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teachingmyown
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| Posted: Nov 20 2007 at 10:37am | IP Logged
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I am really feeling caught here. At this moment, in my amazon.com shopping cart, sits a Barbie Dream House.  My girls have always loved their Barbies and really want a dollhouse to play with them in.
I have been searching for a wooden, not made-in-China alternative. I haven't found one that I could even remotely afford or that have the same "play value". Most other houses are still made in China and although they are "wood" they are cheaply made.
What is a die-hard, anti MIC mom to do? I actually dreamt about this last night! I have spent hours researching every wish my children have expressed trying to balance principle with budget and with happy children. 
I could go into labor at any time now and need to make some decisions.
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In Christ,
Molly
wife to Court & mom to ds '91, dd '96, ds '97, dds '99, '01, '03, '06, and dss '07 and 01/20/11
Remembering Today
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Tina P.
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| Posted: Nov 20 2007 at 10:45am | IP Logged
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Molly:
Could your husband make a simple wooden house that fits Barbie-sized dolls? Our friends have a homemade sit-against-the-wall house. The front is wide open so the dolls can move through the house easily. I don't think there were any stairs. It appears that their furniture came from thrift stores or were cast-offs from friends.
Just a low-cost, not MIC option for you.
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Tina, wife to one and mom to 9 + 3 in heaven
Mary's Muse
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guitarnan
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| Posted: Nov 20 2007 at 11:11am | IP Logged
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Some things are just, well, MIC. If you've exhausted all affordable, doable options and can't find a used one in excellent condition, you are pretty much over a barrel. I say, let the guilt go if you've done your best.
I broke down and bought a new shower curtain liner (MIC) the other day...I use Tilex, etc. to keep mildew off but they just need replacing every so often. Since I don't own a plastic factory, I just have to cringe and buy.
(I did find non-MIC brown shoes for my holiday outfit, though, after hours of seeing only MIC shoes. Whew.)
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Nancy in MD. Mom of ds (24) & dd (18); 31-year Navy wife, move coordinator and keeper of home fires. Writer and dance mom.
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folklaur
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| Posted: Nov 20 2007 at 1:47pm | IP Logged
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teachingmyown wrote:
I am really feeling caught here. At this moment, in my amazon.com shopping cart, sits a Barbie Dream House. My girls have always loved their Barbies and really want a dollhouse to play with them in.
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If they love their Barbies, and that is what they really want....I would say go ahead and buy it and don't feel horrible about it. Really.
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lapazfarm
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| Posted: Nov 20 2007 at 6:44pm | IP Logged
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Have you seen this?
or how about this?
They are not too expensive and perhaps will do? You could even paint them pink if you like...
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Theresa
us-schooling in beautiful Fairbanks, Alaska.
LaPaz Home Learning
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teachingmyown
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| Posted: Nov 20 2007 at 8:18pm | IP Logged
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Theresa, I actually bought the first one you linked to for my older daughter. As it was, her present cut into the allotment for her toddler sister! The younger girls, 5 and 7, wanted one that would fit the Barbie dolls.
My dh is gone so many hours a day that he just doesn't have much time for any woodworking. We did discuss him making some baby doll furniture for the girls because they had asked for things like that as well.
Laura, thanks! Sometimes, especially at 9 months pregnant, you just gotta cut yourself some slack and take the easy route! I appreciate the affirmation. 
I did buy a number of things from A Greater Gift, so my conscience isn't TOO heavy! 
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In Christ,
Molly
wife to Court & mom to ds '91, dd '96, ds '97, dds '99, '01, '03, '06, and dss '07 and 01/20/11
Remembering Today
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SeaStar
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| Posted: Nov 20 2007 at 8:19pm | IP Logged
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I agree- you have researched the alternatives and done your best. Buying one MIC item does not mean you are going to give up all your values.
Honestly, sometimes I feel like trying to track down non-MIC items takes away a lot of the time that I could be using to do many more worthwhile things.
If I can find an alternative in a reasonable about of time, great. But I've given up on spending hours and hours to track down one item. I love it when people post sites or products they have found that are non-MIC. It is such a great help and time-saver.
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Melinda, mom to ds ('02) and dd ('04)
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Tina P.
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| Posted: Nov 20 2007 at 8:51pm | IP Logged
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Hi Molly:
My husband has grand ideas of what to build, but no time to build it as well. I was just hoping really hard for you that your husband could build one for you!
I have some baby doll furniture from Magic Cabin. I like this furniture because it's so versatile and easy for the kids put the babies in. I'll also give you a little hint. It went on sale (and a good sale it was, too! ~ I think 20% or 30% off) after Christmas ~ after *I* bought it at full price  . Is anyone's birthday in January or February?
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Tina, wife to one and mom to 9 + 3 in heaven
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SuzanneG
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| Posted: Nov 20 2007 at 11:57pm | IP Logged
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guitarnan wrote:
| Some things are just, well, MIC. If you've exhausted all affordable, doable options and can't find a used one in excellent condition, you are pretty much over a barrel. I say, let the guilt go if you've done your best. |
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I second this too, Molly. You did your best!
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Suzanne in ID
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Mom of 7 (Girls - 14, 12, 11, 9, 7 and Boys - 4, 1)
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Mary K
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| Posted: Nov 21 2007 at 2:36pm | IP Logged
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i agree, sometimes you can't avoid mic especially if tour dc really would like it. i do have a warning about the barbie house. it is flimsy once set up, so be careful where you set it up. i don't recommend the middle of the living room, which is what my dh did.
if you're still looking for a different idea, my older dd made a Barbie house for my younger dd using shelf (not a book shelf).
God bless,
Mary
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Barbara C.
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| Posted: Nov 21 2007 at 3:35pm | IP Logged
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Have you considered instead of getting a doll house about just trying to get some furniture sets? I never had a Barbie Dream House; my parents were still traumatized from putting one together for my sister ten years earlier. However, I got a really nice set of wood doll furniture. I have no idea where they got it from.
I just want to make a note that the few times I played with a Dream House at a friend's house there didn't seem to be much room for two or more of us to maneuver dolls at the same time. With my furniture we could spread it out to give ourselves plenty of room, and then store it back in a box when we were finished. I also have fond memories of using my toy bunk baby bed and even folding chairs as two-story Barbie condos. 
But at nine-months pregnant, I would not begrudge you giving in a bit on the Barbie house.
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Barbara
Mom to "spirited" dd(9), "spunky" dd (6), "sincere" dd (3), "sweet" dd (2), and baby girl #5 born 8/1/12!!
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CAgirl4God
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| Posted: Nov 23 2007 at 8:47am | IP Logged
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this is what I found for the girls last yr. sorry I don't know how to do a smaller link lol.
Barbie Real House
it is still MIC.
but it addressed the size and play space issues. the girls will set it up and play for hours. even my 3 yr old will play.
I wanted to make them one, but dh is already overwhelmed at work, so I bit hte bullet and got it.
no too much $$ either...
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Barbara C.
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| Posted: Nov 24 2007 at 10:13am | IP Logged
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Well, after discouraging the Dream House, we are now the owners of Barbie Pretty City Townhouse, and the girls are fighting over it as we speak.
My husband's grandfather sent my dd(5) $100 for her birthday. We told her that she could spend a portion of it as she pleased but then the rest would be put back for classes and lessons and such. Well, on a trip to Meijer she saw this Barbie Fashion Shoppe. It was basically $30 for four outfits, a fake computer, and four manequins that spun around to match tops and bottoms. They had the two-story townhouse on sale for the same price.
After trying to discourage her from getting anything Barbie for the sake of diversity, we discovered the townhouse and she excitedly bought it. I tried to give her a little private time with it last night (while the dd(2) one screamed "My Castle! My Castle!!"). So now we are having fun as the younger one takes various things that the older one couldn't care less about until the younger one takes it, and the older one proceeds to throw fits.
I figure I'll give them one more chance to work it out, and then I'll have to step in with some warnings. 
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Barbara
Mom to "spirited" dd(9), "spunky" dd (6), "sincere" dd (3), "sweet" dd (2), and baby girl #5 born 8/1/12!!
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lapazfarm
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| Posted: Nov 24 2007 at 11:07am | IP Logged
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Barbara C. wrote:
So now we are having fun as the younger one takes various things that the older one couldn't care less about until the younger one takes it, and the older one proceeds to throw fits. |
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Ha!!!That sounds soooooo much like life at my house!
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Theresa
us-schooling in beautiful Fairbanks, Alaska.
LaPaz Home Learning
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Topic: Non-MIC hypocrite
