2011 - Resolutions

I've been trying to write this post for awhile and I've since completely flip flopped on the idea of resolutions and then flip flopped right back to where I started. So, in the words of my dearest Emily, here's the thing.

New beginnings? They happen every day. Every night I go to bed with the opportunity to wake up and change my perspective. Start a new habit. Quit an old one. Lose one thing and find another. Every single day, I can do that.

To me, starting something on January 1st, is kind of like setting myself up for failure. It's the new year, and everyone is talking about it, so it's easy and natural to make a long list of things I wish were different and plans to change those things. But the holidays are hectic and crazy and the first few weeks of January, when I'm planning to make over my whole life, are often spent playing catch up. There's laundry and grocery shopping to do. I need to mop the kitchen like you wouldn't believe. And Tonka? He looks like he could use a shower and that is a whole other drama. In between of my regular chores and duties I'm exhausted just thinking about including a whole new list to do that are completely out of my routine. Whew.

What I think the end of the year is great for, is, reflection. I reflect to find things to change but I'm not going to give myself a list and a due date because if I had a list, the first thing on it would be STRESS LESS. People change, and I am no exception. But this year, that change is welcome to come on it's own, as it seems fit. Not all within the first month of the year. 

January is just another month and 2011 is just another year. I'm pumped to keep going forward in my life and career. Instead of stressful expectations, I just want to keep on keeping on. I'm planning for more in every aspect of my life. But it's not a goal for the year. It's a continuation of my life.

xoxo

ok. also, I did totally make a resolution to learn more about food in an effort to eat better. Than I ate oreo's with whip cream. So uh... maybe I should resolve to grow some will power.

2010 - year in review

January was cold. Like really cold. I would wake up five minutes before work, hit snooze again, roll out of bed and onto my bike and ride to work. In January. Seriously. I hated waking up, sitting at work and lost interest in a lot of things. It was a bummer month and now I am sorry that I was so unpleasant to be around. In February, with $258 in my bank account, I withdrew $250 for a hair course and prayed, to Tonka, that it would be worth it. I started working at blo. It was worth it. Handing in my notice at Clarins felt like approximately 1 million lbs had been lifted from my shoulders. But I wasn't done... March rolled around and I was working eight days a week between Clarins and blo. Clarins and blo. Clarins and blo. Clarins and blo. Come April, it started to rain, but not much. I split my time between four blo locations and Clarins. I booked off time with blo to dedicate to Clarins. Then Clarins decided they didn't need me. I was pissed but now I see it wasn't that big a deal. In May I stopped spreading myself so thin and worked only at blo bloor west. I was relieved. I was exhausted. I finally knew that it was possible to love a job. I started a writing course and remembered that school is awesome. There were drinks on patios, friends birthdays and general celebrations for the fast approaching summer. In June I did prom and high school graduation makeup and remembered what it was like to be so awkward and so difficult and so so so so. One set of 17 year olds left pot underneath my coffee table. When I finally found it, I yelled at my roommate. I don't have clients over now. B and I saw Tune Yards and I felt inspired and grateful and elated. July marked the middle and the rush of wedding season. It was hot and hot and hot. After one wedding I got so hot I threw up and it was really embarrassing. Now I know to bring cold drinks and snacks. B and I went to snake island and I fell in love again and more. August was still hot. Hot. Photoshoots outside, free time inside. I found a new love in Dior pressed powder compacts. B and I had slushies. So many slushies. Tonka couldn't go on walks. At the end of the summer I was grateful for time off. September saw B and I travel through Germany with a stop in Prague. Frankfurt - Munich - Prague - Berlin - Hamburg - Frankfurt - Home. We ate the best food this mouth has ever seen. We layed in grass while B drank beer. And Damien Jurado owned my heart. October was my birthday. And the best I've ever had. B and I saw Sufjan Stevens and my brain exploded. I took it easy. But when I worked, I worked hard. I dressed up for Halloween and my greatest Halloween fear came true - no one else dressed up. Turns out that's not such a big deal either. November came and the makeup show was amazing. My kit became complete. B had a birthday. I reconnected with a bestie and forgot that other things were going on. December was difficult and I lost my grandfather. I am still afraid to go back to England because I don't think I can be there if he's not. I spent my first Christmas without my mum but B spent his first Christmas with my family which will always be special to me. Tonka got a red jacket that looks like a cape. We both looked forward to New Years Eve and 2011. Happy New Years, friends. xoxo.