Where Has American Girl Been? (Budget Cuts, Lowered Quality, +)

So we've all probably noticed American Girl hasn't had any recent product launches after the batch of McKenna and Hiking stuff that was launched in March 2012. American Girl has had over 5000 emails complaining about over priced products and products not being as good quality as they used to. One of customers most asked questions is: Is American Girl on a budget cut? 

The answer is probably no. However, American Girl makes up to $100,000,00 a year on doll products and books. Dollar after dollar adds up to a lot. Over $100,000 is made a month from American Girl but there is still a cut on how many customers they've lost this year. 

Here's the explanation:

70% of American Girl's customers are adults between the ages of 20-60+ purchasing products for their children or grandchildren. Adults and seniors don't usually seem to have an issue with the price when buying toys for their kids. Usually the grandparents will get doll stuff for their grandchildren which is a lot of money especially during Christmas and Holiday times.

30% of American Girl's customers are children between the ages 8-18 purchasing products for themselves. Children 8-13 probably give the money to their parents and then their parents pay for the product. This age range of 8-18 all save up their own money and recently with the prices spiking up, many kids and teens aren't able to purchase the items due to a high price because kids and teens don't make money easily as adults and seniors.

Another reoccurring issue is American Girl's quality and what they're offering for it. 

Here is a price chart of ranges for different products:

Doll Outfits  $20-$38

Doll Accessories - $8-$150

Doll Furniture - $38-$349

Doll outfits are the most bought products from American Girl dis-including the dolls. Outfits are usually no more than $38 a piece and they tend to be more than human clothes! Some American Girl outfits are worth it but some are ridiculous.

You can also get outfit sets that add up to over $60 a piece.

What do you think of American Girl's prices and quality? As always, thanks for reading!

More About AG Pets

Something I haven't seen many blogs or websites talk about is the AG Pets. Today I thought we could give you guys some further details about the pets, accessories, and everything else AG pet related!

So for all the pets AG has to offer, there are 7 total pets dis-including horses, McKenna's dog, and Historical characters' pets (horses, dogs, cats, etc).

The 7 pets are....

  

In order from left to right: Toasty the Collie, Pepper the Husky, Chocolate Chip the Chocolate Lab, Praline the Striped Kitten, Honey the Golden Retriever, Coconut the Westie, and Ginger the Calico Kitten.

AG used to carry Sugar the Yorkie but she isn't available on the website, however, she is available for purchase in one of the book sets.

You can also purchase the Pet Pack from a bookseller store or AG. They have all pets available except Toasty the Collie and Ginger the Calico Kitten. They do have Sugar the Yorkie but however, AG seems to not sell Sugar as a pet anymore.

For the book sets, in order from left to right: Chocolate Chip the Chocolate Lab (Book: Chocolate Chip's Splash Bash), Coconut the Westie (Book: Poster Pages), Honey the Golden Retriever (Book: Honey's Guide to Puzzle Fun), Pepper the Husky (Book: Pepper's Bored Busters), Praline the Striped Kitten (Book Praline's Book of Friendship Questions), and Sugar the Yorkie (Book: Super Sweet Postcard Set).

Each regular pet comes with the pet and their collar and name tag. The set is a total of $20 per pet.

Each pet book set comes with the pet and their book. The set is a total of $24.99 per set.

As you can see, the book just costs an extra $4.99 ($5) extra dis-including the decorative "carrier" box.

AG also has a wide variety of pet accessories and furniture items.

In order from left to right: Pet Hiking Set ($20), Comfy and Cozy Pet Bed ($22), Pet Carrier Set ($24), Pet Rain Gear ($20), Pet Bath Set ($26), and the Dog Sled ($26).

In order from left to right: Pet Show Set for Dolls ($16), and the Snowy Fun Pet Set ($20).

So, what doll pet sets do you have and which ones do you want? Thanks for reading!

5 Things Not To Do To Your Doll This Summer

I got very positive feedback (emails) about our "The Biggest Mistakes You Can Do To Your Doll" post that I posted not a while ago. I got an email asking what not to do to your doll this summer and I thought the idea was great! You can still have fun with your doll this summer but make sure to remember these tips...

1. Never use sun screen on your doll. The cream it is made of will not come off easily and will easily make your doll slick and may even cause damage to her skin. Your doll will be fine in the sun, just don't leave her out too long in the blazing, hot sun. Unfortunately, sun screen won't help on this one, guys!

2. Don't use any tanning or bronzing products on your doll. Your doll's skin tone cannot be changed so don't try to make it change. Just like with the sun screen, your doll will over heat, so don't leave her out in the blazing,  hot sun for more than 30 minutes. Her skin might over heat and melt in worst cases. The sun will not affect her skin tone, neither will bronzing or tanning products.

3. Don't use any perfumes on your doll. If your doll smells bad, try to mist over her hair and change her into some different clothes. The chemicals in perfumes and body sprays will stick to your doll like gum sticks to your shoe. No matter if it smells so good, don't do it. Spraying it on her hair will make it even worse, leaving it greasy, and possibly stiff looking.

4. Don't get sand on your doll. This one is really important because if it gets in her arm and leg and neck sockets, it'll be like finding pins and needles in a haystack. You have to go to harsh troubles to try to get the sand out. 

5. This one is the most important one. Never get water on your doll. Especially water from the ocean and your swimming pool. Chlorine will damage your doll forever and if your doll gets washed up in the harsh, ocean waves, you're really out of luck.

We hope you enjoyed this summer themed post and note that I put a little more enthusiasm in this one :) Thanks for reading and comment what you're doing this summer! I'd love to hear from you all!

McKenna's Loft Bed Set - Is It Worth Your Money?

Every year for each for each Girl of the Year from American Girl, she has at least one big item. Last year, Kanani had a Shave Ice Stand and in 2010, Lanie had a big camper. This year, the only big item McKenna has so far is her Loft Bed. The Bed is $225. It's a lavender purple with four posts, a built in ladder, decorative metal bed rails, a built in desk and memo board, slide shelf, and 2 hanging shelves that go under the loft bed. You also get a rug, bed for the dog, bedding, pillows, and a decorative metal chair to match the bed railing. As for as the accessories go, you get a doll-sized hamster cage with the hamster too, 3 hardcover books that are doll sized (Harry the Dirty Dog, Judy Moody, and Charlotte's Web), a doll-sized alarm clock, trophy, lamp, 3 faux pencils, a notepad, a confidence letter from her mom, bumper stickers, a mirror, heart note, and stickers. The ladder is built in on the closed side of the bed.

Now for the real question: is it worth $225?

I am going to simply take this question into mathematics.

Technically, there are about a total of 28 things that come with this set besides the bed itself and the decorative stickers for her bed (not the bumper stickers). 

So here's where the math comes in...

So, since our quotient (answer) of the item (problem) is 8.0357, we have to round to the nearest whole so we take the last two digits and round them up or down. Above 5, we round to $9 and below 5, we stay at $8 as an estimate.

$8.03571429

Since the first two numbers are below 5, we round down to $8. 

That leaves $8 per item.

The price isn't too bad and since the bed is the main part, we can pretend to subtract $4 from $8 so in all, the bed is a very nice piece but you have to remember, the price is more high because this is a limited editon item. Whether you choose to buy it or not, try this math problem before you choose to buy from any company.

I hope you enjoyed this fun post! It was a lot of fun to make for you all. Thank you for reading!

PS. You can also click on the Calculating Values page (or click here) for more help and a more detailed explanation.

50 Things To Do With Your Dolls - Break The Boredom

This summer may not be the summer of your dreams... No beach, smoothies, tans, and any other fun summer dreams but remember, you still have your doll and hundreds of adventures are ought to happen this summer. I have compiled a list of 50 fun things you can do this summer. Save these activities and fun times for one per day or one per week or even several a day! Whatever you want, there's just one rule to all these activities and games..: HAVE FUN!

      = Important Information!
Bold = Highlights of the Activity!

1) Have a fashion show with your doll! Use old doll boxes for the runway and dress your dolls in the silliest outfits!

2) Have a doll play-date! Invite your friends and their dolls over to your house and have a fun doll play date!

3) Host a lemonade stand with your dolls! Sell lemonade for 50 cents and a doll sized lemonade for 20 cents! Just make sure no lemonade gets on your doll! Click here for some fun lemonade stand tips!

4) Purchase the Tear Up This Book activity book from AG! There are several fun activities from stickers to mini boxes! The fun never ends!

5) Have a doll hair salon day! Try many different doll hair styles out on your dolls and take a picture of each one to make it memorable. Click here for some fun hair style ideas from the experts!

6) Make a fun smoothie for you and your doll! Blend apple juice, strawberries, and bananas for a strawberry banana smoothie! Make your doll a smoothie by getting miniature shot glasses at a drugstore ($3) and poor some smoothie in the glasses! Make sure no smoothie gets on your doll. Click here for some fun smoothie recipes!

7) Set up a doll vet! Use your AG pets and stuffed animals and pretend to give them shots, x-rays, and more! Click here to purchase the cozy bed set from AG!

8) Go to your local drugstore and find some doll sized items! If you dig hard enough, you can find many different doll sized things like gum ball machines, hair accessories, and more! Your total cost will be less than $15!
9) Camp out in your backyard (or in the woods!) with your doll! You can buy the camping gear from AG or make your own out of sheets and camp out... in your backyard (or in the woods!)!

10) Have a doll picnic! Pick up a mini basket from your local craft store and fill it with IWAKO food erasers that are doll sized foods!

11) Have your doll star in the olympics! You can buy gymnastics bars from AG (from McKenna's line), or make your own out of dowel tubes that you can get from the hard ware store. Whatever you want, be sure to always include a trophy for every contestant because everyone is a winner!

12) Travel to an exotic land! Pick up the American Girl Travel Kit but read our review of it first to make sure you'll really love it!

13) Play movie star! Dress your doll up like your favorite movie (or TV) star and reenact your favorite scene!

14) Visit an AG place! Get your dolls ears pierced, go shopping, or eat at the Cafe. Just have fun and remember, it's not all about buying stuff.. it's about having fun! Click here for more information on visiting an American Girl Place!

15) Have a movie day with your doll! Snuggle up next to your doll while replaying marathons of your favorite TV shows or watching your favorite movies! Don't forget the popcorn! Click here to learn more about American Girl movies!

16) Film your doll doing something funny! Set up a scene and write a script and film your doll! Who knows- maybe your video could be the next viral video online! Click here to watch a funny doll film made by a girl just like you!

17)  Have a doll dance! Dress your doll up in a dance costume or leotard and let her dance her heart out! Click here to buy American Girl doll costumes and leotards!

18) Explore the AG website and play some fun games! Click here for a shortcut!
19) School time! Purchase the American Girl Doll School Kit from your local book seller and get started with school!
20) Continue the school theme- it's picture day! Take your phone or camera and snap shots of your dolls looking in their best clothes for the yearbook!
21) Clean out your dolls closet! Fold her clothes neatly and organize her accessories carefully! Click here for some doll storage tips from the experts!
22) Find her morning routine! In the morning, wake her up, feed her breakfast, brush her teeth, brush her hair, and dress her in a cute outfit for the day!
23) It's manicure and pedicure time! See if you can get the Salon Station for your dolls and do her nails and toes like the princess she is! But never get real nail polish on your dolls!
24) Have a slumber party! Invite friends or just make it you two! Get the popcorn and movies and dress in your favorite pajamas and don't forget the pillows... every girl needs a pillow fight at some point in her life!
25) Wash her dog! Get the pet bath tub for your doll's dog and wash the dog! Even dogs should be pampered! Don't get any real water on any of your dolls or doll's pets!
26) Pick up the American Girl Magazine and read stories, see pictures, and read funny jokes!
27) Take her out to dinner! Use some of American Girl's fancy dinner accessories like the Silver Heels and Glassware and Treats sets!
28) Have a fiesta! Dress you doll in a cute dress and get the Fiesta set from American Girl and party away!
29) It's her birthday! Check out the birthday sets from American Girl and treat her to ice cream and some presents! Never get real ice cream on your doll though!
30) Blast to the past! Pick up one of the Historical Doll's books and get cozy and read her story!
31) Make a scrap book! American Girl has a scrap book that you can design with your dolls!
32) Go on a train ride or a road trip! Bring your doll along and snap pics on the way!
33) Go to the theater with your dolls! See a play or a movie and make sure to save a seat for your dolls!
34) Have a music showdown! Have your doll play her instrument and play your instrument! Do a duet together of your favorite song!
35) Have a dance party! Create a playlist of all of your (and hers!) favorite songs and blast out the music! Dance like nobody is watching!
36) Play a game show! Set up scenes using items around your house and film the whole show!
37) Enter her pet into a pet show! Dress your doll in her best in the Pet Show dress from American Girl and even dazzle up her dog by getting the American Girl Pet Show set just for the pets!
38) Set up a room for your doll in an empty closet or in the corner of your room! Use posters on her walls to express her feelings!
39) Make life a mystery! Read one of the American Girl mystery books and try to guess what the solution is!
40) Pretend to go shopping! Set out your doll clothes and shoes and accessories just like real stores and have a cashier, and many customers!
41) It's a sunny day! Ride on her scooter out in neighborhood and enjoy the sunny weather! Make sure not to get your doll too exposed to the heat though.
42) Do some laundry! Use the American Girl laundry set our be creative and find supplies around the house! Do not set real heat to your dolls clothes though!
43) Go for a swim! Dress your doll in her favorite swimsuit and dive in for fun in your pool or local public community pool! Never get real water on your doll or her hair or body!
44) Get your doll her own doll! Get a mini doll from American Girl and make the doll your doll's doll!
45) Cook up a storm! Cook your favorite meals and pastries using American Girl cooking sets or make your own using around the house items. Do not get real food on your doll!
46) Uh oh! Looks like your doll has been injured! Use the American Girl wheelchair and crutches to cure her or use around the house items to make your own supplies!
47) Looks like she needs glasses! Make your own glasses or get glasses sets from American Girl for a very cheap price!
48) Get her ready for anything with the Everyday Accessories from American Girl! She'll be ready to face anything out there!
49) Let her shine! Take fun, online quizzes with your doll(s) to find hers and your true identity! Try some of these fun online quizzes and tests!
50) Have fun! Always find a way to have fun with your doll no matter the weather, time, or place! Nothing can get in the way between you and your doll!

I hoped you enjoyed our 50 ways of having fun with your doll! Have you tried any of these activities? Do you have an activity idea? Post your ideas and comments in the comments!

The Biggest Mistakes You Can Make To Your Doll

Something here at my blog that I find super, super important is that you take good care of your doll. I have a separate FAQ page which answers a ton of doll care questions too. Today I am going to be giving some of my best advice for taking care of your dolls. I will mainly be talking about what never to do to your dolls! I hope this article helps you!

Tip #1- Never use any hair products on your doll. This goes from shampoos to conditioners. Many shampoos and conditions are other hair products say that they work on all hair types, and some even say they work with realistic wigs. Still, never use any products. Mousse, gels, and stiffening sprays are the biggest no's. Even if you have that fancy up-do in the perfect position, say no to a hair spray. They may look good at first but after you take the do out, your dolls hair will be stiff and not manageable permanently. This cannot me undone by sending her to the doll hospital unless you want to pay for a new head for your doll.

Tip #2- Detanglers are a big no. To untangle your dolls hair, use a spray bottle with plain room temperature water and soak the ends of her hair and lightly mist the rest and tangles should be gone. Detanglers have dangerous chemicals to your dolls hair that will cause your dolls hair to be greasy, oily, and prone to more tangles. Many parents and adults think that baby detanglers such as Johnson's detangler may work but it will still intensely ruin the hair.

Tip #3- Never use any hot tools on your dolls hair. They make her hair stiff and hard to work with. If you want to curl her hair, use plastic curling rods from a drugstore (never use them for yourself) or the rods from American Girl. If you have a doll that has very curly hair like My American Girl #44, you're out of luck but you can try to straighten a dolls hair like Nicki's or Kanani's by misting down her hair well and brushing out with a wig wire brush.

Tip #4- Never use any makeup or cosmetics on your doll. Believe it or not, many people use colored powders to touch up marks on their dolls faces like discolor or scratches. Powders will easily fall of the face and build up in an empty socket which will ruin your doll from the chemicals and oils. Lip glosses, balms, sticks, colors, and shines are not okay either. They will eventually build up and over power the material your doll is made of and permanently discolor her lips. Nail polishes will also discolor her nails depending on how strong the brand is. They will also ruin the skin and it will rub off. Nail polish remover is the biggest no. It will permanently make big rubs on her skin and almost look like rashes or sticking out skin.

Tip #5- Do follow the age limit for dolls. 8 years old is good but 9 might be better. Your doll is very delicate and hard to take care of if you are young. Cutting hair, applying makeup, and dipping in water are just a few of many doll incidents due to a girls young age.

Have fun with your doll and comment your most important doll rule. I'd love to hear from you!

5 American Girl Outfits You Don't Want to Spend Your Money on

Before I start this post, I'd like to note that this post is very opinionated. Some people may love these outfits and some may not. Please do not take offense over anything I say; I are just trying to give simple advice. Thank you and enjoy the post.

Today I am going to be talking about 5 different AG outfits that are rather too expensive than the actual value.

1. Pretty Party Outfit - This "set" includes a dress, necklace, shoes, and a miniature piece of paper that they call a "valentine". The total cost is $28 from American Girl rounded to $30. That's more than $7 per piece including the card. It's like paying $7 for a piece of paper shaped in a heart. You can easily make your own and for the dress, it's very easy to sew if you have the right skills to. This outfit is cute, but it should be $20 or $24 at the most.

2. Petals and Posies Dress - For this set, you receive a dress, shoes, and hair clip. The total cost is $28 rounded to $30. That's about $9 or rounded, $10 per piece. The dress is the main part so if you think about it mathematically, you are paying $10 for a doll dress, $10 for doll shoes, and $8 for a doll hair clip. The dress may be made out of nice material but pricing a doll outfit for $30 with 3 pieces ($10 each) is more than needed. The outfit should be $24 at the most.

3. Tankini and Sarong - This set comes with a bathing suit top (tankini), bottoms, a sarong, and shoes for a total of $28 rounded to $30. That means about $7-$9 per item. You're paying $7 for rubber doll shoes, $7 for a square of fabric that they label a "sarong", $7 for a doll 4 inch (estimate) bottom and $7 for a top. The sarong can easily be made of used fabric from your home. This set's real value is $20.

4. Hiking Outfit - This outfit comes with a tee shirt, shorts, socks, boots, and hair ties. The total cost is $30. That's about $5 for every piece. Even $5 for the hair ties you can get at your local drugstore for less than $2 in a pack of 50. The tee shirt isn't high quality and the boots are hard to get on. The price should have been $28 at the most.

5. Ballet Outfit - This set comes with a leotard, skirt, tight, leg warmers, hair ties, and shoes. The total cost is $30. That's about $4-$5 for each piece. Like I said before, hair ties can be purchased at your local drugstore for under $3 for over 50 in one pack. They are produced for less than 50 cents and AG is charging you over $3 for just two SMALL ones. Legwarmers can easily be made of fabric and the shoes are dainty and small. The only treasure you're getting out of this set is the skirt and leotard. The real price should have been $28 at the most.

Like I said, this post has been very opinionated and most items featured can be made at home for less than $10. I hoped I helped you and be sure to comment your least favorite and favorite AG (or non-AG!) products!