Setting attainable and enjoyable New Year’s resolutions

I’m not a big fan of making New Year’s resolutions because I find they are easy to break after a few weeks. The gym I belong to is a perfect example of this – hordes of new people fill the classes in January and by February most of them have disappeared. It can be hard…

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Navigating holiday gifting and tipping dilemmas

Wondering if you can regift that ugly sweater Aunt Mary gave you? Are you stumped by office gift giving protocol? Feeling tripped up about tipping the service people in your life? The holidays pose many etiquette dilemmas that can leave you fretting. No need to fret, here are answers to the most common holiday etiquette…

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Conversation tips to make your holiday mingling easier

It’s the season of mingling and celebrating. That time of year when you may be attending holiday parties, family dinners and the company celebration. If these events fill you with dread, you’re not alone. Many people struggle with socializing with strangers or people they don’t know well even if they are family or coworkers. But…

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Avoiding Thanksgiving manners mishaps and misunderstandings

A festival dining table with food and decorations.

I love Thanksgiving. Not only are turkey, gravy and all the fixings my favorite foods but I love being with family and friends celebrating our blessings. However, with most gatherings over meals there are often manners mishaps and misunderstandings. To keep the peace I thought it might be helpful to share answers to some common…

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The gift of presence: A Thanksgiving message

Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays. I love the focus on gratitude and being thankful for the blessings in our lives. I love spending time with family that isn’t centered around gifts, rather that we share the gifts of our presence with each other. And I have to admit, I also love turkey, gravy,…

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How to check the time without appearing rude

I’ve been thinking about time lately. More precisely, I’ve been thinking about how to politely check the time when meeting with others. Keeping track of the hour in the presence of another person presents a few challenges.

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Do your digital devices have manners?

The other day I was trying to get information on my iPhone by asking Siri, the personal assistant, to help me. As too often happens, Siri was not giving me what I needed. It seems I speak English and she speaks Russian. In frustration, I said, “Siri, you’re not giving me the information I need!”…

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Dinner party dos and don’ts

As we approach fall, the cooler months are a wonderful time to have dinner parties and cocktail gatherings, especially around the holidays. My husband and I love to have friends over to dinner. Whether a casual spur of the moment get together or a planned out dinner party, it’s always nice to enjoy the company…

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