Blog posts that inspire
Principles of a Gracious Life ~ Elegance
by Alexandra Stoddard
Principles of Gracious Living ~ Authenticity
by Alexandra Stoddard
Merry Christmas 2015
Be Thankful…
Being the Perfect House Guest
The time is drawing near for the holidays and being someone’s house guest may be on your list for this holiday season. Real Simple magazine has a great list called 10 Ways to be the Ideal Houseguest.
This is a great list that one can use to master the art of house guest etiquette. You don’t want to ruin your chances of being uninvited to your friend’s beautiful colonial in New York (my friend’s home in New York see here).
1) Be clear about how long you will stay ~
Make sure you lock down your visiting dates far in advance with your hosts…..
2) No surprises please~
Never show up unannounced
3) Choose the perfect gift~
Proper guest etiquette requires a gift. Try a delicious delicacy from your hometown or a flowering plant….
4) House Rules Rule
When you arrive gently inquire about how things are done to avoid any misunderstandings…..
Photo by Андрей Постовой on Unsplash
5) Be Appropriate
Everybody has different comfort levels when it comes to baring. Before you walk down the hall in your shower towel – take cues from your host, when in doubt err on the side of modesty.
6) Help Out
You should offer to help cook; set the table and do dishes; drive everyone in your car. Even if you are turned down your hosts will appreciate the gesture.
7) Entertain Yourself
Your hosts still has a life and may have to work during the day. If so do some exploring on your own and let your hosts know what your plans are.
8) BYO (Bring Your Own)
Don’t expect to use your hosts’ toiletries or other items. If you have forgotten to pack toothpaste inquire about where you can buy one.
9) Leave No Trace
If there is one thing to take from these tips, it should be this: leave the place as clean as possible when you go.
If you want to read more about this list then visit the link above. Also, if you missed my entry about Preparing for Guest see here.
The French Woman Inspires
I love learning about French women. What they eat, how the shop, decorate, and what they wear. Well, Sharon Santoni’s book My Stylish French Girlfriends has exposed what it is like to live like the French.
I can not tell you how much I adore this book. It goes into detail about each woman and what they do for work, how they live, and how they accomplished their dreams. Each woman had a goal or dream and each one was able to make it come true. It is truly inspiring.
Here is a passage from one of the stories~
Who would have thought it possible to experience village life in the heart of Paris? To set your watch by the chimes of the church bells; to chat with the local baker as you buy your daily bread; to watch your children go to school on foot each morning and to shop at the farmers market a few minutes from your home?
I am truly inspired by the French. I love the thought of buying my food every day. Walking to the beautiful bakeries. Only having the freshest ingredients every day. It truly does inspire you. I will take some ideas and living habits from each one of these women and create my own life that will inspire.