Christmas… the True Reason for the Season

During this holiday season it’s easy to get wrapped-up (no pun intended) in the parties and long to-do lists. Think about it. Starting December 1^st, we only have 25 days or about 600 hours to decorate, shop, celebrate, and be merry. And, on the 26^th day, we clean-up and get ready for a new year. Phew… I need a glass of wine or a cup of eggnog (to stay in the holiday spirit of course) just thinking about it. With all of this on our plates, it’s easy to forget what and why we are celebrating. So, take a quick breather from the demands of your day and consider the true reason behind the season.

~It is More Blessed to Give Than to Receive. A key element at the heart and soul of Christmas is giving. Raise your hand if you’ve spent much of the past few days trapesing around town – and searching the internet – for those perfect gifts. However, this is also the time of year to consider those who are less fortunate and cannot afford to put food on their table, much less buy gifts for loved ones.  Consider other types of giving this year; adopt a child and their Christmas wish list from an Angel Tree, pay for someone’s order in the drive through line, send Christmas cards or care packages to our service men and women, many of whom will not be with their loved ones this holiday. For the past few years, I’ve made it a point to deliver baked goods to employees at our local post office, dry cleaners and bank, to name a few. It doesn’t have to be big or expensive; it is truly the through that counts. Just seeing the smiles and surprise on people’s faces is a gift that lasts in my visual memory bank all year long.   

~A Time to Celebrate and Be Close to Family and Friends. Speaking of gifts, some of my most fond and treasured memories are the presence of friends and family around a warm cozy fire or dinner table. Whether you celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah, or Kwanza, the emphasis of each of these holidays is to gather and spend time together celebrating your holiday’s traditions. This is a special time of year that can create incredible memories and remind us to cherish our loved ones. I particularly enjoy sharing old family stories and looking through photos from Christmas’ past.

            ~Our Traditions. What makes this time of year so unique are the multitude of holidays celebrated within its 31 days. Each holiday has its own distinct traditions that make it stand apart from the rest – whether it be lighting the candles on the Menorah during Hanukkah, attending a Christmas Eve church service to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, distributing goods to the less fortunate on Boxing Day or celebrating the seven principles of Nguzo Saba by lighting a candle on each day of Kwanzaa, we all have family traditions that are passed down to each generation. Our Christmas Eve is spent at church with a buffet dinner following at home. As a child, we were allowed to open one gift of our parents’ choosing that night followed by an early rise Christmas Day to see what wish-list gifts Santa left on the fireplace hearth for my brother, John, and me. Oh, and we were always quite curious to see if Santa ate all the cookies we carefully set out for him on a small plate near our Christmas stockings; did he finish the milk too? Now that we have a two-year old, I envision the same tradition being played out in our home in the years to come. May we savor and appreciate every second.

Merry Christmas and Blessings for a Wonderful New Year! 

*For Christmas inspirations, recipes, decorations, and gift ideas, please check out our Christmas Pinterest Board.*

Photo Courtesy of: Gayle Record

Making Etiquette Easy: Your Holiday Party Survival Guide

It’s hard to believe that Thanksgiving is a done deal. In addition to the wonderful memories, the food still lingers on with our refrigerator and freezer filled with leftovers from our feast.  You know what comes next, right? Ding, ding, ding, 10 points for the lady in red.  The holiday party season is about to take off with a vengeance. With a mix of both social and business holiday soirées on the calendar, this season is notorious for being overwhelming, overloaded, and overworked which ultimately takes away from the true meaning of the season.  Here’s all you need to do; take a deep breath, grab a glass of wine (always a good idea in my opinion) and then take a moment to consider this:

 

~Make a Calendar Devoted to Events. It’s so easy to get over-committed during the holidays. Not only are you attending holiday functions, but you are also buying gifts, decorating your home, sending Christmas cards, etc.  The key here is to stay organized.  I cannot function without my lists and my social events calendar.  Being able to break things down on a daily basis helps make things more manageable.  Jotting down specifics in your social and business events calendar such as reminders for host or hostess gifts, securing a baby-sitter, and managing RSVPs in a timely manner is an excellent way to stay on top of the busy weeks ahead. Santa’s got nothing on you baby!

~Handling Multiple Events in One Night. Speaking of Santa, if he can visit every home in the world in one night, then so can you. However, this notion does depend on the type of function to which you’ve committed. If one of your parties is a seated meal, then I suggest you only commit to one event that night since this type of evening entails numerous courses and some major planning by the host well in advance. It would be quite rude to leave in the middle of the meal to attend another event.  When choosing between two parties, I recommend attending the party for which you were invited first, out of courtesy. Now, if you have two parties that are both come and go, divide your time and conquer.  An hour at each event is acceptable. Whatever you do, make sure you don’t seem uninterested or rushed at the night’s first event as it can be very obvious to other guests, and more importantly the host.

~Thanking the Holiday Hostess With The Mostess. In following the Christmas spirit of giving, I always recommend bringing a host or hostess gift, especially if the event is at someone’s home. It is not as important to bring a gift when the party is at a restaurant or other locale, however, it is still a nice and thoughtful gesture. I prefer to give gifts that embody the holiday spirit, but also keep your host in mind as they may have different taste than you do. Items for the home, or an edible or drinkable treat are always a hit.  Whatever you decide, go the extra mile and add some festive wrap or ribbon to the packaging.  Make your sparkle shine brighter, and I can almost guarantee you will be on the party invite list again next year.  

            The holiday season is a wonderful time of year to celebrate with family and friends. Don’t go “all Scrooge” and let the stresses and busyness of the holiday season take away from the true meaning of the season. Enjoy and be grateful for the abundance of holiday parties and invitations.  Translated, this just means that you have a myriad of friends, family and colleagues who enjoy your company, and it’s the one time of year when you get to celebrate the gift of these relationships, whether they are personal or professional. 

*For holiday ideas from decorating to gift ideas, and recipes to gift wrapping, we encourage you to check out our Holiday Pinterest Board for some of our favorite holiday things.* 

Photo Courtesy of ©iStock.com/Shaiith

A Thoughtful Thanksgiving: A Tribute to the True Meaning of the Holiday

 

Not only does Thanksgiving mark the kick-off to the holiday season (though many retailers have been advertising for what seems like months now), but it is a unique holiday in that it is not about giving gifts but about giving thanks. Its sole purpose is to bring family and friends together to reflect on what we are thankful for in life as we enjoy the abundance of feast and the harvest of our blessings. This Thanksgiving, I encourage you to take a step back from your hectic life (and the stresses of holiday planning) and focus on the “thanks” portion of Thanksgiving. Put your pen to paper and make a list of the things you are thankful for this year. Here are a few ideas to get you started.

~Look around you. As you begin your list, start with the most obvious things from your day to day life. (This should be the easiest of the challenges). A few items on my list would be: my loving family, my generous friends and good health. Our lives are so hectic and stressful that many times we take our loved ones for granted; thus, clouding our vision of how truly blessed we are to have these folks in our lives.  Having lost my dad when I was 12 years’ old, I learned early on to truly appreciate my family and those closest to me, and to let them know daily how special they are to me. It may sound cliché, but today is a good day to let those close to you know how much you love and appreciate them.  Life is too short; live with no regrets.  

~Think big picture.  For the next part of your list, consider the bird’s eye view of your life and incorporate the big picture items for which you are thankful. A few things that come to mind for me are living in the United States, not facing persecution for religious expression, and the overall freedoms we enjoy in America. Even though we are constantly exposed to the hardships and tragedy our world is facing through the nightly news, I must admit that it’s easier not to think about how close to home some of these issues are. We are blessed to call the U.S. home and to have the freedom to live out our dreams if we so choose.  We are a blessed nation.

~Live a life of gratitude every day. Thanksgiving should not be the one day of the year you consider the blessings in your life. I challenge you to make gratitude lists not just on or around Thanksgiving, but year round. I know it is easier said than done, but making a weekly list of the things you are thankful for can really have an impact on your life. These lists don’t need to be lengthy or even complete sentences. Just jotting down some of the things you are thankful for each week will immediately impact your attitude and outlook, which in turn can cause a positive chain reaction in your life. On “off” days when things just don’t seem to be going your way, your lists will equip you with an arsenal that you can use to keep things in perspective and put a smile on your face.

As I get wiser in my years, I’m reminded that it’s important to be thankful for everything that has happened in our lives because we wouldn’t be where we are today without the course that history has taken. I think there’s an old Garth Brooks song along those lines… “Unanswered Prayers.”  This Thanksgiving, let’s collectively look past the turkey and football games, and use the spirit of the holiday to reflect on and recognize the things in life that make us blessed. In doing so, I assure you that your Thanksgiving meal will be a lot more meaningful – and maybe even tastier – than it has ever been in the past.

~ Have a blessed Thanksgiving surrounded by the ones you love. ~

            For additional Thanksgiving inspiration and recipes for some of my favorite dishes, check out my special holiday board on Pinterest. 

 

Photo Courtesy of OpenClips.

 

Making Etiquette Easy: The Delicate Nature of Formal Dining

It’s hard to believe, but Thanksgiving – one of my favorite holidays – is right around the corner.  With Thanksgiving, comes the ushering in of the official holiday season which is sure to be filled with a plethora of both social and professional events. As we enter into this time of cheer, I thought I’d take a moment to revisit some key components to formal dining as it can be somewhat intimidating (particularly when several courses are served).  Fear the pheasant no more as I have compiled a list of formal dining tips to help solve culinary-related dilemmas.

-Always take cues from your host. Your host will serve as your guide throughout the meal. It is a general rule of thumb that you should wait to start your meal until the host has invited you to do so, either verbally or by picking up the first course silver. You don’t want to start eating before then as the host may plan to say grace or give a toast. Normally, the host will wait until all of the guests are seated and have received their food before he or she begins.  You should also follow the host’s direction for the timing of the various courses, as well as for the meal’s conclusion.
 

-Certain Silverware Has Certain Roles. If you observe how the table is set for a formal meal you will notice that there are usually two or three of everything depending on the courses forthcoming.  This is where a lot of folks start to panic.  The simplest way to navigate this conundrum is to remember that utensils are placed in the order of the course with the first course farthest from the plate.  So your salad fork will be to the left of your dinner fork. For spoons, look at the size of the head on the spoon first. The larger and wider the head means that that it is your soup spoon and the smaller and narrower spoon will be your teaspoon. 
 

-The Dreaded Bread Plate. I can’t tell you how many times someone has put their bread on my bread plate after the bread basket has been passed.   Many times further confusion commences when someone else at the table has correctly placed their bread.  To assure you are not the cause of a bread upheaval, remember that your bread plate is always to the left of your table setting and place it accordingly.

-Is That My Drink? When seated at a formal table, knowing which drink is yours can give pause, especially when the person next to you is also uncertain.  I always find the following saying helpful, “In order to drink right you must drink from the right”. With that being said, all of your glasses should be organized from widest to narrowest to the right of your place setting. Your water glass should be your widest glass and closest to you, followed by your wine glass (or glasses if both red and white wine will be served), and finally your champagne glass.

            Don’t let the formalities of formal dining take away from the enjoyment of your meal.  If your host is serving a formal meal, it means that much time and effort has been spent to make the occasion a special one.  Just keep these simple rules in your mind and you will dine with ease and delight! 

Photo Courtesy of: noahherrera

Making Etiquette Easy: Email and Text Misfires... Tackling the Unintended Consequences

                Have you ever sent or received an email that was intended for someone else?  In our fast-paced professional and social environments, technology has provided us with several tools that encourage rapid communication.  On second glance, perhaps we rely too heavily on auto-fill or are too quick to send a text without verifying that it is being sent to the intended.  Take a minute, okay a few seconds, to consider next steps should you find yourself in this scenario.

 

                -Sending emails or texts to the wrong person. There’s nothing worse than that sinking feeling in the pit of your stomach when you hit send and the recipient was not who you intended it to be.  As soon as you realize you have made the error, take responsibility immediately by following up with a phone call or direct email to the unintended recipient.  Apologize for the error and ask that they kindly ignore your email or text.  In a work setting, depending on the sensitivity of the email or text content, you may also need to loop in your boss and/or the legal team, so corrective action can be taken. Just remember to accept the possible consequences, address them as best you can, and move forward having learned from the experience.

                -Receiving emails or texts intended for someone else. Those who send emails or texts to unintended recipients may not immediately realize their error. No action is necessary from you should you find yourself on the receiving end of a misfire, but as a courtesy, it doesn’t hurt to send a polite email letting the sender know that you have received their email and believe it was intended for someone else. This way, they are alerted of their mistake and can get the email or text to the appropriate person.  I received a “rogue” email recently, and to avoid further embarrassment for the sender (it was a group email), I called and left a gracious message to make him aware of the mistake.  

                -Make it a habit to always double check. Always make it a habit to review emails every time prior to hitting send, whether you are distributing a corporate-wide confidential memo or confirming your weekend plans with a close friend.  Taking a few extra minutes to double check the “to” line can prevent these particular mishaps and is the only way to save you from heart burn every time.

 

                It’s easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of life, and rush through simple tasks such as emailing.  Most of the time communication misfires will cause nothing more than minor embarrassment; however, they can have the potential to cause serious damage or consequences, especially in work scenarios.  Think of it as having an internal pause button… push it before hitting send.

 Photo Courtesy of nvtrlab

Making Etiquette Easy: Keeping your Campaign Season Composure in Check While at Work

 

Every two years in the fall, our lives are consumed by the passion of politics as we near the first Tuesday in November, Election Day. Our yards, cars, and conversations all tend to reflect our political beliefs, as well as the candidates we endorse. Even though as Americans we have the right to practice the first amendment, I urge caution when it comes to political discourse in your professional landscape. Below, I have compiled a few things to consider before opening the door to politics in the office.  

                ­-The politicians we support are a direct reflection of what we believe.  Even in Texas, not everyone prescribes to the same belief system.  People come from a variety of backgrounds and upbringings, which ultimately shapes their world view. Our ability to elect government officials who we feel represent us is important to folks, and with that can come a strong emotional tie. Choosing to discuss politics in the office can be similar to discussing religion; it can be controversial, and a discussion can become heated and out of control very quickly.

-Refrain from discussing other candidates. Bad mouthing a particular candidate or government official has the potential to offend a coworker if it happens to be someone they support, and to some, this may seem as if you are mocking their personal beliefs. These situations can lead to you not only loosing respect from your coworkers, but it can make group work and projects uncomfortable as well.  At the end of the day, political discourse can become a distraction to you and your coworkers and hinder productivity.

-Political discussions do not have to be avoided at all times. In our business, political discussions occur more frequently as the news cycle hits on policies and topics impactful to our clients or their industry.  As this opens the door for political discussions in the work place, we have a pretty clear picture of where coworkers and clients stand politically and feel comfortable managing our discussions around politics.  However, even when you know where folks stand on the political spectrum, there is still a suitable time and place for these discussions. So if there is ever a question to the appropriateness, I recommend erring on the side of caution and choosing a different subject matter.  

Even though politics may be on the forefront of our minds during the month of October, remember to keep your composure in check while at work, and among co-workers or clients. There’s no need to compromise your professionalism or relationships by “going there.”

 

Making Etiquette Easy: Organizing Outrageously Overloaded Calendars

 

These days it doesn’t take much to feel overrun by busy schedules and bulging calendars that seem to beg for more hours in a day. I don’t know about you, but I have a “master” calendar where I meticulously record all commitments in pencil (I know, it’s old school, but it works) and then I have my computer Outlook and iPhone calendars.  As I’m sure you can relate, having too many calendars can lead to double booking and over-committed days.  Here are some tips on how to organize multiple calendars and ultimately stop calendar madness:

 

                -Choose a primary calendar and sync it up to your devices.  It’s really wise to choose a calendar program you use frequently and have constant access to, such as Outlook. Once you’ve done that, go through each of your existing calendars and import important dates to assure that everything is in one place. As I mentioned, I keep a hard copy of my calendar (it’s my constant companion) as a reference and always use a pencil, as dates and appointments tend to shift on short notice.

                -Color code your calendars for different portions of your life. If you are a busy professional (like pretty much everyone I know!) and like to stay as organized as possible, you can color code your calendars to denote different categories of events. For example, I use different colors for work, our daughter’s schedule, family events, and social events.  This method has really helped me stay on track with my calendar and maintain that elusive healthy work/life balance.

                -Share your calendars. As technology has evolved, we now have the ability to share our calendars with others. My husband and I share calendars so we can both can make calendar additions or changes, and remain on the same page regarding family events and work commitments. As we both juggle our careers and family life, this has helped us to stay organized and avoid what we call “the double book.”

 

                Our schedules and calendars can get out of hand very quickly, so taking these few simple steps to get organized will help avoid feeling overwhelmed by that over-committed monster of a calendar.