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 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
“There'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?”
I 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
“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
“An
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
“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
“Happily
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
“Margaretha 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.
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
*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.
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!
 |
| Available at all fine e-book sellers |
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.
