My granddaughter is 3 years old and loves to dress up as a princess. This month we chose Belle from Disney’s Beauty and the Beast because I love the snow scene. Also, her snow dress is red white makes me think of Christmas.
Princess Belle is a loyal, intelligent, passionate, generous, book loving 17 year old girl from France. Her sidekick is Lumiere an enchanted candlestick meaning “light”.
Belle quote: “I want adventure in the great, wide somewhere.”
Proverbs 3:5-6 states, “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; And lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, And he shall direct thy paths.”
She wore her beautiful yellow dress, with the “Belle” hair bow from this Disney Princess Bow Pack. I made the fire place out of some diaper boxes last Christmas and took the girls pictures in front of it. I hung a gold curtain for the backdrop and used my homemade cardboard stone floor that we used in our X-Men Trunk-or-Treat. The Bible that she is holding is my favorite Thomas Kinkade Bible, and the rest of the props came from the local thrift store a few years ago.
Here are some more of my toddler and preschool photoshoots:
Since we have taking Disney Princess Photos of her since she has been born, we decided to have a Princess party this year.
Princess Invitation
I hung up all of her princess dresses on a line and then put a galvanized tub in front. Then she dressed in her Ariel outfit and sat in the tub for the picture. Then I added the party information to the picture and gave it to her friends.
Princess Dress
We had part of her party at the local splash pad, so she just wore her swimsuit. At home she wore her outerspace dress that she found a a local resale shop and just HAD TO HAVE! I did get this “My Favorite Princess Calls Me Dad” shirt for her dad to wear.
Princess Decorations
Princess Pom Poms
I printed out 8×10 pictures of the princesses and found matching color of tulle and ribbons. I used 8 feet of tulle and then folded it into 3 foot sections. Then I used the ribbon to tie in the middle and cut the folded ends to be open. I laminated the princess pictures and punched a hole at her waist. Then pushed half of the tulle dress through. I spread the tulle starting at the bottom layer and then used glue dots to hold the dress tightly against the laminate. Then I used the ribbon that was tided around the middle to tie a bow and used another glue dot to hold it in place too. I used fishing line to hang them.
I made 12 Disney princesses; Sleeping Beauty, Snow White, Cinderella, Pocahontas, Belle, Elsa, Rapunzel, Jasmine, Tiana, Mulan, Moana, and Ariel.
At the splash pad we hung them on the fence between the banner pieces, I was very happy with how they turned out.
Photo Banner
Since she has dressed up as a Disney princess every month for 5 years, I just printed out a 5×7 from each photo session. I folded the top half of the black cardstock to form 8.5×8.5 square. I used double sided tape to attach the photos to white cardstock and then to the black cardstock . I attached a thick ribbon behind the folded cardstock and used glue dots to hold it in place. Then I attached large safety pins to each end of the ribbon.
We attached them to the fencing with the safety pins.
I love making theme foods for my family. I make cupcakes for each princess and I also made another dinner food for each princess; including entrees, sides, drinks, and desserts.
Princess Cupcakes
I made 2 boxes of chocolate cake mixes and 2 boxes of vanilla cake mixes, then I baked them in colored baking cups.
Here is my buttercream recpie:
Ingredients:
1 cup butter
1 cup Crisco
4 cups powdered sugar (2 lbs)
2 teaspoons vanilla
1 tablespoon milk (if thick)
Directions:
Cream together the butter and Crisco with a mixer.
Slowly add in 1 cup of powdered sugar at a time.
Add the vanilla, if it seems too thick you can add a bit of milk.
I used food coloring to make the different colors of icing for each princess, then I used the Wilton 2D tip to make the ruffle looking dresses for them.
I printed out smaller versions of the princesses and attached toothpicks to them. I stuck these into the cupcakes to look like princess dresses.
Drain and add a jar of alfredo sauce. I add some water the the jar and shake it to get more of the sauce out of the jar. (We have tried many of the jar alfredo sauces and the Bertolii is my family’s favorite.)
Rapunzel’s Braided Garlic Bread
Ingredients:
1/4 Cup warm water
1 TBS sugar
2 1/2 teas active dry yeast
3 Cup flour
1 Cup hot water
1 teas salt
4 TBS melted butter
1/2 teas garlic salt
1/2 Cup Parmesan Cheese
Directions:
Make a double batch and use half for Belle’s Pepperoni Roses.
Preheat oven to 400 degrees and prepare 2 baking sheets.
Combine 1/4 cup warm water and sugar. Sprinkle yeast on the top and let it set for 10 minutes.
Mix in 2 cups flour, salt, and the h0t water on low.
Slowly add 1 cup flour and mix until dough is smooth and pulls away from the sides.
Dump dough on flour surface and cup into fourths. Cut each piece into fourths again so that you have 16 pieces.
Roll each piece into an 8 inch rope and then braid 3 of them together and place on a baking sheet.
Let sit for 10 minutes while you mix melted butter and garlic salt.
Brush butter on the bread and bake for 12 minutes.
When the bread comes out brush more butter on it and sprinkle with parmesan cheese.
Belle’s Pepperoni Roses
Ingredients:
Pizza Dough (I used the same dough that I made Rapunzel’s Braided Garlic Bread)
1 jar of Pizza Sauce
Pepperoni
Shredded Mozzarella Cheese
Directions:
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees, and prepare a muffin tin by lightly greasing them.
Roll out your dough about 8 inches long and cut into 2 inch strips.
Spread a thin layer of pizza sauce along each strip, leaving and edge along one side.
Spread pepperoni slices along one long side of each strip with the pepperoni hanging off the dough.
Sprinkle with cheese.
Roll dough carefully longwise and place them into the muffin tin.
Bake for 15 minutes and allow to cool before you serve.
Orange Chicken (to add some protein to our meal)
Ingredients:
3 lbs Chicken Tenderloins
1/2 Cup Orange Marmalade
1/2 Cup Honey BBQ Sauce
1/4 Cup Soy Sauce
Directions:
Place the chicken in a crock pot on high for 3 hours.
Mix other ingredients in a small bowl.
Drain the liquid from the chicken and cut into 1 inch pieces.
Place the chicken and sauce in the crock pot on low for another 30 minutes.
My beautiful daughter has dressed up as a Disney princess every month for 5 years. When I was pregnant with her, I strategically decided which princess I would photograph each month for the next 5 years. I also started collecting second hand props.
Every August 17, she dressed as Sleeping Beauty (2020-2024).
Every September 17, she dressed as Snow White (2020-2024).
Every October 17, she dressed as Cinderella (2020-2024).
Every November 17, she dressed as Pocahontas (2020-2024).
Every December 17, she dressed as Belle (2020-2024).
Every January 17, she dressed as Elsa (2021-2025).
Every February 17, she dressed as Rapunzel (2021-2025).
Every March 17, she dressed as Jasmine (2021-2025).
Beauty and the Beast is one of her favorites, for some reason she is fascinated with the Beast. She is starting to love all of the songs as much as I do too! We love playing Beauty and the Beast in the dvd player in the car every December to prepare her for her Belle photoshoot!
Belle is an adventurous girl who loves to read to experience excitement. She loves her father and friends more than anything, and will do anything to protect them. She is brave, bold and brilliant!
Storm is also adventurous, and brave. She is not afraid to wander in unknown places, and often explores with me following behind. We read books every night, hoping that she will develop a natural love of books as well.
We took her Belle pictures outside for the first time this year, since it got up to 50 degrees today. We just went into the yard and brought her props with us. Her beautiful yellow dress was given to us when she was a baby, and I’ve been saving it for her. I curled her hair and pulled the top portion of it back into a bun with a bun shaper. Then I wrapped a yellow ribbon around the bun. She wore her gold earrings that have the screw on backings. I got this old book at one of our library book sales. The Chip Mug was given to me as a Christmas gift a few years back. The mirror and rose just came from out local dollar store.
Hebrews 11:1 Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see.
Storm has dressed as Belle on December 17 every year of her short life!
Beauty and the Beast is probably one of my favorite Disney movies, and Storm looked so beautiful in her yellow dress. My husband got me this Chip tea cup for Christmas a couple years ago!
Belle is curious for adventure and is capable of seeing past the rough exterior of the Beast. She is a strong woman who stands up for herself to the gossiping town folk, Gaston, and the Beast. She also gives her life to save her father’s.
I try to teach Storms that beauty is more than skin deep. Storm is also a strong girl who is not afraid of anybody. Bugs, sure she’s afraid; but not of people. She will speak to all people no matter how they look.
Her beautiful yellow dress was given to us when she was a baby, and I’ve been saving it for her. I curled her hair and pulled the top portion of it back into a bun with a bun shaper. Then I wrapped a yellow ribbon around the bun. She wore her gold earrings that have the screw on backings. I made the fire place out of some diaper boxes last Christmas and took the girls pictures in front of it. I hung a gold curtain for the backdrop and used my homemade cardboard stone floor that we used in our X-Men Trunk-or-Treat. The Bible that she is holding is my favorite Thomas Kinkade Bible. and the rest of the props came from the local thrift store a few years ago.
Proverbs 31:26 “When she speaks, her words are wise, and she gives instructions with kindness.”
She LOVED her dress. We watch Beauty and the Beast weekly, so she knew who she was dressed as for the first time. Yellow is her favorite color right now too!
Belle is a fun, adventurous girl who loves to read. She doesn’t care what others think about her because her father has taught her to be true to herself. I always laugh at Gaston’s song that says, “Belle is the most beautiful girl in town, that makes her the best!” Belle knows that it’s what is on the inside of a person that counts.
I will try to teach Storm that beauty in from the inside of a person as well. We also try to read each night to develop a natural love of books.
Her beautiful yellow dress was given to us when she was a baby, and I’ve been saving it for her. I curled her hair and pulled the top portion of it back into a bun with a bun shaper. Then I wrapped a yellow ribbon around the bun. She wore her gold earrings that have the screw on backings. I hung a gold curtain for the backdrop and used my homemade cardboard stone floor that we used in our X-Men Trunk-or-Treat. The props came from the local thrift store a few years ago. She loved playing with the props!
Ecclesiastes 3:11 “He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end”.
Our family loves Disney and Family Movie Night, so we have joined them together for a family Disney Dinner Night. Tonight mom got to choose, so it was Beauty and the Beast, which was a bit too fancy of food for the preteens to enjoy. I chose to make versions of the recipes that are mentioned in the song, “Be Our Guest”. We watched the live action version of Beauty and the Beast since it is probably my current favorite of the Disney movies. I hope you have as much family fun as we did.
Cut the pizza dough into 2″ wide strips and then spread slightly to bring each strip to 3″ wide.
Spoon some pizza sauce onto the dough strip, and spread evenly.
Sprinkle some cheese onto the sauce, and then make an overlapping layer of pepperoni slices.
Roll the strip lengthwise, to make a pizza rose.
Place the finished roses on a lined cookie sheet. You can fan out the pepperoni slices slightly.
Bake on the bottom rack of your oven according to the dough directions, typically about 12-15 minutes, until the dough is golden brown.
If the pepperoni starts to overcook before the dough is finished cooking, place a sheet of tinfoil gently over the pizza roses, shiny side up.
Remove from oven and let cool slightly before serving alongside additional pizza sauce.
Entrée: Beef Ragout
Ingredients:
1.5 lbs. sirloin steak, cut into chunks
4-5 tbsp olive oil
1 onion, finely chopped
3 carrots, finely chopped
2 celery sticks, finely chopped
2 tbsp minced garlic
8 oz. tomato sauce
2 rosemary sprigs
2 bay leaves
10 oz can diced tomatoes
14.5 oz. can beef stock
Parmesan Cheese
No Yolk Noodles
Directions:
Heat 1 tbsp. oil in a stovetop pan over a medium-high heat and brown the beef until dark.
Drain the beef in a colander to remove the fat while you cook the rest.
Wipe out the pan with kitchen paper, then add about 2 tbsp oil, the onions, carrots, celery and garlic with a pinch of salt and cook for 8-10 mins over a low-medium heat.
Stir in the tomato sauce and cook for a further 3 mins. Add the herbs, tomatoes and stock, season and bring to the boil, stir the beef back into the sauce and reduce to a simmer.
Add to crock pot for 3 hrs. Stir or use a fork to roughly shred the beef.
Cook the pasta in a large pan of salted water for 3 mins, drain then tip into the ragout, toss together with some of the parmesan.
& Cheese Souffle
Ingredients:
3 Tablespoons Butter
3 Tablespoons Flour
1 cup Milk
4 Eggs
1 cup Cheese, shredded
1 teaspoon Mustard Powder
1/2 teaspoon Salt
1 teaspoon White pepper
4 Tablespoons Parmesan cheese
Directions:
Preheat your oven to 400ºF.
Grease and flour ceramic baking dish. Set aside.
In a medium saucepan over medium heat, combine the butter and flour to form a roux. Stir and cook until it thickens and takes on a golden color, about 2 minutes.
Add the milk and stir well to incorporate. Let cook for two minutes before removing from heat.
Allow the flour-milk mixture to cool for about 5-10 minutes before proceeding with the recipe.
In a small bowl, beat your eggs until light and frothy.
Add the eggs, cheese and seasonings to the mixture.
Put the soufflé mixture into the prepared dish and sprinkle the tops with the Parmesan cheese.
Place in the lower half of the oven and bake for 30-40 minutes, until well-browned and puffy. (sadly my soufflé sank in).
Vegi: Soup de jour
Ingredients:
1/4 cup of unsalted butter
3 medium white onions diced
42 oz. of beef broth
1/2 tsp of salt
1/4 tsp garlic powder
2 Tbsp. of Parmesan cheese
slices of a French baguette
4oz of provolone cheese
Directions:
Sauté onions in melted butter in a large pot for 30 minutes.
Add beef broth, garlic powder and salt, then bring to a boil.
Let boil for a minute then reduce heat and simmer (uncovered) for 50 minutes.
Add parmesan cheese and let simmer for 10 more minutes.
Pour a few cups of soup into a large Pyrex.
Put some cheese slices on top.
Put it in the oven on broil until the cheese began to brown. (For about five or six minutes).
Cut the baguette and dip into soup as you eat.
Fruit: Pie & Pudding “en flambe”
We got our idea for “en flambe” from the epicurious blog; but sadly, ours didn’t turn out very tasty at all.
Ingredients:
3/4 cup plus 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
2 tablespoons cider vinegar
1 tea vanilla
4 tablespoons (1/2 stick) unsalted butter, cut into bits
In a 10-inch skillet, stir together the 3/4 cup sugar, vanilla and the vinegar. Heat over medium heat, stirring until the sugar is thoroughly dissolved.
Cook over medium heat, without stirring, for 5 minutes, or until the mixture is amber in color (like a brown paper bag).
Remove from the heat. Add 2 tablespoons of the butter and swirl until the butter has melted. Let cool for 10 minutes.
Carefully arrange the apples over the sugar mixture in concentric circles, being careful not to touch the hot sugar mixture.
Dot with the remaining 2 tablespoons butter.
Place the puff pastry over the apples and tuck the sides down around the apples.
Sprinkle the 1 tablespoon sugar over the dough. Bake for 25 minutes, or until the crust is golden brown and crisp and the pan juices are bubbling.
Let cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then carefully invert onto a rimmed pie plate to serve.
Drink: Mrs. Potts Strawberry Iced Tea
One of the recipes that all of the kids enjoyed! YAY
Ingredients:
6 cups brewed tea
4 cups fresh or frozen strawberries
1 1/2 cups water
2 cups sugar
Directions:
In a saucepan, boil the strawberries, sugar, and water.
Lower the heat and simmer for 10-15 minutes. Cool slightly.
Pour the syrup through a fine colander into a gallon pitcher.
You can freeze the solids in ice cube trays.
Pour the tea into the pitcher with the syrup and stir.
Chill completely.
Serve over strawberry ice cubes.
Dessert: Try the Grey Stuff
Another delicious recipe for the kids!
Ingredients:
3.4 oz box Vanilla Pudding Mix
1 1/2 cups Milk
15 OREOs, crushed
8 oz Cool Whip
Edible Sugar Pearls, as desired
Directions:
Make the vanilla pudding according to the boxed directions, however only use 1 1/2 cups milk rather than what is called for.
Place the pudding in the fridge to thicken for 5 minutes as you crush the OREOs.
Mix the OREOs into the vanilla pudding until completely combined.
Add the Cool Whip and stir gently until just combined.
Refrigerate for 5 minutes before placing the pudding into your serving dish and decorate with edible sugar pearls.
Thanks to my wonderful family for try all of my fancy foods!
Disney’s Beauty and the Beast was one of my favorites as a child, and I absolutely loved the live action that just came out. Belle’s dream is to never stop learning, but she has to sacrifice her freedom to save her father. Of course every Disney princess has an animal sidekick, and Lumiere is such a charismatic one.
Belle is an intelligent, generous, and passionate girl.
One of the songs that I sing to her is to the tune of “Mary had a Little Lamb”…
“Storm is a smart girl Smart girl, smart girl Storm is a smart girl She’s my so smart girl”
I hung a gold curtain for the backdrop and used my homemade cardboard stone wall that we used in our X-Men Trunk-or-Treat. The props came from the local thrift store a few years ago.
Her Disney Belle dress was a hand-me-down from a friend. She also wore white tights with her white sandals and Belle bow from her princess bow set. Her red earrings are from a multi color pack that I found on Amazon.
Toddler Belle with her stacks of Little Golden Books.
2 Corinthians 9:11 “You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.”
I chose Disney’s Beauty and the Beast for the December princess because I love when Belle wears her red cape in the snow scene with Beast. I think it would be fun for future Belle pictures.