Sweet memories...

{photo via:Onecharmingparty}

Happy New Year my dear friends!

How were your holidays? I had such a fantastic time back home with my family. If I'm being perfectly honest it took me a few days to adjust to being back in Virginia.  I missed the busy streets of London, but found that the time with my family was very much needed. It felt so great to, 'be the little sister' as my brother stayed at my parents house for a few days as well. It felt like we were kids again, teasing each other, running around the house and eating cookies.

My mother and I spent a lot of time together as well and I just have to tell you, that woman is the best thing that ever happened to me. She's my rock and without me having to say anything, she gets me. I missed her more than I realized and made sure to get as many extra hugs as possible to hold me over until June when her and my dad come for a visit.

Perhaps the best Christmas memory this year was salsa dancing in the kitchen with my dad. We haven't done that since I was a little girl and it felt so great being twirled around by my daddy, laughing and as carefree as a seven year old me. Twenty years later, it still feels sweet.

I also spent a few days in New York with my aunt. Oh the fun we had! We went to see all of the Christmas landmarks in the city, including the handsome NYPD officers. (One even stopped me in the middle of 5th Avenue and held traffic so that I could cross the street. I'm not kidding. It was definitely a moment I'll never forget.)  My aunt also took me to dinner at Whym where I had the best calamari of my life and afterwards we went to see an Alvin Ailey performance which was amazing.  We ended the evening with cocktails on the rooftop bar of Dream hotel. New York is amazing, I will live there at some point in my life. I am sure of this.

New Year's Eve was spent in London with new friends at a private club. I danced the night away and at midnight, with champagne in hand and confetti flying in the air, I was alive, happy and hopeful for a grand year.

So many sweet, sweet memories in 2011 and so many thoughts for the New Year. The best is yet to come friends.  xx