Upcoming Third Anniversary of PhillyCollector of Playscale Dolls

Time flies? Well, it can and does move quicker than expected when you're doing something you enjoy. So here I am, three years after I began this blog, PhillyCollector. Yes, three years. I've learned how to upload photos and insert links. I've wrestled with HTML to present lists and tables ... we won't say who won those early battles. Suffice to note: I am NOT backing down yet. Puff.

In fact, I am considering a blog update. No! some of you might be thinking. Please keep this cluttered format. Please. How else will we recognize you? By your cough wit? Ha! Yes, an update is overdue for the blog.

Why am I telling you this? Well, I value your opinions. You are readers of PhillyCollector. Let me know what you think I need to do to refresh.  I'll consider doing it.

Thanks in advance for any feedback!

Surrender at Toys R Us

Okay, this is one of those times when an accessory takes precedence over dolls: the Liv drum set. This I could NOT resist. The accompanying Daniela will - of course - serve as a donor body. But I had to have the drums. Sale price ... $16.18 with tax for both the body and the drums. Eight dollars and nine cents each piece. Not bad. No, there are no musical genes in my body. No dreams of becoming a rock star in my present or my past. But drums and motorcycles are two "cool" must have items. I have plenty of motorcycles and skooters. I missed the Liv drums sale at Walmart. Could not take a chance that I might miss them. I don't have a drummer yet for them, but I have the prop now. So, that's good. I have completely justified my surrender to buy.

Doublemint AA Cheerleaders at Toys R Us

I really should NOT have been there in the first place. Toys R Us. It's just that I had not visited the South Philly Toys R Us for so long. I thought: I don't have to buy anything. Just look and see. See if they have something that the Cottman and the Aramingo stores do not have. Just looking was my downfall.

Because I was there and I did see this set and I almost broke down and bought them. Almost. I told myself that I had at least FOUR Desiree-faced dolls already. Told myself that I was getting tired of the Desiree face already. Told myself that the doll bodies were probably "hobbit Barbie bodies." Told myself that complexion variation was NOT reason enough to get another set of dolls with the same face. Repeated that reminder at least three times. Finally tore myself away after I found a long-desired item that caused me to set this Toys R Us special down.

The item so fascinating to me is the Toys R Us Exclusive African American or black cheerleader pair of Grace AND Nikki! Yes, two black female dolls in the Barbie pantheon, in the same box. Like Cara and Christie. Or Christie and Nikki. Wow. And although they both have the same face sculpt (grrrrr), they have different complexions! So I was very hard-pressed to leave these dolls behind me.

Now for those of you who do not have a Toys R Us selling this doll set, I suggest you walk your fingertips to this web page if you would like to add this Grace and Nikki set to your doll collection. Me, I am wondering when I will be back at the South Philly Toys R Us. Because I think I might get that set after all ....

By the way ... Toys R Us has FREE shipping for these dolls. Enabler? Moi?!

Working on Posts to Come

Hi all!

I'm working on some post ideas. Will be here again. Soon ...

CG Ice or Miss Fear: Who's Scarier?

I'd taken these photos comparing the head sizes of Takara CyGirl Ice and Hasbro Miss Fear, when I thought hmmm ... Ice looks slightly more intimidating in the side view photo. She seems to be leaning in and making herself look bigger as if to frighten Miss Fear. Not that Miss Fear appears to be backing down. No. Our Miss Fear inspires fear in hearts and minds here in East Philly.

But that's me. Who would you prefer to NEVER encounter in a dark alley?

Do Specific Doll/Action Figures Inspire You to Watch Related Programs?

I saw the Character Optics Martha Jones doll in an action figure brochure, and decided to buy her. I had no idea who she was, but I liked her set chin and her odd molded hair. Then after I had her for a while, I began to wonder about the character she represented and the television show she "belonged to." So I looked into finding out about the new Dr. Who series. Ah! another fascination begins. I borrowed all the Dr. Who DVDs I could find.

So I wonder and ask: have you ever been inspired to watch a television program or see a movie because you liked a doll or action figure based on that featured that doll or action figure?

Great News: Package Arrived!

Regular readers may recall my anxiety about a package sent to Germany that had not been received. Well, I am ECSTATIC to announce the package arrived! I am sooo happy. The buyer is happy. We would be doing Snoopy Happy Dances if there weren't miles of land and sea between us.

Huzza hooray for the postal systems, U.S. and German that got that package to its new home.

Whew!