
The Oxymoron of a Secular Holiday: Whose Day is it Anyway?
Most people recognize the word holiday comes from “holy day†(actually, according to etymonline it comes from Old English “halig dæg,†which means… holy day), but in America we often use it to mean any day we would normally go to work and don’t, regardless if the reasons are secular or religious (such as the...

Don’t Forget to Send an Invitation or People Won’t Come to Your Party
In a funny turn of events (funny as in raised eyebrow, not really funny as in haha), Jax and I completely forgot about sending an invitation to the Halloween dinner party. We did send a “save the date†email to guests last week, but that was only to guests with kiddos, so they could secure...

Inspirational Elements for an Antebellum Hallowe’en
I have been patiently waiting for imperial inspiration. And now I have it. I think. As you may know, Jax and I have decreed southern gothic as the theme for our Halloween / Samhain dinner party. I’ve been asking The Oracle (aka Google) for design elements, but have not found anything that really fits. [Note:...

Three Things You Should Use Once and Throw Away
We all know that social living requires a certain amount of consumption – hermits can squirrel themselves away in their hermitages, eat from their garden, and never buy a piece of pretty to decorate – but we princesses have guests that will expect better amenities. And let’s face it, we princesses also like living in...

Buying Black Lace for Southern Gothic Decor (Craggy & Lacey)
And now back to your previously scheduled princess….and party planning.* I ventured out this past weekend to start collecting decorative elements for the Samhain / Halloween dinner party. I want to drape black lace strategically in the dining areas to create a dark, moody ambiance and to cast interesting shadows. The lace is only part...

The Fine Line Between Being Yourself and Forcing Yourself on Someone Else
Last weekend I attended a gorgeous wedding. The church was beautiful, the reception truly over the top, and the bride was, well, she looked fabulous. Even the sermon was entertaining; the preacher was an excellent speaker who knew how to write. I didn’t agree with everything (okay, much of what) he said, but I expected...