TABLESCAPES ~ Part Deux

ENJOY this second post of beautiful tablescapes...

ambience...

and busy...

and sheer elegance...

and simplicity.

I hope that you have enjoyed this post , my friends.

These tablescapes are from Traditional Home.

Now on to Embracing Etiquette With Teresa...

Phone Provocations

If you are in a restaurant or other place where a cell phone call is inappropriate, and someone near you is obviously attempting to convince everyone around that he is a great and brilliant business person, speak with the manager and let them handle the situation.

We are now through the ‘Rudeness” section. Tomorrow we will be covering “Dress and Grooming.”

See you soon,
Teresa
xoxo

TABLESCAPES ~ Part One

Today and tomorrow I will post a series of tabletops. I hope that you ENJOY them my friends.

This tablescape may be cluttered, but the hues are perfect.

So elegant...

and airy...

and over-the-top beautiful!

I hope that you enjoyed this post.  I love nothing more than beautiful tablescapes.  They make the room.

These tablescapes from Traditional Home.

Now on to Embracing Etiquette With Teresa...

When Out in Public

If you are out walking in your neighborhood and a man and his young son throw their trash on the ground – pick it up and throw it in the trashcan. Do not glare at them; just set an example.

If you are on the subway and a slouching passenger is taking up three seats and you really need to sit down, politely say “excuse me” and hope they move over. If they do not move, leave them alone. It is not worth getting into a safety issue. There are times when people bait you to start a confrontation.

If you are on a bus and some young teenagers are using four-letter words their actions should be a hint as to how to handle the situation. If they appear to be intentionally showing of, your remark would only add fuel to the fire. If they appear to be otherwise decent teenagers, you could ask them if they realized that young children were on the bus. If this doesn’t work, leave it alone.

Tomorrow we will cover the last section of rudeness, “Phone Provocations…” We will then be moving on to Dress and Grooming.

See you soon,
Teresa
xoxo

Key West

Todd Richesin, of Todd Richesin Interiors, was the interior designer of this beautiful Key West home. ENJOY!

Now that is a picket fence.  I'm jealous.

Serene.

I love this foyer!

Lemon yellow and ...

beautiful blue for the bedrooms.

The new gray-tone wicker.

I think this will do. This style bathtub is popular now.

Angela, welcome home.

You can see more of this home and others here.

Now on to Embracing Etiquette With Teresa ...

At Work

A common situation a work occurs when people are heating up their lunch, smelling up the entire office. Whether it is a microwave at their desk or the one in the kitchen, it is rude to smell up an office in which everyone, including clients, is prone to smell something unpleasant. This can usually be handled with a lighthearted remark such as, “John, are you trying to get rid of all of us?”

You overhear your coworker trashing your fellow coworker or friend in a conversation at work. If you could not help but hear this remark, you should ask the person to speak quietly if they are going to be speaking negatively about someone. If the worker is telling a lie about the person, you can also point that out.

A coworker asks you what you son’s college major is and they respond negatively to your answer, asking why they chose a major that doesn’t pay an enormous salary. A response of “Like me, my son thinks that the real reward in like comes from loving your job, not making a lot of money.” If that doesn’t work, just ignore the person.

Monday we will cover rudeness “When Out in Public…”

See you soon,
Teresa
xoxo

Pretty Things

I love this chandelier!  The entire room is beautiful.  I found this here.

Now on to Embracing Etiquette With Teresa...

When Shopping

If you are in a grocery store “ten items or less” lane and a person in front of you has a full basket of groceries, you can choose to comment to the person, or report this to the manager with hopes that a new or exist policy be kept in place. If you choose to remind the person that they are in the wrong line you are taking a chance on receiving a negative response.

If you are in line at the counter and another line opens up and another line opens up and the person behind you runs to get into the line, you can choose to get in the other line and tell the person that you were in line first, or mention to the manager that the cashier should find another way of dealing with this situation, such as asking for “the next person in line.” Again, you are taking a chance on the person’s demeanor.

If a cahier or clerk is rude to you in the store, be very nice, saying “hello” and “thank you.” If they do not respond, you can decide whether to ignore it or mention to the manger that the clerk on that lane or counter is being rude.

Tomorrow we will cover rudeness “At Work.”

See you soon,
Teresa
xoxo

Cindy Christenden in Miami

This pristine white Miami, Florida home was designed by Cindy Christenden.
ENJOY!

Refreshing...

Now on to Embracing Etiquette With Teresa...

How to React?

Your dignity relies on how well you handle a response to rude behavior. There are many areas in which you must react appropriately and they include while shopping, at work, when out in public, and phone provocations.

There are appropriate ways to handle rudeness in all areas, and it is important to be respectful and rational in your approach.

Tomorrow we will cover “When Shopping?”

See you soon,
Teresa
xoxo

Presenting ... Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Taylor Bass

The Waters Chapel

My son, Joseph Taylor Bass, married the beautiful Lindsay Epton at the Waters Chapel this past Saturday. The mother of the groom, who just happens to be me, couldn’t be happier. Would you think I was bragging if I posted a couple of photographs? You are correct if you guessed yes! So… here is the beautiful couple.

Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Taylor Bass and ...

their wedding party and  ...

 the soon-to-be Mrs. Bass (Lindsay) and Miss Angela (my other precious angel)

at the rehearsal dinner.

Congratulations, Lindsay and Joseph!

I love you,

MOM

Now on to Embracing Etiquette with Teresa...

The Dirty Dozen: Today’s Rudest Behaviors

They are as follows, exactly as quoted in Emily Post:

• Telling racist or ethnic jokes, which not only insults the listener’s intelligence but smears entire communities

• Using four letter words and other obscenities in public without any reservations – especially in the presence of children

• Doing the “cell yell” – conducting a cell phone conversation so loudly that those around you wonder if your phone mate is hard of hearing

• Treating a salesperson, food server, or any other service provider as someone who is beneath you

• Letting kids run wild or make constant noise in restaurants, supermarkets, theater, and any other public or private place

• Endangering others on a busy expressway by playing NASCAR wannabe: zipping from one lane to the other while driving like a maniac and not even bothering to signal

• At a youth sporting event, abusing the referee, coach, or opposing team’s players because your child’s team has suffered what you consider wrong

• Fouling the sidewalk with spit, trash, or pet poop left unscooped (You KNOW that this infuriates me!)

• On public transportation, staying planted in your seat when an elderly, pregnant, or disabled person obviously needs it more

• Charging thoughtlessly through crowds – especially when skating, riding a bike or electric scooter, or pushing a baby stroller

• Butting in, whether jumping into a checkout line in a store or taking a parking space that someone is clearly waiting for

• Lighting up to smoke tobacco in a roomful of nonsmokers – and adding insult to injury by not asking permission beforehand

Thank you, Emily!

All of this behavior makes the average, decent person furious but there are many who just don’t “get” it! Please pass this on.

Tomorrow we cover “How to React?”

First three photographs by Ann Wade Parrish, Photographer.

See you soon,
Teresa
xoxo

The Hamptons

If someone asked for my number one choice of a place to live, it would be the Hamptons. Rod Winterrowd is the Interior Designer of this beautiful home in this month's Veranda. ENJOY!

This is only half of the home.  You can see the entire home

 and other rooms in this month's Veranda.

I love this room.  Remember, I am in love with brown.

Now on to Embracing Etiquette with Teresa...

Using Humor

When a person is rude try to laugh it off. If they tell you “how bad you look” either come back with a response such as “how kind of you to say so!” or laugh it off and roll your eyes and change the subject. There are plenty of these little “I’m miserable” folks around!

Tomorrow we will cover Phrasing and Tone.

See you soon,
Teresa
Xoxo

Michel Biehn, Interior Designer in Provence

This beautiful Home in Provence was designed by the talented Michel Biehn. ENJOY!

The beautiful gardens...

I love the leather on these Louis chairs...

So cozy.

You can find more on this city here.

Now on to Embracing Etiquette with Teresa...

Mentally Count to Ten

When someone is rude to you, focus on something else for a few seconds. Take a few deep breaths and decide if it is worth a response. Think of the ramifications of your actions before blowing your cool.

Tomorrow we will cover “Using Humor.”

See you soon,
Teresa
xoxo

Summer Refreshers

.

These summer drinks will take the heat off.  See the recipes in the new Veranda, on shelves soon. 

ENJOY!

Mango Lime Sangria

Strawberry Shirley

Lemon Drop Martini

Playful Pina blended with pineapple, mango and cream of coconut

Pomegranate Freeze granita with pomegranate liqueur and champagne

Pepini ( cucumber) Agua Fresca and Sandia (watermelon) Agua Fresca

Jardin Tequila Cooler with Cilantro garnish

The recipes for this drinks can be found here....

Now on to Embracing Etiquette with Teresa...

Take Responsibility for your own Actions

Did you do something to provoke the person’s actions? Were you rude to the person before they responded with a negative response? Many times we unintentionally become rude and provoke the behavior towards us.

Tomorrow we will cover “Mentally Count to Ten.”

See you soon,
Teresa
xoxo

The Treasured Work of Auguste Rodin

I am one of many who find the work of sculptor Auguste Rodin breathtaking. In this article Rodin’s work was described by David Masello as “dark mottled forms emerging in full, expressive relief.”  Magnificent is the thought that enters my mind when I see a Rodin.

This collection of the Rodin sculptures is from the collection of Iris Cantor and her late husband, B. Gerald Cantor. Mr. and Mrs. Cantor are the world’s largest collectors of Rodin. The North Carolina Museum of Art’s Iris and B. Gerald Cantor Court and Garden is now home to a collection of twenty-nine Rodin sculptures gifted by the Cantors.

Iris Cantor at the North Carolina Museum of Art

The Three Shades is one of Rodin’s most monumental sculptures. The three men in the piece are identical figures. Shown here and in the following photograph.

In the garden of the Museum. 

Head of Pierre de Wissant. This monumental piece by Rodin is one of a burgher of Calais who gave his life to save his city in 1347.

Eve. This piece is described as a conveyance of Eve in a light of vulnerability and innocence.

The Cathedral. Two right hands are used in this piece by Rodin. The hands are reminiscent of a Gothic cathedral.

I Am Beautiful. This piece was sculpted by Rodin during his relationship with sculptress and Mistress Camille Claudel. This piece is described as one of passion or contradictions.

The North Carolina Museum of Art is in Raleigh, North Carolina. These Rodin pieces were given to the museum by Iris Cantor after a visit from Lawrence Wheeler, director of the museum. The new facility that houses the bronzes opened in April of this year.

This story is in the July issue of Town & Country Magazine.

Now on to Embracing Etiquette with Teresa…

Don’t Automatically Take it Personally

There are many times when a person will lash out and be rude because of something that is going on in their life. They could be going through difficult times due to job loss, going through a divorce, trouble at work or illness or death of a loved one. These people do not intentionally offend others. Their bad mood and their problems overwhelm them, making them difficult to be around. Try to understand and be kind.

Tomorrow we will cover Sizing Up Your Annoyances.

See you soon,
Teresa
xoxo

Dahlias

Dahlias are not only beautiful, they are easy to introduce into most arrangements. Here I have included several colors and designs. ENJOY!

These arrangements can be found here.

Now on to Embracing Etiquette with Teresa...

The Art of Responding (to rudeness)

When someone has been wronged, their first reaction is to retaliate. You must make a decision on how to respond depending on what the situation is and who it involves. Although a difficult task at times, taking the high road is sometimes the best and safest remedy. I f you must respond, be careful.

If you are dealing with a person that has been violent in the past, move on. It is sometimes best to “kill them with kindness” which allows you to lead by example. If you must respond, express your understanding of why the incident occurred, but ask that it doesn’t happen again.

Tomorrow we will cover “Don’t Automatically Take it Personally.”

See you soon,
Teresa
xoxo