New smellies on the way

I am super excited today. I received my Click-n-Ship from BPAL for my Strawberry Moon and June Gloom fragrances. WOOOOOHOOOOO!

Also, I bought some of the Box of Chocolates and past Lunacy fragrances from someone on the BPAL forum. Soon, I will have these:
Dark Chocolate and Pepper-Smoked Caramel
Milk Chocolate and Buttercream
White Chocolate and Strawberry
White Chocolate and Sugared Violets
White Chocolate, Marshmallow & Coconut
Black Moon

Black Moon: Beth's Creation

The absence of light: motia attar, black orchid, mugwort, English pear, cucumber, blue lotus, jonquil, massoia, calamus and crystal musk.

Milk Moon 07

And they came unto the brook of Eshcol, and cut down from thence a branch with one cluster of grapes, and they bare it between two upon a staff; and they brought of the pomegranates, and of the figs. The place was called the brook Eshcol, because of the cluster of grapes which the children of Israel cut down from thence. And they returned from searching of the land after forty days. And they went and came to Moses, and to Aaron, and to all the congregation of the children of Israel, unto the wilderness of Paran, to Kadesh; and brought back word unto them, and unto all the congregation, and shewed them the fruit of the land. And they told him, and said, We came unto the land whither thou sentest us, and surely it floweth with milk and honey; and this is the fruit of it.

A fertile scent, generous, life-affirming, and swelling with a sense of triumph, warmth, and abundance: sweet milk, golden honey, fig fruit, pomegranate, dates, and white grape.

Pink Moon 07

A sweet and silly compliment to the first breath of Spring! Sugared carnation and phlox!

I cannot wait for these to get here. Also, I am wearing Tiki Queen today and don't understand why I didn't like it before. It is a great lush tropical scent, like I am standing in a beautiful Hawaiian garden but the white musk seems to really keep it from being too floral. There is supposed to coconut in it but I swear I smell sugared pineapple. I might have to locate a bottle of this one. I don't think my decant will last long at the rate I am using it. This could be my signature summer scent.

Photos of Yourself

I LOVE taking pictures. Anyone who knows me is aware of this. Like most people, I despise most pictures of myself. I read the Photography section on the Pioneer Woman website religiously and this entry really hit home. Please read it and take it to heart.

After reading the post, I have tried not to run every time I see the camera. What the author states is so true. In a couple of years, you may weigh more and you definitely will be older. Capture the pictures now while you can!

Memorial Day weekend

So we are heading to the lake soon. As I sit and think of previous Memorial Days, this one is much more subdued than they used to be, the ones where my whole extended family came to eat barbecue and hash. This year it will be just a few of us: me, Steven, Audrey, Mom, Dad, Cathy, Shane, and Cathy's son Steven. I am sure we will enjoy ourselves but I still find myself reminiscing of the "old" days when there were more people than beds.

Here are some other old lake memories that mean a lot to me:
1. Riding on the pontoon with our feet hanging off the front of it
2. Laying out on the catwalk of the boatdock after swimming
3. The smell of the catwalk wood when wet while you basked in the sun laying there to get warm
4. skinny-dipping

These are just a few of the memories near and dear to me. I hope that everyone enjoys their weekend, spending time with loved ones and making new memories.

Auntie Mame

Auntie Mame is my favorite movie EVER. I do have to note I am speaking about the Rosalind Russell version. There is nothing wrong with Lucille Ball, but her version of the movie was terrible.

Mame is an inspiration. She was avant-garde for her times. She embraced life and every day was a party for her. If there is one concept to glean from the movie, it is to make the best of what you have, no matter the consequences.

Emotional

Okay, I am emotional tonight. I started talking about some old friends and why we grew apart. Circumstances of life come along and send you in different directions. I went in one direction, so they chose to go the oppopsite way.

"The friendship that can cease has never been real."--St.Jerome

I see now after all this time this quote is true. I kept being optimistic about the friendship, even made attempts to repair the bridge between us, but it reaped no result. I know talking about it should help me work through the feelings. It just makes me reminisce of the good times and wish for more, which is fruitless. If friendship is a two-way street, the opposite side of my street is full of barriers put up by someone who has no intention of ever travelling there again.

My Tree

While sitting on the shore of the sound the day we were leaving North Carolina, I kept staring at this tree.

I would take different pictures but I kept coming back to the tree.

My mind is normally like watching a Nascar race from the stands, lots of cars (ideas) speeding past and being gone just as fast. This particular morning I seemed to have a moment of clarity where everything just seemed to slow down and seconds seemed more like hours. This was a great feeling to me, such a sense of calm. I wish I could have sat there on the rocks looking out for hours just to experience the serenity of my mind. I claimed the tree as mine during the time of reflection.

I compared my life and experiences to that of the tree. Though storms come along, winds blowing and breaking branches, the tree looks to its roots for the strength to withstand anything trying to destroy it. My core might not be as strong as the tree's, but it still at least helps me to remain standing. This is one of the many comparasions I made. I had so many I have wanted to type on multiple occasions but never feel able to accurately reflect the thoughts in my mind that morning. I will be visiting my tree again soon and I only hope I can experience the tranquility again.

Let's hope I can keep this up

I don't know what I am thinking starting a blog. I start plenty of projects, only to have them never be completed or just totally forgotten. I hope to use this as something people can use to keep up with me and what is happening in my life (as if anybody cares).