Love Is ... Chocolate!!!

Love, it comes in many forms and ladies you know what I am talking about here don’t you, Mmmm Mmmm chocolate, chocolate, chocolate, chocolate, chocolate. That’s right, the sweet smooth will kill for taste of CHOCOLATE. Not everyone loves chocolate, sometimes I wish I was one of those people, but being born female the odds were stacked against me from the start. Most women seem to go crazy for it. And not all chocolate is equal, some chocolate is downright delicious above and beyond anything else, some chocolate is yum yum yum yum yum and other chocolate is quite nice and tasty and very rarely might you find chocolate that garners the “meh” response. I’m a chocolate addict and as such I will eat my way through the “meh” selection but only if the higher realms of chocolate are not accessible to me at that very moment. There is no waiting involved. When it’s chocolate that I want, it is chocolate I must have. Nutella as in the picture above rates nicely, is smooth and dreamy and to be honest it rarely makes it onto bread or toast with me, for I’m a spoon to mouth kinda girl, and I have to tell you that I can easily demolish a jar in one sitting. That’s why when I saw this display at the supermarket, that I lost my mind for more than a few seconds. All that remains now is to head to the local deli, hand over my pennies for one of those giant (equivalent in size to a football) jars of Nutella and happy I will be.

SUGARBEE XX   01/02/13

Tin Toy Fantasia

I think I found the best collection of tin toys for sale via retail in Melbourne. Well not including toy railways, but that is a whole other level right there and one day I will do a toy train feature for toy trains happen to be a big love of mine. But back to the tin toys, in particular the robots. The history of robots is fairly fascinating, and may well hold any child exposed to them in awe for the rest of time.  I still thrill over Metal Mickey, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JCgjsspkKy4, Dr Who (the original or course) and then all the fantastic things the Japanese did with robots and monsters, it's enough blow your mind. The shop Souvenirs & Gifts, 300 Flinders St, 9629 4400 contains a display of over a hundred different tin toys, including vehicles, animals and play sets like swings and things. It's a world of wow, where you can easily lose an hour starring in wonder, wanting to play with them all one by one. Each tin toy in this shop has personality, and with so many different styles of tin toys it gets very interesting, very quickly. Funny I feel like a little tin toy myself as I write these words today; maybe I should go and find the perfect perch in my house in case a transformation really does happen.

SUGARBEE XX   31/01/13

The Australian Bureau of Worthiness

Meet Emma, she is a royal Australian gem! She is on a mission to find out what sets our hearts on
fire. You will find Emma at various festivals and community gatherings, set up in her sunshine cabin
looking smart and very approachable. It was this very vision I found recently and so I came forth
asking what is The Australian Bureau of Worthiness? Emma introduced herself and set about telling
me a small tale that wrapped delight and surprise on my face. The Australian Bureau of Worthiness
is all about finding out who you are and what makes your day worth it. I imagine there is a plethora
of answers that come her way, and every single one she respects and jogs down in the journal set
upon the desk. And what is the purpose of The Australian Bureau of Worthiness. It is to gather this
information together, where it will be edited in the writing room by Emma and her band of merry
men as they create a play upon the very themes and answers she has gathered. Certainly I find this
a worthy cause, it gave me a moment’s pleasure just rattling off my answer, I imagine it gives others
who volunteer their stories a similar amount of pleasure and what did it cost me? Why nothing,
nothing at all, but a moment in time. Now if this story pleases you and you would like to see the
finished product, don’t be shy, indeed make your way over to www.worthiness.com.au.

SUGARBEE XX   30/01/13

Terry Sells Goodness Along The Way

All the way from Preston to Pt Cook on my bike, and that ladies and gentlemen was approximately a 3 hour joy ride across a variety of terrain and excitement. Part of the ride is urban, as you travel along it becomes less populated, until you are riding on what I think is the freeway to Geelong. And then the road stops for bikes with super freeway roadways taking over so one must find another way around. Its all a little intense in parts, but it's also all a little okay for along the way things of interest catch your eye and things of salvation appear before you. Take Terry for instance, on my side of the road selling organic fruit and flowers and wonderful things. I was hungry, I needed a boost and I had just cash enough for a mango. That might have been the best mango I have ever eaten. He even gave me a napkin as I consumed my spoils there and then, we chatted, I felt revived and all was good in the world. So if you are going west from Melbourne, keep an eye out for Terry and his Altona North Organics truck, because not only will you find goodness for sale, if you stop to chat you might also learn wonderful things about the world.

SUGARBEE XX   29/01/13

The Beauty In Construction

Construction in all its prime glory, big, busy and planned out to the last detail. The line orientation in this photo is exciting, a maths teachers dream, straight lines and waves everywhere, and then all that yellow in the scaffolding. On first impressions, being a quick view, the yellow looked not so much like scaffolding as completed building facade and for one glorious moment I thrilled at the thought developers had opted for personality in their designs. Now this does happen sometimes, but not nearly enough with the old issue being that money comes first. When factors are reprioritized, we run the chance of being gifted visual harmony for the rest of time. Can we go past the Gaudi collection? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Gaud%C3%AD_buildings. Like them or not, the Gaudi buildings are made for dreaming. One of them, possibly the Casa Batlló happens to be the partial setting of a favourite film of mine, The Passenger, from 1975 starring Jack Nicholson and Maria Schneider. Suddenly I'm lost in memory of Maria's voice in that movie, in the skyline of this photo above, and one hundred other symphonies life is throwing up at me.

SUGARBEE XX   28/01/13

For The Love Of Flowers

Flowers, aren't they the most beautiful things in the world. I personally love the flower houses you find in botanical gardens, little pieces of heaven full of scent and wonder, places to get lost in dreams and the romance of life. But locally I am treated to Flowers By Entwine who operate at the front of Local Shop, a home ware and design decor shop at 262 High St, Northcote, Melbourne. For the first time in a long time my little phone camera denies me the intensity that I am greeted with as I enter Flowers By Entwine, a display enveloping my sense of being in delight and joy with garden path that leads you into the shop giving the impression you're entering a forest and there is not anywhere else you would like to be at that moment. And when I ask for a floral arrangement I trust without any doubt the care skill and love that went into the shop display will be transferred the flowers I purchase. Another reason why I/We/Everyone in Melbourne loves it here in Melbourne.

SUGARBEE XX   27/01/13

Liquorice For Mum

This one is for Mum xx  I unwrapped it and ate it and shared the moment in my heart with you. Did you feel it? Did you look up from what occupied you in those moments and think "I feel like eating liquorice?" Or did you just feel incredible happy for no particular reason. Love You xx

SUGARBEE XX   26/01/13

The Giant Ice-Cream

Now that is a piece of niceness if I ever did see it. The giant cone invites you in with its size and bright appearance. It beckons you to come forth and enjoy its flavour, to lick to your heart's content. I wonder how many times it has been successful in getting customers accompanied by wide eyed children to sit down and taste the fine fare on offer on the menu? Giant Cone, the sales rep. Is Giant Cone on a salary, or is it just lovingly looked after, electrics checked regularly, a nice wipe over at the end of each day to remove all those sticky finger marks it has attracted? I wouldn't mind one on my kitchen counter, and especially now that I just notice it has what appears to be Japanese text on the cone, now it is my super sized super kitsch kitchen decor dream. Wonderful.

SUGARBEE XX   25/01/13

Monticello Goodness

If there were a Customer Service Olympics, the man you see here in the photo (and I don't mean Santa) would be taking out all the gold medals.  Meet John, the champion owner of Monticello Cafe. He is the epitome of being passionate about your work. Monticello are specialists in bomboniere and gifts, ice-cream and continenial cakes, made on premises, for all occasions including First Communion right through to Weddings and Anniversaries. Monticello have been operating for 46 years every single one of those days with the exception of just a small handful, John has been coming into work. That is commitment, that is passion and that is love in action. He knows how to make you feel like you are important, like it is a complete pleasure to be serving you. He should run a hospitality school part time. The cakes and sweeties and all that goodness top the experience off like icing on a cake. Yay for Monticellos, yay for excellent service and yay for being open when no one else is. Find them at 835 High St, Thornbury, Melbourne.

SUGARBEE XX   24/01/13

Hopscotch Heaven

Tell me you played Hopscotch as a kid; please tell me every kid in the world played it. I wonder how far the game has travelled and I wonder if there is variance to the rules? Well my fun time internet search on the things I blog about has once again turned up trumps, letting me know that Hopscotch was originally a form of Roman military training. Dressed in armour, the soldiers would improve footwork over a 100 foot course. Children imitated the exercise and it made itself known throughout Europe across the centuries.  Kids in Columbia and Argentina play Rayuela and in Indonesia its Yohanes Lie, in France it's Marelles, Germany has Templehupfen, the Netherlands play Hinklebaan, India has Ekaria Dukaria and Vietnam plays Pico. It appears some games require you to throw a stone or marker to indicate where to hop to and other versions require only hopping but universally you are not allowed to land on the lines. Those rules were translated over into the 4 Square we played at school, replacing hopping with ball bouncing and from there we went on to play Netball and so on and so forth. I loved playing Hopscotch and I'm tickled pink to know its history.

SUGARBEE XX   23/01/13

The Horse That Shared A Moment

Meet the horse, and what a wonderful horse he is. I found him in the toy box at a cafe once upon a time. While I am too old to play with toys from the toy box, this one was sitting on top of others and begging me silently to pick him up and take him for a ride around the table. So that is exactly what I did. At the time I had a thing for small animals, especially the tiny tiny ones you might find in some collector/toy/souvenir or antique shops, so in a way there was reason I noticed the horse. While eating lunch the horse and I discussed the state of the world, we bonded and the sad moment came when I asked might I buy the horse. The reply was no, sorry, he is a rather special horse and too loved to sell. So it wasn't just me that could see how special he was, for he certainly was and no doubt to this day I believe he still is a special horse. Never mind, I appreciate the moments we had, and I hope he brings joy to other people over time.

SUGARBEE XX   22/01/13

B I N G O

Nana would have loved it. BINGO, the game that brings people together, anyone can play, there are better prizes than you can win at the Footy and this is a no ages gig. Hands up who has never played BINGO? Right, may I suggest you find your local venue and give it a go. There's lots of excitement in the air, there's even some shouting and jumping up and down, this is all about passion and winning the game. Here is a link to the UK game plan: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bingo_%28UK%29. In the US and Canada apparently there are slight differences, but that's not important, because it's the community spirit that keeps Bingo alive and lately that spirit is jumping generations, making BINGO a weekly event for the hip young crowd. I'm not surprised that hipsters eventually ended up here, they are all about remodelling the old school and well if they are having fun and even winning a little cash, thumbs up and good on them. http://littlefield.com/2012/01/28/the-hip-young-bingo-player/ So there you have it, BINGO, no longer a church group, but a destination to fun like nothing else.

SUGARBEE XX   21/01/01

My First Keyboard

Once upon a time I was a child and once upon a time I would gone bananas for such a toy. Well truth be told I went nuts for a soapy turtle as a child, and much to my dismay just now I couldn't find anything on the internet about the toy that I cried over and begged for years about. Never mind, I did get to go a little bits bananas recently when I spotted this piano. The best My First Keyboard for any child maybe, it has different sound effects on each of its paws, so you can play the theme song to my little pony or whatever your heart desires in the sound of banjo, piano, guitar or drums. I have always said there will be no noisy toys for my children, I don't think my sanity could handle it for one, (and there would be very few battery operated toys because well there are so many better alternatives available that teach children to think rather than be entertained.) However I would give in if I ever had a request for such a toy as this piano. We would perfect all the classics, there would be stars all over the music chart, and the little microphone on the side would be responsible for the confidence born within my little Elton John or Marianne Faithful. Get ready world, a star is born.

SUGARBEE XX   20/01/13

Feeding The Birds With Joy

The Sushi shop in the lane way is run by a man with a big heart. When the day is done, and there are crumbs and left over's in his house, he does a grand thing. He gathers all those little wittle teeny weeny bits into his hands and tosses ever so gently onto the pathway. And then the magic happens. He stands in the doorway and extra softly whistles to the birds, calling them over for dinner. It's completely and utterly totally delightful to watch, the beginning of a love story, the entrance to a novel, or perhaps the opening of a movie you will remember for rest of time. I'm thinking of Pinocchio and Giuseppe and all that I felt as a child. Is there one action to describe sweet? If there is, I think I may have found it. Am I being overly sweet on my description? I think not, because this whole moment took my breath away and its moments like this that makes my day.

SUGARBEE XX   19/01/13

Video Dogs Are Barking

Great film, I can't get enough of it. I once belonged to the Auckland Film Society, and for 2 years running was treated once a week (during film season, most of the year) to a selection from a collection of fantastic, incredible, crazy, collective, memorable, inspiring, creative, frightening, eye opening, and entertaining film. The best money spent from memory was the money outlaid for my membership. I saw things I'm not sure I could find elsewhere. And then this came into view. Video Dogs in Fitzroy, Melbourne. Without a doubt the best little video store in town. Come here and open the door to a world of wonder, one of the best accessible collections of fantastic film I know about, at your fingertips, available 7 days a week. There is easily enough here to satisfy any Once-A-Day habit, mind you that is alot of film.  Video Dogs are specialists in foreign, cult and classic movies. Check it out, they do online http://www.video-dogs.com you are in heaven and life is good. 54 Johnston Street  Fitzroy, (03) 9077 7088.

SUGARBEE XX   18/01/13

Happy Feet Dance Alot

Happy feet are good to have. So you are having a bad day, you get home, take off your shoes, fall into the depths of your couch, look down and wriggle your toes, and hey presto, a little smile creeps across your face. I have to confess, I have found my supply of ultra cute soxs and there is a strong chance, I'll only ever buy happy soxs now. These are also my good luck soxs, my give it my best shot sox and my congratulations, an amazing job well done sox. I have a few pair similar but all very different, personality plus, infact I don't mind admitting I have a pair for each day of the week and some spares. Which if you do the maths, likely I will be wearing a pair of happy sox any day in the next week and also every day of the year to come assuming I continue to do the minimum of one weekly laundry load. And for those of you who are thinking ahead, once they are washed, yes I do hang my happy sox as correct pairs on the line to dry. It gives me great pleasure to hang the sox in pairs; it makes me feel all is good in the world. The best $4.00 I ever spent, hundreds of smiles to date and counting.

SUGARBEE XX   17/01/13

What Can You See Mr.Teddy?

What indeed, just what is it that you can see Mr. Teddy? I spotted you, sitting up high and inviting me to catch you on camera.  My lens is tiny but I persisted and won and now I do so wonder, what is it that you see? I suspect you are from a different generation to Worsel Gummage, that old scarecrow on BBC who was terrified of having a photo taken, he believed whoever had his image had him under their control. Hmmm interesting what I remember from my childhood telly watching time. Yes I definitely think you are from a different generation, and that you have a broader outlook about life than Worsel did. Bit still you sit quietly not giving your secrets away, please Mr. Teddy, tell me a secret, tell me something of what you saw today. I imagine you see alot for you sit inside a railway station. Do you often dream of going on holiday, or even meeting some of the people you see every day? Do you like the people, the way they walk, the way they dress? Can you catch glimpses of their conversation? Do you have a camera inside? Do you record all that goes on? Are you researching for a film? Are you a secret agent? Is that why you cannot tell me your secrets? Hmmm so many questions I have for you. Tomorrow I shall return with doughnuts and then I shall get answers to all I wish to know.

SUGARBEE XX   16/01/13

Happy Gate

This is Happy Gate, the perfect combination between old and modern. The gate sits out front of someone’s house, the entrance to the property; it marks the line between theirs and mine. As demonstrated here, it's important if you are going to mark off the line, then do it with personality. I'm thinking when this gate was built and installed, and if I take into account all factors from memory, the suburb, the style of house, the size of the property it guards, the connecting wall and surrounding trees, and finally the design of the gate, at a total guess I'm going with 1930's design. An internet search under a number of variants of gate design history gave me no answer but threw me a fascinating overview of the many different gates we have built and set to good use over time. What also struck me was the high percentage of personalization in gate design. This then links up my comment about combining old and modern in a way I hadn't intended, for today the market is about personalizing everything, when what I saw were the 4 little text faces, one being shock, and the others with just enough curve to show happy. 

SUGARBEE XX   15/01/13

I Want Candy

This is a phone; this is a very colourful phone. This phone may not be pocket size anymore, but that's okay, it is designed to bring you so much joy that you will probably want it in your hand rather than your pocket anyhow. And if you like to stash your phone in your handbag, well you are also not likely to lose it in there. You see my phone is so slim, it is always getting lost in my bag which creates great panic, upset and once even a tear. When you consider how much information, photos, entertainment, and connections to social networks are loaded in our phones, its best not to lose them or cut down the chance of losing them as much as possible. Somewhere in Melbourne lives a girl who makes this a possibility.  The phone in the photo belongs to her friend. I tried to get a contact so you could fall in love and order one, but there appears there was a language barrier between us as I have contact information for you.  Maybe she will see my blog and be in touch; maybe she is just too busy making her back orders list empty out. Who knows? I think the phone is worth a mention and I hope see sells a million.

SUGARBEEXX   14/01/13

Lost In A Childhood Dream

I've always wanted to take a hot air balloon ride and see what I could see. Hot air ballooning is romantic, and I imagine can teach you a thing or two about infinity, it is the stuff dreams are made of let me say this: before the year is out, I will have taken a HOT AIR BALLOON RIDE, somehow, somewhere. (Shhh Sugar Bee, that's a handstand, hello in a different language each day and a HOT AIR BALLOON RIDE you have committed to so far, as they say, watch what you wish for.) Yet in the mean time there is a place I can visit and dream about my dream, a little shop full of fantasy and handmade crafts. This is The Friendship Tree, and what a wonder it is. Greeted by two ladies watching over the kingdom with a sparkle in their eye, proud of their work and joyfully inviting you into a world of felted characters and creatures, tiny toys and gifts, and drawers of supplies to make your own. The detail is carefully crafted on each petite creation, made with love, giving it personality, and for a few moments in time you are lost to childhood dreams. There is something special waiting for everyone at 272 High St, Northcote, Melbourne, so if you are in the neighbourhood . . .  thefriendshiptree.com.au

SUGARBEE XX   13/01/13

Long Pants Are Cute

Cute is all I see. I can't get past the cute. Okay, breathe a little, and give it another go. . .  Hmmm no, still cute. Cup of tea and biscuit break and still cute. Go out, come back and something else other than cute is starting to seep into the fringe of my mind. If I try really hard, I see economics, a sale, a saving to be made, a sign, transferred industry innovation, a smart move, a blackboard with text, information, advertising and a handle.  How's that?  How did I go? But hold on a tick, cute is starting to slip back in. Why do I find this sign so cute? Maybe it challenges my sense of how things are meant to be, and having a 2 for 1 sale at the local opportunity shop is not in the program. But more than that, I think it's the long pants. I don't know how to explain this, I think you either see it or you don't, likely you see your own impression, but I am stuck with cute and it appears there is not a lot I can do about that.

SUGARBEE XX   12/01/13

A Thistle Is A Thistle Is A Thistle

Who doesn't love nature? Who is never blown away by nature? I see things I've never seen before almost every day, some of those things I think are new in the world and some of those things are ages old. Take the humble thistle. I had not been in a thistle field before the other week, when out on a bike ride I came across one unexpectedly. Going out on a limb here; it's the Scottish national flower? Yes correct, thanks internet. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thistle.  Thistles are beautiful, so vibrant in colour, so inviting to look at. Unfortunately this image does not show the colours as bright as they were, but never mind. In a field you see one thistle, then looking behind, beside and all around, they are everywhere. Tempting to touch, a thistle flower fits into a cupped hand nicely but is sharp, so handle with care and maintain balance because falling forward on this lot is not going to feel good for you or the thistle. Nature changes constantly and what you see today, you may not see tomorrow, grab the chance when you can, because you cannot always take the moment with you either. When I see flowers in the wild, I cannot bear to pick them, preferring to enjoy their beauty as it was intended, right there on its parent plant. Even walking past someone's garden I can't pick the flowers but then I guess that's one reason why we have florists.

SUGARBEE XX   11/01/13

The Piano That Brings You Joy

Here is one of the most beautiful and delightful things in the world, a piano waiting to be played at the local market.  It sits all day and all night accessible to anyone, donated by Greys Pianos, so 55,000 points to them. This piano has bought me much joy. And the best story goes a little something like this: Recently I am walking home from a friend's house, strolling through the empty market place, and decide to sit and play awhile.  I'm not a trained player, but regardless I'm strumming my fingers across the keys to a tune made up in my mind, I'm playing with sound, and learning at the same time. At some point, a homeless man sits quietly behind me, we acknowledged each other and he encourages me to continue, so I do. Lost in my creation, about half hour later, I turned and took a play bow for my audience. The response was worth it "Thank-you, I have been sitting here with my eyes closed and your music has allowed me to work out some of my anger." I smiled and thanked him back. We swapped seats. He played for a while and that's when I felt the heavens open up. This man with no home and a hard story, played like angel, and sung with a powerful voice as I sat there too stunned to move. These are the moments in life waiting for everyone if only you take a chance and open your heart to what is all around you.

SUGARBEE XX   10/01/13

Take A Trip To The Classics

There are some buskers who play you such sweet music, you can only stop, listen and smile. Such is the skill of Melvyn Cann, a musician who lovingly plays his magic in Melbourne. I came across him in Lygon St, Carlton, was transported straight to violin heaven and consequently a fraction late for work.  Nevermind, it was worth it. Only later did I realised there was fame attached, Melvyn is not only a well known violin player in Melbourne town, he is also an accomplished artist. You can find write ups about him on the internet, it's where I stole this list of composers he is capable of performing: Beethoven and Brahms, Albinoni and Massenet, Mendelssohn and Chopin, and, of course, Vivaldi and Bach. Follow the link to read more http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2008/01/01/1198949808102.html Melvyn plays with his heart, and dedicated skill, if you see him out and about you are in for a treat but remember the golden rule: buskers are out there playing for you, if you like what you hear, throw some appreciation into the hat. This one deserves the appreciation.

SUGARBEE XX   09/01/13

Where All Your Godzilla Dreams Come True

Japan has a style like no other made from the following desirable list of characteristics: simplicity, function, precision and style among other things and is delivered up on a plate of polite so when you come across the Japanese shop URA you know you are in just the right place for that moment in time. Selling second hand and new Japanese clothing, toys and other treasures is an accurate description I just stole from their business card. I got lost in the Godzilla section wishing I could take home the whole collection, but instead bought a book about the 1970 Osaka Expo where I learnt that over 183 days of the expo 64,218,770 people visited the expo and 48,139 children were lost. This book blows my mind everytime I read it, but then lots of stuff in this shop will makes me smile.  So next time someone says "What do you buy for the person who has everything?" send them to URA, they will be so happy they will probably come back with something for you as well.  28 Johnston St, Fitzroy, Melbourne.  9416-4503 http://ura-store.com.au/  happy hunting!!!

SUGARBEE XX   08/01/13

A Flock Of Seagulls

Nature is the ultimate in every way. And sometimes if you look around something will happen right there and then, in front of you, around you, behind and beside you. And if you stay very still, nature happens as if for you. It happened to me beach side a few weeks ago, a flock of seagulls rising up and rowdy, squawking and parading after scraps of someone's thrown away meal. It's quite incredible standing there as they fly almost through you, the multitudes and the collective mission.  Its loud, its busy, an ever changing scene in a couple of minutes before the game is over and off to the sky they fly. Frenzy is a great word for this sight. And not only is it chance to stop and a reason to break into a very big smile, it's an incredible chance to study flight, to see the way the wings move, to understand what it takes to lift and propel a body into the air fly. Nature is the final answer, love it and respect it.  And I could hardly finish this one about a flock of seagulls without this one, a collection link for A Flock of Seagulls: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BJ7NVjZ-Eyg&playnext=1&list=AL94UKMTqg-9B_B70q0B_FhJcN8UDsmNwj  extra nice 44 of their tracks, that will be me for the next week.

SUGARBEE XX   07/01/13

The Bear That Was Moving Home

The bear that was moving house is a sad tale where the bear in question was up for sale, and I cannot remember the reason why. I saw her on e-Bay one day when looking for some such thing to buy.  There was a short story to accompany the auction, and I'm thinking no one bid, which was a relief and sad at the same time. How can you sell your teddy bear? What on earth happens in one's life that you can even entertain the thought of selling your teddy bear? Hmmm, but you never know anyone's full story really unless you are that person and that is the best reason in the world to never judge anyone for their actions. And what if teddy bears could talk? I don't think they would choose to talk; they hold too much precious information and too many wonderful secrets and are too loved to want to spill the beans. And in the end I have no idea what happened to Potty Lou here as I just named her, I imagine she won and kept her place at home, and why do I imagine this? Because her owner had a heart, I assume from the sad tone in the story with auction but more because I like my ending best, I like that Potty Lou got to stay at home, that makes me feel good and safe and secure in a big old messed up world.

SUGARBEE XX   06/01/13

Candy, Not War

There are all sorts of lovely candy in the world, and if you ask me, there is lovely candy all over this t-shirt. War, do we need it anymore? Is it not the game of a group of politicians making money? Sure the facts and figures and reasons are complicated, and most definitely there are sections of society that could do with containment, but what has war positively achieved in the last little while? Michael Moore recently wrote a great piece on "I support the troops" clearly telling why this is such a hollow message. http://www.facebook.com/mmflint?ref=ts&fref=ts Friday 4th January. So I didn't intend to come here and wage an argument on War, but surely there is a better way to do things. You don't see China going into to deal with the Taliban and can you imagine how fast the Taliban would end if 3 million Chinese soldiers mowed across the Taliban territory. That would put an end to the whole silly "we are the police of the world" attitude that America has. Come on people, evolve past war, let's get over our prejudice, our ownership of others, let's turn up the care factor and warp speed the clean up.  Let's stop fur fashion, gay hate, the banning of education, the restriction of self grown food, let's stop whaling, hunting tours, child prostitution, prawn farms and more. Let's band together and make the world a better place. Here's a heart warming story from the WWF, http://worldwildlife.org/stories/12-success-stories-of-2012?utm_campaign=wwf-marketing&utm_source=good.is And if you want a tip on how to get involved in positivity in the world I can offer you the best piece of information I have ever found http://www.ted.com/

SUGARBEE XX   05/01/13

The Dinosaur The Gave Me Reason To Grow Up A Little

Hands up if you think this is one of the coolest display objects ever. Me, my hand shoots right up.  I fall in love with him the second I see him. Love, is that too strong a word? Would I take him home and chat? Would I adore him in my lounge? Would I play "pretendies" that he was real, stroke his head? You can bet your house I would! He is the cutest dinosaur I ever had the pleasure to met. Apparently I'm still a child at heart.  But then I look around the store and something in me changes, as the seconds pass I feel all grown up and simply wonderful.  I'm in Tom Gunn, an Australian designed shoe store for women with taste. I know things are good right now, the sales girl is lovely and encouraging, she is happy for me to photograph "Dino" and like a restaurant experience where the waiter can make or break the dinner, a sales girl should be an indicator of the product. So far Tom Gunn is scoring high on several fronts and I've only been here 3 mins. I stop for a second, look around and dream, gather my things while grabbing a business card then make my way home to check out the website. http://tomgunn.com It states shoes should be like works of art for your feet, and Tom Gunn deliver on that statement. Style, quality, and clever design all rolled into one, this is exactly where my next pair of shoes will be purchased.

SUGARBEE XX   04/01/13

Little Lost One

You see a piece of paper tossed upon the ground
I see a Polar Bear looking for his ice mound

SUGARBEE XX   03/01/12