P&G Prestige: Launch of BOSS JOUR @ ION SKY

It was truly an honour to be a part of the Boss Jour launch in Singapore on Aug 15. I was invited to share my story of personal growth and entrepreneurship with the guests present at the occasion.  I also shared my ideas on how the fragrance composition, ingredients and many moods mirror the essential facets of today’s modern woman especially in terms of fashion.

BOSS JOUR Pour Femme is the sophisticated new fragrance for women from BOSS Parfums. With an elegant composition, the scent has been created to reflect three important female facets – light, inspiration, and elegant composure – brought together in a beautiful blend of white floral with vibrant citrus. I love the fragrance and will be using it for myself. It is a unique blend of floral freesia and lily with very refreshing hints of citrusy grapefruit and lime. Have you tried the beautiful new fragrance from Hugo Boss?

 

I was extremely excited about this event and had been looking forward to this day. And as luck would have it, Nicolas Tham from Clothes Artisan offered to sponsor my gorgeous white dress for the event. The workmanship and fit was immaculate just the way I like it and I would like to thank Clothes Artisan for their attention to detail to make it an outstanding piece. Keeping my fair skin tone in mind I decided to choose a pure white colour that complimented my skin. We spent some time looking at the different fabrics and finally picked Romance Grogan, a type of bridal satin. The fabric worked great for my event as it did not easily wrinkle and had a beautiful fall. The Clothes Artisan was able to make the dress exactly like I had imagined. With a perfect dress in my hand, my confidence for the day soared high. I would highly recommend The Clothes Artisan for both men and women.

On this special day, I was requested to reach the venue by 12 noon for a rehearsal. Here are some pics taken during our rehearsal:

 

On the left: Teh Sin Mei, Communications, P&G Prestige Malaysia and Singapore , and Eunice Tan, Founder of  Image Flair (Right).  

 

The guests from the media arrived at around 2pm. I was honored to be introduced to Collin G D'Silva, Associate Director Communication of P&G ,  Olivelia Liu,  Communication Manager of P&G and Teh Sin Meh, Associate Manager of P&G. The Emcee for this event was Pamelyn Chee from Fly Entertainment.




On the left: Collin G D'Silva, Associate Director Communication of P&G , Olivelia Liu, Communication Manager of P&G, Eunice Tan, Founder of Image Flair and Pamelyn Chee from Fly Entertainment.

 

The event ended at 4pm with a great response from the guests and organizers. I was extremely happy that it went very well and I could add my perspective to the various facets of this beautiful new perfume. Please visit http://youtu.be/ie7oGlNuyCc to watch the video on this event.

For more pictures, kindly visit our Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/pages/Image-Flair-Academy-of-Modern-Etiquette/148990591835272?ref=stream#!/pages/Image-Flair-Academy-of-Modern-Etiquette/148990591835272

Tips on hosting a party

In today’s day and age, it is imperative to maintain cordial relationships with people especially friends and colleagues we come across in our lives. A lot of people choose to keep in touch by hosting parties for their friends, families and acquaintances. But many times the hosts themselves falter in small but important aspects of hosting a party.

We have all often witnessed situations where hosts and hostesses are themselves late for their own party. Very often the guests have to wait for them and this leaves a bad taste in the mouth. Here are a few tips to help you plan and host your next party with suave and style.

1.       Respect time: Time is a valuable asset for everyone these days. When hosting a party whether at home or outside, ensure that you reach the venue at least 30 minutes before the invitation time. This is to make sure that any guests arriving early feel comfortable with your presence around. A 30 minute head start will also ensure that you do not face any last minute traffic delays etc especially when the party is not at your home.

2.       Make adequate arrangement: Ensure that there is more than adequate amount of food, water and drinks for your guests. Always plan for a little more instead of a little less.

3.        Ensure seating capacity: Another dimension that people often ignore is arrangement for people to sit comfortably. If the party is at your own home, borrow or hire extra chairs. Plan the layout of the room. Great websites like www.fabrooms.de will help you to visualize your room to help arrange it better. It can get very embarrassing for the hosts if there is a shortage of supply.

4.       Don’t ignore the children: If you are inviting friends with their families for your party, remember to make arrangements to keep the children busy. Many parents will welcome an opportunity for their children to interact with other kids. Assign a separate room or area for the children to spend time together without the interference of adults. A few toys, movies or colours will go a long way in keeping them busy.

5.       Preparation: Finally, no host can be a good host if the preparations are left for the last minute. If hosting a party outside, visit the location one day in advance to make sure that everything is in place. If you plan to host a party at home, start by creating a checklist and strike out as you go along. Your home must be arranged and the table laid out before the guests arrive. Never wait for the last minute to dress for your own party.

 

Teaching Values to Children

It is never too early to teach our children about values.

As most parents would agree, my husband and I would like our child to grow up to be a responsible and trustworthy person. My daughter is 8 and we started teaching her to be responsible when she was 6 years old. This began with assigning her everyday tasks, such as doing her homework on time. And, when I say “on time”, I meant it. If she said she would start doing her homework at 10am, I made sure that she was sitting at her study table 5 minutes before 10am. Children need to learn how to be responsible and “keeping on time” is one way to teach them accountability but also the value of time, and this knowledge is important for her now as well as when she grows up and starts working in the society.

I remember when we first taught our daughter about being punctual, she was often late. She didn’t understand at first that it’s not enough to be where you are supposed to be at the start time- you also have to be prepared and ready at the designated start time. For example, if she was to be at the study table at 10, she would often stop doing whatever she was doing right at 10 and make her way to the study table 5-10mins late. With some reprimands, explanation and coaching she now understands that punctuality is about timeliness AND readiness and she is always at the study table 5 minutes before the designated time and ready to start her homework precisely “on time”. I am proud of her that she is on time and keeping her word on doing her homework.  And this respect for time is just one of many important values that we as parent have to teach our children.

 

Another value that we have been teaching our daughter is self-respect and respect for others. I would say that ever since she was young, our daughter has been learning that showing compassion and empathy for the experiences and perceptions of others are ways to show respect. She is mindful of presenting herself in a respectful way to elders and to her fellow friends and classmates. And she also shows respect for others people’s property and assets.

People sometimes forget that there are simple day-to-day ways to show respect. For example, we can exhibit respect through small courtesies such as making sure not to knock the other person’s car door when opening the car door in tight parking lots. By taking care to protect the value of things, we show an understanding for the amount of time, and money and energy it takes to achieve and acquire these assets. It is disrespectful to take for granted that all of these items- whether a new toy, a new home, a new car, and even less tangible things- such as a new friendship, are easily replaced.  These small gestures are so important and yet we do not see this respectfulness exhibited as often as we should.

Being gracious and generous are other values my husband and I have been teaching our daughter since she was little. For example, when her friends give her a book or snacks, it is important for her to understand that she should give something back to her friends in return. If she doesn’t have snacks or toys to share, she has learned that accepting what others offer without complaint, and offering gratitude, and saying thank you, is expected. When she sees us carry heavy things, she asks “May I help you to carry that mommy?”,  or when she sees clothes on the floor, she would say “Mommy may I put these clothes in the laundry basket?.” We need to teach our children that when they don’t have concrete resources or things to give, they can give of their time, energy or attention, and this shows self-respect and teaches others that our contributions have value.

Another value is personal hygiene. Children must be taught early to take care of their body. I always say to my daughter, ”You only have one body. If you do not take care of your own body, who will?” Since she was young, we have taught her to keep her feet and hands clean. That means when she comes home, she has to wash her feet and hands. Brushing her teeth at least twice a day is also important because it is easy for children to brush their teeth in the morning but when it comes to brushing at night before going to bed, children normally do not do it. Therefore, it is important for us as parents to make sure our children brush their teeth twice a day. The proper way of washing her hair/shampooing etc is also important. Not only does this teach children good health and hygiene habits, but they also learn that they are deserving of time, care and attention, that if they respect themselves, this shows others that they are deserving of respect as well.

All these values are important for our children to grow up into mature, loving individuals. When they learn values and utilize those values in everyday lives early on, they are on the path to success in the future.

 

Spending time with your family

We live in a dynamic world where change is a constant part of our day to day lives.

Keeping up with this fast pace of life is challenging and stressful. There are many instances where we take our relations and family for granted and put them on the back seat. We are constantly dealing with the pressures of meeting deadlines, leaving no time to even get to know our own children. 

Sit back; take a deep breath and think – 

Have you been spending quality time with your loved ones? 
Have you been neglecting your children lately? 
When did you last have dinner with your siblings or have you had the time to thank your parents for being there?

 

It is ironical how we get so entangled in our own mess that we forget the importance of relationships. Time slips away quickly, and before you know, it is too late to mend rusted relations. Now is the time to slow down and set aside a day to spend quality time with your loved ones. 

 

When you do spend time with your family, you will realize that each member of the family has different qualities and attributes to share. You will broaden your horizons and learn more about your own siblings, cousins, elderly and children. It is said that the human brain usually recalls good memories and has the ability to suppress the bad one. By spending time with your family, you are building beautiful memories and later in life you will cherish these. You will also realize that this time spent away from laptops, blackberries and meeting reminders will act as a stress buster and will invigorate your senses.

 

Children grow up quickly and before you realize, they have developed into an individual with their own personality traits. Their personality is often dependent upon the love and care that they receive from the people around them. Therefore it is important that the children also learn the importance of interacting with their cousins at a young age. These informal and playful interactions will help develop the child’s social skills and their sportsmanship qualities. When children grow up among loved ones besides their parents, they have an added feeling of security which helps in moulding a positive self esteem. Their smiles, laughter and games will also brighten your day.

 

 

 

 
 

These activities with the extended family need not be expensive. Visit a park or a beach. Pack a picnic basket and carry a frisbee. Invite your extended family and their children and spend a day building cherished memories.

My family and I gathered at the Labrador Nature Reserve and then visited the West Coast Park last Sunday to spend some time together. The children had a great time playing and enjoying the time spent with their cousins. I am happy to share some pictures to encourage you to also plan a day out with your loved ones.

 

 

10 Gentle Reminders

Source: Kate Spade's Book of Etiquette



Children etiquette - Instilling good manners in a child

Do you know how to instill good manners in a child? Teaching manners is a gift that parents can share with their children, but they have to be patient and consistent in this process. 

Home is the place where children learn about love, caring and pleasing others and so manners should begin at home. Praising the children and letting them know that their efforts at home; for example, tidying up their toys, washing their hands, helping to set the table, speaking nicely to their family members and other little things around the house, will make children feel confident and continue good behavior.

By three years of age, children can learn to say please and thank you. Parents should use these words often and the children will become more aware of what manners are.

A child won’t become a polite, kind individual who thinks of others overnight. This is a long and continuous process that requires consistency- in both rewards and reminders. With commitment, parents can teach and support their children and learning the basic rules will become the building blocks of a more complex and sophisticated understanding of courtesy and civility as children grow up.



If you would like permission to reprint all or part of this article, contact Eunice at eunice@imageflair.com.sg

 

Partnership with SK-II and UN Women

At Image Flair, we are dedicated to shaping the way women feel about themselves and we are very proud to partner with SK-II and UN Women Singapore in the  first-ever EMPOWER ME Campaign in Singapore.

The "Empowerment Effect" Workshop last Saturday, January 12 was a huge success. Ms. Victoria Peak from SK-II opened the workshop and was introduced by Ms. Eunice Tan, founder of Image Flair who also shared the objective of the workshop. Attendees also had  the privilege of hearing  a presentation by SK-II Brand Ambassador, Ms. Sheila Sim,  who gave a personal testimony on Empowerment.

Our life-coach, Mr Micheal Chua shared his empowerment tips and secrets to help build the attendees’ self-esteem and  confidence. Our Image and etiquette consultant, Ms. Diana Anne had equipped them with social knowledge and enhanced image styling skills to help them secure better employment opportunities and career advancement.

 

We are so happy that the attendees from Beautiful Women enjoyed the workshop and we appreciated that they gave  us three loud cheers “Good Job” at the end of the workshop. This means so much to us as we felt that we have achieved our goal.

Our next "Empowerment Effect" Workshop  will be conducted for the residents and volunteers of Casa Raudha on January 19. We will share more about the event after the workshop.  

To view the pictures of our Empowerment Effect workshop, please go to our Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Image-Flair-Academy-of-Modern-Etiquette/148990591835272.