A Few of My Favorite Things

One week from today, Sparkles and Shoes will celebrate it’s first birthday and I had plans for the celebration in the works for weeks now. I do not want to share too much, but get ready for a huge giveaway and a truly unique party.  But first, let me take you back to my first post and why I started this blog:

A year and a half ago I compiled all of my favorite brands into a larger than life silhouetted self portrait for a class in college.  This blog is going to be an extension of this self portrait, explaining why certain brands are on this silhouette and delving into things such as collaging, red velvet, and walk in closets that I was not able to portray on this image.

I originally wanted to write a book of short stories about my life supplemented with explanations of my favorite things.  However, I do not think I have enough stories yet to create a book so in the meantime the short stories will sit on the shelf and the brief explanations about my favorite things, in no particular order, I will post on this blog at least twice a week. 

Well, some things certainly have changed. I consistently post six times a week and this blog now carries the tag line, “a fashion and lifestyle blog” but I would say it still incorporates my favorite things, albeit in a less direct way.   Here is a breakdown of all of the brands, logos, and companies that are on the profile image above broken down into category:

• Places I could spend all of my money:  CVS, Sephora, and Target
• Brands I Adore: 3M, Aquaphor, Dallies {contacts}, David Yurman, Eucerin, Garnier Fructis, Godiva, Hunter, Jack Rogers, John Frieda, NARS, Rainbow Sandals, Rugby (RIP), and Urban Decay, 
• Shopping:  Anthropologie, Costco,  J. Crew, Lululemon, Michael Kors, Tiffany and Co., Tory Burch, Urban Outfitters, Victoria’s Secret, and Vineyard Vines
• TECH: Adobe, Apple, Facebook, Gmail, Google, Hulu, LinkedIn, Living Social, Netflix, Pandora, Twitter, and Verizon {wireless}   
• Food and Drink: Cosi, Diet Coke, Diet Snapple, Ocean Spray, Panera Bread, Pepperidge Farm, S. Pellegrino, Skinny Cow, Trader Joe’s, and Vita Coco
• TV, Magazines & Music: Bones, Bravo, Cosmopolitan, Dave Matthews Band, Glamour, Grey’s Anatomy, Jack Johnson, Marie Claire, and The Biggest Loser 
• Assorted: Audubon, Cirque du Soleil, Jet Blue, PADI, and People {magazine}
• Childhood & College: Acura, Apawamis, Citi,Georgetown, Keltic, Manursing, New York Times, Nike, Orbit, Relay for Life, Rhino, Sacred Heart, Speedo, Sweetgreen, The Hoya, Third Edition (RIP), and Yankees
• Great but wouldn’t make the July 2013 list:  H+M, Jones New York, The North Face, Olive Garden, UGG, Propel, Vera Bradley, The Weather Chanel (um, really Kelly?), and White House Black Market

In school I liked to put 100% effort into my work, especially if it was for a class I enjoyed.  When I told my dad I estimated I took over 30 hours to make this final project for class he looked at my sideways and said, “that took thirty hours?” Why yes, Daddy Dearest, it did.  And you know what?  I am SUPER proud of it.

Ps. If you want to be part of the birthday celebration, please fill out the form and join the party!