On the sidewalk of East 41st Street between Park Avenue and Fifth Avenue, otherwise known as “Library Way.”
The rose fades
and is renewed again
by its seed, naturally
but where
save in the poem
shall it go
to suffer no diminution
of its splendor
— William Carlos Williams
My latest post on Now Smell This is a review of Lavanila Fresh Vanilla Lemon Deodorant. You can read it here.
To prime or not to prime? Many of my beauty-blogging friends, including Gaia at The Non-Blonde, insist that a base layer is necessary: it helps makeup to apply smoothly, keeps it color-true, and makes it last longer.
I like the general idea of primers, so I started trying them about six years ago, but I wasn’t happy with the results. My skin has some surface oiliness, so I never felt like the primers really adhered. Worse yet, most primers’ heavy doses of various silicones clogged my pores if I used them on any regular basis.
The happy exception to the above, and the only primer I’ve ever repurchased, is Korres Quercetin & Oak Anti-Ageing Primer.
Continue reading “Product Review: Korres Quercetin & Oak Anti-Ageing Primer”
The designer Lilly Pulitzer, who was famous for her brightly colored, whimsically patterned mini-dresses and other resort wear, died on April 7th. (You can read her obituary here.)
I walked by the Lilly Pulitzer boutique on Madison Avenue this afternoon; things seemed to be business as usual. I expected some sort of tribute display in the window, perhaps a photo of Mrs. Pulitzer herself with some vintage outfits arranged around it. But the current display, just a row of cheerful shift dresses against a splashy floral backdrop, could have represented any day in the designer’s business from the 1960s through today.
On the other hand, there’s something just right about that.
You can listen to a short National Public Radio story about Lilly Pulitzer and her designs here.
Image: photo by Tinsel Creation, with a little editing help from Picasa.
What’s on my mind, during this “cruelest month”? Here’s a quick list…
Reading: I finally got around to starting Hilary Mantel’s Wolf Hall. Amazing.
Audio: Lately I’ve been having some 90s nostalgia and listening to Garbage’s earlier albums.
Beauty Products: I’m going through a big crush on Aesop skincare; reviews to come.
Garb: New spring dresses from Boden and eShakti, which I’m already starting to wear with tights and cardigans. (Sorry, don’t expect any real “fashion-blogging” here!)
Art: A rare and wonderful exhibition of John Singer Sargent’s watercolors at the Brooklyn Museum (open through July 28th).
Eats and Treats: Chobani “Bites” yogurt, especially Coffee with Dark Chocolate Chips. I’m also still nibbling on leftover Easter candy.
Worry: Our cat M. is recuperating from treatment for hyperthyroidism, and it’s hard not to see her quite herself (yet).
Joy: The “longer days” of Spring, meaning the extended daylight, which makes me feel perkier and more productive.
What are your current preoccupations? Feel free to share in the comments!
Image: La Belle Jardiniere: Avril (April) by Eugene Grasset (1896), via Wikipaintings.
TINSEL CREATION 