I am going to get some rebar for mine and pillar it. Your zone is warmer than mine Sherry, but we are pretty close! When we dug this plant up to replant at my house she was mounding nicely, and I could see she would take up some space. So, rebar it is. Thankfully she is at the back of the bed, rather than the front. Trish

I am also doing a princess room for my 5 yo in our remodeled home. My princess is a tomboy who adores dogs - so I am using pink and brown and keeping the bling subtle. I had a beautiful bedroom growing up that I helped my mom decorate - had rather sophisticated taste when I was 12 - the wallpaper was a beautiful french floral - there is a name for it but I am not coming up with it. It is in mauves and brown tones. I found a roll when I went home last summer and brought it back. I am going to frame out panels with moulding and use the panels as the background for two crystal sconces and for 3 sepia tone dog portraits I found. I found her chandelier and matching sconces at Dimples and Dandelions - not a bargain site but the best selection of chandeliers I have seen. THey also have some other great accessories. Her room is very small and to make the most of the space we ordered a custom playhouse bed. Her bed is on top of a cottage style playhouse with dutch doors and windows. That way she has all the floor space for playing. I had the bed primed but I am painting it - I was a fine arts major and I love projects like this. She has requested a picture of our golden retriever on the outside - I think this may be redundant considering the ACTUAL golden will probably be hanging out in her room quite often ;-) Does her canopy have side curtains? I have found that most little girls I meet love to sleep "inside" something with long curtains that give them a feeling of security. Have fun - I really love planning my dd's room. We will both have to post and compare the results! Mine won't be done until mid May. Here is a link that might be useful: Princess Lighting and accessories

DUH! It was in my duffle bag in the back seat of my car. I've sent them to Tammy so when she can, she will post them. To preface your viewing of them...they don't read as well on here as the printed pics do. Also: *the window murals-the faux stone is much prettier than it appears-I made them darker than the grout lines for contrast but used the same color as the grout along w/cream, pink & browns dry brushed. * the feathers on the canopy? Chloe INSISTED they be put up there..not my choice nor permanent. * I tried to capture the wall sconces & chandelier lit, but they are glaring, I know. * the curtains better show- the fabric of the canopy. * One end wall has her vanity table & bench that I refinished like her bed & hutch & 2 bulletin boards I made her also- * the best pic? Her, with that smiling face, sitting in her 'kingdom'!!

Sailed from Los Angles on May 11, followed by two days at sea. Cabo San Lucas, Mexico was our first port; I have been there many times - went to the nearby town of San Jose, very nice. Three days at sea, then San Juan del Sur Nicaragua, a first for me. A new pin in the map. It was hot. The next day we were at Puntarenas, Costa Rica, where I had been before. It was hot. Another sea day and then the Panama Canal. I had gone from the east to west; and I had gone into and then back out. This completed my Panama Canal adventures. It was hot. Oh boy, another day at sea. Then another new port for me, Santa Marta, Colombia. I have been to Cartagena, Colombia a couple of times, but this was a new port for me. It was extremely hot. Another day at sea and we arrived at Orangestad, Aruba. I have been there at least 10 times and I got off only to buy a Pepsi - 5 minutes total. Two more sea days and we docked at Ft. Lauderdale on the morning of May 28th. Budget car rental had us home before 2:00 p.m. Two new ports of call for me and many sea days. I read 10 books during this cruise. In April, we cruise into the Caribbean for 17 days and I read 7 books then. Not too bad.