Fashion Fix

I won't be posting photos of my wedding dress because there is the danger that the Boy might see it. Not that I am adhering to some traditional superstition that seeing the wedding dress will cause some bad karma, but simply because I rather like the idea of surprising him. In any case, yesterday my dear friend Lyn and I went shopping for accessories and the results were fantastic! I found the perfect shoes and clutch bag to compliment my dress. I also managed to get the perfect shade of burgundy nail varnish to match my sash, and I have to say I did all this without undue stress. Whenever Lyn and I go out to shop for the wedding it is always with coffee in hand, low expectations, and the top of our agenda is where will we end up having lunch. This attitude seems to have worked however since we have achieved quite a bit, and as time draws closer I will be at peace, more or less, that all that remains is to marry my Boy.

Oh, and I need to thank the following for all my lovely stuff!

Rimmel London

Debbenhams

Accessorize

Monsoon

Jane Jordan Ltd.

Great work, guys, really, well done!

Thanksgiving 2009

Over the weekend my family and the Boy's family met in Devon, not too far from Plymouth, the town the pilgrims actually set sail for America. My sister and I put together a traditional Turkey day feast with cranberry sauce, yams, roast potatoes, pumpkin pie and a 16 pound turkey. We did ok, at least it was edible, but more importantly getting the family together, however brief. We went for a walk on the beach the next day while there was a small interlude of sunlight. In any case, after all that food the hike to and from the surf was probably exactly what we needed. Now its time to return to our respective homes, the work ahead, and our regular diets. Shame!

A Rye Sense of Humor

Last weekend the Boy and I decided to have Sunday lunch in the town of Rye in Kent. Aside from being incredibly charming and picturesque, this small town with its plethora of half-timbered houses and antique shops, also has a sense of humor about itself. I direct your attention to exhibit A and B provided above. 

Tuscano, Italia!

James and I enjoyed a few days in eastern Tuscany exploring the many walled cities that sit atop its hilly terrain. Cities like Siena, Cortona, and Lucignano are beautifully preserved cities dating back centuries. Some of the town halls even have murals from the 14th or 15th century that are still stunning to look at. Another town, Certaldo, requires a funicular ride to the top to reach the old town. It is quite small, but I managed to see the house Boccacio (author of the Decameron) was born in.

Aside from sites, the food of Tuscany is mouth-watering. I have never had so much fresh pasta and red wine in so many days! They are particularly known for a thick spaghetti like pasta called Pici, but my favorite was their ravioli and tortellini. They usually top it off with fresh tomatoes and basil or some shaved truffles. The pizza too was simple, rustic, and gorgeous! I think the key to good Italian food is basic and fresh ingredients without too much fuss or flare. Of course the red wine finished off the meal perfectly, not too mention dining on a candle lit terrace overlooking Cortona's town square was pretty amazing too.

Romeo and Juliet Never Had This Much Trouble!

Around and around we go! Ah bureaucracy, the devil's invention! My situation almost sounds like the riddle of the sphinx: when an American on a student visa gets engaged to an Englishman and they plan to wed in Italy, how many consular offices does it take? Add to this heady brew the fact that we live in an age of tightened security measures and the whole thing just gets more wound up in red tape.

The groom must make a declaration in his country, thankfully my country trusts his country so I don't have to do anything for the American side of things, but his country doesn't trust me. So, as an alien, I have to get some certificate of approval in order to proceed. And you thought impressing the parents was a hurdle! There is even something called the Marriage of Foreigners Act, which basically means that Britain begrudgingly allows its citizens to taint the gene pool by joining themselves with outsiders like me.

So now it is on to Italy and their notorious bureaucratic system, they don't even pick up the phone at their embassy! Hopefully we will iron things out when we scout out town halls in Tuscany. Oh, and we have to prove that we were born male and female because Italy puts the squash on any same sex unions or operations that may have altered Nature's original work. Interesting, no?

In a weird way though, all this paperwork has started to make the marriage thing seem very serious and legit. I guess I'm all grown up!

Lost in Translation: The Language of Shakespeare

Next month I am taking the Boy to Stratford, Shakespeare's hometown. I am excited to show him around and do all the tourist rounds once more. We will also see a performance of As You Like It, and if the Boy is honest, he is a bit intimidated by Will. When we have seen performances in the past, he tends to lean into me and whisper, "What's happening now?". This will repeat about every 5 minutes.

So! I have developed a plan to prep the Boy for his next Shakespeare foray: a book with a summary of the plot and characters in modern prose with plenty of pictures! This is nothing to be ashamed about, even if he does require visuals, no, but honestly this is totally fine for a Shakespeare novice. Except that my own mother whose first language is Russian and still has trouble pronouncing "asparagus" can understand a Shakespeare play without any help. Still, I insist there is no shame in it!

However, if he still has trouble after this I may have to give up altogether! Taking him to plays anyway.

Be A May Bride...Here's Why:

I am busy reading several conduct books from the 16th and 17th century targeting the married woman of Tudor England. This was essentially the self-help literature of the era, and some of the rules are offensive even to the most conforming wife. However, apparently there were loop holes even back then. Women were allowed to subvert their roles once a year during the summer festivals, particularly May - "Flora's month in Roman times- was thought to be a period in which women were powerful, their desires at their most immoderate. As the old saying went, a May bride would keep her husband in yoke all year round. And in fact marriages were not frequent in May" (Davis).

May it is then!