A Tale Of Two Z's; Perma-panty Z Yang Arrives And Goes Back To The AG Factory!

Greetings and Salutations Doll Friends!

So... American Girl Dolls. They decided to retire Z Yang this year. She'd been on my wish-list as one of the few American Girl Doll's I even wanted going forward but had been pushed back in the queue so many times when I'd get 'premium doll money' because all the other premium dolls are about $100 or less. Many other premium brands have also always been, in my opinion, just as good as quality as American Girl... So when I can get a premium doll and still have ~$35 left over to play with, it's been harder and harder to fork over the cash to American Girl for a doll. But...

Z Yang. I fell in love with her sweet face and story the minute they brought her out just last year... From what I understand or have noticed, they generally keep dolls on the market for three years or so and so I felt like time was on my side with regards to getting her... Until the announcement they were going to retire her at the end of the year!? What?! I was shocked and she skyrocketed to the top of my list because they also wrote 'or till supplies last' on all of the news about her going away. That didn't leave me time to hope to get her for my Birthday in November because who knows if they'd all be gone by then? Then only on the secondary market for like three times the price I am betting. So... I basically blew threw the better part of my Doll Mad Money budget for a month. Really though, I wasn't too upset about it because it really had been in my plans to get Z eventually, they just sped up the plan. So I sent of my $135 and excitedly watched her progression via FedEx to the Doll House!

I even gave her the knecklace I had all ready for her on immediately... But... One concern I had was that Z would arrive with a perma-panties body since she was one of the first dolls AG released with them. I know there are as many opinions on this as there are people... But my opinion? I hate them with a purple passion. I mean, really. I always hated Barbies with 'stamped on' panties and for same reasons I hate them on American Girl Dolls. My reasons? Mostly because they don't need them. If a girl wants panties on her doll, she can put them on! Imagine that! But when they are permanently sewn to her body? How is she supposed to bathe? Or wear a swim suit? It's just silly. Well... Of course my Z arrived with her panties sewn on. Ugh. I had one gal in a Doll Group on Facebook say that while she doesn't like the permapanties, she kept her Z with them because it's kind of a novelty and perhaps a collectors item someday. So... I contemplated for about a day if I might ought to just keep her. Except......

There was another problem that I just could not overlook. I'm pretty sure if you look at these photos of the back of Z's head you will see what I mean. 

Her. Wig. Is. Awful!!!

Just. Awful!!

See? 

Not only is the wig itself awful it also looked like a four year old styled her hair. No offense to four year olds because there are probably some four year olds who could've done a better job. Just wow.

This doll costs $115.00! Plus tax & shipping! And THAT is how they send out her hair? Just wow. 

Poor Z... So, with a heavy heart and with my American Girl Arrival Magic marred I called to see about replacing her. As I've said, I am not alone in my detesting the permapanties. American Girl Doll even set up a whole page on what to do if you receive one and want a traditional body instead. The lady at American Girl Doll was very nice and said that she'd get me a new doll with a non-perma-pantied body on the way and would tell them to pay special attention to the wig and the styling of the hair on Z-2. They also, sweetly enough, said I could keep Z-1 until Z-2 arrived. Which I did.... I'd already taken her hair down to see if perhaps I could brush the wig and it would look nicer down... Um... Not so much... So mostly Z-1 sat in her box and never even got to go into the Doll House. 

Poor Z-1!

So in pretty short order, Z2 arrived. True to their word, she was minus the permapanties!!

Hate to say it but... I grabbed the knecklace off of Z1 and gave it to Z2 right away... It made me feel a little heartless. Thanks AG. Nothing like adding guilt to my doll purchase. Ugh.

I'm not sure if you can tell but one thing about the perma-panties doll bodies is that they are a bit 'thinner' than the regular AG bodies (another reason I didn't want one). So, as another person in one of the Facebook Doll Groups pointed out, the Z Yang meet outfit, having been designed to fit the Z Yang with permapanties, is pretty tight no Z-2! Strange, right, that they'd make the bodies different but it's not uncommon from what I understand. Which is annoying given you'd like all of your 'soft bodied' 18 inch doll clothes to kind of fit across the board with all the dolls. Or at least for one particular brand to have their doll torsos uniform since they only sell one 'size' of clothes for the dolls. I am digressing all over the place but you understand what I mean, I'm sure of it. 

So... For the first time since her arrival, I was kind of enthusiastic to take photos of Z1... But only in the context of taking photos to make a little YouTube about Z1 and Z2 meeting and Z1 getting ready to go back to the factory for surgery.

*amused*

For some reason that just makes me giggle... 

Hopefully it will you too, you can find the video here. 

What I didn't include in the video is that Z2's hair? Rubbish wig just like Z1 had. And styled like a three year old did it. 

You can see how sparse and pathetic the hair on this wig is by looking at Z1's hair down (above)... You can see light through it very easily... I've looked at AG's Z Yang Hairstyling Tip video and as best as I can tell, its thin on there too. I love how they don't show you a close up of the back of her head and hide it under her purple hat... Hmmm...

And the hair isn't even very soft. Do you think I am way off or do you think it looks wretched too?

In any case, I determined I'd keep Z2 irregardless of how her hair was when she arrived (it's not Z's fault AG gave her a rubbish wig) and so I am, of course, going to keep her. However, she will be re-wigged pretty soon I am sure of it. Which is sad given she's a $115 doll!!

Here is Z1 showing Z2 the top of her permapanties. I thought about showing them to you more clearly but again, there are many vlogs who've already done that and I don't wanna reinvent a wheel. 

So this is the only photo I really took of the 'permapanties'. 

Z1 is so embarrased!! Who has clothes sewn to their body??

So Z2 gave Z1 a great big hug and told her she'd be fine! She was going back to the factory to have a different body added to her (?) and to be shipped to a new family (??). 

So here she is, getting back in the box... So sad. 

By Z1! I'll always remember you!

So this is the first time I've introduced Z Yang to any of my other dolls... I just felt heartless introducing Z1 to anyone since she was going back in the box and back to the factory. 

So, yes, the little YouTube video where Z1 is saying that she'll never forget her time in the Doll House? Yeah... Um... this is the only 'room' she saw and Z2 is only doll she met. It's true, reality TV? All staged. *giggles*

Again I say poor Z1!!

So here she is meeting Patti & Meeka. They pulled their hair back in low ponytails for fun knowing that was how she wears hers. I should've thought to take a photo of the back of their heads to show you what a more quality wig looks like when pulled into low ponytails. Perhaps I'll go take a snap right now and come back and update. But don't hold you're breath! Hahaha. How many times have I said "I'll come back and update..." and it never happens. *sigh* But I'll try. 

So little Miss Z Yang is, in all likelihood, my very last American Girl Doll. I've just kind of had it with them making the dolls less and less quality over the last few years. They don't even have kneck strings anymore!? Given that fact, I can't really see all that much difference between them and Our Generation dolls?  When you can literally buy like five or six (depending if you buy 'premium bendable joint' types or 'basic' dolls and if you buy them on sale...) it gets harder and harder to justify why you'd need to spend so much more. In fact, I won't lie, I got much more 'thrill factor' opening my last Our Generation Doll than I did with Z. It wasn't her fault but the flaws really put a damper on my enthusiasm. That being said, I think Maplelea Dolls are worth every cent of the $100 they generally are and am super impressed (Even more so now that I've seen Z's wig!) with Sophia Doll's and City Girl's Dolls because they are even less than $100 and, in my opinion, every bit as good a quality as American Girl Dolls. 

Since I have (counting in my head...?) seven American Girl Dolls now that I've added Z, I think that is probably enough anyway. There's only so much room afterall, right? Now please don't go getting mad at me for despairaging American Girl Doll. I've always thought of them as the industry standard for quality... But the last few years? Well... You know... You know... It's a shame and I hope they turn it around. In the meantime, if you see any 'new' American Girl dolls coming to live in the Doll House, they'll have been found on a good bargain from a Goodwill like Prism or M.J.

What have been your recent experiences with American Girl Dolls? 

I better run!
XXOO
Heather

American Girl Z Yang Accessories Set Score From eBay!

Hi Doll Friends!

I recently brought home Z Yang from American Girl Doll. I have never bought the 'accessories' pack from American Girl when I buy a doll because they are usually over $30. Which is utter madness in my opinion, especially since Maplelea Dolls and even Our Generation dolls generally come with the equivalent amount of accessories with the doll itself (and cost less!). I hate to be one of those 'American Girl isn't worth the money' but... They are the one's who keep decreasing their quality at the same time Our Generation is really stepping up their game big time! 

Eh? I just report what I see, I don't make the dolls. Right?

So recently when I was on eBay, I noticed that one of my favorite sellers had a Z Yang accessories set.... For only $13.50!! The AG price is $33 (plus shipping!) so that is such a great price. This particular seller seemingly sells things that 'fall off the AG truck' in that they have always consistently been actual AG items, brand new and in good shape. However, it was the first time I'd seen a complete accessories set?! Normally it's bits and pieces of sets like this American Girl Doll Food I've bought in the past. But... It looked legit so I sent off my $13.50 and started watching the mail....

Ironically enough it showed up right about the time Z Yang arrived by only a few days... However, I'd already changed my Z Yang doll into another outfit. I always jokingly imagine that my new dolls can't wait to get out of their 'meet outfit' and don't really want to wear it again for a long time because it's the same outfit they were wearing when they were stuck in the box. *giggles* I know... Silly... But it makes me laugh to imagine it. So... In lines with that storyline, Miss Z did not want to put her Meet Outfit back on!! She begged me to let some other doll put it on and model the Accessories Pack. So, why not....

This photo is a little sneak peek at the Classroom Scene I am working on... So much fun!

Eunju volunteered to model them... She said to Z: "We could practically be cousins if not sisters so I will probably even look a bit like you in the outfit!" She looks utterly adorable in it I have to say. 

Sadly, I've checked and it looks like the seller sold out of these.... Sometimes I feel like a bit of a jerk when that happens. "Look at this great deal I got! But you can't get it." Ugh. But I also wanna show you the set! Keep your eyes open on eBay! You never know what is going to 'fall off the truck' next. Eh?

Better run!
XXOO
Heather

American Girl Doll Collection... So Far...

Greetings and Salutations Doll Friends!!

Another post in my continuing 'My Collection So Far' posts... Here we have my American Girl Dolls. I don't have as many as a lot of doll collectors do but the ones I do own I adore! I'm sure this collection will grow eventually. There are still a couple of AG's on my wish list (Z Yang is right at the top!!) and of course any and all of them that I happen to be lucky enough to find second hand will come right home too. Right?

Panda was the very first AG to ever come live at the Doll House. Actually she pre-dates the Doll House because she was my daughters very first AG that she got when she was four years old. She named her Panda at the time. I've never changed it because it will always remind me of that magical time in our lives. My daughter has 'given' me her AG dolls but I consider it a loan because I know there might come a day when she wants them back and I'll send them right to her. Even if it's for her own daughter somday. They'll be waiting...

She looks a lot like my daughter by design because of course the first AG a lot of little girls choose is one that looks like them. 

Saige was the second AG to come home. She was my daughters Christmas gift from her Grands the year after Panda arrived. I love her story (She loves horses!) and her styles and so am glad to have her in the Doll House. 

Lillly was my own very first AG doll. She looks almost exactly like Panda because she's essentially the exact same doll other than hairstyle. I got her before I knew my daughter was going to gift me Panda. I had to choose a doll that looked like my precious daughter afterall. It's kind of fun to have 'twins' though. Right? 

Ashbee came home very very dirty as a 'find' on eBay. It was like someone had played with him in a sandbox! Yikes! He's all cleaned up and re-wigged and named after a good friend of the family. 

Prism was my very first Goodwill AG find. She started out as a Felicity but I love her made over like this. Isn't she gorgeous!?

Nanea was my second AG doll... I was torn between her and Z Yang at the time and so did a bit of an 'eeny-meeny-minney-moe' and Nanea won out. I love love love her. As I mentioned in my post about her, my first apartment with my husband was in Hawaii and we lived there 3 1/2 years. So I'll always be a little homesick for Hawaii and so Nanea feels personal to me. She's lovely.

This is the first time I've 'announced' or mentioned what I'd named McKenna Julie!! I decided to keep her 'given' name but to add Julie as a middle name. American Girl Julie's era and fashions have always been a favorite and I love her face sculpt... But I wasn't ever really drawn to her eye and hair color. So, Mckenna Julie is a compromise I am really happy with. I love her! Her 'story' will be that she's a 70's era girl just like Julie Albright. 

Better run!

XXOO
Heather