Reading an American Girl Classic

 The American Girl 35th anniversary is making me, and many others, feel nostalgic.

It inspired me to take pictures of my dolls reading the American Girl books together with the mini dolls.

As usual, Molly is not my jam, so she gets left out.

The other original five AG dolls are all represented here.

It's just such a classic moment, I think, a girl reading with a doll next to a tree.

And I am proud of the four glass eyed mini dolls that I own. It's a very intentional small collection, and one that I love. I think they are very cute.

American Girl of Today #6, Anne, reads with Felicity Merriman.

American Girl of Today #2, Meg, reads with Kirsten Larsen.

Girl of the Year Kanani Akina reads with Samantha Parkington.

Girl of the Year Joss Kendrick reads with Addy Walker.

 

Girl of the Year Jess McConnell reads with Josefina Montoya.

Lottie Doll Canoe Playset Review

I have been eyeing the Lottie doll canoe playset. I really want it for Mia, because Mia is a wildlife photographer, and I like to take pictures of wild birds while I am canoeing.

The price seemed a bit high for me, though. So when I found a playset for a lower price on Amazon because the box was beaten up, I jumped on it.

The box is very pretty, but I am not keeping it.

The playset includes a canoe, two wetsuits, two life jackets, two paddles and two fishing poles.

I could have done without the wetsuits. I don't use them while canoeing and don't plan to use them on the dolls.

I first tried posing Lottie Dolls Wildlife Photographer Mia and Kid Activist Meg in the boat.

It it awesome. It has seats with backs, so the dolls sit up well.

The paddles can either be snapped in place on the side of the boat or they can be held by the doll.

I didn't test to see if it floats on its own, but it wouldn't surprise me.

The life jackets are easy to take on and off. 

I bet that the fishing poles would also snap into place on the side of the boat.

Next I tried it on the American Girl mini dolls.

They can also wear the lifejackets and hold the paddles! I was very impressed!

Then I tried it with the Ai dolls Lawn Daisy and King Protea. 

I didn't get them to hold the paddles, but I was very happy that they could also wear the life jackets.

It didn't matter too much that they can't hold the paddles, since they snap in place. It's very clever.

This is a really fun and versatile set. It can work with many varieties of small dolls.

I am so happy with this!

Doll of Color Month

 September is Doll of Color Month on Instagram.

There is a new topic every day to encourage you to show off your dolls of color.

I am not going to follow every prompt, but I did try to follow some of them.

This led to taking some group pictures, which are very hard to do!

I am not totally happy with these pictures,but they do show the dolls I wanted to show!

All my dolls of color

Lottie Doll Kid Activist Meg

I pre-ordered the Lottie doll Kid Activist Meg, back when she was first released. I think it was November 2018.

I thought she was really cute, and I liked her message. I also really like Lottie doll Mia, and she needed a friend.


Unfortunately, there was a mix-up where she was mailed out and didn't arrive.

The company was really great and re-sent her, but the delay soured my enthusiasm a bit.

She did finally arrive!

Front of Box

Back of Box

Lottie doll Meg comes with a placard that says "Kids Voices Matter," a tiara, and a megaphone.
She wears a green jacket, a yellow T-shirt that also says "Kids Voices Matter," and denim shorts.

Meg is inspired by real-life kid activist Mari Copeny.

I have not put the tiara on her yet, I am afraid of breaking or losing it.

She can really hold the megaphone, but it only works on her left hand. I tried to put in on her right hind at first.

She is really cute!

She looked hot in her jacket, so I took it off.

Meg can stand well on her own.
Mia was the first Lottie doll I got and did not stand well on her own I think this is due to the heels on Mia's wellie boots.

Wildlife Photographer Mia joined her so that they could hold a mini Black Lives Matter protest.

Meg may be a small doll, but she has a big message, and one that is very important at the moment.

I highly recommend her, and would suggest getting her for any child in your life that plays with dolls.

Don't forget that everyone deserves equal rights, and that Black Lives Matter.

You can read my review of Meg's friend, Wildlife Photographer Mia, here.

Meg and Mia are currently my only Lottie dolls, but I am also interested in the Sinead doll. This doll represents a real-life Little Person, Sinead Burke, who works in the fashion industry.

Meg and Kirsten Again

Here are some more pictures of Meg and Kirsten!

Kirsten and Meg

My sister's dolls have joined my doll family!

My sister has a Kirsten from 1994, and an American Girl of Today, Meg, from 1995 or 1995, not sure which.

Meg is a #2.

Meg has a touch of silver eye in one eye, and Kirsten has a bit of bubble eye in one eye.
It is not enough to be noticeable in photographs.

I haven't decided what to do about that yet.

Lottie Doll Kid Activist

I love the Lottie Doll Kid Activist!

This really adorable doll is inspired by real life Mari Copeny aka "Little Miss Flint."

I love her hair! Her tiara! Her passion!

The doll is currently on pre-order with guaranteed delivery by Christmas.

My Lottie Doll Mia may need a friend.

Apparently, this doll is named Meg. I like it. Maybe she can stand in for Meg from A Wrinkle in Time also.

I think she is coming home for sure!

About Anne

Felicity was my first American Girl doll, but Anne was my second.

I was target age when AG came out with American Girls of Today- modern dolls that you could write your own story for! I think I was hooked on the write your own story part.

My sister and I both wanted a Native American doll- Kaya was not yet released. We each bought a different AGOT, and decided they were Cherokee.

Anne was mine. 

She is named after Anne of Green Gables. Anne with an e, if you please.

It took me ages to save up for her, and I was very proud of my hard work.

My parents, trying to be nice, bought her when I almost but not quite had enough money and put her under the Christmas tree. I was, I am sorry to say, indignant. I felt that it invalidated my hard work earning the money if they bought her before I had all the money. My poor parents, who were just trying to be nice. I did finish earning the money and pay them back.

Speaking of which, back then AG had free kits you could send off for that helped you keep track of the money you saved towards a goal, and had suggestions for earning money as well. This was a great way to learn about money management as well as enjoying your doll, and I am sad that they discontinued that, even if that had to charge for the kits.

This is Anne's meet outfit. It is the very first meet outfit for the modern AG dolls. And it is excellent.
It really reflects the style at the time. I hated the maroon, personally, but nonetheless it was right on target. It includes maroon leggings, a maroon T-shirt (under the white shirt), a long sleeved white shirt, black flats and a reversible vest. The vest is denim on one side and maroon on the other.

I had flats exactly like those and so did my fourth grade teacher. I also had a white shirt like that.

The best part of this was its fantastic mix and match possibilities. It had so many pieces, so you could leave off the white shirt, or reverse the vest, or leave the vest off- lots of possibilities in one outfit. And the shoes could match any number of outfits. Just fantastic. None of the current meet outfits live up to this. The newest meet outfit, with its additional mix and match accessories, tries to, but it can still only mix and match with itself. The shoes, the vest and the white shirt in this outfit could go with a lot of other clothes. The maroon, alas, remains maroon, with limited potential.

Anne, by the way, is the original AGOT #6. This was discontinued shortly later and replaced with a blonde with green eyes.

My sister's doll was a AGOT #2. Her name is Meg. She is also Cherokee. .

Anne and Meg are cousins and they get along great.

Meg, unlike Anne, has never been changed out of her meet outfit and is very happy with it.

They are old enough to vote and still in great condition!