Some music again…
Related Articles Related StoresEntries from October 2007 ↓
Neil Young Harvest Moon
October 30th, 2007 — Music
A woman to admire
October 29th, 2007 — Age, Beauty, Hope, Inspiration and creativity
I only recently heard of Irena Sendler, a Polish Catholic 97 year old woman who rescued 2500 children in the Warsaw Ghetto from the gas chambers in 1942-3.
After getting the children out, she arranged ‘adoptions’ by non-Jewish families (I admire them too for the risks they took) to protect them, documenting their names in a jar which she buried, so that one day she could tell the children their real names.
She was captured and tortured, eventually escaping, but she did not betray what she had accomplished.
She was up for a Nobel Prize in 2007 which she did not win, but she won a far more nobler prize.
You can read more about her at this website.
Karin
Related Articles Related StoresBond No 9 for Saks 5th Avenue
October 29th, 2007 — Perfume review, Perfumes
Bond No 9 has created its first non-specific NYC fragrances for Saks 5th Ave. Both are worthy creations — modern, elegant and large, said to
capture the fashion-forward essence of 21st century Saks, while at the same time expressing the eclectic downtown spirit of NoHo-based Bond No. 9.
DNA for women is a classic, large gardenia scent. If you love gardenia, you will love this fragrance. A little goes a long ways, because it is long-lasting. On me, the dominant note is gardenia. Anything else is hidden among the petals.
DNA For Her
Gardenia, sparkling jasmine, vetiver and vanilla.
I love the scent of gardenias, brought into the house. I float them in bowls.
This scent is true to real gardenia. So many perfumes are not.
DNA for men is an elegant aqua scent, with a classic masculine ambiance, through the notes that are generally thought to be part of men’s fragrances.
DNA For Him
Sicilian bergamot, cardamom, amber and cedarwood.
Of interest are these notes:
What makes this eau de parfum metro-modernity is the addition of notes that are new to luxury perfumes: a marine accord, fiery chilies, seductive incense and soothing guaiac wood from South America.
While it is said to be for both men and women, it leans more masculine to me. I would like to smell it on a man. It is perfectly wearable for a woman, once the top notes develop into the lower notes. But the top notes are decidedly masculine. If you are a woman who wears it, tell me how it develops for you.
If you are a bottle collector, the bottles are quite, quite lovely, dramatic black and white, echoed in the new SAKs shopping bags. The women’s is white with black; the men’s is black with white. They rank up right up there with the Chinatown bottle, which is red and white. You won’t be sorry to add either of these bottles to your collection, and if the man in your life wears it, it will be an added plus.
Karin
Related Articles Related StoresApples, apples, and more apples
October 29th, 2007 — Just thinking, Perfumes
Have you ever tried a Honeycrisp apple? I had never heard of them until visiting a friend in Michigan recently. I don’t think I’ve ever had a better apple.
They can be ordered online, but I haven’t done it yet.
I used to eat Delicious apples, but they are a little soft to me now. I switched to Gala apples, when I tried them, which I now love. I had a hard time not buying a Gala in Michigan, but since the orchards are close by, I knew whatever I tried would be good.
Around here, good apples are scarce. By the time they get to us, they are bruised under the skin. It is citrus that is unbelievably good here because we are close to the groves. You have never had really good citrus until you get them from the grove.
It’s no surprise that I enjoy notes of both citrus and applies in perfumes, though I don’t consider myself as one who likes the fruity perfumes that have an artificial note to me.
Light Blue by Dolce and Gabbana, introduced in 2001, is a lovely, long lasting fragrance, and one I was complimented on recently. It is considered to be floral-fruity. It has the crisp sweetness of a real apple, coupled with woods and amber. I think it is calling to me today, though I’m not sure I will wear it.
top notes: Sicilian citron, bluebell, and granny smith
heart notes: jasmine sambac, bamboo, white rose
bottom: cedar wood, musk, amber
Others that have apple notes include: Pure White Linen (by Estee Lauder); Nirmala by Molinard (one version of this smells similar to Angel); Roberto Cavalli and Oro by Roberto Cavalli.
Karin
Related Articles Related StoresHair fashions
October 27th, 2007 — Beauty
If you are lucky enough to have a Soho kiosk near you, then you have seen some of the lovely hair accessories that they have. They are not inexpensive. But they are very elegant, though they can be worn with jeans.
You can search to see if there is a location near you. I also have a business card they gave me that lists their locations.
The good thing is that they will show you how to use them and let you try every color or color combination or style until you find what works for you.
They also have hair extensions that really are amazingly good matches for people’s hair. I’ve seen them sell one or two every time I’m at their kiosk. (I have a couple that I’m not wearing that are not from them, so I haven’t yet decided to buy one. And my hair is plenty long on it’s own. The question is whether I want a fast way to put it up. And then, of course, if I would ever do it. Shades of the 70s revisited, but updated. I wore plenty of them then.)
I first saw them in Las Vegas, but since have seen them in a couple of other malls.
Don’t be put off by the styles necessarily showing on their website. Some are over the top.
This piece is beautiful in clear.
These are pretty sprinkled in the hair along the sides. They are even nice when used in multiple colors, either in rows of separate colors or alternating. On blond hair, I liked amber or clear. The amber is more subtle.
Here you can see other ways to use them. Using the half rounds with little stars or flowers is very nice too.
One style I bought in LV was difficult to get out of my hair because it snapped so tightly. They made an exchange for ones of the same style that opened more easily. Using these (they are crystal circles that snap together) makes it look like my hair is braided without braiding. I haven’t tried the looser ones yet. The tight ones necessitated by daughter helping me remove them so as not to break my hair. The above styles do not do that. But I thought their service was excellent!
Karin
Related Articles Related StoresTaking advantage of the minutes
October 27th, 2007 — Just thinking, Nature, Opportunity
Yesterday I drove to a nearby town (well an hour or so away) and took advantage of the drive. It makes the drive worthwhile. Additionally, I came back with just enough daylight that I could still see the area, even if shrouded in twilight.
Part of the way goes past (if I choose that way) a wetlands, just as when College Girl goes back to college, her drive takes her past a different wetlands.
In a way, they look like a prairie, full of high grass, but there are little inlets of water that can be seen, if the road is high enough, and sometimes there are reeds to give away the presence of water. On occasion you can see a tree so full of birds, it looks like flowers, but yesterday I saw no wildlife.
It soothes my soul.
One day I’d like to take an air boat ride through the area. I think it would be fascinating, if the weather would cooperate and not be too hot, and if the bugs would be at a minimum.
Karin
Picture the grasses
grown high, bending in the wind
reeds and shrubbery too.
The amazing power of beads
October 26th, 2007 — Arts, Beading, Guest writer, Nature, Opportunity
I received this from Beading Daily. I could not find a link, but if someone provides me with one, I will be glad to change this post. Karin
Related Articles Related StoresThe Amazing Power of Beads
Topic: People and Events
If there was a fire threatening your home and you had only minutes to grab a few things, what would you take? One Beading Daily reader and Beadwork contributor, Cathi Tessier, knows. Cathi was one of the estimated 500,000 people recently evacuated in the southern California wildfires. As of today, Cathi has still not returned to her home–she’s not even sure yet whether there’s still a home waiting for her.–Michelle Mach, Beading Daily editor
October 23, 2007
It was Sunday, mid-morning, when my husband called.
“Quick, pack up our important stuff. We’re going to evacuate. There’s a fire close by.
I live and work for an RV park system, and as employees, we live in the resort in our motor home. Space is tight, and things must be very organized to live 24/7 in this lifestyle. My beads take up a good part of the storage areas. I peeked outside and saw a huge orange sun, smelled the thick smoke, and realized we were in big trouble. With only minutes to pack, I scrambled to sort and decide just what would fit in the trunk of our car.
Image BlockedA couple of folders with the important documents were the first things I grabbed. For my hubby, a couple pair of undies, pj’s, and two changes of clothes. For me????? Oh boy! Big problem. Four cases of beads, needles, crimping pliers, eight jumbo spools of FireLine thread sizes 4, 6, 8 in black and also crystal. A couple of beading pads, Fiskar scissors, and oh yeah, one pair of panties, a bra, and an extra pair of jeans.
Ready to go.
Three days later, I am sitting among a sea of people in the parking lot of the local stadium, visiting with other evacuees, listening to their stories. No showers in three days, no changes of clothes, horses, dogs, kids everywhere. Tens of thousands of homeless folks, worrying about their homes, their photos, their heirlooms, their clothes. There are tears, hugs, worry, and sadness. I pop the trunk of my car and look at my stuff. My beads are all there. I open some of the boxes, and just look at them.
I ask myself, “What was I thinking? How could these beads, valued at a couple of hundred dollars mean so much to me?”
I can’t explain it. But I’ll say this. It gives me comfort to know they are there. I know that if and when we have a home to return to, I will sit at my dining table, pull out a tube of Delica beads, thread up, and make a little bracelet. It will be my “miracles happen” bracelet. A reminder that life can take a turn in a split second, and if we don’t take the time to smell the roses, or bead the bead, if we don’t follow our hearts and indulge ourselves in our passions, then we are not living.
At this writing I am safe, and while my future is unknown, I take comfort in knowing that although I don’t have my pj’s, my beads are in the trunk of my car.
Image BlockedCathi Tessier
Ramona, California
Elder role models
October 25th, 2007 — Age, Just thinking
I’m always on the lookout for role models, male or female, who are older than I am. But there’s something about a woman who is living an interesting life that does, in fact, interest me. My life has sure held some interest, and largely because I’ve sought it.
I recently read an article about an extreme grandma (that’s what her grandchildren called her). It reminded me of the grandmother in Hoodwinked
I’m not sure I’m capable of being what I haven’t been, at least in some cases, or that I even have the desire to do some of the things.
But this, from my alma mater, was an inspiring story of Marilyn Mason who has taught organ at University of Michigan for 60 years — yes, 60! Additionally she has commissioned, I think it was more than 70 works for organ, because she feels present day relevancy is important. She doesn’t live in the past.
I found it interesting to listen to what her students say about her and her methods of teaching. She passes on what she knows. But she also puts as much time and energy into placing them in careers when they finish their schooling. She is more than a mentor; she is an advocate.
Be sure to listen to her play the organ on the video. In one place she remarks that every time one plays a piece, it is recreating it; it is necessarily different. She doesn’t rest on her laurels.
I found it interesting to see the images of her throughout her career.
Someone said about her that she lives her life full throttle. I work for that!
I tried to find out more about her. She was also honored at her 50 year anniversary. She has played on every continent except for Antarctica, and in about 50 countries. She is the first woman to play the organ at Westminster Abby. When you realize she took some time away for additional study, she truly is ageless.
Karin
Related Articles Related StoresMaking our lives a prayer
October 24th, 2007 — Just thinking, Prayer, Quotations
Norris Burkes had another thought provoking column this week.
Andi Bowsher, author of Praying the Pattern …says , “Paul [when he said to pray without ceasing] was suggesting making life into prayer rather than making prayer into a life.”…I can spend all week praying for fresh inspiration and still get nothing but a frustrated editor muttering some pretty unspiritual words about my column being past deadline. But when I seek to make my life a prayer, when I seek to serve and to become the answer to the prayers prayed by others, I get real inspiration…I pray to become the prayer… Norris Burkes (to see the full article go to his website.
I keep coming back to the idea that our lives are really the answer to someone else’s prayer when we live our life as a prayer or are conscious of it. I think I’ve been aware of that on occasion, but not as a guiding principle. (Elsewhere in the article Burkes talks of ‘living the principle that Bowsher describes.’)
Can you think of a time when you were the answer to someone’s prayer? Perhaps you didn’t recognize it at the time.
Karin
Related Articles Related StoresThinking outside the box
October 23rd, 2007 — Inspiration and creativity, Just thinking
