By Ann

OK, with Swapmania close to being history, how about we take a little break from the ‘fumey stuff (and all that decanting, packing and mailing) and go in a new direction.

I was poking around on eBay, imdb dot com and Netflix the other day and happened upon some of my favorite old romantic movies that I hadn’t seen in a while. And since Valentine’s Day is next week, I thought, why not go with it?

My picks are fairly recent (from the ’80s on), but I know many of you will have older gems to recommend, so I’m looking forward to those.

My No. 1 is the Merchant-Ivory classic “A Room With a View.” Such a beautiful, lush film with so many great names in it, wonderful music, and it’s got a perfume named after it (CB I Hate Perfume ARWV), so a winner all the way around. And that poppy field smooch (see photo) has got to be one of the best movie kisses ever.

“The Scarlet Pimpernel” (1982) with Jane Seymour and Anthony Andrews. Great foppish fun, swashbuckling adventure and gorgeous scenery and costumes — what’s not to like? There are many versions of this out there, including the great 1934 film with Leslie Howard, but  I saw this one first and it’s remained my favorite.

Another British-set film I’m fond of is “The Very Thought of You” (1998) with the broodingly handsome Joseph Fiennes paired with darling American Monica Potter.

And Steve Guttenberg, Jami Gertz and Shelly Long are adorably quirky (in my opinion) in the 1990 male-makeover comedy “The Boyfriend School” (previously titled “Don’t Tell Her It’s Me”).  Many have dubbed it hokey (and I guess in a way it is), but it’s a charmer all the same, and reminds me of the importance of looking beyond appearances.

Oops, almost forgot, I do have one “older” film: “Some Like It Hot.” Can’t go wrong with this one and its wonderful cast — screwball comedy at its best!

What flicks are your tried-and-true favorites, the ones you put on when you’re feeling blue, need a lift or just want to veg out and laugh?

Photo from film reference dot com

Okay, everything I said about Swapmania, I take it back.  Just my casual comments last week netted me a couple of offers on some fragrances that I’ve been without for a long time. So, yeah, okay, I get it!!!!  It is the thrill of the hunt, I just forgot about it. Must be spending these last two years getting all zen and losing my competitiveness and trying to curb my more acquisitive nature.

Well, no, that’s not going that well.  I get on these kicks, like the caftans and then the Eskander stuff, and my little budget gets blown up. I did get a Camille Franks caftan this week that belongs on a beach in Mexico, which further aggravates my budget because I’m trying to figure out how to get Mexico in there – taking my mom on an Alaska cruise for her 75th birthday present, then I want to take my sons trekking in Nepal in the fall.  But at least I’m waiting and trying to get bargains on my little gems through eBay so I can do the other trips, but no room for beaches in Mexico.

But what about perfume?  I mean, has there been anything much this year so far? I know it’s just January, but I was so happy in the fall with so many releases that made me happy, and then I sorta ran out of steam with nothing that’s making me squeal or even giggle with delight.

So I’m just going to live vicariously through Swapmania and read it tomorrow and hope for inspiration or maybe someone that has some Fath Iris Gris they just don’t like at all – too much peach and iris damnit! – and really really want a bottle of Guerlain Spiriteuse Double Vanille for it because it seems to be sold out everywhere!  *pauses, looks around*  Anyone?

Well, hey, it could happen. I could also get a 24-inch waist and win the lottery, which may be more likely.  So what’s your dream swap?  Try and make it somewhat realistic – no Tommy Girl for Mitsouko vintage parfum or anything.

Patty

Oh, for Pete’s sake!  I cannot believe I did this.  See, I am stupid.  There.  I said it.  I switched the Swapmania dates in what’s left of my mind, putting it on today as opposed to FRIDAY – WHICH IS WHEN IT WILL BEGIN AND WHICH IS WHAT WE HAD ALL AGREED UPON.

sigh.  le sigh.  el sigh.

I’m feeling persackly like this  this image is from one of the funniest threads I’ve read – evah – on Basenotes

So….since I am woefully unprepared with a post, let me tell you what’s going on in my world.

a.  I am falling in love.  With Jubilation 25. Again.  And again, it’s thanks to the body cream.  I’d always admired it but from a respectful distance -  I wore it often but just couldn’t seem to unwrap all the layers.  The body cream is the perfect gateway drug to the perfume.  As with Epic, it allows my mind plenty of time to investigate the nuances.  For those of you who are a bit overwhelmed by the line’s opulence but know you would love it...if only….the body products really are the way to go.

b.  Ditto Frederic Malle’s Iris Poudre.  Couldn’t stand the perfume.  Then I tried the body cream.  Now I’m buying both.  Just as soon as I hit the Lottery.

What I’m reading:  Well!  I’m all over the place, since my bestie dragged me kicking and screaming into the New Millennium, getting me a KINDLE for Christmas and loading the little bugger with 300 books!  Malcom Gladwell’s  The Tipping Point, Molly Birnbaum’s Season to Taste are currently occupying my eyeballs, to great delight.

What I’m Cooking:  Not a damn thing.  But I did promise you guys the homemade Hostess cupcakes recipe but I can’t find it right this minute and the clock is ticking so here is the recipe for my green curry, which is about the only thing I can taste these days anyway.

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Total Time: 20 minutes

Yield: 1 cup (enough for 1 large curry)

Ingredients:

• 1 stalklemongrass minced OR 3 Tbsp. prepared frozen or bottled lemongrass (available at Asian stores) – you can also used dried (I get mine from The Spice House to use as an emergency backup – if you do use the dried, put it in a tea ball or some muslin and steep it in a little bit of simmering water or stock – otherwise you’ll get these gritty bits in the curry)
• 4-5 green chilies, sliced (Thai green chilies OR jalapeno) – I use jalapenos because I grow them and the smaller the hotter, as you prolly know.  I like it HAWT, so I use a lot of little ones.
• 1 shallot, sliced, OR 4 Tbsp. minced purple onion
• 4-5 cloves garlic
• 1 thumb-size piece of galangal OR ginger, thinly sliced (or you can just chop it up and throw it in the FC with the rest of the stuff, like I do)
• 1 cup chopped fresh coriander/cilantro leaves & stems
• 1/2 cup fresh basil
• 1/2 tsp. ground cumin
• 1/2 tsp. ground white pepper (available in most supermarket spice aisles)
• 1/2 tsp. ground coriander
• 3 Tbsp. fish sauce; Vegetarians: substitute 1 Tbsp. soy sauce
• 1 tsp. shrimp paste (available at Asian stores); Vegetarians: substitute 1/2 tsp. salt
• 2 Tbsp. lime juice
• 1 tsp. brown sugar
• 3-4 Tbsp. coconut milk (enough to blend ingredients together) – if you are not around some coconut milk a bit of unsweetened, shredded coconut in either regular milk or some chicken broth will do the trick just fine.  When I’m in a huge hurry I just throw all this stuff in a blender/food processor with some store-bought pesto and Blam-ola !!! The perfect curry sauce.

Preparation:

1. Place all ingredients in a food processor, chopper, or blender.
2. Process well to form a fragrant Thai green curry paste. Taste-test it for salt and spice. If too salty, add a squeeze of fresh lime or lemon juice. Add more chili for more heat. Your curry paste is now ready to be used. You can bottle up any leftovers and keep it in the refrigerator for up to 1 week. Freeze thereafter. ENJOY!

So that’s my quick story.

What’s yours?  What are you wearing today?  Reading today?  Eating/cooking/drooling over today?

By Ann

First off, congrats to the winners of the Dahlia Noir samples: dinazad, Madea, Austenfan and Elizabeth C. Drop Musette an e-mail at her gmail addy evilauntieanita  AT

Now that we’re well into the dangerous time of year for ice and snow in the South (much of our worst weather has come January-March), it prompted me to think about mishaps on slick or icy patches.

Even at my best, I have a natural inclination toward clumsiness. Perhaps it’s because I have too much on my mind and I’m not as aware as I should be of my surroundings. That tendency, paired with skin that bruises if you look at it too hard, makes me a prime candidate for a full-length padded body suit, as soon as someone creates one that’s practical.

One of my worst incidents, a few years back, was especially embarrassing. Coming back from the mailbox, I slipped on some icy slush at the edge of the garage, fell down, hit my browbone on my son’s scooter handle and passed out. I wound up with a whopper of a black eye and what I can only call a kaleidoscopic knee:  Each day showed off yet another intense hue on the bruise color wheel. That I covered up with pants, but the eye — well, all I can say is thank goodness for heavy-duty concealer and dark purple eyeshadow (to help make my good eye match my bruised one). It wasn’t foolproof, but it passed muster upon casual observation and helped keep the stares to a minimum. I must have looked like a goofy middle-aged woman in dire need of a makeup lesson. Poor hubby, understandably, was a bit reluctant to go anywhere with me for fear of the dirty looks he was likely to get.

Then last summer, I fell at the beach, slipping down on a rain-slick ramp in the condo parking garage. Didn’t pass out that time, but both my behind and my pride got a good bruising.

Now, you might be thinking, “Good grief! What on earth does her rambling have to do with fragrance?” Well, fear not, I’m getting to it.

A few years ago on one of my annual late spring trips (pre-unemployment, naturally) to my beloved San Francisco, I headed over to the lovely Chanel boutique on Maiden Lane. I walked in the store, so quiet and serene, almost reverential, exuding luxury from every square inch. I headed across the plush ivory carpet, past the to-die-for handbags and down the stairs to the fragrance and cosmetics area, where I could see the glorious glass bottles of the Les Exclusifs on display.

Almost there and  then — whoops! I completely miss the last step and go crashing down on my derriere. This, of course, not only knocks the wind out of me, but also mortifies me beyond belief. I’m praying the earth will open up and swallow me, because almost instantly I’m surrounded by security guards, multiple sales associates and the store manager. Turns out I wasn’t hurt, just shaken up, and I got back on my feet as quickly as I could. I assured them that I was all right and got the crowd to disperse as I limped over to the fragrance counter. There I was most attentively helped and given a good selection of samples. So in the end, my humiliation ended fairly well, save for a few days of bruising and soreness. But I might consider donning a disguise were I to visit again.

Anyhoo, what’s been your most embarrassing moment, perfume-wise?

I’ve been trying to revisit some of the things I already have and have re-fallen in love with this one.  Back in Sept. of 09 I wrote it was “a super-suave combo of the galbanum and the mandarin with tobacco, with the flowers peeping up later before settling into the animal notes and the hay-like coumarin. On me it’s not so dirty, but decidedly sexy in a your-skin-but-better kind of way: as elegant as a Savile Row Suit with a bit of retro-smokiness”

The notes for “Wilde” are listed as “Galbanum, Red Mandarin, Violet, Rose, Night Jasmine, Blond Tobacco, Oakmoss, Coumarin, Musk, Civet and Ambergris”.  It also has incredible lasting power; easily 24 hours and works in both heat and chill (we’re getting both right now, 80 in the day and 50 in the evening).

Best of all, it’s still only $50 for an ounce of Eau de Parfum, at their website.  I love finding something new, but in this economy it’s nice to rediscover something that’s already in the house, and if I didn’t have this one, at this price it would be a guilt-free indulgence.

So what if anything in your cupboard have you rediscovered lately?  Let us know in the comments.

My review is from the bottle I purchased.  Image from Opus Oils