Princess B

In the past few months, B has become uber-aware of Princesses.

And uber-aware is putting it nicely.

The girl is obsessed.

Her two favorite? "Pi-ta Bowel" and "Pi-ta 'Rella"

Pita Rella? you ask.

"Dah, Pi-ta 'Rella wit da mouuuuuse," she'll reply.

Gotta love toddler talk.

And with the Princess obsession has come the awareness that anything other than a dress...

is NOT Princess material.

So every morning, she wakes up and whether it's 80 degrees or in the low 60s. The girl, without fail, wakes up, changes her own diaper (not as great as it sounds), finds her big girl panties and dresses herself in a twirly beautiful skirt before coming to wake me up. 

And sometimes, if the laundry fairy (*ahem*ME*ahem*) is lucky, there will be multiple wardrobe changes. 

And Heaven forbid if mommy suggests anything to wear. Because even though Mommy is a Princess, she's not worth of picking out the Mini Princesses clothes.

Don't ask.

So as my laundry pile started multiplying with clothes I couldn't remember her wearing, I started troubleshooting how I could make this better.

And finally someone pointed it out to me. She loves dress up. She loves anything princess. Why not just buy her some costumes, let her go to town and call it a day?

The answer was everything I was looking for and more.

Until I looked up costumes and realized I was looking at costumes being $30 and up.

Umm... no thank you. Especially since anything Miss B touches, gets destroyed.

So the wheels started turning. How was I going to do this?

I thought about making costumes myself. But with mediocre sewing skills, I didn't think that was the way to go. And the tutu, I made her last year:

She wasn't a fan. By the way, look how small she looks!! :'( WAH.

So I started hunting on a budget. And one day, while scrolling around Ebay, I typed in Disney Princess Costumes and the doors opened.

Exactly what I was looking for!

So I researched. I wanted it from someone with cheap shipping. Used costumes was ok, seeing as how Miss B was going to probably wear these til they died. They had to be bigger, so she could grow into them. They had to come from a smoke free home. And I wanted to spend no more than $50 on it.

So I looked and looked.

And then I stumbled upon it.

A listing for 19 pc set of Disney costumes and shoes.

It was perfect.

Bidding started at 5.00. Shipping was 6.95.

And by the end of the auction, I won the Lot of costumes for $45, including shipping.

And the look on her face today when I gave them to her was priceless.

Mama Heada Thrifty Tip: Be sure to check all outlets and resources for things you are looking for. If you are ok with buying used, eBay can be a great resource for toys, baby/adult clothes, shoes, etc. Just make sure you know your shipping rates and feel comfortable with the seller. And always know that there are always a few duds out there. Don't let them affect your thrifting!

Doing something for ME.

So as my previous post states, I'm good disguising the pain, but the truth is, I've been struggling with life and finding my place. Sometimes I'm SO generous and giving with my time and resources that I get taken advantage of and forget that other people are only out for themselves. It's frustrating.

So in an effort to refocus, I'm just trying to take one day at a time and focus on myself. ME. Giving back to myself. And doing things I want to do, while trying to be the best mama and wife I can be.

I changed my medications. I took the initiative and met with a great psychiatrist and got on more of a long-term maintenance rather than the quick fix I had been prescribed for the past year and a half.

We've gotten out more. Changed our eating a little bit. I feel better.

And a few weekends ago, I finally did something that I've been wanting to do for a long time for ME.

I became a licensed Zumba Fitness instructor.

I started taking a Zumba class twice a week a year and a half ago, and soon, I was taking it four nights a week. It felt good to sweat. It felt good to dance. It felt good to get the blood pumping.

So I contemplated it for awhile.

Should I? Or shouldn't I?

And so finally I took a leap of faith, and did it.

And after a gruelling 9A-6P day, with a Master Class and lots of lectures and dancing...

I am licensed to teach Zumba.

I'm excited to see what possibilities this will open for me. My Zumba instructor and mentor, graciously let me demonstrate and perfect some of my routines in her class and I'm officially booked to sub my first class on May 14th. AH!

Hopefully subbing will open up doors for me. But for now, I get the opportunity to be paid to do something I love and I am so excited.

And if you haven't joined the party, find a local class and join in. You won't regret it!

The Winner of the Mirror Mirror Accessories Giveaway!

I'm so pleased to announce the winner, via Random.org, for the Mirror Mirror Accesssories Giveaway is...

Alana over at Life on the Mom List!

Alana was fun enough to enter 5 times...and low and behold, her 5th time was a charm!

Congrats Alana and thanks for entering to win the bracelet.

And thanks to everyone else who entered. Be sure to check back soon for another fun giveaway!

Finding Light

Source: mabeybean.blogspot.com via Jillian on Pinterest

I am human.

And I am struggling.


I felt myself sinking.

Emotions getting the best of me.

Feeling like I was never good enough. Feeling behind.

I was never feeling good enough.

I was struggling and drowning.

And it was affecting everyone.

So I made the call and got an appointment.

An appointment I had been dreading for a long time coming.

I met with a psychiatrist and a Marriage & Family Therapist.

It was hard.

I wanted to cry.

I had to talk out my depression and anxiety.

My fears and inadequacies.

I had to relive my Poppy's shocking death and all the nights I've been struggling since.

I had to discuss my parent's divorce and how it affects me, my marriage and my parenting.

I had to talk about my parenting and scrutinize what I do and don't do.

It was hard and I felt like all my cracks were out in the open for everyone to see.

But I survived.

And best of all, I got help.

I figured out some key points bothering me and the MFT and I made a plan of what might help conquer those problems.

I discussed family history and the things I was struggling with, with the Psychiatrist and we concluded long-term care was probably our best scenario. And that we were going to take it on a day to day basis.

There was light at the end of the tunnel.

And for the first time in a long time, I felt like the world was a little brighter.

That I was going to survive.

I was going to make it.

I'm going to be ok.