Four Years

Nathan and I will celebrate our fourth anniversary this Thursday, December 13. I loved that our wedding was at Christmastime. You'll have to indulge me as I post some pictures:

By the way, that next to last one is of us laughing because the minister had just misprounounced our last name (Mr. and Mrs. Nathan BeResh instead of BeNesh). We weren't sure whether we should turn around and correct him or just go ahead and process out. We ended up just walking back up the aisle. Half the guests thought it was funny, and the other half didn't even notice. A glich has to happen at everyone's wedding, right? Looking back at that picture cracks me up--the minister is just standing there grinning, oblivious to his mistake. Ha!

Hodgepodge

1. Livvy went through a very cuddly spell. This is notable because Livvy is not the most cuddly of cats--she is very independent and doesn't generally like to be held or to sleep right next to you. (Vi is our cuddly cat.) Anyway, here's a couple of pictures of Livvy's cuddly spell:



She has discovered the infant seat and loves to sleep there:
2. Here is a picture of the pee yellow wall color:

And here it is after it was painted blue:
There's still some setting up to do in the baby's room, but once it's complete I'll post more pictures.

3. The baby was wild when they were checking on him because they gave me some orange juice, and I had already had some sugar. So he was just downright hyper. The nurse had to actually stay in there and follow him around with the sensor because he kept moving so much (I got to hear her life story--it's funny how people get chatty sometimes and tell you all kinds of things they wouldn't just tell anyone). Then he got the hiccups, which was entertaining. So far, they think he is still head down, but he is twisting around a lot.

4. In the tour of the hospital, I found out that they only give walking epidurals, not the big time regular knock-you-out-from-the-chest-down kind (not that you can actually "walk" with a walking epidural, because your legs are jelly, but it's less strong, the idea being that you'll have a little more sensation so you can push more effectively). Now, I intend to go as far as I can before getting an epidural so I can move around and help labor progress, but I definitely want to be all hooked up by the time I hit 8cm or so. The nurse who gave the tour said patients definitely consider the walking epidural sufficient pain relief. If you've had one, let me know what you thought of it.

5. Nathan and I have been BUSY. We had something almost every night last week, and I had this long list of things I wanted to get accomplished this weekend. Between preparing for the baby and getting everything done for Christmas, it's a long list! But I was just dead tired. I think this being 8 months pregnant thing is catching up with me. I took long naps both Saturday and Sunday, which I just didn't expect.

Lauren's Christmas List, the Short Version

1. A pedicure. Don't tell my "you must have regular pedicures in the summer to be a real woman" friends, but I haven't had a pedicure in about 2 years. I think it would be really nice to get one before the baby is born. For one thing, in the hospital and after I come home, when I am all swollen and gross and haven't washed my hair, it sure would be nice to have pretty feet. Secondly, I can't reach my toes very well (and haven't been able to do so for a month or two), which means that my toes are not all that pretty right now. This also means that putting my socks on in the mornings is quite the athletic feat. Nathan enjoys making fun of my sock grunting. Granny says he should just put my socks on for me, but so far he has ignored that advice.
2. Cooking Light magazine subscription. Who among you has read and loved Cooking Light? I've had a subscription for about 2 or 3 years now, and I love it most of the time. I used to read that sucker cover to cover when it came in the mail, until I got busy building an Arbonne business then being pregnant, but even then I did go through and read through the good articles and most of the recipes. I used to have a goal of making two new Cooking Light recipes every month, just to expand my cooking repertoire. It was great, until I quit doing it. :) My subscription ran out a few months ago, so I'll buy the magazine at the grocery store checkout every so often if it looks like a promising issue with lots of yummy recipes. (It kills me to pay regular price, though, since buying four magazines at regular price would more than pay for a year's subscription.) The November issue was especially good--it had all kinds of awesome holiday recipes, many of which are quick and easy or good for when you have house guests.
3. An electric blanket. May I just say that when it is 62 degrees in your bedroom when you go to bed, an electric blanket would be heaven? Heavy fleece robe notwithstanding (it is seriously awesome--like wearing a coat to bed), cold sheets are not a pleasant thing. Nathan has balked at the idea so far, believing that he would get too hot. But you can get the dual control kind, where he controls the heat (or lack thereof) on his side of the bed, and I control the heat on mine. Winter is here. It is time, Nathan. It is time.

Busy Beneshes

Hello all,

So I haven't posted anything in a few days, which is unusual for me! We have been super busy. I will write in more detail later, but here it is in a nutshell:

- Last weekend we painted the baby's room. It went from yellow (a hue I fondly dubbed "pee yellow") to blue.
- On Monday, my 8-month-pregnant-self slipped and fell on the ice. No worries, I am fine. So is Baby B.
- On Tuesday, the doctors chided me about not calling immediately after I fell. "But I wasn't hurt!" "Call anyway." Okay, fine. I missed my office holiday party so they could hook me up to a monitor and watch the kiddo for a while. He is fine. Actually, he was wild. More on that later.
- Tues, Wed, and half of today (Thurs), I was in meetings all day long. No breaks. Not even for lunch. I think of a lot of things to say on the blog during my down time at work. Thus one reason for the lack of posts.
- On Wednesday, we went and had our tour of the maternity and postpartum floors of the hospital, and we went to our Meet the Doctors Q&A.
- Tonight, I have my breastfeeding class. Whether or not Nathan ends up attending is still TBD. :)

As you can see, we've been a bit busy this week. I'll update on all of this later on this same post--maybe you'll even get to see the pee yellow wall!

December Arbonne Specials

*UPDATE: Some of the images were causing problems, so I have temporarily taken them down. They'll be back up shortly! In the meantime, you can see what everything looks like at http://www.arbonne.com/.

I told you I'd have some specials up on my website yesterday--sorry that I'm a day late! They are posted below and on my Arbonne website. Let me know if you'd like to take advantage of any of them!

Arbonne is running lots of great specials this month, and I am running a few of my own. Be sure to read to the end to see everything that is being offered in December!
*Please note that you'll need to place your order about a week before you want to receive it (at least 7 days in advance, in this busy season), so keep that in mind when gift shopping. I would advise you to place all orders by December 15 in order to receive items in time for Christmas.

Prep and Plumps 20% Off
In November, save 20% on About Face Prep & Plump™ , each available for only $22.40, regularly $28, while supplies last. I love this product! Not only does it go on beautifully, but it also has anti-aging elements in it that help prevent the signs of aging on your lips. Plump up the volume with this revolutionary formula that works to counter the appearance of thin lips. These gloss and treatment duos — in 10 terrific shades — feature a double-ended application wand to enhance lip color and shape.

Purchase with Purchase Specials
There are a lot of these this month! With a purchase of a certain amount or from a certain product line, you can get a huge discount on an additional item.
With every $75 SRP increment, qualify to purchase the Luxurious Almond, "Always Almond" set for only $31, regularly $77.40
With every $75 SRP increment, qualify to purchase the Mandarin Cashmere "Merely Sensational" set for only $35.50, regularly $88.20
With every $75 SRP increment, qualify to purchase the f.y.i. Arbonne For Your Ideal for only $32, regularly $78.30
With every $50 f.y.i. Arbonne™ SRP order increment, qualify to purchase the f.y.i. Arbonne limited edition SweetFrostings Color Palette for Lips & Eyes for only $18…regularly $40. While supplies last.

Purchase any of these holiday sets:
Sweet Sensations set
Always Almond set
Merely Sensational set
The Two Step set
The SKY's the Limit set
Big Not-So-Basic Intelligence set
Holiday Lights set
Morning, Noon & Night set
About Face Charming Color set
Sweet Talk Me For Your Ideal set
and qualify to purchase one of the six holiday Glass Candles for $12 (regularly $30). Choose from the Luxurious Almond, Mandarin Cashmere, Ginger Citrus, Awaken, Reactivate or Unwind Glass Candles.

Specials Available Only Through Me:
These specials are only available if you contact me directly; they are not available through Arbonne.com or 1-800-ARBONNE. Contact me at laurenbenesh@gmail.com.

Get something back during this giving season--the bigger your order, the more you get!
$5-50: 10% off retail price
$51-100: 10% off retail price and free shipping*
$101-$150: 20% off retail price and free shipping*
$151-250: 25% off retail price and free shipping*
over $250: 25% off retail price, free shipping*, and another $100 of products for $20
*a savings of approx. $8-23

Have a Blog?
Earn $100 of products for only $20 with a blog catalog party. How? Simply publish a post like this one, and I will collect the orders for you. For every $250 in orders that are placed through your blog after a week, you can buy $100 of products for only $20. (It'll be to your advantage to do this in early December if you would like your products before Christmas.)


Merry Christmas!

Best,
Lauren

Sample: Blog Catalog Party

Here is a sample of a catalog party you can have on your blog to earn some great Arbonne products. For every $250 of products that are placed through your blog's catalog party, you can buy $100 of products for $20.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Catalog Party!
How does this work?
* Choose what you'd like, and place an order by emailing my Consultant at laurenbenesh@gmail.com. Be sure to let her know that you heard about the deal through my blog. She will help you place an order, and you'll get your products by approximately [7 days after offer expires].
* All orders placed through my blog receive 10% off the retail price!
* All orders must be placed by [date].

You can see all products at http://www.blogger.com/www.arbonne.com. All items qualify for the 10% off special, but here are a few of the most popular items for the holidays:

Awaken Sea Salt Scrub: $28 for the large tub, $30 for the set of three small tubs
Breathe new life into the old as you cleanse, moisturize and exfoliate skin. A very popular gift!
https://www.arbonne.com/products/holiday/aromatherapy/


Pampermint Foot Scrub and Foot Cream: $37.50 for the set
Lighten things up with this foot care set that puts a spring in your step and softens skin.
https://www.arbonne.com/products/holiday/pampermint/

SugarCoated Powder Duo: $22
This shimmer duo for face and décolleté includes two shades, side-by-side and a puff applicator for a customizable glittering effect. Make your skin shine and glimmer with a flick of a puff and then sashay off into the sun. Great for teens.
https://www.arbonne.com/products/holiday/fyi/products.asp

Arbonne Baby Care Set: $82
For fundamental, sensitive skin care needs, just remember your ABCs: Five products that soothe, nourish and protect skin ... from the day life begins. Arbonne Baby Care Hair and Body Wash; Body Lotion; Body Oil; Herbal Diaper Rash Cream, Sunscreen SPF 30+, plus a free Arbonne Intelligence Rejuvenating Cream for mom.
https://www.arbonne.com/products/baby/set.asp

NutriMinC RE9 Skin Care Set: $298.50
This product line was the first of its kind to address the “after” effects of sun exposure and aging with a REsult-oriented system of products for face and body. Set includes Wash, Toner, Serum, Eye Creme, Day Creme, Night Creme, plus a free Transforming Lift.
https://www.arbonne.com/products/anti-aging/nutriminc/face/set.asp

Faith

This is good.