Savings and Shopping Tips For Those Touring Niagara Falls

If you plan carefully you can enjoy a Niagara Falls vacation without tapping into your hard earned savings. Here's just a few ways to get the full benefit from a Niagara Falls vacation without paying full prices:

* Fireworks: Niagara Falls is illuminated every night for your viewing pleasure but on Fridays and Sundays during the summer there is a fireworks show at Queen Victoria Park. The show is at 10:00 PM but arrive early. There is a free outdoor concert before the fireworks (8:00 PM) which is always a great time for the whole family.

* Goat Island / Cave of the Winds: Splitting the river channel between the Canadian and American Falls is Goat Island, a fabulous place to spend a day of your Niagara Falls vacation witnessing the sights and sounds of nature. With vegetation that is pristine and untouched by man, Goat Island offers visitors an opportunity to step back in time. While on the island make sure you check out Cave of the Winds. Following the route once occupied by a cave which went behind Bridal Veil Falls, you can now take an elevator 175 feet down and come out on a platform a mere twenty feet from the cascading waters. Admission is just $11.00.

* Niagara Falls and Great Gorge Adventure Pass: Definitely the best deal on Niagara Falls vacation attractions. Take a boat tour of the Falls on the Maid of the Mist, journey thirteen stories down behind the Horseshoe Falls with Journey Behind the Falls, take the world famous White Water Walk, and discover where the Falls originally came from in a 4-D presentation called "Niagara's Fury". You can enjoy all of these while being transported on Niagara's People Movers Bus for an all inclusive price of $39.95.

* Clifton Hill Shopping: Check out the Niagara Falls Marketplace and visit the Fantasy Fudge Factory while you are there. This delicious attraction rivals even the great Willy Wonka's and will definitely make your mouth water and your senses come alive when you walk through the door. At Fantasy Fudge you'll also find one of the world's largest collections of Ty Beanies & Buddies, Groovy Girls, Barbie Collectibles, Smurfs & Thomas The Train collectibles. After you're done browsing or buying there it's a short stroll to Rainbow Discount Souvenirs, a great place to pick up a gift for your loved ones before going home and a Cuban Cigar for yourself before you cross the border back into the States.

Author, Tia Jones, is a freelance writer who contributes articles on Affordable Travel Tours for Tours4Fun. For more information on how Tours4Fun can help you plan a trip to your next travel destination visit http://www.tours4fun.com

Teapot As a Collectible

There are people who are fond of collecting things. These things may be a toy train, mini sports car, signature bags, colourful carpets, Barbie dolls, stamps around the globe or even teapots. These can be sources of enjoyment among other people who have an obsession on it.

Well, as mentioned above, teapots can be good sources of enchanting collectibles. And the good thing is that, there are many teapots available around the globe. No wonder why there are some people that get fascinated on these teapots in various forms. As a matter of fact, The Metropolitan Museum of Art found in New York City has a teapot compilation display that is varied and gorgeous. Many teapot collectors are astounded on this kind of displays.

So in this particular article, we have compiled few tips in collecting your teapot. Don't worry because these are simple steps to follow through. First thing you need to do is to identify how or what is the teapot made from.

Think about the numerous materials that comprise the end product of teapot. It is widely known that teapots could be made from cast, bone china, iron, glass, stoneware, porcelain and vibrantly colored ceramics. So there are truly wide varieties of these products. There are also other designs that replicate the olden times of a society. It depicts the colourful history on how people have lived their lives before. So when you try to bring together teapots, always keep in mind that they can be pleasing to the eye and at the same time purposeful.

Teapots come up to an extensive variety of styles with bulky handles and spouts; slender handles and spouts; decorated with beautiful flower patterns or holiday patterns and with Victorian themes on it. So be very careful on choosing the ideal teapot for you.

The next tip might need some physical effort but undeniably a worthy one. You must try to rummage around antique or old-fashioned shops to supplement your teapot collection. You can time after time find some historical teapots that symbolize celebrated events, places and people. Just a tip though, when you find older teapots, you should try to examine for their defects. There are particular flaws expected to be found. But just be cautious for cracks and chips, particularly in the region of the lid and spout. Lastly, you can also search for some auction sales to avail for your teapot collectibles.

Display your collection like your China tea cups to let everyone see its beauty. Your visitors will really be satisfied with a tea cups display to revitalize their senses. It is indeed a great way to prove the teapots worth.

Collecting Toys - Millions of Adults Still Love Toys

Collecting is definitely one of the most popular hobbies and there are almost as many different types of collectibles as there are collectors! Practically anything can become a collectable item, but one of the most commonly collected objects are actually toys. People of all ages seem to love toys, especially those toys from around the time that they themselves were children.

Collecting toys, for many, is more than just a fun hobby, it is an investment. A lot of the older toys are very rare, especially in the better conditions and/or with the original packaging. Naturally, the better condition a toy is in and whether or not it still has the original packaging heavily influences its value.

Collectors spend a lot of money to get certain toys to add to their collections. In 1988 the an auction was held at the Perlman Toy Museum in Philadelphia and over $5,000,000 in toys were sold in under 24 hours!

Often toy collections are handed down from one generation to the next. Sometimes the receiver of the toy collection loves and appreciates toys as much as the one who passed them down, while other heirs will sale the toys at auction. Some of the largest toy collection in the world were amassed by two or more generations of collectors.

Although collecting vintage toys can be a great investment there are many people who aren't concerned so much about the monetary value as they are the sentimental value. For many people collecting toys is a way to hold on to their youth and keep a bit of the fun alive in their lives. As an example a friend of mine has a huge collection of action figures, most of which he has had since he was a child. Now, even though he has long since "grown up", he continues to add more action figures to his collection. He says he wouldn't consider selling any of his older toys because of their sentimental value.

Action figures and Barbie Dolls are some of the most collected types of toys.

The Barbie Doll was created in 1959 and did not have bendable legs. An original 1959 Barbie Doll fetched nearly $26,000 at auction! While most Barbie Dolls wouldn't bring that much there are many of them that would sell for hundreds, or even thousands of dollars. Over the years there were a lot of Barbie clothing and accessories that were produced. Quite often this clothing and many of the accessories can actually be worth more than the Barbie Doll itself.

In 1964 executives of Hasbro decided to emulate the great success of the Barbie Doll with young boys. They introduced the GI Joe as the boys alternative to Barbie. For the first time boys began to "play" with dolls on a wide scale. It was OK though, the GI Joe was an action figure, not a doll.

In recent decades a new type of toy hit the scene and has now become quite a collectable. How many of you collect toys from restaurant kids meals such as McDonalds Happy Meal? A full set of a particular series can often bring double the price or even more than was paid for them and you got burgers, fries and a drink to boot! Once a series is discontinued it can become quite difficult to locate those missing from your collection, especially if you insist on "mint in bags". Serious collectors will often spend $5 to $10 for that one toy they need to complete a set. Of course some of the older "happy meal" toys from the 70s and 80s are worth much more than that.

If you have a fascination for collecting toys take a trip back in time to TL Collectables where you will find a growing collection of articles about all different types of collectables including antique toys such as Barbie, GI Joe, die-cast vehicles, and fast food toys as well as other collectibles like pottery, costume jewelry, vinyl records, vintage photographs and much more.

Copyright 2008, TLCollectables.com. Permission is granted for republishing this article on your website or blog under the condition that all links and copyright information be left intact.

Barbie Dolls - Over 50 Years of History and Still Going Strong

The one thing that every little girl plays with for hours on end is a Barbie doll. Just think, that when it was first thought of Mattel did not want to manufacture it! It turns out that the decision to invest in Barbie was a wise one since it is now a globally known icon with all children.

Barbie has came a long way since it was designed in 1959 by Ruth Handler. Handler first saw the need for an adult doll that would allow girls to play with and dream of how it would be when they were adults. The only option at this time was to play with paper dolls. The first time that Handler took her product to the Mattel Corporation, that she was a co-founder of, she was turned down. The committee felt that it would not appeal to children and would end up costing them more to produce than they would possibly make a profit off. Barbie was modeled after a doll that Handler had brought from Europe, called Lillie. After which, Mattel finally agreed to back her efforts. Then later that year, Barbie was introduced to the world in New York City at the American Toy Fair.

The buyer's of the industry were not impressed with Barbie. However, the little girls went wild over the doll! Within the first year Mattel set a new sales record. It took several years for the supply of Barbie to meet with the demand of the dolls, since every little girl wanted Barbie and all her clothes and accessories.

Over the years Barbie has went through quite a few changes. Her appearance has been the cause of many complaints and even lawsuits. In 1971, Barbie's eyes were changed from the narrow, sideways look as they were designed with to give a look of allure. She was given the round, looking forward eyes that she still has today. Most notable, in 1997, Barbie was given new dimensions, since people worried that Barbie sent an unrealistic body image message to girls with her body measurements. After going through countless lawsuits against Mattel, they decided to take the measures and change Barbie's body.

The last 50 years Barbie has escalated to much more than a doll. Barbie is a trademark icon that all little girls have. There are books, games, movies and countless accessories that are all contributed to Barbie. There are dolls that are cousins and sisters to Barbie, making up the entire Barbie family, complete with a pink car and dream house. Barbie has managed to keep up with all the latest fashion trends and has inspired the imaginations of little girls all around the world. Barbie reinforced the idea that girls can grow up to be whatever they want with Barbie's of all sorts of occupations, such as veterinarian, scuba diving Barbie, or even Nascar driving Barbie.

Despite there being more and more competitors that are trying to imitate Barbie, there is still only one, true doll that can call itself Barbie.

For more information on collectible toys, including tips on collecting classic toys, be sure to visit us at our website, Toy-Collectibles.com.

Barbie Doll Values Collecting - A Value Guide To Find The Worth Of Your Barbie Dolls

When collecting Barbie, the doll values in a guide used for Barbie dolls can be either tangible or intangible but either way we have a value guide for you. As people always say...everything has a price. You might be wondering what the values of your Barbie doll are or if you are getting ready to purchase Barbie doll collectibles to add to your collection what price should you pay? For this a Barbie doll collector should always use a value guide.

Collecting Barbie Dolls, defined by our 8 steps, can be lots of fun but finding their values can become frustrating as a collector because you are not sure what are the "right" price values. With a Barbie doll values guide book you can spend time researching your Barbie collector dolls, to understand their history, and related items like dollhouses, clothes, coloring books, games, etc. to help you in the process of finding the right values for your dolls. During the search you will want to use many different methods such as internet, auctions, local stores, and basic collector guides . While trying to determine the values of your collector Barbie Doll you will need to look for Vintage Barbie collecting terminology and it will guide you in the right direction.

Some key words that you need to know while you are looking through your collector Barbie doll value collecting guide:

HTF- hard to find
MIB- mint in box (factory doll in mint condition)
MIP- mint in package (means all accessories are still in original packaging)
MNB- in mint condition but not in original box
NT- (not touched) can mean excellent as well when talking about the collector Barbie Doll's condition
NRFB- never removed from box
OSS- has the original swimsuit

When a collector is trying to determine the worth of their Barbie doll, here are some key terms they will see in their value collecting guide:

Barbie Doll Book Values is defined as the pricing guide values of the collector Barbie and does not mean the price you should get on a secondary market. This is an important key word to note when collecting Barbie.

Barbie Doll Market Values is defined as the actual price you expect to sell your collector Barbie Dolls for. There are many factors to take into consideration as a doll collector so you will want to use online auctions as a guide when determine your collector Barbie values.

Barbie collector dolls should reflect the values of the items you collect because they appeal to you. This is the point where the values of your Barbie collector doll become intangible so even if the worth of the Barbie you are collecting is not valuable to the market, the sentimental worth will make it a value to you!

For more information on Barbie visit http://www.crazyforbarbie.com Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jen_Stewart

Watch Your Daughters Face Light Up With Excitement and Joy When You Give Her Barbie Doll Dream House

It's every little girl's dream to own a Barbie collection. Chances are your daughter is craving for Barbie collectibles to augment her current toys. Barbie collectibles are famous not only because of the Barbie figurine, but also for other sets such as the Barbie Doll Dream House.

If your daughter is eight years old or older, you can wow her this holiday season by giving her the splendid set collection of the Pink Barbie House. This set includes over fifty-five unique parts which imitate real-life household furniture and accessories.

The Pink Barbie Doll House is three feet high when fully assembled. There are ambient effects as well, lights and sounds which give the dream house a realistic feel. Tiki lights and chandeliers provide a luxurious glow to five delicately molded deluxe rooms in the three-story dream house.

Samples of ambient sounds include the crackling of the fireplace, the ring of the kitchen timer, and the flushing of the toilet. Your kid will delight in helping Barbie explore her new Pink Barbie House.

Watch as your kid makes Barbie ride the pull-string elevator to the different floors of the dream house, or let Barbie relax amidst the outdoor spa area complete with a whirlpool-type tub which can be filled with water. Your kid can re arrange the parts of the house every time Barbie has an occasion.

With the Pink Barbie Doll House, your daughter will learn household responsibilities such as cooking in the kitchen and cleaning up the house. The Pink Barbie Doll House provides your daughter with a good training ground for her future household activities. If your daughter's looking for only fun and relaxation for Barbie, she can let Barbie bask in the warm glow of the fireplace, or watch a movie on the mini-flat screen TV.

The Pink Barbie Doll House provides a perfect role-playing experience for your daughter as she dictates Barbie's activities in the luxurious house.

This is my Squidoo minisite where I put up all sorts of incredible videos, articles and reviews about Barbie Doll Dream House. To find out more about Barbie Dream House Click Here

The How-To Guide For Barbie Dolls

The Barbie doll was born in 1959. It was one of the most valuable collectibles by virtue of potential appreciation value. Barbie first made its debut in Japan and is immensely popular the day she was born. As the years went on, Barbie went through makeovers after makeovers and came back in greater varieties than before. Barbie can now be a lawyer or doctor and has numerous clothes and accessories that she is dazzling to behold.

To collect these dolls, you first have to know almost all there is to Barbie dolls, both her past, present and future. Altering them can improve their appearance but however, this will decrease their value. Barbie dolls that are of a limited edition will be more value than the others.

One of the most important things to notice when determining the value of a Barbie doll is to see whether there is any kind of damage on the doll. A slight tear in the clothes or the lack of cleanliness will cause the value to decrease immensely. Not taking out the dolls from the box will preserve their value and shield them from almost any kind of damage

Even though a collectible Barbie Doll that has been altered or restored may be worth less to collectors you may decide that you would still want to go ahead with the Barbie Doll restoration process. If you are not going to get the price you would like at this point and you would rather keep the Barbie Doll then you should consider restoration if you are not concerned with the value and more concerned with maintaining the essence of your Barbie then start the restoration process.

Due to her immense popularity, many people started to collect Barbie and all the different people she represents. As a collectible or toy, Barbie dolls are definitely worth it and lovers of Barbie dolls are now having much more choices as to which dolls to choose nowadays.

DaDaBean [http://dadabean.com] is an informative blog that offers many different articles on collectible dolls. Browse the store [http://dadabean.com/store] of various collectibles and find the dolls you are looking for at DaDaBean.

Collectible Dolls - How Rare?

In this article we're going to discuss exactly what determines how rare a collectible doll is and how its value is determined.

Collectible dolls are a strange paradox. The reason that dolls are collectible is because back when they were new, they weren't.

How many times have you heard a friend say something like, "I had one of the very first Barbie Dolls. If I had kept it I'd be rich right now". Well, the truth of the matter is, if every girl who bought a Barbie Doll back in 1959 when they first came out had kept it in its box and never played with it then none of these dolls would be worth anything. The reason Barbie is worth so much money is because back then little girls bought the dolls, took the dolls out of their boxes, played with the dolls and ultimately tossed the dolls in the garbage or gave them away either when they became too old to play with them or the dolls themselves simply just fell apart from use.

So an early doll that has become as popular as Barbie has become, if found in its original box and unopened, which is pretty unlikely, would get a lot of money at an auction. How much money? Last figures for an early Barbie doll are estimated at about $2,500. This is actually down quite a bit from the heyday of collectible selling when you could get close to $10,000 for a series 1 Barbie Doll from 1959. We have since come back down to reality.

But is this reality? The early Barbie Dolls sold for a few dollars. How can something that sold for a few dollars be worth thousands today? Well, it all comes down to supply and demand. If something is low on the supply side and enough people want it then the price is going to skyrocket. And for whatever reason, people love old things, the same old things that they used to throw away.

But it isn't just old popular dolls that are worth money. They may be rare because there aren't a lot of them left around. But some dolls are rare and worth a lot of money because there were never very many of them to begin with. While maybe not as many people would be interested in these dolls because they weren't that popular to begin with, the die hard collectors still go crazy over these items. So a collectible doll like 1967's Mike Hazard, Double Agent, will still bring in about $1,500 in an auction if unopened in the original box. Why? Because finding one of these is as unlikely as finding life on Mars.

Of course not every old doll brings in thousand dollar price tags. If the doll was in great supply but for some reason never caught on at all then most likely the doll won't be worth much today. In the case of Mike Hazard there just weren't many made to begin with.

There are those who will argue that this whole collectible craze is just that, crazy. And then there are those who's lives wouldn't be the same without this stuff as many people actually have built businesses around buying and selling collectibles. As they say, one man's peanut butter is another man's lobster tail.

------------------------------------------------------- Michael Russell Your Independent guide to Collectible Dolls ------------------------------------------------------- Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Michael_Russell

Are Your Collectibles Valuable? Here's How to Find Out

The first thing you will need to do is check out the condition of your item, be it a train, collectible Barbie doll, Disney collectible, or some other collectible item. Is it scratched, torn, clean, dirty, new, in a box, without a box? You get the idea...

Use a good light source and check the item out very carefully, noting the name, identification marks, and any copyright marks. Also, check for any imperfections, tears, scratches, color imperfections, mars, stains, etc.

Many dolls are collected with the box intact. An intact box can raise the value of an item a great deal. Some are worthless if the box is damaged badly or missing.

NOTE: Some dolls are meant to be played with and taken out of the box to dress. Examples are the Tonner Doll Company dolls: Tyler Wentworth, Sydney Chase, Gene, etc.

Remove the doll from the box for inspection. Look for forums, discussion boards, or news groups where similar collectors gather online. You can also check on eBay (or other online auctions) to see what similar items are selling for and what their condition was at the time of sale. Compare the prices with, and without a box to see the difference.

To find your item on eBay:

1. Find the category on eBay where your item would most likely be listed. (Dolls, bears, trains, Disney collectible would be likely categories.

2. If using Dolls, use the [check only in Dolls box] in the search.

3. Use your keyword to search, such as "Barbie doll". This will bring up the current auctions window.

4. Now, check the completed auctions box, to check out the prices and descriptions on the sold items.

5. When you click on the individual auctions, you can see the price the item sold for, the condition of the item and whether it had a box. Look for terms such as NRFB (Never Removed From Box) or MIB (Mint In Box).

Note that the price on eBay is not the best price for your item. Usually, the price could be more if sold locally because the online auction buyer cannot actually handle the item and examine it in person.

Other places to find information about your item (doll) would be websites selling your item (doll), antique or boutique shops, toy or hobby shops, and resell shops. Also, check out the resource books at the public library.

Popular collectibles might have a price book that is printed for collectors. You can also use a collection of hobby magazines to price items or to locate the year the item was made.

If you have done all of the above and still cannot find the information that you need about your item, check out some local hobby clubs in your area. Most hobby enthusiasts will be willing to help you find the information you need and are eager to talk about their hobby. You might even find an expert on your items, or a buyer!!

© 2005, Kathy Burns-Millyard. Kathy is a professionally published freelance writer and photographer who is currently involved in a fascinating adventure of living off the grid and working on the road as she travels around the southwestern United States.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kathy_Burns-Millyard

Vintage Barbie Dolls - Identifying Vintage Ponytail Barbies

Barbie was first released by Mattel in 1959 and since the earliest Barbie doll had her hair pulled back in a Ponytail, she is referred to as the Ponytail Barbie by vintage Barbie collectors. There are six different incarnations of the Ponytail Barbie and so she is referred to by her number, i.e. #1 Ponytail Barbie or #2 Ponytail, etc. What follows is a brief guide to identifying each one as the differences between them are usually subtle, but hugely significant to value.

#1 Ponytail Barbie

The #1 Ponytail Barbie can be either blonde or brunette. More blonde dolls were made so the brunette is more valuable. Her hair is tied back in a ponytail and she has curled bangs. Her irises are white and her lips are red and she also severely arched eyebrows. Pointy, actually. She is also peering off to the side.

Constructed from heavy vinyl plastic, she has a solid torso and holes in the bottom of her feet and copper tubing in her legs so she can be fitted to her pedestal. The bottom of her right foot also says "Japan" on it.

Due to the nature of the plastic she was made from, she is usually faded to a very white color. Her original outfit consists of a black/white zebra striped swimsuit, open toed black high heels (with holes in them!), white sunglasses (blue lenses) and golden hoop earrings.

#1 Ponytail Barbie is also marked: Barbie (TM) Pats. Pend. ©MCMLVIII by Mattel Inc.

#2 Ponytail Barbie

The #2 Ponytail Barbie is actually exactly the same as the #1 Barbie except she no longer has holes in her feet and no copper tubing. Her new pedestal has arms to hold her in place. She bears the same mark as above.

#3 Ponytail Barbie

#3 Barbie is like the #2 except she now has blue irises and softer eyebrows. She may have either brown or blue eyeliner.

#4 Ponytail Barbie

The #4 Barbie now comes in a new type of plastic and generally keeps her flesh-colored tone over the years. She also only comes wearing blue eyeliner.

#5 Ponytail Barbie

The big changes to the #5 Barbie are that her torso is now hollow and she bears a new mark: Barbie ® Pats. Pend. ©MCMLVIII by Mattel Inc. Note the ® instead of the (TM).

In addition. #5 also is available in a new hair color, Titian. Barbie's hair is also a bit stiffer now. The Titian #5 Barbie is very hard to find and the most collectible. Unfortunately, #5 Barbies are prone to greasy faces due to some problems Mattel was having with the vinyl. A greasy appearance will reduce value as the problem isn't universal and there are some dolls still showing lovely matte faces to be found.

#6 Ponytail Barbie

#6 has a new outfit, a red jersey swimsuit and red open-toed heels. Her lips are now watermelon colored instead of red. Her fingernail polish matches her lips. The vinyl problems were fixed so she won't have a greasy face anymore either.

Is she a number 6 or number 7?

Some time in 1963, there was a major change to Barbie. The #6 dolls produced in 1963 and 1964 have broader faces and also have a different mark: Midge(TM)/© 1962/Barbie®/© 1958/by/Mattel, Inc and they are available in different hair colors -- lemon blonde, ash blonde, titian and brunette (not raven black like the #1's). Her lips and nails are now coral.

Sometimes the Barbie with the new mark is referred to as the #7 Barbie by collectors and sometimes she is referred to as the #6. If you are considering adding one of these dolls to your collection, the important thing is to know that Barbie had a bit of a makeover between 1962 and 1963 and the 1962 doll was only manufactured for one year so she may be more collectible.

On a final note, there are lots of artists doing restorations and repaints of vintage Barbie dolls. Like any antique, any vintage Barbie that has been altered from her original condition will be far less valuable even if the repaint restores her beauty. If you are bidding on an auction for a Barbie doll and you have questions about any possible restoration work done to her, don't be afraid to question the seller.

if you would like to learn more about vintage Barbies or are looking to add to your collection, you can see some of the vintage Ponytail Barbies available on Jenni's website: http://vintagebarbies.collectiblesnook.com/

Jenni Kerala is a mid-century modern collector and collects mod Barbies and fashion accessories.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jenni_Kerala

Ken and Barbie - A Love Story

Ken and Barbie are household names around the world. It is doubtful that many people born in the western world in the past 40 years have not heard of Barbie and Ken, let alone owned one. Barbie was invented in 1959 by Ruth Handler, who was the co-founder of Mattel. It quickly became one of the biggest selling toys of all time and continues to be a success today, despite heavy competition. Barbie's partner, Ken, was introduced in 1961. In 2004 Mattel announced the split of Barbie and Ken with a rather realistic press release reminiscent of real Hollywood break ups, saying that Barbie and Ken "feel it's time to spend some quality time apart." Others even went as far to say that they broke up due to overwhelming pressure from constant public scrutiny or possibly because Ken did not want to tie the knot. It is believed that they were back together again as soon as 2006.

It is believed that Ken and Barbie met on a TV commercial set and from there, a perfect love story began. Mattel launched many clothing and accessory ranges aimed at both Barbie and Ken and their circle of close friends.

The full name of Barbie is Barbara Millicent Roberts and Ken's full name is Ken Carson. Ken originally came with real hair mane but this was eventually changed to plastic to avoid the hair falling off when wet. The Ken doll is known for his muscular physique and permanently molded underwear. 1993 saw the introduction of Earring Magic Ken which gained a cult following within the gay community.

Both Ken and Barbie have consistently come under criticism for their unrealistic body proportions and apparent pressure on young people to conform to particularly body shapes and fashions. Barbie and Ken have always been known for their keen fashion sense, sports car driving and exotic pet keeping ways which many people criticize as being excessive and a symbol for materialistic western culture. Others however simply see it as good fun and a way for children to simply play out a fantasy life with dolls.

There is no doubt that Barbie and Ken are the most famous non-human couple in the history of humankind. Their 40+ year relationship sees them never aging, and always staying on top of fashion trends. More importantly in the eyes of Mattel, they consistently help to keep the Barbie line up alive and well with a never ending supply of accessories, clothing, cars and other gadgets that are still keeping kids occupied today.

Barbie dolls [http://www.barbiworld.com/barbie_collectibles/Barbie-collectibles-directory.html] retain their popularity after four decades. Watch some old Barbie videos and commercials.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Barbara_White

Barbie Doll Values Collecting - A Value Guide To Find The Worth Of Your Barbie Dolls

When collecting Barbie, the doll values in a guide used for Barbie dolls can be either tangible or intangible but either way we have a value guide for you. As people always say...everything has a price. You might be wondering what the values of your Barbie doll are or if you are getting ready to purchase Barbie doll collectibles to add to your collection what price should you pay? For this a Barbie doll collector should always use a value guide.

Collecting Barbie Dolls, defined by our 8 steps, can be lots of fun but finding their values can become frustrating as a collector because you are not sure what are the "right" price values. With a Barbie doll values guide book you can spend time researching your Barbie collector dolls, to understand their history, and related items like dollhouses, clothes, coloring books, games, etc. to help you in the process of finding the right values for your dolls. During the search you will want to use many different methods such as internet, auctions, local stores, and basic collector guides . While trying to determine the values of your collector Barbie Doll you will need to look for Vintage Barbie collecting terminology and it will guide you in the right direction.

Some key words that you need to know while you are looking through your collector Barbie doll value collecting guide:

HTF- hard to find
MIB- mint in box (factory doll in mint condition)
MIP- mint in package (means all accessories are still in original packaging)
MNB- in mint condition but not in original box
NT- (not touched) can mean excellent as well when talking about the collector Barbie Doll's condition
NRFB- never removed from box
OSS- has the original swimsuit

When a collector is trying to determine the worth of their Barbie doll, here are some key terms they will see in their value collecting guide:

Barbie Doll Book Values is defined as the pricing guide values of the collector Barbie and does not mean the price you should get on a secondary market. This is an important key word to note when collecting Barbie.

Barbie Doll Market Values is defined as the actual price you expect to sell your collector Barbie Dolls for. There are many factors to take into consideration as a doll collector so you will want to use online auctions as a guide when determine your collector Barbie values.

Barbie collector dolls should reflect the values of the items you collect because they appeal to you. This is the point where the values of your Barbie collector doll become intangible so even if the worth of the Barbie you are collecting is not valuable to the market, the sentimental worth will make it a value to you!

For more information on Barbie visit http://www.crazyforbarbie.com Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jen_Stewart

Watch Your Daughters Face Light Up With Excitement and Joy When You Give Her Barbie Doll Dream House

It's every little girl's dream to own a Barbie collection. Chances are your daughter is craving for Barbie collectibles to augment her current toys. Barbie collectibles are famous not only because of the Barbie figurine, but also for other sets such as the Barbie Doll Dream House.

If your daughter is eight years old or older, you can wow her this holiday season by giving her the splendid set collection of the Pink Barbie House. This set includes over fifty-five unique parts which imitate real-life household furniture and accessories.

The Pink Barbie Doll House is three feet high when fully assembled. There are ambient effects as well, lights and sounds which give the dream house a realistic feel. Tiki lights and chandeliers provide a luxurious glow to five delicately molded deluxe rooms in the three-story dream house.

Samples of ambient sounds include the crackling of the fireplace, the ring of the kitchen timer, and the flushing of the toilet. Your kid will delight in helping Barbie explore her new Pink Barbie House.

Watch as your kid makes Barbie ride the pull-string elevator to the different floors of the dream house, or let Barbie relax amidst the outdoor spa area complete with a whirlpool-type tub which can be filled with water. Your kid can re arrange the parts of the house every time Barbie has an occasion.

With the Pink Barbie Doll House, your daughter will learn household responsibilities such as cooking in the kitchen and cleaning up the house. The Pink Barbie Doll House provides your daughter with a good training ground for her future household activities. If your daughter's looking for only fun and relaxation for Barbie, she can let Barbie bask in the warm glow of the fireplace, or watch a movie on the mini-flat screen TV.

The Pink Barbie Doll House provides a perfect role-playing experience for your daughter as she dictates Barbie's activities in the luxurious house.

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Antique Avon Barbie Doll Collection

When it comes to Barbie dolls you should know there are a lot of them throughout the world to collect. Many of the Barbie dolls from the old days are collectibles but then you have new Barbie dolls from today's era that are collectibles as well. Within this article we are going to be telling you some basic information about antique Avon Barbie doll collections.

Throughout the world there are a lot of antique Avon Barbie doll collections. If you are looking for a antique Avon Barbie doll collection that is well known to all doll collectors then you may want to consider taking the time to go online to find other individuals that are into antique Barbie Dolls. It would be even better if you could go online and find an individuals that is into antique Avon Barbie doll and that has a antique Avon Barbie doll collection of their own.

When it comes to the antique Avon Barbie doll collections you should know that there are a number of different types of Barbie dolls. For example there are antique Avon Barbie doll collections out there that consist of bride and grooms. Then you have antique collections that are of princess and prince. You may not realize it but antique doll collections can be worth a lot of money.

The truth is that if you have just one antique Avon Barbie doll out of a collection it alone could be worth a lot of money. If an individuals is missing that Barbie doll out of their collection and you have the one doll that will be completing their collecting then you can count on them offering you a lot of money for it. You see, the value of things are going up like never before.

Old video games go for about $80.00 and the same goes for a doll. Could you imagine having someone pay you $80.00 for an antique Avon Barbie doll? How about this, could you imagine someone paying you $800.00 for a doll collection? If you have the right antique Avon Barbie dolls in your collection then you may be getting over $800.00 for it.

One guess says that it is their hobby and something they enjoy doing. Many times the antique Avon Barbie doll collections will take a person's childhood memories and bring those memories back to them as if it were yesterday. If you have a antique Avon Barbie doll collection in your life right now then you have chosen a great thing to collect and we wish you luck with that.

Ian Pennington is an accomplished niche website developer and author.

To learn more about antique avon Barbie dolls [http://collectingbarbiedolls.info/antique-avon-barbie-doll-collection], please visit Collecting Barbie Dolls [http://collectingbarbiedolls.info] for current articles and discussions.

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Barbie Dolls - A Real Classic Christmas Present

When you think about it, what could be more timeless to give as a present, than a Barbie doll. She is one of the oldest toys around, and she has been manufactured by Mattel for over fifty years. So chances are your mom had a Barbie doll, you had a one, and now you want a Barbie doll for your own daughter. How many toys can boast that?

Rather than focusing on the older, collectible, Barbies, we are instead going to take a look at the new 2009 Holiday Barbie. This new Barbie is a great way to introduce a child, or indeed anyone, to the world of Barbie collectibles. Holiday Barbie will make a super gift for the little lady on your list.

So here are a few facts about Holiday Barbie 2009. She stands at 13" high, and the beautiful pink glimmering dress flows to an impressive 11". To go with her pink dress, she has gorgeous pink earrings, lovely makeup and a super hairstyle. The Holiday Barbie really is the belle of the ball. She comes with a stand, so that you can display her (don't worry the stand is hidden by her dress).

Mattel have also brought out a Barbie Holiday 2009 African-American Doll for those looking for an extra doll that they can add to their collection. Both of these Holiday Barbies stick to the timelessness of Barbie, but have an updated look. Both of these dolls are presented in a pink box which is also suitable for display purposes.

Holiday Barbie is very collectible, and will keep her value as high as possible, if she is kept in her box and not opened at all. If you are buying her as a gift, and you know the child receiving it is not going to be able to resist playing with her, then why not buy two - one for play and one to keep?

Holiday Barbie makes a fantastic gift that will be treasured for years and years to come.

Trying to find that perfect gift can be really hard, and at Christmas as there are so many to buy it can seem almost impossible. For reviews on other Classic Toys, and best prices available why not visit Christmas Present Ideas. You will find lots of information on various gifts and presents and be able to take some of the hassle out of Xmas Shopping!

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Fun and Profit Collecting Barbies

One of the most popular collector's items is dolls. Collectible dolls can range from antique dolls to modern collectible dolls. If you are interested in collecting dolls, it would be a good idea to focus on a particular type of collectible doll.

Certainly one of the most rewarding and exciting is collectible Barbie dolls. Barbies have become extremely popular since they first came out in 1959. What little girl is there that doesn't own at least one Barbie. The value of collectible Barbies is quite high, so much so, that today there are even Barbies that can be specially designed according to collectors' needs.

People Who Collect Barbies

While every little girl owns a Barbie, most of them do not collect them. Let's face it, the fun of a Barbie is dressing her and doing her hair for those dates with Ken, but the price for this fun is that the monetary value of the doll is shot.

Most of the people who actually collect Barbies are adults. It is believed that there are well over a hundred thousand adults that own these wonderful collectible dolls. Nearly all these adults are women, and about ten percent of Barbie collectors are male. Furthermore, the women that own such collections are statistically usually in their forties, and purchase an average of twenty such dolls each year, sometimes spending about a thousand or more dollars in the process.

How to Collect Barbies

Rule Number One: Keep It in the Box

If you wish to maintain the value of your collectible Barbies, you must leave them in their boxes. Part of the value of a Barbie is the original box; therefore most experienced collectors do not ever remove their collectible Barbies from their boxes. The value of collectible Barbies can depreciate by as much fifty percent if they are taken out of their boxes.

As a collector of Barbie dolls you have a choice to make about whether to take the doll out of its box to enjoy while losing out on value, or simply console yourself that the doll in its box is beautiful and will maintain its value even though you will not get a chance to touch and play with it. However, you can buy a collectible Barbie doll packaged in a lift-off box, so you can still enjoy playing with and feeling your Barbie. In this way it will still look great while it retains its value as a collectible.

Rule Number Two: Ask An Expert

Finding collectible Barbies is not a difficult task, but getting to know the value of your collection can require a bit of effort. Before you are able to accurately judge the value of collectible Barbies, you may need to ask an expert or read up on the literature pertaining to collectible Barbie dolls. If you are new to this activity, be sure to realize that there are a number of sources for you to tap into in your quest for information on collectible Barbie dolls.

There are two classes of collectible Barbie, vintage and modern. Vintage dolls are those produced from 1959 to the early eighties; modern dolls are produced from the mid-eighties on. Both classes have collectible value.

The value of your Barbie can depend on several factors. For example, if you look on eBay, the price can vary according to who is selling the Barbie (if it is a reputable dealer the price will be more), also on the photograph of the doll, and the spending power of the purchaser. Evaluating the current value of collectible Barbies can be a bit confusing. You will find that a Barbie gift set in perfect condition can fetch anything from one hundred thirty dollars to two hundred fifty five dollars.

What Styles of Barbies to Collect

Most collectors who collect Barbies because of their value will gravitate towards Label dolls. These pieces have very detailed attention paid to clothes and accessories. The Platinum Label doll is produced in limited editions that do not exceed a thousand such dolls, and are sometimes only found in a specific retail shop. The White Chocolate Obsession Barbie Doll is a wonderful example of such a collectible doll, and the name refers to the scent of white chocolate that exudes from the doll's hair. Other similar collectible Barbies include Faerie Queen, Badgley Mischka Bride Barbie, as well as the very restricted Nurse Barbie doll that has been designed by Robert Best.

However, Barbie dolls are so popular that they are also made based on TV shows, movies, and famous personalities. Collectors find them appealing, and the value of these popular Barbies will often appreciate. When considering collectible Barbies, these are perhaps the type of collectible Barbie doll that will come to mind first.

There are many elements to consider when collecting Barbies, so it is important that your first and foremost consideration is how well you like a particular Barbie. For most collectors the fun is in the owning and enjoying of a special Barbie, and if it happens to become valuable, so much the better.

Steve Dolan has been collecting for many years. Find out more about collectible dolls at Collectible Dolls. Steve's main collectibles site is Collecting and Collectibles.

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Barbie collectibles

When collecting Barbie, the doll values in a guide used for Barbie dolls can be either tangible or intangible but either way we have a value guide for you. As people always say...everything has a price. You might be wondering what the values of your Barbie doll are or if you are getting ready to purchase Barbie doll collectibles to add to your collection what price should you pay? For this a Barbie doll collector should always use a value guide.

Collecting Barbie Dolls, defined by our 8 steps, can be lots of fun but finding their values can become frustrating as a collector because you are not sure what are the "right" price values. With a Barbie doll values guide book you can spend time researching your Barbie collector dolls, to understand their history, and related items like dollhouses, clothes, coloring books, games, etc. to help you in the process of finding the right values for your dolls. During the search you will want to use many different methods such as internet, auctions, local stores, and basic collector guides . While trying to determine the values of your collector Barbie Doll you will need to look for Vintage Barbie collecting terminology and it will guide you in the right direction.

Some key words that you need to know while you are looking through your collector Barbie doll value collecting guide:

HTF- hard to find
MIB- mint in box (factory doll in mint condition)
MIP- mint in package (means all accessories are still in original packaging)
MNB- in mint condition but not in original box
NT- (not touched) can mean excellent as well when talking about the collector Barbie Doll's condition
NRFB- never removed from box
OSS- has the original swimsuit

When a collector is trying to determine the worth of their Barbie doll, here are some key terms they will see in their value collecting guide:

Barbie Doll Book Values is defined as the pricing guide values of the collector Barbie and does not mean the price you should get on a secondary market. This is an important key word to note when collecting Barbie.

Barbie Doll Market Values is defined as the actual price you expect to sell your collector Barbie Dolls for. There are many factors to take into consideration as a doll collector so you will want to use online auctions as a guide when determine your collector Barbie values.

Barbie collector dolls should reflect the values of the items you collect because they appeal to you. This is the point where the values of your Barbie collector doll become intangible so even if the worth of the Barbie you are collecting is not valuable to the market, the sentimental worth will make it a value to you!

For more information on Barbie visit http://www.crazyforbarbie.com Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jen_Stewart