Blog - Page 4 of 12 - Elizabeth Etiquette

Christmas Holiday Gift Giving

Posted by Elizabeth Etiquette on November 25th, 2019

Christmas holiday gift-giving is a custom filled with noble intentions that sometimes have the unintended effect of sapping the cheer from shoppers. At Christmas time, we set out to choose gifts that show our affection and appreciation, but the process of finding the perfect gift can create stress.

That said, to help get you started we have some tips for you to keep your holiday gift-giving pleasurable and stress-free!

Keep the holiday cheer in your gift-giving with these simple tips:

Start early. Don’t leave your shopping to the last minute, hoping that the perfect gift will materialize. You will end up amongst thousands of other frenzied shoppers abandoning your budget, forgetting your good intentions, and buying anything you can find.
Create a budget and stick to it. Holiday gifts don’t have to cost a lot to be meaningful and valued by the recipient.
Make it personal. Before you head to the mall, spend some time thinking about each person on your list. What are their interests? What could they use?
A word of caution for online shoppers. Order early to avoid the item being, “Out of Stock.”

Still not sure what to buy? The following list of gift suggestions and ideas may help get you started as you think about the loved ones on your list:

For the avid reader

Books. Of course, if you don’t know what genre they prefer or what they have already read, consider a gift card for a bookstore.
For a book lover who has a long commute, consider an audiobook they can play while driving.
Bookmarks are available in a range of unique styles and quality and make wonderful small gifts, stocking stuffers, or gift tags.
Out-of-print and collector editions would be treasured by the book collector in your life.

For parents

Double your reading speed (download a sample) using both sides of your brain while reading a book! It makes getting through your children’s homework that much faster then slow down for your favorite book.

For teens and young adults

Anyone who has recently started driving would appreciate a gas card.
For the University student, a gift card to the University book store may be appreciated.
A gift card to a favourite coffee shop.
A gift card to their favourite clothing store.
A pre-paid Visa/MasterCard to purchase their own gift of choice.
Dinner and movie tickets.
For those who ski or snowboard, a day pass/tickets for the local hill.

Elderly relatives or parents

Lambskin slippers.
Blanket wrap or house jacket.
Silver photo frame with a special photo of a special memory, perhaps, or an updated photo of your family.

Family and close friends who live far away or overseas

Calendar or picture book of the area where you live.
A photo montage of your family during the year. Photos can now be easily added to calendars, DVDs, mugs, and other items.
Souvenir ornament that highlights a meaningful special event or yearly marker.
A food item or treat that is only available in the area where you live.

For the host/hostess

A seasonal bouquet or table centrepiece.
A fine wine or after-dinner liqueur.
Specialty chocolates or cookies.

Other alternatives

Donations to your favourite charity instead of giving gifts to others (it’s good etiquette to let people know you are doing this; mention it in a Christmas card or make a special card).
Giving the valuable gift of your time speaks volumes.
Give the gift of a new website or an email newsletter. Our friends at Market 2 All have some great free options and offer plenty of help to get you started.

We hope this gives you ideas. If you would like to know more about Christmas traditions, ask James Cooper at www.whychristmas.com. He is a hive of information!

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Proper Etiquette and Downton Abbey

Posted by Elizabeth Etiquette on September 25th, 2019

Elizabeth was recently interviewed by Krissy Van of CTV Morning Live about proper etiquette and what we can learn from the Downton Abbey movie.

Elizabeth with Krissy Vann (CTV Morning Live)

A special Thank you to CTV Morning Live. A wonderful morning at the beautiful Fairmont Hotel Vancouver discussing proper etiquette with the delightful Krissy Vann and what we can learn from Downton Abbey.

Etiquette Training for Miss BC 2019

Posted by Elizabeth Etiquette on September 25th, 2019

Miss BC 2019

Congratulations to all! Miss BC 2019! It is my pleasure to announce that Elizabeth Etiquette was once again the official etiquette trainer for Miss BC, Mrs BC and Miss Teen BC this year. During the three-day event, all of the participants were provided with professional training in areas such as public speaking, community development, health, fitness and nutrition, choreography, assertiveness training, media relations, self-defence and more.

Bus Etiquette

Posted by Elizabeth Etiquette on August 25th, 2019

Traveling on Public Transit in Style

Many children take a bus to school and, as with any public situation, following basic rules of etiquette helps to make the experience more enjoyable for everyone.

Whether your child takes a school bus or uses public transportation, the start of the school year is a good time to review these etiquette rules related to taking buses:

Getting on the bus

While waiting for a bus, it is most polite to form a line. When the bus arrives at the stop, everyone can then board the bus in an orderly fashion without pushing or shoving to get on.

It is not acceptable to arrive late and join friends at the front of the line to board the bus ahead of others who were waiting. However, it is extremely considerate to allow elderly people or people with disabilities to board the bus ahead of you, even if they arrived later.

Air Travel Etiquette

Posted by Elizabeth Etiquette on June 25th, 2019

With travel season around the corner, this is the perfect time to brush up on our air travel etiquette.

There is no doubt about it, traveling on airlines is stressful and tries the patience of many, otherwise, good-natured people. The crowds, delays, inadequate meals, and confined spaces often combine to make people more than a little grumpy and impatient. Unfortunately, in times of stress, we often forget to be respectful and considerate of others – something that can improve our own mood, if even just a little. On your next flight, try following these basic air travel etiquette tips and see how they can make the trip more pleasant for you, the airline staff, and your fellow passengers.

The Etiquette of Being an Online Guest

Posted by Elizabeth Etiquette on March 27th, 2019

First impressions are everything.

Whether we participate in video-conferencing, online meetups, Skyping with clients, or making online presentations, you can leave a lasting impression. So make it a good one because a poor one is hard to shake off.

Etiquette before, during, and after the meeting is also something to bear in mind so make sure you follow up and thank the host/your partner if necessary.

Where do we start? Read more »

Is your Child a Victim of Cyber-Bullying?

Posted by Elizabeth Etiquette on February 27th, 2019

Pink Shirt Day

Cyber-bullying is very scary and on the rise. Not sure what cyber-bullying is?

It is when pre-teens or teens bully using technology.
Cyber-bullying is minor against minor.
If adults are bullying it isn’t cyber-bullying, it is cyber-harassment or cyber-stalking.

“The dawn of social media brought with it a whole new way to interact, communicate, and even bully. But in this digital world where filtered photos and crafted messages can be posted in an instant, it often takes more time and effort to say something mean than it does to say something nice. Kindness requires no manipulation, no focusing on the negatives, and no filtering of yourself. It’s simply, truly nice. For social media users, we want them to THINK before the post. We want them to ask themselves if it is: True, Helpful, Inspiring, Necessary and KIND.” (source: www.pinkshirtday.ca)

Learn more about what cyber-bullying is.

Radio Interview: Halloween Etiquette

Posted by Elizabeth Etiquette on October 26th, 2018

Halloween vs The Etiquette Expert: The Reckoning

by Mike Lloyd

VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130), from October 24th, 2017

Elizabeth was interviewed in 2017 about best Halloween etiquette.

You know what’s scary? Misjudging your Halloween party hosts this weekend and wearing the wrong costume! Is it a no-holds-barred, adults-only kind of party — or maybe something a little more family friendly? Etiquette expert Elizabeth Burnett suggests you should probably figure that out ahead of time.

“If you’re hosting a party, be clear with your invitation if it is a family, adult or gathering for all,” says the owner of Elizabeth Etiquette.

“If you’re attending, take a little time to think about your costume and dress appropriately for the party. Is it for work or is it a gathering of friends? Should your costume be a little more conservative or can you really go wild with the makeup?”

If you’re unsure, Burnett has a rule of thumb:

“Don’t expose too much skin and don’t expose too little,” she tells NEWS 1130, suggesting full face and body costumes should have some kind of opening to allow your hosts or trick-or-treaters to know who’s behind the mask.

Read the full interview »

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