Pumpkins and such

Nathan announced this weekend that he wanted to carve a pumpkin. He has been talking about it for days, so yesterday he went out of his way to go buy a pumpkin, picked the roundest one they had, bought a pumpkin carving set, and went to work. He did a GREAT job and carved a very cool pumpkin. Here are some pictures:

The Pumpkin Master

The finished product. Isn't it good?

Now, it took him 2-1/2 hours to carve this pumpkin, perfectionist that he is. After he finished, we put it on the front porch. It looked all nice and homey there, especially since lots of other porches had pumpkins, too. When I left this morning, I swelled with pride at the looks of our very cool pumpkin.

But a couple of hours later, Nathan called and said, "Something ate the pumpkin!" Turns out that between the time I left in the morning and when Nathan left, a squirrel or something ATE the spider and one of the cat's ears! I felt sooo bad for Nathan, because I knew he had put so much time into carving it. He took it pretty well, though. Here is a picture of the squirrel damage:


Isn't that sad? So this evening, we sat outside beside our decimated pumpkin, which Nathan fixed up to look pretty decent, and we gave out Halloween candy. We actually ended up getting a whole lot of compliments on our very cool jack-o-lantern. Nobody missed the spider, after all. :) While waiting for the candy rush to begin, we giggled at the elderly lady across the street, because she was talking to a cat in the window of her house while she was on the front porch. She was talking really loudly so the cat could hear her through the glass. But what cracked us up, other than the fact that she just would NOT stop talking to poor Nicholas (which we quickly discovered was the cat's name), was that she actually SOUNDED like a cat. I can't really describe why. Her voice was just shrill enough and just gutteral enough, and it had just the right cadence to sound like a cat. So we cracked up at the cat lady who sounded like a cat when she talked to a cat.

Our neighborhood gets a LOT of Halloween traffic. It was fun to see all the little kids dressed up. Our favorite costumes were the Jedi knight, the little baby bumble bee, and the CSI investigator, complete with a plastic candy bag that said "Evidence" on it. Pirates seemed to be the theme this year. About half the kids were pirates. And it's so funny to watch some of them, because, let me tell you, they are laser focused on that candy. You talk to them, and you know they hear you, but they never take their eyes off that candy bowl! So as I'm saying, "Hi there! Happy Halloween! Ooh, I like your costume," they are walking up the steps, silent and unresponsive, eyes never leaving the candy bowl, which they of course spotted while they were still 15 feet away. They should have been dressed as zombies instead. Then they would have been acting the part, whether they meant to or not. :)

Better

I just wanted to officially say that yesterday was a bad day, which explains that last post, especially the end of it. :) Thank you for bearing with me. I am usually pretty positive about everything, but between feeling pretty awful physically and probably being in the middle of my first real mood swing, what came out was a good bit of despair. So thanks for bearing with me, and thank you for your kind comments and encouragement!

My Hormones are Eating My Brain

I think my pregnancy hormones are eating my brain.

This weekend I was shaving my legs in the shower (which is becoming quite the athletic feat, considering the size of this belly), and when I went to shave the second leg, I could not for the life of me remember which leg I had not shaved yet. I was standing there in the shower, razor in one hand and shaving gel in the other, trying to figure out which leg I had just finished with! And I never remembered. I had to feel to see which one was still hairy. This is bad.

Later that day, when I went to pick up Nathan from the airport, he asked me if I wanted him to drive. I said no, but I later secretly thought to myself, "Maybe I should have said yes . . . no telling what kind of bad driving mistake I am going to make if I can't even remember which leg I just shaved." We got home okay, though.

By the way, I am ready for this kid to come. I am starting to get uncomfortable, and it is not fun. My back was hurting after only being at my desk an hour today, and yes, I did do my yoga this morning, which helped last week. Woe is me that it didn't help today. I can't believe I have another 8 weeks of this. I read this online earlier today and it really kind of upset me:

• Your baby is up to 3.75 pounds (1702gm) now and is 16.7 inches (42.4cm) long.
• You might notice she's not moving around as much now. Don't worry! She is fine -- just running short on room. She still has plenty of growing to do though, believe it or not!

My thoughts: "Oh no. He's got another 3 or 4 (or more!) pounds to go! He is going to DOUBLE in size! Oh no. I don't have room for this."

Besides that, the outie is coming. I know it. I can see it coming.

It's only Monday. Crap.

They Did It Again!

I just have one thing to say to you, Courtney:

Red Sox!

He's Back!

Nathan comes back today! Yay! He's been in LA for two weeks.

Jane Eyre

I first read Jane Eyre in 9th grade English class, and I have to say, I didn't get it at all. I mean, I understood the plot, but it affected me at level zero. I've read it two or three times since then, and each time, I get more sucked into the love story. I think it has something to do with getting older and having more experience to apply to the plot and characters, but I also think it has to do with my sophistication as a reader, because I see feeling and passion in the lines that I didn't see before. I just love it. Plus, one of the reasons I've been into Victorian novels lately is because they have the best endings. They wrap everything up tidily, and they're so cathartic! Plus, it's a gothic novel, which means drama. :) And drama is fun.

I think when I first read this story at age 15, I pretty much only recognized the moral element of it. I don't want to tell much of the plot in case you want to go read it for the first time, and I would not want to take the experience and surprises away from you. But I basically thought that Jane was very good and Mr. Rochester was kind of bad, and I don't think I understood the attraction between the two of them. But now I understand them better, and the redemption at the end is just perfect. And the story is not simple or black and white. It is quite deep, and the characters and how they develop are really complicated, which makes them very real.

And honestly, I think another reason I like the book so much is that in some ways, I AM Jane Eyre. It is very fitting that I married a Brit (even though he's not, really), because I was born with this British reticence that is just part of my character. So I relate well to a lot of those English Victorian heroines. (Nathan was born in England.)

So last night I finished watching a Masterpiece Theater miniseries of Jane Eyre. Oh my gosh, people, it was SO GOOD! I'd definitely recommend it. I will say they upped the ante on the romance scenes (and no, I am not using "romance" as a euphemism for something else . . . they won't startle any innocent eyes, but they are more intense than the book). I think it is one of the few changes to a novel that works. It does update the story so that a modern viewer can relate a little better.

Anyway, rent it from Netflix when you've got a rainy day coming up and four hours with nothing to do.

Baby B's Room

Baby B's room is coming along!

After returning from Texas, we picked up our furniture, and I unloaded all of our shower gifts (there were a lot--thank you, everyone!). At that point, the room already felt like it was coming together, especially since the dresser drawers were filling up, mostly with cowboy outfits!

But I am REALLY excited today, because I just bought a set of the bedding I want on eBay for $100 off! Woo hoo! I got it for the same price of my second choice bedding at Target, and this set is much nicer, way cuter, and higher quality.

We also just got a rug from LL Bean to go in the room. So here are the pictures of everything, although they are not of the put-together room. The last big thing will be to paint. Yay!

Cracked Up

I saw this posted in an MIT dorm this weekend, and I cracked up all the way downstairs. It just got me tickled.

Great Expectations

I don't know what brought this to mind, but the last couple of days I've been thinking about the things we hope for at different points in our lives. We are always looking forward to some phase that we see in the future. By "hope," I don't mean things we wish for, although wishing is a part of it. I mean "hope" more in the biblical sense of the word, which also includes an element of certainty or near-certainty that something will come to pass and the joy of knowing that it's coming. I guess the simplest way to put it is looking forward to something.

For example, I remember turning eight and being excited that I was halfway to the age when I could drive a car. I remember the angst of wishing for that first boyfriend, then anticipating the serious boyfriend, then the biggest romantic hope of all, marriage and everything that comes with it. And now I am looking forward to the imminent birth of our first child and the beginning of our family. And what will I look forward to after that? I am sure there will be many things--first steps, starting school, doing mom things at my kids' school, watching Nathan be a great dad, family vacations, grandkids, etc.

So what is my point here? I'm not sure. I suppose it is that there is nearly always something down the road to hope for, to look forward to. And there is joy in that, and it's wonderful and healthy. But what I realized is that I need to remember to take joy in today, too. In today's events. It is not all about tomorrow. Yesterday's tomorrow is today. Why do we neglect today sometimes, when it is the very thing we were looking forward to yesterday? Carpe diem, people! Yes, the Lord has wonderful things planned for later, but I think that we very often are so preoccupied with hoping for what is next, what is to come, that we forget to take joy in what we already have. I mean, finally learning to drive was so wonderful and liberating that I enjoyed every moment of it when it finally arrived. Having a baby will be huge, my heart will expand, and my life will change. But that is no reason not to enjoy my marriage and the simplicity of it being just the two of us in this season.

So my goal right now is to take joy in this time, this period that I'm in. To decide to find the greatest joy that I can in my lot now, with what and whom I have, not forgetting that there is more to come.

After all, when your cup runneth over, it is always in reference to what is happening right now, isn't it? When you feel like you have been over-blessed, it is because of something that happened today, not something that you hope will happen tomorrow.

So I am going to thank God for the people and situations in my life today. I will be thankful for the season I'm in today. I am going to be still and know that he is God today. I will not take today for granted simply because I know I have wonderful things in my future. And when those wonderful things come to fruition, I pray I will savor them in their time, as well.

This Week's Pregnancy Thoughts

Hey y'all,

So I am officially in Week 30 of my pregnancy. I have to say that the third trimester so far has not been as fun as the second.

First of all, my back really hurts. Apparently Baby B is hanging out on the right side of my belly, which is stretching those muscles in such a way that where they connect in my back aches a lot.

Secondly, I'm getting more tired. I really feel so much better with an extra hour of sleep. Luckily, I haven't been waking up a lot or anything, so if I go to bed early enough, I can get my 9 hours.

Thirdly, I feel like I am past the cute stage and into the big huge Lauren stage.

Fourthly (is that a word?), just when I am getting more serious about getting more exercise, it is getting harder to walk. My muscles just feel really strained. I think I am going to try yoga instead. I am hoping it will help my back, too.

And I have to just tell you, I have never in my life tried yoga because I am seriously in the running for the most inflexible person on the planet. I always imagined myself making a total fool of myself in a regular yoga class, so I've never tried it. But the other day my back hurt so badly by the time I left work that I walked straight across the parking lot to a little store and bought a yoga mat. I also ordered a prenatal yoga video from Netflix. So we are going to see how this goes. It may be a joke if I can't do any of the moves :), but I am seriously hoping that it helps me feel better, look better, and that it also helps me prepare for labor.

Speaking of preparing for labor, I am amazed at how some women are just not taking that seriously. There are literally six pregnant women in my office right now, two who are just a few weeks behind me. One of them is just not worried about this labor thing or preparing for it at all. I guess she figures that everyone does it, and she'll get that kid out one way or another (I think she probably also just hates exercise). I, however, have been reading all the pregnancy books I can get my hands on, and I am very aware that exercising along the way can help a WHOLE lot. One thing I read, in particular, really got me "motivated," if you can call it that (maybe more like "freaked out"): "You wouldn't try to run a marathon without training for it; why would you go into labor without preparing for it?" WHAT? Do you mean to tell me that delivering a baby requires as much physical and mental training as a marathon?? So I got a little more motivated and have been fitting more walks into my week. But like I said, walking is getting a little harder and slower, so I'm going to try to add the yoga thing to my walking routine. My friend, April, told me the other day that she was running--running--all the way up to delivery for both her kids. WHAT??!? But that girl popped her last baby out in like 30 minutes, so maybe there is something to that, if you can do it without falling over. :)

Yes, Amanda, Cake IS a Love Language

So Amanda recently posed the question "Is Cake a Love Language?"

I maintain that cake is most DEFINITELY a love language. At least one of mine. If my husband baked me a cake, after I came to, it would make my month.

So what do y'all think? What are some other love languages? Be creative and make us laugh!


(By the way, this is alluding to a book entitled "The Five Love Languages," which says that everyone has a primary language through which they are wired to receive love, so once you know what that language is, you can make them FEEL more loved by giving "speaking their language." I have not read the book, but I think the five love languages are quality time, gifts, words of affirmation, acts of service, and, well, another one I can't remember.)

A Little Road Trip

Yesterday it was so pretty outside that I decided to abandon my "clean the kitchen day" and take a drive. I drove about an hour north of Boston in search of some pretty fall foliage. The prettiest trees I saw were actually along the highway, but I couldn't very well whip the camera out while I was driving, so you don't get to see pictures of those. I did take a few others, though.

A pretty little trail I took, covered in a carpet of pine needles.

I had to get a picture of this. Is that funny or what?

I stopped at a little apple stand, but since we still have so many apples from our own apple picking trip, I bought some homemade pickles instead. As I was leaving, I saw the little orchard behind the building and stopped to take a picture.

A church in Chelmsford town center. The church is classic New England, and I thought the tree was pretty cool, too.

Chesterton & Lewis

So our Bible study has been reading G.K. Chesterton's "Orthodoxy." I think it's interesting, but I like C.S. Lewis better. Lewis's writing is a hundred times clearer, for one thing, and I think he is more logical. But Chesterton can be extraordinarily poetic at times, which I really enjoy. One of his analogies is about the logic of Christianity, and he uses the image of a cross in such a way that it reminds me strongly of the 17th century metaphysical poets like Donne and Traherne:

At one point in the text, he compares a madman's severe logic (because he can, indeed, be logical) to a bullet--it is round, but so is the earth. The bullet is just as perfect, but it leaves a lot out. The example he gave was of a madman who suffers from paranoia--every validation he gives you of his paranoia makes sense if you take it by itself, but it leaves out bigger facts that would prove it highly unlikely. It misses the bigger picture, just as solely scientific logic without a little spirituality mixed in misses the point of God and some of the paradoxes that come along with Him (free will vs. predestination, for example). His point is that we have to leave room for God to be bigger than us, and therefore for some things to seem paradoxical to us which are clear as day to God. Then he goes on to say this: "As we have taken the circle as the symbol of reason and madness, we may very well take the cross as the symbol at once of mystery and health. Buddhism is centripetal, but Christianity is centrifugal: it breaks out. For the circle is perfect and infinite in its nature; but it is fixed forever in its size; it can never be larger or smaller. But the cross, though it has at its heart a collision and a contradiction, can extend its four arms for ever without altering its shape. Because it has a paradox in its centre it can grow without changing. The circle returns upon itself and is bound."

Do I understand all of that? Not hardly. But I can understand and visualize enough of it to be somewhat taken by it.

I believe that Chesterton's apologetic works were some of the things that C.S. Lewis read when he was considering Christianity. If you are familiar with Lewis's work, you can see how a lot of his ideas sprang from Chesterton's, which I think is interesting.

A note about how much I love C.S. Lewis: I just think that not only was he a fabulous writer in every genre he attempted [not only children's literature, but also science fiction, apologetics, short fiction, and literary criticism (don't forget he was a Cambridge don in Medieval and Renaissance literature)], but I like him as a person, based on what I've read about him. In my parallel dream life, Jack and I are friends and enjoy discussing Christianity and literature while having tea in leather chairs next to a brisk fire. Oh, and also, in my dream life, I am smart enough to contribute intelligently to said discussion. :)

A Good Day

Today has been a good day.

Nathan left yesterday for L.A. to do some seismic data acquisition (that's fancy talk for "research"), so I was by myself today. I might have been mightily bored, but I have been saving up lots of errands for when we finally got a car, and I am one of those people who really likes running errands (especially the shopping kind), so I had a lovely day. I took my cousin to the airport, had the car inspected, had my glucose tolerance test, went to Trader Joe's (only one of the best grocery stores ever invented), went to Target, and went to Russo's (another one of the best grocery stores ever invented).

I just got back from Russo's, which is basically a produce market, but it's more or less upscale in the quality and atmosphere and cheap on the prices. This makes it high on Lauren's happy scale. One of the reasons today was such a good day was that I got to go to Russo's and take all the time I wanted to browse. I love looking at their produce because it inspires me. Don't you ever feel that way? When food is beautiful and at its peak, it makes me want to eat it and wonder what I could do with it. Anyway, not only does everything look wonderful, but Russo's also has a lot of things I've literally never seen before. They had this really spikey cucumber-looking thing called a bitter melon, they have a lot of Asian fruits and veggies I've never seen before, they had huge pomegranates, an amazing and inspirational assortment of cheeses, the best butter I've ever had (it's Irish), and so on. I picked up some local butternut, acorn, and carnival squash, along with some purple potatoes, fresh green beans, and so on. I was tempted by the fresh butternut squash ravioli, but I figured that since I got a butternut solely for the purpose of making my own butternut pasta, I'd pass it up this time.

Anyway, I don't know if any of you can relate, but I really enjoyed that trip to the market. For some reason, I find it really soothing to go by myself, not be rushed, and just browse.

Besides that, today was a beautiful day. It was sunny but chilly. That's another reason today was a good day. This weather just makes me feel good. Something about it just feels, I don't know, wholesome.

*By the way, if you live in the area and are wondering, Russo's is on Pleasant Street in Watertown.
**Also, this butternut squash pasta I made up (inspired by the ravioli) is yummy. Roast a squash, peel the skin off, and cut into bite-sized pieces. Mix with cooked penne, a little garlic alfredo, some rosemary, a dash or two of nutmeg, and salt & pepper. Yum.

On a totally different topic, I have been noticing lately that I'm becoming clumsier. I keep reading about how this happens during pregnancy, but I had not really noticed it in myself until the last week or so. I drop things continually. Three people picked up my dropped items in the grocery store today. And I have been cutting up a lot of apples and peppers for snacks lately, and I invariably drop a slice or two on the floor. And to top it all off, I dripped soup on my shirt today--not once, but twice. Both at lunch and at dinner. What is up with that?

Ode to the Automobile

We picked up our new car yesterday!

YAY!

As I said before, getting a car is a BIG deal at our house. I'll provide you a short history of our automobile experiences for the last three years so you can know exactly how celebratory this day really is:

We moved from Houston to Boston in the fall of 2004, and like any good Texans, we could not imagine giving up our freedom--oops, I mean our car. But when we found out that the Harvard garage across from our Harvard apartment was about $170/mo and had a three-year waiting list, we figured we could buck up and do without our car for the first semester, just to see how it went. Well, we ended up selling our car because we found out we could get along without it, but it was definitely an adjustment.

For one thing, I could not figure out how people did their grocery shopping or went to Target without a car. I ended up trying the bus, but it is no fun to wait 20 minutes with your arms full at a bus stop when it is windy and drizzling. Then we discovered Zipcar, which is the best thing ever (renting cars by the hour). I also discovered Peapod, where you order your groceries online and they're delivered to you. So we figured out how to get along, bolstered by the knowledge that we were saving tons of money by not owning a car.

On top of that, I discovered that I felt like a load had been lifted off my shoulders. I literally felt stress melting away. And do you know why? Because I did not have to sit in traffic anymore. You Houstonians will know what I'm talking about. For the last three years or so we lived in H-town, I spent an average of two hours every day in the car. Is that ridiculous or what?? It really took a toll on me, and I could feel my blood pressure rising every time I got stuck in traffic. So to be relieved of that was huge. In that sense, I felt free.

But we also felt very much like a good chunk of our freedom was taken away, because we couldn't go on a road trip without renting a car, we couldn't just run to Target to pick something up, we had to depend on friends to pick us up to go to others' houses, etc.

And then, when we found out Baby B was on his way, I knew it was time. It was time to get ourselves back in the realm of the automobile owners of the world.

So Nathan and I bought a handy dandy 2002 Honda Accord. Yes, I know, it's lacking a bit on the cool factor, but we really just wanted a reliable car that would be easy to park. And this one was exactly that. It's in great shape, and we bought it well below its blue book value, which makes Lauren happy. It was previously owned by a dealer, so it was very well maintained and is actually loaded. Now, I would have been happy with a lot less, but let me just say that I am not complaining about the sunroof, leather seats, or 6 CD changer.

So YAY for the new car!

Yay!

I just want you all to know that as far as I'm concerned, fall is officially here. The high will not be over 63 during the next 10 days! Seriously, this is like water for my soul. I love fall.

I organized our scarf drawer yesterday, and we had acorn squash and apples with pumpkin dip with dinner.

(By the way, you really must try this pumpkin dip.)

Massachusetts Does Something Right!

So Nathan and I are buying a car. Today, probably, but that is beside this post's point (I'll let you know when it happens, because believe me, it will be a big deal at our house and I will be thrilled). This post is about what I've learned about Massachusetts--what this lovely Commonwealth (it distinguishes itself as a "commonwealth," not a "state") does well and what it doesn't.

Okay, there are a lot of problems with MA. First of all, has no one here heard of street signs? A sign that says "Brighton -->" does not help me. I need to know what street I'm turning on, not which suburb I'm headed towards. It's like people here drive instinctively, not by directions. It is also as if they are rather unfriendly towards anyone trying to get around for the first time, since you really just need to know the area in order to get around very well. Also, I know that this has to do with the fact that Boston is really old, but what is it with the street names changing every mile or two? That is confusing. So all of this means that Lauren literally gets lost the first time she drives anywhere, no matter how wonderful Google Maps is.

Also, we found out that auto insurance here is basically socialized. Besides my relative intolerance of anything socialized (I'm a fan of the free market), this annoys me because none of the major insurance companies operate in MA. I don't have any problem with going with a small business, but it is a little disconcerting to go with a company you have never heard of before, based on a couple of lukewarm personal referrals from friends.

But this morning I discovered something that Massachusetts does well. No, not just well. Very well. Get ready to be shocked: it is the Registry of Motor Vehicles.

Now, my previous associations of the RMV (or DPS, as it was in Houston) are this: the lines are ridiculously long, everything looks worn and unwelcoming, the employees look tired and are unenthused and slow, the forms are confusing, everything moves inefficiently, and on top of that, everyone is sweating. :) But this morning I went to get my Texas license converted to a Massachusetts license. I know, I know, this is three years late, but I figured I might as well wait until my TX license expired, which it did a couple of weeks ago on my birthday. Anyway, I was pleasantly surprised at my Mass RMV experience.

First of all, you had to go to a customer service person first to get the correct form, and then she checked it to make sure you filled everything out before she would give you a number. I know this sounds like an extra step, but it's actually quite nice, because there is no confusion about which form to fill out, and you don't wait in line for an hour just to get to a window to find out that you filled out the wrong form or are missing a piece of documentation. I am sure that this one lady saves people a lot of time and frustration.

Secondly, they had an awesome system of telling you where to go next. They had about 15 windows, and they had a system that would call your number and tell you which window to go to. No guessing which person you're supposed to walk up to while every employee avoids making eye contact with you. And there were little signs above each window with the number to be helped there, so you knew exactly where to go.

Thirdly, the employees were alert and nice! I think they might actually have liked their jobs!

Plus, the lady told me my picture was good. And it WAS! How often does that happen?

Bless my administrative heart, right? I know it's kind of funny that I was so impressed with organization, but hey, it made my life easier this morning.

(By the way, if you live in Boston, go to the Watertown RMV. Apparently it's better than a lot of the other ones, which accounts for my good experience.)

Week 29 Belly Picture

Sorry it's fuzzy.

After looking at my side of the bed, Nathan suggested that maybe I'm a little obsessive-compulsive. I don't know what he's talking about.

Doesn't everyone neglect to throw away their water bottles sometimes and stack books six deep?

Confessions from a First Pregnancy

First Trimester
I am what??
That thing on the ultrasound looks like a little fish. (Nathan: "Don't say that!")
I need ___ RIGHT NOW. (insert "food" or "restroom" or "sleep")
I feel gross, and I can't tell anyone why.
This is kind of exciting.

Second Trimester
I feel sooo much better.
Elastic waistbands are heaven.
Wow, this is for real. There is a real person in there. . . . HOLY CRAP! THERE IS A REAL PERSON IN THERE!
This is no longer all about me and how it will affect my life.
Cowboy room!!
I sure am getting bigger fast.
I weigh how much??

Third Trimester (so far)
I am getting slower.
I am freaking huge.
My back hurts.
I'm excited to meet my son.
I wonder how big his feet are today.

Maybe I AM Brilliant . . . Maybe

So here's the update on an old post. I have, indeed, been using my Arbonne Transforming Lift on my belly every day to avoid stretch marks, as well as the anti-aging body serum + body lotion. And guess what, people, I have no stretch marks! YET! (Knock on wood!)

Now, who really knows if this has to do with the product or whether I am just predisposed not to get them? I guess we can't know for sure. But I will say that I am not going to stop using this stuff now! Plus, the skin on my belly has this lovely glow that I wish I had everywhere. :)

On a somewhat related note, what struck me the other day was that this ginormous belly of mine just seems like the most natural thing in the world. I always thought being pregnant would be like having an alien growing inside you while your body stretched to unnatural and uncomfortable proportions. But what I've found is that I'm pretty at ease with the whole thing. The way my body has changed has just seemed like a matter of course. Nothing has freaked me out or made me upset.

With one exception. I don't have one yet, but it is coming, I know. And I HATE it. What is it?

The outie.

Y'all, I know this is stupid, but I REALLY don't want to get an outie. I have no idea why. This is the one thing that I feel like is a violation of everything normal in life, at least for me. I normally have just about the deepest innie you can imagine--Nathan used to comment on how crazy it was. But now my belly button is completely and totally flat. It's just a little circle on my belly that you know USED to be a belly button. And it has been like that for a month or two, so I have been waiting to see it pop for some time now, and it hasn't yet. I think God knows how much this one thing would mess with my mind, somehow, so he's been gracious. But I don't know if it can last much longer. . . .

October Arbonne Specials

Hello all!

I am so excited about the specials that Arbonne is offering this October. I definitely plan to take some of them up, myself, while doing my Christmas shopping this month. And don't overlook the big announcement at the end!

Intelligence Big Cleansing Gel for $12
With every $75 SRP order increment, qualify to purchase the Intelligence Big Not-So-basics Cleansing Gel for only $12 in October, regularly $28. I took advantage of this special last holiday season, and my shower has been stocked all year! What could be better than a clever cleanser that doesn't dry out skin like bar soaps do, and moisturizes as effectively as it cleans? Cleanse and enhance hands and body with this non-drying, pH-correct liquid that won't strip skin or cause irritation.

Intelligence Skin Conditioning Oil 20% Off
In October, save 20% and get the Arbonne Intelligence Skin Conditioning Oil for only $14.40, regularly $18. Smooth things over and deeply condition dry skin with this international blend of pure oils. It relieves irritated, dry and chapped skin, especially on areas that are hard to hydrate.
Remember that the Skin Conditioning Oil comes FREE with the Intelligence skin care set.

Free Gifts for doing your Holiday Shopping with Us!
As you begin your Holiday shopping this month, keep in mind that you can also receive some extra goodies!
If you place a $500 order ($325 after your 35% discount) between October 1 and 15, you'll receive this Arbonne Keychain for Free in your order.

And if you spend $1000 this month ($650 after your discount--remember that you can combine orders with friends to reach this number), you'll receive this Arbonne embroidered blanket.

Click here to see all of our holiday products, or visit http://www.arbonne.com/ for a full list of our products.

Arbonne Opens in the UK
In addition to doing business in the US, Canada, and Australia, Arbonne will be opening in the UK on November 1!
Who do you know in the UK who would love Arbonne's products? I give wonderful thank you gifts to clients who give me referrals in the UK and Australia!

Best,
Lauren


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Lauren Benesh
Independent Consultant
Executive Area Manager
Arbonne International
(617) 388-6419
laurenbenesh.myarbonne.com
www.arbonne.com