Decluttering, reevaluating and a glittering ball in the mix

10...9...8...7...6...5...4...3...2...1

and the ball drops as a new year is ushered in.

Like millions of others, I'll attend a party tonight. In fact, I've gone to New Year's Eve parties every year since I was 15-years old. And every year, at the stroke of midnight, I have called my mom and dad. It's always been the first thing I think of at midnight -- never ever missing a year.
I'm sure I'll get emotional tonight when I don't have that call to make, but that's okay. The emotions I'll feel will be a lifetime of the fondest of memories.

Like millions of others, I've been assessing my own 2012, comparing it to years past and thinking about the year ahead. It seems as though everyone is always in a hurry for the year to end and a new one to begin. For the past week, I've heard people saying things like, "2013 has got to be better than this year!" or "I can't wait for this one to be over!"

When I hear statements like that, I wonder, "What's happening to actually change things? What are you doing in your life to make a difference?"

I'm not one to actually celebrate the end of a year, although being here to celebrate the start of a new one is - of course - a good thing. But, this year in particular, I don't want to see come to an end.

2013 is the year I turn 60 (I'm stll trying to figure out how that happened, because I sure don't see 60 when I look in the mirror).

My mother always seemed to enjoy her life as it was. She never really wanted for anything, accepted things as they were, and made the best of those circumstances. Almost instantly after my mother passed away, I began assessing and re-assessing my own life and came up with three changes I am making. You can call them resolutions, if you want to, but I'm seeing them as "You're-Never-Too-Old-To-Improve" life assessments.

1. Live in the moment

As the editor of a social magazine, my job forces me to work in advance, usually at least three weeks out from today's date. I never feel as though I'm living in the current moment, because I'm always thinking ahead and planning for news coverage of fundraising and social events that will be happening three to eight weeks out.
Since my mother's passing and even in my sadness, I'm learning to enjoy every waking moment. I'm learning to actually be in that moment. Yes, it's something that I'm having to learn.
I once heard a quote: “We're so busy watching out for what's just ahead of us that we don't take time to enjoy where we are.”

2. De-Clutter

That one word can mean so much, right? From the stuff in our houses to the stuff in our brains to the stuff in our hearts -- it can be overwhelming. There's nothing wrong with a little purging once in a while and this is my time.
I haven't been able to go through my mother's things, yet. But everyday I feel stronger. Everyday I feel more love coming through from her to me. And everyday I get closer to the inevitable -- removing her clothing and redecorating her rooms.
The stuff in my brain and the stuff in my heart are much the same. My brain and my heart are, unfortunately, occupied with the hurtful actions of a few people I thought were good friends, so I'm going to spend some time re-evaluating with whom it is I spend my time. Life is just too short to spend it with folks who either don't appreciate you.

3. Have more fun

Caring for my mother took a great deal of time -- time that I absolutely loved spending with her and would give anything to have back. But the fact remains that it also took me away from my husband, who - for nearly 12 years - was very patient, kind and understanding when I would say, "No, I can't go, because I need to (fill in the blank) with Mom." He loved my mother with all his heart.
Fun can be many things -- crafting, sitting with my husband eating popcorn while we watch a movie, camping (I love camping), bicycling, dancing, and laughing - laughing - laughing.

Okay, so enough about me. Let's craft.
This is a ball a friend of mine taught me to make. I have a red one completed, which is pictured, and this gold one is for tonight's party. This will be our answer to the Times Square Crystal Ball.

You'll need about 32 paper cups that are shaped like cones (you've seen them at water coolers), 32 plastic ornaments that are about 2.25-inches in diameter, tacky glue or hot glue, a stapler, a foot of ribbon, filler leaves or garland and spray paint.
The ornaments, ribbon,garland and spray paint should all be the same color of your choice. The leaves can be whatever you like. I'm using gold today, but the completed ball is red.

The first thing you will do is staple the coned-shaped paper cups together to form a ball, and after the cone cups are stapled together, spray paint the whole ball.

This is the hardest and most time consuming part of the project. Be patient.

Staple your ribbon inside two cups to form a loop.
Then begin gluing the ornaments into the openings of the cups. The reason tacky glue is normally used is because it gives, dries clear and doesn't have any glue strings. If you're in a rush (like me), you can use hot glue, but be careful about the strings.
Whichever type of glue you are using -- apply the glue to the inside edge of the paper cup, then insert the ornament as far as it will go.

Keep gluing the ornaments into the cups until all 32 ornaments have been used.

Once all the ornaments have been glued into the cups, you can hide your spaces by gluing in holly leaves, garland, or whatever you'd like to use. I'm using gold and silver garland, glued between the ornaments.

I'm grateful for this year that's about to come to a close. Although I lost my mother, she taught me to believe and have faith -- and I do.
I look forward to my call I'll receive tonight from my son -- who continues the tradition.
And I wish you all a year filled with blessings and love.

Happy New Year!