Say Cheese!

Hey everyone! I'm back... again. LOL

Let me just say, I adore GOTY 2016 Lea Clark's camera! I thought I was going to purchase her accessories when I bought the doll BUT after watching quite a few YouTube review videos on her accessories, I decided I'd just buy the camera if I came across one at a decent price since that's all I wanted anyway. I'm happy to say I was able to find one and I snapped it right up! (^_^) 

I must admit when I first took it out of the package I was confused on how it was suppose to fit around the dolls head until I realized the strap detaches. LOL I do like how they are able to hold the camera without the straps too. 

Doesn't Saleen look like a budding photographer? I think she's happy to finally have her own camera. She'll be able to put it to good use later this week. We will be welcoming 2 new girls to our family and they should be arriving by Thursday (according to their tracking information). I think they'll be here sooner. You already know 1 of the girls but the other is going to be a total surprise. (^_^) I already have their names chosen... I think. LOL

Oh yeah, from now on posts will be on Sundays. Since I have failed miserably at my ADAD attempt this time around because I'm not finding the time, I've come to the conclusion ADAW will be easier for me to do. I'll post photos and/or any other updates on a weekly basis to see how that works out. 

I want to take this time to thank everyone for stopping by and reading my blog. I really appreciate and it means a lot to me.

ADAD 2016 - 2/366

Be happy and smile. (^_^)

It feels great to get back into the swing of things. I know I'll need to get my photography and blogging legs again but I think I'll settle back into the groove soon. I'm currently working how I want Saleen's blog to run. So over the next couple of weeks I'll be updating the look of both here and her blog. I plan to start posting on her blog every 2 weeks possibly every week. It's still a work in progress though so stay tuned.

Meet Amethyst (ADAD 2016 - 1/366)

She's here! She's here! I would like to introduce the newest addition to the Among the Dolls family, Amethyst (formerly known as McKenna Brooks). 

Let me just say, Amethyst is one of the prettiest dolls I've ever seen. I have seen photos of her all over  Instagram, Flickr, etc but to actually see this doll in person... Wow... she's beautiful! So excited to have her in my doll family and the perfect way to start my ADAD photo series! (^_^)

DIY Lea Clark's Fruit Stand

I absolutely love GOTY 2016 Lea Clark's Fruit Stand and I was excited to the amazing American Girl Ideas blog made a DIY version using wood and foam board. I'm hoping she makes a DIY version of Lea's Rainforest House because I would love to see if I could make one for my girls.  

DIY Lea Clark's Fruit Stand (Foam Board Version)

DIY Lea Clark's Fruit Stand (Wood Version)

I think I may give this DIY a try. (^_^)

Be sure to stop by her blog, American Girl Ideas or visit her YouTube channel, American Girl Ideas for more DIY American Girl Projects and Reviews.

Looking Forward to 2016

 I usually do my looking forward at the end of December but it's only the beginning of January, so I'll share my plans for this year. As you already know I took a bit of a break from my girls and it was quite refreshing because now I return with a new creative fire and love for them.

So what's happening this year... As an wedding anniversary present from my hubby, my new to me retired GOTY doll should arrive sometime this week. When she arrives I will begin my ADAD 2016 photo series. Any guesses as to who she is? Just as a refresher, I've had... Kailey, Jess, Chrissa and still have Marisol, Sonali, Kanani, Saige, Isabelle and Grace. Oh, I'm not getting a repeat of any of the dolls I currently own or have owned.

On Wednesday, I picked up the mini Lea Clark doll from Target.

She only cost $9.99! Not sure if it's an error on Target's part because the back shows it at $24.99 but I couldn't pass up that deal on a brand new mini AG doll. I'm thinking about seeing if there are anymore and doing a giveaway for one. They're kinda hard to find so hopefully luck will be on my side. (^_^)

Next month, my plan is to visit AGPLA to handpick my 18" GOTY Lea Clark and purchase her Exclusive Collection which includes her accessories and Beach outfit plus get her ears pierced because her exclusive earrings are too adorable. A little later in the year I will get her PJs, Bahia Outfit and Mix & Match Swim Set. I think that will probably be all that I buy from her collection.... Oh wait, I need to still see her Spring/Summer release. ^^; So guess as far as dolls go, I only plan on bringing home the retired GOTY and GOTY 2016 Lea Clark. I must admit I am interested in seeing BF Melody Ellison though. 

Also, I'm FINALLY going to begin working on a permanent doll space instead of individual portable scenes. Another gift from my hubby for our anniversary was the Our Generation Gourmet Kitchen Set. 

I figure I'll make a 4 room house with a living room, kitchen and bedrooms for Saleen & Zoë. Saleen's room will include space for her fashion design and Zoë's personality/likes & dislikes are still a work in progress. ^^;   I have most of the stuff for Saleen's room already but gathering stuff for Zoë will be fun and it will help build her part of the story. 

Those are my plans for this year. Not a whole lot but I will definitely have fun sharing my adventures with you! Do you have any special plans for this year? 

Happy New Year... Welcome Girl of the Year 2016, Lea Clark!

Happy New Year everyone! I know, I know... It's been like more than 9 months since my last post BUT it's a new year and the girls and myself are back! Just a little recap, Ayala (aka Grace Thomas) was the only girl to join us last year but we will be welcoming some new girls to our house this year. Two Girl of the Years will come home... One past (who will be a secret until she arrives) and the other is present 2016 GOTY Lea Clark.

GOTY 2016 Lea Clark made her debut January 1st and her collection has A LOT of things I'd like to add. So of course I can't wait to bring the actual doll home.

Lea Clark Doll & Book $120

Isn't she beautiful? I just LOVE her messenger bag! I'm trying to decide how to introduce her (when she arrives of course) and whether to make her own story or have her be a relative of Saleen & Zoë. 

Here are some of my favorite pieces of her collection. Will I add them all? Who's to say but I wouldn't turn them down if they were given to me. ^^;

Lea's Meet Accessories, $32 

I will absolutely be buying these when I buy my doll. Not only will I save $5 for buying them with the doll, I will be getting the camera. Which we all already know I love photography, so this is a perfect accessory for my girls.

Lea's PJs, $24

These are soo adorable, I'm thinking about getting a matching pair for myself. I was suppose to buy Grace's PJs but totally forgot which I won't do this time.

Lea's Bahia Outfit, $28

I really like the look of this outfit. I think a number of my girls could actually wear this and look super cute.

Lea's Mix & Match Swim Set, $34

I love the vibrant colors of Lea's swim set. I think it would look good on Nevaeh (aka Kanani) too.

But I think my favorite piece from her collection has to be....

Lea's Rainforest House, $395

Yep, her Rainforest House! If I had the room I would love to bring this piece home with all it little goodies. It would be fun to use in a photoshoot. A girl can dream right?! :)

So those are my faves from the GOTY 2016 Lea Clark collection. Which pieces do you love? What pieces will find their way into your collection?

Spent Some Time with Ayala!

So, I've decided I'm not up for the ADAD challenge this year after all. It's a little saddening but I'm alright admitting my defeat. I did make it to day 42! (Click here to see all he photos from my ADAD 2015. ^^) I think the reason why I failed was because all I could think about was photographing Ayala. I wanted to give all my girls a turn in the spotlight but Ayala was on my mind the whole time. So it made me very unhappy and I just stopped taking photos all together. 

I couldn't help myself any longer and had a mini photo shoot with Ayala this past weekend and thanks to my amazing 14yo daughter, I now have a café/bakery/bistro/etc. for Ayala too! (n.n) 

We are still working on it but I LOVE it! I chose the colors and I'm so happy with how it turned out because not only can it serve as bakery but a bedroom too! This will be Ayala's bedroom when not in bakery/café mode. (^_^) I hope to get better pictures when the sun is in the right position for indoor photos but enjoy the sneak peek of Ayala's space.