Hello Fall Football Madness

I grew up in a football household. My brother played all the way through college and football was on in the house every weekend. I couldn't not like football. I also grew up a huge Barbie lover, obviously. Those two pastimes rarely interact. Although I do remember playing with Barbies as a little girl while the TV was on and the rest of my family was happily screaming at the teams.

When I was in College, Mattel got the brilliant idea to cross-promote by creating licensed Barbies for college sports teams. I happened to go to a University that did have a D1 football team, but was MUCH to small to garner its own Barbie doll. Instead, I ended up with CU Barbie. I do remember being at the store and whoever had packed the box looked at the region and included a handful of other regional dolls. That individual was clearly not an American football fan. The University of Nebraska Huskers dolls sat forlornly on the shelf and probably ended up on a clearance bin long after the season.

While I have slimmed down and gotten rid of dolls over the past 25 years, I have always held onto CU Cheerleader Barbie. She is quintissential Barbie - long blonde hair, twirly bangs, blue eyes, and perfect makeup. However bent knees and "flat" shoes was a pretty new incorporation in the 90s.

This year seems like the perfect time to bring her back out and give her a (likely temporary) place displayed in my home. With all the hype around Coach Prime, Boulder is more excited about this football season than they have been in a long time. Back in Boulder for the first time in almost 25 years, I'm looking forward to watching Ralphie race around the stadium and cheer along with the screaming fans. Go Buffs!

Comments

Time to Let Go

I got my first Barbie doll when I was two and half. I asked Mrs. Claus for a "Boobie doll" for Christmas and never looked back. By the time I was in late high school I had accumulated more than 150 dolls of all stripes. Through the years my family was happy to support my doll love and bought me the 1970s Barbie Townhouse, the Barbie airplane, a Barbie McDonald's... You name it, I had it. During high school and college my mom and I became diehard Barbie collectible fans. I got the first Mackies when they came out and began to collect the limited edition dolls in earnest. A family friend who was cleaning out her parents' house found her 1960-61 dolls and gave me the chance to add them to my collection. That led me down the rabbit hole of vintage dolls and outfits. When I went to college my mom continued to grow my collection and we would scope out rare dolls at doll shows across the state. After college I worked for a short time at a local historical society and got th...

If you cross-promote it, they will buy

I spent my childhood as a die-hard Barbie girl. I played with Barbies throughout my childhood. I collected Barbies into adulthood. I have boxes of Barbies and Barbie clothes in boxes. I have at least three Barbies currently displayed in my house. However, the current generation of cross promotion has reached new levels. I get the girl power, hot pink items. But some of what I have seen lately belies my understanding. Naturally flavored gummy candy at Whole Foods: Yes, this year is Barbie's 65th Anniversary. And yes last year was the juggernaut Barbie movie. And yes femcore is in. And who doesn't love hot pink, nostalgic roller skates, and pink lemonade gummy candy. But, Barbie in every grocery aisle is a new phenomenon. The peaches and cream flavor on this one seems fitting, but they could have at least incorporated that 80s doll on the can. Plus, I'm not excited by the artwork here: This was the other food co-pro that made me...

Barbie @ the Design Museum in London

In December I had the chance to visit the Design Museum in London for their Barbie Exhibit. I had purchased tickets nine months earlier when I knew I was going to be in the city for the holidays. I took a boomer and a tween (Grandma and granddaughter) with me to see the show. Both are deeply lovely individuals, but neither are big on Barbies. Grandma had just missed the Barbie trend as a girl and granddaughter is firmly in the Harry Potter world. Seeing the exhibit through their eyes, and answering their questions, gave me a better insight into the day than if I'd attended with die-hard Barbie lovers. First, the exhibit is beautiful! No wonder, considering it was put on by the Design Museum. The layout, the colors, and the flow of the space were gorgeous. The rich, vibrant tones that back up every room allowed the artifacts on display to sing, without feeling overwhelmed by an onslaught of Barbie pink. The ability to focus on specific individual dolls while still telling a collec...

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