Washington Square

The story of an heiress dangerously close to becoming a spinster, her condescending, 

over-bearing doctor father, her meddling aunt and a young man who may or may not be a fortune hunter.

The story takes place in the late 1800's in New York and I must say it stands up quite well in 2013. 

How much should one heed the opinions of others?? Henry James raises this question and we are left wondering if the decision our heroine makes was actually the right one for her. 

 I personally enjoyed the story and felt such compassion and grief for Catherine, until the end of when I felt her to be comfortable with her choices.

Happy New Year!

To start off the New Year I will review The Lady Gaga perfume aptly named FAME. 

Fame: Black Fluid is described as having dark facet notes of Incense and Bella Donna,

sensual facets of Apricot and Honey,

and feminine facets of Jasmine Samac and Tiger Orchida.

Upon application to my skin the note of Apricot is very dominant then is settles in with a dash of Honey with a hint of Jasmine Samac. 

The longer it sits the less fruity it becomes and the dark notes take over. 

 After a bit more time it becomes a bit floral and fruity. 

Interesting scent because of the changes. It reminds me of o high-end scents that have more a bit more depth. 
On an aesthetic note, the bottle is an interesting egg shape with a claw top. Clearly a reflection of her love of haute couture and "off the wall" costumes. The perfume itself is black. Yes, black! 

It is best described as a sensuous, dark scent. 

Not something I would usually be drawn to but for a celebrity "named" perfume I would say Lady Gaga has hit it out of the park.  

50 Shades of Grey

I've debated reviewing this book only because I have not finished it. That being said I will give my opinion on the first 11 chapters. 

Bottom line, I don't care. Beyond the fact that is a an easy, breezy read (I have read very well written erotica, Sleeping Beauty Trilogy anyone?) I just don't care about the characters. 

A 21 year old virgin meets a late twenty-something year old billionaire, and then the story unfolds. I should be looking forward to rushing through this book but the sad fact is Christian Grey is too much work for me.  It may be because I am currently in the dating scene myself and am trying to avoid men like him. Issues, issues,issues. I can see the appeal of this book to women who have been with the same man for years. 

To them it may be exciting.

 To me it is work.

 Unfolding the layers of another man is more work than I can handle. 

I may try to reread it when my life is in a more mundane place.

Kai

To follow up on my last post this fragrance to me is summer in a bottle.

Think tropical white flowers, most especially gardenia. 

Kai is a floral that whispers. 

Nothing heady or overpowering. 

It is a subtle and very true floral that has a clean note that seems to echo when it is worn.

Mourning the end of summer.

 

 

Always a bittersweet time when summer is coming to an end.

I'll miss the heat, the daisies and dragonflies.

The smell of grass after a sunshower,

the glow of fireworks and the sound of my

 flip-flops. 

Autumn awaits.....

 

 

 

 

 



Tom Ford Lavender Palm Parfum

 

 

Love at first smell.

Is there anything Tom Ford cannot do?? Fashion, movies, cosmetics and THIS parfum.

 Lavender is one of my favorite flowers. The state of relaxation it lulls me in is magical.

That being said I am very particular about my lavender fragrances. They can come across too artificial if not done properly.

The first time I smelled this I was bowled over.

 The heart of the scent is lavender absolute and lavandin which is what it settles to after resting on the skin a bit.

Before the lavender rests the citrus notes, palm leaf, clary sage, woods and tonka beans dance about. All of which help to elevate this fragrance into a kiss from heaven in a bottle.

Peace

Sharpen your senses and become fully aware of your surroundings. You never know when the universe might be trying to tell you something.