Hello my little bourbon biscuits, it’s Tuesday and while I am wandering about the hills and dales of the Emerald Isle with my two besties, I thought I’d take a minute and share with you an Irish-tinged edition of What Miss Plumcake is…
Reading: The Complete Short Stories of Oscar Wilde If all you know of Wilde are his pithy quotes and frothy plays (both of which are still highly recommended) you owe it to yourself to check out some of his no-foolin’ literatoor. Beautiful, tender and razor sharp, these are some of my favorite short stories. Half Daudet and half Kipling, it’s all brilliant.
Watching: The Commitments I was just learning to play the saxophone when this film about a bunch of misfits from Dublin and their dream of blue-eyed soul stardom came out and I fell in love. Even if you saw it years ago, rent it and be reminded what a great flick it is.
Hearing: U2 – Achtung Baby I’m just going to go ahead and say that the seventh studio album from Bono and the lads is the most important pop album of the 90’s.
Smelling: Vol de Nuit by Guerlain I’m wearing the vintage, which is even more heartbreakingly beautiful, this 1933 creation by Jacques Guerlain was an homage to Antoine Saint-Exupery (yes, the Little Prince guy) and his novel, Vol de Nuit. On me Vol de Nuit is a pale butter daffodil floating in a cup of softly spiced milk tea. Unusual comfort at its best.
Loving: Funnel-necked peacoat Until last week I didn’t have a coat. It doesn’t get very cold in Texas so usually I either wear my vintage blonde mink stole or my lynx stoller. However, I figured it would be a bit nippy here in Eire and I thought maybe it would behoove me to get some sort of outwear that didn’t once have a mother and a dream. I picked this up for a song from Lane Bryant and I just love it. I’ve never worn double-breasted before, but it looks great and is a fantastic spring coat. Word to the wise: apparently the buttons fall off easily. I reinforced mine before I left across the pond and haven’t had any problems at all.
Hating: Stupid Giraffe-print Bag So when did this become attractive? Because this is not attractive. I’ve been seeing these things for YEARS and I just cannot TAKE it anymore. This is not a good bag! The original, which is Dooney and Bourke (and why would you even knock off Dooney and Bourke? That’s like knocking off Juicy Couture.) is bad but at least it’s potentially well-made. These are just AWFUL. So please. Stop buying them. They’re not hip, they’re not clever. They’re just dreadful.
Wanting: Let ‘Em Hang soccer boot shirt from Studs Up Football Club Oversharing time. I’m pretty good about being friends with my exes. One of my favorites played in Serie A for seven years and is an all around good egg. Obviously he was great looking (mama, as previously mentioned, does not do ugly)and we still see each other occasionally, but the only time I ever regret relegating him to the friend zone is when he walks around with his boots hung around his neck. Do I find the strung boots look hot because it is sexy on its own merit or is it a product of conditioning? The world may never know, but I do know this is a piece of class kit and it needs to go into Miss Plumcake’s personal collection with a quickness.
Buying: Revlon Hushed Blush nail color Why do I always forget Revlon makes great nail colors? It’s been a million years since I’ve bought anything but OPI or Essie, but I picked up this understated blushed rosewood color when I couldn’t find my beloved Kreme de la Kremlin and have been twitterpated ever since. Is the product as good as OPI? No, not really, but the color’s great and there’s no reason a well-applied manicure with Hushed Blush won’t last you a week.
Right there with you on the Achtung Baby album! In fact thank you for the inspiration! As I drive to a birthday party today I will be happily humming along to Who’s gonna ride your wild horses.
Comment by coffeeaddict — March 22, 2011 @ 10:08 am
Maybe because I stopped listening to commercial radio before Achtung Baby came out, and thus it was not ruined for me by having been overplayed the way Joshua Tree had been, but I’ve always thought this was U2’s best album.
Comment by Lee — March 22, 2011 @ 10:33 am
Oh! And The Commitments! I can never resist watching it when it’s on. What a *fun* movie!
“The Irish are the blacks of Europe. And Dubliners are the blacks of Ireland. And the Northside Dubliners are the blacks of Dublin. So say it once, say it loud: I’m black and I’m proud.”
Comment by Lee — March 22, 2011 @ 10:36 am
I don’t really understand why giraffe print is obnoxious where other animal prints aren’t. I’m not a huge animal print person (though the occasional well-placed zebra print makes me smile), so I’d love a little light on the subject!
Comment by Becs — March 22, 2011 @ 10:49 am
Miss Plumcake- what brand base/top coat do you use? I also love Revlon, but I can barely make the color last one full day on my hands. As comparison, OPI lasts at least 2 full days, more if I don’t have a hockey game.
Comment by Leah — March 22, 2011 @ 2:39 pm
Leah – I love the seche vite topcoat, amazing!
Comment by Josie — March 23, 2011 @ 7:39 am
So I really didn’t think fur was for me until I wound up with a knee-length, dyed-orange fox fur coat. But now I need a place that is cold enough to wear it!
Comment by Debs — March 23, 2011 @ 8:21 pm
I love OPI for the names they give their colours (!!! So do you all, admit it) but Revlon has always had the best nail polish going. If you make sure you use a good base coat and never forget the top coat, that polish lasts for days.
Comment by ChaChaheels — March 24, 2011 @ 10:44 am
You picked an excellent week to visit Ireland, the weather is fab!
Comment by Margaret — March 24, 2011 @ 10:44 am
I will give that a try, Josie. Thanks!
Comment by Leah — March 24, 2011 @ 2:36 pm
I have that exact funnel neck coat in green! But you’re so right about the buttons – I’ve lost 2 (the topmost, probably from my seatbelt). And I am a diehard U2 fan since 1985…
Comment by bethG — March 25, 2011 @ 8:07 pm