Archive for the category ‘social grace’

Grace’s Tip of the Day: The Importance of RSVP

By Social Grace
Handmade Wedding Invitation
Image via Wikipedia

Always RSVP on time and hold to your answer!

Every invitation you receive will have an RSVP date. That date is your deadline for when you must tell the host/ hostess whether or not you will be able to attend their event. RSVP is an acronym for a French phrase but the English translation is “please reply”. Your answer is vital to the host’s planning. They will use the number of RSVP’s to determine how much food and drinks to provide as well as to prepare the location for the specified number of people. If you say you will be there, be there! You will look rude and disrespectful backing out on your commitment.

Reblog this post [with Zemanta]
Did you like this? Share it:

This entry was posted on February 19th, 2010 under social grace, tip of the day.

Ask Grace: Mom’s dress is my mess…

By Social Grace

Dear Grace,

When I invited my mom to go dress shopping, she told me she wants me to wear her dress. How do I tell her I don’t want to wear her dress?

From,

Lost for words in Ohio

Dear Lost for words,

Unfortunately this is a touchy subject and you are going to have to be honest with your mother. If you don’t want to wear her dress you have to tell her your reasons. No matter what your reasons are try to tell her gently and without being insulting. Remember: this dress is very special to her, so avoid comments that will make her feel less important or embarrassed.

If you don’t like the style because it is outdated, tell her you don’t want to wear it because it doesn’t fit your body shape correctly. If it doesn’t fit your personal style tell your mother that despite its sentimental value, you won’t feel like yourself when you wear it.

Another option is to take some lace or applique from the dress and have it incorporated into your own wedding dress. This may ruin your mother’s dress from being worn again so this must be a decision the two of you make together. You can even save the pieces of the dress so that they may be used towards your daughter’s dress or your grand-daughter’s. (For the very creative: take some fabric from your Mom’s dress and make some pretty pillow covers. Make sure you share the finished products with your Mom!)

If disassembling the dress is emotionally difficult then you can have a special saying or bit of wisdom that mother has said to you embroidered to the inside of the dress so that you have her kind words with you all day.

It sounds like your Mom is very excited to share this experience with you! Giving her options that make her feel extra special as Mother of the Bride will make up for the fact that you won’t be wearing her dress!

xoxo,

Grace

P.S. And just for fun: Check out Lazy Susan’s advice on this matter (but please don’t follow it!)

Reblog this post [with Zemanta]
Did you like this? Share it:

Tags: , , , ,

This entry was posted on February 18th, 2010 under ask grace, social grace.

Lazy Susan: Mom’s dress is my mess…

By Lazy Susan
Bride, 1968. "Here is my mother on her we...
Image via Wikipedia

Today, Social Grace gave some advice on what to do when your mom wants you to wear her wedding dress. Sure, you can take her advice if you want to. But wouldn’t it be more fun to take my advice?

1. Tell her yes, take the dress with you, then stage a home robbery.

2. Gain a ton of weight so there’s no way you’ll fit in it.

3. If flying to your wedding,tell her your bag got lost and you miraculously have a back-up dress.

4. Ask you mom, “If I wear your dress what will you wear?”

5. Move to a new place, change your phone number and start a new life.

Don’t like my advice? Fine. Then I guess you can do what Social Grace suggests.

Reblog this post [with Zemanta]
Did you like this? Share it:

Tags: , , ,

This entry was posted on February 18th, 2010 under ask grace, social grace.

Grace’s Tip of the Day: Being A Guest

By Social Grace
Camellia sasanqua
Image by yamaken via Flickr

Always offer to bring something to every party you attend. The host is making an effort and every guest must do the same.

Though some have said bringing flowers can be a burden to the host, who then must gather a vase during the soiree, others who have received flowers say…is there ever a bad time to get some beautifully scented buds?

If the host doesn’t need food or desserts brought you can always consider a nice bottle of wine, and if they are non-drinkers a non-alcoholic drink such as a sparkling fruit cocktail can be a wonderful addition to a meal. But remember, it’s always the thought that counts.

To save money look at flowers in bloom during this time of year, such as White Camellia’s shown on the right.

Reblog this post [with Zemanta]
Did you like this? Share it:

This entry was posted on February 17th, 2010 under social grace, tip of the day.

Grace’s Tip of the Day: The Prepared Hostess

By Social Grace
Bed made with white bed linen. Four fluffy pil...
Image via Wikipedia

Keep extra sheets & pillow cases handy just in case you have a visitor. Any good hostess must be ready for what (or who) might come her way.

This might seem like a silly tip but in all honesty things happen. A friend might drink a little too much and need to stay on your couch. Someone else might come to you in a time of need.

Having one spare set of sheets will not only make you feel more confident as a hostess, but more importantly, it will make your guest feel more comfortable and it will allow them to feel at home.

Reblog this post [with Zemanta]
Did you like this? Share it:

Tags: , , , , , , ,

This entry was posted on February 16th, 2010 under social grace, tip of the day.

Grace’s Tip of the Day: Cheering up a Friend

By Social Grace
Blue Daisy at Monticello
Image by Tony the Misfit via Flickr

Flowers are always the best bet for cheering up your best friend’s day! Studies have proven that flowers improve a girls spirits more than any other present, that is except for maybe a ring!

All of us have our moments of frustration. If you notice a friend is in the slumps sometimes talking about it doesn’t help. Sending a note along with a bright bouquet will lift their mood considerably. Just because gifts are always the most surprising to receive and the most rewarding to give.

Reblog this post [with Zemanta]
Did you like this? Share it:

Tags: , , , , , , ,

This entry was posted on February 12th, 2010 under social grace, tip of the day.

Lazy Susan: Your Ex’s Wedding

By Lazy Susan

Social Grace answered a letter today from Feeling low in Radford, VA, about a girl coping with her ex-boyfriend’s upcoming wedding. Lazy Susan insisted on giving her two cents. Please note, the thoughts and opinions expressed are solely that of Lazy Susan and meant for entertainment value. Real advice should always be taken from Social Grace.

So, my girl, Grace, told Feeling low to take the high road,  but where’s the fun in that?

Here’s what I think Feeling Low should do:

Start the morning of the wedding off with some arts and crafts. Go through your old photo albums and collect all the pictures you have of you and your ex.
Once you’ve got them all together, shred them.

Put the remnants into a bag (paper, plastic, purse, it doesn’t matter.)

Next, you need to get all dolled up. Put on your hottest outfit (bonus points if it’s white), get your hair did, makeup on, the works.

Now, go down to the church, the court, the beach, wherever your ex is having the ceremony. Don’t know where the ceremony is going down? You’re not trying hard enough. You’ve got mutual friends, there’s some engagement announcement. Get on the phone and do your homework. If you can’t find out where the ceremony is, you can find out where the reception will be. Just do it.

Now you need to decide whether you want to go to the ceremony or the reception. It’s up to you; it really doesn’t make a difference to me.

If you’re going to the place of the wedding, join the guests who are waiting outside with bubbles. Once you see the couple, get your ex’s attention. Then dump you ex-confetti all over him and his new bride.

If you opt to go to the reception, wait until the couple is seated at the head of their table before surprising them with the photo bomb.

Then, have a good laugh at the dumb couple. It might not be mature, but it sure will be fun to see their faces. Right?

Oh yeah, one more thing. Make sure to wear running shoes because you’re going to have to make a run for it.

You don’t like my advice? Fine, then go ahead and listen to Social Grace.

Editors note: Lazy Susan’s advice is purely for entertainment purposes. Taking any of her advice is on you. 

Did you like this? Share it:

Tags: , , , ,

This entry was posted on February 11th, 2010 under ask grace, social grace.

Ask Grace: Your Ex’s Wedding

By Social Grace

Dear Social Grace,

My ex-boyfriend is getting married this Saturday and I’m a mess! We dated for about four years and we were serious before going through a pretty bad break-up. I thought I had moved on but now I’m consumed with the feelings of frustration and jealousy. What should I do to put him out of my mind?!! I don’t want to be the catty girl who won’t let him move on or let myself move on!

Feeling low in Radford, VA

Dear Feeling Low,

First of all, you are over-analyzing this entire situation way to much! It’s normal to have mixed feelings when you see someone that you were once intimate with moving on in such a dramatic way. It’s okay to feel these feelings; the important thing to do is to go forward with your head held high! It sounds like you hardly thought about him before you heard the news of his upcoming nuptials and you should keep that same mentality. Make his special day a special day of your own: treat yourself to a pedicure or get together with your girlfriends! Bottom line: the past ended long ago so be in the moment and have fun!

XOXO,

Grace

If you have questions that need answering email askgrace@proposalmagazine.com!

P.S. Check out what my counterpoint, Lazy Susan suggests, but I warn you, don’t take her advice!

Reblog this post [with Zemanta]
Did you like this? Share it:

Tags: , , , ,

This entry was posted on February 11th, 2010 under ask grace, social grace.

Grace’s Tip of the Day: Mothers and Laws

By Social Grace
Two left hands forming an outline of a heart s...
Image via Wikipedia

Always include your future Mother-in-Law.  Don’t get along? Take her to lunch and get to know her. Remember, you don’t have to be best friends…just family.

So you might not be ready to take her dress shopping but asking your future Mother-in-Law to attend a friendly lunch or coffee can do wonders for your relationship. Get to know her; don’t be shy! She’s your hubby mama so try your best to get along! If you happen to know her too well and wish you didn’t just try to grin and bare it through the pre-wedding festivities and then give her some space once they are all through. If you do have your issues there is no reason to push it and make anything more tense.

Reblog this post [with Zemanta]
Did you like this? Share it:

Tags: , , , , , , ,

This entry was posted on February 10th, 2010 under social grace, tip of the day.

Grace’s Tip of the Day: Effortless Hostessing

By Social Grace
No coffee [20/09/09]
Image by ulfklose via Flickr

When having a party it’s always nice to offer guests coffee in the late hours. It’s an inexpensive gesture that offers sophistication in even the most casual of get-togethers.

Have you ever seen an old movie where the couple in the film decide to get coffee in the middle of the night? They just came from a swanky cocktail party and then they decide to duck into a no frills diner to flirt without the bother of strangers. Well, asking your guests if they want a little mid-night pick-me-up can be an easy and sophisticated way to keep the party going. That little boost of energy can go a long way on the dance floor. Cocktails and coffee? There is nothing more chic!

Reblog this post [with Zemanta]
Did you like this? Share it:

Tags: , , , , ,

This entry was posted on February 9th, 2010 under social grace, tip of the day.