Survey Reveals That It Pays to Be Attractive

In the current job market, putting an effort in your appearance has little to do with vanity, and everything to do with economic survival.  Newsweek recently surveyed hiring managers and job seekers about the role of beauty in the workplace and found that it pays to be good-looking.

Summer Crab Cakes

Impress your guests with these delicious crab cakes. They’re a cinch to prepare and they make a beautiful presentation.  Serve with basmati rice or on top of a fresh, green salad.

• 1 lb. jumbo lump crab meat
• 2 stalks celery, finely chopped
• 6 large scallions, finely chopped
• ½ medium green pepper, finely chopped
• 2 tablespoons mayonnaise (I use Duke’s Real Mayonnaise)
• 1 pinch sea salt and ground pepper
• 1 whole lemon, juiced
• olive oil for frying
• bread crumbs for dredging

In a large bowl, mix together the crab meat, scallions, celery and green peppers. Fold the mayonnaise and combine well. Season with salt, pepper and lemon juice. Place in the fridge to chill.

In a sautee pan, pour enough olive oil to cover the bottom of the pan and heat until hot. On a plate, sprinkle enough bread crumbs to coat the bottom. Using a spoon and your hands, divide the crab mixture into six patties. Dredge in the bread crumbs, shake off excess; discard any leftover crumbs. Fry the crab cakes in the pan for about three minutes until they turn golden, then turn and cook on the other side for three minutes more. Transfer to a serving platter and serve hot.  Makes six crab cakes.

Are You Minding Your Facebook Manners?

Looks like Alice and Timmy need a lesson in Facebook etiquette!

Body Language Mistakes Women Make

A Pound Cake Recipe That’s Just “Peachy”

Fireprince peaches from Dickey Farms

I love surprises and last week I received a very nice surprise from my friends, Cindy Haygood, Debra Lassiter, and April McLean, at The Etiquette & Leadership Institute.  These sweet ladies sent me two boxes of delicious Georgia peaches from Dickey Farms.  Someone must have told them that they way to my heart is through my stomach!

These luscious peaches inspired me to make a peach poundcake.  Here’s the recipe!

Georgia Peach Pound Cake

1 cup + 2 tablespoons butter
3 cups all-purpose flour, divided
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 teaspoon baking powder
2 1/4 cups sugar, divided
1/2 teaspoon salt
4 eggs
2 cups chopped, fresh peaches (3 peaches)

Grease a 10-inch tube pan with 2 tablespoons butter. Sprinkle pan with ¼ cup sugar. Cream remaining butter; gradually add remaining sugar, beating well. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Add vanilla and mix well. Combine 2¾ cups flour, baking power, and salt; gradually add to creamed mixture, beating until well blended. Dredge peaches with remaining ¼ cup flour. Fold peaches into batter. Pour batter into prepared pan. Bake 325 degrees for 1 hour 10 minutes. Remove from pan and cool completely.

Yield: 16 servings

Royalty Etiquette Expert Offers Tips For Meeting Queen Elizabeth II

Queen Elizabeth II is set to visit New York on July 6 and will address the United Nations General Assembly and tour the partially reconstructed site at ground zero.  The queen’s half-day visit will be a whirlwind affair, coming at the end of a nine-day tour in Canada in connection with Canada Day. She is accompanied by her husband, Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh.

Just in case you’re one of the fortunate ones to meet the Queen during her visit to Manhattan you’ll need a crash course in royal etiquette.  Here are seven quick tips to help you appear prepared, polished and sophisticated.  Read More…

Holy Guacamole!

Whether you’re planning to attend or host a Fourth of July party, here’s a tasty guacamole dip recipe that will satisfy and delight all your guests.  Its fast, easy and will go over with a bang!

• 3 ripe avocados, seeded and peeled
• 2 tbsp. lemon juice
• 1 clove garlic, crushed
• 1 plum tomato, finely chopped (I left this out because my husband doesn’t like tomatoes)
• 1/4 cup finely chopped onion
• 1/8 tsp. ground cumin
• 3 drops of hot pepper sauce (I love Cholula hot sauce)
• Tortilla chips (I love Garden of Eatin’ Original Blue Chips)

Using a fork, coarsely mash avocados with lemon juice and garlic.  Stir in remaining ingredients to blend. Serve with warm tortilla chips.

July is National Cell Phone Courtesy Month

Did you know…

• At least 91% of Americans own cell phones
• There are more than 285 million cell phones in use in the U.S.
• 3 out of 10 people prefer cell phones over landlines

While a majority of us experience a range of rude behaviors on a daily basis, the one transgression that seems to occur most often is accompanied by a ring tone: People talking on cell phones, in public places, in a loud or annoying manner.

Eighty-seven percent of Americans in an ABC News “20/20″ survey say they encounter that kind of gabbing at least sometimes, and a majority — 57 percent — hear it often. That takes the cake for frequency; by contrast, just under four in 10 often experience generally rude or disrespectful behavior, cursing, near-cursing or people interrupting conversations to use e-mail or cell phones.

It was this bad behavior that prompted me to come up with a remedy.  In July 2002, I officially founded National Cell Phone Courtesy Month with the intent of making cell phone users more respectful of their surroundings.  With more and more people using smart phones, Blackberries and other electronic devices these days, our society’s techno etiquette seems to be declining.

If you agree that cell phone rudeness is on the rise and would like to help eradicate this growing epidemic, please spread the word about National Cell Phone Courtesy Month.  Here are some helpful tips to share.  Read More…

Sharing Too Much on Facebook Can Lead to Lost Friendships

By Jorie Scholnik, Intern, The Protocol School of Palm Beach

I am one of the 500 million Facebook users who contributes to the 500 billion minutes people spend on Facebook per month, according to the site’s published statistics. Every day, I sign into my account, read my news feed (which is a series of short updates about my friends), and learn what’s going on in my friends’ lives. This month alone, I learned that one friend had a new baby – umbilical cord and all. One friend announced she had a miscarriage, while another confessed she got cheated on the night before. I also learned that some of my friends in my graduate program went out to dinner and didn’t invite me.

I discover a lot by reading my friends’ posts – maybe too much. So how far is too far? I’ve learned that when applying for a job, I shouldn’t have any risqué pictures on my page or any rants about my former bosses and co-workers. Even if I have high privacy settings and just use Facebook for personal use, the guidelines shouldn’t change.

If you’re a Facebook user, it’s best to be aware of what you post. Before you decide to air your dirty laundry for all the world to see, here are some questions to ask yourself.  Read More…

Pet Etiquette for the Office

Oliver taking a break at work.

Today is Take Your Dog To Work Day and my dog, Oliver, is doing what he loves to do best — lounging in my office chair. Since I work from home, I’m fortunate that Oliver can come to work with me everyday. If your organization or company observes this special day and permits you and your colleagues to bring your dog to work, here are some pet etiquette tips to keep in mind.

• Always ask permission before petting someone’s dog.  Although the dog may appear friendly, it might not be so receptive to strangers. Like people, some dogs don’t like everyone they meet.
• Don’t give a dog a treat without asking the owner’s permission first.  The dog may be on a special diet.
• Before petting a dog, put your hand out first (palm up) so the he can sniff you.  This is simply his way of getting acquainted with you.
• If a dog is wearing a vest, he is probably a service dog or therapy dog.  He is most likely “on duty” and you shouldn’t pet or play with him unless the owner gives you permission.