I've been wanting one more doll to round out my collection before putting spending on pause. I was leaning towards Raquel for awhile but when the older version of Melody came up I decided to go for it (newer one doesn't ship to Canada fsr). And I'm really happy I did! Melody's stock photos suffer from Mattel not knowing how to take flattering angles and lighting sometimes, so I'm very very pleased with how great she looks in person.
The '50s and '60s are my favourite fashion eras. What was popular and even permitted changed so much throughout the mid-century. The two girls both come in colourful spring dresses with lots of bows, but look how different they are in just about every way!
Unfortunately Melody's collections kinda small and leans more formal for clothing. I'm eager to find some more clothes for her though.
Winter is in full swing on Marshmallow Mountain, and it's the perfect day for Grace to sell some drinks at the ski resort! Lots of people have come out to ski, sled, snowshoe, ice skate, or just play in the snow.
Grace has The Cocoa Cabin set up at the foot of the sledding hill, which is near the return point for the cross country ski and snowshoe trails, and also pretty close to the skating ponds. She's counting on the fact that when you're cold and tired, nothing sounds better than having a nice warm drink and a snack.
Grace and I found this Our Generation hot chocolate stand at a thrift store. It didn't come with any of the original accessories, but that didn't stop us from teaming up to make it work. Everything that Grace has stocked her stand with today was made by me. I made the pink sign on the front as well.
We love the faux chalkboard menu. Grace used it as an inspiration board instead of an actual representation.
She has curated a big variety of goodies to sell.
The hot cocoa dispenser is self-serve, and it is made with oat milk so that dairy-free customers can enjoy it too. You can top your drink with whipped cream, big marshmallows, or chocolate shavings. Grace made the marshmallows in her kitchen. They're vegan, kosher, and halal.
You can also sprinkle mini marshmallows (also homemade), cinnamon, or nutmeg on top. Or you can stir in a candy cane or cinnamon stick. Behind the drink fixings is a tray of fresh mini donuts and some oven-baked s'mores. If you're in need of some caffeine, Grace has brewed a pot of coffee.
But that's not all!
Behind the counter she has a small oven, a fridge, and a storage shelf.
(See more behind the cut!)
She's got a batch of chocolate chip cookies coming out of the oven.
In the fridge she has extra cocoa mix. She made the recipe all by herself, using cocoa powder and sweet spices. After mixing it with milk, she then adds squares of chocolate into the hot cocoa, letting it melt and make the mixture even more decadent. On the bottom shelf are smaller containers of cocoa mix that are for sale. Grace says they make great gifts.
In fact, the cookies she has been baking are only available with the purchase of a jar of cocoa mix. They're a surprise freebie, which is why they're not out on display. But the smell of fresh cookies is sure to attract some customers.....
Her first customers of the day are Lidia and Monica. Lidia has been cross country skiing, and Monica is taking a break from walking the snowshoe trail.
Lidia gets a cup of cocoa with whipped cream and a candy cane, and a mini donut.
Monica takes her cocoa with a cinnamon stick.
Haleema with her sled and Kewanee with her snowboard are the next ones to stop by.
Haleema buys a mix of half cocoa and half coffee. She lost her mittens somewhere on the sledding hill, and this warmed her hands up perfectly.
And she's the first to try an oven-baked s'more.
Kewanee chooses mini marshmallows for her cocoa topping.
Grace keeps the chocolate chip cookies coming in and out throughout the day. The cocoa mix containers don't sell very often, so she ends up giving most of the cookies away to her friends and their families who stop by.
She takes her last batch of cookies out right before sunset. At such a high elevation, the air gets much colder very quickly once the sun goes down. Most resort visitors are long gone, and it's been a while since anyone placed an order. Grace figures it's time to pack up and go home.
Then she notices her friend Ellen running over.
Ellen just finished ice skating, and she was thrilled to be able to catch Grace before closing time.
Grace thinks Ellen wants to buy something, and gives Ellen a cookie. But Ellen has a better idea. She invites Grace to bring some extra marshmallows to the fire pit.
Haley and Nareen have spent all day playing in the snow and were looking forward to going home to warm up, but they felt bad for Grace not getting to have a real winter experience. Spending all day Saturday selling and making money is admirable, but..........
Maybe it's time to put a pause on the business side and just have fun for a while! Hand over the marshmallows, they say, and they'll take care of the rest.
Grace has to admit this is really cozy and enjoyable right by the big bonfire. And the marshmallows.....
Those really hit the spot. Grace realizes she hasn't eaten anything all day. She pulled in some serious cash, but this experience surpasses the thrill of doing business.
They compare marshmallows. Nareen likes hers only lightly toasted. Haley prefers it slightly blackened. Ellen and Grace go for a more medium roast.
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