Domestic Geek

I love military surplus stores. They usually have so many cool things to purchase. There are a couple of good ones in the Denver area, but they are way over on the west side of town and that's quite the trek. With the cost of gas anymore, I'm finding I prefer to do the shopping online. There is also the added benefit of not having to deal with sales clerks. I found a really cool surplus store called Army Navy Mall that carries a lot of the same products I've seen locally plus a whole lot more.

If you haven't noticed, camo clothing is getting quite a resurgence in popularity. It comes in so many cool color combinations, too! You're no longer stuck with green — there are blue, gray, red, tan and even pink camo for the ladies. I'm thinking of getting myself a pair of camo sneakers or a hoodie for camping this summer. Boonie hats are good for keeping your head dry in the rain. I purchased one for Marcus a few years ago and he loves it. Army Navy Mall carries one in blue that I'm considering.

Besides clothing, Army Navy Mall carries camping and hunting gear, flags, military-themed gifts, police equipment, flashlights and optical equipment and so much more — all at very low prices! Their site is well laid out, so browsing or finding a specific item is incredibly easy. The shipping charges are in line with any other online retailer and in-stock items are shipped 1-2 days after your order.

If you're in the market for military or outdoor related merchandise, give Army Navy Mall a try.

A few years ago, I really started to become a Mary Engelbreit fan. She does such wonderful, colorful illustrations. I found out that she had a retail store and vowed that one day I would visit it. Well, for some reason, I had it in my head that it was was up North somewhere. Well, I was looking at her site yesterday trying to get inspiration for a project I'm working on and I found out her store is in the Galleria Mall in St. Louis, MO. The very same mall Marcus and I went to the Apple Store in when we spent a few days in St. Louis three years ago. D'oh! We even strolled around the mall for a bit, but didn't make it to the section that had the ME store. Argh! So close. Marcus promised that on the next trip to Tennessee to visit his folks, we can stay in St. Louis again so that I can go to that store.

Recently, Staples put one of their office supply stores on Colorado Blvd. here in Denver. I'm not sure when exactly, but I happened to see it driving home one day. I was looking for a couple of things related to the craft room clean-up and decided to stop in and see what they had.

Well, they didn't have what I was looking for, but on my way out I saw a bin with Easy Buttons. If you've ever seen one of their commercials on television, you know what that is. Anyway, I didn't stop to look at them, but when I checked their web site just now, it turns out they donate $1 of every purchase on those to the Boys & Girls Club of America. That's so cool! I may end up going back later to get one.

With Mother's Day right around the corner, this time of year always makes me think about my mom. It's been 11 years since she passed away. I remember my mother always loved getting carnations for Mother's Day. She thought that they were less pretentious than roses and they lasted longer. They also have a lighter smell and there are no thorns. It turns out that they were the appropriate flower for her as carnations are the flower of her birthday month (she was born in January). I guess since she loved them so much that's why carnations are one of my favorite flowers, as well. I really love mixed flower bouquets, though; especially arrangements with lilies and irises in them. I love variety and color.

I keep seeing ads for ProFlowers and wish that she was still around so that I could send her some. Since the flowers are delivered fresh from the fields, they would last even longer than those I used to bring home from the grocery store for her. Did you know that you can support breast cancer research when you order certain floral arrangements from ProFlowers? They have a line called The Pink Ribbon Collection, 10% of the sale price going to The Komen Foundation.

Speaking of flowers, the lilac bushes outside should be blooming soon. I love how the smell of fresh lilacs just fills the house.

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When we were out for our weekly Saturday evening dinner date, my friend Nina told me about a great t-shirt that I would probably like to have over at Jinx. She mentioned it was about knitting and the Jolly Roger. I was picturing the "knit or die" shirt they had on Gilmore Girls, but this one is way more cool!