Reflections,Regrets,Resolutions, Winnahs & a Giveaway!

So…..2013 has drawn to a close and 2014 is upon us.    A quick rewind through 2013 (mostly perfume & beauty, with some sidebars (FOOD!  SEX! (okay, no sex, dagnabit! )……ummmmm….animal?  vegetable?  mineral?  oh, let’s just get rolling and see where this takes us.  And let’s see if I can weave all three words into each scenario without making myself look even more lunatic…

I reflect on perfume – a lot.  And recently I realized that, due to my increasing involvement in the industry, I  tend to think of perfume more as a marketing commodity, rather than a pleasure.   Which is a damn shame.  And I regret that.  So I am resolved to get back to basics:  I’m going to pull out my beauties and freakin’ WEAR them, like regular people do (no, no youse guys.  NORMAL people)! LOL!  I’m still looking forward to sampling and reviewing new (and new-to-me) perfumes – but for everyday wear, it’s time to spray what I’ve got!

Perfume Advertising:  is it a reflection of our cultural malaise?  Are we really that lazy?  Or has everything already been done?  It’s regrettable that very little advertising stands out (isn’t there any other way to convey ‘manly’ than a brooding, ultra-rich, oiled-up,6-packed playboy yachtsman?  and airbrushed Julia Roberts has diamante puppet strings for..uhhh….why?)  Can mainstream perfume advertising take a page from Brent Leonesio or Lush?  Prolly not (though Cartier took a good run at it with the leopard leaping about all over the place).  But I am resolute in wishing it were so – or at least not so cookie cutter (and whew! but I squeaked by on that ‘resolute’).  Interesting side note in Musette’s skittery little mind…so I went onto the Lush site to confirm the link – and they have all these really cool flags that take you to that country’s website….hang in there with me for a minute…so I was all ‘squirrel!‘ with  the wavy flags .. Saudi Arabia’s flag started waving..and headlining as a limited edition is Ponce shower gel..orange with a shot of tequila!  Um…….wondering how that’s going over in a country well-known for its strict no-alcohol laws……see, this is why I never get anything done…

Musette!  Not So Much Judgy, okay?!!  All too often, I find myself skimming past scents or ignoring them altogether because I have decided, apropos of absolutely nothing, that ‘X isn’t mah thang’.  And then, when I do try it, by chance or by choice, I am hoist on my own perfume petard.  My reflexive  (ha!  close.  but no cigar, Musette) dismissal of Bombay Bling was silly – and I regret to tell you that I can’t say more about it right now because I will be doing a mini-review of it later…but let me just say I am going to work hard to not be so resolutely knee-jerk knowitall.  Here’s to keeping that Beginner’s Mind.

Trends:  Reflecting on the past few trends (pink peppercorn! oud!) my liver quivers at the thought of what fresh trend-hell is coming our way.  Will it be some strange note from the poop of Louisiana alligators (humanely sourced by skilled harvesters, using biodegradable poop-wands (ask a dog about those wands)  that we will hail with great glee, only to regret ever learning of its existence when the 230th version of Alligator Poop squats firmly in the middle of Macy’s main aisle. I would like to adhere to my resolution to not be so Judgy   but confidence is Not high….

It is a reflection of my own sorry state that I am so late in announcing the winnahs from the I’m Baack! post!  Regretsys all around!!  I resolve to do better in 2014.

Martha!

Foxbins!

Drop me a line (anitaATperfumepossedotyouknowwhat) with your mailing info.  Don’t faint – I already have the little sample bags all packed!  Yes. I. Do.

I hate this scarf

And because you guys are so wonderful and non-Judgy about these crazy posts – and because I already packed up another little sample bag, Let’s do a Giveaway!!!  drop me a line and let me know what your thoughts are for 2014.  I’ll have  Ol’ Grumpy up there poke a paw at random.org and choose a winnah!!!

Oh, Food!  MissyL asked for the soft scrambled eggs w/ lobster recipe – here it is.  It’s crazy-easy; the hardest part is the patience it takes to soft-scramble the eggs.

serves 2

2 small lobster tails (or 1 giant tail), gently steamed with  a bit of white wine, vermouth, water & herbs – your pick (or you can use all of that! LOL!) – the tails  can be cooked ahead of time – but not a lot (a day is fine.  a week is not).  Yank the meat out of the shell and chop it up.

1 small shallot, chopped (if shallots aren’t available, use sweet onion (e.g. Vidalia)

6 eggs, very gently stirred (the goal here is to marry the yolks and white without a lot of beating – this is where having a mimosa or Bloody Mary helps – you can take sips of the cocktail while you gently agitate the eggs.  If you are a teetotaler you can just take deep breaths and think of England)

Mascarpone -2-3T, depending upon how fluffy you want the eggs (I like them a bit heavier so I use a bit less)

A pinch of sea salt

1/4 t of fresh thyme (a bit more (or less) depending upon preference.

2T butter in a nonreactive saute pan (aka ‘a skillet’).  Melt butter over low heat until foamy.  Add shallot, cook slowly until just beginning translucence.  Add eggs.  Breathe.  Let the eggs bubble a bit (just a bit) over this Very Low Heat, pushing them around VERY GENTLY with a rubber spatula or spoon.  Let them rest for a few minutes, then push a little bit more .  Remove from heat and give them a few minutes to reflect (ha!) on their sins.  Return to very low heat and just as they begin to form serious curds, start adding the mascarpone, slowly; once that’s all incorporated, add the lobster, fold slowly…let it finish setting up, sprinkle in the thyme and pinch of salt.  Serve  on warm plates with hot buttered toast.

You can also do this over a double-boiler but I can’t be bothered.  So I just watch the heat on the skillet and remove it on and off as needed.  Don’t be afraid to add a bit more butter, if needed.  Let’s face it, this is NOT a low-cal item.   The ingredients are super-simple; the key here is the slow prep.   It’s allll about slow.  s.l.o.w.  Did I mention..”slow”?  Which is why I sip a little sumpin’ when I make it.  Can you imagine trying to do this while hopped-up on caffeine?????

So…do you have any Regrets? Reflections?  Resolutions?   What are you looking forward to in 2014?