Hello friend,

I'm sitting here at the desk of my home office this afternoon with a view of threatening rain clouds over Chico, a steaming mug of wild sweet orange tea, and the scent of my latest favorite candle, French Cade Lavender by Voluspa. It casts a much needed warm glow around the winter pale room and the fragrance is heavenly. I have chill music on Pandora (though my husband is still blasting holiday tunes out in the kitchen). We are different that way, he can't get enough, and by this time of the season, I've had enough. Today feels like the calm after the "holiday storm" and I feel like life is coming back into balance following a solid month of festivities. Though we will be heading out to celebrate New Year's Eve with friends at the country club, I have an entire afternoon to appreciate the stillness, the calm and reflect on the year that has passed.

Our holidays have been unusually busy this year as my Style*Mind*Chic Instagram will attest. In November we welcomed Baby Charlie, but in December Scott's dear dad passed away. Since Thanksgiving we've traveled to Sonoma wine country, San Francisco, LA, Newport Beach, Escondido as well as Sacramento/Lincoln twice. We celebrated three Christmases with various branches of our growing family tree. It has been warm and wonderful, festive and frenzied.

As of today, my holiday to-do lists are almost totally checked off and I'm breathing a sigh of relief ready for a fresh new year.

Can you relate?

This is a virtual postcard I shared with my Curated Travel clients created with images of a couple of my favorite wanderlust worthy destinations, Portofino and Positano. Is travel on your resolutions list for the new year like it is mine? I would love to hear about your plans or, better yet, help make your travel dreams come true.

Thank you for being here to start the new year with me. I promise there will be exciting collaborations to come in 2018!

I'm wishing you a wonderful new year filled with meaning, joy, time with those you love and dreamy adventures.

Cheers,

Heather

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