In serving tea, the table should be arranged before any visitors arrive.  Its cover may be a linen tea cloth embroidered or trimmed with lace, while the cups and saucers, with the spoon resting in each saucer, the thin slices of lemon, the small wafers, cakes or sandwiches on plates or pretty doilies, should be artistically arranged upon it.  The teakettle should be in its place, the teapot just in front of it.  The cream pitcher and sugar...

Sometimes, the opportunity to observe etiquette is just out of reach.  Or just impossible – Like my story from yesterday, for example…  But on most occasions knowing the proper way to behave in social situations is useful and necessary. Did you ever have the opportunity (or were forced to) attend any etiquette classes or programs while you were growing up? You know the kind I mean:  Balancing a book on your head.  Learning how...

It’s great to have Alyssa Avant, of Beauty By Design, joining us here at The Cafe again today… “Yes, ma’am”, “No ma’am”, “Thank you”, “No thank you” are these words common practice in your day-to-day life? I have had conversations lately with ladies where they will ask me to stop saying, “yes ma’am” to them, because we are close in age, then I have also had conversations with older people who were...