MCM 2021 News

 

Announcing the 2021 American Girl Benefit Sale Tickets on sale: Wednesday, August 25 Online sale: Saturday, September 25 Curbside pickup: October (no shipping)

We're eagerly preparing for our 34th American Girl Benefit Sale. Like last year, the pandemic continues to affect our planning: though public health is improving, we need to keep the sale online for another year. The other major factor in planning is inventory: In 2020 we completely sold out of dolls. Since the last sale, we’ve received many high-quality dolls and will continue to receive and prepare more but we do not anticipate having as much inventory as in recent years. For those wanting to participate this year, that will likely translate into fewer tickets available to shop and lower limits on items. American Girl has continued to be a tremendous partner and is doing everything possible to support the sale and our work. We are forever grateful for their generosity. How the 2021 American Girl Benefit Sale will work A limited number of tickets will be sold on Wednesday, August 25, 2021 Ticketholders will shop ONLINE ONLY on Saturday, September 25, 2021 Shopping times will be assigned to ticket holders based on a random lottery, as in years past Shoppers will collect their purchases using CURBSIDE PICKUP from our new warehouse location in Middleton, Wisconsin. Pickup appointments will be scheduled for weekends in October, starting on October 9 and concluding on October 24. No shipping will be offered As ever, our goal is to allow as many families to be able to shop for great American Girl products while raising money for the museum and the other charities the American Girl Fund for Children supports. With the inventory as it stands now, tickets, limits, and discounts may be more restricted than last year; however much can change in a few short months.  Stay tuned for more updates, and thank you for your patronage and your patience! So here's my two cents- It doesn't sound like the best sale this year. Limited tickets, limited inventory, limited discounts, and no chance to pick your merchandise out in person. It's not going to be accessible to many people with in person pick up only. I live close enough to do this. But I am wondering if ticket numbers are so limited, if I will even manage to get a ticket. I am not an early morning person with my work schedule. I am glad there is a sale this year, I just wish it was better news.

Kaya Love

 I just love Kaya, you guys. She is an exquisitely beautiful doll with such a sweet, thoughtful expression.

This beaver was kind of a weird addition to her collection. I mean, a beaver is not a pet, so it's hard to get a natural looking picture of Kaya with the beaver, I think.

It's also not my favorite AG animal of all time, although I admit I am not a huge fan of the AG animals in general. It just has a weird feeling to its fur. I don't have sensory issues, but I would think this would bother someone who has them. Since I sew, I just pay a lot of attention to how materials feel in your hand. I think it's part of das Ding an sich, and I apologize for dragging Kant into a doll blog.

I am happy with this picture of Kaya spaying on the beaver from behind a tree. I think it's a realistic scenario. How else can I work the beaver into a picture? I am thinking about it.

I really love dolls with their dolls. I try to get the dolls belonging to the AG dolls when possible. I still need Clara for Samantha and Amelia Earhart for Kit.

However, Kaya has her doll now, and they are so cute together! Such a pretty picture.

Formal Festive Outfit

 I really liked the Formal Festive Outfit when it arrived, and I meant to buy it directly from AG.

However, I put it off too long, and was sad to see it had been taken off the website.

I was so lucky to find it at the Mattel Toy Store!

I just thought it had a lot of potential, and not just for boy dolls.

Ellie got to wear it first, but she and Mara will be sharing it, and other girls might get a turn too.

The bow tie is a separate piece. I like the plaid they used, it looks very classic.

The suspenders button to the pants in the front. They are sewn on in the back. This limits the mix and match potential of the pants, unless you tucked the suspenders inside. On the other hand, this makes it hard to lose them.

The shoes are okay. I have definitely seen worse shoes from AG, and I have seen better shoes. I am annoyed by shoes that have the soles stick out beyond the side of the shoes, like these do. Maryellen's saddle shoes do this as well. The shoes do have mix and match potential.

This could also be used as a music recital outfit.

I am really happy to have this outfit, and Ellie and Mara are too!

Logan's Performance Outfit

 I wasn't interested in Logan's performance outfit when it was first released.

I didn't like that AG had used Kaya's sculpt for a boy doll, and I really didn't like Logan's character.

When I recently bought Logan's performance outfit, it was because I decided that it had good mix and match potential, especially for my two dolls who don't wear dresses, Ellie and Mara.

Really, the whole outfit has good mix and match potential. Nice boots, nice jeans, grey T-shirt without any graphics AND it has long sleeves, leather jacket.

The outfit as a whole looks really good on Mara! She looks cool! Better than Logan, haha.

My only complaint about the outfit is that the jacket feels very plastic-y. I am hoping that this means it will not fall apart after a few years like Molly's aviator jacket.

Nanea's Accessories

I always think that the AG accessories are overpriced. I do wish I had Felicity and Samantha's original accessories. Otherwise, I don't care about them and rarely buy them.

I did recently get Nanea's accessories at half price, which is about what I am willing to pay for them.

 Nanea's accessories include a shell necklace, a letter from Donna, an ID card, three dollars stamped with Hawaii, and a pouch for a wallet.

I don't like the necklace. You can only see what it is meant to be up close. From any distance, it looks like cheap plastic.

I like the bag, which is made of the same fabric as two of her outfits.

I think that the letter, the ID card and the wartime dollars are very cool, but they don't justify the price of the set.

They are also very easy to lose or damage.

I am happy to have this set, but I am really glad that I didn't pay full price for it.

More Betsy McCall and the Ai dolls

 Betsy McCall is perfectly sized to be a big sister to the Ai dolls.

My friend and I got a few pictures of them together.

Left to right: Ai doll King Protea, Betsy McCall, Ai doll Lawn Daisy

They're so cute!

Spaghetti Dinner set

 I have recently been kind of collecting doll food, because I didn't have any, and it seemed like something that would help round out my collection and help me take better pictures.

I was delighted to find the spaghetti dinner set at the Mattel Toy Store.

This is an amazing set.

I had earlier bought the lasagna dinner set, and I think this set is better than that one.

This set comes with two plates, two forks, two drinks, two pieces of toast, two salads, three pieces of spaghetti, a pot, a serving spoon, a block of parmesan cheese and a cheese grater.

I actually couldn't get everything on the table that I own, and had to leave the parmesan cheese and the cheese grater out of this picture.

These are also not the original plates: I used the real china ones that I found at the thrift store.

I think the reason it has three pieces of spaghetti when everything else is in twos is so that one piece can be in the pot. Very realistic, and a lot of fun.

One reason I think that I like his set more than the lasagna one is that it has drinks.

It has more pieces overall than the lasagna set, but having the drinks just makes the set feel like a real dinner.

All the pieces look good: the least realistic part is the tomato slices on top of the salad. AG should've gone with cherry tomatoes instead, they'd have been easier to depict.

I am really, really happy with this set. It makes me feel less need to buy any other food sets. 

Danielle and Aurelie are happy to have this nice dinner!