Week 1 - February 2021

February blew in with cold and snow. I know people who love this month. For me - much like November (outside of Thanksgiving) - it's a month I could skip. The last few years it's cold and snowy. Heavy snow and bitter cold. It's a good time for a vacation. Maybe next year.

 Random: 

- All vitamins should come in gummy form. That way it's like a treat!

- Take a day off, you need it.

Books: Quick reads over the weekend is still my speed. And I've started rocking mermaid gloves while reading. Because February came in cold.

- Making Midlife Madness by Heloise Hull which is better than I expect. Because I know the Greek gods well, the way she unveils information keeps catching me off guard in a good way.

- Night Shift Dragons by Rachel Aaron which was fantastically fun. I loved this series. Apparently it's part fo a larger "world" - but I never read those, so it feels fresh for me.

Gratitude: Laundry machines. Breakfasts out. Fancy soaps from friends. Snow that shovels easily and comes down on Saturday (so you have time to deal with it).Calendars. Getting things off the To-Do list. Scented candles. Food boxes filled with healthy food. Mermaid gloves.

Listening: Don't keep your day job podcast, which I find super inspiring. Grind and be grateful podcast. (She rarely talks about gratitude, I've noticed. Not sure this will stay on the playlist.)

Watching: Vikings. (I'm on Season 4.) I'm slowly losing interest in the series. There are now so many characters to pay attention to.  American Housewife. (Current season). Dexter. (Season 2). It's a very non-stressful watch for me, maybe because I've read the books and watched it before.

Wearing - Scent & Skin  

Scent

Imaginary Authors

- Telegrama  - Scent notes: Talc, Lavender Absolute, Black Pepper, Teak, Amyris, Vanilla Powder, Fresh Linens. Heavy on the talc and the vanilla with a strong side of lavender - this goes right to old lady; the teak and black pepper never show up for me. 

Sucreabeille

- R.E.S.P.E.C.T - Scent notes: your mother’s expensive cold cream that she dutifully applied every night and now you do, too, mixed with fragrant, sumptuous black cherries. This has aged well. It's rich and incense laden - the fruit almost smells like smoke. The vanilla is hidden info a sweet richness. The older this sample gets, the better I like it. Sillage also increases with age. This has mellowed into an amazing scent and I could wear it every day

- Frozen Moon - Scent Notes: crisp winter evening air, frost, sweet sugar plums swirl with delicious marshmallow. Don't ask me explain, but this seems like a February scent.This is such a sweet scent. I continue to get a lot of sweetness off it crossed with fruit. It lasts well into the day.

Skin

Still fighting off the maskne. Keeping up the system from last week.

 - Day time - Standard in-shower wash of tea tree cleanser  - plus a buffing scrub (Essentially NOLA's Exfoliating Grains) - Naturallogic Elemental Advanced Hydration Red Wine Essence to restore moisture and fight off lines, Fine Cosmetics Daytime Radiance Eye Serum tapped in around the eye with 3rd finger, then Votary day oil and Votary cream. 

- Night time - 1st cleanse with 100% Pure's Blood Orange Cleansing Balm following with a 2nd cleanse with my DHC Washing Powder for a little extra exfoliation. And I'm continuing to spot treating the rest. Earthwise Beauty's Yasumi Face Balm on the cheeks.  Blüh Alchemy's Multi-C serum on the forehead and around the eyes. Topped by the Live Botanical Sanctuary Barrier Balm around the eyes, on the forehead and neck. Frownie on the forehead because forehead wrinkles are aging. 

Ordered some new eye cream. Needing a bit more moisture due to the February dryness.

Take-away - Someone asked me, what are you doing to take care of you? It's a really good question to think about. What are YOU doing to take care of you? Because you have to put your own oxygen mask on first so you can help others.

All photos by moi! And you can tell...

Follow my blog with Bloglovin  - A new way to follow!

Let's Talk about 2020

Things we learned. Things we did not learn. Things we learned again. Unprecedented times. Life changes.  And where we go from here. That's my description of 2020 in paragraph form.

Every year I put out a list of what I learned. They are, honestly, mostly notes to self! And I swear sometimes I learn the same lesson - all over again. Below is my list for 2020. Maybe you learned the same lessons. Maybe you learned something else.  But either way, may we never stop learning and growing.

1. Fear will stop you. It is what limits you. Step outside of it.
2. Sometimes you've got to burn it all down and start over.
3. Boundaries are good. But you are in charge of keeping them defined.
4. Relationships require work from both parties. (Not a newsflash.) I refuse to be the only one working in it.
5. Be grateful for the people who see you as who you are rather than who they want you to be.

If you'd like to see what I learned at other points: lessons in 2019,  lessons in 2018,  lessons in 2017, lessons in 2016 , lessons in 2015 or learn about the rules. 

PS - want to get started journaling in 2021 but not sure what to write? I've got you covered with a digital book of journal prompts. 3 per week, plus an inspiring quote. Check it out on Gumroad with this link: https://gumroad.co/NZTt

All photos by moi! And you can tell...

Follow my blog with Bloglovin  - A new way to follow!

December 2020 - Week 2

Someone I know travels to see new things. I like doing that, too. But, you only see what you l-o-o-k at and there are small beauties all around us, every day. Be still and look.

Something to remember as we move into this new season.

Books: Reading as a form of de-stress is priceless. Seriously. Books and the worlds in people's heads are a gift.

- Umbertouched (Kindle) by Livia Blackburne is the 2nd (Rosemarked) was the first. It's called a Young Adult novel but there is no forever at the end. Just a sunset on a short life. That said, I liked the series.

- Midlife Ghost Hunter by Shannon Mayer (Kindle Unlimited.) I adore this series. Seriously. Could this please be my life?

- After the Rain by Alexandra Elle (actual book). Some chapters I enjoyed. Some made me think. Some didn't resonate. But, if you have been going through an emotional storm - this may be a book to help. (Full disclosure, I thought about Little Free Library'ing it because a few flipped to chapters did not resonate. Then I started at the front. And there is too much good to give up but I might be buying a few people copies!)

Cooking: Making up that Hungryroot! I'm telling you, this may be the best thing I've done in a bit. Food and recipes delivered to my door. Now there is a learning curve as they figure out what you like but I've yet to have a full delivery where I did not like anything. We're down to one or two items a delivery - then I just mark that and they don't send again! (And the next one, thanks to a few edits, looks perfect!)

Gratitude: Sunrise over the river. Cute dogs (even when stinky). Cuddle cats. Creating order. Breakfasts with friends. Downtown shopping at cute stores. Small, shiny things; because everything you touch should be beautiful. New dog friends, who trust you when other humans made them scared.

House: I like to call unpacking "unfurling". Because you are releasing your belongings into the space. Still have about 10 boxes. I'm down to figuring out new homes for things that went somewhere ELSE in the prior house. (Not all houses are configured the same. Space changes.)

Good news - No major repairs! Although the city did put in the start of a new water pipe. So happy I painted that wall last week.....  

Listening: Apple has a whole holiday channel with different kids of holiday music - country, jazz, classics, etc. This may be heaven. Also a couple of the usual suspect podcasts - Redefining Wealth and Don't Keep Your Day Job. (Not that I don't like my day job but she has good guests.)

Watching: Gossip Girl. (It's going off Netflix. Gotta get it while it is there.) As I was watching, Chuck Bass said his mother's birthday as Bart Bass's safe combination. And I realize...she's 3 years older than me. OMG. I was old even when the show was new! I'm also over the headbands but on to slouchy purses and scarves.

Wearing

Perfume

People. I went exclusive to one brand for the week. Mostly to one scent, too!

Sucreabeille

- Troll Food - Scent notes: melted chocolate, toasted marshmallow, sweet honey graham cracker.  I get the honey and marshmallow in the scent layers but still find traces of cinnamon and caramel (the latter may actually be graham cracker). Continues to smell like I'm delicious food that would go well with a latte. It lasts pretty well, most of a business day, on my skin. I did kill the tiny sample bottle, so we are off to new pastures!

- We Are Stardust - Scent notes: Daisy crowns and sandalwood, a bouquet of peace lilies, vanilla cream fresh from Max’s dairy farm, and a drop of patchouli. I needed the reminder. We are stardust. And I still don't understand how Sucre came up with a patchouli that I don't mind and how I don't get daisy (cat pee) off this!

Skin

I think my skin is starting to show my age. I am less than pleased. Changes will happen.

 - Day time - Standard in-shower wash of tea tree cleanser followed by a third finger (gentlest finger) tapping into the skin of 100% Pure's Super Fruit Oil Nourishing Eye Cream, then the Votary serum and topped with the Votary day oil (yes a switch). And I've added the Votary cream some days because my skin is starting to be dry for the winter. Moved the shot of Monastery Aloe Hyaluronic Moisture Boost on the forehead and neck to days when I have Zooms!

- Night time - 1st cleanse with 100% Pure's Blood Orange Cleansing Balm following with a 2nd cleanse with my DHC Washing Powder for a little extra exfoliation. Liking the Naturallogic Elemental Advanced Hydration Red Wine Essence (last month's Boxwalla) as the first layer to restore moisture and fight off lines. The follow up moisture set has remained Votary night oil and cream (via the Boxwalla). Plus the Grown Alchemist eye cream.

(Boxwalla has a every other month beauty box that is the BOMB. Highly recommend.)

Random: I can a-l-w-a-y-s tell when a man's wife does not work. It's in the respect with which he treats my time. If she works, and has a professional job, he treats my time like his own. If she does not, he treats my time as if it is less important than his - late for meetings, canceling on appointments, arbitrarily changing agreed delivery. (And yes, I had that experience this week. I probably won't be doing business with that company again.)

This weekend I shopped downtown at local stores. I did my holiday shopping, which will ship late. And I'm okay with that. I spent my budget, not more, and I feel like I helped the beautiful downtown community. (Pictured, a gorgeous candle - of which I bought more than a few for gifts  - and, above, a light pull to add pretty into one of my spaces.)

Take-away - Remember the starfish story. You can't save them all, but you can make a difference - even if for just one. Who are you making a difference for?

All photos by moi! And you can tell...

Follow my blog with Bloglovin  - A new way to follow!

November - Week 3 - 2020

New week. New moon. Get your sass on and make your intentions known.

Books: We only read light things in this house as things change. We seek the solace of mind-candy like other people watch Hallmark movies.

- Twisted Twenty-Six by Janet Evanovich - Let's just get it out of the way that I'm #TeamRanger #RangerForever and, I suspect Stephanie may be leaning that way, too. (Ranger is a keeper. Morelli is a player. IMO. I'll die on this hill.) I kind of liked that Stephanie is feeling a little stagnant and wants to shake things up. A good shake-out isn't a bad thing.

- Must Love Charms by Christine Zane Thomas (Book 3). Kindle Unlimited. This series has not improved. I would not read a book 4.

Cooking: I tried the HungryRoot. It was pretty good! I loved the easy recipes and felt like I was being healthier than eating pizza 3x a week. The red bean quesadillas were particularly delicious and fast. The generous portioning also meant it made 3 rather than 2 suggested. I also had a nice brussels and ravioli dish that was unexpectedly easy and tastier than expected. (I shot you a picture.I also shot a picture of the MASSIVE amount of food I ordered for the week of Thanksgiving since I'll be home. Catch it next week.)

Gratitude: Friends who let you bitch about Tuesdays and like cute cat pictures. Friends who call on Friday morning to wish you a good weekend. Friends who remind you to be safe and not stupid. Cat cuddles. Streaming TV - it's the BOMB. Bunnies on the patio. Taking a risk and having it work out.

House adventure: Electric is back on in the basement and we have a new front porch light! And the vent cleaning got rid of most of the musty smell. 

Still thinking that GoFundMe sounds good.

Listening: Sales Maven podcast. Apple Music's 6am-7am New Music station. Apple's Cocktails and Crooners. 

Watching: Warrior Nun (which I liked a lot less than other people seemed to - probably all the subtitles.) In The Dark (which I liked more than I expected.) The rest of Season 2 of new Charmed which is markedly better than Season 1.

Wearing

Perfume

Imaginary Authors

- Memoirs of a Trespasser - Scent notes: Madagascar Vanilla, Guiacwood, Myrrh, Benzoin Resin, Ambrette Seeds, Oak Barrels. This smelled a bit like root beer to me. No idea why. I love the name but it was not something I'd buy. Almost no sillage, either.  I finished off the tiny sample.

Sucreabeille

- R.E.S.P.E.C.T - Scent notes: your mother’s expensive cold cream that she dutifully applied every night and now you do, too, mixed with fragrant, sumptuous black cherries. I get a lot of cherry and dark vanilla off this. It's still sexy cupcake but richer smelling. It works well for the change in seasons. Sillage is amazing. I get a full day off it.

- Troll Food - Scent notes: melted chocolate, toasted marshmallow, sweet honey graham cracker. I got NONE of that off this. I totally had a cinnamon and caramel coming off this! Very food. It did last very well on my skin. I opened up a sample so we'll have this going for a few weeks on and off. As the mood strikes.

Skin

 Day time - Standard a shower wash of tea tree cleanser  followed by a third finger (gentlest finger) tapping into the skin of 100% Pure's Super Fruit Oil Nourishing Eye Cream, followed by the Votary serum. (And remember to change your mask regularly. I wore the same one about 3 days and now have nose "maskne". Ick!)

- Night time - 1st cleanse - Lovinah's Dragon's Blood DHA Cleansing Oil as first cleanse (which I killed off - would buy - it's amazing). Following with a 2nd cleanse with my DHC Washing Powder for a little extra exfoliation. The moisture set has been Votary night oil and cream (via the Boxwalla) Plus the Grown Alchemist eye cream.And a quick shot of Monastery Aloe Hyaluronic Moisture Boost on the forehead and neck.

Things 14 said: Iceland is just like Michigan. But not. (Insert laugh from me.) What? They are basically the same climate. (She was explaining her science project to me. Due to covid, they don't go upfront any more but speak from their seats which she said was a lot more comfortable. She got a B-.)

Random

1) Pony-Os are harder to use than the videos make it appear. I tried the BunBar and damn near had to cut it out of my hair.

2) I'm done feeling guilty about spending money. I now make a count every day of what I spend that supports local businesses. Seriously. The best way to keep our economy afloat is to keep our friends and neighbors employed + small business is an employment generator like no other. This week:

- Monday - Had the vents cleaned (local business)

- Tuesday - Had my hair done (local business + most hair dressers are self-employed)

- Wednesday - Mailed in my payment to a local service company for the gutter cleaning.

- Thursday - Got coffee and a donut at a local coffee shop.

- Friday - Bought a newer car from a local dealer rather than Carvana. (My car had 246,500 miles on it - it was time.)

- Saturday - Got coffee and a muffin at a local coffee shop.

This is my impact on my local business community in a week. What's yours?

3) Do what you can, where you are, with what you have. Theodore Roosevelt

Sometimes I feel like I've lived my whole life by that. I'm scrappy. I'm resourceful. But damn it - there is an inherent LACK in that phrase now when it hits my ear. (I used to hear it as a mantra to leverage what you have and grow.)  I have done a LOT with what I have. Truly. And it's perfectly okay for me to be grateful for what I have and want more. And I do.

I want...more of a relationship (me + a guy), permanently - I want someone who makes me feel like his sun and who values me; and is fun, funny and smart and reliable and responsible and likes adventures of every shape and size. I want more friends. I want to make the friends I have feel valued. I want more help with household stuff. I want new furniture. And that's all okay. Because I'm D-O-N-E playing small.

Take-away - People think of New Years and Spring as fresh starts. They are. But you can start anywhere. The "trick"? Deciding to start.

BTW - if you like the idea of journaling but aren't sure where to start - I have some prompts. And like a fresh start you can start anywhere, anytime. Check out 52 weeks of journal prompts here.

All photos by moi! And you can tell...

Follow my blog with Bloglovin  - A new way to follow!

September Musings - 2020

This time of year, there is nothing I love more than the feel of a breeze through a window. The sky is the most gorgeous blue and the day feels like it might last forever. (But it's fall, and you know it won't.)  Remember to go enjoy the day.

Somehow, the fall is often a huge season of change for me. Personal growth. My favorite part were the thank you flowers for helping with a wedding. It was a gorgeous day, despite the rain. Commitment and love are beautiful. 

Reading (Books):

It was a really really busy month! And I read almost nothing. 

- Curse Mate (#5 of the Shadow Guild Rebel series) by Linsey Hall (Kindle Unlimited) - you know, I didn't like this one. This whole series felt paced awkwardly. It felt rushed at the end. And

- Writing Wrongs and Brewing Trouble by Christine Gael (Kindle Unlimited) The first 2 of a series. These were less engaging than some others in this series.

Cooking: I made Slab Pie. It's like pie - in bars. I had to try several times to get it right. Here's my first attempt. 

Basically, you use more tapioca in the filling to make the gel-up more solid. And then you make extra pie crust and make the pie thickness about 2/3 what I usually do (in a pie pan, usually I do 6 cups of filling). 

Outside of that, I took a hiatus from the kitchen!


Gardening: I gave up. Seriously. We have deer. They have eaten everything all summer. Queen of Heaven trees are trying to take over the space. And I just, nope. Maybe I'll make a run at it later in the month. I grabbed a few peppers from the vines and called it good.

Gratitude:  Farmer's market. Self-care. Babies. Long drives to think. Great friends who step up and help. Sunset boat rides. Handmade scarves.

Listening: One of my friends has a podcast called Getting Out of Your Head And Taking Action. And I binged all of it! (Episode 21 and 16 are my favorite.) Driving is the best time to binge-listen. There was some quiet Pandora. 

Watching: I sat in silence a few nights working. It was weird and pleasant. But it slowed down my watching and I'm okay with that. And then I needed a distraction. So Burn Notice goes on - because I'd love to be Fiona, some days.

Wearing (Perfume and Skincare): 

Perfume

The perfume situation is officially crazy. It just never seems to go down! And there was a sale at Sucreabeille and I may have gotten a few new ones....

Imaginary Authors

- Slow Explosions - Scent notes: Saffron, Rose Absolute, Leather, Apple, Benzoin, Cashmeran, Arpora Night Market. I was ready for a new adventure. And this feels like that - feminine with the saffron, rose and apple but strong with the leather. Also leather feels like a "travel" scent to me. Benzoin teases my nose with a medicine scent but that could just be me. (Killed off the sample)

Sucreabeille
- Rictus - Scent notes: Funeral wreath of white lilies and black orchids sprinkled with a dusting of graveyard dirt.A somber wake feast of dark chocolate drenched raspberries and a shot of dark rum. This isn't my favorite scent but I love the story behind it. And there are days this month I feel like my smile is frozen to my face. (Killed off the sample)

- Toxic Masculinity Ruins the Party Again - Scent notes: A delightfully feminine blend of lavender, vanilla, honey nectar, and a light floral aldehyde.  I've now decided this is a weird mix of powder/honey and dries down to an almost incense like sent for me. The longer I have this one - the more I like it. (Killed off the sample. Sadly did not kill off the work guys who make me want to wear this.)

 - I Come From a Long Line of Terrifying Women - Scent notes: rosewood, whiskey, and amber, gunpowder, guiacwood, and tobacco absolute. This is absolutely one of my favorite scents.  It's a little smoky and warm.
- Lady Swears - Scent notes: Bourbon, Tahitian Vanilla, Lemon.  I decided this is pretty much my signature scent and ordered a bottle! The sillage is gorgeous and now that this has rested dries down to an almost incense like scent for me. 

- We Are Stardust - Scent notes: Daisy crowns and sandalwood, a bouquet of peace lilies, vanilla cream fresh from Max’s dairy farm, and a drop of patchouli. I hate patchouli  - but somehow Sucre seems to have come up with a patchouli that I don't mind. 
- Mouthy Broad - Scent notes: a cloud of cigar smoke, freshly picked roses, a full glass of whiskey. I don't know. This just felt like T-H-I-S  was my description of who I felt like internally. I got absolutely no rose off it. Cigar and whiskey with a floral hint. And it lasts a good half day for sillage.

- RESPECT - Scent notes: your mother’s expensive cold cream that she dutifully applied every night and now you do, too, mixed with fragrant, sumptuous black cherries. Night perfume is a still a thing. I get a lot of cherry and dark vanilla off this. It's still sexy cupcake but richer smelling.

Skincare

- Day time - Standard a shower wash of tea tree cleanser  followed by a third finger (gentlest finger) tapping into the skin of 100% Pure's Super Fruit Oil Nourishing Eye Cream, followed by  the 5Yina Lucent Hydrolat and Lucent Beauty Oil mixed with Earthwise's sun veil.

- Night time - 1st cleanse - Boxwalla sent me a new oil cleanser with Dragon's Blood in August and I quite like it. (Lovinah's Dragon's Blood DHA Cleansing oil) Delicious scent and it takes the eye make up right off. Starts oil but mixes to a lotion-like texture on the skin with water. Following with a 2nd cleanse with  with Boxwalla's June cleanser, Nini Organics' Detox Foam Cleanser - which does the powder to foam thing. So both cleansers switch texture. The Boxwalla also sent a few Votary items a few months ago - so I've been using the night oil and cream. Plus the Grown Alchemist eye cream.

Things 13 Said: "This must be what being a lunch lady is like." We were helping get appetizers together for a family wedding - wearing masks and food server gloves.

In other news, she is now 14! (And the owner of a snazzy new scarf.)

Random: Sometimes, ever since I read Whisper of the Moon Moth, I think about the fact that Gabrielle Anwar and Merle Oberon are both 1/4 Indian. Gabrielle looks like a tanned English rose. Merle looked exotic. 

Real talk - relationships are hard. And if one of you is just phoning it in, it won't work out. Relationships are work, and you have to work in them together for them to work out. When they end, HOW they end becomes important. It's harder still when there are children you love that aren't yours. Be as much of an adult as you can be - and then be MORE of an adult. 

Take-away: Changes aren't always bad. You gotta break open the eggs to make an omelette. 

Original musings posts you may enjoy:

- August Musings - 2020

- July Musings - 2020

-  June Musings - 2020
- May Musings - 2020
- April Musings - 2020
- March Musings - 2020
- February Musings- 2020
- January Musings - 2020
- Musings - December 2019
- Musings - November 2019
- Musings - October 2019
- Musings - September 2019
- Musings - August 2019
- Musings - July 2019
- Musings - June 2019
- Musings - May 2019
- Musings - April 2019
- Musings - March 2019
- Musings - February 2019
- Musings - January 2019
- Musings - December 2018
- Musings - November 2018
- Musings - October 2018
- Musings - September 2018
- Musings - August 2018
- Musings - July 2018
- Musings - June 2018

- Musings - May 2018
- Musings - April 2018
- Musings - March 2018
- Musings - February 2018
- Musings - January 2018

All photos by moi! And you can tell...

*Juice Beauty is a staple in my beauty cabinet. I stray, I try other things - but it's my favorite "foundation" (I used the CC Cream) and great skin care. If you like Juice Beauty too, here is a link. I do get a small commission (at no cost to you) when you use these links which helps support this blog.

- Skin Care by Juice Beauty

Follow my blog with Bloglovin  - A new way to follow!

August Musings - 2020

I'm in love with painting acrylics. It may be my new hobby! That and the awesome local farmer's market on Sunday mornings. And I think you should buy yourself some flowers. You deserve them! I got several sets from the farmer's market this month. This one is a combination of a couple of weeks. 

So what did you get up to in August?


Reading (Books):


Here's what I read this month.(And yeah, crazy amount of Kindle Unlimited. They are making nothing on me.) I continue to stress read with light fiction. 

- Orlando People by Alexander C. Kane (very very good) via Audible

-The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency by Alexander McCall Smith via Audible (2 observations - 1) her fav food (pumpkin and chicken) would make her my dog's BFF and 2) so weird in 2020 to have an old white English (via Africa, but still) write for an African black woman. 

- Leveling Up #1 and #2 by K.F. Breene (Kindle Unlimited) - YESSS. Very good. More mid-life series.

- Psychic Dreams by Elizabeth Hunter (Kindle Unlimited) - this is #3 in her Glimmer Lake series. (Spoiler - what the hell? How did West not be the guy? Plot reasons I'm sure but I feel like West deserves some play.)

- Good to the Last Death #3 by Robyn Peterman - (Kindle Unlimited) this is an easy beach read but I've found better

- Hall of Blood and Mercy #1, #2 #3 by K.M. Shea (Kindle Unlimited) - this is a beach read

- Nora Black Midlife Psychic Mystery books #1, #2, and #2 by Renee George (Kindle Unlimited) Was kind of a fun romp. Don't expect much but it works at exactly that level.

- Witching for Hope by Deanna Chase (Kindle Unlimited) which is #2 in a series. I was not at all interested in this one but since I liked the first and am anticipating the 3rd, it seemed like I should read this one.

- Shifting Shadows by Patricia Briggs - this might have been a re-read. I feel like I know some of these stories. But I loved them all the same

- The Vine Witch & The Glamourist by Luanne G. Smith (Kindle Unlimited) - I'm in love with this "set in France in early 1900's with magic" series! I can't wait for the final installment.

- The Missing by C.L Taylor - actual BOOK! It kept me guessing but it took a while - like 3 weeks to read because it did not hook me in. (Dropped to the beach LFL)

- Rosemarked by Livia Blackburne - actual BOOK! found at a garage sales and I really enjoyed it. The storyline was fresh! (Dropped to the beach LFL)

Cooking: I made so much salsa! Just quick fresh salsa with farmer's market onions and jalapenos, my tomatoes and hot peppers and a bit of cilantro from the store. Also cobbler. 

Gardening: And we have deer. The war against them has commenced. They have eaten my tiny tomatoes to nubs and are scavenging my bigger tomatoes. I responded with Irish Spring. They responded by eating my Ghost Pepper and Carolina Reaper - someone's venison is going to be spicy.

Gratitude:  Evening painting without a plan. The return of eating out. (Patios). Farmer's market. Diva dog paws. Perfume. Garage sales and fun finds. Babies. (Not mine but related!) New soap day. 

Listening: I'm still not podcast listening very much. In all truth - I'm very busy and I kind of don't want to think in my down time. Lots of Cocktails and Crooners on Apple Music. Some Pandora (I've created a Tru-Torch channel that's heavy on the torch jazz. And I've been rocking that at work.) 

Watching: Alright so I liked it so much I re-watched, The Old Guard on Netflix with Charlize Theron. Also, I caught up on all the Agents of Shield. (Nice ending. I can work with that emotionally.)  The new season of US's Shameless is out (sans Fiona), and I caught up with the Gallaghers.

Wearing (Perfume and Skincare): 

Perfume

The perfume situation is officially crazy. It just never seems to go down - even though I've killed off some samples.

Imaginary Authors
- Yesterday Haze - Scent notes: Fig, Iris, Cream, Tonka, Tree Bark, Walnut Bitters, Orchard Dust. I like this one more the more I wear it - I think it's the fig, cream and tonka. It lingers better than any other IA perfume I've sampled  - morning application lingers into early evening. Would buy! (Killed off the sample)
- Sundrunk - Scent notes: Neroli, Rhubarb, Honeysuckle, Rose Water,Orange Zest, First Kiss. There is something about this like oranges just past the peak. Not one I'd buy again. (Killed off the sample)

Sucreabeille
 - I Come From a Long Line of Terrifying Women - Scent notes: rosewood, whiskey, and amber, gunpowder, guiacwood, and tobacco absolute. I decided I needed to honor La Gram Russe at the begining of the month - her birthday - with wearing this perfume. Because she was awesome and I miss her. It's still very heavy on the tobacco with an overlay of amber on me. I like it. Okay sillage. 3-5 hours. 
- Lady Swears - Scent notes: Bourbon, Tahitian Vanilla, Lemon.  I started the day at 4:15am for petcare and a 5am conference call with Taiwan. I was stood up 2 days in a row. This was the correct perfume for that!

- We Are Stardust - Scent notes: Daisy crowns and sandalwood, a bouquet of peace lilies, vanilla cream fresh from Max’s dairy farm, and a drop of patchouli. I hate patchouli  - but somehow Sucre seems to have come up with a patchouli that I don't mind. I'm not a daisy person (mostly they smell strongly of cat pee with an almost pleasant odor underneath for me) Yet somehow this scent uses only the "good" part of the daisy. This is a lovely scent and a lesson that you should TRY NEW THINGS. For me, it's heavy on the cream and lilies with a backing of deep sandalwood and a sweet dry down to the faint touch of a creamy daisy invoking floral that has only the good parts of the daisy. Sillage is about 4-5 hours. (I bought it for the name. I wore it because I wanted to feel magical. Totally fits the bill.)
- Toxic Masculinity Ruins the Party Again - Scent notes: A delightfully feminine blend of lavender, vanilla, honey nectar, and a light floral aldehyde.  I've now decided this is a weird mix of powder/honey. It's sweet, but dry smelling and goes more powder the longer it is on. (Late in the month I started getting "smoke" off this.) Nice sillage.
- Rictus - Scent notes: Funeral wreath of white lilies and black orchids sprinkled with a dusting of graveyard dirt.A somber wake feast of dark chocolate drenched raspberries and a shot of dark rum. I think this dram might be self-filling. It never runs out!   I get strong upfront rum and chocolate with a settle down to a lillied chocolate in about 6-8 hours. This scent basically lingers until I wash it off.
- Mouthy Broad - Scent notes: a cloud of cigar smoke, freshly picked roses, a full glass of whiskey. I don't know. This just felt like T-H-I-S  was my description of who I felt like internally. I got absolutely no rose off it. Cigar and whiskey with a floral hint. And it lasts a good half day for sillage.

- RESPECT - Scent notes: your mother’s expensive cold cream that she dutifully applied every night and now you do, too, mixed with fragrant, sumptuous black cherries. Now that this has "rested" and is officially my night perfume (because that is a thing now) I get a lot of cherry and dark vanilla off this. It's still sexy cupcake but richer smelling.

Skincare

- Day time - Started the month out with my standard a shower wash of tea tree cleanser and swipe of Rosewater Witch Hazel (Dr. Theyer's, obviously), followed by a third finger (gentlest finger) tapping into the skin of 100% Pure's Super Fruit Oil Nourishing Eye Cream. I got a sample of Dr. Hauschka's Restorative Day Cream as part of a sample (BeautyHabit.com - excellent beauty curators) and pretty much used it all month. Towards the end of the month, I broke out the 5Yina Lucent Hydrolat and Lucent Beauty Oil as it was hot and that's the perfect pair for that. 

- Night time - 1st cleanse - 100% Pure's Blood Orange Cleansing Balm followed by a 2nd cleanse with  with Boxwalla's June cleanser, Nini Organics' Detox Foam Cleanser - which does the powder to foam thing that is so cool! I bought this new eye cream called "Grown Alchemist" which makes me laugh. (Beautyhabit had it on clearance). It's basically vitamin E and sunflower oil with a few other things. But I like how it melts into the skin. I've been topping that with the Boxwalla beauty box's Votary Super Seed cream. Very rich. My skin has been, despite the heat, looking a little parched.

Things 13 Said: Not much. She was gone a lot of the month. And since she will be 14 next month, she's doing the teenage thing where she lives in her room and we never see her.

Random: 22 (Israel) made me go with her garage sale hunting. And I have found a water carafe with cover/cup. $2. It makes me delighted!

Take-away: This time of year can feel like things are winding down. It's the perfect time to dream about how you want to finish your year. I know the pandemic has stressed a lot of us out. But there is still hope, and beauty (and babies!). Take a little time to dream about the rest of the year and to dream about what you want next.

PS - I'm moving to 2x a month posts. So much happens in a month right now that nuances are lost and these posts are starting to feel generic. I hope you like the changes!

Original musings posts you may enjoy:

- July Musings - 2020

-  June Musings - 2020
- May Musings - 2020
- April Musings - 2020
- March Musings - 2020
- February Musings- 2020
- January Musings - 2020
- Musings - December 2019
- Musings - November 2019
- Musings - October 2019
- Musings - September 2019
- Musings - August 2019
- Musings - July 2019
- Musings - June 2019
- Musings - May 2019
- Musings - April 2019
- Musings - March 2019
- Musings - February 2019
- Musings - January 2019
- Musings - December 2018
- Musings - November 2018
- Musings - October 2018
- Musings - September 2018
- Musings - August 2018
- Musings - July 2018
- Musings - June 2018

- Musings - May 2018
- Musings - April 2018
- Musings - March 2018
- Musings - February 2018
- Musings - January 2018

All photos by moi! And you can tell...

*Juice Beauty is a staple in my beauty cabinet. I stray, I try other things - but it's my favorite "foundation" (I used the CC Cream) and great skin care. If you like Juice Beauty too, here is a link. I do get a small commission (at no cost to you) when you use these links which helps support this blog.

- Skin Care by Juice Beauty

Follow my blog with Bloglovin  - A new way to follow!