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This is the official blog for TAGCstudios, which can be found at youtube.com/user/theagcollector101

Monday, December 1, 2014

Alex: The World's First Gender Nonconforming American girl boy doll

I've been doing a lot of thinking about one of my dream dolls. A boy doll named Alex. But Alex would be special. He would be the first ever gender nonconforming AG doll. He would be a customized #52 with blonde hair and green eyes.

What's gender nonconforming? Basically, it's when a boy likes girl stuff, or a girl likes boy stuff. So Alex would have a main outfit of the Raspberry glasses with a red flannel shirt and jeans. with boots or something too.

So, what do you think? Good idea?

Or, how about Charlotte? Charlotte would be a 10 year old from Ukraine who, through a very long story, becomes an amputee who only has one leg? She would be a normal #37 (strawberry red hair, green eyes, freckles)

So, what do you guys think?

Wednesday, November 26, 2014

New blog!

Now I know what you're thinking "You're abandoning this blog?!??!?!" NO. Let me be clear, I am NOT abandoning this blog. I'm just starting a second blog in addition to the first. This new blog is called inourdollhouse.com and the first true post will be up soon. It will be all about dollhouses and structures for dolls, so if you're into that go check it out! Note that there's still work to be done.

Now, for some news:

Rhonda over at living a doll's life has news about some in store black Friday deals! It's not a ton, but the coconut fun outfit is 50% off!!!

American girl has announced that through they will be donating one doll for every doll purchased to a children's hospital! That's great, gives them a good rep.

My youtube channel now has 325 subscribers! Thank you all!!!

Wednesday, November 12, 2014

Rainbow loom life hack

Today I discovered a rainbow loom lifehack!

No S or C clips nearby? Use a paperclip instead:


Sunday, November 9, 2014

Skylanders Trap team: Game review

My first game review! Well, we (my family) got this AMAZING game as a gift from a friend, and I immediately wanted to do a review on it. I apologize but I don't have any photos of anything other than the figures and "portal".

*DISCLAIMER*
I was not sent this product to review and have no affiliation with activision or any of the platforms that support this game.

First, background:
I've heard SO MUCH about skylanders. On youtube I know that Noah and Jonah on kittiesmama and Audrey from radiojhaudrey all love skylanders. It's a basic concept like Disney infinity. Buy the starter pack, which usually comes with 2 or 3 figures. Then buy additional figures until you have a huge collection. Plus, these figures are used in game, and you can change them just by swapping them on the portal/playing pad or whatever device is used in that game. Skylanders Trap team just recently came out, so it's like brand new. I won't be including any photos of game play because I think that's copyrighting or something illegal (plus the post would be like novel length long). Now, onto the review. (We don't have any other figures besides the starter ones.)

First of all, here's one of the figures. In the game you kill villains/bosses and then trap them in "traps" I believe you have to buy the traps separately, I'm not sure. You can then play with trapped villains! I think that's awesome!!! Here's the first figure, Food Fight:

"Food Fight" Who is one of the 2 starter skylanders you get with the starter pack.
He looks AWESOME!!! (Plus in game he shoots tomatoes, that's just awesome!)

I've tried to get this figure from all angles. I believe he's meant to be an artichoke.
I like the detail on his leaves. I think they're leaves, I don't know a lot about artichokes.


Here's the back of him. Tripophobics, beware.




Here's the bottom of his base. It has his element symbol, which shows that he is an earth element.
I find it interesting that the base is red. I wonder if it has something do to with how the game works?
Now here's his trap.

I love the detail on this trap!!!





His trap look awesome, and I love the detail. Now, onto the next skylander, Snapshot!

I know Food Fight is awesome, I mean shooting tomatoes is pretty cool,
But to be honest I like snapshot WAY more. He's way more detailed and his weapon is AWESOME!!!!!




Snapshot is of the water element.
It's nice that they give you 2 different elements, I guess earth and water make sense. I do like the water on his base too. I also wish it said the figures names on the bottom of their base, that would be helpful if you forget their name or if these end up in the thrift store.



This is the water trap, and it looks awesome. I can't really decide who's trap I like better, they both look really nice.

The 2 best friends!
These are 2 awesome figures and I can't wait to buy more.

Next is the portal, similar to the game base in disney infinity. Here's what it looks like from all angles:

Here's the portal from an arieal view. Skylanders go on the clear part
while traps go in the hexagon shaped hole.

Here's  a closeup of where you put the traps in. That's a speaker below it and this spot is
even located in game too!

Here's what the back looks like with all of the copyright stuff and caution readings.

Here's what a trap looks like in the hole. I forgot to mention how much I love the detail.
It looks like real stone!

Here's what Snapshot looks like inside the portal. I think it's cool that the portal is clear.

There's also really nice detail on the sides! I haven't yet mentioned that when it's plugged
into the xbox one (or whatever system you're using) it light up! It looks really cool but I don't have any
photos of that right now.

Overall thoughts:
I like skylanders and I think it's a really unique concept. The figures have great detail and they just look awesome! I would totally recommend this set, I believe it costs around $80. $80 is quite expensive though, so I think they could even out that cost by including 3 skylanders instead of 2. The only other things I would like to see is more things to do with the figures besides putting them on the base. Like maybe having them move when something happens in the game. Other than that, it's  a really fun game! Oh, and I forgot to mention. Skylanders by themselves are about $10 while traps are about $6, though you can get a 3 trap pack too, but I don't know how much that costs.








Sunday, October 12, 2014

My thoughts: American girl 2014 Holiday release




So, the holiday stuff came out and I haven't done my thoughts vid. yet. But I'm sick so I'm just typing it.
*all photo credit goes to American Girl*

First, let's get the carraige out of the way.
"Pretty city carriage" $275
Honestly, and I know most of you will retaliate, but it's a meh item. First of all the price. $275 and it doesn't even come with a horse!?!?!?!? Seriously, I know lots of people will want this but not be able to afford it. I also think it's a bit... well... useless. What does it do? Unless you're a little girl who loves to play with her dolls. I mean, I play with my dolls but I don't think this really has a purpose. I wonder how high AG will price their items before they loose a BIG chunk of their customers.  So no, I don't really want it neither would I ever be able to afford it in a million years.

Next, the overpriced horse!
"Prancing horse" $98
The horse costs almost as much as a doll!!! Like seriously. It's kind of cute I guess, but the little piece of hair poking out on top of her head. It doesn't even come with a saddle. (well, then again it is meant to pull a carraige, but still.) I like the poseable neck/leg action, I hope they put that in all of their horses. I also wonder if the fur around it's legs is removable. Overall, no. I've never really been into AG horses and the only horses I want are Kaya's steps high and sparks flying.

"Saddle and awards set" $38
I don't really know about this one. I guess it's kind of good seeing as some people might have lost their horses saddle. BUt $38?!?!? NO WAY. I don't even want this and I know it's overpriced. I would say it's more of a $28 set but definitly not $38. It doesn't even come with that much. So NO I don't want or need it. Plus, I would rather get the talent show set instead which remember comes with SO MUCH MORE. Now, if you really like AG horses, then this might be a good set for you, but not me.

Continuing with the horse theme (we'll just do all the horse stuff first), the new riding outfit

"Pretty pink riding outfit" $42
Ok, and I thought that saddle set was overpriced. $42?!?!? Unless you are just dying to have it, don't even get it. Now, the actual outfit is just well... weird. I am glad they released a riding outfit, but I don't think horse riders wear giant bows around their necks. I also don't like the stitching on the pants, that just looks weird. Now take off the bow and make it like $28 or $30 and maybe I'll consider. 

The hats

"Riding helmet and hat" $24
Unlike the other item's we've seen so far, this is actually reasonably priced. I find it annoying though, the hats go with 2 different outfits. If you want one you have to have the other and what are you going to do with the one you don't use? But still, I like it. I might get it eventually though.

The cutest outfit ever

"Western Plaid outfit" $30
Unlike the other items so far, I LOVE LOVE LOVE this outfit! I want it so badly, but $30 is a little much. (Maybe next year in the summer) I still want it though because it reminds me of an outfit Felicity wore in Basilmento's Glamorous AGMV. It's so cute too!!! Not much else to say about this, except I hate how outfits are now $30. I realize that $28-30 is a $2 price increase, but that's a lot when it comes to things such as Shipping.

"Sparkly black flats" $14
I just LOOOVE these shoes! They're very simple, making them great to go with anything! (Especially the most recent PWP outfit) I want the SO badly, even more than the outfit I talked about above. Plus, I've never bought a single pair of shoes, ever.

Now, we finally get to the dresses

"Silver shimmer dress" $36
I love this dress, it's so cute! I hope to soon get it for Lindsey, since she doesn't have a holiday dress yet. I just wish it was cheaper. $36 is a lot for a dress.

"Happy Holiday dress" $36
I LOOOVE this dress! I want it so badly for Anna Clare! I still don't like the price, it should be $30, or even better $28. Either way I don't care, I still really want it.

Because it's not AG till you spend $64 on an outfit!

"Holiday accessories" $32
I'm on the fence about this. I don't particularaly like it, the vest is just too weird. I don't really want it... except for the braclet. I just want the braclet and ornament, but $32 for those would be unreasonable. Maybe next year they'll go on sale. I remember the 2012 holiday accessories went on sale down to $9!!! (Man, I wish I had gotten those) I'll get this if it goes down to $9.

"Winter white outfit" $38
This is by far the most ridiculous outfit ever. The shorts are made out of sweater material and it looks like she didn't do laundry for a few days and tried to find something to wear. Plus it's nearly $40 which is completely outrageous.  I really don't like this outfit, I'll have to wait till the next version of this outfit comes out.


Let it go, let it go!
"Sparkly skating set" $44
I like this and I don't like it. I hate that it's $44!!! That's ridiculous. I also don't like the sequins across the top, they just don't look good. It is a good outfit for Frozen fans though, and I can feel that little girls will be loving this outfit. It's not on my wishlist though, I like the older outfit better.

"Hit the slopes outfit" $34
Judging by the price of the ice skating outfit, this is CHEAP! I like the print, but I feel like the AG print should have been the lining, and the dots on the outside. I still like the older outfit better, since that was like a snowsuit. This is cute too, though I can feel the madness. People are going to be so mad to find out this outfit doesn't come with shoes... I probably won't get it but it's okay.

and of course with the skis to complete the outfit it costs $76
"Skis and helmet set" $42
Now I think $42 is an okay price for this set. $38 would have been better but still. It seems like AG made little effort to make this set different from the original. I probably won't be getting it, because I don't ski and I don't really want it. Though if you do ski then it's a nice set to have.



"Fair isle pajamas" $24
One of the rare $24 outfits, this is okay. I like last year's pj's MUCH better. The boots don't look to good and the top Is made out of a fabric I don't really like. I won't be getting these this year. The leggings/pants are nice though, and I like those. Also, in the catalog for this month they have #23 wearing this with her hair in braids and the raspberry glasses, it's so cute!!!!

Overall thoughts:
I like this release, but I feel like last year's release was a bit better. Last year I liked almost everything this year, I only like a few outfits. Plus last year we didn't have to shovel out $500 if you wanted everything from the holiday release. Oh well, better for my wallet!!! :)













Sunday, October 5, 2014

Close up: Casual watch set

I already have a review of the Casual watch set I got today on my youtube, but I decided to post better photos here.

Here's the entire set. In the corner that's the lamp base.
You can thank that for making these photos good, and not green.

Here's the back of the packaging.
I was surprised it didn't show instructions or something.


Here' the second band that you get, in full view.

Here's a close up of the buckle for this band.

Each band has 4 holes, but I think it only needs 3.

The underside close up of the 2nd watch band.

Here't the band the watch face comes on, in full view.

A close up of the buckle.

A close up of the watch face, sorry for the glare. The time on it is about 4:00.

Here's the backside of the watch on the band.

Here's the watch by itself.
 It even has the little red knob on it, which is such a nice detail.

Here;s the watch on the second band, full view.

Here's the watch on Emily's arm. 
Hope you guys enjoyed! If you want/need any more photos of this set, leave them in either these comments or comment on my opening video on youtube. Tomorrow I'll work through reviewing the Butterfly twist dress, more photos to come!