Dreamy Thursday: Autumn Dreams

 

Autumn is here. Dreamy soft colors of brown, ecru, mustard yellow, pale peach and apricot shades are here to inspire you for this magical season of Autumn.

I love all the seasons. A little nip in the air, the crunch of yellow leaves underfoot and a misty day in Autumn always leaves me in a romantic state of mind. Being the star of your own life always in what you wear.

Here is to wearing whatever make you feel beautiful, authentic and free. Enjoy these early days of Autumn, my friends.

Dreamy Thursday: Late Summer Energy

 

I know people are clamoring for Autumn; but, I still want to revel in the late Summer Energy. Here is a little inspiration for all of you.

Dreamy Thursday : Shades of White and Pink

 

Happy May, my friends. Spring is finally blooming here with 70 degree weather!

What turns a woman fancy in Spring? Beauty and Light.

Romance is in the air. 

Romance is a feeling and a way of life.

Wishing you all a Dreamy Thursdsay.

Dreamy Thursday: Studies in Beauty

 

Happy Thursday, my friends. May is here and I am feeling the romantic vibe of Spring. Here are a few pictures that echo how I feel this season. Here is the beautiful Nicole Ari Parker.

 

This lovely model comes from Giambattista Valli Spring Collection two or three years back.

 The lovely model Jolie Jones from the 60's. Beauty is timeless, my friends.

And what is Spring without a beautiful bride to be? I have a fascination for

lavender wedding gowns. They are beautiful.

Wishing you all a magical and romantic May.

Dreamy Thursday : Romantic style

Happy Thursday, this is the second time I have tried to bring back my Dreamy Thursdays post.  I am doing my best to plan ahead, so I can schedule a bunch of them. I love Dreamy romantic clothes, music, films, ideas, etc. Especially with the world as it now, we need it more than ever. This is from the lovely Nadiife on you tube. I especially love seeing sistahs doing this.

It is so wonderful to see more women like me in costume dramas more. Of course, with the rise

of independent brands like Selkie and Dynasty George, there is a moment now for more romantic wear

for daily use.

Of course, Bridgerton had a big influence on reigniting this style. There is the lovely Adjoa Andoh as the inimitable Lady Danbury.

Look how dreamy she looks in white. I think my love of this style came from middle school and high school when prairie skirts were in with pretty white blouses that I loved to wear.

I finally watched Sanditon! It was good but the ending made me sad. Sorry for the spoiler, I am ready for season two. It was so exciting to see the first black character that Jane Austen wrote about on the screen. The lovely and strong Miss Georgiana Lambe played by Crystal Clarke.

Sanditon season 2 starts on Sunday. I am looking forward to seeing it! I hope Georgiana and Charlotte's love lives get better for them this season.

Representation does matter!  I am happy to see beautiful sistahs in dreamy styles in real life and on the screen as well.

Dreamy Thursday: Purple for Thursday

Purple is one of the colors of Thursday. It is the color of luxury...




Romance...



Spirituality...



Here is me from the back wearing my favorite Purple dress.


Happy Purple Thursday,my friends.

Dreamy Thursday Returns: Cozy Chair nooks

Happy Thursday, my friends. I have decided to bring back for the Summer one of my favorite series I did here on Swan of Dreamers: Dreamy Thursday.

This is what I said back in 2011:

Since Thursday is my favorite day, hence I have created
Dreamy Thursday.

Now, what is Dreamy Thursday? Every Thursday, I'm going
to write about something, someone, place, song, book, clothing,
etc that makes me all super dreamy inside. That feeling of
happiness, zest and nourishment that comes from something
touching your soul.

To kick of Dreamy Thursday again is Cozy Chair Nooks.

When I was a kid, my mom had a deep brown recliner chair with footstool that I love to sit and read books in. The chair sat in our foyer; I always felt warm and happy there. When I grew up, I got my own version with a romantic feel to it.

My club chair that I got from Ethan Allen has its lovely spring fabric now faded. (I need to get it reupholstered). I cover it now with a lovely quilt that I got from Marshall's and a beautiful quilt my mother-in-law made for Jake. The chair has a lived in feeling. I love to sit there to read, look at the moon, do readings and plan for the future.



Here are a few Pinterest versions of a Cozy Chair nook.


A Cozy Chair Nook is just for you. Others can sit there. It radiates with your energy.


It says this is my space to be.



After a long day, a chair nook is a welcome friend.



You don't have one yourself? Make one, all you need is a Cozy chair, a nice nook in your home to put the chair at and yourself. You are all set.



I hope you enjoyed this return to Dreamy Thursday. Have a great Thursday.

Dreamy Thursday : Honey Bee

Guess what? It's Thursday. Which means
it's Dreamy Thursday. I haven't done
a Dreamy Thursday post in ages. The idea
behind Dreamy Thursday is to share things,
people, ideas, places that give me that
warm dreamy in my heart.

About two weeks ago, Sean and I were
watching The Voice. I really liked Blake
Shelton as a judge. It made me curious
about his music. I looked Blake up on
You Tube. I found his song Honey Bee.
Which I now love and the video for
it is so pretty too. I play Honey Bee
every day.

Here is My Dream Thursday for you
the song Honey Bee by Blake Shelton.
Enjoy.

I love to hear what is making
you feel Dreamy lately.

Dreamy Thursday: Libraries

Happy Dreamy Thursday, everyone.
Dreamy Thursday will be a bi-monthly
feature on the blog moving forward.
Makes it a lot easier for me and can
have really good juicy Dreamy Thursdays.

Today's Dreamy Thursday is all about one
of my favorite dreamy places ever: Libraries.


I love libraries!! I was an early reader
and my passion for books has been constant
all my life. All through school, the library was one
of my favorite places to be.

Librarians are the coolest people. They
let you know what new books or programs
are coming in; sometimes even recommend you for things.
In 4th grade, I was the Mistress of Ceremony for my
graduating class. It was a great honor and I loved it.
How did I get it? I was recommended by the School
Librarian to the Principal.

My favorite Library in all my years of schooling
was at my alma mater, Howard University.
Founders Library is a beautiful old building. With their
wide windows that let in light. Mahogany chairs, long tables
fireplaces scattered in certain rooms. Studying there was
a pleasure for me.

Libraries are like stepping into another world.
I love the smell of old books and how they
radiate with knowledge. Even with ipads and kindles,
I don't think Libraries will ever go away.
There will always be a need.


If you ever get the chance to come to NYC, you have
to go to what I call The Big Library on 42nd street.
This year this grand building is celebrating it's
Centennial. With the imposing Lions that guard
the library nicknamed Patience and Fortitude.
The Library is a beautiful old building.
It is elegant with beautiful pictures and centuries
of writings ride the air in the hallways. My favorite part
of the Library is the Rose Reading room. This picture from NYPL.com shows
only half of how beautiful it is in person.
The reading room hums with wisdom, writing and
magic. When I'm there, I feel I can write masterpieces
in all that loveliness

Of course, my local Library is one of my hangouts.
I'm there at least once a week. Picking up books and
movies or looking for new ones. I love to hear what your
favorite Libraries are. Share all in the comments.
If you haven't been to your local Library in a while,
go over and see what great things are going on there.

If you enjoy Dreamy Thursday here,
you can be a Guest Blogger at Swan of Dreamers
talking about what makes you feel Dreamy.
Email me at Jettswan@gmail.com for
all the info. Wishing all of you
a very Dreamy Thursday.

Dreamy Thursday : Ain't It Funny Music Video

Wow, I'm so late with this week's
Dreamy Thursday. Though I was able
to rest yesterday, Today was a non
stop day.

Now, I'm here with all of you.
Happy Dreamy Thursday.

This Dreamy Thursday is one of
my all time favorite music videos.
Ain't it Funny from 2001 by ,People's Magazine
Most Beautiful Woman in The World for
2011, Jennifer Lopez. ( I can't believe
this video is ten years old, yet still
looks fresh.)
It is truly a beautiful, sexy and
dreamy video. I can never get tired
watching it. Directed by the late great Herb Ritts.



If you enjoy Dreamy Thursday here, you can
be part of it. I'm opening up Swan of Dreamers
to guest bloggers. E-mail me at Jettswan@gmail.com
for all the details.

Have a Dreamy Thursday.

Dreamy Thursday : Emily Dickinson

Woo hoo..It's my favorite day: Thursday!
Which means it is Dreamy Thursday here.

If you are new here, Dreamy Thursday is the
day I talk about anything and anyone
that give me that beautiful blissful Dreamy
feeling.

Today's Dreamy Thursday is on Emily Dickinson
(Dec 10, 1830 - May 15 1886) especially apt
with this being Poetry Month.


Known in her hometown of Amherst, Massachusetts
as the reclusive "Lady in White", Emily Dickinson's
poetry defies the image that she had in her town
and still follows her today.

When I read Emily, I feel like I know her soul.
Her poetry vibrates with energy, life and passion.
I like to imagine that Emily allowed me to have
tea with her on a sunny Spring afternoon.
We talk on many topics.

I ask her have you been in love?
Emily with a far away
look in her eyes begins to speak.

My River runs to thee—
Blue Sea! Wilt welcome me?
My River wait reply—
Oh Sea—look graciously—
I'll fetch thee Brooks
From spotted nooks—
Say—Sea—Take Me!

and she speaks more on Love and Passion...

Wild nights - Wild nights!
Were I with thee
Wild nights should be
Our luxury!

Futile - the winds -
To a Heart in port -
Done with the Compass -
Done with the Chart!

Rowing in Eden -
Ah - the Sea!
Might I but moor - tonight -
In thee!

And I share with Emily of my dear friend
who died two years ago, that I still miss.
Emily has her share of sorrows. She replies:

Each that we lose takes part of us;
A crescent still abides,
Which like the moon, some turbid night,
Is summoned by the tides.

or even in a more quiet voice she shares:

One need not be a Chamber — to be Haunted —
One need not be a House —
The Brain has Corridors — surpassing
Material Place —

Far safer, of a Midnight Meeting
External Ghost
Than its interior Confronting —
That Cooler Host.

Far safer, through an Abbey gallop,
The Stones a'chase —
Than Unarmed, one's a'self encounter —
In lonesome Place —

Ourself behind ourself, concealed —
Should startle most —
Assassin hid in our Apartment
Be Horror's least.

The Body — borrows a Revolver —
He bolts the Door —
O'erlooking a superior spectre —
Or More —

Emily pats my hand. We turn to
discuss how we both love nature.
And Emily lights up with her brown
eyes sparkling. She lifts up the
window to the outside world.
And says:

Some things that fly there be —
Birds — Hours — the Bumblebee —
Of these no Elegy.

Some things that stay there be —
Grief — Hills — Eternity —
Nor this behooveth me.

There are that resting, rise.
Can I expound the skies?
How still the Riddle lies!


I tell her how I feel at home
with Nature and Emily nods in reply.
And says:

The Bee is not afraid of me.
I know the Butterfly.
The pretty people in the Woods
Receive me cordially --

The Brooks laugh louder when I come --
The Breezes madder play;
Wherefore mine eye thy silver mists,
Wherefore, Oh Summer's Day?

I thank Emily for having me over for tea.
She tells me to come anytime. For
we are kindred spirits.

This is just a sampling of the
1700 poems she wrote. You can
find Emily's poems at your local
library, bookstore and online.
Be aware her poems have been edited.
Try to find her poems with her
lovely dashes intact, the way
she originally wrote them.


If you enjoy Dreamy Thursday here,
you can be a Guest Blogger at Swan of Dreamers
talking about what makes you feel Dreamy.
Email me at Jettswan@gmail.com for
all the info. Wishing all of you
a very Dreamy Thursday.

Dreamy Thursday : Trees

Happy Dreamy Thursday.

I'm sure I will spend a Dreamy Thursday
on Flowers soon, today I have to honor
Trees.They are all around us even if you live
deep in the city.

Trees clean the air, provide shelter
from rain and sun, homes for animals
and insects, provide us with fruit.
Trees are alive to me. Sentient beings.
Perhaps, they don't talk like we do; Trees
communicate in their own ways.

Have you ever hugged a Tree? Seriously, If you have
then you understand. If not, give it a try. Yes,
you may feel shy doing it. If you hug a Tree,
you can feel the Tree's energy flowing into
you. Like SARK says, it's as if the Tree is
hugging is you back. You can also put your
hand on a tree and feel the energy that way. When
I'm outside, I do that as well. It looks
like I'm leaning on the Tree, so no one
looks at me twice.

I always like to ask permission first. How
will you know if the Tree says yes,you'll
get a warm feeling inside your tummy. Each
Tree has a different energy. Some are quiet,
happy, giggly, strong, juicy, zany.
When you are done, say Thank you. You can
also include a small offering as well.
I like to leave shiny pennies or nickels.


When I'm feeling sad, which I'm sure Ive
shared here before, I have a special Grove
where I go to feel better. I sit among the Trees
with a book, music and talk to them.
Trees have great energy. Being around them,
cleans you out of any heaviness/negativity
you have inside.

From Oak to Pine to Elm to Apple to Birch
Trees. They are our Friends. Today, if you
see a Tree. Say hello. Give them a hug.
>
If you love Dreamy Thursday here,
you can be part of it. All that is
required is to talk about what makes
you feel Dreamy. If you like to be
a Guest Blogger at Swan of Dreamers.
Email me at Jettswan@gmail.com for
all the info. Wishing all of you
a very Dreamy Thursday.