It's a Right Royal Wedding

I am an Anglophile.  It is probably a combination of reading too much Jane Austen and having half the blood in my veins be English.   Living in England for almost four years cemented it.

So I've been really looking forward to the Royal Wedding.

I am not such a die hard that I stayed up last night and saw the live footage, however.  I was planning on it earlier this week, but my husband was travelling all week and that means I am on deck, all the time, for my six kids.  And that furthermore means...


I am tired.  With coverage starting at 1 a.m. my time, I figured that watching it live wasn't a good idea.

But still.  I was excited for this.  Almost as excited as these people:

from BBC.com

But, the next best thing was to brew some of my favorite Twinnings (which has the Queen's seal) Herbal Infusion (Black currant, Ginsing and Vanilla--yummmmm),

make myself some toast with lemon curd 

and watch the highlights of the wedding courtesy of the BBC with Sawyer and Lucy.  I watched one clip via ABC, but quickly realized that I didn't want to hear Barbara Walter's commentary.  Sorry Wahwah... :)

First, I watched all the guests arriving, including David and Victoria/Posh Spice Beckham.
I love all the hats.  I wish we wore hats in the US.  Somehow you have to either be a parking patrol person or a very theatrical  kind of person (like Miss Darbiss from HS Musical) to be able to get away with a hat here.  It's such a shame!

from High School Musical by Disney

Anyway, then I watched Prince William and Harry arrive, and all the bridesmaids.

Then, of course, I watched Kate arrive/ I saw THE DRESS.

It was designed by Sarah Burton from Alexander McQueen.  Guess which two classic film wedding dresses it reminds me of?

 The lacework at the top reminds me of the 1991 version of Father of the Bride.

The neckline, sleeves and cut of the bodice and skirt remind me of Julie Andrew's dress in Sound of Music.

Anyways, I though the dress was lovely.  I really liked how fluid her veil was, and how beautiful it looked with her tiara.  Although, really--how bad could any veil be with a tiara like that :) ?  Overall, I thought that her dress, veil and accessories hit just the right note for such a formal and public ceremony, without being overdone or underdone.  That is not easy to do, is it?  I feel like in everything from fashion, to decorating to cooking that I'm always trying to figure out how to keep myself from extremes.  Maybe I need fabulous wealth and an army of advisers in order to get it "just right."  Lucky Kate! :)

After mulling over the dress, I then proceeded to watch Kate walk up the aisle.

What a long walk!  I think I would have been in tears by the end of it, but she managed really well.

I loved seeing Kate and William whisper to each other when they were near the altar.  I could have sworn I could lip-read him saying "You look beautiful."  Awwww :).

Then of course, I had to watch them exchange vows.  They were both nervous but excited (don't you remember feeling this way on your wedding day?).

Then they left Westminster Abbey and headed to Buckingham Palace, where they came out on the balcony and shared not one, but two kisses.  I'm sure after all the failed marriages that have hounded the royal family over the last few decades that lots of analysts will be analyzing those kisses.  Do they display enough passion, etc.?  All I can say is that kissing in front of people in a way that conveys your passion without being in poor taste is hard to do.  I can imagine that it's even more difficult if your personal life is reported in papers all over the world.  It would definitely make me very reserved with any display of emotion in public.  I thought they were sweet.

I really wish them all the best, although in real life, even princes and princesses don't get a happily ever after in marriage without being willing to work at it.  It is oh-so-worth it, though.  Their adventure, complete with joys, as well as struggles and sorrows, is just beginning.

Did any of you watch the Royal Wedding?  What did you think?


I'm linking up to one of my favorite linky parties:

Brassy CAN be Sassy: In Defense of Brass

I know that nobody in blogland seems to like brass and I get it.

I really do.

I can see the sense in painting over stuff like this:

I really, really need to do something with this lamp base.  I love the shape of it, but the brass is too brassy.

Or in changing out door knobs like this:

Not our doorknobs, since we're renting, but they are definitely overly shiny.

And frankly, I'd prefer a $2 plastic one over this sweet baby:

However, there is a time and a place for brass.  Real brass.  The kind you have to polish--or the kind you don't mind looking a little tarnished and old-moneyed.

One of my favorite lamps in our house has a brass base with great patina.  It looks fabulous with the leather club chair's brass nailhead trim.

The thing is that most modern brass has that anti-tarnish coating on it.  It is real brass, but it looks cheap and fake.

It gives brass a bad name.

Please tell me I'm not the only one who heard Bon Jovi when they read that last line...

It might save work, but it never has that mellow, lovely patina of tarnishable brass.  Sure, you might need to polish uncoated brass every once in a while, but it isn't a big deal.  And I think the color and warmth of real brass is worth it.  By the way--click here for a surprising way to clean brass

But back to my point: do you see the difference between these two candlesticks?

See what I mean?  The uncoated one looks classic and classy, the coated one looks like it's trying a little too hard :).


Here are a few style pics to prove my point that brass can be sassy and stylish:

From Elizabeth Dinkel Design

From my house :)

Also from my house--part of my fancy schmancy yet El Cheapo Easter Mantel

From Anna Melnikova Interiors,  Doesn't that brass chandelier look amazing against the peacock blue, the cream and the distressed wood of the table?

From Between Naps on the Porch.  The classic brass kick plate and door hardware just looks right with this lovely, traditionally styled front porch. 

So while I respect every one's urge to cover over their "sassy brassy" whatevers, and I love the look of brushed nickel, oil-rubbed bronze and chrome as much as the next woman, please save some room in your heart and home for real brass--you just might be glad you did.

What do you all think?  Has brass gone the way of the dodo and the dinosaur, or can it be a part of a stylish home right now?


Linking up with:  

Blue: Color Love

I love my mom.  She has a very strong color sense.  She is very creative and artistic.  She loves to improve her painting and will pour over large, technical color theory books like I pour over a good novel.  She knows what colors she likes, and what colors she doesn't like.  She likes warm colors--golds and siennas and corals--and would be thoroughly at home in a Tuscan landscape.

She doesn't like blue.

I grew up echoing her anti-blue sentiments.  When we'd go into some one's house decorated in blue, she would say to me in the car later, "What a lovely home they had--but all that blue just feels so cold."  And like you do when you are a kid, I would nod.  Blue=cold.  Check.

Mom, I love you so, but I have a confession to make...

I love blue.

I love this blue:


I know it's silly, but I think the light blue of the new Volkswagen Beetles is just beautiful.  I have a salad bowl that same color.  It is baby blue, with a hint of brown in it so that it a little more sober and grown up, but still sweet.  It is beautiful with white or cream, or with chocolate brown.  I can't wait to paint some one's room this color when we buy a house.  Does any one have a light blue Beetle I can borrow and get color matched :)?

I am in love with that slightly muted baby blue, but also I love this blue:

And this one.

Anyone else find it interesting how the blue is paired with brown in both these portraits?  I thought that was a new and modern twist, but it's as old as the hills...

Peacock blue is one of my favorite colors right now:

I took this picture at the zoo yesterday!  I'm so proud of myself :).  This peacock was loving the attention.

Last of all, I love this blue:

 This hutch is a little darker version of the baby blue above.  It is my favorite piece of furniture in our home.  It is filled with tea trios, white teapots and flow blue china.

Flow blue has different shades of dark blue, from navy to electric blue and everything in between.  Each piece is distinctive and beautiful.

Sigh.  My love for blue has been the kind where you are friends for a long time before passion smolders.  But now it has a hold on my heart and it's not letting go.

Now it's your turn: have any colors overcome your initial objections to become some of your most beloved?  I'd love to hear about your unlikely love story.

And the Winner Is....

Well, my acute camera problem has been alleviated by my sweet mom's willingness to share her camera with me until I can blackmail convince Aaron to get a new DSLR :).  Only joking! (at least about the blackmail--deathly serious about the camera...)

I thought I should post some pictures of the actual haircut.  I know anyone who loves me enough to read this has been waiting on pins and needles and everything, right ;)? Just so you know, after all my bluster/messing around on the makeover tool, I went for a cut I've probably had about 20 times in my life.  I always seem to end up with the same haircut.  Shorter, longer, same basic thing.  Sad, but oh so true.  Someday I am going to shock and awe with a totally different look, but apparently not right now.

Anyhoo, it may not be completely revolutionary, but I highly recommend this Heidi Klum-inspired haircut.  Here are some things you can expect from it:

This is the end of a long, tiring, day (or maybe that's just my new look?  scary :) ).  But this haircut is versatile.  You can expect it to look good even when you don't :).

It also looks great when you are kissing a smoochy baby.  Lucy is so chill about being smooched on all the time.  Oh yeah, people love me--so what else is new?

It looks great when your face is expressing--what would you say this is?--chagrin?

It even looks good when you are glaring at your 15-yr-old son for using his Grandma's borrowed camera without your permission.  

Of course, then I proceeded to rope him into using the camera some more by taking pictures of the haircut.  Such mixed messages--bad mom!

A Few More Options

Okay, here are a few more options to add to the mix.  For someone who professes to have such a busy life, I clearly have waaay too much time on my hands.  Also, I'm not planning to do any major coloring, so I am interested in all of these just for the cut, not really the color--not planning to go blond--it would be too much work to keep it and with my dark brows it would look just plain weird.

#1b

#2b

#3b

#4b

Any thoughts?

Makeover Frippery

This post will reveal to the world just how shallow I am.  

So, here it is:

I am getting a haircut tomorrow and need to figure out HOW I want to have it done.  I have been lazy and busy and haven't had a haircut for about 9 months (unless you count my DIY bang trims).  My hair is currently longer than it's been for years--just past shoulder length.  It is thinner than usual, since I am still experiencing the fun I-just-had-a-baby hair loss, complete with baby bangs sprouting around my hairline.  Ah, the things we do for love.  My hair is still pretty thick, though, and quite fine and straight.

So, I went to iVilliage's makeover tool.  I've used it before, but boy is it updated and really easy to use.  Upload a picture, sign your life away by sharing some of your personal info, configure a few settings, and in 5 minutes you are ready to play.  I have seriously wasted two hours I'll never get back having the time of my life trying all sorts of new looks and hairstyles.  So, here are some options:


9 to 5, anyone?


Do I look like a "California Gurl" in this sweet 'do?


The program also lets you do make-up separately or try on celebrities' whole "looks".



I'm supposed to look like Carrie Underwood.  Yes, I know it's spooky.


Here is Claire Daines--ahem, I mean me.  I actually think this one is kind of pretty--but I am not nearly high maintenance enough to go blond.



This is me as Christina Aguilera.  If I ever decide to quit my day job and put on the red light, if you know what I mean, this look would carry me far...


Note: sorry for the distracting bands of my own hair on some of the styles.  You can sort of virtually pull the hairstyles around your face to cover your hairline, but it would definitely work better if you took a dedicated makeover shot with your hair pulled back and looked straight at the camera.  I am still stymied by what to do about my broken camera (IE buy a nice DSLR? buy another point and shoot?) and so I had to use what I had stored in my computer.

Anyway, enough ridiculousness.  Here are some legitimate contenders:

#1



I kind of like the piece-y bangs, but don't think my hair could maintain this texture day-in/day-out without a lot of work.

#2


I like this one--I'd add side-swept bangs, but this would work if I want to keep it fairly long.

#3




I actually think this is pretty cute, but I dont' know if I'm willing to go so short for this haircut.  Maybe next time?  And it wouldn't end up being this poofy on me because my hair just doesn't poof without an insane amount of effort.

#4


This is pretty, too.  I would add more actual bangs.  Is it just me, or is it similar to #2, but just styled differently?

Any comments would be totally appreciated.  I'll let you know what I end up doing tomorrow!

Food Heroin: New Craves in the Making

Uh oh.

I tried two new foods this weekend, and I am already hooked.  Food heroin, anyone?

Number uno:



Since I think Oreo's are not worth the calories (I hate the way the filling coats the inside of your mouth--ewww), I figured these peppermint filling-ed chocolate sandwich cookies would be something I was buying for the rest of my family's sake.  My friend, Annie, told me they are addictive.  She was oh-so-right.  I LOVE Joe-Joe's, and I don't care who knows it.  I also think they would be divine dipped in chocolate (of course, what wouldn't, right?).  Maybe for neighbor gifts next year?  Oh, all right--I wouldn't mind having a bunch of chocolate dipped Joe-Joe's hanging around the house, either.

Numero two:



Oh My--Greek yogurt, where have you been all my life?

I bought a large container of Greek Gods strawberry yogurt and it was l-o-v-e at first bite.  It is so creamy, sweetened with honey (but not too sweet), just enough strawberry flavor.  I chased everyone in my family around with a spoon and made them try a bite.  They all, with the exception of my husband, instantly raised their eyebrows with delighted greed and wanted their own bowl-ful.  My husband, who is not a yogurt lover, still said, "It's pretty good."  Pretty good, my eye :).  It is amazing, life-altering, transformative.  Thank goodness I'm going grocery shopping this morning and can buy some more.

So of my new addictions, I fear that the yogurt one is the only one I can indulge on a semi-regular basis.  One of the lessons learned this weekend is that I am not to be trusted with an open pack of Joe-Joe's in my home.