50th Birthday Present

I attended a 50th birthday party tonight, yes on a school night. It was just a short notice surprise party with champagne, dessert (including french macaroons) and duck liver pate! I never know what to get people. I found this on Esty and personalized it with her name on it. My card said...at a certain age, a woman deserves her own personal flask. Liquid Courage

Graduation is Five Months Away

Well, my oldest daughter is about to graduate from high school this June. I feeling like I am running in place. I know there is a lot to do, but I am not sure what to do. I dreamed of having a quilt of her Lilly P dresses made for her, but she is not the "Lilly" girl type. I am trying to figure out something cleaver to do with all those Lilly dresses that would be meaningful and small. I would love any ideas that you may have.

Merry Christmas!

http://www.etsy.com/listing/85975297/french-macaron-christmas-snow-flake

Confessions of a Prep School Mommy Handler

Cute little book that I picked up in northern Michigan which is not the deapest read, but I think that is the point of the book. Most of the mothers in this book are wearing pink and Lilly Pulitzer. Even there dogs are dressed up every day. Where I live, I have only really met one woman like this, so in a venue like New York, I am sure these mothers are around in larger numbers. Quick read that has short chapters.

The Paris Wife

Read this quick read while in Paris following in the steps of Hemingway and other literary geniuses. Per my daughter's request, we actually had to go to the restaurant that Voltaire and Thomas Jefferson frequented that supposedly inspired great thoughts . Nice little book, but not quite as interesting as Frank Lloyd Wright's scandalous life.

LONGCHAMP

My oldest teenage daughter, who is more into "high fashion", purchased this darling purse while we were in France. The Longchamp store (if you spend over 175E) will provide all the necessary documentation to get your VAT back.

LE PLIAGEHandbag

Nespresso!

Well, when I was in Paris this past July, I fell in love with the Nespresso Espresso machine. More importantly, I fell in love with the Nespresso store on Champ-Elysees. I guess these stores/boutiques are in the USA too. These cute machines use capsules like other coffee makers, but Nespresso has added flavoring and tasting rooms/bars, etc. to their boutiques. The Rose flavored espresso was the most interesting. For those purest, there are over 100 regular flavors too.

Stationery-College Visit Thank yous

It is hard to imagine that I have a high school senior living in my home. This is really a big year for her and the college application frenzy is in full swing. I purchased this darling little thank yous in green and navy (her school colors). They seemed the right mix of professionalism, yet are memorable. From MonkeeKid on Etsy.

munkeekid

• http://www.etsy.com/listing/74176462/navy-quatrefoil-7-x-5-personalized-or

Jack Rogers Jellies!!!!

Tennis Cakes

PINK PAGODA

http://www.etsy.com/shop/thepinkpagoda?page=3

Sent my sister-in-law one of these darling pictures for Christmas. Check out this site-I Love them all!

My 2010 Christmas Card!

P0sting it even before the paint is dry! I love it--Fifi did a great job!

Fabulous Christmas Card or Thank you Note!

Found this gal on Etsy and look at the wonderful card she makes. I am lucky enough to have her making a custom card for me with my children in it. Stay tuned! http://www.etsy.com/listing/58928980/red-chandelier-holiday

Hi, I am back with GUCCI!!!!

Well, I am slowing making a comeback. We have been very busy at our home. Will update you on many of our "going ons" later. Here is a great bicycle that I saw in a magazine. My daughter said she could purchase a car for the same price.

Happy July 4th

Beachy Living Room, originally uploaded by It's Great To Be Home.

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COALS AND ICE

Well, off for a month and have been busy with graduation (8th grade and 5th grade), confirmation party, tennis (my daughter went to the state championship), etc. I wanted to share with you my daughter's invitation (very small party) and her gift to her mentor. I think her mentor may have been expecting something made by may daughter. Oh, well--having a personalized paper weight is much more important than something from the heart of a child on her spiritual journey.

IOMNI INVITATION FOR CONFIRMATION BRUNCH

GIFT FOR CONFIRMATION MENTOR

And on to summer.....

We belong to two clubs, a Country Club and an outdoor pool and tennis club call the Ann Arbor Racquet Club. Despite having clay courts, Racquet Club is a little less formal --as I say..people may remove their children's swim suits in front of you on the pool deck and at our CC, you are reprimanded if your shorts are too short.

One event that the Racquet Club does offer is on Sunday nights, they have "Coals and Ice". You pack your dinner and the club grills it for you. Ice is provided if you need to cool down your wine. The coals are used also for cooking s'mores.

My friends and I start out the summer very fancy and bring dishes, glasses, fancy napkins,corked wine bottles, gourmet food, etc. By the end of the summer, we are using the clubs paper plates and napkins and twist-off bottles only!

As a "want-a-be" wine snob, I did purchase a plastic Riedel crystal looking glass for $2.99 at Target. Plastic and wine really do not go together, but...no glass at the pool and they look like the you are smelling the bouquet of the wine vs. polycarbonate.

The club provides tablescloths, candles, and it is really a fun, event with lots of sharing of gourmet dishes and much wine flowing. Sundays 6-9pm

Children's Birthday Party Guest List Etiquette

It never ceases to amaze me that people want to upset me or my children on something so small as a birthday party invitation. Not to be spiteful, but my memory is very long.....
I learned my lesson the hard way when I excluded a friend's child (she goes to a different school, did not invite my child to her party,etc.) and I thought I had lots of reasons to exclude her. The mother (who is a friend of mine) got wind that her daughter was not included and 2 other ballet class friends were invited and gave me the business. Her daughter probably would have never known about the party anyway, but this really changed my relationship with the mother and my child's relationship with the daughter. Her husband runs a major corporation and she is not someone you want to upset. This is when I changed my attitude about children's birthday parties. Recently, a good friend of mine excluded my son from her son's birthday party(pretty much invited all the other boys in the class), and frankly, my son is a pretty nice, likable kid, so my only thought of why he was excluded was because they asked their son for a list of 10 and my son did not make the cut. We are actually good friends with the family too (took them out to our club for Christmas brunch, celebrate birthdays together, etc.) To make matters even worse, another boy in the school (who was not invited to the party either), actually went to the same movie the party was at and ended up sitting behind the 1o boy party. This boy just hung his head down when he left. Gosh, is this worth it? Note: There are about 8 families of boys whom are all friends and they all were at a dinner party the night before with these people.
Story #2: My daughter is friends with a group of 4-5 girls at her school. I would say they are a little group and girl "b" is a little bit of an add-on but definitely someone my daughter would include in a party. My daughter is having her 16th birthday this Friday and I called a few mothers making sure that this date would work (last minute effort). Girl "b"'s mother said it may not work. The next day, all my daughters good friends were invited to girl "b"'s birthday on Sat (my daughters is Friday) and my daughter was not. So, I had my daughter deliver girl' "b" invitation knowing she was not invited to this girls birthday. We rise above these situations and do what is right. A friend of mine called this situation bullying because this girl deliberately did not invite my daughter and thinks she would not find out. Girl "b" actually yelled at one of the girls for telling my daughter. I think this girl and her parents are not very bright. This is a small school and we have two more years.
Yes, there is disappointment in life and you cannot always be included in everything. There are budgets, limits on space, and children your child just cannot tolerate. Here are my rules for children's parties and adult parties are the same.

1. If you are inviting 50% of the class, you need to invite everyone. Do not leave three children out or 3 girls out, etc.

2. Do not exclude people that you may regret the rest of your life. Children actually get over the fact they were not invited, their parents do not. Is it worth the $5 in party favors and cake to tick off someone you may need to write a letter of recommendation for your child to get into Medical School?

3. No invitations delivered at school, never, never, never!

4. No talking about the party (which will happen, just tell your child not to do that or you will have to cancel the party). One time I even wrote on the invitation for the teens to not discuss this at school-you have to be blunt sometimes.

5. Make sure you carefully select the location and time. If you run into a classmate at the location of your party, invite them to join in. If you do not have a treat bag, figure something out--does the birthday boy need really need a treat bag?

6. If you have a party at your home and your child is friends with the neighbor kids make sure you include them in someway. Nothing is worse than a big bouncy in the front yard and a child being allowed to participate.

7. If you are going to exclude people, make sure it can be justified. For example, we are only invited the girls from our class or we are only inviting boys from the soccer team. Again, advance damage control is good.

8. Most importantly, children and their friends change at a moments notice so you should guide them in identifying healthy relationships. You need to have some veto and amendment power. Is your child's best friend the girl who gave her a piece of candy the day before?

9. When kids get older (after elementary school), parties are a little different, but you still need to be kind. The kids know who their friends are and are not and at a small school, is it really worth hurting some one's feelings?
10. Yes, the birthday party is about the birthday child, but that does not allow them to feel good at an other's expense. Politically, I am about pre- damage control. For example, my daughter's party is on prom night and a really good friend of hers is going to the prom. We have known this fact for 2 months, but planned the party anyway. I emailed the mom letting her know about the date conflict and telling her we would like to plan another outing for my daughter and her daughter. Damage control.
The psychiatrist from my daughter's private school has a son in 8th grade and invited everyone in the class to his bar mitzvah. It was not at a fancy location where he would need to, for financial reasons, limit the numbers for kids . I am sure this mother sees kids often that are excluded and figured it is not worth it.

Cannot Get Enough--Tudors

Hi everyone, I am alive and well. Just trying to get back into blogging. It has been a busy winter/spring. Tennis, Peter Pan (the kids actually flew in this production), golf, etc. dance, soccer, etc. have kept us running. Busy little bees we are.

I have also been watching the Tudors--Season 1 & 2 and I must say, I love it! Think I should have lived in the 1700s. I would have avoid King Henry though, he is a crazy man.

Sorting out the school situation for 6th and 9th grade has been a challenge and I have been trying to reform education in Ann Arbor, yes I said reform. Making teachers accountable here is a challenge. Most of you probably do not have this problem since you are not unionized. Michigan is unionized and our schools have one of the worst achievement gaps (high achievers/low achivers) in the nation. Only 60% are college ready in 11th grade. This is Ann Arbor, Michigan, the backyard of the University of Michigan--so we need to be leading the nation here.

From the Emerald Aisle (Isle) to You!-My Favorite Ring, Again

Lang Antiques

Happy St. Patrick's Day everyone! I am posting my favorite ring in the world again this year and it is still for sale, THE DREAM IS STILL ALIVE. Another fun year of St. Patrick's Day parties on campus (Sat.). So much green and so many parties--we are just observing as we drive by--yes, we are old. Not much to say these days--a little consumed in the Varsity Tennis tryouts and Peter Pan practices. Have a great day.

Again I will serve my kids received green oatmeal, green orange juice and a sheet of St. Patrick's Day jokes to take to school. They all happily wore their green sweaters, hats, Irish buttons, etc. Lots of fun! UPDAte Green cinnamon rolls and green glow necklaces. Missed all St. Patty's day items. Great pencils though my son can share. Have a fun day!

Inspiration!

A friend posted this on facebook this morning. Thought you would like it!

♥Life is too short to wake up with regrets.

♥ So love the people who treat you right.

♥ Pray for the one's who don't

♥ Believe everything happens for a reason

♥ If you get a second chance, grab it with both hands

♥ If it changes your life, let it

♥ Nobody said life would be easy, they just promised it would be worth it.

CANNOT WAIT....ALICE IN WONDERLAND!

Can you wait! I guess Alice grows up and goes back to Wonderland. March 5th! Urban Decay even has a nail polish and eye shadow grouping to honor this great event. I think we all need to paint our fingernails before we see the movie! Cross marketing at its best!

Counting Down To Valentine's Day-William Sonoma

French Heart Macroons

Message In A Cookie

Personalized Chocolate Heart

Pink Preppy Recipe Box- Love it!

Sugar Paper $96

Shandell's Match Boxes --Anne Harwell

Anne Harwell's Designs (above) (cute holiday match box)

They also have a wonderful selection of tissue boxes.

Shandell's

Do you think I would get tired of this office?

I have a fairly small office 14x14 feet with a window, two doors, lots of white trim. My furniture is a walnut Baker desk and a few other dark wood pieces. Do you think I will get sick of the hot pink on the walls? I love just love the toile. I need a office make-over. Any thoughts?

Are you Team Jacob or Team Edward?

My daughters are definitely team Jacob. I guess werewolves are more appealing than vampires. I actually prefer humans myself. Nordstrom bet that the New Moon phenomena would be a hit and hence, the entire teen department was covered with Twilight shirts, jewelery, etc. My oldest daughter wanted a shirt and make-up for Christmas.

I thought I was too old or too normal to like this series, but it all came home to me when there was an older woman (70's) at the make-up counter testing the Twilight make-up and said she loves the books, reads them and goes to the movies with her daughters. She obvious likes them enough to want to purchase high-priced make-up that says Twilight. I guess I am not too old, but maybe too normal. Let me know what team you are on! Jacob or Edward.

Make-up line only at Nordstrom

Team Jacob Shirt-Family Crest (yes, even werewolves can have crests)

RESOLUTION #1: Take More Videos

This is the camera my daughters received from Santa. You can actually customize it through Cafe Press to include your photos or any dream you may have. I tried to get a Lilly Pulitzer print on one for you but did not have any luck. Over 1000 varieties available including New Moon-Team Jacob which is big at my house. I selected the middle one for my daughter (which proceeds go to purchasing these cameras for non profits).

The Cameras did not arrive until after the big day since I purchased them off of the Flip Camera website vs. Cafe Press.

These cameras are great and hold 60 minutes (120 minute available) and have a USB connector that plugs right into your computer. No cords!

PPPG

Happy 2010!

May 2010 be the best ever! Cheers to you fellow bloggers and readers.

Love,

PPPG

Preppy Christmas Decoration-SALE!!

RSH

On sale now: $19 at RSH (Formerly Room Service Home)