Happy New Year!

Hello 2012! I hope everyone had a great Christmas and New Year, I certainly did.

Last night we had friends round our house for a little party and it was really fun. I've never seen as many empty champagne bottles as when I was clearing up this afternoon - always a sign of a night well spent! I also didn't get out of bed till about 4.30pm and then only made it as far as the sofa. Oh well, New Years Day is the official bank-holiday for hangovers so I doubt I was the only one!

Here is a little picture of me pre-party. I made some snacks for our guests, a tomato and dill bruschetta and a cheese board alongside my home-made tomato and apple chutney and my mum's fig chutney (which is just the greatest thing ever!).

I was wearing a black velvet maxi dress, a vintage leather belt and the new Marc by Marc Jacobs watch that my amazing boyfriend bought me for my birthday, which was just before Christmas.

I'm very excited about the coming year. 2011 did start out that great for me, I had a nasty case of flu over New Year, plus an wisdom tooth infection that led to me having to have them extracted under general anaesthetic in hospital. Also my work situation was unstable and in a bit of a flux. However, the year greatly improved and of course the highlight was that I got engaged at the beginning of November.

Now, I am starting an amazing new job on January 3rd which I am so excited about and I have a year of wedding planning to look forward to!

Of course I am making some new years resolutions. I thought I should blog about them to make them public might help me keep them!

My Resolutions:

1. Get back into eating healthy.
I was being so super healthy up until I got engaged in November, then I was too busy celebrating to worry about what I was eating, then November became December and it's my birthday and Christmas and it all just went out the window! I've put a few pounds back on and ideally I would like to loose a stone. I've decided to do the South Beach Diet as I like eating the whole food way. I've never really followed a diet to the letter so it will be a new experience. I'm thinking of blogging about it a bit too and maybe sharing some recipes. The first two weeks are really strict - no carbs, no sugar (including fruit and juice!) and no alcohol but after that its much more relaxed. I'm starting tomorrow!

2. Save money for the wedding.
Turns out weddings are bloody expensive and neither of us have savings. So we are starting now. We will be putting aside a bit each month which over the next 18 months will add up to enough.

3. Keep thinking ethically about clothes.
In February last year I set myself a challenge for a year to only buy ethical or second hand clothes. I've pretty much stuck to it religiously. I still have a month to go on my challenge, but I don't want to go back to my old ways. I want to continue to avoid sweatshops whenever possible.

4. Make some clothes myself.
I made some cushions for my family for Christmas and I loved getting out my sewing machine. I really want to have a go at sewing myself some clothes - must be great to wear something you have created!

I'll keep everyone updated with my progress!

What are you resolutions?

Happy 2012! xxx