Faraway Forest Collection - The Water Sprite

     I was finally able to get the next doll in the Faraway Forest collection and boy, is she a beaut! The outside box is white, just as The Lady of the White Woods had and the back has a description on it. 

     "The Magical Lagoon is a fortnight's journey from the Elf Village as the crow flies. As our intrepid elf guide traverses through meadows, mountains and the foreboding Dark Forest, the winding path finally yields to a resplendent blue lagoon. It's a destination that often delights our guide. From the lush foliage that surrounds the lagoon to the sunlight glinting off the azure pool, it's the gleaming gem of the Faraway Forest. 

As is customary when visiting this distant land, our lovely elf princess sits by the water's edge and waits patiently. She's careful not to gaze into the water, for seeing her own beautiful reflection may cross she who enchants these waters: The Faraway Forest Sprite. Slowly, she emerges from the lagoon, her luminous skin the hue of the sea. She is a radiant beauty, protector and friend to the creatures that reside in and around her aqueous realm."

      I love the little story on the back and how it gives little clues as to who these dolls are. I hope to read all of the story when the line is over. I'll be sad to see it go, but will be glad to have the whole set. 

      The doll itself is gorgeous! She has light blue skin, long shimmery blue hair and a GORGEOUS dress! The skirt of the dress has a scale-like pattern with two shimmery blue ruffles on the side. Her jewelry consists of two bracelets with fins, an iridescent necklace which goes from purple to blue and a crown made of shells. Her shoes are see through booties. She also comes with a trident as her weapon in case she needs to defend her lagoon. 

Water Sprite

Close up of her shoes

I have yet to take these dolls out of their boxes as I don't have a good place to display them. I can't wait to do so though! I have loved all of the dolls in this series so far and cannot wait to see what comes next!

Halloween Barbie 2016

     It's getting to be that time of year again! My favorite time of year! Halloween! And with that, comes the Halloween Barbie dolls! In the past, this has meant two Barbie dolls and anywhere from three to six Kelly/Chelsea dolls. Unfortunately, this year, it looks like there will be only one Barbie doll! 
     I first saw the doll online when I was doing a search to see what this year's dolls would be dressed up as. I saw she was a witch, which is par for the course these days. Then, I saw the same doll was available on the Barbie collector website, which I don't remember happening previously. Finally, I went to Target and saw the same doll available for purchase there! I grabbed her up, because, after all, she's Halloween so I must have her! I noticed the box didn't have the "Target exclusive" tag on it, so I'm thinking Target isn't putting out a Halloween doll this year. I also saw they had the same Chelsea dolls as last year, so no new Chelsea dolls either! 
     So without further ado, here's this year's one and only Halloween Barbie doll!

Halloween Party Barbie 2016

     I like the necklace on the doll. Very spooky! The dress and boots are cute and I like the cardboard broom as well. I also like the pink streaks in her hair, but then again, I'm a sucker for differently colored hair! 
      All in all, a nice addition to my collection, but sad to see no more will be coming out, unless I've missed something. If anyone does see anything different, please, please, PLEASE let me know! Collecting the Halloween Barbies has been such a fun tradition for me and I don't want to see it coming to an end anytime soon, but I fear with the release of just one doll this year, I may be seeing the end. 

America's Next Top Model

     In 2003, UPN (remember that station??) aired a reality competition show called "America's Next Top Model". While I never watched one episode of the show, when MGA released a series of dolls from the show, I was intrigued. Especially when they came with additional outfits, which as you may remember from previous posts, I LOVE when dolls come with additional outfits. 
     On the back of the boxes, it shows four dolls, but I was only able to find three of them. I'm not even sure the fourth doll was made, even though an extra packaged outfit was made for her, as I've not found anything about her online. 
     The series included two each of four different dolls, one a more basic doll wearing a swimsuit, which came with an extra T-shirt, and the other doll in a dress with a more casual outfit included. A separate dress for each doll was also released. 
     The dolls themselves were well made with bending knees, a joint at the torso, split fingers and the big toe separated from the rest, so as to fit into shoes with a strap between the toes. 
     The first doll I'll show is Sidney. According to the box, she is 19 from Miami, FL. Her favorite part of modeling is being able to see new places. She loves traveling and hopes, one day, to be a professional pilot and fly all over the world. 

Sidney's ready for her photoshoot in her swimsuit and sunglasses

Sidney looks rockin' in her T shirt 

   

Sidney's a golden girl in her gold dress

Sidney looking casual in her shorts and striped top

Sidney's extra dress makes me think of flowers

 
      Next up, we have Paisley. She is 20 and hails from Santa Monica, CA. As a little girl, Paisley's mother took her with her to volunteer at an animal rescue center. By the end of the day, Paisley had adopted a golden retriever and she hasn't stopped since. When she is done with modeling, she hopes to open a rescue center of her own. 

Paisley looking good in her swimsuit and sunglasses

Paisley in her T-shirt

Paisley styles it in light blue and silver

Paisley keeping it cool in casual

Paisley in pink

      Then, there's Sienna. She is 18 from Topeka, Kansas. She grew up with 5 brothers and sisters. After all that time she learned one thing - she's really good at arguing. Now that she's finished with high school, she's planning a career in law.

Sienna in a cutout one piece swimsuit

Sienna in her T-shirt over her one-piece swimsuit

Sienna sparkles in strapless pink and gold

Sienna looking fierce in her pink halter top and shorts

Sienna stylin' in stripes

     Finally, the mystery girl, Tascha. Nothing is known about her as I cannot find a doll for her! The pictures from the packages look as if she was produced, but I could never find her. 

The swimsuit from the back of that box

The cute lavender dress from the back of the box

The top for her casual secondary outfit

The extra outfit, which is the only thing I was able to find actually produced

     I like how the dolls have a bit of a biography for them, so it gives them a bit of a personality. The dolls themselves were well made and their outfits were cute! If anyone does know of Tascha actually being produced, please let me know! I love a good hunt for rare items!

Best Model Collection - On Location

     Robert Best may be best known as the designer of the Silkstone Barbies, but before that, he designed the On Location Model Collection. This collection started with three dolls in 2006, then one more was added in 2007. These dolls came wearing a swimsuit and had two additional outfits with them, one casual and the other dressy. Anyone familiar with my blog knows if a doll comes with additional outfits, I'm sold!
     I enjoyed this collection as it was the first dolls I'd bought with the Model Muse body type. I really liked the additional outfits as well since they added a new level to the dolls personalities. 
     My favorite out of the collection was the Monte Carlo. She is a dark haired beauty wearing a black bathing suit and heels with straps which tied up over her ankles. She also had a red bag to go with her swimsuit. One of her additional outfits was a blue short sleeved blouse, gray skirt, an adorable package of black nylons, red clutch purse and red heels. She also had a metal powder compact and necklace for this outfit. Her second outfit was a dark gray pantsuit with a black top, scarf, black boots and a black bag. 

Monte Carlo 

      My next favorite was the South Beach. She was blonde and wearing a white bathing suit, white heels with ankle straps and an orange scarf tied around her head. She also had a pair of sunglasses. Her casual outfit was an orange top with turquoise and gold trim, jeans, orange booties and a tan bag. Her dressy outfit was a pale blue dress with a matching bag and blue heels. She also had a metal powder compact. 

South Beach

     The final doll for the first year was Milan. She was a dark skinned beauty wearing a silver two piece bathing suit and white strappy heels. Her daytime outfit was a gold blouse, gray full skirt, black sweater, another package of the nylons, black heels and a brown purse. Her nighttime outfit was a white pantsuit with a black top, purse and heels. These were not my favorite outfits, but the doll was gorgeous!
    

Milan

     The next year, only one doll was produced. She was blonde with a gray swimsuit, heels and sunglasses. Her casual outfit was a pale gold blouse, jeans, gray jacket and white heels. Her dressy outfit was a pink floral dress, pink heels, pink bag and white and pink sunglasses. 

Barcelona

     I was sad to see this line end, but I love the line as it is. The dolls were beautiful and most of the outfits were pretty! I love the idea of dressing and redressing your dolls and this fit right in with that idea!

Enchanted World of Fairies

      One of my favorites from the collectible lines was the Fairy of the Forest and the Fairy of the Garden. I was sad only two dolls were produced in this line because these dolls were freaking GORGEOUS!
     The first doll was a lovely fairy, which if memory serves, was the first Barbie sculpt to have pointed ears! She was dressed in shades of blue and purple with gold accents. She was a redhead and her wings were shimmery shades of blue, purple and lavender. She was my favorite of the two.

Fairy of the Forest

     The Fairy of the Garden was dressed in pink with shades of gold. She had smaller wings than the Forest Fairy and she had pink booties where the Forest Fairy was barefoot. This fairy had blonde hair, which was pulled back from her face, allowing her ears to show. 

Fairy of the Garden

      I wish at least one more doll had been released for this line as the Enchanted World of Fairies has more than just in the forest or the garden, but I'm happy they at least put these two lovely ladies out!

You're A Wonder, Wonder Woman!

      Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice marks the first time since her introduction 75 years ago Wonder Woman has appeared on the big screen. Having been a fan of Wonder Woman since I saw her on the TV show starring Lynda Carter, this is HUGE for me! I remember sitting on the floor watching the show while my mom combed all of the knots out of my hair, then put it up into two braids. I remember getting the costume for Halloween and the Underoos. I remember picking up my first Wonder Woman comic book (issue #251 at KMart). I remember her re-introduction in 1985 and LOVING the story and artwork, thanks to George Perez, who I was finally able to meet at a comicon years ago. I remember getting excited she was going to have another TV show on NBC, but then it never aired. I did see that un-aired pilot and while it had some good parts, a lot of it wasn't so good. I remember seeing the first Wonder Woman Barbie and was so excited to get her! So it was with great pleasure I was finally able to see her on the big screen! I was in AWE! It was AMAZING! I LOVED it and cannot WAIT for her own movie to come out next year!
      I am ashamed to say I only have two Wonder Woman dolls, the original Barbie and now the Batman V Superman version. I would LOVE to get the Tonner dolls, but have to save up TONS of money to get them. I am also on the search for the other Barbie versions of Wonder Woman. Heck, I may even get the not-so-pretty versions released for the TV show, but once again, I have to save my money to do so. 
      Without further ado, here is my original Wonder Woman Barbie in all of her glory!

Wonder Woman Barbie

A close up of her lovely face

Batman V Superman Wonder Woman

Still attached to the liner

Ready for battle!

Close up of her

     I love this new Wonder Woman doll! I love the posability of her as it looks like she uses the new Made-to-Move body. I love the sword and shield, the costume, the whole she-bang! This doll is awesome...or should I say "Wonder"ful!

The Barbie Look Collection

    In 2012, Mattel released a line of dolls for the adult collector who liked to redress their dolls. It was called The Barbie Look and I loved it! I love it when dolls are released with extra outfits for redressing. For me, it expands her world. This collection included two dolls with two additional outfits as well as a wardrobe to hold them!
    To me, the dolls seem like they are modeling the spring collection and the outfits are the summer collection. The next two dolls released seem like they are the fall collection, while their outfits are the winter collection. 
    The dolls released after the 2013 (fall/winter collection) were only released as dressed dolls; no separate outfits were made for them. As a result, I've stopped buying them. Don't get me wrong, the dolls are cute, but I'm just not interested in them if they don't have additional outfits available. I am content with just having the first two lines of dolls and clothes, since it is a "complete" collection for me, especially with the "year round" theme.
    

City Shopper Blonde - "Spring"

City Shopper AA - "Spring"

Poolside - "Summer"

Pink on the Green - "Summer"

Tea Party - love the little tea set!

On the Red Carpet - the little Barbie statue is adorable!

City Shopper - "Autumn"

City Shopper - "Autumn"

Winter Weekend - the jacket is fur-lined!

Party Perfect - New Year's Gala

Wardrobe with pink "B" backing

Wardrobe with black and white backing

Wardrobe with clothing backing

Wardrobe filled with clothes

     This was a good collection for me and I may pick up some of the newer dolls if they appeal to me, but for now, I consider this collection complete. 

Erin go Braugh AKA My Irish Barbies

     In honor of the St. Patrick's Day holiday which just passed, I thought I'd post my Irish Barbie dolls. Being of Irish heritage on my mother's side, I wanted some dolls to reflect this. I don't have the original Irish Barbies from the Dolls of the World series and the first one I collected was Princess of Ireland Barbie from the Princesses of the World collection. In fact, I loved that doll so much, I received three of them for my birthday since I'd told everyone about her!
    I was excited when the Legends of Ireland series came along and managed to get four out of them. Still looking for Deirdre, but don't have the money to get her yet. Also looking for the brunette Faerie Queen, but I'm happy with the dolls I was able to get. 

    

Princess of Ireland

The Bard

The Spellbound Lover

Faerie Queen

Aine

Irish Dance

Ireland Barbie

     I'm hoping to be able to complete my collection one of these days, but until then, I'm happy with what I have. They are gorgeous dolls, each and every one of them!