Etiquette Tip of the Month

Cloth Napkins: Simple, Elegant and Everyday

Cloth napkins can be simple, elegant, and for everyday use. Before the convenience of paper napkins, families used them for breakfast, lunch, and dinner without much thought or fanfare. Today, however, cloth napkins have been delegated only to fancy, formal dining. Let’s return cloth napkins to everyday use. Eating with cloth napkins is better for the household pocketbook, better for the environment, and improves the family’s dining experience.

The napkin ring is the cloth napkin’s accessory. Each family member has his own napkin ring, to be placed on the napkin after its first use. If the napkin is still clean enough for subsequent use, the different napkin rings will indicate which napkin belongs to whom. A freshly laundered napkin does not require a napkin ring because it has not been used and is not yet specific to one family member. As elegant as napkin rings seem to be today, it was the practical family dinner table that made it a useful presence.

Program Happenings

Make-up artist and store manager at MAC Cosmetics, West Farms Mall, gave an engaging lesson on skin care and age-appropriate teen make-up; their look was natural, yet finished. She also told the girls to be careful with soaps and did not recommend it for the face. A cleansing moisturizer would be perfect for the face and a mild body cleanser for the neck down. Drying out the skin with harsh soaps causes the skin to try to correct the condition by manufacturing oil, which leads to black heads and pimples - the very condition teens try to avoid! A gentle moisturizing cleanser, even on oily skin, would be best.

Community Involvement

Volunteerism: Nail Care and the Art of Conversation

Etiquette club members got together with the senior residents at Bloomfield Health Care Center for a little nail care. This group of girls was especially industrious and made sure that the residents enjoyed their company. The girls painted nails and engaged in friendly conversation with the seniors.

What Our Clients are Saying

“... Dageanna feels proud every time she tells family & friends about dressing proper & baking, etc. I noticed how she wants to set the table, how she sits straight. She takes her time now when she talks, and she even puts the proper words when needed.”

Anonymous- Parent of student

“ It teaches you how to speak, it made me more independent, responsible, how I talk, oh, actually how I speak, how I dress, how I present myself in front of certain people, how not to look stupid in situations and to use for everyday life. ”

Destinie - Previous Student

“ This club, the etiquette club (Ms. Whitaker) has taught me how to dress on different occasions. Whether business, formal, casual...Even when I’m at home my etiquette skills play a roll when I’m setting the table, making my tea (stirring my tea), I can go on and on. In brief this club has made a physical, and mental change in me from Day one. ”

Marzina - Previous Student

Feedback

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Contact Us

Thurston Whitaker Information Services
PO Box 271743
West Hartford, CT 06127
860.404.0339, office
860.404.0571, fax
sy@thurstonwhitaker.com
www.ThurstonWhitaker.com