There ain't no princess here

I have recently started thinking that perhaps, just perhaps, we are fighting a loosing battle.

We, G & I, have always maintained a gender neutral environment at home. Which means, that neither of us uses the gender card to either get out of responsibilities or to assert our rights. We both are opinionated and yet never chauvinistic about it.

And this extends to little A, too. We haven't gone the route these parents have, but rather strived to make it happen in simpler ways. Such as our expectations from her, her books and her toys.

For those who have read my previous posts, know how much 'pink' bothered me. So, now imagine our discomfort when the darn princess shows up every where. And I mean everywhere.

Try shopping for a 2-yr old and you will be surprised by all the products that come in the princess theme. Right from the gauzy pink dresses to plates and spoons, from bibs to sticker books, and from story books to toys. It is exhausting sieving and sifting for non-princessy items.

If that wasn't enough, her daycare provider has a bag full of princess gear for 'dress-up.' And then there are strangers who think it perfectly normal to playfully let A know that she is "pretty as a princess."

So, for parents like us, where do we draw a line and, most importantly, how?

To being happy and appreciative!

Keeping up the tradition from last year and the year before, started 2012 with no resolutions.
So, looking forward to a pressure and guilt free year :)

All I hope is that I focus on all that is well in my life, find some time to write and appreciate all things beautiful. For now that seems enough.

Talking about all things beautiful, here are a few goodies I recently stumbled upon and they made me happy.


1) What better way to teach kids gardening than in this fabulous play house. Check it out here.

2) Stumbled upon this sweet world of Loxly Hollow on Etsy and boy, am I drooling!

This one just seems perfect for A's bath time fun!

3) Serious love for this beauty! Would love to own this unique piece of art.
Saw this on Annie Howden's blog
Oh Honestly! .
It has my mind racing and am filled with a number of ideas that I could pull off. It seems so doable and lovely that I might just give it a shot some day soon.



4) Another thing of joy for me in the past couple of days has been this random image that G sent. I have looked at it a hundred times at least and every time it makes me smile. It reminds me so much of little A.
Enjoy!

Anything you have seen or read that made you happy and smile?