Hello Monday!

I cannot believe it is the start of another week! Seems like the days have been flying by lately.
After all the doggie halloween costumes i wanted to do cats, but there is only ONE true cat costume in my book......
and this is the ultimate dog costume.

I finally tested the new Michael Kors perfume, Very Pretty. I had such high hopes for a coconut cloud.....Upon first whiff it was a bit coconutty, but then after the initial drydown, it becomes the MK classic perfume, and I found it very cloying. it just seemed to get stronger and stronger as it developed. I used to like the whole Gardenia thing, but I got sick of it.

(I actually like Marc Jacobs better) this bottle is extremely cool.
I've been wearing a lot of Gianni Versace lately. This is my usual fall scent. It is very spicy and nice.It reminds me of incense.

This is SOOOO Wrong, but I can't help myself!

Found these pictures online today.....Someone had sent me an e-mail with a bunch of dogs in Halloween costumes and I was rolling with laughter, so I found a few more good ones... I like this one because the dog looks so stoic and Knight-like. Very cool!

this one is sooo bad. Poor baby.... But, someone wrote a caption under it that sent me into fits of laughter. they wrote "Captain John Likey...."

this was my favorite. It has everything. Both dogs are perfect. He really looks like he's ready to bite her neck!

and lastly, this one was so good. I wouldn't want to be the person who tries to remove that mane though.....!

Hope this gets everyone in the mood for Halloween!

The Law of Chindogu

While "googling" aroind today I found this article on the Japapense art of Chindogu.

The word Chindogu is translated 'valuable or priceless tool'. There are actually guidelines to correctly distinguish what is chindogu and what is not. The idea has to be useful, but not for real use. More theoretical, or artistic in nature, it canot be sold or patented. It is not for amusement, it is suposed to be a serious product. It has to be easily understoood the moment you see it. It cannot be vulgar or sexual, and it cannot make fun of the person using it.

the most recognizable item I could think of was this umbrella hat, but they DO sell these!

So I guess it's not a true chindogu item.

This one is cute.....Get your infant to dust your hardwood floors!

This one is bizarre, but guess if noodles constantly burn your face or soup gets on your neck...

I don't get why it's up over her forehead though..there were other examples like the toilet paper holder that sits on your head so you can pull it down and blow your nose when you have a cold.

I used to work with someone who always kept a roll of toilet paper in her purse and used it instead of kleenex when she had a cold.

It is so cold and rainy today. Truly fall-like.

I drove over to Marshall's and Target and WalMart in Cicero this morning.

I hadn't been there in a while.

Checked our the Anya Hindmarch bags at Target. I was a bit on the fence about getting one but now I'm over it. Not really for me.

Besides, My birthday present this year is a new bag. This one.....

My beloved Michael Kors Astor in the luggage tan color.....

this bag is so me. I never get tired of it! I've been resisting using it until my birthday, but I may break it out this week. I'm sick of waiting!

I got some Bag Balm from the store today. I'd never used it, but always hear good things about it. I'm trying to avoid the cracked fingertips that happen to me DAILY from November through March every year. They hurt so bad!

My back is better today.

Marcia, Marcia, LC......

For some reason I want to connect these two lately......

Maureen McCormick has been everywhere on TV this week due to her book arriving in bookstores. I skimmed through it and found that alll three or four "revelations" she discusses in this book have already been revealed as a tease for this "snoozefest'. Yeah she kissed BarryW, yeah she did coke, yeah she had a couple of abortions because she whas high and didn't make really great decisions, yeah she crashed and burned, yeah she did a couple of reality shows...and YEAH, she's exploiting the heck out of my nostalgia!!!!!!!

This picture of Lauren Conrad looks so much like the Marsha Brady character as portrayed by Christine Taylor

Perhaps that's the connection I'm making?

Ahhhh....summer is over.(I say this sadly) Mike and I took all the furniture off the deck today and stored it in the garage.

More Apples!

I love this mug. This is the saying that was plastered on posters all over England during WWI (or was it WWII?) I think it's a good mantra in today's world as well, and I like the red and white starkness of it all (and it has a crown on it too!!!:))I tried to findit for sale online, but the only place I'm finding it is UK webstores. I'm always searching for the impossible... We went to Lafayette yesterday in search of MORE apples. Actually, we meant to go last weekend because the apple festival was happening but we never made it.
I like this orchard, Beak and Skiff. It is one of the more commercial orchards in this area, but It isn't pretentious. I ended up getting a few Gala apples. I like the taste of them this year.
I got one candy apple because I just had to! I went to the dentist yesterday morning and had my permanent crown put on. I am so happy to get the temporary out. I have never had an experience that bad at the dentist! It took me a couple of days to recover from getting that temporary crown put on. I mean, I really got sick. It was too short in my mouth and caused my bite to be really off. I got headaches, neckaches and a backache during the past 3 weeks. The backache is still with me, but is feeling better now after one week. I know it was that temporary crown.


This picture does not justice to the beautiful scenery on the way yesterday. The leaves were glorious. I think they are more beautiful this year than they have been in a while..
I hope that doesn't mean a bad winter. They are calling for snow showers here by mid-week.
Yikes. I'm just getting used to frost in the morning.



Here is my one pumpkin. I decided not to get multiple pumpkins this year. One carved pumpkin is plenty. I do want to get a few pie pumpkins and freeze the mashed pumpkin. I did that last year and it keeps well in the freezer in 1 cup bags.

Lacroix, sweetie!

I have been knitting like crazy lately. I am thinking it's more about the color and feel of the yarn , not the act itself that has gotten me crazy . I just finished a scarf that is all granny-squares done in oranges, fuchsias, gold and pinks. I saw a scarf like this a few times on Japanese websites. Now I'm thinking SOCKS. I've made socks before, and I love the few pairs I have left.
There are so mnay cool self-striping yarns now, and socks are a quick payoff item.
I'm still trying to find a bottle of Mystere by Rochas. They are either non-existent, or extremely expensive. I'ts funny, because a few months ago you could find it everywhere on the web, and it was in stock. In fact, I bought a bottle of Madame Rochas instead. (I love that too!!!)

The other thing I'm crazy about now is red lipstick. In the past, I never wore it because I thought it was clownish, and I could never find the right shade of red.I just came across this great line of organic lipstick called PRIMATIVE. there are only about 8 colors in this line and all they sell is lipstick, but the colors are really wearable and nice.

I just said I was into color lately, but on my face I have just been wearing a bit of concealer translucent powder to matte my face, mascara ( of course....gotta cover up the white lashes....)

and red lipstick. I add liner pencil if I feel like it. It has been very freeing not to have to"paint" my face every day. I may have to add some highlighter or bronzer depending on how pale I get in the colder weather.

Oh Project Runway.... The finale was a bit disappointing. Leanne seems so "one-note" to me.

I looked at the designers collections at Bryant Park during fashion week and I had to admit that I loved Kenley's the best. Yeah, she's a little brat, but she is creative. Everywhere I read on the net people are praising Leanne. I think people are afraid to like Kenley for some reason!

We all know people who are anal-retentive control freaks, right?

My lust for color has rekindled an interest in Christian Lacroix. He is sooooo over the top, but there's something to be said for his garishness. He sticks to his vision.

I was looking at the shows of all the designers for spring 09' and when I came across his, I was immediately drawn to the colors. I think we are in store for more of this type of fashion as times get tougher financially, people want more fantasy.

I was shocked by Vivienne Westwood's collection, however...

Most of her stuff looked like she just threw bolts of fabric over the model's shoulders and put a few tacks in the fabric. Very Bedsheet-Toga.

Jerry just called and I'm meeting him for dinner.

Cheers!

Chocolate Friday.

I saw this book at the bookstore, and now I NEED it. it's called CHOCOLAT by Stefan Lagorce.

It is pictured here looking like a bar of chocolate. The book is hardcover silver-y, and even the page edges are the same color. it has this brown sleeve that slips over the book, making it look just like a huge chocolate bar. Inside there are different recipes and the history of chocolate products around the world. The pictures are gorgeous!!!!!!!

My favorite chocolate cookbook up until now has been UNWRAPPED:Green & Black's chocolate Recipes.

this is the cookbook that put a lightbulb over my head and told me to try pairing dark chocolate and hot chilies together. I love Green & Black's so much. Not only is it superior chocolate, it is all organic and Fair Trade as well.

I have made many of the recipes in this book with good success.

I love to try all different chocolate. The Mexican chocolate, Ibarra which makes Abeulita (YUM!!!) had been my hot chocolate of choice until I found those mexican bars of chocolate you make hot chocolate with.

Dagoba is another great brand. I love all the wierd flavor combinations with stuff like Earl Grey tea wasabi, or grey sea salt.

Rapunzel makes really good chocolate bars, and I used to get them at the supermarket, until they decided to get rid of them. Now I have to wait until I go to the health food store to get one.

There used to be a store in the mall that sold only chocolates from around the world. I would go in there and talk to the nice man who owned the shop about how it was so hard to find Cadbury Flake bars. He would stock them and people would come in an buy every single bar he had.We used to laugh about how whenever I would ask for it, he was sold out.

that is my favorite British candy bar. it's not just chocolate, it is the experience of biting into that bar and having it shatter into a trillion flakes.

I like Cadbury in general. My favorite is the Fruit and Nut bar which is readily available everywhere and is not US$ 6.00/bar.

I love dark chocolate. Sometimes Lindt has the 85% or 90% bars, which I think are great.

I adore the smell of dark chocolate. I wish I could find a perfume that smelled like dark chocolate that lasted. I have a little roll on oil from Origins called Cocoa Therapy which adds orange to chocolate, making it smell exactly like a tootsie roll. It's not meant to be long- lasting.

I usually carry it in my bag.

I just read what i've written and it makes me sound like I could gorge on chocolate. I can be satisfied with a small amount as long as it's good.

And, just because it's expensive, doesn't mean it's "good'. I'm not a fan of Vosges. I mean, I get what Katrina Markoff is doing, but I'm not THAT far out when it comes to flavors in my chocolate.

I'm also not a fan of Godiva. I used to think this was the height of sophistication. Nah....

I want to try some chocolates from Maison du Chocolat!!!!!

Once again, excuse all my terrible pictures.... I intend to remedy that, because I ordered a digital camera so I can take pictures instead of fussing with my phone all the time.

The first picture is of harley this morning. she looked so cozy laying in the covers on the bed. Jerry puts her up on the bed with me before he leaves for work, and she always does her best to nudge me off to the extreme edge, or she steals oll the covers. She finds a certain spot in the crook of my back and pushes up against it. It's always the same exact spot, too...

Went to the Flea Market again last Sunday. I found this great Adrienne Vittadini (real) leather clutch that had the Neiman Marcus tag still on it. Someone had cut the price portion of the tag off. I stole it from the guy for $8.00!

It doesn't smell and the lining and everything is perfect.

It even had the little packet of silica gel in the inner pocket.

The sterling case is cute. I'm always looking for something small to put my paper money and coins in when I don't want to carry a wallet. I've gotten cigarette cases, but I they never seem right. I thought I could put jewelry in this when I travel too.

The other pictures are of more costume jewelry I found . I love that little pin that looks like deer antlers, and of course that gaudy four leaf clover charm bracelet is just adorable....

the Lion's head is a scarf clip, but I think I can clip it over a chain and make a necklace out of it too. the leaf pin with the pearl is a lot like something I already have, but I always like to make a little grouping of pins on my sweater or bag.

I keep seeing this Michael Kors gold watch EVERYWHERE this season. I think it is taunting me because my beloved MK tank watch finally died last month. I have been looking for it's' replacement.




I went to Barnes and Noble tonight to look at Isaac Mizrahi's new book How to have Style . I have been waiting for it to debut. there were some good tips and pics in it, but it was done in chapters divided into single case studies.

Each chapter is devoted to a different "every-woman".

Not really what I had hoped for. I wanted it to be more like Nina Garcia's book, where he just lists his favorite things and gives cool style tips.

Picked (MORE!!!) apples today. I think I'm going to wrap them in newspaper and box them.

Supposidly that works to keep them fresh-ish.

I think that will be the last time I pick this year. The pickings were slim, as they say....

Fall is here...

Geese have been flying over the past week, but the last couple of days the numbers have grown from a few to a huge , honking hoarde. My phone camera just cannot keep up with me, as you can see.... That line across the picture is actually geese, and if you look closer, you can see the V formation.

I have been working on smaller knitting projects lately. I'm trying to reduce my stash of yarn.

this isn't really yarn, it's a type of ribbon I found somewhere. I had started making a scarf/shawl with it, but didn't like the way it was developing, so I frogged it and stashed it.

I saw a picture of a Debbie Bliss pencil case, and was loving the lining. I have never lined anything before this, and I love the color combination!

the zipper pull is an old coin I had in my beading /jewelry supplies. This is now my makeup bag. It fits quite a lot!

I baked Magnolia cupcakes today. Only six because I found a recipe for Gingerbread on someone's blog, and I wanted to try it.

I made meatballs today for tomorrow, because I had the oven on. Now that's one less thing I have to do tomorrow. I'm just going to put the sauce and meatballs in the crock pot in the morning.I want to go back to the Public market's Flea Market tomorrow morning and mindlessly browse for a while. I love all that vintage costume jewelry and junk. :)

We went to Avicolli's for supper after church. I hadn't been there in a while! Saw a couple of people we knew.

I happened to come across this...

Kiehl's has a new cologne called FOREST RAIN.

I want to smell it soooo bad! I wear their Original Musk cologne all the time. It's the one I spritz on if I'm not in the mood for anything specific.I read all the time how people hate the EDT version, and prefer the oil. I don't know why. It smells fantastic and it's not too much.

My other favorite musk perfume is the Body Shop's White Musk.

That is my alternate every day scent.

Where did this week go?

Isn't this picture so beautiful? It's a shot inside La Sirenuse Hotel in Positano, Italy. I have a link to their webcam Every day when I log on, I check it, so I can see those wonderful waves breaking against the pier, and people milling about.

The only problem is that Italy is 6 hours ahead of us timewise, and I usually get to see darkness...I don't care!

I was going to go pick apples today, but it HAILED this morning and it has been so rainy and crappy.

I went out and bought duck boots for myself and Mike.

Found a great sale at "Herb" Philipson's.

went to Staple's and go computer paper (much needed....)

and went and got some rubber bead stringing cord. My beloved Tibetan Mala bracelet went saggy because it was strung on regular elastic cord. That stuff never lasts.

I see Michael Kors is coming out with a new perfume called VERY PRETTY. It is a sandalwood based perfume with coconut. It sounds good.

I've been trying to get more water into my system along with multiple packets of emergen-C now that the weather has turned colder. I'm not very good about keeping up with regimens....

As long as my fingers don't get all split all around the edges. I hate this symptom of colder weather.

I have some baking to do this weekend. I want to make oatmeal cookies and I found a recipe for Apple Charlotte I want to try. Either that, or I'm making Magnolia Bakery cupcakes.