The fizz and sparkle of fireworks and champagne is such a thrilling way to launch into a brand new year, but once the fireworks have fizzled out and the champagne has been drunk, January slopes in with its resolutions and responsibilities like a well-practiced party pooper, telling you to clean your room and do your homework; you can’t have any pudding if you don’t eat your greens. No wonder phrases like ‘January blues’ and ‘January doldrums’ abound. But not this year. Instead, I have determined to capture a great big handful of that New Year’s sparkle and intend to sprinkle it liberally throughout the rest of my year like mood-enhancing fairy dust. So for this very first travel theme of 2015, with January looking disapprovingly over my shoulder, I am revelling in all things sparkly.
My first thought was this photo of handheld sparklers on Guy Fawkes Night; it is hard to out-sparkle sparklers!
Then I remembered sunlight sparkling on the ice blue waters of Lake Atitlán.
My recent wander around Waterford Crystal’s showrooms was definitely dazzling, but the piece that made me stop and stare was a giant, glittering crystal globe of the world. Travel and sparkles, what a fantastic combination.
And to round things out, a deliciously sparkly carnival mask on display in Rome. Ahh, the romance.
Take that, January! Now, hopefully my sparkles have sparked a few ideas for your own interpretation of this week’s theme. If you would like to join in (everyone’s welcome!) here’s what to do:
- Create your own post and title it Travel theme: Sparkle
- Include a link to this page in your post so others can find it too
- Get your post in by next Thursday, as the new travel theme comes out on Friday
- Don’t forget to subscribe to keep up to date on the latest weekly travel themes. Sign up via the email subscription link in the sidebar or RSS!
Let’s make 2015 the sparkliest year ever.
xxx Ailsa
To the dull mind, nature is leaden. To the illumined mind the whole world burns and sparkles with light. – Ralph Waldo Emerson
Begin doing what you want to do now. We are not living in eternity. We have only this moment, sparkling like a star in our hand… and melting like a snowflake. – Sir Francis Bacon
Yo come up with the best parallel themes. I am almost done 9 days of Twinkle but I think I have a perfect sparkle that really mesmerized me with it’s originality! Happy New Year !
Haha, great minds… 9 days of twinkle sounds like a lot of fun! Happy New Year to you too. xxx
Thanks for commenting Ailsa! Nice to see you here!
Love the idea of sparkle, especially for the new year.
Ah, I shall have to think about this! Also, I thought Waterford crystal was no loner, but I see it is still going under new ownership…
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Happy Sparkly Year to you too, dear Ailsa! And to everyone else too of course! 🙂
Here’s my sparkle: https://drieskewrites.wordpress.com/2015/01/02/travel-theme-sparkle/
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Our kayaking Sparkle: http://windagainstcurrent.com/2015/01/02/sparkle/
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Happy Sparkly New Year to you – and thank you for hosting Travel Theme again!
http://lagottocattleya.wordpress.com/2015/01/02/travel-theme-sparkle/
Hi everybody and Happy New Year to all friends ! Buon Anno !
http://max510.com/2015/01/02/weekly-travel-theme-sparkle/
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Happy New Year, Ailsa! I love your gallery of sparkles, especially the fabulous shot from the Lake Atitlán. 🙂
Here’s my entry: https://esengasvoice.wordpress.com/2015/01/02/travel-theme-sparkle/
Beautiful photos. 😀
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Love your quotes…such truth in the sparkling moment….and in my humble opinion there can never be too much sparkle!
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Hi Ailsa, great minds think alike.
https://almostitalian.wordpress.com/2015/01/02/travel-theme-sparkle/
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New sparkles for all
http://quotidianhudsonriver.com/2015/01/02/1-2-15-new-sparkle/
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Lake Atitlán looks beautiful.
Mine is of the Ninety Mile Beach in Victoria, Australia; taken in 1986
http://regionalcognisance.wordpress.com/2015/01/03/travel-theme-sparkle/
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Oh I love this idea of spreading the sparkles all year…lovely photos and great idea!!
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This is from Barcelona… http://megtraveling.com/2015/01/03/travel-theme-sparkle/
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I was away from WordPress for several months, but yours was one of my favorite blogs, and am returning. Here is my sparkle: https://snailsearch.wordpress.com/wp-admin/post.php?post=2439&action=edit&message=6&postpost=v2
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Add some gold Paddington Bear sparkle to your life: http://travelwithintent.com/2015/01/03/please-bid-for-this-bear/
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Pingback: 1 day of Sparkle, 2 days of twinkle and all the magic of the holidays! | V A S T L Y C U R I O U S
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Happy New Year! This is my first attempt at your travel theme (although I’ve been watching others do it for the past year). Looking forward to pulling out random images to share each week, and seeing what themes you come up with for us in 2015. For “sparkle”, I’ve chosen an image from a bellydancing class, http://aglasshalf-full.com/2015/01/04/travel-theme-sparkle/
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A sparkling way to start 2015 Ailsa. http://memoriesaremadeofthisblog.wordpress.com/2015/01/04/travel-theme-sparkle
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Thanks for another great challenge, Ailsa. Here is my response: http://naomibaltuck.wordpress.com/2015/01/04/the-future-is-now/
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Happy New Year Ailsa. Thank you for the wonderful themes you had inspired me with in the last year, looking forward to more of your bright ideas:-).
https://cocoaupnorth.wordpress.com/2015/01/04/shine-bright/
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