Happy new year, and, do you have a "word"?

Happy new year!  I hope you ended last year on a happy note and find yourself comfortably introduced into the new year.  I did, and I am.  Tell me, did you pick one of those "words of the year" for yourself?

The word of the year has been kind of "a thing" for the last several years on social media: choosing one word that describes what you'd like to focus on in the year to come.  I normally don't commit to one word, and I typically ignore all suggestions to do so.  But TODAY, about the 8th time someone (the yoga instructor at my free Wednesday class) asked me to do so, I decided I would choose a word:

Over the last several years I've had some health challenges, and I'm just now having another, new one.  Nothing serious.  But, I'm beginning treatment for it, and have decided that it needs to be a priority.  I know I will enjoy improved quality of life once I've got it under control.  I also know it's going to be a pain, and that the treatment will involve trial and error (and already has) -- but I'm committing to it, and furthermore, intend to give myself a lot of breaks and grace as I go forward with this.  It's most important this year for my health to be restored.  Restore.

If you too have a word you've chosen, I want to hear about it!

So, backing up a little: I really made a point to enjoy this past Christmas, and really take things easy.  In the photo above, I was going to an antique store and made a spontaneous decision to put on one of my vintage Christmas corsages for the shopping trip!  It made me happy.

 Another thing that made me happy was the unexpected kindness of friends; the tree made of green buttons, above, was just one of the many gifts I received from my creative friend Liz.

Here is another: a bell she made from aluminum molds, with a handle of buttons and a clacker that's a key -- all vintage!

And this adorable ornament she created with a lovely, bird themed button as a focal point!  All of the gifts I received this year from family and friends were so very thoughtful, and so reflective of who I am and what I love; that feeling that people "know" me is so important to me!  Besides these button art pieces and ephemera, I received, among other things, a wrapped gift from Tiffany's, a scarf decorated with text from Pride and Prejudice, Vera Neumann linens, and a Downton Abbey calendar!  I felt very, very spoiled.  I learned some years ago that gifts of the heart is my "love language", and this holiday season in particular was a great example of that!

Of course, spending time with those I love the most was the most precious gift!

In Colorado, we have had so many very cold days in December and January -- colder than in recent memory.  Ben was home for a couple of weeks to visit, and we spent a lot of time indoors, snuggled up under blankets, watching television and stuff like that; we were also all sick with a cold part of the time!  But how blessed we felt to have warmth, shelter, and togetherness.

I still feel very much in the throes of a cold, long winter.  I'm already dreaming of Spring!

Look at these wonderful buttons I found at an antique store yesterday!  Now, these get me right into a valentine-crafting mood, dreaming of shades of pink, fluffy tulle and romantic vintage images!  I have a couple of projects in the works -- more on those later!