i want to write one, but im not sure if this really grabs the reader, or if its a good story line

I woke up to the sun screaming through the shades, rubbing my eyes while slowly dragging myself out of bed. It was much how I woke up every day, as if there were a roster to my life . The life of Amanda. Oh how I despise that name! Amanda. It doesn’t fit the the impression of me. When I think of an Amanda, I think of a shiny girl with bleach blond hair. The kind of girl that dates the quarter back, and attends all of the after-school activities. Nothing like the kind of girl who enjoys locking herself inside her room, blasting some alternative, while cracking open a nice book. The girl with long, brown, stringy hair that cant be styled worth crap. As pale a sheets in the summer, and the color of the afternoon sky during the winter. I was that Amanda, and not that preppy little girl. I need a nick name. Mandy? No what am I, a Barbie? Manda? Hell no!”Am.” Yeah thats it. “Hello, my name is Am, and yours is? I said quietly to myself, “Sound perfect.”I opened the pale door, racing through the rats nest otherwise known as my closet. Nothing. Scavenging through my sisters clothes, there was finally something seemly. An old vintage shirt with scribbled writing on the front, along with an old pair of blue jeans seemed archetypal for the kind of day I was having. I couldn’t imagine going to school if it weren’t for my sister. She was my hero. She was always there for me, and I was to her, even though she was 3 years older. The greatest part was she didn’t treat me like a 14 year old, nor a vexatious little sister, but as a friend. The kind of friend that you could tell anything and everything to but never have to fret. The person you go to when you have problems, and the person you go to even if you don’t. I remember when there was the biggest party of the year, at Christina Baker’s (the most popular girl in school). Of course, my sister was invited, but after a week without an invitation, I got the picture. Even though all of Jessi’s friends were going to be there, she didn’t go. Instead, Jessi stayed home with me to watch an erroneous movie, playing off that she was sick. She did pretty well too, I must say, and I wouldn’t of been able to tell that what she said was spurious if it wasn’t for me walking in her room to find her putting a penny in her mouth. It wasn’t until after I changed that I noticed my stomach barking. When I walked downstairs to my family enjoying their Kodak moment, there she was, Jessi my sister, sitting at the chrome square table along with Mom and Dad. Her hair a golden blond, shoulder length. She had blue-green eyes that could attract someones attention from across a room. With a flicker of her eyelashes, she could get whatever she wanted.
There was no place for me there. I’m not the kind of person who is all giggly and happy-go-lucky.
“I’m going upstairs,” I announced while picking up my plate.
Dad said nothing.
Mom said nothing.
The only thing that broke the silence was Jessi ranting on about what she was doing this weekend.
At school they don’t teach you the whole story, just the one sided version that they want you to believe. That the government is there for “you,’ but they don’t tell you how many times they’ve lied to you, or how many things they’ve done that you don’t even know exist. They tell you that outside the cities are forbidden, and how nothing lies out there but wild animals. The truth is that they control us all. With there rules and laws. They say we have our rights, but as soon as there comes a person to speak out against them, it comes on the news how theres been a freak accident, or a suicide. Few people have been able to escape there grips, and these, are The Runaways.
No one knows where they are, or even if they still exist, but legend has it that somewhere, beyond the city limits, there lies a group of people living for themselves. The government created a certain group of people called “The Javints” in order to track them. Every time they get close, the runaways simply vanish without a single clue. Jessi is always talking about them, looking up new information, and keeping track of how many disappearances their have been. She talks as if there gods, and I know she must admire them. There are few books about them, but if you know the right places to go, you can find some. In their “colonies”, they establish jobs between themselves, and work together as a whole. Without one another, their civilization would collapse, if it hasn’t already. I just simply blow it off my shoulder, and remind her that they’ve probably died off, or were killed; To tell you the truth, I don’t even know what to believe myself.
When I woke up this morning, something wasn’t right. When walking downstairs to see my family enjoying there perfect little breakfast, I noticed that the table was empty, and there was the sound of my mother weeping in the other room, followed by a deep v

I’m looking for good quality and beautiful bedding for my girls online? I’m thinking of fairy, princess, or Barbie canopy bed for them. Thanks a lot.

-mm-
Well, actually I’m looking for official website of store or manufacturer. Anyway, thanks for the ideas.
I mean, it’s like Pottery Barn kids, Laura Ashley, Nursery Depot.

I need information that includes vintage to present, with pictures so that I can identify items and accessories. Are there any good websites or books that anyone can recommend?

My mom gave me a bunch of my old toys and I want to sell some of them on ebay. I need to know what names they are, if they are worth anything, etc. Thanks for your help. I appreciate it.

Each Christmas, shimmering in her sparkly gown is a new Holiday Barbie Doll waiting for you. 2008 was the twentieth anniversary of the collectible Holiday Barbie doll. For many little (and big) girls, Christmas would not be the same without a Holiday Barbie doll to share it with. Many of us have delightful childhood memories of finding a Holiday Barbie doll waiting for us under the tree on Christmas morning. Following the success of the porcelain Rhapsody in Blue Barbie that was the first Barbie to be aimed at the collectible market, the Happy Holiday Barbie doll was born in 1988 and continued to grace our Christmas’ until 1998. She was not produced in large numbers and as a result quickly sold out to little girls and collectors alike. Today, this doll fetches around $500 on the secondary market. Realizing they were onto something; Mattel designed and released the very first Holiday Barbie Doll back in 1988. With her model looks she had a bouffant of blond hair with a big silver bow. Her holiday gown is made of red tulle accented glitter and a white satin bow at the waist. She was an instant sell out and could be found almost straight away for re-sale at a vastly increased price. The story was the same pretty much until after 1994, when the 35th Anniversary Barbie doll, a reproduction of the original 1959 doll was released. Barbie fans and doll collectors went mad for this edition and they sold out rapidly and were hoarded. The trend continued and Barbie doll collectors began to covet and collect each Holiday Barbie Doll with the intention of re-selling for a large price. In order to counteract this hoarding behavior, Mattel simply made more of each doll and she remained as popular as ever just without the craze factor and the excessive price tag on the secondary market. After 1998 the ‘Happy’ was lost from her title and more individual designs emerged, the first of which was Millennium Princess Barbie in 1999. She was designed to welcome the year 2000 and the new millennium. This year see’s the release of the 21st Holiday Barbie doll. It is also Barbies 50th anniversary so she is a pretty special Holiday Barbie doll this year. She is wearing an elegant pink and gold ball gown with layers of sparkling pink tulle which has pink rhinestone embellishments. Her bodice is wrapped in gold lame, which ends in a large bow at the back. And like the majority of the Holiday Barbie doll editions she is available in an African American model. The last few years release of the Holiday Barbie Doll, while they remain a beautiful collectible doll don’t command such a high price when re-sold. Many can be picked up at discount prices on the recommended value by searching online sellers like eBay.

Surely you know what it is like to be desperately looking for something that seems to be maidenly out of reach. Everyone has gone through something similar at some point be it a car, a particular article of clothing, a specific piece of furniture or just a boyfriend or even a husband. Thanks to the internet, these things just might be a bit easier to find, provided you pay the price. Auctions have always been good venues to find odd uncommon objects. Things that have been discarded as well as things which the owner just wants to sell for whatever reason. Online auctions have the same characteristic. You might even be able to find odder, more uncommon objects here than in a live auction given as online auction websites might not be so particular or strict about the objects they bid off. The object in question just need exist. It does not necessarily have to be an antique, an original masterpiece nor some article or costume in mint condition worn by Marilyn Monroe in one of her movies. It just has to exist, be in moderately good shape and someone must want to buy it. In business, the old adage that the better your business does, the more there is to do is true. An eBay business is no different. As the eBay business grows, there will be more and more demands placed on the business owner. If a new seller decides to do all of the work, and not bring in help, that can quickly turn a part-time effort into a full-time effort, and more. In fact, an especially successful seller can find themselves facing many, many hours every day just to keep up with the demands of their business. Those who know how to make money selling on eBay know that following the close of an auction it is important to immediately contact the winning bidder. These same sellers also know that it is important to acknowledge payment receipt. Once payment is received they know that it is important to keep the lucky bidder updated regarding shipping progress. Finally, there is communication in the form of feedback regarding the seller. Now the only thing that cannot be auctioned off online is a part of the human body. You mustn’t try to sell a kiss or a tooth to the highest bidder because you just might get into a spot of trouble. Besides, the range of products offered is so varied that human body parts seem excessive. One must draw the line somewhere. But still, some of the things that are up for sale prove to be quite intriguing. Things like vintage handcrafted Barbie clothes and shoes, collector’s miniature car models, antique underwear, Victorian pornographic photographs with midgets and bearded women, and so on. So when you find that long-time sought-after pair of silk beaded turn of the century knickers, be sure to place a handsome bid and enjoy.

I am writing a paper about how barbie dolls might be good or bad for children…I do not know which defense I should take and I was wondering if anyone could give me their input on it…Also like talk about stereotypes, the visual image of barbie and how it effects young girls..THANKS for your help!

I need information that includes vintage to present, with pictures so that I can identify items and accessories. Are there any good websites or books that anyone can recommend?