Asian Barbie takes over the world

Remember how excited I was about the new Asian Barbie doll, to the point that "Lea" even became the face of this blog and my Instagram? Well, something must be going on at Mattel where they are marketing Asian dolls like hot pancakes! I was beyond thrilled when I noticed a plethora of Asian Barbies lining the racks at my local Target stores recently. This is just bizarre and joyous for the little girl in me! Times are changing! Wish they had these when I was a little girl 20 years ago! (Then again, my parents probably wouldn't buy these for me due to their frugal living situation back then, so maybe the timing is just perfect right now!) 

 

1. Barbie Nurse ($9.94 at Walmart) - same face and black hair as my Made-to-Move Lea, but with a career in nursing.

2. Barbie Fashionistas Chic ($19.99 at Target) - same face as my Lea with browner hair color. This box includes 3 city chic day-to-night outfits. 

3. Barbie Fashionistas Ruby ($7.99 at Target) - same face as my Lea with brown hair and bangs, and red lipstick. I bought this to be Lea's sister! 

4. Barbie President & Vice President ($24.99 at Target) - for the Asian girl with bigger eyes and bespectacled. Also cool highlights in the hair. 

5. Barbie Fashionistas Pink Pizzazz ($7.99) - this is the new body-proportion style of dolls in "Tall". Based on the double-eyelids and height, not the stereotypical Asian features, but she looks fresh with the mid-length hair and great smile! @dolliemine makes her super stylish! 

Goodness, it seems like I'm more consumed with Barbie dolls as my hobby now instead of "all-things-purple." But I did spot a PURPLE-haired Barbie at Target that was breathtaking...

Barbie Endless Hair Kingdom Purple Princess ($8.89) - isn't she the prettiest! 

Asian American Barbie Lea taking over this blog

This year is definitely the year of the Barbie doll for me. Ever since I discovered Barbie Style on Instagram, my inner child "really really really wants a Barbie doll" again, and especially when I spotted the Asian model! First time ever Mattel came out with a doll with an Asian complexion without the heavy too-glamorous eye makeup. I owe it to my little-girl-self wish come true. I decided to buy myself my very first Barbie (at the age of 33, ha!) Of course they don't stock the one I wanted at my local stores, so I went on Ebay and ended up buying two for over $50! A little bit crazy, but I can afford it now! Yay! But of course, a few days later after I purchased my dolls, I noticed ToysRUs  (and Amazon) began selling the same doll on their website for only $14.99. Yes, I got jipped. Oh well, that's how life goes when it comes to wishes. But I'm happy with my "Lea" Asian Barbies, definitely worth the $50's! This one can do yoga and wears a PURPLE top! I'm so excited about this, I'm revamping this Blog and my Instagram for Lea to take over and be my spokesperson from now on! Also changing the title to "Búp Bê Life" (meaning "doll" life in Vietnamese). 

My Little Pony Twilight Sparkle for Halloween

I saw this Little Pony hoodie in a Kmart advertisement last week and thought to myself "I need this for Halloween!" Granted I don't really celebrate Halloween anymore, but if I had to wear a costume, I just want to wear this hoodie:

1. There is more than one purple shades in it.

2. The pony has bangs (so do I!)

3. I probably can fit into size girls XL (yay for being a petite)

4. I read about "Twilight Sparkle" online, and the character is very similar to my kind of persona (student, librarian, magic, friendship...love her!)

Donating toys with purple hair

Speaking of purple hair, this weekend I went to Target to buy toys to donate for my local children's hospital. Wow, July is a good time to buy toys! Lots of clearance items. A true girly girl at heart, I spent almost all my time in the Barbie doll isle and became inspired about toys again! I was excited to get these with the purple hair and purple outfits of course..

I know there's a lot of controversy over Barbie dolls over the years and present-day for being unrealistic bad role models for children, but I grew up wanting to own a Barbie doll, and it did not influence me in getting plastic surgery, nor spending my money on figure-tight clothing, nor having low self-esteem in comparison to my own image. I just love Barbie dolls because they have cool hair to play with, one can get creative with her outfits (use of arts and craft skills), imagining fun stories of the places she'll go with her makeover, and just appreciation of fashion and beauty. Barbie dolls are pretty, and when I see something pretty, it makes me happy! There is a saying..."a thing of beauty is a joy forever!" - John Keats