Month / December 2022

by Lexine

Now Playing (12.31.22)

What else but party music on this New Year’s Eve?

Years ago, a friend turned me on to some YouTube videos featuring extended dance mixes from the mid to late 1990s, and originally broadcasted by the UKs BBC Radio One. As a longtime lover of 1990s dance music, that friend knew the way to my heart. Since I won’t be hitting the clubs for New Year’s this year (we just had an awful rainstorm and who knows who has the flu or Covid in those clubs), the mix above is currently providing aural entertainment for my solo celebration at home. The first fourteen minutes alone always awakens my inner 90s party girl. Happy New Year, everyone!

by Lexine

Rest In Power, Barbara

I think this tweet best showcases her legacy:

On a lighter note–and I could really use plenty of lighter notes these days–this bit also can’t be forgotten. Journalism and shade were served, honey!

Farewell to a real trailblazer and a true legend in her game.

by Lexine

Christmas Gifts To Myself

As much as I adore friends and family gifting me during this time, even during the holidays, you just gotta spoil yourself. Judging by all the stuff I bought the past month, I can safely say I spoiled myself way too much this Christmas. In my defense, it’s hard to turn down a good sale, and almost all the things you see in that left pic were bought for its original retail price. The luxe makeup and Diptyque set included. Those Adrienne Vittadini heels, which originally go for $100, were bought for $7 at Macy’s Backstage. Not even Goodwill would sell those heels for that cheap. And since shopping–which includes lots of walking, some driving, and occasional stressing–burns calories, I made myself a low-carb pecan pie to refuel! (I’m also aware of this pie and the chocolate advent calendar I bought, which conflicts with my low-carb ways. Don’t worry–it’s only 5 grams of carbs per chocolate bitty, and I’m only having one piece a day.) The recipe for the pie and crust can be found here.

Hope you all are having a joyous Christmas/holidays/Sunday/Monday!

ETA: if you’re wondering what I gifted myself…(clockwise from top left) Tom Ford Lip Discovery Set (bought during Bloomingdale’s sale two weeks ago), Diptyque L’Art Du Parfum set (bought new & sealed at a bargain on eBay and it is legit), Aqua holographic puffer (also bought during Bloomie’s sale, and a true holographic jacket has long been a coveted item of mine), Charter Club CZ ring (bought during Macy’s Black Friday sale), cheap but sweet holiday bracelets I got from Savers, Compartes Chocolate Advent Calendar (originally retails for $110+ but got it for $32 (!!) at Nordstrom a week ago), the Adrienne Vittadini heels, Welcome To Dunder Mifflin book (bought during Target’s Buy 2 Get 1 Free books/DVDs/CDs sale), and *takes a breath* Pat McGrath’s Moonlit Seduction palette (bought during her Black Friday sale).

by Lexine

Seasons Readings & Burnings

xmas candle & book (watermarked)

Christmas is right around the corner, and here’s what I’ve been burning and reading lately to get into the holiday spirit: Voluspa’s Crushed Candy Cane candle, and the memoir of the Queen of Christmas herself (that I was supposed to have finished up a while back). Mariah is a living legend and I’m glad she’s able to tell her story. And the tea she spills, dahling. As for the candle, its peppermint-vanilla-sugar notes had me hooked from the start. Plus, the adorable tin it’s in! 

by Lexine

This Cool Poem – “A Winter Blue Jay”

To honor this first official day of Winter in the Northern Hemisphere, this pleasant poem from Sara Teasdale: 

Crisply the bright snow whispered,
Crunching beneath our feet;
Behind us as we walked along the parkway,
Our shadows danced,
Fantastic shapes in vivid blue.
Across the lake the skaters
Flew to and fro,
With sharp turns weaving
A frail invisible net.
In ecstasy the earth
Drank the silver sunlight;
In ecstasy the skaters
Drank the wine of speed;
In ecstasy we laughed
Drinking the wine of love.
Had not the music of our joy
Sounded its highest note?
But no,
For suddenly, with lifted eyes you said,
“Oh look!”
There, on the black bough of a snow flecked maple,
Fearless and gay as our love,
A bluejay cocked his crest!
Oh who can tell the range of joy
Or set the bounds of beauty?

Courtesy from Poets.org

by Lexine

Tea Fiend

tea & cup

I haven’t been much of a writing fiend as of late (work and life got in the way), but if I’m unable to write my future New York Times bestseller (yeah, sure), one thing that stays constant in my life is enjoying a hot cuppa. If you saw my tea collection, you’d go guuuurrrl because yes I own that much tea. Not enough to open my own tea bar, but I’m pretty stocked, to say the least. (It’s also hard to turn down a BOGO Free sale on Yogi Tea at Sprouts.) What am I about to brew on this cold, rainy night is one of my all-time faves you see in the pic above, about to be paired with my Evil Queen mug. Trader Joe’s better not discontinue that tea!