New On The Blog

Want to set your children up for success? Then look no further than the habits of successful people you know, whether that be in the corporate world, media, or within your own circle of friends. Experts agree that there are certain common traits all successful people possess. This is great news because it means we can emulate those leaders that have come before us.

How to Depict

Someone's

Success

How can you tell if someone will be successful? When I was in high school, they still had a category for a graduating senior titled: Voted Most Likely to Succeed. How, at 18-years-old, could classmates look at someone and say, “Yeah, I think they will be the most successful person in our graduating class.”

5 Reasons

Multitasking

Does Not Work

Many of us grew up learning multitasking was a hallmark of a productive person. While sounding good in theory, this practice has proven to be incorrect. Studies now reveal that multitasking is nothing more than switching back and forth between tasks and it lowers our productivity. Below are 5 points that deal with the facts behind project hopping and the lack of performance that occurs when we allow seemingly innocuous interruptions to occur in daily life.

Bullet Journal:

Staying

Organized

The way my husband structures his day is different from how I organize mine, but there is one thing we both do. We start with a morning routine. I make coffee, read the news while eating my breakfast, and then dive into an hour of bible study. Once I finish, I pull out my journal and plan my day. About 2 years ago I discovered an organizational method that resonated with me.

4 Quick Points

to Know About

the Thank You

Note

Remember as children, during holidays, we would spend what seemed like hours creating homemade craft projects for our parents? It might be a paper Christmas snowflake sprinkled with glitter or a cutout heart for Valentine’s Day. We would address it: To: Mom or To: Dad. We would sign our name, and this become the gift we gave our parents. The act of giving is how we should view all letters, especially a thank you note. We may not be cutting out cute hearts, but when we take time to put pen to paper and share a little of ourselves with someone else, we are giving a part of our heart to another.

7 Tips to

Become a

Gracious Gift

Receiver

People give to make you feel loved and remembered. Sometimes gifts are given out of obligation, but mostly they are presented to honor a special relationship or occasion. No matter the reason, we need to know how to show our appreciation. Here are my 7 tips to become a gracious gift receiver.

How to Do

Introductions

Table manners seem to be the area in which I receive most of my questions, but it is introductions that have people the most baffled. After I explain the correct way to conduct an introduction, I often get that starry-eyed stare that tells me, “I really don’t understand what you just said.” To help all of us, I have broken down the process into a simple format. Before I proceed, let me say this. Do not let a lack of confidence in handling an introduction keep you from DOING an introduction.

A Holiday

Survival Guide:

Be Intentional

I recently bumped into a friend at the store, and as we began talking, she expressed how she struggles with the holidays. When January rolls around, she feels like she somehow “missed out.” I understand this feeling because I, too, have often felt this way. Life was so busy with the preparation of celebration, that I missed the joy that awaited each of us this time of year.

Make an

Entrance with

Confidence

Have you ever seen someone walk into a party that looked scared to death, unsure of themselves, and then watched them slink off to an obscure corner? Their body language screaming, “I wish I was anywhere but here!” Entering a room full of people that you do not know can be intimidating. I get that. Yet, your entrance is important in displaying overall confidence and portraying a strong image.

My 10 Favorite

Hostess Gifts

Giving a party, of any type, requires a great deal of work. If you have been fortunate enough to be included in a festive soiree, it is nice to arrive with a gift for the hostess. The typical present will cost between $15-$30, but there are less expensive things you can find at the local discount store.

Top 7 Tips to Be

the Perfect

Guest

When attending a party, there are certain expectations we have of our hostess. We will enjoy and appreciate everything she has done, but we do assume there will be food and drinks. We would also like a clean bathroom and a home that does not smell like the local pet store. What some people forget is there are also expectations of the guest.

What Do I Wear

to the Party?

Attire: Shabby Chic; Razzle Dazzle; Cowboy Couture

WHAT????

Word to hostesses: when listing the attire on the invitation for your party, make it clear. Do not let your creative thoughts have you writing a description that requires an interpreter. We do not want to force our guests to solve a riddle to understand what is expected of them. There is a phrase I like to quote, “To be unclear is to be unkind.”

Invitations/

RSVP

There is something special we feel when we receive an invitation. It is the anticipation of a celebration, the excitement of choosing what to wear, but more importantly, it is the affirmation that tells us, “I was chosen!” We know a hostess has responsibilities to ensure her party is a success, but did you know there are expectations of the guests? And your first job begins when you receive an invitation that says RSVP.

Lisa Lou
- Jul 7, 2020
- 2 min read

What Every Powder Room Needs

Friends are visiting at home more these days. Without fail, the one room most will need to use is the guest bathroom. Have you taken inventory of this area lately? It is an easy space to make boutique beautiful. Here is the list I reference to keep this area ready and waiting.

Mouthwash: I place the mouthwash in a crystal decanter and then use a tray to hold 2-ounce disposable cups and paper hand towels. If you choose fabric hand towels, have several. People do not like to use wet towels.

Paper Guest Towels: I keep a big inventory of these. Set out a stack. Many great designs!

Toilet Paper: Check the current roll. If it is low, switch it out. Always provide a spare roll within sight.

Air Freshener: Does this need an explanation?

Lit Candle: Always welcoming.

Trashcan

Pump Hand Soap: I prefer pump over a bar. Bars remain wet and are less hygienic.

Lotion: A nice touch, especially as much as we wash our hands these days.

Artwork: Have something visually pleasing so guests do not stare at a blank wall while on the seat of honor.

Lights: Overhead lights off unless you can dim them. Ambient lights on. Scones are great.

Lock: I dread that feeling when I am in someone’s bathroom trying to hold the door shut because there is no lock, while at the same time taking care of business. Yikes!

Mirror: Although rare, I have been in powder rooms without a mirror. This item is a must!

Rug: This provides added texture, softens a room, and adds comfort for standing.

Plunger: This is the one item you may hide in a cabinet. If someone needs it, they will find it!

Master of Disguise: Some powder rooms double as a child’s area. We had to keep the bathtub in the guest bathroom while our son was at home. I disguised it making a curtain for the tub that mimicked the window drapes.

Together with you,

Lisa Lou

New On The Blog

What Every Powder Room Needs

Recent Posts