ALONG COMES MARY

I have been a tired recluse for about a week now. I’ve been enjoying simply doing only what I need to then resort home to take it easy & watch movies or get work done. I often get like this, then usually (hopefully?!) I bounce back to social Mary. In the meantime, I must say I am loving that its spring, the nights are getting lighter & it smells like heaven as I walk down my street, all the flowers are blooming & the bees are buzzing….do we still have the dilemma of a bee shortage? I hope not, cuz I have encountered 3 trying to make friends with me in just afew days. I have also been playing catch up a bit on my QT with my laptop & reading blogs, networking, you know, living the bloggers life

Speaking of bees, I have been listening alot to Tori Amos’ 2005 album, The Beekeeper while I write & blog. A classic trait of a Tori fan is discovering a song that had been there for years, but then something can occur when they finally can relate to a song of hers….right now for me, it has been the final Beekeeper track, Toast. A send off to her brother, who passed away in 2004, it goes, “I raise a glass make a toast A toast in your honor I hear you laugh and beg me not to dance ’cause on your right standing by is Mr. Bojangles With a toast he’s telling me it’s time to raise a glass With a toast he’s telling me it’s time To let you go Let you go.” This is making me think of, & miss, my dear friend, Lauren, who left us so unexpectedly nearly 2 months ago. Whats even crazier is, the day I met her & her Mom at a Tori concert, she played Toast that evening. Between you & me, I was a little disappointed she did, cuz I just did not care for the song then. Now, the lyrics hit so close to home for me & I remember my few times with Lauren, & our countless emails & giggles.

There’s no easy ways to change from the topic of death, but I know Lauren would find this switch amusing….because, well, next, I want to tell you about one of my new favorite snacks! At Expo West, I was treated to a jar of Don’t Go Nuts Organic Chocolate Soy Butter…perfect for those allergic to nuts, or chocolate lovers, or anyone, really, this delicious alternative even rivals Nutella for me. I have been loving it on my Udi’s Gluten Free Bread…or, even just straight from the jar

Another goody from the Expo getting much use from me is The Orange Owl’s Sun Shower Body Scrub. I am an absolute girly girl when it comes to bath products & while I am not picky, it’s always great when I can choose an all-natural option over those filled with alcohol, chemicals…bleh & I am loving Sun Shower’s aroma of mint, citrus & patchouli. Using grapefruit sed extract as a preservative & tangerine as an essential oil, this vegan scrub truly leaves mey skin feeling rejuvenated. I will be purchasing this when I run out!

I have been hitting up the Netflix, too. I just watched & loved Craigslist Joe; am thinking of writing a post about the documentary, did you see it? As I mentioned in an older post, I really like Detachment, which I decided to watch again. The acting is superb & I think it really shows how kids are led to feeling so detached to life. Good stuff!

I have found some bargains recently, too. With summer nearly here & my anticipation for fun events, I always love to have a casual yet fun dress at the ready….& couldn’t resist this one when I saw it! It’s from a favorite chain store that’s, er, right on the bullseye with prices! What do you think?! Then over at a crafts shop, I found this sweet votive holder below that I thought would be perfect for a pen holder…for those who know me, yes….this is my definition of getting crafty, people! Anything blue I usually love, though & it matched my desk a little, too.

I also am really loving & appreciating all the replies to my posts. I am nearly at my one year mark & absolutely love being a blogger. Sharing my thoughts, rants, raves, things I am loving & know you’re out there makes it all more the worthwhile The friends I have made is something I cherish, too. Don’t forget to enter my super cool giveaway & what are you loving these days? Books, music, clothes? Anything, tell me! xo