Valentiney Stuff

I'm happily single, but happily appreciative of Valentiney, Romancey Stuff. I, therefore, like many other lovely single ladies, celebrate this month of Romance in my own way... on my own. (No, I didn't suppress a sob while declaring my current state of I-have-no-bae-ness. I have tons of lovely friends and I just read To Kill a Mockingbird and I'm listening to Carrie Underwood so yeah, why would I complain? Really. Keep it together.) (Also, chocolate. There's more when you're single because you don't have to share.) (I realise it's not V-day yet, but I'm an early bug when it comes to cute couples.)

Here are some Valentiney Stuff that give me LOADS AND LOADS OF FEELSIES. Enjoy.

Because Downton Abbey couples always deserve a mention in posts about Romance. Tom + Sybil's epic romance always makes my heart melt and ugh lets not even talk about the disgusting adorableness of Matthew and Mary. (I can't NOT talk about these without italics. They are the epitome of cute.)

This random wedding video made me cry buckets and I don't even know these people. How. I love them and I love how they really, really, really want their marriage to be all about Jesus. Also, they're crazy cute together so that helps.

A buncha random cute pictures I found online. Because it's adorable.

OKAY SO THIS VIDEO. I know, the dude's hair is terrible (okay, fine, it's not my style) but this couple is honestly so so adorable and I now want to have a surprise wedding too. Their passion to have Jesus-centred lives is just heart-warming and I love it when they just cry and laugh and look at each other and then cry and laugh some more. (Yes, I get attached to random people in youtube videos. Welcome to my life.)




Excuse me while I die. TOM AND BARBARA TOM AND BARBARA TOM AND BARBARA. They're seriously so cute that I am at loss for words. (*cue Marilla Cuthbert rolling her eyes at this loss-for-words-fiddlesticks.*) I'm afraid Marilla would roll her eyes a lot at me; especially when I start talking about Emma and Knightley. Just look at these two:

JUST YES. AND YES. I LOVE THEM.



However, of course, the award for the cutest couple ever ever EVER goes to Minnie and Alfie in Lark Rise to Candleford. These two are so freakin adorable together it's literally TIRING to watch. (No, really.)

This is my favourite couple-in-love-song I have ever listened to. (At least, at the moment. These things change.) Carrie Underwood's voice is fire and lightning and roses and candles all rolled into one, and this song is so passionate and calm and soothing and beautiful AHHH I LOVE IT. (Let's listen to it together.)

... if this post doesn't make you appreciate romance, I don't know what will. Happy Valentine's day, folks. If you're single, don't mourn your singleness but yeah, do squeal over cute couples because it makes life a great deal rosier and it's really fun. (Do talk about your favourite cute couples in the comments because I can always do with more sappiness.)

Why Mr Knightley is my favourite hero

Some of you may or may not know it, but Mr Knightley in the 2009 Emma version is my favourite literary hero. Not my favourite Jane Austen hero, my favourite literary hero. That means he ranks higher than Matthew Crawley, Mr Darcy or any other one. Mr Knightley is my idea of an ideal hero!

Why?

Mr Knightley is kind. He has such a good heart - he's always saying wise, kind things. He has his faults (after all, no-one but God is perfect, right?), but he's such a good, nice, kind man. Who can't like him? He's so sweet!

Mr Knightley is active. Some people have kind hearts and say nice things, but don't really act them out. But Mr Knightley does. He went to Harriet when she had no dancing partner. He stood up for Mrs Bates... he does things. He doesn't just sit around and say wise things.

Mr Knightley is witty. Kind, wise people? Nah. Boring. That might have been your reaction. But no, Mr Knightley is witty. He says funny things - has funny facial expressions. He makes me laugh. It is perfectly possible to be good, wise and witty. Mr Knightley shows that.

Mr Knightley likes children. I love it when Mr Knightley runs about with the children, throwing snowballs and lifting them on his shoulders. You can see he really enjoys it. That's another reason I like him.

Mr Knightley is a gentleman. He just is. The way he clothes. The way he addresses people. A perfect gentleman.

Mr Knightley argues well. Haha. I just had to stick that in somewhere. Because I love the way Mr Knightley argues... I kinda love it when he's angry - he does it so well.

Mr Knightley is romantic. Yes, on top of being kind, witty, wise and the perfect gentleman, Mr Knightley has a romantic side to him - which he shows when Emma is around. He has a very gentle way of dealing with ladies, and his romantic one-liner is one that everyone knows: "If I loved you less, I might be able to talk about it more."

Mr Knightley is gentle. We see him cross. We see him argue. We see him irritated. But we never, ever see him strike someone. He's far to gentle and nice for that.

Right, as I said, he does have his faults - but in the whole, I think he's definitely the nicest hero there is. He's the sort of man I'd like to marry one day. I'm sure you all agree. :-) I made this post for the honour of Heidi's Emma week. Do pop over and join the fun. If you haven't played the game yet... click right here and give it a try!

My Four Favourite Jane Austen Heroes

So. Jane Austen, dear girl, is famous for many things, and one of them - to be sure - are her Very Well-crafted and Very Over-mused Gentlemen. Mr Darcy is the famous one - he get's a place on T-shirts and handbags. Other people cannot stop talking about Mr Knightley or Colonel Brandon. And then everyone talks about Henry Tilney's quotes. Sink me, these gentlemen are famous. They are rich, they are single. We all want them. We all have our favourites. :-)

I will start with my all-time favourite (you may guess who THAT will be. I'm sure you all have NO idea.) Here are my favourite Jane Austen heroes, people. I have four. Four favourites.

#1. Mr Knightley

Yep. I like this.

This is possibly my favourite gif in the entire entire entire world. It's PERFECT. Ahoswjcjsqslkjercom. Just stare at it for several times and drown in the perfectness everyone. (He's like,'Peh! Peh! Emma! How can't you see you're being stupid?!')

Haha. Mr Knightley is right, as always. :-P (Poor Emma. How horrible it must be to be proved wrong continually.) I love how these two just SAY what they think. They're hilarious.

I looove that he comes to Emma's house and does his 'work' there. It's like his second home. And doesn't he look handsome when he writes? (He does.) (I love his green suit. :-D)

His fist. Goodness, this makes me laugh. It shouldn't. (Just the way he tries so DESPERATELY to make Emma grow up.)

Perfect. Again. (Also, his green suit again. I really like that one.)

Even his scowls are perfect.

Haha! This gif makes me laugh so much. His reaction. :-P

Awww.

Look at his BOOOOTS

I've decided that this is the best pin I have ever pinned

Where. To. Start.

I love Mr Knightley very much. In fact, he's not only my favourite Austen hero, he's also just MY FAVOURITE HERO EVER. In general. Of course, I am talking of Johnny Lee Miller's portrayal of him. Just in case you hadn't gathered that, haha. I have talked about Mr Knightley many times, so I won't go through it all again. I'll just say that he's my favourite. He's kind, he's funny, he's sensible, he's good. I want to marry a guy like him.

I once did a whole "Why Mr Knightley is the best" post. You should read it. HERE. :-D

Also, HIS SCOWLS ARE PERFECT. And so are ALL his quotes. AND OH HIS LINE, "If I loved you less I might be able to talk about it more." Goodness, I must watch this movie again.


#2. Edward Ferras

I'm going to mention it again, I know I will, but ohhh, his smile.

Yes, the hair needs some work. But for the rest...

He's so adorably awkward.

But he's not so awkward that he can't finish his sentances.

Awwwwwwwwwwwwwww.

Awwww agaaaaain.

I love how he's so good with children. :-D He was just BORN to be Margaret's older brother, RIGHT?!!!

MY FAVOURITE GIF OF HIIIIM

He's pretty darn adorable.

*Everyone cries*¨SNIFFLES ALORE. LOOK AT HOW HAPPY THEY ARE.

I liked Edward Ferras in the Emma Thompson version, but I thought he was too shy and hesitant  and WAYYYY to awkward. Edward is supposed to be shy and slightly awkward, but not THAT awkward. I like it when men know more what they want - the Edward Ferras in the 1995 version was a bit too - um - I - UM - yes - I - um - indeed - *cough* - I - I - um - yes - Hesitant.

But then I saw the 2008 Sense and Sensibility version, with no-one else than Dan Stevens (my favourite male actor, by the way - not that that helped, haha) as Edward, and OHHH YES. HE HAS BECOME ONE OF MY FAVOURITES.

He's such a dear. He's so scrumptiously sweet and adorable and kind. Also, the smile Dan Stevens gives him - is PERFECT. (Plus also, the blue eyes.) My only complain about this Edward is that he urgently needs a hair-cut. I remember squealing about him in my S&S08 review I wrote ages ago. :-)

#3. Mr Darcy

He has my favourite eye twinkle in the entire world.

I like it when they write. :-)

Right, he doesn't smile broadly. But he DOES smile. :-)

The priceless 'What' scene. :-)

I DO like this quote. I never gets old. (Well, it IS old, but y'know what I mean.)

My favourite Mr Darcy scene.

Haha. :-)

Sink Meh! The cravats!

The reason why I don't like Mr Darcy is because of the hype. You know, the whole 'wet-shirt' business (UGH IT DRIVES ME SO INSANE). I'm not head-over-heels agoo about Mr Darcy, not like I am about Mr Knightley and Dan Steven's Edward Ferras, anyway.

But yet. He's just AWESOME. He's noble. He's a bit harsh sometimes (in the beginning especially) but he's such a teddy-bear and a darling inside. And his little smiles make my heart melt. He goes to London to sort the whole Wickham-business out; and ohhh, when we see his real character at Pemberlyyyyy.

I love Mr Darcy, but not in the yelling-way so many people do. But I do love him. :-)

#4 Mr Tilney

He's very charming.

Awwww.

That JJField actor is very handsome. Juuuust pointing something obviously obvious out.

The griiiin!

Not my favourite scene, but I like the picture. :-)

"Now we may give one smirk, and then we can be rational again." I LOVE THIS SMIRK. I LOVE HIS SMIRK. Best gif eveeeeer. (Says Naomi for the second time in this post.)

I love it when he climbs the tree.

Awww. Again.

I know some people who don't like Henry Tilney, but - sorry guys - I'm going to go right out and SAY it. Henry Tilney is one of my favourite heroes EVER. I considered putting him on the third place; even on the second - it feels unfair, actually, to put him on the fourth place. IT'S SO HARD TO CATEGORISE THESE MEN. :-D (I couldn't put Mr Darcy last, though. He won't allow me.)

Anyway. About Mr Tilney. He's so witty and cheerful and charming. I love it when he teases - I want to be teased by him. :-P He's also such a dear; and he has the beautifullest smirk and the charming-est eye-twinkle, as well as such a good heart. I can SO see him as the best father ever. Also, He Wears Regency Extremely Well. (J J Field, that is.)

Mr Tilney reminds me a bit of Elizabeth Bennet, actually. But then in man-form. Very well-spoken, and a little snarky. :-)

Who's your favourite Jane Austen hero?
Is he on this list?
Also, this post. It has nice pictures, huh? :-D

A Period Drama Tag

Hello, all! What-ho.

Morg tagged me with her own random list of Period Drama questions several days ago, and - well, being the nuttiest of all Period Drama nuts I am - I found it entirely irresistable and here I am, doing it. Thank you, Morg!

Michelle Dockery looking entirely scrumptious in 'Anna Karenina'

What is your favourite Austen book?

I have to go with my beloved Pride and Prejudice, everyone. I just love it. I love the little Meryton society, the Bennet lodge, the snobberish people, the glittering, calm, sprinkly feel.

One Austen movie you dislike the most?

I have watched at least one movie of all the Jane Austen books (not counting Lady Susan, which isn't out yet), except Mansfield Park. I don't want to start watching Mansfield Park because it looks so bad. I'm one of those people who likes the book - (I find it a charming, darling story and, well, yes, I just adore Edward and Fanny. They're just filled to the brim with aww-y sweetness.) It's just-- Both movie adaptations seem so wrong to me, so I haven't seen any Mansfield Park adaptations. So yeah, Mansfield Park, although I haven't seen them. Tell me strictly if this answer isn't valid.

Now, THIS is what Fanny and Ed should look like.

Favourite dresses?

Please excuse me when I rub my hands in glee, because I love this question. Also the fact that it's dressES and not just 'dress' (because if it were just 'dress' I wouldn't have been able to answer it, period.) Let me pick several millions, okay?

Gone with the Wind has some pretty amazing dresses. It's hard to pick one to represent my love for the big lush hoopdresses in the movie, but I've picked the ruffled, friffled, beautifully fun white dress Scarlett wears in the first scene. It makes Scarlett seem almost... loveable. It's possible.

As I mentioned, no doubt extremely clearly, in my review of State Fair, I am the biggest fan on earth of Marge Frake's wardrobe, and, out of all of them, this dress is my favourite. The red bow, the pin puffy sleeves, the flowery embroidery, the waist. EVERYTHING. I looooove this dress.

I'm not always a big fan of Victorian styles, but this amazingly swothy and frothy yellow lacy ball gown Victoria wears to the ball (where she dances with her beautiful prince - le sigh) has captured my heart completely. LOVE it.

While some of Cynthia's dresses are a bit over-the-top, this dress - OH MY WORD. Please, allow to catch my breath.

Basically every and ANY dress in Downton Abby has a place in my heart. Two piece costume is just one of my millions of Downton Abbey favourites. Especially Mary's wardrobe I love, and also Rose's wardrobe. MAN. Everything is amazing. Some, like the one above, are just swathed with beauty and elegance. Others are beady and glittery. SUCH eye-candy!

Least favourite hair style?

This award has to go to Lady Harriet in Wives and Daughters, nearing the end. Her shaggy pixie cut is just too awful for letters. I - oh please. It's awful. I also find Anne's greasy curlies in the 2007 adaptation of 'Persuasion' very unappealing. I priorly posted about my ten least favourite hairstyles here, just in case you're interested.

I mean. Wut.

What is your favourite film adaptation to Austen's books?

I bet you all know this. Pride and Prejudice 1995, of course! Yes, I am one of those (sorry, Hamlette!) - I'm a huge lover of this long BBC version of P&P. It's all so delightfully perfect, in my little brain of opinions. I would eat this movie if I could. And it would taste like pinky hues of elegant sugar puffs. Wow, I'm really poetical today.

I also adore - and by adore I mean ADORE - Emma 2009. Johnny Lee Miller's Mr Knightley is my favourite person ever. I'm married in my brain.

This gif may kill you. :-D

Favourite Downton Abbey character?

Dear Downton! (Oh why, blogger, why do you put a red squiggly line under 'Downton' as well as 'Bennet' and 'Austen'?!! You drive me crazy. These words are words that one must respect, not mark with an embarrassing red squiggle.) My favourite Downton Abbey character is so easy to decide, funny enough, despite there being so many I adore in there. Surprise - no, it's not Matthew (although I love him till death us do part *starts crying*), and no, it's not my dear little Daisy. It's the Dowager Countess. In other words, my third Grandma. She is THE BEST Downton character. I LOVE HER.

Apparently quite a lot of people have Violet Crawley as their favourite character - I recently discovered the pastor at our Church watched Downton Abbey and his favourite character is Violet as well. :-)

Favourite BBC show?

Is Pride and Prejudice a show? No, I don't suppose it is. Well, I've got to go with Downton Abbey. I'm just intoxicated with Downton Abbey everything.

Favourite Austen Heroine?

Elizabeth Bennet, I suppose. She just brilliant and has a sparkling brain and eyes to match. Or Emma Woodhouse. So strong and hilarious and prone to mistakes. She reminds me painfully much of myself. (Yes, I do matchmake - but then in a dignified way in the corner of my brain.)

I also love Fanny. She's SO underrated, though. One day I'm going to make a post about defending Mansfield Park and it might be miles long. :-D

One BBC you watched which you disliked very much?

*Thinks really really really hard* Because I can't think of one, you guys. I just LOVE BBC Period Dramas, okay?

Oh wait, I suddenly thought of one. The Mill on the Floss. Although it starred the very talented Emily Watson, it was just PLAIN AWFUL. It wasn't just the weird, death-scene ending - it was everything. The love story wasn't even romantic, the characters weren't relatable, everyone annoyed me to death. Never watch it.

Colin Firth or Matthew Macfadyen?

Colin Firth all the way. Just to put the record straight, I'm not a huge Colin Firth fan. I only like him because he is Mr Darcy - I don't like Mr Darcy because he's Colin Firth. Also, I think Matthew MacFayden is a great actor - absoblumelutely loved him in 'Little Dorrit' - I just thought he wasn't Mr Darcy. He didn't look posh or proud enough. He was too humble and shaggy for Mr Darcy, in my opinion.

Plus, no-one can do a 'what' like Colin Firth. :-)

Jane Austen, Margaret Mitchell or Lucy Maud Montgomery?

NOW THIS (and the next question - oh dear, it's coming nigh -) IS SUCH A HARD QUESTION. Jane Austen, well, she's just Jane Austen. Amazing. A Thing. Margaret Mitchell has the BEST writing ability ever and I adore Gone with the Wind with volumnious amounts of my heart. But... Lucy Maud Montgomery - well, she's just My Favourite. I can't (ever) have enough of her. She's SUPERBOS.

Speaking of Lucy Maud Montgomery (such a flowery name, right?) - the poll has reached a fairly easy conclusion... 21 people voted - 14 wished to keep all my posts (Montgomery-related ones included) here - 6 didn't mind (awww, you peaches) and 1 wished to keep Montgomery posts at the Montgomery blog. So I deleted the Montgomery blog and all posts will be here. To that one person who voted for the Montgomery blog: Sorry, dear. I hope you understand. (As a character of mine would say: 'Dash it, I do not understand at all.')

Mr. Knightley, Mr. Darcy or Matthew Crawley?

MORG, HOW CAN YOU DO THIS TO MEEEE!?!!!!! How on EARTH am I supposed to choose between these three darling men! *Wails bitterly like a woebegone damsel in distress* These gentlemen are my three very top favourites. How did you KNOW?!! I can't choose! I caaaaan't.

*Thinks for three hours* (Sliiight exaggeration? Nooo.) I've decided. It's Mr Knightley. I love them all, but Mr Knightley is the one I would pick to marry. :-D

I LOVE HIM.

Which Charlotte- Claudie Blakley or Lucy Scott?

You know, I liked them both. I personally think Lucy Scott looks and acts more like a twenty-seven-year-old who really is not romantic - she, I think, is more like the book-Charlotte, but I liked the Charlotte in the 05 version as well. Still though, I'm going with Lucy Scott. Told ya I was a 95 fan.

By the way, does anyone know from which movie this picture comes from? I have no idea. :-)

I hope you have a lovely day!

Toodles! :-D