The reason I love New Year’s resolutions is because it involves making a list. Girls love lists. I don’t care how unrealistic the goals are, lists are all neat and tidy and organised… ergo, I’m all over it. These yearly lists are like the beginning of a relationship when you can make sweeping statements and believe they’ll happen (“How was your first date?”, “Great!”, “Are you going to marry him?”, “Definitely”). So what if it’s inevitable that by 7th January you’ll have realised that drinking slimmer shakes for breakfast, lunch and dinner isn’t as much fun as you thought it would be? Here are my offerings for 2011… here’s hoping for a 100% success rate:
1. Lose 15lbs by the time I turn thirty in 6 months
2. Attend a spinning class at the gym that I pay an obscene amount of money for every month… and maybe even use the pool
3. Go to the gym at least three times a week
4. Buy more clothes in shades other than black
5. Invest in some grown-up make-up and stop being scared of brands that aren’t Boots No.7
6. Not feel guilty for saying “no” and realise that I can’t please everybody all the time
7. Save a little money each month
8. Visit a continent I’ve never been to before
9. Cleanse, tone, moisturise, eye cream… repeat nightly
10. Work hard towards dream of moving out of London to a cottage by the coast
How about you? What do you resolve to do (or not do) this year?

Excuse me?! Talk about double whammy! Natalie Portman has notoriously flown under the radar when it comes to her personal life, but she has spoken out about the news saying that, “I have always kept my private life private but I will say that I am indescribably happy and feel very grateful to have this experience.” The lucky man is ballet choreographer, Benjamin Millepied (“a thousand feet” – what an apt name), whom Portman met in late 2009 on the set of her much-hyped-for-awards-season film, Black Swan. Mazel Tov!

{millepied image via details}

Do you find yourself peaking into people’s houses when it’s dark and they’ve left their curtains open to see how they’ve decorated their home? No, me neither. Thankfully with Shootfactory, which showcases UK and international locations available for photo shoots, TV and film, you can be as nosy as you like. From country cottages and London townhouses to beach huts and farmhouses, they have an stunning collection of interior eye candy. This one in particular gave me house envy with its sleek shutters, white wooden floors and array of Union Jacks:

The weeks leading up to Christmas invariably run away with everyone… before you know it you’re battling the high street crowds on Christmas Eve, making panic buys for loved ones, and promising yourself that next year you’ll be one of those smug individuals who buy and wrap their gifts in September. No one likes them, but who’s having the last laugh now? So if your mind is a blank, then here is some present inspiration for your female friends and relatives (unless your brother has a penchant for mittens) that I’m sure would go down a treat:

1. Rodgers & Rodgers round cocktail ring – £75
2. Diptyque Mimosa candle – £36
3. Dwell Shimmer wine glasses (set of 4) – £19.95
4. Roberts Revival Digital radio – £129.95
5. nails inc. George Street polish – £15
6. ASOS nude feather clutch – £26
7. UGG Australia Nightengale slippers – £65
8. notonthehighstreet.com French Boudoire knickers – £22
9. Keep Calm Gallery My Coffee print – £18
10. Jo Heckett Herb & Vegetable labels – £6 each
11. Laura Mercier Fresh Fig Honey Bath – £30
12. Accessorize Chunky Capped gloves – £12