Why?

Hi! This is a post in which I will do a lot of ranting, so please, be prepared.


Why? American Girl makes me ask this question every time they release something new, or raise their prices, or something like that. But today, I will be asking---


Why Does American Girl Focus So Much On Rebecca Rubin?
Why?


It's so very weird. I could understand why in 2009, when Rebecca was released, and she was new, but know, her new-ness is wearing off and well, she is just the same as any of the Historical Characters.

Like in this photo from the AG website. Why is the model in the Petal Pink Outfit not modeling with a doll in the same outfit, but with Rebecca?

And why, is Rebecca on the poster for the 25th Birthday Celebration?

This is a picture I really don't understand. Why is Rebecca not in her meet outfit?

And again, advertising the new Spring outfits with 2 other Historicals.

Don't get me wrong, Rebecca is a beautiful doll in real life, but I'm just not very fond of her story or how AG seems to focus on her a lot. Well at least we are getting a new HC this year.

~Gabby

Absence (and Kanani Book Covers)

Hey! I am really sorry I haven't posting but I'm preparing a new blog look. And yes, I know I change my blog look a lot but to me, it's about keeping myself in the loop of things. If something gets to boring, I will more likely to not participate actively in it, so be expecting lots of new changes. I want my blog to be a place where anyone can come and love American Girl and I don't feel like that's happening- I also want to make my blog more about me and my American Girl dolls than just AG in general so I'm hoping that with my new blog layout and design, this can happen.

Thanks for understanding,
Gabby
******************************EDIT*****************
Thanks to I Love American Girl for informing me of these pictures and this video!













Personally, I don't think Kanani looks all that Hawaiian- I imagined her to look different but my guess was pretty close.

American Girl Does Not Make Sense

Hey! I've said it before and I'll say it again until it sets in.

American Girl Does Not Make Sense.

It's just doesn't.

Okay so I'm overreacting.

Maybe.

Quite possibly.

But anywho, I feel the need to share with you some new, non-sensible American Girl info from AGDWikia and DollDiaries.

Example #1

I have just learned the AG will be releasing a special edition pack of the Felicity: An American Girl Adventure including bonus features and a digital copy next year.

Now why would you release a character's movie after she was retired? 

Example #2

American Girl will be marketing 3 new mysteries- 

A Bundle of Trouble: A Rebecca Mystery, by Kathryn Reiss.

The Silver Guitar: A Julie Mystery, by Kathryn Reiss. (love the tye-dye!)

Clue in the Castle Tower: A Samantha Mystery, by Sarah M. Buckey.

Now why would you release a book for a character that is already retired?

Example #3

Justin Bieber's biography, Never Say Never, will be on the big screen in the 3-D. Why would you put that in 3-D if it's just a documentary?

Okay, so that really wasn't about AG, but it doesn't make sense.

Example #4

I AM GOING TO SEE HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS PART 1 TOMORROW NIGHT!!!

Now what didn't make sense about that sentence was that I wrote the entire thing while holding the shift key- not using caps lock.

But yes, I am going to see HP7 tomorrow night.

I am very, deeply, enthusiastically, merrily, excited about this.

I should probably get off now.

Ta ta,

Gabby

New American Girl Activities!

Hey everyone! Today, while browsing the American Girl site, I came across some new things in the activities section of Fun for Girls. One of them was Lanie's Story. There, you can look through Lanie's email inbox and check her updates and her best friend's Dakota's as well. There's a new story every week. It's a pretty cool idea! Take a look:

I love the virtual computer! It's just like the one in Lanie's Accessories. It's so cool reading her about her life through her e-mails. Very creative AG!

However, I just realized that this is almost exactly like Chrissa's Diary.

Although they look different, it's still the same idea- but I love it! It's cool reading about the dolls online where a book can't take you.

I also noticed that AG has a new report cover maker!

I didn't actually write a report, but I made an example. You can choose the font, color, and add pictures. Personally, I like my making my own report covers, just because this seems kind of- cheesy. It's a nice idea but not what the website needs. 

So what do you think? Do you like American Girl's new features?

~Gabby

Thoughts on Archiving

Hi!


I love American Girl. I do, but it's hard when they archive dolls. I think what it all comes down too is that American Girl isn't perfect. And they make mistakes just like any other company (just take Bratz for example, who really wants a doll named after a snobby type of person?). And I think that a lot of things that they done have been mistakes. For example bringing a virtual world into a high-quality line of dolls. Don't get me wrong, I like InnerstarU but I don't think it was the best thing American Girl made. I think they should've focused on the Historicals, because after all, wasn't that what put the American in American Girl? 


And now with Felicity going way, I'm starting to think that maybe American Girl doesn't care about the doll going way itself, but what money will be going into it. 


Take for example, Samantha.
She was a doll, a happy doll.

She had a best friend, Nellie.

She even got her own movie!

So she was pretty much set to retire. She had everything any doll could ask for and was one of the Original 3, so it made sense that she was first to retire. I'm not saying that it was good that she was archived, I'm just saying that she was set and had everything.

Now what about Kirsten?

She was happy doll.

But had no best friend.

She had no movie.

But she was one of the original 3, which I guess made it "okay" for her to be archived.

Now look at Felicity. I've decided I want her more than MAG 37, so if I get a doll, I'm getting her.

I don't want her retired, but she again has everything, a movie, a best friend. So why is she getting retired? We may never know, but I do know that every single doll that will every get archived will have a home in our hearts.

~Gabby

Goodbye!

Hey!


Before I start this post, I just want to say that I'm not leaving, just two very special dolls.


Felicity and Elizabeth.


It's official and I'm outraged. WHAT???? Molly and Emily were supposed to go next- they were originals, it's how it works- well at least I though so.


Well, I should know better. American Girl has proven not to be predictable.


Good bye Felicity and Elizabeth, you will always have a place at American Girl, even if you won't be available for sale.


~Gabby

InnerstarU is finally working!

Hi! I'm very happy about InnerstarU as I can finally post about it and give you my review. Overall the  game was cool, I liked it and I wish there was some more games that we could play. I was only allowed access to the preview as I don't have codes but it was still very fun! 

You get to choose between 4 dolls to represent you while your there. I personally like the African American Girl and the Blond girl the best! You get to have your own room which doesn't really do anything because you can't buy anything but it's still pretty cool.

Anyways, there are Innerstar Guides which can give you projects with tasks, info about the world, and just good advice!

The shopping center is really cool, it was fun to go to the Casual Closet, the only store you allowed to go, and see all the fun outfits. However, guests aren't allowed to buy anything so all I could do was try on clothes.

The games are decent- easy but some offer a challenge. Help-Desk Hubbub was pretty boring and all you did was answer trivia questions. Body Balance, a yoga inspired game was fun but again, wasn't much of a challenge. I liked Pom-pom Power mainly because it got harder and was more of a game that offered a challenge.


Overall, I enjoyed it and I can't wait to buy Katrina Elaine Jordan (that is MAG 37s new name) and put her online! I would definitely recommend checking it out and I hope you have fun!
~Gabby

InnnerstarU and MAG

Hey! I am super excited about this post because I'm showing ya'll all the new things! If you read my post yesterday, you know that I cast a gloomy shadow on InnerstarU and I still have mixed feelings about it but I think that I'm getting used to it and it does sound fun. I think I'm going to wait and buy myself a doll instead instead of the campus guide because it will feel like I've earne d it I buy something nice with my own money. Anyways- back to the new stuff! First, take a look at the new meet outfit and fun doll chooser thingy!

Then here are the 4 free games you can play from Innerstar U, the online virtual world that AG is only allowing people with a campus guide or a brand new MAG to use, there fore excluding me and about %99.99* of girls. Anyways, I haven't played nay of the free games yet but I can't wait to get home from camp and play them!
They also have a intro video which explains a lot and honestly, I can't wait to buy a MAG and put her online! I know I seem a lot different from yesterday but it is really cool.

And now for the new MAG stuff! Here are some of my favorite items:

Have you noticed that my posts are getting longer? I'm proud of that because I really like have nice, long, juicy posts that my 37 amazing followers and readers can look forward too!


Anyways, enjoy the new AG! Yes, and I mean NEW! Things have changed, oh man, things have changed.


~Gabby
*This is only and estimate. Gabby has no clue whatsoever what the real percentage is. She only said that to keep things interesting. Sheesh!

Am I Excited?

Hey everyone! You may be wondering about the title of this post, and for starters I am too. Here is why: 
I love American Girl. And I think it's a great company but lately I have been wondering (and worrying) about it. Is American Girl losing it's charm? It used to be about the Historical Characters, exploring history, and finding yourself through high-quality dolls. But now, I feel that AG doesn't care about the Historicals anymore- it's all about the MAGs. MAGs are great but I thought American Girl was about more than the contemporary style and I always thought American Girl to be one of those companies with a Historic Feel. 
With tomorrow being the opening of Innertstar University, I have often wondering if I'm really excited about it. It seems like they are copying Webkinz with the addition of the online world and buying a toy to get in. So I'm often asking myself- "Am I really excited about this?" Am I excited that American Girl is opening a virtual world? Am I excited that American Girl is changing JLYs to My American Girl- a title that could refer to any of the dolls, but yet, AG says it's only for MAGs? Am I excited that there will be new dolls? Am I excited that American Girl is giving to other charities? 
Am I really that happy about it? I honestly don't know. I know lots of people are and maybe American Girl is just ready to change-
change
Change into something better? I can't tell yet, and it's so hard to describe it in words! I feel excited about InnerstarU but I feel disappointed though because it's just changing way too much and too fast.
But I also don't understand why American Girl has to go towards the Internet, I though Lanie was showing girls to get outside. And AG has always tried to stand out- and they have, but with this new virtual world on the way will it just be another doll company like Barbie and Liv (they have virtual worlds too)? 


I don't know. But I hope this post gave you all a lot to think about it before it opens tomorrow. And I am excited and upset so we'll see where this takes me tomorrow.


Oh if only I could predict the future!
~Gabby

Are you kidding me?

Seriously American Girl, I hope you are.

Hi! See last week I called American Girl to ask about Innerstar University. I was very curious because I've heard some rumors about My American Girl (the new JLY line), Shine On Now, and InnerstarU. So I called and asked about. The lady (who was very nice btw) told me that this campus guide or a MAG must be bought in order to gain access to InnerstarU. I was very disappointed by this.

But I learned that AG will do drawings to win an MAG all until August 1st, but you have to an AG Ambassador (which luckily I am- I just wanted to find out what it was).

Oh well, if you want a JLY, buy one after July 13th.

That's just my advice.

~Gabby

Shine On Now?

Hey! Guess what came in the mail yesterday? My Summer issue of American Girl Magazine! I loved this issue but what was more surprising was what came out of it....

So I was guessing this had something to do with Innerstar University. Turns out I was right-

I thought Awesome! AG is actually doing something to help others! So I go to the website. Guess what I see? The webpage isn't finished yet!

This is kind of weird. It's not like AG to not have a webpage finished yet... Hmmmm......

Oh well, there's a first time for everything!

Ta-Ta,

Gabby