Beyond the Blue Ridge

Fashion Dilemma - Those Christmas Parties!

2010-11-30T12:29:00.001-05:00

Somehow for someone who spent the last month basically being a hermit, I've managed to accumulate a number of Christmas invites. I already know what I want to wear to most of the more formal occasions, but I have a couple I'm not sure about. The first is an informal little open house with a bunch of my friends from a ladies' networking and service organization. I plan to wear either a warp cardigan or a big pashmina shawl, so I thought I'd like to get a cute little top to have peeking out of the sweater/shawl. Do you think something like this little sequin number would work? I couldn't find a great image, but it's a drapey black sequin top from Talbots:

And then there's this one:

I also thought I could go for something a little more toned down. Perhaps a sleeveless shell with a ruffled collar or maybe even something like this lace tank I saw at J.Crew that comes in a variety of colors:

The other party is for my husband's office. It's on a weekday evening, so it's supposed to be "dressy business" attire. I know that a number of high-ranking political types will be present, so I need to make a good impression. I just have no idea what to wear - hence the lack of pictures for this one. Given the dress code, I'm sure my holly green cocktail dress is out, but I think a plain black suit would be too severe. Ideas?

Many thanks!

Smells Like a Monday - Souvenirs of Italy

2010-11-28T14:38:00.011-05:00

I went to Italy for two weeks at the end of October, and even the smallest towns there had little perfumery shops. It was much easier to find pretty perfumes - and lots of selection - than in some American cities I've visited. Given the huge fragrance displays in the local pharmacies and the presence of perfume shops on what seemed like every other street in even the smaller towns I visited, I got the impression that fragrance plays a larger part in daily life over there. As someone who doesn't feel entirely put together until I've spritzed on a little something, I completely agree with this approach!

I was already familiar with Dolce & Gabbana, Gianfranco Ferre, Ferragamo and some of the other major designers' perfume lines, so when browsing for goodies to bring home, I didn't linger long at those counters. I instead kept an eye out for lines that are harder to find back home. In a small town in Tuscany, a local perfumery carried the I Profumi di Firenze line. If you ever have a chance to try these scents, do so! They are beautifully made and while they are much less expensive in Italy, they are also available in the United States via Beautyhabit. After sampling the wares, I ended up with a bottle of Talco Delicato. I've worn this scent before and it's still one of my favorites from the line.

I've seen Talco Delicato described as a musky vanilla scent, which would make one expect something much heavier than it actually it. The name really says it best. Talco Delicato is a very warm and feminine scent that has a powdery aspect to it, but without making one feel as though one is smothering in a cloud of talc. I find this scent elegant and incredibly graceful. It drifts over the wearer and just settles in naturally. With its warmth, it's a perfect scent for fall and winter.

My next fun stop was at Santa Maria Novella in Florence. Known officially as Oficina Profumo Farmaceutica di Santa Maria Novella, this pharmacy has been open to the public since 1612. In addition to selling a variety of fragrant colognes (Zagara, or orange blossom, being one of my favorites), Santa Maria Novella also sells a variety of luxurious soaps, home fragrances, and skincare products. Many of their recipes are based upon those developed by Dominican friars around the 13th century, and the Domincans actually owned and ran the business for several centuries before it went into private hands.

The pharmacy is housed in an ornately decorated old building and it takes up several large rooms. Given the enormous crowds on the day I was there, they needed it! I didn't end up with any new perfumes for myself, but I did buy several of their milk-based soaps to give as gifts. The soaps are strongly fragranced and smell absolutely beautiful. I got some in carnation and some that are jasmine scented. They are blending beautifully in my sweater chest until time to wrap them for Christmas.

Throughout my travels, I noticed that almost every pharmacy or midlevel perfume shop had plenty of shelving devoted to a brand called L'Erbolario. I had seen a few of these scents in the United States, but I have no real familiarity with them. Given that the company makes perfumes with matching bath/body products, it made me think of something along the lines of Crabtree and Evelyn here at home. Every time I saw a display, I took a few minutes to try various scents. Oh my goodness, the variety!

Many of the scents were soliflores (based around a single flower), but some of the flowers were ones that I had never seen scents for before, such as Acacia, which turned out to be soft and rather sweet. They also make various citrus scents and a neroli(blossom of the bitter orange tree) scent. The Italians seem to love their orange blossom! Almost every line, whether high end or not, seemed to have an orange blossom cologne or neroli scent of some type.

After trying many, many fragrances from L'Erbolario's seemingly endless list, I settled on Fiori Chiari as my last fragrant souvenir of the trip. It has notes of lily, rose, peony, lily of the valley and various fruits. This scent smells of green grassiness and light blooming flowers. It's the perfume equivalent of walking in a sunny breeze, and I suspect I'll be wearing it a lot in the spring. Even though I visited Italy in the fall, this scent really captured for me the essence of how I felt on my favorite day of the trip, which would be the day my friends and I hiked through hills in Tuscany on a bright sunny day when the light made everything look unbelievably green.

And to bring it all back to Virginia, I discovered over Thanksgiving that L'Erbolario now has a US distributor, and this distributor is based in Charlottesville, VA! You can find the complete L'Erbolario line in the USA at Londons. They have a shop in Charlottesville (love it!) and a website complete with Cyber Monday deals. If you're interested in L'Erbolario, Londons has set up a dedicated website and those products can be found here.

Recalled to Life

2010-11-27T18:00:00.002-05:00

Funny how life works. I figured I'd be offline for 2 weeks while I went on vacation to Italy and then be right back. Italy was absolutely wonderful, and I'll blog more on it later (with pictures!), I promise. However, I ended up getting sick the last day of the trip. And I kept on being sick until finally I dragged myself to a doctor here at home - and found out I had whooping cough.

I'll spare you the details of being sick and just say that anything that makes you cough enough to break your own ribs is very obviously not a lot of fun. I had no energy for weeks and I've only just recently gotten to do basic things like leave my own house or get caught up at work. Thanksigiving this year made me feel extra thankful because I am finally better. I even felt well enough to bake my usual bourbon pecan pie and play with my little cousins for hours on end. It was fabulous, and being able to celebrate like that is not something I'll easily take for granted.

I've been having such fun catching up on blog posts and puttering around my house. I never thought I'd actually be thankful for organizing my books and papers, but I've been getting into it. I set my Pandora account to Christmas music(Dance of the Sugarplum Fairy is awesome paper sorting music, btw) and I've just been going to town. What a great day - even if the UVA/Tech game was just awful. I had been heartsick about having to miss almost all the UVA games this year, but I can't say I'm sorry about being home instead of down in Blacksburg this afternoon.

So, anyway...I made it back to the online world and I'll be posting again. I actually have some minor news, too, but I'll save that for later.

Happy belated Thanksgiving!

I Want!

2010-09-26T15:19:00.010-04:00

I had never heard of Lesley Evers up until very recently. Somehow I came across an article saying that those who like Jules Reid or Kate Spade would like Lesley Evers dresses. I went to her website and - wow! I was like a kid in a candy store. She makes cute tunics and skirts, but there are so many dresses that look both polished and very comfortable. I am especially wanting this one, called the Riley:

I like it the way it is, but I think it would look adorable belted as well. And I have cute 60s style black flats that would be perfect with it!

It would be a little cold for this one in Virginia in fall, but I like it, too:

Megan

And I absolutely love this Kylie skirt!

And, since there is a summer sale on, this little number may soon be mine to hold onto for next year. I'm not sure how long my self-control with regard to the Margaret will last:

And don't get me started on Miss Laura here:

You can find all the goodies here.

Go Hoos!

2010-09-25T15:05:00.002-04:00

I'm not going to be able to make it to many UVA home games this year, but I'm following along at game parties. UVA vs. VMI would not normally be a big deal of a game, but with the season UVA had last year, I'd privately get a little nervous about what the local high school would do to them. They're my team and I love my school, and I'm happy to see that they seem to be stepping up their game this year. Hope it continues when they play ACC teams!

As I write this, we're in the second half with a comfortable lead, and I'm hoping it stays this way. I'll admit to teasing my cousins about Tech's defeat at the hands of JMU; please let's not give them a reason to turn the tables.

Hope everyone is having a good weekend!

Nuts and Bolts - Coding Help, Please?

2010-09-12T14:12:00.002-04:00

I'm definitely a total newbie when it comes to HTML here. I've learned a few tricks and beamed with pride accordingly. However, I'm having a little issue here. I'm trying to add the BlogFrog widget to my sidebar and it just isn't cooperating. I can't get it to line up symmetically with all the other widgets, and I just need to move it over a little to the left. Does anyone know how to do this? Thank you!

Smells Like a Monday - 20 Best Ever Perfumes

2010-09-06T17:09:00.005-04:00

As I caught up on my blog reading today, I saw a feature over at Perfume Shrine talking about an article in the Daily Mail which purports to list the 20 best perfumes of all time. I realize that scent preferences are a very individual thing, but I just don't agree with the list. The scents listed in the article are:

1. Chanel No. 5
2. Shalimar
3. L'Air du Temps
4. Joy
5. Poison
6. Eau Dynamisante
7. J'Adore
8. Blue Grass
9. Je Reviens
10. Jean Paul Gautier Classique
11. Opium
12. Angel
13. CKOne
14. Anais Anais
15. Jo Malone Lime, Basil and Mandarin
16. Rive Gauche
17. DKNY
18. Coco Mademoiselle
19. Beautiful
20. Youth Dew

Most of these are scents that have sold millions of bottles, so I wouldn't be surprised to see them on a bestsellers of all time list. However, I don't think that these are the best 20 scents that perfumery has ever had to offer. My own personal 20 best list would be:

1. Laura Ashley No. 1 - now discontinued, but one of the most delicate, polished florals I've ever worn. Of scents available today, Santa Maria Novella Angels of Florence probably comes closest.

2. Coty Chypre -Nearly 100 years ago, this perfume launched an entire category of perfumery called chypres. It too is discontinued, but I've smelled vintage bottles of this scent and it was amazing.

3.Guerlain Mitsouko - One of the most sophisticated and beautifully crafted chypre scents out there

4. Guerlain Shalimar - It's not really "me", but this oriental scent truly is a classic and if you like orientals, it's one of the great ones.

5. 4711 cologne - This scent has been around since the 18th century, and remains probably THE classic citrus cologne. I love Eau Imperiale dearly, but I do have to give this one the edge.

6. Je Reviens - I'll agree with the Daily Mail on this one. It's soft, feminine and beautifully crafted.

7. Quelques Fleurs - One of the oldest multifloral perfumes (i.e. doesn't simply focus on the scent of a single flower); It was launched in 1912 and women still wear it today.

8. Dioressence - I know that Opium gets all the attention, but frankly I think this oriental which came out around the same time is much better made. It's been reformulated since then (sadly), but still deserves a mention.

9. Chanel No. 5 - Yes, this one is a classic and deservedly so. It's probably the most famous aldehydic floral of all time and has been loved(and imitated) for many years.

10. Joy - Another one that belongs on the Daily Mail list. Again, it's not really "me", but this rose-jasmine powerhouse has definitely been famous for a reason for all these decades.

11. Ivoire de Balmain - I've come across many aldehydic green florals that came out in the 1960s - early 1980s Some are better crafted than others, but this green floral which starts off sharply green before drying down into a heart of roses and white flowers is probably my favorite.

12. Crown Rose - Sadly discontinued but this is an amazing rose scent. It starts off very rosey and then dries down into a resinous sandalwood base

13. Estee Lauder Pleasures - Trendy fresh florals are sometimes maligned, but I think this one is wonderfully blended.

14. Creed Fleurissimo - This was created for Grace Kelly and she wore it on her wedding day. One of the most polished sweet white floral scents I've ever tried!

15. Estee Lauder White Linen - This is another amazing aldehydic floral. It's fresh, polished and really well done. Whenever I smell Charlie, I keep thinking that it WISHES it could be this perfume.

16. Chanel No. 19 - No. 5 gets the lion's share of attention, but this green perfume is amazing, too. It manages to be both feminine and yet give off a very no-nonsense, powerful vibe.

17. Annick Goutal L'Eau d'Hadrien - I'm usually not into the unisex scents, but this cologne has an understated polish that definitely makes it classic in my book.

18. Caron Nuit de Noel - Another classic wonder - this one from the 1920s. This scent is very polished, but with an undercurrent of darkness and mystery to it. I love to wear it to midnight service on Christmas Eve as it fits to unfathomable wonder of the occasion very well.

19. Robert Piguet Fracas - This 1944 creation is a bigtime attention getter. There are several big tuberose scents out there, but this one is the best, I think. It has just enough green to tone down the big florals so as not to overwhelm everyone around the wearer. A great party scent!

20. Guerlain L'Heure Bleue - This floral with the powdery drydown came out in 1912 and is deservedly still in circulation. It does have a faintly old-fashioned vibe to it, and I love the powdery drydown. There's a melancholy, bittersweet air to this one that just gets me. And as with most of the older Guerlain classics, the craftsmanship is impeccable.

White Party!

2010-09-04T14:38:00.010-04:00

Ever since I saw Desperately Seeking Seersucker's post about her White Party, I've been feeling inspired. What a great way to end the summer! So here's my white party. They're not 100% white, but these are mostly pictures of pretty, crisp white things I've seen in my own life.

Yes, I really have seen 6 foot high Queen Anne's Lace!

Bluish-white glaciers - the coolest shade of white I've ever seen in real life

Easter lilies really do grow back and bloom again if you plant them

Another lily I've managed not to kill

Most determined rosebush ever

Because a white party needs sparklers!

If you want to enter the giveaway, it's not too late. You can find details here.

Smells Like a Monday #9 - Kai

2010-08-29T14:01:00.006-04:00

Yes, I know. I've been bad and not posted regularly for the past few weeks. Such is the craziness of my work life. However, it's the last Monday before Labor Day and there's one summer perfume I want to mention before we head into fall. Kai is not too heavy, but it pretty much screams tropics to me. It's a beautiful white floral that comes in oil form. There is now a spray version, but the oil is heavenly, so I can't imagine not wanting to use the original. Favored by a diverse group of stars from Reese Witherspoon to Maria Shriver, Kai is a sweetly tropical floral with notes of gardenia, jasmine, tuberose and lily.

This is perfect floral to wear with your own Lilly. Though the notes make this sound like an almost overpowering floral, it really isn't. It starts off sweet, clear and a little greenish. As the oil warms up on skin, it gets to be more floral and less green, but it stays relatively close to the skin. The tropical prints on the clothes and the beautiful rich tropical notes of the scent blend together perfectly. So, before Labor Day passes us by, I say it's time to pull out a cute Lilly Pulitzer dress and a dab for Kai for one last summer cookout.

Kai is available at a number of shops. I've seen it in several cute little boutiques, but I most often order it from Luckyscent or Beautyhabit. Partially, I like the convenience of not having to drive to Richmond or Charlottesville for it, and I also love the great customer service at Luckyscent and especially Beautyhabit.

Cooking on Really Hot Days - and a Recipe!

2010-08-28T22:43:00.005-04:00

I love to cook. I enjoy playing with herbs and spices and watching ingredients come together in the kitchen to create something new. It's the one major chore I would not want to hire someone else to do. However, there are times, such as during awful heat waves, when the thought of turning on a stove makes me just a little queasy.

Virginia tends to get hot and humid during the summer, but there are often breaks in the heat. In addition, our "hot and humid" tends to hover in the 80s. The weeks on end of temperatures in the 90s as we've had this year are hotter than I'm used to, and I'm happy to see fall coming. However, in the meantime I've been making the best of it with tomato salads, fresh melons from the farmer's market and simple recipes that don't require heating up the entire kitchen.

One of my favorites has been spaghetti squash "pasta". This one is a lot of fun to play with. I put different things in there every time I make it. Earlier this week, I made a version with a couple tablespoons of olive oil, some fresh cilantro, red pepper flakes and shredded parmesan. It's also good with garlic, olive oil and sliced cherry tomatoes, or with shredded cheddar, fresh parsley and sauteed mushrooms.

Here's how you make the basic spaghetti squash (quick and easy, I promise!):

1. Using a sharp knife, make slits in the rind of the spaghetti squash all the way around. This is very important - you don't want your squash to explode during cooking. Trust me on this one. :-)

2. Place spaghetti squash on a microwave-safe plate, put it in your microwave and zap it at 4 minute intervals until it's ready. The squash is ready when you see the juices oozing out of the slits you made in the rind and the squash gives slightly when pressed. For most sqaushes, this will take 10-12 minutes of cooking.

3. Let squash cool for 5-10 minutes.

4. Cut squash open lengthwise. Taking a fork, remove the seeds and then scrape along the inside of the squash. The interior will come apart as you do this, looking almost exactly like spaghetti.

5. Collect the "spaghetti" in a large bowl, and toss with whatever toppings you care to use.

Enjoy!

August Craziness - and pictures!

2010-08-20T07:12:00.009-04:00

Do you ever have times where it just seems like your job ate your life? I've been going through one of those lately. For some reason, all of my cases just decided to blow up and need immediate attention over the past two weeks. And I realized that I never did post my promised report back from tax-free weekend. I hit some great sales and had fantastic luck!

At The Pink Palm in Richmond, I got to check out the new fall Lilly collection. I'm drooling over several of the pieces, but this cute dress really caught my eye. They had it in two prints, and I'm loving both! This is the one that was on the mannequin and ready for its close-up, though:

I made myself be good, and stick to sales for now, though. Given that they had the gorgeous Lovell shift in my size, this wasn't exactly a hardship. I tend to wear lots of greens and blues, but this cheery yellow is a lovely change. I wore it to church last Sunday, and I felt so sunny!

I had lunch at a very yummy cafe next to Pink Palm. It's called Mosaic and they pride themselves on cooking dishes with local ingredients. The salad tasted out-of-the-backyard-garden fresh, and I had a very good dish of pasta with fresh cherry tomatoes. I will definitely keep this little place in mind for my next Richmond jaunt.

At Talbots, I managed to break my "sales only" rule. Still, I think the shoes were worth it. I will wear these all fall. Aren't they cute?

I also found this fun blouse that will brighten up my navy suits for work. I wore it to court today, and it looked great. It was a nice change from my usual button-down shirts.

At the venerable Levy's, I have to admit that I was somewhat surprised. I haven't been to Levy's in Virginia Beach very often, but I remember them having cute beachy clothes. The Levy's in Charlottesville was, if not as cool as the Corner, still definitely quite the preppy shop when I was in college - and known for years as a great place to find dresses. However, the Richmond store seems to cater to an older crowd. Many of the items in the front of the store were things my grandmother's more flamboyant friends would go for. Think comfortable knits and elastic waist pants in a variety of animal prints. It's not my thing, but I know some ladies who would love it. This Levy's still had a small dress rack, though, and in the very back of the store, they had some of the well-made basic shirts, polos, droolworthy cable knits, etc.. that their other stores are known for stocking.

It was there that I struck gold. Levy's was having its fantastic 3 for 1 sale (buy 1 piece and get 2 free). I managed to pick up a really flattering pair of khakis, some white jeans and a khaki skirt. Not exciting, but very necessary. And since they're all well-made pieces, I was happy.

Phew! It was quite the expedition - and I also ended up cashing in all my various Ann Taylor coupons to order the suit I showed in my last post. I can't believe it took me two weeks to recover, but there you go.

Hope everyone has a good weekend! I'm off to lunch with family tomorrow, but otherwise no major plans. How about you?

Tax-Free Weekend

2010-08-06T11:58:00.006-04:00

This weekend is tax-free weekend in Virginia. I plan to go to Richmond tomorrow to celebrate. I need to replace a summer weight suit, so I plan to hit Dillard's and possibly also to check out this number at Ann Taylor. Lately, I've been very disappointed in the new design and lowered quality at Ann Taylor, but this suit looks like it could be nice so I'll at least look it over.

And here is its matching skirt:

I also plan to head out to the Lilly shop down there to see if there are any must-haves in my size. I wouldn't mind coming across this on sale:

Other than that, I'm not sure where else I'll go browsing. I've always liked Levy's, but we'll see how much shopping I can take in one day. I do tend to wilt in the heat!

So, does anyone else have shopping planned?

Pink and Green Thursday Goes to Disney

2010-08-05T07:27:00.007-04:00

Since I was in Disney last week, I just had to make that my pink and green theme. There's an awful lot of it to be found there!

And last but not least, we end the day with...

Smells Like a Monday #8 - Guerlain Boutique at Epcot

2010-08-02T23:07:00.006-04:00

As I mentioned in my last post, I spent most of last week down in Florida. While I was there, I got a chance to slip away and play at Epcot. Even though it was ridiculously hot and my sunglasses steamed up the moment I stepped out of the hotel, I had a blast! The food in the international pavilions is fantastic, and I had fun on the rides. If you're ever there, I highly recommend Soarin. I really did feel like I was flying!

And what does any of this have to do with perfume? Well, the venerable perfume house of Guerlain has its largest US boutique right in the middle of the French pavilion at Epcot. And on a fine sunny day last week, I got to spend a fun morning in it.

Most people best know Guerlain for its classic Shalimar, launched in 1925 and still very popular today. However, this perfume house has been around since 1828 and is one of the oldest perfume houses in the world. They have created more than 300 scents and many hold them in high esteem.

Guerlain is one of my very favorite houses, so when I stepped into the pavilion and saw their round, three-tiered table of perfume bottles sitting in the center of the floor, I felt a little thrill of excitement. First I visited some of my old favorites such as Eau Imperiale, Chant d'Aromes and Mitsouko. Then I found myself testing the scents I've never owned or never tried. There was the bracing clean scent of Vetiver pour Elle, the happy lemony freshness of Eau de Fleurs de Cedrat and the mysterious sophistication of Vol de Nuit (I want!).

The ladies at the shop are French and have trained at the flagship boutique in Paris. They were very helpful, and I enjoyed discussing the history of various scents with them. In the end, since it has been so very hot, I decided that my souvenir of Epcot would have to be something a little lighter. One of the ladies there brought out a bottle of a scent that she said was originally inspired by the gardens at Epcot and had been exclusive to this location until spring 2010. As soon as I tried this one on, I knew it would be perfect. It smelled of white flowers and honey on my skin and was pretty without being overpowering. And it was:

Flora Nymphea!

Flora Nymphea is a new scent in the Aqua Allegoria line, a limited edition line that Guerlain adds to each year to celebrate different scents found in nature such as rose, anise, mint, etc.. This scent has a little citrus to lighten it, but mostly I smelled orange blossom and honey as it settled into my skin. It's a soft floral and very wearable. And if you're interested in wearing Flora Nymphea yourself, you no longer have to go to Paris or Epcot to get it. It can be found at select Guerlain counters or ordered from here. I had a wonderful trip, but I'm glad to be home.

Unexpectedly Offline

2010-08-01T19:30:00.002-04:00

I actually had planned to blog this past week. However, I was on travel in Orlando for work and ended up spending less time planted in front of my computer than I had expected. On the plus side, I did have fun and I even got to sneak away to Epcot (will post later on this). However, that intense heat/humidity really got me, so I slept VERY well at the end of each day. My Fla. friends online definitely get lots of respect from me. It takes some serious toughness to live well in that weather!

Still, I will be back tomorrow. After all, not only did I get to go to Disney - I got to play in the Guerlain boutique at Epcot. If you have any interest at all in perfumery, that place is amazing!

Hope everyone had a good week and weekend!

Smells Like a Monday #7 - Lancome Peut-Etre

2010-07-24T23:01:00.005-04:00

When most people think of Lancome, they tend to think of Tresor (I swear I smelled that one everywhere from high school through law school), or possibly of the more recent Hypnose or Miracle. However, Lancome has in recent years reintroduced some of their vintage scents or, in the case of Peut-Etre, retooled versions of vintage scents.

The original Peut-Etre was released in 1937 and has been described as featuring rose, lily and linden - sounds like a very feminine floral to me. For the 2008 re-release, perfumer Nathalie Lorson has, according to Now Smell This, added lilac as well as an amber and musk base. I expect that this base would add strength as well as warmth to the original.

I've only ever worn the modern version of this scent (would that I could try the original!), but it's still a beautiful one. On my skin, I got a soft, warm floral. It definitely smelled rosy, but I could tell other flowers were in there, too. Some reviewers have complained that the amber/musk base dominated things for them, but I did not find this to be the case at all. Perfumes can smell very different on different people due to skin chemistry, and Peut-Etre is one that works well on me. It's a sweet rose-jasmine floral on me, and actually rather subtle.

This lovely scent can be difficult to find, but the La Collection scents from Lancome are generally available at both Saks and Nordstrom. They also show up periodically on EBay and decants are available at The Perfumed Court. It's definitely worth trying if you get a chance. On me, Peut-Etre is both a subtle scent and a meltingly feminine one.

TGIF!!

2010-07-23T15:30:00.003-04:00

Even though it's eleventy gazillion degrees outside, today just feels so light and free to me. Don't you love the freedom of a perfect summer day? Today is definitely one of those. I'm done with my court docket for the day, I have no particular obligaitons this weekend, and I'm going on a little trip next week. Finally having some free and easy time really makes it feel like summer to me. What does it for you?

Pink and Green Thursday - The Scented Edition, Part II

2010-07-22T10:01:00.014-04:00

Last week, I talked about perfume on Thursday and since it's one of my favorite hobbies, I'm doing it again this week. Instead of pink and green perfumes, this week I have pink and green fragrance notes. Notes are the building blocks that make up a scent. Some have only a few and other very complex scents have more than a hundred different notes blended together to make one multilayered perfume! Here are some pink and green notes for you:

I love peonies! They smell so gorgeous, and it seems like there have been tons of peony scents out there. Banana Republic did a pretty one several years back, and Guerlain's Pivoine Magnifica is just beautiful.

The sharp green of vetiver grass spikes many a perfume. This grass is native to India but grown in many tropical regions, and its oil is prized in many different types of perfumes because it has excellent fixative properties and, depending on the quantity used, it can blend well to create a variety of different moods. You can find it in everything from very, fresh and springy scents to dark, mysterious and spicy ones.

In summer, pink grapefruit is so refreshing! I love grapefruity scents this time of year.

I know the blossoms are technically white, but lily of the valley has such a fresh green scent. Fragrances with lily of the valley are often classified as "green" or "green floral" in perfume references, so I figure it counts.

I don't think you can talk pink without pretty pink roses. Does anyone remember a fragrance Elizabeth Arden made called True Love? The perfume itself was a lovely pink, and it smelled so pretty and rosy.

And just like I can't talk pink without pink roses, I can't talk green without galbanum. This resin, which comes from a plant native to Iran, has medicinal properties and also gives many perfumes a hint of something herbal or simply intensely green.

Happy Thursday!

So Sad

2010-07-20T15:14:00.004-04:00

I haven't been too chatty on the blog the past few days. I just learned recently that my grandmother's heart is failing and there really isn't much that the doctors can do for her. Her body is just worn out.

I am so sad about this. Every day I keep remembering new things about her teaching me to bake, or stories about her various animals over the years, her love of gardening and family history stories. She has just packed so much into 80+ years of life. I know that we are all mortal, and I do believe in Heaven, but it's still so overwhelming to stare it all in the face.

Smells Like a Monday #6 - Bronnley Lily

2010-07-19T09:41:00.002-04:00

It seems like everyone I know both online and offline is going on vacation lately. I don't go until October, so I'm spending my summer enjoying sunny locales vicariously. All this travel made me think back on one of my favorite destinations - London. I've been there twice, and I absolutely love that city. Samuel Johnson reputedly said, "When a man is tired of London, he is tired of life." And indeed, there are so many different kinds of lives in London, that I have never yet tired of exploring that city. I enjoy New York for much the same reason, but London has so many more centuries of history and as a history buff, my brain feels so engaged while I'm there.

And what in the world does this have to do with perfume, you may ask? Well, last time I was in London, I noticed many shops from small gift shops to larger department stores carrying the Bronnley line. Bronnley was founded in London in 1884 as a soapmaker, and their high-quality soaps were very popular. The company is known for using relatively high amounts of almond oil and other natural ingredients in their soaps and toiletries, and they are definitely a cut above most I've tried. They currently hold royal warrants as soapmakers to the Queen and to the Prince of Wales.

The scents tend to be simple, but very pretty. I liked the soaps and I have enjoyed layering lightly scented bath gel, lotion and perfume since I was a teenager. After sniffing my way through the various Bronnley scents, I settled on the Lily. This is a very simple, clear and sweet lily scent. There's not a lot of depth or nuance to it, but it is very pretty. I've used up the lotion already but I still have my eau de toilette left, and on a hot day it's very welcome.

The Lily has recently been discontinued by Bronnley, but I did see some still available at FrenchMaison on EBay, and while they are out of perfume, a number of the Lily bath products are still available at Bronnley USA online. You can also find all kinds of other Bronnley goodies at the online shop in a variety of other scents(the Apricot and Almond is very nice) in case you want to try Bronnley soaps without ever leaving home!

Pink and Green Thursday - The Scented Edition, Part I

2010-07-15T16:04:00.012-04:00

I love Pink and Green Thursday and I love perfume. Tons of scents fit this category, so I thought I'd share a few:

First up - Fleur d'Interdit came out in 1994, and was very big at my college. Lots of girls wore Sunflowers and Pleasures, but this sweet floral touched with fruit had a following, too. I still wear it every now and again for nostalgia value. I love the bottle!

Cabotine de Gres is a warm green scent that's beautiful and very feminine. I find it sparkly and vivacious, and I think it would go well with Lilly.

I cannot mention green perfumes without Balmain's Vent Vert. This beauty from the 1940s has been reformulated several times and it's not as astringent and sharp as it used to be. Still a classic, though.

Yves St. Laurent's Paris has been around since the 1980s, and I think of it as the quintessential pink scent. It's sweet, rosy, and very girly.

Estee Lauder Pink Coral (a spinoff of Pure White Linen) is another pinky scent that I think would be perfect for a preppy summer. It's light, slightly fruity, but also touched with what smells to me like the breeze over the ocean. Very nice.

And of course you can't mention pink and green perfume without Lilly Pulizer Wink. Isn't this cute! I know Miss Janice would approve.

Happy Thursday to all!

Fannie Flagg, Homestyle Cooking and General Rambling

2010-07-14T11:08:00.013-04:00

Cleaning out my book club box last night started me on this little stream of consciousness. As I dug through the various books I'd read for book club and decided which ones I really wanted to keep, I couldn't help letting my mind wander a bit. Some books are just very evocative. As I flipped through Jane Eyre, I was back in high school again, discovering the Brontes for the first time. With Atonement, I remembered all the most wrenching parts of the story all over again and I couldn't help reliving how frustrated and helpless I felt as an onlooker to this story. Being transported to another time and place isn't always a comfortable journey.

And when I got to Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe, all I could think of were my grandma's wonderful fried green tomatoes. Oh, they were wonderful! My thoughts wandered from books to good homestyle food. I was in Alabama last year, and I actually got to eat fried green tomatoes (and lots of other goodies) at the Irondale Cafe, the inspiration for Flagg's book.

I try all kinds of different ethnic foods and I've eaten in some wonderful gourmet restauants. However, I will always have a soft spot for homestyle cafes. Sadly, many of them seem to be disappearing. They're not trendy; hipsters don't hang out among the faded seats and peeling formica of the roadside diners. It's too bad, really, because while it may not be fancy, trendy or designed with the latest diet craze in mind, homey little cafes often have some fantastic food. There's just something about these places that brings back all the happiest food memories of childhood, of big family gatherings with lots of food and even more warmth. I may adore tapas at Jaleo, locavore cuisine at our wine shop downtown or a fine dinner in the city, but they just don't engage one quite as warmly as a humble. comfortable plate of country ham, potatoes and turnip greens.

I've found a lot of good ones, but one of my favorites is in Lexington, Virginia.
The Redwood Family Restaurant isn't much to look at in terms of decor, but the tables are clean and I love the food. When I lived in the valley, this was the restaurant to visit in times of homesickness. Nothing is very expensive, and they serve delicious fried chicken, Virginia ham(moist, not all dried out as I've found in other places), and all kinds of traditional southern sides. The owners serve greens with cider vinegar rather than looking at you strangely when you ask for it, and the black-eyed peas with tomatoes are marvelous. You will of course want to save room for pie when you're finished. I'm partial to the lemon meringue myself.

Though located in a rather nondescript building right off the highway, the Redwood is up high on a hill at the outskirts of Lexington. And who wouldn't want to explore a cute little town like this?

Note: If you're interested in trying out the Redwood, you can find them at 898 North Lee Hwy, Lexington, VA (540)463-2168.

Smells Like a Monday#5 - Eau Imperiale

2010-07-12T11:00:00.004-04:00

Guerlain is one of my very favorite perfume houses, and since I haven't talked about any of their scents yet, I figured I'd fix that little omission. Eau Imperiale(also known as Eau de Cologne Imperiale) is the first Guerlain I ever wore, and it's still very dear to me. I discovered it in law school. Someone in my legal clinic wore it, and I thought it smelled refreshing and hopelessly sophisticated all at the same time. So, of course I had to try it.

What followed was a comedy of errors as I went to our local Belk and asked the saleslady for Eau Imperiale. She gave me a rather incredulous look and stated, "But that's a men's perfume." Seriously, from the look on her face, you would think I asked for Eau de Litterbox. I felt a little less certain of myself by this time, but I still troddled off to the men's department and found a tester of Eau Imperiale.

Just as I recalled, it was total bliss in a bottle. While I could see a confident, sophisticated man rocking this scent, it is also quite feminine. The citrus and floral notes blend together to give it a refreshing crispness that reminds me of every determined, clever and slightly old-fashioned heroine I ever met in fiction. Not a bad image for meeting the world head on.

Eau Imperiale is an oldie but a goodie. It has been in production since 1853, and was created by the House of Guerlain in honor of France's Empress Eugenie. It contains notes of bergamot, orange blossom, lemon, petitgrain and neroli. Though not mentioned in the official description, I also detect what I think may be rosemary in this one. It's a beautiful floral citrus, and it's the sort of light scent that is almost impossible to overdo. It's perfect to wear to work or simply relaxing on the weekend. And isn't the iconic Guerlain bee bottle lovely?

A Seldom Seen Piece of Virginia History - Upstairs at Monticello

2010-07-10T13:54:00.009-04:00

Monticello, home of Thomas Jefferson, sits on a beautiful hillside overlooking Charlottesville, Virginia. Millions of people pass through its gardens and the first-floor tour. However, while one can see a lot on the general tour, those roped off staircases draw the eye, taunting and tantalizing all at the same time. I've been through Monticello many, many times and I love its grounds. However, the main tour takes one only around the first floor and outbuildings. The upstairs living quarters have remained frustratingly out of reach for many years.

Once in college I got to take a brief turn around the famous dome room on the top floor (it's gorgeous!). And now I know I must make it to C-ville because...drum roll...there is a special summer tour going on and visitors can see the upstairs! I'm already glancing over my court calendar and trying to pick out a day that I can take off for a little field trip.

The main tour of Monticello is fascinating in and of itself because one can see not only how people lived on this plantation, but also one can get a glimpse into the mind of Thomas Jefferson himself. The home is filled with architectural flourishes that captured Jefferson's mind in Europe and that he brought home with him. In addition, the man was quite the inventor and the first floor of house is filled with various gadgets that he invented and perfected for himself. Jefferson entertained in this portion of the house and whenever I'm there, I can almost see him showing off his latest invention or book acquisition.

However, I get the sense that the upper floors are different. These were the private living quarters of various members of the Jefferson family at different times, including his sister and later his daughter Martha and her family. Though I've not gotten to tour these rooms (yet!), I've read about them and they seem to be less ornate and more functional. The areas of Monticello where Jefferson would have entertained were quite the showplace, but the upstairs looks more like home. From the pictures I've been able to find, one can see the fabulous bones of this house set off against the comparatively stark furnishings. It's exciting that this will be open to the public at last and if you're planning a trip to Virginia, you may want to think about taking a chance to get a glimpse at this part of Monticello that few have ever seen.

Hope everyone is having a good weekend!

Random Thoughts and Links

2010-07-08T19:55:00.006-04:00

It's so hot here that the sun has fried my brain. Rather than posting about one thing, I keep thinking in dribs and drabs.

- First of all, the blackberries have been really delicious this year so I've eaten lots of them. One of my friends pointed me to this yummy blackberry syrup recipe. I think I need to make waffles tomorrow just so I can try it out!

- It's a little too warm for a fleece blanket right now, but later on, the blanket Brown Eyed Belle is giving away looks like it would be so cozy!

- Also, be sure to check out The Company She Keeps for a cute Lilly tote giveaway. I'm heading further south for a little getaway later this month and as I think of heading toward the sun, I'm craving the Lilly to take with me. I know folks wear Lilly year-round now, but I still have that childhood association of Lilly and madras + vacation.

- I've been watching World Cup and even though the mourning over USA's ouster in my house was matched only by the disappointment of Germany losing (DH went to a German boarding school), we're still watching the finals this weekend. I decided to get festive and serve tapas and sangria. So far, this looks like a promising sangria recipe, but if you know a better one, please do share!

-Since it's Friday, I have to have something funny to get me through that last work day. Even though they've been around for ages, LOLCats still do the trick for me.

Hope everyone has a good weekend!

Pink and Green Thursday - The Food Edition

2010-07-08T11:25:00.009-04:00

So, why a food edition? I was eating watermelon last night, with just a tiny bit of salt, and it was perfect.
The pink was perfectly ripe, the rind was the perfect deep green. It was a moment of bliss. And now that I have at least one of my blog friends shuddering (sorry!), here are some more pink and green food delights:

When it's eleventy hundred and one degrees outside, I cannot live without limeade.

Frou frou pink drinks would not be amiss, either.

And here's a cute variant on black and whites, courtesy of Slashfood

And my obsession with pink and green cake continues. This one, cached from a UK bakery that appears to have gone out of business is hilarious!

Hope everyone has a lovely pink and green day!

A Few of My Favorite Things

2010-07-06T11:00:00.000-04:00

I'm trying to get myself back into gear as I've slipped into relaxed, vacation mode and I need to motivate myself again. I don't go on my big vacation trip until autumn so must stay focused for now. I'm feeling somewhat inspired by last week's Bursary of Bliss over at Windy Poplars, so here are a few of my favorite things:

1. Revisiting books I love - lately that would be Madeleine L'Engle, but L.M. Montgomery is another perennial favorite of mine. And there are many more - I am a voracious reader.
2. Cooking
3. Cats - and I love the way they smell behind the ears!
4. Sniffing through different perfumes
5. Being outside on a sunny, breezy day
6. Walking through a garden
7. Laundry drying in the sun
8. The quiet of snow falling - I always think snow is God's way of telling people to slow down and take a break.
9. Taking tea
10. Changing from winter linens to spring ones and vice versa
11. seeing all my favorite family members at Thanksgiving - no gifts, no pressure, just enjoying people's company
12. Driving in my car, singing along with the radio
13. Going to Kingsmill in the spring
14. the Blue Ridge Mountains in the fall
15. standing on the beach at night under a full moon
16. driving under Spanish moss
17. dark chocolate
18. dancing when no one's looking
19. watching fireworks
20. the sun through stained glass windows
21. the taste of fresh berries
22. picking out yarn to start a new knitting project
23. the way my husband smiles at me like we share a private joke
24. seeing something I've planted in my garden coming to life; I am the worst gardener ever and I love the miracle of seeing something I didn't kill.
25. the smell of woods and water after a rain

Smells Like a Monday #4 - America

2010-07-05T11:24:00.007-04:00

In honor of Independence Day, I had to choose a perfume with some all-American, patriotic quality about it. America, a scent by Perry Ellis, immediately came to mind. Launched on the 4th of July in 1996, this scent was designed to pay tribute to the independence of the United States of America. In her book Fabulous Fragrances II, Jan Moran describes America as a "casual scent" and discusses how the perfumer gathered materials from all over the United States and blended them into one lovely perfume. In addition, to support the environments from which the materials came, the packaging is all made of recycled material.

This fragrance is indeed very casual. It's the perfect thing to wear with jeans or khakis while cooking out or simply running errands around town. The notes are listed as Texas ruby red grapefruit, lilacs from the Carolinas, freesia from East Hampton, Alaska blueberry, California nectarine, yucca flowers, honeysuckle, iced tea, lily, Virginia cedarwood, Hawaiian vanilla flower, redwood, plum and musk. I believe this scent is no longer in active production, but I've seen it at outlet mall discounters and it can also be found fairly easily in online shops such as Perfume Emporium or Parfum1.

This scent is not heavy by any means and it has a chameleon quality that I admire. Somehow it manages to be floral, spicy and a little bit fruity all at the same time. When I first apply it, the hint of southern sweet tea is the first thing I notice. It really smells like I'm having sweet tea on my aunt's porch, and I can smell the tea as well as the scents from her garden wafting in and out. As the scent warms up on my skin, I catch more floral notes and a bit of the cedarwoood with just a hint of sweetness underlying it all. If you like to have something that is undemanding and easy to wear, this one is good to have in your wardrobe.

I hope everyone had a happy 4th of July!

America

2010-07-02T16:15:00.000-04:00

O beautiful for spacious skies,

for amber waves of grain,

for purple mountain majesties,

above the fruited plain!

America, America!

God shed His grace on thee.

And crown thy good with brotherhood

From sea

to shining sea!

Happy Independence Day, everyone!

My First Blog Award

2010-06-30T13:21:00.005-04:00

I want to thank Annie of Classic Annie for giving me the Sugar Doll award. She's made a new blogger feel welcome, and I really do enjoy visiting her blog. You should check it out!

And here are the rules that go with the badge:

Thank the person who gave you the award, share ten things about yourself, pass this award onto ten bloggers who you recently discovered and think are fantastic and finally contact the bloggers to let them know you’ve picked them for an award.

And here are 10 random things about me:

1.I'm a litigation attorney.

2. I once had a witness ask me out while I was cross-examining him on the witness stand.

3. I love to cook and bake. I don't always have a lot of time during the week, but I cook a lot on weekends.

4. I'm working on various renovation projects in the house, so it's hard for me to have people over. Not being able to entertain is making me a little down because I love having people over and cooking for them.

5. I love to travel, and will go anywhere I have a chance to go. Most recently, that was a jaunt to Kingsmill in Williamsburg, but I think my favorite place to go has been Austria. I lived and worked there for a few months in college.

6. I want to leave the world around me better than I found it, and I enjoy doing volunteer work and helping with causes I believe in. I do a lot of volunteer work with a local domestic violence shelter where I teach classes on repairing your credit, how to read a lease/not get taken advantage of in finding housing, etc..

7. My favorite color is green - just about any shade of it.

8. I enjoy a good cup of tea. It can be just me, lounging by the window with a book or shared with a group. I just enjoy it.

9. I love to read, and it seems that there are never enough bookcases in the house to suit me.

10. I have a husband and three cats, and I adore them all quite madly.

And here are 10 of the wonderful bloggers who have made a newbie feel right at home online!

1. Lexilooo
2. Dixie Gator Gal
3. Whitney and the Preppy Puppy
4. Southern Living: Preppy Style
5. The Preppy Princess
6. I Do Declare
7. Worthy Style
8. Windy Poplars
9. The Company She Keeps
10. If I Can't Wear Heels...I Don't Want to Go

Hope everyone has a lovely Wednesday!

Blackberry Pie Season

2010-06-28T15:34:00.016-04:00

Blackberry season marks one of my favorite things about June. The lady who cooked for my grandmother had a wonderful recipe with an absolutely perfect crust, and I have an aunt who used to make pies from the berries that grew along her back border. I very rarely have time to bake, but I really do love the blackberry pies from Mom's Apple Pie Company in northern Virginia. The company is based in Leesburg, but they also have a shop in Occoquan for those on the eastern side of northern VA.

The owner of the store grows blackberries on her farm for the pies and they're only available certain times of the year. When I saw a flyer proclaiming that blackberry pies were in, I immediately found an excuse to detour out to Occoquan to get a treat to bring into work this morning. It was worth the little drive - the blackberries in this pie tasted so fresh!

Blackberries this year have been excellent, with just the perfect balance of sweet and tart. It makes for a delicious pie. Apparently, I'm not the only one who thinks so. I saw this shop's blackberry pie featured in an issue of Southern Living that I was flipping through at the vet's office this morning.

For those who don't know northern Virginia, Occoquan is a quaint little fishing village on the Potomac River that has been there for over 200 years. Nowadays, not much fishing goes on and their famous grist mill burned down after running 175 years. However, with the ever sprawling expansion of the federal government, there are plenty of people living in the area who travel to Occoquan to ooh and aah over the cute little town and enjoy a view of the river from the restaurants and cafes. It's a very fun place to get away from DC traffic for an afternoon. Mom's Apple Pie Company is set back from the river and shares space with a general store. I love the cute little gingerbread men decorating the front of the building, and the contents of the pie shop are even more delightful.

Smells Like a Monday #3 - Un Lys

2010-06-28T07:56:00.001-04:00

I've written about lilies of the valley and Diorissimo. Now for lilies, and one of my very favorite lily scents. My perfume this morning is a little more obscure, but very lovely. One will not find it at Sephora or perfume counters everywhere, but it's worth the search. Un Lys, made by Serge Lutens, is a lily soliflore (scent focused on a single fragrance note) that has a clear and luminous quality about it.

Serge Lutens is more well-known as master of darker and more unusual scents, but with Un Lys, it is clear that this perfume house can do florals beautifully as well. When condensed down to its notes, the perfume sounds deceptively simple - lilies, green leaves, musk and vanilla. However, the perfumer has blended it so well that one cannot help noticing how polished it seems. It just seems to drift over one gently while being worn and I find the clarity of the lilies quite surprising. There's a certain crispness to it that keeps the floral notes from being too sweet or smothering.

As you can probably guess, Un Lys is a very feminine scent, but I wouldn't describe it as frilly or girly. It has too much polish for that. Serge Lutens scents are notorious for being difficult to find as many from the line are available only in Europe. However, Un Lys has been given limited release in the United States and can be found at Luckyscent. You can also buy samples and smaller decants of this one at The Perfumed Court.

I find Un Lys one of those rare scents that works both for day and for evenings out. I wear it to work a lot, particularly in the spring. It matches well with things like my wedgwood blue skirt suit. And it's also pretty for weddings or evening events with a pretty dress like this one from J. Crew:

Hope everyone has a lovely Monday!

Fashion Dilemma Resolved

2010-06-25T16:22:00.007-04:00

I posted recently about my hunt for a white eyelet skirt. I did try to resurrect my much-loved older skirt, but no such luck. I tried the RIT as recommended, and while some of the yellow came out, the skirt still doesn't look wearable. However, Lilly Pulitzer to the rescue! I did some more digging around online and found a lovely Magnolia skirt in my size on EBay. It just came in today's mail, and I think it will be exactly what I wanted. It's not too overly dressy, but it's still very pretty and feminine. If you'd like a better idea of what the lace pattern looks like close-up, here is the same skirt in pink:

I'm going out to dinner with extended family tomorrow, and I think that will be the perfect occasion to debut my new skirt.

Follow Friday

2010-06-25T07:06:00.002-04:00

Today is Follow Friday over at Maryland Pink and Green! I'm a very new blogger, so I've been finding fun blogs over there. Bethany at Maryland Pink and Green is trying to get 50 blogs listed for people to follow, so hop on over there and put up your link.

Have a wonderful Friday!

Pink and Green Thursday - the "I Spy" edition

2010-06-24T10:30:00.012-04:00

This week I'm playing along for my first Pink and Green Thursday. I thought I'd post some goodies I'd seen in my travels around the internet. First up is Beauty Story, which is having a sale on Caron perfumes. They don't do referral links, but if you'd like an invite, please email me and I'll get you one. Among the treasures there today is the soft, powdery Fleurs de Rocaille. This one has been around since 1934, and is a beautiful, very feminine scent. And doesn't it look lovely?

The men aren't left out either. For them, we've got the nice green of Caron pour Homme. Isn't that a lovely shade of green?

And then I headed over to my budget downfall - EBay. That place gets me every time! I saw all kinds of lovely pink and green on offer there, and here are a few highlights. First of all, I am in love with this Lilly Pulitzer girls' dress. I had one very similar when I was little!

And this craft ribbon is pretty cute too:

I also like this pink and green glass vase.

Though for a real handbag, Etsy has all kinds of options. This print from DragonDesigns has a very retro look and I'd wear it to spice up one of my neutral work suits.

And for the babies and toddlers, here's a little headband from PrincynParis:

Hope everyone has a good pink and green day!

My Favorite Pajamas Ever

2010-06-23T11:05:00.001-04:00

When I was small, I used to get Lanz of Salzburg nightgowns as presents every year. They have their charm, but I'm glad I grew up and discovered pajamas. There's something almost glamourous about swanning around in one's pajamas, reading a good book. Some of my favorite memories involve being in the living room of a suite in Kingsmill in a crisp pair of cotton PJs reading a good book and basking in the breeze from the open balcony door. And then there's the winter evenings curled in in flannel with a cup of cocoa and a purring cat. Lovely ways to wind down the day.

My very favorite pajamas these days come from Needham Lane. Not only are these comfortable, but this company designs the most beautiful prints! Seriously, just go to their site and check these out. I like most of the prints there, but this one (Tulips) is the one I'm currently longing for. What do you think?
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Winters get chilly here, so I live in my flannels, but for summer, I love the short sleeved capri sets. The fabric is lovely, and the cut of the tops is very flattering. I feel almost Grace Kellyish in mine - there's something about them that just makes one more elegant. And now I must find the perfect tea and good book to go with them....
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Edited to add - I just got an email from Needham Lane! They are running a sale right now, and you can get 40% off of all bamboo sleepwear. The code is Bamboo40, and it's good through Sunday, June 27.

First Day of Summer

2010-06-21T21:50:00.010-04:00

Happy summer to all! Even though it was well into the 90s here, it was still a satisfying first day of summer. No lazing about the beach for me, but I still had sunny joy aplenty. It was an unusually quiet Monday, and I knew I had fun things waiting for me when I got home.

It is National Wear Your Lilly Day and while I couldn't do that at work, I came straight home and threw on a little shift. It's not pink and green, but I love it!

If anyone knows the name of this print, do enlighten me. I know the names of a couple of my Lilly prints, but not this one. Here's a closer look:

I had a political fundraiser to go to for a candidate running this fall, so I had a fun evening of eating yummy cookout food and beer. I got to meet some more of the local political crowd and chat with old friends as well as meeting some interesting new ones. There was one man there who works in preservation of historic buildings. He had all manner of fascinating stories to tell from his research. Next time I walk through the historic district, I won't look at it quite the same way.

It was a very pleasant way to start the week. Hope everyone else out there is having a lovely Monday!

Smells Like a Monday #2 - Faith Hill

2010-06-21T08:31:00.002-04:00

This week, I'm wearing a perfume that breaks quite a few rules that have been drummed into me from the time I was a wee small child. As a child, I remember watching my mother get ready for the day or sitting at my great-aunt's feet in her parlor and learning all manner of beauty rules. Not only should a lady not overpower others with her fragrance, but I also learned not to wear "cheap" drugstore perfume or scents named after celebrities.

As I grew up and travelled and lost my luggage in various locales, I learned two more things on my own. Thing #1 - some of the "cheap" perfumes are so finely blended that no one would ever guess they came from Target or CVS, and Thing #2 - given the vagaries of modern travel, it's best not to pack one's greatest treasures to take along on a trip. I kept these in mind when I sampled Faith Hill last year, and instantly began to adore it.

First of all, this is an absolutely beautiful floral fragrance. It has a sweet and deeply feminine quality without being overpoweringly heavy. It's the sort of thing I like to take with me to the Outer Banks. I can wear it to dinner and/or drinks on a warm summer evening and it just works perfectly. Something about that sweet floral drifting on the warm sea air just creates a very soft, romantic atmosphere. Matched up with a breezy white sundress like this one from J.Jill and a big straw hat, the world feels a little more civilized.

The notes of Faith Hill which I got from Now Smell This sound like a Southern belle's dream to me. They are pear, neroli, pink peony, magnolia, gardenia, jasmine, cashmere skin musk, iris and vetiver. Celeb scents may raise eyebrows in some circles, but this one really is beautiful. It gives off a lovely Southern lady vibe and even if it does break a few rules, I really do enjoy this feminine, easy-to-wear fragrance. From what I've seen of her on television, Faith Hill seems like a graceful person and a wonderful performer, and her fragrance does her credit.

Happy Father's Day

2010-06-20T09:00:00.000-04:00

Nowadays, I know so many fathers. While my college friends' families were (and still are) scattered all over the place, my circle of friends here in town all seem to have family nearby. So I not only socialize with my friends, but with their parents, their in-laws, and so on. I enjoy it, and I see so many close-knit families.

I'm also at a point in my life where many of my friends are having children. There is something startling and very touching about watching these friends fall in love with their babies, and become good protectors of them. It's an amazing transformation, and a glimpse into a deeply sacrificial love that many see but of course most men won't ever get gushy about. Especially not the traditional southern WASP gentlemen of my acquaintance.

And then there's my dad. I could tell sappy stories, but I know that's not his thing. A nice glass of wine and a good joke are much more up his alley. So, I'll just say that you mean so much to me. Happy Father's Day!

My Proposal Story

2010-06-18T16:42:00.006-04:00

I'm feeling inspired by the sweet story on DixieGatorGal's blog , so I thought I'd join in the Share Your Life fun and write my proposal story, too. My DH and I had been friends for YEARS before we ever started dating. Even though we went to college together and were friends through church and a Christian fellowship we both joined, we didn't start dating until I was most of the way through my graduate program.

At the beginning of my last year, we had been dating six months and I just knew he was the one. Actually, pretty much everyone around had decided he was the one. We must have been giving off quite the powerful vibe. He was out of school and working 2 hours away, so he would usually come visit me on the weekends.

This weekend seemed to start off like any other. My roommate was acting rather mysterious, but since we were coming up on fall break, I just thought he had something fun and special planned for the break. Apparently I am Captain Clueless. I thought he might propose at graduation, or maybe even Christmas, but I had no idea what was coming. I thought it would be a very nice weekend just like the other wonderful weekends we had spent together. This might explain why I did not put extra effort into straightening my hair or agonizing over the most perfect date night outfit. I had time to clean up and put on a pretty sundress before my sweetie got to town, but from what I've seen in pictures, my hair that night looked pretty unique.

It was a beautiful evening, and so we drove to Lexington. He suggested going for a walk, and asked me where my favorite place was there. I loved walking around the chapel and out by the colonnade, so we went meandering on down there. We stopped to sit on the wall by the chapel, and he started telling me how much he loved me and that he wanted us to be married and stay together forever. Suddenly, next thing I know, he is pulling out a little box and getting down on one knee. That was the point at which I understood what people meant by tears of joy, because I certainly had them. It was a magical evening, and I just knew that I was with the man I was meant to stay with always.

My parents were down at the beach house, so we went back to my place(I don't think we even stopped to get dinner) and called them to tell them about the engagement. It was at this point that I started to figure out that pretty much everyone knew what was going to happen that night except me. My now-DH had plotted with my brother to get the number to the beach house so he could call my parents in advance. He had also been in touch with my roommate getting her to figure out my ring size. When I found out later just how much care he had put into learning about jewelry and stones and picking out a ring, I was so touched.

I got to have the rare joy of blending wedding planning with being a student. Driving all over creation for dress fittings and cake tastings was a blast, but trying to fit it in around actually getting my thesis written and defended was a little hair-raising. Still, it was a wonderful time, and I wouldn't trade it for the world!

A Fashion Dilemma - White Eyelet Skirt Edition

2010-06-17T21:24:00.011-04:00

So, here's my problem. I have an old J.Crew skirt that I love. It's white eyelet lace with a thin gauzy white underskirt. It hits just below the knee, and is a lovely full/A-line skirt. However, since it's old, it's starting to yellow and get too dingy to wear. I've been looking for a replacement, but most of the white eyelet skirts I see are short, flouncy minis like the Banana Republic one in the picture up top. Some of them are cute, but not really what I'm looking for.

I've been hunting around online, but haven't found too many possible replacements. I saw this pretty skirt from Lafayette 148 at Bloomingdales.

However, it's made of linen. I like linen in the abstract, but when I wear it, I have a tendency to look like I've been sleeping in my clothes. Some people look adorably rumpled in linen. I, on the other hand, look like a moderately well-groomed vagrant.

The other skirt I saw online, which I actually like a lot, is from Garnet Hill.

I think that lace is just breathtakingly pretty. I'm seriously tempted to splurge on this skirt, but it's more formal and more lacey than what I had in mind. Eyelet can be dressed up or down, but this seems a little more dressy and it doesn't have that charming quality eyelet often does. Lilly Pulitzer sometimes has cute white dresses and skirts, but I didn't see any white eyelet skirts when I checked the website this time around.

So, if it's not too presumptuous for a new blogger to ask a favor, has anyone seen a good eyelet skirt out there? Thanks and happy Friday!

How Much is Too Much?

2010-06-17T07:58:00.001-04:00

I'm a big believer in perfume. I just don't feel polished and "done" if I don't have a little dab of it on when I leave in the morning. However, I'm noticing a distressing number of people who seem to be marinating themselves in either Red Door or Angel. Personally, it wouldn't take much of either one to smother me in this heat, and these folks are not using just a little spritz here and there.

I was always taught that a lady's perfume should never enter the room before her. I also remember seeing my grandmother spray her perfume once and them walk through it. Personally, I can see some fragrances such as light citrus cologne needing a little more than just 1 walked-through little spray. There's a lot of ground between the single walk-through and the woman whose scent can be detected and identified by diners halfway across a crowded restaurant.

So, what do you think? How much perfume is just too much?

Squee!

2010-06-16T11:17:00.006-04:00

I just saw that Le Creuset will be on Ruelala on Friday. I've been wanting a dutch oven like my mother's for a while, so I'm hoping they'll have those in the mix. If you're not a Ruelala member and you're interested in checking it out, consider yourself invited.

It all starts at 11:00 on June 18, 2010

Why BBR?

2010-06-16T01:01:00.000-04:00

So, why do I call my corner of the internet Beyond the Blue Ridge? Well, the short answer is that I live out beyond the Blue Ridge now. More importantly, though, I grew up in the foothills of the mountains and my life once revolved around family visits and events in that area and in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia. No matter where I roam, that is my center.

My current town actually does feel like home and I have no immediate plans to leave, but there will always be something about the Blue Ridge that will pull me back. After all, this is the place where my earliest memories were formed, where my parents and their parents grew up. It's actually where many generations of family lived - all the way back to the first ones who moved in from another part of Virginia in the 1760s! My grandmother's sister still lives on property purchased by a forebear of mine in 1853 and even though many in my family have travelled away for various reasons, this region never truly stops being home to us.

So, no matter where I move and no matter what I do, I tend to think of myself in relation to my home mountains. And coming from a world that looks like this, is it any wonder?

Where's That Pink and Green?, or Preppy Confessions

2010-06-15T12:59:00.003-04:00

One of my college friends saw my last blog post and emailed to tease me about the absence of pink and green attire. Sad but true. I love pink and green, but since I'm a natural redhead, there's just not a lot of it in my wardrobe. I'm just not fated to wear the pink. I decorate with it all the time, and my DH is so kind about all those pink and green floral arrangements. However, I just can't wear it well unless it's on my accessories. Hence the picture in my last blog post. Now navy and kelly green? I'm there!

Note: That cake photo is from the Retro Bakery out in Las Vegas.

School Clothing Drive!

2010-06-15T08:45:00.002-04:00

Schools aren't even out yet for the summer, but my big summer volunteer project is already in full swing. I grew up in a town with an active Junior League and have now found myself living in a place which, while wonderful, is located over an hour away from the nearest JL chapter. You have no idea how much I wish we had Junior League. However, through my church and through Zonta (service league for business/professional women), I've found wonderful groups of women who have banded together to really make a difference.

One of my favorite projects is the summer collection of clothing. We collect and sort(and chat!) all summer and then we get information on ages/sizes of children who otherwise wouldn't have new outfits for school. My favorite part of all this is helping the kids pick out clothes. Most of the families I've worked with have been so nice, and I just love talking to the children. Some of the stories I encounter are very sad, but I also meet lots of smart, resilient children that I am convinced will better the world someday so long as they are given the right tools do it.

The kids won't be in until much later, but I've been setting aside pieces from my closet all year and now I need to get them all folded up and organized. I send business attire to the local women's shelter, but I have plenty of tees, sweaters and items like that to donate. Originally, I hadn't thought of setting aside clothes for the kids, but then someone pointed out to me that at 5 foot 2, many of these "kids" are way bigger than I am. Point taken - and I'm glad to see someone enjoying the things I just don't use enough to warrant keeping.

And here's what I have to organize now....

Smells Like a Monday #1 - Diorissimo

2010-06-14T07:08:00.000-04:00

I love perfumes and perfumery, so I've decided that every Monday I'll write a little bit about a scent that I love. For my first entry, I've chosen a real classic - Christian Dior's Diorissimo. This perfume was launched in 1956. It's been reformulated a few times, but still smells absolutely lovely. This one is a creation of legendary perfumer Edmond Roudnitska, whom Helg discusses here far better than I ever could, and is one of the best lily of the valley scents out there. It's been beloved of debutantes and brides for generations, and was reportedly a favorite of Princess Diana.

Though lily of the valley is the main thing most of us smell when wearing Diorissimo, it actually has a rather complex formula of notes. In addition to the lily of the valley, there are greens, bergamot, calyx, jasmine, lilac, rosewood, sandalwood, and civet mixed in there which give the scent depth and a poignant, haunting quality. Though deceptively ethereal, it can have real lasting power on some people. It's the perfect thing to wear on your wedding day, or at a cotillion. I like to wear it when I'm wearing something pastel or softly floral, like a vintage Laura Ashley dress or perhaps something like this little number from Anthropologie:

Not only is Diorissimo feminine and lovely, it's a scent with a lot of memories for me. Many women in my family have worn it, and I've caught whiffs of it at almost every wedding, debutante cotillion and garden party I've ever attended. It's one of the few fresh and girly scents that also comes across as being both poised and elegant. It's the perfect gift for a dear friend's birthday or perhaps a bride-to-be. The packaging has changed slightly from what I have here (the pink and white on box are now reversed), but isn't it pretty?

Happy Monday!

A Little Sunday Shopping

2010-06-13T12:24:00.000-04:00

Even though it's ridiculously hot, it's been a beautiful and sunny weekend. I go to an old historic church, and there's just something so peaceful about morning service in the summer. The sun just seems to light up the sanctuary more than at other times of the year. Definitely inspires reverent feelings in one.

After church, it was so hot that I didn't want to go anywhere, but I do desperately need blouses for work. I live in an area where one must drive for a long time to get to any good shopping, so internet shopping is a wonderful thing in my world! Nothing terribly interesting this time around, but I did pick up some shirts on the Brooks Brothers site. I love these shirts - they fit well and the fabric holds up better than any other brand I've ever purchased. And isn't the aqua color for summer just darling?

Taking the Plunge

2010-06-12T14:11:00.001-04:00

I've been thinking about blogging for the longest time, and I've been enjoying myself lurking and occasionally at blogs all over the internet, so I finally decided to just jump in! This is just a rough template so far, but I'll decorate more as I go along.

By way of a brief introduction, I will just say that I am a native Virginian, and a traditional Southern gal who is very proud of my home state, its history and its traditions. I'm active in my local Republican party as well as in a variety of charitable causes. Though I'm from the Blue Ridge, I'm now working in exile. I love my job and I love the area where I'm living, but I miss my old Virginia home sometimes!

So that I don't ramble, I'm borrowing this little quiz from Monograms and Manicures to organize myself. Here's a little bit about me, and I hope to get to know more people by blogging!

Favorite color: Green

Favorite Brands/Designers: Lilly Pulitzer, Tocca, Milly, LL Bean, and J.Crew

Favorite Restaurant: I love to eat out, and I have a lot of restaurants that I love. However, my top favorites would have to be the Ivy Inn in Charlottesville, Virginia, and Jaleo in Washington DC.

Hobbies: Reading, cooking and baking, hiking, gardening, knitting; I also love my volunteer work, though in my mind it seems to be more than a hobby even if it's not my actual career.

Favorite thing about yourself: I like that I'm brave enough to try new things. Even though I'm very introverted, I do enjoy the company of people and I find I like being social now that I have learned how to pace myself.

What does your room look like (color scheme, theme, etc.): My husband really wanted white walls, so the room is painted a bluish shade of white. We have a blue and white toile quilt, and cherrywood furniture. It's a simple little haven. The rest of my house is a little more eclectic and filled with various family antiques, but this one is a little simpler. Everyone needs a place to which she can retreat.

If you could have dinner with 2 people (dead or alive) who would they be: It's very hard to narrow it down to two, but if I have to only pick two, then I would say CS Lewis and Dorothy Sayers. Both are amazing authors, and had interesting ideas(some I agree with and some I do not), so the conversation would never be dull.

What is your next “big splurge”: One of these days I really want to get an Hermes bag. The Birkin itself is too big for me, but someone I know has a mini, and I think it's beautiful! Realistically, my next big splurge will be a car. I have been researching them, and have my eye on the Volvo S40, and would love to know more about how it handles.

What is your favorite joke, quote, or saying: Psalms 23:6, and also "People are like stained-glass windows. They sparkle and shine when the sun is out, but when the darkness sets in, their true beauty is revealed
only if there is a light from within." - Elizabeth Kubler-Ross

Anything else you would like us to know about you (random fact)!?
Here are two:

(1) I am very interested in perfumery, both the history and the more technical aspects of it. I have a modest little collection of my own. My favorite houses are Guerlain and Dawn Spencer Hurwitz .

(2) I dearly love to travel, and go on a big trip every two years or so. This fall I'm going to Italy and can hardly wait!