Tuesday, March 12, 2019

Currently- March 2019


I had to change the title of this post from "January 2019" to "February 2019" and mow to "March 2019". I'm determined that's how it's going to be, the first post in this blog reboot. A "currently" post seems like the right idea. They're personal, which is where this blog's heading, it tells what I'm doing and loving (or not), and is not product-centric, which is what I aspire to do. I want to write. About beauty and perfume in the context of real life, the state of (my) world, age, and interests. It doesn't make one an influencer (I hope) or an online personality. Just someone who writes an old-fashioned beauty(ish) blog.



It's almost spring. There's still a layer of snow in my backyard but it's diminishing but the hour. I won't go into the cliche of spring, rebirth, renewal, etc., but it's never been so true for me. The last couple of months of 2018 and the start of this year were difficult. My mother-in-law passed away after two and half years of struggle with melanoma. Longer than that, actually, if you figure in the months of severe undiagnosed illness, the wait for an answer, and then the shock that comes along with a death verdict (hint: an advanced stage IV melanoma is still incurable). It's not my story to tell, so that's all I'll say about it. But you you can expect a mega-rant about the cavalier approach to sun protection by large parts of what's called the "beauty community" (another term that needs to go).

Find a sunscreen that works for you. Use it. Reapply. From now until the end of days.

Book
Tombland by C.J. Sansom. It's the latest in his Shardlake series of Tudor-era mysteries. It's slow-paced but after years of waiting for the book to be released I'm happy taking my time and hanging out with Matthew Shardlake. It's like a reunion with an old friend.

Music
Andrew Bird's new album, My Finest Work Yet. It might as well be. Here's the official video of Sisyphus:



TV
Last night I binged Picnic at the Hanging Rock on Amazon Prime. I'm not sure if I truly liked it, but it was beautifully filmed, I was interested in the Australian backstory, and I love Natalie Dormer.

Perfume
Parfums MDCI L'Homme aux Gants. It's like a sheer and more airy variation on the theme of Ambre Russe. It's thinner in that more contemporary way perfumery seems to be going lately with far less emphasis on a robust dry-down, but both the husband and I enjoy it very much for its smooth and cozy feel. I also love the inspiration of the Titian painting (it's even printed on the bottle).

Makeup
Green. In my defense, Ive been using reen liners or eye shadows long before it was all across YouTube. I'd say that the way to go is by buying singles and not necessarily palettes. That way one can pick the right tones.

Frequently Worn Outfit/Item
It's winter. I wear black boots. I'm over it.

Food
Very soft and cheesy polenta.

Bane
The master bathroom renovation is finally going to happen. I foresee chaos.

Joy
The master bathroom renovation is finally (FINALLY) going to happen. I foresee bliss. Once it's over.

Triumph
A major pantry declutter.

Not So-Guilty Pleasure
Hot chocolate and hot cider.

Anticipation
I got tickets to several shows in the coming weeks and months. This weekend we're going to see Lewis Black in his The Joke's On Us tour.

Wishlist
A long and fulfilling spa day. I'm in a dire need of a hydra-facial, among other things.

Random Thought
When and why did Moleskin stopped offering a stick-on loop pencil holder? I'm in need of a new dotted notebook so I was looking at a sapphire blue hardcover when I realized you could no longer buy the attachment that saves my pencils from George and Bingley. WHY? If I'm picking my notebook it means I need a pencil. If I need a pencil I don't want to crawl on the floor searching for the latest one stolen by a cat. My kingdom for a loop.

How are you? What's on your list of loves and banes? Any wishes and recommendations?


Photos by Shiri Hilton. Used with her permission because she's my sister.

39 comments:

  1. So good to see you again!

    Book
    Star of the Sea by Joseph O'Connor (went to Dublin last week)

    Music
    DUB! Bought Trojan Dub Box Set year ago in London, but didn't have time (!) to listen to it until now, after a trip to DUBlin (bad pun intended).
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L_MZmDuD3DQ

    TV
    M/S Romantic - a four-episode Finnish comedy about people on a cruise ship
    https://www.imdb.com/title/tt9148618/reference

    Perfume
    Passge d'Enfer was my scent for the Dublin trip, now I'm back with my various irises (Iris Silver Mist, Hiris etc)

    Makeup
    NARS Audacious lipsticks in darkish, brownish shades (like Louise, Mona, Sandra...)

    Frequently worn item
    My long anorak and ushanka on cold days

    Food
    Oysters and mussels (plus fish & chips) in Dublin

    Anticipation
    Trip to St. Petersburg in summer

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Dear S., your travels give me the urge to go places, and I'm very intrigued by a Finnish comedy. Actually, I'm interested with all things Finland at the moment. It's the leftover snow.

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  2. Hi Gaia, it's great to see you back and today's theme is my favorite, so intimate and cosy. Sorry to hear about your loss...
    Here at long last Spring begins very slowly, it was a very tough winter, with a flareup of arthritis and so... Finally found my red shade in clothes: red-orange. Surprisingly, it feels so good, it's more kind of genderless shade and feels right for me.
    Have a great Spring!
    Sending you my love,
    Ella

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Lovely Ella, I adore red orange. I can totally see you in such a garment (and a scarf. Let me know if you make a long scarf in an orange red). I'm sorry your winter was so hard and also sorry I didn't get to see you in any of my recent visit. Let's talk soon.

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  3. It's great to see you back, Gaia! I, too, have been a green eyeshadow fan for a long time, and I don't need any more, but Temptalia's review of the new Coloured Raine Safari palette was so good that it tempted me. I wanted to ask you about the new Sansome. I have never read any of his, but I was thinking about it. Is it OK to start with this one, or would you recommend another? Judith (used to be lilybp, but probably never commented here although frequently read).

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Judith, Tombland's plot stands on its own, and Sansome does a good job when quickly explaining the background and relationships between his recurring characters. Still, I'd begin with the first book in the series, Dissolution, and make my way from there. Both for the story and for the character development, not to mention the sheer pleasure.

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  4. Welcome back, I enjoy reading your blog!

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    Replies
    1. Thank you, Audrey :) . It's really nice to write again.

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  5. I'm glad that you are back, Gaia. I enjoy reading your posts because of their honesty and your integrity. I'm sorry that 2019 started out to be a difficult year. I do hope that in the next few months you will find beauty and bliss.

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    Replies
    1. hanks, Betty. I'm looking forward to all that's coming.

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  6. It's wonderful to have you back, Gaia. I enjoy your posts because of your honesty and integrity. I'm sorry that 2019 started out on such a traumatic note. I hope that the next few months you will be able to find beauty and bliss.

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  7. So glad to hear from you again. Every time I see your blog post it makes me smile.
    Thank you

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    Replies
    1. Marianne, that gives me the warm fuzzies. A good reminder of why I'm blogging.

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  8. I'm sorry to hear about your MIL. I am so glad you are back! Your forthright posts are a breath of fresh air!
    My loves: Elta sunscreen, Paris, Spring.
    Banes: Cat who continues to pee outside the four litterboxes we provide for him. . . (He's not old, he's not ill, he's just anxious?)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It definitely sounds like anxiety. Cedric is like that. a nightly dose of 5mg Lexapro made a world of difference. Your vet can prescribe that or an equivalent.

      Delete
  9. It's great to read your old fashioned writing again! I missed your sensible take on what's new in beauty and perfumery.

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    Replies
    1. Thank you Mila. ow I'm humming to myself "an old fashioned blog in an old fashioned world...".

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  10. Search ebay for pen loops. I had to replace the loop on my old Filofax, and was gratified to find one in the precise shade of blue (from Leuchtturm to be exact).

    Obsessing over:
    Music - Runrig
    Perfume - Ira by Sonic Alchemy
    Have been living in - Birkenstock Gizehs.
    Totally over - summer in Australia. It's been long, hot (you could bake biscuits outside) and dry.
    Makeup - Karen Murrell lipstick.
    Bane - Great Dane slobber.
    Joy - finding an ottoman that's exactly the right height, is compact and was half-price.

    Lovely to have you back in the ether.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. thanks, Erika. You had me at Great Dane. I'm slightly obsessed with big dogs, knowing full well they're incompatible with our lifestyle (not to mention the cats). I just love rolling on the floor with them.

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  11. My favourite blog is back! Happy, happy!

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    Replies
    1. No I'm picturing the Snoopy dance. Made me smile. Thanks, Johanne.

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  12. Hi Gaia,
    I'm late in posting but wanted to let you know how glad I am to see you post, I've missed you. I enjoy hearing your random musings about makeup, books and of course kitty cats! Good luck with the bathroom remodel!

    Books: The Last Librarian, Gilded Summers, Keeper of the Bees, An American Princess, Caught In the Revolution, Circe, The Song of Achilles and the Beautiful Creatures series.

    TV: The Widow, with Kate Beckinsale and New Amsterdam. On Youtube, watching informative videos by Dr. Dray.

    Perfume: Anything Chanel, but particularly vintage No. 22 and No. 19.

    Makeup: Anything green, preferably khaki with a gold undertone.

    Frequently Worn Outfit/Item: Anything that doesn't require ironing.

    Food: A soft and cheesy polenta sounds dreamy. I'd add sauteed mushrooms and sun-dried tomatoes.

    Bane: A new boss, communication is not optimal. That, and there are several perfume bottles
    from our recent move that I can't locate; among the missing are my Shiseido vintage Feminite du Bois extrait, vintage Amazone, vintage Knowing and a large bottle of Coromandel edt. Saying a prayer to the perfume gods that they are located.

    Joy: Hearing Gino chirrup and squeak when it's mealtime.

    Not So-Guilty Pleasure: Cuban espresso

    Anticipation: The upcoming Downtown Abbey movie in September.

    Wishlist: That my alligator skin disappear.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Liz, I read Circe recently and loved it deeply. Song of Achilles is now on my list.
      I hope you find the missing perfume treasures. Those are not ones to lose. Let me know how it goes. I might have a backup of FdB extrait hiding in my vault.

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  13. Leuchturm 1917 does dotted notebooks and pen attachments. I have one in sapphire blue with a turquoise pen thingy. Should be available in the US since they're doing the "official" bullet journal.
    Great to see you back!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Claudia, you and Erika above just reminded me of Leuchturm 1917 (HOW did I forget?). I ordered from them (including the notebook) and already received them. THANK YOU from the bottom of my doodling and list-making soul.

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  14. So glad you're back! Sorry for your loss as well. Many Blessings and healing.

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    Replies
    1. Thank you :) We're working on it. A quiet and routine life is, indeed, a blessing (and good for my blogging).

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  15. It's good to see you back!!!

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    Replies
    1. Glad to see you here, my friend. Many fragrant greetings.

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  16. Yay! So nice to see you back which was something on my wishlist. :) I'm very sorry for your loss, you can be sure I'll be making a habit of the sunscreen...or just hiding indoors to maintain my NYC moon tan. Be well!

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    Replies
    1. Thanks, Evelyn. I buy scary amounts of Japanese sunscreen (they're cosmetically elegant and don't quarrel with my makeup) on Amazon and make sure the husband and I are both slathered. Obviously he's high risk and regularly gets pieces of suspicious skin removed before they have a chance to become something worse.

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  17. What a nice surprise to see you back, clicked on the bookmark by chance and there you are! You always write well, I’ve always particularly enjoyed your perfume pieces but I’m interested to see what you have to say about other stuff too.

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    Replies
    1. Thanks, Maureen. I promise you I have quite a bit to say. This might be my more personal space, especially from nowon, but there are plenty of (mostly cat) photos on Instagram, and an occasional political rant on Twitter.

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  18. I'm so glad you're back! Sorry for your loss.

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  19. SO SO SO SO SO happy that you have decided to "relaunch" your wonderful blog. I have sincerely missed you, keeping check every so often "just in case" you had returned. You might have wondered if the email notices are working again...they are...it's how I knew to check again. The monthly lists are one of my favorite segments. Here's mine!
    Book: (late in reading this) The Casual Vacancy by JK Rowling
    Music: Classical lately, as in Bach
    TV: The husband decided that we would no longer pay for television. The little antenna thing I bought only brings in a few channels, so I've taken to reading.
    Perfume: I recently bought Nasomatto's Narcotic V for Spring. Reminds me of Fracas.
    Makeup: Just received Hourglass Eyelash Tool and Curator Mascara. Will be trying it out later today.
    Frequently Worn Outfit: Ankle boots have been on my feet every single day for months!
    Food: Have loved all kinds of chilis lately.
    Bane: My poor red, swollen, stopped-up NOSE.
    Joy: Duke, the huge German Shephard Dog who shares our home.
    Triumph: Cleaning out my closet and cutting my clothing by about two-thirds.
    Guilty Pleasure: Fruit flavored candy (for some reason).
    Anticipation: Adding a large screened porch to the back of our house.
    Wishlist: Lovely, loose-fitting clothes for Summer.
    Random Thought: In a NOT SO WISHY WASHY, Charlie Brown way...please everyone...consider compromise.
    Love to all, Judy

    ReplyDelete
  20. Thank you so much, Judy. Coming here and seeing all the comments from my beloved old readers is the best balm. I wish I could give you all a big hug.
    How're you enjoying The Casual Vacancy? I quit it early on, but have a feeling it needs to be read.
    I'm jealous of the screened-in porch. It's on our list of needed projects, but the basement and kitchen are a higher priority. I'd love being able to enjoy our rather private backyard from behind a screen that stops the insects. I'm allergic to most bug bites and it's a serious bane.

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  21. Can't say I enjoyed The Casual Vacancy because it was just one darn thing after another. Nobody happy! But it probably reiterates in a well-written way the state of part of our world. We also need remodels of our master bath & kitchen, but the porch was the only one I could get the husband interested in. It'll be so nice to avoid the bugs, and still get to enjoy the outdoors. Of course, it hasn't quite been started yet, so...might be hoping at this time next year.

    ReplyDelete

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