Birthday surprise, shhhhh.

This is one of those times I'm glad my soon-to-be sixteen year-old doesn't read my blog. ( Does she even know I have one?)

Her birthday is in two weeks and coming right after Christmas...

Not easy to find something she needs or even wants.

Luckily, my mother gave me $$ for rain boots for my little honey and these are what she will receive-

She is a leggy, tall one and the tall, Hunter boots look perfect on that type of physique.
Can you guess which ones I ordered for her?

Now I'm a bit conflicted...

New one.
2009 version I just ordered for 1/2 price.

Hmmm...

I think I like the one I ordered better as it is matte.

But is the glossy/shiny one... fresh and more Springlike?

Your opinion?

Hello JPK Paris...

Could it be?

Hello JPK Paris,

Good bye Longchamp?

Seriously, I think we are on to a new bag...

I know I am.


And guess what? The top two bags shown? ( I just ordered the silver) are on sale at Nordstrom, click here.

"Oh the merry bells keep ringing..."

These belles are cousins. The one on the left is my girl, the two others are twin sisters. The three of them have been inseparable since birth.

The twins are a year older than my girl, but they have always treated her as though she is their other "twin."

Because of sports and each of their own busy social lives they don't get to see each other as much as they used to or would like (even though we live across the brook from one another.)

So this past week of holiday get togethers found these three together again.

As I am going thru pics to post on my blog I realized that almost every pic I have of them they are together.

Love it.

My little honey!

Here is my little niece.

We both have VERY curly hair.

One of our many bonds.

Had mine blown out... so not curly in this pic.

The morning after...

Today is my official slug day.

I do not shop for deals.

I do not return items.

I do not cook or clean.

I do not carpool.

I do not do much of anything.

After months of running around for my business, weeks of preparing for Christmas, decorating and cooking with my adrenaline pumping...

I basically hit the wall the morning after.

No energy or motivation for much of anything.

It's not the Christmas blues. I feel content and accomplished. I feel as though I have closure for an amazing last 12 months.

It's just that I need to regroup and build a new supply of energy.

I will read.

I will blog.

I will watch TV with my kids.

I may go to Avatar. ( if someone else drives)

I will take leftovers out of the fridge,

I may get dressed, I may not.

I will tell you this,

It's a good day!

Lacrosse gifts and Angela Moore?

If you like Lacrosse gifts and Angela Moore, you will love this item.

Although Angela Moore Bracelets ( which I love) have many themes...

she hasn't done lacrosse yet.

Why not?

Luckily I found a company that makes a similar/exact style bracelet as Angela Moore with the same quality, half the price AND with a Lacrosse theme.

I sell these at all the big tournaments and those preppy lacrosse girls and their mothers love them.
I also sell these tennis themed bracelets which make great tournament gifts.

If you like Angela Moore, Lacrosse, and tennis head over to

www.preppyplayer.com

Merry Christmas!

These heartfelt wishes for you all,

1. Time.
2. Time for reflection.
3. Time for family and all your loved ones.
4. Greater spirituality. ( I know I need that!)
5. Health.
6. Better understanding.
7. Love.
8. Inspiration.
9. Motivation.
10. Patience. ( I REALLY need that!)
11. Peace.
12. A Joyous Christmas!

The final countdown...

I am almost there.

A few presents to wrap, a few stocking stuffers to buy, a large grocery shop, trips to Costco, the liquor store, and the bakery for the best bread ever.

I am counting down the minutes to the point where I can just relax, listen to Christmas music as I sit by the fire and stare at the Christmas tree.

I want a few days without trips to the store navigating thru traffic and parking lot mayhem. I need a few hours of staying put instead of jumping in the car to pick up this one or that one.

I want a minute or two to savor the season.

I will have a second to make sure that we are all set and then...

I will make sure I take the time to be thankful and grateful for all that I have.

eggnog or hot chocolate? Hot Chocolate with... Bailey's?

Does Santa wrap the presents or leave them open under the tree? Santa doesn't have time to wrap gifts, silly!

And, Santa's gifts are usually too big to wrap :)

Colored lights on a tree or white? White. However I am starting to lean toward old-school, big bulb, colored lights. Next year will be different and more colorful!

Do you hang mistletoe? I should.

When do you put your decorations up? I start at Thanksgiving and usually finish within a week, not this year though. I delegated the village to my daughter and after a week of staring at wires showing all over and the fishing village mixed WITH the New England village...randomly, I've decided to redo it. Not too controlling, eh?

Also, I decided not to put out the bazillion nutcrackers we own, but to tastefully spread them throughout the house and some...ahem... "little elf" keeps adding nutcrackers everywhere so that somehow we DO have a bazillion nutcrackers out. I've decided the "little elf" can be in charge of putting them away after Christmas!

What is your favorite holiday dish? I love when we have a wonderful, old fashioned prime rib meal complete with potatoes, vegetables, rolls, all the fixings.

Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve? We exchange gifts with my sisters and their families on Christmas eve. We meet after Mass, eat appetizers, drink champagne, play games and relax. Our most important tradition that evening is that all the children take turns making candy cane cookies that we bake to leave for Santa. ( those ARE Santa's fav cookies)

How do you decorate your Christmas tree? We have the white light thing going on (for the last year!) and our tree has no rhyme or reason, just ornaments that we have collected from our travels or gifted to one another and of course, EVERY ornament our children have made. funny, years ago those were the ornaments that I would put towards the back of the tree, now they are front and center.

Snow: love it or hate it? LOVE IT.

Can you ice skate? I can ice skate, complete with twirls that rival any ice capade. Seriously, people are shocked when they see me do it as it is... well...shocking!

What is your favorite holiday dessert? Cookies. Even for breakfast. But they have to be Christmas cookies, no Chocolate Chip as I can have that any old time.

What is your favorite holiday tradition? We love that we stay home all day Christmas, just us. We stay in our pajamas, read, nap watch movies together, play games, eat hor devourer's, drink champagne ( leftover from Christmas eve,) We eat a late Christmas dinner usually wearing our Christmas cracker hats and sometimes... our pajamas.

Candy canes: yum or yuck? Yum.

Favorite Christmas show? Two way tie. Frosty and Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer.

Thanks to Ohn from http://only-half-nuts.blogspot.com/

I borrowed this meme as I have a wee bit of writer's block due to previous night's consumption of bailey's Irish creme...

Don't forget lacrosse gifts!

OK, you know lacrosse is an important sport in the preppyplayer house...

but did you know that there really isn't a lot of unique and well priced lacrosse gifts out there?

The preppy lacrosse player, fan, or parent wants to make sure that they give the best lacrosse gift possible.

So...

I would like to suggest the sterling stick on cord.

It's preppy.

It's sporty.

It's unique.

it has an amazing price...

What are you waiting for?

www.backyardartllc.com

Dreams do come true!

I don't want to brag but...

Guess what I'm doing today?

I am staying home!

I'm wrapping, cleaning, organizing, addressing cards, more wrapping, and preparing for my parent's visit.

All while listening to Christmas music, with all my Christmas trees lit up, and still in my pajamas.

I am NOT getting into my car until 4:30pm when I go to pick up my parents from the airport.

I think that will be the longest chunk of time I have been home in months.

I know what you're thinking, even I'm jealous of me!

*Frau that means you can call me- I'm home.

*Ronda- I would never, ever be insulted by a suggestion of wine, cheered is the correct word.

Email regret...

Yikes!

Don't worry. You're probably wondering (especially if you read my last post) if I'm in big trouble.

No, but Laura from http://shorechic.blogspot.com/ mentioned in her comment that she was trying to restrain herself from responding via email to someone that really irked her.

And that struck a chord with me. I am FAR too brave in my email responses. Because of this I really TRY not to have emotional dialogue via email. Too much can be taken the wrong way or the right way. Things that I would never really say I might write and even though I mean it at that moment... if I had allowed time to elapse I would have calmed down and let it go.

That said, I am guilty of email regret. When a coach, boss, sister, friend, teammate or anyone has ever sent me a rude email I tend to call them out on it.

Trouble is... many times they didn't intend to be rude or it was taken out of context or maybe they were joking..

When that happens I always wish I had picked up the phone and called so that I could hear the tone of their voice or ask more questions to make sure my interpretation of their email was correct.

Apparently there are a lot of people like me. So much so that last March Gmail implemented a new feature that enables users to hit "undo" if they have sent a regrettable email. The application holds a message for five seconds allowing users to contemplate the consequences of sending an errant or dangerous email.

I need a lot more time than five seconds.

How many seconds are in... 24 hours?

And, all of you that wrote in the comments that wine is a good answer to the day I had yesterday?

First off, I love you and feel as though you really, really know me.

Secondly, Gmail also has a feature that helps folks avoid sending drunken email messages.

It is called Mail Goggles, which only allows drunks/classy wine drinkers to send emails after they have answered a series of math problems.

(in order to determine their level of sobriety.)

What if you are terrible at math before the wine?

A little... on... EDGE!!!!

Yeah it's true.

I am feeling cranky, a bit on edge to say the least.

Nothing really bad has happened.

But, a lot of annoying things have yesterday AND today.

I think the overload of things to do and not enough done is weighing me down as well.

So, I have found myself snapping at people, overreacting, quick to anger, and behaving in a very bitchy way.

I'm not saying it isn't warranted... Oh no! The folks annoying me deserve a reaction, just not an over-reaction.

I have to say that I haven't felt this way since the beginnings of peri-menopause when I felt as though I could jump out of my skin at the smallest provocation. And thanks to hormone replacement (HRT) I haven't felt like that in a long while.

Until now.

Come to think of it, maybe it isn't the impending holidays, my daughter's torn ACL, my sisters-in-law, the A&P parking lot, my paddle team, or non-listening sons. I did let the HRT run out and waited five days before I filled the prescription again. Could that be it?

Nah! It couldn't be me :)
This is how I feel at the drop of a hat the last few days. It's not good.

Warning- Do NOT cut me off in the A&P parking lot.

I'm just saying.

Like the sun coming through the clouds...

Mrs. K, one of my favorite Florida/ tennis nut/ funny Gal bloggers gave me an award to share with my sister the Frau, (we're use to sharing) I am grateful to her because it's nice to be awarded and because I now have a Monday post!

I am always nervous giving awards as I am afraid to leave anyone out... I have so many favorite bloggers! Mrs. K had many of them on her list, so I won't repeat them here. Although you can check them out over at Mrs. K's place,

http://itsmrstoyou.blogspot.com/2009/12/awhow-sweet.html

So, be aware that sometime in the near future I will name more names in regard to fav blogs, if you weren't on this list we will see you on the next!

The Rules:
1. List 10 things that make you happy. (and grateful)
2. Top 10 bloggers that brighten your day. (like the sun coming thru the clouds)

10 Things That Make Me Happy:

1. Healthy and happy husband

2. Healthy and happy children ( although my lacrosse girl just tore her ACL)

3. Long, great paddle matches that my partner and I win.

4. Skiing on a bright, blue sky day, ending with an amazing tailgate with my sisters and their families.

5. Long Beach Island for two weeks with my sisters, parents and our families.

6. Brunch in NYC complete with Bloody Marys, after walking 5th avenue at Christmas time.

7. All my children under one roof.
8. a good book, by the fire, with a glass of wine, music playing softly in the background.
9. A week in Paris indulging in museums, food, wine, and people watching!
10. Watching my children play sports and being proud of their sportsmanship more than their success playing the sport.

10 Bloggers That Make Me Smile:

1. Joyce's blog NEVER fails to inspire me :

http://perfect-beginning.blogspot.com/

2. MOTR's blog is well written and we have so much in common :

http://abnormallynormal2007.blogspot.com/

3. Ina is one of my first blog friends, we have even met. Amazing when you realize that she lives in Alaska. :

http://ina-offret.blogspot.com/

4. Susan is a new blog friend, but I think we have a lot in common-including five children! :

http://fivegreatkiddos.blogspot.com/

5.Toad provides the male perspective in a very tasteful and refined way. He was gone for a bit and is now back to blogging, thank goodness! :

http://to-the-manner-born.blogspot.com/

6.Somer is our girl! She is tireless in her fundraising for CF and she is truly inspiring. : http://lovetobreathe.blogspot.com

7. Meg's blog neverr ceases to educate me, be it design,history or cool places in Baltimore! :

http://pigtown-design.blogspot.com/

8.Pink Martini is very talented AND thoughtful. Patient too. (she has been waiting forever for an order from me!) :

http://pinkmartinisandpearls.blogspot.com/

9.Laura is a treasure hunter. She finds the best stuff and shares! Plus she is a Jersey shore girl, not to be confused with that new Bravo show :)

http://shorechic.blogspot.com/

10.OHN is another terrific, humourous blogger that I can relate to AND I have also met- again amazing as she lives in the midwest! :

http://only-half-nuts.blogspot.com/

Please click on the links and visit my friends and tell them I sent you!

My boy is 24 years-old today!

Love this kid. He is the best pre-Christmas present I have ever received.

In fact, the Christmas he was born was the most relaxing ever. In anticipation of his birth and because I had a 17 month-old, I was done shopping, done wrapping, and all decorated by December 1st!

He was the easiest baby of my five.

He was so smiley, ate well, slept well, no fussiness.

Things got a little tougher for him when his little sister came along. He was three years-old and as loving and kind as he was to her... he gave us a run for our money! Normal stuff.

I always vowed that because his birthday twelve days from Christmas that we would make sure that his birthday stood alone and that he received a lot of attention on his special day.

I don't think we always succeeded with that. As we had more children I am positive that his birthday sometimes received short shift. I would get so annoyed when people would use Christmas gift wrap for his birthday gifts or combine his birthday gift with his Christmas gift.

Now, it's hard to pin him down for his birthday. Tonight his girlfriend came back from a semester in Rome and he is with her. Last night he was in NYC with friends and his brother...

The cycle of life. When we are ready to slowdown and savor, they are ready to rush and experience.

And that's OK. I wouldn't have it any other way.

Happy Birthday Ryan, I love you!

Goodbye J. Crew's pea coat...

Dear J. Crew pea coat,

You are no longer considered the "best pea coat" here at preppyplayer.

Nope.

There is a new King.

And that King of the pea coats, the BEST pea coat is...

Calvin Klein's pea coat!

No lie.

The reasons:

The cut is awesome.

Slimmer thru the middle and wide in the shoulders.

It comes in black, grey and navy.

The detailing, the stitching, the tailoring!

Honestly, it looks like a very, very expensive coat and we scored one at Lord and Taylor's, on sale, for $135.00.

YES!!! $135.00!!!!!

It was nice knowing you J. Crew, but...

Goodbye,

preppyplayer

Leather Cuffs! ( Not just for S&M!)

I can only imagine how many strange hits I will have thanks to the subject line!

Seriously,

This Spring you will see a lot of leather cuffs and suede necklaces.

And you will not have to be a rocker girl or a S&M chick to wear them.

In fact there is a real equestrian vibe. Which to me spells preppy.

The cuffs I am beginning to see are sleek, streamlined, and modern. Those I like best usually have some type of metal hardware that give a nice contrast.

As for the equestrian slant, well for sometime a tradition/fashion for girls who ride is to wear a leather bracelet or cuff with your horse's name on it. It is either handtooled into the leather or engraved on a brass plate on the bracelet. Some lucky girls wear more than one.

It looks great with a few beach bracelets thrown in.

Tennis anyone?

Fundraising do's and don'ts

I am almost back.

My marathon of vendor events is nearing a close and I can't say that I am sad about it.

Last night and all day today I was selling at a church fundraiser.

It should have been profitable. We set up Saturday afternoon for an evening sale.

There was Christmas music, wine, cheese, lots of great vendors.

No one came.

We thought that maybe it was because of the two inches of snow that fell.

Today there were four services and then an afternoon concert.

We thought that maybe people would come in after every Mass and before the concert.

They didn't.

I didn't know who to feel sorry for, us vendors or the folks who worked so hard on the event.

Fundraiser Do's and Don'ts:

( pay attention those of you that do these church/school/charity fundraisers!)

DO'S

1. Although it may only take one or two high powered women to run an event, make sure EVERYONE in the organization/congregation has a job. Make one up! Anything to insure that they must walk through the door to attend the fundraiser.
2. BIG, HUGE sign in front of building as a reminder to anyone that might have forgotten the event. Flyer's in windows of local hot spots. Mass e-mail reminders day before and day of event. Announcements made in school or church/temple.
3. Create incentives to encourage customers. Tricky trays, auctions, Holiday plant pick-up, etc.
4. Have entertainment on the hour. Choirs, bands, Capella groups all love to perform. Give them a stage and their parents/ grandparents will show up and... shop.
5. Coordinate date of event to coincide with other event such as Santa's breakfast, Hanukkah week, marathon/5K, parade, etc.

DON'T

1. Do NOT rely on vendors to invite their customers, friends, and family.
2. Don't have 20 jewelry vendors and expect people to return the following year. ( good mix of vendors is a must.)
3. Don't charge people admittance and then also bother them to buy raffle tickets, expect them to shop with the vendors and have the lame bake sale be the only food available.
4. Do NOT blame the economy, because half the vendors just worked an amazing event the night before and know the real reasons ( lack of advertising, support from members, quality of vendors) why there is NO ONE at the #$%@ show!
5. Do NOT, EVER have an event in the morning WITHOUT @#$% COFFEE!!!

I feel better now.

Perspective...

without my glasses...

I would need a Kindle size phone to read text messages.

It's true.

Not just because of Tiffany's.

Key necklaces are hot right now.

But in Ireland, England, Scotland, New Zealand, and Australia they are a popular twenty-first birthday gift.

The gifting of a key or a key necklace is a twenty-first birthday tradition in those countries symbolizing freedom and independence, the ability to open new doors and accept responsibility.

I found a great source for key necklaces and will now be selling them, I'll let you know how I do!

Opportunity missed...

Oh sugar!

( you know what I really mean.)

For a day and a half I had all my children under one roof and I didn't get around to taking a picture to put on the Christmas card I am determined to send this year.

Shit. ( THAT is what I mean.)

I really want to send a photo card. It has been a couple of years and it is time. Also, people are starting to drop me from their list.

It is so true that if you stop sending cards...

you stop getting them.

So I have some schemes in my brain, tell me what you think.

1. make a collage of all their baby pictures, put little wings on them and send it out as a Christmas angels theme? ( you can only imagine how that idea was received by my...ahem...angels.)
2. take a pic of those that live here and photo shop the two other kids into the pic? ( my neighbor actually did that!)
3. Take a pic of my husband and I and just put 5 dollar signs around us? ( so appropriate for this time of year, but maybe a tad too cynical.)
4. wait until the weekend before Christmas when we will all be together, take a pic and send out cards the week of Christmas? ( will I still get cards from others, will they have any left?)

Maybe I should send a Christmas card with greetings and a plea to NOT be dropped from their lists because I really like getting photo cards even though I am too lazy to send them.

( they can keep the brag/Christmas letters though)

Photo above is from http://awkwardfamilyphotos.com/

Do not walk, RUN to...

...see this movie!

To you and yours...

New "green" product! Snacktaxis

Snacktaxis are reusable bags for snacks and sandwiches that come in tons of fun designs. They are used as you would use Ziploc bags, but these can be thrown in the dishwasher when they need to be cleaned.

Here is the link to their site: http://www.snacktaxi.com/

I plan on selling them when I am out on the road vending, I think they fit in with the lines I carry.

I am all about functionally pretty.

below are some of the designs I have ordered.

BEE-autiful!

Beautiful bags...

Will have next spring...

No matter what!