Tiffany Nielsen

Dining Etiquette, Business Etiquette and Children's Workshop

6 Hostess Etiquette Tips for New Year’s Eve Bash

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If you are hosting a New Year’s Eve bash, here are 6 hostess etiquette tips to help boost your spirits while adding a few classy touches to your party.

  1. Be the Ultimate Hostess. Etiquette is your guide to a successful party! Help your guests feel welcome by greeting them upon their arrival, or soon after. Glide around your party topping-off flutes of bubbly, offering non-alcoholic drinks to sober drivers and keeping conversations flowing among guests. By all means, try to refrain from bringing up things like the weather if it doesn’t turn out the way you had hoped. You are the ultimate hostess, after all!
  2. It’s Cocktail Time! If you start to feel stressed about the party, it’s normal; but, don’t let party prepping suck the fun out of you. Before your guests arrive you can meditate in silence for a few minutes or make yourself a very weak cocktail to help take the edge off. Easy-does-it on the cocktail! You don’t want to be completely smashed when guests arrive.
  3. Use Your Very Best! Dinnerware, cutlery, saltcellars, or whatever you may have, are not meant to be stuffed into cupboards collecting dust only to possibly be tossed out by the next-generation who didn’t quite understand all the fuss. Serving your guests, with the very best, lets them know “they are worth it”.
  4. Not a Hostess but a Guest? Try not to arrive to a party empty handed. Even though you weren’t asked (or told) to bring something, etiquette tell us to bring a Hostess Gift. A bottle of wine, fresh fruit from your orchard, a box of chocolates, fresh flowers in a vase, homemade treats, or an exquisite bottle of champagne are just a few hostess gift ideas to consider. Use etiquette -or consideration- when choosing a gift. For example, you wouldn’t want to bring a bottle of Rye to a ‘dry’ house.
  5. Don’t Be Rude! Go without social media for one night. Try focusing on the media right in front of your face—your personal guests.
  6. Have Fun! You might burn the dinner rolls, but oh well! Someone will likely spill a bit of red wine on your white carpet, nothing that can’t be remedied by a strong foot and a paper towel. Smile, be gracious, and by all means, have a good time at your own party!

 

Stay classy and remember that “etiquette” is not only your friend, but a perfect guide to a successful party.

 

Happy New Year!

Bread Etiquette

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Bread etiquette

It’s not fancy, it’s just etiquette.

Bread Etiquette: Pass it to the Right or Left?

Not only will you guarantee that anyone seated at your table will have their share of bread, but your Passing Bread Etiquette you will make your proud for knowing an important social etiquette skill that will serve you well socially and professionally.

Serve Others First

If you are the first person to reach for a bread basket or plate, remember to serve yourself last! Yes, I said last. It’s far more courteous to pass the bread to your neighbor than it is for you to indulge first. Why? When we gather around a table to share a meal with others, it’s just that- a sharing process. By taking a piece for yourself without thinking if others might like a piece too, can come across  as self-serving.

Passing Bread to the Right or to the Left?

The first step is to reach in for the bread and happily pass it to the person on your right. If there’s not a person to your right, common sense will tell you to look across your table or to your left. Obviously, if you are dining alone then by all means serve yourself.

What about Butter?

If individual butter dishes aren’t provided,  pass the shared butter dish to the guest seated to your right side. If there’s not a person to your right, then pass it to the person to your left or perhaps across the table.    

If you are looking for more dining etiquette tips, then I’m positive you will want to read, Which Fork Do I Use? 

Tiffany’s Etiquette Tip: Pass the bread first. Serve yourself last.

Thank You Note Etiquette

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Etiquette Matters

Thank You Note Etiquette Tips

Is it important to mail handwritten thank you notes for holiday presents?

I think so. Some don’t, but if you do, here’s a few tips you will find useful to keep you in touch with your own etiquette preferences.

Company Etiquette: If you were a house guest this past holiday season, I’m confident you will make time to send  a thoughtful thank you note to your gracious host. Clean sheets, good food and warm hospitality were gifts given to you by very thoughtful people.

Social Etiquette:  A holiday party hosted by your employer, a client or service provider also calls for thank you notes. Send one to the President, organizer and anyone else who gave you red-carpet treatment.

Mailed Packages: The etiquette for when you receive presents in the mail is simple: Call, email or text a message to senders. Not everyone uses text messaging- F.Y.I. Of course, remember to send handwritten thank you notes once the mailed gifts have been open. A phone call goes a long way too.

I realize  phone calls and writing notes may not be an option for some of you. Do what you can, but remember that it’s extremely important to thank anyone who gives you a gift.

Do you write thank you notes? Do you need inspiration to start writing today? Let’s talk about it! If you leave a message in the comment section below, that would be terrific.

Happy New Year!

Your Favorite Etiquette Lady,

Tiffany

Be an Adult with Manners

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Adult Manners Matter

Don’t give up on good manners!

Teaching kids manners takes patience and a strong will. Some listen, learn and adapt quickly while others will mock you until you give up. Don’t give up!  As an adult, it is your responsibility to lead by example in order for kids to trust good manners are fashionable- not a form of punishment.

Here are a few of my timeless holiday guidelines for adults:

Lazy bums– Holiday Sloths are people who are too lazy to get up off the couch as house guests arrive with presents and food for all to enjoy. Don’t be a sloth! Get up and greet people and show your good manners.

Can’t ever say too many thanks! – After your kids say their thanks for presents (words, hugs, kisses, smiles, etc… all which work well), it’s the parents turn to also give thanks for the gifts given to their children. Teach and show your kids the art of gratitude and good manners.

Cell Phones – Texting, snapping and scrolling as presents are being passed out is extremely rude. Break up with your cell phone! Be present and show good manners.

Remember that the Inn Keeper wasn’t too lazy or behaving in a self-consumed manner when a special family came knocking at his door.  He accommodated, greeted and provided the best hospitality he could give to his guests. Be the Inn Keeper.

 

 

 

What Would Charlene Say? Part 3: Three Habits of Gracious Living

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Here’s Part 3 of the daily habit campaign! I’m confident you will find this one necessary for surviving our wobbly, unpredictable life!

Give Thanks. She never complained (at least out loud) to me about surgery or another round of chemo/radiation. She didn’t whine to the doctors, her nurses or the assistants. In fact, Charlene frequently expressed to her oncologist…

Learn to celebrate what's good in the world

What Would Charlene Say? Three Habits for Gracious Living!

“Thank you for taking care of me. I’ve learned so much and I am fascinated by the science and technology that help people like me”. And, if it weren’t for cancer, I wouldn’t know all you great people.”

Leave it to my dear mom (in-law) to be thankful for her situation while her entourage uncomfortably awaited the reading of CAT scans. Charlene Nielsen found the silver lining in everything and everyone.

To recap Charlene’s Three Habits for Gracious Living:
1. Get Dressed.
2. Smile.
3. Give Thanks.

Which habit would you like to see more people practice, and why?

If you please, post your thoughts in the comment section below. By posting, you are helping others benefit from your honest and respectful perspective.

“Give thanks for what is right in the world. Let God worry about the rest.”
 – Charlene Nielsen,  Author, Grandma, Mother and Premier Etiquettes’ Editor (in heaven)

Tiffany Nielsen, Founder and CEO of Premier Etiquette, is your favorite Etiquette Lady and Personal Stylist. She lives in Exeter, CA with her husband, David and travels nationwide representing ideas and strategies that help remedy social and business faux pas. You are invited to attend Tiffany’s upcoming program, Mother May I May 27 or 28 from 5:30 to 7:30 P.M. at Snappy Casual Consulting in Bakersfield or at Brandman University in Visalia, CA. The program cost is $34.00.

Please register for Bakersfield’s Mother May I, Etiquette and Style Class here: http://www.eventbrite.com/e/new-year-true-you-bakersfields-workshop-series-for-women-tickets-9943018837

© Tiffany Nielsen | Premier Etiquette. All Rights Reserved.