Saturday, January 7, 2012

So My Theme Color For The Year Is...

What? 
You thought I was going to spill it in the first line? 
You haven't been reading here long, have you?

People often ask why I pick a theme color at the beginning of the year. The simple answer is that there isn't a good reason. I do it because I'm an oddball. I do it because it's fun and gives me perpetual inspiration. When I'm in need of creative jumper cables, I just reach for the theme color.

In the year of orange I made pomanders and baked cream cheese orange bread. I discovered  pumpkin soup, pumpkin casserole, copper pennies, and marmalade chicken.


The year of green brought fried green tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe. I dried green hydrangeas, made guacamole, and concocted a new dinner salad each month.

Wouldn't you think I would have lost some weight? 

As the Year of Green drew to a close, I starting auditioning colors.  I figured it should have something to do with turning 50 over the Christmas break.

Red for red hats? Too predictable.

Pink is always an option, but since pink is my favorite color, every year is a little bit pink.



I tried to get jazzed about gold since this is the year of my Golden Jubilee, but I couldn't get into it. Gold makes me think of brass, and brass just makes me want to whip out a can of oil rubbed bronze. Gold may be the color of wealth, but it's not the color of happiness. I wanted  needed a happy color.

And that's why my theme color for 2012 is...yellow.

Did you get the hint with this picture? 



Yellow is gold with attitude.   

Yellow is a cheerful color. It's vibrant, and it's  brisk. Yellow is the color of  sunshine.


The winter of 2011 was one of the dreariest ones I can remember.  It started with an ice storm in January  and went downhill from there. 2011 was the year of  ice without snow and clouds without rain.


Oh sure, there was sunshine 2011, but as the year progressed, it became known as the year of the clouds. Some clouds were dark and stormy;  others just hovered overhead. It was supposed to be the year of green, but I usually noticed shades of  gray.

I'm  not going to ask if anyone can relate because I know you can. I can read. I can even read between the lines.  It's been a cloudy year for many of you.

But I've been thinking. I'm always thinking...

If I had known in advance about the great cloud invasion, I wouldn't have squandered the sunshine. I would have stopped what I was doing to smile back at it.

I didn't. I took it for granted until the clouds took it away.

Now, I'll ask: Can anyone relate?

Let's face it: 2012 will likely bring more clouds and more storms. For all I know, the year ahead could make The Year of the Pigeon-Toed Duck Waddle look like a cake walk. Not trying to be Debbie Downer here, but when you reach the ripe age of 50, you just know that kind of stuff.

But it's just as certain to bring some pockets of sunshine.

And that's why my theme color for 2012 is yellow, and my mission is simple: I'm simply going to notice the sunshine. In fact, I plan to look for a piece of yellow, even on the gray days. When I find some, I will stop and give it a little wink.

So there you have it.
 I hereby dub 2012
  Yellow
The Year of Finding the Sunshine.


Oh, the possibilities...

45 comments:

Denise said...

What a wonderful color! I've always had some somewhere in my house. You're right. It's so happy. Great theme, too. We'll both have to be looking for some Sonshine.

I've read your email and I'm still pondering a color, too. Maybe I'll tag along with you since we're tying yellow ribbons until summer.

Manuela@A Cultivated Nest said...

Love the color you chose! I can so "see" it and understand. You've got me thinking that I need a color to go along with my focus word that I chose for this year.

Manuela

Barbara F. said...

Yellow is a fabulous color, my guest bedroom is painted yellow, and I guessed it before I finished your post! I think this year I am feeling "red" myself (yikes!). xo

elizabeth said...

I love this. I never thought of giving the year a color, but 2012 and my word for it, DELIGHT, seems to be a rather yellow-ish, sunshiney word...
de-LIGHT! :)

Denise at Forest Manor said...

Debbie, I love this whole concept. See, I just started blogging almost a year ago (in about two weeks now) and I discovered your blog shortly after. So I didn't realize you chose a color theme every year. That is so fun! And I love THEMES. Does that make me a nerd? Not that it matters, right? Just ask my family about the "Countries" game. They still roll their eyes and groan when that subject comes up. :)

I think yellow is a wonderful color, and I do agree with you about 2011. A gray, cloudy winter, and a summer hot enough to fry eggs on all our heads. Ugh. I love the idea of looking for sunshine everyday and appreciating it while it's there. Thanks for sharing a great idea!

Blessings,

Denise

Susan Nowell @ My Place to Yours said...

Perfect color choice for you this year, my friend! I'll be praying that sunshine and Sonshine envelop your spirit every day of 2012 -- no matter what the color or condition of your skies.

I've never picked a color for the year before, but since this is my year to Declutter and Downsize (and since I've been drawn to this color a lot lately), I think I'll choose WHITE with thoughts of simplicity and calm and a clean slate ... and whipped cream and dogwoods and a new grandson ... and purity -- of heart, and mind, and spirit. I think I'm going to love this WHITE journey! Thanks for encouraging it. :-)

Ruby Jean said...

Oh YES YES YES.... I LOVE yellow.. It's funny it use to be one of my least favorite colors and last year I just couldn't seem to get enough it... So I will be YELLOWING with you!!! :)

Francie...The Scented Cottage Studio said...

yellow has always been one of my favorite colors...especially yellow roses. So I'm happy you chose yellow ! ummm and 50 is not old anymore...50 is the new 30.
(())

Lynn said...

Yellow has always been my favorite color, it's just cheerful:@)

Kathleen said...

Yellow is a good, strong, powerful, happy colour. I wish you luck with your quest to find the sunshine, I know you will! Now you've got me thinking, maybe I need a colour too!

Miss Char said...

Yellow is a perfect choice Debbie, hopefully if each of us who love your blog can send a little sunshine in the way of a comment now and then your days will be filled with sunshine my friend.

http://bitsandpieces-sonja.blogspot.com/ said...

I'm in! Yellow it is!

For starters... yellow makes me smile, and I can't think of any background that includes yellow that is gloomy. That's enough right there...

Here's to sunshine in the midst of whatever the days hold, and I'm thinking there is going to be a lot of it!!

corners of my life said...

Great choice.
I love yellow . . .
especially when paired with blue and white.

Jennie said...

That's perfect! Love it. What an awesome way to stop and relish in one of God's blessings. There is sunshine in EVERYTHING, if we remember to look. I suspect, in 2012, you will!

Christine said...

Yes, yellow!

Canadagirl said...

What a neat idea to have a theme colour. You would like my walls in my house. The main space Waterbury Creme which is a soft and cheerful yellow. I am thankful I picked as the main colour because it is everywhere! [o=

I look forward to seeing lots of cheerful yellow this year.

Blessings and ((HUGS))
-Mary

PS: I wanted to let you know you can do that idea for the New Year Post of recapturing the 1st Post of each month's 1st sentence and picture. I would love to see what others come up with. It is never too late and you can still do it. [o=

Angel said...

I LOVE IT! In my book, you've always been good at finding the sunshine. Yellow is a perfect color for you. And, by the way, thanks for spreading that sunshine my way. Your comment on my latest post had me rolling with laughter! Tell that cowlick sister of yours thank you for giving you another great tale to tell. :) I look forward to reading more Debbie Tales in 2012!

Linda W said...

Now you have me thinking about a color for my year, too. Last year, I had a pink year. Well, basically the month of May when my little granddaughter, Kerrigan, arrived. I wore pink every day for the entire month. I'm sure my family thought I was nuts, but that's nothing new. I always seem to do things in an unconventional way. Why not have fun with life? Anyway, now I'm thinking I need a color this year, too. Hmmmm....decisions, decisions....

Kathleen said...

I am glad I missed the orange year, it is my least fave, with pea soup green the next, LOL.
I like yellow, I just had my kitchen painted Hawthorne Yellow. It took some getting used to, but it is growing on me. My mom LOVED yellow. Her gkids would see something yellow and say Nana would love it.
So have a sunny year, my dear!

At The Picket Fence said...

You picked one of my most favorite colors Debbie! In fact, I have soft tones of it on my walls and scattered throughout my decor. When you live in the Pacific NW you literally do have clouds hanging over most of the time so having yellow around me keeps my spirits up! It just isn't possible to escape those clouds in our lives but knowing the ONE who controls the universe, the sun and the rain makes it all seem possible, doesn't it? :-)
Vanessa

Tanna said...

Oh, girl!! I knitted in the sunshine outside yesterday afternoon and I smiled all around the golf course this afternoon... even grinned at the giant, gorgeous moon that is gracing us tonight. It is AMAZING weather and I am enjoying every second I can... because I remember last year, too. And, I passed that 50 mark awhile back. ;) Let's soak up all that sunshine we can! blessings ~ tanna

Sunny Simple Life said...

What a wonderful post. It really was with all your creativity and how you captured it. I surely think there are tough or tougher times ahead too for many. I hope your sunshiney color brings you some wonderful spots of brightness in the year ahead.

Shannon@Cozy Home Scenes said...

Debbie, I think yellow is THE perfect color for your 2012 theme. Of course, yellow is representative of sunshine and I have a feeling that you could imagine sunshine even where none exist. You seem to be a very happy, positive person. You certainly bring sunshine into my day when I read your very creative words.----------Shannon

At The Picket Fence said...

yep. yellow. a perfect choice! I can't wait to see what yellow creations and ideas you come up with. Thank you Debbie, for always being so encouraging and a ray of sunshine..yep. yellow. perfect for you! Heather

DaCraftyLady said...

Yellow is an excellent color, it is happiness in my book and there is always room for more, I am a lot like you +10... this last year was my big 60, and my name is Debb, and my favorite color is pink, and I am a gabby chick,....lol...great post..Debb

Amy Kinser said...

Not to be corny, but you have brought yellow to my life since I met you. Thank you for being a little piece of yellow to me everytime that I read your posts and everytime you ask about my mom. Thanks...

Mrs. Kelley Dibble said...

I have loved yellow all my life-- redheads look lovely in yellow. In fact, of my six attendants, my maid and matron of honor wore yellow and there yellow roses on our wedding cake... because my engagement ring was presented to me attached to a dozen yellow roses. (Hot Lips is the sweetest.)

Sunshine. Sonshine. Let the Sonshine in!

Tricia said...

Yellow IS a cheerful color! In 2011, we painted our breakfast sort of a mustard-y yellow. I will be on the lookout for some yellow inspiration for you this year!

Debbie said...

From just the short amount of time I have been following this blog, yellow is the PERFECT color choice for you!! It just suits you I think. I LOVE it too. Soo here is to the year of the sunshine, and the inevitable growth! HUGS

Rettabug said...

"Oh, the possibilities..." sooooo true!! Yellow is PERFECT! I like your positive attitude, Debbie! The sun is shining on all our snow here this morning & it is GLORIOUS! Makes ya' feel good, no matter what the temp. I sat out in the garage for a bit, just to feel it on my face & still be out of the cold & wind a bit.

That flower bed photo is awe inspiring! I just bought a pink primrose this morning at the grocery store, for a touch of spring inside the house. I can't wait!

Hugs,
Rett

Anonymous said...

TOO much fun - theme colors. Only YOU! I can't seem to get beyond gold, green, and burgundy. They are my cozy colors and I just love wrapping up in them. Yellow - gold with attitude - LOVE IT!

I have theme WORDS. 2011 was Grace and Humility.
Arguh! Most difficult year since my first husband left in Y2K!

This year, however is full of HOPE - Faith and TRUST will be the passwords and NOT for just getting by - I'm talking BIG things on the horizon. You've seen what I'm up to at Constellation Academy - www.constellationacademyhsrn.blogspot.com - well - time to not just reach but TOUCH the stars.

Now, what that will actulaly look like worked out day to day is still a bit blurry - but I see shadow and form and know focus will sharpen in HIS time.

Glory!!
Be looking for lots of gold with attitude as we wok along in 2012!
Joy!
Kathy

Patti said...

First and foremost Debbie, I haven't had a blog update of yours come through on my dashboard for weeks!! Didn't think much of it, because with the holidays, I know people were too busy for blogging. However, after you popped by yesterday, I did some checking, and your blog isn't even listed among those I follow anymore. (I've been having an ongoing problem with that since about October...several blogs have disappeared and ones I've never signed up to follow show up, such as my own 2 blogs!! I get my own updates, plus I've had a couple blogs I've never even visited show up there.) Not sure what is going on.

Anyhow, I'm glad you have joined me in the 50 club...though in a few weeks, I'll be hitting 51, but that is still part of the 50 club!!

I think yellow is a grand and happy color, and based on the bright, sunny, fun posts you always have, I think it suits you perfectly.

Thanks for your comments on my recent post...about pretty versus hot. My daughter, too, is not in the hot commodity market, and sometimes she can despair of ever having a guy interested in her. Used to be that sweet and innocent was a virtue...now it seems to be a reason for mocking.

Wishing you a lovely day.

Love,
Patti

Sharon said...

Dear Mrs. Yellow - A PERFECT color! And I just love how you said it was "gold with an attitude"! That indeed made me :)

The Year of Finding the Sunshine.

Debbie, that's just so good. You know that that kind of attitude is not natural for this "glass half-empty girl" - but it perfectly dovetails with my commitment to OVERCOME this year. There is an element of *will* in there - an intentional choice.

So, I'll join you in searching for the rays of sunshine that are always there if you CHOOSE to find them.

Wink, wink...

Sue said...

I just could hardly wait to get to the bottom of the post to find your color for this year, I almost cheated, but didn't lol.
Yellow became a favorite of mine last year, and had plans to incorporate it in our home, but didn't get too. As a matter of fact, I grew to like yellow and blue together.I like your reasoning for choosing yellow, I am right there with you.
Thanks for your visit and for your words of encouragement.
Hugs,
Sue

Mevely317 said...

Yea!
Yellow has been my favorite hue for years and years now. Forget the smiley face for a minute ... how can ANYone not smile inside when they see that happy color!
"Finding the sunshine" in the everyday? Brava :)))))

PS - Can't wait to read more ... thanks for always bringing me "up"!

Chatty Crone said...

I love yellow - not to wear - lol - but it sure does brighten the day - sun - flowers - sunflowers - all sorts of wonderful things. sandie

Anonymous said...

Great choice, Debbie! Yellow is my favorite color.

Crickit said...

Here comes the Sun! I think we all like the color yellow. It is the color of things cheery and new. And since new seasons and new beginnings are some of my favorites. I too agree.... Great choice! :)

Mid-Atlantic Martha said...

What a lovely bouquet of colors. I do hope for a sunny and bright year ahead for so many people.....Sunny Yellow is a good attitude for us all to have for 2012.

Janettessage.blogspot.com said...

Oh I think yellow goes with "spunk" so I will adopt your color this year!
You are just tooooooooo creative.........too encouraging, toooooooo much fun to read...and my list goes on and on.
I am glad I can stop in and enjoy...even if I am usually at the bottom of your huge list by the time I get here...I hope you can see how much
sunshine and Yellow you bring into all our lives.

Oh I just pasted you up...so we were the same age for 15 days!!! LOL I am older!!!

Kim@stuffcould.... said...

I always like your color themes whatever they are...I can relate to bright yellow sunshine too

Bargain Decorating with Laurie said...

I hope I get to wink at the sunshine a lot this winter (It's raining here right now). Great reason for a color choice - a bright and happy color for a bright and happy person. laurie

Yellow Rose Arbor said...

I'm so excited to see you chose MY color for yours this year! Can't go wrong with Yellow!! It's been my favorite color since childhood and will always be! Yellow roses are my favorite! I love to wear yellow, and surround myself with yellow!! It is cheerful and makes us happy!

A dozen yellow roses to you!! (Wish they could be real!!)

Katherine

Always Nesting said...

What a great idea for the yellow themed year! I love yellow - it's such a happy color. Yes, I'm thinking the sunshine in yellow will help chase away the gray.

Becky Jane said...

What a fun idea to have a color for the year! I've heard of using a word or even a quote for the year, but not a color! I ♥ your comment about yellow being gold with attitude!

Happy Tuesday!

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