Jodi R R Smith

Polite Resolutions

Every New Year brings a bombardment of "New Year, New You" commercials, advertisements and deals. For a low, low price, you too can change your mind, body and spirit and have the life you've longed for...

Perfectly polite while working-out

This month's Mannersmith Monthly was written by our office fitness fanatic, Mannersmith Consultant, Marianne Cohen. January is here and the start of the year comes those well intentioned New Years Resolutions. As a self-proclaimed gym rat, I...

Epidemic etiquette

From hardcopy headlines to top stories on internet news sites, we are inundated with swine flu warnings. H1N1 has infiltrated almost every aspect of our lives. Even with the vaccine hitting our healthcare providers' offices, the guidelines of who...

Bossy neighbor ruins trick-or-treat for others

Q: Around my neighborhood, we usually go trick-or-treating in groups. It is a very casual, "hey-what-time" kind of thing. A family moved in about a year ago, and we invited them to join us...

Cousin elbows her way into concert with college roommate

Q: Every year there is a big concert in town. I live in the suburbs and drive in to meet my college roommate. She and I have kept in touch for the past 27 years. This is our one time...

Mother-in-law no longer welcome at vacation home

Q: My mother-in-law, her husband and their dog stayed in our vacation home for a week. When we arrived after their stay, I found a pet stain on the carpet. I called her to let her know what...

Movie Manners

Escape! All I could think of was trying to escape this insane heat!Here in New England we are enduring another round of record-breaking summer heat. I often speculate that since my ancestors hail from colder environs, my body...

Keeping up with friends without the boyfriend

Q: I am home for the summer from college and in between my summer jobs have been hanging with my friends from high school. One of these friends, Amelia, has a boyfriend, Zach. Zach is a lovely guy. The rest...

Better beach behavior!

Summer is here, which for many means trips to the beach. Yet, sometimes a trip to the beach is anything but relaxing. Here are the Mannersmith Top Ten Tips for enjoying your time in the sand.Err Towards Modesty ~ Do...

Nice gesture to offer the plumber a drink

Q: Over the course of the past month, I have had furniture movers, a piano tuner and a plumber in my house. Should I be offering them something to drink? I usually tip the movers. Should I also tip the...

Currently in Los Angeles