So I was just going about my usual business when my google alert for Jane Austen shared with me that Peacock is starting a new dating show.
Now I’m not one to watch dating reality shows as they are all pretty boring to me and seem to be the same premise. I have a friend who is obsessed with The Bachelorette and The Bachelor, but those shows were never for me.
I will admit to liking Farmer Takes a Wife, though. I liked that the ladies had to do challenges as it was hilarious to see the ones who were clearly only doing it to be on TV try and attempt these actual farm challenges only to fail, and fail in spectacular fashion.
That’s good TV!
But this one was supposed to be Jane Austen/Bridgerton Regency themed and I become super excited about it as it sounded just like out of the book Definitely Not Mr. Darcy.
You can read my full review by clicking on this link, but in short, Chloe thinks she is entering a contest/documentary about Jane Austen fans but ends up finding herself on a dating show. It is all about proper Regency courtship; no touching, no drinking, no alone time (everything is chaperoned), and to win special outings/events with the bachelor, the contestants had to participate in Regency-esque activities, racking up points. The bachelor is Mr. Wrightman, a wealthy individual who is tired of women being after his money and is looking for love the old-fashioned way. Of course the path to true life never runs smooth (especially on TV) and hilarity ensues.
For years I have been saying a network should jump on this idea and have tweeted it multiple times to different ones. So when I saw this I knew I had to enter. Whether or not I get on it doesn’t matter, at least I tried.
So this show is going to take a heroine to England, to compete for several weeks in a castle. “If selected, we will transport our heroine and suitors to an international location where they will get to experience what dreams are made of and be fully immersed in a time-traveling quest for love…Those selected will engage in period-era pastimes like carriages rides, archery and sending hand-written letters.”
Like I literally love all those things! I used to do archery and was pretty good at it (I don’t know if I still am as it has been years). I also send out handwritten letters every week. Everything about the “challenges” sounds fun.
So it asked a lot of questions, a looooot of questions. It was actually pretty uncomfortable how much information you had to give out. Name, birthday, occupation, height, weight, gender identity, who you like to see, etc. I answered them all truthfully but was a little flippant about the height. I told them I was 5’3, close to Regency women’s average height.
They also ask for Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and tiktok links. I gave both my personal and the ones for my blog. I’m hoping that since the title is Jane Austen Runs My Life, it might make me a stronger contender.
Please pick me.
There are questions on marital status, whether or not you have children, dating history, where do you look for dates.
I was like I haven’t been looking as I honestly haven’t since I’ve been divorced. (Plus you hear such horrible things about dating sites, although I do have an idea for a future post…I’ll have to keep ruminating on it.)
I like that they ask your top three things when looking for someone and what your deal breakers are. I know the show is mostly for entertainment, as all dating shows are, but I did like that they put that out there. It does feel as if someone is trying to care.
My top three things were honesty, trust, and fidelity. My top three dealbreakers were lying, any type of manipulation/abuse, and distrust.
They also asked why you were single which I feel like most people aren’t going to have a reason for it. I know I haven’t looked since ny divorce was finalized. That’s what I wrote but I really wanted to say this line from Austenland, and I am kicking myself that I didn’t as it is a great line.
Another question on the form is why you are a good catch and I was thinking, guys I’m Darcy’s Dream Date. (But that’s not what I said, instead I gave a real answer).
They also asked how you are like in a committed relationship and i wrote that I’m kind and caring but still independent and not clingy.
One of the questions was on whether modern dating frustrates you and your thoughts on chivalry. I think for me, my views on Modern dating are very similar to Mr. Nobley in Austenland.
Chivalry is very important to me after being through an abusive relationship. I really would like someone who is kind and caring and the idea of a code of honor in how one treats a women does greatly appeal to me.
They also ask if you like big romantic gestures and I was like I love the idea of a man coming after me on a white horse and willing to risk his inheritance for me:
Or a man who writes me love letters:
Or saves my family from ruin by protecting my sister’s reputation…just kidding about that last one.
For hobbies I shared I liked reading, writing/blogging, and creating my own cards and sealing them with wax!
They also asked about something that would surprise them and I shared that I am biracial. I figured this will be a good “surprise” as I know I don’t look like what people imagine someone who is Mexican looks like. To be honest, I really didn’t know what to put her.
And then it asked what your greatest accomplishment is. My greatest one was probably my thesis project which was on a subject that there wasn’t a lot of info on and I had to spend hours working on it. It even won an award. It’s boring, but I’m very proud of it.
You also have to include pictures. One has to be of your face while the other a full length picture. I knew I had the perfect ones!
This one I used for face. I totally forgot I had this but found it the other day when I was cleaning through my phone.
And of course for full-length:
I then had to do a 20 second video introducing myself which was the hardest one to do. 20 seconds isn’t that long, and what do you even say?
If you are interested in trying out for it, click on this link. And if they do pick you, keep us updated on to what it is like!
Next month I will be celebrating my 9th blogiversary!
And in these nine years I have come to the realization that not everything I write or post is… well good. Some of what I have posted in the past is poorly written and random.
From Clueless
Some posts were added as filler to help me stay on my scheduled “post days” and some have absolutely nothing to do with Jane Austen or an Austenite topic as at times I struggled with what I wanted my blog to be exactly.
Hmm…?
So I have decided to go through my posts and clean them up. Clear out the ones that were added that are not good and offload any that don’t fit the theme to a different site. I had wanted to get this done by my Blogiversary, but I know that won’t happen, I have nine years worth of posts to go through after all.
So just letting you know if you see this:
It’s because I’m working on trying to make this site better and fit a certain vision. And to let you all know it isn’t a server issue or a problem with WordPress.
The only thing is, I wasn’t sure how it was going to go down or even if she would like it. It can sometimes be hard to get her to watch any of my choices as she doesn’t like “old” films. But we made a deal-every summer when she comes to visit she has to watch at least one of my picks-Back to the Future, The NeverEnding Story, Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure, Indiana Jones, etc.
Not to mention she’s 12 going on thirteen and you know how that can be. Sometimes it is so difficult to get them to like anything. So I was hoping, finger’s crossed, things would go well.
Please, oh please!
Usually when I do a film review-I discuss the actors, costumes, setting, etc-but for this I am just going to put down our thoughts while watching it and then add the rest later. For this I refer to her as “G“.
Okay so here we go…
So the film starts off with Mr. Dashwood dying and having his son John promise that he will help his stepmother and three sisters. The estate is entailed and Mr. Dashwood didn’t plan as carefully as he should have, so the Dashwood ladies will have very little. John does.
We then meet John’s wife-Fanny Dashwood.
Fanny Dashwood is beyond horrible. I think she is the worst of all the Jane Austen characters to be honest. She’s rotten to the core, mean, cruel, doesn’t care about anyone’s feelings, and calls the Dashwoods “not really” family because they are half siblings. She’s one of the characters I wish I could reach into the book and slap silly.
I come from a blended household’s family. So my niece and I both agreed-We hate her!
That movie
“G: Aw look at the puppy. It’s so cute.”
Fanny and John move into the house and Fanny brings a dark cloud with her as she disrupts the household, is rude, mean, and we don’t like her.
Marianne is playing the piano, such sad music as she is grieving…you know the part
Elinor Dashwood: Marianne, can you play something else? Mamma has been weeping since breakfast. [Elinor exits; Marianne switches to a dirge. Elinor from the other room] I meant something LESS mournful.
My niece said-
G: “Let them weep-she is probably weeping at my greatness in playing piano.”
Fanny invites her brother Edward to visit at Norland Park, upsetting the household and rooms as Fanny wants him to have the best. They want to hate him, but he’s too likeble and the Dashwood ladies quickly grow to like him.
Edward even endears himself to the youngest Dashwood sister, Margaret. Aw, he even sword fights with her.
You know I never noticed before, but the library is pretty awesome! I definitely need to add it to my “Best Libraries List“.
So Elinor and Edward grow closer and closer together. Walking, talking, being cute, etc. One particular scene I liked between them was this one.
Elinor Dashwood: You talk of feeling idle and useless. Imagine how that is compounded when one has no hope and no choice of any occupation whatsoever.
Edward Ferrars: Our circumstances are therefore precisely the same.
Elinor Dashwood: Except that you will inherit your fortune. We cannot even earn ours.
Edward Ferrars: Perhaps Margaret is right.
Elinor Dashwood: Right?
Edward Ferrars: Piracy is our only option.
It’s like really dude-we are not the same. My dad died and we have to move and we have no money-and you feel “idle and useless”. That sucks, but don’t compare them.
Seriously
However, Fanny notices this and does all she can to separate them as she doesn’t want her brother with someone as low as the Dashwoods.
John Dashwood sucks. He makes a promise…a DEATHBED promise, and his dad dies and does he fill the promise? NO!
Now I don’t claim to be a wordsmith-but I am proud of this little ditty I wrote while watching this:
“As soon as dad was dead,
and the will had been read,
John said,
You girls get no more bread”
Not Shakespeare, but I’m still proud.
The girls are rescued when Mrs. Dashwood’s cousin, Sir John Middleton, offers them his cottage for a reduced rate. Sir John is awesome. Like he is the sweetest guy ever.
How sweet!
He didn’t have to do anything, they aren’t even closely related-just the sweetest man ever. They see the cottage and it isn’t anything like what I think of as a cottage.
“G: That’s a cottage?
I wish I had a little cottage.
This would be hard to go from having wealth, home, and people to assist you, to than be paired down to this.
“G: They probably have to be servants now, because nothing in life is free.”
[Dashwood sister is brushing Margaret’s hair]
“G: This is how I am when my mom does my hair [G then proceeds to do a tiktok dance]”
So the Dashwoods are asked over to Sir John’s for dinner and they meet his mother-in-law, Mrs. Jennings.
“G: Mom should get a job” [Pause in movie as a explain how that was unlikely.]
Sir John is so sweet that he takes care of his mother-in-law, he could have sent her home. He also invites the Dashwoods over, not just this time-but other times as he knows they don’t have a lot of money and cares for them-wanting them to eat well.
How sweet!
I love Mrs. Jennings, too. She’s nosy, but she is so nice.
Mrs. Jeninngs and Sir John pick up that Elinor likes someone and they try to figure out who Elinor’s beau is. Margaret gives it away that it starts with an F…
And I love the face Marianne gives to Margaret to try and get her to stop talking. Such a sister thing to do.
They meet Colonel Brandon at the dinner and it is Alan Rickman and he is so romantic.
Too bad Mrs. Jennings butts in there with her matchmaking. If she hadn’t said anythong or embarrassed her, maybe Marianne would have been more fond of Colonel Brandon. I mean he has a romantic past, loves music and piano, etc.
Marianne is so furious she can hardly get her bonnet off.
Marianne is definitely not interested as Colonel Brandon is “so old”.
Mrs. Dashwood: If Colonel Brandon is infirm then I am at death’s door.
Elinor Dashwood: It is a miracle your life has extended this far.
G: Col. Brandon…that’s the guy you like? He’s OLD!
My niece is like Marianne…well maybe, by the time the movie is over, she will like him?
So Edward had promised to visit the Dashwoods after they settled in, all excited for it-but especially Margaret as he will also bring her favorite atlas. However, he doesn’t come but just sends the atlas and a note. All are disappointed-espechially Margaret.
Poor Margaret, I never thought about it until I watched the film this time-but poor, poor Margaret she has just been disapointed by man after man. Her father died, her brother John sucks, now Edward was supposed to come visit and he disappointed her too.
So one afternoon Marianne and Margaret go for a walk…
Marianne: I’m taking you for a walk.
Margaret: No, I’ve been a walk.
Marianne: You need another.
Margaret: It’s going to rain.
Marianne: It is NOT going to rain.
Margaret: You ALWAYS say that and then it ALWAYS does.
[G laughs]
Margaret wasn’t kidding, it rained and it rains hard.
Marianne is running and hurts her ankle. They are soaked and Margaret is freaking out when Willoughby comes riding up on a white horse and carries her home.
“G: I thought you said Willoughby is bad.”
“Me: You’ll just have to watch the movie.”
Willoughby looks so dashing in his coat and on his horse. Margaret and Marianne are in awe.
Wow!
I love how Elinor instantly becomes Marianne’s wingwoman and finds out the name of the “mysterious” stranger.
[after Marianne has first met Willoughby]
Elinor Dashwood: Marianne, you must change. You will catch a cold.
Marianne: What care I for colds when there is such a man.
Elinor Dashwood: You will care very much when your nose swells up.
Marianne: You are right. Help me, Elinor.
[G laughs.]
I love that part so much!
So with Marianne recuperating, Sir John comes to visit. I love how the ladies try to pump him for information but all he knows about is Willoughby’s hunting score and the dogs he owns. Such a man!
Such a man!
Colonel Brandon comes to visit Marianne and she is such a jerk. She doesn’t care at all for the beautiful bouquet he brings. I mean Colonel Brandon has his own conservatory, he probably gave her his most prized and rare flowers and she wants Willoughby’s wildflowers he probably stole as he rode to the cottage.
“G: But Colonel Brandon is so old.”
I don’t know if my niece will ever care for Colonel Brandon. I think she’s just too young to appreciate him.
Marianne just completely ignores him and like doesn’t even look at him during the whole scene.
But Colonel Brandon is just as sweet as ever.
I mean don’t even like flowers as a gift, but I would honor the amazing ones Colonel Brandon had versus Mr. Willoughbys.
Marianne and Willoughby are alone
“G: Gasps.”
In fact they spend a lot of time together-
The day comes and Marianne is expecting Willoughby to propose. Willoughby and Marianne skip church to be together
But Marianne does not get proposed to. Poor Marianne, she is so naive.
After Mr. Willoughby leaves the Dashwood house is all in hysterics, I feel so bad for Margaret. Poor girl, she is disappointed by another man.
Hate men
I love that Elinor drinks tea while everyone is upset and crying.
Mrs. Jennings invites her daughter, Charlotte, and son-in-law, Mr. Palmer to visit.
“G: I feel like I’ve seen him before
Me: He’s Dr. House.
G: OH, yes! I love that show.”
Whenever I watch this I wonder why Mr. Palmer married Charlotte.
Mr. Palmer is so perfect. He is so dry and drool while his wife is like a hen clacking on and on. It makes me think of the song from the Music Man.
There is also a Lucy Steele. Lucy Steele zones in on Elinor-she’s like a shark.
I want you!
Lucy reveals that she and Edward are secretly engaged.
What are you talking about??
The girl the guy you like likes is trying to confide in you –awkward
“G: I would have told everybody Lucy’s secret.”
Ouch, this is painful.
Lucy continues to go on and on about her life and story and secret engagement.
“G: I’d be like, I don’t care. Please stop talking to me.”
“Me: Elinor knows everyone’s secrets. They just all feel the need to unload on her.
“G: She’s like Gretchen Weiners”
“Me: That’s why her bonnet’s so big, it’s full of secrets. “
Poor Elinor, to find out the person you are in love with has been engaged for 5 years.
What else?
Mrs. Jennings is the best. She’s so nice deciding to take Lucy, Elinor, and Marianne to a full London season.
“G: London! She can go see Willoughby in London.”
Poor G, she was like Marianne and fell for Willoughby.
In London, Marianne writes to Willoughby a lot, but they don’t hear anything back.
Elinor talks about how they have to see John and Fanny as they are also in London-I’d hate to see their faces ever again.
Colonel Brandon comes to see them, but Marianne is so rude and ignores him.
That’s cold.
They go to a ball and hear of Mr. Ferrars being there, but it turns out to be Edward’s brother Robert. Ugh, Robert is so annoying.
So annoying
Lucy enters the frame-ugh. We don’t like her.
G: I would have pushed her in poop.
Me: Like in Back to the Future?”
G: I’d be all ‘Oops I dropped my hairpin’, and knock her over…Or change out her lotion to foot cream.
Me: Yes, Lucy is so Regina George.”
We so do not like Lucy.
Marianne goes to see Willoughby and he disses her in front of everyone. Mr. Willoughby received and threw away every one of Marianne’s letters, ouch.
Lucy is so mean gossiping about the Dashwoods, she is so Regina George.
They leave early and back at the house, I love this scene, Elinor comforts Marianne-it reminds me of comforting my sister when she dated a jerk.
Mrs. Jennings finds out about Mr. Willoughby. It turns out that he is engaged to the wealthy Miss Grey. Ooh, this makes Mrs. Jennings so mad!
Mrs. Jennings goes full mama bear-you hurt my friends I break your face.
Colonel Brandon comes to visit and ask after Marianne, and speak to Elinor.
“G: I hope Elinor doesn’t get with Colonel Brandon”
Colonel Brandon reveals that he has a ward, a ward who has been missing for 8 months. He finally found her and it turns out she is pregnant. She was with Willoughby and he abandoned her. His aunt Lady Allen has refused to leave him anything to punish him (go Lady Allen), and a young man who gambles, has no money, and appreciates the finer things in life-he needed a wealthy wife.
Clearly a Won’tougby
And again, Elinor has collected another secret.
“G: That’s why he is evil! He has a baby and doesn’t care!!! Walks around having kids with people only cares about himself.”
I know. And poor Colonel Brandon, the agony he must have felt worrying about his ward.
Later Lucy also comes to visit.
“Mrs. Jennings: Here’s Lucy to cheer you up.”
“Me: She wouldn’t cheer me up.
G: Ugh, you again.”
Edward comes when she is talking to Lucy, I love this scene so much it is so hilarious.
I love Edward’s face in this scene. Such tension-his face is like I want to vomit I wish I could walk back out of this room.
Of course, Edward and Lucy leave together.
G: We don’t like Lucy. We would push her in horse poop if we could
Me: That’s the truth.
G: We would push him [Willoughby] in horse poop if we could.
Me: We totally should.
Fanny can’t stand her sisters-in-law, but agrees to take Lucy with them as she is in need and so much more refined. The two grow close and Lucy decided to reveal her secret engagement. This is my favorite scene.
Lucy: It is a very great secret. I’ve told nobody in the world for fear of discovery.
Fanny: [greedily] I am the soul of discretion.
Lucy: If I dared tell…
Fanny: I can assure you, I’m as silent as the grave. [Lucy whispers in Fanny’s ear; Fanny’s kindly disposition changes abruptly turning against Lucy, enraged and horrified] Viper in my bosom!
[G laughs]
Lucy is sooo lucky Fanny didn’t kill her.
G: Mrs. Jennings ran all the way to spill the tea.
Mrs. Jennings was up early and she finds out what happened and how Edward refused to break up the engagement and lost his inheritance.
Col B is so romantic! He comes to Elinor and gifts Edward his church and “a living” so he and Lucy can get married. So sweet.
How sweet!
“G: Colonel Brandon is so old….You know, I would never name my future daughter Lucy now.
Yes she has ruined it.
Colonel Brandon is the only man who doesn’t disappoint in this film, him and Sir John.
Soooo cute!!!!
The girls are on their way home when they stop at the Palmers, not too far from Willoughby’s house. Marianne decides to take a walk, even though Elinor attempts to dissuade her.
“Marianne: It shall not rain.”
“G: Don’t you remember last time?”
But it does rain, and Marianne gets stuck out there-this time saved by Colonel Brandon.
Aw, Colonel Brandon carries her all the way from the field to the Palmer’s house. I think it was even farther than Willoughby and therefore he is stronger and better than Willoughby.
“Elinor: [To Mr. Palmer] Marianne needs a doctor”
“G: Good thing he is one. [Laughs]
Me: Let me grab my cane and pull out the whiteboard.”
Colonel Brandon: What can I do?
Elinor Dashwood: Colonel, you have done so much already…
Colonel Brandon: Give me an occupation, Miss Dashwood, or I shall run mad.
He’s so romantic!
They are bloodletting her, she’s so sick.
“G: Gasp, OMG!”
Watching this scene again makes me realize how serious it was when Jane got sick. It makes you realize Mrs. Bennet could have killed her.
Colonel Brandon had left to fetch Mrs. Dashwood, and we he returns the worst is over. Aww, Marianne even thanks him
Back at Barton Cottage, Margaret has a new treehouse. I wonder who built it for her? It had to be Sir John or Colonel Brandon
Marianne and Colonel Brandon visit together, he reading aloud to her. They are so cute!
So during Horrorfest, there comes a time when my non-blogging life gets full and I just don’t have time to write a full film or TV episode review. There’s just not enough hours in the day. If only I had a time machine.
The first year I did a post where I dressed up the actors who played Austen Heroes in costumes.
Now I know what you are thinking? So early in Horrorfest? Well, yes. You see I was going to review all the films in a series on the last four Thursdays in October, but I changed my mind. So while I’m tweaking Horrorfest IV, I leave you with this awesome, non-film/TV episode review post.
So I was in Barnes and Nobles, looking in their non-book film, board games, toys, etc. section when I spotted this:
I was sooooo excited! CLASSIC HORROR FILM ACTION FIGURES!!!!!!!!!!!!
I was so stoked that I spent like an hour combing through and looking at every doll they had, trying to make a complete set.
So we have the monster from Frankenstein,
And how could he be complete without his bride?
I kept searching for the Phantom or the Wolf Man but couldn’t seem to find them.
Noooooooooo!!!!!!!
It seemed like a majority of their horror figures were Frankenstein’s monster and his bride. But then I finally found this:
And the King of the Horror flicks himself,
But still no Phantom or Wolf Man.
I was ready to call it quits. I mean I had been searching for them in a cloud of Frankenstein related monsters. A crowd was watching me thinking I was crazy as I exclaimed in delight over my action figures. I guess it wasn’t meant to be.
Noo!
But then I spotted him:
No Wolf Man though. But how awesome are these?
I know super awesome! I just love them.
So I know, different from our usual posting, tomorrow we will be back on schedule. I promise. And just because it totally goes and I absolutely love this song, I’m going to end on this:
Hey everyone! So I just wanted to remind/let you know about the many things I have that you can follow me on. I do a lot of thing on these other sites that you all might be interested in.
There’s facebook:
Here I post the newest posts from my blog, pics I like, songs/videos that are stuck in my head, things I find interesting, and of course Man Candy Monday + Throwback Thursdays. If you go to the right, there is a box you can click to like my page or follow this link. Please help boost my numbers.
There is also twitter:
Here I tweet similar stuff, such as newest posts from my blog, pics I like, Man Candy Monday, Throwback Thursdays, etc. If you go to the right, there is a box where you can see my newest tweets or you can click to this link to follow me.
And tumblr:
I updated the page so it is much different than it original. Here I post similar to things I stated above. However they tend to be longer than Twitter, but shorter than blog posts. I post a lot of other pics I make here that I don’t want to post on my blog. Click this link to get to my page.
I highly recommend checking them out. I also would like to know does anyone use StumbleUpon and whether or not I should get it. Let me know.
janeaustenrunsmylife 