I recently heard about a great series of books for kids to read. They are by the author Carole Marsh and they are mystery books. The books place children in some of the most famous landmarks of the world and have them involved in a mystery. I love this idea because it gives the kids something they know and yet the ficitional part of the story keeps them interested.

I am starting my 8 year old daughter on this series with the book Mystery at Disney World. We just recently returned from a trip to Disney so I know the topic will keep her interest and I think it will be a good way to get her started on reading longer books. She hates Chapter books and just seeing a book with a lot of pages scares her away. I am hoping the fun topic will make this a must read for her. I can’t wait to move on though because there are some other really great titles. They have a Christmas mystery in the White House. There is a ghost story in Biltmore House. I hope this will be a series that we can enjoy together for a long time.

If you are interested you can search for Carole Marsh at Barnes and Nobles and they have a lot of her titles at really reasonable prices. Let me know if you guys have read or want to read any of these and we can discuss them as we read them.

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Hello American Girl fans! I wanted to give you guys a heads up on a great contest I saw posted on another site I frequent. The site is called Helping Moms Connect and here is the link to the contest that she announced:

Helping Moms Connect

The contest is through Borders and it is a great way for you to win an American Girl doll from one of my favorite merchants. Check it out!

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The time has finally come that I know for sure when the American Girl dolls will be on QVC. They are listed on QVC as being scheduled for September 11, 2010 from 4pm-6pm. It is set to be a 2nd Anniversary show for American Girl Dolls. They usually have amazing sets that you can not get anywhere else. I have purchased 5 sets from them in the past year through these shows.

What dolls will be on the show? Well, we don’t really know but I can venture a guess. I just got an email yesterday notifying me that Felicity and Elizabeth and all of their accessories are going to be archived soon. I would expect that they would both be on the show with some of their outfits and accessories. They usually include dolls that are going away so that they can get one last push out of them. I would also expect the newest Girl of the Year Lainey to be on there. Last year they included Karissa who was the Girl of the Year at the time. We might even get to see some of the My American Girl dolls but probably not since those are the newest and they have to be customized which might be too much hassle for a QVC show. Of course they usually include some of the Bitty Baby items.

Set your alarms now. Remember that most of the time the shows don’t start until the posted time but the items show up online earlier than that. I have also seen the items change online as they sell out or get closer to air time. I can’t wait to see what they have this year. Let me know what you get!

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Update for September 2010 Show

Many of you know that I love when QVC carries the American Girl dolls. They usually carry sets that are not available anywhere else and at prices that you can’t find anywhere else. I have purchased 6 sets through them in the past few years and so I am always looking out for their next show.

I have heard some rumbling on the "street" that the next show will be in September for the 2nd Anniversary of American Girl on QVC. There is also some talk that they will possibly carry Lainey who is the Girl of the Year this year in an effort to give her a push before the end of the year. I also have heard talk that Rebecca will be featured since she is the only AG historical doll that hasn’t been on QVC yet. I wouldn’t be surprised if they gave a deal with the new My American Girl dolls. Probably the new dolls with extra outfits.

This is still all in the rumor stage as I have no confirmation for sure but I will keep my ear to the ground and as soon as I know for sure I will be sure to let you guys know. I know that QVC just started their Christmas in July sales and that they have a Christmas in August series planned also. There is a possibility we will see the AG dolls in August but I believe September was the first show last year. Let me know if you hear anything and I will keep an eye out too!

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American Girl dolls are very popular in my family and up until now we have only ordered dolls that were historical or Girl of the Year dolls. My girls love their dolls and play with them daily. I recently got an email, did a survey and got a catalog from American Girl and it seems they are trying to take the dolls in a new direction. The American Girl dolls are going digital!

The new My American Girl dolls are pretty much just like you dolls. They are sold to look like your child with similar hair, eye color and features like freckles. What makes these dolls different than the old just like you dolls they sold. These dolls have their own internet world called innerstaru.com. The catalog says this about innerstaru.com:

"a fun, enriching, and safe online world created for you and your doll. Together, you can play games, make friends, earn awards, and learn to be your very best in everything you do!"

The online version of your doll will look just like the live version and therefor very similar to your child. This will give your child a new way to play with their dolls. It will be similar to a Webkinz with American Girl dolls instead of pets! I know my girls are going to want to have one of these. They have been asking for one of the just like you dolls so this will be even better. The doll sets come with doll, outfit, accessories and full-access to the online world at innerstaru.com for $95. You will also be able to customize the dolls with any of the amazing outfit sets and accessories to make the doll even more like your child. Whether she likes to cheer, play soccer, swim or ice skate there is a set to match her interests.

I love that American Girl is trying to stay innovative and not become stagnant with the same old items. I think girls today will love the option to see and interact with their dolls online. It will give them new and exciting things to do with the dolls each day. Enjoy!

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 Update for September 2010 Show

Hello American Girl fans! I am so excited to say that two of my favorite merchants are once again teaming up for some great deals. QVC will be featuring the American Girl doll collection on its show and online on October 25th, 2009 from 6-7am and also from 1-2pm. I have to say though that you have to be open to check the online site throughout the day because I have found the products released online early every time so far.

These QVC sales have been very good for myself and my 2 AG loving girls. We have gotten something from the last 3 shows that QVC did and always have gotten a good deal. You won’t find all product that AG sells on the shows. What you will find are really great sets that you can’t find on the AG site. We have gotten sets with the dolls, accessories, books and outfits. Some have 2 outfits and some have 3. Some have really special accessories and some have 2 books. We have bought sets with Kitt, Mia, Elizabeth, Julie, Molly and Carissa. I don’t know who will be featured this time but I would bet my money that Kristen will be part of the show since she is being discontinued. I know last year they featured Samantha right before she was put in the archives. I can’t promise she will be on there but I would bet she would be. In September they featured Julie and Molly so they could also be back. They do usually have some sort of Bitty Baby Sets.

Mark you calenders and make sure you keep checking back here. As soon as I find out more information about what may be featured I will be sure to let you guys know! Once the day arrives the best way to see what they have is to click the link below and then type American Girl in the search box on QVC. This way it will bring up everything QVC is selling that is related to the American Girl product. Good luck!

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Junie B Jones has hit our home with a vengeance and we are loving it. I have three children ages 7, 6 and 5. This series of books has become our favorite and we are reading them at least three nights a week. We take turn reading the books and then my oldest is using them for Accelerated Reader points. Our first book together was Junie B Jones is a Party Animal and we still laugh about some of the things in this book.

In Junie B Jones is a Party Animal Junie B decides she wants to go spend the night at Lucille’s ‘richie nanna’s’ house. After much scheming and begging she gets an invitation and permission from her parents to spend the night with Lucille, that Grace and Lucille’s ‘richie nanna’. The hi-jinx that occur during this sleep over are hilarious even to me as an adult. The phrases that Park gives Junie B are catchy and strike even the hardest people as funny. One of my favorite is "Yes, only here’s the problem…". Junie B seems to say that a lot and now I hear my kids say it too.

It isn’t all great though. I do find that Junie B as a character is mouthy, sassy and sneaky. I could see where some parents would think that perhaps she isn’t a good roll model for young girls. She disobeys her parents and other adults quite often and then she talks back in ways I would never allow my children to do. Rather than keep them from reading the stories I prefer to use them as teaching moments and we discuss at the end of each book what things Junie B did wrong and what better choices she could have made. We have even begun to come up with out own phrases that we could substitute for the times when she is being sassy to adults or impolite. My kids are learning that not everyone follows the rules, that not everyone is polite and what they can do in response to those kinds of people when they meet them in everyday life.

We have the whole set of Junie B books and have now started on Junie B is a Beauty Shop Guy. Equally funny. It has been fun to go back to my childhood if only in my mind. It has also been great to spend some time each night reading with the kids and talking about behaviors that are appropriate and inappropriate. If nothing else Junie B is bringing my children and I closer and gives us something new to discuss each week.

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This sale is over but check here for the latest information on the coming show in September 2010!

Hello American Girl fans! I know you are all getting ready for Christmas and so this newest QVC deal will be perfect timing. They are going to be having some very nice sets and deals on tomorrow 9/13/09 starting at 3pm Eastern time. They currently have a Charissa set and also a Gwen/Sonali Set up for sale and the prices are not bad. They are supposed to be adding other dolls and sets tomorrow. I can’t wait to find out what they put up. I have gotten something at the last 2 QVC sales. For me it is about getting more for my money. I can get sets at QVC that include the dolls, books, clothing and accessories. I love the full set! I would definitely make sure you check through out the day on the website since they often put things up for sale before the television show starts. Just click on the QVC link here and search for American Girl and they will show you a listing of everything they are currently selling. I hope you guys get some great deals and please let me know if you buy something!

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I was reading my latest edition of Parent’s Magazine today and they had a fabulous article about books you can read to your child to help teach them global perspectives. The idea is to help teach your children about people who are different than them in race, culture, and religion. Children should be read an assortment of books that contain characters that are different than they are. If they are only introduced to characters that are the same as they are they find it much more difficult to relate to people they meet in the real world who are not the same as they are. This will help them to be more well rounded and tolerant of other people’s views. I love this idea.

The article in Parents Magazine contained a list of books some of which include:

Before You Were Here, Mi Amor by Samantha R. Vamos (Latin)

Global Babies by the Global Fund for Children (Various)

My Granny Went to Market by Stella Blackstone (Russian)

What a Wonderful World by George David Weiss and Bob Thiele (Various)

The Colors of Us by Karen Katz  (Various races)

Mrs. Katz and Tush by Patricia Polacco (Jewish)

These are just some of the great books the article listed. There are books for infants, toddlers and pre-schoolers listed but I would bet that we could find a great set of books for older children also. I would love to hear about any books you guys may have been reading to your children that are diverse. If you guys are interested in getting a subscription to Parent’s I highly recommend it. They have terrific articles and I often find amazing products in their ads.  A great place to find this magazine is at Magazine.com where you can get this helpful magazine for only 19.99 for 24 issues! That is an amazing price for a magazine that offers recipes, articles, information and help. This magazine has information about parents and children. I love it and I always find something every month that I love in it. Enjoy!

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I am so excited because the American Girl set for Mia that I ordered arrived on Thursday. I have it hidden away to be given to my 5 year old daughter for Christmas. She is beautiful and I have to say that she is boxed up beautifully. All of her accessories arrive boxed up like I had purchased them at a high end children’s boutique. I love it.

Now the wait is on for Kit whom I also ordered but she was on advanced order so she won’t arrive until the beginning of December. She will be for my daughter who is 7. I am really impressed with these dolls and I am going to spend the day today going through all of their old toys and purging the items that are broken, never played with or just a mess.

I was asked recently why I like these dolls and what makes them worth the high price. My response was that in the long run I spend more than $100 a year on Barbies.  These Barbies then get lost or they lose all of the accessories which end up in every nook and cranny of my house. Not to mention that my child will never look like Barbie. They will and do look like the American Girl dolls. The also have friends who look like AG girls. The accessories are much larger and easier to keep track of and store. They have stories. They teach life lessons. They have personalities and experiences. My girls can share the book and movies with me and we can discuss the experiences. These are not things I have shared with them with Barbie. In a nutshell they are wholesome and have life experiences my girls could some day share.

With Christmas around the corner I can see girls everywhere asking for these. I recommend them and if you can catch them on special at QVC it is even better because you get more for your money.

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