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Fashion, Food, Friday Favorites, Society

Friday Favorite: Having a Ball

I mentioned this video a couple of weeks ago in my Austen in August post, but it was so much fun (and so informative) that it deserves its own day.

Produced by the BBC and aired in May 2013, “Pride and Prejudice: Having a Ball” attempts to re-create a Regency-era ball. Using Bingley’s ball at Netherfield as a guide experts in the clothing, food, and even dancing use their knowledge and skill to bring history to life.

That sounds cliched, I know, but it’s truly what they do–not only do you see the finished product, but you experience the chaos of the kitchen as supper approaches, the energy and precision required for each of the dances, the realities of wearing Regency dress. The participants are interviewed throughout, so you also get a modern perspective: what is this like compared to what you’re used to?

Grab a cup of tea, put your feet up, and enjoy 😀

Books

Favorite First Lines

Since school started last week, I’ve been up to my neck in summer reading papers. So I thought now would be a good time to celebrate one of the fun parts of reading by sharing the opening lines of some of my favorite romances.

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“When Tiberius Lamartine Flynn heard the tree singing, his first thought was that he’d parted company with his reason.”  —Grace Burrowes, Once Upon a Tartan

“In the tender green time of April, Katherine set forth at last upon her journey with the two nuns and the royal messenger.” —Anya Seton, Katherine

“The spy called Saint hunkered down in the bottom of the wardrobe she’d occupied for the last four hours and attempted to stifle a yawn.” —Shana Galen, Lord and Lady Spy

“Kate squinted up at the sky. Her nine-year-old imagination raced as fast as the wooly clouds that floated above her. A lamb, a dragon—and that big one, surely that was a giant with a horrid hooked nose.” —Anne Easter Smith, A Rose for the Crown

“ ‘Whatever fool claimed females to be the weaker sex never met my sister.’ ” —Candice Hern, The Best Intentions

“He was dead. However, his nose throbbed painfully, which he thought odd in the circumstances.” —Diana Gabaldon, Voyager

“Everyone knew that Sophie Beckett was a bastard.” —Julia Quinn, An Offer From A Gentleman

“Not every fairy tale begins with a prince or a princess. Some begin with a kiss that turns a man into a frog, or a tumble on the road that turns a basket of eggs into scramble.” —Eloisa James, Storming The Castle

“Gwen’s pulse beat so loudly in her ears, the sound drowned out the rumble of voices in the hall. He was here! And he still loved her!” —Sarah Woodbury, The Uninvited Guest

“So this was how it felt to be a conquering hero.” —Courtney Milan, Unveiled

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Okay, so which ones did I forget? What are some of your favorite first lines?

Friday Favorites

Friday Favorite: Sabrage

Sabrage is the art of opening bottles of champagne with a sabre.

That’s right, an actual sword.

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The story goes that this technique was developed by Napoleon’s Hussars (light cavalry), who were given bottles of champagne as they traveled through the region of Champagne after a victory. Since they were on horseback, removing the cork from the bottle conventionally proved troublesome. Popping off the top of the bottle with a cavalry sabre was much easier.

Want to see how it’s done? In this video, Jennifer Simonetti-Bryan uses a knife-like instrument.

And in this video, Captain Rupert Campbell-Jones uses a ceremonial sword.

This is one of those activities that definitely falls in the don’t-try-this-at-home category, but you can hire professionals for you next party or gathering 🙂

Regency, Society

A Luxury Hotel in Regency London

We’ve all stayed in hotels. Was it different during the Regency, or do some things really never change? Laurie Benson describes a stay at the Pulteney Hotel in London 200 years ago.

Laurie Benson's avatarLaurie Benson's Cozy Drawing Room

I’m trying to squeeze in one last trip before summer vacation is over, and I’m challenged with finding a charming place to stay. Today, going online to search for a hotel is relatively easy, and I am a bit obsessive about reading guest reviews to help me find the perfect place for us to rest after a busy day seeing the sights. All this research had me thinking about travel during the early nineteenth century. Where did the fashionable people stay if they were planning on spending a brief amount of time in London?

During 1814, London was full of foreign dignitaries who had come to celebrate the defeat of Napoleon at the Prince Regent’s Grand Jubilee celebration. When Napoleon sailed for Elba, France’s King Louis XVIII left Buckinghamshire for London and took rooms at Grillon’s Hotel on Albemarle Street. Another popular hotel among foreign royals staying in London was…

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Books, Friday Favorites

Friday Favorite: Daily Cheap Reads

Books for your Kindle for $5 or less!

DailyCheapReads.com is a website run by two ladies who are very interested in filling up their Kindles for as little money as possible. They mostly post books published by mainstream publishers in all kinds of genres: mystery, romance, history, how-to, cookbooks, YA, etc. There are occasional indie book posts, too.

Saturdays are Savings by the Bundle days, featuring an electronic “boxed set”, where the price per book comes out significantly less than buying the books individually. Nook users: Barnes & Nobel sales are often mentioned as well, as Amazon has a policy of price matching. There is also a book club you can join at will, and lots of places to leave comments.

You can find them on Facebook and Twitter, in addition to their website.

If you’re looking specifically for Young Adult books, there is a Daily Cheap Reads, Jr.

And lest my British friends feel left out, there’s also a Daily Cheap Reads UK, for Kindle books under 6 pounds.

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