Quick PSAs: our Arielle Shoshana Weekenders Set giveaway is still open! And the next freebiemeet will be on Saturday, January 18. There are 10 days to go in 2019, and Hanukkah starts on Sunday night.
Meanwhile, five questions for a December weekend. As always, answer as few or as many as you like, or just talk about something else.
1. What fragrance are you wearing today?
2. What's your favorite holiday (any holiday) food? (Feel free to share or link to a recipe!)
3. Did you make any perfume-related resolutions for 2019, and if so, did you stick to them?
4. Possibly related to #3, what's the next fragrance you are itching to buy?
5. Share something wonderful with us! It can be anything — something delicious you ate, a great movie you saw recently, the last good book you read, any fabulous news you recently received — really, anything.
Note: top image is Fruits - ID: 16217-202733-5293 [cropped] by S. Lurk at flickr; public domain.
1. wearing today?
Wearing another comfort scent – Dzing!
2. favorite holiday food?
Stollen for Christmas. I follow the Joy of Cooking recipe.
3. 2019 perfume resolutions?
Yes, always sample before buying and no more than $300. I think I just made it!
4. Next fragrance to buy?
Considering Memoirs of a Trespasser travel size. But also want some Hermes Poivre Samarcande. Also travel size. May have to do a split next time around!
5. Something wonderful?
Just made Chicken Marbella and put it on top of spaghetti squash. It was incredible– it’s a long time favorite – if you haven’t made it, check it out:
https://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/chicken-marbella-56389452. You can find the recipe other places as well. I usually use BLSL chicken thighs, but don’t skimp on the olives, capers and prunes. They make it wonderful.
Ooh, happy to enable, Memoirs of a Trespasser is definitely on my top ten favorites list. And I’m impressed that you bake your own stollen!
I love my stollen. So if I want it, I have to make it! ;D
My dad used to make it for Christmas, so it has a special meaning as well.
My dad used to love to eat it for Christmas, so I understand the special meaning.
Oh! I will be definitely in for a Poivre Samarcande split whenever you do it!
Excellent! I’ll make a note.
That recipe looks amazing, thank you! (But what are BLSL chicken thighs?)
Boneless skinless, I think.
Yep
Ah, I figured it out and bought ingredients at Kroger, and it’s marinading now! Ironically, it turns out I have the original Silver Palate cookbook, but have never made this. I’m going to make rice pilaf as a side, and roast Brussels sprouts. What do you like to serve with it?
That sounds great – I’ve served with lots of different sides – bread, rice or potatoes to sop up the yummy sauce and usually a veg like broccoli (I’d love Brussels sprouts with it, but Mr SP isn’t a fan). And as I mentioned, recently used spaghetti squash as the base and liked that, too.
Me too Calypso. I can’t wait to try this one. I’ll have to look for an eggplant caponata as well.
Do you put marzipan in your stollen?
I don’t but I do include sliced almonds!
Yum ?
Ah, my mom used to make Chicken Marbella for holidays as well. I can’t think of the last time we had it but it was just absolutely delicious.
It’s truly wonderful. Raises chicken to a new level.
I will make you a 10ml decant of Memoirs of a Trespasser next time we get together, so save your purchasing for PS!
And that recipe looks delicious. I’ve bookmarked it and already told my boyfriend he should try to make it soon.
Thanks S! Yes, let me know how it turns out if he does make it.
Very impressive, homemade stollen!
Stollen is so moreish.
Oh my, that chicken looks divine. Saving that recipe.
1. I’m not wearing anything yet this morning, but later I will be testing Bapteme du Feu (I blind bought a couple of SL travel sprays from Fragrancenet).
2. My favorite holiday food is Bo Ssam. I started making it a few years ago, and now it is my standby for feeding a crowd, or 3-4 of my girlfriends (we like to eat).
3. No resolutions for me, in regard to perfume. I go through phases, in which I don’t buy, buy a little, blind buy, or buy extravagant. I’m not sure what determines which phase I’m in, and I don’t have much inclination these days to expend energy on figuring it out.
4. I am patiently waiting for Ginestet to re-issue Botrytis, so’s I can finally buy a full bottle.
5. a. I finished the Ruth Galloway series, thanks to y’all’s recommendations, and it was good fun; b. my hip flexor strains (both legs) are slowly healing, so I’m not waddling as much when I walk; c. I’m getting a massage today; and d. I’m on winter break!
Aren’t those fragrancenet travel sprays amazing? I love that they are doing this!!
It’s really marvelous. They give you so much more testing “room” – and some of them are very affordable.
After that recent discussion of Ruth Galloway, I realized she’d published another earlier this year that I missed. Just finished it, great fun.
I’ve just started on the Magic Men series. She’s fairly prolific, which is helpful.
2) Bo Ssam is on my list to make!
4) Do we know if Ginestet is planning to reissue Botrytis? (*hopes*)
5) Ruth Galloway series goes on list – thanks!
Have you also read Deborah Crombie’s series about Gemma James? Also very enjoyable.
springpansy, send me an email (lisadarty in the land of the haute mayle). I’ve got my adapted Bo Ssam recipe at the ready, and also a half-full travel spray of Poivre Samarcande that has your name on it (I think I got it in a swap, and it is lovely, but doesn’t work so well for me in the dry down).
I emailed Luckyscent about 6 months ago, asking if they had or knew of any Botrytis stock available, and they replied, saying that they believed Ginestet was re-packaging. Let’s hope that doesn’t include a reformulation, as well.
I will look for the Gemma James series, thanks!
Sent and email, thanks so much!
AN email
Yay for all of your #5s!
Hello all!
I am wearing Taklamakan today. It is one of my go to winter cozy, snuggly perfume.
My favorite Christmas dessert is Panettone.
I finally bought a bottle of Tom Ford Cafe Rose after having used up many samples and decants of it.
I came upon a very pleasant surprise after recently trying Masque Milano l’Attesa and Tango. I like both well enough to buy full bottles. Something to look forward to next year.
Have a lovely weekend everybody!
Ah Panettone! I love that too….
L’Atessa ????
SOTM is Kyoto, partly because I have a haircut appointment this morning and wanted to go light on fragrance, and partly because I’ve been awake since about 2 a.m. with a bad headache and needed soothing. My favorite holiday food? Mmmm, probably pumpkin pie, preferably with a little dab of real whipped cream. Yum.
I can’t recall whether I made a perfume-related resolution last year, but if I did it was probably to use what I already own … and that will be this year’s resolution, for sure. Not itching to buy anything at the moment, but if I were to stumble across a vintage bottle of Tabac Blond extrait or SL De Profundis for a semi-reasonable price, I would definitely reach for my wallet.
For something wonderful … I’m over halfway through painting my little home office (finally!), AND have finally settled on the paint for the bedroom. Both have been multi-year projects, and I’m very happy with how they are turning out.
Hope your head feels better SheriG, and congrats on your projects.
We are hair appointment and wake up with headache twins today!
One spray of SSS incense pure.
Made it through all work related gifts, parties and lunches without breaking diet rules. That was easier than I thought.
Well, I’m simultaneously happy and sad for you. Oh, and we’re incense twins too! You smell lovely.
Hope your headache is gone today!
1. Box of Eels
2. Stuffing. Not dressing, stuffing.
3. None whatsoever.
4. It’s a very long list, but I’m short on space and dinero, so they will all remain on the list.
5. Don’t know if most would qualify it as “good,” but I do. The last 4-5 night I’ve been sleeping very well and having many, many dreams. Dreams that I remember when I wake. All the dreams about coyotes. Coyotes and me. Coyotes and T-Rex. Coyotes and coyotes… most likely because they’re very vocal in this area and I fall asleep to them yipping, howling, and laughing almost every night. I hope I get to see one up close. Preferably when T-Rex is not with me so I don’t have to worry about them sizing her up for snack time. ?
House twins!
I love to read about peoples dreams!
Me too! At one point I was very big into interpreting them as well. I had a fabulous book I used and found it fascinating and oddly spot on. ?
Me too, my H took the psychology of sleep and dreams when we were in college. I wish I had, it’s odd that I didn’t since I was the psychology major!?
Oh, 4-5 nights in a row of good sleep. That’s not just good, that is GREAT.
Isn’t it just?! It’s rare that it happens, so I’m attributing it to the coyote lullaby. ?
I hear the coyotes quite often in my neighborhood. I have to admit it kind of freaks me out.
Yes, I think most people feel that way.
Coyotes howling doesn’t bother me nearly as much as hyenas. That was terrifying.
I’m reading a book you might enjoy: Coyote America by Dan Flores. Fascinating and well written account of the history, natural science, and lore of the coyote.
Oh, I’m going to google that. I love stuff like that!
Currently reading a book I found at a NPS gift shop about ruins in the southeastern US.
Lemmmmmmming! On the purchase for hubby list it goes – and then me!
What is the difference between dressing and stuffing? I thought they were just regional variations in terminology.
My understanding is stuffing goes inside the bird. Dressing is cooked separate from the bird. I call it all stuffing personally, just from having grown up with that terminology.
Exactly. Stuffing is from the inside of the bird, and dressing is cooked in a separate pan altogether.
Aha, thanks. I call it all stuffing too, no matter how it is cooked.
Me too. I also use the terms “icing” and “frosting” interchangeably, even though I know enough hardcore bakers to know the difference.
I’m wearing Boucheron edp. I imagine that vintage smells wonderful but I like this modern version a lot, it reminds me of very expensive cold cream.
Oh, I listed a few things on Poshmark finally and made two sales in two days!
My mother’s date pinwheel cookies made with black walnuts. I keep thinking I’ll bake some but they’re a lot of work, my uncle that kept me supplied with black walnuts is long gone and mom can’t eat them anymore anyway
No resolutions.
Just a couple of samples, Zoologist Bee for one.
You guys all know what movies I’ve been enjoying
My father when he was alive did a few drops of the Boucheron for men after he shaved.
I remember smelling the female version with him when I was young and I remember it being a powerhouse. You smell wonderful
We used to pick black walnuts as well as hickory nuts in Michigan. Very hard to shell, but delicious. Those cookies sound fabulous.
Wrappings body lotion….I am mad about this stuff!!! Sooooo good!
Anything that involves marzipan
No buys
Not really itching for anything but do plan on buying the Wrapping set next Black Friday so that I can wear it again next December
Two of the mini Marzipans are home now ????
Um… Macy’s has the Wrappings gift set on sale today. Sorry, don’t hate me?
LOL ? ?
I am going to use what I have for now. Next year I know I will get a good Black Friday deal. This way I won’t have to store it for a whole year.
Oh and Clinique also has it on sale AND you get to choose a full size product as a gift. Still sitting on my hands though.
Please, keep sitting on your hands. That sale has been going on since Black Friday. You might get a better sale next year! ?
Enjoy having mini marzipans home!! Does RN marzipan have Christmas off?
Sadly no. She is working Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday night ….7 pm to 7 am. Plus side, I think she gets double time for Christmas Eve and Christmas day ?
Sometimes you can find that body lotion on Amazon for under $10!
I am just going to enjoy what I have and sit on my hands for now ?
Happy weekend everyone! Is Christmas just around the corner?
1. What fragrance are you wearing today?
Enjoying myself wearing Dusita Splendiris.
2. What’s your favorite holiday food?
I love Christmas salad, borscht and fried pierogi that my mom makes.
As to sweet things nothing can beat a gingerbread or a good cheesecake.
3. Did you make any perfume-related resolutions for 2019, and if so, did you stick to them?
No resolutions here
4. What’s the next fragrance you are itching to buy?
Amouage Love Mimosa, but I’ll wait until it gets much cheaper online.
5. Share something wonderful with us!
Yesterday was my last working day in 2019. No work until 7th of January!
Borscht! How does your mom make it — lots of meat, or beet-heavy? I love both.
Beets, no meat as for Christmas Eve we don’t eat meat.
Ok, I’m reading bottom up, and I read your post as
Beats no meat! Lol, I was thinking what the heck is this thread about ?
Haha, that is not what I meant. Borscht has no meat in it.
I figured it out!?
Enjoy your time off!
I will!
Enjoy your time off!
Thank you.
Your Christmas meal sounds delicious and I would eat that every day, really. I did try a new pierogi restaurant that recently opened in my neighborhood. It was really delicious. Enjoy your holiday time off!
It is a special meal indeed. But as with all edible things – it takes so long to prepare and so little to eat all up.
I really like several of the Dusitas…
What is a Christmas salad?
Yay for your holiday break! And your mom’s food sounds delicious.
1. Wearing Clinique Wrappings today. It was a blind buy on Black Friday and I am loving it!!!! I need to have this in my collection permanently.
2. Any dessert makes a favorite food. I love Bread Pudding, Bûche de Noël, Panettone, Spanish Flan…..
3. I could not stick with my “no buy” perfume resolution for 2019. I really hope to be able to stick to it in 2020. Crossing fingers! ??
4. Right now I don’t have any itching to buy anything. However, I have been missing Comme des Garçon Kyoto a lot lately.
5. I will be in the kitchen later this afternoon making some desserts for our family gathering on Christmas Eve: Dulce de Leche gelatin and sugar cookies. On Christmas Eve I will make chocolate covered bacon and chocolate covered fruits.
I know how you feel! My mom and I also have been talking about Kyoto recently…
Gorgeous perfume without any doubt!
Hope to be able to visit the city some day!
I’d love to visit the spiritual places in Japan too!
Scent ?!!!!
Don’t we smell great? Lol ?
I am coming to your house for all that good food!! Flan and chocolate covered bacon? Yum yum yum ?
We do smell fantastic! Wish I could send you some of my desserts, but you can always come over! ???
One day I will ?
And vice versa ?
You are smelling fabulous, glad you got Wrappings! It was a blind buy for me as well and love it too! My buc (back up collection) is on the way to me. It’s fantastic!
We will be taking twins today; chocolate covered bacon sounds brilliant!
Thank you! Isn’t a gorgeous fragrance? I am already planning to get more Wrappings next year. It will be a staple in my collection for the holidays and winter season.
Chocolate covered bacon has been a favorite dessert for us on Christmas eve. It is the only time of the year when we indulge in some.
I am with you on the staple in my collection!
I got Wrappings when it was first released and had it almost every Christmas season in the 1990s. But then forgot about it. Not anymore! I will make sure to have some for every December ?
Please tell me about Wrappings – is this a green/piney fragrance or completely different?
It is a very green, fresh, woody aldehydic scent with a gorgeous citrusy opening. The drydown is pretty dry. I find it aromatic. Very unusual and perfect for winter time. Great sillage and longevity.
Haha. I’ve been contemplating a Wrappings blind purchase for literally years. It sounds great! Now I’ve decided to try not to buy any new perfume ever again. I don’t know how well I’ll be able to stick to that, but it does suggest it’ll be a very long time since I get to try Wrappings
I’m thrilled by how well it’s working out for you.
???NO new perfume? Very wise, but still…
That’s the goal! We shall see how well I succeed.
By the way, I sent you an email about sending you a decant a while ago (maybe a month?). Let me know if you would like it!
I second springpansy’s emoji lol
Hope you succeed in your no buy! You already have a great collection to enjoy!
Thank you! Sending you good no-buy support vibes, too! And you’re right, I definitely do
I tried flan for the first time ever this year. I really liked it. As far as I know, it was just regular flan.
We love flan and we always try our best to have some for Christmas. ???
Pumpkin flan is our traditional Xmas dessert. (And is the best breakfast in the world.)
Pumpkin flan is so delicious! And it is perfect for breakfast, lunch, dinner, snack, etc, etc, etc. ? I can go crazy eating it!
Ummm… I think buche de noel is the best breakfast in the world.
Possibly whatever dessert you have on hand and shouldn’t have for breakfast, but have for breakfast anyway, is the best
I love a good flan, too ?
They are so delicious!
Gorgeous stuff, Wrappings is!
Gorgeous, indeed!
1. 31 RC
2. Anything with chocolate
3. I don’t understand this question..
4. Niente.
5. I received a nice large box of Maison du Chocolate from a friend.
I am waiting from two books from the library to come in. One is On Earth we are Briefly Gorgeous and my Italian teacher wants me to read (in English) Agostino by Moravia. Right now we are baking homemade bread and I am making soup…
Since I am wearing 31RC , is there a difference between the EdT and the EdP? I finished my EdT and a generous NSTer sent me some EdP.
31 RC EDT is sublime. My son ” borrowed” my large decant and thunked it. I don’t know how EDP compares.
thanks for your input. I did like the EdT, but to my nose the EdP is the same, but I can’t do a side by side comparison.
Ooo….that is good to know!!
1. What am I wearing today?
I can still smell last night’s perfume on my clothes, Remember Me from Jovoy. I think my morning walk might just happen to take me past a place where I can do some sniffing, so I can’t say yet what I might wear today.
2. Favourite holiday food
Apart from all the usual turkey and desserts, I associate cherries with Christmas. I’ve already eaten a lot this season, and plan to eat a lot more.
3. Perfume-related resolutions
I told myself I wouldn’t buy stupid amounts, but that’s a very flexible notion
4. What perfume am I itching to buy?
Already bought it! I ordered a bottle of Serge Lutens’ reasonably new Participe Passé from Fragrancenet a few days ago.
5. Something wonderful
I got a new job! That is also a bit scary, but I’m very relieved, as restructuring means my current job will disappear at the end of January. The interview was weeks ago, the whole process took ages, and I’d pretty much given up on it, but it all happened in a rush on Thursday. I should probably thank Chanel for their contribution – I’m sure that wearing 31 Rue Cambon to the interview added to my desirability as an employee
Congratulations on the new job!
Remember Me is beautiful.
Congrats on the new job!
Congrats on the new job! I recently tried 31 Cambon in edp which I liked a lot better than the EDT.
Good to know – I am looking forward to sampling the EDP at Nordstrom and need to get there and DO IT.
Congrats on the new job!
Congratulations!
Congrats on the new job!? Change can be scary, but as my mom told me recently, “sometimes the most difficult roads lead to magical places.”
Congrats! That’s amazing!
Yay!!
Congratulations!
Congratulations!
Wonderful, Gaynor, now you can relax and enjoy the holidays.
Congrats! I’m sure the Rue Cambon was only a cherry on top. Best of luck!
Great job news! Congratulations!
Congrats on the job!
I’m wearing Byredo 1996 today. 2019’s resolution was to not buy any more perfume. I did somewhat okay until November then completely fell off the wagon. My resolution for 2020 is not to buy any perfume from February through October.
I do have a few bottles on the list for January, then will take a break until Black Friday in November.
Holiday foods are pannettone, marzipan and dark chocolate. The best thing I can think of is 2019 being over. It’s been emotionally difficult with lots of big financial bumps. Looking forward to a smoother, more joy-filled 2020.
Marzipan!!!!!
I hear you on the 2019….will be happy to kick this year to the curb.
Me too, and I felt the same about 2018. Crossing my fingers for 2020.
???
We are kind of in the same boat. Perfume frenzy has been taking hold of me these past few months. I do need to stop in 2020. At least for a while.
Mmm…or marzipan in dark chocolate!
Me too on 2019, don’t let the door hit you on the way out. Hoping we can all take the strength we gained and make 2020 better.
Seconds on that smoother, more joy-filled 2020!
I love 1996, the only Byredo that has worked for me so far. You smell great! And hear hear to a better 2020!?
Yeah, I won’t be upset to see the last of 2019 either.
Wearing the eternally peaceful Sacrebleu, because it was mentioned yesterday. My Hiram Green samples arrived today so I’m trying Voyage 2019 as well. It is great.
Yes, Sacrebleu. So beautiful!
It is. Also one of my favourite reviews in The Guide.
1. what fragrance am i wearing today?
Olibanum by Profumum. I should buy a bottle of this.
2. what’s my favorite holiday food?
Well I’m the kind of person who curates a collection of my favorite things about everything, so I can’t choose just one, because I have a favorite for each holiday. Since it’s almost Christmas, my favorite Christmas food is…homemade mince pie. I love it. Everyone else I know hates it, so that’s probably why it’s my favorite. Dark chocolate flavored with orange is a close second.
Perfume resolutions for 2019?
I had resolved to purchase more from the small producers who focus on quality and art. I got a Zoologist travel set and a bottle of Bogue MAAI but my other purchases didn’t really satisfy that.
What’s the next fragrance I will buy?
Despite my resolution, I need Borneo 1834. I used the last of my second decant and I don’t ever want to be without it.
Share something wonderful!
Not sure if this measures up to wonderful, but: A month ago my brother and sister-in-law had a baby boy, so I have a nephew. Ok that part’s pretty wonderful ?
My brother always comes up with nicknames for everyone’s pets, and babies, and now he’s done the same for his son. After trying out some other drafts (Snugget, Uggins) he has chosen Chubbles. I joked “you should probably ease up on that or that’ll be his first word, or think that’s his name”; and he gets this weird look and says, “Oh so when I sang him an entire song where the only words were ‘Chubbles chubbles, chubbles…’, I probably shouldn’t do that?” I have no idea because I’m not a parent, but it’s funny to think about!
Lol, babies are wonderful. Congratulations on your nephew!
Hehehe. Congrats on the nephew! Chubbles is a great nickname.
Great news about your new nephew. I too love the dark chocolate with orange combination.
Yay for mince pie. My mom used to make it and I LOVED it. I need to take over the tradition now.
I have never had it! I have never even seen it served in my presence, anywhere ever, that I can remember.
It’s old school (British origin I think) and way way back used to contain chopped meat and suet. My mom used a jar of Crosse and Blackwell Mincemeat filling–dried fruits + spices–and then added more apples to it (I grew up on an apple orchard), so our version was appley mincemeat, no meat. Then my dad made hard sauce to go with it which he made with butter, sugar and rum. So rich and so delicious.
My mother now tells me that she made mincemeat pie when I was little, and my sisters and I wouldn’t eat it.
I love mince pies too, and the UK where I live is mincepie country.
Not sure if it’s still there, but the Barney’s website had Borneo on sale!
Congratulations on your new nephew! ?
I’m in a bit of a mish-mash of scents today. First thing I thunked the rest of a Commodity Orris sample on one wrist, and a few sprays of Hirls on the other. I also applied some L’Occitane Fig hand cream.
We went to get groceries and baking supplies. Made a quick stop at Shoppers Drug Mart and sampled Dior Poison Girl on one wrist and Dune on the other.
I would like to make my Mom’s cabbage rolls (with sour cabbage, rice and bacon); it reminds me of my Grandma and Christmas!
No resolutions here, I know me better than that! Although I should enjoy why I have, which is more than plentiful.
One of the movies we watched recently on holidays was Rocket Man. I really enjoyed it more than I thought I would. Elton John is such an amazing talent and it’s so nice that he finally found the person he deserves. On the plane home, I also watched a movie on Coco Chanel as a young girl and then to her relationship with Boy Capel.
I love cabbage rolls and have never made them.
Haven’t seen either of those movies but they both sounds like ones I’d enjoy!
I love cabbage rolls he have never attempted them. I bet your mom and grandma’s were delicious.
1. What fragrance are you wearing today?
I started the day with Elizabeth W Te, because I find it comforting. I have a sinus Situation going on, so I chose something that wouldn’t aggravate it.
2. What’s your favorite holiday (any holiday) food? (Feel free to share or link to a recipe!)
A current favorite is the Big Soft Ginger Cookies recipe at allrecipes.com. Just what it says, and it’s delightful. This year, I added sparkly sprinkles after rolling the dough balls in sugar to make them fancier. (Not a hard recipe at all, but do pay attention to the comments posted beneath the recipe instructions. The recipe doesn’t call for it, but you can’t work the dough without chilling it frequently)
3. Did you make any perfume-related resolutions for 2019, and if so, did you stick to them?
I don’t believe I made any resolutions, but the only bottle I bought was a replacement. I bought a few decants, and only a few samples. Lack of spending here wasn’t so much a function of intent; it was more to do with nothing much catching my attention.
4. Possibly related to #3, what’s the next fragrance you are itching to buy?
Can’t think of anything at the moment, but that changes fairly regularly. I can usually just wait it out. I think the last couple things I noodled were Kyoto and Chanel Venise.
5. Share something wonderful with us! It can be anything — something delicious you ate, a great movie you saw recently, the last good book you read, any fabulous news you recently received — really, anything.
-See #2 above
-I’m planning to make more holiday cookies Monday, and I’m looking forward to it!
Those ginger cookies look great!
1. Wearing today?
Still pouring rain here, so I am in the festive and cheerful Bombay Bling, reading reviews of “Cats” the movie and laughing out loud. When the critics unleash the puns, you know the movie is a turkey.
2. My favorite holiday (any holiday) food?
When I was young and very poor, I started all-you-can-eat shrimp on Christmas Eve. It was in the days before farmed shrimp and improved fishing methods, so shrimp were very expensive. Now they are everywhere but I still keep to the habit. I also make a Sachertorte from the recipe in The Joy of Cooking, 1972 edition (this edition still has instructions for cooking bear, ‘possum, raccoon, muskrat, woodchuck, and other woodland creatures).
3. Did you make any perfume-related resolutions for 2019, and if so, did you stick to them?
No resolutions in 2019, and none for 2020 either.
4. Possibly related to #3, what’s the next fragrance you are itching to buy?
I’m not itching to buy anything; I’m a smell it, buy it immediately sort of person. I’d like to smell Bee, I haven’t had the chance yet.
5. Share something wonderful with us!
Here is this Christmas’s shrimp, if you like smoked paprika it’s delicious: https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=11&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=2ahUKEwiZyaaPycfmAhUUvp4KHQcRDDwQFjAKegQIBhAB&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.realsimple.com%2Ffood-recipes%2Fbrowse-all-recipes%2Fsmoked-paprika-shrimp-creamy-couscous&usg=AOvVaw1RlijD4ZPVjb-pTbX9u3hN
Yum for the Christmas shrimp.
I saw CATS the musical this year, it was so fun!
That recipe sounds intriguing! We always used to go get fresh shrimp at the market on the wharf in Galveston when my dad was still alive. We’d cook and chill them and eat them in shrimp cocktail for Christmas Eve. So delicious! I miss that. Plus, you had to fight off the pelicans who were wandering in and out of the shop getting tidbits!
I am a big fan of smoked paprika!
I need to read those “Cats” reviews ? I watched a few clips and I can see where they might be going with those reviews.
Thanks for the recipe link! ?
I love your “all you can eat shrimp” story!
Today I’m wearing Shea Moisture Frankincense and Myrrh Body Lotion on my legs and L’Erbolario Meharees perfume. Meharees is related to Musc Ravageur to me. I wore this combo because I was supposed to have brunch with a friend, and she really likes the scent of the lotion. I figured she’d enjoy Meharees too. Sadly, she isn’t feeling well today, so we cancelled our plans. I was bummed but kind of relieved because I woke too early and couldn’t fall back asleep plus have had a headache upon waking. It’s also pretty gross outside. We’ve had constant heavy rain the last days. I think it’s supposed to ease up tonight.
Favorite holiday foods are New Years cabbage rolls and Thanksgiving pecan pie.
I think I was just trying to cut back on buying perfume this past year. I’ve had mixed success, but I’ve definitely had a much better 4th quarter than I had last year.
Still considering Fum Ariose, but I may end up buying Fum Nerola in early January if it’s still on sale.
This may sound more miserly than wonderful, but I’m so excited to not have to go to any holiday gatherings this year. We usually go to my aunt and uncle’s house, but they’re spending this Christmas in Austin, TX with my aunt’s daughter. Their friends come to the Christmas get together, and one of the friends was really obnoxious last year. It made me immed immediately dread seeing them again, so I’m glad for this year’s reprieve. I look forward to a quiet holiday!
I kinda failed on my first attempt at posting something wonderful (sorry, not feeling great today so having a harder time finding wonderfulness), so let me try again.
I’ve had great luck with candles lately and am having the “problem” of a long list of candles I want to buy. I’m finally comfortable paying $30-$40 for a candle, so I’ve been enjoying new to me brands. Favorites this season are Keap Wood Cabin and Northlands (both composed by Christophe Laudamiel), D.L. & Co. Cakewalk and Boston Tea Party, and Boy Smells Ash. I recently bought but haven’t burned yet Otherland Black Velvet.
Oooh, nice – tell us more when you feel better. Maybe mini-reviews?
Keap has very high quality candles, and they burn down so perfectly so by the end you don’t have any extra wax leftover. I love that about them. Wood Cabin is smoky and woodsy with fresh evergreens. Northlands is straight up evergreens in winter. I also got a tester tin of the January subscribtion scent, Library, that I haven’t burned yet. But I’m pretty sure I’ll like it too. From just sniffing at it, I get inky animalic leather.
The D.L. & Co historical collection is really hard to find now because I think they were discontinuing it as I discovered it a year or so ago. Cakewalk is like a perfect vanilla candle. It’s not grossly sweet like Yankee. It smells like vanilla cake butter with a nuttiness. When I’ve burned it, it reminds me of a perfume that I can’t recall right now.
Boston Tea Party is a strange one. It’s briney sea water and tea, but it smells much better while burning than you’d expect.
How is Ash when it’s burned? I was contemplating that one…
Wood Cabin smells nice- I think Keap raised their prices (?). For some reason I remember them being in the $30 range and now I see they are in the $40’s.
Some of my recent candle purchases were kind of meh, but I’m loving the BS Hinoki Fantome!
I’ve only burned Ash once so far to test out how it burns and how much throw the scent has. It seemed to smell just like it does unburied, which is strong! I’ll have to burn it again soon, but I’m hooked on my Keap candles, as they are very seasonally appropriate. I just finished Wood Cabin yesterday. They did raise their prices by $10. If you are a subscriber like me (I’m getting one candle every other month), a candle is $39. If you don’t subscribe, it’s $49. I had already subscribed when they announced the price increase and of course was already hooked on the candle quality and scents.
Oh and meant to ask which of your recent candle buys have been just meh?
The other Boy Smells I will probably end up buying very soon from Need Supply Co. (I think you posted recently about buying BS candles from them) during their sale are Ambrosia and Dynasty. I smelled them in person over the summer and remember liking both of them, so I figured I might as well buy them both. I’m also curious about Mssr. Blanchy, Gardener, Redhead, and Cedar Stack. They’re all also available at NSC.
My meh ones were from Brooklyn Candle Co. They don’t smell bad, they’re just less exciting than I was hoping for- a bit non descript. And one of them has almost no throw. They are nicely packaged with double wicks so at least they look pretty.
I have Cedar Stack. It’s kind of wood-cabin-holiday-ish with a nice saw dust smell. I liked Redhead. Gardener I think was a little too vegetal for me, IIRC, a lot of celery. I also like St. Al.
I came across a candle company yesterday at an artisan fair (Harlem Heirloom candles) and their Santal candle is a dead-ringer for the Le Labo Santal and *much* cheaper. I told the guy that and he snickered and said “yeah, I know”, lol. In case anyway likes that smell, like I do.
I’ll also confess I bought Otherland Black Velvet mainly because the design on the candle reminds me of the pivotal blue iris in the original Suspiria movie. ?
As an introvert, I totally understand being excited about getting to stay home from a holiday gathering.
Wearing Oribe Côte d’Azure, Blv II, thank you NST friend!, a mini of La Vie est Belle I won.
I’m seriously finished buying anything as of today. I am committed to using up what I have and swapping/donating what I don’t love.
Favorite holiday food would be the usual: turkey, dressing, cranberry sauce. I love a marzipan stollen.
I love marzipan stollen too
Congrats on being done with buying
I tell myself I have, too, but I will see how well I hold to that resolution.
I want to be done with buying, but I’m afraid I won’t be able to hold that resolution. My interim solution will be a long break from February to October. I’m hoping that a long break will help me appreciate what I have and let go of the desire for more.
1. Winter Palace for now, but will switch to 31RC post-shower because, having read everyone’s comments, I am lemming it.
2. I cannot identity a favorite, but this year am making springerle (German anise cookies) for the first time ever. No one in my family has made them since probably the early 1980s, and I’ve just discovered that while my aunt and I each thought the other had the family springerle board, neither of us does. But there are new-made replicas to be had. My cookies are drying, and I will bake them tomorrow and taste them on Christmas — probably too soon, but I will not be able to wait. Anyway, they were always part of my childhood Christmases, made by my grandmother, and I am curious to see what I think, nearly 40 years later.
3. No resolutions, but like others, am trying to use what I have.
4. Winter Palace. Still. But the price — nope.
5. I’m going to Ireland! I will lead a semester program there in spring ‘21, if Brexit doesn’t ruin it. This term will give me an opportunity to develop on of my two newer scholarly interests and, I hope, yield a book. Fingers crossed! It is a long way off, I know.
Wow, your number 5 sounds amazing! I hope you have wonderful time!
It is amazing! Thank you! I wrote a really solid proposal, but didn’t think I had much of a chance because Ireland is not remotely my area of specialization, so I am feeling pretty happy about being selected.
Love the cookies and yay for your wonderful Ireland news!
Those springerle boards are so pretty. I have been tempted to buy a modern version, just because of the intricate pattern (I’ve never had a springerle cookie).
My grandma used to make them. Tbh, they weren’t my favourite as a kid, I suppose the anise put me off. But I remember how pretty they were, and how painstaking to make. This post reminds me to wonder whether my aunt has her springerle board; probably so.
I’m wearing Bengale Rouge today…thanks for the split!! So excited.
Lots of favorite holiday foods. Generally in the dessert category. Stollen, pumpkin pie, panettone. I wish I had my mom’s recipe for a frozen salad she used to make. None of us could find it.
2019 resolution was to not buy but instead use up samples. Unsuccessful in that I did make some modest purchases, but I did use up some samples also. Will continue for 2020.
Which means…nothing in the list to buy for 2020.
Wonderful….hmmm….I think I’m happy I’ve lost weight and feel more in control in that area. Goal in 2020 is to build strength and muscle. Tough day at home, though, the kitty we wanted to adopt went to another home. I’m okay, because it sounds like a great fit. My husband is heartbroken…he fell in love.
So sorry about the kitty <3
(But congrats on the weight loss and good luck with the strength/muscle-building!)
Awww, so sorry about not getting the kitty. I hope he falls in love with another! I watched a bunch of people trying to get a kitten out from the bowels of an SUV the other day. It was stressful just watching, but they got it! A little tuxedo, maybe 4-6 weeks old. I really was tempted to take it home…
This one’s for you –
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b-ELMKkHEDU
Haha! That’s hilarious and adorable ?
1. Chanel no. 5 L’eau. Trying to decide if it is a suitable fill in until I get a bottle of Eau Premiere.
2. Swedish meatballs!? A few years ago my mom brought them for Christmas Eve dinner and they were a huge hit with my family, so now they have become tradition. I will make the meatballs from one of my beloved granny’s recipes, which feels especially fitting this year. Favorite cookie is peanut butter blossoms. One of the perks of having almost grown daughters is that they can do the baking.
3. I don’t remember if I made any resolutions, but if I did, I probably didn’t stick to them….so, probably shouldn’t make resolutions.?♀️
4. Right now, Eau Premiere or 10 Corso Como, but that could change in a couple of months.
5. 1- My kids will be home for Christmas and they are all healthy and happy. Time with them is always the gift I am most grateful for.
2- I have a job I interview on New Year’s Eve for a position that sounds like my dream job. I’m both excited and nervous.? I’m trying not to get ahead of myself. If it was meant to be then it will all work out.
We finally got our tree today! This is the latest we’ve ever gotten one but I wanted to wait until my older daughter was home from college. Today is the last day the tree farm is open, lol, so I guess we really did wait until the last possible minute.
You smell great. I greatly prefer l’Eau to l’Eau Première
PB blossoms are SO good. I have never been able to replicate the flavor that my mother’s version had — that would have been early/mid 1970s. I don’t know what I am doing wrong; perhaps it is down to the different peanut butter? Anyway, how great that your children are enjoying baking and can contribute to the holiday table.
I’m excited for you, I hope you get your dream job!
And happy ” the days start getting longer, it’s almost spring ” to you!?
Thanks lillyjo! I’ve heard the birds chirping for the past two morning, I think this 50 degree weather is confusing them.
Fingers crossed for that job and enjoy the holidays with your children.
Thanks!
Fingers crossed for you on the job! What kind of job is it?
Enjoy the kids! ?
Thanks! I have a specialized certification in my field and it would be getting away from bedside nursing-which I’ve been wanting to do for the last few years- and focusing just on my specialty in both the in and outpatient setting, 8-4:30, every 6th weekend.? Trying to remain cautiously optimistic and not get too hopeful.
Oh, that does sound like a dream. I’ve been a 9-5er (no weekends or holidays), away from direct care for 5 years now, and while I miss aspects of direct care, I do not miss all the stress that came with it. I really hope you get it!! ????
Enjoy your family time and best of luck for the job!
Thanks!
1. Ginger Piccante, courtesy of a very kind NSTer. Thank you! It is exactly what I had dreamed of!
2. Stovetop stuffing. Not even kidding. I could eat a whole box in one sitting if no one were watching. I love almost all stuffing, but the humble Stovetop is my favorite.
3. I did! I vowed not to buy anything until I had reached certain health goals, and I managed it. Even after having reached those goals in early summer, I’ve kept my purchases down to a minimum, aided by the fact that I bought a house this year and frankly ought to be pinching those pennies. Also, every time I look over my collection, I realize that I have more perfume than god (and by “god” in this context, clearly I just mean ~30% of NSTers).
4. Well gosh, I have quite a long list, having been remarkably reserved with my purchases this year. Maybe Heeley Note de Yuzu, or Masque Milano l’Attesa? I don’t think I will get either anytime soon, though.
5. I’m done going in to the office for the year! Oh my goodness. This past month has been truly nuts at work. Actually, I’ll have to spend some time working remotely over my break, but today, I’m just spending the day baking/cooking/making presents: caramels, meringues, chocolate-dipped confit citrus peels, toffee, flavored sugars and salts. I got up early to get an energetic start, and I am quite tired already (it’s just 2pm here!), but I feel very accomplished.
I hope you are all well and that the holiday season is looking good for you.
I love Stove Top too!
And LAtessa ?
Good stuff both
just wish the latter were cheaper!
Agree!! The price went up too last I looked ?
Haha! I actually like Stove Top, too ?
That’s so good to hear! I’ve spent years embarrassed to like an out-of-a-box food, but now that I’m older, I’m more comfortable with my tastes, however high- or lowbrow they are
The hipsters have revitalized Velveeta, so low-brow is right on trend ? And you shouldn’t care ??
Have they really? I have been meaning to try Velveeta, which I haven’t done as an adult. It looks terribly tasty.
Hi Koyel – love this post. Good for you for achieving health goals + minimal buying. Can you tell me how you make your chocolate dipped orange peels? LOVE orange and esp with chocolate.
Thanks, springpansy <3 Absolutely! I love it too and it's so fantastically expensive to buy. Around here, you buy a little jar of twenty or so sticks for $15. I'd rather make a big batch and give them as presents
1. Peel off the peel, cut it into strips (~0.5 cm wide), and carve out the pith with a sharp knife. (Or, if you're better with a peeler than I am, use that to isolate the outside layer of the peel.)
2. Bring a pot of water with a generous pinch of salt to a boil and blanche the peels for 4 min. Toss them into an ice water bath. Throw out the boiling water. Bring a new pot of salted water to a boil and repeat.
3. Bring a 1:1 mixture of sugar water to a boil. Toss in the twice-blanched peels and boil in the sugar water for 1 h.
4. Lay out the sugar-preserved peel strips on a wire rack. Let them dry overnight.
5. Melt chocolate in a double boiler (I make one by simmering water in a pot and balancing a bowl on top). I like to use some good dark chocolate. The quality of the chocolate is very important.
6. Dip the peel strips in the chocolate, using a fork to cover. Let them chill on a baking sheet on parchment paper for at least 4 h.
Let me know if you end up making them
Sounds delicious!
Omg, thank you Koyel for admitting your love of stovetop because now I can stop hiding and admit that my family loves it too!? My kids looovvve it and get so excited every time I make it, lol. It’s a thanksgiving staple, along with green bean casserole.
Hehehe. It’s fantastic!
Today I am wearing Chamade, No. 19 edt AND TF Vert de Fleur. Alas, No to all three – but money saved.
My favorite holiday food is tourtiere. Also, not having to cook.
My previous resolution to stop splashing out money for samples has been kept. Happily, there is a local sniffing group and we do a lot of sample swaps.
Itching no more! Just bought a bottle of Puredistance Antonia. I resisted for a good year, but caved during a 30% off sale.
Just bought some premade Manhattan whisky and it is quite tasty, if possibly lazy.
Puredistance Antonia is great – congratulations on your new bottle.
1. I’m wearing Tiger’s Nest. I didn’t appreciate it at first as it just seemed so sharp somehow. It’s pleasant when it lingers on clothes and may be better in cooler weather..
2. Too many things! I was lucky to grow up amidst two families of grandmas and great aunts who were good cooks. My great aunt Tootz made delicious corn casserole with a crumb topping. One grandma made swans individually shaped out of cream cheese with pecan wings and an orange rind bill. Mmmm. I still make her cookies once a year. I posted them recently but here’s a link again with the recipe: https://flic.kr/p/dFU4Hq.
3. No resolutions. I’m fatally weak-willed.
4. No lemmings just now!
5. Nice things: I’ve slowly been getting my house re-painted and acquired some new art. My home is totally eclectic and I like ceramics, textiles, and indigenous art. Recently I bought a painting I love from an Aboriginal art gallery here. I have liked such work since visiting Down Under the first time in 1995. Here it is: https://www.flickr.com/gp/94283635@N00/h1C67R.
The painting is beautiful but…..the kitties!!!! That just made my night!! Is Meow the black and white one? Her coloring is extraordinaryly unique. ??
Meow is a dilute calico Siamese-Manx mix (no tail), with blue eyes. Yes she is very unusual looking! I took her in about two years ago from a woman who was going into assisted living. Here is Meow: https://flic.kr/p/2hQiTef.
Oooo!!!! She is beautiful!!!! I envy you having a houseful of cats. What a joy!!!
I posted this for Elisa P today, but I think you need it too, Calypso:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b-ELMKkHEDU
If I could I’d have all the cats!
Tootz! Love that.
Your painting is beautiful. I’m not sure what I expected aboriginal art to look like, but it wasn’t that. I guess I thought maybe depictions of nature. What a fun home you must have! I love ceramics and weavings as well.
This is an example of one main type of Aboriginal art, dot paintings. They are almost always depictions of aspects of the landscape and use certain specific forms to depict certain things such as a kind of concentric circle for a waterhole, hook for a person, etc. They are painted flat on the ground and are aerial views. The other main type are bark paintings (on eucalyptus bark, or now on canvas or board) and do depict more naturalistic scenes or animals like kangaroos or emus, etc. They use natural colors/dyes/paints and often what is called an “X-ray” style depicting internal organs. Here’s a link with some illustrations of this style: https://www.aboriginal-bark-paintings.com.
1. Wearing my DSH Twelfth Night sample. I wanna at least smell like the holidays even though I’m in the process of packing up the house for a move. I might need a roller of this next December!
2. I don’t eat desserts very often, but I am sorely tempted by holiday treats heavily imbued with spices. My very favorite dessert for anytime is chocolate lava cake.
3. I took a 3-year hiatus from buying perfume. Can you believe that? It was like an illness! Because I was celebrating a big birthday I allowed myself a lot of indulgences, and that included making up for lost time. Nothing I bought was terribly expensive, and I filled a few gaps in my collection.
4. Next year I’d like to find the most fabulous chypre in my price range, and I’ll probably need a full bottle of something forest-themed. Unfortunately, this quest will require ordering samples, and I hate daubers. If I can’t spray it, I don’t get the full effect.
5. The best thing I can share is pure, unbridled optimism for the New Year! Let it be full of discovery and growth! My husband and are are moving to New Mexico on January 1st, which will open a brand new chapter for us. I am thrilled. Well, I’ll be more thrilled when the move is over.
Very exciting about your move! New Mexico is so beautiful!
Thanks, Calypso! I am looking forward to being surrounded by beauty.
Best wishes on the move! I hope you love it there!
Thanks, EP! I hope I Iove it there, too, because I don’t want to move again!
I feel you on that. I never want to move again, either!
Congrats on the move! Where are you moving from? A new chapter for you and your husband sounds exciting. I’ve never been, but I have heard unanimously that it is beautiful.
Moving from Lubbock, Texas, where we’ve been been for nearly 4 years. It’s so flat you can watch your dog run away. For a week.
?
?
Weekend! Yay! I still have 2 more work days this year — Monday and Tuesday — hoping they are quiet so I can Get Stuff Done.
1. SOTD is Thymes Frasier Fir body lotion
2. Favorite holiday food. Where to start? Waffles. Thanksgiving turkey. And of course, the perfect excuse (“it’s the holidays!”) for chocolate.
3. Yes I made perfume resolutions for 2019. No I didn’t keep them, AND WE ARE NOT GOING TO TALK ABOUT THAT, NOW ARE WE. Perhaps I would be best off not making perfume resolutions for 2020.
4. I’m with foxbins on the sniff -> buy paradigm. Delayed gratification is overrated.
5. Wonderful? Well I’ve just pulled out my holiday DVDs and I think Scrooged is first on my list. I could NOT believe it when I drove thru my town’s downtown earlier this week and the town’s holiday banners said “Yule Love It!” which was part of the atrocious TV holiday promos for the atrocious TV network in Scrooged. I am hoping that someone subversive snuck that past the town council
Scrooged is probably the Christmas movie I look most forward to.
Me too
I love It’s A Wonderful Life but haven’t managed to catch it this year.
I think Scrooged is my favorite Christmas movie.
I hear you on #3 & #4.
1. Sotd was Ambre Narguile. Which brought me a compliment!
2. Favorite holiday food, is other peoples cooking! It’s so much tastier and fancier than my own. I really envy those of you that can cook.
3. I don’t remember if I made any resolutions.
4. I’d like to buy Orchid Soliel, for this summer.
5. So today at work, a lady came in the store, and gave each of the 4 cashiers an envelope containing one hundred dollars! Just out of kindness. I was not one of the cashiers, but my store manager gave me a lottery ticket and I did win 5 bucks!
The kindness of strangers, and glad you had a winning lottery ticket.
Remember you cooked a turkey for Thanksgiving that’s an achievement.
It always feels good to be reminded that there is kindness in the world, especially if it’s locally!
Wow, a perfume compliment!
Yes! A customer said ” you smell so good, I could stay here all day” lol
So nice of that person ? Would’ve been even nicer if they shared it with all the staff ?
Agreed. Nice gesture, but I’d prefer more even-handedness.
1) Commando
2) stuffing
3) Not really
4) Black Vines
5) Ford vs Ferrari was super fun
1. Commando. Perhaps Habanita later?
2. Cooked ham, Christmas mince pies.
3. I stuck to a resolution to keep to a budget of not more than $100 per month. Due to not buying anything in January and February, I JUST managed to be successful.
4. No lemmings. It feels great.
5. If all goes well, the eldest and I will be going to Morocco in March. We got an excellent deal on the flights, so that helped.
Thank you to everybody who posted links to recipes. I made condensed milk butter cookies yesterday, and they turned out well. Cream 250g butter, 180 g sugar, splash vanilla and can condensed milk together. Sift in 4 cups cake flour and 2 tsp baking powder. Bake at 350 ‘C for 10 -12 mins. I find they have to colour to get good flavour. Happy baking!
Thank you for the recipe Amyitis and well done for sticking to your resolution.
Yum!
1. Will wear Yves Rocher Folies de Saisons Delires d’Automne, my favorite ginger perfumes
2. Mince pies with mulled wine. I started a tradition of making mulled wine a few years ago, I add clementine segments to make it ‘healthier’
3. I decided to cut back on BUBs and mostly sticked to it. This year I will try buying less altogether
4. If money was no object Shem El Nessim
5. My brother is spending the holidays with me in London.
I love ginger although I haven’t tried the scents you mentioned.
It is so wonderful to spend the holiday with family.
It’s just one perfume with a very long name
an old YR little gem, cinnamon and ginger. Have you tried the Guerlain AA Ginger Piccante? I haven’t yet, it sounds good.
Oh yes, holidays are family time definitely, hope you will be also with yours.
I have a sample from Hajusurri. It is quite nice! I am saving my sample for next spring and summer.
1. I’m wearing Arielle Shoshana Saturday on one wrist and A*men on the other. Delicious!
2. I like pickled herring and smoked salmon. Also panettone and ris a la Malta and lussekatter.
3. No promises!
4. I’ve been thinking about Frapin 1270 for years. Might have to get it. Also Givenchy L’interid edp, the new one.
5. I saw Mike Birbiglias new show The new one on Netflix yesterday and it was amazing!
So funny and really beautiful. He’s a wonderful storyteller.
I love Mike Birbiglia! I saw he last one-man show live and looking forward to watching this one, too.
1. I am wearing Angel Dust by Francesca Bianchi courtesy of the sweet and very generous Flopper.
2. Cheesecake or Tiramisu
3. No point since I won’t stick to it. Although I am buying less each year.
4. Eau Sacree by James Heeley. It smells like Cardinal but the incense is a softer.
5. I am looking forward to spending time with family and friends and I have a few days off after the holiday to relax.
Cheesecake is my favorite dessert. What do you think of Angel Dust?
It isn’t what I expected but I like it. I am finding out that FB perfumes, that I have tried, have animalic notes. Almost kinda sexy notes like salty skin. I think I prefer Lost In Heaven but Angel Dust is lovely.
Eau Sacrée is wonderful.
It is wonderful! I’ve been lemming it for a long time. ?
Today I am in Dior Dune thanks to a generous NST,
I have passed this up, I am not sure why, its gorgeous
Isn’t it? I love Dune too
I just rediscovered that this year too and agree that it is gorgeous! I ended up getting a 30 ml bottle on eBay for a song.
Is the current formulation still good?
Imo, it is still great.
1. Ajmal Evoke for her
2. I love Königsberger Klopse (Königsberg dumplings) with potatoes and the Vanillekipferl my mother makes. But we will change Christmas dinner each year, xso this year we will have Spätzle, lentils and braised tongue.
3. I mostly stuck to my budget of 100€per month, so I am good…
4. Still lusting for MKK, but it’s so expensive
5.Hopefully we will travel to the USA next year in autumn and will get married there in one of the national parks
Yay for #5!! That’s exciting.
Ditto this! How fabulous!
Wow, what a great plan! which park(s) are you thinking of?
We hope to travel to Arches, Monument Valley, Antelope canyon etc, so maybe in one of those….
Canyonlands is less well known but truly spectacular!
Yay for 5!!!
1. SOTD is DSH Mata Hari
2. Favorite holiday food is my Dad’s stuffing (for Thanksgiving)
3. Perfume resolution is to sample on skin more samples than I acquire and to eventually destroy my backlog. I have so far sampled 68 more than I’ve acquired this year
4.I want Vine Street from Soivohle and Une Ile, Un Reve from Nana
5.I have an interview with a place I’D like to work for on Jan 2. It looks like it will pay about double what I get now
Good luck on the job! I finally gave up on my sample pile and gave most of them away. It feels good.
Best of luck with the interview! ?
1. Right now, I am wearing Tigress Musk but since I am meeting a friend in a couple hours, I have to get in the show and probably will go for either vintage BaV or LADDM.
2. For a couple years we had creme brule for a Christmas desert but nobody wants to go through the process of making it.
3. I made the resolution to finish bottles of but only managed to finish two. But one of my no 19 extrait bottles is almost empty.
4. I still want a bottle of Coromandel. But Chanel has gotten ridiculous with their pricing.
5. Tell last good movie I saw was Bohemian Rhapsody but want to go see the new Star Wars movie.
I’ve heard the new Star Wars is quite good.
1. What fragrance are you wearing today?
Wearing Slowdive. Not sure how I feel about it, but it isn’t dull.
2. What’s your favorite holiday (any holiday) food?
I don’t really do holidays, so no favourite holiday food either.
3. Did you make any perfume-related resolutions for 2019, and if so, did you stick to them?
No, and I didn’t stick to them either
4. Possibly related to #3, what’s the next fragrance you are itching to buy?
By Kilian Back to Black, Malle Music for a While
5. Share something wonderful with us! It can be anything — something delicious you ate, a great movie you saw recently, the last good book you read, any fabulous news you recently received — really, anything.
The Iranian tea my sister brought back from her trip to that country this past summer. She was sort of apologetic about it, as Iran isn’t known for producing “grand cru” teas and she knows how fastidious I can be about tea. It is actually really lovely and I’m enjoying it loads.
Music for awhile is on my sniff list.
Wrappings lotion… again! I am addicted to it and carry the tube in my purse now.
Oh and I am drinking Buddha Tea Japanese Cherry Blossom. I picked it up at my local health food store this morning.
They stopped carrying Pacifica. Dad because full bottle EDTs were always only fifteen dollars.
Dad???????
That would be ” mad”
Lol, I thought you had accidentally texted your dad!
??
Ha! I first read that as Pacifica Dad. A new scent smelling of aftershave or something..,,
And now up and down both arms Sultan Pasha Attars
I’ve noticed that the Target stores near me now have a much large selection of Pacifica perfumes than in the past. However, I don’t seem to be interested in most of them.
Argh… “larger”, not large!
Yes, Target and Ulta carry the EDP…but they don’t have the selection or the good price that my health food store had.
Happy winter solstice and happy Hannukah! I’m wearing Kilian Woman in Gold.
Happy Hanukkah and you do smell fabulous!
Oh that’s a nice pick for a holiday scent!
1) SOTD is Le Cri de…
I got a perfume compliment yesterday and it was actually on a room spray I bought early last week while xmas shopping. It’s called Patchouli and Sweetgrass from P.F. Candle Company. I misted my fleecy hood with it to have a soft, cozy waft around me. It doesn’t smell like patchouli, though.
2) All Thanksgiving food, really. Though I had potato latkes at a party Friday night and am inspired to make some this week- I’ll do the Hugarian style- topped with goulash. Those are my fave and it’s more of a meal.
3) I didn’t make any resolutions because I know I won’t stick to them. But I have successfully quelled some lemmings by just waiting long enough. My lemmings usually die eventually.
4) My last few lemmings were Jersey edp, Paris-Riviera (I bought a decant), and Le Cri full bottle which is on backorder again.
5) I don’t know if this is in the wonderful category, but since both my bank card and credit card are cancelled, I haven’t spent any money since 12/18. It’s been an interesting and illuminating experience. I went to a holiday artisan fair yesterday with a friend (and didn’t have more than $10 in cash in my wallet) and it was kind of freeing to walk around, feel compelled to buy whatever, but not do it once I remember I couldn’t. I would like to be more mindful, in general, of my spending next year. So easy to get caught up in consumption culture! My new cards should be delivered tomorrow, hopefully, so we’ll see how that goes, lol.
Same for me on the lemmings, I try to keep a list and wait on things. Usually a month or two later I’m over whatever I was obsessed with. And you are right about the freeing feeling of knowing you can’t buy anything – making decisions all the time whether you should get this or that takes up a lot of space in your head and energy.
Yay for a perfume compliment! ?
I love #3, so true.
To #4 is say “Whaaaaaaaaat?”
#5 will have a lot of us on the bench beside you.
My hub’s bank card got hacked two weeks ago and it was a mess. It’s straightened out now but it was eye opening for him as well.
And yummm I love latkes!
You are reminding me of the olden days when I was in my 20s, before ATMs or debit cards. If I forgot to get cash (standing in line at the bank) for the weekend, I was broke. I did have an AMEX (applied for the minute my annual income went above their $12.5K minimum) but it wasn’t taken everywhere…not at grocery store, certainly.
You are right. Something freeing about it.
1. Wearing Theorema. Not much left. Looking for a substitute.
2. Love holiday gluten-free cupcakes.
3. Tried not to buy much. Bought one rollerball and one bottle. I’m in a perfume funk. Don’t know what to try next.
4. Read a good book, The Dutch House by Anne Patchett.
We need to get you out of your perfume funk! What do you like in perfumes?
I like mimosa, sandalwood, vanilla, cedar wood. I like Boucheron pour femme, some powdery scents, but not too sweet. any suggestions Hajusuuri?
Mimosa: Jo Malone Mimosa and Cardamom, Prada Infusion de Mimosa, Zoologist Bee, Elizabeth Arden Green Tea Mimosa, Parfums DelRae It
Sandalwood: Chanel Bois des Iles, Puredistance White, Santal Carmin
Vanilla: Indult Tihota, Le Labo Vanille 44, Jacques Zolty Van-Ile, I Profumi di Firenze Vaniglia del Madagascar
Cedar: Slumberhouse Grev, Sarah Jessica Parker Stash, Atelier Cologne Cedre Atlas, Neela Vermeire Trayee
Thanks so, so much, Hajusuuri. I love Bois des Iles and Tihota, and also like Cedre Atlas. Will have to order some samples!
1) SOTD = back in Rihanna Rogue today.
2) Probably my favorite is the dressing/stuffing I make for Thanksgiving, Christmas, and sometimes Easter. It is a lot of work, though, and the batch seems to disappear in a flash.
3) I think I made a resolution last year? But I can’t remember if I kept it. I have thunked a few samples, so I’ll count that as progress. I’ve also rehomed others.
4) I wish I hadn’t seen lillyjo’s comment about the Wrappings gift set being on sale at Macy’s! I’m trying to stick to a no-buy.
5) I had a wonderful lunch yesterday with a good friend and Mr. Jalapeno at a local chain that brews their own beers on site at each location. ??
Yesterday afternoon I was brave and decided to pop in to one of the larger malls near me with the notion that maybe I could get a gift or two there. I also had a list of things I wanted to get for myself (stocking up at Sephora). I was happy that I had a couple of alternate parking spots in mind, since the traffic was already stupid crazy by the time my friend and I got there. Hurray for having a “Plan B” and a “Plan C” for dealing with holiday mall (maul?) traffic. No luck with gifts, but at least I was able to grab my stuff and get out before things got REALLY crazy.
Sorry about the comment! Lol, but, I think there is a huge difference in buying something you truly love, and buying something for the sake of buying.
I think this warmish weather has more people than usual shopping this weekend, it is insane!
Ah, but I *do* love Wrappings in both forms. It’s been on my FB wishlist for a while now. That’s the rub. ?
I think you are right about the nice weather driving mall traffic up. I ended up parked out in the boonies. ??
I think your resolution was to get Wrappings at so,e kind of discount. So, it looks like you need to hop to it ?
I braved the mall yesterday but walked there so no issues with parking. I got a freshly shorn hair out of it so yay me.
Today I braved the mall where we had met up and had to park around the corner from where I normally park so it wasn’t bad. I actually ended up getting stuff from B&BW and The Body Shop so I will be giving scented things as gifts after all. The Body Shop has a new line of diffusers and I may go back to get more — they were reasonably priced (Buy 2 get the 3rd free; each was $15 so $10@ after the discount) and it ticked all my boxes of looks more expensive than it cost, practical and easy to wrap.
Happy holiday weekend all.
1. Alahine, gosh how I LOVE this fragrance! I remember l2sg a few years back wearing it all the time and now I know why. “Alahiiiiiiiiine”.
2 My favorite holiday is Christmas, my favorite holiday food is probably Arancini or a homemade pasta dish and amaretti are my favorite holiday cookie.
3. I blew my 2019 resolution mid summer to stop spending money on FB’s. Instead I began compiling my collection, and although I now own a few beauties I am sharing via decants to assuage my guilt (probably a very popular behavior here).
4. I still want to purchase No.19 EdP. That may happen before the end of the year. I am skidding to a stop after that I Swear.
5. My mom was a true Christmas nut and all the grandkids have adopted her Christmas condition…. this holiday is bittersweet as we all miss her terribly….so I made a board game about her designed around monopoly but w/out the money and with 104 questions to answer after you roll the dice. I introduced it yesterday at the family Christmas party where we all had on silly xmas decor in honor of her. It was a total surprise and a big hit. Instead of going to jail you got sent to the North Pole, and the kids shared special memories as they answered questions designed to make them remember things they’d otherwise have forgotten. We had her candy jar and ‘pizza money’ as part of the set and I even had silly prizes for whomever won. They loved it. And now I feel my holiday is already complete.
Your something wonderful made me tear up. What a lovely tribute to your mother’s memory. Your a really good daughter.
*you’re
Thank you lillyjo.
Your #5 is so beautiful! Love it!
Thanks Pl67. It’ been an otherwise difficult Christmas and I needed something to celebrate.
#5 ??❤️
#4 I think every household should have a bottle of Chanel No. 19 EDP
#3 Guilt? Generosity? What’s the difference? ??
Thank You H.
Your number 5 is very thoughtful and heartwarming. What a nice way to spend time together.
Thank you.
Love your 5!
Thanks KellyC.
How creative you are. I think it’s a wonderful tribute to your mother.
Thank you Aurora.
I love all of this. Making me smile.
That is so beautiful and emotional! I bet your mom was a wonderful person.
I wore Tiger’s Nest today, which I like more every time I wear it. If my love for it continues through the rest of my decant, I’ll buy a travel spray. The full bottle is on sale at Luckyscent right now. Kinda tempting for the gorgeous bottle, but I just don’t need that much of it. It lasts forever, so I don’t use a lot of sprays.
You made me go look at the sale! That bottle really is nice looking.
You Smell Amazing, I treasure my decant. I was so very tempted but am trying to behave.
That’s another great split contender.
I wouldn’t blame you if you hit the ‘purchase’ button.
1. Wore Junky yesterday and today am in a spritz of Orange Sanguine with one of Vanille Insensee.
2. My favorite holiday foods are the savory ones- I love a brined turkey that has a crispy skin, dressing, cranberries etc. This year we are having turkey AND New Mexican carne adovada because my son requested it. He fell in love with New Mexican food when we lived there and wants it. My good friend is a Santa Fe native and I have her mom’s recipe! I did bake some chewy dark chocolate espresso cookies tonight that were fab.
3. No perfume resolutions and don’t plan on making any next year either!
4. I just bought a bottle of VCA Bois d’Iris with the money my father-in-law gave me for Christmas. I’ve been wanting it and decided what the heck and pulled the trigger on one of the discount sites tonight lol. Total impulse buy.
5. My good news is that I’m off work for two weeks and my son and his girlfriend get here tomorrow! Can’t wait to hang with them and cook and have fun!
Congrats on your new bottle and yay for hanging out with family!
Late to chime in this weekend!
I got quite a bit done this weekend but had hoped to do more. 1) Oil change (and it got done much quicker than I thought! I just finished my complimentary bagel and made hot chocolate when the service guy came around and said I can pay whenever I’m ready…and so I sat for another few minutes to finish my hot chocolate); 2) hair cut; 3) grocery shopping 4) holiday party; 5) church; 6) big dent in Christmas shopping
SOTD = deliberate layering of Gucci Memoire d’une Odeur and Guerlain Ginger Piccante – perfect! I will be doing it again!
Favorite holiday food – Pumpkin Pie
Resolutions – I know better
Next bottle purchase – I saw 12% Rakuten cash back and I really wanted to get a La Mer item and a large beautiful sample of Gucci The Alchemist Tears of Iris. I will split this and Parfum Satori Satori (15% off, no tax, no shipping since I got something else and would have paid for shipping anyway). I will deal with the splits next year and will repeat the offer then.
Something good – I just booked my vacation for July 2020: Tauck Swiss Highlands and Bavarian Alps with a day spent watching a once every decade Passion Play performance near Munich. The best part is that my 2 sisters are going as well. Wahoo!
The vacation sounds wonderful. Something to look forward to.
I am definitely looking forward to it. I also have a few days getaway to Bentonville, AR in April !
Happy Hanukkah to those who celebrate!
I didn’t have the brainpower to sit down earlier this weekend and think out my answers to the questions. Now that the weekend is nearly over…
1.) Sadly, commando for the weekend.
2.) Very labor-intensive bourbon balls that Mom used to make for her great-aunt during the holiday season. Also, I learned to make latkes from a recipe in the local newspaper. I like those nice and fresh, with applesauce or sour cream. The mentions above reminded me. Mom’s stepmother gave me her recipe for noodle kugel a few years ago. I need to try that sometime.
3.) I resolved to do a no-buy for the last three months of 2019, and that didn’t happen.
4.) I’m kind of shopped out at the moment, but I’m sure that will change by spring at the latest. lol. Once I’ve saved some pennies, maybe a small bottle of Montale Chocolate Greedy, if I see it on sale somewhere.
5.) I was in something of a funk for a couple of weeks in December, but what brought me out of it was volunteering at the SPCA and seeing puppies. Puppies would bring a lot of people out of their funks, I think. Also, I saw kittens, and they had very cute little faces, too. I would say puppies are wonderful.
As for books, I read a couple by Carla Kelly. They’re straight romance, and the ones I read were Regency ones. Some have Royal Navy surgeons in action at hospitals on the British shores during the Napoleonic Wars. As far as I could tell, the medical instruments and procedures used were true to the time and state of knowledge, although there was more emphasis on washing blades between surgeries than I expected. Mom said she’d pass, that she couldn’t deal with vivid descriptions of surgery in the early 1800s. It interested me. I liked that the protagonists in the ones I read were kind people.
How lovely to volunteer at the SPCA!
1. Fendi parfum
2. My favorite holidays are Hanukkah and Christmas. I have tons of recipes that I enjoy making. My specialty is a Crown roast
and a Tarta de Santiago (almond torte). Link to recipe below.
https://food52.com/recipes/22940-tarta-de-santiago-almond-cake
3. I didn’t purchase any replacement bottles but instead, I saved to purchase another bottle of Henry Jacque’s Femme, it arrived yesterday.
4. I am itching to buy Tauer’s L’Air du Desert Marocain.
5. Today’s the last day of work and them I’m off for two weeks!
That torte looks wonderful! I might try that in the New Year…
Enjoy your 2 weeks off!