June Training Recap: Thursday, Is That A Fork or A Foxtrot?

Training isn't just all work and no fun - we like to keep you guessing with every step! How do we do that you may ask?

We literally have you guess...guess utensils that is! During training, in order to help our consultants learn as many details as possible we utilize memorable games that test our consultants while also helping them learn and have a good laugh.

One of those games is Name that Utensil and this June, our consultants had a blast looking through the different type of cutlery and serving items that could be used at a dinner party and guessing their purposes.

Throughout the week we also teach the consultants the basic steps to a few social dances. Thursday night is their opportunity to dance with a partner and show off their new skill.

These consultants moved flawlessly through the steps and gave our Perfectly Polished High School and College Staff members a run for their money in the dancing department.

Fun, new adventures are abundant at ELI training - all you have to do is sign up!

June Training Recap: Wednesday, The Hero of First Impressions

During ELI training, we don't expect you to just sit on the side lines while April and Debra delve into the inner workings of the children's etiquette business,

we want you to get in on the action as well!

During your training week, field trips won't just be about observation and taking notes! You will have the opportunity to work with students and participate in the activities that you will use in your own classroom after receiving your certification.

This June, our consultants interacted with the UGA Visitor Center Staff and became the First Impression Superheroes!

 

 

Let us help you tap into your own personal superpowers! Sign up for our September training today!

June Training Recap: Tuesday, Field Trips with World Class Teachers

With ELI, you get nothing but the best in terms of your instruction and learning! Not only are Debra and April there all week to guide you through all the lessons effortlessly but also, Deputy Director of the Protocol School of Washington, Robert Hickey, comes in during the week too!

Robert will breakdown step by step how you can build a solid foundation for your etiquette business! From business cards to branding and logos - he covers it all and gives you an opportunity to ask any questions so you have all the tools you need to create a successful business!

Then later in the day you get to watch Debra and April in action as they teach college students dining and proper attire! This year, we had the opportunity to work with the UGA summer freshman athletes! Seeing the lessons you learn in action can help you visualize how much good you can do with your etiquette consulting certification! 

Did we mention that you get a gift on this day too? Want to know what it is?

You'll have to sign up for our September training to find out!

June Training Recap: Monday, Meet Your New Network

Who doesn't like meeting new friends?

Your first day at training is very similar to the first day at a new school except better because you want to be there, there are no cliques to conquer, and your lunch doesn't involve fish sticks in an overcrowded cafeteria! You're getting your new books, meeting your teachers, and getting acquainted with the basics you'll need in your tool box to be successful in your courses.

So who are your classmates exactly? Well, they are innovators, trailblazers, and world-changers just like you ready to learn a wealth of knowledge from the Children's Etiquette experts! You will grow with them over the week to learn how you can take your goals to the next level and put them into action.

And the best part is, after you meet your new network - you eat with them! During this six-course dining tutorial you will weave in and out of different foods while learning the tips and tricks of being a good dinner partner.

This is the first day of school revamped just for you!

#3. Higher Education Preparation and #2. Job Interviews, The ELI Top 10

In preparation for our June "Train to be a Children's Etiquette Consultant class" we are going to have The ELI Top 10 as we celebrate our TENTH YEAR of  the Etiquette and Leadership Institute! This will be a count down of ten awesome things you will gain from signing up for our session! #CheersTo10Years

Picture this: you are sitting in a waiting room. In your hands you hold your resume printed on cream paper and an black pad-folio holds extras just in case along with a pen and some paper to take some notes. Information tidbits float through your head as you silently repeat potential questions you can ask to hopefully impress the person on the other side of the door and show that you have done your research. The receptionist calls your name "They are ready for you now!". You stand up, smooth out your clothes, take a deep breath and walk in with a smile ready to give it your best shot.

That is basically what it feels like when you're walking into a interview for the first time - job and college alike! You are not sure if you will know what to say or how to say it and all you want to do is be what they are looking for. The key to that is simple: be yourself. Take it from Elle Woods: even her college counselor did not think she was capable of getting into Harvard Law but she was adequately prepared, put her best foot forward, and did not change who she was.

Not everyone is equiped to walk in to one of these situations as confidently as Elle and ready to give it their best shot but with ELI training, you could be! All you need is a little time with us and as Elle Woods would say:

Now of course these aren't the only things you will learn but we picked ten of our favorites as a preview to get you off the fence and in Athens with us!

Follow us on our social media sites to take part in the fun!
Facebook: Etiquette and Leadership Institute

Instagram: @PerfectlyPolishedELI

Twitter: @ELIexperts

#5. Introductions and #4. Attire, The ELI Top 10

In preparation for our June "Train to be a Children's Etiquette Consultant class" we are going to have The ELI Top 10 as we celebrate our TENTH YEAR of  the Etiquette and Leadership Institute! This will be a count down of ten awesome things you will gain from signing up for our session! #CheersTo10Years

Between business meetings, job interviews, and family gatherings - how does anyone know what to wear for these occasions anymore? From pencil skirts to maxi skirts or bow-ties and regular ties, there are so many options but only one chance to make a great first impression.

And when you finally open your mouth, what do you say exactly? How do you get the person in front of you to want to remember your name let alone do what you want them to do? Is what you are saying even important?

Remember in the Devil Wears Prada when despite Andy's choices in fashion (or lack there of), Miranda Priestly still hired her on the spot. It was not because of her clothes - though throughout the movie, her outfit choices evolved beautifully - it was her first impression that really stuck with her.

Now we do not have a closet full of couture accompanied by Stanley Tucci to guide you through what pants pair well with a blouse but we can update you on what standards are acceptable for each occasion and how to start off each one on the right foot (or word in this case)!

Now of course these aren't the only things you will learn but we picked ten of our favorites as a preview to get you off the fence and in Athens with us!

Follow us on our social media sites to take part in the fun!
Facebook: Etiquette and Leadership Institute

Instagram: @PerfectlyPolishedELI

Twitter: @ELIexperts

#7. Dining and #6. Dancing, The ELI Top 10

In preparation for our June "Train to be a Children's Etiquette Consultant class" we are going to have The ELI Top 10 as we celebrate our TENTH YEAR of  the Etiquette and Leadership Institute! This will be a count down of ten awesome things you will gain from signing up for our session! #CheersTo10Years

Just like a page out of an old fashion book on courtship, our #7 and #6 on #TheELITop10 have to do with our two most popular subjects! No longer will you approach a table filled with silverware not knowing where to start or shy away from the dance floor to conceal your two left feet! When your boss needs someone to accompany them to the business luncheon they will look to you because they know that you are trained and confident in dining. And at the next holiday function you can dance your way into opening doors to new opportunities!

After training with us you will be able to tango smoothly through multiple courses and also serve up some awesome dance moves that will fill everyone around you with amazement and envy!

Now of course these aren't the only things you will learn but we picked ten of our favorites as a preview to get you off the fence and in Athens with us!

Follow us on our social media sites to take part in the fun!
Facebook: Etiquette and Leadership Institute

Instagram: @PerfectlyPolishedELI

Twitter: @ELIexperts

#8. Written Correspondence, The ELI Top 10

In preparation for our June "Train to be a Children's Etiquette Consultant class" we are going to have The ELI Top 10 as we celebrate our TENTH YEAR of  the Etiquette and Leadership Institute! This will be a count down of ten awesome things you will gain from signing up for our session! #CheersTo10Years

Think back to the last time you said thank you to someone. Hopefully it was not so far in the back of your mind that you cannot recall it to your memory. What about the last time you wrote a letter of gratitude to someone? What was it for? Did they give you a gift you had been eyeing for months (Or a gift you were not really keen to)? Maybe they stopped by one weekend for a visit and you told them how much you enjoyed their company? Or was it that they placed a good word in for a job position you were hoping to secure?

What about the last time you received a handwritten note? Did it not make you smile and feel special?

Sometimes, creating handwritten notes can be a hassle in comparison to typing up a quick email with spell check there to catch any unseen typos you missed. Though that may seem like the easier track, its those handwritten notes that give a personal touch in an electronic, impersonal world and show someone how much you truly appreciate them. It is the simple act of kindness that makes the difference.

William Arthur Ward said "Feeling gratitude and not expressing it is like wrapping a present and not giving." When you take our June "Train to be a Children's Etiquette Consultant Class", we will prepare you to create well written, properly worded correspondence letters that will elevate you and your business to a new level of compassion.

Now of course these aren't the only things you will learn but we picked ten of our favorites as a preview to get you off the fence and in Athens with us!

Follow us on our social media sites to take part in the fun!
Facebook: Etiquette and Leadership Institute

Instagram: @PerfectlyPolishedELI

Twitter: @ELIexperts

#9. Wedding Coach, The ELI Top 10

In preparation for our June "Train to be a Children's Etiquette Consultant class" we are going to have The ELI Top 10 as we celebrate our TENTH YEAR of  the Etiquette and Leadership Institute! This will be a count down of ten awesome things you will gain from signing up for our training! #CheersTo10Years

Ever watched a wedding coordinator jump through all sort of hoops to make sure the bride's special day remains in tact without breaking a sweat and think to yourself how they do it? We know how! Now do not take this title to the extreme. Disclaimer: We are in no way saying that you can be the next Jennifer Lopez who can plan Matthew McConaughey's dream wedding or the Katherine Heigl of Maid of Honors for a bride. Those jobs are not for the faint of heart.

We are saying though that our training will give you the skills you need to be a calm, level-headed advisor of the bride who is just trying to make it through the weekend with good memories in tact. You can be a saving grace for the bride during a time of organized chaos. You will show her how to be gracious when accepting those gifts that she does not even know how to use. You will help find compromises and serve as a crisis negotiator when the bride and her mother disagree over wedding songs. And most importantly, you will be there to remind her that today is her day and you will do anything in your power to make it stress free and fun.

Now of course these aren't the only things you will learn but we picked ten of our favorites as a preview to get you off the fence and in Athens with us!

Follow us on our social media sites to take part in the fun!
Facebook: Etiquette and Leadership Institute

Instagram: @PerfectlyPolishedELI

Twitter: @ELIexperts

#10. Toasting, The ELI Top 10

In preparation for our June "Train to be a Children's Etiquette Consultant class" we are going to have The ELI Top 10 as we celebrate our TENTH YEAR of the Etiquette and Leadership Institute! This will be a count down of ten awesome things you will gain from signing up for our session! #CheersTo10Years

Whether it’s at a rehearsal dinner or a casual get together at your local brewery, we will prepare you to have the confidence and charisma to address a crowd and deliver something meaningful so that your friends will know who to go to every time they need some wise words before the glasses clink.

Here are some short toast you can try out on your family at dinner until you join us in June!

May friendships, like wine, improve as time advances. And may we always have old wine, old friends, and young cares.


Love is the life-spring of our existence. The more love you give, the happier you feel and the more love you will have within you to give.

Now of course these aren't the only things you will learn but we picked ten of our favorites as a preview to get you off the fence and in Athens with us!

Follow us on our social media sites to take part in the fun!
Facebook: Etiquette and Leadership Institute

Instagram: @PerfectlyPolishedELI

Twitter: @ELIexperts

A Run For Your Money: The Revival of Pantyhose and Stockings

Remember when you were younger and your Sunday outfit was not complete with out one important piece of clothing? How about when you would see your grandmother getting ready to go out for the day? You probably swore you would never wear them again if you had the choice but now they are making a comeback!

They look good on women of all types and shades!

You guessed it! Panty hose and stockings are back in style making them the perfect way to make your legs look ageless during all seasons. Personally, I feel like an expert on this subject since I served on the Arch Society for the University of Georgia this past year. For the ladies, our uniform consisted of wearing off-black panty hose for every assignment we worked no matter what time of year it was. At first it seemed like an unnecessary hassle but now, I cannot live without these nylons in my life. Between the way they make your legs glow when you wear them and the pizazz they add to any outfit - this is a must have in your wardrobe.

4 out of 5 Perfectly Polished College Staff members
agree: Stockings are the perfect accessory.

No need to spend a lot of money buying products like bronzing spray or tanning lotion to give your legs a beautiful glow. Use panty hose or stockings as your new leg concealer. They are also good to even out your skin tone and hide any discoloration you may have received from the bumps and bruises of living life.



Worried about getting the most bang for your buck? Experts say that with the new technology available, panty hose and stockings are more durable than ever no matter what the cost! Finally, you can put away your clear nail polish and go out into the world without worrying about unsightly runs ruining you panty hose after one wear.

Bonus fact, the Duchess of Cambridge herself Kate Middleton wears panty hose with 99% of her outfits. If her royal style isn't enough to quiet naysayers then I don't know what is! So do not worry if you are not a little girl whose parents dress her or an elderly woman, panty hose and stockings are one article of clothing that every woman should equip her closet with!


Comment below and tell us your opinion on this subject!

Check out Good Morning America's segment on panty hose by clicking here!

Meet Our New Intern, Elizabeth Tarver!

Hey there! My name is Elizabeth and I'm a summer 2015 graduate of the University of Georgia with Bachelor of Arts degrees in Public Relations and Sociology. I have been with Perfectly Polished for 3 years and no that is not a typo. I am from Augusta, GA originally, and started my days at Perfectly Polished and the Etiquette Leadership Institute at the age of 19 during my sophomore year of college. Growing up in Augusta, we had a similar program to Perfectly Punished called Social Inc. and I was apart of the program from 6th grade up until my sophomore year of high school.

Coming to Athens, I would look for ways to connect my favorite things from my upbringing and build upon them in college. That's when my freshman mentor, Taylor Lavelle, introduced me to Ms. Lassiter and Perfectly Polished which was actually created using Social Inc. as an example. And the rest, they say, is history.

This fall, I will be attending the University of Georgia School of Law to pursue my Juris Doctor, which means I'm blessed to spend three more years in my favorite city with my ELI/Perfectly Polished family! Over the summer while I wait to begin school, I will be putting my degrees to use and working on revamping the Perfectly Polished and Etiquette Leadership Institute brand so don't mind our progress and let us know what you like along the way by liking, commenting, and following us on all our social media sites!

NEW Day 5: #FollowFriday

Happy last day of National Etiquette Week! We think it's appropriate to close things out with...

#FollowFriday

On Facebook!  Perfectly Polished  and Etiquette and Leadership Institute 

On Twitter! @ELIexperts

And hope to see you at our next training opportunity June 22-26! 

NEW Day 4: #TalkingThursday

Happy National Etiquette Week! Today is...

#TalkingThursday

Have you heard of Phone Stacking? It's a new game to get people talking to one another of instead of being focused on their phones! Whether you're out to dinner or just hanging out with friends or family, challenge everyone to stack their cell phones on the table. First person to check the phone pays the bill! Here are the rules...

 Start the game after everyone has ordered.

 Stack phones on the table.

 First person to check a text or call loses!

 Loser pays for all the food!

 If no one is tempted, everyone wins and just pays for his or her food!

Come back tomorrow for NEW Day 4!

NEW Day 3: #WebWednesday

Happy National Etiquette Week! Today is...

#WebWednesday

We love this handy guide on social media (and common sense) from "Modern Manners: Tools to Take You to the Top" by Dorothea Johnson and Liv Tyler!

NEW DAY 2: #TastyTuesday

Happy National Etiquette Week! Today is...

#TastyTuesday

Let's talk dining etiquette and table settings!

Bread plate & drink

Make a b and a d with your hands. B is for bread; D is for drink. Your left hand makes a b...bread plate goes on the left! Your right hand makes a d...drink goes on the right!

Forks, knives & spoons

How many letters in the word "fork"? 4.

How many letters in the word "left"? 4.

Your fork goes on your left.

How many letters in the word "knife"? 5.

How many letters in the word "spoon"? 5.

How many letters in the word "right"? 5.

Your knife goes on your right.

S&P, together forever

Salt and pepper are "married"—you never pass one without the other!

Come back tomorrow for NEW Day 3!

Happy National Etiquette Week!

NEW is here again!

May 11-15 is National Etiquette Week, an event founded in 1997 by children's etiquette consultant Sandra Morisset. What a great way to celebrate the importance of courtesy, civility, and good manners—not just once a year for a week, but in the little, ordinary moments that make up everyday life.

So, how are we kicking it off?

#ModernMannersMonday

For excellent examples of Modern Manners, check out our favorite book - "Modern Manners: Tools to Take you to the Top" by Dorothea Johnson and Liv Taylor. (We'd love it even if Dorothea Johnson, founder of the Protocol School of Washington, hasn't called us "the nation's most outstanding source of children's etiquette training"!)

"Modern Manners" is now being translated for readers in Russia, Poland, Saudi Arabia, Japan, Netherlands...it's a good time for you to find a copy, too!

We'll see you tomorrow for NEW Day 2!

Catching up, and lots of dancing!

We stay busy year-round at our etiquette school, Perfectly Polished, even in the long post-holiday winter days. And right now, we have dancing on our minds—not just teaching it, but planning for the dances we hold for our students. This means spending quality time with our college staff...

...to help plan fun events like the Cotillion Club Tea Dance...

...teach our students during our regular classes...

...and of course, we're already planning for our annual Spring Formal! It's a great way to get through the winter!