Currently

Book
Last night I finally found some attention span for fiction, so I re-started Eva Moves the Furniture, a novel by Margot Livesey. It's been years since I read Livesey and now I remember how much I like her.

Song
As I was searching for the video of Damien Rice's Accidental Babies (nothing to do with K-Fed, I promise), I found a live performance of his somewhat odd version of Jacques Brel 's Ne Me Quitte Pas. I'm not sure how I feel about it.





Perfume
Andy Tauer's new Zeta. Review and giveaway coming as soon as I find the words.

Makeup
Oddly enamoured with several Laure Mercier items.

Frequently worn outfit/item
A colorful DVF print scarf that enlivens all those black and grays.

Food
Brown rice with fresh avocado, a splash of soy sauce and wasabi. So simple, so delicious. The rice cooker is my BFF.

Joy
Right here, right now, with the cranky old orange tabby on my lap, good music and an open window.

Bane of My Existence
I'm having a banelss day.

Anticipation
Lilacs, magnolias and not wearing a coat when leaving the house.

Wishlist

Alexander McQueen Faithful leather clutch. It's such a practical piece- has the elegance of a clutch but actually big enough (8"H x 15"W x 2"D) to hold a lot more than a lipstick. $695 at Neiman Marcus.


How are you? Please share your currents and any random thought in the comments.

Top photo by me- the first daffodils in my backyard.
Alexander McQueen clutch: naimanmarcus.com

Currently

Brought to you by the flu.

Book
I usually have The Guide within arm's reach and currently it's the only thing that goes with a brain on meds, but I admit to nodding off reading Luca's lengthier reviews.

Song
Fistful of Mercy by Fitful of Mercy



Perfume
Guerlain Vetiver. I can actually smell it.

Makeup
Utterly enamored with the Le Metier de Beaute Smoldering Embarkment Kaleidoscope. It makes me look almost alive. More on that tomorrow. Maybe.

Frequently Worn Outfit/Item
Yoga pants. Black or charcoal. And that's the most glamorous part.

Food
Does NyQuil count?

Drink
Tea with honey.

Joy
Breathing

Bane Of My Existence
Other than my lungs trying to vacate my body, it's all quite peachy.

Anticiaption
Keeping food down

Wishlist
Meh


So, how are you doing?


Photo of Greta Garbo as Camille: garboforever.com

Smells Like Coming Home To Myself

I've rarely worn the same perfume more than two days in a row even before I started blogging. My collection was (much MUCH) smaller, so the rotation was more reasonable and even when sampling and trying on new stuff with fervor, I'd soon return to my regular loved ones and all was well with the world. Of course, I always believed in matching my perfume for every mood and treated scent as one of my accessories, like shoes, handbags and lipstick. Red is and has always been my favorite color, but I don't wear it every day. The same goes for Shalimar or L'Air du Desert Marocain. Some days were made gray cashmere. Some occasions call for Chanel No. 5.

I post four to five perfume reviews every week, which means I spend a lot of my time and skin space on the fragrances I'm testing. Some of them, regardless of my appreciation and enjoyment, don't fit. I don't mind putting on a scented costume here and there. It's fun to wear 31 Rue Cambon (Chanel) and play an Upper East Side blonde. But eventually it gets exhausting, and on days I'm testing new department store offering it's often depressing, because whoever wears Marc Jacobs Whatever, I don't even want to be that person (apologies to MJ fans). Usually sticking my nose into an Uncle Serge bell jar instantly recalibrate it and restores world order. But even within my own collection some perfumes are more the real  "me" than others, and they are the ones that when I wear them it smells like coming home and finding myself again. It doesn't necessarily mean they are my all-time top loves, though they may be- I've given up on rating my personal wardrobe. I love them all and they fit me in one way or another. But some perfumes smell like me more than others and these are the ones I'm listing here, in no particular order:

1. Tauer almost anything. There's something about Andy Tauer's work that fits me like a bespoke perfume. It feels like they're made of my personal memories and use bits and pieces from my dreams.

2. CB I Hate Perfumes- Revelation. I love figs, I love fig trees and it's not a rational thing. I just do. This is a fig perfume in 3D, full of connotations, references and personal associations.

3. Shalimar. Why, of course. Also, Shalimar Light.

4. Robert Piguet- Bandit. I have a friend who defines herself as "a good girl who does bad things". Oddly (or not) she's a Chanel No. 5 person through and through, while I, the suburban wife, wear Bandit. Go figure.

5. Serge Lutens- MKK and Miel de Bois. Actually, wearing almost anything Serge feels natural and easy for me. But these two infamous stinkers are as cuddly as my cats.

6. JAR- Ferme tes Yeux. Apparently, deep down I'm an expensive mix of rotting tuberose and civet. Who knew?

What are the perfumes that make you feel most like your true self?

Photo of model Carol McCallson by William Claxton, 1955

Currently

Book
While I have several half-read or just started books scattered all over the place, right now I'm eager to get a copy of Monica Ali's newest book (coming up in April), Untold Story. It's a fictional "what if" inspired by Princess Diana.

Song
Shirley Basey- Diamonds Are Forever. I can't get enough of her voice.



Perfume
Serge Lutens Boxeuses

Makeup
I'm obsessed with anything complexion, as I've been testing a couple of foundations lately.

Frequently Worn Outfit/Item
Flat black riding boots. I found my perfect pair a couple of months ago at Cole Haan- they hit exactly where they should, without going over the bottom part of my knee, imagine that.

Food
Carbs, sadly.

Guilty Pleasure
Afternoon naps.

Joy
Waking up with assorted fuzzy faces purring loudly around me.

Bane Of My Existence
The weather, of course. Looking out the window I expect to see Sarah Palin hunting for moose in my backyard.

Anticipation
Valentine's Day

Wishlist
A personal assistant

Random Thought
Seriously, out of all the stuff Ricky Gervais said, Hollywood being rattled by his dig at the closeted Scientologists is beyond ridiculous.

How are you doing? Please share your current loves and thoughts!


Art: Winter In The City by Dmitry Danish

Currently

Book
Just found a first edition hard cover of D.V., Diana Vreeleand's autobiography. Will delve into it today.

Song
Loudon Wainwright III- Not John



Perfume
Tauer- Une Rose Vermeille, Lord's Jester Daphne and Serge Lutens Fumerie Turque. Not together, though.

Makeup
Red lips.

Frequently Worn Outfit/Item
Orna Lalo jewelry. A perfect gift from my sister.

Food
Cheese.

Drink
Chocolate milk.

Guilty Pleasure
Obviously, dairy.

Joy
Healthy happy cats.

Bane Of My Existence
Dry skin.

Anticipation
Quiet snow days.

Wishlist

To catch up on emails. I'm weeks behind. Oh, and also- I already have this bag, the Katie by Jola V Designs in a soft tan color, so now I want the winter version in brick brown.

Random Thought
Somewhere in Los Angeles Alanis Morissette is happily humming "Ironic" as she's watching the news.

How are you doing? Please share your current loves and thoughts!

Art: Deborah Klein- The Shell Game
Katie Bag photo by Jola V.

Currently

Book
Joyce Maynard- At Home In The World. The writer's memoir, juicy because of her relationship with J.D. Salinger.

Song
An album, actually. Elton John and Leon Russel- The Union.




Perfume
Today was the first one in a while I wasn't testing/wearing one of the Outlaw Perfumes. Wore Tom Ford Private Blend Tobacco Vanille.

Makeup
Blush. I'm on a serious pink cheek kick.

Frequently Worn Outfit/Item
Long DVF ruffled cashmere cardigan. Black.

Food/Drink
tea, pasta, grilled cheese... the usual.

Guilty Pleasure
Admiring some of my makeup brushes. Profound, I know.

Joy
A new camera.

Bane Of My Existence
My Droid is having charging issues and I'm not due for an upgrade yet. I've been pursuing the Verizon Wireless site, looking at the new(er) models and telling myself  "These are not the droids you are looking for". Yes, geek humor.




Anticipation
Oddly enough, the holidays.

Wishlist
A pair of ultra-fabulous flat black boots that are knee-high but designed with short women in mind. The Alexander McQueen pair, once I found them in my size turned out to be an inch too tall. They are still the most gorgeous thing.

Random Thought
I have quite a few, actually. Enough for a separate post. For now, I'll just say that the Outlaw Perfume Project has been quite mind-blowing. I don't want to ever forget what a real perfume smells like.

What are your current loves, recommendation and banes? Please share.

Photo by me, November 2010.

Why don't you...Why don't I...

I've been getting more and more requests to post more photos, particularly pictures of myself wearing the products I'm reviewing. There are also numerous calls for tutorials- videos and/or how-to posts. I guess it's about time I explain why I don't do it.

I'm not a makeup artist and I don't play one on YouTube. Of course, I'm pretty good at wielding a brush and doing my own makeup. I can also do a very decent job making over some of my nearest and dearest. I'm familiar enough with their faces and know what works and what would make my sister remind me she's still the stronger one and can do me a world of bodily harm. But I can't tell you how to do your makeup. Sometimes I make suggestions, but for the most part it comes down to your very specific coloring and facial features. The specific of applying two or three eyes shadows on Asian eyes are extremely different than how to do it on mine. Look at my photos- I have deep-set eyes with very visible lids. There's no way that a method that works for me would work for many of you. Even when it comes to eyes of similar shapes there are minute but important details every woman needs to figure out for herself.

Let's talk about skin tone. The warm vs. cool grouping is way too broad. We all have several undertones, some contrasting, and trying to generalize too often ends with a person buying the wrong foundation shade. Just think of the various shades of Asian skin tones that look absolutely nothing like each other. The same goes for African-Americans. And look at my own "white" skin- at most makeup counters the first foundation or concealer shade a SA  suggests usually turns out about 1.5 shades too dark. Why? Because while I'm generally categorized as "olive" there's also a little yellow and pink in some indescribable ratio. I can't wear pink foundations, of course, but many of them (MAC, Trish McEvoy and Bobbi Brown are good examples) are too yellow or just look off. I tan easily and can get quite brown, but I try my best to avoid the sun, so I'm actually some weird pale olive color. And this fact influences the way I wear all of my makeup. Normally I apply a touch of bronzer or blush to my décolleté to even things out. I intentionally avoided it when I took the photo yesterday so you can see the green and the difference.

I'm not even talking about the technical aspects of taking a huge amount of pictures that showcase the products or the makeup "look". I can tell you that for the simple daytime makeup  I'm showing here I had to  apply almost double the amount of color I'd normally do and it still looks a bit washed out compared to what I actually saw in the mirror. These two pictures were taken about two minutes apart in separate rooms that face the same direction. The natural light still looks different and so does the makeup. It's a lot of work for very uneven results, which is why I stick to closeup swatches on my wrists.

So there you have it. (Almost) 40 years old, green skin, dark circles no amount of Touche Eclat can fully erase. Would you want a tutorial from this woman? (that was a rhetorical question!)

Top photo of a makeup artist at work courtesy of WWD.
Everything else here is mine, of course.

Currently

Book
Once I gain some attention span back I should get to B&N for Tim Gunn's book. It's been out for weeks now.

Song
Wilco- I'll Fight




On TV
CNN, what else?

Perfume
Etat Libre d'Orange- Like This. Perfect for this weather.

Makeup
Blush. I've been experimenting.

Frequently worn outfit/item
Gray cashmere hoodie over just about everything.

Food/Drink
I really want some miso soup.

Guilty Pleasure
Sleeping in.

Joy
It's all good.

Bane Of My Existence
See above.

Anticipation
The weekend. Just because.

Random Thought
Some things put even Kim Kardashian's nude cover into perspective.

Wish List
A new camera. Any suggestions on what I should get?


What are your current banes, joys and recommendations? Please share!



Top image: La Esperanza, webshots.com