Hi, Friends! Happy 2013!

I hope this first day of the New Year finds you joyful and well… and not too hungover from last night. I welcomed the new year from the comfort of my couch, and with a handsome date by my side and a few glasses of fantastic champagne, it was really everything I could have asked for.

This past year has been nothing short of amazing! I was blessed to have 12 months full of traveling, new friends, and incredible personal growth. While I don’t make resolutions for the year to come, I do write down what I learned from the past 365 days of living.

12 Things I Learned in 2012 (and hope to remember daily in 2013):

1) Open up your heart. Even if it’s been broken a million and one times, even if you’re scared to death it’ll just be broken again, do it. Keep it open. Keep it full of love. Keep it ready to accept the gift of friendship and joy so that when it comes along you don’t miss it.

2) Life is short, so live the heck out of it. This has been a constant thought on my mind since the terrible tragedy in Connecticut. I think about it everyday when I wake up, and I pray for those families every night before I close my eyes. But like most things, there’s a lesson that can be taken from it, and for me, that was accepting terrible things do happen in our world, and tomorrow’s never promised, so live in the moment.

3) Get rid of toxic people in your life, no matter how close to them you might be. This is pretty straight forward, but it took me years to learn. When I was going through a rough breakup a few years ago, a good friend told me “the company we keep is a mirror of ourselves” and I’m finally starting to like the way that image is appearing.

4) It’s OK to say no. Really, it is.

5) Taking time for yourself is essential. And if you’re anything like me, it’ll make you a nicer person. Go to that yoga class, buy the boots you’ve been drooling over for the past month,  or just spend the morning in bed with your phone off! It doesn’t really matter what you do, as long as it’s something that soothes your soul.

6) Smile at people. Smiling at people sounds like it should just be a natural… but I’m totally awkward when it comes to eye contact. I learned the hard way that people will be far more inclined to start a conversation with you if you just smile.

7) Family is really important. Even if you want to run away and hide from them the entire time you’re with them, they’re a part of you. A big part.

8) Nothing will change if you keep living life the same way. This is another one I have to constantly remind myself of.

9) Hobbies are a great way to discover new things about yourself! I’m planning on learning French and painting more this year… do you guys have any hobbies?

10) Know what you want before you ask for it. Knowing what you want in life is so important, but it’s not always an easy question to answer. I’ve spent a lot of time thinking about what I really want to be doing with my time, and writing it down always helps me focus on turning the thinking into doing.

11) If you want it, do it. I’m really good at making excuses, but this past year has taught me that if I want things to happen, I have to do the work to make it a reality.

12) Be grateful and humble. I always find myself attracted to people who are down to earth and in touch with the reality that they are no more special than the other billions of people on this planet. Hard work and success doesn’t grant you the right to a haughty demeanor. Humbleness may be the most attractive quality in a person, and certainly one I strive to consistently obtain.

Whew… that was a lot of words! This was definitely my longest post to date, but this blog is as much my space as it is yours, and I’m grateful to have a place to share sugar, love, and life with you.

Here’s to an incredible 2013 full of peace, baking, and success! I really, really love you guys.

(All photos from this post are from my Iphone)