Hydrangea season has started. When my hydrangeas are blooming, I wonder why I grow anything else. Then I remember the crepe myrtles, daylilies, and other perennials that grace my garden during the summer. Despite the competition, the hydrangeas cast a spell.What a week it's been! Last weekend, I had two makeovers (Chanel and Chantecaille), and this week has been a week of experimentation, with new makeup I haven't even had time to describe for you. Each weekend, I anticipate a cloudless day, hoping to get pretty photos for you. Why does it rain on weekends?
Overnight, we had a killer thunderstorm. I heard my computer's auxiliary power supply beep and got out of bed to turn off the computer. There was a lot of nearby thunder and lightning, Charlie had taken off for the interior of the house (he moves from windows by instinct), then the electricity blipped on and off again. I use an electric clock to tell me the time, and any power interruption, however brief, will make it reset. I didn't want to watch it blink, so I reset it, thinking it was only a few minutes off. You can guess...This morning, I thought I had overslept. The clock told me it was 4:45 am when I awakened naturally. I totally forgot I had reset it blindly, so I didn't check my iPad for the time. I hopped out of bed and began my morning. It was only while writing The Friday Forum (and wondering why I saw no light of dawn outside) that I discovered it had really been 3:45. Now, still before my normal wake-up around 4:30, I realize how sleepy I'll be later today. No wonder Charlie didn't get me up "at 4:30"! Cats have such amazing internal clocks.
Tomorrow, I have a Bobbi Brown session at Nordstrom at Tysons Corner Center. That should be fun - if I get a nap before I go! It's my only planned beauty outing of the weekend. I have to stay home and get myself organized - weed too (more like taming the jungle).
I hope to explore the Le Labo samples a sweet Twitter friend, @glowyjoeybunny, got for me in New York. Today is her birthday - Happy Birthday, Joey! Late yesterday, when the samples arrived, I sprayed all three on my arm - and loved all three! I still detect an elegant and mysterious soft, musky scent. Iris 39, one of The Non-Blonde's favorites, persists beautifully - proof that there are a few fragrances containing patchouli that I can love (perhaps very few). I had the pleasure this week of speaking with a gal from LuckyScent. She has worked at one time for Le Labo, and she told me about her long list of Le Labo favorites. By the time we finished talking, I wanted all of them! She's dangerous. I really need to get a lottery ticket today.
It's time for The Friday Forum. We use the forum to share information and chat. Did you find any deals you couldn't resist this week? Are you using a fabulous product and want to sing its praises? Did you find a beauty product disappointing? Do you have a question others might be able to answer? Want to talk about skin care? What's new in your life? Just use the comments. Don't be shy. Just make sure to ask any question you might have over the weekend. By Monday, most (not all) readers have moved on.
Don't forget to enter the giveaway contest for Bobbi Brown's Shimmer Brick for Body. The deadline is tomorrow, Saturday, June 18, at midnight. Anyone can enter, so go for it! The large shimmer brick is a stunner.
I was delighted last Friday to return from work and see how active you had been on the forum. Have a fun and beautiful day!
Photo courtesy of Southern Living
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18 comments:
Gorgeous flowers! Most of our sunny spots are taken up by vegetable plants. We're growing a larger variety this year so as long as we have enough sun, we should have some fresh produce. I can't wait!
I pleased to say that I finally picked up my new Bobbi Brown eyelash curler. My Shu one wasn't catching all my eyelashes properly which is what prompted me to try another shape. The BB is perfect! Now, still searching for a HG mascara. The Chanel Inimitable one I just bought isn't doing it for me. It's a little drier than I would want. I have read wonderful things about the YSL Faux Cils. Any thoughts on that?
Also, I've been literally living in my La Prairie gloss in Ginger Glace. The colour and formula are so perfect. There is a slight scent that I don't care for, but thankfully, it dissipates rather quickly. Thank you for introducing that to me!
Hi Charlestongirl,
I absolutely adore hydrangeas. I had them as centerpieces at my wedding and they were gorgeous. One of my favorite flowers, for sure.
Thanks to you, and Gaia at The NonBlonde, I called Le Metier this morning and ordered the new lip kaleidescope - Ecumes D'Or. I am so eager to use it, I sprang for 2-day shipping. Delaying gratification ain't my strong-suit. Because of that purchase, I have put off buying Future Skin by Chantecaille. However, considering my M.O., I may be ordering it before too long.
It's been very hot and humid (and rainy) where I live, so my basil is in overdrive. As a result, I will be making fresh bruschetta tonight, and I am pretty jazzed about that.
Have a fabulous weekend!
Kate
Charlestongirl,
Stopped by NM today and got some samples of Fresh to try prior to the evening event, the cleanser for makeup remover might be a good contender as the Chantecaille one you mentioned earlier in your blog.
Plan in loading up a look and taking it off with ease tonight!
Also put aside the Creed Acqua Fiorentina for next week when I'm back at NM, the scent carried with me with the sample enough that I just had to splurge!
Can you folks give me the name and phone number of a helpful salesperson for Le Metier? I'm very interested in some of their products, but no counter near me. Thanks in advance. Jo
We have some gorgeous hydrangeas in our backyard. Here in Atlanta they turn nearly purple due to the acid soils (or is it alkaline?) Regardless, blue flowers are my favorite, and I could stare at them all day.
I was lucky enough to wander into a wonderful gift event for Lancome at my local Belk's. Five products (you choose which five) in a great little tote bag with any purchase of $32.50 or more. I walked away with Midnight Rush eye quint (gorgeous) and gifts of an eyeshadow quad, Hypnose Drama mascara, Bifacil eye makeup remover, Creme Radiance creme-to-foam cleanser, and Eclat Miracle Serum of Light illuminator. All lovely!!!
I also hit the Dior counter at Macy's and was gifted a threesome of Capture skincare products: ONE serum, Capture serum, and the Capture cream. Again, lovely!
All items will be reviewed in more detail soon, but for now, all I can say is that I'm thrilled with my purchases and all the extras!
Shannon
Lipstick Musings
Anonymous, call either Kathy Shoreman at Neiman Marcus at 703-761-1600, extension 3282, or the LMdB counter at Bergdorf Goodman at (212) 872-8612. Two sure-file places to get help. :)
You are the absolute sweetest!
Thank you so very much for all of the birthday love you showed me today! Your flowers are gorgeous and since I was given the LMdB EdO Kaleido as a present, I'm going to use your reviews for ideas on how to layer it.
Have a lovely and beauty-filled weekend!
xoxo Bunny
The color of your hydrangeas is gorgeous. Your garden must be your pride and joy. Every picture you post just makes me sigh over the sheer beauty of it. And every season has its own special appeal as your beautiful photographs throughout the year illustrate to perfection.
As for more superficial beauty ;-) I hope all you ladies are saving up for some Chanel goodies. The fall collection is already available on-line at Chanel and will soon be in stores. Karla Sugar has posted the promo pictures for the Fall and Holiday collections as well as the smaller releases that will be coming out in between. It looks like every month from now through October will find something new to delight and captivate at the Chanel counter.
I hope your Bobbi Brown session is more successful than mine was last weekend. The young MA asked me what I wanted and I said I'd like something polished and classic; suitable for a formal luncheon. What she gave me was a deep violet smoky eye! I'm still trying to figure out how that happened LOL Although her application was over the top, she really did have an excellent eye for color and I ended up getting the shadows and gel liner that she had used as well as the lip gloss. I must admit, by the time she had finished with me, I had never seen my eyes look so green. They were positively emerald!
This weekend I'll be shopping and making the final preparations for my Midsummer Night dinner party. It's hard to believe that the first day of summer is just a few days away. I wish you all a restful weekend and a wonderful beginning to the summer season.
Hi Joey!
I'm so glad you liked the Chantecaille eye shadow! I hope your birthday was special!
Cheers!
Hi Eileen,
I am patiently (perhaps impatiently) waiting for the Chanel fall colors to arrive at NM. They show online, but as sold out. NM showed me all the photos over a month ago, and I NEED Khaki Platine and a few other things. Yes, saving up. :)
I cancelled my BB appointment today. Am kind of wiped out from the week, and I know Nordstrom doesn't have any new BB colors (no one does). So, I will miss seeing my friends, but welcome the "rest."
The lace cap hydrangeas that are blooming in my garden (some are probably the only examples of certain named varieties in the DC area) are amazing. Every year when they bloom, I consider digging up everything else in the garden and planting more. They are so graceful.
Hi Lipstick Diva!
Sounds like you got some nice things to play with! Hydrangeas (the common kind you see everywhere) are blue in acid soil and pink in alkaline soil. That said, there are no rules, and certain cultivars have been bred to keep their color pretty well, regardless of pH. Atlanta is a great place to grow them!
I have seen some nice GWPs lately, but have resisted, for the most part. I end up with so much "stuff," I get overwhelmed. I'll admit that there are some GWPs that are must-haves. :)
Hmmmm . . . Sold out? When I was on-line this morning, I was able to order items from the Fall collection without any problem. I wonder if Chanel restocked after the first wave of on-line purchasing. Chanel also has free standard shipping until the end of the month. In any event, I bought Rose Écrin, Pampille, and Khaki Platine. I want to see the new shadows in person and give them a test before purchasing. As for the quad, I think I'm going to hold out until Fauve and Magic Night are released later this summer. I think this time around I might actually prefer the singles to the quad.
Have a peaceful and restful weekend and enjoy your gorgeous garden, Charlestongirl. Take care.
Thanks, Eileen. I was on the site early Eastern Time, and all were listed out of stock. With your tip, I just returned and ordered. Go figure!
My, you get up early, Charlestongirl! What time do you get to work?
Lovethescents, YSL Faux Cils and Faux Cils Noir Radical are my favorite mascaras. They don't clump or flake or run though they are not waterproof. They don't lengthen, and are not advertised as such, but they do make your lashes look fuller, and in the case of Noir Radical, darker and fuller. They are not too dry, nor too wet, and cleans up well if you get a bit on your lid when applying.
I can't wait get my hands on the new Chanel polishes. Mical at Nordies Pentagon City will hold the polishes and eye shadow quad when they arrive next month. I wonder if Graphite is similar to Duo Platinum Silver that was released only in Europe and Asia a few years ago?
BB has two new eye shadow palettes that appear to be Nordstrom exclusives. Nordstrom Pentagon City just put them out today. They are not online or the BB site. I bought the Bronze Tortoiseshell Eye Palette, which has eight shadows, six with a warm bronzy shimmer, one dark brown and one cream-colored matte shadows. The shimmery shadows are pale hues of gold, olive, bronze, copper, and amber, but with enough pigment to keep them from looking ashy on my skin. LOVE. The other palette contains eight less shimmery shadows, unfortunately I don’t remember the colors, but it is beautiful too. There were also three new glosses in new packaging! BB has finally replaced the old tube with a larger one and replaced the brush with a sponge tip applicator. Now the product comes out.of.the.tube.
The makeup gods must have heard me complain that the stores are stingy with samples. Nordies more than made up for it today. I left with cleansing oils (my latest obsession), hand creams, and bronzers! I guess they had just been low on previous occasions.
I'm going to put myself on a makeup allowance...
Hi Ava,
Wish I had gone to Nordies with you! I need to see the new palettes, but I hope they are distinct. I have so many BB palettes, I want some new single shades. I am also smitten with BB's new lip glosses. I really didn't appreciate those little brushes that always got splayed, not matter how carefully you re-inserted them in the tubes.
I normally get up at 4:30, but I plan to change that - at least by a 1/2 hour. It's a bit crazy, and it makes it hard to sleep in on weekends.
Check out The Beauty Look Book, where Sabrina modeled the newest Chanel polishes for fall. She helped me determine the two I want.
I need to establish an allowance too. Last month was crazy, and it wasn't even a big intro month!
Ava,
I just popped up to Nordies Tysons and got the same palette you did. The other one was somewhat boring (a bunch of matte, neutral shades. Of the three glosses on the display, two were new, and I purchased one of those.
Nice! I will play with them this week for a day or so then put up a feature.
They told me they aren't exclusive to Nordstrom, but I know the NM doesn't have them yet.
Hi Charlestongirl; hi Ava,
So far, I've only seen the promo pictures for the collection, but the Tortoiseshell palette looks like a celebration of autumnal bronzes that I'd really like. It also looks like it contains a number of new shades rather than just a bunch of repromotes. (I hope to never see Navajo in a palette again!) I look forward to your review, Charlestongirl. Autumn collections always have some of my favorite make-up purchases. By the way, is it just the pictures, or do many of the colors actually look similar to Chanel's new polishes?
Eileen, I think you will like it. From my short amount of time playing with it, it looks very nice!
I'm pretty bored with the re-promotes too. Corporate America must think we're uninformed. :)
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