Party Protocol

December 2012

‘Tis the season once again for endless festivities, gift-giving, traditional family reunions, and celebrating Christmas and the New Year. Amidst all the rush of getting people together, preparing all the rich holiday food, and running through a packed calendar filled with last-minute gift shopping and parties, it is easy to miss how important it is to stop, take a breath and practice being a gracious guest, a good host, and being a better version of themselves in general.

Here is a quick reminder of things to practice during the holiday season—a little note to help celebrate the Christmas spirit throughout the month and throughout the New Year too.

Happy holidays from all of us at The Blue Leaf!

Party Guest Politeness

Some pointers to keep in mind when you’re attending the office party, a family affair, or a gathering with your best friends.

• RSVP. No host wants to guesstimate the number of guests arriving—do them a favor and give a firm yes or no at least a week after receiving an invitation.

• Say thank you. Bringing in a handwritten note and dropping it in your host’s mailbox as you leave her home will give them a sweet, thoughtful surprise.

• Don’t be too early. Everyone puts an emphasis on how lateness is unacceptable. On the other end of the spectrum, arriving too early is also a social faux pas—it robs the host of prep time.

• Don’t leave without warning. If you’re planning on doing an eat and run, inform your host beforehand so your exit is not abrupt and does not interrupt any conversations or plans the hosts have already made.

Host How To’s

If you’re throwing a party, give yourself enough prep time so you’re sure to give your guests a fun, memorable time.

• Serve food on time. Having a room full of hungry guests does not make for a good party! If anything needs to be done in absolute perfect timing, it’s making sure your guests get a good bite.

• Mix things up. Place cards and arranged seating may be too formal for your liking, but mixing up married couples and significant others can provide the dinner table with interesting conversation.

• Take things slow. Once the food is served, make sure to give guests ample time to get seconds before serving up the next course.

• Clean up after everyone has left. Don’t guilt your guests into helping you wash the dishes—save all your cleaning until after the last guest leaves, even if it means staying up extra late.

The Blue Leaf is a great place to host parties, whether you're looking to entertain corporate clients or throw a get-together for friends and family. We can help you forge new bonds and make new memories, no matter what the occasion. For inquiries, call The Blue Leaf Events Pavilion at 898-BLUE or visit http://www.theblueleaf.com.ph/ for more information.

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The Blue Leaf Events Pavilion • 632 8872175 • 632 8875687 • inquiries@theblueleaf.com.ph

100 Park Avenue, McKinley Hill Village,Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City.

Keeping Tabs with the Elders

November 2012

With the holidays fast approaching, family reunions and parties slowly ease their way into our calendars and schedules. It is easy to forget the many branches that make up our family trees, and Christmas is a good time to remember that outside our own families—our husbands, wives, and kids—are aunts, uncles, grandparents and great grandparents who deserve as much attention, respect, if not more from everyone, too.

As the year begins to wrap up, make the extra effort to keep them in the loop and assure them that although they are not with us 24/7, they are special, cherished and never forgotten.

Create ties between kids and the elders.

It might be a force of habit for kids in the family to do the traditional beso or mano to their grandparents and great grandparents, but how many children can actually say that they know their elder relatives? Allow the elders to share their words of wisdom and historic stories with the kids by arranging for some bonding time between them. It will give children a sense of history, and will also make the elders feel that what they have to say is heard and is important.

Avoid coddling.

While some elders may need extra attention due to disabilities, mental illness and the like, many of them, despite weaker bones and a weaker capacity to remember things, are still adults who talk and think competently. Talking to your elders like the adults that they are will help keep their minds sharp and their knowledge up to date.

Be present.

It may not be possible to live in the same home as your grandparents, or visit an old aunt every week at her home, but there are a hundred and one ways to keep in touch. Calls or even handwritten letters are appreciated by people across the board—much more the elderly who may be feeling lonelier than most others.

Stay informed.

Play an active part in an elderly person’s life by forming close connections with their healthcare practitioners—caregivers, doctors, nurses, household help. Find out how your relatives feel as well—not only is it important to get the facts from those who constantly surround and care for the elders, but it is also important for you to know, personally, how he or she is doing.

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The Blue Leaf is a great place to host parties, whether you're looking to entertain corporate clients or throw a get-together for friends and family. We can help you forge new bonds and make new memories, no matter what the occasion. For inquiries, call The Blue Leaf Events Pavilion at 898-BLUE or visit http://www.theblueleaf.com.ph/ for more information.

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The Blue Leaf Events Pavilion • 632 8872175 • 632 8875687 • inquiries@theblueleaf.com.ph

100 Park Avenue, McKinley Hill Village,Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City.

Happy Halloween

October 2012

The holiday season is fast approaching and one of the first celebrations that line up every family’s calendar—whether it’s moms coordinating with a busy household staff or kids gearing up to circle the neighborhood in their best costumes, October 31st is a busy time for everyone. Halloween is a fun time for parents and kids to bond—choosing a costume theme to shopping for giveaways or decorating the home can make the entire month an exciting time for everyone.

With the mad rush that takes place, it is easy to forget the ‘dos and don’ts. Give your kids some pointers before they venture out to Trick or Treat and keep these tips in mind too to make your Halloween night smooth and memorable!

Moderation Counts!

The kids and kids at heart may be ready to go on a rampage, filling up their baskets with treats—after all, isn’t that what Trick or Treating is all about? It will help, though, to give the kids a brief talk before you allow them to step out. Greed is never a good thing, and asking them to respect the amount of candy each homeowner wants to give (instead of asking for more) will give them a nice little reminder before they start knocking on the neighbors’ doors.

Costume Check.

Most Halloween get-ups are done in the name of good fun. Sometimes, however, certain themes and characters may be offensive to certain people. Before you allow the kids to party in their Trick or Treat garb, give it a quick look to make sure that no delicate lines are crossed. Cultural jabs and politically incorrect costumes, after all, are a no-no during this season and any other time of the year.

Party Propriety.

The entire neighborhood may be decked in décor and Halloween weekends are particularly festive throughout any community, but do take into consideration that residential areas still carry certain rules. Parties may be loud and may take up parking spaces throughout your street—be aware that you may have to answer to complaints from neighbors about noise or traffic and make sure to keep things at a respectable level especially after hours.

Play Host.

If your kids and their friends are using your home as a jumping off point for Trick or Treating, make sure you have the contacts of all their parents to let them know that their children are safe under your watch. If you’re not walking along with the little kids, make sure there is a teenager or appropriate chaperone around to keep tabs on them! Halloween is a time for a lot of rough and tumble and you wouldn’t want to get the kids lost in all the chaos.

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The Blue Leaf is a great place to host parties, whether you're looking to entertain corporate clients or throw a get-together for friends and family. We can help you forge new bonds and make new memories, no matter what the occasion. For inquiries, call The Blue Leaf Events Pavilion at 898-BLUE or visit http://www.theblueleaf.com.ph/ for more information.

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The Blue Leaf Events Pavilion • 632 8872175 • 632 8875687 • inquiries@theblueleaf.com.ph

100 Park Avenue, McKinley Hill Village,Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City.

Let’s Talk Food, Part Two

September 2012

As we head into the holiday season, parties, bazaars and food fairs start filling up our social calendars. Filipinos love for shared meals and for newfound treats is widespread throughout the –ber months, whether you’re on the hunt for a delicious dish to give away for Christmas, or are putting together a company cocktail party. Whichever food-centric situation you find yourself involved in as the festivities begin, it’s good to keep your head above water and know the simple rules of etiquette for different types of food.

We continue this series with a few more tips you can bring with you to your next holiday affair!

Coffee.

Always place your spoon on the saucer or plate—never left inside the cup or mug. Never dunk anything into your beverage, unless you’re at a very casual venue (say, the neighborhood café). Keep your pinky from curling upward—it’s an antiquated custom that can turn even the most serious caffeine aficionado into somewhat of a caricature. Lastly, when stirring in sugar and cream into your coffee, crumple up the empty packets and leave them on the edge of your saucer. No need to fiddle with them throughout the night.

French Fries.

Often paired with finger foods like hotdogs, burgers, and sandwiches, these potato strings are meant to be eaten with your fingers. Pour your ketchup in small amounts to the side of your plate and dip your fries, piece by piece, never allowing them to sit in a pool of condiments for the entire meal.

Steak.

While sauce is meant to enhance the experience of eating a particularly delectable cut, a good steak is flavorful in itself and should be enjoyed as such. Take it with sauce, but only pour a small-sized amount to the side of your meat and dip a bite-sized forkful into the sauce before eating. Take care not to slather your steak in sauce, and go bite by bite instead.

Spaghetti.

Long pasta such as spaghetti, linguine, tagliatelle, and their siblings should traditionally be eaten twirled onto a fork until the noodles form a neat, compact cluster. Using a spoon with your less dominant hand allows you to twirl the pasta neatly, and without making a mess. Those who are less adept at twirling may opt to cut the noodles into more manageable lengths, although this should be done one bite at a time, instead of entire platefuls in one go.

Like this series? We’ll cover more ground within the following months to help you get through your parties throughout the year!

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The Blue Leaf is a great place to host parties, whether you're looking to entertain corporate clients or throw a get-together for friends and family. We can help you forge new bonds and make new memories, no matter what the occasion. For inquiries, call The Blue Leaf Events Pavilion at 898-BLUE or visit http://www.theblueleaf.com.ph/ for more information.

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The Blue Leaf Events Pavilion • 632 8872175 • 632 8875687 • inquiries@theblueleaf.com.ph

100 Park Avenue, McKinley Hill Village,Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City.