Sunday, January 1, 2012

Happy New Year!

I hope all of you had a safe and happy New Year!  Today, I am looking back at 2011 and forward to 2012.  I think it's important to review, re-assess and regroup.

Dress: no label (bought on eBay)

Cuff: So Good Jewelry
Bracelet: Givenchy
Shoes: Manolo Blahnik Prisca
Clutch: old/no label
Necklace: Express
Earrings: Blue Nile

In 2011:
  • I transitioned jobs.
  • I took the opportunity to complete an educational goal I'd set for myself.
  • I learned to cook three dishes very well (Creamy Garlic Mashed Potatoes, Apple & Onion Sausage Skewers, Beefy Mac and Cheese) and didn't use boxed ingredients for any of them!
  • I started this blog.
  • Mr. Fantastic and I took the kids to Los Cabos for our family vacation and we went to San Francisco and New Orleans by ourselves.  I also took my sister to New Orleans for a quick weekend trip.
  • We made some home improvements: new living room and dining room furniture; kitchen upgrades.
  • Mr. Fantastic and I stayed married for another year (surpassing both Kim Kardashian's and Katy Perry's marriage longevity)

There were some hiccups along the way, but I believe in seeing the good things in life and letting go of all the bad.  So I will focus on all the things accomplished in 2011 and look to 2012 for bigger and better things.
I don't believe in resolutions because those have a way of being forgotten.  Instead, I will instead write what my hopes and dreams are for next year.

In 2012:
DO's:
  • I will continue to blog.  I will try to plan out my outfits in advance and work at styling my clothes in a way that is true to how I dress, but pushes me out of my fashion comfort zone.
  • Laugh with my lover over something completely dumb and unexplainable to anyone but us.
  • Spend time with my friends and loved ones.
  • Continue to decorate our home and make it more...mine.
BUY's:
  • I will faithfully follow Nina Garcia's shopping rule: Do not purchase anything unless you already have 3 things in your closet that would work with the new item.
  • I will buy a 50mm 1.4 USM lens for my camera
  • I will save up some money and buy myself one great piece in each category: jewelry, shoes, handbags, clothing item, gadget
LEARN's:
  • I will learn to cook one dish well each month so that I can create a week's worth of meals by the end of the year.
  • I will learn the manual settings for my camera
  • I will learn to make one great accessory for myself.
TRAVEL's:
  • I want to visit Europe - specifically Prague and Brussels with Mr. Fantastic
  • East Coast Family Vacation-this seems very likely (NYC, DC, and/or Philly)
  • Beach Getaway just Mr. Fantastic and me (I would LOVE St. Lucia or the Dominican Republic again)
  • Visit an old college friend in Panama before she moves back to Taiwan.
  • I would love to take my sister to Paris as a high school graduation gift.  I would love to visit the many ateliers in Paris and take a couple of my shoes to Minuit Moins for repair, not to mention of course, do some shopping!  My sister would like to add that she actually wants to see the museums and sights, too!
What are your goals for 2012?

5 comments:

  1. Happy New Year!
    I really love this dress on you, that's a fantastic look for New Year's Eve!

    I didn't really think about New Year's Resolutions, but I definitely want to travel a lot in 2012.

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  2. Thanks, Kath! I loved your Christmas outfit, so girly!

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  3. lovely dress!!!!!!!

    Happy new year! :)

    xx, Rachel♥

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  4. You and I share the same view on resolutions. I don't make resolutions for the new year. If change is necessary, make it now! Why wait? While we are on the subject of hopes, here are things that have been on my mind for a while now:
    1. Since having the baby in March, Jo and I have cut back on our private getaways. I had a really tough time adjusting to motherhood and did not have the energy to nurture my relationship with my husband for several months. Now that we're settled into parenthood and have "hired" an on-call babysitter, we're getting back on track with our romantic outings. Our plan is to make at least one weekend out of each month about US. I can't wait until Valentine's Day weekend (wink)!
    2. Travel plans: My mom and I have tentatively planned a trip to visit my cousin in Hawaii before he moves to Thailand at the end of 2012. The hubby and I would like to take a 7-day cruise in the Fall. My sister and I will probably hit up New York before it gets too cold. Did I mention the family reunion in D.C.?? How in the world will I pull this off?
    3. As 2011 was drawing to a close, I realized that my husband has been right (go figure!). I HAVE neglected myself since the baby came along. Why in the world would I argue with a man who insists I pamper myself more?! This should come as good news not just for me, but for Ana as well! It means we get to go shopping!!
    4. FINALLY, I am determined to nurture my friendships. I've not been the ideal friend in the past because I did not realize my huge potential to love others. Not to harp on motherhood, but it has truly opened up my heart. I see my friends for the awesome people they are, and I look forward to making lifelong memories with them :)

    So...this turned into a novel. Maybe I need to start a blog?! Geez..

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  5. Rachel! Thank you for stopping by, I think your blog is fantastic and I am so stoked about your Medwinds bag! Congratulations!

    Mrs. Kebbeh: I think this is the perfect time to reasses your goals. You know that I firmly believe that married couples should make time for themselves without their kids. I would hate to be so wrapped up in my children that I am left with a stranger when they grow up and move away. All the travel plans sound awesome and so does the shopping!

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