All About Etiquette By Emily Post

"To make a pleasant and friendly impression is not alone good manners, but equally good business." - Emily Post

Etiquette was once the expected way of social behavior. People showed respect, politeness and good manners as they interacted with each other. Nowadays these ethical code has been slowly disappearing. 

Today instead of people showing the basics code of politeness like saying; excuse me, please and thank you. They curse, shove and are plain rude. People who behave such ways don't realize that they are not only hurting others but they are hurting themselves. Those of us though that that have a sense of etiquette and show kindness have to deal with such people on a daily basis. At times, it would just be easy to give in and throw the towel.

So what are we to do to keep from becoming rude ourselves and to hold our composure when dealing with others? Gratefully there is Emily! Emily Post was a famous and a beloved etiquette expert during the turn of the century. The following are a few points in...


How to Deal with Rude People:


Don’t take it personally. Perhaps the offender is having a bad day. We all have been there ourselves.

Size up your annoyances. Is it worth it to make a fuss over something small, or is it a waste of your emotional time?

Set a good example. Rudeness begets rudeness. If you speak sharply to the bank teller, don’t be surprised if you get the same treatment in return.

Count to ten. When someone’s behavior makes you angry, take a few deep breaths and ask yourself, “Is it really worth blowing my stack over this?”

Laugh it off. If you can’t come up with a friendly joke, just chuckle and change the subject.

Let’s say someone cuts in front of you while you’re in line. Say something like "Excuse me, I was here before you." Some people just like to see how much they can get away with, so if you call them on their behavior, they're likely to retreat. You can also politely ask “Why are you cutting in line?” The person may be embarrassed enough to step away.

You want to ask a question at the doctor’s office, but the nurse keeps giving you the brush-off. We all know how hard nurses work. So sometimes they’re just swamped. You also deserve to have your questions answered. So try this: Figure out the nurse’s name. Then say, “Excuse me Joan – or Bill, or whatever their name is. I know you’re busy, but when you have a moment, I could really use some help.” People are more likely to go the extra mile for folks who call them by name because it creates a bond and makes the person feel closer to you – like you’re friends. Acknowledging the fact that they’re busy shows that you sympathize with their situation – which makes you seem friendly.

A salesclerk won’t help you. If you’ve made several attempts to flag them down, and they STILL won’t talk to you, politely say “If you can’t help me, I would like to speak to a manager.” This’ll usually motivate the clerk, because they don’t want to get the boss involved. Remember to SMILE while you’re talking to them – that lets the salesclerk know that you’re not aggressive or looking for a fight.

by Emily Post & Good Housekeeping



The Following are several of my favorites Emily's Post quotes:

"Manners are a sensitive awareness of the feelings of others. If you have that awareness, you have good manners, no matter what fork you use."

"The honor of a gentleman demands the inviolability of his word, and the incorruptibility of his principles. He is the descendant of the knight, the crusader; he is the defender of the defenseless and the champion of justice--or he is not a gentleman."

This is one that I especially have to really work on: "If you are hurt, whether in mind or body, don't nurse your bruises. Get up, and light-heartedly, courageously, good-temperedly, get ready for the next encounter."


Want to develop your Etiquette and Self- Confidence?

Thankfully The Emily Post Institute website offers great courses of etiquette! Besides their awesome collection of books they also conduct training in person and online through seminars to businesses and non-profit organizations. It's so awesome that Emily Post descendants are continuing to carry her legacy in helping teaching kindness and consideration to others especially in these changing times! And they are doing it with such grace and decorum.

For more info please visit The Emily Post Institute. 

6 Steps To Unleashing Your Creativity

As an emerging artist I always wanted to know how the big artist got their creativity. What moved these artist to write that big novel, to sketch that flying machine, to compose that awesome musical piece? What was their  "aha" moment that helped them go from an idea to a masterpiece? Everyone at one time or another has had that special moment. Though many times we don't capture that moment. So I asked myself, "How can I unleash that creative moment"?

Have you had a great idea at night before going to bed and the next day you completely forgot about it? The best ideas for me come always when I least expected. At those times I had wished that I dotted down my ideas. But buy the time I think about it I fall asleep. So relying on my memory to retrieve a great idea the night before was out of the question.

There are a couple of things I started to do to capture that aha moment. I would make sure to have with me at all times a small notebook, so when I do get that idea I will write it down right away. And second I started with what I do best, I wrote a List. Instead of writing a to do list in my planner. I started to write a creative list and you know what, it worked! Here is what I did...

6 Steps to unleashing your creativity:


1- Create your own Creative Space: You could choose to have a creative space. It could be your own studio, be it a room or corner in your house. Within that creative space you can start with having a simple pocket notebook, a journal, a scrapbook, a drawing pad, a photo album, a box, your computer, anything that you can write, draw and file. I for instance have my trusty planner were I dot down my ideas and inspirations.

2- Choose Your Passion: What talks to you? Is your Passion:

Art or Writing or Decorating or Fashion or Music or Sewing or Photography or Movies or Poetry? Choose that one Passion that you want to develop and make it your own. Vintage has been my passion. And so is Art and writing. 

3- Make a list of your Favorite Things: This is a list of your favorite things, people or places that you absolutely love that most describe You. Develop your list as much as you can. And keep your list handy for when you have that oomph moment. Capture that moment and write it down.

Example of Favorite Things from the Sound of Music:
Roses kittens kettles mittens packages ponies streudels bells schnitzel geese dresses sashes snowflakes winters

These are a few of my favorite things: Victorian, Edwardian, Jazz music, Art Deco, Paris, dogs, cafés, hats, cameos, travel, bikes, orchids, bonsai trees, porcelain, trains, butterflies, and black and white designs.

4- Develop your list of Favorite Things: With a few descriptive words using your five senses if possible, describe what you like about that particular Favorite Thing. You can see this with the now more descriptive list of the Favorite Things from the Sound of Music:

Raindrops on roses whiskers on kittens

Bright copper kettles
warm woolen mittens

Brown paper packages tied up with strings

I love the Victorian era because of it's elegance and femininity. Jazz music is soothing to me. Dogs are cute, smart, and so lovable. The Orchids delicate smell and designs are out of this world! The Monarch butterflies, was delicately stencils by the best designer ever!

5-Construct your own Inspirational Board: Start adding a two or three-dimensional concept that describes well your Passion and the list of your Favorite Things. You can find inspiration in magazines, the internet, fabric shop, the mall, or even in your own closet. Lets say that your Passion is for Fashion. So you are going to look, find, collect, compile from magazines or bookmark everything that you absolutely love about fashion in addition to your Favorite Things. You will notice that your Passion and your list of Favorite Things is starting to take shape.

I have a photo album where I file images of my passion and favorite things. Also my trusty planner is where I draw and sketch my ideas and designs. My computer is filled mostly with vintage photos of people, places, and things that I absolutely love. 

6-Merge Your Passion & Your Favorite Things: Let’s say you chose Fashion as your Passion and rain as one of your Favorite Thing. You just love the sound, smell of rain, and how it gently falls from the sky and water the roses. Now add your Passion for fashion and rain to the equation. Hmmm a rosy red trench coat with a paisley raindrops pattern, viola! As you think and develop these two concepts you are going to come up with even more ideas of how rain can become a fashion statement.


My Bohemian Girl art Collection was born for my love for cameos, vintage hats, and travel. And the idea for Victoria Lee Jones came about for my love of Victorian and Edwardian times, time travel, vintage shops. and cafés.

Everyone is born creative! So go ahead and unleash your own creativity!

Photo:Library of Congress

Victorian & Edwardian Hairstyle Video Tutorials

Bonjour ladies! Are you having trouble styling your hair for an upcoming event? Well it's time to be schooled in the art of hair! These lovely Victorian & Edwardian hairstyle video tutorials by Natalie from Vintagious are super easy to follow. The beauty of these kind of hairstyles is that they didn't have to be precise. Letting some strands of hair down was actually part of the romantic look that the ladies back then wanted to achieve, and so could you!

Enjoy!

The Archives: Learning French

I always wanted to learn French. I think that the French language is so romantic and stylish!

Several years ago I started my goal of learning the language. I bought one of those learning French Cd's, which was pretty neat because not only they gave the basic French grammar but actually videos of people interacting with each other while speaking French. So for about a month I would practice everyday. I had difficulty reading the exact pronunciation. Though I could say that I was progressing slowly but steady.

Then one day I was running errands in a busy area of South Beach. And low and behold there were some ladies speaking French Creole standing right behind me. I was blown away! Not because they were speaking French. It was because I understood almost everything they said. And French Creole is not totally the same as French, though I still understood it well. Trust me , I am not the kind of girl that like to eaves drop, that is not proper etiquette. So I unintentionally continued listening to their conversation. And I would certainly not tell you what they were talking about, which is neither mine or your business. But it was groovy to understand what these ladies were saying.



Then I somehow stop practicing my French Cd's.

So several years ago I tried to get into it again. This time in addition to listening to the Cd's I incorporated in my learning schedule a PBS film. The film was about a guy meeting a girl in France. All of it of course was part of a French learning course, which I thought was pretty entertaining.

I wanted to really learn French. I had all the tools and equipment that I needed but I couldn't seem to progress. So I came to one painful realization. The problem was moi, ME. Yeap, I couldn't keep up with my schedule and French went avoir. Perhaps it was that I didn't really needed to learn it so badly, like if my life depended on it. I lived in South Beach were their were a variety of food, people and languages.

And mind you, there are plenty of French speaking people every where you go in South Beach. So are the rest of the English, Spanish, German, Italian and Portuguese speaking people that also lived and breath in South Beach. I am fortunate that I speak English, Spanish and a little Portuguese and that I had French and German friends. So in a way I felt like I could survive that International culture.

Now if I had moved to Paris years ago most likely I would be writing this experience in French. I think sometimes what moves people in learning a new language is of a need. And I have to admit, I fall into that category. Though their are exceptions like; "Do I really "need" another pair of shoes?." Or is it more do I just "want" a new pair of shoes. So Perhaps one day if I have to work in a bakery shop where the owner only spoke French that I might have then a real need to learn the language after all.



With all of that I still would love to learn French. My dream is to one day go to Paris and walked down it's famous streets and to walk into one of their famous café and ask for the toilette! No matter what you say in French it will always sound romantique and chic!

A friend of mine that speaks about six languages told me a great tip one day: "You have to submerge yourself into the language."

So the best thing for me to do would be to pack my things and start heading to Paris. I wish! Anyhow, in the meantime, I will still enjoy learning a little French just in case if I might need it one day.



Here is the website to watch the PBS french lessons: French in Action.
BBC has a great language learning courses on their website. The languages that they have are: French, German, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, Greek, Chinese and others.The BBC Language Website:BBC Languages/




Photo: Flickr Creative Commons from FunkyFlamenca, Wallyg, Mr Mystery.



The Archives:  Post's from my old blog The RetroChic Corner. Original Post Date: 08/04/09

Victorian Pharmacy Series Documentary

Victorian Pharmacy is a historical recreation documentary of a 19th Century pharmacy dating back to the beginning reign of Queen Victoria. The film follows historian Ruth Goodman, Professor Nick Barber and PhD student Tom Quick as they uncover interesting techniques and not so conventional ingredients to making of old fashioned treatments, cures, and potions for common ailments.

Back in the Victorian times many chemist were just learning how some ingredients affected the health of the people. Since some of the ingredients of Victorian remedies are now either illegal or known to be dangerous, like for instance arsenic and opium (good grief!), the team had to come out with safer alternatives.

Will Victorian remedies be as good as modern medicine? Don't worry you don't have to be the guinea pig. Nice willing and I must say brave souls volunteered to trying these remedies out. Watch and see.

Oh I must warn you, some information and portions in this documentary are not suitable for children.

Enjoy the film!


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Episode One

Episode Two

Episode Three

Episode Four

By the way Victorian Pharmacy was filmed at Blists Hill Victorian Town which is an opened air museum that attempts to recreate Victorian Shropshire town in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Research provided by Youtube, Wikipedia, Top Documentary Films.

Victorian Finishing School Summer Camp

Prior to their introduction to society privileged Victorian girls were expected to attend finishing school where they learned the arts of personal interaction and good manners. Ramsey House Finishing School for Young Ladies in St. Paul Minnesota offers a one-of-a kind day camp for young ladies inspired by the Victorian era.

The camp is focused on different element of Victorian life each day. The young ladies will have the special opportunity not only to learn about Victorian fashion and to try on a Victorian costume —complete with elaborate undergarments, but they are required to behaved like them too.

Along with Victorian formal tea parties and table manners, the girls will also learn about history, fashion, etiquette, poise, handcrafts, hand sewing, music and dance.

On the other hand learning about the Victorian life and the many restrictions and challenges that young ladies faced living in that time, will give the girls a new appreciation of the many opportunities offered to them in this modern era, while seeing the benefits of incorporating the fine and good things of the past.

The three day camp will culminate with a debutante tea party and a dance recital for the families.



Ramsey House Finishing School for Young Ladies is open to girls ages 9-12.

Location:
Alexander Ramsey House.
265 S. Exchange St.
St. Paul, MN 55102

Contact Information:
Email: ramseyhouse@mnhs.org

Website: 
Minnesota Historical Society.




Research: Ramsey House Finishing School for Young Ladies, Minnesota Historical Society, Victoriana Magazine, and Youtube.

The Archives: Finally I Graduated!

Don't you feel happy when you can accomplish something in life while traveling through the rough terrain? Sometimes the road can get pretty bumpy. And at times your feet might start hurting. You then feel tired and discouraged and just want to give up. Then you take a break. Get something to drink and you start again. Then after a while of walking in that rough road you start seeing the bees visiting the wild flowers.The journey because less stressful even enjoyable at times. And when you less expected you finally reached your goal. And then you start doing the happy dance!

I am doing the happy dance! And do you know why? Well, I was finally able to graduate!

You can find out more in the following video:

 And it sure feels good!






P.S. For more information on how to become an Interior Decorator visit: Ashworth College.


Copyright © 2006-2012. The Retrochic Corner. Carmen Johnson. A Retrotimes Productions Website. All Rights Reserved.



The Archives: Post's from The RetroChic Corner website. Original Post Date: 02/28/12

The Archives: I am Determined to Graduate and Become an Interior Decorator!

Several years ago my dear sister paid for my interior decorating school. My sister had studied to become an interior decorator and she knew that I would also enjoy learning about decorating.

Studying about something that I love helped me to keep my mind busy and positive. Instead of dwelling with my own self pity emotional issues because of my physical limitations, I felt that I was able to feed the starving creative and emotional side of me. I felt whole again.

Almost six years have passed and I haven't graduated yet. So what happened? Why didn't I keep up with my studies like I have promised myself?

Although I was super motivated to finish my studies I still had to deal with life.Yes, there were times that I had rather watch an old movie, listen to some jazz, and even blogging instead of picking up my books. And also there were times I questioned if I was ever going to work as an interior decorator.

But then was I only enjoying learning about decorating only because I might one day get a job as a decorator? The answer was, no. Decorating makes me feel happy. It brings me much joy and a sense of satisfaction to be able to transform a simple room into a more sophisticated and inviting place. I have always loved art, architect, designs, and the wonders of nature. So would I stop learning about these things because I can't become a famous artist or world renown biologist one day?

This time I am determined to finish what I had started! I am going to finish my classes and graduate and become an Interior Decorator!

Anyhow I loved to continue talking and chit chatting with you all. But I have to go and hit those books again. In the meanwhile you can watch me in action as I get ready to start studying:






Thanks for stopping by!






The Archives: Post's from The RetroChic Corner website. Original Post Date: 03/29/11