No matter what your profession or occupation may be – a busy mother at home caring for little ones, or high-ranking metropolitan lawyer – each of you experience insuficient time in the morning.  Especially when it comes to taking care of oneself in the little acts like making sure your shoes are well shined or a thread needs cutting on your skirt.
So I encourage you whatever your profession is, to take a few moments in the morning to become an attractive and neat lady, by following these steps below.

1. A well-tended, pretty hairdo that is neat and sensible for the job.

2. Clear eyes, nicely shaped brows.

3. Clean teeth, ’sweet mouth’.

4. Don’t forget the deodorant!  No odor offense please!

5. Keep a good manicure, well-shaped, clean nails.

6. Outfit to be spic and span, free of lint,  neatly pressed, practical and coordinated.

8. Look behind!  Take a double check of the back of your outfit before heading out the door.  Making sure seam is straight and slip is not drooping.

9. Polish and clean shoes, making sure no scuff marks be seen!

10.  In your lunch break, take a moment or two to freshen up: run a brush through your hair, a few sprits of perfume, and make sure skirt is sitting straight neat.

As we turn the page and enter a new chapter for Grace & Poise, in 2009, our readers can expect a few new additions!  We hope to bring a few new features to the blog, and also broaden the focus of Grace & Poise.  Over the past two years our main focus has been on the guidelines of etiquette and deportment, discussing what they are and the details thereof. So the new features we hope to include are personal Style File of the author, (details coming), I also expect to be hosting a Formal Dinner in 2009 which I am looking forward to documenting with details and photographs.

I wish to thank all my readers for their lovely comments, emails and encouragement to keep this blog going.  Without you this blog would not be possible! Blogging is not my full-time occupation (how I wish it was!) however, the tiny amounts of time I do have to spend researching and writing articles is certainly well worth it!  – Thank you!

To each one of my readers, I extend a warm “Happy New Year” to you all.  I hope this year brings much happiness and joy to your life.

Best Wishes,
Clare Duncan

Sarah Palin, Governor of Alaska & Vice-Presidential Nominee

Biography: Sarah Palin is pro-life, pro-marriage and is a viewed by countless Mom’s across the States as a great model, both career wise and in the family circle. Her hardworking, Christian values comes from Sarah’s background as her mother faithfully took her and her three sibling to church and instilled in each one a strong Christian faith. Her determination to reach whatever she has in her sights is reflected in her father comments at the mere age of two she was “hard to bend”. Sarah then went on to high school were she participated in many cross country races, entered the Miss Wasilla beauty pageant, then went on to study journalism and political science at the University of Idaho. One year after graduating Palin married her school sweetheart, Todd Palin.

She first ran for public office in 1992 and won a spot on the Wasilla city council at age 28. In 1996, she became mayor of Wasilla, unseating a three-term incumbent. In 2002, she sought the Republican nomination for lieutenant governor and experienced her first political defeat. In 2003 she was appointed to the Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission, but resigned, concerned over ethics violations. Running as an outsider on an ethics reform platform, she was elected governor in 2006.
Dubbed by radio host Dan Fagan as ‘Alaskan as you can get’ he says’s “She’s a hockey mom, she lives on a lake, she ice fishes, she snowmobiles, she hunts…she has a float plane.” That virtually sum’s up the Republican Vice Presidential Candidate, Senator Sarah Louise Heath Palin.

The Look: Loved by many women across America for her conservative, classic look. Smart business style suits with a pair of chic heels Sarah has created a fresh new looked for women, both the working class and the stay-at-home Mothers. Sarah has given a fresh new look to the plain old suit, giving it a modern edge with her ‘famous’ rimless glasses and her hair coiffed into a simple bun. Sarah shows hundreds of women across America that creating a elegant, stylish look is not hard – or expensive.

Biography: As a African-American woman born in the 1960’s Michelle Obama has faced many setbacks and difficulties in her life but has pressed forward with resolute courage and unfaltering determination. Raised in a simple one-bedroom apartment on the top floor of a brick bungalow, she understands what many colored American’s face on a day-to-day basis. Michelle and her brother grew up witnessing events that ingrained in her the determination to fight for the black people of America. – One such incident tells of a carpenter, who happens to be her grandfather who was denied union membership due to his race, was shut out of the city’s top construction jobs. Rather than sinking into despair and hopelessness of what may become of the future, Michelle encouraged by her family, pressed on with even more determination and courage to fight for the recognition that colored men and women deserved. And she has done, just that with phemonomal success!

The Look: Michelle channels the 1950’s and 1960’s streamlined and simple look. Appearing on many best-dressed lists she draws frequent comparisons to Jacqueline Kennedy – famous for her elegant 1960’s suit and pillbox hat. Often opting for light summer dresses, with floral prints on informal occasions; or on more formal occasions she often favors a classy knee-length dress or a simple pencil skirt and jacket. Reggie Wells who performs power-puff duties for Michelle and her husband claims that “she will be the next Jacqueline (Kennedy) Onassis. She has perfect skin. She’s gorgeous, clever and elegant” And isn’t that just want America wants their next First Lady to be?

(Mary recently attended the Royal Life Guards’ 350th Anniversary celebrations together with the Danish Royal Family)

Recently Grace & Poise was awarded the Super Comentator Award! Many thanks goes to the lovely Marie, a avid blogger with spirit and vitality! Thank you, Marie!

Doesn’t it add a sparkle to your day, when the telephone sounds, and you’re greeted with a cheery “Good Morning!”, or “Good Afternoon!”?  Have you ever telephoned a business house to find the most courteous and helpful assistant, who after satisfying your request sends you on your merry way with a “It’s has been a pleasure serving you, thank you for calling!”  This is indeed a rare ocurence these days.

However I’m sure I’m not the only one who has telephoned someone only to be taken back by a booming voice coming over the receiver with a demanding ” ‘ello” or “Who is it?” – to leave the caller politely enjoining “Could I please ask who I am speaking to?”  In this article I would like to share with you some helpful points that will make using the telephone a more pleasant experience for both the caller and receiver.

Answering the Telephone
Answer promptly (before the third ring if possible).
Before picking up the receiver, discontinue any other conversation or activity such as eating, chewing gum, typing, etc. that can be heard by the calling party.
Speak clearly and distinctly in a pleasant tone of voice.
When you answer the telephone, make sure your message is cheerful.  A few examples of pleasant greetings are “Good Morning” or “Good Afternoon” for a more formal tone, or to keep it friendly and relaxed use a sunny “Hello” followed by your name. (eg. “Hello, Clare speaking!)

Making Calls
When you call someone and they answer the phone, do not say “Who am I speaking with?” without first identifying yourself: “This is _______. To whom am I speaking?”
When you reach a wrong number, don’t argue with the person who answered the call or keep them on the line. Say: “I’m sorry, I must have the wrong number.  Please excuse the interruption.”  And then promptly hang up.
If you told a person you would call at a certain time, call them as you promised.  If you need to delay the conversation, call to postpone it, but do not make the other person wait around for your call.
If you don’t leave a number or a message for someone to call you back, don’t become frustrated if they are not available when you call again.
When dealing with people, the comment “naa, not a problem” comes from an arrogant, egotistic puppet, a more acceptable phrase could be “Yes, I can do that for you”, would be more appropriate.

How to End Conversations Gracefully
There are several ways that you can end a phone call without making up a story or sounding rude:

• End on an “up” note.
• Tell the person how much you’ve enjoyed speaking with him/her.
• Promise to finish your discussion at another time.
• As long as you are honest and polite with the other person, you shouldn’t have any problems getting off the phone.

Leaving a Voicemail Message for Another Person
Remember to speak clearly and slowly.
Be sure to leave your name and extension number. It’s best to say it at the beginning and end of your message.
Keep messages short and to the point.
Remember that you want to leave the person you are calling with a good impression of you, so be cheerful and polite.
Leave the date and time you called in the message.
Don’t forget to let the person know the best time to call you back.
Cover one topic in one message; specify what you want the recipient to do.

The longer I live

The more I realize the impact of attitude on life.

Attitude, to me, is more important than the past,

Than education,

Than money,

Than circumstances,

Than failures,

Than success,

Than what other people think or say or do.

It is more important than appearance,

Giftedness or skill.

It will make or break an organization,

A school, a home.

The remarkable thing is we have a choice every day

Regarding the attitude we will embrace for that day.

We cannot change our past.

We cannot change the fact that people will act in a certain way.

We cannot change the inevitable.

The only thing we can do

Is play the string we have.

And that is our attitude.

I am convinced that life is 10 percent what happens to me

And 90 percent how I react to it.

And so it is with you.

- Anon -

Image Credit -GoogleImages

(Frederick & Mary enjoy a traditional breakfast of Oatmeal with their family)

Emilie Post has a set of delightful little printable thank-you notes, tip cards, and a downloadable placemat, that can teach your little ones of the simple manners they can use on a day-to-day basis, to help make their life (and yours!), more pleasant and enjoyable.

Image Credit -Danish Royal Watchers

“Life is not so short but that there is always time for courtesy.” -Emerson

We all want friendships that will last for eternity, don’t we? Follow these pointers and you’ll be blessed times over…

1. Speak to people — there is nothing as nice as a cheerful word of greeting.

2. Smile at people – it takes seventy-two muscles to frown and only fourteen to smile!

3. Call anyone by their name – the sweetest music to anyone’s ear is the sound of their own name.

4. Be friendly and helpful – if you would have friends, be friendly.

5. Be cordial – speak and act as if everything you do is a real pleasure.

6. Be genuinely interested in people – you can like everyone if you try.

7. Be generous with praise – cautious with criticism.

8. Be considerate of the feelings of others – it will be appreciated.

9. Be thoughtful of the options of others.

10. Be alert to give service – what counts most in life is what we do for others!

Taken from The Speaker’s Quote Book – Roy B. Zuck

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