The best Christmas present...EVER!
Huge thanks to the lovely "A" for giving me and Cavewoman this incredible gift.
I can not express how blown away I am.

This is a flippin sketch from Andrae! My little lamb!
And it is addressed to Annie.
I am swooning.

I love my friends. They are the best.

photos: BravoTV and Blogdorf Goodman

Paul and Joe's Bleau Fragrance

Fragrance Challenge:

Paul and Joe's Bleu

Sephora description: An oriental blend of bergamot, fresh herbs, and rich spices, swirled with jasmine, rose, and other sensual florals and seductive woods, warmed by the essence of mystery and sensuality.

My Thoughts: The best damn amber based fragrance on the market. This has incredible sillage in cold weather. Never has any of my fragrances smelled so amazing once it hit the cold brisk Ohio air.
I almost fell to my knees.
It was that good.
Lasting power is impressive.

Notes: Bergamot, Cilantro, Caraway, Cardamom, Ylang-Ylang, Jasmine, Rose, Magnolia, Heliotrope, Patchouli, Vetiver, Oud, Myrrh, Sandalwood, Incense, Vanilla and Ambergris.

photo: Blogdorf Goodman
Disclosure: I purchased this fragarnce at my local Anthropologie store

Fragrance sightings at your local Marshalls:

Evening in Paris
J-Lo's Live
Valentino's Gold
Stacked Style Fragrances
Ralph Lauren's Safari
Karl Lagerfeld's Sun Moon and Stars
Guerlain's Anisia Bella
Calvin Klein's Contradiction
Lancome's Miracle So Magic(set)
Hanae Mori
Kiehl's Musk
Demeters(if you are lucky)
Marc Jacobs Essence (sets)
Marc Jabobs Blush
D&G Light Blue
Burberry Brit Red(sets)

What have you seen at Marshalls or TJ Maxx?
Have you bought any fragrances as gifts?

Important Online Holiday Shopping Alert(Sale ends 11/30 at midnight):

Stop what you are doing.
There is another Friends and Family discount event! This time instead of Sephora it is the folks at Drugstore.com/Beauty.com


The Deets:
Copy & paste this link into your browser to get an additional 20% off all orders this Wednesday November 29 2006.
Another Alert from the folks at Beauty/drugstore.com: Wow! We knew today's sale would be big, but even we weren't expecting so many of you.

Our engineers are working feverishly to have everything up and running within the hour. To give you more time to shop, we're extending the sale for an extra 24 hours, until midnight tomorrow, November 30.

And remember, to get to the sale just click the link below.

Thats today!

http://www.drugstore.com/templates/browse/default.asp?catid=103634&AID=337642&APARAM=112706_1day_coming_h

Are you wondering what you should get?

Since I love spending other peoples money...here is a list to get you started.

1. Philosphy's The Microdelivery Peel $65

2. Monyette Paris: The lotion$24, the body wash at $26 and the candle for $50.

3. Thierry Mugler's Angel $90.00
***I know there are fans out there. Pick it up here before you buy it at your local Macys.

4. Rimmel Gentle Eyecare Remover for $6.79

5. Annick Goutal's Mandragore for $69

6. Awake products---
Hydro Force Eye $45.00
Authority Age Release Serum $150(1.7 fl oz)
The best product and my #1 pick: Stardom Aqua Trans powder (Sea Lavender or Pink sunset) for $38.50

7. Mason Pearson brush(a very good selection)

8. DuWop Palettes for $32. The Amber and Gray Eye sets are in stock!

9. Essie's Wicked nail polish $7

10. Flippin....Nars.
Foul Play lip gloss in stock and ready for your Christmas stocking.

Let me know if you cave!!!!
Thanks to Kelsey and Kristin for the heads up!!!

Photo: Gettyimages

Tech Lemming: A DVF Sidekick
Better than a wrap dress!


Your social lifeline – as dressed by iconic designer Diane von Furstenberg. This limited-edition Sidekick 3 has all the features you love, wrapped up in a chic, flirty, fashionable style featuring Diane's signature hot-pink lips. Stay connected the way you want, when you want – and look great doing it.
(t-mobile.com)

Price: $349.00
http://www.t-mobile.com/

Chantecaille Frangipane

Fragrance of the Day Challenge:

I was introduced to Chantecaille's Frangipane by one of my favorite MUA reviewers Impishnature. She introduced me to many of my favorite holy grail fragrances. Her reviews produced countless lemmings for me.

This specific fragrance with its huge jasmine note was not something I would normally fall for.
The drydown is all vanilla goodness and is lush.
Like a big vat of cream.
There is a catch with this fragrance. There is a cucumber vibe in the opening notes for some wearers.
I have been blessed.
I get a quick whiff of green and then the jasmine clubs it over the head.
This jasmine note is a thug. It is not dainty or subtle.
It is out for blood and taking names.

Notes are Exotic Orange, Water Hyacinth, Violet, Jasmine, Frangipani Blossom, Ylang-Ylang,Vanilla, Musk and Vetiver.

Available at Bergdorf Goodman
Photo: Blogdorf Goodman
Disclosure: This perfume was purchased by me!

The infamous Nuit de Noho bottle has arrived at the Cleveland Bond counter in Saks. The lovely Lisa showed us all the Bond goodies for the holiday season. Saks is having a fragrance week in time for holiday shopping.
With an $85 fragrance purchase you receive an atomizer.
It ends December 2nd 2006.

The Limited Edition Nuit de Noho 3.4 oz bottle is $395.00 and is drop dead gorgeous.

Description from the Bond Blog:
Some fragrances are known as skin scents; they’re adept at merging with the body’s own animal warmth. Nuits de Noho, laced with soft musk and vanilla, is one of them. At the same time, this avant garde indulgence is a contemporary gourmand treat. First, you get a whiff of a mouthwatering bergamot–the quintessence of citrus-ness. Then, rosewood and jasmine are folded in for smoothness. But it’s a lingering hit of patchouli, like a jolt of vodka or gin, that gives Nuits de Noho a wry and sexy urbanity.



Other Bond Goodies:

The Swarovski Pocket spray box for $195.00

It includes an eye catching spray flacon encrusted with black swarovski stones. This set comes with Chinatown, Chelsea Flowers and Eau de New York.


The Perfumista's Custom Blending Box for $240.
16 spray falcons+ one empty.
The empty one is used for scent experiments.
Mix Fire Island with Estee Lauder's Tom Ford Azuree Oil.
It is excellent and will instantly take you back to the dog days of summer.
This comes in handy for the Ohio gals.
Temps are going to drop to 30 degrees by the weekend.

Photos: Blogdorf Goodman

"Getting Nailed" challenge for November 27th 2006:

This is the Jungle collection from Essie.

Monkey Business is a shimmery gold nude. Leans on the peach side.
Gorgeous.

Jag-u-are is a red shimmer that rivals OPI's I am not a Waitress. Perfect for the holiday season.
A potential classic.

Bungle Jungle: Another red with less shimmer and pop than Jag-u-are. I was so dazzled by the Jag shade that I pretty much ignored Bungle. I plan to revisit it next week.

Congo Bongo: Another nude that leans on the pinker side. This one has a kick of fuschia shimmer.
Unique and quite lovely.

Wild thing is a purple-ish red shade with blue glitter. I wore this last week and it survived perfectly.
Not one chip.

Catwalk is a rose red that looks flattering on most skin tones.
No shimmer.
Cavewoman is wearing this shade for week.

Has anyone tried this collection yet?
Any standouts?

What is your polish for the week?
Mine is Essie's Jag-u-are.
I am smitten.

photos: Blogdorf Goodman
Essie available at:
http://www.8ty8beauty.com/nail_polishes/npo_essie1.htm

Lt. Dan Brent: Imagine finding you here.

Bijou: I'm the type of girl you're liable to find anywhere. (quote from Seven Sinners-IMDb)



Fragrance Challenge: Creed's Angelique Encens

I caved on this plump bottle during the infamous Creed incident on Makeupalley. This is when the Bond stores slashed Creed stock to 50% off. The minute the sale was announced I was on "the horn" ordering Angelique Encens. I was in a panic because MUA can be like a stampede of buffalo when it comes to clearing out a store's stock. Luckily I got a SA just in time. I still cherish this bottle after all these years.

The notes for Angelique Encens are angelica, bulgarian rose, incense, amber, tuberose, ambergris and vanilla. There is also a powerful citrus-like note in the top notes. I have never been able to pinpoint what it is.
This is one of my favorite scents due to its incredible incense drydown.
It is rich and ambery.

http://www.creedfragrances.co.uk/site/
photos: Blogdorf Goodman and Gettyimages

***So I have developed a loophole so I can realistically accomplish this challenge. I have decided that on the weekends I can return to my favorite scents. This way I will not feel like I am not neglecting my Ormonde or Chinatown.
This will also force me to stop reaching for my Jolie Madame bottle.

Shu Uemura Radiant Blue False Eyelashes for $25 at Bergdorf Goodman.

Blue Holly Dress for $188 from Anthropologie.

Mille & Une Roses from Lancome.

Comet Mary Janes for $298 from Anthropologie.

Thisbe dress for $328 from Anthropologie. (This is navy wool jersey!)

Eveline Chemise for $148 from Anthropologie.

Nars Pussy Galore Nail Polish

Pussy Galore: I'm Mr. Goldfinger's personal pilot.
James Bond: Oh? Just how personal is that?
Pussy Galore: I'm a damn good pilot. Period (IMDB)

Nars Pussy Galore

I bought this polish at Bergdorf Goodman with Parisjasmal. She insisted that I needed it along with Nars Arabesque's polish.
At the time...this was the "it color" for pedicures.

I still use it because it is so darn pretty. The arabesque polish is chock full of shimmery goodness. It is a clear polish jammed packed with pink glitter. Two coats gives you a glitter covering that rivals Dorothy's shoes in The Wizard of Oz.

Pussy Galore is a pink shade with a lilac opalescence. There is almost a metallic quality to it. It requires two coats but three is better. I recommend Essie's Ridge Filler as the base coat along with a good topcoat. This polish does not have a good survival rate.
It chips easily.

Nars is available at your local Saks and Sephora.

photos: poster.net

All that glitters....


Gold Eyes at Versace Spring 2007:

I tried to do this look today.
I used MAC's Gold Dusk pigment with the black shade in my Chanel's Winter Nights Quad.

photos: style.com

More Beauty Holiday Gift Ideas:

This time the items that caught my eye at Beautyhabit:
http://www.beautyhabit.com/
For every $100 you spend on merchandise--you will receive Free Standard USA shipping now+ a $20 coupon for a future order.
This special ends November 29th 2006.

DuWop Amber Eyes Palette for $32. I have discussed this one a lot. It is a great palette with amazing shades. Tussah immediately caved on this one.

Rescue Beauty Lounge Nail Polish for $18. This is the color Revamp. Other standouts are Film Noir, Atame and Killa Red.

Parfums DelRae Bois Paradis for $125. Chandler Burr has recently raved about this scent in the NYTimes. I adore this one. Notes are rose, blackberry and woods. It is heaven in a bottle.

People of the Labyrinths Luctor et Emergo enriched perfume body cream for $95.
By all accounts it is supposed to be magnificent. Some say it is better than the actual fragrance. I have issues with paying this price for a cream. I also shy away from expensive shower gels and shampoos.

Botrytis from Ginestet perfumes for $100. A gorgeous mix of candied fruits, quince and honey.

All photographs & information are from beautyhabit.

http://www.aedes.com/home.php

Just in time for Black Friday:

I got my Aedes magazine.

Here are the items that caught my eye:

L'Artisan's Safran Troublant 3.4 oz for $110.00
Saffron, rose and vanilla notes. One of my favorite scents!

Aedes Room Spray for $70. It is japanese incense with a leather note.
I can only imagine how amazing this one is.

If you have been bad and fully deserve coal...see if you can sticks instead.
These sticks by Lorenzo Villoresi are scented.
Description straight from Aedes:
Scented bundle of oriental woods, barks and roots: china calisaya, cassia from macassar and cinnamon from ceylon. The rich aroma of alamus, gentian and elecampane. The woods and roots are aged in special decanting vessels where they slowly absorb a special mix of essential oils and extracts.
(They had me at "aged in special decanting vessels.")

Annick Goutal's Songes in the moon bottle. It is priced at $165.00

All photos and descriptions from Aedes.

The smell of violets, hidden in the green,
Pour'd back into my empty soul and frame
The times when I remembered to have been
Joyful and free from blame.
- Lord Alfred Tennyson, Dream of Fair Women

My fragrance of the day is Aimez Moi by Caron. I am starting one of my New Year's resolutions early. I am forcing myself to do a fragrance challenge. It will be similiar to my Rock the Gloss challenge. I will wear a different scent every single day until I go through my entire collection of bottles, decants and samples. This is a huge undertaking.
It might take a year...or two.
This will be a huge challenge for me because I often reach for my favorites in times of crisis. I have scents that are like old friends.
Can I put my trusty Chinatown on the shelf while I explore my sample box?
Is there true love waiting in my decant cupboard?
All I can do is promise that I will try to do this.
If I fall off the wagon...I promise to get back on.


Back to Aimez Moi: The notes are violet, magnolia, roses, jasmine, star anise, bergamot, cardamon, heliotrope(I never detect it), cloves and amber. I get violets, roses and star anise. Anise is a very hard note to wear. I tried this fragrance three times before I decided to take the plunge. I thought the anise note went "wonky" on my skin.
Now it smells amazing and I have no regrets on grabbing this bottle.
What changed?
I have no clue.
I might have changed my lotion or diet...or maybe my nose grew sophisticated.
I have no idea if it had something to do with skin chemistry. Some fragrances just will not work for me. I Profumi di Firenze's Violetta de Bosco smells like heaven on earth on Cavewoman.
On me....it turns into hot grass...with sugar on top.

What is your fragrance of the day?
Happy Thanksgiving to anyone who celebrates it today!

photos: Blogdorf Goodman(some of my decants) and Edward Gorey(online source unknown).

Yves Saint Laurent Opium Makeup Palette

Another hint to Santa:

Yves Saint Laurent Opium makeup Palette for $55

Excellent stocking stuffer.
A great way to start out a compact collection.
Just plain lovely.

Available at Bergdorf Goodman, Saks and Norstorm.

photo: Blogdorf Goodman with the tech assistance of Koneko. This is the day she taught me about the "flash" button.
New Years Resolution #1: Learn to use my camera.

Web Snob Weekly Roundup for November 13th 2006:

Aesthetics + Economics How much would you pay for leggings? How about $100,000?
Beauty Buzz shows us delicious treats for the bath
Bon Bons in the Bath helps us with beauty stocking stuffers Girlawhirl brings home the Asian spa experience with Akhassa. These products look great!
Bag Snob tells us about Vivre private sale for friends of the Bag Snob! **It ended...but there is still time for the giveaway. It is for a Devi Kroell handbag.
http://www.bagsnob.com/2006/11/bag_snob_and_vivre_sweepstakes.html
Fashiontribes Lady in Red
Second City Style takes you shoe shopping with Stacy London of "What Not to Wear." Her top pick...the Cole Haan Carma Air Platform pump with Nike technology.
Stylebites These Boots are Made for Walkin'
Stylehive introduces us to Orla Kiely
The Jewelry Weblog Bling for the holidays.

photo: gettyimages
Any guesses on the identity of the stunning lady in the photo?

JAR's Diamond Water

JARS scents are complicated, intriguing and one of the most hush hush fragrance lines I have ever encountered. This is not you every day "skull and bones" society-like company.
Behind the artful smoke and mirrors are some of the most amazing scents I have ever experienced.
I am a Nancy Drew kind of girl so give me a good mystery and I will crack the case. The JARS can not be solved. No amount of detective work, CSI, or pouring over Agatha Christie novels can get you the answers.
Your screwed.
You will never fully know what is in your fragrance.
You might smell honey...you might get a whiff of cinnamon but no one will ever fess up what is in the scent concoction. You just have to give up the questioning and lose yourself in the fragrance. It is easy to do.
JARS are not boring or run of the mill.
Some are unwearable and puzzling.
Some take your breath away with their beauty.
All of them command your respect as works of art.

Tbone insisted that I visit the JAR boutique when we were prowling the beauty floor at Bergdorf Goodman. She promised that it would be a scream and that the SA was lovely to look at. I love a good laugh and cute boys so there was no hand twisting to get me in there. There was a handsome man but there was no giggling.
The boutique is dark and strangely cavelike. The kind of cave that the musical artist Prince would live in.
I defy anyone to not think of the song Purple Rain when they visit.

The hustle and bustle of the beauty floor is strangely on mute in there. The SA is more than kind to share the JAR experience with the customers. He presents each scent with a flourish of the wrist. You want to clap and cheer it is done so well.
No matter how you to try to trick him...he never reveals one note.
Yell carnation...and he does not blink.
Coyly, mention cinnamon, and he shows not an ounce of emotion.
I tried all my Sherlock Holmes tricks but was foiled by his poker face.

The scent that I fell for was Diamond Waters. It was love and lust at first whiff.
Try as I might I can never get a full grasp of the notes. It is so well blended that it is seamless to me. The notes glide over one another. I get the peppery carnation and a subtle whiff of osmanthus. The rumored tuberose, honey, stocks and cinnamon notes might be there...but I am no nose. The best reviews that I have read on this have been at three perfume based blogs. They are Robin at Now Smell This, Victoria at Bois de Jasmin and Katie at Scentzilla. I have posted all three so you can see how stunning the fragrance really is.

http://nowsmellthis.blogharbor.com/blog/_archives/2005/2/17/325919.html
http://scentzilla.com/?p=166
http://boisdejasmin.typepad.com/_/2005/08/perfume_review__2.html

Photos: Blogdorf Goodman


Disclosure: I received this as a fift from a friend. Best gift ever!

I started looking online for holiday gifts. Here are some interesting things I found on Sunday.

Malory boots by Anna Sui at anthropologie for $348.00
A reader mentioned these beauties a little while ago. These are AMAZING boots.

Shu Uemura nail polish $12 .00
Deep Velvet(A LE Vampish shade) looks interesting.

Sephora's Monopoly set for $45.00

Monyette Paris dream set for $150.00 from Luckyscent.

Roland Mouret at the Gap. Launches December 1st. Photo from the great site called Love Made Visible. http://www.pomegranita.com/
This site is addictive and so damn lovely.



Monkey Power cards at Elsewheres for 12.99 http://www.elsewares.com/commerce/index.php