organic ~ natural ~ vegan products I'd like to recommend...

1) Bonterra Organic Syrah





I'm not a huge lover of syrah, but we had this wine for my birthday, and it was amazing. Wine Enthusiast touts it as a "complex and elegant wine [that] is certified organic. The bouquet has dimension, with cherry, leather, chalk, meat and cigar-box notes. Lightweight on the palate, it is nicely textured and delivers lots of fruit flavor. Firm acids support the fruit and a cocoa-spice finish wraps it up neatly." Everyone at the table (who all greatly differed in wine preference and knowledge) LOVED it! http://www.winoworld.com/






2) Peppermint and Tea Tree Bath Bar from Boll Weevil Soap Company





This is a shea butter, all-natural soap that feels amazing in the morning. This is the only soap N&I use; even if we go out of town, I pack it. Its fans include Nicholas in Romania and Jenica in Orlando; we send some their way every now and then. It's an Alabama product made by some good friends in Enterprise, AL. Actually, I love everything they sell. The milk bath in herbal garden is my favorite way to relax. Jenica also likes the Sweet Home Alabama scent...warm apples. http://www.bwsoap.com/





3) Figure 8 Chews from Arbonne



Although billed as a "weight loss" product, these are really all-vegan, all-herbal energy chews, and my quality of life/ health/ energy levels have drastically changed since I met them (thank to Liz for the heads up). http://www.arbonne.com


4) Agave Nectar

Most grocery stores, even in Dothan, are carrying this product now. It's an all-natural, light sweetener to which my sister introduced me. GREAT in (light) teas, particularly camomille, jasmine, or berry-based teas. Not so good in lapsang souchou.

squeeze a bunny

this weekend...we worked like madpeople...or like people who are trying to finish the semester and start the next one...it was full of craziness.

saturday, we read the new harry potter pretty much straight through as a break from rhetoric/research papers. tears fell the last 100 pages because...i have real love for fiction, and this very special creative moment was ending. from here, it is just reminiscence.

we stacked pillows in staggered piles, rising to near-bed level so that Buttercup could climb up them and jump on the bed when she needed some love & attention.

i also found this photo when going through my seemingly endless, hard-drive-space-eating "My Pictures" folder.

the birthday victim

My birthday has come and gone once again. I nearly bit my own finger in half and ended up sniffling at Hunts because there were no oysters. However, I have sweet friends who made sure the ridge in my fingernail would not be my only memory.

1. Janet and Andi cookied my car, and it was AWESOME. Andi used some bunny cupcake holders to create a little orginal artwork for the day. Unfortunately, I have no pics. Andi might though, considering she is a photographer.

2. The Thursday crew brought me this birthday cake. Special thanks to John-David for posing the Barbie so that she appears to be in agony. I love you people!

weekend grading