It’s clear that, since the last Top 5 post I did was for October 2008, I’ve fallen off the wagon a bit … or a lot.

That was around the same time that my fiance and I were really gearing up for our move from San Francisco to Connecticut (which happened in January 2009).

Now that things have settled, I’m delighted to bring back the very popular monthly Top 5 post.

1) Failure: Learn It, Live It, Love It: What are you avoiding? Writing a book? Knitting your first sweater? Cooking a casserole? Applying for a new job? Moving to your favorite city? Everyone has something that they want to do but just can’t find the ability to. Whether the excuse is time, money, or technique, it all comes down to one basic concept – fear of failure.

2) Pretty Pictures from Beatrice Peltre: A long-time friend of mine on flickr, Beatrice Peltre also runs the infamous La Tartine Gourmande food blog. Her food styling work consistently stops me in my tracks – she does a spectacular job of enhancing the natural colors and curves of the foods she features. Having grown up in rural France, Beatrice now lives in Boston with her husband and new daughter – I’m hoping to meet her once before my fiance’s Marine goals begin moving us around the country in 2 years.

3) Clean Beauty and Conscience with Yes to Carrots + EXCLUSIVE GIVEAWAY!: Back in the “good ole days”, skin care was simple - olive oil, lemon, salt … basic ingredients that can be found in any kitchen. As we spent more time in offices, making our own beauty products is the last thing on most minds. When it comes to finding sustainable, all-natural cosmetics, you usually have to go to stores like Whole Foods. Thankfully, other major stores (like TargetWalgreens) are starting to take notice and now carry brands that even an evergreen would smile at.

4) Pretty Pictures from Thayer Allyson Gowdy: Inspired by my recent review of A Year of Mornings, I’m delighted to announce a new ongoing post series here on Victoria-E.com. Titled Pretty Pictures, I’ll be posting a collection of images from one photographer every Thursday. Whether you need a break in your (almost over) week or are looking for regular inspiration, Pretty Pictures is what you are looking for.

5) Makeup Meets Skincare with Jane Iredale’s Mineral Cosmetics + EXCLUSIVE GIVEAWAY!: Natural beauty comes in all shapes, shades, and sizes – shouldn’t your makeup? Having been, literally, covered head-to-toe in makeup over the years, I’ve long since learned that not all brands are created equal. Upon finding out that so many cosmetics contain highly untested chemicals, I vowed to only use sustainable options during photo shoots and special occasions that call for makeup (I don’t wear it on a day-to-day basis). There are numerous options on the market, but most well-known is likely to be Jane Iredale, a no-animal-testing, mineral-based extensive cosmetics line.

What did you enjoy most on Victoria-E.com this past month?

[Image courtesy of tinou bao on flickr.com]