This weekend we had one thing on the agenda. Only one thing. We had to visit the American Girl Store in Dallas and meet American Girl of the Year 2015, Grace Thomas.
American Girl has been a big theme in our home this week. A certain seven year old I know received her very first American Girl doll, the American Girl of the Year 2014, Isabelle, from Santa.
And while Isabelle is so loved right now, she disappeared from all American Girl stores on December 31st. We knew that there would be a new American Girl of the Year and couldn’t wait to hear the news. With clues being leaked from American Girl, we soon guessed that French pastries and baguettes would soon make an appearance.
Nine-year old Grace has big plans! When her mom announces a trip to Paris, Grace gets on board, but it seems as if things aren’t working out the way she’d hoped. Grace is feeling lost — until she finds the courage to open up to new ideas. And her newest idea: opening a French baking business with her friends! Can Grace discover her own recipe for success?
My daughter received her first passport this past year so she definitely could relate to Grace, who would be traveling overseas. We met Grace in the Dallas Boutique and I’ll tell you it was crowded. Such excitement was in the air.
We fell in love with Grace and I adored her freckles.
But it might just be Grace’s accessories that caught my eye………
From the Travel Set for Dolls (adorable with a red suitcase and passport) to Grace’s Baking Set for Dolls, there are plenty of playset accessories for extra fun (many under $70), but it was the La Patisserie (or Grace’s French Bakery) that stole the show, despite it’s $500 pricetag.
La Patisserie was huge and simply stunning. The bakery has French doors which open up to reveal a kitchen complete with shop (and drive thru/pick-up window). There are more than 60 accessories within, from a detailed rolling pin to stacks of macaroons.
It’s the details that make all these accessories so beautiful.
This is a close-up of Grace’s blue mixer, part of the Baking Set for Dolls. The mixer really spins, the beaters really can be taken out, and the head lifts up just like my mixer at home.
I’m impressed.
Though Santa had just brought Isabelle to our family, we still wanted a bit of extra fun with American Girl of the Year 2015 Grace Thomas. So we headed to the American Girl Bistro upstairs.
Not everyone has American Girl dolls within their budget, but there’s still a way for most to enjoy the fun. One way to do just that is to head to the American Girl Bistro, within American Girl stores for dessert!
I’ll be writing more about our experience soon, but the Bistro can be an inexpensive way to get a little of the American Girl magic (complete with free gifts). In fact, if you don’t have an American Girl doll with you, you can borrow one of theirs while you eat!
There are new Bistro items on the menu with Grace’s arrival, including Grace’s Chocolate-Cherry Sweetheart Milkshake!
What a wonderful Mommy/Daughter afternoon we had and there was a special suprise too – they were handing out Free Grace Thomas Doll Aprons! Someone quickly took to her new Grace chapter book as well. I imagine we’ll be back soon for the second one!
With Grace’s baking theme, American Girl has partnered with No Kid Hungry to make a difference! $1 Donation = 10 meals to children in need.
You can visit American Girl online to shop, look at the newly scheduled store events (some Free) or learn more about Grace.
NOTE: You can also find the books on Amazon – Grace (Book 1)
Too young for an American Girl of the Year? My daughter first had an American Girl Bitty Baby – see what we thought!!
Have you ever visited an American Girl Store or Bistro?
My daughter and I love all things AG! I love this doll because she likes to bake and that is something that my daughter and I do together. Fingers crossed Santa will bring it!
What a great doll! I hope to give her to my granddaughter for her next birthday, continuing a tradition started when her mommy was a young girl!
What a wonderful tradition Pamela!
Love this! I just got the catalog and freaked when I saw the doll of the year! I love all things Paris and AG. I am currently expecting my first daughter. I secretly want to buy this doll for her and save it for later. But who knows if she’ll like dolls!
With a mama who loves the new doll, I’m betting your daughter will too! 🙂
So fun! I love this year’s girl. My daughter is turning 4 and I have had Marie Grace in my closet for a few years now waiting to give it to her. I think this year I am in. We have reservations for dinner at the cafe in NYC next month.
What amazing fun! I can’t wait to have the American Girl experience with my girls…I have been looking at the catalogs for years and I know once we do my girls will fall in love with it all. Thanks so much for sharing.
Fun to see other real life American Girls’ adventures with Grace in other states.
How sweet! Our daughter was never a fan of dolls, but our granddaughter would love an American Girl Doll.
I didn’t know they made a doll of the year. My niece has one of these so I bet she’d absolutely love it!
This is so cute! I love American Girls and their message! I can’t wait to share the dolls and stories with my daughters.
I have all boys so I had no idea they have stores like this. I will have to see if there is one near where my niece lives and if so get her a gift card, she would love it. Your daughter seems to have definitely had a great time.
Such a worldly young girl, Grace is! I think it’s great that your daughter could identify so much, having just received her first passport. American Girl dolls hold a lot of important memories in my childhood and they are something I continue to share with my niece today!
Oh my goodness, what a great doll. My girls are just starting to get into dolls, so this would be awesome 🙂
Grace is adorable! I love how the American Girl has so many things to buy for them, and you can even buy matching clothing!
That is a very cute looking doll. Straight from Paris. My girls would die for a doll like this.
My seven-year-old daughter Caitlin and I also visited the American Girl store in NYC on Jan. 1, 2015, for the unveiling of Grace. It was our first experience at the store and it was super exciting!
Caitlin received a doll of her choice from grandpa for Christmas and her doll looks like her with dark brown eyes and long straight black hair. We brought the doll with us to the store and it was quite a sight to see so many girls wandering through the store with their dolls. Caitlin admired Grace and played with the bakery accessories. She likes to help me cook at home and we had made cupcakes for her school on the last day before the winter break.
Caitlin participated in the scavenger hunt and luggage tag making session and received a souvenir Grace apron. We did the magazine cover photo shot and loved how the photographer incorporated Caitlin and her doll in the scene. It cost $24.95 for an individual cover plus the February 2015 issue of the AG magazine. I thought it was well worth it and a unique momento.
We were able to get on the waiting list for the restaurant in the store and had lunch. Caitlin had the tic-tac-toe pizza but didn’t find it very tasty and said pizzeria pizza was better. I had the burger which was good but nothing special. We also received the mini cinnamon rolls and the crudite appetizer platter before our meal. We liked the dessert the best which was a mini chocolate mousse and cupcake. I found the meal very overpriced at $24 per person (no separate child’s menu price) but the experience can’t be beat. Caitlin loved that her doll got to sit with her during the meal (the restaurant provided doll seats) and the doll even gets her own cup and saucer to join in.
I don’t know if we will come back to the store or restaurant any time soon but we may consider for special occasions. Everything in the store appeals to little girls, collectors and the young at heart. I had to control myself not to get too many accessories myself!
She is so cute! My girls LOVED going to the AG store a year ago. And my daughter saved up to buy hers, she still loves it.