Sunday's Shining Star

WELCOME!!!  

I would like to explain how this came to fruition. Hubby and I were having a discussion about the old days, (for the young'ens reading this..a little history lesson) but before the dark age. When Sundays were special and had traditions and rituals. Sunday mornings Church, come home to a big gravy (sauce) cooking on the stove, a big Sunday dinner, then either off to visit relatives/friends or wait for relatives/friends to drop by. We would spend the afternoon sitting around the table, talking, catching up, having coffee, pizza, calzones, etc etc, dessert. And now, how sad, all those traditions are gone. And then I got to thinking, why not have something similar here on my blog. This past year, I have met so many amazing and wonderful people (some I now call friends) through blogging, and how I am in awe of what they do and accomplish. How much respect I have for them, for their honesty, integrity, credibility and so enjoy when a bit of their personality shines through. So every Sunday, here at my place, the coffee will be on, the dessert is on the table and friends will be stopping by. And I will be rolling out the red carpet for my Sunday Shining Star Blogger guest.

I was told when I first found this community of book blogging that "book bloggers were the nicest bloggers there are" and I have never forgotten those words. And over the past year, I have truly met the nicest people. I also believe, even though we live behind a screen, a bit of our personality shines through. That is one of the reasons I am having so much fun with this weekly event, and hoping you are too, because we are getting to know those "nicest bloggers" around and about bloggyland a little bit better.

Today's guest is someone else that I am anxious to get to know a little bit better.  We met through this wonderful community of book blogging, not exactly sure of all the details but remember it had to do with an email about our last names being very similar (more about that later).  Her blog is absolutely beautiful and pristine as you will see, when I hope you all stop by and visit her.  Oh, and one more thing before I introduce her which I am excited about, I had read a review that she had written, not normally a book that I would have picked up, but it touched my heart that I had to enter the giveaway and WooHoo, I was one of the 5 lucky winners of  Little Princes.  Everybody ready?  Today's guest and Sunday's Shining Star is ELIZABETH from SILVER'S REVIEWS

*When and why did you start blogging?

I just began blogging in July of 2010. I started to blog because I wanted to share my reviews with others and I also kept looking through blogs, and it looked like so much fun. I am very happy I decided to begin.....I have met a number of really great people.


*How and what made you decide on the name of your blog?
My e-mail is silversolara and I just slid the beginning part of my e-mail into my blog that I was going to use for my reviews....thus the name: Silver's Reviews.

*What would you say is the main content of your blog?
My main content would be reviews of the books I have read.

*If books, what genres do you mostly read?
Historical fiction, fiction, mystery, women's fiction, female protagonists

*How often do you post?
I would say probably every day.

*What are some of the things that you love about blogging?
The Tuesday Teaser days are fun for me, but I love visiting blogs to see the designs and book reviews.

*What are some of the negatives?
I spend too much time on the computer. :)

SILVER'S REVIEWS

*Name 1-3 favorite items/postings that you have/do on your blog?
I loved posting my photos from Scotland and listing my favorite books.

*Any advice you would give to new bloggers?
Not really...just have fun.

*What draws you to follow someone's blog?
A neat, uncluttered design...bright and cheerful.....and of course the book recommendations.

*Do you have any "pet peeves" that other bloggers do?
One is when you have to jump through hoops to sign up for a giveaway. I like a simple, list your name, blog address, e-mail, and leave a post.

*Would you please share 5-7 things about the person behind the screen so that we get to know the "real" you!!
I am a business teacher.

I am 100% Italian.

I love to bake and cook.

I taught senior citizens how to use the computer this past summer.

I have 7 siblings...that makes 8 when you count me....and most interesting is that we have 4 boys and 4 girls.

I have visited Italy (Rome, Florence, and Venice), Spain ( Madrid, Sevilla, and Barcelona - just "had" to go there to find the places from THE SHADOW OF THE WIND by Carlos Ruiz Zafon), England - London, and spent three weeks in Scotland last summer visiting my son. Spent three days out of the three weeks in the Isle of Skye. That is where my photos came from. Loved the place.

I want to thank Elizabeth for being my guest today and allowing all of us to get to know her a little better, I know I did.  After that initial email, Elizabeth and I started emailing back and forth one night, teasing each other about our Italian heritage, things we have in common (one being we both have a son named Mark).  The more we talked (emailed) the more we got to know about each other and one of the things we learned was that a few generations ago, there was the same family name.  I have to dig out the family tree to see for sure but in the meantime we have decided that we are "cousins".

Her blog is beautiful, with well written and honest reviews.  I was drawn to it not only for those 2 reasons but for the professionalism that comes through her reviews.  And when you visit, please, make sure you scroll down all the way, or you will miss the absolute breath taking pictures of Scotland from when she visited her son.  Once you visit her blog you will see why I think she is a SHINING STAR!!