12 Days of Deboxing

Greetings Dolls!

A dolleague of mine does this every year from December 21st through January 1st in celebration of her December 21st birthday. This year, I decided to join in the fun. When I made the decision to participate, another friend asked me, "Do you even have 12 doll items to debox?" An excellent question given the fact that I typically debox my purchases immediately. At the time I only had 6 doll items to debox, therefore it was absolutely necessary for me to buy six more in order to participate. That's my story, and I'm sticking to it.

I love lists, so I made a list of the items I planned to debox and took a before pic. In this first post, I will show you the first six items I deboxed. And because I continued shopping throughout this time, including an epic day-after-Christmas shopping spree with doll friends, there will be a few BONUS items featured as well. Alright, so here goes.

My List for the 12 Days of Deboxing

On the 1st day of deboxing...
I opened the AA Virgo doll from the Barbie Collector Zodiac series. The description of people born under this sign on the back of the box  is more than 90% true of my personality. Check it out.

I love the choice to put blonde hair on a doll with this complexion.

On the 2nd day of deboxing...
I opened AA Skipper from the new Babysitters INC series. The doll in this photo was exchanged for the doll in the before pic when I found her at my local Walmart. The dolls are identical, but the play set includes a baby, high chair, and feeding accessories, too.

Meet Skilar

On the 3rd day of deboxing...
What had happened was...LOL...Georgia Girl sent a text that she'd found Skipper at my local Walmart. This was just a few days before Christmas and I was paranoid that the last minute shoppers would buy them all, so I ventured out to my local Walmart to get her. While I was there, I took a look at the new Fashionistas in hopes of finding the AA broad Ken. I did not find Ken at that Walmart, but what I did find were two Fashionistas that I could not resist. Rosey Romper was one of them. Renamed Rosita, she is Valencia's best friend. Here she is sitting in the bakery waiting for Valencia to finish her shift. Since Tastries is super busy around the holidays, Valencia helps her mom out by taking and fulfilling orders.

Rosita chats with Dena's nephew, Danilo.

On the 4th day of deboxing...
I opened the Santa Baby doll that I received as a gift at our club Christmas party. You can see Santa checking out his new helper in this first photo. I get the feeling that she was all he wanted for Christmas. I wonder what Mrs. Claus thinks about that.

Meet Scarlet

On the 5th day of deboxing...
I opened my first and only "big" doll. My daughters wanted Wellie Wishers for Christmas this year. Mara specifically requested Ashlynn in her letter to Santa, and she also asked for Kendall on behalf of her little sister. Naturally, I had to pick one out for myself, too, because how else was I supposed to join in the play on Christmas day? All three dolls are adorable.

Wellie Wishers Emerson

On the 6th day of deboxing...
I opened Zig & Zag Fashionista (aka  Ghetto Curvy).
I avoided this doll for so long and for so many reasons. Finally a doll friend and I decided that instead of rejecting her for being so "hood", we would embrace it with an exaggerated story line. Meet Deebonqueshia, or Dee Dee for short. I'm still rounding up her kids and their daddies, so you'll be introduced to them later.

BONUS buys
Chelsea Club AA boy
I found this cutie the day after Christmas. He is Dee Dee's oldest son. His name is Andrevion.

Super Stripes Ken
I've waited for this guy to show up in stores since his picture was first released last summer. I need more men in this town. A dear doll friend spotted him at Walmart the week before Christmas. His name is Shaun, and he's already had his first date. He and Candace grabbed a bite to eat and then saw a movie at the cinema.

That's all for now. I'll be back soon with Days 7-12 and the rest of my bonus buys.

Merry Christmas

P.S. I decided to break my 12 Days of Deboxing up into just two posts, so stay tuned. I can't wait to share what I deboxed December 21st-26th.

Holiday Sweater Soirée

Happy Dolly-Days!

I am eager to get back to posting, so I'm jumping right in with some photos of the holiday sweater party co-hosted by Grace and Camille. Ugly Christmas Sweater parties are kind of a thing nowadays, and I couldn't resist having one for the dolls once I saw all the adorable sweater ornaments that were in stores this season. At the end of the post, I give more details about where I found each sweater.

Here's a pic of the invitation that went out to the guests.

Alright guys, dig in! (Camille, setting down the meat and cheese tray)

The party-goers mingle.

Trichelle chats with her brother Darren about plans for New Year's Eve.

I thought you invited your neighbor. (Grace)

I did. There she is now... and she brought more champagne! (Camille)

Chandra enters with a bottle of bubbly.

I know your bougie @ss brought this caviar. (Camille, laughing)

You wouldn't believe the stuff I've developed a taste for hanging around these music celebs. (Amber, laughing too)

Big Bro is letting you hang with the grown-ups tonight, huh? (Camille)

Yeah, well I'm grown, too. He just doesn't treat me like it. (Christie)

Grown-ish maybe, but you'll always be a baby sister to him. (Camille)

True. He made me pour out my champagne. I'm almost 20. (Christie)

Here, I'll pour you another one. Tell him I said if he takes this one, he'll be sleeping on the sofa tonight. (Camille)

They both laugh.

So, how do you know Grace? (Trichelle)

We work together at the flower shop. And you? (Emma Jean)

She's my sister-in-law. (Trichelle)

Enjoying yourself? (Amber)

Of course! (Matt)

Well, I still think you're a party pooper for not wearing a holiday sweater. (Amber)

You look festive enough for the both of us. (Matt, smiling)

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Amber and Trichelle are wearing 2017 sweater ornaments from Christopher and Banks.
Camille, Grace, Chandra, and Christie are wearing 2017 sweater ornaments from Target.
Emma Jean and Thomas are both wearing sweater ornaments found at Michael's in previous years.
Darren's moose sweater ornament is from Pier One.

I'll be back tomorrow with another post to kick off my 12 Days of Deboxing. See you soon!

SYC The FINAL Week

It's the FINAL countdown!
Excuse me for a moment while I search for that hilarious Geico commercial.

Okay, I'm back. If you haven't been following my month of SYC (Savor Your Collection), please check out the challenges and pictures from weeks one, two, and three. And even if you have been following along, it's worth another look in case you missed some of the fun pictures that I've been continuously updating.

Day 23) Exclusives
Whether it's a Barbie Fan Club exclusive, W Club exclusive, convention exclusive, or store exclusive (I'm looking at you Barbie Basics Red collection), it's time to savor those dolls created especially for whatever! And while we're on the subject, what do y'all think of this year's National Barbie Doll Collectors Convention exclusive?

Glamazon Adele, an Integrity Toys convention exclusive

Day 24) Life in the Dreamhouse 
It's time for a look at those fabulous doll houses and doll house dioramas.

*Picture coming soon

Day 25) Ladies of Leisure
What do your dollies like to do in their free time? Do they bike, hike, swim, read, paint, or play an instrument?

Book Club meeting at the local bookshop cafe

I've had these unopened fashions for a while. This was a great opportunity to open them up and put them to use. The twins take music lessons in their free time, and Rosa paints.

Day 26) Pet/Animal Lovers
This day is dedicated to  dolls with pets and/or those who love to wear animal print or clothes featuring animals. Dr. Williams, the town vet finally got some play time thanks to SYC. He's been sitting neglected in a plastic bin for months. I also got to use the veterinarian playset that Mara gifted me. Repainting it has been on my "later" list for months.

Day 27) Working Girls
If we have a day especially for the ladies of leisure, then we also have to have a day for those who work hard for the money. Here are the female models of Muse Model Management.

Mal, Natasha, and Yasmin

Day 28) Red-y for the Weekend
Redress one or more dolls in a weekend ready red ensemble.

Day 29) Ladies Night
Dress your dolls for a fun evening out.

Day 30) Barbie Style
Taking a leaf from the wildly popular Barbie Style book, the challenge was to put together an ensemble and then choose the perfect doll to wear it.

Day 31) Shopping Queens
Let's salute our little shopping queens as we get our credit and debit cards ready. After a month of savoring our collections, we are ready to return to the stores with more targeted shopping lists.

Thanks for tuning in!

SYC Challenge Week Three

Two weeks down and two to go!

If you haven't already done so, be sure to check out the challenges and pictures from weeks one and two of SYC. Stay tuned for updates as I continue to savor my collection.

Day 16) Give "props" where they are due. Set up a scene for your doll(s).
Here is a book store I made using a MyFroggyStuff tutorial and a book prop from Muff's online store. Aphrodite is strolling through the shop in search of some summer reading material.

Day 17) Let the Little Ones Shine.
For this challenge, I decided to focus on siblings that had not already appeared in an SYC photo.

Raelynn & Sydney

Macee (R) & Makenna (L)

Tommy & Serena

Day 18) Celebrate the Celebrity Dolls in your collection.

Day 19) Who Wore it Best? ONE outfit and TWO dolls, you know the rest.

Day 20) Throwback Thursday
*Picture coming soon

Day 21) Date Night
*Pictures coming soon

Day 22) Spotlight on Special Occasion Dolls

Carmen, formerly a Quinceanera Barbie

Halle, formerly a 2016 Holiday Barbie