Dress: Antoine & Lili/Coat: Carin Wester/Blouse: Free People/Necklace: Audra’s Details/Boots: John Fluevog

It’s not an adventure if something doesn’t go wrong, right? After careful research M & I decided to join the cool folks in camping out on the champs-elysee with a bottle of bubbles to watch the Eiffel Tower light show at midnight. We patiently wading through hordes of people, got through two police check-points — who both saw the bottle and nodded us on — until the champagne was then absconded by the third French cop, who smugly chided me that “this is forbidden,” before quickly disappearing with the pre-chilled libation for what I’m sure would be for his own midnight enjoyment. I immediately walked into the closest Irish pub, and ordered a double gin on the rocks while seething over my inability to be confrontational in the heat of the moment. But no point in crying over lost champagne — spirits rallied, we made for the tower itself. It was also pouring rain, I might add, which put a damper on the festive spirits, as well as my party-wear. If I wasn’t living out of a suitcase, I would have loved to spring for a real evening dress, something with sparkles I’d imagine, and bright accessories, but as it is, I donned this versatile frock I picked up in the Marais, and put on everything golden I’d brought with me. My braids were falling apart by the time this photo was taken, but don’t think it was all bad — at midnight the tower lit up and everyone cheered in the new year, with amateur fireworks exploding directly overhead and champagne corks popping all around me. Later I rode the metro for free with everyone else in Paris, crammed like sardines in a can, and all along the car the French sang and laughed and wished each other “bon annee” at the top of their lungs. 

2012 was a roller coaster of a year, but of everything that happened, it was the year I made serious steps to cultivate my interests and goals, largely by starting this blog, and preparing for and then taking this trip that I’m on now. I have no idea what the future will bring, but I’m excited for it. Every day I think (I hope!) I grow a little wiser, more confident and comfortable with myself, am able to enjoy life a little more and stress out about things a little less. No matter what happens, I’m going to try to remember to take the best from it; to listen more to people and ask them more questions; to lose more time in coffee shops and on walks; to eat good food, drink good drinks, and not feel guilty about it. I hope you’re enjoying your first day of the new year, and are indulging yourself in some way. As for myself, I think the city of Paris owes me a bottle of champagne…

And I want to send a gigantic, humungous, gargantuan thank you to everyone who has supported me and this blog in 2012! Words cannot express how much your words, messages, and best of all, actually getting to meet several of you face to face, has meant to me. Bon annee, mes amours!