Showing posts with label American Girl Doll of the year. Show all posts
Showing posts with label American Girl Doll of the year. Show all posts

Saturday, January 4, 2014

PHOTO RECAP: Welcome American Girl Isabelle Celebration at American Girl Water Tower Place #OriginalPhotos

ChiIL Mama and Sage went down to American Girl Place Chicago on Friday for Isabelle's welcome event.   





Isabelle Palmer, ballet dancer, is the new American Girl of the year for 2014.   It was awesome to see scenes from The Nutcracker performed in the store by kids from Ballet Chicago for Isabelle's launch party.   They also demonstrated common ballet steps for the crowd.  





ChiIL Mama caught it all in HD.  Videos of the Nutcracker dancers are coming soon, so check back with ChiIL Mama like we vote in Chi, IL ...early and often. 

Sage welcomes Isabelle 







Here's a slideshow with our full photo recap from the launch.




We're excited for the new girl of the year, since my daughter Sage currently takes ballet with her whole gymnastics team, to add grace, strength and flow to their competitive gymnastics routines.   She even has an Isabelle in her ballet class.   We're still hopeful that an AG Isabelle doll is headed our way so we can take her to ballet class with the Chicago Comets and do a photo filled review.

In the mean time, enjoy our photos from American Girl Place Chicago and we'll keep you posted about upcoming events and giveaways.




**ChiIL Mama's ChiIL Tip For Skipping Long AG Lines:   
The waits to check out were ginormous during Isabelle's launch party.   We spent a very reasonable $10 for a custom doll tee (I love gymnastics) and they rung up all of our purchases right in the tee shirt shop--no line/no wait!!   It saved us a TON of time.




We also dig the stylin' American Girl Doll Salon.   They work some serious magic.



We're also jazzed the new girl of the year is a ballet dancer because ChiIL Mama has been covering the Joffrey Ballet for years, and every holiday season they present the #1 Nutcracker production in the nation!   Several years ago, we were invited to shoot final dress rehearsal of The Joffrey Nutcracker, and interview the young, Chicago girls lucky enough to be in the production.   Those videos are still some of our most popular of all time, on our ChiIL Mama YouTube Channel.   Check them out below.







Click here to enter ChiIL Mama's current Bitty Baby giveaway.



So Long Saige #AmericanGirl

I'm the mother of a real life 10 year old, American Girl artist named Sage, so we've LOVED having Saige as American Girl of the year for the past year.   It's bittersweet saying so long to 2013 and to Saige.  







My own daughter, Sage, celebrated her 10th birthday this year, just like American Girl Saige.   Both are artists who love to draw and paint.   And even their dogs had an uncanny resemblance to each other!  



It was too much fun having an American Girl Doll namesake. 

We even got to review a Saige doll and give one away for our readers, as we have for McKenna the gymnast and Kanani from Hawaii, the girls of the year the two years before.   Our Saige giveaway had a record number of entries, topping out at 7,740!!  We also got to give away a Saige Blu-ray/DVD.








**Click here to check out lots of our Saige American Girl 2013 coverage





Check out ChiIL Mama's Slide Show Below
  • So long Saige
  • Caroline author Kathleen Ernst book signing
  • American Girl retired doll gallery behind the scenes, where ChiIL Mama's Sage got to do an exclusive video interview with author Kathleen.   


This time last year we also got to do a video interview with prolific American Girl author Valerie Tripp.   Check it out at the bottom of this post.


So long, Saige!



Saige Copeland may be gone, but she's NOT forgotten.   In fact, she's more precious and valuable than ever.  



She has joined the ranks of all the retired collector dolls in the American Girl series.

Check back with ChiIL Mama throughout 2014 for lots more American Girl coverage as we welcome Isabelle the dancer and offer more photo & video filled features, exclusive author interviews, reviews and giveaways.






*Click here to check out lots of our American Girl coverage including our current Bitty Baby Giveaway ($80 value). 


ChiIL Mama and 9 year old Sage interview author Valerie Tripp



Monday, February 4, 2013

American Girl Saige Doll Winner Announced! #Giveaway



American Girl of the year, Saige, and ChiIL Mama's daughter, Sage, 
both creative, artistic 9 year olds!


ChiIL Mama's elated to announce our American Girl Saige doll/book set winner:   Jennifer M!   We'll be sending our winner a private e-mail as well, in case there's any confusion as to which Jennifer M won.
  
We had an enormous, enthusiastic interest in winning our Saige doll/book set with 7,740 entries!!  Thank to all our readers who entered.   You rock!







Be sure to check back with ChiIL Mama (two ii's...one L...all fun in Chi, IL and beyond) for lots more nationwide toy, game, & book reveiws and giveaways and free Chicago area show tickets.

We'll also be running many more American Girl features this year, including more author interviews, book reviews, new releases and photo filled features.   

If you don't want to miss out, click the following to like/friend/follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, YouTube & Google + to be the first to know about nationwide giveaways, Chicago shows, and more.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Check out more of ChiIL Mama's past coverage on Saige, American Girl Doll of The Year 2013, including our book review, and photo filled welcome party feature.



Check out the main American Girl site for videos, free games, amazing historical & contemporary girls, and loads of excellent books.

ChiIL Mama's Saige doll/book giveaway has ended, but we'll be running exciting Saige features all year and there are still sweet giveaways, contests and philanthropy opportunities running at American Girl.   Here at ChiIL Mama we've always been impressed with the ways American Girl gives back to communities, empowers girls, and supports literacy.   This year they're also stepping up to support the arts!


To support Saige’s message of preserving arts programs in U.S. schools, American Girl is sponsoring a school grant contest and partnering with Americans for the Arts, the nation’s leading nonprofit organization for advancing the arts and arts education. American Girl’s “Shine On Now” charitable initiative will provide financial support to the organization's Arts Education Program, which provides arts education professionals with the information, materials, and resources they need to enrich student experiences with the arts.

To further engage girls, American Girl is introducing the following Saige-related initiatives:


  • Elevate the Arts School Grant Contest: Starting January 1, elementary art teachers can enter to win one of thirteen grants totaling $45,000 for their schools’ art programs by submitting a digital image of a hot-air-balloon-themed art project and a written essay that conveys why the arts matter in their schools. Entries must be received via the online form by May 31, 2013.

  • Soar with Saige Sweepstakes: Girls can share their artistic talents by downloading a hot-air balloon template from americangirl.com/girloftheyear and creating a colorful design using crayons, markers, or pencils. All balloon artwork sent to American Girl by April 1, 2013, will be uploaded to an online hot-air balloon mosaic and automatically entered to win one of ten prize packages.

  • Saige Learning Guide: American Girl has teamed up with Americans for the Arts to create this free, downloadable curriculum, which encourages children to draw on their imaginations and discover how creative they can be. Students in grades 3 to 6 will enjoy reading Saige’s stories and doing the fun art activities outlined in this curriculum. Activities for parents to engage in with their kids are also available via Americans for the Arts’ website: AmericansForTheArts.org/go/AmericanGirl.

  • Saige Retail Events: Girls can take part in Saige-themed events at American Girl retail stores nationwide, including painting demonstrations, free craft activities, photo opportunities, and delicious Saige-inspired meals.

The Saige collection will be available through American Girl’s catalogue, at americangirl.com, and at all American Girl retail locations until December 31, 2013 only. To learn more about the Saige contests and promotions, go to americangirl.com/girloftheyear or American Girl’s Facebook page at facebook.com/americangirl. To request a free American Girl catalogue, call 1-800-845-0005.

About American Girl
American Girl Brands is a wholly owned subsidiary of Mattel, (NASDAQ:MAT, www.mattel.com), the world’s leading toy company. Since American Girl’s inception in 1986, the company has devoted its entire business to celebrating the potential of girls ages 3 to 12. American Girl encourages girls to dream, to grow, to aspire, to create, and to imagine through a wide range of engaging and insightful books, age-appropriate and educational products, and unforgettable experiences. In meeting its mission with a vigilant eye toward quality and service, American Girl has earned the loyal following of millions of girls and the praise and trust of parents and educators. To learn more about American Girl or to request a free catalogue, call 1-800-845-0005, or visit www.americangirl.com.

About Americans for the Arts
For more than 50 years, Americans for the Arts has led the national effort to ensure that every American has an opportunity to participate in and appreciate all forms of the arts. Championing the cause of the arts and arts education in communities across the country, the organization dedicates itself each year to providing programs that help foster an environment in which the arts can thrive and contribute to the creation of more livable communities; generate more resources to support arts and arts education; and build individual appreciation of the value of the arts. From their offices in Washington, D.C. and New York City, they proudly serve more than 150,000 members and stakeholders annually. Learn more at www.artsusa.org or by calling (202) 371-2830.




Wednesday, August 8, 2012

Shout Out to the Rockin' Awesome US Women's Olympic Gymnastics Team



ChiIL Mama loves positive, mighty girl role models--no matter how you wear your hair!    You're all amazing and beautiful.





My 9 year old gymnast has been avidly watching the Olympic Games this year when she's not at team practice, and she's been happily recreating the team with her American Girl dolls!





This wasn't any kind of a formal shoot, just summer time, 9 year old fun.   But as a mom, I'm elated to see my daughter admiring and emulating Gabby Douglas and the other team girls.





Thanks to the real life American Girls out there, leading by example.   And showing a whole generation of young girls that hard work and practice pays off, it's beautiful to be strong and healthy, and that judging someone by something as trivial as a hair style is.....you said it, Gabby, "Silly."    Thank you.




Tuesday, July 10, 2012

American Girl Doll Hospital Adventure #Photo Feature




Sometimes accidents happen....especially to active athletes.   McKenna, American Girl Doll of the Year 2012, ended up in a cast with crutches from a gymnastics injury.   So did my daughter, in real life (also from a gymnastics injury)!




For times like these, sometimes an unexpected detour to the hospital is necessary.  In addition, to gymnast McKenna, my daughter has a whole team of American Girl Dolls who do gymnastics.  She dresses them in leotards and they're all team gymnasts together.  






Sage has one of the original Pleasant Company vintage American Girl Dolls, Samantha, who launched the collection in 1986 along with Molly and Kirsten.  The last of her outfits, books and accessories were retired in 2007.


   




Samantha Parkington is a bright, compassionate girl living with her wealthy grandmother in 1904. It's an exciting time of change in America, and Samantha's world is filled with frills and finery, parties and play. But Samantha sees that times are not good for everybody. That's why she tries to make a difference in the life of her friend Nellie, a servant girl whose life is nothing like Samantha's!

Along with Molly and Kirsten, Samantha was one of the three American Girls that launched the collection in 1986.




Despite her collector value, we believe dolls are meant to be played with and enjoyed, and we value her much more in action.  Sage renamed her Nastia, after a well know US gymnast.   As a well loved member of Olympic Team American Girl, Nastia/Samantha eventually injured her leg irreparably and had to have an extended stay at the American Girl Doll Hospital.









 Amid many tears, we took her in and said goodbye for a few weeks, but I was impressed with the quick turn around time, and it's always fun to get packages in the mail!   





At first the leg reattachment cost seemed a bit high, but she came back with the cutest hospital gown, wrist bracelet, adorable socks, a certificate of health, and well brushed hair that looked like new!!    








The whole situation turned a sad repair into a fun adventure, as Nastia spent days telling the other American Girl Dolls about her hospital escapades.    McKenna even loaned Nastia her cast and crutches!




If your child, or someone you know is braving an actual hospital stay in Chicago, the new children's hospital is a short walk from Water Tower Place, home of American Girl Chicago.   It's not just a store, it's an entire village with the doll hospital, cafe, and two floors of American Girl history, magic and wonder.   You can even buy a little wheel chair, hearing aid, or a doll without hair, to help kids deal with their own illnesses.


Whether you're cheering an actual sick or injured child or repairing doll parts that had a bit too much love, American Girl Doll Hospital is highly recommended!


Check out the Doll Hospital Welcome Page here for full details.



Doll Hospital

American Girl dolls are meant to be played with, but sometimes during the fun, accidents happen. That's why the experts at the American Girl Doll Hospital are here to help with everything from a thorough cleaning to major "surgery." Doll doctors will make her as good as new and send her back ready to be loved for years and years.

Welcome to the Doll Hospital

When you admit your American Girl doll to the Doll Hospital, she'll be carefully handled to protect her from further injury. A team of doll doctors will examine her from head to toe and decide on a treatment to fix her "injuries"—everything from hair brushing to limb tightening to major "surgery."

Doll Hospital services:

Wellness visit
Skin cleaned, hair brushed hospital gown, certificate, but no major "surgery."
Ear piercing
This service is for 18" My American Girl® dolls only.
LEARN MORE 
.
Doll-sized hearing aid
This service is for 18" My American Girl® dolls only.
LEARN MORE 
.
Dolls without hair
Find out about this new option
LEARN MORE 
.
Additional services:
  • New head(same American Girl, Bitty Baby or Bitty Twins dolls only)
  • Reattachment of head
  • New body(torso and limbs)
  • Reattachment of limbs(18" American Girl dolls only)
  • All repairs include a complimentary wellness service
  • Eye replacement(same eye color only)
Every doll who comes to the Doll Hospital will have her hair brushed and her skin cleaned before she's discharged. Within three weeks, she'll be on her way home with a smile on her face and special items to remember her stay, including:
  • Certificate of Good Health
  • Get Well card
  • Doll Hospital gown(plus a cap for Bitty Baby and socks for 18" dolls)
  • Doll Hospital ID bracelet**ID Bracelet not included with Bitty Baby/Twins for safety reasons

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