What are YOU Thankful For?

The Preppy Princess would love to know, and if you tell her you have a chance to win some really cool stuff including the apron above. If you mention the Great Preppy Giveaway on your blog, you win bonuses you can gift to anyone you want. These include Marjorie Hart's book Summer at Tiffany and the very stylish and preppy Laguna Beach Apron from the Preppy Princess Shoppe.

While you are at Preppy Princess' blog, check out her her updates on the Obamas and what they might wear to the Inaugural balls. She has a lovely Isabel Toledo sketch of the Obamas in evening finery and some simply beautiful dresses Michelle Obama might wear. You might also want to pop over to the Shoppe and see the lampwork glass jewelry in beautiful bright Preppy pinks blues and greens (I'm a sucker for glass jewelry).

Shop For Shelter December 3rd Alexandria

Yahaira at Tu-anh has let me know that this is happening next week in Alexandria and all to benefit the Carpenter's Shelter of Alexandria. Here's the info:

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 3rd, 2008
The Westin Alexandria
400 Courthouse Square
Alexandria, VA 22314-5700
6pm-930pm

A number of area boutiques, designers and artists will have their creations at this sale. When I explored Tu-anh's site, I was intrigued by the little beaded clutches and the polished to professional section particularly because I need to polish my own look up a bit from the uber casual of my workplace to something more authoritative for the union meetings I'm regularly going to. Finding ideas on how to do it while not looking ridiculously overdressed at my workplace is always a challenge. Tu-anh appears to have worked with people of all ages, with all kinds of wardrobe challenges, men and women alike.

If the good cause isn't enough, and the unique variety of vendors isn't enough, discounts of up to 70% off will be taken. Complimentary goodies include: delicious gourmet tastings by The Westin Alexandria’s very own star-Chef Nadine Thomas, jazzy holiday music by DJ Saborinquen, "how to wear red lipstick the French glam way" by tu-anh, hand-writing analysis, palm readings,
and a "strike-a-pose" photoshoot by Charles Martin. Cash bar will be open all night and
plenty of street parking or in the Westin’s garage for only $8. A large portion (50%) of
proceeds will benefit Carpenter's Shelter. Make your holiday season magical by giving to
the less fortunate.

Advance ticket purchase: $10 At The Door: $20
To purchase tickets, visit www.tu-anh.com/save-the-dates.php
Brought to you by: polished by tu-anh
In partnership with: The Westin Alexandria & Carpenter’s Shelter
Sponsored by: Steven Gaffney Company
Carpenter's Shelter, Northern Virginia's largest homeless program located in Old
Town, aims to end homelessness through services, education and advocacy. The
shelter's programs include a day shelter, a hypothermia shelter, an 80 bed long-term
residential shelter, a community outreach program to formerly homeless families and an
Education Fund.

More Tyson's Galleria News - Harolds GOOB

More from Tyson's Galleria, Harold's is going out of business. My impression of Harold's was always reliably Preppy, but overpriced. But now this may be the time to pick up a few sweaters, handbags or other items.

For Preppycrat readers not located in the DC area, you can find a store locator for Harolds here. There are also stores in Palo Alto California and various places across the Southern US.

Happy bargain hunting and shopping.

Art With Flowers

With the financial woes hitting Tyson's Galleria mall, my wallet still not fully recovered from Princess #1's 5th birthday party, and given that I have barely posted about anything Preppy, or shopping related lately - here is a post about my fave store in the Galleria, Art With Flowers.

If you are looking for something unique in the way of gifts for the home, fragrance for yourself or your home, or in need of flower design that's just a bit different than what you'll find at most florists, Art With Flowers is the place for you. You'll find fragrances from L'Artisan, Floris London, Apothia, and Serge Lutens. They also have candles from Burn, fragrance infusers from Alora Ambiance, and Linari, skin care from aesop, and body care from Ahava. Be sure to check out the eclectic selection of books and CD's in the back of the shop and for that sweet tooth, some chocolate bars from Vosages. Their Mo's Bacon Bar might be the most bizzare candy you've ever heard of but the taste? Think chocolate pretzels, that nirvana of sweet and salty and you have the idea.

There is so much more to this shop, too much to list, more fragrances, scents for the home, candles, glassware, decorative plates and bowls, one could easily spend an hour or two browsing and sampling all the fragrances and just enjoying the waterfall in the front window and relaxing vibe (yes, Preppycrat has plopped down on the cushy sofa in the back). Be sure to stop by often, Bill the owner of Art With Flowers, makes sure to keep his selection fresh and rotates lines and items in and out.

Art With Flowers is on the third floor of the Galleria, opposite the food court.

YES WE DID

It speaks for itself because mere words cannot.

Homestretching....And a Wild and Crazy Prediction

Down to the wire now, and you heard it here first. A few days ago I said West Virginia would be the big surprise. After reading this article from www.huntingtonnews.net I still say that first of all West Virginia will not be called right at 7:30 pm when their polls close or even 8pm. The reason will be voting machine malfunctions and a much tighter than expected race that will later in the evening finally be called for Barack.

No West Virginia won't be cobalt blue but it will be a shade of baby blue in the end. It bears remembering that unions are a huge presence there, and Democrats outnumber Republicans in registered voters. Turnout has been huge so far. Sooooo....yeah, WV will return to electing a Democrat for Prez tomorrow.

Virginia will be blue, a deep blue. Florida is getting lots of attention and assumption that older people won't vote for the young guy with the funny name. But....many of Florida's voters are old enough to remember the Great Depression. Do they really want their kids and grandkids to get stuck with another one of these? Hell no. I think that's what's driving them to wait for hours to vote.

My Dad was right when he said we're living on a credit card and our kids are going to have to pay the bill. Tomorrow we say enough is enough and start paying as we go.