Tag Archives: fairy tales

The Student Prince (1954)

A gorgeous and sweeping musical, “The Student Prince” has been one of my most favorite movies since the first time I saw it. I believe I was around ten, and the magic of it captured me and carried away. Edmund Purdom stars as Prince Karl, the selfish, stubborn prince of Karlsberg who is supposed to get married in order to secure the future of his kingdom. A lovely princess has been chosen for him, a gracious girl named Johanna, and they meet for the first time when the engagement is announced. He does very little to make her feel welcome, … Continue reading →

Tinker Bell – There’s Something About Her

For a century and then some, Tinker Bell has charmed generations of children – myself included. My daughter is a huge Tinker Bell fan and has wall stickers dancing around her room depicting Tinker Bell in various cute poses wearing a hip length, lime green dress and slippers. From her first appearance in J.M. Barrie’s play and novel Peter Pan, she’s given us a reason to believe. In the novel, she is described as a very common pixie who mends pots and pans. Her behavior ranges from charming and enchanting to spoiled and irritable. She is described as someone too … Continue reading →

Once Upon A Mattress (2005)

We’re all familiar with the story of the princess and the pea. With “Once Upon a Mattress,” Disney takes the fairy tale and gives it a whole new twist in a film made for television. Queen Aggravain (Carol Burnett) is a loving, doting mother. She only wants what’s best for her son, Prince Dauntless (Denis O’Hare) and that includes the very best wife. Therefore, every princess in the land must go through a test to see if they really are a true princess, otherwise they cannot hope to marry her son. The tests are ludicrous, but that’s sort of the … Continue reading →

Cinderella III: A Twist in Time (2007)

“Cinderella III: A Twist in Time” begins just shortly after “Cinderella II” leaves off. The Prince and Cinderella are still in the newlywed phase, where everything is sunshine and roses. The wicked stepmother and step-sisters are hating life, having to do all their own chores. Stepmother is furious with Cinderella and vows to get her revenge. Purely by chance, Anastasia manages to get a hold of the Fairy Godmother’s magic wand, and Stepmother executes an evil plan. She uses the wand to take them all back in time to the morning after the ball, when the Grand Duke comes with … Continue reading →

Cinderella (1950)

Based on one of the most beloved fairy tales of all time, “Cinderella” is one of Disney’s most beloved masterpiece movies as well. This film has everything – talking mice, a wicked cat, a handsome prince, spells, and a beautiful dress. Disney didn’t miss a trick with this one. We are all familiar with the story, so I’ll be brief in my summary: Cinderella is an orphan, being raised by a wicked step-mother who makes her do all the housework and treats her very unkindly. All the love and attention goes to the step-mother’s own two ugly daughters. One day … Continue reading →

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937)

Walt Disney’s masterpiece “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs” was the first full-length motion picture ever put out by Disney Studios. It was a bit of a gamble; would audiences respond to it? Walt needn’t have worried; “Snow White” was a smash hit at the box office and continues to be one of the most famous movies ever released. The plot of the movie follows that of the classic fairy tale: Snow White is a beautiful young girl who is being raised by her wicked stepmother, also a powerful queen and witch. Her hair is black as ebony, her lips … Continue reading →

Kids Rooms… Scary Places or Comfy Spaces?

It’s common for children’s bedrooms and playrooms to get messy quickly. The best way to resolve this problem is to consistently straighten and organize these areas in order to avoid allowing them to get out of control. Most parents have had to deal with this situation at some point. Room cleaning seems to keep getting put off, because we have limited time or simply don’t feel like dealing with the usual complaints or our kids efforts to do everything but actually get the room cleaned up. When this happens, it can lead to an overwhelming mess. Kids and parents alike … Continue reading →

Princesses Are Not Quitters! – Kate Lum

Once upon a time there were three princesses named Allie, Mellie, and Libby. They lived in a palace, but not an ordinary one, oh, no! Theirs was silver and it was surrounded by roses. These three princesses had everything they could ever want and servants to do everything for them, but one morning during breakfast, they decided they were bored. The servant girls looked like they were having so much fun, carrying those buckets of milk, and a decision was reached immediately. For the rest of the day, the princesses would do everything the servants did. Mrs. Blue, the housekeeper, … Continue reading →

Playing up the Playroom

Decorating your child’s playroom may be one of the most fun room makeovers you’ll ever do. Even if you go for a sophisticated look, you’ll obviously still want to add some whimsical touches, since it is after all a “play” room intended for good times. You don’t have to be particular and fussy when it comes to this space. You can be as daring as you like, because kids love funky, brightly colored, interesting objects. Furnishings and accessories don’t need to follow any rigid rules; they just need to come together to fashion an inviting place to play, create, and … Continue reading →

Gnomes – Wil Huygen and Rein Poortvliet

My husband brought this book home from the library on a whim, and I found myself instantly enchanted with it. Perhaps that was a pun, but it’s so applicable to the situation, I’ll let it stand. “Gnomes” is an art book which documents the mythical beings from a standpoint that you would swear you were reading about a creature or person who actually existed. It is a chance to suspend your disbelief and allow yourself to sink into a world where absolutely anything is possible. We start with a quote from the flyleaf: “To my amazement, I have heard that … Continue reading →