Change your ‘board room’ look, to a ‘party room’ look, by changing your top, jacket, shoes and accessories. Nothing say’s “party” like a little sparkle. And this year we are seeing sparkle on everything!
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Change your ‘board room’ look, to a ‘party room’ look, by changing your top, jacket, shoes and accessories. Nothing say’s “party” like a little sparkle. And this year we are seeing sparkle on everything!
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In a traditional European dining environment the custom is for the fingerbowl is used after the dessert is eaten. If it has been presented to you as part of the dessert service, with both hands move the finger bowl and the doily together with both hands and place them in front of you after you have finished your dessert and your dessert plate has been removed. Dip the fingers of one hand into the water, and then dry them before dipping the fingers of the other hand into the water. After you are finished, place your napkin in loose folds to the left of your place setting.
For more on this topic buy eBook ‘Formal Dining for Informal People’
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A dessert service consists of a dessert plate. On the plate, there will be a finger bowl placed on a doily in the centre of the plate, with a dessert fork to the left and a dessert spoon placed to the right of the finger bowl.
The guest sets the fork on the table to the left of the plate and the spoon to the right of the plate. Then picks up the doily and the fingerbowl, and places them on the table at the upper left of the dessert plate. The server then places the dessert on the plate.
When dessert has been served onto your plate, the spoon is held in the right hand. The fork is held in the left hand. Cut the dessert using the spoon. The dessert is pushed onto the spoon with the fork and eaten with the spoon. This is the traditional way in England and many other European Countries. However, in some European regions, the spoon is used for cutting and pushing the dessert onto the fork. The dessert is then eaten from the fork. Because there are many customs for the use of these dining utensils, it is best to familiarize yourself with regional customs before you arrive.
When in doubt, always follow the lead of your host.
For more on this topic buy the eBook ‘Formal Dining for Informal People’
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Fragrance terminology can be confusing. The main difference is the amount of essential oils in the product. The more essential oils – the less fragrance you will need to apply; the longer the scent will linger on your skin; and the more expensive the product generally is. The following charts clarify fragrance terminology.
Women
Form | Concentration | Reapply | Quality |
Perfume | Most concentrated Apply pulse-points | 4 – 5 hours | 20 – 25% essential oils |
Eau de Perfume | Concentrated Apply pulse-points | 3 – 4 hours | Up to 15% essential oils |
Eau de Toilette | Medium concentration Apply throat or pulse-points | 2 – 3 hours | Up to 12% essential oils |
Cologne | Weaker concentration Apply throat or pulse-points | 1 – 2 hours | Up to 8% essential oils |
Splash or Soft Cologne | Weak concentration Apply throat or pulse-points | Often | Less than 5% essential oils |
Body lotion / cream | Weak concentration Apply on body | As needed | Varies |
Shower gel | Weak concentration Use like soap | When bathing | Varies |
Men
Form | Use | Reapply |
Eau de Toilette | Most concentrated Apply throat and pulse-points | 3 – 4 hours |
Cologne | Concentrated Apply throat or pulse-points | 2 – 3 hours |
Aftershave | Acts as astringent and antiseptic after shaving | After shaving as needed |
Aftershave Balm | Protects and sooths sensitive & dry skin after shaving | After shaving as needed |
Shower gel | Weak concentration Use like soap | When bathing |
When applying Perfumes, Eau de Toilettes and Colognes use them sparingly and remember… a little goes a long way.
Find out more about fragrance and other grooming how-to`s in my eBook Personal Care from Feet to Hair.
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It has been suggested that the sense of smell is the most powerful of all five human senses. It affects every aspect of our lives. Fragrance has been used throughout history as a way to influence the mind and the body. Although the use of fragrance is considered more acceptable in some countries and regions than others, over time it has become an important ingredient in our grooming products and many other consumer products that we use every day.
However, is it too much of a good thing? Wearing perfume, fragranced body lotion, fragranced hair styling products and fragranced deodorant, all at the same time, compete with each other and can be overwhelming to others. In in an effort to combat allergies and the overwhelming effect of too much fragrance, many public places in Canada, US and other countries of the world are becoming ‘Scent Free’.
When you wear fragrance, one way to be considerate of others is to appreciate that a little goes a long way. One way to tell if you have applied too much is by how much you notice it on yourself over time. Because you become immune to its odour, if you can smell it on yourself 30 minutes after application, you’ve applied too much. For more sparing application, try the following:
Using less fragrance will save you money by making the bottle last longer. Another way to get the most out of your expensive eau de toilette is by exchanging some of your fragranced grooming products for fragrance-free grooming products.
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Thank You
If you are given a gift, are the recipient of a favour, have received excellent service or have been interviewed for a job, send a thank you as soon as possible. Even though email is a fast and easy way to say thank you, a hand written thank you note, letter, or card shows you have taken the time to put it in writing and will come across more sincere.
Sympathy
Sympathy is not the right time for email. If you are close to someone whose family member has died, send a handwritten sympathy letter or card as soon as you hear the news. If you learn about the death of someone who is connected to you in some way, the card or letter is sent to the person you know the best.
Apology
When you have hurt someone’s feelings, pick up the phone or apologise face-to-face. For an extra nice gesture follow up with a handwritten note.
Email definitely has its place. It is fast; it is easy; but in some situations a call or handwritten note is more effective. Before going to your computer, take the time to consider the purpose and consider the person you are corresponding to.
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Although I personally don’t like to receive unsolicited email, occasionally something will arrive in my outlook inbox that looks interesting and could potentially be of value to my business.
I read through the email with great interest and then arrive at the signature line. All too often they look like this:
This email signature lacks credibility. Other then the person’s name, it does not tell me anything about the person or the company they work for.
The signature below provides credibility to the company. There are no secrets.
A good email signature should include the following information:
Providing full information provides the potential client the opportunity to research your company before contacting you. This also provides reassurance to your potential client that you, your company and the product or service you are offering are credible.
Your personal image consultant,
The shoes you wear can have a major effect on how slim or wide your feet look. The trick is the simpler the shoe and the more front to back details like a long opening or (vamp), the slimmer your feet will look. To widen your feet add extra colours, details, texture and horizontal lines like a square toe.
During the Christmas season although it may be customary to give gifts to friends and family it can be a little confusing at work. Especially when you don’t know the etiquette for gift giving and there is no written company policy.
Here are three tips to make office gift giving less awkward:
Happy Holidays!
With Diwali now past and American Thanksgiving coming up this week, November is kick off month for many cultural and religious winter celebrations. Depending on your upbringing or culture, you may enjoy the festivities of Diwali, American Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, Christmas or another of the many celebrations during this November or December.
As we become more and more global it is important that we open our eyes and our hearts to the traditions of other cultures. We need to remember that even though all cultures are not all the same, we all deserve the same level of respect, acknowledgement and appreciation.
As you gather together with family and friends this Festive Season, I wish you and yours all the best for your celebration.
Happy Celebrating!!