Dear blog, how I've missed you! I can hardly believe it's been nearly a month (!) since my last outfit post. There were times during the holiday madness when I felt a little pang of guilt for ignoring my little corner of the internet, but ultimately, I'm glad I let myself relax and enjoy Christmas and family without stressing out.
And what a Christmas it was. In a spectacular case of bad timing, I ended up getting sick on the morning of the 25th, and I'm still recovering...but you know what? This was one of the best Christmases I can remember. I can't put my finger on exactly what made this year so special. Maybe it was that my nieces and nephews are at fun ages and saying sweet things ("But I wanted to stay here every day until we die!" said my nephew as they pulled out of the driveway). Maybe it's that my sister-in-law is expecting, and her quiet joy is contagious. Maybe it was the coziness of curling up with Chris on Christmas Eve and eating homemade soup and watching the Fellowship of the Ring. In all likelihood, it was a combination of all of the above, in addition to many little things...and you know, I'm pretty sure I end up thinking that each year is better than the last. Regardless, it was wonderfully laid back - and over too quickly. But isn't that how it always goes?
And now, just as quickly as Christmas came and went, the new year is here - and I'll be turning twenty-four on Friday. I've had some people ask me if it's weird having a birthday that's so close to Christmas and the new year, and I never quite know how to answer. It's all I know, after all! But I suppose my birthday is a bit strange: it's not only ten days after Christmas, it's also the same as my brother's birthday. It's quite the story! It's so long and convoluted that I've only heard the whole thing, in detail, twice. Someday I really need to write it down, but for now, here's the ultra-condensed version: my brother had begged my parents for a sister, so when he found out my mom was pregnant and due in January, he was convinced that it would be a sister born on his birthday. My parents were sure I was a boy, and my mom wasn't due until the end of the month. Well, to everyone's surprise (except my brother's), I made my debut three weeks early - and was most definitely a girl.
That's the gist of it, minus the juicy details about how I was born right in the middle of an interstate move and I became incredibly ill and my mom and I ended up in two different hospitals...but you get the basic idea! I think it's kind of hilarious how complicated my birth story is, seeing as how I've lived a refreshingly drama-free life since then.
I've been gone from this blog for so long, it seems like I have endless things to share, but I'll keep this short so as to avoid writing a novel here. I hope you all are having a wonderful start to your 2013! Did you do anything fun to kick off the new year?
dress: Charlotte Russe (ages ago!) | top: Ruche | beret: Target | boots: ModCloth | coat: Forever 21 | gloves: thrifted
