Ho, Ho, Ho....

So, I may (or may not) have purchased some of the following for friends and family this weekend.  I am soooooooo excited about some of my finds!

And in closing.....

Dear Santa,

I still believe in you.  I know a lot of people don't when they get to be my age.  BUT...rest assured that I am still an avid believer :)

So, I am writing to ask for two things for Christmas this year.  I've never heard of this designer before, but I'm sure you know exactly where to find him.  I adore both of these pieces, and if I could have them I think my life would be all the better for it.

(John Wind/Maximal Art Pom Pom Pearl Bauble Necklace)

(John Wind/Maiximal Art Initial Charm Bracelet)

Thanks so much Santa!

T

Change of Plans!

Boy, things sure didn't pan out the way I had planned over my 3 day weekend! 

Thursday night Daisy convinced me that if I wanted a real tree we would go and fetch one ourselves.  We determined that we didn't need a man to help!  We would put that tree in the trunk and haul it inside of the house ourselves.  So.  We did :)  Mind you, we both had on boots with 4 inch heels and were sinking in the sawdust at the tree farm....AND...it was -30 degrees.  I'm pretty sure the tree farm guys were laughing at us, but I don't care. 

I HAVE A REAL CHRISTMAS TREE!!!!!!!!! 

Daisy and I got it set up in the stand on our own as well.  Then, Daisy's beau came over and admired our hard work.  Then, TEN came over after a work meeting and he admired our work.  We allowed the boys to be quite impressed that we were able to accomplish such a feat on our own, and then we ordered pizza so we could continue to admire the tree.  Okay, it was overkill, but Daisy and I really were proud of ourselves!

After Daisy and her beau left, TEN and I decorated my tree.  We made a fire and had a very low key night.  Louis had a very exciting night, however, as Daisy convinced me that he needed play time outside of the kitchen.  She instructed me that he should be able to venture to other rooms in the house while supervised.  I hypervetilated about the possibility of him peeing on my rug, but let him out anyway. 

Let's just say...Louis will be spending VERY LIMITED time out of the kitchen moving forward.  He has peed on the rug AND on the couch.  Boo hiss!  Bad, bad puppy :(  He has always laid on the couch with TEN and I, and he has never peed before.  Hmph!

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Friday I spent the entire day Christmas shopping.  I bought almost all of my presents, and was tickled pink that I took the day off AND that I was so productive :)   Louis also had a trip to the vet to have his rabies shot.  He was a very brave puppy, and is getting very comfortable riding in his booster seat in the car:

Friday night a friend was having a Holiday Party, and TEN and I were planning on attending.  However, Louis decided that having an accident on the couch was a good idea :(  This threw me into a complete breakdown, and we didn't make the party.

We decided to stay home, wash the couch slip covers, wrap Christmas gifts and drink wine.  It actually turned into a most lovely evening!  TEN and I even danced in front of the fireplace with little Louis running around our feet.  I know, I know...vom.  But it was sweet :)  We drank about 3 bottles of wine, and at one point we must have gotten very loud in a discussion we were having because Louis retreated to his crate to escape the madness!!!  I have never seen him VOLUNTARILY enter his crate.  This, of course, made me giggle.

Louis also helped with package wrapping, and is a great fan of bows and ribbons:

Saturday TEN and I did attend the Holiday Cocktail Crawl, and we had a lovely time!  This is always a most festive event, and this year didn't disappoint.  Last year the girls dressed in "sexy Mrs. Claus" outfits, but decided to forgo that this year in order to stay warm.  It was FREEZING! 

(Daisy and I at the Cocktail Crawl)

(Daisy & Rudolph)

(other festively dressed friends)

(My camera is at home, and I haven't downloaded any of my pictures yet.  So, I've had to steal some from facebook.  TEN was really there...he just didn't make these pictures :)

TEN and I headed home around 10:30 since we wanted to be rested for the Holiday Wine Trek on Sunday.  And then....

EGADS!

We awoke on Sunday to ice/rain/freezing temperatures.  Boooo....  Some of the group decided to brave the roads, and the weather, and head up the mountain roads to the wineries.  TEN, Babbo Natale, MK and I were NOT that brave.   I was very sad to miss the trip, but I just had the worst feeling that it wasn't worth risking an accident since we would be tasting wine, etc. 

Instead, TEN and I had another fire and were completely lazy all day.  Well, I did continue to wash slip covers from the couch...but other than that....

I hope you had a warm and relxing weekend as well!

T

O Christmas Tree....It's About Time!

I'm going to put up my Christmas Tree tonight.  I can't believe Christmas is two weeks away, and I still don't have my tree up!

The original idea was to go to a Christmas Tree farm and to cut one down. 

That didn't so much happen.  Then, the idea was to go to a local place here in Smalltown, VA to purchase an already cut live tree. 

That didn't so much happen either.  So, here I am on December 10 with NO TREE.  I adore live trees.  However, I'm afraid that this year there will a faux tree in the front window at T's house :( 

I'm going to try to make the best of it, and I'm planning to have a little Christmas Tree decorating party tonight with Louis.  We are going to have a fire in the fireplace, Christmas music on the stereo and perhaps a bottle or two of wine.  Louis isn't aware of our evening plans, but I think he will thoroughly enjoy himself!  AND...I will be happy because the Christmas decor at casa T will FINALLY be finished!  I will sit down and close my eyes, and convince myself that the living room really looks like this:

Tomorrow I've taken off from work to do some Christmas shopping.  I'm a bit behind on that as well.  The holidays have really crept up on me this year :-o  Louis is also going to be getting his rabies shot tomorrow, which I'm sure he won't enjoy one bit!  But, considering how well he handled his last set of shots I'm hopeful he will be very brave!

Last night's Christmas Party was cancelled due to an illness, but some girlfriends and I decided to meet for drinks anyway.  It was so good to catch up with them!!  I wish I had been able to stay longer, but I had to head to a local dress shop to try on my ball gown for the Black & White Ball. 

LOVE, LOVE, LOVE!

Is it terrible to be completely in love with a ball gown?  I'm pretty sure it is.  It's fickle and shallow and terrible, I know.  BUT I CAN'T HELP IT!  It is truly the most beautiful gown I have ever seen, and I am going to look like a princess.  I'm so excited :)

Then, I headed home and took Louis for his first "official" walk.  We walked down one side of my street, and back up the other.  It probably should have taken about 10 minutes, but instead it took an hour.  Louis gets very excited about smells.  Not like the normal pup, you see, but OVERLY excited about smells.  When he finds something he deems worth smelling he has a little fit of sorts.  He dances around, lays down, spins around and then smells it again.  Seriously.  Every.  Single. Time.  So, by the time we got back to the house we were both frozen solid, and we curled up on the couch to watch TV while defrosting. 

Having a few low key nights is just what the doctor ordered, and tomorrow night the partying begins!!  I have a Holiday Party tomorrow night, a Holiday Cocktail Crawl Saturday and a Holiday Wine Trek on Sunday.  I am seriously going to be hurting on Monday....but oh the fun we will have!

Until then,

T

Happy 101!!

Well isn't this just what I needed today!!!  Thank you ever so much MCW for bestowing upon me the Happy 101 Award.  

I giggled (and completely agree) when I read your thoughts on what it would be like if we ever met.  What a clever idea!  Everyone must take a peek at Saving The Best For Last...(Fingers Crossed) to see what I am talking about!

Now, on to the rules.....

1. List 10 things that make you happy
2. Tag 10 bloggers that brighten your day
 
 
10 Things That Make Me Happy!
1.  Louis Wellington Gray (my new puppy)
2.  My yellow wellies
3.  Receiving hand written notes
4.  Getting dressed up for fancy parties in pretty frocks
5.  Sunday brunch with friends (and LOTS of bacon)
6.  Taking a walk on a clear, crisp fall day
7.  Drinking and dancing with my girlfriends
8.  Reading a good book
9.  Throwing a party and inviting all of the special people in my life
10.Watching Man vs. Food.  I secretly <3 Adam Richman.  Okay, maybe not so secretly....
 
 
Now...passing the award onto 10 bloggers that brighten my day:
1.  Rosalyn Kay from Dooley And Me
 
2.  Accidentally Me from A Funny Thing Happened on the Way Home
 
3.  Brittney from Running in High Heels
 
4.  Through Rose Colored Glasses
 
5.  Tudor City Girl
 
6.  Dating is My Hobby
 
7.  Little Pink Magnolia
 
8.  AMS from Faith Hope Love
 
9.  Emily from If I Can't Wear Heels I Don't Want to Go
 
10.Polka Dots And Protein Bars
 
I hope this award brightens YOUR day today :)
 
T

Thought For The Day.....

"There comes a time in every woman's life when the only thing that helps is a glass of Champagne." - Bette Davis

Bad, Bad, Bad Blogger!

I have been a bad blogger:(  I've been trying to make some money at work (imagine that!), and in the evenings I'm so very sleepy after puppy duty that I don't have much energy left.  The following has occurred since we last spoke:

1.  Louis had a lovely visit to the vet.  He is the picture of health, and received a "good puppy" discount for his behavior.  I did NOT ask the vet about leaving him in a crate so I could have cocktails late into the night.  I chickened out.

2.  I went to DC for work.  I left Wednesday at noon.  It took me 1.5 hours longer than it should have due to the rain.  Blech!

3.  I had a lovely meeting in DC, and then got back on the road the next evening to head home to Smalltown, VA.  It, again, took me 1.5 hours longer than it should.

4.  I had a mental breakdown on TEN when I returned home.  I have been tired and stressed and imagined all of these things, and somehow it was all his fault.  I'm sure that some of it must be his fault (because clearly I am perfect), but he didn't really think so.  I sat on the floor of his kitchen and had a meltdown.  I then took Louis and went home and went to bed.  Lovely.

5.  TEN called me the next morning to assess the situation, and to determine if I was normal again.  I think the jury is still out on that, but alas...

6.  We went to TEN's office party Friday night.  Everyone from all of the offices came in to Smalltown, VA this year and there were BUNCHES of people there.  I wore a little red dress that was extremely conservative because I didn't want anyone to say "who is that hooker that TEN has brought with him?".  Apparently his date last year wore jeans and he caught hell over that.  TEN and I both got plastered, and I hope we didn't make an ass of ourselves at his work party.  I, of course, had to leave at 10:30 to run to TEN's to let Louis out, and then came back to the party.  I think my brief reprieve from drinking was all that saved me :)

7.  Saturday night was my wine group Christmas Party.   It snowed on Saturday in Smalltown, VA and some girlfriends and I went for manis and pedis.  TEN babysat Louis for the day, so I had a T girl-time day and it was fabulous!  I dare say I had more fun at Saturday night's party than I have had in a LONG TIME.  The party was at MK's house, and her home was beautifully decorated.  I laughed until I cried and thoroughly enjoyed myself.  At around midnight everyone decided to head downtown.  Of course TEN and I had to go home.  To let Louis out.  Having a puppy is definitely keeping me from drinking too much :)

8.  Sunday Barbie and I took our puppies to PetSmart for photos with Santa.  Louis wore a Santa costume and a little red hat.  He was, surprisingly, quite tolerable of the whole situation.  He sat on Santa's lap and didn't wiggle around at all!  Everyone "ooooh'd and aaaaaahhh'd" over him at PetSmart and he was pleased.  I think this is why he was on such good behavior.  You can't really see his Santa suit, but here is his photo with Santa:

Last night TEN and I watched the movie Wanted.  Not a fan.  It sounded excellent, but I'm pretty sure I could have filmed it myself.  All I would have had to do was give TEN and gun and ask him to run around shooting it everywhere.  Then, I would get into my car and drive around fast and crash into things.  The End.  That was the movie.  Yawn.

Tonight we are going to watch Swing Vote.  This one sounds good too,  and I really hope it is.  I'm going to write Christmas cards tonight because I received FOUR in the mail at lunch today.  Egads!  I'm behind already.  I have my stamps AND my cards.  Let's just hope I can get them in the mail before the holiday passes!

So that's it.  My recap of the past few days.  Pretty boring.  It's okay.  You can say it.  I know.  

I have wine group tomorrow night, a Christmas party Wednesday night, a Christmas party Friday night, a Cocktail Crawl Saturday and a Holiday Wine Trek on Sunday.  So hold your horses my friends...there will surely be some sordid stories to share after all of that!

T

Thanksgiving Recap & Some Puppy Nonsense Too!

Wow!  A week without blogging feels really weird.  I should have so much to say, but for some reason I don't.  I guess maybe it's because I haven't done very much over the last week...which was so nice for a change :)

Thanksgiving was lovely.  Very relaxing and definitely yummy!  We cooked a turkey, stuffing, home made mashed potatoes and green beans. 

We purchased this "Apple Pumpkin Pie Wine" at a wine festival a month or so ago to enjoy with our Thanksgiving dinner, and I'll tell you what....NO GOOD. 

Well, that's not fair I suppose.  It was just too much to stomach as a "drinking wine" if you will.  So, we mixed it with Pinot Grigio and laughed about it.  Louis enjoyed some canned pumpkin mixed in with his puppy food, and he was in heaven!!! He gobbled it up and then proceeded to prance around the kitchen while we ate.

Thanksgiving night we had planned to stay in and relax, but somehow ended up heading to a bar across from my neighborhood.  Unfortunately, I forgot that due to my trying to fight off a cold I had taken two NyQuil before we decided to go.  Therefore, I promptly got so tired I could barely hold a conversation...and all I wanted to do was go home.  I blamed it on a turkey coma, until the next day when I remembered that I had drugged myself. Oops!

Saturday I had friends over to watch the Virginia Tech vs. UVA annual Thanksgiving rivalry game.  My Hokies won...PTL...and it was great to have everyone together for a bit of a post-Thanksgiving celebration!!

Last night we saw The Blind Side.  Loved, loved, loved it!!  I have been wanting to see this movie since I read about it months ago.  It was seriously one of the best movies I have seen in a long time.  The fact that it is a true story made it even more wonderful.  And sad, I suppose.  The fact that there are so many young men and women in the world today who if given a chance could reach their true potential.  Unfortunately, they aren't all as lucky as Michael Oher.  Well, I guess I shouldn't call him lucky...he had a hell of a life before he met the Touhys'.  Anyway....I completely recommend it.  TWO THUMBS UP FROM T!

I am also completely in a funk.  I love Louis.  I cannot imagine my life without him.  I do not want to imagine my life without him.  I guess I just didn't realize how little sleep and time to myself I would have once he arrived.  I know that having a puppy is a far cry from having a baby, but in many ways (for the single girl anyway) it is similar.  I can no longer just run out shopping after work.  I have to go home first to let him out and play with him.  I can no longer sit on the couch and read a book in the evening because he will cry and want attention.  If I bring him onto the couch with me he will attempt to eat my book, at which time we have to learn that eating mommy's book is NOT okay.  I am trying so very hard to not give in to letting him sleep with me, or have his own way when it isn't good for him.  I am determined to raise him properly so that he will be a healthy, happy dog with good manners.  A dog that people enjoy being around.  But, it is taking its toll....in more ways than one.

Today is Louis' first veterinarian appointment.  I'm going to ask his vet for some advice.  I'm wondering what she will think if I say "look here Dr. Brown...I like to go to happy hour after work sometimes, and other times I like to stay out until 2am and drink cocktails with the girls.  how does one do this with a puppy?"  Hmmm...perhaps I need to revise the way I ask my question? 

Anyway, I'm heading to DC for two days for work this week.  I'm already stressing about how much I will miss little Louis.  I love the way he smells and the way he lays his head on my shoulder to snuggle and the way he sleeps when he is exhausted:

No joke.  This is Louis in a deep sleep over the holiday.  How can you not want to be around this little guy?  Please ignore my slovenly self on the couch in my pj's in the picture :)  Louis will be staying with TEN.  I hope it goes well.  Louis is still having separation anxiety issues, and TEN has all kinds of plans while I'm away.  I hope little Louis will relax a bit and enjoy his change of scenery.

AND...that's it!  See, I told you not much has happened over the last week.  It was a nice reprieve.  However, things start to pick up this weekend with two holiday parties and Louis' appointment to have his picture made with Santa.  I have no idea how this is going to go, but I'm hoping he doesn't poop on Santa.  Oh lord, please don't let my little man have an accident on Santa's lap......

T