Chrissa and Her Friends
January 12, 2010 by Char · 785 Comments
Chrissa has officially been retired in the American Girl history books, but she and her friends Gwen and Sonali are loving life in my daughter’s room. Chrissa is the doll that my daughter had bonded with most – I think it is because they are both swimmers. She got Chrissa for her birthday last year and then set upon the task of convincing me that she needed the entire collection over the course of the year. Between Christmas and her birthday this year, she did manage to meet her goal.
Gwen, Chrissa and Sonali (weird lighting – I know) with the table, party treats and craft studio.
Chrissa with the craft studio and her llama, Starburst.
Gwen and the picnic table complete with party treats.
Sonali and Starburst at the school desk (which is not really part of Chrissa’s collection, but I think it is a nice addition).
Chrissa wearing her pjs and fuzzy slippers.
Chrissa in her snow gear.
Chrissa in her swim warmups and her second book, Chrissa Stands Strong.
The Dolls Take The Wheel
December 20, 2009 by Char · 22 Comments
So, we are snowed in which is fine as far as my kids are concerned. My daughter has been playing with her dolls just about all day.
She just came “driving” through my office with Chrissa and her latest addition to the dolly family – Ashley the Madame Alexander Favorite Friends doll in the Build-a-Bear’s little red sports car! (We ordered the Madame Alexander Favorite Friends doll from Emily Rose on the 15th and she arrived Friday – now that was fast!!)
Ashley, her Madame Alexander doll is too cute! She absolutely loves her and has toted her around all weekend. Here is another picture of Ashley and Chrissa.
The Madame Alexander Favorite Friends dolls are supposedly 18″ dolls, but as you can see, Ashley is bigger than Chrissa. The face molds are cute but very different than the American Girl ones. The Favorite Friends dolls have soft bodies but they are different than the American Girl bodies – the harder vinyl portion goes down to about her armpits. They have very brushable hair and the American Girl doll clothes do fit (depending on the outfit).
Inside American Girl Place Chicago – Part 1
May 6, 2009 by Char · 68 Comments
We went to American Girl Place Chicago this past weekend and these are some of my photos. I will be adding more.
Spring themed window display. I love how they transformed the Sweet Treats Bakery into and Ice Cream Shop.
Part of the mural (I guess that’s what it is called) coming down the escalator.
On the second floor once you go through the Just Like You doll area there is a “street” with the Crafts-to-Go area, Doll Hospital, party room, t-shirt kiosk, Sweet Shop and at the end of the “street” there is the Cafe.
Closer photo of the Crafts to Go area on the second floor. Girls can pick from 6 different doll related crafts to purchase and do at the store.
So here is me, Char – the creator/moderator of Doll Diaries posing in front of one of the Chrissa displays. My husband thought I looked like Chrissa and should pose with her.
I still have lots of pictures from my trip to American Girl Place Chicago to post. Stay tuned!
Sammi Hanratty at American Girl Place This Weekend
April 28, 2009 by Char · 196 Comments
We are planning our weekend in Chicago and I just realized that in conjunction with the special events for Stop the Bullying Day, actress Sammi Hanratty (who starred as Chrissa in the movie) will be at the American Girl Place Chicago location on Friday, May 1 and will be at the Mall of America location on Saturday, May 2.
I plan on going to the American Girl Place in Chicago at some point this weekend – but I’m not quite sure when yet. Either way, it looks like there will be a lot activity there – they are celebrating Julie’s birthday on Saturday, too – so I am sure I will get good pictures, no matter what.
I also noticed Chrissa’s swimsuit set is back in stock – I had better call a personal shopper at the Chicago store and have her put one aside for me now as that has been on my daughter’s wish list since Chrissa came out.
Stay tuned for more on my visit to AGPC!
Chrissa’s Warm Up Outfit
January 21, 2009 by Char · 1,182 Comments
My daughter got Chrissa for her birthday and immediately started reading the first Chrissa book. I was so impressed at how she and Chrissa bonded and that she could tell me every little detail of the book, that I decided to get her Chrissa’s warm up outfit and the second book, Chrissa Stands Strong as a reward.
The outfit and the book arrived today. The outfit looks so good with Chrissa’s blue eyes and hair color. There is the red visor that has Edgewater embroidered on it, an aqua blue tank that says Edgewater Swim Team, lightweight red hoodie jacket, white shorts and the dark gray flip flops. I am very happy with all of it, how it fits, and how it was made. I hope American Girl makes a girl size version of this outfit eventually. It looked cute on the girls in the movie, An American Girl: Chrissa Stands Strong – when my daughter saw they had the outfit she immediately wanted to know if there was a girl sized version.
And as far as the book goes? She has already run off to her favorite reading spot with it.
Our Chrissa is Here
January 7, 2009 by Char · 385 Comments
My daughter wanted Chrissa for her birthday – primarily because Chrissa is on the swim team, like Miss N. Since her birthday was December 30, she agreed to wait a few days and I ordered Chrissa from my personal shopper at the American Girl Place in New York on Friday. Chrissa and her pet Llama Starburst arrived today.
In addition to Chrissa and Starburst, there was a large Chrissa poster in the box – this is why I usually order big items from my personal shopper – you never know what extra goodies they may add in.
My thoughts? The Llama is such a cute pet. It is super soft, bigger than all the other American Girl pets (even bigger than Jess’ monkey), and it has a cute purple carry saddle that holds bookmarks for the girls.
Chrissa is a pretty doll. Her hair cut isn’t my favorite, but the color of it is dark with some natural looking highlights. Her eyes are a gorgeous shade of dark blue – they match my daughter’s eyes, and her skin coloring is nice too. She came with her meet dress, undies, shoes, and a little friendship bracelet. Of course, her book, Chrissa was included too.
We had also wanted her swim team gear, but it is on backorder until April – none of the American Girl stores got any of the swim gear or craft table sets in the initial shipment. Hopefully it will be in sooner than later.
Her movie debuted on HBO earlier this week and while we missed, most of the Doll Diaries readers who saw it, liked it for the most part. Some commented that it appeared the girls in the movie were wearing too much makeup for real 4th graders, but that the story itself was good. The DVD, An American Girl: Chrissa Stands Strong
For more Chrissa photos from our readers, check out the new photo galleries at Doll Diaries – specifically the Dolls of the Year gallery.
Picture of Chrissa American Girl of the Year 2009
December 15, 2008 by Char · 1,835 Comments
ANOTHER UPDATE! The rumors are true – not only will there be Chrissa the Girl of the Year for 2009, American Girl is releasing two best friends dolls with her – Gwen (blonde) and Sonali (dark hair). The dolls are being released January 1, 2009.
Kit Movie DVD Contains Trailer for 2009 Doll Movie
October 29, 2008 by Char · 38 Comments
The new Kit Kittredge – An American Girl
The movie, which will star Sammi Hanratty, is scheduled to be released January 6, 2009. If you can’t wait to see it on your own Kit DVD, someone has posted the Chrissa trailer on YouTube.
More Scoop on the Chrissa the American Girl of the Year 2009
October 8, 2008 by Char · 121 Comments
I love my readers! You guys always find the best stuff. Here is a two page spread advertising the new American Girl Doll of the Year movie that will go with the doll. The title is Chrissa Stands Strong and will star Sammi Hanratty, Annabeth Gish, Timothy Bottoms, Don Franklin, Adair Tishler, Joanne Barron, Jennifer Tilly and Michael Learned. The movie is based on the Chrissa Stories by Mary Casanova.
The story will be about Chrissa Maxwell, a young girl who moves to a new school mid-year. She has to deal with making friends, dealing with bullies and standing up for yourself. Chrissa is a swimmer – which is where she has the most trouble with a rival. This looks like a great dvd and series for helping girls deal with real life issues – in school, in sports and even online.
The DVD comes out January 6, 2009.
American Girl of the Year 2009 Will Be Chrissa
September 24, 2008 by Char · 170 Comments
Then 2009 GOTY for American Girl is still a highly guarded secret, but if you do some sleuthing you can find out bits and pieces. We know that there will be a movie released along with the doll. The movie, American Girl: Chrissa Stands Strong, is in pre-production with Sobini Films.
Sammi Hanratty will be playing in the movie – she told us herself in a recent video clip.
