Newsletter Archive

If you have young children, you have probably experienced those rawwther stressful moments when they simply “forget their manners” and you wish you had a magic wand to make them “snap-to polite attention!” You know that they know how to behave. You just want to scream, “YOU KNOW BETTER,” along with an explicative… or two! The addition of sweets (chocolate Easter eggs and jellybeans) can exacerbate their misbehavior too. UGH… one feels embarrassed and frustrated as a parent. Manners begin at home, with role models such as parents, grandparents, and caretakers.  Mastering anything always requires practice.  My dear friend Gaye shared a splendid method for instilling manners in children.  Tuesday night at her house was “manners night” at the dinner table, which didn’t mean a free-for-all on other nights.  It simply meant that on Tuesdays there were no distractions, no television, and no phones.  Etiquette and the art of conversation

Pretty porcelain designs can personify your personality, wouldn’t you agree?  The designs you choose for your plates and porcelain pieces speak volumes about you to others and will bring joy to you in your home.  The exquisitely detailed porcelain designs, created by the world-renowned designer, Anna Weatherley, captured my heart the moment I first discovered them.  If you are not aware of her exclusive line of distinguished, hand-painted porcelain, be forewarned… you too will fall in love with each piece! What an absolute delight it was to be introduced to Anna Weatherley by way of The White House Historical Association.  (I collaborated with the WHHA as their moderator for a Christmas White House floral design talk in December 2020.)  When we spoke, I felt like a giddy teenager talking to a rockstar!  I was overjoyed when she kindly agreed to an interview with me. Anna’s designs are hand-painted by a group of

“Every action done in company, ought to be done with some sign of respect to those that are present.” This is the first rule in 110 Rules of Civility and Decent Behavior in Company and Conversation, and is a welcome reminder for kindness, especially in today’s society. As an exercise in penmanship as a teenager, George Washington copied, in abbreviated form, the 110 Rules of Civility and Decent Behavior in Company and Conversation. The rules were based on the French Jesuits, who originally composed them in the late 16th century. These maxims played a role in shaping the character of our first President of the United States. He took them to heart. These rules were generally thought to be aristocratic, yet Washington interpreted them as decent behavior appropriate for our budding new nation, for equals and near equals. They still hold true today, so I chose a few to share

There is something quite charming about little, diminutive flower bouquets sprinkled about in your house. With Easter upon us, the hopeful anticipation of colorful, fragrant spring flowers comes to mind. No matter what the size of your house, consider making a few petite flower arrangements using small and unique vases. The joy and allure of hunting for, and finding Easter eggs and candy, complements the discovery of a few lilliputian-sized floral arrangements (any time of the year)… both are teeny treasures that bring unexpected delight! I just received the sweetest pink bunny, pressed glass, egg cup as a gift from our sponsor, Backcountry Mercantile. The owner, Amanda, melds lovely vintage pieces along with her new, carefully curated Italian ceramic pieces. I immediately thought: I can use this as a flower vase! I still have impatiens growing, so it was easy to pluck a few. Voila, an instant arrangement… darling and

How inspiring it is to receive so many lovely responses from you all each week!  Thank you for also offering your clever suggestions for MMM, for which I am grateful.  I am going to share a few, about enlightening your children, which are worthy of your attention.  After a year of Covid hiatus, it may be time to refresh some manners that matter, as you and your children venture back into social situations again.  Alleluia to that!  These genteel pearls of graciousness are still relevant, no matter what a relaxed society may suggest.  Teaching by example, and sharing these thoughtful gestures, will serve your children well throughout their life!  Children’s thank you notes:   “I would like to comment about Mummy’s Monday Manner’s discussion on the subject of thank you notes, along with the importance of writing them.  I think it is very discouraging to see that many of today’s parents do

Nothing says a “classic and traditional family” more than the presence of a charming and bespoke pastel, watercolor, or oil portrait of your precious child (or children), discreetly displayed in your home.  A portrait, that is tastefully commissioned and executed, continues to be a time-honored tradition embraced in noble homes.  Children’s portraits have historically been displayed in the most prestigious homes, from English country and historic houses to contemporary and traditional interiors.  A sweet portrait of your child is a prized, prototypical, decorative element. I just adore the historic aspect, along with the impressibility, of pastels as the medium used for a portrait.  Pastels were created in the 15th century.  There is a fragility, an allure, and a softness that only pastels can relay.  From Leonardo da Vinci to Mary Cassatt and Edgar Degas, their masterful use of pastels, especially for children’s portraits, has left an indelible impression on my