SHMLF Book Club #1

Looks Like Fun

Oh. My. gosh! This is so cool! Flo and the girls at Say Hello to My Little Friends is organizing a book club. The first book is called Lanie, just like I am! 

I have to read this! I wonder if we have a copy...Found it!

We kind of look similar, and I have a dress in that striped pattern. 

So cool! She's carrying a basket of plants?! I like gardening!

What's the blurb say...[reading aloud]

Meet Lanie Holland: Lanie was born with "outside genes." She dreams of being an explorer of the wide, wonderful world--tracking wildlife, trying new experiments, and recording factoids in her science journal. Trouble is, the rest of her family has "inside genes." It wouldn't be so bad if Dakota, her bets friend and fellow nature lover, were around. But she's on the other side of the world, having awesome adventures in a real rain forest.

What Lanie needs are some real adventures of her own. Things start looking up when her outdoorsy Aunt Hanna comes to stay--and Lanie finds a few surprises in her own backyard.

Oooo! I'm gonna email the others. They should read it too. 

I wonder if we have time to share it around? 100 pages, no problem! [keys taping quickly]

[notification chimes]

From Melody: I'm in! Maybe we've found your twin! 😁

From Kaya: Let me know when it's my turn to read. 😊

From Haley: Cute. Sounds good to me.

From Grace: LOL The cover girl does look like you! 

From Kirsten: I just finished my book for language arts class. I can sneak this in before the next assignment.

From Lea: Is there an audio book? Just kidding. Count me in!

Woo hoo! I'm reading first!

Have you read Lanie by Jane Kurtz? if yes, what did you think?

See you again soon!

The Build: February 2017

Back to the Drawing Board

Hi! So last week Kaya and Lanie and Lea and Haley started thinking about and throwing around ideas for our February build. We tried out all the ideas and finished the calendar...and didn't like it at all. So we took to the Internet and found some help in building our ideas better. Turns out we think like master builders, but aren't quite ready to build like one. We found plans to help with the front door, wall with window, fireplace, and furniture. We didn't follow the instructions step by step; we made adjustments and only used what we really needed.

Ta-Da

Our February! (singing) Everything is awesome!

We've continued our house theme.

This time we have more of a living room feel with entry and fireplace.

Friends are gathered for a cup of tea. Cookie is meeting two or the other pups. Cats, dragons, hedgehogs, and rabbits, not to mention a robot.

So what do you think? Trust me; this is way better than the first try. (giggles)

Stop again soon.  Have a nice day!

Blogger Recognition Award 2017

The Blogger Recognition Award

We'd Like to Thank

It is an honor to be nominated for this award and we would like to thank those responsible (alphabetically). Thank you, Bennettv from Faking it Mostly and Victoria from Reverie Dolls! We visit both blogs regularly. Faking it Mostly has great DIY ideas (the sectional couch is a favorite) and Reverie Dolls has wonderful photo shoots. Thank you, again!

The Rules

• Thank the blogger(s) who nominated you and provide a link to their blog.
• Write a post to show the award.
• Give a brief story of how your blog started.
• Give two pieces of advice to new bloggers
• Select other bloggers (2 or more) for this award; let them know they were nominated by commenting on their blog.

My/Our Story

I've been asked this many times (you can look back and check) and I never get tired of sharing. When we got our first digital camera I practiced using it by taking photos pf Melody in her outfits. I was putting together a fashion book. Then in January 2013 my dear friend asked me to check out her niece's doll blog. It was adorable, introduced me to Doll Diaries, and sparked the idea that I could use those photos for something more. To make our blog stand out I added the love of tea. I still have Peacock Poise bookmarked and read it now and then.

My/Our Advice

1. First and foremost, be true to you and what makes you unique. From your blog design and layout to your post content, make yourself happy first. If you like or love your results, so will your readers. 
2. Second, share the love. Give shout outs to your favorite blogs and comment on your favorite posts. Be respectful when you comment. Remember the author of that blog/post took a lot of time creating it just as you do.

My/Our Nominees

If you don't normally post awards on your site, please feel free to leave your responses in the comment section below. ☮

• Steampunk Addie
• The Dolls Between Us
• Happy House of AG
• Delightful World of Dolls

Best wishes to all!

The One Lovely Blog Award

Award Season! Yay!

Ah, no red carpet here, but a lot of fun with the One Lovely Blog Award!

The Rules:

Gotta have them (sometimes they get a bit adjusted).

1. Thank the person who nominated you and provide a link to their blog.
2. Write a post about the award.
3. Share seven (7) facts about you, yourself, and you.
4. Nominate one or two or fifteen more lovely blogs and tell them the good news!

Flo from Say Hello to My Little Friends nominated me, Xyra, for the One Lovely Blog award. Thank you!

Flo has a great doll family and posts their stories and adventures as well as great finds, horrifying eBay photos (when is the next one of these?), product reviews, and has a fabulous series about making doll bedding!

The Facts and Just the Facts

• I LOVE stickers! I rarely use them, seems a shame they will be thrown out. However, as I type this I realize they will still be thrown out one day, they should get a chance to adorn something other than the sheet on which they arrive.
• Breakfast is my favorite meal and I could eat breakfast all day long. Cereal cold or hot, pancakes, waffles, french toast, eggs, toast, muffins, bagels, fruit, etc. - love it!
• I'm a chocolate milk convert. How can you tell? I shake my milk before opening and drinking it.
• Speaking of milk makes me think of cookies. Overall I am not a dunker - unless I'm eating gingersnaps or Oreos. Just not fond of crumbs at the bottom of my cup. 😊
• One of my favorite simple pleasures is opening a brand new jar of peanut butter and taking the first dig out of the smooth surface.
• I have always loved reading recipes. Antique cookbooks are a hoot because there are few specific measurements, even for baking. However, one pet peeve is finding a modern cookbook without pictures. 😒
• I can write with my left hand almost as well as with my right, but have to concentrate more to be successful. One time I had to take a phone message and the speaker was giving information quickly. To keep up, I had to write everything with my left hand not looking at the paper. When I looked, the message and all the characters were backwards.

My Nomination(s)

I was also nominated for the Blogger Recognition Award (will post on that shortly) so will hand out two nominations here.

• Madison of Delightful World of Dolls. She has fabulous photography skills.
• Nonna from Mommy's Doll Club. Are you looking for a tutorial for a doll craft or information about different types of 18" dolls - she's the place to go. If she doesn't know herself, she has a link to point you in the right direction.

Hope you enjoy awards season!

Best wishes,

Kaya's Happy Greetings 2017

Happy Groundhog Day!

Today's the day Punxsutawney Phil makes his appearance to check out the weather!

In our area we have Grundsau Lodges that celebrate all things groundhog. Well, everything Pennsylvania Dutch. Grundsau is the Pennsylvania Dutch word for ground hog. It's pronounced gr-uhnd-sow. If you'd like to see more Pennsylvania Dutch, check out the the Haaptblatt wikia. It's all in PA Dutch!

The word from Gobbler's Knob is that Phil saw his shadow and we are to have 6 more weeks of winter. If you look at the calendar...it is 6 weeks to the first day of spring, so he's right. (giggles) Apparently he was feisty this morning. Of course he was, he wanted to go back to sleep!

Phil is in our state, about a 5-hour drive from us. Does your state have a groundhog predicting the weather? I know there is a different groundhog in Buffalo, New York.

Happy Lunar (aka Chinese) New Year!

Yes, I'm late on this one! We left they year of the fire monkey behind on Saturday, January 28. We are now in the year of the rooster. 

And it is a perfect time to try a lovely oolong tea Nana Kestrel gave us.

Thirsty Thursday #14

Gianna: Oolong
Oolong tea is special. this is not our first oolong review. We've tried Octavia Eight Immortals Dancing, Basilur Milk Oolong, Mr. Darcy, and Phoenix Mountain. One of these days we hope to add a guywan to our collection of tea things. Xyra found one at the Coventry Mall and just has to go get it. Until then we'll steep in the western style.

Anyway, Nana Kestrel gave us two Gianna teas. The oolong and a jasmine. 

Aren't the tins pretty? They are very nice but not very informative. No instructions at all. 

The leaves are nicely rolled and fragrant.

Here we're doing the initial rinse. Swirling the leaves briefly with warm water.

Ah, the dancing leaves!

It smells wonderful. Warm like a black tea, but a little earthy like green with a hint of tang. (giggles) Not the orange drink powder.

Can you see how the leaves unrolled to release the flavor?

Mmmm! It's perfect just like this. I'm not going to add anything to it. I'll let that up to you. (giggles)

Have a great year of the fire rooster! 

So glad you stopped! Come again soon!

Planning Continues

Friends Fun

Haley, Kaya, Lanie, Lea, 2 or more

Hey, guys! I have the new kit. Want to put it together?

Which set?
Puppy Treats and Tricks.
Sure!
Oh, please! We would have said yes, no matter what set you brought out. (laughs)

[sound of box opening, plastic bag being cut, and bricks spilling on the table]

Keep them all on the table!
We don't want to loose any bricks!
Look how cute this little dalmatian is! Does the box give her a name?

Yes, it's Cookie. She has a skateboard!

Cool!

[sound of second bag being cut and bricks spilling on the table]

One bag sorted now for the second.

Everything there?
Looks like it; maybe some extras too.

Good.
(giggles) Love her bow! Let's get rollin', Cookie!

Time for the doghouse. Start with the black 2x16. Please don't nibble the pages, Lulu.

[bricks snapping in place]

Done!

Looks like we have an extra biscuit, bone, bow, flower, and star.

Kaya, let's give our feedback. Maybe we can win.

Can't hurt to try.

Okay, now that we have building on the brain...

Let's brainstorm the February calendar!
Yes!!!!

Hope you had fun with us today. What do you think the February calendar will look like this year?

Come back again to find out! Have a great day!

Note: Tea Time with Melody Q is not affiliated with American Girl or LEGO. The sets mentioned above were purchased for our collection. The post is unsolicited and comprised of our own ideas, opinions, and words. Links are provided for educational and informative purposes. No purchase is required to enjoy this post. If you are interested in the LEGO Friends sets, the links will point you in the right direction.