The Bad Influence - A Photo Story (Part 2)

(sorry for taking so long to get this up! If you haven't already read part 1, you can read it here.)

 "This, Molly is the internet." Mia said, pushing her macbook air into Molly's lap.
"Does... does this mean I can watch spongebob again?" Molly said, quivering with excitement. Molly, before becoming a strict historical, was known to watch many marathons of episodes.
"Well, um, how about I show you a different show? I promise you, there is a way better one than... Spongebob."
"Whats wrong with spongebob?" Molly asked, frowning.
"Um. Well. Here, watch this." Mia said quickly, grabbing the labtop back and typing quickly on the keyboard.

 After several hours of Mia's favorite TV shows, she closed the laptop. "Alright, are you ready for your next step to being modern?"
"Sure! Why not? Can we watch more TV after?"
"Well, I guess. I thought I would make you an Instagram and get you an email after this..."

 "So what's the next step?" Molly interrupted.

 "Well, in order to really get that modern look, we're going to have to have to get you some better clothes. Your dress is cute and vintage and all, but..."
"Whats wrong with vintage?" Molly frowned.
"Nothing! Nothing"

 "Wow WOW wow does this mean I can go back to wearing that cute little purple tank top with my wool skirt? And my American Girl Place Chicago T-shirt? OH and I can wear colorful striped socks..."
"Um, How about I pick out your clothes?" Mia suggested. She had seen pictures of Molly in those outfits: They didn't meet 2014 standards.
"Well, I guess you're the modern expert..." Molly sighed.

 Mia left the room and quickly hurried back. In her arms she held a tank top, shorts, sunglasses, shoes and a green coat.

 "This," she said, showing Molly the pile of clothes. "Is the best outfit ever. We can post your first selfie on your new IG, and you can look awesome."
Molly hesitantly reached out for the clothes. They looked awful familiar.
"Aren't these clothes going in the next Zellawear Summer Release? Only Emily is allowed to wear them." She asked nervously.
Mia frowned. "Well, yes, but it doesn't really matter. It's not like you're going to run around in the mud. and besides that, these shoes and sunglasses are mine.

 Mia shoved the clothes in her arms and left the room for Molly to get dressed.

 Once they were on, she eyed herself in a mirror. "These are cute..." She thought to herself. "But I thought no one was allowed to wear this coat." It didn't belong to them."

" Don't forget the sunglasses!" Mia trilled.
"I can't wear those, I'd be blind. And Mia? About these clothes..."

 All of a sudden, Mia's bedroom door creaked open. "Mia? Have you seen--"
It was Emily.

 "Molly! What are you wearing? You're not supposed to be wearing the clothes for the sewing release, and besides that, where are your historical clothes? We're supposed to always wear historical stuff."
"I-I," Molly.

 "No, stop, its my fault. I lead Molly up here, and I made her put them on. She didn't want to, but I made her anyway. I went into your bedroom to try and find you, but I noticed Molly was depressed. I didn't try and help her with her problems, I just tried to change her to fix the problem. It's my fault Emily, if you're going to be angry at anyone, be angry at me."

 "What's wrong, Molly?" Emily asked, smoothing out a ruffle in the hood of her jacket.

 "Well, ever since we've been retired, I've felt really worthless. Mia told me I didn't have to be historical anymore..."
Emily gasped, "Just because you're retired, you think you don't have to be historical?"
"I guess. I mean, who am I doing to for? I'm not on the American Girl Lineup, and why sit and be sad historically when I could be happy and modern?"
"Molly," Emily asked gently. "Are you really happy being modern?"
"I guess..."
"You shouldn't try and change who you are just because you think no one likes you, or someone makes you. You are well loved by everyone, me included, just they way you are. You've been taken on the front lines, so what? Does a solider ever quit being a solider after being taken off the front lines? No! He becomes a veteran. Molly, you are a veteran."
Molly smiled sheepishly at her best friend.
"And," She added quietly. "If you ever want to wear modern clothes just for fun, let me know. I wouldn't mind sharing my job of being a mannequin with you.

"Now!" Emily said, clapping her hands. "Who wants ice cream? I just finished making some."
"Yippie!" Molly and Mia both called.
The End.

Goodbye to Marie Grace and Cecile, Ivy, and Ruthie!

Ouch, AG!

And another one four hit the dust!

This is the largest amount of dolls ever retired at one time. Four! Apparently, in this whole whirlwind of "Beforever" (see a previous post for more ranting on this subject...) AG has decided to do away with the whole best friend idea. Whoa there. 

AG posted this on there Facebook earlier today:

"Soon we'll say farewell to Marie-Grace, Cecile, Ruthie and Ivy"

That's pretty sad. Ruthie and Kit. Goodness! Best! Friends! 

Or is it now, NotfriendswithKit!Ruthie? 

(sorry, just had to say that...) 

I am personally going to miss these girls. Ruthie is truly a stunning doll, both in photos and real life. but I suppose she does seem bland to the eye. Those gray eyes, and those curls... truly, she is beautiful. I think Ruthie was the last girl left with gray eyes! Hphm. (please correct me if I'm wrong) (goodness, I hope I'm wrong!)

Marie-Grace, otherwise known as MG has taken all this time for her strange facemold to grow on me. I finally have accepted it, after seeing other people in the AG communtiy post there beautiful pictures of her.  I want her now, but not her as Marie Grace, her as a custom. I hope the reuse her mold on other dolls. Perhaps they'll come out with a MAG that has her face, just like they used Sonali's face mold (which, it too, took a long time to grow on me) on a JLY after she was retired. Several, in fact.

And Cecile? What a diverse looking doll, with quite the interesting background. When they first came out, I was disgusted (as usual) that they had replaced the good old stand by Kirsten with two girls in the same year as her. But now, they are truly a very unique pair. 

Ivy. She has grown on my as well. I see pictures of her, and a doll I once thought just, well, ugh, is now beautiful. I actually had her in my possession for quite a long time, but I was just storing her for a friend. She has such a sweet face, and has quite the interesting hair cut.  I like it. #52 is identical to her, with the exception of longer hair. But there's just something else that is different. Her diversity in the AG line will also be missed, 

In the light of these retirings, another thought has popped into my mind. Will they erase Ruthie and Ivy from the story lines of Kit and Julie? What do you think? I hope not. Ruthie is another girl in the depression, but unlike Kit, she is rich, but still looses everything. I feel that really sets quite a mood, a different view, on the story that would be sadly lost if she was erased. I haven't personally read Julie's books, (or Ivy's, for that matter) (mental note: read those books) but Ivy is Japanese-American, and, yet again, another view on the story, a mood, lost. Not to mention diversity.

I feel the great desire to make a t-shirt saying down with beforever or something along those lines. "BeForever the Historicals!!" For my historical girlies.

sigh.

Those are my jumbled thoughts. What are yours? Dont' forget, when leaving a comment down below, to mark "Notify me" to read responding comments to your own comment. 

Peak Inside the September 2013 AG Catalog...

Hi there! I got my American Girl catalog yesterday, and I thought I'd takes some pictures and show you some of the new release.

 

 First thing I noticed... that I had totally forgotten... the bittys! They were redesigned and re-released with quite a few new bittys.

 I thought it was funny that they put out a snowman... so easy to make, but AG's is adorable. More importantly, I love that new jacket/sweater!

 Anyone else think this pictures is weird? Sure, a bun on your head is fine, I like it like that... but that's a bit poofy. XD

 Look at this beautiful new table and chairs set! I love the table and the chairs and beautiful... At the price though, $90, it will not be finding a new home here in Molly's kitchen, haha.

 I am not a fan of this outfit. It looks cheap and thrown together. Plasticity lace skirt with tulle underneath? A simple white shirt with a sequined neck? No good, in my opinion. For thirty dollars, I would much rather purchase the Sweet Spring dress next to it.

 It's in every catalog these days, but I really love this sleepover set up!

 

*sigh* I still can't except that Molly's going out the door. She's been here the longest! Don't worry, I won't start ranting, however much I was tempted to keep going just now, haha. At least she's gett her time in the spotlight.

 Molly's second full page... I'm not sure that I like her new bed, but I'm a stick in the mud for all this new stuff, so to say. Her new PJ's are cute! And the holiday dresses are, as always, beautiful. :)

 Look at this new Bitty! LOOK HOW CUTE IT IS! This has got to be one of the cutest bittys out there... Look at this adorable bright brown eyes! So unique... I love this one.

 I was surprised how many new bittys there are... it's great! Now we just need a few bitty twins.

I am so proud of AG... green eyes! Amazing idea! I've not been to fond of a lot of the stuff they've been doing lately, i.e, major price ranges, un-necessary retiring of certain historicals... but this re-release of the bitty babies is lovely. :)

 

This bitty isn't new, is it? I thought it was when I took the picture, but now I'm not so sure. It's still cute though, I love he/she. :)

Those are my thoughts! Have you gotten your catalog yet? What do you think of the new release?

Trip to AGP Columbus opening!

~~~This post contains A LOT of pictures! For those of you running on slower connections, please be weary :) ~~~

It's been an almost a month since I got back from the Columbus AG store! I said I would write up a post about it, but never got around to doing it... Now I am!
I apoligeize ahead of time for the quality of these pictures. We went opening weekend and it was P-A-C-K-E-D! The store is only and hour away from my grandmas, so I expect to be going more often! :D

(no front door pictures, sorry. Mimi and I went in the back door, but at least they were giving out free "Fun with Rebecca" books there!)

Here's Molly and Saige hanging out. This was the first time I'd seen Saige in real life, and she is very pretty! Her eyes are a gorgeous deep blue.

This balloon is so cool! The basket is plastic however, and I have no clue where I would store it. Goodness, it's as tall as my desk!

Saige's new tunic outfit is adorable! The embroidery on it is real too, not printed plastic. :)

I LOVE the picnic set, tamales and guacamole are much more interesting than say, New York picnic foo

Here's an interesting bit: at the AGP Columbus, they had these neat Saige bracelets in the girl's clothing area, for only $5! That's a some pretty cheap Saige memorabilia. Saves me $105 if I were to  get Saige.

Precious Molly birthday scene. I wish AG wouldn't retire her, even if that does bring a new doll.

I set Molly up in Caroline's parlor thingy. It is such a cool set! It gave me (and still is giving me) great ideas for some DIY...

I know, this is random. But it's a cute hoodie!

This was the display showing all the mix and match outfits. I really like the hoodie outfit with the colored jeans. It's name is currently lost to me...

Here's a quick peak at the hair highlights.

The snack cart is so cute! Extremely detailed, and I'm pretty sure that it comes with a lot of cute accessories.

 

Look. At. That. Tiny. Stuff. It has a tiny microwave!

Talent show set. While it is cute, and so is 41#, this outfit didn't really strike a chord with me. It's cute, but not my favorite.

Molly's display case. :(

No words.

I love the new hair highlights! I was going to buy them, but they didn't have any in the store. And yes, this is one of the new MAG's.

Pedicure set?! I thought that I was well learned int he new release, but I guess I didn't see this one!

So, that was my trip to AGP Columbus! Sorry I didn't get it to you sooner, busy as a bee with cat stuff and what not... yeah, loooong story. I'll try to post what I got tomorrow, but don't worry it's nothing suspenseful. I nearly got a new doll, but that's for another time... ;)

Adios!
-Jeneca

Thoughts on American Girl Summer Release!

Yes, it's true. It was true when Doll Diaries posted about it. I was so ANGRY when I saw it! Seriously, it's obvious that they're doing this just for money money money. Molly is the last of the three original dolls, and has been on AG for twenty seven years. I cannot belive that they are removing yet ANOTHER American Girl Icon. I mean, Molly's time period is World War II. Why Retire her? To make room for others. World War II was HUGE. Why not leave such an important time? Money, but that's only my guess, and my hardened opinion. I am a curmudgeon on this subject.
retirement
Okay, I'll hush up on the retirement of my girl. Check the website if you want a look at everything, because here are some on my favorite new things! ( :( )

Striped Hoodie Outfit for Dolls + Charm~ $30

 I love this new outfit, the colored skinny jeans are awesome! The hoodie is okay, I could do with a little less random colored graphics.

 I'm happy that they released this doll, since I know a lot of people go for the look alike thing, and this is a very versatile look... Frankly it looks to me like these girls could be Susan and Linda from Molly's stories!!

This would be Linda, I think. She looks like 49, just with the usual MyAG layered hair.

 

 

Classroom Scene~ $12  

This seems like a pretty reasonable price, and it looks pretty awesome. Same goes for all the scenes, I wish they still had the original scenes and settings for the historical characters.

 

School Back pack Set~ $28

  The back pack sets are always adollable. I love the science book! And the water bottle! And the notebook! And the mechanical pens! But I do not love the price...

Saige's Tunic Outfit~$28

For the AG's crazy prices, I think this is is a bit more reasonable... or maybe I'm getting brainwashed, haha. But anyway, this outfit looks a bit awkward in the picture, but I'm sure it's beautiful in real life! I love the color, and the beads.

New Hair Accessories!

I love all of these! They are pricey, but so so cute. I bought a purple hair clip for Mia a while back at the doll store, but it was very cheap. I love the pony tails, braided head bands, chic bun (kinda) and the colored clips!! So much fun.

So, that's my opionon! I will be going to the AG store this Saturday, so I'll try to get some pictures of all the new releases!!

Jeneca