New Years...

I know everyone in blogland is doing the look-back posts these days.  The best of 2011 and all that.  I'd like to say that I am not going to follow the trend, but I am easily influenced.  But 2011 was actually a very up and down kind of year for me; there were some amazing things that happened, but there were also some terrible things that happened. 

I try to keep this blog positive and a place where I can focus on the lovely things in life, so here is a look back at some of my happiest moments of 2011 in pictures. 

We saw Kristin Chenoweth on New Year's Eve

Went to Paso Robles with my Parents

I was a bridesmaid in McNally's wedding

My sweet cousin Kaitlyn got married too

Anna and Manisha came to visit LA

We visited my Aunt Jeanette in Portland

We shot our first ever Desolation Dance Video

We started our Burger Quest!

The boy took me to see Kevin Arnold's house from The Wonder Years

Stef and Tracy came to visit and took us to Disneyland!

The boy took me on an amazing road trip that included seeing The Grand Canyon

The boy's Mum came to visit!

The boy took me back to Disneyland at Christmas time

I danced in the Nutcracker again, despite being totally out of shape!

And here's to a great New Year everyone!  See ya in 2012!

30 things before 30

As promised, I have comprised another to-do list for the coming year.  It's kind of nice that my birthday coincides with new year's, as it helps with the whole resolution / goal making, plus it makes me feel like I am not the only one motivated with new goals....Strength in numbers I always say!

So here it is, a list of things I want to do in this last year of my twenties....

1.  Learn to sew, properly
2.  Make something with paint sample cards
3.  Do some volunteer work
4.  Read 5 books
5.  Have a craft weekend with friends and family
6.  Take a course in something new that I'm interested in
7.  Start a dance company
8.  Get started on a masters program
9.  Submit something to a real magazine
10.  Dye my hair a fun color
11.  See a new place
12.  Do some scrapbooking
13.  Start a home design journal / look-book
14.  write 3 poems
15.  work out a new blogging schedule
16.  go to the dentist
17.  Do a major cleaning of my clothes and closet (aka get rid of a lot!)
18.  Make lots of new Desolation Dance Videos
19.  Meet one of my blog friends in person
20. Organize my digital photos
21. Buy and start using a tripod
22.  Roll down a grassy hill like I did as a child
23.  Get all of my stuff out of my parents house (hopefully)
24.  Ride a bike at the beach with the boy
25.  Learn to play an instrument (I'm thinking the ukelele)
26.  Wear more lipstick in fun colors
27.  Reconnect with an old friend
28.  See at least 1 concert
29.  Try to overcome 1 of my fears
30.  Make it a habit to look for the goodness around me, rather than focusing on the negative

Some are hold overs from last year's list - things I didn't accomplish, and some are really ambitious (see 7 & 8) but most are just fun things to motivate me and keep me busy, as always, through the year.  And I have to make the last one cheesy, I just can't help myself! 

So c'mon 2012!  Show me whatcha got!!!!

Giveaway Winner!

Well, I must say that I considered calling off this silly giveaway due to the fact that only 2 people entered!  Totally sad.

But I suppose it just makes the odds better for my two contestants...And it allows me to pick them with a simple "Heads or Tails" flip of a coin!  Very No Country for Old Men, huh?  So heads for commentor #1, tails for commenter #2.

So then, without further ado, the winner of this gorgeous velvet bow from my shop is.....

Jennifer from Crazy Shenanigans!  Way to go!    But I will also be sending a special consolation prize to my other candidate Kaycie from Redhead Memories. 

Thanks for playing ladies! 

When Christmas Bells were Ringing

Here's a quick look at our Christmas Eve at my parents' house.  We all had such a great time! 

Max was wearing his Christmas sweater

my younger brother and me

my mom put out my grandma's Navajo nativity set

younger brother, sister in law and older brother

My cute sister in law, Emily and me

Me and my Mom (I should tell you that my heels were very high, which is why I am towering over everyone!)

My cousin, my aunts, my mom and me...We're a good looking bunch, huh?

My Aunt Jeanette knitted us all hats!  Aren't they all adorable?  I love everyone's faces...Even my Dad got one!

A few of my Favorite {new} Things!

It's back to work today (sigh) but even though Christmas is over, the joy doesn't stop when I think about all the wonderful gifts I received, and the reactions I got from the gifts I gave!  I love giving presents, there's nothing quite like it!

But here's a peak at some of my lovely birthday and Christmas gifts.

Oh yeah, the boy got me an ipad - Woo!

Love this perfume from my sister in law Anna

how cool is this porcelain ballerina from my aunt Jeanette?

More new foxes for my collection!

And I adore my stunning new watch from my brother in law and his wife, Neil and Katie

Thanks to all my family and friends for your generosity!  What did you get for Christmas?

Christmas Time at Disneyland!!!

The boy and I made yet another pilgrimage to Disneyland this month, thanks to some tickets gifted to us from our dear friends Stef and Tracey. 

It was so much fun, as always, though very cold and we did end up getting rained on which somewhat put a damper on things. 

But I just adore the decorations they put up for this time of year, it really is magical! 

They had actual live reindeer, so cute!

See what I mean?  There's no place like Disneyland at Christmas!

A very Merry Christmas

Enjoy your holiday!

Making Christmas

Here's a peak of what's been happening at our flat - Christmas according to my iphone....

Santa Claus is coming tonight!  In honor of that, here is one of my favorite holiday music videos....

Today is my Birthday...

Yes, yes it is.

Part of me wants to look back and write about all the things I did this year, what I accomplished from my 29 Before 29 list, and all the happy moments that made up this year.   

 But a bigger part of me doesn't want to look back.  This part is excited for the future - The beginning of my 30th year.  I can hardly believe how my 20's have flown by! Really, how scary!  But I'm also really motivated to accomplish some new goals this year and make some exciting changes in my life.  I'm definitely going to make a new list today of 30 things I want to do before I'm 30, which I promise to share soon.  It really helps me to be proactive and not put too many things off till "later." But I am also going to take a bit of time to quietly reflect on the year past and enjoy myself.   

Today I do have to go to work for a while, but then there will be vintage shopping, present opening and a special dinner at a fancy beverly hills restaurant called Bouchon!  I am so excited to spend the day with the Boy and celebrate this, the day of my birth...And it's my younger brother's birthday too, so I got to give a shout out to him too! 

Happy Birthday Tyler! 

Really, this has been a great year for the Lilac & Lace blog and I have all of you to thank for that.  I have made some great new bloggy friends, found some great new interests (burgers anyone) and reached 200 followers!  Woo hoo!  Thanks to Kate for being my 200th follower! 

I guess what I'm trying to say is thank you.  Thanks for reading my blog, for showing an interest in my life, for sharing your lives with me and for all the happiness you bring me.  And thanks to my friend Shani of Don't Smile Now for taking these lovely impromptu photos.  She's an awesome photographer, don't you think?  So here's to an amazing birthday!

We've only just begun....

Nutcracker Recap

This past Sunday I participated in a production of The Nutcracker for a dance school at which I occasionally teach.  As I have mentioned before, I functioned as a kind of assistant director for the rehearsals, and I ended up dancing the part of the Sugar Plum Fairy (as I did last year.)  

The show went so well, and all the kids had a wonderful time, which was incredibly rewarding to see.  I am, of course, knackered after the whole thing, but I was almost surprised just how much I enjoyed performing....I felt like I danced really well and it was the most fun I've had dancing in years.  I felt totally in my element, so jubilant and totally on my balance, which helps.  But after such a high, coming back down and getting back to my real job has been a bit of a struggle this week.  I call it post-performance-depression.  I feel like Cinderella the day after the ball when the tiara is gone and it's back to house work!

But I still have the memory of the performances and in honor of that, here are a few photos from last years performance....This year's probably looked similar as I danced the same part and wore the same tutu!  

Did you see any Nutcrackers this year?  Or maybe dance in one?  I must admit, for a time I couldn't even hear the Nutcracker music without getting annoyed, but now I love it!  It brings back wonderful memories....I guess I'm just getting sentimental in my old age!