I stumbled across these luggage tags and thought they were such a cute, creative engagement gift idea! While engagement gifts are not mandatory for every couple or every engagement party, sometimes for a good friend it’s fun to find a cutesy little something. It’s always a treat to give a gift that delights…and it’s useful, too!
Find these at Madison Ave Gifts.
Last Saturday we held Part II of our Petite Protocol program at The Charleston Museum. It was a huge success! It’s amazing how much these little ones can truly soak up during an hour and a half.
Last Saturday’s focus? Table manners! We covered both American and Continental styles of eating, place settings (no excuses when you ask them to help set the dinner table!), general table manners, finger foods… and of course tested their newly learned knowledge with a snack. A big thanks to The Charleston Museum and all of our polite children for making what we do so fabulous 
See more pictures below! Interested in signing your child up for a manners lesson? We offer private workshops and polite parties that can be tailored to your desires. Southern Protocol will also have camps at both the Gibbes Museum and Hazel Parker this summer – see our “Behave” page or email contact@southernprotocol.com for details!
Tomorrow is the fifth annual Charleston Women in Business Conference at the Charleston Marriott! Southern Protocol couldn’t be happier about teaming up with Little Black Book and celebrating all of the successful women-owned companies and female workers in The Holy City.
We’re particularly excited about what the Southern Protocol-Little Black Book team will have to offer (other than bowls of delicious Valentine’s Day chocolates): women can strike a pose and get their picture taken with Betty, the Little Black Book mascot; sign your name and email address and you’ll receive tips tailored to YOU about how to update and switch up your work wardrobe!
The conference will be held from 8:30 am – 4:00 pm tomorrow, February 12th, at the Marriott on Lockwood. Tickets are $100 for members, $75 for non-members. The day’s schedule includes breakout sessions (with topics like “Winning with People” and “Recharge Your Moxie”), a luncheon, and plenty of time for networking.We can’t wait to see everyone there!
We all know that women love flowers, and quite honestly have come to expect them no question on Valentine’s Day! But here’s a news flash: they don’t have to come from a man in your life. Yes, Valentine’s Day is technically all about passionate looove and romance, but for me it’s also always been another day when I step back and realize how many fabulous people I have in my life (which is perhaps why I spent a crazy amount of money buying Valentine’s Day cards for everyone I knew yesterday at Target…).
Buy some sweet flowers for you mom! Send some cute ones with a funny card to your best friend! Everyone deserves a little pick-me-up in the middle of February.
However, if you are indeed expecting flowers from a special someone, be sure to refer them to Anne Bowen of Stems. For those of you who are not lucky enough to be on her mailing list, take a peek at the arrangement option below, that came with the headline “Did it hurt?… When you fell from heaven?”:
Valentine’s Day doesn’t have to be mushy and drowning in serious cheese… lighten up this year and send a fun bouquet to friends or a funny arrangement to your significant other!
Our second Petite Protocol session at The Charleston Museum is already upon us!
Saturday’s lesson – for both age groups – will focus on what every parent longs for their children to have, especially in front of company: table manners!
From 9:00 – 10:30 AM our 4-6 year olds will learn American style table manners, as well as how to politely eat finger foods. No more stuffing goldfish by the handfuls into their mouths! Afterwards, from 11:00 AM – 12:30 PM, our 7-12 year olds will learn American and Continental styles of table manners in addition to finger food tutorials. Both sessions include fun and interactive manner lessons, activities, and a snack.
Classes are located at The Charleston Museum, and are $20 for members, $25 for non-members. Visit The Charleston Museum’s website for more information, or to RSVP. Both classes only have a few more seats available, so sign up quick!
How many times have we heard in the past decade that chivalry is dead? That no boys or men open up doors, pull out chairs, or do their best to help an elderly woman cross the street (yes, stereotypical example – just work with us).
Well we at Southern Protocol beg to differ! It’s not that chivalry is dead, it’s that sometimes (sadly) it just isn’t considered “cool.” And since we’re lucky enough to be in the South, where learning proper etiquette and that chivalrous charm is a way of life, it’s even more important that we make it seem cool to use those manners. Enter heartthrob star of this month’s Dear John, Channing Tatum, who was quoted on InStyle.com saying the following about the importance of manners to a Southern man:
“It means EVERYTHING. We have better manners. The other day this lady’s umbrella blew away, and it just made sense to go and get it for her. Some men forget that.”
See? It’s not dead! Take a cue from Channing Tatum and go out of your way to remember what it means to be a good, polite person this month. Or just casually mention this story to the men in your life to jump start THEIR month of good deeds…
Hello, Mommies with young children! Stressing about how to find enough activities to fill your and your kids’ time this coming three-day weekend? Southern Protocol and Charleston Museum are here to help!
We are holding our popular Petite Protocol classes at the Charleston Museum this Saturday, January 16th, for two different age groups: 9:00 – 10:30 am for ages 4 to 6, and 11:00 am – 12:30 pm for ages 7 to 12.
The fun and engaging program will teach young children how to be respectful, courteous, and confident in their manners. Your child will have an educational and interactive morning with snacks and crafts! What better way for them to spend their morning? Part I (Part II coming on February 6th) will specifically cover introductions, how to act in public, phone manners, and how to write thank you notes. Plus, after their class is over, the museum is overflowing with cool exhibits and treasures to explore.
To register your children, or for more information, please visit The Charleston Museum’s website. Looking forward to seeing you there!
Tis the month of resolutions; “this year I will exercise more,” “this year I will drink more water,” or “this year I will not spend my rent money on that fabulous new pair of shoes.” Or something along those lines.
While most of your resolutions are surely perfect and (somewhat) attainable, Southern Protocol would like to suggest a little resolution for us all: Be polite. Be considerate. Be charming!
In today’s society, with all the non-personal forms of communication and incredibly busy day-to-day schedules, the simplest of manners often fall to the way-side. The fall of etiquette really is a shame – think of how much it means when you receive a handwritten thank you note, or someone you don’t know holds the door open for you. It’s the little things in life that count! Proper etiquette speaks volume about you as a person, and we could all do with a little conscious effort to maintain it.
Here’s a random sampling of ways to really increase your manners this year:
1. Give genuine compliments – something deeper than, “I just love that necklace!”
2. Complete a task around the house without your roommate/significant other asking you
3. Even when at a family meal, sit up straight and use proper table manners
4. Whenever you see a stranger on the street struggling with opening a door, picking up dropped items, etc., stop and help them out
5. As always, never underestimate the importance of “please” and “thank you”
So go out and show off those manners! (Please.)
Yes, Wedding Crashers sparked a trend in the rebellious act of gate crashing…but just a word of advice that the movie failed to explicitly state: perhaps crashing the White House State Dinner is a tad aggressive.
For those who haven’t heard: two guests somehow “snuck” into the White House State Dinner last week – and even managed to get pictures with the President himself! I’m wondering what really happened? I mean I seriously find it bizarre that you get practically manhandled at the airport by security, and yet two people were able to get into a White House party apparently untouched or questioned…? I need to learn their tricks!
Still, it should be said that it is obviously disgraceful manners to crash a party. Why go where you’re not invited/wanted?
**Edited to Add: Apparently the couple had TV crews with them because the woman is auditioning for Real Housewives of DC. I didn’t realize the classy show was expanding its family to the DC area…charming!
It’s important that we really do take the time to think of all the things we’re thankful for…especially right at the beginning of the holiday season! Below, an abbreviated list of things Southern Protocol is particularly grateful for:
1. All of our fabulous readers that have made the past few months a huge blog-tastic success!
2. Chanel
3. Tim Gunn
4. Turkeys and cranberries and all things pumpkin-related
5. Family and friends – new and old!
6. John and Kate Plus 8 being cancelled
7. That Glee is still new tonight
8. The beginning of the festive Christmas season
9. Good health
10. For horoscopes that say we will continue to have good fortune in 2010
Have a sensational Thanksgiving – enjoy time with family, friends and food! For all the complaints people throw around during the holidays, we really could use a lot more time with those who love us and keep us grounded.
Enjoy
There’s a common misconception that manners can magically disappear when you enter family functions. It’s family, right? Be comfortable! Don’t worry! Who cares! Right?
WRONG.
One of the most frequent questions about table manners we get from our little middle schoolers at Junior Cotillion is, “but I don’t have to do this at home, right?” It’s so sad that we’ve been trained to completely let etiquette go by the wayside when we’re in the comfort of our own home or a relative’s. While it’s not as though you’re in a four star restaurant, you should still be respectful of those around you.
The Top 5 Holiday Basics (five points out of a loooong list that everyone should refresh themselves with):
-Seriously, no slouching or elbows on the table while eating. Isn’t that one of the first things your mother taught you? Elbows on the table and relaxed postures are fine, however, once the meal is over and you’re enjoying some end-of-the-evening coffee.
-Proper etiquette states that you should wait for your host or hostess to begin eating before digging into your meal. Oftentimes the hostess will serve herself last, so you’ll have to wait a bit…but you’ve waited all year for that turkey and gravy, a few more minutes won’t kill you.
-Use your utensils properly! Cut your turkey meat one bit at a time, setting your fork and knife down while you chew. If you get a piece of something that you’d rather not eat, don’t stick your fingers in your mouth – use your fork to discreetly remove said piece and place it on the outside of your plate.
-If you are a guest, always take your plate to the kitchen and offer to help clean up.
-Never bring any food or beverage that you expect to be part of the meal unless you have cleared it with your hostess. Asking in advance lets you know if a side or dessert is even necessary, and doesn’t put your hostess on the awkward or stressful spot the day-of.
All that being said and done, at the end of the day it is family. They’ll still love you (hopefully) even if you sneak a bite of your cranberries before hostess grandma, but let’s all give a little extra effort to be polite this holiday season. Not to mention you don’t want to be the black sheep gossip of the family…I find that family gossip is the most vicious! Save yourself this holiday season and put your manners smile on
We receive numerous questions about proper wedding etiquette, and none seem to be so common and cause as much anxiety as “am I supposed to bring a present to the engagement party?” And people are confused for a reason: sometimes it’s yes, sometimes it’s no.
General wedding etiquette dictates it is unnecessary to bring a gift to engagement parties. There are numerous reasons and explanations, but most often it’s due to the long line of gift-giving events in the future. However, if you feel especially close to the newly engaged couple, know you cannot attend any future celebration, or simply wish to go above-and-beyond, then a small gift is acceptable. It is now a common practice to actually specify on the invitation if no gifts are to be given – when in doubt, obey the invite!
If you do decide to arrive baring gifts, keep in mind that the party is simply to celebrate the engagement, and the gift should reflect that. Search for small items useful in the planning process (a cute binder, calendar, or humorous wedding planning guide), monogrammed home decor or utensils they can use in their new life together, or simply a congratulatory card. One of the better gifts I’ve seen were two wine glasses painted with engagement rings and other pre-wedding images to use during their engagement period. Something fun, festive, and very pocketbook friendly – it should never be overwhelmingly expensive!
And hello fist bump? Incredibly that’s the direction that doctors, clean freaks and even the NBA alike are recommending we head in (check out this article about the NBA restriction). What with the current craze of the H1N1 virus, and all other germs/diseases in general, people are seriously recommending abandoning the one formality left to our increasingly disconnected society.
As you can imagine, we here at Southern Protocol are a little enraged by this. Yes, by a handshake controversy. We are etiquette-oriented, after all…
Our main concern is the inferred laziness behind the fist bump over handshake recommendation. I realize that germs are running rampant, but haven’t they always? WASH YOUR HANDS! BE A HYGIENIC PERSON! Take extra precautions to prevent germs spreading. I literally read an article that said “how annoying is it to Purex your hands after every handshake?” My response? “How annoying is it when modern society is unflinchingly stupid?”
There is so much you can tell about a person by a simple handshake: firm or limp fish, direct eye contact or awkward aversion…Just take a second to imagine a scene in which two businessmen walk into a meeting, are introduced, and fist bump instead of handshake (”explosion” after fist bump optional). It turns formal introductions and etiquette into a joke, and we do not like it one bit.
Keep the formality, people.
You just bought a fabulous new purse for your upcoming cocktail party. You strut into the soiree and graciously accept a delicious bev. You’re enjoying casual banter and compliments when someone walks up to introduce themselves. With one hand grasped around your cocktail and the other around your new buy, you are…awkward.
This social faux pas is easily remedied! Let’s start by saying that your bag of choice at an evening affair should be small. The fancier or later in the evening the party, the smaller the bag should be. A huge hobo bag, while appropriate for daytime errands, looks bulky with a sassy evening ensemble. Clutches should be your go-to carry-all: they’re small, can be elaborate or simple, and can be found fairly cheap in most places.
When you choose a small clutch, you can simply place it underneath your left arm, holding it steady against your body. That way your right hand is open for formal handshaking, while your left can easily hold a drink or appetizer.
Still, if you’re nervous about balancing it all, most clutches come with a strap a la Chanel bags. Just make sure the strap is made of an interesting and not cheap looking material, and hang it from your shoulder instead of across your body.
I’m sure by now you’ve all heard about the incredibly mean commercial FOX ran during NFL Sunday Football this past weekend, but for those who haven’t: a Burger King sponsored commercial aired that repeatedly made fun of Jessica Simpson’s weight.
Burger King never approved of the ad, and apparently never even saw it (let’s try some responsibility before you put your name on something, shall we BK? Don’t worry…I’ll still buy your Whopper Jrs…). And after the incredible uproar that greeted the commercial, FOX issued an apology, stating that their “poor attempt at humor was insensitive.” Um..yes!
There is a fine line between funny and offensive; a line that is too often crossed on television in attempts to increase ratings or cause controversy. Here’s a tip to all you “hilarious” ad writers: don’t pick on a girl who has been in the media recently for weight issues – she never did anything to you! Not to mention that you’re about, oh, 4 months behind the ball on this particular pop culture piece of criticism?
Manners tip: if you’re even slightly wondering if what you’re about to say (or put on air, as this case might be) is rude to the point of not being funny, just don’t say it! Use discretion. No one likes a meanie. If you can’t find another way to make your friends or audience laugh…maybe you’re just not that funny and you should stick to your other strengths!
