Passing Fancies: August 2014

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Reading: “Lady Catherine, The Earl, and The Real Downton Abbey” by the Countess of Carnarvon (hey, it’s summer!)

Art: “Homefront & Battlefield: Quilts & Context in the Civil War” at the New-York Historical Society

Drink: Chilled water with sprigs of mint and slices of cucumber

Eats & Treats: A peach-tomato-basil salad made with fresh, in-season ingredients

Video: New episodes of “Poirot” on PBS

Audio: For some reason, last week I got into a loop of listening to Duran Duran’s “Rio” over and over again. Don’t ask.

Garb: I’m wearing a pair of ugly-chic black Dansko sandals on a regular basis, and I actually got a professional pedicure so that my toes can be revealed.

Beauty Products: L’Occitane’s Verbena Frisson limted edition body products hit the spot.

Pleasure: Weeks and weeks of warm-and-sunny, not sweltering-and-humid, summer weather

Worry: Nightly anxiety dreams

Stray thought: Why didn’t I start using Instagram sooner? (Follow me here!)

Image: Frank X. Leyendecker, poster illustration submission for Century magazine Midsummer Number Contest, 1896. Private Collection. Via The Rockwell Center for American Visual Studies.

Passing Fancies: July 2014

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Reading: I just finished At Last, the final novel in Edward St. Aubyn’s Patrick Melrose cycle

Video: Mr. Tinsel and I thoroughly enjoyed Dawn of the Planet of the Apes. One good summer blockbuster is a must!

Art: A recent visit to the Newark Museum

Drink: Palais des Thés Fruit de la Passion flavored black tea…iced!

Eats & Treats: I’m on a chia pudding kick.

Garb: A dress and a shirt from the latest summer sale at Comptoir des Cotonniers

Beauty Products: Local handmade soaps from Taproot Organics

Continue reading “Passing Fancies: July 2014”

Passing Fancies: May 2014

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Reading: I’ve just started Careless People by Sara Churchwell.

Video: Mr. TC and I finally rented Out of the Furnace, which we’d both been meaning to see for ages.

Audio: I’m going through a one-woman Smiths revival.

Eats & Treats: Our local farmers market has returned, so we’re eating fresh salads again.

Drinks: An assortment of teas from Palais des Thés, a gift from a very thoughtful friend.

Beauty Products: My latest cheap thrill is Cover Girl Lipslicks Smoochies Lip Balm in Luv U. Yes, you read that correctly.

Art: I’m planning to visit Alexis Karl’s “Mythological Evolution” this weekend, before it closes.

Pleasure: Time outdoors in the sunlight and fresh air.

Anticipation: The long holiday weekend ahead.

Frustration: Employment difficulties.

Image: William Carqueville, cover of Lippincott’s, May 1895.

Passing Fancies: April 2014

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As I write this post, a steady April shower is falling on New York.

Reading: MaddAddam by Margaret Atwood

Video: The new (and final?) season of Mad Men. I also finally got around to watching Diana Vreeland: The Eye Has to Travel.

Audio: For some reason I’ve been on an Elliott Smith kick lately.

Eats & Treats: KIND bars, especially Dark Chocolate, Sea Salt & Nuts and Dark Chocolate, Cherry & Cashew

Drinks: Ginger tea

Continue reading “Passing Fancies: April 2014”