We skipped this poll last year, and I'm happy to skip the visual media polls altogether if nobody cares, do please comment yay or nay? Coming soon: the swapmeet, on 15 April, followed by the spring reading poll on 6 May and the splitmeet on 20 May.
For now, tell us...
...what fragrance you're wearing today?
...any great tv shows or movies you've discovered recently, and/or
...anything else fun you've been streaming (exercise videos? music? anything),
Or, as always, just talk about something else....
Note: top image shows one of Monty Don's dogs from the UK show Gardener's World.
I’m usually a late poster but not today – good morning!☀️💛
In Chanel Sycamore from a generous NSTer and loving the sumptuous vetiver.
We haven’t been watching much lately, probably because we’ve been too busy prepping taxes.
As usual though, I am very excited about the upcoming swapmeet!
Argh I really need to do taxes.
Oh boy…don’t want to think about taxes. Canadian taxes are basically done and waiting for one last statement to come in. But Canadian taxes are easy. I’ve been trying not to think about the U.S. taxes. So much hassle, and I never owe anything.
Lucky you! I always owe money on both sides.
We live in Canada full time, so I think that helps. What we pay in Canada always is way more than we would ever owe in the US.
I love the viewing poll, so it’s a yay from me.
I’m in the last of my Zoologist Musk Deer sample. Thunk.
Recent TV viewing:
PBS: just finished All Creatures Great and Small. We all love that show and are looking forward to another(!) season.
Netflix: finally got around to watching Glass Onion last weekend and it was *good*, just not as good as the first imho. Also stumbled upon Cunk on Earth, and maybe I have a warped sense of humor, but I find Diane Morgan absolutely hilarious. I have literally been the laughing crying emoji while watching it.
Prime: Jack Ryan and Clarkson’s Farm2. Both pretty mindless entertainment when we don’t know what else to watch.
HBOMax: we’ve been rewatching The Sopranos with our 22 year old and had forgotten how good it is. I think we first watched it when she was a baby. Looking forward to the next season of Succession and the movie Empire of Light with Olivia Colman- I’ll watch her in anything.
In the real, actual theater I’ve seen Women Talking, which was very good and Emily, which was excellent.
Perfume freebie of Arielle Shoshanna Friday and Saturday samples, plus a few others. Call dibs and email me at p k wisdom(one word) in the yahooland.
Happy Saturday!🌞
We enjoyed Glass Onion, but yeah, not really a masterpiece.
Loved All Creatures.
I will call dibs if no one else has done it yet.
So, my problem with the new All Creatures is that it just isn’t funny enough. I remember laughing out loud reading the book. I loved Herriot’s wryness, which just doesn’t translate in the PBS version. The scenery is gorgeous, and the costumes and other 1930s-40s set pieces wonderful. I just wish the Herriot character wasn’t so earnest, and that Siegfried wasn’t always grumpy and then learning his lesson.
Totally agree with you about Glass Onion— fun but not as unexpected and clever as the first.
And ditto on Coleman! I think I mentioned this on NST before, but there is a fun podcast episode from David Tennant Does a Podcast with him chatting with Coleman.
Why isn’t there a new season of the DT podcast, I want to know!
Agree AC is not really funny, it is sweet instead.
I am commando and lazing around the house, doing a few chores here & there.
TV:
I am rewatching all 3 seasons of The Detectorists (Acorn) so I can watch the new (2022) 75 minute Xmas special.
I am watching Season 23 of Midsomer Murders (Acorn). Same pile of dead bodies
I loved the comforting/non-threatening Netflix series The Makanai: Cooking for the Maiko House, and would recommend it to anybody who like me is already feeling traumatized and so avoiding excessive conflict or violence in their visual media.
I’m slowly watching His Dark Materials Season 3 (hbo), and even slower, The Essex Serpent on Apple TV.
My husband and I are on Season 2 of Ted Lasso. We both like it without entirely understanding what the fuss is all about.
I am dying to see Natasha Lyonne in Pokerface but don’t have the Peacock channel, if anyone has seen it, do tell me if it is thumbs up or thumbs down!
We’re watching Poker Face! Stylish and funny, and poignant. Because it is set up like the old gumshoe tv shows, its episodes can be watched from time to time without feeling like each ends on a cliffhanger and you must watch the next episode immediately. So it doesn’t make me want to binge watch, which is good or bad, depending on your preference 😁
I didn’t know about the Detectorists Christmas special. Very exciting!
Thanks! So glad you are liking PF even if not wanting to binge. Eventually I guess I’ll have to cough up for Peacock.
And I hope she is still doing a season 3 of Russian Doll.
SOTD is Chanel No 5 EDT. I really like this one.
Nothing new for tv as I leave that to my husband while I read. However, since I followed that Murdaugh case I may watch the series that I believe is on Netflix.
My husband likewise watches way more tv than I do since usually go to bed early with a book. But I do exercise with the tv on, so I catch up that way.
I watched the Netflix doc about the Murdaugh case and found it fascinating, mostly because my brother-in-law lives in the low country and I know the area and the people well. How the mighty shall fall.
It just really caught my attention. I saw an earlier series that was out a while back. I guess the latest on Netflix is more in depth with some different characters.
Like Kris, I’m the bookworm and my husband is the tv person, so nothing to recommend. Another cold cloudy morning but at least no rain. Off to our monthly Papillon club dog walk with Mila, wearing YSL Babycat.
Jorum Spiritcask smelled like toothpaste on me, bizarrely. Nothing from that line works on me.
Glad I am not the only one who doesn’t care much about tv. I glance at it now and then, but usually find myself finding something else to do.
I’m also a books instead of TV person.
Commando still this morning (Eau de Bedhead?), trying to be lazy for a bit. Spouse is at a conference and I’m doing all the running this weekend.
I’m not a huge TV watcher, so we get through things slowly if we watch them together. But right now we’re watching:
– White Lotus season 2. We’re late to the party, but it’s a good one.
– His Dark Materials season 3, with the kid when they remember to watch.
– Schitt’s Creek. Rewatch (3rd? 4th?) for us, but now the kid is into it.
– Random episodes of RuPaul’s Drag Race / Canada’s Drag Race, since the kid has gotten into drag.
My spouse will want to watch The Mandalorean; I’ll have to think about whether I do or don’t. I didn’t really get into The Book of Boba Fett and he started Andor on his own, but then I watched parts of the last half of the season.
I just binge-read “Fleishman is in Trouble”, but I’m not sure if I’ll watch the show on top of that.
I adored Schitt’s Creek. We watched a half an episode of Eugene Levy’s new travel show (Reluctant Traveler, apple tv) and my husband didn’t like it at all. I might watch more later but it wasn’t as funny as I was expecting either.
I did not make it through season 1 of White Lotus but might try again some day. Everyone else seems to love it.
We just saw Season 1 of White Lotus and now are on Season 2. I hope season 2 is as good as the first one. And we are always late to the party too!
I think Season 2 of White Lotus is better than Season 1. I liked both. My sister didn’t make it all the way through Season 1, but binged Season 2.
Oh! It is Eurovision season! I am busy following all those national finals (which, thanks to the time lags, totally disrupt my sleep patterns.) Not a very competitive year, but still find many great music and artists!
(Later today, we will have the Serbian national final. Hopefully, the sensual Luke Black can win. Next weekend, if without any accidents, Loreen will win Mello and go representing Sweden!)
SOTD: Khamsin by Pour Toujours. A floral chypre with the theme of the earthy narcissus and the animalic hyrax. With some extra decorations of the green and the floral, it is a nice way to welcome spring. (Alas, so surprised all those delicate offers from the house have been so overlooked!)
N.B. Khamsin, like other creations from the house, is signed by Martine Denisot.
I have only seen clips of Eurovision. Don’t really know why it has not caught on in the US!
Still wearing my Profumum Sorriso sample which I am enjoying as a not overly sweet chocolate musk. I’m also looking forward to the swap and splitmeets.
We only have Netflix and Amazon Prime/Brit Box, so I’m a bit more limited on some shows. Things we’ve been loving lately:
– Extraordinary Attorney Woo
– Derry Girls (absolutely LOVE this show, it’s the hardest I’ve laughed at a tv show in ages, yet it also has some poignant moments with its setting in 1990s Northern Ireland.)
– the latest episodes of Vera, season 12.
– soon to be watching whatever we can find on history of Rome for an upcoming trip this fall
Oh and I do stream lots of exercise videos. Some favorites are MadFit, HASfit, Five Parks Yoga and Coach Vigue.
Ooh, how fun to be researching for a trip!
I do hope some day they do some little followup to Derry Girls. Such a great show.
Oh — on the history of Rome — we’ve been watching a recent Mary Beard BBC series on YouTube. (“Rome: Empire Without Limit”) I think she’s done some older documentaries with the BBC, as well.
Thanks for the Rome rec!
Alien epd for a sunny cool day. Big contrast to yesterday’s all-day rain and gloom. Rather than TV & film, I’ve been in reading mode, and send out a thank you to those who recommended new-to-me Penelope Fitzgerald. I’ve read The Blue Flower and The Gate of Angels and enjoyed both. Happily, our library has quite a few of her books, so there’s a new vein to mine! Also, a nerdy delight is a new Red Cross weather radio. It was around $40 from Lowe’s. It slices, it dices, no-wait-that’s something else. But it does have a solar charger, a hand-crank charger, usb port, flashlight and a glow-in-the-dark piece on the top so you can find it if the power goes out. I quite like to listen to Mr. Weathervoice giving the temperatures and conditions all around the state. I need to find out what he is really called. Now, if I only knew what “dewpoint” means for me.
Oh I would love that weather radio!
I watched “The Reluctant Traveler” on Apple TV and really enjoyed it. I find Eugene Levy so funny and the series is poignant, too.
That’s the only thing I’ve watched lately and I really enjoyed it!
Thank you both, you have convinced me to keep going even though we didn’t love the first part of episode 1.
I did not fall in love with Schitt’s Creek right away either
No TV here as I cancelled both my prime membership and Netflix. I finished all the Seinfeld episodes and since nothing can top that, I’m done with TV for a while 😉.
Wearing Cologne pour le Soir today from my kegger sized bottle. I enjoy this for the first few hours and then it begins to annoy me. I have no idea why because it seems fairly linear to me.
Bucketing down rain since last night but we are hunkered down in a free camp spot that also offers free hookups. 3 nights gratis, so I’ll take it thank you very much! I’m trying to just stay still for a bit and give T-Rex some down time. Thanks to all those who sent good wishes her way yesterday! The worst part of it is when I try to help her, she yelps and looks at me accusingly, which breaks my heart. 💔 I’m giving her extra treats and gentle pets today so she doesn’t hate me.
Today is my birthday and I’m quite indifferent to it. Usually, I will either be working or if not, I do something a bit special. This year, I’m like “who cares? Not me.”
Happy weekend and hope people are experiencing better atmospheric conditions that we are…🌧☔️💧
I care! HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
I missed the T-rex news. I hope she is OK.
Also I laughed at the “free hookups” 😉
I haven’t had that kind of “hook-up” in quite a while…😂
I care! I hope you have a nice, peaceful birthday day and that tour upcoming year brings you health and joy.
Happy birthday!
HAPPY, HAPPY, HAPPY BIRTHDAY, DEVA! 🎂🍷🎉🌹
Happy Birthday!
A very happy birthday to you, Deva!🎂🎈🤸♀️🎁🌹
Happy indifferent birthday and sending very best wishes to T-rex.
Happy birthday anyway, Deva!
Wishing you a happy birthday.
Happy birthday, Deva! 🎈 🍰
Happy birthday, Deva! My best friend’s birthday is also today and mine is in 3 short days.
Happy birthday, fellow Piscean!♓️♥️
Happy Birthday Deva!
Hope T-rex feels better soon.
P.S. Like Lillyjo, I had a chuckle at the mention of “free hookups”.
Happy Birthday, Deva! Many March birthdays it seems! I hope T-Rex heals quickly.
Happy Happy Birthday Deva! Hope T-Rex is back to her perfect self soon.
Happy birthday to you, and many hugs to T-Rex!
Happy birthday dear Deva!! hugs to you.
I care!
Happy Scented Birthday Deva! I’ll only use a few emojis, out of respect for your birthday “Meh”. 😉🎂🥂🎉
Have a great birthday, Deva and a very happy year.
Happy Birthday, Deva! (And I care, too!)
Happy birthday! As for your Cologne pour le Soir, I find that linear scents tend to wear on me, like hearing an endless loop of the same song.
Another “I care!” here! Happy Birthday!
I hope your pup feels better soon.
Happy, happy birthday! And I hope T-Rex is back to herself soon.
Happy Birthday, Deva❣️ 🎉💐🥳🎂🍾🎁 I hope you at least used the day as an excuse to pamper yourself a bit. 🤗
Happy birthday fellow pisces!! ♓️
I hope you had a very nice day yesterday for your birthday! While you’re at it, have a lovely day today too!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY a day late, sorry! Sometimes a quiet day at home is just the thing! I really hope T-Rex’s back improves soon so the two of you can resume your adventures together.
Adding the happy birthday wishes. I very much enjoy your posts.
Happy belated Birthday!🎉 And healing wishes to T-Rex that she is back to herself soon!
Happy Birthday!
That foot of snow we were threatened with yesterday ended up being maybe a third of that, speedily dealt with by the snowplows, and today was excellent walking weather (-6°C, no wind, some cloud), so we went out for a nice long walk to run our errands. I was and still am in Mugler A*Men Ultra Zest, which I just noticed this morning has a chocolate-orange phase, very nice.
We don’t have a television but I watch a fair number of movies, and a couple of nights ago I watched Smile, a surprisingly well-made 2022 horror movie. It’s nothing new — it calls to mind The Ring, It Follows, Drag Me To Hell, and any number of other such bad-thing-coming-for-you films — but it very effectively navigates the twin terrors of “What if you were losing your mind?” and “What if you weren’t losing your mind but you looked and acted as if you were?” It doles out its scares effectively and it doesn’t have you calling the protagonist an idiot: she makes all the right decisions, but the thing is coming for her nonetheless. Highly recommended, if you’re into that sort of thing (I often am).
I am not good at “bad-thing-coming-for-you movies! I will avoid Smile! But hope someone else will watch it and enjoy
Wearing Unter den Linden this AM. Not sure what got into me. Usually this is a summer scent for me.
As for tv, hmmmm. Watched an incredibly dumb but oddly satisfying baking show, I think on Prime, called the Dr. Seuss Baking Challenge. Weird flavor combos and all out creativity, and friendly contestants. Not too much at stake.
In perfume/tv news . . . In the Robert Galbraith (JK Rawlings) lane, her book Troubled Blood has some perfume intrigue in the on again off again non-romance of the main characters. In the book, I remember having a pretty clear idea of what was the perfume being referenced, but now I am forgetting. It might have been a Jo Malone or Diptyque (not explicitly named, but if you know popular perfumes. . .) In the made for tv film of the book (4 episodes on HBO Max) the scene in the perfume shop was definitely filmed in a real shop. Londoners will probably recognize it. I don’t know if it was a place that sold many niche perfumes, or just one house, but Roja Dove was very obvious to pick out.
In other news, I really enjoyed the link yesterday posted by Kanuka to the story about agar wood from Australia. But, on the link there were links to other related stories on perfume published in the Sydney Morning Herald, including a brief exchange with Serge Lutens. In it he is quoted as saying he doesn’t wear perfume! That is making me totally annoyed. Really? All those dumb pretentious videos about his perfumes and he doesn’t even wear perfume? I feel patronized. No wonder the house is growing irrelevant. I’m still feeling grumpy about it😡
https://www.smh.com.au/lifestyle/beauty/he-created-a-cult-unisex-fragrance-but-he-doesn-t-wear-perfume-20220726-p5b4rl.html
Hi OF!
In the book Troubled Blood, Robin, one of the two main characters, wears Philosykos as a signature scent before her divorce. She is later gifted Narciso by her business partner Strike.
I’ve not seen the movies but in the book there is scene in which Strike goes to Liberty (a posh London department store) to shop for a perfume for Robin and ends up at the Frederic Malle counter where he is offered a series of perfumes with names which, he later tells Robin, sounded to him like “shaggable you”. If I remember correctly, the sales assistant was suggesting Dans Tes Bras, Carnal Flower and Musc Ravageur amongst others. I thought that was very funny!
Thank you adanst, the only one I remembered was the Narciso!
Yes yes yes! Thank you. I remember getting all the perfume references in the book when I read it. Perhaps the shop in the tv film is Liberty (but there is no telling which perfume she buys, other than it is the one that does not smell like “cake” per the dialogue). The shop looked small though–and a quick look online at Liberty shows it does not carry Roja Dove, at least not online. But who knows. Hard to tell with camera angles and whatnot.
Every answer he gave annoyed me. Lol.
Maybe the shop was Bloom?
I haven’t been there …
I missed the Serge Lutens. Funny photo, pulling the skin on his jaw tight which makes his mouth crooked. I couldn’t read the article as I’ve overdone my free limit.
For you my dear (Apologies to the goddess of copyright
) From Lutens’ mouth to God’s ear:
What I’m loving right now: “Finding somewhere I can’t be reached for solitude and distance.”
Favourite fragrance: “I don’t have a favourite, nor do I wear any.”
Inspiration: “I haven’t been inspired by anyone; my approach is a purely personal one. It finds shape at a particular moment: a perfume can take shape in an aeroplane, a train, at home.”
The rule I live by: “Life is fleeting. The idea that life will come to an end helps me quicken the pace.”
Favourite colour: “Black, of course. It’s the refuge of all colours and complements all of them. Also shades derived from blue, including violet and fuchsia. I find it difficult to talk about colour without contextualising it.”
My mantra: “I like simple, ordinary, unexpected things – there’s something wonderful about them. It doesn’t come from material, physical objects. It’s simply a connection with ourselves.”
https://www.afr.com/life-and-luxury/fashion-and-style/the-self-described-picasso-of-perfume-reflects-on-a-fragrant-career-20210630-p585op
And for you! It gets worse…Also, would love to know how he defines ‘simple’ . It sounds a bit disingenuous
I read somewhere he wears Cuir Mauresque, but who knows. He’s an odd duck.
Today I am wearing another new acquisition. Cristalle edt. I won a small bottle in a Lot at Shopgoodwill. I am thrilled to have it in my collection, although I do still prefer the edp.
I do not watch TV much anymore but have been watching That 90’s Show on Netflix. I force my son to watch with me. It’s cute. It does not remind me of the 90’s except for the fact that it is an inoffensive family sitcom. Like Robin, I just cannot watch anything that might upset me anymore.
I did just read that Chris Rock is streaming his new Netflix special tonight and I plan to watch it. Comedy specials are a favorite for me.
Congratulations on your win Lillyjo, I think bothe EDT and EDP are essential in a collection. Hope you’re feeling 100% today.
*both
Thanks Aurora. I think I am about 70% right now. Hopefully tomorrow will be the magic day.
I think you are right. The edp and edt are more different than I had thought.
Yay for your Cristalle!
Yes!
You smell great Lillyjo and congrats on winning a bottle!
I watched and liked That 90’s show, though not nearly as much as That 70’s show. I just read they have been approved for a second season.
Have you seen any of the Dave Chappelle’s shows on Netflix? I watched the Equanimity and the bird revelation which I thought was pretty good, if profanity laced (and speaking of profanity, Richard Pryor Live in Concert, on Netflix as well, is very funny).
I haven’t seen those specials but will look them up. Thanks!
The last one I watched was Bill Burr live at Red Rocks. I thought it was pretty good.
Congrats on a VERY nice perfume win! Did that lot have anything else besides the Cristalle?
Yes. It had one of the Dolce and Gabbana anthology perfumes, a Prada coffret and some skin care. I gave the skincare to my daughter. I really like the Dolce one but can’t remember the name. I think it will be good for summer.
That D&G Anthology one might be #3, L’imperatrice. Its name in English is “The Empress”. I tried that one and remember it having a watermelon note, so it would be perfect for summer.
Congrats on u you our win!
Thank you! I think I am finally catching on as to how to win. Lol
What a great win. I’m glad the bottle found you!
Congratulations on your win; you’ve scored a few gems! I’m like you, only the bandwidth for funny shows and/or comedy. Lately we’ve been watching Nate Bargatze and Jim Gaffigan, either on Netflix or YouTube. Both are really funny guys and no swearing involved!
Jim also did a series on YouTube during the pandemic called
“Let’s Get Cooking”, which involved his whole family. Just saw those recently, but still funny!
High five on the win! Hope you wake up feeling 100% tomorrow.
I’m in 19-69’s Capri. It’s a great match for a warm, sunny day.
Not a TV watcher – the only thing I’ve watched lately has been The Reluctant Traveller, which Jks mentioned above. Eugene Levy is just the best.
Everything I’ve read about him says he is shockingly likeable
Wearing Floris Honey Oud.
Cold, cloudy day. I just finished running my errands and I am ready to sleep for the rest of the afternoon. No time anymore to watch tv or reading books. Someday, things will get back to normal.
Happy weekend, everyone! 🌻
Hi PL67! I have not had a chance to comment lately but I’m thinking about you and your mom and sending you hugs. Hope you get some rest this weekend. Take care of yourself!
Thank you, Adanst! 🌻
You smell great!
Thank you, Hajusuuri!
I take it your mom has not been released yet?
Not yet, unfortunately.
Fingers crossed for soon!
I don’t watch much TV. Baking shows, PBS Masterpiece, and PGA golf. I’d rather read. It’s a cold, rainy day and I’m wearing vintage Bellodgia before running out to do some errands later.
Has anyone been through duty-free at SFO lately? I’ll be there next week and was wondering if any shops have good perfume offerings.
I like PGA golf so you aren’t alone. In the fall and winter it is NFL football.
We often have the TV on and my beloved watches all sorts of ramdom things. Play-throughs of Doom II levels feature a lot. Some of the players have amazing skill, I don’t have the hand-eye co-ordination for those sort of games. Otherwise, we are still working our way through CSI. The earlier episodes seemed more memorable, and I’d completely forgotten that Ted Danson came in.
I just paused there as I wrote my comment to rescue a cicada that the cat brought in. Sometimes thay are clearly past saving when Phaedra brings them, but this one was very active.
I didn’t have much for the CP till Friday, but now I have the Sana Jardin discovery set. I checked out a new shop, discovered it is owned by someone I know slightly, and has the Sana Jardin range. I would usually try the testers than buy a set, but I was keen to support her business – and I’d finally finished something at work that had been driving me wild for months!
So far, most of them are nice, but there is nothing that’s an instant love. I do like Tiger By Her Side, it’s a soft spice. It reminds me of something else, maybe Crimson Rocks from Amouage.
I have Tiger by her Side and like it a lot. I like all the Sana Jardins and Incense Water feeds my need for incense without offending those who do not like. All of them are good to layer.
Trying Harvest Mouse today which surprisingly may be the first Zoologist scent I have sniffed.🤔 I may have tried another one but for whatever reason it’s not a house I have pursued…think I was overwhelmed by the number of fragrances. This is interesting so far…getting sweet, yeasty woods.🍺
In terms of viewing, I watched the The Staircase documentary and then have gotten through a few episodes of the HBO show version too. The documentary is a few years old so some of you have probably watched it and I completely think he did for what it’s worth.
I listened to a BBC podcast on the case and that was excellent and gave a better balanced view and calls out the bias of the documentary. The HBO version is entertaining b/c who doesn’t love Toni Collette?
I have also been watching lots of BBC’s Winterwatch, a yearly pleasure, and My Life is Murder both on Britbox.
Also watched the first two HBO Murdaugh murder documentary episodes. which is a decent summary of the events. I have listened to the Murdaugh Murders Podcast over the past year so am pretty familiar w/ all that crazy stuff and that is quite good…that case of course just culminated this week w/ his conviction too.
We have been about 14 days without illness in House She-ra by my count and I think we need a sign like they sometimes have in factories to celebrate this run.😁
Congratulations on making it to 14 days!
What do you think of Harvest Mouse?
I quite liked it and couldn’t place what it reminded me of but was perusing Fragrantica and a few said it reminds them of Solstice Scents Manor and bingo that is it. It’s not exact but definitely smells similar and has a SS vibe overall. It’s sweet, yeasty and woody w/ a spiciness (probably the chamomile and clove) that reminds of SS. I thought it had decent sillage and longevity too…some reviews complained about the throw and that it didn’t last but I did not experience that.
Yay for a 14 day winning streak!
Congrats on making it 14 days sick-free in your household!
I’ve been listening to Murdaugh Murders podcast for the last year or so too but haven’t checked out any tv specials. I think I may be content with the podcast coverage on this particular case.
Still watching Les Rois Maudits.
I chose Galoré this morning, the jasmine is slightly animalic but I don’t mind as it’s only a phase, it really is in the style of No 5. But more earthy, less ethereal Tonight it’s Cheirosa 71, I had forgotten I had it.
Hope it was a good weekend Aurora!
Hello all,
I have been on a Bois des Iles ( aka Box of Eels) bend lately and today I’m wearing the EdT, which I’ve had for many years but for some reason forget to wear. I’ve also recently added a bottle of perfume to my collection.
I was in London a few weeks ago and decided to look for and test the extrait. It was pretty hard to find a tester but I managed to locate one at Selfridges. The sales associate dug the small bottle out from a drawer, dipped a paper strip in it and applied a couple of good smears on my wrist. Lo and behold, was smitten with it. I took the paper strip home with me and set it on my nightstand. I could still smell the perfume on that strip a week later.
Imagine my surprise when a quick internet search showed the perfume included in a 15% off Valentine’s Day promotional offer at another London department store called John Lewis. I ordered it right away and picked it up the next day.
I would vote for keeping the visual media polls. I find them informative. I’m definitely going to start watching The Makanai, which Robin recommended above.
Having said that, I do not think I have any worthy recommendations today.
Wishing all of you a great weekend and a beautiful spring!
Congrats on the Extrait. In these here parts, there are no testers. The only one where I saw and experienced a tester was the boutique in Boston and even so, I think they rotate which scents can be tried on.
Thank you Hajusuuri!
Congratulations on your bottle and discount!
Thank you Lillyjo!
I have the extrait, it is lovely and I do dole in out in little dabs
We have power! Power was restored yesterday afternoon. 7 days and 14 hours without power. That’s a new record for us and one I hope never to exceed.
No scent yet, unless you count chocolate cookies, which I was baking this morning to take to a friend’s later on. (Chocolate cookies should always count, I say.)
What we’re watching: Formula 1 (new season started this weekend!) and classic movies from TCM. Not much else.
Oh and it’s raining again. Snow in the forecast for tonight and every night til… Friday? I forget. Forever, feels like.
Yay for power and chocolate cookies!
Wow. 7 days is a long time. Glad it’s back on!
Glad to hear you have power— makes weather more bearable!
so glad for you!
https://youtu.be/_BRv9wGf5pk
Yay for power!
Huzzah for finally getting your power back!
I’ll count it as 8 days! It’s too long!
Yay! But that’s crazy. Boo hiss on PG&E.
I vote yes for the visual media poll, even if I’m trying to curb my tv viewing a bit.
I’m currently slow-watching The Makanai and really enjoying it. About an episode a week. I also recently watched Clarkson Farms and All Creatures, and am very excited about the new season of Formula 1 starting this weekend.
I’ve doused myself in Bengale Rouge today. The weather is weird, rain and sunshine. I guess that makes it rather spring like!
The Makanai is on tap!
SOTD is le labo Vanille 44.
Went to get botox. Rather get needles in forehead than in my mouth the other day for crown.
Listening to Carrie Soto is Back in my car and watching Daisy Jones and the Six on Amazon Prime
Reading Spare still.
Lots of paperwork for new project and so much paperwork still for all stolen cards and accounts. OYE. Must get fingerprints on Monday and appt at DMV on Tuesday to replace stolen license. OYE
Oy is right. When you say paperwork, is it physical paperwork or online?
Both. OYE.
SOTD = Chatillon Luxe Lamplight Penance
Limited edition and it was a large sample. I could have sworn that it started off being aldehylic, then came creamy nuttiness. I will have to parse later. It’s a nice one.
In the meantime, here’s my Caturday post:
https://www.instagram.com/p/CpYItjluo0o/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=
TV Watching – Thanks for the recommendations! I kept my Netflix subscription and will likely keep it for the foreseeable future. Not in any particular order (and some may be a repeat from a previous comment): Lucifer, Wednesday, Emily in Paris, Breaking Bad, Better Call Saul, Extraordinary Attorney Woo, Lincoln Lawyer, Virgin River, Good Witch, Stranger Things. I am currently rewatching Designated Survivor from the latter half of Season 1.
Love the Caturday post!
Oh, and speaking of creamy nuttiness, I’m trying DS & Durga Pistachio tonight.
I like the Zoologist Harvest Mouse a lot but sadly no sillage on me. If it projected more it would be a winner.
SOTD is AA Pamplelune.
Streaming media, I’m all in.
Another endorsement for Derry Girls.
Nora from Queens was spectacularly brilliant but I would watch Awkwafina read the phone book. Ditto BD Wong.
Los Espookys, a Fred Armison enterprise, is pretty entertaining.
Waiting for Hacks Season 3.
Just re-watched seasons 1 & 2 of The Good Place, which completely holds up
K-drama galore, with leaning toward the slower and the more tragic the better. In that idiom I recommend Lost and My Liberation Notes.
I will definitely rewatch The Good Place at some point.
Kevin loved Los Espookys. I have only seen one episode and need to give it another shot.
I’m in Le Lion AND 1957 today… didn’t mean to do that, but I’m not sorry.
I’ve been watching Will Trent, a police procedural set in Atlanta GA, based on the novels by Karin Slaughter, which I haven’t read, but now want to. I can’t get enough of the characters.
I’m looking forward to watching the Everything All at Once movie soon, finally, but also still haven’t caught up with RuPaul’s Drag Race or Untucked yet, and likewise the 2nd half of the RHoP reunion. Also considering watching the new season of Survivor.
Tomorrow the family is going to a Year of the Rabbit celebration in a nearby town. I’m looking forward to it! Might wear 1957 or something else entirely.
What a happy accident!
I saw Empire of Light this morning and it was better than I expected…not horribly sentimental. Olivia Coleman gives a riveting performance of female rage in one scene. The race plot thread seems tacked on but the cinematography and performances are good. Also good is After Sun, a poignant father daughter movie .
On tv I watched The Wonder with Florence Pugh…set in Ireland, a nurse has to watch a girl who has stopped eating. Nineteenth century, Irish. Great performance.
Julia…this is Sarah Lancaster ( Happy Valley) as Julia Child, during the period when she establishes her tv career, set in Boston. Good stuff. Her accent slips sometimes.
Funny Woman, 60s London, woman breaking into theatre and comedy. Also good.
Tv movie, The Stranger , Australian Joel Edgerton as an undercover cop in a chilling movie, based on true life. Chilling and superb.
The Green Knight, the Anglo Saxon poem made into a terrific film with Dev Patel as Gawain. Mystical and superbly acted.
Wearing interdit Rouge from the shop near where I parked the car. Nice bottle, orange blossom hit and musk and other bits…powdery. Kind of Mon Guerlain vibe but orangey
Empire of Light has a perfume scene, so adds half a star
I’ve been wanting to see Aftersun. I so rarely get to movies these days, though. I saw a couple of episodes of “Julia” on the plane at Christmas time, but of course they only had three episodes and no others, and I haven’t come back to it since, as we didn’t have HBO until we recently subscribed to Crave for His Dark Materials. I should go back and watch the rest of Julia.
I have no time to watch anything.. as a parental unit of a toddler. Tried watching His Dark Materials, watched one episode, fell asleep during second one. Mostly I get to watch YouTube kid shows – Bounce Patrol, Clever Cars and Helper Cars, Blippy, Speedy Diddy, some British video about Fire Engine, and anonymous clips of numbers and shapes all set to Daddy Finger and Wheels on the Bus. And yet, once in a while, we get to watch a couple of episodes of Bluey and everything is good with the world. It is seven minute episodes about two kids and their parents and it is one of the best shows on the TV right now. Oh, and they are all dogs living in Brisbane. It’s available on Disney Plus in US but many episodes are feee to watch on YouTube as well. I think Magic Asparagus is one of the funniest thing I ever seen and probably good place to start.
As long as you don’t have to watch Peppa Pig these days…I still can’t get that intro out of my head, 10 years or so after my kid stopped watching it, because they play it every 5 minutes or so.
My grandchildren watched that too. Now that you mentioned it, I can’t get that darn tune out of my head.
Forgot to add that I am wafting a baby related scent, Abel Nurture, an all natural perfume “to both celebrate and support motherhood”, with notes of orange blossom, rose, sambac jasmine, lentisque, ginger and sandalwood. It’s a beautiful mix but as sprayed lightly from a sample, it’s subtle to the point of invisibility. I would have to see if I like it better when sprayed very generously.
I haven’t found Anything that is really catching my fancy on TV. I don’t stream music so there is nothing on that front.
I am able to smell a little bit better and still in no 5 right now. After my shower, I might give Gris Charnel a try.
Still waiting if my tax refund to be approved cause I want that money in my bank account.
Gris Charnel is great but there’s something in the base that I can’t quite love. Report back!
I don’t have a TV, so I’ll abstain from the vote. The only time I’ve evenly remotely missed having one is when we’ve had weather events, and I can go downstairs to the clubhouse and find what I need.
I’m in SL Chypre Rouge, from the last dabber sample in the chypre pack I got from LS a couple of years back. This reminds me a little of Mitsouko, except with overripe red fruit taking the place of peach. It’s nice to try, but I prefer Mitsy and AdP Profumo for sure.
It has been a gorgeous weekend here. I need to get out and walk – the elliptical just isn’t gonna cut it today. 🌞
I wish we didn’t own a tv, it is the bane of my existence. I’ve told my husband it will be leaving the house the same day he does.
Weather I can get on the internet.
I feel the same, I don’t watch anything on TV and hate the news.
I’m in Profumum Alba this morning. It’s one that only works when I’m in the right mood, but when I am it’s magical. Haven’t been streaming anything new lately, mostly watching old favorites. BUT, we saw Matthew Rhys interviewed recently and he was so incredibly charming and funny (and altogether unlike his characters in The Americans or the Perry Mason reboot) that it made us want to revisit him. Mr. G watched all of The Americans and loved it (it was too chaotic for me), and we both tried to watch the Perry Mason reboot and failed to get into it. But now I think we’ll give it another shot. And I need to get back into Yoga With Adrienne — it’s been too long!
Agree Matthew Rhys is very appealing. Loved The Americans, and would like to run across The Wine Show someday, though not sure whether new episodes are still in production.
Happy Sunday NSTers! Still lots of snow here on the ground but it’s bright and sunny, so I will make the best of it and go for a walk later.
A question for the perfume mind hive: I had asked for the Jo Loves discovery set for my birthday but they are out of stock. Any suggestions for something under $150 that my husband could get me?
I’m not hankering after a particular perfume. I have been into lotions and gels lately – the FM Bigarade lotion is better then the perfume in my opinion. But maybe other discovery sets? I’m stumped!
For something like JM:
Hermes has a travel sized (7.5ml) of four of the Jardin series, so 30ml total. It would probably be under $100 US
Goldfield and Banks has a discovery set, lots of small samples.
And Abel also has a set of small bottles.. Pink Iris is nice.
Or Lush Garden series .
All good suggestions- so good, I already have them 😜
It’s such a challenge figuring out what to want perfume wise when one already has tried so much!
I second the Hermes set, it is lovely, you could try four perfumes and there is a new one jardin de cythère that just came out. Just saying !!!
Has anyone tried Guerlain’s Eau de Cashmere? I’m thinking this could be a good gift option to experiment with layering, but I don’t like blind buying.
Zoologist has a new 30-sample Discovery Set and there’s enough money left to get a travel spray. I don’t know about shipping cost.
There’s something about the base of Zoologist perfumes that doesn’t agree with me unfortunately 😔
I’ve been eyeing the Dries van Noten sample sets as the line is impossible to sample in person where I live.
Will check it out
Finally, some 🌞 today!! We’re still sitting still doing a whole lot of nothing but we’re warm and cozy! Didn’t even bother to put in my contacts yesterday…#lazy
Wearing Taklamakan today for some extra cozy vibes! Thanks to all for the b-day wishes yesterday! Will be cleaning house today to prepare for getting on the road again tomorrow. Away we go…🙂
Warm and cozy is good, warm and cozy with sunshine is ever better.
It is a very nice Sunday, I went for a walk outside and then to a french café with amazing croissants and good coffee.
I am wearing vintage l’Heure Bleu from the rose shaped bottle, it is syrupy, sooo rich and heavenly , one drop is enough.
Have a great Sunday!!
That sounds like a perfect Sunday morning!
Your day sounds perfect!
Happy Sunday, all. March is my favorite month of television since pretty much all I watch is Turner Classic Movies. They have 31 days of Oscar going, with every movie shown being an Oscar nominee or winner in different categories. This year they are doing theme days, yesterday was comedies and I had the TV on all day while I did laundry: Adam’s Rib, Harvey, Some Like it Hot etc. Awesome. I told my husband that this is my version of the college football playoffs lol.
Started the day in Chanel Coco Noir. Just changed my clothes and spritzed some Black Orchid. It’s a beautiful day that’s melting the snow but not fast enough imo.
That is a great kind of March Madness, good for you!
In AG Songes – I didn’t appreciate this years ago when it first crossed my nose. Now I’m fully enjoying its beauty and the scent memories that come with it.
You smell wonderful! I wore Songes just the other day. It’s beautiful.
Truly💕
Hi all, I’m so late waking up today that I’m only drinking my 2nd cup of coffee now and still commando. I’ve kept on wearing my Thomas de Monaco samples; yesterday was Grand Beau.
I’m still watching mostly k-dramas; I’ve become kind of obsessive about it. The American made shows or movies I watch seem horribly predictable and vacuous (Knives Out, I had to quit after an hour, and The Menu was just silly–a satire on rich people where you had to half-envy them to appreciate it?)–the people all seem so shallow. So here’s a rundown:
Mr. Sunshine–vast multi-character historical epic with gorgeous costumes and settings, very addictive love story, intense, complex, set around 1900. A stunningly beautiful heroic young and spoiled noblewoman is gradually transformed into a freedom fighter (as the Japanese are taking over) and becomes the beloved of three different, very interesting (and handsome) men, who all aid her in her cause. If you like it you’re in luck because it has 24 episodes. My friends who watched it also became addicted. I’ve watched it twice now.
Life–A hospital drama about a huge corporation taking over a university hospital and cutting costs; many fine performances plus a lot of human drama; this really resonates with current politics in the US both about hospitals and about universities now, alas. It isn’t one-dimensional, in that the horrible corporate boss who takes things over gradually begins to see the light, at least to some extent.
Our Blues–an episodic set of different but related tales centering on a group of friends who went to school together on Jeju Island, which is sort of tropical and beautiful, and how their lives have diverged yet they still have connections. It’s occasionally sentimental, but it’s so varied that if you don’t like some of the stories you’ll probably like others. A lot of the action takes place in a central fish market and on the boats where people catch the fish and dive for conch. Gritty at times, with a sub-theme about a young woman taking care of her older sister with Down’s syndrome, and how things evolve.
It’s OK to Not Be OK–a wildly stylish show in which an eccentric very wealthy writer of children’s books meets up with and pursues a handsome young caregiver at a mental hospital–where the patients are treated well by an unusual, caring doctor. The handsome nurse has an autistic brother (VERY well-portrayed) who is an excellent artist and he eventually gets hired by the woman writer to illustrate her books. The woman writer has a horrible tragedy in her past and lives in a haunted mansion. It occasionally shifts into sequences done in animation and is often extremely funny. The lady writer’s wardrobe and jewelry are mind-boggling.
The Good Detective– Season 1 focuses on two detectives, an unlikely pair of guys, one older and seasoned and stubborn, the other younger (gorgeous) and very wealthy–as they team up with an intrepid female reporter (gorgeous) to pursue culprits involved with murders and financial crimes and political cover-ups. The detectives are appealing but in this show I was also very taken with two of the criminals who are unusually charismatic. There is also a theme here about unjust application of the death penalty and some of the scenes are extremely tragic (some would say, sentimental). I’m partway into Season 2 now and it’s not as good, sadly.
So, there’s my report.
I finally got my act together and got showered and dressed and scented. I found a sample of Goldfield and Banks Purple Suede that I’d forgotten about. This I just do not like. It’s supposed to have lavender, leather, and other notes. I smell the leather and no lavender whatsoever. It smells like leather bubble gum to me. That’s a no.
Leather bubble gum just sounds yucky.
Excellent report, thank you Calypso! I think I already have a k-drama on my list from you, and will add Mr. Sunshine.
Went out to the farmer’s market and bought way too much gorgeous fruit – going to have to eat fast before it goes bad. Got a beautiful brightly colored Mexican blanket too. It’s not very warm but we got some sun at least. Wearing Omnia Madera which I forgot I owned. It’s a yummy gourmand.
Too much beautiful fruit is a problem I wish I had!
Commando today., hoping to get out and exercise. It is, of course, beautiful sunny day in the 70’s and I have to start on my taxes. I have an accountant who does it for me but just finding all the forms and scanning them in is something I dread. I used to do my own taxes when they were less complicated.
Yesterday I worse Essential Parfums Divine Vanille. I have been on a search for a dry, woody vanilla. I am still testing out samples – there are a LOT of vanilla scents – but yesterday I caved and bought Goldfield and Banks Silky Woods. I wore my sample last week, liked it better and better as the day wore on and then someone I encountered complimented me on it and that pushed me over the edge to place an order. I don’t have anything from Goldfield and Banks.
We just finished the second season of Slow Horses. Crime dramas are liked by all household members. I particularly like the British dry sense of humor.
We are recording the last season of Endeavour on PBS. I have been watching the Morse series for decades, will be sad to see it end.
We have an accountant now too, because of my husband’s business, and it is zero time savings from when I used to do them on TurboTax. Blech.
I never did get into Morse even though I loved the books, but I did like Endeavor.
Silky Woods is a great scent. My woody vanillas are Atélier Cologne Vanille Insensée and Imaginary Authors Memoirs of a Trespasser.
I’m late to the party, but I’m a degenerate who watches way too much TV so I have opinions to share about what I’ve seen and liked recently:
-My top 5:
—Bad Sisters – Four sisters plotting to kill the truly awful husband of their fifth sister. But funny! Sharon Horvath is one of the stars and (second to Olivia Coleman) she is my indicator that a show will be good.
—Andor – This was not just a great Star Wars show, but a great show period.
The Last of Us – For a “zombie” show, the zombie really take a back seat. The character development and character relationship development is emotionally affecting. And the sets are just amazing. Every episode feels like a mini movie.
—Somebody, Somewhere – I love the vibe of this show. No pretense, a touch snarky, and at its core about how friends can be family.
—Better Things – I loved this show: the characters, the loose structure, even the art in the house. I am sad that it is over.
-Other great shows (IMO, anyway) from 2022/23: Derry Girls, Barry, Severance, We Own This City, The Bear, White Lotus, Reservation Dogs.
-Other shows I liked from 2022/23: All Creatures Great and Small, Cunk On…., After Party, Abbott Elementary, Heartstopper.
-Looking forward to seeing/catching up on: Succession s.4; Ted Lasso s.3, Better Call Saul s.6, Mandalorian s.3 (Baby Yoda melts my heart), and based on everyone’s recommendations here, Slow Horses, Clarkson’s Farm, and Pokerface.