Silly Haiku Wednesday!

What? A week went by already? Here I am gearing up for a trip and lose all track of time.

Well, it's Silly Haiku Wednesday again! If you have no clue what I am talking about then visit YouKnowThatBlog. Here's today's entry, the them is Cupcakes:

Cupcakes, phew I say,

chocolate chip cookies kick

your ass sideways, dude!

A Day Late (but NOT a Dollar Short)!

I've still been neglecting my blog a bit, as well as following the Silly Haiku Wednesday from YouKnowThatBlog. But here is my entry for...um...yesterday. The theme is birthday woes/joys.

40 here you are

Ya know, I don't look half bad

you don't suck too much

A Day For Some Painting

Ahhhh..... I've finally been able to sit down and do a little painting today. I have the house to myself, been listening to music on Pandora and podcasts of "Wait, Wait, Don't Tell Me", and just loving the day.

Here's the newest item I just listed in my shop.

If you have a moment, please visit

my Twitter, You Say Treasury

Hope you all are having a wonderful Sunday!

Amazing Trust

“We're never so vulnerable than when we trust
someone - but paradoxically, if we cannot trust,
neither can we find love or joy”

- Walter Anderson

My husband tossing our seven year old son in the air, just as he's done since he was about six months old. My new favorite photo. The trust your child puts in you is something you should never take lightly or squander.

Eco-Tuesday: Worked Up Into a Lather

I have to admit about a week ago I decided I'd start a weekly feature on environmental topics, products, recycled/upcycled items, whatever struck my fancy at that moment. The idea was really ways to broaden my own mind, as well as tips I could use in my own home to become "greener". I mean, I already practice all the basics -- recycle, avoid unnecessary driving, conserve water, shop with reusable bags, compost (vermicompost, actually), avoid products with extra packaging...you know the drill.

While I was in the shower one day I started thinking about bar shampoo and how I should try it. After all, it avoids packaging from the get-go (one less plastic bottle to recycle), and can easily be purchased in an all-natural ingredient version. Then I began wondering what else I could change to reduce waste and the idea for this feature was born.

I started seeking out items, reading articles, and here's the resounding reality. I have fallen down the rabbit hole! I've been so deluged with information and options and ideas that I don't know where to begin. So....I'll begin at the beginning.....

With bar shampoo! I, of course, started with my favorite place, Etsy. If you search for bar shampoo you find lots of great options. Today I'm featuring one from Besem Natural Scents. This is their "Ultimate Travel Bar" that they describe as...

Made with neem oil, tamanu oil, jojoba oil, kaolin clay, and all sorts of other goodies that make it the perfect shampoo and body bar. Neem oil is know in India as "nature's pharmacy". It is soothing and healing to almost any skin condition, including: psoriasis, eczema, ring worm, and poison ivy. Tamanu oil has very similar antimicrobial and antiseptic properties, while still being extremely soothing and gentle. We have also added a good portion of white kaolin clay, so this makes an excellent shaving soap, as well. If you are feeling adventurous (or trying to only bring a carry on), this works well as a tooth soap, too. It is 100% natural with no added fragrance oils or dyes. These bars are also loaded with cocoa butter, which makes rich, moisturizing bubbles. We do not need to add any artificial foaming agents (ie. SLS). The natural glycerin is retained in each bar, and the combination of rich oils and moisturizing, protective butters, provides loads of fluffy lather.

10% of our profits are given to orphan relief. See our website for more information http://www.besemnaturalscents.com.

Pretty cool huh? They have lots of lovely scents, including a rosemary & mint one I'm especially interested in. So, please check out their shop by clicking on the links above!

Have a product, idea, article you might like to see featured in Eco-Tuesday? Please visit this post and add your item to Mr. Linky!

Extreme Blog Neglect!!!

I admit it, I've been sucked into the world of Twitter. I said I wasn't going to do it, but I caved, and now I'm hooked. But in my defense I've been doing some marketing work for my husband's business, Green Mountain Soil, as well as some major cleaning/organizing at home. Sorry to have just disappeared!

I'm working on my "Eco Tuesday" blog post now! See you all soon!

Eco Tuesday

Have an eco-friendly product you'd like to share? I'm looking for items to feature. So please either leave a link to the page the item resides on (please, only one link) or leave me a comment below! Thanks!!

Small Town Parade, Alburgh, Vermont

Please click on the collage to see a larger version.

....HOT and HAPPY......

Please come show my new treasury some love! ...HOT and HAPPY...

Planning the GREAT "GREAT LAKES" CAMPING ADVENTURE!

Since my husband has no vacation time this summer and my good friend is divorced, she and I decided we are heading out on a Moms & Kids camping trip in early August. Our destination....the Great Lakes. Yup....all of them if we can! I've seen most when I was a kid, but other than work trips to Chicago, never seen a one since. Let me just start by saying that I'm very blessed with awesome car travelers in my sons. My husband and I have fostered this because when each of us were growing up with both did tons of car trips with our parents, including trips across the whole U.S.

So our crazy little gang with be me, my two boys (7 & 4) and my friend Melanie and her girls (7 & 5). Our kids get along great.

Since I am totally unfamiliar with this area of the U.S. I'd love any input you can provide. Any "must sees" along the way? We both believe in if we get some place the kids love, we'll just stay longer and adjust accordingly. We really hope to get to Madison, WI because I do have some friends there, and I've just heard it's a cool city so I want to check it out. I love Chicago so that must stay on my list and I've NEVER been to Toronto so that's staying too.

Silly Haiku Wednesday

Ok, today is the FIRST EVER Silly Haiku Wednesday. This is totally up my alley! Here is my contribution for today.

Today comfy jams
Rain and gray go away NOW!
Butt, get off the couch!