Creating Magic with Princess Amelia (and Planning for 2026)
This Thanksgiving week, I had the joy of hosting my almost-2-year-old great niece, Princess Amelia, from Georgia. While her official Fairytale Academy curriculum hasn't arrived yet (Amazon, hurry up!), we didn't let that stop us from beginning her princess training.
The fairies had already left her gifts: a handmade sparkly wand and a bottle of magic potion (okay, it's a glitter-filled sensory bottle, but to her it's pure magic).
We pulled out my other book, The Magical World of Fairies, and dove into crafts, creativity, and chaos—exactly as it should be with a toddler.
What We Actually Did:
At not-quite-two, Amelia's attention span is measured in minutes, not hours. We didn't complete elaborate projects or follow detailed instructions. Instead, we:
Waved the magic wand and made wishes
Shook the magic potion and watched the glitter swirl
Started (we’ll call it finished since it went home with her) a crown
Got paint everywhere
Giggled a lot
And that's the real magic, isn't it?
The Fairytale Academy isn't about perfection. It's not about completing every activity or staying inside the lines. It's about giving kids permission to create, explore, and believe in their own magic—even if that magic looks like glitter glue on the dining room table and a princess crown that's more tape than anything else.
Watching Amelia wave that wand with absolute conviction that she was making magic happen? That's why I write these books. That's why I create these activities. Because every child deserves to feel that powerful, that creative, that certain of their own magic.
As Amelia heads back to Georgia and Thanksgiving wraps up, I'm shifting into year-end mode myself. December is my time for reflection, planning, and setting intentions (say no to goals!) for the year ahead.
Wrapping Up 2025:
The past month or so has been about building the Fairytale Academy foundation. "How to Be a Fairytale Princess" is now live on Amazon. The companion Quest Journal and Spell Book are in development. The social media presence is growing. The vision is becoming real.
But before I charge into 2026, I need to pause. December is my month to:
Review what worked (and what didn't)
Celebrate the wins (published books! actual sales! real people buying it!)
Process the challenges
Close out projects that need finishing
Rest and recharge
I'm a firm believer that you can't plan forward effectively if you haven't properly reflected backward. So December is reflection time.
Planning for 2026:
Come January, the Fairytale Academy expands.
I'm planning the next books in the series: How to Be a Fairytale Knight, How to Be a Fairytale Dragon, How to Be a Fairy Godmother, etc. Each one will follow the same comprehensive curriculum structure, giving kids the tools to create their own magical identities—whatever form that takes.
I'm building the business systems that will let this series grow sustainably.
I'm creating content that reaches more parents, teachers, and kids who need to hear that they get to write their own story.
But first? December. Wrapping up. Breathing. Planning thoughtfully instead of reactively.
So if you see less content from me in December, know that I'm not gone—I'm preparing. I'm making sure that 2026 is the year the Fairytale Academy truly takes off.
And somewhere in Georgia, Princess Amelia is probably still waving that wand, absolutely certain of her own magic.
As she should be.
As we all should be.
How do you wrap up your year? Are you a planner, a reflector, or someone who just charges straight into January? Let me know in the comments!
And if you haven't yet, check out How to Be a Fairytale Princess on Amazon. Perfect for the aspiring princess in your life (any age, any background—because we're all fairytale princesses).
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About the Author
Gal is an autistic artist, late-diagnosed at 49, and the creator of AuRTistic Expressions—a space where neurodivergent truth meets creative survival. Through books, blog posts, printables, and coaching, Gal explores what it means to unmask safely, communicate authentically, and make art that doesn’t ask for permission. Stick around—there’s plenty more where this came from.
