What Would Jane Austen Do?
Submitted by admin on November 5, 2010 - 7:12 am
Bonjour!
Day 2: “And today’s What Would Jane Austen Do?” question is . . . .
“Would Jane Austen Give Up on Love?”
Lets check in with Jane Austen’s lovable character Eleanor Dashwood from Sense & Sensibility to find out …
Happy Howl-o-ween
Submitted by admin on October 29, 2010 - 7:03 am
Bonjour!
Just a quick note from the Burbank, California Airport where I’m sitting awaiting my flight to Denver for the weekend . . . . I wanted to wish you all a very FUN and HAPPY and SAFE Halloween weekend! I’ve made a promise to a very special 9 year old niece that I would see her Halloween costume, school parade and take her trick or treating. I love that I’m in a place in my life where I can have the time and money to be with my family. My family is the world to me and even though it’s Halloween and not Thanksgiving, I want to say thanks to all the forces, people and mentors who have helped me arrive where I am. One of my favorite passages from Wallace Wattles book is “What I want for myself, I want for everyone.” I love that. It’s absolutely the reason I started and continue to share Duchess is for this reason. I know that it’s not just about the love and the relationships (although that’s a huge part of it). It’s the entire look at life that makes it so delicious – from love and relationships, to money and career, to family and health – I’m so lucky in all that I have and what I have and want, I truly do want for you as well!
Betty's Halloween Outfit this weekend - She's a little Devil!
So here’s to your happiness, your fun, friends and family filled Halloween weekend and your success! May you be silly and laugh and enjoy this fun and outlandish weekend.
Princess Betty.
XoXoXoXo
Jill
Because I’m the Ultimate Girl
Submitted by admin on October 12, 2010 - 5:00 pm
Bonjour!
It’s been a very long time since the Duchess wrote about anything going on in her own life. For good reason believe me; I’m honestly more interested to hear what’s going on in yours! But I thought it may be a nice change of pace to give a little insight into the mind and life of the Duchess from time to time – and now seemed like a pretty good time.
What can I say? I’ve been holding back on writing about me because I got my heart broken. And it was just too damn painful and to write about. But enough about that, you can read all about my adventures in getting my the royal crap kicked out of my royal heart (turns out Jill really does come tumbling after when “Jack” decides he wants to fall down or chooses to break his Crown) when the book gets published. In the meantime, I’m finally feeling like it may be time to emerge from my cocoon and rejoin the living (and dating).
And so I’m going to share with you all over the next few weeks my adventures in dating (hopefully!). And since I’m a Taurus and the uber girl when it comes to beautiful things, quality fabrics, great smells and all the rest of the amazing things we get to experience as girls, I realized it’s time to start fresh with a “If you Build it He Will Come” lingerie overhaul.
Step One: Burn (okay, throw away, but that’s less dramatic then burning) all existing lingerie. No more stockings and garter belts that remind me of this or that with the ex. No more bras with memories tied to the time we met up in Vegas or the times at his office. No more underwear with a history of being lost in his covers or thrown around his room. Lingerie exorcism.
Cyd Charisse, from classicforever.jpg
Step Two: Invest in totally pretty, not only for function undies. I want to feel pretty and sexy again – not just like the walking wounded.
From brafitting.org
Step Three: Purchase and begin wearing. This is where you come in to play! 123Underwear.com has a great selection of beautiful (alright and functional too, but I’m focusing on pretty first!) lingerie sets and I need some help determining which way to go. For this week . . .
Do we like the Elle line (which I love except she’s Australian and I have a natural disinclination towards Aussies, but I’m willing to overlook that for Elle).
Elle line - from 123Underwear.com
Or do we like the Dolce & Gabbana line? Too much sas for my class? Can’t decide . . . .
D&G in "Ocelot' from 123underwear.com
Clearly your decision here will help me along – so please give me your thoughts. I’m going to start my new dating life with some fabulous investments in the girly, pretty things that make me feel great even when it’s only me looking back in the mirror (for now).
If I build it . . . (wear it, work it, own it!) he will come . . ..
XoXo
The Duchess
(the 2 collections I’m choosing are from 123 Underwear.com - loving this site and all about free 3 day shipping! Woot, woot!)
Loving the Ladies
Submitted by admin on August 20, 2010 - 9:20 am
Bonjour!
Every once in a while I read or hear something so beautiful that I get all teary eyed and emotional. This seems to be happening a lot lately as I’m five weeks into the Duchess Summer Loving course and I’m hearing some really beautiful things from the women in class. Tales of first dates that have turned into third, then fourth, then more. Tales of long term relationships turned into the sweetest and most loving engagement stories. Tales of happily married women now moving on to the next part of their journey with their partners, the starting of their own families.
And so even as I write this I get all sobby and emotional because I feel so grateful to be standing where I am today. Yes I wanted to be standing here with a partner by now. But now that I’m here, while the partner is still something I will openly welcome when he comes, he seems less important to making a complete and blissful life at the moment. Not because he doesn’t matter, but because I know that our meeting and coming together will happen effortlessly when it’s started and until then, look at all the love.
It’s easy when we get our hearts broken to say, “fuck love. I’m never getting hurt again.” But while some people may have thought my foolish to open up to it so totally again with someone, I am actually really grateful I did because I know now what it feels like and how to do it. I have loved someone totally and fully and bigger then I ever thought possible. And perhaps the point of that love was just to learn that I could do it, and lose it and still survive so that when I get another shot at it, I won’t be scared. I’ll actually be able to go even bigger because I know now what I’m capable of and that there is no reason to fear losing it, because “it”, love, is the reason. It’s the point.
I understand that love doesn’t pay the electricity bill. I know it doesn’t purchase the Porsche or solve the mortgage situation. It doesn’t do much of anything really, in that respect. But it does make life fun. It creates the moments that we carry in our hearts for life. It fills up the supply of courage, strength and support that we need in reserves to be bold and live fully. It’s the reason we’re all here. And I think it’s the reason we all long for the perfect partner, even those of us who have been so hurt as some point that we say we don’t care or don’t need it. Everyone wants to be loved. Everyone. I don’t know one single person who doesn’t need to be loved and cherished. It’s the best feeling in the world.
And as I’ve secretly hoped and loudly preached from my Duchess pulpit these past few years, there are good, nay, great men everywhere who want to join in this kind of union just as much as women. And to back me up is this beautiful article from the Huffington Post, written by a bold man explains, all men do dream of falling in love, just like women.
Whether you’re a man or woman, you should read it. There is something to be learned here, even if it’s just honesty.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/arjuna-ardagh/goddess-worship_b_660896.html?ref=fb&src=sp
Something about the moon is always magical to me.
Royally Kind Begins!
Submitted by admin on August 5, 2010 - 6:48 am
Bonjour!
For any of you who aren’t familiar with the Duchess “Royally Kind” Blogging event – you’re about to be! A group of about 20 women bloggers have joined me in the first ever (but hopefully not last) blogging event for good deeds and random acts of kindness! The rules are this;
1) This week I challenged the women to commit a random act of kindness for a total stranger when the inspiration set in to do so. I asked them to watch and see all week whatever opportunities they could to do something to help someone out. There were only two rules, it had to be a stranger and it had to be less than $5 (if someone chose to do a monetary act) because I wanted to particularly have us focus on connecting with another human being and offering a service of kindness, as small as that is.
2) They have a specific date (August 5th, today! and August 10th, next Tuesday) to post about their act and share it with the world.
3) At the end of their post I asked them to link to the other women bloggers participating from their group to “pay it forward” and link up the whole group with their blog. That way anyone’s particular readers can visit the other blogs of participants and read about more good deeds happening around the world. And yes, the Royally Kind blogging event is happening around the world.
How you can help?! WHY read all about it and leave comments! Or better yet, commit your own random act of kindness and leave it in the comments section. We’re happy to have more of you! Join us, pay it forward, and be Royally Kind!!
Here are my ladies!!
Group One: Posting Thursday, August 5th, 2010
“Red Said”: http://www.redsaid.net“That Happened to Me”: http://www.thathappenedtome.com“Redefining the Meaning of Wealth”: http://www.redefiningthemeaningofwealth.com“Plush Palate”: http://plushpalate.blogspot.com/
Group Two: Posting Tuesday, August 10th, 2010
“La La Lovely” : http://lalalovelythings.blogspot.com/
“Res”: http://resipsainsead.blogspot.com/
“Remabulous Coaching”: http://www.remabulouscoaching.com/remabulous/Blog/index.cfm“A Life More Fabulous” : http://alifemorefabulous.blogspot.com/
“Single For Good” : http://singleforgood.blogspot.com/“Simply Seductive” : http://simplyseductive.blogspot.com/“Everything Fab” : http://www.everythingfab.com/“Bits of Beauty” : http://www.dailybitsofbeauty.com/
PLEASE SHOW YOUR SUPPORT FOR ROYALLY KIND AND THESE AMAZING WOMEN BY LEAVING COMMENTS, SHARING YOUR OWN TALES OF KINDNESS, AND VISITING THESE AMAZING WOMEN’S INDIVIDUAL SITES. I’M SO SO SO GRATEFUL TO THEM FOR SHARING MY IDEA THAT LIFE IS BEAUTIFUL, PEOPLE ARE INSTINCTIVELY GOOD, AND BEAUTY IS ALL AROUND US EVERY DAY!!
Join us!
I think we could all use more acts of patience and kindness directed from us toward our fellow man and vice versa!
Show your support and leave your comments below! Then visit the beautiful Duchesses of Royally Kind, by clicking through to their amazing blogs and sharing your comments!!
La La Love this Lovely Blog!
Submitted by admin on August 1, 2010 - 8:41 pm
Bonjour!
The “Royally Kind” Blogging event kicks off this week and look at this beautiful, sweet intro to the event from amazing blogger Trina of La La Lovely. She’s a great woman with a great blog – see her post and learn more about ‘Royally Kind’ happening this week.
http://lalalovelythings.blogspot.com/2010/07/la-la-love-royally-kind.html
La La Lovely - Indeed!!
