My post for the Doll Diaries ME giveaway!

Hey everyone!

 As many of you know, Maryellen came out today. She's a 1950s gal from Daytona Beach. Doll Diaries is giving away a brand new Maryellen doll, sent to them by American Girl themselves.

To up my entries, I'm sharing with everyone about the giveaway. Now, what makes her so special to me? I've got a few reasons.

 1) I didn't realize until yesterday that she is from Daytona Beach. I spent the first 20 years of my life living in a city right outside of there, called Port Orange. But, we did quite a bit of our shopping and dining in Daytona Beach, and let's not forget the BEACH itself! I remember seeing downtown Daytona when it was fading, having been replaced by the mall and strip malls. But I do remember walking around it with my family. So her story is now one I plan to read, if only to see if they got things right.

 2) LOVE LOVE LOVE the 1950s styles! Being a curvy girl, there are days when (if I'm not at work grooming dogs) I would love to get away with some of her clothes. Hello ModCloth, SammyDress, DressLily, etc. I am in love with the dresses and petal pushers (capris). If I was given a wardrobe makeover (that I didn't have to pay for, of course) I'd head for the 50s/early 60s set of clothing that has made a comeback.



 3) It may be a minor detail... But she has a Dachshund. And my Dini boy is a long-haired wiener dog. (Short for Houdini... Take a guess how he got his name.) So... I started out not wanting another classic mood historical doll... But her era, place of story, and dog have made this cutie grow on me.

We shall see what happens! Wish me luck!

Maryellen American Girl Doll Giveaway at Doll Diaries!

4th of July weekend/Prepping for vacation

Wow, long time since I updated... lots of things!  Probably going to be 2 or 3 posts!

Let's see, I worked 6 days straight leading up to my 9 day vacation.  My buddy Z was going to be leaving us for a different job the week I was on vacation, so a small group of us went out for Sushi and Fro-yo Wednesday, the 1st!

Top: M, me, Z, and C.

Very long week, one of my good friends, A, who I work with, was on vacation the week before I went.  It made my week a very long week, since i didn't see her for a total of 17 days.  We text daily, but it's not the same thing.  She and I (and about 2 other people) all keep each other from going nuts where we work, and her absence (and mine the week after, per her) was felt.

Onto Friday the 3rd... worked til 6pm, got up here to grab the kids and TechGuy, and we were off to his parents' house to meet up with my Babydukes, her bf, cousin, and cousin's bf for fun and Fireworks!!  It was great!  I got Dukes time, TechGuy time, and fireworks!  (Nope, not obsessed, lol)

TechGuy was on call 4th of July weekend, and with the rain (on and off all day), and the need to pack for vacation, as well as maintenance work and front dash rebuilding on the RV, we didn't get to go to Uncle J's or Fireworks that night.

He took the whole thing above apart, as it was in some kind of plastic, and spent the week rebuilding this.  It's plexiglas, with a vinyl covering.   And the Sirius station is set to my favorite, 80s on 8!

I was disappointed, but was glad I at least got to go see the Fireworks the night before.  I spent the day packing, posing my dolls for 4th of July photoshoots, and straightening up our house before our sojourn.

10 of my girls... (think I probably have 17 or so)

L: Delia June,               R: Savannah and Dahlia

L: Kendalyn and Verena                     R: Michiko and Jaelin

We did do a Independence day cookout in between the rain and working on the RV, with hamburgers, turkey burgers (me!) hot dogs, corn on the cob, and (for myself and one of the roommates who lives in our barn apartment) Hypnotic over ice (kids, that would be alcohol, so if you're under 21, that's a no-go).  TechGuy laughed when he saw the gallon sized ziplock full of doll clothes for Kendalyn and Michiko, but like the supportive, good-at-humoring guy he is, just took it all in stride and packed some of his train models to build.

Sunday was a bit more difficult that I'd figured.  I did last minute shopping, got back, and TechGuy was busy working on the pestilence issue we've had for a while. We didn't get to head to the Outer Banks until around 4:30, as we had to wait for TechGuy's boss to call it a day for weekend overtime maintenance issues, and take his work van back to the business location.

Other than getting carsick from the rocking of the RV on the back roads, it was a good ride down.  The first event of the vacation that I can't believe happened fell around 10pm Sunday on our drive down.  I'd been asleep til around 9:45 or so, from the benadryl I'd taken to get rid of the nausea.  Woke up hungry, (and if anyone knows me, there is a window between whenever I wake up and food that has to be met, or I become really crabby.  It's really bad, low blood sugar or something, I don't know.) and nothing but fast food chains were around the highway.  And all of them closed their inside dining around 9 or 10pm, and by now, it was 10:15.  We had to, between rainstorms, take my little car off the car dolly we were hauling behind the huge, bus RV.

TechGuy's parents' RV we got to borrow for a bit for our jaunt.

We drove thru the drive-thru (since apparently you can't walk through, I wanted to, lol), got our food, and TechGuy got my car back on the Dolly just before the next storm hit.  We didn't get into Midgett Campground (in Rodanthe, NC) until after midnight, but it was a pretty drive down with the lightning and the moon after the storm being so bright.

That's it for now, will post about the vacation in the next post so that this one isn't monstrously long!  Thanks for reading, guys!

Just a quick update...

Hey everyone!  It's Saturday, and my last day off before July 4th, my ALL TIME FAVORITE HOLIDAY!!! Why, you ask?  Well, besides the fact that it's the day America became America, here are my 4 reasons.

1) It's in the Summer, and being a FL girl, I adore summer.  I deal with winter here in PA, but I live for the warm weather months, especially since we got our pool!!

2) It usually involves cookout food! Again, summer girl here!

3)It's not one of the holidays I go broke on buying presents... I have a tendency to go broke for birthdays, other holidays, and of course Christmas.

4) Last, but CERTAINLY not least, as it's my favorite reason: FIREWORKS!!! I am addicted to fireworks displays!!!

Anyways... now that I've bombed the blog with my July 4th obsession.... I'm going to try to get a doll pic of all the gals in their holiday finery, lol.

Hopefully, will do the updating I was hoping to do (with doll outfit review!) in the next post or so.  Until then, hope you have a wonderful weekend!

Random Wednesday thoughts!

Guess what I did Saturday!  I learned to use a table saw, band saw, and am on my way to crafting doll furniture.  A (hopefully plushy) chair and loveseat for my non-existant doll house!  (That, should I find I enjoy this as much as I am now, may be on my building agenda!!)

I had a blast playing with the tools, and while it wasn't easy figuring out measurements... it's going to be exciting to have real furniture.  I dressed Alanna in "lounging clothes" that I didn't mind a bit of sawdust on, and brought her out with me, as TechGuy said I was going to need a doll for measurements.  I had fun posing her, though I didn't dare get her too close to the saws... I suppose I could when they're off.

I'm going to do a review of the adorable outfits I got from Dora on facebook.  I thought they were dresses, and was pleasantly surprised to find shirts and skirts.  Double swaping power!  Post coming next!

Other than that... nothing new right now.  I am a bit addicted to ebay shopping right now, need to break that.  But they have some awesome doll clothes for pretty cheap.  I got a "lot" of clothing that included shorts and Jess's halter top, as well as pjs, which will be perfect for vacation!  2 weeks from now, I will be in the Outer Banks with my guy, his parents' huge RV, and two dolls, exploring the sites and relaxing, which is much needed.  The dolls going with me are going to have a small collection of clothes by the time we go... and my bank account will have a bit of a deficit... especially when we drive back up.  TechGuy has said that we can go to the DC AG store! Yep, I'm going to be a kid in a candy shoppe!

My friend at work, Z, was telling me about the Baltimore Sci Fi Society... and that he just submitted a 4K word story for a contest they had... I am thinking that, while the contest is over,  I may find out more about them, they sounded right up my alley!  It was just Z and I last night, and we both love Sci-Fi and Fantasy stuff, and while he doesn't understand my doll likes, he understands giving them voices and learning to write with each voice.  It's a good exercise.  We talked about Dragon Riders of Pern (I used to participate in an online fan world, about 10-12 years ago), the book we're reading now, Hounded by Kevin Hearne, and the short story Z wrote for the contest.  I really enjoy working with him, we have a lot in common, and he's not afraid to open up and be nerdy with me.  I'm going to be losing him in a few weeks, as he got a new job at a vet as a vet tech... so sad.

I just cleaned up my sewing area in an attempt to find my magic erasers... I tried to paint eyelashes on my Alanna... I don't know that I'm too fond of them.  I want to redo them... but I can't find my erasers.  I think I may try the curled lashes tutorial on AGBAA for her too... maybe I'd like the lashes then.  We'll see.

Jaelin finally got her sister!  Meet Michiko (Mika). I will have her profile up when we get on vacation, and I have some downtime... I think today is my last "day" of downtime between now and the 4th, as every other day is going to be running until the trip.

And last but not least, one of my two green cheek conures, Yvaine, posing Monday night.

There's my random Wednesday post... check back in later on for more updates and my review!  Off to shower and head over to N's house for girls' night, homemade sushi, and her introduction to Pitch Perfect!!

P.S.  This is the newest crochet pattern on the horizon... after my non-doll projects are done and delivered.

Last week... WARNING, scary doll head at bottom of post... sorry

So, I didn't do so well on any updates beyond my doll stuff... which I suppose is what this blog is about too.

I got my MAG #55 in the mail last night!  So excited!  She is exactly what I wanted.  I've decided she is a southern belle, most likely from Georgia, (like Dahlia and Savannah are... hey, I'm from the south, it's to be expected) and she's probably going to turn into my girliest doll, I can see it now.  She reminds me of an old soul misplaced in time.  I can see her being into rich dark reds though too.

Here she is!

 

And then some not so wonderful news... I removed Josefina's eyes and repainted them (which was definitely not easy...). Went to put them back in last night... had a horrific time that ended with my frustrated, with one of the eyes scratched, both eyes sticking, and TechGuy trying to calm down my upset.  Poor guy.

WARNING!  Scary pictures below, I'm SORRY, but I wanted to share why it is that I shouldn't replace eyes.

The eyes I repainted, this is after my 3rd unsuccessful attempt last night.  The head right before I pulled them out to show the color and give up for the night.

But, several of the gals in my favorite FB group encouraged me a LOT last night, when I was really upset, and the one who I bought #61's eyes from, is sending me a "practice" pair, to work with until I understand how to put eyes in.  She says she can do it with arthritis in her hands, so I should be able to.  I need to watch some of the videos and see if I can learn from there.  I have a pair of Grace's eyes that need a head, but I'm chicken right now.  I wish I hadn't messed up the purple eyes, I loved how they came out, and Josefina would have looked wonderful with them. I have been told I can buff out the scratches I created, we will see.  I hope so.

World Doll Day! - Edited

So, BeastsBelle tagged me in a World Doll Day post... and I'm going to do it, since it looks easy and fun! She says the original post is from The Multicrafteral Lab.

Those tagged are to:

1. List 3 favorite dolls from the ones you got last year.
2. List 3 dolls currently on your wishlist.
3. Tag 5 people to do the same thing! (Anyone with a home on the web, not just bloggers, can be tagged!)


1. List 3 favorite dolls from the ones you got last year.

Considering that I just started collecting dolls again this year... I have a few to choose from, I think! It was really hard to actually pick just 3, as I've gotten all of these dolls for some love or another of them!

1) Alanna (Marisol GOTY 2005) - I saw her picture in a pirate outfit on the Beds-n-Blankies website and fell in love!  She was exactly what I wanted, and I loved the Josefina face mold. I searched Ebay for a while until I found her at a decent price.  When I started working on her, I discovered that her wefts were coming undone, which is a defect.  Took her to the AG hospital end of March, didn't get her back til the first week of May... and still think she is one of my prettiest dolls.

My shy girl, Iris, peeking around her older sister Alanna

2) Marie Grace - I have seen her many times in the FB groups, and loved her.  She is simply the sweetest face I have seen, even with my Josefina mold addiction, and her eyes and hair are lovely.  She came home to me in the middle of May.  She doesn't have a name yet (as I never keep the canon names) but she will soon! (sorry she's nekkid... I was snapping off pics quickly yesterday before work!)

3) MAG #55 - I did the post on her last week, my acquisition from the JSD!  She came in last night, and I love her!  The pics don't do her gorgeous eyes justice!  She is absolutely beautiful!

2. List 3 dolls currently on your wishlist.

1) Another Marie Grace - I would love to customize her as Kenzi from Lost Girl, one of my favorite shows ever.  Kenzi has such a unique style.

Left: Kenzi (Ksenia Solo), Right: Bo (Anna Silk) and Kenzi

2) MAG #61 - I adore her eye color, and her hair is a gorgeous shade.  I missed out on her during the JSD, as I didn't have the money, and TechGuy didn't tell me he'd give me the money for her until a few minutes before the sale was over, and I missed her.  But I'm watching the links on the boards for her, and I got another doll (#59) to try and sell to have money for her.  She will come home to me at some point. Or I will build her myself... I just bought her eyes last night! So maybe the #59 will sell and I'll have money for the MG I want!

Wish me luck with eye-swaps, I need it, if I'm ever going to create this girl!

3) MAG #62 - I love the Sonali mold!  I am pretty sure, now that I have #40 (though I LOVE 64) that she will have to come home with me too. (She will most likely be getting lavendar or green eyes though... I think she would really pop with those... which I guess means that I may get a bald doll, since you can customize the eye color when you order. I know you can't get a doll with lavendar eyes... but if I ever get good enough at painting them... my first set weren't bad, but I destroyed them last night... more on that later)

Wouldn't she be pretty with either green or lavendar eyes?  I can totally see it!  Okay, maybe blue violet.

(I know there's no room for a number 4, but I'd also like to get some of the Gotz Little Sisters dolls, Katie, Lily, and Tess are so adorable!)


3. Tag 5 people to do the same thing! (Anyone with a home on the web, not just bloggers, can be tagged!)

1) Liz

2) Charlie

3) Jaclyn

4) Karen

5) Rhonda F

No one has to do this... I don't even know how many people follow me at this point, other than BeastsBelle. But if you want to, have fun!

Jill's Steals and Deals.

OMG, I was so bad, lol.  Okay, well... not really Baaaaddd....

They had a JSD today... and I happened to see it when TechGuy left for work... and now I am the proud owner of a #55!  Thanks to BeastsBelle and Jaclyn, I am in love with 55... not that I need another dark haired doll... thinking I may be changing the hair color on the #40 I got on EBay... we'll see.  I just love the dark hair, and this is my first hazel eyed doll! And it was a $173 for $78 before shipping.  Sale runs til tomorrow or they are sold out.  Not much by way of accessories, like I think I saw last time... but that was a good thing for me.

I am sure now that I will not be getting anything else all summer... until I find a killer deal under $50 including shipping... or start sewing and selling doll clothes... but it was worth it!

What did you get today at the JSD, or what did you see that you liked?  The code, should anyone want to go visit themselves, is JUNTODAY

I plan to sell the PJ set, as I am NOT a pink fan, and I may sell the meet outfit. Not sure yet.  Didn't take the pic myself, but here is what they were selling (sorry it's so small)

Okay, definitely need to add blogging to my calendar...

Woooooowww....

It's been about 2-3 weeks since I was on here!  So sorry!  Life got busy!

I have a few crafts/projects I'm working on right now, in between laundry and cleaning today. Saturday is my only day off on the weekend.  I have one day off midweek, but this week it was devoted to catching up on sleep, reading and relaxing some, getting my monthly set of nails done, and doing trivia with a friend at a restaurant/alehouse, as she moves over an hour away at the end of July.

First, I'm trying to repaint eyes for my Josefina (who will inevitably get a new name when I am done...), which is a first, and it's been a learning experience.  I think she is either getting light green or purple eyes... just depends on if I can get all the color out of the old set.  If I can't, they will definitely be green/hazel.  I just felt like she was monochromatic, you know?

BTW, the eyes were fine before I used acetone to remove the color... I just have to repaint the whites.  And this doll's hair was fixed and straightened a week or two ago.... it was a need-to-trim as it was desperately uneven wig...

 And I need to figure out how to fade a spot on a second Elizabeth that I got a bit ago, it's on her chin.  She also may need a new wig, as I think she is going to turn into Linnea's twin.

(A bit on Linnea - she is my mini-me.  I saw her, and had to have her back in March.  She is DEFINITELY not the Elizabeth I grew up with - that one with Felicity had brown hair, at least in all the books.  So, Techguy said it looked like I finally got one who looked like me, and it stuck.  Linnea is my grams' mom's name - long story about why she isn't my great grandma, lol. And I had always thought it might be a neat name if I ever had kids... But now my dolls will just get the names I wanted for them. [I have always considered myself a bit too selfish for kids anyways...] Linnea became little me, and has a lot of my quirks.  I still haven't decided if I like her wig or if she's getting a new one, or she would be up on my doll page.  And I always wished I'd had a twin... so she is getting a twin!)

Second, I am trying to figure out how to sew, lol.  I can do basic hems and such, but I've never successfully made doll clothes sewing.  And I seem to have lost my knack that I had for looking at a picture and crocheting a replica of it for my girls, that I had when I was a teenager.  I have downloaded several PixieFaire patterns... and they always come out too small.  May be that my seams are too wide, or that my dolls are mostly PC, and they may be made for American Girl smaller bodies.  But I am determined to figure it out.

My sewing half of the room.

{From L to R: Linnea in black and red, Vivienne lying down, my two new dolls I will detail next, a wigless Julie, my messed up eye Felicity, and Josefina's headless body.}

Okay, onto my latest (and last for a while) acquisitions: I got a Marie Grace from a woman in one of the AG groups on Facebook for a really decent prince!  She isn't getting customized just yet... because I love her the way she is for now.  She needs to be restrung (her legs more than her arms... but I find that for most of the dolls I get).  But I LOVE her sweet face and her gorgeous eyes!  I can't wait to figure her out and introduce her to everyone!  Also, got a good deal on EBay for a JLY 40! I got a Jess mold!!!!!  (Nope, not excited in the least!)  I've wanted one for a while, as Jaelin was getting lonely being the only part Asian girl. (TechGuy decided she looked Asian, even though she is a JLY 25... she'd had a bit of a haircut before I got her, and he told me she just looked Asian to him.  So if I ever write out her background... or if she ever decides on telling her story... which she probably will at some point, you'll find out!) And now, her "cousin" or "sister" (not sure yet... some kids with different nationality parents don't always look alike, I know) has joined us, once I have restrung her as well.

Marie Grace.  The JLY #40, and Jaelin from an earlier shoot a month ago.

 See,40 and Jaelin do look alike... will have to take pics of them together when I figure out if she's keeping that hair or getting a new color or length wig!

My eventual goal is to have a dollhouse or a set of doll rooms so my dolls don't have to be on a shelf (on my craft table is fine if they are a WIP doll).  Also, at this point, this is the only space I have for them, so I can't get furniture, or anything that doesn't fit there.  Their clothes are in a huge rubbermaid bin that isn't full yet, and I also, in a dream world, want to be able to display my decent sized Stitch collection (from Lilo and Stitch), as I LOVE Stitch!!  I'm hoping to be able to display it on top.  Right now, our room is small, and we have to get our oldest boy into a different bedroom (that is being built) so that we can have his room (bigger than ours) and use the room we are in as a construction room for what will eventually be the Attic Master Suite.  That's where I'd like my dollhouse eventually.  We'll see.

The shelf above my crafting area... poor girls.  Also, I'm horrible about changing their clothes, I don't have many summer outfits...

{L to R: A doll my BFF's mom gave me from her childhood - over 50 years old.  Alanna (Marisol), Iris (Not sure if she's getting a new wig - AG #2, Vera (GOTY Lindsey), Dahlia (Julie), Jaelin (JLY #25), Kendalyn (Rewigged GOTY Grace), Kaya, and Molly.}

Other than that... I don't have anything to review for you, but I will try to take pics of the projects as I go.  We will see if I remember to, as I get a little scatterbrained at times.  Not too long a post today (If I could figure out how to post from my phone, might post a bit more often), but Jaelin is looking over my shoulder, begging to get to post too, as well as telling me that I need to change doll clothes, go try to sew, and take some more pics of her and her friends today!  She is anxiously waiting to find out about her new family member too... so I will leave you to it for now...

Saturday happenings

Wow.... so apparently I will only be blogging on days off, it appears. I drive 45 minutes one way to work, and between that and things that need to be done around the house, I don't seem to find time to blog more than once a week right now (twice if you count Jaelin's blog, as she just reminded me). So I'm sorry, but bear with me, lol.

I had a blast last Friday! One of the groups I am a part of on Facebook, American Girl before and after, did an Oscars Friday!! I couldn't participate, partly because I don't have or haven't made any fancy dresses, and partly because I was working all day (10:30-8pm). But I had so much fun reading the "Drama at the Oscars" and seeing all the beautiful designs. These people are all so nice, and they inspire me to learn more about sewing. I need to go do some of that today.

Also, AGBAA has some amazing tutorials. I just restrung my old GT2 (her body was so big that she didn't fit any of the clothes I have, she was big even when I'd gotten her. I told TechGuy she was getting a tummy tuck... he just shook his head at me) based off their tutorial... and I have to say, it was so much easier than I anticipated! I am hoping to get up the nerve to repaint some eyes (perhaps one of the dolls I have listed below...) because, while I don't mind doing eyeswaps, I tried to remove an eye disk from a tlc Kit... and destroyed the eye instead. The only driving motivator for me is that I watch to make some galaxy eyes like one of the women on the AGBAA group did. So we may try again next week.

Another big event this week: I sold my pre-mattel Kit, to get 2 dolls! Someone was looking for a Pre-Mattel PC Kit with full meet attire, and the only thing I didn't have was her compass necklace. I feel like it went well, as I was not only able to make a little girl happy, but I was able to buy Josefina and another Elizabeth off Ebay, and only had to spend about $15-20 of my own money! (The only thing I'm not sure about is Josefina's wig... it looks an awful lot like Kaya's with the short hair in the back for braid separation... but for $50 including shipping... I think I can either live with that or get a new wig.) Linnea is getting a twin sister, who will be revealed hopefully around the same time as Josefina. Just saving up the tip money for her wig!

Something is clearly up with this Elizabeth's eye.  Going to have to see if I can fix it.

I am both loving and hating where they took Once Upon a Time! SPOILERS!! I loved the author, Isaac, trying to break the rules, since we got to see everyone in reverse, the heroes as villians, and the villians as heroes. I love that once again, "True Love" wasn't just between a man and a woman romantically. Once is really good about emphasis on family. However, I definitely wasn't expecting the lead-in to Season 5!

(TechGuy has ruined me for good.  Used to be that when a mushy moment came on in a movie, something ridiculously romantic, I'd make fun of it.  Now, during Once, Emma needed to find the nerve to say she loved Hook, and couldn't do it... and I was mad at her for not being able to.  He has ruined me, I tell you!)

I was going to review some of Agents of Shield, but Jaelin is telling me that I need to let her interview Alanna after she gets back from the doll hospital this week, and has a chance to catch up on the Season. Alanna is our resident Action Movie and Comic Book Buff.  She loves anything having to do with either of those, and she dreams of being a stunt double... but more on that once I get her profile up!  Alanna (Marisol) and Linnea (Elizabeth #1) were taken by me and the dachshund to the AGP DC store the end of March... but due to the backup, we just got a call on them Thursday night. I had them replace Alanna's head (her unattached weft piece was definitely getting caught in my brush), but decided that I would just rather get Linnea a new wig with her twin, so that they match... kinda. More on the two of them when I get everyone settled this week.

I also have a veggie garden to try to get planted today, in addition to sewing and laundry, so I think I will leave this as is for now, and will try to write another post (or edit one of Jaelin's) soon. Have a great Saturday!

P.S. I was trying to come up with some cute names for my Lindsey, who has informed me that, while that may have been the name she was created under, she wants a name that would have been popular from the 1920s. I think we have it, though she is sitting her laughing at me, telling me that just because I am obsessed with Firefly, that wasn't her reason for going with the name we did. I disagree. Oh well... onto more doll profiles for you guys, hope to get them up today!  Maybe even some more pics too! Here's a pic of her and Iris to hold you guys over..,

Long Weekend in Massachusetts

Gosh, it's been a busy 10 or so days! Sorry it took me so long to write another post, but it's sure to be a long one so that I can chronicle it all.  I am going to write about my trip to see my friends here, and I will do another post about the various parts of my week later on today.

Friday, TechGuy (my guy) and I drove most of the day, first to get a jacket he'd left 1.5 hours from home at a client's business (he repairs coffee machines for a living), then spent the next 8 hours (thanks to traffic) driving to Massachusetts to see one of my oldest friends, S.  We brought my long haired Dachshund, Houdini (or just Dini for short... though he has about 6-8 other nicknames he will answer to). He goes everywhere I can take him.  We had a moment when, since I had buckled the dolls I brought with me in so they didn't go flying all over the car, that Dini crawled over top of them to see out the window.  They were behind me, so I had to ask TechGuy if he was stepping on the dolls. His response to me: "He's... in their laps.  He's an equal opportunity 'lappist'."

S's mom confirmed this weekend that she was 8 and I was 10.5 years old when we met. S has 3 kids now, a set of 5 year old twins (who I adore) and a 7 month old little girl (who was sick and who loved TechGuy, but didn't like me until she felt better... I'm not usually baby friendly, I think).

S is a hair stylist, and lives above her salon, so while we were there, she cut TechGuy's hair, and trimmed and added blue and purple streaks in mine, which I will have to get a picture of.

I brought 3 of my dolls with me for the girls to play with (under supervision), (left to right in above pic): Dahlia (Julie), Siobhan (Felicity), and Jaelin (MAG #25). I don't usually share my dolls, since A) they're collectors, and B) they're expensive, even if I got 2 of those listed off E-bay. But S's daughters were, for 5 year olds, careful.  Somehow, Siobhan's left eyelash went missing... but other than that, I think everyone had fun, and the girls were pretty good with the dolls, other than that one mishap, which they both apologized for profusely.  I do know that once I get their rooms set up, I may not be allowing any of them to be played with anymore, as I'm just too nervous about anyone else getting messed up. I will have to introduce you guys to my dolls in another post (as well as just add a link to a doll page... if I can ever figure out how to use this blogging site to its full extent).

Anyways, we were there until Monday afternoon, and it was a nice but full weekend. Friday we didn't get in until around 9:30 or so at night, so I didn't get to see the twins until the next day, though the Baby was up with S and her husband A. Dini was nervous about being in their house because it's an old house with steep steps, and his little legs just don't do well on those.

Saturday morning, we got up, had breakfast, and S did my hair while having girl time. Her mom took the twins out, and I was excited to see her, as I hadn't seen any of them in 3 years, and her mom was a second mom to me until they moved when I was a teenager. We went into Boston (an hour drive), to a restaurant called FiRE + iCE. It was so neat! It's a Mongolian Grill (where you pick your food and sauces from raw bars, then take it to a chef in the center of the room. They cook it on a huge circular cast iron grill - usually big enough to do 20 or more meals at once) and I have decided that I will definitely have to visit one again. I had been to one before, in DC, but it had been easily 5 years since.

(BTW, I have their mom's permission to share pics of them, I would NEVER share pics of anyone without their consent!)

Twin B, me, and Twin A

Me and TechGuy

Twin A with Lemon on left, Twin B with TechGuy on Right

Sunday, Techguy and I ran out to do a bit of essentials shopping while S was at a baby shower. We all had lunch with her parents, and went to see Avengers: Age of Ultron. Great movie, btw, if you don't follow the comics. Good if you do, and don't mind a bit of crossover that we don't usually see with the X-Men right now, as Quiksilver and Scarlet Witch are from X-Men originally... sorry, I can honestly say I didn't know that until I talked to a co-worker who knows SOOOOO much more about comics than I do (though Alanna and My Grace doll - who is getting a rewig and a new name, since I don't like her bangs - will probably school me, as they both LOVE Marvel - and Alanna is a researcher when she likes something. She had to have her own laptop since she loves research so much, lol).

Avengers was something that we all walked out of with this great feeling! I love action movies, and I love how the end of every movie has a little glimpse of a coming movie in a small scene. This one included, I believe, Thanos. Techguy and I love all the characters (I'm a sucker for Captain America/Steve Rogers... he's a hunk and a gentleman... and Techguy loves Tony Stark), but I must say, the changeup to the Avengers at the end of the movie wasn't exactly what I was expecting. If you want to go see it, be aware that it is PG-13 because of violence, not nudity. Get a parent's permission if you are under 13.

Sunday night, we introduced A and S to Firefly, one of my alltime favorite shows! It only had one season, but the fans loved it so much that a movie was made to tie up some of the loose ends. S was hooked, I'm not sure about A, but then, he's not into Scifi so much, though no one (save one character) are remotely "different" like some other space shows. It's a "Space Cowboys" show, according to TechGuy, and I've always described it to people as "Star Trek meets Wild West, only not as high tech".

Monday, I made french toast for everyone, using my dad's recipe, and we all took a trip to the American Girl Doll Store in Natick, MA. The DC store let me wander through with my Dachshund on my back, in his backpack. This store didn't let us, so TechGuy ended up taking my backpacked pup with him to the Lego Store and then to wander outside the mall while S, A, the girls, and I all explored the store. It was their first time, and my second, and we had a blast. I saw several dolls I would like at a later date (as I knew I only had money to buy one), but i found a cute outfit I loved that is now Dahlia's signature outfit in her Meet Dahlia photo that will be on my doll page. S and A went outside to feed the baby and watch Dini for a few minutes while TechGuy came in and wandered around with me before he picked, from the 4 dolls I wanted, Grace. I'd had my eye on Dahlia's outfit, but after deciding I was going to definitely get a doll, I sent to put it back, and TechGuy told me he would take care of it, and to go pick my doll. He ended up buying it for me. He is so sweet to me, always has been, since day 1.

American Girl Candy Counter in the Bistro

Seats for your dolls to sit with you in the Bistro

Twin A and Twin B in front of MAG #60 and MAG #30, the two they looked the most like, with their "slanted eyes" (as their dad A called it) and blue eyes. Need to find a way to A) afford two Jess molds and B) add blue eyes when they are old enough to be gentle with the dolls.  Future Project  

Twin B and Twin A at Grace's Display

I have to start by saying that , when I went to the DC store, I wasn't impressed with Grace. I love the Josefina mold (I think, counting Grace now, I have 5 now, as I just rescued a Josefina herself off Ebay last night), but something just seemed off with her, when I looked at all the dolls on display. So, I still thought I might want her... but I wasn't as sure as I was with most of the other dolls I have seen and fallen for. We walk into the Natick store, I have just got done saying that I wasn't impressed with her... and I saw her in the entrance, in, of all things, a pink dress (I usually dislike pink greatly... growing up in a Pepto Bismo Pink room will do that to you). She was sooooo cute! But other than her, only one other Grace in the store caught my eye. I've read online that not all the dolls have the exact make-up, or that sometimes, you have to go through all the dolls before you find "your" doll. I went through, no joke, 23, and kept going back to one of them. And this store had the tunic outfit in stock, the one that is only $14 with a purchase of $100 or more. Needless to say, I got it! I LOVE Grace in it, this is probably going to be her Meet outfit, at least until she gets a new wig, and then I see what I think of it. I know some people didn't like the outfit together, but I will say I love it. I think it's adorable.

Grace in her redressed glory... a new wig and name are still in the works...

So, the drive home involved spending time with the Dini dog, redressing Grace, researching new wig styles for her, and a stop at TechGuy's favorite restaurant, TGI Fridays. We got home around midnight, crashed into bed, and started our work weeks.


That's all for now, will update the rest of the week, which included viewing Once Upon a Time and Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., two of my favorite shows.