Girl's Day Out Haul!

HAUL! I went out with a friend and we went shopping which we haven't done in months and months!

We started out in a chocolate shop called Encore Chocolate and Teas we browsed for teas but I ended up buying a piece of fresh DELICIOUS caramel for $0.50 and these strange chocolate covered berries for $5.99. They were tart and it really worked well. He said that "Raw" meant that there is little to no processing that that this specific brand "Pacari" owns there trees and does all the steps to make these little chocolates themselves.

The owner was AMAZING. Obviously, a friendly passionate man. He let's you try samples before buying the chocolate OR tea. I tried a sample of blue cheese chocolate which I can say was actually really good and I thought it would be horrible. I told him I was disappointed that he had everything under the sun but chocolate with nougat inside, my favorite. He promised to ask around if I promised to come back. WHO WOULDN'T?

Just down the road we popped into this used books store Browsers' Used Book Store and looked around. I was about to leave empty handed when I spotted this on a rack by the door. I got The Once and Future King by T.H. White for $2. Its on my 2014 to read list. You can see the entire resolution book list HERE.

After that we stopped by the Goodwill on the west-side of Olympia. I found this ADORABLE Vera Wang clutch for $1.25. I've been using it ever since. I just pop it right inside my purse and slip it out if I don't feel like carrying the whole SHABANG around. It gets heavy!

I think it retails for something like $20? It isn't by any means anything close to one of her dresses of course. It think these are just sold at stores like Kohl's. I still love it though. It has three pocket areas. One zipped for change and two open areas on either side of the "card slots" in the middle. One of them is deep and one is shorter and perfect for putting cash in. I adore this little purse.

Our last stop was The World Market also on the west-side of Olympia. You may or may not be aware of this but I ADORE four things in life. Hubbins, the color green, Octopuses, and BEES. This is a bee measuring cup stack ($12.99) that sits on my counter now.

I had my eye on This pear measuring cup set from Nordstrom but this is WAY better (cheaper too!) and more my style.

Lastly, I picked up these two little hard rubberized hedgehogs for $5.99. Any guesses what they are for? They are for the dryer. That's right. I'm highly allergic to all things fragrant. So, I can't use dryer sheets. I just toss these little beauties into the dryer with each load and they toss around in there make the clothes soft, helping them dry, and getting rid of that pesky static cling! They work wonderfully.

We had a blast together and this shopping trip was long overdue. I can't wait for the next one! Thank you for following along.

Reading Race 10 Books

As you may or may not know I pledged ,as part of my new years resolution (see here), to read the book Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell. I feel like my reading habits tend toward the frivolous and meaningless romantic comedies, that are easily read and just as easily forgotten. I'm setting out to change this today. Not only am I going to read Gone with the Wind, but also 9 other books that have been recommended to me.

I do read rather quickly so 10 books for this year (yikes..only 10 months left!) doesn't seem like much of a task or goal really, but while working and going to school full time I assure you I will be challenged by this.

The books are as follows (not in reading order):

1. Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell
(of course) I want to read this not only because it is a classic but TWO (count them..one..two) people have urged me to read it. It is first on the list because of this reason but also because I also happen to OWN this book already. I have no excuse but laziness.

2. The Once and Future King by T.H. White
Recommended to me by my dear Hubbins when he realized I was watching the cartoon Sword in the Stone for the second time (and that I know all the words).

3. Frankenstein by Mary Shelley
This one just because it is a shame I haven't read it but also because I heard that it is completely different than my current assumptions (I assume that he is a monster who is dumb and bumbling.. I'm wrong? I must read this)!

4. The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde
Recommended by my friend Maggie.

5. Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand
Recommended by my mother-in-law Paula.

6. The Reader by Bernhard Shlink
Recommended by my cousin Kate

7. One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez
This one again by Kate.

8. A Fine and Private Place by Peter S. Beagle
Hubbins said this was a beautiful beautiful book.

9. The Innocent by Posie Graeme-Evans
Recommended by my friend Cristin (along with the other two books in the series.)

10. Rain of Gold by Victor E. Villasenor
Recommended by Laura (the same who first recommended Gone with the Wind)

Do you have any great suggestions? If you read any of these please let me know what you think in the comments! I will be posting reviews on each book. :D

Thank you for following along.