Happy New Year!  It's time for fresh beginnings and new ways of thinking.  Although I loved having my Christmas decorations up, I am always ready for a clean look when January comes.  My tree was so big this year, I felt like I gained square footage once that bad boy was wrestled out of the house!  With our economic climate very much up in the air, I think I will focus on things I can control: cleaning out clutter, making my surroundings look peaceful, creating stronger work and health habits and letting go of relationships that don't add value to my life.  I chose these colors to represent my new beginnings because the color orange always signifies happiness to me and the smell of an orange is a refreshing, healthy smell.  In my recent down time, I came across two quotes that stood out to me:

"Nothing determines who we will become so much as those things we choose to ignore."
Sandor McNab

"There is little difference in people, but that little difference makes a big difference.  The little difference is attitude.  The big difference is whether it is positive or negative."
W. Clement Stone

I don't know about you but I do my fair share of ignoring things I don't like to tackle!  The second quote is not anything I haven't heard before, but sometimes I need to see it in black and white.  Cheers to the new year.  I'm grateful you read my blog, grateful for good family and friends and wishing you the very best in 2013!