It might only be September but we're already busy with holiday preparations.
Summer has slipped away from us and with the brisk air and beautiful changing leaves, comes a heavy work load and a lot of excitement.
Our office and warehouse are bustling with our typical sounds of autumn. Its not just falling leaves and cool breezes that we hear around here. Its phones ringing, email bells chiming, computer keyboards ticking, cameras snapping and trucks coming and going all day long.
When the hustle and bustle of our work place ring through the air like this, I can't help but feel like a little girl again. Its with excitement and great anticipation that I welcome every holiday season. It brings me back to my childhood every year and reminds me of what a special job I have, the job of exciting little girls both my own and yours.
This fall, we will be bringing you more options for 18 inch dolls like American Girl. We are so pleased to offer the incredible selection and variety that we will have for you this year! We are venturing into new territory this season. A territory filled with mini cupcakes, pots and pans, chef hats, camping gear and slumber party fun! We have so much to share with you! Special play sets that you won't want to miss, deluxe kitchen sets, sewing machines, tents and trendy gadgets like iPods, cameras, TVs and phones. Its going to be a holiday season like we have never seen!!
To be sure that you won't miss a thing, we have added a special "NEW PRODUCTS" page to our site. Check it often as some of our items will have very limited inventory. You won't want to miss these terrific new items!!
We look forward to celebrating the upcoming holiday season with you.
Be sure to LIKE our fanpage on Facebook for great discounts, giveaways and special holiday ideas.

Whew!! Its hot!!
We're having a heat wave here in NY! Days like this make me wonder how girls like Samantha, Marie-Grace and Rebecca survived without air conditioning!
It sure is nice to imagine living in historical time periods but when it comes to modern conveniences, I'm very glad that we're here with the comforts of air conditioning, convenience of electric washing machines, and cars (with air conditioning) to get us around quickly.
Well, the temperatures are not the only thing that's hot around here lately!! We have some HOT SUMMER SAVINGS going on right now too!! We've just lowered all of our prices for a site wide clearance sale. We need to clear out our inventory to make room for some brand new products.
Take a look at our antique reproduction doll trunk. It holds up to two American Girl dolls and has a lot of storage space for clothing and accessories. Its perfect for summer travel or for keeping your collection neat and organized. We've heard from lots of happy customers that tell us that they often pick up an extra doll trunk for American Girls dolls to keep some necessities at grandma's house. I think that's a marvelous idea. Its priced at the lowest price of the year right now so take advantage. If you email me (blog@my18inchdoll.com) by Friday (7/21/2012) and tell me that you read my blog, I'll make sure that you get a free gift with the purchase of your doll trunk. Hurry and do that now. The rest of my ramblings will be right here waiting for you when you're done. Here's the link: Doll Trunk for American Girl It will pop up in a new window so you won't lose your place here. Go ahead. I'll wait for you.

Okay. Did you order? Are you back yet?
Hello???
Where'd ya go?
Oh, I see....you're browsing through our most adorable doll clothes for American Girl dolls now. Go ahead.....shop away. I'll wait for you. I know you can't resist the low prices on these beautiful doll outfits.
Yep. I'm still waiting for you. Take your time. Take your time. I'll just check out the happenings on our Facebook page. I'll meet you back here in a minute or so.........
Yes, I said Facebook. Did you know that you can get coupon codes and sneak peeks at upcoming products? Oh yeah.....we give things away too.....great FREE merchandise. Make you sure you like our page so you don't miss any bargains. Here it is: My 18 Inch Doll on Facebook
Okay....are you done now? Did you place your order and like our Facebook page? Great!!!
Now, let's chat a little more.

Have you seen the newest American Girl movie yet? Their latest film features the girl of the year doll, McKenna Brooks. She's a gymnast with Olympic dreams. Her mom is played by My Big Fat Greek Wedding star, Nia Vardalos. Any mom who grew up in the 90s will recognize McKenna's dad, played by Ian Ziering from the original Beverly Hills 90210 series. McKenna is played by the adorable and talented Jade Pettyjohn. You can learn more about Jade here: Jade Pettyjohn Interview and here: Jade Pettyjohn
I watched with my girls and they loved it!! Its a must have for any gymnast, for sure!! It has a great lesson for young girls. A lesson about friendship, perseverance and hard work. I think gymnastic lessons are in our near future. My girls have been tumbling around since they saw it. I've never seen so many handstands on the sofa!!

Please be sure to like our fanpage on Facebook and share it with your friends.
Now run out and pick up a copy of the McKenna movie at WalMart!!

As the founding mom, affectionately called the "Dolly Mama" of My 18 Inch Doll Inc, I have been asked some very interesting questions.
Most common are age related questions. Many parents want to know what the appropriate age is to introduce their daughter to American Girl dolls while other parents want to know when their daughter will outgrow their dolls. No matter what end of the spectrum your daughter may be on, I have an answer for you.
Having four daughters who currently range in age from 16 to 3, I have experiences every stage of playing with dolls. I guess that's why they call me the "Dolly Mama!"
It is different for every child so I usually start my answer with, "Parents know what's best for their daughter....." While 3 if very young, in my opinion too young for a child to care for such a valuable doll, I often suggest that parents start them on a less expensive equivalent doll. My favorite alternative in 18 inch dolls is Madame Alexander. They have beautiful dolls at a considerable savings. (We'll soon have them available on our website. Currently they are available at our store in Carousel Center mall in Syracuse NY.) They are the same size as American Girl dolls so any investment that you make in clothing, furniture or accessories can be handed down to an American Girl doll when your daughter is ready for that upgrade. Its a great way to teach younger girls to be responsible and to take good care of an expensive doll like an American Girl doll. No matter which doll you chose, I would caution you to teach your daughter to use only a wig brush on any doll hair. It will help to keep the doll's hair shiny and it keeps away the frizzies, my personal pet peeve. Also, using anything else will cause an American Girl doll's hair to fall out. Be sure to teach them right, right from the star no matter what doll they start witht. Tell them that dolly has a very special brush for her hair.
Generally little girls start asking for an American Girl doll when they are about 5 if they have an older sister who has one. If they are the oldest daughter in your family, this requests usually starts at about 7 years old. Some 5 year old girls may be ready. One of my girls was 5 when she got her first American Girl doll, Felicity. She has taken very good care of her and has always been responsible and gentle with her doll.
Another of my daughters is currently 5 and a half years old and she is clearly not ready for an American Girl doll. We have tried alternative brands and she has failed the test. We often find them in bizarre places like under the couch cushions or just plain missing in action. She also still has difficulty with writing on things that she should not be writing on. Magic Eraser by Mr. Clean has been a lifesaver! She loses clothing and accessories as well. Her dolls, if they have shoes on their feet, never match. She is clearly not ready and that's okay. We'll continue to teach her to be responsible and when we think she's ready we'll follow family tradition and let her chose her special American Girl doll.
Every child is different and parent's know best. If you're unsure, test her with a less costly alternative but be sure to make that dolly just as special and offer advice on how to care for her. Teach the same rules that would apply to a genuine American Girl doll and she'll soon be ready for an upgrade.
To tackle the next question...
Many parents ask when their daughter might outgrow their dolls because they don't want their investment in clothing, furniture or accessories for their American Girl doll to go to waste. What a shame it would be to purchase a beautiful outfit for American Girl dolls just for it to never be played with. That again, varies by the girl. Many girls that have younger sisters will continue to play with their American Girl doll well beyond the suggested age of 8-12.  My oldest daughter would still occasionally bring her dolls out to play dress up complete with hairdos and a fashion show even after she was 14. We may have to get clever but we can keep them playing with dolls longer. It will keep them innocent longer as well. Try conducting a fashion show for younger sisters or cousins. Try a photo shoot after their make overs. If your older daughter likes to sew or craft, guide her in fashion design while she makes clothing or accessories for her doll. Its still a great way to role play and encourage better communication between daughter and mother which is needed even more as our girls enter their teen years.
Over time the way that they play may change so put on your thinking caps moms and guide them to continue imaginative role play with their dolls. Eventually they may want to display their dolls rather than play with them. Let them develop interior design skills by creating a display with their dolls and furniture. Showcase it in the living room for all to see. Encourage her to change it up for each season and to dress her dolls accordingly. Jump in and help her, making it a fun and creative assignment. Take advantage of the teaching opportunity. You may not have those opportunities for much longer.
When I meet a young lady while I'm working I am always sure to encourage them to continue to play with their dolls. I always tell them, "Look how old I am! I'm still playing with dolls! You're never too old!" You just never know what it may turn into.
Years ago, I met a travel agent who works for Disney. She told me how when she was a child, her parents would always let her and her sister miss one week of school each school year so they could take them to Disney World at a lower cost than the higher priced peak vacation times that coincided with school vacations. She told me how her teachers and school principal would protest and how family and friends would criticize her parents. Well, look at her now! She has a terrific job with Disney and gets to travel the world every day of the year! I'd say that her parents made the right choice.
What we encourage in our daughters today, will be manifested in their adult lives and trust me, there's nothing wrong with playing with dolls for a living!
Let me know if you have any doll related questions and I'll answer them in my next blog!!

It is a well known secret that My 18 Inch Doll is based in Syracuse NY.
There's just something about upstate NY.
Having been born and raised here my entire life, I have been unable to find a place that is "home" quite like this wonderful area. Warm sunny summers. Crisp fresh springs. Colorful autumns and of course cold snowy winters. Well except for this winter.
Where's the snow?
What's up with Central New York this year?
Where is all the blistery cold air and fluffy white snow?
Well, that is a question that I can't answer but here is a question that I do have an answer for.
Where in Syracuse NY can you find heirloom quality clothes and furniture for your 18 inch doll like American Girl dolls?
Currently, you can find My 18 Inch Doll in Carousel Center. Our mini-store is located in the new Destiny NY expansion, near Santa. Carousel Center is right in the heart of New York state. Syracuse is the center most point in New York state and offers great shopping to the many suburbs surrounding the area. 
We're right in the midst of terrific shopping so you can easily find us. Stop by to meet us during regular mall hours at Carousel Center mall. We'd love to meet you and bring your favorite American Girl doll with you!!

This morning, my girls and I watched the final launch of Atlantis.
It occurred to me that they will never understand space exploration quite like the generation before them.
Thirty years ago, it was different.
There was an intense excitement when a launch was scheduled. School aged children would anxiously await a launch while seated cross legged in front of classroom television sets. Many hours of teaching, reading and research had already taken place. Boys' and girls' minds would be consumed with space and the shuttle launch. Children had invested their time and energy and felt like they were a part of the NASA team.
Maybe I'm the only one that thinks its not like it used to be.
Maybe its become too common place.
Maybe the sci-fi Hollywood creations have made real life space exploration seem small.

Earlier this year, we were in the Cape Canaveral area for the 25th anniversary of the Challenger disaster. Although 25 years had passed, it made me shudder to see the catastrophic launch replayed on television. It brought tears to my eyes again. I felt as though I was reliving the day that it happened, when I was just a young girl in elementary school.
With tears streaming down my cheeks, I glanced at my oldest daughter. I saw concern in her face but I could tell that she didn't grasp the full effect of the explosion, not in the way that my husband and I had as children.
I struggled to find a way to explain its effects. I told her that we saw the video footage played over and over again on TV over the coming months, much like she had seen footage from the 9/11 attacks or the footage from Hurricane Katrina. I tried to explain that this was a disaster that ripped our nation, that tested our vision as a country. We were so excited to see the launch go up, with a teacher on board to boot only to be devastated 73 seconds later. It caused us to question what we were doing in space anyway. 
You see, back then leading space exploration was just one part of leading the world, of being the world Superpower.  What is it about today? Are we still exploring the last frontier? Have we become complacent as a nation? Do these launches matter to our society?

I was disappointed at the lack of buzz on social networks this morning. I wondered if my girls and I were the only ones watching the launch. If Twitter and Facebook had been around in the eighties, it would have been flooded with Tweets and status updates about the day's launch.  Today, I saw only one.
Why have we tired of this great phenomenon?  Has it faded into history like so many eras before it?
How can we preserve the excitement of that era and inspire our children with it? How can we ever make them feel the impact of space exploration in the way that we did?

With today's launch being the last one that our nation will see for several years, if at all I wonder if our children will ever understand.

To all the heroes that have taught us so much and to the families that have sacrificed their loved ones, I thank you. It was an extraordinary era.

My oldest daughter is 15. Being the oldest of my four daughters, she was the first to have an American Girl doll.  I have seen first hand, the benefits that these dolls provide to today's girls.
I'm a homeschooling mom so I'm always looking for a fun way to sneak in a school lesson here and there. American Girl dolls have helped me teach over and over again and they have helped my girls make that "mental connection" needed for real learning.  Its that light bulb moment that every parent and teacher can see on a child's face.
Nearly 6 years after the first AG doll entered our home, we have several 18 inch members of our family. However, we have many more books than we have dolls.
Trips to the local library always include a search down "the American Girl aisle" for any book that we haven't read yet. We're fortunate that our library has many of the older books that we can't find in stores any longer. 
Every time period we have studied has included references to an American Girl Doll.  Even my younger girls can reference a doll when I present a time period to them.  Any reference to World War II brings up Molly. Mention the Wild West and some one will surly mention Kirsten.  Civil War or slavery lessons always include Addy. 
I have found that a doll is worth a thousand words. 
So much is shown by these wonderfully costumed dolls and their stories. So much can be seen by the primitive furniture and accessories of Kirsten or the beautiful ritzy style of Samantha and her belongings.  So many things are learned just by seeing. Our eyes absorb more than our ears.
We leave a mental implant in our children's mind when we can engage multiple senses. Its been scientifically proven. 
As I've gotten older, I have noticed how easily I forget things. I often walk into a room and forget why I'm there. I forget to return phone calls. I forget to pull the chicken from the freezer in the morning so it will be thawed in time for dinner.  (This always results in take out for dinner!)
Because of this weakness, I have become more acutely aware of things that I remember.  Things from my childhood like my favorite doll, a particular event or a special food that my grandmother used to make.  I should have forgotten these things yet their memories are forever in my mind. Why? Why can I remember things from so long ago and yet forget to take out the chicken?  Well, its because my senses were engaged.
The more senses we engage, the better we remember.
I can remember at the age of 3 and 4, having a large rag doll. I had gotten it for Christmas from my parents.  Although I don't remember the very first time that I ripped it, I can remember my grandmother stitching it up for me many times. She and my grandfather would come over for dinner and while we ate, I would tell her about the rip in my doll. While she would tell me that she knew my dolly had been injured, she would reach into her purse and pull out the sewing kit that she had brought with her. I would run and get my doll. I would hold dolly to comfort her while grandma would stitch her back up and tell me a story about the doll she had when she was young. 
My senses were engaged. I was hearing her calm, comforting voice soothe my worries. I was watching her put a thimble on her finger and thread the needle.  I was touching my favorite doll and feeling the comfort of her plush body and yarn hair.  The entire event was an emotional experience for the little girl that was afraid her favorite doll was beyond repair.  It is forever engraved in my mind.  Some, well I won't tell you how many decades later, I can still picture it as if it happened yesterday. It created an imprint, because my senses were engaged.
Learning is not memorization.  Learning is just that, learning.  Discover something new, that you didn't know before and now you know it.  Its not countless hours of learning facts or figures or spelling words.  Its learning an idea and then being able to think independently to come up with your own solutions.
Do some research on spelling bee training.  You'll soon realize that while it is impossible to learn to spell every single word in the English language, children still study for spelling bees......not in mundane memorization but they learn rules instead.  Rules of spelling will teach them things like "drop the y, add ies" or "i before e, except after c" or even how spelling is formatted based the root language that the word has come from.
My girls are more attentive when I present a fictional story of a girl their age and the coordinating time period. It will teach them at their level, about how they might have lived in that same time period. They will engage their senses and emotions to create an imprint in their minds. They will learn enough to be able to draw their own conclusion and determine their own solutions.
Here's an example from our "classroom."  We have spent some time learning about Felicity and the Colonial Time Period.  We have done all kinds of activities from tea parties to crafts to a play about the Boston Tea Party.  I ask my 7 year old, "Did Felicity have a microwave?" She looks at me like I'm crazy and quickly answers, "No. Of course not."  How does she know?  Because our brains have these amazing "filing cabinets" in them. When we present our children with a fictional yet historically accurate story they are completely engaged.  They learn so much more than what is said in the story. They are able to pair what is in the story with information already in their "filing cabinets" and come up with a solution to an off the wall question like the microwave question.  Thus, we raise in independent thinker.  Someone who is able to draw on life's lessons and experiences to be a problem solver and a leader. They're not reciting facts and being limited to what they have memorized but they are THINKING.
Any spelling bee winner will tell you that at some point along their quest for the trophy, they encountered a word that they had not memorized, perhaps never heard before yet they were able to figure out how to spell it and move on to the next round. How? Because they learned the rules, the basic information that helped them to think independently and solve the problem.  Have you ever watched a spelling bee? One at a State or National level? Those children amaze me. If they are unsure of a word, they will rely on the ethnicity of the word and the definition or the number of syllables and probably many more factors that this homeschooling mother is yet to discover.
I have found that for our family's classroom, the Charlotte Mason teaching method works best.  Charlotte Mason believed in exposing children to great literature as a means for leaning every subject, except math and penmanship.  A controversial method, even for today, it is based on the "filing cabinet" system of our brains.  Sure I was skeptical when I first encountered her methods but her thought, "Trust the process." continued to ring through my mind.  Her methods call for using "live books" to teach every subject, even every topic.  When you want to teach about the Pilgrims, get good literature about that specific topic.  When you want to teach about birds, expose your children to books specifically about birds.  Use writing that the author is passionate about, rather than dry, boring text books.  Her idea is that they will learn spelling and grammar by being exposed to as much literature as possible. The process works. My girls are living proof.
If we can combine some sort of hands on learning to the wonderful stories, we've done even better and likely created an imprint that will last a lifetime.  A simple role play with their dolls can do so much for learning.
As a mom, my goal is not just to teach the history but the values that go along with the time period. Its about preserving a way of thinking and an innocence that has been lost through the years.  That, however is a topic for another day.
So for today's question....I want to know if your daughters have ever referred to an American Girl doll based on history or a social situation. Tell me your family's story and what these dolls have done for your girls.

My girls love the American Girl movies! They have collected all five of the movies that have been released on DVD so far.  American Girl has done a fantastic job of bringing their dolls to life on screen and I have found it a terrific way for my girls to learn even more history than what they are able to gleam from the fabulous books.  Manners and proper etiquette are much easier to observe in a movie.  We always enjoy the costumes and scenery.  I'm so happy to have both forms of media to compliment the amazing dolls!

So we're always excited to hear about an upcoming American Girl movie and today I have news of 2 to share with you!

We already have movies based on Samantha, Felicity, Molly, Kit and Chrissa so who's next?

Julie: An American Girl Musical is set in San Fransisco and will be a full length musical featuring music from the 70s!  Its theatrical release is planned for 2012. 

Who's next?  Velma!!  Velma's movie is going to be a direct to DVD release with a terrific story line.  Velma is a gymnast with an Olympic dream!  Casting is going on now and filming will begin in Winnipeg on July 11th.  Jade Pettyjohn will star as Velma and her mom is being played by My Big Fat Greek Wedding star, Nia Vardalos.  There's still time to be cast in the film as a gymnast or an extra.  Visit Extras Casting Productions for more information. 

There's just something about a free sample.
Anytime I am in the grocery store and those little booths are spread about offering free samples of products, there are throngs of shoppers waiting for their taste of the latest food or beverage.  You've seen them....marked by the hot plates, toaster ovens, toothpicks and the line of hungry shoppers.  The smell of frozen pizza or cocktail wieners is in the air and it draws shoppers as if in a trance, for a free sample.
Its a marketing scheme.  Did you know that?  Food manufacturers know that if they can get you to taste it, especially when you're hungry you'll make a purchase. 
Wandering the grocery aisles, seeing food as far as your eye can see while imagining what you'll make with this or what's for dinner once you get home and put the week's loot away in the pantry stimulates those hunger pangs.  By the time you spot the lady in the hairnet, handing out mini appetizers you're famished and anxious for a little nibble.  And of course, everything tastes better when you're hungry! 
Once you're happy with a taste, you're willing to make that purchase in the frozen food aisle, after all the hairnet lady has just given you a coupon.  Now you know that your investment will be worth it, that you'll be satisfied with your purchase.  You did just have a taste so now you know!
Its hard to get a sample of a product that you see online.  There's no hairnet lady reaching through your computer screen with a sample for you to try.  This is where customer reviews come in handy.
I do more than my fair share of shopping online.  There!  I admit it!  And to make sure that I am going to get what I want, I look for places that I can see customer feedback or reviews. 
eBay has their system in place.  You can make an educated guess about a product or a seller by looking at the seller's feedback.  Usually, you can determine if the risk is minimal enough to go ahead and make that purchase.  eBay hasn't grown to over 3 million successful transactions daily for nothing!  They know how to make their shoppers feel confident.  Insured, secure payments through PayPal ease any doubt that might still linger after checking out an eBay seller.  If something goes array, PayPal's got your back.  What a comforting feeling for an online shopper.
Amazon.com thrives on customer reviews.  I am an avid reader of reviews on Amazon.  Even if I don't make my purchase on their site, I often visit just to read what other people think of a book, movie or other product.  I can almost always find a review written by a person that I can identify with.  They usually have something in common with me, a need, a perspective, a situation in life and once I find that common thread, I can assume that my opinion will be the same as theirs.
It makes me feel safe.  I don't like surprises, especially bad ones so I appreciate the reviews of other shoppers that are just like me.
Likewise, I want our future customers to feel secure and educated about their purchases.  No guessing games, no surprises, no disappointments.
In this trying economy, I don't want any mother feeling as though she wasted a dime on anything.....especially on a product from My 18 Inch Doll.  When you're raising children, it seems that money goes out faster than it comes in.  There's always an unexpected expense that stresses the budget.  If you can see college educations on the horizon, you'll feel the pressure even more. 
You see, I am a mother first so I understand.
That is why I have set out to find moms, with young daughters that are fans of American Girl dolls to try our products and let other moms know what they think.  I want YOU to see what other moms and their girls think of our products.  Sure my girls LOVE them all but let's get the opinion of a mom and her girl that has no vested interest in our company.
So I set out on a mission.  I wanted to find established bloggers who would be willing to review, with no strings attached, one of our doll outfits.
I set no rules.  Simply, stated that I'll send you a free outfit in exchange for an honest review.  The blogger could say anything that they wished with no censorship from me or anyone else at My 18 Inch Doll.  We wanted a completely honest, unbiased review that moms could trust.
And so I present to you today, some unbiased reviews that I think you'll appreciate.

First, check out Blondee's Diary.  She requested two outfits, one for her dear daughter and one to give away to her reading audience.  Head there now for your chance to win our stunning "Classic Colonial" dress and matching pinner cap.  You'll enjoy her witty take on her family's adventurous life.  She has great recipes too!

Then head on over to a review by Emma, perhaps the biggest American Girl fan in the world.  She's a smart young lady who has been shaped by these spectacular dolls.  You'll appreciate her youthful point of view and perhaps see your own little girl in her writing.

Lastly for today, you should read the review of Danielle at Role Mommy.  I first read a post in which she chronicled her trip to the American Girl Store with her  7 year old daughter. I could see myself in her story.  She seems to be the typical American mom who loves the educational qualities behind the dolls and loves that her daughter is "into" such a pure and wholesome way of playing but also wants to find a good value to supplement the pricey dolls.  She is exactly the kind of mother that shops at My 18 Inch Dolls and has the typical review, "My daughter loves it!" 

I encourage you to read their honest, uncensored reviews.  They are our virtual hairnet ladies, educating you on the quality and value of our products....no coupon necessary.  All of our prices are 25-40% off retail and all of our doll clothing ships free within the US.

Here at My 18 Inch Doll, we love to read the reviews of moms and their daughters.  It still brings a smile to my face every time I get an email that says, "My daughter loves it!" or "My granddaughter was thrilled!"  Dads are even happy to hear that mom is saving money!

I encourage you to comment with your own review or to email it to us.  It helps us to prefect what we do and encourages us to keep helping moms save money AND make their daughter smile at the same time.


 

Whew!  What a super busy time of the year it is for most moms.  I know it is for the "doll mom!" 
With each new spring comes our new spring line of doll clothing and useful items.  That means that everywhere I look, I see dolls and their "stuff."   What a wonderful place to work!!  Unfortunately, even though I love working with dolls, even I have to take some time off.  Enter family road trip!
While I prepare for the upcoming trip, my girls pack the dolls that will accompany us and the necessary clothing and accessories.  In times past, this was disastrous!  By the end of the trip, some expensive article would be missing, dad would be upset and a little girl would be heart broken.  Sometimes the lost article would turn up months later, under a seat in the minivan among the french fries and crayons and sometimes the lost article would never resurface.  As a mom, it was another one of those difficult moments in life that I knew was avoidable so I set out to solve the problem.
Mission: travel bags and cases that actually work!
Among my favorite items is our antique reproduction doll trunk.  It has been a staple both here at My 18 Inch Doll and in my family.  The classic style is paired with function to provide a safe haven for dolls and their things.  After investing a large sum of money into clothing, shoes and all the other tiny things that our dolls need, I sought a way to protect them.  Protect them from becoming eternally lost, chewed by the family dog, taken by a toddler sister or simply collecting with the dust bunnies under a bed.  All the little drawers in the trunk are perfect for storing hair things, shoes, socks, and tights.  The hanging rods hold more clothes than my girls should have and way more than what they need to take on a weekend trip.  The large capacity has made these trunks the doll storage on the home front, with each of my girls having their own filled with their doll's belongings.
So we needed one to travel with!  I tried other versions but they came up short.  During a test run with the big name brand, one of our dolls came tumbling out, head first in the middle of aisle 8 of our local grocery store.  This catastrophic event brought instant tears to my daughter's eyes. She truly believed that her doll was alive. She was devastated that her doll had fallen and just like grown up moms do, she blamed herself.   Sadly, this happened numerous times.
As a mom, I could see that the design was poor.  The main pouch wasn't deep enough to hold the dolls it was intended for.  There were no safety belts to hold them, just in case.   If there had been, perhaps these unfortunate events would have been avoided.  Poor dolly needed some security and a little more leg room.  I had to be the one to pack two dolls in as the manufacture stated would fit.  My 10 year old daughter couldn't do it herself.  And truth be told, every time I did, I prayed that poor Samantha's hips wouldn't pop out of joint.  My heart would race while I maneuvered the dolls to cram them into place. 
If you want it done right.....put a mom on the job!  After some careful tests and trials, the mission has been accomplished!!  Our terrific and stylish Sassafras Doll Tote has arrived in our warehouse this spring and will soon be available to our customers!  We are taking it for a test spin during this road trip.  I can't wait!!
Our doll tote bag truly has enough room for two dolls and side pockets to hold all the extras.  My prediction: Nothing will be lost during this road trip and no dolls will take a tumble.  We'll report back after vacation.
 

As a mother of young girls who LOVE American Girl®, I often wonder, who is the bigger AG fan??  Is it really my girls, or is it their mama?
Mothers shape their children through their every word and action.  We shape our children by our attitude, our likes and dislikes. We even shape them by the things that we don't say and don't do. 
Our love and nurturing begins to mold them at our first meeting.  That first time you looked your child in the eyes, they knew the love and comfort of a mother.  From the newborn phase of depending on mom to meet their basic needs for survival to being comforted by mom's loving touch, baby is learning more than words can ever express. 
Toddlers begin to copy mom with everything they do.  Think back to the first time that you heard your toddler mimic the things that you say.  Think of the times that your little shadow tried to walk in your heels or wear your clothes.  Our children learn how to react to life's events by the way that their mother responds.  They learn love and fear, joy and , all from their parents.  (Dad has great influence too!  Today's parents have an equal partnership with raising their children and while I don't want to overlook dad's role, I do speak from a mother's perspective.) 
While our goal of raising our girls into great women seems daunting, (let's face it, it is!!)  somehow, we manage.  Its a daily challenge in many ways and can seem overwhelming.  That is why I look for assistance in any way that I can find it.  Let me rephrase that.  In any good, moral, loving, caring, generous and otherwise positive influential way that I can find it.  With so many things fighting for our attention, its hard to maintain the focus and to have the time and energy to devote to molding today's young girls.
That is where American Girl® has come in handy for me.  I hear from many moms who say that they have young daughters that they can't wait to give their first AG doll to.  It makes me wonder if the moms really are the bigger fans!
These dolls are not just toys but they embody the qualities that mothers want to pass on to their daughters.  They provide opportunities to bond with and teach life's lessons and ethics.  Samantha was the first American Girl® doll to enter our home.  She was kind and considerate of others.  She had great manners and respect for her elders.  She showed love and generosity to those that were less fortunate.  She was a true friend.  She was brave enough to speak out against the atrocities of her time and even braver to do something about them.  Samantha was accepting of new people and their ideas, even when they were different from what she had known but at the same time, she stood up for what was right.  Samantha is just the sort of girl that we wish lived in our neighborhood so she can influence our daughters in a positive way.  With these dolls coming to life in their stories, they can! 
I don't even have to mention how they promote reading and study of American History.  We all know that.  I don't have to tell you how playing with dolls can keep our girls from "growing up too fast" and experiencing the dangers that we want to steer them away from.  These dolls do so much for our children and reach a place with them that is increasingly difficult for parents to reach.  We are teaching them, without them knowing it, which is the easiest way to teach.
I encourage all the moms (and even the dads) out there to take some time to get to know your daughter's favorite doll.  Take some time to play and imagine.  You will  see these qualities take root in your daughter and get a glimpse of the woman that she will become. 
Take a moment to be honest with me.  Let me know if you "planted" the love for these dolls in your daughter, or was it all her idea?  Pat yourself on the back for welcoming such a great and effective teaching tool into your home.  You've done great, Mom!