What's Up?

Books
Still doing the silly romance books because they're fun and I've been working hard so I need time to decompress, this is the best thing.

Perfume
Been using Diorella and Chanel 19 more than my other ones lately. Still waiting for the perfect occasion to use Iris Silver Mist. Don't know if there is an occasion worthy of it...

Makeup
Still in love with Rimmel Sexy Curves. I found a new brand (well recently relaunched and redone to perfection) of makeup by Brazilian makeup artist Duda Molinos. I'm loving the eyeshadows. Super finely milled, really pigmented and an amazing array of colors.

Mood
Last week I got really pissed about a bunch of things involving basic issues like lack of trust in the workplace, evil corporations and Satanic clients. HRH came home and saw the state I was in and promptly whisked me away to our favorite little place nearby. My spirits were instantly lifted confirming what I have long suspected: there is nothing a good bottle of wine, cheese and a sympathetic husband won't cure.

TV
I've been a bit slow to finish the series Spartacus: Blood and Sand because HRH made me promise to watch it with him and then we had to wait to get our hands on the episodes so I only just finished it. Wow. It's hard core but I love it. In episode 9 (I think) where Spartacus gets covered in gold for his encounter with Licinia/Ilithyia and the whole "encounter" scene ....... I think my heart actually stopped. I forgot to breathe, passed out. I don't know if I'll every recover from that. Holy Santos!

Wish List
I've been working on getting rid of old things from my kitchen and getting new things that represent. It'll take me a while to get through the list, but I've found one thing I'll need to put on my Wish List and get it hopefully sometime next year (because they want to charge me the moon for it). What do you think? Is it the most beautiful set you've ever seen? What I most want from it is the coffee set, but now I'm thinking maybe the complete set should be on my wish list.... the coffee set at least is so chic and masculine, it's positively presidential. And HRH is the one that's all into coffee, it's gotta be a masculine set, not frilly and gay.

Inception

I finally got to see Inception last night - Wow! That's all I can say. It's wild, out there, and totally fantastic. Loved it.

MasterChef Australia vs MasterChef USA

I'm not sure if you all watch cooking shows, but me lovey! Top Chef is addictive and so is MasterChef Australia. I found out last week that a new show just aired, MasterChef USA, and I was able to catch a couple of episodes. Right off the bat the differences between the the US and Aussie versions are loud and clear - screaming in fact. For one, the main host is none other than the foul mouthed hard ass, Gordon Ramsey. This should give you a pretty good idea of the level of harsh.

When I first started watching MasterChef Australia one of the first things I noticed was how supportive and encouraging the contestants were with each other and the judges with the contestants as well. Instead of the bitchy bickering and backstabbing found in Top Chef, the Australian contestants were happy to be together and were competing alongside each other as opposed to against each other. The judges seemed like they wanted the contestants to succeed, which is weird and I've never seen it before in any cooking or competition show. It was a breath of fresh air. When someone left it was a sad experience, but at the same time, not the end of the line. It seems to me that overall they changed many people's lives and helped them to realize their dreams with or without the title of MasterChef. I'm positive many of them left the MasterChef kitchen inspired to continue pursuing their dream and not devastated and finished.

Not so much MasterChef USA. From what I can see so far, the ones that leave there will leave with their spirits crushed and possibly suicidal. I'm sure there are cultural differences to take into consideration, as well as what makes thrills the audience. America loves to see Gordon screaming obscenities and spit at lowly losers, throwing kitchen utensils, gagging on their food, and if permitted I'm sure there would be some slapping going on as well.

On the other hand, there is something to be said for his passion about food, and his honesty. When he really does believe in someone, when he sees potential and promise he doesn't measure efforts in making sure they are given the tools and opportunity they need/deserve in order to prove their worth. Having his support is very much like having Simon Cowell's - it's all you need. When all is said and done, the Paula's and Randy's are good for your self esteem and a comfy shoulder to cry on, but their opinion isn't worth as much as the Simon's - he hates everyone and only just likes the awesome ones.

We'll see how it goes, but so far I'm loving the Aussie one better. You never can tell though. On a related topic but different show - I was friggin' shocked that Kenny was kicked off on the last TopChef episode. I did not see that one coming and in my humble opinion, they made a big mistake. Amanda should have gone home for overcooking her meat. Overcooked meat is vile and a very good reason to send someone packing.

Je L'aime

The words here were changed considerably when translated. This is a beautiful version of this song. Transcendent.

North & South - a must-see

I just recently watched North and South - a BBC miniseries based on the novel by Elizabeth Gaskell. It is amazing. I was expecting to like it, but I love, love, love it!

It's the story of a young woman from the quiet and picturesque South who goes with her family to live in the industrious North. There she meets interesting characters and is faced with a reality she had no idea existed when she befriends a humble working class family who work in the cotton mills of the town she now lives in, Milton. She makes snap judgments about an important business man (and love of my life!), owner of one of the largest mills there, as she constantly sees him in unflattering and out-of-context situations. She is a bit harsh and unforgiving - and a bit stuck up - at first (such a whore). At the same time, her actions are often misinterpreted as she has no idea of what is socially acceptable there and seems to make many mistakes of her own in her interactions with the humble residents of Milton.

The characters are beautifully cast, the story is wonderfully compelling, a must-see for anyone who loves romance, drama, amazing production and acting. The male character played by Richard Armitage - be still my heart - is so charming and powerful. He's a "brooding" type of hero and will melt even the most cold-hearted spinster (you know who you are). If you get a chance look it up and give it a go. It's so worth it!

Some of my favorite moments are when Mr. Thornton says to Margaret as she's leaving: "Turn back. Turn back and look at me". And then there's another moment where he says: "Are you coming home with me?" - OMG - mi corazón.

Here's the trailer:

IRIS SILVER MIST

You know that moment right before one of your closest friends gives you the perfume of your life? You know that moment right before she says, "This is for you", and hands you Serge Lutens' masterpiece Iris Silver Mist...? Have you ever experienced such a moment? I have. It was a couple of weeks ago but I remember it like it was yesterday.

Right before it happened there was a calm, a quiet, a reverence, if you will. The birds hushed, the dog settled, everyone and everything held their breath for a split second. Then I saw it. Coming towards me was the most beautiful thing I had ever seen in my life. I heard myself take a sharp intake of breath, but it was like I was looking at myself from outside of my body - a surreal experience. The first thing I saw was the grey box. Next thing I knew the cellophane wrapping was off and I was smelling, for only the second time in my life, the most beautiful, haunting, melancholic, reverent scent I have ever smelled in my life - Iris Silver Mist.

To say that Maurice Roucel (possibly with the collaboration of Christopher Sheldrake) is a genius and a should have at least one, if not several, altars built in his honor is an understatement. It is the creation of a lifetime. Once you create something like this, it's all downhill from there. Meaning, whatever you do, make, accomplish after that, is gravy, an afterthought.

While I would like to be able to review this and put you all in a perfume, iris induced trance, I cannot do better than those who have gone before me. For this reason I direct you to Victoria at Bois de Jasmin and and Robin at Now Smell This who will hypnotize you with their eloquence and just fascinatingly beautiful reviews that respect and represent the magical, otherworldly jewel that is....Iris Silver Mist.

I don't know if you realized this yet, but the purpose of this post was just to brag and say that I now have in my possession a full bell jar of Les Salons du Palais Royal Shiseido exclusive - Serge Lutens Iris Silver Mist - I am both honored and humbled (not really) to be part of this exclusive club.