Happily Ever aAfter and The Royal Wedding
Happily Ever After...What does that mean to different people? In my book Princess Bubble, she learns that true happiness comes from loving God, helping others and liking who you are already. But, what to people expect when they think about someone or themselves living, "Happily Ever After"
Do people believe William and Kate to live "Happily Ever After?"
What do we expect happened to Cinderella, Rapunzel, Sleeping Beauty, Beauty and the Beast....? Do we expect them to live blissful every day with no money troubles, in-law issues, fertility problems, loss of jobs, government shut downs, wars or the issues of every day life?
And could "Happily Ever After" just be the fact that they are no longer hidden in a dungeon or feed a poison apple?
The Brothers Grimm originally wrote the stories with more reality and less Disney. Here is an excerpt of the original Cinderella.
"The wife of a rich man fell sick, and as she felt that her end was drawing near, she called her only daughter to her bedside and said, "Dear child, be good and pious, and then the good God will always protect thee, and I will look down on thee from heaven and be near thee." Thereupon she closed her eyes and departed. Every day the maiden went out to her mother's grave, and wept, and she remained pious and good. When winter came the snow spread a white sheet over the grave, and when the spring sun had drawn it off again, the man had taken another wife.
The woman had brought two daughters into the house with her, who were beautiful and fair of face, but vile and black of heart. Now began a bad time for the poor step-child. "Is the stupid goose to sit in the parlour with us?" said they. "He who wants to eat bread must earn it; out with the kitchen-wench." They took her pretty clothes away from her, put an old grey bedgown on her, and gave her wooden shoes. "Just look at the proud princess, how decked out she is!" they cried, and laughed, and led her into the kitchen. There she had to do hard work from morning till night, get up before daybreak, carry water, light fires, cook and wash. Besides this, the sisters did her every imaginable injury -- they mocked her and emptied her peas and lentils into the ashes, so that she was forced to sit and pick them out again. In the evening when she had worked till she was weary she had no bed to go to, but had to sleep by the fireside in the ashes. And as on that account she always looked dusty and dirty, they called her Cinderella. It happened that the father was once going to the fair, and he asked his two step-daughters what he should bring back for them. "Beautiful dresses," said one, "Pearls and jewels," said the second. "And thou, Cinderella," said he, "what wilt thou have?" "Father, break off for me the first branch which knocks against your hat on your way home." So he bought beautiful dresses, pearls and jewels for his two step-daughters, and on his way home, as he was riding through a green thicket, a hazel twig brushed against him and knocked off his hat. Then he broke off the branch and took it with him. When he reached home he gave his step-daughters the things which they had wished for, and to Cinderella he gave the branch from the hazel-bush. Cinderella thanked him, went to her mother's grave and planted the branch on it, and wept so much that the tears fell down on it and watered it. And it grew, however, and became a handsome tree. Thrice a day Cinderella went and sat beneath it, and wept and prayed, and a little white bird always came on the tree, and if Cinderella expressed a wish, the bird threw down to her what she had wished for."
Cinderella was so unhappy life could only get better for her getting out of that household! And The Brothers Grimm did not even end the story with the focus on Cinderella's good fortune and life of happiness. No the story ended, "
"Afterwards as they (the stepsisters) came back, the elder was at the left, and the younger at the right, and then the pigeons pecked out the other eye of each. And thus, for their wickedness and falsehood, they were punished with blindness as long as they lived." This story ended with evil being punished.
As far as I can tell, all the story end with the heroine content and evil villain repaid for his actions.
I don't think we really expect Kate Middleton to live "Happily Ever After" in the fairy tale sense that she will never have another problem. We saw Diane struggle with feeling unloved and eating issues. I believe we are all rooting for Kate to have a wonderful marriage and getting to do and see things that we can only dream of doing because of her position. But, we know she will also pay the price of living under a microscope, being judged by strangers and human faults being magnetized when they are revealed. William is probably the luckiest in this situation. His life is not changing for the most part and yet he get a gorgeous bride that seems to genuinely adore him and has stood by his side for many years already. Maybe his reward for losing his mother at a young age and having a father that cheated.
If we don't expect William and Kate to live "Happily Ever After" how can we expect anyone to have that? I believe most of can and do live "Happily Ever After" it is just a matter of recognizing it and enjoying what you have, loving the life you are given. Sometimes we end up with ugly step sisters or locked away in a dungeon or expected to spin straw in to gold. But, most times these situations pass and you are more likely to recognize you are in the "Happily Ever After" part of the story having lived through the evil villain part and having made it out!
I believe every girl is a princess and in the end good will win and evil will be repaid. I am excited for Kate Middleton and the life she has ahead of her. I hope she has as much love in her life with her prince as I do with mine. If she has even half as much love in her life- she is sure to live (one last time) Happily Ever After!!
www.PrincessBubble.com
Saturday, April 09, 2011
Saturday, March 26, 2011
http://www.divinesecretsofadomesticdiva.com/good-reads/books-for-kids/princess-bubble/
Princess Bubble is your average fairytale. Sure there’s a
beautiful and good princess who lives in a fairytale kingdom,
but her quest to find her Prince Charming doesn’t end the
way that most “happily ever after” books do. No, this thirty
five paged book, complete with colorful and beautiful drawn
illustrations, has a very different ending.
Princess Bubble finds herself a graduate of Royal University,
she takes a job with Royal Airlines so she can learn about
other kingdoms and cultures, and then this well-rounded and
beautiful princess finds that many of her friends, also
Princesses, are starting to get married. The Queen tells
Princess Bubble she must find a Prince so she too can live
“happily every after.” But after searching for a prince,
Princess Bubble has a visit from one of my favorite Fairy
Godmothers ever. Princess Bubble’s Fairy Godmother tells
her that she doesn’t need to have a Prince Charming to have
a “happily ever after.” She tells her that if she lives a good
life, loves God, does good deeds and treats others well and is
comfortable with who she is, then she is already living her
happily ever after! Princess Bubble realizes that the other
fairytales were wrong. She realized that since she had great
family and friends, was a good person that she didn’t need a
Prince to live a happy life. Princess Bubble went on to do
many great things and she did live, “happily ever after.”
The authors, Susan Johnston and Kimberly Webb, are “never-
married, seasoned career women-turned-authors did
not meet through their former employer, Delta Airlines, but
rather through Johnston’s ex-boyfriend. These small town
Southern girls immediately became kindred spirits and have
been close friends ever since. Taking advantage of their
company travel benefits, these two well-educated women
decided to continue their education through their many
excursions all over the world. As they traveled, Johnston and
Webb formulated the idea of a new generation of fairy tales:
encouraging women to find their security in something much
deeper than a left-hand ring and to emphasize the notion that
“happily ever after” is attainable for everyone.”
What a fabulous message for young girls! Even in 2011
young women are just hit with a barrage of messages from
all around them that tell them what it means to be a “happy
woman” or a “successful” woman today. Many times this
message also says that to be complete or a success you must
marry and have a family. While I found that to be my path,
it certainly doesn’t mean that is the right decision for every
woman. This book will help me enforce the message to my
own young daughter that she can have a happily ever after
herself that may or may not include a prince of her own.
For more information on Princess Bubble, as well as other
books and where to purchase, visit their website, “like” them
on Facebook, and follow them on Twitter!
Princess Bubble is your average fairytale. Sure there’s a
beautiful and good princess who lives in a fairytale kingdom,
but her quest to find her Prince Charming doesn’t end the
way that most “happily ever after” books do. No, this thirty
five paged book, complete with colorful and beautiful drawn
illustrations, has a very different ending.
Princess Bubble finds herself a graduate of Royal University,
she takes a job with Royal Airlines so she can learn about
other kingdoms and cultures, and then this well-rounded and
beautiful princess finds that many of her friends, also
Princesses, are starting to get married. The Queen tells
Princess Bubble she must find a Prince so she too can live
“happily every after.” But after searching for a prince,
Princess Bubble has a visit from one of my favorite Fairy
Godmothers ever. Princess Bubble’s Fairy Godmother tells
her that she doesn’t need to have a Prince Charming to have
a “happily ever after.” She tells her that if she lives a good
life, loves God, does good deeds and treats others well and is
comfortable with who she is, then she is already living her
happily ever after! Princess Bubble realizes that the other
fairytales were wrong. She realized that since she had great
family and friends, was a good person that she didn’t need a
Prince to live a happy life. Princess Bubble went on to do
many great things and she did live, “happily ever after.”
The authors, Susan Johnston and Kimberly Webb, are “never-
married, seasoned career women-turned-authors
not meet through their former employer, Delta Airlines, but
rather through Johnston’s ex-boyfriend. These small town
Southern girls immediately became kindred spirits and have
been close friends ever since. Taking advantage of their
company travel benefits, these two well-educated women
decided to continue their education through their many
excursions all over the world. As they traveled, Johnston and
Webb formulated the idea of a new generation of fairy tales:
encouraging women to find their security in something much
deeper than a left-hand ring and to emphasize the notion that
“happily ever after” is attainable for everyone.”
What a fabulous message for young girls! Even in 2011
young women are just hit with a barrage of messages from
all around them that tell them what it means to be a “happy
woman” or a “successful” woman today. Many times this
message also says that to be complete or a success you must
marry and have a family. While I found that to be my path,
it certainly doesn’t mean that is the right decision for every
woman. This book will help me enforce the message to my
own young daughter that she can have a happily ever after
herself that may or may not include a prince of her own.
For more information on Princess Bubble, as well as other
books and where to purchase, visit their website, “like” them
on Facebook, and follow them on Twitter!
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
Senate Press Office
RELEASE RELEASE
For Immediate Release: For Information Contact:
January 12, 2011 Natalie Strong, Director
Katie Wright, Communications Manager
Katie.Wright@senate.ga.gov
404.656.0028
Sen. Hamrick Named Chair of Judiciary Committee
ATLANTA (January 12, 2011) – Sen. Bill Hamrick (R-Carrollton) has been appointed Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee for the 2011-2012 Term by the Senate Committee on Assignments. Sen. Hamrick will also serve on the Appropriations, Ethics, Rules and Public Safety committees. “I am honored to serve the people of Georgia in my capacity as a member of these important committees,” said Sen. Hamrick. “I look forward to working with my colleagues on creating an environment for accelerated growth and success. Our work in the committees is vital to producing concise, effective legislation.” The 152nd Legislative Session of the Georgia General Assembly convened today at the State Capitol.
# # # #
Sen. Bill Hamrick serves as Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee. He represents the 30th Senate District which includes portions of Carroll, Douglas, and Paulding counties. He may be reached at 404.656.0036 or via e-mail at bill.hamrick@senate.ga.gov.
Page 1 of 1
201 Paul D. Coverdell Legislative Office Building, 18 Capitol Square, Atlanta, Georgia 30334
404.656.0028 or outside the Atlanta area 800.282.5803
RELEASE RELEASE
For Immediate Release: For Information Contact:
January 12, 2011 Natalie Strong, Director
Katie Wright, Communications Manager
Katie.Wright@senate.ga.gov
404.656.0028
Sen. Hamrick Named Chair of Judiciary Committee
ATLANTA (January 12, 2011) – Sen. Bill Hamrick (R-Carrollton) has been appointed Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee for the 2011-2012 Term by the Senate Committee on Assignments. Sen. Hamrick will also serve on the Appropriations, Ethics, Rules and Public Safety committees. “I am honored to serve the people of Georgia in my capacity as a member of these important committees,” said Sen. Hamrick. “I look forward to working with my colleagues on creating an environment for accelerated growth and success. Our work in the committees is vital to producing concise, effective legislation.” The 152nd Legislative Session of the Georgia General Assembly convened today at the State Capitol.
# # # #
Sen. Bill Hamrick serves as Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee. He represents the 30th Senate District which includes portions of Carroll, Douglas, and Paulding counties. He may be reached at 404.656.0036 or via e-mail at bill.hamrick@senate.ga.gov.
Page 1 of 1
201 Paul D. Coverdell Legislative Office Building, 18 Capitol Square, Atlanta, Georgia 30334
404.656.0028 or outside the Atlanta area 800.282.5803
Saturday, January 08, 2011
Happy Valentine’s Day without a Prince?
Featured on The TODAY SHOW in the segment, "Raising Confident Girls"
New Release, Princess Bubble, Strikes Chord with America’s 51% SINGLE WOMEN WHO, FOR THE FIRST TIME IN U.S. HISTORY, OUTNUMBER MARRIED WOMEN
ATLANTA, January 8, 2011—This Valentine’s Day almost 90 million Americans will celebrate the romantic holiday single. Two successful prince-less princesses show the world that being a stuffy Old Maid does not have to be "in the cards" for single woman today! Susan Johnston and Kimberly Webb offer girls of all ages updated version of the traditional fairy tale. No longer a "Damsel in Distress," this princess travels the world, helps others, and finds "happily ever after" even before she finds her Prince!
With wisdom gleaned from their careers as single, globe-trotting flight attendants, first-time authors Susan Johnston Hamrick and Kimberly Webb have crafted a modern-day book that celebrates singleness. A contemporary fairy tale for all ages, Princess Bubble was written to reduce the overwhelming sense of failure, self-doubt, and despair that some single women face.
"Knowing how low self-esteem and depression plague many single females, we wanted to spread the message that ‘happily ever after’ can occur even before Prince Charming arrives. . . or even if he never does," said Webb.
"We’re definitely not anti-Prince," said Susan Johnston Hamrick (whose college nickname was "Bubble"). "We’re not anti-family or anti-marriage, if anything we’re anti-‘Damsel in Distress.’ Our message—the single life can also be a fairy tale. The End!"
Princess Bubble stars a princess who is confused by the traditional fairy tale messages that say she must find her "prince" before she can live "happily ever after." Princess Bubble dons her "thinking crown" to research traditional fairy tales, interviews married girlfriends, and even takes counsel from her mother, who advises her to sign up at FindYourPrince.com. With a little help from her fairy godmother (this is still a fairy tale after all), Ms. Bubble discovers that "living happily ever after" is not about finding a prince. "True happiness," the book reveals, "is found by loving God, being kind to others, and being comfortable with who you are already!"
Featured on The TODAY SHOW in the segment, "Raising Confident Girls"
New Release, Princess Bubble, Strikes Chord with America’s 51% SINGLE WOMEN WHO, FOR THE FIRST TIME IN U.S. HISTORY, OUTNUMBER MARRIED WOMEN
ATLANTA, January 8, 2011—This Valentine’s Day almost 90 million Americans will celebrate the romantic holiday single. Two successful prince-less princesses show the world that being a stuffy Old Maid does not have to be "in the cards" for single woman today! Susan Johnston and Kimberly Webb offer girls of all ages updated version of the traditional fairy tale. No longer a "Damsel in Distress," this princess travels the world, helps others, and finds "happily ever after" even before she finds her Prince!
With wisdom gleaned from their careers as single, globe-trotting flight attendants, first-time authors Susan Johnston Hamrick and Kimberly Webb have crafted a modern-day book that celebrates singleness. A contemporary fairy tale for all ages, Princess Bubble was written to reduce the overwhelming sense of failure, self-doubt, and despair that some single women face.
"Knowing how low self-esteem and depression plague many single females, we wanted to spread the message that ‘happily ever after’ can occur even before Prince Charming arrives. . . or even if he never does," said Webb.
"We’re definitely not anti-Prince," said Susan Johnston Hamrick (whose college nickname was "Bubble"). "We’re not anti-family or anti-marriage, if anything we’re anti-‘Damsel in Distress.’ Our message—the single life can also be a fairy tale. The End!"
Princess Bubble stars a princess who is confused by the traditional fairy tale messages that say she must find her "prince" before she can live "happily ever after." Princess Bubble dons her "thinking crown" to research traditional fairy tales, interviews married girlfriends, and even takes counsel from her mother, who advises her to sign up at FindYourPrince.com. With a little help from her fairy godmother (this is still a fairy tale after all), Ms. Bubble discovers that "living happily ever after" is not about finding a prince. "True happiness," the book reveals, "is found by loving God, being kind to others, and being comfortable with who you are already!"
A BETTER PRINCESS STORY
Reviewed by Maria Plasterer 12/28/2010
http://www.mypickofthepack.com/index.php/review_list/books-princess-bubble/
Princes Bubble was written by Susan Johnston Hamrick and Kimberly Webb, and illustrated by Maria Tonelli. In this book, the authors set out to provide an alternative to the traditional princess stories, told with beautiful watercolor illustrations. In this princess tale, you won't find any damsels in distress, wicked stepsisters or evil spells. In the Princess Bubble modern day princess story, each princess defines her own happiness and is responsible for attaining it. While experiencing an unsuccessful search for her perfect Prince Charming, and seeing her friends married off one by one, Princess Bubble finally comes to the determination that true happiness doesn't find us externally, but rather is developed from within.
(Excerpt above from Princes Bubble. Written by Susan Johnston Hamrick & Kimberly Webb. Illustrated by Maria Tonelli)
Princess Bubble is modern and independent. She is well employed, enabling her to buy her own palace and fancy car. She and her girlfriends are smart and fashionable. Princess Bubble hangs out in coffee shops with her laptop and double espressos, and even tries online dating. Princess Bubble is eventually shocked to find out that all the fairy tales are wrong, and that happy princesses are simply people who enjoy others and strive to be happy with themselves - a good lesson for a person of any age. Princess Bubble learns that while it would be wonderful to find her prefect prince, her happiness is not dependent upon it. I don't find this story to be anti-male in any way - it is simply pro-self, and is a refreshing counterpoint to the traditional princess stories. In my opinion, Susan Johnston Hamrick and Kimberly Webb succeed in providing a more positive princess story for our daughters - one which focuses on self-esteem, ignores the tick-tock of the marriage clock, centers on the pursuit of our own dreams and redefines the process of "happily ever after".
Read about the authors Susan Johnston Hamrick and Kimberly Webb at www.princessbubble.com
Reviewed by Maria Plasterer 12/28/2010
http://www.mypickofthepack.com/index.php/review_list/books-princess-bubble/
Princes Bubble was written by Susan Johnston Hamrick and Kimberly Webb, and illustrated by Maria Tonelli. In this book, the authors set out to provide an alternative to the traditional princess stories, told with beautiful watercolor illustrations. In this princess tale, you won't find any damsels in distress, wicked stepsisters or evil spells. In the Princess Bubble modern day princess story, each princess defines her own happiness and is responsible for attaining it. While experiencing an unsuccessful search for her perfect Prince Charming, and seeing her friends married off one by one, Princess Bubble finally comes to the determination that true happiness doesn't find us externally, but rather is developed from within.
(Excerpt above from Princes Bubble. Written by Susan Johnston Hamrick & Kimberly Webb. Illustrated by Maria Tonelli)
Princess Bubble is modern and independent. She is well employed, enabling her to buy her own palace and fancy car. She and her girlfriends are smart and fashionable. Princess Bubble hangs out in coffee shops with her laptop and double espressos, and even tries online dating. Princess Bubble is eventually shocked to find out that all the fairy tales are wrong, and that happy princesses are simply people who enjoy others and strive to be happy with themselves - a good lesson for a person of any age. Princess Bubble learns that while it would be wonderful to find her prefect prince, her happiness is not dependent upon it. I don't find this story to be anti-male in any way - it is simply pro-self, and is a refreshing counterpoint to the traditional princess stories. In my opinion, Susan Johnston Hamrick and Kimberly Webb succeed in providing a more positive princess story for our daughters - one which focuses on self-esteem, ignores the tick-tock of the marriage clock, centers on the pursuit of our own dreams and redefines the process of "happily ever after".
Read about the authors Susan Johnston Hamrick and Kimberly Webb at www.princessbubble.com
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