Happy Birthday

Dear girl just received this as a birthday gift. Have to say it is too cute. This Madame Alexander collectible comes with her own miniature, fully articulated, dressed doll in a miniature box, held by a doll sized shopping bag - it's all in the details!

Birthday Celebration, 8" Wendy Collectible by Madame Alexander

Get it from marshmallowdream.com

A Nutcracker performance is the cultural equivalent of the requisite holiday fruitcake. It's festive but tired. Not so when it comes to the Bluegrass Youth Ballet's recent production of The Nutcracker in One Act. This taste of Nutcracker is just enough. Director Adahli Aranda Corn keeps it fresh, short, and always sweet. This condensed version was the perfect way for a 4 year old and 9 year old to enjoy the classic holiday ballet.

My 4 year old daughter (a budding ballerina herself) was especially delighted and refrained from squirming until the final bow. Keeping her entertained for any length of time is something even Disney and Pixar have failed to do. So we'll keep up the ballet lessons! If you know a young ballerina, send her a little encouragement from marshmallowdream.com. My sweet girl is decked out with a Ballerina Slipper Backpack and Dancing Hippo Duffle .

My Girls

This bunch of wild eyed beauties and many fond memories are what remains of my childhood Christmases. This is my collection of Madame Alexander dolls (technically some are my sister's). They are definitely not "mint in the box". They have all their shoes - but not their socks. One eye might be a little cloudy and hair a bit sticky and/or matted, but I have them to display with my own daughter's dolls from that famous dollmaker. Isn't that why we save anything - so one day our kids might have it?

Santa brought the Barbie Camper and Barbie Dreamhouse that met a bitter end at an annual yard sale. The Giant stuffed Snoopy succumbed to mold and mildew; Easy Bake and Light Bright probably went straight to the trash after the pieces were lost. And the child size yellow Beetle pedal car just disappeared. My parents swear they were not involved. These were the toys we thought we couldn't live without - and Santa obliged. The dolls came on Christmas Day.

My well traveled grandmother was the giver of these dolls every Christmas. She was the one who let us sip ginger ale from champagne glasses on New Year's Eve and where we watched Lawrence Welk on Saturday night when our parents were out. She had an affinity for Waterford Crystal, vintage teacups and anything from Ireland. She was a master seamstress and made additional clothes for our dolls, as well as bedding and quilts, doll size and human size.

We got baby dolls, then storybook dolls, then Suzy, Pinkie and Alice. She did not care what was on our list to Santa, she did not ask what we wanted. She simply presented us with one of those blue boxes for several years.

Every kid should be so lucky that there is one person in their life who doesn't care what they want, and offers treasures they never thought to ask for.

Madame Alexander is still around, making beautifully detailed dolls for all ages. Visit marshmallowdream.com to see our collection of Huggums, Wendy and Fancy Nancy dolls from Madame Alexander.

Michelle Coles

marshmallowdream.com

It has started. The wonderful season of Holiday Shopping is upon us. It was the dirty look I gave someone in the parking lot at Wal Mart the other day that drove the message home. A forgotten birthday gift sent me running to my local superstore in a panic, only to be nearly run over in another shoppers effort to score the perfect parking spot.

Every year, I swear I will shop early... or shop only on weekday mornings... shop only after midnight... shop online...buy only what is on sale...buy it now only if I know it will never be on sale, you get the idea. I don't care anymore. I am not going to worry about the perfect gift. Any gift is perfect - given in the spirit of the Season without expectations.

This year I vow:
I will spend more time with my family than shopping for them.
I will shop online...now.
I will choose gifts for children that are lasting and not worry so much about the "wow" factor.
I will put myself in the midst of crowds, not at the mall or mart, but by attending the programs and activities that are so plentiful this time of year.
I will spend the month of December enjoying my imperfectly decorated home.
I will not send store bought cookies to the parties at school.
I will throw away the toy catalogs that arrive in the mailbox, only to cause daily edits to the already written letters to Santa.
I will make magic.

Happy "Halfway between Halloween and Thanksgiving"
Michelle Coles
marshmallowdream.com

Just returned from my son’s Veterans Day program. Sweet 8 and 9 year old voices singing all those patriotic songs we learned as children but can’t truly appreciate until we’re adults – until we have actually visited Montana and seen purple mountain majesty or lived through war time and realize the meaning of land of the free and home of the brave. Patriotism and gratitude is alive and well, joyous and unencumbered... in 4th grade and in me. Happy Veterans Day.

Stephen Joseph 20% off!

First Post

The dream makers at marshmallowdream.com include mothers, brothers and grandmothers. There's a baby boutique obsessed mom of two with a job as a retailer buyer in her spare time (smile). Add the Baby Boomer grandma with 25 years of experience in the children's gift and apparel industry. Don't forget the brothers that made them family (and friends). Marshmallowdream.com is a true family business, with the personal service you would expect to find in a hometown boutique.

Within the pages of our upscale baby boutique, you'll find some of the softest, sweetest gifts for babies, children and grown-ups. Our focus is on luxury blankets, pillows, backpacks and other lovey's that can be monogrammed to make a gift truly one-of-a-kind. With our own high quality embroidery machine, we offer a wide range of personalization options. Our momogram boutique includes styles that are fun, funky or traditional in a rainbow of colors.

If you are reading this, you wanted to know more about us. We are thrilled and hope your questions are answered. Welcome to our sweet life.