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What Went Well: Happy New Year!

A lot of things can go well in the week between Christmas and New Year’s. Top three:

  1. Christmas! Because.
  2. We had a wonderful family gathering with cousins. Because even in all of our busy lives, we try to maintain connection especially around the holidays.
  3. I have been able to work from home this week, and I cherish just being able to be in the house while the kids are around. Because I am lucky to have a job that offers some flexibility.

I hope you all have had wonderful holidays, a merry Christmas if you celebrate it, and a happy soon-to-be New Year!

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Merry Christmas!

I love The Perfume Magpie’s illustrations (and blog) so much, I just had to share this one!

thinkingmagpie's avatarThe Perfume Magpie

Merry Christmas from The Perfume Magpie | Illustration by The Perfume Magpie Merry Christmas from The Perfume Magpie | Illustration by The Perfume Magpie

Another year is nearly complete. It has been a different and interesting year for me. It was filled with so many “firsts”. Each day, I learned new ways to look at things and new ways to navigate through. Some were challenging but some were brilliant and exciting. If I were to pick one quote to capture the essence of my 2015, it would be this:
“We live in a wonderful world that is full of beauty, charm and adventure. There is no end to the adventures we can have if only we seek them with our eyes open.” – Jawaharlal Nehru

Thank you for visiting The Perfume Magpie and always leaving encouraging and lovely comments. Wherever you are and whatever you are doing over Christmas, I’m wishing you that your days are filled with love and joy.  I’m…

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Fragrance Friday: Christmas
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Fragrance Friday: Christmas

This Christmas was the first since I embraced the pursuit and understanding of fragrance as a hobby, and my nice family rose to the occasion! In addition to the early gift of Penhaligon’s Blasted Bloom, Fragrance Friday: Blasted Bloom, I was given several other beautiful scents. I’ll save those for later Fragrance Friday posts! The most fun I had, though, was that my three children (two teenagers and one young adult) suggested that they too would like to receive some fragrance! Continue reading →

Merry Christmas
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Merry Christmas

And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.

And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.

And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.

For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.

And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.

And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,

Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

Fragrance Friday: Blasted Bloom
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Fragrance Friday: Blasted Bloom

Well, he’s done it again. My nice husband turns out to have an instinct for choosing wonderful perfume on my behalf and this time, he brought home a brand new scent from London for me: Penhaligon’s Blasted Bloom. What my husband had no way of knowing is that the nose behind Blasted Bloom is the legendary Alberto Morillas — who also created another perfume he brought me from his travels, which I love: Fragrance Friday: Custo Barcelona L’Eau. Morillas has also created several others I like, such as Estee Lauder’s Pleasures and Bvlgari’s Omnia Coral and Omnia Indian Garnet.

From Penhaligon’s website: “Illuminating the freshness of wild flora found along the dramatic British coast, Blasted Bloom captures a free-spirited landscape where the energy and majesty of the Sea meets the natural richness of the Land. The mineral purity of an aquatic accord meets the fruity sparkle of wild berries and the sensation of hand-crushed green leaves. Wild floral heart of eglantine rose and hawthorn is tinted with pink pepper. A whisper of Clearwood™ is enveloped in balmy cedarwood, on a smooth bed of moss and musks.” Continue reading →

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What Went Well

During Advent, I remember many blessings, but since this is “What Went Well Wednesday” and my practice is to list three, I’ll stick with that!

  1. This one is huge: my daughter was accepted last night, early decision, by her first choice college! Because she has worked hard in school, stayed focused on her studies, and is all ’round terrific!
  2. My oldest comes home from college tonight and we can’t wait. Just because!
  3. The weather is so spring-like this week that the roses are still blooming and I even saw some confused forsythia starting to blossom. Because? I have no idea but I’m enjoying it.

Please share what went well for you in the comments; I am finding this to be a very helpful mindfulness practice.

What Went Well: Advent Edition
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What Went Well: Advent Edition

My “three blessings” this week all relate to the Advent season.

  1. We had a real holiday dinner party with four other adults and it was a big success! It also motivated us to clean up the house, put up the tree and set out other Christmas decorations, so everything looked really nice and that is helping us feel the spirit of the season. Because we are so fortunate, and thankful for the gifts we have already received.
  2. Our son had a short solo in last week’s Lessons and Carols service at his school. He sang the first verse of “Away in a Manger” then the rest of the choir joined in — we were very proud, and the music was lovely. Because he works hard to meet the music director’s expectations, and we feel lucky that he has not one but two outstanding choral teachers, one at school and one at church.
  3. I found two potted Christmas roses to put on the dinner table, which made me very happy. Because I love hellebores and both my holiday tablecloth and my winter china have Christmas roses on them.

Happy Advent, Hanukkah and other holidays of the season!

Spode Christmas Rose

 

(Black) Fragrance Friday update
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(Black) Fragrance Friday update

When last heard from, Gentle Reader, I was about to be dragged by three offspring into the wilds of “Black Friday.” Negotiations resulted in the acceptable compromise of avoiding all malls but going to an outdoors shopping district that is much less crowded but has many of the same stores. I clung to the hope that in the midst of gift and clothes shopping, I might encounter some fragrance deals.

Success! Continue reading →

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What Went Well

A banner week for What Went Well! I mean, it included Thanksgiving. Which is basically the whole point of What Went Well Wednesdays – to be mindful, and thankful, about the many blessings in one’s life. Even if we only describe “three blessings” per week. So here goes:

  1. My oldest came home from college for the long weekend and the whole house lit up with laughter, noise and happy bustle. Because she and her siblings are happy, cheerful young people who love each other and truly enjoy each other’s company.
  2. I did some serious gardening for the first time since breaking my arm this past summer! Because my arm is doing much, much better and I had groundcovers to get started between the flagstones of a new little patio. Not to mention daffodil bulbs, some of my favorite flowers. Now if I could only find some good lily of the valley pips …
  3. I got some Christmas shopping done early. Because my kids dragged me out on Black Friday but had enough mercy to avoid the mall and other horrors.
  4. And one extra, in honor of Thanksgiving: the turkey came out perfectly, and all the food tasted great. Because we are so fortunate to be able to enjoy the abundance of the earth.

I hope you all had a lovely Thanksgiving! What are your “three blessings” for the week?

(Black) Fragrance Friday
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(Black) Fragrance Friday

OMG, it’s Black Friday which I normally hate and avoid like the plague, but my teenagers want to go out shopping. Our compromise is that we will not go to any of the indoor shopping malls or on highways, but we will go to the hipster outdoor shopping district near our house. I plan to console myself with much sniffing/sampling of scents! And maybe I’ll find some good buys too. I’ll update later! Wish me luck!