house guest etiquette | Tiffany Nielsen

Be an Adult with Manners

December 22, 2014 By Tiffany Nielsen

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

May 13, 2014 By Tiffany Nielsen

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

Thanksgiving Etiquette

November 18, 2011 By Tiffany Nielsen

Despite some claims that manners and etiquette don’t matter anymore, I am very thankful to be receiving a lot of positive feedback declaring that manners and etiquette still count! So, I continue on with another week of good conversation about what I’m glad to hear isn’t a dying tradition.

As we embark on another week of Thanksgiving Day countdown, we may enjoy more opportunities to capitalize on making the sought-after day a memorable one. First of all, we can sit back and take a deep breath, count our blessings and enjoy the life that we have before us. Then, on with the show!

Provide Menu Options: “John is lactose intolerant. Would it be okay with you if I brought a special potatoes dish for everyone to enjoy?” This is a perfectly acceptable and considerate gesture to make. It’s not nice to surprise the cook on turkey day.

Hostess etiquette suggests asking guests (when they accept an invitation) whether there are any special dietary needs to consider because it feels good to have everyone happy in our home and at our table. Likewise, good guests desire to help in any way possible, making sure the hosts enjoy the festivities as well!

Share the Guest List with Your Kids: If kids are prepared, they are more likely to greet guests cordially. Be sure to advise your immediate household that all guests are to be greeted at the door with big smiles, even if they are “regulars” at your home. Yes, this means peeling away from the football game and off the couch to meet and greet. Just imagine how delighted guests will be to know your family is glad they have arrived.

Delegate! If you are like most Americans, you are the chef, butler, maid, housekeeper and more. I’m confident if you ask kindly, most of your family and friends will be honored to help, and even insist you give them a job before you ask. I’ve learned the hard way that trying to “be all, do all” is just not realistic. Especially on Thanksgiving Day, when people say they want to help, most of them really do. Remember, you are supposed to have fun and enjoy your company.

What are your favorite tips for making Thanksgiving Day memorable and less stressful? Be sure to share your comments below. We’d love to hear from you!

Public Etiquette: Where Has Common Sense Wandered Off To?

September 28, 2011 By Tiffany Nielsen

I don’t know what your mamma said about how you are supposed act in public, but I’m guessing, like my mom, she set good boundaries for how to behave appropriately. My mom’s intentions were never to stifle me from having fun and they helped set me up for success by reminding me that I share the public space; it isn’t mine alone.

I’m fairly confident that most of us would like our guests and kids to keep their feet off the coffee table. So, here’s my sales pitch for reminding people to avoid this sticky, yet often committed faux pas: Just imagine for a few seconds where your feet have been today. What icky, gooey mess did you drag onto your shoes while moving from one place to the next? Now that you have a visual of the potential germs attached to the bottom of your shoes, do we really have any business depositing them on a coffee table or other furniture?

Sprawled across a coffee table at the American Airlines Admirals Club, the man in the photo looks right at home. When I received this picture from my cousin saying “You need to blog this. Feet on the table at the Admirals Club?” I thought to myself, ewwwwww!

You get the drift by now that propping feet up on a coffee table is a big no-no. Who wants to set food and drink, or a laptop for that matter which eventually ends up on your lap or desk, on a table smothered with germs?

It comes down to common sense, this public etiquette stuff. How we act at home can sometimes be different in public. If you like to rest your feet on your coffee table, all power to you. However, kindly refrain from doing so in public places. It grosses people out.

Tiffany Nielsen is a motivational speaker, trainer and President of Premier Etiquette. She is co-author of the dynamic books, The Power of Civility and Incredible Business. Visit her website at http://www.tiffanynielsen.com/ to learn more about how you can thrive socially and professionally!

How to be the World’s Most Gracious Host!

July 19, 2011 By Tiffany Nielsen

House Guest Etiquette
How to be the World’s Most Gracious Host

If your home is referred to as “The Inn,” meaning the light is always on and the door open, you must be the world’s most gracious host! July seems to mark the busiest month for traveling which brings to mind how we can help guests feel welcome at our “Inn.”

Going to visit your friends and family should be a breeze, and having company should be fun! Having a game plan before guests arrive at your home helps smooth the preparation, gives you a chance to be creative and insures you are fully stocked for the unexpected. Here are a few worthwhile tips to keep you the world’s greatest host.

Is the Bathroom Stocked? More times than not, toiletries get left behind. Rather than leave guests digging quietly through your cabinets so as not to disturb you or even make you wonder what in the world is going on in the powder room, stock useful items you know you would need if traveling:

Q-tips
Kleenex
A powerful blow dryer
Curling iron
Toothpaste, toothbrushes and floss
Disposable razors
Sunscreen, lotion, shampoo, conditioner
Lavender soap (personal favorite)
Brushes and combs, clean towels that are free of mascara stains
Hairspray, feminine products, etc….

Place these much appreciated items in baskets or in the cabinets, and be sure to show your guests where to find them should things go wrong in the night. That reminds me; plug in a night light to avoid weary guests crawling back into the wrong bed.

Is the Bedroom Stocked? It is always a good idea to keep guest bedroom sheets and bed coverings separate from your own master and kids’ room linens. This keeps the sheets stain free, in better shape and like “new” each time you make the bed. Spoil your guests with the best quality sheets you can afford, provide quality pillows and dust under the bed before they arrive. Feeling creative? Dress up furniture with bottled water, magazines, pen and paper, and fresh flowers. Make space in the closet, including hangers, for your guests to hang enough clothes to avoid room clutter, and provide an extra blanket just in case the temperatures dip too low for their liking.

Make a Menu List Some guests are picky, others not (thank goodness). A good hostess insures there’s plenty to eat and meets the likings of all. Do a little investigating beforehand to find out if there are any dietary issues to consider. For example, “Mom, I’m so excited you and dad are visiting us in July! When I go to the market to pick up dinner for Friday night, is there anything special you’d like? Is there anything I can get you while I’m there? Is there anything I should avoid picking up for you?”

As the economy shifts, more people are choosing to spend time with friends and family. To have good company means to be good company. Use your home as a place to play, laugh and enjoy all life’s comforts without having to bust your bank account. By the way, nothing lovelier than all members of your “Inn” greeting guests at your front door with open arms. Peel the kids off the couch and make it a family affair.

Tiffany Nielsen shows men and women of all ages how to stand out-not stick out socially and professionally. She is the President of Premier Etiquette, a full-service etiquette and image training and consulting company, and co-author of The Power of Civility and Incredible Business. Visit her website at www.tiffanynielsen.com to learn more about how you can thrive socially and professionally!

House Guest Etiquette How to be the World’s Most Gracious Host

House Guest Etiquette
How to be the World’s Most Gracious Host