Song Stuck on the Brain: "Let it Go" from Frozen the movie
I know, everyone is singing this song right now. Who can really blame them? It's a really great song. And, considering I'm being bombarded with it from all over, it's no wonder it's stuck in my head after seeing the movie only once. :)
Song Stuck on
the Brain:Today
was a Fairytale by Taylor Swift
Welcome back!
It’s the final day of #NationalPrincessWeek and we’re going out with a bang. We’re
having an International Tea Party (online of course…) and you are ALL invited. We
have an EXTRA special guest today, too. All week you’ve met the girl-friends
from Dysfunction Junction, but today,
Kianna herself is stopping in as guest of honor. She has something to share
that you won’t want to miss.
SO, choose
your favorite country or princess, dress to the nines and come on in for our
final hurrah.
I’m so
excited about today’s tea party! But I’m also kind of sad that the week is
already over. My last book to share is the Princess
and the Pea. My mommy said it was originally written by a man named Hans
Christian Anderson and that he lived a long time ago in Denmark. Since I like
this book so much, I picked this country for today’s party. Mommy helped me
look on Facebook to find a picture of a princess from Denmark. I’m picking PrincessJosephine Sophia Ivalo Mathilda because she looks like she’s ‘got spunk’, just
like Daddy says about me.
The
Princess and The Pea by John Cech
“A long time ago, there lived a prince who
was looking for someone very special to marry… One of Hans Christian
Andersen’s most beloved stories gets a breathtaking showcase, with lavish art
and an elegant retelling by acclaimed writer, professor, and radio host John
Cech. It’s the second exquisite entry in the Classic Fairy Tale Collection
series.
Although the handsome prince meets ladies blessed with beauty, wealth, and
brains, he knows in his heart that none is the true princess he longs for.
Then, one stormy night, a wet, disheveled, and very weary young woman knocks at
the castle door. Could she be his queen? One tiny pea buried underneath twenty
soft mattresses might reveal the truth…”
It’s the last
day, how could I possibly share all the princess stories worth reading with
you, when I only had a week? There’s no way I could and that’s the sad truth,
but I hope you have found a lot of new books worth reading this week. I want to
share just a few more of my favorites before I go change into my Moroccan
inspired outfit for tea. Please enjoy and I’ll see you for tea soon.
Ella Enchanted
by Gail Carson Levine
How can a fairy's blessing be such a curse?
At her birth, Ella of Frell was given a foolish fairy's
gift—the "gift" of obedience. Ella must obey any order given to her,
whether it's hopping on one foot for a day or chopping off her own head!
But strong-willed Ella does not tamely accept her fate. She
goes on a quest, encountering ogres, giants, wicked stepsisters, fairy
godmothers, and handsome princes, determined to break the curse—and live
happily ever after.
The Princess
by Lori Wick
She’s so special already, Lord, Daria Parker prayed. Now she
has You, and I can’t help but wonder if You might have something very
remarkable and unfamiliar for our Shelby.
In the Land of Pendaran, lively, affectionate Shelby Parker
was born to a simple life—yet her mother, Daria, and those around her cannot
help but notice the graces she possesses. Among those taking note of Shelby’s
winsome ways and tender heart are the king and queen of the House of Markham,
who are seeking a new wife for their widowed son, Prince Nikolai.
To uphold a long-cherished tradition of the country, Shelby
and Nikolai agree to an arranged marriage. But while Nikolai is a perfect
gentleman at public functions, he remains distant and shy at home, leaving
Shelby to ponder the inner workings of his heart. Will the prince ever love her
as he did his first wife? Can the faith they share overcome the barriers
between them?
The Princess
Bride by William Goldman
Anyone who lived through the 1980s may find it
impossible—inconceivable, even—to equate The Princess Bride with
anything other than the sweet, celluloid romance of Westley and Buttercup, but
the film is only a fraction of the ingenious storytelling you'll find in these
pages. Rich in character and satire, the novel is set in 1941 and framed
cleverly as an “abridged” retelling of a centuries-old tale set in the fabled
country of Florin that's home to “Beasts of all natures and descriptions. Pain.
Death. Brave men. Coward men. Strongest men. Chases. Escapes. Lies. Truths.
Passions.”
Welcome to
tea, my royal (even if just for a day) friends. I’m so glad you could all make
it. Thank you for being with Curly-Locks and I all week, we’ve had a blast.
Back with us
today, are of course, Rissa, Hope and Alexa; and as a special surprise Kianna
is here as well. Ladies, you all look beautiful. As you enter, I’ll announce
your Princess/Country inspiration.
Now that we’ve
had our royal parade, lol, Alexa tell us about this gorgeous set up. You’ve obviously
worked hard to put this shindig together so quickly and it looks fantastic.
What do we have on the buffet?
I found some wonderful
recipes on Pinterest. We have:
Savory:
Potstickers with Spicy Dipping Sauce
Swedish-meatball appetizers
Crab Sushi
Garlic White Bean Basil Hummus w/Pita Chips
Turkey, Gouda, Apple Sandwiches
Romanian Cabbage Rolls (Sarmale)
Battered Plantains w/Peanut Sauce (Bakabana)
Sweet:
Cheese Danishes
Cranberry Mini Scones
Russian tea cookies
Mahamri (Tanzanian fritters)
Strawberry cheesecake wonton bites
Drinks:
Jasmine tea
Chai
Earl Gray
Mango Lassi
The food is fresh and ready to go. Come in and fill up
your plate, have a seat at the table.
Kianna, what
did you want to share with us today?
I have a new
song from my journal and I want to share it with everyone. If you don’t mind
being my sounding board, you can get an early listen.
Journal Entry: "Fairy Tales"
Love
at first sight is not real
Or
so I have been told.
But
I need to believe
One
day I’ll have and hold.
Because
everybody needs
A
little fairy tale,
Cinderella
and romance
A
kiss to break the spell.
Chorus:
All
I want is true love,
A
white picket fence.
I’m
dreaming of the day
When
I’ll find my prince.
I’ll
have kissed the right frog
And
love will make sense.
I
spent my childhood days
Living
in wonderland.
Dreaming
that my prince charming
Would
come and hold my hand.
Well
life’s not a fairy tale
And
a princess I’m not,
But
I’ll hold on to my dreams
Because
they’re all I’ve got.
CHORUS
Bridge:
Sleeping
Beauty and Snow White
Were
given true love’s kiss
So
I think it’s only fair
All
I’m asking is this.
CHORUS
I hope you all enjoyed our week
together, thank you so much for celebrating with us.
Do you want to know the rest of
Kianna’s story? You could win a free copy. Today is the last day to enter the
contest. So hurry and get your entries in before midnight CST.
If you haven’t
stopped by my Facebook page yet, be sure to check out the spotlight on Modern
Day Princesses around the world. Being a princess is more than wearing pretty
jewelry, now they have big aspirations. These girls are well educated and have
careers of all kinds that benefit their community.
What was your
favorite part of National Princess Week? Let us know in the comments below,
Tweet them to me @aprilerwin or post them on my Facebook page.
Finding true love
these days feels impossible to Kianna Ravencamp, only dysfunction surrounds her.
Her sister’s married to an abusive husband and marriages she’s admired for years
are falling apart. Maybe relationships like her parent’s don’t exist anymore.
She dreams of true love and a family, but she’s never even been
kissed.
For her birthday, her best friend gives her a
journal and dares her to follow her dream of songwriting and vocal lessons
quickly follow. Kianna’s finally dared to dream big… if the three men in her
life don’t get in her way.
Nick Steele, her new
vocal partner is flirtatious and charming. Derek Simpson, the new vocal coach is
asking her out for coffee. Even Jason Payne, a childhood friend is acting odd.
For the first time in her life, she will have to navigate dating and flirtation.
Will her inexperience be her downfall? How will these relationships affect her
songwriting career? Letting go and trusting God is the only answer that brings
the path to real love and success.
Buy your copy today at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Smashwords and more. Click the Buy My Book tab for a list of direct links.
Song Stuck on
the Brain: A Dream Is A Wish Your Heart
Makes by Kimberly Locke
Welcome back
to #NationalPrincessWeek! A week for us to celebrate the little girl (or not so
little girl) in all of us that at some point dreamed of being royalty and
finding her Prince Charming.
I love to
read to my dolls, just like Kianna reads to us. (I wear my princess hat of
course.) This book is a really good one to read out loud and it’s not too hard for
me. Plus, my dolls really love the pretty drawings and cute animals. I don’t
think I’d want to sleep for a hundred years, I don’t even take naps if I can
help it. But a kiss from a handsome prince to wake me up, well I think I’d like
that a LOT!
Sleeping Beauty by J
and W Grimm
“A
frog tells a childless queen that she will bear a daughter. At the girl’s
christening, an uninvited fairy utters a death curse, which another fairy
amends. As foretold, at age 15, the princess pricks her finger on a spindle and
sleeps for 100 years, along with everyone in the castle, which is soon
protected by a lethal, thorny hedge. After 100 years, a prince finds the
now-flowering hedge, which opens to let him pass. He awakens Sleeping Beauty
with a kiss, and the court celebrates their wedding.”
I have
another series for you today, but this one definitely puts a unique spin on
being a princess! I love the idea of being saved or rescued by a handsome
prince, but let’s face it, we’re all modern women and we do a lot more saving
of ourselves these days. We have goals and dreams and plans and it’s not
considered so strange anymore to pursue them. It’s okay to Dream Big! *gasp*
LOL! Okay, so I’m being a little melodramatic, but with the Princess of
Valendria Series by Mary Waibel it was fun to see the Princess and Prince have
their roles reversed. I suppose you could say, Princesses can slay the dragon
and roast it, too!
Quest of the
Heart
A
reverse Sleeping Beauty tale where the princess goes on the quest to save the prince.
Princess Kaylee has never had to fight for anything. Her
entire life has been arranged, even her marriage. But when Prince Devlin falls
under an enchantment, she finds she is willing to do anything to save him, even
if it means fighting a dragon.
Devlin's own sister, Princess Arabella, is behind the deadly plot. She wants
the throne and will use any means necessary to gain it. Her perfect plan
unravels, leaving Devlin caught in a magical sleep that is slowly spreading
through the kingdom of Breniera. All Arabella needs to finish her spell and
claim the crown is a drop of Kaylee's blood, but obtaining the single drop is
proving more difficult than expected.
To save her betrothed, Kaylee embarks on a quest to find an ancient sword and
gather a drop of dragon's blood, while trying to stay out of Arabella's traps.
But Arabella's traps aren't the only danger. Time is everything. For once the
last inhabitant of the kingdom falls asleep, the spell will be sealed, and not
even true love's kiss will break it.
Charmed
Memories
A
prince vows to prove the girl he loves is his missing princess by recovering
her lost memories.
Prince Trevor has always placed duty to his kingdom above
the desires of his own heart. But when his betrothed is lost at sea, he finds
himself torn between honor and love.
After four years of searching for the missing princess, he begins to secretly
long for Lady Bri, the Woodland Guide he works with each day. But the law says
he must marry a princess, and Bri is barely a noble.
When Trevor learns that Bri shipwrecked at the same time and place as the
princess, he begins to believe he has finally found his bride-to-be. But his
happiness is short lived. Bri has no memory of her past, and the princess
wasn't the only girl who disappeared from the ship.
Desperate to prove Bri is his princess, Trevor unwittingly places the two of them
in grave danger. Buried in Bri's memories are deadly secrets someone wants kept
from the light of day, and learning who she is may cost more than either is
willing to pay.
Different
Kind of Knight
Happily-ever-after
isn't guaranteed. Sometimes you have to fight for it.
Through a twist of fate, Princess Gabrielle became First
Knight of the King's Elite Guard, a position always held by the second born
male. She's spent years proving to the Minsters of Faldaera she's capable of
leading the king’s Army.
When mythical creatures plague her kingdom, Rielle is sent to capture Captain
Brody, the alleged culprit behind the attacks and the man who broke her heart
four years ago.
Brody, Crown Prince of Delphine, is living in self-imposed exile, atoning for
the sins of his father. But Fate has different plans for him. Tired, beaten
down, and ready to give up on life, he is tossed into the path of the one
person he would do anything for―Princess Gabrielle.
With a traitor in her ranks, and a mark on her head, Brody joins forces with
Rielle, hoping to keep the woman he loves safe. Happily-ever-after is not
guaranteed, and mythical creatures aren't the only danger the couple face. As
battles rage, Rielle has the chance to prove herself a capable leader, but will
doing so cost her the love of her life?
Today, Hope
is back with us. Welcome back, Hope, I see you’ve been shopping! What is in all
of these bags? How did you manage to carry them all in by yourself?
I didn’t,
that’s what cute, helpful neighbor boys are for. Now that the last bag is in, I
can’t wait to show you what I have planned.
Oh, wait, let
me guess… A makeover?
Yes! My
favorite project. :)
And you, Cherry-Locks get to be my guinea pig.
Okay, sure, a
new look can’t hurt. Have at it!
Since we have
the #NationalPrincessWeek International Tea Party on Saturday, then we have to
have you ready for it. I want to show everyone some tips on how to dress like a
Princess on a Pauper’s budget.
Cute! Okay,
so what is the first step?
Outfit – You can
dress up, you can dress down, you can skip the dress altogether, but what will
make your outfit seem right, is the setting for your party. If you know the
theme is English Tea Garden with lots of lace and pretty hats, then a dress
with soft colors or a muted floral pattern could work well. If you don’t ever
wear dresses, consider white or a light neutral color pant with a more delicate
blouse. Just don’t wear jeans. Unless the tea party is more of a Hang out with
Friends and Get Crazy kind of event (those are a blast!)
Since we know
that our theme is International Princess, I suggest choosing a country your
drawn to and style yourself after a princess from that country.
That’s a good
idea. Since you have so many sacks already, I’m guessing you’ve already chosen a
country for me?
I have! I
Picked Morocco - more specifically, Princess
Lalla Salma of Morocco. The two of you share a really striking shade of hair.
Plus the clothing has a beautiful flow, color and texture. It’s bright, pretty
and elegant but still unique and fun.
I know you’re not fond of
dresses, so I’ve chosen a pair of pewter colored slacks paired with a dark
purple Moroccan inspired top and silver strappy wedge sandals.
Beautiful! I love purple. This
shirt looks expensive, was it?
No, if you shop carefully, you
can find a lot of good deals on beautiful pieces. Ebay, thrift shops or second hand
stores, even retail can be reasonable if you’re shopping for something that’s
trending. These Moroccan inspired tops are trending so they’re more common than
you expect. If you can’t afford to shop at all, raid a friend or family members
closet or get creative and re-purpose a piece of your own clothing. Give it a
new life and you’ll wear it more often.
Great idea. What about
accessories? Do I get a tiara?
Um… no, but I do have some
fabulous bling for you. If you want to wear a tiara though, don’t let me stop
you, go for it!
I found these great pieces made
by Angel’s Divine Designs. The slave bracelet is quickly gaining popularity and
it’s a statement piece that everyone will ask about. The earrings are real wire
wrapped amethyst stones. Royal jewels with a little bit of a non-traditional
touch to keep things interesting.
These are awesome! So now that
my outfit is covered, what about make-up and hair?
Each culture has a style that’s
a little more unique to them, so keep that in mind, but if in doubt go for a
clean and polished look that plays up one of your best features. For example
Princess Lalla Salma plays up her beautiful eyes and keeps the rest of her makeup
a softer color.
The same applies for your
hairstyle. If you can choose a style unique to your countries culture, go for
it! How fun is that? Otherwise, choose a style that's flattering and fresh. Long
loose waves are pretty, but if it’s windy and the party is outside, you’re
going to be wishing for a hair clip! Up do’s, twists, braids or a low pony
could work beautifully.
Thanks, Hope. Those
are all great tips and I love my new outfit! I look forward to seeing what
everyone else has chosen on Saturday.
Tomorrow is
the LAST DAY of #NationalPrincessWeek! That means the contest is slipping away
QUICKLY. If you haven’t entered yet, be sure you do that right away.
And if you
haven’t stopped by my Facebook page yet, be sure to check out the spotlight on
Modern Day Princesses around the world. Being a princess is more than wearing
pretty jewelry, now they have big aspirations. These girls are well educated
and have careers of all kinds that benefit their community. What country would
you choose to style your outfit after for Saturday’s tea? Tell me about it in
the comments below!
Finding true love
these days feels impossible to Kianna Ravencamp, only dysfunction surrounds her.
Her sister’s married to an abusive husband and marriages she’s admired for years
are falling apart. Maybe relationships like her parent’s don’t exist anymore.
She dreams of true love and a family, but she’s never even been
kissed.
For her birthday, her best friend gives her a
journal and dares her to follow her dream of songwriting and vocal lessons
quickly follow. Kianna’s finally dared to dream big… if the three men in her
life don’t get in her way.
Nick Steele, her new
vocal partner is flirtatious and charming. Derek Simpson, the new vocal coach is
asking her out for coffee. Even Jason Payne, a childhood friend is acting odd.
For the first time in her life, she will have to navigate dating and flirtation.
Will her inexperience be her downfall? How will these relationships affect her
songwriting career? Letting go and trusting God is the only answer that brings
the path to real love and success.
Buy your copy today at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Smashwords and more. Click the Buy My Book tab for a list of direct links.
Song Stuck on the Brain:Maroon
5 - Payphone & Disney - Some Day My Prince Will Come Mashup w/ Felicia Day!
Welcome back to #NationalPrincessWeek!
A week for us to celebrate the little girl (or not so little girl) in all of us
that at some point dreamed of being royalty and finding her Prince Charming.
I love to dance. I wear my dancing slippers as often as
Mama will let me. (They go really well with my princess hat.) It’s so much fun
to think of dancing all night. This one is another favorite at bedtime.
The Twelve Dancing Princesses by Brigette Barrager
“In this fairy tale, twelve
princesses wake up every morning to find their shoes are worn out and they are
totally exhausted! A handsome suitor discovers that the princesses are
enchanted, and that each night, in their sleep, they travel to a magical world
to dance at a ball. Will this handsome suitor be able to break the spell and
rescue the princesses?”
As much as I love SciFi, I’ve got something different in
mind for you today. Do you know how hard it is to limit the number of Princess
books I share with you?! There are so many good ones to choose from. I’ve
always been drawn to the writing style of Shannon Hale. Although she has many
great titles, I just want to feature a few of my favs.
The Princess Academy
Miri lives on a mountain where, for
generations, her ancestors have quarried stone and lived a simple life. Then
word comes that the king's priests have divined her small village the home of
the future princess. In a year's time, the prince himself will come and choose
his bride from among the girls of the village. The king's ministers set up an
academy on the mountain, and every teenage girl must attend and learn how to
become a princess.
Miri soon finds herself confronted with a harsh academy mistress, bitter
competition among the girls, and her own conflicting desires to be chosen and
win the heart of her childhood best friend. But when bandits seek out the
academy to kidnap the future princess, Miri must rally the girls together and
use a power unique to the mountain dwellers to save herself and her classmates.
The Goose Girl
She can whisper to horses and communicate
with birds, but the crown princess Ani has a difficult time finding her place
in the royal family and measuring up to her imperial mother. When she is
shipped off to a neighboring kingdom as a bride, her scheming entourage mounts
a bloody mutiny to replace her with a jealous lady-in-waiting, Selia, and to
allow an inner circle of guards more power in the new land. Barely escaping
with her life, Ani disguises herself as a goose girl and wanders on the royal
estate. Does she have the pluck to reclaim her rightful place? Get ready for a
fine adventure tale full of danger, suspense, surprising twists, and a
satisfying conclusion.
Enna Burning
When her mother dies, Enna leaves the city
and her friends to move back home with her brother, Leifer. She thought life
would be simpler and more manageable in the forest. But Enna's was not meant to
be a simple life, and when Leifer brings home a mysterious piece of vellum and
starts setting fires-without a spark, without flint-something seems wrong. Enna
cannot decide if that something is a power she wants for herself, or if it's a
power that should be extinguished forever. And when her country, Bayern, goes
to war, that choice becomes unbearable as her friendships are tested and her
sense of self nearly lost in the fires she creates. Ultimately Enna and her best
friend, Isi, take a nearly impossible journey in search of a cure for the war
around them-and for the wars within themselves.
Rissa is back with us today with another great project
for the week. Welcome, Rissa, show us what you’ve got?
I was trolling Youtube.com and found some great creative
ideas that I had to share. When I saw this video for how to make a Princess
Costume without sewing I knew that it was a perfect addition to the hat we made
earlier in the week. This is super simple. Make it in under 15 minutes and for
less than $20-$25. SO much cheaper than buying a costume that she will outgrow
in months.
How to Make a Princess Costume
The project I really want to share with you today, though
is how to recreate a journal like Kianna’s. In Dysfunction Junction Alexa gives
Kianna a blue journal with silver foil shooting stars across the front. It’s
Kee’s Dream Big Journal. A place to record her songs and writings as she
pursues her dreams.
I think everyone needs a Dream Big journal, even if you
aren’t writing songs. You can record so much to help motivate you toward that
success you desire. All these modern day princesses being featured on April’s
Facebook page have accomplished great things, Princess isn’t all they have on
their resumes.
To create your journal you’ll need to purchase:
A baby blue (or your favorite color) journal. A
leatherette type cover would probably work best.
A shooting star stamp that has a pretty solid surface. If
you want, purchase varying sizes to create a pattern.
Next, watch the two videos below and decide which
technique works best for you and purchase the supplies recommended in the video
( unless you already have them. BONUS! )
Stampee.net - Applying Stamp-N-Foil with a Heat Gun
or
Homemade Foil Transfer Rub Ons
Using your chosen technique, stamp your stars in a
falling pattern from top right descending to bottom left of the corner. Want to
go crazy? Do the back too!
Then sit down and record those Big Dreams and what you’re
doing to pursue them. I think you’re going to love this quick and easy project
so much, you’ll be making Dream Big journals for everyone you know. Have fun!
Only 2 more days to go! Princess week is almost over, but
don’t leave us yet, there are still great things to go all the way through
Saturday. If you haven’t stopped by my Facebook
page yet, be sure to check out the spotlight on Modern Day Princesses around
the world. Being a princess is more than wearing pretty jewelry, now they have
big aspirations. These girls are well educated and have careers of all kinds
that benefit their community. Do you have a favorite princess? Tell me about it
in the comments below!
Finding true love
these days feels impossible to Kianna Ravencamp, only dysfunction surrounds her.
Her sister’s married to an abusive husband and marriages she’s admired for years
are falling apart. Maybe relationships like her parent’s don’t exist anymore.
She dreams of true love and a family, but she’s never even been
kissed.
For her birthday, her best friend gives her a
journal and dares her to follow her dream of songwriting and vocal lessons
quickly follow. Kianna’s finally dared to dream big… if the three men in her
life don’t get in her way.
Nick Steele, her new
vocal partner is flirtatious and charming. Derek Simpson, the new vocal coach is
asking her out for coffee. Even Jason Payne, a childhood friend is acting odd.
For the first time in her life, she will have to navigate dating and flirtation.
Will her inexperience be her downfall? How will these relationships affect her
songwriting career? Letting go and trusting God is the only answer that brings
the path to real love and success.
Buy your copy today at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Smashwords and more. Click the Buy My Book tab for a list of direct links.
I’m so
excited about today’s tea party! But I’m also kind of sad that the week is
already over. My last book to share is the Princess
and the Pea. My mommy said it was originally written by a man named Hans
Christian Anderson and that he lived a long time ago in Denmark. Since I like
this book so much, I picked this country for today’s party. Mommy helped me
look on Facebook to find a picture of a princess from Denmark. I’m picking PrincessJosephine Sophia Ivalo Mathilda because she looks like she’s ‘got spunk’, just
like Daddy says about me.
How can a fairy's blessing be such a curse?
She’s so special already, Lord, Daria Parker prayed. Now she
has You, and I can’t help but wonder if You might have something very
remarkable and unfamiliar for our Shelby. 
Anyone who lived through the 1980s may find it
impossible—inconceivable, even—to equate The Princess Bride with
anything other than the sweet, celluloid romance of Westley and Buttercup, but
the film is only a fraction of the ingenious storytelling you'll find in these
pages. Rich in character and satire, the novel is set in 1941 and framed
cleverly as an “abridged” retelling of a centuries-old tale set in the fabled
country of Florin that's home to “Beasts of all natures and descriptions. Pain.
Death. Brave men. Coward men. Strongest men. Chases. Escapes. Lies. Truths.
Passions.”
Back with us
today, are of course, Rissa, Hope and Alexa; and as a special surprise Kianna
is here as well. Ladies, you all look beautiful. As you enter, I’ll announce
your Princess/Country inspiration. 
Jasmine tea
A
reverse Sleeping Beauty tale where the princess goes on the quest to save the prince.
A
prince vows to prove the girl he loves is his missing princess by recovering
her lost memories.
Happily-ever-after
isn't guaranteed. Sometimes you have to fight for it.
Since we know
that our theme is International Princess, I suggest choosing a country your
drawn to and style yourself after a princess from that country. 
I know you’re not fond of
dresses, so I’ve chosen a pair of pewter colored slacks paired with a dark
purple Moroccan inspired top and silver strappy wedge sandals.
No, if you shop carefully, you
can find a lot of good deals on beautiful pieces. Ebay, thrift shops or second hand
stores, even retail can be reasonable if you’re shopping for something that’s
trending. These Moroccan inspired tops are trending so they’re more common than
you expect. If you can’t afford to shop at all, raid a friend or family members
closet or get creative and re-purpose a piece of your own clothing. Give it a
new life and you’ll wear it more often. 
Um… no, but I do have some
fabulous bling for you. If you want to wear a tiara though, don’t let me stop
you, go for it!
The Twelve Dancing Princesses by Brigette Barrager 
Miri lives on a mountain where, for
generations, her ancestors have quarried stone and lived a simple life. Then
word comes that the king's priests have divined her small village the home of
the future princess. In a year's time, the prince himself will come and choose
his bride from among the girls of the village. The king's ministers set up an
academy on the mountain, and every teenage girl must attend and learn how to
become a princess.
She can whisper to horses and communicate
with birds, but the crown princess Ani has a difficult time finding her place
in the royal family and measuring up to her imperial mother. When she is
shipped off to a neighboring kingdom as a bride, her scheming entourage mounts
a bloody mutiny to replace her with a jealous lady-in-waiting, Selia, and to
allow an inner circle of guards more power in the new land. Barely escaping
with her life, Ani disguises herself as a goose girl and wanders on the royal
estate. Does she have the pluck to reclaim her rightful place? Get ready for a
fine adventure tale full of danger, suspense, surprising twists, and a
satisfying conclusion.
When her mother dies, Enna leaves the city
and her friends to move back home with her brother, Leifer. She thought life
would be simpler and more manageable in the forest. But Enna's was not meant to
be a simple life, and when Leifer brings home a mysterious piece of vellum and
starts setting fires-without a spark, without flint-something seems wrong. Enna
cannot decide if that something is a power she wants for herself, or if it's a
power that should be extinguished forever. And when her country, Bayern, goes
to war, that choice becomes unbearable as her friendships are tested and her
sense of self nearly lost in the fires she creates. Ultimately Enna and her best
friend, Isi, take a nearly impossible journey in search of a cure for the war
around them-and for the wars within themselves.
I think everyone needs a Dream Big journal, even if you
aren’t writing songs. You can record so much to help motivate you toward that
success you desire. All these modern day princesses being featured on April’s
Facebook page have accomplished great things, Princess isn’t all they have on
their resumes. 