Now that all of the frenzy and excitement of the holiday’s are behind us, January is when I like to enjoy a slower, more relaxed pace and take some time to nourish and restore my inner spirit.

During the holidays we spend so much time making sure everyone else is taken care of that we tend to neglect our own needs. And, while we all know that living glamorously always involves reaching out to others, we can’t really enjoy a fully glamorous life if we fail to take care of ourselves.
So here are some suggestions for a few of my favorite places in B’ham that I enjoy going for some quiet contemplation, and some ideas for glamorously re-charging my batteries that help rejuvenate my mind (& body!) and get me ready for the new year ahead.

I hope you enjoy them and have a Glamorous 2010!

Birmingham Botanical Gardens: I love to visit their conservatory in the winter. It’s warm and tropical! And on mild days I love the library courtyard & my favorite swing (I’m not telling which one!)

Cozy reading spots in any branch of the B’ham Public Library-but my faves are Downtown, Emmet O’Neal, Hoover, Homewood & Avondale.

I love quiet coffee shops & café’s (& if you combine them with books, then I am even happier!)
O’Henry’s, for hot coffee & hot chocolate, Crepe Myrtle’s (located in Little Professor) for a bowl of soup & a book, Joe Mugg’s (English Village) for coffee & a great magazine and Miss Rosemarie’s Special Teas for a relaxing, special treat to myselfJ

I also make sure to hit my favorite walking trails and I also like to take in a few dance classes sometimes.(I really need to do that more often!)

www.alabamaballet.org ; www.childrensdancefoundation.org

I am always on the look-out for discovering more of B’ham’s favorite little hidden, secret spots. So if you share yours with me, I promise not to disturb you!