Girl About O-Town

Greetings good girlaboutOtown readers!  It has been 10 days since my last post, and a glorious break it was…plenty of fun, tons of family time, and – well yes -  too much food. 

The New Year has officially begun though, and today marks my official start back to all things blogging.  But before I get rolling, I thought I would take a brief look backwards.  You may recall a two-part list of resolutions, penned early last year, that outlined a few of my Ottawa related objectives.  Intended to identify new experiences I most wanted to try, it does seem in retrospect that my 2009 goals did indeed inspire new discoveries and deepen my appreciation for life here in Ottawa.

To recap a few highlights:

1. Vernissage & Art Openings:  It has become increasingly important to me to incorporate arts & culture into my everyday life, and I am pleased to report that in 2009, I made it out more than once.  In addition to the SPAO opening of “Likeness”, The New Art Festival, The Canteen Art Shop & Gallery, Gallerie La Petite Mort, and the Patrick Gordon Gallery, this girlaboutOtown also became a member of the National Gallery of Canada.   

This year, I’m really looking forward to Wellington West’s new First Thursday’s Art Walk, in which participating galleries in this eclectic neighbourhood will stay open from 5-9pm  on the first Thursday of every month. 

2.  House Tours:  I recently came across the term “homeaholic” which instantly resonated with me.  I can’t think of a better way to describe my passion and fascination with what makes a house feel like home!  Fortunately for me, I did manage to snoop through 6 stunningly beautiful homes in Old Ottawa South this past May.   While I did come away feeling somewhat intimidated by the pristine clean, it was both entertaining and enlightening to walk through these wonderfully well-decorated spaces.  No doubt, I will do it again when the opportunity arises.

3.  Wine Tasting:   Thanks to the good people at Groovy Grapes, this girlaboutOtown finally got over her weariness about wine.   Warmly welcomed by experts and enthusiasts alike at last winter’s Wine’s of Ontario Wine Fair, I learned that a tasting experience can easily be enhanced by the disposition of those dispensing the wine.  For more information about 2010 Taste of Winterlude events, and to enter to win a $100 gift certificate at participating restaurants, click here.

Just last week many of you shared your top three resolutions for 2010, either through comments or via email.  Thank you!   Giveaway winners have been selected and notified.  Here’s hoping they enjoy the show!

Anyway, your thoughtfulness and candour were truly appreciated, and your goals quite motivating to read. 

So, taking my cue from you, I resolve to do the following in 2010:

Take care of myself.   We’ve all heard it before, but this girlaboutOtown is beginning to take it to heart.  Wellness is a blessing that is earned through proper diet, regular exercise, adequate sleep and supportive self-care.   Overlooking these fundamentals will inevitably frustrate my efforts in all other aspects of life.

Take action.   If this blog has taught me anything, it’s that there is true power in confronting fear, comfort, and complacency with action.  Since I began doing things differently, my life has transformed for the better.  In 2010, I plan to venture even further outside my comfort zone, and trust that my actions will result in continued positive results. 

Be me.  I may not have had it all figured out in high school, or university, or even by the time I hit 30, but in the past year or two, being me has been getting easier.  I know more about who I am and what I want to do than I ever have before, and I know too that to accomplish my goals, I will need to plan, to organize, and to stay focused.

I am looking forward to a fabulous 2010, and to sharing it with you.   Happy New Year Ottawa!