The Blocked Blogger

Blocked.  Unmotivated.  Blog on the proverbial back burner.  Stuck.

 

 

 

Been there?  

What do you do?

...And We're Back!!!

Yes, I have been absent.  I spent some serious time unplugged.  Crazy but true. 

 First, I made some jam and tomato sauce.  Details and recipes will follow.

Then, we took full advantage of the the last days of warm weather by taking off for lots of hiking and swimming!

 What a great way to enjoy those last few hot lazy days.  And so great for my mental health!

Some Inspiration

Happy Tuesday everyone!

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My Secret Guilty Pleasure

 
I started watching Pretty Little Liars out of curiosity.  And it was actually better than I expected.  It's like Gossip Girl and 90210 (the original one, of course) went on a wild murder mystery trip together.  I.can't.stop.watching.  I'm addicted.

Watch it?  Like it?  Tell me your secrets.

I Heart Baths

 I love baths.  I love hot baths to warm up on a cold day.  And I love cool baths on a hot day. Perfect way to relax.  Perfect way to unwind.

 The bathtub is my favorite place to read.  If the book is good, I add extra hot water because the water gets cold and I don't want to stop reading.

 

This week I discovered Lush's Keep It Fluffy bath bomb.  Wicked awesome deliciousness.  The fragrance is sweet, but not too sweet.  A little powdery, but not too powdery.  And just fresh enough to be a great summer bath.

 I dream of a claw foot tub.  Someday.  In a perfect world.

But then, I may never get out.

What do you do to unwind?

When the Lights Go Out

 Toronto is in the midst of a major heat wave right now.  Super hot.  Super humid. 

 The ACs are running like crazy.  Which was surely the contributing factor to today's 2 hour power outage in my area.  No computer, no internet, no TV, no CD player.  Too hot to go outside.

For over two whole hours!

It was still light outside.  But the first thing I did was got a candle and lighter within easy reach.

Then I painted my nails.  Went neutral this time with Zoya's Ellen.  Stay tuned for a review.

Then I read a little.  I'm in the process or reading The Wedding Girl by Madeline Wickham (a.k.a.: Sophie Kinsella).  Like it so far.

And finally, the doggies and I took a nap.  Oh so lovely.

And when we woke up it was dark.  But luckily the power was back on! 

What do you do during a power outage?

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Sunshine and Substance

 Don't you just love sunshine?

 Lifts your spirit.  Warms yours soul.  Makes you smile. 

The wonderful Tennessee Mom from Days on the Creek gave me the Sunshine Award.  Thank you so much!  And I would like to spread the sunshine to some awesome blogs I've discovered fairly recently, and boy am I glad I did.  Check them out.  Great ladies with excellent blogs.

Cafe Bellini
Frenchy at Le Chateau des Fleurs
Chelsea at Cream & Cotton

Holly at 504 Main

Roxy at Roro

Erika at Tiptoe Butterfly

Island Gal at NYC Island Gal

Sailboats and Seersucker

Chloe at tryin' to throw my arms around the world

Courtney at Run Courtney, Run
McGriddle Pants at Serenity Now!! Insanity Later...

Jen at Every Day is a New Adventure

 I also got this Blog with Substance award from the wonderful Kathleen at Life with 4 Boys.  YAY!  Thank you so much Kathleen!  I pass this one some lovely ladies who provide me with a regular bite of substance through their awesome blogs.  Visit them.  You won't be disappointed.

Sara at C'est La Vie
Lauren at Life with a Lab
Jennifer at Crazy Shenanigans
Carmie at The Single Nester
 Jia at Untypically Jia
Beth at Just Me and My Life
Annie at Adorkable Annie
Running in the Delta
Kaleena at Just Add Kaleena
naturalNchicMakeup

Hope everyone is having a wonderful weekend and enjoying the summer sunshine!

And Isn't it Ironic - Don't you think?

I see this cute boy at the dog park all the time.  We smile.  We chat.  We flirt.

Today cute guy came with a cute girl.

 

Boo.

Could it be a sister or a cousin?

Sure.

But doubtful.

Very doubtful.

 I'm hoping someday soon life will help me out in the romance department.

Mine has been the curse of the 'best friend' and/or favorite mountain biking/hiking buddy.

GRR - Just One of Those Days!

I had a temper as a kid.  But of course, as I grew up, I grew out of most of it, and learned to control the rest.  And now I'm pretty even tempered.

But there are those days, when something sets me off.  And then I spend the rest of the day making sure I don't rip any one's head off for no reason.  Because my insides are still boiling.

Today, my dogs got into it with a dog they usually love to play with.  Nothing major, but it really made me angry.  I raised them better than that, after all!

And it's always like that, something small, when I'm stressed out, or rushing, or slept poorly...

and WHAMO!

(images from WeHeartIt)

Ever have one of those days? 

They're exhausting!

Why Are Stores Pushing Us to Buy and Return?

I stopped in at Sephora and Lush this weekend.  I need a new face scrub.  The conversation went something like this:

Me: I'm looking for a very gentle face exfoliator for sensitive skin.  Can I get a sample of this so I can try it and see if it agrees with my skin?

Sales Associate: Did you know that you can buy the product and then return it if you don't like it? 

Me: Yes, but I think that's really wasteful, so I prefer to just try a sample and then come back and buy it if it works for my skin.

Sales Associate: [insert dirty look] I guess I can get you a sample.

Stores are pushing customers to buy products that may not be appropriate for them and then give them the option of returning that product (usually in 30 days).  While that may seem like a great idea to you, resist the urge.  Because how likely are you to remember to return to that store and get a refund?  Next thing you know, you've got a drawer full of crap you don't need or use.  And it's all going bad.

My skin has been so sensitive lately that I've had to be very choosy about skin care or I get red splotches - not at all attractive.  So I have had to take samples of every face product I am considering getting and use it on my face for a couple of days to see if my skin is ok wth it.  Hence the request for samples. 

And the sad part is that they have to toss the products you return.  But the company still has to make money.  So they hike up the prices.  Which means that we all end up paying for this ridiculously bad sales strategy.

I refuse to buy 5 $30+ face scrubs, only to return 4 of them later. 

So give me the samples and stop selling me stuff I don't need.  And save the dirty looks. I'm not easily intimidated.

Have you had someone tell you to buy and then return?

Dear Weekend, Where Are You When I Need You?

Dear Perrier,

Thank you for making pink grapefruit sparkling water.  It's the most delicious sparkling beverage I've ever tried.  Thank you for not polluting your products with caffeine, aspertame, and/or high fructose corn syrup.  Don't discontinue the pink grapefruit flavor, ever.  I mean it.  EVER.  I. Love. It.

Dear Google,

Why is it that everyday I have trouble logging into something?  Two days ago it was gmail, yesterday it was blogger, and now it's gmail again.  Is it too much to ask that all my computer portals work simultaneously?  Yes, that may make me a dork...don't judge.  Fix it already.

Dear Bryce at H204K9,

Thank you for sending me a replacement water bottle because it sucks that mine was stolen.  It saves me so much time trying to track one down in town.  Not only do your products rock, but you are the sweetest.  Doggie kisses from Millie and Kitty.

Dear Cassi,

Why did you elude me once again?  Sure, I'm happy with the color I got today.  But I would have liked to have found you instead.   You mock me with your online swatches.  You taunt me with that perfect coral color and subtle shimmer.  And then you play hard to get.  Are you enjoying being such a tease?

Dear Sara,

You are so sweet and I value our back and forth comments greatly.  I love your blog and this post format.  Immitation is the sincerest form of flattery, right? XOXO

Dear Strange Lonely Man at the coffee shop,

No, I didn't want to talk to you.  Not even a little bit.  I had my headphones on.  I didn't want to be disturbed.  Sure, there was nothing playing.  But you didn't know that.  Headphones mean 'leave me alone please'.  Period.

Dear my future other half,

Hurry up, already.  I'm tired of waiting.  I don't want to be single anymore.  And I am sick of dealing with all of your cheaper immitation stand-ins.  Sometimes even us independent girls need a reliable and permanently available shoulder to lean on.

Dear Letters to Juliet,

This weekend. You and me.  For sure.  I won't take no for an answer.