A note from Pete

Hi Bloggies Mom asked me to post for her since she is super busy getting everything up and running with her new job. She has a point, she and dad are busy with work and such and I usually sneak onto the couch for a nap and watch food network during the workday. This week my cousin JJ is visiting me so I'm happy to have a friend. I digress.

Mom wanted me to thank you for all the kind words regarding the 2 big developments her her life: new job & engagement. I see her get so happy when she reads the nice comments after a long day.

Have a great weekend! I hope she lets me blog again!

Lots of puppy kisses,
Pete

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Surprise!

I'm engaged!

What I thought was going to be a fabulous and relaxing weekend in the blue ridge mountains with the badger, beaver, & flamingo, turned into a FANTASTIC surprise! The badger and I headed up to Blowing Rock on Friday afternoon. I was under the impression that our friends would meet us early Saturday morning. The weather cleared as soon as we hit the the parkway and we enjoyed some beautiful sunset mountain views. Upon arriving at the house we discovered that the heat was not working and it was chilly! We made the best of the situation and bundled up for the evening. The badger awoke early Saturday morning to, what I thought was, to start calling fix-it companies for the heat. I stayed in the warm bed with my personal heater Pete. I decided to get up about 7:30 to call our friends to see where they were on the road. When I walked into the living room I found the Badger had made a roaring fire and was standing in front of the fireplace. He started talking to me then got down on one knee and asked if I would marry him! Of course I said YES and he placed the perfect ring on my finger. After some "am I awake?" moments, I saw that he had champagne for mimosas waiting, my favorite bottle of wine (for later), and a beautiful bouquet of daisys. The sneaky badger smuggled all the goodies up without me knowing! He had everything packed into a cooler waiting for the right moment. (He later told me he didn't want to ask me on Friday the 13th which is why he chose the morning surprise!) We spent the rest of the day spreading the good news to friends and family, exploring the high country, got in a little fly fishing, and had a wonderful dinner. All in all it was a perfect weekend!


And now another surprise. I've decided to post a few photos for you to share in our exciting news.


The bird, badger, and Peter-dog in a pre-dinner pose in front of the fireplace. Don't worry, Pete isn't being strangled!
A view from a parkway over look.


What we saw upon arriving home Sunday afternoon. Mom & my sister had decorated my door and left some yummy red velvet cupcakes!

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Hilarity at the hands of my little sister.

Days are long for the next 2 weeks while I'm transitioning between my nanny gigs and my new job. It's a very happy tired though! Imagine my delight when I came home to find this little gem from my sister sitting in my email inbox tonight. I heart you sissy!

_____________________________________________________________________
subject: what mom & i saw at nordstrom today...

Guess what this is --













If you guessed 6 colorful meercats standing in a lineup then you are a winner. However, you do not win this $78 Marc Jacobs tee. You get a pack of chicklets.

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Peace. Love. Lipgloss. & Me

A few weeks back I was the LUCKY winner of Prep School 101's Peace. Love. Lipgloss gift certificate giveaway. Offering a fabulous selection of skincare, makeup, and bath and body products, I faced a daunting decision. Exactly what products to choose?!?

While perusing Lucky & InStyle magazines on a trip to get my haircut I read about the cult following LA skincare maven Kate Somerville has accrued. I was ecstatic to find Peace. Love. Lipgloss offered her skincare line! The next big decision was what to try? Proprietor of the shop Madeline was extremely helpful in some e-advice on what products would work best for my skin type.

We decided on Goat Milk Cream

and Purifying Cleanser.Upon receiving my package, I couldn't wait to try my new goodies. The cleanser is gentle enough for my sensitive skin, has a refreshing scent, & left my skin feeling "clean and tight" in one step. After my evening washing I applied the Goat Milk Cream to find a thicker-than-lotion but not greasy hydrating cream. Best part: it left my skin feeling hydrated and it didn't cause any reactions. The packaging allows for a perfect pump amount that leaves no waste.

I also love the Paul & Joe lipgloss recommended. It's sheer enough for daily use, but is great for layering for a more dramatic evening look as well. Peace. Love. Lipgloss filled my package with a body butter, exfoliKate, and foot cream sample as an added surprise. And what girl doesn't love a surprise?

All in all I HIGHLY recommend that you check out Madeline's blog and the Peace. Love. Lipgloss. online store for your beauty needs. It truly is a "beauty haven for the make-up maven!" Another bonus? PLL is offering free shipping the month of December!

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Employed.

10 months after loosing my job in the design industry I am happy to announce I am an employee again! While I wont be in a similar position to what I was doing previously, I am excited for a new challenge that is still within my field. I'll have a commute and different hours to get used to, but I am very excited to be in the working world again.

While scary at first, I have come to love my time as a "free-lancer at life." Multi-tasking my way through the past 10 months has shown me that I can be creative and make things work, even when it seemed like the rug had been pulled out from beneath me. Keeping your faith in "what's meant to be will be, your chin up, and a positive attitude even when things look bleak, will serve you best in the end. I end my stint as a part time nanny with bittersweet emotions. I have loved getting to know my families and kiddos. I will really miss seeing the weekly changes of the infant I kept and the daily discoveries of the toddler. I'm sure my Wii skills (or lack there of) will wain without the constant practice I got from the tweens. The smallest feats, potty training for example, brought me great joy, and I'm sad to leave the little ones behind.

I know the time is right to move forward in my career and I am excited to embrace this new opportunity. Many thanks go out to each and every one of my readers out there for their kind words throughout my unemployment journey. Here's to a new adventure!

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Mission Accomplished: Party Success

The Stella & Dot party I hosted was a glowing success (and my house looks great after all the frantic cleaning!) The girls enjoyed playing dress up with the sample jewelery and got ahead on a litle Christmas shopping to boot! I highly recommend finding a stylist in your area.

Vino, important for any event!


The goods. It was very tempting to have so many cute pieces on my table.


I forgot to take a picture of the food, but the caramelized onion and rosemary flat bread and the pumpkin spice muffins with cream cheese filling welcomed rave reviews. I did snap a quick pic of the adorable (and super tasty) cupcake pops Alison provided for market research. (If you live in the triad area of NC and are interested in her creations I'll be happy to pass along her contact info!) The cupcakes on a stick were a huge hit!

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Fancy Feet

After a frustrating shopping trip to find some comfy flat shoes, I've turned to the Internet. I have very narrow feet and thus have problems with any shoes with backs. Upon reading the reviews on llbean.com that their skimmers offer support and customers think they run narrow I decided I had to try. Fingers crossed they fit!

On top of the free shipping code & $10 gift card LLBean is offering with a $25 purchase, I clicked on the site though Ebates for an additional 3% back! Haven't heard of ebates? This free service allows you to click through their site for special member only deals and cash back bonuses. Sign up here!

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