Look who's here - the wait is over - and thank you

"I have a dream, I have a dream"

from the song I have a dream by ABBA. I guess it could be called a song from the musical Mamma Mia as well.

Remember my post called Waiting? It is over.
Look who just arrived? She spent four weeks at the customs. But today mylady thought it's time to grace her new home with her presence.
Just that you remember, there are unbelievely kind and generous people. She is proof.

That is why the middle name of my new girl is going to be Faith. So I can remember that as well. Thank you. Thank you so much!
So here is the first look look I had at her.

She is like a dream.

Hasbro Little Kingdom - Ariel review

"Gyere, most keresek szavakat, jeleket hogy értsd a szem mit lát"

literally: Come, now I'm looking for words and signs so you understand what the eyes see

from the musical version of The Jungle Book by Dés László, Geszti Péter, Békés Pál - song: Szavakat keresek, literally I'm looking for words

It's high time I do a review again, Dolly was quite busy here lately.
I got Ariel a looong time ago because there was only two of her and I was afraid of missing out on her. I haven't seen any Ariels since then although I checked only once since last July. Uhh was it really that long ago? Today I decided to finally take her out and do her review.

Ariel comes with some cute artwork on the front of the packing, showing her in her parks dress, combing her hair.

On the backside, there is a small photo of her and warnings and an explanation how the mix and match and the snap-ins work.

She is, like all the other Little Kingdom princesses I have, easy to debox.

Her background is an undersea picture with a happy Sebastian. I would have used Flounder since Sebastian is also incuded as a snap-in but Flounder, Ariels closest fishfriend is nowhere to be seen.

Ariel comes in her mermaid form but she can be turned into a human. She has the usual tie across her torso that has to be cut before sha can be removed from the packing. Sebastian has elastics securing him but all three, Ariel and the two snap-ins can be just popped out. Careful, they leave the packing with considerable speed when popped out and they can land anywhere. It is best to debox Ariel somewhere clear and quiet. She brings three snap-ins, one already fastened to her mermaidtail that serves as the long part of her skirt and two packed separately.

Fresh out of the box, with only one snap in

The snap in on her skirt is a little purple seehorse (upside down, the belt is in the way if it is turned around)

 The other two are Sebastian and a fork, uhm I wanted to say dinglehopper.

I decided that a dinglehopper is necessary for a stylish hairdo so it is from now on her headpiece. Sebastian can be fastened to her hair as well but he would blend in with the long red hair. It looks much better on the belt part of Ariels outfit the golden background compliments the red crab nicely. The belt looks like a mini skirt and has lots of moulded details, like pearls all around the vaist.

Some patterns turn up on her tail as well. Her bra is golden just like her belt and it reminds me of the ones her 17 inch limited edition doll and her latest limited edition doll from the Triton and Ariel set wears. It has some moulded details as well, it looks like Ariel used some seaweed to make the bra straps. She has deep blue eyes and a friendly smile. (Although Rapunzels smile is even broader)

Her mermaidtail is a nice teal color and she wears painted on slippers of the same color. So although her feet peep out of her skirt it blends in with her tail and looks like a part of it. It has some pretty moulded details on it, even on the backside.

Her long red locks are beautifully moulded, too. Her long hair  makes dressing her difficult though.
Like all girls I have with tigher skirts (Elsa, Mulan) she is unable to stand by herself.

I think it is largely the skirts fault. When I redressed her, she managed to stand but wasn't really stable, beeing top-heavy as she has (like Belle) a long mass of hair.
As Belles blue townoutfit is closest to an outfit Ariel wears in her movie (namely her own blue kingdom tour outfit) I borrowed it from Belle. While redressing her it turned out she has golden painted on underwear.

She looks lovely in Belles dress. But I almost broke her while I was trying to put her back into her mermaid outfit. The mermaid tail is extremely difficult to put back, at least for me.

I'm really happy I added this little mermaid to my collection, although I wouldn't give her to younger children, she is small and comes with even smaller parts and is easy to break.
I hope to have a complete princess line-up plus Elsa and Anna and the Little Kingdom Princesses have the most hope of becoming a complete set.
This little mermaids name is Beatrix but she is often called just Trixie. The next and last (at least for now) Little Kingdom princess will be Tiana! I'm excited since this is the very first and so far only representation of Tiana I own.

Valentine's day - a Dolly short story

"Love is an open door"

Fron Disney's Frozen

After our last talk I started to relax around Vester. I hope so at least. Not that we interacted that much but still. Now my goal was to make it clear to the others that we are anything but a couple. Valentine's day seemed the perfect opportunity to do so. I knew Meritre had some more dolls hiding in a big shipping box, since Hannah and Susanne told us that there were seven boxed dolls in there. Only three or let's say three and a half were opened, since although Beast was deboxed (I helped along with that), he was put back in his box and than back into the shipping box.

That's me, Dolly, a while back, helping deboxing Beast

A visit or two, made when the girls were watching, would certainly cure them. Perhaps they would  bestow another partner on me but as soon as they realize that I'm friends with everybody they will give it up. What a splendid plan!
I didn't just make up this plan but I started to realize it as well. First step: cross the room, when everybody is looking and disappear into the shiping box. Second step: turn up hours later with an odd smile on your face.

So I climbed up to that big cardboard box with a Disney sign on it.

There were only two guys in the big shipping box: Eric and Aladdin.
"Hi there. I thought I'd drop in and see how things are over here."
"It would be much better if we weren't stuck here."
I promised I would talk to Meritre about that and after a short chat I went back to the shelf.

"That's really nice of you to keep those poor boxed dolls entertained." Daphne said when I returned.
"They're actually really great dolls. Hopefully they'll get out of their boxes soon." I said trying to make a dreamy face. She only gave an indulgent smile as a reply and it was like a smile meant for a mischevious child. As if she would be telling me that she won't ruin my game but she knows very well what's going on and why I visited those dolls.
I felt a little uneasy but Meritre unknowingly helped me. She was trying to decide which prince charming should she saddle me with and asked me to pose with all of them. Worst idea ever but here is the result:

Umm... awkward

Where should I look?

Stiff as a stick

He's almost scary with that frown

I think they liked it as little as I did. Meritre choose the most romantic backgrounds, too. (Yes, I can be sarcastic like Megara sometimes) And what on earth was she thinking when she told me to pose with the two boxed boys? I asked her that aloud.
"Those picture will be good enough to compare." she said, half to herself, half to me.

Yes, that's my standard thinking picture

Additional thoughts by Kiki:
I'm worried about my little sister. She's not herself lately, ever since that Vester incident she is doing the strangest things and behaves in the most silly way to convince the other girls. And it looks like she is up to something, again. But I think it means great trouble for her for the more she tries the more our friends are convinced that they actually like each other. I'm not sure what to do, if I can do something at all. I don't want to meddle but this is just not right. Very likely the roots of the whole things are deeper and that's why Dolly can't get over it with simply talking.I want my cheerful adventorous sister back instead of this poor, unhappy, nervous creature that spends her days either sitting and doing nothing or doing the most stupid things. And Meritre is not helping with her Valentin's day photos and stuff. Maybe it would help if I found something for  her to do?

The dancing queen - a Dolly story

"You can dance, you can jive, having the time of your life
See that girl, watch that scene, digging the Dancing Queen"

Song: Dancing Queen by ABBA. I guess it could be called a song from the musical Mamma Mia as well.

It took a whole week untill I was allowed to get out of bed and return to the others. Dollfluenza is infective (for dolls only, not for humans, although Kiki did not care for it and visited me every day - as she is the snow queen and all she hardly ever gets those illnesses) so I was put in another room for safety. A last check, a last cup of tea, some biscuits and I was allowed to go back. Meritre had to be off to somewhere but she offered to take me back to our room before leaving. I declined kindly but firmly this offer, it's much safer to sneak back than to be brought back and everyone notices you're there and stares at you as if you came from a different world. You may have noticed that I'm not keen on attracting attention. :)
The door was open just a bit so I could slip in unnoticed. I looked around cautiously.

Noone to be seen. Great! It's not far to the desk and the other girls must be all up there.

Now, to sneak along the bed and climb up the desk... but I did not get to do it. I literally froze, when a vaguely familiar voice called out to me. I would have preferred to run away but I was impolite long enough. "Uhmm, hi!" was all I could get out of my mouth.

"Good morning, m'lady, I was hoping to see you today." Mylady? Me? What? He didn't talk like that last time. Well, at least he did the starting the conversation part.
"I was wondering if m'lady had a little time to practice the valtz?" Why me? I didn't want to but I didn't have the heart to simply say no. That often leads to trouble according to my experience. Kiki had already said once that I'm just too tender-hearted. She said that's mostly a good thing but I should be careful. Now I know why. It must have been written all over my face that I was unwilling because Vester sighed.
"I asked the other ladies out of their boxes but..."
"Oh, great," I smiled "Daphne would be a perfect choice, with her ballgown and all. She dances in her movie as well."

"She said she's a very clumsy dancer and hated it."
My relief was gone.
"She apologized about a thousand times." he added.
I swalloved. Right, I have forgotten that, although it was one of the first things she told us when she was let out of her box. I had to find another girl for him.
"Aaaand Kuei-Lan?" I offered.

"She was positively scared stiff of me." he replied. "Just bowed and disappeared." He was not really happy about that and I could understand. Who likes to be the monster of a dollfamily? Or worse, not even belonging to the dollfamily.
"Hannah?" I suggested.

"She said I should go and ask you and that she wouldn't steal someone elses partner."
By this time I realized my friends still had their thoughts on the two of us and I didn't like it.
"Pocahontas?" She is always very obliging.

"She has a bad leg. She has trouble walking, not to menion running. Factory defect." Oh yes, that's right, I forgot. That's why she often stands at the window and stares out, she would love to go out there but with her limp it's just not safe.
"But sure Valancy would agree?" 

He shook his head.
"But she assured me you would be delighted to oblige me, m'lady which I can't really believe."
"Sue?" She was my last chance.

"She was practicing walking. Since she is a mermaid, she has difficulties with walking. Having that fishtail for most of her life didn't really help."
I could hardly blame any of the girls but I still felt like I was let down.
"Than it has to be me" I sighted "and by the time I get back, there will be pink hearts all over the shelf." Huh? How did that slip out? I didn't mean to say that!
"So that's it" he frowned "Your friend have strange ideas." I just nodded.
He seemed to ponder over something, than he spoke again.
"I guess it's not easy with so many girls around and only me and Edward Eugen..." It sounded ad if he was talking to himself.
"But why you and me?" he asked.
"Probably because you were staring at me the whole time Meritre was deboxing you." I offered.

Remember that?

"Where else was I expected to look for guidance if the only doll in sight? And that only doll happened to be you." I never thought about that but it was indeed true, since Meritre did the deboxing and taking photos in another room. She said the light was better there. I detected no difference.
"But they already watched... the dancing class, at least part of it. That was enough for them."
"I can imagine that." He sounded bitter.
He didn't mention the Holiday Frozen sisters but from what Kiki (she simply doesn't dance) told me, those two share my opinion of  Hans and his villanious ways. And of course I saw him up there talking to them, something he had never done before. He was really desperate if he was willing to try that.
"All right, I'll do it. But only now and then and we have to find a place where the others can't see us."
"Beeing secretive might make things worse."
" We have to make them understand that we are simply... friends."
"Simply... friends."
"Yes, only friends and nothing more."

And I thought he will make things worse with... talking. Too bad, girls, I grinned, it's nothing of that sort. Just friendship. And I was upset about that? I could have hit myself. He only needed a friend. At least now all's well. At least I think so.

PS by Kiki: Now they are one step forward. Dolly keeps saying she doesn't trust him a bit but this is a case where actions speak louder than words ;)

And so it goes on and on - a Dolly story

"One of us is lonely"

 Song: One of us by ABBA. I guess it could be called a song from the musical Mamma Mia as well.(Stage version, this song vasn't included in the movie)

Dolly: Here I am, once more, to tell you some fairytales!
Kiki: More like a never ending soap opera. I've got a feeling this is going to be really loooooooooong.
Dolly: Maybe. Where was I?
Kiki: Sitting in that cozy corner, overthinking the whole.
Dolly: Oh yes. So I was confused and sat and thought some more.

But I could not sit there forever. I had to make up my mind. I decided to drop the matter for now and get back to it a few days later. A long walk in the house will help thinking over the situation once more. It was quite long, it took three whole days.

When I got back into our room, and closed the door behind me. The easiest way to do it is to push it with my back. Deep breath. Okay, Dolly, you can do this. You just go there and say you are sorry and didn't mean to be rude, just felt shy and unconfortable. Easy, I said to myself, starting to walk towards the desk that stands under the dollshelf. Then I looked up and I saw someting that surprised me a lot.

Vester was talking to somebody.

And not just anybody, he was talking to the holiday Frozen sisters. Why shouldn't he? It is really stupid, of course, but I couldn't help it and felt dizzy and upset.

So I sat down where I was to collect and compose myself. (Luckily, they couldn't see me when I sat down and  I could no longer see them, either) My head was going round and it took much longer than I thought to recover. What 's going on?

Maybe I have dollfluenza? (For my non-plastic readers: dollfluenza is a common illnes among dolls, but a few days rest and some tea cures it. But if neglected it can have serious consequences) I have to talk to Meritre, she'll set up a sickroom for me if needed. But after sitting for a while and relaxing I felt better and decided to go on and go back on the shelf and get that apology behind me. The more I waited, the worse it will be. As soon as I was up on my feet again Hannah and Valancy appeared out of nowhere. I was so absorbed in my own thoughts that I did not notice them coming. Or was it because I stil felt kind of dizzy? They looked rueful and poured out their hearts at once.

'Dolly, we are so sorry, we didn't mean to upset you.' Hannah said.
'The two of us came in the name of us all to offer an apology.' Valancy added.
I was confused.
'Y-you? But... it is I who should apologize. I lost my temper and I'm really sorry for that.'
'But we should have listened to what you were saying.'

'That's okay, you need not worry about that. I must beg your pardon for beeing so insufferable.'
That went on a while, since both parties thought they are the ones who should apologize.

'Are you all right?' Hannah suddenly asked 'You look quite pale.'
'Oh, I'm always this pale.' I assured her. My sister and I are the palest in the group so no wonder they think we are sick. But I could finally convince them that  everything was all right and I promised to come up and speak to the others myself in the evening. They wandered off and I went to look for my sister. I didn't tell her that I'll be away for three whole days so she certeinly would like know where I have been. It was so much harder to look for her than usually. My head felt so heavy I could hardly walk.

I thought I saw the shimmering edge of a cape.
'Kiki! Wait!' I called.
'I'm not your sister' a voice replied.
'Of course you are! Why are you so mean to me, sis?'
The next thing I remember is waking up in a bed, Kikis face above me. I couldn't see very clear first.

'You all right?'
'Of course. Why did you say you were not my sister?' I asked, while moving myself to a siting position and then trying to get up. That bugged me very much.
'No, no, don't even think about that.' Kiki said 'You have the dollfluenza so no getting up for a few days.' She gently pushed me back and that wasn't even a hard job since I still felt quite faint and obeyed gladly.
'And that cape wasn't me but our new friend from the Holiday set.' she continued 'So naturally her first reaction was that you are not her sister. But she called me and reported to Meritre that you were not feeling well.'

'And I was rude to her' I sighed.
'No need to worry, you were sick.'
'Thank you for setting up that bed for me.'
'Oh, that wasn't me alone, it was mainly Meritre of course but the others helped a lot as well. Elena Valancy hunted down a comfy cushion for you.'

I sighed.
'I assume you did not speak to him yet.'
I just nodded.
'Don't worry, Dolly, there is plenty of time to do that. Now try and get some sleep, I'll see if Meritre has some tea for you.'

Meritre presently broght me something to drink. I think I heard her complaining about dolls wandering off for three whole days and then beeing surprised that they became ill under her breath.
So that's how it ended... at least the offending friends problem was taken care of. Sort of... But this didn't turn out like I hoped. I'm still confused and have an unconfortable feeling about the whole affair and I can't do anything about it for now because of my illness. That's even worse than listening to the others making wedding plans for me. (Believe it or not, they actually did it.)

PS. by Kiki: And you thought she was lovesick? Nah. She says she's convinced he's a villain and yet, she is the one who spent some time with him. But who knows? He asks quite often how my sister is doing  so... ;) I'm convinced if it wouldn't be winter he would bring her flowers from the garden. He has it quite bad. Now I have to go and bring Dolly some tea. Bye!