#sotd Maak Lab's is a lovely place in Portland focusing on very natural scents (it even looks like a plant store inside). Hinoki really captures diving through the pnw for me: wood, sharp air bright with bergamot, a touch of rain, drying down to clean linen. Fresher than I usually go for but lovely.
Wild West
(repost)
Promo image for Roman Ruby's "Tarot" perfume.
Tarot by Roman Ruby took me instantly to every crystal, occult, record, or head store I've been in. There's a warm, ambery opening before settling into the woody, earthy nog champa. I'm giving "seems mysterious but is totally bsing this palm reading, also might be selling weed on the side" in this.
A tote bag with a drawing of a cat with its butt towards the viewer, winking with its tongue out. The cat's butt hole forms the logo "OLO Fragrance". A caption at the bottom reads "That place is always closed."
A photo of 4 perfume boxes: Maak Lab's "Hinoki", R Rebellion's "Midnight", Roman Ruby's "Tarot", and Hiram Green's "Slowdive".
A box and matching candle, both are labeled "OMG everything is FUCKED"
A photo of a table in a nightclub, showing a tall Singapore Sling cocktail, and a menu from Darecelle XV.
Back home after a wild birthday week of perfume, drag, and food. Hedonism is my modus operandi, and while I've reigned it in for health reasons having a week where I could be the full trash panda debauched Roman Empress felt delightful.
Portland has been a much needed reset, my week off went way too quick. I feel pretty good about turning 38, but it's still hard for me to think about the future or ambitions. Just send me a husband soon please, I'd like to be married by 40.
Photo of a takeout box with pork buns in it.
Photo of a takeout box with sesame balls in it.
Photo of a takeout box with crab won tons in it.
Late night sesame balls cause I can
Photo of Vivi in makeup with a red lip
Photo of Vivi in makeup with a red lip and slight winged liner
Photo of Vivi in makeup with a red lip
Today was a lot of fun - I did a makeup class and learned some game changing skills. Yes, even makeup geniuses can improve.
Also spent some lovely time at fumerie parfumerie where I fell in love with Hiram Green's "Slowdive" and grabbed an Imaginary Authors sampler to try.
Lardo's Hush Puppys are an experience, just little explosions of flavor. I was expecting super dense cornbread but this is super light and crumbly. My taste buds haven't been this happy since yesterday 😭 thank you Portland
There's a Le Labo nearby and on the one hand I wanna sample things but on the other their entry price point is so high I kinda don't even want to entertain it. Like gimme more of these Oregon made $30-40 fragrances please and thank you.
#sotd Midnight by R. Rebellion is so me, this is dangerously close to what I'd probably end up making in a perfume workshop. Black Currant AND POMEGRANATE?? SOLD. And to blend that with jasmine, and a musky vanilla? I love this, my bottle kinda sucks though, kinda spits more than sprays but oh well.
Bangers and mash
A pink cider of cherry blossom and plum
It's been pretty rainy most of my time here, but today it got downright cold. Wandered into Paddy's to warm up and wasn't disappointed. They had a plum and cherry blossom cider that was fantastic.
A number of purchases including lots of perfume, stickers, a pair of socks reading "I 💜 smut", and a candle labeled "OMG everything is FUCKED"
Praline bacon and cinnamon rolls.
It's my birthday trip I can have a(ll of the) little treats. Like I was telling the gal on the tour yesterday: my vacations are all about perfume, food, ghost tours, and drag shows.
Garlic bread and Mac and cheese with pork belly.
Oh my god this pork belly Mac and cheese is one of the best meals I've had ever. The textures, the flavors 😭 👌
Haunted Pub crawl in Portland tonight to round out the day. I always wonder how other folks on the tours will react to a trans person but they were all lovely, chatted a lot with a couple from Hartford and another couple from England (tall man with a London accent, you got a winner gal).
I love it when a place has a massage and facial package, I am feeling like a renewed, divine creature. With the Xena music and all the oils being applied I'm like "yes I am a goddess, how could I have forgotten"
Catastrophically high and destroyed those mac and cheese bites
Saw a trans gal in a collar within like an hour of arriving, and got recommended some weed called "super boof". I am at ease now.
10 hour drive was fine, little rain but still a gorgeous route, been listening to Neuromancer on audiobook since like 6 am.
Made it to Portland with my not small amount of luggage and procured enough Mac and cheese bites for like 4 people
All packed for the birthday Portland road trip this next week with a selection of audiobooks downloaded including Star Trek, Sherlock Holmes, Omegaverse smut, and the Mothman Prophecies.
A photo of several perfumes: Barbie, Herbal Hollow Co's Enchantment, Oakcha's Ukiyo, Prada's Paradoxe, Ellis Brooklyn's Sun Fruit, and True Religion's Hippie Chic.
My collection tends to lean towards more fall/winter scents but this has been my selection since the weather has started getting warmer.
*talking to teenage militant atheist self*
current me: okay so there’s a big fight between the government and the catholic church
teenage me: got it, so we’re obviously on the side of the government
current me: I, uh, you might want to sit down for this one
Yeah, I was kind of exhausted after that. Trying to communicate all this to mom without her having an anxiety attack didn't make it easier.
Had to de-escalate a situation where Dad was threatening to leave and live in a nursing home because Mom's been yelling at him and just being a general terror while the house is still drowning in her stuff. Honestly I get it, told him I wanted him to be happy but maybe a vacation was a better idea.
Photo of Patches, a black and white cat, sprawled out on a mattress pad.
I got a memory foam mattress topper thing for my next trip cause I'm tired of shitty hotel beds ruining my vacations and my daughter has already christened it.
Wow, hate it.
Xena crucified
Taking this Easter to remember the one who was crucified and resurrected to save us all.
Oh no, aloe up, feel better