At Peerless Etiquette we want to inspire young ladies and young men to live a life of civility and kindness wherever they go. We want our young people to know that etiquette and proper behavior is cool, that there is power in poise and that opens doors of opportunity and helps forge more meaningful relationships. We caught up with Alana Nelson, fashion designer, and graphics designer to ask her a few questions. Hopefully her answers to our questions will inspire you in some way. Who is someone (living or dead) that you feel embodies/embodied outstanding etiquette ? Michelle Obama and Anna Wintour What skills or attributes must come naturally, or be inherent to a woman ? Strength and confidence. They both go hand in hand. What is one thing you learned later in life, that you wish you were taught sooner? Routine- I love routine, however once I fall out of the routine it is very difficult to get back into it. Finish the statement; In today's modern world it is important to... Know who you are. What is the best etiquette advice you have ever received? Shoulders back, be confident and know your surroundings Do you think today’s woman is concerned enough with, or prioritizing learning etiquette and social graces appropriately? No but we should be. Do you believe there is power in femininity? If so why? Absolutely! Females are resilient and very powerful species naturally. In today's world, we are consistently exuding femininity while breaking barriers. Share one beauty secret and one style tip with us that works for you. When you wash and dry your face, blot don't wipe. When you wipe you are pulling on your skin which promotes wrinkles. How does poise and comfort with punctilio influence confidence? It shows that you are ready, no.matter what situation comes towards you. Please share with us your favorite quote. "Over and Next" What is one vintage rule of etiquette or decorum that young women can benefit from today? To always conduct ourselves with grace

At Peerless Etiquette we want to inspire young ladies and young men to live a life of civility and kindness wherever they go. We want our young people to know that etiquette and proper behavior is cool, that there is power in poise and that opens doors of opportunity and helps forge more meaningful relationships. We caught up with Tia Strachen actress and model, to ask her a few questions. Hopefully her answers to our questions will inspire you in some way. Who is someone (living or dead) that you feel embodies/embodied outstanding etiquette ? My grandmother is the person I feel embodies outstanding etiquette. She has been my example for so much. From elbows off of the dining room table to saying excuse for everything. She taught me how to care for others unconditionally. She rarely swears, hey, she’s not perfect, but it’s never the most vulgar language. She still polished her silver and uses the good China for special events. She is my best friend and I’m so thankful to be learning all of that and so much more from her. What skills or attributes must come naturally, or be inherent to a woman ? Giving, loving, & caring. We seem have a natural instinct to care or take others under our wings. Our love for others is usually strong and we give ourselves completely to what we’re doing. There are many more that could probably be up there, but these three seem to be pretty common. What is one thing you learned later in life, that you wish you were taught sooner? Self care! Regular hair routine, nail routine, physical activity, something! It’s important to care for yourself physically because it keeps you mentally strong. You get a second to decompress and spend time within yourself. My mother and my grandmother are great with caring for all of us, but they often times forget about themselves. Anxiety goes through the rough and life isn’t as smooth. Take care of yourself as well! Finish the statement; In today's modern world it is important to... Watch your mouth. Women have a way of speaking things into existence. Your words have power and carry weight. Consider your words wisely and don’t stir up the pot. What is the best etiquette advice you have ever received? Write hand-written thank you notes. My grandmother is notorious for receiving gifts, someone pays for a lunch, anything and she is writing you a thank you. She sends birthday cards to people she’s met just once, but they made a lasting impression from over 20 years. It’s such a nice gesture that people tend to forget about. You taking that time to write a personalized thank you brings a lot of joy that just hearing a thank you can bring. They took the time to pick something just for you, take the time to write things out. I’m not the greatest at this, I will admit. It makes me feel guilty every time! Sometimes it takes me forever to get around to it, but when I do it, I feel so joyful. Do you think today’s woman is concerned enough with, or prioritizing learning etiquette and social graces appropriately? I think social media make a lot of things hard to recognize if it’s reality or virtual. I think we could do better. Do you believe there is power in femininity? If so why? I do, we have an influence in each and every industry without needing to be like men. Our “vulnerability and softness” is sometimes what stops the masculine energy from taking over and making negative decisions. Our love can spark greatness. Share one beauty secret and one style tip with us that works for you. Water is your friend! I watched an episode of Oprah in the 9th grade where these ladies said they washed their faces with water for many years. These ladies were all well over 70, but you couldn’t tell. Their faces were so clear and vibrant. I learned then that being natural is always better. My face has never had too many issues, but the water has made it much more clear. Have clothes for many different occasions. You need to dress appropriately for each social setting. If you’re modeling or acting, having a variety of looks can really pay off for you. How does poise and comfort with punctilio influence confidence? You have a sense of balance and knowledge that no one can take from you. It helps you be grounded and that is what you need in order to make through any industry. Please share with us your favorite quote. “All you can do is all you can do and all you can do is the best.” -Art Williams Do your best! Give it your all. You can’t be disappointed if you don’t come out as a winner or it seems like you came up short if you put all of your effort into it. Success is what YOU make of it. You could be beating a personal best or trying something new, just give it your all! What is one vintage rule of etiquette or decorum that young women can benefit from today? Being well versed. We need to be knowledgeable, especially in the circles that we are in. Small talk is something that was very important. They didn’t want to say things that could cause discourse in the conversation.

At Peerless Etiquette we want to inspire young ladies and young men to live a life of civility and kindness wherever they go. We want our young people to know that etiquette and proper behavior is cool, that there is power in poise and that opens doors of opportunity and helps forge more meaningful relationships. We caught up with Gabrielle Timothy a nurse who cares for others, and a brand model whose career is built on poise, to ask her a few questions. Hopefully her answers to our questions will inspire you in some way. Who is someone (living or dead) that you feel embodies/embodied outstanding etiquette ? My Aunt, Jacqueline Nelson. Yes, the person who embodies outstanding etiquette can be in your own family or community. What skills or attributes must come naturally, or be inherent to a woman ? Grace, confidence and intelligence. What is one thing you learned later in life, that you wish you were taught sooner? You aren't missing out on anything or anyone. Follow your journey and be teachable along the way. Have faith that your good comes along with a purposeful life. Finish the statement; In today's modern world it is important to... Stay in touch with your own personal goals and try not to get distracted. What is the best etiquette advice you have ever received? Have confidence. Find a mentor. Do you think today’s woman is concerned enough with, or prioritizing learning etiquette and social graces appropriately? Unfortunately no, but they should prioritize learning etiquette properly. Women are more concerned with the social aspect, being popular rather than grace or etiquette. I think every young lady should make it their business to learn proper etiquette and take it seriously, it's a life skill that never goes out of style. Do you believe there is power in femininity? If so why? You never know who is looking. Be an example. You can be strong and soft. That is the beauty of femininity. Share one beauty secret and one style tip with us that works for you. Listen to your body, and communicate how you're feeling to your parent, guardian or mentor. Stay Hydrated and drink lots of water rather that beverages packed with sugar. Never underestimate the power speaking and thinking positively. How does etiquette influence confidence? It begins with a mental commitment to being the best you can be. Once you take the action to carry yourself in a certain manner it is showing others how you want to be treated as well. You will feel more confident if you are preparing yourself to be more confident in your actions. Please share with us your favorite quote. Everyday is a new chance and a new opportunity at life. What is one vintage rule of etiquette or decorum that young women can benefit from today? Dress the part. It may sound simple, but women of the past dressed up for an occasion. They carried themselves in a elegant manner that demanded respect respectfully. ________________________________________________________________________________________

Preparing to wrap gifts for your loved ones, and friends is a vital step in the right direction for the holidays, birthday parties, and special occasions. I know the world is going digital. but there is nothing like receiving a well packaged gift that someone took the time to buy for you, and wrap for you with love. By now most of you know that I still write letters, place cards, menu cards, and invitations by hand. There is something about my handwriting that adds a personal touch to the gift, or correspondence. Easier isn't always seen as special even if the receiver never says anything to you about it. Here are a few ways to add that bit of special back into your life and those you love. It's not old fashioned it's thoughtful. Wrap gifts in a gift: My friends and family know how much I love scarves, every year they use a new scarf as the wrapping so before I open the gift I'm already happy to see the wrapping. You can do this with t-shirts, sweaters, and costume jewelry to make the gifts to your loved ones extra special. Send an invitation by mail: I understand the cost of mailing and the time it takes to do so might be daunting to some, but just think about how special people will feel to get a invitation by mail. Sure it take a little more effort but it adds to the overall experience. Invest in Fabric for Wrapping Gifts: This is not only a green alternative to wrapping but a special reusable way to wrap. Not only does the gifts look fabulous the wrapping can be washed, ironed and reused next year. A friend of mine showed me this tip and I swear by it as a chic and beautiful way to give the gift without throwing away paper. This is not only a green alternative to wrapping but a special reusable way to wrap. Not only does the gifts look fabulous the wrapping can be washed, ironed and reused next year. A friend of mine showed me this tip and I swear by it as a chic and beautiful way to give the gift without throwing away paper. Fresh Flowers as the Bow: Add fresh flowers as the bow on your gifts. Cut a favorite flower of your loved one and include it as the wrapping. This is a great way to make someone you love feel special. Wrap the card or cash: Gift cards are slowly draining the fun out of shopping for loved ones. Just like Cash App, Pay Pal, and digital Money apps of all kind. Giving money is not my idea of a gift, but it is to many people. So if you're going to give cash or a cash equivalent how about you give cash in a special way. Here are three ways to give cash without being tacky about it. Put it in a new wallet that is wrapped: Putting the cash in a gift like a new monogrammed wallet that has been wrapped. Another alternative is a monogrammed money clip for men. Give children money by putting it in a piggy bank, the piggy bank is the gift and the money inside is a gift too but you're teaching the value of saving at the same time. Give money to a favorite charity or non profit in the name of someone. This is an excellent way to support your family and friends who have everything and would rather give than receive. By: Zakiyyah Shakir

The number one question young ladies ask us is will they be required to balance a book on their head? And our reply is yes, a book upon the head is one of the surest ways to nip lazy posture in the bud before it turns into a chronic painful problem that is hard to break. During deportment classes at Poise and Punctilio, everyone is required to balance a book on ones head even young men, as their posture can use some work as well. In the 21st Century bad posture has become an epidemic with the use of cellphones, everyone is looking down, which puts tension on the back of the neck for long periods of time. Poise and Punctilio is proud to continue the tradition of helping ladies and gentlemen walk graceful, and carry themselves with poise. Not only is good posture and proud bearing and elf possession good for confidence and appearance but it's also proven-to be good for spinal health.

Having friends over doesn't always require bringing in a chef or long hours over a hot stove. It could mean pulling out a few boards with an assortment of everyone's favorite snacks paired with the right bottle of wine. At Poise and Punctilio we are all about time well spent with the people we care about. In our Finishing School we help ladies and gentlemen understand the fundamentals of entertaining so that it becomes a natural occurrence in their everyday lives. Today we are tackling Board Food and how to make sure you are prepared for an impromptu get together. The best host can prepare a gathering in less than 30 minutes. 1. Invest in a quality board to display your creation on. There are so many variations of boards that you can use, keep in mind the amount of people you are expecting, when choosing the board. You can also create a variation of boards for a larger number of guest. 2. Communicate with invited guest, be sure you have an understanding of the dietary restrictions to make sure you have something on the board for everyone. 3. Add a bit of crunch, many cheese boards are elevated by something crunchy to help guest feel satiated. There is something about crunchy foods that make us feel fuller faster. 4. For every group of 5 have two cheese types, a Group of ten should have 4 cheese types, a group of 15 six cheese types. Always keep in mind your guest list to make your shopping list a breeze. 5. Complementary paired drinks to make the most of the flavor. Here are a list of my favorite pairings Prosecco And Parmesan Sauternes And Fondue Cabernet Sauvignon And Aged Gouda Chardonnay And Gruyere Rioja And Manchego Riesling And Ricotta Malbec And Aged Cheddar

For some men, these words don’t seem to fit in with manliness. For some men, etiquette and manners conjure up arbitrary lists of dos and don’ts, nagging parents, or artificial formality, complete with images of bowing and scraping, and a bunch of stiff, “How do you dos?” and “No, after yous!” It isn’t necessarily so. Back in the day men saw no contradiction in being ruggedly manly and a refined gentleman. For centuries, well-bred men were trained in all the manly arts, from the skills needed to be a soldier to the proper etiquette for dinner parties. They were quintessential gentlemen—dapper in dress, polite in conduct, and yet every bit a true man. Martin Luther King Jr, Nelson Mandela, Malcolm X, and Muhammad Ali are some examples of men who combine gritty manliness with gentlemanly bearing. They paid attention to how they dressed, groomed, and conducted themselves and were as comfortable at a stately ball as they were when fighting for the causes they believed in. For these great men, having good manners did not make them less of a man, but more of one. This is because they saw good manners in the way Edward John Hardy, author of Manners Makyth Man, defined them: as “little morals,” “the shadows of virtues, if not virtues themselves.” If character was the root of inner manliness, then manners were the outer fruits that sprouted from the tree – the external behaviors and code of conduct that naturally followed from a life of virtue. These great men understood that while it is true that the rules of etiquette change over time and from culture to culture, the underlying principles of all manners remain constant: a respect for others, and a desire to treat all people with honesty and consideration – just as you’d like to be treated.

Your behavior has everything to do with what you are attracting in your life. Many people think that we are merely a Finishing School, we allow them to go with that, but at Poise and Punctilio we teach our clients the ways and customs necessary to get on with others in a polite society. The behavior taught is your ticket into new rooms with new energy and new opportunities. Etiquette is absolutely part of our repertoire but only a small segment of the overall picture. To fully receive the benefits of our services one must be ready to move into a higher level of consciousness. It isn't enough to have wealth, many clients have wealth but don't feel like they belong in their new environment. Being able to look, behave, and communicate in an elevated way is powerful. Many clients have to learn, unlearn and relearn to strike a balance. Our clients receive complete Image Development services from our team. The Image Development Services offered is predicated upon the Law of Attraction in action. Each person who comes to us for help improving or establishing their personal or professional brand is not only embarking on an Image Enhancement journey, but they are also learning to embrace a different level of living in a gracious way. We believe in our clients and we see them at their best, regardless of how they arrive. We do not offer cookie-cutter Image consulting services, each individual is different, and that uniqueness inspires us to enhance and embrace that uniqueness when consulting. Our goal is to understand your vision for your Image and help you achieve it. We do not judge, our only goal is to help you develop the skills and habits necessary to align with the Image you want to create we ready when you are. #imageconciergeservices #poiseandpunctilio

You're at a restaurant and you want to give thanks for being invited by ordering a bottle of wine you thought the guest would enjoy. Remember not all guest drink alcoholic beverages so do not take it personal if not all guest partake in your kind gesture of Pinot Noir Vintage. Here is what to expect when you order the wine, many people begin to get a little anxious when they realize the etiquette of the pouring of the wine by the sommelier. If you do not elect to take ownership of the bottle and do the pouring yourself this is what will happen. Once you order the bottle of wine, the waiter will pour you a sample to taste, once you've sampled the wine, after sighting the wine, swirling it, then sniffing the bouquet take a sip. If everything is to your liking give the waiter a nod, he will then proceed to the person to your right and continue around the table filling your guests glasses half way and returning to you last to bring your glass up to the level of your guest. If you are a guest, and someone has ordered a bottle of wine, once your glass has been filled do not drink from your glass until the waiter has filled the glass of the person who ordered the wine. Examine the wine list, if there are 30 Italian wines listed and only 5 American wines listed the owner of the restaurant prefers Italian wine, so chose something Italian, go with the flow. The wine list at restaurants can be intimidating because some restaurant cellars are endless so there selections are endless as well. When presented with the wine list don't feel you need to know everything, ask questions, some of my clients are wine enthusiast who have taught me more about wine than I could ever teach them. Asking for recommendations is a sure way to get a good conversation going. Who doesn't like to talk about wine? In my experience the conversation starts at wine, then it morphs into travel and where to buy the best wine. Social Etiquette Tip / Conversation "The question you think will make others judge you is sometimes the question your guest are waiting for to open up and truly connect with you, even if you know alot, someone else has a different perspective that could expand your knowledge, or help you see things in a different way" -Zakiyyah Shakir #diningetiquette #wine

With the holiday's firmly at our heals it's time to begin refreshing manners for the children in our lives. For those parents, and guardians of little ones you know the pressure that accompanies making sure your child is well behaved for the myriad of social events you are sure to be invited to during the Holiday Season. The holidays are a perfect time to reinforce the skills you've hopefully been instilling all year long. For those of you who may have been a little lax during the year due to life itself allow me to give you a few pointers for a gracious Holiday Season. 1. Begin weaning children off tablets, and cellphones: Beginning the weaning process of technology gets children in the mood to be more social. A great way to do this is to make it fun, family game nights, night time reading, allowing children to help make their breakfast and pack their own lunch for school keeps them active instead of bored. This sets the tone for a people oriented demeanor and the presence of people and doing things with people wont come off as a punishment but normality. (Feel free to do this all year long) 2. Resume Family Dinners at home: Before you begin to leave comments about modern times and being too busy. Allow me to serve you a cup of Chamomile tea to calm yourself and keep reading. Daily family meals together is a bit of a challenge I understand, with mom and dad both working and getting off at different times I understand completely were not living in a world with stay at home moms and Dads who get home at 5pm. When I say family meals I mean having the children in your life sit down to eat at a dinner table when possible without the tv on, and without tablets, and cellphones. Even if they only have their siblings to sit with at least they are getting practice sitting down for a meal with people without distractions. 3. Teach your children to set a proper table: I have been tricking little ones into taking ownership of the dining experience for years, by allowing them to help me set the table. Having the children in your life learn to set the table properly is probably one of the foundational pieces of the etiquette and manner puzzle. By allowing children to help set the table you are instilling a sense of pride in them to behave more responsibly. During this time you should allow them to handle items that require more care and teach them the difference between plastic items and fine china. This is also the perfect beginning to the next tip. 4. Practice Basic Dining Manners: Wash you hands before a meal Sit down, napkin on your lap Eat with your mouth closed Elbows off the table Use your inside voice, and then bring it down two notches more Pass the salt and pepper together Don't play with your food Practice "May I" statements ( to weed out rude request) etc... 5. Prepare them to be little host/hostess: During the gathering allow the children to greet the guest, take their coats, and show them in with you. Children learn social skills at home, if they are always cast aside tot he playroom to mingle with their peers how will they see the social intercourse at it happens from the very people who they look up to. The greeting at the door is a great way to allow children to take on a sense of ownership and pride in welcoming guest and caring for them. To learn more or enroll your little one in an etiquette course visit our children etiquette course offerings.