I’m posting this late because I was prepping for Rose Week. Then there was Rose Week. And then mid-terms hit and I’ve been crazy busy. I’m finally attempting to post my January Favorites.
Most of January was very chill. I enjoyed having a break from classes. I ended up getting a lot accomplished such as reorganizing my closet, donating stuff I no longer use/need and catching up on work stuff. My break was chill but it was also really busy (with boring stuff). I thought I’d end up taking a quick trip…I didn’t. I really didn’t have the time.
Like many people, I was depressed by election stuff and like the world in general. Before someone comes out of the woodwork to start something, I’m not getting “political”¹. I’m just saying that everyone close to me from friends, family, professors, classmates, etc. were in a really somber mood. This lack of stable support systems will bring anyone down. I didn’t really feel like doing much of anything (i.e. including writing about perfume). I tried to be social. I tried to keep on keeping on. I am. We all are.
But, yeah, January was grim. Winter and all of that on top it all. Oh, and I started a “low-buy” and did Dry January…what a month devoid of joy!
Wearing (fragrance) – I’ve been in a fragrance funk. I am sampling interesting perfumes (that I hope to review on the blog soon). I am in this consumption phase of trying new things but I’m not really wearing new things. I test a fragrance numerous times throughout the week but I allow myself a few evenings (or days) to wear something from my stash. I really haven’t been in the mood to wear anything from my stash. Oddly, I’ve been craving and wearing gourmands (or borderline gourmands) like Guerlain Rose Barbare, Stephane Humbert Lucas 777 Khôl de Bahreïn and LUSH Rose Jam.
Summary – I’m in one of my rose-y gourmand moods, I guess.
Wearing (cosmetics) – I like to set attainable goals and make approachable New Year’s Resolutions. This year I said that I’m going to buy less and enjoy more. AND that I’m going to wear blue eyeshadow more often. So, far I’m doing well with both of these resolutions. I’m sticking to my “low-buy” and I’m wearing more blue eyeshadow.
In January, I did two blue looks. One was inspired by the movie the “The Love Witch” which had me wearing black liquid eyeliner (my favorite is by TonyMoly) and tons of pastel blue eyeshadow (a mix of the blue in NARS Rated R Duo and NYX Nude Matte in Voyeur). I was also inspired by the Kylie Peach Palette (but no way in heck I’m buying that). I shopped my stash to recreate the palette using discontinued Lancome Color Design Singles and peachy MAC Eyeshadows (like Paradisco and Motif). Who knew that blue on the lower lash line could be so darn pretty? I paired both of these looks with peachy lip shades like ColourPop Ultra Satin Lip in Calypso and MAC Lipstick in Razzledazzler.
In other news, I dyed my hair a shade darker and look like Morticia (or wish I did).
Summary – Tacky makeup is the only thing that gave me joy in January.
Wearing (clothes) – To get myself into the “buy less, enjoy more” mood, I revamped my closets. I went through and ditched 4 trash bags of clothes and shoes. This was easy as I’ve lost weight and because most of my clothes were ill fitting. I made a list of things that I need which is very, very little for this winter season. I only “need” a pair of leather pants (reward for hitting and maintaining a “goal” weight for a year) and not-so-boring printed top for winter to break up all the black. I replaced all my boring stuff like bras, panties and socks. I AM GETTING MY LIFE TOGETHER.
And as far as what I wore, boring stuff, as usual. I can’t stop wearing black Uniqlo turtlenecks, black Levi’s and weird Camper boots.
Summary – It may not look like much, but I feel like my closet is organized. It’s a abyss of black but that’s my own damn fault.
Using (skincare) – My skin has been behaving but it seems dull. I guess that is normal for this time of the year. I need some resurfacing products in my life and I’m thinking about ordering from The Ordinary. I also need a Vitamin C serum badly and will be purchasing from some Twitter recs.
My favorite products of the month should be of no surprise – Leaders Sheet Masks. Oh, and I’ve been using one of those creepy af LED masks nightly.
Summary – I feel like my skin is poofy and dull. Ugh, winter.
Eating/Drinking – Let’s blame winter for more of my problems…carbs. I’ve been baking like a mofo. I can’t stop baking King Cakes, cinnamon rolls and gata bread. (Pictured above are Rainbow Tumblers at MoMa Store…I need these).
Summary – There is a correlation between my level of stress/anxiety and the amount of food I bake. If I am baking a lot; I’m basically on the verge of a mental breakdown.
Listening – I needed something less dire than my Gil Scott Herring binge of December and switched to what I call “Fringe Funk” which all the funk/R&B acts of the late 70’s to mid-80’s that wore a lot of sequined cowboy outfits on stage. So, like Brothers Johnson, The Gap Band, Midnight Star, Eddie Hazel/Parliament. And Prince, gah, I miss Prince.
Summary – Also, “Fringe Funk” gives me joy.
Watching – I have not felt like watching anything except for awful dystopian biker flicks.
Summary – I am still not ready for like dystopian-dystopian entertainment.
Reading – I had in my head I was going to read all sorts of fun stuff on my break. Nope. I read about visual design and infectious diseases. I finally read “The Ghost Map: The Story of London’s Most Terrifying Epidemic and How it Changed Science, Cities and the Modern World“. It’s how I explain my program to other people.
Summary – My life is so fun. ARE YOU JEALOUS?!
Wanting – Ugh, I don’t even know.
Summary – Ugh, I don’t even know.
What were your favorites from January? Did you do anything inspiring? Go anywhere inspiring? Eat anything inspiring? How is 2017 treating you so far?
¹Don’t even say perfume ins’t political. I mean, can you talk about fragrance materials and great compositions without talking about war? When you get down to it, perfume is affected by politics. Article: Damask Roses and Roses of Damascus – An article on Iranian galbanum and Chanel No. 19. – An article on Musk as camo – Um…the Spice Route and all the good/bad associated with that?
Actually you look a lot like Angelina Jolie in your picture in this post. 🙂
Thanks for the compliment 🙂 I can only wish (I love her)!
I was thinking the same thing!
Kate Curry recently posted..splurge! February 2017
Wow, guys. Thank you.
I’m seconding the Angelina Jolie comment! You look beautiful and the blue eye shadow really makes your eyes extra blue.
I just ordered The Ordinary’s Vitamin C serum, Retinol, and Hyaluronic Acid: all three were $29, and I’ve heard good things.
Thank you.
Oh, so hubs ordered me The Ordinary’s Vitamin C and some other stuff and forwarded me the confirmation! I can’t wait! It was like 4 things under $30?! I’m on this low-buy and I guess he feels bad for me (mid-terms) so he went from an old gift list I gave him. And I seriously can’t wait to try this stuff.
You are so damn cute – wish you were my daughter. When I scrolled down to your picture I thought “Gee, her face looks thinner, & she looks like Morticia (childhood style icon); wonder if she’s got a tentacle-hem dress?” Also living in my black turtlenecks/Tshirts – just feels right. Trying to decide between buying Hepcat or Stash. May get both & blame it on stress. And it’s getting hot down here already. To avoid so much radio news (2.5hr r/t to work) I’m listening to audiobooks about serial killers: Bundy, Hillside, Zodiac, Green River. A little light listening for the children’s librarian. That Ghost Map book looks good. Stay well.
Awe, thank you.
It’s a combo that works. I’ll switch to t-shirts when the weather gets warmer. It’s easy, no-fuss.
Haha, buy both. Yeah, that’s been my motto for years. Both are very nice. Stash is still on my list but I haven’t purchased it yet. I’m holding out for a gift set.
You’d get along with my cousin/bff. So, when you go to her house and open the front door, it was a bookshelf of books about serial killers. I don’t find this odd at all which probably says something about me that I hope people don’t over-analyze! Lately I’ve been listening to a few Sawbones podcasts. There are some interesting ones if you aren’t squeamish about medical/human body stuff. http://www.maximumfun.org/shows/sawbones It goes into like “misguided medicine” throughout human existence.
The Ghost Map is a good read. For me, it explained something that everybody studies in epidemiology/public health but it was still entertaining. It’s a good read for anyone interested in history, health or city planning. I recommend it.
Had to google gata bread. And now I want some. You are only supposed to enable my fragrance-related lemmings.
It’s sooo good! I love to bake it but you know, it’s not that healthy. Hubs is like “STOP DOING THIS TO ME!” because if it gets baked, it’s not going to waste. I wish I could ship it 🙂
Gorg!
Thanks!
Oh, how I miss those Leaders masks! I (self) diagnosed myself with rosacea back in December and have been afraid to use anything other than this really boring ZenMed stuff, which seems to be keeping it under control.
I am intrigued by that Kylie Palette …though I am so out of the loop that I thought for a second that Kylie Minogue had a makeup line…
mlleghoul recently posted..Susan Hill’s Howards End Is on the Landing: A Year of Reading from Home
I’m so happy that the ZenMed is working out for you. I know it seems boring but having happy skin isn’t boring.
If Kylie Minogue had a makeup line, I’d be buying all the palettes. I do think she did a red lipstick with Uslu Airlines that I should have bought.
Dang, January may have been devoid of joy for you, but that pic of the Brothers Johnson is Pure Joy. Love it. Ditto for the rainbow tumblers.
Oh my god. I clicked on your link to The Gap Band and realized I did a tap routine to “Early in the Morning” when I was around 9 or 10 years old. I was the “early bird” dressed in a red metallic leotard and all the younger kids in my class were the worms. They came out first in a group, then I entered and tapped across the entire stage (diagonally) to join them… for what seemed like an eternity. Yeah. Imagine that for a moment as you listen to it. 😀
HAHAHA! That’s so amazing.
Funk to get me out of the funk.
I haven’t went back and purchased them. They aren’t limited edition, so I have some time. They’re just magical to look at, lol.
Talk about an impulse purchase, I *did* buy them along with some other colorful kitchen things I didn’t really need. Just wanted some color around! I’ll report back after I’ve used them for a while.
I hope you like them! I adore their kitchen stuff. It’s all so happy/fun. The kitchen at this rental is what we call “scary kitchen”. To try to distract from this, I try to buy “happy” items. This is why I want all the rainbow/oil slick accessories.