Winston Churchill, Bridgerton, Weddings, Sandwiches, Pearl Jam, Poop.
The weekly R.E.P.O.R.T prevails, like a Duchess!
The Duchess READS:
We are flying through the “By The Numbers” series by Sarah Maclean where I knocked off Nine Rules To Break When Romancing a Rake in about two days, however, I had some time off last week so as a lady of leisure I indulged.
I also caved and bought a new Kindle.
Blasphemy!
I have not owned a Kindle for almost a decade.
RIP to the original one I left on a flight to Los Angeles.
Oopsie.
And never replaced.
But, in an attempt to not be scrolling Tik Tok before bed at night but to be scrolling something, I’m thinking reading non-fiction and biographies on the Kindle is the way to go.
It is SO TINY. I have to turn the font up to 8 pts (which is LARGE). I will fly through "Churchill: Walking With Destiny” reading like this.
I can’t help it, I love the Brit’s and particularly Winston Churchill and I will read this in Gary Oldman’s voice as Winston which in my opinion was the best Winston.
(Please watch Darkest Hour if you haven’t and also visit the Churchill War Rooms if you are ever in London!)
The Duchess EATS:
A poor man’s French Dip-ish.
I saw a recipe for a home-made French Dip sandwich - my favorite kind of dip - and although I didn’t follow that recipe precisely (which used Pillsbury Biscuits, not a bad idea at all) I took my regular cheese steak concoction that I make and spiced it up.
Carmelized onion, shaved beef, provolone and the piece de resistance - I mixed a packet of Au Jus and tossed the beef in some of that but also used it for dipping and holy moly these were INSANE.
I also made the ciabatta into garlic bread and toasted it before broiling everything together.
They will be a repeat offender.
I’m also a sucker for a sheet pan dinner and I saw this recipe on a Trader Joe’s blog for Cauliflower Gnocchi Sausage and Peppers.
TJ’s carries frozen cauliflower gnocchi and I have always been tempted and they didn’t disappoint. I used sweet Italian pork sausage but you can use chicken sausage to make it healthier or you can go no sausage.
This took all of 30 min to cook on 375 doctored up with the usual seasonings.
The Duchess PLAYS:
Okay, gentle readers, I finally made it through Season 3: Part 2 of Bridgerton on Netflix but I gotta tell ya, it wasn’t easy and there were moments where I was going to throw in the towel.
Episode 5 nearly did me in and I was thisclose to fast forwarding all of the parts with extra characters that are BORING.
But, a Duchess doesn’t give up and I kept calm and carried on.
Thankfully they made it to the climax, literally, by Episode 8 with Colin and Pen.
Jeesh.
Some quick takeaways, predictions, and spoilers for you as we move to Season 4…which will not premiere for 2 years!!
2026!!
At this rate I’ll be getting my AARP card before they get to Gregory or Hyacinth.
The Michael vs. Michael Sterling backlash…spoiler alert, in the novels, Michaela Sterling (John Sterling’s cousin) is MICHAEL Sterling. As I’ve mentioned, Francesca’s story is one of the most popular in the Bridgerton series (because it’s the most dirty, for realz) and there has been severe backlash to Julia Quinn over the decision to make Michael, Michaela, in the show so much so that Julia took to Instagram and penned an essay explaining how the universe of the novels lives on separately from the universe of the show and what her, Shonda Rhimes and Jess Brownell (the showrunner) are committed to which is showcasing unabashed diversity and acceptance. It was A LOT. But, she set us on the right path.
The books are the books and the show is the show.
Let us all just take a deep breathe and not get so caught up in the details.
Benedict and a TBD Masquerade Ball….in the final episode of the season we see Eloise bid adieux to the family on her way to Scotland with Francesca and while talking to Benedict he insists that they will not miss Violet’s masquerade ball….weeee!!!…the moment we’ve all been waiting for. This “event” sets in motion a multitude of stories in the books but the most prolific is Benedict’s where he meets his future spouse.
It hasn’t been shared yet who the subject of Season 4 will be - and with a production timeline of two years I am hoping they make a very long double-season with both Eloise and Benedict.
My prediction…we have not seen the last of Cressida Cowper. They spent a lot of time emphasizing how she was shipped off to the country to be tamed and she could very well turn and be positioned as Benedict’s love interest paying her karmic debt off in a big way.
Anything is possible.
The best line to end a season thanks to the comedic genius that is Philippa Featherington…“now Varley, the bugs!”
This Duchess also attended a wedding at Brooklyn Botanical Garden and it was like dancing inside a Bridgerton snow globe all night…well done!
The Duchess OBSESSES:
Nicola Coughlan’s (Penelope Bridgerton’s) SKIMS collab.
YAAAAZZZ QUEEEEN!!
In a recent Q&A in Dublin, a fan commented to Nicola that she was “brave” for getting naked on camera and her response was “You know it is hard because I think women with my body type — women with perfect breasts, we don't get to see ourselves on screen enough and I'm very proud as a member of the perfect breast community. I hope you enjoy seeing them.”
SLAAAAYYYY!!!
And if there is a membership or dues I need to pay to join this group I would like to as well as more than half of the other woman I know!! Buxom and broad shouldered women unite!!
Also, Abby Jacobson and Ilana Glazer are in a Miralax commercial talking about poop!
YAAAZZZ QUEEENS!!
The Duchess RECOMMENDS:
THERE IS A COVER OF “SAVE IT FOR LATER” BY THE ENGLISH BEAT IN SEASON 3 / EPISODE 2 OF THE BEAR SUNG BY EDDIE VEDDER AND THE LAST PART OF THE CHORUS FEEDS INTO A VERSION OF BETTER MAN.
Whhaaa?!!!
I was like, “is this Eddie Vedder?”… “holy shit this is Eddie Vedder!”
The Duchess TREATS:
I bought myself these paper clips in the shape of a crown.
It’s the little things that bring joy.
I use them as bookmarks.
That is all.