next up on my fall already-have list is my cooler weather fragrance wardrobe, with one great new addition. over the summer, i love to use light fragrances, most specifically coconut, as you might remember. but as cooler temps prevail, i prefer something a little heavier, with musky and spicy flavors. throw in a dash of sweetness and i'm happy.
some of my favorite fall and winter standbys are straight patchouli oil, which i get at jean tourmo in woodstock, valentino, which i wore on my wedding day, and bulgari notte which i got on my honeymoon in the bahamas. in addition to loving the scents, i love the memories they evoke for me and the way they transport me in time for just a split second, as only true sensory experiences can.
my favorite new cool weather fragrance is neroli from l'occitane. over the summer, i wandered in there and was very pleasantly reminded of the loveliness of that store - delicate, feminine and of course, tres provencale.
i also fell in love with one of their rose scents (they have two - the one i loved was the nuit de mai) but i figured when i need a new spring fragrance, i could explore that one. but i digress....neroli is an oil used in many, many fragrances, and is often compared to bergamot, and in this perfume is also mixed with orange blossoms. the scent is deep and spicy and sweet.
to be sure, i purchased a gift set which was on sale for $20 - it's a very gold, very 90's looking "compass" purse atomizer with three small vials that slide right in. not only do i seriously adore the smell, but apparently, everyone adores it on me. you know when that happens, a scent just really works on you? i have never gotten so many compliments and have never enjoyed deeply inhaling more, with my nose to my wrist, my hair, my clothes...it gets everywhere and it lasts forever. LOVE.
i'm actually thinking about, later in the season maybe, experimenting with mixing the neroli and patchouli. the patchouli is SO strong - i love it, but people smell me from a few blocks away and it gets on everything - like, as in, baby gifts i give smell like patchouli. and kelly and cory's cat smelled like patchouli for a month after sitting on the same chair as my bag. yeah.
other items on the fall already-have list:
darkness falls
all wrapped up
originally posted 9/16/09
bulgari notte photo from http://www.mega-shops.com/; neroli photo from http://www.loccitane.com/; valentino photo from http://www.fragrancescompared.co.uk/
mazel to all the winners of in style's annual best beauty buys...it's always fun to look around and troll for new ideas, and of course congratulate yourself on all the products you already know about and love. on that note:
i'm a recent convert to the dove beauty bar...i use the one for sensitive skin.
and although i can't vouch for these, i personally know people who swear by them.
the widely agreed upon best eyelash curler anywhere: 
and here are some i definitely want to try:
how amazing does this seem?
i might have to get a bottle of this and tote it around with me:
i'll try any variation on this old classic...so nature fusion it is!
and given my love for all things aveeno, i'm curious about this too.
the BEST coral? i'll have to be the judge of that...i am intrigued by their description of the color, i will say.
and here are the things that were robbed, in my humble opinion:
revlon colorburst lipstick, specifically in lilac, soft rose and blush, a perfect shade a tiny bit darker than natural lip color.
and you know how i feel about these:
were any of your favorites chosen? are there any you think are missing?
all photos from linked sites
while we're on the subject of mani/pedis (and when are we not?), what are your thoughts about opi's hong kong collection for spring? thanks to vampy varnish, i have some on-the-nail pics to show you.
i've seen good things written about both the pinky shades - panda-monium pink and lucky lucky lavender...
and i've heard great user-reviews of meet me on the star ferry and chop-sticking to my story (which looks way different on the nail than in the bottle - below, it's second and above, it's bottom row, third from right...what's up with that?).
i love the way a good man-darin is hard to find looks, as well as dim sum plum and red my fortune cookie - perfect, creamy, opaque brights...they remind me of tropical punch, one of my favorites last summer.
though it's not a color i'd normally try, i'm kind of interested in bling dynasty, mainly because of how it looks on the nail. there's something sort of cleopatra-meets-ming that i sort of love.
but i don't feel that way about pearl of wisdom which just seems so sheer and boring. though maybe for summer, it would be a low-maintenance way to add a little glam...
what are your thoughts?
as you know, a tiny treasure is a little luxury (under $5) that can have a profoundly positive impact on your home, your life or your day. so often, scents are an example of that for me, and i know for many of you. i guess it's not surprising since it's often said that the olfactory sense is the strongest in regard to memory and feelings. so when i rediscovered dried eucalyptus a few weeks ago, i knew i had to make it a tiny treasure.
the really nice thing about dried eucalyptus is that it's very easy to find, and very inexpensive. many grocery stores carry it, as well as many of the corner delis here in nyc that have flowers. if neither of those options work, michael's and other craft stores always have it, in a few different colors too. you can usually just follow your nose when you enter the store to find the right aisle. and i don't think i have ever seen a bunch for over $4.
am i the last person on the planet to become aware of the "lazy spoon?" i saw rachael ray using them on her show and thought they were very cool, and probably a good solution to a consistently dirty spoonrest (or stovetop when the spoonrest isn't handy).
if wood is more your thing, a company called jonathan's spoons makes an assortment of wood varieties.
yesterday, the lookbook for a new, very colorful target collection was released. in the now extensive line of designer collaborations target has undertaken, their work with liberty of london has been one of the most hotly anticipated.
liberty of london is a 134 year-old british company known for its florals and patterns, and recently featured in lines with kate moss for top shop, theory and sienna miller's twenty8twelve. home accents today says it well when they say that liberty has, over the years, become a "destination emporium for eclectic renderings of contemporary and traditional designs in fabrics, homegoods, furniture, accessories, gifts and apparel." amen to that.
the liberty and target line, in stores march 14th, will include tabletop, garden, home decor and furnishings, organization and mens' and womens' fashion. liberty will choose some of their favorite items to sell in their own stores as well.
the pieces in the collection are priced very fairly, in my opinion. from the information i've gathered (so far), the range is from $7 (gardening gloves) to $15 and $20 (ceramic canisters) to the highest priced item at $200 (the bike).
wouldn't it be a cute gift to give someone this pair of garden gloves and some seeds or bulbs, or something like this? such a cheerful way to welcome in the spring in color and style. 
my favorite items are the black and white ones. oh, and the ones in the pink, purple and orange color scheme, especially the bedding. so pretty! i think we definitely need a couple of these floral pillows for our bed, which is dressed in the finnia hothouse bedding from anthro, shown here. would look great, don't you think?
i also really love the canisters and the teapot. and the organization boxes - so cute in an office! and rumor has it, there will be birdhouses too, which is really exciting. hopefully they'll work out better than my birdhouse last year. okay, i guess i like a lot of the collection.
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