Happy National Hugging Day! (Sorry, but it's also Monday.) What fragrance are you wearing?
Christian Dior was born on this day in 1905, and in his honor I'm wearing vintage Diorissimo.
Reminder: on 1/25, wear one of your favorite fragrances of this winter (unless it's summer where you are, in which case wear one of your favorite scents of this summer).
And for those of you who like to plan ahead, see Scent of the day ~ Friday community projects 2019, where I'll try to always have the next five or six weeks mapped out in advance.
Note: top image shows Jennifer Lawrence (and a horse) for Dior Cruise 2019.
No perfume yet today, but yesterday I wore SL Chene. It was fantastic! I’m making a deliberate effort to wear my favorites this week. Why settle for anything less, right? 🙂
Right on! Chêne is gorgeous.
Absolutely! You deserve it.
I think I’m going to wear my favs this week too! I’m always wanting to sample but feel like I neglect my favs by doing so. Thanks for the inspiration.
KellyC, that is what I do ALL THE TIME! Thus the focused effort to wear my favorites. Thanks, 50_Roses, for the inspiration for this!
I’m wearing Lubin Akhad. It’s rather nice on this cold day, but fortunately I’m not hugely smitten, will finish my sample!
Robin you smell stunning, I’m sure you are enjoying your Diorissimo!
Feel the same way about Akkad. Nice enough, not great.
Yep, parts of Akkad remind me of MPG Ambre Précieux but I prefer the latter.
Have you tried more Lubins? I’ve only tried Idole and Epidor. Idole is very good, I think.
I did try Idole, but there is something in it that I don’t like, not sure what.
Same here. I tried it for the saffron, but there was something about the rest of it (and the fact that it didn’t have MORE saffron) that didn’t quite agree with me.
It was a perfect choice — wind is howling outside my window and it’s too cold to go out. I think we are expecting a high of 16 today so I can’t complain but I will anyway.
Nothing like a good moan 😉
SOTD Chinchilla.
The only comment I have about that photo is that they should fire that photographer.
I’m exhaused from a crazy weekend and still in bed. I reached over to my perfume stash in the cabinet and topped off my
scent, and will now roll over and try to do some more sleep recovery.
Happy Monday! I hope other NSTers are more bushy tailed that me today….
Sleep well! I hope you wake up rejuvenated.
Thanks, I did! And spritzed MORE Chinchilla when I woke up. ??
I’m just not into the combat boots with pretty dresses look. I was able to recover last night from the previous bad night, hope you can do the same!
It’s funny, I love combat boots with pretty dresses but not the combo in that picture!
Upon closer examination, I’ve realized that it’s the coat? sweater? that I don’t care for. That, and the fact that the pattern makes her look like a tea set.
Haha tea set – exactly! Or a curtain/bedspread set…
Yes, a tea set!
Thanks, glad you had a restorative night! ?
Fire the photographer-lol! And true…what is the photo attempting to communicate? Frustrated, failed attempts to communicate, maybe?
I like the outfit but it does not fit Cruise. A horse? Hee-haw, maybe it’s a Pirates of the Caribbean cruise?
I don’t know how the horse fits in, but I like him.
Me, too; the horse is really the worthwhile part of the pic!
Me three!
Why should the photographer be the one to lose their job??
Lol
Because it’s the commercial photographers job to make the subject interesting in order to engage the audience. I’m not talking about personal preferences such as whether one likes combat boots with fancy dresses, Jennifer Lawrence, or even Dior. Essentially, how one feels about the subject matter individually is immaterial. I’m looking at the photo critically and objectively, not based on personal preferences.
I’m viewing based on photographic specifics. Is this a landscape or a portrait? Is it art or an ad? Does it have structure, integrity, pr provoke a strong emotional response in the viewer? Does it stimulate a purchase of the photographed items in particular or the brand in general?
The horse (also my favorite part of the photo, personal preference wise) looks to be “placed” in the photo rather than a “part” of the photo. Almost as if it was photoshopped as an after thought. JL’s expression is completely disengaged and flat. The horse is slack muscled, droopy eared, and looking at who knows what.
I’m sure some high end design team chose these elements, but it’s the photographers job to bring it to life. The horse should show a modicum of interest as would be evidenced by prick ears, focused gaze, and a bit of muscle tension. Domestic animals are easy to work with in general. They have been selectively bred for generations to maximize cooperation, trainability, and obedience. How much better the impact of the photo if the horse was gazing at JL, enraptured by her glamour and haute couture wardrobe? Simply by facing the horses head towards JL’s head would be an enhancement…
Then there’s JL, who looks like she’s waiting for a bus. Personal preference wise, I’m not a fan of the outfit. I might be a bit more of a fan if the outfit was given life by JL in a more interesting pose and with a lively facial expression.
All these details are in the photographer’s control. Whoever authorized release of this “ad” to a world wide audience should also be fired. Just my opinion, of course.
I’m sure Dior wants to sell you this outfit, idea, dream, what have you. Based on response, I’d say they failed. If they are intending to push the same outfit, idea, dream as a work of art, they also failed because the photo has no structure, life, or energy and leaves the viewer emotionally cold and disengaged.
Just my opinion, but you asked. Certainly, people will disagree with part or all of this. This is as it should be, since differing views and ideas engage individuals and groups in a meaningful way. As for me, I will certainly be more mindful in posting my comments. ✌?
I might be wrong but the way I read Robin’s question was that for us to see what that photographer did at least several people up the food chain had approved it and thought it was a good idea – shouldn’t they be fired first? 😉
Well gosh, I didn’t realize I had misunderstood her comment. Thanks so much for bringing that to my attention. ?
Yes, that mostly, but I also I also seriously doubt that in the context of a fashion photo shoot, the photographer has that much artistic control.
If I would have known that Mr. Dior was born on this day, i would have gone with something from Dior. But i’m wearing the lovely Oud Imperial by Perris Monte Carlo.
Apparently it’s also Cristobal Balenciaga’s birthday too (1895).
Don’t have any Balenciaga, though.
Didn’t know about his birthday, so thunking my decant of Balenciaga Paris L’Essence this morning was fortuitous!
I’m in Cuir Ottoman today. It went a little pickle-y on me for the first time this morning, but fortunately that faded quickly (phew!) and it’s now its usual delicious yumminess.
You smell fabulous.
You smell divine.
Hmmm, sorry Jennifer, I don’t think I’ll be wearing any of that garb on a cruise. Wait…I won’t be going on a cruise. Never mind. ?
I’m commando at the moment as I have a training session later this morning, but will be in Ambre Loup afterwards.
Breakfast is a homemade egg McMuffin and tea is MF The’ Au Tibet. It is delicious.
Hope the training session goes well!
It did, thanks!
Annick Goutal Encens Flamboyant. I wanted something smelling like pine or fir tree, and while EF is not a typical ‘piney’ scent, it delivers. It smells more like a forest than a church to me.
It smells very foresty to me too. You smell great.
You smell super good.
Smelling wonderful! I may wear that this week on a day I use the shower gel.
All year favorite,and has become one of my easy no-brainer perfumes today:
Clinique Aromatics Black Cherry.Some might say it’s a difficult perfume,dense with notes,but actually I find it so easy to wear!Given that I cannot wear original Aromatics,even I am surprised.
This might be more towards Winter,or Fall,but I figured it depends on how many sprays I do.So 4 for Summer-which is now down here south-and my usual 8-whatever I feel like,for Winter!
Happy Monday!
One day closer to Friday.
X
You have mentioned AE Bkack Cherry before and I am very curious. Discontinued, of course!
Yeah,I think it was a LE a couple of years back.BUB is in the cupboard.Lol.
Are you feeling better, Johanob?
Hello KellyC!
I’d say we’re at about 99% normal operations,yup!
Thanks so much for asking!
The wonder of antibiotics,hospital-grade bioscrub and silver-infused band-aids!Haha!
XO
Ahhh, modern medicine!
Yesterday I dived into my shoebox of samples looking for Rien, because half of NST wore it friday and i was intrigued.
I found it and enjoyed it during a walk in the countryside. We visited the part of The Netherlands we call the Achterhoek (near Ruurlo castle).
This morning i was in a terrible hurry and almost arrived at work not wearing any fragrance. But luckily I had the travel spray of iris nazarena in my bag!
Love Iris Nazarena, that was a lucky find!
You smell wonderful!
Well you cannot go wrong with Iris Nazarena as an emergency back-up!
LoveLove!
Is this ELDO Rien? It’s on my “To Sample Someday” list. It seems like you live in a great place for nearby interesting hikes.
Yes it was ELdO Rien. To my nose its a leather/incense perfect for winter. Sometimes it reminded me of an old study for a monk, the the smell of old leather books and incense.
And yes the landscape in The Netherlands is pretty versatile and friendly for hikers. We have big sandy beaches and dunes, and in some parts of our countryside you can spot old farms, mills and orchards. Then we have our famous wetlands, but also forests and moorlands.
And because its a very small country, all this is is within a 1,5 hour ride from my doorstep.
But most parks and hiking areas are not big and a lot of trails will take you through towns and across roads or railroads. You hardly get that feeling of vastness (Is that a word?) and freedom you get in Rocky Mountains or the Alps.
And….we dont have mountains of course 🙂 but things get hilly in the far south of Netherlands and in the Ardennes in Belgium (a 3 hour drive), and Les Vosges are approx. 6 hours away.
Big wind storm here last night, sadly two people were killed when a tree fell on their house, just a few blocks away. RIP.
I’m wearing Fazzolari Unsettled.
Scent/weather match spot on! ??
Wow, that’s horrible. You always feel so safe inside a house.
You smell great.
Oh, wow. That is sad. I was out in the yard this morning and the wind was so strong that the tree next store was bending and the thought of it going down made me go back inside.
Oh my gosh! That is terrible!
How sad, and scary.
That’s so sad. I’m glad you’re okay. We had some high winds this weekend, but nothing that serious.
My goodness that is scary.
Yikes! This is so sad!
Oh my goodness; that is so sad.
I’m going to join you, Robin, in vintage Diorissimo – courtesy of the lovely floralgal. As I gird my loins to go out and run some errands in the cold.
That photo and that it’s for a cruise collection makes me think of Lyle Lovett:
And if I had a boat
I’d go out on the ocean
And if I had a pony
I’d ride him on my boat
And we could all together
Go out on the ocean
I said me upon my pony on my boat
??
Stay warm!
That’s great! I wonder if that was their inspiration? Probably not. You smell fab and I think I’ll join y’all in Diorissimo.
Hey twin, I LOVE that song!
?
A great song! A thinker….
I love Lyle Lovett! He lives about 45 minutes away from us. We saw him a couple of years back in a little cafe, eating lunch in the middle of the afternoon. He had on a ball cap, but we knew it was him. ?
I’ve seen him too, at the airport on a flight up to Detroit. He was going to play a concert in Ann Arbor. He was friendly and happily posed for pictures with some people and their kids and wore a big smile.
It’s so good to hear that he is nice with his fans. ?
I love that song and love Lyle Lovett!
I am sitting in my car with the heat cranked up to 75 waiting for the iced up windows (on the inside) to clear up. Yesterday’s attempt to use an ice scraper resulted in me scraping off the edge of the auto inspection sticker.
SOTD = Ormonde Jayne Vanilla Iris
I wore this to see if I can boot it off the island. Previous wearing did not wow me and I kept telling myself to wait until it is really cold. Today is it! It redeemed itself so it will remain in my collection. I have a travel spray and once it is thunked, it will not be replaced!
I’m glad the Vanilla Iris was able to redeem itself. Stay warm!
Thanks. Bitterly cold with biting winds but the car cannot be too warm or the condensation freezes instantly.
How cold is it there? It’s -33C with the wind chill and blowing snow in Montréal.
With windchills, it warmed up to -7 degrees F and this is the high for the day.
Good Gosh!!
Hope you’re warm! Glad the Vanilla Iris is working for you today!
Me too. Definition of insanity – doing the same thing over and over again and expecting the same outcome. It was s no in warm or cool temps…it finally worked with frigid!
I’m wearing Maitre Perfumeur et Gauntier’s Route du Vetiver. This is a beast and is probably the one Vetiver I struggle with most. Today, with the chilly temps, I’m feeling nothing but love for it. The dry down is perfect for a Vetiver lover like me.?
Well, I need to go check that one out. I love vetiver in almost any iteration…
I am wearing Bois Farine on a relaxing day off. The new semester starts tomorrow and I’m excited for a partial reboot to the school year.
Stay safe, warm and fragrant!
You smell great!
You smell fabulous. Enjoy your day!
Good luck tomorrow, Sistine!
I miss Bois Farine. Hope you enjoyed your last day off!
Late start this Monday, so I threw on the Rosabotanica in my purse. It’s redundant in my collection and about half gone so I’m hoping to thunk this mini by the end of the summer, all I have to do is keep hitting snooze. ?
Anyone else actively trying to empty something?
Haha!Constantly trying to empty something!Continuing what I started in 2018,this year will be the BIG THUNK of many bottles!
Ha! Good luck, I’m gonna try to stay focused on one thing at a time haha
Many things, namely a partial bottle of PHI Rose de Kandahar, Attrape-Coeur and a few decants I’ve been hoarding
Oh Phi is one I treasure too much to thunk!!haha!
I am the opposite…if I love it I thunk it…my decant of phi is long gone for that reason!
I’ll thunk a small decant of Ambre Loup in the next couple of days. I’m totally okay with that, since it spawned the purchase of a FB!
Amber Loup is sooooo good!
* Ambre
Wearing two long time winter favorites layered together, Les Nereides Imperial Opoponax and Patchouli Antique. Quite a potent combination!
We finally got winter here with snow over the weekend and -13F this morning. Beautiful sunshine too, just like January 🙂
BRRRR! In that kind of cold, I say be as potent as you want!
You smell glorious, keep warm.
My favorites! Yum! I have two fbs of IO and somehow misplaced my bottle of PA. Could I have given it away?
You smell cozy!
Did you say -13? ?
Yes but this afternoon it warmed up to a balmy +8F. Tomorrow it’s supposed to reach 36F and rain, crazy weather!
National Hugging Day is something I can definitely get behind. I will give my girls a couple of extra today.☺️
Did anyone watch the eclipse last night?!? We had really clear skies here and a good view from one of our upstairs windows. We watched while the moon was being covered and then I went to bed. Definitely past my bedtime.
SotD is TDC Bois d’ Iris. I discovered, much to my dismay, over the weekend that my decant had leaked! 5 ml decants lay perfectly inside an old iPhone box. Just be sure they are well sealed!
Yes! The eclipse was so beautiful.
And ha, also yay for Hugging Day! A day any mom can get behind.
I had planned to watch the eclipse, so I could wish on it, but fell asleep. Sorry about your decant.
It was cloudy here so I just barely saw it. Very cool though! And not too late in my timezone.
I very much wanted to see the eclipse, but the sight lines within my house are nil, and I decided it was too cold to hike over to the high school for a better viewing space. Oh well, if I last another decade or so, maybe I’ll I have another opp to see a wolf blood moon… 😀
Twins in TDC Bois d’Iris. I always wonder what the VCA smells like?
Ha! I always wonder what TDC one smells like. I adore the VCA.
Someone who has smelled both, should tell us!
I watched the eclipse last night and took pictures. We have two nice DSLR cameras with 200 mm lenses so I was able to get decent photos. I sat outside in our backyard with the camera on a tripod (essential when you use a zoom lens) . It was about 40 F, so I lousy bundled up a bit in my flannel PJs and my bathrobe and I was fine. The sky was crystal clear following the cold front, so I couldn’t pass up the chance to photograph it even though it meant I am a little sleep deprived today.
Should be “just” not “lousy”
You smell great!
Yes, It was beautiful, the sky was unbelievably clear. I have had a Prince song playing in my head since….”The whole of the Moon”.
Actually in trying to bring you the link (YouTube premium) I discovered the original was done by The Water Boys – but Prince’s cover is much better IMHO.
It just ‘Fits’.
Loved the eclipse!
Commando as I ponder going outside in this crazy, icy-cold wind. But I think I’ll join the Diorissimo crowd today. Glad for a day off to do homework ?
I watched the lunar eclipse last night. Beautiful!
Is school going more smoothly?
Not quite, but I’m going more smoothly ? I’ve decided not to get too worked up about it and just see how it goes.
Yay, that’s the way to do it.
Ha, such an appropriate emoji for school/homework! Smelling good while jumping through those education hoops??
Spent Mr. SP’s birthday weekend up in Canada skiing with 2 of 3 sons plus a girlfriend. We had a blast playing games and hanging out together. I needed a break and enjoyed “getting away” for a few days.
Stayed cozy in BK Amber Oud, a fragrance I split here last year. I hope those I split with are enjoying it as much as I am!
Sounds like a terrific vacay! I tell myself I really “need” to go over to NM sometime to sniff that BK… bet you smell fab!
Happy to send you a sample. I could make up a little packet for you. Contact me via my screen name above.
Thank you, springpansy; you are so kind!
Glad you got to get away. Happy belated Birthday to Mr.SP!
Sounds like such a wonderful weekend!
I’m envious of your skiing ability. I tried it once, never got off the bunny hill with the tow rope, and could only stop by falling down. I never repeated the experience but love to watch people carve their way down a mountain. ⛷
I understand. My knees would never take that kind of punishment!
First scent of the day is Crabtree & Evelyn Lavender ultra-moisturizing hand therapy. This is likely to be replaced later by Crabtree & Evelyn Sweet Almond Oil body lotion. It’s definitely winter here in the northern part of the U.S. East Coast. I’m glad we have heat in the house, but it’s forced air, and a very dry heat. My skin is absorbing moisturizers very quickly. I may just go directly to sweet almond oil or another moisturizing oil. The rose-scented ones are too strong for my folks, but I have others.
I hope other folks in the Eastern U.S. are able to stay warm and safe. And I hope things become more tranquil for those who have had difficult times during the holidays and the first couple of weeks of January.
You can also add some essential oils to the sweet almond oil if you want a tad bit of scent.
Thanks for the idea. I have a collection of essential oils, but don’t have a good idea of how many drops to put into a carrier oil. I have about half of a 4 oz. (118 ml) bottle of sweet almond oil, and a nearly full 4 oz. bottle of vegetable glycerine. (Also a couple of bottles of baby oil around.) As for essential oils, I have jasmine absolute in jojoba oil, but I believe that would also draw “too strong” protests. The 100% essential oils I have include citrus and citrus-like scents: lemon, bergamot, neroli and lemongrass. Also, I have spearmint, so I could smell like mint tea. (lol) I have lavender, balsam fir needle, clove and frankincense. I’m pretty sure I also have some old bottles of essential oil somewhere in my room, but probably they’re rose oil. The ones I listed are ones I’ve acquired relatively recently.
What recipes do NST folks have for mixing to get scented oils? What scent do you think sounds good on a cold day?
Clove can sting so don’t use it for your skin. Citrus is nice but stay out of the sun. I think frankincense would be beautiful. Lavender and balsam fir ate also nice for when it’s cold.
The safe solution is no more than 5 percent but I break rules and go higher.
Thank you for your advice. 🙂 I tried a couple of drops of lavender oil in a fairly small amount of the sweet almond oil (maybe a couple of milliliters?). My skin soaked the moisturizing oil up immediately.
I got, “I can smell it, but it doesn’t reek,” from my mother. A grudging admission that a scent is relatively inoffensive to her was the best that I was expecting. 🙂
I love the fragrance of the balsam fir needle oil, but had Dad smell it first to see if he’d have a respiratory reaction. He has a chronic cough no matter what, but he had a bad dermatitis reaction to a live Christmas tree some years ago. I decided that lavender was the safest bet, all things considered.
oh well then skip the pine needle if you are around your dad! In small dilutions the lavender is probably your safest bet! I also really enjoy adding patchouli to my body oils but that might be too strong for some. Finally, if you can get a hold of a vanilla bean pod slice it open and add it to about 4 oz of any carrier oil and let it marinate for several weeks or even months…it makes for a very delicious body oil…i recently added nine drops of cardamom oil to that concoction and it smells even better 🙂
and yes, I am the same person but commenting from different sources (phone and computer) hence slightly different name/gravatar.
I was juuuuust about to ask if your evil twin has also joined NST!!Haha!!
One enabler,one disabler??Hehe!✌?❤️
Johano, you crack me up ??
neyronrose–FYI lavender is one essential oil that usually can be used safely on the skin undiluted. Normally, if you are using it just for the scent or for mental/emotional effects (calming, relaxing, etc.) you probably do want to dilute it in a carrier. Undiluted, however, it is very effective against minor burns, insect bites and stings, and so on. If used promptly on a burn, it can prevent blistering and help the burn to heal up much faster than it would otherwise.
Mmm — vanilla-bean-scented oil. Talk about smelling yummy! 😀 I also like the smell and taste of cardamom.
I’m no good at judging milliliters, apparently. The amount of sweet almond oil I used was a fraction of an ounce, but likely quite a few milliliters. I could smell the lavender more strongly when I reapplied the oil mix to my skin. The second application soaked in pretty quickly, too.
I like the smell of patchouli, but it’s too strong for my folks. Definitely on the “wear it when I’m not in the house” list. I’ve grown patchouli plants a few times. The plants do well outside in the summer here when they get lots of sun and lots of water. In winter, the house is too dark and too dry for the plants to live. Most of my fragrant plants are hardy ones that grow outside. When they’re dormant, I turn to fragrant lotions and oils and such. 🙂
Thanks for the idea, chocolatemarzipan! That was fun and useful! 😀
Enabling as far as the ingredients went wasn’t necessary here. 🙂 I have many years practice in acquiring herbs and spices, essential oils, and moisturizing lotions and oils.
Thank you for your advice also, 50_Roses. I’ll keep that in mind. I use store-bought witch hazel for little cuts and scrapes, but that’s mostly alcohol. I was aware that some herbs and spices have astringent and/or antiseptic effects when used in various concoctions. I didn’t know that lavender oil had those specific medicinal uses. It’s been an educational day for me. 🙂
If you can get your hands on lime EO, it is great with lavender. I like it in a 5:1 ratio, lavender to lime.
That lavender/lime blend sounds like it would smell delicious, Nancyleandros! I can get lime essential oil. (Whole Foods serves as a big enabler for me sometimes.) I just got a recipe for a lemon and lavender sugar scrub that I’ll have to try sometime: https://onelittleproject.com/homemade-sugar-scrub/
I already have the ingredients for that sugar scrub. 🙂
I’ve gotten some relatively inexpensive ideas for how to smell delicious today. Thanks, folks! 😀
SotD = Diorissimo from a recent sample
GOOOOD Moooorning, NST! National Hugging Day? Sign me up. I would hug each one of you if I could!
I’m following Robin’s lead and thinking of Monsieur Dior on his birthday, wearing Diorissimo from a sample I got at Saks not too long ago. It smells wonderful to me, and as I’ve not smelled vintage, I don’t know any better.
Over the weekend I finally put away the last of the holiday decorations. My teens and I didn’t put them up until late in December so we enjoyed them until now.
This morning I pulled out my boxed up perfume bottles and samples. No school for me today, so I hope to spend some quality time with scent and
get! my! perfume! mojo! back! Wish me luck. 😀
Yes! May your perfume mojo come back. I love going through my fragrances and curating/organizing different ways.
thank u, springpansy! it is fun to reorg and look at scent in new ways. 😀
I need to do some cataloguing and curating as well. Happy scent adventures!
do it, you’ll have fun for certain! I had a great time today, spent almost two hours sorting samples and grouping bottles. It was heavenly. 😀
Organizing my scents did revive my perfume mojo, hope yours does the same!
thanks, cazaubon, it worked! Perfume mojo is back. 😀 I’m wearing FIVE different scents right now, I’m reeking but it’s ok as a shower is in my near future.
Enjoy your perfume rediscovering!
i did! it was a fun afternoon romp thru the perfume stash. 😀
Woo hoo for getting the perfume mojo back. I saw some houses with Christmas decorations up and I mentally judged them which I can do since I took my ONE iron wreath down last week ???
yah, thank you, hajusuuri! it is time for me to make perfume a top of the list priority again! 😀
Someday I’ll have one wreath and call it done. This year I threw away so many broken and worn looking things that I no longer even put up for the holidays. Why was I keeping them? Because as soon as those things hit the trash can my kids started asking me what was wrong with me. LOL!
We still have lights up on our front porch. I’m pestering my teen son to take them down since he put them up, and he’s much taller than I am. So far it’s a stalemate.
Paramela
Paramela! Fun, a fragrance I have never heard of. I googled and it sounds really good.
This was a surprise gift from a good friend who intuitively knew I would love it. It’s a citrus with some heft and it really elevates my mood. I think this might be my fourth day in a row wearing it!
and I think it is going to be my winter go to because it really makes me happy.
I adore citrus, especially in winter when it is so happy-making!
🙂
Yes citrus is so great in the winter especially if you need some aromatherapy!!!
and it’s -2F
That does *not* sound as good.
Ha! Nope! It’s -7 at the two older Marzipans’ university. They got over two feet of snow ?️❄️☃️
Holy wowzers.The coldest it gets here is “maybe” 16/17C,and then I feel like freezing!!
I do remember winter in Portsmouth,UK some years back when I worked there.That was brutal!!Stay warm!
I need to retire to a warmer climate!
I am wearing English Pear and Freesia from my sample grab bag.
Pear and Freesia is really pretty.
This was the last bottle i thunked, before i went mad with the perfume. But nice in the summer
My cold is breaking up but still can’t wear a whole lot in my collection. Woke up really late today. It was great to have a pretty good sleep because I can breathe better. Woke up in Noontide Petals. Haven’t showered yet but thinking of Shalimar to see if it works with cold.
Glad you’re getting better! So many persistent colds around here…
We’d be twins in Shalimar! Glad to hear your cold is breaking some.
Hello, lovelies. Beautiful sunny day here but too freaking cold to poke my snoot outside. I’m online shopping instead for a new range, wearing an uninspired but thunked decant of Paris L’Essence.
Be well (no need to be “good” if you don’t wanna), y’all.
Congrats on the thunk! Always satisfying.
Indeed! 🙂
You made me smile today.
waving hello… Some days smiles are hard to come by, and if you can find one by being “not good” — even if that’s only in your imagination — well, so be it!
Tawanda!!!
?awesome! One of my most loved books and movies ever!
Ah, that’s so kind of you! I’ll send an email.
Dang it! in the wrong place…
Who is that? Cameron Diaz??
When I got up it was -9, we are up to 5 degrees now. Can’t really complain, since the sun is out. Sotd is Miss Dior Le Parfum. Followed Hajusuuri’s lead, and rescued it from a vote off. Such powdery goodness!
You smell great lillyjo, MDLP is one of my guilty pleasures.
It really is a good one!
Glad it was a save!
Wearing Songes and thinking of warm tropical places since it’s currently 4° here with a wind chill taking it down to -17°
Twinning!!!
Songes is great anytime!
I went with Smell Bent Incensed today, just because I noticed it on my dresser. For kicks, I spritzed a home made concoction that is supposed to replicate Kulfi (both the dessert and the perfume of the same name) on top of the incense. So far, it’s working for me.
I really like SB incensed. I have just a bit left in my spray sample and I’ll miss it when it’s gone. Does kulfi smell sweet? I’ve never made its acquaintance…
wearing bath and body works french lavender and honey, it smells like neither, but it smells nice. i went on their website, and of course it’s now a “retired” fragrance! isn’t that always the way?
“Oh no, did we accidentally make a good fragrance? Retire that sucker immediately!”
Agree!
Songes, a winter favorite of mine
I have been so busy with all these birthdays and celebrations I am missing NST!
I am trying out a new foundation today, drugstore brand nuetrogena hydro tint.
Doing lots of chores today and dancing around my apartment to Queen
I read in People (at the doctor’s office) that Nicole Kidman wore Neutrogena lipstick to the Golden Globes!
Oooo! I wonder what color
There is some really great makeup in the drug store these days. How are you liking it? It sounds like it has the coverage of a BB cream or tinted moisturizer…?
Dancing around to Queen seems pretty great to me??
It’s very moisturizing
My favorite foundation is a drug store foundation – L’Oreal Infallible Pro- Matte. My only complaint is it has zero SPF. My sunscreen costs 6x as much ???
Adding that to my list!
I don’t care about spf , so I will try it
Still having lots of issues with my youngest son’s school. He has a new teacher (the very sweet, incompetent one left at the end of last year) and this one is the complete opposite. We have had two meetings since school restarted (I am now a super involved mom, even though I have my own job and pay very expensive tuition fees), but after listening to this woman I fear that she will crush my son’s spirit. Whenever he makes a mistake in a test, he has to write out the (often times very long) question and the answer out three times. Forcing me to do something like that when I was at school would just have made me super rebellious. And she treats ME as though I am 10 years old. I actually came home from the meeting and asked my husband: “Do I look stupid to you?” GRRRR.
I often wonder if people like that feel the need to exert such control because they lack belief in themselves, deep down inside, and overcompensate by making others miserable.
I wish I knew. I am miserable on his behalf thinking of all the restrictions and rules facing him. BTW you sound like a free spirit with your home made concoction and spritzing for kicks!
I wish you could waft some cheer into my son’s classroom.
I can’t imagine how you must feel, knowing that he is going into that situation every day. I am reminded of Alexis de Toqueville’s statement about soft despotism:
“Having thus successively taken each member of the community in its powerful grasp and fashioned him at will, the supreme power then extends its arm over the whole community. It covers the surface of society with a network of small complicated rules, minute and uniform, through which the most original minds and the most energetic characters cannot penetrate, to rise above the crowd. The will of man is not shattered, but softened, bent, and guided; men are seldom forced by it to act, but they are constantly restrained from acting. Such a power does not destroy, but it prevents existence; it does not tyrannize, but it compresses, enervates, extinguishes, and stupefies a people, till each nation is reduced to nothing better than a flock of timid and industrious animals, of which the government is the shepherd.”
Let’s hope your son can rise above her rules and restrictions (I wince even saying that – as if he should have to do that at this point in his life).
Thank you so much for the quote. It is so true: these minute rules do not shatter and destroy, they suffocate. I was just upset, because the situation went from one extreme (benign neglect) to another (vigorous correction) overnight. I guess I was naively hoping that there could be a perfect middleground. But my son will be fine and I will come out wiser and with a sturdier psyche!
Can you go over this person’s head?
Do your son have a Doctor that would be on the side of his well being? I can’t remember if you are in the U.S, but I hope there are other avenues available for him getting an education where the teacher isn’t creating anxiety. Sorry you are going through this, I know it’s very frustrating.
Thanks Lillyjo! You are a sweetheart. I feel much better just for venting!
That is so so frustrating. I don’t have answers, but I certainly hope things improve for him and you as well.
How about making contact with other parents ( do you chat at the school gates ) as you might find you are not alone with your concerns and then you coukd tackle it tigether. If the teacher has just singled out your son I would be worried too. Does your son complain and feel anxious about it? I’d follow his lead. There’s a line that shoukdn’t be crossed between discipline and bullying.
Geez, that “teaching method” sounds punitive rather than educational. I agree with lillyjo’s suggestions. If this teacher makes you feel demeaned and belittled, I’m quite sure she’s having the same effect on you child. No go!
SOTD is SSS Champagne de Bois. I can only wear this in chilly weather.
I used to love that one. For some reason, though, my bottle got to smelling super sweet (much more than I remembered) after a few years, and it bugged me. I think I gave it away.
In Atelier Bloem Half Moon. It is a cheerful, beautiful, happy floral scent and perfect to face this super freezing day taking my mom to the last 2 doctor’s appointments she had scheduled for today.
I spend more than an hour outside last night watching the lunar eclipse. Majestic!. 10 minutes after I was outside 4 neighbors joined me. One of the neighbors was an 82 year old woman who came with her walker and said that it might be the last eclipse she was able to watch due to her age and health. Amazing! She never complained about the freezing temperature and was very cheerful all the time. Her attitude was very contagious and we all forgot about how cold and windy it was just sharing with her. We chatted all the time and drank hot chocolate that I grabbed from Dunkin Donuts for everyone. I learned a good lesson last nigh. While I was expecting to stand outside for just 15 minutes, thinking that I was going to freeze, another person never paid attention to it and just wanted to enjoy that moment with a positive and happy attitude knowing that it was probably going to be the last time. Today, even though is freezing I am not complaining. I am taking it the way it is and enjoying my mother’s company. We already had a large cup of hot chocolate and we will be warmer and cozy once we get home. We are thankful for another day alive!
I’m so happy you experienced that last night! Magical, really!
What a wonderful experience!
Amen to that.
Glad you are enjoying Half Moon
Such a heartwarming experience ❤
Such a nice experience. I also enjoyed the eclipse very much.
Wonderful, yay.
That’s a really good reminder that life’s exquisite experiences rarely come without some effort or discomfort… You were so smart to be ready with the hot chocolate! Blessings to you and your mom.
What a beautiful story and experience!
A great experience and a great lesson. 🙂
Nice! I’m wondering how many thousands of pairs of eyes were focused on that celestial show…Your neighbor sounds like an absolute gem! Great experience??
What a heartwarming post. Thank you.
Happy Monday! (that’s sounds like an oxymoron)
Today I’ve been wearing Ambre Ceruleen from Pierre Guillaume (previously Huitieme Art) and it’s such a cuddlefluff cozy perfume.
After work I went shopping in the search for a ‘weekend’ bag – not too big, not too small. Ideal for 1-2 day long trips. On my way I stopped by Jo Malone counter. I smelled new Bronze Wood & Leather and can confidently report that after a bit it gets very close to Hermes Agar Ebene. Sales assistant also told me that Orris & Sandalwood is being discontinued – they had it on sale.
You smell great! I bought Ambre Ceruleen last month. I thought the Bronze Wood & Leather smelled familiar, now I understand why. Such a shame about Orris & Sandalwood though, I love that one and was hoping they would come out with a body cream for it. Oh well.
Hey friends, smelling great in Jour d’Hermès extrait de parfum again 🙂 lately, I haven’t craved much spice in my perfumes; I’ve been looking more for freshness. Maybe because I’ve been so stressed out and that calms me down? So a lot of JdH and Mohur and such, not as much Jungle l’Elephant or Ambre Narguilé. I hope I go back to normal soon; I have so many magnificent spicy scents.
My father had his first day of chemo today, and he says he feels fine! This is such a relief. (Me, last week: “Do you want me to go see you after your first round of chemo?” Father: “I don’t see why.” Ok….)
Anyway, I don’t know if it gets worse a few treatments in, but for now, I’m so pleased.
Have a good day off, those of you who do 🙂 I’m off to see a friend’s new house, which has a gorgeous little garden. That’s a big deal in the Bay Area!
So glad to hear your father feels okay after his first treatment. Continued good thoughts sent your way for him!
Thanks, KellyC <3
Sending hugs!✌?❤️
Thank you, johanob.
Good luck to him. I’m afraid it might in fact get worse, but perhaps not, and I do wish him the very best.
Thanks, Calypso. That’s my fear, too, that the pain accumulates, but we’ll see.
I know it’s difficult being so far away from him, but hope you’ll be comforted by his positive attitude. Hope you enjoy that garden!
Thanks, FearsMice.
It was beautiful! It’s pretty wild; the previous owner clearly did not believe in imposing any kind of order. But it’s really lovely and full of succulents!
That’s great your father tolerated his treatment so well. A friend just went through the whole series of treatments for throat cancer and he felt fine the whole time. I hope that is the case for your dad too! I’m sure his calm, positive attitude helps too.
That is such a relief to hear. As Calypso suggested above, I worried that even though the first treatment went smoothly, the cumulative effect of multiple treatments would get to him. But it’s great to hear that you know people who managed to get through the entire treatment with little issue. Thanks for sharing!
Best Wishes for your dad, Koyel. Looking at the unusual is a fun way to spend relaxation time.
Thanks for your support, hajusuuri <3
Fingers crossed that your dad sails through!
Thanks, Robin <3
SOTD was Fils de Dieu, which i like much more in the cold than in summer.
Now wearing Theo Fennel, but just one discreet spritz. This was such a bargain for 20Euros!
FdD?
I am baking cookies for the ski bus today while wearing vintage Box of Eels. This weekend I crossed an item off my bucket list when I took a firearms training course and shot a bunch of different guns on a range. It was not as difficult as I had imagined but way louder. Next on the list is parasailing, but first I have to pick somewhere warm to go. It’s nice to fantasize (Tahiti? Seychelles?) when it’s cold and grey here.
No way to go wrong with The Box.
Tahiti? Please, please let me tag along! I think I could manage parasailing (I’m a terrible shot, though).
Good for you! I have done both, but think carefully where you choose to parasail. Some countries do not have stringent safety/inspection regulations for maintenance of parasailing equipment.
I parasailed on Treasure Island in Florida zonks ago to confront my fear of heights. The best thing about being way up there is the silence. Just the flapping of the wind in the parasail and no other sound. A great way to quiet the mind and rather meditive. It’s was a great experience, but always good to go with a safe and reputable company.
That’s what I noticed about going up in a glider plane – so quiet.
The amplitude of the noise really is shocking, but an interesting experience. It helps if the trigger pull is soft and smooth.
Pretty cold here too. Negatives overnight and around 2 degrees this AM.
SOTD: I took a bath in LDDM sprayed way too much. It’s my 2000 mile thick layer of Sahara desert and spice bazaar comfort warmth.
Perfect!!
Mon-Fri = SJP Lovely.
This weekend i wore chanel n 5 edp on Saturday, and Chanel Bois des Iles on Sunday. I smelled wonderful.
Happy Monday to all!
You did smell wonderful!
Celebrating my day off in a positively NSFW scent L’Air de Rien. It’s in my top 3 or 5 perfumes. I smell especially barnyard because my decant became oily and highly concentrated last year, but I’ve really enjoyed how it plays up the funky aspect. The decant is almost gone, and after I’ll get to using the partial bottle I bought on eBay or Basenotes (can’t remember anymore). Sometimes I’ll pass along a decant after I buy a bottle, but not in this case. I greedily want it all.
Heading to Goodwill to drop off a couple bags and look around since its $1.79 day on all of a certain tag color. Planning to pick up a mini chicken pot pie for lunch at a restaurant called Pie. Good thing I wasn’t planning to be home all day because our upstairs neighbor has just moved out, so it’s loud while they do work up there to get it ready for the next tenant.
I would totally go to a restaurant called Pie!
Me too. I love all pie- savory, sweet doesn’t matter!
Me 3.If it’s Cherry pie I’ll be there for quite a while.
Me four!
In addition to my chicken pot pie for lunch, I brought home strawberry rhubarb and peanut butter cream. ?
Mmm, pie!! You also smell fantastic.
Super successful trip to Goodwill, although it was a madhouse! No wonder because they were doing a really big sale – $1.29 for green tag items and 40% off pink and red tags. I didn’t find any green tags, but did snag lots of pink and red. I ended up with a pair of barely worn black leather Converse low tops, three really cute dresses, a pair of jeans, and a tank top for $35. One of the dresses is fancy and velvet and another is denim, long with silver buttons all down it. I also finished season two of Harlots and am watching the movie Eighth Grade right now. It makes me feel so awkward and also so glad that I’m not a teenager in today’s world, growing up with social media. I can’t even imagine.
Some great finds today!
OMG I wish there were a shop called Pie near me!!!
Shalimar today just because. I love it so much.
Got my nails done today for the first time in forever and they look so pretty. But why do I always feel guilty for doing something for myself? I always feel like I should have spent the money on my son or nieces or nephews or something. Oh well, I will enjoy them when I look at them!
It might help to think of it as an experience rather than a “purchase”. Iy gave you a buzz of pleasure, you got to enjoy something you haven’t done for ages so it refreshed you, and you got to chat with a stranger or someone you hadn’t seen for ages …all good things in my book.
Never feel guilty about spoiling yourself.We should totally do it more often,and just enjoy it!!
Of course you are my favorite smelly today!Shalimar is just perfect.✌?❤️?
No reason to feel guilty, especially if it is such a special and wonderful ocassion like your wedding! ?
Enjoy them <3 It's good to do something nice for yourself sometimes!
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/01/20/books/review/david-treuer-heartbeat-wounded-knee.html
I have had a couple of good books on the go , two biographies: Mary Shelley, Laura Inglis Wilder but one that has caught me up completely is David Treuer’s Heartbeat at Wounded Knee about the Native American experience post 1890s. It has only just been published ( and I haven’t finished it yet) but it is really powerful stuff, focussing less on loss than strength.
It’s definitely late summer now. The rosehips are ripening and there is such variety in colour and shape on the graveyard bushes: from ones that look like small crab apples to others that look like pears. I keep a daily ‘nature diary’ where I just make notes of plants , birds, smells etc. and small things that capture my attention and it’s always interesting to compare dates with previous years…eg. First cicada of the summer was in my garden last week, later than previous years.
Wearing Metaboles, tomato stalks.
No eclipse down here as the moon was below the horizon for the big event but stunning full moon
Yes!We also had an unusually large full moon last night,tonight it has that extra peachy glow.Explains my mood,too.Lol.✌?
Last thought of today,22:50 pm and way past my bedtime.
This is always a happy place to come to,even if just to sulk and share a sad story.
We might never meet,but I virtually love you guys!
Hugs for everyone on Hugging day!!
???❤️❤️❤️
❤❤❤???
Big hug back ? and a smooch ?
Sleep well, friend.
Hugs to you too!
Goodnight hugs to you too!
I am a little late to the party but have enjoyed reading everyone’s posts, and I admit I share the criticisms of the Dior ad, and everything about it (atmosphere, photography, pose, clothing, you-name-it.) I had to rush out this morning to have my annual physical exam and it was pretty exhausting. I hate drinking coffee without cream and had to fast, and then I was so weak and starving by the time I could eat something (not until 11:30), and I’d had blood drawn and two shots, one in each arm (both are SORE!), plus mammogram, EKG, bone density, chest X-ray…. PLUS (gross) my doctor removed a lot of ear wax from one ear and it really hurt! It’s a lot to do in one day but of course it’s all for the right reason. So I got home, ate lunch, put on Calling All Angels (Mmmm!) (no perfume before mammogram), and took Mom out to a little shop with neat ethnic stuff having a big sale. She got a Taxco silver jewellery necklace that looks super for half price, and bought me a lovely peach silk scarf… I now need a nap and both of my arms are so swollen! (Flu shot and pneumonia vaccine.) I shouldn’t complain since we’re having relatively nice weather (clouds and 62 degrees). Sunday morning was pretty cold, down in the 20s for the poor folks running the marathon here. It did warm up a lot, and I know some people who ran and said better cold than hot, but that was a bit too extreme. I don’t see how they can do it.
Sounds like you were put through the wringer! Hope all tests, etc., come back A-OK and your arms recover quickly. The necklace and scarf both sound lovely!
That’s an awful lot to go through in one day! Hope you get to rest now and recover.
What a day packed chockablock full of all kinds of stuff! It warms the cockles of my little heart to know you got your vaccines and annual health issues addressed! ? Here’s to a healthy 2019!
Yikes, that was quite the schedule you had today, Calypso! I hope you are feeling a little better now, and are wafting something comforting.
Well, this definitely felt like Monday to the 10th power! As in I could barely complete two consecutive sentences (either spoken or written) without being interrupted by some one or something. I’m sure that I must have left something (or several somethings) unfinished when I left today, but it got to the point where I had so many things I was juggling I couldn’t even remember what they were. Having had a raging headache most of the day didn’t help any either. I think it is time for a warm shower and something calming.
Ew, sorry to hear that your Monday was a rough one.
Wow, tough day! Time for a motrin and a hot cocoa.
Late today! And wow, it is FRIGID out there! However, I count myself lucky that there wasn’t any snow yesterday and very little ice on the sidewalks. It seems that I was on the rainy side of the storm.
SOTD = Tam Dao EdT again. This little sample has performed above and beyond my expectations. Might have to put Tam Dao on the FB list.
I had figured it was already on the list! It’s great you’re enjoying it so much.
SOTE twins! I sprayed on some Tam Dao after my Unsettled burned off. Glad to hear you didn’t get the blizzard or ice.
Wearing some Oscar de la Renta tonight. This isn’t a vintage version but it isn’t too far off from what I remember. I have a humungo bottle so I should start wearing it more often or find other uses for it like spraying towels to freshen them up.
Yesterday I wore Dior Addict edp; that lasted through grocery shopping, cooking all afternoon and up until bedtime. That is some potent stuff! It was gorgeous yesterday in the cool weather when we were packing the groceries in the house.
Its kind of fun re-discovering old loves from long ago and giving those neglected bottles some skin time.