What I got for Christmas
Hello again! I wasn't expecting to write another post this soon, but I finished college a few days sooner than I anticipated, so here I am. As of today, I am officially done with college. I hope this time is for good, and there are no shenanigans going down like last year and I find myself having to go back to college again. Even though I feel a bit tired, I want to take advantage of the fact that I'm still in "work mode" to write a quick post featuring all the goodies I got for Christmas.
As I mentioned in my previous post, we don't get many gifts on Christmas day, just one or two small presents. We don't get to open the majority of our gifts until the Three Wise Men/Wise Kings Night, which is January 5th. I didn't ask for anything doll related this year, because nothing has really excited me and I already have the 3 BMR 1959 dolls that I was more interested in. But, apparently, the stars aligned and Mr. Monster found out that the Star Wars Princess Leia Barbie doll was on sale. He asked if I liked her and I said of course, but I never considered getting her because she was so expensive. He got it for me as an anticipated Christmas gift and I couldn't be happier.
The Star Wars dolls retail for 100$ on Mattel's website. Here they retail for 180€ which is 220$, more than twice as much. Of course, I wasn't willing to pay that much. That price is absolutely ridiculous for a Barbie doll, even if she's collector. If I could afford to pay that much for a doll, I would try to get an Integrity Toys doll. Luckily, Mr. Monster saw that she was on sale for 80€ on Amazon, and he also had a coupon of 5€, so he got her for just 75€. When I told you she was on sale, I meant she was steal considering her original price.
The doll is really beautiful, but I still don't think she is worth 180€. So far, I have no plans to unbox her, and she'll be displayed in her box in my living room, where we have other Star Wars figures.
For the 3 Wise Men night I didn't get anything doll-related. What I did get was some craft supplies, that will eventually be used to make props and backgrounds for my doll photos. First, I got this value set of 16 colors from Americana Acrylics. This seems a great set to start building your craft kit if you don't have many supplies. The only color from this set that I already have is True Blue, but I've used it quite a lot, and I'm running out, so it's fine.
The other colors inclued in this kit are: Snow White, Light Buttermilk, Royal Fuchsia, Cherry Red, True Red, Bright Orange, Bright Yellow, Festive Green, Forest Green, Indian Turquoise (I'm really excited to try this one), Peackock Teal, Dioxazine Purple, Dark Chocolate, Slate Grey and Lamp Black.
To make shipping costs worth it, Mr. Monster got me these two colors: Sea Glass and Sea Breeze. I already have Sea Breeze, but I'm running out and the store where I got it the first time doesn't carry this color anymore. It's not discontinued, but apparently they've decided to replace it with something else.
Mr. Monster got all the acrylics at an online store called Mia Mandarina. It's a small Spanish business run by a lovely young lady. Despite having to pay higher shipping cost that with other bigger companies, Mr. Monster said that the overall shopping experience was excellent. So, if I ever need to buy more craft supplies online, I will check Mia Mandarina first.
This has nothing to do with dolls or crafts, but the biggest gift I got was an air fryer that Mr. Monster and I had been wanting to try for a while now. This has arrived at the perfect time, because I've just started a cooking blog called Cooking with MC. I'm already working on my first recipe, that should be published very soon. My goal is to share some of my favorite dishes, which will include some traditional Spanish dishes that might not be so well know internationally. I do totally understand that not everyone who follows this blog will be interested, but if you are more than welcome to follow me there.
That's all I have to share today. I will try to come back with a craft post before the end of the month, but the temperature here is very low right now, and I can't ventilate my craft room properly. Well' see what I can do.
So what did you get for Christmas? Anything doll related?
Monster Crafts
Hello! You got some very nice Christmas gifts and interesting that you have the tradition to open gifts later, on the Three wise men night. I know that our local church has a party for children to celebrate the last day of Christmas on that day.
ReplyDeleteThe Star Wars Barbie is beautiful and I agree with you, very expensive even for a collectors doll. I have had my eyes on her, but as it has not arrived to Sweden and the other shops in nearby countries still take the ordinary price, I will wait.
Those craft supplies look really lovely, will be great to see you use them to your projects.
Wow, an air fryer! That is lovely and interesting with a food blog - will check that out, because I do love food! Congrats on your nice gifts. We do not have any special gifts during the Holidays. Last year we got Bentley, the year I save for my Dollmore Catish BJD and this year I got myself a vintage Sindy.
I hope that college is over now for you and you can start to focus on other things. Keeping my thumbs up!
Take care and stay safe!
Hi Niina! As a child, my family tried to split it, giving us the toys on Christmas Eve and on the Three Wise Men Night we would get things such as socks and pijamas. However, my partner's family only does the Three Wise Men, so that's why.
DeleteKnowing Mattel, the quality probably won't be up to the price point, so I don't think it's worht paying full price for her, at least not how much they charge for her outside US. I would really recommend waiting for her.
The food blog was something that I've wanted to do for a while now, and I've finally done it. You will be more than welcome if you want to visit my new blog. Well, a vintage Sindy sounds quite special to me, specially if you really wanted her.
Thank you for your kind words. You too, take care.
Hi Linda! The boxes of this line have an amazing design. I believe the Chewbacca doll's box has real fur on it. I can't wait to start crafting again, I'm already thinking what I could do with so many colors.
ReplyDeleteSo far I'm happy with the air fryer, even though I'm still getting started. I don't consider myself super skilled when it comes to cooking either. When it comes to cooking, I like to keep things as simple as posible on a daily basis, but I don't mind doing something more intricate from time to time.
I think I did see your Caleb doll. My family is also quite small, plus we don't have really a bond, so I do spend more time with my in-laws than with my blood family. Most of the time it's just the two of us though.
Big hugs to you too.
You received some lovely gifts MC, I'm sure you'll have lots of enjoyment from each of them.
ReplyDeleteYou'll soon be addicted to cooking with the air fryer, they are so quick and ever so easy to clean compared to frying the traditional way. I love mine and use it often.
I received my kitchen sets for my diorama and Balenciaga perfume from hubby, assorted gift cards and Pandora charms for my bracelet from my daughter and grandson. Oh and lots of chocolates!!
Big hugs,
X
Hi Xanadu! So far I'm loving the air fryer. I do agree that it's less messy than the traditional way. My oven has an option similar to the air fryer, but things don't come out as crispy as with the air fryer. This week my partner is on holidays, so we want to experiment with it.
DeleteYour gifts sound pretty amazing too. I think I've never used a Balenciaga perfume, but sure it smells amazing. Hope you enjoyed your chocolates and all the other gifts.
Big hugs to you too.
Still eating the chocolates, I received enough to last for months . . . and here I am trying to loose weight, I don't know what everyone was thinking. :)
DeleteSame! And my partner keeps bringing in the pates and the brie cheese.
DeleteI'm so glad that you were able to get a doll that you had really wanted, for a good price!
ReplyDeleteMr. BTEG bought a toaster oven last year, that can also work as an air fryer. We've used it mainly for breaded chicken breasts, and potatoes.
Thank you Barb! I've been so lucky!
DeleteI've made breaded chicken a couple times and it's delicious. It was a great gift.
Congratulations on getting such a lovely Christmas present. She is such a special doll and part of her charm is her costume, so I understand why you don't want to remove her from the box. And yes, $200 is a ridiculous price for a Barbie. I don't have an air fryer yet. I'm waiting for the technology to have it make perfectly fried chicken. But at some point, I will probably get one. Happy Dolly New Year
ReplyDeleteThanks April. 100$ (or in my case, euros) would be the maximum price I would pay for a doll like this, but 200 is just bonkers. I'm really happy with the air fryer, my partner is obsessed with making breaded chicken now.
DeleteHappy Dolly New Year to you too. Hope this year you get to travel again.