"The color of springtime is in the flowers, the color of winter is in the imagination." – Terri Guillemets

As I write this, the joy of the holiday season is here – our Christmas tree is adorned with ornaments that bring back fond memories; the stockings are hung by the fire; my children are out of school, excited about Santa's arrival; their holiday artwork proudly displayed on our walls; and the delightful scent of cinnamon permeates through the house … and I anticipate the time that I'm going to be able to spend with family and friends during this special time of the year.

And I also know that with the blink of an eye, it's over, and the New Year is upon us – it also means that winter is here as well … I'm never a fan of the cold weather that Mother Nature brings this time of year, but as the quote above states, "The color of springtime is in the flowers, the color of winter is in the imagination." Thus, winter is the perfect time of year to use some imagination in various aspects of our lives, helping us endure the chill in the air, awaiting the color of springtime that will be here soon.

With the amount of time we must spend indoors during these cold months, now is the perfect opportunity to take in your surroundings, and imagine how they need to be changed … the New Year is a time for change, so why not consider a little redecorating or de-cluttering? You won't want to miss "Top 5 DIY Projects For The New Year" for simple suggestions that can inspire you to transform your home, while articles such as "Combat Clutter," "Edited Spaces Healthy Spaces," and "Decorating Rut?" offer tips on how to remove those unnecessary items in your living environment that need to be tidied up or discarded.

Looking to apply some of your imagination in the kitchen this year, but are a little afraid? "Conquer Your Cooking Fears" encourages you to be brave when it comes to your culinary skills (and offers a couple of tasty recipes too!), while "Forgotten Edible Treasures" provides suggestions on what to do with those treats that have been relegated to the back of your pantry (and you may have discovered during your de-cluttering duties).

You don't have to be a gardening genius to know that a little color in your yard makes any cold day feel warmer – this issue's "Green Thumb" details various camellias that will add instant beauty to a winter landscape, letting you imagine spring is here.

Can you imagine yourself relaxing a bit this season, after all that organizing and redecorating? "Winter Wonderland" describes all that the area beaches surrounding Wilmington have to offer during this chilly time – they aren't just for summer anymore! So be sure to read all about it, and plan a weekend getaway this winter.

As always, this is just a sampling of the valuable information provided within the pages of CIRCA Magazine … you will also learn about the value of summer camps, the importance of a home inventory, why you should create an investment strategy, and much more. We hope you benefit from the insight these articles provide, and take some time to enjoy all that the New Year has to offer. Whether it be transforming your décor, your outdoor living spaces, your health, or any aspect of your life, remember that "… the color of winter is in the imagination" – so this winter, let your imagination run wild, and before you know it, the colorful flowers of spring will arrive!