It's February...Now What?!

Whew!

I just blogged for 31 days, and boy is my brain tired!

...well, not really. 

Actually, I feel more centered now than I have ever been. Taking a 31 day inventory of my world and how much I have to be thankful for has given me a renewed energy; the excitement is electrifying. 

With my new found sense of self and entrepreneurship, I am entering into February with some amazing new blog friends who I am grateful to have in my world. I have come to be a part of one of the most dynamic, creative, truly inspiring group of women I have ever known.

This month, I will take the opportunity to highlight 14 blogs that I love. 

It's terribly difficult to narrow it down to just a few, but quite frankly, 

my little fingers need to blog less and create more (jewelry, that is). 

Throughout the month, I will take opportunities to share 

the names and links of my new friends' blogs as well.

I thank you again for joining me on my 31 Days, 31 Reasons to be Thankful blog series, and I welcome you to hop on board and follow the series to spotlight bel monili's Fantastic 14!

If you would like to have your blog included in a post link, please be sure to follow my blog and post your blog's link in the comments below! Thanks for reading!

31 Days, 31 Reasons to be Thankful: January 30: Books

Ever since I decoded my first word, I have been a reader. I LOVE books. 

If I had to name an all-time favorite, it would have to be The Lonely Doll. I was mesmerized by the graphics...real photographs that were set up with the doll and the bear in intricate scenarios (although I'm not sure if I knew they weren't real!)

 

When I was in my 'tween years, my favorites were Sweet Valley Twins.

I think I had every book in the series. To this day, when I come across these books at thrift shops or other junk treasuries, I struggle to not buy them. 

Believe me, if I had more space, they'd be mine again. I'm not ruling anything out for the future.

As an adult, a speech-language pathologist, a teacher, an artist, and a human being, I can now intelligently reflect upon my love of books and give the proper credit for my language and vocabulary development. One of my most treasured compliments is when someone tells me that I am well-spoken; mastery of language is indeed the key to mastery of life.

I didn't spend hours at a time in front of the television; rather, the words on the page came alive in my mind and my imagination. Would you believe that now we actually have to TEACH children imaginary play? Yeah, looks like all of those e-readers (hint: your kids play games on them. I know...they come to school and tell us all about it!) can never quite fill the shoes of a good old fashioned paperback.

Today, friends, I am thankful for books. New, old, big, small, fiction, non-fiction...I love it all.

What is your all-time favorite book?

"The things I want to know are in books; my best friend is the man who'll get me a book I ain't read." -Abraham Lincoln

31 Days, 31 Reasons to be Thankful: January 24: Glitter

Glitter!!!!!!!!

I love it. I honestly can't think of a single time when I've thought, "boy, that's too much glitter" (I'm speaking strictly in artistic terms...cosmetic usage is a completely different topic). 

When I say "glitter" I mean ANYTHING that glitters, sparkles, shines, and otherwise reflects everything overtly feminine and bling-y. 

In fact, I've kind of built a business around my love of these things.

Someone once told me I leave a trail of glitter everywhere I go...including toes (ha!). 

I am inclined to agree.

Today I am thankful for glitter because it evokes in me the senses of happiness and joy, 

beauty and femininity.

How do YOU sparkle in your everyday life?

"Some girls are just born with glitter in their veins. "   -Paris Hilton