Beauty and Joy

I'm what most people would probably call a "Plain Jane." I don't wear much make-up, dye my hair, or tan, most of my wardrobe is from garage sales or Walmart, and when it comes to decorating the house, well, I really don't decorate. It's not that I dislike these things or can't afford them. It's just that I don't think they are necessary.

Olivia, on the other hand, is the opposite of a Plain Jane. She likes things to be beautiful!

She has been requesting center pieces for the table, usually a vase of flowers. Sometimes I'll remove them to make room for the food, and she'll ask that I put it back. When I ask, "Why do they need to be on the table?"
She'll say, "Because they're beautiful!"

Last week, Olivia asked me, "Mom, why don't you just wear your hair regular?"
I said, "What do you mean?"
She responded, "Well, why is it always a ponytail?"

Then this week she said to me, "Mom a braid with a pretty dress would look good! A bun with a pretty dress would be good, too. Pick one."
I said, "Ummm, I choose a ponytail!"
She responded, "That wasn't a choice."

It's true, making things look beautiful isn't necessary, but it is nice! I must admit that I do stand a little taller when my hair is nicely done, and dinner time is more pleasant when we are looking at a nice bouquet of flowers. And the beautiful smile on my princess brings me more joy than I ever imagined! Miss Olivia, thank you for helping me discover the joy of beauty and the beauty of joy!

Reality Check!

Olivia discovered that it looked like her Rapunzel doll's hair was glowing when she put it in the sun by the window.
(In the movie Tangled, Rapunzel's magical healing hair glows when a special song is sung. Mother Gothel sings that song while touching Rapunzel's hair, so she can stay youthful.)
I held onto the hair and sang the song from the movie:
Flower, gleam and glow
Let your power shine
Make the clock reverse
Bring back what once was mine
What once was mine
Then I handed the doll back to Olivia and said,"Do I look younger?"
She replied, "Well.....you know that's not a real baby, right?!"

Cheesy Face!

As Olivia was watching me apply my make-up Saturday morning, she pretended to put on her own make-up. She said, "Mom, do you like it? I put some blush on my cheeks and mozzarella on my eyes!"
(If you haven't figured it out yet, she was talking about mascara.)

What I Really Meant

I tried a bite of Olivia's Tropical Snow cone and said, "Mmm, that's pretty good."
Olivia responded, "Did you mean to say that's rainbow rock solid?"
Yes, Olivia, that's what I meant to say. Thank you.