Thanks to the company that sponsored this review. I was not compensated beyond the review item. All opinions are my own. Others may have a different opinion or experience.

It happens at the end of every year, for the past few years. My girls talk about American Girl and discuss the topic based on one question: "Who will be the girl of the year next?". They can barely stand the suspense and I'm sure to show them video and/or images once they're released to the public. Then, it starts. The squeals are heard all through the house and the excitement in their voices is way too precious to describe as they guess all she will have in her line and what her story will be. 

This year, the Girl of the Year is named Gabriela and she is the very first African American beauty to be given the title of such. Her story is one of dance, creativity, writing, boldness, and overcoming personal struggles. Girls everywhere will love her and enjoy getting to know her through her story.

As always, the details are never lacking in her design. Her outfit is colorful and made of top quality materials while it speaks to her love of dance. My girls especially love her shoes. Also? This doll's hair.... my girls love it so very, very much.
Gabriela comes with the headband and hair ties to create the hair style we see on the cover of her book. Naturally, my girls asked me to put her hair up and headband on right away. Here's a look at Gabriela with her hair up.

And this. My very fair skinned girl embracing this doll and loving her beautiful differences is something that does my heart good. Teaching young people to see all differences in an angle that looks for the beauty rather than fault is so important and this is an amazing way to do that. It invites children to make these differences part of their own life by diving into the book and playing out the things they recall from the story.

**An exciting change is that American Girl will be continuing to release a Girl of the Year (they're working on next year's right now) but they will keep Gabriela's items in stock longer than one year so collectors on a budget have more time to enjoy her and finish their collection.

**And! This year, students will have a chance to connect to Gabriela's story and learn more about spoken word poetry. This is something she learns to use to overcome her stuttering. American Girl and Scholastic have partnered up to create a classroom program they've called Express Yourself. It will teach children how to embrace the use of the arts as a way to express their individuality. Look for it this month (March 2017)

You can learn more about Gabriela McBride by clicking her name this sentence.

**Finally: You can be sure there are many more new characters coming this year. Check out the image below and click to learn more.

~Amy
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American Girl's 2017 Girl Of The Year - Gabriela McBride (and other new things) *Review*

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My Peanut girl (6 years old) and I had a very special opportunity. On August 20th, we headed into Detroit to attend a special debut evening for American Girl's newest addition to their BeForever line, Melody Ellison.


The energy inside the Charles H. Wright Museum was high as little girls everywhere carried their American Girl dolls around and enjoyed the different activities.

First, we grabbed a snack to eat and something to drink. Have you ever tried Soul Food Macaroni and Cheese?
Y'all....it is SO yum. (which reminds me to look up a recipe to try)

As we made our way around the room, we found a craft station. Girls were invited to choose a pendant to color that went along with Melody's story of lifting her voice in the civil rights movement of the 60's. We were also given a sticker sheet. And, well, you can see the smile on Eliana's face. She enjoyed the thoughtfulness of things meant just for her to enjoy. 

As we finished up making a pendant, we heard motown hits as sung by a local girls' choir. They were phenomenal! Eliana watched carefully with a smile on her face as the choir sang. She admired their bravery to sing in front of hundreds, their dance moves, and the beautiful voices as they sang out. 

Next, it was over to the photo box. Eliana got her picture taken and it was emailed to us to use in social media streams. The idea is to share a photo or video with the hashtag, #LiftYourVoice, and talk about how you're joining American to lift your voice for change. Head over to the website mentioned above to learn more about it! 

We were introduced to the team of people who worked so hard to make sure that Melody's story, told from the 60's Civil Rights movement in Detroit, MI, was told well. American girl partnered with the African American History Museum (Charles H. Wright Museum) as well as those who lived in Detroit during the time of Melody's story and those who have studied the Civil Rights movement. The details are so important to get right, all the way down to the tiniest accessory created for Melody's line. 

Honestly, I don't believe this doll could have been introduced at a better time. My children have questions about the tension they're aware of and want to know how to be a part of the solution. Wrapping their arms around this doll, reading her story, and learning the history behind this point in time is so helpful and so needed. 

Eliana would like to return to the museum with her Melody doll to learn African American history. When she asked me if we could do that, I responded with tears in my eyes, "Yah, sweetheart. I'd love to come back and learn with you." 

                 

That leads us to the museum gift shop where she got to see Melody up close for the first time & check out her sets and accessories. (Sidetone: The museum gift shop will stock and sell Melody, her books, and some accessories until September 5th! Otherwise, she can be purchased online or you can head to Twelve Oaks Mall in Novi to buy her until January 31.)

We loved seeing and touching all the items created in Melody Ellison's line. Her winter dress and travel set, her block party set, her bedroom set, and of course her recording studio. And, I smiled so big when I found a Vernor's bottle in her block party set (pictured below). The little nods to Detroit and the 60's make the perfect personal touch.

       

We loved our night in Detroit, topped off with a can of Faygo pop, because, of course!

Then, over the weekend, Melody Ellison arrived at our home. My girls screamed so loud with excitement. I honestly have never heard them so excited over an American Girl doll before. I think Eliana's night at her debut made her excited to have this Detroit beauty in our home. 

The flip in her hair and the texture of her hair, the herringbone dress, the neckline, the grosgrain ribbon bows, the side pleats, the paten shoes and knee high socks...all of it is perfection.

And yes, her face is molded different from the caucasian dolls. She is pure, African American beauty. We just love having her here and are reading her story together. 

We're so grateful for this opportunity & we hope you fall in love with Melody Ellison too!

~Amy

American Girl's Melody Ellison - Detroit Debut {review}

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Thanks to Twelve Oaks Mall and American girl for this review opportunity. I was not compensated for this post. All opinions are my own. Others may have a different opinion or experience.

If you live in or around Novi, Michigan, I'm sure you've heard of the American Girl store opening in Twelve Oaks mall.  (And if you haven't, don't worry. You have permission to be in the know now)

American Girl is in the Mattel Brands family and has been around since I was a girl. They have beautifully made dolls and accessories for girls aged 5 and up. But believe me, this brand is not just about the dolls. They've always been about celebrating girls in their differences and creating memories that are built around each girl at an individual level. 

The store opening at Twelve Oaks Mall is a temporary store, closing in January. 

---OK, I saw that pouty lip you just made. Don't worry. If we flood the store with sales this holiday season, we have a good chance at getting them to build a permanent spot for us. (Shop, shop, shop!)

ANYway, my girls and I made an afternoon of visiting the store before the grand opening and we're so excited to share our 3 favorite things from our visit. 

1. Wellie Wishers! 

Photo by Amy Clary

Photo by Amy Clary

My Sunshine Girl, Mikki, is crazy about the Wellie Wishers. These are made perfectly for her (almost) 5 year old hands and play along perfectly with her imagination. She loves all the dolls but would like to get Willa next. (She has Camille.)

When she was shopping in the Wellie Wishers part of the store, I thought we would have to stay there the rest of the day. She loved playing with the doll house and checking out all the little accessories. Of course, she wants everything. LOL

Photo by Amy Clary

Photo by Amy Clary

Photo by Amy Clary

Photo by Amy Clary

Photo by Amy Clary

Little Mikki was so excited when she got to pick a box of accessories for Camille. She made sure to play with it as soon as she got home, too. In the box was a mermaid tail for Camille to wear, a little plush seahorse, and a treasure chest to hold a sea shell, an hour glass, & a message in a bottle. She's been carrying around her treasure chest all afternoon. It's so sweet to see.


2. Lea Clarke, the 2016 Girl Of The Year

There is a whole section dedicated to Lea and all her fun outfits & accessories. Eliana brought her Lea doll along so this was especially exciting for her.  And? She found Lea's Sloth was in stock so she made sure to grab it up and bring it home. (Is anyone else living with a sloth-crazy girl since the release of Lea? lol)

Photo by Amy Clary

Photo by Amy Clary

Photo by Amy Clary

Photo by Amy Clary

Photo by Amy Clary

3. The Doll Hair Salon

Photo by Amy Clary

After we paid for our things, we were asked if the girls' dolls could be used for a bit of practice in the doll hair salon. They excitedly agreed and loved every moment of choosing the hairstyle and ribbon color for each doll. With big smiles and anticipation building, they waited for the finished product. 

Oh, I wish you could have seen their little faces when they saw how beautifully the dolls' hair turned out. 

This is something they want to do again, but next time I think we'll make it a real pampering day for all of us. We learned that the dolls can also get their ears pierced and/or nails painted as an add-on for the styling. Our idea is to get the doll's hair styled and nails painted and then go get our own nails painted. It's a great idea, right? (Hey, I'm all for it.)

Photo by Amy Clary

Photo by Amy Clary

OK, enough of looking at my photos. Go to Twelve Oaks Mall and make your own memories with your girls (Or nieces, or granddaughters, or god-daughters, or your friend's girls...). The memories are right there waiting to be made and the employees in the store are waiting to greet each little face and make her feel like SHE is the star.

Photo by Amy Clary

And if you're looking for even more fun for little ones, check out the Summer Fun Thursdays in the mall. American Girl is one of the sponsors for this so I'm positive it will be worth checking out.

~Amy

American Girl Opens In Novi, MI - 3 Things To Love {review}

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