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Wednesday, October 14, 2015

Currently- October 2015


Book
Once again I'm immersed in Tudor times via the Matthew Sahrdlake series by C.J. Sanson, but I'm also rereading an old favorite, Bellwether by the brilliant Connie Willis. It involves fashion, trends, and chaos theory in a sort of a science fiction delicious novel. I'm also expecting Lisa Eldridge's book about the history of makeup to get here tomorrow. I'm not sure how much sleep I'm going to get in the coming nights, but I'm sure it's going to be fun.

Music
Iggy Pop- Candy. He's still one of the greatest.


Perfume
I'm deeply haunted by the Papillon perfumes I wrote about last night. also, my fall staple, Fumerie Turque.

Makeup
Red lipsticks. Warm red, plummy red, sheer red. All the reds.

Frequently Worn Outfit/Item
A black zip-front yet tailored Ralph Lauren jacket I bought fifteen years ago during a Labor Day sale. It's still perfect and goes with everything from little dresses to jeans and flowy tops.

Guilty Pleasure
I bought a piece of fashion jewelry I've been coveting for a very long time.

Food
Do cookies count?

Bane
My inability to forgive, forget, and let go.

Joy
Having friends over. I love the way people I love relax and feel at home here.

Anticipation
My birthday.

Wishlist
All the cashmere.

Random Thought
I wish the judges on Project Runway would stop using terms like "matronly" and "old lady" as criticism. They're not equivalent to dated, frumpy, or plain ugly. Not to mention that high fashion is not and should not be limited to the very young. It's even more annoying since Nina Garcia and  Tim Gunn are not exactly spring chickens. Neither is Heidi Klum.

How are you doing? Please share your recommendations, loves, banes, and random thoughts!

Art by Frederick Sands Brunner for Ladies' Home Journal, October 1923

34 comments:

  1. Book: Hammer Head by Nina MacLaughlin. Memoir of a young journalist who knew almost everything but real life. Funny, well-written, and thoughtful.


    Music: Revisiting Talking Heads Naked.


    Fragrance: three way split among Pi, Aramis, and Grey Vetiver


    Food: first homemade soup of the season, cream of onion.


    Unexpected small homemaking happiness: Method Smarty Dish dishwasher tablets in Pink Grapefruit work quite well in my combination of dishes, water, and machine!


    Anticipation: seeing a good friend later this month, and getting a new old set of ink and paper encyclopedias! The two are connected.


    Grateful for: a working nose. Cats. Music. Books.



    Cookies: The fifth food group!!


    Lawrence and Rosa del Gata in Ohio

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Lawrence, I love Method products. A perfect balance of price, environmental-friendly, and scent.
      Love and cookies to you and Lady Rosa.

      Delete
  2. Book
    For the nth time: Please Kill Me: The Uncensored Oral History of Punk by Legs McNeil & Gillian McCain

    Music
    Music Complete by New Order (these first two songs are my favourites)
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8c_3Afx9ZGE
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8p4ohy9a-_s

    TV
    The Bridge Series 3

    Perfume
    Bois d'Iris is still going strong, La Fin du Monde has made a comeback.

    Makeup
    Pinkish red lippies have made way to warmer, more autumnal shades, but Victoriana still remains the most worn one. OPI Don't Talk Bach to Me has been a nail polish favourite.

    Frequently worn item
    Night temperature has dropped below zero, so woolen Pavlovo Posad shawls are back!

    Food
    Kale and carrots have been much on the menu.

    Anticipation
    The Sonics gig on 26th.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. We have many similar music loves :)
      And, yes, it's becoming La Fin du Mond season. My favorite winter bedtime perfume.

      Delete
  3. I thought I was just being overly sensitive about the "old lady" comments on Runway. Thanks for the vindication, Gaia!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm cringing every time one of them says it.

      Delete
  4. Book: Go Set a Watchman by Harper Lee
    Music: Everything by Mercy Me
    Perfume: Bvlgari's Au The Bleu, Vero Profumo's Rozy Voile d'Extrait, and Guerlain's Tonka Imperiale
    Makeup: Purples & greens for eyes, dark lips
    Frequently Worn Item: Gigantic gold watch by Michael Kors
    Guilty Pleasure: Having a duo of professional organizers spend 20 hours over two days organizing my house
    Food: Racks & racks of ribs
    Bane: Always being the nice one, it's tiring
    Joy: Fur babies
    Anticipation: Any kindness that decides to come my way
    Wish List: SOON being able to start my home remodeling projects
    Random Thought: Not mine, but from Focus on the Family: "Those wounded by emotional abuse might describe it as the most painful & destructive form of domestic violence." Mine: "But we survive with love & forgiveness."

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm so jealous of you for the professional organizers! I need someone to come and deal with my clothes.

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  5. book - The Fran Leibowitz Reader

    music - Leonard Cohen

    perfume - Cuir Mauresque (Serge Lutens)

    Makeup - Lip Sticks (Serge Lutens)

    Frequently Worn Outfit/Item - (as we are just thinking in terms of autumn) linen, linen, linen.

    Guilty Pleasure - Apple Computers

    Food - fine chocolate

    bane - thinking about weight

    joy - my husband and fur babies

    anticipation - turning 70, something about which I am terribly excited (but first I must turn 69)

    wishlist - Bugatti Veyron 16.4

    random thought - I want a Bugatti Veyron for my 70th - however it is just pie in the sky

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Liz, I absolutely love your wishlist item. Placing it on mine for MY 70th. I do hope you get one eventually.
      Thanks for reminding me that I need more Serge lipsticks. They're among my most favorites.

      Delete
  6. Oh, I love Bellwether! I, too, periodically re-read it. It's such a pleasure. Your description, "science fiction delicious novel," is perfect.

    And I'm with you about the cashmere. All all all.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I just bought a Kindle copy of Bellwether to make rereading it even more accessible, especially for middle of the night reading.

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  7. Eerie, I just finished re-reading Bellwether last night! After re-reading her Doomsday Book last week, that's a great one.

    Agree on the Runway comments. Not everyone wants to (or should) dress like a 20-something.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Doomsday Book is one of my favorite mid-winter rereads.

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  8. Book - Amy Poehler "Yes, Please"
    TV - Public Morals, Fargo, too many more to list
    Perfume - Bottega Veneta and PdE Equistrius, because it's still to darn hot to wear anything else.
    Food - Singaporean roti prata with curry sauce
    Bane - My inability to declutter and organize
    Joy - My recent college grad daughter who moved out, yet still shows up for dinner several times a week
    Anticipation - My birthday
    Random Thoughts - I'm with you about Project Runway. I believe that not everything needs to be young or sexy. I finally have plenty of money to spend on clothes, but little desire to dress like a young tramp. Searching for modern, elegant, sophisticated clothes with an edge.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You know, I think age-appropriate clothes can be very sexy in their own way. I just don't want to walk around with bits hanging out (sometimes hard for the bustier among us). I mostly wear DVF with J Crew and Neiman Marcus basics, an occasional dark denim from one of the edgier designer brands (currently loving Rag & Bone) and some LK Bennett. If it's good for Kate it's good for me ;)

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  9. I used to obsessively listen to "Candy" back in the day. Iggy Pop and Kate Pierson are perfect together.

    Very coincidentally, a bottle of Fumerie Turque which I had ordered arrived this morning!! Sadly, I've come down with a cold and can't smell a thing.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I hope you feel better soon so you can enjoy FT. The Husband wore it last night and I swooned.

      Delete
  10. Pink ProvocateurOctober 15, 2015 2:57 PM

    Book
    Still loving the Outlander series -- _Written in My Own Heart's Blood_ by Diana Galbadon

    Music
    Loads and loads of Flamenco music accompanied by the sounds of footwork patterns and castanet drills -- My daughter is rehearsing for an upcoming series of shows.

    Perfume
    Cartier Le Baiser du Dragon

    Makeup
    on my way out the door to buy some things from the Chanel holiday collection

    Frequently Worn Outfit/Item
    cotton camisoles with light cardigans -- because it has finally cooled to the low-90s here

    Guilty Pleasure
    I am never guilty about pleasure. Currently acquiring even more sugar skull paraphernalia.

    Food
    Five gallons of clam chowder in the freezer! Clams brought in fresh from the boat.

    Bane
    Already so sick of Election 2016. We're in trouble if these candidates are all we can come up with.

    Joy
    My new greenhouse -- a present from Husband for our 21st wedding anniversary.

    Anticipation
    harvesting home grown herbs

    Wishlist
    an Excaliber dehydrator

    Random Thought
    Watching "The Great British Baking Show" with a cup of tea is the perfect evening.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. A greenhouse! Wow! I'm so jealous. Could use one here to have fresh basil all year round.
      For some reason I forgot the TV category. We're also addicted to the British baking show. Of course, it increases our pastry consuption, but so worth it.

      Delete
  11. Book: Rereading Virginia Woolf's Letters (Vol. 2 at the moment) - something very comforting about going back and rereading books I've had and loved for so long. But Bellwether sounds brilliant and just ordered it.

    Music: Nick Drake's Five Leaves Left - always seems perfect for fall. And right now can't get enough of Richard Butler's Good Days, Bad Days.

    Clothing/Joy: Got two amazingly beautiful new coats for fall - one in ombreed peach and the other in a sort of vintage shade of pale blue (reminds me of the color of a 1950s kitchen appliance, which doesn't sound brilliant for a coat, but actually is).

    Perfume: Lots of Bergamoss recently. And must get out FT - how I love that scent.

    Bane: One of our children is extremely ill with a mystery illness. It's beyond what our wonderful regular vet can handle, so he's being treated at the NC School for Veterinary Medicine, specializing in small animals. It's one of the best in the country and we've been lucky to receive really excellent care for some of our other children there before, but this time we have a doctor who has a horrendous bedside manner and is constantly questioning whether or not it's worth it for us to continue with testing to figure out what is wrong. I expect this questioning from my in-laws (who think we're insane for how we treat our beloved hirsute children), but not from a vet. We're far from wealthy, so it's not a casual thing for us to be spending this much (currently at 9K and it will be going up), but would a doctor question us if it were a human child? Ugh! I know it might seem that he's simply concerned for our finances, but, trust me, that's not at all how he comes across. Sorry, but just got back from visiting with our child and had to vent. On the positive side, I do trust his expertise - even if I don't care for his attitude and, at the end of the day, it's his expertise that matters.
    Anna

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anna, I hope you find out what is wrong with your beloved animal. I must say, you confused me tremendously with your talk of your children and your child, until I realized you were talking about your pet. I too love my pets (currently down to 2 cats), but your post was a bit confusing!

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    2. Anna, I'm sorry you are going through this. I'm sending healing and peaceful thoughts that everything works out for you and the furry baby. ((hugs)).
      Liz

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    3. Bisbee,
      I'm sorry for the confusion! DH and I don't have human children and we just have gotten so used to thinking of and referring to our pets as our children that I'm afraid I do it automatically, although I really do need to remember to clarify.
      Anna
      Elizabeth,
      Thank you so much for your thoughts! Truly, much appreciated during this scary limbo time.
      Anna

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    4. Oh Anna! I'm so sorry about the stress and all that goes with it. You know that I've been there and fully understand. There's no expense I'd spare when it comes to the well-being of the darling creatures. They ARE our family and mean the world to us. My husband also asked me to give you his best wishes for the sweet fur baby. Please keep us updated (and if you don't mind, please email me so we can chat).

      Delete
    5. Anna: I am quite familiar with the NC State School of Vet. Medicine and if the vet handling MY child talked to me like that, I would have to report him to his superiors!

      Delete
  12. I love your "currently" posts <3
    Book: New fabulists anthology
    Music: Mono
    Perfume: Musc Ravageur, non stop
    Makeup: not much, really, since my skin is already starting to change and everything is an uncontrollable mess.
    Frequently worn: massive protective cashmere scarves
    guilty pleasure: does chocolate with caramel count as a guilty pleasure or just as pleasure?
    food: any roasted starch.
    bane: little sleep, too much work which causes little sleep; everything that does not let me sleep!
    joy: eating squash in unhealthy amounts.
    anticipation: seeing one of my best friends after almost 2 years!
    wishlist: a magical moisturizer that won't break me out and deeply hydrates and fixes the current mess.
    random thought: following on Gaia's bane: how do I forget things (still!!) stuck in my brain? I guess you don't forget until one day you forget but then you don't really notice you have forgotten because the unforgettable is not actually in your mind anymore and second random thought: I'm afraid I won't see many yellow leaves this year. Where are they? Are we going to go straight to cold and snow? Where are the yellow and orange and red I so desperately need?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Have you tried LRP Tolerian Riche? It does the trick for me.
      By the way, I just saw a much-beloved childhood friend for the first time in twenty four years. There were tears and laughter involved.

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    2. I haven't, but if you suggest it, I will. Happy Sunday, Gaia.

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  13. How nice to hear shared tastes - love Connie Willis, despite not really caring for science fiction! Candy is so great. And happy to find out about the new New Order stuff! Will just mention my beloved Miss Dior, original of course. Sense of smell isn't working too well but I'm trying and hoping, every day!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Connie Willis is in a class and genre of her own. I love her writing and so happy to see so many of my readers feel the same.
      Good thoughts and well wishes for your sense of smell.

      Delete
  14. Book - The History of Rum (still) and Vampire in the Lemon Groves
    TV - The human male got us Hulu. And now we binge.....
    Perfume - I'm in a trying mood. I just ordered new ones to try and am giddy with anticipation waiting for them.
    Food - All the breads. Zucchini the size of cats, made to bread. Overripe bananas made to breads. ALL the breads! (With a side of pie. Apple. Made by me.)
    Bane - Moving. Still. Will it never end the moving of stuff? And all the accompanying decluttering and downsizing is evil.
    Joy - Beloved niece is flourishing at new education opportunity.
    Lipstick - Again, the trying mood. I've just sampled a more summery series from Kismet Cosmetics. Naked Gypsy, Crushed Coral and Wildflower. Now I want more new make-up! (It's good to shake things up.)
    Random Thoughts - Politics tires me. I'd rather hear about cooperation than more fingerpointing.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Alexandria, I still cringe thinking of the last time we've moved six years ago. It's one of the biggest banes, for sure.I remember nearly falling asleep in one of those massive boxes at four am after a(nother) night of packing). But the biggest satisfaction was arranging my perfume collection in its new cabinets.

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