A peaceful Eve.
A pretty morning.
A pressie from Sonja.
A visit with Auntie Stephie.
Hail to the snow queen!
An illegally-made 1942 film adaptation of Ayn Rand’s WE THE LIVING.
The warmest, prettiest gloves that we’ve ever owned. By Cassy.
LIVING and breathing Canine Sophisticate.
Enjoying spirits.
Cooking.
Designing.
Preparing fuel which is pretty.
Ta da.
And posing in prAna.
Our third Christmas, without Bulimia.
And it was gorgeous.
© Nicole Marie Story Enterprises, LLC and nicoleandgwendolyn.com, 2011, 2012.
Our pugs have those red booties that Gwendolyn is wearing!! We called them popcorn feet, b/c they make a flapping noise like corn popping when the kids walk in them and bring out that ‘Frito feet’ smell. Is it creepy to like that? Those booties are also great inside for slippery floors for old pugs with joint problems.
Your holiday looks wonderful and restful and cozy!! Thanks for sharing your joyful day!
so …. may I ask….. at what store might I find that AMAZING pug sweatshirt? I’m vast states away from you, so no chance that anyone else will know if we were to wear it on the same day….love love love it!!
Last….congratulations on marking another year free of the beast…hard work
I’m in the process now and helps to know that you just have to keep chipping away at it…
wishing you a warm and wonderful Friday!
What a gorgeous comment!!! I am mobile, so pardon if I miss anything that you’ve addressed!!! When Gwendolyn’s shoes make that sound, I say, “Oh, Gwendolyn! Mommy hears the clicking of your heels!” And that makes her trot faster which makes the sound all the more adorable:)
As far as restful is concerned – ha. We have been working 24×7 for the last month. This Sunday is our first and only break. So excited for just Mommy & Gwendolyn time.
The shirt? Omg, it is my new favourite. Sonja ordered it from Etsy, I believe, so I shall leave the “where from” to her for answering!!!
Love that you are slaying your beast. Slash it hard. And it shall die.
Happy holidays to you and to your puggies!!! :D
xo NicoleAndGwendolyn:)
What precious gifts! I feel bad…I need to send something over for both your birthday and Gwendolyn’s, oh yes. Pardon the silly question, but when is Gwendolyn’s birthday? I’m sure you have told me but…ugh, you know my memory. I would feel a hypocrite with Xmas presents but now I think about it I could’ve done something for the 24th or New Year’s Day. Dammit.
Your food design looks perfect – red and green! Far better than any gluttenous table of Xmas piggery. Honestly I think most ‘indulgent’ food looks just as horrible as some people say our designs are – I’d rather have your Xmas dinner than anyone else’s.
Gwendolyn looks absolutely precious in every photo.
xxx
OMG! I didn’t even intend for the red and green colour scheme! I am the anti-Christmas tradition and have always preferred to wear something like glittery gold or pure white on the day… but yes! My food design was very Christmasy in the traditional sense! :D Hell, call me a Soviet! :D
You need not send me anything! Just please stay as my friend forever. Gwendolyn’s birthday is 11 October (My Little Miracle on 34th Street). xo
Oh, in recent years, I have taken to wearing yellow or brown on Christmas. :) White and glitter ‘n gold was more so for the early aughts. xo
Can we have a contest for readers? If there were a thought balloon over your dad’s head in that second picture, what would it say?
Oh, and PS? Your sister is hot. Is she like you or is she sane?
Just like me:)
What a shame.
She’s married, as is my other creative food consumer of a biological sister. Sure you won’t have me? ;)
Hahahaha.
That made me LOL.
I’ll direct him to your comment, as I’m certain he’ll love to play.
My guess would be he’s thinking: “God! If I’d had sons, we could at least slip down to the basement for a quick nip instead of having to listen to all this cackling and carrying on every damn Christmas day.”
Hahahaha. :D
Yumm to that gorgeous plate of green and brown! Love G’s clothes and HOLY SNOW!!
Vegan meatballs! Omg, to die for!!! :D
Stephie is so beautiful. It shouldn’t be possible to look that good in a Santa hat.
I agree. A Mrs. Clause Minnie Mouse hat for that matter:)
Wow Stephanie’s beautiful.
Ah someone already said that! Well, it’s true.
She’s in love with your compliments!
I love this post. It sounds like you had a nice holidays. It is great that you are so busy with Canine Sophisticate. What a great way to start 2013. What an accomplishment of three years freed from Bulimia. It is certainly looking like 2013 will be a fantastic year for Nicole and Gwendolyn.
Cheers, xxxxxx
It looks as though 2013 shall be a magnificent year for you, too. ;)
So excited to follow your adventures with your new handsome man!
Happy New Year, Liz! xo
Nicolette, I am really, really proud of you. You are managing your life and your career (you are an entrepreneur!) and are keeping shortcomings (bulimia) in check and at a distance! Lots to be grateful for, and you are grateful! Gwendolyn with her little gloves looks so precious, dainty, sweet and cute!
You look happier to me these days, you know?
I love you very much,
Francoise
I do feel like I am glowing from the inside out, Françoise!
Your friendship has much to do with that.
I love you very much, too! xoxoxo
Okay. Enough nicey-nice. I see two apparent contradictions of previous statements here. 1. I believe you stated that you were *not* going to celebrate Festivus with the nuklar family. 2. You mentioned at the start of Canine Sophistry that you wouldn’t do mass walkings…the photos seem to say otherwise….?
1.) I said with my grandparents. Do you see grandparents in the photographs?
2.) Policies and procedures are subject to change, especially if they shall benefit moi financially… and, of course, if the actions can be executed safely. My contracts are sound. I have a fab attorney.
Why shun your grandparents not the rest of the family? From your stories it sounds like mom and dad made a bulk of the rude comments, yet you still see them? What did your grandparents do? That said, I’m glad you got to spend the holidays with family. Looks like you had a nice time.
She must have some feelings for them–she’s hung onto that gallon of Mogan David they gave her until it’s vinegar.
What did my grandparents do?
They “did” nothing to intentionally harm me.
It’s just my ideals of perfectionism.
When they have commented on my weight, as in gaining weight, I interpret that as failure. Fat is failure.
Neither here nor there, I am telling my brain to shut the fuck up regarding those thoughts in 2013.
But you asked, so here is a reference for your question…
Walking on Eggshells.
looks like a perfect christmas! I’m so glad you like the shirt, when I saw it I just had to buy it for you. Did Gwendolyn receive the treats I sent her (also through etsy)?
OMG. Those treats came from you!!!!!!!!! Of course they did. I swear to ‘God’, they looked and smelled so good, and I was so hungry that I literally wanted one. Gwendolyn gobbled them up! :D And I’ve already worn and washed my pug sweatshirt thrice in one week’s time. That’s telling you something… yes, I am extreme and get addicted to things. Bet you never would have guessed that. ;) xo
That looks like a fabulous Christmas! Love Gwendolyn’s Hat and the wonderful Canine Sophisticate action, your business is fabulous!
I think we both have pretty fabulous businesses. ;)
I am very intrigued by the title of your newest article, and I cannot wait to read about the changes that you are making in 2013! Headed to your blog shortly. Happy New Year, Laura! x x x
Everyone looks more adorable when they are holding Gwendolyn.
I think that you should make arrangements to hold Gwendolyn for sometime in the foreseeable future. :)
What are those meatball-like things? They look delicious. :D
You know, whenever I see a photo of dogs being walked from the perspective of the dog-walker, I wonder what would happen if the dogs suddenly start running. In my head, a cartoon-like image of the dogwalker falling and being dragged along, forms. Ouch, I hope that doesn’t happen to you. Do you ever face dogs that suddenly excited, by the way? What do you do about that?
It’s good to know you had a great Christmas. I did too! :D
I wanted to send you a Christmas card, but you never replied. :/
Vegan meatballs! Nom nom nom.
Freaking delicious.
Yes, dogs pull. But I am strong. And I have good training on how to walk dogs on leashes.
During Gwendolyn’s puppyhood, we attended obedience classes like law school. And we were the best. ;)
One of the things I’ve heard of, about training animals, is that you have to show them who’s the boss. :P
That’s a wonderful present to have Christmas free from eating struggles!! The sweater looks lovely, inviting to put it on directly! :)