A few weeks ago I read this fabulous article from one of my favorite etiquette blogs, The Pink Teapot. Janine gives some awesome tips for Moms-to-be as well as potential visitors.  Some of my favorite points:

• Please respect that it is not the end of the world if you are not there for the actual labor and delivery of your grandchild.  Although I understand it may feel that way, it’s simply not the time to be imposing on another person.  I remember my sweet mother-in-law and I having conversations about this when I was pregnant with my first child and I remember her being so respectful of my wishes.  I actually wanted her there just after, and we told the family we’d call them.  My husband’s family as well as mine respected that and we had all of our family around us within hours of my son’s debut into this world.
• Please don’t ask if you can be there during labor and delivery- and don’t just show up.  Again, this is a private thing, a painful thing, a wonderful thing.  There are so many emotions wrapped up into this event that make it special.  It should not be intruded upon by someone else, no matter who that person is.
• Don’t get your feelings hurt.  My wise mother always says, “remember it’s not about you, it’s about them”.  I am a tender-hearted person and I wear my heart on my sleeve, so I understand getting my feelings hurt, but this is not about you, this is about the person who is holding that little bundle of joy…remember that.
• Don’t assume and bring children. It’s always best not to bring children to the hospital for so many reasons. They press the call buttons, run around, bring germs along with their sweet faces… none of these things are appreciated. A visit can always wait until they get home from the hospital so you can find someone to tend to your children to go and visit the baby and mother.

That was pretty lengthy, but I couldn’t really leave anything out! I love how she includes tips for both the mother and the visitors, because really, everyone could use some help in these awkward situations. No one wants to have a horrible birth experience!

I know the comment about getting your rest sure hits home (right, Kourtni, Colleen, Larissa, Kristen, Jennifer, Megan, Jimaie, Kristen, Shea, Lisa, Talia, Nanette, Liz, Natali, Molly & soon to be Crystal, Tristan and Kate? Whew!)

If I can stress one thing, it would be to accept the help that is offered to you.  Those first few days after you pop that baby out are so tough… DON’T TRY TO BE A HERO, lady.  If you have a mom, sister, grandmother or friend who is willing to watch the baby for even 2 hours while you get some rest, jump on that opportunity with no reservations.

Do you all have anything to add? Any good, bad, or ugly hospital experiences to share with the rest of us? A tip or two for the moms-to-be?

The part I have the most difficult time with is the whole gift wrapping thing.  Shoving the item into a flimsy bag with a wad of tissue paper (or even worse… too little tissue paper) is like a dagger into my little snobby heart.  Of course, I’ve been known to do this if I’m in a pinch, but ONLY when absolutely necessary and ONLY with the cutest bag available (none of those plain, $1.99 Target crummy things).  Are you seeing the elitist thing coming out?  I’m ridiculous, I know.

Justin (a frugally-minded fellow) is highly bothered by this and likes to stress the point that we don’t have a ton of extra money to be spending on gifts for everyone we know.  He gets frustrated with me for wanting to give the gift that ‘little extra something’, when all those little extras add up.  This is also the same guy that wanted me to give a $10 gift card to his sister for her 25th birthday.  Yeahhh, we’re just not on the same page here.

I have come up with a little plan in an attempt to please everyone involved in this gift-giving fiasco — do it the Semi-Homemade way (à la Sandra Lee, minus the .15 blood alcohol level).  What I’m doing is purchasing either the gift wrap OR the gift, and while keeping a budget in mind, I make the other item.  It’s interesting to see how your creativity comes out when you’re working with a budget.  And the bonus: The recipient can see the time, thought and effort that was put into their gift.

A Recent Example:

• Store bought necklace
• Box from my collection of random items up in my closet
• Scrap booking paper, leftover from another project
• Labels I printed (downloaded from Creature Comforts)

Supplies before...

Basically, all I did was wrap the boring, plain box in some cute scrap booking paper, tied some ribbon around the edges and secured it with one of those super cute labels.  I LOVE those things!

The finished product

Happy Birthday, Mom!

How do you all keep gift-givings within your budget?   Is it rude of me to ask?

Being a rude little snot seems to be the cool thing to do these days. Amen?

Cashiers who don’t speak a word to you are number one on my list — ahh, it drives me nuts. It’s called Customer Service for a reason… if you have no people skills, get a new job.

Don’t even get me started on drivers who don’t signal before a turn, the ones who try desperately to sneak in front of you at the last minute to be at the front of the line at the light, OR the little devils who pace the car in the lane next to them making it IMPOSSIBLE for me to pass and causing me to be late to work because I was forced to go 25mph the entire trip (this morning).

Bitter, much?

The following tips on handling rude people and situations shed a new light on my own attitude — and the fact my slight overreactions seem to be compounding the problem (See #3 on the list below). My 10-second-minimum horn honking habit shows I’m not any better than the drivers I despise so much, apparently. Who would’ve thought?

5 Ways to Combat Rudeness

1. Don’t take it personally. Perhaps the offender is having a bad day.
2. Size up your annoyances. Is it worth it to make a fuss over something small, or is it a waste of your emotional time?
3. 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.
4. 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?”
5. Laugh it off. If you can’t come up with a friendly joke, just chuckle and change the subject.

From the brilliant Emily Post (& family)

Lesson learned:  We are the ones who need to go out and set the bar.  No eye rolling, whispers under your breath, or laying on the horn for unnecessary and ridiculous amounts of time to get the point across that you are unhappy (MORGAN).

A recent post by Kate over at Kate’s Wedding prompted this post idea.  If you have a minute, check out her blog — fabulouuuuuus.

Classy.

As much as I’ve preached the importance of etiquette and manners, I have to admit that I have made many a faux-pas in my day (the composition of that sentence is probably one in itself). A major complaint my family has is how frequently I reapply my makeup. My Mom, in particular gives me quite a hard time, reminding me that I don’t need ‘all that makeup’ (yes I absolutely do), and can’t understand why I would ever feel the need to apply powder more than once during the day (do the words oil slick mean anything to you?).

Anyway, a question that has been nagging me for quite some time is whether or not applying lipstick at the table after a meal is considered rude. Whipping out the compact and fixing my eyeliner I can understand, but what about a quick little dab of gloss? After doing a little research, I’m pleased to say I haven’t been behaving too terribly after all.

Helena Echlin writes an article called Table Manners, and I found these guidelines helpful in my quest for lipstick etiquette knowledge. She makes a few good points:

• Generally, you should save grooming for the bathroom, but putting on lipstick is different because it isn’t unhygienic. Brushing your hair, flossing, and filing your nails — just don’t. Gross.
• It’s important that you get the task over with quickly. A quick swipe of lipstick or gloss is acceptable, but fiddling around with a lip liner is not.
• If you absolutely NEED a mirror, at least make sure that it’s cute and dainty (aren’t those darling?).

Emily Post would also add these tips:

It’s okay to quickly apply lipstick at the table if you’re with close friends or relatives in a non-business situation, and at a non-deluxe restaurant. In general, personal grooming should be done in private for the simple reason that it can be annoying and it’s tacky. But putting on lipstick without using a mirror and without fanfare is one grooming ritual that can sometimes be performed in front of others. Still, think first! When in doubt, don’t do it, such as when you’re at a business meal or with people you don’t know very well.

So basically, keep it quick, don’t draw too much attention to yourself, and when in doubt, make a trip to the restroom. That’s one place no one will judge you.

As dull as it may seem, I can’t stress enough the importance of every day etiquette. It reaches far beyond ‘please and thank you’ & chewing with your mouth closed:

“Wherever two people come together and their actions affect one another, you have etiquette.”

- Emily Post

With the assistance of Emily Post’s Etiquette bible that my dear friend blessed me with on my birthday, I’ll have something new and useful (hopefully!) to share with all you wonderful ladies very soon.

And if you’re just DYING to see each week’s installment of Pregnant Morgan’s Expanding Waistline, never fear … I’m on a roll with my ghetto-work-bathroom-low-quality-cell-phone-pictures. Why stop now? :)

I was catching up on my daily reading over at Talia’s blog, where she shared about spending her sick day on the couch watching TV Land. All the talk about the good old, black and white days reminded me of this old magazine article. You may all have seen this already (I know it was circulating through email forwards a while back), but if you haven’t, it’s definitely worth a moment of your time.

The Good Wife’s Guide

From Housekeeping Monthly, 13 May, 1955

• Have dinner ready. Plan ahead, even the night before, to have a delicious meal ready, on time for his return. This is a way of letting him know that you have been thinking about him and are concerned about his needs. Most men are hungry when they come home and the prospect of a good meal (especially his favorite dish) is part of the warm welcome needed.
• Prepare yourself. Take 15 minutes to rest so you’ll be refreshed when he arrives. Touch up your make-up, put a ribbon in your hair and be fresh-looking. He has just been with a lot of work-weary people.
• Be a little gay and a little more interesting for him. His boring day may need a lift and one of your duties is to provide it.
• Clear away the clutter. Make one last trip through the main part of the house just before your husband arrives.
• Gather up schoolbooks, toys, paper, etc. and then run a dustcloth over the tables.
• Over the cooler months of the year you should prepare and light a fire for him to unwind by. Your husband will feel he has reached a haven of rest and order, and it will give you a lift too. After all, catering for his comfort will provide you with immense personal satisfaction.
• Prepare the children. take a few minutes to wash the children’s hands and faces (if they are small), comb their hair and, if necessary, change their clothes. They are little treasures and he would like to see them playing the part. Minimize all noise. At the time of his arrival, eliminate all noise of the washer, dryer or vacuum. Try to encourage the children to be quiet.
• Be happy to see him.
• Greet him with a warm smile and show sincerity in your desire to please him.
• Listen to him. You may have a dozen important things to tell him, but the moment of his arrival is not the time. Let him talk first – remember, his topics of conversation are more important than yours.
• Make the evening his. Never complain if he comes home late or goes out to dinner, or other places of entertainment without you. Instead, try to understand his world of strain and pressure and his very real need to be at home and relax.
• Your goal: try to make sure your home is a place of peace, order and tranquility where your husband can renew himself in body and spirit.
• Don’t greet him with complaints and problems.
• Don’t complain if he’s late home for dinner or even if he stays out all night. Count this as minor compared to what he might have gone through that day.
• Make him comfortable. have him lean back in a comfortable chair of have him lie down in the bedroom. Have a cool or warm drink ready for him.
• Arrange his pillow and offer to take off his shoes. Speak in a low, soothing and pleasant voice.
• Don’t ask him questions about his actions or question his judgment or integrity. Remember, he is the master of the house and as such will always exercise his will with fairness and truthfulness. You have no right to question him.
• A good wife always knows her place.

It’s interesting how things have changed, isn’t it? :)

I’ll admit that when I was younger, Mom would have to force me to sit down and write them all (it can be a tad overwhelming when you turn 18 and your entire church congregation attends your party), but now that I’m older I’ve found a few ways to enjoy it…

Don’t be lazy.

Emailed thank-yous aren’t nearly as personal as handwritten ones. That little bit of extra effort goes a long way in showing you are truly grateful.

Don’t procrastinate.

It’s best to write your notes as soon as you can. If you’re running behind, remember that it’s better to send a late note than nothing at all. And if you’re feeling overwhelmed with that huge list staring you down, break it up and write the notes on different days.

Don’t be boring.

Invest in some stationery, woman! These are pretty irresistible…

Target – Monogram Notecards

Tiny Prints – Pink Birds on a Branch

Wedding Paper Divas – Little Bird

Wedding Paper Divas – Modern Paisley

A thank you card is the perfect way to show appreciation for something a person has given. Remember that when someone receives a thank you note they feel stronger about that person’s character, they feel as if they’re important enough to you to be worth your time, and the bonus… you give them that all-too-rare, simple pleasure of opening an envelope that isn’t junk mail!

I also think it’s a fabulous idea to have plenty of extra cards in case of emergency. I keep a box of birthday, thank-you, anniversary, and even blank cards for those last minute uh-oh moments. If it happens, there’s no reason for anyone to know. ;)

Mmm, tea. Whether you prefer it over ice while sitting on your front porch, or steaming hot with honey while reading a good book, you can’t deny it’s the perfect beverage.

There are endless varieties and flavors – white, black, green, chai, flavored with syrups and enhanced with fruit – but my absolute favorite way to enjoy it is hot, with one lump of sugar out of a sweet little tea cup.

My Grammy started a family tradition of Girl’s Day when I was about 8 years old. Grammy, Mom and I would all get dolled up and have high tea, complete with finger sandwiches and cranberry scones, at the Victoria Rose Cottage. It’s a treasured tradition that we still enjoy today, almost 15 years later. It’s such a delight to sit and visit in such a lovely atmosphere with my two favorite ladies.

If you’ve never experienced hot tea, make it a priority! It’s the ultimate, girlie treat. The Republic of Tea is a well known distributor, and offers some very delicious flavors. Ginger Peach is my all-time favorite… I carry a travel size tin in my purse for whenever I need a quick fix.

A less-popular, but equally fantastic choice is Culinary Teas. My Mom had me hooked on Caribbean Blue Lady after the first sip.

Do you have a treasured, girlie tradition? A collection of tea pots? A yummy recipe for scones? Do tell…

You may not have realized it My Dear, but you are a French speaker. There is a seemingly endless list of French phrases used by English speakers in everyday situations… Granted, they are usually in the wrong context and often butchered by poor pronunciation, but hey, we’re trying!

It’s very surprising when you realize how many of these phrases we know and how often we use them. I’ve compiled a list of some of favorites.

adieu – until God
Used as ‘farewell’ when you don’t expect to see the person again until you’re in Heaven.

au fait – conversant, informed
Used to mean ‘well-read’ or ‘familiar’ with a certain topic or idea.

au gratin – with gratings
Refers to anything grated and served on top of a dish, such as cheese.

avant-garde – before guard
Meaning ‘innovative’, especially in fashion and the arts.

billet-doux – sweet note
A love letter… aww. I want one!

bon appétit – good appetite
Similar to saying, “Enjoy your meal.”

bon voyage – good trip
It sounds more elegant than “Have a good trip”, doesn’t it?

carte blanche - blank card
Having the freedom or ability to do whatever you want.

chic – stylish
We don’t need an explanation for this, do we ladies?

du jour – of the day
Usually referring to the Daily Special at restaurants.

faux - false, fake
As in, all my Louis Vuitton bags.

faux pas – false step, trip
Used to describe a mistake or slip-up.

fleur-de-lis – flower or lily
An emblem in the shape of an iris with three petals.

gauche – left, awkward
Lacking social grace.

haute couture – high sewing
Referring to expensive clothing styles.

RSVP – respond please
This abbreviation stands for Répondez, s’il vous plaît. If you take one thing from this list, let it be that saying “Please RSVP” is redundant.

soirée - evening
If often refers to a fancy, elegant party.

touché – touched
Used originally in fencing, meaning “you got me”.

Have fun with these, but you may want to limit their usage to avoid sounding like Christian from Project Runway. ;)

How classy is it to gently wipe your tears (or nose, as even ladies must do) with a lovely cloth hankie, rather than with boring old Kleenex? They are one of the simple luxuries that make life just a little more sweet, and you a little more fabulous.

You’d be surprised at how few people even know what a handkerchief is these days. A teacher I know once sneezed into one in front of her classroom of 3rd graders, to which she was met with quite a few jaw drops and even more confusion.

The shops on Etsy.com offer a variety of adorable hankies, where I found this darling… I get bonus points for the monogram. :)

Some see using handkerchiefs as the environmentally-friendly option, so if you’re a part of the ever-growing Go Green movement, you may want to consider it.

Then again, if being super adorable and environmentally conscious isn’t your thing, you can always rely on the sleeve of your shirt.