My skin is no longer thirsty

Uncategorized January 18, 2011 Comments: 2

I rarely talk about cosmetic products as most usually don’t make me feel enthusiastic about them.
But when I find something that instantly relieved my dry, itchy skin, I had to share it and I have to order some more soon.

That Etsy site is a wonderful mix of every little thing you can imagine and some absolutely wondrous things can be found there if you are lucky to stumble upon them.

I ordered some soaps and a body butter lotion from this shop – Sunbasilgarden. I haven’t tried the soap yet but I did try the Oatmeal Milk and Honey Body Butter Lotion which smells great (and light) and feels absolutely wonderful on skin. It instantly gets into the skin and relieves any itching caused by dry skin. It’s really incredible and I’m always looking forward to applying it as now I know what I can expect and it feels like my skin is happy in advance knowing what’s to come .
I also find its texture great because it looks and feels whipped and makes such a sound when you scoop it out of the jar.

I have to check and see if all other lotions are made from the same ingredients so I can try them in other variants (but I’m guessing they are).

Pic by: sunbasilgarden shop on Etsy

Thinking about perfume

I've been thinking, Perfume thoughts January 16, 2011 Comments: 22
That’s what’s been on my mind lately. Perfume thoughts of all kind.
The fact that your traveling friends can bring wonders from around the world without you having any shipping costs. The fact that it still costs a pretty penny getting a bottle from Paris (because the same bottle costs a pretty penny).

Also, have you noticed how at all times if you take care to follow these things (and even if you don’t), there are numerous possibilities of acquiring perfume for less money than what’s in stores? For one, I always seem to stumble upon Carol’s Niche boutique sales (like the blizzard one yesterday). So close after my Paris bottles is really not something I though I’d be doing, but I just couldn’t skip it. And besides, I’ve been happy about it ever since.

One thing I learned about scents is, the more you let go, the more happiness they bring. Josephine from Notes from Josephine had  a recent post about awfulness of January which I seem to be feeling as well. The only thing sure to make me smile is perfume (and pilates and zumba but they do not happen as often).
And then I came to a sudden realization after smelling one Roja Dove perfume and all the outlaws. The more you let go of your conscious mind in trying to register what you’re smelling, the more the universe of that perfume opens up to you.

First time I smelled the Roja Dove Unspoken, I now realize I was prejudiced by the swapper’s opinion (she said it wasn’t his best and didn’t really like it). Today, I wanted to smell anything, just to let my mind wander around it and I let go. And I stepped into the universe of Unspoken. I do realize that this cannot happen with every perfume one tries, some of them don’t even have a house to let you in, let alone a universe. But Unspoken does. And all of the Outlaws do. It might not be the universe the appeals to you but it’s still a universe.

Now I’ve written this, it feels like I might be exaggerating. But when I say a universe, I mean a world of its own, and universe just sound better (and looks better in my opionion). 🙂

I do want to talk about perfumes I’ve been smelling (and the rest of Outlaws) but for some reason, I can’t. I can talk about perfume generally but each time I sit down to write a review, it doesn’t feel right.
I know it will soon but at the moment I seem to be enjoying perfumes privately.

Pics by: http://www.apod.nasa.gov/ and grand_universe_by_antifan_real

The Outlaws, part 1

World of Perfume January 14, 2011 Comments: 10

I am so happy Carol organized sample packages for all of us who didn’t participate in the Outlaw Perfume Project but still wanted to try the perfumes that got so many great reviews.

I spent a lot of time in the last 10 days or so since the package arrived smelling them over and over again and trying to gather notes that would do them justice.
I plan on writing about each of them and because I can’t talk about them all in one post, I’ll do several but in no way does appearing in the first means I think those are the best. Actually, I can’t really say which one I find the best. I would like to own several of them, and some are extremely interesting but at the same time, not something I like to wear. I usually don’t spend so much time sniffing perfumes before deciding to write about them, but these I feel I could smell over and over again and each time discover a new facet I didn’t smell before.

Wing and a Prayer: Notoriety

Notes:Oakmoss,Amber,Rose,Wild Rose,Lavender, Violet Leaf,Carnation absolute,Geranium,Bergamot and Rosewood

This was the first sample I took out of the bag. It was instant love. It’s piquant, green, earthy and well, slightly meaty for only a short while in the beginning (missable really). It has a nose-clearing sharpness of geranium, lavender and rosewood while at the same time it smells tame. Then it gets a rainy, metallic quality and gets very dark, my thoughts were that I’m finally getting what the oakmoss should be like. The original rose (the way I learned it smells here) is there as well, amid some light woodiness, like it’s a bush, not an actual tree.
It really escapes me for words, it’s a bitter rose smelling slightly patchoulish (there is no patchouli in the notes). It’s really another shapeshifter, in the end, I think it smells refreshingly cute and sweeter than before.

Tabela: Rose of Cimarron

Notes: pink pepper, black pepper, pandanus, rose absolute, wild rose absolute, jasmine absolute, labdanum, patchouli, angelica root, ambrette seed, blond tobacco and amyris

I got to smell this directly after Notoriety so my initial thoughts were, wow, a sexy rose and completely different from Notoriety. It reminded me of jasmine I bought in an Indian shop, like there were sandalwood and cedar in there as well but I guess I could be mistaking those for a patchouli with something else. It has that dark, sultry feel to it. It does have that peppery sharpness which I love, but it’s also fuller somehow than Notoriety while at the same time more dry. They both drydown to a nice ambery, rose, light woody feel.

Providence Perfume Co: Gypsy
Top Notes: Galangal, Lavender, Lemon Petitgrain, Cardamom
Heart: Pink Lotus, Bulgarian Lavender Absolute, Violet Leaf
Base Notes: Tonka, Oakmoss, Vetiver, Patchouli, Costus, Vanilla

I find it a bit difficult to talk about these perfumes as I often can’t describe the half of what I smell. For me, this starts peppery, green and strange. I love how I classify perfumes as strange, like that means the same to everyone. 🙂  Anaway, on my second go, I was completely sure I smelled cinammon but as you can see from the notes, it’s not there. My conclusion is that cardamom and petitgrain made me think that.
Then it gets sweet and resiny with something green like herb peeking through. It’s at the same time cool and hinting of sunshine.
I like it very much and my word for describing this is charming – spicily sweet (cardamom is in there) and slightly floral. Charming really.

Pic of rose by: http://www.tambela.com/

Rachel Vincent: Stray

World of Books January 10, 2011 Comments: 2

So, I finally read Stray (I’ve been hearing about that book for years it seems, long enough for the Shifters series to reach 6 books) and that was my first read this year. I like the way my year has started (reading-wise I might add).

Anyway, I had some problems with the main character Faythe who went to university in order to get away from her cat pride (we’re talking werecats here) and not be under constant surveillance (although her father would never let her do that if she weren’t actually being kept an eye on by his underlings, he’s the Alpha).
So, without going too much into the story, Faythe needs to return home due to some problems regarding tabbies disappearing (females of the pride) and Faythe is in danger.
Of course, and this is what I’m having a bit of a problem with is, no one takes her word seriously or trusts her, which she basically brought upon herself during her late teenage years but this attitude she  still somehow manages to display in the beginning of the novel, even though she thinks of herself as more mature than when she left and completely right in her opinions. Somehow, Faythe growing up and maturing in a matter of 3 days is a bit of a stretch for me but I guess she just needed to have her eyes opened by her family and pride.
She is at the same time strong, smart, capable and aware of others’ weaknesses and strenghts but still so very stubborn and wrong.

In the end, she is very likeable and I’m looking forward to reading the next books in the series.
Especially since I can’t wait to see what happens with Andrew. 😉

Pic by: http://rachelvincent.com/shifters.htm

Surprising myself

World of Perfume January 8, 2011 Comments: 25

I love surprises. So I don’t mind when I manage to surprise myself. 🙂

I know I love white flowers, especially tuberose and orange blossoms. What I wasn’t aware of is that I obviously adore tuberose as it seems I have quite many perfumes featuring that note. I wouldn’t even be aware of that if I weren’t preparing a tuberose package for a fellow blogger and stuff seemed to pop out of everywhere. Which also means I’m walking around in a tuberose cloud (making me feel happy and smiling) and as some of the tuberoses I handled are only in sample sizes, I’m considering which one I need in a bigger size (probably bottle). 🙂

And I have it! I knew the instant I smelled it, it was the first tuberose I plan on buying once I recover from my recent splurge. *

Histoires de Parfums – Tubereuse Animale! When I received their sample package some months ago, the 3 tuberoses were in it but at that time I didn’t talk about them because they were discussed on many blogs previous to that. I do plan on doing reviews on them, esepcially because I think all 3 are really good but Animale is in my opinion perfect for me.

So, basic line is, I’m a tuberose freak and I’m proud of it. Not to mention I’ll be smelling it all day long as decanting can be a messy business and I have some all over my clothes. 😀

* I have the best of friends. 🙂 My friend Branka was in Paris for only a few days and I’m incredibly grateful that she found the time to look for the bottles I wanted and now am the proud owner of – SL Boxeuses and Shalimar Ode a la Vanille.

Pic by: http://www.easytogrowbulbs.com

Stephanie Laurens: The Reckless Bride (Black Cobra Quartet)

World of Books January 6, 2011 Comments: 2

With this book ends the Black Cobra Quartet.

Before I go on, I should warn you there are going to be some major spoilers ahead because I just cannot talk about the finish of this series without it. I really thought about that and I need to get that off my chest.

Anyway, we follow the path from India of the last of the 4 couriers and this one (unfortunately for him) had the original of the letter that is supposed to reach Wolverstone. I say unfortunately because his nickname is Reckless (as is his bride obviously 😉 ) and he now can’t do anything that would be reckless and jeopardize his mission so when asked by a nice old lady (travelling with her great niece) to act as their escort, he accepts as that will of course aid him in camouflaging his mission.
So they set off by European rivers to reach Rotterdam and the English shores. Here is where you know how the love story develops. Which is in S. Laurens’ vein very well done.

Here is where I get to spoilers. As the story progresses through the books, you get the idea that 3 brothers are behind the Black Cobra criminal organization. So, imagine my surprise  when along you find out that two of them are also having a love affair. I thought, oh well, I guess that’s appropriate these days to incorporate in a romance novel as a side story.
Until this book where, what I thought by the half of the book when realization hit is, I’m so stupid for not seeing this before. 🙂 The men employed by the cult never see who is running it, only the upper echelons know and there are like 5 of them. And the name of a cobra?! I really felt stupid for not realizing sooner that the third brother is actually a sister (and btw, they are all half-siblings, sharing only a father).
It seems that only the courageous gentlemen of S. Laurens’ novels are aware of the dangers the intelligent women posess, everybody else underestimates them enormously (me included obviously). 🙂

Basic line is, it’s a typical Laurens novel (romance, intrigue, crime story, thrills…) I enjoy immensely. 🙂

Pic by: www. stephanielaurens.com

Unclaimed Christmas present

Uncategorized January 3, 2011 Comments: 4

FragrantWitch9 can you please get in touch with me so I can send you Ambre Gris, some chocolate and Melem? 🙂

100 Books in a Year Reading Challenge 2011.

Reading challenge January 1, 2011 Comments: 20

Well, the title says it all. 🙂
I don’t think I’ll be able to reach it, but if I exceed 76 from last year, I’ll be satisfied. This one is again hosted by Book Chick City and here is the sign-up page if anyone is interested in participating.

Challenge Details

•Timeline: 01 Jan 2011 – 31 Dec 2011

•Rules – Read 100 or more books in 2011

•All books can crossover into other challenges you have on the go.

•Only print books and ebooks count (no audiobooks).

•You can join anytime between now and the later part of next year.

•You can also follow the progress others are making and chat about the VC books you read on twitter too – just use #100BooksInAYear

P.S. Turns out I read 77 books last year (I misnumbered 2 titles and ended up a book short). 🙂
Books in 2011:

1. Rachel Vincent: Stray
2. Linda Howard: Blood Bound
3. Lee Child: The Killing Floor
4. Steven Brust: Jhereg
5. Steven Brust: Yendi
6. Sean Slater: The Survivor
7. Steven Brust:: Teckla
8. Sabrina Jeffries: How to Woo a Reluctant Lady
9. Kristin Cashore: Graceling
10. Kresley Cole: Dreams of a Dark Warrior
11. Steven Brust: Taltos
12. Steven Brust: Athyra
13. Steven Brust: Phoenix
14. Steven Brust: Orca
15. Mary Balogh: A Secret Affair
16. Kelley Armstrong: The Gathering
17. Rachel Hawkins: Hex Hall
18. Lois McMaster Bujold: Shards of Honour
19. Lois McMaster Bujold: Barrayar
20. Lois McMaster Bujold: The Warrior’s Apprentice
21. Lois McMaster Bujold: The Mountains of Mourning
22. Lois McMaster Bujold: The Vor Game
23. Lois McMaster Bujold: Cetaganda
24. Lois McMaster Bujold: Labyrinth
25. Lois McMaster Bujold: The Borders of Infinity
26. Lois McMaster Bujold: Brothers in Arms
27. Lois McMaster Bujold: Mirror Dance
28. Lois McMaster Bujold: Memory
29. Rachel Hawkins: Demonglass
30. J.D Robb: Treachery in Death
31. Shelly Laurenston: Hunting season (The Gathering)
32. Mary Balogh: A Secret Affair
33. Lois McMaster Bujold: Komarr
34. William Shakespeare: A Midsummer Night’s Dream
35. Lois McMaster Bujold: A Civil Campaign
36. Lois McMaster Bujold: Winterfair Gifts
37. Lois McMaster Bujold: Diplomatic Immunity
38. Sabrina Jeffries: Forbidden Lord
39. James Rollins: The Devil colony
40. Charlaine Harris: Dead Reckoning
41. Sabrina Jeffries: The Dangerous Lord
42. Lee Child: Die Trying
43. J.K. Rowling: Harry Potter and The Philosopher’s Stone
44. J.K. Rowling: Harry Potter and The Chamber of Secrets
45. J.K. Rowling: Harry Potter and The Prisoner of Azkaban
46. J.K. Rowling: Harry Potter and The Goblet of Fire
47. J.K. Rowling: Harry Potter and The Order of Phoenix
48. J.K. Rowling: Harry Potter and The Half-blood Prince
49. J.K. Rowling: Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows
50. Stephanie Laurens: Four in Hand
51. Sabrina Jeffries: A Hellion in Her Bed
52. Stephanie Laurens: The Reasons for Marriage
53. James Rollins: The Skeleton Key (novella)
54. JD Robb: Indulgence in Death
55. Tess Gerritsen: The Silent Girl
56. Suzanne Enoch: Stolen Kisses
57.Stephanie Laurens: Rose in Bloom (a novella)
58. J.K. Rowling: Harry Potter and The Philosopher’s Stone
59. J.K. Rowling: Harry Potter and The Chamber of Secrets
60. J.K. Rowling: Harry Potter and The Prisoner of Azkaban
61. J.K. Rowling: Harry Potter and The Goblet of Fire
62. MJ Rose: In Session
63. J. Quinn: Just Like Heaven
64. Melissa Darnell: Crave
65. Nalini Singh: Lord of the Abyss
66. Kasey Michaels: A Midsummer Night’s Sin
67. Tom Knox: The Lost Goddess
68. J.K. Rowling: Harry Potter and The Order of Phoenix
69. John W. Dean: Worse than Watergate : The Secret Presidency of George W. Bush
70. Ines de la Fressange: Parisian Chic
71. Mark A. Noll, ed.: Religion and American Politics
72. J. Butler, G. Wacker; R. Balmer: Religion in American Life
73. Timothy J. Lynch : After Bush: The Case for Continuity in American Foreign Policy
74. Scott McLellan: What Happened: Inside the Bush White House and Washington’s Culture of Deception
75.  J.K. Rowling: Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
76. J.K. Rowling: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
77.  J.R.R. Tolkien: The Hobbit
78. STEPHEN MANSFIELD: The Faith Of George Bush
79. Deborah Harkness: A Discovery of Witches
80. John W. Dean: Broken Government
81. PC and Kristen Cast: Awakened (House of Night)

Reading challenges of 2010.

Reading challenge January 1, 2011 Comments: 2

Last year was the first one where I actually took stock of what and how much I read, all due to the fact that I participated in several reading challenges, as I will this year as well.

I honestly believed I’d read  a 100 books a year which proved to be wrong as I only got as far as 76. I probably could hit a bigger number next year if I could force myself not to abandon some books in the middle of reading them (as then, they never count, you need to start and finish the book in the same year if you want it to count in a challenge).
I don’t think I’ll hit 100 this year but I will give it my best. 🙂

As I have a pretty good idea of the books I read, I knew that participating in the Speculative fiction challenge wouldn’t be a problem and it wasn’t. I participated as obsessed and read more than the necessary 24 books. 🙂 So, I’ll repeat that this year as well.

The Thriller and Suspense challenge I almost finished, I only needed one more book but that’s not so bad.

There were some other challenges throughout the year that lasted a season (Hogwarts, Summer reading challenge and Summer Romance challenge) of which I only finished the Hogwarts one (how surprising). 😉
Which I will probably finish this year as well what with the final movie hitting the cinemas and being addicted to those books as well. 🙂

Anyway, I hope you all have a good year in reading and I wonder how will I do by the end of this one.