Yes, there is National Etiquette Week. It was established by Sandra Morisset in 1997 and is observed May 11th-15th. This is a time to recognize civility and good manners...and it all begins with you. During this week, I hope that y'all examine and improve your etiquette skills. Here's a list of Miss Janice's top five etiquette faux pas:
~Failure to R.s.v.p....will surely get your name taken off Miss Janice's party list!
~Not sending a thank-you note...how very ungrateful!
~Talking while chewing your food...so disgusting!
~Using a toothpick in public...Miss Janice absolutely cannot stand this!
~Forgetting to say "Please, Thank You, Yes Ma'am/Sir, or Excuse Me"...a sure sign to others that you have no class!
In celebration of National Etiquette Week, I'm having a "Very Proper Giveaway." The winner will receive a copy of etiquette expert Letitia Baldrige's book, "New Manners for New Times."
Ms. Baldrige is recognized universally as the country's leading authority on business and social etiquette. She was the White House Secretary for Jacqueline Kennedy and since that time has published more than twenty books. This is Miss Janice's go-to etiquette reference book. Ms. Baldrige covers everything you need to know about etiquette.
Here's a photo of Letitia Baldrige at a White House State function in the 60's. Can you even imagine having such a wonderful job???
In this photo, the First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy is arriving at the National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C. Ms. Baldrige is seen emerging from the limo. November 3, 1961. I adore this photograph!
~Failure to R.s.v.p....will surely get your name taken off Miss Janice's party list!
~Not sending a thank-you note...how very ungrateful!
~Talking while chewing your food...so disgusting!
~Using a toothpick in public...Miss Janice absolutely cannot stand this!
~Forgetting to say "Please, Thank You, Yes Ma'am/Sir, or Excuse Me"...a sure sign to others that you have no class!
In celebration of National Etiquette Week, I'm having a "Very Proper Giveaway." The winner will receive a copy of etiquette expert Letitia Baldrige's book, "New Manners for New Times."
Ms. Baldrige is recognized universally as the country's leading authority on business and social etiquette. She was the White House Secretary for Jacqueline Kennedy and since that time has published more than twenty books. This is Miss Janice's go-to etiquette reference book. Ms. Baldrige covers everything you need to know about etiquette.
Here's a photo of Letitia Baldrige at a White House State function in the 60's. Can you even imagine having such a wonderful job???
In this photo, the First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy is arriving at the National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C. Ms. Baldrige is seen emerging from the limo. November 3, 1961. I adore this photograph!
Here, you see Miss Janice with Ms. Baldrige at the Southern Lady Event in Destin, Florida. I begged the editor of Tea Time magazine, Barbara Cockerham, to schedule a sit-down for me with Ms. Baldrige. I was honored to meet her and receive her wealth of information regarding my role as etiquette consultant in today's world. Awesome evening!
So, let's talk about the rules of the giveaway...
~To receive one entry, you must leave a comment and tell me what you are going to do during the week to promote civility!
~To receive two entries, please let me know if you are a follower of my site (an old proper friend or a new proper friend)!
~To receive three entries, please post about my giveaway on your site with a button or whatever!
The winner will be announced on Friday, May 15th. Good luck to you and please remember to practice proper etiquette always!
I would love to read this book. And since I work with the public every day in the public school system - I shall be especially alert on "minding my manners" this week - and yes, Miss Janice, I do follow you!
ReplyDeleteOh, Miss Janice, it's so nice to hear you tell us all we should know! I do not believe many mothers today teach their children manners!
ReplyDeleteNow please come by my blog on Tuesday and see your most beautiful self Divafied! Notice I said "please"!
Be a sweetie,
Shelia ;)
I would love to read this...what a wonderful giveaway! I will be thinking about it as I write a few end of the year thank you notes to the children's preschool teachers. I cannot say thank you enough to those beautiful souls!
ReplyDeleteAnd yes, I follow you!
While I do not have any children I do help my sisters with theirs. I have made comments to my nieces and nephews that I do not accpet bad manners and they must behave while with me. My 3 yr old nephew is really pretty good about it.
ReplyDeleteI am a follower.
Miss Janice,
ReplyDeleteI would love to receive this book! I adore your website and I am a faithful follower! I am also posting this on my blog! I wanted to let you know that my 19 month already says "please" and "thank you" while my 4 year old does the same along with ma'am and sir.
Thank you for your wonderful insight. I am posting this on my blog!
Crystal in Kentucky
c.rumery@insightbb.com
What fascinating photographs! I have only recently discovered your blog and just became a follower tonight. I haven't given any thought to doing something special for National Etiquette Week but teaching my daughters lovely manners has always been one of my very top priorities. So while I know I'm not eligible for your giveaway, I did want to take this time to introduce myself to you and thank you for your blog. I enjoy it thoroughly. I may have to splurge on yet another etiquette book and purchase Ms. Baldrige's book myself!
ReplyDeleteMiss Janice,
ReplyDeleteI would love to win this book. I was brought up by a mother who taught me to be a lady. I have tried to teach my children also. This week we will be having a tea to work on our manners and also go out to dinner.
I am a newer follower to your blog and love it!
I would have loved to have had Ms.Baldriges job. What a dream that would have been. Hugs, Bobbi Jo
Miss Janice-
ReplyDeleteI love your blog and always look forward to seeing your updates.
I am hosting a small brunch for some of my dearest on Saturday Morning, and will be putting an little quote from Amy Irving on each name card.
I am a follower!
Oh, how I would love to win this!! I will celebrate the week by working on manners - please and thank you - with the little darling 19 month old southern master that I nanny!! I am a follower - have been and always will be. Those pearls that she is wearing in that photo - Ahhh!! xoxo
ReplyDeleteI CANNOT belive you have met Letitia Balrdridge! How lucky you are Miss Janice! I have read a number of her books and bigraphies and just cannot get enough. She is such a polished woman (as are you) and she provides me with daily inspiration. Good clothes and nice taste can only take you so far, it is your manners that carry you across the finish line!
ReplyDeleteThat book looks wonderful! As a young adult in college I am always struggling to use correct etiquette in today's culture!
ReplyDeleteAs for National Etiquette Week, I have already planned to go with my mother and younger sisters to our local Tea House for an afternood tea. And Miss Janice, I am already a follower!
Miss Janice,
ReplyDeleteI appreciate your blog so very much. One thing that I will do to promote civility this week .....I will be writing several thank-you notes. My family showers me with gifts and make such a big ta-do over the holiday. And I love it! I do always try to make sure I express my gratitude for them making over me so much.
Thank you, Miss Janice for such a helpful blog. Please enter me in your give away. I would love that book?
What a perfect giveaway!! I am planning to do a program in the fall for my college girls on manners- this would be so helpful. Oh, I'm a follower too!!
ReplyDeleteThis is a wonderful giveaway. you are so sweet.
ReplyDeleteI have been following you and throughly enjoyed reading your blog!
Have a wonderful week!
Hello Miss Janice - I love LB and I still have her book from the early 80's that I used for my wedding etiquette. She is needed more than ever today as are all etiquette coaches. Did you know MIT has a course during their winter break called "Charm School" that gets these brainy kids out of their heads and a little more into the social realm? We can all use a brush up course.
ReplyDeleteThis week I will be working on thank you notes from me for my son's teachers. I am a loyal follower and admirer who loves your blog. :) Thanks for putting my hat in the ring.
Oh Miss Janice, how you make me smile! To promote civility this week I promise if I receive any invitations to RSVP, I always say please and thank you and will continue to do so. I will not talk with my mouth full and, ha, promise not to pick my teeth in public, ever! I love your blog and would love to be considered an old proper friend.
ReplyDeleteI will go ahead and get the book a little later so please do not enter me in your drawing, as I will be moving and would hate to win and it be caught up in the mail and will be delighted to know one of these other ladies won. Have a wonderful week!
Valerie
I would be so excited to win this book.
ReplyDeleteI loved the pictures you posted - so beautiful.
This week I will continue on working to teach my girls manners - the teenager seems to forget everything she was previously taught.
I am a follower.
Have a wonderful Monday!
Good Morning Miss Janice! I truely wish that children were taught proper etiquette as part of their daily school curiculum. It is just as important as PhysEd class I belive!!! Each time my daughter received any kind of gift I insisted on a "Thank You" card! Her response after a few times was "Mom everyone thinks you are weird if you do that"!!! Another is saying "excuse me"! Any time I walk in front of anyone no matter where I am I always say that; unlike so many adults who have NOT said it as they walk in front of me! I fear what is ahead in our society; children not learning at a young age! Lack of manners breeds lack of respect resulting in a more chaotic and hostile world! Wishing you a happy week! - Sincerely, Jeannette (one last thing - you look very elegant in your photo; I just adore classic black clothing!!!)
ReplyDeleteOh Miss Janice! What a lovely giveaway! This very day I am writing a thank you to my sweet sister who quilted me the most beautiful pillow for Mother's Day. I am an ardent follower (:
ReplyDeleteMiss Janice, I do follow you on Google Reader. In keeping with Ms. Baldridge's advice, this week I will be sending a thank you note to my Dad for bringing me some of his homemade applesauce. I would love to win the book!
ReplyDelete~ Carrie C. in VA
Well...how perfectly proper and gracious is Miss Valerie?!!!
ReplyDeleteI love your top rules. Why are so many of them over looked???? I love that their is a week to celebrate. Have fun. xoxo
ReplyDeleteMiss Janice,
ReplyDeleteI am a fairly new follower and find you posts informative and inspirational! My Mother has gifted me with several Letitia Balrdridge books over the years, I adore them!
This week I plan to work on gently reminding other's on the rules surrounding RSVP's!!
What a wonderful Giveaway. Would love the book.
ReplyDeleteAfter reading your post, discussed National Etiquette Week at dinner with the family and talked about what we could do. Cherubs came up with an Etiquette point system for when they are "caught in an etiquette act".
Also, stole your first paragraph and used it as my status on Facebook, hope you don't mind - just wanted all my friends out there on FB to remember to use etiquette too . . .
I am an "old proper friend"
Posted a link to this giveaway on my Giveaway Link on my blog
Miss Janice- trying to keep manners alive in a college setting is easier at my university but we still need a refresher course every now and then (good thing my school hold formal etiquette dinners) Oh and I used all my tea etiquette I learned from you this weekend at a Mothers Day Tea! I am an old follower!
ReplyDeleteOh la la! Count me in, I could use a major refresher since my cotillion-etiquette-infused days. Plus, wedding season always makes me run to the books (or my mom) for the proper protocol. Xoxo-BLC
ReplyDeletePS: Is Miss Janice too prim and proper for a koozie swap!?? LP makes koozies after all ...
Miss Janice, I adore your picture with Ms. Baldrige. On Sunday, May 17th, my son is graduating from High School. Therefore, this week, I will be working with him on thank you notes and reminders on how to be a gracious host at his graduation party. Thank you for your site; it has helped me so much over the past few months. Please visit my blog to see a link to your site and see my wonderful family. Have a great week.
ReplyDeleteI would learn from this book, and perhaps be in the position of teaching others a thing or two ;)
ReplyDeleteThank you!
Oh, Miss Janice, this sounds divine! I'm a follower (of course!). I'm also in charge of a book display in the children's department of the library where I work. I'm going to put up a display with several children's etiquette books in honor of this week.
ReplyDeleteAwesome idea to do the book display!
ReplyDeleteAny first lady would be beyond lucky to have you working for her! I wouldn't move into the White House without you.
ReplyDeleteI'm hosting an English Afternoon Tea Party on Friday for my third graders to coincide with our studies of England. Each student has created a family Crest (using real & self-created symbols). We are displaying them to make it look like a castle. Proper manners & dress are required. (They are giving themselves titles as well for their place cards.) Sugar cookies shaped like double decker buses & cupcakes with The Union Jack on them. I cannot photograph my students, but I will post my ensemble etc. (I'll be in Jubilee Lilly) I wish Miss Janice could come & teach my students a proper lesson during the tea! Pip Pip Cheerio!!
Miss Janice, I would love to win that book. Sign me up! I'm a follower and I've posted the giveaway on my blog. This week I am going to be very conscious of my manners. I'm going to a nice restaurant on Friday night and I am going to have perfect manners.
ReplyDeleteMiss Janice, thank you for sharing the opportunity to win this wonderful book. If it is a go-to for you, it would definitely be a go-to for my family and me. Thank you for continually sharing your knowledge with us.
ReplyDeleteI am an "old proper follower" and have shared your giveaway via my blog as well as twitter.
Best Wishes,
Beaufort Belle
Miss Janice, this is an absolutely brilliant giveaway, and one touching on a topic near and dear to us. Thank you for focusing attention on the issue!
ReplyDeleteWe are doing nothing special and do not want to enter; we merely wanted to congratulate you on such a great giveaway, and thank you for such a fabulou picture of you with Ms. Baldrige!
Have a splendid week!
tp
Hello, Miss Janice. I am a new follower, and I think the banner on your blog is beautiful. I'd love to enter the drawing. During the week, I plan to promote civility by focusing on manners with my two girls. I am proud of their manners while we are out in public (at ages 3 and 1, they are wonderful about remembering their "pleases" and "thank you's"), but I'd like to work on civility at home too. Thank you so much for offering such a useful (and fun!) giveaway!
ReplyDeleteim going to host an etiquette dinner for my college girl friends this week!
ReplyDeleteim a new proper friend!
and i posted this in my sidebar!
Miss Janice, I have been reading your blog for a while now. I have it bookmarked, but had not followed you til today. I would love to have this book to help teach my four daughters how to act properly. It's quite tough in this day and age with the outside influences, and I'm afraid I didn't start early enough with them. I am going to insist on table manners all this week as we sit down together for dinner each evening. It's where I started with them years ago, and it's something we need to get back to.
ReplyDeleteThank you for your lovely blog and reminding us all what makes Southern ladies so charming.
Sincerely,
Patty
Good Afternoon Miss Janice. My dear mother has been sharing your blog with me for quite some time. I am a "New Proper Follower" as I have recently started blogging myself. And have linked to your giveaway on my blog. Please enter me in your "Very Proper Giveaway" as this would be the perfect book to take with me to college as my own personal go-to guide.
ReplyDeleteMiss Janice, you KNOW I follow you religiously!! And since I have a young lady in my office now, I can spend this week 'training' her on proper etiquette.....as per Miss Janice...
ReplyDeleteWho loves ya the most,
Miss Kara
Fabulous. Thank you for the lovely giveaway.
ReplyDeleteI'm a new-ish "proper follower" / Twitter friend, although I admit I occasionally (often) need assistance in the proper department.
I just sent my sweet mother-in-law a thank you note today, so I hope that constitutes one proper act for this week.
Greetings Miss Janice!
ReplyDeleteI adore your blog and my little women do too!
We are minding our manners in a few ways this week with the help of books...Manners Made Easy by June Hines Moore, The 21 Original Rules of This House and Uncommon Courtesy for Kids, both by Gregg and Joshua Harris.
I would LOVE the opportunity to add your giveaway book to our growing collection!
I will post on my blog about your giveaway so that others may discover how to become a new proper friend of yours as I have.
Thank you! Have a wonderful week!
First - I must say thank you for hosting this give-away. Then I need to tell you that I just found your blog and am a new proper friend. I would also like to send an invite to you from my blog. I have it private..due to all the pictures of my little ones. Love your blog and can not wait to read through all your old posts. I will post about your give-away!
ReplyDeleteI am writing the most fabulous THANK YOU to our ballet teachers and our pre-school teachers as well. I am the Queen of thank you cards. I ALWAYS carry three stamped and ready to go in my purse. I totally believe that they should be mailed in 24 hours!! A thank YOU card is priceless.
xxxxxx me
This is the first time I have been to your site, but I have just added you to my google reader. There is never too much civility. What has happened to the young people that cannot send a thank you? It is beyond me!! I'd love to have Ms Baldridges book.
ReplyDeleteJocelyn
Miss Dear One, come by my blog and see your Most Gorgeous Diva picture!
ReplyDeleteBe a sweetie,
Shelia ;)
Miss Janice, Such a lovely giveaway. I would love to have this book, I hope to in few years to have my 4H group back, such a wonderful gift of etiquette to give the children. I would love to study it and teach my children and grandchildren. I am sure I could use a little help in etiquette. I have had friends over for tea or dinner, sometime the table is just set for a tablescape. They ask which fork is for what dish. Which to use first. I will mind my manners and wish everyone good Luck! I do follow your blog and hope that I am an old friend. I will post your on my side bar.
ReplyDeleteThis week, I shall try to be a better hostess, when a guest drops by. By asking my guest, Would you like a cup of tea and a piece of cake! Lately my Hostess manners have been slacking. The preacher came today and I remembered! But I had had two guest to visit this last week and failed to ask. Only to remember after they had left. Yes, I need the book! I have the picture of the book on my side bar with a link back to you.
ReplyDeleteOh what a lovely book! I bet it's just full of great tips. Also love the old photographs you shared with us!
ReplyDeleteI'd love to read this book, as a child my mother was always telling me what Emily Post had to say about just about everything....so I'll share some of the rules of etiquett with my daughter this week.
ReplyDeleteThe book is a wonderful idea and I am so for promoting better manners. I just did a post to thank someone for their generosity today and will be having two small dinner parties for special people this weekend. I do follow and enjoy your blog.
ReplyDeleteHi Miss Janice,
ReplyDeleteI would love to win the book!
I've been a long time friend of your wonderful blog.
You look so pretty in the photo.
Thank you for your kind words tonight. ~Melissa ;)
sounds wonderful, i am trying to teach people it is not so much what you say but how you say it thanks for the giveaway
ReplyDeleteThank you for the fantastic giveaway. I'm trying to teach my children manners and what better way to teach them than with a book on "Etiquette", especially my daughter since she is young (Almost 8). I'd love to learn more etiquette myself and will spend time learning because, the better I am with it, the more I could show my children as a role model.
ReplyDeleteI am nanny for 3 boys and there mother wants them to mind there mannners looks like a great read for me and my boss
ReplyDeleteI'm trying to work on my patience towards others + to only say things if they're nice!
ReplyDeleteDear Miss Janice,
ReplyDeleteFirst, thank you for your lovely and inspiring work. I commute to manhattan every day on the subway, where I am subjected to so much boorish behavior and people with a dearth of good manners. Rather than get annoyed by this anymore, I have now decided to exhibit even more civility and better manners. I now give up my seat to any standing lady, allow everyone off the train before boarding, and allowing those who are in such a rush that they barrel ahead of me to get on without an acerbic comment from yours truly! I am hoping that my good manners will rub off on some of them. In any case, it is helping me to avoid an ulcer from getting annoyed all the time! I am much happier and enjoy my commute much more now that I have decided to react with kindness and consideration rather than annoyance!
Best regards,
John Wing
I am working on being more patient and not saying negative things even if people are rude.
ReplyDeleteDid I sign up for this already....Boy, I can't remember. If I didn't please count me in.
ReplyDeleteHope all is well with you and yours.
Hugs,
Sue
Miss Janice- my goodness I just realized that I never left a comment on this wonderful post!
ReplyDeleteI'd say that what I've been doing in terms of National Etiquette Week this week is simply having a more heightened and urgent sense of decorum, manners and niceties. I've bit my tongue a few times to hold in certain thoughts, have sent a few more thank-you notes than I normally do and have tried to spread positive thoughts and gestures (however small) out to the universe- cannot send out enough of the positive sparklies!
kHm
To celebrate National Etiquette Week, I'm sending my girl friends handwritten invitations rather than a quick email invite. My mom had one of Ms. Balridge's books when I was young and I'd love to get this one! utgal2004[at]yahoo[dot]com
ReplyDeleteWe went to a tea party yesterday for charity. I think the Jackie picture is so beautiful, well, any of her are.
ReplyDeleteHow wonderful. As a true southerner I love reading etiquette books. I am our family's "go to" person for the proper way to do things. This week I am working on the proper way to shake hands with my 10 year old. thanks
ReplyDeleteMy library has given out bumper stickers which state Choose Civility (I have one). With that in mind, I will try to be courteous and respectful of my fellow drivers (even when they do things that might upset me -- such as not letting me in or tailgating)/
ReplyDeleteThanks for the giveaway!
kimspam66(at)yahoo(dot)com
I'll help my four year old granddaughter to learn good manners. Thank you so much for the giveaway.
ReplyDeleteWe love Letitia! Happy Etiquette week!
ReplyDeleteYou are so funny! Thanks for your comment. Hope your giveaway is going well. Have a terrific weekend. xoxo
ReplyDeleteMiss Janice,
ReplyDeleteI LOVED Jackie and Lady Di. Interestingly enough, Lady Di & I were pregnant together and then she died on my son's birthday.
Love the photo of you...beautiful lady.
xo, Cheryl in IN
WHOSYERGURL
I will encourage my daughter not to eat with her hands!
ReplyDeletemadamerkf at aol dot com
I was not a follower. I didn't know about this site until this week! I am posting the link in our school technology newsletter that I send to our staff and a couple others. Thanks!!
ReplyDelete