My favourite things (and apologies)

First, I'd like to apologise for my absence from this blog. It's been four months or eternity in blog years. I hope I haven't disappeared into thin air. But in any case, I'm back and hope to post more often.

I thought I'd post a few of my favourite things: they're the little things that cheer me up, amuse me, something I can think about when I happily have nothing better to do. They are not big purchases, but rather things acquired on a whim 'just because'.

Recently, I've been getting into the whole aromatherapy/scent/fragrance business. I didn't used to pay much attention to scent, and I still don't think aromatherapy is all it's marketed to be. But sometimes, you come across something and it's like breathing in magic. Magic because you stop for a moment and imagine what it could be. It's quiet luxury:

Jo Malone Cologne. Very simple and wearable. This is not the complex, enigmatic perfume, which suits me just fine because I'm not the complex, enigmatic person. You could try layering different ones, but I prefer wearing one only. My favourite is the nectarine & honey blossom. I smell perfectly ripe nectarines in the warmth of summer. I don't mind smelling like fruit if it's delicious.

Aesop Resurrection Aromatique Hand Balm. Intense woody, herbal smell. What you smell in day spas. I bought a pump bottle when looking for something to keep in the bathroom. Due to my innate desire to match everything, I also bought a pump bottle of hand wash. Yes, I can hear you say, it's just hand cream and hand wash for god's sake! But favourite things need no justification.

Chanel Le Vernis - Paradoxal 509. I love nail polish. You can wear whatever colour and (usually) get away with it because it's such a small part of the body. Red nails say, I am fiery and passionate, even when the overall dress is conservative. This particular shade, paradoxal, is so beautiful. It's taupe/grey/purple depending on the light conditions - the colour changes, there is no way of describing it. It's really very elegant and moody, which is perfect for winter. In fact, I loved the entire Chanel fall 2010 makeup collection because it's exactly what I picture cold weather makeup to be.

Right now I am lusting after this pair of Chanel sunglasses. I saw it on Privilege. Read this blog if you have the time - it's beautiful prose written by a genuinely nice person. I don't know where I can get it or if it's even available here, but if I find it, I suspect I'll very likely cut off an arm and a leg to take it home with me. White sunglasses with pops of red and blue are too perfect.

So these are a few of my favourite things (to quote Sound of Music). They make the bad days bearable and the good days memorable.