Can you believe that we’re already halfway through the summer?? For me, the official “midway” point was always July 4th festivities, and it snuck up on me this year like never before.

What that means for all you chic and happenin’ mamas out there is that you are in the downhill slide to the August start of your kids’ school year! For your lively children it means a return to 8:00 am – 3:00 pm schooldays, indoor voices, and actually staying seated during lunch time… does that make you a tad nervous? Don’t let it!

Southern Protocol is teaming up once again with Charleston Museum to offer a Back to School manners workshop on Saturday, August 7th from 9:00 am – 11:00 am. We’ll cover general manners and etiquette, as always (including behaving in public, introductions, phone manners, etc), but we’ll have a special emphasis on behavior in the school building (including table manners, sportsmanship, public speaking, etc).

As always, the class includes a snack and numerous activities that enforce good manners in a fun and interactive way – they’ll be in polite, school mode in no time

This Petite Protocol class with a twist is only offered for our smaller friends, ages 6-10. Cost is $20 for members, $25 for non-members. Reservations are required; please visit the Charleston Museum website for registration, or contact sthomas@charlestonmuseum.org for more information.

T-Minus one week until our Petite Protocol camp at The Gibbes Museum of Art!

Next week, June 21-25, is for kids ages 4 to 6; the June 28 – July 2 session the following week will be for all 7-12 year olds. While the camp will cover basic etiquette – introductions, thank you notes, table manners, etc – we will also focus on international manners and how to behave in a museum. The 1.5 hour daily camp (12:00 – 1:30) will include time for lunch, activities, and a lot of interactive learning!

There are still a few spaces open for both weeks, so head on over to the Gibbes website and register today!

Etiquette isn’t just about table manners and who opens the door for who anymore; the technology and internet revolution has added a whole new set of things to consider when trying to be polite. Most of them you’d think are common sense – taking your earphones out when you run into someone you know, not taking a call on your cell while out at dinner, etc – but navigating the waters can always be a bit murky.

Which is why we were thrilled when a reader brought our attention to an entry about Tech Etiquette on the Real Simple blog! Using advice and protocol from manners experts around the country, the article tackles important ways to be polite in the new electronic era. Very interesting – and we definitely approve! Check it out now so you don’t make any modern blunders

Just a quick shout out to all you sensational, one-of-a-king mothers out there. It can never be said enough how much you do for your family, and how fabulous you are!

Remember to do something extra sweet for your mama this weekend – whether it’s a heartfelt present, lengthy phone call, brunch outing, or multiple random acts of kindness. Anything to show the number one woman in your life how much you love her!

Now it’s time to put your etiquette knowledge to the test!

In honor of his new book on manners in the 21st Cenutry, Classy, Derek Blasberg created a quiz for Style.com to see how you measure up. Do you follow the extreme decollatege trend seen on the fall runways? Do you blast a frenemy with internet gossip when she wrongs you? Take the quiz and see how you measure up!

The book, which prides itself on being “exceptional advice for the extremely modern lady” covers quite the range of topics, with a voice that is one part Manhattan snob (where Blasberg now resides) and one part Midwestern good boy (the talented writer was born in St. Louis, Missouri). Using quotes from real socialites – both classy and those who have fallen from grace in their Jimmy Choos – he instructs the reader on everything from fashion and socializing to general etiquette and dating.

I’ve heard the book truly is quite hilarious and informative; I’m thinking it should be a must-read for all Southern fashionistas!

And then, come Monday, it’s time to get down to business. Southern Protocol is taking next week as a “Spring Break”…a deceitful term that would have you thinking we’re off lounging on the sand all day…we wish! We’ll actually be right in the middle of renovating our office – hello, organization and a few facelifts!

So if the blog seems a little slow, or it takes us a few days to get back to you via email or phone call, kindly give us some wiggle room. We’ll get back to you, our fabulous Southern fashionistas, as soon as we can! And when it’s all said and done, you’re all welcome to come over and gossip with a drink or two in our updated abodes.

Also – deepest apologies for the lack of pictures these past few days…a little glitch we’re trying to fix! I’m super bummed because I had the best one for this post: one of those vintage pictures with a woman thinking “I dreamed my whole house was clean!”

Happy Easter!

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!