Table manners that would make grandma proud

Although I have posted about table manners before, it seems to be a hot topic that was recently featured on Yahoo.

Knowing the correct fork placement and positioning for placing your silverware is important but so are the basics. The article mentioned:

* If you are the recipient of a toast, keep your glass at arm’s length—never drink from it. Instead, simply nod your head and graciously say, “Thank you.”
* Never take your cocktail to the dinner table.
* Allow your food to cool on its own—never blow on anything.
* If you wear lipstick, keep it off your plate and napkin by blotting it as soon as you apply it.
* Your napkin is there for you to dab your mouth only. Do not use it to wipe off lipstick or (God forbid) blow your nose.
* Keep your elbows off the table at all times.
* Don’t put your purse, keys, sunglasses, or eyeglasses on the table.
* Take food out of your mouth the way it went in. If a piece of steak fat went into your mouth with a fork, spit it out onto the fork.
* Remove an olive pit with your thumb and index finger.
* Taste everything on your plate before you add salt or pepper.
* Leave your plate where it is when you are finished with your meal—don’t push it away from you.

You’ll find even more good-behavior tips at www.etiquetteladies.com.

Shopping Spree Alert!

Lilly Lilly Lilly! Celebrate holiday and resort fashions!

Lilly Pulitzer Warehouse Sale

I wish I could go but it's in King of Prussia area.

Handy shortcuts on your computer!

I must admit, I use excel everyday at work! Sometimes I love it and sometimes I wish I could just press one button and have everything I want done to magically be finished. However, there are some useful shortcuts that can be time saving regardless of how often you use excel or other software programs.

Check out this article published from woman's day last year

15 Keyboard Shortcuts You Probably Don't Know

Some of my excel favorites:

To toggle between tabs in an excel document - alt tab

To find out where a formula is pulling from - ctrl left bracket

What are some of your favorites?

Vesting: we're not talking about a piece of cloth here

Recently while out to dinner with some friends, one of them had mentioned that she might leave her job and I said she should make sure she is vested. She didn't know what that meant. So, if you are thinking about jumping ship, you should make sure you fully understand the vesting policies.



Taken straight from an on-line financial dictionary: Vesting is "The process by which an employee with a qualified retirement plan and/or stock option becomes entitled to the benefits of ownership, even if he/she no longer works at the company providing the retirement plan or stock option. Vesting occurs after an employee has worked at the company for a certain number of years; once vesting occurs, the benefits of the plan or stock option cannot be revoked." Basically, once you are vested you get to keep the money you have saved/contributed towards retirement. If you leave your job before you are vested you are not entitled to the savings etc.

This is important because if you are unhappy at a company but have been there a few years, it could be a big mistake to leave before you are vested. Make sure you weigh the options and understand the penalties if you decide to switch positions!

Favorite Fall Activities

Fall is a beautiful season. I love the foliage, the crisp smell in the air, halloween/my birthday and picking pumpkins! Every year my boyfriend and I pick pumpkins and do intricate carvings. He usually does something that involves lots of different shadows and layers but I tend to go with easier things like logo's or things that are authentic to halloween. This is a picture of a tory burch logo that I carved into a small rounded pumpkin. It was very cute. This year I am going to go a haunted house and he is going to do the New York City skyline.



Living in New York, there are always tons of fun fall festivals and it is a great location to be able to drive to see the colorful leaves outside of the city. I can't wait to visit friends in Boston next month for a haunted tour of the city, that is always creepy but fun. So, go outside and enjoy the weather and this time of year!

Shopping Spree Alert!

Hugo Boss - starts tomorrow at the corporate office! Just saw on Mizhattan.



Where: 601 W. 26th St. (bet. 11th & 12th Ave.), Suite 845

When: Monday, October 3rd, 9:30am~5:30pm
Tuesday, October 4th, 9:30am~5:30pm
Wednesday, October 5th, 9:30am~5:30pm
Thursday, October 6th, 9:30am~5:30pm
Friday, October 7th, 9:30am~1pm