Gestures and sounds

Congratulations you made it! Now I'm wondering, have you experienced this? Did you let your friend learn the hard way and make the mistake? What happened?