Tag Archives: holidays

Sitting Pretty Under the Tree

By Kiera Reilly, C’93  @KieraReilly

My dogs Koa and Lau Lau are enjoying the University’s special winter break. They especially like to sit under the tree, near the Penn ornament (hand painted by my classmate Lisa Bardfeld Shapiro, C’93) and hope that if they smile for a photo they’ll receive a treat. It seems to work every time!

DSCN1797Merry Christmas!

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Filed under Class of 1993, Kiera R., Photos

A Different Kind of Study Break

Author: Carolyn Grace, C’16

In case you haven’t heard yet, Quakers, Finals Season is in full swing.  This explains why I haven’t posted recently, but with 1 final and 2 papers already completed I am back in the blogging game!

I am sure many of you remember from your college days the various “study breaks” offered by different college houses and groups at Penn.  Anything for free coffee and muffins, right?  This year, however, I had the pleasure of taking a study break that was a bit more, well, unconventional.

Planning the College Christmas Party is a delicate art.  It’s more than just ugly sweaters.  One needs the perfect amount of hors d’oeuvres and refreshments, one or two competitive games, and of course a rockin’ holiday playlist.  Fortunately, the lovely ladies in Harnwell Room 1712 are experts at throwing the ultimate College Christmas Party.

Alexa, Leah, Katie, and Nina have been some of my closest friends at Penn since my pre-orientation program and NSO.  Last year, they planned an awesome Christmas party from Alexa’s tiny single in the Quad, and luckily they had a bit more to work with this year in their apartment.   Leah baked mini quiches, Nina made latkes, Alexa and Katie ran the Post-It Note game and Christmas Bingo, and I had the honor of making the playlist.

Again, the festivities were a success!  Not only because of food, games, and music, but more so because of the company.  It’s very easy to get caught up in the gloom and doom of finals season.  I can feel bogged down by the papers and the exams, of course.  But one evening with friends is enough to remind me that I’m not in this alone.  We all have crazy amounts of work, but we also have each other as study buddies or necessary distractions.  Academics are an integral part of life at Penn.  I’d like to argue, however, that friendships are just as – if not more – important.

Happy Holidays from Harnwell 1712!

Happy Holidays from Harnwell 1712!

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Filed under Campus Life, Carolyn G., Events, Food Fiends, Photos, Student Perspective, Video, Videos

Woof! Woof! Happy Holidays from our Furry Friends

By Kiera Reilly, C’93  @KieraReilly

Here in Penn’s Western Regional Office, we love our pets . Like any proud parents, we often share photos of our “kids.” Our furry friends obliged us and allowed us to dress them for the season.

Elizabeth Fields, Director of Penn’s Western Regional office, said her dog Leinie wasn’t too excited about this Hanukkah sweater, but she consented to wear it long enough to take her picture.

Leinie dutifully wearing a Hanukkah sweater.

Felicity Woods, C’93, a volunteer with the Penn Club of Northern California’s Sacramento chapter, shared photos of her two dogs Jack and Minimus in their holiday finery.

Jack lives in California, so of course he has bling-y shades to ring in the New Year:

Jack ready to celebrate the New Year!

Jack’s cousin Minimus is looking festive in his red bow tie. He received a dollar for his dancing abilities!

Minimus looking suave in his red tie.

Minimus looking suave in his red tie.

Minimus looks good in both red and green, as evidenced by this festive green collar he’s wearing here:

Minimus in his Christmas collar.

Jack and Minimus’ cousin Payton likes wearing a tiara.

Here's a male who likes a tiara!

Here’s a male who likes a tiara!

Lisa Cohen, C’85, PAR’15, co-president of the Southern California Regional Advisory Board, shared her family pet photos.

In the Cohen household, Penn is prominent – they named their dog Penni!

Penni Cohen looks sweet in this purple scarf.

Penni Cohen looks sweet in this purple scarf.

The Cohen bunnies, Quaker and Ben, were excited to celebrate Hanukkah.

Quaker and Ben Cohen celebrating Hanukkah in Los Angeles.

Quaker and Ben Cohen celebrating Hanukkah in Los Angeles.

Lisa tells me that Ben (the brown rabbit) is a little chunky, just like his namesake Ben Franklin. And, “Quaker likes the limelight so much (like the real Quaker mascot!!) we could barely get her off the couch and back in the rabbit carrier.”

Finally, here are my “angels,” as we affectionately call them when they’re running around the house barking at the possum in our yard. Standing in line at the mall with a bunch of other dogs around was  a bit overstimulating, so I’m amazed they were able to sit still for this photo with Santa. Koa and Lau Lau are trying to be on their best behavior so that they’ll be on Santa’s Nice list.

Koa and Lau Lau sit for Santa.

 Best wishes for a wonderful holiday and a very happy New Year from

Leinie, Jack, Minimus, Penni, Ben, Quaker, Koa and Lau Lau!

Woof! Woof!

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Filed under Kiera R., Photos, Uncategorized, West Coast Regional Office