Inspiration for living a luxuriously and balanced life

Sunday, December 30, 2012

Preparing to Welcome 2013 ...

Final last minute touches of cleaning and polishing (the cleaning and organizing process starts boxing day) will have the High Heeled Life home buzzing this week-end, as we prepare for Monday and the countdown to 2013. I like ringing in the new year with an empty laundry basket; empty sink; and a tidy home.

Monday morning the bed is stripped and remade with new, freshly pressed (thank you Mr. G. for ironing) with a touch of lavender ironing water sheets. Click here to see a previous post on sheets and caring for them. One final load of laundry and check all is in order throughout the house; a trip into town to pick up fresh bread from the bakery; fresh veggies and seafood from the market and we are almost ready.

In the afternoon all the ingredients for the evening meal will be prepped; a chocolate cake baked (Mr. G's favourite); and bubbly chilled. Once the kitchen is cleaned up and the table set, it's time for me to relax in a soothing Laura Mercier almond coconut milk honey bath. After my bath I will nap for a couple of hours, this girl needs her rest if she is to stay up till midnight. 

The days of going out to noisy New Year celebrations are behind us and we much prefer a quiet(er) evening at home with our furbabies and a few friends. This year will be just us and the furbabies.

After the evening meal we'll do a quick tidy up in the kitchen and settle in the family room with an array of sweets, hors d'Ĺ“uvres  and some bubbly, watching the various New Year's Eve celebrations on TV. We tend to flick back and forth between Time Square in NYC and Dundas Square in Toronto.

At midnight we will call family and close friends and wish them a Happy New Year, wherever they may be.
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How will you be welcoming 2013?


16 comments:

  1. Have a happy new year!

    Yours sounds a lot like mine.. although I am hoping my toddler will be fast asleep by midnight (hopefully!)

    Elle x

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  2. Dearest Celia,
    That sounds so relaxing! We also plan to spend time with our fur babies, after a dinner with some friends. Quiet time at home with some Italian Roscato Rosso Dolce...
    Sleeping tight and happy. We went to Atlanta for two days and also made several over seas Skype calls with friends and loved ones; more to make. Feels good for staying in touch.
    Hugs to both of you and stay bubbly too (both),
    Mariette

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  3. Sounds like a great start to the new year! Hope you have a wonderful 2013 =)

    Love from the NaNa girls xoxo

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  4. Hi Celia, Loved seeing the photos of you in your recent posts. You're looking great! Enjoy your quiet New Year's eve. Ours will be very quiet. (We're getting "old"! lol)
    We have a new puppy and I need to get some pics of her and blog about my little sweetheart!
    Hugs and blessings, Beth

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  5. Oh Celia, I am right there with you! A clean house to start the year off right, and a cozy NY's by the fire and telly, with our furbabies and boys (that try so hard to make it to midnight!)in our pj's is my favourite way to bring in what I am sure will be a LUCKY 13 year!
    xoxox to you!
    Nathalie

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  6. I am so with you. My house is a disaster now. Tomorrow am I kick into high gear and clean up this place. No plans this year. It will be a quiet year for sure. I have the Veueve all chilled and set to go. I'll reflect and look forward... so many promises of hope, you know?? Thanks for being a great supporter! XOXO

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  7. Hi Celia,
    You're looking start the reply start always for next year.
    Your photos a beautiful posts but I have not start yet for tonight..
    I have so much with next month 4 time of days Let hope with NEW YEAR 2013!
    Michiko

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  8. For us lots of snacks. I don't think the kids will stay up till midnight if they do we will watch some movies. Happy New Year Celia!!!
    Hugs

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  9. Happy New Year, Celia. I hope to visit more in 2013. Wishing you the best, always.

    xoxo
    Marilyn

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  10. Happy New Year Celia...

    Sounds like your perfectly organized for the New Year...relaxing with the fur babies... That's my normal routine, but we got caught up in traveling and I''m in Japan this year. Big fluffy white flakes greeted us on New Years Eve and dissolved into the most glorious New Years morning filled with sunshine...It's a quiet and relaxing 2013...Blessings of the season to you and your loved ones. Wishing you health and happiness throughout the New Year... Hugs

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  11. Your plans sound divine! We are too are past the days of loud parties, but prefer a quieter, more intimate celebration of family of close friends.
    Yes, a trip to Paris is in the plans for 2013!! I'm thrilled!
    Wishing you a most fabulous new year, mon ami! xoxo, B

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  12. And a New Year it is!My wishes to you for all of your dreams to come true in 2013, Celia ~ Thank you for another year of inspiration and blogging friendship,
    xox,
    Nathalie

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  13. Oh, come my way! I took down Christmas decorations down all day. Not quite as fun as putting them up. I hope 2013 holds many adventures for you, Celia. xo

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  14. great way to bring in the new year. i always tend to wait until the new year to start cleaning!

    [oomph.]
    Enter to Win a Leather Bracelet & Special Edition Photography Book

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  15. This sounds divine! I am all about a low-key New Year's...have always thought it was kind of over-rated.
    We spent New Year's with another family in Niagara Falls as you know...dinner at a local family-owned pizzeria (VERY casual) and then the older kids watched fireworks while Ava and I retired (ahem) before midnight. :0

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  16. Ours is a lot like yours. Relaxing together. We had a meal catered so we didn't have to cook. On N.E. eve, we ate an amazing meal of prime rib, bacon wrapped infused green beans, Asian slaw, and mandarin orange salad. We then retired to the living room and... moaned about how we ate too much (smile).

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