Let the vitamin C do its magic...

A sore throat is creeping up on me...
I must fight it and resist...
So glad to live in an age with penicillin and medicine.
However, I don't go to those extremes unless I need to.
I still rely on old traditional cures.
Salt gargling and warm water help.
As always, let the tea and honey pouring commence!

Let the waiting begin...

Another season of Game of Thrones has ended. Now to wait another year, woo March 2014 here we go! Can't wait for season 4, which is going to change the dynamics of the political game in Westeros to a whole new level. My favorite moment of the season finale: the ten minutes or so with Daenerys, of course. The mother of dragons is now a mother of thousands, freed slaves. She reminds me a lot of Elizabeth I, the queen who ruled brightly and was loved by the people. Elizabeth I, however, had no children or lineage to continue the line. I wonder what Daenerys' future will bring...

Let the North never forget...

*Spoilers*
Isn't sad when you read a book and feel sad that one of your favorite characters has died or been killed? Isn't it worse when you invest yourself in a series and one of the main characters featured throughout the series is completely destroyed and the storyline is surprisingly ended? George RR Martin probably has a whole lot more hate mail this week than when he actually wrote the book featuring the scene that was just filmed and shown on TVs everywhere. I find it a victory though, in George  RR Martin, that as a writer of fantasy and epic stories he can evoke and create such tumultuous emotions in a wide range of people. That is true talent. The day we stop lamenting and feeling empathy for the characters we grow with each week is the day we truly have a tragedy like that of the "Red Wedding". The North will never forget!

 

*Warning for language *

Reactions of people witnessing the most current Game of Thrones episode featuring the "Red Wedding". 

Let the nice day for a white wedding begin...

I have been thinking about weddings a lot lately. They are crazy expensive and I doubt I will ever have the type of period/film type wedding reception that I have always wanted. But I started looking back at my favorite white wedding dresses from period films and I just had to make a list of the most beautiful white wedding gowns that are inspiring as I plan this long overdue reception. 
Did you know that brides started wearing white gowns and dresses until Queen Victoria of England wore white to her wedding to Prince Albert? Before Victoria set the stage and caused a long standing tradition that is even followed today, women wore gowns of color, brocaded and embroidered heavily with silver and gold thread. Red dresses were commonly worn by brides since dyed fabric was difficult to come by and showed the wealth of the family. Hollywood, of course, ignores this and has historical/medieval brides in white since it connects to the current perception of weddings.  With Victoria's wedding, however, the use of white gowns symbolized the family's wealth even more since it is such a delicate and easy-to-ruin color.

 

1. Genevieve Bujold's court dress (right) and coronation gown (left) in Anne of the Thousand Days (1969) has always been my favorite version of a white gown. The coronation dress with the gold underlay and the pearls on the bodice has always been my absolute favorite. I hate the puffed up sleeves underneath the bell cap sleeves but that could easily have been remedied with simple long lace sleeves. 

 2. Marrying a vicious-looking horse-lord, she had no language in common with, didn't stop Daenerys Targaryen (played by Emilia Clarke) from looking amazing at her wedding. The light flowy silver fabric was perfect for the hot temperatures of the vast grasslands across the Narrow Sea in Game of Thrones, Season 1 (2011). The perfect touch was the brooch like pendant holding the fabric together right in the middle of the bodice as well as the hanging sleeves around the arms.


 

 3. The lady that began it all, nicely portrayed by Emily Blunt in The Young Victoria (2009), is seen here with a traditional Victorian dress covered in lace, modestly covering the upper chest, and flowing widely over the hips. I especially love the flower wreath with the veil. I dislike the idea of flowers for decoration in a room but flowers on a person can make a difference at such a joyous event.

 

4. Two thumbs up for the most original and exquisite of the dresses used in recent film goes to Legend of the Seeker's series (2008-2010) portrayal of Kahlan (portrayed by Bridget Regan) and Richard's wedding. The very sexy and delicate looking gown is a corset tied with a simple ribbon and flower arrangement at the waist, and flows down the legs with an A-line mixture of a mermaid skirt. I especially like that it isn't simply white but a mixture of golden white giving it an old rustic feel.  And to top it all off, the gown is covered in lace on the back and follows the bride everywhere she goes. Lace just makes everything prettier! 

 

5. Finally, Bella and Edward's wedding in the Twilight Saga's Breaking Dawn Part 1 (2011) takes the cake for the most simple yet elegant look. The use of lace and buttons on the sleeves and back make the simple looking dress so much more elegant and ethereal. The use of the veil in the film is not to my liking but in general I dislike the idea of wedding veils and prefer flower wreaths or accessories.

Let freedom ring...

Is the country becoming more fascist? I think about this often. Are people forgetting what the Revolutionary War was fought for in the first place? Do they even know anymore? Sometimes it is crazy at how little the new generation knows about history and its significance. Sad grumbles for the day after a depressing history tutoring session.

Is freedom dying?  Is the world from "V for Vendetta" so far off? Is it already here? Le sigh.

Let the Summer reading start...

It is funny how we keep blogs, facebook statuses, tweets, and picture grams to document our lives as if what we do everyday is super important. Sometimes I wish historical figures could have foreseen their importance in the future and documented their lives even one half of what we do. It would have been so nice to actually knows the thoughts and emotions of the people whose lives have influenced me throughout my life. I guess historical fiction will have to do until some casket or chest is discovered with all of the diaries or letters of my favorite historical people.

Recommended Historical Diaries/Narratives (fiction):

Ancient Egypt:

Camelot  (Queen Guinevere, Lancelot, and Arthur):

 

About Tudor England: 

 For CHILDREN:
Scholastic's The Royal Diaries
(These books were my first interaction with historical women . I have read Elizabeth I: Red Rose of the House of Tudor, Cleopatra VII: Daughter of the Nile, and Isabel: Jewel of Castilla )

Let the Mother of Dragons win...

How I hope Daenerys will conquer the Seven Kingdoms!

Dear George R.R. Martin, 

Don't Kill Daenerys Targaryen! Your book series A Song of Ice and Fire is amazing. You have great characters, rich histories, complex characters, and real heart! But, please don't kill the possibly last Targaryen in that world and leave all of us fans in deep depression for at least as long as it has taken you to write the series. If Daenerys Stormborn, of House Targaryen, Rightful Queen of the Seven Kingdoms, Khaleesi of the Great Grass, Chainbreaker of Slaver's Bay, Mother of Dragons, the Unburnt, the Silver Queen, the Bride of Fire, the Dragon Queen, Princess of Dragonstone, Queen of Meeren, Blood of the Dragon, Queen of the Andals and the Rhoynar and the First Men, and the Slayer of Lies, never wins the Game of Thrones then what was it all for? Who the heck is Fire in your series if not her. You killed Ned, you killed Mormont, over half of the Starks are gone and separated, the Baratheons are nearly extinguished, and Winter has yet to come!? What can we even expect in winter? Winter is coming! has been proclaimed since the very first book. We are five books later and the series has yet to make any crazy impact that brings Dany closer to Westeros. When will her dragons grow big enough for her to control them and rule the Seven Kingdoms with? Just don't kill her. 

Sincerely, 

An Anxious Fan Waiting for Winds of Winter

Emilia Clarke as Daenerys in "Game of Thrones"