Are Holiday Pants kinda like critter pants?

So are they? 

I know the critter pants are big, especially in the summer or maybe only in the summer. I feel like holiday pants have been around a lot longer. Either way, I think it takes a confident, fun loving man to wear them and I always smile when I see one.

http://www.backyardartllc.com

Boys and Thank you notes....

How do you get boys, especially 7-12 years-old, to write thank you notes?

How about with action packed note cards that aren't baby-ish or juvenile? I think our unique, original art, preppy note cards fit the bill. We have twelve different sports-something for everyone. Our most popular cards are Ice hockey, Lacrosse, and Snowboarding. if you are looking for cards that might motivate a boy to send a proper thank you...

Go to http://www.preppyplayer.com

Jonas Brother's Bus

Did you know that Jonas Brothers fans are invited to write/decorate their bus?

Did you know that the Jonas Brother's grew up 1 mile from us?

Did you know that most people that live in Northern NJ somehow know someone who knows someone that knows the Jonas Brothers?

Do you know girls between the ages 0-25 that would give their eyeteeth to go to a Jonas Brothers concert?

I do.

Best team gift

This time of the year I get a lot of orders for team gifts. It is usually the parents, booster club, or the coach buying for the end of the season. 

Many times it is for the end of the season banquet. The best team gift is sterling silver or enameled  sports charms on cord. Most customers ask for the cord to be the school color.

 The preppy girls love them.

 I also can add a sterling silver school initial or player number. If the order is big enough I try to give the wholesale price. For .50 each, I provide gift bags in the team's school color. I love when I am at the mall or a sporting event and I see girls wearing my necklaces!

if you are interested go to: http://www.preppyplayer.com

or email me at backyardartllc.com@gmail.com

The Best Frye Boot?

Here it is, almost thirty year later and I am ready for Frye boots again. I need a comfortable, good looking, every day type of boot. Boots I can wear with a skirt, jeans, or a pant.

So, here are what I've narrowed down. First choose which one you like and try to guess which are the most expensive. I will give the info in the comments.

For the record, I am leaning towards the middle boot. As a hint, I can tell you that I am sure Ina will choose the top boot as she is always consistent :)

Pass the Haggis!

We were invited to a wonderful Christmas party last night, or I should say, Scottish party.  Our friends Gordon and Sarah Jane are both from Scotland and decided that a Christmas party would be the perfect time to introduce us to Scottish culture. 

The invitation started it with a lovely tartan design, (I'm guessing the Campbell tartan as that is our host's clan.) and a call for black tie or kilt.

And, it was rumoured that we would be having Haggis. 

What is Haggis?

Haggis resembles stuffed intestines. It is traditionally served with the Burn's supper on the week of January 25th, the day Scotland's favorite poet, Robert Burns, is commemorated. he wrote the poem Address to a Haggis, which starts "Fair fa' your honest, sonsie face, Great Cheiftain o' the puddin-race!" In Burn's day haggis was a popular dish for the poor as it was extremely cheap, being made from the leftover, throwaway parts of a sheep. ( heart, liver, and lungs, and pretty much whatever is left) Haggis is traditionally served with "neeps and tatties" Which are turnips and potatoes.

So, even though it wasn't January 25th, Gordon started the evening  commemorating Robert Burns by reciting Address to a Haggis as he cut it.  This was done the modern way, with his Blackberry! The Haggis was very good resembling a warm pate'. We were told that in Scotland it is more grainy as oats are added to stretch the meat.

Much to our delight a bagpiper arrived to herald the beginning of our Scottish feast. We had two types of Shepard's pie, potatoes, turnips, a chicken stew, and of course the Haggis.

After our supper and many drinks, Sarah Jane and Gordon broke us up into teams to compete in a Scottish trivia quiz. They said this is a common pastime in Scottish pubs, one they enjoy whenever they go home to visit.

We had such a nice time, learned a lot about another culture, had much good food and drink, and met many lovely people while catching up with old friends. 

Gordon and Sarah Jane were wonderful hosts who happen to have the most wonderful accents!

(If you have ever seen the movie Enchanted, Sarah Jane resembles the princess to a T!)

which updo would you do?

We have a Christmas party tonight and it should be interesting. The invitation calls for black tie or kilt. I plan on taking pics and posting about it tomorrow.

More importantly, my hair!

I would like to wear my hair up. Sometimes I like it sleek and tight to my head in a chignon. But for nights like tonight I think I want a more tousled look...

I think the top pic is what I'm going for.

Which updo would you choose?  And, say it four times fast!

Time to take stock....

Today, I will be wrapping and making lists. Why? Because I have no idea what the @##% I have bought so far!!!

 I just keep piling it in the corner of the guest room. It is time to take stock and make a game plan  as I hope to be done with this part of the holidays by next week. 

My main goal is to be able to enjoy the advent season. I want it to be about the baking, cooking, visiting, partying, and the family. I want to smell the fire, the cookies baking, the cinnamon candles, and the Christmas tree. I want to hear the Christmas music, my children's excitement, and the choir singing. I especially want the time to experience the spirituality of this season. I want to go to a Messiah concert, to the festival of lights at out church, and to carefully put up my nativity scene, instead of hurriedly. 

All this cannot happen if I am running around shopping. If my main focus is getting to the mall or shopping online... how will I notice or experience the true pleasures and meaning of the season?  Well, wish me luck. 

Missing in action

Where have I been? Well, I am a vendor and this is my busy season. Think- tax season for accountants. But I am on the home stretch with a week of events to go, then all my wares are packed up for a month or at least until February.

Most of the year I wholesale and retail on my website.

This winter I will debut a retail site with sporty, preppy apparel called, of course, 

www.preppyplayer.com.

When I am a vendor I sell a lot of items from my web site and I augment it with current, trendy items too. So, for the last two years I have been selling peace sign jewelry. I never put it on my site because I assumed it would be a passing phase...

Oh no, it is still my biggest seller. 

 And...I am sick of selling it. 

Peace sign rings, scarves, necklaces, cell charms. 

I love the concept/philosophy, but am sick of the design. You can tell I am a bit tired and cranky tonight. My apologies, it's the vendor blues :)

NYC insider tip- BEST candy experience...

Here's the deal, there are (as far as I am concerned) two amazing candy experiences in NYC and they are polar opposites in every way.

1. Economy Candy, lower east side, 108 Rivington St.

2.Dylan's Candy Bar, upper east side, 1011 3rd Ave.

If you like everything bright, shiny, new and clean and if you are a high end, top shelf type of person... head on over to Dylan's Candy Bar. 

My daughter's favorite NYC itinerary is a morning at Bloomingdale's, a walk through Barneys, lunch and ice cream at Serendipity, and then a trip to Dylan's Candy Bar. They have candy everywhere, gifts that are candy themed- even the decor is candy themed.  I warn you, this is a very pricey itinerary, (read-special occasion.)

If you want to feel as though you've discovered a candy insider's dream,  you like sifting through treasure, and you consider yourself a hip, sophisticate, (or a true New Yorker) ... get yourself to Economy Candy. 

It's a small store filled from floor to ceiling with candy. I'm talking candy from Europe, from the 1960's...you name it. But it is overwhelming... and exciting! But it is gritty too. By that I mean you have to take your time, really look. Well worth it. Our favorite itinerary is lunch in Chinatown or little Italy and then a six block walk to Rivington St. After we get candy and pick up a cup of coffee, we people watch. We are never disappointed. Price wise, economy candy says it all!

You don't have to actually go to NYC to visit these two great sugar palaces:

www.dylanscandybar.com

www.economycandy.com

Which is the best men's pea coat?

I know it is a bit hard to tell the quality of wool from pics, but here are the stats:

100% wool

lined

six button

Black

Here is the pricing: 

top-             L.L. Bean            $99.00

middle-      J. crew                 $190.00

bottom-    Burberry              $$1,095.00

So, my choice? For my sons the L.L. Bean because they are constantly leaving coats in bars, frat houses, or an old girlfriend's apartment...   For my husband I would choose the J. crew as he would be HORRIFIED at a $1,095. casual coat. To be honest, he is a field coat kind of guy anyway.

Which do you choose?

It is all her fault...

This lovely girl is forcing me to do it again... hit the stores. Where was she yesterday during my Black Friday orgy of shopping? She was getting her wisdom tooth out. ( and that is correct, tooth. She is an evolved individual as she only has one.)  So because she is at school until the 18th of December, she and I must go see what she might like for Christmas. On a Saturday. On the busiest shopping weekend of the year. I must really love her.

Not this time.

Unfortunately you will not be seeing my name in the New York Times this week. The interview I did was not used. Rejected. Oh well, such is fame... it comes and goes. be on the look out for more to come though.

That's a warning.

Thanksgiving togetherness...

These pictures were actually from Thanksgiving eve. Eighteen of us met at our local pub, a traditional reunion destination. Our family took a table for a few hours and then my sons commandeered it for the rest of the evening reuniting with all their high school friends.

Too. Much. Fun.

Update on me being famous....

So, you saw that I was recently interviewed on aol. That was fun and the reporter was great. Well get ready for another interview. This time it's a short couple of sentences in a column in the New York Times call Motherlode. I like how the reporter, Lisa Belkin writes and I am curious how she will use my short anecdotes . The topic is regarding how families adapt when the kids come home from college... and I think I know a thing or two about that! I gave her a couple of our more, shall we say, "funny" stories. I think it will be online this afternoon or Friday. I hope they use it!

Which is the best vest?

Ok, so here are three vests from stores I like to shop at and brands I like to buy. For once I think the most expensive is clearly the nicest and best looking. Do you agree?

 Here are the prices:

Top-          North face $124.00

Middle-    J. Crew       $79.00

Bottom-   L.L. Bean   $49.00  

Top

Finding "me" time during the hustle and bustle of the holidays!

I know most of you know I am a paddle maniac. It's true.  And when I am most stressed it is my go-to activity. This week we didn't have scheduled games due to Thanksgiving, so there has been a lot of ad hoc games... and I'm loving it!

When  I play paddle I am so focused and in the moment, the minutia and detritus of my life cannot creep into my brain. I liken it to the way yoga affects me, relaxing me mentally and physically.

One of the many reasons I like platform tennis is that it is a very social game, requiring 4 players in a small space.

We really get to know each other. I really like the type of women that are drawn to paddle. They have the same interests as I do, they like to be outdoors in winter, they want a good workout and they like competitive sports. 

And, we all like to socialize after our matches or games. During the day that could be an amazing lunch with soup and salad or something as simple as coffee.

At night, Beer, wine, and potluck usually rule.

All good.

100 interesting and amazing things about ....

I have been challenged by my niece to name 100 things about me. I have enjoyed reading my sister's, Katelyn's and Ina's, so here goes:

1. I have been married 24 years.
2. I was born with two teeth.
3. I love to read.
4. I am an avid tennis player.
5. I am addicted to platform tennis.
6. I love babies
7. I hate when certain people rub their knives and forks together-bad sound.
8. I am a ski instructor.
9. I have lived on my own since I was 19 years-old.
10. I went to college in Florida
11. I was a bartender for many years.
12. My favorite color is green.
13. Coffee with milk, only.
14. Cooking relaxes me.
15. Cannot sing, but love to.
16. I use to hitchhike a lot-don't tell my kids!
17. I wear a lot of black or very colorful clothes... no in-between.
18. I am a francophile.
19. New Orleans is one of my favorite cities, before and after Katrina.
20. I know NYC like the back of my hand.
21. I feel as though Utah is my second home.
22. I sneak cookies.
23. Yoga is my favorite luxury.
24. I can still do cartwheels.
25. I consider myself VERY intuitive.
26. We eat very healthy, or as my older son said, "When did you all start eating all this crazy ass food?!!"
27. My husband is one of my best friends and has been since I am sixteen.
28. I love going anywhere and doing anything VIP.
29. I cried my first day in Paris because it took me until I was forty to get there.
30. I enjoy chick flicks.
31. Although I listen to music when working or while cooking, I rarely play music while driving. I usually meditate.
32. My favorite show is TrueBlood.
33. My best friend committed suicide when we were in our twenties. I was so sad. I had a dream where she comforted me and when I woke up... I was in complete understanding and was never sad again. One of the most surreal experiences of my life.
34. I have a glass of red wine most evenings.
35. I like to light a scented candle while I cook dinner.
36. Massage is important to me.
37. I still miss Seattle.
38. My husband makes us coffee every morning and I am always grateful.
39. I love when all my children are under one roof.
40. I can read french, but barely speak it.
41. I did not have acne as a teenager, but did in my early forties!
42. When I was 17 I saved for two months to buy Frye boots.
43. I consider myself very independent.
44. I am the eldest of five daughters.
45. I still cannot watch anything about 9/11 without sobbing.
46. I love the Jersey shore.
47. I always splurge on shoes, always.
48. I cry at parades when the Vets march by.
49. I always miss my Mom and Dad when they leave.
50. I only shop out of necessity, but when on vacation, I love to shop!
51. I collect images of stars.
52. My husband and I dance well together.
53. My favorite season is autumn.
54. I wish on stars.
55. I like to vent.
56. I need the sound of a fan to get to sleep.
57. My sister's snoring is one of my worst memories of childhood. (we shared a room)
58. I am not impressed by wealth.
59. I am impressed by achievements.
60. I say a prayer whenever I am on top of a mountain.
61. My friends are important to me.
62. My family is the most important thing to me.
63. I read the paper every morning.
64. I check my email VERY often.
65. I love owning my own business.
66. I prefer funny people.
67. I do not tolerate bullies.
68. My book group is important to me.
69. I wish I could freeze the ages of my children.
70. I collect snowmen.
71. I like to hike.
72. I hate being late, but I am.
73. I wear head bands a lot.
74. I never turn on the TV if it is light out.
75. Soup and a salad is a meal I could have every day.
76. I am a registered Republican, consider myself a conservative democrat.
77. I am a liberal Catholic.
78. I do not understand prejudice.
79. Music inspires me.
80. I nursed each child.
81. I love when my kids talk in their sleep.
82. I admire my husband.
83. My daughters understand me.
84. My sons appreciate me
85. I do not like to drive long distances.
86. I told my mother I was going to marry my husband when I was sixteen, the night I met him. (more than intuition!)
87. I like little dogs.
88. Cats scare me, mine included.
89. I have had nightmares about tidal waves all my life. (what does that mean?)
90. I love blue eyes.
91. I am an optimistic person.
92. The room must be pitch black for me to sleep in it.
93. I plan on being a vegetarian in the future.
94. I want to live in the country some day.
95. I love dark chocolate with almonds.
96. My husband nurtures me.
97. My favorite book is The Red Tent.
98. Organizing things relaxes me.
99. I hate to clean but love a clean house.
100. I always feel lucky and blessed.

What do you call man Uggs?

Kevin had asked for Ugg slippers for Christmas and I asked him which ones and he said, 

"Man uggs, you know, Muggs!"

 I thought that was hilarious and so perfect.

 So from now on any Uggs for men?  MUGGS!

Along the same vein. My husband is very skinny due to an intense cardio work out daily. We tell him he is manorexic! 

Clever, huh?

Innocently reading upstairs....

While his wife was "gaming" away he was innocently reading Divine Justice, the best book he has read in years. That's good, because his wife may be busy with a little something called "Wii."

Ok, so I'm kinda famous....

check out:

 http://living.aol.com/holidays/christmas/gift-guides/doorbuster-secrets

You didn't know I was that kind of crazy, did you?

XOXO

Doorbuster Diva

They say certain traits skip a generation...

I am the daughter of a gamer. Yes, video games. And, although I do enjoy my computer solitaire and certain Webkinz games, ( caffeine court, you are not the only one!) I am nothing compared to my mother pictured above with Kevin. Well, now he has introduced her to the Wii. This is not good.

We may never see her again.

fair isle sweaters-everything old is new again

Yup, that was me in the late 1970's. Fair isle sweater, t-neck, jeans and clogs. It was my winter uniform. I am seeing Fair isle sweaters again with a twist. The top picture is fair isle 2008, the bottom is too but more old school, Which do you prefer?