It's Hump Day and National Stress Awareness Day. (Seriously? I am aware, thanks.) What fragrance are you wearing?
I am commando for a routine doctor visit later today. (And, I may not be able to post again until tomorrow, we'll see. I'll definitely be back on Thursday either way.)
Reminder: 11/6 will be Nostalgia Friday...wear something that takes you back to a happy moment in your childhood. Suggested by starling.
And for those of you who like to plan ahead, see Scent of the day ~ Friday community projects 2020, where I'll try (but frequently fail) to always have the next five or six weeks mapped out in advance.
Note: top image is Mum's the Word [cropped] by Anne Worner at flickr; some rights reserved.
I’m wearing De Bachmakov from my unused decant grab bag. I think I need a larger decant.
I love that one. Maybe a split meet candidate? My sample is just about kaput.
(Oh, yes: you smell great!)
I’ve been very curious about that one.
Tilleul – a summer fragrance on a sunny fall day.
Twins! You smell great. ?
?
A favorite!
Parle Moi de Parfum Orris Tattoo for its calming vibe on a day where I am working from the office and social distancing has been forgotten by coworkers. It is going to be a long day!
Happy Wednesday! ?
Are you back in the office now?
There’s no social distancing at my work either.
Not yet. I came today for my laptop upgrade and tomorrow to finish some graphics that I cannot do on the small laptop screen. This is the second time I am here since the pandemic started. The first time there were only 2 people on my floor, today around 25 and everybody is acting as nothing is happening. Some people are not wearing masks while in their cubicles, as required. No bosses around. I have to relax, be patient and hope the days goes fast.
Woah! It sounds like the kind of day on which a scent like Secretions Magnifique would be useful.
LOL! That is a great idea! I wish I could have a bottle of it with me now! ?
I had a similar thought: Giorgio! Curious a boss would not be worried, but then I work for lawyers… 🙂
When I wore that to work I received three compliments. I’ve only been complimented on one other perfume at work .
I am incredibly lucky to be working with people who areas cautious as I am during this pandemic. I hope things go smoothly for you.
And you smell wonderful!
Thank you, Monkeytoe! And then people wonder why things don’t get better! Honestly, I was not expecting that behavior here!
Eek!
Is there a window of time that looks less dangerous to go in?
Can you bring in lots of sanitizing wipes, spray, gloves, masks and make a point that way?
Hugs.
Unfortunately, those coworkers are working there on regular schedule, so there is no way to avoid them. As soon as I entered the building I had to go for health screening and they gave me a kit with two cloth masks, hand sanitizer, liquid soap and lysol wipes. They are doing their best to keep everyone safe, unfortunately some people don’t want to take it seriously.
Would it be OK for you to bring a big honking can of Lysol into work?
Absolutely! ?
+1 for the Lysol and don’t forget your SM for tomorrow as an additional forcefield! Sorry that you had to endure this day.
Are you able to reach out to management to address this?
Good luck with your appointment today Robin.
Feeling much better today and just ate 3 pieces of toast. I woke up starving, or maybe its just stress eating.
I started this book last night called Good Morning, Monster. So far so good.
SOTD
Sandalsun by Hermetica
Notes: Hazelnut accord, pure vanilla extract, myrrh essence, bergamot essence, deep cocoa accord, vanilla orchid accord, sandalwood essence
Went fine, and just got back and did my stress eating: 1/2 a Theo Coffee Toffee chocolate bar.
Sandalsun sounds nice!
How do you do that? I would eat the whole bar plus 3 more. That’s Restraint
🙂
Hi all, my SOTD is Jessica McClintock, one of my favorite Lily of The Valley scents and something discreet to wear to the hospital.
No walk today, I’m headed to UCSF for my ERCP procedure, I’ve made cookies for my nurses. Sugar Toffee cookies and Cowboy Cookies. I hope they like them. 🙂
I have The Elegance of The Hedgehog and Dear Martin, loaded onto my Kindle to keep me occupied.
The hubby and I finished watching the Queen’s Gambit, thanks to the lovely NST’r who recommended it. It was fantastic!
Everyone have a great rest of your week! 🙂
I hope everything goes well! I’m a huge fan of Kindles – definitely got me through my recent colonoscopy prep :).
SP-Colon-prep is no fun. I ‘ve had several colonoscopies, and discovered that the magic trick to reduce the taste/smell is to mix a packet of Crystal light lemonade mix to the liquid prep, and drink it cold and through a straw.
Pre-and post procedure, Pedialite works wonders, it’s lower in sugar and the electrolytes are more balanced, helps to reduce the dehydration factor.
LOTV is heaven. You smell wonderful. Best wishes to you for today’s procedure, your nurses will be all smiles. 🙂
I’m thinking of watching TQ’sG again so I can stare and drool over the clothes and sets. LOVED IT. Also love The Elegance of the Hedgehog, one of a very few books I have read repeatedly, it even survived the great Konmari book purge of 2015.
I did a book purge January 2015 – 400+ books / cds / DVDs.
yay for you! though I sometimes miss a book or two, it feels good to think about alll that stuff gone, even now. 🙂
Good luck with the procedure. You smell beautiful!
Good luck! You smell great!
Lucky nurses! Good luck with the procedure ?
Good luck! You smell fantastic.
We are on episode 3!
I love it!
You smell wonderful; hope all goes well!
The movie of the Elegance of the Hedgehog is quite good…not too sentimental, and Paris!
I hope all goes well!
Good luck with your procedure! Hope it goes smoothly.
Good luck with your procedure!
SotD = Cologne du 68
Always get a nostalgic feeling from Cd68, maybe because it was one of my first FBs since rediscovering perfume, and also because it definitely reminds me of something from childhood. Can’t put my finger on it, but I shall ponder today. It might be the citrus + vanilla = 50/50 ice cream bar effect.
I’m up earlier than usual so I can sulk for an hour about the time change last Sunday. It makes me nuts. 😀
Interesting — if you figure out what reminds you of your childhood, do tell! I don’t think it has that effect on me.
will report back! 🙂
Chergui for hump day and for the nostalgia of my early days as a perfumista in the early 2000s. Rainy and gray, but I’ll walk anyway.
I keep meaning to dig my bottle out but yet never do. You smell good!
you smell great!
I am wearing Chanel No 5 edp and drinking a cup of Assam Blend tea
You smell fabulous!
Still in Epic from yesterday afternoon. Too much craziness this morning on the news. Made an Amazon Prime Pantry order this morning and I am going to hit the place order button on Ulta either tomorrow or Friday. I think that I will wear Cormandel after my shower. It’s been just a wacky vacation thus far.
Hope you are enjoying the time off despite the crazy stuff, Dawn.
I’m in Lubin Gin Fizz from a sample, for a quick shot of joy this morning. I’m very tempted by this one, nevermind the season.
Enjoying my day off by being lazy all morning. After lunch, I will do some cleaning and tackle the dreaded mail. I have the tv on mute and on the local station only. It’s going to be 68 degrees today, so will be going out with my daughter later. Sotd is Miss Dior, from a mini. Since I’m home, I will probably switch to something else later.?
Enjoy the beautiful weather outside! It is going to be in the low 60’s here also for the rest of the week. Let’s take advantage of the sun!
Absolutely will!?
Thanks goodness you have a day off work at last. I hope you do something nice for yourself.
Thanks. I pretty much did the bare minimum today.
Gorgeous weather here today, too! SO nice to see the sun and not have any wind blowing!
It ended up being 73 here, and you could tell by the traffic. It was crazy!
Wow! Sounds like you had a winner on your day off!
You smell fantastic! I hope you were able to do something a bit fun!
Comparing BDK Parfums Rouge Smoking and TF Lost Cherry mostly as a distraction from the world…
In the opening, RS is sweeter and LC is more tart.
What do you think of Lost Cherry overall?
I really like it. Cherry, almond and sweet woods.
Love them both! To my nose, RS is the love child of LC and AdP Mandorlo….
Wearing Penhaligon’s Artemisia since morning but it’s already evening here so I will change up soon!
I am taking advantage of our comparatively cool temps and wearing Caron Aimez Moi. It smells like an expensive Christmas cake next to a vase of white flowers.
Thank you for the inspiration, I’ll join you in Aimez Moi!
Hooray! Scent twins.
Such a beautiful scent 🙂
I’ve been wearing Slowdive the past few days, but you’ve inspired me to switch over to Aimez-Moi. Such a lovely scent!
I’m in Prada Infusion d’Iris and trying to manage stress. Going to bed early last night was a good decision. I’m trying to embrace the helplessness!
Quick question – I’ve noticed some of you mentioning particular brands of decanting bottles. Can you remind me of your favorites? Thank you!
Elfenstall bottles is what I’ve been using and seen recommended on this forum many times. I’ve also made a note regarding a positive recommendation for SKS bottles but I do not remember if I’ve ever purchased them.
Thank you!
Wearing Bengale Rouge for comfort today. Yesterday’s comfort scent was i Profumi di Firenze Ambra del Nepal. I’ve managed to not look at any election results, other than seeing our governor was re-elected. Last night after work, I went out for my walk, and you could see everyone who had their tv on had the election coverage on. I figured there wouldn’t be any answer last night, so why be stressed all night watching it. So my boyfriend and I did some kitchen chores, made dinner, and watched a movie. I’m sure I won’t be able to hold out looking at news very long today, but we shall see. I woke up before my alarm this morning with anxiety, but I’m trying to keep it at bay now.
MR L refused to listen to any news so we watched the Queens Gambit on Netflix. This morning I turned on NPR while I made breakfast and that was enough after 5 min…
Picking up my book, much better…
I did kinda the same thing last night…binge watched three episodes of Schitte’s Creek.
Love ambra del nepal.
It’s amazing — I went out for a walk just now, mid-day today in my Canadian city, and all the houses I could see into had the election on.
Nancyleandros — I should totally go back and binge Schitt’s Creek — great idea! Now more than ever…though I did say I’d watch Monty Python’s “Election Night Special” last night and then we didn’t get to it because we got distracted by Nick Offerman sitting by a fire drinking whisky, which was both kinda humourous and somehow comforting.
That funny/comforting combo sound perfect!
Twins with you in Bengale Rouge. My tiny spray is still going; it’s a great comfort scent.
In the anti-nostalgia, wearing a relatively new scent for me – LPRN Black Perfecto EdP. Cherry licorice almondy goodness. As I sit here frogging a cowl I’m trying to finish knitting…. sigh.
Watched the first episode of The Queen’s Gambit. Will go back to the series, as I wasn’t quite in the mood. Finished Shetland Season 5…I missed Jimmy and Tosh over the past year. Then, my husband and I put on Cléo de 5 à 7. Our kitty is named for Agnes Varda. A great film, if just enjoyed as a travelogue through 1962 Paris. Hard to believe they were closer to the end of WWII in that movie than we are to 9/11 here. (Not that there’s any comparison…just thinking of events in my life.)
I have got to try Black Perfecto. It sounds wonderful. You have my sympathies with the knitting. Frogging sucks.
Wait. Is there a new season of Shetland up?
Season 5, which isn’t really new. I bought it on Prime Day for cheap because I don’t subscribe to whatever streaming service it is on.
LPRN BP is a different one for me…didn’t like it at first when I got it, but it has grown on me.
It used to be on Netflix, but I just checked and it isn’t anymore. And I haven’t seen Season 5! Maybe wait till I have a few days and then sign up for the BritBox free trial and just binge absolutely everything.
You can find BP cheap as chips on discounters. Just saying…
I know…I keep eyeballing it. I mean, the bottle’s gorgeous and even if I absolutely hated it I could probably manage to swap it. It’s a totally risk-free investment!
The Gleaners is one of my favourite films.
Hope your knitting worls out ok.
National Stress Awareness Day? Who decides these things?
I broke my vow and started to look at results before bed last night. As a result, I didn’t sleep well, but at least I was up early to get more stuff done. I’m officially ahead in all my classes with all As and got a nice long walk in. It’s also my Mom’s 71st birthday, but she and I have a deal. I don’t mention hers, and she doesn’t mention mine, but occasionally things like scented candles and flowers appear as if by magick. The big 4-0 is coming up for me on the 21st. GASP.
Scent of the day is Perles de Lalique.
My mom and I agreed years ago that she is 39 and I am 29. Permanently.
So smart! I tell people I’m 27 in my head, and don’t pay attention to that other number 😉
Sounds perfect!
Well done on those results!
Thanks!
Must wear this again soon
It’s really good and I think underrated. It is a simple rose patchouli, but very elegant and not fruity.
Congrats on grades!
Thank you! There are only four weeks left in the semester. I just have to not fall apart like a soup sandwich.
When I was quite young, my Mom told me every year on her birthday that she was turning 29. I didn’t really figure out that that was not possible until later in grade school. Oy.
Ha!
I thought 30 was hard.
45 was a much bigger “Oh NO!” birthday for me than 40.
I’m testing Memo French Leather today, from the discovery set. Not completely sure I need more, but it IS very nice and my finger DID hover for some time over the travel spray at Lucky Scent. I finally closed out that tab to reduce temptation (however briefly). 😀
My fingers do that sometimes, too…..
I like French Leather – so unique with a smooth sueded rose and dash of lime.
Chanel #19 edp for steely yet elegant calm. I need to broaden my horizons a bit though.
You smell fabulous!
In L’impact de pour un homme. Lovely, lovely lavender. An Ok day, I miss my colleagues but we do keep in touch which is nice.
Reve d’ Ossian by Oriza Legrand today, because I had a craving for incense. Did my bike commute again after falling off last week, now that my bruises are receding and don’t hurt anymore. It was nice in the morning but on the way back it was totally dark for the last half hour.
The early darkness is bothering me.
So today I decided to take a break from working from home around 4 PM.
i spent an hour outside to enjoy the last rays of sun. Around 5 PM I went back to work.
I might do that more often, because I need the daylight! And working in early evening is quiet and lovely (no one bothering you on the chat ?
This week, I stopped working between 4 and 4:15pm, go out for a walk, then back again for another 1-2 hours.
I often take the boyfriend for a walk when I come home, otherwise he will not leave the apartment for days…. Plus we have time to talk
Reve d’Ossian is on my Full Bottle wish list.
Yes, if someone would gift me a bottle I would be glad
Shalimar Souffle Intense today. A happy blind buy from FragNet – still priced very well there and worthy of the Shalimar name. Happy Wednesday, all!
Vintage Miss Dior EDC splashed about with great abandon. If you want the IKEA candles, I just smelled them all and they are very well done. Order online or figure out how to pickup at your local IKEA, my location was already out of some of them, but had the complete line on display.
BYREDO/IKEA Osynlig candles, I was not very clear. Apparently you have to purchase at the store, they may not be available online.
Aimez Moi, inspired by Monkeytoe. It’s not very nostalgic, but it does remind me of early days in my perfume adventures, I bought it in 2010 on a trip to Australia.
Stress Awareness Day??? Do we really need that in these times?
Hospitals flooded again with Covid19 cases…..terrorism in Europe ??? and USA elections (luckily its against the rules to talk politics, because there would not be enough swear words ? hahahah)..
All that in one week time.
Oh and work is a hot mess as well this week. ?
Yeah I know about STRESS ?
Ombre Leather is my fragrant armor today.
And my husband just made the best risotto. ? The ultimate comfort food!
So things are not all bad.
Ombre Leather twins!
Do you have a lotion you wear with it?
Yay?
No,i dont,
do you?
Jiji, sorry you’re feeling so stressed! Truly, though, having a husband who will make risotto for you means that all is not lost. ☺️
Perhaps you can squeeze a few extra minutes into your next shower or bath. With some scented lotion after.
Wednesday workout session complete.
Work was so boring and not very productive today.
I’m in Memo Ocean Leather. I like it but don’t love it.
Dumped on my wrists my sample dauber of Ex Nihilo Fleur Narcotique–fitting ovedose for this AM.
Trying to focus on work–not terribly successfully. I have an interview with a Catholic father about palliative care in a local hospital—part of my moonlighting writing work. Weirdly, I am looking forward to the conversation.
Peace and prayers for everyone.
It might be interesting and comforting to hear what he has to say.
That will be an interesting conversation. We had an ‘end of life’ referendum here with our recent election, that legalised voluntary euthanasia and prior to that there was lots of interesting discussion, a lot from aged care and palliative care experts.
Wow, that is very interesting. We’re you surprised?
No, not really surprised. It had a lot of support and is quite restrictive about the conditions – terminal illness, six months to live etc.. Not many people in palliative care institutions backed it though. The referendum to legalise cannabis for private use did not get through
I hope you feel comfortable to share your experience tomorrow. Very interesting!
This will be an interesting conversation, tell us later please
Hermes Eau de Rhubarbe Ecarlate again today. Have maybe 1/2 ml left, going to use it up. Probably won’t get a full bottle, since I have so many full bottles and samples and minis to get through, but maybe … maybe I will. Did someone say retail therapy?
Since we both hear this particular voice I think it must be real?
Stella, because it seemed like the one scent I could get away with at my doctor’s appointment. It has practically disappeared in the hours since I applied it, so good choice for today. Warm and sunny here, and I just got the okay from my orthopedist to continue walking, so I’ll be heading home to slap on some more sunscreen and WALK.
I was in the graveyard not long after dawn. There had been a heavy dew followed by very warm morning temperatures – around 18C – and the smell from all the flowering roses was simply incredible. Not a breath of wind so all the scents hung in the air: moss roses, climbing roses, briar roses etc etc. Mostly heritage roses. From the plum jam smells to the fresh and light. The native cabbage trees are also in flower and they have a sweet, almost lily scent. And then the gum trees and hawthorn. Magic. Still a plague of rabbits digging up the grass.
I hope the day goes well for all of you in USA. I was riveted to the screen all night.
Wearing Copper and need to get some work done.
Your morning sounds amazing.
Sigh…I miss warmer days.
Thanks for the description, Kanuka. I love reading about your walks.
Sounds so lovely!
I was a bit worried when you said you were in the graveyard!
I’m swooning at the description of the early morning scents, ahhh….
Thanks for the good wishes for us here in the USA. We can use them!
Kanuka, if I ever see Copper for a good deal, I’m going to get it because of you?
Your writing sounds like a wonderful beginning to a book I would enjoy reading.
Wow, all those roses must have smelled wonderful!
In Coco EDP but it’s been 7 hours so planning to add something else.
Have an exciting outing today! My Mom has effectively been quarantined for 3 weeks due to my step-dad had a knee replacement. So we’re doing lunch (outdoors) at a newish restaurant. Once she goes back to work (nurse) I won’t be eating out with her. ? But at least she retires next year.
I’ve been enjoying watching “Escape to the Chateau” as an alternative to the news.
Hope that lunch with your mom was a good one!
It was. Expensive (which I don’t begrudge during COVID, though I think it would be expensive regardless) but food was good (if not crave worthy) and environment and view stunning. Only my 2nd dining out experience in 8 months!
Amazing views can be worth a $$$$ price tag. Glad to hear that you enjoyed it!
OJ Champaca for me, from a past swapmeet. It’s sunny and 80 degrees here and I’ve been enjoying the duck show on the little pond out back. No TV intrusions for me!
Isn’t our weather fantastic now? I love that perfume!
I had to take a pill to get to sleep last night , and will probably take another tonight. I’m wearing MKK because to me it smells like I am surrounded by warm animals and I find that very comforting today.
Yes! I’ve been cuddling with / listening to purring cats (somewhat against my cat’s will…she’s ready for some alone time). I’ve also been reading about wombats as a distraction — who knew that they have these super-strong butts that they use for defense?
I am a lifelong insomniac. I use the Calm app, and I get to sleep. Usually get 7 hours, which is perfect. It really works.
I broke down and went for the Halston sample today. Fits the CP because it reminds me of my mom, so it’s comforting. She’s the one who made me a politics and history junkie (thanks, Mom, that paid well in the end…ahem), and the summer before she died she was very insistent that I could stay up late to watch…well, I won’t be political here…one of the political parties’ conventions and not the other. I don’t think my mom would recognize the area where she grew up any longer. It’s very different now, 35 years later, and it feels very strange to me when I go back.
Sorry…tired today, that comment turned out maybe a bit more of a downer than I’d intended.
That’s OK. Today has been a strange day for a lot of people, I’d wager.
Oh, yes. It was a strange day.
Started with Ombre Leather. Spritzed Bourbon and Cavendish, added Spirituese Double Vanilla from the split (definitely worth a bottle!).
I’m going for my walk shortly and will apply something else.
Stayed up late last night. One bonus: I was able to congratulate a friend whose parent won a local election.
Happy Wednesday!
SOTD is my first Armani Privé, and also my first gardenia: Gardenia Antigua. A very uncomplicated and chirpy gardenia. Seems like a good choice these days.
Tomorrow a sample of Baume du doge will arrive. Enabler pin for Robin hahaha.
Lillyjo gets an enabler pin for Manwich mix! ?
I did go to Target today looking for the little bag of Sloppy Joe mix, and was coming up nada. I asked a very nice Target employee if he knew where it might be. He ended up asking another employee and then going onto his cell phone to find out that the store didn’t carry the stuff in the envelope but did have Manwich mix. And he led me to the exact spot where it was at. So I finally had Sloppy Joes today!
Still on a news diet, for obvious reasons. I have scanned the headlines and that was quite enough news for me. Not watching any news broadcasts today.
SOTD = returned to Fireside Intense today. Because.
And whoever decided that the day after Election Day was the perfect day for Stress Awareness Day is a sadist. ???
?
That! OMG!
Yay for sloppy Joes!?
For sure. We’ve decided that they ought to be at least a semi-regular dinner idea.
Yay for your Sloppy Joe’s! And good customer service!
Yep yep! Good all around. ?
Glad you were able to get your Sloppy Joe mix. 🙂
SOTD = Chris Rusak Io
Contemplative incense, perfect for today!
https://www.instagram.com/p/CAnYoVIB0Cn/?igshid=1ejz8319cilx0
I’m glad I did not stay up last night (well, this morning).
I’m glad I didn’t stay up too. Although, I did wake up extra early.
That was my choice yesterday!
Didn’t you say that you were considering a week of incense? If so, very good idea!
I’m feeling ok but have watched election coverage off and on. My distraction plan for last night was to watch multiple episodes of the new season of The Great British Bake-off on Netflix. It’s funnier and more challenging this time around. At midnight I chatted on FaceTime for an hour with a friend from Switzerland. She’s in California now with her daughter, whose wedding got postponed due to Covid and wildfires. I guess she’s getting a thorough exposure to America, with those and now the election!
My SOTD is Zoologist Dragonfly from a little sample. I’m moving closer and closer to a FB of this. It is delicate and light. Not my usual thing at all but just so beautiful. I can smell heliotrope and water lily, peony and sandalwood. It’s soft but it lasts. I’ve had it on for hours now and my cat just spent ten minutes licking my wrist. I’d like to order straight from Victor but their site warns of Covid mail delays so I’ll use Luckyscent instead. This afternoon I picked up a gorgeous co-op order and have a lot of fun cooking plans in the works! Tonight is Tuscan kale pasta with mushrooms and sun-dried tomatoes in creamy basil sauce!
Glad I read your post after I had eaten my dinner, or my stomach would be growling like crazy…
Dinner sounds delicious! As does Dragonfly. Congrats on finding an unusual one!
Just a head’s up that Victor listed Dragonfly as one of the next perfumes up for reformulation. Not sure when that will happen, and they usually continue selling bottles of the original formula until it sells out.
We have fall Florida weather so I broke out Omnia. We got the super good news that after being flooded out for the past three weekends that the hurricane eta will boomerang all the way from Nicaragua to maybe south Florida. This year just can’t end soon enough. That’s just the dumbest news I’ve heard in awhile. I am sick of walking in flood water, mosquitoes, and all the other stuffs. But I’m sad that Nicaragua had a tough time. I really like Omnia for the record. I’m tempted to get the Indian garnet tone too.
It has been a horrible Hurricane season for Florida and the Gulf! I hope it is quick moving and not severe.
Tuesday night and early Wednesday morning, and Wednesday night, I wore SL Encens et Lavande. That’s a soothing fragrance for me. Mostly I watched TV on Wednesday, to see if there would be definitive U.S. election results. I unknowingly participated in Stress Awareness Day by telling Mom that waiting for the election results, especially in Pennsylvania, was nerve-wracking.
I should have gone to a local park in the early afternoon to take a walk. I eventually went out and weeded around the shrubs by the front porch. Also I took dead canes off the repeat-blooming roses there. ‘Teasing Georgia’ still has several flowers.
I worked outside for about an hour, until sunset. I felt like pruning the roses and cutting down the wild grape vines that were still trying in that area were the only productive things I did on Wednesday. And I think it was good for me to get outside for at least a little while.
It was a “getting-nowhere-fast” day again. Today I’ll at least try to do a recipe or two, since I got those rice noodles and various sauces and flavorings on Tuesday.
Isn’t “Teasing Georgia” beautiful? I have that rose in my backyard, and I love it so much. I agree, my level of “stress awareness” yesterday was very high, given that I live in another “battleground state” where votes are still being counted. And we’re doing major house repairs, since my husband and I are both working remotely, which bring their own levels of stress. Walking the dog helps. We can often just let her outside in our fenced garden, but not while it’s full of painters every day, so she’s getting many more actual walks than usual. Puttering around in the garden is also good for stress relief.