etiquette tip

Etiquette is a set of rules that can only be observed, not enforced.  Because of this, it's one of the easiest ways to be fancy.  I'll share some of the rules I try to observe, just to spread the fanciness.

Once you pick up a piece of silverware, it shouldn't be placed back on the table.  Rest your utensils on the edge of your plate,  but don't put one end on the plate and the other on the table.  When you're finished with your meal,  place your fork and knife together at 5:00 on your plate.  The fork should be up and the knife blade turned inward.  This signifies you're done eating and your plate can be cleared from the table.

place setting placemats

Placemats make meals a little bit more fancy, but if you're not in the mood to put out the nice linen (or, if you're like me and you don't have any linen), you can fake the fancy with these adorable paper placemats from Paper Source.  They would be darling at a girls' lunch, dinner party, or even at the weeknight dinner table for a family with small children since you can draw on them and then throw them away.  You get 50 placemats for $21.95.  Crayons not included.