I have visited Le Creuset Outlet in Merrimack outlet, NH this week. It was so much fun looking around. The price wasn't too bad. It is definitely cheaper than the regular stores. BUT if you are expecting like 50 bucks for 300 worth, you would not find what you are looking for.

(This is what it looks like from outside)

   They had all 40% off of black color, and 25% off of coastal blue and nutmeg color at the moment. There are other clearance that are range from 75% to 25& off, but I could only see the 60%.  The cheapest of the black one was the 99 dollar for the 2.5qt pot. I have seen 99 dollar 4.5qt blue pot from TJmaxx. 

   I would loooove to have pink sets but they are not available in US. It is so unfair! They are available in Japan, Korea, Hongkong, UK, and etc. So I wrote to Le creuset USA to suggest that we should get pink sets in US. I bet if enough of people want them and make voices, they would get the color. You should all make voices as well if you want. Below is there customer email. 

Consumer-Services@LeCreuset.com

   I ended up getting a 5.5qt coastal blue cast iron pot. Since I love cooking as well as the baking. It can do both without changing the knob. I have made Boeuf Bourguignon and  artisan bread so far. It was truely the best. Everybody loved all I cooked with it. It worths all the penny! 

   I thought of buying this product since I was sick of buying cheap pans that would only last less than a year. I bought it for 180, and it would be same amount of money for buying cheap pans for 9 years. Pluse it can be worked in the oven, and the result is soooooo different. Le creuset product is meant to last for life time so you would use it for your life time! I love it :) 

Throw back Thursday- Kitchenaid reform "Pinking my Kitchenaid mixer"

   I have purchased the broken kitchenaid ultra power mixer from Craigslist for 20 dollar. Since I knew what the problem was, it was an easy fix( I had help from my wonderful supporting bf and my two little kitties:) !!) Then I noticed it was all scratched and chipped on the surface. No problem! My boy friend's dad is so handy with everything.

(this is the picture after we fixed up our kitchenaid mixer, and brought it over to get painted. You can see the chips on the pic, but it was alot worse in person)

   You name it, he can do it! He's our superman. In fact, the table that my kitchenaid sitting on was created by him as well. All we did was bought the two cans of Krylon ballet slipper pink paint and hoped for the best. He worked so hard yet carefully. It was the state of art in painting.

Viola!!

I love it so much now. It costed me less than 40 to have brand new looking new geared Kitchenaid mixer. I have always wanted one but I heard that new motors they produce aren't as good as the older ones. So I purchased the older one that has worm gear worn out and replaced it. 

   It made my baking life so much easier and fun. I got my Grain mill attachment and 3 other attachment packs last Christmas. I also got dough hook and whips. So now I can broaden my baking field :) 

Isabelle's new dress

   I made an outfit over the weekend. Even though I was sick with upset stomach, making new outfit eased the pain and made me excited, even. This is the outfit I made inspired by Burberry dress I saw at the Nordstrom. 

    I should have used the plaid pattern a bit tilted but I didn't have enough of remnants. Desperate times! It worked out pretty good. I am pretty happy with the result. I keep making new outfits and give it to Isabelle. It is not fair, but you know how it is with the new doll. Not that I think the other dolls will be jealous or anything ( they miiiiiiiight...). I think it will be so cute with kids outfit and have match outfit! Or I will make my own and have matching dress with Isabelle :)

Emily's Blazer, stripe shirt, and ripped jeans

   My Custom Emily has a new wig since her hair was all chopped up when I purchased her. So I re-wigged her hair with the wig from Rubyregalleria, and I am happy that it is brand new looking doll but I'm not sure if I would keep her as is or bring it to the doll hospital and sell the wig on ebay or sell her on ebay. I am not so sure, but we'll see. 

   The long sleeve stripe shirt is actually from my shirt that looks exactly like Emily is wearing. It was one of my favorite shirt for a long time but it got some stains and it wasn't coming out. The jeans are from my bf and it had a rip on his crotch area (Why?hmmm I don't know). So I used it up for making new jeans for Emily.

   Blazers are from fabric remnants that I have purchased from Joanne's Fabric store for about 4 dollars, and I haven't even used the quarter of it yet. It was my first attempt to make jackets and it was abit challenging but possible :)

Nicki's sequence belt top with skirt

This top was also my shirt recycled project and the navy skirt was made out of my bf's t-shirt.
I used the V-shaped neck line from my old shirt and made in to shirt and sewed sequence on the middle to high light waist. Skirt was made out of the t-shirt and I used the sleeve end for the waist band. I didn't expect much but it turned out pretty good.

Lanie's Mario Car dress with Cowl.

   I have made this outfit couple of days ago for and I have also knitted for her cowl. This was actually recycle t-shirt project. I have cut out the Mario's exhaust logo to put it on the dress, because I thought that "Mario" and "car" goes well together in a cute way. My boyfriend and I have had such a great time playing MarioKart. Then, I put some lace underneath to make sure it looks girly enough.

Cropped tshirt and sweat pants

I have made this outfit today. I have made many outfits before and I will post them later.
Cropped t shirts I have made patterns and I also made patterns for sweatpants. It looks a lot like meet outfit of Isabelle:)

Mini Isabelle review

So my beloved bf got me mini isabelle and a second book of Isabelle series, and I am so excited to open my new doll and read the new book (hopefully it will be better than first one)

It is well made and pretty. Her eyelashes look different than Saige's last year mini doll.

I like her better than mini Saige. I believe this is the second GOTY mini doll and i think they did pretty good job on it. Her pink hair is on the back, it is shown a bit on the picture but is is not shown enough. I think it would have been better if highlight streaks were outside where you can see it. It is NOT add-on feature on mini doll which I like better. The mini doll comes with mini book and a pink shirt that's like big Isabell's, silver pants (minus Isabelle name tag), pink underwear and gold-glittery shoes.

Girl of the year 2014 Isabelle Review

   It's been four days I have had Isabelle, and I think she's no doubt gorgeous doll. I love love love her!!

BUT, I think I would have to say that I'm not so thrilled about her meet out fit and her "add-on" hair attachment features.

   She has a blonde hair lighter than McKenna's but with streaks, it is closer to Lanie's hair color but shinier, I think. Her eyes are same color as Lanie, which is like hazel green brownish color and has matching lighter eyebrows. Overall she is really really pretty!!
   For the meet outfit she comes with the pink t-shirt with a lace sleeves and ballerina illustration on it, silvery sweatpants, and gold glitter shoes. It is cute but not so "meet outfit worthy". Her other ballet outfits are pretty, but of course that should be purchased as well. The shoes are the best feature of the outfit. Also the hair attachment is easy to fall out of place and not so much shown unless you tie her hair or put it out in between hairs but quickly hide back to back when you move the doll. It would have been better if she came with the pink highlights rather than having the add on feature that doesn't work as well.

(I was inspired to turn on my sewing machine and make some outfits since I wasn't very happy with her meet outfit.)



   For her story, yes I was very disappointed. It was not so original. It was nothing but cliche and it was not so worthy of reading. (Though I like his writing style better than last year's.) I loved Saige's story. Even though I didn't think it was very well written but contained interesting materials like the problems that they were facing in New Mexico with Art program and it was important to teach the girls the current news and appreciations what they had in their school or the challenge that they could change the world. I , myself, could relate to Chrissa and the Lanie the most, because I was the champion swimmer in swim team, and scientist, and gardner myself. I am not saying that they are the best since I can relate to them the most, but at least their story was original as far as the history of the GOTY goes.
   Last but not least, the price went up to 120! I don't think it was very fair as far as what she came with. Last year's Saige had gorgeous, detail oriented outfit and came with awesome earrings and a ring. But this year outfit was rather disappointing and was more expensive. So hopefully, american girl designers will work their behind off to make it better next year(or should I say this year) for the price and children's hope.

Welcome to my collection!

I have collected quite a bit of dolls. So far I have,

GOTYdolls
Nicki 07'
Mia 08'
Chrissa 09'
Lanie10'
McKenna 12'
Saige 13'
Isabelle 14'

Historic girls
Samantha
Kirsten
Kit
Ruthie
Elizabeth
Rebecca
Kaya
Emily(rewiged)

Just like you
#9
#3 (rewiged with human hair, I know it sounds weird but it's actually very pretty)

Mini dolls
Emily
Rebecca
Saige
Isabelle

I would really like to have Kanani, Jess and other dolls but I'm waiting for a good deal since I don't want to pay a fortune.