Absence Makes the Heart Grow Fonder

First of all, allow me to apologize to those of you who thought that I fell off the face of the earth and were genuinely concerned. Please do follow me on Twitter (@larueneuve) where I post daily nonsense about my very ordinary life.

Secondly, thank you to those who emailed me, commented and wrote on my Facebook wall, asking me to continue posting. Not gonna lie - it's nice to be missed. And yet, it was also nice to take a break. I didn't really have a reason for stopping; it just sort of happened. I'd plan outfits and then fail to get pictures. Or I'd go a week wearing only blanket-like, black layers. As any style blogger knows, winter is simply not conducive to style blogging. But today I woke up early and the sun chose to do the same. I also have this fabulous vintage Vivienne Westwood jacket that I have been dying to share. And let's face it, no one in my real life would appreciate it appropriately. So, here I am. Blogging again. And it feels good.


Jacket - Vintage Vivienne Westwood / Skirt - French Connection / Shoes - Steve Madden

I left off just before Thanksgiving intending to write a post about what I am grateful for. Let's just say that I have so much to be grateful for that it took me three and a half months to process it. That actually isn't far from the truth. Gratitude has been on my mind a lot lately. I read through my posts the other day and it struck me how much has changed in three short years. How many prayers have been answered. And I am so grateful to the Universe for listening.

Almost six years ago, I revealed to a counselor that I was profoundly unhappy with the person I had become. Her response was perhaps the most powerful thing anyone has ever said to me. She simply asked me who I wanted to be. Her point was that you will always be unhappy with where you are unless you have an idea of where you want to be. You must have something to work toward. Although my response that day was tainted with age-appropriate immaturity and naïveté, its core was this: I wanted to be confident and content. Who knew that six years later, my own prophecy would self-actualize.



I take credit for the things that I have achieved in my life. I am often told to thank supernatural beings - "God" - for success but let's face it, I put in the time, the effort and the tears. I can take credit for them. However, I would be lying to myself if I couldn't recognize that many prayers have been answered, that the coincidences in my life were far too coincidental to be anything other than designed. My hard work has made me confident and the Universe has graciously given me the gift of fulfillment.



Simply put, I am grateful for answered prayers and beautiful souls. Including all of you. Thanks so much for reading.