The Doll Enthusiast

Hey Doll Enthusiasts! So I'm typically not one for Ebay, but you know as well as I do that not all our favorite American Girl products are readily available. I'm so excited that I found a RETIRED outfit in new condition for the same price I would have paid when it was in production! This outfit retailed about 25.00 USD and now sells for 40-50 on average. Stay tuned for that unboxing in the coming weeks :) ~Athena~

Hi Guys! This is not AG specific, but, as a doll enthusiast, I was super excited to see that Mattel is releasing its first ever gender neutral doll. As much as I am a firm believer that a doll is just a toy to be loved no matter your gender, we cannot deny that society would dictate dolls be neglected by 50% of the children in the world. Because of these stigma, many of the world's dolls are created for and targeted at girls.  Check out Time's article  here . ~Athena~

Hey Guys! OMG Fall Sale at American Girl! americangirl.com is offering 20% off One item. So you been holding off on that one ticket item such as Blaire's Family Restaurant, nows the time to splurge. Sale ends Sunday! Even us canadians can benefit. I was looking at purchasing Luciana who normally I would purchase at chapters for 149.00 CAD, but with the discount and exchange rate I'm looking at 120.00 ish so cross your fingers that shipping isnt too expensive! Check out the offer  here  on American Girl's Facebook page. Happy Shopping! ~Athena~

Hey it's Athena. Since my American Girl accessories order came in earlier in the week, I thought I would take some time to play with Lea's hair. So here are my thoughts and, more importantly, tips for taking care of and styling the gorgeous tresses of Lea Clark. Firstly there are 2 must have tools for taking care of Lea's hair. 1: Hair Pick (Such as the Sparkly Hair Pick by American Girl. Note: You can use your regular doll hairbrush as they have similar wire bristles, but you will have to attempt to much gentler. 2: A spray bottle filled with water or Smoothing Spray by American Girl. A bottle of spray comes included with the Ready to Style Hair Care Kit. Note: if you don't spray the hair before brushing it out you may find the dolls hair becomes frizzy and hard to style. Lea's hair looks really daunting, but unlike Rebecca or Lanie's curls, Lea's hair is much more wavy rather than extreme ringlets. So I started...

Hey Guys, I thought today I would just take a look into the origins of American Girl and the original Pleasant company. The brand we all love and know as American Girl, which is currently owned and manufactured by Mattel has only gotten to where it is today by evolution. Every company has a beginning and American Girl is no different. Pleasant company was founded by Pleasant Rowland in 1986. Rowland was a child educator and a developer of children's educational resources and after a trip to Williamsburg, Virginia, was struck by a lack of historical books targeted towards children. She decided to create a line of historically accurate dolls as well as accompanying books to teach children about the worlds in which these characters lived. Pleasant Rowland funded the entire company herself and received a fair amount of criticism for her plan to sell these dolls solely through mail order catalogs. Rowland began with just three characters Samantha Parkington, Kirsten Larson, and Moll...

Hey Guys! I picked up my order this afternoon. I love getting my online orders; it's like a Christmas gift to yourself. Even though you know what's inside, it's always exciting to open. When I purchased Lea Clark, I ordered a number of American Girl starter/must haves. A hair care essentials kit, a hairbrush, a doll display stand and a sparkly hair pick. I learned one thing though: The ready to style hair care kit comes with a hairbrush so I could have saved 9.00. Oh well, a spoiled doll can use an extra right?  Lea is nice and snug in her new stand and we can't wait to give her beautiful locks some TLC.  ~Athena~

Hey Friends! Just stopping in to leave a quick note. A few weeks ago after buying Lea, I placed an order with Chapters/Indigo for some doll supplies. Just got the notification that my order is ready for pick up. I'll be heading over tomorrow. For my friends south of the border incase you didnt know, Chapters is American Girl's Canadian retailer. We have a few American Girl standalone stores but most are built into Chapters/Indigo. I can order online at  americangirl.com but I would have to pay a USD to CAD conversion as well as higher shipping and customs. Nor can Canadians sign up for American Girl rewards. If I ship to store, shipping is free, I can bank Plum Rewards and make payments in CAD. So, as reccomended by American Girl themselves, whatever I can buy direct from  chapters.ca I do. ~Athena~

Hi Friends! So today I thought I would discuss the many different lines available to consumers from American Girl. Most of this blog will be centered on the regular 18" Dolls within the Historical and Girl of the Year lines. However, each line of dolls is made with the quality and love we have come to expect from American Girl. Bitty Baby : Bitty Baby is the line of 15" baby dolls aimed at an audience of children 3 years and up. These dolls come with an assortment of accessories and clothes as well. From 2003 to 2016, the line also produced The Bitty Twins. 15" dolls around the toddler age. Wellie Wishers: In 2016, American Girl released the Wellie Wishers. Like Bitty Baby line are aimed at a slightly younger audience. Wellie Wishers are so named as all the characters wear Wellington boots. Line has five characters: Ashlyn, Willa, Camille, Kendall and Emerson.  Contemporary Characters: The contemporary characters is the name given to a line of cha...

Hey Guys! Did you know that Luciana Vega's name is being included on the Mars Rover's seven month trip next summer? I bet our resident space enthusiast is just over the moon with excitement? Check out American Girl's Facebook story  here. ~Athena~

I guess even American Girl has its crazies. Story goes that a high school senior selling off her dolls on Facebook marketplace encounters a 'grandma' who just won't take no for an answer. Ultimately forcing her way into the house. When selling anything in person: kijiji, craigslist, marketplace, etc, just be smart and meet in a public place. Be safe. ~Athena ~ https://www.ketv.com/article/police-called-after-fight-over-american-girl-doll/28864192

I adopted Lea Clark today. She came from a good loving home where she was loved gently mind you. Her friend decided that she would like an apple watch and therefore it was time for Lea to move on to a home that would love her as unconditionally. She was never played with and even her mom said she would be devastated if she thought someone else was going to be playing with her. I assured her that Lea would be loved and cared for as gently as she had. Lea has the most beautiful sunkissed hair you've ever seen. In time I will buy her a camera so she can continue to live her dream. ~Athena~

Hi There! I'm Athena and welcome to A World of Character! This is a blog to look at the lives of our beloved American Girls after they leave the shelves and enter our lives. I'm beginning my journey as an American Girl collector and I am so happy you are here with me. My plan is to use this space to discuss anything and everything American Girl. Dolls, books, Hairstyles, clothes, accessories, fan theories, etc. Thank you for joining me as I embark on my adventure into the lost levels of American girl. As a child I encountered the literary adventures of Samantha, Felicity etc. Samantha will always hold a dear place in my heart as Anna-Sophia Robb won me over in Samantha: An American Girl Holiday. I'm looking forward to expanding my collection and with sharing my thoughts with all of you.  ~Athena~