All I want for Mother's Day...

is a photo with Carl.  One in which he is dressed up, with a clean face.  One in which we're genuinely happy, not just faking it between bribing him to cooperate.  And guess what??  I got it!

My Etsy Book Spring Cleaning Sale

With book scouting season sneaking up quickly, I've put my entire Etsy shop, Exceedingly Well Read, on sale.  Everything is 25% off.  

I'm trying my darndest to reduce shipping costs after Canada Post's recent changes.  At first, I thought the changes were in my favor - tracking numbers for small packages to the States?  Yea!  But now all the costs have gone up.  We no longer can ship to the US using surface mail, which isn't a problem unless you're shipping something bigger than a peanut.  I took a package to the post office the other day, with my quoted shipping cost at $15.  Because of Canada Post's new measures, it cost me $25 to send via air mail.  

Now, it's not as if air mail is too much quicker than surface mail.  It's all so unpredictable.  And so frustrating.  I'm thinking about starting my own Pony Express.  I wouldn't even have to write the copy for the ad to hire men, as my requirements would be the same as they were when Buffalo Bill roamed the prairies.  

Japanese Children's Book: "Super Book"

After doing some exhaustive internet research, I still can't find any information about this adorable Japanese board book.  Any ideas?

Found this young family at the flea market...

And I'm absolutely in love.   Flea markets can be intimidating to me because there is so much to look at, so many things I'd like to have.  It's only when something truly speaks to me though that I buy something for my own house.  I knew that I couldn't live without these gorgeous deer.  True love for only $5.  Not a bad deal.

Excited about Valentine's Day, er, night?

Well, don't get too comfortable.  Geri Silver on Alternet generously shared some anti-romanticism in an article called,  Happy Valentine's Day:  Pope Benedict XVI's Most Unromantic Quotes about Love, Sex, and Marriage.  Thanks Geri!

Love this girl!