December is National Pear Month, and we're celebrating with our usual open thread poll. Talk about anything you like — the fragrance you’re wearing today, your favorite pear fragrance, whatever.
Or, ask a question about fragrance, then see if anyone else has asked a question that you can answer…
Note: top image is Pear Still Life [291/366] [cropped] by Tim Sackton at flickr; some rights reserved.
Wearing my Inoui sample today. ♥
I don’t like pear in fragrance. But I do make an amazing pear pie: make your favorite unbaked crust, brush with 8 oz melted chocolate with a couple of spoonfuls of creme fraiche stirred in, slice 3 pears and fan out in a pretty design on top of chocolate, bake at 425 for 20 minutes. Then stir together remaining creme fraiche (8 oz container), 1 egg, dash of vanilla and a couple of tablespoons of liqueur (I’ve used pear liqueur or even brandy). Pour this on top of your warm pie and sprinkle with turbinado sugar, then return to oven until golden (I usually broil for just a few minutes). It’s a family holiday favorite.
Oh my, I will take a slice of that!
Gosh that sounds amazing.
That sound freaking amazing!
Wow! It sounds delish! Craving for some now!
Thanks, I will serve this at the next dinner party!!!!
That sounds fabulous! I’ve made a note of your recipe.
That sounds fantastic. Like others, I’ve noted down your recipe and will have to try this soon.
?
I have to make this- can I rename it: ‘Springpansy’s Pear Pie?
Definitely. 😀
Oh, man! That sounds amazing! Wish I would’ve checked in earlier as I was wondering what to bake to bring to a gathering later.
Next time…
If anyone wants this written out in a more formal recipe style, just contact me via my screen name above. Happy to send it. And BTW, I usually peel the pears.
Yum, that pie!
Wow, yum! I think pear desserts are among the best! Do you use any particular type of pear?
I use Bartletts.
Delish! I’m trying this soon 🙂
Yay – let me know how it goes.
I agree, that sounds absolutely delicious and light enough to ward any guiltThank you springpansy.
This must be delicious, I love creme fraiche.
I took today off to celebrate my grand nieces first birthday. My boss isn’t happy, but what’s new?! I’m wearing Dior Joy. So I smell pretty and inoffensive.
If you’re tired of the Christmas songs already, come stroll down memory lane with me..
https://youtu.be/1DTwLqR071M
?
Bob and Doug – how fun! Do you remember the movie “Strange Brew?”
Absolutely!
Nice, happy first birthday to the nieces!
Thanks!
Happy birthday to your grand nieces! ??
Thank you!
Enjoy your time with the family!
Just out of curiosity: are you not supposed to be taking any days off, or did your boss had objection to this particular one?
December is a month where your not supposed to ask for any weekend days off. I submitted my request back in June and she approved it, but has been giving me a hard time all week about it. She didn’t have to approve it, all I did was ask.
Where is her Xmas spirit? Don’t feel guilty, so pleased you had a great party.
Good for you on picking family over work!
I’m so glad I did.
Happy birthday ???
How exciting!!!!
Very exciting. She’s such a sweetie!
Happy Birthday to the little grand! Your boss is always unhappy so ?♀️
Thanks!
Your boss can go stuff herself or maybe she can’t anymore because she’s full of ?? First she gave you the stink eye for having the audacity to ask her about rotating evenings with your co-worker as per agreement which she did not honor and then she gets put out when you take a weekend day off?
Happy birthday to your grand niece!
Thanks! It was a great little party. Tired me and the little one right out!
I agree with hajusuuri. Glad you had fun!
Maybe your counterpart who has been given the day shifts will have to pick up a night. Too bad… Glad you chose family over duty.
Happy birthday to her <3 I’m so happy you took the time for this, despite your boss’s griping.
Ditto – which will you be glad you did when you are 90? You made the right choice!
Hope you had a wonderful celebration.
Hello everyone!
Did Saint Nick bring you something nice yesterday? I got a bunch of chocolate treats I’ll be enjoying for a while.
This week I also managed to order online a present for my dad, should be delivered next week.
Also online I bought a new shirt for myself today.
And… on Thursday we have a Christmas meeting at work.
Sotd is Atelier des Ors Iris Fauve. Cosy and sensual at once.
St Nick did not appear! But hopefully later this month 🙂
In Poland depending on the region you have St Nick visiting you twice or St Nick on the 6th and ‘Gwiazdor’ on the 24th.
Aha, then maybe Gwiazdor will visit me too 😉
Christmas meeting at work – is it like a party, with food?
I did some online shopping last week (some even perfume-related: samples) but almost everything is still in transit.
Yes, you can say it’s a Christmas party at work. People are making different foods for it.
All couriers are so busy now. When I ordered my shirt today I got estimated delivery between Wednesday and Tuesday the next week.
My nephew is named Nick, so we celebrate in his honor!!
Cheers for him!
My very favorite pear preparation is a condiment called pear “mostarda.” It is a sweet and spicy mix of slowly candied pear slices flavored with a mustard essence strong enough to clear your nasal cavity.
How interesting, I have never heard of that. What do you put it on?
I first had it with duck confit at a restaurant called Osteria Mozza in Los Angeles, and fell in love with it. They apparently get theirs from a small import shop around the corner. The brand they use is Casa Forcello:
https://forevercheese.com/products/mostarda-pear-casa-forcello%C2%AE/
It is good with cheese of any sort, as well as roasted meat dishes. At some point, when I have time and access to really good pears (that might be soon), I am going to try and make it at home. I ordered the special mustard extract a few months ago, so I’m just waiting on pears and some time off.
Oh thank you! That does look delicious. I am going to tell Kevin about it, that sounds like something he could make.
This sounds wonderful and I’m also wondering what it is served with.
I have had that with a pork roast…delish!
Ooh, I bet that was a good combo.
Hi all!
Sorry I could not check in earlier, but on top of moving, this week contained such events as a fender bender, replacing my old phone, and ducking the flu they has been going around at work. I’m all moved though, and eager to start unpacking.
I’m in 90’s Habit Rouge today and loving every second. Enjoy your weekend, everyone!
Whew! Gratitude eh? Glad you are on to unpacking!
I’m taking it chill this week, but it’s hard to ignore how much needs to get done! 🙂
Sounds like a taxing week. But at least it’s almost over, and you smell nice.
It is almost over! I keep telling myself…. 🙂
What a week! And you’re smelling wonderful in Habit Rouge!
It has. I sure do love this stuff. It pots the current formulation to shame.
wow..you should reward yourself
The thought has crossed my mind….
Oh no! At least you ducked the flu, knock on wood.
God I hope so. No one deserves the flu.
Congratulations on your move!
Thank you Calypso!
Habit Rouge! Hope the unpacking is quick.
Me too, though I’m not a very organized person….
Congratulations Courmarin, it sounds like everything went smoothly, I hope you are happy healthy and safe for the holidays.
Thank you! For you as well.
Commando, because I need to recover from having 2 sprays of Shangri La very early this morning, for the first time. It almost killed me and ruined my day. I am so glad I tried it before taking my shower. I endured it for almost 3 hours in an attempt to understand why so many people love it and see if there was any possibility that I could at least like it. It didn’t happen. Whatever is left from the small decant is already in the “good bye, never see you again pile”.
I will spray later on some SSS Incense Pure, which I love and will keep me relaxed and smelling beautiful!
Have a great weekend, everyone!
I’m with you on that perfume: not only it didn’t work for me at all, but I was puzzled as to how anyone can find it attractive. It must be smelling differently for some people! I mean, there are many perfumes that I don’t like enough to wear but I usually can understand why others might like them. But there are some perfumes…
Agree with you. I was shocked because I was not expecting Shangri La to be so overwhelming and obnoxious. Different tastes, different loves!
Ha! I love Shangri La, but there are plenty of scents others love that I despise, tastes are so different. There are a couple that were so bad I literally felt traumatized, yet others enjoy them. The mysteries of perfume.
That is the beauty of this hobby! So many different tastes and the way that we all enjoy different perfumes is really amazing! We all have to go thru traumatic moments to appreciate the art of perfumery even more.
Shangri La was not for me either. Most Hiram Greens I can tell are well done, if not for me, although I do have a travel bottle of Slowdive I use as a bedtime scent.
I have not had any problems with the Hiram Green perfumes I have tried so far. I have travel sizes of Arbole Arbole and Slowdive, which I love! I have stayed away from Moon Bloom, because I know it is tuberose bomb and I can’t handle tuberose. However, I would like to give it a try some day, just as a reference. Not that I am rushing for it! ?
Yikes. I can relate. I enjoy Shangri La EXCEPT somewhere during the middle section where It becomes over amplified. The opening starts off fine, but there is a transition point when the ‘peachiness’ seems to go on ‘tilt’ and lasts too long and broadcasts so loudly that I occasionally need to wash it off. It I want to blame on the high amount of oak moss being used but what I reacted to was an overly assaultive sweetness. i have reviewed the notes but can’t figure it out. Is that what happened? later on when it quiets during the dry down it is really a soft light floral. That’s my favorite part.
So sorry you suffered and I agree w/you I slow dive is very nice.
I loved the citrusy opening, but 10 minutes later it changed abruptly and it became very, very loud. The mid notes and the drydown were a nightmare. I can’t tell if there was a note or more than one that bothered me specifically. The whole thing after the opening was a horrible mess on me.
Eek!!!! I hope Incense Pure makes you feel better!!!
I was so eager to try Shangri La, but never expected it was going to be so bad on me. I am so glad I did not try it on a working day when I am usually rushing in the morning and I spray very quickly whatever perfume I have planned on.
You know how much I love Incense Pure! One of my favorites incense scents!
House twins in Tabac Aurea.
Hi house twin! We both smell fantastic!
I did not like Shangri La when I first tried it. I tucked it away for probably 2 years. Then one day, gave it another shot, and fell hard in love. So many perfumes that I don’t get though either.
When I have such a negative response for a perfume it is usually for life. There are others that don’t work for me immediately, but I know that they deserve a second try. Many times I have changed my mind about it on some of them. Shangri La was a terrible experience, unfortunately.
Omg I can’t stand Shangri La either! Good to see I’m in good company 🙂
??
“It almost killed me and ruined my day”. Hahaha
Favorite pear perfume is Ananda by M. Micallef—an elegant, powdery scent. Hated Slumberhouse’s Pear & Olive, although I was in the minority on NST when that one made a splash. I guess I like my pear muted by fuzzy florals ?. This AM am fighting an infection with antibiotics, so feeling slightly sorry for myself. But the dose of Oeillet Bengale, courtesy of Lillyjo, that I applied has cheered me up. So much to do this weekend, and I just want to loll around.
Take care of yourself! There’s always too much to do, so by slowing down when your body tells you to, you might be actually improving chances of doing more in a longer term.
Regardless, you smell good.
Love Oeillet Bengale, hope you feel better soon!
Feel better soon, OF!!!
Sending healing vibes!
I hope you feel better soon!
I hope the antibiotics kick in soon!
You smell awesome.
I’m glad you are enjoying it. Hope you are able to rest and feel better soon.
Sorry Oakland Fresca! Hope the antibiotics do their job, and quickly.
Feel better and take care Oakland!
Hope the antibiotics will do their job. Lots of yogurt to counteract.
Baiser de Russie for an early morning meeting and food treats.
Now I am girding my loins to put lights on the tree. Worst part. But, I must say we did get a perfect tree this year. We have to go a bit slender to fit in our little apartment. We found a nice one three blocks away. An easy carry home.
I was able to exchange the Marimekko jacket I got for a smaller size. The store here got more stock in. I would have kept the bigger one happily, but I preferred the fit on the smaller one. And, hey, what woman doesn’t want to buy a smaller size when she can?
Exactly!
Good for you to buy the smaller size…
I hate doing the lights too. Glad you could get the smaller size in your jacket.
Oh, good you got to exchange it! I usually buy my outerwear a size bigger so I can wear many layers underneath without feeling stuffed in.
So glad you got a better size jacket!
Hello fragrant friends
What a week rain in Los Angeles does not a good commute make.
Plus I had a flare up of hives that was so awful I thought I would draw blood scratching while stuck in endless traffic.
No fragrance except a bit of Idyllwilde yesterday around my feet.
Is chilly here today and I may open my Amsterdam purchase of 31 Rue Cambon today and use just a touch.
26 pounds gone – four more to the promised land!
What an amazing result! Keep going! Don’t let holiday treats discourage you!
Wow! You go girl!?
Four more!! Yay for you.
Oh gosh, do you know what triggers your hives? That sounds dreadful!
Oye Calypso, they are chronic, idiopathic hives.
Have not been able to determine the cause. Sometimes I end up in the ER having to get a prednisone shot to break the cycle.
OH NO! I’ve been through that myself and it is utterly the pits! I had about 10 months of it at one point in my life and had a number of ER visits just as you’re describing. I would wake up each morning and wonder where they would be appearing on that day. On my face was the worst! I had a sympathetic allergist who prescribed megadoses of antihistamines. I suspected salicylates and did discover that I’m allergic to aspirin, which I’d never suspected. Had to cut out many foods including tomatoes, cherries, all red fruits. Later on I was able to begin re-introducing them. I never knew why they finally went away. But they did and I hope that yours will too. You have my utmost sympathy.
My boyfriend suffers from chronic, idiopathic hives as well. His latest round lasted about 10 months, and they started up slowly just prior to his appendectomy. I hope they don’t come back for a good, long while.
Most people don’t know what urticaria is and don’t understand how crazed it can make you.
Hey! Congrats on 26! That’s great. Sorry about the hives though. Yuck.
Woohoo, congrats! Do you have any rewards waiting for you in the promise land? Joining you in the weight loss club, though I’m still waiting for my rewards >:o
my reward is to
a) get a facelift next summer and
b) go to Africa again in 2021 looking fabulous!!
Excellent rewards to look forward to 🙂
The flare up sounds awful. Wishing you a speedy recovery.
Favorite pear is probably Hermes Jardin sur le Toit, but too cold to wear that today….still rocking Idyllwild (love it)
Got to the mall when it opened for just 15 minutes to do an exchange and pick up one item…..then got safely out and took myself to breakfast to celebrate not having to stay and shop in the mall.
Love pears, will have to make springpansy’s pear pie this season. I like sliced pear in my arugula salad with a good homemade vinegrette.
The mall was actually not crowded today!
I like pear in salad too, and Asian pear even better.
Asian pears are my fav. I’ve never had any as delicious as the ones I had in Korea in the fall two years ago.
We are lucky, we can get locally grown Asian pears that are absolutely delicious. The ones in the grocery store are tasteless in comparison. I gave one of mine to my sister and she said it was like eating flowers 🙂
Yes, pear in salad, add walnuts and some kind of nice bleu cheese!
Yes, delicious!
I love pear in salad as well! Yum!
I love eating pears but not smelling like one. I sprayed a ton of samples on this morning and not one of them is exciting me, which is good. More money saved.
I’m wearing the wonderfully weird Montale Mukhallat.
Ha!! That IS good news!! You can shop and enjoy your own collection.
Exactly. I hosed myself down with a favourite and husband complained it was too strong. Ha!
???
Ha! Always good to save money!
I don’t really care for pears, I think they taste gritty. I don’t like them in my perfume, either. I won a bottle of Pear and Olive in a drawing at Fumerie and gave it to MarjorieRose. (Where is MarjorieRose these days?)
I had to be scent-free three days this week so today I am stinking up the house in Salome while I put together my new kitchen island. It’s not very big, but better than the wobbly microwave cart it is replacing.
You smell great, no stink at all!!!
Oh nice, we have been trying to decide on a kitchen island forever. Enjoy yours and hope the assembly is already over by now 🙂
It’s quite true that pears have a distinctive gritty texture. I happen to love it but can understand why someone else might not. Because of their texture I especially love them with toasted sliced almonds. It’s a match made in heaven.
I can’t get past the gritty either, foxbins.
Yesterday night I was at a Parfums Nicolai event sponsored by Scentrique. Damian from PN was on a US/Canada blitz tour, and gave a fairly academic talk about the house, including a name-that note quiz. A pleasant evening.
I have yet to meet a pear perfume with my name on it as they all seem a bit…sticky, but you never know.
Looking forward to the arrival of a couple of perfumed packages. Luckily the week before I did some rl shopping and bought Jo Malone Oat and Cornflower and Red Roses Bath Oil at an astounding 50% off. Also keeping my fingers crossed that Zara’s Jo Malone collaboration ends up over this side of the pond, thus fulfilling my long-held wish for reasonably-priced JM.
Ooo!!! Oat & Cornflower for half price? Score!!
I’m hoping for the Zara/Jo Loves line over here too!
Oh, lucky you, going to the event at Scentrique! And what a steal on the JMs!
Today is my furry granddaughter’s 7th birthday. We have spoiled her with shrimp, sole and salmon. Her great grandparents came to visit her for the first time today. Great grandma bought her three toys as birthday presents.
SOTD Shiaparelli Zut which means “damn” in French.
Happy birthday to your furry baby! I am happy she is enjoying her treats and new toys! ????
Thank you! She is! But I think the visit knocked her out! She’s fast asleep on the window sill in the sun.
Aww, sweet you celebrated her! ?
This poor cat spent her entire life in a shelter until my daughter rescued her. She deserves all the love and spoiling she can get. My daughter knows how much we love her (especially Mr Marzipan!!) so she let us keep her a bit longer than originally planned. ??
Awwww! A friend of mine had a Sweet Sixteen party for her cat Fancy! Cake and all!
Love that!!!!
Awww how sweet ❤️?
She is such a love ?
That’s so sweet. Shower that baby with ❤️
And lots of cuddles ??
Happy birthday Pickles!!
Pickles says thank you ??
Coromandel..thunk goes the sample..
Uh oh. I know you love it, will a bottle be in your future?
I’m not a morning person, especially on a weekend.
At 7:08 AM a home phone rang. I jumped out of bed not expecting anything good from the call that early. Telemarketing! Offering roof inspection “because our crew will be in your neighborhood this week.” When I asked: “Really?! You’re calling me at 7AM on a weekend?”, he had an audacity to argue that it was 8AM already. “In your neighborhood,” my a**.
I managed to fall asleep again – just to be woken up at 7:45 by my vSO’s alarm clock, which he swears he didn’t remember setting. Yeah, right… The cat must have done it.
Hearing all these noises, said cat came upstairs to tell us from behind the door how hungry and lonely he was…
I still went back to sleep, and had a bizarre dream that involved Angelina Jolie, public transportation and a cancer treating clinic. I wonder how it all came together in my subconscious.
I’m still in bed with my fed purring cat Rusty though it looks like I should get up and wash his butt since he won’t do it himself. It would be nice also to eat something and put on some perfume. Sounds like a plan…
Have a relaxing weekend everyone!
I say stay in bed. Last Sunday we had a snow and ice storm and I literally stayed in bed all day with Pickles. We both indulged in several cat naps.
Your bad morning cheered me up! Thanks for the laugh.
Ditto what OF said. That is a crazy dream! You wonder sometimes. I had a convoluted nightmare this morning, too, though the details are fuzzy. It didn’t help that I was up watching The Assasination of Gianni Versace til almost 3am…
The day will get better
Oh no, being woken up by a stupid phone call is the worst. Or I hate getting very late texts when I’m already falling asleep.
Lol at Rusty demanding attention. He’s a real prince of a cat, isn’t he?
I wish you a restful weekend. You work so much you need a quiet weekend.
Wow, not a fun start to Saturday morning!
Lol! A late morning curled up with Rusty sounds like a good thing.
Perfume-free yet before my shower, but looking forward to testing a few more samples in my latest batch from Luckyscent. I was very excited to try the new Fort and Manle, Meraki, but it doesn’t grab me – money saved!
I also got a sample if the new Eris perfume, Mxxx. It’s supposed to be a more intense version of Mx, which I quite liked. That will be the first post-shower dab.
Do report back on Mxxx.!
I just sampled it yesterday. I need to try it again but my initial reaction was ?
On me all I got was cedar. No super animalics, nuthin. Oh well! I didn’t like the original Mx either.
It’s OK, but I think I prefer the original Mx, from memory, I think Mxxx is a bit muddier, if that makes any sense. Like cazaubon, I don’t get anything particularly animalic, and nothing really stands out.
Interesting range of responses, thanks everyone!
I’m in Eau Premiere.
Yesterday I was a bad mom and took madtownteen out of school early so we could make the trip north to visit my parents for the weekend. She’s off school Monday, so we get an extra night which will be really nice. This morning we made Christmas cookies and this afternoon we are going to go snowshoeing. It’s full blown winter here with over a foot of snow on the ground and hanging in the trees. It’s really beautiful. My parents live literally out in the middle of nowhere and it’s very quiet, this morning we saw deer walking through the woods. I haven’t lived at home for 30 years, but I still have a room here and I always feel a bit like Dorothy when I come. There’s no place like home.❤️
I know what you mean about home. My mother still lives in the house I gew up in and, when I visit, it doesn’t feel as if I moved out back in 1984!
Have a wonderful weekend.
Nope. You were a great mom! Enjoy your big. They grow up so fast ?
And my kids still have their rooms exactly as they left them. Even the eldest who has her own apartment three and a half hours away.
Have a great visit!
Ah, no, you were a good mom! Even if the school system does not agree 🙂
Bad mom? No, good daughter! And you smell lovely, btw — I love Eau Premiere and should wear it more often.
I freely admit that when I visited my parents, I reverted to childhood. Leaving socks by the couch, empty glasses on the coffee table. And a immediate check of the refrigerator and cookie jar contents. (I did it consciously because it reconfirmed to my mom that I was still her baby….)
How lovely. Enjoy! ❤️
I love winter out in the countryside, so hushed and pristine. Totally the opposite of the filth and slush in the big city.
I agree. It’s a totally different way to look at winter.
Loved this whole post. ❤️
Hey all, I’m in Dior Mitzah today, and trying to use its gorgeous fumes to lower my blood pressure. The past week has been absolutely insane at work. My eyes and brain haven’t gone this fuzzy since grad school. I’ve had no time to work out (though upside, my fitness journey has worked so well that I’m at a place where not working out means losing weight; I have never been muscular enough for that to happen in the past). And I’ll have to work a fair bit over the weekend, too. Ugh, if I had wanted to work this hard, I would’ve become a professor.
Anyway, I was really checking in to NST to tell you all about a very belated birthday present I received (my birthday was in July): a copy of Luca Turin’s and Tania Sanchez’s Perfumes!!! I’ve been thinking of getting this forever, and now I have it 🙂 What a thoughtful present (from my fiancé’s uncle!). I had a great time flipping through it and look forward to a deep dive.
Hope you are well and that your Decembers are going better than mine is <3
Great birthday present, it’s a fabulous book to either read from cover to cover or to dip into randomly.
Fun! 1st or 2nd edition?
First edition. I am not up-to-date enough for that to make a difference to me, though 🙂 Have you read one or both? Do you know how different they are?
I much preferred the 1st edition. The 2nd had a lot of brands I don’t know and I didn’t find the reviews in that one as compelling. Still fun to look stuff up in it.
Well then, all the better! Thanks for the mini-review!
Great book, enjoy!
Hugs, Koyel. Hope work eases up for you and enjoy your book!
Thanks, KellyC <3 I hope so, too!
Commando at the moment as I have been fretting over a dessert to bring to a party tonight- and I wanted to make it, not buy it.
I ended up settling in Nutella filled gingerbread cookies
(Oops! Posted too soon)
Anyway, the cookies for drool-worthy food porn:
https://thefoodcharlatan.com/nutella-stuffed-gingerbread-cookies/
I haven’t baked them yet so I’m hoping they turn out well ??
The party is being given by our drumming conductor and his wife. He’s from Bahia, Brazil and will be making a Bahian fish stew called Moqueca. Looking forward to trying that!
Not sure what perfume I’ll wear yet. Not a pear perfume, I’m pretty sure, though I don’t mind a subtle pear note like in Ambrette 9. Much prefer pear notes to apple.
Oh my…drool worthy. I may try my hand at Red Velvet pancakes. I even have the silicone ring mold that will make the size consistent.
They didn’t come out looking as decadent as the photo and are drier than they look like they would be, but I tasted one and they’re pretty good! Shoulda followed the rule of not bringing something you haven’t tried making before…
Red velvet pancakes sounds delish!
Those look so good! Hope it’s a great evening!
Thank you! Right now I really just want a nap, lol.
Yum! It’s funny how cooking for holiday events can be stressful!
It wasn’t too bad once I decided on something. The decision making was the most stressful part. Plus, we weren’t required to bring anything so low pressure.
Those cooking seem amazing! I may have to make those this week! Hope the party was fun and the food was delish. 🙂
They actually turned out well after I made the test one. I used more Nutella, a little less dough, and reduced baking time. And they weren’t that complicated to make (anything with more than 2 steps seems complicated to me, lol!).
Enjoy the party, I bet the gingerbread will turn out great.
Thank you Aurora! It was a great time and the cookies went over well ?
Those look amazing and a must try. Thanks for sharing. I can’t imagine how they taste!
Good afternoon, folks. Bedtime scent last night (well after midnight) was the LUSH/Gorilla Perfume solid perfume I’m Home. I think it was a little too sweet for me at that time. I’ll have to try it during the day sometime. It was soon joined by Crabtree & Evelyn Sweet Almond Oil lotion, as my hands get very dry this time of year. I think they actually mixed fairly well, but my memory is blurred, because I conked out a couple of minutes later.
I used the pumpkin pie spice sugar scrub that I’d made a couple of months ago during my bath, so I have something of a sugar and spice scent now. 🙂
Oh, and I had a Bosc pear that looked just like those in the picture for brunch. I had little pieces of Colby-Jack cheese with it. Those recipes above sound yummy. 🙂
That sugar scrub sounds great!
I’ll look at the recipe, but I’m thinking it was just sugar, vegetable oil and pumpkin pie spice.
Borrowed Jepster’s idea from yesterday, and went with Un Jardin sur le Toit. Especially at the beginning, it has a fruity scent going. I think pears and apples are notes in there, if I’m remembering reviews correctly. That’s what it smelled like to me, anyway. It’s kind of settling into more of a vegetable garden scent at the moment.
SOTS = Guerlain Ginger Picante
Nordstrom has its 10 points holiday shopping day today! My sister and I indulged ourselves with the buffet brunch and did some shopping damage ?.
The server (K) was not there so I gave one of the other servers the Andrew Jackson tip to give to K as she was the only server who helped us. My sister and I went to the mall and then circled back to the Nordstrom cafe so she can buy her salad dressing. All of a sudden, the server to whom I gave the money to give to K became very chatty and tried to engage me in conversation even though it was my sister who was buying the salad dressing. She was spouting nonsense about the most popular salad dressing and how she herself preferred blah blah and asked me how I wanted the dressing bagged so I just pointed to my sister and said “Ask her.” K happened to be there so I asked her if she received the tip and she said yes. I asked her how much and she said $10. WTF? If there is one thing I hate it’s dishonesty. I turned back to the other server whom I saw was in a very big hurry to go back to the kitchen so I said excuse me (but she kept going anyway). The chef was right there and asked her to come back. I then asked her what happened to the tip? She looked all innocent and asked K how much she gave her. $10. She then pretended to look at the bills in her apron and supposedly did not find a $20 bill and I just looked at her and said she needs to give K the remaining $10. Seriously?
I am going to a Christmas Caroling event at Rutgers later tonight. We were lucky this time to have gotten tickets to the earlier showing which means we can have a leisurely dinner afterwards. The only negative is now I have to limit my ? intake as I have to drive home ?.
And here’s a picture of my latest red bottle:
https://www.instagram.com/p/B5xplDDhrxK/?igshid=1cheqsndy61vq
(The daily lemming Santal Carmin is calling my name. Must resist, must resist…)
If you get the Santal Carmin, you have to confess so I can live vicariously!?
I will ?
Me and my mom really liked Ginger Piccante when we tried it.
Yes! And it’s in the reasonably priced range!
Thanks for sharing that one — I really like it, too. 🙂
Yay you for calling that server out! What a #@$%!
Have fun tonight and drive safe!
Thanks. It was fun all around.
Ginger Piccante is wonderful. I may get a bottle in the spring if I can find a small size. Too bad about the server. She made herself look really awful.
I think it only comes in one size and is actually pretty reasonably priced.
Oh, I know they are reasonably priced. I just don’t want a big bottle of anything right now.
Red……. I hear you!
Ooh, love that red bottle! Good for you on calling that thief out. This is why my husband waits until he can give the tip directly to the server, he doesn’t trust anyone.
I recognized the other server and she knows me and knows I go there frequently so for her to think I would not check is pretty stupid.
That server sucks. Have fun tonight!
True of that server. There are many options at the mall so if she is the one there, I ‘lol just go to another place. I had a great time!
How shocking about the tip, hope it really did get rectified. Christmas carols are one of the season’s treats, hope you had a great time and a good dinner even with restricted wine.
I had a great time at the Christmas Carol sing and at dinner. 1.5 glasses of a delightful Riesling and almost 4 hours of flowing conversation.
Bit glum here. We were supposed to go on our summer holiday yesterday but the main road through the South Island is closed due to a flooded river so our city is cut off …but we are still comfortable at home. We had rented a place over on the west coast, booked dogs into kennels etc. but it looks like we will run out of time and have to stay home , as it is a two day drive each way and the bridge may not reopen for another day or two, which would leave only one night at our destination. No refunds on the bookings etc. But, at least we are not stuck in our car on a washed out road, and it is sunny here, and dry. When it is hot and dry where I live, it is pouring rain in the mountains and headwaters …hence the flooding. Onwards and upwards! We can go to the local beach and have fun from home. Wearing Wander, which I love.
So sorry that you can’t go on your summer trip. Sounds very disappointing, but at least you’re safe and at home.
Oh no! How awful!
Kanuka, maybe this will cheer you up:
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/12/05/books/review/julie-andrews-by-the-book-interview.html
That did cheer me up! She mentions the children’s author ‘BB’ and I had all his Bill Badger series of books when I was little. They were about a badger who lived on a barge and travels the canals. He fought pirates with his hedgehog side-kick, Izzy-bizzy (?) and I loved those books. Plant hunters too…I coukd happily spend a day in her library. Thank you
Oh no, how disappointing about your trip. At least it is sunny and warm at your house.
And the dogs prefer life at home to life in kennels, that’s for sure
I’m glad you didn’t get caught in the flooding. Sorry that you had to cancel your plans though.
So sorry to hear that. I’ve been wondering how people were faring down south. It’s been very wet here – thunder, lightning strong winds – but the flooding hasn’t been too bad.
But, as you say, it could be worse.
Oh that stinks! I’m glad you are safe at home though.
Kanuka and Gaynor: A couple of family members are going to New Zealand in February. I have a bag of samples they can mail to you when they get there. Is there anything in particular you would like muled to you? I would need your address…
Hi Scentspirit, I just found your comment a bit belatedly. That’s a very kind offer, and I’d be delighted to try anything you want to include! My email is Gaynor dot Bradfield at the usual g mail.
I will make up a bag and you two can share however you see fit. I will email you tomorrow Gaynor.
That is so kind , thank you. I don’t need anything and am happy for Gaynor to have dibs as she is so generous with sharing samples. I hooe your family have a great trip. February is a good month for travelling here as it is usually hot and less busy ( as schools start back in February) . Also, the south island west coast …which may be ‘out of order’ due to washed out bridges until January shoukd be all fixed by Feb.
What a shame, but it sounds that you are making the most of it.
Oh no! At least you’re safe. If you are not getting a refund on the kennels, would you still board the dogs?
To cut down the nights we leave the dogs at the kennels we drop them off at a town half-way to our destination but because of the bridge washout we can’t get there …. So they have had a lucky escape
Adding more sympathies Kanuka, that’s a big disappointment for everyone but the dogs.
I’ve always liked Jo Malone’s English Pear & Freesia when I’ve tried it, though I’ve never bought a full bottle (I have a small one in a set). Christine Nagel created it, and I usually like her fragrances very much. I’m planning to pull out my more wintry/warmer fragrances this weekend now that we’re into December. St. Nicholas came today — aka my husband, who transported an order from 4160 Tuesdays for me! Two are crowd-funded fragrances, I’m excited to try them.
Oh, which two did you get? I have Clouds and Take Me to the River. And what else did he bring you? Something from the Pink Friday sale? 🙂
I got Meet Me At The Corner and Christmas Concert! (I did the crowdfunding for Clouds, too, but I got the Illusion version — adore it!). And yes, some Pink Friday goodies: Eat More Flowers, Be Careful What You Wish For, Centrepiece (honey edition), Inevitable Crimes of Passion, and An Excess of Carelessness. I already had a 9 ml of the latter and love it. I had a sample of Eat Flowers and liked that very much, so when Sarah was offering a parfum “more” version with extra rose, violet leaf, and orris butter, I jumped. I was able to visit her studio last May and meet her and Nick, they are so nice! I hope to visit again, and see their new studio, next spring.
You’re so lucky to be able to visit her studio and try so many things! How do you like the Eat More Flowers?
Love it! But I’m very big on florals, so it’s right up my alley.
Today I wore vintage Dior Poison shared by a generous NST-er. Wow, I am the bomb! I love this plummy richness! I bought a small-ish painting at an art gallery where I really like the owner. We had a good long chat together. Then I went to Mom’s and helped her decorate a very tiny artificial tree. After that I bought myself a real tree, a Fraser fir but a tabletop size. I have about 3000 Christmas ornaments but just didn’t feel up to tackling a big tree this year, with my brother I’ll and Mom in assisted living. It’s just me and the cats here. So I’ll put lots of lights on this and choose my best ornaments.
My brother is ill. I actually corrected it twice! Grrr!
I’m sorry to hear about your family members, it’s hard to manage all that on top of holidays. The little tree will be so pretty! Oh my, vintage Poison! My mom bought that when it first came out, didn’t like it and gave it to me. I can’t believe I wore it in my 20s, it was so NOT me at the time! Enjoy!
I wore it in my early 20’s and it was glorious! I loved it.
You smell really wonderful! I’m glad you got yourself a tree. How long have you been collecting ornaments? I only have a few that were my mom’s and a few that I made when I was a child. The rest are one’s my kid’s have made.
I have a couple of ornaments from my childhood still. I began during graduate student years because at Pittsburgh they have a tall building called The Cathedral of Learning. On the ground floor are the International Rooms, each one decorated in the style of a different country (all by various Pittsburgh ethnic groups), and at Christmas each year they had a sale of Christmas ornaments from many countries. And that was 45 years ago! I also have added numerous cat ornaments over the years (of course) and been gifted with many, too. I usually love to do my tree but it just is a little sad this year.
https://www.nationalityrooms.pitt.edu/about/cathedral-learning
What a spectacular idea, is it open to the public?
Road trip worthy.
I bet your little tree will look beautiful!
I’ll post a link to a picture of it after it’s done. I did lights last night but pooped out on the decorations.
I’m sorry your brother is ill. I’m sure your little fir will be beautiful! Hugs.
So glad you still got a tree, it will look really pretty on your table. Hope you can still have a celebration of sort and wishing the best for your brother and mother.
I hope your tree brings you some joy; it sounds like the perfect size. Your ornament collection sounds amazing!
I love vintage Poison; you were smelling so great (and probably still are!)
So sorry your brother is ill. I hope the tree brings you joy.
I am sorry about your brother Calypso and hope that at least your mother is content where she is living now. I imagine that you have a heavy heart these days and I am wishing you some joy to lighten your load and fortitude for the holidays.
Some samples came in yesterday so I tested Mx by Eris and Lost in Heaven by Francesca Bianchi. Now I want both. ? Has anyone out there tested Bianchi’s other scents? Particularly Lover’s Tale and Angel Dust?
Went to a second hand book store today run by volunteers for a local church. Proceeds go to their school. I bought three books for under $10.
It’s pretty cold here today so I wore Tiger’s Nest and it was perfect!
Petunia, I have Angel’s Dust and Under My Skin. (And Lost in Heaven). Two were discounted so that’s a plus. I can send a decant of Angel’s Dust and anything else, I just need to get more decant bottles. Let me know!
Wow! It is so sweet of you to offer. emailing you.
Flopper is a very good human being. I am lucky to call her one of my dearest. Thank you, Robin!
xo
Yes Flopper was recently my secret Santa and it was amazing!
Flopper is a very good human being. I am lucky to call her one of my dearest. Thank you, Robin!
You are lucky to have each other!
Three books for $10 is a great deal! And for a good cause!
Plus, I can donate the books back to them so they can sell them again for more profit!
I’ve spent the day in L’air de Rien and finally finished off my decant. Now I can move on to the partial bottle I bought a while back. I’ve had a nice, low key Saturday. After going out last night, all my boyfriend and I have done today is go out for brunch and hang out at home. I got a good night’s sleep and am finally starting to feel back into routine after my 10 days away.
Ten days us a long time. You need a quiet weekend to relax back into daily routines.
Enjoy your down time at home!
For pear day I made stuffed acorn squash with a sautéed mixture of Korean pears, onion, oyster mushrooms, and turkey sausage. Gossshhhh it was so good!
One little spritz of Jungle L’Elephant today. It’s so good in the chilly weather.
Oh, that sounds good, too. I’m making notes about those pear pie recipes above that sounded so yummy.
Where is my fork? Yum!
Oh goodness! Yum!
Oooh, wow, sounds delicious!
Your stuffed acorn squash sounds so good! My boyfriend used to do a stuffed acorn squash with (if I remember correctly) dried cranberries, brown rice, and walnuts and served it with pork tenderloin. He still is great with cooking and flavors, but he used to have more time in the evening to go all out with cooking dinner. I will try to encourage him to go back to stuffed acorn squash every so often. We do eat delicata squash regularly in the fall/winter.
Hi all and greetings from Malaga airport. Flying back to Düsseldorf for my last week of work this year. End-of-year cost cuts mean all external folk have to finish on the 13th, which personally suits me just fine.
Fascinating to hear Lucasai mention St. Nicholas leaving presents on the 6th. I first experienced this in the Rhineland, where I saw St. Nick himself in a horse-drawn barouche in Düsseldorf. As a tradition, it just doesn’t exist in Ireland or the UK. A canny child would find some way of developing links with Germany and Spain to get presents on 06Dec, 25Dec and 06Jan.
A couple of weeks ago, to use up Nov days freed up by those client cuts, I went back to Birmingham for a daytime training course and an evening reunion of people who worked together on a big programme in Jaguar Land Rover. The Other Mister Koenigsberg joined me. It was nice, and a little strange, to visit almost as a tourist a city we lived in for so many years. TOMK walked the canals and confessed that he had missed seeing a “proper” Autumn in Malaga. (After 3 days in the North, he started to feel pain, so the decision to move is still vindicated). We met briefly with an old neighbour who works on the Chanel counter in Debenhams, which was bittersweet.
Then we went to Düsseldorf to walk through the parks and old city, stroll along the Rhine, go to the Christmas Market – all those things I just can’t be bothered to do on my own. It was a great weekend.
Perfume-wise I got a bunch of Serge Lutens decants, including Un Bois Vanille, Femininité du Bois, Vetiver Oriental and 5 o’clock au Gingembre, which are great in the cold. I have some more By Killian decants on the way. This is after several months of losing interest in perfumes, and I am looking forward to relaxing over my extended Christmas break and getting time to be me again :^)
So many travels, glad for you it will calm down for Xmas and those Lutens are great.
I still love to hear about you’re strolls with TOMK.
Your activities seem ordinary yet magical. It’s great that the time off agrees with you and you’ll be able to recharge for the new year ahead!
Sounds lovely, enjoy your rest and re-found perfume mojo!
Pears are ripening on the window sills. Like Jepster I think, I love the pear in Un Jardin sur le Toit, also in Cacharel Anais Premier Delice.
I’m starting to think about Xmas Eve menu, perhaps creamy mushrooms in pancakes.
3 more weeks in the orhopeadic boot, I just have to be patient.
3 weeks will go by quick. Do you put mushrooms in batter pancakes or potato pancakes?
Batter pancakes, my mother’s recipe but I bet potato pancakes would be delicious too. Will you cook another turkey for Xmas?
I am going to cook a ham. I’m much better pre cooked meat!
Hang in there re: that orthopedic boot!
Thank you Jalapeno, it makes walking rather awkward.
Yesterday was a fairly busy day. Went to the mall with a friend to help him pick out a gift. We stopped at Bath and Body Works. Holy crap, it was packed. I knew which candles I wanted but people wouldn’t move to get out of the way to let me get at them. They were sniffing every candle and not responding to an excuse me. People are so rude. Stayed on track and only got 5 candles and the limit was 15. People were buying much more than 15 but it was a really good sale. Spent yesterday and this morning in Lyric. I should have worn vintage Mitsouko yesterday but that will be today’s SOTD.
I was wondering how it went for you yesterday. Glad you got the one’s you wanted.
When I arrived home, my mother smelled what I got. She hated the Apple Weather, did like Winter but fell in love with Frozen Lake and had me make a run to a closer Bath and Body Works to get her a couple for her. She was undecided with the Evergreen. She had a coupon for a body wash and got a body wash for my dad.
Good for you. Maybe next time wear nuclear levels of Angel to create a scent bubble.
I don’t own any Angel but own a few others that the nuclear projection and lasting power.
Love, love, love your idea of a scent bubble! ?
LOL. They have to move away if they want to smell – problem solved ?
We (a girls overnite trip to a destination outdoor shopping mall) went to BB&B as well yesterday, and boy are you right. It was nuts there and so tightly packed with products and all the sales assistants that it made moving about impossible.
They apparently opened at 5 am!
In my favorite pear – Bill Blass Nude. I bought it in college when it was released in 1990. Thought I was the chicest thing walking at Indiana University. I had forgotten about it until Angela’s fantastic write-up nearly ten years ago: https://nstperfume.com/2010/02/01/bill-blass-nude-fragrance-review/ Bought another bottle and having been nursing it along ever since.
OK folks, since I’ve had pears on the brain I’m going to mention MY favourite pear dessert recipe. It’s just called Pears in Cream. I can send the more precise recipe to anyone who asks. You make an egg custard (it’s not really that hard) by cooking it until thick but not boiling, then flavour it with grated lemon peel and lemon juice, and cool or chill. You arrange quarters of pears on top (cooked or poached, or in worst case, good-quality canned ones), and top with crushed toasted almonds. There’s something about the combination of the creamy very lemony custard with the (admittedly grainy) pears and crunchy toasted flavoured almonds that’s just divine!!
That sounds delicious. I think I will make it tonight
Oh wow! That sounds fantastic; I can see it being a wonderful combination. I love anything lemony and would love the recipe!
No spaces.. g a i l s 7 1 8 6 in the land of gee mail dot c o m
Just sent it to you.
Got it! Thank you so very much! It sounds divine.
Wow – maybe I’ll try these recipes. Lots of great desserts here!
That dessert sounds delish! ?
Just spent the morning cleaning up a mess on Facebook, one of my friends was hacked which caused his account to send me a virus infected video, which I stupidly clicked on. It prompted me to re-log into FB, which I stupidly did, thus sending the infected video to all my contacts. I deleted FB off all my devices, changed my password and added two-step authentication, as well as sent a message to all my contacts not to open the video.
Normally I’m smarter than that, but my brain obviously wasn’t firing on all cylinders last night. :-/. Do not click on any video attachments in Facebook messenger!
Haven’t had time to shower or put on perfume yet, but I’m planning on wearing Vero Profumo Onda.
What a pain. I am glad you knew how to fix the problem.
I’m glad you said this. I got a suspicious video today and, fortunately, didn’t open it.
Wow! Great that you got it resolved!
Oh yuck on the FB hack!
THANKS for the heads up.
Four more scentless days coming up this week with chorus rehearsals and performance days, then I can wear anything. Today I’m wearing Krizia Teatro alla Scalla edt, it has a lovely civet note. The kitchen island took about four hours to put together; I could have done it quicker but I took some breaks. No problems except after fitting the top, the doors wouldn’t close, but a minor adjustment fixed it. I have loads of storage now and a little more counter space, too.
Loving the food descriptions! Tonight I’m having seared steak and potatoes fried in duck fat. One of the bonuses of having duck for Thanksgiving rather than turkey.
Congrats on the kitchen island and hurray for additional storage! Duck fat ?
Duck fat fried potatoes are ?!
Another relaxing day at home other doing the Sunday grocery shopping. I’ve spent the day in vintage Dioressence, which I believe I swapped for with the exceedingly generous flopper. Gosh, Dioressence is so wonderful. It’s a perfect cool, grey day perfume to luxuriate in at home.
In weekend purchasing news, I just bought a sale bottle of Klorane Shampoo with Desert Date from Beautyhabit. I’m chipping away at trying all of the Klorane shampoos appropriate for my hair type. For example, I don’t need to try the shampoos for blond, grey, or thinning hair. I’m hoping the date shampoo smells good and is moisturizing. It seems like it will be a good winter shampoo.
I just finished a bar of soap and switched out for new shower gel and soap that seem more weather appropriate – Molton Brown Muddled Plum and Crabtree & Evelyn Gardener’s Exfoliating Soap. Will report back after I start using all these.
Glad to hear that you had a relaxing weekend after your big trip!
Do report back on the shampoo if you think of it, because I have eyed that date one once or twice myself but have not bought yet.
I love the indie perfume Longest Night by Deconstructing Eden; listed notes are candied pears, winter spices, champagne, and polished woods, lit by beeswax candles.
It smells as amazing as it sounds, and it’s super strong! I got 15ml two years ago when Longest Night was released and I’ve barely made a dent. Highly recommended!
Never heard of Deconstructing Eden. Will need to research!
Over 300 comments this weekend? Wow, this is a hot thread. I’ll have to go back and read comments later. ?
As promised, here’s the back story about the water heater and its associated aggro. This is gonna be a LONG post. It also has some rant potential.
Wednesday, both Mr. Jalapeno and I had showers that felt a little cool even when the temperature was turned all the way up. I didn’t noticed anything weird when I did that day’s laundry, though. So that night Mr. Jalapeno checked the condition of the water heater. Pilot light was lit and OK. The controller, however, wasn’t changing the temperature of the water coming out of our faucets.
So, Mr. Jalapeno calls the water heater company, since the water heater is under their warranty. They say that someone will call him within 24 hours. Didn’t happen. When he calls back on Friday, he finds out that the service request was denied. Reason? No techs available to look at our water heater. After being on hold for an hour on Friday, he finds out that the water heater company will pay for someone else to look at our water heater. So after a few fits and starts, he is in contact with someone from Home Depot. They say they will call on Saturday to see when they can schedule someone to see us.
Jump ahead to Saturday morning. Mr. Jalapeno gets a call from the Home Depot affiliated contractor saying “Hey, we’re in your area and can be there in an hour. Is this OK?” Sure enough, a couple of guys are knocking on our front door and scaring the cats in almost exactly an hour.
These guys find out that the computerized control panel has up and died. It is only 2 years old. And it apparently has a history of being an utter piece of crap. Their parts department isn’t open on weekends, so a controller that does work will have to be ordered on Monday. It will take 2 to 4 business days for the part to come in.
So: bottom line, this water heater company sucks. But yay for Home Depot!
End rant here. On the plus side, I did some Xmas shopping at a small business today, and had a great experience at that establishment again. I am a repeat customer of theirs for good reason. ??
SOTD = Clinique Wrappings, from the sample stash and a wonderful NSTer. Someone here wore this in the last couple of days, and I thought it was a great idea.
You are fabulous in your Wrappings! I was hoping on getting another bottle of Wrappings (a BUB, but no luck so far). Maybe later this week I can sweet-talk my hubby into driving me to the OTHER outlet center when it hopefully rains.?️
I hope your water heater is fixed sooner than later!
Me too! Today’s shower was not lukewarm. ?
You have every right to rant. It is also good for the soul. The denial because there was no tech available is a piece of crap just like that controller!
Mr. Jalapeno was FURIOUS about that! And what makes it worse is that he had to call the water heater company back to discover that no one was coming. “F-minus” for customer service!
So frustrating about the water heater, hope everything happens as planned next week.
You smell really good.
What a saga…good thing, I guess, that it died while still under warranty? But hope it does not take long to get that part, it’s cold out.
I just tried a lovely all natural cream with beeswax, honey, lavender and fir resin. The most amazing comfort fragrance you could find. And non sweet to boot! Wish I could find a fragrance like this.
I just tried a lovely all natural cream with beeswax, honey, lavender and fir resin. The most amazing comfort fragrance you could find. And non sweet to boot! Wish I could find a fragrance like this.