Princessification Project Complete
When it became apparent that we were going to be able to make the whole conference attending for work and family vacation combined thing come together, the very first task I did was check into the Princessification Process. Long before flights were booked, a hotel room was reserved, or a single bit of actual planning went into the trip, I had already called The Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique to find out how much it would cost for Alexis to get her princess on.
(For anybody not in the know, the boutique is a sort of hair place for kids. Little girls can get their hair all done up princess-like, their nails painted, and can pick out a princess gown. We chose to bring our own princess gown because OMG EXPENSIVE.)
The answer was more than I spend on food for lunch in a month, but it just so happens I could stand to lose a couple of pounds. I decided I would be very hungry all through the month of April, but that Alexis could Princessify. But, I didn't tell Mr. Husband about my evil plot. I assumed he would shoot me down like a hot chick does men at a geek convention.
I kept the reservation a secret, figuring it was the sort of thing best mentioned at the last minute. It's much harder to say no to the pleading eyes of a 3-year old than it is your wife who has been nagging you endlessly for months to quit wasting money on various crap. (Hello, I have a special seat reserved for me at the Hypocrite Table. Care to join me?)
A few weeks went by and Mr. Husband and I started to really work on the planning. Suddenly, what in my inbox should appear but an email from the Husband and his genius idea that we should take Alexis to the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique.
Score!
I gave Mr. Husband credit for the genius idea as I spent the last couple of weeks prepping our shy wee one for her afternoon of getting her hair did. I showed her pictures. We talked about what would happen. She decided to wear the Cinderella dress she got for Christmas (clearance sales RAWK!). She talked about getting her nails painted. She told me about how her hair was going to be fabulous.
She was ready.
Of course, Alexis is Alexis and can't actually appear to be excited as something is happening. She who would not stop talking about going to Cinderella's castle to get her hair done all. freakin. week. suddenly had NOTHING to say once we stepped inside the castle. She wouldn't say her name. She wouldn't sit in the chair without me. She wouldn't crack a smile for even a moment.
Thank goodness I know her or I would have drug her out of there. After 30 minutes of sitting very, very still with a stone-faced look of ambivalence, Alexis finally got to see herself in the mirror. And grinned. BIG. WIDE. HUGE.
The biggest grin of all time.
(There are photos of the Princessification project, but I don't have them yet. Mr. Canon had to hang out not being used as it was going on, so I have to rely on the Disney-taken photos for those 30 minutes. If I can make myself part with the money to buy them. That's a BIG "if.")
The grins continued the rest of the night. They came complete with a Diva personality of epic scale, but it's all good. Princess Alexis was a happy little camper.
Good thing, too, since Mr. Husband and I looked like we rolled around in a stripper's work locker after all the glitter from Alexis' hair made its way all over our clothes and faces.
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Reader Comments (38)
That's just precious. She looks like she is totally checking her royal diva-ness out and saying "Yup, I look good!". Her princess dress rocks as well.
If that picture isn't a foreshadowing of her Senior Prom in about 14-15 years, I don't know what is!
How amazingly darling she looked!
She's adorable!
YowZA! That is one saucy look...watch out boys!!!
I love that you got to convince hubby that it was HIS idea...you my friend are BRILLIANT.
Great idea, Mr. Husband! =D
Princess Alexis in the house! Fabulous!
I'm glad she liked it! And how about the "glue" they use? I never thought anything could hold The Girl's hair, but holy crap, that stuff is strong.
Holy Moly - she looks adorable. That is a priceless event. So excited you could share that with Alexis.
She is a beautiful princess!
Brandy
Hysterical! I love that you kept it from hubby all this time... That's TOTALLY a Catwoman move. Well done, my friend, well done!
And Alexis looks awesome, and surprisingly not like one of those crazy toddler pageant girls. Goes to show, that girl can pull any look off.
Also, I'm certain Cinderella TOTALLY had her dress' tag showing at the ball too.
:)
Disney ought to give you a commission, because now I want to book a trip-PRONTO.
I was kind of freaked about taking three kids and all, but this sealed the deal!
What a beautiful memory. She's even got the red carpet pose down.
She looks fabulous! Was she tossing her hair? I cannot WAIT to do this with Baby Girl! After sighing over all of the princesses the last three trips I will FINALLY get to take her (I, too, will probably skip meals, but, hey, they're only young once!).
Even my boys talked about how we would have a princess on our next trip. Now if THIS baby is a girl, we'll have to re-mortgage the house...
She is absolutely adorable!
How fun and how cute! But, my girls aren't getting their princess on until I get a day of the royal treatment. And I don't mean at Disney :)
Oh.my.gosh.
That is so amazingly fun! What a huge treat for her - you guys are so much fun.
Now you have me plotting for when Madeline's old enough... assuming that she's a girly-girl, that is.
this? is my ONE regret about not having a toddler/young child in my house anymore.
the roo-girl would have LOVED this as a tot.
and when we walked around the magic kingdom last month and saw all these dressed-up princesses, i actually felt my ovaries ache.
That is the ultimate in dress-up! Awesome! Such a lucky girl! We will probably make the trip next year when Court might actually sit in the chair and not scream. lol! She makes such a cute princess!
Way cool for her!
Gorgeous!
She is adorable. Little Miss would have loved this, but I didn't hear of it until she was out of her "Princess" stage.
Wow, look at your little princess! She's just gorgeous. What a wonderful experience for you all!
Oh lawdie! How adorable is SHE?!?
(I can't believe there's an actual place called the Bibidi Bopity whatever - it makes me think of Perfect Strangers! But of course, why WOULDN'T Disney World have such a place? ;-)
Heck, I wanna be a princess! That hair is awesome!
She is completely beautiful! I can't wait to see the photos! You are so lucky you got to do this!
thats awesome... I love that she was without words (or any human feelings/emotions.) there had to be some maternal satisfaction in that! :)
She really does look like a princess. That look on her face is priceless!
Too precious! We would love to do that for our girls, but like you said "OMG EXPENSIVE!"
You're such good parents. :)
You are seriously one of the coolest moms that I know! Alexis looks adorable, and will treasure the memory of that experience for years to come!
OMW that is the cutest thing I've seen in ages! What an absolute dream for a little girl!
OMG!
You have got to give me your input on Disney. We are planning a trip for the summer. Where did you stay, etc....
OMG! Miss Peach Must. Do. This. NOW! Wonderful picture:)
WHAT A DOLL! Cinderella is my fave :o)
I will totally gloss over the fact that Alexis is the prettiest princess in all of Disney and cut straight to the part about you and Mr. H rolling in a stripper's locker. Dude. You've got a kid with you. Take it easy on your vacay.
OMG - That is the SWEETEST thing I have ever seen! She is such a dollface!
So, so cute!
We loved the Bip Bop Boutique!!! Is the camera rule new because I used mine plenty in November!
@Sue--It wasn't that Disney wouldn't let me use the camera, it was that Alexis made me sit in the chair with her. I couldn't figure out an angle to take pics that didn't interfere with the action. As for where a certain husband who is capable of pressing a shutter button was . . . he was too cool to sit and wait and went to go ride some stuff. It's going to cost him when I make him buy the photos.
That picture is priceless. She is gorgeous!!!!
To this day, my FIL thinks that the Grand Floridian only costs $50 a night. My late MIL was very good ;o)
That look is priceless! Just like a MasterCard commercial. :)