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)

Lady Gaga, You Are No Lady to Me!

Trying to achieve that "Cool Mother" award, I purchased Lady Gaga tickets for my teenage daughters for Christmas. Lady Gaga was going to perform at the Fox Theater, and I envisioned my daughters and me watching a somewhat entertaining singer perform while I sipped champagne in my velvet theater chair, with my antique opera glasses, at the beautifully restored Fox Theater in Detroit. I figured that I could handle screaming teenagers from the comfort of my front row balcony seat (and this was of course after my car was valet parked right outside the door). Surely, a civilized way to view any artist I thought!

An alarming email was received this evening around 8pm. Lady Gaga has moved venues to Joe Louis Arena. Joe Louis is where the Detroit Red Wings Hockey team play. My Fox theater tickets were cancelled and I have to repurchase (with a secret code) new tickets to sit hard chairs in a cold ice arena. I have to do this at precisely 5pm tomorrow evening and I was not planning on being home!! Ms. Gaga, it seems rude to change your venue or for a better word, "greed" may be driving your decision to ruin my perfect evening.

I will reluctantly take my daughters and have to park on the 18th floor of the structure, walk in the freezing cold up 70 stairs and go into the mob to see Lady Gaga. My civilized dream is over!!

So, sorry Lady Gaga, you are no lady to me because I am going from

THIS:

TO THIS:

And I assure you that they do not sell champagne by the glass here!!!

MAC & Lilly-A dream come true!

Maybe my teenage daughter will finally think Lilly Pulitzer is ok and "cool". Cannot wait until January.

Merry Christmas!

Holiday Inspiration (And I need it)

From

Brenda's Wedding Blog

Christmas French Macaroons

I am a little on a french macaroon kick. After decorating for the St. Joe Ball (Paris, City of Lights theme), I discovered a woman at our Farmer's Market who makes french mmacaroons for our French Bistro--"Eve" (the owner was on Top Chef and was eliminated second round----but who cares--it is a great restaurant). Our french macaroon chef (who is from Paris) makes very unusual flavors for Eve: hazelnut, ppomegranate, blood orange, etc. My dream would be to make these as gift for my friends for the holidays. Maybe someday....

What would you pay for the Game Clue? Juicy Couture Clue!

Clue cost:$15, Juicy Couture Clue cost:$58 The pieces had better be made of gold!

Monogrammed Gifts Under $20

Etsy ($14.00)

Etsy ($18.00)

I Love Etsy!!!!

Vera Bradley's Boyfriend---Baekgaard

Baekgaard

These past few months, there has been lots of Baekgaard at Homegoods, TJ Maxs, Marshalls, etc. I believe this company was started by Vera Bradley owner's husband (now deceased). I love the leather and featured the darling plaid passport covers before. I love this purse and it comes in black, blue, aqua and purple. $140! Have not seen it yet at the discount stores, but I will keep looking.

St. Joe Ball--Lounges again!

Main Ballroom

Theme: Paris City of Lights

Upper Women's Lounge -Couture Theme

Custom Dress Designed for the Lounges

Lower Women's Lounge

Men's Upper Lounge

Men's Lower Lounge-Wine Theme 150 French Wine Labels Surrounded the Mirrors

Corks were on the skirts around the sinks

Just finished up another year of the St. Joseph Ball Lounges-I guess I have a reputation! Think we have raised about $850,000 for the new Mother & Baby Unit. This year, the theme was Paris, City of Lights. The lounges are stadium bathrooms which we transformed into a boutique and a boudoir. We even had a woman design a couture gown for us--yes, she designed it for the bathrooms. We actually moved it into the hall outside of the bathroom and it is being auctioned off.

Lot of fun!!!

Happy Thanksgiving!

My Christmas Card--Finally!

(this is not my family--just what I selected)

I ordered the above Stacy Claire Boyd card from Shutterfly. After the 30%, another 10% to finish my order, free shipping and 8% Upromise money, it was hard to say no. I send out about 225 cards, so it was very appealing this year. Of course, after I pushed the button, I saw a darling card on Etsy--

PurpleLemonDesigns