The Final Shabbat

{Sigh} the school year has come to an end. It seems as if I just dropped off my little one for his FIRST day of preschool...and today it was over. We celebrated the end of the school season with a nice Shabbat celebration last Friday.

First, all of the parents watched a slideshow of the preschoolers, which showed us all of the things the wee-tots did during the school year, including their Passover play, Purim parade and Israeli birthday party. They have also enjoyed a school year filled with art projects, music classes & Hebrew. I crammed for my Hebrew classes while studying for my Bat Mitzvah. Clearly, our little mensch is well ahead of the game!
That's our little Sweet Pea on the screen, starting the show Words of inspiration from the rabbi

After final words from the rabbi, it was time to start our Shabbat celebration:
Shabbat candles burning bright
Women cover our eyes after the candles are litwhile we say a Shabbat prayer
Each child has his or her own placemat at the table
The Kiddush, or prayer over the kid "wine" (juice)
Miss Elena plays Hebrew songs on her accordion-sounds like the authentic "Old Country." The Shabbat setting: candles, kid "wine" and a loaf of challah bread with a cover that reads "Shabbat" in Hebrew
Real challah waiting to be opened & shared Breaking bread Guess who LOVES challah Enjoying the Kosher kid "wine," thanks to Manischewitz
preschool teacher miss tali
hebrew teacher miss shellee
education director miss alyse
final kisses and waves of good-bye See you in the fall!

Rikki Ragland
the preppy debutante

Wedding Anniversary

May 30, 2004:
Temple Sholom
The Ritz & The Mid-Day Club, Chicago, IL

Under the chuppahTemple Sholom
Four-layer cheesecake. The cake topper is a replica of the two of us
Wedding gown
Bridal pose. My white gloves are from my debutante cotillion, when I was a teenager.The Ritz
Rabbi Petuchowski reading the Ketubah Outside Temple Sholom
Cory is lifted for our Royal chair dance. I loved being lifted too!The Mid-Day Club
Husband & Wife

Rikki Ragland
the preppy debutante

Kate Spade's Taste of Texas

I think this is the quintessential bag for Texans!

It is the Armadillo handbag from Kate Spade and retails for $328. What do you think?

Rikki Ragland
the preppy debutante

Coming JUNE 1!

preppy debutante customers will LOVE this combo! A JUNE customer special includes this Breakfast at Tiffany's combo, created by Alecia Hollis. It includes a large black floppy hat, Happy Go Lucky tote bag & sunglass case for ONLY $60! (regular retail value is $82.) Personalization fees apply, but no additional purchase is necessary.

The set is item number JS0088, and can be ordered, from June 1-June 30, by clicking here and going to "Shop Now."

FOLLOW us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/preppydebutante

Rikki Ragland
the preppy debutante

Mother's Day With My Boys

Mother's Day wouldn't be complete without my special button that I wore all day!

Brunch this year was a total surprise. As we pulled onto Reunion Boulevard in downtown Dallas, I was excited to see that we would be eating Asian cuisine at Five Sixty by Wolfgang Puck atop Reunion Tower.


Our little one loved the ride up to the top! It was 50 floors up in a glass elevator, which prompted a very cute happy dance from him.

The view from the restaurant is breathtaking from the 560-foot Tower.
There is not a bad window seat in the house, given the fact that it rotates!


Our tasting menu was a delicious three courses.
. The fun part was keeping a 19-month-old occupied.


It became a little easier once we rotated to Dallas' new Margaret Hunt Hill bridge, which opened only two months ago. Pointing it out to Cameron kept him busy for a little while.


It was a great afternoon with my boys and my little sweet potato topped it off with his wonderful kisses. I hope everyone had a perfect Mother's Day!

Rikki Ragland
the preppy debutante

Preppiness on the links

I love golf! More than 16 years ago, I was sitting at my desk in a Florida newsroom when the assignment editor brought me a huge, heavy box that was sent to me from my brother in Alexandria, Virginia. To my surprise, it was a set of golf clubs and bag. He included a golf towel from The Greenbrier. The card attached said that he would be waiting for me on the links when I returned home for a visit! It was quite a gift.

I have enjoyed the game and donning a fabulous outfit for it ever since. A great game calls for a great pair of shoes and I found these several years ago by Footjoy.

Of course, a round of golf can make a player very thirsty and a monogrammed Tervis with a pretty pink golf cart is just the right thing for your beverage holder!

A monogrammed glove on your hand just may improve your swing-it has been proven by experts. OK, that may not really be true, but imagine how great your hand will look with your initials or monogram emblazoned on the back of it during your drives.

gloves from girlytwirly

When it is time to tee off, why not do it with preppy pink Tees and either personalized golf balls or ones with your sorority's name.


Off the course, I still show my love for the game with my stationery.

Boatman Geller

Very V. stationery
Golf is a wonderful sport and obviously one that is not "just for the boys" anymore!

Rikki Ragland
the preppy debutante