i hope you are cozy, warm and full of happiness and optimism!  it has been so incredibly cold and wintery here - truly shocking - i don't remember such an early and angry winter since my youth.  while in the midst of our second blizzard of the season which happened to whip through the city on christmas day - cozy in front of the fire watching the christmas day parade at disneyland - i looked at den and with all seriousness stated how i much i need to leave the snow behind for a little bit.  no joke - we have four foot drifts in the front yard and the paths leading to the sidewalk remind me of secret snow tunnels.  and it is cold.  really, really cold - like 20 below cold.  so we are taking the girls to disneyland - the magic kingdom of my personal youth - and spending time with family in arizona.  i hope to blog on the road... 

it has been such a blessed and wonderful break.  one of the things that i love most about being a part of this community is the heartfelt relationships that have come from blogging.  one of these people is jen, and i truly feel like we have known each other forever.  just before christmas, we met.  finally.  and it was everything i knew it would be - magic and memories - laughter and endless smiles - and i heart her more, if that is possible.  and just after the new year, our two best friends who are both graduate students in boulder braved the I-80 to spend some time with us.  they inspire me, they make me laugh - they make me happy and remind me of the hope and joy in the endless quest for knowledge. 

and we are standing on the threshold of an adventure in so many ways.  den has quit his day job to focus on his side business that has grown at a steady pace over the last five years.  remember this and then this?  it is still our plan and we are taking the baby steps that will help make it happen in the most responsible way we can.  

i have so much to catch up on - so many new collaborations and exciting new projects by friends of mine that i have only had minutes to peek at in the last few weeks - i am excited to share some of them with you - and maybe one of my own and a certain someone...

see you on the road...

xoox~jla

p.s. adie is wearing a fascinator that we made to ring in new year's eve...

Comments

[bright and blithe]

It's sort of funny when I stop and think about it. Really our lives can take any variety of exciting twists and turns on any old day of the year, but there is something about a years beginning that makes it seem infinitely more possible. Wishing you peace and joy in as you wait, watch, and walk ahead.

[Tina]

happy new year! sound like you have a fun and adventurous year ahead, I hope those baby steps get you to where you want to be!

[jen]

happy new year! it seems like it will be a wonderful year full of adventure. best of luck to den! and i can't wait to see what collaborations you have in store.

[erin]

wishing you a warm and wonderful little break. and sending more wishes for a very happy new year. and hooray for the fascinator. couldn't be cuter.

[the purcells]

have a wonderful trip to CA and AZ - we just spent about 2 weeks in the warm sunshine and it was beautiful. happy to be back in nyc since the novelty of cold and snow hasn't worn off yet. happy new year!!

[my spatula]

my husband and i have a similar dream/plan, though it takes place in france. always on our minds, always scheming and planning how to make it happen. happy new year, jen!

[Sara Bradshaw]

Hi there,
Love your blog and wanted to let you know tht you are a category winner on my list of ‘25 Best Blogs of 2009′. Congratulations. You can see your category and mention at http://www.cricketwife.com/2010/01/25-best-blogs-of-2009-part-2.html (as well as the other category winners). Have a great 2010.
Cheers,
Sara Bradshaw
The Cricket Wife

[Jennifer White]

Have a fabulous trip...I'm a bit jealous seeing that we're getting dumped on w/a blizzard in Wisconsin right now!

[Krista]

What a lovely shot... All the best this year!

[Bronwyn]

I'm looking forward to seeing what's to come this year! Especially whatever project is tied to the natural history museum. I'm thrilled to start using your calendar now, it brightens up my walls. Happy new year to you and your family!

[LoveFeast Table]

Your blog is one of my happy places!
~kristin

[hannah]

2010 is so brilliant with possibilities it's making me giddy. enjoy your travels (and the WARM sun) and i can't wait to hear more!

xoxoxo

[jenny]

remember? how could i forget? :) :) :)
we are on a little break from adventures, now having been home for 2 years, it feels so bizarre to me that it all fell in place when it did for us.. all i know is that is that it will happen for you magically too and when it does... i want to come visit! <3

have fun in the sun in disney, you deserve it!
and congrats to den, that's not an easy step!

[Elie's Papel]

Happy new year!!! wish you the best for 2010 full of good things and blessings