Dearest Tranquilistas,

VERY excited to share the oh-so-talented guest blogging team. After sorting through oodles of submissions, narrowing it down to the top 12, then to the top 5 (tough decision as there was *such* talent), I am bubbling with excitement to share the five ladies who will be inspiring us each week starting in the new year. Please join me in welcoming Katharine, Samara, Kaileen Elise, Diane, and Robyn to our sparkly community. xoxo, Kimberly
P.S. I’ll still be musing throughout and the podcasts and vidcasts will continue each Sunday so you’ll be received doses of tranquility each week.

$ense and $ensibility Monday: Katharine is a writer in New York City who loves history, languages, laughter, travel, and art. Her financial planner of a father always stressed the importance of living within one’s means while her grandmother and mother taught her to be nothing short of fabulous at all times. So Katharine embraced her inner frugalista and learned to live big on a budget, no matter where in the world she finds herself. From Paris to London and New York to DC, she’s lived large on little and had a ton of fun along the way!

Keeping in Touch Tuesday: Samara so loved the written word that she launched an online letter-writing service. Now she writes letters on behalf of the inarticulate souls of the world at LetterLover.net. She also writes books: For the Love of Letters: A 21st-Century Guide to the Art of Letter Writing and Note to Self: On Keeping a Journal and Other Dangerous Pursuits. Samara likes to drink tea and travel whenever she can afford to (this picture was taken in Vienna). She is honored to be among the Tranquility Du Jour blogging team and looks forward to learning from her fellow bloggers, getting to know the fabulous readers, and spreading the good word about the written word.

Signature Style Wednesday: Kaileen Elise is an explorer, artist, writer, blogger, twitterer, yogini, tea drinker and entrepreneur based in Raleigh, NC. She enjoys finding simple ways to make everyday an extraordinary adventure and connecting with other sparklistas in the universe. As our featured guest blogger for Wednesdays, Kaileen Elise will be sharing her thoughts on signature style – musings on anything from fashion to home decor to stationery. Connect with Kaileen Elise though her blog or twitter.

Dose of Pleasure Thursday: Diane’s earliest pleasure-filled memory was joyfully speeding around the nursery school parking lot on a Big Wheel. That sparked a desire to add more “whee” into her life on a daily basis. Dedicated to the pursuit of pleasure, Diane walked away from the corporate world to follow her passion. She now teaches yoga and is putting her pleasure maven teachings into an online course which can be found at the soon-to-be-launched Web site, theuncommonyogi.com. Diane keeps her pleasure quota full by practicing yoga, spending time in nature, journaling, dancing, seeking out new experiences, and writing her yoga blog, which can be found at itsallaboutyoga.com.

Foodie Friday: Robyn is an ashtanga-practicing yogini who lives in a little apartment on the edge of the pacific ocean. She studies literature and teaches writing at university, and she is beginning a freelance photography business. She is also taking a food writing course, running on the beach, planning upcoming travels in Europe, and doing a marketing internship. Each aspect of the food experience interests her, thus “Foodie Fridays” will explore organic living, gorgeous cookbooks, delicious recipes, informative nutrition, Ayurvedic principles, hosting dinner parties, properties of tea, wine tasting, the beauty of the food experience and more. While she was in Europe, she kept a blog to record her experiences of new cultures and she has recently begun a new lifestyle-focused blog.