American Girl Doll Review

Christmas is coming! Can you believe it? For some reason, this year snuck up on me and I'm no way near prepared. I need lots of wonderful gift ideas before I'm stuck in a crowded mall last minute. Some crowds are not nice and I have zero patience for them. EEK! 

Kids are definitely the most fun to buy for. The toys these days are so cool, I often find myself wishing for my childhood back. In fact, I have a great gift idea to share with you if you're buying for a little girl. 

Not to long ago, I entered a giveaway on the blog, Life in Pleasantville and  I'm happy to say that I was the super lucky winner. The prize was a beautiful American Girl Doll named Melody Elison. Melody is the newest addition to the many gorgeous dolls they have available. 

As soon as the doll arrived, I knew exactly who to give it to. What I didn't know was how special this doll really was. There are 5 awesome girls in my life who mean the world to me, and all their names start with the letter M. Melody was a name that was supposed to be given to the first girl, but never ended up being the one. We think maybe it was meant to be that Melody was to arrive on her own. She's finally home with all my beautiful M&Ms. 

Perfect match!

Shop Now at American Girl

Hickory Dickory Decks Dream Come True

Back in 2014, I submitted a video into the Hickory Dickory Decks Dream Deck contest. My family and I made a video showcasing the terrible condition of the deck we had, which was literally falling apart. Luckily, we rallied enough votes from family, friends and the public to end in first place. I can't even describe my excitement when I was dubbed the official winner. All I can say is, I was over the moon. 

Unfortunately, there were some hiccups between the city and the company. Every time they tried to begin building, someone would shut them down. Any other company would have given up on me, but Hickory Dickory Decks didn't. For 2 years, they fought to fulfill my dream and finally got the approval we needed. They went above and beyond with kindness. 

Now for the fun part...showing off the beauty of my much bigger deck. I never actually realized how small the old deck was until I got to drive around this beauty. I can turn the corner of the ramp without getting caught, the gate ensures no more nightmares of driving down the stairs and way more room for next years BBQ! I can't wait to decorate next spring!

Looks like we may need new furniture next year.

This gate is beautiful and makes me feel safer.

No getting stuck on the corner.

BEFORE

AFTER

Video

I hope Hickory Dickory Decks knows how much my family and I really appreciate everything they've done for us. The owners and builders were all super kind and caring. They even worked out in the rain to make sure I didn't miss an appointment. Never in a million years did I expect to have a deck this gorgeous and SAFE! A huge thank-you to everyone involved in making this happen, including those who voted for us. If anyone is thinking of getting a new deck, I highly recommend Hickory Dickory Decks!

Hickory Dickory Decks

Where I've Been: The Good, The Bad & The Fantastic

Some people have noticed there's been no activity here on Star Struck Luck. Well, I'm here now...sort of. The past few months have been an emotional rollercoaster for me and I haven't been capable of sharing or participating in anything. I'm still trying to wrap my head around everything in order to properly explain without writing a novel. So here goes. 

In February, my beloved cat Louie passed away. Before we rescued him, he had a gunshot wound to the head. Although he was extremely healthy, we think the bullet moved. We rushed him to the vet but his seizures were uncontrollable. Despite their hours of efforts, he still didn't make it. My heart was so broken that I overly neglected myself. I was broken. 

Since my immune system failed me, I caught the flu, which is practically a death sentence for people with my disease. Spinal Muscular Atrophy doesn't react well to any kind of virus. As this wasn't our first rodeo, we were fully prepared this time. My living room looked like a hospital with all our fighting equipment, which ultimately worked. I beat it without going to the hospital! It did take me 2 months to fully recover but it wasn't boring. Oh yes, I totally binge watched my Netflix. 

 During this time, we did welcome a new member to the family...Prince Ozzy. Funny thing is, we didn't exactly adopt him on purpose. Around Christmas, this adorable kitty just walked right in like he owned the place. Oddly, he was immediately accepted by the other cats. I have to wonder if they recruited him themselves. I did however, find his owners through HelpingLostPets.com. They took him home but brought him back shortly after due to allergies. This lucky boy is loved by 2 families. I think he's already comfortable with his living situation.

After all of this, my wheelchair broke down. I swear I'm not writing a country song but I totally could, right? Anyways, we finally got it fixed after 3 weeks of pain and discomfort. I'm in the process of getting a new wheelchair as well. It's been 3 years of building and we're so close to being done. I know I know, I said that 2 years ago. GAH! I keep telling myself it'll be worth the wait. 

So I bet you're waiting for the fantastic part, right? Well it's about a successful clinical trial buzzing around the SMA world. I'll copy and paste the cool part. 

"AVXS-101 is a proprietary gene therapy candidate of a one-time treatment for SMA Type 1 and is the only clinical-stage gene therapy in development for SMA. AVXS-101 is designed to address the monogenetic root cause of SMA and prevent further muscle degeneration by addressing the defective and/or loss of the primary SMN gene. AVXS-101 also targets motor neurons providing rapid onset of effect, and crosses the blood brain barrier allowing an IV dosing route and effective targeting of both central and systemic features." 

Crazy right? This might mean we're closer to a cure! Hopefully of coarse, but I'll be keeping everyone updated on whatever journey I go on. So where does this leave my blog for now? I have no idea. I'm trying to come back full force, but I keep getting sidetracked. Right now, I'm focusing on my health, my future, my family and my fur babies. I'll be posting more often though and definitely keeping my Twitter Party and Instant Win lists updated, so please enjoy.

This Week's Twitter Parties

Updated List Above

Twitter Parties are probably one of my favorite ways to win prizes. I for one enjoy chatting with friends. With a twitter party, you can win prizes by doing just that, CHATTING! I personally use TweetDeck for twitter parties but lot of people prefer Twubs, mostly because the hashtag is already included. If a Twubs link is available, I'll be sure to add it for you.

When I started, I used a wonderful TweetDeck tutorial that shows you everything you need to know. Click Here to learn now. 

Here is a list of upcoming twitter parties I know about. I'll try keeping this list updated weekly. All times on here are Eastern Time.

Feb 8

1PM - non-RSVP

EastMadeEasy Twitter Party
Hashtag: #EastMadeEasy
Hosts: @BlueDragonCA @MomCentral
Prizes: (8) $50 Amazon Gift Cards + Blue Dragon Product Pack

2PM - non-RSVP

BlueDragonCNY Twitter Party
Hashtag: #BlueDragonCNY
Hosts: @BlueDragonCA @InfluenceHQ_CA
Prizes: (6) $100 Blue Dragon Prize Packs

8PM - non-RSVP

ParentSource Twitter Party
Hashtag: #ParentSource
Hosts: @ContestQueen @ParentSource
Prizes: TBA

Feb 9

8PM - RSVP

mSpySaferInternet Twitter Party
Hashtag: #mSpySaferInternet
Hosts: @5minutesformom @mspycom
Prizes: $500 in Amazon Gift Cards and mSpy Premium Subscriptions

8PM - RSVP

saveitfwd Twitter Party
Hashtag: #saveitfwd
Hosts: @SaveCA
Prizes: (6) $50 Gift Cards (9) $15 Wagjag Gift Cards

9PM - RSVP

EggMyths Twitter Party
Hashtag: #EggMyths
Hosts: @BurnbraeFarms @SJConsulting_CA
Prizes: (1) $250 Spa Gift Card (2) iPad Minis (?) Burnbrae Farm Gift Baskets + $50 Visa Gift Card

9:30PM - RSVP

Speakfreely Twitter Party
Hashtag: #Speakfreely
Hosts: @cammipham
Prizes: (1) $100 Gift Card (8) $50 Gift Cards (5) $20 Rebtel Gift Cards

Feb 10

12PM - non-RSVP

SaveMore Twitter Party
Hashtag: #SaveMore
Hosts: @krystalatwork @BoomerandEcho @Listen2Lena @TD_Canada
Prizes: $500 in Prizing

8PM - non-RSVP

makeitCDNbeef Twitter Party
Hashtag: #makeitCDNbeef
Hosts: @loveCDNbeef
Prizes: TBA

9PM - RSVP

MindfulnessAtWork Twitter Party
Hashtag: #MindfulnessAtWork
Hosts: @MindWellMind @UrbanMommies @JulieNowell
Prizes: TBA

9:30PM - RSVP

selloffFX Twitter Party
Hashtag: #selloffFX
Hosts: @rossanawyatt @cammipham
Prizes: (1) $1000 Gift Card (1) $500 Gift Card (8) $100 Gift Cards

Feb 11

12PM - RSVP

PTPAParty Twitter Party
Hashtag: #ptpaparty
Hosts: @PTPA
Prizes: $1100 in Prizing

9PM - RSVP

CDNChickenLove Twitter Party
Hashtag: #CDNChickenLove
Hosts: @ChickenFarmers @SJConsulting_CA
Prizes: TBA

Feb 12

3PM - RSVP

MomMania16 Twitter Party
Hashtag: #MomMania16
Hosts: @mommyconnection
Prizes: TBA

9PM - RSVP

WICVDay Twitter Party
Hashtag: #WICVDay
Hosts: @Win_It_Canada @TheCouponNannie
Prizes: Lots of Valentine's Day Prizes

Feb 27

9PM - RSVP

WICUlogoquiz Twitter Party
Hashtag: #WICUlogoquiz
Hosts: @WinItCanadaUSA
Prizes: (5) $10 Tim Hortons Gift Cards

This Week's Twitter Parties

Updated List Above

Twitter Parties are probably one of my favorite ways to win prizes. I for one enjoy chatting with friends. With a twitter party, you can win prizes by doing just that, CHATTING! I personally use TweetDeck for twitter parties but lot of people prefer Twubs, mostly because the hashtag is already included. If a Twubs link is available, I'll be sure to add it for you.

When I started, I used a wonderful TweetDeck tutorial that shows you everything you need to know. Click Here to learn now. 

Here is a list of upcoming twitter parties I know about. I'll try keeping this list updated weekly. All times on here are Eastern Time.

Jan 19

7PM - non-RSVP

RSPready Twitter Party
Hashtag: #RSPready
Hosts: @TangerineBank
Prizes: TBA

7PM - non-RSVP

theFABchat Twitter Party
Hashtag: #theFABchat
Hosts: @theFABangels @linerglttrgloss @NelleCreations @makeupjunkie19
Prizes: (1) $500 Beauty Prize Pack

8PM - non-RSVP

ActiviaChallenge Twitter Party
Hashtag: #ActiviaChallenge
Hosts: @Listen2Lena
Prizes: (14) 14 Days of Yogurt

Jan 20

8PM - non-RSVP

Riceworks Twitter Party
Hashtag: #riceworks
Hosts: @riceworkscrisps
Prizes: TBA

Jan 21

8PM - RSVP

HuggiesHugDay Twitter Party
Hashtag: #HuggiesHugDay
Hosts: @YMCBuzz
Prizes: (1) $250 Visa Gift Card + $50 Huggies Born To Be Hugged Gift Bag (5) $20 Visa Gift Card + $50 Huggies Born To Be Hugged Gift Bag

9PM - RSVP

LoveLentils Twitter Party
Hashtag: #LoveLentils
Hosts: @CDNLentils @FoodBloggersCA
Prizes: (1) Red KitchenAid Pro Series Stand Mixer (4) Le Creuset Baking Dishes & Canadian Lentils Prize Pack

Jan 26

3PM - RSVP

GoosebumpsFYE Twitter Party
Hashtag: #GoosebumpsFYE
Hosts: @officialFYE
Prizes: Goosebumps Swag

Feb 11

9PM - RSVP

CDNChickenLove Twitter Party
Hashtag: #CDNChickenLove
Hosts: @ChickenFarmers @SJConsulting_CA
Prizes: TBA

Feb 12

9PM - RSVP

WICVDay Twitter Party
Hashtag: #WICVDay
Hosts: @Win_It_Canada @TheCouponNannie
Prizes: Lots of Valentine's Day Prizes

This Week's Twitter Parties

Updated List Above

Twitter Parties are probably one of my favorite ways to win prizes. I for one enjoy chatting with friends. With a twitter party, you can win prizes by doing just that, CHATTING! I personally use TweetDeck for twitter parties but lot of people prefer Twubs, mostly because the hashtag is already included. If a Twubs link is available, I'll be sure to add it for you.

When I started, I used a wonderful TweetDeck tutorial that shows you everything you need to know. Click Here to learn now. 

Here is a list of upcoming twitter parties I know about. I'll try keeping this list updated weekly. All times on here are Eastern Time.

Jan 13

7PM - non-RSVP

KeepFitHaveFun Twitter Party
Hashtag: #KeepFitHaveFun 
Hosts: @BestBuyCanada @BodyBreak @iHealthLabs @MyBasis @TomEmrich
Prizes: TBA

9PM - RSVP

TeaForLife Twitter Party
Hashtag: #TeaForLife
Hosts: @CanadaTea @LuciaWellerRD @FoodBloggerCA
Prizes: (1) $150 Gift Basket (6) $75 Gift Baskets

Jan 14

11AM - RSVP

WithoutAScalpel Twitter Party
Hashtag: #WithoutAScalpel
Hosts: @PTPA @Interventional2
Prizes: (1) $100 Amazon Gift Card (10) $20 Amazon Gift Card

12PM - non-RSVP

2ndSemesterChat Twitter Party
Hashtag: #2ndSemesterChat
Hosts: @Elmers @mead @trapperkeeper
Prizes: (3) Elmers Prize Pack

Jan 19

7PM - non-RSVP

RSPready Twitter Party
Hashtag: #RSPready
Hosts: @TangerineBank
Prizes: TBA

7PM - non-RSVP

theFABchat Twitter Party
Hashtag: #theFABchat
Hosts: @theFABangels @linerglttrgloss @NelleCreations @makeupjunkie19
Prizes: (1) $500 Beauty Prize Pack

8PM - non-RSVP

ActiviaChallenge Twitter Party
Hashtag: #ActiviaChallenge
Hosts: @Listen2Lena
Prizes: (14) 14 Days of Yogurt

Jan 26

3PM - RSVP

GoosebumpsFYE Twitter Party
Hashtag: #GoosebumpsFYE
Hosts: @officialFYE
Prizes: Goosebumps Swag