ETIQUETTE & WORDING

  A LIFETIME KEEPSAKE... Personal handwritten notes grow rarer by the day. According to the U.S. Postal Service’s annual survey, the average home only received a personal letter once every seven weeks in 2010, down from once every two weeks in 1987. In a world where people seem to have everything, words on paper, sealed with a stamp, can be far...

  “Nothing can dim the light that shines from within.” -MAYA ANGELOU   A handwritten note is a work of art to be visually enjoyed by the recipient.  Writing shows the mark of your own hand and your choices of real materials, and mailing shows that the message comes from a real person in a real place.  Choosing to write...

  Many of us will find ourselves hosting friends or family in some capacity or another. Whether you are hosting a formal meal or a casual cocktail hour, these four simple rules by Susan Spungen will help make your event an all-around success!   CODDLE YOUR GUESTS.  Make them feel comfortable and welcome.  Be hyper thoughtful: make a guest’s favorite...

“There are always flowers for those who want to see them.” -HENRY MATISSE   Beginning in the early 1700’s, the Victorian flower language, or floriography, was the pre-digital version of emoji.  Bouquets with secret messages were sent between high-class Victorian homes, conveying messages full of emotion and meaning.  The long-lasting floriography fad was set off by Lady Mary Wortley Montagu,...