Mars and Venus at a Princess Party

As many of you know, the east coast (where I am) had a bit of a hurricane this past weekend. Part of my hurricane preparedness kit included a copy of the "Tangled" video game for Wii (as well as pudding and sparking wine. Gotta be prepared!). And yes, it is a kid's game but do I seem like the type of person who is above playing a children's video game?

My favorite part is when they hold hands! How precious.

Anyway, I noticed that there are clearly defined and stereotypical gender roles in the game, which you can play as either Rapunzel or Flynn. When you play as Rapunzel, you run around searching for things to draw, collecting sunbeams and making flowers grow with your glowing hair. As Flynn, you stomp around looking for treasure chests (with the help of your "Flynntuition!" ha!), climbing walls and smashing things with your sword. It even states in the game that Flynn's job is to "protect Rapunzel and clear her path". Rapunzel does have her trusty frying pan, but it doesn't fair as well against the bad guys and does nothing to clear the path of bushes and barrels that only Flynn's sword can break.

I for one, think it's funny that Rapunzel makes flowers grow while Flynn breaks everything in sight. Seems like a pretty accurate portrayal of many of the guys in my life. And granted it would be out of character for the roles to be switched. But it made me wonder, do I predicate these kind of stereotypes at my parties?

I often joke with the girls about trying to do a make over for the little boys at their party. We all laugh together and say things likes "make-up isn't for boys!"

Or is it?

Truth be told though, I was always a little sad when a boy didn't want a make over. I figured I'd have a better chance of getting one of the goofy dad's to opt for eyeshadow and lip glass than a 5 year old boy.

Until yesterday.

Saturday (during the "hurricane"!) I was finally able to brush my blush brush on the cheeks of a little boy! I didn't even have to ask him either; he just hopped right in the chair! I let him chose his eyeshadow color, like everyone else does, and when I told him the orange color he picked out wouldn't show up, he quickly changed it to a bright green (the very same shadow I use as Tinkerbell!) . He picked an orange bracelet to wear too. He kept calling it a necklace though, so I guess he wasn't THAT into it...

This kid wasn't effeminate either. He was just a cool go-with-the-flow kinda guy. His attitude was more of a "when in Rome" kind of deal than anything else. Like, "I'm at a girl's party? Well I guess I better get a make over."

And wear this skirt.

In addition to the make up and the pretty pink skirt over his cargo shorts, he and his friend, who was dressed as Darth Vader, also opted to make tiaras with the girls. The boy in the skirt did a purple one which is the least girly and passes for a prince crown. Darth Vader however, snagged my LAST pink tiara and covered it with jewels. And here I was worried about the girls fighting over the only pink tiara I had.

The birthday girl even joined in role breaking by stealing Mr. Vader's mask and another male party goer's fireman hat. So somewhere on Facebook is a picture of me as Rapunzel next to a little girl in a princess dress wearing a fireman's hat over a Vader helmet. Priceless.

It's parties like these that make me wish I could whip out my iPhone and get some shots myself! Princesses have iPhones, right?

I bet Snow White does

Oh well, until I can find a way to take pictures of these kids without seeming out of character (or just...creepy), I guess Princess Vader and her make up wearing boy friend with have to just live on in my memories.

A Horse is a Horse Of Course Of Course

Somewhere in a not too nearby city, there is a horse that has seen me naked.

"'Ey girl, 'ey!"

Ok so not quite naked, but it did watch me change clothes. I did a party as Belle in a city 45 minutes away from my home. It's the middle of August down here in the south and my car has no AC. So to avoid arriving at the party with pit stains the size of the birthday girl's head, I decided to cruise there in a mini-dress and then change right before.

However, since I ended up at the corner of Nowhere and Farmville, there wasn't a convenient place to change. I was fully prepared to emerge from a Wendy's bathroom ready for the ballroom but Yelp said the closest fast food restaurant or grocery store wasn't for 6 miles. I didn't have time to try and find it. So like any dainty princess on her way to a fancy gala, I just pulled over next to a farm and changed clothes. No harm, no FOWL.............get it?! 'Cause it's a farm!...no?

Whatever, here is a picture of Mr. Ed:

I Do Believe In Fairies! I Do! I Do!

Did a party as Tinkerbell today. Pretty sure I mooned every single person there. Tink is not known for modest attire.

Parent's Eye View:

I also had a couple Non-Believers at this party. One in particular was of the loudmouthed variety, the most dangerous kind. She kept announcing to the small party of winged 5 year old that I wasn't real. I finally had to give up trying to convince her and whisper in her ear "you're very smart, but don't spoil it for your friends!" Typically I won't acknowledge that they are right but this little girl was fixin' to ruin it for the rest of them. Fortunately, I didn't hear another peep out of her about it and she seemed content with simply sending me knowing glances throughout the rest of the party, clearly proud of herself for seeing right through such a rouse.

I think I actually managed to convert the other Non-Believer. She was of the tricky question variety, which if you are well read will hardly pose a threat. I shot her questions down as easily as the lost boys shot down the Wendybird.

"How did you get here?"

"I flew of course!"

"Can you fly now?"

"Why no, I'm too big."

"Why are you so big?"

"Because Terence [dust talent fairy] gave me some very special pixie dust that made me grow big and tall so I could come see you!"

[Upon noticing a rip in my wings that expose the wire] "Your wing is broken."

"Oh no it's not broken, I just scraped it on a tree before I got here. I'm not used to being this big!"

"How are you getting home?"

"I'll fly of course!"

"Can we watch you?"

"Well probably not. I have to wait until I shrink and that won't be for awhile. Until then I'll walk."

"How come we can hear you talk?"

"Because I'm big now, thanks to Terence's magic pixie dust!"

"What's her name? [pointing to some random unnamed fairy's picture in my story book]"

"Oh that's Claire! She is friends with Fawn. She's an animal talent fairy too!"

"That's Pete! [pointing to Terence in my story book, trying to trick me]"

"No, that's not Pete! That's Terence silly! The one who gave me my pixie dust! THAT'S Pete back there! [pointing to random unnamed fairy in the background.] Pete's got black hair."

Girl, please. I got this fairy nonsense DOWN. The key is name dropping. If they hear you are on a first name basis with their favorite fairy buddies, they'll know you're legit.

In closing, here is my favorite line from the Disney Fairies movies, featuring my girls Iridessa, Fawn, Silvermist and Rosetta (and Tink of course!):

Celebrities and Rainstorms

Got a taste of what it's like to be a celebrity today. I did a party at a local children's museum and here were hundreds of kids everywhere. Luckily the party was in a private room, but when I stepped out and started walking back to the front entrance, I was just about mobbed. It took me nearly 20 minutes just to leave the building! It's amazing how wearing a long wig and a princess dress will make people's jaws drop. There were gasps and gawking all over the place! I must have a dozen pictures taken and given out even more hugs. I'm not sure why I didn't see that coming though, I mean, Rapunzel is pretty famous!

Unfortunately, by the time I made it to the exit, it had started POURING. I had parked over a block a way. With no umbrella and no time to hang around, I had to made a break for it.

Turns out Rapunzel's dress gets very see through and very clingy when wet. I was downtown too, so there were plenty of people hustling and bustling about even in the rain to throw me a few strange looks. A timely honk told me at least one person got a glimpse of this rarely seen, less-than-innocent side of Rapunzel. Only Flynn Rider gets to see that! ;)

They See Me Rollin, They Hatin'

I always wonder what people think when they see Snow White cruising down the highway...