Life Perspective: Reviews & More

 The new Barbie Movie is in theaters. While the media and critics are gushing about how great and relevant the movie is, others have a different take on the movie.  Here are three articles that cover the hype as well as what the critical thinkers are saying about the 2023 Barbie film. Here is the good, the bad, and the ugly about the Barbie Movie. Why Some People Hate the New Barbie Movie   The new Barbie Movie is out in theaters and the media has been raving about it. What’s not to love? Well, apparently a lot.  Even a week or two before the release of the movie people were saying things like this post on Facebook: “How many people think that the Barbie movie is a waste of film?” Once the movie came out, while the mainstream media and the usual suspects in the Hollywood critics chorus chanted the same praise phrases, a few critical thinkers disagreed— a lot.  Both Elon Musk and Ben Shapiro pointed to the heavy-handed use of the word “patriarchy” throughout the ...

The Moxie Teen dolls and their friends are celebrating the graduation of  Moxie Teenz Gavin with a backyard party.  Dressed in his... Read article here: Moxie Teenz Dolls: Gavin Graduates Ask me about amazing clinical skincare products and start your way to clearer, healthier skin today! Join me on  Facebook  or email  skin_and_health@yahoo.com  for more info! I would love to help you have healthier skin!

 WARNING! Groupon deals may not always be as good as they seem!  On May 18 a Groupon ad appeared on a Facebook page I was visiting for a pair of 14K Solid Gold French Lock Hoop Earrings at an extreme discount of about 80% off the normal $200 price making the beautiful earrings shown only $24.95. Wow! $200-something earrings for only $24.95??? I couldn't sign up fast enough so I became a Groupon customer on the spot just to get the earrings. The earrings were 12mm which I assumed was diameter from the picture where the French lock shown was proportionately smaller than the rest of the earring. When I received the envelope from Groupon, I thought it was empty. I couldn't feel any lump or bump at all. I tore it open expecting to find nothing and shook the empty package just to make sure... and a tiny pair of earrings fell out, about the size of my pinkie fingernail. Doll-Sized Earrings Looking at the tiny earrings in my hand, I couldn't help but think the minia...

The latest Barbie dolll controversy involves the always controversial Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue. Sports Illustrated has made a fortune objectifying women in skimpy swimsuits and bikinis... and sometimes only paint. Now Mattel has partnered with Sports Illustrated to add Barbie to the Sports Illustrated 50th anniversary edition, and Barbie is getting her own SI cover. The controversy is not so much whether or not a child's toy needs to be in a men's girly magazine (she doesn't), but the fact some people believe both Barbie and the SI models promote an unrealistic body expectation among young girls You can read my take on it in these two articles: Barbie's 'Unapologetic' Sports Illustrated cover causes controversy February 13, 2014 Sports Illustrated is known for swimsuit issues with models who reveal a little too much. That is one reason the new 2014 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Barbie doll, who will a...

Hooray for the red, white and blue! The 4th of July is here! Rain or shine, it's the day to be patriotic and to thank God for the freedoms we still enjoy in America. To  help you celebrate this patriotic holiday, here is a selection of articles for your Independence Day reading enjoyment. Celebrate America's Birthday -- Independence Day! Have a Happy 4th of July!   July 4 is is185th day of the year (186th in leap years), but it is much more than that to Americans. Read more at: Have a Happy 4th of July!- Squidoo   Top Ten WWII Movies for 4th of July, Patriotic Celebrations & Military Events My Top Ten list of World War II Movies for the 4th of July, Memorial Day, Veteran's Day, Flag Day and other patriotic holidays Article at: Top Ten WWII Movies for 4th of July, Patriotic Celebrations & Military Nashville 4th of July Celebrations and Patriotic Events in Middle Tennessee There are many...

New Year's Articles   Have a Happy New Year! It is hard not to feel a surge of excitement when someone wishes us a Happy New Year! The New Year has traditionally been a time of new beginnings and resolutions as we start the coming year with a fresh slate. A collection of articles, photos & more at: Have a Happy New Year! --Squidoo   Waiting for the Ball to Drop: 2012 Year End Thoughts New Year's Eve is here, and I am waiting with Jack the puppy for the big Waterford crystal ball to drop at Times Square. Jack and I are more than ready for a New Year. Article at:  Waiting for the Ball to Drop: 2012 Year End Thoughts Happy New Year, Barbie! A look at New Year-themed Barbies from the past decade (slideshow) To ring in the New Year with Barbie , I decided to take a trip down memory lane with the plastic princess and look at the Barbie dolls that most capture a New Year 's theme Post at: Happy New Year, Barbie! A look at New ...

Every October American Indians from around the Nation gather in Tennessee to share part of their culture and crafts. This year's Native American Indian Association Pow Wow and Fall Festival took place on Oct. 19 and 20 at Long Hunter State Park.  One of my ancestors was one of the Long Hunters -- Benjamin Drake, and the park is in the area where my mother and father grew up in the Murfreesboro Road-Hamilton Church Pike area. It was a bit nostalgic to be back in the area with my friend Pam. We were at the Pow Wow for several hours, watched the dances, saw the crafts, ate the food. I should get at least three articles out of it! Here's the first one: Indian dolls at 31st Annual Native American Indian Association Pow Wow The Native American Indian Association Pow Wow serves several functions. It is a reunion of family and friends as well as a celebration of culture nurtured by the some 10,000 Indians who call Tennessee home. Booths were full of N...

The doll club I founded in 1997, the Belle Meade Plantation Belles Barbie Doll Club , celebrated our 15th anniversary on September 6 at Shoney's in Bellevue. Four of the women in the picture have been in the club all 15 years. It doesn't seem like very long ago I was contacting "Barbie Bazaar" magazine about finding out how to get a fan club started and then contacting Mattel to get the application. The club was originally founded as a Barbie fan club but grew over the years to include other fashion dolls. Now the club is 15 years old. They have been 15 fun years! Whether it's baseball cards, fishing, dancing or dolls, hobbies are a great way to socialize and blow off steam. I recommend them highly! Find out more about the club's anniversary at:  Belle Meade Plantation Belles Barbie Doll Club celebrates 15th anniversary - Nashville Doll Collecting Examiner

 Marilyn Monroe (born Norma Jeane Mortenson)  June 1, 1926 – August 5, 1962 August 5, 2012 marks the 50th anniversary of the death of actress Marilyn Monroe. Fifty years after her untimely and somewhat mysterious passing, Marilyn Monroe continues to be as iconic as she was in the 1950s and 60s. In memory of Marilyn Monroe, these are some of the articles I have written about Marilyn Monroe: Health & weight: How big was Marilyn Monroe & what size dress did she wear? A strange mythology has sprung up over Marilyn Monroe's dress size. For decades I heard Marilyn Monroe was a size 12 back in the 1950s. However, in more recent years, Elizabeth Hurley (2000) and Roseanne Barr (1996) have claimed Monroe was a size 16. (snopes.com) Read more about Marilyn Monroe's Weight at: Health & weight: How big was Marilyn Monroe & what size dress did she wear? - Nashville Skin, Health & Beauty Examiner   Iconic Marilyn Monroe remembered thro...

, 15th anniversary of Pink Anger: Barbie fans vs. Mattel The Barbie doll reached the height of its collectibility in 1997 with even new dolls commanding staggering prices on the secondary market . In 1997, Barbie was responsible for 80% of sales in the doll segment of the billion dollar toy market. Then Mattel's legal department clamped down on Barbie dealers, blogs and websites, and sales of the pink plastic princess have never again climbed like they did in the 1990s. Read about one of the factors that caused a drop in popularity and sales for the Barbie doll. Article at: 15th anniversary of Pink Anger: Barbie fans vs. Mattel - National Barbie Collecting Examiner

New Integrity-Hasbro collaboration Jem and The Holograms dolls announced On June 27, 2012 Integrity Toys, Inc., announced their plans to release a brand-new series of collectible fashion dolls based on the 1980′s ground-breaking animated television series "Jem and The Holograms" which is still popular on The Hub today. via New Integrity-Hasbro collaboration Jem and The Holograms dolls announced - Nashville Doll Collecting Examiner

The MTAC Japanese Anime Convention took place this past weekend in Nashville, and I spent part of the day there on Saturday, taking in the sights and sounds while catching up with friends Patricia Alice Albrecht, Samantha Newark and Tony Bradshaw. Here are a few highlights. Iota Soul at MTAC Japanese Anime Convention in Nashville One of the many interesting booths at the MTAC Japanese Anime Convention in Nashville April 6 - 8, 2012, was the Iota Soul booth which introduced new characters and a new story line to the anime and manga fans. Continue reading at Iota Soul at MTAC Japanese Anime Convention in Nashville - Nashville Gospel Music & Entertainment Examiner Anime fashion & beauty secrets from MTAC Anime Convention -  The MTAC Japanese Anime Convention was held in Nashville April 6 - 8, 2012. The most noticeable aspect of the convention was that most convention goers went in costume, frequently with wigs, spiked hair, bows and makeup. Continue readi...

Samantha Newark of Jem & The Holograms to speak at Jan. 6 doll club meeting As previously reported in Belle Meade Plantation Belles celebrate Christmas with doll displays & gifts, recording artist Samantha Newark, the voice of Jem and Jerrica on the hit 80's television series " Jem & The Holograms" will talk about her career as "Jem," other characters and her music career at the January 5 meeting of the Belle Meade Plantation Belles Doll Club in Nashville.   Continue reading: Samantha Newark of Jem & The Holograms to speak at Jan. 6 doll club meeting - Nashville Doll Collecting Examiner

Pet peeve: Plagiarism & copyright Infringement of doll articles As recently reported in Pet peeve: 'Rare' & 'HTF' dolls on ebay , one of my pet peeves is sellers using descriptions that amount to fraud on ebay. Another way that doll collectors and sellers defraud others is by plagiarism and copyright infringement of doll articles, photos and other intellectual property. Sometimes I find my doll articles and photos on blogs, websites, and Facebook, often copied WORD-FOR-WORD, with only my name and links removed. Read more at: Pet peeve: Plagiarism & copyright Infringement of doll articles - Nashville Doll Collecting Examiner

Barbie Halloween Treat a 2011 Target exclusive with Halloween Chelsea dolls As reported in Barbie Halloween Party doll now haunting stores shelves for $9.99 , the new 2011 Halloween Party Barbie dolls has been haunting Nashville grocery store and drug store shelves since earlier in October. Another Halloween Barbie has been spooking up the place at Target, and this time she's not alone! Read more: Barbie Halloween Treat a 2011 Target exclusive with Halloween Chelsea dolls - National Barbie Collecting Examiner

Halloween Dolls & Halloween Doll Displays Halloween dolls are popular for gift giving and for displays at Halloween. You can find Halloween dolls everywhere from doll stores, to eBay to grocery stores. Most doll manufacturers make Halloween dolls and/or Halloween costumes for dolls. Continued at: Halloween Dolls & Halloween Doll Displays

Tea Time at the Plaza Gene doll a remembrance of 9-11 A Doll Collector Looks Back at the Twin Towers Tea Time at the Plaza Gene doll was an FAO Schwarz exclusive doll released by Ashton Drake in 1991. Wearing her tailored A-line navy blue georgette dress with white soutache braid trim, the Gene doll was ready for an afternoon tea at New York's famous Plaza Hotel. Continue reading at: Tea Time at the Plaza Gene doll a remembrance of 9-11 - Nashville Doll Collecting Examiner More Gene Dolls: