Quick Update and Disney Store news

Hey, everyone!
So this week has been, once more, insane.  Horses.  *facepalm* Just...horses.  If any of you own horses or know people who own horses, you know they are the most maddening, frustrating creatures on earth, and I quite frankly have no idea why I like them so much, but I do.  xD 
PLUS, computer issues.  My computer randomly decided to just STOP working...temporarily.  I know I could use my tablet, but I prefer an actual keyboard as opposed to a touch screen for when I'm typing.  I don't know what was going on with my laptop, but it lost its own IP address, we got that fixed, and then it just QUIT and wouldn't turn on for like three days.  It's working fine now, knock on wood.  I have no idea what's going on with it...
ANYWAY, I also need to let you guys know that I won't be able to be posting from July 14th to July 28th.  I'll let you all know what I did after I come back!
I'm hoping to have the Belle and Beast doll reviews up sometime soon here, if I can get my wild equines settled down and my computer convinced to stay working =D 

While I'm at it, Stitch Kingdom's website posted some exciting news -- designs for new Frozen toddler dolls, an ice-skating set with Anna and Elsa, the new Singing Doll designs, and the new Designer Collection couple sets (Tiana & Naveen, Pocahontas & John, Mulan & Shang, Cinderella & Prince Charming, and Aurora & Philip this year) will be coming out soon!!!!  (Except for the Frozen dolls--they're set to be released this FALL...)
They all look so pretty!  Mulan and Shang for the Designer Collection look a little off, but my favorite from this year is probably Aurora.  What about you guys?  Anyone planning on purchasing any of the new releases, LE dolls or not? 
You can click HERE to see pictures, and the article posted.

FINALLY, another post...so sorry :(

Hey everyone...
Sorry :(  I thought summer was a time where you got to chill and everything...but not for me, apparently!  I truly cannot remember ever being so busy!  I have been working on photoshoot pics, I truly have been.  But let's see...
Sunday, I went with some kids from the church I go to, to a "Last Blast of Summer" Christian event at an amusement park.  Oh my goodness, it was SO fun!  They had a sermon, and then they had comedies and concerts going on throughout the day.  All for free, unless you wanted to go on the rides, of course; and even then, the church paid for the tickets.  I had so much fun. 
I got plenty to think about during the sermon, which was one I really needed to hear at the time (hurrying and worrying..hmm.)  Anyway...3-2-1 Improv Comedy was there, and boy, are they funny!  I laughed so hard!  Then, let's see...Lindsay McCaul was there - she is an awesome Christian singer!
And Matt Maher, another contemporary Christian singer, was there as well - and oh.  My.  Gosh.  I had never heard of him before, but I have been listening to his songs NONSTOP since we got his new CD, "All the People Said Amen" at the event :D 
Let's see...a few of my favorites are:

Alive AgainBurning In My Soul     (LOVE THIS ONE!!!)
All the People Said Amen
It Is Good

...I could go on and on and on, but I'll stop there - if you like him, you can search for his music on Youtube or iTunes :D   You seriously should listen to his songs...I'm not much of a fan of music like this, but I think I mightttt just really love these songs!  :D 

Anyway.  I'll stop obsessing over Matt Maher's epic songs now.  :P 

Monday...let's see, Monday was busy, but I can't remember what all went on. 
Tuesday was the first day of school for us cyber schoolers.  Also, I found out that whatever ended up causing my one guinea pig's death is VERY contagious, finding out the hard way with another death to the piggy family :(   I have no clue what this is, and I have talked and searched for HOURS trying to find out what's going on, but I cannot for the life of me find anything out - most of the problems are due to not taking proper care of them, and trust me.  I'm slightly obsessive about caring for them.  But anywho..let's see.  I've disinfected EVERYTHING, I have all 4 of my remaining guinea pigs separated and in different rooms; they all are on preventative and/or treatment medication, and their normal food, on top of special hay AND probiotic pellets.  Oh, and they're being given some orange juice to drink as well as water - a tip I got from the local family-owned pet store; vitamin C.  And I have to wash my hands and blablabla every time I go to feed or touch (or whatever) a different guinea pig.   
So you can see how this week has been going, right?   Fingers crossed that nobody else comes down with it and hoping and praying this is over with soon! 

When I haven't been doing schoolwork, trying to squeeze in time blogging, or playing nurse to all my guinea pigs, I've been either doing other things or working with horses.  Or my internet's been out.  Trust me, you don't want to get me started on that last one there...I have not been a happy camper about the internet xD 
Let's see....did I cover everything?  Hmm...I obsessed over Matt Maher, guinea pigs, and the internet connection...what else was I supposed to say?  Oh.  Two more things.  You're not gonna want to hear this, but next week's going to be busy as well. 
It's the week of the local township fair, and I was recruited to help at one of the food places.  I think it'll only be in the evenings/afternoons, because of schoolwork, etc., but that still really cuts into blogging time :(  Sorry!  I'm hoping after next week, things will calm down a bit and I'll be able to blog more!

Onto doll things...I think the Disney Store released the Fairytale Designer Couples Rapunzel & Flynn dolls this week - the fourth or the fifth?  So if they're not already sold out and you haven't heard they were released yet, and you want to go pick a set up, I'd suggest you do so before they are sold out!  Hoping everyone that wants a set can get a set! (: 

For now..I think that's it.  Phew...hoping I can have some pictures up sometime in the near future, thanks so much for the pageviews and follows, and I am so, so so so sorry that I haven't been posting as much as I've been wanting to!  Hope you all have great weekends, and I'll talk to you all when I get the chance to again!  ;)

The Art of Tangled book review

Hey guys!!  So sorry it's been a week (and a day) since I last posted!  :(  I've been incredibly busy...anyway...today, we'll be doing a review of my 'The Art of Tangled' book.  It's not a doll review, but it's such a beautiful book.  And it's Disney related, and that's always good, right?! ;)
Anyway, let's get on to the book...

Here's the dust cover.  You can tell it's pretty worn...and that's because I've gone through it so many times!  :D  I love the artwork on it..so funny!  :D

Underneath the dust cover, the book is hardback, purple, and the front has the kingdom sun emblem on it.  

The first thing you see when you open up the book is all these awesome sketches!!

Turn the page and you see another sketch.  This was actually used in the back artwork of the DVD case.  

Claire Keane's artwork is scattered throughout the book, for backgrounds as well as some actual sketches, etc.  She is such a good artist, and her father is, too!  

"Introduction 

The Girl in the Tower"  

Gives a very brief overview of the production of the movie, etc., as well as a summary of the actual Grimm fairytale.  

"Once Upon a Time...and Time Again - The Many Lives of Disney's TANGLED" gives insight as to the production, again. 

"Creating a Credible Fantasy" goes into the aesthetics of the movie.  And I LOVE the concept art on the side.  It's so sweet!  :D  

"The Tower - A Luxurious Prison" gives details and concept art of the tower.  

Some BEAUTIFUL drawings of the murals Claire Keane drew.  So pretty!  I entertain myself by trying to find the hidden sun emblems scattered throughout the mural work on this page...hey, it's something to do when you have nothing else to do!  

And now for Rapunzel.  There are several pages giving information on her design, sketches, and concept art.  Can I just say this:  GORGEOUS!  

And then there's the same thing for Mother Gothel, only fewer pages....

And Eugene/Flynn.  Includes information on the "Hot guy conference"...too funny!!  

Annd the Stabbington brothers get a spotlight too!

And Maximus.  Some of the expressions in his concept art just kill me!  

Oh, and they do include Pascal...I can't believe I didn't get a picture for him!  :D

"The Snuggy Duckling - Little Roadhouse in the Big Woods".  

You can find a good deal of information on the Snuggly Duckling and character names and drawings of ALL the pub thugs.  

"The Kingdom - A Benevolent Monarchy" Gives information on the Kingdom, including what actual, real - life location was the inspiration for the kingdom design for Corona.  

Oh, and they give quite a few storyboards, as well. 

The King and Queen...plenty of sketches and info on their characters, as well.  

Let's not forget about the lanterns...GORGEOUS.  

"Ever After - Eternal Fairy Tales, the Disney Culture, and the Alchemy of Filmmaking" is basically like an afterword.  

Wedding dress ideas, concept art, etc. 

And the last page is this sketch, which was used for the DVD cover artwork.  

And the STUNNING concept artwork that was used for the back of the dust cover.  

Overall, I would DEFINITELY recommend this book; it's just gorgeous and I learned a lot in this book.  If you're obsessed with Tangled...like I am...you'll definitely like it.  It's about twenty-six dollars from Amazon, but it's definitely cheaper than getting it anywhere else!  It's well worth it, too, in my humble opinion.  

Any comments/questions?  Do you have this book?  If you do, what do you think about it?  

I'll have a review up for The Art of Brave up sometime - another good book!  I'm really hoping that there's a 'The Art of Frozen' for the Disney movie coming November 27th...I'm really excited for Frozen!  If they do have a 'The Art of Frozen' book, I'll be sure to buy it and review it! =D  

On that note, are you excited for Frozen, too?!  

Another thing is that the Disney store is starting to come out with some of the Fairytale Designer collection items; there was a set of all the dolls available for preorder for an astronomical amount; but I think they're already sold out.  Fear not, the actual individual sets of dolls haven't come out yet.  They also have mugs, journals, lithographs, purses, etc.  (:  

Talk to you all soon!  Hope you enjoyed this review!