I Won the Madsen Creations Giveaway

So a while back Madsen Creations was doing a giveaway-you know me and free, I just can’t resist.

As I always say:

“Free is always good unless it is diseases.”

Anytime I see a giveaway I have to enter it.

So I did and I won!

So I actually won two things. The first was a Barbie inspired Flower Wower Dress made from orange and white cotton fabric.

Now you know I love the 1970s:

Farrah’s hair, movies, music:

But I wasn’t quite sure about this shirt as I am not a big orange fan (it’s just not my color). However, I loved this as it was extremely comfortable, although a bit shorter than I would like. I wear it with trousers or leggings.

The second item I was super excited about. It was a Maroon Fleece Caplet. A short capelet with a matching floral printed ribbon.

So I don’t know how many of you have read this book, The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, but I did and loved it! I was so excited to win this capelet as Juliet wears one in the book. The movie changes a lot of things, one of which is Juliet’s outfit. In the book she wears a red capelet when she goes to the island, so that the society members know who she is (kind of like a red rose on a blind date). In fact, she almost loses her nerve and flings it overboard, but decides to continue and of course has a wonderful time and adventure.

This past Christmas we had Santa Claus, Queen Elsa, and Princess Anna come into the library, and I of course wanted to wear something Christmas-y. I decided to wear the capelet and everyone loved it! They all thought it was supposed to be a play on Anna’s costume.

Since then I have worn this multiple times and everyone compliments me on it and I love it! It is beautiful, wonderfully constructed, warm, and a great accessory to any outfit. It has become one of my favorite things to wear.

You should defintely check her site out for what she has, and if there is something you’d like that she doesn’t have-she also makes custom items.

Plus, you can get 10% off anything you order by entering the promo JANEAUSTENRUNSMYLIFE, the last day to use it is 2/29/20. Don’t miss out.

 

For more giveaways, go to I Won the Read the Write Act & Six0Six Design Giveaway + Can’t Fight This Feeling: Romance is in the Air, Part VII

For more on The Guersney Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, go to I Won the Regency Marketplace Giveaway

For more on Princess Anna, go to Waiter, There’s Some Disney in My Jane Austen

I’m a Barbie Girl

So today marks the 60th anniversary of Barbie! I am so excited as I love Barbie!

I know a lot of people complain about Barbie but I loved her. I used to save up my money and go buy new ones-I had a giant collection of them.

I never felt Barbie projected a bad image, I thought she was awesome as she was everything-and that I could be too.

Each one of my Barbies had their own name and personality, and did everything you could imagine. You see, I wanted to do and be everything-as a child I switched from day to day what kind of thing I wanted to do as a “grown up”. I don’t have all mine with me, they are in storage-for if I have kids one day-so here are all I can remember off the top of my head:

• Corduroy Cool Barbie-I really wanted the Daphne doll as I was such a big Scooby-Doo fan, but my mother couldn’t buy it as it was too expensive. Instead I got this doll, who I named Linda, and she was a private eye. Often I would put the scarf around her head or neck as part of her disguise.
• Teen Skipper: All Grown Up-She was my first doll and first Skipper doll, so she was the only one who kept the “Skipper” name. She was a teenager so she didn’t have a profession, but I do remember putting all those stickers on the headboard of my bed.
• Western Stampin’ Barbie-I really wanted to be a cowgirl when I was little and loved Dolly Patron. This one was Dolly, named after the sing-a country singer, rancher, and a ribbon winning rodeo queen.
• CEO Barbie-Her name was Wendy and she was CEO of a stationary company. This doll was cool as it came with a CD-Rom that let you make your own calendars, stationary, and design other paper products.
• Fashion Designer Barbie– Her name was Ashley, after my best friend, and she created cool, comfortable, and stunning clothes.
• Pilot Barbie–Spring was the pilot of Barbie Air and went all over the world. Once her plane even crashed and we needed to solve a mystery of who sabotaged the plane and killed a passenger.
• Totally Yoyo Skipper-I can’t remember what I called her, but she was the Yoyo champion of the world. That is until she was in a car accident and lost her hand (we got a new dog who ate it). Even though she faced tragedy, she never gave up but figured out a way to continue her dream.
• Cool Blue Barbie and Extreme Green Skipper– I think it was because they wore overalls, but I had the Barbie, who’s name was Julie, and her daughter, Janey, own their own contracting company. They would paint houses, fix any hardware issues, and were basically mechanics (even though that doesn’t fall under contracting. Hey I was a little girl-I didn’t know.)
• Birthday Party Barbie– Brittany was a party planner, birthdays being her specialty. As her lips were permanently fixed in that expression, she was also a part time lip model.
• Kitty Fun– Kathryn, (named after another best friend) was a teenage cat trainer.
• Glam ‘n Groom Barbie & Teresa– I received these two for my birthday one year. This was my first Teresa doll so she stayed with that name, while Barbie was Katrina. The two had an animal grooming business and had gone to school in Paris (because of the ruffles and tutu clothes.) I was heartbroken when my friend’s sister broke my Teresa doll. After her death, Katrina kept up the business, hiring Kathryn to help out.
• Jewel Teresa– My friend’s mom bought me a new Teresa to replace the one broken. I LOVED this Teresa as to me this Teresa looked like me. Teresa was Latino, like me, and had dark hair with lighter skin-like me. It was wonderful having something like that after being bullied by others for not “looking Mexican enough”. This became my favorite doll of all.
• Generation Girl Barbie– Her name was Gina and she wanted to be a director. She wrote and filmed her own movies; sometimes acting as well.
• Generation Girl: Dance Party Barbie– Sister of Gina, named Gia, she wanted to be a photographer for National Geographic, Vogue, or Life Magazine. Until then, she would photograph still lifes, her family, friends, and worked on the school yearbook.
• Generation Girl Tori– Tori was the national skateboard champion, and roller skated for fun. She was also a track star and excelled at all sports.
• Secret Messages Barbie: Leah was a teen who loved mysteries and spy stories. She wanted to be a writer or FBI agent.
• Sleeping Beauty Barbie– I fangirled so hard after watching the commercial for this doll. I loved Sleeping Beauty but there was nothing, no merch at all. Every year my Grandma used to give us $25 dollars for Christmas, which was a lot for pastor’s kids who never received allowance. I knew it was coming and begged and begged my mom to let me open it early and buy this doll. No dice. As soon as I opened the envelope on Christmas I constantly nagged my mom to take me to the store and buy it, but the answer was no again. The next day I woke up at the crack of dawn and continued to beg her to take me to the store. She agreed and we went to Walmart. I still remember running through the store, my mom tailing after me as I’m searching for the doll-of which there were only three on the shelf, grabbing it and trying to run to a cashier. After that I could not stop playing with it, and even had it sleep by my pillow.
• Beyond Pink-This was the only Barbie I called Barbie as that was also her stage name. International Rock Star, singer, songwriter, lead guitarist, and grammy winning star. I remember being so jazzed about this as it came with the cassette Think Pink. I think I annoyed everyone in my family playing this over and over again.
• Twirlin’ Makeup Barbie: Brenda, the beautician and owned her own salon.
• The Front Window Barbie– Collector’s Barbie and one my mom gave me when she knew I was old enough to understand this wasn’t for playing with. I named her Susan after Susan B. Antony, my hero.

I had a lot more, but if I keep going-I’ll be writing all night and the next day. My Barbies solved crimes, went camping, took trips around the world, got stranded on an island, reenacted all kinds of movies, were spies, superheroes, stumbled onto smugglers, were pirates, and more.

For someone growing up and the world saying you are limited in your choices, it was great having someone telling-you can be anything you want to be.

Happy 60th Barbie, Here’s to 60 More!

For more Barbie, go to I Made You A Bummed Out Box: Gone Glitter Part I, Barbie Life in the Dreamhouse (2012)

For more anniversaries, go to Maybe Christmas, He Thought, Doesn’t Come from a Store. Maybe Christmas…Perhaps…Means a Little Bit More: How the Grinch Stole Christmas

I Made You A Bummed Out Box: Gone Glitter Part I, Barbie Life in the Dreamhouse (2012)

Most Romantic Moment #9

“Gone Glitter” from Barbie Life in the Dreamhouse (2012)

So yes I am a Barbie girl. I grew up with Barbie loving the message I can do whatever I want to. I liked Barbie the way she used to be, she may not have been proportionate but she looked healthy, not like the stick thin dolls they make today.

So this webisode show is available online and on Netflix. It is done in the way of The Office or Modern Family. Events with a pause for interviews, etc.

I started watching this with my niece, and really enjoy. The characters and situations are hilarious, and hands down; Ken is awesome.

So in this episode Malibu is under a glitter shortage.

There is barely none left in the area and Barbie and the gang are freaking out.

AAAAAAHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ken tries to create some fake glitter, but will it work? Or will life as they know it be shine and sparkle free.

Most Romantic Moment: I Made You A Bummed Out Box

So Barbie is freaking out and Ken runs right over with a little care box he made for her.

“I brought the Barbie-Bummed-Out Kit: tissues, consolation cupcakes, and a manly shoulder to cry on.”

Sometimes that’s all you need.

To start Romance is in the Air: Part V, go to Who Says I Have to Stop: Fireproof (2008)

For the previous post, go to I Can Show You the World: Aladdin (1992)

For more Barbie, go to It’s Not What You Buy, But the Reason Why That Matters: Playing Heart to Get, Barbie Life in the Dreamhouse (2013)

It’s Not What You Buy, But the Reason Why That Matters: Playing Heart to Get, Barbie Life in the Dreamhouse (2013)

Most Romantic Moment #7

So yes I am a Barbie girl. I grew up with Barbie loving the message I can do whatever I want to. I liked Barbie the way she used to be, she may not have been proportionate but she looked healthy, not like the thin stick dolls they make today.

So this webisode show is available online and on Netflix. It is done in the way of The Office or Modern Family. Events with a pause for interviews, etc.

I started watching this with my niece, and really enjoy. The characters and situations are hilarious, and hands down; Ken is the perfect boyfriend.

It is Valentine’s Day and Ken is out shopping for the perfect gift for Barbie. While at the flower shop, he is seen by Ryan; a guy who is out to steal Barbie away.

Ryan watches Ken pick out a small bouquet of roses, and then decides to purchase a giant horseshoe shaped wreath.

Ken then travels to the Candy store and buys a small heart box full of candy. Ryan buys a life size Chocolate Statue of himself.

Ken then goes to the card store, but can’t find one he likes. Ryan buys a custom card that is his size and has himself inside singing a love song. Who will Barbie choose?

Most Romantic Moment: It’s the Meaning That Counts

So the most romantic moment comes after Ryan has displayed his gifts and Ken shares why he picked out his. He choose the small bouquet of roses because they were Barbie’s absolute favorites.

He bought her the box of Chocolates, because they were the same one she loved as a girl.

And then he handmade her a card saying that she’ll always be his girl.

How romantic

What a guy right? The fact that he got her everything she loved and things that actually meant something is worth more than millions. They are perfect. HE is perfect.

Just another fictional man ruining reality.

To start Romance is in the Air: Part IV from the beginning, go to I Can’t Pretend, I Have to Be: Casual Sex? (1988)

For the previous post, go to Even Though I’m Furious with You, I Still Love You: War Room (2015)

For more on Barbie, go to Sucky Sequels: Mean Girls 2 (2011)

Push All the Buttons!

This is very sad, but true. I am extremely inept when it comes to most video games. Growing up, my parents wouldn’t buy us our own systems, we had to save up our own money. But I didn’t have an allowance and trying to save money from my birthday and Christmas when the two are like six months apart was too much for me. I spent it instead on books, movies, and barbies.

So even though I grew up with a ton of guy friends who were all gamers, I suck. I mean Tetris I am amazing at, but that’s it. Halo or any other shooting game, I suck as my vision always gets knocked around and I can’t see what I’m aiming at. Like my head gets pointed up at the sky or down at the floor and I can’t get it into its right position. Any racing game I crash and die. My ex-boyfriend and were playing Lego Pirates of the Caribbean and I was actually pretty good as Will Turner.

So anyways, since I know I will suck and lose I just press random buttons and hope for the best. And you know it sometimes isn’t all bad. Like this one time I was playing  an X-Men game ands was Mystique and I kept beating all my friends, because I would press random buttons and she would kick and shoot her gun like at the same time. It was pretty sweet.