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Scoped out handbags at the mall today. Unfortunately I wandered a little too close to the perfume counter and was literally accosted by two "Sprayers". Well they didn't actually spray me - I don't think they do that any more - but they did both shove little white perfume strips in my face, Calvin Klein Euphoria and Burberry London for Women...pretty bottles aside, in my opinion they were both just "meh".

My signature fragrance of the moment is Gucci Eau de Parfum II

Official product description: a soft, fruity floral that sparkles with notes of mandarin, blackcurrant, violet, and blackberry, smoothed with jasmine, heliotrope, and cedarwood. Playful, yet elegant. Notes include Mandarin, Bitter Orange, Blackcurrant, Violet, Blackberry, Jasmine, Heliotrope, Cedarwood.

My first Gucci bottle was a surprise gift from my Sweety on one of his trips home. I'm on my 4th bottle now and I don't plan on switching to a new fragrance any time soon... unless of course he happens to give me a bottle of Vera Wang Princess on his next trip back (hint, hint, wink, wink).

Technically, I should change this entry title to "When in Paris... Do as the Parisians Do". Yup, I'm off to Gay Paree in a month! Not wanting to stand out as a tourist (Oh quelle horreur!), I've diligently studied my spring fashion mags and learned that the IN things for Paris this Spring are ballerines - aka ballet flats and skinny jeans (Oh quelle horreur!).

Where should I start on how WRONG this is on so many levels. Flats and skinny jeans on a chic who's five foot two (and a half!)... wrong, just wrong.

Atrocious thoughts aside and being the superficial, narcissistic, shallow person that I am - I've finally succumbed and purchased the cutest black patent ballet flats at DSW, on sale for $28 bucks.

Tres mignon n'est pas?

They still make me look short, but surpisingly, they don't make my feet look fat. In fact, it even shows a little bit of toe cleavage!

Adding this to my "Swear By" category.

One of my sisters recently gave me a bottle of lemongrass and mandarin. Exotic tea blend you're thinking? Nope. Thai cooking sauce? Nope. New vodka flavor? Nope.

It was a bottle of Bath & Body Works' Energizing Hand Soap in Lemongrass and Mandarin. I swear, if my fantasy dream of vacationing in Tahiti had a smell, this is what it would smell like. Just heavenly.

Not only does it leave a tingly feeling, it smells so good, you can almost taste it - citrusy, minty, gingery and peppery (ok, so I'm not the most versed person around).

Next time you're wondering what to get me for a gift, I'll gladly accept a bottle of this...or two.

Yeah it sucks to be the youngest of so many sisters... a lifetime of hand-me-down sucks.

However - every now and then - it also pays off. Case in point, my Sister #5. Just in time for the fall season, she was scoping out the sales rack at Bloomies in Boston and came across this:

Longchamp's Le Pliage Large Tote: Lightweight nylon signature large tote. Leather double shoulder straps and flap with snap. Top zip closure. Folds up for travel. Interior pocket. 13"W x 13"H x 7 1/2"D; 10" drop from shoulder

So here''s the scenario:
My sister had long had a blue Pliage bag that I've been eyeing and almost stole from her the last time she visited to take for my trip to Paris this past spring...so one Saturday afternoon in September I received a call from her and it went something like this:

Me: Hello?
#5: Hey Stupid...
Me: WTF do you want?
#5: I'm at Bloomingdales and that bag of mine you like is on sale. What color do you want? Black or red?
Me: Black, it goes with everything
#5: Ok, whatever, bye.
[Can you sense the sisterly love?]

A week later I receive this in the mail...

...of course it isn't black, but it still goes with everything.

One of my favorite gifts this Christmas! Aside from the fact they're two sizes too big for my feet (even though it says size 7 on the bottom), these slippers are oh-so-comfy and they make me smile every time I look down.... perfect for shlumping around the house.

Four new things to add to my "Swear By" category...

1) LATEST TUNES:

The Trumpet Child by Over The Rhine ... been playing it non-stop since I got it. "Trouble" is my favorite track, but the entire album is excellent.

2) CURRENT READ: Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen. Catherine and Mr. Tilney have NOTHING on Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy, but to quote the heroine, Catherine, in Chapter 14, "...but it is a nice book, and why should not I call it so?" Wasn't aware this novel even existed until the Complete Jane Austen series started on PBS this month.

3) CURRENT SCENT: Vera Wang Princess
One of the three things a girl should never buy for herself (jewelry, chocolates, and perfume)... this was a favorite Christmas gift from my Sweety.

Here's the product description:
Created for the playful, unpredictable, independent woman who treats every day like an event and adventure. This is a woman who likes to make her own magic, this sheer, flirty blend of water lily, lady apple, mandarin meringue, and golden apricot skin are melded with sheer floral notes, accented with dark chocolate, and finished with a pink frosting accord, amber, warm woods, musk, and vanilla - a whimsical treat.
Notes: Water Lily, Lady Apple, Mandarin Meringue, Golden Apricot Skin, Ripe Pink Guava, Tahitian Flower, Wild Tuberose, Dark Chocolate, Pink Frosting Accord, Precious Amber, Forbidden Woods, Royal Musk Captive, Chiffon Vanilla.
Style: Sheer. Tropical. Delectable.

4: BETTER THAN CRACK: Jasmine Tea Balls from Caribou Coffee Goodbye Diet Coke! Finally, an addiction that's actually good for me.

I've spent the morning shopping for music on itunes and came across this little gem from Across the Universe. "I Want To Hold Your Hand" performed by T.V. Carpio, who plays Prudence in the movie (I haven't seen it, but it's out on DVD).

The movie's characters and music are based on popular Beatles tunes and this version of "I Want To Hold Your Hand" is so haunting - I've been running down the batteries on my nano replaying this song.

And yes, the song is intended to be sung by a guy - "please let me be your man".... but in the movie, Prudence has a crush on her female friend.

Wow! Wasn't New Years (Gregorian, not Chinese lunar) just the other day? Yet another month has passed us by.

Here are a couple of new items to add to my "Swear By" list:

1. Buxom Lips by Bare Ecsentuals in "Trixie".

This ain't your average lip gloss - this is more, they call it LIP POLISH. Goes on silky, smells heavenly, and it leaves this wonderful tingly feeling that makes your lips feel like they really are bee stung (minus the pain, of course). I HIGHLY RECOMMEND this product!

2. Hershey's Really Nuts! Chocolate Cocoa Peanuts - It doesn't get any better than this. Chocolate covered peanuts, dusted in cocoa. Covers all groups - sweet, salty, powdery, silky, crunchy. Leaves your hands messy, but oh-so-worth-it!

3. Poket Sudoku by Technosource.

I know, they say Sudoku is sooo 2 years ago, but I'm addicted. My sister #3 gave me an Illuminated Pocket Sudoku a couple of Christmases ago. I shoved it in a desk drawer and forgot all about it. I've recently found it again while shoving away this past Christmas' gifts and trinkets. I've been playing it every day for the past two months. I promise myself I'll stop after 2 or 3 games, and then realize I can't put it down. I'm jonesing to play as I type.

Wow...I've let a long time pass between entries. I'll try to be more consistent this year.

Here are a couple of items from this past Christmas to add to the "swear by" list:

1. Poloroid PoGo printer- This printer is compact enough to fit in your purse or pocket.

Just attach to your camera and it instantly prints the cutest business card sized pictures. Even better, the back of the pictures are peel and stick! I took it to several holiday parties and it was fun to share instant memories!

2. Blurb.com - A publishing site for home authors and photographers. I created the most beautiful "coffee table" book from pictures of our Mediterranean cruise last fall. It was incredibly easy and the result was so amazing - some people actually thought it was from Barnes & Noble or something. I highly recommend this site!