Weekend Getaways: Washington DC

If you follow me on Instagram (please do, I'm scintillating!), you may have noticed we got away to Washington DC for the Easter weekend. Not being American, it was quite a curious experience of lots of marble columns, temples enshrined to fathers of American democracy, war memorials, fantastic museums, and quite unexpectedly, delicious food and coffee - we recommend the Cedar restaurant and Swing Co. Coffee Roasters, respectively. I did a quick poll on Twitter if you'd like to see my photos from the trip, blogger friends said yes, so here we go!

The obligatory: Lincoln Memorial.

Washington DC has some beautiful architecture; we stayed in a hotel 5 minutes away from Georgetown, which was particularly picturesque.

Fail: we were in DC exactly one week after the National Cherry Blossom ended, and let's just say the cherry trees were past their prime. And yes, that's trash floating in the pond.

F.D. Roosevelt Memorial.

Tidal Basin totally flooded that poor park bench. Made for a nice picture though.

Jefferson Memorial.

Remember what I said about those marble columns? Yeah.

Yes! Cherry blossoms! Success!

Thinker on a Rock by Barry Flanagan in the National Gallery of Art Sculpture Garden, modeled by Mr.

The stone (marble?) benches around the fountain in the Sculpture Garden were surprisingly comfy. Also, my feet really, really hurt.

The Capitol.

National Gallery of Art West Garden Court.

I've probably never mentioned that I really like Edward Hopper's work. This is Cape Cod Evening, 1939.

I hope you enjoyed my highlights from our Washington DC weekend getaway! Where have your travels recently taken you?

Going with the flow, or going with the crowd?

This is going to be a bit of a different post - so if you're not a blogger yourself, or actively involved in the beauty blogging community, the following might not be of any interest. But for those in a similar conundrum: the blogging blahs have settled, and in my experience if I don't air out whatever is currently bothering me, there may be here for good. So here are some random observations about the state of the beauty blogging union, and my place in all of this.

When I started this blog back in 2009, blogosphere was very much a different beast altogether. Reading blogs was still a relatively niche past-time, being a blogger was very alternative - or simply weird for non-blogging people. Blogs seemed more personal, and intimate, and the community was tight but open to newcomers. That's why it was so enticing to be a part of it; I wanted a space to let the creative juices flow and show my point of view, and I wanted likeminded friends to discuss all things beauty. To a lot of you, it might still be the case - but I feel like something HAS changed.

In 2014, many of those beauty blogs are now competitive buisnesses. Sure, businesses with a strong focus on writing, product photography and social media presence - but so are women's magazines. It's all about the New! Just Released! Limited Edition!, PR samples, press events. Churning out swatches and a review the minute you lay your eyes on a product, because it's all about who can be the fastest, who has the freshest trend. Posts at different blogs featuring a newly released product come all at the same time like a huge wave, and it's really rather interesting (dare I say, annoying?) to see five subsequent Instagram photos from different bloggers featuring the exact same eyeshadow palette that has just landed on their doorsteps. The more posts and YouTube videos about the same product, the more hype around the product, the more people are frantically trying to purchase, now now now, before it's gone.

Now, for a necessary disclaimer: I absolutely do not begrudge successful bloggers' success, or the fact that they have been able to make a career out of something they love. I also understand that what beauty blogs focus on are essentially commercial products, and so brand relationships form and have to be maintained. But - it IS walking a thin line between being truthful to yourself and fearing a cold shoulder from a big company, and no amount of disclaimers is going to change it. Some pull it off with more aplomb than the others, and that's were my readership preferences lay - but that's something you absolutely have to judge by yourself.

What I'm trying to say is that the beauty blogosphere is not what it used to be, and I don't regard is as something pejorative - call it progress or necessary evil, it just is what it is. My feeling though is that in the new blogging landscape, there's a certain paradigm choice to be made: are you going with your own flow, or are you going with the crowd? What's your focus? New collections, swatches and lightning fast reviews, or staying true to your unique perspective, true time-tested favorites, less popular products that really work and deserve a mention? I'm going to be quite blunt: the latter approach is not going to generate as many page views, or give you as many readers - you know, what most people would call blogging success. But is carving your own niche worth it for YOU?

It is worth it for me. I'm not a big player - there, I said it. What I get from beauty blogging are not free samples of the newest products, invitations to press events, external motivation in the form of readers and page ranks; although I'm not saying that I don't appreciate the rare brand outreach, or am not overjoyed over gaining new followers or seeing some nice stats for the month (thank you!!!). The reason I have been blogging for so long and do not intend to quit (come on, I'd be like abandoning my own baby!) is that I get a tremendous satisfaction from the very process of creating, from post ideas, through product photography, to actual writing - about something I love and feel passionate about. And still, the sense of community: so many wonderful readers, friends on and offline. You really are my tribe.

Practically, it means that you won't see many newest product releases, reviews and swatches here on Rocaille Writes. That might be a disappointment to some of you - and I understand. But from what my gut is telling me (and from what I can gather from your very enthusiastic response to the Anti Make-up Phase post), a lot of you are not here for it. What you will see on Rocaille Writes are products I'm truly enthusiastic about, be it old or new, from small or big brands, product comparisons so you don't need to spend your hard earned cash on everything that gets the hype, my own interpretations of current trends, thoughts on the blogging process, quality over quantity of posts, my struggles, experiments, randomness; whatever is on my mind as a writer. If I'm not going to sit with the popular girls because of that - so be it.

And yes, observing the current state of the beauty blogosphere can sometimes be quite depressing, and frustrating, and blogging blahs-inducing; but we shall withstand the storms and persevere. And maybe try not to look at those stats too often, and not compare myself - in the end, I can only be me, but I strive to be the best me that I can. Love you, my unique, fearless, no-bullshit readers. Friends.

30 Random Facts About Me

Following on my New Year's promise to bring you more personal content, here's a rather rambly post that I was tagged to do by the lovely Kar Yi at Angelic Betrayal. Get yourself a cup of tea (or a glass of something stronger... consider yourself warned) and dig in!

1. According to old wives' tales, I'd been fashion-obsessed since the tender age of three. My mum remembers that I loved playing dress up and would try just about anything on, preferrably all at once: ski hats, long scarves, dresses, coats, sunglasses - size really wasn't an issue. Having switched my attention to make-up, I can't quite say I still display the same attitude towards my clothing... but I do have some interesting choices in my closet.

Apparently, I also loved unique headgear, and liked to smirk from a very young age.

2. I don't watch horror and war movies because I get too scared. I always get very emotionally involved in whatever I'm watching (or reading), I just can't help it. I am the person who uncontrollably weeps in a movie theater; but hey, at least I'm a silent weeper.

3. I hate people leaning on or even just touching the back of the chair I'm sitting in; it makes me want to pull my hair out. Oh, and the worst of all: tapping or kicking my chair... I think the feeling of vibrations travelling through the wood into my body because of someone's mindless habit is just pure torture. I need space, man!

4. When I was in primary and middle school, stationery was my crack. I loved visiting various stationery and craft supply stores in the neighborhood, looking at pens, pencils and notebooks, and sometimes buying a silly knick knack. I especially loved cute erasers; I remember having a stiletto-shaped one, a neon coral one and a set of eraser tools - a hammer, a screw driver and a paint roller. I still love beautiful stationery and prefer handwriting notes and lists whenever possible.

5. I'm a coffee snob and I fully admit it. My favorite kind of coffee is a classic latte with a teaspoon of sugar, no flavored syrup, no caramel sauce on top (coffee drinks are something I tend to frown upon). I'm very particular about the quality of espresso shot (love my crema!) and the quantity and perfect consistency of foamy, velvety milk. The best latte I've had so far in the United States was at Stumptown Coffee Roasters, and I use their Holler Mountain beans at home to make my coffee. I'm not a caffeine addict though, so if I can't have my coffee just the way I like it, I generally prefer to skip it altogether.

Photo from my Instagram (shameless plug): the only time I ever succeeded at creating latte art, and yes, it was a complete accident.

6. My heart beats quite a bit faster than an average person's, especially when I'm running or hiking. I actually started to be a bit worried about it, so I went to see a doctor, was treated like a proper hypochondriac and in the end learnt that some people's (mostly women's) hearts are just naturally set to a higher heart rate. For this reason, I dislike the whole theory that a person's heart only has a preordinate number of beats to use up in their lifetime.

7. When I was a little girl, I really wanted to be an actress; my dad actually used to be an actor so that's probably where I got the idea. I went to different acting classes for a good couple of years, won first prize in a recitation contest when I was 8, and even got a tiny part in a Polish movie when I was 12. Around the age of 14 though I became too introverted and uncomfortable on the stage to continue my acting passion. I turned my attention to writing and drawing, which required a lot less public attention.

8. I'm neither city folk or country mouse. I grew up in big Polish cities, but moving to Pacific Northwest marked me with a deep appreciation and awe of the natural world; I still think Vancouver, BC, Olympic Penninsula and the San Juan islands are some of the most scenic and breathtaking places you can visit. I do love living in New York though and revelling in all of its unique culture and history, and I can't wait to get to know East Coast a little bit better.

In the Olympic Penninsula. Yes, it's that beautiful.

9. In the past year or so, I experienced a couple instances of sleep paralysis. In case you've never heard about it, Wiki describes it as a phenomenon in which people, either when falling asleep or wakening, temporarily experience an inability to move. My bouts of sleep paralysis have always occurred when I was napping (another good reason not to) because of jet lag, always upon waking up. The feeling of being trapped in your own body is quite possibly one of the most terrifying experiences I've ever had.

10. I like to think I'm a decent cook and I definitely come from a long line of excellent cooks: my mum, both of my grandmothers and even my paternal grandpa can all cook (and bake!) absolutely delicious food. The challenge in my kitchen though is having to adapt to my husband's food allergies, which include but are not limited to cow's dairy, eggs and garlic. I think I can still do an ok job, even with these limitations, although I tend to get very bored of my own dishes. I like variety!

11. Libraries are some of my favorite places to hang out. Although I generally research what I'd like to read at a given time and then place a hold for my book online, I sometimes like to roam aimlessly and get lost between the shelves. There hasn't been a library I visited so far that I didn't like - be it a tiny local library at my parents' suburban town, a majestic Warsaw University Library with its rooftop gardens, or my current Midtown Manhattan library, right next to the historic 5th Ave Stephen A. Schwarzman building.

12. Although I'm not a very small person (I'm 5ft 6', or 167cm), I'm often regarded as one. I think it has to do with the fact that I have quite small upper body and a small head, and combined it can somehow give the impression of frailty. I'll never forget when a much shorter friend, hugging me hello in the highschool classroom, would exclaim 'You're so tiny!'. I'm much curvier now but I used to be quite willowy as a child/teenager.

13. My best friend's name is Mariya and she lives in Seattle. She's the most beautiful, smart, funny, kind, positive and compassionate person and I'm very grateful to have her in my life. For me, one of the biggest cons of moving to NYC was being separated from her and I still very much miss her, even though we try our best to talk on Skype at least once a week. Love you, Mashenka!

14. The subject of my highschool graduation presentation in literature was the poetic tools utilized by French Symbolists, and the subject of my master's thesis was translation errors in children's literature on the basis of Polish translations of 'Just Patty' by Jean Webster. I still very much enjoy Symbolist poetry, and my favorite poet is Rainer Maria Rilke. I also still very much like, read and reread children's books. So there.

15. I am by no means an atheltic or physically active person. Although I occasionally hike, play tennis and snowboard with my husband, my preference is to bury myself under a warm blanket with a good book, and maybe stretch my muscles by reaching for the tea mug. From different sporty activities I've tried in my life, dance/cardio classes like Zumba were my favorite, and I also like taking long walks.

16. My feet get cold very easily, which is why I love wearing fuzzy slippers at home and like to buy my winter boots in Poland, where you can get real leather honest-to-God cute boots with an insulating fuzzy on the inside (my newest pair has a sliver of silver on the toe cap and an exposed silver zipper at the back, and they're very high).

17. I have one brother who's older by 5 years and lives in Warsaw, and he's currently starting his own law practice. In terms of looks, none of us took very much after our parents and we don't really look much alike either, but we're always told that we have the same smile. I'll take that because I think my brother has a really cute smile - doesn't he now? I wish I had his blue grey eyes and loose curls too!

18. For a woman with a small-ish frame, I have a pretty good tolerance for alcohol. I've never tested it fully to the point of passing out (and I don't intend to, ever!), but I can hold my liquor without making a complete fool out of myself, be it wine, champagne or vodka. I'm quite sure it's all thanks to my Eastern Slavic genes passed along from my dad's side of the family. All that being said, I very rarely drink any alcohol at all.

19. My Zodiac sign is Virgo, and while I don't take much stock in horoscopes, I have to agree that I share some of the typical characteristics of this sign: I'm more of a rational, analytical thinker that needs to bring order to chaos (or you know, organized to the point of OCD), I'm quite independent, and I like to be precise and reliable in what I do. In the Chinese zodiac, my animal sign is Tiger, which is supposed to be a charming, self-possessed, courageous but rather sensitive and moody personality. I can definitely agree with sensitive and moody, but not so much with the 'charismatic leader' part. Well, Virgo & Tiger is an interesting combo anyway!

20. I like sour foods a whole lot; my favorites include lemonade, freshly squeezed orange juice, raspberries, red currants, kiwis, gooseberries, a bunch of those weird Polish fermented foodstuffs like sauerkraut, dill pickles or sour rye soup (especially zalewajka), and I love things marinated in vinegar, like cornichons, sunomono, wild mushrooms, plums or pears spiced with clove. Yum! (I'm sure half of you is salivating right now, while the other half is seriously grossed out #sorrynotsorry)

Recent Whole Foods acquisition - tastes great in salads.

21. I often can't say my exact age from the top of my head. It's something that started when I was in my early twenties, and when I'm asked about my age, my mind tends to go blank for a second or two - am I twenty-six? Or twenty-eight? Oh right, I'm still twenty-seven. I had always been very aware of my current age when I was a teenager but I guess now it just doesn't matter that much anymore; that, or I'm in denial.

22. For a beauty-obsessed person, I very much dislike having things done in the grooming department; I hate facials because I stress out and hold onto the esthetician's bed for dear life, barely tolerate pedicures because my feet are tickly, object to hair styling because duh, boring. I do like beauty rituals in the safety of my own bathroom though, and I like relaxing in a hot tub or sauna.

Squirrels in Poland are definitely red, with a super fluffy tail and extra tufty ears.

23. My highschool friends nicknamed me Squirrel, or rather Polish variations on the word, like Wiewióra, Wiórcia, Wiórka, Wiórek (the Polish language seems to have almost infinite possibilities for diminutives, which I love) - it was allegedly because of my beady brown eyes and a bushy reddish ponytail. When I was little, I was also called Mysza (mouse) for my small size and buck teeth, and in the family, I've been called different variations of my first name: Monia, Monisia, Nisia, Niśka or even Nizioł (from niziołek, which is Polish for hobbit).

And a surreptitious drawing of a hobbit, from David Day's book.

24. I love me a good comedy TV series, and we have many favorites in the fam: obviously Monty Python, 'Allo 'Allo, Fawlty Towers, Wings, Keeping Up Appearances, As Time Goes By, My Family, and more recently, Frasier. Well, truth being said, I just love a good TV series full stop; on Kate's recommendation, I've just started watching Miss Korea. I'm always on the lookout for new ones to add to my list, so let me know if there's something I absolutely have to watch!

25. Often when I'm thinking hard (or just lost in thought, aimlessly staring into space), I tend to move my feet subconsciously: I wiggle and turn my ankles, rock my leg from knee down, tap my toes on the floor. Funnily enough, my dad and brother do it too, and we jokingly compare it to the leg movements of a chirping cricket (uhm, I stand corrected: apparently crickets chirp by rubbing one wing against the other, not their legs... who knew?).

26. When I was in college, I learnt by way of an experiment at a non verbal communication class that I sometimes intimidate people by staring them down when they're speaking. I was quite confused to learn that anyone at all can find me intimidating, and I don't do it on purpose in the least - I think I just listen a bit too intently to what the other person has to say, and it helps me to understand their meaning better if I can look at them - which is one of the reasons I hate talking on the phone.

I swear I don't mean to stare... or do I? 

27. I enjoy collecting obscure and phonetically interesting words in different languages, like tchotchkes (which comes from Yiddish through Polish!), zarzamora, kerfuffle, Saperlipopette!, małżowina or harapuć. I also have a separate list of interesting town names, especially in Poland: Czachy Kołaki, Krzyczki Żabiczki, Tłustomosty, and obsolete first names: Mściwój,  Krzywosąd, Apollonia, Scholastyka or Melchisadek, Digory, Eulalia, Kerenhappuch. What are your favorites?

28. Speaking of collecting, I had some very interesting collections when I was a child: stickers, pages from cartoon notepads, little toys from Kinder Surprise, stamps, printed napkins, seashells, silver necklace charms, small tins and giftboxes. I'm obviously a collector at heart but I now try to avoid amassing too many things; apart from make-up though, I like buying tea cups, books, scarves and earrings, and we also receive a variety of fridge magnets from our families' travels in Europe and beyond.

Newest addition: a tiny espresso cup, handmade in Bolesławiec

29. I'm more of a dog than a cat person (sorry to all of you cat people out there, I'm allergic!). When I was maybe six or seven, my family adopted an incredibly friendly and energetic Welsh terrier puppy, Dina. She was a bit of a naughty but intelligent dog, and she used to greet me with a wagging tail, jumps and doggy kisses every morning and every time I came home from school. We loved her. She sadly passed away at the venerable age of 14 and she's buried in the woods behind my parents' house.

30. I carry a scale from our Christmas carp fish in my wallet for good luck. Every year, my mum puts some scales aside for us at the request of my dad, who then makes sure they're being carefully stowed away in wallets and purses. I'm not a superstitious person but I regard it more as a family tradition that I'd like to pass along one day.

Gosh darn it, this was hard, you guys - hopefully you're not bored to death now and at least you had a good laugh looking at pictures of me as a kid. I don't usually tag anyone, but I'd love to see some random ramblings from Driveller Kate at drivel about frivol, Bellyhead at Wondegondigo, Liz at Beauty Reductionista and everyone who feels like it. Spill it, ladies!

2014 New Year's Resolutions

Happy 2014! I hope you guys had a lot of fun partying - I certainly enjoyed my old soul's ways of drinking very little, going to bed quite early and having my belly massaged by a wandering cat (hey, I know I'm not alone in this! Don't you laugh now!).

I figured that some New Year's resolutions are de rigueur; well, who am I kidding, I actually enjoy making my resolutions and trying to stick to them throughout the year - my will power is probably the only thing I like to excerise. To be honest though, I haven't made any Earth shattering realizations as of late... for once, I'm quite content with how the things are going here on Rocaille Writes. In 2014, I'd like to continue on the same blogging path, both frequency and quality-wise. In terms of stash-reducing efforts, I think last year's rule of 2 products per month proved to be a doable challenge that's worth sticking to this year as well, and I'll keep on trying to use up my stash and bringing you quaterly empties posts this time.

One thing I would like to work on is including you guys more in my life overall, not just its blogging aspects. You might be surprised to learn that for a blogger, I'm quite a private person and have an innate dislike for public bragging and self-promotion. However, I do feel that oftentimes I'm missing out on getting to know you, my fantastic readers, and the first step to knowing you would actually be to show myself a bit more. So, practically speaking, you can expect a bit more random posts throughout the year 2014, be it tags, photo collages or travel journals. Where possible, I'll also try to show beauty through other angles, bringing you more variety in reviews and make-up looks.

Here's to an amazing and abundant 2014!

2013 In Review: Evaluating, Editing and Reducing the Stash

In January, as part of my New Year's resolutions, I decided to challenge myself and try to reduce the embarrasing size of my beauty stash. The specific stipulations of my 'No Back Ups Challenge' can be found here, and as we're just a day away from the end of 2013, I wanted to sum up my collection reducing efforts, show you the last empties of the year, as well as briefly touch on my success, or lack of thereof, in the other areas of blogging and beauty resolutions. 'Tis the time to reflect!

Generally speaking, I'm giving myself a big pat on the back for sticking to my rule of allowing myself to buy no more than 2 products a month; sure, there have been some temptations I couldn't resist, like the Into The Gloss sample sale, or some Friends & Family sales in November, but overall I didn't do too terribly. I also mostly resisted buying products from the 'no back-ups' categories I listed in the original post, like specific types of skincare, bodycare, and primers, mascaras, liners and foundations for make-up products - again, I slipped here and there with a cheeky purchase of a new cleanser or a body butter, but I definitely did limit myself in purchasing those things. One aspect I didn't factor in my resolutions was various gifts (from friends as well as PR samples), so the while the overall size of my stash is smaller, I still have quite a few back-ups left in most of my skincare categories. Can't complain about this!

My resolutions also challenged me to adopt a much more critical approach to the products I already owned as well as new acquisitions. I evaluated a lot of the products I owned, decided to toss a good amount, gave the lightly used and unloved ones away to various friends (and also organized my first blog sale!), and separated some I wanted to make a more concentrated effort in using up. The result is that I'm now much more satisfied with what I own and I appreciate all the great products I have in my collection a lot more than previously. I'm proud to say that not only is the size of my stash smaller and more manageable, but also in the process I discovered a lot of amazing products, which you can read all about in my last post on Best Beauty Buys of 2013.

And now, for the last empties of the year 2013; not that many products this time around because I have a good number of things that just refuse to die. In terms of bodycare, I have quite a lot of samples we used while in the process of moving to NYC: some shower gels from Bath & Body Works, a Fortune Cookie Soap body scrub, a sample of Loma's Repairative Creme Shampoo and Reconstructor (conditioner) that I enjoyed very much, and a small size of L'Occitane Almond hand cream; I actually prefer the original shea to this one.

Just three meager skincare products: the cheekily purchased Dermalogica's Ultracalming Cleanser, reviewed here, a dried-up bottle of Mario Badescu's Drying Lotion (it was all right but didn't work miracles on my breakouts, so I wouldn't repurchase), and a sample of Dermalogica Age Reversal Eye Complex - good eye cream with lots of vitamins and retinol but not moisturizing enough for the winter time.

My big success would be the completely empty bottle of Cacharel Amor Amor EDT; I purchased this a long time ago after remembering I had enjoyed a sample even a longer time ago, and shortly after purchasing, decided that I actually wasn't that fond of the scent, so I pretty much had to force myself to use this up. For full sizes of make-up, I tossed a couple products: a dried-out Prestige Total Intensity liner that was causing major flakes, ditto for Kjaer Weis mascara, and a shattered pot of lime green Inglot eyeshadow I wasn't even using. I also used up samples of Buxom Buxom Lash (big thumbs up), Tocca Stella perfume (very nice!) and Prada Candy (purchased a full size last year).

Lastly, as for my other blogging resolutions: I'm quite happy with what I managed to achieve on the blog this year. While this wasn't the most prolific year in my blogging history, it was also quite consistent and most of the time, I did manage to bring you about 2 posts per week, often by preplanning and scheduling posts in advance (like now, for example). I'm also glad that I experimented a bit more with product photography and hopefully, you enjoyed the final shots as much as I did. If you wanted to look at Rocaille Writes in numbers, it now boasts over 600,000 page views, more than 1,100 subscribers and we have also passed the big 500 posts mark - not bad, huh? Here's to the New Year bringing even more surprises and opportunities!

I also wanted to take time (or, uhm, cyber space) to thank all of you for your readership, continuing support, amazing, funny and touching comments, and fabulous interactions via email, Twitter and Instagram. I'm blessed that I have so many of you as real friends: some from my past that have unexpectedly become readers, some fabulous beauty bloggers I met through Rocaille Writes and then had a pleasure of meeting 'in real life' for coffee and cakes, some that I still only know through the aether but are close to my heart nonetheless. Big hugz to all of you, guys... and have fun at those New Year's Eve parties! I'll toast to you for sure! And yeah... thanks for putting up with the cheesy soppiness of this post - it just had to be done :)

February 2013 Non-Beauty Favorites

February is such a weird fellow - it sneaks up on you with its dreary weather counteracted by pink hearts and chocolate-dipped strawberries, and then it's all gone before you know it. I think I'm glad it's over though; it was quite a challenging month for me and I'm getting really, really ready for springtime showers & sunshine.

As you may remember (and I'm sure you do, I'm just being annoying), I decided not to make any beauty purchases during the whole month; it helps a little that February is so short, right? I'm pleased to announce that I persevered and that my stash not only did not grow but actually shrank considerably within the last couple weeks, thanks to a more scrupulous pruning and generous gift-giving I resorted to. I've also worked on better organizing solutions for my collection and that's definitely a big favorite for the month. I've revamped my jewelry organization too using a good ol' corkboard method; while I dislike having all my accessories clutter on display, it really works in terms of my utilizing my things more and freeing up some space in my vanity drawer.

I'm very sorry to inflict my skeletal hand on you - I could not be a hand model to save my life. Still, this photo was the best of the bunch...

The only thing that I did buy for myself in the entire month was a sterling silver Count Me Healthy bracelet by Chelsea Charles. I will admit that they are quite overpriced for what they are (although I purchased mine with a discount) but it's a really universal basic piece that also has a practical function apart from just looking pretty; it does actually remind me to drink my water more often. Hurray for staying hydrated!

Possibly the biggest highlight of the month was seeing Cirque du Soleil's Amaluna; ever since we saw their classic show Mystère in Vegas last year, we've been big fans of the troupe. Amaluna was a wonderful 2-hour experience tha made me feel like a little girl again, devouring the wondrous acts with my own saucer-sized eyes; although I have to admit I'm never a big fan of the clowns. The costumes, stage, music, choreography and acrobatics, of course, were all first class though. If you're in the Seattle area, book your tickets, you won't be disappointed!

For some more entertainment favorites, in January we started watching a classic 90's sitcom series, 'Frasier'. It's an incredibly funny and smart TV show, even more so for Seattlites, as it pinpoints the little quirks of the city's inhabitants amazingly well. If you've never heard about it, 'Frasier' is centered on the life of Dr. Frasier Crane, a radio psychiatrist, and his family. The show manages to capture the beauty of 'intellectual hypocrisy': while Frasier, with all his psychiatric background, is able to provide great advice to his radio callers, he fails to follow those same principles in his everyday life. Both me and Mr. love it!

Also, thanks to Sandra from '15 steps, then a beauty blog', I discovered a new EP album I've been listening to a lot this month: 'Sea' by Roosevelt. The second song on the album, Soleil, is definitely a firm favorite, and I wish the band came out with a full length album so that I could listen to more of their music. I've also taken to drinking a sleepy time tea this month before bed, and so far, Yogi's Bedtime is the best I've tried: it has a hint of sweetness to it and it feels relaxing and refreshing at the same time. Great for winding down at the end of the day.

I'm already looking foward to March as I'll finally be able to purchase a small but luxurious beauty bit I've had my beady eye on for a long time now, and we have also planned a weekend getaway to San Francisco in a couple weeks time. How has February been for you? Care to share any favorites?

My Beauty Blogger's Code of Conduct

In over two years of blogging, I've always been following my inner compass when it comes to what is acceptable and respectable in the beauty blogging world. I know this is a very personal matter and what I find dubious may seem crystal clear to you, but I just thought I could throw in my two cents here and let you know my thoughts.

taken from http://etiquetteforalady.tumblr.com/

1. Respect your readers. What I mean is that my priority will always be to you, which is why I will not join any affiliate programs or do sponsored posts on here, and I will always let you know whenever I accept products for review consideration. Additionally, I always strive for the best possible quality on my blog and will continue on improving the content, so that you'll be able to enjoy it even more!

2. Be faithful to yourself. I blog equally for myself as I do for you, and I will always post only what I feel like posting; I won't let either brands or popularity affect my writing. I accept that my readers might not find all my posts equally interesting, but I enjoy writing them all the same!

3. Don't (over)promote. I will never organize a giveaway on my blog aimed at increasing the number of readers, nor will I leave links to the website on other people's blogs. For this reason, I've debated joining Twitter for the longest time, but now really like it for the opportunity to keep in touch with my blog friends and readers. I feel that if someone would like to look for my blog, there is plenty of ways to find it without me needing to advertise my little blogging space.

4. Give back. Whenever I start watching the numbers of followers too closely, I go look for some new blogs to follow myself. Whenever I feel like my readers are being a bit silent on the comment front, I go leave some comments on my favorite blogs. Blogging is a community, and giving back is a must!

5. Support newbies. I probably do not share the love on the blog as often as I should, but I try to support newly founded blogs by following and commenting and helping with any questions they might have. I often feel like beauty blogging community is a bit like high school, where the elite is given all the attention and the outcasts are waiting to be heard. I do my best not to contribute to that status quo myself.

Pfff, here you have! I'm feeling a little bit like a Knight of the Order of the Garter by now with my Honi soit qui mal y pense attitude... What are the rules on your beauty blogger's code of conduct?

April Favorites

I thought that taking two months between my Favorites posts is going to guarantee a lot of products worth talking about, but no... I've been very lazy with my make-up these past two months and most days, I honestly only use a bit of blush and lipgloss. Am I mentally preparing myself for the warmer months?

However, these beauties definitely stood out among my neglected make-up products:


1. Urban Decay Naked Palette: Yes, I caved, and I don't regret it. It is amazing and it's going with me to Poland next month... along with my Z Palette. I'll be soon posting a look with tips for almond-shaped eyes featuring the Naked Palette, so watch out for that.
2. Shiseido Eyelash Curler: You can read the whole review here; before I got it, I could rarely be bothered with using a curler, and now that I have it, I can't imagine not using it every time I apply my mascara - it makes a world of difference to my lashes.
3. NYC Blushable Creme Stick in Big Apple Blush: I've raved about this formulation before, and I love this shade for layering purposes. The dusky rose tones go perfectly with most of my pink blushes, but it also looks beautiful on its own.
4. Revlon Colorburst lipgloss in Strawberry: I wasn't so sure about this at first as it seems to be packed full of glitter; however, it feels smooth and comfortable on the lips and wears off evenly. And of course, the shade is just perfect for the season.

Make-up aside, I've also been enjoying some other small pleasures:


Weekend walks in the sun... or, more often, rain and wind (here you can see all products mentioned above in action, plus a tinted moisturizer that's making me orange).


Old library books with their card sleeves and inscriptions... (benefit of writing an MA dissertation).


Cupcakes!!! If you ever visit the Seattle area, you have to check out Cupcake Royale. Like you HAVE TO.

What's been your favorite this month?

Happy 2nd Birthday, Rocaille Writes!

Happy Birthday! Joyeux anniversaire! Sto lat!


That's right, it's been two years already and I feel like celebrating! While last year this memorable occasion seems to have slipped from my mind, this year I'd like to indulge in a bit of self-love. Because Rocaille Writes is truly my love child and in the past two years has become more than just a hobby. I've laughed lots, sworn lots, learnt lots, took lots and lots of photos, and most importantly, met lots of amazing bloggers who have since become friends; while my other friends and family have no clue I actually write a blog. Life's a bit of a paradox sometimes, isn't it?

To celebrate, this month I've decided to pay a bit of a tribute to the humble beginnings of my blog, posting more regularly, as I hope you've noticed, and doing some more dramatic make-up looks which I think many of my readers initially came here for. There'll be more of these and other surprises in the future as the blog continues to grow, pinky promise!

And last but not least, I'd like to thank all of you, dear readers, both of the silent and the more talkative kind, the regulars and the irregulars, the new and... the loyal. Without you, it simply wouldn't be the same!

With Love,
Rocaille x

Seattle's Urban Craft Uprising 2010

This past weekend, Seattle Center Exhibition Hall hosted another edition of Urban Craft Uprising, an indie craft show featuring lots of Etsy shops and other small businesses selling handmade items. It was a perfect opportunity to pick up great unique gifts for the upcoming Holiday season, so the hall was bustling with busy shoppers and enthusiastic sellers. Just take a look!

photo credit: Mr

I really liked The Victory Garden's Christmas tree ornaments and creative neckwear designs!

MeMe's 'Lush-like stuff', as Mr was eager to observe...

These Devout Dolls' two-headed dolls and little deer toys are absolutely amazing, if a tinsy bit creepy :)

Can you spot two busy beauty bloggers talking jewellery?

I picked up a pair of garnet earrings from ElisabethSpace for mum-in-law, an eyeglass case for my little sister-in-law, and this keyring for myself, both from Maluhia Designs. Magic mushrooms are the best! The little pocket mirror was a bonus, how cute?

Will you be gifting any handmade presents this Holiday season? When I was a teenager, I used to make all of my Christmas gifts, including stamping my own wrapping paper! This year however I'll stick to the above-pictured items, and maybe make some bead necklaces for both mums... How about you?

The New Beginnings

[photo source]

Remember this piece of advice about experiencing new things to help you grow as a person? Well, I really liked this one and I think I'm taking my best shot to incorporate it into my everyday life. New home, new language, new friends, new diet, new sports, new hobbies, new habits... All that to try to find my place in the universe where I could feel whole and at peace with myself.

And sometimes I feel like I'm getting there, just a couple more steps. But most of the time, I'm not so sure I can do that. It feels like such a struggle, like there are so many things changing around me, and I just want my old life back; if I could just curl into a ball in my old bedroom with one of my favorite childhood books and hear my mum calling me from downstairs for a cup of tea, with lemon and sugar of course.

But in those moments of uncertainty, I try not to lose sight of the bigger picture. You know, as a teenager, I never imagined myself in the place where I am now. I never thought so many beautiful, unexpected and unique things would happen to me: meeting the love of my life so early, studying something not-so-practical but which I feel passionate about, moving across the Atlantic, discovering blogging and being able to develop my passions. Yet, it all happened to me and I am grateful. I count my blessings even if they overwhelm me.

Why am I writing this? I'm not entirely sure. Holidays are ending and soon I'll be studying again albeit remotely, my last, fifth year of university, and fall always feels like a new beginning. Will it bring me inspiration to carpe diem and strength to follow my dreams?

July Non-beauty Favorites

Fuschia purple orchid in our bedroom

John Irving's Last Night in Twisted River

Aloha's Popsicle and Strawberry Daiquiri votive candles

Tulsi Raspberry Peach and Vanilla Creme herbal tea

Homemade vegan spelt muffins

What are your non-beauty related favorites this month? xxx