Advanced Dinner Etiquette

Some more in-depth pointers for fine dining:

1. Don’t point out other’s etiquette blunders. The point of manners is to put others at ease. It would be impolite to embarrass another diner.

2. If the bill is going to be split between several couples, politely tell the server before you order.

3. Wait until all of your friends are served before you begin to eat.

4. Turn off your cell phone, or at least put it on vibrate for the duration of the meal. Don’t talk or text at the table, excuse yourself.

5. Don’t set your purse on the table, set it in the side of your chair, or on the floor by your feet.

6. When eating bread, don’t move your bread plate. Tear off a small bite sized piece, butter it, and eat it. Don’t butter the whole piece and bite off of it! Don’t use your bread to dip into soup or to mop up sauce.

7. Drinking water – don’t slurp!

8. Don’t pick your teeth or lick your fingers!

9. If you excuse yourself during the meal, lay your napkin on your chair – this tells the waiter that you are coming back.

10. Pass the salt and pepper together (try to remember that they’re married and like to always be together!)

11. Don’t disrupt other diners; be respectful of what they’re out celebrating!

12. Don’t stack your dishes for the waiter, he will do this!

13. When you set your silverware down during the meal, set them at 4 o’clock and 8 o’clock. When you’re finished, set them together at 4 o’clock. This signals the waiter to clear your plate.

14. When you are finished eating (right before you leave), place your napkin on the table near your plate.

15. Tipping is never required, but is usually expected. Generally, a 15-20% tip is expected for excellent service. Figure this based on the food total, before discounts and taxes. Keep in mind, some restaurants automatically add gratuity (tip) for parties of a certain size. Check your bill to make sure you aren’t double-tipping. If they have added 10 or 15% and you want to tip more, figure the difference and add it.

Prom Night Emergency Kit

Your evening bag may not be very big, but see if you can fit a few of these items in anyway, just in case:

1. Safety pin: Can repair a broken strap, hold a hem or broken bustle in place, hold a jacket closed for pictures, or keep your dates tie in place.

2. Tampon: Even if you don’t need one, somebody might!

3. Cell Phone: Don’t text through this special night, but do call parents in case of a problem with your car, or your date!

4. Double stick tape (Sticky Straps dress tape is available at Mestads): This can do a lot of the same things as a safety pin.

5. Bandaids: Keep you dancing even if your shoes give you blisters!

6. Cash: In case you need to pay for your dinner (hopefully this has been worked out with your date beforehand).

7. Hair Pins: If your ‘do falls down, you can put it back up!

Photo Tips

Photos help make and keep memories, make sure you get a great shot!

You can always choose to hire a professional photographer to get the shots you want, but there are things you can do to ensure you get the best photographs when you take them yourself. Whether you go to a special location, or take photos in your own back yard, there are a couple of easy tips to keep in mind.

1. Choose a neutral background, a blank wall or tall, green bush work wonderfully.

2. Set your camera to “portrait” to help with focus and lighting.

3. Take pictures outside to get the best lighting. If outside, stand in the shade and don’t look into the sun

4. If your're inside, don’t stand in front of a TV or photograph, the flash may create a bad reflection.

5. Flip your camera vertically to get the whole dress in the picture. This can easily be done with groups of 1-3 people and will make for a more pleasing layout.

6. For more intimate photos (hugging, laughing, etc.) zoom in on just the torso up.

7. Take pictures of the shoes and garters!

8. Take some photos while getting ready or when your date and friends arrive.

9. Group photos are a must: guys, girls, guys and girls, etc. But also try some non-traditional shots like jumping, sitting on stairs, the back of your gown. These are all great memories to save!

10. Be creative and HAVE FUN! It’s obvious in photographs if you are having a good time, so laugh and giggle, prom is exciting!

HOW TO: Take a Flattering Prom Photo

Practice these tips at home in the mirror. Ask a friend to photograph you and look at the photos to correct your posture before the big night!

1. Stand with your body at an angle to the camera. Put one foot in front of the other, point your front foot towards the camera, and put your weight on your back foot. Be careful if your gown has a slit – put that foot forward, and make sure that your front leg is crossed slightly over the back, and not hanging “open”.

2. Pull your head slightly forward. This will eliminate any possibility of a double chin.

3. Hold your arms slightly away from your body. This will make them appear thinner than if you let them hang against your body. Think about what your thighs do when you sit on the couch – it’s the same effect.

4. Pull your shoulders back and stand with good posture. Standing up straight will lengthen your mid-section, making you appear thinner.

5. If you want to minimize part of your body, use your accessories to your best advantage! See if you can hold your purse or flowers in a way that will cover your worrisome spot.

6. Spanx – If you feel like you have bumps (most women have SOME bumps!), then Spanx are your best friend! They will smooth you under your gown. Mestads sells them, and you can also find them at Target.

7. Spray tan or bed tan can help give you a golden glow in the camera’s flash. Talk to mom about which option is better for you!

DIY Beauty - 5 Prom Hairstyles

Beginners Dinner Etiquette

When dining in a fine restaurant, this is likely what you’ll see in front of you.

Your date or the waiter should pull out your chair and help you get seated before he sits. If he doesn’t – don’t make a big deal of it, just seat yourself. Be careful not to tear your dress!

1. First things first – napkin in your lap. Depending on where you eat, the waiter may do this for you, so don’t get upset he does.

2. When you are eating a multi-course meal, you’ll likely begin with soup or salad. You’ll notice in the diagram above that the soup spoon and salad fork are on the outside. This is a good rule of thumb no matter what you’re eating. If you’re unsure about which silverware to use, start at the outside and work your way in.

3. Once you’ve used a piece of silverware, it should never touch the table again. Rest it on the side of your plate, with the bottom side facing up.

4. As the dishes are cleared after each course, the silverware will go with it. Don’t worry; they’ll bring you another spoon for dessert!

5. If you need to get up during the meal, please excuse yourself. You don’t need to announce your trip to the ladies room, just ask to be excused for a moment.

6. Don’t apply make up at the table, be excused to the ladies room.

7. Don’t speak with food in your mouth, swallow first.

8. Don’t gesture with your silverware; it should be resting on the edge of your plate when not in use.

9. Don’t reach across the table, ask someone to pass what you need.

Fun Post-Prom Plans

1. Bonfire – Do you or any of your friends have a bonfire pit in their yard? With parent’s permission, invite friends over for music, marshmallows, and fun!

2. Sleepover – Girls-only or co-ed, it depends on what your family and friends are comfortable with. Get parents involved and come up with games, activities, or just blast music into the wee hours, and then cook a big breakfast together before everyone heads home.

3. Early breakfast – Are there any 24 hour diners in your town? If so, go out for breakfast or a snack after the dance, and re-live the night all over again!

4. Bowling – Is there a bowling alley in your area that’s open late? Get a group together for the most glamorous game of bowling ever!

5. School event – Check to see if your school has an after school lock-in with games, prizes, and more dancing!

HOW TO: Avoid Prom Drama

About.com author Casey Lewis has this to say:


What does “prama” mean?:

"Prama" is a term coined by the New York Times that means "prom drama."

Because prom is widely considered the most important event of high school (though we hear graduation is kind of significant), it's only natural that the occasion will spark a healthy dose of drama.

What does "prama" include? :

The term "prama" include things like two guys inviting the same girl to prom, two girls buying the same prom dress, or one couple agreeing to go with two different pre- or post-prom bashes.

Other "pramatic" events: deciding you hate your dress at the last minute, realizing your tux doesn't fit the day of prom, breaking up with your date a month before prom, or finding yourself a victim of "dress jealousy."

How can you avoid date “prama?":

• In the months prior to the big event, stay in the good graces of your prom date – no breakups, no second thoughts, no last-minute backing out.

• Communicate! Discuss your ensembles, transportation, dinner arrangements, and after-prom plans before the week of prom – or worse, the day of.

• If you find out that your Prince Charming (or your Princess Enchanting) is a toad wearing a tuxedo disguise, grin and bear it... and don't feel guilty dancing with your best friends.

How can you avoid dress or tux “prama?":

• Trying it on before you buy should be an obvious move. Try it on again a week in advance and then, just to be on the safe side, the day before.

• Imitation may be the sincerest form of flattery, but prom is not the time to show your admiration for a classmate. Like a girl's boyfriend, once she claims her dress, it's hers (If she shops at Mestad's, that's guaranteed). Lucky for guys, every tux looks the same.

• If you hit the dance floor and notice a dress twin across the room, keep your cool. Flash a big smile, tell her she looks nice, then appreciate the fact that you added your own brand of cool to yours.

How can you avoid “prama" queens?:

• With months of preparations and pressures, the stress is bound to wear everyone a little thin. While some girls feel pure excitement, others feel constant anxiety.

• Did I choose the right dress? Are my shoes okay? Will my date like me? Will I get salad stuck in my teeth at dinner and have a giant glob of green in professional prom photos? Pre-prom jitters are normal, but stressful nonetheless.

• With a little TV relaxation (Gossip Girl prom episodes, perhaps?), iTunes therapy, and plenty of pedicures, the night will go off without a hitch – even if you have to deal with a prama queen or two.

DIY Beauty - Hairstyle: Romantic Curls

What to Put in Your Prom Purse

1. Tickets
2. Driver’s License and Student ID
3. Lipstick or Lip Gloss
4. Cell Phone
5. Camera
6. Hair Pins and Dress Tape
7. Mints or Gum

Nail Colors to Go with Your Gown

Your fingernails and toenails are just extra accessories, so just as you would try to match your purse and jewelry to your prom dress, you should also coordinate your nails with your gown. Look for shades that will complement your dress but still claim a bit of attention for your nails.

To create a slightly more glamorous look for your nails, try using nail tattoos or crystals. When you apply the crystals, be sure to use nail glue. Also, be careful to match the crystals to the size and type of any jewels on your dress.

For an artistic look, try painting your nails with stripes rather than one solid color. You can use strips of painter’s tape to mark off the stripes. If the painter’s tape idea seems a little too difficult, try creating your own unique nail color by layering on several different shades.

Make your look unique by using a slightly lighter shade of polish on your fingernails and a slightly darker color on your toenails. Perfectly matching hands and feet can sometimes be a little…blah.

With the right makeup and well-manicured hands and feet, you should be looking and feeling beautiful on your prom night!

HOW TO - Choose a Boutonniere

A what? It’s the flower that is pinned to the collar of your date’s tuxedo. You might consider going to the flower shop together to select his boutonniere and your corsage, or you might just want to surprise each other. Either way, be sure to let him know what color your gown is, so he can choose something for you that will compliment your outfit. This way, you can choose something for him that will pull the whole look together.

Here are a few unique alternatives to the classic rose:

HOW TO - Go to Prom Solo

No date on the horizon? No problem! Plenty of glamorous fun can be had without someone by your side all night! Here’s how:

1. Find the most fabulous gown and accessories you can imagine. No worries about what your date wants to wear – it’s all about YOU!

2. See if any friends are going solo too. Have dinner together, ride together, and if your school has a grand march, walk together!

3. Get your friends together for photos before dinner, no need to separate daters from non-daters! My favorite prom photos are the ones taken with my best friends; we still talk to each other, but not to our dates!

4. When you get to prom, dance with who you want, talk to who you want, leave when you want and have FUN!

Take this opportunity to celebrate with your best friends - this may be the last time you're all together at the same time, except maybe graduation. Once everybody goes their separate ways, it could be 10 years bevore you're all together again! You deserve to celebrate your hard work over the last 3 or 4 years of high school - don't miss out over a date!

DIY Beauty - Prom Abs

DIY Hair Repair

Hair fried from too much color, heat or ponytails? Try this hydrating mask to add shine to your tresses. Use once a week leading up to prom to get your hair in top-top tiara wearing shape! Note: If you’re wearing your hair up, don’t use this the day of prom. Your hair shouldn’t be washed the day of an up do.

Ingredients
½ avocado, peeled, seeded and mashed
1 small banana, peeled and mashed
1 egg
3 T olive oil
2 T honey

Mash avocado and banana together using a fork. Add egg, olive oil and honey and mix well. Apply to hair, making sure to massage into roots and the entire length of hair. Wrap in plastic wrap or a towel and let sit for ½ hour. Shampoo and rinse thoroughly.

Don't look like THIS on prom night!

HOW TO - Turn Down Mr. Wrong

So he asked you to the prom...but he's not exactly your idea of a dream date. Don't scar the poor guy for life with a scathing eye-roll and a catty comeback! But that doesn't mean you're stuck with him, either. We've got five tips for turning down his offer without breaking his heart.


Be gentle.
Even if you're totally grossed out, act polite (and don't laugh!). It took a lot of nerve for him to ask you, and you've got to give him some cred for that. Make sure you say that you think it was very sweet of him to ask. If you seem (or better, are) genuinely flattered, it takes out a little bit of the sting.


Say it in person.
You owe it to him to say it to his face. Rejection always hurts, but rejection via phone, email, IM, or text message is a lot more painful. If you're worried you'll freak out, mentally rehearse what you're going to say (just enough 'til you think you can make it through flub-free).


Don’t give him false hope.
Looking him in the eye and lying ("Ohh, I'm sooo sorry -- I already have a date for the prom") is only going to come back to bite you later. You don't want to deal with the consequences (or the karma) when he finds out about your deception. After all, you'd be giving him false hope by sounding interested -- and then crushing it. You might think you're doing him a favor (and let's face it, you're letting yourself off easy), but you need to be truthful and just say no. If you want, say you don't have a date yet but that you "have a feeling" someone else is about to ask. Don't name anyone. You don't have to prove it's true. He'll take the hint. You prefer someone else (whether or not he's about to ask). Don't babble and go into details to try and soften the blow. Think: short and sweet. Like ripping off a Band-Aid.


Go with the group.
Maybe you like him enough as a person, but you don't want to slow dance with him. "A whole bunch of us are going as a group and it would be great if you came too" is the prom equivalent of "I think we should just be friends." Sure, he won't be super-happy that you didn't want to go with him as his date, but at least you'll have the chance to salvage things (and he'll have the chance to have a fun night hanging out with you and your buds).


Pair him off.
Best-case scenario? Sure, he's not your idea of a dream date, but you've got a friend who'd be thrilled to arrive on his arm. If you're sure she'll be game (you don't want him to face rejection twice, do you?), say, "I'm super-flattered that you asked me, but I can't accept. My friend really wants to go with you, and she'll never forgive me." Then you can give him some tips on asking her to the dance. Problem solved! You're freed up to find Mr. Right and you've definitely done your good deed for the day.

Article from http://www.prom-spots.com/ps_article(54).htm

DIY Beauty - Eyebrows

Top 10 Dos and Don'ts of Eyebrow Shaping

1. DO decide on your eyebrow shape

-Figure out where you want your brows to start, arch and end. The perfect eyebrow starts above the inside corner of your eye (over the tear duct), and ends at the outside corner, above your eyelashes. Eyebrows should have an arch. Ideally, the arch happens over the iris, the colored part of your eye. Be careful to not give yourself a "surprised" look by over tweezing your arch.

2. DO use a quality pair of tweezers

- A good pair of tweezers cost about $20, and is worth the small investment. A more inexpensive pair of tweezers may make the process take longer or break the hair instead of pulling them out - or can't grab onto short hairs.

3. DO trim brows if needed

-A common mistake people make when tweezing their brows is to overpluck, when what's really needed is to trim the excess length.
-Comb up and then cut, Use the proper tools for eyebrow trimming (eyebrow scissors).

4. DO clean up the tops of your brows

-It is okay to pluck the stray hairs right above your top brow line, this gives you a more defined and clean look.

5. DO use an eyebrow pencil or brow shadow for correcting

- If you have sparse brows, over plucked, or are growing out brows to a fuller look, use feathery strokes of an eyebrow pencil or shadow to fill-in. For medium to dark eyebrows, choose a color one shade lighter than your natural color. If you have light brows opt for a shade closest to or a half shade darker than your natural color.

6. DON'T stand too close to the mirror when plucking your eyebrows

- With some distance from the mirror you will be more able to balance your brows and see the 'whole picture', and have less chance of making brows uneven. After you have your shape in, you can get close-up to better reach the finer, lighter hairs.

7. DON'T use ice to numb

- Cold tightens the pores and can make a firmer hold on the hair follicle. You want to soften skin and hair by using a warm washcloth on brows, or do your shaping after your come out of the shower. (If you're really concerned about the 'ouch factor' use a numbing spray, first applied to a cotton swab and then to eyebrow area).

8. DON'T put a brow shape that isn't flattering to your face

- Keep in mind that arching your brow doesn't mean two perfect half circles or arches, which doesn't compliment anyone's facial features. It does mean to clean up the excess hair to better frame your eyes.

9. DON'T shave eyebrows

-There are little shavers that are made specifically for shaving eyebrows but steer clear! It is a much better idea to tweeze then shave because by tweezing you can take your time removing hair, shaving takes off a lot quickly and can cause an unnatural shape or no eyebrows by the time you are done!

10. TWEEZE CORRECTLY!

- Hold skin taut by gently holding skin firm with your free hand while tweezing, this means less tugging and pain on the skin.
-If the hair is just too short for tweezing, don't push the tweezers into the skin. Scraping, bleeding or even scarring can result if you get a little too forceful with your tweezers. Wait for the hair to grow a little bit more and try again.

11. DON'T save plucking your eyebrows for last minute, especially if you are a first timer. Give yourself time for hair to grow back if there are any mishaps. Pluck two weeks prior and then when your brows are the way you want them, light grooming will keep your eyebrows glamorous for prom.

Organize a Pre-Prom Get Together For the Girls

A great way to get ready for prom is together with your friends! This is one way to save money, because you can do each other’s hair and makeup (be sure to get together before-hand and practice!). Plus – it’s FUN! Who doesn’t want to get excited with their friends before a big event?

1. Send an Evite or Facebook event invitation to everyone in your group, don’t play favorites or leave anyone out. This way, all can know who’s coming, and you can have an organized guest list so you know how many beverages to buy.

2. Have everyone bring a snack to share, and provide bottled water and soda.

3. Make a playlist of music to get everyone in the mood to dance!

4. If you have a lot of ladies doing hair and makeup, it might help to map out who is helping who with what at what time, so everyone can get everything completed in time for pictures.

5. Wait until the last minute to slip into your dresses, so no one gets wrinkled or gets food stains on their gowns!

6. Take pictures while getting ready, these are great memories!

DIY Beauty - Hairstyle: Party Twist

DIY Beauty - Pedicure

Pedicures at spas/salons can be kind of spendy, so why not opt for an at home pedicure?

This video shows you how to give yourself a great pedicure: