Wednesday, August 26, 2009

Day Two-hundred Fourteen



The new semester started a week ago. Something unusual about this one is that I'm not taking any major-related classes - instead I'm focusing on electives and such. I think I'll enjoy all of them, a beginner's French, a formal logic, and a death/religion class, but the one I'm having the most fun with is French. I always wanted to learn that language, to me it's very rich and musical, sort of the desserts of the European language buffet.



This time of year always has me feeling inspired and energized. This fall I'm going to take the adult beginner's ballet at the local ballet studio, and I've begun to do vocal exercises via youtube. Vocal training is something I used to do in high school, and it feels so good to pick it up again, I've missed it. Hopefully I can find a teacher.



The first of the leaves have begun to fall. Now I'm anticipating the flourish of color and beauty that marks the death of summer. Au revoir. Bonne journée!

Tuesday, August 18, 2009

Day Two-hundred Six

How to be a... (well, what do you think?)

Think natural beauty. Make everything look fresh and elegant.



Nails: Light pink or just clear polish would look wonderful. Also, make sure that they are clean and filed down to an appropriate length. French Manicures look fabulous and can make a girl look classy and elegant. Whether it's a home DIY nail session or at a professional salon, you should always try to have good nails.





Make up: Apply it on carefully, but make sure not to overdo it and look too garish. Take care to make it look fresh and natural. Fun colors every once in a while are a good idea too, but don't apply them all at the same time so that you look like a clown!



Hair: It doesn't have to be done in high curls or tight ringlets. Just make sure that it's moisturized nicely and combed. A cute up do when it's hot outside can look super classy. Make sure you have a good hair care routine too - shampoo it, condition it and apply creams to get it as pristine as possible.





Clothes: Choose clothing that suits you and your taste. But be careful; you do not want to appear tomboyish. Also make sure the clothing you pick is clean and stain-free. Also, be modest! Being a princess means dressing like a lady. You do not have to show off.



Never sacrifice comfort for style. A princess should feel at ease in all situations. Now, this doesn't mean show up at a formal dinner in a tracksuit, but know that when you are comfortable, people will be comfortable around you!

And most importantly....

A Princess is a princess inside and out. So while you may look the part of a princess, you must make sure that you always portray a princess inside as well.

It was interesting to study the contrasts on what the conceptions of a "princess" were between the two "-hows" - there's the rest of this guide at wikiHow and then a different one at eHow. The latter list is a bit pretentious (it's for adults) and reminds me more of a spoilt step-sister instead of a proper lady, yet this is what passes for one today...

Saturday, August 15, 2009

Day Two-hundred Three

Right now I have princess on the brain...











And of course, some reading material!
Princess Lessons
And then, there are the virtues:
  • patience
  • gratitude
  • humility
  • duty
  • honor
  • grace
  • kindness
  • hope
Have a lovely late-summer Sunday, everyone!

Day Two-hundred Two

What I'm looking forward to today is a picnic...



What I've been thinking of lately is the coming season...



late summer/early fall is my favorite time of year, and fall is my favorite season.

Where I want to stay is a cottage on the sea...



somewhere lush and warm.

What I'll do for the moment is enjoy some chocolate...



What are your daydreams today?

Friday, August 14, 2009

Day Two-hundred One



O, then, I see Queen Mab hath been with you.
She is the fairies’ midwife, and she comes
In shape no bigger than an agate-stone...


And in this state she gallops night by night
Through lovers’ brains, and then they dream of love;


O’er ladies ‘ lips, who straight on kisses dream,
Which oft the angry Mab with blisters plagues,
Because their breaths with sweetmeats tainted are...

Tuesday, August 4, 2009

Day One-hundred Ninety-one

Then a great
holiday was
proclaimed
throughout the
kingdom so that
all of high or low
estate might pay
homage to the
infant Princess

Homage was an act, in medieval times, of a man acknowledging himself as a vassal to his (now) lord. Usually it was a ceremony, as well as other acts done throughout the duration of the vassal-lord relationship, if my understanding is correct. Homage today is more of a tip of the hat, a show of respect, to elders or influences that helped to guide us in our life.

Homage as used above (from Sleeping Beauty) seems different than both. It's not about vassalage, or really the type of tribute as it's understood today; to me, that sort of homage isn't really homage at all then, but a celebration of the warmth, joie de vivre, springtime, and everything that a Princess or Maiden (as seen in various fairy tales, mythologies, or Disney animated films) represents, and in many ways, everything that we women today still strive for as far as personal virtues.

In my time away I've been feeling so ground down - at first I had just thought it was because work and school were just becoming more demanding, and that when that load lightened I would feel lighter as well. However, it's not like that; this sort of thing, I think, must be fed - the joy, the love for others and for life. When you do this, it doesn't wax and wane with your fickle moods, and endures even throughout the stresses and disappointments in life (and in fact, reframes them altogether).

I've been thinking, like King Stefan and Queen Leah, I would like to declare a holiday to pay homage to the infant Princess, the bubbling spring of light that I've discovered. The Princess Portal has it's Princess Day on May 5th, which unfortunately never works out for me because it's always on exam week. So, instead, I think I'll have to declare my own holiday... I'm usually doing something work or school related each day, and even on my days off I have errands to run and things to study. Sometime this Autumn, I'll simply declare it a holiday, take the time off work, and celebrate.