Tell us about a summer vacation, any summer vacation: one you took, one you plan to take, one you'd like to take. And tell us about the perfume that best matches that vacation.
Or, as always, just talk about something else.
Note: top image is Multi-Colored Balloons [cropped] by Paul Schultz at flickr; some rights reserved.
Just a quick fyi, I have a summer cold (remember those?) and may not join in the conversation until Sunday.
Darn! Feel better soon Robin!
Ugh, so sorry, Robin. Hope you are feeling better soon!
Hope you can rest and get better soon!
Sorry about the cold-you can rewatch the Chanel commercial you posted yesterday to make you feel better lol
Feel better soon
Sorry to hear that! Hope you get plenty of rest
Summer colds are no fun, it somehow feels worse in the heat. I hope you get well soon!
That’s a bother, I hope you feel better soon.
I think I’ve got what you got, Robin. In a spritz of Jasmin de Nuit.
Yeah, now Sunday evening and actually this felt more like flu, although I suppose could be cold combined with huge pollen. I was in bed nearly all day yesterday, felt feverish but did not actually have a fever, very achy.
Still crap today but way better than yesterday!
Feel better soon. I hope you can relax and read a good book and just get well.
Oh rats, just been through that myself, hope you feel better soon!
Hope you feel better soon Robin! Hugs.
Blargh so sorry you have a cold. They’re always such a bummer but especially when it’s nice out.
“A summer cold is a different animal…” Do you remember that old Contact commercial, Robin? The one with a guy dressed up as a giant cold germ chasing people? š
Anyway, I hope it’s already on its way out!
Wow, that sounds vaguely familiar but can’t picture it, will have to see if I can find a video!
I tried to find one and attach a link, but no luck. I remember it as being a big guy bouncing around in a big bubble or beanbag sort of thing.
Sending lots of virtual chicken soup your way, Robin.
Pretty picture, thatās what our sky looks like here this morning.š
Iām in Vilhelmās 125th&Bloom from a sample. A pretty floral and not one I would purchase but Iām happy to use my sample. I really like the drydown.
I donāt even have to look at previous year polls because my perfect summer vacation is always the same. Sitting by the side of the lake in northern wisconsin with my 3 kiddos, who arenāt really kiddos anymore. Itās getting harder to pull off as they get older and are going in different directions, but I did manage one weekend last summer. Itās one of my top 2 memories from last summer. Dinner, music and drinks at a lakeside restaurant with my parents and my kids. We had a blast and I have some great pictures which make my heart happy every time I look at them.āŗļø We wonāt talk about how I was feeling the next morning.š¤š¤¢
Anyway, Happy Saturday all! Hope the sun is shining where you are. Oh! Perfume, Iād take Tom Ford Eau de Soleil Blanc or Tam Dao.
You had fun and made memories, that’s what’s important LOL
Will wear Tam Dao on Sunday.
Ah, but someday you’ll be telling us about doing that with kiddos and grand kiddos!
But hope you’ll pull it off this summer.
I would like to go to Montana and visit my sister. It’s just beautiful in June and I haven’t seen her since the before times, but someone has to be here for our mom and that’s me. I would look for some kind of earthy, artisan perfume or oil that’s made locally.
In the meantime, it’s very nice here, just very dry. I’m in Un Jardin Sur le Nil today for a graduation party this afternoon, we have a party to go to every weekend in June š³
Sur Le Nil is a perfect choice for this weather. Have fun at the party! And stay cool!š
I hope you do get to visit Montana sometime soon. You deserve a break, but I understand that’s difficult sometimes.
Itās not great comfort, Iām sure, but my uncle has been in the same position. He lived in Montana for decades and his kids are still there and he loves the wilderness, but he has spent the last few years living close to my quite elderly grandmother in the Midwest.
Much as we all know he wants to be out hiking, we all really appreciate that heās checking in on my grandmother every other day, as the rest of us are younger and far away and still wrapped up in careers and kids. (My mom would have spared him this, but she died when I was young.)
Anyway, the point of this is that I know what youāre doing for your mom is much appreciated.
Thank you for your kind words, ockeghem.
Hugs ringthing. Don’t forget to take a bit of time for yourself as you are looking after your Mom.
Not a summer-vacation person because I am not a summer person, so I have nothing to add to that conversation. We take all our vacations in the spring or the fall, when the weather is more amenable to getting out and about.
The lilacs are out! I can’t resist passing a lilac bush without grabbing a handful and taking a deep lungful, which I did twice yesterday. It’s the most beautiful smell in the natural world.
I don’t usually layer scents but today I’m in a combo of Lush’s Lust and Rose Jam, which stack beautifully, because the bright freshness of the rose balances the sultry jasmine.
Speaking of which! There’s a Lush opening in the big mall, at long last (they did a pop-up store a few Christmases ago as a test), although in truth I don’t know if that’s a good thing or a bad one. I’ve always enjoyed shopping in their stores in other cities, but the smell of the place is kind of overwhelming, and the location is in the same general vicinity as Bath & Body Works, Sephora, and Saje, so that entire part of the mall is going to be a colossal stinkfest.
Yes they are lovely. I feel that way about night blooming jasmine.
I do the same thing with lilacs! The peak here was a couple weeks ago.
Love lilacs!
Our lilacs are done here in MontrƩal, but I do the same.
We’ve had a cold spring ā and it’s still pretty cold here ā so I think that delayed the blooming by a couple of weeks. Better late than never!
I do the same thing when passing lilac bushes, pyramus. Plus, I always wonder why everyone else isn’t doing it, too! š
Wearing Volutes EDT. Itās a just the right amount of powder and hitting the spot for me. Not quite sure why I donāt wear it more often.
Got a second recommendation for the Chobani coffee creamer last night. Last time I was at the grocery (Safeway) I couldnāt find it. Seems I have to go to a certain other grocery store to get it. On my list of things to do today.
Some horrible family members made my first two hours a nightmare. I came this close šš¼ to calling security. I refused to go back into the room until they left. I think they were all lit and so aggressive! I canāt imagine why this kind behavior is tolerated in any hospital. Both patients in the room were crying and hysterical by the time they left. Disgusting behavior. I have 3 weeks left and am giving serious thoughts to not finishing my contract.
As for a summer vacation, at this point Iād go to anywhere that has a total absence of jerks. There has to be an enforced ordinance that says āJerks punishable by death.ā Iād be all over that. š
Send me directions if you find such a haven.
Definitely will send you the GPS coordinates! š I slept all day and feel better now other than a raging headache. Really, the hair on the back of my neck went up which is why I left the room and refused to go back. My spidey senses were fully engaged. Ugh.
Sorry Deva. Take care of yourself.
Oh my that sounds so stressful
Oh Deva, you need a summer vacation, a long one! Sorry to hear about the jerks.
Ugh I hate that for you. I wish people had more consideration for those just trying to do their job. As if it wasn’t difficult enough!
Hope you have a chance to relax properly after that incident.
There are signs posted in pretty much all the public service buildings and public transportation services here saying any kind of violence or hostile behavior will not be tolerated. I hope they enforce it. Poor you, and all those who have to endure such incivility in the line of duty.
That is so shocking and horrible. I can’t believe that happened and am so sorry for both you and those poor patients. Being in the hospital is bad enough without that kind of thing happening. Ugh.
Wow, where are you? There is so much variation in medical care these days! Sounds miserable!
What are people thinking? I wonder this most days.
So sorry Deva, everything about that experience sounds awful.
I hope you don’t encounter any more people like that for the next 3 weeks!
My favorite summer vacations have mostly been in early September (which is usually still quite summery here in the PNW), and most recently have been trips up to the San Juan Islands. Some hiking, some reading, some attempts at kayaking (Mr. G is good at that ā me not so much), but mostly lots of gazing at the gorgeous scenery. Very zen. On past trips Iāve taken a small assortment of decants (my ātravel wardrobeā š) including my SOTM today, Escale a Portofino. Itās been too long since we were last there (the San Juans, not Portofino) ā time to start planning another visit!
We are doing our beach week this year the 2nd week of September. Should be nicer than the last few years of August heat fests, but it seems a long way away!
Can you take a kayak lesson? Many of the people I see kayaking are just doing the oars wrong. Mind you, I’m not great either š
With me itās a matter of not trusting the balance of the kayak, so probably lessons would help. Sadly, Mr. G thinks heās the greatest teacher ever. I will let you all draw your own conclusions. š
Ah. And I am a lake kayaker, so that is a million times easier.
Still, I would take a lesson. My son took lessons for still & white water, and that is when I discovered I was not really paddling properly. Now I can go farther faster.
Also pretty darned sure kayakers do not call paddles “oars” so I already outed myself as a novice above, ha!
Yesterday was way too hot for LHB so I dabbed on some no 22 extrait. Today is a little cooler and will be in Zagorsk. Bath and Body Works started their summer sale today.
I skipped out on the last SAS but I will check this one out.
When we were kids summer vacation was drive to Jersey shore.
Or car trip to Florida.
I think one of my favorites is Greece, where a ferry or small plane to take you to an island. I loved sitting at a taverna, feet in the sand, lots of small dishes on the table, the scent of pine ( to make retsina)
In the soft air. The light on a white wall, cats and red geraniums on stoops and staircases.
My haircut person cancelled today, so lazing on couch reading and enjoying coffee.
Post shower, TF Shanghai Lily and a mani pedi later.
The nutrisystem order is here, the scale comes out tomorrow and the diet begins for Africa.
Hope you are resting and feel better soon, Robin. One day at a time.
I am way better today than yesterday, thanks apsara!
Hope the weighing in and diet went well today.
I am reading This Time Tomorrow-and so far it’s not grabbing me. The books I have completed so far have been meh this year. I enjoyed some Mishima-Bowles etc, but nothing has knocked my socks off.
I hope some good summer reads will come out.
I have lots of plans this summer! Will report back about that later
SOTD – powdery themed for this past weeks CP NĆ©roli Originel by Givenchy
Have you read The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah? Best book Iāve read in years! I think you would like it.
No I haven’t
I think you would like that book. It is very good.
Tell me more…
Lol. Itās set in France during WWII. Two sisters, one with a young child and the other single with a ābolderā personality. Itās all about their struggles and their relationships. I was hooked instantly.
I liked it too, mtg. The Four Winds I really liked.
Oh! Good to know apsara, I will put that on my reserve list at the library.š
We plan on heading to Wyoming to see my family and hang out at the ranch and the Hot Springs. I failed to resist the lure of the cute blue bottle, so I am radiating Summer Vibes today while we do more Travel Trailer shopping. I like this scent more than I expected to and adorable hubby had nothing at all to say about it which is a win. My summer scent line-up is now, in addition to this one, En Passant, Fiore de Capri, La Chasse au Papillion, and Chic et Boheme! Travel trailer shopping is a lot about getting salesmen to tell you the truth, so it is not as much fun as I had hoped! Once we have one, then I can start on the making of my little Boho home away from home! We leave for Wyoming in June 18, whether we are ready or not! Lol.
You have a great summer line up for fragrances.
My summer line up would be Songes, Nuxe oil, Neroli Portofino, Memo’s Ilha do Mel..and some others..
I had to look it up, is it the Dolce & Gabbana? That IS a great bottle!
Yes, it is just as cute in the hand! Good quality. And smells sort of generic, like, right now I really couldnāt tell you a single note, other than sort of sweet but smoothly citrusy, I guess. Now after many hours there is still a faint lingering sweetness on my hand, not toothache sweetness, just pleasant.
May I ask where your family is in Wyoming? My dad grew up in Laramie before moving to Seattle when he was 13. Thereās a road sign there named after his grandfather.
I grew up on a ranch near z Thermopolis, in the Big Horn Basin. Itās about 80 miles from Cody. I went to college in Laramie, and stayed there until my first marriage ended. Laramie is a great place. The Big Horn Basin is a great place too, but very rural. What road?
Corthell Road – near the University. My relatives (Hitchcocks and Hills) were architects and worked on several of the campus buildings. My great grandfather was an attorney and dairy farmer.
Oooh, kitting up a trailer with boho stuff sounds like so much fun. Enjoy your project!
Yes, after putting a few essentials together, I think I will try to collect things as we go alongā¦.
Trailer + Wyoming sounds just wonderful.
Love this post, hope you find your perfect little home!
Stressful summer ahead because our planned move etc but my perfect summer always involves a beach and a book!
I would wear something citrusy – FM Orange Bigarade maybe.
In TDC Osmanthus- really nice!
beach and a book =happiness
That is always my perfect summer too!
Wearing Madie By Rosie Jane, which is my perfect beach scent ā so much so that I thunked a travel spray at the beginning of the week and am now on travel spray #2. And I am indeed on vacation right now, at the beach ā except that Iāve been having to put in a couple of hours of work most days (for an endeavor that is time-sensitive and Iām which I didnāt know Iād be participating when the trip was scheduled). That said, itās been cool (60sF), overcast and breezy since we got here, so we have only gone swimming once (yesterday), when the sun came out and it warmed into the 70s. Iāve been reading-not-for-work a lot, which has been fun.
This really is my ideal summer vacation. A little bit warmer, and staying for two weeks instead of one, would make it perfect.
Hope the rest of the vacation warms up, if you have more left to go!
Ugh, summer colds!
I’m wearing Jour d’Hermes. Sometimes it goes a little celery-ish on me but today it’s perfect. Lots of sun here and not too hot.
I prefer to avoid crowds when I vacation, so I usually go in fall, winter, or spring, and never around holidays. It has worked out well so far!
Omg, I donāt think people mention celery very much but Iām so glad to see it! I get a blast of celery when I first spray Dune and I think itās so weird but then it passes very quickly.
Dune is just a weird beautiful thing!
I agree! Itās a classic.
Is that what that is? I get a blast of something oddball when I spray Dune, also, and it passes quickly. I’ll have to wear it soon and see if I smell celery.
Yes, please do and report back!š
Definitely get something weird and almost off-putting when I first spray Dune. Not quite sure what it is.
Robin, hope you feel better soon, maybe lots of vitamin C.
Summer vacation, the fantasy one would be Venice where I would wear all my Krizia scents, the real vacation will be Provence again this year, scent Un Jardin aprĆØs la Mousson, as always.
I had a medical test this afternoon so I skipped perfume but am now home and smelling of Lush 1000 kisses deep which has become very syrupy and BV Eau de Velours which smells really terrific tonight.
I acquired this week Oriza L. Legrand Empire des Indes, a lovely amber plus a free bottle of Peau d’Espagne which is reminiscent of Chanel Cuir de Russie, Peau d’Espagne has very mixed review on Fragrantica but I absolutely love it, it’s bone dry with beautiful spices accenting the leather, I can see it layering very well with a powdery fragrance. The house also sent me four generous samples. I am not doing well with the low buy, but many are for very modest amounts of money for partial bottles.
Ooh those both sound nice
They really did a nice job with these recent releases, I ordered directly from their website and got free shipping and that nice offer, purchase 100ml bottle and get a 50ml of your choice free and I really adore their samples, spray, made of glass, generous size.
The description on
Empire is really tempting- a sweet Shalimar
Aurora I have been trying to copy your success by looking for low cost partial bottles. It seems to be harder over here.
I hope your test turns out well.
Lillyjo, I hope you can score some nice partial bottles soon, I save a lot of searches and check often to see the result. I’ve come to love good condition partial bottles as my collection has gone larger. That said prices have gone up, I remember when I used to pay Ā£35 to Ā£40 for full 100ml bottles and Ā£15 to Ā£20 for 50ml.
Thank you Aurora! Taking plenty of C š
From the last years of vacation I remember the Sicilian ones most vividly. This summer is gonna be my first summer holidays after the breakup with my partner. With my parents we are going for a few days to Romania next month but I also wanna go on some trip without them. Thinking of some siggtseeing in Greece.
Sotd is Cedrat Enivrant but the photo today is Chanel Paris-Deauville.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CtCXKKBII_D/?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==
Hugs to you. Hope you get to go to Greece, that sounds amazing.
Sightseeing in Greece sounds a dream, hope you make it there Lucasai!
Sicily! Greece! Oh, le sighā¦. maybe someday. š
My annual camping trip will be on the beach this year, near Santa Barbara. I’m sure it will be gorgeous but I’m honestly a little over the camping thing. The no-shower, no-fragrance thing (for fear of attracting mosquitos). I’m ready for glamping instead but I’m doing this to hang out with friends and family.
Does anyone remember Cucumber Baie from Fresh? Long discontinued, but I’d love a little bit of it for a beach vacation.
I remember it! I actually just finished my original bottle of Pomegranate Anise. I have fond memories of visiting the Fresh shop in Boston when I lived in New England.
Wow, that would have been a nice shop to visit.
Iām with you on the camping thing. I like camping āin theoryā but in reality I much prefer a nice Airbnb.š
I’ve never been a happy camper š
Yes, I loved Cucumber Baie! Unfortunately, I had an older large bottle turn on me so I haven’t had any for some years. I thought Fresh brought it back for a while though.
I gave the tent and sleeping bags to goodwill this week š
Bwahahahahaha!
It’ll be a while before I have a summer holiday. Summer is a few months away for a local holiday, and after a month overseas recently, it will be a while until I do that again.
Meanwhile, I’m visiting my mother next weekend. That’s the opposite of a summer holiday, I’ll be heading south to likely colder temperatures. I’m hoping to catch up with Kanuka, but she’ll probably be out of town.
On a different perfume-related note, I was walking past an auction house last week, and in the window display was an old window from a shop with gold lettering “Ask for Grossmith’s Perfumes, Powder & Toilet Cream”. I tried a few of the Grossmith range when they were re-released a few years ago. It hadn’t occurred to me that they might been available here decades ago.
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/THD19010130.2.15.2?items_per_page=10&query=Grossmith%e2%80%99s+perfumes&snippet=true&sort_by=byDA
I found this advertisement from 1901
The advertisement is refreshingly straightforward! I wonder what Flora Dora smelled like!
Hey guys!
This summer I’m actually going on a cruise to Iceland with my mother. She’s always wanted to go and was lucky enough to be asked along. I was thinking to get a small bottle of No 5 parfum to wear some it was inspired by the northern lights. On a no buy but I am about to take some records in to sell. š Just kidding. I’m being good.
I did make an A in my class! Pretty excited to start my next classes though I wish I had a week off between.
Enjoy your weekend everyone!
That sounds like a lot of fun! Eventually I will get to Iceland.
It’s very very high on my list as well. I hope you can get there sooner rather than later.
Congrats on the A, andā¦cruise to Iceland ā AMAZING!
Been a busy summer but the reward is only 36 days away!
You will LOVE Iceland…I was there on a cruise and had a wonderful time. Try to do the Gold Circle tour to see the various landscapes, the geysers, the waterfalls, and all of the other amazing unique sites/sights. Enjoy!!
Sounds lovely! We have so many tours planned, it’s almost overwhelming. š¤
Congratulations on your test! Your cruise sounds wonderful. Some friends went to Iceland just before the pandemic and their pictures were great, they loved it.
Thank you so much. We’re really excited!
Go you!! That’s lovely.
A cruise to Iceland sounds very tempting.
It’s been a top three country for years and years. Surreal that it’s happening so soon!
Well, itās been some years since Iāve had a summer vacation, so Iāll go full-on fantasy here. Iād love to take a river cruise through Italy, or down the Rhine. Iād bring my sisters, the cousins on my momās side, all of their spouses and the kids (well, they are grown adults). We all get along well and have had family reunions in the aughts. But we need to all see each other more often! Iād wear Chanel Paris-Venise.
Iām in Gucci The Voice of the Snake today. You wouldnāt think this would wear well in summer, but itās hitting the spot for me.
Happy weekend, yāall!
I once took a boat along part of the Rhine and it was so beautiful and relaxing. The views on both sides were gorgeous with all the terraced hills covered in vineyards. Good idea!
What a fantastic trip idea!
Thanks! Enjoy your cruise to Iceland; that sounds like a dream vacation!
I’ll report back!!
I get those advertisements from Viking Riverboat tours. I would love to go on one of those trips!
I would love to do a Rhein – Danube cruise! I havenāt been able to find one that will take a child yet, tho, sadly. Somedayā¦
Those river cruises are the only ones that sound appealing to me. The ocean ones are a big old NOPE!
I’m smiling reading some of your replies about camping…we’ve just returned from what is generally my favorite summer vacation, camping in the San Juan Islands. And we have three more trips planned this summer. The islands are so beautiful and funky and there is hiking, kayaking, cycling, plus often a microbrewery and bakery. And sometimes I just sit in the sun and look at the ocean and play with my watercolors. And when our (adult) kids join us, it’s pretty perfect. However, for those of you over it, I get that, too. I was ready to come home, shower and sleep in my bed. And this time there were caterpillars. Not just a few cute ones. Blech. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malacosoma_californicum
I wore the remains of Covet the first day and a little CJ Scents Vanilla Incense the rest of the time, which probably smelled interesting (to say the least) with my campfire smoke and lack of showers. š
Yikes! Guess itās a blessing that they are gregarious, hanging together in a mass. Butā¦ick. š¤¢
But they don’t. They are out and about crawling on everything…
Bleurgh on the caterpillars! My skin is crawling just thinking about them.
You almost talked me back into camping, then, the caterpillars.
Never again.
And speaking of lilacs (in Pyramus’s post), what are our favorite lilac perfumes?
I’ve been blown away by Lilas Equis from Jacques Fath. I love the hyacinth coolness. I will say though I’ve never smelled lilac in real life though.
I have been looking at that one. Nice to know.
I like A Lilac A Day from Vilhelm Parfumerie.
Smelled lilacs all over the place when we were in New England last weekend…
To state the obviousā¦En Passant. Interestingly, this is the only lilac perfume Iāve ever smelled, despite loving lilacs and being born in a city with a lilac festival.
Thanks, all!
Pacifica French Lilac is a pretty one, and wonāt break the bank.
Popping in rather late to mention Soivohle’s Lilacs & Heliotrope. Grabbed a 10mL bottle of it when I could.
I bailed on my long weekend stargazing as snow and low cloud is forecast, but I am away on a not-summer break next week which may or may not include perfume ( I couldnāt possibly say). A place I would love to go to is Doubtful or Dusky Sound, a very remote part of the Fiordland area of the South Island. Itās a deep fiord, with steep bush-clad mountains and lots of wildlife. Itās probably best in winter when the weather is more settled.
Wearing Dune todayā¦we might get snow on the hills but at the moment it is misty and wet.
Hope you feel better soon, Robin.
https://blog.tepapa.govt.nz/2016/12/07/dusky-sound-rich-in-history-and-wildlife/
Where you live is definitely on my bucket list for vacations, FWIW. Only been to Auckland on a stopover.
I enjoy your evocative posts so much, Kanuka, I can almost feel the mist on my face and it’s hot and dry in my corner of the world! You are smelling wonderful in Dune.
Thank you Kanuka! I am definitely on the mend.
Dusky Sound looks beautiful.
Luckily I happen to live where people come to vacation in the summer. We have lovely beaches, wineries and mountains. So needless to say, I usually stay put close to home.
My daytime summer scents are usually citrus based to cut the heat. One of my favorites is Lancome O de Lancome and i still have some Love’s Fresh Lemon in the stash. Another favorite summer fragrance is Bronze Goddess for those super hot days.
Today I’m in EA Green Tea, applied like a body-spray. It’s pretty pleasant oversprayed.
That is interesting, even when I lived in San Diego I left for vacations frequently. I left more often when tourists were in full swing š
We’ve found quieter beaches to go to that tourists don’t necessarily know about!
š
Robin, I am with you on the summer cold. Caught it at a family wedding on the east coast last weekend. Wedding was fun, cold notsomuch, but at least it’s just a cold not covid.
Summer vacation… usually we don’t travel much during the summer, but drumroll please! Heading to Greece shortly. My first time there. This vacation has been paused and delayed and whatnot for 3 years now, it darn well better happen! (Did I use my extra time to learn Greek? Nope. Sigh, bad me) 4 days in Athens, a week on a sailing yacht touring the Cyclades, 4 days in Crete.
Also, Robin, I have given Lord Peter Wimsey a second chance and am enjoying him much more this time around š
You shall wear what you decant, so SOTD is Jean Patou Everything. I smell like a perfume factory.
Me too ā Greece and first time there!
I have been learning Greek and it is basically hopeless. My best hope is to be able to translate the alphabet when I have to, and to be able to say hi, please, and thank you. (Duolingo hasnāt taught me any numbers after months of study, so despite knowing how to say āhow muchā I wouldnāt understand the answer in Greek.) In other words, donāt feel guilty for not having studied Greek!
Yes…did a second covid test this morning and negative. Did not think it was covid anyway since I felt better this morning, but made my mom happy.
So glad you are coming around to Sayers!
Fingers and toes crossed, hope the Greece vacation goes off without a hitch.
Unlike some others, Iām still a fan of camping. Looking forward to our trip to GaspĆ©sie on July 9th, despite the campfire ban.
Wearing TRNP Bodhi Tree in honor of the anniversary of the Buddhaās enlightenment this weekend, Saga Dawa.
A La La ho!
I am a huge fan of camping, too. I love how connected to the outdoors it isā¦.daylight hours vs. night time, collecting water, cooking on a fire, the smells, curious birds, the soundsā¦itās wonderful.
I love those things too. And we have so much fun spotting unusual wildlife, like chipmunks, porcupines, foxes, penguins and martens that we would never see in town. Plus you get an incredible view of the night sky away from all the light pollution.
Robin, I hope you recover quickly.
Pretty picture!
SOTD = Lush x Lazy Oaf Body Spray
Yes, I was a lazy oaf. Lush body sprays donāt last long (I usually only use 3 sprays, but look at the size of the bottle and nozzle!) and I was going to wear something else when that wore off, but I got lazy š¤£.
I did a Caturday post and will likely finally do photo dumps of the other pictures.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CtC_wxLxxDn/?igshid=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==
Last nightās violin concert was wonderful. The NJ Symphonyās conductor Xian Zhang was quite energetic and I can see how conductors get a work out be conducting. The orchestra was great and so was the featured performer Randall Goosby!
Summer Vacation? So, Iāll be contrarian and say I donāt have a season x vacation because I travel (or more accurately āused toā) at any time in the year. Is it ever too hot or too cold to travel? I say no unless it impedes mode of transportation. I have already gone on mine for this year (the Holland America cruise) and I donāt have plans for any more until next year although I am looking at another cruise but donāt have any details yet and possibly one of the Camino walking tours.
Oh, you can put me in the No Camping for me camp, pun intended.
Thank you!
Glad your concert was wonderful.
Living in Houston my ideal summer vacation would be to Iceland, or someplace NOT HOT! Seriously! I did visit Iceland once and would happily return in a flash. There’s so much amazing scenery and my visit was too short. More realistically, I am hoping to make it up to Michigan, my home state, later this summer, where it is usually cooler than here (but I’ve heard it’s very hot there too now!), to see my family but also to relax some in my favorite place. It’s at my college friends’ house pretty far north on the lower peninsula. They bought and have gradually refurbished an old farmhouse in an apple orchard on a hill with a view out to Lake Michigan. You can walk down to the lake and it’s a tiny town with a beautiful beach and not many visitors, and huge dunes, so pretty and private. Our major activity there is cooking and eating, and drinking and reminiscing, and sometimes berry-picking (though of late I’ve been too cared of poison ivy, which I never used to get). I have not had my usual Michigan summer visits for four years now, due to a combination of Covid and leg surgeries, but I’m pretty optimistic of going up there sometime soon. The west side of Michigan is a land of orchards and vineyards and I like to go there at the time all the fruits are out at the farm stands and maybe we can have fresh pies or tarts after a dinner with whitefish or walleye or perch. Yum! And a G&T out on the green green lawn.
Iceland! I love Iceland! Weāve been in summer and winter and both are amazing.
That said, I also have fond memories of Michigan. I went to camp there as a kid and friends of our family had a vacation house on a lake there which we used to visit. So much beautiful scenery there.
I grew up further south in Michigan, and my favorite road trip was up to Charlevoix. What a pretty town!
My dream summer vacation right now would be a cabin on a clear lake with no mosquitoes. Our family cabin in Wisconsin is on a green lake with tons of mosquitoes. I still hope to get there for a few days at least. Something citrusy and/or piney would go well there. I love the smell of the pine trees in the sun.
Since we’re dreaming here, I’d also like to go to Ireland and explore the whole island, since I’ve never been. And it probably wouldn’t be too hot for me (I don’t like doing lots of sightseeing in the heat).
I’m with those who hate camping! I had to do it a lot as a kid, and endured torrential rains, caterpillar infestations, snoring tentmates, etc. I’d much rather stay in a cabin with a bed and a bathroom. Nothing fancy required, but still!
SL Fille en Aiguilles reminds me of the smell of pines in the sun.
Maybe the reason I still love camping after all these years is because we have a truck and camper, with a stove, fridge & bed. I think tent camping would be a lot less fun.
Oh yes, that would make a huge difference. Even as a kid I didn’t like sleeping on a thin mat on the ground, and now… nope!
I’ve been wanting to try Fille en Aiguilles for that very reason!
It is weirdly difficult for me to remember any standout summer vacation trips. I do family reunions in the summer because coordinating schedules is easier. I am originally from New England and return there most summers to see family. I do enjoy escaping the Texas heat – though I often end up hitting heat and humidity and less air conditioning up north. I will be doing a family gathering next week and I look forward to it very much.
We do our more adventurous travel in the late summer or early fall when it is less crowded. I donāt know where we will go this fall, yet. Husband is a bit of a reluctant traveler.
I worked today. Reading Devaās post, but I was recalling all the rude behavior I witnessed. It seems so much of our society has no manners. Walking into some hospital rooms, I can feel the hostility as people unload all their complaints – about everything, really. I try to remain pleasant and professional but it is a challenge not to get dragged down.
So perfume is a great escape! I wore Avignon today and it was so comforting. Like a shield.
It is hard for me to believe there are still places in New England with no air conditioning…even my Dad in Portland ended up getting a/c. It can be as bad there as here in PA. But I’m sure you’re right!
So so sorry to hear about all the rude people. I wish I had something more uplifting to say, but reading your & Deva’s stories just makes me sad.
Robin, I hope you feel better quickly!
Going out with colleagues from work yesterday and some of the comments here are making me realize how odd my summer vacations are. Iām always the one with the exotic-sounding vacation but itās because of my spouseās profession. One of my work colleagues is headed for Yellowstone in a trailer this summer, and I have fond memories of the summer Western loop we did when I was a tween (it was the summer after my mom died, so bless my dad and Momās travel agent best friend for making this happen): Indiana – Minneapolis – Black Hills – Devilās Tower – Yellowstone – Bryce Canyon – Grand Canyon (north and south rims) – Mesa Verde – Colorado Springs – Indiana. And then later in high school we drove the southern route across the US to LA.
I think about doing these trips with my kid; my parents did similar loop trips with their parents in the ā50s and ā60s. But then my kid says sheās Canadian (yes, the Canadian equivalent trip has occurred to me but not enough vacation time at workā¦Canadaāsā¦big) and my spouse says he needs to do research in Europe.
And so this summer Iāve been granted a bit of time to do another vacation that can be done off a trip to Germany, and so we are going to Greece, which Iām excited about. (The last time I said we should do a Greece trip before his research, he said, nah, I really need to be spending all the time over there researching, so how about a weekend trip to an obscure part of the middle of Germany instead? Sigh. It was interesting but not Greece. Or Yellowstone.)
SOTD is Frau Tonis Linde Berlin, reminding me of a June trip seven years ago to see the Bauhaus in Dessau, where all the linden trees were blooming.
Not sure what perfumes Iāll take to Greece yet.
I have done parts of your Western loop but not all. Saw Zion but not Bryce, Yellowstone once, Grand Canyon both rims, Mesa Verde twice. Would love to do it all again.
Would love to drive highway 1 from santa barbara into big sur again, that’s a great road trip.
I hope your trip to Greece is fantastic and makes up for whatever obscure part of Germany you saw last year š
Oh, that stretch into Big Sur is amazing, though a bit hair raising to drive. That’s another one we should do with the kid someday — we did it pre-kid.
Another sunny, cool, breezy day, thankfully the heat wave is over for now. Iām wearing Bal dāAfrique.
Get well soon, Robin. Husband & I are looking forward very much to visiting our friends in Oak Ridge North, Texas in September. Given the pandemic, it’s been four years since we last saw them – far too long. We have a lengthy ‘to do’ list – restaurants that warrant another visit, restaurants that we haven’t tried before, local botanic gardens, local weekend farmers markets which we love, an overnight stay in Galveston (oh Galveston) so that we can see & do more there than we did on a day trip in 2010, a few more pairs of Gloria Vanderbilt jeans for me, an Eddie Bauer buying spree for my husband as he’s a big fan – we really must edit that ‘to do ‘ list!
Robin, hope your symptoms are fading fast!
Feeling more myself after a good total of about 20 hours of sleep (broken up by about 5 hours upright)!
Wearing BdI today as I head out to do laundry.
I had school year round (9 weeks in, 3 weeks out) when I was a kid so our āsummerā vacations happened anytime of the year. The most memorable trips were those road tripping across the US because my dad loved to drive and loved the US, with all its warts, even more. Drives through National Parks, on backroads where we never knew where we would end up, pulling off the road to watch cowboys and cowgirls herding cattle, and spending nights in mom and pop hotels and state park cabins.
Also remember trips to Ireland to visit family and being allowed to roam all over the farm, pastures, and cliffs without any type of supervision other than, āStay out of that pasture because that bull will stomp you,ā with a negligent pointer finger directed to an area of 4 stone fenced pastures. I was 6 at the time. My parents believed in the lassaiz-faire approach to child rearing. š Canāt say that Iād recommend it, but it did make me mostly self-sufficient, independent, and a fairly good problem solver.
Hope everyoneās weekend was a relaxing one.
Deva, I am better today, hope to be even better tomorrow. Glad you got some rest! We used to do road trips through New England, lots of state park cabins & koa campgrounds. Did not see anybody herding cattle until I was long since an adult š
Ooops! Carolyn, sorry Iām in the wrong spot! š
Thank you Carolyn!
I have spent exactly one night in Galveston, and have never been to Oak Ridge, it sounds lovely. We were supposed to go to Texas (hill country) in the spring, now hoping to go in the fall.
We tend to do our vacations in the spring or fall and stay around he Midwest in the summer. In other words, we will be home this summer, but I am ok with that.
SOTD is No 5 L’Eau and did the Hajusuuri number of sprays.
Glad you are ok with it, and hope you will get somewhere this fall Kris!
Happy Sunday yāall! Iām in TF Bitter Peach from a Nordies sample. Iāll thunk the sample, but pretty sure I wonāt fall in love with it.
We had a middle of the night rain and windstorm last night, so Iām tired. Iāll work out, vacuum, clean the kitchen and bathroom and probably call it good.
You are doing an awful lot for being tired. That’s more than I care to do on a fully rested day!
Well, Iām usually too ambitious. Here we are at 6pm and Iāve worked out and spot vacuumed. š
Happy Sunday!
I could really do with a Summer vacation right about now.Winter has arrived in full swing(I know I know,it’s not really ever “Winter” in South Africa,but still!)Today was 23Ā° celcius but tonight is really chilly.
Bronze Goddess,Terracotta or something from CSP for my imaginary beach escape.Today I went with Kayali Pistachio Gelato.This perfume is so good.Glad I found a “holy grail” from Kayali,I’ve always made it a mission to find a “cannot live without” from all the houses I love.This one is it from Kayali.
Hope everyone is well!
XO’s
It’s all relative J B. I fully support you disliking your winter. šš
Great fragrance choices! I will have to get my nose on the Kayali. Have you been able to sniff the Demeter Pistachio?
Iām curious about that kayali too.
We had similar daytime temps today!
Robin, I hope that you are well on your way to shaking off that summer cold! Feel better soon.
And add me to the “I *hate* camping crowd”! Just the word conjures up memories of all kinds of physical discomfort. I think we had cabins maybe twice on those family camping trips when I was a kid.
We used to stay in rented trailers in koa campgrounds, we LOVED those as kids, but yes, if I never get in a tent again so long as I live that will be perfect.
If I do it with my kid it will be in a trailer. Tents have their place (i.e., when you have to carry your shelter in), but there is no reason for a tent when car camping (unless you are a broke grad student who wants to go to Nova Scotia…been there). Yep, trailer or cabin for me if I’m driving in. š
I do remember some absolutely miserable camping trips as a child when we were in tents my dad rented from the rec center on base and they never leaked when he hosed them down at home but they always leaked when we went on vacation and camped for a week. Usually on those trips my mom would finally put her foot down and insist on a motel for one night. š