Princess Bubble makes it to India! Well, she is a flight attendant!
Going solo can be spiritually empowering as long as you take safety precautions to avoid getting into dangerously vulnerable situations, says Anuradha Varma.
Princess Bubble and the Paper Bag Princess, modern fairytale characters, can teach us a thing or two about being single. The latter got hot and dirty while trying to rescue her prince, who turned up his nose and told her to dress like a princess - he soon got the boot.
Princess Bubble was created by former flight attendants Susan Johnston and Kimberly Webb and found her happily-ever-after long before finding Prince Charming.
Read more at http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/life-style/spirituality/new-age-insight/Are-you-single/articleshow/12412365.cms
Showing posts with label anti princess. Show all posts
Showing posts with label anti princess. Show all posts
Monday, March 26, 2012
Saturday, April 09, 2011
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
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, 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!
Thursday, April 01, 2010
http://chickspeak.com/blog/2010/03/30/childrens-books-with-a-healthy-dose-of-chick-power/Children’s Books with a Healthy Dose of Chick Power
March 30, 2010 by Jasmin Charters
Do you remember when you were six and you cared for nothing else in the world but running through the sprinkler for hours, and then finishing it off with a lime popsicle?
Back then boys were gross, your energy was at full-blast 24/7, and your hero could be anyone from your mom, to Sailor Moon, to that lady you saw on TV go up into space.
Of course, back then also meant that going to bed would never, ever, ever happen unless your parents read Angelina Ballerina to you four times in a row. That was the time when speaking French just like Madeline, and dressing up just like Miss Piggy were your only concerns in life. Those were the days.
As we get older, we start reading the classics. Mary Lennox, Anne Shirley, Elizabeth Bennett, Jo March, these girls had an incredible understanding of the time in which they lived, and a blatant disregard for what that time expected of them. They were individuals with minds of their own.
But these days, things have changed. In a time when Bella Swan’s unlikely dilemma takes center stage, and Hollywood starlet autobiographies make the New York Times bestseller list, it’s easy to see why we lose touch with those initial female role models we all aspired to be.
So let’s get back to basics, back to when Arthur was always on TV, and The Berenstain Bears were hugely popular. Today we’re focusing on the books that were headed by strong female protagonists, the little girls of storybook land who infused in us a little dose of girl power, and a keen sense of self. Were we aware that these were the kinds of girls that would help shape us into the women we are today?
Before you get lost in responsibility, commitments, relationships, papers, and deadlines again, take a deep breath and pick up your favorite children’s book from when you were a kid. Cindy Lou Who, Matilda and Princess Smartypantswant to remind you of something.
Check out this list of children’s book super-girls:
Princess Bubble, A Modern Day Fairy Tale for All Ages by Susan Johnston and Kimberly Web
The message in Princess Bubble is timeless, relevant, and true because she, our princess and our hero, reminds us that “we are special, ‘As Is! Prince or no prince.’” As authors Johnston and Web convey to their readers, “our value is not determined by our dress size, age, or marital status.
The book’s unique message of hope speaks to school-aged children claiming their own identity, to college graduates struggling for direction, and to divorcees mapping out an unexpected “plan B” for their future.” Princess Bubble reminds us that breaking convention, learning about different cultures, and about ourselves in the process, is a good thing. After all, you’re the author of your own happy ending, prince, or no prince.
Eloise by Kay Thompson
Eloise is a free spirit, something we should all aspire to be. After all, isn’t that what being a kid is all about? As Kay Thompson so brilliantly put it, “Henry James would want to study her. Queen Victoria would recognize her as an Equal. The New York Jets would want to have her on their side. Lewis Carroll would love her (once he got over the initial shock).” The girl has inner resources, and a mind of her own. She is curious, and loves to explore. She loves everything about life, and it’s admirable. As adults, we lose that side of ourselves and Eloise helps us find it again.
Charlotte’s Web by E.B. White
Sure Charlotte is a spider, but she’s the loveliest spider I have ever met. She’s compassionate, and non-judgmental, while Fern, who also helps save Wilbur from an untimely end, is a courageous young girl with a heart of gold. Charlotte’s Web is still read by children in schools all over North America, praised for its sensitively, intelligence and ability to inspire. Charlotte reminds us to be kindhearted, and considerate. When Wilbur judges Charlotte for the way she eats (by capturing and snaring flies), he becomes scared of her. Charlotte helps us to remember that we must try not to judge anyone by his or her appearance, or by what they do, or in Charlotte’s case, how they eat. First impressions are almost always wrong. Meanwhile, Fern reminds us to be a friend to all, including the pigs and spiders of the world.
The Paperbag Princess by Robert Munsch
The Paperbag Princess was born from a simple question conversationally asked by Munsch’s wife Ann: “How come you always have the prince save the princess? Why can’t the princess save the prince?” The rest, you might say, is history. So, the moral of this story is this: bite the bullet and take the bull by the horns. Do as the Paperbag Princess did and do what’s unexpected of you,because you’re a girl. I dare you!
Olivia by Ian Falconer
Olivia is a pig with an overabundance of energy, and like any little girl, she puts it to creative use. In each of Olivia’s books, she embarks on some kind of adventure, whether that’s taming lions, becoming an amateur detective, starting a band, or building a skyscraper out of sand. She’s always getting into mischief, and she does it in style. Olivia reminds us to do what makes us happy, even if it means trying on a few hats before we find what it is we’re looking for.
Pippi Longstocking by Astrid Lindgren
In an article by Tiina Meri, Pippi Longstocking is heralded as a “Swedish rebel and a feminist role model” for kids all around the world. Pippi is a strong, level-headed girl with a knack for story-telling and a penchant for swimming. She has faith in her own abilities, and is incredibly intelligent, despite the adults around her who beg to differ. Pippi is not concerned with how she looks, and dresses the way she likes.
And instead of giving into an advertisement asking “Do you suffer from freckles?”, Pippi scoffs the idea that she suffers from anything, and embraces her freckles proclaiming “I like them!” Pippi that reminds us to be who we are, no matter what anyone says, that sharing and respect are of the utmost importance, and that having fun is just as vital in life than playing by the rules.
Hey Chick’s, who would you add to the list?
For more information, check out the Amelia Bloomer Project for a bibliography of books for young readers with a feminist message.
March 30, 2010 by Jasmin Charters
Do you remember when you were six and you cared for nothing else in the world but running through the sprinkler for hours, and then finishing it off with a lime popsicle?
Back then boys were gross, your energy was at full-blast 24/7, and your hero could be anyone from your mom, to Sailor Moon, to that lady you saw on TV go up into space.
Of course, back then also meant that going to bed would never, ever, ever happen unless your parents read Angelina Ballerina to you four times in a row. That was the time when speaking French just like Madeline, and dressing up just like Miss Piggy were your only concerns in life. Those were the days.
As we get older, we start reading the classics. Mary Lennox, Anne Shirley, Elizabeth Bennett, Jo March, these girls had an incredible understanding of the time in which they lived, and a blatant disregard for what that time expected of them. They were individuals with minds of their own.
But these days, things have changed. In a time when Bella Swan’s unlikely dilemma takes center stage, and Hollywood starlet autobiographies make the New York Times bestseller list, it’s easy to see why we lose touch with those initial female role models we all aspired to be.
So let’s get back to basics, back to when Arthur was always on TV, and The Berenstain Bears were hugely popular. Today we’re focusing on the books that were headed by strong female protagonists, the little girls of storybook land who infused in us a little dose of girl power, and a keen sense of self. Were we aware that these were the kinds of girls that would help shape us into the women we are today?
Before you get lost in responsibility, commitments, relationships, papers, and deadlines again, take a deep breath and pick up your favorite children’s book from when you were a kid. Cindy Lou Who, Matilda and Princess Smartypantswant to remind you of something.
Check out this list of children’s book super-girls:
Princess Bubble, A Modern Day Fairy Tale for All Ages by Susan Johnston and Kimberly Web
The message in Princess Bubble is timeless, relevant, and true because she, our princess and our hero, reminds us that “we are special, ‘As Is! Prince or no prince.’” As authors Johnston and Web convey to their readers, “our value is not determined by our dress size, age, or marital status.
The book’s unique message of hope speaks to school-aged children claiming their own identity, to college graduates struggling for direction, and to divorcees mapping out an unexpected “plan B” for their future.” Princess Bubble reminds us that breaking convention, learning about different cultures, and about ourselves in the process, is a good thing. After all, you’re the author of your own happy ending, prince, or no prince.
Eloise by Kay Thompson
Eloise is a free spirit, something we should all aspire to be. After all, isn’t that what being a kid is all about? As Kay Thompson so brilliantly put it, “Henry James would want to study her. Queen Victoria would recognize her as an Equal. The New York Jets would want to have her on their side. Lewis Carroll would love her (once he got over the initial shock).” The girl has inner resources, and a mind of her own. She is curious, and loves to explore. She loves everything about life, and it’s admirable. As adults, we lose that side of ourselves and Eloise helps us find it again.
Charlotte’s Web by E.B. White
Sure Charlotte is a spider, but she’s the loveliest spider I have ever met. She’s compassionate, and non-judgmental, while Fern, who also helps save Wilbur from an untimely end, is a courageous young girl with a heart of gold. Charlotte’s Web is still read by children in schools all over North America, praised for its sensitively, intelligence and ability to inspire. Charlotte reminds us to be kindhearted, and considerate. When Wilbur judges Charlotte for the way she eats (by capturing and snaring flies), he becomes scared of her. Charlotte helps us to remember that we must try not to judge anyone by his or her appearance, or by what they do, or in Charlotte’s case, how they eat. First impressions are almost always wrong. Meanwhile, Fern reminds us to be a friend to all, including the pigs and spiders of the world.
The Paperbag Princess by Robert Munsch
The Paperbag Princess was born from a simple question conversationally asked by Munsch’s wife Ann: “How come you always have the prince save the princess? Why can’t the princess save the prince?” The rest, you might say, is history. So, the moral of this story is this: bite the bullet and take the bull by the horns. Do as the Paperbag Princess did and do what’s unexpected of you,because you’re a girl. I dare you!
Olivia by Ian Falconer
Olivia is a pig with an overabundance of energy, and like any little girl, she puts it to creative use. In each of Olivia’s books, she embarks on some kind of adventure, whether that’s taming lions, becoming an amateur detective, starting a band, or building a skyscraper out of sand. She’s always getting into mischief, and she does it in style. Olivia reminds us to do what makes us happy, even if it means trying on a few hats before we find what it is we’re looking for.
Pippi Longstocking by Astrid Lindgren
In an article by Tiina Meri, Pippi Longstocking is heralded as a “Swedish rebel and a feminist role model” for kids all around the world. Pippi is a strong, level-headed girl with a knack for story-telling and a penchant for swimming. She has faith in her own abilities, and is incredibly intelligent, despite the adults around her who beg to differ. Pippi is not concerned with how she looks, and dresses the way she likes.
And instead of giving into an advertisement asking “Do you suffer from freckles?”, Pippi scoffs the idea that she suffers from anything, and embraces her freckles proclaiming “I like them!” Pippi that reminds us to be who we are, no matter what anyone says, that sharing and respect are of the utmost importance, and that having fun is just as vital in life than playing by the rules.
Hey Chick’s, who would you add to the list?
For more information, check out the Amelia Bloomer Project for a bibliography of books for young readers with a feminist message.
Saturday, February 20, 2010
Let Your Princess See The Importance of Self Esteem
February 18, 2010 by Chris
About The Book
You know how the story goes—Prince Charming, “Happily Ever After,” The End, right? Is this the ONLY option today’s moms want to share with their young daughters? Two successful girlfriends are offering parents an 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!
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!”
“We are definitely not anti-Prince,” said Webb. “We just believe that young girls today are bombarded with so much inaccurate advice on how to build their self-esteem—messages that focus on the outside rather than what’s within. We want to change that message.” Johnston, recently married, said, “Princess Bubble is a better version of us. She is educated, well traveled, wants to make a difference, owns her own castle and had also been a bridesmaid and is told in the story that she will wear the bridesmaid dress again.
With wisdom gleaned from their careers as independent, globe-trotting flight attendants, first-time authors Susan Johnston Hamrick and Kimberly Webb have crafted a new generation of fairy tales that celebrates singleness and self worth. A contemporary fairy tale for all ages, Princess Bubble was written to reduce the overwhelming sense of failure, self-doubt, and despair that many youth face.
Three most common disorders in girls: low self-esteem, depression, and eating disorders
In 2003, breast implants tripled from 3,872 to 11,326 in girls under age 18
Girls ages 12 to 19 spent over $8 million on cosmetics in 2005
(Source: Report of the APA Task Force on the Sexualization of Girls,2007)
“I adore sharing the Princess Bubble message with my daughter because it teaches her that happiness comes from within,” said Kim Daniels, mother of two.
ABOUT PRINCESS BUBBLE and BUBBLE GUM PRESS: The Princess Bubble message,
cleverly articulated by former Delta flight attendants Susan Johnston and Kimberly Webb, seeks to find an alternate ending to “happily ever after” and change the notion that life begins and ends with finding your Prince
Charming. Looking to bolster the poor self-esteem of female youth and the stigma that many single adult women carry, Johnston and Webb believe“this is a book for women of all ages, a story they can believe in and share with their children.” In upcoming adventures, Princess Bubble will travel to distant
lands where the knowledge of every new culture will enrich her flourishing life.
My Take On The Book
I am the father of two daughters and everyday I worry about the external influences which will make them feel that they must act or dress a certain way. This message within this book was one that I plan to read over and over to my girls as they get older. The message that a girl can choose the life she wants and that she does not need a man and money to be happy is what young girls need to hear today. Princess Bubble allows girls to see that there are many other ways to achieve happiness.
The illustrations within this book were great and helped my girls understand the message that was being shared. I liked the idea that a “happily ever after” doesn’t have to be the kind that you see in the movies. Instead it is more important that they create their own “happily ever after” no matter what that may be.
I received a copy of this book as a review, but it did not effect my review of this book.
About the author:
A father of two who works to balance working full time in college administration along with trying to regain his kingdom on a daily basis. Exploring the joys and challenges of being a father, parent and husband, you can explore the divadom with him daily at http://dadofdivas.blogspot.com
Tags:
February 18, 2010 by Chris
About The Book
You know how the story goes—Prince Charming, “Happily Ever After,” The End, right? Is this the ONLY option today’s moms want to share with their young daughters? Two successful girlfriends are offering parents an 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!
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!”
“We are definitely not anti-Prince,” said Webb. “We just believe that young girls today are bombarded with so much inaccurate advice on how to build their self-esteem—messages that focus on the outside rather than what’s within. We want to change that message.” Johnston, recently married, said, “Princess Bubble is a better version of us. She is educated, well traveled, wants to make a difference, owns her own castle and had also been a bridesmaid and is told in the story that she will wear the bridesmaid dress again.
With wisdom gleaned from their careers as independent, globe-trotting flight attendants, first-time authors Susan Johnston Hamrick and Kimberly Webb have crafted a new generation of fairy tales that celebrates singleness and self worth. A contemporary fairy tale for all ages, Princess Bubble was written to reduce the overwhelming sense of failure, self-doubt, and despair that many youth face.
Three most common disorders in girls: low self-esteem, depression, and eating disorders
In 2003, breast implants tripled from 3,872 to 11,326 in girls under age 18
Girls ages 12 to 19 spent over $8 million on cosmetics in 2005
(Source: Report of the APA Task Force on the Sexualization of Girls,2007)
“I adore sharing the Princess Bubble message with my daughter because it teaches her that happiness comes from within,” said Kim Daniels, mother of two.
ABOUT PRINCESS BUBBLE and BUBBLE GUM PRESS: The Princess Bubble message,
cleverly articulated by former Delta flight attendants Susan Johnston and Kimberly Webb, seeks to find an alternate ending to “happily ever after” and change the notion that life begins and ends with finding your Prince
Charming. Looking to bolster the poor self-esteem of female youth and the stigma that many single adult women carry, Johnston and Webb believe“this is a book for women of all ages, a story they can believe in and share with their children.” In upcoming adventures, Princess Bubble will travel to distant
lands where the knowledge of every new culture will enrich her flourishing life.
My Take On The Book
I am the father of two daughters and everyday I worry about the external influences which will make them feel that they must act or dress a certain way. This message within this book was one that I plan to read over and over to my girls as they get older. The message that a girl can choose the life she wants and that she does not need a man and money to be happy is what young girls need to hear today. Princess Bubble allows girls to see that there are many other ways to achieve happiness.
The illustrations within this book were great and helped my girls understand the message that was being shared. I liked the idea that a “happily ever after” doesn’t have to be the kind that you see in the movies. Instead it is more important that they create their own “happily ever after” no matter what that may be.
I received a copy of this book as a review, but it did not effect my review of this book.
About the author:
A father of two who works to balance working full time in college administration along with trying to regain his kingdom on a daily basis. Exploring the joys and challenges of being a father, parent and husband, you can explore the divadom with him daily at http://dadofdivas.blogspot.com
Tags:
Tuesday, February 02, 2010
The Monday after I graduated from college I began a career as a flight attendant traveling the world and having a wonderful time. My college friends began to marry off and I made new friends who also married off. So, I made more friends who mostly married off as well. By this point, I had been in 17 weddings and maid of honor in six of those. I went to visit a friend and was playing Barbie with her daughter when I was informed by this 6 year old that Barbie could not be happy without a prince. I said, "Of course she could! I was happy! I loved my family and had seen the world." But, this little princess told be it could not be done and she had all the fairy tales to prove her case. All princesses only ended up happy when they found their prince!
On my flight home, I thought about this conversation and decided fairy tales must change! I was not anti-prince. Just anti-damsel in distress. I wanted girls to marry because they found the love of their life after they loved their life. Because I knew even a prince could not make a miserable person happy. True happiness comes from within and from helping others.
So, I wrote a book Princess Bubble and published it with a friend. We cashed in our savings and decided it was worth the expense to empower girls and remind them they are a princess with or without a prince. Word got out about our message and we appeared on The Today Show and CNN.
But right in the middle of spreading the meaning of "Happily Ever After" my world crashed and my father suddenly died. We were thick as thieves and I was holding back tears of pain while making TV appearances about how to be happy. I still believe my message but missed my sweet daddy.
Meanwhile, my mother told me she had someone to fix me up with. A State Senator,Bill Hamrick, who had been at Auburn the same time I was and who was also in his 40's and single. I did not think much about this but thought it was worth meeting him. Bill's mother was also working on Bill encouraging him to call me and he had even less interest in meeting someone his mother suggested. But, one night he had a dream and remembered a girl he had seen in college who smiled at him and he did not have the never to approach. The next day, Bill clicked on the link to my CNN appearance to see who this girl was his mother wanted him to meet and saw I was the girl from his dream the night before.
We met, fell in love and were married 6 months later. Our wedding day, I shed a few tears and looked up at the sky begging God for a sign from my daddy. Shortly after we said our vows a double rainbow appeared across the sky and I know it was God and my father smiling down on us!
First, I found happily ever after. Then I found a prince to share it with!
On my flight home, I thought about this conversation and decided fairy tales must change! I was not anti-prince. Just anti-damsel in distress. I wanted girls to marry because they found the love of their life after they loved their life. Because I knew even a prince could not make a miserable person happy. True happiness comes from within and from helping others.
So, I wrote a book Princess Bubble and published it with a friend. We cashed in our savings and decided it was worth the expense to empower girls and remind them they are a princess with or without a prince. Word got out about our message and we appeared on The Today Show and CNN.
But right in the middle of spreading the meaning of "Happily Ever After" my world crashed and my father suddenly died. We were thick as thieves and I was holding back tears of pain while making TV appearances about how to be happy. I still believe my message but missed my sweet daddy.
Meanwhile, my mother told me she had someone to fix me up with. A State Senator,Bill Hamrick, who had been at Auburn the same time I was and who was also in his 40's and single. I did not think much about this but thought it was worth meeting him. Bill's mother was also working on Bill encouraging him to call me and he had even less interest in meeting someone his mother suggested. But, one night he had a dream and remembered a girl he had seen in college who smiled at him and he did not have the never to approach. The next day, Bill clicked on the link to my CNN appearance to see who this girl was his mother wanted him to meet and saw I was the girl from his dream the night before.
We met, fell in love and were married 6 months later. Our wedding day, I shed a few tears and looked up at the sky begging God for a sign from my daddy. Shortly after we said our vows a double rainbow appeared across the sky and I know it was God and my father smiling down on us!
First, I found happily ever after. Then I found a prince to share it with!
Saturday, October 10, 2009
Princess Bubble Book Review: A Princess Who Empowers Girls
http://www.theshoppingmama.com/2009/10/princess-bubble-book-review-princess.html
Princess Bubble is a fairy tale for today's modern girl. Written by friends Susan Johnston and Kimberly Webb, the women wanted to make that point that "although princes are fabulous, a princess must find her security in something much deeper. Johnston and Webb want women of all ages to embrace the truth that 'happily ever after' is attainable for everyone." I think you can understand why I was immediately intrigued and interested in learning more about Princess Bubble!
Princess Bubble is a 35-page, modern-day fairy tale starring a well-employed, globe-trotting, good-friend, good-date, helpful-neighbor princess who is confused by the traditional fairy tale message that implies she must find her “prince” before she can live “happily ever after.”
The story of Princess Bubble begins when she graduates from Royal University and heads into the world as a working woman. She lives in a castle all her own and socializes with other Princesses. I laughed out loud at when Princess Bubble and her friends were bridesmaid in royal weddings and wearing "Long, colorful bridesmaids' dresses and dyed satin shoes that they were told they would wear again." As her friends are marrying off, the Queen advises Princess Bubble to find a Prince. The Princess makes an effort to meet her husband, but upon reflection and a visit from her Fairy Godmother Princess Bubble realizes she's perfectly content. She has friends, family and a fulfilling life without a Prince.
The message isn't that she is anti-Prince or that she will forever live the single life. Rather, the idea is that Princess Bubble is already living her happily ever after. “We are definitely not anti-Prince,” author Kimberly Webb explained. “We just believe that young girls today are bombarded with so much inaccurate advice on how to build their self-esteem—messages that focus on the outside rather than what’s within. We want to change that message.”
To Buy... Yes! At less than $10, this modern day fairy tale has a fun story, a great message and is the perfect gift for any girl in your life. Even an adult girlfriend will get a kick out of Princess Bubble's story and the modern life parallels to traditional fairy tale themes.
Or Not to Buy... Princess Bubble is targeted for girls aged 6 and older and younger girls might be a little bored by the storyline and many references will likely go right over a young girl's head.
Shop! Princess Bubble is available for purchase on Amazon for only $9.60.
Thank you to the authors for providing a sample product for the purposes of this review. The opinions are mine and uninfluenced and others may have different experience.
http://www.theshoppingmama.com/2009/10/princess-bubble-book-review-princess.html
Princess Bubble is a fairy tale for today's modern girl. Written by friends Susan Johnston and Kimberly Webb, the women wanted to make that point that "although princes are fabulous, a princess must find her security in something much deeper. Johnston and Webb want women of all ages to embrace the truth that 'happily ever after' is attainable for everyone." I think you can understand why I was immediately intrigued and interested in learning more about Princess Bubble!
Princess Bubble is a 35-page, modern-day fairy tale starring a well-employed, globe-trotting, good-friend, good-date, helpful-neighbor princess who is confused by the traditional fairy tale message that implies she must find her “prince” before she can live “happily ever after.”
The story of Princess Bubble begins when she graduates from Royal University and heads into the world as a working woman. She lives in a castle all her own and socializes with other Princesses. I laughed out loud at when Princess Bubble and her friends were bridesmaid in royal weddings and wearing "Long, colorful bridesmaids' dresses and dyed satin shoes that they were told they would wear again." As her friends are marrying off, the Queen advises Princess Bubble to find a Prince. The Princess makes an effort to meet her husband, but upon reflection and a visit from her Fairy Godmother Princess Bubble realizes she's perfectly content. She has friends, family and a fulfilling life without a Prince.
The message isn't that she is anti-Prince or that she will forever live the single life. Rather, the idea is that Princess Bubble is already living her happily ever after. “We are definitely not anti-Prince,” author Kimberly Webb explained. “We just believe that young girls today are bombarded with so much inaccurate advice on how to build their self-esteem—messages that focus on the outside rather than what’s within. We want to change that message.”
To Buy... Yes! At less than $10, this modern day fairy tale has a fun story, a great message and is the perfect gift for any girl in your life. Even an adult girlfriend will get a kick out of Princess Bubble's story and the modern life parallels to traditional fairy tale themes.
Or Not to Buy... Princess Bubble is targeted for girls aged 6 and older and younger girls might be a little bored by the storyline and many references will likely go right over a young girl's head.
Shop! Princess Bubble is available for purchase on Amazon for only $9.60.
Thank you to the authors for providing a sample product for the purposes of this review. The opinions are mine and uninfluenced and others may have different experience.
Monday, October 05, 2009
A modern day fairy tale for girls of all ages
By Terry Hernon MacDonald October 5, 2009
http://www.singlewomenrule.com/2009/10/a-modern-day-fairy-tale-for-girls-of-all-ages/
A wonderful little book crossed my desk recently, and I wished it were around during the days I read bedtime stories to my two daughters (I nearly had an aneurysm once reading The Princess and the Pea to my older daughter; I did not repeat the mistake with the younger one).
But this book, Princess Bubble, wrtten by Susan Johnston and Kimberly Webb and illustrated by Maria Tonellis, tells the story of a “beautiful and blissful” princess who graduates from college eager to travel and meet people in other lands. Her career allows her to buy a palace of her own, where princesses from other kingdoms gather for all sorts of fun and frolic. But the party comes to a slow end when the others drop out to get married. And then everybody keeps asking why poor Princess Bubble hasn’t found a prince of her own.
The queen, getting desperate, starts a search for her daughter’s Royal Mr. Right, and Princess Bubble goes along with this. For a while.
A Fairy Godmother clues her in:
Living happily ever after is not about finding a prince. True happiness is found by loving God, being kind to others, and being comfortable with who you are already!”
The kid wises up. She realizes that she’s living a wonderful life. She revels in her achievements. She loves her family, and her friends.
And she lives happily ever after.
If you’re in the market for a children’s book that teaches girls to live by their own lights, and that there’s more to life than getting married, take a look at Princess Bubble.
www.PrincessBubble.com
By Terry Hernon MacDonald October 5, 2009
http://www.singlewomenrule.com/2009/10/a-modern-day-fairy-tale-for-girls-of-all-ages/
A wonderful little book crossed my desk recently, and I wished it were around during the days I read bedtime stories to my two daughters (I nearly had an aneurysm once reading The Princess and the Pea to my older daughter; I did not repeat the mistake with the younger one).
But this book, Princess Bubble, wrtten by Susan Johnston and Kimberly Webb and illustrated by Maria Tonellis, tells the story of a “beautiful and blissful” princess who graduates from college eager to travel and meet people in other lands. Her career allows her to buy a palace of her own, where princesses from other kingdoms gather for all sorts of fun and frolic. But the party comes to a slow end when the others drop out to get married. And then everybody keeps asking why poor Princess Bubble hasn’t found a prince of her own.
The queen, getting desperate, starts a search for her daughter’s Royal Mr. Right, and Princess Bubble goes along with this. For a while.
A Fairy Godmother clues her in:
Living happily ever after is not about finding a prince. True happiness is found by loving God, being kind to others, and being comfortable with who you are already!”
The kid wises up. She realizes that she’s living a wonderful life. She revels in her achievements. She loves her family, and her friends.
And she lives happily ever after.
If you’re in the market for a children’s book that teaches girls to live by their own lights, and that there’s more to life than getting married, take a look at Princess Bubble.
www.PrincessBubble.com
Monday, September 28, 2009
SEPTEMBER 2009
Breaking the Princess Stereotype: Princess Bubble
http://ecochildsplay.com/2008/04/17/breaking-the-p…rincess-bubblebreaking-the-princess-stereotype-princess-bubble/
The feminist, eco-mom's lament: What to do about princesses!
For the first two years of my daughter's life, I shielded her from fairy tales and Disney movies about happily ever after and surrounded her with books about animals and nature. Then, she met a little girl that would become her best friend, who also introduced her to the world of Disney Princesses. I was happy my daughter had formed a strong relationship with another child, but there was no returning to our blissful, royalty-free days.
Breaking princess stereotypes
I've read several stories that try to break the princess stereotype, such asCinder Edna and The Paper Bag Princess. Princess Bubble, written by Susan Johnston and Kimberly Webb, is the story of a princess who is beautiful, a graduate of Royal University, employed by Royal Heir Line, and is happy with her life. As her other princess friends begin to marry their princes, Princess Bubble is pressured by the queen to find a prince.
But, Bubble did not believe just any prince would bring her "happily ever after." Yet the fairy tales said she must find HER prince! So she put on her thinking crown and re-read the fairy tales for clues on where to find her prince. She soon realized that unlike the other princesses, She was not trapped in a dungeon...She had no wicked stepsisters or stepmother...She did not know any dwarfs...Nor did she live under the sea. But the most confusing part was...She was already happy!
Finally, a story about a princess that does not need a prince. Although, I do wish Princess Bubble had a different career, as it appears in the illustrations that she is an airline stewardess. If the author really intended to break stereotypes, Bubble would have been a pilot. I also think the name Bubble is a little strange, as if her name implies she is living in a bubble by not following tradition and marrying a prince, or perhaps it is the princess stereotype bubble she is bursting.
How would your child define a princess?
I asked my six-year-old daughter to describe a princess to me. Here is her description:
nice
beautiful
pretty
kind
lives in a castle
wears pink and purple
marries a prince (UGH!)
After she gave me her list, I asked her if a princess has to marry a prince. She answered, "No, because Princess Bubble couldn't find one." Thank you Princess Bubble! Of course, I would add to the list that a princess is an environmentalist that uses her royal clout to pass strong environmental regulations to curb climate change, but then again, my daughter is only six!
Breaking the Princess Stereotype: Princess Bubble
http://ecochildsplay.com/2008/04/17/breaking-the-p…rincess-bubblebreaking-the-princess-stereotype-princess-bubble/
The feminist, eco-mom's lament: What to do about princesses!
For the first two years of my daughter's life, I shielded her from fairy tales and Disney movies about happily ever after and surrounded her with books about animals and nature. Then, she met a little girl that would become her best friend, who also introduced her to the world of Disney Princesses. I was happy my daughter had formed a strong relationship with another child, but there was no returning to our blissful, royalty-free days.
Breaking princess stereotypes
I've read several stories that try to break the princess stereotype, such asCinder Edna and The Paper Bag Princess. Princess Bubble, written by Susan Johnston and Kimberly Webb, is the story of a princess who is beautiful, a graduate of Royal University, employed by Royal Heir Line, and is happy with her life. As her other princess friends begin to marry their princes, Princess Bubble is pressured by the queen to find a prince.
But, Bubble did not believe just any prince would bring her "happily ever after." Yet the fairy tales said she must find HER prince! So she put on her thinking crown and re-read the fairy tales for clues on where to find her prince. She soon realized that unlike the other princesses, She was not trapped in a dungeon...She had no wicked stepsisters or stepmother...She did not know any dwarfs...Nor did she live under the sea. But the most confusing part was...She was already happy!
Finally, a story about a princess that does not need a prince. Although, I do wish Princess Bubble had a different career, as it appears in the illustrations that she is an airline stewardess. If the author really intended to break stereotypes, Bubble would have been a pilot. I also think the name Bubble is a little strange, as if her name implies she is living in a bubble by not following tradition and marrying a prince, or perhaps it is the princess stereotype bubble she is bursting.
How would your child define a princess?
I asked my six-year-old daughter to describe a princess to me. Here is her description:
nice
beautiful
pretty
kind
lives in a castle
wears pink and purple
marries a prince (UGH!)
After she gave me her list, I asked her if a princess has to marry a prince. She answered, "No, because Princess Bubble couldn't find one." Thank you Princess Bubble! Of course, I would add to the list that a princess is an environmentalist that uses her royal clout to pass strong environmental regulations to curb climate change, but then again, my daughter is only six!
Monday, July 27, 2009
This Princess Empowers Girls!
Modern Princesses Redefine Fairy Tale Endings for Young Readers!
You know how the story goes—Prince Charming, “Happily Ever After,” The End, right? Is this the ONLY option today’s moms want to share with their young daughters? Two successful girlfriends are offering parents an 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!
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.comFindYourPrince.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!”
“We are definitely not anti-Prince,” said Webb. “We just believe that young girls today are bombarded with so much inaccurate advice on how to build their self-esteem—messages that focus on the outside rather than what’s within. We want to change that message.” Johnston, recently married, said, "Princess Bubble is a better version of us. She is educated, well traveled, wants to make a difference, owns her own castle and had also been a bridesmaid and is told in the story that she will wear the bridesmaid dress again.
With wisdom gleaned from their careers as independent, globe-trotting flight attendants, first-time authors Susan Johnston Hamrick and Kimberly Webb have crafted a new generation of fairy tales that celebrates singleness and self worth. A contemporary fairy tale for all ages, Princess Bubble was written to reduce the overwhelming sense of failure, self-doubt, and despair that many youth face.
Three most common disorders in girls: low self-esteem, depression, and eating disorders
In 2003, breast implants tripled from 3,872 to 11,326 in girls under age 18
Girls ages 12 to 19 spent over $8 million on cosmetics in 2005
(Source: Report of the APA Task Force on the Sexualization of Girls,2007)
“I adore sharing the Princess Bubble message with my daughter because it teaches her that happiness comes from within,” said Kim Daniels, mother of two.
http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/showbiz/2008/08/11/intv.susan.johnston.cnn?iref=videosearch
Many concerned mothers today worry about raising their princess. There is a royal struggle to have fun with fairy tales and at the same time teach girls the true meaning of “Happily Ever After!”
This is a story I can truly believe in and feel comfortable sharing with my children.”
—Noelle Williams, mother of three
“We’ve had countless women all over the nation tell us they wish there had been a book like this when they were little.”
"Recently, my life took an unexpected turn I NEVER expected for myself and I met a prince. This relationship has made me even more passionate about the message of Princess Bubble because we both feel so strongly about being happy first and then as secure happy people you are able to encourage each other to fulfill their dreams and be a better person. Not expect the other person to be the dream."
—Susan Johnston Hamrick, Princess Bubble author
ABOUT PRINCESS BUBBLE and BUBBLE GUM PRESS: The Princess Bubble message, cleverly articulated by former Delta flight attendants Susan Johnston and Kimberly Webb, seeks to find an alternate ending to “happily ever after” and change the notion that life begins and ends with finding your Prince Charming. Looking to bolster the poor self-esteem of female youth and the stigma that many single adult women carry, Johnston and Webb believe“this is a book for women of all ages, a story they can believe in and share with their children.” In upcoming adventures, Princess Bubble will travel to distant lands where the knowledge of every new culture will enrich her flourishing life.
Modern Princesses Redefine Fairy Tale Endings for Young Readers!
You know how the story goes—Prince Charming, “Happily Ever After,” The End, right? Is this the ONLY option today’s moms want to share with their young daughters? Two successful girlfriends are offering parents an 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!
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.comFindYourPrince.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!”
“We are definitely not anti-Prince,” said Webb. “We just believe that young girls today are bombarded with so much inaccurate advice on how to build their self-esteem—messages that focus on the outside rather than what’s within. We want to change that message.” Johnston, recently married, said, "Princess Bubble is a better version of us. She is educated, well traveled, wants to make a difference, owns her own castle and had also been a bridesmaid and is told in the story that she will wear the bridesmaid dress again.
With wisdom gleaned from their careers as independent, globe-trotting flight attendants, first-time authors Susan Johnston Hamrick and Kimberly Webb have crafted a new generation of fairy tales that celebrates singleness and self worth. A contemporary fairy tale for all ages, Princess Bubble was written to reduce the overwhelming sense of failure, self-doubt, and despair that many youth face.
Three most common disorders in girls: low self-esteem, depression, and eating disorders
In 2003, breast implants tripled from 3,872 to 11,326 in girls under age 18
Girls ages 12 to 19 spent over $8 million on cosmetics in 2005
(Source: Report of the APA Task Force on the Sexualization of Girls,2007)
“I adore sharing the Princess Bubble message with my daughter because it teaches her that happiness comes from within,” said Kim Daniels, mother of two.
http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/showbiz/2008/08/11/intv.susan.johnston.cnn?iref=videosearch
Many concerned mothers today worry about raising their princess. There is a royal struggle to have fun with fairy tales and at the same time teach girls the true meaning of “Happily Ever After!”
This is a story I can truly believe in and feel comfortable sharing with my children.”
—Noelle Williams, mother of three
“We’ve had countless women all over the nation tell us they wish there had been a book like this when they were little.”
"Recently, my life took an unexpected turn I NEVER expected for myself and I met a prince. This relationship has made me even more passionate about the message of Princess Bubble because we both feel so strongly about being happy first and then as secure happy people you are able to encourage each other to fulfill their dreams and be a better person. Not expect the other person to be the dream."
—Susan Johnston Hamrick, Princess Bubble author
ABOUT PRINCESS BUBBLE and BUBBLE GUM PRESS: The Princess Bubble message, cleverly articulated by former Delta flight attendants Susan Johnston and Kimberly Webb, seeks to find an alternate ending to “happily ever after” and change the notion that life begins and ends with finding your Prince Charming. Looking to bolster the poor self-esteem of female youth and the stigma that many single adult women carry, Johnston and Webb believe“this is a book for women of all ages, a story they can believe in and share with their children.” In upcoming adventures, Princess Bubble will travel to distant lands where the knowledge of every new culture will enrich her flourishing life.
Tuesday, April 07, 2009
Princess Bubble
http://marcellahawkinsno.blogspot.com/2009/04/princess-bubble.html
As a mother of a six-year-old miss, I chance myself in a invariant conflict ( already! ) with the `` idealised '' female. In point of fact, I conceive the indoctrination of lassie gets at birth, but it hits hardest between the ages of 3-7 when they are literally plunged in the `` princess civilization ''. So, when I saw the book Princess Bubble by Susan Johnston and Kimberly Webb, it was as if the clouds splitted and ray of light interrupted through.
Princess Bubble, according to the writer 's site is a character who is `` a well-employed, globe-trotting, good-friend, good-date, helpful-neighbor princess who is confounded by the traditional fairy story message that connote she must happen her `` prince '' before she can inhabit happily ever after. ' ''
Can you tell Eureka?!
I holded a opportunity to verbalise with Susan Johnston on the telephone about her book and she stated me her tale. Recently pursued first in her 40 's, Johnston holds populated an exciting and fulfilling life as a individual woman. She bumped herself going increasingly disappointed in the conversations she was holding with lass, who consistently stated her that they desired to be princesses-and that it was a demand to happen a prince to be happy.
Johnston spoke to her friend Susan Webb ( who holds four immature nieces ) about the thought of making a character that is both a princess and a multidimensional woman. The two developed the character of Princess Bubble who Johnston draws as `` a better version of me. ''
`` She desires to assist others and do a difference in the creation. Being a princess is not merely sitting on a throne and holding a Crown. Lady diana frances spencer is retrieved more for assisting than being attend to. ''
Makes this mean that Princess Bubble is a ramp anti-man, anti-lipstick-wearing, coldhearted bitch? Not the least bit. `` There Holds cypher incorrect with desiring to be pretty and glamourous, '' Johnston stated. `` And wedlock is grand. But matrimony ca n't BE the dreaming. Wedlock is a manner to SHARE your dreaming with person special. ''
Lassie take to experience confident to search new things; addition didactics and experience; traveling and see the existence. They necessitate to be whole and complete themselves before they determine to perpetrate to a lifelong relationship. Being a woman ( and every woman is a princess ) intends enquire interrogations like:
Make you experience like a victim? ( Every other fairy story princess is a victim of some variety. )
Are you waiting to be delivered?
Make you should be delivered to hold the fairy story?
What does you really happy?
Retail therapy does everyone happy for an jiffy. But what does you happy long after
Princess Bubble besides integrates an constituent of religion, something overlooked in nearly every princess narrative. While pent from a Christian position, girl from all faiths can gain from the illustration of this charming miss who bases her picks on her beliefs, not on the despairing demand to be loved and accepted.
Johnston and Webb financed the publication of this book on their ain because it incorporates a message that they verily believe inward. If you 'd wish to aid a lassie discover more about muliebrity than being delivered and looking middling, purchase her a transcript of Princess Bubble and assist support this marvelous originative endeavor.
Princess Bubble is available at Virago, Barnes & Nobleman, and local retailers around the land.
www.PrincessBubble.com
http://marcellahawkinsno.blogspot.com/2009/04/princess-bubble.html
As a mother of a six-year-old miss, I chance myself in a invariant conflict ( already! ) with the `` idealised '' female. In point of fact, I conceive the indoctrination of lassie gets at birth, but it hits hardest between the ages of 3-7 when they are literally plunged in the `` princess civilization ''. So, when I saw the book Princess Bubble by Susan Johnston and Kimberly Webb, it was as if the clouds splitted and ray of light interrupted through.
Princess Bubble, according to the writer 's site is a character who is `` a well-employed, globe-trotting, good-friend, good-date, helpful-neighbor princess who is confounded by the traditional fairy story message that connote she must happen her `` prince '' before she can inhabit happily ever after. ' ''
Can you tell Eureka?!
I holded a opportunity to verbalise with Susan Johnston on the telephone about her book and she stated me her tale. Recently pursued first in her 40 's, Johnston holds populated an exciting and fulfilling life as a individual woman. She bumped herself going increasingly disappointed in the conversations she was holding with lass, who consistently stated her that they desired to be princesses-and that it was a demand to happen a prince to be happy.
Johnston spoke to her friend Susan Webb ( who holds four immature nieces ) about the thought of making a character that is both a princess and a multidimensional woman. The two developed the character of Princess Bubble who Johnston draws as `` a better version of me. ''
`` She desires to assist others and do a difference in the creation. Being a princess is not merely sitting on a throne and holding a Crown. Lady diana frances spencer is retrieved more for assisting than being attend to. ''
Makes this mean that Princess Bubble is a ramp anti-man, anti-lipstick-wearing, coldhearted bitch? Not the least bit. `` There Holds cypher incorrect with desiring to be pretty and glamourous, '' Johnston stated. `` And wedlock is grand. But matrimony ca n't BE the dreaming. Wedlock is a manner to SHARE your dreaming with person special. ''
Lassie take to experience confident to search new things; addition didactics and experience; traveling and see the existence. They necessitate to be whole and complete themselves before they determine to perpetrate to a lifelong relationship. Being a woman ( and every woman is a princess ) intends enquire interrogations like:
Make you experience like a victim? ( Every other fairy story princess is a victim of some variety. )
Are you waiting to be delivered?
Make you should be delivered to hold the fairy story?
What does you really happy?
Retail therapy does everyone happy for an jiffy. But what does you happy long after
Princess Bubble besides integrates an constituent of religion, something overlooked in nearly every princess narrative. While pent from a Christian position, girl from all faiths can gain from the illustration of this charming miss who bases her picks on her beliefs, not on the despairing demand to be loved and accepted.
Johnston and Webb financed the publication of this book on their ain because it incorporates a message that they verily believe inward. If you 'd wish to aid a lassie discover more about muliebrity than being delivered and looking middling, purchase her a transcript of Princess Bubble and assist support this marvelous originative endeavor.
Princess Bubble is available at Virago, Barnes & Nobleman, and local retailers around the land.
www.PrincessBubble.com
Thursday, February 12, 2009
A Different Kind of Princess
Princess Bubble is a beautiful fairy tale princess AND an educated, hard-working, well-traveled woman with plenty of moxie. Authors Susan Johnston and Kimberly Webb created the character of Princess Bubble to help combat stereotypes and fight the victim mentality that young girls are indoctrinated with almost from birth. The book is written from a Christian perspective, encouraging young girls to be princess with morals, ethics, and faith in addition to a pretty dress and lip gloss.
Johnston and Webb financed the book themselves because they believed the young girls in their lives needed a story that inspired them to go after their dreams, not just wait around for someone else to fulfill them.
You can buy Princess Bubble at Barnes & Noble and Amazon. Share this wonderful story with a little girl in your life and help her become a different kind of princess.
http://www.graygaia.com/2009/02/a-different-kind-of-princess.html
Princess Bubble is a beautiful fairy tale princess AND an educated, hard-working, well-traveled woman with plenty of moxie. Authors Susan Johnston and Kimberly Webb created the character of Princess Bubble to help combat stereotypes and fight the victim mentality that young girls are indoctrinated with almost from birth. The book is written from a Christian perspective, encouraging young girls to be princess with morals, ethics, and faith in addition to a pretty dress and lip gloss.
Johnston and Webb financed the book themselves because they believed the young girls in their lives needed a story that inspired them to go after their dreams, not just wait around for someone else to fulfill them.
You can buy Princess Bubble at Barnes & Noble and Amazon. Share this wonderful story with a little girl in your life and help her become a different kind of princess.
http://www.graygaia.com/2009/02/a-different-kind-of-princess.html
Thursday, January 22, 2009
In Her Heels with Princess Bubble Author, Susan Johnston
http://www.shetakesontheworld.com/
We've all read them: Fairy tales that end with a princess finding Prince Charming and living *sigh* happily ever after. Or so we've been told. Move over damsel-in-distress; there's a new princess in town! Her name is Princess Bubble and she's an independent, intelligent, globe trotting princess that doesn't need Prince Charming to live her life. Creators Susan Johnston and Kimberly Webb are changing the way girls think of happily ever after.
Susan, I love this book and I love what you ladies are doing. How did you meet each other?
Although Kim and I were both Delta flight attendants, we actually met through an old boyfriend. So, we joke and say that did not work out but I kept Kim.
What sparked the idea for Princess Bubble?
After being in 17 weddings and exhausted from hearing "Why aren't you married?" I was playing Barbie with a friend's daughter and was told that Barbie could not live "happily ever after" without a prince. I questioned this little princess, telling her I was single and happy and had traveled the world, had wonderful friends and family...And she informed me this was not possible for Barbie or any of the Disney princesses because it had been clearly documented -No Prince equals no chance of "happily ever after."
I thought about this and wondered what we were teaching our girls. Wasn't happiness to be shared and not made the responsibility of another human to fulfill? I wrote an email to friends with a rough draft of Princess Bubble asking what they thought. Isn't it time for a new fairy tale? Kim quickly responded, "Yes! Let's make it happen." So, we published Princess Bubble together. Tell us more about the Princess Bubble character? From an excerpt I read that she took a job with Royal Heir Line to travel. It sounds like Princess Bubble is based on your own lives. Is that a correct assumption?
Princess Bubble is a better version of us. She is educated, well traveled, wants to make a difference, owns her own castle and had also been a bridesmaid and is told in the story that she will wear the bridesmaid dress again.
Recently, my life took an unexpected turn I NEVER expected for myself and I met a prince. This relationship has made me even more passionate about the message of Princess Bubble because we both feel so strongly about being happy first and then as secure happy people you are able to encourage each other to fulfill their dreams and be a better person. Not expect the other person to be the dream.
Kim is very happy single and has a fabulous life traveling, dating and has mastered Spanish, Italian and Portuguese. We are both very close to our nieces and nephews.
What is your vision for Princess Bubble and your company?
We would love for Princess Bubble to travel the world and learn about languages, cultures and the education of travel. But, we self-published Princess Bubble and are not in the financial position to finance her travels just yet. But, that is our dream.
If there are any publishers or investors reading, take a look at Princess Bubble! What is the message you want to get across to women and girls?
Kim and I believe it is far better to be single and wish you were married than married and wish you were single. Our passion is for girls/women to recognize their value and worth. We believe true happiness comes from loving God, helping others and liking who you are already. There are so many girls compromising themselves, starving themselves and in abusive dating relationships-all seeking the attention of some guy. We want these girls to know they are a special princess and feel secure in their own skin. What is a day like in your heels? Kim still works for Delta and she tutors Spanish. She has her Masters in Romantic Languages. I left Delta in 2006 and took a job with a builder. I was recently laid off. So, I am looking for a job and we both are promoting Princess Bubble hoping to empower girls and reach people with this message we are so passionate about. Thank you so much for taking the time to talk to me today. Happily ever after!
http://www.shetakesontheworld.com/
We've all read them: Fairy tales that end with a princess finding Prince Charming and living *sigh* happily ever after. Or so we've been told. Move over damsel-in-distress; there's a new princess in town! Her name is Princess Bubble and she's an independent, intelligent, globe trotting princess that doesn't need Prince Charming to live her life. Creators Susan Johnston and Kimberly Webb are changing the way girls think of happily ever after.
Susan, I love this book and I love what you ladies are doing. How did you meet each other?
Although Kim and I were both Delta flight attendants, we actually met through an old boyfriend. So, we joke and say that did not work out but I kept Kim.
What sparked the idea for Princess Bubble?
After being in 17 weddings and exhausted from hearing "Why aren't you married?" I was playing Barbie with a friend's daughter and was told that Barbie could not live "happily ever after" without a prince. I questioned this little princess, telling her I was single and happy and had traveled the world, had wonderful friends and family...And she informed me this was not possible for Barbie or any of the Disney princesses because it had been clearly documented -No Prince equals no chance of "happily ever after."
I thought about this and wondered what we were teaching our girls. Wasn't happiness to be shared and not made the responsibility of another human to fulfill? I wrote an email to friends with a rough draft of Princess Bubble asking what they thought. Isn't it time for a new fairy tale? Kim quickly responded, "Yes! Let's make it happen." So, we published Princess Bubble together. Tell us more about the Princess Bubble character? From an excerpt I read that she took a job with Royal Heir Line to travel. It sounds like Princess Bubble is based on your own lives. Is that a correct assumption?
Princess Bubble is a better version of us. She is educated, well traveled, wants to make a difference, owns her own castle and had also been a bridesmaid and is told in the story that she will wear the bridesmaid dress again.
Recently, my life took an unexpected turn I NEVER expected for myself and I met a prince. This relationship has made me even more passionate about the message of Princess Bubble because we both feel so strongly about being happy first and then as secure happy people you are able to encourage each other to fulfill their dreams and be a better person. Not expect the other person to be the dream.
Kim is very happy single and has a fabulous life traveling, dating and has mastered Spanish, Italian and Portuguese. We are both very close to our nieces and nephews.
What is your vision for Princess Bubble and your company?
We would love for Princess Bubble to travel the world and learn about languages, cultures and the education of travel. But, we self-published Princess Bubble and are not in the financial position to finance her travels just yet. But, that is our dream.
If there are any publishers or investors reading, take a look at Princess Bubble! What is the message you want to get across to women and girls?
Kim and I believe it is far better to be single and wish you were married than married and wish you were single. Our passion is for girls/women to recognize their value and worth. We believe true happiness comes from loving God, helping others and liking who you are already. There are so many girls compromising themselves, starving themselves and in abusive dating relationships-all seeking the attention of some guy. We want these girls to know they are a special princess and feel secure in their own skin. What is a day like in your heels? Kim still works for Delta and she tutors Spanish. She has her Masters in Romantic Languages. I left Delta in 2006 and took a job with a builder. I was recently laid off. So, I am looking for a job and we both are promoting Princess Bubble hoping to empower girls and reach people with this message we are so passionate about. Thank you so much for taking the time to talk to me today. Happily ever after!
Tuesday, December 02, 2008
On the Second Day of Christmas: Pop the Princess Bubble
http://jeannesager.blogspot.com/2008/12/on-second-day-of-christmas-pop-princess.html
My mother refuses to buy my daughter anything that celebrates the Disney princesses. Tinkerbell gets a bye, but she's convinced the princesses are bringing down the strength of girls in the states. I'm not quite as anti-princess, I've got to admit. But I'm not crazy about anything that would make my daughter think she needs a guy to get ahead. So balancing the normal princess crazed pre-schooler desires with my ideals is anything but easy.
I've tried to lessen the blow with frequent readings of Princess Bubble, the kids book from Susan Johnston and Kimberly Webb (with illustrations by Maria Tonelli) that follows the traditional fairy tale path . . . until it doesn't.
Princess Bubble goes to college, graduates, buys her own palace, even takes a job (albeit as a airlines stewardess, but come on guys, do you remember any of your fairy tale faves ever lifting her fanny?). When all her friends (princesses sparkle and the like) start marrying off and telling her it's time (what is it with all those smug marrieds?), she decideds she's just too darn happy being her.
If that's not the fairy tale ending you want for your daughters - making their own choices - what is? Thanks to Susan Johnston, it's one you can bring home this Christmas for your little princess!
She's offered up a copy of Princess Bubble, autographed to your child, as part of Inside Out's 13 Days of Giveaways! To enter, leave a comment with the reason you think your daughter/niece/granddaughter/whoever needs a copy. Get extra entries by grabbing my badge and/or blogging about this contest and all 13 Days of Giveaways (remember to leave the link in comments as well).
http://jeannesager.blogspot.com/2008/12/on-second-day-of-christmas-pop-princess.html
My mother refuses to buy my daughter anything that celebrates the Disney princesses. Tinkerbell gets a bye, but she's convinced the princesses are bringing down the strength of girls in the states. I'm not quite as anti-princess, I've got to admit. But I'm not crazy about anything that would make my daughter think she needs a guy to get ahead. So balancing the normal princess crazed pre-schooler desires with my ideals is anything but easy.
I've tried to lessen the blow with frequent readings of Princess Bubble, the kids book from Susan Johnston and Kimberly Webb (with illustrations by Maria Tonelli) that follows the traditional fairy tale path . . . until it doesn't.
Princess Bubble goes to college, graduates, buys her own palace, even takes a job (albeit as a airlines stewardess, but come on guys, do you remember any of your fairy tale faves ever lifting her fanny?). When all her friends (princesses sparkle and the like) start marrying off and telling her it's time (what is it with all those smug marrieds?), she decideds she's just too darn happy being her.
If that's not the fairy tale ending you want for your daughters - making their own choices - what is? Thanks to Susan Johnston, it's one you can bring home this Christmas for your little princess!
She's offered up a copy of Princess Bubble, autographed to your child, as part of Inside Out's 13 Days of Giveaways! To enter, leave a comment with the reason you think your daughter/niece/granddaughter/whoever needs a copy. Get extra entries by grabbing my badge and/or blogging about this contest and all 13 Days of Giveaways (remember to leave the link in comments as well).
Sunday, November 09, 2008
Princess - Prince = A Happy Ending Too? November 9, 2008
This was written about Princess Bubble by Beauty vs Beast. Check out this blog at
http://beautyvsbeast.wordpress.com/2008/11/09/princess-prince-a-happy-ending-too/
Apparently, there IS a fairy tale where a princess ends up happy and prince-less! Princess Bubble is a picture book for young girls where the main character is a princess who questions the traditional fairy tale ending.
It was written by Susan Johnston, who happens to be a happy single woman herself, and it’s exciting to see the book garnering some attention. I was told about the book via a link to the CNN interview that Johnston did recently and apparently Princess Bubble is rather autobiographical. Princess Bubble works as a flight attendant, helps her friends out with their weddings, tries internet dating and wears a thinking crown. Maybe she can’t quite identify with that last one, but still. The parallels between Princess Bubble’s and Susan Johnston’s happy endings are both clear and cheering. Here’s someone who’s clearly taken a look at their life and said, “Hey, I may be single, but I’m still having a really good time here.” Which is kinda cool, don’t you think?
If you want to learn more about the book (and I totally think it should be going to some little girls for Christmas) I have two links for you. 1. The official site: www.princessbubble.com and 2. The CNN interview: http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/showbiz/2008/08/11/intv.susan.johnston.cnn?iref=videosearch
This was written about Princess Bubble by Beauty vs Beast. Check out this blog at
http://beautyvsbeast.wordpress.com/2008/11/09/princess-prince-a-happy-ending-too/
Apparently, there IS a fairy tale where a princess ends up happy and prince-less! Princess Bubble is a picture book for young girls where the main character is a princess who questions the traditional fairy tale ending.
It was written by Susan Johnston, who happens to be a happy single woman herself, and it’s exciting to see the book garnering some attention. I was told about the book via a link to the CNN interview that Johnston did recently and apparently Princess Bubble is rather autobiographical. Princess Bubble works as a flight attendant, helps her friends out with their weddings, tries internet dating and wears a thinking crown. Maybe she can’t quite identify with that last one, but still. The parallels between Princess Bubble’s and Susan Johnston’s happy endings are both clear and cheering. Here’s someone who’s clearly taken a look at their life and said, “Hey, I may be single, but I’m still having a really good time here.” Which is kinda cool, don’t you think?
If you want to learn more about the book (and I totally think it should be going to some little girls for Christmas) I have two links for you. 1. The official site: www.princessbubble.com and 2. The CNN interview: http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/showbiz/2008/08/11/intv.susan.johnston.cnn?iref=videosearch
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
This funny video is cruder than Princess Bubble; but shares a similar message. Don't wait on a prince or expect a prince to bring "Happily Ever After" find it from within.
We at Princess Bubble are passionate about empowering and inspiring these targeted girls.
Happily Ever After!
www.PrincessBubble.com
We at Princess Bubble are passionate about empowering and inspiring these targeted girls.
Happily Ever After!
www.PrincessBubble.com
Saturday, October 11, 2008
Girls, Self-Esteem & a Princess
http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/showbiz/2008/08/11/intv.susan.johnston.cnn?iref=videosearch
Many concerned mothers today worry about raising their princess. There is a royal struggle to have fun with fairy tales and at the same time teach girls the true meaning of “Happily Ever After!”
This is a story I can truly believe in and feel comfortable sharing with my children.”
—Noelle Williams, mother of three
“We’ve had countless women all over the nation tell us they wish there had been a book like this when they were little.”
—Susan Johnston, Princess Bubble author
Two Sassy Single Authors Redefine Fairy Tale Endings for Young Readers!
ATLANTA, October 8,2008—You know how the story goes—Prince Charming, “Happily Ever After,” The End, right? Is this the ONLY option today’s moms want to share with their young daughters? Two successful single gals are offering parents an 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 independent, globe-trotting flight attendants, first-time authors Susan Johnston and Kimberly Webb have crafted a new generation of fairy tales that celebrates singleness and self worth. A contemporary fairy tale for all ages, Princess Bubble was written to reduce the overwhelming sense of failure, self-doubt, and despair that many youth face.
Three most common disorders in girls: low self-esteem, depression, and eating disorders
In 2003, breast implants tripled from 3,872 to 11,326 in girls under age 18
Girls ages 12 to 19 spent over $8 million on cosmetics in 2005
(Source: Report of the APA Task Force on the Sexualization of Girls,2007)
“I adore sharing the Princess Bubble message with my daughter because it teaches her that happiness comes from within,” said Kim Daniels, mother of two.
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 atFindYourPrince.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!”
“We are definitely not anti-Prince,” said Webb. “We just believe that young girls today are bombarded with so much inaccurate advice on how to build their self-esteem—messages that focus on the outside rather than what’s within. We want to change that message.”
ABOUT PRINCESS BUBBLE and BUBBLE GUM PRESS: The Princess Bubble message, cleverly articulated by former Delta flight attendants Susan Johnston and Kimberly Webb, seeks to find an alternate ending to “happily ever after” and change the notion that life begins and ends with finding your Prince Charming. Looking to bolster the poor self-esteem of female youth and the stigma that many single adult women carry, Johnston and Webb believe“this is a book for women of all ages, a story they can believe in and share with their children.” In upcoming adventures, Princess Bubble will travel to distant lands where the knowledge of every new culture will enrich her flourishing life.
-30-
http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/showbiz/2008/08/11/intv.susan.johnston.cnn?iref=videosearch
Many concerned mothers today worry about raising their princess. There is a royal struggle to have fun with fairy tales and at the same time teach girls the true meaning of “Happily Ever After!”
This is a story I can truly believe in and feel comfortable sharing with my children.”
—Noelle Williams, mother of three
“We’ve had countless women all over the nation tell us they wish there had been a book like this when they were little.”
—Susan Johnston, Princess Bubble author
Two Sassy Single Authors Redefine Fairy Tale Endings for Young Readers!
ATLANTA, October 8,2008—You know how the story goes—Prince Charming, “Happily Ever After,” The End, right? Is this the ONLY option today’s moms want to share with their young daughters? Two successful single gals are offering parents an 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 independent, globe-trotting flight attendants, first-time authors Susan Johnston and Kimberly Webb have crafted a new generation of fairy tales that celebrates singleness and self worth. A contemporary fairy tale for all ages, Princess Bubble was written to reduce the overwhelming sense of failure, self-doubt, and despair that many youth face.
Three most common disorders in girls: low self-esteem, depression, and eating disorders
In 2003, breast implants tripled from 3,872 to 11,326 in girls under age 18
Girls ages 12 to 19 spent over $8 million on cosmetics in 2005
(Source: Report of the APA Task Force on the Sexualization of Girls,2007)
“I adore sharing the Princess Bubble message with my daughter because it teaches her that happiness comes from within,” said Kim Daniels, mother of two.
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 atFindYourPrince.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!”
“We are definitely not anti-Prince,” said Webb. “We just believe that young girls today are bombarded with so much inaccurate advice on how to build their self-esteem—messages that focus on the outside rather than what’s within. We want to change that message.”
ABOUT PRINCESS BUBBLE and BUBBLE GUM PRESS: The Princess Bubble message, cleverly articulated by former Delta flight attendants Susan Johnston and Kimberly Webb, seeks to find an alternate ending to “happily ever after” and change the notion that life begins and ends with finding your Prince Charming. Looking to bolster the poor self-esteem of female youth and the stigma that many single adult women carry, Johnston and Webb believe“this is a book for women of all ages, a story they can believe in and share with their children.” In upcoming adventures, Princess Bubble will travel to distant lands where the knowledge of every new culture will enrich her flourishing life.
-30-
Tuesday, October 07, 2008
Review Your Book-Princess Bubble
Princess Bubble
Written by: Susan Johnston and Kimberly Webb
Illustrated by: Maria Tonelli
Published by: Bubble Gum Press
Reviewed by: Stephanie Rollins and Parish Rollins (age 4) for ReviewYourBook.com 9/2008
ISBN: 0-9650910-0-7
“Every Little Girl Should Have This” 5 stars
A friend and I were discussing how to teach our daughters that they do not necessarily have to grow up, marry, and have children. How do we teach them that it is okay to be single? This book is the answer.
It is a modern-day fairy tale. Through cute characters and scenarios, it teaches little girls that happiness comes from being okay with yourself and through loving God. It shows that it is okay to marry, and most of your friends will marry. It is also okay to not marry.
The illustrations are adorable. I had to wait to review it after my daughter’s bedtime; she did not want to let it go! This will make a great gift!
http://www.reviewyourbook.com/review.cfm?reviewid=1127
Princess Bubble
Written by: Susan Johnston and Kimberly Webb
Illustrated by: Maria Tonelli
Published by: Bubble Gum Press
Reviewed by: Stephanie Rollins and Parish Rollins (age 4) for ReviewYourBook.com 9/2008
ISBN: 0-9650910-0-7
“Every Little Girl Should Have This” 5 stars
A friend and I were discussing how to teach our daughters that they do not necessarily have to grow up, marry, and have children. How do we teach them that it is okay to be single? This book is the answer.
It is a modern-day fairy tale. Through cute characters and scenarios, it teaches little girls that happiness comes from being okay with yourself and through loving God. It shows that it is okay to marry, and most of your friends will marry. It is also okay to not marry.
The illustrations are adorable. I had to wait to review it after my daughter’s bedtime; she did not want to let it go! This will make a great gift!
http://www.reviewyourbook.com/review.cfm?reviewid=1127
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Does Mommy Love It? YES!
Princess Bubble
By Mommy Zabs on September 30th, 2008
We all know the main elements of a fairy tale. First, we have the beautiful damsel in distress, then a handsome prince charming who rescues her, and finally, the life happily ever after. Perhaps there was no beautiful princess in distress, then would there still be a fairy tale? What does “happily ever after” really mean?
In the book, Princess Bubble by Susan Johnston and Kimberly Webb, the fairy-tale is modernized. Not only is the princess not in distress, but also learns to find happiness within her own self. She no longer sits and waits for Prince Charming, but realizes that he’s not the only key to happily ever after. An article in the Tennessean writes, “Princess Bubble is not anti-Prince Charming, but if anything, Princess Bubble is anti-damsel in distress.”
Growing up, I was told by my parents that I was smart, and I could do anything. The confidence to live a happy life is in my own heart and volition. Heck, if my Prince Charming came along, it was icing on the cake! By the way, he didn’t come along until my late 20’s, but I had lived a wonderful life prior to that
Adding to the new message for girls, the illustrations in Princess Bubble are colorfully vibrant. They are vivacious and bring to life the beauty of a princess who finds fulfillment in loving God, being kind to others and being comfortable with who she is already.
http://doesmommyloveit.com/2008/09/30/princess-bubble/
Princess Bubble
By Mommy Zabs on September 30th, 2008
We all know the main elements of a fairy tale. First, we have the beautiful damsel in distress, then a handsome prince charming who rescues her, and finally, the life happily ever after. Perhaps there was no beautiful princess in distress, then would there still be a fairy tale? What does “happily ever after” really mean?
In the book, Princess Bubble by Susan Johnston and Kimberly Webb, the fairy-tale is modernized. Not only is the princess not in distress, but also learns to find happiness within her own self. She no longer sits and waits for Prince Charming, but realizes that he’s not the only key to happily ever after. An article in the Tennessean writes, “Princess Bubble is not anti-Prince Charming, but if anything, Princess Bubble is anti-damsel in distress.”
Growing up, I was told by my parents that I was smart, and I could do anything. The confidence to live a happy life is in my own heart and volition. Heck, if my Prince Charming came along, it was icing on the cake! By the way, he didn’t come along until my late 20’s, but I had lived a wonderful life prior to that
Adding to the new message for girls, the illustrations in Princess Bubble are colorfully vibrant. They are vivacious and bring to life the beauty of a princess who finds fulfillment in loving God, being kind to others and being comfortable with who she is already.
http://doesmommyloveit.com/2008/09/30/princess-bubble/
Monday, September 29, 2008
Books, seminar help girls build self-esteem
Monday, September 29, 2008
By Jennifer Ackerman-Haywood
The Grand Rapids Press
It's a great time to be an American woman, right?
Girls today can realistically consider every option as they map out their futures. They can run for president, be a professional athlete, CEO, mother or combination of these.
And little girls believe they can do anything. Just ask the nearest preschooler.
But then the world seems to chip away at the confidence of these girls when they hit middle school, that awkward time when many adolescents struggle to find their voice. Once confident girls are suddenly aware they can't measure up to the airbrushed definition of beauty celebrated in glossy ads featuring skinny and voluptuous models.
Cattiness and cliques compound the problem for many girls who find themselves sitting alone at lunch when they desperately want to belong.
Enter Lindsey Williams, a 19-year-old Western Michigan University student, who is doing her part to help young women help themselves and each other. This weekend, Williams will host the "I Am Woman" seminar for girls in grades six through 12 and their mothers.
The event will feature a presentation by Patti Criswell, a Kalamazoo-based social worker, WMU adjunct professor and author of six American Girl books.
"This is a way to teach girls: 'You're not alone,'" Williams said. "Because you do feel like you're alone."
Williams did.
Her family moved from Kalamazoo to Rockford when she was in eighth grade, and Williams struggled to find her groove at her new school. She was frustrated by the way girls would cut each other down and fight over boys.
"My mom was a huge part of getting me through that time," Williams said, recalling how great it felt to have a safe place to come home to.
Her mother repeatedly told her to "teach them, not tell them," and she took that message to heart.
Since 2006, when Williams was in her junior year of high school, she has hosted seminars for mothers and daughters in hopes that participants would bond and develop a support system for one another. This is the last year she'll organize the seminar, funded by a grant from the Nokomis Foundation, because of living in Kalamazoo, but she's hopeful someone might step forward to keep it going.
"I didn't really blossom until I found something that I was passionate about and inspired by," she said, explaining her commitment to social justice and feminist issues.
This is key, said Criswell, 43, who met Williams at a women's conference.
Turbulent teen years
While there are plenty of community resources to build girls' self-esteem through elementary school, many girls experience a drop in confidence when entering their teens.
"Body image is absolutely huge," Criswell said.
And Criswell observed young women today tend to be more passive than those from her generation.
"I think my generation was more likely to speak up," she said. "We were coming off the women's movement.
She said, "women need to speak up" when someone is calling a friend by a negative name.
Criswell said it's not enough to arm little girls with "girl power" messages. They also need to learn how to stand up for one another.
Tools for change
At Saturday's seminar, Criswell said she plans to help girls find their voice and build a bridge between girls and their moms.
She recommends moms bank their time with their children. Invest as much as possible throughout their childhood, so they know you'll be there when they need you as young adults.
She said parents of teenagers are kind of "on call" all the time. Teens are more independent and like space, but when they need you it is often right away.
"Build traditions into your daily life, not just Christmas," Criswell said, explaining this can be as simple as stopping for breakfast on the way to school once a week or joining a mother-daughter book club.
Building bonds
Parents can strengthen their relationship with their kids if they have fun with them, play cards, invite their friends over and make their home a welcoming and easy place to be, Criswell said.
With honest and open communication, moms can express their concerns about the peer pressure and social situations they worry about. Meanwhile, daughters can offer their moms reassurance they know how to handle those situations and ask for help when they can't.
"Letting go is an inherently difficult process," Criswell said, adding it is possible to do so while "staying close."
The mother of a 13-year-old daughter and 9-year-old son, Criswell has spent her career counseling girls and families.
She said it is a myth that mother-daughter relationships have to be awful, but "it's true that it will be uncomfortable," she said.
Criswell and her daughter have been in a book club together for nearly five years.
"I love these girls," Criswell said about the group that includes girls from different schools. "All those girls know they can come to me anytime, and my daughter knows she has all those other moms she can go to."
Shattering myths
Many books have been written in the past decade about girls and self-esteem
One of the newer ones was inspired by the young girls reading books about princesses being rescued by a prince.
Atlanta author Susan Johnston got tired of the little girls in her life reading books about girls waiting to be rescued so she co-wrote a book called "Princess Bubble" with her best friend, Kimberly Webb, to remind girls it's possible to be a happy, well-adjusted princess without being rescued.
"These girls were so worried about having the acceptance of a young boy, and that just broke my heart," Johnston said.
A single woman who has stood up in 17 weddings, Johnston said the book aims to get a positive message out to girls and give their moms a reminder that they don't need to wait for a prince to make them happy, either.
"You can read it at 6 or 36," Johnston said, adding she wants all girls to know, "sometimes, life isn't how you pictured.
"It can be even better."
Monday, September 29, 2008
By Jennifer Ackerman-Haywood
The Grand Rapids Press
It's a great time to be an American woman, right?
Girls today can realistically consider every option as they map out their futures. They can run for president, be a professional athlete, CEO, mother or combination of these.
And little girls believe they can do anything. Just ask the nearest preschooler.
But then the world seems to chip away at the confidence of these girls when they hit middle school, that awkward time when many adolescents struggle to find their voice. Once confident girls are suddenly aware they can't measure up to the airbrushed definition of beauty celebrated in glossy ads featuring skinny and voluptuous models.
Cattiness and cliques compound the problem for many girls who find themselves sitting alone at lunch when they desperately want to belong.
Enter Lindsey Williams, a 19-year-old Western Michigan University student, who is doing her part to help young women help themselves and each other. This weekend, Williams will host the "I Am Woman" seminar for girls in grades six through 12 and their mothers.
The event will feature a presentation by Patti Criswell, a Kalamazoo-based social worker, WMU adjunct professor and author of six American Girl books.
"This is a way to teach girls: 'You're not alone,'" Williams said. "Because you do feel like you're alone."
Williams did.
Her family moved from Kalamazoo to Rockford when she was in eighth grade, and Williams struggled to find her groove at her new school. She was frustrated by the way girls would cut each other down and fight over boys.
"My mom was a huge part of getting me through that time," Williams said, recalling how great it felt to have a safe place to come home to.
Her mother repeatedly told her to "teach them, not tell them," and she took that message to heart.
Since 2006, when Williams was in her junior year of high school, she has hosted seminars for mothers and daughters in hopes that participants would bond and develop a support system for one another. This is the last year she'll organize the seminar, funded by a grant from the Nokomis Foundation, because of living in Kalamazoo, but she's hopeful someone might step forward to keep it going.
"I didn't really blossom until I found something that I was passionate about and inspired by," she said, explaining her commitment to social justice and feminist issues.
This is key, said Criswell, 43, who met Williams at a women's conference.
Turbulent teen years
While there are plenty of community resources to build girls' self-esteem through elementary school, many girls experience a drop in confidence when entering their teens.
"Body image is absolutely huge," Criswell said.
And Criswell observed young women today tend to be more passive than those from her generation.
"I think my generation was more likely to speak up," she said. "We were coming off the women's movement.
She said, "women need to speak up" when someone is calling a friend by a negative name.
Criswell said it's not enough to arm little girls with "girl power" messages. They also need to learn how to stand up for one another.
Tools for change
At Saturday's seminar, Criswell said she plans to help girls find their voice and build a bridge between girls and their moms.
She recommends moms bank their time with their children. Invest as much as possible throughout their childhood, so they know you'll be there when they need you as young adults.
She said parents of teenagers are kind of "on call" all the time. Teens are more independent and like space, but when they need you it is often right away.
"Build traditions into your daily life, not just Christmas," Criswell said, explaining this can be as simple as stopping for breakfast on the way to school once a week or joining a mother-daughter book club.
Building bonds
Parents can strengthen their relationship with their kids if they have fun with them, play cards, invite their friends over and make their home a welcoming and easy place to be, Criswell said.
With honest and open communication, moms can express their concerns about the peer pressure and social situations they worry about. Meanwhile, daughters can offer their moms reassurance they know how to handle those situations and ask for help when they can't.
"Letting go is an inherently difficult process," Criswell said, adding it is possible to do so while "staying close."
The mother of a 13-year-old daughter and 9-year-old son, Criswell has spent her career counseling girls and families.
She said it is a myth that mother-daughter relationships have to be awful, but "it's true that it will be uncomfortable," she said.
Criswell and her daughter have been in a book club together for nearly five years.
"I love these girls," Criswell said about the group that includes girls from different schools. "All those girls know they can come to me anytime, and my daughter knows she has all those other moms she can go to."
Shattering myths
Many books have been written in the past decade about girls and self-esteem
One of the newer ones was inspired by the young girls reading books about princesses being rescued by a prince.
Atlanta author Susan Johnston got tired of the little girls in her life reading books about girls waiting to be rescued so she co-wrote a book called "Princess Bubble" with her best friend, Kimberly Webb, to remind girls it's possible to be a happy, well-adjusted princess without being rescued.
"These girls were so worried about having the acceptance of a young boy, and that just broke my heart," Johnston said.
A single woman who has stood up in 17 weddings, Johnston said the book aims to get a positive message out to girls and give their moms a reminder that they don't need to wait for a prince to make them happy, either.
"You can read it at 6 or 36," Johnston said, adding she wants all girls to know, "sometimes, life isn't how you pictured.
"It can be even better."
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