Adora Mia Sold Out! Another Alyssa On Way!

Greetings and Salutations Doll Friends!

As I posted about recently, I bought four Adora dolls because they were on an amazing sale and I happened to have Christmas money of my own and could afford to. Teehee...

Here are the three I posted the other day. (Sorry for duplicate photos but just in case someone doesn't want to click link to other blog post I want them to be able to see them too). As I said in that posting, I ordered the blonde, named Alyssa, for my newborn niece who has same name and also has blonde hair and blue eyes. After getting her I kind of kicked myself for not having purchased one for myself but, at that point, I was kind of out of doll money. Haha. So I was happy to think of sending her on and just admiring her in her box. 

However, as it happened, fate provided me with a second chance to get her. 

As I mentioned in my prior post about them, Mia was the first doll I ordered and hadn't arrived yet when the other three came. So I wrote Adora a note asking them when I could expect her. Sadly, they apparently sold out of her even though I'd been able to put her in my 'cart' and ring up with her and everything. Computers?!? I was mildly disappointed but what are you going to do, right. I kind of saw it as fate stepping in and giving me a second chance to get my very own Alyssa to keep in the doll house. Which is what I did. They gave her to me for half price and so I got her for only like $15.00 so that is awesome!! 

So I went ahead and opened the one I had on hand since the new one would arrive later for my sweet baby niece. Here are some photos I took of her right after she came out of the box! 

She looked so pretty in the sunlight with all the snow in the background. I love how the window caught her reflection too. Beautiful!!

I love this doll... I love that she's an Adora and I love her face sculpt and I love that she has blonde eyelashes (just like I do and I imagine my niece will).... There is only one thing I don't like about her. Her mouth!! It just looks like they forgot to paint her teeth or something? I don't know if she is just supposed to be holding her mouth open? Or is her tongue supposed to be between her lips? Adora is most famous for their baby dolls and that's kind of what it looks like is a baby doll mouth. So... It bothered me enough that I decided to try and do something about it. I decided to paint her some teeth! 

She also had two ponies in back but I took them out right away and brushed out her pretty hair....

One last look before I do teeth surgery. Teeheehee.

And here she is after!! I think she looks so much better if I do say so myself. If you look super upclose you can tell they aren't as perfect as I'd have liked them to be but since her little lip casts a shadow over them, they do look pretty good I have to say. I just used white craft paint. I honestly did them a couple of times... I just had a baby wipe nearby and on the two times I messed up, I just wiped it back off while it was still wet paint. It comes off pretty easy when it's fresh. Then I'd just start over and the third try was the one I kept.

So when Baby Alyssa's dolly arrives, I'll probably open up the box and give her some teeth too... I'll ask her Mom if that is what she'd prefer first though. Perhaps I am odd in my thinking she looks better with them so I'll let her decide. 

After she got her teeth in, I just couldn't stop looking at her and taking her photos. It made such a difference! She looked like a little girl now and not a baby at all. 

What do you think? I will say painting her teeth might have been the experience I needed to get more brave about painting freckles on a doll or two that I've wanted to in the past but was too timid to do. At the end of the day, really, they're my dolls and so if I want to customize, why not, eh? 

Well I better run. I am taking my kids to the movies to see the newest Star Wars movie. We don't go to movies all that often but they like to see the Star Wars movies in the theatre. So I am taking them to the morning matinee because it's cheaper and that's my favorite time of day to go. (While I am awake! LOL!)

Hope this finds you having a wonderful day!!

Till next time!
XXOO
 Heather

New "My Life As Doll" 18inch Doll Accessory Sets At Walmart!

Hi Doll Friends!

Went by Walmart yesterday when out running errands... Figured I'd run by the My Life As Doll Section... You know... Just to look... *giggles*

What did I find there? New accessory sets!!! Now I wasn't kidding when I said I really just ran by there to look. I am supposed to be reigning in my 'doll spending' for at least a few months after the windfall of dolls and doll things I've gotten from my birthday in November and then Christmas last month. So when I went back there I said to myself "You can only look... Or maybe you can get one pair of $3 shoes if they have a style you don't have yet"

Then I saw the new sets! I wanted one of each of them! Uh oh...

So I decided I'd allow myself to choose just one. I'd planned go get a burger at a fast food joint and thought "If I have a salad at home instead after errands, it'll practically pay for this $7.95 priced set!" Yes, that is how my mind works. I am right though, eh? A fast food meal costs about $8 if you go to the more decent places. So that's what I did. The salad was better for me anyway. Right? Haha.

They really are all super cute. I love the fitness set because we love yoga in the Doll House and it comes with a yoga mat. 

I also noticed this new doll in their line... I love her dress! I kind of laughed at her 'job' though. Wedding planner? These are supposed to be children dolls right? "They're just babies!!" So I thought it kind of a strange occupation for a doll. Then again I guess they have veternarian dolls and I don't see a lot of 10-12 year old vets either so. I didn't really notice her at the time but if you look to the left of her, the blonde in the pineapple swim suit is also a new one I think. I could totally dig being in her 'occupation' though! I want to grow up and be a 'Beach Vacationer!" Eh? All kidding aside, cute new dolls!

I can't recall having seen them have doll carrying bags before? Perhaps I'd just never seen them in the stores I went to? In any case, I think they are pretty sturdy looking and I love that they have wheels. I have begun to think about getting one of these sorts of bags for when I take the dolls out on photo shoots. Now I just use a tote bag but they often get their hair all messed up when I take them in one and I think this would keep them stable and secure when I am taking them out. So maybe someday...

I also noticed that the food truck was marked down! I don't really want one because I already have too little space for too many doll things... LOL! But it's a good price for someone who wants one.

Another end cap of the dolls... See the brunette in the pineapple suit? I don't know how I missed noticing them when I took photo. I almost wish they would sell just that suit because it's super cute and I really don't need another My Life As Doll.

Well, I just noticed the time and I have an appointment to have coffee with a friend on FaceTime so I have to skeedaddle!!

More soon!
XXOO
Heather

Goodwill and Walmart Clearance Finds For Doll House!

Hi Doll Friends!!

When you're out thrifting always be sure and check the stuffed animals!! They are often marked next to nothing because every child in America has about 2,329,879 of them give or take. Eh? Hahaha. I used to be sure they reproduced themselves in my own childrens rooms because I'd carry a 32gallon trash bag totally full to the Goodwill at least once a year and they never dwindled! I digress. Suffice to say stuffed animals are easy to find cheap. Sometimes those stuffed toys are wearing clothes....

And sometimes those clothes lend themselves to become doll clothes so well!! Check out the adorable and sweet blue cape I got for the dolls!

I gleaned it from this little bear. It also came with a muff which I also took for the dolls. Never you worry, I will give the clothing free bear back to Goodwill and I am sure some stuffed animal loving person will love them even without thier cape! She was marked $1.99 and that's not bad for a pretty doll cape and muff! 

As you can see in the photo, I also got that little white Ikea frame that I plan to use as a Menu board for the Sweet Shoppe in upcoming photo shoots... Then I also had a chance to run into Walmart on a work errand and walked right past their Christmas Clearance section! I got the three stockings for 25cents each (kicking myself for not buying like 10 to give as gifts next year to doll loving friends... Ugh!! Oh well... Note to self next year, right?) and got the pretty angel and star ornaments for only 50cents for the Doll House Christmas tree. I also must confess I bought another mini tree! I forgot to photo it before I stuck it away this afternoon with the other doll Christmas ornaments. I don't know what came over me but it is a 24inch teal blue metallic tree with white lights and it was just too fabulous to not get because it was only $2.50 (marked down from $9.99) I figure maybe I will use it in the Sweet Shoppe and do a Christmas scene there with it. So, that'll be fun next year. 

So always keep your eyes open for doll sized items in 'non doll' sections of the stores you visit. You never know what you might find! 

Till next time!

XXOO
 Heather

New Adora Dolls Arrive At The Doll House!

Greetings and Salutations Doll Friends!

Ever since I got my first Adora doll I have loved them! They are made so well and are so pretty... I got that first one second hand but my second Adora doll I was lucky enough to find new on eBay for a good price. However, I figured those would be my only Adora dolls because the newer ones retail for $69.99 and since I already owned two, buying another one at that price seemed a bit much...

Fast forward to about a week ago when a friend in a doll group on Facebook posted to say that Adora Friends 18 Inch Dolls were on clearance for less than $30, I had to go check it out. Sure enough, there they were, less than half price. In what can only be called a 'perfect storm' I just happened to be sitting on over $100 of Christmas money I'd gotten as gifts just that week. Uh oh...So I kind of ordered four of them. Teehee. 

I only plan to keep three of them myself though... So that's not excessive, right? Ok... Maybe it is. No matter though, it was MY Christmas money to blow on whatever I wanted, right? So, knowing that in all likelyhood that once they were gone that would be it, I might never see them at this price again. So... I bought one of each of them. I won't lie, I probably would've bought Lola too if she would've been available. She has always been a favorite but lets be honest, they are all gorgeous!

The thing about Adora dolls is that, quality wise, they really give American Girl and the other more expensive 18inch dolls a run for their money. They are made extremely well. I plan to come back and give a better review of them and compare them with the older type of Adora doll because the newer ones are made a bit differently than the ones I already had. They don't have the 'seam' that holds the chest plate on anymore for instance. I found this YouTube Review from ShelbriAG that shows them really well. She'd found them on sale as well. I am not sure if Adora is going to discontinue making these beautiful dolls but I can't think of any other reason for them to be on sale at less than half of the original price? Did I mention it was also free shipping? Madness! I've shipped dolls before and to ship them costs like $20 usually, at the cheapest. So it's almost like they're giving them away?! How could I not buy a bunch? Hahaha!

One thing I will say about how they displayed them in the box... They are off on the side quite a bit and you can't really see their beautiful faces?! I couldn't seem to get a good photo of them in their boxes no matter where I put the light. Also, when I saw them for sale before I'd always thought that the 'bright colored highlight' they show in photos of doll on websites were permanent. I wasn't sure what I thought of that but crazy colored hair is kind of becoming more normal. I mean I do have a My Life As Doll Hairdresser doll that has a pretty blue stripe in her hair. So... I was ready for it to be permanent and how they were made. After I ordered them, though, I watched that video review and realized that it was just an extension you could put in or take out as you wanted. Even better!

I am sure by now you're like "You said you ordered four but I only see three?" Well, I also ordered Mia but she hasn't arrived yet. Then I also mentioned I am only keeping three. Well, as it turns out my niece was born this last month and her name is Alyssa. So when I saw that the doll with blonde hair and blue eyes (just like my niece!) I knew I had to buy her to tuck away for when the real Alyssa is older. So she probably won't even leave her box for a few years. I've told my sister in law to save her little baby clothes so I can make Alyssa Doll some clothes to send with her when she finally gets gifted. I am thinking when she's four or five... Which will be gone in a blink! Kids grow up so fast. 

Here is the photos on back of box. Pretty cute outfits they make too... They were also on sale for $9.99 marked down from regularly $29.99 but I have a lots of doll clothes and I decided to spend my cash on the dolls themselves. The clothing I've gotten with the dolls is top notch though so it is a pretty great price for top quality clothes. 

I wanted to get better photos of Alyssa but like I said, her box kind of hid her pretty face in shadows. Maybe I'll open box just to take a better photo at some point but I want her to stay 'new' so I might not too...?

They are pretty easy to get out of the box. Just a few twist ties and a few snips of thread that is holding their hair in a nice style and they are outta the box! That was a Gracie and Mommy Show reference there. Have you ever watched them? I've been watching a few years now and I just love them. They do all manner of toys but they have great reviews on 18inch dolls and comparisons of different sorts. If you've never seen them you should definately check them out. 

The back of Kayla's hair was parted in a cute part and put in ponies to keep it nice in the box. 

I loved the way Mia's hair looked in the ponies and so think I'll leave them in a while...

But Kayla's hair I took down right away. So pretty!!! 

I am not going to keep the names they came with... I always like to re-name my dolls. I haven't decided for sure what I will name them yet... I have a few ideas but nothing that feels just 'right' yet. I'll keep you posted!

So of course I had to change their clothes! I put Kayla in the beautiful pink sweater from Frann along with a pink dress I bought for my dear daughters very first 18inch doll. Then Jasmine I wanted to dress in something to match her cute ribbons and this little ensemble with the white fur coat is what I came up with. Don't they look smashing!! 

Well that's it for now Doll Friends! I'll naturally post about Mia when she arrives. I wrote the company about her today because I actually ordered her first so I am not sure why she hasn't come yet. I am sure she'll be here soon. 

Better run!

Till Next Time!

XXOO
Heather

Update June 9, 2018:

Just figured I'd add that they are named Fongtan and Sueretta. I actually decided to just steal the names of the prior version Adora Dolls I had because, to be honest, while I had thought the first version was beautiful, this version is even prettier. Since I loved the two gals I named the original two after, I decided I'd just change them. The first two Adora's have gone on to become Frank and Claretta. Although, Claretta has recently gone under yet another make-over and now has a rainbow wig. I'm telling you, dolls in my Doll House are never safe from a make-over. Teehee. 💞 

New Years Florida Vacation!!

Greetings and Salutations Doll Friends!

As you may know if you read my blog for long, one of my favorite things to do is make doppelganger dolls of people in my real life. 

Well, in real life a couple of friends of mine went on a New Years Vacation to Florida! So I thought I would 'send' their doppelganger dolls on vacation too!

So here are Kevin Doll and Myfanwy Doll on vacation in front of the cottage they rented. They have festive drinks and are all packed up for some fun at the beach.

It's so nice to get away from the cold weather!!

They both love sea food too so it is also a 'food vacation' for them because the sea food is abundant and so delish!!

I think they're having a lovely lunch! How did you spend your New Years? Tell me below in comments!

Till Next Time!
XXOO
 Heather