Barbie can be anything you want her to be

I saw a link to this article Facebook: a column by Nina Funnell at Sydney Morning Herald called Barbie's not an issue if girls can think for themselves.

It takes on the discussion as to whether Barbie and the Disney Princess genre, and the "pink" scheme you seen in many products marketed to girls and women, are stereotyping girls. The conclusion is no, and here's why:

We would do well to understand that children don't necessarily take on the prescriptions their gender-specific toys may indicate. A girl playing in her Barbie kitchen could just as well be running her own restaurant as cooking for a husband and children.

Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/opinion/society-and-culture/barbies-not-an-issue-if-girls-can-think-for-themselves-20111222-1p6s6.html#ixzz1hvPINZls

I never have looked like Barbie. I'm too short, and currently too "plus" sized.

But I like the fact that Barbie always has a smile on her face. Furthermore, the official story lines from Mattel feature Barbie being kind, helpful, talented, smart, hard-working and cheerful even though she happens to have an unlimited budget for fun and fashion.

Those personal qualities are certainly ones we want our daughters to have, right?

The Miss Beauty Doll 2012 entries are open

If you like to imagine your fashion dolls as pageant stars, go see what the Miss Beauty Doll doll artist contest is all about.

Entries are now being accepted for the 2012 contest, but you can also see the previous winners on the site.

Is Barbie really a "doll" of an investment?

First: read the CNBC / USA Today piece - Barbie: A doll of an investment.

Then read my followup on my personal finance / frugal living blog Monroe on a Budget, where I explain that some dolls not only never go up in value, they can lose value upon resale.

Doll pageant: Charity appearance in winter

Continuing my doll pageant series:

Miss Barbie Roberts is dressed as if she was making a charity appearance during a Michigan winter.

Doll and Fashion Avenue outfit are both from the late 1990s. The crown I bought from a crafter on Amazon. The sash is from a different Barbie outfit. The screen shot in the background is the Miss America Organization web site.

Handcrafted outfit and furniture ideas for doll lovers of all ages

The blog that I'm most well known for is Monroe on a Budget, where I talk about frugal living and money-saving tips.

One of the pieces I wrote for the budget blog this week was called Handcrafted outfit and furniture ideas for doll lovers of all ages. You'll see pictures of my Barbie dollhouse, two outfits I handcrafted, two outfits I bought from another crafter, and one of the furniture pieces that a friend and I collaborated on years ago.

How to make a fireplace for your Barbie Christmas scene

My Shae Noel has a post on Barbie House Christmas Decor that includes a photo show and tell on making a fireplace for a Barbie scene or dollhouse. The pictures also show some handmade Christmas bedding for her daughter's dolls, and a handmade Christmas tree.

Amazing hairdo how-to on an Afro for your dolls

I saw an amazing doll photo on Pinterest that led to this article: How to give Barbie an Afro (and call it a Halo instead).

Youtube: the Creator of Barbie Dolls

I saw this awesome video from 2008 making the rounds on Facebook today! It features collectors, designers, some Barbie history - and a behind the scenes peek at the design center!

A thought about the Christmas gift dolls ...

If you are buying a Barbie or friend for a little girl on your list, or a Toys for Tots drive, would you also remember to supply Barbie some clothes, shoes, furniture or a pack-and-play box?

Tip: store the doll shoes in glass jars

You may have heard about crafters and sewers storing their tiny beads, buttons and pieces in glass jars.

But have you considered adapting that idea to the world of Barbie?

Well, my brainstorm today when I was at Ikea in Canton, Mich., was to put Barbie shoes in those little jars. I bought a package of four to see how it worked. I'm going to pick up a few more of those jars - and some shelving to hold them - at a future visit.

Barbie shoes in glass "spice jars" from Ikea