Ashley > Recent Status Updates

“Is there anything as painful as waiting for the love of your life?"

“I'll tell you what's a red flag. Abs. A dude with abs has chosen hotness over pasta, and that doesn't sit right with me.”

“The things that'd always been mundane suddenly seemed magically charming.”

“The thing about a musical is that it makes you feel things deeply, because the music heightens the emotions, so it's worth searching out the ones that might move you. Life is about feeling, right? Really feeling things deeply to your core, good or bad. You can go along for the easy ride, or you can put yourself in the path of the moving train and let yourself feel every bump, every turn, every horrific crash."

“My mood was improving by the minute, because Zabar's was the "Happy Thanksgiving back" market from the movie You've Got Mail.” Lynn, you get me.

"Manhattan isn't a place where you fit in. Millions of people, all crammed together, and not a one of 'em fits in. Just find your spot and start chiseling."

“According to the internet, once it got dark in the city, the criminals came out.” HAHA

NETGALLEY I LOVE YOU

You’re telling me this half-Japanese high schooler who SPEAKS JAPANESE and has taken Japanese culture classes doesn’t know to take her shoes off in a Japanese home??

The audiobook includes real Phantom music, and the cast includes Sierra Boggess (Carlotta), Norm Lewis (Piangi), and Jordan Fisher (RAOUL!!). !!!!!!!

“You must be fighting fit, Emma, whatever else. Most of life is the ability to be ready for whatever comes your way.”

“Emma M. Lion would like to dedicate her journals to all those who have the presumption to read them. She understands the temptation to do so.” I’m putting this dedication on my journals HAHAHA

Never have I ever seen a ‘no AI training’ copyright warning in a book until now. Sigh.

“The Al-ification of American Girl would be a unique shame: The story of the company is about how one woman with a singular vision created an astoundingly successful and influential business. How could a computer algorithm ever replace that kind of creative intelligence, or "golden gut," as Rowland liked to put it?

“In 2011, a Washington Post reporter compared the selection of one's American Girl doll to the ancient Korean ritual of doljanchi… said to decide said baby's fate. Similarly, a girl who… subconsciously gravitated toward a Samantha might now be working in fashion PR, or the girl who… selected a bespectacled Molly might have turned out to be a book editor.” I LOVE diving into the psychology of childhood

If you ever think representation doesn’t matter for kids!! I wanted Samantha bc she had pretty things, and brown hair like me, but ultimately chose Felicity bc she liked horses, had little curls, and, the deciding factor: had a purple dress HAHA

“[The store] had a policy of not shutting down no matter how famous the clientele was.” Tell that to the D.C. store my grandpa went out of his way to take me to in 2011 that was closed for a private party 😤🥺

“Rowland produced a small-screen version of American Girl magazine. The idea was a CBS Sunday Morning–format style show…. A segment about a girl who was re-creating Mormon Joseph Smith’s cross-country journey in a covered wagon.”

Hey so I’m actually crashing out that this was never produced because it was “only for girls”.

Running a coffee shop with your closest cousins on both sides of your family sounds so ideal actually (@Chloe, @Thalia, @Brooke get ready for me to pitch a business idea to you)

Got this book when visiting Ariel at Harper Collins, not realizing it’s the third in the series and my library doesn’t have the other two :(

Can’t believe I’m reading a book about American Girl by an author who suspects her doll is in the landfill… and doesn’t seem to care :(

“The hungover frat boy who waited in line at the Chicago flagship for hours to bring his little sister’s chosen doll home to Indiana for Christmas.” 😭💓

TIL SOME SCHOOLS GET AMERICAN GIRL DOLL HISTORY CURRICULUM!!!! I went to the wronggg elementary apparently

TIL Pleasant Rowland was a children’s textbook editor before starting her company :,)

“I toed off my shoes, setting them on the spot that had become mine on his shoe rack.” Awe

“Don’t you think it’s exciting? The idea that you have so many books there’s always something left to read?”

MURRAY’S EX-WIFE IS JONAH FROM ACADEMIC AFFAIR’S BROTHER’S COLLEGE RIVAL THAT HE’S FS IN LOVE WITH OMG

Still pretending I don’t hate Lily! Having something tragic happen to you and wanting to help someone by being fake mean doesn’t mean you didn’t cause real harm!! Also deciding to not continue (MEANING SHE ALREADY TRIED) to break up an engagement just bc the girl is cool?? Hmm.

Calling phone chargers ‘rechargers’ is sending me

“I refuse to be Fanny Price.”