The Pink Carnation

The Pink Carnation series by Lauren Willig has been one of my favorite book series to read, and I was thrilled when I was able to get my sister Angie addicted to it as well. It's a fun combination of a historical fiction with romance and a bit of suspense thrown in as well, or you could say it's like Jane Austen meeting up with the Scarlet Pimpernel and going on a "bit of a romp" through Napoleonic England.

(Disclaimer: I would rate this series as being for adults, not for kids).

Anyway, Angie and I have had many hilarious phone conversations and texts involving our favorite phrases from the books ("the horror of knee breeches"), and I think both of us find that the Mischief of the Mistletoe is our favorite book from the series.

When Angie came to visit for a wonderful surprise birthday trip, she got me one of the best birthday presents I've ever had - a special treat to symbolize each book from the series, starting with a Christmas Pudding (an instrumental item from the Mistletoe book)

Inside the beautifully wrapped muslin ball was an amazing assortment of items!

The first thing I pulled out of the "pudding" was this lovely necklace.  At first I only admired it for it's prettiness, but when Angie grinned at me and said, "That's a pink carnation", I totally fell in love with it!

Item #2 was an antique postcard from France with pink carnations on the front.  We had fun squealing over how pretty it was and trying to figure out where in England it was sent to and imagining what sort of person it was who sent it.

A dashing spy, perhaps?  Who knows? Maybe, "Have a lovely Christmas" was Pink Carnation Code for "beware of a man wearing a purple hat."

She also got me another funny postcard with a picture of Napoleon Bonaparte (the evil villain).  Really, no wonder the man felt he had to conquer the world.  It takes cheek to wear such silly clothes like that; he must have had a towering sense of his own supremacy.

An orchid postcard to symbolize "The Orchid Affair".

A beautiful set of earrings to go with "The Betrayal of the Blood Lily".

A stunning set of knitting stitch markers (which I guard jealously) to match "The Masque of the Black Tulip".

An emerald ring, to go with, of course, "The Deception of the Emerald Ring".

Handmade miniature paper rose earrings to go with "The Seduction of the Crimson Rose".

And finally, an exotic perfumed sachet of jasmine bath scents to go with "The Temptation of the Night Jasmine."

All of the items she got vintage or handmade through Etsy!  Awesome!!!

Coolest. Gifts. Ever!  Thanks Angie!