27 September 2015

Weekly Roundup of Interesting Links #5

OK, I don't have a lot of links for you today, and at least one is from a week prior to this one, but such is life, you know?  Hopefully you will still find something interesting here.

Frankly, I've been so busy with the Pope being here (in Philadelphia, not at our house, though how amazing/weird would that be?), I've probably missed some things, but here you go.

I love this purse from the Kate Spade show at the recent New York Fashion Week.  I am sure that a) I could never afford it, and b) would never carry it because it's not practical, but that would not matter because it is a TEAPOT!

I am not a fan of Apple products (I know, it's me and Bill Gates as the only members of that club), and this annoyed me in particular.

If you are someone who is trying to lose some weight, here is a helpful hint.  I love water, but frankly I slosh around as it is ...

Did you ever eat a ton of hummus or something like that, and then realize, "Oh crap, I have to go to a meeting/interview/whatever?"  Try one of these suggestions, and give yourself a break.

This article was one of my favorites in forever.  Just yesterday, I had some broccoli that was getting a teeny bit yellow on the top, and put it into a crockpot recipe.  The dish was yummy and we are both still alive and well.  :-)

Related to the food link above, are you guilty of discrimination against ugly produce?   I can remember my mother saying "Oh for God's sake, it's fine, just eat it!"  Apparently she was on to something ...

Have a good week, and eat well!

23 September 2015

Smell Ya Later

Perfume (which for the purposes of my discussion means actual perfume, cologne, eau de toilette, name it) is a polarizing thing.  Some people love it.  Some people hate it.  Some are allergic to strong scents, and some just don't want to have to put up with others' choices.

For the most part, I am one of those who like it.  It always seems like a treat to me.  Though of course, I've been overwhelmed by people who seem to wear the entire bottle at one time, or scents that I just don't like at all.

One library I worked in had a regular researcher who was a minister, who seemed to use an entire bottle of Calvin Klein's "Eternity" - and though it was just ridiculously overwhelming and way too much, we all agreed it was the perfectly named scent for a minister.  :-)

I like a lot of different perfumes, though some are "special occasion" and others are just fine for every day.  This is of course my own thing, since it's not like there are instructions in the box with the bottle stating when and where the scent should be worn ...

For the most part, samples are good for me, and usually what I can afford.  It takes me a long time to use a whole bottle - often I'm sick of it well before it's gone.   Anyway, here are some that are faves of mine.

Jil Sander No. 4 - I like this in the fall.  The scent just seems right then.

Clinique Aromatics Elixir - a little of this goes a LONG way, and it's considered kind of Old School now, but a light wafting of it in the fall is something I enjoy.
Chanel No. 5 - another Old School but classic.  This falls under the "special occasion" category for me.  I made this sample last for years ...

Yves Saint-Laurent Parisienne - In my brain, this is for the springtime.

Jo Malone perfumes - these seem to have something for everyone, all year round.  I've had several samples of different ones, and for the most part liked them.

But this is one of my all-time favorites - so much so that I treated myself to a [small] bottle!

This is Bulgari Au The Blanc (white tea).  What I love about it is that it is a scent that is *so* delicate, even you can hardly tell you have it on right after you spritzed yourself.  I remember reading somewhere that it has the kind of scent that makes others notice a pleasant scent without screaming that you are in the room.  It is the only actual bottle of perfume that I have ever bought for myself in a "regular" size, and have used the entire bottle!

I've come a long way with perfumes since regularly buying my mother a bottle of "Evening in Paris" at the drugstore as a kid ... :-)

What about you?  Do you like scent?  What are your faves?

19 September 2015

Retro Beauty - Don't Try This At Home

Or, maybe ever?


Admittedly, sometimes I'll look in the mirror and wish that my chin didn't have that little bit of sag.

But then I either think about cake or see something shiny, and forget all about it.

Have a good weekend!

12 September 2015

Retro Beauty - Home Salon

No interesting links this week.  Not because I didn't have them, but because I mistakenly deleted them.  Sigh.

Anyway.

Lately on Facebook, I've been following a page about mid-century fashion and beauty and it's both entertaining and nostalgic.  So I have decided to share some old-timey/retro/vintage/whatever-you-want-to-call-it images here, since I enjoy them so much.

This week, the perfect accessory for making a home shampoo and set feel like it was at the salon.


I remember that my sisters talked my mother into getting one of these when they were in their early teens.  Then, straight hair styles came into fashion, and my mother ended up being the one using it all the time.  Whenever she would wash her hair and use rollers, she would get under the home hair dryer.  She'd sit there and read and/or have a cigarette, and everyone thought it was just so modern.  I remember her trying it on me a few times, but I would end up with a red line around my head from where the elastic part of the bonnet was, and that red line would last a few days.

Blow dryers didn't actually start to be available at a price we could afford until I was in college, so if you weren't someone who could afford to go to a hair salon all of the time, it was either drying your hair in this glamorous fashion at home, or letting it air dry.

I had actually forgotten all about these until I saw a picture the other day.

Did you have one?

06 September 2015

Weekly Roundup of Interesting Links #4

Happy Labor Day weekend!  I'm having a good one so far - no specific plans, the weather has been nice, and I'm enjoying myself.  I hope you are as well.

This article made me laugh, but also made me think.  "Flattering" really is different things to different people, and this is a good example.

I also thought this article, with Andy Roddick's comments, was spot on.  Good for him.

Have some humanities inspiration.  :-)

According to this, your body wants you to listen to it.  (I think it might be time to pay attention.)

And, though I try not to be overly political here, these two articles are both amazing for the wrong reasons, and very dismaying.

So there you go, a few reasons for link lemming behavior.  On a holiday weekend, I think it's perfectly acceptable to just poke around, so enjoy!