Becoming Queen by Kate Williams

I watched the Royal Wedding, did you? 
Will there be a baby soon? Will Harry marry next?

Try more than 10 royal princes and princesses with no legitimate heirs. Becoming Queen by Kate Williams follows the British monarchy from randy Georgian lows to the cusp of even-piano-legs-are-modestly-clothed Victorian highs. It does so by looking at the lives of two princesses. Charlotte died in childbirth before she could become Queen. Victoria survived what could only be described as mental abuse from her mother and her mother's "advisor" to finally become queen in 1839.  

All the fun of the tabloids and none of the shame. 

Make your own desktop calendar

I'm a huge fan of Shanna Murray's desktop calendars, but you can also make your own here with your favourite photos.

Here's a September calendar with a picture of Plaza de Espana from our trip to Spain last year.

Things my boyfriend and I have argued about: Interior decoration*

My boyfriend's style is Asian/modern/huge pieces of dark wood furniture and mine is hand-me-down antiques/yellow walls/old European travel posters. 

He has ceded the den to me and I have ceded the living room to him, but the bedroom is ground zero. However, we are learning to compromise, and the Internet is helping. 

Recently, we bought Nichole's collection Paris in Black for the bedroom.

(In the background, we have dark wood + Moorcroft. Compromise.)

*Title inspired by this funny book.