Scent Bar: A Perfume Mecca

I have no qualms about admitting to you that I'm pretty passionate when it comes to perfume. I wouldn't say I'm a connoisseur, by any means (I don't have a sizable collection of vintage perfumes - think classic Dior, Guerlain, or Chanel - to boast of), but I probably know a little more than the average person with a moderate interest, who'll stop by a department store perfume counter on a whim. So it boggles my mind that I have yet to pay a visit to perfume mecca that is Scent Bar - which happens to be right here in town. I mean, look at all the perfume goodies they have to offer.  

A veritable cornucopia of fragrant treasures, Scent Bar carries mostly niche, hard-to-find fragrance lines like Le Labo, Eau d'Italie, By Killian, Maison Francis Kurkdjian, Serge Lutens, and Parfums de Nicolai, among many, many others. And they recently moved to the fabulous new digs you see here. After rifling through these gorgeous photos (even more can be found here), I think I'm ready to pay homage. Who's with me?

{Photos via LA I'm Yours}

Memorial Day

I've had an epically relaxing Memorial Day weekend filled with mimosas and fine wine, luxuriously long meals with friends, great conversation, and sun-filled walks overlooking a sailboat-dotted Pacific. 


Cheers to all the brave men and women who have served and who continue to serve this great country. Happy Memorial Day, wherever you are!

RIP Maurice Sendak

If you're like me, you were dismayed to learn the news of children's book author Maurice Sendak's death earlier this month. He's best known for Where the Wild Things Are, of course, but the book I remember most relishing as a child was his highly enjoyable Chicken Soup with Rice. Sendak wrote and illustrated this book and - bonus! - it was even recorded as a song by the ever-so-cool Carole King (see below). Warning: it will be on repeat in your head all day long. Pierre, about a boy with terrible manners who gets eaten by a lion, is also one to read (I've given this to little ones in my life and I can attest that it was an absolute hit with them).

I've been celebrating Sendak's life by listening to some of his interviews with NPR's Terry Gross (the most recent of which is a real tearjerker, oh man!). I suggest you follow that up quickly with his interview with Stephen Colbert (I promise you'll laugh). Sendak is at once cantankerous and delightful; his candor is so refreshing and real and you can't help but fall in love with him. His warm rapport with Stephen is wonderful to watch. I highly recommend. 


Rest in peace, Maurice. You will be greatly missed.


{Images via here and here}

Drunken Snow White (and other drawings by Gemma Correll)

The above scenario describes me to a T. It's like British artist Gemma Correll lives inside my head or something. And can you believe she has more hilarious and delightful illustrations on her tumblr? Methinks you can.

And who doesn't agree with the following sentiment? I mean really.

{Images via Gemma Correll}