My Two Favorite Things About June

June is more then halfway done! Can you believe it? This month just kind of disappeared before my very eyes. Time to slow things down and stop to think about my two favorite things about June. Luckily, both things start appearing mid-June or later!

1. local fresh strawberries, 2. Strawberries 

#1- Local strawberries - Local Strawberries have just started popping up in grocery stores and farm markets all around me! They're still a bit on the pricey side ($3.49 a pint I saw on a sign yesterday), but soon the prices will start dropping and then then U-Picks will open! Local berries are not only cheaper, but they taste like little bites of heaven. So sweet and juicy.

a photo from my garden!

 #2 - Lilies - Lilies are my favorite flower. I've got several different varieties in my garden, and mid-June is when the first of the day lilies bloom! Yay, Lilies!

ps: It's also the first day of summer today! Why not celebrate by doing something summer-y?


Isn't June an awesome month? What are your favorite things about June?

Strange Things You Can Buy on Amazon.com (That Might Just be Perfect for Father's Day)

So, Father's Day is coming up this weekend. I always have a hard time with Father's Day presents, since my Dad's Birthday is earlier the same month. Luckily this year my Mom told me exactly what to buy him (thanks, Mom!). A lot of you out there may have not been so lucky. So, this morning, I was aimlessly browsing around on Amazon and I thought, Man, there are some strange things available. You know who might like these weird things? Dads! And Thus, here we are.

So, it you're having trouble finding a gift for the father that has everything, or you just want to get Dad something a little different this year, check out the following:

For The Big Kid At Heart

 Flying Pig: It's a pig and it flies. How awesome is that? 

USB Panic Button: What does it do, exactly? Um, as far as I can tell, nothing. But, according to the Technical Details it's a "Great Desktop Conversation Item", a "Great Desktop Conversation Item". Also, "Design is stylish and innovative. Satisfaction Ensured".

6pc Set of Slingshot Flingshot Flying Animals: Slingshot animals that you can fling at things. Oh, and they make sounds.

Air Hogs R/C Havoc Heli: Another cool thing that flies!

For The Meat Lover

 Buffalo Bills 1.75oz Beef Jerky 6-Pack Gift Cooler: It's an insulated cooler filled with 11 assorted 1.75oz packs of our Buffalo Bills Beef Jerky. That's a whole lot of jerky. 

Venison Summer Sausage 3 Pack: "Deer meat is mild-flavored and tender. It is naturally low in fat, calories, and cholesterol."

20-4-oz Ostrich Patties: If jerky and venison sausage are not quite different enough for your dad's taste, how about some extra lean ostrich burgers?

If You're Looking to Spend Big

(and when I say big, I mean REALLY big)

JL421 Badonkadonk Land Cruiser/Tank:  Sure, for Twenty Thousand Dollars you could buy dear old dad a brand new car, but this is much, much cooler.

Relaxman Relaxation Capsule: If your dad is stressed out, maybe he needs this relaxation capsule. From the site: "Be the first in the U.S. to own one of the finest relaxation devices invented. Used in helath clinics all over Europe. Designed by the world famous Biotonus Clinic in Switzerland specifically for relaxation and stress reduction. The custom designed Relaxman is completely heat, light, and sound proof, providing total isolation for the ideal environmental therapy. Inside, the heated water mattress stays at body temperature while soothing, preprogrammed music and lights take you into a deep state of relaxation."

...Other

Rat Dissection Manual: So maybe your Dad always wanted to be a mad scientist. I don't know.

MANGROOMER Do-it-Yourself Electric Back Hair Shaver:  Um...Yeah.

Crab Doorknocker: Why have a regular doorknocker, when you could have one shaped like a crab? And if crabs aren't your father's style there is also a Solid Cast Iron Woodpecker Doorknocker, Boxer Dog Doorknocker Bronze, SPI 30749 Horse & Horseshoe Doorknocker and a Solid Brass Greek God Doorknocker.

Sushi Popper: It's sushi (California Roll) on a stick. It's kind of like a Push Pop, but with sushi instead of candy. $29.99 will get you a 6-pack of Sushi Poppers, which is the equivalent of 42 pieces of sushi.   

Of Course, you could just get him a Gift Card.

Happy World Oceans Day!

1. Fishing Shacks, 2. Ocean Colors, 3. Awesome Wave, 4. Santa Monica Pier

June 8th is World Oceans Day. The concept was proposed by the Canadian government at the Earth Summit in Rio De Janeiro in 1992. It has been unofficially celebrated every year since, and has been officially recognized by the UN since December 2008.  It's a day to celebrate our oceans and promote ocean conservation. 

The world's oceans are important to all of us. They generate most of the oxygen we breathe, provide us with food and provide us with medicines, as well as potential new medicines. Plus, they're damn pretty to look at. They're also home to some of the most bizarre creatures on earth, such as the immortal jelly fish, the Axolotl, and the Leafy Sea Dragon. Not to mention huge animals like the Blue Whale and the Giant Squid. Oh, you like your animals  more cute and cuddly? Fine, check out this photo of a baby seal. (aww!)

The ocean is particularly important to those of us surrounded (or at mostly surrounded...) by one. I may not live right on the ocean, but I could leave my house and be there in 20 minutes. We are "Canada's Ocean Playground" (according to our license plates). There is no place in Nova Scotia that is more then 67KM from the ocean. It regulates our climate. It provides a source of income for many Nova Scotians. Soon, it may even provide some of our power! 

In short, the oceans are pretty incredible. 

So, whether you can see the ocean from your doorstep or the closest you've been to the ocean is watching Finding Nemo, have a Happy World Oceans Day! 

Want more World Ocean goodness? Check out these awesome photos on the Flickr Blog and theoceanproject.org for more information on World Oceans Day and ocean conservation.


Books about ocean conservation that I think look terribly interesting:
       

Welcome to 2010!

It's not only a new year, it's a new decade. Welcome to 2010! I love the new year. Everything seems so fresh and so clear. It's a perfect time to set some new goals, make some changes. Even if I don't stick to them, it always feels good at the time. All warm and fuzzy like. or whatever.

As usual, I have big plans. Big, grand, life altering plans. What it all boils down to though, is that I want to be happy. Sounds so simple, doesn't it? But I find myself feeling unhappy much of the time. The problem is that we have a hard time figuring out what is actually going to make us happy in the long run. We think we know, but we're often wrong. I've been reading a lot over at the Happiness Project, so I think I have a pretty good start on making 2010 the happiest year possible.

To get ready for my year of happiness, I've already been hard at work. I've compiled a list of commandments or whatever to guide me on my way. Things to keep in mind when I'm having a hard time with this whole happy thing. (Want to write your own commandments? I found these 6 tips to be immensely helpful)

My Happiness Commandments or Whatever

• Act how you want to feel
• Look good, Feel Good
• Healthiness is Happiness
• Do it Now, Don't wait
  
• Change Leads to Growth
  
• Do Something
  
• Never Stop Learning
• We are what we repeatedly do

This is the first step in my journey. I've got far to go, but there are no limits. And that makes me happy just thinking about it.

What are your goals, dreams and aspirations for the new year?