This is a true TGIF for me. I'm worn out. In the last week, I've had another epidural (the New England Compounding Center was not involved), shopped hard, worked hard, and eaten leftovers for dinner. I prefer to go out or get takeout. Last Friday night, a friend and I met at a favorite restaurant, Asian Corner in McLean. When we got there, we found that Asian Corner was gone - history, I learned. A Mexican restaurant had taken its place (same owner - sweet Chinese family - should have been a clue). We stayed, deciding it might be good. Big mistake! The food was unbelievably bad. All of it tasted like it came from a bottle or can. I could have opened a jar of salsa at home. The beans were canned - no doubt. What a disappointment! Not only did I lose a fave, I spent money on a meal that was memorable - for all the wrong reasons. Do you experiment often or usually go to a restaurant you know? How often are you severely disappointed? I'm trying another new restaurant with a different friend this weekend. Holding my breath.
I'm really reluctant to stray into politics here, but I can't wait for the election season to end. Let's not use the comments to join the partisan drumbeat. That said, I'm so tired of sleazy television advertisements funded by PACs (American Crossroads, I'm looking at you - you don't have a right to invade my home because I live in a battleground state), newscasts that are devoted almost entirely to the election (excuse me, but isn't there a hurricane coming?), political spam in my mailbox (if you contribute, I'd advise you to refuse to provide an e-mail address), all those phone calls (I can't answer my phone anymore). Enough! I'm beginning to think the American people must force the issues on election laws. That's a change we need in the next four years. I don't know what to do about the Supreme Court. They are the ones who gave "free speech" to corporations, resulting in the political expenditure of enough money to cure cancer. The total is at $2B so far - that's billion. I imagine the founding fathers are screaming from the grave, "No, that's not what we meant!"
About that hurricane, it appears to be headed my way. Right now, it sounds like we may lose power in our area. If I stop publishing, you'll know why. The last time I had an extended power disruption, I also had no cell service. Remember the derecho?
OK, I'm ready to turn back to beauty. Thank you for suffering through my rant.
Has it really been only five years since the amazing Vero Kern’s Kiki, Rubj, and Onda shook us to the core with their otherworldly, archaic/modern accords?
Mito is her long-awaited four composition, inspired by the magical gardens of the sixteenth century Villa d’Este on Lake Como in Italy. The myths the name conjures might be the gods and nymphs whose statues people the garden. We’re inclined, though, to think of the myths of perfumery. Mito, a glorious green floral chypre built around the Villa d’Este magnolias and jasmine, isn’t so much a descendent of the great Chanels and Guerlains as a wayward sister to Cristalle or Chamade who made her way to Northern Italy and thrived.
Verdant, creamy-moist, and vibrant with sunshine-laden citrus, Mito may well be the most easily approachable of Vero Kern’s offerings, without surrendering a drop of her intense originality. This Italian springtime in a bottle was well worth the wait - both for vintage perfume lovers and Vero aficionados. We’re feeling the love. You will too.
Mito's citrus blend includes notes of magnolia grandiflora, white magnolia champaca, jasmine, galbanum, hyacinth, cypress blend, and moss. It's hard for me to summon the words to describe its beauty.
Let's talk about your week of beauty. It's time for the Friday Forum, our open chat. I love this part of our week. Have you selected your favorite holiday collection - and purchased a few new treasures? What new products did you discover this week? Did you find any deals you couldn't resist? 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 early the next week, most (not all) readers will have moved on.
This week, my giveaway contest features a set of lip glosses I love: Benefit's Ultra Plush Lip Glosses. If you'd like to win, you have to enter. All you have to do is comment. The deadline is tomorrow, Saturday, October 27, at midnight.
Photo at top by Best Things in Beauty; Mito photo courtesy of LuckyScent
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31 comments:
Hi. I live in Philadelphia and like you we are getting ready for the storm. Hopefully, the weather people are just making a mountain out of a molehill and it won't be too bad.
Beauty wise, I just recieved my sample of Creed Fleurs de Gardenia. I fell in love with it and promptly ordered a bottle. I also got some items from the NarsSkin range. Its has some great products that feel really gentle on the skin and will be great when my skin is feeling irritated. I also used up my samples from Sunday Riley and liked those as well. Soo many products but only one face. what's a girl to do?
I'm still on a "shopper's high" after going to a large mall with a friend of mine yesterday. Since I don't have regular exposure to brands such as Chanel and Dior, it was pretty exciting. After playing with several Dior palettes with green in them, I actually found something I liked better in the Smashbox Photo Op for Hazel Eyes. It has a beautiful green and 5 other colors that are going to make my greenish eyes pop. I also passed on the Chanel lipgloss in "Tourblant" after the SA had a difficult time finding it. It's very pretty, but just didn't knock my socks off like I thought it would. You know what did knock my socks off? The Illamasqua nail polish in "Noble". WOW!! I'm so happy that this Sephora carried it.
I had never been to a MAC counter before so I picked up "Soba" because it looks like a good dupe for a drugstore warm brown that I need to replace. Forgot to hit the Burberry counter at Macy's....would have loved to have picked up "Pale Barley" eyeshadow. I thought this trip would satisfy all of my beauty lustings, but I'm afraid I want to go back and get more stuff!
Thank you, Charlestongirl, for doing so many reviews that have truly opened my eyes to the "Best Things in Beauty"
Dear C-girl, I cannot WAIT to try Mito. Vero Kern is a genius, she really is. She does the most unusual, beautiful and remarkable things with fragrances.
I was surprised to read about the new Edward Bess fragrance. The bottle is interesting....difficult to get an idea of the scent based on the write-up, but the price is OUTRAGEOUS! The name is ridiculous as well. However, I noticed it's already on back order so it's doing well so far!
Good morning, everyone. The Santa Ana winds are blowing like crazy here in La La Land ths morning and will continue throughout the day. That means hot, dry, dry, dry weather until they stop. Oh! And did I mention it would be dry? It's these very self-same winds that bring the lunatic fringe out in droves to wreck mayhem and mischief throughout the Southland. This is a good day to stay in and keep hydrated, but I have a million errands to run. I guess I'll just bathe in a vat of Aquaphor before I venture out. LOL
All you Edward Bess fans, I finially saw the promos for Edward Bess' new offerings. There is the Baby Pink Lip Palette which has eight shades of light to medium pink in it and then--Oh, be still my beating heart!--three Prismette eyeshadow palettes (quads). They look stunning! Positively stunning! So elegant, so chic, so refined, so Edward Bess :-) The shadow finishes are described as satin-matte and soft pearl which is perfectly in keeping with Edward's understated esthetic. I can hardly wait to see these beauties in person. They are neutrals with undertones that amp up their appeal and set them apart from each other as well as all the other neutral palettes we've been seeing. The palette names are Cosmic, Over the Moon, and Sun and Stars. I have the feeling all three of these beauties will be taking up residence chez moi :-)
Hi Lovethescents,
I was also a bit put off by the name Eau La La. It does seem rather juvenile, doesn't it? I call it "The Sephora Effect" :-P But, I'm keeping an open mind and am looking forward to sampling the fragrance the next time I visit his counter. Hopefully, I'll be pleasantly surprised. It's certainly generated a lot of buzz.
This week I saw a promo picture on an Asian blog for part of Guerlain's Spring 2013 collection. I was flabbergasted! Spring 2013? But, it's still October! I've noticed that this year, more than in the past, many retailers are rushing us through the holidays. Halloween has completely vanished from their shelves, Thanksgivng has already been pushed to the back, and Christmas and Hanukah are taking up prominent display space. So, I guess it's not too outlandish that Guerlain has made available a picture of their Spring collection which is scheduled for release in January. It's just rushing it entirely too much for my taste. I know that for some bloggers, the end all be all is being the first with info about a new collection, but this just seemed to be pushing it. Personally, I like to enjoy the daily changes that the passing of the seasons brings and to savour the parade of holidays that begins with the autumnal equinox. I am content to wait a bit for spring to come :-)
Enjoy your dinner out, Charlestongirl. I love to try new places. My husband? Not so much; so I usually meet friends or my sons when I want to try something new. If its good, then I bring my husband along the next time. We eat out a lot, but the man has absolutely zero interest in food other than to satisfy hunger. In fact, sometimes when I watch him eat, he almost looks like he's in pain. I asked him about it many years ago because I was concerned that his teeth or jaw was troubling him but he assured me that was not the case. Oh well . . .
Have a wonderful weekend everyone. And, to all of you in the projected hurricane path, I hope it turns out to be much ado about nothing.
I was looking at one of the new CHANEL #5 ads with Brad Pitt when it hit me: Brad Pitt looks just like the Cowardly Lion in the original Wizard of Oz! That's one of the things that makes those new ads so ridiculous. Still enjoying my NEST fragrances. No plans to return to my previous favorite, CHANEL. Still loving my Guerlain Ecrin 4 Couleurs in Turandot. And my Lou Ling lipstick! Finally, and additionally, for another belly laugh (along with Brad Pitt in those ads), try watching Romney's face as he stands next to Meat Loaf butchering America the Beautiful.
Hi Anahita!
Yes, you are also in the potential bullseye zone. What I believe we inland folks will get is a LOT of wind and rain. I'm sure that power will go out everywhere. That will be the non-fun part. I hope there are no deaths.
If the NARsSkin is good for you, why not stick with it. Isn't the Sunday Riley more costly?
Wow, grlnxdor, you had quite a day of shopping! Hopefully, you use BTiB on your cell phone as a color guide. :)
Hi Lovethescents,
Eau La La holds no appeal to me. I read the notes and thought "eh." I can save some money.
The Vero, on the other hand, was a must-have. I wore it today and hope my colleagues enjoyed the fragrance.
Hi Eileen,
I adore Aquaphor. Wouldn't want to go without it - ever.
Weird, but the Edward Bess colors didn't make me swoon. I am sure I will buy something, but I'm on the fence. I sure don't need makeup. :)
Turns out this place my friend picked is called World of Beer. I can drink my meal if necessary.
Hi Nemo, you left me chuckling. I'll have more to say about Brad on Sunday.
Eileen,
How could your husband not enjoy a fine meal?
Hi Charlstongirl,
Isn't it crazy? My husband eats three healthy meals a day, but he simply isn't interested in what he is eating. My oldest son is exactly the same way. Food is fuel, nothing more; nothing less. My youngest son, on the other hand, is quite a gourmet chef! He can whip up some really excellent dishes and loves to cook.
Keep those flashlights handy and hopefully the storm will pass with minimal damage.
And just as I finished my Cowardly Lion comment, lo and behold, here comes the mail and my NM Book with a BIG, HUGE CHANEL #5 ad featuring a BIG, HUGE Brad Pitt photo. After that, I am more sure than ever in my Over the Rainbow comparison!
Hi Eileen,
Unbelievable! I don't know anyone who doesn't love some kind of food.
I hope the power stays on for my Mom. I'll survive.
Hi Nemo,
Can you believe NM doesn't send me that book? I have to go over and ask for one!
Sit back and enjoy NEST. Or discover another new fragrance. Maybe Guerlian?
All of you East Coasters please be safe!!!
That rose is just gorgeous! I hope it will last through your Frankenstorm. =(
CG girl, just had to tell you that I bought that Clarins fig lipstick you featured and absolutely LOVE it! I also saw those GA eyeshadow palettes that you featured earlier this month and just about DIED!!!! I have to admit when I saw them on your blog I shrugged and thought, "yeah they look ok"...but after swatching/playing with them...I decided to "adopt" 3 of them and will probably be a "foster mom" to 2 more before the month is through. Those puppies were drop dead gorgeous!!!
grlnxdor - Your Macy's sells Burberry??? Lucky duck!!!!!
Eileen - I wish I had your husband's "problem" of just using food as fuel and nothing more. For me it's all about reward, indulgence, bribery, treat...need I go on? LOL!!
Have a great weekend everybody!!!
We had a gorgeous late fall day with temps in the 70s. Tomorrow, it will be cold, rainy and dull. I bought a Lancôme Artliner in Aubergine. It's probably the easiest liquid liner I've used. My mother needed some makeup updates and I bought her Clarins Super Restorative foundation in Soft Ivory, Arden's Breathless lipstick and rosewood lip liner. I am searching for a new blush for her since Clarins powder blushes are all shimmer. Shimmer and 87 don't mix. Stay dry all in the East.
Hi Soni!
Welcome to the club. Those Armani shadows are all superb - and Fig? Perfect!
Hi Maureen,
There are so many matte blushes. I'm sure you can find her a nice one. Aren't you sweet to shop for your mother? :)
Hey everyone!
I hate when a nice restaurant disappears and crap pops up in its place. Oh well. I'm also tired of the election season. My Facebook feed is awash in nastiness, I feel like telling people to calm down! Saying nasty things about either candidate is a waste of time, how about talking about their policies in a calm, rational manner. That gets your point across much better. A friend of mine decided to start a grassroots fundraiser for the President. I thought to myself, he (and Romney) has so many millions upon millions to spend on this campaign, her $200 raised would be better spent given to a charity, a local soup kitchen, a local family that's struggling, etc. I understand the need to get the word out but the amounts of money spent are shameful when there are so many Americans struggling - how about redistributing the candidates' election funds to people who are about to lose their homes? How about reducing student loans too?
It's been a quiet week. I just received part of my order from Neiman Marcus. I picked up one of Laura Mercier's new lipsticks in Haute Red which on me looks like a classic neutral red. I also got some lovely samples of Natura Bisse's Diamond White luxury cleanse & Omorovicza's firming serum. Hey the samples were as exciting as the lipstick! I also ordered a new lipstick from Tom Ford supposedly from a small collection associated with Jasmin Rouge perfume? Well, I saw it, I liked the idea and about it. Let's see what it's like.
I wore out my new Armani palette in #2 that Charlestongirl's wonderful review made me buy. It looks gorgeous on, an interplay of light and shadow that makes me feel like a model in an Armani ad. lol It's fantastic to wear to work. I wish it didn't come with all that extra plastic but I can live with it.
This weekend I suppose I should batten down the hatches here in NYC and hope we're not swept away in the rain. oh joy!
Let's all have a great & safe weekend!
I hope that the storm weakens and spares your area. I grew up in the Caribbean, so I know how destructive and disruptive hurricanes can be.
I don't live in a battleground state, thank goodness. I don't think I could handle national ads on top of this year's highly contested governor's race and ballot measures.
I just received an order with my first Meteorites Perles. I couldn't resist anymore after seeing your wonderful review of the Perles du Dragon. I managed my expectations, since I haven't had much luck with any sort of finishing or highlighting powders. I was amazed at the results over my Chanel foundation, and ended up trying them over other foundations (Guerlain, Benefit, Armani Maestro, and Missha BB Cream). I saw a marked improvement to my complexion over all of them. I am now a believer, and frankly, kind of afraid that I'll develop an addiction!
Hi Marta,
As a bonafide Météorite addict, let me welcome you to the club:-) I'm thrilled you are happy with Perles du Dragon and hopefully there will be some other LE's in your future. I've been collecting them for years and can't imagine using anything else to give that coveted soft focus glow. Lightly brushed over face, neck, and décolletté, they create a satin smooth airbrushed finish that is like no other. A tin of pearls will last well over a year, but Guerlain has been having so much fun coming out with different color variations as part of their seasonal offerings, I find it impossible to resist a new edition :-)
Like the rest of the east coast, I'm keeping an eye on the "Frankenstorm." The temps here have been hovering around 80, but by Tuesday we are supposed to get snow. I hope the storm moves off shore, and the east coast is spared.
It's been an exciting week for me beauty wise. Exactly no one will be surprised to learn that I received pieces from Chanel's Holiday collection and love them!
First of all, I really, really, really was going to pass on the Harmonie Du Soir quad. Silly me. Peter Phillips creates magic. Don't I know this by now? I ordered mine from Georgia at Saks Chevy Chase and it arrived Wednesday. I was too busy to play on Thursday, but yesterday was my son's birthday, and I had the pleasure of taking him to lunch. A mom has to look good for an outing with her son, you know! Without knowing how others were using the colors, I used the pink under my brow and in the inner corner. I applied a wash of the taupe across my lid and then blended in the cranberry color at my crease. At the last minute, I took a tiny bit of the gold and put it over the taupe directly over my iris. (My eyes are hazel, but lean brown. This quad brought out the green). Wow! The result was nothing short of elegant. What others are saying about the quality of the pigment and the texture can't be overstated. I'll be wearing these colors throughout the rest of autumn and through the winter. Eileen, if you're reading this, I believe you bought this quad too. How are you using the colors on your green eyes?
I also got Malice nail polish which is a stunning dark red metallic. I'm thinking of picking up a few of these and giving them to my gal pals as Christmas gifts.
Now, some of you may remember the Angel/Devil debate that I suffered greatly with (LOL) over Star Dust. Yes, the Devil won and boy is the Angel glad he did! It's not as glittery as I feared and is the prettiest shade of soft pink. The Angel picked up her blush brush and waved a teeny amount over the tops of her cheeks and felt...ethereal.
My last purchase this week was from the Fall collection. I adore Chanel's Rouge Double Intensite lip color, so don't know how I missed the new Almandine. It's a deep purplish-red just like the Almadine gemstone that's part of the garnet family.
I took my son to a Japanese steakhouse where we enjoyed a dazzling hibachi meal. There's no doubt in my mind that the chef flipped me an extra shrimp or two. And it was all because of my gorgeous Chanel makeup. ;)
Hi Rosemary,
I have been really pleased with Harmonie du Soir. First, let me describe my eyes a bit because then what I do will make more sense. I have deep set eyes with a large movable lid and a large browbone area. Consequently, I love to use palettes to create gradations of color and ombré effects. With Harmonie, I use the pale pink as a base color on lid and browbone. I apply the taupe just above the crease (in the crease is a no-no for deep set eyes) and the cranberry just above the taupe. I then carefully blend taupe into cranberry into pink to create a gradation of color. I use Chanel's waterproof Crayon Yeux in Cassis smudged with a bit of the cranberry along my upper lashes and about half way along my lower lashes. Cassis looks very pretty with the pink and cranberry shades and it is dark enough to be a good alternative to black. I use the gold wherever I decide I want a highlight like on the lid above the iris. As you can see, I rely more on the pink/cranberry shades for the color statement, the taupe for contouring, and the gold for highlighting.
Let's hear it for the Devils! Isn't Star Dust just to die for? I love the warm, delicate pink with its soft, yet visible, shimmer. It's a beautiful interpretation of winter sparkle without being over-the-top or looking garish even in daylight. I'm so glad your Angel lost out on that one--and it sounds like your Angel is, too!
Yes, indeed. I have no doubt that seeing you in your new Chanel was worth an extra shrimp or two ;-) LOL
Hi Marta!
All the Météorite addicts (as Eileen said) can't be wrong. Those little balls work magic.
Hi Evelyn,
The extent of the nonsense on Facebook is amazing. Here is what one of my friends posted...
Political debates and opinions expressed should never include insults and personal attacks! Interestingly, I've noticed more personal attacks and insults made by Christian Republicans. In fact, just the other day, someone told me that my political views made me "less intelligent" than she thought I was. It's that exact mindset that causes me to lose respect for them. Sadly, most of them believe their self-righteous views permit them to disrespect the opposing views of others. Furthermore, my intelligence is not and will not EVER be defined by these individuals or undermined by them!
I was blown away that someone could say that to him!
I got a sample of the Diamond White. Must try it! I think it's kicking around in my handbag.
The Armani palettes are amazing. I had to buy another #3. Just in case it ever goes away (although that will take time). I purchased during the 15% sale Armani had online recently.
Batten down the hatches!
Hi Rosemary!
I never thought about dazzling a chef with Chanel! Very cool. I love shrimp. :)
Glad the devil won! Star Dust is a must-have. Now I can't wait to get my hands on all the Black Friday pieces. The thought of three new quads has my heart fluttering.
I was disappointed that the liquid liner in the holiday collection was discontinued before it was released. I was wondering if it ran afoul of some ingredient banned by the FDA.
Hope you are far enough inland to keep your power!
Hey Eileen,
Can you even believe that the "experts" tell us to avoid shimmer?
LOL, CG and Eileen. Must have those extra shrimp!
Eileen, I was fascinated by the way you do your eyes. Thank you for sharing that look. I'm sure it's lovely on you. I googled photos of Cassis. I like eyeliners that look black from a distance, but then one realizes they are a dark berry or blue or green. Very pretty.
CG, Chanel discontinued that Holiday black-red liner? I didn't know (not in the loop, yet). Isn't that odd? Maybe the color didn't turn out the way they hoped? I do wonder what happened. As for the power, we were not immune during the storm around the 4th of July. Think we lost power for two or three days. You had it worse, if I recall correctly. I did go out and buy an extra jar of Nutella. All set now. :)
I've been reading your blog for a couple of months now and loved your post on the Chantecaille Lip Chic in Amour. I picked it up at the Barney's in Dallas and am really happy with the color. Most of the brands you review aren't available where I live, but I really enjoy reading your blog because it gives me ideas for what to look for when I'm visiting bigger cities.
I'm so glad, Julia!
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