a LOVE-hate relationship

Ah, got to love those American Girl catalogs that conveniently show up in the mail (in droves)this time of year! Those almost one hundred page catalogs that showcase the latest cutesy-pootsy clothing for your darling daughter and her precious dolly.
I (um, I mean my daughter) was first introduced to AG a few years ago now. Some neighbor friend had one (or was it two?) along with almost an entire doll wardrobe that literally put mine to shame! We're talking dresses that not only had matching shoes, BUT matching fancy gloves and tiaras too. Let's not forget the purse's, tights, hair thingies, fake glasses, and, and, aaaaaaaaahh!!! From that first doll-to-daughter meeting, my little girl was hooked. Life from then on never seemed to be the same. Life, that is, within the world of American Girl.
The whole process was (is) daunting! Ok, first your daughter has to make "the decision"! She has to choose her DOLL!!! This is not no ordinary decision mind you. This decision is just about as up there as what college she will attend and is this boy the "marrying kind". Will it be a doll that looks just like her? She has about 20+ choices right there. OR, will it be a historical character doll? Maybe she is opting for the Bitty Baby? Twins?? I'm telling you this decision is very important, especially if you are only planning on buying your daughter just one. It may (will) come back to haunt you. My oldest STILL wonders why Santa did not bring her the african-american doll, when all along Santa thought the nice light skin, light blonde hair, blue eyed doll would suit her better.
Then comes the clothes. Thoooooose cloooooothes! Those overpriced- matchy-matchy-but really so cute, clothes. Typical outfits run somewhere around the $30 mark. Fancier outfits will strip your wallet further. Then, you have to decide if you want your daughter to look just like her dressed up doll! Tack on another 60 bucks. Does her doll need a pet? Twenty-something dollars more please. For doll furniture and bigger ticket items a small loan may have to be taken out. Or, as my girls know by now...DON'T even bother asking Santa for that!
The madness does not end there. Oh no! One day on a whim venture into an American Girl store. Oh.. maybe around noon on a Saturday right before Christmas! Bring your ear plugs and wear steel toed shoes. Trust me!! If you had any hope of finding that special outfit on your daughter's wish list...fuggetaboutit! It will be gone. Those matching slippers? No chance! Online shopping for AG is no better and no easier. Unless you plan on shopping months prior to Christmas your chances grow slimmer and more unlikely as the big day grows closer. One can get lucky though getting a coupon code that allows you to get free shipping. I didn't get lucky this year. The one outfit my daughter really wanted..sold out.
Don't get me wrong! American Girl dolls really are nice. They are quality-made and the customer service department is really great. When my daughter got her doll for Christmas a couple of years ago, it had a "hair-issue." The hair came out in clumps. I called customer service and they sent me a new doll, no questions asked/no hassles. That was really impressive. Other than the high price of these plastic princesses, my girls really do enjoy them. The cult following is a little creepy, but overall they are harmless wholesome American cuties.

oh...those LIGHTS!

O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree!Thou hast a wondrous message:
O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree!Thou hast a wondrous message:
Thou dost proclaim the Saviour's birth Good will to men and peace on earth
O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree!Thou hast a wondrous message

As I was setting up the Christmas tree today I had something happen that instantly took me back to my childhood days. I pulled a wad of Christmas lights out of a box and they were all jumbled together in one giant mass. I sat myself down on the carpet and began the daunting chore of separating this end from that. What seemed like hours later I plugged the cord into the wall, only to find that one half of the strand would not light up! This is where I had my childhood flashback! For it was "I" that used to have the so-not-fun job of un-wadding lights, testing them, and fixing them so they work! You see, lights back then were not as inexpensive as they are nowadays. Plus being from a home that was on a tight budget, fixing was in our vocabulary..not buying!
So there I would be, not more than five or six years old, sitting on the floor with a pile of lights on my lap. I can still remember taking out each and every bulb, and testing them in a working strand. What a frustrating, time-consuming, and drive-me-nuts, job that was! I definitely learned patience at this chore! Honestly, I am surprised I did not get electrocuted as well! What fun though to get that nonworking strand to light up and shine. Ah, success! It did happen, occasionally.
My mom always did such a great job getting the house all decorated for Christmas. She would have do-dads and thingies all over. The house felt so warm and inviting. Those were the days when shiny silver tinsel was the rage. Remember?? Oh how many times one of our two dogs would wind up gagging and hacking up those long shiny strands. Ga-ross!! Christmas cards would be hung with tape on the doors. The creche would make its loving debut and put somewhere where tiny hands wouldn't touch. The windows would be decoratively (um, wildly!) sprayed with that white fake snow stuff. As a young child this was always such a very special time. Ah...the memories! Maybe that is why I have 10+ Rubbermaid totes lined up in my hallway right at this very moment! Ten totes chock full of Christmas thingies of my own. Ten totes of "what the heck am I gonna do with all this stuff?"
Getting back to the lights.. I once heard a saying that said that it isn't the big things in life that are really important. But, rather those small, everyday things. For it is in those small everyday things that memories are made and stored, to come out sometimes not until years later. As I was struggling with those lights today it sparked those fond Christmasy memories of my youth. Those wonderful memories that today made me smile.
Now, I probably could have sat there on the floor, going bulb by bulb, trying to get those strands to work. I could have recruited the help of my kids. I didn't though. I got up, happily tossed those strands in the recycling bin and grabbed my keys and headed for Meijer! $1.99 later, I had my brand new, colorful, happy, memory-producing, Christmasy lights. And, I am OK with that!

a sassy pincushion

My newest creations!

a little GET up and GO

For the past two days I have seen two cars carrying campers on the back of them. It is mid-November and in these parts, this is not too common of a sight! It just got me thinking though. How great it would be to be so free spirited as to get the whole family in one of those campers (albeit one that would accommodate 5) and head out on the long open road.
We are a camping family by nature. Every summer we plan at least a couple trips, usually somewhere new here in Michigan. We are tent campers and still, after all these years, can't seem to get it all right. Oh well, there is always next year, right?
When I saw those people with the campers recently, though, it sent my day dreaming in high-mode. There are so many places I want to see. So many places I haven't seen. So many place to be seen. How long, though, would we all last being couped up together in one of those things? Realistically, probably not sanely for more than one week. I am a "spacey". I need my space. I get anxious if I don't get a little me-time from time to time.
All said and done the "idea" of getting up and going full-blown camping sounds idyllic, but in my reality it is just not as charmed as it sounds. So the next time I see one of those free-willed campers in my neck of the woods I will look at it, smile and choose to live vicariously through the proud travelers. Happy traveling all and God's speed to ya.

a good DEAL

I made a completely random trip to Big Lots yesterday. I sometimes like to just browse the aisles and see what's what. I tend to find some really interesting deals along the way! Like yesterday. I found a box of 48 Stretch Island Fruit Co. fruit leather bars. They were only $6.00! There was 6 flavors and 8 of each flavor. When I have purchased these at my usual store they can be close to $1.00 each. So, if I bought 48 x $1.00 that would = $48.00! So, 6 bucks was a great deal to me! My kids love them (and I have to admit, I do too!) and the sugar is low, it only comes from the fruit, non added. So there you go.. have you found a good DEAL that you would like to share? Ah, come on!