Giveaway on dolldiaries.com!!

Hey everyone-

There's a super great giveaway going on at dolldiaries.com! To go to the entry page, go to:
http://dolldiaries.com/giveaway-avas-doll-room-bedding-set-for-dolls/comment-page-3/#comment-115030
You can win a 4 piece bedding set (blanket, 2 accent pillows and one sleeping pillow) that is valued at $25 USD for free! There will be ONE winner chosen at random.

The basic guidelines are to go to the giveaway page and post which bedding set is your favorite of the ones being sold by this girl on Etsy.com (The link to her Etsy page is on the entry page). You then post a comment on the entry page... that's all! Super simple and SOOOO worth the two minutes it takes to enter!

Here are some rules, and info about EXTRA ENTRIES (more chances to win!):

ADDITIONAL ENTRIES:
-Post it on your blog (hence, this post!)
-Post it in a forum
-Tweet about the contest
-Share link to contest entry page with your friends on Facebook
-Like them on Facebook
-Follow their's and the "sponsor"'s boards on Pinterest
-Follow their Instagram
**(more info on this and links to pages on the entry page)

RULES:
-Deadline is OCTOBER 2, 2012 (midnight)
-Must be 13 or older or have parent/adult permission

That's all for now and good luck to you! Wish me luck too!

Super Quick and Unattractive Post...

Hi everyone,

I've been so so so busy during the past month, and I am soooooo behind on posting, and I feel awful! Can I just cover some of the things I want to right now in one very un-detailed post to get it off my chest? Thanks! Here it goes:

1. End-of-Summer Post: Okay, so you're totally updated on everything JLY, but I completely left you hanging with the GOTY and Historical Character posts! I'm sure you are fully caught up there, so I'm not gonna go into detail over this, but sorry for not going over it sooner guys!

2. CAROLINE ABBOTT: Oh my goodness, I cannot believe I have not dedicated a post to this new historical doll yet! Besides the fact that she is beyond gorgeous, AG came out with a new eye color for her!! Can we start seeing this color on new JLY dolls in the future, AG? Her time period is very unlike any other Historical dolls, so they opened up a whole new area of discovery, and more importantly- products! Her collection is unique and I cannot wait to see what AG can further come up with for this wonderful girl!*

3. Organized my AG Stuff: Okay, so it's finally done! It took a while; prep, cleaning, getting permission from my parents on what cabinets I could "take over". It was worth the effort though, because it is totally finished for now and I cannot wait to tell you guys (with pics) all about this project in detail! I'll include things like:
- Organization: What went where
- Setting up
- Storage options
- Tips and tricks on how you can do this yourself!
I am beyond excited that all of my AG stuff is finally in place, and I can enjoy my dolls even more now without worrying about clutter and losing objects!*

4. New hairstyle: It's not really new, actually, but more improved. The classic "fishtail braid" is hard to do on AG dolls because their hair is not very long, so I have figured out a great way to create a fishtail braid that is fast, easy, and lasts all day! I'll for SURE be posting about this soon!*

(*I may or may not do a more detailed post on this topic... you'll have to wait and see!)

That's pretty much all for now everyone, but I hope you like what you hear in terms of what's in store for this site! Thanks for not abandoning me, even when it seemed I abandoned you! I look forward to keep posting on this blog for all of you! Love you all!

(P.S. My new posting goal is an "update post" about once a month, which will be something like a new JLY or product, one new hairstyle or very small project from me, or a seasonal release that includes a few new outfits. I also plan to include a "major post" every two or three months, but this will be adjusted as needed. This would include something like new GOTY or Historical Character release, a significant change to anything about AG, or any major projects and activities on my part. I HOPE I CAN POST USING THESE GUIDELINES FOR HOW OFTEN I BLOG! BE SURE TO CHECK BACK ABOUT ONCE A MONTH TO GET THE LATEST ON WHAT'S BEEN GOING ON WITH AMERICAN GIRL!)

I'm Back to Blogging!

HI! Sorry it's been soooooo long since I've blogged!!!! I was away ALL summer! Anyways, there's a BUNCH that's happened over the summer for AG, starting with their new cover page!

This is the new page you'll see when you log into www.americangirl.com!
(http://www.americangirl.com/index.php)

In the JLY world, they've also created new take-home outfits for the dolls.... not to mention their new doll, #35!! She is unlike any doll I've seen through JLY before, and I think it's awesome that AG is really going out of their way to include a doll for every girl! I really think she's gorgeous and unique, and her hair is spectacular!

The new take-home outfit is also really updated and "hip". AG has definitely taken a clue from today's pre-teens and teens, and their new outfit really screams "I am a modern american girl!" I would totally wear it! The accessories are also SUPER cute!

JLY #35
(http://store.americangirl.com/agshop/html/set/id/1676/uid/517)

True Spirit Accessories
(http://store.americangirl.com/agshop/html/item/id/211793/ctc/SI)

AG also came out with a TON of new outfits! Here are the newest ones (sorry if I miss any!):

Butterfly Twist Outfit: This set includes a dress, headband, and boots. It's really cute, and I love the twists in the skirt and chest! Also love the ribbon on the boots/ color of boots!

(http://store.americangirl.com/agshop/html/item/id/211770/uid/205)

 Feeling Great Outfit: This set includes a top, pants, sneakers, and headband. It's fairly simple; I'm a big fan of the pants, but the outfit as a whole just doesn't have the "wow" factor that a lot of AG outfits has!

(http://store.americangirl.com/agshop/html/item/id/209115/uid/205)

 Butterfly Garden PJ's: This set includes a top, pajama pants, and slippers. The 3-D slippers are very cool, and the mosaic-like print pants and butterfly graphic are gorgeous! This is one of my favorite pajama sets!

(http://store.americangirl.com/agshop/html/item/id/209118/uid/205)

 Garden Robe and Pillow: This set includes a robe and pillow. The robe looks very soft and high quality, and the bow is such a nice touch. The pillow matches perfectly, and I like that it's actually in the shape of a butterfly, and not just a butterfly image printed on a round/square pillow!

(http://store.americangirl.com/agshop/html/item/id/209119/uid/205)

 Roller Skating Set: This set includes a hoodie, skirt, leg warmers, and roller skates. The hoodie is very "in" right now, and for sure something I would wear. The skirt's pattern is so fun, as are the leg warmers- they are coming back into fashion! The roller skates are my absolute favorite part of this outfit, however: the multicolored wheels, blue stripes, and pink laces give the outfit so much color and character! One of my favorite summer pieces from AG.

(http://store.americangirl.com/agshop/html/item/id/209116/uid/205)

 Sweet Savannah Dress: This set includes a dress, headband, and ballet flats. This dress is so funky and fresh, and the headband compliments it 100%, making it just that much sweeter! I do have to admit I don't like the shoes. They are rather bland and dull, and they don't match the outfit very well in my opinion. I would have loved to see matching tulle/gem details like the one from the headband on a pair of faux leather light grey flats!

(http://store.americangirl.com/agshop/html/item/id/209111/uid/205)

 Spooky Fun Outfit: This set includes a tee, tutu skirt, thigh-high socks, flats, and orange hairbands. First off- the tutu skirt is my favorite individual piece AG came out with this entire summer! Even after halloween, It can be paired with different tops and tights for a unique outfit that really makes a statement! The ghosts on the shirt are so cutesy looking, which I find WAY better than putting scary looking ones on there! The thigh high socks are also soooooooooo adorable, although I'm suprised AG didn't just make them tights.The flats look like there made of rubber, and again they aren't my favorite shoes, but they do compliment the outfit at least! The hairbands also add a nice matching touch.

(http://store.americangirl.com/agshop/html/item/id/209117/uid/205)

(http://store.americangirl.com/agshop/html/item/id/209114/uid/205)

Volleyball Set:  This set includes a shirt, athletic shorts, sneakers, knee pads, a volleyball, and hair ties. Being a volleyball player myself, I was beyond excited when this came out! Let's just say this will be part of my collection VERY soon! The outfit is so authentic, and I love that it come with knee pads and lace up shoes, which you don't see a lot from AG!

Okay, so there are a few other things that AG came out with for JLY, so I'm just gonna put them here without a long description:

Treat Seat:

(http://store.americangirl.com/agshop/html/item/id/140828/uid/726)

Allergy Free Lunch:

(http://store.americangirl.com/agshop/html/item/id/209131/uid/266)

 Fashion Boots:

(http://store.americangirl.com/agshop/html/item/id/209129/uid/266)

 Licorice: I was thrilled they came out with Licorice again, but I think they designed her, and some of the charm and spark was lost. She's not as cute looking!

(http://store.americangirl.com/agshop/html/item/id/209126/uid/266)

 Meatloaf: I went absolutely crazy when I saw Meatloaf! He is so wrinkly and very accurate to what a real bulldog looks like. This is one of my favorite AG pets so far.

(http://store.americangirl.com/agshop/html/item/id/209122/uid/266)

 Striped Sneakers:

(http://store.americangirl.com/agshop/html/item/id/209128/uid/266)

 Starry Hairstyling Kit:

(http://store.americangirl.com/agshop/html/item/id/209134/uid/266)

 Service Dog Set: First off, I think that introducing a service dog for American Girl Dolls in incredible, because as I've said before, they've gone out of their way to include accessories that will make a girl's doll a bit more like them. Second of all, I raise service dogs, so I was jumping for joy when I saw this dog online. I was upset when they discontinued Chocolate Chip, but I'm ecstatic that they brought her back as a service dog! This is my favorite pet from AG of all time!

(http://store.americangirl.com/agshop/html/item/id/209127/uid/266)

There are also a few new Innerstar U books that just came out! Here they are:

Find Your Way:

(http://store.americangirl.com/agshop/html/item/id/210835/uid/426)

 I Heart Art:

(http://store.americangirl.com/agshop/html/item/id/210834/uid/426)

Math + Fashion = Fun:

(http://store.americangirl.com/agshop/html/item/id/210832/uid/426)

Greatest Mistakes:

(http://store.americangirl.com/agshop/html/item/id/210833/uid/426)

That's it for JLY stuff, but I'll be posting another page soon about new historical character stuff, including:

Caroline Abbott!!!

I'm really excited to be updating you guys, and I'll see you soon!

OH! One more thing! I FINISHED ORGANIZING MY AG STUFF!!! I'll post pics with detailed organization info soon!

Thanks guys! Bye!!!! <3 <3 <3

New McKenna Things and Quick Summer News...

Hello everyone! I know it's probablly a little late to announce, but I thought I would anyways...

THERE'S A NEW McKENNA GAME OUT! It's called McKenna's High Spin, and McKenna is on the bar! The goal of the game is to try and go as high as you can and collect points as fast as possible. It's a timed game, but you can earn more time by collecting the time symbols. It's a rather simple game, but I found myself really enjoying it! It's something you can play when you have a spare five minutes or so, or just for fun anytime!

http://www.americangirl.com/play/girl-of-the-year/mckenna/#page=home&popup=featuredgame

Since we're talking about McKenna, I thought i'd mention there's a trailer out for the new movie! Looks good! I'm not gonna be able to see it on T.V. opening night, but I'll rent it when I get home and for sure let everyone know what I think!

Last but not least, the Apple Store has released a new game featuring McKenna! It's similar to the online game, except McKenna is on the beam and not the bar. I haven't played it yet, but as soon as I finish downloading it I will tell you how it is! It looks pretty fun!
The game is free and available in the App Store. I don't know if they'll be coming out with a version for the android market, but I'll be sure to post if I hear anything!

http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/gymtastic/id518773610?mt=8

That's it for now! I'll be posting in the beginning of June most likely, but won't be able to post again until late August/ early September! If I don't post until then, have a great summer!! See you in the fall!!! And keep looking for things on www.americangirl.com!! I'll do a major missed-it-over-the-summer update when I can post again!

Bye!!! :)

Doll School

Hello guys! I know I'm only posting like once a month, and I feel bad about it, but I'll try and post more often if I can! I've just been SOOOOO busy! Thank goodness school's almost over!

Anyways, just wanted to tell you about a little (well, actually pretty big) craft/project/doll play I came up with last night. It's like American Girl's book, Doll School, only I found a BUNCH of free printouts for teachers and home-schoolers online (www.abcteach.com) and decided to save a bunch of them, then copy and paste them into Microsoft Word, and make them smaller, and therefore doll sized!

It took a bunch of paper, and a bit of time (31 pages and about an hour), but they just printed and I'm so excited! I also got some blank Facebook-style pages that I can fill out with my dolls information and hang up!

This is perfect for anyone who wants to play teacher, but doesn't want to spend tons of money on craft kits! After you cut everything out, you can organize by subject, per student (I used two copies of each- two students) and keep in an envelope.

When you want to play "school" you can take out a specific subject and choose the lesson you want to teach. Also if you want, you can have your dolls sit around a computer while you read them facts about what they're learning. You can even give them a quiz on it!

For instance, I copied a paper with questions on volcanoes. I went to google.com and typed in each of those questions. When I found the answer I wrote it into a word document and "presented" it to my dolls. They then took a quiz on it, with the paper I got the questions from.

Another thing they have on www.abcteach.com is papers with a picture at the top. The object is to write a paper about whatever the picture is. (i.e. picture of a butterfly= write about butterflies/insects) You can google "Kids fact sheets about _________________" and find whatever you need to about that subject to teach it and write a paper about.

TIPS:
Print things like awards for reading, completing units, doing community service, or having a birthday. You can then give them to your doll when they "complete" these things! You can even take pictures, upload them to your computer, and print them out with the certificates! (These can be found at www.abcteach.com)

Find small "teacher reward" stickers at a local drug store or dollar store. The next time your doll does super on a paper, give them a sticker to show them you're proud!

Hope you guys all love the new teaching idea!

Spring- Breaking and Cleaning!

Hey Guys! Sorry I haven't posted in, well, FOREVER! I've been Super busy (yes, capital "s" super busy) with getting ready for spring break, and the spring holidays! It feels great to be posting again!

As I mentioned before, I am currently cleaning and organizing my AG stuff- everything from the living space to the clothes to the separation of modern clothes vs. historical clothes (slightly OCD about keeping them separate...) and all of their furniture and the likes! With having almost no time because of school/ holiday prep, this has been a shockingly S-L-O-W process.... but I am proud to say I HAVE TAKEN PICTURES!!!!!! (Yes, thank you, thank you, I know- a proud moment indeed)

 This is all of the shoes, clothes, and accessories I could find up until this picture was taken (about and hour and a half's worth of searching through bins and boxes galore) in addition to a few hangers. Very little was actually organized at this point, just piled into different categories. The shoes were already paired up, however.

 This is a full view of the chaos that was surrounding a small part of my basement- you couldn't walk through the area without stepping on a teeny-tiny shoe or doll dress! In the upper right corner, you see my storage tower- but more about that later. In the meantime, try and absorb this delightful display of utterly organized chaos (okay, well kinda, sorta, a little bit organized chaos)

 These are my dolls! (Sorry about the nudity- but, c'mon, there dolls, right?) anyways, from left to right: Rivkah (JLY 26), Samantha (JLY 44), and Rebecca (Historical). I thoroughly brushed all their hair, and straightened the hair of my two JLY's. My JLY's also got trimmed, as the ends were bugging me. Rebecca didn't get a trim or straighten, but instead I hand-re-curled her hair. They look MUCH better now...!!

 Furniture and pets. I have Coconut (JLY dog), Licorice (JLY cat- discontinued) and Penny, Felicity's horse (Historical- discontinued) Most of the furniture is from Target (I don't know where there stores are. I know America, and possibly Canada?) from an AG Doll knockoff brand "Our Generation", except for the locker (gift from friend), wheelchair (AG) and suitcase (AG).

This is my organized AG storage tower. I have the triple bunk bed (JLY- discontinued) with the pouch organizers that came with it, as well as the beds made using the bedding that came with it. The thing you see sticking out of the top pouch is AG brand sunscreen (no idea when/what it came from/with). The banner hanging of the right side of the middle bed post came with the beds.
Under the beds are the purple storage boxes that also came with the bunk bed. They all contain various items and accessories, mostly hair stuff and the likes, although I haven't put away most of the accessories I showed you earlier.
Underneath that is the white drawer. All of my JLY clothes are stored in here (and trust me, there is a lot in that drawer!)
The bins I got from Target a LONG time ago, but they fit under here, so I figured "why not!" The yellow one (not shown here, but in my 1st and 2nd pictures) holds shoes- there is nothing organized about that bin, bit I know that every shoe in there should have a match, because I already paired all of them up. The green bin holds Rebecca's clothing, accessories, and shoes, all folded neatly to fit. The Purple bin is filled with extra bedding and stuffed animals for the beds. I do like to change the bedding, and have extra just incase.
TIP: Knockoff brands carry bedding really cheap- I got a fold-out bed (4th picture, under the suitcase) with a blanket and three pillows for around ten bucks. The bed is very good for when another doll stays over, or for dolls that are staying with me temporarily, as I often fix/style my friends' dolls' hair and the doll stays the weekend.

I hope that I will be finished with this process very soon, and when I am I will take detailed pictures of everything! (Inside the bins, the layout, you know...) I also hope that I will be able to get McKenna's entire collection and include it with my organization!!
TIP: Parents will be more likely to spend money/ allow you to have more AG stuff if you take good care of what you already own! That's part of the reason I organized; I want to show my mom how much my AG stuff means to me, and how well I take care of my stuff, as well as my (hopefully) future AG stuff.

Well, hope you guys enjoyed this post- can't wait to post with more!! Bye for now!

AG store visit!!

Hey everyone-
Went to the AG store about a week ago, and had a blast! I got to see McKenna for the first time, and she is absolutely gorgeous!! Seeing her makes me want her (and her collection) even more!

(Sorry about no pics, I can't believe I forgot my camera to be able to post pics to the blog! I was SOOOOOOOO upset!! I'm for sure gonna bring it when I go next time (hopefully that will be when I get McKenna!)

Anyways, just thought I'd post! I currently am working on a project: organizing all of my American Girl Stuff! It's a big project, as I've accumulated quite a collection over the years, but I PROMISE to have pics of during and after, as well as a description of how everything is organized!

Post more later!

New American Girl Spring Release!

As Spring is approaching fast, American Girl has put out their new Spring items! There are items available in all doll categories (American Girl, Bitty Baby, Bitty Twins) as well as items for girls! I'm going to be showing you ALL* of the new items for ages 8+ American Girl Dolls! (Historical and JLY)

Julie:


Julie's Treasure Tote

Kit:


Kit's Treasure Tote

Rebecca:


Rebecca's Treasure Tote

The Crystal Ball: A Rebecca Mystery

Cécile & Marie Grace:

Cécile's Treasure Tote

Glassware and Treats

Lacy Parasol

Courtyard Furniture**

 Cécile Summer Outfit**

 Marie-Grace Summer Outfit**

 Marie-Grace's Treasure Tote

The Cameo Necklace: A Cécile Mystery

 The Hidden Gold: A Marie-Grace Mystery

(** These items are available for a limited time only- while supplies last!)

Molly:


Molly's Treasure Tote

Josefina:

Josefina's Treasure Tote

Samantha:


Samantha's Treasure Tote

Just Like You:


Great Outdoors Tent

 Hiking Accessories

 Hiking Outfit

 Lacrosse Outfit + Gear

 Pet Hiking Set

 Petals and Posies Outfit

 Tankini and Sarong

Hope you love the new spring items as much as I do! Post again Later!