Before Emily Post: Regency Conduct Books for Young Ladies

Ever wonder how Jane Austen and her heroines always know just what to do (and what not to do) in every social situation? The short answer: Conduct books! During Jane Austen’s lifetime, conduct books contained detailed information regarding ideal conduct and character for young people. They came in the form of letters, pamphlets, and full-length novels and covered an array...

Party Like the Musgroves

I love the idea of a Regency-style Christmas season, complete with gifts, foods, and traditions that Jane Austen and her heroines might have enjoyed. Though Christmas traditions were different during...

More Jesus, More Joy.

When my kids were tiny, I coined the term “two-minute shower” because I learned to literally soap up and rinse off in two minutes flat most mornings. Why? Because that’s...