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This is me as my Wild Self.  I am a pea-fro-fly-monkey.  Cool huh?  I know that this website would give Emily hours of amusement.  I could hardly get away from it myself as I created all different versions of what wild self I could be before I finally decided on this one.  A peacock crest - because I always wanted to be as beautiful as a peacock.  Frog arms - because I would love to be able to leap like a frog.  Butterfly wings - it’s that beauty thing again, plus I could fly of course.  Last, but not least, monkey wings.  I always wanted to be able to swing through the trees by the tail.  You even get to pick your location.  I am in the deep, dark jungle which would normally be quite scary but not for my Wild Self.  Let your kid’s imagination soar with a visit to this cool website from the New York Parks and Aquariam.

If a summer rainy day is keeping you all inside this safe, educational, imaginative website may just give you a free hour to cook dinner

One of the most popular items available in our store is the wonderful “Dorothy Outfit” for your American Girl doll or other 18 inch doll.  We know that it is a favorite gift outfit because we always have to wrap them

Yesterday evening I was relaxing and surfing eBay.  I’m not an eBay buyer - just a window shopper - I get too irritated when I don’t win!  Anyway, I came across these wonderful “Wizard of Oz Bears”.  They not only have Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz but the entire cast of characters.  The Wicked Witch of the West, the Good Witch, the Tin Man, the Scarecrow and the Cowardly Lion.

I thought these were adorable and considering how popular our outfit was would make a great gift for your American Girl.  Especially since I found the same set of bears on Amazon for only $7.28 each!!  Whoo - hoo!

More from Emily’s book reviews.

Title: The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett

Storyline: When the orphan Mary Lennox, lonely and sad, comes to live with her uncle on a moor in Yorkshire, she finds it full of secret.  She meets Dickon, a magical boy, who can charm and talk to animals.  Then Mary discovers the biggest wonder of all - a secret garden.  With the help of a friendly robin, she finds the key and the ivy covered wall, and discovers the garden which has been completely forgotten for years and years.  Is everything in the garden dead or can Mary and Dickon bring it back to life. 

Favorite Character: Mary of course - this poor girl is defiant and stuck-up until, with the help of Dickon and Martha, she turns out to be the nicest girl.

What you most liked: When Mary finds the key and the door and discovers the secret garden.  She’s so happy until the truth is out….or so she thinks…

What you least liked: When Mary first comes, sad and lonely.  She is very stuck-up until she realizes how lucky she really actually is.  Not the poor, lonely girl she thought that she was.

Why you would recommend it to a friend: This sad, breath-taking, exciting book will leave readers just craving like crazy for more.  great for all ages - Mary will thank you.

I love play dough!  I love to play with play dough.  I just couldn’t wait until Emily was old enough that I could buy tons of different colors and sit at the kitchen table with her for hours.  I have to admit that one of my favorite things about play dough is the smell.  Doesn’t it make you want to eat it?  Can we blame our kids for putting in their mouths?

We found this great article from Family Fun that has 10 different edible play dough recipes!  Jello, Kool Aid, Peanut Butter, Oatmeal - all play dough, all edible.

The article states that this play dough is great for kids who are in pre-school and tempted to eat their art supplies.  But since I am um…. quite a bit older than pre-school and I have been tempted to eat my art supplies I would say these recipes are great for everyone.  Emily and I are certainly going to experiment with these.  She is just getting interested in cooking so these will be so fun to do together when we can both enjoy the results (and I can enjoy my secret desire to eat my play dough.)

Here at Emily Rose we get lots of questions about cleaning your American Girl Doll.  The vinyl arms and legs of your doll require special care and you don’t want to scar her for life.  So what do you do if you get pen on your American Girl Doll?  Or even worse magic marker?  What do you do if the greasy fingers holding that french fries reach for her best friend without first reaching foe her napkin?  Maria at Just Magic Dolls wrote a great article all about basic cleaning of your American Girl.  Or should we call the article Vinyl Cleaning 101

So next time you are looking for ways to clean your American Girl Doll, or perhaps you are trying to restore that fabulous original you found at the neighbourhood yard sale, visit Maria and she can help.  By the way, Just Magic Dolls has tons of other great information as well.  You can see reviews of all of the other 18 inch soft body dolls that are available, read articles on how to care for the American Girl Doll hair, and more.  Have fun!

Here is another review from Emily’s book collection.

Title: Hachiko Waits by Leslea Newman

Storyline: Professor Ueno has a dog named Hachi, who always waits for him at the train station to come home from work.  But one day the Professor dies, but Hachi, of course, doesn’t know.  Hachi waits for the Professor for 10 years without stop.  People feed him of course.  But he keeps waiting. 

Favorite Character: Hachi, this loyal dog waits TEN years for a master that never even shows up..

What you most liked: When Yasuo, a little boy, and his family offer to take care of poor Hachi when Professor Ueno’s heart stops beating.

What you least liked: When the Professor dies and Hachi waits and waits and waits, but he never, ever comes back.

Why you would recommend it to a friend: This book is great for dog lovers of all ages and loyal Hachi will amaze you to the bone.

Hot on the heels of announcing a marquee store in Boston, American Girl has said that they will also be opening a store in the Mall of America in Bloomington, Minnesota.  It is scheduled to open around the same time as the Boston store in the November time frame.  This will make it seven AG stores around the country: joining Chicago, New York, Los Angeles, Dallas and Atlanta.  Like its counterparts, the new store will offer the full range of AG products and accessories and, most importantly, the “experiential” activities of the AG stores: hair salon, bistro, party rooms, etc.

Although the Mall of America has been feeling its age lately, the AG store will be part of an extensive development program to modernize and revitalize the Mall.  This development is part of a plan to make the Mall more family oriented and this addition will, I’m sure, prove extremely beneficial.  For those that know the Mall, it will be located near Nickelodeon Universe in the retail space formerly occupied by Stampede Steakhouse and will occupy two levels. 

Stand by for the openings of Boston and Mall of America later this year and reviews of the stores as they open.

For more Wordless Wednesday fun visit 5 Minutes for Mom.

I was walking round my kitchen the other day wondering what to make for dinner when my mind wandered back to a great holiday we had in Spain a few years ago.  Part of the enjoyment of that trip was the eating and drinking (isn’t every holiday full of that) especially the little gems you get at the Tapas Bars.  Part of the Tapas menu is always a Spanish Tortilla.  Having talked to several Spanish friends and experimented on some occasions I think I’ve discovered how to make it.  Its actually very easy as long as you choose good ingredients.  Anyway here it is so have a go.  And Viva Espana.

Ingredients:

6 potatoes
1 small sweet onion
4 eggs
Half cup of milk
Olive oil
1 clove garlic
a pinch oregano
a pinch thyme
Salt to taste

1. Heat 1 cup of olive oil in a wide sauce pan.  Slice the potatoes thinly and evenly and place them carefully, so as not to splash the oil, into the pan.
2. Chop up the onion and add to the potatoes and cook for 10 minutes.  Try to turn the potatoes as they cook so as not brown them too much.
3. Beat the eggs together with the milk and spices in a wide bowl. 
4. Take the potatoes out of the pan with a draining ladle and set them aside to cool.
5. Then mix the potatoes together with the egg blend int he bowl. 
6. Heat a teaspoon of olive oil in the wide sauce pan then pour in the mixture.  Swirl the pan a bit to ensure that the egg mix starts to set evenly.  Cook on a low gas for 8-10 minutes.
7. This is the tricky bit.  Turn off the gas, allow to cool then flip the tortilla over onto a plate.  Put the upside down tortilla back in the pan and cook for a further couple of minutes to ensure that tortilla gets fully cooked.  
8. Put the totilla on a plate and let cool.  They say the best tortillas are eaten the next day.  Enjoy.