I have a confession to make. Somehow I managed to wait until 2020 while quarantined at home to finally sit down and watch Brave for the first time. Don’t judge — I was a mom of two school-aged boys when it first came out, so I had an intense relationship with Toy Story, Cars, Planes, Inside Out, and many other non-princess-y films.
But I wasn’t really prepared for how much this movie was going to tug at my heart strings. The trailers I had seen didn’t really wow me and seemed to be more about what I thought was going to be tasteless humor and fighting bears(?), and not a heartfelt story about a mother and daughter. Boy, was I in for a surprise!
THIS WILD LASS IS AMAZING!!! From that itty bitty toddler who chases wisps to the strong, brave woman shooting for herself at the end of the movie, Merida truly is now and will forever be one of my favorite princesses. (Plus, she has THE BEST HAIR! Did you know that she has over 100,000 individual CGI strands?) I’m a little late to the party, but I know a good thing when I see it!
Obviously, I had to have a pair of Merida ears after seeing this movie and falling for this fiery and independent Princess of DunBroch! But before I get into sharing them with you, here are a few life lessons we can learn from this beautiful movie about a free-spirited, courageous, and determined young woman.
Life Lessons with Merida
- Face your fears.
Just like Merida faces her fear of the unknown, we can exercise our courage and face those fears. It does not mean we won’t be afraid, just that we won’t let our fears hold us back! - Stand up for what you believe in.
What other princess does this quite so well? Merida may sometimes sound like a typical 16-year-old girl, but she has a voice! Unlike many Disney princesses, she is a true leader, and she isn’t afraid to voice her opinion and stand up for what is right. - Legends are lessons.
While this is a big universal theme for this movie, I’d like to think of Merida as our legend. She is an inspiration — a strong, athletic, fairytale feminist that you can cheer for, not one who relies on a prince or her own charm to get her out of a situation or into a marriage. - Your relationship with your mother cannot be replaced.
Queen Elinor, who is a beautiful mother figure (with not even a hint of evil queen in her), and her daughter Merida have an incredible, unbreakable bond. No matter how young or old, your relationship with your mother is worth the energy it takes to grow in love, communication, trust, and more.
- It takes courage and humility to admit you are wrong.
There are plenty of different kinds of bravery in this film, but it takes a special level of courage to put aside your pride and admit you made a mistake and were wrong. - Even princesses need to muck out their horse’s stall.
No one is above a little sweat and hard work!
“I am Merida! Firstborn descendant of clan DunBroch, and I’ll be shootin’ for my own hand!”
― Merida
What other lessons did you take away from the film? I wish I could say I learned how to sew on horseback or how to really sling arrows the way she does, but I have a way to go on both of those. With
One last reminder from our spunky red-head:
“There are those who say fate is something beyond our command. That destiny is not our own, but I know better. Our fate lives within us, you only have to be brave enough to see it.“
— Merida
Get yourself a pair of
Merida ears here!
EAR REVIEW
What We Loved
Ear Shape/Size:
Excellent. My first pair of 3-D printed ears, and I am SOLD for this reason!
Unique Theme/Style:
Excellent. Captures her wild hair, beautiful gown, and her most treasured weapon.
Materials:
Great. All the materials were beautiful, from the sequins to the 3-D filament used.
Shipping/Packaging:
Excellent. Came in a sturdy, flat box, wrapped in a cellophane bag. A few little sequins had fallen off , but there was an adorable little handwritten tag tied to the headband with a bow.
Stitching/Gluing:
Excellent. What stitching? What gluing? These are apparently held together by magic!
Pricing: $
Incredible value for these ears!
Turnaround Time:
Excellent. Got these in four days! Also got a lovely note from Christine, the owner of The Boutique on Main St., when she shipped them.
Bow:
Excellent. Just look at it! It’s gorgeous, it’s even, and it’s upright.
Wearability:
Excellent. These things are light as a feather, so the headband stays put and they don’t slip and slide around your head.
Who would love these?
These ears are for lovers of Scotland, feminists, and strong-willed princess types! Plan to rock a plaid shirt and practical shoes if you buy these! Also really lightweight, so anyone that hates heavy ears that tip over constantly, check these out!
What Needs Work
Headband:
Good. A little crooked and fits snugly. Didn’t give me a headache, but someone with a bigger head might not like it.
Where should future FashionEarstas be seen in these ears?
Rumor has it, that Disney Cruise Lines guests who visit Edinburgh Castle in Scotland might just get the opportunity to see Merida if she’s in town to judge the archery competition! With character meet and greets at a stand still for the moment, we suggest the Princess 5K for another fantastic opportunity to sport these lightweight beauties!
Overall Score: 
(4.9/5)
A little side note that doesn’t really fall under our normal categories for scoring: These ears smell awful when you first get them!
Pro Tip: Take these ears out of the package ASAP and air them out in your garage or basement!
Get yourself a pair of
Merida ears here!
Well, I am off to watch Outlander and drink some scotch! Until next time, FashionEarstas, I hope that you are reminded of just how uniquely inspiring Merida is in the lineup of official Disney Princesses!
I hope that you found this review helpful! I’d love to hear what you think of this review, these ears, The Boutique on Main St., or just other magical things you have to share in the comments! Make sure you check us out on Pinterest, Facebook and Instagram, chances are you will see our ears in action!
Pixie Dust and Glamour!
EarGoddess 
