Blogging World Wide!

Check out Blogging World Wide! A new blogging series created by Mary Rebecca!

The Heart Bandit

Hello there! Just wanted to share a new painting I recently completed. I think I may list this in my Etsy shop soon. This is The Heart Bandit and her sack of stolen hearts:

SemiNomadicSoap!

I just wanted to share my amazing experience with Will and Serra of SemiNomadicSoap. I ordered the 4 bars for 10 bucks (2 eucalyptus mint, 1 cedarwood sage, 1 peppermint for me). I've ordered from this shop a few times now and each time I am impressed by their customer service. I mentioned one of my other orders from them in a previous post. The soaps are exceptional. They smell wonderful, they have a great look and feel, and the packaging is simple and pleasing. They always include a little something extra, which isn't necessary but makes all the difference. It's not that I like getting stuff for free (but who doesn't really?), it's just feels like they put a little extra care into the package, like they actually put enough thought into it to think I might enjoy trying a new scent or the beautiful handmade soap dish they included in this last order. Plus, their communication is great, they let me know right away that they had shipped my order (which, by the way, arrived super-fast) and they thanked me for my business. They are wonderful sellers and I highly recommend purchasing from them if you are in the market for top notch handmade soaps and quality customer care.

Check out my loot! Please excuse the not so great pictures...I've been dinking around with the retro camera app on my phone. But for better pictures, check out their shop: SemiNomadicSoap

The four bars I ordered, plus a mini soap in a new scent I haven't tried, PLUS a really awesome, handmade soap dish! Score!

Retro camera app (blurry) pic of the Eucalyptus Mint bar...my FAVORITE. It smells so clean and so refreshing. If you're going to order from them and are having trouble deciding...this is the one I recommend trying first.

Its Thursday...

Guinness Beef Stew (ZOMG YUM) from Doyles

Lovely chocolate croissant from Le Panier

A magical room of books

A few weeks ago, Fig and I decided to go a-wandering into some of the antique shops in downtown Tacoma. Along the way we spotted some pretty neat finds and we stumbled on this amazing, magical room of books, buried deep under the city sidewalk. 

BFFs and babies

I spent a long, wonderful weekend back in Las Vegas, visiting friends and celebrating the coming birth of my BFF's baby on the way. Hands down, that was the most fun I have ever had at a baby shower! The mother to be was gorgeous and glowing, the food  was delish, silly awesome decorations, and hilarious games. 

For the shower I knew I wanted to give her something handmade along with the store-bought gifts. I couldn't decide between a mobile (which I might try to make and send to her before the baby gets here) and a set of blocks...I finally decided on a set of alphabet blocks. I don't have any pictures of the finished product, but I do have a few shots of the making of.

But besides the mega awesome baby shower, it was just so wonderful spending time with my friends. My BFF and I spent time cooking and catching up. She found a recipe for Hagrid's rock cakes online and we whipped up a batch. They were awesome and if she sends me the recipe I will post it here! Plus, we sipped on amazing jasmine tea from our matching mugs. Fun!

Sunday Snapshot

Here is a snapshot of my Sunday afternoon. I have settled down to enjoy a steaming pitcher of cinnamon chai with soy milk, while I dream about fall. Fall is my favorite time of year for these reasons:
-chilly weather
-beautiful fall colors on trees everywhere
-crunchy leaves to pile up, jump into, and walk on
-foggy mornings
-the scent of fall in the air (mixture of dying leaves, wood burning, and....magic?)
-excuses to wear layers and scarves and boots
-pumpkins!
-cozy dinners of beef stew and hearty bread with hot cocoa for dessert
-halloween!
-back to school supplies (which I have no real reason to purchase, but I LOVE to peruse the aisles and check out all of the new stuff anyway. As Tom Hanks says to Meg Ryan in You've Got Mail, "If I had your address I would send you a bouquet of freshly sharpened pencils." There's nothing quite like the scent and feel of new pencils/crayons/notebooks....ah, the possibilities they hold.)

There are a hundred other reasons I love fall, but I think one thing that really makes fall special is the anticipation I feel during that time of year. Its almost like a new year, I suppose. Maybe because it used to mark the start of a new school year, which as a child is how I really ticked off the beginning of each year. Even now, as an adult who is done with school (for now, at least), I still anticipate fall as if it is the start of something new and fresh. It marks the start of the major holidays (halloween!, thanksgiving, christmas, new years) and it just feels like the overall pace of things pick up in the fall. Maybe I'm just imaging this bit, but either way I love fall and look forward to it every year.

What are you up to this fine Sunday and are you looking forward to fall?