About Me

There's a lot of stuff in the standard Google profile page, but I guess after twelve years of blogging people may want to know a little more than what are my favorite books and movies. Here goes...

I was born in the fall of 1970 which makes me older than the hills but younger than dirt, depending on your own perspective. Most days I can feel anywhere between 13 years old and 90. I suspect this is true for most of us, though choosing to be child-free has made feeling like a youngster a bit easier. I'm a typical product of my generation. Grew up adoring Princess Grace of Monaco, Princess Diana, and Christie Brinkley, all blondes. It made me realize at a relatively young age that I was not going to grow up into a pretty princess or even a great conventional beauty. Then came Madonna and the rest is history. No, not really, but coming of age in the 1980s marks you in a certain way.

I loved fashion and beauty from a very early age. Watching old movies and paying attention to costumes, style and makeup had led me to draw outfits inspired by them. My favorites were peplum jackets, narrow skirts and dramatic updos. If you're thinking Joan Crawford or Norma Shearer you're not far from the truth. I was also mesmerized by my mother's skincare and makeup rituals. She has never left the house without her face on, even just to take out the trash or get the mail. And when I say "never" I mean it. My parents have been living in the same place for 30 years now. None of the neighbors have ever seen her without her makeup or dressed like a slob. When that's your role model it's no wonder one grows up paying attention to details and more than mildly obsessed with the little pretties and shinies that come in jars and tubes.

with my cat, Lizzy

The other factor that led me to this place was my non-standard look. A weird skin tone that makes matching face products a challenge, a huge mane of unruly dark hair, deep-set eyes, no cheekbones, an oddly proportioned petite figure... I could go on, but you get the picture. I spent years learning how to make the most of it, figuring out what works and what doesn't, honing my fashion sense and makeup skills. I ended up feeling like I might have something worth sharing.

And then there's perfume. Another early passion that has grown into an obsession once I realized there's a whole smelly world out there. I'm a compulsive sniffer and will drag you into my world just as I did to other people related to me through blood or marriage. My list of favorite perfumes is more of a megilah or a spreadsheet than a list, but I can tell you that I never want to be without either Shalimar, Miel de Bois or L'Air du Desert Marocain. Yes, I like big smellies. BIG.

With a newborn niece

same niece, a few years later

The other building blocks of my life are the husband, our many cats, nephews and nieces, living in NJ and making Manhattan my playground. I'm a vegetarian who would have been vegan if not for the power of cheese, love big cities and vast beaches, prefer dresses to jeans, eclairs to macarons and London to Paris.

Welcome to my blog and into my world.