Authors with Alabama connections write children's book that adults can appreciate
Sunday, August 10, 2008
CHANDA TEMPLE GUSTER
News staff writer
There's a children's book out in Birmingham-area stores that some brides are giving to their single bridesmaids as gifts.
It's called "Princess Bubble" and paints an empowering story of how a happily single princess learns to embrace her life and not feel rushed to find her Prince Charming just because that's what's in the fairytales.
It was written by Susan Johnston, 42, a real estate agent, and Kimberly Webb, 40, a flight attendant. Both are living single in Atlanta and said the purpose of the book is to remind girls and women that if they are single, they can still have a good life.
"We just want to empower and inspire girls. It's not anti-men at all," Johnston said. Adult readers have told them they wished such a book was available when they were kids.
Johnston, who has been in 17 weddings, said she got the idea for the book when one of her friends' young daughters told her that Barbie absolutely had to find a prince and couldn't live happily ever after without one.
"I told her, `Well no, look, I have a good life and I haven't found a prince,' she said. The girl told Johnston, "Well, that's just not possible," and Johnston knew then she had to write a book.
"Fifty-one percent of the women are single today, and I don't want these little girls to grow up and feel like they can't have a good life if they don't find Mr. Right," she said. "Everybody needs to be reminded that they are a princess" single or married.
She collaborated on the concept with her best friend Webb, found an illustrator and finished the book in late 2006.
"If we meet Mr. Right ..., that would be fine with us," she said. "But we are going to be happy until then."
Both women have Alabama connections: Johnston's mother is from Anniston, her father is from Tuskegee and she graduated from Auburn University. She said she still has several relatives in Birmingham. Webb's father is from Birmingham and her mother is from Mobile.
The women have received praise and national attention for their book, appearing on the "Today" show in 2007. On Monday at 8:40 a.m., Johnston will appear on CNN.com to discuss the book.
They would like to work on other books to show the main character, Princess Bubble, going to other countries and seeing how different cultures make everyone special. (Johnston's nickname in college was Bubble, hence the book's name "Princess Bubble.")
Locally, the $12 book can be found at Milestone Books in Vestavia and Swoozies at The Summit. The book can also be found at www.princessbubble.com.
Sunday, August 10, 2008
Saturday, August 09, 2008
Tuesday, August 05, 2008
Teen Girls Abused in Dating Relationships
We at www.PrincessBubble.com strive to empower girls/women and are sadden by the below article and know we still have much to do in this fight to protect our girls and remind them they are special and wonderful princesses!
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Teenagers and preteens endure significant levels of different types of abuse in dating relationships -- particularly among those who become sexually active at a young age -- and most parents are unaware of what is going on in those relationships, a survey released Tuesday said.
About 10 percent of the teenagers surveyed said they had had sex by age 14, a new survey says.
Sixty-nine percent of teens who had sex by age 14 reported some type of abuse in a relationship, with slightly more than one-third saying they had been physically abused, according to the survey, conducted by Teenage Research Unlimited.
About 10 percent of the teenagers surveyed said they had had sex by age 14, while 20 percent said they had sex between the ages of 15 and 16.
One in five 13- or 14-year-olds in relationships say they know friends and peers who have been "struck in anger" by a boyfriend or girlfriend. Sixty-two percent have friends who have been called stupid, worthless or ugly by their dates.
Liz Claiborne Inc. and loveisrespect.org commissioned the survey. Loveisrespect.org operates the National Teen Dating Abuse Helpline.
"What makes this data so disturbing is the clear and unexpected finding that dating abuse and violence begins at such a young age," said Jane Randel, the vice president of corporate communications for Liz Claiborne Inc., at a news conference to coincide with the survey's release.
And the "parents don't know what's going on," she said.
Nearly half of those preteens or "tweens" who responded said they had been in a dating relationship. The survey considers tweens to be between 11 and 14 years of age.
Slightly more than two-thirds of parents surveyed believe they know "a lot" or "everything" about their tween's relationship, but only 51 percent of tweens agree, the survey said.
One-fifth of tweens say their parents know little or nothing about their dating relationships, while only 6 percent of parents concur.
But despite the number of teens and tweens who say they have experienced abuse or say they know someone who has, only about 51 percent say they are aware of the warning signs of hurtful dating relationship.
And slightly more than half -- 54 percent -- said they would know what to do if a friend came to them for help, the survey said.
Teenagers and tweens need educational programs about abuse in relationships, experts say.
Concern about the issue prompted the National Association of Attorneys General to pass a resolution last month encouraging states to work with local school districts to implement teen dating violence education policies.
The states need to send a strong message about this, Rhode Island Attorney General Patrick C. Lynch, president of NAAG, said Tuesday at the news conference.
"The best way to do this is to mandate this, in my estimation," as Rhode Island has, he said. "We're fighting for generations here and generations yet to come to end this scourge."
Last year, the Rhode Island General Assembly adopted the "Lindsay Ann Burke Act," which requires each public school district to provide curriculum and policy on teen dating violence and abuse.
The act is named for a 23-year-old woman who was murdered in 2005 by her former boyfriend, the Rhode Island legislature said. Her boyfriend is now serving a life sentence without parole in the state prison for the murder, the Providence Journal reported.
"Teens have a right to know this ... and parents have a right to know as well," Ann Burke, Lindsay's mother, said at the news conference. "Lindsay had a right to know this information too. It's too late to help Lindsay."
The survey, conducted from January 2-18, 2008, questioned 1,043 tweens, 523 parents of tweens and 626 teens through a customized 15-minute online survey. The respondents were invited by e-mail to participate.
The survey had a margin of error of plus or minus 3 percentage points for tweens; plus or minus 4.1 for parents of tweens, and plus or minus 3.9 for teens
We at www.PrincessBubble.com strive to empower girls/women and are sadden by the below article and know we still have much to do in this fight to protect our girls and remind them they are special and wonderful princesses!
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Teenagers and preteens endure significant levels of different types of abuse in dating relationships -- particularly among those who become sexually active at a young age -- and most parents are unaware of what is going on in those relationships, a survey released Tuesday said.
About 10 percent of the teenagers surveyed said they had had sex by age 14, a new survey says.
Sixty-nine percent of teens who had sex by age 14 reported some type of abuse in a relationship, with slightly more than one-third saying they had been physically abused, according to the survey, conducted by Teenage Research Unlimited.
About 10 percent of the teenagers surveyed said they had had sex by age 14, while 20 percent said they had sex between the ages of 15 and 16.
One in five 13- or 14-year-olds in relationships say they know friends and peers who have been "struck in anger" by a boyfriend or girlfriend. Sixty-two percent have friends who have been called stupid, worthless or ugly by their dates.
Liz Claiborne Inc. and loveisrespect.org commissioned the survey. Loveisrespect.org operates the National Teen Dating Abuse Helpline.
"What makes this data so disturbing is the clear and unexpected finding that dating abuse and violence begins at such a young age," said Jane Randel, the vice president of corporate communications for Liz Claiborne Inc., at a news conference to coincide with the survey's release.
And the "parents don't know what's going on," she said.
Nearly half of those preteens or "tweens" who responded said they had been in a dating relationship. The survey considers tweens to be between 11 and 14 years of age.
Slightly more than two-thirds of parents surveyed believe they know "a lot" or "everything" about their tween's relationship, but only 51 percent of tweens agree, the survey said.
One-fifth of tweens say their parents know little or nothing about their dating relationships, while only 6 percent of parents concur.
But despite the number of teens and tweens who say they have experienced abuse or say they know someone who has, only about 51 percent say they are aware of the warning signs of hurtful dating relationship.
And slightly more than half -- 54 percent -- said they would know what to do if a friend came to them for help, the survey said.
Teenagers and tweens need educational programs about abuse in relationships, experts say.
Concern about the issue prompted the National Association of Attorneys General to pass a resolution last month encouraging states to work with local school districts to implement teen dating violence education policies.
The states need to send a strong message about this, Rhode Island Attorney General Patrick C. Lynch, president of NAAG, said Tuesday at the news conference.
"The best way to do this is to mandate this, in my estimation," as Rhode Island has, he said. "We're fighting for generations here and generations yet to come to end this scourge."
Last year, the Rhode Island General Assembly adopted the "Lindsay Ann Burke Act," which requires each public school district to provide curriculum and policy on teen dating violence and abuse.
The act is named for a 23-year-old woman who was murdered in 2005 by her former boyfriend, the Rhode Island legislature said. Her boyfriend is now serving a life sentence without parole in the state prison for the murder, the Providence Journal reported.
"Teens have a right to know this ... and parents have a right to know as well," Ann Burke, Lindsay's mother, said at the news conference. "Lindsay had a right to know this information too. It's too late to help Lindsay."
The survey, conducted from January 2-18, 2008, questioned 1,043 tweens, 523 parents of tweens and 626 teens through a customized 15-minute online survey. The respondents were invited by e-mail to participate.
The survey had a margin of error of plus or minus 3 percentage points for tweens; plus or minus 4.1 for parents of tweens, and plus or minus 3.9 for teens
Monday, August 04, 2008
Anti-princess movement finds "Happily Ever After" in Princess Bubble!
As Seen on The TODAY Show and will be featured on CNN.com on August 11th!
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, April 18,2008—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-
www.PrincessBubble.com
As Seen on The TODAY Show and will be featured on CNN.com on August 11th!
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, April 18,2008—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-
www.PrincessBubble.com
Meet Kelly!
TriangleMom2Mom's featured mom this week is Kelly Rives.
Kelly will always be Princess Sparkle to me-an important character in Princess Bubble, our modern day fairy tale! When Kelly is not one of Princess Bubble’s supporting characters she is acting as Queen to three princesses of her own and the founder of a successful consignment sale that now is in six cities. The
Raleigh sale is at the end of this month. www.divineconsignshow.com
I am posting the article so the world can know about wonderful Kelly and her fantastic business!
Mom2Mom: Tell us about yourself.
Kelly: As a native Mississippian, I have loved living in North Carolina . Our family has truly found our place here. Growing up in Corinth , a small northeastern Mississippi town, I had never dreamed of living in North Carolina . But after graduating from the University of Mississippi and moving to Atlanta to teach, I realized that I might not have everything figured out. My husband, Ben, and I didn’t plan to leave Atlanta , but after we had our first child we quickly realized that we needed a little bit of a slower pace. Fourteen months later, we had our second precious little girl, and began to look for another place to call home. My husband’s company, Brasfield & Gorrie, had an office in Raleigh , and we took advantage of the transfer. And we have only been blessed. Quickly we found our church, Church of the Apostles, and made many wonderful friends there and through Ben’s work. We hate that our extended family is now so far away, but we are at home here.
Right after moving here, the former teacher-turned-stay-at-home-mother in me decided that I needed to add a little business to our already hectic world. Since our first daughter was born, I had developed a passion for smocked children’s clothing. I guess that is part of my southern hertitage in me, but I couldn’t get enough of it -- precious stuff, but ridiculously expensive. I had shopped many consignment sales, but I never really had any luck finding the type clothing I was looking for, nor did I want to sell my children’s outgrown clothing at those sales because I knew I wouldn’t get much for them.
So I started one of the first high-end children’s clothing consignment sales, the Divine Consign Show. We focus on trunk show and boutique clothing. No toys, no maternity wear, no DVDs …. just clothes. I knew that my friends and I would like this, but I have been astonished at how successful it has been.
Many trunk shows and boutiques now sell their overstocks and samples with us, so our customers get their choice of new and used clothes at amazing prices! So after just three years in business, we have sales in six cities. And we keep growing! God is so good. Since moving to the Triangle I have become the mother of a third baby girl, an involved member of our church, a delighted busy mother, a proud wife and a business woman. Who would have ever guessed?
Mom2Mom: What's your favorite place for your family in the Triangle?
Kelly: My favorite place to spend time with my family is the swimming pool! Any swimming pool. My girls have always been super swimmers, and they would rather be in the pool than anywhere else. I am from the school of learning that says, “Let them jump in and learn to love it!” My 18-month-old loves to freak everyone out by running and jumping in hundreds of times a day. I love to let her sink down and come up giggling every time! It is a great time for all of us.
Mom2Mom: What's your favorite place in the Triangle for yourself?
Kelly: My favorite thing to do is go and get a pedicure with my friends. I love to sit in the massaging chairs (sometimes with a glass of wine), visit with my friends and just be pampered. My fingernails are embarrassing, but I keep the “piggies” well dressed. It is so nice to be somewhere where I am not expected to play a game, cook a meal, clean a dish, or tell a story. Mommies need to be re-energized to be the best mommies they can be! And it all starts with the feet…..
Mom2Mom: What's your favorite ritual with your family?
Kelly: When I was growing up my family ate dinner together at least five nights a week. Every night we each took our turn to say our “news” of the day. Each of us told of some very important part of our day. I have always felt that was a great way to keep our family focused on each other’s lives, and not so focused on ourselves. We have continued that tradition in our family with my husband and three girls. Our girls are still quite young, so we have slightly altered “news,” and we each share our favorite part of the day. This is so sweet. I love hearing what my girls found delight in throughout their days, as well as, hearing the highpoints of my husband’s days. We will always make it a point to have dinner together as a family, but the cooking the meal and cleaning it up are the hard part!
Mom2Mom: What did you eat last night for dinner? Can you share the recipe?
Kelly: Last night I had a good old Tomato Sandwich. White bread, tomato, mayo, salt and pepper! Since my husband was out of town, I took advantage of one of my favorites. But I love my Paula Dean recipe for a Tomato Pie. It sounds a lot better, and actually tastes better than my sandwich.
Mom2Mom: What's your guilty pleasure?
Kelly: I have two guilty pleasures.
Children’s clothing. I have a tremendously hard time dressing myself, but I love dressing my kids. Even selling children’s clothing has not dampened that love.
At the end of the day, when the kids are asleep and the kitchen is cleaned and my e-mails are all caught up, there is nothing better than a nice glass of wine. That is my little reward for keeping all of the spinning plates in the air all day long.
www.divineconsignshow.com
TriangleMom2Mom's featured mom this week is Kelly Rives.
Kelly will always be Princess Sparkle to me-an important character in Princess Bubble, our modern day fairy tale! When Kelly is not one of Princess Bubble’s supporting characters she is acting as Queen to three princesses of her own and the founder of a successful consignment sale that now is in six cities. The
Raleigh sale is at the end of this month. www.divineconsignshow.com
I am posting the article so the world can know about wonderful Kelly and her fantastic business!
Mom2Mom: Tell us about yourself.
Kelly: As a native Mississippian, I have loved living in North Carolina . Our family has truly found our place here. Growing up in Corinth , a small northeastern Mississippi town, I had never dreamed of living in North Carolina . But after graduating from the University of Mississippi and moving to Atlanta to teach, I realized that I might not have everything figured out. My husband, Ben, and I didn’t plan to leave Atlanta , but after we had our first child we quickly realized that we needed a little bit of a slower pace. Fourteen months later, we had our second precious little girl, and began to look for another place to call home. My husband’s company, Brasfield & Gorrie, had an office in Raleigh , and we took advantage of the transfer. And we have only been blessed. Quickly we found our church, Church of the Apostles, and made many wonderful friends there and through Ben’s work. We hate that our extended family is now so far away, but we are at home here.
Right after moving here, the former teacher-turned-stay-at-home-mother in me decided that I needed to add a little business to our already hectic world. Since our first daughter was born, I had developed a passion for smocked children’s clothing. I guess that is part of my southern hertitage in me, but I couldn’t get enough of it -- precious stuff, but ridiculously expensive. I had shopped many consignment sales, but I never really had any luck finding the type clothing I was looking for, nor did I want to sell my children’s outgrown clothing at those sales because I knew I wouldn’t get much for them.
So I started one of the first high-end children’s clothing consignment sales, the Divine Consign Show. We focus on trunk show and boutique clothing. No toys, no maternity wear, no DVDs …. just clothes. I knew that my friends and I would like this, but I have been astonished at how successful it has been.
Many trunk shows and boutiques now sell their overstocks and samples with us, so our customers get their choice of new and used clothes at amazing prices! So after just three years in business, we have sales in six cities. And we keep growing! God is so good. Since moving to the Triangle I have become the mother of a third baby girl, an involved member of our church, a delighted busy mother, a proud wife and a business woman. Who would have ever guessed?
Mom2Mom: What's your favorite place for your family in the Triangle?
Kelly: My favorite place to spend time with my family is the swimming pool! Any swimming pool. My girls have always been super swimmers, and they would rather be in the pool than anywhere else. I am from the school of learning that says, “Let them jump in and learn to love it!” My 18-month-old loves to freak everyone out by running and jumping in hundreds of times a day. I love to let her sink down and come up giggling every time! It is a great time for all of us.
Mom2Mom: What's your favorite place in the Triangle for yourself?
Kelly: My favorite thing to do is go and get a pedicure with my friends. I love to sit in the massaging chairs (sometimes with a glass of wine), visit with my friends and just be pampered. My fingernails are embarrassing, but I keep the “piggies” well dressed. It is so nice to be somewhere where I am not expected to play a game, cook a meal, clean a dish, or tell a story. Mommies need to be re-energized to be the best mommies they can be! And it all starts with the feet…..
Mom2Mom: What's your favorite ritual with your family?
Kelly: When I was growing up my family ate dinner together at least five nights a week. Every night we each took our turn to say our “news” of the day. Each of us told of some very important part of our day. I have always felt that was a great way to keep our family focused on each other’s lives, and not so focused on ourselves. We have continued that tradition in our family with my husband and three girls. Our girls are still quite young, so we have slightly altered “news,” and we each share our favorite part of the day. This is so sweet. I love hearing what my girls found delight in throughout their days, as well as, hearing the highpoints of my husband’s days. We will always make it a point to have dinner together as a family, but the cooking the meal and cleaning it up are the hard part!
Mom2Mom: What did you eat last night for dinner? Can you share the recipe?
Kelly: Last night I had a good old Tomato Sandwich. White bread, tomato, mayo, salt and pepper! Since my husband was out of town, I took advantage of one of my favorites. But I love my Paula Dean recipe for a Tomato Pie. It sounds a lot better, and actually tastes better than my sandwich.
Mom2Mom: What's your guilty pleasure?
Kelly: I have two guilty pleasures.
Children’s clothing. I have a tremendously hard time dressing myself, but I love dressing my kids. Even selling children’s clothing has not dampened that love.
At the end of the day, when the kids are asleep and the kitchen is cleaned and my e-mails are all caught up, there is nothing better than a nice glass of wine. That is my little reward for keeping all of the spinning plates in the air all day long.
www.divineconsignshow.com
Friday, August 01, 2008
Thursday, July 31, 2008
Alligators on the Castle Grounds!
I just heard about the 11 yr. old boy, Devin Funck, who was attacked by an 11 ft. alligator in Louisiana! How horrible! I cannot even imagine. My heart goes out to both him and his family. An event as traumatic as that will most certainly carry with it not only challenging physical healing, but emotional healing as well.
Alligators conjure up images in my mind of an animal that is big, dangerous, angry with a huge mouth and large teeth! They are sneaky, lurking in the waters, waiting to attack on their prey. Oddly enough I read that typically, alligators are docile. Docile?! How can that be? I obviously need to do more research on alligators, but this reminds me of how we all have emotional alligators in our lives. We build castle walls to keep them out, but somehow, through rivers or cracks and holes in our fortress walls, the emotional alligators, crocodiles and dragons of life manage to slip through to our safety zone. At first, we run and hide questioning how this possibly could have happened, after all, isnt' that what the wall is for? But little by little, we realize we have to face the dragons who've crept inside the castle walls of our lives. Some enter as small dragons, but the more we hide from them, they grow larger and larger, affecting not only our own mental health, but our relationships to those around us.
These emotional crocodiles take many shapes and forms- insecurities, anger, bitterness, jealousy, rage, to name only a few.
We often think we can fight them alone so we battle forward in our finest princess gowns, and tiara, with sceptor in hand, thinking they will surely notice our Royal Position and run, be we forget we can do nothing without the power of The King. He is the one who possesses and equips the armies needed to fight these battles for us. We must first come to Him, ask for His help, and acknowledge that our Power truly comes from Him.
William P. Young, author of the NY Times Bestseller, THE SHACK, refers to these emotional dragons as "The Great Sadness." He writes a wonderful fiction book touching on how we struggle so much with the belief that God is "especially fond" of us and the belief that He wants to help us fight the many emotional alligators in our midst. Ultimately, it requires our surrendering to Him and believing how He is truly kind, and loving and wants to heal us from the inside out.
I know I am now fighting some personal emotional crocodiles within the walls of my own Castle and as I sit here with sceptor in hand, I realize I must first bow my knee before The King. As my knee hits the ground, I feel a weight lifted off my shoulders and empowered at the same time; empowered by His goodness, kindness, protection and love. For me, my Castle is only truly Royalty and only truly protected within the Kingdom.
Kimberly Webb, Fan of Princess Bubble
I just heard about the 11 yr. old boy, Devin Funck, who was attacked by an 11 ft. alligator in Louisiana! How horrible! I cannot even imagine. My heart goes out to both him and his family. An event as traumatic as that will most certainly carry with it not only challenging physical healing, but emotional healing as well.
Alligators conjure up images in my mind of an animal that is big, dangerous, angry with a huge mouth and large teeth! They are sneaky, lurking in the waters, waiting to attack on their prey. Oddly enough I read that typically, alligators are docile. Docile?! How can that be? I obviously need to do more research on alligators, but this reminds me of how we all have emotional alligators in our lives. We build castle walls to keep them out, but somehow, through rivers or cracks and holes in our fortress walls, the emotional alligators, crocodiles and dragons of life manage to slip through to our safety zone. At first, we run and hide questioning how this possibly could have happened, after all, isnt' that what the wall is for? But little by little, we realize we have to face the dragons who've crept inside the castle walls of our lives. Some enter as small dragons, but the more we hide from them, they grow larger and larger, affecting not only our own mental health, but our relationships to those around us.
These emotional crocodiles take many shapes and forms- insecurities, anger, bitterness, jealousy, rage, to name only a few.
We often think we can fight them alone so we battle forward in our finest princess gowns, and tiara, with sceptor in hand, thinking they will surely notice our Royal Position and run, be we forget we can do nothing without the power of The King. He is the one who possesses and equips the armies needed to fight these battles for us. We must first come to Him, ask for His help, and acknowledge that our Power truly comes from Him.
William P. Young, author of the NY Times Bestseller, THE SHACK, refers to these emotional dragons as "The Great Sadness." He writes a wonderful fiction book touching on how we struggle so much with the belief that God is "especially fond" of us and the belief that He wants to help us fight the many emotional alligators in our midst. Ultimately, it requires our surrendering to Him and believing how He is truly kind, and loving and wants to heal us from the inside out.
I know I am now fighting some personal emotional crocodiles within the walls of my own Castle and as I sit here with sceptor in hand, I realize I must first bow my knee before The King. As my knee hits the ground, I feel a weight lifted off my shoulders and empowered at the same time; empowered by His goodness, kindness, protection and love. For me, my Castle is only truly Royalty and only truly protected within the Kingdom.
Kimberly Webb, Fan of Princess Bubble
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
Princess Bubble on CNN.com
We are thrilled to announce that on August 11th at 9:40 EST Princess Bubble author Susan Johnston will interview with Melissa Long on CNN!
Thank you to CNN for believing in our important message and helping us reach and empower girls of all ages with our message of the true way to "Happily Ever After!"
www.PrincessBubble.com
We are thrilled to announce that on August 11th at 9:40 EST Princess Bubble author Susan Johnston will interview with Melissa Long on CNN!
Thank you to CNN for believing in our important message and helping us reach and empower girls of all ages with our message of the true way to "Happily Ever After!"
www.PrincessBubble.com
Saturday, July 26, 2008
We at Princess Bubble are always looking for new cute store for our fairy tale!
With the price of gas, we stopped physically calling on stores and have been emailing. This has worked well and we have opned many new accounts. Do you know a store we need to contact?
I am posting some information about about Princess Bubble below. We are so passionate about the message of our book and empowering girls. If you can make a suggestion of a store you love (gift store,children's store..) and have some type of contact information we would be so grateful.
Princess Bubble has been so well received and was featured on The Today Show and many other shows.
Thank you and Happily Ever After!
info@princesbubble.com
The Anti-Princess Movement finds “Happily Ever After” in Princess Bubble
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, April 18,2008—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-
Related: shopper, princess bubble, market, gift store, childrens store, buyer
With the price of gas, we stopped physically calling on stores and have been emailing. This has worked well and we have opned many new accounts. Do you know a store we need to contact?
I am posting some information about about Princess Bubble below. We are so passionate about the message of our book and empowering girls. If you can make a suggestion of a store you love (gift store,children's store..) and have some type of contact information we would be so grateful.
Princess Bubble has been so well received and was featured on The Today Show and many other shows.
Thank you and Happily Ever After!
info@princesbubble.com
The Anti-Princess Movement finds “Happily Ever After” in Princess Bubble
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, April 18,2008—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-
Related: shopper, princess bubble, market, gift store, childrens store, buyer
If I Produced The Bachelor TV Show...
When I am doing my VERY brief work I always have crazy ideas and if it is Saturday,like today, I actually have time to blog about them. Who has not tuned in for at least one of The Bachelor/Bachelorette show?
I know lots of people have watched,because these reality "stars"-I guess they are stars-go on to have a career based on their limited appearance on this show. Magazines buy their baby pictures, they host other shows, they become news anchors, run for office...
First, let me tell what I hate about the show. Then I will share my idea for a twist
"The Fantasy Suite" which glorifies one night stands with multiple people! Who knows what goes on behind close doors? But, we are lead to believe things are happening that are not for the cameras. Are the morals of our world crumbling so much that no one else thinks sleeping with 3 different guys you have known a few weeks and know you will never see at least 2 of them again-is not disgusting?
Now for my idea. (For example purposes I am using Bachelorette as the show) Have two bachelorettes. The two can be very much alike in they are both a size 0,young and beautiful. Or the two can be very different. Sporty/Girly, Funny/Serious, Career Oriented/M.R.S. degree, or the old North/South.
When you have two bachelors you add many,many twist. The girls do not know if the men are more into the other girl and playing them (like real life) The girls do not know who the other woman is eliminating because and a guy cut by one girl may stay on the show with another. (I have not worked out the details on how you would keep that a secret from the girls without the men letting on that someone is gone.) Then there is a likely hood that two women are at their own final rose ceremony with the same guy. Talk about the most dramatic rose ceremony ever. Or you end up with two different couples. If the girls are down to the last 4 with totally different men. Then you could move the women in together and let them discuss their choices and help the other choose...
I think this would be very interesting and add life to the show.
If you have not found your prince-check out www.findyourprince.com-this is not a dating site. This is a fairy tale about being happy single or married!
When I am doing my VERY brief work I always have crazy ideas and if it is Saturday,like today, I actually have time to blog about them. Who has not tuned in for at least one of The Bachelor/Bachelorette show?
I know lots of people have watched,because these reality "stars"-I guess they are stars-go on to have a career based on their limited appearance on this show. Magazines buy their baby pictures, they host other shows, they become news anchors, run for office...
First, let me tell what I hate about the show. Then I will share my idea for a twist
"The Fantasy Suite" which glorifies one night stands with multiple people! Who knows what goes on behind close doors? But, we are lead to believe things are happening that are not for the cameras. Are the morals of our world crumbling so much that no one else thinks sleeping with 3 different guys you have known a few weeks and know you will never see at least 2 of them again-is not disgusting?
Now for my idea. (For example purposes I am using Bachelorette as the show) Have two bachelorettes. The two can be very much alike in they are both a size 0,young and beautiful. Or the two can be very different. Sporty/Girly, Funny/Serious, Career Oriented/M.R.S. degree, or the old North/South.
When you have two bachelors you add many,many twist. The girls do not know if the men are more into the other girl and playing them (like real life) The girls do not know who the other woman is eliminating because and a guy cut by one girl may stay on the show with another. (I have not worked out the details on how you would keep that a secret from the girls without the men letting on that someone is gone.) Then there is a likely hood that two women are at their own final rose ceremony with the same guy. Talk about the most dramatic rose ceremony ever. Or you end up with two different couples. If the girls are down to the last 4 with totally different men. Then you could move the women in together and let them discuss their choices and help the other choose...
I think this would be very interesting and add life to the show.
If you have not found your prince-check out www.findyourprince.com-this is not a dating site. This is a fairy tale about being happy single or married!
The Real Housewives of Atlanta?
Bravo is airing a new show about Atlanta. Too bad not one of these housewives live in Atlanta.
4 out of 5 of these women are black, which is not too far off. I looked at the demographic of Atlanta and African Americans make up 61.39% of the city’s population. But, remember these women live in the burbs. I looked for demographics in Alpharetta and race was not mentioned. My suburban housewife friends have told me the demographics in their children’s schools are so diverse-representing so many countries it looks like a Benetton ad. These mothers bragged about this feeling this would make for a well rounded education for their child; so I am guessing the burbs are not 61% African American.
A few comments I heard from clips of this show on Entrtainment Tonight that made me really look up from my laptop were– the one white woman said she was “A black girl in a white girls body.” And another woman said that Atlanta was the black Hollywood.
Atlanta may be the black Hollywood with all the rappers and athletes here. But, I thought it was odd that the producers would use the clip of this white woman and she would feel the need to mention she had some type black connection. To me, this screamed we have no intentions of being diverse.
What if the only black woman on a show with 4 other white women said, “I am a white woman in a black body?” First, I would feel sorry for this woman that she was not happy in her own skin. Secondly, this black woman would probably hear from her race many comments about this statement.
Personally, I do not care about her race. But wonder what about Atlanta or the suburbs are the producers saying/portraying.
I copied the below about the show.
Bravo reveals ‘The Real Housewives of Atlanta,’ preview to air July 30
By Steve Rogers, 06/26/2008
Cross another state off Bravo’s ever-growing The Real Housewives list.
The network has announced that it will air a 30-minute “special preview” of The Real Housewives of Atlanta, another new version of its The Real Housewives reality franchise, on Wednesday, July 30 at 12 AM ET/PT.
The Real Housewives of Atlanta marks Bravo’s third attempt to replicate its original The Real Housewives of Orange County reality series. The first spinoff, The Real Housewives of New York City, debuted this past spring. Similar to the format’s West Coast original, it follows five New York women (only four of whom are actually married) as they attempt to juggle their busy schedules and highfalutin lifestyles.
The network announced it had ordered new seasons of both reality shows – Orange County’sfourth and New York City’s second — back in April.
At the same time, Bravo had also announced it had ordered The Real Housewives of New Jersey, a second spinoff of the format. The show will follow five of the Garden State’s most affluent women and their families, including the “McMansions and lavish lifestyles of these women and all the drama that money can buy,” according to Bravo.
Why the network has now decided to debut — at least in “special preview” form — the previously unannounced Atlanta edition before the New Jersey edition remains unclear, however Bravo is still proceeding with New Jersey edition, according to a network spokesperson. Except for today’s Atlanta“special preview” announcement, the network has not announced a regular premiere date for either new edition yet. When it debuts, The Real Housewives of Atlanta’s season will air as seven one-hour episodes.
The Real Housewives of Atlanta is being produced by True Entertainment, an Endemol subsidiary, with Steven Weinstock, Glenda Hersh, Shari Solomon Cedar and Kenny Hull serving as the show’ executive producers. True’s previous credits include Gastineau Girls, HGTV Design Star, and Unwrapping Macy’s. (Although they share a common branding, each The Real Housewives version is produced independently. The Real Housewives of Orange County is produced by Evolution Film & Tape whileThe Real Housewives of New York City is produced by Ricochet Television.)
The five women who will be featured in The Real Housewives of Atlanta’s season — and their Bravo-released bios — will be:
DeShawn Snow — Snow and her husband Eric, captain of the Cleveland Cavaliers, recently moved to their dream home in Alpharetta, GA. Mother to three boys: nine-year-old EJ, six-year-old Darius and five-year-old Jarren, Snow is an active member of the New Birth Missionary Baptist Church. She exercises her faith by running The DeShawn Snow Foundation, a non-profit organization focused on improving self-esteem in teenage girls. She is a regular on the Atlanta social circuit and extremely active in local philanthropy, sitting on the board of three different charities, all while expertly juggling her busy social calendar with being an NBA wife and keeping up with her boys.
Kim Zolciak — Zolciak lives in an exclusive gated townhouse community in Duluth, GA with her two children, 11-year-old Brielle and six-year-old Ariana. Zolciak is single, but happily dating with hopes to marry again in the near future. She also has her sights set on fame in the music business as a country singer, and is currently working with Grammy award-winning mega-producer Dallas Austin and will begin recording an album later this year. A staple on the Atlanta scene, Zolciak balances life as a single mom with a vivacious social life.
Lisa Wu Hartwell — Hartwell, a resident of a luxurious country club community in Duluth, GA, is a busy career woman who wears many hats - she owns her own real estate firm, Hartwell & Associates, a jewelry line called Wu Girls, a baby clothing line, Hart 2 Hart Baby, and juggles a budding acting, modeling and writing career. She’s a devoted wife to her husband, NFL player Ed Hartwell, and their three children 13-year-old Jordan, ten-year-old Justin and one-year-old EJ. When she’s not running one of her many businesses or running after the kids, Hartwell is very active in Atlanta’s social scene.
NeNe Leakes — Leakes is an active member of Atlanta society. She resides in the upscale Sugarloaf area of Atlanta with her husband Gregg, a successful real estate investor and business consultant, and their two sons, 18-year-old Brice and nine-year-old Brentt. Leakes donates her time to various foundations and is the founder of The Twisted Hearts Foundation, which brings awareness to domestic violence against women. Never one to sit still, the outspoken social butterfly also hopes to open a luxury boutique hotel in the very near future.
Sheree Whitfield — Single socialite Whitfield, a resident of the exclusive Sandy Springs area of Atlanta, juggles her busy home life with a packed social calendar. She is a busy working mother to three children -Tierra, Kairo and Kaleigh. Whitfield prides herself on her fashion sense, and owned her own upscale clothing boutique - Bella Azul - for years before closing up shop to focus on her next business venture, a clothing line called “She by Sheree.” Whitfield is opening a new chapter in her life as a single mom while balancing her entrepreneurial spirit and active social life.
www.PrincessBubble.com
Bravo is airing a new show about Atlanta. Too bad not one of these housewives live in Atlanta.
4 out of 5 of these women are black, which is not too far off. I looked at the demographic of Atlanta and African Americans make up 61.39% of the city’s population. But, remember these women live in the burbs. I looked for demographics in Alpharetta and race was not mentioned. My suburban housewife friends have told me the demographics in their children’s schools are so diverse-representing so many countries it looks like a Benetton ad. These mothers bragged about this feeling this would make for a well rounded education for their child; so I am guessing the burbs are not 61% African American.
A few comments I heard from clips of this show on Entrtainment Tonight that made me really look up from my laptop were– the one white woman said she was “A black girl in a white girls body.” And another woman said that Atlanta was the black Hollywood.
Atlanta may be the black Hollywood with all the rappers and athletes here. But, I thought it was odd that the producers would use the clip of this white woman and she would feel the need to mention she had some type black connection. To me, this screamed we have no intentions of being diverse.
What if the only black woman on a show with 4 other white women said, “I am a white woman in a black body?” First, I would feel sorry for this woman that she was not happy in her own skin. Secondly, this black woman would probably hear from her race many comments about this statement.
Personally, I do not care about her race. But wonder what about Atlanta or the suburbs are the producers saying/portraying.
I copied the below about the show.
Bravo reveals ‘The Real Housewives of Atlanta,’ preview to air July 30
By Steve Rogers, 06/26/2008
Cross another state off Bravo’s ever-growing The Real Housewives list.
The network has announced that it will air a 30-minute “special preview” of The Real Housewives of Atlanta, another new version of its The Real Housewives reality franchise, on Wednesday, July 30 at 12 AM ET/PT.
The Real Housewives of Atlanta marks Bravo’s third attempt to replicate its original The Real Housewives of Orange County reality series. The first spinoff, The Real Housewives of New York City, debuted this past spring. Similar to the format’s West Coast original, it follows five New York women (only four of whom are actually married) as they attempt to juggle their busy schedules and highfalutin lifestyles.
The network announced it had ordered new seasons of both reality shows – Orange County’sfourth and New York City’s second — back in April.
At the same time, Bravo had also announced it had ordered The Real Housewives of New Jersey, a second spinoff of the format. The show will follow five of the Garden State’s most affluent women and their families, including the “McMansions and lavish lifestyles of these women and all the drama that money can buy,” according to Bravo.
Why the network has now decided to debut — at least in “special preview” form — the previously unannounced Atlanta edition before the New Jersey edition remains unclear, however Bravo is still proceeding with New Jersey edition, according to a network spokesperson. Except for today’s Atlanta“special preview” announcement, the network has not announced a regular premiere date for either new edition yet. When it debuts, The Real Housewives of Atlanta’s season will air as seven one-hour episodes.
The Real Housewives of Atlanta is being produced by True Entertainment, an Endemol subsidiary, with Steven Weinstock, Glenda Hersh, Shari Solomon Cedar and Kenny Hull serving as the show’ executive producers. True’s previous credits include Gastineau Girls, HGTV Design Star, and Unwrapping Macy’s. (Although they share a common branding, each The Real Housewives version is produced independently. The Real Housewives of Orange County is produced by Evolution Film & Tape whileThe Real Housewives of New York City is produced by Ricochet Television.)
The five women who will be featured in The Real Housewives of Atlanta’s season — and their Bravo-released bios — will be:
DeShawn Snow — Snow and her husband Eric, captain of the Cleveland Cavaliers, recently moved to their dream home in Alpharetta, GA. Mother to three boys: nine-year-old EJ, six-year-old Darius and five-year-old Jarren, Snow is an active member of the New Birth Missionary Baptist Church. She exercises her faith by running The DeShawn Snow Foundation, a non-profit organization focused on improving self-esteem in teenage girls. She is a regular on the Atlanta social circuit and extremely active in local philanthropy, sitting on the board of three different charities, all while expertly juggling her busy social calendar with being an NBA wife and keeping up with her boys.
Kim Zolciak — Zolciak lives in an exclusive gated townhouse community in Duluth, GA with her two children, 11-year-old Brielle and six-year-old Ariana. Zolciak is single, but happily dating with hopes to marry again in the near future. She also has her sights set on fame in the music business as a country singer, and is currently working with Grammy award-winning mega-producer Dallas Austin and will begin recording an album later this year. A staple on the Atlanta scene, Zolciak balances life as a single mom with a vivacious social life.
Lisa Wu Hartwell — Hartwell, a resident of a luxurious country club community in Duluth, GA, is a busy career woman who wears many hats - she owns her own real estate firm, Hartwell & Associates, a jewelry line called Wu Girls, a baby clothing line, Hart 2 Hart Baby, and juggles a budding acting, modeling and writing career. She’s a devoted wife to her husband, NFL player Ed Hartwell, and their three children 13-year-old Jordan, ten-year-old Justin and one-year-old EJ. When she’s not running one of her many businesses or running after the kids, Hartwell is very active in Atlanta’s social scene.
NeNe Leakes — Leakes is an active member of Atlanta society. She resides in the upscale Sugarloaf area of Atlanta with her husband Gregg, a successful real estate investor and business consultant, and their two sons, 18-year-old Brice and nine-year-old Brentt. Leakes donates her time to various foundations and is the founder of The Twisted Hearts Foundation, which brings awareness to domestic violence against women. Never one to sit still, the outspoken social butterfly also hopes to open a luxury boutique hotel in the very near future.
Sheree Whitfield — Single socialite Whitfield, a resident of the exclusive Sandy Springs area of Atlanta, juggles her busy home life with a packed social calendar. She is a busy working mother to three children -Tierra, Kairo and Kaleigh. Whitfield prides herself on her fashion sense, and owned her own upscale clothing boutique - Bella Azul - for years before closing up shop to focus on her next business venture, a clothing line called “She by Sheree.” Whitfield is opening a new chapter in her life as a single mom while balancing her entrepreneurial spirit and active social life.
www.PrincessBubble.com
Thursday, July 24, 2008
Runaway Bride and Sue-away Bride Both from Gainesville, GA?
I just read the below article and thought it was funny that this ex-bride was also from the same area.
Do I think something funny is going on in this areas romances? I DO!
Woman Sues Ex-Fiancé, Wins
POSTED BY: DUFFIE DIXON
GAINESVILLE, Ga. -- A Gainesville woman has successfully sued her ex-fiancé after he called off their wedding. A jury ruled it was a breach of contract and ordered him to pay $150,000 in damages.
Rosemary Shell holds a large, glittering engagement ring in her hands. She no longer wears it on her ring finger, but instead keeps it in the box it came in. She says it's a reminder of what could have been.
"He changed his mind for no good reason," said Shell.
She's talking about Wayne Gibbs of Gainesville, a man she dated for five years. Shell says when he said he wasn't interested in marriage she moved to Pensacola, Florida and started a lucrative new job earning $81,000 a year plus bonuses and benefits. Then Gibbs showed up.
"He asked me to marry him. He gave me a ring and I gave up my life and my career and I came back to Gainesville. He told me he would pay my bills, that we would be married by the holidays and we would live happily ever after. I believed him," said Shell.
But two days before the wedding, she says Gibbs left her a goodbye note saying he couldn't go through with the wedding. He also wrote her a $5,000 dollar check. She says she tore up both and instead sued him for breach of contract.
Shell's lawyer, former Hall County District Attorney Lydia Sartain, successfully argued before a jury that Gibbs owed Shell what she'd lost in salary plus pain and suffering.
"He callously allowed her to quit her job, move back and into his house where she had no income and then after a couple of months he just put her out on the streets and said 'you know you're on your own'," said Sartain.
After just a day of testimony, the jury sided with Shell and ordered Gibbs to pay $150,000 dollars in damages.
Neither Gibbs nor his attorney was available for comment. Gibbs did testify that he didn't feel he owed Shell anything, especially since he'd let her keep the engagement ring.
The ring Shell now keeps in that box and plans to sell. She says she hopes the next woman who receives it has a fiancé who will follow through.
www.PrincessBubble.com
I just read the below article and thought it was funny that this ex-bride was also from the same area.
Do I think something funny is going on in this areas romances? I DO!
Woman Sues Ex-Fiancé, Wins
POSTED BY: DUFFIE DIXON
GAINESVILLE, Ga. -- A Gainesville woman has successfully sued her ex-fiancé after he called off their wedding. A jury ruled it was a breach of contract and ordered him to pay $150,000 in damages.
Rosemary Shell holds a large, glittering engagement ring in her hands. She no longer wears it on her ring finger, but instead keeps it in the box it came in. She says it's a reminder of what could have been.
"He changed his mind for no good reason," said Shell.
She's talking about Wayne Gibbs of Gainesville, a man she dated for five years. Shell says when he said he wasn't interested in marriage she moved to Pensacola, Florida and started a lucrative new job earning $81,000 a year plus bonuses and benefits. Then Gibbs showed up.
"He asked me to marry him. He gave me a ring and I gave up my life and my career and I came back to Gainesville. He told me he would pay my bills, that we would be married by the holidays and we would live happily ever after. I believed him," said Shell.
But two days before the wedding, she says Gibbs left her a goodbye note saying he couldn't go through with the wedding. He also wrote her a $5,000 dollar check. She says she tore up both and instead sued him for breach of contract.
Shell's lawyer, former Hall County District Attorney Lydia Sartain, successfully argued before a jury that Gibbs owed Shell what she'd lost in salary plus pain and suffering.
"He callously allowed her to quit her job, move back and into his house where she had no income and then after a couple of months he just put her out on the streets and said 'you know you're on your own'," said Sartain.
After just a day of testimony, the jury sided with Shell and ordered Gibbs to pay $150,000 dollars in damages.
Neither Gibbs nor his attorney was available for comment. Gibbs did testify that he didn't feel he owed Shell anything, especially since he'd let her keep the engagement ring.
The ring Shell now keeps in that box and plans to sell. She says she hopes the next woman who receives it has a fiancé who will follow through.
www.PrincessBubble.com
Sunday, July 20, 2008
What do you say to a friend with cancer?
This is not a blog where I tell you what to say.
This is a blog where I ask, "What do you say?" My dear friend has stage 4 Melanoma. She has 3 children and a father dying of cancer and a brother that recently died of cancer.
I want to be positive. To tell her I know God can do anything and I do believe that. But, I also want her to be comfortable telling me as much or as little as she wants about being scared, having moments she is not hopeful or even days/weeks. Having a place to vent. This precious amazing girl worries she will seem lazy if she rest because we live in this world so fast paced we see resting as negative sometimes verses a form of medicine the body needs!
She worries about losing her hair and gaining weight because these things make us feel beautiful, worth, loved, the person the see in the mirror and recognize. I am sure losing your hair and physical signs of the disease also are just constant reminders of the battle. When you look the same physically there is always my favorite place-denial.
In fact part of me does not even want to call my friend. How awful is that! But, she lives in another state and I want to just forget she has cancer and live in denial and think she is at home well having the fantastic life she should have. Calling her I am reminded, this is serious! But, what I would not give to be able to call my own father again. I know if she is taken from us I would regret that I did not embrace and cherish each opportunity to talk with her.
I also feel that maybe others feel this way because she calls me back when I say you do not have to-- and talks at length-which I am thankful for-but feel she must not be telling all of this to many people because she has so much going on. Or maybe she is and is hoping for just one person to say what she needs to hear. I want to be that person. I want to say something that will get her through this.
Then there are people who have told her if her faith is strong enough she will be healed. Are these people off their rocker? God promises us healing but that is often the ultimate healing-healing from this world and an eternal life with Him. I was guilty of comments similar to this once. My mother was healed of breast cancer when she had 6 months to live. Now, it has been 12 years! Praise God! Right after that I thought- you just have to ask!!! I still believe we need to ask for healing and believe it is possible-but we just do not know why God heals some and takes others.
I have been dealing with a lot of frustration lately from people I adore. When I talk to this friend with cancer I am reminded just how trivial my anger issues really are. Well, at least till I hit another bump in the road.
I just am so sadden that a sweet, wonderful, loving, godly woman is having to fight this disease with all she has when Bin Laudin who has spent so much more time in the sun than my friend is probably in a cave somewhere plotting evil and and cancer free.
I bought my friend a t-shirt that says it all "Cancer Sucks!"
Amen
www.PrincessBubble.com
This is not a blog where I tell you what to say.
This is a blog where I ask, "What do you say?" My dear friend has stage 4 Melanoma. She has 3 children and a father dying of cancer and a brother that recently died of cancer.
I want to be positive. To tell her I know God can do anything and I do believe that. But, I also want her to be comfortable telling me as much or as little as she wants about being scared, having moments she is not hopeful or even days/weeks. Having a place to vent. This precious amazing girl worries she will seem lazy if she rest because we live in this world so fast paced we see resting as negative sometimes verses a form of medicine the body needs!
She worries about losing her hair and gaining weight because these things make us feel beautiful, worth, loved, the person the see in the mirror and recognize. I am sure losing your hair and physical signs of the disease also are just constant reminders of the battle. When you look the same physically there is always my favorite place-denial.
In fact part of me does not even want to call my friend. How awful is that! But, she lives in another state and I want to just forget she has cancer and live in denial and think she is at home well having the fantastic life she should have. Calling her I am reminded, this is serious! But, what I would not give to be able to call my own father again. I know if she is taken from us I would regret that I did not embrace and cherish each opportunity to talk with her.
I also feel that maybe others feel this way because she calls me back when I say you do not have to-- and talks at length-which I am thankful for-but feel she must not be telling all of this to many people because she has so much going on. Or maybe she is and is hoping for just one person to say what she needs to hear. I want to be that person. I want to say something that will get her through this.
Then there are people who have told her if her faith is strong enough she will be healed. Are these people off their rocker? God promises us healing but that is often the ultimate healing-healing from this world and an eternal life with Him. I was guilty of comments similar to this once. My mother was healed of breast cancer when she had 6 months to live. Now, it has been 12 years! Praise God! Right after that I thought- you just have to ask!!! I still believe we need to ask for healing and believe it is possible-but we just do not know why God heals some and takes others.
I have been dealing with a lot of frustration lately from people I adore. When I talk to this friend with cancer I am reminded just how trivial my anger issues really are. Well, at least till I hit another bump in the road.
I just am so sadden that a sweet, wonderful, loving, godly woman is having to fight this disease with all she has when Bin Laudin who has spent so much more time in the sun than my friend is probably in a cave somewhere plotting evil and and cancer free.
I bought my friend a t-shirt that says it all "Cancer Sucks!"
Amen
www.PrincessBubble.com
Friday, July 18, 2008
Flight Attendant becomes Space Cadet!
Flight Attendants are used to having your hands in trash. When I was a flight attendant, not only did people hand me all kinds of gross things-but you have to literally push the trash deep into the can because of the limited space on flight. You get past all the "glamour" of doing things like this quickly.
A French flight attendant will become one of Europe 's pioneer space tourists after picking a chocolate wrapper out of the trash and finding a winning number in a competition to fly to a route she never dreamed to bid for-space!
Mathilde Epron, 32, said she had bought a Kit Kat chocolate bar at her local grocery store but initially threw the wrapper in the trash, telling herself that "it's only others who win."
A couple of hours later, thinking back to the competition, she decided to try her luck and went through the trash can in search of the wrapper, and found the winning code inside!
"For someone who works in air travel it's really a dream come true," she told local radio host.
A spokeswoman for Nestle in France confirmed that Epron had won the prize! On this flight Epron has positive space! The four-seater, fighter-sized aircraft built by Rocketplane, a company that builds aircraft intended to provide cheap flights into space.
She will receive four days of astronaut training in Oklahoma City before boarding the Rocketplane XP aircraft which will reach an altitude of (60 mph and allow a five-minute experience of weightlessness. (Which is a huge comfort to any flight attendant old enough to remember the weight restrictions we used to have to meet!)
I am thrilled for you and hope you have the ride of your life!
Flight Attendants are used to having your hands in trash. When I was a flight attendant, not only did people hand me all kinds of gross things-but you have to literally push the trash deep into the can because of the limited space on flight. You get past all the "glamour" of doing things like this quickly.
A French flight attendant will become one of Europe 's pioneer space tourists after picking a chocolate wrapper out of the trash and finding a winning number in a competition to fly to a route she never dreamed to bid for-space!
Mathilde Epron, 32, said she had bought a Kit Kat chocolate bar at her local grocery store but initially threw the wrapper in the trash, telling herself that "it's only others who win."
A couple of hours later, thinking back to the competition, she decided to try her luck and went through the trash can in search of the wrapper, and found the winning code inside!
"For someone who works in air travel it's really a dream come true," she told local radio host.
A spokeswoman for Nestle in France confirmed that Epron had won the prize! On this flight Epron has positive space! The four-seater, fighter-sized aircraft built by Rocketplane, a company that builds aircraft intended to provide cheap flights into space.
She will receive four days of astronaut training in Oklahoma City before boarding the Rocketplane XP aircraft which will reach an altitude of (60 mph and allow a five-minute experience of weightlessness. (Which is a huge comfort to any flight attendant old enough to remember the weight restrictions we used to have to meet!)
I am thrilled for you and hope you have the ride of your life!
Thursday, July 10, 2008
It Is Hard to Be in Business with a Friend!
)
I just wrote the words “Kim Webb was a tremendous help in taking the story of Princess Bubble from an email Susan originally sent out to her friends to a beautifully published book. Her friendship is extraordinary and priceless to Susan! But, sometimes it is hard to be best friends and business partners so Susan has bought Kim’s interest in Bubble Gum Press and will always be grateful to Kim for her love and passion for the message of Princess Bubble!” on our site www.PrincessBubble.com
As I was writing those words, I was grieving the loss of my business partner. But, I know I still have the dearest friend anyone in the world could ever ask for!
It is just HARD to be business partners and friends. Here is a little of our story in case this can help anyone else and probably mainly to vent my grief since I am not really telling this story to the one I tell everything to—my best friend/ex-business partner.
I wrote the story of Princess Bubble and Kim thought the story was missing and needed to be told to the world. Having always been the most attention deficit person in the world, I said, “Join me so it will get done!” What I did not realize about myself was I am the Queen of Attention Retention when I have a passion. I guess up until Princess Bubble I never really worked on anything that I thought could change, empower, encourage people/girls the way I feel about the message of Princess Bubble. Having a passion that burns like a wildfire makes you excited every minute of everyday to work on something this powerful.
Kim, also passionate about the message, became the ADD one in our partnership, which is totally unexpected because she is brilliantly focused and taught herself Spanish, Portuguese, and Italian!
My background prepared me more for this project. My family has always owned a retail/wholesale business and I started buying for our store as a tween. I majored in public relations and understood the value of the media.
We both made a million mistakes along the way and knew absolutely nothing about publishing, so we have been blessed beyond measure. But, I saw early some of Kim’s mistakes in the few areas I knew something about. Then this weird control freak person came out in me that had been hiding under a blanket of apathy my whole life. I had learned to sell/promote my family’s wholesale line as a child; therefore, I assumed that ANYONE would know the basics I knew! Turns out they don’t.
Then the miracle of all miracles happen! We were asked to be on the Today Show! But, Kim said she only had limited availability. Limited availability! We are unknown, self-published authors. In my mind, if I was getting married that day I would have canceled the wedding to be on the show! Plus, my father had just suddenly died and I was crushed beyond measure. The good news of the Today Show was this fantastic thing I could focus on through my tears and pain.
The show was kind enough to work with us and we appeared in a segment with Ann Curry. But, ever since then our business relationship has been strained with our different views of work and commitment.
Thank God we have a friendship that is sibling-like in nature; where, despite the fights, you adore the person so much that I can fight, fight, fight and then say, “Whatcha wanna do tonight?”
Our new personal story reads, “Once upon a time there were two princesses. The two princesses realized their kingdom was crumbling with both of them ruling. But, they knew as friends they would live ‘Happily Ever After’ forever
)
I just wrote the words “Kim Webb was a tremendous help in taking the story of Princess Bubble from an email Susan originally sent out to her friends to a beautifully published book. Her friendship is extraordinary and priceless to Susan! But, sometimes it is hard to be best friends and business partners so Susan has bought Kim’s interest in Bubble Gum Press and will always be grateful to Kim for her love and passion for the message of Princess Bubble!” on our site www.PrincessBubble.com
As I was writing those words, I was grieving the loss of my business partner. But, I know I still have the dearest friend anyone in the world could ever ask for!
It is just HARD to be business partners and friends. Here is a little of our story in case this can help anyone else and probably mainly to vent my grief since I am not really telling this story to the one I tell everything to—my best friend/ex-business partner.
I wrote the story of Princess Bubble and Kim thought the story was missing and needed to be told to the world. Having always been the most attention deficit person in the world, I said, “Join me so it will get done!” What I did not realize about myself was I am the Queen of Attention Retention when I have a passion. I guess up until Princess Bubble I never really worked on anything that I thought could change, empower, encourage people/girls the way I feel about the message of Princess Bubble. Having a passion that burns like a wildfire makes you excited every minute of everyday to work on something this powerful.
Kim, also passionate about the message, became the ADD one in our partnership, which is totally unexpected because she is brilliantly focused and taught herself Spanish, Portuguese, and Italian!
My background prepared me more for this project. My family has always owned a retail/wholesale business and I started buying for our store as a tween. I majored in public relations and understood the value of the media.
We both made a million mistakes along the way and knew absolutely nothing about publishing, so we have been blessed beyond measure. But, I saw early some of Kim’s mistakes in the few areas I knew something about. Then this weird control freak person came out in me that had been hiding under a blanket of apathy my whole life. I had learned to sell/promote my family’s wholesale line as a child; therefore, I assumed that ANYONE would know the basics I knew! Turns out they don’t.
Then the miracle of all miracles happen! We were asked to be on the Today Show! But, Kim said she only had limited availability. Limited availability! We are unknown, self-published authors. In my mind, if I was getting married that day I would have canceled the wedding to be on the show! Plus, my father had just suddenly died and I was crushed beyond measure. The good news of the Today Show was this fantastic thing I could focus on through my tears and pain.
The show was kind enough to work with us and we appeared in a segment with Ann Curry. But, ever since then our business relationship has been strained with our different views of work and commitment.
Thank God we have a friendship that is sibling-like in nature; where, despite the fights, you adore the person so much that I can fight, fight, fight and then say, “Whatcha wanna do tonight?”
Our new personal story reads, “Once upon a time there were two princesses. The two princesses realized their kingdom was crumbling with both of them ruling. But, they knew as friends they would live ‘Happily Ever After’ forever
Monday, June 30, 2008
Princess Bubble- BOOK REVIEW
by Wayne S. Walker
for Stories for Children Magazine
BOOK: Princess Bubble
WRITTEN BY: Susan Johnston and Kimberly Webb
ILLUSTRATED BY: Maria Tonelli
PUBLISHED BY: Bubble Gum Press (2006)
ISBN-10: 0-9650910-0-7
ISBN-13: 978-0-9650910-0-8
READING LEVEL: Ages 2-8 but single women may enjoy it too
REVIEWED BY: Wayne S. Walker
Being an "old-fashioned" type of person and having read some of the promotion for this book, I was not sure that I would like it. However, I determined to read it with an open mind. Behold, I found that I did like it. Most every little girl wants to grow up to be a Princess who finds her Prince Charming. And most parents would like this for their little girls. Yet, it is plain that it does not always happen for everyone. For those young ladies who must learn to be content with their singleness, there is Princess Bubble, who graduates from college, gets a job, buys a palace of her own, and watches several of her friends get married.
Many of her married friends begin to ask her why she has not found a prince yet, and eventually her mother tells her that it is time for her to find a prince. She does try and makes many new friends in the process, but finally learns from her fairy godmother that "living happily every 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." So, what will Princess Bubble do with what she has learned? This is a lovely story with an important message for girls (and for their parents) who can read it to help be prepared whatever may happen.
Website: www.PrincessBubble.com
by Wayne S. Walker
for Stories for Children Magazine
BOOK: Princess Bubble
WRITTEN BY: Susan Johnston and Kimberly Webb
ILLUSTRATED BY: Maria Tonelli
PUBLISHED BY: Bubble Gum Press (2006)
ISBN-10: 0-9650910-0-7
ISBN-13: 978-0-9650910-0-8
READING LEVEL: Ages 2-8 but single women may enjoy it too
REVIEWED BY: Wayne S. Walker
Being an "old-fashioned" type of person and having read some of the promotion for this book, I was not sure that I would like it. However, I determined to read it with an open mind. Behold, I found that I did like it. Most every little girl wants to grow up to be a Princess who finds her Prince Charming. And most parents would like this for their little girls. Yet, it is plain that it does not always happen for everyone. For those young ladies who must learn to be content with their singleness, there is Princess Bubble, who graduates from college, gets a job, buys a palace of her own, and watches several of her friends get married.
Many of her married friends begin to ask her why she has not found a prince yet, and eventually her mother tells her that it is time for her to find a prince. She does try and makes many new friends in the process, but finally learns from her fairy godmother that "living happily every 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." So, what will Princess Bubble do with what she has learned? This is a lovely story with an important message for girls (and for their parents) who can read it to help be prepared whatever may happen.
Website: www.PrincessBubble.com
Thursday, June 26, 2008
Princess Bubble (minus Prince Charming)
Courtesy of PrincessBubble.com
When "Princess Bubble" crossed my desk I wasn't sure what to think of it. The little book follows the adventures of Princess B as she journeys, prince-less, to acceptance that her life is great as it is and that she doesn't need a prince to be happy.
This isn't a man-hating book at all, just a kid-friendly rewrite of the usual fairytale. Princess Bubble travels, makes friends, loves her family, and is content with where she is in the romantic department, as are co-authors Kim Webb and Susan Johnston. It's a "happiness comes from within" story that would make a great gift for your flower girl.
I'm torn about the idea of gifting it to your bridesmaids. I love the message, but they'd have to be the right girls for the book, and your relationship would have to be solid. Anything else would seem downright condescending, since you're the one getting married.That said, the book's authors write from experience: Susan, who is from Griffin, says she has been a maid SEVENTEEN times, giving new meaning to the phrase "always a bridesmaid." So it's a message they've lived themselves, and that makes all the difference.
Courtesy of PrincessBubble.com
When "Princess Bubble" crossed my desk I wasn't sure what to think of it. The little book follows the adventures of Princess B as she journeys, prince-less, to acceptance that her life is great as it is and that she doesn't need a prince to be happy.
This isn't a man-hating book at all, just a kid-friendly rewrite of the usual fairytale. Princess Bubble travels, makes friends, loves her family, and is content with where she is in the romantic department, as are co-authors Kim Webb and Susan Johnston. It's a "happiness comes from within" story that would make a great gift for your flower girl.
I'm torn about the idea of gifting it to your bridesmaids. I love the message, but they'd have to be the right girls for the book, and your relationship would have to be solid. Anything else would seem downright condescending, since you're the one getting married.That said, the book's authors write from experience: Susan, who is from Griffin, says she has been a maid SEVENTEEN times, giving new meaning to the phrase "always a bridesmaid." So it's a message they've lived themselves, and that makes all the difference.
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
Auburn Alumna writes fairy tale book with message
By Sarah Loveless
Once upon a time, Auburn alumna Susan Johnston decided it was time to show women of all ages that they could have just as much joy without a "prince charming" as they would with one. So, she wrote a book, Princess Bubble.
Johnston graduated in 1988 with a bachelor's degree in public relations, and is a forth generation Auburn graduate.
Her Auburn experience with public relations equipped her with the skills needed to do most of the publicity for Princess Bubble.
The book, written with friend, Kimberly Webb and illustrated by Maria Tonelli, has acquired a national audience and tells a story on an educated, world-traveling single woman.
Just like many students facing the "real" world, Johnston didn't know what her plans were after she graduated. She decided to become a flight attendant for Delta Air Lines because she had a passion for traveling and wanted to see the world.
The book paralleled most aspects of Johnston's life as princess Bubble is a flight attendant for The Royal Heir Line.
Princess Bubble has become a great source of comfort for many women, just as Johnston and Webb had hoped.
"Countless women of all demographics have not only loved the message of Princess Bubble, but have gone out of their way to help us get the word out," Johnston said. "Many women have told us that their marriage actually improved once they were reminded that their husband is not responsible for their entire happiness, but a gift to share their happiness with."
Princess Bubble's success has allowed Johnston and Webb to travel to many different cities around the Southeast.
They have been guest on numerous shows including "Good Day Atlanta,' "Better Mornings" and "The Today Show."
"The Today Show' was a once in a lifetime opportunity to truly feel like a today princess," Johnston said. "We sat next to Matt Lauer in makeup. He is too cute."
Along with the newly found recognition, the author has also been met with criticism because of its feminist message. Johnston acknowledges that she is "the first to want to be treated like a lady," but she would rather be unmarried than married to the wrong person.
Princess Bubble is not "anti-prince," Johnston explained.
"The truth of the matter and the point of Princess Bubble is that happiness is not a destination, it is the journey," she said.
www.PrincessBubble.com
By Sarah Loveless
Once upon a time, Auburn alumna Susan Johnston decided it was time to show women of all ages that they could have just as much joy without a "prince charming" as they would with one. So, she wrote a book, Princess Bubble.
Johnston graduated in 1988 with a bachelor's degree in public relations, and is a forth generation Auburn graduate.
Her Auburn experience with public relations equipped her with the skills needed to do most of the publicity for Princess Bubble.
The book, written with friend, Kimberly Webb and illustrated by Maria Tonelli, has acquired a national audience and tells a story on an educated, world-traveling single woman.
Just like many students facing the "real" world, Johnston didn't know what her plans were after she graduated. She decided to become a flight attendant for Delta Air Lines because she had a passion for traveling and wanted to see the world.
The book paralleled most aspects of Johnston's life as princess Bubble is a flight attendant for The Royal Heir Line.
Princess Bubble has become a great source of comfort for many women, just as Johnston and Webb had hoped.
"Countless women of all demographics have not only loved the message of Princess Bubble, but have gone out of their way to help us get the word out," Johnston said. "Many women have told us that their marriage actually improved once they were reminded that their husband is not responsible for their entire happiness, but a gift to share their happiness with."
Princess Bubble's success has allowed Johnston and Webb to travel to many different cities around the Southeast.
They have been guest on numerous shows including "Good Day Atlanta,' "Better Mornings" and "The Today Show."
"The Today Show' was a once in a lifetime opportunity to truly feel like a today princess," Johnston said. "We sat next to Matt Lauer in makeup. He is too cute."
Along with the newly found recognition, the author has also been met with criticism because of its feminist message. Johnston acknowledges that she is "the first to want to be treated like a lady," but she would rather be unmarried than married to the wrong person.
Princess Bubble is not "anti-prince," Johnston explained.
"The truth of the matter and the point of Princess Bubble is that happiness is not a destination, it is the journey," she said.
www.PrincessBubble.com
Saturday, June 21, 2008
Pregnancy Pact
You probably read about the teen “pregnancy pact” in Gloucester, MA. At least 17 high-school girls expecting babies, including many aged 16 or younger.
What would lead these girls to make life altering decisions like this? This story made me even more passionate about the message of Princess Bubble because I believe these girls were searching so hard for something to complete them. Now, they will just be completely exhausted and overwhelmed for many, many years to come.
We at Princess Bubble believe “True Happily Ever After comes from loving God, helping others and liking who you are already.” Princess Bubble was written to reduce the overwhelming sense of failure, self-doubt, and despair that many youth face.
“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.”
Was this a result of these girls following Jamie Lynn Spears or the movie Juno? If media has this major of an impact on our children; isn’t it time for a new message for these kids? Reminding our youth not only that they are special and valuable; but teaching our children self respect, responsiblity and that you can not expect someone else to fulfill all your needs. Happiness begin from within.
One teen mother interviewed on The Today Show, when asked what advice she would give to other teen girls mentioned that having a baby would not allow you to go out everynight. Go out? That is the least of these girls concerns! What about providing for the child? The mother finishing her education? The responsiblity for the rest of your life…The teen mother interviewed obviously has not faced her own reality yet.
Speaking of reality,the new show “Baby Borrower” could not come at a more perfect time for teens or the shows ratings. I have not seen this show but if I understand correctly a teen couple borrows a baby and experiences parenthood first hand. But, this is a couple and will the MA teens have any help from the fathers of their babies? The girl that conceived with a homeless man probably will not receive much assistance from him and I pray that a baby is the only medical condition he gave this girl!
I know so many couple waiting to adopt a baby I can only hope some of these teens will be willing to make the best of their mistakes and fulfill the dreams of adult parents that long deeply to adopt.
www.PrincessBubble.com
You probably read about the teen “pregnancy pact” in Gloucester, MA. At least 17 high-school girls expecting babies, including many aged 16 or younger.
What would lead these girls to make life altering decisions like this? This story made me even more passionate about the message of Princess Bubble because I believe these girls were searching so hard for something to complete them. Now, they will just be completely exhausted and overwhelmed for many, many years to come.
We at Princess Bubble believe “True Happily Ever After comes from loving God, helping others and liking who you are already.” Princess Bubble was written to reduce the overwhelming sense of failure, self-doubt, and despair that many youth face.
“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.”
Was this a result of these girls following Jamie Lynn Spears or the movie Juno? If media has this major of an impact on our children; isn’t it time for a new message for these kids? Reminding our youth not only that they are special and valuable; but teaching our children self respect, responsiblity and that you can not expect someone else to fulfill all your needs. Happiness begin from within.
One teen mother interviewed on The Today Show, when asked what advice she would give to other teen girls mentioned that having a baby would not allow you to go out everynight. Go out? That is the least of these girls concerns! What about providing for the child? The mother finishing her education? The responsiblity for the rest of your life…The teen mother interviewed obviously has not faced her own reality yet.
Speaking of reality,the new show “Baby Borrower” could not come at a more perfect time for teens or the shows ratings. I have not seen this show but if I understand correctly a teen couple borrows a baby and experiences parenthood first hand. But, this is a couple and will the MA teens have any help from the fathers of their babies? The girl that conceived with a homeless man probably will not receive much assistance from him and I pray that a baby is the only medical condition he gave this girl!
I know so many couple waiting to adopt a baby I can only hope some of these teens will be willing to make the best of their mistakes and fulfill the dreams of adult parents that long deeply to adopt.
www.PrincessBubble.com
Saturday, June 14, 2008
Princess Bubble duo
Posted by highprincess on June 12, 2008
Susan Johnston & Kimberly Webb certainly get my vote for Princess of the week. Best friends and former flight attendants have co-authored the book: Princess Bubble, in which a Princess learns that “Happily ever after comes from becoming the best person God wants YOU to be with or without Prince Charming”. The book dispels the traditional fairy tale of finding Prince charming, then living “happily every after”. The duo are hoping to raise the self esteem levels of girls everyone by speaking a message of hope.
3 Tiaras up!
http://www.highprincess.com/
Posted by highprincess on June 12, 2008
Susan Johnston & Kimberly Webb certainly get my vote for Princess of the week. Best friends and former flight attendants have co-authored the book: Princess Bubble, in which a Princess learns that “Happily ever after comes from becoming the best person God wants YOU to be with or without Prince Charming”. The book dispels the traditional fairy tale of finding Prince charming, then living “happily every after”. The duo are hoping to raise the self esteem levels of girls everyone by speaking a message of hope.
3 Tiaras up!
http://www.highprincess.com/
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
Author's Choice Review
PRINCESS BUBBLE
Text Susan Johnston & Kimberly Webb
Illustrations Maria Tonelli
ISBN 978-0-9650910-0-7
Bubble Gum Press
Reviewer Carolyn R Scheidies
Princesses still look for Prince Charming, often believing a prince will make life “Happily ever after.” While there is nothing wrong with finding a life's partner, as Princess Bubble learns, the real “Happily ever after” comes from becoming the best person God wants YOU to be with or without Prince Charming.
A book that dispels the fairy tale of needing a mate to be happy, while opening up the possibilities that with or without a mate, a princess can be happy, just being who she was meant to be.
Fun, yet educational, story with illustrations sure to draw the attention of little princesses.
www.PrincessBubble.com
PRINCESS BUBBLE
Text Susan Johnston & Kimberly Webb
Illustrations Maria Tonelli
ISBN 978-0-9650910-0-7
Bubble Gum Press
Reviewer Carolyn R Scheidies
Princesses still look for Prince Charming, often believing a prince will make life “Happily ever after.” While there is nothing wrong with finding a life's partner, as Princess Bubble learns, the real “Happily ever after” comes from becoming the best person God wants YOU to be with or without Prince Charming.
A book that dispels the fairy tale of needing a mate to be happy, while opening up the possibilities that with or without a mate, a princess can be happy, just being who she was meant to be.
Fun, yet educational, story with illustrations sure to draw the attention of little princesses.
www.PrincessBubble.com
Sunday, June 01, 2008
Book review: Princess Bubble
By Jessica Gafkowitz
Princess Bubble, written by Susan Johnson and Kimberly Webb, is a truly unique children's book; it tells a nontraditional fairytale with a modern twist.
Princess Bubble is not only a princess. She graduated from college and is working as a flight attendant to satisfy her desire to travel and meet new people. She buys her own home and frequently spends time with her friends, who are getting married to live "happily ever after". Princess Bubble is different; she enjoys her time traveling and being with her friends. Marriage is not on her mind. Her friends and mother show concern for Princess Bubble, and her status as "prince-less". They convince her to start looking, so she visits http://www.FindYourPrince.com and reads other fairy tales for inspiration. Princess Bubble soon realizes that unlike princesses in these other fairy tales, she is already content with her life and being "prince-less."
Princess Bubble is a realistic portrayal of the struggle many women still face today; the pressure to meet the man of their dreams, get married and like fairy tales, live "happily ever after". This book is incredibly different from all the other fairy tales out there because it is specifically for young girls to teach them that finding a man and getting married should not and cannot be a woman's source of happiness. It is necessary to find your own happiness and share it with others.
By Jessica Gafkowitz
Princess Bubble, written by Susan Johnson and Kimberly Webb, is a truly unique children's book; it tells a nontraditional fairytale with a modern twist.
Princess Bubble is not only a princess. She graduated from college and is working as a flight attendant to satisfy her desire to travel and meet new people. She buys her own home and frequently spends time with her friends, who are getting married to live "happily ever after". Princess Bubble is different; she enjoys her time traveling and being with her friends. Marriage is not on her mind. Her friends and mother show concern for Princess Bubble, and her status as "prince-less". They convince her to start looking, so she visits http://www.FindYourPrince.com and reads other fairy tales for inspiration. Princess Bubble soon realizes that unlike princesses in these other fairy tales, she is already content with her life and being "prince-less."
Princess Bubble is a realistic portrayal of the struggle many women still face today; the pressure to meet the man of their dreams, get married and like fairy tales, live "happily ever after". This book is incredibly different from all the other fairy tales out there because it is specifically for young girls to teach them that finding a man and getting married should not and cannot be a woman's source of happiness. It is necessary to find your own happiness and share it with others.
Friday, May 23, 2008
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
Monday, May 05, 2008
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
Friday, April 18, 2008
Sunday, April 13, 2008
When I was a flight attendant, and because I live in the city--for years the only attractive men I ever encountered were gay. I also knew 6 couples who divorced because the husband came out of the closet. I developed the "Gay until proven straight" mindset.
Now, I work in the suburbs in a very affluent area. I see mainly families and noticed my way of thinking has changed. I do not assume all men are gay. I do see a lot of name dropping and people informing me of how wealthy they are which is odd to me. The more someone tells me that-the less I believe that they are wealthy and the more I believe they are insecure.
I grew up in a small town that was demographically mixed. My life was filled with different races, ages groups, stages of life, educational back grounds...I just saw people.
My friend who lives in an upper end suburban neighborhood and is a stay at home mom tells me she sees no one in her neighborhood because they are all so busy working to afford the lifestyle. I would have assumed there were many moms like her and she would have easily made friends because there would be so many in her same boat.
What I am realizing through all this is what you see is what you believe. If you see many racist around you then you may think the world is racist. If you see people cheating on their spouses everywhere you turn you may believe that no marriage can survive. If you see a cute single girl who is older and picky that does not mean that is the reason all singles are not married...
Is what we see and believe always the truth? I do not believe it is. I believe people gravitate toward like people or are thrown together by circumstances and these people are a sampling of the population but not all of a certain group, race, gender, religion does the same things.
Next time I am quick to judge I need to remember I can not believe everything I see!
www.PrincessBubble.com
Now, I work in the suburbs in a very affluent area. I see mainly families and noticed my way of thinking has changed. I do not assume all men are gay. I do see a lot of name dropping and people informing me of how wealthy they are which is odd to me. The more someone tells me that-the less I believe that they are wealthy and the more I believe they are insecure.
I grew up in a small town that was demographically mixed. My life was filled with different races, ages groups, stages of life, educational back grounds...I just saw people.
My friend who lives in an upper end suburban neighborhood and is a stay at home mom tells me she sees no one in her neighborhood because they are all so busy working to afford the lifestyle. I would have assumed there were many moms like her and she would have easily made friends because there would be so many in her same boat.
What I am realizing through all this is what you see is what you believe. If you see many racist around you then you may think the world is racist. If you see people cheating on their spouses everywhere you turn you may believe that no marriage can survive. If you see a cute single girl who is older and picky that does not mean that is the reason all singles are not married...
Is what we see and believe always the truth? I do not believe it is. I believe people gravitate toward like people or are thrown together by circumstances and these people are a sampling of the population but not all of a certain group, race, gender, religion does the same things.
Next time I am quick to judge I need to remember I can not believe everything I see!
www.PrincessBubble.com
Saturday, April 12, 2008
What is it about Girl Scout cookies that makes them so good?Is it that we know we only have one chance a year to purchase these cookies? Is it because we remember knocking on doors ourselves selling the cookies in hopes of another badge?What happen to those badges anyway? Did my mother just throw the sash away-not that I really care but I do wonder. My girl scout troop was informed by the mothers that they were tired of leading the troop under the national guidelines and I guess going to the jubilees. We were told that we were reorganizing under local leadership(our mothers) The leadership left the school's tiny projection room where we met and said, "Girls, think of a name and when we return we will start a new club."This was in the 70's and during those years girls did not want to be princesses. We were Charlie's Angles and the Biotic Woman. But the coolest of all was Farrah Faucet. She was not only an Angel but was married to The Six Million Dollar Man. She was sorta the Posh Spice of our day. Glamour married to the Hunk of the Day. It seems women's lib was being played out in these characters who rescued men, women and children in sexy outfits, jet setting and doing it all with good girls friends--our little troop decided we should be name should be "The Foxy Ladies." When our mothers returned from the school cafeteria where they had been visiting and probably playing bridge while waiting on us to name our team/troop (much like The Apprentice) the mothers asked us "What name did you decide on for your club?" We proudly announced we were "The Foxy Ladies!"Well, The Foxy Ladies lasted almost as long as it took for us to decide on the name and less time than an Apprentice episode. My mother stood up and said she would not lead The Foxy Ladies anywhere and the other mothers followed suit. We were never offered leadership under a different name so the moms were probably secretly glad they had an out. I wonder what The Foxy Ladies would have sold or done for a fund raiser? Probably something that said, "Keep on Truck'n" or "I'm with Stupid." Nothing a wonderful as a Thin Mint I am sure!www.PrincessBubble.com
Sunday, March 16, 2008
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
Tuesday, March 04, 2008
Sunday, March 02, 2008
Our book, Princess Bubble, mentions God. During the election media coverage I keep hearing 90% of Americans believe in God. We have been approached by many top notch literary agents and told we would have to remove God from our book if we wanted a publishing deal. Kim and I have said, "No thank you. Who succeeds by removing God?" Most people actually purchase our book when they read our message page where the fairy godmother tells Princess Bubble that "True happiness is not about finding a prince. Happiness comes from loving God, helping others and liking who you are already."
I did a quick Google search of other similar statistics. The 10% of Americans who not believe in God are the same number of people who also:
Have a drug disorder.
Do not use the internet.
Are sleep deprived.
Have never had pre-marital sex. (Adults)
Do not know what the saying "The other white meat" is referring to.
Live out their dreams.
Are happy about the amount of money they are saving
Recycle their cell phone.
Do not donate to any charity.
Will never be over weight.
Would we ever not mention diets or calories in our media because 10% of Americans will never be over weight and could possibly be offended? What about mentioning websites? 10% of Americans do not use the internet so maybe we should not mention sites in ads or go to paperless systems because of this group will not have access or understand.
I don't understand how we ended up in a place where we won't talk about something we believe in because we are being so sensitive to such a small group.
91 percent (virtually the same number who believe in God)-- told the pollsters that they had never had contact with aliens or known anyone who had. A similar number -- 93 percent -- said they had never been abducted or known anyone whisked away by beings from another planet.
Would we offend the people who have had contact or who have been abducted by aliens by making statement that we do not believe this has actually happened? Maybe. But, do we care? I highly doubt we would care.
I wonder if we wrote that true happily ever after came from being abducted by aliens and having contact with them-would this be something that publishers who rather see and parents would rather buy?
I feel we will succeed by standing true to what we believe and being like the 10% of Americans who follow their dreams. If you do not agree you may know or be a space cadet!
Happily Ever After!
I did a quick Google search of other similar statistics. The 10% of Americans who not believe in God are the same number of people who also:
Have a drug disorder.
Do not use the internet.
Are sleep deprived.
Have never had pre-marital sex. (Adults)
Do not know what the saying "The other white meat" is referring to.
Live out their dreams.
Are happy about the amount of money they are saving
Recycle their cell phone.
Do not donate to any charity.
Will never be over weight.
Would we ever not mention diets or calories in our media because 10% of Americans will never be over weight and could possibly be offended? What about mentioning websites? 10% of Americans do not use the internet so maybe we should not mention sites in ads or go to paperless systems because of this group will not have access or understand.
I don't understand how we ended up in a place where we won't talk about something we believe in because we are being so sensitive to such a small group.
91 percent (virtually the same number who believe in God)-- told the pollsters that they had never had contact with aliens or known anyone who had. A similar number -- 93 percent -- said they had never been abducted or known anyone whisked away by beings from another planet.
Would we offend the people who have had contact or who have been abducted by aliens by making statement that we do not believe this has actually happened? Maybe. But, do we care? I highly doubt we would care.
I wonder if we wrote that true happily ever after came from being abducted by aliens and having contact with them-would this be something that publishers who rather see and parents would rather buy?
I feel we will succeed by standing true to what we believe and being like the 10% of Americans who follow their dreams. If you do not agree you may know or be a space cadet!
Happily Ever After!
Friday, February 29, 2008
I am listening to an audio book, Snow Flower and The Secret Fan, on my commute to work. This book goes into details on how Asian girls bind their feet. I could not even listen to all the details. The girls toes are broken and I can not tell you what all else because turned the volume down during this torture. While silent in the car waiting on the book to skip ahead, I wondered, "Why did men find this attractive? Could these girls even walk?" I remembered the plump women sprawled out in art from past eras. And learning how these larger women were seen as beautiful and must have been wealthy to even be plus size. Who decided what beauty looks like? And are men this easily dictated to by society?
We both are at fault and/or ignorant. Men for wanting what society decides in beautiful. And women for actually enduring pain and damaging our health to be the type of beauty our society recognizes as beauty.
Will we ever be able to see beauty the way God sees beauty from the inside out? And why do we believe what society tells us is beautiful vs. what the creator of all beauty assures us is beautiful?
Have a beautiful day!
www.PrincessBubble.com
We both are at fault and/or ignorant. Men for wanting what society decides in beautiful. And women for actually enduring pain and damaging our health to be the type of beauty our society recognizes as beauty.
Will we ever be able to see beauty the way God sees beauty from the inside out? And why do we believe what society tells us is beautiful vs. what the creator of all beauty assures us is beautiful?
Have a beautiful day!
www.PrincessBubble.com
Friday, February 15, 2008
I recently watched Becoming Jane with a friend and her 14 year old daughter.
Here is a little plot outlineif you have not seen the movie:
The year is 1795 and young Jane Austen is a feisty 20-year-old and emerging writer who already sees a world beyond class and commerce, beyond pride and prejudice, and dreams of doing what was then nearly unthinkable - marrying for love. Naturally, her parents are searching for a wealthy, well-appointed husband to assure their daughter's future social standing. They are eyeing Mr. Wisley, nephew to the very formidable, not to mention very rich, local aristocrat Lady Gresham, as a prospective match. But when Jane meets the roguish and decidedly non-aristocratic Tom Lefroy, sparks soon fly along with the sharp repartee. His intellect and arrogance raise her ire - then knock her head over heels. Now, the couple, whose flirtation flies in the face of the sense and sensibility of the age, is faced with a terrible dilemma. If they attempt to marry, they will risk everything that matters - family, friends and fortune.
It was funny how differently we all viewed the movie. My friend is obsessed with preparing her 14 year old before she begins to date. She does not want her daughter to make many of the wrong choices she made. This mother said, "I liked the movie because the characters all made the best choices." The 14 year old felt that Jane should have married the love of her life even if it meant a life of poverty for the couple and his siblings. I, the 41 year old single, did not see things the same ways as either of them or as clearly. The love of her life, Lefroy, reminded me of some of the immature (but fun) guys I dated in my 20's that did not want responsibility or want to grow up.
I may be misjudging Lefroy because he was both sending money home and in law school. But, he did not seem driven and I was irritated at him when he quickly got engaged to someone else and did not tell/warn Jane. Then tried to come back.
I want to find the love of my life as much as the next person! But, I am not sure love is enough to live on. If Jane and Lefroy's future was painted as modest life; then I would say, "Yes, sacrifice here and there for love!" But, it was implied they would be poverty stricken. I just can not imagine being poverty stricken with the love of your life. If we were in that situation because of illness or injury that is a different matter entirely. But, poverty as a result of being married to someone immature and lazy--that love would fade quickly in my opinion.
Turns out Jane makes a life for herself as an independent single woman. We have the luxury today of knowing that is possible. But if I had been Jane I may have married the wealth man that loved me. (Unless I was just repulsed by him.) But, Jane had more faith in her pen that I do in mine. I have spent a million hours promoting Princess Bubble and would be starving if I depended on my book to feed me.
At this point in my life, I am not looking for Prince Charming to rescue me-but I am not going to be the one doing the rescuing either. My life is great and if someone does not add to the quality of my life I am just not interested. I already live VERY modestly and am not interested in sacrificing my freedom and lifestyle. I guess I too believe Jane did the right thing. I just think it was gutsy and I wonder if I would be as brave and determined to Become Jane?
Sunday, February 10, 2008
I recently watched the Bucket List. I saw this movie free online which I did not even know was possible. I LOVED this film. Here is a quick synopsis of the film if you have not heard about The Bucket List:
Corprate billionaire Edward Cole and working class mechanic Carter Chambers have nothing in common except for their terminal illnesses. While sharing a hospital room together, they decide to leave it and do all the things they have ever wanted to do before they die according to their bucket list. In the process, both of them heal each other, become unlikely friends, and ultimately find the joy in life.
I have a dear friend I have traveled with that I consider family. We, like Edward and Carter, have been in the same place in life and am to relate on many different levels that has really deepened our friendship.
I was inspired by these men and their love for each other and the spunk to fulfill the dreams they have always dreamed verse spending their last days focused on dying. I admit it would be hard not to spend these last days with your family. But these friends because family to each other during their trials and experiences. Go see The Bucket List before you Kick the Bucket!
www.PrincessBubble.com
Corprate billionaire Edward Cole and working class mechanic Carter Chambers have nothing in common except for their terminal illnesses. While sharing a hospital room together, they decide to leave it and do all the things they have ever wanted to do before they die according to their bucket list. In the process, both of them heal each other, become unlikely friends, and ultimately find the joy in life.
I have a dear friend I have traveled with that I consider family. We, like Edward and Carter, have been in the same place in life and am to relate on many different levels that has really deepened our friendship.
I was inspired by these men and their love for each other and the spunk to fulfill the dreams they have always dreamed verse spending their last days focused on dying. I admit it would be hard not to spend these last days with your family. But these friends because family to each other during their trials and experiences. Go see The Bucket List before you Kick the Bucket!
www.PrincessBubble.com
Tuesday, February 05, 2008
Happy Valentine’s Day without a Prince?
Featured on The TODAY SHOW in the segment, "Raising Confident Girls"
New Release, Princess Bubble, Strikes Chord with America’s 51% SINGLE WOMEN WHO, FOR THE FIRST TIME IN U.S. HISTORY, OUTNUMBER MARRIED WOMEN
ATLANTA, October 16, 2007—This Valentine’s Day almost 90 million Americans will celebrate the romantic holiday single. Two successful prince-less princesses show the world that being a stuffy Old Maid does not have to be "in the cards" for single woman today! Susan Johnston and Kimberly Webb offer girls of all ages updated version of the traditional fairy tale. No longer a "Damsel in Distress," this princess travels the world, helps others, and finds "happily ever after" even before she finds her Prince!
With wisdom gleaned from their careers as single, globe-trotting flight attendants, first-time authors Susan Johnston and Kimberly Webb have crafted a modern-day book that celebrates singleness. A contemporary fairy tale for all ages, Princess Bubble was written to reduce the overwhelming sense of failure, self-doubt, and despair that some single women face.
"Knowing how low self-esteem and depression plague many single females, we wanted to spread the message that ‘happily ever after’ can occur even before Prince Charming arrives. . . or even if he never does," said Webb.
"We’re definitely not anti-Prince," said Johnston (whose college nickname was "Bubbles"). "We’re not anti-family or anti-marriage, if anything we’re anti-‘Damsel in Distress.’ Our message—the single life can also be a fairy tale. The End!"
Princess Bubble stars a princess who is confused by the traditional fairy tale messages that say she must find her "prince" before she can live "happily ever after." Princess Bubble dons her "thinking crown" to research traditional fairy tales, interviews married girlfriends, and even takes counsel from her mother, who advises her to sign up at FindYourPrince.com. With a little help from her fairy godmother (this is still a fairy tale after all), Ms. Bubble discovers that "living happily ever after" is not about finding a prince. "True happiness," the book reveals, "is found by loving God, being kind to others, and being comfortable with who you are already!"
Featured on The TODAY SHOW in the segment, "Raising Confident Girls"
New Release, Princess Bubble, Strikes Chord with America’s 51% SINGLE WOMEN WHO, FOR THE FIRST TIME IN U.S. HISTORY, OUTNUMBER MARRIED WOMEN
ATLANTA, October 16, 2007—This Valentine’s Day almost 90 million Americans will celebrate the romantic holiday single. Two successful prince-less princesses show the world that being a stuffy Old Maid does not have to be "in the cards" for single woman today! Susan Johnston and Kimberly Webb offer girls of all ages updated version of the traditional fairy tale. No longer a "Damsel in Distress," this princess travels the world, helps others, and finds "happily ever after" even before she finds her Prince!
With wisdom gleaned from their careers as single, globe-trotting flight attendants, first-time authors Susan Johnston and Kimberly Webb have crafted a modern-day book that celebrates singleness. A contemporary fairy tale for all ages, Princess Bubble was written to reduce the overwhelming sense of failure, self-doubt, and despair that some single women face.
"Knowing how low self-esteem and depression plague many single females, we wanted to spread the message that ‘happily ever after’ can occur even before Prince Charming arrives. . . or even if he never does," said Webb.
"We’re definitely not anti-Prince," said Johnston (whose college nickname was "Bubbles"). "We’re not anti-family or anti-marriage, if anything we’re anti-‘Damsel in Distress.’ Our message—the single life can also be a fairy tale. The End!"
Princess Bubble stars a princess who is confused by the traditional fairy tale messages that say she must find her "prince" before she can live "happily ever after." Princess Bubble dons her "thinking crown" to research traditional fairy tales, interviews married girlfriends, and even takes counsel from her mother, who advises her to sign up at FindYourPrince.com. With a little help from her fairy godmother (this is still a fairy tale after all), Ms. Bubble discovers that "living happily ever after" is not about finding a prince. "True happiness," the book reveals, "is found by loving God, being kind to others, and being comfortable with who you are already!"
Beyond Graduation... Happily Ever After
Featured on The TODAY SHOW in the segment, "Raising Confident Girls"
In the Midst of Caps, Gowns, and Wedding Crowns Single Women Ask: "Is Happily Ever After in My Future?"
New Release, Princess Bubble, Strikes Chord with America’s 51% SINGLE WOMEN WHO, FOR THE FIRST TIME IN U.S. HISTORY, OUTNUMBER MARRIED WOMEN
ATLANTA, February 5, 2008 — This spring after the tassels are moved to the left and mortar boards tossed in celebration; women all over our country will begin their own Happily Ever Afters with a masters or bachelors degree as a bachelorette. Two successful prince-less princesses show the world that being a stuffy Old Maid does not have to be "in the cards" for single woman today! Susan Johnston and Kimberly Webb offer girls of all ages updated version of the traditional fairy tale. No longer a "Damsel in Distress," this princess travels the world, helps others, and finds "happily ever after" even before she finds her Prince!
With wisdom gleaned from their careers as single, globe-trotting flight attendants, first-time authors Susan Johnston and Kimberly Webb have crafted a modern-day book that celebrates singleness. A contemporary fairy tale for all ages, Princess Bubble was written to reduce the overwhelming sense of failure, self-doubt, and despair that some women face during self-reflecting times like graduations and weddings.
"Knowing how low self-esteem and depression plague many single females, we wanted to spread the message that ‘happily ever after’ can occur even before Prince Charming arrives. . . or even if he never does," said Webb.
"We’re definitely not anti-Prince," said Johnston (whose college nickname was "Bubble"). "We’re not anti-family or anti-marriage, if anything we’re anti-‘Damsel in Distress.’ Our message—the single life can also be a fairy tale. The End!
Princess Bubble stars a princess who is confused by the traditional fairy tale messages that say she must find her "prince" before she can live "happily ever after." Princess Bubble dons her "thinking crown" to research traditional fairy tales, interviews married girlfriends, and even takes counsel from her mother, who advises her to sign up at FindYourPrince.com. With a little help from her fairy godmother (this is still a fairy tale after all), Ms. Bubble discovers that "living happily ever after" is not about finding a prince. "True happiness," the book reveals, "is found by loving God, being kind to others, and being comfortable with who you are already!"
Featured on The TODAY SHOW in the segment, "Raising Confident Girls"
In the Midst of Caps, Gowns, and Wedding Crowns Single Women Ask: "Is Happily Ever After in My Future?"
New Release, Princess Bubble, Strikes Chord with America’s 51% SINGLE WOMEN WHO, FOR THE FIRST TIME IN U.S. HISTORY, OUTNUMBER MARRIED WOMEN
ATLANTA, February 5, 2008 — This spring after the tassels are moved to the left and mortar boards tossed in celebration; women all over our country will begin their own Happily Ever Afters with a masters or bachelors degree as a bachelorette. Two successful prince-less princesses show the world that being a stuffy Old Maid does not have to be "in the cards" for single woman today! Susan Johnston and Kimberly Webb offer girls of all ages updated version of the traditional fairy tale. No longer a "Damsel in Distress," this princess travels the world, helps others, and finds "happily ever after" even before she finds her Prince!
With wisdom gleaned from their careers as single, globe-trotting flight attendants, first-time authors Susan Johnston and Kimberly Webb have crafted a modern-day book that celebrates singleness. A contemporary fairy tale for all ages, Princess Bubble was written to reduce the overwhelming sense of failure, self-doubt, and despair that some women face during self-reflecting times like graduations and weddings.
"Knowing how low self-esteem and depression plague many single females, we wanted to spread the message that ‘happily ever after’ can occur even before Prince Charming arrives. . . or even if he never does," said Webb.
"We’re definitely not anti-Prince," said Johnston (whose college nickname was "Bubble"). "We’re not anti-family or anti-marriage, if anything we’re anti-‘Damsel in Distress.’ Our message—the single life can also be a fairy tale. The End!
Princess Bubble stars a princess who is confused by the traditional fairy tale messages that say she must find her "prince" before she can live "happily ever after." Princess Bubble dons her "thinking crown" to research traditional fairy tales, interviews married girlfriends, and even takes counsel from her mother, who advises her to sign up at FindYourPrince.com. With a little help from her fairy godmother (this is still a fairy tale after all), Ms. Bubble discovers that "living happily ever after" is not about finding a prince. "True happiness," the book reveals, "is found by loving God, being kind to others, and being comfortable with who you are already!"
Sunday, February 03, 2008
I recently read an article entitled "Where Have All the Good Men Gone" and others had posted comments that girls in their 20s have missed their chance at meeting Mr. Right in the short time of life when these great men are available....
No one ask me to marry them in my 20s. I did date more in my 20s than my teens or any other time of my life. I was heavily involved in youth ministry at that time in my life and meet lots of single guys who shared my faith and convictions and none of them proposed. In fact, my single friends and I always joked about how these Christian guys would look over our shoulder when they were talking to us just making sure no one better looking was entering the scene.There may be a small percentage of women in America who said/would say even if Mr. Right comes along I am not getting married in my 20s. But for the most part, single women did not meet Mr. Right and were/are secure enough in ourselves to not marry Mr. Wrong just to marry.
www.PrincessBubble.com
No one ask me to marry them in my 20s. I did date more in my 20s than my teens or any other time of my life. I was heavily involved in youth ministry at that time in my life and meet lots of single guys who shared my faith and convictions and none of them proposed. In fact, my single friends and I always joked about how these Christian guys would look over our shoulder when they were talking to us just making sure no one better looking was entering the scene.There may be a small percentage of women in America who said/would say even if Mr. Right comes along I am not getting married in my 20s. But for the most part, single women did not meet Mr. Right and were/are secure enough in ourselves to not marry Mr. Wrong just to marry.
www.PrincessBubble.com
Saturday, January 12, 2008
While the writers strike I wonder, "Will we also see re-runs this summer? Or will there be new episodes then?"
I hope for new episodes to my favorite shows like Boston Legal and Grey's Anatomy. But mean while I must make up my own stories in my head about what is happening to these characters. I am picturing an episode I am calling "Where's the Beef?"
In the offices of Crane, Poole and Schmidt, I am picturing Alan Shore and Denny Crane walking down the hallway when they get wind that the firm is representing a case of Mad Cow. (or should I say "tipped off") Denny obviously feels that he should be a part of this case having suffered with the disease himself. Shirley appears and objects telling Denny, "Yes, you are mad thinking we will allow you to have any part of this case." As the three are walking to their respective offices discussing this- another mad cow situation is taking place in the office of Jerry Espenson.
Jerry is crying on Katie Lloyd's shoulder telling Katie that his ex-girl friend Alice (I think that was her name) had dumped his alarm clock she was dating and had taken up with a golden calf. (This girl has some crazy fascination with objects.)
During the episode, there are plays on words and flash backs. The flash backs are to the characters performances in Pretty in Pink and Star Trek. Shirley complains that the painter who is painting her house may never leave (Murphy Brown)... There is a guest appearance of Molly Ringwald -who may be the client with mad cow. And there is much discussion of ladies calves by Denny.
The episode wraps up on Denny's balcony as usual with his dear friend Alan Shore. The pair discusses the upcoming election and the question of what the country really wants change or experience? The discussion is then brought back to the question of the entire show and with a toast Denny and Alan ask, "Where's the Beef?"
www.PrincessBubble.com
I hope for new episodes to my favorite shows like Boston Legal and Grey's Anatomy. But mean while I must make up my own stories in my head about what is happening to these characters. I am picturing an episode I am calling "Where's the Beef?"
In the offices of Crane, Poole and Schmidt, I am picturing Alan Shore and Denny Crane walking down the hallway when they get wind that the firm is representing a case of Mad Cow. (or should I say "tipped off") Denny obviously feels that he should be a part of this case having suffered with the disease himself. Shirley appears and objects telling Denny, "Yes, you are mad thinking we will allow you to have any part of this case." As the three are walking to their respective offices discussing this- another mad cow situation is taking place in the office of Jerry Espenson.
Jerry is crying on Katie Lloyd's shoulder telling Katie that his ex-girl friend Alice (I think that was her name) had dumped his alarm clock she was dating and had taken up with a golden calf. (This girl has some crazy fascination with objects.)
During the episode, there are plays on words and flash backs. The flash backs are to the characters performances in Pretty in Pink and Star Trek. Shirley complains that the painter who is painting her house may never leave (Murphy Brown)... There is a guest appearance of Molly Ringwald -who may be the client with mad cow. And there is much discussion of ladies calves by Denny.
The episode wraps up on Denny's balcony as usual with his dear friend Alan Shore. The pair discusses the upcoming election and the question of what the country really wants change or experience? The discussion is then brought back to the question of the entire show and with a toast Denny and Alan ask, "Where's the Beef?"
www.PrincessBubble.com
Friday, January 11, 2008
Synopsis: This modern-day fairy tale features an independent princess named Princess Bubble. She is a flight attendant for the Royal Heir Line and travels all over the world. Many of her princess friends are getting married, and Princess Bubble’s mother, the queen, urges her to find her own prince. She searches high and low, and even on the internet, for her perfect prince. She tries to find clues in the fairy tales, but she eventually learns that “happily ever after” doesn’t have to come from a prince. It comes from being happy in your own life and doing good things for others. Princess Bubble realizes that she is already happy and finds her own “happily ever after”.
Review: Bubble Gum Press was kind enough to send me this book, and I honestly didn’t know what to expect. I was surprised to find a thoroughly modern princess (she wears jeans!) and no Price Charming, which was very refreshing. Traditional fairy tales too often focus on a “damsel in distress” and a brave prince who must face many dangers to rescue her. Princess Bubble does not need rescuing. She has a job, she has friends, and when she searches for her prince, she takes them on dates to football games and the movies.
The message that this book conveys is that an independent, modern girl does not need a man to be happy with her life. Princess Bubble is happy with the way her life is, and although falling in love with a handsome prince can certainly enhance her happiness, it does not define it. This is a very positive message for the young girls who read this book. It further teaches young readers that they can find their own “happily ever after” in their lives by simply living good lives and helping others. Princess Bubble is such an optimistic characters and a wonderful role model for any young girl. The authors have succeeded in turning the old fairy tales upside down and have created something entirely new. The illustrations by Maria Tonelli are wonderful and add a richness to the storytelling. I’m looking forward to more adventures with Princess Bubble, and I’m sure I’m not the only one!
Rating: 9/10
Reviewed by Sarah
http://bcfreviews.wordpress.com/2008/01/11/princess-bubble-by-susan-johnston-and-kimberly-webb/
www.PrincessBubble.com
Review: Bubble Gum Press was kind enough to send me this book, and I honestly didn’t know what to expect. I was surprised to find a thoroughly modern princess (she wears jeans!) and no Price Charming, which was very refreshing. Traditional fairy tales too often focus on a “damsel in distress” and a brave prince who must face many dangers to rescue her. Princess Bubble does not need rescuing. She has a job, she has friends, and when she searches for her prince, she takes them on dates to football games and the movies.
The message that this book conveys is that an independent, modern girl does not need a man to be happy with her life. Princess Bubble is happy with the way her life is, and although falling in love with a handsome prince can certainly enhance her happiness, it does not define it. This is a very positive message for the young girls who read this book. It further teaches young readers that they can find their own “happily ever after” in their lives by simply living good lives and helping others. Princess Bubble is such an optimistic characters and a wonderful role model for any young girl. The authors have succeeded in turning the old fairy tales upside down and have created something entirely new. The illustrations by Maria Tonelli are wonderful and add a richness to the storytelling. I’m looking forward to more adventures with Princess Bubble, and I’m sure I’m not the only one!
Rating: 9/10
Reviewed by Sarah
http://bcfreviews.wordpress.com/2008/01/11/princess-bubble-by-susan-johnston-and-kimberly-webb/
www.PrincessBubble.com
Monday, January 07, 2008
Having grown up in the south and not far from the fictional plantation Tara, from Gone With The Wind. I have always been a fan of Scarlett O'Hara.
I loved that Scarlett was beautiful, flawed, strong, loyal and a spitfire. I always cringed when I read or saw (in the book or video) Rhett giving his most noted line, "Frankly my dear, I don't give a damn!" Each time I secretly hoped for an alternative ending. But I know Scarlett will be fine and probably even end up with Rhett.
Is G.W.T.W. a fairy tale? Scarlett was a victim. But she ended up rescuing herself for the most part. And causing a lot of trouble as well. Scarlett had a fairy tale like home and parties before the war. But she did not end up with the prince.
This is somewhat like our fairy tale, Princess Bubble. Obviously not in the quality of writing but in the actual storyline.
Princess Bubble and Scarlett both are survivors. They both heeded advice from their parents and do not end up with the prince. Will Princess Bubble ever end up with a prince? Your guess is as good as mine. We don't know what life has in store for her or us down the road. But I do know she will make it and be happy.
Funny thing, do you ever think about Snow White or Sleeping Beauty and think, "Did they have a happy life? Or were they just thrilled to wake up from the coma?" I don't think about the stories much where you know what is suppose to happen.There is something about the unknown that reminds of us of our own life and has us rooting for the character past the words "The End"
We know Rhett gave a damn. How could he not? And we know Scarlett was thinking, "I will just think about this tomorrow. Tomorrow is another day." I love that we always have another day with Scarlett.
I loved that Scarlett was beautiful, flawed, strong, loyal and a spitfire. I always cringed when I read or saw (in the book or video) Rhett giving his most noted line, "Frankly my dear, I don't give a damn!" Each time I secretly hoped for an alternative ending. But I know Scarlett will be fine and probably even end up with Rhett.
Is G.W.T.W. a fairy tale? Scarlett was a victim. But she ended up rescuing herself for the most part. And causing a lot of trouble as well. Scarlett had a fairy tale like home and parties before the war. But she did not end up with the prince.
This is somewhat like our fairy tale, Princess Bubble. Obviously not in the quality of writing but in the actual storyline.
Princess Bubble and Scarlett both are survivors. They both heeded advice from their parents and do not end up with the prince. Will Princess Bubble ever end up with a prince? Your guess is as good as mine. We don't know what life has in store for her or us down the road. But I do know she will make it and be happy.
Funny thing, do you ever think about Snow White or Sleeping Beauty and think, "Did they have a happy life? Or were they just thrilled to wake up from the coma?" I don't think about the stories much where you know what is suppose to happen.There is something about the unknown that reminds of us of our own life and has us rooting for the character past the words "The End"
We know Rhett gave a damn. How could he not? And we know Scarlett was thinking, "I will just think about this tomorrow. Tomorrow is another day." I love that we always have another day with Scarlett.
Sunday, January 06, 2008
As I look for ways to promote our modern day fairy tale, Princess Bubble, I continued to see the term "Fractured Fairy Tale." I thought, "What exactly is a fractured fairy tale?" I found this definition online:
"Fractured fairy tales are traditional fairy tales, rearranged to create new plots with fundamentally different meanings or messages. Fractured fairy tales are closely related to fairy-tale parodies, but the two serve different purposes: parodies mock individual tales and the genre as a whole; fractured fairy tales, with a reforming intent, seek to impart updated social and moral messages."
I guess Princess Bubble is a fractured fairy tale. Bubble finds true happiness comes from loving God, helping others and liking who you are already. This princess mocks the old tales by re-reading the old tales to look for hints on where to find a prince. She could not relate to any of the old tales because she was not a victim. She was not trapped in a dungeon, she did not have a wicked step mother or wicked step sisters, and she did not even know any dwarfs!
Princess Bubble is also seeking to impart an updated social and moral message. Our girls do not need to hear that if they find a prince they will live happily ever after! Not only is this a lie; but it puts a tremendous amount of responsibility on our boys. No human can be everything to us. We must be happy first and then share our happiness with a spouse, friend, family....
The irony of this title "Fractured Fairy Tale" is that our new message is one of wholeness and confidence. The old messages are fractured in my opinion!
Happily Ever After!
www.PrincessBubble.com
"Fractured fairy tales are traditional fairy tales, rearranged to create new plots with fundamentally different meanings or messages. Fractured fairy tales are closely related to fairy-tale parodies, but the two serve different purposes: parodies mock individual tales and the genre as a whole; fractured fairy tales, with a reforming intent, seek to impart updated social and moral messages."
I guess Princess Bubble is a fractured fairy tale. Bubble finds true happiness comes from loving God, helping others and liking who you are already. This princess mocks the old tales by re-reading the old tales to look for hints on where to find a prince. She could not relate to any of the old tales because she was not a victim. She was not trapped in a dungeon, she did not have a wicked step mother or wicked step sisters, and she did not even know any dwarfs!
Princess Bubble is also seeking to impart an updated social and moral message. Our girls do not need to hear that if they find a prince they will live happily ever after! Not only is this a lie; but it puts a tremendous amount of responsibility on our boys. No human can be everything to us. We must be happy first and then share our happiness with a spouse, friend, family....
The irony of this title "Fractured Fairy Tale" is that our new message is one of wholeness and confidence. The old messages are fractured in my opinion!
Happily Ever After!
www.PrincessBubble.com
Saturday, January 05, 2008
Fairy Tales;Both New and Old
Below, I have copied the orginal version of Cinderella by
The Grimm Brothers. This story is much different than the Disney version. Having written a modern day fairy tale, Princess Bubble; I enjoyed reading this version. The theme of this story is good wins out over evil. But I was shocked at the lengths the wicked step sisters were willing to go to get their foot in the glass slipper. This is yet another reminder that there is nothing new under the sun. Girls today are willing to starve themselves, put themselves at risk of diseases and pregnancy to capture the attention of much less than a prince.
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 you, and I will look down on you from heaven and be near you."
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 by the time the spring sun had drawn it off again, the man had taken another wife.
The woman had brought with her into the house two daughters, 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 parlor with us," they said. "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 hearth in the cinders. 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 you, Cinderella," said he, "what will you 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 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.
It happened, however, that the king gave orders for a festival which was to last three days, and to which all the beautiful young girls in the country were invited, in order that his son might choose himself a bride. When the two step-sisters heard that they too were to appear among the number, they were delighted, called Cinderella and said, "comb our hair for us, brush our shoes and fasten our buckles, for we are going to the wedding at the king's palace."
Cinderella obeyed, but wept, because she too would have liked to go with them to the dance, and begged her step-mother to allow her to do so.
"You go, Cinderella," said she, "covered in dust and dirt as you are, and would go to the festival. You have no clothes and shoes, and yet would dance." As, however, Cinderella went on asking, the step-mother said at last, "I have emptied a dish of lentils into the ashes for you, if you have picked them out again in two hours, you shall go with us."
The maiden went through the back-door into the garden, and called, "You tame pigeons, you turtle-doves, and all you birds beneath the sky, come and help me to pick
the good into the pot,
the bad into the crop."
Then two white pigeons came in by the kitchen window, and afterwards the turtle-doves, and at last all the birds beneath the sky, came whirring and crowding in, and alighted amongst the ashes. And the pigeons nodded with their heads and began pick, pick, pick, pick, and the rest began also pick, pick, pick, pick, and gathered all the good grains into the dish. Hardly had one hour passed before they had finished, and all flew out again.
Then the girl took the dish to her step-mother, and was glad, and believed that now she would be allowed to go with them to the festival.
But the step-mother said, "No, Cinderella, you have no clothes and you can not dance. You would only be laughed at." And as Cinderella wept at this, the step-mother said, if you can pick two dishes of lentils out of the ashes for me in one hour, you shall go with us. And she thought to herself, that she most certainly cannot do again.
When the step-mother had emptied the two dishes of lentils amongst the ashes, the maiden went through the back-door into the garden and cried, "You tame pigeons, you turtle-doves, and all you birds beneath the sky, come and help me to pick
the good into the pot,
the bad into the crop."
Then two white pigeons came in by the kitchen-window, and afterwards the turtle-doves, and at length all the birds beneath the sky, came whirring and crowding in, and alighted amongst the ashes. And the doves nodded with their heads and began pick, pick, pick, pick, and the others began also pick, pick, pick, pick, and gathered all the good seeds into the dishes, and before half an hour was over they had already finished, and all flew out again. Then the maiden was delighted, and believed that she might now go with them to the wedding.
But the step-mother said, "All this will not help. You cannot go with us, for you have no clothes and can not dance. We should be ashamed of you." On this she turned her back on Cinderella, and hurried away with her two proud daughters.
As no one was now at home, Cinderella went to her mother's grave beneath the hazel-tree, and cried,
"Shiver and quiver, little tree,
Silver and gold throw down over me."
Then the bird threw a gold and silver dress down to her, and slippers embroidered with silk and silver. She put on the dress with all speed, and went to the wedding. Her step-sisters and the step-mother however did not know her, and thought she must be a foreign princess, for she looked so beautiful in the golden dress. They never once thought of Cinderella, and believed that she was sitting at home in the dirt, picking lentils out of the ashes. The prince approached her, took her by the hand and danced with her. He would dance with no other maiden, and never let loose of her hand, and if any one else came to invite her, he said, "This is my partner."
She danced till it was evening, and then she wanted to go home. But the king's son said, "I will go with you and bear you company," for he wished to see to whom the beautiful maiden belonged. She escaped from him, however, and sprang into the pigeon-house. The king's son waited until her father came, and then he told him that the unknown maiden had leapt into the pigeon-house. The old man thought, "Can it be Cinderella." And they had to bring him an axe and a pickaxe that he might hew the pigeon-house to pieces, but no one was inside it. And when they got home Cinderella lay in her dirty clothes among the ashes, and a dim little oil-lamp was burning on the mantle-piece, for Cinderella had jumped quickly down from the back of the pigeon-house and had run to the little hazel-tree, and there she had taken off her beautiful clothes and laid them on the grave, and the bird had taken them away again, and then she had seated herself in the kitchen amongst the ashes in her grey gown.
Next day when the festival began afresh, and her parents and the step-sisters had gone once more, Cinderella went to the hazel-tree and said,
"Shiver and quiver, my little tree,
Silver and gold throw down over me."
Then the bird threw down a much more beautiful dress than on the preceding day. And when Cinderella appeared at the wedding in this dress, every one was astonished at her beauty. The king's son had waited until she came, and instantly took her by the hand and danced with no one but her. When others came and invited her, he said, "This is my partner." When evening came she wished to leave, and the king's son followed her and wanted to see into which house she went. But she sprang away from him, and into the garden behind the house. Therein stood a beautiful tall tree on which hung the most magnificent pears. She clambered so nimbly between the branches like a squirrel that the king's son did not know where she was gone. He waited until her father came, and said to him, "The unknown maiden has escaped from me, and I believe she has climbed up the pear-tree." The father thought, "Can it be Cinderella." And had an axe brought and cut the tree down, but no one was on it. And when they got into the kitchen, Cinderella lay there among the ashes, as usual, for she had jumped down on the other side of the tree, had taken the beautiful dress to the bird on the little hazel-tree, and put on her grey gown.
On the third day, when the parents and sisters had gone away, Cinderella went once more to her mother's grave and said to the little tree,
"Shiver and quiver, my little tree,
silver and gold throw down over me."
And now the bird threw down to her a dress which was more splendid and magnificent than any she had yet had, and the slippers were golden. And when she went to the festival in the dress, no one knew how to speak for astonishment. The king's son danced with her only, and if any one invited her to dance, he said this is my partner.
When evening came, Cinderella wished to leave, and the king's son was anxious to go with her, but she escaped from him so quickly that he could not follow her. The king's son, however, had employed a ruse, and had caused the whole staircase to be smeared with pitch, and there, when she ran down, had the maiden's left slipper remained stuck. The king's son picked it up, and it was small and dainty, and all golden.
Next morning, he went with it to the father, and said to him, no one shall be my wife but she whose foot this golden slipper fits. Then were the two sisters glad, for they had pretty feet. The eldest went with the shoe into her room and wanted to try it on, and her mother stood by. But she could not get her big toe into it, and the shoe was too small for her. Then her mother gave her a knife and said, "Cut the toe off, when you are queen you will have no more need to go on foot." The maiden cut the toe off, forced the foot into the shoe, swallowed the pain, and went out to the king's son. Then he took her on his his horse as his bride and rode away with her. They were obliged, however, to pass the grave, and there, on the hazel-tree, sat the two pigeons and cried,
"Turn and peep, turn and peep,
there's blood within the shoe,
the shoe it is too small for her,
the true bride waits for you."
Then he looked at her foot and saw how the blood was trickling from it. He turned his horse round and took the false bride home again, and said she was not the true one, and that the other sister was to put the shoe on. Then this one went into her chamber and got her toes safely into the shoe, but her heel was too large. So her mother gave her a knife and said, "Cut a bit off your heel, when you are queen you will have no more need to go on foot." The maiden cut a bit off her heel, forced her foot into the shoe, swallowed the pain, and went out to the king's son. He took her on his horse as his bride, and rode away with her, but when they passed by the hazel-tree, the two pigeons sat on it and cried,
"Turn and peep, turn and peep,
there's blood within the shoe,
the shoe it is too small for her,
the true bride waits for you."
He looked down at her foot and saw how the blood was running out of her shoe, and how it had stained her white stocking quite red. Then he turned his horse and took the false bride home again. "This also is not the right one," said he, "have you no other daughter." "No," said the man, "there is still a little stunted kitchen-wench which my late wife left behind her, but she cannot possibly be the bride." The king's son said he was to send her up to him, but the mother answered, oh, no, she is much too dirty, she cannot show herself. But he absolutely insisted on it, and Cinderella had to be called.
She first washed her hands and face clean, and then went and bowed down before the king's son, who gave her the golden shoe. Then she seated herself on a stool, drew her foot out of the heavy wooden shoe, and put it into the slipper, which fitted like a glove. And when she rose up and the king's son looked at her face he recognized the beautiful maiden who had danced with him and cried, "That is the true bride." The step-mother and the two sisters were horrified and became pale with rage, he, however, took Cinderella on his horse and rode away with her. As they passed by the hazel-tree, the two white doves cried,
"Turn and peep, turn and peep,
no blood is in the shoe,
the shoe is not too small for her,
the true bride rides with you."
And when they had cried that, the two came flying down and placed themselves on Cinderella's shoulders, one on the right, the other on the left, and remained sitting there. When the wedding with the king's son was to be celebrated, the two false sisters came and wanted to get into favor with Cinderella and share her good fortune. When the betrothed couple went to church, the elder was at the right side and the younger at the left, and the pigeons pecked out one eye from each of them. Afterwards as they came back the elder was at the left, and the younger at the right, and then the pigeons pecked out the other eye from each. And thus, for their wickedness and falsehood, they were punished with blindness all their days.
Below, I have copied the orginal version of Cinderella by
The Grimm Brothers. This story is much different than the Disney version. Having written a modern day fairy tale, Princess Bubble; I enjoyed reading this version. The theme of this story is good wins out over evil. But I was shocked at the lengths the wicked step sisters were willing to go to get their foot in the glass slipper. This is yet another reminder that there is nothing new under the sun. Girls today are willing to starve themselves, put themselves at risk of diseases and pregnancy to capture the attention of much less than a prince.
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 you, and I will look down on you from heaven and be near you."
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 by the time the spring sun had drawn it off again, the man had taken another wife.
The woman had brought with her into the house two daughters, 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 parlor with us," they said. "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 hearth in the cinders. 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 you, Cinderella," said he, "what will you 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 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.
It happened, however, that the king gave orders for a festival which was to last three days, and to which all the beautiful young girls in the country were invited, in order that his son might choose himself a bride. When the two step-sisters heard that they too were to appear among the number, they were delighted, called Cinderella and said, "comb our hair for us, brush our shoes and fasten our buckles, for we are going to the wedding at the king's palace."
Cinderella obeyed, but wept, because she too would have liked to go with them to the dance, and begged her step-mother to allow her to do so.
"You go, Cinderella," said she, "covered in dust and dirt as you are, and would go to the festival. You have no clothes and shoes, and yet would dance." As, however, Cinderella went on asking, the step-mother said at last, "I have emptied a dish of lentils into the ashes for you, if you have picked them out again in two hours, you shall go with us."
The maiden went through the back-door into the garden, and called, "You tame pigeons, you turtle-doves, and all you birds beneath the sky, come and help me to pick
the good into the pot,
the bad into the crop."
Then two white pigeons came in by the kitchen window, and afterwards the turtle-doves, and at last all the birds beneath the sky, came whirring and crowding in, and alighted amongst the ashes. And the pigeons nodded with their heads and began pick, pick, pick, pick, and the rest began also pick, pick, pick, pick, and gathered all the good grains into the dish. Hardly had one hour passed before they had finished, and all flew out again.
Then the girl took the dish to her step-mother, and was glad, and believed that now she would be allowed to go with them to the festival.
But the step-mother said, "No, Cinderella, you have no clothes and you can not dance. You would only be laughed at." And as Cinderella wept at this, the step-mother said, if you can pick two dishes of lentils out of the ashes for me in one hour, you shall go with us. And she thought to herself, that she most certainly cannot do again.
When the step-mother had emptied the two dishes of lentils amongst the ashes, the maiden went through the back-door into the garden and cried, "You tame pigeons, you turtle-doves, and all you birds beneath the sky, come and help me to pick
the good into the pot,
the bad into the crop."
Then two white pigeons came in by the kitchen-window, and afterwards the turtle-doves, and at length all the birds beneath the sky, came whirring and crowding in, and alighted amongst the ashes. And the doves nodded with their heads and began pick, pick, pick, pick, and the others began also pick, pick, pick, pick, and gathered all the good seeds into the dishes, and before half an hour was over they had already finished, and all flew out again. Then the maiden was delighted, and believed that she might now go with them to the wedding.
But the step-mother said, "All this will not help. You cannot go with us, for you have no clothes and can not dance. We should be ashamed of you." On this she turned her back on Cinderella, and hurried away with her two proud daughters.
As no one was now at home, Cinderella went to her mother's grave beneath the hazel-tree, and cried,
"Shiver and quiver, little tree,
Silver and gold throw down over me."
Then the bird threw a gold and silver dress down to her, and slippers embroidered with silk and silver. She put on the dress with all speed, and went to the wedding. Her step-sisters and the step-mother however did not know her, and thought she must be a foreign princess, for she looked so beautiful in the golden dress. They never once thought of Cinderella, and believed that she was sitting at home in the dirt, picking lentils out of the ashes. The prince approached her, took her by the hand and danced with her. He would dance with no other maiden, and never let loose of her hand, and if any one else came to invite her, he said, "This is my partner."
She danced till it was evening, and then she wanted to go home. But the king's son said, "I will go with you and bear you company," for he wished to see to whom the beautiful maiden belonged. She escaped from him, however, and sprang into the pigeon-house. The king's son waited until her father came, and then he told him that the unknown maiden had leapt into the pigeon-house. The old man thought, "Can it be Cinderella." And they had to bring him an axe and a pickaxe that he might hew the pigeon-house to pieces, but no one was inside it. And when they got home Cinderella lay in her dirty clothes among the ashes, and a dim little oil-lamp was burning on the mantle-piece, for Cinderella had jumped quickly down from the back of the pigeon-house and had run to the little hazel-tree, and there she had taken off her beautiful clothes and laid them on the grave, and the bird had taken them away again, and then she had seated herself in the kitchen amongst the ashes in her grey gown.
Next day when the festival began afresh, and her parents and the step-sisters had gone once more, Cinderella went to the hazel-tree and said,
"Shiver and quiver, my little tree,
Silver and gold throw down over me."
Then the bird threw down a much more beautiful dress than on the preceding day. And when Cinderella appeared at the wedding in this dress, every one was astonished at her beauty. The king's son had waited until she came, and instantly took her by the hand and danced with no one but her. When others came and invited her, he said, "This is my partner." When evening came she wished to leave, and the king's son followed her and wanted to see into which house she went. But she sprang away from him, and into the garden behind the house. Therein stood a beautiful tall tree on which hung the most magnificent pears. She clambered so nimbly between the branches like a squirrel that the king's son did not know where she was gone. He waited until her father came, and said to him, "The unknown maiden has escaped from me, and I believe she has climbed up the pear-tree." The father thought, "Can it be Cinderella." And had an axe brought and cut the tree down, but no one was on it. And when they got into the kitchen, Cinderella lay there among the ashes, as usual, for she had jumped down on the other side of the tree, had taken the beautiful dress to the bird on the little hazel-tree, and put on her grey gown.
On the third day, when the parents and sisters had gone away, Cinderella went once more to her mother's grave and said to the little tree,
"Shiver and quiver, my little tree,
silver and gold throw down over me."
And now the bird threw down to her a dress which was more splendid and magnificent than any she had yet had, and the slippers were golden. And when she went to the festival in the dress, no one knew how to speak for astonishment. The king's son danced with her only, and if any one invited her to dance, he said this is my partner.
When evening came, Cinderella wished to leave, and the king's son was anxious to go with her, but she escaped from him so quickly that he could not follow her. The king's son, however, had employed a ruse, and had caused the whole staircase to be smeared with pitch, and there, when she ran down, had the maiden's left slipper remained stuck. The king's son picked it up, and it was small and dainty, and all golden.
Next morning, he went with it to the father, and said to him, no one shall be my wife but she whose foot this golden slipper fits. Then were the two sisters glad, for they had pretty feet. The eldest went with the shoe into her room and wanted to try it on, and her mother stood by. But she could not get her big toe into it, and the shoe was too small for her. Then her mother gave her a knife and said, "Cut the toe off, when you are queen you will have no more need to go on foot." The maiden cut the toe off, forced the foot into the shoe, swallowed the pain, and went out to the king's son. Then he took her on his his horse as his bride and rode away with her. They were obliged, however, to pass the grave, and there, on the hazel-tree, sat the two pigeons and cried,
"Turn and peep, turn and peep,
there's blood within the shoe,
the shoe it is too small for her,
the true bride waits for you."
Then he looked at her foot and saw how the blood was trickling from it. He turned his horse round and took the false bride home again, and said she was not the true one, and that the other sister was to put the shoe on. Then this one went into her chamber and got her toes safely into the shoe, but her heel was too large. So her mother gave her a knife and said, "Cut a bit off your heel, when you are queen you will have no more need to go on foot." The maiden cut a bit off her heel, forced her foot into the shoe, swallowed the pain, and went out to the king's son. He took her on his horse as his bride, and rode away with her, but when they passed by the hazel-tree, the two pigeons sat on it and cried,
"Turn and peep, turn and peep,
there's blood within the shoe,
the shoe it is too small for her,
the true bride waits for you."
He looked down at her foot and saw how the blood was running out of her shoe, and how it had stained her white stocking quite red. Then he turned his horse and took the false bride home again. "This also is not the right one," said he, "have you no other daughter." "No," said the man, "there is still a little stunted kitchen-wench which my late wife left behind her, but she cannot possibly be the bride." The king's son said he was to send her up to him, but the mother answered, oh, no, she is much too dirty, she cannot show herself. But he absolutely insisted on it, and Cinderella had to be called.
She first washed her hands and face clean, and then went and bowed down before the king's son, who gave her the golden shoe. Then she seated herself on a stool, drew her foot out of the heavy wooden shoe, and put it into the slipper, which fitted like a glove. And when she rose up and the king's son looked at her face he recognized the beautiful maiden who had danced with him and cried, "That is the true bride." The step-mother and the two sisters were horrified and became pale with rage, he, however, took Cinderella on his horse and rode away with her. As they passed by the hazel-tree, the two white doves cried,
"Turn and peep, turn and peep,
no blood is in the shoe,
the shoe is not too small for her,
the true bride rides with you."
And when they had cried that, the two came flying down and placed themselves on Cinderella's shoulders, one on the right, the other on the left, and remained sitting there. When the wedding with the king's son was to be celebrated, the two false sisters came and wanted to get into favor with Cinderella and share her good fortune. When the betrothed couple went to church, the elder was at the right side and the younger at the left, and the pigeons pecked out one eye from each of them. Afterwards as they came back the elder was at the left, and the younger at the right, and then the pigeons pecked out the other eye from each. And thus, for their wickedness and falsehood, they were punished with blindness all their days.
Saturday, December 29, 2007
I had the most amazing night all alone in Mexico City last night! I am such a geek.
Fist , I made a list of Goals for 2008... refusing to call them "resolutions" because that would be way too conforming to societal norms (Yes, I'm in denial).
One of them was to actually READ more. I love reading, and book club, and socialing with books club members- doesn't every avid reader? Though I'm not sure I would actually qualify as "avid" quite yet- something to aim for in 2008. Life just gets so busy sometimes and I don't make the time. But since I have now completed my MA, I am determined to return to reading for enjoyment. How I love it! So....while in Mexico City (also known as DF), I decided to actually search for the book I had stowed away in my bag, and actually begin to peruse the pages. I carried the book with me, walked outside my hotel in the Reforma, and searched for a perfect restaurant to read in. As I meandered through the streets, I ran across a local Feria, crowded with families, carousels, magicians, music and street vendors. What a lovely sight it was, but not a great place to settle in to read, so I continued my search. I finally ran across the perfect place- a cute, trendy, restaurant in the middle of the Reforma! I walked in and was immediately greeted by sweet, kind, professional locals. I decided to take a seat at the bar, even though I was the only one seated there. I ordered some traditional cuisine, tacos de pollo that came with beans and guacamole, along with a local cerveza. Then I proceeded with the book, which was given to me a few months ago, called Eat, Pray, Love. In a nutshell, it is an amusing, comical, yet deep book about a woman's self discovery through travel. Turns out it was quite fitting for an American currently in Mexico City. So here I was in Mexico City, alone, reading a great book, enjoying some local food, all while watching the city night lights of the cars along the Reforma- all to say, a totally blissful night for me! How I love the ambience! The only thing that could have made it any better is if I had met a sweet, older couple and shared some conversation about their lovely city. But there is still time for that, so no worries.
Written by co-author of Princess Bubble
Kimberly Webb
www.princessbubble.com
Fist , I made a list of Goals for 2008... refusing to call them "resolutions" because that would be way too conforming to societal norms (Yes, I'm in denial).
One of them was to actually READ more. I love reading, and book club, and socialing with books club members- doesn't every avid reader? Though I'm not sure I would actually qualify as "avid" quite yet- something to aim for in 2008. Life just gets so busy sometimes and I don't make the time. But since I have now completed my MA, I am determined to return to reading for enjoyment. How I love it! So....while in Mexico City (also known as DF), I decided to actually search for the book I had stowed away in my bag, and actually begin to peruse the pages. I carried the book with me, walked outside my hotel in the Reforma, and searched for a perfect restaurant to read in. As I meandered through the streets, I ran across a local Feria, crowded with families, carousels, magicians, music and street vendors. What a lovely sight it was, but not a great place to settle in to read, so I continued my search. I finally ran across the perfect place- a cute, trendy, restaurant in the middle of the Reforma! I walked in and was immediately greeted by sweet, kind, professional locals. I decided to take a seat at the bar, even though I was the only one seated there. I ordered some traditional cuisine, tacos de pollo that came with beans and guacamole, along with a local cerveza. Then I proceeded with the book, which was given to me a few months ago, called Eat, Pray, Love. In a nutshell, it is an amusing, comical, yet deep book about a woman's self discovery through travel. Turns out it was quite fitting for an American currently in Mexico City. So here I was in Mexico City, alone, reading a great book, enjoying some local food, all while watching the city night lights of the cars along the Reforma- all to say, a totally blissful night for me! How I love the ambience! The only thing that could have made it any better is if I had met a sweet, older couple and shared some conversation about their lovely city. But there is still time for that, so no worries.
Written by co-author of Princess Bubble
Kimberly Webb
www.princessbubble.com
Thursday, June 14, 2007
This past weekend we had the honor and pleasure of having tea with a princess. The First Lady of Alabama, Patsy Riley, hosted a tea party with Princess Bubble as the entertainment.
The event was beautiful! The preparation that went in to this event was unbelievable thanks to Kim Nall and staff. But, Miss Patsy, The First Lady, who is called "Miss Patsy" by everyone there, out shined all the decorations, table settings, flowers and even precious children. Because Miss Patsy exudes a beauty from within that surpasses all other types of beauty in my opinion. (See pictures on our site)
Our fairy tale's message is that true happiness comes from loving God, helping others and liking who you already are. This is what I saw clearly in Miss Patsy and why I believe she is a princess and a true southern lady.
So much attention is given these days to the Paris Hiltons of the world. Our young girls have very few role models to look up to because so many public figures have fallen on their face or stooped so low. The young ladies of Alabama can hold their heads high and look up and see their First Lady and know first hand what a princess look like.
Saturday, I was reminded that a light shines even brighter in darkness. As our world darkens with declining morals and corruption, let's remember to let our lights shine and be princesses that can be looked up to and admired.
The event was beautiful! The preparation that went in to this event was unbelievable thanks to Kim Nall and staff. But, Miss Patsy, The First Lady, who is called "Miss Patsy" by everyone there, out shined all the decorations, table settings, flowers and even precious children. Because Miss Patsy exudes a beauty from within that surpasses all other types of beauty in my opinion. (See pictures on our site)
Our fairy tale's message is that true happiness comes from loving God, helping others and liking who you already are. This is what I saw clearly in Miss Patsy and why I believe she is a princess and a true southern lady.
So much attention is given these days to the Paris Hiltons of the world. Our young girls have very few role models to look up to because so many public figures have fallen on their face or stooped so low. The young ladies of Alabama can hold their heads high and look up and see their First Lady and know first hand what a princess look like.
Saturday, I was reminded that a light shines even brighter in darkness. As our world darkens with declining morals and corruption, let's remember to let our lights shine and be princesses that can be looked up to and admired.
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