Champagne has been associated with New Year's celebrations for centuries. However, it's been a challenge to attribute the tradition to a specific year or individual. What I've found is by the 19th century, as the celebratory, fizz libation became more widely available and associated with luxury and merriment, it became a common practice in Europe to welcome the New Year with a midnight toast of Champagne.  My obsession with New Year's candles started many years ago with a candle that Village Candle discontinued some time ago. Although I have backups, I'm always on the lookout for the ne ..read more

Finally, I thought I was going to be ahead of the posting curb. On the eve of New Year's, I had taken pictures of my mani for the evening, and all that was left was to write the pot for the blog. Alas, Murphy and his cursed law had other plans. By mid-afternoon, I started to feel very ill, and after a week of sickness, I'm finally starting to feel better.  Anyhow, drivel over. Now, let's start the post with a tidbit of New Year's trivia.  In Japan, it's customary to watch the first sunrise of the year, known as "hatsuhinode." People often hike up mountains or visit special viewing s ..read more

 Topped with a generic gold-colored lid, I did like the bluish-grey color of the 15 oz jar.  "The table is a meeting place, a gathering ground, the source of sustenance and nourishment, festivity, safety, and satisfaction. A person cooking is a person giving: Even the simplest food is a gift."  - Laurie Colwin This November I've been burning all five candles from Colonial Candle's Harvest Sentiments Collection that I've had for several years. First up, Gather Together.  I typically steer clear of candles (anything) with phrases on them, but hey, it's Thanksgiving-themed pu ..read more

Basting a turkey is a cooking method used to keep the meat moist and add extra flavor during the roasting process. The technique involves periodically drizzling or spooning liquid, such as melted butter, pan drippings, broth, or a flavorful marinade over the turkey as it cooks in the oven.  Halloween and Thanksgiving are in a fierce tie as my top two favorite holidays. But let's face it, Thanksgiving is an underrated event in the world of beauty launches—I guess stuffing one's self with delicious delights isn't all that glamourous.   Several years ago, Different Dimensions cel ..read more

This Monday is Respect for the Aged Day, a national holiday, which means we're in for a three-day weekend! yay!  September, along with other transitional months, can be a bit challenging to adjust to. You're eager to immerse yourself in the color schemes and scents of the upcoming season, even though the weather hasn't quite caught up with the proverbial changing of the guard, and is clinging onto the climate of the former.  Originally, I had a new shower gel lined up for September. However, the current hot and humid weather rendered its fragrance intolerable (the post of that show ..read more

Globophobia - Ever heard of it? It's the fear of balloons, often stemming from the anticipation of a balloon popping, which can prompt a strong fear response.  Now, if you're someone for whom the mere sight of a balloon makes you a tad uneasy, Orly's 'Don't Pop My Balloon can hopefully help ease that tension.  Originally released in the Summer of 2022 as part of Orly's homage to the Pop art era, the POP! Collection, 'Don't Pop My Balloon' is a pearl-shimmer fashion fuchsia with an understated gold-to-green shift. While the shift is more noticeable in the bottle than on the nails ..read more

Hot off the FedEx truck, Bath & Body Works' Firecracker collection! I've posted on the Foaming Hand Soap, but I don't think I've written about the shower gel or candle; those posts will be up soon.  Again, I posted about the hand soap last year, but I love the design of this year's collection, and I wanted to showcase it.  In case you haven't read the first entry, here is a recap of the scent notes and my description:  The fragrance notes are: red cherry, fresh citrus, and juicy berry. During lather, and after rinse, the scent I get from Firecracker Fizz is a mixture of sw ..read more

"Proclaim liberty throughout all the land unto all the inhabitants thereof." -Leviticus 25:10 Regrettably, I've never been to Philadelphia, one of the most historical cities in the States. I'm a huge history buff, and one day, I plan on visiting all the historical landmarks of the city.  Liberty Belle is a creamy, white crelly base, with red and cobalt blue color-shifting metallic flakies.  The first coat applies smoothly, yet is somewhat sheer. I am able to get complete coverage in two coats, but I prefer the look of the flakies after the third. The flakies distribute evenly, and ..read more

Peter Thomas Roth's Pumpkin Enzyme Mask Enzymatic Dermal Resurfacer is a product I look forward to adding to my skincare lineup during Autumn.  The three key ingredients (and some of their benefits) are: Pumpkin Enzyme: helps to remove dry skin cells, hydrates and softens the skin, boosts collagen production, helps pigmentation issues, and treats dull complexions.  Alpha Hydroxy Acid (AHA): chemically exfoliates dead skin cells, smooths skin texture, promotes radiance, reduces fine lines and wrinkles to enhance a more youthful appearance.  Aluminum Oxide Crystals: a microderma ..read more

Of all the seasons, I believe Fall offers the most strikingly beautiful spectrum of colors of the year.  A September 2020 The Charity Box purchase, Jreine's Fall Rainbows is inspired by its namesake.  I don't know the actual visual inspiration for the polish, but I feel the fall foliage landscape photo above captures the autumnal magic in the bottle.  Fall Rainbows is a blue-tinged, tarnished silver linear holographic polish, with murky flashes of bronzed orange, brassy yellow, and withered green as well as bits of copper orange flakes.  The formulation is fanta ..read more