I'm Smarter Than I Was A Year Ago. Maybe.
I know about that thing you did. Yeah, THAT thing. Keep that in mind when you're considering mocking me for what I'm about to admit. I know about that thing.
While I was in Chicago, I intentionally went to the American Girl store.
I KNOW.
(Remember, I know about that thing.)
When I realized I was going to have only a few hours to spend downtown, I knew I needed to decide on just one mission to carry out. I always take something back for Alexis when I go out of town, so I decided that one mission would be to pick up something for her at the American Girl store.
Let's back up for a second, shall we? Alexis swore on Dora's life that the only thing she wanted for Christmas was an American Girl doll. Rebecca to be exact. She told Santa and her grandma and the neighbor and her imaginary friend and pretty much everyone who has ears. Rebecca. That's it.
Since it's against my religion to spend $100 on a doll, Santa did the deed. He agonized and agonized over the decision, but the fact that it was the *only* thing the kid wanted made it hard to figure out an alternate plan. Santa might have thrown up as he wrapped that gift, but he did it.
And the kid barely batted an eyelash. She didn't care about the American Girl doll.
So why subject myself to the store? Hold on. I'll get to that.
I'm kind of an idiot when it comes to public transportation, but I somehow managed to stumble my way to within a mile or so of the American Girl store after an hour-long train ride. After walking and walking and finally finding the entrance to the store, I had a bit of an emergency situation going on. I really needed to use the restroom. Like, REALLY.
So I went through the door, nearly burst into flames as I was surrounded by so much evil, and started trying to find the restrooms. And tried. And tried. And tried. The store is two stories tall about the size of Kohl's. No joke. It's HUGE, especially considering all they sell is dolls and doll clothes. Well, they sell that stuff and they have a hair salon for humans, a hair salon for dolls, a portrait studio, a restaurant, and OMG IS THE PLACE RIDICULOUS. Who are these people who keep stores like that in business?
I trudged through, all the while doing an awkward little dance, until I finally found the restrooms. They were, of course, all the way upstairs and all the way at the back of the store, meaning I had to walk past every damn thing on my way there. A funny thing happened as I walked past every damn thing, by the way. What seemed insane initially started to seem . . . less insane.
$24 for an outfit for a doll? A bargain compared to the fancy $38 one upstairs!
The fact that I actually thought those words is proof that they pump narcotics into the air in that store. It's like insanity juice or something.
So I wandered around for entirely too long until I found the exact right thing to take back for Alexis.
Fast forward a day. The big reveal took place in our family room.
Alexis knew I had been to the store. I had told her on the phone, leading her to squeal like a 13-year old in the presence of Justin Bieber. She was SO excited.
About a $7 book. A BOOK, PEOPLE. That's what she got. That's what she wanted. That's what made her deliriously happy.
Santa best take notes. I have this kid figured out.
Wednesday, August 3, 2011
Reader Comments (12)
Can I just say how much I love you for this post right now? I think you may have solved my 'what to get the kid while I'm in Chicago in two weeks' problem I was having. (Though at the same time it totally ruins my "make people think I'm a total overachiever and saw 3 museums in one day plan' we had. In other words- hit the museum campus, hit all three gift shops, make sure to get some kind of tchotchke so we can say we 'did a ton of museums in one day!')
And yes I realize that means we overthought our plan entirely too much. But apparently when you ask people "If you have ONE DAY in Chicago and don't want to do museums, what do you do?" they look at you like you're aliens.
@Mackenzie's Momma-I'm more of a "just hang out" kind of person. By the time I managed to get downtown, it was already 7:00, so I literally had just enough time for the American Girl store. After that I walked a mile or so down to the bean (photos from this past weekend), but I didn't even try to do anything else "vital." I'd rather chill and not feel like I *have* to do something. It's enough to enjoy the sounds of nobody calling me. :-)
Bahahahaha! Well done!
i'm wondering, though - where is Rebecca now?
@Leslie--Facedown under a pile of toys in the playroom closet. Which, GRRRRRRR.
It's not so much that we're planning on doing anything, its just that its my first trip east of the Rockies and will probably be my only trip that way for a while unless I win the lotto. So the only thing I *really* want to do is see some of Chicago. Even if it just means walking around looking up going "Ooooh pretty!"
A friend of mine said that Michael's has doll clothes that fit the American Girl dolls perfectly -- maybe a cheaper alternative to the outfits that cost as much as mine!
Poor Santa. He spent $93 more than he should have!
I've been able to find, on occasion, American Girl books at the local used bookstore (Half-Priced Books). I'm a sucker for buying my kids books (I'll always say no to candy/toys), so I try to never take them to the "big box" stores to pay full price.
Get thee to HSN.com and search for American Girl Kits. They've fantastic prices (read chee eee eeep) on several...
Reading this makes me (a) soften my heart slightly about the whole not-caring-about-the-one-thing-she-wanted-for-Christmas incident (I realize I am in no way related to the situation, yet I felt so indignant on Santa's behalf) and (b) want to go home to my parents' house, find my collection of Molly books, and read them all in one sitting.
I think, honestly, that my love of history (and WWII in particular) originated with my Molly doll and Molly books. And then... love of history >> history and poli sci major >> law school >> civil rights attorney. Kind of mind-blowing when you think about it.
Michael's does carry doll clothes - not a huge selection, but $7 & $9 prices. They also carry a ton of AG crafts, which makes Emily very happy.
My father in law bought my daughter an Am Girl doll when she was 5 (Kyrsten). She's now 13. She became completely enthralled with the history series dolls, and has received one (doll only, no extras!) for Christmas each year (except 2010 -- they didn't have a history doll). They are all now displayed on a shelf in her room. While i believe that Am Girl has gone over the top with their marketing, and has lost sight of their original focus (girls, not dolls), the history series dolls have taught her a lot about American History, and, I think, led to her current interest in it. I also like how the books really highlight strong girls, and make them the problem-solvers. However, I can't imagine even entering the Chicago American Girl Place -- I visited the smaller version in Atlanta three years ago -- it sent my daughter into a FRENZY, and me into a sensory-overload migraine/coma. FINAL NOTE: In spite of my growing discomfort with the marketing hype, the Am Girl book "The Care and Keeping of You" is still the absolute best body book for pre- and early-teen girls.