It is a new year, time for new beginnings.  I've never been one to make resolutions and I've always viewed New Year's Eve as just another night.  The only promise I make myself is to try to remember to write the new date instead of the old.

But in honor of 2013 I'm doing things a little different.  I have selected a word, one tiny word, to sum up what I want from the upcoming year.  I have spent the past week thinking about what I want to accomplish, thinking about who I am and who I want to be, and then deciding on one word that reflects all of that at once.

Change.

Change is a rather simplistic word.  When you read the word change it doesn't evoke any deep feeling.  It isn't even fun to say (like the word "plethora"...my favorite sounding word!).  What do you think of with the word change? Well, besides money...

2012 was a year of learning for me.  I worked with a health coach for six months and she taught me how to fuel my body with food.  She also helped me recognize my barriers to success.  I took an online class led by Kelly Rae Roberts that taught me how to begin turning my sewing hobby into a possible career.  Both my time with my health coach and with Kelly Rae Roberts made me look inward (which is not something I like to do).  I had to look deep into my true wants and desires to figure out what would make my life more fulfilling.  I was given all of the tools I needed, it was now up to me to make the changes (see that word...that's my word!).

But I'm a stubborn beast.  What was wrong with my life?  I have a job, a house, wild animals, family and friends that love me...why did I need to change?  I dug in my heels, I resisted.  I thought of all sorts of reasons as to why I couldn't make changes in my life.  I was too busy, it took too much money, life was just fine the way it was.  I was resistant.  Resistant to change.

Over my holiday break I slowly began to see things differently.  It wasn't a conscious decision, it just happened.  I began to see the need for more flexibility, the need to be more open to new ideas, and the need to change.  And I felt lighter than I had in months.  This cynical pessimist began to see the positives in life instead of the negatives.  My anger and irritability eased.  It was like I was back on Zoloft but it was my own brain...not medication!

Hence the word change (or at least the promise to be open to it).

What is your word of the year?

My sister is getting married in just over a week.  Next Friday to be exact.  And although I am not in the wedding (it is a small, more casual wedding), I would like to look somewhat decent.

My daily routine consists of wrapping my wet hair up and clipping it.  It reminds me of tail feathers the way it splays out around my head.  I don't use "product" (I actually don't think I own any "product").  I own a brush that I use somewhat regularly.  You really don't need to brush your hair when all you do is pile it on top of your head everyday.

So the very thought of doing something somewhat presentable with my mop of hair petrifies me.  I don't even know where to begin!  Other people have tons of suggestions for me, all of which include loads of pomade, or mousse, or straightener, or curly stuff, or whatever else I don't use and don't have.  So I headed on over to Pinterest to investigate hair tutorials.  And that is where I found my guardian angel, Kate, from The Small Things Blog.  Kate has a blog full of hair tutorials, videos, and tips.  I have been watching nothing but Kate videos for the past two days.  She makes it all seem so easy...I think even I could pull some of these styles off!

That brings me to my mission for the next week.  I am going to try an updo a day until I find one that I can somewhat recreate AND that stays in my hair.  My first hairstyle was this one:

(From www.thesmallthingsblog.com)

It reminded me of Adele's hair.  And it took me all of 5 minutes to recreate:


We could be twins, right?  No?  But, I'd like to point out that I probably have 10 times the hair that Kate does and this is at the end of the day.  So It somewhat stayed up.  Forgive the wonky camera angle, I did this myself in the kitchen.  I tried to get Bailey or Phoebe to help with the picture taking, but they couldn't quite get the hang of it.  Must be due to the lack of opposable thumbs on their paws.





Here is the view from the front.  If I look tired, its because today was my first day back to school after a wonderful two week long winter break.  In other words, I am tired. 

I don't think this is the style for me.  Now excuse me while I watch more videos and stay tuned for tomorrow's hair!