I'm not a big consumer. I can window shop up a storm but actually purchasing things comes in fits and starts. While vacationing, I have more time to pursue retail relaxation. Invariably, when I return from a trip, I have in my bag of goodies a variety of cds, soaps and candy. This last trip was no exception. Because of the threat of bears at Yosemite, I sent my purchases back east via UPS. The box arrived on Friday. CDs came out first. Next I had to make room for the teas in the tea cupboard. Tonight I handled the soap. Now if you know me at all, you have noted my obsession with the suds. I consider myself something of a soap snob. I haven't used a bar of soap purchased in the grocery store in years. One of my favorite soap makers is Lush. All of their products are made fresh and are organic. On this visit, I picked up one of my favorite bars Banana Moon, their bestselling bar Karma, I Should Coco and Ginger soaps, two solid shampoos, Seanick and Irresistible Bliss, which will be great for travel and a stash of bath bombs. I, of course, picked out some goodies for the bad girl posse, too. Rock Star soap for Tallulah because she's been partying like one and WITH them lately, Sea Vegetable for JPO, and a nice lemony bomb for Cyndemouse. I just tried a sample of Hybrid solid shampoo, which looks like a chunk of granite- black with little coconut flecks. It looks kind of yucky but lathered up nicely and smells great. You can't go to Cali without picking up some chocolates at See's Candy. The old fashioned stores and friendly sales ladies dressed in crisp white uniforms make you feel like not much has changed since they started making confections in 1921. William Randolph Hearst kept boxes of it at his "castle" San Simeon for his guests to enjoy. I picked up some goodies to give to my bosses who approved my trip to the SND Conference. Other forays into consumerism included a bottle of pineapple scentedDemeter pick me up spray and rose shaped ceramic drawer pulls at Anthropologie. Currently..... in the soap dish: Lush Banana Moon.... in the cd player: The Waxwings-Let's Make Our Descent...on my mind: deep sleep