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Sunday, January 19, 2014

Currently- January 2014


Book
I've mostly been reading photography books again and can't say that I'm enjoying it very much. The truth is that I don't like the technical aspects of taking good pictures. I need to read something fun.

Music
Every night I fall asleep listening to Echoes, the late night public radio show. We actually have a subscription that allows continuous play all through the night. The music is great, quite eclectic and varied, all with a dream quality (you can find it on echoes.org).

TV
Grimm has never been better.  Oh, and Tim Gunn's new show started great.

Perfume
I'm wearing vintage Diorissimo today, but it doesn't hit the spot at all. I should have gone with my first instinct which was Sous le Vent. Or maybe Musc Tonkin.

Makeup
Curled lashes and lots of mascara.

Frequently Worn Item/Outfit
Cashmere dresses, especially my favorite one in teal. It has a deep(ish) v-neck and a well defined waist that I sometimes accentuate with a belt.

Food
Strawberry jam. The funny thing is that I never even liked strawberry jam until recently; I'm more of a sour cherry, apricot or bitter orange person, and strawberry has always been too sugary sweet for me. But all of a sudden I love it, especially on a well-buttered toast.

Guilty Pleasure
Eclairs. The one I had yesterday was beyond sinful: creme patissiere over a layer of strawberry preserve (see? it's everywhere), fresh strawberries, and whipped cream. Heaven.

Bane
Trying to maintain a semblance of order in my dressing room. Beauty products seem to multiply when I'm not looking, and since I've turned into my mother in recent years, clutter makes me lose my mind.

Triumph
Conquering most of the mess I mentioned above over the weekend.

Anticipation
The Elements Show in early February. Less for the show itself and more for the friends who are coming from out of town.

Pierre Hardy, colorblock clutch, $975 at barneys.com

Wishlist
A Pierre Hardy colorblock clutch or small bag. Actually, anything Pierre Hardy, but I do need a bag in this size, and I'm very much in love with this particular design.

Random Thought
The end of football season cannot come soon enough.

How are you? Please share your thoughts, recommendations, banes and joys!


Top image: Winter Sunrise by Alexander Volkov

8 comments:

  1. Book
    I was recently gifted with two books, both of which I plan on reading this weekend during my flight to and from Chicago. One is Barthes' "A Lover's Discourse" and the other is a collection of essays about moving out of NYC called "Goodbye to All That."

    Music
    I'm very much enjoying my Pandora station of Quiet Storm music that I've edited - lots of smooth R&B from the 70s, 80s, and 90s. Just perfect!

    TV
    Don't watch any TV, really. I am excited for Season Two of "House of Cards" though! Does that count?

    Perfume
    Lots and lots and lots of Uncle Serge's Un Bois Vanille. It's been carrying me through the mental and emotional funk I've been in lately. I have recently had the chance to get my hands on the entire Von Eusersdorff line and Classic Orange has been lovely first thing in the morning too, as a wake-me-up scent.

    Makeup
    L'Oreal Infallible eyeshadows - my addiction of the moment! - and the new Rimmel Scandaleyes Eyeshadow Paints. Amazing quality cream shadows for $6.

    Frequently Worn Item/Outfit
    Er, black and more black?

    Food
    French fries. This isn't a good time for my waistline. Also, anywhere Brian C. drags me out to eat. Oh, and dosai.

    Guilty Pleasure
    Reddit's Cringe Pics subreddit. Valentine's Day candy. Drugstore makeup.

    Bane
    I really need to re-organize my perfume. Ugh. Also, it'd be nice if the rest of my W-2 forms would come in so I can file my taxes already.

    Triumph
    Something I can't say yet, but I'm thrilled. Oh so thrilled.

    Anticipation
    What I alluded to above, as well as Elements because I can't wait to see you and everyone else!

    Wishlist
    New bras, heels that are comfortable enough to walk in but still kind of edgy, and a new handbag. I want to feel a little more well put-together.

    Random Thought
    Not totally random, but I can't wait for my flight on Thursday.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Book: Consider The Fork by Bee Wilson. Kitchen times and technology in an inviting, fun, and interesting mix! Now in paperback. Waiting for from the library: The Days of Anna Madrigal, the last (sob!!!!) of the Tales Of The City books by Armistead Maupin. Street date, Tuesday. If I weren't down to my last 20.00, I'd buy it.


    Music: Josh Ritter, Josh Ritter, Josh Ritter, and Maria Muldaur.


    Fragrance: back into department store scent, mostly Dior's Fahrenheit.


    Clothing item: a black t shirt by Duluth Trading......mega weight cotton. SO comfortable. A gift from my sister.


    Food: potatoes (usually, but not always) baked or fried. Vegetable salads in a feeble attempt of balance.


    Bane: Same Old political Stuff. I thank the Universe daily that even though I am from Ohio, I am in Northern Ohio, and not Southern Ohio, where the politicians are that winning combination of stupid and mean!


    Other bane: My TelecommunicATions provider! (unscramble the letters. Or not.)


    Joy: My darling cat, Rosa del Gata, who forgave me my week away in December.



    Wishlist: New Oxfords, with replaceable soles. New Top-Siders. Safe drinking water for everyone.


    Gratitude: Friends--in person, and online.



    Lawrence (and Rosa del Gata) in Northeastern Ohio

    ReplyDelete
  3. Books: two bedtime reads, the new Scent and Subversion by Barbara Herman and Quantum Demonology by Sheila Eggenberger, and my "bus book" is an Elizabeth George mystery, Deception on His Mind. Love those Inspector Lynley mysteries!

    Music: mostly enjoying my new Spotify Premium subscription. R.E.M., The Moody Blues, The Dunwells, Tired Pony, Adele, Emmylou Harris, Otis Redding and more.

    TV: Almost Human - good show and Karl Urban is a hunk and a half! Fell asleep during Under The Gunn, darn it!

    Perfume: Testing lots of new new stuff but mostly wearing from my collection since I am also in the throes of organizing it. Hard to resist wearing my new Caron Parfum Sacre Extrait every day! Also loving my "new" vintage Fath de Fath parfum - which YOU turned me on to years ago! :-)

    Makeup - loving the new L'Oreal BB cream in Fair, it dries to a nice matte finish and never turns orange - finally found one light enough for my skin!

    Frequently worn outfit: Navy ponte knit pants with red tops. Trying to wear less black!

    Food: Anything apricot, gluten free toaster waffles, mandarin oranges, chickpea flour Socca bread, baby kale salads, matcha tea.

    Guilty pleasure: Facebook marathons when I should be writing or doing something else, like housework!

    Bane: Football season. Smelly bus people. The GOP.

    Triumph: a long-awaited promotion, finding the perfect new color scheme and textiles for my living room, and progress in organizing my perfume collection!

    Anticipation: ordering seeds and starting them indoors. I missed out on a lot of gardening last summer due t health reasons and I can't wait to get going! The Winter Olympics - I am a huge fan of ice skating.

    Wishlist: Finding another pair of my favorite black shoes, which seem to have disappeared from the face of the planet; a real perfume cabinet; a new dresser.

    Random thought: I have more friends now at my age than I have ever had in my life, and no one is more surprised than I am!



    ReplyDelete
  4. Wool dresses with boots are my go-to work wardrobe in Winter.

    I'm about to start reading Someday, Someday, Maybe by Lauren Graham, then after that The Elegance of the Hedgehog by Muriel Barbery which I'm quite looking forward to.

    ReplyDelete
  5. I've been on a quest to declutter my life for a while now. It's moving along rather well, I still have problems letting go of some stuff I know I should but generally, I'm happy with what I've done so far.

    It's been a stressful beginning of the year so I'm back to re-reading Harry Potter. Plus, it's always a great way to start a year - reading about friendship and bravery (in a fantastical setting).

    Guilty pleasure/bane - alcohol. Mostly because of all the calories. ;)

    ReplyDelete
  6. About to finish Donna Leon's Acqua Alta and plan on starting Cara Black's Murder in the Marais tonight (or maybe Iain Pear's The Titian Committee). Also reading a book on shade gardening and a book on ayurveda and herbs by David Frawley and Dr. Vasant Lad (and wishing I were less of a vata).

    Listening to Bebel Gilberto (paralleling my escapist tendencies with perfume choices these days).

    Very glad Tim Gunn's new show looks like it will be good - love him. Watched the first episode of the new season of Sherlock last night. Excellent. I look forward to the end of football, but I look even more forward to the end of college basketball season (DH's addiction and until the end of March Madness it's basically his religion, his top priority).

    Wearing AG Hadrien.

    Can't be convinced that dairy could possibly be bad for me. Am sure it's quite the reverse actually (again, hands over ears, ignoring all who might say otherwise). Living for cheese.

    Find myself repeatedly reaching for red lipsticks, especially Ellis Faas Hot Lips L401 and Dior Addict Extreme 857. Mood boosting magic.

    Random thoughts: An thinking that in the wildlife circuit, word of mouth must have it that our yard is by far the best place in the neighborhood to hang out. Adore watching families of deer (especially the tiny spotted fawns in the summer) come to our back yard every day (a group are out there as I write this), but between them and the rabbits, my garden doesn't stand a chance (our deer apparently haven't read any lists regarding plants they aren't supposed to enjoy eating and are relatively indifferent to any sprays I may use on the plants). Still, can't resist the sheer joy of getting out and planting in the spring and our back porch is elevated, so at least I know my container plants (lots of large containers) will be able to thrive.
    Anna

    ReplyDelete
  7. Pink ProvocateurJanuary 20, 2014 6:52 PM

    Book
    _The Name of the Wind_, Patrick Rothfuss
    _Dirty Weekend_, Helen Zahavi

    Music
    Los Lonely Boys
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Zq2JAJVnuc&list=PL73D1C8AB394E70D3

    TV
    Sherlock on BBC, Face-Off

    Perfume
    Mechant Loup

    Makeup
    the new Chanel IdO -- Pulsion and Diapason

    Frequently Worn Item/Outfit
    pink fuzzy slippers

    Food
    anything at Morroccan Bites (local, family-owned restaurant) -- sublime and superb

    Guilty Pleasure
    macarons from Bakery Lorraine

    Bane
    uber-Liberals

    Triumph
    still in docent training (almost half my class has left for one reason or other; it's a tough two-year programme)

    Anticipation
    meeting Los Lonely Boys tonight
    Wishlist
    As I near the end of my stash of Chanel's Purete Serum (which is the only thing to successfully control my oily skin), I am wishing for a reasonable substitute.

    Random Thought
    Go, Spurs, GO!!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Those books with technical aspects are usually great if you cannot fall asleep at night: 2-3 pages should do the trick.

    Pierre Hardy's clutch is beautiful! Now I want it (and I definitely do not need anything of that size!)

    ReplyDelete

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