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Hi everyone. It's that time again. Get your weekly news bits while they're fresh! And have a great weekend!
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I just wanted to let anyone who ever sees this to know and have access to my perfume reviewing blog on Tumblr: Listen, you smell something? (if you get the reference, ten points to you!) I began by writing about how smells influenced some of my childhood and how they inspire me today. I then stared reviewing in depth some of my Bpal collection which has grown very rapidly over the passed year. I am currently branching out and writing about other scents i come across and post about three times a month right now. Life is busy, I'm not putting too much pressure on myself and quality over quantity. If you would like to check it out here it is: https://smellallthesmells.tumblr.com/ Please feel free to request, critique, ask questions, and comment. I just wanna talk about smells.
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~ Wishlist ~★~ Love & Hate ~★~ Swaps ~ ~★~ ScentBase ~★~ (also: imps I own, that I'm looking for full bottles of here) Waiting for review: Aureus Twilight Ave Maria Grata Plena Ozymandias Desire Vice Sheol Bensiabel Xanthe, the Weeping Clown Fruit Moon 2006 Creepy 2006 Treat #2 Pumpkin I (2007) Pumpkin V (2008) Loosening of the Obi Samhainophobia Dragon's Eye Les Infortunes De La Vertu Copper Phoenix Interfector Old Man Ackerman's Instructional Toys Wrath Uruk Carnal Clémence Lampades Dove's Heart Nanshe Maenad Alien Invasion Black Hellebore Honey Sugar Cookie 2008 High John the Conqueror Erebos General Catalogue Ars Amatoria Hunger - ★★★★★ Atomic Luau Lounge Aremata-Popoa - ★★★★★ Blue Fire - ★★★★★ Pahoehoe - ★★★★★ Bewitching Brews Namaste - ★★★★★ Scherezade - ★★★★★ Conjure Bag Black Cat - ★★★★★ Diabolus Akuma - ★★★★★ Maenad - ★★★★★ Excolo: Zorya - ★★★★★ Mad Tea Party The Caterpillar - ★★★★★ Marchen Serpents with Glittering Eyes and Forky Tongues - ★★★★★ Pharmacopoeia Stimulating Sassafrass Strengthener - ★★★★★ Picnic in Arkham Shoggoth - ★★★★★ Rappaccini's Garden The Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil - ★★★★★ Sin and Salvation Anathema - ★★★★★ Jailbait - ★★★★★ Wanderlust Santa Eularia Des Riu - ★★★★★ Limited Edition / Discontinued Prototype Ngagl5 - ★★★★★ Neverwhere Mr. Croup - ★★★★★ Trick or Treat Marshmallow Pumpkin - ★★★★★ The Nutcracker Valse Finale Et Apotheose - ★★★★★ Wind in the Willows Rat - ★★★★★ Yule But Men Loved Darkness Rather Than Light - ★★★★★ Jolasveinar - ★★★★★ Midnight Mass - ★★★★★ Waiting to Receive From: CatsEyes (September 2011) Silver Apple of the Moon Golden Apple of the Sun Black Apple of Saturn Green Apple of Venus Glittering Apple of the Stars Nightmare Gorobble Autumn Cider Boo 2011 Devil's Night Elegy IX October 2011 Sahain 2011 From: Elliemental (November 21, 2010) Baghdad Belle Vinu Hollywood Babylon New Orleans The Isles of Demons Melisande the Puppet Mistress
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Red listed bottles are available on my swaps and sales. BPTP Atmosphere Sprays Dungeon decant more please! Unopened Bottles How Doth the Little Crocodile available for sale/swap received 08/28/09 from Lab Lawn Gnome available for sale/swap Lilith Victoria Yellow Dress with Snake, received 11/12/08 from Lab Pumpkin IV '08 x2 Shub-Niggurath Strawberry Moon '09 available for sale/swap Sunbird received 06/27/13 from CBLDF Opened Bottles All They Had Seen, and All They Had Lost 3/5 full Bezoar empty, received 05/15/10 Death of Autumn 1/5 full How Doth the Little Crocodile 2/5 full Lawn Gnome 3/5 full Lilith Victoria: Little Witch with Owl 2/5 full Mictecacihuatl 1/5 full available for sale/swap Pumpkin IV '08 2/5 full Shub-Niggurath 3/5 full Snake Oil 2/5 full, gift received 12/25/09 Strawberry Moon '09 3/5 full Sunbird 2/5 full Imps and Decants I'm keeping these, imps for sale/swap are here Bezoar 1 ml roller vial All They Had Seen, and All They Had Lost 1 ml roller vial How Doth the Little Crocodile 1 ml roller vial Lawn Gnome 1 ml roller vial Lilith Victoria 1 ml roller vial Pumpkin IV '08 1 ml roller vial Serpent's Tonic (custom blend of Snake Oil and Dragon's Milk) 1 ml roller vial Shub-Niggurath 1 ml roller vial Strawberry Moon '09 1 ml roller vial Sunbird 1 ml roller vial boymonster's box The Bow and Crown of Conquest 5 ml 1/5 full, exactly what a boy should smell like The Bow and Crown of Conquest 1 ml roller vial Calico Jack Cthulhu 5 ml 2/5 full Cthulhu 1 ml roller vial Dee No. 93 Engine 5 ml empty No. 93 1 ml roller vial Jolly Roger Trevor Bruttenhelm 5ml empty Trevor Bruttenhelm 1 ml roller vial
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Items for sale/swap are here. I'm extremely flexible when swapping, so make an offer! I'm sensitive to and can't wear a bunch of notes, so please don't take it personally if I turn down a swap. Earthy, gently spicy, and golden resinous blends work best for me. Favorite Notes: aspen leaves, balm of gilead, balsam, benzoin, cardamom, carnation, cherry tobacco, cocoa, dragon's blood (non-floral), ginger, heliotrope, moss, myrrh, nutmeg, red grave loam, sandalwood (hot, dry, smokey varieties), smoke, storax, subtle spices (allspice, cassia, cinnamon, clove), tonka, vanilla, white sage, yuzu Favorite Scents: Sunbird, Snake Oil, Aged Penny Greadful Favorites that broke the rules: All They Had Seen and All They Had Lost (mist, dew, rose, floral, seriously this should be awful on me), Clemence (decant smelled funky, caused hives. lab fresh bottle smells amazing, no rash), How Doth the Little Crocodile (mint, but no skin reaction) Notes that cause skin irritation and hives: anise/star anise, bay, cassia, clove, cinnamon, lemongrass, mint, pennyroyal, pepper (all forms) Doom Notes: anise, aquatic, blackberry, booze, butter, caramel, clean, dew, most florals (especially gardenia, iris, jasmine, orchid, rose, sweet pea, water lily), frankincense, grapefruit, green, herbal, honey, heavy incense, lemon, lime, mist, heavy musk, oak, ozone, heavy patchouli, powdery, sugar, rosewood, sassafras, teak Bold items are most desired. BPTP Atmosphere & Linen Sprays Alchemical Laboratory goblin squirt or 1 oz. decant Down the Rabbit Hole 4 oz. Dungeon 1 oz. decant or more, pretty please! Knock-a-Dolly 1 oz. decant or full 4 oz. bottle Bottles Sunbird I just purchased the very last bottle from CBLDF Tombeur Death of Autumn not the really peppery version (my bottle was soft amber with gentle spice and balanced smoke) Low Priority Bottles none at the moment LE Decants I'd love freshly decanted 1/4 imps, most of these contain notes I'm allergic to. Beauty, the Aggrieved Door testable sniffie would be plenty Flowering Chrysanthemums Halloween: Los Angeles Haloes testable sniffie would be plenty Helios testable sniffie, frankincense smells like Comet Cleanser on me, sigh... Jareth for the boymonster Marquise de Carabas for the boy monster The Magdalena Monarch testable sniffie would be plenty Pomegranate V testable sniffie would be plenty, pepper is not my friend Schmendrick for the boymonster Solar Phoenix testable sniffie would be plenty Thousands of Lights testable sniffie, frankincense smells like Comet Cleanser on me, sigh... GC Imps Belle Epoque Black Opal Blood Amber Bordello not aged, too sweet The Butterfly Chicken-Legged Hut Death Cap Edymion Le Lèthè Maenad not aged, bitter RPG: Half-Elf RPG: Rogue Vasilissa Wings of Azrael Anti-Wish List Seriously. Worst skin chemistry ever! I can't believe how many beautiful oils I've ruined. Scents that cause skin irritation, hives: 13 (Feb. '09), Absinthe, Alice's Evidence, Bengal, Clemence (only my first decant), Dark Chocolate Pepper Smoked Caramel, Death of Autumn, Delphi, Faustus, Hod '09, High Priest Not To Be Described, Kabuki, Kyoto, Mad Hatter, March Hare, Namaste, Ogun, Plunder, Pfancy Pfefferneusse, Port-au-Prince, Pumpkin V '09, Saw-Scaled Viper, Shoggoth, Shub-Niggurath, Tweedledee, Velvet (if I re-apply too often), White Rabbit, plus a ton more, I really need to update this... Berry + musk or honey (Bewitched, Lady Macbeth, Lady Una, Berry Moon) ammonia, cat wee Black Musk (Isles of Demons, Pumpkin II '08, Haunted) evil stink coated in baby powder, induces extreme nausea Booze (Bon Viviant, Elegba, Lady Macbeth, Swank, Twenty-one) that's a no, ugh Bulgur Rose (Baghdad, Psyche) unripe green rose and stinky feet Gardenia (Blood Countess, Highwayman, Le Serpent Qui Danse, Pepper, Sacred Whore) sharp, sour, biting Green Tea (Bewitched, Embalming Fluid, Shanghai) super sharp and astringent Honey (Bengal, O, Osun) dirty, sweaty Iris (Florence, The Ghost, Nefertiti) sharp, bitter, almost metallic, hits high in back of throat Jasmine (Black Dahlia, The Caterpillar, Crossroads, Delight, Mata Hari, Nuit) harsh, chemical, bug spray Red Musk heavy (Dragon's Heart, Eat Me, Hollywood Babylon, Kabuki, Spellbound) so overpowering, I can taste it. Gah! Rose (Lucy's Kiss, Kurukulla, Moscow, Rose Red '08, Seance, Zombi) ammonia Sweet Pea (Desdemona, Agape) acrid, harsh, carpet cleaner Vetiver sometimes (Azathoth, Fallen, Highwayman, Nephilim, Saturnalia, Wolfsbane) burning plastic or rubber tires Water Lily (The Black Swan, Desdemona, The Lady of Shalott) sharp, ammonia White, Pale Musk (Black Pearl, Dorian, Lady Una, Pride) soapy, shrill, nails on chalkboard, makes my teeth hurt Wood (especially oak, rosewood, teak) butyric acid (vomit) covered in sawdust Agrat-Bat-Mahlaht celery salt (from caramel), sour milk Alecto pizza with a burnt cedar crust Arkham sweaty, harsh floral, ammonia Baobhan Sith moldy grapefruit rinds and tea leaves The Coiled Serpent no, just no! Delight deet bug spray (from jasmine) and acetone Desdemona sweet pea and water lily? double fail! Eat Me knock me down red musk, bitter burnt sugar Falling Leaf Moon, Fascinum, Perversion, Samhain, Scales of Deprivation, Trevor Comet cleanser (from frankincense?) Gladdener of All Hearts sour milk, nausea The Hesperides green apple and butyric acid (from oak), reminds me of Firefly episode when River eats apples Hurricane soap (from ozone) and butyric acid (from wood) The Isles of Demons burning tires and ammonia Mourning Moon wintergreen and pond scum, ugh Niflheim soapy (from ozone), rotting flowers, menthol, dirty oil (from vetiver), acetone Saturnalia acetone, suede, dill pickles Wood Phoenix butyric acid (from woods), rancid nuts Zombi well, yeah, that's exactly what I'd expect one to smell like
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October's venture made me realize that I need to test my top ten again, because Mag Mell dropped off my list! So I'll be working those in there, too. I'm trying to alternate days with LE's and GC's. Mostly, anyhow. 1: Dionysia (retry) 2: Phantom Queen 3: Gladdener of All Hearts 4: Bengal 5: Et Lux Fuit 6: Dana O'Shee 7: Tiki Queen 8: Earth Rat 9: Daiyu (retry) 10: Dee 11: Mictecacihuatl 12: Buggre Alle This Bible 13: Egg Nog 14: Western Diamondback 15: Lilith Victoria 16: Eclipse 17: Faith 18: Morocco 19: Cytherea 20: Carnal 21: Love's Philosophy 22: Miskatonic University 23: Crow Moon 24: Boomslang 25: Lilith Victoria (What? I love this one!) 26: Vasakasajja 27: Gladdener of All Hearts (What could be better for Thanksgiving?) 28: Villain 29: The Perilous Parlor 30: Dorian
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I am pretty excited about my first LE-order. I tried to avoid LEs because I'm the kind of person who won't use something that might be unique and only once in a lifetime. Or I buy 3 or more (in this case bottles) and use the first one. But I think it is time to move on and to learn that even such things should be used. It makes no sense to keep them for years and then you realize that they are not good anymore. So here is my order: 5ml: 1 Beaver Moon, 1 Pumpkin Patch III, 1 Blood Amber, 1 The Perilous Parlor, 1 Dragon’s Blood (I wish I did buy Dragon's Milk ... well I will order again when the yules are online - Dragon's Milk then!) 2 Imp packs containing: Windward Passage, Kill Devil, Dragon’s Eye, Dragon’s Heart, Squirting Cucumber, Obatala, Eclipse, Miskatonic University, Event Horizon, Cathode, Moon Rose, Bloodlust Everything with Dragon's Blood just seem to be perfect for me - so I am really looking forward to Dragon's Heart and Eye and as I recall Bloodlust was with DB, too.
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Okay, a new category! Today I tried Snake Oil again. I got it in February, I think and I applied it once. Conclusion: Boring. A not so perfect Van Van. I decided to let it age because a lot of you say that it's great aged. New Conclusion: Not as great as Blood Amber, but nice. Quite and not too striking, but nice. A bit like candy ... sweet but not too sweet. I think I will buy a big bottle of it someday. Will have to buy a bit BPAL anyway ... I think twice a year I am allowed to do so. Perhaps I wait for the Jule-scents ...
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Quick post- more to come 51 Alice Arkham Bengal Black Opal Dorian Jailbait Katharina The Lion Mouse's Long and Sad Tale Persephone Queen of Sheba Whitechapel LE: Asp Viper Beaver Moon Boomslang Et Lux Fuit Green Tree Viper Hungry Ghost Moon Lotus Moon Pink Moon '05 Punkie Night Snow-Flakes
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If I were a dessert, I'd be tiramisu... who'm I kidding? I'd be a pint of the best haagen daz. If I were an alcoholic beverage, I'd be hot buttered rum. If I were a type of music, I'd be Nightfall, by David Lanz. If I were a color, I'd be pale blue. If I were a fruit, I'd be a pomegranate If I were an animal, I'd be a white tiger. If I were a story, I'd be emo. If I were a car, I'd be a toyota. If I were a poem, I'd be my own. If I were a bird, I'd be a crane. If I were a BPAL oil, I'd be Et Lux Fuit. If I were a country, I'd be India. If I were a mythological being, I'd be a naiad or meliae (hamadryad of the ash tree) If I were an article of clothing, I'd be a well worn and loved hoody. If I were a reptile, I'd be a boomslang, and disappointed that I wasn't chocolatey. If I were a natural disaster, I'd be a monsoon. If I were a plant, I'd be a lilac bush. If I were a planet, I'd be Neptune. If I were a tree, I'd be a white birch. If I were an album, I'd be Our Lady Peace, Happiness is Not a Fish If I were a fabric, I'd be fleece. If I were a work of art, I'd be a Renoir. If I were a book, I'd be a fantasy. If I were an element of human emotion, I'd be hope. If I were a constellation, I'd be Leo. If I were a season, I'd be Winter If I were a flavor, I'd be Chai with milk and honey. If I were a geographical feature, I'd be a still pond. If I were a shoe, I'd be a fuzzy slipper. If I were an M&M, I'd be dark and blue. If I were a queen, I would have both national tea time and nap time. If I were a song, I would be an unfinished symphony. If I were a light source, I would be a scented candle. If I were a stone, I would be aventurine. If I were a kind of panty hose, I would be silk stockings. If I were a movie, I'd be a box office flop, but eventually I'd have a cult following. If I were a spice, I'd be cardamom. If I were a cosmetic item, I would be lip balm If I were a hot drink, I would be homemade cocoa. If I were a sound I would be discordant. If I were a famous person in history, I would be Anne Bonny. If I were a sport, I would be poker. If I were an actor, I'd be Angelina Jolie. If I were a musical, I would be the Best Little Whorehouse in Texas. If I were a number, I would be 1. If I were an invention of humankind, I would be air conditioning. If I were a sexual item, I would be a silk cord. A long one. If I were an instrument, I'd be a cello. If i were an element I would be be fire.
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For SW help and general fun: 1. What is your favorite season, and why? I love them all, but I really love early winter/late fall, when most of the bugs are dormant because it's so cold, but it's not bitterly cold. 2. What is the most awe-inspiring or beautiful thing you've ever experienced? Being in love. Getting married. My sacred memories, too. 3. Which songs are guaranteed to make you cry? I Hope You Dance. 4am by Our Lady Peace used to do it to me, too, but for a very different reason. 4. Which ones are guaranteed to make you dance around like a giddy idiot? Breathless. Video Killed the Radio Stars. A few others. 5. Which book most changed your life or outlook? The Chronicles of Narnia 6. What was the most awkward time of your life? High school. 7. What do you adore the most in all the world? If you're really asking me what, it's my ever growing freedom from anxiety and depression ruling my life. If you're asking who... My husband, my mother, my cousin, my best friend, my cat, my sister, brothers, their children and my in laws. 8. What irritates you the most? People who drive really slowly when I'm in a hurry. 9. When were you happiest (besides now)? My wedding day. 10. What is the perfect meal for you? So long as it has a good dessert... 11. If you could dress in the clothes of any era, what would you wear? 1930's glam 12. What are your best dreams about? Life 13. What is your best "I was so drunk..." story? My husband's "Donnie's dead!" story- I've never been drunk. 14. What is the story of your first love? The story? Exhiliration, little birdies singing disney songs outside my window every morning, a ray of hope like nothing I'd ever experienced entering my heart, excitement like nothing else, feeling beautiful for the first time in my life, that sense of breathless desperation like, "This is IT. It HAS to be...", being incredibly naive and learning my lesson about trusting something that's too good to be true, becoming cynical and angsty and heartbroken and angry and self destructive only to eventually find my way to my husband, who would have formerly entered the category of "Too good to be true" but really, he's too damn good not to be true. There is no end to the story. 15. What is your favorite painting? It really depends on my mood. I ADORE Renoir- there's something about seeing the pieces in person that changes my whole perspective. 16. Who is your favorite Shakespearian character, and why? I don't know. 17. What is the best concert you've ever attended? I don't like crowds enough to go. 18. What is your favorite indulgence or vice? Indulgence: BPAL. Vice: Sweets. 19. What is your greatest regret (again, "no regrets" doesn't count!)? That I can't say I have no regrets. I would do things differently, given the chance, so it's a good thing I can't. 20. What is your favorite physical aspect of yourself? My hair. 21. What is one very interesting fact about you that hasn't yet been shared? I was in New Orleans just over a week before Katrina hit.
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Sign-ups are tentatively set for the 17th of this month, so if you want to play, be sure and start getting your questionaire ready! Just thought I'd give a head's up for those of you who don't stalk the swap forum like I do. I'll update with a reminder when the sign-ups are officially set.
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I'm slowly making my way through the Heroines. I would have thought that after spending so much time decanting these Friday night, that I would have more of an idea of them all. But this time, unlike with the Yules, I didn't really notice them as I was decanting. I blame the dogs and having to yell at them to keep them in line all night. The good thing is that since there are extras, I can take my time in trying each of them. So far, I adore Vasakasajja, like Khandita, and not so fond of Kalahantarika. (Khandita and Kalahantarika I tried out at the request of Indicolite in chat Sat night). My little not so great reviews: Vasakasajja Khandita Kalahantarika As far as the decanting itself, it went much better this time. I was able to really knock my way through them. I think this partly had to do with wrapping my index finger up in gauze to protect it from the nasty little vial caps. After decanting the Yules (which were only 6 bottles) my poor little finger was red and had little circles up and down it from those little things. This time, my finger was protected, and because of that, it was much easier and quicker pushing down the little caps. I think I really enjoy the decanting. I hope to do many more circles.
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Hee. If you look at the list of scents I want to buy right now, check out how many of them are predominantly florals. MLST isn't, and Alice isn't quite, and there's also Bengal, which certainly isn't one... But by and large, those are floral scents! How did that happen? Also, look at how many of those feature rose! I came in to BPAL with a strong dislike of rose, but I have, as they say, seen the light. Hah. I also didn't like vanilla very much. Hopefully that was just my own scent discovery, and it won't change so drastically over this year.
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I wish I could find a scent my husband really loves. He used to love Jailbait, but I wore it the other day and he didn't even recognize it. He told me it smelled nothing like Jailbait used to, to him. There are very few that he absolutely dislikes, but I wish I had a scent in my arsenal that he would request and sniff my neck when I wear it. I feel like he tolerates my obsession, but it'd be nice if he could somehow benefit from it, too. Y'know? I'm wearing Glitter right now, and I am SO not in the mood to be smelling like it. I thought it might cheer me up somehow, but it's not. I can't find MLST; it must be buried with Christmas stuff. Same with Alice and a few others. Nuts. I wish I had something somber and still light. I don't need to find anymore scents to love, though. I was talking to him yesterday about limited editions, and remarked that I don't think there's a single LE I love as much as my catalog favourites. Beaver Moon comes the closest. I REALLY like Cerberus, Lotus Moon, Et Lux Fuit, Storyville, Hungry Ghost Moon, and Halôa to name a few, but I think I would cry if Katharina, Whitechapel, Alice or Jailbait were ever discontinued and I really had to hunt for bottles of those. They are just breathtaking. They're perfect for me. If I could make a huge order right now of GC bottles, I'd order Persephone (because I'm obsessed, even though I've yet to try it), Alice, Dorian, Euphrosyne, Regan, Mouse's Long and Sad Tale x2, Bewitched, The Lion, Tweedledee and Tweedledum, Arkham, Shub, Misk U, Black Opal, Port-au-Prince, Lyonesse, and La Petit Mort. Heh. If only. But it's more fun to dream about it here than to put it all in my shopping cart and then close it off.
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I don't like having rare scents. I thought I did, but it feels like there's too much responsibility involved, especially when they're scents I don't -love-. I'm over-anxious about swapping those scents, because I'd be really sad if they got stolen or lost in the mail. I'd be over the moon for a bottle of, say, Storyville, but that's because I can't imagine I'd ever want to get rid of it. I held onto the Monster Bait scents for WAY too long, because none of them really worked for me, but I didn't want to regret getting rid of them. I swapped (or maybe sold?) Red Lantern and Smut way, way too quickly. I can't remember what I swapped them for- I think I may've gotten Lotus Moon out of Red Lantern, so that's a decent trade- I love Lotus Moon. Anyway, I digress. Dude. I am having anxiety attacks non-stop. I think it's sugar and holiday stress and, oh yeah, my dad's first wife is dying. And my sister in law is being a complete bitch to my brother, which just blows my mind. It blows my mind that he is in a relationship where his wife can just act like that and, in her mind, it's completely acceptable to do that. Yet, I really do love her and I think she loves my brother, and I know he loves her, so... it's frustrating. And I can't even think about what would happen to him if they did divorce, because she would fight DIRTY for custody of the kid, I think, and... yeah, my mind is just f'n racing right now. I don't want them to have a bad relationship. He deserves a really solid marriage. And then I feel guilty for judging from the outside, but I can't believe she would call him up like that to just... screech and call him every name in the book because her anxiety is bad. I get it. I thankfully don't know what it's like to be in her head, but I know a bit about anxiety, and she really needs help. She needs to take her f'n medication, she needs therapy for coping skills, and she needs to be accountable for how she behaves despite her condition. Those are hard things, but you learn to do them for the things in life that really matter... like your family. I don't know all the ins and outs of married life. I'm newly married and I've only lived with my husband for just under a year. So I know I'm not speaking from a point where I can say I really understand what it's like to be living with somebody in a long term relationship for 6+ years, but it still seems like appalling behaviour. The watchdog group still hasn't contacted me. Our line will be disconnected (rather than the service being interrupted- this means the number will be gone, etc.) on the 18th, and I think that will screw with our DSL connection. Can anyone tell me for sure if it will? I guess I could call Verizon to check on it. This is just giving me fits. I'm applying for a student loan so that we can dig ourselves out of this hole we're in at least a little bit. My husband is applying for financial aid and plans to start school in the fall, which is very good news. It gives him a goal to focus on, rather than just idly sitting by waiting for more paperwork about his application for disability. He's still doing that, but school is a more immediate thing that is in his control. My sister better really be moving back into town. I miss her, and it would be really great to get to know her kids. So, check it out! She's going to school for hair-styling, and we were talking recently, and I had commented that this summer I was going to chop all my hair off and give the length to Locks of Love, and I was thinking about dying it blue. My 40-year-old (and before people get offended, keep reading!) conservative, LDS sister was ALL FOR IT. She wants to do it. I love my sister. I would also love very much to look like her when I am 40. Actually, I would like very much to look like her 40-year-old self right now. I don't know that I've gushed about my sister enough here, so I'm sorry if I'm repeating myself, but it simply must be said, and my thoughts are running a mile a minute right now. (I just emailed the watchdog group. I really hope they get back to me.) Anyway, the awesome part about my sister is that she's always been beautiful, but she's never been snobbish about it. And I'm not being generous because I care about my sister, she is everything I would love to be, only I'd keep my hair. She is tall and thin and her bone structure is gorgeous- but she is the kindest person ever. She's strong and smart and really thoughtful and... okay, I miss talking to my sister. I am so very glad that I got to have siblings, thanks to my dad's first wife. I do love them, though we are quite different in age ranges. I think we'll all four be together at Christmas, if my sister in law isn't a complete bitch, or if my brother can get time off- which he should be able to. Okay, I think I've gone on long enough. I am just all over the place right now.
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I tried a few imps really quickly before I put them up for swap. De Sade: Unsurprisingly, it's leather. I'd test it on my husband if I thought he'd like it, because it might smell fantastic on him, but he's not into wearing scents. At least not where he can smell them. I tried a smidge of Manhattan on his collarbone, and he hated being able to smell it. Should I try his hands, maybe? Anyway, right. De Sade. Leather. That's about it. I don't like it on me, but I think I'd love it in other blends. I just don't like it by itself and can't see myself ever wanting to wear this blend. For me, it's a 3 of 10. It's that high because I'd love to smell it on my husband, and I think it's a novelty that I really enjoy. Queen Gertrude: First struck me as really... I dunno. Overwhelmingly floral and perfumey. Once on my skin, however, it takes a turn for the lovely. I'm thinking Illyria might be my category even more than Wanderlust. It softens into this sweet, warm floral that is comforting and light. Very beautiful. I like it more than Shadow Witch Orchid. Odd note: Gennivre smells almost just like this on my skin, except really oddly bitter. Huh. It ranks an 8, but Gennivre ranks a swap, I think. A dab of French Love: Bright and friendly smelling. It's just got an undertone that I don't like- there's something turning bitter on my skin, like a bad combination of herbs/greens on me. Not my thing. May be worth trying again at a later date, though. 5. Saint-Germain: The amber REALLY blooms in this one. I'm pondering keeping it, but I'm not sure I like the beginning enough to want to wear it often. Still, the amber is just stunning. I may test this one again. Pain: I love the mintiness of this. It's actually very pretty, but doesn't strike my fancy at the moment. I don't hate it. 6.
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I wish I were better at picking out notes. I got my Chaos Theory in the mail on the first, and I'm not sure what I think of it. It feels almost perfect for me in some ways- like Beth was actually checking out my preferences or something- It is similar to Cerberus, but lighter. There's a slight sweetness and what might be blackberry wine. Wine often turns to kitty litter on my skin. I'm pretty sure the blackberries are what did me in with MB: Closet. Manhattan isn't me. It's rather aloof and polished and a little bit masculine. It's a pretty scent, but it doesn't work for me. That's sad, but it means I get to make a trade for something I really want- Alice, Les Bijoux, Arkham, Misk U, and Baghdad all spring right to mind. I'm tempted to update my swap post right now, but I'm not sure I'm ready to part with it. I'm undecided on Xanthe. I must test it out, but I'm sort of nervous, because I want to keep the bottle pristine, for some reason. Hah. I LOVE the trading card, and I must find all of them. I can't afford to have all the bottles, but surely people will be willing to part with the cards, right? Finally, Katharina. So much love. So much goodness. White, musky goodness, and apricot with orange blossom goodness. Mmm. Of the 8 frimps, I've only tried 2 previously, so that's cool. I'm going to need some imps to toss along with my school things so I can have them handy. I must learn to knit socks. I love these things. Snarky, I love them! My feet rebel against my other socks, since having the royal treatment. It's my new obsession. Maybe I'll swap BPAL for socks! But I want to make my own. What's a garter stitch? I hear it mentioned in patterns a bit, but I don't think I've seen an example anywhere. Also, my backwards knitting site doesn't have a section on how to do anything but cast on, knit and purl. That makes me nervous about trying other things. Dude! I can't believe I'll be back in school in less than two weeks! Annnnd enough about that. I'm all done for the night; gotta go snuggle with the boy. I ADORE him. Have I mentioned that lately?
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If I could buy bottles and bottles of Kindly Moon, I would. (I'd really love the bottle, but I don't know that the notes will agree with my chemistry.) I'd buy them, and then I'd give them to all of you. You've all been so very kind to me, and I have been so desperately needy, and it has helped me more than you can know. Looking over the notes, I may have to wrangle a decant or two, because it does sound extremely lovely- if a tad floral. I bet it's really light and gorgeous, though. I'll probably see about swapping for a decant eventually, just to be sure. I really want to get a bottle of Arkham and the series' teeshirt. Arkham just strikes me as exquisitely perfect for late summer/early autumn. The shirt is just kickass. I was supposed to see my meds nurse tomorrow (wednesday), but got pushed back to friday. This is very sad. I really have a lot to discuss with her. Okay, back to BPAL. I think I may swap for a few GC scents. I have a couple of bottles that I don't love. So, a bit of a digression: My housemate came back and was talking to my husband and I about how horrible the premiere of House was. My husband likened it to someone taking something lovely and perfect from the Louvre, finger-painting over the top of it, and then tossing it into the bargain bin at Wal-Mart. My housemate tossed in that it was more like they f@cked it with a large, purple dick. So I was all, "So, that reminds me..." and they both start cracking up like nothing else, and it took me a few seconds to connect what I'd just said with the context of the conversation... But, yeah. I think it was Sarada who was commenting on the whole ebay "Not from BPAL" issue and said something to the effect of: "The next time I put something up for auction on ebay, I'm going to title it "Not a giant green metal dildo" so that people who are looking for one have to look at my shit, too." I need to find that and put it in my signature quote. That has to do with BPAL, albeit indirectly. I can now knit, purl and stitch a mean stockinette! Woohoo! Patterns make no sense at all to me, though. I also have no idea how to handle increases or decreases or binding off or what to do with the tail end of the yarn that's just kinda dangling there. Is there something I'm supposed to be doing special with the end stitches to make them more tidy or something? I'm planning on knitting a scarf and a few other things, but I think I need to learn more first. Heh. So, yeah. Doing better. You guys are really important to me, y'know? I missed you over the long weekend.
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So, I've got a question. It's for anyone, but especially all you knitting-inclined folks. How uncool would it be for you to receive an item knitted by a novice knitter, such as myself, as a gift in a swap or something? And, seriously, don't be nice.
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I got a package from Ms. Snark containing the last of my Spring Switch Witchery, and wow! She knitted me a stunning pair of socks, and included the pattern and... I can't stop looking at them! They're like art, for my feet! Thank you so much, darlin'. That made my day!
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Are you guys doing the Fall Switch Witch?
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It is awesome that the lab is updating like crazy. It means there will be ever so many scents in which to delight, and loads of fun swaps to arrange and hunt for and experience. It is not a bad thing that I can't buy anymore BPAL for several months (er, that might get tossed out.), it just makes life more interesting. I will pay off all debts and focus on school. The notes don't immediately appeal (pear, blue lotus and crystal musk do strike my fancy, I must admit), so I can certainly afford to miss this one single (er, double) lunacy. It struck me right through the heart when somebody compared it to the legend of Miskatonic U, though. Regardless. I do not need any new scents. It'll be more fun when I can more easily afford them anyway. Plus, it'll be neat to read the reviews and stalk the forums for decants.
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I found my imp of Snake Oil yesterday and dabbed a bit on my hand. I remembered that I wasn't too fond of it, but couldn't remember why. I actually thought maybe it was just that my nose wasn't developed enough, or sensitive enough to the scents, but it just doesn't work on me. Why? Patchouli. It's all patchouli, all the time on my skin. And I don't mean that in a good way. It just doesn't work. I don't like it. I have a dear friend who loves patchouli, though, so I'm thinking I'll send it to her. I found a whole tin of imps that I've been missing. Silk Road and Dragon's Millk are the ones I'm really excited to find. The rest I'm all kinda meh about. Dude! I'm going to be in art! Just a little over a month to wait. Art, math and psych. Plus fitness! I just need to make sure I'm going to the fitness lab all quarter. I know I've said that for the past two quarters, but I mean it now. Really! I'm going to do it this time. Things will be different. I'm learning to cook so that we don't have to eat out so often. I was annoyed at spending so much money on meats, and then realized that we spend the equivalent (and often more) on fast food that's so bad for us. So instead of doing my 'stop eating' thing that's 'worked' so well in the past (because he won't let me, mostly.), I'm working on healthy alternatives. I bought onions today! Did I brag about my boy's tomatos yet? He planted tomato plants, and they're finally red! They're small, but they taste amazing-- and I'm not a really big fan of tomatoes, generally speaking. Except lately.
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I am actually in a full-blown panic over never finding a bottle of House of Mirrors. Beaver Moon to a lesser degree. This is sort of scary. I think I need some rest. But it's really, really freaking me out. Seriously, though? House of Mirrors seems to have vanished from the swaps. (I know there are a couple there, but what if nobody ever wants to sell it again? ) And it's not like I have any real reason to be afraid I'll never get my hands on either of them ever again. It's irrational. That's how I know it's a panic attack.
