HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

We hope you have a very merry time with your loved ones...

With love from some of our Perfectly Polished family to yours!

Parties, hosts, and gifts

Whether you've got one more holiday party to attend, a New Year's get-together on the horizon, or any party for any reason at all....it's a good time to think about bringing a gift for the party host. 

We love this idea and think it never goes out of style to show your appreciation in a festive way—and you don’t have to go overboard, either. A small but heartfelt token will do nicely! 

When it comes to host or hostess gifts, keep practicality first and foremost in mind. If the host is a good friend, then you’ll likely already have several ideas for the perfect gift. But if you don’t know the host very well, we have some ideas for gifts that have wide-ranging appeal!

• Are you traveling to the party? Bring some local interest with you! Non-perishable foodstuffs from your hometown (maple sugar candy from Vermont, or peach jam from Georgia, for example) are thoughtful presents.

• Go with a monogram! Stationary, guest towels, coasters…there are plenty of choices.

• High-quality tea often has the bonus of coming in beautiful tins or packaging. Or if your host prefers coffee, find a favorite blend—bonus points if you have a local roaster!

• Support local artisans while selecting something truly unique! Search for hand-made soaps, lotions, candles, jewelry, knitting, or other goods, which you might find in local stores, art galleries, or even farmer’s markets. (Remember that unless you know your host well, avoid strong scents!)

• Flowers in an attractive keepsake vase are a perennial favorite, no matter how elaborate or simple the arrangement. Potted amaryllis is also a beautiful choice that will come back next season. Make sure that if your host has pets, the plants are safe! 

Holidays on a budget

Are you doing some last-minute holiday shopping, only to realize your budget is a lot smaller than you thought? 

Who can afford to be this guy?

Don’t be embarrassed—you’re not alone! Luckily, there are plenty of ways to show your love for friends and family during the holidays that rely more on thoughtfulness and less on money. That’s right—it’s time to revisit the idea of a “budget holiday." Here are some tips!

• For large families, consider drawing names, at least among the adults, to cut down on the amount of gifts to buy.

• If the children of the family are, well, no longer children, consider coming to a group consensus on gift giving (say, when the youngest graduates high school or college, or gets a job—or some other marker of maturity—agree to send holiday letters or cards rather than money or gifts).

• Rather than exchange gifts, think about all pitching in on an experience, whether that’s a weekend getaway, a road trip, or dinner and a movie. Younger children might have fun with geocaching or a more low-tech scavenger hunt.

• If you know what they love and are well aware of any food allergies, there’s nothing wrong with a plate full of cookies (or other such treats). Or how about a cookie-decorating get-together?

• If someone has a Christmas tree, it needs ornaments! Browse Pinterest or other handy sites for inspiration and get to crafting. (If all else fails, a good old-fashioned paper chain is always cheerful, and you can make it more meaningful with hidden messages written on each paper link.)

• Give the gift of your time. Make a date with a friend for a long talk, coffee, or spending time on a mutual hobby. The memories will last long after the holidays!

Happy Peaceful Thanksgiving!

To our friends in the U.S. - Happy Thanksgiving!

Sometimes it's hard to stay positive amid all the turmoil, both everyday and extreme, that surrounds us in our personal lives and in the broader news of the world. Let's use this Thanksgiving as a time to gather how we can and appreciate the love that does surround us, whether you find it in family, friends, nature, or elsewhere!

For those anticipating big family gatherings, we have a few tips to keep the peace...

• Your family may be the type who thrives on lively, boisterous discussions and arguments, and manages to end all of them with a hug. But if your family is the kind to leave seriously upset after a debate, skip it this time, and avoid talking about politics, religion, or other hot-button topics.

• Unplug! Keep screens off the table, and save them for a little leisure time when everyone is resting, post-meal.

• Or get outside. A walk around the neighborhood can be a healthy respite after marathon eating, and maybe even inspire some good conversation.

• Remember that deep down, you really do love each other! 

Happy Holidays!

To Ghost or Not to Ghost?

...From a party, that is.

As the holiday party season begins, you might find yourself with at least one work or social engagement already on the calendar. Such a time can be the pinnacle of fabulousness for the avid party-goer, and a dreaded responsibility for the classic introvert. For some, the idea of ghosting—leaving a party without saying goodbye, just slipping quietly out the door—can hold immense appeal.

This ghost has clearly been to a party

It sounds like a huge etiquette no-no, but there is support of the practice. Like this article, for example, which reminds us that saying goodbye to the host before leaving can interrupt conversations, grind the social flow to a halt, and result in an awkward bummer of a farewell. Replace the spoken goodbye with a text or email later, and you're golden, the writer says.

We can see the attraction of ghosting in some specific situations, like perhaps a social anxiety-fueled moment that requires an immediate exit...or, in less dire stations, simply being exhausted at the end of a long night. And what if you're at a huge party, where you're convinced your host wouldn't miss you—let alone be able to simply find you to say goodbye?

While we believe that etiquette is a nuanced, malleable thing that can change with the times, we also believe that whenever possible, saying goodbye to your hosts and thanking them for a good time is the best thing to do.

Imagine you're the host, and you've just noticed that a guest has gone missing. Vanished, in effect. Would you worry for his or her welfare? Fret over what happened? Spend valuable party time texting, calling, or wandering aimlessly in hopes of finding your friend? Assume that the party's been a total bust, or that you've offended people somehow? 

The host has likely spent some time, effort, and resources on creating a (hopefully) pleasant experience for you. Taking a brief moment to thank them before you leave is always most appreciated. 

And if you really, truly do need to split, right then, right there, send an explanation as soon as you can via call or message, and go ahead and thank them for the invitation!

Perfectly Polished Spotlight: William

Our etiquette school, Perfectly Polished, opened in 1985; today, we teach around 4,000 students a year in 12 area counties. We've loved watching our students grow up over the years. Sometimes, they become young adults who help us teach our younger students! Join us in spotlighting some of these young adults who make Perfectly Polished so special...

We are pleased to continue our series in spotlighting members of our Perfectly Polished student staff, especially those who have been with us since they were some of our youngest Perfectly Polished students! Today, we spotlight William English. William began taking Perfectly Polished lessons in third grade; now he's a third year student at UGA.

No missed opportunities!

"There is one story that I get to tell every single year around a month before the Spring Formal and it's one of my favorites. When I was a young seventh grade man, I had this beautifully massive crush on a girl named Caitlin. I wanted to dance with her at the Spring Formal so badly but I was terribly nervous to ask her (even though Ms. Lassiter does an amazing job teaching confidence). The boys got to ask the girls for the first dance, but I got scared so I didn't ask her. The ladies got to ask for the second dance and she didn't ask me which was OK! The boys had to ask the girls for the third and final partner dance and it was my time to shine and ask her. I would honestly like to tell you that I asked her for that dance. But I didn't. I didn't get to dance with her at that Spring Formal and I would never get the opportunity to dance with her again because she moved to North Carolina later that year. As heartbreaking as this was, I am very thankful for it because I learned from it, and now I get to tell this to students to encourage them to ask the partners that they desire. And if they don't, then there is a good chance they will move to another state."

Pushing through reluctance

"In all seriousness, if it wasn't for the persistence of my family, I would have ended my relationship with Perfectly Polished many years ago. I would 'forget' my tie and slacks at home, and by the end of the school day, they would be waiting on me in the office along with a note from my mother. My father would pre-tie my neck ties before he would leave on business trips to ensure that I had one to wear at that week's class...it is truly a family effort... I eventually realized that it was actually pretty enjoyable. I had the opportunity to dance with girls which is never a bad thing! I was beginning to really start implementing the table skills into my everyday life, putting me on the receiving end of many compliments at the dinner tables of family friends."

Staying power of social skills

"Perfectly Polished has been one of the single most powerful areas of my life that has had the most real influence on developing me into the man that I am today. And I chose to be an instructor at Perfectly Polished so that maybe the students will see how vital the program is to one's development and future."

Perfectly Polished Spotlight: Leah!

Our etiquette school, Perfectly Polished, opened in 1985; today, we teach around 4,000 students a year in 12 area counties. We've loved watching our students grow up over the years. Sometimes, they become young adults who help us teach our younger students! Join us in spotlighting some of these young adults who make Perfectly Polished so special...

We are pleased to continue our series in spotlighting members of our Perfectly Polished student staff, especially those who have been with us since they were some of our youngest Perfectly Polished students! Today, we spotlight Leah Smith.

Leah started taking Perfectly Polished lessons in fifth grade; now, she's a freshman at UGA. She says that her experience in learning and teaching etiquette has given her "crucial skills" that have helped with job interviews and college applications.

Awkward (but fun!) dancing
"My friends and I always enjoyed learning the simple table etiquette and fun line dances. However, I also recall how the boys never wanted to hold my hands to dance. They always held them slightly below mine floating awkwardly in the air without touching. I didn’t mind though, simply because I thought their hands were sweaty and clammy! I still have the memories of getting dressed up with our little white gloves and eating skittles or gold fish out of a bowl to learn how to properly eat soup."

Changing the world with kindness
"Learning the etiquette skills I have through Perfectly Polished has enabled me to be better prepared for real life situations. Also, the world simply needs more politeness! By teaching etiquette to children, the next generation is learning how to properly treat one another with respect. I’ve learned so much through Perfectly Polished that I hope more children are able to learn as well. Simple lessons, such as how to properly introduce yourself or eat politely and correctly, have helped me so much in life!"