It's another Monday, and my town is expecting another day of snow. Luckily it's also National Margarita Day. Birthdays: George Washington, Edna St. Vincent Millay, Horace Pippin, Edward Gorey, Kyle MacLachlan, Steve Irwin. What fragrance are you wearing?
I'm keeping warm, and trying to wake up, in Chanel Bois des Iles, in the extrait.
Reminder: 2/26 is Levi Strauss Day. Along with Jacob Davis, Strauss invented and patented the riveted blue jean. Do what you like with the theme.
And for those of you who like to plan ahead, see Scent of the day ~ Friday community projects 2021, where I'll try to always have the next five or six weeks mapped out in advance.
Note: the Chanel Vanity Case in quilted denim was from the 2020 Cruise collection, and was $3200. It is long since sold out.
Good morning nsters,
A few sprays of le lion post shower before I chain myself to my desk.
Hope you don’t have to be chained to it all day. You smell wonderful.
you smell too good for your desk, hope you your don’t stay chained all day
Hope you are able to move around some today.
pretty well chained till take out the trash time later today.
Morning NST! My SOTD is vintage Amazone by Hermes. It’s still in the mid-40s, so chilly, but it should warm up in a bit. This should smell wonderful as things warm up.
I finished West With Giraffes, it was a delightful book. I loved the characters Red, and Woodrow Wilson Nickel especially; many of the scenes were so vibrant and textured, I felt like I was there. When Woody describes his town, I can practically smell the dust in the air. The novel starts when Woody’s life is nearing it’s end, at age 105. He begins to write his experiences and memories down on paper when he learns giraffes are going extinct. The story begins in about 1938, at the tail end of the Great Depression, and segregated America still exists. Parts of the book are a little uncomfortable to read but there’s no graphic violence or content. I’d say it’s a pretty accurate portrayal of life back in those days. Little did I know, it’s loosely based on a true life of Belle Jennings Benchley, of the San Diego Zoo.
I’m currently reading The Ivy Tree, two chapters in, and I love it already! Many thanks to whomever recommended it, I’m sure it was an NST’er.
Second cup of coffee consumed, sneakers on and I’m out the door! See everyone later!
Have a great walk!
Vintage Amazone is SO GOOD! I have the EDT and the parfum and they’re both just fantastic. You know you smell great!
I gotta wear that tomorrow. Thanks for mentioning it.
I reapplied the newer Amazone, it’a a more sheer green/fizzy version of Amazone, it’s nice in this afternoon’s warmer weather.
I love when you mention what you are reading.I just started Siege and Storm part of the shadow bone trilogy, I hope it doesn’t have “middle book syndrome” Noting the books you are reading in my growing list!
I also appreciate that you are sharing what you are reading. I’m sitting down right now to take a break and check these out!
I’m in Heretic Scandalwood and wishing it lasted longer. We got some snow again overnight which means that I was woken up by shoveling at 4:30.? I’m on my second cup of Trader Joe’s spiced chai tea, which is my favorite morning tea. I thought I was out and discovered an unopened box in the back of the cabinet last night and was so excited. It’s the little things.
We watched Nomadland over the weekend. Highly recommend, Frances McDormand is great, no surprises there. It’s streaming on Hulu right now.
I got the snow too! It’s finally above freezing though.
Yes, and up to 40 tomorrow!??
I watched Nomadland this weekend too and really liked it. Thought it was a much better movie than last year’s Three Billboards…, but of course Frances McDormand was great in both.
I really wanted to see Three Billboards but haven’t gotten around to it….I think she won awards for that one? She’s a great actress.
Three Billboards is really good. Parts of it made me cry.
I did not know about Nomadland and could not watch 3 Billboards because the subject matter sounded too upsetting and violent, so thank you!
Working my way through a sea of samples and decants, and today I’m in a couple of drops of Dior-Dior, a long-discontinued floral chypre, a radiant peachy-aldehydic top over an expansive abstract floral and the expected (but still welcome) oakmoss-sandalwood base. Was this sort of thing already out of date in 1976? (Opium and Oscar were right around the corner.) It wasn’t in production long, but it was just terrific.
I’ve heard Dior-Dior is loverly – I wish Dior would bring back their older fragrances, and treat them properly.
Oh, me too, but I think we all know the chance of that happening is nil.
What I wouldn’t give, though, for a fresh bottle of 1966 Eau Sauvage, a 1947 Miss Dior, Eau Sauvage Extreme, Poison, Fahrenheit, Dune, all ruined by reformulation or long-gone.
When we were moving recently, I caught Mr. SmokeyToes about to throw out his 30-something year old bottle of Fahrenheit in the garbage.
I might have freaked out a little.
I told him I’d be happy to take that off of his hands – he was bewildered why I would wear a man’s cologne.
I thought “dude, we’ve been together since 2003, you know that I’m a perfume freak!” ??
The old Fahrenheit is delicious stuff. I’ve hidden it away so Mr. SmokeyToes can’t throw it away again…?
Great perfume save there!
Happy Monday, all!
I’m finally feeling somewhat okay after last week’s weather event here in Texas. I was luckier than most with my gas range but I feel like an empty car battery still. Perfume was definitely my only real pleasure on those days, along with the focaccia I’d baked the day before (with romanesco, hazelnuts, and anchovies, for any fellow bakers out there with a savory bent!)
I’m wearing Epice Marine today, as it never fails to make me smile. I know it got a mixed reception so those years ago but those salty spices…!
Stay safe everyone.
Thanks for checking in! We were all thinking of you and our Texas friends!
Thank you! It still feels surreal.
Glad to hear that you are safe, if exhausted. I hope you and your neighbors have water from your taps (and not from pipes).
Yes, my water never stopped, luckily. And all the pipes held as well.
That focaccia sounds delicious! Glad you had something tasty to get you through.
Yes, I almost waited till the next day. If I had it wouldn’t have been baked!
I know what you mean, it was traumatic. My body feels like it took a beating. I should’ve come to your place for food!
I’m glad to see you on the other side, friend! I was thinking about all the local NSTers.
Oh YES your description of that focaccia is giving me life!
Gosh, it was fantastic. I had to ration it!
I’m glad you got through it safely! I feel rather wiped out, too; glad I’m not alone in that feeling.
I’m glad you did too! I’ve been resting as much as I can. In the moment I didn’t realize how much energy I was putting out just being in my apartment!
“Somewhat okay”, under the circumstances, seems a testament to human resilience.
Ain’t that the truth? ?
Glad to hear the worst of it is over, I do hope you manage to “recharge” this week!
Thank you! I hope so too. ?
Thanks for checking in. It makes perfect sense that you would be wiped out after that.
Good timing on making that focaccia!
Truly! I’m glad to be able to say hi!
Glad you got through it! And I’m glad you had food. That’s important! I hope you’re able to get some rest and recuperate from it all. From the news reports, it looked like things were very bad in Texas. Thanks for checking in.
Grey, rainy, but not so cold today. We will be in the 40’s this week with partly cloudy skies. A nice improvement compared to the past weeks.
Woke up craving for honey, so I am wearing Hiram Green SlowDive. Having my second cup of coffee with a pancake, honey and feta cheese.
Planning to pick up my doggie meds at lunch time and grab some bread and pastries at the bakery.
Happy Monday! ?
Where do you get all your good bread from? There used to be a good place here, but they are long gone now.
I always get my bread from my local bakeries. They are very nice, small ones with great variety. I rarely get bread from the supermarket. For pastries I usually go to Martha’s Country Bakery (no affiliation), which is my favorite local bakery, but I also get a couple of them from Trader Joe’s or supermarkets. Before the pandemic, I used to go other favorite bakeries in the city, but that’s not an option now.
I love a nice toasted olive/walnut with goats milk feta and a drizzle of honey or fig jam.
I love fig jam! Getting hungry now! ?
I love Slowdive! You smell good.
Thank you! I have not worn it in a long time and I am enjoying it a lot today!
That pancake sounds delicious!
Very yummy! ?
If it’s anything like here, we got snow again before lunch time ❄️
Same here! We got unexpected heavy snow before lunch time and now the awful wintry mix is falling. I postponed my errands for tomorrow.
Glad to hear that you moved your errands to tomorrow. The weather this afternoon was a load of bletch!
At least tomorrow is going to be sunny and warmer! ?
Went for Covet, because it is sunny and warm here. Did a short walk in the afternoon, because starting to work again was no good idea. Went home after two hours.
Covet! ? Like a warm hug.
Take another week off to rest!
2nd that.
Uh oh. Sounds like you need more time to recover.
I’m in Bois D’Hires. It is so hard to road test a scent when you are repeatedly scrubbing your hands and dosing them with alcohol sanitizer.
It starts off sweet for a few seconds and then has a lovely bitter roots top note for a few minutes. Then it seems to be more Bois than Hires. An hour or so later, it seems barely detectable, but every once in a while, a powdery but no too sweet iris whiffs up.
You must mean Bois d’Iris?
I really enjoyed the lazy weekend poll discussion coping with the pandemic in terms of language study, which I mentioned, and I got a lot of interesting responses and I took notes.
When I think of Levi jeans I think about San Francisco, when I lived there, I use to frequent the store in Union Sq. Today is SOTD if Fog by Henry Rose. Michelle Pfeiffer commented in Elle, Fog is suppose to smell like San Francisco in the summertime.
Thrift outfit to the day Micheal Stars white boxy top, jeans, silk scarf.
Stay chic everyone!
LTSG, are you enjoying Henry Rose perfumes? I see a lot of ads but no strong recommendations.
Outfit sounds on point.
confession: I bought a sample pack last year. Did someones say, Kevin?, not to do this!
HA!
They are a natural line so you may not get the projection you may want from this, and I have tried other natural perfume lines and can say HR has average to better staying power that I originally thought.
A few a do like are Torn, for the vanilla and Queens and Monsters for the Neroli
Her scents are unisex, or marketed as such. Some I find more masculine leaning to my taste. You know, this week as an ode to SF and Levi I will do a week of HR and then I can report back to you anngd!
I also think Ms Pfeiffer does live in the Bay Area…so it will fit the CP and Levi
Perfect, thanks for stepping up! I will decide on a sample set based on your report
Your perfume, and outfit are perfect!
I think Ms. Pfeiffer does live here, I’ve seen her out and about.
Those eyes and cheekbones are unmistakable.
yes, time has had no effect on her
Good morning Y’all…..is it SPRING YET?
Decided to go with a winter style heavy hitter: Serge Lutens L’Orpheline. Incense and patchouli smellin’ good!
I wish.
We are expecting snow here as well. If the current predicted pattern holds, I will be driving to work right thru it. Also glad I brought all the recyclables to the truck today; they were piling up.
I enjoyed learning a bit about Millay and her historic home in NY state. It is too bad that the home is closed to visitors (not just from Covid, but an apparent financial crisis of sorts); it looks like a delightful place to wander during the warm months and soak up the history and creative vibes.
Speaking of Levi, there is an upcoming collaboration between the Levi company and Target. It would seem they are creating a collection of home goods, pet bedding/items and other pieces, all with the Levi-denim theme in mind. I am curious as to what they come up with, I will be checking it out at my own local Target.
Scent of the day will most likely be I Put A Spell on You. I can smell it through the plastic baggie it is in, so maybe a strong scent will help me chase away the blue numbness that I am currently feeling right now. Why I am glum I know not, maybe it’s the weather, maybe just a weird mood.
your SOTD is inspiring me to listen to Nina Simone, as soon as I read it, I immediately thought of her and not perfume !
https://youtu.be/W7mBQhfkqHs
Dang that video’s from ’68, that’s impressive. In a way she reminds me of an African American blues-y version of Stevie Nicks. Now I really have to wear that scent.
I LOVE that song! Good lord that woman gives me goosebumps when I hear her sing. Glorious voice.
I love the Target collaborations but never get there in time to snag any of the items. Still wish I’d managed a few of the Marimekko things.
Working my way through more samples, so SsOTD are Dolce & Gabbana – Dolce, which is a fine floral, but unremarkable (would love this in a bar soap), and Bottega Veneta, which smells great on me. BV would be a perfect office frag, if I were working in an office.
It’s snow here, again. Warming up with some OG Celestial Seasonings Almond Sunset, which smells like nostalgia
You smell wonderful in BV!
Thank you! My first time trying it and I’m liking it more and more over the course of the day.
Bottega Veneta was love at first sniff for me. And full bottle worthy, too!
A follow up note from last week’s community project.
There is a hidden note in Munch’s “The Scream”: “Could have only been written by a madman.”
Recent research confirms that the sentence was written by the artist and not by a horrified vandal. It is still not known if this was written as part of the original painting or added in response to critics.
My favorite interpretation of The Scream, is that it is the artist’s response to his sister’s death, a cry against universal, as well as personal suffering and loss, rather than mentali illness. (I suspect that last week’s painting depicted his sister as she ailed.)
I read that too!
I like your interpretation of The Scream. It casts the subject not as a madman, but as one reacting to their feelings of powerlessness. I imagine Munch felt that way in response to his critics as well. Understandable why he might add a note that it “could only be written by a madman” to it – his critics were driving him to that point.
I am wearing Au Dela Narcisse, from one of Bruno Fazzolari’s discovery sets.
You smell great! I may take inspiration tomorrow and dig my sample out!
Good morning. I am wearing Prade La Femme today and drinking my third cup of Taiwan Oolong tea.
Have not had oolong in ages, will go make a cup.
It’s my birthday week (on Wednesday) so I hope it’s nice and not stressful 5 days at work.
My gift to self arrived today and I’m telling you, that bottle looks even prettier in real life! Very luxurious, including the tube that serves as the packaging for Ormaie range.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CLl1RD5hxul/
SOTD is Memo Winter Palace though.
Happy Birthday week!
Thank you!
Don’t just celebrate the week–celebrate the whole birthday month!
What an awesome idea ^_^
I saw that bottle on your IG and admired it! Plus that tube or package it came in!
It’s a very well designed bottle and the tube packaging is just the perfect size which I like very much, especially that many brands have an oversized package for their perfume cosmetics which only takes more place (filled with nothing more but air) and produces more waste
I mean, if Mardi Gras gets a week, you *definitely* do! Glad you treated yourself. I’ve not tried anything from Ormaie, but that’s a darn sexy bottle!
Haha! What a comparison.
Sexy bottle is an accurate term for this flacon, yas!
Birthday week twins – mine’s Friday. ?
Happy bday to us in advance
Happy birthweek!!
Thanks!
wow!
beautiful bottle
I know, right!? Serious piece of bottle porn.
Happy Birthday week Lucasi and SheriG!
I tried Winter Palace for the first time last week (I know…I know…) and it is GORGEOUS. Strangely I get a mentholated vibe from it and I don’t see anything in the notes that should give rise to that?
Could be mate or the backbone of red tea to give a mentholy impression, maybe?
Good to know that I might not be hallucinating it!
I saw this on IG. Congrats!
Thank you darling!
Beautiful bottle and packaging! Enjoy!
Thank you
Happy Birthday Week! And that is such an elegant looking bottle.
It’s starting to warm up here in MN. Of course by warm up I mean we’ll hit the low 30s. But after two full weeks of zero or sub-zero weather, 32 feels balmy!
I was going to go bare today but my order of Sandlesun arrived at 9:30.
Ooooo, it’s lovely. Someone posted about it last week and I thought it sounded perfect. Hermetica sends a sample along with so if you don’t like your order you can return the unopened full bottle. I think that’s very smart of them and wish more perfume companies did that. I tried the sample and will definitely be keeping my purchase. Thank you to the NST posters who educated me about this scent. I really really like it. Off for a late morning walk in the cold sunshine.
SANDALSUN! Jeez, spellcheck is annoying?
Well drat, I just complained to my husband about more SNOW and COLD but I am pretty sure we’ve been in the low 30s most days.
That IS a really smart way to allow returns without having to open the FB. I appreciate when they include a store credit along with the sample sets, but for places that allow returns of FB, this seems like an even better way to go.
Ha! I was all ready to post and then realized I have no SOTD! Might go join Robin or pick something more spring-like as we are heading into the 70s today and tomorrow. Happy Monday anyway!
Oh yay for 70s!
It is also Drew Barrymore’s birthday today. They are having a big and socially distanced celebration for her on her talk show today. I have my DVR set.
Took the dogs for a long walk yesterday afternoon and went out to dinner with a friend yesterday. Gearing up for more snow today. Spent some time in Lyric and now in Tocca Florence. Florence is the closest thing I have to the tramatically discontinued Gardenia Lilly from Bath and Body Works.
Sampling again today. I am really really making a push to work thru my samples; got thru 31 samples over the weekend (using test strips). I have a couple to re-test on skin at some point. At the moment my bathroom smells pretty incredible. Well, to be honest, it mainly smells like Coco Mad Intense
I wanted to thank folks for recent book recommendations. I read Mary Stewart’s Madam Will You Talk over the weekend; quite enjoyable. And I read Amor Towles’ A Gentleman In Moscow last week; that was the most entirely delightful book I have read in ages. Blowing kisses for that recommendation!
Oh, thank you for those book recommendations! I just finished the two Sparks and Bainbridge mystery books that Foxbins recommended (loved them) and I’m ready for something new and hopefully not emotionally taxing. Perfect timing.
31 samples in a weekend…I admire your dedication ?
I think I did not recommend Gentleman in Moscow to you (since I mostly miss the weekend polls), but I will endorse here again as a really good escapist historical fiction type thing to anyone who is reading!
Rules of Civility was also so enjoyable, do read it if you get the chance.
Inspired again by SheriG, and by how good it smelled yesterday, I am back in Dryad. Really enjoying this in the cold weather, and I just looked out my office window to see it is snowing again! The real dryads must be hiding in their snow covered trees.
I need to dig out my Dryad sample; I have a nagging feeling I fell hard for this one and put it on my (mental) FB list.
Ohhh, you smell absolutely lovely!
Wearing 4160 Tuesdays Rhubarb & Custard today.
Feeling sad…my daughter’s Brownie troop leader’s husband passed away from cancer, which had returned after remission, over the weekend..he was in his 40s.
Oh no, that’s awful. I’m sorry to hear that.
Thank you, Calypso.
That’s so sad – he was so young but it touches people of all ages.
Yes, it does.
How sad.
That’s a shame.
Good morning ? I’m testing out Mixed Emotions from Byredo. I’m getting blackberry, grape gum, maté and birch. It’s fruity, fresh but also smoky. Like wearing JM Blackberry & Bay in front of a campfire. I like it ?
That sounds interesting!
I’m wearing vintage Mitsouko (cologne + extrait) this morning and committed blind buys this weekend – Jai Ose and Choc de Cardin, both of which I’ve wanted since I read reviews of them here. I could use a lean mean 1970s chypre like Jai Ose in my collection anyway – the last one I had was a Halston extrait I found mixed in with the minis at one of those perfume kiosks, but I used that up ages ago. For under $50.00 for both perfumes, I’m willing to take the risk.
I’m not susceptible to blind buys for expensive items at all, but I will lemming for a cheapie and I accept that about myself.
I love your use of the word “committed,” as if blind buys were a bit of a crime…
If you want a lean, mean, and bone-dry chypre, try Halston Couture. It’s less greens, more dry than the original Halston and with a beautiful radiant rose, soft patchouli oak moss dry down. I’d say it’s more herbal/oakmoss of Aromatics Elixir and less greens than Knowing but definitely in the same vein.
That sounds super intriguing, especially since the original Halston is mostly available in a not very good cologne version these days. The bottle I had was primarily moss and woods in the drydown, but with a little fruit in it.
Good afternoon on another rainy Monday!
I’m in Bois des Iles, like Robin, except mine is the EdT.
I don’t think I’ve ever tried the extrait but I intend to do so next time I have a chance. I’ve heard it’s out of this world good. Is it, Robin?
Hey twin! And yes, it’s fantastic, although my bottle is old enough that I don’t know if it’s been redone since — seems possible, for the sandalwood if nothing else. I don’t think I ever tried the EdT and I sort of don’t want to.
Oh, wow…good to know. I might not want to open that door either ?
Exactly! Enjoy what you have.
I’ve heard good things about the current BdI extrait. I haven’t tried it personally, though.
Pretending it’s spring and wearing YSL Paris for my Mini Monday. Trying to work through anything with rose while it’s still cold, frankly – the note overwhelms me when it’s warm.
You smell lovely! I do like Paris.
Happy Monday…more snow…can’t decide if I think that Chanel bag is cute or dorky.
I’m interpreting the Levis/blue jeans theme this week as keeping it casual, which I will do on Friday, but today I’m wearing SL Borneo 1834. Nothing casual about it. I’ve taken to wearing “not work safe” fragrances on Mondays, so that I may feel more powerful than I am. A patchouli bomb is perfect.
One of the very best patchouli fragrances!
A decant might be in order after I drain this sample. So lush, takes me right away from my boring desk.
I was going to go for blue bottles but I don’t think I have enough for a week. I am doing what you did with wearing something that pairs easily with a pair of jeans.
I only have a couple that are blue and they’re both springtime scents…the high one Friday looks to be below freezing ? So “casual” it is
I think dorky would be putting it kindly…but I am no judge since I am pretty sure Chanel has never made a single bag I liked.
Reminds me of the denim overalls I wore as an awkward tween. I like the shape but the denim woven through the chain is too much.
Hello, all! We had French toast for breakfast this morning, and when I asked my son what I should smell like today he asked if I had a French-toast-scented perfume. “No, but I have a pancake one,” I told him, so I’m back in Sunshine and Pancakes again today. Hate to gloat about our weather but we’re having some unseasonable warmth today and it’s just lovely out. I’m headed out to burn some piles midday, smelling like pancakes and lemons…
I like that your son participated in the SOTD!
He likes to get involved!
Back when I was physically working in the office, he liked to pick out my shoes, and he’d always go for the girliest ones. I’d be like, “No, dear, mama has to visit a dairy ranch today and can’t wear the 1940s alligator heels…”
Whoa! He’s got great taste!
This morning I as looking in my drawer of unsorted stuff and found a sample I didn’t recognize at all: Ajar, by Jardins d’Ecrivains. I sprayed and it immediately presented a pleasant note I recognized but could not identify. Just. Looked it up and it’s pear! I love it! What a pleasant light springy scent.
Our weather is beautiful today, making it all the stranger what we endured this past week. I went showerless for three days wearing the same layers of clothes and hat! Matted hair and so chilled! It’s kind of surreal.
Tomorrow morning I’ll be participating in. Very official three hour session of a philosophy conference. My paper is written but I still feel a bit anxious about it. We’re commenting on a new book and I kind of violated etiquette by not giving the usual formulaic effusive praise. We’ll see how it goes.
I’m into the fourth season of the French cop thriller Spiral on Amazon Prime. It’s very gruesome but has such engaging characters. I was up watching it til 2:30 last night! Addictive!
2:30! wow..
That must be addictive
“ We’re commenting on a new book and I kind of violated etiquette by not giving the usual formulaic effusive praise.”
Should I take this as don’t bother with the blurbs on new books if the blurb came from someone in academia? Asking rhetorically because I actually don’t pay attention anyway ?.
Have a great conference!
Not been to a philosophy conference which has involved effusive praise here. Usually there is a competition at the best critique. Then again, maybe I am thinking of papers rather than full on books.
You read the book and used critical thinking skills to review it honestly, which is what should be done. For that, I salute you.
Hope that your conference goes well tomorrow.
SOTD is Pierre Guillaume’s Cuir d’Iris, which is better sprayed lightly, I’ve discovered (less of the pickle note that way).
I’ve been working my way through some of Dorothy Sayers’ Lord Peter Wimsey books lately. Most recently finished Busman’s Honeymoon, which was quite a departure for Lord Peter’s character – he finally gets Harriet Vane to realize she loves him and marry him, and his reactions to her long-awaited capitulation are fascinating. Am now several chapters into an earlier one where he and Harriet, as mere friends (although Peter asks her to marry him on a daily basis), are working together to solve a mystery. I have to say that I don’t think Sayers liked Harriet very much – has her forgetting key details and saying “how stupid of me” at very regular intervals, even though we know (from Peter’s remarks) that at least HE regards her as highly intelligent. I may have to go back to Peter’s pre-Harriet days.
In a decent-sized cloud of Zoologist Bee today to combat waking up to a dreary day of mixed rain/snow.
Three more days until I can move into my first proper lodging in my new work city, which I am VERY much looking forward to.
I’m rooming in an Airbnb for the first week due to how fast I needed to be here, and it’s basically home quarantine. I’m very happy to follow the precautions, but it’s not a fun way to live. Still, I am grateful to have been able to find reasonably priced lodging on such short notice.
First day of onsite work today!
Good luck!
I love Bee — sounds like you’re in good armour against the winter weather! Best of luck with all the new endeavors!
Wow, talk about a whirlwind experience!
I’m in Lime Basil & Mandarin, from a sample I must have been given in a swap. Having that ‘where has this been all my life’ feeling. I’ve tried this before, I’m sure, but it’s really lovely on this beautiful day.
Still waiting on safe water from the taps, but we have bottled water. Safe water is expected to be restored to our area this evening or tomorrow. Last week at this time, we had been without power for 14 hours, wondering when it would come back on. It’s a beautiful day out there today, and I’m grateful! ?
Hope you get the water back sooner rather than later!
Thanks, E! We got it back three hours ago. Sweet goddess of cake and brownies, that shower felt good.
Oh, I’ll bet! Glad you have water again! Sheesh, those reports on the news about how so many of Texas’ citizens were suffering were heart-wrenching. On Monday, I looked at comments after mine on Friday’s poll post, and saw you’d gotten your power back. I was happy to see that, too. *Hugs*
Hurray for power on and safe water coming out of the taps!
SOTD = Papillon Bengale Rouge
Incense tonka vanilla and a teeny tiny growl. I have a blue-eyed blue-bodied sweetie lurking about ?. Her name is Fifty Cents (I may change it to Fifty Scents).
https://www.instagram.com/p/CLmrSvxBY85/?igshid=1sjp4up3a1kk2
We had / have (still falling) snow today but due to upcoming warmer weather, I may just leave the snow alone.
I saw the East will be in the above average temps in the long range outlook. I’m also included! ?
Woo hoo! I just want all the snow to melt!
You smell great and the owl is so cute!
Thank you. I did 3 rounds around the tiny store going in different directions and saw this on the last round!
You smell amazing, bengale rouge is one of my favorites!
ZOMG! That little blue owl is adorable! ??
I decided a couple of weeks ago to start running again, so I’m sort of doing C25K The Senior Plan, my own modification. It means that I increase the running time about 4x slower than the regular plan, and has been working well, no tendonitis, no sore knees. I usually run/walk to one song on my shuffle playlist and this morning it was American Pie, and I managed to make it through the whole song. I tried to sing along but was too out of breath. I wore Desarmant.
I finished reading Longbourne last night, fiction about the Bennet’s servants while Pride and Prejudice events occurred. It was not bad, a little draggy in spots. I am quite enthusiastic about Medicus, about a physician in Britain during the Roman occupation, based on the chapter Amazon let me read before purchasing. It’s a series, too, which if it’s good will keep me occupied for a while.
The first time I thought I was able to jog long enough for it to be worth timing I managed a whole 30 seconds. I’ve improved in the last year but there are days I have to slow down to a walk after 5 minutes… Regardless, I feel great when I have done a decent stretch of run/walk/run!
I am finding that a good walk/run is VERY satisfying and not as hard on my knees and hips! And it’s a form of HIIT as well, so overall fitness is improved just as well as just running!
I like the Levi Strauss theme. I’m not only a casual dresser in general, but also a have fairly earthy/rustic preference in my home decoration and cooking–I don’t obsess about perfection unless it’s in my work.
Today I’m in Angelique Noire which works for all occasions and definitely with jeans, boots and my cozy speckled black cashmere sweater.
Monday!
1) A grey Monday, to be expected in this last phase of winter here in Portland.
2) SOTD: Amalfi Sunray, from the Zara X Jo Malone. Very much a riff off of TF Neroli Portofino but not as fleeting (on me)- it lasted through a HIIT morning workout. I did freshen up at the 3 1/2 mark. Very clean neroli & grapefruity scent, very sunny, perfect for a grey day. If you like Neroli Portofino and don’t want to spend the coin, this is a very good runner up.
3) A long day of clearing a group inbox in which I am the only one in the group clearing it. Sigh.
I dabbed from a sample of Aoud Lime by Montale. It’s from a pack of Montale samples I’ve bought many years ago and i’ve kept the ones i liked. It’s probably me maturing over the years, because it smells like a cheap chemical mess.
I’ll be smelling better tomorrow!
Aoud lime is rather vile. I haven’t tried many Montales but I love Patchouli Leaves (?).
Sables by Goutal, simple and excellent.
You smell great!
I’ve been in a mix of colognes today, Mugler Cologne, 4711 Kumquat & Myrrh, 4711 Original and at some point Orange Verte Concentree…
I’m gonna Shower off all the citrus and put on some Milk Musk or I will Never Sleep!
I’m using the “easy to wear” as my interpretation. First up is Shalimar edc. One more week until March!?
“Always in style” is another interpretation.
You smell soooo good.
That Chanel purse is fugly and crazy overpriced (of course). Wearing ELdO Jasmin et Cigarette in my vintage Levi’s 501 button-flys.
What’s worse is that it’s sold out!
Maybe they only made one ?.
Fugly is a great descriptor for the bag.
Gosh, I know everyone hates the bag, but I think it’s cute. I have a weakness for denim handbags though.
We’ll be a club of 2. I think it’s kinda cute too.
Yes for the jeans and JeC!
Had freezing rain and rain for a decent chunk of the day. I’d rather have snow. ?
SOTD = Aedes de Venustas Iris Nazarena EdP. Needed to wear a “Get It Done!” scent today, because Monday. And yucky weather to boot.
You smell lovely Jalapeno! One more week until March ?
Thank you adanst! However, the Snow Gods are sneaky. I figured I won’t see the last of them until April. But warmer temps are coming soon!
Agreed about seeing snow in April.
Could be worse. In Colorado, it is not unknown for it to snow on Memorial Day weekend!
We had snow until May 8th last year…
Smelling nice. We got SNOW! It wasn’t this morning, got busy with work and then, all of a sudden, there was already a lot of snow all over. I hope they all melt away in the next few days.
Thanks!
Today’s yuck started off as snow, which was a surprise to me. All the weather forecasts has been saying that I would be well below the snow/ice/rain line. Ended up with a whopping 1/4 inch of snow that got washed away by all the other stuff.
Ugh, “had been”, not has been. I did well in English class, honestly!
You smell sooo good. Hope it warms up for you soon or at least all the ice goes away!
I’m back to mention that I’m reading Phillip Roth’s novel Nemesis. I’m halfway through. It’s about the polio epidemic killing children in Newark in 1944. So it has obvious resonance with our current situation. It’s so readable and engaging. I feel I’m really there on those hot playgrounds while boys play softball and girls jump rope. I recommend it.
I downloaded a sample of Nemesis. It’s quite engrossing so far. Thanks for the recommendation!
Wearing Chanel No 5 oil today. The sun is out and it’s above freezing (at least during the day).
That Chanel purse looks like a lunch bag one of my co-workers has. Of course, her lunch bag is probably from Costco.
Yay for above freezing temps!
Yes! Spring can’t be far off I hope! The garden center close to me is opening on Friday. They carry seeds and have a few early plants this time of year. Just knowing they are opening up is comforting.
Yay for sun!
Absolutely!
Last night when I was bent over for a few minutes arranging dishes in the bottom rack of the dishwasher, I had a spasm in lower back, which clearly seems to be my sciatica. So last night I had intense pain and numbness in the back of my left leg. I did a lot of stretching and used a heating pad and massager, and it improved a little bit by the time I went to bed. But it was so uncomfortable to sleep and still bad enough this morning that I took a sick day. I went back to bed and slept longer than I meant to, but I’m sure that means I needed to rest.
So today since it’s felt like an off day, I decided to wear two perfumes from decants that have evaporated to be thick and oily and are both perfumes that I’ve been unsure about, De Profundis and CdG Daphne. I really liked De Profundis when I first tried it but seemed to like it less and less in subsequent wearing. And yeah, the evaporation really didn’t do it any favors. I actually like Daphne a bit more than I thought I did, but I’m ok with just using up the little but left in my decant, especially since it was discontinued many years ago.
Ouch ouch ouch! Do / did you do PT for the sciatica? I hope your rest was helpful.
This is my first time experiencing anything this bad, so I’ve not been to PT. I did a lot of stretches and light exercises, ones I’ve already done before, this afternoon and they have helped a lot. I’d say I’m feeling about 80% better at this point.
Ooooof. Back pain in no joke, especially if it is recurring. Hope that you are feeling better now.
Isn’t that the truth. Back pain can be so bad and debilitating. And thanks, I am feeling mostly better now. I’ll keep stretching tonight.
Oooops. “Is”, not in.
Glad to hear that you will keep on stretching. It can make a world of difference.
So sorry about your sciatica! What helped me most was doing stairs. I worked on the 10th floor and took the stairs up and down at least twice a day.
I just wore De Profundis Friday and didn’t enjoy it all that much either, I think I liked the original formulation better.
Ahh, good advice on the stairs. I was in the good habit of taking them when I was working on the fifth floor in my office building, but I’ve not kept up with stairs while wfh. I can definitely make a point to walk the stairs in my six story apartment building.
I had sciatica, sorry you are having this. Walking and stretching the piriformis muscle were helpful for me. Alternating ice and heat is good too. Hoping it clears up soon!
Thank you, Gail!
Ouch! Hope it’s feeling much better!
It is about 90% better now!
Wearing Tonka Imperiale today. It’s rather warm today here (low 70s) but I still wanted something sweet and cozy.
I love Tonka Imperiale and I bet it smells fabulous on you! For the longest time, I was using a decant and had been replenishing it from my bottle. I finally got rid of the decant bottle after it was down to the dregs.
I love Tonka Imperiale. You smelled great today!
Heeley Verveine D’Eugene. It’s pretty and light but a bit too fresh for me. Nice for a warm day, though. I did not have a margarita today but in fairness I had more than one over the weekend haha.
On Monday, I ended up belatedly wearing Blue Encens, which I’d planned to wear on Friday.
The weatherpeople on ABC in Philadelphia talked about how it would snow on Monday in the “far western suburbs,” including Chester County. I watched the snow for a while, and did absolutely nothing useful for the whole day. Perhaps I’ll get something done today. I’m looking out at the little sheet of ice that’s covering the windshield of my car, and not feeling ambitious today (Tuesday) either, but I’ll try to think of something productive I could do.