June 15, 2011

7:45 a.m.: Rise and shine. (No, I’m not a morning person!) Read daily devotionals on iPhone Bible app.

8:05 a.m.: Ahhhhh … love my husband! He put a chicken in the Crock-Pot for our dinner tonight before he left for work. Life is good!

8:06 a.m.: Breakfast with Guapito (nickname we use for our 5-year-old son, Billy).

9 a.m.: Out the door to take Guapito to “school” (aka Mother’s Day Out during the summer).

9:30 a.m.: Quick power walk around the lake in our neighborhood.

10:05 a.m.: Log on to check Facebook and Twitter. Start processing emails.

10:15 a.m.: Tweak assignments for the fifth- through eighth-grade Junior Cotillion classes I teach. Trying to get all of the kids in the same class with their friends while maintaining an even male-to-female ratio — it’s a jigsaw puzzle.

11:25 a.m.: Phone call from mom of a young lady who has been placed on the Cotillion waiting list. I hate the waiting list. The mom is helping beat the bushes for more young men so we can relieve the girl wait list.

11:35 a.m.: Phone call with client to finalize plans for a business etiquette workshop for their law firm.

11:56 a.m.: Quick lunch meeting at Saturn Grill with potential new business etiquette client.

Etiquette tip: When entertaining over lunch, arrive early and give your credit card to the waiter to alleviate any confusion over who is paying.

2:25 p.m.: Meet new Realtor clients for a reception etiquette workshop to help them brush up on their networking skills.

Etiquette tip: When attending networking events, place your name tag high on your right hand shoulder so people can easily see it when shaking hands.

Etiquette tip: When attending a reception, hold everything (plate, drink, napkin) in your left hand, leaving your right hand free to shake hands and exchange business cards.

4:25 p.m.: Pick up Guapito. He had a play date today so I could do the workshop.

4:40 p.m.: Back at the home front. He will need downtime before dinner; this gives me time to catch up on emails.

4:52 p.m.: Received two great suggestions via email for future Manner Monday topics. #MannerMonday

4:55 p.m.: New design from the graphic artist for the Manner Monday line of stationery I launched. A few minor tweaks, and it’s ready to add to the line.

Etiquette tip: In the business world, handwritten notes make an amazing impact. Try to make a habit of sending a minimum of one handwritten business note per week.

5 p.m.: Send teen board and ambassador applications and student assistant applications for the 2011-12 Cotillion season.

6 p.m.: Turning off the technology for the next three hours — family time.

Etiquette tip: Technology and social media are important tools for communicating, but truly successful people will be those who can talk and be social with other people.

6:25 p.m.: Guapito is setting the table … a fork here and a knife there, water glasses somewhere … yes, I see napkins. Close enough, work in progress.

Etiquette tip: Four letters in the word “fork,” four letters in the word “left”: Four-letter utensils go on the left. Five letters in the word “right,” five letters in the words “knife,” “spoon” and “drink”: Five-letter items go on the right.

6:30 p.m.: Dinner. Thank goodness for my husband and the Crock-Pot. Chicken looks fantastic.

7:15 p.m.: Bike ride around the neighborhood, then Popsicles before bedtime — hey, it’s summer.

8:55 p.m.: Bath and book for Guapito, and his lights out by 9:30.

9:30 p.m.: Time for Ricardo and I to get things ready for tomorrow: clothes out for Guapito, coffee in the coffee maker, lunches packed.

9:50 p.m.: Head to the back porch. Time for Ricardo and I to visit about our day and catch up.

11 p.m.: Grab the iPad to read a few blogs and catch other “news” from the day.

11:05 p.m.: Make some notes for future blog posts. Answer emails.

11:45 p.m.: In bed to read a few chapters of “Weird” by Craig Groeschel. Good stuff.

12:25 a.m.: Lights out. Taking a few hours off tomorrow to go to the farm and ride in the combine and cut some wheat with Grandad. Guapito can’t wait!