now, i’m not normally so ladylike… but the idea of gorging on gourmet cupcakes and washing it down with champagne and chambord sounds lovely.

i could make something not-so-dainty like the Chocolate Chipotle del Muertos:

or i could experiment with chocolate and bacon (a certain someone would eat any leftovers)

or i could cave into the girlyness and make something pretty and oh-so-sweet

and i want to eat these at the party:

tablets that trick your taste buds into thinking everything you eat is the most amazing thing ever….

or perhaps i’ll save those for a “gross-food” party one day

….mmm…sugar.

the story goes as so:

in 1278 the grounds were declared sacred by a sprinkling of “holy land” earth from palestine. from that point on it was a highly desired place to be buried. in the 14th century the black death contributed 30,000 bodies to that list. in 1511 the ossuary was built and old bones were piled up inside to make space for more bodies to be buried and an artist was hired to do something creative with them all.

behold the amazingness:

and a special treat: some stereo photographs!

surgeon Sir Harold Gillies pioneered facial reconstruction surgery with archaic skin grafts and flesh tubing techniques

for those who needed to cover up, facial prosthetics were also available, made of thin copper and carefully painted to match the patient’s original look

it’s amazing how much they were able to accomplish back then… and even more amazing what can be done today.

i just had a random memory of a store i visited in seattle called the pretty parlor. it was adorable. packed wall after wall full of vintage slips. hand dyed and hand embellished. each given so much love. i was tempted to take one or two (or ten) home but the price held me back… especially when i knew i could make my own. it’s so much more personal and exciting that way, anyway. 

i just need to stop being lazy.

perhaps i have too many slips already…..

naw. never enough.

time to do some ebay shopping…