So many people are hiding these days behind their devices, using efficiency and speed as just one of the many excuses to avoid direct communication. I don't purport to be the Emily Post of digital etiquette, but the following are times when some form of more intimate and potentially interactive communication may be preferable to their smart phone or tablet equivalent.

How could adding boiling water to leaves get so complicated? Pinkies up or down? Conventions abound when it comes to tea service, but it need not be fussy. In fact, some of the traditions actually have interesting roots.

Sticky situation: In our daily lives, from work to the community and even within our very own family, we regularly receive news that may make us uncomfortable and will at times, leave us speechless and paralyzed. To enlighten you, and hopefully prepare you for what to say and do, here are some suggestions.

Sticky Situation: What can I do about my friend who always arrives late? She does not seem to understand the impact it has on the lives of others, most of all, me. She has the usual excuses of traffic and the day getting away from her. The problem is that she truly believes that she has valid reasons to be late, every time.

What can I do about a colleague's perpetual lateness? Five to 10 minutes after the start of our weekly meetings he waltzes in and usually says something like: "What did I miss?" This is more than an annoyance. It is disruptive and unproductive. And frankly, I feel that it is very disrespectful of my time and me. Help!

Send those thank you emails. Send them liberally and sincerely. While efficiency is key, particularly in a business capacity, I also appreciate doing business with nice people. Kindness and thoughtfulness go a long way in building and maintaining relationships, a distance that efficiency alone cannot.

Sticky situation: I've met a wonderful guy and we're planning on getting married sometime this fall. This will be a second wedding for both of us. Neither of us would like a large, elaborate wedding. In fact, we want to simply elope and have a private ceremony with just the two of us. Unfortunately, both my mother and his mother do not like this idea.

As if Emily Post prophesized the Internet's ability to make a message go viral, she warned, "Never write a letter to anyone -- no matter whom -- that would embarrass you were you to see it in a newspaper above your signature." Or, I'd add to that, a screen grab of your declaration on someone's Tumblr. This all sounds terribly unromantic, doesn't it?

Spring ahead to Super Bowl Sunday. You are wearing your team's gear; jersey on your freshly showered back, and cap on your uncoiffed mane. You're ready to go p-a-r-t-y. But, before you get set to watch the famous coin flip, check your Super Bowl party manners. Here are 10 don'ts and one do, the get reinvited to next year's matchup.

Welcome to the holiday season, prime time for showing off your kids' manners (or lack thereof). Remember that sharing and saying "thank you" (even when they don't like the gift) are learned behaviours. Here are our 10 secrets that we hope will bring some civility to your next family fete.

A daunting shopping list, annoying music at full volume, crowds of people walking with their heads down texting...welcome to the fresh hell that is holiday shopping. The stress of shopping can make even the most festive, patient person want to start throwing elbows, but some of the trauma can be curbed with these five tips.

Temperatures have plummeted. Clocks are set back. Any day now, your inbox will be inundated with an influx of holiday invitations. One invite will likely be tied to celebrating the season with your colleagues. Here are five sure-fire ways to flop at the office holiday party -- so, don't.

At some point, I don't know when, I started to plan a bit too much for hosting company. Perhaps I got so caught up that I became fussed, sucking the spontaneity out of what should be fun. Those that profess to enjoy hosting often agree that the trick to keeping it stress free is to be prepared and organized. But don't forget to relax and enjoy your guest's company.

According to a new study, 48 per cent of Canadian parents with children aged 11 and over now let their kids carry a cell phone. With a new school year well underway, this presents a new learning challenge for parents: How to teach their kids to use their cellphones appropriately. Not just from a safety perspective but from a "mobile manners" point of view as well.

I love talking contemporary etiquette, but I get equally as excited (yes, I said it: excited) about the perennial, classic content. Good table manners are one such topic. Good table manners are sexy. Jamming one's napkin down his or her collar, is not.

I just got off the phone with my brother. He and his wife will be joining my fiancé and I at our newly purchased cottage on the lake. This will be our first time hosting big bro and his bride of three years. They usually host all family gatherings and are amazing at it! My sister-in-law is the Canadian Martha Stewart. I feel overwhelmed and stuck. Where do I start?

The concept of the "push present" is sweeping delivery rooms all over North America. Notionally, I get it. A proud new father witnesses the love of his life enduring the miracle of birth and wants to give her something nice for her hardship/efforts/bravery/magic. But are push presents now a thing?

Cottaging is a way of life for Canucks. Going to camp, hitting the cabin, swinging by the lake house/beach/what-have-you: it's in our blood. When you decide to make your grand escape, there are some basic summer cottage principles to keep in mind...

It seems naturally easier to look and dress more professionally in the fall and winter, when conditions beckon us to cover up in layers of wool and knits. It is possible to feel comfortable and look pulled together during the warmer months. Here are some tips to stay fresh at work in the summer months.

Walking the streets of a big city, you begin to notice how there is a lack of common sense around you. Or maybe it's the lack of everyday respect and kindest in our modern world. I'm not a bitter person but there are some things that have really begun to irritate me. I've noticed a significant decline in people's kindness and respect for others.