tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7051886821200045032024-03-05T07:46:21.707-08:00My Plastic Life and WorldDolls, dolls, dolls! Liddle Kiddles, Peekaboo Petities, Kelly, Barbie, Petite Blythe, Nancy Ann Dolls, Tutti, OOAK creations, basically all things cute!AnaleeMariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11706948104895079015noreply@blogger.comBlogger46125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-705188682120004503.post-85563524198687914862014-08-13T12:19:00.001-07:002014-08-13T12:19:32.493-07:00I'm in Trouble <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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After promising that I wouldn't buy any more dolls right now, I did it anyway. Sophia the First kept calling me. Of course I was hoping that the Amazon package would arrive during the day; but, no--it had to come at the exact time my husband came home from work. My head was full of possible explanations. However, my mouth wouldn't cooperate, so instead I apologized. My husband responded with a disappointed look that lasted the whole evening. As soon as possible, I went to my Amazon account to cancel Sophia the First's adorable castle. I was so relieved to see it was out of stock. All I need is another giant box on my front doorstep. Besides, it's extremely hard to hide a castle. <br />AnaleeMariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11706948104895079015noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-705188682120004503.post-68090117991614153092014-08-09T07:27:00.001-07:002014-08-09T07:27:02.291-07:00Jill Found a Doll for her MomMy daughter attended a music fest in Belgium. She took a picture of this doll for me (don't know if she bought it for me, though). I think it could be a Barbie world doll due to the facial features. Will have to do some identification research when I have the time. It's just sweet that Jill thinks about dolls for her mom when she's out and about! <div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhrUoyx7HNtrDYFbJrK_tFlvUDP0O6CWSJujTlaZG-pdYQUU55UUdc3_bZcHTFrRL5sbLAhc1hyphenhyphenzZHEzTCyMRY-OCz7dFc3lUoqFC4eT393fxtpWB4cJWcB4fqR-O8f_u7ndvryQ2Wz218/s640/blogger-image-1508858888.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhrUoyx7HNtrDYFbJrK_tFlvUDP0O6CWSJujTlaZG-pdYQUU55UUdc3_bZcHTFrRL5sbLAhc1hyphenhyphenzZHEzTCyMRY-OCz7dFc3lUoqFC4eT393fxtpWB4cJWcB4fqR-O8f_u7ndvryQ2Wz218/s640/blogger-image-1508858888.jpg"></a></div></div>AnaleeMariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11706948104895079015noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-705188682120004503.post-21214384221677077752014-08-06T08:53:00.002-07:002014-08-06T08:55:21.446-07:00Tangkou Treasures<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I subscribe to too many doll hunt emails through eBay. Most of them I file away as dreams. However, now I'm dreaming Tangkou dolls. They look like Blythe, but they stand on their own, too. Plus, they are less expensive. A sad commentary is that I'm not sure I own one. Most of my dolls are in a climate-controlled storage locker back in Denver. At one point, my son and I created an extensive doll collection spreadsheet. But towards the end of my move to Santa Fe, what with all the normal packing confusion, some of my dolls were overlooked and not added to the list. A project for another day. I look forward to being reunited with my storage dolls. Any day is a doll day!</div>
AnaleeMariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11706948104895079015noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-705188682120004503.post-44504151310156844422014-08-04T10:15:00.000-07:002014-08-04T10:15:03.183-07:00Ever After High<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Just came across these cuties when I was shopping for house accessories at Target. When I came home, I went directly to Amazon and added all Ever After High dolls to my wish list. I figure that if I can't collect any dolls right now because we don't have a doll room yet, then at least I can wish them into being! Plus, my birthday and Christmas are coming up in December. Who knows, right? I also added the Monster High dolls, as well. I now have fifty dolls on my wishing list. Collecting dolls is the best hobby ever! AnaleeMariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11706948104895079015noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-705188682120004503.post-63194310303633857412014-07-29T09:32:00.000-07:002014-07-29T19:26:58.097-07:00Bye-Bye Barbies. Hello Frozen Dolls, Monster High, and American Girl dolls<h1 style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 1em; margin: 0px; min-height: 1px; padding: 0px;">
Is Barbie being Frozen out? Doll sales plummet as kids favor Disney’s Elsa and American Girl </h1>
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<li style="list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size: 1.4em;">Experts say Barbie doesn't have a rich enough story line to engage kids as much as competing dolls</span></span></li>
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By <a class="author" href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/home/search.html?s=&authornamef=Erin+Clements" rel="nofollow" style="color: #003580; cursor: pointer; margin: 0px; min-height: 1px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; text-transform: uppercase;">ERIN CLEMENTS</a></div>
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<span class="article-timestamp article-timestamp-published" style="font-size: 0.9em;"><span class="article-timestamp-label" style="font-weight: 700; text-transform: uppercase;">PUBLISHED:</span> 10:52 EST, 28 July 2014 </span>| <span class="article-timestamp article-timestamp-updated" style="font-size: 0.9em;"><span class="article-timestamp-label" style="font-weight: 700; text-transform: uppercase;">UPDATED:</span> 12:47 EST, 28 July 2014</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 1.2em;">Despite efforts to stay relevant, Barbie's popularity is on the decline: Mattel has reported a 15 per cent drop in sales for the blonde doll in the latest quarter.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 1.2em;">However, the company saw a 6 per cent increase in sales of its American Girl line and also found success with toys associated with Disney's Frozen.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 1.2em;">While Mattel has attempted to keep the brand up to date with the recent launch of Entrepreneur Barbie - a tech-savvy doll that comes armed with a tiny smartphone and tablet, and even boasts a LinkedIn profile - experts say that Barbie doesn't have a strong enough narrative to capture kids' imaginations.</span></div>
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<img alt="Image problem: Barbie's sales have declined due to competitors with more engaging story lines" class="blkBorder img-share" src="http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2014/07/28/article-2708598-1EE3B67D00000578-773_634x1344.jpg" data-track-pos="0" height="1344" id="i-7f48d00015f082d5" style="border: 1px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" width="634" /><br />
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Image problem: Barbie's sales have declined due to competitors with more engaging story lines</div>
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<span style="font-size: 1.2em;">American Girl, for example, features 'historical character' dolls accompanied by books that tell of the characters' adventures.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 1.2em;">Jim Silver, editor of TTPM.com (formerly Time to Play Magazine), says that competitors such as Mattel's Monster High dolls do a better job of engaging children with more complex story lines.</span></div>
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<br /><span style="font-size: 1.2em;">'<span style="font-weight: normal;">With Monster High, you have Draculaura, Lagoona Blue, Clawdia Wolf, and they keep developing more characters and more backstories. Barbie is a superstar, but she’s just one character,' he told the</span></span><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 1.2em;"> </span><a href="http://www.nydailynews.com/life-style/barbie-sales-plummet-girls-grab-frozen-american-girl-dolls-article-1.1880533" rel="nofollow" style="color: #003580; cursor: pointer; font-size: 1.2em; margin: 0px; min-height: 1px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">New York Daily News.</a></span></h4>
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<img alt="Pure heroine: Elsa, from Disney's beloved animated hit Frozen, has become an increasingly popular doll" class="blkBorder img-share" src="http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2014/07/28/article-2708598-2011CCCE00000578-307_634x1114.jpg" data-track-pos="1" height="1114" id="i-3895ecf477c5a17c" style="border: 1px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" width="634" /><br />
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Pure heroine: Elsa, from Disney's beloved animated hit Frozen, has become an increasingly popular doll</div>
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<img alt="A doll's life: American Girl characters, such as Josefina (pictured), feature engaging backstories" class="blkBorder img-share" src="http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2014/07/28/article-2708598-2011C36200000578-763_634x621.jpg" data-track-pos="2" height="621" id="i-1aec598050b03349" style="border: 1px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" width="634" /><br />
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A doll's life: American Girl characters, such as Josefina (pictured), feature engaging backstories</div>
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<span style="font-size: 1.2em;">He adds: 'Kids are growing up fast, and lines like Monster High are much edgier than Barbie. Girls 3 to 9 used to play with Barbie. Now it’s down to girls 3 to 6. The kids have grown up faster. They’re on iPads. Their fashion is different.'</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 1.2em;">And having turned 55 years old this year, Barbie may have a harder time being viewed as edgy by children whose parents grew up with the doll.</span></div>
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<img alt="Ghoul talk: Monster High dolls are seen as 'edgier' than Barbie, and more appealing to older children" class="blkBorder img-share" src="http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2014/07/28/article-2708598-13D5C33E000005DC-277_634x410.jpg" data-track-pos="3" height="410" id="i-3480a6455025b16e" style="border: 1px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" width="634" /><br />
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Ghoul talk: Monster High dolls are seen as 'edgier' than Barbie, and more appealing to older children</div>
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<span style="font-size: 1.2em;">'Barbie is a very nice girl, very pretty, very clean cut, very Caucasian. But girls very often are not as nice as their mothers would want them to be,' Lutz Muller, owner of toy intelligence firm Klosters Trading Corp. in Williston Hills, Vermont, told Canada's <a href="http://business.financialpost.com/2014/07/22/how-barbie-may-need-more-than-a-career-makeover-to-save-mattels-iconic-doll-from-sliding-sales/" rel="nofollow" style="color: #003580; cursor: pointer; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; min-height: 1px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Financial Post</a>, adding: 'What girls are waiting for is another icon, one which is different from the idealized Barbie … which the mothers and grandmothers of current girls played with.'</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 1.2em;">And, of course, it's difficult to compete with Elsa, the heroine of Disney's wildly popular hit Frozen, which has become the highest-grossing animated film of all time since its 2013 release.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 1.2em;">'We’re working very hard to literally chase demand' for dolls based on Frozen characters, Mattel CEO Brian Stockton told the <a href="http://business.financialpost.com/2014/07/22/how-barbie-may-need-more-than-a-career-makeover-to-save-mattels-iconic-doll-from-sliding-sales/" rel="nofollow" style="color: #003580; cursor: pointer; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; min-height: 1px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"></a><a href="http://nypost.com/2014/07/17/mattels-long-sales-slide-shows-barbie-is-in-deep-distress/" rel="nofollow" style="color: #003580; cursor: pointer; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; min-height: 1px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">New York Post</a>. 'It gets greater and greater every week.'</span></div>
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<li style="list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><a class="js-tl" href="http://nypost.com/2014/07/17/mattels-long-sales-slide-shows-barbie-is-in-deep-distress/" rel="nofollow" style="color: #b60606; cursor: pointer; margin: 0px; min-height: 1px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Barbie 'Frozen' out; sales slide 15% in steepest drop since 2009</a></li>
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AnaleeMariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11706948104895079015noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-705188682120004503.post-52420264587921762282014-07-25T19:19:00.002-07:002014-07-25T19:20:16.245-07:00Monster High Doll Dreams<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgqSMaW-p4xdH-mJxLknBaAWWuSOTnE15W50wzczrAOmS1UNy47MBtguCs0nV76DWdkqhbvb5eIeoLLfrATRDyqfBPFpXZie1zovCd5wMG65ous0audQnwLCqj-skJK9F1xn5nMuVCiIM3/s1600/best-monster-high-dolls.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgqSMaW-p4xdH-mJxLknBaAWWuSOTnE15W50wzczrAOmS1UNy47MBtguCs0nV76DWdkqhbvb5eIeoLLfrATRDyqfBPFpXZie1zovCd5wMG65ous0audQnwLCqj-skJK9F1xn5nMuVCiIM3/s1600/best-monster-high-dolls.jpg" height="166" width="320" /></a></div>
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Of course, since I'm not buying any dolls right now, I naturally come across new dolls I want. I went to Walgreens for some photos today. I had a little wait, so I walked down the toy aisle. I immediately noticed the cute Monster High dolls, namely the first and third doll in the picture. It took all of my willpower not to buy one, just one. They've probably been around for awhile, but today I discovered their cute faces smiling back at me. I'm so glad the Monster High doll creators paid special attention and designed adorable faces. I won't buy a doll whose face has been just slapped on, with no regard for detail. The Bratz dolls are a good example of that for me (apologies to all the Bratz collectors out there). Anyway, the lesson for today: don't go down toy aisles. <br />
<br />AnaleeMariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11706948104895079015noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-705188682120004503.post-6476377079358558182014-07-24T12:00:00.001-07:002014-07-24T12:14:40.917-07:00A Doll Room Idea<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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July 24, 2014--Taking a break from writing my novel.<br />
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Oops, my hubby read my doll blog last night. Even though I bought most of my new dolls with gift cards, Mike is convinced that more doll collecting just means more to move. He's right. We don't know how long we will be in Santa Fe...depends on Mike's job. Anyway, I'm going to refrain from buying anymore dolls. Wish me luck!<br />
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In our new house in the Teton Valley, Mike has promised to build a doll room in the basement. The picture above would be a perfect doll room, with some adjustments:<br />
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#1--All shelves need to have glass doors;<br />
#2--A built-in, big dollhouse will replace the settee;<br />
#3--Need a built-in ladder to reach the top shelves (I'm only 5'3");<br />
#4--On the other side of the room will be more shelves, some with drawers for doll clothes, accessories, and other collectibles;<br />
#5--A comfy table and chairs in the middle of the room so I can work-on ooak's, restoring dolls, or changing clothes;<br />
#6--I will keep everything white so the basement room is light and airy;<br />
#7--Cushions on the floor for play.<br />
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Play is important for children and adults alike. I follow Huizinga's book, <i>Homo Ludens, </i>and embrace my fun, playful side. Here's a blurb from Wikipedia about his theory:<br />
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<i style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.399999618530273px;"><b>Homo Ludens</b></i><span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.399999618530273px;"> or "Man the Player" (alternatively, "Playing Man") is a book written in 1938 by Dutch historian and cultural theorist </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johan_Huizinga" style="background: none rgb(255, 255, 255); color: #0b0080; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.399999618530273px; text-decoration: none;" title="Johan Huizinga">Johan Huizinga</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.399999618530273px;">. It discusses the importance of the play element of culture and society. Huizinga suggests that play is primary to and a necessary (though not sufficient) condition of the generation of culture.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: #f6f6f6; color: #333333; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 15.679999351501465px;"> Wikipedia® is a registered trademark of the </span><a href="http://www.wikimediafoundation.org/" style="background: none rgb(246, 246, 246); color: #0b0080; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 15.679999351501465px; text-decoration: none;">Wikimedia Foundation, Inc.</a><span style="background-color: #f6f6f6; color: #333333; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 15.679999351501465px;">, a non-profit organization.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: #f6f6f6; line-height: 15.679999351501465px;"><b>Go play today!!!!</b></span></span>AnaleeMariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11706948104895079015noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-705188682120004503.post-44759277771274903612014-07-23T08:46:00.001-07:002014-07-23T08:46:10.269-07:00Boxed Dolls<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Since my husband, Mike, and I moved three times in two years, most recently landing in Santa Fe, we decided to downsize; and, also, buy a future vacation/retirement home in the Teton Valley. Most of my dolls now live in a climate controlled storage locker back in Denver. My dear son, Steven, helped me wrap each and every doll in acid free paper, read all of the doll markings for my collector's catalog, and neatly box them all. I miss each and every doll. I can hardly wait for Mike's promise of building a basement doll room, or doll house, for me! The second and third picture are dolls we had to box-up when we moved to Santa Fe. :(<br />
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I must admit to collecting a few dolls recently: all of the Disney Frozen Dolls and coloring books/paper dolls/sticker books; Angel Pulips, and the rest of the Hearts to Hearts dolls. At first, I easily found the Frozen dolls in the stores. However, I only bought a couple at once; and, when I went back to the store for more they were all gone. So I bought the rest, for good prices, on Amazon. Angel Pulips were very inexpensive on Amazon, too, as were the discontinued Hearts to Hearts dolls. All of the new collection resides in our office closet, and guest room closet, now.<br />
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Oh, I went to Tokyo a few months back! Mike had to attend a business meeting in Shiodome.<br />
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We even flew in our daughter, Jill, from her Peace Corps assignment in Albania. It was wonderful to see Jill for the first time in a year and a half! Anyway, we only spent part of the time at Kiddyland, where I bought some Licca dolls. My dear husband also took me to the famous store, Junie Moon. I bought a couple of Petite Blythe dolls there. Junie Moon has a museum-like aspect to it. If you want to see all things Blythe, check-out their online store: http://www.juniemoonshop.com/ Of course, most of the dolls are the new Blythe dolls, not the old $1,000+ Blythe dolls from the 1970's. So wish I had one of the old Blythe dolls. Maybe someday...AnaleeMariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11706948104895079015noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-705188682120004503.post-19491110269862877022014-07-22T07:52:00.001-07:002014-07-22T07:52:45.223-07:00Barbie reading her latest novel<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />AnaleeMariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11706948104895079015noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-705188682120004503.post-6029780411640974952009-10-28T07:23:00.000-07:002009-10-28T07:37:36.344-07:00Halloween Dolls<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB7ggHa_wQuz3FyL80QYbdNTKwcaUevk5gmPulsiwu0fmpMXKDalDB_eih7v2sAdstjIyjy6q5l1AMgMqgwoFKv3H_zgcH2yB8homlcnh8SO80T3GfpLbZCLLoDwZm8wyUg9l0jOI7ra-M/s1600-h/100_0809.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 311px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB7ggHa_wQuz3FyL80QYbdNTKwcaUevk5gmPulsiwu0fmpMXKDalDB_eih7v2sAdstjIyjy6q5l1AMgMqgwoFKv3H_zgcH2yB8homlcnh8SO80T3GfpLbZCLLoDwZm8wyUg9l0jOI7ra-M/s400/100_0809.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5397656668516229794" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5r4MfpkxxQYy_qcIeDeUK78DUuS1AmXljHcyJq3GPsbFWAWX82xeWoYa9bULk43QsWwSQfyS77vfW12y6rb-TE7n2Trfpb6AqolizlGDiZ8hvXFG6uUjXRiETWbSZiwGIRpNnqNI3prHL/s1600-h/100_0789.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 305px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5r4MfpkxxQYy_qcIeDeUK78DUuS1AmXljHcyJq3GPsbFWAWX82xeWoYa9bULk43QsWwSQfyS77vfW12y6rb-TE7n2Trfpb6AqolizlGDiZ8hvXFG6uUjXRiETWbSZiwGIRpNnqNI3prHL/s400/100_0789.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5397656664043763410" /></a>I've become a devotee of Facebook this year, so blogging has definitely taken a back seat...more like been run off the road for me. I do keep in touch with my fav blogs via e-mail, which is great! Anyway, it appears that there will not be any Halloween Peekaboos this year :-( Kelly is still running strong for 2009 with Miranda as the bride of frankenstein; Kayla as a green zombie; and Kelly as a cute vampire-ess. <div><br /></div><div>I'm a virtual assistant/bookkeeper/girl friday by trade and one of my clients is in the exhibits and tradeshow industry. I travel with her for shows and there is a chance that we might go to Toy Fair (TIA) in February! I've researched the show and there are several exhibitors from Colorado who might need some assistance. I hope so as I would adore going to NY for the infamous show "ToyCon"!</div>AnaleeMariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11706948104895079015noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-705188682120004503.post-47003815743620231642009-07-20T06:13:00.000-07:002009-07-20T06:31:31.563-07:00New Doll Home<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ-oGTwbvfDDwHnzuQkFI61dMjz64fKSQRZycEjFVK-d1h8BNnPqeZ31GHzTJVwlw575xXHsJHpbtCv6WBfEf4pHusR265Tc-Yt0XpV_P0On9bXRBq2oRqeZ9nXX6KkEZmyw79WGRACYrA/s1600-h/100_0754.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 241px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ-oGTwbvfDDwHnzuQkFI61dMjz64fKSQRZycEjFVK-d1h8BNnPqeZ31GHzTJVwlw575xXHsJHpbtCv6WBfEf4pHusR265Tc-Yt0XpV_P0On9bXRBq2oRqeZ9nXX6KkEZmyw79WGRACYrA/s400/100_0754.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5360531363378807634" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgojP6hs1PLLEW2X5bLf7jeZ5z1PbOhTkhyphenhyphencU99EyAmPKPTQT813cAw2vHAGKmvIuhLyWox6nj0IFFu3X8bpaEyZKkG03C8qPWbHXRWsUCgWb53bSWV92LiCkZT5LHKrFrFWx0k9DSiUCFw/s1600-h/100_0757.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgojP6hs1PLLEW2X5bLf7jeZ5z1PbOhTkhyphenhyphencU99EyAmPKPTQT813cAw2vHAGKmvIuhLyWox6nj0IFFu3X8bpaEyZKkG03C8qPWbHXRWsUCgWb53bSWV92LiCkZT5LHKrFrFWx0k9DSiUCFw/s400/100_0757.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5360531358773077330" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSomXeGbsajS32T8sqxzUo9YutKdQuWkDu6rw_10gAUd3B2oFF6IOMfsHnewbvuhipesHFzYYR8uQPxiH1ln9TNDTsn25IfjnnXLAjhZ9k4t7wjwqwBUfsvGJT9njvdTRq5J3y-8dhTdqP/s1600-h/100_0756.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSomXeGbsajS32T8sqxzUo9YutKdQuWkDu6rw_10gAUd3B2oFF6IOMfsHnewbvuhipesHFzYYR8uQPxiH1ln9TNDTsn25IfjnnXLAjhZ9k4t7wjwqwBUfsvGJT9njvdTRq5J3y-8dhTdqP/s400/100_0756.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5360531352959122610" /></a>Decided to move the dolls from the open bookcase, to the bookcase with glass doors. Started to be a bit concerned about dust.<div><br /></div><div>Went to Santa Fe Folk Art Market last weekend and bought some darling little dolls from Georgia and Uzbekistan (top photo, bottom shelf, towards the front). </div>AnaleeMariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11706948104895079015noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-705188682120004503.post-72839456671403425302009-05-15T05:18:00.000-07:002009-05-15T05:26:54.005-07:00Kiddles, Kiddles, Kiddles<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbwSztHwJNYy6uXWLitjT96sJjhjCbNYRWnsqICMFl7NLs0WB3LxEDvhVsQtw6gC0pCCR14ML5rsRYG-x5aaJcDQc0mWfy-Fm1cDab56yBLtw5ypCVrI1kuz-Fi3WknERZiNWchq6QQulr/s1600-h/New+lot+of+kiddles.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5336024209782704626" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbwSztHwJNYy6uXWLitjT96sJjhjCbNYRWnsqICMFl7NLs0WB3LxEDvhVsQtw6gC0pCCR14ML5rsRYG-x5aaJcDQc0mWfy-Fm1cDab56yBLtw5ypCVrI1kuz-Fi3WknERZiNWchq6QQulr/s400/New+lot+of+kiddles.jpg" border="0" /></a> Here's a picture of my new adoptees. They should arrive by Monday. I've been following the kiddle market recently and have been able to snap up some deals again...yay! I've also fallen in love with the Etsy shopping site. There are many talented doll artists out there!<br /><div></div>AnaleeMariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11706948104895079015noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-705188682120004503.post-74531638803624062832009-05-09T08:46:00.000-07:002009-05-09T09:11:18.364-07:00It's Spring and It's Apple Blossom Time!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPH0vKbwn3Mac5MJr5n6-hTCn-faWGeUay7wqPrpNjGuzKdLBq_1xw9nMBPGu-UObZXQqgr8wbEjnnCJGw76HNM50qWJkFObrEGfKSzvq0SF2iE8_izK5CIee5kC8VSVh2PVVR-dM3zSvj/s1600-h/Apple+blossom.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5333851812930133250" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 277px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 299px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPH0vKbwn3Mac5MJr5n6-hTCn-faWGeUay7wqPrpNjGuzKdLBq_1xw9nMBPGu-UObZXQqgr8wbEjnnCJGw76HNM50qWJkFObrEGfKSzvq0SF2iE8_izK5CIee5kC8VSVh2PVVR-dM3zSvj/s400/Apple+blossom.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlujlanzrvIcN6v8I-hE97RT6eClODWTRjBxeABKUSKNENrlI7kLliX-D3AlLBMmr55aJ2muNj4BQssBK9S2guvbfhn4E-XBo4x8Iz_Q2tU_cc1go8Tx8VCF_qAiQweXzfGIpEEt-qcIBO/s1600-h/Apple+Blossom+and+Clones.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5333851812421533970" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 352px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 299px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlujlanzrvIcN6v8I-hE97RT6eClODWTRjBxeABKUSKNENrlI7kLliX-D3AlLBMmr55aJ2muNj4BQssBK9S2guvbfhn4E-XBo4x8Iz_Q2tU_cc1go8Tx8VCF_qAiQweXzfGIpEEt-qcIBO/s400/Apple+Blossom+and+Clones.jpg" border="0" /></a>It's my lucky day! I was missing two Kologne Kiddles; now I'm only missing one--Bluebell. I used to visit ebayland every day and as a result happened across many bargains. But even bargains can pinch one's pocketbook, so I swore off and haven't bought any kiddles since November of last year. The seller today not only had an excellent price for Miss Apple Blossom, but threw in these two vintage kiddle clones as well! There are actually many clone collectors, but I'm not one of them. However, I do have a few that were all thrown in with various kiddle purchases. There really is no comparison between a clone and a kiddle--the genius designers at Mattel made each Liddle Kiddle face absolutely perfect!</div>AnaleeMariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11706948104895079015noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-705188682120004503.post-7839355458245996572009-05-03T07:35:00.000-07:002009-05-03T07:45:46.932-07:00Paper Dolls!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9uEEfBqy5A-BX2DZmnqI73sFig7R8-awzCJNEiKR5_Snj4RX_yMV_eEsQL4vb0VRxWP_jknT4QxS8Jb_fHYeCnc90GwCaN4DWDMDLwjDpHJfsDy8TtBWxaR19b4cUFfEyiGzWjwjiCFH8/s1600-h/Lucky+Locket+Paper+Dolls.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5331606535454529554" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 341px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9uEEfBqy5A-BX2DZmnqI73sFig7R8-awzCJNEiKR5_Snj4RX_yMV_eEsQL4vb0VRxWP_jknT4QxS8Jb_fHYeCnc90GwCaN4DWDMDLwjDpHJfsDy8TtBWxaR19b4cUFfEyiGzWjwjiCFH8/s400/Lucky+Locket+Paper+Dolls.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuZ6kqyxCNh7dO5plKjXyl_5SoK22q3k4aos0CgWO5w-jXyzBLA2TIk1Mo_fRI9aBvGEvVnYAtDOKkQS4ShFB64W9_yRlJriLutbPFMwJnA5OQCBA9rWHRrfzCBb6SRgui-YJcgqcpEoVh/s1600-h/Betsy+Paper+Dolls.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5331606535772658226" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuZ6kqyxCNh7dO5plKjXyl_5SoK22q3k4aos0CgWO5w-jXyzBLA2TIk1Mo_fRI9aBvGEvVnYAtDOKkQS4ShFB64W9_yRlJriLutbPFMwJnA5OQCBA9rWHRrfzCBb6SRgui-YJcgqcpEoVh/s400/Betsy+Paper+Dolls.jpg" border="0" /></a> A very dear friend found a set of Lucky Locket Paper Dolls and gave them to the other day. So nice...couldn't have been more suprised. Karen is also a collector, not so much of dolls but of beautiful china and fun kitschy stuff. We both do share a love of vintage barbies, though.</div><div> </div><div>My grandmother always saved the Betsy McCall paper dolls out of McCalls magazine for me. I absolutely adored paper dolls because it meant that you could have lots of clothes and accessories. Real doll clothes and accessories were luxuries back in the 1970's and many of us made our own, which was fun and creative in it's own right. However, when that Sears Christmas catalogue came in the mail, I couldn't help but lust over sequined gowns and fabulous "fur" coats and muffs. </div>AnaleeMariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11706948104895079015noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-705188682120004503.post-20591080922700636632009-05-02T07:38:00.000-07:002009-05-02T07:48:38.844-07:00Cinnamon Girl<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi53Chk5_r7c0E92uXrKdnC_AEfLIFR2JfsXfPfeM_hVyiHzF6Dd5MH-s_c1rE9i3EfKgR-qxbivYNCa3cFigFU9XTyozoCzhqfJkh6oK8watHvgfk06HkqOu7m3_D58j9cPhdakDJ8uLxt/s1600-h/cinnamon+girl.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 247px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 175px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5331236142756401634" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi53Chk5_r7c0E92uXrKdnC_AEfLIFR2JfsXfPfeM_hVyiHzF6Dd5MH-s_c1rE9i3EfKgR-qxbivYNCa3cFigFU9XTyozoCzhqfJkh6oK8watHvgfk06HkqOu7m3_D58j9cPhdakDJ8uLxt/s400/cinnamon+girl.jpg" /></a> <div>So excited yesterday to get a surprise gift of Miss Cinnamon Girl. I think she is just beautiful, but mostly I wanted her because I love the Neil Young song. </div>AnaleeMariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11706948104895079015noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-705188682120004503.post-13144393043186853782009-04-30T07:19:00.000-07:002009-04-30T07:45:18.381-07:00Blythe Fans<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIVYQUYmCYxc1dWG-FiYS_sxGj5iuX7Lc4oR05q6rI2Nq821yE9C_kQ7W3aWMclaQmPkNxN5W9CDbVV-q7z7-qxUZpsbKyLKV7pvKomMNs1nE3W1xQbD2W3T1OVBOrj4twsmKxzrI7LIfA/s1600-h/princess-coloring-pages-03.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5330495041110029730" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 291px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIVYQUYmCYxc1dWG-FiYS_sxGj5iuX7Lc4oR05q6rI2Nq821yE9C_kQ7W3aWMclaQmPkNxN5W9CDbVV-q7z7-qxUZpsbKyLKV7pvKomMNs1nE3W1xQbD2W3T1OVBOrj4twsmKxzrI7LIfA/s400/princess-coloring-pages-03.jpg" border="0" /></a> Here's an e-mail I just received from Gina. There's still time left, and it's for a good cause. I don't know how to stream this page directly to my blog, so here's the old-fashioned, copied & pasted, links: <a href="http://www.thisisblythe.com/shop/cart.php?target=category&category_id=159">http://www.thisisblythe.com/shop/cart.php?target=category&category_id=159</a><br /><br /><a href="http://shop.ebay.com/?_from=R40&_trksid=m38.l1313&_nkw=manna+energy&_sacat=See-All-Categories">http://shop.ebay.com/?_from=R40&_trksid=m38.l1313&_nkw=manna+energy&_sacat=See-All-Categories</a><br /><br /><br />Hey everyone,<br /><br />Just wanted to give you an update on the dress drive. To date we've raised close to $3000. THANK YOU to all who have made and/or bought dresses. I'm so, so grateful for your participation. The ebay portion of the drive comes to an end at 11 am on Friday, May 1. To see and bid on those dresses please go <a href="http://click.icptrack.com/icp/relay.php?r=52318574&msgid=583691&act=0M68&c=317179&admin=0&destination=http%3A%2F%2Fshop.ebay.com%2F%3F_from%3DR40%26_trksid%3Dm38.l1313%26_nkw%3Dmanna%2Benergy%26_sacat%3DSee-All-Categories" target="_blank">here</a>. I've also lowered the prices of the remaining dresses in my shop to $30. There are so many incredible designs left, all of which can be seen <a href="http://click.icptrack.com/icp/relay.php?r=52318574&msgid=583691&act=0M68&c=317179&admin=0&destination=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thisisblythe.com%2Fshop%2Fcart.php%3Ftarget%3Dcategory%26category_id%3D159" target="_blank">here</a>.THANK YOU again and again for your support on this! I really appreciate it.<br /><br />xo<br />gina<br /><br />P.S.-- Here's a cool link for the coloring page image: <a href="http://princess-coloring-pages.blogspot.com/2008/10/more-free-princess-coloring-pages.html">http://princess-coloring-pages.blogspot.com/2008/10/more-free-princess-coloring-pages.html</a>AnaleeMariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11706948104895079015noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-705188682120004503.post-23917210175803750072009-04-30T05:44:00.000-07:002014-07-22T07:39:49.288-07:00Hello Kitty! Hello World!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj558zUwqH18Y_oeRVnKX3RAR7Klp3yjV9DQuvgTpP2Hr0kt8DiyL5bATCqFP-tjhl_6VbxHEoYSuZ-Arxtrr5RamXN5PrIMKOuU0ZVwurxIdLeMytbDnlt6RnEhdtpjXfLtWxXWP_fHj2r/s1600-h/Hello+Kitty.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj558zUwqH18Y_oeRVnKX3RAR7Klp3yjV9DQuvgTpP2Hr0kt8DiyL5bATCqFP-tjhl_6VbxHEoYSuZ-Arxtrr5RamXN5PrIMKOuU0ZVwurxIdLeMytbDnlt6RnEhdtpjXfLtWxXWP_fHj2r/s400/Hello+Kitty.JPG" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5330471372746242850" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 244px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 255px;" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiljZENJnl1By2TDG5juPCjuF6hCpOPItVcuysp7INpLC1zRawwUPcEjF_q3vwMKDAUxMpYv8YmEoKJQcdp-xB_hi0GYc8tfkpGL7mp-8lz5Lrht86y677TtZR7FyQ2G7ggGREFJKTy56CO/s1600-h/364354681XaZElt_fs.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiljZENJnl1By2TDG5juPCjuF6hCpOPItVcuysp7INpLC1zRawwUPcEjF_q3vwMKDAUxMpYv8YmEoKJQcdp-xB_hi0GYc8tfkpGL7mp-8lz5Lrht86y677TtZR7FyQ2G7ggGREFJKTy56CO/s400/364354681XaZElt_fs.jpg" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5330471224776073570" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 400px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 300px;" /></a>Dial back to 1987--First "real" job at Baskin Robbins, cash in my pocket and change in my new Hello Kitty coin purse! Got a little ribbing from my friends, but they weren't the ones with the 1st real job, 1st real boyfriend (an actor...so cute in "South Pacific!"), and a summer full of theater parties!</div>
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By the time my daughter was born, Sanrio had taken Hello Kitty into the marketing stratosphere. Hello Kitty was everywhere, and of course, I wanted Jill to have Hello Kitty everything! (I did the same thing with dolls for her. We laugh now because she really wasn't ever into dolls.) I do think she liked Hello Kitty, though, because she still has calendar cut-outs in her room. And, what's not to love? Hello Kitty has her own restaurants, shops, friends, and is rich, rich, rich! It's the American dream Japanese style. </div>
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AnaleeMariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11706948104895079015noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-705188682120004503.post-84532382093788161822009-04-28T20:43:00.000-07:002009-04-29T05:30:57.899-07:00Back to Kiddles<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs_7AeUkDHA5dsfCRVNhF3VBDIGErptbdM7oQilYNaIef7q44vmNQvLuSKMxK4mRoKRtwY2fLs4HidqBjXqev151I65r67HmENi1FbzzMTUNEBfwC3y4DMJ3utDhbbNjHpSEkmqR76gXfo/s1600-h/dolls!+016.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5330085797679200450" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 226px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs_7AeUkDHA5dsfCRVNhF3VBDIGErptbdM7oQilYNaIef7q44vmNQvLuSKMxK4mRoKRtwY2fLs4HidqBjXqev151I65r67HmENi1FbzzMTUNEBfwC3y4DMJ3utDhbbNjHpSEkmqR76gXfo/s400/dolls!+016.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwGqrODyQTkLPQ_3A5kfb3XdFFTa5zjC5YoAcUscTCinJXGrr0yNaN5kL4N2wh3g3QFODUTOGXyEvnfiYz1ay72OVdgZjEdVATTWjQXoykftIHzz84GjSY1n7HTFLqdl-SUftxzHqN5Ikv/s1600-h/100_0453.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5330085800090564050" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwGqrODyQTkLPQ_3A5kfb3XdFFTa5zjC5YoAcUscTCinJXGrr0yNaN5kL4N2wh3g3QFODUTOGXyEvnfiYz1ay72OVdgZjEdVATTWjQXoykftIHzz84GjSY1n7HTFLqdl-SUftxzHqN5Ikv/s400/100_0453.JPG" border="0" /></a>I love to visit doll blogs and the doll groups on Flickr because there are so many great pictures! I have never been a great photographer, a quality I must have inherited from my parents. In fact, I recently had to borrow a magnifying glass to look at one of my childhood pics. (Albeit, I was cheekily holding a Liddle Kiddle in front of my face! Even with the magnifying glass I am still not sure, but think it is Shirley Skediddle.) Anyway, that's the way all of my childhood photos are: a bit out of focus and lacking detail. </div><div> </div><div>One of my best clients, and very good friends, is a photographer. She owns an incredible studio in downtown Littleton called Element One Photography. I think I'm going to take her up on her offer to photgraph some of my collection. In the meantime, any photo tips would be greatly appreciated!</div>AnaleeMariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11706948104895079015noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-705188682120004503.post-32805056590864491722009-04-27T20:12:00.000-07:002009-04-27T20:38:55.278-07:00"Art is only art when it is synonymous with living."-Alexander Girard<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUR7S3WdY2l7ev34IyGvB4jZvZlXZX2gzfERh4zKHfVBcxTiZQyhfxnJLH4Do47HoX9TK2ZlsXyq1gTAd69mRzaa2JT7Xcf99CjXVreItnwAVfV5ycEGMO_7yTyQdbWNZ8zwGAWzdzATA3/s1600-h/dollsteapartygir.png"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5329579533775636146" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 258px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUR7S3WdY2l7ev34IyGvB4jZvZlXZX2gzfERh4zKHfVBcxTiZQyhfxnJLH4Do47HoX9TK2ZlsXyq1gTAd69mRzaa2JT7Xcf99CjXVreItnwAVfV5ycEGMO_7yTyQdbWNZ8zwGAWzdzATA3/s400/dollsteapartygir.png" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgshpRYM05Od4PZlMQ4DTLgC3wWUdGsYL7JVheiyeTjN__JC076oEcwMjFfcJ1P8gXF1h417ualXJHXihhWSay2HUi4wRMFIhsvpa5UOzs9wJDsysu3JvR8Zh455G21gnNY-G3K8fUYToAZ/s1600-h/girard_bio_main.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5329579529811971186" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 396px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgshpRYM05Od4PZlMQ4DTLgC3wWUdGsYL7JVheiyeTjN__JC076oEcwMjFfcJ1P8gXF1h417ualXJHXihhWSay2HUi4wRMFIhsvpa5UOzs9wJDsysu3JvR8Zh455G21gnNY-G3K8fUYToAZ/s400/girard_bio_main.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0WsHKIRe865SQCEywiTxYn8lsEN2tNHd4BNXq4zymoXh8sVjcZ5ZQiRN4fWiDxNMst0P8DeaKi2ZPYomcTTXtPzgGkfJezxKcuoPDKaz6sewbLNqpuvoi4mCeotaHKbO9ql_HyoJ6wJhk/s1600-h/alexandergirardpillows.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5329579531415101490" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 301px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0WsHKIRe865SQCEywiTxYn8lsEN2tNHd4BNXq4zymoXh8sVjcZ5ZQiRN4fWiDxNMst0P8DeaKi2ZPYomcTTXtPzgGkfJezxKcuoPDKaz6sewbLNqpuvoi4mCeotaHKbO9ql_HyoJ6wJhk/s400/alexandergirardpillows.jpg" border="0" /></a> Went on a lovely trip to Santa Fe this weekend. Fell in love with the International Museum of Folk Art, especially the Girard collection. Actually, I had seen the collection about 16 years ago and was so amazed at the size and that Alexander and Susan had collected all of these treasures themselves. I got lost inside each diorama; every scene escape worthy. </div><div></div><div>I particularly like this quote I found on the museum's website: </div><div></div><div><em>Toys represent a microcosm of man’s world and dreams.They exhibit fantasy, imagination, humor and love.They are an invaluable record and expression of mans ingenious unsophisticated imagination</em>.-Alexander Girard<br /></div></div>AnaleeMariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11706948104895079015noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-705188682120004503.post-329740363145294452009-04-22T06:47:00.000-07:002009-04-22T06:58:39.466-07:00Just Chillin'<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3kxx_E6ksPpoklPPFLKqHBC2GiTgumgHKPnv4vF_e-Fb0J8ywHBaXJ4hglwAWyGdDMvKzcogypwAizo9yAsaJxalS5mRiUe59dymlaf7SVXaSGQW5KxjCwYinFGILMzIdaYwQMUnv5kO-/s1600-h/100_0546.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5327512418490542514" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3kxx_E6ksPpoklPPFLKqHBC2GiTgumgHKPnv4vF_e-Fb0J8ywHBaXJ4hglwAWyGdDMvKzcogypwAizo9yAsaJxalS5mRiUe59dymlaf7SVXaSGQW5KxjCwYinFGILMzIdaYwQMUnv5kO-/s320/100_0546.JPG" border="0" /></a> Oh, to have the life of a doll! Sure, they are plastic, inanimate, and only capable of a couple of expressions, but then so are a lot of people I've met. <br /><br />I actually didn't like original Blythe dolls back in the 1970's. I thought they were ugly and scary with their weird changing eyes and dark circles. However, if I would have bought a couple of them back then I would have enough money today to go on a trip to Europe. Yep, Blythe's are worth thousands of dollars because they are so scarce. Apparently, alot of other children didn't like them, either.<br /><br />Anyway, I love today's Petite Blythe...much cuter and more approachable!AnaleeMariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11706948104895079015noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-705188682120004503.post-14141213133825277732009-04-21T06:12:00.000-07:002009-04-21T06:38:46.270-07:00Basket 'o Barbies!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjASCUrHcYhsWyKaN7fHMHGOMzOU3DGc_j-xGg9fyJ7pc5U4XTcJgiVHYWYr-XsXRP0xK9IKcvmfPQjNk4zJlcdPtOfn9_23XjOIHumRuLhYTBLLFQHVeNVcLyTHWE4PMAjdHmJ-tEkfbt8/s1600-h/100_0649.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5327133131989243586" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 189px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjASCUrHcYhsWyKaN7fHMHGOMzOU3DGc_j-xGg9fyJ7pc5U4XTcJgiVHYWYr-XsXRP0xK9IKcvmfPQjNk4zJlcdPtOfn9_23XjOIHumRuLhYTBLLFQHVeNVcLyTHWE4PMAjdHmJ-tEkfbt8/s320/100_0649.JPG" border="0" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6yTIkBZmt3POhlmkfP9xgWzMqXurGVCHDFGHy6P1CR2B0SNJdjLUMr0vUvPTJTun2M0PjzCaIvs4eRcExln8Dj-fKgWaMZ18Os3V5vKaoF3QqKtYllugdTE9yS4uHEtjtPv2ziJqDid3Y/s1600-h/100_0510.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5327132419006820658" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 189px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6yTIkBZmt3POhlmkfP9xgWzMqXurGVCHDFGHy6P1CR2B0SNJdjLUMr0vUvPTJTun2M0PjzCaIvs4eRcExln8Dj-fKgWaMZ18Os3V5vKaoF3QqKtYllugdTE9yS4uHEtjtPv2ziJqDid3Y/s320/100_0510.JPG" border="0" /></a>I rescued these Barbies, and their friends, from a thrift store bucket. I dress them in vintage Sindy and Barbie outfits. Anytime I need a lift for the day I get out the clothes, and little hairbrush, and spend an hour in play. Actually, I read a true story about a Barbie collector whose collection helped her get through a tragic event in her life. And Stuart Brown is in the news lately with his new book, <em>Play: How It Shapes the Brain, Opens the Imagination and Invigorates the Soul. </em>I haven't read it yet, but I have it on hold at the library. His contention is that we all need play every day, especially during times of economic stress. <br /><br />I am reading Johan Huizinga's book,<em> Home Ludens: A Study of the Play Element in Culture. </em>Huizinga contends that all culture comes from play. <br />I just know that spending time with my dolls takes me out of myself and allows me time to just <em>be</em> for the moment.AnaleeMariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11706948104895079015noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-705188682120004503.post-38083030213745544982009-04-20T06:27:00.000-07:002009-04-20T06:41:49.855-07:00Cuties of the Day<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjz6EDqA9J7PtvKq9yIca2yfo_c6WMF_vnV87-roGemwTdQFpoXpVvu6NCiE953PjmsRdx_AWbuq3Xo8-u7SgCUgdoFqiKVtO85MlvE67Yo01WYSNKbttnGbGhDiP7MQGp4Im6agkM4RWB/s1600-h/dolls!+017.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5326765059445898898" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 254px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjz6EDqA9J7PtvKq9yIca2yfo_c6WMF_vnV87-roGemwTdQFpoXpVvu6NCiE953PjmsRdx_AWbuq3Xo8-u7SgCUgdoFqiKVtO85MlvE67Yo01WYSNKbttnGbGhDiP7MQGp4Im6agkM4RWB/s320/dolls!+017.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS8QilrhywNbWUqzUVLbn3jbeWDLKFKqsKmdSLr6cxDmy1FtnjgV8kerScxLDdLQwiBejuBFzNZKmTK2EnJ4QEX2qpTl0qQhACD6fM_oUq3g_d5L38q7NrdyRLq1vwwisZ3bzAjjv9aAG4/s1600-h/dolls!+013.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5326765055980199218" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS8QilrhywNbWUqzUVLbn3jbeWDLKFKqsKmdSLr6cxDmy1FtnjgV8kerScxLDdLQwiBejuBFzNZKmTK2EnJ4QEX2qpTl0qQhACD6fM_oUq3g_d5L38q7NrdyRLq1vwwisZ3bzAjjv9aAG4/s320/dolls!+013.jpg" border="0" /></a> Tori Tulip is doing her best Vanna showcasing these darling chocolates today. I bought them for my son's Easter basket and then immediately rescued the froggies and snail once he talked about actually eating them! Don't feel bad for the kid--he's 17 and basically eating eating me out of house and home. </div>AnaleeMariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11706948104895079015noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-705188682120004503.post-23671562446299307102009-04-19T08:15:00.000-07:002009-04-19T08:37:08.664-07:00Mint Chip Madison and Miss Dorothy<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq8OuK1iZmE5WBccJki37FxSo4QpQPUYN_RKJu0ZTEPI5S2Xi1wooa2rx9E2Lc94EjhQj_nEfrf53DjnCktuQczTmbVeNq4WKHzEYJm88AOEQHpjjBy_ruVG-BtYg9jIIXLd6P6Mplpu4_/s1600-h/dolls!+005.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5326422271397736114" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq8OuK1iZmE5WBccJki37FxSo4QpQPUYN_RKJu0ZTEPI5S2Xi1wooa2rx9E2Lc94EjhQj_nEfrf53DjnCktuQczTmbVeNq4WKHzEYJm88AOEQHpjjBy_ruVG-BtYg9jIIXLd6P6Mplpu4_/s320/dolls!+005.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiAUH5tLkPkdO6uS4Py3KtOIutbXLwcIbyhd5lR-dSkG2dCB85BLvUNKjv3lVctrI4tFcqQh7ARcw57YPk8D2DCCSsFx-1vKXNOsRv0fcuvQ5c8jBjS8kx2KRCs86avquxhM0YG818BZbz/s1600-h/dolls!+011.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5326421861625754850" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiAUH5tLkPkdO6uS4Py3KtOIutbXLwcIbyhd5lR-dSkG2dCB85BLvUNKjv3lVctrI4tFcqQh7ARcw57YPk8D2DCCSsFx-1vKXNOsRv0fcuvQ5c8jBjS8kx2KRCs86avquxhM0YG818BZbz/s320/dolls!+011.jpg" border="0" /></a>Of the entire Peak-a-boo Petities Ice Cream Cutie line, Mint Chip Madison was the most difficult to find. In fact, only two were listed on ebay. The week before Easter I was driving around quite a bit on different jobs, and kept running into Walmart stores. So, I stopped at each one and found Mint Chip and the entire Wizard of Oz line. (A couple of notes about this line: so strange that Toto is nowhere to be found not even as a charm; and the remaining characters, Tin Man, Scarecrow, Cowardly Lion, and Glenda all have the exact same charms as Dorothy. If it were up to me, I would have different charms on each one like an oil can, a wand, an apple, a broom, etc.) Anyway, I really wanted to find two Dorothy's, one to give to Jill and one to keep. Jill has always adored The Wizard of Oz. No dice, but at least they all get to live in Jill's room.</div><div></div><div>I hope peekaboos come out with more storybook sets, especially Alice in Wonderland, just like the little kiddles, kelly, and barbie lines all have!</div>AnaleeMariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11706948104895079015noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-705188682120004503.post-71849123881129523332009-04-18T16:23:00.000-07:002009-04-20T06:25:12.070-07:00Anzi Dolls<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQSe3YFkAcyIrBdVQv6rvRgi84GoRX1URRpTXEd5ReOrPZNlQNeygaHRsp-avEbt0InZB3UUNEWkr-3c7LJhwaek-xVxZkOUm8K60QAYwIBYjuwR6I6K7pqNU2yNbnbNfBMqCT4ErJfXfI/s1600-h/dolls!+021.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5326414901645719522" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQSe3YFkAcyIrBdVQv6rvRgi84GoRX1URRpTXEd5ReOrPZNlQNeygaHRsp-avEbt0InZB3UUNEWkr-3c7LJhwaek-xVxZkOUm8K60QAYwIBYjuwR6I6K7pqNU2yNbnbNfBMqCT4ErJfXfI/s320/dolls!+021.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUIBkXGnbk_4vWN2dlnnqpQi5oXu7dFO2glFoi0qsfQFz9IruVizZv1E1S3SdeM5LT8n9p1JcTZiKAl-VmYtde4A21lOU-eJPR-5yaWvKckoZkxFXEdknlfr3fZFZzC9yYtRhDmsjNlYFN/s1600-h/dolls!+002.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5326414896590966770" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUIBkXGnbk_4vWN2dlnnqpQi5oXu7dFO2glFoi0qsfQFz9IruVizZv1E1S3SdeM5LT8n9p1JcTZiKAl-VmYtde4A21lOU-eJPR-5yaWvKckoZkxFXEdknlfr3fZFZzC9yYtRhDmsjNlYFN/s320/dolls!+002.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVBMAVLz620Iu6UBTM1wt_prakZJiSc-kh5nTewABzVFuQYfxzKPA4pvXPDIqLQvGQN-DJQgrKiCwu6GmufpCPPXUSSoqHbPu-F3tImMtwa2vgYqh3avPxVda_1d6mcVNUSk_4sYnUteNw/s1600-h/dolls!+022.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5326414891886169874" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVBMAVLz620Iu6UBTM1wt_prakZJiSc-kh5nTewABzVFuQYfxzKPA4pvXPDIqLQvGQN-DJQgrKiCwu6GmufpCPPXUSSoqHbPu-F3tImMtwa2vgYqh3avPxVda_1d6mcVNUSk_4sYnUteNw/s320/dolls!+022.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieIfurkolxUx4RiZ5nZA_veFENWpgIImXdh0fpErPeBMuWXDkCLrLINX_j6O3pjO6mTKATNjopnD3paVjT3KoG-zrlXJxCF51Fml_2x4eEtRlV7UbIZ1wbdO6QG3Gc03iwds6yzWNfoO78/s1600-h/dolls!+002.jpg"></a>I have fallen in love with Anzi dolls. I like that no two dolls are exactly alike, each are poseable, the face detail is excellent, they can wear Kelly clothes, and who wouldn't love the price--each doll is only $1.00 to $1.50!</div><div><br /></div><div></div><div><br /></div><div>My kids discovered that on the back of every "Lovely Anzi" package there is a cryptic message: </div><div><br /></div><div>It is happy to Swim to </div><div><br /></div><div>Round me </div><div><br /></div><div>Everyday </div><div><br /></div><div>You also may </div><div><br /></div><div>Be happy</div><div> </div><div> </div><div></div></div><div></div><div><div>They thought this was simply hilarious, one more thing for two teenagers to tease their mom about. However, I say this could be the secret to life. We could all do worse than to live by these words. </div><div></div></div></div>AnaleeMariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11706948104895079015noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-705188682120004503.post-18122191493521229612009-04-17T06:55:00.000-07:002009-04-17T07:07:05.921-07:00Snowy Day in April<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSts6CScXScv2a_H55xKFnAoCH-_zfc1I22e0Tj1-L2uP4h1GQnmV6YkeW8K9sLLt7Daq_kGzG6V6_LUVHs3YDpHQQZb3nmFZTHA_1kc0qhyeWMg2BIC-tZe_GGeGQVPeqCsUHGeSEjfVc/s1600-h/Freezy+Sliddle.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5325658901373857906" style="WIDTH: 247px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSts6CScXScv2a_H55xKFnAoCH-_zfc1I22e0Tj1-L2uP4h1GQnmV6YkeW8K9sLLt7Daq_kGzG6V6_LUVHs3YDpHQQZb3nmFZTHA_1kc0qhyeWMg2BIC-tZe_GGeGQVPeqCsUHGeSEjfVc/s320/Freezy+Sliddle.jpg" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEild-HH8Flxflc-f4jMnEaSfTNEFBDDdk10LwwQppVBQaJa3D7syAUzsJb_MeJ6XUzjhEn3NdrQkWx2pDRRrz8NW_lRroB6I5_HtJvYJ6ceBL8VLP-c1GNu_vO17uAVW_3o6KxNLoV-J29s/s1600-h/one-snowy-day-in-may.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5325658905844590242" style="WIDTH: 225px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 250px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEild-HH8Flxflc-f4jMnEaSfTNEFBDDdk10LwwQppVBQaJa3D7syAUzsJb_MeJ6XUzjhEn3NdrQkWx2pDRRrz8NW_lRroB6I5_HtJvYJ6ceBL8VLP-c1GNu_vO17uAVW_3o6KxNLoV-J29s/s320/one-snowy-day-in-may.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div>Last month I posted that March started out just beautiful, spring-like, and sure enough, it ended like a lion with lots, and lots of snow. April will be our snowiest month here in Colorado this year, which really isn't unusual. </div><div> </div><div>I wish I could just stay home and write today, but I have to go to of all things, a spring-themed business tradeshow. I was at set-up last night and the irony of the theme put a wry smile on my face. In fact, the news just said that we should have two to three feet of snow here! Freezy Sliddle loves to look out the window and watch the snowfall. <br /><br /></div><div></div>AnaleeMariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11706948104895079015noreply@blogger.com0