Life Update

Saturday- I met some friends to go hiking in a beautiful area called the Pennypack Trust. The company was great and the scenery was lovely. I then locked myself into a seat in the cafe at Wegmans and finished a 10 page paper for my graduate school course I took over Spring Break. Of course, I rewarded myself periodically with sushi and even a fruit smoothie.

Sunday- I went to a place called Grounds for Sculpture in NJ and HIGHLY recommend it. It was on old NJ State Fairgrounds land and had several types of sculpture on the premises. Many of the sculptures were modeled after famous Monet and Picasso paintings.

School week- Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday have been a bit of a blur. I had a student claim I called him stupid to "create conversation at the dinner table" and now I have a parent mad at me. But, everything else is great. My international students are giving really interesting presentations on their home countries. It makes me want to travel to all of them over summer vacations. I am making Rice Krispy Treats for the lacrosse team's big game tomorrow. Speaking of, I must get off the computer and start making them!

Goodnight!

Meme Monday

Where is your cell phone? Charging on my counter.
Your significant other? Don't officially have one right now.
Your hair? Two words: ponytail.
Your mother? Watching House at her home in CT.
Your father? same as Mom.
Your favorite thing? Spring weather.
Your dream last night? I was doing a triathlon in ME.
Your favorite drink? mandrian orange seltzer, white wine spritzers, margaritas, plain water.
Your dream/goal? running a marathon and having a happy family.
The room you're in? office.
Your ex? nursing his knee from a skiing accident.
Your fear? Something bad happening to my family.
Where do you want to be in 6 years? more settled, but still having random adventures.
Where were you last night? sitting at Wegmans, finishing a paper.
What you're not? ready for the last month of school.
Muffins? Blueberry.
One of your wish list items? New skis and bike.
Where you grew up? Connecticut suburb.
The last thing you did? Put the girls in the dorm to bed.
What are you wearing? work clothes (still) pink cable knit sweater, light blue oxford shirt, black pants.
Your TV? does not have cable.
Your pets? None.
Your computer? MacBook.
Your life? busy bee.
Your mood? relieved.
Missing someone? yes.
Your car? Silver Honda Civic.
Something you're not wearing? Shoes.
Favorite store? LL Bean.
Your summer? Is arriving in a month.
Like someone? Yep.
Your favorite color? Pink.
When is the last time you laughed? Earlier tonight.
Last time you cried? three weeks ago when I got in trouble for something I did not do.
Who will repost this? People who love memes!

My Day by the Numbers

6= classes taught
2= lacrosse games coached
too many= number of times students asked me if I was going to their music recital
30= minutes I could squeeze in on the treadmill
5=minutes I had to take a shower before the concert
2=hours sat at the concert
2=scoops of ice cream I had with the kids after the concert
42= tests I have to grade over the weekend
0=pages I typed for my graduate school paper due on Monday

Overall, TGIF! I actually have the weekend off (the only weekend I have completely off until June). I am going hiking with friends tomorrow and to a sculpture garden on Sunday. Have a great weekend!

Earth Day

I was definitely a child of the 90s and Earth Day was always important to us in school. As a child, I nagged my parents to recycle and turn off their lights. Now as an adult, here is my report card on what I do to save the earth:

The good:

• I use reusable bags for groceries (some people think I am crazy when they ask: paper or plastic? and I start packing my LL Bean Tote or Trader Joe's bag)
• I turn off the lights in rooms at home I am not using and make sure the girls do the same.
• Honda Civic- excellent gas mileage and I do not have a commute to work.
• I take public transportation when I go to NYC.
• I drink water in Nalgene bottles.
• I recycle my cans, bottles, paper, and plastic containers.
• I always make double sided copies.
• My laptop uses less energy than a desktop.
• I am going to lead the Green Cup Challenge at my school next year.

The bad:

• I print out way too much paper for my students.
• I take hot showers with a non low flow shower head.
• I need to change my light bulbs to compact fluorescent ones.
• I drive 15 minutes to the best gym around my home.
• I do not shop for local produce (farmer's markets are too far away).

So, I still have some things to work on. Happy Earth Day!

Beautiful spring morning!

After 5:45 AM spinning class, rushing to VOTE in PA's primary, and quickly showering before class began; I took a moment to pause and enjoy the view of the lacrosse field on the way to school.

Have a great day!

Break out the spring clothes!

Is it OK to wear Lilly although it is not officially Memorial Day? I want to wear these tomorrow...

The weekend was mundane... We had a late lacrosse game on Friday night, lacrosse tournament all day on Saturday, chaperoned a school dance Saturday night, and then was on dorm duty all day and night on Sunday.

Danger- Vera Bradley Sale

I have a fair amount of Vera Bradley bags. I liked them before it was "cool" to carry around, what my friends thought were, "old lady quilted bags". I had an excellent time three years ago at the outlet sale in Indiana. Now, I live in PA and have the opportunity to go to the Lilly Sale twice a year, but I miss the great deals on Vera. Until... today!

http://www.ebags.com/vera_bradley/sale/category_search/index.cfm?N=20045007

These bags are 40% off!

Stage 3 Lymphoma?

I received an e-mail today from the music teacher who retired from my school last year. MJ was a phenomenal music teacher. She ran the most beautiful concerts and was able to play our school alma mater at chapel with amazing enthusiasm. I am not musically oriented, but I developed a great amount of respect for MJ and her program. After spending her entire working career at our school, she moved down to Florida, where she happily is settling into retirement. The e-mail talked about how she wanted to come up for graduation, but she cannot due to being recently diagnosed with Stage 3 Lymphoma. So, today, I think and pray for my dear friend, MJ.

Highlights of the Day

• We won our lacrosse game 11-4!

• Some student said "Ms. LPP, I worship you more than I worship God"- I am not sure what to think of this, but I thought it was funny.

• Now that it is warm out, I have re-discovered these gems...

I have the cookies and cream ones. Does anyone else have any favorite flavors?

• The warm weather also brought out a nice pink Lilly skirt... which I had to wear with pantyhose because my school's dress code requires it... I am fairly certain Lilly with pantyhose is a faux paux, but I love the bright colors.
  

The good and the bad

Good: I had a fab long weekend with friends in NYC.
Bad: I am enormously behind on life.

Good: My federal and state taxes were filed on time and I e-filed the state ones for free.
Bad: I completely forgot my local taxes and will be sending those in a day late.

Good: The courses for my master's program this summer look great.
Bad: Tuition went up $300 per course... 20%.

Good: I accomplished a lot of work during lunchtime.
Bad: I forgot to eat lunch and was lightheaded by the end of the day.

Good: I worked hard in yoga and pilates tonight.
Bad: I had pizza for dinner at the amazing little brick oven pizza place by my house.

LPP in Pictures

1. My first name




















2. favorite color












3. celebrity crush














4. band you are listening to now














5. favorite movie















6. favorite disney princess














7. favorite alcoholic beverage















8. dream vacation













9. favorite dessert












10. what do you want to be when you grow up?

100 Things About Me

1. I grew up at an all boys boarding school.
2. I went to a coed boarding school for high school.
3. I went to college in PA.
4. I have worked at 3 boarding schools in IN, NH, and now PA.
5. I like to hike and swim in the summer.
6. I like to ski in the winter.
7. My favorite classes at the gym are pilates, yoga, and urban rebounding.
8. I am only 4’ 11’’.
9. I am an extremely competitive scrabble player.
10. I have been to 19 countries.
11. I coach field hockey and lacrosse.
12. I teach middle school Social Studies.
13. I have one brother and one sister.
14. I have always wanted to run a marathon.
15. I cannot wait for all seasons of 90210 and Wonder Years to come out on DVD.
16. I refuse to pay for cable TV.
17. I do not like to use the dryer.
18. My hair looks best straightened (too bad I do not have time to do it every day!).
19. I serve as the class secretary for my class from boarding school.
20. I live for the reunions.
21. I swear by Apple computers.
22. I cry every time I watch Beaches.
23. Rita’s Italian Ice is one of my favorite treats.
24. I have to limit my Diet Coke consumption.
25. I do not start thinking clearly until 8 AM.
26. I enjoy getting pedicures.
27. I drink too much Poland Spring seltzer.
28. My favorite person from history is Eleanor Roosevelt.
29. I am slightly addicted to facebook- to keep in touch with all my old friends.
30. I went to camp almost every summer growing up.
31. I worked at a camp for two summers in college.
32. Now, I get my master’s degree over the summers.
33. I love getting up early on Sunday mornings and making my grandmother’s banana bread.
34. I look forward to having children.
35. My birthday is on Flag Day.
36. My favorite color is pink.
37. I am more productive if I do things last minute.
38. I live in a dorm with 12 teenage girls.
39. I am constantly watching my weight.
40. I love cable knit sweaters and ribbon belts.
41. I own way too many pairs of flip flops.
42. I hate the fact that PA allows smoking in restaurants/ bars.
43. I am a compulsive list-maker.
44. It takes me forever to grade student papers.
45. I have a strong desire to impress my boss/ colleagues.
46. This summer I want to paint my apartment.
47. I hate to iron.
48. My favorite piece of jewelry is my Tiffany Bean necklace.
49. I cannot stop buying new pens.
50. I try my hardest not to shop at Walmart.
51. Wegmans and Trader Joe are my favorite grocery stores.
52. My first job was a bagger at a supermarket.
53. I hated it.
54. I was born with my left eye shut.
55. I have two birthmarks on my left leg.
56. I love being tan in the summer.
57. I hate people who do not merge and cause traffic.
58. I drive a silver Honda Civic.
59. I did not get my license until a month before my 21st birthday.
60. I miss my Bunko group in Indiana.
61. I miss my book club from New Hampshire.
62. I have a scar on my right leg from falling on New Year’s 1992.
63. I own plenty of seersucker and madras.
64. I love making frozen mango margaritas.
65. I enjoy trying new recipies.
66. I wish I had time to do the crossword puzzle every day.
67. I would love to start a garden.
68. My favorite magazine is Real Simple.
69. LL Bean is the greatest.
70. I was a history and economics major in college.
71. I studied abroad in the Netherlands.
72. I love the spirit of Christmas.
73. My family begins every new year by writing compliments to each other and reading them aloud.
74. I wish more people would use public transportation.
75. I love not having a commute to work.
76. I was terrible at soccer growing up.
77. I collect coasters from around the world.
78. I hate putting together IKEA furniture.
79. I miss my three grandparents that died.
80. I love getting free shipping on online purchases.
81. My introduction to blogging was Preppy Cafe.
82. I wish it were still in existence.
83. I have a love/ hate relationship with high heels.
84. I love to get deals on clothes at the Junior League thrift store near my parent’s house.
85. I am an oldest child.
86. I have no desire to have a pet.
87. I love to get the J. Crew catalogue.
88. I did not have cavities until I starting going to the adult dentist.
89. My feet are flat.
90. My favorite TV shows are Desperate Housewives and Grey’s Anatomy.
91. My worst class in high school was Chemistry.
92. I love looking through old pictures.
93. My Vera Bradley collection is a little much.
94. I only wear Victoria Secret underwear.
95. I need to leave on time.
96. I have many Longaberger products from my mother.
97. I am non-confrontational.
98. I enjoy my hair accessories from the Creative Cupcake and Chesapeake Rose.
99. I have invested a lot of my money.
100. I cannot believe how hard this was!

A New Blog, and New Skirt

After spending some time looking at preppy blogger sites starting when I accidentally stumbled across Elizabeth's "Preppy Cafe", I will be starting my own blog. I officially purchased this skirt I have been looking at for a long time. Vineyard Vines has recently changed the skirt to a somewhat unsavory orange motif. This will be perfect for my brother's graduation and summer barbeque's. Stay tuned for more preppy finds and stories about the life of Le Petit Prep!