Until We Meet Again .

As I creep into this retrospective mood , it's difficult to narrow down the thoughts in my head .

It feels sort of dark . Anything but W H IM S Y . But hello 2 O 12 . This year feels a bit different .

New year .

New priorities .

My life is happening now .

Right now .

I have all of these visions . Yet so many obligations .

So many inspirations , yet so little order to them all .

I see all of these things + I want to have them .

I see all of these people doing things + I want to do them .

And in all of this madness , I have realized that I need to remind myself :

I don't have to do what everyone else is doing .

I don't have to dress this way . Or write that way . Or have to as many blog followers as others . I don't have to be selling my goods off of store shelves . I don't have to be a featured artist to feel like what I DO matters . Or that I ' ve succeeded at something . Anything .

Furthermore , from the lips of Guillaume Apollinaire :

Now + then , it's good to pause in our

PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS

+ just BE HAPPY .

And here I am , PURSUING happiness in parts of my life ,

but giving up HUGE sources of happiness in other parts .

Truth be told , I cannot blog forever .

I have loved taking time to write my thoughts here + share my inspirations here .

But its become an obligation I feel compelled to uphold + I can ' t anymore .

So from now on :

I can see a photo + love it . And not have to post it .

I can see ANYTHING + love it . And not have to take a photograph of it .

I can create something + love it . And not have to sell it .

I can read words + love it . And not even have to write it down .

I can hear a song + love it . And not have to play it over + over again .

And that makes me HAPPY .

So I will continue to S IN G + WR I T E ( in all C AP S + SP A C ED OU T i suppose ) + DRE AM + S EW + C REA TE .

And , lovely friends , I will most certainly LO V E TO D A Y .

Love it for everything it holds .

Don't go hoping you're going to love tomorrow .

Love THIS moment + live this moment .

Be present .

Let go .

Be happy

+ free .

XO X O Goodbye for now . Until we meet again .

On the Twelfth Day . . .

W O O . Twelve S W E E T DA Y S .

12 SING ALONGS OF CHRISTMAS by whimsylou on polyvore.com

It's the most wonderful time of the year

With the kids jingle belling

And everyone telling you "Be of good cheer"

It's the most wonderful time of the year .

It's the hap-happiest season of all

With those holiday greetings and gay happy meetings

When friends come to call

It's the hap- happiest season of all .

There'll be parties for hosting

Marshmallows for toasting

And caroling out in the snow .

There'll be scary ghost stories

And tales of the glories of

Christmases long, long ago .

It's the most wonderful time of the year

There'll be much mistltoeing

And hearts will be glowing

When love ones are near

It's the most wonderful time of the year !

H ELL O 2 0 1 2 . It I S , indeed , the most wonderful time of the YE AR .

N E W .

F R ESH .

C L EAN .

B E GIN N I N G .

Time to L E T G O + BE P R E SEN T .

Don ' t you think ?

X OX O .

On the Eleventh Day . . .

12 SING ALONGS OF CHRISTMAS by whimsylou on polyvore.com

Oh, by gosh, by golly
It's time for mistletoe and holly
Tasty pheasants, Christmas presents
Countrysides covered with snow

Oh, by gosh, by jingle
It's time for carols and Kris Kringle
Overeating, merry greetings
From relatives you don't know

Then comes that big night,
Giving the tree the trim
You'll hear voices by starlight

Singing a Yuletide hymn

Oh, by gosh, by golly
It's time for mistletoe and holly
Fancy ties an' granny's pies
An' folks stealin' a kiss or two

As they whisper, "Merry Christmas" to you .

C HR I ST M AS 2 0 11 M AY B E O V ER + TH ROU GH ,

B UT B Y GO SH , B Y G O LL Y - I ST ILL L OVE T HI S TU N E .

H APP Y DAY 2 O F TH I S S W EE T Y EAR !

On the Tenth Day . . .

H APP Y N E W Y EA R .

TO O N E + A LL .

A G RA N D Y EA R H A S B E GU N.

I J UST K N OW I T .

AN D KN OW IN G A B RAN D , G RA N D N EW Y EA R I S H ER E ,

I S ON E O F MY FA VO RI T E THI N G S .

12 SING ALONGS OF CHRISTMAS by whimsylou on polyvore.com

Raindrops on roses + whiskers on kittens
Bright copper kettles + warm woolen mittens
Brown paper packages tied up with strings
These are a few of my favorite things

Cream colored ponies + crisp apple streudels
Doorbells and sleigh bells + schnitzel with noodles
Wild geese that fly with the moon on their wings
These are a few of my favorite things

Girls in white dresses with blue satin sashes
Snowflakes that stay on my nose and eyelashes
Silver white winters that melt into springs
These are a few of my favorite things

When the dog bites
When the bee stings
When I'm feeling sad
I simply remember my favorite things
And then I don't feel so bad

H ELL O 2 0 1 2 . H ELLO B R AN D N E W, G RAN D N EW YE A R.