Top 10 Restaurant Pet Peeves

Do we all think this, or is it just me?!
Whether you're doing a table for 1, or in the company of others that you would like to enjoy, here is my top 10 pet peeves while dining out at a restaurant. Fancy, or a dive somewhere, this is a universal list of annoyances.

10. Don't vacuum, sweep or mop under my table if I'm sitting there. Whether I have my food there or not, you can wait! But, especially if my food is on the table...NO! Away! Keep the air around the floor and what not still until I'm gone!

9. Don't roll the garbage by my table if I'm sitting there or if there is food on the table. I don't want to smell it while I'm eating, or get a glimpse of the remains of someone else's meal. That's gross.

8. Screaming kids. OK, I know that we really have little control of a screaming id or baby, but please bring it outside until it's done.

7. Loud environment. Music, other people, bad acoustics... trying to listen over background noises is killer. Especially when it's so loud that everyone has to shout to speak and be heard, which means that everyone is shouting to speak and be heard. It makes communicating almost impossible...a moment killer. No, loud music is not cool when you are at a place to eat and talk... if you want loud music, go to a club.

6. Always have someone ready to greet a guest. There's so much competition out there, customer service should be a priority.

5. Stop talking to your co-worker or friend if a customer is waiting.

4. It's fine if you want to show your cooks off, but at least put something to keep the noise contained. The ching of metal against a grill adds to the background noise and is distracting. Also, especially if they don't speak english...it might make some people paranoid.

3. Don't serve the person next to me from over me. Walk around to them and serve them.

2. Don't put your finger on the lip of my cup.

1. Keep the bathrooms clean.

Top 10 Driving Phrases

American Maryland University Students Robbed in Pretoria

There is a definite tension and sense of danger in Pretoria, but for the students from Stevenson University, they were first hand witnesses of the underlying danger.

Everything looks fine on the highway, but after getting off, you're met with walls surrounding every building. Usually there is a sharp point at the top of each wall, barb wire and sometimes electric fences on top of the walls and barb wire. So, needless to say, Pretoria is a place that requires street smarts.

With the all popular "smash and grab" crime that happens to regular everyday citizens that live in Pretoria, it actually is not a big surprise that a tour bus carrying 35 Americans, 30 of which were students at Stevenson University (located in Stevenson, Maryland) and 5 chaperons, with money and technology was a target of a crime. 

The robbers came up shooting at the bus to get it to stop. They then proceeded to board the bus and collect the spoil from cooperative victims. Fortunately, nobody was hurt in this robbery and they lost material possessions, rather than their lives, and have received the needed assistance to get back home to the States safely.

It's sad that a country that is so beautiful and has so much potential is so terrorized by so much crime. The Pretoria police department is flooded with crime incidents, but the people know that it is pretty much useless to call them for help. However, ADT and other security companies have stepped up to the plate to offer support to the people in need of help and protection.

Before going to South Africa, educate yourself and brush up on your street smarts. Read about what to look out for, how to manage your money, passport, electronic devices and personal items. It's a whole new culture with its own rhythm. Make sure to know the ebbs and flows as much as possible before charging out like a sitting duck.

Although many precautions can be taken to avoid bringing attention to yourself and your valuables, crime can happen at any time, for any reason. Even if it's for the equivalent of a couple dollars (or Rand), but don't let it stop you from visiting Pretoria and having a wonderful time.

Bridal Fashion Show

It's Trunk season! Trunk season? What is trunk season? What is a Trunk Show?

Wiki says:

A trunk show is a special sale in which vendors present merchandise directly to store personnel or select customers at a retail location or another unique venue. In many cases it allows store personnel to preview and/or purchase merchandise before it is made available to the public. Typically, clients view the merchandise, place orders, and then wait for the vendor to manufacture and deliver the goods.

It is particularly desirable to have the actual designer present at the event. Most small businesses do this to get more buys.

Sometimes, trunk shows sell remnant and leftover items from runways, samples, and so on. Trunk shows are so named because dresses used to be transported to these events in trunks.

Trunk shows are particularly popular in the bridal industry, in which January through May is trunk show season. At trunk shows, brides can view a larger selection of a bridal designer's collection than is normally carried in a bridal salon.
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So...where can I find a trunk show? There is a little gem of a store nestled behind the Burger King off Baltimore National Pike in Ellicott City, MD, where many of my friends from near and far (Africa far!) have come and found that dress that is a part of launching 2 lovers into a new chapter of life together~ It's called
 Venus Bridal Collection.  There is a wide variety of dresses from vintage to modern and couture with price ranges to match the diverse assortment. This weekend they are have a trunk show for the Casablanca & Casablanca Couture designer and offering 10% off if you buy during the show! But, if you happen to find your dress there from another designer, you can get 10% off an accessory, but if you get a Casablanca or Casablanca Couture dress and an accessory, you can take 10% off of the dress and 10% off of an accessory also! Wow! That's an amazing deal!


To be "In the Know" for the next Trunk Show, like Venus Bridal Collection on Facebook here.

This trunk show sounds like a great time for a bride on a budget, and this is just the beginning of the trunk show season! Make an appointment so that you can check out a trunk show!