This weekend is Mother’s Day. For all of our mothers, past, present and those who are mother’s to be, it is a day to recognize and celebrate all that being a mother represents. If you are a mother of a youngster that has a doll, why not celebrate by sharing a tea party together. What a wonderful opportunity to spend time together creatively. Mothers who are also doll collectors can spend the day sharing their passion for dolls with friends and family. Mother’s to be may be deciding if they will one day be playing dolls together with their children. Share the joys of being a mother today…and everyday.  Happy Mother’s Day!

This weekend is Cinco De Mayo, celebrated on May 5th.   This holiday celebrates  the Battle of Puebla, where a small Mexican army defeated a very well equipped French army on May 5, 1862.  Cinco de Mayo is celebrated in the United States in much the same way St. Patrick’s Day, Oktoberfest, and Chinese New Year are celebrated. Parades, Mexican dancing and traditional Mexican foods will be enjoyed regardless of your ethnic background!

Why not invite your friends and their 18 inch dolls to a Cinco De Mayo party!  There are wonderful recipes available on line for tacos, salsas, queso dip and chips and great activities for a fun and festive party.

Earth day is celebrated on April 22, 2012. Just like we all need to take care of our health, each of us can make a difference in keeping our earth healthy. Recycling is an easy way to start. Most waste management companies offer recycling services. Whether or not you need to separate glass from paper, it is very easy to do. Composting is another way to recycle. There’s lots of information available on line regarding this topic. Saving energy is easy to do by simply turning off lights and appliances when not in use. When you brush your teeth, don’t leave the water running! Taking re-usable shopping bags to the grocery store is another way to recycle!  How about recycling your 18″ doll clothes? How many ways do you and your families recycle? How many more ways can you incorporate into your daily lives? If we each do our part, our world will be a healthy place to live!

This weekend some American Girl collectors may be celebrating Easter while others may be celebrating Passover. These holidays are special times to spend with friends and family while celebrating the religious significance of each. Since both Easter and Passover are celebrated in the spring, I would encourage everyone to enjoy the outdoors, whether it be for an Easter egg hunt or a stroll after your Sedar.  This is a magical time of year when trees revive from a long winter’s rest and flowers bloom…Happy Holidays

Spring is very much in the air and everywhere you look, there are signs that the seasons are changing! This weekend, you, your American doll and your family can go on a scavenger hunt for the signs of spring. One person could make a list for the group to search for. Suggestions include certain types of spring flowers, budding trees, birds, people doing outdoor chores like gardening and mulching…the possibilities are endless!!! You might even want to do your scavenger hunt in a local park or museum.  There are lots of ideas to assist you on the internet, just Google “how to do a scavenger hunt for kids”. Have fun and enjoy the time spent together! Here is an adorable outfit for your 18″

With the change of seasons, it is time to consider cleaning out our closets to make room for the seasonal items.  I usually find this a wonderful opportunity to find clothing, shoes and other items that I can donate/recycle.  This might also be a good time for you to consider the same for your American girl doll. Are there outfits that you no longer dress her in or pieces that you no longer like? Why not consider recycling them or even make an exchange program with friends that also collect 18” dolls? You could set it up similar to a library, where other kids can bring in clothes and exchange them for others…whether it is for a limited time or a permanent exchange!

Although spring officially arrives on March 20th, there are many signs that spring is already here. If you live in the mid-Atlantic section of the United States, the mild winter has given all of us a case of spring fever. The news has reported an increase of allergy symptoms and insects…all due to the early start of the warm weather. I choose to look at all of the lovely signs that Mother Nature offers.  This weekend, if the weather cooperates, take your American doll outside and take a nature hunt looking for signs of spring.  You could dress her in SH-PWB3-LP, a soft pink velour sweat suit which will keep out the spring chill. A walk down your street or in a local park will provide you with lots to observe.  So get out and enjoy a breath of fresh air. Spring is right around the corner!

If you are looking for a new hobby or interested in learning something new, I have just reviewed a terrific book “Embroider Everything Workshop”, by Diana Rupp, that will springboard you into the fine art of Embroidery. This is a beginner’s guide and starts with an overview of different types of needlework. The accompanying photographs show colorful examples and certainly made me realize how far back this art form has been practiced.  There are four chapters that will take you through what you need, getting started, stitch instruction, and creating designs. The chapters are easy to read and offer clear diagrams, photographs and illustrations. I found it very easy to follow and the diagrams and photographs were very helpful to me when I attempted to reproduce each stitch. Included in the book is a Practice Stitch Card…an awesome, hands on practice guide for folks like me that really need a step-by-step visual experience to learn these stitches. You actually stitch through the card using the illustration guides and text! Before you know it, you have mastered a variety of stitches!

The remainder of the book is dedicated to Projects…tons of them!  There are projects for you and even some that could Continue Reading →

For all of you doll collectors and American Girl Doll Blog readers, who are also gardeners, you know that now would be the time that your garden is ready to harvest! Nothing better than picking a fresh tomato or pepper for your salad! Zucchini is one vegetable that is so easy to grow and is usually very prolific. When your neighbors have had enough, you know it is time to be creative with your zucchini. Fortunately, I only planted one zucchini but I have researched some interesting recipes that I want to share. Here is a link with some yummy suggestions.  So roll up your sleeves and if your American doll is joining you in the kitchen, dress her in our DRBC, baking chef outfit. If you have some interesting recipes you would like to share, please feel free to pass them along at Tori@mydollslife.com.

Since it seems that the entire United States is in a heat dome, I am suggesting that everyone stay inside this weekend! While you are staying cool, why not have the family plan a meal…something that you might not ordinarily serve, and make it a learning activity. For example, my niece is coming over and told me that she just learned to make a Greek salad. So, my weekend activity is going to learn how to make souvlaki to eat with the salad. While searching recipes, I learned something about this dish and why it is such a popular food.  Maybe you can choose a specific culture or country. Kids can research facts about the geography, people, customs and foods. Maybe, they can dig through the dress up box and create a costume that might resemble the clothing worn in that country. Then, you can create your menu, make your shopping list, stay cool at the market, and return home for a fun evening of cooking and tasting some new foods. Don’t forget to include your American doll in all this fun! Dress her up in a special outfit for dinner and sit her in a clip on chair Continue Reading →