Social & Lifestyle Etiquette

  Learn the right things to say to get the item you want at the best possible price. There are certain rules of etiquette that should be respected when shopping for antiques at flea markets, garage sales, antiques stores, and market stalls. Antiquing is a fun way to spend an afternoon, but remember that the…

Time and time again I get emails asking for gift ideas. Why, I ask myself, when there are a zillion giftie items on the market? To make things easier on both sexes this (and every) holiday season, here’s a list of my favorites. Some are generic, some might seem downright odd, but they’re creative and…

1. Are elbows ever allowed on the table? Yes. In between courses or when no food is on the table. This holds true for everyone at the table. 2. When eating soup, should you spoon the soup away from you? Yes. Soup is always spooned away from, not toward you. This prevents spills and eliminates…

  Pregnant women are beautiful, but pregnancy is also very personal. No one can help but be amazed by the miracle of a pregnant woman’s body, and in our society today, women often seem to want to show off am expanding belly (a far cry from the old days, when women tried to hide the…

For many, the spa experience can be a stressful one, but it shouldn’t be. It’s not the dentist’s office! Each day spa is unique, but they all have one thing in common: They’re there to give you peace and serenity. Remember the 3Rs: Rest, Relax, Rejuvenate. For optimum spa pleasure, follow the guide below. Decide…

  The much-anticipated U.S. Open comes to San Francisco June 11-17. As a non-golfer who grew with a golfing father and now husband, I have learned some of the rules of the game over the years. Words like fore and green were common around our house. A reminder of the rules never hurts, and as…

Raise your hand if you think it’s okay to apply lipstick at the table. If men aren’t allowed to wear hats indoors, why should women be able to fix their makeup in public? In general, applying makeup of any kind should be avoided in public. Checking yourself out in a compact mirror and applying lipstick…

Here are answers to several common travel questions: 1. Is it okay to shake hands in all countries? Don’t people in some countries hug and kiss upon greeting? In most cultures, people shake hands. But it all depends on where you are in the world. In Turkey, men don’t shake hands when greeting each other;…