Princess Bubble Book Review: A Princess Who Empowers Girls http://www.theshoppingmama.com/2009/10/princess-bubble-book-review-princess.html Princess Bubble is a fairy tale for today’s modern girl. Written by friends Susan Johnston and Kimberly Webb, the women wanted to make that point that “although princes are fabulous, a princess must find her security in something much deeper. Johnston and Webb want women of all ages to embrace the truth that ‘happily ever after’ is attainable for everyone.” I think you can understand why I was immediately intrigued and interested in learning more about Princess Bubble! Princess Bubble is a 35-page, modern-day fairy tale starring a well-employed, globe-trotting, good-friend, good-date, helpful-neighbor princess who is confused by the traditional fairy tale message that implies she must find her “prince” before she can live “happily ever after.” The story of Princess Bubble begins when she graduates from Royal University and heads into the world as a working woman. She lives in a castle all her own and socializes with other Princesses. I laughed out loud at when Princess Bubble and her friends were bridesmaid in royal weddings and wearing “Long, colorful bridesmaids’ dresses and dyed satin shoes that they were told they would wear again.” As her friends are marrying off, the Queen advises Princess Bubble to find a Prince. The Princess makes an effort to meet her husband, but upon reflection and a visit from her Fairy Godmother Princess Bubble realizes she’s perfectly content. She has friends, family and a fulfilling life without a Prince. The message isn’t that she is anti-Prince or that she will forever live the single life. Rather, the idea is that Princess Bubble is already living her happily ever after. “We are definitely not anti-Prince,” author Kimberly Webb explained. “We just believe that young girls today are bombarded with so much inaccurate advice on how to build their self-esteem—messages that focus on the outside rather than what’s within. We want to change that message.” To Buy… Yes! At less than $10, this modern day fairy tale has a fun story, a great message and is the perfect gift for any girl in your life. Even an adult girlfriend will get a kick out of Princess Bubble’s story and the modern life parallels to traditional fairy tale themes. Or Not to Buy… Princess Bubble is targeted for girls aged 6 and older and younger girls might be a little bored by the storyline and many references will likely go right over a young girl’s head. Shop! Princess Bubble is available for purchase on Amazon for only $9.60. Thank you to the authors for providing a sample product for the purposes of this review. The opinions are mine and uninfluenced and others may have different experience.

By Terry Hernon MacDonald October 5, 2009

SEPTEMBER 2009

Breaking the Princess Stereotype: Princess Bubble

http://ecochildsplay.com/2008/04/17/breaking-the-p…rincess-bubblebreaking-the-princess-stereotype-princess-bubble/

The feminist, eco-mom’s lament: What to do about princesses!

For the first two years of my daughter’s life, I shielded her from fairy tales and Disney movies about happily ever after and surrounded her with books about animals and nature. Then, she met a little girl that would become her best friend, who also introduced her to the world of Disney Princesses. I was happy my daughter had formed a strong relationship with another child, but there was no returning to our blissful, royalty-free days.
Breaking princess stereotypes

I’ve read several stories that try to break the princess stereotype, such asCinder Edna and The Paper Bag Princess. Princess Bubble, written by Susan Johnston and Kimberly Webb, is the story of a princess who is beautiful, a graduate of Royal University, employed by Royal Heir Line, and is happy with her life. As her other princess friends begin to marry their princes, Princess Bubble is pressured by the queen to find a prince.
But, Bubble did not believe just any prince would bring her “happily ever after.” Yet the fairy tales said she must find HER prince! So she put on her thinking crown and re-read the fairy tales for clues on where to find her prince. She soon realized that unlike the other princesses, She was not trapped in a dungeon…She had no wicked stepsisters or stepmother…She did not know any dwarfs…Nor did she live under the sea. But the most confusing part was…She was already happy!

Finally, a story about a princess that does not need a prince. Although, I do wish Princess Bubble had a different career, as it appears in the illustrations that she is an airline stewardess. If the author really intended to break stereotypes, Bubble would have been a pilot. I also think the name Bubble is a little strange, as if her name implies she is living in a bubble by not following tradition and marrying a prince, or perhaps it is the princess stereotype bubble she is bursting.

How would your child define a princess?

I asked my six-year-old daughter to describe a princess to me. Here is her description:

nice

beautiful

pretty

kind

lives in a castle

wears pink and purple

marries a prince (UGH!)

After she gave me her list, I asked her if a princess has to marry a prince. She answered, “No, because Princess Bubble couldn’t find one.” Thank you Princess Bubble! Of course, I would add to the list that a princess is an environmentalist that uses her royal clout to pass strong environmental regulations to curb climate change, but then again, my daughter is only six!

Atlanta, GA, September 9, 2009–This Christmas season thousands of single belles will hang their silk stockings and say their prayers before a quick night’s sleep-then it’s off to work they go. This ever growing group of Carols, Noels, and Merrys will shop, party and cook as they celebrate the holidays with families and friends. Two successful single gals will ring in the New Year with a resolution; 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 Hamrick and Kimberly Webb have crafted a new generation of fairy tales that celebrates singleness and self worth. A contemporary fairy tale for all ages, Princess Bubble was written to reduce the overwhelming sense of failure, self-doubt, and despair that many youth face.

“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.”

“We’ve had countless women all over the nation tell us they wish there had been a book like this when they were young,” said Webb. “This is a story women can truly believe in and feel comfortable sharing with their children.”

“Recently, my life took an unexpected turn I NEVER expected for myself and I met a prince. This relationship has made me even more passionate about the message of Princess Bubble because we both feel so strongly about being happy first and then as secure happy people you are able to encourage each other to fulfill their dreams and be a better person. Not expect the other person to be the dream.”

—Susan Johnston Hamrick, Princess Bubble author

As seen on The Today Show and CNN.

www.PrincessBubble.com

You know how the story goes—Prince Charming, “Happily Ever After,” The End, right? Is this the ONLY option today’s moms want to share with their young daughters? Two successful girlfriends are offering parents an updated version of the traditional fairy tale. No longer a “Damsel in Distress,” this princess travels the world, helps others, and finds “happily ever after” even before she finds her Prince!

With wisdom gleaned from their careers as independent, globe-trotting flight attendants, first-time authors Susan Johnston Hamrick and Kimberly Webb have crafted a new generation of fairy tales that celebrates singleness and self worth. A contemporary fairy tale for all ages, Princess Bubble was written to reduce the overwhelming sense of failure, self-doubt, and despair that many youth face.

Three most common disorders in girls: low self-esteem, depression, and eating disorders

In 2003, breast implants tripled from 3,872 to 11,326 in girls under age 18

Girls ages 12 to 19 spent over $8 million on cosmetics in 2005

(Source: Report of the APA Task Force on the Sexualization of Girls,2007)

“I adore sharing the Princess Bubble message with my daughter because it teaches her that happiness comes from within,” said Kim Daniels, mother of two.

http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/showbiz/2008/08/11/intv.susan.johnston.cnn?iref=videosearch

Many concerned mothers today worry about raising their princess. There is a royal struggle to have fun with fairy tales and at the same time teach girls the true meaning of “Happily Ever After!”

This is a story I can truly believe in and feel comfortable sharing with my children.”

—Noelle Williams, mother of three

“We’ve had countless women all over the nation tell us they wish there had been a book like this when they were little.”

—Susan Johnston Hamrick, Princess Bubble author

Modern Princesses Redefine Fairy Tale Endings for Young Readers!

Princess Bubble stars a princess who is confused by the traditional fairy tale messages that say she must find her “prince” before she can live “happily ever after.” Princess Bubble dons her “thinking crown” to research traditional fairy tales, interviews married girlfriends, and even takes counsel from her mother, who advises her to sign up at FindYourPrince.comFindYourPrince.com. With a little help from her fairy godmother (this is still a fairy tale after all), Ms. Bubble discovers that “living happily ever after” is not about finding a prince. “True happiness,” the book reveals, “is found by loving God, being kind to others, and being comfortable with who you are already!”

“We are definitely not anti-Prince,” said Webb. “We just believe that young girls today are bombarded with so much inaccurate advice on how to build their self-esteem—messages that focus on the outside rather than what’s within. We want to change that message.” Johnston, recently married, said, “Princess Bubble is a better version of us. She is educated, well traveled, wants to make a difference, owns her own castle and had also been a bridesmaid and is told in the story that she will wear the bridesmaid dress again.

Recently, my life took an unexpected turn I NEVER expected for myself and I met a prince. This relationship has made me even more passionate about the message of Princess Bubble because we both feel so strongly about being happy first and then as secure happy people you are able to encourage each other to fulfill their dreams and be a better person. Not expect the other person to be the dream.”

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-

Princess Bubble co-author, Susan Johnston, married Georgia State Senator Bill Hamrick, Mr. Bubble, on June 13th.

Recently, my life took an unexpected turn I NEVER expected for myself and I met a prince. This relationship has made me even more passionate about the message of Princess Bubble because we both feel so strongly about being happy first and then as secure happy people you are able to encourage each other to fulfill their dreams and be a better person. Not expect the other person to be the dream” said Susan Hamrick.

Princess Bubble stars a princess who is confused by the traditional fairy tale messages that say she must find her “prince” before she can live “happily ever after.” Princess Bubble dons her “thinking crown” to research traditional fairy tales, interviews married girlfriends, and even takes counsel from her mother, who advises her to sign up at FindYourPrince.comFindYourPrince.com. With a little help from her fairy godmother (this is still a fairy tale after all), Ms. Bubble discovers that “living happily ever after” is not about finding a prince. “True happiness,” the book reveals, “is found by loving God, being kind to others, and being comfortable with who you are already!”
“We are definitely not anti-Prince,” said Webb. “We just believe that young girls today are bombarded with so much inaccurate advice on how to build their self-esteem—messages that focus on the outside rather than what’s within. We want to change that message.” Johnston Hamrick, recently married, said, “Princess Bubble is a better version of us. She is educated, well traveled, wants to make a difference, owns her own castle and had also been a bridesmaid and is told in the story that she will wear the bridesmaid dress again.

Happily Ever After can be shared or lived out on your own. But, first each girl must realize she is a valuable princess that is worthy of respect from herself and others.

Happily Ever After! And welcome Mr. Bubble!!

Girls, Self-Esteem & a Princess; As Seen On CNN & The TODAY Show

http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/showbiz/2008/08/11/intv.susan.johnston.cnn?iref=videosearch

Many concerned mothers today worry about raising their princess. There is a royal struggle to have fun with fairy tales and at the same time teach girls the true meaning of “Happily Ever After!”
This is a story I can truly believe in and feel comfortable sharing with my children.”
—Noelle Williams, mother of three

“We’ve had countless women all over the nation tell us they wish there had been a book like this when they were little.”
—Susan Johnston, Princess Bubble author

Modern Princesses Redefine Fairy Tale Endings for Young Readers!

ATLANTA, June 26, 2009—You know how the story goes—Prince Charming, “Happily Ever After,” The End, right? Is this the ONLY option today’s moms want to share with their young daughters? Two successful girlfriends are offering parents an updated version of the traditional fairy tale. No longer a “Damsel in Distress,” this princess travels the world, helps others, and finds “happily ever after” even before she finds her Prince!

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 at FindYourPrince.comFindYourPrince.com. With a little help from her fairy godmother (this is still a fairy tale after all), Ms. Bubble discovers that “living happily ever after” is not about finding a prince. “True happiness,” the book reveals, “is found by loving God, being kind to others, and being comfortable with who you are already!”
“We are definitely not anti-Prince,” said Webb. “We just believe that young girls today are bombarded with so much inaccurate advice on how to build their self-esteem—messages that focus on the outside rather than what’s within. We want to change that message.” Johnston, recently married, said, “Princess Bubble is a better version of us. She is educated, well traveled, wants to make a difference, owns her own castle and had also been a bridesmaid and is told in the story that she will wear the bridesmaid dress again.

Recently, my life took an unexpected turn I NEVER expected for myself and I met a prince. This relationship has made me even more passionate about the message of Princess Bubble because we both feel so strongly about being happy first and then as secure happy people you are able to encourage each other to fulfill their dreams and be a better person. Not expect the other person to be the dream.”

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-

I must confess, speaking of confessions, I have a girl crush on Isla Fisher (Becky Bloomwood in this film) Becky is such a girly girl with fabulous flair and many obvious faults that make her lovable and remind me that I too have a little shopaholic in me. Retail Therapy, as some call it, is just hard to beat.

As the movie begins, Becky reflects back on how shopping begins in childhood. As a child you believe that Grown Up= All the things you could want. Actually, when I was a child, and I see my friends doing this with their children as well, I was far better dressed than I am now. As a child, my mother made sure I had smocked dresses that were ironed and Mary Janes to match anywhere I went. As an adult, I end up throwing on jeans or khaki shorts on in the morning and as I pull them off at night- I am reminded I was going to change at some point into something well put together and never made the time. Becky makes the time daily and fashion trumps comfort for her every time.

Becky’s obsessive desire to buy things she doesn’t need with money she doesn’t have is charged on what she called as a child shopper “Magic Cards” is something many Americans can relate to with the current mortgage and financial crisis.

“Shopaholic” is based on Sophie Kinsella’s popular novel, which was set in London but this film takes place in New York City where ironically Rebecca begins to write a column in “Successful Saving” magazine called “The Girl in The Green Scarf.”

Confessions of a Shopaholic is for all The Devil Wears Prada and Sex In The City Fans. This movie combines fashion, friendship, love and journalism. I thought this chick flick was as fun and therapeutic as shopping and as they say “laughter is the best medicine!” So, lay down on the couch for some therapy with this cute film!

FUN FACTS

• The film shot inside of some of the most exclusive stores and boutiques in New York, including Barneys New York flagship store on Madison Avenue, Henri Bendel on Fifth Avenue, Scoop and Catherine Malandrino in the Meat Packing District, Alessi (upscale housewares) in Soho, and Kleinfeld (elaborate bridal shop) in Chelsea.

• The film also shot inside some of the most historic buildings in the city, including legendary British architect Lord Norman Foster’s Hearst Tower (the only film to ever be allowed to shoot there) on 57th Street and 8th Avenue; 45 Rockefeller Center (the building that features the statue of Atlas holding up the world at its entrance); the Grand Salon inside of the 1931 Jumeirah Essex House hotel on Central Park South; inside and out of St. James Church (1884) on Madison Avenue between 71st and 72nd Streets; inside of the Beaux Arts and Art Nouveau styled Emigrant Industrial Savings Bank Building (1908-12) on Chambers Street in the Wall Street district; utilizing the exterior of St. Anthony of Padua on Sullivan Street at the intersection of Greenwich Village, Tribeca and Soho, founded in 1866.

• The production spent two all-nighters dressing the beautiful atrium of Henri Bendel with a Midsummer Night’s Dream themed design, as well as the aviator-themed window displays. They also created window displays for the Hearst Tower with faux stores by Valentino, Anna Sui, Catherine Malandrino and Alberto Ferretti. Excited New Yorkers thought that actual stores had opened on the ground level of the Tower and were sorely disappointed to discover that they were only for the movie.

• Across the street from St. James Church, windows were re-dressed in actual Yves St. Laurent, Asprey and Sonia Rykiel stores for the film’s climax.

• In the film, costume designer Patricia Field selected clothing and accessories to adorn Isla Fisher’s Becky Bloomwood, including Balenciaga, Marc Jacobs, Christian Louboutin, Alexander McQueen, Zac Posen, Miu Miu, Salvatore Ferragamo, Prada, Christian Dior, Todd Oldham, Gucci and Matthew Williamson, among others.

• To create a lavish display in Henri Bendel’s six-story atrium, as well as window decorations, production designer Kristi Zea and supervising art director Paul Kelly had to bring in a full complement of their department to pull an all-nighter with military precision, as they only had enough time between the store closing its doors to the public and reopening them again in the morning to pull off the impossible. Mission was accomplished, with legions of New Yorkers admiring the results before the cameras began rolling later that day.

• Filming in New York City gave the filmmakers access to the pool of local actors perhaps better known for their work in the theatre than on film, including Christine Ebersole (Tony Award winner as Best Actress in a Musical for “Grey Gardens”), LaChanze (Tony Award winner as Best Actress in a Musical for “The Color Purple”) and Kaitlin Hopkins (star of the upcoming touring company of “Dirty Dancing: The Musical”).

• Ed Helms of “The Office” is seen only on videotape in the movie as self-help money management guru Garrett E. Barton.

• A bank loan officer is portrayed by Jonathan Tisch, Loews Hotel Chairman and CEO; and in a publishing reception scene filmed in Chicago, another banker is played by Andy Serwer, managing editor of Fortune Magazine.

• Robert Stanton, who plays ruthless debt collector Derek Smeath, drew upon the only other job he ever had besides actor: a skip tracer for a student loan company, finding people who had defaulted on their debts. Stanton admits that he wasn’t good at harassing people, since he would always burst out in laughter instead.

• Sophie Kinsella was on the “Confessions of a Shopaholic” set nearly every day as associate producer, consulting and watching her beloved creation of Rebecca Bloomwood come to life. Not so coincidentally considering the massive international sales of the “Shopaholic” novels, Kinsella was often approached by excited fans on New York, Connecticut and Miami locations as if she were more of a movie star than an author.

CONFESSIONS OF A SHOPAHOLIC is on Blu-ray and DVD June 23rd!

princess bubble: she’s no damsel in distress

http://www.mamabirddiaries.com/drooling-over-this/princess-bubble-shes-no-damsel-in-distress/
I truly enjoy all the princess madness… the gowns, the glitter, the tiaras. I love watching my girls dress up and I’ll be totally honest, I once tried to squeeze myself into one of their gowns. Turns out, I am not a toddler size 5.

But I just loathe those needy princesses. You know the ladies. Cinderella, Belle, Sleeping Beauty, Ariel and a few others who must be saved by a prince to live happily ever after.

This is why I avoid reading my kids the princess stories and they don’t watch the movies. I want better role models for my girls. A bit more “Free To Be You And Me” for their glittery imaginations.

And finally, Princess Bubble showed up. It’s about time. This gal is no damsel in distress. She travels the world, helps others and finds “happily ever after” before her prince ever shows up. It’s not anti-Prince Charming. It’s just that Princess Bubble knows how to put on her “thinking crown” and take advantage of life’s amazing opportunities.

The book is geared for all ages and I definitely found myself laughing at a couple lines. I can’t wait to read more of her next adventures.

Princess Bubble
http://marcellahawkinsno.blogspot.com/2009/04/princess-bubble.html

As a mother of a six-year-old miss, I chance myself in a invariant conflict ( already! ) with the “ idealised ” female. In point of fact, I conceive the indoctrination of lassie gets at birth, but it hits hardest between the ages of 3-7 when they are literally plunged in the “ princess civilization ”. So, when I saw the book Princess Bubble by Susan Johnston and Kimberly Webb, it was as if the clouds splitted and ray of light interrupted through.

Princess Bubble, according to the writer ’s site is a character who is “ a well-employed, globe-trotting, good-friend, good-date, helpful-neighbor princess who is confounded by the traditional fairy story message that connote she must happen her “ prince ” before she can inhabit happily ever after. ‘ ”

Can you tell Eureka?!

I holded a opportunity to verbalise with Susan Johnston on the telephone about her book and she stated me her tale. Recently pursued first in her 40 ’s, Johnston holds populated an exciting and fulfilling life as a individual woman. She bumped herself going increasingly disappointed in the conversations she was holding with lass, who consistently stated her that they desired to be princesses-and that it was a demand to happen a prince to be happy.

Johnston spoke to her friend Susan Webb ( who holds four immature nieces ) about the thought of making a character that is both a princess and a multidimensional woman. The two developed the character of Princess Bubble who Johnston draws as “ a better version of me. ”

“ She desires to assist others and do a difference in the creation. Being a princess is not merely sitting on a throne and holding a Crown. Lady diana frances spencer is retrieved more for assisting than being attend to. ”

Makes this mean that Princess Bubble is a ramp anti-man, anti-lipstick-wearing, coldhearted bitch? Not the least bit. “ There Holds cypher incorrect with desiring to be pretty and glamourous, ” Johnston stated. “ And wedlock is grand. But matrimony ca n’t BE the dreaming. Wedlock is a manner to SHARE your dreaming with person special. ”

Lassie take to experience confident to search new things; addition didactics and experience; traveling and see the existence. They necessitate to be whole and complete themselves before they determine to perpetrate to a lifelong relationship. Being a woman ( and every woman is a princess ) intends enquire interrogations like:

Make you experience like a victim? ( Every other fairy story princess is a victim of some variety. )
Are you waiting to be delivered?
Make you should be delivered to hold the fairy story?
What does you really happy?
Retail therapy does everyone happy for an jiffy. But what does you happy long after
Princess Bubble besides integrates an constituent of religion, something overlooked in nearly every princess narrative. While pent from a Christian position, girl from all faiths can gain from the illustration of this charming miss who bases her picks on her beliefs, not on the despairing demand to be loved and accepted.

Johnston and Webb financed the publication of this book on their ain because it incorporates a message that they verily believe inward. If you ‘d wish to aid a lassie discover more about muliebrity than being delivered and looking middling, purchase her a transcript of Princess Bubble and assist support this marvelous originative endeavor.

Princess Bubble is available at Virago, Barnes & Nobleman, and local retailers around the land.

www.PrincessBubble.com