We spent our Fourth of July up in Wisconsin with lots of family time. Mama and Papa Meberg came down to meet us at the in-law's home: Dad used a bow and arrow (just like his fore-fathers) and shot some carp with Tim's dad, and Mom and I baked many a pie and even experimented with tarts. Peach tarts. Pics on flickr to come.
Timothy has two little sisters, both growing up very fast, and both are still interested in American Girl. I remember reading these books and even subscribing to American Girl magazine, which was very feminist minded---all about girls speaking their own mind and doing rhythmic gymnastics and such. Very fun, and not too mature for girls to read at any age.
But, I recently have had my doubts about this company. This article from slate.com outlines my concerns very well---I love the company because it gives girls a historical perspective: what did nine-year-olds do in the 30s? the 1830s? 1730s? They describe their chores, houses, and most importantly, clothes. Which is fun! Because hey, I have chores and a house and clothes.
But supplying the scenery, backdrops, and costumes for these characters takes some investment---this line is made for girls with extra money to spend on clothes and numerous accessories for the dolls. It just seems like such a money pit. This comes from a girl who used multiple nicely decorated (thanks Liz) cardboard boxes as a Barbie house, and the oven to her kitchen play set as a "Barbie apartment." How silly. It was really only an efficiency.
There is one freebie to this corporation---one of the slate.com contributors also revelled in exactly what Tim's little sisters seemed to enjoy the most; the free catalogs. Indulging in this prose really is almost better than the owning the actual dolls. This catalog officially answers the question, what do you do with a BA in English? You write for the American Girl catalog:
Like Felicity®, Elizabeth™ opens up a whole world of play with authentic styles from colonial times:
A coral-pink taffeta gown
A white shift, stockings, and shoes
Long blond hair gathered with a satin ribbon to show off her post earrings
In this collection, even more authentic items bring Elizabeth’s story to life:
A faux-pearl choker with a lobster-claw clasp
A fancy fan that opens and closes
The special, dainty pinner cap trimmed with grosgrain ribbon and lace
Check out that vocab. Wait, special and dainty? Hello Elizabeth (and friend Felicity), goodbye common and clumsy. Oh, WAIT A SECOND. The pearls are fake? Forget it.
In an completely abrupt end to this post, I saw a family with twin pre-tween girls hop off a trolley bus yesterday afternoon by the Chicago River. Both girls were dressed head to toe in cinematic Kit Kitteredge regalia.
(stage whisper) Jealous?
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9 comments:
Fancy is as fancy does. No amount of money can buy the satisfaction of making AND decorating your very own Barbie house. And it was a very sad day when I had to dismantle it and haul the boxes to the "dragon" - our incinerator, for those non-Mebergs out there.
Another magazine that is a joy to read is Coldwater Creek. Seriously, you will appreciate Elaine from Seinfeld's job as a catalog description writer.
Seriously, how many adjectives ARE there?
Aaron and I were talking about American Girl dolls the other day (pathetic? naaahhh).
Anyways, I would also spend countless hours staring at the catalog wishing, not for the doll (large dolls have always given me the heebie-jeebies), instead I longed for all those accessories you mentioned.
I can still picture the mini picnic set, with the basket and all the trimmings. *sigh*
P.S. Thanks a lot Ruth for putting a link to the A.G. website. I just spent way more time on it than any 27 yr old with no child ever should.
Also, I don't care how money-grubbing American Girl Co. is. It's still better than the money-grubbing companies behind Bratz and *gasp* Barbie.
Towards the north end of the Miracle Mile in Chicago is American Girl Place. One can take a limo from O'Hare to the Holiday Inn Chicago City Center which has an American Girl package which includes a bed for each girls' doll. The next day, one can walk to American Girl Place for lunch, including seats for the dolls. The rest of the afternoon may be spent getting the doll's hair done, getting a doll repaired, shopping for American girl items, taking in an American Girl play, and other activities, and more.
http://www.americangirl.com/stores/location_chi.php
Been there, done most of it.
yikes. getting the doll repaired?
that sounds a bit...creepy.
yes. here is my doll...actually, it's ME as a doll. and i ripped all my hair out. can you put it back? also, i threw myself down a flight of stairs and dented my left thigh, and my brother wrote "mikey" on my forehead in black permanent marker. do you have large doll skin graffs?
We haven't needed any American Girl dolls repaired, but given the price, they aren't throw away Happy Meal toys. Our stuffed dolls have gone to Grandma's Doll Hospital for hernia repairs which is conveniently located at...grandma Bethel's house for over 40 years.
Also, note to dads of daughters, the American Girl doll price goes up significantly if Dad has procrastinated in ordering a doll that was a limited edition and has to go out to eBay to buy one because they are sold out at AmericanGirl.com.
Also of note, changing one letter of the American Girl web URL used to take the surfer to a porn site. Fortunately it had an "Are you over 18" front page and my daughter asked about it: (1) Spelling is an important skill for children. (2) Supervise kids on the web etc.
egh. that is scary.
Did you notice that Kit Kittredge's best friend's name is RUTH? And she lived in the 30's, so that would make Ruth about... the age of our grandparents. Awesome, and demographically accurate.
also, ruthie and kit live in cincinnati.
just a bit behind, but that's okay.
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