American Girl

Oh, how fun it was to be an eight-year-old again!  I had the complete joy of going to the new American Girl Store here in the DC area.  It was so much fun, especially since I went with my friend and her five-year-old.  Little miss was sporting an original American Girl outfit complete with the matching outfit for her American Girl doll.  It was precious.

We got there around 10:30, and the store was already buzzing with activity.  There were moms with their daughters, ranging from one-year-olds to young teens.  Most girls carried an American Girl Doll or a Bitty Baby and some, like my friends little girl, had matching outfits.  There were even moms who had their own dolls.

We walked into the two-story building from the outside entrance.  We immediately saw the multiple displays of the historical dolls and all the outfits and accessories for them.  I made a beeline to Kit, the doll that I had decided to purchase.  There she was, clean and new in her box, much unlike my gently loved Kirsten from circa 1992.  We picked her out and selected a few pre-determined outfits and accessories for her (I made a wish list at home because I knew I would be too overwhelmed at the store).  Kit came home with her accessories, her birthday dress, her school outfit, her school supplies, and her school lunch.  There was also a bistro restaurant on this floor complete with pink linen.  Tucked in the corner was a room labeled, “Personal Shopper.”  Whoa, I do not think I will need that service, but if the situation calls for it, I will know where to go!

We proceeded to go downstairs where there was even more to enjoy.  There we found the doll hair salon, Bitty Baby section, and the collection of My American Girl dolls, accessories, and clothing for girls (modern clothing and accessories).  There are so many combinations of hair/eyes/skin that a little girl can pick out a doll that complements her own features, down to braces and underwear!

One thing I liked about going here was the bond between mothers and daughters.  I could see how excited both sides were.  No temper tantrums, no “gimmies.”  Just pure understanding on both sides of the importance of this store.  I was so happy to have shared this experience with my friend and her daughter.  I hope to be able to take my daughter there some day, but until then, any one have a little girl I can borrow?

Our Garden

Ever since we became homeowners in 2008, we always planned to plant a vegetable garden.  That plan always fell short right before the execution phase.  This year, in spite of quick planning, we went for it.  We purchased many different fruit and vegetable starter plants and planted them in a small square of land in our back yard.  The total area is about 10’ by 5’.  We planted cherry tomatoes, grape tomatoes, early girl tomatoes, a variety of peppers, strawberries, cucumbers, zucchini, eggplant, pumpkins, and watermelon.

We planted with ever-loving care and tended to the garden with Miracle Grow plant food.  Since it does rain here a lot (shocker!), we did not need to worry about watering too much.  Much to our astonishment, our garden BLEW UP!  I mean, it was crazy how much this little plot of land was able to feed and house so much!

The largest part of the garden was the two pumpkin plants.  I measured one continuous vine to be about 20 feet long.  Darn thing even snuck through the fence into the neighbors!  Needless to say, we had to cut it back some because it was suffocating the rest of the garden.  Here is a picture before we trimmed it back.

We have lots and lots of growing tomatoes.  They are still green and I can imagine the day that they all decide to turn red.  I have already been looking up recipes for canning these things.  I don’t want any to go to waste.

We also have some peppers getting ready to grow up!  I think they will make a lovely salsa when paired with the tomatoes.

When I was trimming back the pumpkins, I found two rip cucumbers hibernating under the leaves.  We used them to make a wonderful Greek meal that night.  I was so proud of those two cucumbers!  Want to know something ironic?  I don’t even like cucumbers!