Let Me Reintroduce Myself

*if you couldn't tell, I think this post will look best on a computer, LOL*

Merry Christmas! (Technically) I'm starting this on the first day of Christmas, but I think this will take me about a week to finish (wow, is this me putting longer than an hour into a post?! Crazy. *only because I need to take the pictures*) And I’m actually going to break this post into sections, look at me trying to be less chaotic!! *this post might be long, but hopefully it’s not TOO long* We will take it in increments.  I'm going to warn you in advance, I'm trying to cover way too many things in one post.  It's been a full week.   

As of today, I have 32 American Girl dolls, 6 boys, 26 girls, and a partridge in a pear tree.  

I figure since I'm starting this on Christmas, I might as well do some highlights for the doll-related things I received!  

Side note, doesn't Ty look AMAZING in that Santa hat?  Red is such a him and Iris color.  

Highlights from Christmas 

First of all, I FINALLY got the AG Elf of the Shelf!  Yes, I know I'm almost 18 so technically I'm probably too old to be excited over an elf on the shelf, but if we use that logic I'm too old for dolls altogether.  I've wanted it for about two years, but this was the year I finally asked for it!  *IT IS SO CUTE* (although it's quite tipsy).  Technically it's a boy on the package but I think I'll customize it into a girl.  Just need a name idea...  I can't wait to do Christmas photos next year and just have the elf hiding in random spots in the background.  (Look at me, already planning photoshoots for next year.)

I also got the... wow the name escapes me, let's go to google. The Janie and Jack sweater and shoes, which I am OBSESSED with the shoes and madly in love with the sweater.  I would've put more effort into the picture for the shoes, but at this rate I've put three days into this post, and I'd rather be working on a novel so... I'm ready to be done (😂).  Shoes are amazing though, definitely one of my favorite pairs of doll shoes, A++++    

The last thing I'm going to mention is Julie's.... (back to google) Floral Jumpsuit (wow Noelle, the name is SO easy, how do you forget that?)  which I've wanted for a really long time!  Anddddd ya!  

*I also got an insane amount of bristle/bottle brush trees, which is a weird Christmas obsession of mine.  My room is filled with roses and bristle trees and vintage books from the 1900s-1960s*  

We're going to TOTALLY change direction, and get into the topic for this post....

Reintroductions Please - Updated Repaints   yes this was inspired by the Gwen Stefani song (ONLY Gwen Stefani song I like, I would just like to make that VERY clear)

We're going to start with Jordan, because... I think she was the first doll I ever customized to look like one of my novel characters... she's also the first doll I put eyeliner on, she's one of my go-tos when I want to take pictures (I literally have to set her back down and remind myself I have 30 other dolls and my content needs ✨variety✨).  Now the funny thing about her, is I unintentionally gave her and Olive a REALLY similar repaint, like the eyebrows were pretty much identical and so were the eyelashes, so often I would use Olive for more "non-makeup" shots... but we can't do that anymore and I'll get to that in a moment.  

So.  

I've always been... content... with Jordi's repaint, but I never really liked the eyebrows, and I just decided it was finally time for me to give her an update.

So... ✨viola✨

Then: 

Now: 

*I can't tell if these photos are actually bad, or if I've been staring at this post for too long and am now getting nit-picky and hyper-critical.... 😅* 

I'm not going to lie, I'm having a LITTLE bit of trouble adjusting, because she's looked ONE WAY for SO long.  And it's kinda characteristic for her to have that brighter red lipstick, which I got rid of, (it photographs red but it's actually like a dark red/purplish color?) but at the same time I love this so much more and I also feel it's very... I don't know.  It's like a new side of her, and honestly? Caspian and I are here for it.  But, can we talk about how STUNNING her eyes are?  

Bonus! Tattoo update for her ✨ (It took me roughly two days because my pen kept dying and I think that is the longest I've ever put into a tattoo) 

Next (coincidentally) is Olive!  I NEVER took pictures of her before, and I really wanted that to change, so I figured maybe just maybe if I updated her repaint, I'd feel more inspired.  Hopefully I like it long-run, and she ends up being posted more!

This is how she used to look: 

And this is how she looks now:

*In case you are still wondering, the top is from JulesNmeDollDesigns on Etsy!* 

Falling for my Josefina Molds 

I always go through these phases... that last until I find an extreme TLC doll (I always only seem to go for those What can I say, I LOVE a challenge!)... where I tell myself I won't/can't buy a new doll until I'm absolutely in love with my current collection.  

And there are still a couple classic mold dolls that I need to work on (cough cough Saige I'm looking at you), but I was sick of not loving my Josefina molds.  And I needed that to change.  

And I always said it was the lips, the lips, the lips, that's why I didn't like the mold, but I also have my grievances with the crease above the eye... but I knew that for Gracie I NEEDED to repaint her eyebrows, and I'd see where that would put me. 

Guys...

Guys......... oh my gosh.

Grace Thomas (now Gracie, DRASTIC name change, I know) was my second American Girl doll... I have NEVER loved her more than I loved her now.  She skyrocketed from "I need to get rid of her" to "omg where have you been all my life?"  I CANNOT get over how cute I find her, and I am SO excited to share her with you.  I would've done it sooner, but I was waiting on this dress to come in the mail *which is the ONLY reason this wasn't posted on Christmas, I've just been waiting for her dress* (I ordered some new doll jewelry too, I'm SO excited for that, I am SUCH SUCH SUCH a jewelry junkie)

*Her dress is from PixieSewingRoom on Etsy*

So.  May I proudly present Miss Gracie Elizabeth Thomas:  

Secondly is Luci.  I retouch her repaint every few months, but I've never really... I don't know I've always struggled to connect with her.  Maybe she was one of those I'm just trying too hard?  Or maybe her repaint idea is always just a few months ahead of my skill set... I don't know.  

BUT! I am OBSESSED with splatter freckles (which I have on Gracie and Julie), and I mean OBSESSED so I figured I would try those on her!  They're REALLY subtle (which I wanted) and oh I LOVE them.  And I love how I FINALLY fixed her lips (it only took me six months) which I feel like really helped(?).  She's right up there with Meredith, totally not my style so I have NO clue what I'm doing, but I really want to try because I get so inspired and ONE DAY I promise I will figure this style out.   

Needless to say, I love her much more than I did a week ago.   

I find it so amazing what a repaint can do.  

New Year, New Faces 

I don't know if you're familiar with the show Hotel Portifino, (season one is my favorite, I haven't gotten around to season three yet) but my Grandma got me into it, and oh my gosh.  Marie-Grace reminds me SO much of Constance.  It's tradition that I get a doll for Christmas but I was expecting Addy or Z so when I got Marie Grace (in the best of best condition)... Love, love love love.  Childhood dream come true.  I could just never bring myself to ask for her because I know how expensive she can be, so.... ya... I was.... omg.  

ANYWAY! May I VERY happily introduce you to Miss Constance Ivory Fallon.  

I also got another Effanbee doll!  (One of the other lines I collect) (Did you know that Effanbee is one of the oldest doll companies in the US? I didn't either! Until thirty seconds ago!) I'm slowly starting to move away from collecting AG and collecting more vintage.  

The name will match much better once I change her outfit, but she's still in all her original clothing, so I wanted to photograph that.  

Here is the lovely Miss. Chanel! (Coco, for short 😂😇) 

Side note!  I think I've mentioned Adam(?) but he's my doll-repaint in progress rn... I have the outlines for the first few tattoos (they've been sitting for... a week 😅😅😅, we will have to see just how washable Crayola is) I need to motivate myself to go in and paint them... but my winter break is fading TOO fast, college starts again for me next week and... I have so many other things I want to do.  

But!  Sneak peeks!  (I LOVE spoilers, so, ya!) 

As of right now, I'm at the point where I'm getting rather specific about the dolls I want to add to my collection, and I'm going to try and stop buying random dolls just because they're cheap.  (However, some of my favorite dolls are the ones I never thought I wanted).  

So some dolls to look for in 2025(!):

Tenney Grant

Z (which I would rename Florence... it's for a book, don't ask) 

#21

And one of my custom dream dolls 

We're manifesting here!!!!!!   

This was a rollercoaster... but uhm! Thanks for reading!  And I've updated my Meet the Dolls page, so feel free to check that out too!