Mini Lalaloopsy Flower Fairies

Dear Readers,

Do you remember when I posted in Spring about the Mini Lalaloopsy Flower Fairies?  I have been waiting for them to show up in stores and I finally got a chance to see them a few weeks ago.  I had been looking for a pretty house for them when I found something even better!!!  A treehouse!  It was an old Fisher-Price Little People Fairy and Unicorn Treehouse that was part of a bigger toy lot at a garage sale.  It was super cheap and was just the right size for my dolls.

It was very clean and well-cared for so I didn't need to scrub anything or remove the stickers.  I just wiped it with a wet cloth and it was good as new!  My little fairies felt right at home :)

Happy Daisy Crown and Mari Golden Petals are having some tea with cake!

Rosebud Longstem tries out the swing!

Bluebell Dewdrop is enjoying a shower in the bathtub!

The pets are resting on top of the tree.

Rosebud Longstem rides on the unicorn!

I love this series of Mini Lalaloopsy but I think MGA Entertainment could have done so much better with the accessories.  They could have totally given each of the doll a flower-theme teacup with a sweet pastry.  Buying all four dolls would then complete the set and the fairies could have gotten themselves a wonderful tea party!

Instead, we only have one doll with a teapot and teacup so I ended up buying two Bluebell doll to get a second matching cup.  The other accessories were either a handbag (ugh, like fairies would need that), some flower pots, flower necklace (which was the same model as the one for Mango Tiki Wiki doll but in a different color).  I really like the umbrella but the other accessories were rather boring.

The dolls themselves are very pretty and have such gorgeous dresses!  The only problem was with Rosebud Longstem who had a very floppy neck but otherwise the dolls were all good quality and had no stains on their face or body.

I have so much more to post about but this weekend is terribly busy!  It's the Mid-Autumn Festival on Monday and my son had been rehearsing for his first ever Lion Dance performance.  It's the last preparations until Monday night so I think I am quite nervous about it.  Even more nervous than my son I think...  Hahaha!  Do you feel the same when your children have to perform?

In any case, I tried to relax with some calming tea from Harney & Sons Fine Teas, specifically the Yellow and Blue Tea which contains chamomile and lavender.  The box is lovely and is worthy of display!  

I was so pleasantly surprised to see how big and beautiful the tea bags looked inside the tin.  And it smelled so good!  My husband said the scent was too much like perfume but I did not agree.

But the real test remained the taste.  My husband predicted that I would hate it because it would taste horrible.  But he was wrong.   It was absolutely amazing!!!!  Not too strong and not weak either.  So smooth and not the slightest bitter aftertaste (and I drank without milk or sugar).  

Now I'll try to catch some sleep and rest before another day begins.  I wish you all a lovely Sunday!

New Mini Lalaloopsy Dolls, Playsets and Dollhouse!

Dear Readers,

I already mentioned the Strawberry Shortcake dolls yesterday and I wanted also to show you some new toys I saw at the store but it would be too heavy in terms of image content!  So today I am posting about the new Mini Lalaloopsy playsets, dollhouse and dolls.

I am a huge fan of the Mini Lalaloopsy dolls and I think I bought pretty much everything MGA Entertainment released in this line of toy but recently, it has been a little boring.  New dolls have been produced but they are not available yet in my local stores.  They are sold online but at a premium cost so I won't be buying them unless I see them in stores.

However, yesterday I was very surprised to see four new playsets!  The playsets include existing Mini Lalaloopsy.

Dyna Might on a Pogo Stick.  When you press the button, she jumps up and down.

Prairie Dusty Trails with a jump rope.  When you turn the crank, the jump rope rotates and the Mini Doll moves along (because her hands are attached to the rope) to create an impression that she is jumping.

Ember Flicker Flame on a trampoline.   Press on the button and she "jumps" up and down.

And last is Peanut Big Top with a Tricycle which is my favorite playset.  

It's more interesting than the other playsets but it looks like the all the dolls are attached to their playset and it would be impossible to dislodge them.  I may be wrong.  And if the dolls are attached to the playset, I am really not interested in getting them to be honest.

Another new toy was a dollhouse!!!  It looks like an exact replica of the previous dollhouse (which I blogged about already) released by MGA but this time, it's in shades of purple instead of pink.

The dollhouse includes a Blossom Flowerpot Mini Doll (like the previous dollhouse) but the doll is now wearing a purple apron.  I don't see any furniture included and it looks like the furniture playsets, shown on the back of the box, have not changed.  However, I did not see any furniture playsets in the store so I wonder if they will be released later.

There were no new Mini Dolls which was disappointing because I know that MGA has released quite a few lately but I don't see any of them in stores.  Instead, I saw two new sets of Mini dolls.

The Silly Sleepover Collection

The School Days Collection

I don't really see why these new collections were released.  If you buy the Sibling's pack, you would have most of these little sister dolls already and the pajama-clad dolls are cute but they are only old dolls with a different outfit.   The playsets didn't even include new accessories like pillows and blankets for the sleepover or books and desks for the school days set.  How boring!!!

I did not buy any of the new toys I saw today because I already have a dollhouse, and all the dolls released here (or variations of the same doll).  I guess for people who are missing on those items, this is a great occasion to get them at a good price.   

And when I say good price, it's compared to the online store of course where it is often (but not always) more expensive.  Mini Lalaloopsy dolls are not cheap.  They retail at $6.99 for one single doll and a pet and two accessories.  The playsets can go from $12.99 to higher.

And it's a good thing that a new dollhouse is now available but I am baffled at the lack of furniture.  Is MGA Entertainment expecting parents to buy them from online shops at 3 times the original price? O_O  I hope I am wrong and that the company will release new furniture playsets.  

It's a little lazy though from them to produce an exact same dollhouse albeit the color is different.  A totally different dollhouse with different furniture would have been wonderful.  Mini Lalaloopsy dolls represent so many themes that I am sure another dollhouse with another cute theme would have been possible!!! Oh but what do I know about toy marketing and benefits, right?  Toy company exist to make money so they probably didn't want to take a risk to flop.

In the meantime, I'll be lurking around the stores for more new autumn arrivals!!!

Best Friends Club Ink Fashion Pack

Dear Readers,

Did you have a pleasant weekend?  I was mostly at home enjoying my time off from work.  I took the kids to the park and we also went to the restaurant but it was otherwise a quiet and calm weekend.

I did however stop by the Dollar Store (where every item is priced at $1) and I found Best Friends Club Ink Fashion Packs.  There were five different sets.  I bought the following three.

You can see on the back of the package the five different outfits with the BFC ink dolls.  I didn't see any dolls in the store.  They were released years ago by MGA Entertainment (the same company that produces Bratz dolls and Moxie Girlz dolls) but are now discontinued.  The fashion packs shown here are for the small size dolls, not for the 18 inches dolls which were also called BFC ink dolls.

I don't own any BFC ink dolls but I bought the clothes for my small size dolls.  I opened the pink outfit.  I chose to buy this one because it has a nice pink top with tiny white polka dots, ruffle collar, and long sleeves with flower prints.  Also in the pack was pink hot pants (or very short shorts) with a pink belt and silver clasp.  A backpack, pink and white striped knee socks and purple sneakers complete the outfit.   The top and shorts have velcro closure in the back.  I tried the garments on a few dolls.

The first to try is a Stacie doll from Mattel.  She is one of Barbie's many little sisters.  It was a little difficult to dress her up because of her right arm's bent position.  The socks kept snagging over her legs while I was dressing her up.   The shoes are way too big for her.

The top looks great on her but the shorts are too big although you can hardly notice from the front.

From the back, it's another story!

The backpack is really cute and does open and close with a velcro stripe on the top.  However, the back and side pockets do not open.

I found this Stacie doll at a garage sales.  She was disheveled and naked when I got her.  She seems quite happy to finally have some clothes! 

Next to try the outfit is Hina-chan who shares the same body as Licca dolls.  It was a breeze to dress her up!  Licca dolls have such smooth body so clothes literally glide over their limbs!  The shoes are still too big.

From the front, you can see the sleeves are too long.

The back shows how tight the top is for her.  I could not close it completely.

Next in line is another of Licca's friend, Maria-chan but with Obitsu 23 cm body.

My photos do not do any justice to this beautiful doll.  She has strawberry blonde hair (that can apparently change color if you wet or heat them up... but I have not tried yet!) EDIT: her hair actually curls but does not change color!  I found the LINK HERE that shows the different hair styles!  The Licca doll that can change hair color is THIS ONE.  Takara has released a few other Licca dolls with the same hair color change ability.

I bought her head without a Licca body. It was cheaper that way (only $5 as opposed to $35 for a full body doll) and I wanted to try an Obitsu body anyway!  The BFC ink clothes fit the Obitsu 23cm very well.

The back closes perfectly for both the top and shorts.  The socks and shoes fit her well too.

The last doll to try the outfit is a Licca doll but with an Azone Pure Neemo S Body.  As it was the case with Maria-chan, I bought her head only and purchased a different body type that I wanted to try out for my dolls.

The top fits but the shorts were too small for Pure Neemo "fatter" legs.  The shoes fit perfectly though.  I gave her a skirt from the Re-ment Summer Clothes Collection.

The back velcro closes well without any problem.

Overall, I would say that I am extremely happy with the Best Friends Club Ink Fashion Packs.  They are so well made and super affordable!  For $1 only, I got an entire outfit with shoes and bag included!  They can fit many dolls and you can mix and match with other outfits!

I wished MGA Entertainment still produced the dolls who look really cute from the pictures I saw on the flyers included in the fashion packs.  There was also an iron-on picture in each pack.  

I regret not buying the other two fashion sets so I'll probably go back to the Dollar Store tomorrow to get them now that I know they can fit so many of my dolls.   

Moxie Girlz Jammaz House

Dear Readers,

Are you a fan of Bratz dolls? I must admit I have never been interested in them but I adore their playsets! Maybe it’s a reaction to the eternal Barbie pink. I am usually more inclined to buy a dollhouse or furniture that is NOT pink and Bratz has issued many non-pink items. I personally think the Bratz World House and furniture are among the greatest doll playsets I have ever seen.

Unfortunately for me, I came too late in the dolly world so I wasn’t there when these awesome toys were released. But I was lucky and got a hold of some of them on the secondary market and in some cases, the items were brand new.

The Bratz World House however is usually sold for quite a hefty price and I didn’t want to buy something at such a high cost, especially when I risk getting a damaged house (which happened to me one time too many).

So I was really happy when I saw the Moxie Girlz Jammaz House. It’s basically the same design as the Bratz World House but with slight differences in colors, furniture and accessories. Beware though, the Moxie Girlz Jammaz House was released in two different models: one playset comes with a bed and bathtub, and one does not!

The Moxie Girlz House is a folding dollhouse so it takes very little space! There is an outer shell and two walls that can be flipped over to show a different background. Everything fits perfectly inside the outer shell for easy storage (except the furniture).

Here is what the dollhouse looks like from the front, when it is folded.

Although the house is now released as a Moxie Girlz dollhouse, it still shows the Bratz logo.  Not surprising since MGM Entertainment which produced Bratz, is the also the company that produces Moxie Girlz.  They were just a bit lazy here and re-marketed this dollhouse without making much changes.  Not that I complain!  It's a great dollhouse to re-release!

The back of the house.

The bathroom is by far my favorite wall.  It is so detailed and lush.

Here is Emma for size comparison. The shower door can open.

Here is the bath tub that came with the house. 

The kitchen is my least favorite wall.

It looks pretty but it's super flat!  You can't put much in that oven.

Emma does not care.  I don't think she cooks.

This is the wall that you have seen in my previous post. So versatile!

The flat-screen TV and fireplace mantle.

The bed came with a pillow.  

The closet and vanity you see here did not come with the dollhouse.  They are from a Bratz Furniture Playset, but their color match perfectly with the Moxie Girlz House and the bed.

And lastly, thhe accessories that came with the house. There were also a white hand towel, a pink towel/blanket, and stickers for the TV and Kitchen.

The main difference between the Bratz World House is that the Bratz World House came with a sofa and a dining table and chairs and some kitchen accessories while the Moxie Girlz Jammaz House comes with a bed and bathtub instead. 

Of all my folding dollhouses and playsets, the Moxie Girlz Jammaz House is my favorite. It is just so beautiful! There are so many details on these walls and they are very functional.  You can arrange your house is so many different ways!  It’s just the perfect house to use as background pictures and I can see how it can appeal to children as well just as a regular play house as well.

Licca dolls fit wonderfully in this type of house. They are about the same size as Bratz and Moxie dolls so it’s a perfect fit. I can’t gush enough about how much I love the house. I wish MGA Entertainment will keep on coming up with more great playsets like this and issue more furniture!

Mini Lalaloopsy - Spring 2014

Dear Readers,

Is it still cold where you live?  Winter has been colder this year at my place.  I am talking about winter in the past tense because I want to believe Spring will be here soon.  I already saw little blossoms on the tree branches and tiny green leaves coming out. 

I am so looking forward to Spring because it is always so pleasant to feel the warmth again and to see all the flowers blooming is such a pleasure to the eyes. 

As on cue, MGM Entertainment has apparently issued four new Mini Lalaloopsy with a Flower theme!  I have not seen them in stores yet but I did see them up on Amazon.com!  The following pictures are from the Amazon website.

Look at them closely... don't they remind you of Herself the Elf?!!!

Happy Daisy Crown

Mari Golden Petals

Bluebell Dewdrop

Rosebud Longstem

They look like little flower fairies and they come with seriously beautiful dresses and shoes!  I can't gush enough about how pretty they are!  Their dresses, hairstyles and miniature pets are very well done and quite original.  I am particularly impressed by Rosebud Longstem's dress.  It looks fabulous and is beautifully in-line with her name/character.

Well, all their outfits are actually inspired by their name/character which is a good effort from MGM.  It looks like they did put thought into the dolls they have created because it's not just any other doll with random features.

After being disappointed at the accessories of the most recent Episode Mini Dolls, I have to say that I am very happy to see that these fairy dolls have awesome accessories!  Except for Mari Golden Petals because I think the cake and cake stand are a little "blah".  But maybe it was meant to complement Bluebell Dewdrop's tea pot and tea cup.  You know, gotta have a cuppa with some cake!

The boxes are also gorgeous!  They don't make them look like little dollhouse anymore and it's not really possible to take the doll out without damaging the box so I think I will be thrown away after I open the box.  But I don't mind because I have all those little dollhouses and I am running out of space!

So come quickly to stores little flower fairies so we can celebrate Spring and Easter together!  In the meantime, I hope the cold weather will go away.  I heard there will be much ice and another snow storm soon so I wish you all up there to stay safe and sound indoors!

Disclaimer: All opinions are my own. I was not paid or received gifts to write this or mention any stores or website. You may find a better store in your area.