Caution: This post is very long and contains lots of pictures… think a year’s worth – I’m sorry?

Yaye over at Cos We African Women… wrote a lovely post about choosing happiness when she finally came to the realization that happiness is a decision.

2009 was a little like that for me too. I started the year out with a very simple resolution and a decision to be happy and true to myself.

This year, I laughed more, loved more, and appreciated the people in my life more and I loved my life.

I worried less about the things I couldn’t control and whenever I was given the choice, I chose happiness.

I celebrated the positive and learned to appreciate the not so positive, in all it was a good year.

Now, the year in pictures:

January

December just rolled into January for us as my mom continued her treatment for breast cancer.

A slight glitch, the chemo drugs made her anaemic so she had a blood transfusion.

To the hero who gave blood on Christmas Eve 2007, it went to my mom – thank you!

February

February was a blur as the ‘cancer drama’ continued, my mom started Neupogen injections to help boost her white blood cells.

The drug costs a ridiculous $1971.63 for each round, she had four prescriptions over four months. Wow!

Some mornings I just sat at my desk at home instead of hurrying to work. I walked a lot.

March

I loved March! It was spring, magical and beautiful.

Flowers bloomed, birds chirped, I went on longer walks and love was in the air.

April

April was Baldwin House, Seattle & Nanaimo

May

v

May was exquisitely beautiful!

June

June was the mastectomy, it feels like years ago yet I remember it like it was yesterday.

I also got a new camera in June, went to a couple of festivals and picnics, made coconut milk ice cream and celebrated getting older.

(more…)

I spent the day in Richmond being inspired.

Richmond is full of effortlessly stylish young people.

Young people with such rousing personal style, it’s just the jumpstart needed to get those creative style juices flowing.

It’s a little hard to be creative during winter, when the first priority is keeping warm.

I got some great ideas today, which I’m mentally weighing against my outfit from a month ago:

The trench-like coat is from the Vancouver based clothing company Plum, it’s from their Tobias line.

Wearing:

Shirt: Gap
Sweater: Gap
Pants: M&S Autograph

I wore this to work about a month ago, I like the slouchy fit of the sweater.

I work in a pretty casual environment with no set dress code; I try to infuse comfort and relaxed elegance into my outfits.

I spent the day in bed, being lazy, clearing out stuff off the PVR and trying to eat my weight in Christmas cookies.

My cell phone battery is blissfully dead and I’m in no hurry to charge it, I haven’t checked my email in days.

Here are ten random pictures that reminded me today of the bustling world outside during these festive times.

I love them… hope you do too.

One of my resolutions for the new year is to learn how to sew, and maybe get some vintage luggage.

Apple people.

Tick tock… time’s my enemy

The world needs more Canada.

Vespas in fall.

Shop, shop, shop…

Remember the chaos?

Shiny things…

Sale, sale, sale…

Works great as a telescope too…

I have seven glorious days left on my mini break before I have to go back to work.

I feel like I’m trying to cram a lifetime of activities into these few days.

I spent the day out, walking, sightseeing and browsing – being a tourist and taking in the city.

Later on in the day, we made lunch, helped my mom set up her new sewing machine, drank glögg and took tons of pictures.

It made me think of wishes…

Endless days… I wish for days that would never end…

Ceaseless laughter and time with loved ones

A beautiful life, with beautiful people.

Beautiful things and beautiful moments.

It’s the day after Christmas and a dense grey fog blankets the city.

The fog never really left so it was a dark, dreary cold day.

I went for a 7 mile long walk along the seawall to walk off last night’s big dinner.

Yesterday was one of the best Christmases ever!

It was simple, relaxed, and full of joy and laughter – just how I want my Christmases to be from here on.

It’s funny how you spend weeks preparing for the day and it just flies by.

The plan for Boxing Day was to hit a select few stores and have tea at the new place on Georgia when the crowds got too much.

The dark, the quiet and stillness of the fog was so calming and comforting that I opted to stay indoors instead after my walk.

Tomorrow after all IS another day.