We were not supposed to be home this week. We were supposed to be out of town visiting cousins like we do every year at this time, but plans changed. When I asked my daughter what she wanted to do on the very first birthday she has celebrated at home in years, she said, “go to American Girl.” Knowing that time in the Bistro was an essential part of any American Girl trip, I called to see if we could get reservations. The answer was “no, we are completely booked.” Bummer.
When we got to the store we asked to be put on the waiting list – they said about an hour wait. They gave us a beeper and off we went to check in with our Personal Shopper and start exploring the store. Not even fifteen minutes later, our beeper went off and into the Bistro we went.
We got seated – Treat Seats for the dolls and all – and started to plan what to order. We decided that because it was 4 in the afternoon, that tea would be a perfect way to start our adventure.
Calista (MyAG #39) looks so pretty in green so she wore the Irish Dancing outfit for the day.
Chrissa (who belongs to my daughter’s very good friend who joined us) was also really thirsty and glad to have a cup of tea of her own, too.
When you order “tea” you can actually get Tea, Coffee, Hot Chocolate, Pink Lemonade, milk or soft drinks. Megan wanted Hot Chocolate – looks yummy!
Each guest for the tea gets a teapot filled with whatever they happen to be drinking so they can top up their drink throughout the afternoon.
The afternoon tea option is $11 per person and includes one of each per person – a fruit skewer, yogurt, mini muffin, mini turkey star sandwich, mini ham sandwich, mini cucumber sandwich on a bagel with cream cheese, oranges filled with jello, a cake pop and a mini cupcake – and of course, a drink. You can also see Calista wearing a hat – they brought the girls little tea bonnets to decorate for their dolls.
An American Girl birthday cake. We did not order one for Natalie – I am glad we didn’t because we were all full after our tower of tea treats! This was one headed for another table and I just took a photo of it.
Instead, Nat got a candle for her cupcake so she could still get a birthday wish! It was perfect!!
Then it was off to meet up with our Personal Shopper and start working on that shopping list.
After we finished shopping, Nat doubled checked her purchases, made sure she had enough birthday/Christmas/cat-sitting money with her to buy what she had on her list. One of the biggest benefits of working with a Personal Shopper is that you can check out in their special area of the store without feeling rushed. Another benefit is that the Personal Shoppers know what is in stock, what is out, can call to the back at any time to check on sizes and can give you great insight into the various products, too. Not to mention, our Personal Shopper was just A LOT OF FUN and really made the trip extra special.
After all that fun we took a few minutes to pose with one of our favorite girls – Julie! Too bad this photo turned out blurry – I really love it.
One of the items that has been on Nat’s list for months is a Treat Seat for her dolls so they can keep her company at her desk in the playroom. The Treat Seats were sold out online, and there were none in the store either…
Until just as we were waiting on the sisters to return from their favorite stores, we noticed an employee unpacking a huge box of Treat Seats right in front of us. I really thought Natalie was going to scream she was so happy! We went and purchased it quickly and then headed home – six happy girls (2 Moms, 2 teens, 2 awesome 10 year olds) who had just had an amazing day. And the Birthday Girl – she was the happiest girl ever and was oh, so appreciative – giving me lots of hugs, thank yous and “that was the best day evers!”
HAPPY NEW YEAR!! More photos, giveaways, fun and friendships coming to Doll Diaries in 2012! Thanks for being part of the fun and community this year!
This is too cute Char! Hope your daughter had a wonderful birthday!
Secondie! I hope she has an amazing birthday
I love this how wonderful! Happy Birthday! What fun!
i hope you and your daughter had a wonderful time at the american girl store.
That sounded like so much fun! I celebrated mt last birthday at the American Girl Palace
What a great way to celebrate a birthday and the end of a year! So much fun! thank you for sharing.
wow looks like you had a lot of fun!!
happy birthday
Happy New Year ! The wait 4 mckenna is finally over! Hope your daughter had an amazing bday
Char,
How do you get a personal shopper? Do you have to pay to have one? I know when I went to New York I saw a girl in the special area behind the salon and I decided I wanted one but didn’t know anything about them.
Really cute! But I am so sad because nobody entered my holiday gallery! Not one person and I haven’t had any comments for weeks. Please if anyone can visit my website at alldoll.doodlekit.com and please write a comment.
Happy Birthday to you! Happy Birthday To You! Happy Birthday Dear Natalie! Happy Birthday To You!!
Aw! That pic in front of Julie is so cute! I celebrated my birthday at American Girl in Atlanta a few years ago. It was a blast!
False alarm! 🙁 I might not go to AGP Chicago tomorrow! 😮
CHAR!!!!!!!! My Doll Diaries t-shirt and jeans arrived!!!!!! AAAAAAAAAAAAA! Samantha has taken photos with it and she looks SO cute! Thank you so much, Char! IT ARRIVED YESTERDAY
Happy Birthday Natalie!
Hey! Anyone stayin’ up late to see Miss Mckenna? : ) I wish I could!
Unfortunatly, AG posted a notice on facebook that the site will shut down at midnight central time, and won’t be up until tomorrow morning while they add all the McKenna stuff. That’s So awsome that Natalie got to spend her birthday at an AGP! I’m begging my mom to scedule our vacation over my birthday in an AGP city so I can get McKenna there
i want three treat seats
char-i just want to say i love your blog and that your daughter natalie looks just like you and wish her a happy birthday plus,she gave me idea to start saving money and try to earn money so please tell her thank you
love, JOYCE
Happy Birthday Natalie! Looks like you had a great time.
HAPPY NEW YEAR, Char and family! An awesome day here…recieved my oh- so-fab Doll Diaries t-shirt and jeans!!!! Thanks, they are very cute……and I got my new AG catalog!!! I really like McKenna’s loft bed! This was a really great mail day. Happy new year to all and have fun exploring the AG site tomorrow.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY NATALIE!!!!! I also wish everybody a Happy New Year! I have made a new website so PLEASE CHECK IT OUT!!!!!!!!
Happy New Year Everyone! Hope it will be filled with AG! Waiting for catalog.
That hot chocolate looks really good! I’ve been to 3 of the AG stores, but I never got the chance to eat at the cafe/bistro. It looks like fun! Happy Birthday, Natalie!
Please click on my name!!! :))) I would really like to have followers for my blog.
I am waiting for the AG website to turn into McKenna! I had a lot of sugar today.
Happy new year! I’ve had 2 soda,and 4 pieces of licorice and I’m waiting for Mckenna in 19 mins!
STILL WAITING for McKenna! Earthquake in Japan.
Its not New Years Day here yet!! But, HAPPY 2012! Thanks for a fantastic year of AG and lets have another! 🙂
Ummm when is she coming? HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!! I got braces on last week and my bracket just fell off, uh-oh! YES SHE”S HERE!!!!!!!!!! I’M SOOOOO GETTING HER!!!!!!!!
Happy new year
I think I’ll spend my 16th at AG. I don’t give a rat’s backside about what people will think!
Happy b-day Natalie! You must have had a lot of fun! And char, it would be cool to see some of the things Natalie got for her b-day too! I’m basically hinting that you should make a post with pics of all the things she bought. Anyway, Happy new year!
I stayed up to one to see the fireworks in my neighborhood and to try to see McKenna, To bad she wasn’t their! Anyway, people who are waiting for McKenna, she’s already there. The silly thing is that when you go to her page, it shows her pics in different outfits, but when you go to the clothing page of hers, it shows only one! It’s really weird. See u everyone!
Marina – yeah!! That is awesome! Feel free to send in a photo of your doll wearing it!
Thanks Joyce! She is definitely my mini-me! And she had been saving every cent she got since July just for this trip. Our neighbor has Nat take care of her cats every time she goes out of town so she earned her spending money.
Glad to hear it made it Aunty Paula!! Happy New Year!
Pretty Irish AG – There were girls of all ages at AG – I say go for it!
Natalia – I have all the photos of what she got ready to go…. check back in a bit for a new post.
I’m also taking photography next semester, which means better lighting for stopmotions and pictures I send to Doll Diaries. Getting closer to Regan Sarah McLachlan, my customized #25. I chose to get an identical doll, give Kiera Regan’s straight wig, and put Regan in a curly wig.
Happy New Year, everyone! : D
Wanna go so bad now! 😛
Happy Birthday to your DD – my dd wanted me to add that she loves your dd hair! thanks for sharing the awesome pics – we go to the Atlanta store each summer (my son goes to camp in in Atlanta) we have never done the afternoon Tea and after seeing your piics we are definatly going to do that this year ! the price is great and you still get the experience ! that means more $ for shopping lol we live 8 hours from any of the stores and only go once a year so we want to make the most of our 1 trip a year so thank you soooo much –
Jennifer&Savannah – thanks for the kind words. I really thought the Tea was a good value for the amount of food you get plus the experience.
Char,
My Natalie just celebrated her 7th birthday New Years Day and received her first AG doll this past Christmas. We are loving spending time together and look forward to visiting an AGP soon. Thank you for the overview of your Natalie’s visit. Perhaps we can hit up one for her 8th birthday next year and pick up the GOTY while we’re there!
Thanks and Happy New Year,
Mandy
Mandy – what a great name your daughter has! I highly recommend a visit to AG – you will make amazing memories. Glad to have you as part of our community!
Should I get my dolls ears pierced and the deluxe spa package or just ear piercing?
HAPPY BIRTHDAY NATALIE! Wow, I bet you had the best time!