Relationships & Family Etiquette

  I could have used these tips during the time period when most of my friends were getting married. As a bridesmaid or friend, I was either hosting or attending wedding showers for more years than I can count. When you are a bride-to-be, you want to do everything right, and there’s a lot to…

When my husband and I arrived in Healdsburg eight years ago, we rented a house in town and I often rode my bike to the Downtown Bakery for coffee. Among the group of regulars who gathered in front of the bakery was a man I noticed because he seemed so happy and friendly. Luckily for…

  Wedding season is just around the corner. There are rules of decorum that go along with being a bride-to-be. Make sure you’re a gracious bride and not a Bridezilla by following the guidelines below: 1. Out-of-Towners. For family and friends who travel a long distance, make sure to include them in all weekend festivities,…

If you are planning to take the plunge into the world of online dating, you should learn the code of online dating etiquette first; it will save you from wasting time, being disappointed and hurting the feelings of other people. Online dating is not a game. You will be dealing with real people with real…

As well all know, holidays can be tricky for families. It’s the time to make peace, not war, especially since family get-togethers don’t happen every day. But a holiday gathering can sometimes be a minefield, what with off-the-wall family members, conversation pitfalls, gift-giving quandaries, and dietary restrictions. Here are some guidelines to help make your…

• Gifts: Gifts (hostess or otherwise) don’t need to be expensive. It really is the thought that counts! Do your homework in regard to the giftee so you can give a gift he or she really wants. Use simple, elegant wrapping paper and ribbon. And never walk into a party empty-handed. • Party Invitations: When…

Do you remember the particular etiquette rules in your home when you were growing up? Yes, you. We all had them. And some of them were just strange. For example, my mother would flip out if my sister and I walked into the kitchen with our long hair not pulled back. Hair was her thing….

  Serenity comes when you trade expectations for acceptance. —Unknown Fertility, shmertility. It seems I cannot read printed material of any kind without finding a discussion of women and fertility. Take it from someone who’s been there: Trying to conceive a child can be a heartbreaking journey, especially when choosing a nontraditional method of conception….

To re-gift or not to re-gift? If you feel that re-gifting is cheap, think again. Being thrifty is being smart. In this economy, re-gifting makes great sense as long as you remove any evidence that the gift was once yours. The last thing you want to do is hurt someone’s feelings. Never try and pass…

A gift should reflect the relationship you have with the recipient. Giving a truly great present speaks volumes, but how can you be sure to find the one that will perfectly suit the person you’re shopping for? The following tips are a guide to savvy gift-buying. DO . . . Strategize. When selecting gifts for…