6 Tips on Holiday Etiquette When Meeting The Parents

Concerned that your first interaction with your spouse's parents this holiday season will resemble a scene from Meet the Parents? For the most part, meeting the parents for the first time can feel nerve wrecking, but most will go out of the way to make you feel right at home. Still, some preparation is a good idea.

I went to Beverly Hills Manners Etiquette expert, Lisa Gache, for her tips on proper etiquette when meeting your partner's parents.

Lisa says that "In order to ensure your best impression and curry favor with your potential future in-laws, it's better to err on the side of friendly and formal."

1. Use a Formal Greeting. Upon your first meeting, rather than go straight in for a hug that may not be reciprocated, be respectful and offer a friendly handshake instead. Remember to extend your right hand, shake web-to-web with two pumps and then release. Address the parents by using their titles and surnames (Hello Mr. and Mrs. Smith, it is a pleasure to finally meet you) and wait for them to give you permission to call them by their first names.

2. Be a Gracious Houseguest. Play by the house rules and keep your belongings neat and tidy. Nobody wants to entertain a rude or sloppy houseguest. Stick to the same rising and bedtime schedule as the rest of the household. Keep your personal items organized. Make your bed and be mindful of bathroom time.

3. Offer to Help with the Cooking & Cleaning. Even if cooking and cleaning is not your forté, when you are a guest in someone else's home, offer to pitch in and be helpful in any way you can. Set the table, clean the dishes, hand spices to the chef, sweep the floor, the possibilities are endless! Whatever you do, do not act as if you are staying in a hotel and expect to be waited on hand-and-foot.

4. Use the Magic Words & Be Free w/Compliments. A gracious houseguest will use the five main magic words: please, thank you, you're welcome, I'm sorry and excuse me, without abandon. They will also be free with the compliments making sure to recognize the hostess of the house, their significant other and any other family members by acknowledging them with favorable words.

5. Listen More than You Speak. Keep the conversation flowing, but make sure to ask questions and listen to the answers. When it's your turn to speak, do not give one word answers. Stick to safe topics such as the weather, sports, cultural events and seasonal topics. Do not divulge the skeletons in your closet. Some things are better left unsaid.

6. Say Thank You & Be Invited Back. At the end of your stay, purchase a small gift for the host (such as an item for the home or a small plant) and write a thoughtful handwritten thank you note detailing the highlights of your stay. This will ensure you are invited back again in the future and is guaranteed to make your significant other very happy.

Lisa Gaché has been featured on CNN, NPR, KTLA-TV and "The Today Show," and in popular publications from USA Today, Los Angeles Times, NY Daily News and the New York Post to Woman's Day magazine. Her online contributions range from AOL to The Huffington Post, and she has been a guest expert on a number of shows including CBS' "The Doctors," VH1's "Charm School" and "Living with Ed"(Discovery Channel). Visit her website at beverlyhillsmanners.com

Has He Fallen Out Of Love With You?

The popular relationship site, Love Curriculum, answers your relationship questions. This week I answered a readers question on her boyfriend who has fallen out of love.

"I have been in a relationship with my boyfriend for two years. We currently live together. I don't know where I stand with him. Only his close friends and his staff know about me.

He has not even told his parents about me, as they continually try to "hook him up" with other women. They do live in another country, but I feel that they should still know about me.

Recently, he has been having a lot of visits from a neighbor of ours. When I return home she leaves 5 minutes after I arrive or leaves right away. I have found some disturbing texts between her and him where he describes me as his "housemate".

He used to express that he loved me. But just recently I asked him if he loved me and he responded, "I care about you" - What should I do?"

I answered her question here. Let me know what you think!

How To Show Your Spouse You Love Them

Each person shows love and likes to receive love differently. Some like words of affirmation while others like to be kissed, cuddled and spend quality time together. Some like to receive gifts or have some help around the house. Other people like to communicate and have long talks.

Everyone is different.

The important thing for you to figure out is what your partner needs from you to show them that you love them.

Many times we know what our partners want but we are unwilling to give it. We might do this because we feel like we aren't getting in return or there is so much water under the bridge that we are unwilling to give in.

If you want your relationship to work you are going to have to Get Over It and move forward. You might have to give a little to get a lot.

REAL GIVING is showing and giving to your partner their wants and needs whether we understand it or not. Whether we like it or not. Whether we agree with it or not.

You might not understand how somebody could want these things. It might be totally unnatural for you. Well, It doesn't matter. You don't have to understand it. All you have to do is love your spouse and know what makes them tick.

Do you give to your spouse what is important to you or what is important to them? Answer Honestly.

Here is a little exercise for you to get closer to showing your partner that you love them.

Write the top 3-5 things you can do for your partner so that they will feel loved.

Write the top 3-5 things that your partner can do for you in order for you to feel loved.

The Bounce Back Rebound Questionnaire

If you choose to be in a relationship shortly after your last, ask yourself the following questions:

• Am I a serial monogamist? Do I have a history of going from relationship to relationship? [ ] yes [ ] no
• Am I tring to fill a void right now? [ ] yes [ ] no
• Is my ex in a rebound relationship and am I trying to prove a point? [ ] yes [ ] no
• When I am out with this person, do I think about my ex often? [ ] yes [ ] no
• Are my old patterns coming up again? [ ] yes [ ] no

If the answer to any of these questions is YES, then you might want to reconsider being in a rebound relationship. I am not saying that you should not go out and have fun. But, this might be a good time to take a time out from dating to reflect and grow.

Date YOURSELF!

If your old patterns are coming to the surface again, and you are not ready to change them, then it is, simply put, too soon to be in love again.

Even if you much prefer being in a relationship over being single, it's really important to learn how to be secure alone and have fun on your own. If you need someone to go to the movies, dinner, and the gym with, ask a friend. That's what friends are for. And, what about getting comfortable with your independence? A healthy relationship can only be built by two strong individuals, and becoming stron in yourself takes time.

Once you feel like you have healed your broken heart then go out and Date!

Love, Eris

P.S. For more info and questionnaires like this get Break-Up Emergency in hard copy or E-book now.

FREE MP3 on How To Heal Your Broken Heart

Check out my interview with @SavvyDivorcdChk on How To Heal Your Broken Heart. There are tools that you can start using right now. Once you listen to this you will be well on your way to getting into a relationship that you want and deserve! Enjoy!!

http://eris.audioacrobat.com/download/576ec5cb-8bc4-62a5-0601-870ffd2406d5.mp3

How The Broken Hearted Can Survive Valentine's Day

Surviving a Breakup on Valentine's Day doesn't have to be all doom and gloom.

With a focus on getting over it, moving on, and finding the positive in a so called "negative" situation, men and women can get real concrete steps and insight to go from Break UP to Break THROUGH and Beyond.

The fact is that everywhere you look in February is images of couples kissing, candy, hearts, and love, love, love.

It is a shame that people who are not in a relationship are made to feel bad on Valentines Day.

To make matters worse, if you are already feeling alone, then this day can trigger all sorts of difficult feelings and emotions. However, all of this hype can trick you into putting just as much focus on this holiday as society does. This can be unwarranted as well as unhealthy.

I suggest that you change your perception of this day. Its just another day, and not being in a relationship right now is not the end of the world.

If you follow these simple steps this can be the first day of the rest of your life.

1. Don't wallow in self-pity.

Get out of bed! It's a Break UP not a Break DOWN. Your relationship ending does not mean that your life is over; it means that it is about to begin.

2. Today is a time for new beginnings.

Now that you are single, you have space for a new mate in your life - someone better than your last. Become clear about the kind of person you want to attract into your life next.

3. Spend some time alone with "me, myself and I."

Contemplate what you want to start doing with your life next. It is what I call, "Map Questing" your life.

4. Get up and get out!

Be around people & socialize. Go to the park, get a cup of coffee, go shopping. While you are out and about, flirt or make eye contact with someone new.

5. In the evening, go to a singles event or create one.

Celebrate by inviting your single friends over for a cocktail party. Ask each person to bring another single friend to the party.

6. The next day reflect on your Valentine's Day. How is your life going to be different from here on out? What kind of mate do you want to attract in your life next?

P.S. I have a Special Valentine's Day Survival Kit For You. If you want to Heal Your Broken Heart FAST, I highly recommend my 7 Simple Step System to Heal Your Broken Heart and Begin To Date.

It is on Sale for Valentine's Day! Go to this link http://www.loveeris.com/shop.php. It's the 2nd item in my shop.

Here's What you'll get in your "Break Through Success" Package :

· 6 Eco Friendly MP3's that will take you from Break UP to Break THROUGH & Begin to Date. Listen to them in your computer, car stereo, or other CD player. You'll want to listen to these over and over.

· PDF Workbook Exercises (151 Pages!) to take you through the program step-by-step.

· A FREE copy of the E-Book Break-Up Emergency. A Guide To Transform Your Break UP Into A Break THROUGH.

· A FREE copy of the E-Book Break UP, Break THROUGH & BEYOND. In 7 Simple Steps.

Make right now be the time that you FINALLY healed your broken heart, stop attracting the same mates into your life, and attract the relationship that you want and deserve in 2011! Grab your Valentine's Day Survival Kit on SALE FOR VALENTINE'S DAY! http://www.loveeris.com/shop.php