Monday, April 21, 2014

National Princess Week day 2

Song Stuck on the Brain: Average Girl by Barlow Girl


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.


 photo Curly-Locks.jpgI love princess stories, but I really like princesses that are spunky like me. That’s why The Princess Knight by Cornelia Funke is one of my favorites. I read it all the time. But when I need a good giggle, I like to read: The Princess and the Pig by Jonathan Emmett

 photo Princessandthepig.pngThere's been a terrible mix-up in the royal nursery. Priscilla the princess has accidentally switched places with Pigmella, the farmer's new piglet. The kindly farmer and his wife believe it's the work of a good witch, while the ill-tempered king and queen blame the bad witch-after all, this happens in fairy tales all the time! While Priscilla grows up on the farm, poor yet very happy, things don't turn out quite so well for Pigmella. Kissing a frog has done wonders before, but will it work for a pig?”


 photo Cherry-Locks.jpgI love a good series, don’t you? Well then get ready for another great Princess themed series. Melanie Dickerson’s re-imagined fairy tales are romantic, adventurous and full of faith. Each one connected with me in a special way. There are 4 in the series, but Melanie Dickerson has announced a new title, The Princess Spy coming November 2014. You can’t miss these.







The Healers Apprentice

 photo TheHealersApprenticecover-1.jpg“Two Hearts. One Hope. Rose has been appointed as a healer's apprentice at Hagenheim Castle, a rare opportunity for a woodcutter's daughter like her. While she often feels uneasy at the sight of blood, Rose is determined to prove herself capable. Failure will mean returning home to marry the aging bachelor her mother has chosen for her---a bloated, disgusting merchant who makes Rose feel ill. When Lord Hamlin, the future duke, is injured, it is Rose who must tend to him. As she works to heal his wound, she begins to understand emotions she's never felt before and wonders if he feels the same. But falling in love is forbidden, as Lord Hamlin is betrothed to a mysterious young woman in hiding. As Rose's life spins toward confusion, she must take the first steps on a journey to discover her own destiny.”

The Merchant's Daughter

 photo TheMerchantsDaughter.jpgAn unthinkable danger. An unexpected choice. Annabel, once the daughter of a wealthy merchant, is trapped in indentured servitude to Lord Ranulf, a recluse who is rumored to be both terrifying and beastly. Her circumstances are made even worse by the proximity of Lord Ranulf's bailiff---a revolting man who has made unwelcome advances on Annabel in the past. Believing that life in a nunnery is the best way to escape the escalation of the bailiff's vile behavior and to preserve the faith that sustains her, Annabel is surprised to discover a sense of security and joy in her encounters with Lord Ranulf. As Annabel struggles to confront her feelings, she is involved in a situation that could place Ranulf in grave danger. Ranulf's future, and possibly his heart, may rest in her hands, and Annabel must decide whether to follow the plans she has cherished or the calling God has placed on her heart.”

The Fairest Beauty

 photo TheFairestBeauty.jpg“A daring rescue. A difficult choice. Sophie desperately wants to get away from her stepmother's jealousy, and believes escape is her only chance to be happy. Then a young man named Gabe arrives from Hagenheim Castle, claiming she is betrothed to his older brother, and everything twists upside down. This could be Sophie's one chance at freedom---but can she trust another person to keep her safe? Gabe defied his parents Rose and Wilhelm by going to find Sophie, and now he believes they had a right to worry: the girl's inner and outer beauty has enchanted him. Though romance is impossible---she is his brother's future wife, and Gabe himself is betrothed to someone else---he promises himself he will see the mission through, no matter what. When the pair flee to the Cottage of the Seven, they find help---but also find their feelings for each other have grown. Now both must not only protect each other from the dangers around them---they must also protect their hearts.”

The Captive Maiden

 photo CaptiveMaiden330-1.jpgHappily Ever After ...Or Happily Nevermore? Gisela's childhood was filled with laughter and visits from nobles such as the duke and his young son. But since her father's death, each day has been filled with nothing but servitude to her stepmother. So when Gisela learns the duke's son, Valten---the boy she has daydreamed about for years---is throwing a ball in hopes of finding a wife, she vows to find a way to attend, even if it's only for a taste of a life she'll never have. To her surprise, she catches Valten's eye. Though he is rough around the edges, Gisela finds Valten has completely captured her heart. But other forces are bent on keeping the two from falling further in love, putting Gisela in more danger than she ever imagined.”

The Princess Spy

 photo ThePrincessSpy.jpgMargaretha has always been a romantic, and hopes her newest suitor, Lord Claybrook, is destined to be her one true love. But then an injured man is brought to Hagenheim Castle, claiming to be an English lord who was attacked by Claybrook and left for dead. And only Margaretha---one of the few who speaks his language---understands the wild story. Margaretha finds herself unable to pass Colin's message along to her father, the duke, and convinces herself 'Lord Colin' is just an addled stranger. Then Colin retrieves an heirloom she lost in a well, and asks her to spy on Claybrook as repayment. Margaretha knows she could never be a spy---not only is she unable to keep anything secret, she's sure Colin is completely wrong about her potential betrothed. Though when Margaretha overhears Claybrook one day, she discovers her romantic notions may have been clouding her judgment about not only Colin but Claybrook as well. It is up to her to save her father and Hagenheim itself from Claybrook's wicked plot.”

Today I’d like to introduce you to Kianna’s gal pal Rissa. Rissa is married with a little boy named T.J. and he keeps her all kinds of busy, but despite being a new mom, she’s also the super creative one. She’s always making/designing/decorating something new. So today she’s stopping by to show us how to make our own awesome princess hats. Welcome, Rissa!

Hi, Cherry-Locks, great to meet you. Who knew one day Kianna’s journal would come to life so completely? Lol.

When someone mentions a princess hat, cone hats are the first thing that comes to mind for most people. They originated sometime in the late 15th century in Burgundy, France. They’re unique, but charming for little girls. SO, gather your supplies and I’ll show you how to make your own.
 photo lavendarprincesshat.jpg
Things You'll Need:

*Heavy paper or poster board
*Pencil
*Scissors
*Tape 
*Felt
*Colored paper
*Faux jewels (optional)
*Glue
*2 yards sheer fabric
*Tape measure
*1/2 inch elastic
*Stapler

Instructions:

 1.  Draw a half circle on a large sheet of heavy paper. Decide how high you want the hat to be and make that measurement the height of the radius of the half circle.

 2.  Cut out the half circle shape and roll it to form a cone. Temporarily, tape the overlapping edges to secure them.

 3.  Place it on the child's head and adjust the size.

 4.  Adjust the tape so the hat fits comfortably. Cut away the excess paper so that the bottom edge of the hat is even.

 5.  Cut out felt or paper decorations of your choosing; glue them to the hat's exterior surface. Add faux jewels if desired. A border design around the bottom of the cone may represent a jeweled crown.

 6.  Make a small slice in the top of the cone and slide the corner ends of two, three-foot pieces of sheer fabric through the hole, so that they hang from the top, at the back of the head.

 7.  Drape one 3-foot piece of fabric over the cone and allow the other to hang lengthwise down the back. Secure the draped material to the cone with glue under the edge of the cone.

 8.  Measure under the child's chin, ear to ear, for the chin strap. Cut a length of 1/2-inch elastic to match the measurement.

 9.  Staple the elastic to each side of the princess hat. Make sure that the folded ends of the staples are on the outside of the hat.

Tips and Warnings


*The same technique can be used to make a hat of felt and fusing, sewn with machine or hand stitching.

*Decorate the fabric, if desired. Veil materials can be decorated with glitter to mimic gold and silver.
Click HERE or HERE to see more.

We have a lot more to come. 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!

And don’t forget to Enter to Win!
 photo NPWContestpic.jpg
  

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Available at all fine e-book sellers
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.
 
 
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