Which Tiara Should Kate Wear?

From the left: The Duchess of Teck, the Strathmore or the Delhi Durbar.

Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon, also known as the Queen Mum so as not to confuse her with the current Queen, Queen Elizabeth II, is shown wearing the floral tiara given to her by her parents when she married Prince Albert.

Ancient Tiara etiquette is that you wear one for the first time on the occasion of your marriage. This is because they symbolise the loss of innocence and the crowning of love.

The Cambridge Lover's Knot Tiara

This is the tiara that everyone is speculating Kate will choose. It belonged to The Queen, but she gave it as a wedding gift to her daughter-in-law, Princess Diana. This gem was commissioned from Garrard in 1913/1914 by everyone's favorite magpie, Queen Mary. She modeled it off of a tiara owned by her grandmother, Princess Augusta of Hesse.

Swinging pearls hang from 19 diamond arches capped with lover's knots. The piece was composed of existing jewels Queen Mary had in her collection. Originally, the design included upright pearls on top of the arches, but Mary had them removed eventually.

After Mary died in 1953, the tiara passed to Queen Elizabeth II. She wore it with some regularity in the early 1950s, but it eventually went back to storage as she narrowed down her favorite tiaras to the ones we see with regularity today.

Here both The Queen and Princess Diana are shown wearing the Cambridge Love Knot tiara.

Diana wore the Spencer Family Tiara (pictured below) with her wedding gown during the ceremony.

Spencer Family Tiara

I love to see the way this tiara sparkled and shined in the videos of the wedding. Gorgeous, stunning tiara. The Royal Family does not want Kate compared to Diana, so Kate will probably not wear this tiara. She is, after all, wearing Diana's Sapphire Diamond Ring. This is my favorite tiara.

Tradition also demands that the bride wears one from her own family's collection on her wedding day, but thereafter wears only those from her husband's family.

Being that Kate Middleton is a commoner, I doubt she has any tiaras in her family to choose from. I imagine the cost of making her one would be astronomical!

Diana's brother said that Diana had a terrible headache from wearing the tiara all day. She wasn't used to it. Maybe Kate should practice wearing her tiara around the house to prepare for the big day.

Delhi Durbar Tiara

As this tiara was recently worn by the Duchess of Cornwall, Camilla, we don't think it is in the running for Kate. She will want to stand out, but not be compared to others. Who knows, maybe her family will have one made especially for her!

I think Camilla pulls of this stunning tiara. It is so big, but yet it is perfect with her hair and earrings.

A tiara should never be worn at a hotel, but can be worn to dinner party when entertaining friends.

They are very difficult to place and good posture is absolutely essential to keep the tiara in place.

Queen Mary wore a tiara every night she dined n private with her husband George V.

Tiara rules of etiquette found in "The Telegraph"

Legion of Honor Museum San Francisco

Best Friend, Annette, Legion of Honor Museum

A month ago, my two friends and I planned a trip to the Legion of Honor Museum to see the Isabelle de Borchgrave "Pulp Fashion" exhibit. Unfortunately, my friend Cynthia, was not able to make it because she wasn't feeling well. Everyday we looked at the weather for San Francisco, everyday it said RAIN 100%. The night before we left, it said the same. The morning we were leaving, it said the same. When we arrived it was a beautiful, sunny day! Yay! God just seemed to bless us on this day.

We hopped in a taxi and told the driver, "Legion of Honor Museum, Lincoln Park". He took us the Lincoln Ave where all the other museums were, but not this one. To top things off, we began to feel sick in the back seat, had to roll down the windows and once we were at the right museum, sit outside for a few minutes in the cool breeze to feel better. Weird.

The Legion of Honor Museum is a gorgeous Beaux Arts style building complete with an arch and a courtyard. It is right by the water with a stunning view.

The arch is very detailed.

And to our surprise, Rodin's The Thinker is in the courtyard. The museum has a huge Augustus Rodin exhibit inside.

After we entered, we were greeted by these stunning flower arrangements.

This tulip is so amazingly beautiful. The color, the ruffled edges, and the shape are a delight for the eye.

Just beyond the flowers is the Rodin room which contains The Kiss, The Hand and many more. There were two rooms displaying his sculptures.

We then headed downstairs to the star attraction for us that day. The Isabelle de Borchgrave "Pulp Fashion" exhibit. The detailing, the painting, and the fashioning was amazing.

I got to take a few pictures (flash off, of course) before I was told there was no photography.

This dress was incredible. It looked like free flowing chiffon, but of course, it was paper. We had such a great day.

Royal Mews

Yesterday, on my way home from San Francisco, I sat next to a very interesting young man. He was a former British Life Guards Cavalry soldier stationed at Buckingham Palace. He was the guy you would see on Regent Street at the Horse Guard Parade Building and Grounds.

He worked in the Royal Mews which is the Royal Stables. Under this classification he is in charge of the horses, carriages and cars. He has worked many royal and state events, most recently Price Charles and Camilla Parker Bowles wedding. He is now retired and living in the U.S.

His name was Alex and he told me many interesting facts.

The Queen's carriage is always drawn by the Windsor Grays.

The palace has two types of horses: Windsor Grays and Cleveland Bays.

Gray horses are rare. You can't just breed two grays to get a gray.

The carriages that are often seen along Rotten Row in Hyde Park are usually carrying Ambassadors.

It is tradition for Ambassadors to present their papers to the Queen.

If the carriage is all closed up and shades pulled, it is empty. I've often see them all closed up and thought someone important was in them, but no, it is just bad etiquette to have an empty carriage open.

This brings me to a new subject. The carriages have been chosen for Prince William and Kate Middeltons wedding procession from Westminster Abbey to Buckingham Palace.

The 1902 State Landau will carry Prince William and Kate from the abbey to the palace. This coach was used in Prince Charles and Princess Diana's wedding procession as well. There will be 5 coaches that day.

1st: The Bride and Groom

If they have severe rain, they will use the Glass Coach above.

Second and third carriages will be Ascot carriages carrying:

2nd: Maid of Honor and Best Man

3rd: Bridesmaids

Fourth carriage will be a Semi-State Landau carrying The Queen and Prince Phillip.

Fifth carriage will be another Semi-State Landau carrying Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall and Mr. and Mrs. Middleton.

(Notice that there is no fancy stuff on top of this one like there is on the Queen's).

Also, I wonder who will ride facing backward? Prince Charles and The Duchess are royalty, but The Middleton's are the Bride's parents and it is their big day. What is the Etiquette?

The Prince and Kate will arrive separately. Kate will arrive in Rolls Royce number 1. Which is just like this one and offers a wide glass back panel so everyone can see her. HH and I saw both of the Rolls Royces when we were in London in Oct., one actually carrying the Queen!

Bouquets to Art

The De Young Museum of Fine Arts has an annual exhibit that they call Bouquets to Art.

The 27th Annual Bouquets to Art features 150 floral arrangements by prominent Bay Area designers and garden clubs that interpret and complement the museum’s permanent collection.

Bouquets to Art is the largest fundraiser held to benefit the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco, and one of the country’s premier floral events. Organized and produced by the volunteer members of the Fine Arts Museums Auxiliary, Bouquets to Art raises funds to support acquisitions, special exhibitions and education programs. It is held every March.

The De Young Museum of Fine Arts has an annual exhibit that they call Bouquets to Art. T

You can see more great interpretations at the Museum of Fine Arts website that has a slide show feature beautiful and unforgettable arrangements. The slide show is worth taking a look at. The best is shown in the show, I couldn't find pictures of everything. Click on the link below.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/famsf/sets/72157626149271953/show/

I wish I would have know about this earlier. I'm going to SF on Wednesday and would have gladly gone a week early to see this. It is only displayed for four days. Next year!

The Theatre, Darling...

Last night I saw Wicked for the third time. I LOVE this musical. It is soooo good. If you haven't seen it yet, it must be put on your To Do list. Every time I see it, I see it more clearly.

The first time is so exciting, it is a blur, you are overwhelmed but you Love it. The second time you can actually take it all in and notice some things and remember more of the story line. The third time, you anticipate whats next, you notice every detail and you can digest all that is the story of Wicked!

Also, if you live in the Orange County area and adjacent counties, it is time to buy your season tickets for the 2011-2012 season. I'm all signed up. Here is a look at what is to come:

Shrek The Musical

The movies were so cute, how could this be anything but.

Blue Man Group

Huge success, can't wait to see it.

White Christmas

Classic, should put us all in the Christmas mood.

Million Dollar Quartet

Million Dollar Quartet is the smash hit musical from Broadway, inspired by the true story of the famed recording session that brought together rock 'n' roll icons Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis and Carl Perkins for the first and only time. This should be excellent!

Les Miserable

First saw this in London and it is so great.

LaCage aux Folles

I can only think of Kelsey Grammer leaving his wife, but looking forward to seeing it.

Above I listed all the Broadway Musical season ticket shows. You can also purchase, for an extra fee, the Curtain Call Shows. These three, Come Fly Away, Traces and An American Idiot are part of the Curtain call Package.

Come Fly Away

A tribute to Frank Sinatra, Handsome Husband will love it.

Traces

7 Fingers (Les 7 doigts de la main) are an astonishingly talented young French Canadian company who have pioneered a whole new brand of circus. Combining awe-inspiring circus training with infectious urban energy, six men and one woman give dazzling, gravity-defying displays of skill, balancing casually on each other's heads, or tumbling through hoops and leaping spectacularly up giant poles without using their hands.

An American Idiot

The smash-hit, Tony Award®-winning American Idiot is Broadway's most exciting new musical. Based on Green Day's Grammy® Award-winning multi-platinum album and featuring the smash hits "Boulevard of Broken Dreams," "Holiday" and "21 Guns," American Idiot is the story of three lifelong friends, forced to choose between their dreams and the safety of suburbia. Their search for meaning in a post 9/11 world leads them on the most exhilarating journey of the Broadway season.

Riverdance

Believe it or not, I have not seen this. I am really looking forward to it. I love anything that has to do with dancing.

A Hero Among Us - A Tribute to CPL. Jordan R. Stanton

Cpl. Jordan R. Stanton

USMC

A local boy that was one of my daughter Katie's best friends, was killed in Afghanistan on March 4th. Yesterday was his funeral. I have to say that I am so proud of the way the community came together to honor this young man's life. In this time of military protestors at funerals, our community came together to show LOVE, HONOR and RESPECT for our local boy turned US Marine.

It was a beautiful gathering of respect,

Honor

and love on a personal, individual level.

School children, boy scouts, policemen and firemen all lined the streets to honor Jordan,

for he gave his country

The Ultimate Sacrifice

Photos by Martin Henderson and Jeff Antenore. For more on this story visit: http://ranchosantamargarita.patch.com/articles/cpl-jordan-stantons-funeral-procession#photo-5307226