Eeyore in Gris Clair

This morning, I was all, 'Hey, Everybody, Happy November 1st!'  

My usual, annoyingly peppy morning self. 

But tonight, I've become Eeyore and I can't really figure out why.  Well, there are things; work things, family things, indecision, irritation, too many snacks, wardrobe disgust, bad shoes...you know, stuff.

Low grade, work-your-last-nerve stuff.

Scent of the Day is Serge Luten's Gris Clair.  Today, I wore the color lavender and, because I forgot to choose perfume before my shower - and apparently there was no further creativity - I wore a lavender perfume.  

Whatever.  It was fine.  Who cares.  Ho Hum.

Eeyore is lavender.  Jeez.

I can't help but wonder, at a time like this, what 
would Pooh do?

Picture from photobucket.com

Jean Paul Gaultier Classique - My Guilty Pleasure

I love this perfume, even though I'm a little embarrassed to say so. 

How to describe JPG Classique?  It's floral, musky, synthetic and sweet. 

Imagine Poeme's slutty little sister.  

Clearly, this is outside of my 'type,' but I just can't help myself.  Wearing this perfume, I want to swing my ass walking, show more cleavage, wear red lipstick and cross my legs in a short skirt.

JPG Classique asks everyone within range, 'you want some of this?'

After multiple samplings, I run across JPG in Costco last weekend as part of the new holiday perfume display. 

I get that 'twirly' feeling in my stomach.

But before I can build up any circular momentum, Inner Critic steps in to say, 'what the hell are you thinking?'  'You just ordered four perfumes and bought the vintage perfumes within the same month.'  

'Put it down and walk away.'

So I put it down, then pick it up, then put it down and pick it up again.  B-man is watching.

Finally, I put it down for good and walk over to the cart.  B-man says, 'is that a perfume you want?'  

I say, 'yeah, but I'm going to wait - if it's here next time we come, I'll buy it then.'  

He looks me in the eye and says, 'if this is a perfume you like, and you don't buy it now because you're cheaping out, that's really going to piss me off.'

Ooh...the thought of pissing off B-man is kind of a turn on, but I buy the perfume instead, vowing to twirl properly as soon as we get home.

The tin can and the bottle itself is divinely kitsch. 

You just know those boobs are implants.

What is your guilty pleasure perfume?

Picture from fragrantica.com

Halloween and Aliens

Over the years, I have developed a method of measuring life's absurdities by asking a simple question: 

What would aliens think? 

Many activities have been put through this test, including amusement parks, Olympic curling and Halloween.

Perhaps UFO encounters are less about an invasion and more about aliens bringing their friends to watch and ask each other, WTF?

Regarding Halloween, I am clearly in the Alien Camp.

Even if they do have big heads.

As far as I can tell, this holiday is the culmination of ancient Celtic beliefs and practices that just got weirder over time.

And trick-or-treating?  That should be outlawed, not only because it's dangerous, but because it's so annoying. 

B-man - affable dude that he is - actually kind of enjoys trick-or-treaters.  Once, several years ago, a crowd of kids gathered on the porch, ready to ring the doorbell.  B-man was ready for them and opened the door quickly as a way of being fun-scary, which terrified a four-year-old, who ran back toward the sidewalk. 

'Yo scared me when yo did that!' she yelled back at him.

This will make you feel like an asshole quicker than just about anything.

At work, one of my departments is dressing up like cereal boxes and another like Cat In The Hat characters. 

A pre-emptive root canal comes to mind as an alternative. 

I don't dress up for Halloween - it makes me feel stupid.  It made me feel stupid as a kid.  If not for my big sister, I may have skipped the trick-or-treating ordeal altogether.  Thanks to her, at least I got the candy. 

Do you love Halloween?  A lot of people do.  I totally get it.

That's a lie.

Okay, I understand it.

Wow, not true either.

How about, I tolerate Halloween the best I can and spend the day - and night - wondering, WTF?

Yup, that's it.

And my head's not even that big.

 Picture from ktcatspost.blogspot.com

Ode to Aoud Queen Rose by Montale

Ace Bandage with Bug Spray

Spilled Ink on a Desk Pad

Rubber Sole Shoe

Tahini

New House Construction

Pressed Rose

Fresh White Paint

 photo from fragrantica.com

Apocalypse Now

Recently, a fellow perfume blogger, Rose, questioned whether we might begin to see more cocktails that are modeled on perfumes.

Actually, I want a perfume that smells like this cocktail:  

The Apocalypse

If you have not yet had the pleasure of drinking one - or you have never heard of it - wait for a day that something special has happened.  

Then treat yourself to this delightful after dinner drink:

1 ounce peppermint schnapps

3/4 ounce Kahlua

1/2 ounce bourbon

1/2 ounce vodka

Combine all of the ingredients in a shaker half-filled with ice.  Shake well.  Strain into a cocktail glass.

Now, tell me you don't want that in an eau de parfum.  

Picture from elfinamsterdam.com

Found By Vintage

Vintage perfume has always freaked me out.

What if I can't find it?

What if I find it, but the juice has turned?

What if I find it, and love it, but can never find it again?

Well, remember my day at the farm with Dad?  After gathering all sorts of smellie treasures there, we went to an antique store in town that carries a specialty line of soap made from goat's milk and shea butter.  

Dad knew that I would appreciate the variety of aromas in the form of bar soap, lotions, shower gel and balms.

While I was lost in soap sniffing, Dad was doing his own wandering through this maze of a store, and we met periodically to assure each other that we were about ready to go.  Still, we kept meandering.

Then, it found me.

Vintage Wardrobe de Corday Collection

 Bourjois Evening in Paris cologne stick, perfume and cologne

After a quick sniff, it was clear that the Corday perfumes were in great shape.  Evening in Paris had never been opened, so I bought it unsniffed and sealed, fascinated by the packaging and the cologne stick inside.

Playing it all cool - like it didn't matter to me one way or the other - I negotiated a great price for buying both.

It was all I could do to keep from twirling.

We're looking forward to going again.

Me and Dad sharing a chat Saturday night on the deck

Picture at top from vintageperfume.com
Other photos my own

Perfumista Crisis

Do you ever doubt your legitimacy as a perfumista?

Sometimes, I begin cruising through the many blogs I follow and think, 'oh, my god, if I have to read one more perfume review, I will scream!'

Inner Critic shakes his head in disappointment.

Between mainstream and niche offerings, how is anyone supposed to take it all in without feeling completely overwhelmed?  And what if, in filtering my choices, I miss the One Perfume that could change my life?

Because we all know that the right perfume can change your life.

The truth is, I don't explore anything with the detail that some analyze perfume.  Being a Big Picture kind of girl, I prefer to think about ideas and connections as they relate to systems and people.  

Do I notice minute details?  Hardly ever.  Physical surroundings?  Not so much.

I can prove it.

Our hospital remodeled the lobby last year and made the information desk look like a ship to match the water themed mural.  

Everything was re-arranged and the huge, new desk was custom built to fit a huge, new space.  Bear in mind that I walk through the lobby every time I enter and exit 
the hospital.

One day, a colleague asked what I thought of the new information desk and I lied and said it looked great because I was too embarrassed to say I Hadn't 
Noticed It.

Upon hearing this story, B-man simply said, 'wow.'

So how the hell am I supposed to take in dozens of detailed reviews about new perfumes every day?  And if I don't - or don't want to - am I still a perfumista?

It's making me a little crazy.

Picture from blog.jammuredefine.in