Dolls of many nations convene in my home!
These photos were not easy to take. Have you tried getting strong willed dolls to say “cheese” in twenty different languages?
My great-aunt brought me dolls from her trips to Europe when I was a girl. My mom found dolls for me at the New York World’s Fair (1964-65). I’ve picked up dolls on my own travels, and friends who know I love dolls have given me some too.
The photos represent about half of my collection.
The D word pops up again! Downsizing of my doll population.
Who gets to stay?
When I started downsizing, I read some advice in Sue Patton Thoele’s The Mindful Woman: “Really see the stuff you’ve accumulated. Keep only what you need and love.”
“Keep only what you need and love” has been my guiding mantra.
The couple below is staying for sure. My aunt brought them to me from Italy, around 1960. I can look into their faces and be six years old again. I remember holding them. Admiring their clothes. Setting them up on my painted bookcase.
When Healthy Choice invited me to try their baked entrees, I let my Italian doll friends have a taste of the lasagna.
Delizioso! they proclaimed.
I thought the lasagna was quite good too. And with so many dolls to take care of, I love having foods that are quick to make. The dish is low in calorie. My dolls don’t seem concerned with calories, but I am.
Read more about all the Healthy Choice Baked Entrees here.
As for the rest of my international doll collection…
Dolls are not easy to say goodbye to. They have personalities. They gaze up at you. They seem to know what you’re thinking, even if you don’t speak the same language.
I read an article on de-cluttering that said if you have to stop to question keeping an item, that means it needs to go.
Nope.
My downsizing rules state the opposite.
If I’m in doubt, I mull. A few days later, if I’m still feeling sad about giving up an item, I keep it. Maybe not forever but for now.
So along with my beloved Italian couple, the rest of the dolls are staying.
Lots of mouths to feed.
Lasagne per tutti!
Disclosure: I’m participating in a Vibrant Influencer Network Healthy Choice campaign. They sent me coupons for Healthy Choice Baked Entrees and payment in exchange for my honest opinions about the product. All opinions are my own and were not influenced, nor reviewed, by Healthy Choice prior to posting.
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