Yesterday was National Reading Day. I can't believe I wasn't all over this holiday by reading a paper in bed, reading my future in my tea leaves, or at least reading the shampoo bottle on the toilet. The only reading I did was a honey butter garlic cheddar biscuits recipe (shameful considering how committed I was to National Bubble Bath Day). I'm going to make it up today by reading this book by Irish writer Benjamin Black (a.k.a Booker Prize winner John Banville). It'll make for interesting pub-chatter come Paddy's Day in two weeks ...

I don't carry plastic bags anymore now that I know that they're so not cool. My favorite bags were the "We love our customers" bags from my dry cleaners and the "Thank You, Thank You" bags from the corner store. Mr. Star Deli man doesn't thank me for refusing his plastic bags––in fact he acts offended, so I'm left thankless. Or at least I was until I found those "thank you" words on this plastic-free cotton t-shirt. Love the added "now go away" punch. Up yours Mr. Star Deli!

Words have always inspired me. A few Helen Keller quotes stickied to my mirror used to be all I needed to kickstart my day, but lately I need mantras, chants, books, eighties power anthems, and even power athlete fuel bars. I'm now thinking a few motivational pencils might be just what I need to check off a few to-dos on my many lists. This set of eight #2 pencils offers exceptional advice like: "Write Your Mother," "You Have to Write a Letter to Get a Letter," and my favorite, "Get to the Point!"