Yankeegals Cafe

NEW YEAR 2012

Yankeegal — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 05:53:17 +0000

There is so much I hope for… this coming year. But it has not started off casually.

1.I have friends that I just do not understand, no matter how hard I try. I see the problem, know how to fix it..but…..*sigh*

2.My father is still extreamly bitter over my mother for not wanting to get back with him.

3.My mother had a bad fall and got hurt really bad. Dad shows no mercy or love!

4.I was told my uncle died several weeks after the fact. Family is quarrling over inheritance. *sigh*

5.Hubby is always complaining about everything & NOT growing old gracefully.

6.I am still having vivid dreams that seem to be coming true, more often then not.

7.Is the grass greener on the other side? I’m not sure.

8.I did mangae to rearrange both pantries, with the help of my oldest daughter. It took 5 hours of straight up work. I ended up getting rid of two bins full of stuff.

9.I have yet to tackle the school room. It too, needs down sizing and needs a good 3 hours of non stop work.

10. I went to buy a new laptop tonight and ended up with a new vaccum instead.

11.We will be leaving on the 16th of this month for a much needed vacation!

Friendships

Yankeegal — Tue, 27 Dec 2011 06:27:53 +0000

I had a dear friend stop by this afternoon whom I haven’t seen in a while. She stayed for several hours and then asked me this question, which made me melt.

She asked me if I’ve ever had a friend who I really don’t mind emailing or chatting with on the phone, but sometimes THAT just won’t do…because you want to see that person and be able to reach out and touch them. That somehow you recieve reassurence and peace from them.

She told me that I was that friend to her….<3

She lives very far away and is not able to see me as often as she would like.

It is such times that I need to remind myself to focus on the people that matter. People that want me in their life. People that will make time to fellowship….because afterall, LOVE=TIME. Amen!

Parfums & My History w/Them

Yankeegal — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 20:01:34 +0000

Parfums

I started wearing perfume in the 4th grade. Sure, I had those solid Avon Parfumes that came on a cord that you wore around your neck? But as far as real parfum, that came in the 4th grade. My mother presented me two bottles for Christmas, that I absolutely cherished. Both are discontinued now. *sigh* Such good memories….

The first one was called Electric Youth, By Debbie Gibson for Revlon. I just loved how fun the bottle was with the pink swirly thing in the middle.

The next was by Almay Cosmetics, called ‘ALMAY‘.

I’m not sure why they discontinued the Almay one, as Almay cosmetics is still very popular right now. As for the Debbie Gibson one? She was the Britney Spears of my generation, long gone but not forgotten.When I was 16, I was down in Florida at Miami Beach, and a little girl ran up to me and asked me if I was Debbie Gibson? I never forgot her face! <3 I also never forgot the bleach blond hair and leopard string bikini that I was wearing that day! O-o

I received a bottle of Loves Baby Soft that same year, in the 4th grade. Haven’t we all worn that scent, at one time or other. It smells like baby powder, hence its name. I have bought my daughters bottles before, but they both hate it…They don’t want to smell like a baby they tell me. They also frown if I buy them deodorant in Powder Fresh!

Sooooo…Guess it ended with me..*sigh*

In the 5th grade I decided to try on some of my moms parfume one morning before I left for school.. She only wore CHARLIE, the original one. It’s by Revlon. I know they make the Charlie White and Charlie Red nowadays too. Mom wore the original Charlie though. Occasionally I will open up a bottle at CVS, just to smell it.

It may sound rather sad, but I have many memories of kissing my mom goodbye, and smelling Charlie on her every day. She would wear it to work every night, and it’s just something that has always stuck with me..Until of course she made the switch to ‘Ciara’..but Charlie always remained her signature scent.

One day while she was still sleeping and I was getting ready to walk off to school, I saw her bottle next to her make-up in the bathroom,and sprayed a whole bunch on me…Like 6 squirts! I was fine for a couple hours, and then while in class, I started to itch. I itched so badly, that it felt like red fire ants were all over me. I raised my hand and told the teacher that I had to use the bathroom, and when I got the bathroom, I looked at my neck and arms and I had all these little red dots all over the place. Apparently, I was having an allergic reaction to it. I went back to class and told the teacher what I thought had happened, and she said she was wondering who had on the strong smell! She sent me to the nurse and we waited for my mom to get there. Mom was not happy at all! Needless to say, that was the first, and last time, that I decided to ‘borrow’ moms perfume. I often wonder if I’m allergic to it still. I just don’t dare want to find out, as I have never forgotten that particular ITCH!!

In 6th grade I was given a huge yellow bottle of ‘Jean-Nate splash cologne’ for my Birthday. My mom shared it with me, and told me that she use to use it before she had my brother and I. She told me that if you place a couple cap-fuls in your bath water, it will stay on your skin until your next bath. I liked that idea, and started doing it right away…Then one day I went to school right after a morning bath in it. Before class, a boy was standing next to me at his locker, and asked me if I smelled that STENCH? I was not 100% sure that he was referring to me, so I smiled,batted my false eyelashes, and cheerfully told him that all I SMELL was myself, and I smelled real good!!

He dipped in a bit, towards me, and took a random sniff…. then assured me that the stench was indeed, me! :o(

I was more then mortified!

I stopped using it that day, and have not picked it up since. In fact, I don’t even know if they still make it. I think I will try to find it, for the fun of it.:o)

In the 7th grade I started collecting ‘Naturistics by COTY’. I managed to get all the scents. They came in these tiny 2 inch frosted bottles. Each perfume was pastel in color and the color filled the frosted bottle. There was several in the set—pink(Paradise),yellow(Vanilla),green(Botanical),blue(Sea Splash),clear(White Musk) and lavender(Mountain Fresh).

They smelled very sweet, and each time I wore them to school the other kids and teacher thought I was eating candy, or chewing gum. My favorite one was the blue one called, ‘Sea Splash’ with the runner up being the pink one, Paradise.

In High School I fell in love with one of my friends mothers perfume, called Obsession, by Calvin Klein. I could not afford the $90 dollar price tag no matter how many houses I cleaned for cash….Sooo, I opted for the generic one called CONFESS. It smelled identical, but wore off in about an hour. I went through many bottles of it!

It became my signature scent for years. Obsession is still very popular, as all of Calvin Klein’s fragrances are. Very classic, and very $$ still.

After High school I was at someones house and on this pretty mirror in their bathroom, was the first time I laid my eyes on Chanel..There it was, sitting so perfectly on this white doily…Chanel #5. I picked it up and smelled it. It was a very mature fragrant scent. I sprayed it one time on my wrist, and left the bathroom. When I came out, my friend told me that I smelled like his mother! Was that good? I don’t know. :o)

Later that same week, I picked up a issue of Cosmopolitan magazine and saw a vintage picture of Marilyn Monroe holding a bottle of, none the less…Chanel #5 Perfume. I lifted up the ‘try me’tab, and took a deep breath. Just like the week prior! $120 dollars a bottle!! Even more then the Obsession perfume. I started thinking..How can people justify spending so much for perfumes? *fainting*

After that, it seemed like that particular perfume(Chanel #5) kept popping up. I thought it was a sign that I must own a bottle…*G*

Later that year I went to spend the summer with my father and he took me to my grandmothers house, and sure enough, sitting on her dresser, was another bottle of Chanel #5. Weeks later, I went to the library and checked out a Biography of Marilyn Monroe after hearing from my grandmother, that my mom was named after Marilyn…

In the beginning of the book there was that very same picture of Marilyn holding a Chanel #5 bottle. It was her signature fragrance after doing many ads for the company, the story read..

A few years passed and I met a women that always smelled amazing! Very classy! She told me that she was wearing new fragrance by Calvin Klein called, Eternity. (I have owned 2 bottles of it myself, and it smells like a piece of heaven.A little goes a long way.) They also make an Eternity for men which smells like sage, basil, and rosewood. Very Earthy! I just smelled it for the first time a few weeks ago….Also very pricey, as all Calvin Klein’s fragrances are. The good thing is, you can by smaller bottles at affordable prices. Yay!

Other Vintage fragrances that I have owned as a teen were, Taboo By Dana, Navy By Coty,Wind Song (I Bought of Wind Song, because my mom had told me that it was my fathers favorite, while they were dating and it made me miss my father less.. somehow when I wore it) Weird, I know!

I also had one bottle of ‘Vintage 4711 Echt Konisch’ (I think this was one of the first unisex fragrances.)

I fell in love with the bottle, and even more-so over its story…

*****In 1792 a Carthusian monk presented the newly-married Mulhens couple a seemingly modest wedding present. But this gift affected their future like no other; as it contained: The secret formula for an “aqua mirabilis”, later called “Eau de Cologne”.
Wilhelm Mulhens quickly recognized the value of this formula and started to build a small factory in the street “Glockengasse” in Cologne.

In 1794, during the period of French occupation in Cologne, the French commander ordered consecutive numbering for all houses. The Mulhens building on “Glockengasse”, where “Eau de Cologne” was produced, received the house number 4711. In 1875 this number became the registered trademark for the international brand 4711 ORIGINAL EAU DE COLOGNE.

A history, more than 200 years old, has built the image of this famous and successful brand 4711 ORIGINAL EAU DE COLOGNE******

Such a Great Story!!!!

When I met my husband I was only wearing natural oil based fragrances. I had Jasmine and Strawberry. Both very sweet and I still love them both today. I’ve probably gone through about 6 of each.

My husband shared with me that he loved Elizabeth Taylors ‘White Diamonds’, That was the fragrance that his Ex-GF use to wear… I Have owned one bottle of it, and I thought it smelled ‘too mature’ if you catch my drift..

I did love the pretty bottle!

He DH bought me the fragrance ‘Narcisse CHLOE’ the day before our wedding. His mother use to wear it, and we also named our first born after this perfume. <3

I was given ‘Tresor’ By Lancome from one of my sister in laws one year for Christmas. It was a very nice scent, but not me. The bottle was simply beautiful, as pictured….

Back home I was addicted to ‘Victoria Secrets Dream Angels-Heavenly’

I still wear it occasionally. That is, when my daughter doesn’t have it in her room. :o)

I also owned Victoria Secrets Rose perfume, which pretty much smells like rose water. I love the smell, but most men do not like the smell of flowers, including DH.

I also use to love Victoria Secrets So Sexy, until they stopped making it. You can buy it on Ebay, but it is discontinued, thus very expensive. They do still make the So Sexy Hair products which smell exactly like the parfum, so that is what I buy. Generally twice a year.

After my second daughter was born I started wearing Victoria Secrets Rapture parfume. It too, was a gift from a friend and came in the prettiest heart shape bottle that you ever set your eyes on. I always thought it was funny that you could not stand it up though. I just treated myself to a new bottle a few months ago with a gift card that I had won. It’s a very strong perfumy smell, and a little goes a long way. It lasts all day into the night. It was discontinued for years, and then they brought it back, but with a $50 dollar price tag! The cute story is, I had it on one morning, and my daughter, now 13, stopped and smelled me, and commented..OMG MOM! I remember that smell when I was little! She hadn’t smelled it since then, she said…*heartbeat*

Other fragrances that I have owned…

Red Door by Elizabeth Arden. It’s a very sweet scent.

GIORGIO BEVERLY HILLS, which was VERY popular in the 80′s, and I was addicted to the smell. I don’t know why, because I have picked it up and smelled it recently, and I think it stinks.

On another occasion, I was at the mall and was sprayed by a parfum lady (do they still do that? I don’t think they do.) She sprayed a parfum called ‘WINGS’ on me. It smelled amazing and I wanted it. $90 an ounce–Dream On! lol

I use to adore Avons GOLD and Avons IMARI. I use to wear both, back when I was an Avon ‘door to door’ girl! I loved the bottles. The Imari bottle is even plastic and when it forst came out, I was thinking…This is cheap and won’t sell! But it ended up being the number one thing that I sold each week! Maybe the color maroon, which kinda makes you feel all warm inside? I’m not sure, but what ever it is, it is GREAT marketing!

I’m big on packaging! Sure, it’s great if the product is magnificent as well, but more often then not, the things that I buy on a whim, are because of the packaging.

It is a good thing that I am not a hoarder, otherwise my whole house would be filled with pretty packages. :o)

Last year I bought a bottle of 360 degrees. It was on sale for $40 dollars and it instantly gave me an Nostalgia moment when I was only nineteen. A good friend at the time would keep it in her car, and spray the car all the time with it. I had no idea it was so expensive until I found it last year, and picked it up. It is By Perry Ellis.

Once again, the bottle is so pretty. I have about 1/2 left currently.

Oh, and the ever famous Vanilla Fields–another classic that we have all tried, I’m sure. Who doesn’t want to smell like a candle? Of course we need to ask ourselves, do humming-birds actually like Vanilla? :o)

I tend to buy fragrances a lot because I associate them to people that have been a part of my life. Much like people do with music. I actually do that too..

My old pastors wife back home only word Cliniques Happy parfume. I never knew this until I moved down here, and I smelled it on someone at church, and asked her what she was wearing? I instantly reconized it, and then bought myself a bottle. It’s one of those fragrances that just everyone loves. I always get compliments on it when I wear it. It just makes you feel, Well, HApPY! Packaging is pretty basic and to the point, but they reel you in with the bright orange, as orange is a color that just revs you up and reminds you of the Summer, and just, once again..Makes you HApPY!

Currently I own a bunch of different parfum oils. Several Victoria Secret fragrances, The 360 degree one. Three by Paris Hilton.(Don’t laugh, her parfums smell Amazing!) Cliniques HAPPY. Bath & Body Works ‘Butterfly Flower’ (This smells exactly like the REAL butterfly flower plants, that you can grow in your garden to attract butterflies.) Bath & Body works Tuber-rose.(I don’t care for this one, but it was a gift.) I thought I would love it because the Tumber-rose bubble bath smells amazing. I don’t know what went wrong with the parfum.

Very Popular fragrances for ladies right now are:
Honey By MAC. I am hoping to add this one next year, if I can get a good price, which would mean, UNDER $30!

Juicy Couture Viva’La Juicy–$45-The package alone would be worth the buy, as it would look very pretty on a night stand.

DKNY BE DELICIOUS-My daughter has been asking for this one. I checked the mall last week, and its still $65!!

True Religions Hippie Chick– I haven’t smelled this one, but want too. LoVe the packaging, and I love the name. At $80 a bottle…

JUSTIN BIEBER’S SOMEDAY- This is a Christmas HOT ONE this year. It sold out the first day it hit the malls, and is going for nearly $100 bucks on Ebay right now. I have never smelled it, but I am guessing the name says it all, as well as the packaging…

Taylor Swift WONDERSTRUCK -Another HOT ITEM this year for Christmas that has sold out.

$60

American Eagle Aerie-$39 Pretty bottle and is said to small like Pomegranates,peach and musk.

Gucci’s GUILTY-Right up there with Chanel. $100—Made for the woman who shatters expectations, this fragrance imbues a feeling of power, a sense that she can attain whatever she wants—even the thrill of the forbidden.

Burberry Classic-$40–peach, apricot, sandalwood, cedar, amber and musk

As for mens frangrances, I plan on doing a men’s cologne post in the next few days…
The most sought after fragrance currently, for men is ‘LUCKY YOU’ By: Liz Claiborne. It made its debut in 2000, which makes it somewhat of a classic.

I don’t know what it smells like but I’m curious! It is said to be a very masculine scent that possesses a youthful blend of fresh citrus. Sounds Good!

Second to Lucky You, is Men’s Eternity, which has been on the charts since its debut in 1989. Very Classic, and not over powering as you might think, regarding Calvin Kleins other scents.

This is my history regarding fragrances.

Do you have a favorite Parfum that you’ve been wearing for years? A Scent that reminds you of someone special?

I’d love to hear about it. :o)

Heels,Platforms and Boots..OH MY!!

Yankeegal — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 19:48:35 +0000

My daughter helped me put this blog together this morning while we were looking at different types of shoes that are popular right now. I’m tall, she’s short. I wear a large size 10 shoe, while she’s convinced she’ll remain a small size 7.5 for the rest of her life. She is always looking for shoes that will give her height because she gets tired of her little sister, who is much taller then she is, teasing her on her ‘lack of height’ Sisters! :o)

Moving right along…

We had some fun looking at radical heels and different types of shoes that are on the market right now. Just for the fun of it! We like to imagine where one would wear such a shoe….

ENJOY!

The NO HEEL, HEEL!

6inch height

These black non-heels are engineered to keep you balanced and tone your ankle and Calf Muscles. A must have for the lady who wants to keep in shape. They have a 6 inch height. We really don’t know where you would wear such a shoe. They are for the women who wants to keep her legs and ankles strong, or so they say. To the office? Walking at the gym? We have no clue. Do you?

And as my daughter said, one bump, and there goes both ankles! :o(

Lobster heels $14 grand 8 inch heel height.

We are not sure why these are called Lobster, are you? And $14 thousand dollars!! We both agree that our toes do not naturally go in this direction, so these look painful. They claim to be comfortable day wear though. They are made to order, and many celebs are loving them with blue jeans. They zip up the back and you’er ready to go!

Hmm, 8 inches taller, They would make me 6’7″ WOW! And they would make my daughter my current height now!! :o)

COCO CHANEL PLATFORM CLOG $3Grand

I LOVE THESE SHOES! I would wear them if I could afford them. I have been wearing clogs since the early 80′s, when I would prance around the house in my moms trusty Dr. Scholls! When I got oder I found a pair of vintage marroon 70′s clogs at a thrift store and use to wear them to school every day. Everyone would hear me coming down all the stairs..

Clank,clank, clank! I loved that! Of course Chanel anything sounds good to me. I have only owned one pair of Chanel choes in my life. It was a splurge ten years ago when I was doing ebay, and had a VERY good work week! I didn’t spend anywhere near a grand on them,let alone three. I spent $200 dollars on them, which I got back, due to the investment that high end shoes sell for, once the style stops being made….:o)

These Chanel beauties are Linen, always classic and breathable. They have the pretty modest CC logo, as shown..The detail around the tow is just brillant too! And speaking of toes, they are a closed in toe, which is very modest, or so I’m told. I would wear them with my denim skirts. My daughter said she likes them not loves them, but would wear them with blue jeans. She is not one for clogs though…

DIOR Diamond Heels $250 grand

Both of us agreed that even though these are read diamonds, hense the price. These heels are just not something we would feel the need to wear, ever! Even to a wedding…which was my first guess at where one might wear them. Yes, they are pretty, but why diamonds on your shoes? Not much more to add about them. If you could think of a place where you would wear them, do tell!

VERSACE platform boot/heel $4grand

These sweeties are for a lady who’s really not sure whether she wants to wear high heels, OR boots!!! They are Versaces, so they are worth a million for that alone. They are a very good Investment! The ad said they are a graphic monochrome woven-leather cutout heel boots. They don’t look it to us, but they have a 7 inch heel. Wow!

Where would you wear them? Our guess is to a fancy party. :o)

Liza Bruce Stretch Boots With Hanging Beads $2500Grand

These are flats not heels, but worth mentioning. We have never heard of the brand .

The sides of these boots are cut out, to show off your calfs, and the beads dangle and show as you walk. You would wear them with a knee length skirt, or dress. You could wear them with jeans or leggings, except then the cut-out part would not be so evident. We agreed, neither of us would wear them. The toe part is too shiny. They’re a stretch boot, which does mean they would be comfortable though.

Christian Louboutin --signature red bottoms $1 million

These pony hair heels have been sold our for months and months, hense the price tag. They They are Christian Louboutin. He is the only designer that places red soles on the bottoms of all his designs. I’m not really sure why that is so luxurious..but it is! You may have seen these shoes on talk show hosts in the past. Oprah always use to have them on. Not this style, but the brand. In many movies, you will also notice ladies heels when they sit down, and you see the red soles bottoms. VERY Pretty! My daughter and I would not wear them personally, but we both agreed that we would appreciate them on someone else and both go….Ahhhh,ooohhh!! :o)

Dr. Scholls Leather walking shoe $19.99

Lastly, we read that the most comfortable shoe on the market today is also the ugliest! (Sorry if anyone happens to own them.) They aren’t pretty though, we can all agree on that. They are very ugly, but if you’re looking for something practical, and a trusty favorite, that will get you through a long hard day on your feet..Then THESE are the shoes you would want to purchase. They come in brown, black and this nice standard grey. Real leather and breathable with non skid bottoms.

Like Crocs, Dr. Scholls makes many shoes to choose from. Some are even borderline attractive..The clogs I use to borrow from my mother looked like the ones below. Nothing I would wear today, but at the time..I thought they were great.

As far as clogs go currently, My favorites are my Michael Kors. They are more of a Winter Shoe. I just unpacked them last week! They’re black suede with silver accents and a furry cuff for warmth. I bought them last Fall on EBay for $25 dollars. They were put on for a buy it now price. I don’t know what the seller was thinking listing them for that cheap…But I was thrilled to stumble upon them. I bought them and paid for them ASAP and the seller told me that they were only listed for about 8 minutes! :o)

They retail over $200, so I was thrilled. They are comfortable too. Always a plus!