The American Girl Doll Store is located in The Florida Mall in Orlando, Florida.  The store sells its signature dolls, books, and accessories but also has a hair salon (where you can watch your doll’s hair get styled) as well as a little bistro that will cater to not only your daughter but her doll as well.

On our visit, we found a Truly Me doll that looked like the kids.  At first, my son wanted one, then he decided against it, which was kind of upsetting because I found one that looked just like him.   If you are considering getting a custom one (which is around $200) I would highly recommend looking at the Truly Me line first because they offer a huge variety of options.

My daughter was so happy to find a doll that looked like her.   She was using her birthday money to make the purchase.  She debated on a few different dolls until we came across the Truly Me.

Aren’t They Expensive?

Many times people will complain about the expense of an American Girl Doll and yes, they have a point but at the same time you can justify just about anything.  If this doll encourages her to read and play outside discovering things isn’t it better than spending $500 on a video game system? It’s all in your perspective on it.

In this instance, she had decided to spend her birthday money on it and I saw no issue with that.  I’ve heard the complaint that you buy one and then you have to get clothes or playhouses for the doll, etc.  All I can say to that is “Um, no.”  I will not be buying the doll a wardrobe or it’s very own playhouse.  I look at it as you can be happy you have the doll or you can not get it at all.  Mean? I don’t think so but some might.  Either way, it’s not happening at my house and that’s ok.  If you’re down with it happening then no judging here on that end either.  My point is- it’s your choice.  It’s not a demand that comes along with the doll.

What’s The Difference In American Girl Doll vs a Target Doll?

The difference in the doll itself? Probably nothing.   The difference in the experience?  A whole lot.  When you walk into the American Girl Doll Store, it’s very kid friendly and the associates are stopping to talk to the kids and answer any questions.   When you buy the doll and they unbox it and hand it to your child there’s a whole moment of excitement and anticipation.  That is really what you’re paying for in my opinion- the experience.

The Salon

The salon at the store does ear piercings and hair.  I asked about getting the hair done and they said I’d need an appointment which I thought was crazy.  Fortunetly, there was an appointment available then.  We went over and looked at the hairstyles and decided which one would be best.  We also went ahead and got the ear piercing as well.  I considered making her wait and the next time we were down bringing the doll back, but it was a birthday weekend so we went with it.

Y0u can actually stay and watch as the doll’s hair gets done.  They have mirrors positioned so that you can see the styling as it’s done.

Getting her hair styled

The Bistro

The bistro is simple, the fun part is the way that the doll is catered to as well.  They get a placemat, cup & plate.   We didn’t have reservations going in but thankfully, they did have some availability.

The napkins have a ribbon hair-tye that you can take home with you.  It’s an adorable idea!  Below are some images of the menu.  They have kid-friendly foods (of course) and some good choices for adults as well.

We chose a club sandwich with fries that we split.  The image below is half of the sandwich.  It was definitely plenty!

The kids came with an adorable fruit skewer of grapes and an apple heart.

“Bella” the new doll got to eat with us and enjoyed her own little setting.

Our visit to the American Girl Doll Store in Orlando was a lot of fun.  It is a great experience to have.  Now that they also have boy dolls as well we did see quite a few little boys that came in with one looking for accessories (skateboards, etc) for it.

Oh! I can’t forget, my favorite set of dolls (and the cheaper ones at $65) are the Wellie Wishers.  My daughter loves the Wellie Wisher line.  They’ve got book series and an Amazon series as well that is fun. We had a fantastic Wellie Wisher Birthday Party last year! 

Have you been to an American Girl Doll Store?  What are your thoughts?

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Lenses

I realized recently, that I’m a Kevin.  For non “This is Us” fans, I’m referring to Kevin Pearson, also known as #1 (birth order reference) of the Big 3. Kevin is a more complicated character than you initially think when you see him. On the surface, he’s an attractive, fit, blonde guy whose character is a successful actor.  Some look at Kevin and think he’s an entitled brat who hasn’t grown up. After all, he’s go looks, fame, and money- what could there be to complain about?

Everyone sees their childhood through different lenses and perspectives.

The show works brilliantly to tie pieces together and give you different perspectives on it.  It may be the same episode, the following, or even six episodes later.

In season 2, episode 11 of This is Us, Kevin is in rehab and the family has a therapy session.  In this session, Kevin is upset and wants his mom to admit that she loved his brother Randall more.  Randall was the adopted kid who always seemed to get attention to make sure he felt secure and loved.  Kate was the insecure kid who always needed attention to confirm her worth. Kevin was “the brave one” as Rebecca put it.  He was the one that could handle himself.  Rebecca recalls when the Big 3 started kindergarten and how Randall and Kate were crying and nervous but Kevin walked right in and sat down never looking back.

Kevin felt less loved because when he demanded attention it came off more as whining/complaining rather than a call for help.  Through Kevin’s lenses he was left out. Through Kevin’s lenses, he was less because nobody would pay attention when he asked.  In the episode, there was a flashback where they went to a cabin and Kevin had gotten into trouble for allegedly hiding his brother’s glasses. That night during a storm Kevin wakes up and happens to find Randall’s glasses under the bed where he (Randall) had lost them. He goes into Jack and Rebecca’s room to find that Randall and Kate were already bunking with them leaving no more room.  He does what most kids would do,  he curls up on the floor.  It’s such a sad scene where even though Kevin comes off a jerk you feel bad for him.  The part they flash back to later though shows Rebecca waking up and seeing Kevin on the floor so she gets her pillow and lays down with him.

Kevin didn’t remember that, but it happened.  Kevin didn’t remember his dad telling him that after Kevin was born he understood that (being Kevin’s dad) was his purpose.   Kevin’s focus was, when he wanted the attention to be on him- he couldn’t seem to get it.  He wasn’t focusing on all the times the attention was on him.

I realized recently that I’m a Kevin.  (Well, minus the rich, famous, and really attractive part.)  The core of Kevin’s personality though- the independent, strong, pull yourself up by your bootstraps thinking, that doesn’t need anyone but inwardly insecure and unsure that often comes out sounding like complaining or judging.

It’s not that Kevin is unhappy for his siblings or that he would want them to have any less.  He is the kind of person that would be more than willing to give them whatever he could to help.  When it comes through to him needing someone to lean on and not having anyone there because he can ‘take care of himself’ it comes out as resentful.

Sometimes my focus is on what I wanted that wasn’t happening the way I wanted it to, and I miss what actually did happen.   Those unexpected good things that actually got me through that tough time but I dismissed due to my focus being elsewhere. I wish there was a video that I could go back and review from another perspective to see what did actually happen.

Being able to handle things on your own is a great thing until you feel all alone because nobody thought you needed anything and you could handle it.  It is important to step back and realize that everyone is human and even though they make their load look easy to carry it does not mean that it is not heavy.

Be kind. Remember that the lens you see life through may have a different filter than someone else’s. This doesn’t make it bad or wrong, it gives a full perspective on things which is why we need each other and the connections we create.

More Post To Check Out:

The Power of GRIT

Whether it’s savings on items for kids breakfast & lunches, Motrin, or Advil for your election time headache (or is that just me?)  here are some coupons to help save you some money on your next grocery bill!   After all, with the year that we’ve had money saving opportunities are always welcome!

Coupons for Kids Breakfast and Lunches

Looking for some savings on kids’ breakfast and lunch products?  Here are some great coupons to help you save on your grocery bill! They include Yoplait Yogurt, Welche’s Fruit Snacks, Nature Valley Granola Bars, and General Mills Cereals.

From cold and flu season to allergies and aches & pains, these coupons will save you some money on your well-being and health care needs!

I love Air Wick scents!  Here’s a coupon to either get you started with your first Air Wick or to save on some Air Wick refills!

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You acknowledge and agree that the Website and any necessary software used in connection with the Website (the “Software”) contain proprietary and confidential information that is protected by applicable intellectual property and other laws.  You further acknowledge and agree that content contained in sponsor advertisements or information presented to you through the Website or advertisers is protected by copyrights, trademarks, service marks, patents or other proprietary rights and laws.  Except as expressly authorized by the Company or advertisers, you agree not to modify, rent, lease, loan, sell, distribute or create derivative works based on the Website or the Software, in whole or in part.  The Company grants you a personal, non-transferable and non-exclusive right and license to use the object code of its Software to use the Website through a Web browser on a single computer; provided that you do not (and do not allow any third party to) copy, modify, create a derivative work of, reverse engineer, reverse assemble or otherwise attempt to discover any source code, sell, assign, sublicense, grant a security interest in or otherwise transfer any right in the Software.  You agree not to modify the Software in any manner or form, or to use modified versions of the Software, including (without limitation) for the purpose of obtaining unauthorized access to the Website.  You agree not to access the Website by any means other than through the interface that is provided by the Company for use in accessing the Website.

Your affirmative act of using this Site and/or registering for the Site or the Services constitutes your electronic signature to these Terms of Use and your consent to enter into agreements with us electronically.

            Company has adopted the following general policy toward copyright infringement in accordance with the Digital Millennium Copyright Act or DMCA (posted at https://www.lcweb.loc.gov/copyright/legislation/dmca.pdf). The address of Company’s Designated Agent to Receive Notification of Claimed Infringement (“Designated Agent”) is provided at the bottom of this section.

Little Miss Blog Copyright Policy.

It is Company’s policy to (a) block access to or remove material that it believes in good faith to be copyrighted material that has been illegally copied and distributed by any of our advertisers, affiliates, content providers, members or users; and (b) remove and discontinue service to repeat offenders.

Procedure for Reporting Copyright Infringements.

If you believe that material or content residing on or accessible through the Site or the Services infringes a copyright, please send a notice of copyright infringement containing the following information to the Designated Agent listed below (“Proper Bona Fide Infringement Notification”):

1. A physical or electronic signature of a person authorized to act on behalf of the owner of the copyright that has been allegedly infringed;
2. Identification of works or materials being infringed;
3. Identification of the material that is claimed to be infringing including information regarding the location of the infringing materials that the copyright owner seeks to have removed, with sufficient detail so that Company is capable of finding and verifying its existence;
4. Contact information about the notifier including address, telephone number and, if available, email address;
5. A statement that the notifier has a good faith belief that the material is not authorized by the copyright owner, its agent, or the law; and
6. A statement made under penalty of perjury that the information provided is accurate and the notifying party is authorized to make the complaint on behalf of the copyright owner.

            Upon Receipt of a Bona Fide Infringement Notification.

Once Proper Bona Fide Infringement Notification is received by the Designated Agent, it is Company’s policy:

1. to remove or disable access to the infringing material;
2. to notify the content provider, member or user that it has removed or disabled access to the material; and
3. that for repeat offenders, Company will also terminate such content provider’s, member’s or user’s access to the service.

            Procedure to Supply a Counter-Notice to the Designated Agent.

If the content provider, member or user believes that the material that was removed or to which access was disabled is either not infringing, or the content provider, member or user believes that it has the right to post and use such material from the copyright owner, the copyright owner’s agent, or pursuant to the law, the content provider, member or user must send a counter-notice containing the following information to the Designated Agent listed below:

1. A physical or electronic signature of the content provider, member or user;
2. Identification of the material that has been removed or to which access to has been disabled and the location at which the material appeared before it was removed or disabled;
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4. The content provider’s, member’s or user’s name, address, telephone number, and, if available, email address and a statement that such person or entity consents to the jurisdiction of the Federal Court for the judicial district in which the content provider’s, member’s or user’s address is located, or if the content provider’s, member’s or user’s address is located outside the United States, for any judicial district in which Company is located, and that such person or entity will accept service of process from the person who provided notification of the alleged infringement.

Removal.

If a counter-notice is received by the Designated Agent, Company may send a copy of the counter-notice to the original complaining party informing that person that it may replace the removed material or cease disabling it in 10 business days. Unless the copyright owner files an action seeking a court order against the content provider, member or user, the removed material may be replaced or access to it restored in 10 to 14 business days or more after receipt of the counter-notice, at Company’s discretion.

Address for Designated Agent.

Please contact Company’s Designated Agent to Receive Notification of Claimed Infringement at the following address:

Copyright Agent, Little Miss Blog

3545 St Johns Bluff S Suite 1-262

Jacksonville, FL 32224

Phone: 9045147640

Questions regarding the Company’s User Agreement and Terms of Use can be directed to [email protected].

There are so many benefits to cooking with kids in the kitchen. It’s quality time that can be spent together but also teaches them many critical life skills during the process as well. Getting started can be a bit of a struggle sometimes. Knowing what is appropriate based on their age, finding a healthy recipe to cook with them, or figuring out ways to involve kids in the kitchen can get tricky (and let’s face it kind of intimidating) when you actually get into it.

Resources To Help You Start Cooking With Kids

I recently found some great resources to help answer all of these questions!  These provide some answers and ideas bringing kids in the kitchen to not only learn but help you out.

Fit Mama Real Food
This site has a page dedicated specifically to cooking with kids and she has some super helpful resources on the topic!

Teaching Kids to Cook By Age
100+ Simple Ways to Involve Kids In The Kitchen

Heather offers some great tips and advice. She’s a mom of four so you know life has to be hectic and she can understand the challenges that come up with bringing kids into the kitchen to help.

Food Network Recipes with Kids

Another great resource is Food Network, with their Cooking with Kids section which offers recipes to make with kids, as well as ideas on kitchen task and easy baking projects.

Cooking Task Kids Can Help With at Every Age

Kids Health from Nemours

Nemours is a trusted health resource and offers some advice on Cooking with Kids as well. Here are some of their suggestions:

Create opportunities for cooking with your kids when you aren’t short on time. If someone is hangry, it’s probably not a good time to try it.

Prep work- Depending on your child/s age it can be easier if you do some prep work that could be pre-measuring for little ones, or pre-cutting things.

Most things work better when you set up the expectations upfront and this is no exception. Explain the boundaries and rules of the kitchen. If there’s a task an adult must complete let them know upfront.

Keep it simple at first and let them complete a task that is small and easy to do with minimal assistance. This allows kids to build their skills slowly and the more you do it the more challenging the task can become.

Kids don’t have the longest of attention spans sometimes so it’s good to keep this in mind. For younger kids, it’s a good idea to give them a little bit of a break understanding they may not be ready to follow through from start to finish.

Don’t forget to provide encouragement and affirm their accomplishments.  Be as specific/descriptive as possible with how they are doing a good job. For example, instead of just “great job!” you could say, “you did a great job mixing all the ingredients together and making sure they are all combined!” If something goes wrong, remind them it happens to everyone, and as long as they learn from it.

Kitchen Tools For Kids

Here are some tools from Amazon that are helpful and kid-friendly!

There are so many memories and lessons that are learned in the kitchen that kids will hold on to for years to come. It can be overwhelming and frustrating at times, so remember when those moments come, it’s not just you. There will be really fun and good moments too. The good moments will do your heart better than you can imagine!

Feeling overwhelmed with motherhood?  Check out the post below!

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Fun Fall Crafts and Decorating Ideas There’s something about fall, maybe it’s the cooler weather and pretty colors that make me want to go out and do things.  It’s the crisp feeling in the air, the fact that you can wear lots of layers, and not to mention you (typically) don’t start sweating as soon […]

Summer Activities to Enjoy at Home Looking for some summer activities that you can plan during all this uncertainty?  Here’s a list of things that are guaranteed to bring a smile and fun memories during your summer! Movie Night – Outside! Love these ideas from Red Triclycle on hosting an outdoor movie night.  Buzzfeed has […]

At Home Experiment- Does Candy + Water = Art? Virtual school can feel taxing when you can’t leave home.  The backyard does offer some relief but knowing that you aren’t supposed to go anywhere can often make you feel like you really just want to go… anywhere!!  I was trying to find something new to […]

St. Patrick’s Day Crafts, Activities and Snacks to Enjoy St. Patrick’s Day is literally right around the corner.  I’ve compiled some fun facts, crafts, activities, and snacks that can be done to help in celebrating!   This post is packed with some fun information so let’s jump in!St Patrick’s Day Crafts St. Patrick’s Day Celebration […]

Valentines Day Gift Ideas Valentines Day is a great day just to remind those close to you that you are thinking about them.   I’ve compiled a list of Valentines Day gift ideas for the kids, friends, and teachers in your life.  Plus, there’s only one selection that is candy so if you’re trying to avoid […]

12 Fun Valentines Crafts To Do With Kids Looking for fun Valentines crafts to do with your kids?  Here are some of my favorite! They are easy and allow for creativity and learning fun in the process of making them.  It is always fun when you can take concepts such as colors, patterns, sizes and […]

DIY Costumes For Kids That Are More Than Just  Costumes Getting costumes for kids can add up quick!  There are some costumes that can only be worn once or twice so it can be a little frustrating when you’re spending $40+ to buy it.   It is not only cost effective but can be very […]

Investing In The Community Through A Vinyl Project At Local Elementary School It Started With Bold Week In the business of life, we sometimes forget that we are a part of our overall community. It’s easy to do when you are already being pulled in so many different directions. This past year, we started attending […]

DIY Mickey Mouse Tie-Dye Shirts Disney Resorts have lots of activities that you can participate in during your stay in addition to visiting the parks.  Most activities are free, and some include a fee (which you are made aware of ahead of time).   During our stay at the Grand Floridian, we decided to do the […]

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Hi! Nice to meet you! I’m a wife, mommy, WordPress developer/designer, full-time worker, travel lover, student and blogger.  At the end of last year, I finally completed my schooling with my Masters Degree in Internet Marketing from Full Sail University.  Juggling life plus schooling is hard and I’m so glad it’s complete.    I wear lots of hats… but if you were to list out all the hats you wear it would be a longer list than you expected as well. 

The BIG Change

In 2015 the company that I was working for, and had been for the last 6 1/2 years called a “state of the union” address on a random Tuesday and had us all on a conference call (there were 3 offices around the country). As they are going through the growth and changes they get to our office and say, we’ve decided to close this office and will be discussing it in further detail with you after the call. It was like a bomb dropped. Everyone looked around and didn’t know what to say. We had all been sucker-punched. We were the office with the most experience, and they were always asking more of us and this is how it goes?  

The layoffs happened in shifts the first one beginning six months after the announcement. I winded up being there until 12-31-16. It was a difficult blow, not because I loved the company- although they did get my hard work- it was the people whom I had worked with. They had been with me through some of my biggest life events, the death of all my grandparents (over a 2 year period), me getting married, having two babies…we had become family and regardless of how we’d keep touch afterward I wouldn’t get to see them every day and have that same interaction that we enjoyed. This job also offered me a lot of flexibility with my kids, I was sometimes able to work from home if they were sick, or if I had appointments. 

I was offered the opportunity to move to another office in Colorado Springs but I would have preferred to cut off my right arm then move for a company that dropped the “we’re closing” bomb like they did. After all, what would happen a year after I got there if it closed? I’d be thousands of miles away from all my family. I stayed until they asked me to leave so I’d get the severance and could move on from there. 

The Next Chapter

I LOVED being off with the kids. Who knew I would enjoy it so much. I knew after the first couple weeks that when I went back to work I wanted it to be something flexible for the kids’ schedule. My daughter would be starting school in the fall and I wanted to be able to take her and/or pick her up. I was still working on my bachelor’s degree but decided to learn code as well. I went through Skillcrush and Codeacademy as well as some Udemy courses. I also worked on my technical certificate for Web Design and Development in addition to my bachelors. Running out of severance money soon and needing insurance I had to find something to do for work. 

Accepting that sometimes there is an ‘in-between’

I winded up getting a job in the public sector as a coordinator and I’ve learned a lot but flexibility doesn’t exist, along with vacation time. I will say in the instances of one of the kids being sick or something like that they have been very kind to me and understood, but when the rule is if you don’t have the time off you can’t take it- then that could stop at any moment. I don’t take it for granted and I know that it won’t always happen. 

Moving forward

I am determined to find work that offers me the flexibility to be a mom. That is my main goal. I’ve been working on getting my dream rolling with a WordPress Design/Development business as well as this blog. I have previously had a side gig as well as a travel agent specializing in booking Disney destinations. I did that though because it was my was a way of doing something that helped people and allowed me to share my Disney love at the same time.

So, that’s my story. Failure is not an option.  I am going to find some way to make this happen. 

Thank you for joining me on this journey and juggling blogging, family, school, work, and new business. I hope you can relate to some part of it and will find it encouraging.  

If you need or know a blogger or small business that needs a WordPress site mention Little Miss Blog and get 20% off ♥

Thanks again & Enjoy!!

♥Little Miss…

Disney’s Wilderness Lodge Disney’s Wilderness Lodge has a rustic, Colorado feel to it.  It’s actually inspired by the Pacific Northwest, however, the closest I’ve gotten to that is Colorado and it’s amazing how similar it feels when you walk into the resort.  You would never know that you were just a short boat trip away […]

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Disney’s Treehouse Villas Are you looking for a unique experience at a Walt Disney World Resort?  Something different and memorable?   Disney’s Treehouse Villas may be your answer. The Treehouse Villas are apart of the Saratoga Springs Resort; however, they feel completely separate (both literally and figuratively).  They are comfortable, serene, spacious, and offer a very […]

Staying Club Level at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort Surroundings that make you feel like you are in Hawaii, a view of Cinderella’s castle and a lounge with drinks and snack.  If this sounds like your kind of place you should check out the Club Level at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort. The Polynesian Resort, also affectionately […]

A Visit To The Garden of the Gods Amazing rock formations are one of the things that you will find at the Garden of the Gods Park in Colorado Springs, Colorado.  You can explore geology, plants, and animals in the 1334+ acre park.   It is a National Natural Landmark with so much to see and […]

Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort The Polynesian Village Resort is one of Disney’s most enchanting resorts.  It is one of the original Walt Disney World Resorts and has a rich history.   The resort sits on the Seven Seas Lagoon and is just across from Magic Kingdom however, the resort atmosphere takes you away to what feels […]

A Visit to Sweet Pete’s Candy Shop Candy stores bring to mind bright colors, Willy Wonka, happiness and sugar rushes.   It’s one of those magical childhood places where you think that you are in paradise.   Sweet Pete’s Candy Shop in Jacksonville, Florida is the perfect picture of all these things.  They have done […]

Warm Winter Getaway Destinations Winter is nice, for a day or two but then you get into the cold dreary temperatures that bring sore throats and sniffles.   I cannot even imagine for those people who have to shovel snow.  Winter is often the perfect time to plan a getaway.  Not only do warm winter […]

Brunch at 10/6 Grille in Sweet Petes During our visit to Sweet Petes Candy Shop, we decided to get some food at the new 10/6 Grille.  It has an Alice in Wonderland which is one of my favorite stories. My husband’s birthday is coming up soon and I was hoping that this would be somewhere […]

Legoland Florida Themepark What is it exactly? Is it worth it?  What ages is it for?   There are many questions when you think about visiting a Florida theme park where the name isn’t Walt Disney World or Universal Studios…. which as a Florida resident I can say is totally understandable. About Legoland Florida Legoland […]