Turns out the most powerfully restrained actor of his generation is an open book. He and his wife, Kirsten (Dunst—you may have heard of her), welcomed us into their L.A. home and then had us down to Mart, Texas (population 1,748), to meet his folks, who thought he had promise, sure, but never could’ve imagined this.

Round Top: Everything You Need to Know About Shopping the Legendary Texas Antiques Fair From tips to trends, we curated a first-timer’s guide to navigating the sprawling flea market From tips to trends, we curated a first-timer’s guide to navigating the sprawling flea market Clever, Clever / Shopping, Shop Smarter Architectural DigestRead More From tips to trends, we curated a first-timer’s guide to navigating the sprawling flea market

Discover top Texas deer hunting spots and expert tips to maximize your hunt. Plan your adventure with our guide on where to go and how to succeed.

Here are the most Instagrammable places in Dallas! You'll find photo-worthy hidden gems, Dallas murals, stunning nature, and more!

While in Louisville for the GE Monogram trip recently, we stayed at the 21c Hotel and Art Megaplex. That's its full name. Art was featur...

Here are the most Instagrammable places in Dallas! You'll find photo-worthy hidden gems, Dallas murals, stunning nature, and more!

More than 1,000 birders are expected to head to the state’s coast, forests, prairies and mountains for the event.

Go on Texas geology field trips to mountains, deserts, forests, caves, canyons, sandy beaches, and spring fed swimming holes.

Swift Single Malt Is A Handcrafted Texas Whiskey

Hello, Blog! I feel like growing up we all have this idea of what college is going to be like from movies and the stories we hear get passed around from our parents and their friends. The infamous …

A now for something a little different…. The Duchess of Cambridge’s sister, Phillipa Charlotte, just married this past weekend. Who? That’s Kate’s sister - Pippa to you and me. I’ll admit I didn’t realize Pippa was short for Phillipa, but it makes sense. At least now we know where Princess Charlotte got her name from – her aunt Pippa! The Three Middleton Ladies: Pippa, Kate and their mother Carole. Carole was a flight attendant who started a mail order company called “Party Pieces” which over time became the huge success it is today. First… A disclaimer: I was a huge fan of Princess Diana – she was a few years younger than me and when she became the future Queen of England (sob!) – I thought she was the most fabulous woman who had ever lived. She was my Jackie Kennedy. I loved her clothes, her sense of style, her hair do!, her houses, her empathy, her heart – there wasn’t much I didn’t love about her. I always thought, and still do, that she was terribly mistreated by the Royal Family and that she was used by Charles and Camilla - who should have married when they were both young and single. When Diana died, I thought it was such a waste and so tragic that I never wanted to hear about the Royal Family again. Done with them!!! But, slowly over time, when the boys were grown and Diana’s grandchildren were born, I was lured back in the fold, until here I am this weekend, obsessing over every aspect of Pippa’s wedding. Well….Diana’s grandchildren are in it!! Do you blame me? So here in a nutshell is everything you need to know about the “Wedding of the Year” as the British press is calling it. Pippa sprang on the scene when she was her sister’s maid of honor at the Wedding of the Decade – William and Kate’s: Pippa became famous for standing behind her sister Kate, in her own white dress, holding Kate’s long train. Many thought Pippa was more beautiful than Kate and some thought Pippa’s dress was prettier than Kate’s (I did, I hate to say!) To everyone outside of England, Pippa was a total unknown, but she and her derriere became a social-media star that day. Later, Pippa confessed that she was confused by all the attention she received at Kate’s wedding. Pippa said that her dress was specifically designed to be plain and to not outshine Kate’s. In the end, it was the dress’ simple elegance and Pippa’s slim figure that together made Pippa a household name. After the Cambridge wedding, the race to marry off Pippa was on. There were a few fits and starts with different, very eligible boyfriends. But, it all came to an end when Pippa, 33, became engaged to the handsome and very successful (of course – you didn’t think she would be marrying someone unemployed!) James Spencer Matthews, 41. Here are the young Kate on the left and Pippa, bridesmaids at their uncle Gary Goldsmith’s wedding. Gary is Carole’s brother and a black sheep of the family. He was at Pippa’s wedding, but was not invited to the reception afterwards. He was later seen eating lunch in a restaurant after Pippa’s wedding. Pippa attended private day schools, then boarded away at Marlborough College. She graduated from the University of Edinburgh with a decree in English literature. After college she worked in PR and later wrote for magazines such as Vanity Fair and several newspapers. A few years ago she set up a company, but what it is for or does is a complete mystery. Pippa and James dated a few years before they became engaged. They were seen on winter vacations at James’ family owned St. Barts resort Eden Rock, joined there by Pippa’s family. It was obvious both families approved of the match. Pippa’s ring is an Asscher cut surrounded by a row of diamonds which makes it appear even larger than it already is. The center stone has been estimated to be 3.5 carats. The happy couple married this Saturday! While the couple are not royal, everyone is quite excited over the festivities, to say the least. It’s not everyday that two future Kings of England attend a wedding. Prince George and Princess Charlotte, nephew and niece of Pippa were attendants at the wedding. The Middletons have been accepted into some aspects of the Royal Family. Here, they were welcomed to Sandringham for the christening of Princess Charlotte. Pippa stands between her father and her handsome brother, also named James. The tabloids go from loving the Middletons to not quite loving them. Some tabloids think that Prince William is too close to his in-laws and he and Kate don’t do enough royal duties. That all seems to be changing now, as they both seem very busy working for the “Royal Firm.” While Carole and Michael Middleton seem to get along well with the Royal Family, there does appear to be a cooling-off in the relationship. Pippa works part-time for her parents business and even wrote a book about party planning and entertaining, though it was considered a flop when sales were below expectations. She even penned a mea-culpa about the failure of the book, claiming she is indeed a capable and trained chef. Pippa will have a lot of chances to show off her entertaining skills when she marries into her new family. Her in-laws, Jane and Dave Matthews, are quite a colorful bunch and by marrying into the family, Pippa will gain a title! Her husband, as the eldest son, will one day inherit the Scottish title “Lord Glen Affric” and as his wife, Pippa will be “Lady Glen Affric.” The title comes along with the 10,000 acre estate in Scotland that James’ parents bought in 2008. When he bought the property, James’ father became the Laird of Glen Affric, the gorgeous Highlands estate seen above. The estate has another royal connection as Queen Elizabeth’s grandmother, Queen Mary, stayed at Glen Affric in the late 19th century. The Matthews developed the estate into an exclusive Highlands vacation spot for traditional shooting and fly fishing and other Scottish pursuits. Hidden in the hills is the main lodge of Glen Affic where guests stay. It is gorgeous. Recently it was rumored that Pippa and James would honeymoon at Glen Affic, but now there is another destination rumor. Besides their Highlands estate, James parents, Jane and David Matthews, also own a resort in St. Barts. In 1995, Dave moved the family to the ritzy island when they bought the iconic resort Eden Rock, considered one of the most exclusive resorts in the region. In its heyday, Greta Garbo, Howard Hughes, the Rothschilds and the Rockefellers would come to stay. The Matthews have renovated the resort, luring a new generation of young stars. Pippa has quite her pick of vacation spots now – either St. Barts or the Scottish Highlands. Hmmm….such a dilemma! David Matthews, James father, wasn’t born with a silver spoon in his mouth. He started out as a car mechanic for his father and then became a successful race car driver. When he retired from racing, he started a used car business which he turned into a highly successful business. He later moved to St. Barts to renovate Eden Rock. The Matthews have a similar background to the Middletons, as Pippa’s father is also self made, starting out as a airline manager, while his wife Carole was a flight attendant. But the Middleton’s have royal ties besides their daughter being the future Queen of England. Michael Middleton’s grandmother Olive grew up on her family’s estate Potternewton Hall with her cousins who lived next door. The Prince of Wales, later King Edward VII, was a visitor to their home. Olive passed on a large inheritance to the family, which greatly added to the Middletons coffers. But, the Middletons business, started by Carole, is the mail order “Party Pieces” that sells party planning items. From the Middletons’ company “Party Pieces” line of goods. Judging by the merchandise on their web site, it’s hard to see how they became multi-millionaires from this business, but – they did. I’m in the wrong business is all I can say!! The Handsome Couple: Pippa and James Spencer Matthews Pippa and James’ Wedding Ceremony took place at St. Mark’s Church located on the beautiful Englefield Estate in Berkshire. You might remember Englefield from when I wrote about it last year HERE. Englefield Estate was used as a location for the series “The Crown” when it stood in for the royal estate Sandringham. Englefield Estate – the wedding ceremony took place at the church on the estate. Englefield is owned by the Tory MP Richard Benyon who is thought to be friendly with the family. After the ceremony, there was a champagne reception held on the estate, though the exact location was not disclosed. Later on Saturday night, there was a dinner dance held at the Middleton’s estate “The Manor.” From “The Crown” – paparazzi take pictures of the church, which is playing the part of “Sandringham.” I had no idea at the time I watched this scene on television that Pippa was going to be married right here a few months later!! The 12th century church in Berkshire on the Englefield Estate is quite beautiful and romantic. Days before the wedding, the grounds were seen been readied for the big event. Before the wedding, scores of gold chairs were delivered to the church signaling that more people were invited than there are pews for. But, perhaps these chairs are actually for the champagne reception after the wedding. The church is not that large, but it’s assumed there won’t be an empty pew. A close up of the altar. It’s so beautiful. Most likely this church was chosen because it’s a few minutes from the Middleton’s house where the evening party was held. The big question was about Prince Harry’s girlfriend, U.S. Actress Meghan Markle. Since they are not engaged, it was said she would not be at the ceremony but might be at the reception. There was a rule – no ring, no invitation. Later, the Church of England decreed that any citizen could attend any wedding that was held at a public church. So, Meghan’s appearance was a last minute question mark. Would she attend? In the end, Meghan did not go to the ceremony. After the reception, Prince Harry drove all the way back to London to pick up Meghan and they went together to the evening party. This was a smart move on Meghan’s part. Had she attended the ceremony, she would have garnered all the press attention instead of Pippa. By staying away, she made the more mature decision. Point/game to Meghan!! The road to Bucklebury where the Middletons live was being guarded all week before the wedding. The evening party/dinner-dance was held at the Middletons house located a few miles away from the church. Their Georgian style house is Grade II Listed and has five living areas, 7 bedrooms, a swimming pool, tennis courts, and is located on 18 acres. The Middletons bought the house just after Kate and William married and the rumor was that Prince William had helped pay for the 5,000,000 pound estate with money he inherited from his mother Princess Diana. When William turned 30, he had inherited over 15 million pounds from Diana’s estate and the thought was that since they would be staying with their inlaws, special security buildings would be needed and William wanted to pay for the inconvenience of being a “Royal.” Who knows if this is true or not, but the Middletons are certainly well off enough to afford the house themselves, without William’s help. When the Middleton’s bought the house, they requested planning permission to build a garage with an apartment above it, along with storage and a workshop. Most likely this was for staff or security. The Middleton’s Bucklebury estate has Royal roots. King Henry I gave the land to monks who created fishponds on it, three of which still exist today. In 1540 after the monks left, Henry VIII gave the land to John Winchcombe who pasted it onto the Hartleys who lived on the estate until recently. The Hartleys kept the title of Lord and Lady that came with the house so unfortunately the Middletons did not get the title. The gate to the Middleton’s house provides privacy as does the tall hedge that surrounds the estate. The swimming pool and tennis court are located at the front by the street. There is an addition to the side of the main house that creates a courtyard. The house is known as “The Manor.” It was built in 1830 and is listed Grade II. The main house has had several additions over the years. The beautiful large entry was built as a later addition and at the rear of the house is another addition. To the right of the main house is a large addition that is a garden/sitting room. Between the original house and the addition is the courtyard with pavers and gravel and topiaries. Parking is behind the house. Today, for the wedding, the courtyards have been cleaned and the terraces look much brighter, as if it is new stone. From Real Estate photos – the front facade with the front door addition is very beautiful. Real Estate Photos: The living room is noted for its large antique mantel from the 17th century, along with its Delft tile surround. This is NOT the Middletons furniture – but this is how the house looked when they bought it! This view looks out to the side courtyard. Real Estate View: The kitchen runs the width of the main house. Behind the blue chair is a French door that opens to the courtyard on the left side of the house. On the other side of this room is a sitting area (see below) which opens to the large courtyard. Real Estate View: The sitting room as seen above – on the opposite side of the kitchen. This opens up to the courtyard. Real Estate: The large, side addition – with sliding doors that open to the courtyard. Another aerial view. On the left side of the house is the small courtyard off the kitchen. The side courtyard of The Manor. The left side and back of the house. The kitchen is through those French doors. And that same left side view as above. The French door leads to the small courtyard off the kitchen. This courtyard has recently been completely redone with new or cleaned stone and new furniture. The same view of the kitchen’s French door. And the same left back side of The Manor. There is an old swing set. I’m sure that’s been updated for Prince George and Princess Charlotte. At the very back is the garage. Aerial view of the garden/sitting addition. The courtyard and the addition. I love those topiaries. From this view you can see the additions – the large one at the back of the main house and the one at the side of the main house. The courtyard with the gravel garden. I love this garden. It’s so beautiful!!! Apparently the woman who owned this house before the Middletons was a garden designer which is why the courtyard looks so pretty. The view past the gravel garden. This is where the Marque was set up for the wedding’s dinner/dance. And from the real estate photos – an even further view of the property. Lovely!!! No wonder why the Middletons wanted to have the party here! This shows how the estate was set up for the dinner/dance. There is the main marque – the 140’ glass “tent.” Next to it is the white tent for the reception. The kitchen was probably set up in the smaller white tent or that is the “loo tent.” At the very back is the security. Today: The reception was held in the glass marquee. It was set up so that the garden courtyard faces the front of the marquee – and the guests could enjoy the garden view. To control traffic, guests arrived at another location where they parked their cars and were then driven in Range Rovers to the Middleton’s house. There were no cell phones allowed which is why there was not one photo of the party leaked on social media! The view from the left side/back of the house. Notice the side courtyard is now decorated with a new table & umbrella and newly refreshened stone. Eagle eyes can spot the truck that James Middleton drives! Hint: it’s green. This view shows the gentle rolling terrain of the estate. Located across from the house is Bucklebury Safari Park. You can see its parking lot in this photo. I wonder if that is where the party guests parked their cars???? Very busy!!! It took days for the marquee to be set up and decorated. Tall pink flowering trees were seen in the marquee days before the party. It had been rumored that there would be a Scottish theme to the wedding since the groom will be a titled Laird one day. The wedding was NOT Scottish themed and I doubt the party was either. although the did serve some Scottish food! Hard to believe this is a temporary building. It was said in the press that rental of the marquee costs over $200,000. At the side of the marquee, on the bottom part – they applied netting to hide the ground. Inside you can see there curtains in the marquee. ALSO - notice there are spotlights on the ground. These were used to keep photographers from seeing inside during the party and taking photos. It worked! Here you can see navy velvet sofas and green velvet pillows. They also had heaters set up in the marquee. This was taken the morning after the party!! It looks like they had a good time. The marquee set up for another wedding. This gives an idea of how it might have looked inside for supper. The first class outhouses!!! The “loos” were really special. Where did the Middletons live before they moved to their new house? Before the Middleton’s bought their current house, they lived here for a few years. This is where Kate spent her later teenage and college years. So charming behind the wood fence. A view of the cottage. The house looks a bit bigger from the air. While it wasn’t small, the house was not large enough for Kate and William and their two children to come and stay. A new house was needed after she married William. And here is where Kate spent her youth – in this classic English two story house. Inside: The living room. Pretty fireplace. It’s hard to believe that the future Queen of England lived here during her childhood! This is the shed where Carole Middleton started her now-multimillion $ party planning mail order business. And what about Pippa and James Matthews? Where will they live now that they are married? Since the couple already have two dogs and they already live together – they probably will just stay where they are now. The townhouse where Pippa and James live today. He bought the townhouse in 2014 for 17 Million Pounds. James bought this house in 2014 and he has submitted an extension for the second floor. He wants to add a bathroom with two sinks and a dressing room that leads off the master bedroom. Sounds like he wants to add this space for Pippa. There are Real Estate photos that show the front living room. This is not James’ furniture – this is how it looked when he bought the townhouse. Past the living room is the dining room and kitchen. A row of doors completely close off the kitchen from the dining room. Kate and William have decorated their houses in the classic English style. I’m so curious to know how Pippa will decorate this townhouse? The kitchen overlooks the back garden. Look at the island!! Those countertops!!! Since the living and dining room are open to the kitchen – the kitchen is very streamlined. The townhouse is so contemporary. Hard to imagine they will decorate it traditionally. The stairs wrap around a stone pillar and are contemporary, with open treads!! The basement family room opens to the courtyard. The basement family room opens to the garden, which is a floor below ground level. In London, there is a scandal surrounding these huge basements which are dug out and reach out past the footprints of the house above it. These are called “Iceberg Homes” – and the large basements hold kitchens, swimming pools, workout rooms, etc. and often include elevators. The more luxe, the better. Some basements encroach into the street, past the house above it and their neighbors are having serious foundation problems. If the house your house is too small, just dig out a few floors underground!!! Another view. The basement room opens to the courtyard and the stairs lead up to the garden level. The stairs on the right lead from the ground floor to the garden. Real Estate Photos: The master bedroom floor. The townhouse where Pippa and James will continue to live with their two dogs. Before James bought the white townhouse that he lives in now, he lived in another townhouse, shown above. Prior to dating Pippa, James was considered one of London’s most eligible bachelors. Needless to say, James is a very successful businessman. He graduated from private school but skipped college in to order to become a hedge fund trader. When Pippa and James became engaged, an old magazine spread of his former house was republished, in part probably to impress and embarrass at the same time. The old magazine story about James said that in 1998, when James was 22 years old, he and his brother (now deceased) bought this 1908 Grade II Listed house (pictured above) for just 1.75 million pounds. In 2006 when he decided to sell the townhouse, he elected to put it in the magazine in order to assure a quick sale – and it sold for 12.5 million pounds, quite a profit for a young, single man. Today, that 7 story, five bedroom house is worth much, much more than James sold it for. It recently sold for over 40 million pounds, which means about $55,000,000! When James bought the 21 room, 9,000+ sq ft house, it had been used as a business and had no bathrooms. It was in need of a total renovation which James accomplished with the help of his parents who took over the task completely. The living room is the most classically decorated room in the townhouse and gives you an idea of how his new house might be furnished. This room is very pretty in soft yellows and floral curtains. The bay window overlooks Park Street which is parallel to Park Lane. This exclusive location is one of the reasons for its price tag. It’s hard to believe a 22 year old lived in this house!!! I have to say I like this house better than the one they live in now. It’s not as contemporary. Here is James in the living room. Time has been kind to him – he is better looking today than he was 10 years ago, I hate to say it!!! Only men get better looking with age! The dining room has marble floors and has elaborate moldings. Notice the architraves above the doors. The foyer seen through the open door has checkerboard floors and a fancy staircase. This bedroom is my least favorite room. The art work is awful and the decor needs help. I wonder he moved this bed to his new townhouse? This bedroom has an odd hole in the wall that opens to the adjoining bathroom, kitchenette and study. A photo of his family is on the wall. From this floor you can go up to the roof terrace via the spiral staircase that you can see through the hole. The spiral staircase is behind the glass doors. The rooftop garden comes complete with a hot tub. Of course James installed a hot tub – he was a 22 year old bachelor!!! Can’t you tell from these photos of then young James that he would one day be even more successful and would marry one of England’s prettiest single girls? Their wedding went off without a hitch and nobody leaked anything on social media, except for the invitation that is! Here is an invitation to the dinner party/dance at The Manor – the Middletons estate in Bucklebury. I’m not sure who William and Clemence is – but their invitation was shown on Instagram!!! The Wedding, May 20th: Locals lined up early to get a view of the festivities. The wedding was scheduled to start at 12:00 noon. The Cambridges drove up that morning from London, about an hour’s drive. St. Mark’s Church. At the gate are the floral decorations for the wedding. A close up view of the floral decorations at the gate. The birds were chirping outside – and in the video, it sounded so pretty, exactly what you would think a quiet, small village in the English countryside would sound like. A close up of the flowers with the beautiful David Austin looking roses. Prince William and Prince Harry walking up to the church in their morning suits. They were chatting the entire time! Princess Eugenie, Sarah Ferguson and Prince Andrew’s youngest daughter came to the wedding with her boyfriend. Her older sister Princess Beatrice was not at the wedding. Next came the Parents of the Groom, Dave and Jane Matthews. She wore a mint green coat and dress with dark green shoes and purse. She wore a Fascinator, which is a tiny hat that sits on the crown of the head. Many of the younger set wear Fascinators today instead of full hats. The mother of the bride was walked to the church by her youngest, handsome son James. Carole wore a pink hat and a Catherine Walker dress. Walker was a favorite designer of Princess Diana. I preferred what Jane Matthews wore, I liked the longer length. But I thought that Carole looked very pretty in pink. The bride and her father were driven up in a vintage Jaguar. The arch around the door was decorated with roses. The roses were just gorgeous!!! Kate wore Alexander McQueen, in a peachy pink that matched the bridesmaids sashes. She also chose a Fascinator. Shh!!! Kate and Princess Charlotte share a huge laugh. But notice the page at front – he’s holding up two fingers to the other kids, he’s plotting to be naughty!! He gave this sign to the photographer and everyone in England was aghast at how “cheeky” he was! I have no clue what that sign means!!! But this page was the talk of the wedding. You would of thought he was a serial murderer!! Charlotte was too precious. The gate to the church ready for Pippa. And here is Pippa. She had a huge smile on her face all day long. She looked so happy!!!! Her dress was designed by Giles Deacon who apparently designed another one for the dinner/dance. I hope we get to see it soon! Stephen Jones made the veil and her shoes were Manola Blahniks. Kate fixed Pippa’s train, just like Pippa did for her, six years earlier. The Winchester Cathedral choir (wasn’t that a song in the 70s?) sang Be Thou My Vision; Tell Out, My Soul and I Vow To Thee, My Country. The groom’s brother Spencer Matthews read a passage from the Paulo Coelho novel, The ­Alchemist, while Pippa’s brother James read Love Is An ­Adventure by Pierre Tielhard du Chardin and a family friend read the Song of Solomon. Kate, the Duchess of Cambridge, read a prayer. After an hour’s ceremony, the bells started peeling and the married couple appeared, led by the pages and maids throwing confetti. Prince William started to have a meltdown. Apparently a minute earlier he had accidently stepped on Pippa’s train and Kate had given him a warning to be careful. Smiling Pippa and Kate. I loved her Fascinator! Happy parents of the bride! The wedding party waiting for their cars. James and Pippa Matthews, the new couple. His parents are behind them, along with Michael Middleton. What a beautiful couple!!! Those flowers are so gorgeous!!! Kate trying to keep the kids happy. She always bends down when she talks to Charlotte. She seems like a great mom. And here is Prince George, starting his meltdown tantrum which was the talk of the wedding. The future King of England, crying. One day, he will get a good laugh out of this photograph. Kate means business. She is pointing her finger at Prince George – behave!!! Apparently George wasn’t the only crying child. Charlotte had to be comforted by her nanny after she started crying during the ceremony screaming “Where’s Mummy?” She’s only two. Tantrum over, he leaves in his vintage Jaguar, all smiles and waves. After the wedding, everyone went to have a champagne reception at the Englefield House. At four, the married couple drove through the estate’s gates, that had just been repainted for the event. They both have huge smiles – they waved to the locals that lined the way back to The Manor in Bucklebury. I wish we did weddings like this!!! So sweet! Everyone is so happy for them. After the wedding was over, they took photos of the church. Here you can see how the windows of the church were decorated with the greenery and roses. I’m in love with the flowers!!! At the arch, a faux tree trunk was filled with the greenery and roses. The tree trunks at the arches. Atop the columns, there were more roses! After the wedding reception, Prince Harry drove back to London to get his girlfriend Meghan Markle and together they drove back to Bucklebury for the wedding dinner/dance. So far, this is the ONLY photo of his girlfriend! She was said to wear a stunning maroon, backless dress. Before the party started at The Manor, they turned on the spotlights to keep the photographers away. It looks like they were still getting the marquee ready. A look at the floral arrangement in the marquee. As night fell and the spotlights were turned on, there was a flyover by the vintage Spitfire that did stunt flying for the guests enjoyment. Hmm. I don’t get that one. But look how pretty it all looks! The guests came outside to watch as it was considered too dangerous to be in the glass marquee in case something went wrong!!! Apparently, it started to rain after 15 minutes, which some guests said was a good thing as the air show was considered a bit boring. Inside, the waiters were said to all be part-time models or actors so that they were as attractive as the guests! Couples were not seated together to encourage more fun. Pippa changed dresses and wore a white floor-length gown with a v-neck and sparkle detailing. Her hair was worn down for the party and she was said to look absolutely beautiful. The women guests did not wear hats and the men wore black tie. Security was so tight at the party that guests had to send in a photograph prior to the party and produce a password to gain entry. Later at night, with the spotlights on full glare – the paparazzi still managed to get a few photos. Against the side of the house – they flashed huge photographs all night long. This one is of the groom. An extra 150 guests had been invited to the party than had been at the wedding. The menu included trout and Scottish lamb. There was a saxophonist, a band, and a DJ for dancing. There was a single malt whisky bar, and photo booths. Guests played ping pong. The marquee was decorated as an enchanted forest filled with faux trees. And here the marquee is lit up – with a green photo of a dancing girl on the house. The party is said to have lasted until 4 in the morning. Long day!!!! Where is the honeymoon? It has to something to do with Marlon Brando! When Brando filmed Mutiny on the Bounty on the French Polynesia island Tetiaroa, he bought the island and lived there for many years. Brando and Tarita became a couple and had children together. Today, it is an exclusive, ecologically sensitive resort that President Obama just stayed at! The atoll. Incredibly gorgeous. The rumor is this is where Pippa and James will honeymoon. It is probably true! The wedding is now over, but there is one guest that always intrigues me. The nanny!! Prince George and Princess Charlotte’s nanny was at the wedding in her uniform. It’s the uniform that gets me. Where would a nanny get a uniform from?!?! Apparently she went to college to earn that uniform! The nanny is Maria Teresa Turrion Borrallo and she is a graduate of the prestigious nanny school, Norland College. Norland is located in the picturesque town of Bath. It was founded back in 1892 and it is extremely hard if not almost impossible to be selected to attend. Its nannies get the prime positions when they graduate after a 3 year course. Norland charges $36,000 pounds for their degree and hundreds apply for a class of 48 spaces. Maria, the Cambridge’s nanny, proudly wears her uniform at public events, but usually she just wears the working uniform of a plain sweater and slacks. Norland College updated their uniform a few years ago but for some reason Maria still wears the old version. At Charlotte’s christening, Nanny Maria greets the Queen who is smiling broadly at Maria. The new uniforms. I wonder why Maria hasn’t changed hers yet? Kate has said that Maria is the absolute best and she is devoted to her. Myself, I’m just fascinated by this Nanny uniform business. I can’t imagine someone wearing this here in the U.S. but it seems so normal in England!!! Look how happy those nannies are! Mary Poppins suddenly makes more sense. Here is Nanny Maria in her regular working uniform of slacks and white shirt and blue sweater. I love the security guard glaring at the photographer! Whew! A Mazel Tov to Pippa and James and a long, happy life. I’m sure Pippa will be ‘broody’ soon. For Fun: I wanted to find a dress that looked like Kate’s for a fraction of the cost, but that was impossible! So, I went for inexpensive dresses that would have been great on Kate for the wedding. I DID find her fabulous shoes, though!! Enjoy! This is a long version, simple but elegant. HERE I like this length, and with some extras. HERE Above the knee with a ruffle HERE Love this sleeve and the length. Love this! HERE Long with a ruffle HERE Kate’s gorgeous heels by Gianvito Rossi HERE – they come in all colors, but I love this nude for everything. Nude casual HERE

Some of these images are my own, the others display a beauty that I want to share and I have credited the artist where I could. If I have posted your photo without proper credits, please contact me.

If you love Texas outdoors, how could you not know the Frio? Well, maybe you’re one of the millions of newcomers who just got to Texas. Or perhaps you’ve lived in Texas your entire life and, unlike all those people whose families have been vacationing on the Frio for generations, you have no clue what or where they are talking about. Never stepped foot in Garner State Park? Think Concan is in Mexico? Well, pull up a chair and scoot closer. Read More >

A now for something a little different…. The Duchess of Cambridge’s sister, Phillipa Charlotte, just married this past weekend. Who? That’s Kate’s sister - Pippa to you and me. I’ll admit I didn’t realize Pippa was short for Phillipa, but it makes sense. At least now we know where Princess Charlotte got her name from – her aunt Pippa! The Three Middleton Ladies: Pippa, Kate and their mother Carole. Carole was a flight attendant who started a mail order company called “Party Pieces” which over time became the huge success it is today. First… A disclaimer: I was a huge fan of Princess Diana – she was a few years younger than me and when she became the future Queen of England (sob!) – I thought she was the most fabulous woman who had ever lived. She was my Jackie Kennedy. I loved her clothes, her sense of style, her hair do!, her houses, her empathy, her heart – there wasn’t much I didn’t love about her. I always thought, and still do, that she was terribly mistreated by the Royal Family and that she was used by Charles and Camilla - who should have married when they were both young and single. When Diana died, I thought it was such a waste and so tragic that I never wanted to hear about the Royal Family again. Done with them!!! But, slowly over time, when the boys were grown and Diana’s grandchildren were born, I was lured back in the fold, until here I am this weekend, obsessing over every aspect of Pippa’s wedding. Well….Diana’s grandchildren are in it!! Do you blame me? So here in a nutshell is everything you need to know about the “Wedding of the Year” as the British press is calling it. Pippa sprang on the scene when she was her sister’s maid of honor at the Wedding of the Decade – William and Kate’s: Pippa became famous for standing behind her sister Kate, in her own white dress, holding Kate’s long train. Many thought Pippa was more beautiful than Kate and some thought Pippa’s dress was prettier than Kate’s (I did, I hate to say!) To everyone outside of England, Pippa was a total unknown, but she and her derriere became a social-media star that day. Later, Pippa confessed that she was confused by all the attention she received at Kate’s wedding. Pippa said that her dress was specifically designed to be plain and to not outshine Kate’s. In the end, it was the dress’ simple elegance and Pippa’s slim figure that together made Pippa a household name. After the Cambridge wedding, the race to marry off Pippa was on. There were a few fits and starts with different, very eligible boyfriends. But, it all came to an end when Pippa, 33, became engaged to the handsome and very successful (of course – you didn’t think she would be marrying someone unemployed!) James Spencer Matthews, 41. Here are the young Kate on the left and Pippa, bridesmaids at their uncle Gary Goldsmith’s wedding. Gary is Carole’s brother and a black sheep of the family. He was at Pippa’s wedding, but was not invited to the reception afterwards. He was later seen eating lunch in a restaurant after Pippa’s wedding. Pippa attended private day schools, then boarded away at Marlborough College. She graduated from the University of Edinburgh with a decree in English literature. After college she worked in PR and later wrote for magazines such as Vanity Fair and several newspapers. A few years ago she set up a company, but what it is for or does is a complete mystery. Pippa and James dated a few years before they became engaged. They were seen on winter vacations at James’ family owned St. Barts resort Eden Rock, joined there by Pippa’s family. It was obvious both families approved of the match. Pippa’s ring is an Asscher cut surrounded by a row of diamonds which makes it appear even larger than it already is. The center stone has been estimated to be 3.5 carats. The happy couple married this Saturday! While the couple are not royal, everyone is quite excited over the festivities, to say the least. It’s not everyday that two future Kings of England attend a wedding. Prince George and Princess Charlotte, nephew and niece of Pippa were attendants at the wedding. The Middletons have been accepted into some aspects of the Royal Family. Here, they were welcomed to Sandringham for the christening of Princess Charlotte. Pippa stands between her father and her handsome brother, also named James. The tabloids go from loving the Middletons to not quite loving them. Some tabloids think that Prince William is too close to his in-laws and he and Kate don’t do enough royal duties. That all seems to be changing now, as they both seem very busy working for the “Royal Firm.” While Carole and Michael Middleton seem to get along well with the Royal Family, there does appear to be a cooling-off in the relationship. Pippa works part-time for her parents business and even wrote a book about party planning and entertaining, though it was considered a flop when sales were below expectations. She even penned a mea-culpa about the failure of the book, claiming she is indeed a capable and trained chef. Pippa will have a lot of chances to show off her entertaining skills when she marries into her new family. Her in-laws, Jane and Dave Matthews, are quite a colorful bunch and by marrying into the family, Pippa will gain a title! Her husband, as the eldest son, will one day inherit the Scottish title “Lord Glen Affric” and as his wife, Pippa will be “Lady Glen Affric.” The title comes along with the 10,000 acre estate in Scotland that James’ parents bought in 2008. When he bought the property, James’ father became the Laird of Glen Affric, the gorgeous Highlands estate seen above. The estate has another royal connection as Queen Elizabeth’s grandmother, Queen Mary, stayed at Glen Affric in the late 19th century. The Matthews developed the estate into an exclusive Highlands vacation spot for traditional shooting and fly fishing and other Scottish pursuits. Hidden in the hills is the main lodge of Glen Affic where guests stay. It is gorgeous. Recently it was rumored that Pippa and James would honeymoon at Glen Affic, but now there is another destination rumor. Besides their Highlands estate, James parents, Jane and David Matthews, also own a resort in St. Barts. In 1995, Dave moved the family to the ritzy island when they bought the iconic resort Eden Rock, considered one of the most exclusive resorts in the region. In its heyday, Greta Garbo, Howard Hughes, the Rothschilds and the Rockefellers would come to stay. The Matthews have renovated the resort, luring a new generation of young stars. Pippa has quite her pick of vacation spots now – either St. Barts or the Scottish Highlands. Hmmm….such a dilemma! David Matthews, James father, wasn’t born with a silver spoon in his mouth. He started out as a car mechanic for his father and then became a successful race car driver. When he retired from racing, he started a used car business which he turned into a highly successful business. He later moved to St. Barts to renovate Eden Rock. The Matthews have a similar background to the Middletons, as Pippa’s father is also self made, starting out as a airline manager, while his wife Carole was a flight attendant. But the Middleton’s have royal ties besides their daughter being the future Queen of England. Michael Middleton’s grandmother Olive grew up on her family’s estate Potternewton Hall with her cousins who lived next door. The Prince of Wales, later King Edward VII, was a visitor to their home. Olive passed on a large inheritance to the family, which greatly added to the Middletons coffers. But, the Middletons business, started by Carole, is the mail order “Party Pieces” that sells party planning items. From the Middletons’ company “Party Pieces” line of goods. Judging by the merchandise on their web site, it’s hard to see how they became multi-millionaires from this business, but – they did. I’m in the wrong business is all I can say!! The Handsome Couple: Pippa and James Spencer Matthews Pippa and James’ Wedding Ceremony took place at St. Mark’s Church located on the beautiful Englefield Estate in Berkshire. You might remember Englefield from when I wrote about it last year HERE. Englefield Estate was used as a location for the series “The Crown” when it stood in for the royal estate Sandringham. Englefield Estate – the wedding ceremony took place at the church on the estate. Englefield is owned by the Tory MP Richard Benyon who is thought to be friendly with the family. After the ceremony, there was a champagne reception held on the estate, though the exact location was not disclosed. Later on Saturday night, there was a dinner dance held at the Middleton’s estate “The Manor.” From “The Crown” – paparazzi take pictures of the church, which is playing the part of “Sandringham.” I had no idea at the time I watched this scene on television that Pippa was going to be married right here a few months later!! The 12th century church in Berkshire on the Englefield Estate is quite beautiful and romantic. Days before the wedding, the grounds were seen been readied for the big event. Before the wedding, scores of gold chairs were delivered to the church signaling that more people were invited than there are pews for. But, perhaps these chairs are actually for the champagne reception after the wedding. The church is not that large, but it’s assumed there won’t be an empty pew. A close up of the altar. It’s so beautiful. Most likely this church was chosen because it’s a few minutes from the Middleton’s house where the evening party was held. The big question was about Prince Harry’s girlfriend, U.S. Actress Meghan Markle. Since they are not engaged, it was said she would not be at the ceremony but might be at the reception. There was a rule – no ring, no invitation. Later, the Church of England decreed that any citizen could attend any wedding that was held at a public church. So, Meghan’s appearance was a last minute question mark. Would she attend? In the end, Meghan did not go to the ceremony. After the reception, Prince Harry drove all the way back to London to pick up Meghan and they went together to the evening party. This was a smart move on Meghan’s part. Had she attended the ceremony, she would have garnered all the press attention instead of Pippa. By staying away, she made the more mature decision. Point/game to Meghan!! The road to Bucklebury where the Middletons live was being guarded all week before the wedding. The evening party/dinner-dance was held at the Middletons house located a few miles away from the church. Their Georgian style house is Grade II Listed and has five living areas, 7 bedrooms, a swimming pool, tennis courts, and is located on 18 acres. The Middletons bought the house just after Kate and William married and the rumor was that Prince William had helped pay for the 5,000,000 pound estate with money he inherited from his mother Princess Diana. When William turned 30, he had inherited over 15 million pounds from Diana’s estate and the thought was that since they would be staying with their inlaws, special security buildings would be needed and William wanted to pay for the inconvenience of being a “Royal.” Who knows if this is true or not, but the Middletons are certainly well off enough to afford the house themselves, without William’s help. When the Middleton’s bought the house, they requested planning permission to build a garage with an apartment above it, along with storage and a workshop. Most likely this was for staff or security. The Middleton’s Bucklebury estate has Royal roots. King Henry I gave the land to monks who created fishponds on it, three of which still exist today. In 1540 after the monks left, Henry VIII gave the land to John Winchcombe who pasted it onto the Hartleys who lived on the estate until recently. The Hartleys kept the title of Lord and Lady that came with the house so unfortunately the Middletons did not get the title. The gate to the Middleton’s house provides privacy as does the tall hedge that surrounds the estate. The swimming pool and tennis court are located at the front by the street. There is an addition to the side of the main house that creates a courtyard. The house is known as “The Manor.” It was built in 1830 and is listed Grade II. The main house has had several additions over the years. The beautiful large entry was built as a later addition and at the rear of the house is another addition. To the right of the main house is a large addition that is a garden/sitting room. Between the original house and the addition is the courtyard with pavers and gravel and topiaries. Parking is behind the house. Today, for the wedding, the courtyards have been cleaned and the terraces look much brighter, as if it is new stone. From Real Estate photos – the front facade with the front door addition is very beautiful. Real Estate Photos: The living room is noted for its large antique mantel from the 17th century, along with its Delft tile surround. This is NOT the Middletons furniture – but this is how the house looked when they bought it! This view looks out to the side courtyard. Real Estate View: The kitchen runs the width of the main house. Behind the blue chair is a French door that opens to the courtyard on the left side of the house. On the other side of this room is a sitting area (see below) which opens to the large courtyard. Real Estate View: The sitting room as seen above – on the opposite side of the kitchen. This opens up to the courtyard. Real Estate: The large, side addition – with sliding doors that open to the courtyard. Another aerial view. On the left side of the house is the small courtyard off the kitchen. The side courtyard of The Manor. The left side and back of the house. The kitchen is through those French doors. And that same left side view as above. The French door leads to the small courtyard off the kitchen. This courtyard has recently been completely redone with new or cleaned stone and new furniture. The same view of the kitchen’s French door. And the same left back side of The Manor. There is an old swing set. I’m sure that’s been updated for Prince George and Princess Charlotte. At the very back is the garage. Aerial view of the garden/sitting addition. The courtyard and the addition. I love those topiaries. From this view you can see the additions – the large one at the back of the main house and the one at the side of the main house. The courtyard with the gravel garden. I love this garden. It’s so beautiful!!! Apparently the woman who owned this house before the Middletons was a garden designer which is why the courtyard looks so pretty. The view past the gravel garden. This is where the Marque was set up for the wedding’s dinner/dance. And from the real estate photos – an even further view of the property. Lovely!!! No wonder why the Middletons wanted to have the party here! This shows how the estate was set up for the dinner/dance. There is the main marque – the 140’ glass “tent.” Next to it is the white tent for the reception. The kitchen was probably set up in the smaller white tent or that is the “loo tent.” At the very back is the security. Today: The reception was held in the glass marquee. It was set up so that the garden courtyard faces the front of the marquee – and the guests could enjoy the garden view. To control traffic, guests arrived at another location where they parked their cars and were then driven in Range Rovers to the Middleton’s house. There were no cell phones allowed which is why there was not one photo of the party leaked on social media! The view from the left side/back of the house. Notice the side courtyard is now decorated with a new table & umbrella and newly refreshened stone. Eagle eyes can spot the truck that James Middleton drives! Hint: it’s green. This view shows the gentle rolling terrain of the estate. Located across from the house is Bucklebury Safari Park. You can see its parking lot in this photo. I wonder if that is where the party guests parked their cars???? Very busy!!! It took days for the marquee to be set up and decorated. Tall pink flowering trees were seen in the marquee days before the party. It had been rumored that there would be a Scottish theme to the wedding since the groom will be a titled Laird one day. The wedding was NOT Scottish themed and I doubt the party was either. although the did serve some Scottish food! Hard to believe this is a temporary building. It was said in the press that rental of the marquee costs over $200,000. At the side of the marquee, on the bottom part – they applied netting to hide the ground. Inside you can see there curtains in the marquee. ALSO - notice there are spotlights on the ground. These were used to keep photographers from seeing inside during the party and taking photos. It worked! Here you can see navy velvet sofas and green velvet pillows. They also had heaters set up in the marquee. This was taken the morning after the party!! It looks like they had a good time. The marquee set up for another wedding. This gives an idea of how it might have looked inside for supper. The first class outhouses!!! The “loos” were really special. Where did the Middletons live before they moved to their new house? Before the Middleton’s bought their current house, they lived here for a few years. This is where Kate spent her later teenage and college years. So charming behind the wood fence. A view of the cottage. The house looks a bit bigger from the air. While it wasn’t small, the house was not large enough for Kate and William and their two children to come and stay. A new house was needed after she married William. And here is where Kate spent her youth – in this classic English two story house. Inside: The living room. Pretty fireplace. It’s hard to believe that the future Queen of England lived here during her childhood! This is the shed where Carole Middleton started her now-multimillion $ party planning mail order business. And what about Pippa and James Matthews? Where will they live now that they are married? Since the couple already have two dogs and they already live together – they probably will just stay where they are now. The townhouse where Pippa and James live today. He bought the townhouse in 2014 for 17 Million Pounds. James bought this house in 2014 and he has submitted an extension for the second floor. He wants to add a bathroom with two sinks and a dressing room that leads off the master bedroom. Sounds like he wants to add this space for Pippa. There are Real Estate photos that show the front living room. This is not James’ furniture – this is how it looked when he bought the townhouse. Past the living room is the dining room and kitchen. A row of doors completely close off the kitchen from the dining room. Kate and William have decorated their houses in the classic English style. I’m so curious to know how Pippa will decorate this townhouse? The kitchen overlooks the back garden. Look at the island!! Those countertops!!! Since the living and dining room are open to the kitchen – the kitchen is very streamlined. The townhouse is so contemporary. Hard to imagine they will decorate it traditionally. The stairs wrap around a stone pillar and are contemporary, with open treads!! The basement family room opens to the courtyard. The basement family room opens to the garden, which is a floor below ground level. In London, there is a scandal surrounding these huge basements which are dug out and reach out past the footprints of the house above it. These are called “Iceberg Homes” – and the large basements hold kitchens, swimming pools, workout rooms, etc. and often include elevators. The more luxe, the better. Some basements encroach into the street, past the house above it and their neighbors are having serious foundation problems. If the house your house is too small, just dig out a few floors underground!!! Another view. The basement room opens to the courtyard and the stairs lead up to the garden level. The stairs on the right lead from the ground floor to the garden. Real Estate Photos: The master bedroom floor. The townhouse where Pippa and James will continue to live with their two dogs. Before James bought the white townhouse that he lives in now, he lived in another townhouse, shown above. Prior to dating Pippa, James was considered one of London’s most eligible bachelors. Needless to say, James is a very successful businessman. He graduated from private school but skipped college in to order to become a hedge fund trader. When Pippa and James became engaged, an old magazine spread of his former house was republished, in part probably to impress and embarrass at the same time. The old magazine story about James said that in 1998, when James was 22 years old, he and his brother (now deceased) bought this 1908 Grade II Listed house (pictured above) for just 1.75 million pounds. In 2006 when he decided to sell the townhouse, he elected to put it in the magazine in order to assure a quick sale – and it sold for 12.5 million pounds, quite a profit for a young, single man. Today, that 7 story, five bedroom house is worth much, much more than James sold it for. It recently sold for over 40 million pounds, which means about $55,000,000! When James bought the 21 room, 9,000+ sq ft house, it had been used as a business and had no bathrooms. It was in need of a total renovation which James accomplished with the help of his parents who took over the task completely. The living room is the most classically decorated room in the townhouse and gives you an idea of how his new house might be furnished. This room is very pretty in soft yellows and floral curtains. The bay window overlooks Park Street which is parallel to Park Lane. This exclusive location is one of the reasons for its price tag. It’s hard to believe a 22 year old lived in this house!!! I have to say I like this house better than the one they live in now. It’s not as contemporary. Here is James in the living room. Time has been kind to him – he is better looking today than he was 10 years ago, I hate to say it!!! Only men get better looking with age! The dining room has marble floors and has elaborate moldings. Notice the architraves above the doors. The foyer seen through the open door has checkerboard floors and a fancy staircase. This bedroom is my least favorite room. The art work is awful and the decor needs help. I wonder he moved this bed to his new townhouse? This bedroom has an odd hole in the wall that opens to the adjoining bathroom, kitchenette and study. A photo of his family is on the wall. From this floor you can go up to the roof terrace via the spiral staircase that you can see through the hole. The spiral staircase is behind the glass doors. The rooftop garden comes complete with a hot tub. Of course James installed a hot tub – he was a 22 year old bachelor!!! Can’t you tell from these photos of then young James that he would one day be even more successful and would marry one of England’s prettiest single girls? Their wedding went off without a hitch and nobody leaked anything on social media, except for the invitation that is! Here is an invitation to the dinner party/dance at The Manor – the Middletons estate in Bucklebury. I’m not sure who William and Clemence is – but their invitation was shown on Instagram!!! The Wedding, May 20th: Locals lined up early to get a view of the festivities. The wedding was scheduled to start at 12:00 noon. The Cambridges drove up that morning from London, about an hour’s drive. St. Mark’s Church. At the gate are the floral decorations for the wedding. A close up view of the floral decorations at the gate. The birds were chirping outside – and in the video, it sounded so pretty, exactly what you would think a quiet, small village in the English countryside would sound like. A close up of the flowers with the beautiful David Austin looking roses. Prince William and Prince Harry walking up to the church in their morning suits. They were chatting the entire time! Princess Eugenie, Sarah Ferguson and Prince Andrew’s youngest daughter came to the wedding with her boyfriend. Her older sister Princess Beatrice was not at the wedding. Next came the Parents of the Groom, Dave and Jane Matthews. She wore a mint green coat and dress with dark green shoes and purse. She wore a Fascinator, which is a tiny hat that sits on the crown of the head. Many of the younger set wear Fascinators today instead of full hats. The mother of the bride was walked to the church by her youngest, handsome son James. Carole wore a pink hat and a Catherine Walker dress. Walker was a favorite designer of Princess Diana. I preferred what Jane Matthews wore, I liked the longer length. But I thought that Carole looked very pretty in pink. The bride and her father were driven up in a vintage Jaguar. The arch around the door was decorated with roses. The roses were just gorgeous!!! Kate wore Alexander McQueen, in a peachy pink that matched the bridesmaids sashes. She also chose a Fascinator. Shh!!! Kate and Princess Charlotte share a huge laugh. But notice the page at front – he’s holding up two fingers to the other kids, he’s plotting to be naughty!! He gave this sign to the photographer and everyone in England was aghast at how “cheeky” he was! I have no clue what that sign means!!! But this page was the talk of the wedding. You would of thought he was a serial murderer!! Charlotte was too precious. The gate to the church ready for Pippa. And here is Pippa. She had a huge smile on her face all day long. She looked so happy!!!! Her dress was designed by Giles Deacon who apparently designed another one for the dinner/dance. I hope we get to see it soon! Stephen Jones made the veil and her shoes were Manola Blahniks. Kate fixed Pippa’s train, just like Pippa did for her, six years earlier. The Winchester Cathedral choir (wasn’t that a song in the 70s?) sang Be Thou My Vision; Tell Out, My Soul and I Vow To Thee, My Country. The groom’s brother Spencer Matthews read a passage from the Paulo Coelho novel, The ­Alchemist, while Pippa’s brother James read Love Is An ­Adventure by Pierre Tielhard du Chardin and a family friend read the Song of Solomon. Kate, the Duchess of Cambridge, read a prayer. After an hour’s ceremony, the bells started peeling and the married couple appeared, led by the pages and maids throwing confetti. Prince William started to have a meltdown. Apparently a minute earlier he had accidently stepped on Pippa’s train and Kate had given him a warning to be careful. Smiling Pippa and Kate. I loved her Fascinator! Happy parents of the bride! The wedding party waiting for their cars. James and Pippa Matthews, the new couple. His parents are behind them, along with Michael Middleton. What a beautiful couple!!! Those flowers are so gorgeous!!! Kate trying to keep the kids happy. She always bends down when she talks to Charlotte. She seems like a great mom. And here is Prince George, starting his meltdown tantrum which was the talk of the wedding. The future King of England, crying. One day, he will get a good laugh out of this photograph. Kate means business. She is pointing her finger at Prince George – behave!!! Apparently George wasn’t the only crying child. Charlotte had to be comforted by her nanny after she started crying during the ceremony screaming “Where’s Mummy?” She’s only two. Tantrum over, he leaves in his vintage Jaguar, all smiles and waves. After the wedding, everyone went to have a champagne reception at the Englefield House. At four, the married couple drove through the estate’s gates, that had just been repainted for the event. They both have huge smiles – they waved to the locals that lined the way back to The Manor in Bucklebury. I wish we did weddings like this!!! So sweet! Everyone is so happy for them. After the wedding was over, they took photos of the church. Here you can see how the windows of the church were decorated with the greenery and roses. I’m in love with the flowers!!! At the arch, a faux tree trunk was filled with the greenery and roses. The tree trunks at the arches. Atop the columns, there were more roses! After the wedding reception, Prince Harry drove back to London to get his girlfriend Meghan Markle and together they drove back to Bucklebury for the wedding dinner/dance. So far, this is the ONLY photo of his girlfriend! She was said to wear a stunning maroon, backless dress. Before the party started at The Manor, they turned on the spotlights to keep the photographers away. It looks like they were still getting the marquee ready. A look at the floral arrangement in the marquee. As night fell and the spotlights were turned on, there was a flyover by the vintage Spitfire that did stunt flying for the guests enjoyment. Hmm. I don’t get that one. But look how pretty it all looks! The guests came outside to watch as it was considered too dangerous to be in the glass marquee in case something went wrong!!! Apparently, it started to rain after 15 minutes, which some guests said was a good thing as the air show was considered a bit boring. Inside, the waiters were said to all be part-time models or actors so that they were as attractive as the guests! Couples were not seated together to encourage more fun. Pippa changed dresses and wore a white floor-length gown with a v-neck and sparkle detailing. Her hair was worn down for the party and she was said to look absolutely beautiful. The women guests did not wear hats and the men wore black tie. Security was so tight at the party that guests had to send in a photograph prior to the party and produce a password to gain entry. Later at night, with the spotlights on full glare – the paparazzi still managed to get a few photos. Against the side of the house – they flashed huge photographs all night long. This one is of the groom. An extra 150 guests had been invited to the party than had been at the wedding. The menu included trout and Scottish lamb. There was a saxophonist, a band, and a DJ for dancing. There was a single malt whisky bar, and photo booths. Guests played ping pong. The marquee was decorated as an enchanted forest filled with faux trees. And here the marquee is lit up – with a green photo of a dancing girl on the house. The party is said to have lasted until 4 in the morning. Long day!!!! Where is the honeymoon? It has to something to do with Marlon Brando! When Brando filmed Mutiny on the Bounty on the French Polynesia island Tetiaroa, he bought the island and lived there for many years. Brando and Tarita became a couple and had children together. Today, it is an exclusive, ecologically sensitive resort that President Obama just stayed at! The atoll. Incredibly gorgeous. The rumor is this is where Pippa and James will honeymoon. It is probably true! The wedding is now over, but there is one guest that always intrigues me. The nanny!! Prince George and Princess Charlotte’s nanny was at the wedding in her uniform. It’s the uniform that gets me. Where would a nanny get a uniform from?!?! Apparently she went to college to earn that uniform! The nanny is Maria Teresa Turrion Borrallo and she is a graduate of the prestigious nanny school, Norland College. Norland is located in the picturesque town of Bath. It was founded back in 1892 and it is extremely hard if not almost impossible to be selected to attend. Its nannies get the prime positions when they graduate after a 3 year course. Norland charges $36,000 pounds for their degree and hundreds apply for a class of 48 spaces. Maria, the Cambridge’s nanny, proudly wears her uniform at public events, but usually she just wears the working uniform of a plain sweater and slacks. Norland College updated their uniform a few years ago but for some reason Maria still wears the old version. At Charlotte’s christening, Nanny Maria greets the Queen who is smiling broadly at Maria. The new uniforms. I wonder why Maria hasn’t changed hers yet? Kate has said that Maria is the absolute best and she is devoted to her. Myself, I’m just fascinated by this Nanny uniform business. I can’t imagine someone wearing this here in the U.S. but it seems so normal in England!!! Look how happy those nannies are! Mary Poppins suddenly makes more sense. Here is Nanny Maria in her regular working uniform of slacks and white shirt and blue sweater. I love the security guard glaring at the photographer! Whew! A Mazel Tov to Pippa and James and a long, happy life. I’m sure Pippa will be ‘broody’ soon. For Fun: I wanted to find a dress that looked like Kate’s for a fraction of the cost, but that was impossible! So, I went for inexpensive dresses that would have been great on Kate for the wedding. I DID find her fabulous shoes, though!! Enjoy! This is a long version, simple but elegant. HERE I like this length, and with some extras. HERE Above the knee with a ruffle HERE Love this sleeve and the length. Love this! HERE Long with a ruffle HERE Kate’s gorgeous heels by Gianvito Rossi HERE – they come in all colors, but I love this nude for everything. Nude casual HERE

Here's what to know about all the things to do at SXSW in 2024. Whether you want to discover up-and-coming artists, get the inside scoop on a new technology product, or practice yoga with your favorite YouTuber, it's all possible at South by Southwest.

A now for something a little different…. The Duchess of Cambridge’s sister, Phillipa Charlotte, just married this past weekend. Who? That’s Kate’s sister - Pippa to you and me. I’ll admit I didn’t realize Pippa was short for Phillipa, but it makes sense. At least now we know where Princess Charlotte got her name from – her aunt Pippa! The Three Middleton Ladies: Pippa, Kate and their mother Carole. Carole was a flight attendant who started a mail order company called “Party Pieces” which over time became the huge success it is today. First… A disclaimer: I was a huge fan of Princess Diana – she was a few years younger than me and when she became the future Queen of England (sob!) – I thought she was the most fabulous woman who had ever lived. She was my Jackie Kennedy. I loved her clothes, her sense of style, her hair do!, her houses, her empathy, her heart – there wasn’t much I didn’t love about her. I always thought, and still do, that she was terribly mistreated by the Royal Family and that she was used by Charles and Camilla - who should have married when they were both young and single. When Diana died, I thought it was such a waste and so tragic that I never wanted to hear about the Royal Family again. Done with them!!! But, slowly over time, when the boys were grown and Diana’s grandchildren were born, I was lured back in the fold, until here I am this weekend, obsessing over every aspect of Pippa’s wedding. Well….Diana’s grandchildren are in it!! Do you blame me? So here in a nutshell is everything you need to know about the “Wedding of the Year” as the British press is calling it. Pippa sprang on the scene when she was her sister’s maid of honor at the Wedding of the Decade – William and Kate’s: Pippa became famous for standing behind her sister Kate, in her own white dress, holding Kate’s long train. Many thought Pippa was more beautiful than Kate and some thought Pippa’s dress was prettier than Kate’s (I did, I hate to say!) To everyone outside of England, Pippa was a total unknown, but she and her derriere became a social-media star that day. Later, Pippa confessed that she was confused by all the attention she received at Kate’s wedding. Pippa said that her dress was specifically designed to be plain and to not outshine Kate’s. In the end, it was the dress’ simple elegance and Pippa’s slim figure that together made Pippa a household name. After the Cambridge wedding, the race to marry off Pippa was on. There were a few fits and starts with different, very eligible boyfriends. But, it all came to an end when Pippa, 33, became engaged to the handsome and very successful (of course – you didn’t think she would be marrying someone unemployed!) James Spencer Matthews, 41. Here are the young Kate on the left and Pippa, bridesmaids at their uncle Gary Goldsmith’s wedding. Gary is Carole’s brother and a black sheep of the family. He was at Pippa’s wedding, but was not invited to the reception afterwards. He was later seen eating lunch in a restaurant after Pippa’s wedding. Pippa attended private day schools, then boarded away at Marlborough College. She graduated from the University of Edinburgh with a decree in English literature. After college she worked in PR and later wrote for magazines such as Vanity Fair and several newspapers. A few years ago she set up a company, but what it is for or does is a complete mystery. Pippa and James dated a few years before they became engaged. They were seen on winter vacations at James’ family owned St. Barts resort Eden Rock, joined there by Pippa’s family. It was obvious both families approved of the match. Pippa’s ring is an Asscher cut surrounded by a row of diamonds which makes it appear even larger than it already is. The center stone has been estimated to be 3.5 carats. The happy couple married this Saturday! While the couple are not royal, everyone is quite excited over the festivities, to say the least. It’s not everyday that two future Kings of England attend a wedding. Prince George and Princess Charlotte, nephew and niece of Pippa were attendants at the wedding. The Middletons have been accepted into some aspects of the Royal Family. Here, they were welcomed to Sandringham for the christening of Princess Charlotte. Pippa stands between her father and her handsome brother, also named James. The tabloids go from loving the Middletons to not quite loving them. Some tabloids think that Prince William is too close to his in-laws and he and Kate don’t do enough royal duties. That all seems to be changing now, as they both seem very busy working for the “Royal Firm.” While Carole and Michael Middleton seem to get along well with the Royal Family, there does appear to be a cooling-off in the relationship. Pippa works part-time for her parents business and even wrote a book about party planning and entertaining, though it was considered a flop when sales were below expectations. She even penned a mea-culpa about the failure of the book, claiming she is indeed a capable and trained chef. Pippa will have a lot of chances to show off her entertaining skills when she marries into her new family. Her in-laws, Jane and Dave Matthews, are quite a colorful bunch and by marrying into the family, Pippa will gain a title! Her husband, as the eldest son, will one day inherit the Scottish title “Lord Glen Affric” and as his wife, Pippa will be “Lady Glen Affric.” The title comes along with the 10,000 acre estate in Scotland that James’ parents bought in 2008. When he bought the property, James’ father became the Laird of Glen Affric, the gorgeous Highlands estate seen above. The estate has another royal connection as Queen Elizabeth’s grandmother, Queen Mary, stayed at Glen Affric in the late 19th century. The Matthews developed the estate into an exclusive Highlands vacation spot for traditional shooting and fly fishing and other Scottish pursuits. Hidden in the hills is the main lodge of Glen Affic where guests stay. It is gorgeous. Recently it was rumored that Pippa and James would honeymoon at Glen Affic, but now there is another destination rumor. Besides their Highlands estate, James parents, Jane and David Matthews, also own a resort in St. Barts. In 1995, Dave moved the family to the ritzy island when they bought the iconic resort Eden Rock, considered one of the most exclusive resorts in the region. In its heyday, Greta Garbo, Howard Hughes, the Rothschilds and the Rockefellers would come to stay. The Matthews have renovated the resort, luring a new generation of young stars. Pippa has quite her pick of vacation spots now – either St. Barts or the Scottish Highlands. Hmmm….such a dilemma! David Matthews, James father, wasn’t born with a silver spoon in his mouth. He started out as a car mechanic for his father and then became a successful race car driver. When he retired from racing, he started a used car business which he turned into a highly successful business. He later moved to St. Barts to renovate Eden Rock. The Matthews have a similar background to the Middletons, as Pippa’s father is also self made, starting out as a airline manager, while his wife Carole was a flight attendant. But the Middleton’s have royal ties besides their daughter being the future Queen of England. Michael Middleton’s grandmother Olive grew up on her family’s estate Potternewton Hall with her cousins who lived next door. The Prince of Wales, later King Edward VII, was a visitor to their home. Olive passed on a large inheritance to the family, which greatly added to the Middletons coffers. But, the Middletons business, started by Carole, is the mail order “Party Pieces” that sells party planning items. From the Middletons’ company “Party Pieces” line of goods. Judging by the merchandise on their web site, it’s hard to see how they became multi-millionaires from this business, but – they did. I’m in the wrong business is all I can say!! The Handsome Couple: Pippa and James Spencer Matthews Pippa and James’ Wedding Ceremony took place at St. Mark’s Church located on the beautiful Englefield Estate in Berkshire. You might remember Englefield from when I wrote about it last year HERE. Englefield Estate was used as a location for the series “The Crown” when it stood in for the royal estate Sandringham. Englefield Estate – the wedding ceremony took place at the church on the estate. Englefield is owned by the Tory MP Richard Benyon who is thought to be friendly with the family. After the ceremony, there was a champagne reception held on the estate, though the exact location was not disclosed. Later on Saturday night, there was a dinner dance held at the Middleton’s estate “The Manor.” From “The Crown” – paparazzi take pictures of the church, which is playing the part of “Sandringham.” I had no idea at the time I watched this scene on television that Pippa was going to be married right here a few months later!! The 12th century church in Berkshire on the Englefield Estate is quite beautiful and romantic. Days before the wedding, the grounds were seen been readied for the big event. Before the wedding, scores of gold chairs were delivered to the church signaling that more people were invited than there are pews for. But, perhaps these chairs are actually for the champagne reception after the wedding. The church is not that large, but it’s assumed there won’t be an empty pew. A close up of the altar. It’s so beautiful. Most likely this church was chosen because it’s a few minutes from the Middleton’s house where the evening party was held. The big question was about Prince Harry’s girlfriend, U.S. Actress Meghan Markle. Since they are not engaged, it was said she would not be at the ceremony but might be at the reception. There was a rule – no ring, no invitation. Later, the Church of England decreed that any citizen could attend any wedding that was held at a public church. So, Meghan’s appearance was a last minute question mark. Would she attend? In the end, Meghan did not go to the ceremony. After the reception, Prince Harry drove all the way back to London to pick up Meghan and they went together to the evening party. This was a smart move on Meghan’s part. Had she attended the ceremony, she would have garnered all the press attention instead of Pippa. By staying away, she made the more mature decision. Point/game to Meghan!! The road to Bucklebury where the Middletons live was being guarded all week before the wedding. The evening party/dinner-dance was held at the Middletons house located a few miles away from the church. Their Georgian style house is Grade II Listed and has five living areas, 7 bedrooms, a swimming pool, tennis courts, and is located on 18 acres. The Middletons bought the house just after Kate and William married and the rumor was that Prince William had helped pay for the 5,000,000 pound estate with money he inherited from his mother Princess Diana. When William turned 30, he had inherited over 15 million pounds from Diana’s estate and the thought was that since they would be staying with their inlaws, special security buildings would be needed and William wanted to pay for the inconvenience of being a “Royal.” Who knows if this is true or not, but the Middletons are certainly well off enough to afford the house themselves, without William’s help. When the Middleton’s bought the house, they requested planning permission to build a garage with an apartment above it, along with storage and a workshop. Most likely this was for staff or security. The Middleton’s Bucklebury estate has Royal roots. King Henry I gave the land to monks who created fishponds on it, three of which still exist today. In 1540 after the monks left, Henry VIII gave the land to John Winchcombe who pasted it onto the Hartleys who lived on the estate until recently. The Hartleys kept the title of Lord and Lady that came with the house so unfortunately the Middletons did not get the title. The gate to the Middleton’s house provides privacy as does the tall hedge that surrounds the estate. The swimming pool and tennis court are located at the front by the street. There is an addition to the side of the main house that creates a courtyard. The house is known as “The Manor.” It was built in 1830 and is listed Grade II. The main house has had several additions over the years. The beautiful large entry was built as a later addition and at the rear of the house is another addition. To the right of the main house is a large addition that is a garden/sitting room. Between the original house and the addition is the courtyard with pavers and gravel and topiaries. Parking is behind the house. Today, for the wedding, the courtyards have been cleaned and the terraces look much brighter, as if it is new stone. From Real Estate photos – the front facade with the front door addition is very beautiful. Real Estate Photos: The living room is noted for its large antique mantel from the 17th century, along with its Delft tile surround. This is NOT the Middletons furniture – but this is how the house looked when they bought it! This view looks out to the side courtyard. Real Estate View: The kitchen runs the width of the main house. Behind the blue chair is a French door that opens to the courtyard on the left side of the house. On the other side of this room is a sitting area (see below) which opens to the large courtyard. Real Estate View: The sitting room as seen above – on the opposite side of the kitchen. This opens up to the courtyard. Real Estate: The large, side addition – with sliding doors that open to the courtyard. Another aerial view. On the left side of the house is the small courtyard off the kitchen. The side courtyard of The Manor. The left side and back of the house. The kitchen is through those French doors. And that same left side view as above. The French door leads to the small courtyard off the kitchen. This courtyard has recently been completely redone with new or cleaned stone and new furniture. The same view of the kitchen’s French door. And the same left back side of The Manor. There is an old swing set. I’m sure that’s been updated for Prince George and Princess Charlotte. At the very back is the garage. Aerial view of the garden/sitting addition. The courtyard and the addition. I love those topiaries. From this view you can see the additions – the large one at the back of the main house and the one at the side of the main house. The courtyard with the gravel garden. I love this garden. It’s so beautiful!!! Apparently the woman who owned this house before the Middletons was a garden designer which is why the courtyard looks so pretty. The view past the gravel garden. This is where the Marque was set up for the wedding’s dinner/dance. And from the real estate photos – an even further view of the property. Lovely!!! No wonder why the Middletons wanted to have the party here! This shows how the estate was set up for the dinner/dance. There is the main marque – the 140’ glass “tent.” Next to it is the white tent for the reception. The kitchen was probably set up in the smaller white tent or that is the “loo tent.” At the very back is the security. Today: The reception was held in the glass marquee. It was set up so that the garden courtyard faces the front of the marquee – and the guests could enjoy the garden view. To control traffic, guests arrived at another location where they parked their cars and were then driven in Range Rovers to the Middleton’s house. There were no cell phones allowed which is why there was not one photo of the party leaked on social media! The view from the left side/back of the house. Notice the side courtyard is now decorated with a new table & umbrella and newly refreshened stone. Eagle eyes can spot the truck that James Middleton drives! Hint: it’s green. This view shows the gentle rolling terrain of the estate. Located across from the house is Bucklebury Safari Park. You can see its parking lot in this photo. I wonder if that is where the party guests parked their cars???? Very busy!!! It took days for the marquee to be set up and decorated. Tall pink flowering trees were seen in the marquee days before the party. It had been rumored that there would be a Scottish theme to the wedding since the groom will be a titled Laird one day. The wedding was NOT Scottish themed and I doubt the party was either. although the did serve some Scottish food! Hard to believe this is a temporary building. It was said in the press that rental of the marquee costs over $200,000. At the side of the marquee, on the bottom part – they applied netting to hide the ground. Inside you can see there curtains in the marquee. ALSO - notice there are spotlights on the ground. These were used to keep photographers from seeing inside during the party and taking photos. It worked! Here you can see navy velvet sofas and green velvet pillows. They also had heaters set up in the marquee. This was taken the morning after the party!! It looks like they had a good time. The marquee set up for another wedding. This gives an idea of how it might have looked inside for supper. The first class outhouses!!! The “loos” were really special. Where did the Middletons live before they moved to their new house? Before the Middleton’s bought their current house, they lived here for a few years. This is where Kate spent her later teenage and college years. So charming behind the wood fence. A view of the cottage. The house looks a bit bigger from the air. While it wasn’t small, the house was not large enough for Kate and William and their two children to come and stay. A new house was needed after she married William. And here is where Kate spent her youth – in this classic English two story house. Inside: The living room. Pretty fireplace. It’s hard to believe that the future Queen of England lived here during her childhood! This is the shed where Carole Middleton started her now-multimillion $ party planning mail order business. And what about Pippa and James Matthews? Where will they live now that they are married? Since the couple already have two dogs and they already live together – they probably will just stay where they are now. The townhouse where Pippa and James live today. He bought the townhouse in 2014 for 17 Million Pounds. James bought this house in 2014 and he has submitted an extension for the second floor. He wants to add a bathroom with two sinks and a dressing room that leads off the master bedroom. Sounds like he wants to add this space for Pippa. There are Real Estate photos that show the front living room. This is not James’ furniture – this is how it looked when he bought the townhouse. Past the living room is the dining room and kitchen. A row of doors completely close off the kitchen from the dining room. Kate and William have decorated their houses in the classic English style. I’m so curious to know how Pippa will decorate this townhouse? The kitchen overlooks the back garden. Look at the island!! Those countertops!!! Since the living and dining room are open to the kitchen – the kitchen is very streamlined. The townhouse is so contemporary. Hard to imagine they will decorate it traditionally. The stairs wrap around a stone pillar and are contemporary, with open treads!! The basement family room opens to the courtyard. The basement family room opens to the garden, which is a floor below ground level. In London, there is a scandal surrounding these huge basements which are dug out and reach out past the footprints of the house above it. These are called “Iceberg Homes” – and the large basements hold kitchens, swimming pools, workout rooms, etc. and often include elevators. The more luxe, the better. Some basements encroach into the street, past the house above it and their neighbors are having serious foundation problems. If the house your house is too small, just dig out a few floors underground!!! Another view. The basement room opens to the courtyard and the stairs lead up to the garden level. The stairs on the right lead from the ground floor to the garden. Real Estate Photos: The master bedroom floor. The townhouse where Pippa and James will continue to live with their two dogs. Before James bought the white townhouse that he lives in now, he lived in another townhouse, shown above. Prior to dating Pippa, James was considered one of London’s most eligible bachelors. Needless to say, James is a very successful businessman. He graduated from private school but skipped college in to order to become a hedge fund trader. When Pippa and James became engaged, an old magazine spread of his former house was republished, in part probably to impress and embarrass at the same time. The old magazine story about James said that in 1998, when James was 22 years old, he and his brother (now deceased) bought this 1908 Grade II Listed house (pictured above) for just 1.75 million pounds. In 2006 when he decided to sell the townhouse, he elected to put it in the magazine in order to assure a quick sale – and it sold for 12.5 million pounds, quite a profit for a young, single man. Today, that 7 story, five bedroom house is worth much, much more than James sold it for. It recently sold for over 40 million pounds, which means about $55,000,000! When James bought the 21 room, 9,000+ sq ft house, it had been used as a business and had no bathrooms. It was in need of a total renovation which James accomplished with the help of his parents who took over the task completely. The living room is the most classically decorated room in the townhouse and gives you an idea of how his new house might be furnished. This room is very pretty in soft yellows and floral curtains. The bay window overlooks Park Street which is parallel to Park Lane. This exclusive location is one of the reasons for its price tag. It’s hard to believe a 22 year old lived in this house!!! I have to say I like this house better than the one they live in now. It’s not as contemporary. Here is James in the living room. Time has been kind to him – he is better looking today than he was 10 years ago, I hate to say it!!! Only men get better looking with age! The dining room has marble floors and has elaborate moldings. Notice the architraves above the doors. The foyer seen through the open door has checkerboard floors and a fancy staircase. This bedroom is my least favorite room. The art work is awful and the decor needs help. I wonder he moved this bed to his new townhouse? This bedroom has an odd hole in the wall that opens to the adjoining bathroom, kitchenette and study. A photo of his family is on the wall. From this floor you can go up to the roof terrace via the spiral staircase that you can see through the hole. The spiral staircase is behind the glass doors. The rooftop garden comes complete with a hot tub. Of course James installed a hot tub – he was a 22 year old bachelor!!! Can’t you tell from these photos of then young James that he would one day be even more successful and would marry one of England’s prettiest single girls? Their wedding went off without a hitch and nobody leaked anything on social media, except for the invitation that is! Here is an invitation to the dinner party/dance at The Manor – the Middletons estate in Bucklebury. I’m not sure who William and Clemence is – but their invitation was shown on Instagram!!! The Wedding, May 20th: Locals lined up early to get a view of the festivities. The wedding was scheduled to start at 12:00 noon. The Cambridges drove up that morning from London, about an hour’s drive. St. Mark’s Church. At the gate are the floral decorations for the wedding. A close up view of the floral decorations at the gate. The birds were chirping outside – and in the video, it sounded so pretty, exactly what you would think a quiet, small village in the English countryside would sound like. A close up of the flowers with the beautiful David Austin looking roses. Prince William and Prince Harry walking up to the church in their morning suits. They were chatting the entire time! Princess Eugenie, Sarah Ferguson and Prince Andrew’s youngest daughter came to the wedding with her boyfriend. Her older sister Princess Beatrice was not at the wedding. Next came the Parents of the Groom, Dave and Jane Matthews. She wore a mint green coat and dress with dark green shoes and purse. She wore a Fascinator, which is a tiny hat that sits on the crown of the head. Many of the younger set wear Fascinators today instead of full hats. The mother of the bride was walked to the church by her youngest, handsome son James. Carole wore a pink hat and a Catherine Walker dress. Walker was a favorite designer of Princess Diana. I preferred what Jane Matthews wore, I liked the longer length. But I thought that Carole looked very pretty in pink. The bride and her father were driven up in a vintage Jaguar. The arch around the door was decorated with roses. The roses were just gorgeous!!! Kate wore Alexander McQueen, in a peachy pink that matched the bridesmaids sashes. She also chose a Fascinator. Shh!!! Kate and Princess Charlotte share a huge laugh. But notice the page at front – he’s holding up two fingers to the other kids, he’s plotting to be naughty!! He gave this sign to the photographer and everyone in England was aghast at how “cheeky” he was! I have no clue what that sign means!!! But this page was the talk of the wedding. You would of thought he was a serial murderer!! Charlotte was too precious. The gate to the church ready for Pippa. And here is Pippa. She had a huge smile on her face all day long. She looked so happy!!!! Her dress was designed by Giles Deacon who apparently designed another one for the dinner/dance. I hope we get to see it soon! Stephen Jones made the veil and her shoes were Manola Blahniks. Kate fixed Pippa’s train, just like Pippa did for her, six years earlier. The Winchester Cathedral choir (wasn’t that a song in the 70s?) sang Be Thou My Vision; Tell Out, My Soul and I Vow To Thee, My Country. The groom’s brother Spencer Matthews read a passage from the Paulo Coelho novel, The ­Alchemist, while Pippa’s brother James read Love Is An ­Adventure by Pierre Tielhard du Chardin and a family friend read the Song of Solomon. Kate, the Duchess of Cambridge, read a prayer. After an hour’s ceremony, the bells started peeling and the married couple appeared, led by the pages and maids throwing confetti. Prince William started to have a meltdown. Apparently a minute earlier he had accidently stepped on Pippa’s train and Kate had given him a warning to be careful. Smiling Pippa and Kate. I loved her Fascinator! Happy parents of the bride! The wedding party waiting for their cars. James and Pippa Matthews, the new couple. His parents are behind them, along with Michael Middleton. What a beautiful couple!!! Those flowers are so gorgeous!!! Kate trying to keep the kids happy. She always bends down when she talks to Charlotte. She seems like a great mom. And here is Prince George, starting his meltdown tantrum which was the talk of the wedding. The future King of England, crying. One day, he will get a good laugh out of this photograph. Kate means business. She is pointing her finger at Prince George – behave!!! Apparently George wasn’t the only crying child. Charlotte had to be comforted by her nanny after she started crying during the ceremony screaming “Where’s Mummy?” She’s only two. Tantrum over, he leaves in his vintage Jaguar, all smiles and waves. After the wedding, everyone went to have a champagne reception at the Englefield House. At four, the married couple drove through the estate’s gates, that had just been repainted for the event. They both have huge smiles – they waved to the locals that lined the way back to The Manor in Bucklebury. I wish we did weddings like this!!! So sweet! Everyone is so happy for them. After the wedding was over, they took photos of the church. Here you can see how the windows of the church were decorated with the greenery and roses. I’m in love with the flowers!!! At the arch, a faux tree trunk was filled with the greenery and roses. The tree trunks at the arches. Atop the columns, there were more roses! After the wedding reception, Prince Harry drove back to London to get his girlfriend Meghan Markle and together they drove back to Bucklebury for the wedding dinner/dance. So far, this is the ONLY photo of his girlfriend! She was said to wear a stunning maroon, backless dress. Before the party started at The Manor, they turned on the spotlights to keep the photographers away. It looks like they were still getting the marquee ready. A look at the floral arrangement in the marquee. As night fell and the spotlights were turned on, there was a flyover by the vintage Spitfire that did stunt flying for the guests enjoyment. Hmm. I don’t get that one. But look how pretty it all looks! The guests came outside to watch as it was considered too dangerous to be in the glass marquee in case something went wrong!!! Apparently, it started to rain after 15 minutes, which some guests said was a good thing as the air show was considered a bit boring. Inside, the waiters were said to all be part-time models or actors so that they were as attractive as the guests! Couples were not seated together to encourage more fun. Pippa changed dresses and wore a white floor-length gown with a v-neck and sparkle detailing. Her hair was worn down for the party and she was said to look absolutely beautiful. The women guests did not wear hats and the men wore black tie. Security was so tight at the party that guests had to send in a photograph prior to the party and produce a password to gain entry. Later at night, with the spotlights on full glare – the paparazzi still managed to get a few photos. Against the side of the house – they flashed huge photographs all night long. This one is of the groom. An extra 150 guests had been invited to the party than had been at the wedding. The menu included trout and Scottish lamb. There was a saxophonist, a band, and a DJ for dancing. There was a single malt whisky bar, and photo booths. Guests played ping pong. The marquee was decorated as an enchanted forest filled with faux trees. And here the marquee is lit up – with a green photo of a dancing girl on the house. The party is said to have lasted until 4 in the morning. Long day!!!! Where is the honeymoon? It has to something to do with Marlon Brando! When Brando filmed Mutiny on the Bounty on the French Polynesia island Tetiaroa, he bought the island and lived there for many years. Brando and Tarita became a couple and had children together. Today, it is an exclusive, ecologically sensitive resort that President Obama just stayed at! The atoll. Incredibly gorgeous. The rumor is this is where Pippa and James will honeymoon. It is probably true! The wedding is now over, but there is one guest that always intrigues me. The nanny!! Prince George and Princess Charlotte’s nanny was at the wedding in her uniform. It’s the uniform that gets me. Where would a nanny get a uniform from?!?! Apparently she went to college to earn that uniform! The nanny is Maria Teresa Turrion Borrallo and she is a graduate of the prestigious nanny school, Norland College. Norland is located in the picturesque town of Bath. It was founded back in 1892 and it is extremely hard if not almost impossible to be selected to attend. Its nannies get the prime positions when they graduate after a 3 year course. Norland charges $36,000 pounds for their degree and hundreds apply for a class of 48 spaces. Maria, the Cambridge’s nanny, proudly wears her uniform at public events, but usually she just wears the working uniform of a plain sweater and slacks. Norland College updated their uniform a few years ago but for some reason Maria still wears the old version. At Charlotte’s christening, Nanny Maria greets the Queen who is smiling broadly at Maria. The new uniforms. I wonder why Maria hasn’t changed hers yet? Kate has said that Maria is the absolute best and she is devoted to her. Myself, I’m just fascinated by this Nanny uniform business. I can’t imagine someone wearing this here in the U.S. but it seems so normal in England!!! Look how happy those nannies are! Mary Poppins suddenly makes more sense. Here is Nanny Maria in her regular working uniform of slacks and white shirt and blue sweater. I love the security guard glaring at the photographer! Whew! A Mazel Tov to Pippa and James and a long, happy life. I’m sure Pippa will be ‘broody’ soon. For Fun: I wanted to find a dress that looked like Kate’s for a fraction of the cost, but that was impossible! So, I went for inexpensive dresses that would have been great on Kate for the wedding. I DID find her fabulous shoes, though!! Enjoy! This is a long version, simple but elegant. HERE I like this length, and with some extras. HERE Above the knee with a ruffle HERE Love this sleeve and the length. Love this! HERE Long with a ruffle HERE Kate’s gorgeous heels by Gianvito Rossi HERE – they come in all colors, but I love this nude for everything. Nude casual HERE

Hollem, Howard R.,, photographer. Oyida Peaks riveting as part of her NYA training to become a mechanic at the Naval Air Base, in the Assembly and Repair Department, Corpus Christi, Texas 1942 August 1 transparency : color. Notes: Title from FSA or OWI agency caption. Transfer from U.S. Office of War Information, 1944. Subjects: United States.--Navy Air bases Women--Employment Airplane industry World War, 1939-1945 Civil service United States--Texas--Corpus Christi Format: Transparencies--Color Rights Info: No known restrictions on publication. Repository: Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division, Washington, D.C. 20540 USA, hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/pp.print Part Of: Farm Security Administration - Office of War Information Collection 12002-18 (DLC) 93845501 General information about the FSA/OWI Color Photographs is available at hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/pp.fsac Higher resolution image is available (Persistent URL): hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/fsac.1a34886 Call Number: LC-USW36-76

The Texas Eiffel Tower in Paris, Texas is a fun and quirky roadside attraction in northeast Texas. Check out this post to know everything you need to know to visit the Texas Eiffel Tower.

A picture is worth a thousand words, so a picture of Texas must be worth a million.

A now for something a little different…. The Duchess of Cambridge’s sister, Phillipa Charlotte, just married this past weekend. Who? That’s Kate’s sister - Pippa to you and me. I’ll admit I didn’t realize Pippa was short for Phillipa, but it makes sense. At least now we know where Princess Charlotte got her name from – her aunt Pippa! The Three Middleton Ladies: Pippa, Kate and their mother Carole. Carole was a flight attendant who started a mail order company called “Party Pieces” which over time became the huge success it is today. First… A disclaimer: I was a huge fan of Princess Diana – she was a few years younger than me and when she became the future Queen of England (sob!) – I thought she was the most fabulous woman who had ever lived. She was my Jackie Kennedy. I loved her clothes, her sense of style, her hair do!, her houses, her empathy, her heart – there wasn’t much I didn’t love about her. I always thought, and still do, that she was terribly mistreated by the Royal Family and that she was used by Charles and Camilla - who should have married when they were both young and single. When Diana died, I thought it was such a waste and so tragic that I never wanted to hear about the Royal Family again. Done with them!!! But, slowly over time, when the boys were grown and Diana’s grandchildren were born, I was lured back in the fold, until here I am this weekend, obsessing over every aspect of Pippa’s wedding. Well….Diana’s grandchildren are in it!! Do you blame me? So here in a nutshell is everything you need to know about the “Wedding of the Year” as the British press is calling it. Pippa sprang on the scene when she was her sister’s maid of honor at the Wedding of the Decade – William and Kate’s: Pippa became famous for standing behind her sister Kate, in her own white dress, holding Kate’s long train. Many thought Pippa was more beautiful than Kate and some thought Pippa’s dress was prettier than Kate’s (I did, I hate to say!) To everyone outside of England, Pippa was a total unknown, but she and her derriere became a social-media star that day. Later, Pippa confessed that she was confused by all the attention she received at Kate’s wedding. Pippa said that her dress was specifically designed to be plain and to not outshine Kate’s. In the end, it was the dress’ simple elegance and Pippa’s slim figure that together made Pippa a household name. After the Cambridge wedding, the race to marry off Pippa was on. There were a few fits and starts with different, very eligible boyfriends. But, it all came to an end when Pippa, 33, became engaged to the handsome and very successful (of course – you didn’t think she would be marrying someone unemployed!) James Spencer Matthews, 41. Here are the young Kate on the left and Pippa, bridesmaids at their uncle Gary Goldsmith’s wedding. Gary is Carole’s brother and a black sheep of the family. He was at Pippa’s wedding, but was not invited to the reception afterwards. He was later seen eating lunch in a restaurant after Pippa’s wedding. Pippa attended private day schools, then boarded away at Marlborough College. She graduated from the University of Edinburgh with a decree in English literature. After college she worked in PR and later wrote for magazines such as Vanity Fair and several newspapers. A few years ago she set up a company, but what it is for or does is a complete mystery. Pippa and James dated a few years before they became engaged. They were seen on winter vacations at James’ family owned St. Barts resort Eden Rock, joined there by Pippa’s family. It was obvious both families approved of the match. Pippa’s ring is an Asscher cut surrounded by a row of diamonds which makes it appear even larger than it already is. The center stone has been estimated to be 3.5 carats. The happy couple married this Saturday! While the couple are not royal, everyone is quite excited over the festivities, to say the least. It’s not everyday that two future Kings of England attend a wedding. Prince George and Princess Charlotte, nephew and niece of Pippa were attendants at the wedding. The Middletons have been accepted into some aspects of the Royal Family. Here, they were welcomed to Sandringham for the christening of Princess Charlotte. Pippa stands between her father and her handsome brother, also named James. The tabloids go from loving the Middletons to not quite loving them. Some tabloids think that Prince William is too close to his in-laws and he and Kate don’t do enough royal duties. That all seems to be changing now, as they both seem very busy working for the “Royal Firm.” While Carole and Michael Middleton seem to get along well with the Royal Family, there does appear to be a cooling-off in the relationship. Pippa works part-time for her parents business and even wrote a book about party planning and entertaining, though it was considered a flop when sales were below expectations. She even penned a mea-culpa about the failure of the book, claiming she is indeed a capable and trained chef. Pippa will have a lot of chances to show off her entertaining skills when she marries into her new family. Her in-laws, Jane and Dave Matthews, are quite a colorful bunch and by marrying into the family, Pippa will gain a title! Her husband, as the eldest son, will one day inherit the Scottish title “Lord Glen Affric” and as his wife, Pippa will be “Lady Glen Affric.” The title comes along with the 10,000 acre estate in Scotland that James’ parents bought in 2008. When he bought the property, James’ father became the Laird of Glen Affric, the gorgeous Highlands estate seen above. The estate has another royal connection as Queen Elizabeth’s grandmother, Queen Mary, stayed at Glen Affric in the late 19th century. The Matthews developed the estate into an exclusive Highlands vacation spot for traditional shooting and fly fishing and other Scottish pursuits. Hidden in the hills is the main lodge of Glen Affic where guests stay. It is gorgeous. Recently it was rumored that Pippa and James would honeymoon at Glen Affic, but now there is another destination rumor. Besides their Highlands estate, James parents, Jane and David Matthews, also own a resort in St. Barts. In 1995, Dave moved the family to the ritzy island when they bought the iconic resort Eden Rock, considered one of the most exclusive resorts in the region. In its heyday, Greta Garbo, Howard Hughes, the Rothschilds and the Rockefellers would come to stay. The Matthews have renovated the resort, luring a new generation of young stars. Pippa has quite her pick of vacation spots now – either St. Barts or the Scottish Highlands. Hmmm….such a dilemma! David Matthews, James father, wasn’t born with a silver spoon in his mouth. He started out as a car mechanic for his father and then became a successful race car driver. When he retired from racing, he started a used car business which he turned into a highly successful business. He later moved to St. Barts to renovate Eden Rock. The Matthews have a similar background to the Middletons, as Pippa’s father is also self made, starting out as a airline manager, while his wife Carole was a flight attendant. But the Middleton’s have royal ties besides their daughter being the future Queen of England. Michael Middleton’s grandmother Olive grew up on her family’s estate Potternewton Hall with her cousins who lived next door. The Prince of Wales, later King Edward VII, was a visitor to their home. Olive passed on a large inheritance to the family, which greatly added to the Middletons coffers. But, the Middletons business, started by Carole, is the mail order “Party Pieces” that sells party planning items. From the Middletons’ company “Party Pieces” line of goods. Judging by the merchandise on their web site, it’s hard to see how they became multi-millionaires from this business, but – they did. I’m in the wrong business is all I can say!! The Handsome Couple: Pippa and James Spencer Matthews Pippa and James’ Wedding Ceremony took place at St. Mark’s Church located on the beautiful Englefield Estate in Berkshire. You might remember Englefield from when I wrote about it last year HERE. Englefield Estate was used as a location for the series “The Crown” when it stood in for the royal estate Sandringham. Englefield Estate – the wedding ceremony took place at the church on the estate. Englefield is owned by the Tory MP Richard Benyon who is thought to be friendly with the family. After the ceremony, there was a champagne reception held on the estate, though the exact location was not disclosed. Later on Saturday night, there was a dinner dance held at the Middleton’s estate “The Manor.” From “The Crown” – paparazzi take pictures of the church, which is playing the part of “Sandringham.” I had no idea at the time I watched this scene on television that Pippa was going to be married right here a few months later!! The 12th century church in Berkshire on the Englefield Estate is quite beautiful and romantic. Days before the wedding, the grounds were seen been readied for the big event. Before the wedding, scores of gold chairs were delivered to the church signaling that more people were invited than there are pews for. But, perhaps these chairs are actually for the champagne reception after the wedding. The church is not that large, but it’s assumed there won’t be an empty pew. A close up of the altar. It’s so beautiful. Most likely this church was chosen because it’s a few minutes from the Middleton’s house where the evening party was held. The big question was about Prince Harry’s girlfriend, U.S. Actress Meghan Markle. Since they are not engaged, it was said she would not be at the ceremony but might be at the reception. There was a rule – no ring, no invitation. Later, the Church of England decreed that any citizen could attend any wedding that was held at a public church. So, Meghan’s appearance was a last minute question mark. Would she attend? In the end, Meghan did not go to the ceremony. After the reception, Prince Harry drove all the way back to London to pick up Meghan and they went together to the evening party. This was a smart move on Meghan’s part. Had she attended the ceremony, she would have garnered all the press attention instead of Pippa. By staying away, she made the more mature decision. Point/game to Meghan!! The road to Bucklebury where the Middletons live was being guarded all week before the wedding. The evening party/dinner-dance was held at the Middletons house located a few miles away from the church. Their Georgian style house is Grade II Listed and has five living areas, 7 bedrooms, a swimming pool, tennis courts, and is located on 18 acres. The Middletons bought the house just after Kate and William married and the rumor was that Prince William had helped pay for the 5,000,000 pound estate with money he inherited from his mother Princess Diana. When William turned 30, he had inherited over 15 million pounds from Diana’s estate and the thought was that since they would be staying with their inlaws, special security buildings would be needed and William wanted to pay for the inconvenience of being a “Royal.” Who knows if this is true or not, but the Middletons are certainly well off enough to afford the house themselves, without William’s help. When the Middleton’s bought the house, they requested planning permission to build a garage with an apartment above it, along with storage and a workshop. Most likely this was for staff or security. The Middleton’s Bucklebury estate has Royal roots. King Henry I gave the land to monks who created fishponds on it, three of which still exist today. In 1540 after the monks left, Henry VIII gave the land to John Winchcombe who pasted it onto the Hartleys who lived on the estate until recently. The Hartleys kept the title of Lord and Lady that came with the house so unfortunately the Middletons did not get the title. The gate to the Middleton’s house provides privacy as does the tall hedge that surrounds the estate. The swimming pool and tennis court are located at the front by the street. There is an addition to the side of the main house that creates a courtyard. The house is known as “The Manor.” It was built in 1830 and is listed Grade II. The main house has had several additions over the years. The beautiful large entry was built as a later addition and at the rear of the house is another addition. To the right of the main house is a large addition that is a garden/sitting room. Between the original house and the addition is the courtyard with pavers and gravel and topiaries. Parking is behind the house. Today, for the wedding, the courtyards have been cleaned and the terraces look much brighter, as if it is new stone. From Real Estate photos – the front facade with the front door addition is very beautiful. Real Estate Photos: The living room is noted for its large antique mantel from the 17th century, along with its Delft tile surround. This is NOT the Middletons furniture – but this is how the house looked when they bought it! This view looks out to the side courtyard. Real Estate View: The kitchen runs the width of the main house. Behind the blue chair is a French door that opens to the courtyard on the left side of the house. On the other side of this room is a sitting area (see below) which opens to the large courtyard. Real Estate View: The sitting room as seen above – on the opposite side of the kitchen. This opens up to the courtyard. Real Estate: The large, side addition – with sliding doors that open to the courtyard. Another aerial view. On the left side of the house is the small courtyard off the kitchen. The side courtyard of The Manor. The left side and back of the house. The kitchen is through those French doors. And that same left side view as above. The French door leads to the small courtyard off the kitchen. This courtyard has recently been completely redone with new or cleaned stone and new furniture. The same view of the kitchen’s French door. And the same left back side of The Manor. There is an old swing set. I’m sure that’s been updated for Prince George and Princess Charlotte. At the very back is the garage. Aerial view of the garden/sitting addition. The courtyard and the addition. I love those topiaries. From this view you can see the additions – the large one at the back of the main house and the one at the side of the main house. The courtyard with the gravel garden. I love this garden. It’s so beautiful!!! Apparently the woman who owned this house before the Middletons was a garden designer which is why the courtyard looks so pretty. The view past the gravel garden. This is where the Marque was set up for the wedding’s dinner/dance. And from the real estate photos – an even further view of the property. Lovely!!! No wonder why the Middletons wanted to have the party here! This shows how the estate was set up for the dinner/dance. There is the main marque – the 140’ glass “tent.” Next to it is the white tent for the reception. The kitchen was probably set up in the smaller white tent or that is the “loo tent.” At the very back is the security. Today: The reception was held in the glass marquee. It was set up so that the garden courtyard faces the front of the marquee – and the guests could enjoy the garden view. To control traffic, guests arrived at another location where they parked their cars and were then driven in Range Rovers to the Middleton’s house. There were no cell phones allowed which is why there was not one photo of the party leaked on social media! The view from the left side/back of the house. Notice the side courtyard is now decorated with a new table & umbrella and newly refreshened stone. Eagle eyes can spot the truck that James Middleton drives! Hint: it’s green. This view shows the gentle rolling terrain of the estate. Located across from the house is Bucklebury Safari Park. You can see its parking lot in this photo. I wonder if that is where the party guests parked their cars???? Very busy!!! It took days for the marquee to be set up and decorated. Tall pink flowering trees were seen in the marquee days before the party. It had been rumored that there would be a Scottish theme to the wedding since the groom will be a titled Laird one day. The wedding was NOT Scottish themed and I doubt the party was either. although the did serve some Scottish food! Hard to believe this is a temporary building. It was said in the press that rental of the marquee costs over $200,000. At the side of the marquee, on the bottom part – they applied netting to hide the ground. Inside you can see there curtains in the marquee. ALSO - notice there are spotlights on the ground. These were used to keep photographers from seeing inside during the party and taking photos. It worked! Here you can see navy velvet sofas and green velvet pillows. They also had heaters set up in the marquee. This was taken the morning after the party!! It looks like they had a good time. The marquee set up for another wedding. This gives an idea of how it might have looked inside for supper. The first class outhouses!!! The “loos” were really special. Where did the Middletons live before they moved to their new house? Before the Middleton’s bought their current house, they lived here for a few years. This is where Kate spent her later teenage and college years. So charming behind the wood fence. A view of the cottage. The house looks a bit bigger from the air. While it wasn’t small, the house was not large enough for Kate and William and their two children to come and stay. A new house was needed after she married William. And here is where Kate spent her youth – in this classic English two story house. Inside: The living room. Pretty fireplace. It’s hard to believe that the future Queen of England lived here during her childhood! This is the shed where Carole Middleton started her now-multimillion $ party planning mail order business. And what about Pippa and James Matthews? Where will they live now that they are married? Since the couple already have two dogs and they already live together – they probably will just stay where they are now. The townhouse where Pippa and James live today. He bought the townhouse in 2014 for 17 Million Pounds. James bought this house in 2014 and he has submitted an extension for the second floor. He wants to add a bathroom with two sinks and a dressing room that leads off the master bedroom. Sounds like he wants to add this space for Pippa. There are Real Estate photos that show the front living room. This is not James’ furniture – this is how it looked when he bought the townhouse. Past the living room is the dining room and kitchen. A row of doors completely close off the kitchen from the dining room. Kate and William have decorated their houses in the classic English style. I’m so curious to know how Pippa will decorate this townhouse? The kitchen overlooks the back garden. Look at the island!! Those countertops!!! Since the living and dining room are open to the kitchen – the kitchen is very streamlined. The townhouse is so contemporary. Hard to imagine they will decorate it traditionally. The stairs wrap around a stone pillar and are contemporary, with open treads!! The basement family room opens to the courtyard. The basement family room opens to the garden, which is a floor below ground level. In London, there is a scandal surrounding these huge basements which are dug out and reach out past the footprints of the house above it. These are called “Iceberg Homes” – and the large basements hold kitchens, swimming pools, workout rooms, etc. and often include elevators. The more luxe, the better. Some basements encroach into the street, past the house above it and their neighbors are having serious foundation problems. If the house your house is too small, just dig out a few floors underground!!! Another view. The basement room opens to the courtyard and the stairs lead up to the garden level. The stairs on the right lead from the ground floor to the garden. Real Estate Photos: The master bedroom floor. The townhouse where Pippa and James will continue to live with their two dogs. Before James bought the white townhouse that he lives in now, he lived in another townhouse, shown above. Prior to dating Pippa, James was considered one of London’s most eligible bachelors. Needless to say, James is a very successful businessman. He graduated from private school but skipped college in to order to become a hedge fund trader. When Pippa and James became engaged, an old magazine spread of his former house was republished, in part probably to impress and embarrass at the same time. The old magazine story about James said that in 1998, when James was 22 years old, he and his brother (now deceased) bought this 1908 Grade II Listed house (pictured above) for just 1.75 million pounds. In 2006 when he decided to sell the townhouse, he elected to put it in the magazine in order to assure a quick sale – and it sold for 12.5 million pounds, quite a profit for a young, single man. Today, that 7 story, five bedroom house is worth much, much more than James sold it for. It recently sold for over 40 million pounds, which means about $55,000,000! When James bought the 21 room, 9,000+ sq ft house, it had been used as a business and had no bathrooms. It was in need of a total renovation which James accomplished with the help of his parents who took over the task completely. The living room is the most classically decorated room in the townhouse and gives you an idea of how his new house might be furnished. This room is very pretty in soft yellows and floral curtains. The bay window overlooks Park Street which is parallel to Park Lane. This exclusive location is one of the reasons for its price tag. It’s hard to believe a 22 year old lived in this house!!! I have to say I like this house better than the one they live in now. It’s not as contemporary. Here is James in the living room. Time has been kind to him – he is better looking today than he was 10 years ago, I hate to say it!!! Only men get better looking with age! The dining room has marble floors and has elaborate moldings. Notice the architraves above the doors. The foyer seen through the open door has checkerboard floors and a fancy staircase. This bedroom is my least favorite room. The art work is awful and the decor needs help. I wonder he moved this bed to his new townhouse? This bedroom has an odd hole in the wall that opens to the adjoining bathroom, kitchenette and study. A photo of his family is on the wall. From this floor you can go up to the roof terrace via the spiral staircase that you can see through the hole. The spiral staircase is behind the glass doors. The rooftop garden comes complete with a hot tub. Of course James installed a hot tub – he was a 22 year old bachelor!!! Can’t you tell from these photos of then young James that he would one day be even more successful and would marry one of England’s prettiest single girls? Their wedding went off without a hitch and nobody leaked anything on social media, except for the invitation that is! Here is an invitation to the dinner party/dance at The Manor – the Middletons estate in Bucklebury. I’m not sure who William and Clemence is – but their invitation was shown on Instagram!!! The Wedding, May 20th: Locals lined up early to get a view of the festivities. The wedding was scheduled to start at 12:00 noon. The Cambridges drove up that morning from London, about an hour’s drive. St. Mark’s Church. At the gate are the floral decorations for the wedding. A close up view of the floral decorations at the gate. The birds were chirping outside – and in the video, it sounded so pretty, exactly what you would think a quiet, small village in the English countryside would sound like. A close up of the flowers with the beautiful David Austin looking roses. Prince William and Prince Harry walking up to the church in their morning suits. They were chatting the entire time! Princess Eugenie, Sarah Ferguson and Prince Andrew’s youngest daughter came to the wedding with her boyfriend. Her older sister Princess Beatrice was not at the wedding. Next came the Parents of the Groom, Dave and Jane Matthews. She wore a mint green coat and dress with dark green shoes and purse. She wore a Fascinator, which is a tiny hat that sits on the crown of the head. Many of the younger set wear Fascinators today instead of full hats. The mother of the bride was walked to the church by her youngest, handsome son James. Carole wore a pink hat and a Catherine Walker dress. Walker was a favorite designer of Princess Diana. I preferred what Jane Matthews wore, I liked the longer length. But I thought that Carole looked very pretty in pink. The bride and her father were driven up in a vintage Jaguar. The arch around the door was decorated with roses. The roses were just gorgeous!!! Kate wore Alexander McQueen, in a peachy pink that matched the bridesmaids sashes. She also chose a Fascinator. Shh!!! Kate and Princess Charlotte share a huge laugh. But notice the page at front – he’s holding up two fingers to the other kids, he’s plotting to be naughty!! He gave this sign to the photographer and everyone in England was aghast at how “cheeky” he was! I have no clue what that sign means!!! But this page was the talk of the wedding. You would of thought he was a serial murderer!! Charlotte was too precious. The gate to the church ready for Pippa. And here is Pippa. She had a huge smile on her face all day long. She looked so happy!!!! Her dress was designed by Giles Deacon who apparently designed another one for the dinner/dance. I hope we get to see it soon! Stephen Jones made the veil and her shoes were Manola Blahniks. Kate fixed Pippa’s train, just like Pippa did for her, six years earlier. The Winchester Cathedral choir (wasn’t that a song in the 70s?) sang Be Thou My Vision; Tell Out, My Soul and I Vow To Thee, My Country. The groom’s brother Spencer Matthews read a passage from the Paulo Coelho novel, The ­Alchemist, while Pippa’s brother James read Love Is An ­Adventure by Pierre Tielhard du Chardin and a family friend read the Song of Solomon. Kate, the Duchess of Cambridge, read a prayer. After an hour’s ceremony, the bells started peeling and the married couple appeared, led by the pages and maids throwing confetti. Prince William started to have a meltdown. Apparently a minute earlier he had accidently stepped on Pippa’s train and Kate had given him a warning to be careful. Smiling Pippa and Kate. I loved her Fascinator! Happy parents of the bride! The wedding party waiting for their cars. James and Pippa Matthews, the new couple. His parents are behind them, along with Michael Middleton. What a beautiful couple!!! Those flowers are so gorgeous!!! Kate trying to keep the kids happy. She always bends down when she talks to Charlotte. She seems like a great mom. And here is Prince George, starting his meltdown tantrum which was the talk of the wedding. The future King of England, crying. One day, he will get a good laugh out of this photograph. Kate means business. She is pointing her finger at Prince George – behave!!! Apparently George wasn’t the only crying child. Charlotte had to be comforted by her nanny after she started crying during the ceremony screaming “Where’s Mummy?” She’s only two. Tantrum over, he leaves in his vintage Jaguar, all smiles and waves. After the wedding, everyone went to have a champagne reception at the Englefield House. At four, the married couple drove through the estate’s gates, that had just been repainted for the event. They both have huge smiles – they waved to the locals that lined the way back to The Manor in Bucklebury. I wish we did weddings like this!!! So sweet! Everyone is so happy for them. After the wedding was over, they took photos of the church. Here you can see how the windows of the church were decorated with the greenery and roses. I’m in love with the flowers!!! At the arch, a faux tree trunk was filled with the greenery and roses. The tree trunks at the arches. Atop the columns, there were more roses! After the wedding reception, Prince Harry drove back to London to get his girlfriend Meghan Markle and together they drove back to Bucklebury for the wedding dinner/dance. So far, this is the ONLY photo of his girlfriend! She was said to wear a stunning maroon, backless dress. Before the party started at The Manor, they turned on the spotlights to keep the photographers away. It looks like they were still getting the marquee ready. A look at the floral arrangement in the marquee. As night fell and the spotlights were turned on, there was a flyover by the vintage Spitfire that did stunt flying for the guests enjoyment. Hmm. I don’t get that one. But look how pretty it all looks! The guests came outside to watch as it was considered too dangerous to be in the glass marquee in case something went wrong!!! Apparently, it started to rain after 15 minutes, which some guests said was a good thing as the air show was considered a bit boring. Inside, the waiters were said to all be part-time models or actors so that they were as attractive as the guests! Couples were not seated together to encourage more fun. Pippa changed dresses and wore a white floor-length gown with a v-neck and sparkle detailing. Her hair was worn down for the party and she was said to look absolutely beautiful. The women guests did not wear hats and the men wore black tie. Security was so tight at the party that guests had to send in a photograph prior to the party and produce a password to gain entry. Later at night, with the spotlights on full glare – the paparazzi still managed to get a few photos. Against the side of the house – they flashed huge photographs all night long. This one is of the groom. An extra 150 guests had been invited to the party than had been at the wedding. The menu included trout and Scottish lamb. There was a saxophonist, a band, and a DJ for dancing. There was a single malt whisky bar, and photo booths. Guests played ping pong. The marquee was decorated as an enchanted forest filled with faux trees. And here the marquee is lit up – with a green photo of a dancing girl on the house. The party is said to have lasted until 4 in the morning. Long day!!!! Where is the honeymoon? It has to something to do with Marlon Brando! When Brando filmed Mutiny on the Bounty on the French Polynesia island Tetiaroa, he bought the island and lived there for many years. Brando and Tarita became a couple and had children together. Today, it is an exclusive, ecologically sensitive resort that President Obama just stayed at! The atoll. Incredibly gorgeous. The rumor is this is where Pippa and James will honeymoon. It is probably true! The wedding is now over, but there is one guest that always intrigues me. The nanny!! Prince George and Princess Charlotte’s nanny was at the wedding in her uniform. It’s the uniform that gets me. Where would a nanny get a uniform from?!?! Apparently she went to college to earn that uniform! The nanny is Maria Teresa Turrion Borrallo and she is a graduate of the prestigious nanny school, Norland College. Norland is located in the picturesque town of Bath. It was founded back in 1892 and it is extremely hard if not almost impossible to be selected to attend. Its nannies get the prime positions when they graduate after a 3 year course. Norland charges $36,000 pounds for their degree and hundreds apply for a class of 48 spaces. Maria, the Cambridge’s nanny, proudly wears her uniform at public events, but usually she just wears the working uniform of a plain sweater and slacks. Norland College updated their uniform a few years ago but for some reason Maria still wears the old version. At Charlotte’s christening, Nanny Maria greets the Queen who is smiling broadly at Maria. The new uniforms. I wonder why Maria hasn’t changed hers yet? Kate has said that Maria is the absolute best and she is devoted to her. Myself, I’m just fascinated by this Nanny uniform business. I can’t imagine someone wearing this here in the U.S. but it seems so normal in England!!! Look how happy those nannies are! Mary Poppins suddenly makes more sense. Here is Nanny Maria in her regular working uniform of slacks and white shirt and blue sweater. I love the security guard glaring at the photographer! Whew! A Mazel Tov to Pippa and James and a long, happy life. I’m sure Pippa will be ‘broody’ soon. For Fun: I wanted to find a dress that looked like Kate’s for a fraction of the cost, but that was impossible! So, I went for inexpensive dresses that would have been great on Kate for the wedding. I DID find her fabulous shoes, though!! Enjoy! This is a long version, simple but elegant. HERE I like this length, and with some extras. HERE Above the knee with a ruffle HERE Love this sleeve and the length. Love this! HERE Long with a ruffle HERE Kate’s gorgeous heels by Gianvito Rossi HERE – they come in all colors, but I love this nude for everything. Nude casual HERE

Texas designated the nine-banded armadillo (Dasypus novemcinctus) as the official state small mammal in 1995 (Texas also recognizes an official large mammal and a flying mammal symbol). All State Mammals

Everything you need to know about KidZania USA!

When he arrived on the plane, he felt the seats and said, “Wow, these seats are big!”The person next to him answered, “Everything is big in Texas.”When he finally arrived in Texas, he.. #funny, #joke, #humor

America’s national parks are home to some of the most beautiful places on earth, and we can’t wait to celebrate them during National Park Week.

Explore Yosemite Ken's 952 photos on Flickr!

Flood photos

Here are 12 of the most unique things to do in Texas when you thought you've already done everything in the state.

Here are the steps you need to take to start a limited liability company (LLC) in Texas.

A now for something a little different…. The Duchess of Cambridge’s sister, Phillipa Charlotte, just married this past weekend. Who? That’s Kate’s sister - Pippa to you and me. I’ll admit I didn’t realize Pippa was short for Phillipa, but it makes sense. At least now we know where Princess Charlotte got her name from – her aunt Pippa! The Three Middleton Ladies: Pippa, Kate and their mother Carole. Carole was a flight attendant who started a mail order company called “Party Pieces” which over time became the huge success it is today. First… A disclaimer: I was a huge fan of Princess Diana – she was a few years younger than me and when she became the future Queen of England (sob!) – I thought she was the most fabulous woman who had ever lived. She was my Jackie Kennedy. I loved her clothes, her sense of style, her hair do!, her houses, her empathy, her heart – there wasn’t much I didn’t love about her. I always thought, and still do, that she was terribly mistreated by the Royal Family and that she was used by Charles and Camilla - who should have married when they were both young and single. When Diana died, I thought it was such a waste and so tragic that I never wanted to hear about the Royal Family again. Done with them!!! But, slowly over time, when the boys were grown and Diana’s grandchildren were born, I was lured back in the fold, until here I am this weekend, obsessing over every aspect of Pippa’s wedding. Well….Diana’s grandchildren are in it!! Do you blame me? So here in a nutshell is everything you need to know about the “Wedding of the Year” as the British press is calling it. Pippa sprang on the scene when she was her sister’s maid of honor at the Wedding of the Decade – William and Kate’s: Pippa became famous for standing behind her sister Kate, in her own white dress, holding Kate’s long train. Many thought Pippa was more beautiful than Kate and some thought Pippa’s dress was prettier than Kate’s (I did, I hate to say!) To everyone outside of England, Pippa was a total unknown, but she and her derriere became a social-media star that day. Later, Pippa confessed that she was confused by all the attention she received at Kate’s wedding. Pippa said that her dress was specifically designed to be plain and to not outshine Kate’s. In the end, it was the dress’ simple elegance and Pippa’s slim figure that together made Pippa a household name. After the Cambridge wedding, the race to marry off Pippa was on. There were a few fits and starts with different, very eligible boyfriends. But, it all came to an end when Pippa, 33, became engaged to the handsome and very successful (of course – you didn’t think she would be marrying someone unemployed!) James Spencer Matthews, 41. Here are the young Kate on the left and Pippa, bridesmaids at their uncle Gary Goldsmith’s wedding. Gary is Carole’s brother and a black sheep of the family. He was at Pippa’s wedding, but was not invited to the reception afterwards. He was later seen eating lunch in a restaurant after Pippa’s wedding. Pippa attended private day schools, then boarded away at Marlborough College. She graduated from the University of Edinburgh with a decree in English literature. After college she worked in PR and later wrote for magazines such as Vanity Fair and several newspapers. A few years ago she set up a company, but what it is for or does is a complete mystery. Pippa and James dated a few years before they became engaged. They were seen on winter vacations at James’ family owned St. Barts resort Eden Rock, joined there by Pippa’s family. It was obvious both families approved of the match. Pippa’s ring is an Asscher cut surrounded by a row of diamonds which makes it appear even larger than it already is. The center stone has been estimated to be 3.5 carats. The happy couple married this Saturday! While the couple are not royal, everyone is quite excited over the festivities, to say the least. It’s not everyday that two future Kings of England attend a wedding. Prince George and Princess Charlotte, nephew and niece of Pippa were attendants at the wedding. The Middletons have been accepted into some aspects of the Royal Family. Here, they were welcomed to Sandringham for the christening of Princess Charlotte. Pippa stands between her father and her handsome brother, also named James. The tabloids go from loving the Middletons to not quite loving them. Some tabloids think that Prince William is too close to his in-laws and he and Kate don’t do enough royal duties. That all seems to be changing now, as they both seem very busy working for the “Royal Firm.” While Carole and Michael Middleton seem to get along well with the Royal Family, there does appear to be a cooling-off in the relationship. Pippa works part-time for her parents business and even wrote a book about party planning and entertaining, though it was considered a flop when sales were below expectations. She even penned a mea-culpa about the failure of the book, claiming she is indeed a capable and trained chef. Pippa will have a lot of chances to show off her entertaining skills when she marries into her new family. Her in-laws, Jane and Dave Matthews, are quite a colorful bunch and by marrying into the family, Pippa will gain a title! Her husband, as the eldest son, will one day inherit the Scottish title “Lord Glen Affric” and as his wife, Pippa will be “Lady Glen Affric.” The title comes along with the 10,000 acre estate in Scotland that James’ parents bought in 2008. When he bought the property, James’ father became the Laird of Glen Affric, the gorgeous Highlands estate seen above. The estate has another royal connection as Queen Elizabeth’s grandmother, Queen Mary, stayed at Glen Affric in the late 19th century. The Matthews developed the estate into an exclusive Highlands vacation spot for traditional shooting and fly fishing and other Scottish pursuits. Hidden in the hills is the main lodge of Glen Affic where guests stay. It is gorgeous. Recently it was rumored that Pippa and James would honeymoon at Glen Affic, but now there is another destination rumor. Besides their Highlands estate, James parents, Jane and David Matthews, also own a resort in St. Barts. In 1995, Dave moved the family to the ritzy island when they bought the iconic resort Eden Rock, considered one of the most exclusive resorts in the region. In its heyday, Greta Garbo, Howard Hughes, the Rothschilds and the Rockefellers would come to stay. The Matthews have renovated the resort, luring a new generation of young stars. Pippa has quite her pick of vacation spots now – either St. Barts or the Scottish Highlands. Hmmm….such a dilemma! David Matthews, James father, wasn’t born with a silver spoon in his mouth. He started out as a car mechanic for his father and then became a successful race car driver. When he retired from racing, he started a used car business which he turned into a highly successful business. He later moved to St. Barts to renovate Eden Rock. The Matthews have a similar background to the Middletons, as Pippa’s father is also self made, starting out as a airline manager, while his wife Carole was a flight attendant. But the Middleton’s have royal ties besides their daughter being the future Queen of England. Michael Middleton’s grandmother Olive grew up on her family’s estate Potternewton Hall with her cousins who lived next door. The Prince of Wales, later King Edward VII, was a visitor to their home. Olive passed on a large inheritance to the family, which greatly added to the Middletons coffers. But, the Middletons business, started by Carole, is the mail order “Party Pieces” that sells party planning items. From the Middletons’ company “Party Pieces” line of goods. Judging by the merchandise on their web site, it’s hard to see how they became multi-millionaires from this business, but – they did. I’m in the wrong business is all I can say!! The Handsome Couple: Pippa and James Spencer Matthews Pippa and James’ Wedding Ceremony took place at St. Mark’s Church located on the beautiful Englefield Estate in Berkshire. You might remember Englefield from when I wrote about it last year HERE. Englefield Estate was used as a location for the series “The Crown” when it stood in for the royal estate Sandringham. Englefield Estate – the wedding ceremony took place at the church on the estate. Englefield is owned by the Tory MP Richard Benyon who is thought to be friendly with the family. After the ceremony, there was a champagne reception held on the estate, though the exact location was not disclosed. Later on Saturday night, there was a dinner dance held at the Middleton’s estate “The Manor.” From “The Crown” – paparazzi take pictures of the church, which is playing the part of “Sandringham.” I had no idea at the time I watched this scene on television that Pippa was going to be married right here a few months later!! The 12th century church in Berkshire on the Englefield Estate is quite beautiful and romantic. Days before the wedding, the grounds were seen been readied for the big event. Before the wedding, scores of gold chairs were delivered to the church signaling that more people were invited than there are pews for. But, perhaps these chairs are actually for the champagne reception after the wedding. The church is not that large, but it’s assumed there won’t be an empty pew. A close up of the altar. It’s so beautiful. Most likely this church was chosen because it’s a few minutes from the Middleton’s house where the evening party was held. The big question was about Prince Harry’s girlfriend, U.S. Actress Meghan Markle. Since they are not engaged, it was said she would not be at the ceremony but might be at the reception. There was a rule – no ring, no invitation. Later, the Church of England decreed that any citizen could attend any wedding that was held at a public church. So, Meghan’s appearance was a last minute question mark. Would she attend? In the end, Meghan did not go to the ceremony. After the reception, Prince Harry drove all the way back to London to pick up Meghan and they went together to the evening party. This was a smart move on Meghan’s part. Had she attended the ceremony, she would have garnered all the press attention instead of Pippa. By staying away, she made the more mature decision. Point/game to Meghan!! The road to Bucklebury where the Middletons live was being guarded all week before the wedding. The evening party/dinner-dance was held at the Middletons house located a few miles away from the church. Their Georgian style house is Grade II Listed and has five living areas, 7 bedrooms, a swimming pool, tennis courts, and is located on 18 acres. The Middletons bought the house just after Kate and William married and the rumor was that Prince William had helped pay for the 5,000,000 pound estate with money he inherited from his mother Princess Diana. When William turned 30, he had inherited over 15 million pounds from Diana’s estate and the thought was that since they would be staying with their inlaws, special security buildings would be needed and William wanted to pay for the inconvenience of being a “Royal.” Who knows if this is true or not, but the Middletons are certainly well off enough to afford the house themselves, without William’s help. When the Middleton’s bought the house, they requested planning permission to build a garage with an apartment above it, along with storage and a workshop. Most likely this was for staff or security. The Middleton’s Bucklebury estate has Royal roots. King Henry I gave the land to monks who created fishponds on it, three of which still exist today. In 1540 after the monks left, Henry VIII gave the land to John Winchcombe who pasted it onto the Hartleys who lived on the estate until recently. The Hartleys kept the title of Lord and Lady that came with the house so unfortunately the Middletons did not get the title. The gate to the Middleton’s house provides privacy as does the tall hedge that surrounds the estate. The swimming pool and tennis court are located at the front by the street. There is an addition to the side of the main house that creates a courtyard. The house is known as “The Manor.” It was built in 1830 and is listed Grade II. The main house has had several additions over the years. The beautiful large entry was built as a later addition and at the rear of the house is another addition. To the right of the main house is a large addition that is a garden/sitting room. Between the original house and the addition is the courtyard with pavers and gravel and topiaries. Parking is behind the house. Today, for the wedding, the courtyards have been cleaned and the terraces look much brighter, as if it is new stone. From Real Estate photos – the front facade with the front door addition is very beautiful. Real Estate Photos: The living room is noted for its large antique mantel from the 17th century, along with its Delft tile surround. This is NOT the Middletons furniture – but this is how the house looked when they bought it! This view looks out to the side courtyard. Real Estate View: The kitchen runs the width of the main house. Behind the blue chair is a French door that opens to the courtyard on the left side of the house. On the other side of this room is a sitting area (see below) which opens to the large courtyard. Real Estate View: The sitting room as seen above – on the opposite side of the kitchen. This opens up to the courtyard. Real Estate: The large, side addition – with sliding doors that open to the courtyard. Another aerial view. On the left side of the house is the small courtyard off the kitchen. The side courtyard of The Manor. The left side and back of the house. The kitchen is through those French doors. And that same left side view as above. The French door leads to the small courtyard off the kitchen. This courtyard has recently been completely redone with new or cleaned stone and new furniture. The same view of the kitchen’s French door. And the same left back side of The Manor. There is an old swing set. I’m sure that’s been updated for Prince George and Princess Charlotte. At the very back is the garage. Aerial view of the garden/sitting addition. The courtyard and the addition. I love those topiaries. From this view you can see the additions – the large one at the back of the main house and the one at the side of the main house. The courtyard with the gravel garden. I love this garden. It’s so beautiful!!! Apparently the woman who owned this house before the Middletons was a garden designer which is why the courtyard looks so pretty. The view past the gravel garden. This is where the Marque was set up for the wedding’s dinner/dance. And from the real estate photos – an even further view of the property. Lovely!!! No wonder why the Middletons wanted to have the party here! This shows how the estate was set up for the dinner/dance. There is the main marque – the 140’ glass “tent.” Next to it is the white tent for the reception. The kitchen was probably set up in the smaller white tent or that is the “loo tent.” At the very back is the security. Today: The reception was held in the glass marquee. It was set up so that the garden courtyard faces the front of the marquee – and the guests could enjoy the garden view. To control traffic, guests arrived at another location where they parked their cars and were then driven in Range Rovers to the Middleton’s house. There were no cell phones allowed which is why there was not one photo of the party leaked on social media! The view from the left side/back of the house. Notice the side courtyard is now decorated with a new table & umbrella and newly refreshened stone. Eagle eyes can spot the truck that James Middleton drives! Hint: it’s green. This view shows the gentle rolling terrain of the estate. Located across from the house is Bucklebury Safari Park. You can see its parking lot in this photo. I wonder if that is where the party guests parked their cars???? Very busy!!! It took days for the marquee to be set up and decorated. Tall pink flowering trees were seen in the marquee days before the party. It had been rumored that there would be a Scottish theme to the wedding since the groom will be a titled Laird one day. The wedding was NOT Scottish themed and I doubt the party was either. although the did serve some Scottish food! Hard to believe this is a temporary building. It was said in the press that rental of the marquee costs over $200,000. At the side of the marquee, on the bottom part – they applied netting to hide the ground. Inside you can see there curtains in the marquee. ALSO - notice there are spotlights on the ground. These were used to keep photographers from seeing inside during the party and taking photos. It worked! Here you can see navy velvet sofas and green velvet pillows. They also had heaters set up in the marquee. This was taken the morning after the party!! It looks like they had a good time. The marquee set up for another wedding. This gives an idea of how it might have looked inside for supper. The first class outhouses!!! The “loos” were really special. Where did the Middletons live before they moved to their new house? Before the Middleton’s bought their current house, they lived here for a few years. This is where Kate spent her later teenage and college years. So charming behind the wood fence. A view of the cottage. The house looks a bit bigger from the air. While it wasn’t small, the house was not large enough for Kate and William and their two children to come and stay. A new house was needed after she married William. And here is where Kate spent her youth – in this classic English two story house. Inside: The living room. Pretty fireplace. It’s hard to believe that the future Queen of England lived here during her childhood! This is the shed where Carole Middleton started her now-multimillion $ party planning mail order business. And what about Pippa and James Matthews? Where will they live now that they are married? Since the couple already have two dogs and they already live together – they probably will just stay where they are now. The townhouse where Pippa and James live today. He bought the townhouse in 2014 for 17 Million Pounds. James bought this house in 2014 and he has submitted an extension for the second floor. He wants to add a bathroom with two sinks and a dressing room that leads off the master bedroom. Sounds like he wants to add this space for Pippa. There are Real Estate photos that show the front living room. This is not James’ furniture – this is how it looked when he bought the townhouse. Past the living room is the dining room and kitchen. A row of doors completely close off the kitchen from the dining room. Kate and William have decorated their houses in the classic English style. I’m so curious to know how Pippa will decorate this townhouse? The kitchen overlooks the back garden. Look at the island!! Those countertops!!! Since the living and dining room are open to the kitchen – the kitchen is very streamlined. The townhouse is so contemporary. Hard to imagine they will decorate it traditionally. The stairs wrap around a stone pillar and are contemporary, with open treads!! The basement family room opens to the courtyard. The basement family room opens to the garden, which is a floor below ground level. In London, there is a scandal surrounding these huge basements which are dug out and reach out past the footprints of the house above it. These are called “Iceberg Homes” – and the large basements hold kitchens, swimming pools, workout rooms, etc. and often include elevators. The more luxe, the better. Some basements encroach into the street, past the house above it and their neighbors are having serious foundation problems. If the house your house is too small, just dig out a few floors underground!!! Another view. The basement room opens to the courtyard and the stairs lead up to the garden level. The stairs on the right lead from the ground floor to the garden. Real Estate Photos: The master bedroom floor. The townhouse where Pippa and James will continue to live with their two dogs. Before James bought the white townhouse that he lives in now, he lived in another townhouse, shown above. Prior to dating Pippa, James was considered one of London’s most eligible bachelors. Needless to say, James is a very successful businessman. He graduated from private school but skipped college in to order to become a hedge fund trader. When Pippa and James became engaged, an old magazine spread of his former house was republished, in part probably to impress and embarrass at the same time. The old magazine story about James said that in 1998, when James was 22 years old, he and his brother (now deceased) bought this 1908 Grade II Listed house (pictured above) for just 1.75 million pounds. In 2006 when he decided to sell the townhouse, he elected to put it in the magazine in order to assure a quick sale – and it sold for 12.5 million pounds, quite a profit for a young, single man. Today, that 7 story, five bedroom house is worth much, much more than James sold it for. It recently sold for over 40 million pounds, which means about $55,000,000! When James bought the 21 room, 9,000+ sq ft house, it had been used as a business and had no bathrooms. It was in need of a total renovation which James accomplished with the help of his parents who took over the task completely. The living room is the most classically decorated room in the townhouse and gives you an idea of how his new house might be furnished. This room is very pretty in soft yellows and floral curtains. The bay window overlooks Park Street which is parallel to Park Lane. This exclusive location is one of the reasons for its price tag. It’s hard to believe a 22 year old lived in this house!!! I have to say I like this house better than the one they live in now. It’s not as contemporary. Here is James in the living room. Time has been kind to him – he is better looking today than he was 10 years ago, I hate to say it!!! Only men get better looking with age! The dining room has marble floors and has elaborate moldings. Notice the architraves above the doors. The foyer seen through the open door has checkerboard floors and a fancy staircase. This bedroom is my least favorite room. The art work is awful and the decor needs help. I wonder he moved this bed to his new townhouse? This bedroom has an odd hole in the wall that opens to the adjoining bathroom, kitchenette and study. A photo of his family is on the wall. From this floor you can go up to the roof terrace via the spiral staircase that you can see through the hole. The spiral staircase is behind the glass doors. The rooftop garden comes complete with a hot tub. Of course James installed a hot tub – he was a 22 year old bachelor!!! Can’t you tell from these photos of then young James that he would one day be even more successful and would marry one of England’s prettiest single girls? Their wedding went off without a hitch and nobody leaked anything on social media, except for the invitation that is! Here is an invitation to the dinner party/dance at The Manor – the Middletons estate in Bucklebury. I’m not sure who William and Clemence is – but their invitation was shown on Instagram!!! The Wedding, May 20th: Locals lined up early to get a view of the festivities. The wedding was scheduled to start at 12:00 noon. The Cambridges drove up that morning from London, about an hour’s drive. St. Mark’s Church. At the gate are the floral decorations for the wedding. A close up view of the floral decorations at the gate. The birds were chirping outside – and in the video, it sounded so pretty, exactly what you would think a quiet, small village in the English countryside would sound like. A close up of the flowers with the beautiful David Austin looking roses. Prince William and Prince Harry walking up to the church in their morning suits. They were chatting the entire time! Princess Eugenie, Sarah Ferguson and Prince Andrew’s youngest daughter came to the wedding with her boyfriend. Her older sister Princess Beatrice was not at the wedding. Next came the Parents of the Groom, Dave and Jane Matthews. She wore a mint green coat and dress with dark green shoes and purse. She wore a Fascinator, which is a tiny hat that sits on the crown of the head. Many of the younger set wear Fascinators today instead of full hats. The mother of the bride was walked to the church by her youngest, handsome son James. Carole wore a pink hat and a Catherine Walker dress. Walker was a favorite designer of Princess Diana. I preferred what Jane Matthews wore, I liked the longer length. But I thought that Carole looked very pretty in pink. The bride and her father were driven up in a vintage Jaguar. The arch around the door was decorated with roses. The roses were just gorgeous!!! Kate wore Alexander McQueen, in a peachy pink that matched the bridesmaids sashes. She also chose a Fascinator. Shh!!! Kate and Princess Charlotte share a huge laugh. But notice the page at front – he’s holding up two fingers to the other kids, he’s plotting to be naughty!! He gave this sign to the photographer and everyone in England was aghast at how “cheeky” he was! I have no clue what that sign means!!! But this page was the talk of the wedding. You would of thought he was a serial murderer!! Charlotte was too precious. The gate to the church ready for Pippa. And here is Pippa. She had a huge smile on her face all day long. She looked so happy!!!! Her dress was designed by Giles Deacon who apparently designed another one for the dinner/dance. I hope we get to see it soon! Stephen Jones made the veil and her shoes were Manola Blahniks. Kate fixed Pippa’s train, just like Pippa did for her, six years earlier. The Winchester Cathedral choir (wasn’t that a song in the 70s?) sang Be Thou My Vision; Tell Out, My Soul and I Vow To Thee, My Country. The groom’s brother Spencer Matthews read a passage from the Paulo Coelho novel, The ­Alchemist, while Pippa’s brother James read Love Is An ­Adventure by Pierre Tielhard du Chardin and a family friend read the Song of Solomon. Kate, the Duchess of Cambridge, read a prayer. After an hour’s ceremony, the bells started peeling and the married couple appeared, led by the pages and maids throwing confetti. Prince William started to have a meltdown. Apparently a minute earlier he had accidently stepped on Pippa’s train and Kate had given him a warning to be careful. Smiling Pippa and Kate. I loved her Fascinator! Happy parents of the bride! The wedding party waiting for their cars. James and Pippa Matthews, the new couple. His parents are behind them, along with Michael Middleton. What a beautiful couple!!! Those flowers are so gorgeous!!! Kate trying to keep the kids happy. She always bends down when she talks to Charlotte. She seems like a great mom. And here is Prince George, starting his meltdown tantrum which was the talk of the wedding. The future King of England, crying. One day, he will get a good laugh out of this photograph. Kate means business. She is pointing her finger at Prince George – behave!!! Apparently George wasn’t the only crying child. Charlotte had to be comforted by her nanny after she started crying during the ceremony screaming “Where’s Mummy?” She’s only two. Tantrum over, he leaves in his vintage Jaguar, all smiles and waves. After the wedding, everyone went to have a champagne reception at the Englefield House. At four, the married couple drove through the estate’s gates, that had just been repainted for the event. They both have huge smiles – they waved to the locals that lined the way back to The Manor in Bucklebury. I wish we did weddings like this!!! So sweet! Everyone is so happy for them. After the wedding was over, they took photos of the church. Here you can see how the windows of the church were decorated with the greenery and roses. I’m in love with the flowers!!! At the arch, a faux tree trunk was filled with the greenery and roses. The tree trunks at the arches. Atop the columns, there were more roses! After the wedding reception, Prince Harry drove back to London to get his girlfriend Meghan Markle and together they drove back to Bucklebury for the wedding dinner/dance. So far, this is the ONLY photo of his girlfriend! She was said to wear a stunning maroon, backless dress. Before the party started at The Manor, they turned on the spotlights to keep the photographers away. It looks like they were still getting the marquee ready. A look at the floral arrangement in the marquee. As night fell and the spotlights were turned on, there was a flyover by the vintage Spitfire that did stunt flying for the guests enjoyment. Hmm. I don’t get that one. But look how pretty it all looks! The guests came outside to watch as it was considered too dangerous to be in the glass marquee in case something went wrong!!! Apparently, it started to rain after 15 minutes, which some guests said was a good thing as the air show was considered a bit boring. Inside, the waiters were said to all be part-time models or actors so that they were as attractive as the guests! Couples were not seated together to encourage more fun. Pippa changed dresses and wore a white floor-length gown with a v-neck and sparkle detailing. Her hair was worn down for the party and she was said to look absolutely beautiful. The women guests did not wear hats and the men wore black tie. Security was so tight at the party that guests had to send in a photograph prior to the party and produce a password to gain entry. Later at night, with the spotlights on full glare – the paparazzi still managed to get a few photos. Against the side of the house – they flashed huge photographs all night long. This one is of the groom. An extra 150 guests had been invited to the party than had been at the wedding. The menu included trout and Scottish lamb. There was a saxophonist, a band, and a DJ for dancing. There was a single malt whisky bar, and photo booths. Guests played ping pong. The marquee was decorated as an enchanted forest filled with faux trees. And here the marquee is lit up – with a green photo of a dancing girl on the house. The party is said to have lasted until 4 in the morning. Long day!!!! Where is the honeymoon? It has to something to do with Marlon Brando! When Brando filmed Mutiny on the Bounty on the French Polynesia island Tetiaroa, he bought the island and lived there for many years. Brando and Tarita became a couple and had children together. Today, it is an exclusive, ecologically sensitive resort that President Obama just stayed at! The atoll. Incredibly gorgeous. The rumor is this is where Pippa and James will honeymoon. It is probably true! The wedding is now over, but there is one guest that always intrigues me. The nanny!! Prince George and Princess Charlotte’s nanny was at the wedding in her uniform. It’s the uniform that gets me. Where would a nanny get a uniform from?!?! Apparently she went to college to earn that uniform! The nanny is Maria Teresa Turrion Borrallo and she is a graduate of the prestigious nanny school, Norland College. Norland is located in the picturesque town of Bath. It was founded back in 1892 and it is extremely hard if not almost impossible to be selected to attend. Its nannies get the prime positions when they graduate after a 3 year course. Norland charges $36,000 pounds for their degree and hundreds apply for a class of 48 spaces. Maria, the Cambridge’s nanny, proudly wears her uniform at public events, but usually she just wears the working uniform of a plain sweater and slacks. Norland College updated their uniform a few years ago but for some reason Maria still wears the old version. At Charlotte’s christening, Nanny Maria greets the Queen who is smiling broadly at Maria. The new uniforms. I wonder why Maria hasn’t changed hers yet? Kate has said that Maria is the absolute best and she is devoted to her. Myself, I’m just fascinated by this Nanny uniform business. I can’t imagine someone wearing this here in the U.S. but it seems so normal in England!!! Look how happy those nannies are! Mary Poppins suddenly makes more sense. Here is Nanny Maria in her regular working uniform of slacks and white shirt and blue sweater. I love the security guard glaring at the photographer! Whew! A Mazel Tov to Pippa and James and a long, happy life. I’m sure Pippa will be ‘broody’ soon. For Fun: I wanted to find a dress that looked like Kate’s for a fraction of the cost, but that was impossible! So, I went for inexpensive dresses that would have been great on Kate for the wedding. I DID find her fabulous shoes, though!! Enjoy! This is a long version, simple but elegant. HERE I like this length, and with some extras. HERE Above the knee with a ruffle HERE Love this sleeve and the length. Love this! HERE Long with a ruffle HERE Kate’s gorgeous heels by Gianvito Rossi HERE – they come in all colors, but I love this nude for everything. Nude casual HERE

vintage map postcard

Maximize your travel.

Explore the Texas capital with our guide to the best things to do in Austin, from outdoor activities to annual events