With the festive season behind us and the new year fresh ahead, I want to take a moment to reflect on the time that has recently passed and face the promises made for that yet to come.
Like last year, I found myself with an abundance of celebratory occasions at the end of the year. Of the ones with photographic evidence, in chronological order we have:
The Viewing of the Doctor Who 50th Anniversary Special
Reaching back to November for this one, but it was post-Soup & Pie Potluck (our church's holiday kickoff, held on the Sunday before Thanksgiving) so it was officially part of the festive season in my book. 2013 was the Year of the Doctor for us-- we'd watched all the reboot episodes of Doctor Who, seven seasons' worth, between Christmas and July. The anniversary special was enjoyed with good friends, DW-themed food & drink, and drawing straws for choice minifigs of the Doctor's various incarnations.
The Church Christmas Party
Dress: Anthropologie | Stripey socks & boots: same as above
Our lovely community does something different every year for a Christmas party -- talent show, dessert social, hymn sing...this year, it was a ceili/barn dance, complete with an accordion-wielding caller. It's been ages since my last ceili, and I had an absolute blast, watching and dancing with everyone from our octogenarian churchbuilders to the toddlers up way past their bedtimes. Afterwards, not wanting to waste an amazing dress by heading home at 9, the mister and I got to know some of our neighborhood beer havens a little better. We clean up pretty nicely, don't you think?
This was a love story to make cynics weep, something a decade in the making and straight out of a Jane Austen novel. (No, seriously, the groom is even British.) The last wedding amongst we four dear girlfriends (hey, look, there's Charlotte!), long-awaited and joyfully experienced. A father's address, lovingly given, marvelously wordcrafted and speaking straight to the heart of marriage for the newlyweds and even more so for the rest of us. An absolutely perfect winter day; dearly beloved friends and family; a happy couple buoyed up by the love and celebration of all those around them. This was a day where Good Things Happened, and I am so thankful to have been witness to it.
Holiday events without photographic fashion evidence: the Holiday Work Party, the Doctors Terry Host a Christmas Shindig, Christmas Day Feasting, and New Year's Eve.
And speaking of New Years -- I have one resolution this year, but it's a substantial one: I will not buy any new clothing. No thrifting, no swaps, nada. It's not about spending less money -- though that is a benefit -- but about cultivating a mindset of "enough," of using what I have, and of not chasing the New Shiny. There are a few very important caveats: undergarments and an interview suit are not bound by this resolution. (I am also not going to turn down gifts, that would be ungracious.)
So, here's to 2014! A year started in fantastically good spirits, with hope and promise and a challenging-but-exciting clothing constraint. Happy New Year to all!
love your tardis shirt :)
ReplyDeleteWow--I can imagine that that no-new clothes whatsoever would be both challenging...and yet it really would cultivate an attitude of content! I foresee buying clothes this year--if we are able to move overseas I want to buy some clothes made to fit my gigantically tall American body (Umm, I'm 5'5"...still gigantic) before we go. haha! But I like to see how often I can go 2-3 months without buying anything new. Who wants a closet overflowing with clothes that you only semi-love?
ReplyDeleteWoah! No new clothes! Good for you. That being said, I can't wait to see your interview suit. :)
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