Reader, welcome to Afternoon Tea! As a self-confessed hopeless romantic and anglophile to the highest degree, it is one of my deepest sorrows that I am not one to regularly partake in the privilege that is afternoon tea. Although I often enjoy a cup of Earl Grey on slow afternoons, my chipped mugs and sliced bananas are poor substitutions for the Spode china and brilliantly colored petit fours that would abound in an authentic ceremony. As such, I invite you to a virtual celebration of the elegant pastime that begs us to appreciate beauty and focus on being present. Here, you will find a somewhat jumbled collection of my revelations, reflections, and that which I relish from the week. So please, brew a warm pot of tea, procure for yourself an array of scones and biscuits, and peruse with me what is lovely in life.
Thanking the Academy
What does it mean to thank the Academy? To do so is to extend a breathless word of overwhelming appreciation to a higher power, to a force second only to the Universe in terms of its ubiquitous and enigmatic presence. As such, here you will find my own earnest appeal to make my gratitude known – a profound and dreamlike thank-you to that manifestation which is omnipresent, alluring, and all-encompassing.
- An afternoon adventure spent walking to three different stores in search of each person’s preferred ice cream flavor… an hour very well spent.
- Saying, “Goodnight, bro,” to my friend on the stairwell and hearing “‘Night, sis,” as a reply.
- An exhilarating movement class spent sword fighting with metals straws, broom handles, and broken tree branches.
- A late night watching favorite movies from our childhoods at the apartment of an upperclassman.
- Showing a friend how much more fun it is to eat ice cream with a fork than with a spoon (I am aware it is an odd habit, but I promise to do so is infinitely more exciting).
- Driving around late at night while munching on greasy french fries, and stumbling across what can only be the location of a future horror movie.
- The creation of an hour and a half podcast… completely unintelligible to an outside listener and full of nothing but aimless ramblings, but which was ridiculously fun to make all the same.
- Strawberries and blueberries – I am a fiend for fresh fruit, of which there is a woeful shortage on my college campus. It was lovely to see my family upon arriving home, but even better to dive into a bowl of delectable fruit.
- Warm tea, special mugs, and my little blue teapot (a gift about which I will hopefully write in due course – Reader, please remind me to someday tell you the story of that powder-blue trinket).
- Having a long laugh when the (non-returnable) skirts I ordered months ago finally arrived… and did fit not at all.
- A nearly-empty gym, allowing me to be a sweaty mess with minimal embarrassment.
- The exciting prospect of potential summer jobs and the possibility of auditioning for a dance minor.
- Sriracha. And that is all I have to say about that divine condiment.
- The most wonderful family.
- Two lovely picnics in the afternoon sun with my sister and one with my father (and the most precious puppy we met while at the park. His name was “Fuzzie,” but we have decided to fondly reference as “Fozzie”, and believe me, he has been referenced multiple times.)
- Watching old Hollywood classics together as a family.
- Re-visiting old books and falling in love with them again.
These Are a Few of My Favorite Things…
In an unending effort to live just as my icon, Ms. Julie Andrews, below you will find my own weekly compilation of that which brings me just as much joy as “raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens”.
- This dress, which seems to me to be a modern rendition of the one worn by Debbie Reynolds in Singing in the Rain.
- Nick’s Peanot Butter Cup ice cream… I am not sure what makes Swedish ice cream so delicious, but it is a dessert above all others.
- This dress, which I would buy in an instant, was in the market for a five-thousand dollar feathered evening gown.
- Leo’s Honey Mustard dressing – one of my favorites ever.
- This absolutely lovely robe, which I can just imagine wearing on a terrace in Paris or Rome.
- This fun dress, which is far from my usual style but is so appealing in its uniqueness.
- For those who have been watching Oprah’s interview with the Duke and Duchess of Sussex (I still need to see the video! I am hoping I can wrangle my sister into having a viewing party with me sometime soon), I can not recommend enough Elizabeth Holmes’ book, HRH: So Many Thoughts on Royal Style. Her Instagram is a must-follow for any Royal family fanatic, or celebrity style connoisseur. This book would make a beautiful addition to any well-curated coffee table collection, and makes for a perfect summer beach read.
- This perfect dress – the dress of my dreams. Were there a great many garden parties and brunch dates on my Spring social calendar, it would be in this frock I would live. As it is, I am living in sweatpants in my dorm… but a girl can dream.
- The chic wall art I would love to see in an apartment… with an excitingly low price tag, to boot!
- The precious cocktail napkins which are perfect for Spring.
Seven-Day Design
A word (or two) of wisdom to guide the upcoming week.
Immortal Echoes
- “Admire someone else’s beauty without questioning your own.”
Evanescent Intentions
- This week, I will live with purpose.
Reader, I must first apologise for my absence this past week, and confess that you may see even less of me in the coming months. Though I will try my best to remain consistent and post my bi-weekly musings, these next few weeks are shaping up to be intense, and I fear I may need to refrain from writing in an effort to optimise my time. I do hope such will not be the case, but in the event that you do not hear from me, I felt it best to explain myself, and thank you for your understanding.
A few weeks ago, I made it a goal to live with presence. I admit this was a difficult feat, as the execution required nearly constant awareness of how I was interacting with the world (which, in retrospect, might have been counter-intuitive and placed far too much focus on myself), but I was amazed by the results. I began by making a conscious effort to be interested in those around me; to notice what they were doing, wearing, how they were moving… it was a fascinating study in people-watching as well as a grounding exercise. Being fully present was slightly exhausting and certainly made me feel vulnerable, but as I move forward I am going to explore that elusive place of being completely in the moment. If you, Reader, wish to endeavor to improve your connection to the world around you as well, I recommend reading Patsy Rodenburg’s book The Second Circle. Ms. Rodenburg has excellent ideas, even if I feel her explanations are at times convoluted.
This week, I will live with purpose. I have been putting myself under immense amounts of pressure as of late, to the point where I can hardly even operate in a productive manner. Such is exhausting and conducive to little growth, there is simply no room for the good when I am focusing on the stress. As it is, I want to live this week with purpose. In everything I do, I want to do it with intention, focus, and joy. I want to work hard and learn, but not for the sake of it. To live with purpose is an enormous undertaking, and I am sure in being so deliberate with my actions I am bound to experience additional self-inflicted pressures before I feel their release. However, in arming myself with a sense of purpose, I hope to live a full week in which no moment is wasted and all are celebrated. I hope the same for your week, Reader. Until we meet again.
Love,
Lettie Anne
Photo from ivy-style.com on Pinterest.