The beauty of a child's smile

This princess has had some rough days lately, personally speaking.  Christmas is coming, and with all the preparations, the last thing I feel like doing right now is setting up a tree, Christmas shopping, etc.  My friends are very excited, as are my little girls, but this year I am having trouble getting in the mood.

That is when I realize that really there is no 'mood' that I need to get into.  The gift of Christmas cannot be conjured up with all the consumer goodies and trappings of the season.  It is a gift that lives within us, and doesn't need to acknowledged by a tree or decorations or wrapped presents.  It is the gift of a child, and all the wonder and joy that is embodied in that child.  All we need to do is look into the face of a child, and witness the beauty that shines from within them.  The beauty of a child's smile is the beauty of Christmas.  The spirit of Christmas surrounds them, lives within them, shines out of them. 

I was reminded of this on Saturday as I visited a little girl named Charlie.  Charlie's favourite princess is Sleeping Beauty, and she was so excited to see her.  Her exuberance and love and pure joy are really what the love of Christmas is all about.  A child embraces and accepts a gift with their whole heart.  In Charlie's beautiful smile, I saw the brilliance of love shining through.  Thank you Charlie for reminding me how beautiful the gift of a child's smile truly is.  And how beautiful the gift of Christmas, in the form of a child, truly is.

Now to get the Christmas tree up........

A dream is a wish your heart makes

You've seen the annoucements, you've been asked to make the donation, you've read about the children - but does it really sink in?  Everyday we encounter stories about sick children, about people asking for donations for charity, so much so that we have almost become desensitized to it.

For the past two years, I have been lucky enough to be part of the Children's Wish Foundation's Flight in Search of Santa, held by Air Transat.  Unfortunately, this year the flight will not happen in Toronto.  I am unsure if it is because of lack of funding or lack of time or lack of resources, I just know that I am sad to miss it. 

Each year I have been reminded of the great gift of health that we are lucky to enjoy.  Each year I have been reminded of the great love of children and their families.  Inspiring doesn't begin to cover it.  Children who are sick, who are recovering, who are in relapse - they all still bear a beautiful grin and love with their whole heart. 

So please this year, try not to forget that there are children out there who need your donations, whether in time or money.  Cures can be found if we have the resources, but also, it is the donation that inspires a smile which can make a big difference for their heart.....and yours.

Halloween is for Royalty

I'm not a huge fan of the scary Halloween costume.  My two little princesses have active enough imaginations without generating more scary thoughts for them to ponder.  As such, we tend to steer toward the lighter side of Halloween.  Our costumes over the years have included a bumblebee, pumpkin, Snow White, Cinderella, cheerleader and my personal favourite - a purple flying unicorn. 

This year, Rapunzel was the request from my younger princess.  And Rapunzel she is!  A purple dress and then a very long braid made from blond-coloured yarn.  A perfect princess with minimal fuss and cost.  And a wonderful way to tap into her hidden princess.  And really, how much more fun can a little girl have than when her friends shout up to her at the top of the schoolyard climber "Rapunzel! Rapunzel! Let down your hair!"....and she can.

Princess Savvy

A Princess is just too busy nowadays to keep up the princess-look full time.  I mean who has time for glass slippers when runners and yoga pants are so much quicker?  Between driving kids to school, working part-time and trying to maintain some sense of order within the castle, there is next to no time for a princessly image.  That is where the savvy comes in.

The savvy is simply the smile that radiates your inner princess.  It is the knowledge that Snow White lives within me, even if she is next to impossible to see from the outside!  I know that my princesses (http://www.partiesbycarrie.com/Gallery.html) are far more than just shows on the surface.  So I take them with me.  And when my hair is barely brushed, my runners are on and my face hasn't seen make-up in days, I know that my inner princess shines through in the simple act of a smile.

The Princess State of Mind

It is feeling beautiful and acting beautiful.  This beauty comes from within.  No makeup is required.  No hairbrush is required.  No gown is required.  In fact, yoga pants are entirely acceptable.

The Princess state of mind shines from within.  It is the inner beauty that does not rely on any intrinsic feature, just the light that lives within us and shines through us.