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!
Thanks for sharing. I'm pretty sure I just gained five pounds drooling at the Warm Toffee Pudding Cake. So I'll kindly ask you to refrain from posting pictures in the future that somehow go straight from one's eyes to one's thighs.
Just saying.
Thanks for sharing your fun. I'm going to try and not be jealous that my mom lives thousands of miles away and can't just pop in for an afternoon of hanging out and eating decadent cake. I'm going to be "glad for you – not sad for me" (a refrain I tell my kids ten times a day).
Warm in Alaska.
Ya'll Moore girls are just so darn cute and funny. Thanks so much for always sharing and making me giggle to myself. The food looked divine.I'm here in Fairbanks, Ak where there really isn't much of anything. Take care. Love ya'll lots, Mary Anne
You guys are too cute! Love you! What a great surprise to have your mom visit!!
I'm so blessed to live very close (like 5 minutes away) from my mom…and I still love it when she comes over to my house, even just to see how my day was.
I just found this blog and it is wonderful. I look forward to reading more.
Melissa – What a simply delightful post! I'm so glad you are enjoying the colognes, but even "gladder" that you were able to enjoy such a good time wtih your Mom. I love that the most because you both look absolutely beautiful and so precious together. Good times.
Long after you run out of your cologne, you'll still cherish the memory of an impromptu afternoon of fun and shopping and delicious food with your Mom…especially that divine dessert…
I know you stay so busy, so it's a treat to hear from yoU.
Keep enjoying life Melissa, you are such a breath of fresh air to me!
Mrs. Jan
I am glad that buying perfume is not a passion of mine. That was sweet of Colin to buy you that for your birthday. He is a good hubby.
$130.00 perfume!! It's so funny I checked the blog tonight and saw this. Why? Well the Lord brought to my attention tonight that I have a poverty mentality. Yep it has finally been revealed to me what that term means. I have a talent when it comes to making devices, or using other than the normal materials for making things work. That is the best way I can describe it without a long story. Just for an example so I don't lose you here. When I had my fish hatchery I need to have available softened water for certain fish so instead of buying a water softening system(which by the way uses salt to soften) which was expensive I bought a 50 gallon trash can an old canister filter to run the water in and out of the trash can and used peat moss packed in filter bags in the filter so as the water circulated through the filter the peat softened the water cost about 1/3 the cost of the system I would have needed and no salt in the water. Way more natural my way. This I considered cost effective. Tonight I went to Lowes and purchased graphite for a door lock that my key was sticking in. I think it was $2 I used it and my key works great. Then came the moment my little brain went to work on how I could have saved that 2 bucks. I said to my roommate "Ya know I could have just taken a pencil and shaved the graphite off the tip and used it" They looked at me and said "FOR 2 BUCKS" Then I heard it, "you have a poverty mentality Virginia" and the light bulb went on. I am laughing now but at the time I heard that in my heart it was a great revelation for me. All I could say was thank you Lord for showing that to me now please help me change it because I don't know how and I believe He will. I serve a God that is very much involved in the details of my life. I am so grateful. Thank you Jesus I praise you Lord.
Thank you siestas for letting me share. Thank you Beth for giving us a place to share these seemingly unimportant yet meaningful things that happen to us everyday. This was My God stop today.
We sure love you both too!!
Ok….I don't think I have ever been so proud of your mother Melissa. How cool is that!! She surprised you all the way in Atlanta….now that is LOVE!! Good for you both, that you had a special day, she must have been missing you terribly. And from the sound of it, you were missing her. God knows what we need and when we need it doesn't He??
Bravo!!!!
Hello there,
Can one of you gals please do a post on "staying the course" or staying strong when life is wearing you out? I was in Laramie and Beth (totally awesome, by the way!) talked on this. I needed it so bad, but I still need something I can cut out and hang on my cupboards for daily refreshment.
I have not owned perfume in 5 years due to finances. I don't go to malls. I have 6 kids and a hubby with 2 jobs and I am TIRED.
God is huge and He is faithful, but in His wisdom He is keeping us in the refiner's fire. Encourage me, please. If anyone can, you guys can!!
God Bless you!!
Shelly in Nebraska
How wonderful! It sounds like you had a great time with your mom. But I cannot believe Colin bought you 130 dollar perfume!!!!!! That is insane!!!! If my man spends that kind of money on me it better be jewelry, but that is my obsession! And according to my children some of the jewelry in my jewelry box is at least as expensive as that. Actually, according to him. We were watching some show one day and there was a guy buying jewelry for his wife. He was buying something that I didn't think was all that cheap. Certainly more expensive than I would buy for myself. Josh said something about him being cheap, and I knew it was rude as soon as the words flew out of my mouth, but it was too late. I said, "How much money do you spend on jewelry?" He told me he's never spent less than 120 dollars in one trip for jewelry for me. I about ripped my earrings out of my ears, cause I was wearing a pair that I distinctly remember were the only pair he bought that trip! Way to expensive to be in my ears! Yes, I still have them, but don't think for a second that when I wear them I don't think about the fact that I know they are at least 120 dollar earrings! In fact, my girls complain that they get painted gold jewelry while I get real gold and I get diamonds while they get cubic zirconia. Angela asked when she was going to get her first diamond. Josh said as far as he's concerned her groom can put her first one on her hand. Hey, that was my first diamond. I don't see why she should be any different. Oh, and the jeans. I think I might have worn that size when I was a teenager. I wore a size 3 for a while. In fact, until I got pregnant with my first child I wore a size 5.
So excited for ya'll and the fun day you had with your Ma Ma. Can't wait till my Daughter gets over Her moodiness and I get extra money and we can have a fun day too. I honestly think Thirteen is the hardest age on both of us.
Anyway have an awesome Day and I love ya'll too!
God Bless,
Sue
What an awesome mother – but you already know that!!! Eat each minute up and relive them over and over when you are blue and lonely. My mother was my very best friend and oh how we laughed and loved! She developed dementia and had to move to a nursing home. Her ability to speak left her, but when I would go to visit, she would be down one hall and see me at the end and we would dance to each other being as silly as we could be – dementia couldn't rob her of the love she felt! So many good memories – thank you for reminding me and hug your momma until she is black and blue (dancing doesn't hurt either)! Love, DQ NANA
Great post, felt like I was there with you. I could almost smell the perfume and taste the yummy desert. What a great birthday! Have a blessed day. In Jesus' Love Kathy Knoblock
I can't step into Needless Markup…I am simply not aloud! GLad it was all wonderful and you smell so good!
I have just started researching someone to guide me through my christian walk. My husband is a pastor and I am the praise and worship leader at a small church in Rockdale, TX. You have been a very positive inspiration and I am excited about this journey. Your enthusiasm is absolutely amazing! You are truly an annointed woman and your ministry shows it.
On the perfume issue, I too have worn creed (only once, too expensive) but for a daily use i use Dolce & Gabana Light Blue – try it its wonderful!
I love ya'll, too. I'm teary eyed thinking about the fun of surprises like this visit! Unfortunately, I'll be thinking about that dessert all day! lol
Melissa,
I'm glad you found some fragrances you can enjoy. Smelling good really does make you feel more girly.
Thanks for sharing the pictures. It's always fun to see what's going on. And dessert? Oh my! Looks delicious!
Oh, Melissa, you are so much fun! I salute the trinity of women everywhere MAMA, SHOPPING, EATING: Three in One. Wow, keep on sharing with us.
What a blessing to have such a great relationship with your mom!! Happy birthday!!
Thanks for the perfume update Melissa……
That dessert looked decadent and I so love the taste of toffee so of course I am drooling on Fri at 9:15am.
So glad you got to have special time with your Mom. If you are like most of us, you covered all kinds of topics.
Enjoy smelling great.
Blessings,
Bible Bunny in NO MI
I am on my way!
well to North Dakota that is….
this is the forth time I have had the privilege to see Mama Siesta live, and I so excited I woke up with a smile platered to my lips.
Beth and I have traveled together for 8 going on 9 years thru her Bible Studies and I wish she could see how many bottles of tears I have shed by laughing crying and praying thru our journey. I was asked by someone in Fresno Ca. what has Beth done for you to change your life. My mouth dropped open and I could hardly speak. God has givin me a my voice since than and I proudly celebrate it by telling you how (at least on small tidbit) when I started Believing God at our Church (Grace Church in minnesota) I had nooooo Idea I was going to pushed into a pit of despair and shame….you see my son who was 17 and a senior in high school came to me and told me he had gotten his girlfriend who was a year older than him pregnant. I believe it was GODS sovereign love for me to have me in that study at that exact time.
I held on So tight to my beliefs.
As I would tuck my younger daughter in for bed each night I would pass his bedroom door and hear him sobbing…my heart and soul were both so completely broken I think I had dry eyes maybe 5 times thru that whole season.
Thru the pain sweat and tears arose from it all a very precious little angel named Lily who Grandma Lisa simply adores!
Its been 4 years now and I can praise God for his hand on all our lives! Travis my son is now pursing his deep passion for our living water Jesus Christ Thru his beatiful gift of music. Pray he gets some scholarships when he applies at Bethel University.
Ok Back to us now it's all about the Siesta's! cause in exactly 8 hours I will be siting in a stadium rubbing elbows with Siesta's in capri's and bright lipstick (Hee Hee)
before I say good bye..or see you soon I have to confess one small itsy bitsy thing….Ok I have been a Hair Dresser for 20+ years now and even though I am at home with my family and am no longer in the salon, I still carry a wild little picture of me doing your hair one day. I know we would laugh or selves silly I can only imagen the fun we would have together talking about our dogs and grandkids. My dogs are very much like yours and scurry out of the room when I pray in the spirit and when I am face down on the floor my little sammy cant resist digging in his mama's hair! Oh Beth may Gods annointing fall on you for the beautiful women in North Dakota my speak straight from the Holy Spirit and bring hope and change where it is needed in lives of every women!
My best friend Susan Larson is from North Dakota and she is the funnest friend I have ever had with a burning passion for Christ.
Her mother is letting us stay with her and she and Susan are both artists that make THE Coolest Jewelry you have ever seen! Shout out to us and if we are close enough you can see my hair (JK)
you can see her Jewelry she's wearing. And if you need a hair dresser for a quick spruce up here is my cell # 952-361-6943
How neat that you and your mom were able to enjoy this fun day together. Y'all are too cute!!!!
My mom is short and tiny too….and I'm 5' 7 1/2".
That reminded me of how I feel when I have to be in pictures standing next to her.
The food looked delicious!
Thanks for sharing. Much love sent from Oklahoma!
Loved this post and the pics! 🙂
What a fabulous post! Perfume, dessert, and fun afternoons – it doesn't get sweeter than that.
But those jeans? They look like they would fit my cat. Seriously, they are too tiny for any woman to wear. And I have to ask, what is H&M? I've never heard of it…
Big shout out to Roxanne! What a sweet, siesterly thing to do. And of course, kudos to Colin. I think it is so cool that he lost his mind enough to splurge like that. You're making good memories for the years to come.
Hugs,
Adrienne
Is there going to be a follow-up on the pen decision? I'm hoping to hear your choice.
Timely post…just the other day I was wondering if you ever found a new perfume…just about everytime I opened the LPM Blog I thought maybe this time it would be a perfume follow-up. Thanks to all the Siestas who got on Melissa's case for leaving us hanging for so long.
Since I live in the Atlanta area, I'll be headed to Floataway Cafe' as soon as I can get a babysitter. It looks and sounds yummy. You're right, your Mom did look tiny. But, tiny is a good thing right? Thanks for the tips.
Oh, what an incredible blessing!
Wished I were in Atlanta…all that good food you talk about.
I am however going to Branson the end of the month and am very exicted about that. I hear everything is there….music, shopping, crats etc but what about food? Can someone please tell me where to drop after a day of shopping? Is there such a place that would compare to your spot?
No let's disucss those shoes and blouse? I must have those shoes….and where did you find such a terriffic blouse?
I love to dress up, not much of a jeans person. Dressing makes you look better and when you look better you feel better about yourself. Devote those few minutes to yourself and you are rewarded.
Glad you were able to have a great visit with your mom, my mom and I never ever had a even a near close to good relationship and i envy you.
Enjoy your weekend….
So glad you found Floataway Cafe. It's hidden back in there but is such a treat. I have found that I have to go up a size at H&M – and that stresses me out. 🙂
The Journey Continues ~
Melissa,
THANKS FOR SHARING YOUR BEAUTIFUL MOMENTS IN PHOTOS ~ THAT ARE A TREASURE TO REFLECT ON ALL OUR DAYS!!!
Hurray ~ You found the perfect perfume!
I spent almost 45 minutes talking with Roxanne last night. She is such a sweetheart! 🙂
I am glad she helped you find the correct PERFUME.
I wish I would have added one more thing in my "box" for you and that would have been what I would have chosen. I just couldn't fit it in and was afraid it might burst onto everything else.
Glad to see you and your precious mom were able to have some
Momdaughiesta Time! I was blessed to have my mother here for 8 days of Momdaughiesta time too!
On anther note ~
Siestas
I am requesting PRAYER on Saturday
Celebration of Life for my son's college roommate who passed away at age 20. The Champion family lost 2 loved ones in less than 7 months. I cannot imagine losing my husband and son in 7 months!Father passed away in Jan.
(age 48) brain cancer.
You can check the family blog at
Championclan.blogspot.com
There will be LOTS of college kids attending and I know that Chris's testimony will be an inspiration of faith to all!
I appreciate the prayers!
With "Heaven Bound" blessings,
Kim Safina
Hey Melissa! Chanel Chance is the perfume I wore on my wedding day! Whenever I run out, my darling husband gets it for me as a gift. It's a beautiful scent that reminds me of the most magical day of my life.
-Sahsha's Mummy
So glad you found a perfume you like. I love Euphoria by Calvin Klein and also Chanel #5 is my once a week parfum! I love to smell nice.
I also took my twin 15 1/2 (almost 16 year old daughters to the outlet mall in Milpitas last weekend where I found the most adorable dress at H&M! Love that store. My girls got a blessing from the Lord when they sold their market hogs at the local fair in June & I promised to take them school clothes shopping somewhere south(3 hours away to be exact)! Anyway they found 16 items for $110 and 12 items for $170. They were so thrilled to have new clothes that nobody around here will have. We had so much fun together and so glad we got the opportunity to be together. I treasure these moments together, it won't be long until they are out on their own! God is so good! Thanks for sharing your fun times with your mom with us! Bless you both and glad you are smelling terrific!
Fun post! I'll have to keep those other parfums in mind!! 🙂
Melissa, where did you get those bangin' shoes? The heels that you are wearing while holding those riduculously small jeans are too cute!
Love you and have a great Friday!
Love,
Kristen
oh my gracious I am going to have to eat there next time I am in hotlanta!
I am now starving – thank you 😉
Love the pic of you and your momma – sweet!!
Enjoy your weekend!
Kim
Thanks for the update-and all the suggetstions from siestas. It moved me to think more about smelling special again. Partly because I take care of asthmatics, partly just not making the effort, mostly because my body chemistry must have changed because the one I always wore didn't seem to fit anymore, I haven't worn scent for several years. I had this tiny sample bottle I found in my mother's dresser while cleaning it out, that I started wearing and really like it. I just today figured out what it is by comparing bottles at the counter-Intuition by Estee Lauder. I also tried out the Channel ones-I like three Chance, Coco and Allure. I always have to give a scent time, as some give me a headache after a few hours even if I love it. Anyway-You motivated me to do something different. Thanks!! I'll have a great suggestion for my husband at Christmas time this year too 🙂
(The zebra striped jackets seemed very appealing when I was in the store also-just not on sale yet. The Moore women might just have a significant impact on retail sales this fall)
thank you so much for sharing your lives with us. You don't have to, but I think that endears you to us even more. I would love to have a higlight and cut/coffee/shopping excursion with you all someday.
We could also shop for pens and perfume. All in fun.
We really do love you all!
oh my word, i think i'll have to make the 4 hour drive to ATL just for the Warm Cheese Gougeres and Warm Toffee Pudding Cake with Vanilla Ice Cream… looks delish!
you and your sweet momma are so cute!!!
Melissa –
I LOVE your red hair!! I live about two hours from the ATL area, but if you would share who your hair stylist is, I might just have to come down there and have mine done!
I've always wanted to be a redhead!
in HIM –
Mindy
Melissa,
I can only see the heel of your shoes in the pic holding those jeans for Thumblina, but I'm luvin' those pumps girl!
Heather G
Charlotte NC
So sweet and so cute – the both of you. I pray that my daughter and I have such a close relationship as you and your mom (and Amanda).
Melissa,
This post really touched me…brings tears to my eyes. I love seeing the sweet relationship you have with your mom. Right now I've got a rebellious 15 year old daughter, Caitlin. I pray for the day when she will know Jesus, and when we can be without the friction we sometimes have. In the meantime, I'm just trying to love her and trust God to work in our lives. I so enjoy your posts. Blessings!
Happy perfume birthday, happy day with your Mom. Happy time with your Husband. All blessings from above.
Peace,
Kim Feth
Hey Melissa,
I LOVE Chance too. Another one your need to try is LOVELY by Sarah Jessica Parker. Its my other favorite.
You discussed the jeans and who was supposed to wear those..Hehhe. I was thinking…who is supposed to wear those high heels to the mall that you had on. Wow! You are my hero. I would have fallen flat on my face in two seconds flat:)
You guys are the best.
Have you tried Stella Sheer by Stella McCartney?
love it
thank you for sharing your findings, Melissa!!! And three cheers for my personal favorite, Viva la Juicy, for making runner up!! it's gorgeous although you're right about the name…. it made me cringe!!! i must try Acqua Fiorentinaaaa!!
Melissa,
You've inspired me. I've kinda quit wearing perfume and now I wanna run upstairs and spray on some of my fave…Boucheron. (hope I spelled that right).
Happy late birthday!!
I love fragrance, too! I order online from http://www.fragrance.net for excellent values on perfume, skin care, etc. I was able to find an oldie-but-goodie that I could no longer find in department stores! This website saves a ton of money and shipping is reasonable and quick!
Dear Melissa,
I have not been able to log into the blog for what seems like forever and I hate to tell you what I'm about to say, but do you think your migraines could be caused by a perfume you wear? As much as I LOVE perfume I have had to stear clear of many, if not all, since I was in my mid-twenties. Even hairspays, hair gels, hair shampoo products can trigger a migraine at times.
On my lunch break I used to run over to Lenox Square (I'm from Atlanta, lived & work near Lenox ages ago) and see if I could get free samples of my favorite perfume. I don't think they do that any longer, but mine was a Christian Dior perfume and can't even remember the name.
My room mate was a department manager for Neiman Marcus. She got the job right out of college. She graduated from University of Florida. Neiman Marcus as I understood it only hired the best. She was the handbag department manager…so I guess she minored in handbagology.
Hope it's never, not ever the perfume that gives you migraines. But, as a mom, I just had to mention it.
Pray-er for Living Proof, Sandy