A Christmas Wish List Fit for a Princess

In case you were wondering, even I don't have EVERYTHING...
Christmas Ideas Pour Moi...
From The Pink Monogram:

Sunglass Cases

Monogram:
Traditional (First) - C :: (Last) - T :: (Middle) - A
HS - Sunglass Cases : Black
HS Vinyl colors : Light Pink
HS Vinyl Fonts : Time block monogram
price with options: $ 34  

Sunglass Cases

Monogram:
Traditional (First) - C :: (Last) - T :: (Middle) - A
HS - Sunglass Cases : Pink
HS Vinyl colors : Brown
HS Vinyl Fonts : Time block monogram
price with options: $ 34  

Front-wheel drive car mats

Monogram:
Traditional (First) - C :: (Last) - T :: (Middle) - A
Front Wheel set : Front wheel set of two for front seats
Car - Carpet Colors : 182 Taupe
Car - Pattern Binding : 912 Retro Swirl
Car - Fonts : Diamond Monogram
Car - Font Colors : Pink
price with options: $ 85  



From Marley Lilly:

ITEMS QTY PRICE TOTAL Monogrammed Magnetic Pocket Clutch Purse View/Hide options Color: Bronze Select Thread Color: Pepto Pink Select Font: Times Initials FIRST NAME - MIDDLE/MAIDEN NAME - LAST NAME:CAT Initials In this monogram what initial above is for the LAST Name?:T Initials To triple check the placement - What is their full LAST NAME?:Thompson Choose Style: Female Style (LAST NAME Will Go In Center) Can we change your font?: Yes if something else looks better $39.99 $39.99 Monogrammed Rectange Key Chain View/Hide options Font: Times Block Monogram Initials FIRST NAME - MIDDLE/MAIDEN NAME - LAST NAME:CAT Initials In this monogram what initial above is for the LAST Name?:T Initials To triple check the placement - What is their full LAST NAME?:Thompson Choose Style: Female Style (LAST NAME Will Go In Center) Can we change your font?: Yes if something else looks better $14.99 $14.99 Monogrammed iPhone Button Decal- Set of 3 View/Hide options Vinyl Letter Font: Circle Block (3 Letter Monogram Only) Vinyl Letter Color: Pepto Pink Initials FIRST - MIDDLE/MADIEN - LAST:CAT Confirm Details Which Initial above is the LAST Name?:T

Giveaway Winner

We have a winner for our Marley Lilly giveaway!!!  Hey sissypoo...our winner is the lovely Emily Rehse!!! 

Sorry I've been neglecting you, my darling friends, but it's a bad time to be a spoonie.  Nothing will keep me down for long!

XOXO
~CAT

A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to Daytona

I think we can all agree that, since 9/11, the face of terrorism has changed...I just failed to realize how much! 

Husband and I have just returned from the family's annual trip to Daytona.  People say "getting there is half the fun."  And that's generally true...as long as you upgrade, of course.  This time, forget "getting there"...just getting to our seats was about all the fun I could handle.

We had an uneventful drive to the airport...but for the fact that we had to fly out of McCarran (LAS) not Ontario (ONT)...as there were no upgrades available for ONT.  I always check ONT first because it is easy to get to, easy to navigate, and closer to my home.  Also, because I know that if terrorists ever try to take it over, Jack Bauer will rescue me...and the other people there, too, I guess...but, whatever, not my problem.  The drive to Vegas isn't that much longer and...thank you nice people at Sirius...I have 80s on 8.  

We park, easy peasy, unload the car, and, as we head from parking garage to airport, J began to question the wisdom of not having called ahead for a wheelchair.  It was too late at that point, so as a friend would tell me, I Rangered Up, and continued.  At the ticketing counter, no one was manning the First Class line, so we waited far too long.  But...onward.

At this point, we reach the TSA Agent before the metal detectors, who compares your ID to your ticket.  J and I presented our military IDs and tickets.  He compares DH's ID picture to his face and name to ticket and hands it back to him.  My turn.  He stared!!!  Used different angles and lighting!  He finally asks for a second form of ID...dude...are you kidding me?  I hand him my driver's license.  UH-OH...it's expired.  He lets the expiration slide with a stern warning and then starts the comparison dance again...both IDs and me...back and forth...squinting, staring, doing the hokey f*cking pokey.  With a dirty look he returns my documents and sends us to the metal detector line.  Again...this was the First Class line!!!  Seasoned travelers, everything is neatly in bins, all computers out, quart size bag of anything even semi-liquid, shoes and sweater off...let's roll. Then we get pulled out of THAT line to go thru the body scanner thingy. 

Don't get me wrong...I am a safety nut.  I have been since I worked with a wonderfully security conscious (read: paranoid lunatic) officer for 2 years at the Sheriff's Dept. back home.  J is also a bit hyper-aware (read: slightly obsessed) of Force Protection.  I'm all for any safety measures necessary to keep our nation safe...at the airport...or anywhere else.  I understand and support the need for our Govt. not to lay everything bare to the masses.  Though I disagree with the way most gun nuts interpret the 2nd Amendment, I AM a gun nut!

HOWEVER...am I the new face of terrorism?

Let me set the scene...
All 5'1 (if I stand up really straight and the nurse is nice, I'm 5'1, damn it) of me...chin length, ginger hair, pink, monogrammed, polo dress, matching monogrammed cardigan, pearls, and my new Marley Lilly Monogrammed Penny Clutch.  Really?  There's a rosary in my bag!  The only person I look like I could terrorize is a Protestant midget in Ireland!!!

From the front?  A basic, flat, clutch that is deceptively large enough to fit the current issues of Town & Country and Vanity Fair

 and still look flat with loads of room for your essentials.

 This back pocket?

Fits your favourite E-reader with room to spare!

Just to make more versatile, 

There are wristlet and cross-body straps included!

When traveling, the cross-body strap makes life SO much easier!

I love the bag so much...that Marley Lilly is letting me give one away!!!

So here are the rules:

1:  Follow Marley Lilly on Twitter

2:  Follow me on Twitter

@PrincssPrepPink

3:  Like Marley Lilly on Facebook

4:  Share your "favourite" travel story here

And because Marley Lilly is so generous

5:  Like The Queen of Hearts on Facebook

6:  Follow The Queen of Hearts on Twitter
7:  Tweet about the giveaway
8:  Blog about the giveaway

Good Luck!

XOXO

~CAT

Mullet Hunting (pt 2) and a Marley Lilly Giveaway!

Cooter and I hope you are enjoying the pictures and we're here today for you to meet Cooter and have a Marley Lilly Giveaway!!!

 In my family, rubber duckies are must have accessories.  There isn't a party or event or Tuesday that isn't made better by a rubber duck.  In the case of mullet hunting...a rubber duckie may just save your life.  You would be amazed at how many people will pose for a picture with a rubber duck if you ask.  When it's too dangerous to ask, holding up your duck and taking a picture of that...with your target in the background...often gets you the picture.  My NASCAR rubber duck is named Cooter.  Cooter likes Chevies and Lynyrd Skynyrd and Miller Lite.

Cooter has friends that are extremely helpful in snapping pictures of my very favourite insane, bible-beaters in the whole world!

Bless their hearts...they are there every year...and I look forward to them every year!  They preach, through bullhorns, the evils of...well...everything!  One year they were talking about the evils of buying a car...outside a NASCAR race!  Evidently, not everyone saw the irony.

At this point, you must be asking yourself, "How on Earth does Princess do NASCAR?"
Well, I'll tell you.  Every track is different and you should always check with tracks with which you're unfamiliar...but as a rule...here's what you can bring:

The standard is a clear bag of some sort...no handbags...and a 14x14x14in soft-sided cooler.  As you can see, I have what I call my "NASCAR Kit."  In my clear backpack I always stow a blanket, a scarf, a hat, and a koozie.  Princess tip:  Always keep heat wraps and emergency ice packs (the kind you break for cooling a sports injury) in your bag.  Something will ALWAYS happen that wasn't expected and you will thank me later that you had them.  It will either rain or get too hot or too cold and the unprepared are always miserable!

Yes...the people you saw in the pictures are crawling all over races...but we needn't all be savages!  With NASCAR's increasing popularity and range of ticket prices, I'm not the only person there with a popped collar...nor will you be!!!

As for that soft-sided cooler, pack it full or you'll find yourself competing with the savages for a spot in line to buy $8 Miller Lites and greasy stadium food.  This Princess is madly in love with her Marley Lilly Monogrammed Cooler Bag!!!

I could not be more in love with this bag!  It's super adorable and durable and perfect for everything from NASCAR to your car!  I use it for grocery shopping and road trips...you name it!  I love it so much that the ever generous Marley Lilly is giving one away to one of my readers!

To enter, post each of these you do as separate comments:
1:  Follow Marley Lilly on Twitter
2:  Follow me on Twitter
3:  Tweet about this giveaway
4:  Follow my blog
5:  Blog about this giveaway
6:  Like Marley Lilly on Facebook.
7:  Who's your favourite driver and why?
8:  What's your favourite Marley Lilly item?
9:  Share a picture of your favourite mullet.

Good luck!

XOXO,
~CAT
 

Mullet Hunting (part 1)

In my family, mullet hunting has become something of a sport.

Well...mullet hunting is a bit too specific...though one does get extra points for mullets...and level of risk...but let's not jump ahead.  

If people choose to leave their homes looking a hot mess...I feel obligated...nay...I feel the MORAL DUTY to do my very best to snap their picture and share it so that no one else might ever think it's ok!  Or...perhaps...it's just funny as hell.

Case in point:

 Just a few to give you an idea.  These pictures, you should know, have been taken over the span of many years and in multiple locations from coast to coast.

I have found, that one of the very best places to find these people, is a NASCAR race.  Some of you love NASCAR and some of you just rolled your eyes when you saw the word.  I, too, was one of the many who thought it was nothing but rednecks turning left.  But, my friends?  I am here to tell you...it is soooo much more!!!  Once I actually went to my first race?  I was hooked!  
It's a circus, people!  I have never seen anything like it!  Pre-race, there is a concert or two, displays and booths of everything you can imagine...times 10!  Want to join the US Border Patrol?  Go to a NASCAR race!  You can meet agents, play with their toys...you can get an application!!!  Want to try that new soda?  I guarantee you, someone is walking around, handing out samples.  A fun, frozen, drink more your style?  You can find nice people that will swirl the mango flavour with some other pink flavour because you just can't make up your mind between the 2 shades of pink!  Take your drink, pop your collar, twirl your pearls, find a seat and watch the people go by!  You will be amazed!!!
You're not the only one in pearls!  As ticket prices range from about $35 to well over $400...and I'm not talking boxes here, I'm talking regular seating...the financial demographic is all over the map!!!  It's not at all unheard-of to go to brunch at the Club and then head straight to the track.  Forbes magazine has named it the "America's Fastest Growing Sport".  There's a reason.  Though ticket buyers may not share a neighborhood, they do, generally, share 2 things.
NASCAR fans tend to be Patriotic and have Faith in whomever their God may be.  I'm not suggesting anyone have Jr. Nation...you're NASCAR's version of the UK's Football Hooligans and you KNOW it (no, not all of you, so give me a break)...over for dinner, I'm simply saying, if you've never been...you would be amazed!

Moving right along, this...shall we say...diverse group includes the best mullets and most frightening attire I have ever seen!  That said, fan or not, grab your camera and get thee to a race!

As I said, these pictures can be extremely difficult to take and occasionally dangerous.  Start small...work your way up.

Please notice the woman in the blue seat...with a cheap sports-bra on over a dirty wife-beater!
What's with the ducks?  All in good time, my pretties. All in good time...

These next 2 are from my most dangerous and most awesome find...EVER!  This is not for beginners!  My friends...I would like to introduce you to an incredibly rare and very dangerous creature...mostly the stuff of lore since the mid-80s...

 THE FE-MULLET

Beware the fe-mullet! She is an incredibly fierce and aggressive creature prone to fits of rage.

That said, you will be happy to know...

There is someone for everyone...and for the fe-mullet?  A yeti.

For now...I'll leave you with that.

But tomorrow?  NASCAR the Preppy Pink Princess way...

A MARLEY LILLY giveaway...

And an introduction to my dear friend, Cooter the Duck!

XOXO,

~CAT

Thank You

I just wanted to take a moment to thank all of you so much!  I have been deeply touched by your care and concern over these last few weeks.  I am fighting through and have no doubt I'll be back on my feet in soon.

In the meantime, enjoy your holiday shopping with Preppy Pink Princess sponsor:

The Pink Monongram

And dear friend to the blog:

Marley Lilly

XOXO,

~CAT

I WANT to be Aware...

As most of you know, most of my adult life has been dedicated to non-profits and charity work.  As you likely also know, I rather enjoy, rare though it is, a bit of shopping...and on those occasions, alright, on ALL occasions...I prefer to buy things that are wholly mine.  Custom, if you will...or won't, it's of no consequence to me.  I simply abhor the thought of wearing the same shirt that is on an Old Navy commercial every 5 minutes and is sold in bulk so that you are nearly assured that if for some strange reason you were to get lost and find yourself in a Walmart, it's quite likely you would see 5 other people in the same shirt.  That said, on these really, sort of pathetically, infrequent boosts to the economy, when at all possible, I opt for "Awareness" items and/or things that can in any way be customized.  If it can be embroidered, monogrammed, engraved...Husband will try to hide it...but I will find it and customized it shall be!!! 

*Princess Tip:  For those who find their sweet, wonderful, otherwise lovely, DHs a bit resistant to the amount of monogramming you would choose to have in your home...Williams-Sonoma custom makes monogrammed branding irons for the grill!  Take my word for it, he will become a LOT more agreeable about monograms around the house when they match his "ManMakeFireCookMeatMarkTerritory" treat!

Moving on... I was doing a bit of shopping at my dear friend's, The Preppy Poppy, to pick up a few things...I won't go into too many details...the holiday's are coming, after all...but on a few of the things I asked her to make, I asked her for...gasp...monograms AND awareness ribbons.  As these items are for different people, I decided to double check on the colors of the awareness ribbons for a few things.

Oh my...

In a million years, I couldn't have imagined the amount of causes to which awareness ribbons would be assigned...nor could I have imagined that distinctions would be made between "graphite," "silver," and "gray" or "indigo" and "blue" or that even with that distinction, there are at LEAST 50 causes/illnesses/etc. of which one should be aware upon seeing a blue ribbon!!!  Blue, people...not indigo...or light blue, periwinkle, teal or turquoise...and I'm not even going to mention the ribbons that are 2 colors.  We've got green, light green, lime green, mint green, and olive green.  There's a full circle starting at purple...to violet, lavender, orchid (I'm all for Testicular Cancer having an Awareness Ribbon, but come on, who's idea was ORCHID?!), pink, hot pink, red, cranberry, then burgundy on back to purple!  This is by no means all of them...no, really...you can't make this up!!!  Even I can't make this stuff up!!  Many of them, not just blue, have 50+ causes associated with them.  I care.  I volunteer.  I donate.  I TRY to be aware...but I feel like at this point, I can say with absolute, unwavering, surety, that I will NEVER be THAT aware!


As you can imagine, part of the reason this awareness rainbow would drive entire colonies of Leprechauns to abandon their pots of gold and drink, is that, well...some of these "causes" seem just the tiniest bit questionable to me.  As my darling Poodle said to me today when I was outlining this post for her, "Peach, no.  Blue means only two things - First Place and Pabst Blue Ribbon."

Feral Cats.  I am assuming this is an orange ribbon so that I can take aim more easily when they are outside my bedroom window at night?


Self-Injury.  I can't even lie, I googled.  I thought it meant someone like me who bumps into/trips over everything.  Nope!  Cutters.  As to whether this is to identify them to others like a pledge pin, encourage them to keep up the good work (though I think it's of note that these are worn vertically...a subtle suggestion that people have had enough with the "cries for help" and just slash 'em vertically already), or inspire them to quit, I do not know.

Targeted Individuals?  Turns out these are essentially adult bullying victims.  Good plan.  Grow up, get bullied, whine about enough on message boards to have someone come up with a catchy name that sounds less victim-y than victim, so the catchy name can earn an awareness ribbon, that you can then proudly wear wherever you go...to identify yourself to all who see you...as...wait for it...a whiny victim!!!  Why not wear a "Kick Me" sign, people?  You are not doing yourselves any favors!

Free Speech?  Like I always say, I didn't vote for it.  Sometimes, stupid shouldn't speak.

Responsible Use of Public Lands?  So much for that meth lab! 

Trauma?  Not in relation to anything specific...and believe me, every conceivable trauma has it's own trauma specific ribbon, to include PTSD.  Trauma is but one on the list of redundant and/or random.  Kindness, Harmony, Hope and Support, Innocence, Transitions, Freedom, and Growth and Rebuilding were a few of my other favorites...good luck trying to find specifics on these "Awareness" ribbons.  If Google doesn't know, how am I, a lifelong member of the Look-It-Up Club, ever to become aware?  This may keep me awake nights!!! 


For today, I'll just focus on 2.  Green and Lime Green...yes, seriously, Lime Green.  Surely you'll recall one of my favorite non-profits, The Queen of Hearts, dedicated to helping those with Leukemia (Green...alternate color Orange (Did I mention some have more than one color?)), Lymphoma (Lime Green), and those awaiting organ transplants (Green).  QoH is still in it's infancy online, though we were founded in 2003.  We hold an Aloha themed, Casino Night fundraiser every year over Labor Day Weekend, and I am thrilled to announce that our friends at Marley Lilly and The Pink Monogram were the first online to jump in and support the Queen of Hearts by donating to the Aloha's Chinese Auction!  They were a huge hit!  That was but the beginning of the generosity and support!!! For anyone that "Likes" Marley Lilly and Queen of Hearts on Facebook, Marley Lilly is offering free shipping on orders over $85 with offer code QoH...AND...there will be a Marley Lilly review and giveaway coming your way very soon!  The Pink Monogram not only donated a pair of the Original Monogrammed Clogs to the Aloha...we have a great review and giveaway in the Queen of Hearts honor soon!  In addition to these terrific ladies and their companies, two more fab women and their stores have come on board to join in helping with the online campaign to raise awareness and donating for next year's Aloha.  The Monogrammed Martini, whose delightful owner was thrilled get involved, has a great Queen of Hearts awareness review and giveaway coming up...I can't wait to see what it will be...and what she comes up with for the Aloha!  And last, but certainly not least, as she is to blame for this post, my sweet friend, The Preppy Poppy, has a review/giveaway in the works and I happen to know has something tres fun for the Aloha!


With all that can seem wrong with world on any given day...natural disasters, disease, neglect and abuse and murder of people's own family members...people parking in handicapped spots and being rude to waitresses...it can sometimes be hard to remember all the truly good in the world.  And then I am reminded of ladies like these...willing to help others...just because...


As I often say, when things seem bleak, take a deep breath and count your blessings. Someone has it much worse. Donate. Volunteer. Help them, it will help you both.

XOXO
~CAT

 

Queen of Hearts

Kicking off a big month at the Preppy Pink Palace!  I'm dedicating this month, with the help of some fab friends, to my darling friend Margie, the Queen of Hearts.
 

"Since 2003 Marjorie Sprague, founder of The Queen of Hearts Foundation, has been raising money and awareness in support of the cancer and organ donor communities. Marjorie’s passion comes from very personal experience. She received the precious gift of life twice; beating non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma in 1997 and then receiving a new heart in 2005. She started The Queen of Hearts Foundation to provide financial assistance to individuals coping with the day to day challenges of surviving cancer; or waiting for or recovering from transplantation. The Foundation hopes to make a difference by removing some of the financial stress.

Since its humble beginnings, the Foundation has grown, taking advantage of the opportunities that have been given to Marjorie to help others fighting for that second chance at life. The Queen of Hearts Foundation is a totally volunteer organization that thrives on getting people involved. What cause appeals to you? Doing good for others will give you inspiration in other areas of your life. One person can make a difference. Please support the Queen of Hearts Foundation and help make that difference."


Margie was on the transplant list, still waiting for her heart, when she decided to start Queen of Hearts, wanting to help others even while waiting for life saving help herself!  She is a true inspiration to all who know her and that is the reason that QoH is entirely volunteer and has nearly quadrupled what we raise since our inception!
The QoH started the month with our 9th annual Aloha Fundraiser.  It is a fantastic Aloha themed casino night with a chinese auction that is always a good time!  But it's time for us to grow again and we have our sights set on the internet!  We have a website and an underutilized Facebook cause and non-profit fan page...but those days are over.  Internet, here we come!
To get us started, the lovely ladies at The Pink Monogram and Marley Lilly gave us wonderful donations for the chinese auction...our FIRST from online retailers!!!

Now it's your turn to join it the fun!  Your first Queen of Hearts treat is brought to you by Marley Lilly.  Just pop over to Facebook and "like" the Queen of Hearts and when you spend $85 at Marley Lilly, use coupon code QOH for FREE SHIPPING!!!  There more generosity to come this month from some truly amazing people...make sure you keep checking back!!!


Donations to Queen of Hearts can be made:
Queen of Hearts


XOXO,
~CAT

I Wonder...

I wonder what I can do to make up for not blogging yesterday?  I could plead migraine, but that's neither the first nor last time that will happen to me or anyone else.  I have to ask a question because I'm having a bit of problem with something technical in my blog, but I certainly can't ask anything of you, having missed a day...  YET.
So how can I make it up to you?  I can promise to blog twice today.  I just know you'd all be thrilled to read TWO blogs worth of my inane ramblings.  Husband is following this blog.  I find great humour in that, considering he's the one that wants me to stop talking!  We may want to start a side bet on how long his follow lasts.  I warned him that follow or not, he is not off limits.  Poor Husband.  (
How off track is that?  Really is time to figure out how I can make up to you for yesterday.  I have the PERFECT idea!!!  What if I told you that MARLEY LILLY, who makes the very best hats in the world, is helping me welcome everyone to my new blog by giving away the HAT OF YOUR CHOICE!!!!  I think that should more than make up for yesterday ;)
Details on how to order the giveaway to follow.

XOXO
~Princess CAT