Happy 2012!

via pinterest

Well here we are...three days into the new year. Welcome 2012!

Remember when I said I was going to take a bit to rest and rejuvenate for the new year? That's exactly what I did and I couldn't feel more refreshed. I also wasn't paying attention to the timing of the holidays so when I said I'd be back on January 1st, I had great intentions but just couldn't bear the thought of logging in on off days. (Sometimes, a girl's just gotta unplug. Do you ever feel that way?) Plus, (crazy confession) I get overwhelmed with the thought of the first post in the new year. (So much pressure!)

So as I was saying...here we are. What a fab year 2011 was, huh?

In January, we discussed open toed shoes with tights and created dream boards. Feburary brought fun times like the colorful Chinese New Year Parade, a Snowmaggedon and my very first outfit post! March offered adventures like a trip to LA and a fashion event I had a hand in planning. April came with cotton, green beans, and gratitude. Oh, and nail stickers!! May meant menswear, mint, and meaning. In June, we shared tips for shopping consignment, donned little black dresses, and colorblocked brights! July (and some of August) saw me travel for 34 days in a row, a milestone birthday, and my favorite look of the year - dip dyed tips! September started Spot the Steal, and held good times like a Winery Tour, Bridesmaids Party and a Beauty Show. October equaled a creepy manicure, trips to Tennessee (1,2) and lots of pumpkin spice latte's. In November we talked baggage (packing that is), and I had the opportunity to meet some of you lovelies at this and this. And finally, in December I shared my Christmas crib, our holiday card, a peek at my modeling debut with Too Faced cosmetics and my gift giving strategy.

Overall, I've been overwhelmed by the support, kindness and opportunity I've been offered this year: on, because of, and outside of this blog. Most of all, I'm grateful to you:  for reading, following along, sharing your thoughts and making me realize each and every day that I'm lucky to call this a hobby. (This was quite the year of meeting many of you in real life - bonus!)

Looking ahead, I reflected on last year's goals and am pretty pleased with the outcome. In 2012 I'm inspired to:

• read more.
• drink more wine (why not?)
• travel even more (oh, how I love it.)
• be fabulous (life's too short to be anything but fabulous!)
• stress less.
• master the art of macaron making.
• create a mean gallery wall.

 Aaaaaand we're off! Happy New Year Lovelies!

Live to the point of tears.

via 

I tend to get anxious over the first post of the new year. Honestly, it's a post a write more for myself than for the reader because it's a great personal checks and balances from year to year. But it's always hard to know where to begin and where to end. Usually, a few days in, something will just come to me, a way to sum up one year and start a new one, and the words will start to flow. But sixteen days into 2014, nada. After a hectic fall / December, I've been a bit behind on things I would normally die at the thought of (late Christmas gifts, forgetting birthday's, etc.) but oddly wasn't that bothered this time around. I was beginning to wonder what was wrong with me. And as I reread my first post of 2013, I started to fear that maybe I'd let go a little too much.

I stumbled on this print in early January and a few days later, a pivotal small moment happened. 

We were having afternoon tea, our 2nd annual to start the new year, when my husband received an email relating to a problem with his business. He was frustrated but calm and we spent a few minutes venting before directing the conversation back to more pleasant things, little things - like how pretty the setting was and what a perfect day (rainy) for warm tea. And during this, I got teary. I wasn't sad, just literally living to the point of tears. It was the first time I realized this is something that happens to me often. It happened here. And here.

Then, listening to this audiobook a week later, a sentence grabbed me.

"With each small cry, it feels less a release and more like an irrepressible unfiltered tenderness at being fully here. The more of these moments I experience, the less a problem it seems, for isn't this what I've been after, to be this close to life, to be pricked beneath the surface of things? Isn't anything that keeps us this close to life a gift?" - Mark Nepo

2013 included some bigger goals and plans that didn't pan out. Though a little disappointed, we weren't devastated, because sometimes things simply aren't meant to be and we pretty comfortable with trusting the path. That said, last year was pretty awesome as well. We traveled. We partied. We lived. I didn't do so well with putting the phone down, and I'm still pretty impatient. But I did work my way through this book which is a.life.changer. And regardless of any of that, I can say that I lived to the point of tears. 

I've been thinking about time a lot lately and how much faster it seems to pass with each day. I'm doing the best I can to enjoy the little moments, after all, the little things are part of the theme of this blog. But I'm also realizing that I've put some things off that simply cannot wait. So without further ado: 

In 2014 I want to:

• Define my actionable goals. I know what you're thinking, "shouldn't that be the content of this post??". Well, yes. It should. But as I mentioned, I'm behind on stuff. 
• Continue the internal work. Wanna read this daily, and go to that. 
• More family/friend time. Being busy is really just a lame excuse.
• Read more (Audible counts). At the very least, 13 books this year. Starting with this book club.
• Keep traveling. Nothing renews me more.
• Blog more. This site has gone from stationery, to fashion, to hopefully a little more personal this year. Ideally, I envision a virtual scrapbook to look back on in years to come. I'm not planning on going back to a post per day habit, but you'll be seeing a bit more of me around in 2014.
• Keep up with the purging. I'm going to be ruthless this year, if I don't love it, it goes.
• Live to the point of tears. 
• And obviously, more theme parties! 

I hope your year is off to a wonderful start. Wishing you all the best in 2014! 

P.S. Funny story, I actually accidentally deleted the entire contents of this post and had to rewrite it all over again. Talk about living to the point of tears. Unfortunately, after rewriting, I don't think it's nearly as well said as the first draft but am posting it anyway. Look at me, checking off a goal already ;) 

2013 is my year.

{Print by SS Print Shop, whose blog I love}

I always find the first post of the new year a little overwhelming. There's a deep desire to start off on the right foot, with something powerful, with meaning. Something that'll stick to the ribs as we say in the South. But the purpose of goals or resolutions or whatever you want to call them, is to just do something. To start somewhere. Taking small steps each day until you've climbed the proverbial mountain. So while I don't have any big epiphanies for you about the future or any Pinterest quotes that'll change your life I can tell you this...

2012 was amazing. Incredible actually. Come to think of it, are there words with bigger meaning than that? The laughs that were had, the parties, adventures, the travel, the people we met, the all around good times. I will forever cherish this year as one filled with love. Do not be fooled, we faced (and still are) a huge challenge this year. The details would bore you, but from it, I learned to let go - of lists, of expectations, of the need to control every thing I possibly could - and it felt amazing. I gave into outings with friends in lieu of a clean house. Conversely, I ditched plans in favor of a good book and a nap. I did things that made me happy for the right reasons, because I know these moments won't last forever. I guess you could call it some serious soul nourishment. Maybe it was just part of my life journey, or maybe it was in preparation for exciting things to come. Which brings us to 2013...

First of all, I'd like to state how elated I am that we're the year twenty THIRTEEN! (Hello, who's your biggest fan?) (For the record, I was professing my love long before a Miss T. Swift could even count that high.) But I digress, we're here and it's wonderful. And I can't help but think that this year has some magical moments in store. A few things I'm looking forward to: world travel (I'm leaving in 2 days!), a 10 year wedding anniversary, and hopefully lots more amazing memories made with people I love spending time with. So I'm declaring 2013 my year, because it just wouldn't make sense not to. (And there's just no other favorite number I care about. ;-)

Of course, I do have a few goals in mind, but this year they're more centered around internal growth and fulfillment rather than eating less coconut or something crazy, because we both know that for this girl, that's not gonna happen.

• Practice patience. Stop rushing. And stop being irritated at having to wait.
• Put down the smartphone. Seriously. 
• Listen and remember. Stop nodding and saying "uh-huh".
• Make some time for all those magnificent mani's.
• Purge! For every item in, another goes out.

And for recap purposes, I'm pretty pumped about the completion of last year's list. Besides mastering the art of macaron making (I had one good batch) I feel pretty accomplished!

Wishing you magic and awesomeness in 2013!


P.S. Even if no one reads it but my mom, I love posting in the new year because it's so darn fun to reread past goals. Here are 2010's recap and 2011's list if you're curious.

Resolution Solution

Photo by Octavuss

Here we are...the first few days into a new year. How are we feeling?? Excited? Overwhelmed? Anxious?

A few years ago I started listing out our (me + the husband) resolutions. Separate and joint in a spiral journal. And at the end of the year we do a little recap before starting all over again. It's amazing to see what fell by the wayside (you know it happens!) and where we performed like rockstars.  We like to call them goals rather than resolutions because goals are actually attainable, right? (Resolution feels a little too similar to a 'quick fix' and quite frankly makes me nervous ;)

2010...here are a few things we loved about you:

• Friday night cocktail hour, a new recipe each week!
• You threw a lot at us but you taught us we were stronger than we thought
• A new dream seed was planted
• You offered amazing experiences in the form of travel, adventure and spontenatiety giving us the chance to spend more time with family, reconnect with old friends and nurture relationships with new ones
• A tea company was born!

 2011...here's a sampling of what we want out of you:

• More amazing experiences. Visits to and from, events, parties and adventure...I hereby appoint myself Official Social Calendar Executive.
• A little financial closure. (Aka - pay off my car by June - 1.5 years early - woot!)
• A sold condo
• More reading. Last year you provided some great books in between your hordes of fashion mags, keep it up. And at least one classic per year. War & Peace, here I come!
• Stick with the purging. Less really is more :)

Happy New Year friends. Best of luck with your goals and many happy moments in 2011.

Chinese New Year 2014

For the fourth year now, we've attended the Chinese New Year parade and celebration in Chicago's Chinatown. It's such a fun, festive activity and feels like a mini vacation from our typical weekend routine. (Which, this winter, has included lots of Netflix and napping.) Here are a few photo's from the "Year of the Horse" last Sunday and a some predictions for what's ahead.

Kung Hei Fat Choy!

Astrology.com says "the year of the horse is a perfect time to “gallop” towards challenges; this will improve strength in life and help dreams come true. It’s also a good year for trusting intuition, but it’s key to plan carefully and keep a clear head when it comes to financial matters." So, gambling is out. 

The Independent says, "people will stick more to their principles and stand firm. So it is hard to negotiate or compromise as there are more tendencies for people to fight for their ideals.”


Follow along on Instagram to see our adventures in real time!

First travel of 2013!

As I mentioned in my New Year's post, I'm leaving town again for a few weeks. I can't think of a better way to start the new year than with a new adventure! Hong Kong, Cambodia, and Thailand are on the list and to say I'm excited is the understatement of 2013. It's a business trip and I'll be taking a breather from posts until I return, unless something strange happens and I decide to sit in front of a computer instead of explore foreign lands in my free time... yeah, right. :) Hope your first few weeks of the new year are amazing! I'll try to Instagram when I can so stay tuned!

P.S. My last trip to Hong Kong: Skyline, Streets, Shopping, and Buddha!

Chinese New Year 2011

In early February we attended the Chinese New Year celebration in Chinatown. The experience was amazingly colorful and exciting. I love a good parade and thought I'd share some of my favorite photo's from the day. 

It's the year of the Rabbit so I wore Mom's vintage rabbit fur coat. See more of it here.

According to Chinese tradition, "the Rabbit brings a year in which you can catch your breath and calm your nerves. It is a time for negotiation. Don't try to force issues, because if you do you will ultimately fail. To gain the greatest benefits from this time, focus on home, family, security, diplomacy, and your relationships with women and children. Make it a goal to create a safe, peaceful lifestyle, so you will be able to calmly deal with any problem that may arise. The easygoing bunny is a welcome replacement for the restless, aggressive tiger, which ruled an erratic year." Amen to that!

Sources: here & here

Chinese New Year 2012

Chinese New Year is becoming an annual tradition. We celebrated the "Year of the Dragon" with a parade, and delicious meal in Chicago's Chinatown. No snow this year but still beautiful and colorful as ever. Kung Hei Fat Choy! 

July is my Birthday Month {New Series}

July is my birthday month. The actual day isn't until the 30th but I start getting all reflective on the 1st, sort of counting down the whole way, reviewing and evaluating the past year while preparing for a new one. It's my own personal mid year resolution time. This birthday is significant to me because I'm entering the last year of my 20's (eeek!) and to commemorate I'd like to start a new series for this month. I've noticed lots of '30 before 30' lists floating around out there and while I think that's a wonderful idea I already have more lists than I know what to do with!  So I'm opting to do a sort of recap of my years instead. You see - it's a wonderful life I've had. Sure, sometimes daily life is frustrating, sad or overwhelming. But overall, it's been a good run. So... in similar form to my Grateful Series I'm going to spend a little time posting moments from my life that mattered. Happy or sad, big or small. The moments that make me...me. I can't promise entertainment - it's more of a personal recap - but maybe you'll learn something or think of your special moments. If so, I hope you'll share!

P.S. A new month means a new calendar. This adorable one is from Red Stamp, the blue makes me think of a pool - perfect for summer :)  Get it here.

Chinese New Year 2013

Over the past few years, my job has given me quite a bit of exposure to Asian culture - through daily communication and some amazing trips - and I must say, it's one of my favorites. It's also wonderful to have domestic access to some of my favorite things about it here in Chicago's Chinatown. For our third annual Chinese New Year parade we enjoyed a little pre-parade dim sum and tea and had full intentions of watching the festivities from our usual spot. That is, until we spotted my company float in the lineup, said hello, and were invited on board. So we jumped at the chance and the rest is history. Kung Hei Fat Choy!

And then this little guy jumped on me when we returned home, which meant the end of productivity.
Who am I to refuse kitty cuddle time?

Have a happy week!

I Married Adventure

Starting my new year goals off on the right track, specifically to read more, I dove into "I Married Adventure" on New Year's Day. Though the book has been in my possession for a couple of years, I'm just now getting around to reading it and kicking myself for taking so long. (You may remember my obsession with the now shuttered Martin & Osa stores, which lead to more research and the discovery of a museum about the real life couple and their adventures.) I'm completely enamored by this book. I re-read pages over and over, sometimes out loud to my husband, in sheer awe of their experiences in the undiscovered world, pausing just to try and imagine what it was like. I could ramble on and on about it but really, you should just read it. And when you're finished reading it, use it in your home decor. It's uber popular in interiors due to it's zebra print cover design and has even been incorporated into the theme of wedding/engagement shoots. Peep the proof below!

Clockwise from top left: via Lonny, Country Living, unknown, Green Wedding Shoes



Once I finish the book, a road trip to the museum is on my absolute must do winter weekend list. So excited!
Have you read it? What did you think?? Have you or are you currently displaying it in your home?  Do share!