New Year's Ball

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What a year 2012 has been!  I'm so glad that Rachel invited us to a Blogger's Ball for New Year's Eve - it's such fun to hear what everyone else in the link-up has been up to and is anticipating!  You have to follow some guidelines if you want to join the party, which is good because otherwise I could go on for ages about everything that's happened since the first of January.  (There's a reason I published 297 posts in 2012, you know!)  She asked a few questions to help us sum up the past year...

What was your best part of 2012?  This is going to come as no surprise, but the best part of 2012 was getting engaged!  Jon and I knew for a while that we were heading toward this stage in our relationship, but that didn't detract from the surprise of the proposal or the absolute joy of sharing our news with friends and family.  It took me a little while to relax into wedding planning (and we've had a few tumbles over it) but we're now really enjoying this special time - even though we're spending most of it long distance!

What was your favorite song/book/movie of 2012?  Oh, this is hard - mostly because I sort of live under a rock when it comes to pop culture!  I guess I'd say that my favorite album has been the Nashville soundtrack, even though the show only premiered this past fall.  And the books I loved most this year were the first two in the All Souls Trilogy: A Discovery of Witches, actually published in 2011, and Shadow of Night, which came out in July.  My favorite movie was Skyfall, but I also thought that Pitch Perfect was so much fun.

What was your biggest accomplishment of 2012?  Since the past year has been one of huge transitions, I'd say that my biggest accomplishment - and the one I am most proud of - is that I feel much more confident in my identity regardless of my surroundings.  It's taken me years, but I'm finally  learning that who I am, which includes both the good and the bad, is something I can use to anchor me as circumstances continue to evolve; my history is part of what defines me and I don't need to change to fit into every new situation.

What are you looking forward to the most in 2013?  So much!  Chronologically, I'm looking forward to: my new job, my wedding, and moving out of my parents' house into my own apartment.  Unfortunately, Jon and I probably won't be reunited for good until 2014 - but 2013 brings us one year closer!

What are your New Year's resolutions?  You'll have to check back tomorrow to hear more about my resolutions for 2013!  You'll also learn more about that last answer...

Like last year, we'll be spending tonight and tomorrow at a friend's pile in Suffolk - we've got a three-course dinner, fireworks, and dancing ahead of us, plus lots of champagne on the agenda for the Eve!  Before I left DC, I ordered a dress from Coast and, since it's an English store, had it delivered to Jon's flat.  It fit perfectly except for the part where the hem ended about three inches higher than it should have, so I stopped by the Regent Street store on Thursday to return it and ended up exchanging it for this sparkly frock!  Then, on Saturday, I Jon and I popped into Peter Jones, where I found this faux fur stole (similar here).  I was looking for a clutch, but the wrap has pockets - perfect for a phone in one side and lipstick in the other!  Everything else for the party I brought with me; the heels were on massive sale at Nine West back in November, the earrings are from Kate Spade last Christmas, and the mascara and lipstick are in my usual rotation.  I thought it would be fun to jazz up the black with gold and fur - don't you?  Though the sequins make the dress party-ready regardless!

I hope you have a wonderful New Year's Eve, full of merriment and mirth.  See you in 2013, dear readers!