#27: Read 50 Non-crime books

I read two non-crime books in a row. And I loved both of them. Swapping Lives is not like any book I have read in years. I am definitely not a "chick-flick" kinda book reader. Again relating books to movies, this reminds me of The Holiday with Cameron Diaz and Kate Winslet, sorta. A single journalist from London swaps lives for a month with a mother of two, with a husband from the Connecticut suburbs.

Parts of this book really made me look at my life. Even though I am not a mother, I could identify with the rut that the mother in this book was in. Sometimes you get so caught up in the routine of the day. I was just telling the Hubs that sometimes I feel like everything but a wife. Some days I feel like a mom (even though I have not kids), a maid, a student, and employee, etc. and after all that I forget that I am a woman and a wife. Sometimes it is hard to break that cycle, but I realize it is something I have to work on. I have to remember the fun loving person I was before we got married. I also have to remember that everything is not my responsibility. I do have a husband and we are supposed to be equals here. I have to let him take care of some things.

Despite the epiphany this book made ME have, it is a very light-hearted, fun read. It definitely took my mind away from the record breaking blizzard DC is experiencing at the moment. There may be a post about that if I can get to it.

#27: Read 50 Non-crime books

Just finished reading The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini. Great book. I could not put this book down, which is not typical for a non-crime book for me. It is a story about two boys from Kabul, Afghanistan and the journey their lives take. How one simple decision can change a person entire life. It brought a new light on Afghanistan for me. Several places that are frequently mentioned in the news in a negative light are shown how they used to be before the Russian invasion and the takeover by the Taliban.

#28: Read 100 books

I finished another book. I actually finished a couple of days ago, but haven't had time to update. I love reading series, getting invested in the characters, not being able to wait and see what happens. This is book number 6 of 10. I highly recommend the Alexandra Cooper series. She is a NY DA in charge of the sex crimes unit. Great series.

#27: Read 50 Non-crime books

I read my first non-crime related book, Let the Great World Spin by Colum McCann. It has been a long time since I have read a book on a different subject. I would have never read this book on my own, but it was the next book in an online book club, so I thought I would give it a try. It took a little will for me to get into. I think part of the problem was it was not my typical subject matter. But once I got into it, I liked it. It is the a story on various people revolving around one central event. It reminded me of a cross between Crash and Vantage Point. Yes, I will relate books to movies whenever I can.

Perfume reviews : Chant d'Aromes by Guerlain: fragrance review

As I lay my hands on the black and ivory keyboard of my Pleyel, fingering Le Lac de Côme, I can't but feel the optimism and bright sunshine of a summer's day that Chant d’Arômes by Guerlain evokes in me as well. One of the lesser known Guerlains, it is akin to an innocent young love that is blossoming into the happiness of womanhood. This summer I happily rediscovered this old flame of mine and have been enjoying its tender peachiness and delicate, caressing powderiness anew.

Chant d’Arômes was created in 1962 by young Jean Paul Guerlain for his future wife, who was so loyal to her favorite Ma Griffe by Carven that she didn't wear any of the fragrances of the house her fiancé was about to inherit! In a getting even roundabout way, Jean Paul created this peachy, lactonic, floral chypre to lure her into wearing a Guerlain and thus made his first foray into the illustrious line of creations of the historical house.
Erroneously translated as "Language of Flowers" sometimes, its French name in fact has the elegiac meaning of "Song of Aromas" which beautifully echoes its oneiric musical cadenzas.

The translucent opening of Chant d’Arômes ~with what seems like a dash of mandarin~ is not unlike the older version of Ma Griffe which was much brighter due to lots of bergamot and aldehydes or Chanel No.22 with its incense touch, lending a sparkling and intriguing character to the composition. It very soon melts into the embrace of the undecalactone of peach skin ~soft, fuzzy and completely mesmerising; tender like the hand of a mother, loving like the gaze of a lover in the first throes of romance. The flowers are all subdued and well blended into a medley of harmonious arpeggios, revealing little hints of this or that at the most unexpected turns, never heady, never loud. Through it all, there sings the brassy contralto of cinnamon, accountable to benzoin, but also reminiscent of the styrax ambience of vintage Ma Griffe's drydown. You would be hard pressed to distinguish any single ingredient as they all sing together with the smoothness of a choir performing Pachelbel's Canon in D; optimistic, lightly sweet, but with the slightest mossy autumnal background, a debt to the unsurpassable Vol de Nuit.
And yet Chant d’Arômes does not aim to be a link in the Guerlain chain, but making a fresh, ever young start it takes us into the realm of the eternally sunny. Although officially classified as a chypre floral by Guerlain, I find that its chypré qualities do not make it difficult, but on the contrary it serves as the perfect choice between floral and chypre for those who do not like the extremes of either category. Its innocence fondles the mystery of youth.

A penguin foams past the biology.

Perfume Reviews : Couture Couture by Juicy Couture: new fragrance

The brand responsible for velour tracksuits decorating the behinds of It Girls across the USA is coming out with their third scent, after Juicy Couture and Viva La Juicy.
According to Thread.co.nz Megan Robinson: " 'New York, New York, so good they named it twice...' Perfume companies seem to be taking this advice to heart with the recent release of Ricci Ricci by Nina Ricci, and now, Couture Couture by Juicy Couture". The fact that it is a misnomer needs little pointing out, but the term couture has been used very loosely for a long time now. Perhaps Rachel Joe, celebrities' and celebrity stylist on whom the newest fragrance has been based on picks up some couture designs for her wealthy clients for formal affairs, but other than that, let's not reference the glory days of Balenciaga and Givenchy, now shall we?


Perfumer Honorine Blanc from Firmenich composed Couture squared with top notes of pink grape, orange flower and mandarin, a heart comprised of plum, honeysuckle and star jasmine, and base notes of sandalwood, amber and rich vanilla. Sounds perfectly predictable! (yet potentially pretty).

Eau de Parfum Spray 30ml $99.00 / 50ml $138.00 / 100ml $184.00 / Body Lotion 200ml $79.00 / Shower Gel 200ml $69.00. Official launch is predicted for 12 February 2010.

Perfumes reviews : L'Arte di Gucci

L'Arte di Gucci wraps its intensely rosy heart garlanded with hypnotic, greenish narcissus into a luminous, characteristic aldehyde burst (evoking half part soap and the other part slightly overripe fruit) like a whirlwind into one of my favourite 80s pop tunes, Kim Carne's Betty Davis Eyes; hysky-voiced, with a swagger in her stride, dressing to impress. Yet the astounding thing is those were more innocent times than today, "pure New York snow" and all notwithstanding. I guess this fangled vampire with "lips sweet surprise" and luminous, deeply honeyed eyes which reminds me of tailored curvaceous suits that yes, Betty Davies might wear, preferably after a manipulation or two, is more girly and good than taken credit for.
"And she'll tease you, She'll unease you, All the better just to please you..."

Long discontinued, it can still be found sometimes online (there is a 1oz bottle available at Amazon right now) and on Ebay,although for alarmingly increasing prices.
The unusual bottle was designed by Serge Mansau and is presented in opaque black in the miniatures circulating.

Notes for L'Arte di Gucci: Bergamot, fruits, coriander, aldehydes, greens, rose, jasmine, lily of the valley, mimosa, tuberose, narcissus, geranium, orris, amber, musk, oakmoss, patchouli, leather, vetiver.