Fit for a Princess

**Insert Royal Fanfare Here**

We finally have at least one room completed in our "new" {we've been here two years} home!

Elizabeth's princess bedroom.

When we were looking at this house I immediately pictured a castle mural around this window.  At the time the entire room was Smurf blue.  But I knew it would be just right for Matthew and Elizabeth.  It was one of those 'how I knew this was the house for us' moments.  Of course, we've now been here so long that Matthew has moved into the older boys' room, changing my plans of aged castles and dragons to turrets and princesses.

Every princess needs a canopy.

I've had my eye on this canopy ever since my first trip to the IKEA store five years ago.  And what princess wouldn't want a pink monogram higlighted with gold above her balcony?

I just love when so many colors and patterns actually work together!

These fabulous curtains and sheers also came from IKEA.  I don't think you can look at them and NOT be happy.  I love that they'll easily adapt to a more mature design when she grows out of fairy tales.

A little bit of the Smurf blue remains, but where it belongs...on Smurfs!

This collection is from when I lived in West Germany as a child.  They are not in mint condition.  It's not that sort of collection.  These are for playing with.  It makes me so happy to see my children enjoy something that brought me joy as a child {thanks for keeping them all those years, Mom}!  Perhaps when she gets married I will lend her one to carry in a hidden pocket to cover the somethings old, borrowed, and blue.

Creating the border

Apparently wallpaper is pretty hard to find.  Gone are the days of flipping through huge sample books.  Where have I been and when did that happen?!  I needed something to divide the pink and green and a chair rail was just too expensive.  I thought of just painting a white band but I didn't think that would look quite right.  And the few borders I could find were licensed cartoon characters.  No thanks.

Then, while I was once again staring down said pathetic options at my local Wal-Mart, an older gentlemanly employee came to my rescue and introduced me to wall paper glue.  He told me it would glue any paper to a wall.  That was all I needed to hear!  I found this gift wrap at a dollar store and bought three rolls, just in case. Turns out I only needed one.  Voila!  A border for less than a buck!  Imagine all the fun decals you could use this for!

"A home for everything, and everything in its place."

Everything has a place and she is so good about keeping it neat most of the time.  About two weeks ago she came to me and said, "Mom, I have too many toys.  I need to give some to other kids so they can play with them and so my room can be clean."  What five year old talks like that?  I love that girl!

Pictures of Christ, the LDS Salt Lake Temple, and our family.

"And they all lived happily ever after."  Well, at least that's what we're workings towards.  After all, isn't that the promise of a 'Forever Family'?  I painted this reminder and included these pictures to help remind Elizabeth that she has a divine nature and is truly the daughter of a King, a princess preparing for her 'happily ever after'.