Let's Go Shopping

OK, so grab your wallets and let's go shopping. I've been scouting out Royal Wedding souvenirs over the last couple of weeks and here are some of the things I found in the shops. Starting with one of the classier tea towels, my daughter-in-law received this as a birthday gift. See the little W + K carved into the tree and the love birds on the branch. Love it because it's different!

How about this Corgi Austin Mini Commemorative Car I found at Harrod's?

Harrod's also had some very royal pillows.

A spot of Grand Wedding Tea, perhaps?

Or a hamper of Prestat chocolates--the "Royal Family's favorite chocolates."

I found a great selection of children's Wedding themed books--many with Princesses as the main character, of course. 

One of my favorites--Jan Constantine--has a couple of commemorative hand embroidered pillows,

and some fun pottery with her iconic heart motif.

Crystal for your champagne toast.

Halcyon Days, known for their enamel boxes, has a line of unique boxes and porcelain that they are offering just for the occasion. You can see prices and detailed photos here.

Something in all price points,

and all shapes

and sizes for you to enjoy for years to come. Hudson and Middleton offers this mug of fine bone china,

along with its matching plate.

The Royal Collection offers a plate, mug and pill box in a soft blue pattern. This is the line that is endorsed and sold at the Buckingham Palace shops and all other royal properties which you can see here.

Selfridge's sells the Royal Worcester line of china

which is one of the classier options on the high streets today. Their website has even more lovely things for you to see, but act fast, because many of their items are already sold out.

Emma Bridgewater, one of the more popular pottery companies in England, has caught the fever with several options of mugs, boxes, and towels,

as well as this limited edition mug.

One of the most elegant lines is made by Royal Crown Derby. You can't go wrong with a classy look like this--if you're willing to pay the price.

And if money is no object, how about a pair of Royal Swans also made by Royal Crown Derby? The pair sell for about $1000. And of course, one is named Kate, and the other William.

So many more souvenirs out there to show you, but I'll leave you with this "one of a kind" pair of Pez dispensers which is being auctioned on eBay. Proceeds for this unique souvenir will be donated to one of William and Kate's selected charities--the Starlight Children's Foundation. Place your bid here, but make it quick: the auction ends on April 17. At the time of this blog's posting, it was selling for £8000, or $13,000.

Hope you found something in this group of souvenirs that is the perfect fit for you. Next post, I'll show you what I've bought to remember this special day.

Time for Royal Souvenirs

I took the time last week to stroll by the Palace, Buckingham that is, and check the pulse of what was going on in the neighborhood. The ducklings were out with their mommy, oblivious to all the excitement going on around them.

Paddington went with me on my stroll and we bumped into some familiar characters in front of the palace--look like anyone you might recognize? They were creating quite a stir.

I'd been considering for sometime what I should buy for my Royal Wedding souvenir--something that would be appropriate that my friends here in Houston would ooh and aah over, something my children would not put into a garage sale upon my passing, and perhaps something that I could pass down to my children and grandchildren that they would cherish through the years.

The store windows have been full of ideas, like this window at Peter Jones in Sloane Square.

Perhaps there would be a "treasure" at the Palace Convenience Store located across from the Palace. I'm sure it's where the Queen pops over for a loaf of bread and some milk. There've been so many options to choose from, so in the next several posts I'll show you some of what I've seen. Today we'll look at some of the quirkier items and some of the junkier  less expensive things.

I mentioned this one before, but this plate has been a big hit.

Shopping at the souvenir spots around the more touristy areas, you can spot shot glasses, playing cards, notebooks, pencils, bells, ashtrays and coasters,

along with a wide assortment of plates and mugs from China.

Bags of all sizes

pens, magnets for your refrigerator

T-shirts

and party masks.

Did you spot anything that caught your eye?

In the quirky category, I think that the Butter London line of nail products has really cashed in on the occasion with their new color of polish, custom blended for the royal events.

No More Waity Katie

 Seemed appropriate after an eight year courtship.

Stay tuned for more souvenirs ahead in the next post. I think you'll find they have a little more class and a slightly bigger price tag.

Royal Wedding for Dummies

Wow! I'm on Royal Wedding saturation! Spending the last couple of weeks in London has been so much fun watching the excitement build for the wedding of the decade. Time for me to head home to Houston though to await the arrival of our Little Prince, Mr. Jackson, our grandson who is due in two weeks. No wedding, no matter how royal could keep me from that event!

I have a LOT of tidbits to share with you in the run-up to the big day, but if you think that you need a primer to be ready for the big day, why don't you pick up this copy of The Royal Wedding for Dummies now available on Amazon?

I'm just saying--you don't want to look like you're out of the loop when the party begins on April 29th, do you?

Ending on a Sweet Note

So yesterday was one of those days here in London that make life fun. A group of us spent the day at the gardens of Wakehurst Place--so beautiful and much more to share in a later post.

Then hubby and I grabbed dinner at a new Mexican restaurant here in town--more about that in a future post too.

And then we decided to take the boat home, his favorite way of commuting back and forth to work each day.

The view on the boat home is much better than what you see speeding along in the tube, hanging on for dear life with commuters squashing you in every direction.

Besides, while we waited for the boat, we shared a hot Belgium waffle, reminiscing about the years we lived there.

And hubby had bought a special surprise for us to share at home.

Ladurée macarons--the very best Paris has to offer, and now available here in London.

So we popped open the box--lemon, chocolate, raspberry.

With lemon winning out as the bedtime treat. I've got a few left to share.

Wish you could join me!

A Day at Ascot

It was a foggy, chilly day in February when a group of us headed to Ascot for the Betfair Ascot Chase Day. Located just 6 miles from Windsor Castle, it is owned by the Crown Estate.

Spending time with good friends enhanced all the fun we had that day. Queen Anne originally selected the area and set it aside for horse racing with the first race on August 11, 1711.

Three centuries later, however, the racecourse was closed for 2 years between 2006-8, when renovations took over and the ultra modern grandstand was constructed that is used today. Twenty five days of thoroughbred horse-racing take place here each year.

The races include flat racing, hurdle racing and steeplechase racing.

We were fortunate to be the guests of friends who had arranged for a private box, which meant we had some great food, room to walk around, and our own private betting grid to make watching the races a little more fun.

On our particular race day, there were jumping races: both hurdle and steeplechase races as a lead-up to the championship Cheltenham Races following a few weeks later.

This is a close-up of a plain steeplechase fence. At a height of 4'7", there are 8 of these fences made from the branches of birch trees, as well as 2 open ditches for the horses to jump. Depending on the individual race, the course is between 2 and 3 miles.

In the other type of jumping race, there are 7 flights of hurdles, each at a smaller height of 3"6." Typically, a horse would start his career jumping these before moving on to the more difficult steeplechase races.

The girls decided to go on a little exploring trip of our own between races.

We checked to see if we could get into the Royal Enclosure where the queen would sit on days she was attending, but we had no luck entering.

So we headed to the Parade Ring where the horses parade prior to their race, and we checked out the jockeys,

and the horses,

and then the jockeys again.... Cute little fellows!

We also got a peek at the award presentations to some of the winners.

And now, we're anticipating Royal Ascot to come in the month of June, when the attire and the behavior becomes "very proper."

Which reminds me of this song  from "My Fair Lady" called Ascot Gavotte. One interesting tidbit for you as you enjoy this clip--there's a little movie blooper here: the horses are running the wrong way!

♫♫ "What a smashing, positively dashing spectacle, the Ascot Opening Day." ♫♫