Inspiration for New Year's Resolutions

What a difference it makes when one is feeling constantly inspired, yes?

With a constant stream of information and ideas coming in from all over the country, I'm constantly inspired by my thoughtful friends and talented colleagues. Grateful to surround myself with their enthusiasm and positive energy, I was curious about their resolutions for 2010.

After an informal poll, here are some of my favorite responses that I hope will inspire you, too:

From Queen Bee Swain: My 2010 Resolution - to improve my penmanship - I'm signing up for a 6 week-long calligraphy class with the hopes that it cleans up my chicken scratches!

From The Broke Socialite: I, The Broke Socialite, resolve to see at least one movie per month at the theater, try one restaurant where I've not dined before each month and to have at least one "date" per month with our son before he heads off to college next fall. 

From Ashley of Ice Milk Aprons: To make an unexpected, gracious gesture every day next year!

From Madeleine of La Papillon Spa: My goal is to take as good of care of myself as I do others...or at least step it up a bit! My main struggle is with clutter & staying organized - especially with all the paperwork that results from having my own business.  I have many strengths, but this isn't one of them! I've realized I need an intervention & I'm getting one. I hired a personal organizer for every quarter to keep me on track with my goals. It's worth the investment to me!

From Sarah of AroundMainLine.com : My New Year's Resolution is to spend more time with the ones I love. Life is so short-yet oh so sweet! I am going to carve out special times for dinners with family and friends on a regular basis.

From Robert of Design By Nature: WOW! What an amazing end of the year for me!!! I have so many people to thank and so much to be thankful for! My New Year's Resolution is to give everyone I meet, the very best of me that I can give. I think we all deserve that daily! I also want to work more with a charity to help them raise more money for their cause!

From Kristen of Milkmaid Press: My resolution is to slow down and enjoy the little things. Also, to really commit to treating my body better with food, rest, exercise & most of all, patience.

From Entertaining Mom: For many years I made resolutions (to lose weight, stop smoking, go back to school, etc) and I would never follow through. I did give up smoking years ago, but that had less to do with resolutions than me being pregnant and wanting the best for my child. For many years I stopped making resolutions altogether because I knew I never followed through.

2010 is different and I’ve been thinking about this resolution stuff for a good bit of time now. It seems that we could all use a little improvement. So my resolution for 2010 is not as clear cut as to lose weight (a few sit ups couldn’t hurt me) or give up smoking since I no longer do. And I will be damned if someone take my wine glass away!

What I could use is a bit of fine tuning, or betterment (not to mention a nip and a tuck). So the year 2010 will be about improvement, betterment if you will. I will be working on bettering the small things such as finishing projects that often get started and then left behind. I will make an attempt to spend more quality time with the children. I’ll keep working on the house as that is not only something I love to do, but a complete reflection of one’s self, really. I’ll take better care of myself (getting to doctors I have been avoiding) and the foods I eat. Not one of these is anything terribly huge and earth shattering, yet when combined these small initiatives could be part of something big and great. This year of betterment will be reflected on everything from my parenting to my blog. This is a New Year’s Resolution I am really excited about!

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As for me, I'm resolved to remind myself of this Thoreau quote as often as required:

"Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you have imagined."

Merry Christmas and a very Happy New Year!

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You're Invited! Join us when we return after the holiday on January 1, 2010 for exciting news announcements plus tons of great ideas guaranteed to inspire a stylish start to your new year!

All the best,

Jennifer

Kind Finds : Rodarte For Ringing in 2010

The Rodarte designers, Kate and Laura Mulleavy, are the latest to join the parade of upscale designs for low, low prices appearing at your local Target. Following in the footsteps of Proenza Schouler, Patrick Robinson, Luella Bartley, Anna Sui and others, Rodarte will be featured later this month as the latest designer collection in Target's wildly successful and popular GO International group.

Prices fall just under $50, which make the Pasadena, California sisters' frocks worth heading to Target for on December 20th, despite the last-minute holiday shopping frenzy you might have to endure.

While not necessarily a household name yet, Rodarte has won the hearts and admiration of many with multiple prestigious CFDA design awards and inclusion in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Costume Institute permanent collection as well as relationships with the most upscale international retailers and devotion of celebrities and fashion icons. All this critical acclaim in less than five years of launching!

< I first spotted this sexy LBD in Vogue and thought it was a very spot-on New Year's Eve option. Demure bows at the shoulders, a lacy slip dress, diaphanous tulle...all tastefully integrated into a Rodarte design for $40.

This kind find doesn't get any easier to accessorize with things you already ow. Throw on a pair of heels and grab your black satin clutch; go for a bold red lip or a smoldering, smoky eye; twist and tie your hair up into a chic knot or chignon, and you're absolutely ready to ring in the new year in style. Cheers!

Don't forget, Kind Finds can also be found on According To Nina, so please pop over for a visit. Happy Monday!