The latest from your experts.
Do you know how to wow your Valentine? Take a tip from Modern Manners Guy (via Sharp magazine)
Is chivalry dead?
No way, says Modern Manners Guy!
Check out his advice on how to knock the socks off your Valentine without spending a fortune or hiring a skywriter to proclaim your love. His advice is featured in this month’s Sharp magazine (Canada’s answer to GQ).
Check out slide 3 for Modern Manners Guy’s savvy tip.
By Legal Lad
When is it OK to post social media updates at work? (via Asthma Helper/Flickr)
When in a workplace environment, “at-will” employees can be terminated for any reasons, the least of which might be a misdirected Facebook posting, or a Twitter joke gone awry. However, various laws may also offer protection for posting certain kinds of content online. These include:
Do you know guest bathroom etiquette? (via Sustainable sanitation/Flickr)
When using the bathroom in someone’s home, be certain to leave the bathroom as clean as you found it. Put the toilet seat and cover down when you are done, and pull the door all but shut when you leave. If you’ve left the bathroom a bit smelly, you should make sure to use the fan or crack a window (if possible) to air things out a bit.
If there is air freshener present and you wish to use it, use only a small amount. A candle or match may also help to dissipate odors. And remember, when it comes to the debate between men and women about toilet seat positioning, the polite thing to do is for everyone is to leave both the toilet seat and cover down.
If you’re confused about what to wear to an event, you’re not alone. Most of the really strange formalities have passed away along with the Age of the Debutante, but there are still a few gradations of formal dress you should be aware of.
White Tie – An invitation to a White Tie event is very rare, unless you know some diplomats. For a White Tie event, men should wear a white bow tie, white waistcoat, and black jacket with tails. Women should wear an elegant floor-length evening gown, gloves, and jewelry. Historically “Formal” meant White Tie, but nowadays Formal generally refers to Black Tie.
via dslrninja/Flickr
Black Tie – For women, this would have historically required a long dress, but today a short dress or evening suit may do. For men, this means tuxedo. A tuxedo should be worn with a tuxedo shirt with matching studs and cufflinks, a bowtie (preferably hand-tied), patent leather shoes, and either a cummerbund or a waistcoat (never both). If you wear a cummerbund, it should be worn with the pleats facing up. Continue reading ‘Your Guide to Dressing Up’
What can be more American than a good ol’ fashioned grocery store? However, no matter how nice the amenities, sometimes it’s the patrons that will ruin the visit. So, here are my top 3 Quick and Dirty Tips for happy shopping:
Tip #1 – It’s Not NASCAR
I love my local, friendly grocery store. But unfortunately, it was turning into a NASCAR track! Carts carelessly whip around the aisles, at unheard of speeds. While grocery shopping, don’t rush. There’s no need to make it an all day trip, but you’d be
Do you have proper grocery store etiquette? Photo courtesy of Getty Images
amazed at how relaxing it can be if you took your time. Also, drop the cell phone. If you have one hand on your phone, how can you maneuver the cart? Try a headset, if you are taking calls.
Tip #2 – Over the Limit?
This is a great concept that works if you follow the directions. Which is easy — only bring in the limit of food that the line says. Done! If you have more, step out of line and join the regular one.
Some events require punctuality, while others are more casual, where it’s acceptable to be fashionably late. Let’s break it down:
(via hannahneh710/Flickr)
Someone is meeting you at your home – arrive at least 10 minutes early
Check out Modern Manners Guy‘s second guest spot on FOX Extra. This one is about job interview etiquette for the 21st century.
Are you doing everything to land your dream job? Watch to find out!
These days you can exercise in private gyms, office gyms, public gyms and even just the great outdoors. With more people exercising as of late, herds of new gym-goers are bringing different ideas of what’s acceptable to gyms across the country. Here are a few areas where things can get a bit awkward, but with these tips you can retain your poise and dignity AND get a ripped physique.
This can be an uncomfortable place (via flattop341/Flickr)
Strict traditionalists will tell you that you should not just say “Pardon me” if you accidentally bump up against someone in a crowded space. “Pardon” is a command, and it would be rude to command someone to pardon you after you’ve committed some infraction against his or her person.
Try “I beg your pardon” or “Please excuse me” instead– now you are asking for forgiveness for your terrible transgression. In modern times, however, everyone more or less understands that “Pardon me” is intended as an apology for something intrusive or unpleasant.
It's easy to rub someone the wrong way in crowded places like Times Square (Devon_Maid/Flickr)
If you unintentionally push, jostle, bump or otherwise upset a person or his belongings, apologize or ask for forgiveness. In such a case, it would be fine to say something as elaborate as “I’m terribly sorry, I beg your pardon,” or as simple as “So sorry” or “Pardon me.” It is also reasonable to scale your response based on the situation; gently bumping someone in the airplane aisle versus spilling a glass of wine in someone’s lap deserve different levels of apology.
You may also beg pardon or apologize for something you are just about to do. For example, if you need to leave the table in the middle of the meal, it is appropriate to say, “Please excuse me.” If you need to interrupt a conversation, you should say something like “I’m terribly sorry to interrupt.” If you are in a theater and need to pass by seated patrons, try “Please excuse me, but may I pass by?” or simply the shorthand, “Pardon me.” You may even find it easier, if not more pleasant, to get past fellow passengers in a crowded street car if you beg their pardon first.
One of the best ways to save time is to form relationships that help you reach your goals. I don’t just mean huge, lifelong relationships. I mean a two-minute investment that might make your day go a little smoother.
Many of us only interact with service people when we are upset. The service person experiences nothing but a stream of dissatisfied, grumpy people. By being polite, empathizing with them, and treating them like a fellow human being, you can form a connection.
Then when you need that extra glass of water on the plane, or would like an extra pillow for your hotel room, you’re not a random, demanding stranger. They’ll actually enjoy helping you out, and you’ll enjoy their help. It’s a win-win that will often get you what you want, when you want it, faster than you expected.
Strike up a friendship with your local deli cashier, get a sandwich quick when you're in a bind. (Tom Walter/Flickr)
I do this everywhere. As a result, when I’m late to a meeting and need a quick lunch, a phone call to my local deli gets my order to the front of the line. The support rep at the phone company helps me add services and keep my old pricing plan, even though that plan is obsolete and is not supposed to be renewed.
You have to be sincerely interested in connecting with the other person in order for this to work, but relationships are often the difference between struggling to get things done and having things flow smoothly and effortlessly.
