Things I Love Today.

One of my new year's non-resolutions is to be more appreciative of the good things in my life that I enjoy, and as such I've recently taken to creating weekly "Things I Love Today" lists in my lovely little leather-bound brown notebook that I take with me everywhere.

Since this blog is basically a virtual version of such little notebook, and it's much easier and less time-consuming to attach .jpgs in Blogger than it is to meticulously cut and paste photos onto actual paper, I've decided to share this week's list with whoever is so inclined to read it...

Thin-tipped Crayola 12 Washables Original. I've a long standing affinity for good writing utensils, and the purple and sky blue in this package are truly heaven in marker-form.

Alex James' autobiography, Bit of a Blur. It's obviously fluff but So. Much. Fun. to read. Because really, who doesn't want to have been a young, sexy, debaucherous rockstar in 1996 in the Groucho in London?
A slice of day-old birthday cake lovingly packed into a tupperware box and placed on my desk.

The new Soundtrack of Our Lives album, Communion. A double-disc filled to the brim with derivative-yet-oh-so-enjoyable rock n' roll tunes as played by a gaggle of really cool Swedish dudes? Yes, please.
Being young, alive, happy, alone, and fabulous, with awesome friends and a lovely apartment and the whole proverbial world at my feet. The Imperial Tea Company's Royal Jasmine Blossom candles. The pitch-perfect scent contained in a surprisingly chic little bronze tin (which there are no photos of on the internet apparently) is really, really gorgeous.

Doing-It-Myself. Hammering my first nail into my first wall. Lifting and tying a mattress to the roof of a minivan. Fixing a faulty drain. It's wonderfully empowering to not rely on other people for anything. I may have no photo for this specific point, but it's the thing I've discovered I love most of all.

Results.

Welcome to Sublime Oh-Nine everyone! I hope it's been everything you've wished for it to be thus far and more, and that this year brings nothing but good things for you. I have a sneaking suspicion that it's going to...but remember, it will be what you make it! And I'm committed to making mine the best year of my life yet.

As promised, here are a couple of [not so clear] photos of my Kate Moss-inspired New Year's Eve look. We had an absolute blast...as evidenced by bleary eyes I'm sporting. But hey, at least the hair turned out!

2009.

I don't believe in New Year's Resolutions. I don't believe in Valentine's Day for the same reasons. Gestures and actions and promises put into one tiny day slot on a calendar, full of pressure and expectation, aren't actually indicative of anything to me.

Change only requires will...if you've got that part down, you'll most likely find the way regardless of whether it's December 27 or July 2 or the much-anticipated January 1.

So, for that reason, I don't make New Year's Resolutions. Change comes quickly and change comes gradually and change sometimes seems like it's not coming but always rolls around to anyways, often regardless of whether you want it to or not.

But, most importantly, change is what you make of it. There are, of course, things in this world which you can control and things which you cannot. But, at the end of the day, you are your life. So make it what you want it to be. Pay no heed to the day of the year, the time of the day or the people and places and faces that you believe to be in your way.

Make no resolutions. Make decisions.

I'm excited for a fresh start, both in terms of the website and in other, more personal aspects. It just so happens that this year such change is happening on the cusp of a crazy, messy, glorious 2008 and [hopefully] even crazier 2009, but I won't live my life based on the conditions set upon me by a clock. It just so happens. And so, for the time being, I'll take it as it is. All things must pass. It's what you make of the passing and, more significantly, the starting again that counts.

So this is my HAPPY NEW YEAR resolution to myself.

P.S. New site with more fashion-based content up in the new year! I'm hoping for the 'launch' sometime within the first week of January, so keep your eyes peeled!

P.P.S. I wish all of you the happiest, most challenging, exciting, fabulous 2009's! And an amazing New Year's Eve, of course!