American Girl Store - Chicago, IL

I'm starting this year out behind, so I reckon' I ought not make a resolution to be on time. Or maybe I should...

You see, I felt like I should be blogging reviews from the last year, like everyone else. Or resolutions for the new year, like everyone else, but I wasn't even finished with my week of Christmas fun yet! Sure I talk a lot, and download a lot of pictures, but this is my scrapbook. What's a scrapbook without pictures?

And then it seemed like one year just kind of floated into the next one. We were at a party at my Sister and Brother-in-Law's house. And I didn't get that 'new year-new life' feeling that I usually get. Not even the next day.

Oh I did start writing down a few resolutions for the new year, but that was a week or two before it was actually here. Then when it got here, I wasn't ready! Probably had something to do with those french martinis. Anyway, I'm starting to get that new year feeling now, a few days late. I started my usual diet, just this morning. And I got my resolution list out. I'll post some of it later.... AFTER I finish my week of Christmas fun!

I had to tell you about this day....

I was with my sister and my three nieces.

We were not going to a windmill farm, but we passed this on the way to our destination. Windmills as far as the eye can see. On the way home it was pitch black, since this is in the country, and the windmills had red blinking lights on them. Very twilight-zone like.


One of my nieces asked me why I take so many pictures. My sister and I laughed. I explained to her that I have to take about ten pictures to get one good one. Especially in a moving vehicle and a cheap camera.

Then later she said, "Aunt Cindy, hurry, take a picture! This looks like Michigan!"

I explained to her that it is Lake Michigan, even though we aren't actually in Michigan. And doesn't the water look cold?

brrrrrrr - white caps on a lake.

We were taking them to the American Girl Place in Chicago.

Downtown Chicago.

I am not a big city girl.

But we decided for Christmas this year, we'd each give them $25.00 each, a total of $50.00 to spend at the American Girl Place in Chicago.

And it seems like $50.00 each wasn't much at a place like this, but it was just right. Because it teaches them they can't get everything they want, and they learn to pick and choose. Next year we figure they'll be too old for this place, but we enjoyed the day so much we plan on doing something every year. Look at the smile(?) on that middle one. That picture was taken not long after we got there.

After some retail therapy...

and absorbing it all in, you can just see the fun on their faces.

This one could not stop talking and she said, "Aunt Cindy, If I am talking too much just tell me to be quiet because I don't want to get on your nerves." (someone must have had a talk to them before they left)

And look at this smile now! Compared to the fake one above. When I was adjusting her scarf she said, "that's all you care about is the scarves huh?" I said, "yeah, that's all I care about".

This place has a cafeteria $22.00 per person. A sweet salon (overpriced junk food)., a photo studio to get you and your dolls picture taken 'professionally',

A hair salon, and other things.

Yes these are hair prices for the DOLLS, not them! I said, "gimme that doll I'll braid it's hair for nothing!)

The lady behind the counter asked the girls where they got their scarves. The girls pointed to me and I said, "I made them. It's really all I care about."

Two of them decided they wanted to get their dolls ears pierced. $14.00 bills each to drill holes in their dolls ears! I sound so cynical don't I? I'm not really. I enjoyed it. As a matter of fact, one of my resolutions this year is to invent the next "thing." Something like this....I don't know what it is yet because I haven't invented it. But I keep thinking about it.

What? You don't think I can do it?

Well it's right up there with losing weight!

These are on the wall as you make your way down the escalator. I was inspired!

I'm thinking....look at all of these people spending all of this money for doll stuff. I'm going to start making scarves for girls and their dolls....to sell.

Are you kidding me? Is this for real?
Nevermind what I'm thinking here!

It's for real. I tried to get our parking ticket validated. Apparently you cannot park in the Water Tower Mall parking lot that the American Girl store is in, you have to park in a separate area. Who knew? So for shopping three hours, we paid $25.00 to park. Then we had 20 minutes to vacate the parking lot. So we vacated...

in search of rainforest cafe'. Just a few blocks away, and $12.00 to park there, we found it.

I have a 'thing' about paying to park. I also refuse to pay to shop at a store. You can thank me...I just deleted my soap box speech.

Stepping down....

back to the cafe'.....

I've been to one before so I knew what to expect. This snake moves.

This elephant roars (honks? whatever elephants do) and raises it's head everytime it would 'storm' in the cafe'. Can you just see how much fun these girls were having?

Great idea my Sister had to take them there.

I'm sure someone will be able to tell me what this building is, besides beautiful.

I will admit, the big city lights are pretty amazing. But it was time to go home.

to our small little town.

ssshhhhh.....

Cindy Bee