Happy Birthday Barbie (and Amanda and Virginia...) Granniemose Birthday Bash W/O
Written: Oct 19 '02 (Updated Oct 19 '02)
|
Product Rating:
|
|
| Durability: |
 |
|
|
Pros: Perfect birthday gift for Barbie fans
Cons: shoes fall off, torn tulle
The Bottom Line: Happy Birthday Barbie is a beautiful, ageless classic.
|
|
|
| jenb123's Full Review: Mattel Happy Birthday Barbie Doll |
"A day to be a princess
In your pretty party dress.
Put on your tiara, birthday girl,
and take a twirl." *
What better way to celebrate a little girl's birthday than with a very special Barbie? And as I review the special Happy Birthday Barbie, I'd like to also wish a very happy birthday to fellow Epinions member, Granniemose. Though my oldest daughter just turned 8, I hope she'll do something special when I celebrate my 80th Birthday. Kudos to ArtByJude for hosting this write-off in honor of her mother's special day.
Last week, my oldest turned eight years old. Amanda had won a Barbie Birthday Party from a Mattel sweepstakes and part of her prize included a Happy Birthday Barbie doll. Though the party itself was mediocre, the doll was fairly well received.
What's inside that pink box?
Happy Birthday Barbie comes dressed in her pink birthday best. Her dress is a sparkling pastel pink with a dark pink bow at the waist. There is a pink and lavender tulle overlay covering the full skirt with dark pink trim. Her sleeves have a dainty bit of the same. Dark pink pumps and a bow on her head complete the look. The hair bow has sparkly trim and the shoes are actually hidden beneath her long skirt. She's quite pink.
In addition, Happy Birthday Barbie includes a miniature "gift wrapped" box and a tiny birthday card. Unlike other Barbie dolls, Happy Birthday Barbie has a "gift tag" printed on the box. But perhaps best of all is the silver birthday tiara included as a present for the birthday girl herself.
Blonde hair, blue eyes, yada yada yada...
There really is nothing out of the ordinary as far as how Happy Birthday Barbie looks. She has blonde hair that is waist length. The ends are kind of "choppy" looking, not even at all. She has straight, blunt bangs and her hair is parted on the side with the bow securely attached.
Barbie's trademark blue eyes are highlighted with a lavender shadow, her lips are dark pink. She has no attached jewelry and her hair style makes this Barbie look like a young girl rather than an adult.
She doesn't slice, she doesn't dice. No batteries needed, no sounds, lights or "actions" to malfunction as is typical with Barbie dolls in general. Happy Birthday Barbie is simply a pretty doll meant as a birthday present for little girls.
Amanda says...
Since the Mattel rep handed Amanda the doll after she'd started opening the packages her friends had given her. Surrounded by Bratz and Polly Pocket sets, Happy Birthday Barbie got a quick glance at best.
Perhaps Amanda is outgrowing Barbie dolls in general, but I must say her little sister was pretty impressed with the pretty pink package. Four year old Emily was really eyeballing that tiara!
When we got home after the party, Amanda did open her Happy Birthday Barbie and looked it over. More than a week later, this Barbie is not yet naked with a freaky haircut at the bottom of a toybox.
Mommy says...
Happy Birthday Barbie is indeed a beautiful doll. She isn't billed as having special features, her hair doesn't change color and she's not scantily clad. Since we have been disappointed with past dolls like Bubble Fairy Barbie who was a bust and found nothing happening with Happenin' Hair Barbie, I was relieved that this one had no potential to frustrate us.
Happy Birthday Barbie can easily wear standard Barbie fashions, certain Barbies have features that don't allow that. Her shoes, however, do not stay on and should be either left off the doll or replaced with other shoes that fasten. This advice will save a lot of tears. Your daughter may cry if she loses the pink pumps, you will cry if you step on one of them while barefoot.
The tiara is fairly sturdy and very appealing to young girls who want to "be" Barbie. It is kind of tiny, but neither of my girls seem to mind. My sole complaint is the fact that the tulle over the skirt tears very easily. Amanda has other Barbie dolls and attempted to put the birthday gown on another one. The tulle ripped and pulled away from the pink trim.
Despite the torn tulle, I do think that this is a very pretty, princess-like doll. Pink...Sparkles...Tiaras...What more could a little girl want? Other than a more exciting party, that is. But I digress...
Overall
While I don't think I'd have chosen to buy a Happy Birthday Barbie for Amanda, I would definitely buy one for a younger girl or a big Barbie fan as a birthday present. Collectors may appreciate this doll as well, the gown alone makes for a Barbie worth displaying.
I have a feeling that this may be the final Barbie presented to Amanda as she begins to prefer "hipper, cooler" dolls such as Bratz. Quite honestly, the tiara was what most caught my girls' attention, I would bet the tiara gets played with more than the doll. That's okay by me.
Happy Birthday Barbie is a decent Barbie, uniquely made specifically as a birthday gift. She is a classic, ageless, beautiful creation, not unlike another birthday girl.
Happy 80th Birthday Virginia, aka Granniemose. Be sure to check out the other Epinioners celebrating in the Granniemose Birthday Bash Write-off hosted by doting daughter, ArtByJude.
Read 'em all at http://www.geocities.com/granniemose2002/
*Poem taken from the back of the box
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): gift
Type of Toy: Other
Age Range of Child: 6 to 8 Years
|
|
|
|
Epinions.com ID:
jenb123
|
 - Top 200 |
|
Location: IL
Reviews written: 414
Trusted by: 506 members
About Me:
I'm tired
|
|
|
- Add to My Yahoo!: 
- Add to Google Homepage: 
© 1999-2009 Shopping.com, Inc.