The Princess and The Pea

 

Oh how I love this book.   I mean, I really love it, favorite books of all time love it.  I was green with envy the moment it started popping up on blogs because it hasn't been released here in the US yet.  We are big fans of the author, Lauren Child, and have read Clarice Bean over and over again.  And just like Charlie and Lola, we often serve 'green drops', 'orange twiglets', 'cloud fluff' and 'ocean nibbles' here for dinner.

Manda graciously offered to send me a copy of this book and I jumped at the chance.  A copy for me? All my very own?  You betcha!  But she totally surprised us all the with the goody she added in the package...

ten doll-sized quilted mattresses-

and a tiny felted wool green pea-

Are you gasping with disbelief like we did?  Manda, you are totally original with this idea, Emma is thrilled to say the least (and so am I).  This has got to be one of the cutest ideas I have ever seen or heard of.  This further proves my point, I am no longer attracted to mass-produced goods, not when things like this fill my home.  Thank you so much Manda.  So incredibly thoughtful (and not to mention talented) you are.

Let's see if Madeline has what it takes to sleep on the mattresses, will she feel the pea???  is she a true princess??  Will she wake up with dark circles from lack of sleep?

On another subject, Kristina asked me to put up a picture of myself so she could see what I look like.  The whole idea of posting pics of ourselves is an interesting and fascinating one for me, there seems to be as many that do as that don't.  No complicated, deep-seeded reason for me not doing it, I just basically hate every photo I see of myself.  I really don't like to be photographed, I much prefer to be the one behind the camera.  If I ever find a photo that I think looks ok and represents me well, I'll throw it up here, till then you probably won't be seeing 'me', just hearing my ramblings, which will hopefully suffice for now.  One day I might surprise you.  But what about you guys, what are your thoughts on why you do or don't post pics of yourself?

I did just look down and realized that my orange and pink outfit matches my new book, so here's a picture of my upper thigh.

Emma's bedroom has reached a critical stage.  I can't stand the amount of stuff in there anymore.  To use Ian's explanation for anything he doesn't like, "its too much".  I had all these fantasies and daydreams about what I was planning to do in there, but right now all just  needs to be put aside for some basic, full on, deep cleaning.  So as soon as the kids have been safely delivered to school and I have those precious few hours to myself, instead of working on my handbags, I will enter the zone (aka Emma's bedroom) with a trashbag and donation box.  After that, the whole room is going to get a facelift, by me, not Debbie. The time has come, just please don't tell her.  How do you moms get your kids to let go of things?  It doesn't work here.  She holds on to everything.  I tried to persuade her once, discussing how some other little girl might love to have that, you no longer play with it, etc...and after an hour alone in her room, all she could find to give up for donation was three naked Barbies.   

 

Comments

[Stephanie]

gasping with disbelief at the cuteness of the matresses and pea!

for clutter: when something new comes in, something old goes out. also, we rotate toys, storing the extras in the basement. sometimes the extras are forgotten about and eventually are taken to the goodwill.

[myra]

Oh my goodness, that really is the cutest thing ever!

[rebecca]

i am SO jealous. ever since i first saw that book mentioned i've been coveting it. do you know if they ever plan to release it in the states? oh, and as far as getting kids to let go of things -- i'm not at all above the sneaky route of removing it when they are gone or not paying attention. they never seem to miss the stuff i get rid of.

[tracy]

i am loving the mattress and pea! madeline does look a little uncomfortable ;)

as for clutter - we have a bin we relegate toys to that no longer (or more often never did!) get much attention. i try to get this to a donation center on a regular basis.

[leya]

I was in total love with the Princess and the Pea story when I was younger. You just reminded me of it and that made my day! and the 10 quilted mattress and the little pea are unforgettable. people never cease to amaze me.

[dawn]

I too am anxiously waiting the US release of the Princess and the Pea. We adore Charlie and Lola.

What a lovely gift you recieved - lucky girl. I have GOT to learn how to sew. The little mattresses are fabulous!

[Gina L]

What a lucky girl you are, the felt pea & all! Sadly I knew nothing about the new book coming out but it sure looks like a great one.
I have to admit, I don't like my picture taken either. It's not that bad once you have it up. In the last month I did post a few pictures of myself but are seriously thinking about deleting those post, just because.

[Dee]

The first thing I thought when I saw the picture above was, hooray, it's finally out in the US! Guess not, heh. Love the little mattresses and pea. I only post self portraits b/c no one else so far has really captured the essence of me like I can. Goodness, that sounds vain, lol.

[sally]

The mattresses and pea are so adorable! Such a clever idea. Regarding toy clutter, I tend to go through the toy closet every few months and recycle or donate as many as I can. My oldest son never notices that a toy is missing {Thank God!). I enjoy visiting your site, and this week will be my first "computer free Friday".

[wendy]

oh so lovely!! the book and your treat.
those mattresses are to die for!

have you ever tried to have emma - take the items to a shelter - so she can see how much she has and how little those children have?

[Laurie]

oh that is so sweet! ♥

[mary]

wow, what a fabulous surprise from manda! she's so creative. madeline looks perfect on the pile of mattresses, and i definitely think she's a princess.

[mary]

wow, what a fabulous surprise from manda! she's so creative. madeline looks perfect on the pile of mattresses, and i definitely think she's a princess.

[Adriana]

Such a cute book and an adorable pressie to go with it!

I wonder if I'm too grown up to ask for a copy of that book.....

I completely understand your daughter's resistance to giving up things. I used to be just like that, hoard everything. I'm slowly recovering now...

I know she won't understand it quite yet, but tell her if she doesn't start cleaning up stuff now, it will be very time consuming when her parents call her up and ask her to clean up almost 30 years worth of stuff.

Not that I'd know anything about that.....

[Toni]

Those treasures from Manda are simply wonderful! I just got done telling her so.

I'm pretty comfortable with posting a pic. of myself now and then. I love to put a face with a name, so I'm always happy to "see" all these nice blogging gals. But, I am becoming less and less happy with photos of myself these days. I think I don't like to see myself aging, it always surprises me and I gasp!!

[molly]

you are just getting showered with mail goodness this week!! those little mattresses and felted pea are killer cute! how fun for you, i mean, emma!

Ironically (as always,) i just put two big boxes on the floor of the toy room yesterday and said one's for toys to give "to poor people" (as emma says) and one's to put toys away in the basement. They're both empty-- except for a toy of mary's that emma threw in the give away box....it's hard for them to part with things, because all of a sudden they decide they like that toy that they haven't picked up in months....
I think your idea of taking a little control of the situation by doing it when they are away is good. At least for the slimming down of toys.
Maybe there are other ways to instill a giving spirit in our children besides making them give away their toys--it's like saying, "this fabric/yarn/ribbon has been in your stash for three months and you haven't done anything with it. you obviously don't like it anymore. let's give it away." No Way!!
Don't know...just thinking out loud on this one.....

[Amy]

So nice to have some beautiful handmade toys to go along with a gift of a book. Not that books can't stand on their own, but I think I shall never give away another child's book without a companion. HOW FUN!

[Gillian Greding]

Oh, that book looks GORGEOUS. I just headed over to AMAZON and bought it! :)

[Yvonne]

Oh dear I'm gasping too. It's the cutest pea I've ever seen!! I must get this book too!!!

[Heather]

We have always had the rule for the kids that if something new comes in, then something old needs to leave. It keeps the flow of things at the same level. They think twice, no, about ten times over before purchasing. Holidays are always a major purge time. All belongings going out are lovingly handed down or donated. Clutter is very controlled this way. And yes, the same hard rule applies to mommy and daddy too.

[gkgirl]

ok...

number one...i-am-s000000-jealous-of-that
book-of-anyone-that-owns-that-book-of-
the-creativity-and-talent-of-the-author-
of-that-book....
:)
wow.

number two...do we share an emma? my emma
will not part with anything, giving anything
away literally breaks her heart because
she says she knows its illogical but
she feels the toy will miss her and feel
abandoned by her...how do you argue with that? especially when you so remember
feeling that way as a child :)

number three...i feel the same way about picture posting..i think about doing it, but then i just can't...and i don't really know
why...i know i generally dislike photos of
myself...but i just can't post a photo...
i did in the beginning but then stopped...

i love your blog...
i always find something that
makes me clap my hands
in glee
uncontrollably...

hows that for a picture?
heehee

[Anamaria]

I think books+handmades make the best gifts for kids, especially if they're as sweet and original as those little mattresses. AND the pea. What a wonderful surprise to get in the mail! I pre-ordered Princess and the Pea from Amazon as soon as I saw it on someone's (your?) blog weeks ago; we love Lauren Child at our house, too. Now I really can't wait for it to arrive.

You won't see too many photos of me on my blog, either. The kids are much cuter!

[sofia]

everything is sooooooo cute :) just love it.
hope to see you also in a photo, one day ;-) maybe :)

[~Vicki]

we are BIG Charlie & Lola fans here too. i'm way behind on my fave blogs, and just spent about 20 wonderful minutes over here...i might even have to come back later and marvel over a few more things, especially that pea in the "mattresses". Cute!!

[Kristy]

Mandas mattresses are so cute!Lauren Child so talented,I hate photos of myself and my kids can't let go!(how can you give away something with a name?)Nice to think I'm not alone!!