Our Visit to the American Girl Store

Ever since our girls received their very first American Girl dolls on Christmas morning in 2010, they have been requesting American Girl birthday parties, collecting additional Historical dolls (and accessories, clothing and furniture) received as gifts on their birthdays and Christmas (you can see how we organize it all here), dressing their dolls up as saints, completing unit studies and lap books based on the Historical dolls, and dreaming about someday visiting an actual American Girl store...



That dream finally came true during our recent visit to Seattle a couple weeks ago!


"Mom! Stop taking pictures so we can go explore!"

I was disappointed that we didn't have an opportunity to visit before all the recent new "Beforever" changes to the Historical doll line, but the girls loved seeing all the new outfits including Kit and Addy's new "rich clothes!" See, even a 9 year old can tell that the new "Meet" outfits look way too expensive for the cooresponding time periods! ;)



However, even I couldn't argue that Samantha does look so much prettier in pink… and just look at that darling Lacy Parasol! ♥



Next Twinkle Toes went searching for Caroline…



… and Chiquita headed straight for the Josefina display.



Being a weekday during the school year we pretty much had the whole store to ourself!



We had a little time before our reservations at the Bistro so we visited the Doll Salon to make an appointment for Josefina.



Caroline and Emily just needed a new brush, but the kind hair stylist offered to "show us how to use the brush" on their hair as well and soon everyone was looking their best for our Afternoon Tea and Craft!



I had never told the girls much about the American Girl stores and the "oohs" and "aahs" when we walked into the PINK Bistro, and when they realized that even their dolls would get there own seats, were so cute!

The girls all opted for Pink Lemonade instead of Tea and started working on the Beforever Bracelets.

Tea arrived on three tier trays and looked pretty, but it really wasn't anything special and didn't taste that great. The girls all agreed that their mom's teas are more creative and taste SO. MUCH. BETTER! :)  (That made me so happy!) If we ever visit again we'd probably just skip the meal and order a dessert to share.

After we had finished our tea it was time to shop! The girls had been saving their sticker charts for months. (Last spring I started a new sticker reward system for extra chores, summer schoolwork, etc and each completed sticker chart equals a certain amount of money for them to put towards activities or things they would like to purchase.) The sticker charts combined with some birthday gift money from their grandparents and a little extra spending money I gave them for our trip allowed them each to pick out some things from their wish lists! 

Twinkle Toes purchased some of Caroline's clothes and accessories as well as the new Lacy Parasol from the Samantha line. Chiquita purchased the food from the Josefina and Kaya collections as well as Kaya's Winter Accessories.



Rose kept pulling me back to all the beautiful ROSE COVERED (It was during my novena to St. Therese and roses were turning up in random places each and every day!) furniture and accessories in Samantha's collection and we ended up choosing Samantha's Holiday Set to take home.  Isn't it precious?!



We had such a fun filled afternoon creating special memories that will Beforever! ;)

The Big Girls' Bedroom {and How We Organize Their American Girl Dolls and Clothes}

After I posted pictures of the girls' paintings yesterday I realized I should have taken a picture of them hanging on the wall!  I still need to purchase a couple white frames, but we temporarily used some tack adhesive to hang them in their bedroom. I also realized that I never did share pictures of their bedroom last summer, after we assembled their new bunk bed and they switched rooms with their younger sister.  Since we spent last week deep cleaning and reorganizing their bedroom, now is the perfect time to take some pictures to share! 

This bedroom is still the original "Buttercream" color that I originally choose from Ellen Kennon Full Spectrum Paints when we added on the bedrooms and bathrooms about 10 years ago. I've had to touch it up here and there over the years, but it still looks so bright and cheery. 

"Buttercream is a soft yellow with just enough pink to give it a rosy glow without turning peach. It is a mental, intellectual color promoting creativity, logic and organization. Reminiscent of sunshine, it also encourages hope and optimism."

The girls dresser is one that I was given. I had it painted and the knobs replaced by the same lady who painted my dining room hutch.  The "Thank Heaven for Little Girls" sign reminds me of my Grandmother, who would always sing that song to me as a child, and was purchased from a local boutique when the girls were younger.

Caroline (Christmas '12), Felicity (8th birthday/2011), Elizabeth (Christmas '10) and Saige (10th Birthday/2013)

Twinkle Toes keeps her American Girl Dolls on top of the dresser along with her doll cradle.

Kaya (Christmas '12), Josefina (Christmas '10), and Kirsten (7th Birthday/Apr. 2012)

Chiquita keeps her dolls, along with Kaya's Animals and Josefina's bed, on top of the short bookcase in between the foot of their bunk bed and the bedroom door.

When I had to give up our little school room to the younger boys last summer (sniff, sniff . . . I'm still recovering from the loss and struggling to find new homes for everything), I moved two of the newer white bookcases to the big girls' bedroom. The taller bookshelf is filled with quite a few books from my  childhood, as well as some of the girls own favorites.  The bottom shelf has Magazine Files for all of their Lap Books (both completed and in-progress) as well as three-ring binders that contain their individual Holy Card Collections.

We usually hang a crucifix above each bed, but the girls' crucifixes are still hanging above the beds in their old room. Using a couple holes that were already in the wall, I "temporarily" hung a crucifix and our Our Lady of Mount Carmel picture (also from the school room) last summer.

The smaller bookshelf was transformed into their American Girl Clothes Closet and Bookshelf!

We lowered the shelf and placed a tension rod near the top which gave us a perfect place to hang all the pretty dresses and nightgowns for their dolls.

Last year I ordered some tiny wooden hangers at the suggestion of a friend (Thank you, Aimee!) and they are just darling!

I ordered a mix of the standard Doll Clothes Hangers and some Doll Clothes Hangers with Clips.

The girls line up all the dolls coordinating shoes against the back of the bookcase behind the dresses. 

The "closet" is still the same - closet organizers along one of their bedroom walls.  Now that they are getting older I wish I would have left a spot for long dresses and skirts when I installed the closet organizers four years ago.  

Behind the doors the girls keep a couple boxes with all the rest of the doll accessories, a couple boxes with letters from pen pals, some craft supplies, a couple boxes with all their favorite artwork, and their binders from Little Flowers and Along the Alphabet Path.  Inside the drawers below they keep their hats, craft supplies, and the bottom drawer has their few LEGO sets. 

The girls keep their fall and winter clothes on the top bars for now, and have their summer skirts and dresses on the bottom bars. The Green Closetmaid Drawers are where the girls keep their summer shoes (one drawer each), their robes, all of their Calico Critter dolls and furniture, some craft supplies, and I actually think the top drawer is empty at the moment since the dolls that were in it are over in their little sisters room at the moment!  

Blessed Imelda(s) and St. Catherine of Siena Zelie Dolls and First Holy Communion Dolls from Saintly Silver 

First Holy Communion Gift Ideas

I couldn't resist a close-up picture of some of their dolls on the shelf… You can also see their American Girl Dolls dressed up as saints here. 

Underneath the bunk bed we have three storage boxes: one for all of their dress-up clothes, one for hand-me-downs that are still too big, and one for their shoes/winter boots. 

Despite the little defects (including gray spots/paint overspray on one of the headboards which you can't even notice with it against the wall) I just LOVE the girls' bunk bed!  It is so beautiful and feminine with the lace finish and ROSES! 

Anyways, I hope you enjoyed this little tour of their bedroom. Now I have proof that it was actually clean for a couple days! Time to move on and see if we can tackle another room or two in this house before our school year begins. . .

Books for Girls :: A Closer Look at the Bookshelf

On the Feast of St. Cecilia :: A Sweet and Simple Treat

Let the deep organ swell the lay, 

In honor of this festive day. 

Let the harmonious choirs proclaim, 

Cecilia's ever blessed name.

This afternoon, after getting home from Mass, the girls had so much fun making a simple and sweet treat for the feast of St. Cecilia!  We enjoyed listening to Cecilia, Saint of the Catacombs - The Story of Saint Cecilia to and reading a little more about this beautiful saint from Saints: Lives and Illuminations.  

Can You Find Saint Cecilia? 

Can you find Saints?: Introducing Your Child to Holy Men and Women

Aren't Rose and "Mia" so darling in their matching corduroy dresses?   

The dresses arrived this week from Sew Sweet by Shannon and were sent as samples - along with some adorable Felt Breakfast Food - for hosting a giveaway here at Shower of Roses! (Thank you Shannon!) 

Shannon is a 17 year old Catholic homeschool graduate who recently opened her shop over at Etsy!  She offers modest clothing for girls and women, lovely tote bags, and much more!   I immediately fell in love with all the beautiful and well-made items she sent and am already considering another dress for Rose (maybe in green?) and a couple of her tote bags for myself and oldest daughter.  

Sew Sweet by Shannon has generously offered the following two prizes to the visitors here at Shower of Roses! 

Please enter the giveaway below:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Cecilia with a two-fold crown,

Adorned in heaven we pray look down,

Upon thy fervent children here

And harken to their humble prayer.

Sancta Cecilia, Ora Pro Nobis!

The Dolls' Saint Costumes {with links to our children's past Saint Costumes!}

I'm not the only one who has been working on preparing costumes for our upcoming annual All Hallows' Eve Party...  The older girls have been busy creating costumes for the dolls as well!  

Josefina is dressed as Our Lady of Guadalupe... 

... complete with a blue play silk veil covered with paper stars, and paper roses at her feet! 

Caroline is dressed as St. Cecilia...

... Kaya is dressed as St. Kateri...

... Kirsten is dressed for Lucia Day in honor of St. Lucy...

(She is wearing the original American Girl outfit and wreath, but I am dying to show you all a beautiful new option that a friend of mine has recently created... soon!)

... and Mia (as in ME-ah - Rose's look like-me-ah doll) is dressed as Our Lady of the Rosary!

I always love seeing their creativity! 

Anyways, it is time for me to get back to helping the children assemble their costumes for this year, now that the girls have shown me how to thread the machine.... (I am so thankful I had them take that sewing class this past summer!)   We are headed to our parish's party this evening and I will try to share this year's costumes soon.  In the meantime you can browse through some of the children's past Saint Costumes in the archives or by clicking the individual links below.  

.: Saintly Costumes From the Archives :.

• Saintly Costumes (2008 - long list of ideas and suggestions)

• Reminiscing (pictures from 2006)
• Our Cast of Saints (2007)
• Our Cast of Saints (2008)
• Our Cast of Saints (2009)
• Getting Ready to Celebrate the Feast of All Saints (2010 - includes costumes from my childhood)
• Our Cast of Saints (2010) 
• Our Cast of Saints (2011)
• Our Parish All Saints' Party and Costume Contest (2012)
• {this moment} (2012 - Parish Contest Winners!) 
• Our Cast of Saints (2012)

• A Costume for St. Maximilian Kolbe (2009)
• Almost Wordless Wednesday (2010 - Our Lady of Guadalupe)
• A Costume for St. Catherine of Alexandria (2011)
• St. Michael the Archangel (2012)
• St. Joan of Arc, Maid of Lorraine :: All Saints' Day Costume (2012)