tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-42931203233884462372024-03-06T14:16:15.615+10:30Miss Prissypants v2.0I don't understand your art, Kevin. Deehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09349956327915851336noreply@blogger.comBlogger191125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4293120323388446237.post-82472579152133638232018-06-04T16:51:00.001+09:302018-06-04T16:51:18.524+09:30Verification pics for Reddit <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />Deehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09349956327915851336noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4293120323388446237.post-44650279291219119592014-08-21T11:37:00.001+09:302014-08-21T11:37:24.173+09:30Zoeva Brushes<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Lately Noodles has been getting into makeup and watching YouTube beauty vloggers, which is how I came to be sitting watching <a href="https://www.youtube.com/user/pixi2woo">Tanya Burr</a>, even though I am definitely way outside her demographic. In a tutorial she used and raved about the <a href="https://www.zoeva-shop.de/">Zoeva</a> Luxe Face Paint brush, and since I have nothing like that, and was also looking to splurge on something smallish before my massive pay cut kicked in and I became a povo, I decided to buy one and check it out. I'd heard about Zoeva because Siobhan of <a href="https://www.youtube.com/user/LetzMakeup">Letzmakeup</a> uses them all the time and loves them, but I'd never paid much attention because I have more than enough brushes. <br />
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The downside is that shipping is kind of high, which was not enough to turn me off buying, but instead made me think I should buy several brushes (any excuse, really) to justify the cost. When the package arrived I realised why the shipping was expensive. To be honest, I think this is a bit of overkill.<br />
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The six brushes were packed in this ginormous box, each one in its own little plastic pencil case sleeve, and then surrounded by those plastic floaties things full of air. Although it's nice that they are well protected and arrive without damage, I do think it would be possible to safely ship brushes with a lot less palaver and therefore less cost. However, minor quibble - on to the brushes themselves!<br />
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<a href="https://www.zoeva-shop.de/en/makeup-brushes/109-face-paint/a-8000361/">109 Face Paint (12.80 Euro/$18.30AUD)</a><br />
This is the one that got me to the site in the first place after seeing it on Tanya Burr's video. She used it for highlighter, but I use it mostly for contouring. It's a flat square brush that is sturdy but very soft. One thing I discovered is that it picks up a lot of product - hello brown stripe down the face - so you need a light hand if you're working with highly pigmented products. The price has gone up - I paid 10.50 Euro - but for less than $20 this brush is amazing. <br />
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<a href="https://www.zoeva-shop.de/en/322-brow-line/a-8000365/">322 Brow Line (6.80 Euro/$9.71AUD)</a><br />
This one is my favourite - the bristles are very short and quite stiff so you can get really precise and sharp with your brows. It has replaced my previous holy grail brush, the <a href="http://deedee255.blogspot.com.au/2011/02/illamasqua-eye-brow-brush.html">Illamasqua Eye Brow brush</a>, which is good because I have still not forgiven them for their <a href="http://www.latherrinserepeat.com.au/2012/11/illamasqua-and-blackface-study-in-poor.html">bullshit non-apology over their racism debacle</a> and I hate using the few things left of theirs that I own. The Brow Line brush works beautifully with both cream products and powder. I LOVES IT.<br />
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<a href="https://www.zoeva-shop.de/en/226-smudger/a-8000125/">226 Smudger (7.80 Euro/$11.15AUD)</a><br />
When I decided to buy more brushes to make the postage sting a little less, I tried to go for the ones I didn't already have a version of. For some reason I did not previously have a smudge brush. I think I had a cheap Coastal Scents one years ago that fell apart, but since then nowt. This is the one I use the least, but that's not because it's not good, more because I just don't smudge a hell of a lot. I rarely use eyeshadow or liner under my eyes but when I do, this one does a lovely job of - well - smudging. It has short, sturdy but very soft bristles. <br />
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<a href="https://www.zoeva-shop.de/en/318-soft-paint-liner/a-8000142/">318 Soft Paint Liner (6.80 Euro/$9.71AUD)</a><br />
I've used this brush for a few different things - it works well with gel liner, and it's also good for smudging shadow, softening powder on brows and I've even used it for applying highlighter to my cupid's bow and inner corners of my eyes. The bristles are a little longer than the Brow Line and not quite as stiff.<br />
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<a href="https://www.zoeva-shop.de/en/221-luxe-soft-crease/a-8000363/">221 Soft Crease (7.80 Euro/$11.15AUD)</a> and <a href="https://www.zoeva-shop.de/en/227-soft-definer/a-8000126/">227 Soft Definer (7.80 Euro/$11.15AUD)</a><br />
One can always use more blending/crease brushes, right? I couldn't decide which of these I wanted so I just got both. The Soft Crease is more narrow than the Soft Definer, with slightly longer bristles. The bristles are softer on the Soft Crease than the Soft Definer also, so the Soft Crease is better for diffusing colour, while the Soft Definer is good for small area blending.<br />
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So. As I said, shipping is a bit high - I paid 15.00 Euro ($21.50AUD), so if you're buying from Zoeva it's worth stocking up on a few things at once rather than just one or two items, because shipping is a flat rate. The site currently lists shipping for Australia as $16US, so you might end up paying a bit less than I did.<br />
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The brush quality is fantastic. I have used and washed each of these quite a few times and I've not experienced any shedding at all. They are still soft and pliable, and the handles and ferrules feel firm and sturdy. What I really love is that the handles are also a little shorter than many other brands, so you can get up close to the mirror!<br />
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I found the prices really reasonable, especially considering the quality. They are a little cheaper in most cases than Sigma, for example, and they absolutely shit all over them. It's no secret that I am not a fan of Sigma - I've had several of their brushes <a href="http://deedee255.blogspot.com.au/2010/12/death-of-my-sigma-stippling-brush.html">fall</a> <a href="http://deedee255.blogspot.com.au/2011/11/it-happened-again.html">apart</a> <a href="http://yearofthetightarse.blogspot.com.au/2012/12/december-empties-and-chuckers.html">on me</a>, and I have several more that I never use because they shed like mofos. The Zoeva brushes are streets ahead of Sigma, in my opinion. <br />
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<a href="https://www.zoeva-shop.de/">Zoeva</a> is based in Germany but ships worldwide. They have makeup as well as brushes, but I've not tried any of that. There are also some Zoeva products available on the <a href="http://www.luxola.com/au/brands/zoeva">Luxola</a> site (which I've never used so I don't know if it's any good), but they don't have the full range and they seem to be sold out of most of it. <br />
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All in all, I give Zoeva two massive thumbs up, and if it were not for the fact that I am now officially povo and also have pretty much every makeup brush I could possibly need, I'd be back buying one of everything.<br />
<br />Deehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09349956327915851336noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4293120323388446237.post-79839482739232675052014-08-10T12:35:00.000+09:302014-08-10T12:35:45.950+09:3050 Book Challenge - June & July<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOKaY9Kayx-eumEGcrRTSAeX4sOlP6tsjKRX9KTJdDaciLY5izjxi_wDC1wa6b653i6A04-ojgVPn4cg8zzawFzbs6fJERqxw0yXOcWowe7bUJBrLaU8Cskc7eo4X_ux57SBbMSbfU7lA/s1600/mantlepiece+books.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOKaY9Kayx-eumEGcrRTSAeX4sOlP6tsjKRX9KTJdDaciLY5izjxi_wDC1wa6b653i6A04-ojgVPn4cg8zzawFzbs6fJERqxw0yXOcWowe7bUJBrLaU8Cskc7eo4X_ux57SBbMSbfU7lA/s1600/mantlepiece+books.jpg" height="240" width="400" /></a></div>
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16. <a href="http://www.amazon.com/The-Book-Joe-A-Novel/dp/0385338104/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1407638452&sr=8-1&keywords=the+book+of+joe">The Book of Joe - Jonathan Tropper</a><br />
Highly readable but ultimately forgettable story of a guy who left his small town, wrote a snarky book about it, then has to return there when his father dies. If you've read any Jonathan Tropper before you're familiar with where this goes - dysfunctional family, thirtysomething unsettled Jewish guy learns things about himself, blah blah blah.<br />
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17. <a href="http://www.amazon.com/When-She-Was-Good-ebook/dp/B00AENXHYO/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1407638708&sr=8-1&keywords=and+when+she+was+good">And When She Was Good - Laura Lippman</a><br />
Suburban mom lives a double life as a high class hooker, then it all starts to come apart when people from her past begin to get killed off. Enjoyable enough crime novel. <br />
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18. <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Say-Youre-Sorry-Michael-Robotham-ebook/dp/B008TTPMCK/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1407638909&sr=8-1&keywords=say+you%27re+sorry">Say You're Sorry - Michael Robotham</a><br />
Every year I say I'm going to read 'quality' books for my 50 Book Challenge and every year I fall back on page-turning mysteries and crime stories. A present day murder ties in to the disappearance of two teenage girls several years earlier. It's a pretty gripping story but the reveal of the villain is kind of eh. <br />
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19. <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Mohawk-Richard-Russo/dp/0679753826/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1407639167&sr=8-1&keywords=mohawk">Mohawk - Richard Russo</a><br />
I was mildly obsessed with Richard Russo in the 1990s and I remember reading this and loving it. Second time around - ehhhh, not so much. It's about several different people in a small town and it is mildly interesting, but very much a clunky first novel. <br />
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20. <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Last-Policeman-Novel-Trilogy-Book-ebook/dp/B0076Q1GW2/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1407639306&sr=8-1&keywords=the+last+policeman">The Last Policeman - Ben H. Winters</a><br />
Now this I liked. Set in a world where an asteroid is about to hit the earth in 6 months and destroy everything, most people have given up bothering about much. However, one policeman still does his job and sets out to prove that an apparent suicide was in fact murder. The crime and resolution is a bit hokey, but the premise is awesome and I really enjoyed it. Apparently it's the first of a trilogy so I'll be hunting down the next two. <br />
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21. <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Snowblind-Christopher-Golden-ebook/dp/B00F0LV0J4/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1407639340&sr=8-1&keywords=snowblind">Snowblind - Christopher Golden</a><br />
Oogedy boogedy horror novel about creepy creatures who come out in two extreme blizzards years apart in a small town. It started off well but got really bogged down with all the different characters. Christopher Golden seems to have been going for a Stephen King everyone-has-a-POV kind of thing, but it doesn't really work. <br />
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22. <a href="http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_1?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=all%20fall%20down&sprefix=all+fall+%2Caps&rh=i%3Aaps%2Ck%3Aall%20fall%20down&ajr=2">All Fall Down - Jennifer Weiner</a><br />
Incredibly tedious novel about a suburban mommy blogger with a secret (she thinks) pill addiction. It drags on and on forever with so much repetitive detail that I almost chucked it. Somehow I ploughed through to the end and then immediately wished I hadn't bothered. Avoid. <br />
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23. <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Cop-Town-Karin-Slaughter-ebook/dp/B00G5SDC92/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1407639614&sr=8-1&keywords=cop+town">Cop Town - Karin Slaughter</a><br />
Set in the 1970s in Atlanta, this is a novel about the attitudes of white male cops to their changing environment - a lot about women on the force, homosexuality, a half-arsed nod to racism, and a mildly interesting crime story of a serial cop killer. I found this book riveting while I was reading it, but after I felt a bit uncomfortable and I'm still not sure why. <br />
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Well over halfway through the year and I'm not even halfway through my 50 books yet. Must get cracking! Deehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09349956327915851336noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4293120323388446237.post-86149921602952662992014-08-09T12:39:00.001+09:302014-08-09T12:39:32.853+09:30Randomosity<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Aloha! I am still alive, and though I have quite a few blog posts I've been working up to doing, I am just going to do a quick update for now of some random crap.<br />
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1. I had been acting in a higher position for nearly 4 years and it's one of those ones you have to reapply for every year. I decided not to reapply this year because I hate the job, I hate almost everyone I was working with, and it was just causing me too much stress. Instead I've taken a massive pay cut to go and answer phones all day. I am going to be pretty povo from now on, but it's so much better than dealing with all the shit I had to deal with before. Although nothing ever changes in call centres - there are always a large number of weirdo loner types, and pretty much everyone is on some stupid diet and can never stop banging on about it. Whatevs, I just want to do my work and go home.<br />
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2. Noodles and I have been watching <b>Game of Thrones</b> together - her for the first time - and I am enjoying it a lot more now that I understand the connections between everyone and what's happening. For example, I was bored shitless the first time with Daenerys wandering around in the desert for four seasons but it's far more interesting to me now I know <i>why</i> she is doing it. I still have no clue why the wildlings and Jon Snow are going over the wall though. I also noticed that Jon Snow has exactly one facial expression - confused stoner. They really needed a much more charismatic actor for that role, considering how central the character appears to be. Noodles has somehow managed to avoid spoilers almost entirely - except for that one big one in Season 4 that book readers could not resist shooting their gobs off about. So when there was that death in Season 1 and then that other death in Season 2 she was shocked and devastated. Tonight we are watching S03E09. Oh, Noodles. If only you knew.<br />
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3. I am currently obsessed with steel cut oats - yes, I've become one of those people. I had tried them before in the slow cooker and it was a complete disaster, but I read somewhere online that you could just soak them overnight, so I decided to try that. I have been mixing the oats with skim milk, frozen blueberries and a tablespoon each of slivered almonds, chia seeds and sunflower seeds in a mason jar (yes, I've become one of those people too) and leaving overnight. I take it to work with me and it's awesome. Chewy and filling and I feel super healthified.<br />
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4. My current favourite podcast is <a href="http://picturehouseblog.co.uk/category/podcast/">Picturehouse Podcast</a>, a London-based film cast that's hosted by two guys who work for a cinema company. (Maybe only one of them does - I don't really know.) Anyway, while their news section is more relevant to locals, their general chat and reviews of films are really fun and interesting, and they have a lot of interviews with cast and creators of various movies. I liked it so much that I downloaded most of their back catalogue and spent a few months listening to them for a couple of hours a day. I'm up to date now and only get a half hour or so fix a week. Boourns. If you like films, check it out. And of course I still highly recommend previously mentioned favourites like <a href="http://answermethis.wordpress.com/">Answer Me This</a>, <a href="http://www.earwolf.com/show/how-did-this-get-made/">How Did This Get Made</a>, <a href="http://personalarrogants.com/">Personal Arrogants</a> and pretty much any of the <a href="http://baldmove.com/">Bald Move</a> TV and movie podcasts.<br />
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5. Noodles has a new BFF at school who is a full on feminist and it's really rubbing off on her. Yesssssss!<br />
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6. I've stopped reading the news sites. It's so depressing what this shithead government is doing to pretty much every vulnerable group they can hunt down and stomp on. They are a pack of nasty cunts and I really, really hope that they don't last longer than one term because if they hang around much longer we are all completely screwed. Deehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09349956327915851336noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4293120323388446237.post-38346314401859953752014-07-20T16:22:00.001+09:302014-07-20T16:22:26.074+09:30Bargain Shopping I've lived in the same house now for seven years and it still looks like a bunch of random uni students live here. I've complained about this before and then done nothing about it. I hate most of the furniture - which I just cobbled together when I came to Adelaide, having no idea of the good places to go and settling for a large warehouse type place where I could just get pretty much everything (albeit boring versions of) under one roof. There are barely any pictures on the walls as it's double brick and I'd need an electric drill to create holes for hooks, and the hooks that are there are in stupid, weird places. There is pretty much no storage outside the kitchen cupboards, save for one cupboard filled to the brim with all the random shit you have to keep in a house (ironing board, sleeping bag, extra pillows and blankets, etc.) but don't want seen.<br />
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So, finally I have wandered out of my house funk and decided that it's time to do some decorating and make it more of a home we actually want to hang out in. However, that has coincided with me changing to a job where I will have a drop in pay of well over $200 a fortnight, so we are staring down the barrel of a very tight budget. Enter the secondhand shops. <br />
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Lily came home a couple of weeks ago and told me she had been to a store with her vintage/op shop loving friend and she thought I would really like it. "They have EVERYTHING, Mum - furniture, DVDs, books, old lady crockery." Since I'd been thinking about finally getting some wardrobes and ditching the clothes racks we'd been using for years, I figured it couldn't hurt to go and have a look, although to be honest, I wasn't expecting a lot. I've been to a handful of op shops and secondhand places in Adelaide before and they were all shit and ridiculously over-priced. But I thought that we could have a look, and then go to (my original plan) Ikea and just buy two wardrobes there and be done with it.<br />
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The first thing you notice about <a href="https://www.facebook.com/HindmarshDisposals">Hindmarsh Disposals</a> is that it's huge - it goes back forever and there are so many things to look at that it's overwhelming. We were there for ages and didn't get much past the bedroom furniture. The second thing is that there's a cat who just follows you around to see what you're doing. And the third thing is that it's crazy cheap. I mean, we're not talking about geniune Hepplewhites here, but we're not talking garbage either. I had budgeted a maximum of $600 for two secondhand wardrobes and delivery. I got two wardrobes, two dressers, one of those dining room cabinet things everyone's grandma has, a small table nest and delivery for $490.<br />
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This is my wardrobe - my only stipulation was that it had some drawers in it for my jumpers and cardies, so I didn't have to have a separate chest of drawers taking up space. <br />
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Lily's wardrobe. She's not as fussed as I am by 'old furniture smell' so she just left hers overnight with some containers of vinegar and then was happy to put her stuff in it the next day (I'm still messing about deodorising mine). Note her beloved Cosby cardigan - purchased during a Savers expedition a couple of weeks ago. I had a boyfriend in 1985 who used to wear those kinds of cardigans.<br />
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There were so many dressers it was really hard to pin down which one I wanted. In the end I went with this one because I liked the curved drawers. It doesn't have handles but I can pick some up at Bunnings or probably even on eBay. Again, I haven't put anything in it yet as I'm still cleaning it out - those drawers are currently sprinkled with bicarb.<br />
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Lily's dresser. I kind of wish I'd chosen this one as it's huge, but I do still love mine. She's super happy with it as she finally has a more or less full length mirror in the house.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb03GLkctr7i4P1RwoC5Ubvv2cp5xX4uhUgIRXwiP3rPwG6uz7-WfV-qUqg1WfT9IJiu9L5z_8Dw3iLsytkbRnZF5ovLu4iIC0YRZQqcp_7sR05Is_yul7kSdecW88Xmo84I1UbuU4_p8/s1600/kitchen+dresser.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb03GLkctr7i4P1RwoC5Ubvv2cp5xX4uhUgIRXwiP3rPwG6uz7-WfV-qUqg1WfT9IJiu9L5z_8Dw3iLsytkbRnZF5ovLu4iIC0YRZQqcp_7sR05Is_yul7kSdecW88Xmo84I1UbuU4_p8/s1600/kitchen+dresser.JPG" height="322" width="400" /></a></div>
And the dining room cabinet thing. I don't even know what I'm going to do with this, but it was $65 so I just had to have it. I have a desk/shelf thing in the kitchen that I really hate so I'm thinking I might just clean this up and then use it to store pots and pans and whatever. <br />
<br />
The customer service at Hindmarsh Disposals was fantastic - the lady was really helpful and knocked 10% off everything because we paid cash (and not even with me asking - I never, ever, ever haggle). We also lay-byed a small lounge suite while we were there and when I go back next week to pay the rest of it I'm going to finally get around to looking at everything else they have. Seriously, you could spend days in there. And finally my house is starting to look like something I can enjoy.<br />
<br />Deehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09349956327915851336noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4293120323388446237.post-48135360475624984362014-06-04T17:26:00.000+09:302014-06-04T17:26:29.183+09:3050 Book Challenge - May Books<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIgRhN3D4eJtEH44mm9OIiEyexj_sFO7Pu6UM-tuNjdjJuuUJMZ0uA60T88MiNULT-5X7g8dzpYyiQlELlCFP53D6as_qRNp7xMBaDzhslH3k4R3ZhUtrH9DqlCum9GMMUNablk9keBBs/s1600/mantlepiece+books.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIgRhN3D4eJtEH44mm9OIiEyexj_sFO7Pu6UM-tuNjdjJuuUJMZ0uA60T88MiNULT-5X7g8dzpYyiQlELlCFP53D6as_qRNp7xMBaDzhslH3k4R3ZhUtrH9DqlCum9GMMUNablk9keBBs/s1600/mantlepiece+books.jpg" height="240" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
I read nothing but magazines in April, but I had a spurt of book activity in May. Still pretty behind on the 50 Book Challenge, but I can catch up. My reading spurt is continuing - I've just finished my first June book and started another.<br />
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12. <a href="http://www.amazon.com/My-Notorious-Life-Kate-Manning-ebook/dp/B00ATLUIOS/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1401868184&sr=1-1&keywords=my+notorious+life">My Notorious Life - Kate Manning</a></div>
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This is a story about a midwife in New York in the
1800s, a woman who rises from extreme poverty to great wealth, but then
comes unstuck by an infamous moral crusader. Loosely based on a real
woman known as Madame X, this is what the kids
call a ripping yarn, though it does start to drage a bit in
the last third of the book. Overall, though, I really enjoyed it and it
kickstarted a good spate of reading for the month.
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<br /></div>
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13. <a href="http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_i_0_11?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=thirteen%20reasons%20why&sprefix=thirteen+re%2Cstripbooks%2C391&rh=i%3Astripbooks%2Ck%3Athirteen%20reasons%20why&ajr=2">Thirteen Reasons Why - Jay Asher</a></div>
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I didn’t realise this was a YA novel until I
started reading it. I generally hate YA novels. However, I was curious
enough about where this was going to keep reading, and it was very easy
to read. It’s about a teenage boy who receives a
series of cassette tapes from a girl who has recently committed
suicide, where she names and shames every person who did anything to her
that eventually led to her taking her own life. It’s kind of meh. I am
sure it will be made into a movie with some pretty
young people and a hip-but-angsty soundtrack and everyone will go
bonkers for it. It’s that sort of story.
</div>
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<br /></div>
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14. <a href="http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_i_0_11?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=we+are+all+completely+beside+ourselves&sprefix=we+are+all+%2Cstripbooks%2C480&rh=n%3A283155%2Ck%3Awe+are+all+completely+beside+ourselves&ajr=2">We Are All Completely Beside Ourselves - Karen Joy Fowler</a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I don’t want to say much about this – it’s one of
those stories where it’s best to know as little as possible about going
in. The most I will say is that it’s a dysfunctional family tale. I
ploughed through the first half really quickly
but the second half dragged and bored me a bit. It was a good story but
just went on a bit too long.
</div>
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<br /></div>
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15. <a href="http://www.amazon.com/What-Came-Before-Shot-Her-ebook/dp/B004YD1KXU/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1401868335&sr=1-1&keywords=what+came+before+he+shot+her">What Came Before He Shot Her - Elizabeth George</a></div>
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I have had this on my ‘to read’ list for a really
long time and I don’t remember why. In fact, I think having it on my
list was what led me to read a couple of the Inspector Lynley novels
last year (and then give up and just watch the TV
show). Right, so. This isn’t about Inspector Lynley; instead it’s about
a child who becomes involved in a crime in another Inspector Lynley
novel (<a href="http://www.amazon.com/No-One-Witness-Inspector-Lynley-ebook/dp/B005ES0VYS/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1401868382&sr=1-1&keywords=with+no+one+as+witness">With No One As Witness</a>), and how he got to that point. I haven’t
read the other book, but I think I will. The
story itself is really grim and says a lot about the plight of the
disadvantaged. My problem with it was that it was relentlessly
repetitive. I get that it was meant to show the endless grinding down of
this kid and how it led him to the choices he eventually
made, but the key word there is <i>endless</i>. Over and over again the same
things happened and it just got a bit tedious after a while. The
language was a bit twee too – the author is American, and it is fairly
obvious she ‘researched’ how people of colour in London
interact and speak to each other rather than ever actually being around
any of them and hearing them for herself. It sounds real, but kind of
‘fake real’, you know?
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<b>Did Not Finish</b></div>
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/One-More-Thing-Stories-Other-ebook/dp/B00GFHG1BE/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1401868491&sr=1-1&keywords=one+more+thing">One More Thing - BJ Novak</a></div>
I read 5 stories and could not bear to go any
further. I get the impression that B.J. Novak has deliberately written a
bunch of pointless, meaningless pieces of garbage to see if everyone would
pretend to get them, and then in a year or so
he can smugly come out and say, ‘You idiots, they’re not meant to make
sense! I’m so much smarter than everyone.’<br />
Deehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09349956327915851336noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4293120323388446237.post-76313735404920623942014-04-24T12:00:00.001+09:302014-04-24T12:00:24.544+09:30Madame Scodioli solid perfumes <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFwl5zkC6-ZitpVJEDsXzXDpgdKoEoO9003Hf-R04eBxLEGK4DXTl5m05qLnmKS-_IYZYS9Bmbrhym5ZEe-qXas0YuToOiCJvO33c6iiDigjiB8910V8qeRwPbp0ekqCQSKP02ERjmCV8/s1600/scodioli+samples.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFwl5zkC6-ZitpVJEDsXzXDpgdKoEoO9003Hf-R04eBxLEGK4DXTl5m05qLnmKS-_IYZYS9Bmbrhym5ZEe-qXas0YuToOiCJvO33c6iiDigjiB8910V8qeRwPbp0ekqCQSKP02ERjmCV8/s1600/scodioli+samples.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/ScodioliCreative">Scodioli Creative</a> has been on my 'to try' list for a couple of years, but I'm not a massive fan of solid perfumes so I just never got around to it. However, I'm trying to branch out a bit so after waiting around FOREVER for the weather to be safe, I decided to order some samples and see what they were like. (As it happens, the day they turned up was 32 degrees celsius - in the middle of Autumn. Luckily I was home early and they didn't have to sit in a hot metal letterbox all day. But seriously - WTF Adelaide????)<br />
<br />
The samples come in a <a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/67157153/wee-samples-set-of-three?ref=shop_home_active_2">set of 3</a> for $18US. That might seem expensive for samples, but it makes sense when you see the size of them. Check out one next to a clam shell, which is the usual sample size for a solid perfume, and a full size Darling Clandestine solid perfume:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-_puWItBUrujolUNkvzyDfD0CpHj7EtbnlbsQZgZlvsRvmPbX8SWtm5tRM2adEt9aeGmBzlzWgP-hCLpgcOtJmbqu-uqSxziuSV83lEl6_tzrmCTghZ6irb_gl3Q5GbYjDTRYLrca9tw/s1600/scodioli+comparison+size.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-_puWItBUrujolUNkvzyDfD0CpHj7EtbnlbsQZgZlvsRvmPbX8SWtm5tRM2adEt9aeGmBzlzWgP-hCLpgcOtJmbqu-uqSxziuSV83lEl6_tzrmCTghZ6irb_gl3Q5GbYjDTRYLrca9tw/s1600/scodioli+comparison+size.JPG" height="262" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
There is 1/4 oz of perfume in each, and according to <strike>some mathematical calculations in my head</strike>
Google, that translates to 7ml for us down under. 7ml of perfume for
$6US = bloody good deal (the full size Darling Clandestine perfumes are
almost twice that volume, I think, but their perfumes are way bigger than most and crazy cheap for how much you get ). So basically you're getting what amounts to 3 almost-full size perfumes for $6US each. Shipping was $10US to Australia, which is pretty average these days (sob).<br />
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The packaging is gorgeous. These are very sturdy screw top tins with an old-fashioned banner label stuck around them. I could have one of these floating around the bottom of my handbag of doom and not worry about it leaking everywhere. In fact, that's probably what I will do with them. I am trying to acquire a taste for solid perfumes because they are just so much easier to carry around and reapply than oils are. The 3 I chose were <b>Euphorium</b>, <b>Odeda</b> and <b>Boheme</b>. I don't feel as though I need a full size of any of these as they are well big enough for me, and the full sizes are a massive 30ml. However, I will buy more sample sizes as there are a few others I want to check out too, namely <a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/60445531/farewell-lilac-and-bergamot-perfume?ref=shop_home_active_5">Farewell</a> (lilac and bergamot), <a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/184746433/timshel-tobacco-and-vanilla?ref=shop_home_active_10">Timshel</a> (tobacco and vanilla), and <a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/150758499/oracle-exotic-fig-spices-and-musk?ref=shop_home_active_22">Oracle</a> (exotic fig, spices and musk). <br />
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<a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/62625940/euphorium-almond-milk-and-honey-perfume?ref=shop_home_active_9">Euphorium</a> - <i>almond, milk and honey.</i><br />
This opens with a strong hit of almond - a note I often detest, and in the tin it is straight up marzipan, bringing back horrific nightmares of 1970s wedding cakes coated with a sheet of almond icing. However, after a couple of minutes the almond mellows nicely into the background to just add a slight nutty note. The honey isn't really noticeable on me - maybe it's that tiny touch of sweetness, but mostly what I get from this is a warm, milky vanilla-ish scent that is pretty much a dupe of my beloved - and discontinued - <a href="http://365daysofsmells.blogspot.com.au/2013/02/almond-milk-firebird-bath-and-body.html">Firebird Almond Milk</a>. So if you're a fan of that one and you missed out on stocking up before it disappeared, Euphorium is definitely worth trying out.This one was instant love for me. <br />
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<a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/116639547/odeda-saffron-musk-and-honey?ref=shop_home_active_7">Odeda</a> - <i>saffron, musk and honey</i>.<br />
This was the one I was most interested in and sadly, the only one I hated. My favourite Black Phoenix Alchemy Lab perfume is a limited edition called <b>Love's Philosophy</b>, which was released a couple of times for Valentine's Day but to my knowledge hasn't been around for about 6 years. I have two half full bottles that I picked up from forum sales, and am constantly keeping an eye out for more. The notes in it are vanilla, cream and saffron and it's the saffron in it that I adore. It adds a tiny kick of spice to the standard vanilla/cream combo and just makes it amazingly warm and sniffable. So I guess I was hoping that <b>Odeda</b> would be similar, but alas, it was not to be. The saffron is completely overpowering to the point where I could never at any time smell the musk or the honey. It was just a really strong, slightly band-aidy spice smell that gave me a headache and took forever to go away (in my experience solids last a couple of hours if that - this one of course hung in there for a good 8 hours). This is definitely not for me and I won't be going near it again. <br />
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<a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/70767528/boheme-vanilla-oak-perfume?ref=shop_home_active_11">Boheme</a> - <i>vanilla oak</i>.<br />
It is what it says it is - a woody unisex fragrance sweetened slightly with vanilla. It's like a really nice smelling furniture polish, and I don't mean that in a bad way; if I had fancy wood furniture (rather than a house full of Ikea) I would totally rub this all over it. Actually, I probably wouldn't because fancy wood furniture is really expensive, but you get what I mean. Like Odeda, this is quite strong, but I find that on my skin with most woody notes. I didn't love this, but I did like it - I'd be more inclined to wear it in cold weather so I think I'll put it away for a month or two and then haul it out mid-winter.<br />
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Overall, the blends are quite simple (not a bad thing), and I'm happy enough - Odeda notwithstanding - to try more. Scodioli is a good little shop worth checking out, and they also sell soap and manly beard wotsits for those of you who are into such things.Deehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09349956327915851336noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4293120323388446237.post-59521533380787737582014-04-15T11:44:00.000+09:302014-04-15T11:44:02.261+09:30Genius Storage Idea for Perfume Samples That I Wish Was MineRight, so hold on to your hats, perfume buddies. I found this brilliant idea thanks to <a href="http://www.lipstickandlibraries.com/2014/04/07/how-to-perfume-sample-storage/">Lipstick & Libraries</a>, and promptly stole it, and it's freakin' GENIUS. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimtxmbZXjtjl0g-FdiFVXjInylrCbrZF_VjRvYOs8rQzh0I6tQLW9ikZrlMCD9IyOhn64cVNBuMSb5kTQ8KAgc7bM9w_9MQbP-555kMYsEouWfmIo8PYw3GSQ-KKBurEND0QNaWsj2AXU/s1600/old+storage.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimtxmbZXjtjl0g-FdiFVXjInylrCbrZF_VjRvYOs8rQzh0I6tQLW9ikZrlMCD9IyOhn64cVNBuMSb5kTQ8KAgc7bM9w_9MQbP-555kMYsEouWfmIo8PYw3GSQ-KKBurEND0QNaWsj2AXU/s1600/old+storage.JPG" height="295" width="320" /></a></div>
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This is my current storage for samples, and it's not that satisfactory. I have them sorted into companies and stored in little empty cosmetic jars. It's neat enough, I suppose, but still a bit too cluttery for my liking.<br />
<br />
But then Lipstick & Libraries wrote a blog post about using bullet boxes as storage, and I headed straight to eBay to investigate. As an Australian, and like most Australians, I have no experience of weaponry or its accroutrements, and I didn't even know there was such a thing as a bullet box (though I guess it makes sense that there is). But <a href="http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/MTM-Case-Gard-Hinged-Lid-50-Round-Pistol-Ammo-Box-38-357-Mag-/161230811066?pt=AU_Hunting&hash=item258a1aefba">seek eBay and ye shall find</a>, so I bought one to check it out and see how it went. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguyHlT2oE2bzqN9-7SW1s656YlG57DenUpgnLF0PpnH-0hb6NEZBU66rYmpJoD930olc5ruWgI-Oe7m-vajLb4R2P4vRsKmu6K0CNx7QXXqP9nQEL-FoJwjai6nP9U71llaFPW8RlA-OA/s1600/bullet+box+empty.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguyHlT2oE2bzqN9-7SW1s656YlG57DenUpgnLF0PpnH-0hb6NEZBU66rYmpJoD930olc5ruWgI-Oe7m-vajLb4R2P4vRsKmu6K0CNx7QXXqP9nQEL-FoJwjai6nP9U71llaFPW8RlA-OA/s1600/bullet+box+empty.JPG" height="295" width="400" /></a></div>
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Size matters, apparently. I followed instructions and got the box that holds 38/357 (whatever that means), and it is the perfect size for standard sample vials. It doesn't hold the bigger ones, like Common Brimstone's screw tops or Darling Clandestine's 1.5ml taller ones, but that's okay. As long as the majority of my samples can be tucked away neatly, I'm happy.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxlnX2bRTo37LY_Tj-d17lmup5lctuwgvTVzAdEAkK-xxQhzj-gmajOQ8wIlqbM8sR2OSpUqwugD6OUc2z6mIwfcO2F0ggXNS6yhzVuVDNW0y_ZSIIcVrctIJCOXZoirQKaZBJJLz7llA/s1600/bullet+box+with+perfume+samples.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxlnX2bRTo37LY_Tj-d17lmup5lctuwgvTVzAdEAkK-xxQhzj-gmajOQ8wIlqbM8sR2OSpUqwugD6OUc2z6mIwfcO2F0ggXNS6yhzVuVDNW0y_ZSIIcVrctIJCOXZoirQKaZBJJLz7llA/s1600/bullet+box+with+perfume+samples.JPG" height="287" width="400" /></a></div>
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If you're one of those people who gets all antsy about rolled labels, this is obviously not going to be for you. However, I don't care about them and I don't sell my samples - I just give them away - so I don't need to keep them all 'collectably pristine'. So these are mostly Possets and Arcana with the labels rolled up to fit neatly.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVE5S1LrEELCmpca2Pvcqj_ZoaI-dIYeNTclz2oWxRM2kfooiBYcYNThB_j8yVwnAtpJjNGpOA5_SwuWqMeGR6vevYFInMmcSfZK3NufpiyS4XSCWBA2ogFpx5h7jXvCgKhmnfcJUyRKA/s1600/bullet+box+closed.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVE5S1LrEELCmpca2Pvcqj_ZoaI-dIYeNTclz2oWxRM2kfooiBYcYNThB_j8yVwnAtpJjNGpOA5_SwuWqMeGR6vevYFInMmcSfZK3NufpiyS4XSCWBA2ogFpx5h7jXvCgKhmnfcJUyRKA/s1600/bullet+box+closed.JPG" height="240" width="400" /></a></div>
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Ta da! I. LOVE. THIS. It's small - about the size of an iphone - and it's a fantastic way to keep samples both tidy and also upright so they don't leak. Also, considering I'm a touchy feely lefty feminazi who hates guns, I feel like I'm giving a tiny bit of ner ner by using a bullet box to store something lovely and harmless. <br />
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Paddlepop Lion, what do you think?<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinSbfjKcuSd3lMvFaSn2g7UL_EXiYtE2EGg4Yh5m1dOsS0THShbGVBazqVXoTSEtFu30Ihh-1Jf3VRwOluQGA4K74Y33QNjfDxxhnmMFGgR_yiLxoeQr6642MaLVTFmgKyxqNzsKQKxfA/s1600/thumbs+up+paddlepop+lion.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinSbfjKcuSd3lMvFaSn2g7UL_EXiYtE2EGg4Yh5m1dOsS0THShbGVBazqVXoTSEtFu30Ihh-1Jf3VRwOluQGA4K74Y33QNjfDxxhnmMFGgR_yiLxoeQr6642MaLVTFmgKyxqNzsKQKxfA/s1600/thumbs+up+paddlepop+lion.JPG" height="266" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />Deehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09349956327915851336noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4293120323388446237.post-25311619660112029372014-04-12T15:56:00.002+09:302014-04-15T11:51:42.013+09:30Haus of Gloi Spring collection 2014. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi65dhE__YsbMuBJQV5s1mF_H43pp2SRhJiIhAsU3Pf5XysZGssXim7Xp-dtAvdLIklEsfoZU_Bqi9UtKecTrVhemDJWh-QkVRX9yCylDmIFsZt5h2as9gcAR6JEgiDso0sDi9WC0p9LfE/s1600/haus+of+gloi+spring+2014.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi65dhE__YsbMuBJQV5s1mF_H43pp2SRhJiIhAsU3Pf5XysZGssXim7Xp-dtAvdLIklEsfoZU_Bqi9UtKecTrVhemDJWh-QkVRX9yCylDmIFsZt5h2as9gcAR6JEgiDso0sDi9WC0p9LfE/s1600/haus+of+gloi+spring+2014.JPG" height="270" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<a href="http://www.hausofgloi.com/">Haus of Gloi</a> is one of the companies I never really risk full sizes on because it's so hit and miss for me (when I say that I mean hit and miss in my personal liking or not liking; as far as quality and customer service and whatnot, Haus of Gloi is one of the best indie perfume companies out there). This time around I almost decided to just go full size on a couple of these because I didn't know how much longer they would be around and also because they were selling out quickly, but I'm glad I didn't because in the end, none of them really grabbed me. <br />
<br />
I bought a sample each of all the Spring fragrances, with the exception of <a href="http://www.hausofgloi.com/collections/spring-perfume-oils/products/lassi-perfume-oil">Lassi</a>, because I hate the smell of mango, and <a href="http://www.hausofgloi.com/collections/spring-perfume-oils/products/selkie-perfume-oil">Selkie</a>, because I've tried it before and it's okay but it's not really my thing.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.hausofgloi.com/collections/spring-perfume-oils/products/ploughman-perfume-oil">Ploughman</a><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>Well worn leather, dirt n' dandelions, carrot, a pinch of tobacco and a light sheen of feral skin musk.</i></blockquote>
<br />
In the vial this is earthy with a few weeds. My stepfather is a sheep farmer and this reminded me a lot of the smell of the paddocks - lots of fresh air, dirt, a tang of a vaguely animal smell. Wet on the skin the dirt note is prominent for a good while. I didn't really get any leather or tobacco. The dry down is almost floral, again a sort of 'farm' smell, but more like the flowers and vines that grow wild around the farmhouse. I did quite like it but I wouldn't wear it as a perfume. I think it would make a better home fragrance.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.hausofgloi.com/collections/spring-perfume-oils/products/ruth-perfume-oil">Ruth</a><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>Fresh strawberry, green patchouli, rose geranium and crushed violet leaf.</i></blockquote>
<br />
Ack! Ack! Ack! This is such a cloying, sickly sweet perfume it makes my stomach turn. The strawberry smells very fake and the violet mixed with it just makes the most godawful mess. I almost didn't want to try this on because I was so put off by it just in the vial, but I'm nothing if not a trooper. I regretted it almost immediately. It was super strong, super sickly and of course - as always is the case with perfumes I hate - it lasted for-bloody-ever. <br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.hausofgloi.com/collections/spring-perfume-oils/products/milkmaid-perfume-oil">Milkmaid</a><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>Flushed, but demure. Fresh milk, clean linens, pale musk and pink sweet pea blossom.</i></blockquote>
<br />
Milkmaid smells like almond in the vial - that very sharp note that is redolent of marzipan. Once applied to the skin that note fades after a few minutes, and leaves behind a milder version, an milky, creamy almond with a bit of a floral tinge to it. Unfortunately, the milk note is kind of... well... bordering on baby sick. It's not quite a scrubber, but it's not great.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.hausofgloi.com/collections/spring-perfume-oils/products/tonic-4-perfume-oil">Tonic 4</a><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>Yuzu, basil, cilantro, lemongrass and raw sugar cane accord.</i> </blockquote>
<br />
Oddly enough, this was the one I was the least interested in but turned out to be the one I liked best, though as with Ploughman, I would prefer it as a home fragrance than a perfume. In the vial it's strongly citrus, and that remains right through to the drydown, but on skin the herbs come out, and it's a lovely fresh, zingy green kitchen smell. I love the smells of basil and coriander, and I imagine in an oil burner this would make your kitchen smell awesome. (Can you use perfume oils in a burner? I have no idea. I feel an experiment coming up.)<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.hausofgloi.com/collections/spring-perfume-oils/products/honeybelle-perfume-oil">Honeybelle</a><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>A blooming orange orchard, orange blossom honey, soft white tea and creamy white amber.</i></blockquote>
The tea note is the most prominent in this perfume - both in the vial and on the skin. It's a sweet, honey-tinged tea. Unfortunately as soon as it started to dry down it went dusty on me, and pretty much stayed that way. I'm not super jazzed with the smell of tea anyway so I wasn't too bothered. Not my thing at all.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.hausofgloi.com/collections/spring-perfume-oils/products/splendiferous-perfume-oil">Splendiferous</a><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>White cake, lemon zest glaze and sugared violets.</i></blockquote>
The cake is a lie. This is straight up violets and so cloying. I'm sure I've mentioned before this horrible, horrible woman I used to work with many years ago who seemed to bathe in some hideous old lady perfume, and this is exactly what it smelled like. And like Ruth, it lasted for ages - 10 hours later I could still smell it on myself. <br />
<br />
So, not much luck with the Spring seasonals for me, I'm afraid. However, others seemed to fare better. You can check out more favourable reviews by:<br />
<ul>
<li><a href="http://libervix.blogspot.com.au/2014/04/haus-of-gloi-spring-2014.html">Liber Vix</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.lipstickandlibraries.com/2014/03/26/haus-of-glois-spring-2014-scents/">Lipstick and Libraries</a></li>
<li><a href="http://meowlephant.blogspot.com.au/2014/03/review-haus-of-gloi-spring-2014-gen.html">Meowlephant</a></li>
<li><a href="http://alioninthecorn.blogspot.com.au/2014/04/haus-of-gloi-spring-haul.html">A Lion In The Corn</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.reddit.com/r/Indiemakeupandmore/comments/22d1a4/yet_another_haus_of_gloi_spring_review/">Swimming Monkey</a></li>
</ul>
<ul>
</ul>
Deehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09349956327915851336noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4293120323388446237.post-59592558817677533452014-04-06T12:22:00.003+09:302014-04-06T12:22:49.298+09:30Weekly Makeup for April 7<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzQuPcBQ8F6Y-KbS1Smx6gQ6NeOhZsEsGCuv2aTOblu-6W5H-jmyr010AVHL64QbY1bo64Ciu1Uzm-VKzMBKZ1kpdGqzTNji2wCV8LMdE_Lcs2eAh2Zve09zOH0WkE00phjyhlcbSNtX0/s1600/weekly+makeup+7+april.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzQuPcBQ8F6Y-KbS1Smx6gQ6NeOhZsEsGCuv2aTOblu-6W5H-jmyr010AVHL64QbY1bo64Ciu1Uzm-VKzMBKZ1kpdGqzTNji2wCV8LMdE_Lcs2eAh2Zve09zOH0WkE00phjyhlcbSNtX0/s1600/weekly+makeup+7+april.JPG" height="320" width="308" /></a></div>
<br />
This is my first weekly makeup box for nearly three months! I have not really been wearing makeup in that time - maybe a couple of times, but mostly it's been too hot or I've been too tired, or running too late for my horrible job, or just generally thinking, "Bleh, I can't be arsed with this crap." But I'm back on board now.<br />
<br />
<b>Face: </b><br />
<ul>
<li>Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Eraser Treatment Makeup in Nude (I can't believe this stuff is still going!)</li>
<li>Rimmel Stay Matte Pressed Powder in Sandstorm</li>
<li>Joey New York Powder Blush in Faith</li>
<li>Jordana Blush Powder in Rose Silk</li>
</ul>
<b>Eyes: </b><br />
<ul>
<li>NARS Eyeshadow Duo in Kalahari</li>
<li>Revlon ColorStay Eye Shadow Quad in Neutral Khaki</li>
<li>Clinique Color Surge Eye Shadow Duo in Strawberry Fudge</li>
<li>NYX Jumbo Eye Pencil in Slate</li>
<li>Milani Shadow Eyez 12 Hour Eyeshadow Pencil in Almond Cream</li>
<li>Milani Liquif'eye Metallic Eye Liner Pencil in Brown</li>
<li>Rimmel Scandaleyes Waterproof Kohl Kajal Pencil in Taupe</li>
<li>Australis Mega Lash Mascara in Black </li>
</ul>
<b>Lips: </b><br />
<ul>
<li>Milani Color Statement Lipstick in Dulce Caramelo</li>
<li>Rimmel Lasting Finish Lipstick in Airy Fairy</li>
<li>MAC Lipstick in Syrup</li>
</ul>
<b>Nails: </b><br />
<ul>
<li>Zoya Professional Lacquer in Tru</li>
</ul>
Deehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09349956327915851336noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4293120323388446237.post-84545036695227395452014-04-05T11:09:00.003+10:302014-04-05T11:09:51.079+10:30Summer Empties and Chuckers <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJUOmWnAqQxumfAK5cEM0JSv59NfHfsNCSevUBzt2AZIFopT4cneej1oAdQ8kH1F0pIRrUZEGh5J-7xCF8v6hET205LAsAgCyD9nx7r36TYLKIR3Kbvd7Ls36WGjl-b9kIYFygddx-YHs/s1600/empties+summer+2014.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJUOmWnAqQxumfAK5cEM0JSv59NfHfsNCSevUBzt2AZIFopT4cneej1oAdQ8kH1F0pIRrUZEGh5J-7xCF8v6hET205LAsAgCyD9nx7r36TYLKIR3Kbvd7Ls36WGjl-b9kIYFygddx-YHs/s1600/empties+summer+2014.JPG" height="335" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<b>EMPTIES</b><br />
<br />
<b>L'Oreal Skin Perfection 15 Second Miracle Cleansing Oil</b><br />
This is a staple in my house these days. I have another one on the go and a back up in the cupboard. I just love it. I buy it from <a href="http://echemist.co.uk/p-l-real-skin-perfection-15-second-miracle-cleansing-oil-all-skin-types">eChemist</a>, which also has free international shipping on most things. It's on sale a lot so I just wait til then and buy a couple at a time. <br />
<br />
<b>L'Oreal Skin Perfection 3 in 1 Purifying Micellar Solution</b><br />
Another staple I get from <a href="http://echemist.co.uk/p-l-real-skin-perfection-3-in-1-purifying-micellar-solution">eChemist</a>, and again, it's often on sale. I only use this to remove eye makeup, but Lily uses it to remove all her makeup and we both really like it. Got a couple stored up, but I also have a bottle of the new Garnier one, which is available here, so if that turns out to be as good I might switch just for ease. I don't understand why we don't have these products in Australia though. Annoying!<br />
<br />
<b>Paula's Choice Skin Balancing Pore-Reducing Toner</b><br />
I love using toners, and Paula's Choice make some of my favourites. I would definitely buy this again - and probably will in a few weeks when I do a big PC order to stock up on some other things.<br />
<br />
<b>Paula's Choice Earth Sourced Perfectly Natural Cleansing Gel</b><br />
There's a certain irony in Paula releasing a line of 'natural' products given how dismissive she is of them generally, but whatevs. Girl's gotta eat. This is a slightly foaming cleanser that I used to wash my face in the mornings in the shower. I liked it because it didn't dry out my skin or make it feel tight, but I didn't love it so I wasn't really intending to go out of my way for it again. However, Lil told me the other day that she had used it as well and she really liked it, so she asked if I'd get some more. I guess we are getting some more.<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Olay Regenerist Skin Renewal Cleanser</b><br />
This was a little trial size cleanser that came with an Olay face brush thing I was sent to try (it was crap, don't bother). I didn't much like it - it had tiny granules in it so there was an exfoliating action as well, which I didn't mind, but it left my skin feeling really tight after until I put toner on. I wouldn't repurchase it.<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>NYX High Definition Eye Shadow Base</b><br />
I find this to be exactly the same as Urban Decay Primer Potion, and I'm not super jazzed with either of them. This was a much better deal of course, being about a quarter of the price of UDPP. It lasted a long time - I've had it for a couple of years, and it did pretty much what it was supposed to, but I don't think I would bother repurchasing. I've tried better options since buying this.<br />
<br />
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<span id="goog_1415943012"></span><span id="goog_1415943013"></span><br />
<b><span id="goog_1415943012">CHUCKERS</span></b><br />
<br />
<b><span id="goog_1415943012">Rimmel Scandaleyes Flex Mascara</span></b><br />
<span id="goog_1415943012">WTF is with mascaras and these ginormous brushes? I have big eyes but this brush is HUGE. So much so it was hard to work with. What made me actually throw it out though was that after about two or three weeks it started to flake and I was constantly getting little bits of it in my eyes and rubbing them. Terrible stuff. </span><br />
<br />
<span id="goog_1415943012"><b>NYX Better Gloss in Peaches and Cream </b> </span><br />
I used this one day before realising I had a cold sore (ew). So now it's germy. I'm not that devo because I never really liked this colour much anyway.<br />
<br />
<b>Firebird Lip Balm in Chocolate Chai</b><br />
As above. And again, didn't love it so don't much care.<br />
<br />Deehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09349956327915851336noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4293120323388446237.post-63052865579368117632014-04-03T11:57:00.001+10:302014-04-03T11:57:33.046+10:30Common Brimstone PerfumesGrab a cup of tea, kidlets - this is going to take a while.<br />
<br />
Way back last year I read about <a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/CommonBrimstone">Common Brimstone</a> on <a href="http://www.reddit.com/r/Indiemakeupandmore/comments/1jw9rq/first_impressions_common_brimstone_indie_perfume/">Reddit</a>, and since I'm always up for a new perfume company to try out, I pretty much immediately placed an order. When they arrived (one full bottle and 10 samples), I found that a lot of them had leaked, and the sample vials were those horrible milk bottle shaped ones with the flexible wands that you get thumb blisters trying to remove.<br />
<br />
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<br />
The sample vials were so annoying that after testing a few I gave up and put them aside. What was even more annoying was that of the perfumes I tried, I really, really liked them. <a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/124289347/rei-perfume-oil-cherry-blossom-white?ref=shop_home_active_1&ga_search_query=rei">Rei</a>, the full bottle I took a risk on, was a gorgeous gentle floral with notes of cherry blossom, white musk, magnolia and gardenia. <a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/155616382/honey-badger-perfume-oil-beeswax?ref=shop_home_active_1&ga_search_query=honey%2Bbadger">Honey Badger</a> (not pictured because I think it's in my bag somewhere) is amazing - a not-too-sweet honeycomb and beeswax blend deepened with musk and chocolate. Most of the scents I chose and tried out were quite feminine and either distinctly foodie or floral, both of which are right up my alley. These perfumes were totally my jam, but the packaging put me off so much that I wasn't sure I could go back again.<br />
<br />
Then someone on Reddit mentioned that the sample vials had been changed to tiny roll on ones. So I decided to do another order around Christmas, picking out two full bottles from the Christmas releases - <a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/170484018/chalet-girl-perfume-oil-chocolate-candy?ref=shop_home_active_1&ga_search_query=chalet%2Bgirl">Chalet Girl</a> and <a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/170486436/special-snowflake-perfume-oil-antique?ref=shop_home_active_1&ga_search_query=special%2Bsnowflake">Special Snowflake</a>. I also ordered a set of <a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/124291711/five-sample-fragrances?ref=shop_home_active_2">5 samples</a>. Again, I was really happy with the risk I took on the full bottles, as I loved both scents, and again, the samples smelled amazing.<br />
<br />
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<br />
The problem was that yet again, the samples leaked - to the point where I couldn't really read half the labels - and worse than that (and really weird considering the leakage), I couldn't actually get any of the product out! I would roll the ball over my wrist and it would leave a lingering scent - as these are fairly potent - but no actual oil came out, so the smell was gone in 10 minutes. I was desperate to slather myself in the caramel and spices of <a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/164319393/caramel-chai-perfume-oil-caramel-chai?ref=shop_home_active_1&ga_search_query=caramel%2Bchai">Caramel Chai</a>, so tempting in the vial, but it was just not to be. Nothing wanted to come out. Again, I gave up and put the sample aside, intending to get around to decanting them once I could figure out how to remove the really tiny roller ball. I decided that was enough Common Brimstone for me - as gorgeous as the scents were I just couldn't deal with the packaging.<br />
<br />
Cue a couple of months later and someone on Reddit asked about indie perfumers in the UK, and someone else mentioned Common Brimstone. I said that although I loved the perfumes, the packaging was a pain in the arse, and the person who'd recommended them said that the owner Naomi had announced on Facebook she was changing to little screw top sample bottles. Cautiously, like a starving dog who's already been kicked twice, I ventured over to Facebook and sure enough there it was. Okay, I thought - one more chance. I love the perfumes, I like the owner, I really want this to happen. So I took a deep breath and did a third order, which just arrived today. And you know what? JACKPOT. <br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3s7wCABhH2Vo1AlFn1jjGLj64lUue50c6WFTLwkLH02iSLgEJls0XdUefY4AfhxCs6izirNiVS5Y3AiidVxd4HwwWOQ8xHp_i1rLCh2-a13jjg3jUZBGiSiTPnjDMe0ZXn7G8nnf9cCk/s1600/common+brimstone+third+order.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3s7wCABhH2Vo1AlFn1jjGLj64lUue50c6WFTLwkLH02iSLgEJls0XdUefY4AfhxCs6izirNiVS5Y3AiidVxd4HwwWOQ8xHp_i1rLCh2-a13jjg3jUZBGiSiTPnjDMe0ZXn7G8nnf9cCk/s1600/common+brimstone+third+order.JPG" height="240" width="400" /></a></div>
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No leaks, easy to open - these little screw tops are the perfect sample bottle (for me, at least). I could easily get into it all and am currently covered in a messy smoosh of smells after dabbing them here and there all over myself. It's funny how I rarely take a chance with full bottles unless I'm pretty confident I know the perfume company well enough (I'll do it for <a href="http://possets.com/">Possets</a> limited editions, for example, but not for <a href="http://www.hausofgloi.com/">Haus of Gloi</a>, which I find really hit and miss on me), but every time I've risked a full bottle with Common Brimstone I've chosen really well because I love it. In fact, I have not yet hit a CB scent that I outright don't like. Some I'm just kind of meh about - "Yeah, it's okay but it's not really me", but most of the ones I've tried are now on my full bottle wishlist.<br />
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My full bottle with this order is <a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/177788845/starlight-perfume-oil-white-amber?ref=shop_home_active_1&ga_search_query=starlight">Starlight</a>, a natural blend of white amber, jasmine, tuberose, lemon bergamot and sweet orange. I was tossing up about this one because lemon so often goes straight to floor cleaner on me, but in for a penny and all that. The orange is the most prominent note on first application and it's really bright and sunny. Regular readers know how much I hate fruit scents, and I'm not super keen on citrus, but this one is just so cheery I can't help but love it. The drydown is more floral, but the citrus sticks around and the amber gives it a lovely warmth in the dry down that is not at all as overpowering as amber can often be on me. This is a perfume I'd probably wear a lot in the spring and summer, and it's just lovely. Being a completely natural perfume it doesn't have a long lasting time, but I don't really care about that - I'm happy to re-slather regularly. <br />
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So all that was a roundabout way of saying now that Naomi has worked out the kinks of her sample packaging, anyone who likes indie perfumes needs to go and check out this store. There's a ton of stuff to choose from, including a handful of solid scents if that's your bag (I haven't tried those yet but I will when our weather finally cools down properly). Shipping is worldwide and very reasonable - my shipping cost for this most recent order was about $8.50AUD. And the perfumes are really beautiful.<br />
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<br />Deehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09349956327915851336noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4293120323388446237.post-12646186083547777752014-04-02T18:24:00.003+10:302014-04-02T18:24:59.749+10:3050 Book Challenge 2014 - March Books <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSXYWtDPlt_U1BuDz_7j1ShQgDghv4mklL2eDIfRkQVfcO26js27cFE0UzVAvSLGbl1FctdRcOalpFloEuYBSS9bcofVlSe_9lADSHQRjJzMxMd9Gmbke-tbG-M09XMg_vj3fNJpndS1Y/s1600/berks.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSXYWtDPlt_U1BuDz_7j1ShQgDghv4mklL2eDIfRkQVfcO26js27cFE0UzVAvSLGbl1FctdRcOalpFloEuYBSS9bcofVlSe_9lADSHQRjJzMxMd9Gmbke-tbG-M09XMg_vj3fNJpndS1Y/s1600/berks.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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9. <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Amazing-Adventures-Dietgirl-Shauna-Reid-ebook/dp/B0031RS4UC/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1396425088&sr=1-2&keywords=the+amazing+adventures+of+diet+girl">The Amazing Adventures of Dietgirl - Shauna Reid</a></div>
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This is basically a blog turned into a book, and
that’s pretty much how it read. It was an easy read though, and I zipped
through it pretty quickly. It’s written by a woman who grew up
overweight and decided to lose weight in her early
20s, while simultaneously going to live overseas for a year, and it’s
just about how she got slim and found a fella. Cute but forgettable.
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10. <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Mothertime-Novel-Gillian-White-ebook/dp/B00BLVSYB4/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1396425145&sr=1-1&keywords=mothertime">Mothertime - Gillian White</a></div>
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I read this way back in the early 90s and didn’t
remember much about it besides the bare bones. A group of children tired
of dealing with their drunken mess of a mother decide to lock her in the
basement until she turns into the mother they
want. It sounds more sinister than it is. The story is actually a
really interesting feminist text about the destructive effect that a
selfish man who doesn’t like women has on the women in his life. It made
me think a lot about Don Draper and his wives.
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11. <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Missing-You-Harlan-Coben/dp/1409144607/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1396425185&sr=1-1&keywords=missing+you">Missing You - Harlan Coben</a></div>
Very typical Harlan Coben story about people from
the past showing up suddenly and not being who they appear to be.
There’s an internet money-fishing scam going on and a sub-plot about a
murdered father, then a bit of a rubbish twist that
is pretty obvious from early on in the novel. Definitely not one of his
better ones, but it was a fast read – I cleaned it up in a day.<br />
Deehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09349956327915851336noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4293120323388446237.post-64147911623853731652014-03-22T15:42:00.002+10:302014-03-22T15:42:32.492+10:30People. What a bunch of bastards. This morning Noodles and I were walking down the street, minding our own business, chatting away. Then some bruiser sitting on a motorcycle outside a shop said loudly as we passed him, 'Why don't you get a cowbell to go with that stupid ring in your nose, you stupid bitch.' Noodles has a septum piercing.<br />
<br />
Now, at first I didn't realise he was speaking to us and I didn't notice Noodles suddenly go quiet and her head drop. Then when I started to parse what he had said I remembered the word 'cow' and assumed he had been talking to me, for I am somewhat the chunker. So as I started to get pissed off about that, I finally made the connection and realised he had been speaking to Noodles. However, even though mere seconds had gone by, we were well past him by the time it finally clicked in my head what had happened. I said, 'Was that directed at you?' and she said 'Yes', quietly. I wanted to go back and give him an earful, but she wouldn't let me. So we kept walking. And she was crushed. Her previously good mood was gone, her face was sullen, and she looked like she was making a concerted effort to not cry. Pleasant walk over. A lovely kind girl who would never dream of deliberately hurting someone else's feelings made to feel like a piece of shit because of a perfectly harmless fashion choice. <br />
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I felt - and still do feel hours later - sad and furious. What kind of fucking arsehole yells abuse at a teenage girl walking past just minding her own business? What kind of grown man gets some sort of entertainment out of making a young woman feel small and ruining her day? It's bad enough when grown women can't walk the street without getting yelled at by random strangers, but who is so much of a fucking prick that picking on a teenage girl seems like a good idea?<br />
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She seems okay now, but I know she's still thinking about it. And for that I hope that fucker falls off his bike and breaks both legs.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcybMfayyPxP7wGsS2oZRbar0zYusBJbndPBBVkbh3foQWR-rozl5o0fZwcmWLpJIOkLnQ22I5nHHdkilIlQo1HKXpxJBc5NxyqQK0A1Z8SRzLO-opBbdwFnXylcZ-ZHICGpodOf7nnoA/s1600/alan+jones.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcybMfayyPxP7wGsS2oZRbar0zYusBJbndPBBVkbh3foQWR-rozl5o0fZwcmWLpJIOkLnQ22I5nHHdkilIlQo1HKXpxJBc5NxyqQK0A1Z8SRzLO-opBbdwFnXylcZ-ZHICGpodOf7nnoA/s1600/alan+jones.jpg" height="251" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />Deehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09349956327915851336noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4293120323388446237.post-14979021179641720412014-03-09T15:16:00.001+10:302014-03-09T15:16:48.219+10:30The SA List: Sweet Anthem Perfumes Seasonal SamplerA few weeks back I read a blog post by <a href="http://libervix.blogspot.com.au/2014/01/the-sa-list-spring-2014.html">Liber Vix</a> about <a href="http://www.sweetanthemperfumes.com/">Sweet Anthem Perfumes'</a> new sampler box, and of course I was all over it immediately like a cheap suit. I love that a perfume company has thought to get in on this sort of thing - finally a subscription box with things I'm actually interested in, instead of - well - <a href="http://yearofthetightarse.blogspot.com.au/2013/10/wtf-bellabox.html">useless crap</a>. <br />
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My first box came in the mail a couple of weeks ago and I've finally gotten around to testing out the perfumes (I hate to say it, but I've been kind of perfumed out lately, going back over and over again to the same couple of scents rather than testing out the newer samples I have EVERYWHERE). But first up, can we just take a moment to admire the gorgeous packaging?<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO8oJ6FNV0_AxbHHkbXIWdWTUD2pQHwcavHaKK0y2NTU0NWS36sdZQ6NQAico_9s9J8zx1W2Er6BQwgDJdc_GQ1xnQTXIlDxjX_RismzVO4J2LOBvfytb9fM2YvV2zH3kJaw8G6bSI6Xc/s1600/sweet+anthem+sampler+packaging.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO8oJ6FNV0_AxbHHkbXIWdWTUD2pQHwcavHaKK0y2NTU0NWS36sdZQ6NQAico_9s9J8zx1W2Er6BQwgDJdc_GQ1xnQTXIlDxjX_RismzVO4J2LOBvfytb9fM2YvV2zH3kJaw8G6bSI6Xc/s1600/sweet+anthem+sampler+packaging.JPG" height="371" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0Me-chCb0ya-QNUnJj9TVChetXGu2JrQ_ONK8u-eG_HcsuZfflZ4BHNNljT2Cn74nd9rUCgHaTXuEmRNc0tWwwxKzCX4GfMI4NhmZtOFFvCFJUa1WC_8SVhoBcnp6hObtsfb-YKBhAZI/s1600/sweet+anthem+open+box.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0Me-chCb0ya-QNUnJj9TVChetXGu2JrQ_ONK8u-eG_HcsuZfflZ4BHNNljT2Cn74nd9rUCgHaTXuEmRNc0tWwwxKzCX4GfMI4NhmZtOFFvCFJUa1WC_8SVhoBcnp6hObtsfb-YKBhAZI/s1600/sweet+anthem+open+box.JPG" height="400" width="352" /></a></div>
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I don't know a whole lot about Sweet Anthem, but they seem to have a smallish range - many of which are seasonal, and they are available as perfume oils, solids, and eau de parfum. The samples in this box are EDPs. Their website is beautiful but can be a little frustrating because they seem to have all their perfumes listed all the time, even though some of them are only apparently available at certain times of the year. <br />
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I have only tried one or two Sweet Anthem scents in the past, and I only have one at the moment called <b>Anastasia</b> that I think was sent to me by <a href="http://myperfumediaries.blogspot.com.au/">Su</a>, from memory. It's not currently available, which is a pity because I'd definitely be up for a full bottle of that one. I did a review of it <a href="http://365daysofsmells.blogspot.com.au/2013/03/anastasia-sweet-anthem.html">here</a>. <br />
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The idea of <a href="http://www.sweetanthemperfumes.com/collections/the-sa-list">The SA List</a> is that you get to try two seasonal releases before they are available, which gives you loads of time to test them out and decide if you want full sizes when they are released officially. The sampler is sent four times a year and you can subscribe for two, three or four seasons. Postage is paid once and covers however many others you ordered (and is very reasonable - I paid $9US postage). You also receive a $10 voucher and at least one extra sample of a past release.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR53qz4ZCiWZxdGFP0RzIyJkFLE-7K5m8Q2DCyVqxhWMAfkEraW6xhFOnb6ntzMaz_SRepUC9ZEl-pW8FZHYl2aSTqf0RS1YQEv-s_8cmTJXrPU9suCFlyOanzVMc4N0c3Zn42cTvgeNI/s1600/sweet+anthem+perfume+samples.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR53qz4ZCiWZxdGFP0RzIyJkFLE-7K5m8Q2DCyVqxhWMAfkEraW6xhFOnb6ntzMaz_SRepUC9ZEl-pW8FZHYl2aSTqf0RS1YQEv-s_8cmTJXrPU9suCFlyOanzVMc4N0c3Zn42cTvgeNI/s1600/sweet+anthem+perfume+samples.JPG" height="400" width="366" /></a></div>
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The two Spring samples are <b>Poppy</b> and <b>Lolita</b>. I also received a sample of <b>Marianne</b>, and a full solid scent of <b>Miho</b>. Pretty good deal for $7US!<br />
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<a href="http://www.sweetanthemperfumes.com/collections/poppy">Poppy</a><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>The caliginous haze of resurrection. Spicy clove dripping with cocoa, smoky opium and Turkish musk with a motley crew of red flowers - a saffron-stained carnation among them.</i> </blockquote>
In the vial this smells like dark, bitter chocolate but not sweet - more like a really expensive cocoa powder than a chocolate bar. I had such high hopes for this - I love everything in it, especially the carnation and saffron. Sadly, what I got on the skin was clove, clove, clove. It was like when that kid came late to class in the 1980s because he'd been to the dentist. After a while the clove did tone down a little but it still dominated all the other notes, and I'm slightly heartbroken because everything else in this blend is everything I love. If I'm flush one day I might get a custom perfume made with everything but the clove.<br />
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<a href="http://www.sweetanthemperfumes.com/collections/lolita">Lolita</a><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>Honey-limbed, sparkling river nymph. Resinous tonka bean, sweet cherry blossom, a bushel of aldehydes, musky sea spray. </i></blockquote>
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Perfumes called Lolita are usually some sickly sweet concoction of candy and bubblegum, so I was pleasantly surprised by this one to start with. It's sweet but not candy-like, and certainly not childish. In the vial I get cherry blossom (which I love) and an aquatic note, which I don't normally care much for but works well here. On the skin the honey gives a lush sweetness while it's wet, and in the dry down there's a note of something that almost smells citrus to me, but I don't know what it is. This is a really interesting, complex blend and sort of reminds me of a lot of <a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/darlingclandestine">Darling Clandestine</a> scents in that I can never figure out entirely whether I like them or not, though I keep using them and sniffing them constantly. I need to test this one out a few more times to make up my mind about it. <br />
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<a href="http://www.sweetanthemperfumes.com/collections/marianne">Marianne</a><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>Romantic spices, sugared peony blossoms, and tuberose flowers from a lover; they read together in whispers from a dust-laden tome of Shakespearean sonnets. </i></blockquote>
This was the extra EDP sample. In the vial and when first applied to my wrist the pepper is prominent, but the floral takes the edge off it. It's spicy without making me screw my nose up. It dries down to a feminine floral with the leather and mahogany not really noticable to me as notes, but adding a warmth to it that stops it from being super girly. It's quite light and fresh, I would probably wear this in summer.<br />
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<b>Miho</b><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>Is this a mirage? Just a tiny drop will cure any summertime visions with this sweet and fruity floral perfume.</i></blockquote>
Miho is not currently listed on the website so I'm not sure if it's a seasonal or a discontinued scent. This was another freebie - a full size solid scent. The notes are sweet orange, lotus, violet, coconut, musk, sea moss. I could definitely smell the coconut, which gave it a tropical feel. Interestingly I usually hate tropical scents because there is something in a lot of them that just smells really fake. However, I'm really enjoying Miho. Again I think I'd probably wear it a lot more in hot weather than cold (and I've been wearing it a bit lately since it's still pretty hot here even though it's technically Autumn). It's not an especially unique or complex scent to my nose - just a really pretty, wearable tropical floral. <br />
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Even though I'm not sure I'd get any of these in full sizes, I'm still happy enough with them to use up the generous samples (though I may pass on Poppy - it just does not like me), and I absolutely love the idea of a perfume company doing a sampler box. I get that it might not be practical for those who have larger catalogues or don't do seasonal releases, but I really hope more out there get on the bandwagon.<br />
<br />Deehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09349956327915851336noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4293120323388446237.post-64612978441264456302014-03-08T12:56:00.000+10:302014-03-08T12:56:11.403+10:3050 Book Challenge 2014 - February Books<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik2QKkS-zjXVk8r9SSeDzibhtpDBFZAnX-0onnooWQudp-gvGPpPQwCiUi-iwm2sAWjBsKVo3kfscbo9tAQfC7Sy8VZcVpXUc7NdJCpX8GzShjkIsJe82nMbBjT9grS5-V29XbGnVqrMk/s1600/bookshelf.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik2QKkS-zjXVk8r9SSeDzibhtpDBFZAnX-0onnooWQudp-gvGPpPQwCiUi-iwm2sAWjBsKVo3kfscbo9tAQfC7Sy8VZcVpXUc7NdJCpX8GzShjkIsJe82nMbBjT9grS5-V29XbGnVqrMk/s1600/bookshelf.JPG" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
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Well, gosh. After a <a href="http://yearofthetightarse.blogspot.com.au/2014/02/50-book-challenge-2014.html">sparkling beginning in January</a>,
February fell in a bit of a heap. In my defence: WEATHER. For about
half of February, I had no energy for anything beyond staring vacantly
at a television screen. So I only ended up reading two books this month. I’m back into reading now after
that heat-related slump, so hopefully my list will be more impressive at
the end of March. </div>
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<b>7.</b> <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Breaker-Minette-Walters/dp/1447207939/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1394245153&sr=1-2&keywords=the+breaker">The Breaker - Minette Walters</a></div>
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I read this a few years ago but because I have the memory of a goldfish I can read crime novels every couple of years and not remember the story. I wish I'd remembered this one though, because it was crap. This is probably her worst book - the obvious suspect at the beginning who seems way <i>too</i> obvious turns out to be the killer for a ridiculously convoluted reason that doesn't even really make sense. Spoiler alert: don't bother. </div>
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<b>8.</b> <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Alienist-Number-Laszlo-Kreizler-Schuyler/dp/0751547220/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1394245227&sr=1-1&keywords=the+alienist">The Alienist – Caleb Carr</a></div>
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This book is about 20 years old and crops up in
‘100 Best Blah Blah Books’ type lists all the time, but I never had any
interest in it before, as the little I knew about it (old timey
detective novel) didn’t appeal to me. Then a few weeks
back I was reading an article about <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lucien_carr">Lucien Carr</a> (member of the Beat
Generation and BFF of Jack Kerouac), in which it was mentioned that
Caleb Carr is his son. I had a mild obsession with the Beat Generation as a
teenager – I devoured biographies about all of them,
and attempted (and failed – lord, a lot of it is garbage) to read their
actual work, so anything related to this group of fascinating weirdos
piques my interest. Hence my sudden decision to read <b>The Alienist</b>, a
book which has nothing at all to do with the
Beat Generation. But that’s just how my brain works. </div>
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The story is one of early forensics – Teddy
Roosevelt, then the Police Commissioner of New York, asks two of his old
college friends to discreetly investigate the murder of a child prostitute
in 1896. The two men – a brilliant psychiatrist looked
on with suspicion by the public for his innovative ideas, and the
police reporter who is telling the story – realise very quickly that the
murder is in fact one of a series, and off on the trail of a serial
killer they go. The book is incredibly detailed about
the methods of investigation they use – there are pages and pages
outlining the brainstorming sessions the two have with the crew they
have assembled to help catch their killer, along with long explanations
of what were then virtually unknown forensic methods
like fingerprinting and criminal profiling. In lesser hands it could
have been a really boring book, but I found it fascinating – and not
only am I not generally fascinated by anything to do with serial
killers, but I side eye people who proudly state that
they are (that’s a rant for another day). I think the distance of time
helps – an olde worlde (fictional) crime – even one as shocking as this –
is much more palatable to read about than a more recent one. But I also
found the painstaking detail of how forensics
came to be used in the solving of crimes back in ye olden days and how
it was looked on with suspicion very interesting. Caleb Carr is a
historian, and it shows – the man has obviously done his research.
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
The ending fell down a bit for me – I found it
quite flat and in the vein of 90% of crime novels in that it all seemed
to be tied up in a slightly ridiculous, slightly too quick, slightly
unbelievable way. However, if I’ve enjoyed the
majority of a novel, I can generally forgive a bit of a rubbish ending,
especially when it comes to a mystery solved.Deehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09349956327915851336noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4293120323388446237.post-83991035859966465172014-02-22T12:24:00.002+10:302014-02-22T12:24:46.485+10:30Arcana Valentines 2014<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW_2gYJw0nKnGpqFgOTFjyHpbmimhiK47Z9VTlteQuP-O3rtYdcEg42Xp5Fk97yYHpNsWiNE4ZBfy2UwPTGHu6I2lwLLZFWNQlqDUUwUh0ANZxIpyhpGCQCToyXPaktIkbQTSYTKDSU4I/s1600/arcana+valentines+2014.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW_2gYJw0nKnGpqFgOTFjyHpbmimhiK47Z9VTlteQuP-O3rtYdcEg42Xp5Fk97yYHpNsWiNE4ZBfy2UwPTGHu6I2lwLLZFWNQlqDUUwUh0ANZxIpyhpGCQCToyXPaktIkbQTSYTKDSU4I/s1600/arcana+valentines+2014.JPG" height="292" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
A couple of weeks ago, Julia from <a href="http://arcanasoaps.com/">Arcana Soaps</a> made a short-term offer on Twitter for her followers - pay for shipping and she would send some samples from the new Valentine's Day collection <a href="http://arcanasoapslove.livejournal.com/136067.html">The Beast</a>. Since Arcana doesn't do retail samples for limited edition collections (that I know of) and I am too lazy to bother with decants, I jumped at the chance to try some. I expected maybe two, which I would have been jazzed with, but instead I received five, plus one from the regular catalogue. All for $6US postage. SCORE.<br />
<br />
All of these have medium to highish sillage and they last for hours and hours. I could still smell them the following morning on my wrist before I'd had a shower. <br />
<br />
<b>Simbi d'l'Eau</b><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i><span class="descrip">A Loa with the unpredictability and immense power
of the oceans, he is pleased by offerings of water and green ribbons. A
fresh, aquatic mix of tart raspberry, rainwater, green musk, clematis,
osmanthus, tiare blossoms, and ambergris. <span class="descrip"><span class="descrip"><span class="descrip">Part of the New Orleans Trio, from the February 2014 Collection. </span></span></span></span></i></blockquote>
<span class="descrip"><span class="descrip"><span class="descrip"><span class="descrip"></span></span></span></span><br />
<span class="descrip"><span class="descrip"><span class="descrip"><span class="descrip">In the vial this smells like a green aquatic - not my cup of tea but I'm always happy to try new things. Unfortunately it turned to soap on my skin immediately. Not unpleasant, but just... well, soap. I'll be passing this one on to someone else to have crack at. </span></span></span></span><br />
<span class="descrip"><span class="descrip"><span class="descrip"><span class="descrip"><br /></span></span></span></span>
<b><span class="descrip"><span class="descrip"><span class="descrip"><span class="descrip">Nymphomania</span></span></span></span></b><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i><span class="descrip">Lusty Victorian ladies who foolishly admitted to liking sex wound up with this diagnosis. Eating too much chocolate,
reading too many books, and wearing enticing perfumes were all among the causative
factors. (Which explains a lot, no?) An indulgent blend of smoked frankincense, golden amber, warmly spiced
vodka, thick myrrh, ruby guava, black tea, tobacco leaf, and pink pepper.</span></i></blockquote>
<span class="descrip"></span><br />
<span class="descrip">This is a deep, smokey, slightly feminine scent but definitely leans unisex. It's quite potent, and there is a spiciness to it that is most likely the pepper. The smell of tea is prominent in the vial but I didn't pick it up on my skin - it was all frankincense and amber and that smokey tobacco on me. I liked it a lot but I don't think I'd get a full bottle as it's not one I'd wear all that often. </span><br />
<br />
<b><span class="descrip">Little Man In The Boat</span></b><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i><span class="descrip"><span class="descrip">Serving no procreative purpose, the clitoris
exists only for pleasure. Definitive proof that we were designed for bliss? Of
course! Peach nectar and delicate musk dripping with Tupelo honey, Clover
honey, and one dainty tuberose petal.</span></span></i></blockquote>
<span class="descrip"><span class="descrip">All I can say is that this does definitely conjure up the aroma of... well... It is what it says it is. It's a musky peach scent with a slight sweetness from the honey. Not my thing because I really don't much like peach, but I imagine loads of people would love this one. </span> </span><br />
<br />
<b><span class="descrip">Maman Brigitte</span></b><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i><span class="descrip"><span class="descrip"><span class="descrip">The bawdy, fun-loving queen of death, Maman
Brigitte guards the cemetery, protects prostitutes, gets down on the
dance floor, and curses like a Somali sailor. Black amber,
cherry-infused red musk, animalic musk, cocoa absolute, white amber,
clove bud, tobacco, and the smallest sprig of graveyard mint. <span class="descrip"><span class="descrip">Part of the New Orleans Trio, from the February 2014 Collection. </span></span></span></span></span></i></blockquote>
<span class="descrip"><span class="descrip"><span class="descrip"><span class="descrip"><span class="descrip">One of my favourites, and definitely a full bottle purchase. In the vial it smells like bitter chocolate and tobacco, but it mellows on the skin to a deep smokey, musky amber. It's not for the faint-hearted, but it's bloody gorgeous. Every now and then I think I can catch that mint, but it's so fleeting I don't know if I've just convinced myself it's there. LOVE. </span></span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<b><span class="descrip"><span class="descrip"><span class="descrip"><span class="descrip"><span class="descrip">Afterglow</span></span></span></span></span></b><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span class="descrip"><span class="descrip"><span class="descrip"><span class="descrip"><span class="descrip"><span class="descrip"><i>It exists between ecstasy and quietude. The
soft euphoria of white amber, vanilla bean, vanilla milk, Malbec grapes,
Arcana's own Lust blend, cognac absolute, and a drop of cool peppermint.</i></span></span></span></span></span></span></blockquote>
<span class="descrip"><span class="descrip"><span class="descrip"><span class="descrip"><span class="descrip"><span class="descrip"></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span class="descrip"><span class="descrip"><span class="descrip"><span class="descrip"><span class="descrip"><span class="descrip">Another on the full bottle list for me. A warm, milky vanilla (not that sickly milk, though it does teeter a bit when first applied), the grapes and the cognac are more prominent in the vial than on the skin for me. I do wish they came out a bit more because I love the notes in the vial. The peppermint is there but it's not 'minty' as such. It adds a sort of snowy note, just to keep it from being a full on warm vanilla. Gorgeous. </span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<b><span class="descrip"><span class="descrip"><span class="descrip"><span class="descrip"><span class="descrip"><span class="descrip">The Darling Buds</span></span></span></span></span></span></b><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i><span class="descrip"><span class="descrip"><span class="descrip"><span class="descrip"><span class="descrip"><span class="descrip">The fresh essence of the darling buds of May. Baby cucumber, strawberry, petitgrain, grapefruit, pomegranate, basil and a splash of pink rosewater. </span></span></span></span></span></span></i></blockquote>
<span class="descrip"><span class="descrip"><span class="descrip"><span class="descrip"><span class="descrip"><span class="descrip">This is a strong fruity, slightly spicy scent that I can appreciate aesthetically as a blend, but that doesn't do a lot for me on a personal level. I'm just not a fan of fruit. The basil really amped on me a lot - I guess that was the spicy element. I do love the smell of basil, but more so in the kitchen than on my wrist. It's fun, but not me. </span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span class="descrip"><span class="descrip"><span class="descrip"><span class="descrip"><span class="descrip"><span class="descrip"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span>
<span class="descrip"><span class="descrip"><span class="descrip"><span class="descrip"><span class="descrip"><span class="descrip">Arcana limited editions stay around for ages, and you can easily find decant circles for them on indie perfume forums. They don't have an online store, but sell through other etailers such as <a href="http://www.therhinestonehousewife.com/">The Rhinestone Housewife </a>and <a href="http://thesoapboxco.com/">The Soap Box Co</a>, both of whom ship internationally and have excellent customer service (beware Rhinestone Housewife's shipping though - it's the $25 flat pack kind for international, which is bearable if you're buying a lot but not worth it if you just want a bottle or two). </span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span class="descrip"><span class="descrip"><span class="descrip"><span class="descrip"><span class="descrip"><span class="descrip">Overall, I love Arcana perfumes - they are fantastic quality and last for ages. And Julia is a gem. </span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
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Deehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09349956327915851336noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4293120323388446237.post-9377014250696456952014-02-04T11:37:00.002+10:302014-02-04T11:38:24.072+10:3050 Book Challenge - 2014<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6Siu_I6_bbt-ynRlMXoFd1-W8y8TvM7Wm07GfUEBMJBAR5YsRHVyOeq13lGb3jxh2IcH0tW94S_5B3HOmCAuZilSjlLhx0pND3AHKYx7fwiVqYk5uA52cwBDRGNconUoA7db7fh_InUI/s1600/lots+of+books.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6Siu_I6_bbt-ynRlMXoFd1-W8y8TvM7Wm07GfUEBMJBAR5YsRHVyOeq13lGb3jxh2IcH0tW94S_5B3HOmCAuZilSjlLhx0pND3AHKYx7fwiVqYk5uA52cwBDRGNconUoA7db7fh_InUI/s1600/lots+of+books.jpg" height="267" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
I have slacked off on blogging for the past few weeks because it has been SO FREAKIN' HOT. The weather is doing me in, I'm not even kidding. There have been times when I've looked at the forecast and almost burst into tears. Why could I not have been born into a cold country? Or at least one that doesn't get to 'fried egg on a footpath' levels in the summer.<br />
<br />
Anyway, because of that I have postponed everything - no weekly makeup baskets because it's too hot for makeup; it would just melt right off me. No new resolutions beyond 'try not to cry when you see the weather forecast'. No perfume testing because it's too hot for anything more than a quick spritz of Jovan White Musk, and man are those perfumes piling up. Eeek! No swatching the many eyeshadows and things I've been intending to get to because it's too hot to be outside dicking around with a camera. And so on and so forth.<br />
<br />
However, what I have been doing is a lot of reading, because I have no energy to pull myself off the couch. Hopefully after last year's pathetic effort, I'm more on track to beat the <b>50 Book Challenge</b> this year. I'm going to do a monthly update, which should hopefully encourage me to actually make an effort to have something to report.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Night-Film-Marisha-Pessl-ebook/dp/B00COMWJBK/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1391473567&sr=8-1&keywords=night+film">1. Night Film - Marisha Pessl</a><br />
There is a lot to like about this book. It sets up a creepy story about an elusive film-maker and a disgraced investigative journalist who tries to track his story. The book is full of cool gimmicks like photos and news articles. However, about a third of the way in it really started to feel bogged down and taking a huge amount of time to get anywhere, and the ending was a mess. That said, overall I enjoyed reading it, and it creeped me out in a fun way. I knew nothing at all about the story going in, and as with most books, I think it's one of those 'the less you know the better' ones.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Tell-Pierce-Reed-Nikki-Gillette-ebook/dp/B00HVM8WRI/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1391473885&sr=8-1&keywords=tell+me">2. Tell Me - Lisa Jackson</a><br />
This book was so unmemorable I had to look up the plot, and I only read it a few weeks ago. One of a series of crime novels featuring a reporter and her police detective fiance. She wants the 'real story' of her childhood friend's murder as the ostensible murderer - the girl's own mother - is about to be released from prison. The solving of the mystery at the end is a dog's breakfast. Don't bother.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/All-Girl-Filling-Stations-Last-Reunion-ebook/dp/B00EPKKNNA/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1391474431&sr=8-1&keywords=fannie+flagg+the+all-girl+filling+station%27s+last+reunion">3. The All-Girl Filling Station's Last Reunion - Fannie Flagg</a><br />
I loved <i>Fried Green Tomatoes At The Whistle Stop Cafe</i> back in the day, and the couple that came out after that, but when I tried to read some other Fannie Flagg book a few years ago I found it ridiculously twee and couldn't finish it, so I almost didn't bother with this. I'm glad I did though, as I really enjoyed it. It's FF all the way - a present day story and a past story that links together nicely in the end, lots of sassy girls with kooky names being useful and independent, a bit of a mild mystery referred to in an understated way and then casually solved at the end. In the present, perfect Southern WASP housewife Sookie discovers she is adopted and that her biological family are Polish Catholics. In the past, the story of her Polish family is told. It's an easy, page-turning read. <br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Silent-Wife-S-Harrison-ebook/dp/B00ABLJ59K/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1391474665&sr=8-1&keywords=the+silent+wife">4. The Silent Wife - A.S.A. Harrison</a><br />
This is being touted as 'this year's <i>Gone Girl</i>', and I can see why people are putting them in the same category, but I don't think it's on par with any of Gillian Flynn's novels, really. It's a page-turner though, and what more do you want in a mystery novel? It gets a bit bogged down and silly in the end, but I read this in one day and enjoyed it while I was reading it. It's about a couple who have been together for 20 years and what happens when - well, again, it's a story best read knowing little to nothing about it. If you want to while away the afternoon, you could do worse. <br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Before-We-Met-Lucie-Whitehouse-ebook/dp/B00GFH9DOQ/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1391474857&sr=8-1&keywords=before+we+met">5. Before We Met - Lucie Whitehouse</a><br />
Yet another domestic mystery with a twist, this one is about a woman whose husband is not where he said he was on a business trip, seems to have disappeared, and has told some weird, apparently pointless lies about his past. What could he be up to? Dun dun dun! A decent enough story, but took a heck of a long time to get where it was going - a more ruthless editor was needed here. As with so many of these kinds of books, the ending was a bit all over the place. Overall I quite liked it, though. <br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_i_0_15?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=the%20husband%27s%20secret&sprefix=the+husband%27s+s%2Caps%2C423&rh=i%3Aaps%2Ck%3Athe%20husband%27s%20secret&ajr=2">6. The Husband's Secret - Liane Moriarty</a><br />
Oh, god. I don't like Australian books. I don't like Australian television. I don't like Australian movies. Of course there are exceptions, but as a rule - if it was made here I avoid it like the plague. They're all the same, these earnest, kitchen sink dramas where 30-something middle-class inner suburbanites spend a lot of time stressing out about their problems and <i>coming to terms with things</i>. I didn't know this book was Australian when I started it, and had I known I would never have picked it up. As it turns out, it was very readable, and I finished it within a day, but it was pretty much exactly as above. To the point where the whole time I was reading it I was mentally picturing who will be in the film/TV show version (and you know there will for sure be one). Justine Clarke, Robyn Nevin, Vince Colosimo, William McInnes, Asher Keddie - mark my words, they're all going to show up here. <br />
<br />
<b>Books I gave up on: </b><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Drinking-Love-Story-Caroline-Knapp/dp/0385315546/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1391475360&sr=8-1&keywords=drinking+a+love+story">Drinking: A Love Story - Caroline Knapp</a><br />
I've had this for ages, and I can't remember why. I think I saw it mentioned favourably in an article or something. I read about a third and then couldn't stand anymore. It meanders all over the place, it's overly wordy, the stories are kind of nothing ('I drank too many cocktails at a wedding and my posh mother glared at me'), it's not linear - she constantly refers to these random stories that could be happening at any time. And for a memoir about a drunk it was just phenomenally <i>boring</i>. It was like a therapist told her to write it all down in a journal for her own catharsis and she went, 'Hey, I should publish this!'. <br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Happiness-Project-Morning-Aristotle-Generally-ebook/dp/B002VJ9HRK/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1391475565&sr=8-1&keywords=the+happiness+project">The Happiness Project - Gretchen Rubin</a><br />
Insufferable. That's all I have to say about it.<br />
<br />Deehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09349956327915851336noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4293120323388446237.post-2882546202554009242014-01-19T18:13:00.000+10:302014-01-19T18:13:51.889+10:30Resolutions 2014 #4<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />
This week's resolution is a very basic one: to put my alarm clock on the other side of the room so I have to get up to turn it off. I am a chronic hitter of the snooze button, and hopefully this will get rid of that bad habit.<br />
<br />
Also, my alarm clock is my phone, so that will also cut down on my tendency to start looking at the internet after getting up to pee in the middle of the night, instead of just going straight back to sleep.<br />
<br />
Update on previous resolutions:<br />
#1: <a href="http://yearofthetightarse.blogspot.com.au/2013/12/it-begins-resolutions-2014-year-of.html">Lose weight to fit into my nice clothes pining away in boxes. </a><br />
Ugh. Well, there's been no real movement on this one so far - and I have no excuse because I'm already three weeks into the year. But it's been so hot and I just couldn't be arsed going walking or even moving at all any more than absolutely necessary. I'm working on getting up earlier to get that out of the way first thing - maybe that will be next week's reso. Watch this space.<br />
<br />
#2. <a href="http://yearofthetightarse.blogspot.com.au/2014/01/resolutions-2014-2-and-3.html">Stop bitching about work. </a><br />
Ehhhhhh. Look, I won't lie and say I haven't bitched about work AT ALL, but I have cut it down dramatically. And I have to say, I feel better for it. Still working on cutting it out entirely, but these people - they just DO THESE THINGS and SAY THESE THINGS and WRITE BUSINESS EMAILS IN GIANT GREEN FONT. Calm blue ocean, calm blue ocean...<br />
<br />
#3. <a href="http://yearofthetightarse.blogspot.com.au/2014/01/resolutions-2014-2-and-3.html">No unnecessary spending for 30 days. </a><br />
Complete fail. I am going to try that one again on Feb 1. <br />
<br />Deehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09349956327915851336noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4293120323388446237.post-71184370994529619622014-01-19T18:00:00.002+10:302014-01-19T18:00:59.295+10:30Weekly Makeup for January 20<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />
I did not wear any makeup last week - it was 40+ every day and in an un-airconditioned house in a heatwave, makeup is a pointless waste of time. Even my moisturiser just melted off me within seconds of applying it. Thankfully, this week - while still warmer than I like - is not nearly as unreasonable.<br />
<br />
<b>Face: </b><br />
<ul>
<li>Chanel Mat Lumiere Foundation in Cendre</li>
<li>Urban Decay Shattered Face Case (includes blush, bronzer, highlighter, eyeshadows, eyeliner and lipstick</li>
<li>Jordana Blush Powder in Sunlit Bronze</li>
</ul>
<b>Eyes:</b><br />
<ul>
<li>Urban Decay Shattered Face Case</li>
<li>Tarte emphasEYES cream eyeshadow in Pink Champagne</li>
<li>Tarte emphasEYES cream eyeshadow in Plum Smoke</li>
<li>Tarte emphasEYES cream eyeshadow Shimmering Moss</li>
<li>Tarte emphasEYES cream eyeshadow in Shimmering Golden Beige</li>
</ul>
<b>Lips: </b><br />
<ul>
<li>Maybelline SuperStay 10HR Stain Gloss in Pink Plush</li>
<li>Maybelline SuperStay 10HR Stain Gloss in Ruby Indulgence</li>
<li>Maybelline SuperStay 10HR Stain Gloss in Mauve Dream</li>
</ul>
Deehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09349956327915851336noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4293120323388446237.post-20355290002821480412014-01-11T17:55:00.000+10:302014-01-11T17:55:15.973+10:30Alchimia Apothecary<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZqPBvL37saZtcu2ft_MyIf1Dlh-MD-mVr8Z9GQtrGBuaQ-8wZJz_rhYDTLr_9lYLoVZwdzMS7aPbKm__yoQp-qa8H_Ncs7BFy55WZRlDyvzdwp4VxuBMbyfDF-Ve2Xdg8F4WM80PETyI/s1600/alchimia+apothecary.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZqPBvL37saZtcu2ft_MyIf1Dlh-MD-mVr8Z9GQtrGBuaQ-8wZJz_rhYDTLr_9lYLoVZwdzMS7aPbKm__yoQp-qa8H_Ncs7BFy55WZRlDyvzdwp4VxuBMbyfDF-Ve2Xdg8F4WM80PETyI/s1600/alchimia+apothecary.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
I heard about <a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/AlchimiaApothecary">Alchimia Apothecary</a> months ago on <a href="http://www.reddit.com/r/Indiemakeupandmore/">Reddit</a>, and I hadn't intended to bother with it because I'm trying to
NOT discover new perfumes and just enjoy the huge amount I already
have. However, the company owner
Erin also frequents that particular subreddit, and her helpful, considered responses to people's
questions about perfumes generally made me think, 'Well, this chick
knows what she's talking about.' So I thought I'd just try out a few
because I can pretty much justify any purchase to myself.
I ordered a set of 5 samples and a set of 3 samples - a total of 8
(yay, I can do maths!).
<br />
<br />
I ordered on <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_2092702274" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ">22 November</span></span>, and they were shipped <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_2092702275" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ">27 November</span></span>.
They took forever to get to me - I think I finally received them on New
Year's Eve. I put this down to a combination of the time of the year, a
backlog in customs and our generally
rubbish postal service, because they were definitely shipped within a reasonable amount of time. Erin actually contacted me about a week before
Christmas to ask if I'd received it as she'd sent out a bunch at the
same time and the only other one that hadn't arrived yet was another
Australian customer. I wasn't worried - I know
the drill, I knew they'd show up eventually. And they did! <br />
<br />
When it arrived, my order was wrapped in cute orange bubble wrap with
a sticker but I didn't think to take any pictures of the wrapping. The
vials are brown, and I don't think I've ever seen that before. I thought that was
pretty cool - darker storage
is always better for perfume oils. There was an extra free sample of one of the Yule perfumes, and a special surprise that I'm
saving until last.
<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/164954602/druid-fluid-alchimia-apothecary-artisan?ref=shop_home_active_1&ga_search_query=druid%2Bfluid">Druid Fluid</a> is a bright, fresh floral with a zingy green note. It's
very much in what I refer to as the 'old lady garden' category. I liked
it a lot, and I'll probably pick up a full size at some point. This kind
of perfume is definitely
my jam. <br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/164986437/in-ovation-alchimia-apothecary-artisan?ref=shop_home_active_1&ga_search_query=in%2Bovation">In Ovation</a> is something I have never come across before - a summery
vanilla. I can't really describe what it is about it that's summery, but
it definitely is. Noodles says it smells a bit like lime, but I don't
really get that myself.
<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/164988185/magma-alchimia-apothecary-artisan?ref=shop_home_active_1&ga_search_query=magma">Magma</a> is sweet and fruity and a little bit fizzy. It's a very young
perfume to me, kind of lollyish and doesn't change much. I like it, but
I'm way too old for it. <br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/164950964/a-la-gory-alchimia-apothecary-artisan?ref=shop_home_active_1&ga_search_query=a%2Bla%2Bgory">A la Gory</a> has a massive hit of cherry in the vial and wet on the skin
- that was all I could smell at first. However, the cherry note faded
quickly, and then I was left with a sweet, kind of soapy floral smell
for a while, not really
foody. Half an hour or so later the dry down is sweet vanilla biscuit.
I liked the dry down but it's quite similar to a few other cake/pastry
perfumes I already have. <br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/165062451/sea-cret-alchimia-apothecary-artisan?ref=shop_home_active_1&ga_search_query=sea-cret">SeaCret</a> is an ozone perfume with a slight musk note in the dry down.
Ozones are not my cup of tea at all but I think people who like them
would really enjoy this version.
<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/163150948/caramel-knowledge-alchimia-apothecary?ref=shop_home_active_1&ga_search_query=caramel%2Bknowledge">Caramel Knowledge</a> had what I thought was another strong hit of
cherry, but then realised it was almonds. I don't know why but I always
confuse those two notes. Thankfully (because I hate almond), it goes
away within a minute or two and
then I'm left with a kind of sweet and soapy, clean smell - creamy
luxury soap. Oddly I didn't get any kind of foodiness from this one at
all after the almond, and I expected it to be the most overtly gourmand.
It's nice enough, but on me it just smells like
a really expensive soap. <br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/164985525/hue-bris-alchimia-apothecary-artisan?ref=shop_home_active_1&ga_search_query=hue%2Bbris">Hue Bris</a> smells like old school fruit sticks - you know <a href="http://www.lollyshopwangi.com.au/aussie-favourites/fruit-sticks-fruit-stix/">the green and orange ones</a>?
It's a bit sweet and fizzy and a tiny bit floral. Several hours later
it
smelled like a musky rose. I liked that element quite a lot, but the
initial lolly notes didn't really grab me - again, I'm too old for that.
<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/171072312/sinning-saints-alchimia-apothecary?ref=shop_home_active_1&ga_search_query=sinning%2Bsaints">Sinning Saints</a> is my Yule freebie, a <span style="font-size: small;">spicy peppery</span> rose. The rose amped like crazy on
me with this one and it was all I could smell for about 12 hours. It was
nice, but a bit much on a hot day.
<br />
<br />
If you're as good as me at maths you will notice that's actually 8
samples, not 9. I also have <a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/164984717/hook-alchimia-apothecary-artisan-blended?ref=shop_home_active_1&ga_search_query=hook">Hook</a> but I've lost it somewhere in the
house. It will turn up eventually. <br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">Now, a few weeks before
I ordered, there was a discussion on Reddit about what kind of themes
people would like to see in indie makeup and/or perfume, and I mentioned
a conversation
that Noodles and I had once had about how there should be a collection of
<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freaks_and_Geeks">Freaks and Geeks</a> perfumes. We spent ages thinking about possible note
combinations like diesel oil and cannabis for Daniel and so on. I don’t
remember them all now and I really wish I’d
written them down at the time. Anyway, one of the ones I did remember
and mentioned in the Reddit discussion was bubblegum and tobacco for Kim
Kelly. Erin and I had a brief little chat about how awesome <b>Freaks and
Geeks</b> is, and I’d mentioned something like chocolate
milk and peanut butter for Bill (thinking of the scene where he eats a
sandwich while laughing at the television) and Erin reminded me that
Bill was deathly allergic to peanuts. And that was about it. But then my
order turns up with a bottle of a perfume
called… KIM KELLY. I was thrilled that Erin was thoughtful enough to
not only remember having that specific conversation with me, but that
she then went and specially made me a perfume from it. And it’s really
good – the bubblegum and tobacco are the opening notes, and
it smells exactly like someone smoking and chewing Hubba Bubba. The other notes are violet, black agar, benzoin resin, ambergris, and spice. The dry down is still ever so slightly sweet from the bubblegum, but that's in the background while the benzoin and violet create a lovely floral woody note. I love this perfume - it's what I have always wanted every other bubblegum perfume to be, rather than the sickly sweet Lolitaesque concoctions they usually are. And it is just how I imagine Kim Kelly would have smelled. I hope Erin does do a whole <b>Freaks and Geeks</b> collection one day, because I would be first in line to buy them. </span></span> </div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">As well as her
listings, Erin also makes custom perfumes and I’ve seen many a happy
customer rave about their own personal scent on Reddit. She also sells solid perfumes and some face care products, but I have not tried any of those as yet. In conclusion, <b>Alchimia
Apothecary</b> is a shop well worth checking out if you’re into perfume
oils. </span></span></div>
Deehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09349956327915851336noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4293120323388446237.post-28606656577304364252014-01-09T10:49:00.000+10:302014-01-09T10:49:00.129+10:30My Favourite Television of 20132013 was an awesome year for television. I'm not even going to bother
with the givens like <i>Mad Men</i>, <i>Parks and Recreation</i>, <i>Breaking Bad</i>, and so on. I could go on about those forever. <br />
<br />
<h2>
<b>Old Favourites</b></h2>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjorUQtrIjKJZa0CsreSDdrxvqhcv9B_Se7SChABKfYR_mKRqYFl780m2K3Nq869e6krwhdlLKVwhsvEFBSfM17NeKH2df9WeAF-RBQNtQADjZEvUW98JVHFgwe5Gzt6WznbmtyXQT84FI/s1600/holder+feels.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjorUQtrIjKJZa0CsreSDdrxvqhcv9B_Se7SChABKfYR_mKRqYFl780m2K3Nq869e6krwhdlLKVwhsvEFBSfM17NeKH2df9WeAF-RBQNtQADjZEvUW98JVHFgwe5Gzt6WznbmtyXQT84FI/s1600/holder+feels.gif" height="267" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<b>The Killing</b><br />
Oh dear. It all fell apart in the end, didn't it? I already had my <a href="http://yearofthetightarse.blogspot.com.au/2013/08/the-killing-when-will-they-learn.html">rant about the last episode</a> (warning, spoilers ahoy), but up until then,
Season 3 was excellent. Although I was a big fan of the first two
seasons, I did feel that there were faults, and this season showed they
had learned some lessons from those. The break out character was of
course Bullet, the tomboy streetkid who strikes up an uneasy friendship
with Holder. Their relationship was gold, and their chemistry amazing.
If only that final episode never happened. *sigh*<br />
<br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_6x5gV6qsKHxGXrcJW9ACc719WNZq0ckTdDBUAnIWRl_8KLv-XKh0-tmL4ir1M7dFsw5jRbN52jHrBqO5DZV_73p00ILrdzu3_7cS3jmJQX0Ctj_e_U9LT6xoZunXgwQlWp-OAOY9aVY/s1600/nashville.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_6x5gV6qsKHxGXrcJW9ACc719WNZq0ckTdDBUAnIWRl_8KLv-XKh0-tmL4ir1M7dFsw5jRbN52jHrBqO5DZV_73p00ILrdzu3_7cS3jmJQX0Ctj_e_U9LT6xoZunXgwQlWp-OAOY9aVY/s1600/nashville.jpeg" height="233" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<b>Nashville</b><br />
Hayden Panattiere is SLAYING in this show. Seriously - why is she not
raking in awards? She is so under-rated it's ridiculous. This is still
the glitzy, mildly trashy soapy drama that it was in the first season,
though they have moved away from the slightly boring political subplot
and concentrated more on the more fun conflicts of music industry
shenanigans. They have also done a really great job of fleshing out
previously one-note characters (Juliette, Avery), and turning them into
complex people you can care about. The songs are amazing - there is a
wealth of songwriting talent involved in this show, and if you have the
slightest liking for country music, the show is worth watching for the
music alone.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCumMk9-ffEjy01NkHQKnzLZES9pb2Brg-CI0kVIzf8nfKtT8qWYjYaAwA08J_cTKDUQBG-3v09DTuPpgJTiFDhfOu2hyPI0_HCyyy85PJwd47dmY-YOs4GOOecqm7z7Mu3wC3VHvT1Cc/s1600/tina+falls.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCumMk9-ffEjy01NkHQKnzLZES9pb2Brg-CI0kVIzf8nfKtT8qWYjYaAwA08J_cTKDUQBG-3v09DTuPpgJTiFDhfOu2hyPI0_HCyyy85PJwd47dmY-YOs4GOOecqm7z7Mu3wC3VHvT1Cc/s1600/tina+falls.gif" height="225" width="400" /></a></b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_2luU0jIN5Mcf289qNhs63hFMrufml7S8pnRB1x4HVMwcPui8FKXWSP2IE5KTMiZdUiQ-Gh2KkWVf43D3lMt9M8vsz2C8xiWRCrCqDTEdCqyzzT94MhswIAtXcfW2qGSDTSnl_jaDAtY/s1600/richard+harrow.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3jaASfeir5cttzX4jARzJMtH_EsZHtfPhwujfJRuQvz7v9Qfx9wcEnZ0frZcrDQmKKXn7Bnu7tEqtfGErFjH_W3NPpdzebELYpPwENCsJOzJd1iSmbEsmt4SxuX1pzIfiSP7QyeYkPgo/s1600/chalky+richard.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
<b>Bob's Burgers</b><br />
This is the funniest show on TV - no question. I laugh myself stupid
through every episode, and this year was no different. Linda Belcher is
my spirit animal. "Mommy doesn't get drunk, she just has fun!"<br />
<br />
<br />
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<br />
<br />
<b>Boardwalk Empire</b><br />
At the time of the season finale I wanted to write a long, heartfelt
blog post about it, but I was just too emotional. I am not even kidding.
I had the same feeling afterwards as having been dumped - my heart
literally hurt and I kept tearing up spontaneously for a day or two
after. It was devastating, but it was also a brilliant end to a
brilliant season. I know a lot of people moan about this show being slow
but those people can suck it. This show is fucking PERFECT.<br />
<br /><h2>
<b>New Favourites</b></h2>
<br />
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<br />
<b>Bates Motel</b><br />
This show was so much better than I expected it to be - who could have
thought an updated interpretion of <i>Psycho</i> could be anything but an
ill-conceived disaster? The crazy double act of Vera Farmiga and Freddie
Highmore is casting gold. The only dull note is some billionaire having
bought his daughter a part as the love interest for Norman/Dylan. She
is EXECRABLE. I honestly don't think I've ever seen a worse actor on
anything, not even <i>Home and Away</i>. The rest of the cast more than make up
for her awfulness, though.<br />
<br />
<br />
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<br />
<b>Sleepy Hollow</b><br />
Another show that on paper looked like it would be a hot mess, and the
pilot didn't do a whole lot to dispel that. However, Lily and I were
willing to give it another go and by about the third episode we were
hooked. One of the things television seems to have gotten so right this
year is chemistry in casting - the two leads of this show are smoking
hot and play off each other beautifully. Unfortunately the Tumblr usual
suspects have embraced this show wholeheartedly so no doubt their
demented fandom will eventually ruin it for the rest of us, but until
then, it's well worth checking out - completely bonkers and loads of
fun, with occasional genuinely scary moments.<br />
<br />
<br />
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<br />
<b>Orange Is The New Black</b><br />
I did not shut up about this show for weeks after watching it. I think I
heard about it on a podcast, had it in my head to check out sometime,
then Ben told me he'd been binge-watching episodes on Netflix and
insisted I watch it. Unlike him with my recommendations (<i>The
Inbetweeners</i>, <i>It's Always Sunny</i>, <i>Bob's Burgers</i>, <i>The IT Crowd</i>), it didn't
take two years and a recommendation from someone else for me to get
around to it. I was hooked from the beginning - I don't think the Taylor
Schilling character was the most interesting, but certainly not as
hateful as many people seem to find her. The rest of the prison inmates
were the real stars though, especially Kate Mulgrew, who made me squeal
and clap every time she came on screen. The only sour note for me was
Laura Prepon, whose dreadful tadpole eyebrows distracted me every time I
saw them. I'm glad her character is gone next season - not required.<br />
<br />
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</div>
<br />
<b>The Returned</b><br />
A French drama about a group of people from a small town who suddenly
return from the dead. They're not zombies as such, they look and act
like normal people and at first don't realise they are dead. I know, it
sounds bizarre, but this show is A-MAZ-ING. Awesome cast of people I've
never seen before, incredibly evocative music score that keeps you tense
and concentrating throughout, and it's super creepy without being
schlocky. There were many questions left unanswered, so I'm glad to hear
there is going to be a second season.<br />
<br />
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<br />
<br />
<b>Broadchurch</b><br />
This was another show I banged on about nonstop for weeks after watching
it. On the surface it's a standard British crime drama - young boy in a
small town dies, many people under suspicion, other secrets are
revealed, etc. etc. But it was so much more than that, not least because
of the incredible acting of Olivia Colman as a detective and a
friend of the child's family. I don't want to say anything more about
it other than if you haven't seen it yet, watch it. NOW.<br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicJWNgFPK9m3My9whN8Dcjf7BidyVA1-hIt2LjJyvRrKL1-H6-Ifv0M1s9RT9PHa3IqEuADfmJFfJfzrVsG_4STRN6uO_1FAIkapkTV-xzL5yyrNVDboUvrbp0pAYoX1sslDEVP6X41vI/s1600/the+fall.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicJWNgFPK9m3My9whN8Dcjf7BidyVA1-hIt2LjJyvRrKL1-H6-Ifv0M1s9RT9PHa3IqEuADfmJFfJfzrVsG_4STRN6uO_1FAIkapkTV-xzL5yyrNVDboUvrbp0pAYoX1sslDEVP6X41vI/s1600/the+fall.jpg" height="265" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<b>The Fall</b><br />
Jamie Dornan is a serial killer - this is not a spoiler, it's revealed
in the first few minutes. Gillian Anderson is an English detective
seconded to Ireland to investigate the outcome of another crime who
realises that said crime might be the work of - guess what - a serial
killer. What's creepy is the normality of the killer's life - his wife,
his kids, his job. He's one of us. I was so tense watching this I was
literally sitting straight up on the edge of my seat most of the time.
The heavy Belfast accents are hard going at times, and Gillian Anderson
tends to mumble through her teeth, making her even harder to understand
than the Irish, but that's a small complaint - it's well worth paying
close attention.<br />
<br />
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<br />
<b>My Mad Fat Diary</b><br />
I don't even remember where I heard about this - I just randomly picked
up on it somewhere and decided to check it out. I watched 3 episodes
back to back and then made Lily watch it with me from the beginning
again. Loosely based on a memoir, it's about a teenage girl with serious
mental health issues who just wants to fit in and be normal. It's
funnier than you would expect, but also devastatingly heartbreaking.
There aren't many adult characters - mainly the main character's mother
and her therapist (played by the brillian Ian Hart), but they're both
wonderful. It's the kids you really love though - the friends she
eventually finds. I loved this so much, and I cannot wait for the new
season starting in a few weeks.<br />
<br />
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<br />
<b>Masters of Sex</b><br />
In a nutshell, it's <i>Mad Men</i> with rude bits. I was very interested to see
this because I love period dramas, but I wasn't sure how it would go.
Lizzy Caplan - much as I love her - has always struck me as someone very
specifically modern. I wasn't sure she would fit in to a show set in
the 1950s. I was wrong though, happily - she's brilliant. As is Michael
Sheen, and Beau Bridges, and the kid who got all stressed about the vote
count in Election. But the shining star who effortlessly steals every
single moment she is on screen is Alison Janney, whose portrayal of a
middle-aged woman unknowingly married to a gay man is so heartbreaking
that I'm choking up a bit now just thinking about it. She deserves every
award going for this role - she's just phenomenal.<br />
<br />
<br />
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<br />
<br />
<b>In The Flesh</b><br />
This scrapes in as I watched it the weekend before the end of the year. Set in a small English town, it's about the return of former zombies ('partially deceased') after a cure has been found. For some reason I thought it was a comedy, but it's actually incredibly moving and sad. It's not an OMG ZOMBIES show at all - it's a drama that people looking for some brain-eating action might find insufferably slow. I adored it; when Lily came back from holiday with her dad I rewatched it with her and she adored it too. I'd put off watching for ages and as it turns out it's one of my favourite shows of the year.<br />
<br />Deehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09349956327915851336noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4293120323388446237.post-66071348662621601492014-01-08T08:43:00.003+10:302014-01-08T08:43:36.126+10:30Resolutions 2014 - #2 and #3<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I am trying something different this year – rather than make a whole bunch of resolutions on the 1<sup>st</sup>
of January and have them all fall in a heap in a few days (and let’s
be real, sometimes a few hours) later, I am going to do a new
resolution each week, and snowball them all on top of one another. Some
will be ongoing, some will have finite periods of time, some will just
be a thing to do, like cleaning out a particular cupboard
that week or whatever. So last week was fitting back into the clothes I
have within 6 months or then getting rid of anything that doesn’t fit,
and then I’ve got two new ones going on at once, so let’s pretend there’s
been two weeks passed since then.
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<b>Number 2</b> is a small one –
well, smallish. Stop complaining – or even talking about – work. I used
to like my job, now I hate it. And most of the reason I hate it is
because I work with a
lot of people who drive me up the wall for one reason or another. But I
can’t change those people, and although I could probably change my job,
the money and flexibility it offers me makes it a better option for me
to just learn to tune out the annoyances. So
my goal for this is to just go to work, do my job, smile and grit my
teeth, and then forget about it the moment I walk out the door. These
people are not important to me, I am not wasting any more time stressing
or getting annoyed about them.
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Number 3</b> is about money. I
recently read a book called <a href="http://www.amazon.com/30-Day-Spending-Detox-Simple-ebook/dp/B005PJMEYG/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1389132587&sr=8-1&keywords=30+day+spending+detox">30 Day Spending Detox</a>. It’s essentially a
blog post dragged out to the size of a book, and didn’t really tell me
anything I didn’t already
know, but I like the central premise, which is basically spending
nothing whatsoever for a 30 day period with the exception of necessities
(rent, groceries, bills, etc.). See – that doesn’t need a whole book,
does it? It does go into a bunch of detail about
reducing travel costs, grocery costs and so on, but as it’s American
it’s all about couponing and whatever and not really relevant to me. I
pay nowt for travel – I walk – so that’s not an issue for me. I do spend
way too much on groceries. Lily and I like
a bit of nice food, and although I've been out on my own for many many years, I still have never gotten over the novelty of being able to buy
whatever I want at the supermarket, so I’m a shocking impulse buyer and
highly suggestible. I can live without eating,
say, Tim Tams for months but then someone will mention them or I’ll
see an ad for them and suddenly I’ll be all, “Oooh, I really fancy some Tim Tams!”. So I guess my goals for this resolution are two fold:</div>
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<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Symbol;"><span><span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"></span></span></span>don’t buy
anything that isn’t necessary, e.g. takeaway coffee, takeaway lunches,
(sob) alcohol, lottery tickets, books, clothes, makeup, perfume, random
eBay flotsam, songs
on iTunes, and so on and so forth<span style="font-family: Symbol;"><span> </span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Symbol;"><span><span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>look at ways to reduce the grocery bill – what is that big chunk of gruyere actually for?
</li>
</ul>
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I shall report back on my success – or failure.<br />
Deehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09349956327915851336noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4293120323388446237.post-46375146019811018562014-01-06T17:56:00.002+10:302014-01-06T17:57:11.256+10:30Two Movies I Loved in 2013 and One I Hated<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I hardly saw any movies
last year – there just wasn’t much that grabbed me, and I think
television has well and truly surpassed movies for quality viewing these
days. I’m sick of sassy
Disney princesses and fed up to the back teeth with superheroes, and I
couldn’t care less about Sandra Bullock floating around in space. There
were a couple I really enjoyed and highly recommend, though. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>The Kings of Summer</b> has
a very misleading trailer. You think you’re getting some whacky comedy
about a group of kids with overbearing parents played by (among others)
by Nick Offerman
and Megan Mullally. While it’s true that it’s about a group of kids, and
it is funny, and the kids do have overbearing parents, Nick Offerman and Megan Mullally
are in the movie for maybe 5 minutes each.
</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The story itself is a
pretty standard coming of age one – these are the best years of your
life, chicks are awesome but then they ruin everything, your family
isn’t really as bad as
you think they are, yada, yada. What sets it a cut above is the charm
of the three boys. Gabriel Basso in particular has been one of
my favourite young actors since <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0qA6Pn3SFbE">that scene</a> in the first season of <b>The
Big C</b> where he finds the storage locker with
all of Cathy’s future presents for him. <b>The Kings of Summer</b> is lovely,
funny and touching and worth watching - especially with a teenage girl because they
just get so into those kind of movies and it’s rather sweet. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>The Way Way Back</b> is
another coming of age film, written by Jim Rash and Nat Faxon, and very
loosely based on some of Jim Rash’s experiences growing up. A teenage
boy spends the summer
at the beach house of his mother’s new boyfriend – Steve Carell playing
very much against type. The boy stumbles into a job at a water park run
by Sam Rockwell and staffed by a group of easygoing weirdos. Again,
this is a standard storyline about finding somewhere
to belong, finding your way through the stumbling blocks, choosing your
own path and so on. It’s more overtly funny than <b>The Kings of Summer</b> –
Jim Rash and Nat Faxon are both pretty hilarious people. But there’s
still enough gooey heartwarming stuff going
on to make you feel all ‘Awwwwww’ by the end. I <i>really</i> loved this movie
– it’s the best I’ve seen for a really long time. </span></span></div>
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Now to the film I hated
– <b>The Lifeguard</b>. I used to really dislike Kristen Bell, then a couple
of years ago Lily and I watched <b>Veronica Mars </b>and I decided I loved her.
I might be back
to disliking her again after this mess. She plays an unhappy 29 year
old who leaves her job and her married lover and moves back to her home
town, with parents who are not overly thrilled to have her on their door
step. She takes a job as a lifeguard at the
local pool and strikes up a relationship with the 16 year old son of
the pool manager. That in itself is problematic – there is such an ew
factor there. It got worse, though. I don’t want to spoil it in case
anyone wants to watch it (though I suggest you don’t
bother), but Martin Starr’s character does something so completely
disgusting and it’s just kind of written off as a bad judgement call
that everyone moves on from pretty quickly. It was horrifying. Aside
from that, the movie went nowhere – there were loads
of interminably long scenes of Kristen Bell just staring out at nothing
looking sad. She was insufferable, her friends were insufferable – it
was not really any surprise her mother didn’t want her there. And of
course it was Indie 101 – scene of people driving
with music playing and someone sticking their head out the window to
feel the air, scene of someone staring vacantly into a pool while
thinking about how they were drowning within their own lives, scene of
unhappy people sitting awkwardly and silently around
a dinner table barely speaking, night time scene of a group of people
getting drunk and revealing OMG SECRETS, and on and on and on like that.
This movie just checked all the boxes and then called it a day. For
many years my most hated all time movie has been
<b>Independence Day</b> (don’t ask). <b>The Lifeguard</b> has replaced it. I cannot
express in words how much I really, really hated this movie. </span></span>Deehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09349956327915851336noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4293120323388446237.post-74429807855973656612014-01-05T16:10:00.000+10:302014-01-05T16:10:32.429+10:30December Empties and Chuckers<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsXfEpCzEAPO5h85HGl-XZLckeripPosj-cHF4C4vBa6ktURg8PN9lOe8YP7Ybe15Z6xaBtQKCBY-Sj5Gr8fHxDyRcFsd-4en1XEZN2NDaMUbfUOSozF-tog0EQ905rAYE3jz_MhOKciI/s1600/dec+13+empties+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsXfEpCzEAPO5h85HGl-XZLckeripPosj-cHF4C4vBa6ktURg8PN9lOe8YP7Ybe15Z6xaBtQKCBY-Sj5Gr8fHxDyRcFsd-4en1XEZN2NDaMUbfUOSozF-tog0EQ905rAYE3jz_MhOKciI/s400/dec+13+empties+1.JPG" width="385" /></a></div>
<br />
<b>EMPTIES</b><br />
<br />
<b>Clarins Toning Lotion with Camomile</b><br />
Shouldn't that be Chamomile? Anyway, this is another of the 5 GWP size Clarins toners my friend Jodi sent me a while back, as she doesn't use them. I have cracked open the 3rd now, and it's an old favourite.<br />
<br />
<b>Paula's Choice Moisture Boost One Step Facial Cleanser</b><br />
This was a freebie I got for spending a certain amount, and I've had it in the shower for washing my face every morning. It's a lovely light cream cleanser that rinses away and doesn't leave my face feeling tight, and it lasted for months. Definite repurchase once I've worked through other cleansers I have.<br />
<br />
<b>Derma E Vitamin A Glycolic Toner</b><br />
Like most toners, this doesn't do much other than refresh. That wouldn't bother me except that it has a very strong floral smell that hangs around way too long and it's a bit much. I wouldn't buy this again.<br />
<br />
<b>Absolutely Gorgeous Skin Care Pink Clay Creme Cleanser</b><br />
Didn't really get the point of this - you're supposed to apply it dry and it was just kind of weird. I wouldn't buy it again.<br />
<br />
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<br />
<b>CHUCKERS</b><br />
<br />
<b>David Jones Cocoa Butter Cream</b><br />
This is a really old body butter that we've had way too long. Lily still likes it but to my nose it's kind of funky so I'm throwing it out while she's not home. She has plenty of others, she'll get over it. It's okay, but nothing amazing - I probably wouldn't buy it again.<br />
<br />
<b>Echolife Magnesium Gel</b><br />
I love this stuff - it's great for sore muscles and I use it when my arms and wrists are sore from typing at work. There's only about an inch left of it, but I noticed the other day it's past its use by date and after comparing it with a newer bottle it looked and smelled kind of different so out it goes. Will definitely repurchase when I've used my next bottle - it's a staple now.<br />
<br />
<b>Revlon ColorStay Makeup for Combination/Oily Skin in Sand Beige</b><br />
This used to be one of my favourite foundations - hard core lasting power and full coverage. However, I've been spoiled by the Covergirl Outlast. I opened this recently and used it once, then realised I hate it now - it feels really masky and heavy and it oxidises. How did I not worry about that before? Anyway, I thought maybe because it was a humid day it might have just been a fluke so I tried it on a cooler day and same thing. Yuk. Never again.<br />
<br />Deehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09349956327915851336noreply@blogger.com3