Poised for Success by Jacqueline Whitmore

27 Jul

Survey Reveals That It Pays to Be Attractive

In the current job market, putting an effort in your appearance has little to do with vanity, and everything to do with economic survival.  Newsweek recently surveyed hiring managers and job seekers about the role of beauty in the workplace and found that it pays to be good-looking.

July 27, 2010 | Filed Under Dress for Success, Image and Beauty | Leave a Comment 

Summer Crab Cakes


Impress your guests with these delicious crab cakes. They’re a cinch to prepare and they make a beautiful presentation.  Serve with basmati rice or on top of a fresh, green salad.

  • 1 lb. jumbo lump crab meat
  • 2 stalks celery, finely chopped
  • 6 large scallions, finely chopped
  • ½ medium green pepper, finely chopped
  • 2 tablespoons mayonnaise (I use Duke’s Real Mayonnaise)
  • 1 pinch sea salt and ground pepper
  • 1 whole lemon, juiced
  • olive oil for frying
  • bread crumbs for dredging

In a large bowl, mix together the crab meat, scallions, celery and green peppers. Fold the mayonnaise and combine well. Season with salt, pepper and lemon juice. Place in the fridge to chill.

In a sautee pan, pour enough olive oil to cover the bottom of the pan and heat until hot. On a plate, sprinkle enough bread crumbs to coat the bottom. Using a spoon and your hands, divide the crab mixture into six patties. Dredge in the bread crumbs, shake off excess; discard any leftover crumbs. Fry the crab cakes in the pan for about three minutes until they turn golden, then turn and cook on the other side for three minutes more. Transfer to a serving platter and serve hot.  Makes six crab cakes.

July 24, 2010 | Filed Under Entertaining at Home, Recipes | 1 Comment 

Are You Minding Your Facebook Manners?

Looks like Alice and Timmy need a lesson in Facebook etiquette!

July 18, 2010 | Filed Under Facebook, Social Networking Etiquette | Leave a Comment 

Body Language Mistakes Women Make

July 14, 2010 | Filed Under Body Language | 1 Comment 

A Pound Cake Recipe That's Just "Peachy"

Fireprince peaches from Dickey Farms

I love surprises and last week I received a very nice surprise from my friends, Cindy Haygood, Debra Lassiter, and April McLean, at The Etiquette & Leadership Institute.  These sweet ladies sent me two boxes of delicious Georgia peaches from Dickey Farms.  Someone must have told them that they way to my heart is through my stomach!

These luscious peaches inspired me to make a peach poundcake.  Here’s the recipe!

Georgia Peach Pound Cake

1 cup + 2 tablespoons butter
3 cups all-purpose flour, divided
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 teaspoon baking powder
2 1/4 cups sugar, divided
1/2 teaspoon salt
4 eggs
2 cups chopped, fresh peaches (3 peaches)

Grease a 10-inch tube pan with 2 tablespoons butter. Sprinkle pan with ¼ cup sugar. Cream remaining butter; gradually add remaining sugar, beating well. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Add vanilla and mix well. Combine 2¾ cups flour, baking power, and salt; gradually add to creamed mixture, beating until well blended. Dredge peaches with remaining ¼ cup flour. Fold peaches into batter. Pour batter into prepared pan. Bake 325 degrees for 1 hour 10 minutes. Remove from pan and cool completely.

Yield: 16 servings

July 13, 2010 | Filed Under Dining, Entertaining at Home, Recipes | Leave a Comment 

Royalty Etiquette Expert Offers Tips For Meeting Queen Elizabeth II

Queen Elizabeth II is set to visit New York on July 6 and will address the United Nations General Assembly and tour the partially reconstructed site at ground zero.  The queen’s half-day visit will be a whirlwind affair, coming at the end of a nine-day tour in Canada in connection with Canada Day. She is accompanied by her husband, Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh.

Just in case you’re one of the fortunate ones to meet the Queen during her visit to Manhattan you’ll need a crash course in royal etiquette.  Here are seven quick tips to help you appear prepared, polished and sophisticated. Read more

July 5, 2010 | Filed Under International Etiquette, Royalty Etiquette, The Queen | 3 Comments 

Holy Guacamole!


Whether you’re planning to attend or host a Fourth of July party, here’s a tasty guacamole dip recipe that will satisfy and delight all your guests.  Its fast, easy and will go over with a bang!

  • 3 ripe avocados, seeded and peeled
  • 2 tbsp. lemon juice
  • 1 clove garlic, crushed
  • 1 plum tomato, finely chopped (I left this out because my husband doesn’t like tomatoes)
  • 1/4 cup finely chopped onion
  • 1/8 tsp. ground cumin
  • 3 drops of hot pepper sauce (I love Cholula hot sauce)
  • Tortilla chips (I love Garden of Eatin’ Original Blue Chips)

Using a fork, coarsely mash avocados with lemon juice and garlic.  Stir in remaining ingredients to blend. Serve with warm tortilla chips.

July 2, 2010 | Filed Under Entertaining at Home | Leave a Comment