Happy New Year! I sincerely hope you and your families celebrated just as you'd wished. Typically, for us, New Year's Eve celebrations are pretty relaxed and always highlighted with a long meal, great wine, and popping off a couple of fireworks (Not us, though. Um, right, not us. The neighbours that live in that house, close-ish to ours.). This year was no exception. One set of my parents joined us for Chinese-style hot pot and a swiss roll from Hong Kong bakery downtown. While this felt like the first Christmas where Xavier was non-stop-over-the-moon-excited-blitzed-out-on-all-things-Merry-and-Jolly, it has been wholly centred around family and dear friends. We had family that destined far away (Panama to be exact) and family from afar that were near. Every day this holiday season has been marked by time meaningfully spent with those we love and cherish the most. This Christmas and New Year's, in all its bounty and love, has grounded my family in a way. 2015, here we come, and as always, better together. For now, here are some gems from around the inter-web along with some of 2014's best and worst!
Not that I have a ton of run-ins with the law. But still, this could prove useful for my "neighbour" with a fondness for fireworks.
Most exciting teaser trailer of 2014. We are now officially LESS than a year away and this is what our family will be doing Christmas day 2015!
Pantone names Marsala the color of the year. True story: I'd been in search of the perfect not-too-blueish-more-orangey-rusty-browinsh-undertones red lipstick. And I found it, "Retro" lipstick from M.A.C. Très chic. This color is now officially my go-to for my naturally ghostly white lips.
Best thing I sipped (or guzzled, whatevs) in 2014: I fully credit this blissful concoction to my holiday 5 (lbs that is). Go. Make this now. Trust. Add booze too if you need a (midday?) pick-me-up!
Sienna Miller is my Spirit Animal and I'm thrilled to be kicking off a new year of Vogue with her. Celebrities, we're just like them.
Okay, I have two sprit animals. Deb Perelman is my other one. My most visited website of 2014: Smitten Kitchen. I owe this woman 57% of the success I have in my kitchen. I love you. You complete me.
Kanye never disappoints. Blog Un Deux Trois awards Him the Best Worst music video of 2014.
IKEA killed it in advertising in 2014. I'd like to give a high-five and a hug to everyone that had a hand in this creation: Bookbook™.
Fine, I have three spirit animals. Canadian celebrity gossip blogger, ETalk correspondent, and The Social co-host, Lainey Lui wrote and published her first book, "Listen to the Squawking Chicken." This hilarious, lovable book was my absolute favourite read of the year.
Runner up read of 2014: "She's Come Undone," by Wally Lamb. I have no clue why I hadn't read this gloriously, profoundly beautiful book before this summer, but I savoured every moment of it.
Most disappointing read of 2014 was absolutely, without a doubt "Gone Girl" by Gillian Flynn. Seriously people, I bought the hype and ended up with a lemon.
Last, but certainly not least, I give you the best thing I ever found on Instagram in 2014: goatsofanarchy.