She’s Back!

Well, that was quick!

I was glad to see dear Molly’s stay at the doll hospital was very short.

I received an email notification when she was admitted. They also sent a shipping notification with tracking when she was shipped back home. I think in total the whole process took about a week and a half (I live in Wisconsin so shipping times were short, though with AG you never know!)

I asked the doctor to leave her hair in the original braids. They honored that and sent her home with the ribbons that they would use after a hospital visit. Nice touch!

Her arms and legs are nice and tight now, and I am so glad I buckled down and sent her in!

Thanks Dr Jennie!

Godspeed Molly!

In the “use it or lose it” department, we find dear Pleasant Company Molly. She spent the better part of two decades in my sister-in-law’s closet, waiting for her daughter to develop an interest in historicals (turns out she was a Bitty fan) or to make her way to EBay (Molly, not my niece LOL!). In a happy turn of events, Molly came our way a two years ago but you haven’t seen her around much due to her very VERY loose legs. We’re talking ‘hanging by a thread’ loose.

Today was Molly’s lucky day to begin her journey to the doll hospital. I always save the inner and outer boxes when a doll comes back from the AG hospital. The packaging is perfect for the next hospital admission. I usually ship UPS, and for me it is about 11.00 UPS postage, which includes tracking and 100.00 insurance. Prices will rise if you are shipping further from Wisconsin.

I’d love to send Saige next… the hair! Oh my. I’m not sure how Brianna feels about that so we will let sleeping dolls lie.

What are your thoughts on the 98.00 doll sale today and tomorrow on the AG website Not bad! If you purchase a bit more you can probably get free shipping too. Nice way to jump on the Amazon Prime Day Action when people are in a deal shopping frame of mind.

July Arrivals

Can you believe it?  It’s Jen and Brianna here together once again with a July release review!  We usually do this from a local coffee shop but today the coffee shop is us at home while our living room is painted.  Ready?  OK!

Brianna: We tried this set out in Toronto and I liked it a lot overall. I think it’s cool that it sets up an actual ten round game for you to play against someone. I also like that it comes with accessories instead of just the bowling lane.

Jen: Good points Brianna!  I’m not a huge bowling fan, and this thing is HUGE, so it doesn’t tempt me in any way, but I think it is a new and innovative offering for AG.

Brianna: This set is so adorable. I love that it actually includes two toy hedgehogs. I’m not really sure what the green stuff in the food bowl is but overall this is super cute and I think a big hit for a lot of younger girls (and older too.)

Jen: We saw this in person in Toronto as well, and it is cute.  Hedgehogs are very on trend!

Brianna: This outfit is… interesting. It’s one of the mix and match outfits but as much as I want it to look good together, it really doesn’t. I like the overall colour scheme but I think the actual clothing items could use a rethink.

Jen: Not one of my favorite outfits.  I can’t quite decide whether this outfit says “little girl” or “big girl.”  I don’t envision this as a hot seller.

Brianna: This outfit is a no-no, for me personally. It’s very- bold, for lack of a better word. The bright ketchup red mixed with the furry grey leopard pattern is just strange.

Jen: I like the shoes?  The jacket is a little too Studio 54/Donna Summer for me.

Brianna: I love this outfit! It’s something that girl would actually wear in real life, especially with the black leggings and furry blue sweater.

Jen: I agree – this is a good seller.  The sweater does seem like something you would need to be very careful with, especially with the dolls’ thumbs.  There’s the cute shoes again!  They remind me of Superga platform tennis shoes.

Brianna: I like the tee shirt but together with the skirt it’s a little much. I probably would’ve worn something like this in 4th grade though so it might fit with the age group.

Jen: I like this outfit a lot, and would consider buying it. I like the fact that it mixes and matches with other items, and it reminds me of the Boden clothing catalog.

Brianna: I love that American Girl has expanded outside of gymnastics, ballet, and cheerleading and finally gotten a hockey set. I think a lot of younger girls will love this set not only because it’s so versatile but because it has a ton of accessories too.

Jen: I agree – though I’m more of a figure skating kind of gal, I appreciate this offering.  A lot of girls (and women) are in hockey leagues in our part of the country.  This outfit also does double duty for those with boy dolls.

Brianna: This outfit is cute and I like the lace overall but I kind of wish that American Girl would get out of its addiction to pink and maybe make this outfit a different colour like light blue.

Jen: I think this is a beautiful outfit and I love the jewel-tone magenta.  I’m not looking to buy a skating outfit, but this one is lovely.  I like the matching skate blade covers.

We hope you liked our post! Make sure to stay tuned for an upcoming one about Blaire’s items. Thanks!

~ Jen and Brianna

American Girls in Canada

We took a family vacation this month to Toronto, and I was so happily surprised to come across an Indigo Chapters store (like a big Barnes and Noble) where they have an AG boutique within the bookstore.

The store is a little bit smaller than your average GAP store in the US. They offer doll hair styling but no tea parties or create your own doll/clothes.

Hair styling station in right side, background, of photo above. No customers alas. The doll sitting poolside (or is it puddle-side?) isn’t looking too comfortable!

I saw the newly released outfits. This is a cute display.

They were featuring the summer camp items, and I was tempted by the s’mores pajamas, but they were sold out!

I hadn’t been in an AG store for about a year, so I was struck by how few historical dolls are left, and how little there is for them. No Addy? No Josefina?

… And then there were 7. . . Barely.

I did bring home Blaire’s new book, which I read quickly and have moved on to the second one already! More on that in a future post.

I really enjoyed seeing some of the current AG items, but didn’t get the sense that they were seeing big sales, at this downtown Toronto location anyway. Maplelea may still rule the Canadian market. If you would like to know more about Maplelea and Canadian dolls, visit this blog post over on Hannah’s Dolls.

Jen

Happy 4th of July

Happy 4th of July to my US friends! I hope you have time today to do some simple, joyful things. Decorating a bike, like Josefina, is pretty awesome. I enjoy parades and definitely glo-necklaces to wear to the fireworks! How about you?

Josefina is wearing a skirt and vest sewed by my mom (aka Grandma) and Saige’s t-shirt while she decorates her scooter.

American Girl Benefit Sale Prices 2019

Some preliminary prices for dolls at the upcoming Madison Children’s Museum Benefit Sale were released today, and they are crazy good!

Addy $30.00 limit 10!!!!

Gabriela $85.00

Isabelle $85.00…. how many of these do they still have???

Kit in the Costco package set $85.00

Melody $30.00 limit 10

Tenney $40.00 limit 10

Truly Me assortment $25.00 and up

Wellies $20.00

No word yet on Grace, Luciana, or Samantha and Julie. The complete price list is usually posted the week of the sale, which is July 20-21, 2019.

I recommend following American Girl Benefit Sale on Facebook to keep up with current information. We don’t have tickets this year, but if we did I would choose Melody. It’s very tempting!! You can read about our past adventures at the dolls sale here.