Mall of America Photos!

Hey all! The photos are long over due, but I figured you all would like to see them any how. I took photos of LEGO as well as AG! Enjoy!

WARNING: Photo heavy post!

The GIANT wall of legos- you can buy extra bricks, steering wheels, windows, doors, etc.

The full shot of the GIANT wall of legos.

Isn't the ceiling cool?

Yes, this is made of legos.

Aren't these chairs so awesome! Just like legos heads- oh, now that'a awkward.

A fun shot of my sister and I with Julie and Ivy and the VW car. The car is actually made of plastic- unless you want an exact doll-sized replica, it's not really worth $350.

Marie-Grace and Cecile's new set is cute... But it's a bit too frilly for me, and way too over glamorous for the time period.

They had some of these cute displays where the dolls were standing next to their beds in their nighties.

Isn't this just cute? I really love everything about this display.

Starting now, all of the rest of the photos (including the one above) were taken on the second floor.

It's really bright yellow.

The AG website doesn't lie.

Although it has white sleeves,

the yellow hurts my eyes!

Like my poem?

This outfit is a whole lot cuter in real life!

My sister's doll and my borrowed doll, Adrienne. (I named her that. I'm not entirely sure why, it just fits.)

The waitress gave us cute doll-sized menus! How adorable!

Yum- pink lemonade!

The chicken noodle soup- it was so good. My only complaint? More croutons!

My brother got the picnic time thing. It was so cute!

My mom ordered pasta.

My sister got pizza.

And I got salmon with potatoes and veggies. It was so, very good! :-)

I'm off to have a snack. 

~Margaux

ps. I got the McKenna movie- I will post a review soon.

Opinions on New AG Items

Hello! I haven't been posting at all- needless to say, I barely had anything to post about and with plenty of summer camps, it's hard to blog. You know, no motivation and barely no time? Exactly. But I am going to post my opinions on the American Girl releases. I moved on from my blog and my dolls, but I'm still interested in new releases from AG. I'm going to the Mall of America tomorrow and I am looking forward to visiting the AG store and seeing some of the products in real life- and of course- I have opinions.

Lemon-neon-yellow is not a good color for any blonde (trust me, I would know) and this is no exception. Why not sparkles, black, or even pink? Also, McKenna is not a rhythmic gymnast, so why would she have a hoop and a ribbon? I find this set is very inaccurate to McKenna's story, but I like that AG is trying to appeal to all gymnasts. 

Cute! But pricey! For what it's worth, this set is very historically accurate, but I think AG went a little overboard creating an authentic VW. It would have been better if they created a knock-off for cheaper. And why are 10-year-olds driving a car? And if it's $350, please make it out of a harder, more durable material than plastic!

Cute! Cute! I love these cute little snacks that are perfect for girls with allergies! I love that AG is trying to appeal to all girls. Wether they have an allergy or not, this snack set is super cute!

First of all, I love this new AG doll- she's super cute, but her hair might be very to maintain, especially if this doll is given to younger girls. Second, I don't really like the new meet outfit, it's better than the old meet outfit, but the top remains me of a baby's onesie. I agree with other Bloggers that this outfit is a bit to juvenile.

Love the hearing aids! Kudos to AG for creating a piece that will help AG dolls appeal to more girls. This does really give more options to more girls to help create a doll that is really "just like them."I just wish that, like the ear-piercing option, that it is available to all dolls.

And finally, bald dolls. I kind of like these dolls in a weird sort of way. I really like that these appeal to girls with hair-loss or cancer. 

Overall, I give the new AG releases a B. What do you think?

~Margaux

Baby Name Tuesday: Week 3

Hey! Have you ever read a baby name book? Well, this past week, I opened up Beyond Jennifer and Jason, Madison and Montana: What to Name Your Baby Now, and it was great! Unlike traditional baby name books with the names spelled out with meanings and pronunciation keys like a dictionary, this book explored 6 areas of names- had many fun lists along the way. One of my most favorite features of this book was the history component. For example, did you know that Margaret is sometimes considered the national Scottish female name? Or that in the Massachusetts Bay Colony, 21% of girls were named Mary, 17% Elizabeth, and 15% Sarah? This book also goes into trends- why parents pick the names they do, but also which picks are perfect for a fashionista in the making, or a macho man.

Above is a list of "truly unisex" location and place names. Although I disagree with several names on this list. For one, I think Paris is definitely a girls' name, and Devon? A boys' name.

I would think this book is appropriate for girls' 11 and up. :-)

Join Baby Name Tuesday with a fun name post today!

Bye for now! ~Margaux

Crazy, Crazy Summertime

Hey all! I normally like to include a photo or video or image in my post but not this time, because well, I don't have one! I have not had anything to take photos of or anything to post about, but also no time to post. I've been super busy in camp as well as sleeping in, and I just haven't any time to post. I know I'm neglecting this blog, but I will try to post as often as I can, which leads me to next issue.

Next week, I'll be at sleepaway camp- no phones, iPods, computers, etc. Which means, no way to post! I will have a timed Baby Name Tuesday (I think these'll be every other Tuesday, or which ever way it works out) and maybe an extra post or two.

It's kind of funny how summer works out. Bloggers I see type that they will post more in the summertime, but for me, it's just the opposite! I guess not having a fixed schedule (like school) really contributes a lot to that. Oh well.

Bye for now!
~Margaux

Quadruple Berry Muffins

Hey ya'll! A couple of posts ago, I mentioned that I made my favorite muffins and was going to post a tutorial- here it is! Yum!

Here is the recipe that I use- I made a few modifications, specifically softening the butter, a adding an extra splash of vanilla, and, of course, adding four types of berries- cranberries, blueberries, blackberries, and raspberries. I've also put letters on each section of a collage photo so I can go into more detail and describe each photo. NOTE: I doubled this recipe!

Here's is what you'll need to double this recipe (makes 24 muffins):

-1 cup of butter, softened

-2 cups of sugar (plus extra to sprinkle for topping)

-4 eggs

-2 teaspoons vanilla (add an extra splash!)

-4 teaspoons baking powder

-1/2 teaspoon salt

-4 cups flour

-1 cup milk

-5 cups of berries 

First preheat your oven to 375° and grease two 12-cup muffin pans (I normally just use paper cups). Soften butter in the microwave for 20-30 seconds. While butter is heating, toss sugar in a large bowl and add the softened butter. Mix it all up!

Once mixed, add the four eggs (A) and mix again (B)!

Add the baking powder (A), vanilla (B), and salt (C) and mix it all up (D)!

This next step is tricky. Add the half of the flour (A) and half of the milk (B), mix it up, then repeat with the other halves and mix again.

After it's mixed (A), add the cranberries (B) and other berries (C). Then mix it all up (D)!

Then place in muffin cups (A), I'd fill them up about halfway and sprinkle a little sugar on each. Bake for 15-20 minutes or until golden-brown. Enjoy!

~Margaux

ps. What did you think of this tutorial? Did you like it or is there anything you would change? Please comment!