smells like

I was all set for my bath the other week when I noticed I had no bar of soap. Can't use shower gel, it's a bath. Need soap bar. No problem, as I knew there were several bars tucked away from a previous bulk buying frenzy of 'buy 2 get the 3rd one free' variety. Couldn't find them. Every time I have a good tidy I seem to lose things, especially those bulk bought items. Keep searching. Can't even find the cream soap I also have tucked away... Bath water is getting cold, so I decide to use those luxury bars that I've got in my socks and underwear drawer as a sort of pomade. Am not sure where it came from, most likely from when I cleared out my mother's apartment last year.

So now, my bathroom is smelling particularly spring like.
And well, lovely, really.
I know, you're probably thinking it smells like your grandmother.

Lily of the Valley. Yardley's.

Something you don't see very often. In fact when I did some research for writing this I couldn't find any in the two Shoppers Drug Marts I checked, which is where I was sure they would have some for the older ladies who cling to their tried and true favoured brands.

I love this smell. I'm using it all the time now. It isn't too cloying or too sweet and fake. It lasts forever. No wonder people think of their grandmothers. Throughout the day, I will move an arm and get an oh so subtle whiff of lily of the valley and sigh, contentedly.

This made me wonder when this particular scent went out of favour. In fact when flower scents went out of fashion. Lavender is still around, though usually mixed with something else. But for the most part the scented soap industry has veered off towards the fruits. And like juice, there is often a combination of fruits of the anti-oxident variety with acai and goji thrown in. Pomegranate, blackberry, mango, passionfruit, lime and ginger are popular. It is like they are trying to make their shower gels and lotions sound healthy. Food that gets absorbed in your skin?

My kitchen always smells of fruit with the dish soap. I must admit though, that I usually just buy whichever colour goes with my decor. So I have grapefruit scents wafting every time I wash a dish. There is key lime waiting in the cupboard. Unless I've lost that one, too.

But my bathroom smells of SPRING.

gagnez un cafe

It is Roll Up The Rim time at Tim Hortons!

And after only 3 coffees bought,

I WON!

A coffee.

But still,

I WON something!

Every year from the last week in February until whenever the special cups run out in April, you get a chance to "roll up the rim" of your medium, large or extra large coffee cup and see if you've won a coffee, or donut, or money, or gift card, or laptop, or a 2009 Toyota Venza - oh, I'm breathless with anticipation. I am actually quite happy with the coffee and food. Since I've never won anything more than that, I keep my expectations low. In the coming few days, there will be calculations in the media of your chances of winning each of the prizes depending on which province you live in - and they will vary wildly.

~~~~~~

Three years ago there was an infamous case of two school girls who found an unrolled cup in the garbage. The one who found it, couldn't get the rim rolled up but her friend was successful. They were surprised to see that it was a winning cup for the SUV. The parents got involved and a court case ensued over who actually won the prize - the finder or the roller-upper. Then, the school janitor claimed that it was his cup that was thrown out before he rolled up the rim and that HE should get the RAV4. DNA testing was requested to prove it was his. Eventually, after much debating and media scrutiny and derision and arguing ... Tim Hortons decided to get involved afterall and awarded the car to the family of the girl who found the cup. It was at least an interesting diversion for a few months.