First, I hope you all had a great holiday, I still have pictures to share! But for now, I’m talking about something else.

I cannot believe 2011 is almost over. I know, it was just Christmas and I’m surprised NYE is coming up so quickly? Well yeah, I am.

In digging up last year’s post to see if I made strides on my resolution, I was grateful to find that I kept it simple.

My 2011 resolution was to “keep trying new things.” So was I successful?

Yeah, I think I was!

Some of 2011′s highlights:

• Italy. I mean, two weeks alone in a foreign country where I barely spoke the language? That was huge and an amazing experience
• Trapeze. I will never do it again and was scared out of my f*cking mind but I did it and can cross it off my “want to try” list
• Dating. Yes, this didn’t work out as I hoped, but I gave it an honest shot and put myself out there more than I have in a long time. And maybe the next one will turn out differently
• FOOD. From Italy to Seattle to Vancouver to Chicago to Milwaukee, I’ve had a lot of amazing meals and tried a lot of new things, some that were tastier than others. But still, I have some very fond food memories
• Oprah! Yes, thanks to the Chicago blizzard, I got last minute tickets to the Oprah Winfrey Show (before it went off the air) and even got a little camera time. That was an awesome experience
• Acting like a crazed teen. Seeing Weezer play the Blue Album in concert with Mega was amazing. The 17 year old inside of me was wicked excited (but not about the mosh pit)

So what is the plan for 2012? Much of the same, travel, food and continuing to try new things and challenge myself.

I may not always be successful but I won’t know unless I try.

And I’m very optimistic and excited to see what 2012 has in store for me. Hopefully it will include a make out or two as well.

What are your 2012 resolutions?

I literally cannot believe that Saturday is Christmas Eve. Wasn’t it December 1st last week?

Anyhow, the big holiday weekend is almost here and I am getting ready to head home, to bake, stuff myself with deliciousness and spend time with people I’m related to (including my beloved fur nephew). I also need a break from Chicago so I can keep working toward feeling like the old me.

Oh and I will try to also watch Love Actually one more time. Seriously, I love that movie. LOVE.

My gifts are packed, laundry done and I am ready to have a puppy smother me in kisses soon.

There is lots of other fun things to look forward to this weekend, including movies and being reunited with my high school best friend, who I haven’t seen in a long time.

Lots happening in the other mitten state.

I hope you all have a wonderful holiday weekend and safe travels wherever you are off to.

I will be back next week with a full holiday and shenanigans recap :) I leave you for now with a video of puppies under the tree, seriously, it will make you explode from cuteness.

Oh, and I hope Santa is extra good to each of you, wink wink.

Love, JB

For my first post on this blog, I asked a simple question, is this blog on?

FOUR YEARS later, it still is.

Holy sh*t, today is my four-year blogoversery. (Big thanks to Teena in Toronto for the reminder!)

When I started this, I didn’t think I would still be doing it in three months, let alone five years. It is, my longest commitment.

So here is what I would write to my blog in its birthday card:

Yep, I jumped the gun and put a 5th birthday picture up

Dear blog,

Today, you are five years old. I cannot believe it (literally).

In five years together, there have been a lot of ups and downs. You have given me a lot of positive things: introducing me to close friends who I love dearly, taken me to Vegas, New York, Boulder and Seattle, and given me an outlet to express myself. But of course, when things are down, I want nothing more than to shut you down and forget I ever started this.

Despite this bumpy road, we’re still here, five years later and I still enjoy posting here, so it looks like we have another year together ahead of us. It may not always be easy, but with award fashion season coming up, I am excited.

Love, JB

Happy birthday blog, cheers to another year.