British Invasion--Hunter Wellies

Love these.  Darling daughter is going to get either the red or gold (not pictured due to technical difficulties).  Surely needed for that hurricane weather in Florida!

Jeep Wrangler 4 Door Hot Preppy Girl Car!

Well, driving around the University of Michigan campus last fall, I started to notice a few more Jeep Wranglers(the 4 door version) being parked at the Kappa Kappa Gamma and Tri-Delt house. We all know that Lilly P choose the Wrangler as her car of choice to plaster her print all over, but now it is becoming the HOT CAR FOR PREPPY COLLEGE GIRLS.

While at Trader Joe, I saw this girl who looked almost exactly like my daughter, long brown hair, wearing a Barbour coat, brown boots, Rayban Aviators and  carrying a Starbucks coffee driving this car, and we knew it was the vehicle for my daughter.

No longer the calling card for certain types of women (edited), this car is becoming the new hot item for the twenty-something girls--replacing the Land Rover and BMWs that we would see parked in the sorority lots. I am mainly seeing  4 door version these day, but the 2 door is still cool!-.Jeep Wrangler Website


PS:  A friend of mine husband is CEO of a major corporation has the exact Jeep we do!  She can afford any car she wants and choose the Jeep Wrangler 4 Door in black.  She is also very fashion conscious and stylish.  Ok, maybe the 50 something women are driving this too.   

Sorority Rush-Southern Style-and Why I like It!

See below for link

Well, I am busy writing recommendations letters for Kappa Kappa Gamma for my DD's friends.  One of the letters went to the University of Alabama.   I checked out the rush website, and I must say,  Sorority Rush is big business for the Crimson Tide (my daughter was accepted here too--but loves that Stetson U!).  I am sure other schools are the same, but I have yet to see a 30 page guide with advertisements  and a promotion for dorm meal service during rush week.  Check out this book--rush participation at University of Alabama is $150.

While I know that a lot of people are not fans of sorority rush and sororities, I do believe they give young women and men (fraternities) some valuable life lessons that I am sure the panhelletic council would not like me to promote.  Well, here they are:

1.  You have to make a good first impression, be likable and be good at small-talk with someone you do not know or you will get cut.  You have about 1 minute to make an impression.
           

2.  You need to conform at little to how sorority girls dress and look good!


3.  People will judge you based on your first impression.  Sorry, they will do this your whole life!


4.  If you know people in the sorority, it may positively or negatively influence your chances of getting in.  Good PR is important--this is an the ultimate example of marketing a person to teen girls.


5.  The sorority house will vote on you, so you need to meet as many people as possible.  The more you can meet before rush, the better.   People like to vote for what is unfamiliar too--look I found a new shiny penny, so this can work in your favor too.  Knowing people too well in a sorority can be bad too--history is not always a good thing.



WHY THESE ARE GOOD LESSONS?

1.  You need how to dress in this world--brown socks with sneakers, a wrinkled t-shirt, cargo hiking shorts on the treadmill looks horrible at the gym.  --I saw this yesterday.

2.   People evaluate you before they even meet you by your appearance.  A first impression in a job interview is critical.

3. Small talk is very valuable to learn in making friends and networking, etc.

4.  Gosh, you need to know how to market yourself!   Politics are important and in the case of rush, you are trying to get a vote from a group of women for yourself.

5.  Most importantly, being a sorority, you learn how to deal with women.

One more thing about the Greek Chic--these college girls have put together the equivalent of an annual report for a company (minus the detail financial statements and SEC filings).  Pretty impressive for college girls. Also, rush which involved over 1500 girls is a big deal and big business.

Greek Chic

Graduation Gift for Teen-Travel Wallet

What do you get the high school or college students for graduation?  Well, I made my daughter a picture book on Shutterfly of her senior year and gave her a monogrammed travel wallet from Asprinal of London.  She actually really liked it and my second daughter said what color she wants when she graduates too.  I chose the black (with a red interior) because I thought it would be good for a lifetime of use.  Red interior added a little something extra!

The British really love travel wallets which make currency management and travel paperwork very easy to manage.  We really spent a lot of time looking at travel wallets last summer when we were in London and Paris.  This was my favorite brand which is at Harrod's too. 

ASPRINAL

Graduation Brunch for 200

We used this same invitation for the brunch which was from 11-2pm

Center pieces--lantern from Z-Galleries

Custom cut-out sign greeted guest from Etsy

Made to order crepes and omelets

In addition to wine, mimosas, and bloody-marys, we had flavored waters and juices.

Shadow box displays of some high school activities

Instead of foam boards with tiny little pictures, I selected 15 of my favorite photos, converted them to black and white,
and the framed them and put them around my dining room.

Hand towels made for the event

Custom cake included my daughter's love of tennis, the dog collar-line she developed (Rover's), and a crown representing her 7 years of Princess Camp she put on at our home and Princess & Pirate Day she developed for C.S. Mott Hospital.

Prom

Our school prom is at Henry Ford Museum at Greenfield Village.  They close down the museum just for our school.  The kids take luxury buses to the prom, have dinner, dance, tour and come home on the bus.  It is very civilized and safe.   Only two schools get to have there prom at this museum; we are fortunate to be one of them.

Graduation

Endless Bragging! Metro Parent-Prudential Spirit of the Community

Well, my daughter has had a good senior year. She won the Prudential Spirit of the Community Award for Michigan high school students, which means a medal, cash and a all expense trip to DC for our family, etc. There were over 26,000 applicants throughout the USA and she won. They are awarding 5 national prizes in DC-so we will see.

The Prudential Spirit of the Community PR machine also featured her in Metro Parent Magazine today which produces 260,000 magazines distributed to Detroit. We are very proud of her.

Bragging over!

Steve Jobs-Yes, We Left a Message at the Apple Store

Well finally, I am stealing the Steve Jobs book from my 15 year old daughter. My other daughter is reading Blake Mycoskie's "Start Something That Matters". Blake is the owner of Tom's Shoes.

Raising kids is tough. I do think it is a worthwhile endeavor to help them take risks and start businesses when the are young, Having and learning to run a business when the risks are low, is a really great thing. I started my business when I was 23 years old in my apartment with a computer. I met my first client in a bar (happened to be from a Fortune 500 company and wanted to so some research). Next thing I know, I had the average starting salary in my hands for a three month project.

Fifteen years and 150 employees later, I was a business owner.

I believe young people need to be encouraged to follow an entrepreneurial path. My oldest daughter had a Princes Camp for 7 years and, well my younger children are not quiet as willing, but I have not yet given up. My oldest made a lot of money, turned it into a non-profit for sick children at hospitals, and now is creating a dog collar where the proceeds will support animal shelters.

Lots of kids go to college and get jobs. Then they graduate and at 50 years old, complain about not having control of their schedule, bosses, money, etc. While they are young, it is time to teach them to take a risk, learn by doing, and go for it.

My favorite quote by Steve Jobs....

" Do you want to spend the rest of your life selling sugared water or do you want a chance to change the world?" Steven Jobs

Well, we happened to be in Chicago after Steven Jobs died we were at the Apple Store and i actually was one of those geeks who wrote something on a post-it note. I wrote:

Steve Jobs...

I-came

I-saw

I-did it.....life well done!

I appreciate Steve Jobs for not only what he invented, but his entrepreneurial spirit. Well, as any good prep, we are trying to raise the future tycoons of industry over here.

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!