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Content Collection • January 2024
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Happy New Year & Welcome…
Hello hello! Welcome!
Welcome to 2024 and my new blog. Happy happy New Year!
Or as I like to call it “pretend new year” or “practice new year” since the real new year doesn’t start until Spring!
Kinda takes the pressure off. Don’t you think? Knowing I’ve got a couple months until the organic new year. lol.
I’m not officially launching my new projects yet. But I figured I’d do a kinda soft opening of sorts.
As you can see, I’ve created a new blog! And for the first time I’ve created a membership platform on Patreon that will be full of exclusive content. It’s a bit of a learning curve as I figure out the logic/tech/payments/etc., but I’m so glad you’re here with me.
I’ve already got lots of old travel articles and such loaded on royallyliving.com that you can have a look at as I polish things up on the Blog and Patreon.
And polished is a good word. What I’m going for is polished and presentable. Presentably polished?
Anyhow, my point is, I’m not going for perfect.
I have a lot of fun “blogging” on my own. Creating a living website that I didn’t think I could. I knew I could write, but learning the tech behind the Blog was really something for me (and the WordPress tech support I pay annually, lol). Anyhow, I’m around of my creation. I don’t really want to get fancier and have to farm out the tech to “professionals”.
I like the fun of doing it all on my own for now. I like bringing a simplify back to the Blog.
Speaking of fun and simplicity…
I really like Instagram too. I have a lot of fun there. But all the perfect was kinda sucking the wind outta my sails. Even the people I used to really look forward to seeing went all in on Reels and over-the-top content. I just didn’t like it as much.
They lost their magic. To me anyway.
So I’m no longer looking to post the perfect shots. Perfect poses. Perfect outfits. Perfect packing. I’ll leave that rollercoaster to the others.
There’s gonna be people in the background of our pictures. I’m gonna unapologetically repeat outfits all the time when we’re traveling without even bothering to make them look even a little bit different. And I’m ok with that.
BTW, did know to get the “perfect” shot you have to get up at the crack of dawn? Who the heck wants to get up before sunrise to have hair and make-up done to get someplace before all the other folks get there? I like my sleep way too much. Thank you very much!
Anyhow, I say all this to say, this is going to be an “old fashioned” blog. Full of content made with love. Yep, I’m back to blogging. Simply. Artfully. Joyously.
I want this to be a special place you come visit that’s uplifting, inspiring, merry and bright — all year long, not just at Christmastime.
This is my art. I hope it inspires you to create your own masterpieces. I hope it helps you find beauty in the everyday. And I hope it helps you practice the art of living — beautifully, slowly, authentically, purposely, peacefully, and – of course – royally.
Cheers!
😘 Jennifer-Marie
Majority of this post was originally written 12 November 2023. Edited & updated for the New Year 2024.
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Polish You Home with the Music of the Season 🎄 A Collection of Christmastime Music
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Christmastime Music🎄 Polish You Home with Music of the Season
Christmastime Music🎄 Polish You Home with the Music of the Season
We are in love with these Christmastime YouTube vides. They are playing non-stop in our home and I wanted to share the four we’re playing on repeat!
Music is so important to set a mood, a vibe, a tone — not just in your home but in your body and your being. It matters what you’re listening to — something, I confess, I didn’t always prioritize.
Imagine decorating your home for the Holiday season is like decorating a Christmas tree — the music is the twinkle of the lights and the star on top. It polishes your home with the perfect ambiance. It’s that je ne sais quoi you didn’t know you needed!
Most of the video’s curated here are filled with serene instrumental Christmas music. They will make your home feel cozy, calm, sexy, and stunning.
For something a bit more festive & fun (and with lyrics) we were really excited to find “Old Christmas Music Radio” with old fashioned Christmas music — featuring lots seasoned favorites and some old music that I was completely unaware existed but I will now listen to over and over for years to come.
Happy listening!
😘 Jennifer-Marie
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Trip-Flix: Washington DC
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Summer Sidewalk Sale • 12 Aug 23 • Old Town ALX & Beyond lol…
FYI Sidewalk Sale Lovers. The 14th Annual Alexandira Sidewalk Sale is just 10 days away.
As a slow-living side note, I don’t tend to shop “sales” because I’ve been known to buy things I otherwise wouldn’t even think of or desire. I do shop sales for beauty and cosmetics because those deals are freekin’ incredible! But hey, no judgment if you’re a sale shopper, some peeps are brilliant with the deals and discounts — if they work for you have fun and have at it! I know lots of people make fun girls days of it!
If you’re concerned about unnecessary or silly-what was I thinking-consumption here are some thoughts for you. Ya know, some questions to ask yourself before tapping the plastic:
- Is this something I’d want if I wasn’t caught up in the magic of the sale? The frenzy. The event. The people. The spectacle of it all!??
- Does this fit my personal style? My wardrobe? My décor?
- Is having this on my body a story I want to tell the world.
- If this item was in my home will it bring more beauty into my life?
- Will I still want this in a day, week, month, year?
If it’s a no-no consider leaving it for someone where it’s a gleeful heck-yes!
Here’s Visit ALX’s Calendar Listing along with their Sidewalk Sale link. Though, note, only businesses that buy into the Visit Alexandria organization’s membership will be featured as a participant. And that’s good news! I bet there will be lots more stores that step-out of their storefronts with some sale items…
Also, kinda exciting this year are the musical acts! All those deets & more in the Visit ALX link…
Alexandria Summer Sidewalk Sale
August 12, 2023
Throughout Old Town and beyond
AlexandriaSidewalkSale.comOne of the longest running summer shopping events returns to the D.C. region’s Shop Small destination for independent boutiques, Alexandria, Virginia, with the annual Alexandria Summer Sidewalk Sale happening Saturday, August 12, 2023, throughout Old Town and beyond. The event features more than 40 Alexandria boutiques stepping out of their storefronts and offering deeply discounted summer merchandise. Plus, enjoy live music along King Street and shop pop-up vendors along the 0 block of King Street. In Alexandria’s Del Ray neighborhood, browse unique finds at the Del Ray Vintage & Flea Market and more. Learn more at AlexandriaSidewalkSale.com.
📸s: Sarah Marcella Creative for Visit Alexandria
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Ongoing Exhibits & Happenings in Old Town ALX — Now Through Autumn 2023
Bonjour Beauties!
Here’s a list of some ongoing things happening in Old Town through the fall. Happy memory making!
😘 Jennifer-Marie
Ongoing Happenings & Exhibits
Floriography in the Victorian Era at Lee Fendall
I love stuff like this! We’ll definitely walk over and see this a few times.
Now through 30 August • Daytime // Admission: Free
Lee Fendall House Museum & Gardens • 614 Oronoco Street, Alexandria, VA 22314
The Victorians used flowers to send messages of love, empathy, and even disinterest. Learn how they did it by wandering through the Lee Fendall garden. They’ve put signs next to the planted flowers that explain more about this “secret” intriguing language.
Art Night in Old Town ALX
I’m excited about this! We happened upon a night like this in chichi Bozeman, Montana — note, this western town earned the nickname Bozeangelous due to their glittery costal guests. Anyhow, while on our Western roadtrip we spent a little time there and happened upon the art night on their Main Street. It was fun! We didn’t purchase any art on the spot, but we did take some artist’s cards, and got some chic westernware. lol.
Third Thursday Each Month • May to October • 5 – 8 pm // Admission: Free
Various locations throughout Old Town Alexandria, 22314
You can get more info at -> oldtownbusiness.org
Explore fine art and studio crafts found in the boutiques and galleries of Old Town, Alexandria, Virginia.
Trivia Nights at the Historic Sites
Oh this sounds like fun! We won’t do it. lol. But it sounds fun! And it’s a 21 and up activity.
Tuesdays, 9 June – 18 August (bi-weekly) / 7 o’clock / $10 includes snack & beverage (additional drinks available for purchase at the bar)
Lee-Fendall House Museum & Gardens • 614 Oronoco Street • Alexandria, VA 22314
Limited capacity so register early! Registration must be done in advance. Age 21+ only. And teams are limited to 6 people.
Trivia Nights at the Historic Sites
Carlyle House Historic Park and the Lee-Fendall House Museum team up for some fun-filled Tuesday nights. Every other week throughout the summertime the Carlyle House and Lee-Fendall staffs host trivia night in the beautiful gardens of the Lee-Fendall House. Everything from pop culture to history is on the table.
Dates & Themes -> June 9th: British Royal History / June 23rd: Presidential History / July 7th: Alexandria History / July 21st: Mythology / Aug 4th: Pets / Aug 18th: 1980s
Each trivia night is themed with weekly prizes for the winning team and a grand prize for the team that wins the most points over the entire summer!
Two Boxes of Oranges and Admonia Jackson — Current Public Art Installation in Waterfront Park
Every year, there is different public art at the foot of King Street, by water’s edge, to be enjoyed by the tourist and locals alike. This piece is inspired by pieces discovered in 2015 & 2018 on Old Town’s own Potomac waterfront. I have a greater respect for the piece after learning of the inspiration leading to it’s creation, versus just the aesthetic alone.
Late March to November 2023 // Admission: Free
Waterfront Park, 1A Prince Street, Alexandria, VA 22314visitalexandriava.com/public-art
“In late March, Two Boxes of Oranges and Admonia Jackson will be unveiled as the fifth temporary public art installation on Old Town Alexandria’s waterfront, part of the City of Alexandria’s Site See: New Views in Old Town series. Created by Jamaican-born, New York-based award-winning artist Nina Cooke John of Studio Cooke John, the installation is inspired by the ships uncovered on Alexandria’s waterfront in 2015 and 2018 and the many layers of history that are not readily seen. The installation forms an abstracted ship’s hull with steel vertical elements that rise and bend, referencing the curve of the hull’s frame. Visitors can stand within the space and imagine a time in Alexandria’s history when the ships carried not only cargo like tobacco, molasses, rum and limes, but also enslaved people who were traded as part of the transatlantic and domestic slave trades. The outer blue of the installation is contrasted with an orange inner surface depicting text pulled from ships’ manifests listing items like herring, coconuts and gin, alongside names and descriptions of enslaved people, such as “Jane Tailor, female, 5’ 2”.” Also listed are “two boxes of oranges” and “Admonia Jackson.”” – Visit Alex
Art, art instillation, Art Night in Old Town ALX, Lee Fendall, Old Town, Old Town Alexandria, Old Town Alx, public art, Trivia, Trivia Nights at the Historic Sites, Two Boxes of Oranges and Admonia Jackson, Two Boxes of Oranges and Admonia Jackson — Current Public Art Installation in Waterfront Park -
Jackie O’s Brilliant 30k Monthly Clothing Allowance • Story from Nancy McKeon’s Memoir — Jackie’s Girl: My Life with the Kennedy Family
The first time I heard about Jackie’s clever shennanagins with her clothing allowance was in Kathy McKeon’s Memoir, Jackie’s Girl: My Life with the Kennedy Family. Kathy immigrated from Ireland to America in 1964 at just nineteen years old. She then snagged the job as Jackie’s private assistant, and occasional nanny, for the next decade.
Among Kathy’s many stories about Jackie and life with the Kennedy’s, she speaks of Jackie’s clothing allowance from Aristotle Onassis. Jackie received $30k a month for clothes. Jackie and Aristotle married in 1968 — 30k at that time is over $261,500 today.
Evidently Aristotle didn’t fancy Jackie’s spending habits overall, but he didn’t mind her dropping a pretty penny on plenty of fabulous frocks. As a side note, I remember a story about Jackie not understanding how JFK balked at spending 1k for a painting but would spend enormous amounts on campaigns.
I guess people prioritize spending differently — though I think many can definitely identify with Jackie!
Anyhow, I appreciate how a lady of her time and generation cleverly took matters into her own hands to get some spending freedom. lol.
She took Aristotle’s 30k a month. And bought fabulous clothes. Some she wore. Some she didn’t. Some even had the tags on them. Fully conscious of her plan, and with the assistance of others, Jackie would consign her clothes. And make a significant amount of money on them!
Keep in mind, 30k a month in 1968 is over 3 million annually in todays dollars. Just brilliant.
We were recently at a talk by Monte Durham, of Say Yes to the Dress Atlanta & Salon Monte. He fancies himself Jackie’s biggest fan, and recently donated his entire collection — including a replica of Jackie’s wedding dress to JFK — to the First Ladies Museum. He brought up the consignment story too, and I learned that Jackie actually was able to sell the clothing for more than she paid because people were so excited to own something that was Jackie’s.
I love stories like this!
If you like stories like this too check out Kathy’s book Jackie’s Girl, Miles and I both recommend it. We were visiting family in Grosse Pointe, and Miles read Aunt Sheila’s copy. Mummy read it too. It’s a really easy, fascinating, fun read about a poor girl from Ireland who ends up working for American royalty.
Jackie’s Girl: My Life with the Kennedy Family
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Summertime Memory Making in Old Town ALX — June-August Curated Calendar
Hey beauties! Here’s my curated calendar for the summer. Lots happening in Old Town ALX! Sending y’all lots of love and wishing you many happy summertime moments. See ya around town.
xxx • Jennifer-Marie
p.s. If you’re just seeing this post and the event has already passed. Have no fear! It will probably happen again next year.
Summertime Memory Making
Old Town Arts & Crafts Fair — Presented by Volunteer Alexandria
I tend to like more art fairs than crafts. And this sounds like it has a diverse mix. Especially if you’re going with girlfriends or folks with different tastes.
Saturday 3 June 2023, 10am – 6pm • Admission: Free
Waterfront Park, 1A Prince St., Alexandria, VA 22314
Local and regional artists and crafters showcase pieces across various mediums. Merchandise will include pottery, stationery, fabrics, paintings, jewelry, photography and more.
Portside in Old Town Summer Festival sponsored by Ting
This sounds nice. I’ve got high hopes for this one. Especially with the Jazz on Friday. I really hope they can keep the busking far enough away so the musical acts don’t compete with one another — can’t stand it when you’re hearing more than one act at once down there!
Friday & Saturday, 16 & 17 June 2023
Time: Friday 16 June 6 to 9 pm • Saturday 17 June 1 to 9 pm• Admission: Free
Waterfront Park, 1A Prince St., Alexandria, VA 22314More info at -> PortsideFestival.com
Portside in Old Town Summer Festival (now sponsored by Ting) returns to Waterfront Park. There will be an array of live music, local craft beer from Port City Brewing Company, and family fun on the Potomac’s edge. Friday evening features jazz performances and poetry readings by Alexandria poets. On Saturday, there will be more of eclectic musical lineup, local food, plus hands-on art and history activities.
Lots of folks behind this one. Portside in Old Town Festival props go to: Visit Alexandria, Ting, ALX Jazz Fest, City of Alexandria’s Office of the Arts (a division of the Department of Recreation, Parks and Cultural Activities).
Juneteenth African American History Bus Tour with Manumission Tour Company
We really like John Chapman. This is his company, Manumission, doing the tour. Manumission also has additional African American History tours that you can check out here.
Saturday 17 June 2023 • 11 am & 1 pm • Admission: $35 per person
Meets at The Alexandria Black History Museum, 902 Wythe St., Alexandria, VA 22314
Manumission Tour Company has an annual Juneteenth African American History Bus Tour. The tour is 90 minutes and visits various historic sites — telling the story of African Americans in early Alexandria. Some of the historic sites include several African American churches in the city (such as Alfred Street Baptist Church), Barrett Library (site of the 1939 Library Sit-In), as well as Freedom House and more.
Father’s Day
Sunday, 18 June 2023
Juneteenth
Monday, 19 June 2023
USA / Alexandria Birthday Celebration
This one is personal for us. It’s our anniversary weekend! So we always appreciate the fireworks!
Saturday, 8 July 2023 • 6 to 9:45 p.m. (Rain date: Sunday 9 July) • Admission: Free
Oronoco Bay Park, 100 Madison St, Alexandria, VA 22314
More info here -> alexandriava.gov
It’s Alexandria’s 274th birthday and the USA’s 247th! The Alexandria Symphony Orchestra (ASO) will preform and the fireworks act as a finale to the ASO at half passed 9 o’clock. Enjoy the big birthday experience including cupcakes, local vendors and live music.
10th Annual Old Town Pub Crawl hosted by Port City Brewing Company
A pub crawl is not my thing. But I’m sharing it because it’s a way to support so many small and local business.
Saturday 15 July 2023, 1:30 to 6 pm • Admission: Free
Various locations throughout Old Town, Alexandria, VA 22314
portcitybrewing.com 703-797-2739
“The Port City Brewing Company team will be at local restaurants and bars near the Alexandria waterfront, stamping pub crawl passes (available at participating locations) and handing out swag from 1:30 to 6 p.m. If you complete your Pub Crawl Pass, you will get a limited-edition pint glass. Participating restaurants include Blackwall Hitch, Bugsy’s Pizza Restaurant & Sports Bar, Chadwicks, Daniel O’Connell’s, The Fish Market, Union Street Public House, Virtue Feed and Grain and Vola’s Dockside Grill and Hi-Tide Lounge.” – Visit Alex
Beats, Bites and Brews in Old Town Alexandria
Doggies are welcome! We love that!29 July 2023, from 11 am to 6 pm
Admission: Free
John Carlyle Square, 300 John Carlyle St., Alexandria, VA 22314
thecarlylecommunity.com
John Carlyle Square is hosting a day of outdoor entertainment, with music, shopping, food, and cold beves. Visit Alx says, “local bands, food vendors, wineries and breweries, as well as other local small businesses will be on site. Tasting will be provided by the wineries and breweries, and you can purchase the tickets onsite from them directly.” And most importantly this event is pet friendly and will happen rain or shine.Around the World Cultural Food Festival
August 26, 2023, from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. // Admission: Free
Oronoco Bay Park, 100 Madison St., Alexandria, VA 22314
Take an afternoon trip around the world! The Around the World Cultural Food Festival showcases the culture, traditions and cuisine of dozens of countries. This festival is pet-friendly event will occur rain or shine.
Ongoing Exhibits
Floriography in the Victorian Era at Lee Fendall
I love stuff like this! We’ll definitely walk over and see this a few times.
Now through 30 August • Daytime // Admission: Free
Lee Fendall House Museum & Gardens • 614 Oronoco Street, Alexandria, VA 22314
The Victorians used flowers to send messages of love, empathy, and even disinterest. Learn how they did it by wandering through the Lee Fendall garden. They’ve put signs next to the planted flowers that explain more about this “secret” intriguing language.
Art Night in Old Town ALX
I’m excited about this! We happened upon a night like this in chichi Bozeman, Montana — note, this western town earned the nickname Bozeangelous due to their glittery costal guests. Anyhow, while on our Western roadtrip we spent a little time there and happened upon the art night on their Main Street. It was fun! We didn’t purchase any art on the spot, but we did take some artists cards, and got some chic westernware. lol.
Third Thursday Each Month • May to October • 5 – 8 pm // Admission: Free
Various locations throughout Old Town Alexandria, 22314
You can get more info at -> oldtownbusiness.org
Explore fine art and studio crafts found in the boutiques and galleries of Old Town, Alexandria, Virginia.
Trivia Nights at the Historic Sites
Oh this sounds like fun! We won’t do it. lol. But it sounds fun! And it’s a 21 and up activity.
Tuesdays, 9 June – 18 August (bi-weekly) / 7 o’clock / $10 includes snack & beverage (additional drinks available for purchase at the bar)
Lee-Fendall House Museum & Gardens • 614 Oronoco Street • Alexandria, VA 22314
Limited capacity so register early! Registration must be done in advance. Age 21+ only. And teams are limited to 6 people.
Trivia Nights at the Historic Sites
Carlyle House Historic Park and the Lee-Fendall House Museum team up for some fun Tuesday nights. Every other week throughout the summertime the Carlyle House and Lee-Fendall staffs host trivia night in the beautiful gardens of the Lee-Fendall House. Everything from pop culture to history is on the table.
Dates & Themes -> June 9th: British Royal History / June 23rd: Presidential History / July 7th: Alexandria History / July 21st: Mythology / Aug 4th: Pets / Aug 18th: 1980s
Each trivia night is themed with weekly prizes for the winning team and a grand prize for the team that wins the most points over the entire summer!
Two Boxes of Oranges and Admonia Jackson — Temporary Waterfront Public Art Installation
Every year, there is different public art at the foot of King Street, by water’s edge, to be enjoyed by the tourist and locals alike. This piece is inspired by pieces discovered in 2015 & 2018 on Old Town’s own Potomac waterfront. I have a greater respect for the piece after learning of the inspiration leading to it’s creation, versus just the aesthetic alone.
Late March to November 2023 // Admission: Free
Waterfront Park, 1A Prince Street, Alexandria, VA 22314visitalexandriava.com/public-art
“In late March, Two Boxes of Oranges and Admonia Jackson will be unveiled as the fifth temporary public art installation on Old Town Alexandria’s waterfront, part of the City of Alexandria’s Site See: New Views in Old Town series. Created by Jamaican-born, New York-based award-winning artist Nina Cooke John of Studio Cooke John, the installation is inspired by the ships uncovered on Alexandria’s waterfront in 2015 and 2018 and the many layers of history that are not readily seen. The installation forms an abstracted ship’s hull with steel vertical elements that rise and bend, referencing the curve of the hull’s frame. Visitors can stand within the space and imagine a time in Alexandria’s history when the ships carried not only cargo like tobacco, molasses, rum and limes, but also enslaved people who were traded as part of the transatlantic and domestic slave trades. The outer blue of the installation is contrasted with an orange inner surface depicting text pulled from ships’ manifests listing items like herring, coconuts and gin, alongside names and descriptions of enslaved people, such as “Jane Tailor, female, 5’ 2”.” Also listed are “two boxes of oranges” and “Admonia Jackson.”” – Visit Alex
Tiki Bar – Throughout Boating Season • Old Dominion Boat Club (Private Club)
The Friday night tiki bar tradition has migrated from the luscious lawn and docks of One King to the swanky rooftop of Zero Prince. Old clubhouse. New clubhouse. Doesn’t matter. It’s been proven the club’s tiki nights are filled with good times, good people, good drinks, and good music!
Fridays throughout the Summer — 6 – 11pm — 6pm Bar Opens / 7-11pm Musical Entertainment
The Rooftop Tiki Bar has musical entertainment every Friday evening throughout boating season. Please see the Club’s website for specifics.
Curated Calendar, Curated Calendars, Old Town, Old Town Alx, Old Town Post, Old Town Post / Pineapple PostsArt Night in Old Town ALX, Carlyle House, Curated Calendar, Floriography, Lee-Fendall, memory making, Old Town Alx, public art, Summer, Summer 2023, Trivia, Trivia Nights at the Historic Sites, Two Boxes of Oranges and Admonia Jackson — Current Public Art Installation in Waterfront Park, Washington DC -
Press Preview & Opening → Beyond Camelot: The Life & Legacy of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis Exhibition • Donated by Monte Durham to The First Ladies Museum in Canton, Ohio
Postcard from Jiles
Canton, Ohio • Home of the National First Ladies Library & Museum • DoubleTree by Hilton
1 May 2023
Bonjour Jet Setters!
The Jackie Kennedy exhibit at the First Ladies Museum is opening. And we got tickets! Beyond Camelot: The Life & Legacy of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis Exhibition was donated by Monte Durham of Say Yes to the Dress Atlanta & Le Créateur of Salon Monte in Old Town, Alx (where I get my hair done!).
We’re in our room at the DoubleTree by Hilton, right across from the museum. Warming up a bit from the bone chilling rain outside. Relaxing after the the early afternoon press event, and before tonight’s champagne reception. I’m on the bed, with doggie and blanky, and the heat on in the room.
I thought I’d break from pondering how to do my hair in this bone chilling rain (talk about pressure — it’s my hairdresser’s event!), and pop on and write a postcard to let y’all know what was going on. Give you a little behind the scenes, so to speak . . .
The first time I went to Salon Monte, the salon’s namesake told me all about his love for Jackie, his prolific collection, and how he was donating his all of his Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis artifacts to the First Ladies Museum in Canton, Ohio.
Did you know one of those artifacts is an exact replica of Jackie’s wedding dress to JFK? I’ve seen it in so many photographs, but it was so special to see it replicated, up close. So beautiful with such a story!
This is the only replica of the iconic dress in the world. Monte went to great lengths to have it recreated. There’s a whole story. And to hear it, you’ll have to wait for our “official” content on the exhibit. This is just some behind the scenes stuff!
I actually got a little emotional seeing everything on display. I have my suspicions as to why the emotions. I think it’s connected to beauty, luxury, leisure, intentional living, and creating conscious memories. Which I’ll muse about in a later post.
I’m actually sensing a lot of content from this tiny sojourn to the heartland. In addition to our Jet Set Jiles platforms, we’re excited that we’re doing a piece for the next Zebra (June 2023)! Mary Wadland, the “Good News in Alexandria Newspaper” publisher, wants us to really dive into a sold story about the exhibit and dig into Monte’s passion for collecting Jackie memorabilia.
So it’ll be exciting to see our byline in black and white (and read all over!). Miles & Jennifer — husband – wife – photographer – reporter duo. With their little side kick, Chou Chou (a French term of affection pronounced Shoe Shoe). lol.
Doing Zebra stuff is gonna be some new memory making for us. And, as I say all the time, conscious memory making is so important! It enriches your life and nourishes your soul.
Check it out, we even got Zebra press passes! Which made us giggle . . .
The media event was really cool. And you didn’t feel super self-conscious and like a weird-o taking pictures and videos because that’s the purpose of the event! Everybody was doing it! It was really nice to have the camaraderie of “fellow reporters” to help you out. lol.
I joke, but seriously, people were swapping cameras to get the shots for other people. A reporter went up to Miles to say hi and that he thought that they worked together before. Miles said, he was from DC, here for the Zebra Press in Alexandira, Virginia. lol. One guy asked me to go take my pictures again of the fireplace and portrait so he could video it for his station.
Here’s my picture of him doing the same thing he asked me to do! lol.
The whole experience was really neat!
And Monte, well, he’s just a gem. A true southern gentleman making everyone feel at home among his treasured collection. And making sure everyone got their info and their photos. He is the master selfie taker!
You think this is a picture of Monte taking selfies with these ladies. And he is. But what you don’t know is I thought it would be a good picture. So I asked Monte to take the pictures again so I could “get the shot”. lol.
Monte gave a talk at the press event. One of the things he was touching on was Jack and Jackie’s wedding. And how Joe Kennedy really jumped into the planning (and the paying for) the wedding. Pushing Jackie to look “bride”, versus the clean lines she craved.
I’d say that sounds sooo familiar — parents jumping into the planning of your big day – their wants, wishes, and wardrobe – but with the political agenda surrounding her wedding this was a whole other level!
Anyhow, in addition to the dress, Joe also went around to all the neighbors at Hammersmith Farm and asked them to have their livestock out grazing in the background of the festivities. Talk about picture perfect!
Monte then wrapped the story concluding how Jackie had the original chic farm wedding! (And we just left one, at Miles’ Grandmother’s farm!)
Ok folks, it sure was fun giving you a little behind the scenes. So many cute stories are going to come out of this trip. We can’t wait to share them with you!
But for now. Off to do my hair, and put on a little Dolce for Beyond Camelot’s Champagne reception!
A bientôt!
Kisses,
Jennifer & Miles & The Furry Princess