We are meeting at Tantra to celebrate 5 years of fun and Regalness.  If you are a Friend of a Queen (FOQ), then you may dress in whatever suits your fancy.  THE MJQs will be in Tiara, Green Gown and Banner.  Do we have any specific plans? No.  We will have a cocktails at Tantra and go from there to points undetermined.  Some of us may meet for dinner. Some of us may go to Leopold’s and have ice cream; some of us may go dancing. It will be on our whim, so please bring the needed $, ID and cell phone. MJQs may ask a friend or guest to meet them.  Consorts (males) obviously may do whatever they want, but MJQs do not plan around them, my dears. From our Glossary:

“Consorts- Men who want to be granted an extended audience. Boyfriends and Husbands qualify. Also dear friends may be Consorts or Friend of Queen. (FOQ).”

Becky, your friend, Damon Fowler and our friend, Scott Marchbanks would qualify as Consorts OR FOQ:)

The Mint Julep Queens

5 years of Reign -Join us for a Royal Flounce!  May 16, 2009, 6:00 p.m. Starting at Tantra Lounge and Tapas, 8 E. Broughton St. 

www.blog.mintjulepqueens.com

For details about our progressive Flounce check back.  Leopold’s is on the list of places we want to go after  a little cocktail at Tantra:)

The planning for our May 1st Lilies for Fillies Party is complete.  Now we just need a couple of judges for our hat contest. No. Not your husband.  Remember honey, he is not invited to this party! Annie R, chair of this fun event has found two fab judges and is looking for one more:) And I have calls out, too.  Betwen us we should find someone perfect! They must be good humored, fashion conscious, and reliable.  In other words, they will show up for a party that promises a couple of chuckles and a nice cocktail or two. Prize ribbons have been ordered and hats are being purchased and/or decorated.  (I have tried to post a picutre of Carolyn in her pink derby style hat but for some reason I am getting error messages.) Oh well. You can wait to see it the night of…

(Erica in pose “Zen Muffin Top” sans Tiara)

My dears, I have been taken over by the phenomenon, endearingly referred to as “Crackbook.”  I am spending too much time on this insidious site.  So much in fact, that I have let my royal blogging gather dust.  Today is the Spring Equinox and I venture forth to return into the realm of cyber essay and Royal newsletter. 

Tomorrow we are going to Statesboro to find  a lovely little store called Frills and Fancies.  The perfect Flouncy worthy dress awaits.  Hopefully, we will have half a dozen MJQs ready to shop for chiffon, so there will be more story to follow.  I have learned how to send images from my cell phone, which with my advanced age of Baby-Boomer-Cusp, this is really a huge deal.  If you think not, the you are reading the wrong site and need to move on.

Honey, I got the funniest little email today from a David Vaughan, who works for All Bar Stools.  He says he has an opportunity for the MJQS and will let me know further details.  This interchange prompted my self examination and internal review of the purpose of the MJQS from its inception 5 years ago.  Honey pie, we still have folks asking what our mission is, followed by a predictable ”Now tell me, what do ya’ll do?” Frankly, if the truth be told, I believe we have a hand full of these folks in our midst.  They are sweet ladies who would adore to be like us and thought that if they joined our group the “joie de vie” that we wear so well, would somehow rub off on them.  The good news is We still Reign and the bad news is, they still do not get it.

We are about fun, as described by us. We are not interested in work, demure, humble acknowledgements, or mousy-meek moments.  I have said it before, and I will say it again, if you have to ask, you probably don’t get it. If you get the point, you my dear are Queen Material. (see Pages over to the side, and click About.)

Our group has 30 MJQs and I am determined to add 3 more who will enhance our fun-loving parties.  Kim A., Gwin M., and Barbara G.  I predict will be voted in this spring. I also predict the “opportunity” that David emailed me was a opportunity for me to part with a sum of cash for an undetermined bar stool purchase.  Uhmm.  Sitting a bar stool would wrinkle my chiffon. 

2009 MJQ Seasonal Party Guidelines and Questions

 “I am on a committee. What do I do now?” Communicate with your group and select a date for your party. Your Committee should announce the date well in advance so the MJQs can plan their calendars. This should be done as soon as feasible for your group. 

 “What kind of seasonal party do we plan?” Your party may be at any public or private location.  It is your choice. You may plan whatever you want:  picnic, happy hour, lunch, dinner, brunch, bowling, pool, beach, movie, or any fun adventure of your group’s choice! 

 “What do we do if we want to have a party that is not at one of our homes?” If the party is public, the cost may be Dutch treat. If you want a photographer or printing/ mailing costs, let me know. You decide attire, location and theme. The Coronation in May is ALWAYS full regalia, so every MJQ should have at least one flounce-worthy green dress, so your committee may request full regalia or not. 

“Do we invite MJQs only?” The committee may invite whomever they wish:  MJQs only, queens and consorts, queens who are allowed to bring guest(s), or queen plus only her additional guests.  Please be aware that any non-queen attending needs to know that we have a waiting list for 2009. If she attends a party, it does not mean she is going to join our group.  Also, if she was invited to join our group at a previous Coronation and did not attend, then she is still a Lady in Waiting.  

 “My husband wants to know when he can come to a party.” Tell him “When I say soJ.”  In years past, we invited consorts to the Holiday Party in December. We did not have a 2008 holiday party since the times were too demanding for many MJQs and no one was available to plan and offer their home for the event. Remember, if you organize a party, you can include whomever you like!   

 “I want to do an event, but not with a committee. What do I do?”  Any MJQ is free to host an additional event. It may include all or some of the MJQs.  Queens should feel free to form smaller groups for the purpose of getting to know other queens better:  i.e., go out to lunch with 6 queens you don’t know well. You are obligated to help the committee plan one seasonal party that you have been assigned.  You may host an event simply by organizing it:  meet at a movie, go to lunch, and meet at a bar for dancing. 

We do anticipate some Queens leaving their positions for 2009 since they did not attend any party in 2008.  This list will reflect those changes by March 1st! Also any MJQ that does not attend at least one party a year will be forgotten for the coming year.

At Large MJQs Carolyn G (Detroit)and Cathleen S (South Carolina) may select the party they would like to assist with planning.

Spring -8 (Now- Early May) Annie , Pat S, Emma K, Rhonda , Lee Ann, Melissa, Becky K, Tricia  

Summer-7 (June-August) Ann M, Jennifer P, Terri K., Jeannne P., Dottie, Erica,  Linda E 

Fall-8 (Sept-Nov) Dee W., Mary M, Stacy, Becky C, Patty G, Mary Ann B, Cathy B, Glenda

Holiday- Sue , Carolyn , Vernice , Tiffani , Kelsey, Nancy B, Holly 

(Click on any image to see in Royal size)Here is a sampling of the photos Paul, (owner of www.mysouthernwedding.com) took during the first part of the evening.

We had quite a Flounce on May 17th.  Please forgive my tardiness in even mentioning it.  My Common life is keeping me tooo busy for Royal matters.  (Horrors!) One very special event I must mention.  We crowned a charming little princess right after her equally sweet grandmother crossed the street in to our midst on Broughton Street.  Queen Dottie provided the lucky tiara.  For those that don’t remember, every time we appear in our Regalia we must crown a little princess for good luck.  Also it acknowledges that all females are Royalty from even a very young age and if treated as such,  properly encouraged (and so forth), they will rule their realm, as queen with grace and good-natured spirit in years to come.  I have no doubt that little Kayle will grown up to be a fabulous sovereign in her our right.  Thanks to her grand-mother,  Sandy for stopping to visit with us and let Kaylee be coroanted.  Reign On, Sandy and Kayle and when I find the image of the event I will send it on and post it.  (Goodness! I need a personal assistant to handle things that fall thought the Royal cracks.)

These Green Toenails Were a Happy coincidence we discovered during the April 12th Coronation at the Davenport House. Guess who! Click on the image to check your answers.

(click) Danny Boy aka Daniel, a staff consort pours for Carolyn and Diner requests a photo-op with us.

Saturday night we showed up at Alligator Soul, www.alligatorsoul.com  about an hour later than we had planned, but we were greeted with applause and hugs from the staff anyway. The owner, Maureen Craig even wore her special sweater that had little green gators on it.  

We wanted something light and easy to eat since you really don’t need to eat a full dinner when wearing a glittering, form-fitting green gown.  The chef made us special nibbles that we didn’t need knife and fork to noosh on.  My favorite was the jumbo fried olives.  Also you cannot go wrong with grilled bread brushed with virgin olive oil and served with a wonderful variety of cheeses.  Drinks were perfect and fairly priced. The atmosphere warm and welcoming and staff good-natured and properly impressed with our Royal selves. Several guests had pictures made with us and enjoyed our very attendance.  I am guessing their evening was complete after good food, good wine, and then meeting some of the MJQs. It is possible, right?

 (click -Queen Becky C)

What do you wear to a Coronation?  Ask Queen Becky or Queen Dottie or Queen Sue.  Here is fine example of regalia. The Toys Be Us n Such scepter is a very nice touch. Notice how in pictures the most prom-y dress photographs so well.  Frankly, it is all in the posture and Queenly gaze, I think.  Remember, as royalty, we do not shy away from the camera!  The camera loves us and we indulge in poses for our subjects so that they can have a memento suitable for framing of our Highness.

Reign On! And Thanks to Queen Carolyn, April 12th will be a fun and flouncing Coronation.

“May I bring a friend?”   - No. Someone is hosting, (paying for the party) and if you are allowed to invite a friend, they will tell you.

“What should I wear?”  - Does your invitation say regalia? Then you wear cocktail evening wear and tiara, honey.  If you are a FOQ or Lady, wear what makes you happy. 

“My consort wants to come.  May I bring him?” - Absolutely not!

“I am nervous. Is there a ceremony if I have been asked to join your group?”  - No. You are a queen in your own right.  You just join us officially by showing up in your tiara and regalia and wearing a banner made by www.pageantbanners.com that we give you. Just keep a great Royal attitude and you will be fine. This is not hazing to get into Tri Chi Zeta Alpha Omega F-U.

“What if I have been invited and I can’t attend?” - We are sad for you, honey.