10 Steps to the Top

Christie — Tue, 23 Nov 2010 06:00:00 +0100

As a society, we prefer things to be concise and beneficial. We lack patience when it comes to complex explanations that take a long time.

Succinct teachings of rather difficult and intricate fields of protocol, such as business etiquette, was a significant appeal of my training at the Protocol of Washington.

Thanks to the President of the Protocol School of Washington, Pamela Eyring, here are some coRead More...

No Shoes. No Shirt. No Service

Christie — Tue, 19 Oct 2010 15:40:49 +0100

When is it OK to enter a restaurant without your shirt on?

The short answer: Never.

The long answer: Never. Ever.

Not wearing your shirt into a restaurant, despite the time of year or the casualness of a city, would have Emily Post turning over in her grave. Which, leads me to Read More...

Thank you for Thanking

Christie — Wed, 15 Sep 2010 05:00:00 +0100

Thank you notes need not contain perfect grammar. The value of a thank you note relies upon sincerity, timeliness and genuine prose from the heart.

Below is the most sincere and personal thank you note I have received in quite some time. After a festive evening at my new home this note was delivered accompanying a small bud vase of yellow roses. Not only was it unique, it was personal enough that I could hear these Read More...

Wedding Thank Yous

Christie — Wed, 08 Sep 2010 05:00:00 +0100

Dear CLM,

My fiancé and I have a wedding shower in Chicago next month. We are starting to receive presents from our guests. Are we supposed to have opened those by the time we go to the shower? Can we send thank you's for the gifts before the shower has even happened?

Please help us do the right thing,

Sorry I'm not excused

Christie — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 05:00:00 +0100

Last week I spent 6 days in Vancouver, BC to get away from the TX heat. Prior to the trip I was convinced that Canadian culture was going to be similar to American culture and customs. To my surprise, aside from English being the dominant language, Canada could have been Timbuktu when it come to similarities to the US.

To an etiquette consultant the most glaring difference was manners.Read More...

Your shoes speak--but they shouldn't

Christie — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 05:00:00 +0100

Hallway Keynote Speakers

Last week I attended a breakfast with 5 keynote speakers. It was, in fact, a long breakfast and an even longer program of speakers, so I was empathetic to the need for stretch breaks and seat shuffles. What I was not empathetic to was the need to make my high heels the 6th key note speaker of the morning!

Washington, DC is the land of all things protocol. From the White House and Capitol Hill to the Marine Base Quantico and Andrews Air Force Base, our nation’s capital revolves around protocol that has existed for hundreds of year.

Protocol is the diplomatic procedure established by precedence.

Rules of protocol give us insight into someone’s accomplishments, ranRead More...

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America... and flag etiquette

Christie — Wed, 30 Jun 2010 05:00:00 +0100

Driving during rush hour traffic is arduous. Despite the light changes, progress is made in minuscule increments. You are left changing the radio, making a call or staring at your “traffic-neighbor” one car over who is experiencing the same delay home… or anywhere but there. You are gridlocked. This is when your yoga teacher would instruct you to breath.Read More...

86% of Recruiters Use Social Media to Research Applicants

Christie — Tue, 08 Jun 2010 05:00:00 +0100

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Citing Importance of Social Media Etiquette

NY, NY – 5/24/10 – Research shows 86% of recruiters look at social media sites like Facebook (FB), Twitter and MySpace to learn more about job applicants and 44% don’t hire applicants based on their findings.[1] “What you say and do on-line is justRead More...

Modern Dating--and the bill

Christie — Wed, 26 May 2010 11:29:12 +0100

Dear Goddess of all that is Well Behaved,

I have some plans afoot to ask a gentleman out on a dinner date. Being generally inexperienced in the world of adult dating--this girl hasn't been single really since she was 17-- I find myself somewhat at a loss for etiquette. So here is my question: in the post-feminist world, what's the proper way to take care of the bill if you have done the askiRead More...

Personal Tracking Devices

Christie — Tue, 18 May 2010 05:00:00 +0100

“ Dear CLM,
Is it rude to ask my friend if she received the gift I sent in the mail if I have received neither verbal or written confirmation that it has arrived after 3 weeks? I have always been curious about the etiquette for this type of situation. I don't wish to come across as rude, but I'd like to know if the gift indeed arrived or if I need to hassle the post office!”

What do Royal Fig Catering and Rojo photography have in common? It’s much more than just ...

Christie — Tue, 11 May 2010 05:00:00 +0100

Every mother has the choice to breast feed or formula feed their new born child.

Those mothers who decide to use bottles are able to feed their hungry child conveniently in public without any personal exposure. Some of the mothers who have chosen to breastfeed have also decided to conveniently feed their hungry child in pubRead More...

Just say "no" to Facebook RSVPs

Christie — Tue, 04 May 2010 05:00:00 +0100

Dear CLM:

What do I do when someone rsvp's 'no' to a party on your Facebook wall, after you sent them an invitation elsewhere? John invited only a couple of his classmates to our Easter party (via e-vite), and a couple people declined on his Facebook wall, thereby telling all of their mutual Facebook friends that we were hosting an event that they may not have been invited to. ShRead More...

Proper Forks at the Rodeo

Christie — Thu, 29 Apr 2010 05:00:00 +0100

Does it matter which fork you use at the Rodeo?

Dear CLM:

So....after a long day of drinking at the rodeo, my boyfriend, James* decided it would be a GREAT idea for both of us to go to dinner at the Houston Country Club for the first time with his parents (I have met them before, but never for formal dinner). I had my dress on, peaRead More...

You can pick your nose and you can pick your friends...

Christie — Thu, 22 Apr 2010 05:00:00 +0100

And so the saying goes, “You can pick your friends and you can pick your nose but you can’t pick your friend’s nose.”

I would like to add that you can’t pick your nose OR your friend’s nose and then wipe found contents on a public computer.

BlackBerrys and Friends... Can you Have Both?

Christie — Tue, 20 Apr 2010 05:00:00 +0100

BlackBerrys and Friends, Can you Have Both?

Several complaints have recently been sent my way regarding cell phones and the constant need to have such devices readily accessible.

I offer an entire course on iEtiquette to teach young professionals, and anyone else that feels naked without access to the internet, the real cost-benefit analysis of incessant glances at yoRead More...

The Green Jacket of Etiquette

Christie — Tue, 13 Apr 2010 05:00:00 +0100

The Green Jacket of Etiquette

Golf legend, Bobby Jones had a vision when he created Augusta National in 1932. His vision was of a respectful, gentle-man’s competition on beautiful land of water and hills that created an innate challRead More...

Sucker-Punched

Christie — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 05:00:00 +0100

Dear Ms. Mueller:

Recently, my husband and I were invited to a 40th birthday party for one of my closest friends, Helen. My friend’s husband, Jim, organized the party by calling friends and inviting us to a private party room for this special occasion.

Upon arrivRead More...

Blog entries

10 Steps to the Top

No Shoes. No Shirt. No Service

Thank you for Thanking

Wedding Thank Yous

Sorry I'm not excused

Your shoes speak--but they shouldn't

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America... and flag etiquette

86% of Recruiters Use Social Media to Research Applicants

Modern Dating--and the bill

Personal Tracking Devices

What do Royal Fig Catering and Rojo photography have in common? It’s much more than just ...

Just say "no" to Facebook RSVPs

Proper Forks at the Rodeo

You can pick your nose and you can pick your friends...

BlackBerrys and Friends... Can you Have Both?

The Green Jacket of Etiquette

Sucker-Punched