How about a summary of the gifts the fabulous women featured in Spotlight on Exceptional Women have to give - a summary of great gifts to buy and give, great books to read, great organizations to join, and more? Here you go!

LOS ANGELES – USABookNews.com, the premiere online magazine and review website for mainstream and independent publishing houses, announced the winners and finalists of THE NATIONAL “BEST BOOKS” 2008 AWARDS (NBBA) on October 20, 2008. Awards were presented for titles published in 2008 and late 2007. Jeff Keen, President and CEO of USABookNews.com says of the awards, now in their fifth year, “The 2008 results represent a phenomenal mix of books from a wide array of publishers throughout the United States.

The Woman’s Field Guide to Exceptional Living: Practical Steps for Living a Big, Bold, Beautiful Life! was chosen as a finalist in two categories: Women’s Issues and Self-Help-Motivation. Previous awards and national recognition for this 2008 release by author Corrie Woods include: Finalist National Indie Excellence Awards 2008, Nominee for the Ethan Awards, Indie Bound Notable Pick May 2008, and frequent feature on the Morgan James Publisher top-ten best-seller list. This title represents the first book in The Woman’s Field Guide series.

Over a dozen reviews reflect the merits of this national recognition. Quite fitting is this highlight from the Midwest Book Reviews: "The Woman's Field Guide to Exceptional Living: Practical Steps for Living a Big, Bold, Beautiful Life!" is very highly recommended to women everywhere and for self-help and women's studies community library shelves.

Winners and finalists of The National “Best Books” Awards 2008 traversed the publishing landscape: Simon & Schuster, Tarcher/Penguin, HarperCollins, Hyperion, St. Martin’s Press, McGraw-Hill, John Wiley & Sons, Morgan James Publishing & hundreds of independent titles contributed to this year’s outstanding NBBA competition. Keen adds, “NBBA’s success begins with the enthusiastic participation of authors and publishers and continues with our distinguished panel of industry judges who bring to the table their extensive editorial, PR, marketing, and design expertise."

A complete list of awards, reviews, author interviews, and more for this award-winning title can be found at http://www.womansfieldguide.com/learn-more-about-the-book

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The last BLOG post was a great segue into this one.

Read over it to get caught up!

Though I can't seem to impact the current global financial ... what's the word? Let's say "situation", I can look for places where my dollar feels well invested, where I feel I am contributing to a brighter future, and where I get lots of bang for my buck.

As an enthusiastic member and supporter of The Mountain Park Environmental Center in Beulah, Colorado, I know that every dollar I donate is going to what I like to call, my Green Global Investment Fund.

Dave Van Manen, Executive Director, and his staff, embody green stewardship through a dynamic environmental education program, through land preservation, and through doing a job with best management practices in mind.

These guys (and gals) are my hero's!

The journey they travel to do the work they do, involves tons of fund-raising as a non-profit. Though I am in North Carolina and they are in Colorado, I know that when I donate I am investing in a better world. Too, it gives me a way to say, I can make a difference, in times when I feel powerless on other fronts.

What organizations might you put on your radar and into your Green Global Investment Fund? A few dollars can make such a difference to a cause and to nurture your giving heart!

To learn more about The Mountain Park Environmental Center go to www.hikeandlearn.org. Too, you can listen in on a short interview with Dave to catch the vision.

Here is a little "exceptional living" nudge that I have been giving myself lately that I thought I would share with you ...

We perhaps all have situations in our lives when the words, I can't rule the day. There may be a true, insurmountable obstacle or a perceived barrier that fuels the I can't. Either way, what an energy drain!

I recently found myself bumping up against a lot of I can'ts as they relate to some physical challenges I've been maneuvering. Here are a few ...

I can't go hike ... I can't play tennis ... I can't work out and move my body in the way I want ... I can't ...

Though this all seems a temporary state I am in as I explore healing an injured hip, it has forced me to reevaluate and regroup.

Here is what I know to be true:

When I focus on what I can't do, I land in a negative space, I have less ability to see through to clear air, am less resourceful, and I'm way less fun.

But, but, but my lower-self wants to say, "I can't and it's not fair."

Here is the deal and here is what else I know to be true:

I get to choose whether to focus on what I can't do these days OR to focus on what I can. Clear and simple, my choice.

While I can’t do a regular workout, I can explore new ways to move my body and let my hip lead the way.

While I can’t play tennis, I can do upper body strengthening so that when I am back on the court I’ll be in top shape.

While I can’t hike my favorite NC trails this fall, I can enjoy the outdoors in new ways. (the photo is yesterday's picnic spot!)

And … I can use this time while I am not out and about to write more, express more gratitude, help another out, tend to a loving home environment, explore facets of healing I never knew existed, and so much more.

Honestly, I bumped around awhile in an I can’t dialogue before I realized what was happening and who I was being. It took patience, some self-love, looking to others for inspiration, and settling into the best part of me to get back on an I can track.

I encourage you to notice, next time you hear yourself say I can’t, how that can pull you down and to actively look for the nearest I can!

God is at Eye Level, Jan Phillips

I discovered this book, and more profoundly the work of Jan Phillips, when my book club chose God is at Eye Level as our next book. We took it one chapter at a time and dove in deeply to experience the images, the reflections, and the prompts Jan offers. It's a rich and visually delicious book, a path for a thoughtful inner journey, a call to explore the impact of how we see the world through a camera lens / through our own eyes, and so much more.

You can learn more about this book, Jan's other award-winning books, her workshops, photography ... at JanPhillips.com

Stop Being Stopped, Dr Karen Lee Paquette

This book is part inspired coaching, part story and part holistic science-based recipes for healthy living. All bundled up it provides a road map we all can follow to more vibrant living. Practical, accessible, and very helpful!

Learn more about a woman who walks her talk and offers incredible services at ... TheGoDoctor.com and StopBeingStopped.com

Back to the Garden, Patrice Dickey

Patrice shares facets of her courageous life's journey within a weave of practical and uplifting messages of hope, endurance and possibilities. Her writing is warm, touching, engaging and thought-provoking. This award-winning book deserves a place on every woman's bookshelf.

Learn more about the light this woman is shining on the world at ArtOfChange.org.

Free Resources:

Ebooks by Karly Randolph Pittman of FirstOurselves.org

Heal Your Body Image: An Inspiring, Step-by-Step Guide to Loving Your Body, Losing Weight, and Feeling Beautiful

Overcoming Sugar Addiction: How to Kick Your Sugar Habit, Conquer Food Cravings, Stabilize Your Mood, and Lose Weight