My Last Day... :'(

I can hardly believe it's been a week already! I've really enjoyed posting - each day was a slightly different challenge and made me do some things I've been just too lazy to get around to lately (like baking).

I'd like to thank each and every one of y'all for reading and commenting - it's been so encouraging to see the numbers in our insights!

I hope that sometime through the week you took time to imagine, make-believe, and enjoy time with your daughter (and her dolls).

Did you make a chocolate cake? I have to say Addy did an awesome job! Even if everything was store-bought (-_-) it was super yummy! ♥

The weather was sunny almost all day long, and the temperature was perfect. I'm rather bummed that I didn't get to go outdoors and enjoy it (especially after such a wet week!), but tomorrow is supposed to be equally as or even more beautiful out - I'll definitely be going outside for awhile! While I hope that you all will read Elisa's first blog post tomorrow, I also hope that you get outside to soak up the sun as well!

I remember when I was younger (haha, I sound so old like that) I used to love going outside just to play. There was no end to the amount of fun I could have, or the amount of torture I could inflict on my brother (Mom and Dad weren't watching me, so I could get away with it - I love those memories!). But as I started to get older, I would become bored. I couldn't accomplish anything useful. Other than occasional yard work, there was nothing to do. Maybe there were things to do, but I didn't want to do them. I just wasn't interested. Even now, I still struggle with those feelings somewhat.

But now, I have no problem going out (unless the bugs are bad) because I can work in *my* garden or tend to the front flower bed, or take a zillion and a half pictures (only 25 or so of which I actually post on Facebook)!!!

However, those things aren't for everyone. Does your child (or children) not want to go outdoors either? Is there nothing to entice them? I'd love to point you to a couple of awesome places for inspiration! I mean, I may be a Junior in highschool, and maybe these things are meant for younger peoples, but I would love to participate in them myself! (even if it's only to photograph everyone....lol).

Since today is the 5th of May, I'll share 5 (inexpensive) ideas that you can do with your kids outside.


A simple, basic thing that every kid loves to do is blow bubbles, right? Well dumping the bubbles all over the lawn seems to go hand in hand with bubble blowing, especially among the younger kids. Here is a link for homemade bubble refills, but the original blog post for it is
actually here. 

If you go with blowing bubbles into the sunset (one of my personal faves) you will, of course, want a special bubble blower.

Maybe you would like to have a little friendly family competition - I think these balloon cars would be the perfect vehicles for fun!

Maybe it's already super hot where you live, and you plan to do something to keep cool. Try these wet sponge balls!

The last and final idea for outdoors fun this weekend is perfect for places where there has been a lot of rain (like here!). When I was a few feet shorter, and we lived someplace else, the road in front of our house would flood after a day or more of rain. I mean, FLOOD. It would go up to my knees! One of my brother's and my favorite things to do after the rain, was pull on our boots, and grab our homemade boats, and do whatever "floats our boat" in the water! If you have big puddles, a pond, a stream, whatever, and you want to float a boat, here is the perfect boat for you!!!

Hopefully you will do at least one of these activities tomorrow, and enjoy your time outdoors, as a family!

I know I will!

Thanks for the read!

Talk to you in a week or so!

~Paige

Photography Friday

Yay! It's finally photography Friday!

My plan has been to post pictures of the beautiful plants that are in bloom around me. The sky's plan has been to rain all week, and when it had nothing left to rain, to stay overcast. Go figure.

Since that hasn't exactly worked out, I have been going through some old pictures I took last year or the year before that are good enough to blog. So really, today is just going to be a bunch of pictures with captions. My kind of post!!!

 

Oh, and about yesterday's post. Like Addy said, there wasn't time for me to leave a final comment or two. But now I'll share it with you. First of all, I would like to say that it takes a rather long time to bake things and take pictures; It takes even longer to set it up for dolls! I would just do it with humans, but internet safety is important, and I do not have permission to do pictures of anyone other than myself and Elisa. I figured it would be more interesting to do it from a doll's perspective. Besides, lots of adult doll bloggers do the same sort of thing, so why not?

(I'm telling you this because my Mom rolled her eyes 3 times in 30 minutes over it, and my Dad couldn't stop laughing. I'm pretty sure they believe I'm off my rocker...but considering my few picture options, I haven't much choice in the matter.)

Let the pictures begin!!!

Looking out over a bit of the world

I can't help but think that this is some fairy's wedding dress upside down! haha

Some unique, green plant

Just a pretty tree in one of my favorite colors

♥ Gorgeous ♥

Another pretty tree

Such a colorful Tulip!

I love how strong the color is.

You can't ask for a more beautiful sky.

These kinds of flowers always make me laugh. I don't really know why.

A trip to the zoo - this is a spectacled bear.

Just an interesting shot of one of my little scooter dude sistas.

Penguins - do the belly flop!

It's Marlin from Finding Nemo! Nemo is actually swimming right behind him, you just can't tell from this pic.

Both the spectacled bears were very amusing.

My favorite Penguin photograph.

Ahhhh. Warm sun, sand, and bare feet. I can hardly wait for the summer!

I have to go shopping today for supplies for a custom order. I love being able to say that! I also have a house to clean, and a test or two to take . . . which I have been putting off. :-/  I do not love saying that. The sun just came out! My day is going to be awesome, even with tests! I hope yours will be too!

See you back here tomorrow!

~Paige

 

Tasty Thursday

So yesterday I told you all that today we would have a guest blogger, and something sweet. And that's exactly what you're getting!

Without further ado - drumroll, please! - let's welcome our model, Addy, to the blog!!!

Oh my gosh! Hi everyone! I can hardly believe I'm writing this...but after three pinches, I'm pretty sure it's real!

Today I'm hosting Tasty Thursday, and I wish to begin by making a point.

Humans never feed us. Ever. 

True, we don't require sustenance, but it tastes awesome! 

Sometimes you throw little tea parties for us. However, it's only water or juice, and the HUMANS drink it!

Speaking for dolls everywhere, I think you all could be a little more thoughtful.

The only thing this post is good for is if humans take my point to heart. If not, you might as well stop reading. 

I got Paige to let me bake a cake this afternoon. And not just any old cake. If I get to eat only once or twice a year, I want it to be good! So I made a DOLL SIZED, Death by Chocolate Cake. ♥

I know you want to make one too, for your dolls. Or, then again, you might want it in adult size. Either way, you'll need to know what I did. :-)

To start, you will need a chocolate cake mix and round cake pan.

 Spray the pan with non-stick cooking spray, and mix the cake following the directions on the back. (Paige huffed and said that she would have made one from scratch, but I'd rather take the easy way out since I'm never in the kitchen!)

 After I poured the batter into the pans, I sprinkled the top with mini chocolate chips. Mmmm! 

Then I baked the cake. When it was done, I took it out of the oven and left it on a wire rack to cool. After ten minutes, I took the cake out of the pan and left it to finish cooling on a wire rack. When it came time to "carve" the cake, I began by leveling off the top (I had a bit of a volcano look going on). 

Then I sliced along the middle of the remaining cake. Separating the layers, I filled the center with store-bought cream cheese frosting (Paige said store-bought icing is another no-no that I committed in her kitchen today, hehe).

I stacked the top layer back on, and the began to frost with chocolate frosting (my favorite). It took me awhile to get it as smooth as I wanted. And then I accidentally jabbed it once or twice. (You would too if your hands were perpetually stuck in a cupped position! It's not easy to do human things)

Then it was time to decorate (yummy!)!!!

I lined the outside edge of the cake with semi-sweet chocolate chips, and then I drizzled chocolate sauce and caramel sauce over the top. 

At first, I was upset when the chocolate dripped down the sides of the cake. But then I realized it just made my mouth water all the more!

Here are the pics:

My favorite part was tasting!

 I hope you all enjoyed this post!!!

Paige said she wanted to leave a comment or two at the end, but her mom says it's time for bed, so we have to go RIGHT NOW. Hehe. She'll say it tomorrow. :-)

Thanks for stopping by!

~ Addy

Wild Card Wednesday

Today is a wild card day, because it's Wednesday!

This is going to be a short post to make up for the fact that the rest of the week's posts will most likely be pretty long. ♥

- Update on the Multi-Purpose Crocheted Fashion Accessory - A DolzDreamzzz Exclusive Item!!! is that I'm experiencing a few technical difficulties, and a lack of proper photo props, so the project isn't going quite as I had hoped. But it will work...eventually.

- Tomorrow we will be welcoming a special guest blogger for Tasty Thursday! Prepare yourselves for sweetness!

- In order to put some distance between myself and the multi-purpose crocheted fashion accessory, I have decided to work on a special something that will tie in with the rest of this week's posts! If all goes well, you will be reading bubbly, cheerful, picture laden blog posts...if all does not go well, well, I'll be a bit deflated and wing everything. lol. Let's hope it all works out, for your sakes and mine. :-)

Hopefully I'll see you all back here tomorrow!

~Paige

Mayday! Mayday!

      I awoke to furious banging on my cabin door. I sat bolt upright in my bed and began dressing. "What is it?" I asked tensely.

      "Captain! Your presence is required on deck; I have come to waken you."

      It was my faithful first mate, Bellows. I knew that if he had thought it important enough to come and wake me in the middle of my three out of twenty-four hour break from duty, then something must be seriously wrong. "I'll be right up," I answered shortly.

      "Yes, Cap'n. I'll meet you there."

      As I gathered my wits and my weaponry, I observed our current plight. The blasted storm had been raging for over a week now, and half my men were so exhausted that they either dropped dead at their post, or were groaning in their hammocks on the deck below myself. I had a faithful crew, and for that I was grateful. My ship was being tossed about relentlessly, and I worried that she would not make it much longer. I was prepared to die, and to go down with my ship, but I had always hoped it would be in warmer waters than those of the Atlantic Ocean.

      I left my cabin and began the slippery ascent to the deck of my ship.

      With each step, the shouting became more and more clear. Was it as I thought? Was that really what they were saying? My strength vanished from me, and my stomach went sour. For a few moments, I almost fell off the ladder. Then I straightened my shoulders, took a deep breath, and erased all signs of doubt from my face. I was determined to be strong for my crew through it all. No matter what.

      I burst through the door, and all my senses became overloaded.

      The sight was overwhelming. The smell... well, I don't think you want to know about what I actually smelled, but it was strong. The sounds...the sounds of my men screaming at the top of their lungs, "MAYDAY! MAYDAY!" assaulted my ears.

      Then all of it stopped. My men turned to face me; silence reigned. Then Bellows bellowed (how else do you think he got his name?), "Three cheers for Captain Ruthie! She has led us through the storm to safety! Hip-HIP HOORAY! Hip-HIP...."

      My heart swelled with pride at the thought of my men's sincere appreciation and dedication. I could never have done it without them, but I'd tell them later when we celebrated. For now, I was more than willing to just bask in the praise. And as if to top off the moment, a seagull began circling our ship, hailing us with his screaming cries.

      Now I knew that the flower laden land mass in front of us was not a mirage. Nor the sunset, and the lack of thunderclouds. Nor was I imagining the fact that my men were screaming "MAYDAY!". Indeed, that was what they were saying. I only heard it wrong. It was May 1st, and a popular holiday we celebrated at that point in time on May 1st, is called May Day. May Day is celebrated by picking all the flowers one can find, and giving them to the people one most appreciates.

      We made it just in time to celebrate.

      I cleared my throat and addressed the men, who were awaiting orders. "Well? Isn't somebody going to drop the anchor? Bellows, tell Cookie to prepare a picnic breakfast tomorrow - we're going ashore!".

      I retired to my cabin, leaving the my men in a state of feverish excitement.



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Yep. Today is May Day! I didn't really have much to say about it, so I wrote a short story based on a play of words. How about that? I must be the only nut on my coconut tree crazy enough to do something like that!      

Since today is all about flowers, I thought that I would go take a bunch of pictures of the flowers that are currently in bloom all around me. 

The weather man must not like me. For once, when he called for rain, it actually happened! :-(

Instead, I'll share some flower pictures I took with four of our dolls (one of which is not among our models yet) and hopefully you won't feel too disappointed. :-)

And guess what? I made it into a short music video!

OOOOOoooooooh!!!!!

I hope you enjoyed today's post!

~ Paige