It's the first day of 2013

and I didn't even bother to get a year-end post together before now. That's okay, though, as 2012 had been bittersweet, tumultuous, at times volatile, and ultimately even more life-changing than 2011. But while I had direction and ambition in 2011 and was making changes that would benefit me and my family, every bit of that focus and determination slowly slipped away over the course of 2012. I can't possibly recall all the things I didn't like about the past year, let alone post them and have all that negativity just out there, though....that would be starting 2013 off on the wrong foot. So I am currently imagining myself tossing all the year's problems into a roaring fire, to be consumed and destroyed. Take that!

The year wasn't all sadfaces and stress, though. 2012 also had many, many good times and causes for celebration, and I did my best to take none of them for granted. I now see the past year for the lesson it was, and will hopefully move forward into 2013 a bit wiser, stronger, and with a better sense of self and renewed determination.

So what does the future hold for me?

Well.....all the goals I have made in years past still apply. So those. And some of them? Are hard work. My biggest disappointment with myself in 2012 was slacking off my health/fitness/eating right plan, and I paid dearly for it. But I am ready to work hard and get back to good this year.

As for here online? First off, I decided against a blog facelift at this time. Obviously. I am just not ready to give up my trademark "Devil Girl." She's been with me a long time, you know. I plan on participating in more blog hops, networking a bit more, and participating more at Goodreads (my profile link is in my sidebar; add me if you're there!).

But I guess my biggest bloggy news for the new year is that I have started two more blogs! Yep, I sometimes neglect this one like crazy, so I thought "Hey! Why not start two more blogs to neglect like crazy?" One of them will feature my rescues and repurposes (I almost have one finished as I type this!), and another is a collaboration between me and a few others solely for concert reviews. It was only a matter of time before I started something like that! Of course, neither is currently active.

As for the concert review site, I am working on the design and the writers I'm starting off with (oh, and myself!) all have to attend some shows so we have content. I will be doing an introductory post as soon as I have the design and bios finished.

I can go ahead and tell you that my project blog will be called "Be re.BELLE.ious". Of course, it's a take on rebellious; I think being a loud,live music- /classic muscle car- /tattoo-loving mama who plans on helping to redefine/shake up the middle age "norm" qualifies me as a bit of a rebel, no? Belle in all caps, because I'm keeping the Belle theme going. And the "re" refers to not only finding and sharing creative ways to reduce, re-use, and recycle, but also to things like (but not limited to): rescue; repurpose; re-imagine; re-invent; etc. You get the picture!

I will definitely be directing your attention to the new blogs when they are ready to roll, and I'll be keeping this one as well.

Here's to a great 2013! This is how my NYE got started:



Unfortunately, I am a lightweight and couldn't stomach the taste for long!