Monday, February 24, 2014
upcoming podcast!
Stay tuned everyone for my upcoming podcast about tips for planning the perfect dinner party!
Monday, February 3, 2014
To Hug or not to hug?
Business almost always begins and ends with a handshake. This is a common custom in many cultures. The handshake serves as a greeting and bids farewell. Not everyone likes physical contact and the handshake provides an appropriate way to establish a connect without trespassing on another's personal space. So what does one do when one runs into a hugger?
To hug or not to hug, that is the question. Are you a hugger? Have you ever been on the giving or receiving side of a hug that made the situation very uncomfortable? In some other cultures, kissing your friends on both sides of their cheeks is acceptable, especially for close friends. In American culture, some areas, particularly Southern states, a quick hug is often given. Similar to the European double cheek kiss, these hugs are usually reserved for close friends or longtime associates, but can happen without permission or request.
Consider for a moment that you are at the end of a business meeting and you are preparing to leave abruptly, your former colleague reaches out to give you a quick hug. Do you offer them a handshake, possibly making them feel like you don't want to hug them? Or, do you go ahead and extend a hug so as to not risk hurting the hugger's feelings?
Solution: Hugging is a very personal choice and varies from person to person. Family background, culture, and environment play a major role in whether or not we decide to accept or refuse a hug.
If you are in a situation where you know two people well and there are others in the party that you do not know well, you may try to start the hello or goodbye process with the people you do not know well first. This can be done by extending your hand for a proper handshake while still respecting their presence and space. Next, turn to your friends and offer them a hug. This way, no one is left feeling uncomfortable.
What if someone is reaching out to hug you and you do not know them well? When someone is coming in for the hug, be proactive and initiate a handshake. Extend your hand towards them and look them in the eye. Make sure your feet are firmly anchored so they don't shake your hand and pull you in for the hug. (This happens a lot with excessive huggers) Body language is a strong communicator and these actions should help the non-hugger avoid those unwanted embraces.
I hope this post helps folks avoid unwanted awkward situations!
To hug or not to hug, that is the question. Are you a hugger? Have you ever been on the giving or receiving side of a hug that made the situation very uncomfortable? In some other cultures, kissing your friends on both sides of their cheeks is acceptable, especially for close friends. In American culture, some areas, particularly Southern states, a quick hug is often given. Similar to the European double cheek kiss, these hugs are usually reserved for close friends or longtime associates, but can happen without permission or request.
Consider for a moment that you are at the end of a business meeting and you are preparing to leave abruptly, your former colleague reaches out to give you a quick hug. Do you offer them a handshake, possibly making them feel like you don't want to hug them? Or, do you go ahead and extend a hug so as to not risk hurting the hugger's feelings?
Solution: Hugging is a very personal choice and varies from person to person. Family background, culture, and environment play a major role in whether or not we decide to accept or refuse a hug.
If you are in a situation where you know two people well and there are others in the party that you do not know well, you may try to start the hello or goodbye process with the people you do not know well first. This can be done by extending your hand for a proper handshake while still respecting their presence and space. Next, turn to your friends and offer them a hug. This way, no one is left feeling uncomfortable.
What if someone is reaching out to hug you and you do not know them well? When someone is coming in for the hug, be proactive and initiate a handshake. Extend your hand towards them and look them in the eye. Make sure your feet are firmly anchored so they don't shake your hand and pull you in for the hug. (This happens a lot with excessive huggers) Body language is a strong communicator and these actions should help the non-hugger avoid those unwanted embraces.
I hope this post helps folks avoid unwanted awkward situations!
Saturday, February 1, 2014
Last minute idea for potluck!
This a great last minute recipe to make if you are invited to a potluck and do not have much time to cook an elaborate dish! It is fast and easy and always a crowd pleaser!
Oriental Slaw
1 package shredded coleslaw cabbage
1 package Oriental flavored Ramen noodles
1 bunch green onions -- chopped
1/2 cup oil
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1 tablespoon sugar
Seasoning packet from noodles
2 tablespoons sesame seeds-optional
1/2 cup sliced almonds
Toast nuts and sesame seeds in a hot pan until golden and allow to cool. Mix coleslaw, onions, and broken-up Ramen noodles together in a medium-sized bowl, and add cooled nuts/seeds. Mix oil, sugar, pepper, and Oriental flavored seasoning packet together and pour over slaw mixture just before serving. Stir well to get mixture evenly coated then throw it in a container and your off!
Photo Source - http://img.food.com/img/recipes/28/16/44/large/picZvIQtM.jpg
Oriental Slaw
1 package shredded coleslaw cabbage
1 package Oriental flavored Ramen noodles
1 bunch green onions -- chopped
1/2 cup oil
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1 tablespoon sugar
Seasoning packet from noodles
2 tablespoons sesame seeds-optional
1/2 cup sliced almonds
Toast nuts and sesame seeds in a hot pan until golden and allow to cool. Mix coleslaw, onions, and broken-up Ramen noodles together in a medium-sized bowl, and add cooled nuts/seeds. Mix oil, sugar, pepper, and Oriental flavored seasoning packet together and pour over slaw mixture just before serving. Stir well to get mixture evenly coated then throw it in a container and your off!
Photo Source - http://img.food.com/img/recipes/28/16/44/large/picZvIQtM.jpg
So you've been invited to a dinner party....
So you have been invited to a dinner party, and you aren't sure what would be an appropriate gift for the hostess. Well friends, I will share with you some helpful advice to help you in deciding what to present your hostess with upon arrival at the dinner party.
When selecting a gift for the host/hostess of a dinner party, don’t expect it to be served while you are there. Remember that this is a gift, not an accompaniment to the meal. If the hostess wants you to bring a dish to share, she will ask you during the invitation.
I would discourage bringing a bottle of wine, this may seem like a good idea, however, it is considered quite rude to show up to a dinner party with a bottle of wine, as it may be considered an insult to the hostess in her taste in wine, and may keep you from getting invited to future dinner parties.
Note: If the invitation clearly states "BYOB" then by all means, do bring a bottle of your favorite wine, to drink yourself.
If you are invited to a dinner party at a restaurant you do not really need to bring the hostess gift. However, if the host is paying the bill for the entire party, a gift will be much appreciated. You don’t have to match the price of the gift to the bill, but consider bringing something you might bring to a home dinner party.
If you know the host or hostess very well, consider a gift that stirs up a memory of a time you spent with them. For example, if you both enjoy the same types of entertainment, the hostess will probably appreciate a DVD, CD, or tickets to an event. However, if you don’t know his or her personal taste, consider a bouquet of fresh flowers (not roses, or carnations) or a gift basket with items most people enjoy.
Be discreet when selecting the gift. You certainly want to avoid anything that could potentially offend the host or hostess. You wouldn’t want to give a tray of summer sausage and cheese to a vegan, no matter how much you might enjoy that type of food. This gift is intended for the party giver, not you.
Remember that you don’t need to exceed your budget to give something meaningful. Not only will doing this embarrass the hostess, it might make you appear desperate for acceptance. Stay within your budget, and know that the recipient will appreciate anything you give.
The following is a list of appropriate gifts for a hostess of a dinner party:
When selecting a gift for the host/hostess of a dinner party, don’t expect it to be served while you are there. Remember that this is a gift, not an accompaniment to the meal. If the hostess wants you to bring a dish to share, she will ask you during the invitation.
I would discourage bringing a bottle of wine, this may seem like a good idea, however, it is considered quite rude to show up to a dinner party with a bottle of wine, as it may be considered an insult to the hostess in her taste in wine, and may keep you from getting invited to future dinner parties.
Note: If the invitation clearly states "BYOB" then by all means, do bring a bottle of your favorite wine, to drink yourself.
If you are invited to a dinner party at a restaurant you do not really need to bring the hostess gift. However, if the host is paying the bill for the entire party, a gift will be much appreciated. You don’t have to match the price of the gift to the bill, but consider bringing something you might bring to a home dinner party.
If you know the host or hostess very well, consider a gift that stirs up a memory of a time you spent with them. For example, if you both enjoy the same types of entertainment, the hostess will probably appreciate a DVD, CD, or tickets to an event. However, if you don’t know his or her personal taste, consider a bouquet of fresh flowers (not roses, or carnations) or a gift basket with items most people enjoy.
Be discreet when selecting the gift. You certainly want to avoid anything that could potentially offend the host or hostess. You wouldn’t want to give a tray of summer sausage and cheese to a vegan, no matter how much you might enjoy that type of food. This gift is intended for the party giver, not you.
Remember that you don’t need to exceed your budget to give something meaningful. Not only will doing this embarrass the hostess, it might make you appear desperate for acceptance. Stay within your budget, and know that the recipient will appreciate anything you give.
The following is a list of appropriate gifts for a hostess of a dinner party:
- Bouquet of flowers in a vase (not roses or carnations) Tulips and lilies are always a safe bet
- Boxed candies
- Potted plant
- Tin of cookies
- Decorator candles
- Guest soaps
- Flavored vinegars
- CD or DVD
- Tickets for a movie or event
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