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My New Year’s resolutions:

1- leave the dogs less

2- shop more, I think it’s good for your soul - and the economy

3- make more money -to prepare for #2

4- be neater, I’m pretty embarrassing (example- my friend Katy gets in my car with a lint brush)

5- write more letters and fewer emails

6- learn to scuba dive, why not? It’s a perfectly normal thing for someone who is afraid of the ocean.

7- learn to groom the dogs

8- make a garden and garden it myself

9- start reading the stacks of books I’ve piled up

10- Be a better me. No one is perfect and I have plenty to improve on!

Here’s to a successful, happy, and healthy 2011!

Happy New Year, Maggie

It doesn’t get much better for me then a Caribbean holiday. I wake up late, drink coffee until I’ve run out of pages to read and tan the day away (with a 45 SPF of course). In the early evening I like to explore the island, search for the very best Anguillan rum punch and have a quiet dinner with reggae music filling the air. I put hot sauce on anything in site and think it’s possibly running through my veins. The Caribbean and I are meant to be together.

Monday night we had dinner at one of Anguilla’s most beautiful hotel’s, Malliouhana. What a beautiful and elegant spot! From the restaurant the views of the Caribbean Sea and the beautiful beaches below are drop dead gorgeous. The menu is right up there with New York’s finest and the dessert is reason enough to spend a day traveling to Anguilla.

After our delicious dinner we decided to head over to Sandy Ground. Sandy Ground is one particular harbor in the heart of Anguilla where it seems like everything is happening! It is the perfect spot for boats to anchor and a great place to meet locals or people traveling from all over the world. The streets are lined with some of Anguilla’s most famous restaurants and bars such as Johnno’s, Ripples, Sandbar and The Pumphouse. It is also home to Anguilla’s best dive shop, Vigilant Divers. I am scared of the ocean so, that last bit of information I only know from hearsay. I’m working on my fear.

When we got to Sandy Ground we were sad to find out that most places are closed on Monday nights. Luckily for us, Ripples was open. Ripples is a quintessential Caribbean bar. It’s on the beach and has Bob Marley blaring, lots of colorful decoration and a not quite complete selection at the bar. It’s perfect. We had a nice quick drink there before heading out to Mango’s for some dominos and then to Anguilla’s newest addition, the Viceroy. What an interesting place that is.

We visited the Viceroy a few years ago when it was still under construction and seemingly had potential. Now, fully up and running it gives off much more of a “Spring Break” feeling then anything related to Anguilla. We tried getting a drink at the bar but, the 10,000 15 year olds trying to do the same thing made it a little difficult. When I was 15 and on spring break I’m pretty sure I was home shoveling snow but, that’s besides the point. Once we finally got the bartenders attention, our non-alcoholic drinks were a little disappointing, to say the least. Deciding to ditch our non-alcoholic rum & Ting’s for glasses of wine we overheard that Banky Banks would be performing and the rumor was that Michael Jordan was staying there. The teen filled bar finally was making sense and it was our cue to leave. Since partying with the kids, we’ve heard The Viceroy doesn’t normally give off the vibe we experienced. We’re going to give it another try at tonight’s sunset. If any kid without facial hair has a margarita (virgin or not) I’m out of there.

On a sadder note, a friend of mine from high school passed away very recently. It’s a very sad circumstance and there is nothing to say or do that will make the situation better. One of my best friends from high school died just a few years ago as well. Recently I saw someone on facebook write “we shouldn’t be losing our friends for another 35 years”. The scary part is that it will just keep happening whether we like it or not. The worst part is that these two friends were two of the best people you can imagine, people who this world was very lucky to have.

I’m going to do my best in this new year to show my loved ones how grateful I am to have them in my life. I’m the biggest offender when life gets a little too busy and it’s easy to not keep in touch. It’s something I have to work on. I’m the first to turn my phone off when someone calls because “I just have too much to do.” I’m the first to not answer an email for weeks because “it can wait.” Friendship is a very powerful thing and I count myself very lucky for the friendships I have. Life is what we make of it while we’re here, it’s an important thing for me to remember ever day.

Our friends are very missed.

Maggie

I’m dog homesick. I called my three Goldens in Petaluma yesterday to see how their Christmas was and to make sure they were behaving themselves but, they didn’t answer and they still haven’t called me back. I think I need to get them email accounts so we can communicate better.

It was hard for me to be at the cottage (my house in Northern New York) without the dogs because I know how much they love being there and playing in the snow! Henry’s brother Piper and sister Bo stopped by and I know he would have loved to catch up, next time I guess. Beatrice hasn’t seen the snow yet, in fact I’m not sure she would like it as much as Henry and Albert. Anytime it’s cold or raining in San Francisco I practically have to beg her to go out or bribe her with a treat. Despite the dogs not being there I still think there’s nothing better then Christmas in Northern New York. On Christmas night we barbecued our turkey in the 11 degree winter air and celebrated with 22 friends and family members. It was a perfect end to an incredible week at home and I can’t wait to be back very soon!

Yesterday we made it out of Northern New York just before the snow started falling. We had a few delays here and there as well as some quality time at the Charlotte International Airport. Eventually, against the weather’s best efforts we made it to Anguilla. We are celebrating the second half of our holiday vacation here with Alex’s family. Al and Bea did their best to assure us they would have no problem hopping on a flight to meet us for a little fun in the sun and for New Year’s. Luckily, Henry’s voice of reason and discovery of a new mud filled pond is keeping the three of them safely in Petaluma.

I have loved this little island since I started coming here in 1998. I realized the only way to get some peace and quiet when you work in the fashion industry is to get as far away as possible to a place where you cannot be reached. After some research during the Paris show’s I chose Anguilla as my destination. I left as soon as the show week ended and enjoyed 7 days alone with nothing to do and nobody to talk to, it was perfect. From then on it was my destination of choice (except the cottage!). Luckily for me, we are spending New Years’ here before we head back to San Francisco. My itinerary for this week includes reading, sleeping, and tanning. It’s going to be rough. I’ll be thinking of all of you who are enjoying the snow!

Hen, Al, and Bea I miss you dearly and will see you soon. Below is a post card that I send to you with love.

With peace and love,

Maggie

T’was the week of Christmas when all through the house

Bea is always stirring and not like a mouse;

The bones were stacked by the presents with care,

Hen, Al, & Bea hoped that soon they’d be theirs;

The dogs were nestled all snug on their beds,

While visions of Petaluma danced in their heads….

This year Henry has decided to take his younger sister and brother to Petaluma for Christmas and New Years. He thinks Northern New York is just too far and cold for him this time of year and to be honest, he wasn’t sure if Beatrice would be able to handle the snow, she’s never seen snow before. Albert couldn’t have been more excited by Hen’s news but, Bea wasn’t as sure. Henry assured her that she wouldn’t be home sick and that mom and dad would come pick them up in January but, I could tell she was a little frightened as I was packing her going away bag.

The dogs get very depressed when they see me packing. Henry lays on the couch with his head in his paws and looks up at me with sad eyes that seem to say ”my world is going to crash down if you leave.” Al refuses to talk to me or acknowledge me for that matter and Bea… well, she tries to eat everything I’m putting in my bag, sweet I think. This time I tried packing secretly by putting the bag on the bed where they couldn’t see it but, very little gets past these guys.

Yesterday I made my way across the country to Sackets Harbor, NY where I grew up (Hen & Al too!) and where most of my family is now. There’s nothing quite like winter in Northern New York. You can pretty much be guaranteed that there will be lots of snow, ice on the lake and freezing cold nights. It’s a lot like the north pole! Some people think it’s too cold and too snowy but, I think it’s perfect.

Since I moved to the west coast, I don’t get as many chances to visit Northern New York (or my friends and family there) as I used to. Luckily two of my best friends, who I’ve known since I was 6 months old, (and who were two of my bridesmaids!) came over for the night to catch up. We never do anything crazy or elaborate when we get together. We enjoy the time together and appreciate the chance to say, “I’ve missed you”, face to face.

The next day my family celebrated my Great Uncle Bud’s 86th Birthday. I also had the opportunity to see some of my sisters, my mom, nephew, brother-in-law and my favorite coffee shop, Chrissy Beanz. Alex arrives tomorrow morning which will make my family almost (no dogs!) complete. It will finally really be Christmas for me and I plan to make the most of my time here!

What I’ve come to realize is that I am very sad to not have my beloved dogs with me. As much as I will miss them and be thinking of them while I’m away, I’ve gained my family and friends and that is irreplaceable.

I’m looking forward to celebrating Christmas the old fashioned way, surrounded by turkey, snow, happiness, and love.

My name is Maggie and I am the mother of our three Golden Retrievers Henry, Albert and most recently, Beatrice. Alex and I moved from Manhattan to San Francisco in the summer of 2009 when Alex began working for his family’s business. Early in 2010 Alex proposed to me, resulting in a very excited and happy me!

On September 18th, 2010 Alex and I were married in Lake Placid, New York where we celebrated with a small group of family and friends (and Hen & Al) in an intimate setting on the lake. The day after we were married we left, fully exhausted for a two week honeymoon where we went on amazing safari’s and relaxed on the most serene beach we’d ever seen…it was paradise for sure!

Today, back in San Francisco life has more or less gone back to the way it was before we got engaged, except for one little furry detail, Beatrice. Beatrice, or Bea was an early wedding gift we were given this summer and she is the sweetest, most loving, energetic, mischievous little golden ever! We love her with all of our hearts…. most of the time.

For Alex, Henry and Albert kind of came with the “Maggie package.” I should have known we’d end up married the moment I brought two wet goldens into Alex’s apartment for the first time. They shook wet fur and wiped their wet bodies against his clean white walls, slapping their tails happily and jumping on his once stain free cream sofa, he just smiled. When he asked me to move in a few weeks later and adjusted to life with hair on his suits, his clean car now dog friendly, stains on his Persian carpets and paw prints on the Prataesi sheets, still with a smile on his face asking if I wanted champagne, I knew he was the man for me, and for the dogs.

The move to San Francisco was a welcome change for Hen and Al, and Beatrice seems to think it suits her just fine as well. They love spending time in Napa where they frolic through the vineyards (Hen prefers Opus while Al & Bea like Mondavi) visiting Grandma in Tiburon is a favorite and they do their best to go boating as often as possible. In the Bay, Albert tries to make friends with the seals on a weekly basis but, it doesn’t seem to be working. In general they just find the streets cleaner, dogs groomed better and air quality nicer. This is not to say they won’t be visiting NYC anytime soon.

Beatrice definitely shook up our life once things had a chance to settle down after the wedding, honeymoon and hype of being newly married. It took Hen and Al a good four months to be able to look her in the eyes and let her walk past without growling at her. I think they finally forgive us for disrupting their happy life with this creature. Bea is a very happy little girl, on her good days. I like to call her “sweetbea,” like sweetpea if you missed that. She chews her bone at my feet when I’m making dinner or am on the computer, she tears the car gate off while we’re driving so she can sit on my lap, and she howls if we leave her downstairs at night. Now Beatrice does have her faults, she’s not always so sweet. It took us months to wean her off of eating her poop, she loves eating cords, shoes, blackberrys, boxes, carpets, basically anything in front of her and when she feels like she’ not getting enough attention she pees, wherever she may be standing.

Bea is kind of a symbol for us in this new chapter of our lives. We are excited to be married and to start a family while focusing on work, family, our social lives and planning for the future. She is loving, excitable, hungry, growing, not perfect, full of surprises, and happy, jut like us, which makes her the perfect addition.

As long as all goes as planned and she has a long happy and healthy life, Beatrice will be by our sides as our family grows and develops, chewing her way through the years.