Happy Holidays!

hotchocolate2_xp-master768I do have some perfumes that I could be reviewing but I decided that I really wanted to drench myself in something that I haven’t worn in a while: Serge Lutens Un Bois Sepia. It doesn’t get much love out there in the blogosphere, but I think it is just lovely. I may wear it all weekend and save the new one for New Years, since it’s so boozy I’d hesitate to try to get through a DUI checkpoint wearing it.

Christmas in Los Angeles can seem kind of un-Christmassy for people who grew up in places where it might be a white one, or even a white-out. The most we get is rain, but I am not going to complain that I can enjoy the lights strung up on city streets and local houses with the top down and maybe a scarf.

My holiday plans? I am going to spend a blissful Sunday it’s to be hoped not talking to anyone other than to order food. I have a stack of movies, a plan to go downtown and get an order (or three) of Yang Chow’s famous Slippery Shrimp, change into my flannel jammies and eat myself into a coma. I had been invited out to a couple things, but the thing about being in a job that is for the most part customer service the idea that I don’t have to for an entire 24 hour period seems like bliss.

Of course I will have to hit whatever market is open in the AM and stock up on any conceivable food I might need and still hope that Pizza Man delivers, just in case.

So what are your plans for the holidays? Family and friends and cooking? Off to the movies and eating out? Hot chocolate by the fire with a loved one (human or animal)? Most importantly what will you wear, scent-wise? Let us know in the comments, and have a wonderful, safe and (ful)filling holiday!

Image stolen from New York Times

  • Kismet 429 says:

    Merry Christmas to all! Going to be a warm one here in Atlanta with a predicted high temp of 71. This will be the first local Christmas for the family as my mom, sister, and BIL all relocated to the area this year. Traveling only 1 hour each way to sister’s house–YAY! Another Christmas first–the family agreed to no (or very little) gift shopping this year. We sold my parents house after my dad died in the spring and distributed the contents among mom and the three kids. We have (more than) enough stuff. It’s amazing how not traveling or shopping has reduced the stress level and made the holiday more enjoyable.

    So, just a quiet family dinner. For perfume, someone mentioned patchouli-rose, which sounds like a great idea for today. Think it will be Wing and a Prayer Haight & Ashbury.

    Hope everyone has a beautiful holiday and a Happy New Year!

  • HeidiC says:

    Definitely going to be a white Christmas in Minneapolis! Most everyone’s away at their families’ places, but for once, we’re traveling nowhere, and I’m thrilled! Having some good friends over for dinner on Christmas, and New Year’s will be a blast — the littles will all be tumbling about downstairs until they crash, while the adults imbibe upstairs. What to wear…I don’t know yet! Mitsouko, probably? Unless I go with something more obvious, like Comme de Garcons’ Avignon or Annick Goutal’s Encens Flamboyant?

  • Musette says:

    Hippo Holidays, Two Ewes! We’re having the cubs here Saturday (2 of them) and Sunday (the other one, when he gets back from a work trip). Doing buffet-style lunch both days (ham for one, those little Cornish hens for the second day). Pretty low-key. El O is suffering from exhaustion coupled with a touch of carbon monoxide (maybe) – but I really think it’s more nausea from diesel blowback – so I will be sure to take it easy, chow-wise.

    Vintage No5, with current body cream because Of Course, right?

    xoxoxoxoA

  • Maya says:

    It sounds like you have a great Christmas planned. Enjoy! Mine will be a relatively quiet one, which should be very nice. I will probably wear Heeley Hippie Rose. I love the patchouli-rose combination. Arquiste Flor y Canto is in the running also. It makes me think of tropical climates which is great for me here in New England. Wishing you happy holidays.

  • Patty says:

    Sepia was reformulated? Maybe that’s why I was so meh about it when I did the long thing. Sorry, Tom, for the Sepia hate. 🙂 Have a Merry Christmas! I’m off to Kansas to spend it with my mom, and I feel so grateful that I can still do that when she is 82, and my sons are coming with. We’ll spend the day at my Aunt’s with a lot of cousins that I grew up with and love a lot, but don’t see very often except on Facebook.

  • Christine says:

    We’re having a French drain put into our basement today so depending on how much a mess our house is we’re probably nixing Christmas brunch at our house and going to my mom’s (about 20 mins away) instead of hosting. She’ll have Christmas Eve dinner and alllll the fish. For Christmas Eve it will be my husband, the two kids, my parents and sister and BIL. Christmas Day it will just be us and my parents. Maybe I’ll host anyway. It’s a good excuse not to clean (or to have a messy house despite cleaning) ?

    I think we might host a New Year’s Day open house luncheon. So I can get my fixings for a Bloody Mary and mimosa bar. And my new job gives us gift certificates to a ham company (I don’t know but I kind of dig it. It feels very throw back) so I’ll do that and have brunchy stuff out – I think.

    For scents! To get through work, last minute grocery shopping and dealing with French drain shenanigans today – Shalimar! Tomorrow – probably either Wazamba or Heeley Eau Sacree. Christmas Day – ELDO Noel au Balcon.

  • Yep Christmas in LA is a far different story than Christmas in Buffalo. Interesting that even with the Serge Lutens there is a noticeable difference in formulations. For me, I’ll be wearing vintage Joy for Christmas. I don’t wear it much of the rest of the year but my bottle is from sometime between the 1930’s to the 1950’s and that juice is pure joy. 😉

  • solanace says:

    Family. So stressful, to tell you the truth. Will be air cushioning my mom, husband and mother in law’s difficult interactions for three days in a mountain cabin. Yes, three days. In a cabin with no tv or internet. Will Chevy Chase show up? I hope so! Sorry for my grinchy modes, but you can bet I’ll be bringing some booze there. Will also bring my Goutal samples, and play with them as much as I have skin space to. Wishing you all the best possible hollidays! Stay safe!!

    • Musette says:

      Holy cats & crackers, woman! Are you nuts? Why a mountain cabin with no tv or internet? That sounds blissful – if you are alone. With cranky, difficult interactable adults? HELLZ NAW!

      Booze, booze and more booze!

      xoxo

  • Tara C says:

    I love Un Bois Sepia, or rather I did. It has fallen victim to a disastrous (to me) reformulation that I can no longer wear. But fortunately I still have about 20mls of the good old stuff, perhaps I will take your cue and haul it out tomorrow. As for the holidays, I plan to spend this weekend blissfully cocooned with my DH and the dogs, probably only leaving the house to go for a walk down to the beach. I gave up family get-togethers and travelling on the holidays years ago, staying home alone is so much mote relaxing. I see my family at other times of the year, mostly for birthdays, and that’s just perfect.