The beauty (and promise) of a new year...

Happy 2013, everyone. A new year, fresh, full of promise and goals and dreams. A whole 365 days to begin anew, to create the life we want, whatever that may be, to fill our lives and hearts with beauty. Fifty-two weeks to spend time with our favorite people. Twelve months in which to delight in our favorite spaces, books, blogs, flowers, shows, indulgences. A new year to discover (or rediscover) what makes our eyes shine. A chance to embrace beauty throughout our lives.
As I was thinking about the passing of the old year, I was struck by how glad I was, frankly, to see it go. Last year, while fruitful for me in many ways, did not go anywhere near like I hoped or dreamed it would. But then, you know what they say about the best-laid plans...
That got me thinking about what I could do differently in this new year. Last year things were so chaotic and busy with all the moving from one coast to the other and getting the house redecorated ~ so many things got pushed aside. As is usually, the case, the things that got pushed aside were the things I most enjoyed doing ~ creating and designing fabrics, taking pictures, writing articles, blogging, cooking, etc. Before I knew it, moving and redecorating had consumed my entire year. And as much as I love decorating and redecorating, it was also a tremendous amount of work.
On the bright side, all the time and creativity spent on those projects was worth it because they are done and our home is lovely. There will be no major redecorating or renovating this year and definitely no moving. And that means I can refocus on all the things I love but couldn't get to last year. I'll have time to dwell on a thought for more than a few minutes and days to do nothing but photograph a flower 200 times trying to find just the right angle. I'll be able to get back in the kitchen in earnest and plant an herb garden and sit on the porch and read. I'll have time to work on The Pink Home and get my Etsy shop re-opened.
You know, fun stuff.
I'll also be able to work on my writing and blogging more. I was thinking about what I'd like to do with my blog this coming year and it suddenly hit me that I'd like to use it to re-focus my energies and creativity. From that thought came the list below about different themes for each month that I'd like to explore on this blog ~ sort of a mindful stroll through the year as it passes.

January ~ Resting & Planning the Year

February ~ Love 

March ~ Starting Anew

April ~ Letting Spring Blossom

May ~ The Beauty of Seasonal Living

June ~ Blooming Where You're Planted

July ~ The Little Things

August ~ Summer Delight

September ~ Another Fresh Start

October ~ Autumn's Glory

November ~ The Beauty of the Kitchen

December ~ Rejoicing in the Holidays

I'll keep a list of the monthly themes on my sidebar, should you want to join the conversation. I'll be offering ideas and inspiration some of you might find helpful, so I hope you'll join me in 2013. It's going to be a very good year.


I am linking to:
Home and Garden Thursday at A Delightsome Life
Pink Saturday at How Sweet the Sound
Seasonal Sundays at The Tablescaper
Sunlit Sundays at My Little Home and Garden

Photo by The Art of Living Beautifully