Happy New Year!!!

I was talking to the nicest cashier ever at Walmart a few years ago — it was back in 2010, actually, just at the onset of my horrible depression. I started thinking about what a new year really means. If you really think about it, each day brings with it a new chance to change and grow. However, there’s just something about New Year’s Day that brings out the hopes and resolutions that we all make and swear to keep. Sometimes we keep them and sometimes we don’t. But maybe that’s not really what is important.

According to this young man at Walmart, New Year’s is the last holiday of the year. I replied that perhaps it is really the first holiday of a new year. Looking at it this way really made me think. The New Year’s holiday begins with New Year’s Eve. Does it matter whether we are saying goodbye to one year or saying hello to another? Is there really a difference? I’m not sure.

I started thinking about how I couldn’t wait for 2010 to be over. It was a year of ups and downs, and looking at the year through the eyes of my depression back then, it seemed like there were way more downs than ups.

I’ll be doing a longer “2013 Recap” next week, but needless to say, it’s been a pretty eventful year. So, what new things do I want to appear in the new year? Well, I want to start to live in the moment. No more — OK, at least not too many — “What am I going to do with my life?” or “What ifs…” or the dreaded “What’s going to happen?” Those are toxic questions, and everyone could benefit by a bit from the Buddhist wisdom — live in the moment and on the middle path. We should all try that in the coming year. Heck, start today and get a jump-start on the new you in 2014. I’m going to try.

Another thing I want to change in the new year is to slow down. It is not necessary to rush around like a madman. It is not necessary, and certainly not healthy, to act as though we are in a race. I think the phrase “crazy busy” should be stricken from the English language, and those who use it as a badge of honor should try changing their priorities.

What things do you want to take with you from 2013 to 2014? Is it your family and friends? Sure hope so. Your pets? Of course. Your job? Well, if that’s not on your list, maybe you can file that under things to change in the coming year. So do you see New Year’s Eve as the end or the beginning? Or, maybe, borrowing from our Buddhist pals again, you can see it as a little of both. You and I have the power to choose not only our attitude, but also our priorities, for the upcoming year.

What will you decide? I wonder what I will decide. I’ll let you know, friends! xoxo

P.S. My Open Letter To New Year’s Eve last year. 🙂

[Photos via We Heart It]

Peek Inside: My Christmas goodies

This year, we tried to keep things really simple when it came to gift giving. And perhaps (not so) surprisingly, we had a great Christmas. One of the fun parts? Since my mom has been making us stockings since we were kids (is it bad to look forward to one when you’re over 25…?), I came up with a cool idea that (hopefully!) will be a new tradition for us: We each gave stockings to the other two people. So, for example, I made two stockings — one for my mom and one for my sister — so it was fun to dig into two stockings on Christmas morning!

We even tried to keep it light when it came to gifts — just a few little things for each of us. As I was organizing my gifts a few nights ago, I couldn’t help but notice a pattern — my family knows me all too well. I, apparently, become a giddy schoolgirl over three things: Shopping, food and pop culture. Naturally, there is some overlap there, but you get the idea…

And my sister really, really knows the way to my heart… xoxo

Would You Rather: Go out on the town for New Year’s Eve or spend a quiet night at home?

My uncle and his family are off to New York City today to ring in the new year in Times Square, and the Huffington Post just shared 10 reasons it’s OK to spend New Year’s Eve at home, with some pretty spot-on GIFs.

Now, the last time I stayed up until midnight was, I think, when the clock struck 12am on Y2K — I had to see if the universe was going to implode. It didn’t. So, it’s safe to say I’ll be staying in this year (and will probably be in bed by 10pm), but what about you, friends?

Would you rather party until the big ball drops, or have a relaxed night at home? And…GO… xoxo


[Photo via We Heart It]

Love Lounge: What does ‘home’ mean to you?

With all the holiday-ness (and yes, I just invented a new word…), I’m sure lots of us have been spending time with family and friends. Opening presents. Playing games. Eating cookies and pie. Enjoying those classic “how have you been?” conversations. And as I’ve said before, family and home will always be one in the same to me. You can’t separate the two. They’re like peanut butter and jelly, like Sonny and Cher, like the ’90s and flannel.

So, I’d love to ask you, friends: What does home mean to you? Is it more of a place or a feeling? Or is it the people you surround yourself with? How do you know you’re home? And, what is your favorite part of home? Let’s chat!! xoxo

[Home print by Brooke Weeber from Etsy shop Little Canoe]

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas, friends! I hope you’re enjoying the day — maybe even putting your feet up and diving into a box of chocolates like we do every single year (side note: The light vanilla creams are my favorite!).

Since we’re all in full-on vacation mode around here (seriously, as I’m typing this, my sister is reading and my mom is playing Words With Friends on her iPad…), I thought I’d slow down a little for the rest of the week with some fun, not-too-serious posts, but can’t wait to get back to regular posting in the new year! I hope you’re surrounded by loved ones today, and I also hope you know just how thankful I am to have you in my life — you never fail to make me smile, and I look forward to new adventures together! But until then, relax and enjoy the holiday. After all, you certainly deserve it! xoxo

[Photo of my classic childhood Christmases visiting my grandparents in Alabama]