Not a moment too soon. What a long, grueling winter it was. But now the forsythia, dogwoods, cherry blossoms, daffodils and all the other pretty, pastel trees and flowers are in bloom. It's magnificent.

I’m loving my freelance life, with a contract three days a week working in-house at a fashion brand. Which gives me two days to pitch and write articles, meet friends for breakfast or lunch, hit the gym or a matinee. It somehow still manages to be hectic, but by no means stressful.

The freelance life. I'm digging it. 

To be sure, it's been more the life of leisure than the freelance life this past week+ as I haven't really been working. But that's exactly what I was anticipating and hoping for. Just as much as I'm  planning on some projects coming in soon. 

In 2001, I moved to New York as a freelance writer. I had big dreams of getting a multi-deal book contract, being wooed over lunch by magazine editors, and never really having to work in advertising again. 

Needless to say, that dream didn't pan out.

When Brooklyn In Love launched earlier this month, it was a thrill. So much anticipation and joy, so many people cheering me on, it was great. It was also a relief as it had been years in the making.

As soon as I published Paris, My Sweet, I knew I wanted to write another book. But about what? Just like Paris, My Sweet couldn't have happened until I had lived in Paris, Brooklyn In Love couldn't have happened until I met Andrew, moved to Brooklyn and had Parker.

Brooklyn In Love has arrived!

A follow up to Paris, My Sweet, Brooklyn In Love was several years in the making. I wrote it largely in 2016. Then waited - with some edits to make and publicity to plan - throughout 2017. Finally last week, on February 6, it launched.

Last year, Andrew, the peanut and I went to the Women's March in NYC. It was jammed with so many people that we congregated more than we marched, but it was inspiring and invigorating and made me believe good things were to come.

God, I love Oprah. I grew up on her, watching her show every day. I've received years and years of her magazine. I believe she is an Emotional Genius, able to articulate thoughts and connect with others in a way that's beyond most of us - and yet it's in the simplest way.

I didn't know she was receiving the Cecil B. DeMille when I decided to tune into the Golden Globes solely to see what the vibe was like in our #TimesUp post-Weinstein era. But when I saw her sitting in the front row, I felt a thrill. And when I heard she was receiving the honor, I had to stay up to see her speech.

Good riddance, 2017! 

Not since 2007 have I disliked a calendar year quite so much. While it was a bruiser, it was also filled with lessons. And plenty of fun, too. 

So I got Lyme Disease. It packed a punch but was relatively quick to come and go. In 2018, I vow to reconnect with my body again. To feel strong and fit, to have fun at some new classes, to not feel winded when walking up the subway stairs (WTF!?).