Information about "Tenny's Guitar for Girls" or, the Taylor GS Mini x American Girl Collaboration

A member of r/americangirl recently posted asking where to find the girl-sized version of Tenny's Guitar for purchase. As I began looking into information to find listings for this guitar, it became a very interesting case, and I thought I would post the information I've found so far here on my blog. 

I think this is a really interesting case because it shows one of the ways we can find certain branded or licensed products after they've been discontinued: by looking into the manufacturers of the product instead of the brand or license that is on the product. It also reminds me of the way Pleasant Rowland manufactured some of the early Pleasant Company accessories. 

Because she didn't have the resources to create certain items herself, lots of early Pleasant Company accessories were things Rowland found in certain stores or things that were produced by other companies at the time. 

For example, we had a discussion on r/americangirl where user LibraryValkyree stated 

    "My assumption with her Nutcracker doll was that - since it's from early Pleasant Company days - that it was probably a repurposed Christmas ornament or something similar.

I was in a kind of cheap-y souvenir shop or something once on a family road trip in like 1996 or 1997 or so that had several in a basket for a few dollars each, and I remember thinking it was super weird at the time - they had no other AG stuff or anything to lead me to think they were secondhand, but they had various other knicknacks and things." 

Some other items, such as Samantha's early glassware/china sets, were also produced in collaboration with real China companies, and ended up being scaled down versions of human-sized china sets available in the 90s. There are many more stories like that, but the story of Tenny's Guitar for Girls is an interesting parallel to them. 

In 2017, American Girl collaborated with Taylor Guitars to produce a girl-sized version of the "Taylor GS Mini" which was decorated to match Tenny's doll-sized accessory. The "Taylor Guitars" brand is very well known and has been used by popular music artists such as Taylor Swift and several others. Its original retail price was $599, with $100 of each guitar going to Notes for Notes, an organization that helped give musical equipment to Boys and Girls clubs as well as after school programs so they could create music programs without having financial difficulties of purchasing musical equipment.

 The American Girl Wikia article on the subject specifically lists this guitar as the "American Girl Taylor GS Mini" and confirms the other information found in the press releases. The press releases do not specify that this item was a limited release in any capacity, so it can be assumed to have been produced at the same rate as the other GS Mini models from Taylor Guitars. 

Although the press releases are very easy to find across the web, the actual guitar itself seems to have become very rare. One of the only listings I have managed to find through surface-level searching is here on a site called Reverb. 

Looking at the Taylor Guitars brand site, this is the page for the GS mini. Interestingly, the retail price is still $599, meaning that the American Girl collaboration wasn't given any sort of price increase as some might have expected.

The specific American Girl GS mini has been discontinued for quite a few years now. If you're looking for it, your best option would probably be to look through used Taylor GS mini guitars, not including the American Girl brand name. 

Additionally, if you're curious, here's a review on YouTube featuring the American Girl x Taylor Guitars GS mini, although it is not in English. I asked for a summary from a friend I know and here is what he said:

"This guitar, the "Taylor GS mini American Girl" is a special type of Taylor GS mini. It's the product of a collaboration between Taylor Guitar and American Girl.

The story: An American Girl named Tenny Grant is a lively young singer and songwriter. She is pursuing her music-loving dream in Nashville, the capital of Tenesse, accompanied by a small Taylor guitar with six cords. 

After this introduction, the reviewer present the technical aspects of the guitar.

Finally, Taylor Guitars is going to give a donation of $100 to charity organizations for each guitar sold. The intention of this is to help young people who want to play music [be able to do so]. "

How to Restore American Girl Lindsey's Boots

I got Lindsey Bergman as my third doll for my birthday in 2013. She came with most of her meet outfit, which includes a pair of red faux suede boots. These boots were a nightmare, because the deep red flocking flaked everywhere. I didn't use them for the longest time. They left red flakes everywhere, as if paprika had leaked out of them and onto everything they touched. However, I finally came up with a restoration method! 

*Side Note, I have no clue what Lindsey's shoes are actually made out of. It's obviously a synthetic material, but whether it's suede or pleather I have no idea.*

Step 1: Remove the suede

Using your fingers, rub off all of the old dark red flocking from the shoes. All of it. I used my fingers for most and then I used a toothpick for the tiny pieces under the strap. Be sure to get as much of the red flaking off as possible. Inside the shoes are also seam allowances that will continue to flake, so be scrupulous. 

The left boot is peeling, before I removed the suede. The right boot is step one completed and all the suede/flocking removed.

Step 2: Paint the suede

Once all the dark red flaking is rubbed off, get some dark red paint and paint all the red parts of the shoes. I used Anita's all purpose Acrylic paint from Hobby Lobby in Dark Red. Linsdey's Meet boots are technically a bit darker than that shade, but I was happy with that color so I decided to use it. Paint the boots and let them dry. 

I didn't take a photo of the shoes before I put the mod podge over the paint, so onto step 2.

Step 3: Mod Podge

Use Mod Podge inside and out to seal the boots and make sure they don't flake anymore. I used a paintbrush to apply the podge in a thin layer on the outside and inside of the boot, and I used my fingers to get the podge all into the toe of the boot. Then, let it dry.

Here are the shoes completely painted and mod podged. As you can see, they don't need socks! The red color is sooo pretty on camera and IRL.

And you're done! Linsdey's meet boots are still red and now you can use them without the red flakes going onto everything else. 

The new American Girl Place T-shirts

There doesn't seem to be a lot of photos on the internet showcasing the newest AGP t-shirts, so I am finally putting up my review of these 2 AGP Nashville shirts.
How did I get them? My mom picked them up for me on a business trip.

Left to right: Anna Clare with the newer t-shirt,
Lindsey with the newer t-shirt and Marie Grace with the older t-shirt

The shirts to be honest haven't changed that much in terms of construction. They still Velcro in the back and fit the same way. One thing I do notice though is that the binding used for the neck and shoulders (binding is the piece of fabric that goes over the neck and sleeve edges to cover up the raw edges) is way thicker/a little bigger than usual. 

Now, Do I like these shirts?

Kind of. It is nice to not see pink or red for the first time in a while, but I don't like how small the name of the store is. You could practically use whiteout on it and just have a plain t-shirt. Also, these shirts are white so they will show more of the cloth torso, and really just look thinner even if they're as thick as the old one. I do like them (don't get me wrong) but I would be perfectly fine if they switched over to the older designs.

Chicago trip 2016: Updates and more

I don't know how many people still read this blog anymore, or watch my YouTube... I'm sort of getting an opportunity to start over (if you consider it a positive light). It's weird though, i feel as though I lost all my passion for YouTube and now I only watch videos and I never make any. I don't know if that's because I'm out of ideas, or it's just not fun anymore. (I always feel like these types of posts are more for the person writing them to figure out feelings than the audience to understand them.)

Either way, the real meat of the post
June 13-15 I will be in Chicago for Brickworld and a trip to American girl Place. I have no idea what exact date and time I will be at either place, but will be sure to post that information when I get it.

And now, Photos:

Some of the shopkins I picked up at the Swapkins Event last week.

I made this dress out of duct tape.
It's not finished but it looks ok right now.

Here's a photo of Marie Grace's "dutch braids".

Lego chicken suit guy and Lego Panda suit guy
 are now best friends.

Here's an "artsy"photo of Julie's bed, which my sister generously gave
me for my birthday.

More stuff will come soon

RE: Our Dolls,Ourselves?

Today I'll be looking at an article written on The New Yorker written in 2013 by Adrienne Raphel about American Girl. The article covers the past and present of American girl but mainly touches on the issue of AG moving away from their past and into what it is now. I will be doing this by giving both a summary of each paragraph and then my own thoughts on the entire paragraph. The post is quite lengthy, and I apologize.

The first paragraph tells of the author's first and only doll, Samantha who was gifted to her by her grandmother when she was five. The doll of course was very special and  the author loved her to death. One quote I wold like to draw attention to is this "I brushed her hair with a special wire brush that came with her". This is a bit unclear as to whether the brush came with the doll, or maybe the author got a brush with her. But it almost confuses me because the dolls have never come with brushes,yet I don't know if Pleasant Company ever sold any type of brushes. But overall, ok,great you had Samantha.

The next paragraph tells of another aspect of American Girl, friends with AG. She talks about how the people owned dolls that reflected their personality, and also just how much these girls wanted to become their dolls. One girl even faked having bad vision just so she could get glasses like Molly. (this is where parents need to draw the line and have a talk with their children about stuff like that) I do agree with this, well marginally. I never had any friends besides my younger sister that had AG dolls, but kids do connect well over their toys, and that can always be how the next long-lasting friendship starts.

The third paragraph is really just explaining that Molly&Emily will be archived. My thought: *tear*

The fourth paragraph references another article from The Atlantic about how girls actually like the discontinued dolls and how the stories for the dolls have gotten watered down overtime. I agree with the first part being that some girls do like the discontinued dolls, but I overly agree with the watered down story-lines. I guess AG wanted to avoid having "scary" stories like Addy's or controversial stories like Gwen's.

The fifth paragraph just tells about the creation of American girl in 1986, and how they started as books and then became dolls.

The sixth paragraph tells about the status of American Girl today, how many dolls they've sold,the stores,etc. It also mentions that AG had sales that rose by 14% in the second half of 2013. This means that Saige was a really popular doll, and I'm surprised we haven't had any other GOTY,MAG or even historical dolls that mimic her.

The seventh paragraph contrasts Pleasant Company, referring to how the modern line has changed overtime. It's really all just details.

The eighth paragraph tells about just how expensive the dolls are. Not only that, but the "big-ticket items" are expensive too. Not going to lie, this is very true. The lowest price of anything at American Girl (I think, and picking from available products) goes to the sparkly hair pick at $6 USD. (I can say USD now because AG has opened stores in Canada and Mexico.

The ninth paragraph talks about the launch of InnerstarU and quotes spokeswoman Julia Parks of American girl. Notable quotes include "Consistent with how books bring our historical characters to life, Innerstar University allows us to build a bridge between the contemporary doll a girl owns and the online world where she is spending more time,” Julie Parks, the spokesperson, said. " (The New Yorker) This is actually genius, notice the part where it says "the online world where she is spending more time". It's obvious, girls are on the computer more these days, so why not put the doll on the computer? Of course then you may ask why they discontinued InnerstarU. Well, my theories include that it 1)got old:girls just weren't caring about it anymore 2) required too much maintenance 3)more girls are playing on ipads and phones, not necessarily on the computer.

The tenth paragraph tells about the author's experience with the demo-site of InnerstarU, where you could look around at a few activities, but not experience the whole site. One key quote from the author says "Shelby directed me to the “Real Spirit Center” so I could do yoga with a doll avatar. To play doll yoga, you slowly trace your mouse over the doll as she goes through sun salutations. It’s as exciting as it sounds." (Raphel) Now, yeah sure that game was boring, but I'm going to stick up for a moment for the site, as other games, such as the diving or cheer leading game were way more entertaining, and that it was kind of a biased move just to play one game and be done with it. On the other hand, at least she's done her research.

The eleventh paragraph just makes that age-old argument that Pleasant Company is better than Mattel. Of course, that's a story for another day. One quote I would like to draw attention to is this one by Robin Bernstein, a Harvard University Professor and cultural historian. "You buy yourself,” Robin Bernstein, a Harvard University professor and cultural historian, told me. “It’s all about you, you, you.” Instead of you becoming your doll, your doll becomes you." (The New Yorker) Now, I have no idea why she just seems to throw this random person into the article. I mean, my only guess is that this is the guy that works for American Girl. If that's the case, she should have specified that. But I do like that last part "your doll becomes you" because that was kind of the point of InnerstarU.

The twelfth and final paragraph (congratulations if you've almost read the whole thing)  is a conclusion where the author almost shakes her head and says "But with characters coming out and disappearing each year, American Girl’s emphasis is on expanding your network of friends, rather than deepening your relationship with one doll and her world—and, in turn, with the world." (Raphel) This quote is rather interesting, let me give my thoughts on each part. "Characters coming out and disappearing each year" well- I mean it's not... yeah, it does suck the way they do it. "Emphasis on expanding your network of friends rather than deepening your relationship with one doll and her world" OK, I'm going to say this now. I don't fully agree with this. The new Truly Me line really promotes the whole " be yourself" thing, and there is still emphasis on the stories.

As a final note, the article has good and bad points, but does a nice job of portraying American Girl to the public. If you read this whole thing, congratulations! Also, what articles would you like me to respond to next.

Questions Answered! From the American Girl Facebook page

I don't go on Facebook regularly. With one exception... the AG facebook page. It keeps pulling me in as I sift through the posts complaining about made in china dolls or lack of diversity;to the cute posts about girls who enjoy AG, and the like. However, it is terrible when I see a question so common that someone doesn't get an answer to. So today, we'll be answering some of the top questions from AG's comments on their Facebook page.

1. What brush do use on Molly?- Lara Alicia Kropf
Brushes are pretty much universal and can be used on almost any doll...
Straight hair- Brush
Wavy hair(Saige,Lea,Samantha,Molly,etc.)- Combination of brush and finger curling.
Extremely Curly hair- hair pick/finger curling

2. Dear American girl doll how do you order a american girl cancer doll and can you plz tell me all the eyes colors and skins colors and how much plz and thank you!!!!!!!!!!- From Shannon Horn

Dolls Without hair are avalible only through calling American Girl. (Why they don't sell them like the other dolls, I don't know. And you would be correct in saying that's not fair) They cost $115, just like all the other dolls (again... Why?) and come with a few (notice I said a few) eye/skin tone combinations. It is also possible to send your doll with hair to the doll hospital in trade for a doll without hair.

3. Are some of the threads from the wig cap supposed to show and are there supposed to be very short tufts of hair near the wig cap like when you put her hair in pigtails?- From Christopher Elyse Riner

YES! Absolutely, those short hairs cover the scalp when the hair is parted (pigtails,2 braids,etc) to make sure the scalp doesn't show. They ARE NOT a defect and are SUPPOSED to be there! (sorry for all the caps, I just have to stress how important it is that people understand this)

Those are some of the most recent questions I saw, and I hope this helps you!

Can You Bring a Fake American Girl Doll to the American Girl Doll Store?

***UPDATE*** 

As of October 6th 2020 American Girl has now clarified on their website that all salon services are available only for authentic 18" American girl dolls. While this affects those services this does not affect one's ability to bring a doll of a brand other than American Girl onto the store premises, that is still permissible. 

On March 16th,2007 a blogpost surfaced on the internet that caused one of the the worst American Girl Scandals in history. The post, titled "Fake,out" was written by the mother of a girl named Etta. In a form of satire, Etta's mom tells he story of their trip to the American Girl Place and how one of the stylists was completely disrespectful to Etta's off-brand doll, refusing to restyle the doll's hair. Now of course that was completely disrespectful of the employee, and I hope that person was terminated, but the article sparked the big question. CAN you bring a "fake" American Girl Doll to the store?
As a DISCLAIMER, I use quotations around the word fake because they are technically off-brand dolls. Many American Girl collectors also have some "fake" dolls, and they are well represented in the collecting community.

If you mean bring an 18" doll that is not produced by Mattel into the store premises, absolutely! There's no problem with carrying your OG,Journey Girl or My life doll into the store to look around. Of course what people forget is that STORES VARY. One store may have a terrible employee while another may have great employees.  The problem arises when talking about the SERVICES offered at the store.

Services currently (2016) offered at the American Girl Store
1.Truly me Design Studio (LA,NY and Chicago stores only.)
2. Ear piercing
3. Haristyling/other packages at the salon.
4. social aspect

Let's look at these one by one

Truly Me Design Studio
New for 2016, this activity allows girls to "design" their own clothes or doll carriers from a selection of pre-disposed pieces and patterns. This can be used by anyone and the materials printed will be sized for 18" American Girl Dolls. If your doll is not American Girl brand there might be some complications in if the clothing for dolls will fit, but the they shouldn't be so much that the clothes won't fit at all.

Ear piercing
American Girl specifically states on their website "For 18" dolls only" however, off-brand dolls are not allowed to have their ears pierced... I think. If this were true (which it most likely is) I would have to guess it is because of the machines used to pierce doll ears. Target had an ear piercing event in 2015 though, so it's becoming more of a regular thing, and there are some DIY methods available through YouTube.

Hairstyling/other packages
Honestly, this varies by store. No specific rule outlaws off-brand dolls. And yet, as we see here, some people have very different ideas about how to handle this. All dolls should be welcome into the American Girl store, and every doll should be able to have it's hair styled, American Girl or not. Unfortunately though there are cases like Etta's which result from terrible customer service. If you experience a problem having a non-AG doll's hair styled at the American Girl Place, I suggest you complain to the official American Girl Facebook page or send an e-mail, there may be some compensation for you. I don't however think that all employees will react as horribly as the one it Etta's story.

4.Social Aspect
What's even worse than knowing the doll you have is "fake? Having everyone call it out. The sad part is, an off-brand doll is likely to be called "fake" by both little girls who don't know about other doll brands, or mean mothers who happen to support their daughter's costly obsession. If you would like to take your off-brand doll to the store, be prepared for this. Or if your daughter/son is taking their off-brand doll, PLEASE, tell them it's an off-brand doll, and tell them exactly what that means. We really shouldn't be calling them "fake", they're just a different brand, not counterfeit, and if your kid likes the off-brand doll, they should be able to bring it into the store. It's a toy, not something to make a big deal about.

Alternate Options for ear piercing
Not being able to get your doll's ears pierced may be sad, but there's a better way to go about it.
1. Our generation ear piercing
Our Generation recently held an ear-piercing event at most Target stores! They also began selling a doll that included pirced ears! (of course it was only a one-time event. And only for Our Generation dolls)
Read the full story at Living A Doll's Life
2. DIY ear piercing
Plenty of tutorials are on YouTube that allow you to do a DIY ear piercing at home. The best thing about this is, any doll can now wear HUMAN EARRINGS! However, this may void the warranty on some dolls, such as American Girl Dolls, which could lead to some policy issues, so be careful.

As a final note
The blogpost amassed a total of 1,040 comments, but has since fallen into the archives of AG's scandals. (well, maybe scandals is over exaggerating) I do recognize my bias as an owner of 20 American Girl Dolls myself. I hope this post has helped clear up all the answers to this very simple complicated question.

Making a felt dress and a lace "shirt vest"

I recently went to Hancocks, a fabric store which will soon be going out of business. Here's what I bought:
YouTube video

and here's what I've made.

"Lace Cardigan" 

This is the first time I have actually made something for myself, and I love it! I found a tutorial for this piece here:here

"Lace Cardigan" 2

I've made these things for dolls before. They're cute, but they always feel so disposable, like all you did was cut a piece of fabric... because that's literally all you do. Still, it looks great with thin tank tops among other items

Lace inset shorts

I've seen these in different variations all over YouTube and the internet. I did have one difficulty however, and the was that most people used lace trim instead of lace fabric, so I had to use the selvage as the hem. They turned out fine!

"Lace inset tank top"

After looking on the internet I saw all different types of lace inset tops. I decided this one was the best because I wanted to keep the sequins in the front and I didn't have a lot of room in the back. This turned out ok, I just wish the lace were straighter

Felt dress one on custom Haunt the Casbah Draculara.

Felt dress 2 on Dead Tired Abbey

These dresses are based on a tutorial from long,long ago by myfroggystuff but unlike the no-sew shirt vest, these don't feel disposable at all. My favorite dress of these two... I can't decide. I love them both.

Sorry she has no clothes on, i just don't have a good outfit for her yet.

To match my shirt vest, I made one for my dolls! I kind of guessed on this so that to me makes it feel extremely disposable. (plus I have like zero orange doll clothing) But for now I will keep it around and see what I can do with it.

Regretable American Girl purchases

We all purchase useless stuff in our lifetime. But when it's American Girl, I don't know whether to blame myself or their marketing. Either way, here are a few items that maybe I don't "regret" buying, but certainly aren't my favorite. I'm excluding items I bought on sale because I didn't spend as much money on those items, and that was most of my rationale for purchasing them.

Samantha's lacy parasol
Original price: $22
Why did I buy it?
This was a small AGP Kansas City purchase made in 2014. We were near the store and I hadn't had much time to save money, so I decided to make the most of it. I knew I needed this item for Marie Grace and Cecil's collection, and it looked cute enough. In reality, I don't use it. I guess it's nice as a photo prop but aside from that, it just sits on this desk watching the days pass by. Maybe if my dolls had stronger arms it would be used more often.

Feel Better Kit (that review is so old... *cringe*)
Original price: $30
Why did I buy it?
I bought this set early in my American Girl collecting journey. One of my dolls had been dropped, or at least I think, and I wanted her to have a broken leg, and apparently fake toilet-tissue casts just weren't enough for me. In reality, I haven't touched a piece of this set in at least a year. Maybe it will be useful in the future, but for now it remains stored away.

Molly's Play Scenes & Paper Dolls
Original price:$12
Why did I buy it?
I had wanted this book for months, it was the only Molly book available from American Girl I didn't have. One day, I finally ordered it. I actually don't use this a lot. I don't know if I just don't like it or if I don't have anywhere to take it. I guess I'm just so busy it often gets passed over. However,One day, this book will have a prime spot on a bookshelf, gleaming in the light.

Addy's Quilt
Original price: $20
Why did I buy it?
This was part of my first big AGP Kansas city purchases. I had $20 left and was looking for something that cost exactly that, and this quilt was it. I regretted it the moment I left the store, when I realized I could have bought Julie's roller skates instead. Don't get me wrong, it's a beautiful quilt, I just didn't really need it at that moment. I do, however, one day plan to purchase a pre-beforever Addy.

A few pieces of the set, I couldn't scrummage up the rest.

Healthy Smile Set
Original price: $14
Why did I buy it?
I had wanted this set for quite a while. I read the reviews that said the braces stickers were useless, but i decided to buy it anyway. In reality, I don't use this set. ever. I think this set is more of a play item rather than a collectible, and as I grow I guess my collection grows with me.

American Girl Place exclusive tote
Original price: $6-12
Why did i buy it?
I bought this at AGP Kansas City before AG marketed it specifically as a mini doll tote, because I thought I would use it quite a bit. I don't use it at all, and I should be selling it soon. I just don't need a lot of doll bags. Like the healthy smile set, I'm sure this would be better for girls who "play" more with their dolls than collect for them.

Do you have any purchases you made for a collection that you regret?

Doll Balloons Through the Ages

One of the most uncommon American girl accessories is the doll balloon. American girl has had several doll balloons, some expensive and others small parts of retired accessories. First of all, here's some of the balloons I know of:

-In Molly's first version of her birthday set, she had a yellow balloon with a red bow and white plastic handle

-Saige's hot air balloon was available in 2013 for $150

Here are my balloons:

-American Girl's party package from any major american girl includes a purple balloon with a white american girl logo

-The Friends Are Sweet Set, introduced in 2013, includes a plastic heart shaped balloon with XOXO printed across it and a white plastic handle.

What do you think about doll balloons? 

How exactly do I "bond" with a doll?

Allot of people sell one or all of their american girl dolls for one reason or another. But one of the less common reasons for selling the dolls is that "I just can't bond with them". I've experienced this feeling as well, especially with Emily,Marie-Grace even Kaya and Anna Clare. Here's how I overcame that feeling of "not bonding" with my dolls.

1. Remember the reason you wanted and bought the doll

It may seem simple, but sometimes you need to remember how you came to owning the doll in the first place. You can then remember the reason that doll may be special to you. For example, my third doll was Lindsey, and I asked for her as a birthday gift because she was GOTY the same year I was born. In addition to this, also remember how excited you felt when opening them. 

    2. Try a new style

Sometimes all you need to do is put some new clothing on a doll. You could have her wear an outfit from her collection that doesn't get worn often, or even put her in something completely wild and crazy. A new style isn't limited to clothing, you could also try out different hairstyles.

   3. Look at how that doll fits in your collection

Which doll is it that your're not bonding over. Is it your first doll you've had for years or your eighth doll you purchased last week? In doing this, try to find something for the doll that makes her strengthen the family. For example, if you have a YouTube channel, you could give this doll a staring roll in a series. Even if you don't have a YouTube channel, have this doll be the main character in any stories you may be playing.

I hope these tips helped you bond with your doll. If you're still not bonding, it's now your choice on whether or not to keep or sell a doll.

Amerian Girl Truly me: Fall release thoughts

I feel as though the Truly me releases got WAY overshadowed by the Maryellen releases, however there was some good stuff, so let's get started. 

"Movie popcorn machine" $48

This is totally worth the money!! It looks so cute/realistic! My only concern is that I know most of the popcorn will be glued together to prevent choking hazards and such. The candy is a nice touch too. 

"Comfy couch" $68

The name is straight to the point, I like it. The little green tray is a nice touch too, I just wish it was like $40 or something like that. It does however look amazing. 

"Music & Movies Entertainment set" $85

Well, this set surely gets more value than Maryellen's TV set. I like the fabric boxes and such, I just hope not everything is paper. 

"Cool coral outfit for dolls" $28

Isabelle has definitely left her mark. This outfit looks both tacky and okay. Nothing really matches thou, but I'm sure this would be fantastic for mix & match outfits. However the outfit itself still looks like something my mom would tell me to go back and change. 

"2-in-1 Gymnastics practice outfit for dolls" $30

Seriously, another gymnastics outfit? My goodness. I do like the top on the left and the shoes are an added bonus. I have however made my own leotard, so I probably won'd be getting this.

"Rhythmic Gymnastics outfit for dolls" $34

May I applaud whoever designed this set, because for once everything matches. I also love the leotard, it's much more complex than some of the other leo's I've seen from AG. I may consider getting this set. 

Now, we get into the holiday/winter category. Even though it's not going to be Halloween for another month.

"Sparkle spotlight outfit for dolls" $34

This outfit is ok, but I really think the shorts are weird and should be a skirt. I also don't like the weird glitter peter pan collar, but I do like the color scheme. #61 looks gorgeous even in the darkest outfits.

"Joyful jewels outfit for dolls" $36

I hate this outfit, but it still looks pretty.  For one, it's just like the other outfits and should not cost $36. And it looks EXACTLY like the outfit for 2013. Literally, like now I've even had enough of the red dresses. I'll be getting other holiday dresses, thank you very much.

"Gorgeous gold outfit for dolls" $36

Once again, this outfit looks very similar to the 2013 holiday outfit. I think the gold should be like 2 shades darker. I mean, it's cute it's just too similar to the 2013 holiday outfit. 

" Holiday accessories for dolls" $32

This accessory set is quite better than past years. I love how there's a clothing piece included (always a nice touch there) and the gift bag is cute. I will probably get this when it goes on sale. 

"Cozy Christmas scene" $12

It's nice to see AG putting out some more scene boards, but this one looks a bit too cartoonish for my liking. I probably won't get this, really just because I don't need it.

"Playful polar bear pajamas for dolls" $24

This outfit is, once again a recreate of the older 2014 polar bear pj's. I like that this one is red, however since I have the blue outfit I think I'll be fine without this newer set. Yet from a design standpoint, I love the flowing edges of the shirt. 

"Warm winter outfit for dolls" $30

This outfit started out ok, and ended up a train wreck. That sweater, what were they thinking? You do not out that bright of an orange next to pink AND purple. The leggings are really the only good thing about this outfit, but I'm not paying $30 for pants.

"Warm winter accessories" $24

Unlike the outfit that these match, the accessories are really cute! I love the finger-less gloves and the vest. I am really looking forward to getting this set someday.

AG also released some cool printed bags and stuff, but I'll only give my thoughts on the doll-related items. 

"Starry garment bag for dolls" $18

I really don't understand this, but I guess it's a modern garment bag. However if you look on the inside, there doesn't look to be a place for a dress or whatnot. The only reason I would buy something like this is if I had to bring a super fancy dress (like more than $50) dress with me on a trip. 

"Accessories case" $48

This apparently fits the garment bag and carries doll accessories. I personally think that there are better and more cheaper ways to transport doll accessories. Save your money, kids. 

Overall it was an ok TM release. Not too bad, but certainly not my favorite.

My thoughts on Mary Ellen Larkin

So, Maryellen came out recently. One of the most revealed doll-before release events ever with all of those prototype images floating around. Now that she is finally released online, I can say what I like, dislike and hate. Let's start with the doll herself:

*all images credited to AmericanGirl.com*

"Maryellen Doll & Book" $115

First of all, appearance of the doll. My only problem really is that she's JUST another white doll. The side bangs are a tad bit unique, but they're just not enough. I wish she had freckles of something else cool like that. The hair is also odd, as it's shown in a bit of a ponytail, so I can't tell if it's wavy or curly. If anything it's like Saige's hair, so I feel sorry for all the Maryellen's that might get destroyed in the coming years. I don't plan on getting the doll at all, as I have my eyes on another green eyed doll.

Meet outfit: I like her meet outfit. It's not terrible, I just wish they'd done something better with the shoes, becuase they stick out and take your attention away from the rest of the outfit. The dress is cute and the bolero adds play value. Not sure about the headband thing though, but I guess at least it matches. 

Story: Her story is well... just odd in a way. Unlike other girls such as Kaya or Julie, Maryellen really doesn't have a clear message. She's also way too much caroline in trying to "stand out from the crowd". However I"m sure her story may be plenty interesting to read. 

"Maryellen's Accessories" $24

This, this right here is definintly the worst accessory set of all time. Maybe not in design, but in value. I'd say it's even worse than caroline. First off, the purse I know has plastic handles, and there's no good way to really fit it on her hand. The gloves and even the necklaces are fine and actually pretty cute, but the fact that those are the ONLY THINGS in this set make me rage. I would never pay $24 for this accessory set. I'd at least go down to $22. At least. They totally could have added something else. A newspaper A COIN?!?! Just something else for girls to play with.

So, in summary I like the outfit on the doll, but not too much else. The rest of her collection, however is amazing!!!

"Maryellen's pajamas" $24

These pajamas are the cutest thing ever and totally on my "must get" list of AG items. I love the green theme, plus in the picture her hair is down, which looks really cute. Overall, this is an amazing and well put together outfit. 

"Maryellen's poodle skirt outfit" $36

Oh my goodness. This outfit is ok. I do love that huge poodle skirt, but most of all they brought Molly's saddle shoes back!!! The blouse is ok, but doesn't match the poodle too much. Overall I'm probably not going to get this outfit, but it does look amazing.

"Maryellen's birthday dress" $34

Wow, this outfit is completely different from all the others. I like the green and pink, however I have no idea what's going on with those shoes, I would take away the white on them if I could. Also odd how this is ANOTHER $30+ outfit. Quite a pricey collection if you ask me. I probably won't get this, just because I have no reason to really.

"Maryellen's School Outfit" $32

Finally, another school related outfit. I still don't like that price though. But the peter pan collar plus the headband are super cute. Even the little "Mary Janes" though I sure do hope they're not Molly's shoes. My only complaint about this outfit is that I wish the pink/purple color was 2 shades lighter, but maybe it will look better in real life than online.

"Maryellen's play outfit" $28

OMG I must have this!!! I love the look of it and how it makes Maryellen look so much older!! Plus it's like the one reasonably priced outfit in this collection. Another must-have for me.

*the next 2 things are an outfit and accessories combo, where you have to buy both sets to complete the outfit, so we're doing that in 2 images instead of one.

"Maryellen's Ice skating outfit" $36

Wow, I just love her hair in this picture. Also, the outfit is AMAZING!!! The red and blue is interesting and she has her own pair of skates! Yay for skates!! I'm almost tempted to get this for molly, as I wish this had been her's. 

"Maryellen's ice skating accessories" $24

Now, here's an accessory set that should cost $24. Why, you ask? Because these are 3 clothing pieces unlike the basic accessory set which only has 1 clothing piece, the gloves. I think this would be great if you want to keep your doll warm, but can't afford a full outfit. It also matches really well with the ice skating outfit. It may be on my list in the future, who knows?

"Maryellen's Diner set" $275

Well, this is better than Caroline's parlor. I probably won't buy this, but I will say if I was a little girl I would want this so much. I love how it has both 2 bar stools and a booth. The window looks nice and the whole set looks easy to recreate with poster board. However if this ever went on sale, maybe. Just, maybe. But to complete the whole set costs like over $300.

"Maryellen's Jukebox" $90

Part of me wan't to complain about the price, but Julie's music-playing chair is like $20 more or something. The colors are nice and it is really cute. I would get it if it went on sale or something. The only thing I don't understand is why every AG music related thing must have the ability to plug into a phone. 

"Maryellen's Dog, Scooter" $22

FINALLY!!! AG made a dachshund!!! I have been searching for a dachshund so Lindsey can have herself a "Mr.tiny" from her books!!! This is defiantly the first thing I'll purchase when I have the money.

"Maryellen's Sofa Bed set" $150

This is most definitely one of the more expensive bed's we've seen in recent years. I like the dog, but not much else, so I'm probably going to pass on this one.

"Maryellen's hair styling set" $20

This set is ok. I like how it matches her pajamas, i just hope it's easy for little hands to use. I probably won't be getting it though, because I'm not going to be purchasing the doll.

"Maryellen's Living room set" $58

I really want this, but I know I'll have to wait till I get more space. Some people may complain that it's $58, but this replaces any table & chairs set she might have had. This table also reminds me allot of Matilda, especially the lamp.

"Maryellen's television console" $85

Ah, television. See, kids, they didn't always have netflix. Anyways, I'm ok with this set. I like that they're calling it a "television console" instead of just a "tv" and the record player is cute too. The only thing I don't like is that I know it's made of plastic. I probably won't get it though, because I don't have too much interest in it.

"Maryellen's classroom set" $40

$40?!?! Are you kidding me? No. just for that set, no. The map looks ok though and I like the little teacher's stick, but there are only 4 things in this set and it costs $40. Nope. I like Molly's school stuff better anyways.

"Maryellen's crinoline" $16

It honestly took me like 2 minutes to decide whether this was for the girl or the doll. I do like how it's only $16 and how they're not just reusing the 1800's crinoline.

Truly me thoughts coming in the next post.