October Instagram Challenge Day 2: Decoration

I think my dolls will be doing most of the decorating this Halloween. :( Right now our home looks like a tornado hit it. I'm trying to sort and declutter things. Currently, I'm at the stage where everything is out of place and a crazy mess. Plus, Mr. BTEG and the Dancer are going to be involved in a gaming convention this weekend, so a good part of the living room and all of my dining room table are filled with their prep. Maybe I will able to get stuff done when they're out of my hair, anyway.

October Instagram Challenge Day 1: Leaves

Since I'm taking part in a doll-related Instagram challenge, I thought I might as well share the pictures here as well. Also here, we can chat about them!

The grass that Stacie is lying on, is plastic turf that I bought at a craft store. I can't believe how nice it looks in the photo.

Did you get to play in the leaves when you were a kid? We had several large trees in my front and back yards when I was a kid, so leaf raking was a way of life every year. I'm old enough to remember burning leaves and yard waste in a big metal barrel with holes in the sides, too.

Barbie, Christie and Teresa Model Fall Fashions

I've picked up some Fashion Avenue outfits the past couple of months, and I've been saving these three for when fall arrived. The weather is starting to feel just right here in NE Ohio!

Barbie models Gala in Chicago. This outfit includes the dress, of a stretchy material, a bolero jacket trimmed with fluffy material that does shed a little, a small purse, and purple shoes. I prefer the slightly thick heel over the stiletto ones that Mattel also makes. The slender heels tend to bend if you try to balance Barbie on them at all.

Next, we have Christie modeling Reception Roses. I especially like the small touches with this dress. This outfit includes the satin dress, a fashion scarf for the neck, matching nylons, a purse, and shoes.

The butterfly fabric is pretty, and I think having a strip at the bottom half of the skirt is just right. Adding too much more of that print would be overwhelming. I also like the pleated net trim at the sleeves and skirt hem.

I like the roses at the neck. I don't think this would work on a real woman. Maybe in a smaller proportion.

Barbie and Christie are ready to go out and have fun on a slightly crisp fall evening.

This next outfit is technically not Fashion Avenue, but I think it came out in the Fashion Avenue era. This outfit is part of the Seasons line. There were four separate outfits produced, for spring, summer, fall and winter. I've seen another fall outfit Mattel made that is very similar to this one. Barbie wears a long-sleeved orange top and brown vest in that one, plus I think an orange or plaid tam, and a plaid skirt. What signifies autumn, at least in the northern half of North America, more than the changing colors of the leaves? And shortly afterward comes the task of raking them up when they fall. I raked up many a pile of leaves in my day! At least there was the fun of jumping in a pile afterward. Sometimes my sisters and the girls down the street and I would make "houses" by raking up piles of leaves to make low walls.

I think this red suits Teresa very well. I was disappointed this sweater is not completely open at the back. It goes over her head.

At least Barbie gets sensible shoes for raking leaves. I think the other set had brown pumps.

A rake is included, with the ubiquitous B logo.

Also included, some cardboard leaves. Not ready to take them out of the plastic yet.

The outfit originally came with this skirt and head scarf. I think Teresa will be much more comfortable raking leaves in the jeans she's wearing.

Lastly, the set includes a basket of apples to enjoy after some hard work outside. Yum, a nice crisp apple.

Do you enjoy moving into warmer clothes for autumn weather? Are you putting your dolls into anything different? I don't own enough doll clothes for all of my dolls to change what they wear very often. But this outfits are nice additions.