{ Out With The Old! }

2007 was a year of great change and while I am always grateful for the waning and waxing of life's lessons, I embrace the coming 2008 with more enthusiasm than usual. I've grown up these last 12 months - and while I've been told most of my life that I seem more mature for my age - this year I have finally felt so. I look to the new year with a clarity and strength that I did not possess last year and look forward to the path ahead...come what may.

My financial footing is better than it has been in the past...I walk into 2008 with no credit debt, a smaller mortgage payment and a full slate of clients. I will for the first time in my life be funding an IRA, I have my anticipated taxes sitting in the savings account and I have only minor cosmetic projects around my former eternal remodel. We are planning our first family vacation in 12 years and our families are all healthy. We do have some impending hard times ahead, don't get me wrong. We have a few members of our "tribe" (aka close friends) who have challenges ahead and we'll be with them every step of the way, any way that we can. But all in all, as I sit in front of the fire tonight, with a glass of sparkling cider I will welcome the steps of 2008 upon my door's threshold, greet her warmly and invite in. I hope you do the same.

{ Gone North to Help Santa }

I've gone North to help Santa for the next week or so! Stay good, remember, I'll be helping to check the list twice!

{ Happy Birthday, Kelly! }

Happy Birthday my sister friend! We are sending you love and good wishes from the North!

{ Countdown To January }

This week every single one of my clients needs me or has dropped stuff off for me and I couldn't be happier! The more I can get through now in December, the more prepared I am for the January year end. So I say, bring it on!

Budget is under control, holiday wrapping is almost complete, Christmas dinner is planned and invitees are invited, and I even got three loads of laundry done today. It's been a good day!

{ Keeping It Small and Keeping It Real }

This holiday season is proving to be a test of my will power. I have more income this year than last (and we're not talking huge numbers but enough to where I'm not looking in the change jar for gas money). It's proving difficult to walk my walk about keeping my holiday shopping small, meaningful and fun. I've got all the core people done and will complete wrapping and mailing for the out of town family this weekend. Now I need to decide what to do about the broad group of friends and neighbors we'll run into this season. We're not baking this year because we, ourselves, are cutting down on sugar and processed foods, and don't want to inflict that temptation on ourselves or others. I like small, consumable or useful things...candles and wine. But where do I draw the line? If it were up to me and money and time were no object, I'd give something wonderful to every person I know. I'd be like Oprah, "you like that? Oh good, because everyone's getting one!" But the lottery commission has clearly misplaced my number and in the meantime, I am on the hunt for that small, thoughtful item that will say, "happy new year, you are important to me and I wish you well" without being something someone has to find a use for or isn't so small it is offensive. I'm glad tomorrow is Market Day around here!

{ Happy Hanukkah! }

To all of my friends who are indulging in latkes...happy Hanukkah!

{ Happy Birthday, Gabriel! }

Aunties of the North are sending you birthday hugs!
Make a wish!
Goodies should arrive today or tomorrow!

{ Tag, I'm It...Seven Radom Things }

One of my oldest friends, who knows where all the bodies are buried in my life, tagged me with "seven random things about me" on his blog (Kintrophy) so I have taken the challenge. But the buck will stop here, I won't tag anyone else, so you are all safe.

1. I was born a natural blond, moved to Washington and found out that deep down (ha ha) I was a brunette...funny what a lack of sunlight brings out in a girl.
2. My best day, if I were to plan it, involves pajamas, an endless pot of tea, a down comforter on the couch, a gentle rain and all my favorite books, magazines and movies...an no phone or computer.
3. Like Rob (the friend who tagged me) I too, have an extensive vinyl collection of late 70's and early 80's music. But I still maintain I introduced Rob to all of the important works of that time period. He was a mere novice before me. ;0
4. On the same music track, I have been to over 500 concerts in my life and when I was young my dream was to babysit rock stars on the road as a tour manager.
5. I have had the honor recently of having dinner with the awesome Gloria Steinem and my friends would be shocked to hear I was fairly quiet...something that almost never happens.
6. I dream of returning to writing again one day but don't feel ready yet.
7. If I won the lottery tomorrow, I would tell start a non-profit foundation for women entrepreneurs, hire one of my contractor clients to come finish my house projects and maybe buy investment property (finally) and but other than that, not much else would change for me.