Wednesday, August 1, 2012

New Blog and Some Other Thoughts...

Hey! This is a quickie post and I first want to address that I'm not coming back to this blog. While I like AG, I don't love it as much as I used too and I'm afraid if I stayed on here that it would be quite uneventful.

First, I want to tell you all about my new blog, I gave a link to it on here, but I thought I would share anyways. You can visit my new blog, Rhymes with Fargo HERE. I post about all sorts of things. Some posts are AG related, but the main focus of my blog is just ramblings.

Second, I've read some of your comments and would like you all to know that I'm keeping my dolls (they are currently in the doll room if anyone would like to know) and I won't be giving them away to anyone. Sorry!

Third and final thought, Caroline Abbott's photo was released today! You can visit my new blog (link above) to hear what I had to say.


Thanks for stopping by. I will never forget this amazing AG journey and I appreciate every follower and comment. Thanks guys and please visit my new blog! :-)

~Margaux (yup, that's my real name!)

Sunday, March 18, 2012

Bye

Hi.

I want to first start off by saying that this entire American Girl journey has been amazing- and I'll never forget the amazingness of every comment and e-mail from a reader, but y'all, I I'm moving on.

I don't really like American Girl anymore. I haven't sat down with my dolls in a while and I haven't had any interest to continue Take the Stage or do my dolls' hair. I don't like the American Girl company.

I will never forget any of the readers I've met online, but I honestly believe that I can't continue with this blog. I love my dolls, but not in the same way. I will treasure them forever, but not in the same way.

I'm moving on from this blog.

I'm sorry if I disappointed any of you, please don't be mad, I'm honored that I'm the one who inspired you to create blogs, but it's not like I'm stopping blogging altogether! I will be posting more often on Rhymes With Fargo and I look forward to seeing you there.


Goodbye,
Gabby

Why I Haven't Posted

Hello.

Before you ask, I visited San Antonio and Corpus Christi for Spring Break and it was a whole lot of fun! (Pictures will be up soon!) But, that's not the real reason behind this post. The real reason to talk about why I haven't posted and how a super-mega rich company has something to do with it.

Let's start with the company that I mentioned above. It was American Girl  and it has a quite a lot to do with the opinions expressed in this post.

American Girl has changed. 

This is fact- not an opinion- and I'm sure American Girl would not deny it, but it's changed, and in my opinion for the worse. When I look on American Girl Wikia and read about older AG products, I realize how much more effort was put into making the products real- and making them out of the highest quality materials possible. Dolls used to be made in Germany instead of a huge plant in China and a doll skirt and shirt didn't used to cost $28. A set filled with paper and small plastic products is marketed off at $26, even though it probably costs around $3 to make. It just makes me mad that products made in China (not even AMERICAN!) are sold at such a high- even though their quality just seems to go down. Now, I'm not saying every AG piece isn't worth the splurge, I'm just saying the majority is. Do you really want to spend $58 on a doll dining set? Which doesn't include a table?

But, honestly the thing I'm really upset about is definitely the Historical line. This line is by far my favorite, but it also is the thing that is really buggin' me.

Historicals used to be- in my opinion- about showing girls what history was really like, even if it wasn't all fancy frills and glassware, but instead the hand me down dress and tin. It taught girls what history really was (hardwork and determination).

Now, just look. Look at American Girl Historical's line and tell me that it not only accurately represents history, but also represents the doll. Just take Kit for example. Kit is described as a hardworking girl who hates pink and frills, but instead likes reporting- and reporting the truth. And look what AG comes out with to represent and a girl who's family didn't have a load of money and a girl who really didn't like pink? A frilly summer dress and a pink nightie. Why? TO SELL!!! Not to represent and era when most Americans lived in poverty, but to sell. To sell to girls who like pink and frills. TO SELL!!! It's all marketing, while her books portray Kit as a hard-working girl who's family doesn't have a lot of money (or a lot of pink and frilly clothes), the product, unfortunately don't portray Kit this way, they show her as a pink-and-frills loving girl whose family has plenty of money.

But why? For money. It's all about the money. And, that makes me upset. And, that makes me not want to post. Because, how can I post about dolls and products that I love, when I strongly dislike the company that makes them?

~Gabby

Sunday, March 11, 2012

Guess Where I'm Going?

Hey girls! For spring break I'm visiting a fun destination- and I'd like you all to guess!
Okay, so I'm visiting one state and two cities. I've posted some hints below to help you guess the cities. Have fun!

City #1
-you can "sea the world" here
-enjoy a trip down a river
-"REMEMBER THE _ _ _ _ _!"

City #2
-on an island
-means "Body of Christ"
-USS Lexington

Enjoy and happy guessing!
~Gabby

Monday, February 27, 2012

Warm Weather...

Hello all!














These are some of my better photos from a recent, quick photoshoot that I did with Felicity and Kaya. I chose these to dolls because a) they were American Girl (I love Kaylen, but for the purpose of my headers, I need AG dolls) and b) their hair wasn't done Kirsten's hair is still is loops from the AGP).
And yes, those are ribbons woven through my dolls' hair.
Aren't they cute?

Anyways, I feel so happy. I think it's warm weather- people are generally more positive in warm weather. It's a fact of life, just like Giada de Laurentis pasta sauce is the best ever and potato soup is the best kind of soup there is. For example, I voluntarily played outside, practiced my piano, and worked on my project without being told to. 

It's weird. But I like it. What about? Do you love warm weather like me?
~Gabby





Wednesday, February 22, 2012

Doll Geography Quizzes (More This Time!) edited

Hey girlies! Last time I posted printable quizzes for your dolls, I asked you what kind of quizzes you wanted to see. Many of you all asked for Canada quizzes! So I made a Canada test as well as one about South America.

For those of you who don't know about these quizzes, they are very easy to use! Just click on the image and print- no scale adjusting or fancy printer stuff needed. (There are also pre-filled with answers- right or wrong- just grade with the Teacher's Key.)

EDITED: My spelling has been corrected. It's now "British"!

Canadian Geography

South American Geography

Enjoy!
~Gabby
ps. you can view U.S. and Europe geography quizzes here
pss. please leave suggestions for futures quizzes in the comment section below!

Sunday, February 19, 2012

Old or New: (Yes, another!) This or That?

Hey girls! Today, here's a NEW This or That? about outfits. Enjoy!
Outdoor Play Outfit (left) or Hiking Outfit (right)
I love both of these! I think both of these outfits are cute and I love the colors on each, but personally (since I already own the Outdoor Play Outfit) I will have to go with the Hiking Outfit!

Coconut Play Outfit (left) or Coconut Fun Outfit (right)
Absolutely the Coconut Play Outfit! I love the bright colors, the cute casualness of it, and just the overall look of it- if it was still available, I would so buy it!

Ballet Outfit (left) or Ruby Ballet Outfit (right)
I think both of these outfits are cute, but I like the Ruby Ballet Outfit the best. I love that there's no pink and how detailed it is!

Beach Pajamas and Slippers (left) or Kit's Striped Nightie (right)
I really like the Beach Pajamas the best. The nautical colors and themes is adorable and the navy blue really complements Kit better than a pink night gown. 

So, what do you think?
~Gabby

ps. You can check older This or That?s on my sidebar. :-)