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Monday, December 14, 2015

Currently- December 2015


Book
I read the NY Times interview with Charlotte Rampling. She's promoting her new movie, "45 years" based on a short story by David Constantine. I bought and downloaded his collection "In Another Country" and have immersed myself in its melancholy.

Music
An old and good one: Colin Hay- Waiting for My Real Life to Begin.  I love this guy and have seen him live a few years ago. Daniel Craig and Hugh Jackman were in the audience. In case you wondered: Hugh Jackman is a wonderful dancer.



TV
Waiting for the new season of Transparent. Tried watching Jessica Jones, and I should have liked it but didn't, despite Krysten Ritter being my girl crush. I guess it's the subject matter.
And can we talk for a second about Once Upon a Time? To say that it jumped the shark is a ridiculous understatement. It's more like the show has somersaulted the shark and was then eaten by it.

Perfume
Vintage Bal a Versailles. I can't get enough lately. Thankful for having quite a few backups.

Makeup
All the eye shadows in the world. Each and every one.

Frequently Worn Outfit/Item
Sweaters. It's not cold enough to wear coats or heavy jackets, so it's light cashmere sweaters with everything.

Guilty Pleasure
Ginger snaps. I forgot how much I love them.

Food
I'm in a food rut, actually. Half the time I can't even remember what I like. I miss summer tomatoes.

Bane
An old injury (old as from high school) has been bothering me some mornings. Thankfully, cranking up the heat makes it go away.

Joy
Our guest room has seen several occupants over the last month, and our living room even more. Apparently I'm more social than I ever thought.

Anticipation
Our annual staycation between Christmas and the New Year.


Wishlist
This is ridiculous, I know, especially since I usually stay far far away from obviously branded items. I have an old Burberry scarf that I love and wear because it's not in the traditional colors and the plaid is more subtle. But here I am, going nuts over this twist on the classic. The polka dots come in other colors, but I love the burnt orange. LOVE. $650 on Burberry.com.

Random Thought
My iPod is really cheating when in shuffle mode. And it needs to explain its unnatural attachment to Richard Shindell. Enough is enough.


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

Art: Charles Burchfield- Rainy Night, 1930

22 comments:

  1. I completely love Burchfield's paintings--how I wish there was a wall calendar of his work! Meanwhile, I'm grateful for the images you choose to post. thanks!

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    1. Thank you, Beths. I also love Burchfield. I've waited for the perfect rainy night to post this one.

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  2. I am trying to motivate myself to purchase either a hydrating spray (like Clinique's or one by Paula's Choice) or a new face oil to combat the dry air that will arrive...as soon as this weather breaks. But I don't want it to, so I can't pull the trigger...er, press the "buy" button. Plus I really can't decide which product to buy.

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    1. I'm slightly addicted to hydrating sprays and mists. They do work, especially when used in combination with a hyaluronic acid serum that binds the moisture to the skin.

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  3. Oooooo, I love being able to share information...thanks, N-B
    Book: About to start Mitch Albom's The Magic Strings of Frankie Pesto (I have no idea)
    Music: Charlie Brown Christmas Album, especially Linus & Lucy. Not at all sophisticated, but brings back superb memories. I was a Peanuts NUT as a child.
    TV: HGTV's Flip or Flop and Fixer Upper
    Perfume: Can't help myself-Tuscan Leather, Tobacco Vanille, Tonka Imperiale
    Makeup: Loving that Urban Decay 1993 matte brown lipstick you reviewed, also loving the Ciate Olivia Palermo eye palettes
    Frequently Worn: Still in sandals some of these warm S.C. days
    Guilty Pleasure: Playing with samples upon samples of makeup, perfume, etc.
    Food: Crusty bread dipped in various flavored oils
    Bane: Listening to the husband yell at the TV (mostly at politicians)
    Joy: My Christmas tree and decorations
    Anticipation: Snow
    Wishlist: Fringed Leather Purse (throwback to "Hippie" days)
    Random Thought: Blessings to All

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    1. I'm still a Peanuts lover. As a kid I used to collect stickers and stationery and everything with Snoopy on it :)

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  4. Gaia, I was so excited when I read this post and saw your video clip of Colin Hay! I have loved his solo work for a long time now, and this is one of my favorite songs of his. For some reason, it always makes me cry. Anyway, thanks for the great ear worm. Wishing you and yours a wonderful holiday. Ann from the Posse

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    1. Hi Ann! Thank you so much. Like many others I rediscovered Colin Hay on "Scrubs" and have been a fan since. Such a great artist. Happy Holidays!

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    2. I heard "Waiting" on an episode from a series from a few years back, "The Cleaner," with Benjamin Bratt. It was a very bittersweet story, so maybe that's why this song always makes me cry. Didn't realize he had a "Scrubs" connection, so will have to check it out. Thanks!! Ann

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  5. Book: The Hunter's Prayer by Kevin Wignall--harsh thriller

    Music: Bach's Christmas cantatas--transcendent!

    TV: Limitless--silly, delightful, adorable

    Perfume: Depends on my mood, but mostly Tom Ford's Noir Pour Femme

    Makeup: My skin has lightened up a lot (Clé de Peau 010) so I've been going for muted wintry shades that look good with all the silver in my hair.

    Frequently worn: It's cashmere sweaters with everything for me, too.

    Food: Lots of hearty homemade soups and crusty garlic bread.

    Bane: Nada

    Joy: The holidays!

    Anticipation: Celebrating the winter solstice with our traditional fireside dinner; then on to Christmas.

    Wishlist: Nothing for me, but I hope that everyone else will be able to find moments of deep and abiding peace as we move through the holidays.

    Random thought: My prayers are with the friends and families of the San Bernardino shooting victims as they try to make sense out of a senseless act of violence.

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    1. Dear Eileen, your comments are always uplifting and full of light.
      I'll have to check Limitless. It sounds great and will be a pleasure for binge watching.

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  6. Oh, I love that song! Love his solo stuff, his voice is haunting, in a good way.
    I assume, as a ginger snap lover, you have tried the ones from Trader Joes that have pieces of chewy ginger in them? So good with a cup of tea. Or for dinner. What? I'm a grownup, I can have cookies for dinner, right? Right?

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    1. Sarah, I've been chomping on the snaps of Whole Foods which I love exactly because of the chewy candied ginger! Cookies and ice cream for dinner is something I can get behind. Totally.

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    2. Oh, no! You've got me thinking about warm, chewy ginger cookies and a small scoop of vanilla ice cream. I'm stopping by Whole Foods on my home this evening! LOL

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  7. Seeing Colin brought back a lot of memories of being a kid watching MTV videos of Men at Work. Speaking of melancholy you should see the movie Melancholia in which Charlotte Rampling played a part in the beginning of the movie...so good.

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    1. Oh yes, remembering how fun MTV used to be is definitely melancholic.

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  8. I stuck it out with Jessica Jones and I liked how it ended. David Tennant is ridiculously good as the villain.

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    1. Maybe I'll go back to it eventually. Everyone says it's so worth it. I just need to be in the right mood.

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  9. I'm sorry you couldn't get into Jessica Jones. I thought it was one of the best shows of the year. It was kind of hard to watch at points.

    I have to admit I've been on a serious Serge Lutens kick -- as my mother would say -- recently (I've added far too many full bottles to my collection recently). I must say, though, that you are my go-to expert for Serge. I find your posts on the line the most insightful and meaningful online. If you say you don't like something, odds are that I won't like it either.

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  10. Book
    Defending the Motherland Russian Airwomen in World War II by Lyuba Vinogradova

    Music
    C.S. by Kap Kap
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1QAi1jtJw6U

    TV
    Shetland (beautiful landscapes, jumpers and lumberjack shirts)
    http://yle.fi/aihe/artikkeli/2015/08/20/shetlandsaarten-murhat

    Perfume
    Have been wearing pretty much the same scents as I did during November, must be the novemberish weather. Still smitten with Premier Figuier (both versions) and La Fin du Monde.

    Makeup
    Dug a bit deeper into my lipstick collection and fell in love with an old fave: Illamasqua Liable (which has been described as "teetering just beautifully on the brink between ripe tomato and tangerine").

    Frequently worn item
    One of my many Inouïtoosh Marvin shawls (why can't I ever settle to just one colour but must get several different ones?)

    Food
    Goat cheese with fresh figs, blue cheese with gingerbread cookies and fig jam, but also the more sensible choice of spicy lentils & rice.

    Bane
    DARKNESS (sun rises at 9am and sets at 3pm) which is especially gloomy since there's still no snow.

    Joy
    Will have some days off around Christmas and New Year, definitely need the rest!

    Anticipation
    Winter Solstice - let there be light!

    Wishlist
    Snow and enough minus degrees for it to stay around.

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    Replies
    1. Defending the Motherland sounds intriguing!

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  11. Book - None yet...
    Music - Edith Piaf.
    TV - Call The Midwife, I need to start watching Luther and Orphan Black.
    Perfume - Lots of vintage Fendi, Bal a Versailles and Opium perfume.
    Makeup - I need a brighter red, I'm currently in love with Chanel's Gabrielle
    Frequently worn item - My old Banana Republic khakis and skirt.
    Food - My new favorite salad is a mixture of kale, persimmons, spiced & sweet pecans and roasted beets; my other favorite dish is Persian dish called Adas Polo
    Bane - Inlaws
    Joy - will have off from 12/18-1/3, I definitely need the rest!
    Anticipation - I found a bottle of Laura Mercier's Minuit Enchante, I can't wait for it to arrive!
    Wishlist - ^^See Anticipation, wish fulfilled…. :)

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