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Quotes

Words Of Wisdom: Storms

by Amber on October 11, 2009

Jim Reed

“And once the storm is over you won’t remember how you made it through, how you managed to survive. You won’t even be sure, in fact, whether the storm is really over. But one thing is certain. when you come out of the storm you won’t be the same person who walked in. That’s what this storm’s all about.”

— Haruki Murakami

[via Hello Lolla]

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Words Of Wisdom: Collect ‘Em All

by Amber on September 25, 2009

pez

Coveting possessions is unhealthy. Here’s how I look at it:

All of the computers on Ebay are mine. In fact, everything on Ebay is already mine. All of those things are just in long term storage that I pay nothing for. Storage is free.

When I want to take something out of storage, I just pay the for the storage costs for that particular thing up to that point, plus a nominal shipping fee, and my things are delivered to me so I can use them. When I am done with them, I return them to storage via Craigslist or Ebay, and I am given a fee as compensation for freeing up the storage facilities resources.

This is also the case with all of my stuff that Amazon and Walmart are holding for me. I have antiques, priceless art, cars, estates, and jewels beyond the dreams of avarice.

The world is my museum, displaying my collections on loan. The James Savages of the world are merely curators. As I am the curator of their things, and thus together we all share the world.

Words from a sage named Pastabagel.

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WORDS OF WISDOM: COMMIT TO IT

by Amber on July 1, 2009

Advice I received recently from a very smart cookie:

"Don't commit to things in bits, commit to what you have already. Build on it."

Stick at it, hunker down. Finish writing one great novel rather than starting 50 mediocre opening chapters. It’s about balance too – don’t spread yourself too thin… build the castle, then work on all the other bits of empire.

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WORDS OF WISDOM: LEO TOLSTOY

by Amber on March 8, 2009

“Everyone thinks of changing the world but no one thinks of changing themself.” – Leo Tolstoy

dot

Thankfully, in the 21st century people do change themselves. Through travel, religion, friends, haircuts, tattoos and even plastic surgery. Then there are more altruistic moves like volunteering and changing one’s consumption habits.  Have you ever done something that started out as a little personal action, but snowballed into a positive change for the world beyond you? The butterfly effect in action…

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WORDS OF WISDOM: MARK TWAIN

by Amber on February 9, 2009

Borneo 2006 Pink Jandals

Longboating in the jungles of Borneo, 2006.

Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than  by the ones you did. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.”

- Mark Twain

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SWAB THE DECKS

by Amber on October 27, 2008

A quote to ponder! From an airport spa in Seoul. How is your ship faring?

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THE END OF SCENT

by Amber on October 7, 2008

Alas, I have spritzed the final drops of my beloved YSL Cinema perfume. How gorgeous is the bottle? I’m torn between throwing it in the recycling bin and keeping it for a while yet on my dresser.

I know loads of people change their fragrance with the season or moment (Summer 09! Trip to Antwerp!), but to be frank it’s not viable for me and I find it a teeny bit excessive. I generally go through yearlong love affairs with perfumes before moving on to something new and fresh.

HISTORY

I started with Versace Baby Rose when I was a wee thing, igniting a love for pretty glass bottles and packaging. I moved onto Noa for a few years, mostly because my mother wore it.

Then came an obsession with JPG’s Fragile, with its glittery miniature snow dome. It was the perfume of choice as a few boys ripped my soft little teenage heart out. YSL’s Cinema has been my mainstay of the last 2 years; and the most recent addition to my beauty drawers has been Gwen Stefani’s L. Of course there has been others but these are my most memorable fragrances.

Right now, I’m at a crossroads as to which perfume to purchase. I believe it’s a crucial part of one’s style identity, to be honest I feel like a complete sloth if I go out without it – I have the nagging feeling of being not completely dressed.

The power of scent is always far more formidable than you realise. If you need more proof, get thy self to a bookstore; I was probably one of the last people to ‘discover’ it, but the novel Perfume is amazing. In fact it was released the year I was born, so indeed, my perusal was belated. The story of the dastardly genius Grenouille, it makes you think deeply about our most under appreciated sense. I was sniffing things for weeks afterward, it was great!

In respect of this, I have decided to investigate further with a mix of experimentation and reading before I commit to a new fragrance. Thus, I have spent few lovely hours at my local beauty emporiums (both alone and with my girl friends!), getting giddy on fragrances and sniffing coffee beans.

NOT QUITE MOI

The discovery of Comme des Garçon’s ‘socially incorrect fragrances’ made me stop in my tracks. The Synthetic Series 6 is based on man-made pl aces and the materials of daily life. They are harsh, unapologetic and challenging. While I adore the concept, synthetic scents for a modern life, these are not actually pleasant in any way. I wish I could pretend I’m an avant-garde girlie who wears dresses made of old tire swans… but I’m not. The best of these was Soda, a citric, brain-needling scent. As for Tar, Garage et al… well, I had my beaker firmly pressed to the coffee bean cup after those.

SCENT OF SUCCESS

Maelin + Goetz’s Rum Tonic is also synthesised but it has a totally yummy smell! It’s warm, friendly (to all genders!) and can be used with their other tonics to create a dynamic signature scent. To quote their luscious descriptor of the scent it has “top notes of bergamot and plum, middle notes of rum and leather, dry down of amber, patchouli, and milk.”

Play by Comme des Garçons is a much friendlier alternative to the synthetic series! A charming friendly bottle houses a nice unisex perfume that could be described as aquatic. I think the idea of sharing a scent with someone is sexy, so buy one for yourself or to share with your loved one.

Kai was another pleasing scent, inspired by Hawaii. The intent was to capture the island’s fragrance; which they do in a fresh, hint of rain on the air manner.

EXTRA EXTRA

I dabbed the Molecule 1 from escentric on my wrist but I haven’t been able to form an opinion on it yet. It had a pleasant enough aroma but apparently it is meant to transform on contact with your skin, releasing a scent unique to the wearer. Have any you ever tried a pheromone based perfume?

Black Phoenix Alchemy Lab are purveyors of dark, romantic Gothic toned scents. While I haven’t tried any of them yet, I am squirming at the thought of trying some of their delectable sounding ‘Imps’ or taster-sized bottles.

WHAT NOW?

Ah, decisions, decisions. Right now the only decision I’m making is to wander to my local department store; to eat tea sandwiches with old ladies in the cafe, then go another round with the spritzing, sample waggling salespeople. In mean time, this article on 100 Fragrances Every Perfumista Should Try by Now Smell This makes for fine, in depth reading.

A women who doesn’t wear perfume has no future.” – Coco Chanel

~

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10 BY 10 EQUALS 100

by Amber on September 30, 2008

Hello, this is simply a very happy 100th post from Code For Something. 5 months of rock and roll so far! The very first CFS post was written about the divine Santogold. She is the epitome of what this blog celebrates – style expressed through intellect, individualism, talent, and passion. Jazzi has dug up an amazing quote from Santogold, which really makes me sit up and go, “Ooh yes!”. I hope you can relate to it too.

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YOKO KNOWS THE WAY

by Amber on September 26, 2008

When I count what’s wrong with my life, I get totally depressed. When I count the good things, I feel like smiling and I do. Then I think, “well, it’s not all that bad.” Life is just a bowl of cherries. But when I see myself smiling in the mirror, I like myself more. Well, life is a roller-coaster. That’s what I now think. Recently, I got a message that I was a king, and I should stop the battle, and appreciate my victory. Well, I should listen to this one. And you, too, my friend. We are all kings. The battle is the battle of goodness winning WORLD PEACE. At all times, find something that makes you laugh. Laughter is the best workout! Chimpanzees are wise to it. Are you?”

Yoko Ono

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WORDS OF WISDOM: AGNES MARTIN

by Amber on August 15, 2008

To progress in life you must give up the things you do not like. Give up doing the things that you do not like to do. You must find the things that you do like. The things that are acceptable to your mind.”

Agnes Martin – painter, lady of pleasure.

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