Thursday, February 7, 2008

The gift of Ear Candy to remind you that you're fabulous

I may have linked to these two bands/singers before, but I really like them so I thought I would share.

Peggy Sue and the Pirates (my favorite of theirs is "the new song") are two women from Brighton, who twist up their voices around a guitar. Adele is from South London and reminds me a little of Regina Spektor.

On a completely different note, as some of you know, I am going to be a Bridesmaid this summer. Just for fun I typed "Bridesmaid" into google to see what the top hits would be. Second down on the list was a bridesmaids.com which featured a blog (or something that poses as a blog while helpfully linking to a bunch of stores. Also it's addressed to the bride, which I found weird).

Here's a particularly choice entry:

This week is National Singles Week, which means there’s no better time to take a moment out of your aint’-love-grand stupor to celebrate with the eligible single ladies in your life: your bridesmaids. Whether that means writing them a special note, assuring them once again that their bridesmaid dresses do not make them look fat, or blessing them with special bridesmaids’ gifts to remind them of their worth, there’s no better time than Singles Week to remind your bridesmaids that they are single and fabulous.

I'm not even going to touch that whole "make sure to tell them they're not fat" tip.

I assume that I would react with appreciation if someone gave me a gift at any time, but I find something just a teensy bit patronizing in a bride giving her presumably single bridesmaids a gift for National Singles Week. Am I the only one who would read receiving a present from a soon-to-be married friend during National Singles Week as having a tinge of pity attached to it (which would defeat the purpose of celebrating National Singles week [ahem, it's actually called National Single and Unmarried Americans Week])? I don't think single people are waiting around for affirmation from married people that they are "fabulous."

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

I just received this press release today from the Princess Bubble authors--and then I read your blog which seemed very similar.


Another Bridal Dilemma: Brides and Their Single Bridesmaids

As seen on The TODAY Show!

New Book Offers the Perfect Bridesmaid Gift Solution for the Sensitive Bride Who Wants to Encourage Single Friends Another Bridal Dilemma: Brides and Their Single Bridesmaids As seen on The TODAY Show!New Book Offers the Perfect Bridesmaid Gift Solution for the Sensitive Bride Who Wants to Encourage Single Friends About Their Own “Happily Ever After”This Wedding Season, Two Sassy Single Authors Redefine Fairy Tale Endings for Young Readers!

New Release, Princess Bubble, Strikes Chord With America’s SINGLE WOMEN WHO FOR THE FIRST TIME IN U.S.HISTORY OUTNUMBER MARRIED WOMEN
ATLANTA, GA January 8, 2008—“How do I glory in my big day when my single friends are wondering when (or IF) theirs will ever come?” This is the dilemma of many caring brides who want their single bridesmaids and friends to enjoy their wedding without grieving their own “single status.” Future brides everywhere share a wonderful “un-married” gift of encouragement to their single friends and bridesmaids—embrace “happily ever after,” even without a prince.

With wisdom gleaned from their careers as independent, globe-trotting flight attendants, first-time authors (and veteran bridesmaids) Susan Johnston and Kimberly Webb have crafted a modern-day fairy tale that celebrates singleness. And with 51% of American women living single today, it’s about time someone told this story.

“We’ve had people give the book as gifts for BRIDESMAIDS, girls going off to college, and even friends who are going through divorce,” said Johnston.

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 during wedding celebrations.

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!”

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-

Anonymous said...

BARF BARF BARF. Stupid smug marrieds.

Why can't people let those they love be happy in their own way? Being unmarried (whether single or partnered but unmarried) is not a disease.

You have permission to beat the crap out of me if I ever ever ever act like a smug married.