It is true.
I’ve been rebuked by more than one of you for not posting a follow up on the Frivolous Friday post. By the way, you totally saw the title of this post and thought it was going to be a controversial theological post, didn’t you? Could not be further from the truth, my dear friends. Could not be further from the truth.
I had so much fun reading all of your comments. And yes, I read every single one of them and made a list of about thirty new perfumes that I had never encountered and headed to Lenox Mall & then Phipps Plaza to complete my research. These were some of my top favorites though I did not purchase them in the end. So here were the runners-up that I hope to try in the future:
Trish McEvoy #9 (Blackberry & Vanilla Musk- so soft… loved it)
Jo Malone Fragrances- I liked SEVERAL of her fragrances… a perfume junkie really should stay away from her counter. I was like a little kid in a candy store.
Viva La Juicy- This one took me by surprise. I was turned off by both the name and the bottle at first sight but I LOVED the fragrance. Very girly-girl but still so contemporary and playful.
So here are the goods:
The day I posted my blog, Roxanne Worsham, a Siesta, wrote me and told me she wanted to send me a bottle of her favorite perfume for my birthday. How could I really have resisted this…? See for yourself what was in the package she sent me:
So so fun!!! I have fallen in love with Chanel Chance. I really am not exaggerating when I say that people ask me everywhere I go what perfume I am wearing. It is the perfect fusion of sweet and spice. So, Roxanne, thank you so much for your incredible thoughtfulness and generosity. I feel like a total classic Diva wearing this stuff.
Last but not least, several of you mentioned Creed fragrances which are primarily sold at Neiman Marcus. Needless to say, Colin and I do NOT frequent Neiman Marcus but it was, after all, my birthday. So Colin and I spent about an hour with this wonderful lady who seriously must have had her doctorate in perfumeology. I’m not sure perfumeology is a word or a legitimate degree but this woman was amazing. I smelled each and every Creed fragrance and then she introduced me to Creed’s latest fragrance, Acqua Fiorentina. She explained how the top-notes were plum and green-something or other and there were apparently Renaissance roses all thrown in there …and oh yeah, she mentioned something about bergamot and cedar wood and sandal wood. Etc. Etc. I got lost right about there. I thought at first that Acqua Fiorentina was far too regal and floral for me. And did I add that the perfume itself is pink? I’m not really a pink type. But then she full on ordered me (with authority I might add) to walk around the store for a few minutes and allow it to settle in on me. And then I became obsessed. It was euphoric. But then there was that little tiny part about how 1 oz. of this stuff costs $130. So I became bitter, lost interest, and quickly shuffled off to move to my next perfume victim. Out of sight, out of mind, right??? Or, is it, “absence makes the heart grow fonder”…? In any case, I was beyond ecstatic when Colin lost his mind and bought me the little bottle of it for my birthday. He definitely splurged on me. I was so happy and felt so spoiled by my man even though I only get to wear it about once a week because every spray is about $10.
So in answer to your question this is where I’m at on my perfume journey…Chanel Chance for daily wear & Acqua Fiorentina for VERY limited use. I will say that I have gotten as many compliments on the former as I have the latter which is encouraging since Colin says he will never be buying from the Creed counter ever again. 🙂 So, Roxanne, thank you for your incredible kindness to me. I was so spoiled. It was a monumentally fragrant birthday for me!
By the way, have I mentioned that my Mom made a surprise visit to Atlanta yesterday??? She called me yesterday morning and told me she would be here around 1:00 and we took the latter part of the afternoon off from work and just relaxed, hung out, and played until she had to leave at 9:00!!! It was so good for my soul to see her! It was exactly what I needed, just a fun and lighthearted afternoon.
We played for a few minutes at H&M and both marveled at how tiny these jeans were:
Honestly, who is really supposed to wear those?
Then, I took her to eat an early dinner at Floataway Cafe’ where we had one of the top meals of our lives.
Such whimsical and dreamy interiors:
Mom, unknowingly getting ready for the Pasta of her life. What makes me laugh about this picture is that for some reason her booth was lower to the ground than my chair and I am already a good four and a half inches taller than her and so she looks so tiny here. I kept telling her all throughout dinner how cute she looked and I finally realized it was because she looked so short and sweet.
Warm Cheese Gougeres… help me, someone.
Last but not least was dessert. Warm Toffee Pudding Cake with Vanilla Ice Cream. I kid you not, this was the best dessert I’ve ever had in my life. I nearly passed out. By the way, the reason there are no pictures of our main entrees is because we scarfed them down in about thirty seconds.
About to drop my Mom off at the airport. Already getting sad but still so excited to see her!
We sure love all of you Siestas and talked about you even last night at dinner!
What a fun post! Thanks for sharing.
That dessert looks divine!!!! It even has two eighth notes on the edge of the bowl that are "singing" its praises 🙂 lol
Moore ladies…I love you all so much- especially your fervent love for our Gracious and Loving Father…but I have to ask you…. does everyone in other states dress up as much as you do? Every time you guys post pictures in the mall you are in dresses, and often heels- Do you get uncomfortable? How in the world do you shop in heels? I am just wondering, because I have never lived anywhere but southern California (as well as all my family) so I don't see candid shots of other states too much. Maybe it is all relative and we seem a bit sloppy in our capris, flip flops, no makeup and hair tied up in some weird way all the time? I repeat I love you all…. no judgment here…. just an honest question between siestas. Can't wait to meet "y'all" in heaven some day! love, your so. cal. siesta.
Ya'll are too cute! I love the zebra thing going on in the last picture.
You can NEVER go wrong with Chanel – it is a mystery!
And I love that you have a man that loses his mind for you, cherish that!
Blessings in Him,
Siesta OC
PS: Beth, you're the best!
MELISSA THANKS FOR SENDING US AN UPDATE ON YOUR PREFUME THAT WAS GREAT I COULD NOT BELIEVE WHEN YOU SAID ONE BOTTLE WAS 130.00 I WOULD HAVE PASSED OUT AT THE COUNTER. ANYWAY HOW NICE OF YOUR MOM TO VISIT YOU FOR A WHILE YOU BOTH LOOK AWESOME AND YOU MOORE WOMEN ROCK OUR WORLD THANKS FOR ALL YOU MOORE WOMEN DO.
LOVE ALL OF YOU YOUR SEISTA IN ALBUQUERQUE NM CAROL
I must say Melissa, you had me out looking for
"Love's Baby Soft." I found a spray at Target for
$4..not so good! (it wasn't the old stuff) All of us girls in the Esther study are dying to know what kind of lip stain your mom wears. I even called the office. Well, I am glad you found your scent. Danny Gokey, from American Idol (someone I had the chance to meet) wears Dolce and Gabbana Light Blue for men..if any ladies want info. for their men!
Love,
Michele
YAY . . . the followup perfume post I've been waiting on:) What a nice gift from both the Siesta and the hubby. . . and I'm sure the compliments you're getting make it all the nicer! What a great mom you have. . . of course I know you know that. . . Both of you ladies are beautiful both inside and out.
Melissa, I have to tell you . . I've actually thought about you a few times in the last couple of weeks. I'm taking this theology 101class that my church is offering . . . it is blowing my mind I'm telling you. Yesterday I was reading our reading assignment out of "Systematic Theology" . . I was so overwhelmed by the time I finished I had to lay on the couch and take a nap *smile*. My hubby and I joke back and forth about being theologians now (we're taking the class together). I told my pastor that was going to purposely strike up conversations with people just so I can use the big words we're learning.
Have a blessed day!
next time you make a phipps run, i wanna go!!! ;o)
oooh, I live in the metro-Atlanta area and am definitely putting the Floataway Cafe on my list of "to-do's".
Melissa, thank you for the perfume follow-up post! When my perfume runs out, I will definitely have to check out your suggestions (but not the Neimen Marcus one, because, well, we don't frequent that store either! We're in ministry too!)
And I just love that you got to spend the afternoon with your Mom. I can only imagine how much laughing, talking, and fellowshipping went on. With her busy schedule, I think it is so neat that you all still get to spend as much time together as you do!
PS. My sister lives in Atlanta and we just went to visit her two weeks ago. I was amazed at the size of Atlanta and the traffic, though it is a great city! And I guess coming from Houston, you might be more used to it than me from NC!
Fun! This Chanel is my FAVORITE. The sad part? My Mom purchased this for me for my birthday one year (the actual concentrated parfum kind, not the spray kind) and I took it on a business trip with me days later. Standing in line to check into the hotel, I'm greated by a STRONG fragrance…what was it? My Chanel Chance, which I had worn twice, spilled all over EVERYTHING inside my makeup bag. Fortunately, it staying WITHIN the makeup bag and not on everything else in my suitcase…which didn't matter really, because the smell lingered for DAYS. Needless to say, I didn't have to put on any perfume for days – the smell was on my clothes, shoes, suitcase – you name it!
Moral – never fly with "parfum".
I hope you enjoy it!
The perfumes sound delicious but that dessert looks and sounds divine! I would pass out too. The closest thing it sounds like is Haagen Dazs Sticky Toffee Pudding ice cream. I have only had one pint once but …. yum.
SO not fair that Houston doesn't have and H&M yet! What's up with that? 🙂
Thanks for the fragrance info!!!
You know you have a good man if he stays with you *anywhere* in Neiman's for an hour!
So glad you had a great birthday- you deserve to be spoiled! I will have to check out some of your runner ups! I am on the hunt myself for a new one! I am loving Micheal Kors Island..it's high on my list right now. 🙂
I LOVE Chanel Chance! I actually blogged about it on Friday! Thank you for more olfactory fun!
Oh, I forgot to mention. I noticed the Fleur de lis
on the Creed bottle which is also on the blog header.
I love the Fleur de lis! If anyone has any big Fleur de lis finds and shops, please let me know! I noticed
your mom had it on a chair in her office! Love it!
Love,
Michele
Melissa, you’re cracking me up. You wrote that you’re not really the girly girl type, but you’re wearing heals and a skirt to shop on your day off? Girlfriend, seriously, that had me in stitches. Oh, the irony. Looks like you two had a great time together! What a sweet surprise from your man for your birthday! My man tried to select a scent one time on his own and it wasn’t such a successful story to tell. Poor guy!
Uh, Melissa, honey… that picture where you're holding up those white jeans–you look like YOU could fit in them. Sheesh! They are tiny and so are you. I think one of those legs [might] be able to fit my arm.LOL
I am wondering too if you guys always dress like that or was it a special thing because of lunch? You guys look fabulous! but how can you stand that with all the heat? I would melt. MELT!
As for perfume, I don't know any of the ones you talked about. I'm out of the loop on alot of things. My favorites come from Bath and Body Works.LOL I swear,the older I get, which is only 31! my nose gets more and more like a Hounds. It's so sensitive to smell! Not a good thing when sitting next to someone who wears the Woman's Cologne from way back in the day. Ak!(No offense if anyone out there wears that!)
Viva La Juicy! love l.o.v.e. LOVE! This fragrance. It's my new favorite. Blessings, SusanD
Inkstillwet,
You totally called me out! You are definitely right- I am a girly girl in terms of how I dress and whatnot but I don't feel that way in my spirit. I grew up playing basketball with the boys in my neighborhood and it has been hard to see myself as a girly-girl but I think I am coming to realize I am.
Much Love to you! Thanks for being fun!
Love,
Melissa
How cool! I didn't realize it was your birthday. I hope you have a great year!
I know I've said this before, but it is so fun to me that you guys share your lives with us here. You, Amanda, and Beth are a breath of fresh air and I really appreciate all that you do to serve us.
Jessica
Greensboro NC
Awww, and we LOVE you too 🙂
Melissa-I honestly thought about you last night while I was at the gym because on the treadmill next to me came a lady doused in Chanel 5. I mean, I love some Chanel, but not when I am huffing and puffing on the treadmill. Not to mention that every treadmill other than the one that I was on was open and she felt the need to come RIGHT NEXT TO ME with her perfume. So, I started thinking about perfume and wondering if you found yours. Just don't wear it to work out 🙂 sherry mc
Have I mentioned how crazy I am about you all? What a blessing it is to be a siesta… not to mention fun, and silly, and just all around wonderful!
Thanks for the update.
This post makes me feel like I should start wearing perfume. You make it sound lovely! Maybe I'll try a couple of your top suggestions. Well, the ones that aren't $130. Though I'm so glad you got it for your birthday! My husband's family is in Macon, so we'll have to try out the Floataway Cafe the next time we fly into town. Thanks for the update!
what a great post! I was all up and ready to be "in someone's face" (a little bit in sisterly love!) if someone had rebuked you for something really! hahaha… Leave it to me, the fix it franny… I was delighted to read about the perfumes. I love it that he bought you the big Kahuna (or little Kahuna) bottle! And the day with your mama sounds delightful. What a great blessing from God to have been together even for a moment… Hugs from Missouri… Totally love your coordinated b/w outfits. Hugs…
Love this post, I have a daily and special perfume choices as well. May your life continue to be a sweet fragrance to the Lord and to those you bless. And I also have two daughters, it is so sweet to have them together and VERY special to have them each alone. I think God is like that in His fatherliness toward all of us girls too don't you think. Shalom
Hi Melissa,
I think we should play a game on the blog
"Where in the world is Beth Moore?"
At the Deeper Still in Greensboro a couple weeks ago, she said she took a trip to New Mexico, surprise trip to Atlanta, where next? Where does all the energy come from? You never know when you might run into Beth! That is so neat!
Love this post, I have a daily and special perfume choices as well. May your life continue to be a sweet fragrance to the Lord and to those you bless. And I also have two daughters, it is so sweet to have them together and VERY special to have them each alone. I think God is like that in His fatherliness toward all of us girls too don't you think. Shalom
The Pastry Chef at Float A Way made my wedding cake! He is such a wonderful talent — they were drove from Atlanta to Huntsville,AL. The people there are such foodies and talented individuals. I just love the place.
Glad your loving your perfume — give in honey to loving Pink! It's a girl thang.
Team Shirey, another restaurant y'all need to try in the ATL is JCT Kitchen. It is fun!
Anonymous!
I cannot imagine how amazing your wedding cake tasted. That dessert was unfathomable.
So fun!
Melissa
I love how you are the type of people that take pictures of their food…even at fancy restaurants.
🙂
Thanks for sharing your day!
Looked like so much fun and delicious…great pictures of the food by the way. I was ready to dig in!
I am more of a tom boy than girly girl too, but I sure do love my heels! And as an answer to your question Anonymous, if I had a mall near where I live here in Vermont, yes I would wear heels to shop. 🙂
My 41st birthday is this Saturday and I bought myself the most ridiculous pair of black Guess pumps at TJ Maxx for myself. So ridiculous that my 9 year old asked as I was putting them in my cart, "Your buying those??!!!"
Can't help myself. Even if I just get to wear them at home while I cook…LOL
Blessings to all,
Michelle in mall-less Vermont
It is so funny you mentioned "Viva La Juicy", because last night at church, my dear friend walked past me, and her scent stopped me dead in my tracks…I said, "What are you wearing? Perfune I mean?" and She said…"Mmmm something La Juicy!". Later she texted me and said the full name "Viva…". I loved it!!! Not too loud, but soft and sweet….made me want to hug her!
Going to purchase some today!
And you can't go wrong with Chanel. Bought my first bottle last year, Chanel Mademoiselle, AB-SO-LUTE-LY loved it!!! Now I am out and need to purchase a new scent…THanks for your perfumeology!
Between sweaty little boys, dogs and horses… I have to have something girly going up my nose!!!!
I was kind of wondering about "dressed up in heels for the mall" myself. As I sit here, in my shorts, t-shirt, and no make-up (ok…to be fair, I've been cleaning all day) looking at how lovely you ladies looked for a mall and lunch date. When I have lunch with my girls, it's usually jeans (or shorts), and very casual tops. And for shopping?? Give me those walking shoes!
But you both looked adorable…and it was a fancy lunch, so perhaps the clothing was necessary! But do spill the beans…do you go out more casual and have lunch at Subway???
how fun!!!!!!!! what princesses we are to be so spoiled by our men! God is so good!!!!!!!! Thanks so much for the follow up!
K
Thanks for sharing your shopping and dinner with us. Mom visits can just be the best, can't they?
I just love you girls!
Melissa!
I am so excited you have you some Chanel Chance! I have some too, but only because my big sis bought it and then gave it to me after using half of it. Score! (I love it her handmedowns, she has amazing taste!). You look very cute in your outfitt, I bet you are so much fun to shop with! Glad you had a great birthday,
Katie Taylor, AL
Melissa:
You are a girly girl, don't fight it. Your Beth Moore's daughter for goodness sake. What I love about the example you Moore girls set is that you show how we women can get into the word by ourselves, get deep into theology if we want and do it all looking and smelling beautiful.
~Blessings~
Love Chanel Chance…come to think of it my bottle is low! I live in Chattanooga, and my mom and I love to have a girls shopping and lunch day in Atlanta whenever we can. Definitely putting Floataway Cafe' on the list! We just went to Rosebud in Morningside (formerly Food 101) a couple of weeks ago – fantastic!
RBrinkley!
Yes, Rosebud is great! I took my Mom there once a few months ago and she got a big Chicken Fried Steak with a side belgian waffle which has made my husband and I laugh our faces off. She couldn't choose because she wanted both. She ate it all, too. The woman can eat!
Yes, try Floataway and also try JCT Kitchen sometime!
Love,
Melissa
All right, I know this is the wrong post for this comment, but I was worried it wouldn't get noticed on the other one, since it's a few days old.
Ahem.
Beth, submitted for your approval, in case you haven't tried it: "Zebra F-301, blue"
I love it. I use it for all my bible studies. It is slender and smooth and silky. Love. it. And yes, I often proudly–or maybe it's obliviously?–wear its ink stains. Try it out. It may not be the same, but sometimes new loves find us regardless of how we try to fight them. (Sort of like me and my friend Edie's chocolate chip cookies.)
Good luck and God bless. …Can you use those two in the same sentence? oh, I guess you can. 😉
Maybe you'll soon be submitting this search for a new pen as a comment in your recent "God cares about the details" post.
Have a great day!
Melissa,
Thanks for the post! Glad you could spend some time with your mom! I am blessed(at least I feel that way most of the time!) to have my family within a 10 mile radius, and most of my man's family in the same state. One sister of his lives in Grand Prairie,TX.
🙁 I am glad that you found some new perfumes to love. I don't wear it very often at all. Have a blessed weekend! Love y'all!
Okay, so blogger has now deleted 2 of my comments because of errors and they say 3rd times a charm, so let's see if this works. Grr.
I never got to comment on the perfume post because I'm pretty sure that was when life was insane, however, I have to tell you about my favorite perfume which is "Laugh" by Brighton. You can only get it at the Brighton store, but I've worn it for six years thanks to my BFF for introducing me to it and it is glorious. It's one of those perfumes that you have to spray on and walk around a bit, or smell it on someone else first cause it's a little harsh at first, but after that it is the best. It lasts all day and people are constantly asking me what perfume I wear and how it stays on all day. Basically it's amazing! So next time you're on the lookout, you should try that. Plus, how fun is it to tell somebody that you wear "Laugh" perfume??!!!
I am so glad you had a surprise visit from your sweet mom yesterday. I know you loved that time to just relax and have fun! Bible study starts so soon (as if you don't know) and I am so excited! Also, when is Houston going to finally get an H&M? I am so ready. Y'all look as precious and beautiful as always! Love you both.
Lindsee
So Fun! Makes me want some new perfume!
I am going to Lenox tomorrow… will definitely have to drop by Neimans to smell the winner! Plus isn't it fun to browse their shoe department! My favorite!
Also will need to check out Floataway Cafe sometime mmmmm looks yummy! Love to hear of fun new restaurants!
Know you adored having your Mom make a surprise visit! What a happy day!
Thanks for sharing your picks! I was just wondering this week what you had chosen!
BTW- loving the outfit you have on in H&M- including what of your shoe I can see. It is so cute! I would love to know where those shoes are from!
We love you both also…. Can't wait to see you Beth in November….
I enjoyed your post today and am so glad you updated us all on your perfume quest. What a sweet siesta to send you a birthday gift! And what a sweet man you have to buy you the pricey bottle. Boy, is he smart! 🙂
I loved hearing of your mom's surprise visit and the fun you had. I am needing an in-person visit with my daughters and it melted my heart to read your post. So glad you share such a sweet relationship with your mom and sister.
Melissa, I am having an anxious moment. In the photo with the tiny jeans I can only see a little bit of your shoes, and the little bit looks potentially like a classy heel. I need to see them properly! 🙂
One of your many South African siestas. 🙂
Hey Melissa I just wanted to comment about your journey you had with Compassion International awhile back. Since reading about your amazing journey I am sponsoring 2 girls, One in Africa and one in India and I enjoy it. My heart is so full of compassion and love for them. Thanks again for sharing and making my life more purposeful(is that a word)Ha ha. God Bless. Kathleen