My Life As... Vending Machine & Karaoke Machine

I might be in dangerous waters. Today while I was wandering around Wal-Mart, contemplating if I should get the new Harry Potter 12 inch fashion dolls that aren’t Barbie, but it’s Mattel so it’s totally Barbie, I saw the pallet of new stock boxes and looked through it. There’s some talking plush toy called “Fake News” which I’m super worried is a plush Donald Trump... but also: My Life As Vending Machine.

As far as I know, My Life As is Wal-Marts discount version of American Girls. But whereas I completely ignored American Girls, the complex and mundane accessories they put out for My Life As always intrigued me. Like their Washer & Dryer set that actually tumbled clothes. Or their fully functional water fountain. And since I love me some toy vending machines, I asked a store associate if I could get this.... also the box labeled Karaoke Machine...

I haven’t opened it, but by trying out the electronics and looking at the box description, this is a fully functioning vending machine. You have to put in the right amount of toy coins and it will bend your desired product that you stock the machine with. So holy crap, that’s some great role playing potential right there! You know you’ve always sorta wanted to stock a vending machine to see what it was like. Maybe put the wrong can in the wrong spot and watch the hijinks. Pretty good value for $30.

Oh, and the karaoke machine... oh god. It connects to any Bluetooth device and the microphone really works, which means this isn’t a toy karaoke machine, it’s and actual karaoke machine that they just made in miniature. 

I think I love these. And since these are coming out a bunch of the other accessories are on clearance! I might go all in on this line... for my niece... when she gets old enough... She can come over and play with them... I should buy her one of the dolls. I wonder if they come in Asian.

Chaser the saluki DJ

I've bought 3 of these blind packed Puppy in my Pocket figures from a 99cent bin trying to get this guy. Each figure is flocked with faux fur, comes with a soft rubber jacket and some plastic accessories. Chaser is the first of the three I'm happy with because he's a DJ and that means he's a dog who has somehow mastered the turntables.

It's so ridiculous that I can't help but be amused.

Monsters... Adorable monsters.

I went to Target, and what did I see? Two things. First, the World of Warcraft Mega Blocks are out and sadly not as impressive as I had hoped. I like that you can customize the armor via mix and match, but the mounts lack much articulation. Just a bunch of snap on ball joints for the limbs. Dunno what I was actually hoping for though.

The other thing? Girls toys have gotten pretty awesome lately. First it was the Monster High stuff. (There's a new wave of roller derby Monster High figures, so that's awesome. Zombies on roller skates. With brain shaped helmets.) And now there's this...

That's an abomination of science where the front of a cat and the front of a dog have been chopped from their original bodies and sewn together. For girls. From the Bratz line. I think it's a Halloween themed line trying to get some of that sweet Monster high money. Either way it's a figure of a monster that sort of rips-off the old Nickelodeon show Cat-Dog.

For girls. TAKE THAT GENDER ROLES! Soon it won't be considered weird for girls to fantasize of being mad scientists that play God with human lives! It's about time.

Barbie MyScene Scooter

I bought a Barbie MyScene Vespa scooter off of eBay. Why?

Because some Barbie accessories are in scale with 12 inch figures! (Although not so the Barbie clothing, which is a shame.)

Comic Book Club - Ghoulia Yelps

No, I haven't picked up any Monster High figures yet. I just bought this clothing pack.

Why? Because it has the accessories from the SDCC Monster High exclusive Cosplay Ghoulia Yelps figure. If you remember, that set featured the Zombie girl dressed up like her favorite Zombie Superhero "Deadfast" and featured her geek accessories of an original fan-fic, an action figure, and a swag bag.

Well this clothing pack expands on that idea, and has Ghoulia's clothing for when she's part of the Comic Book Club. (It's part of the theme of Extra-Curicular Activities clothing sets.) It features her t-shirt with comic book logo on it, an action figure of Deadfast in scale to the line complete with removable card so you can pretend Ghoulia collects MIB or is an open and play collector,  a comic book of Deadfast, and clothing that I assume is color coordinated as a fashion conscious zombie who is into comic books can be. So, you know, geek pride and all that.

Oh hey, they made a cartoon about it featuring Ghoulia fantasizing about being a superhero at Leper-Con.



Whoops, now I'm just watching these things for the fun of it. They made the Abominable Snowgirl into a Eastern European cold hearted Uber-woman, complete with over the top Soviet style deep pitched accent. And the Phantom of the Opera/Banshee's a rockabilly girl from New Orleans with tattoos and a Swing Dance sense of style. Hilarious. Monster High: Getting young girls indocrinated to counterculture.

HOLY CRAP, one of the characters is a living lifesize Voodoo Doll of another student. So every time he gets hurt the other student gets hurt! That's genius!

And I'm beginning to really love the synergy of the cartoon in the way that any new character, accessory set, or dress theme is eventually shown in the cartoon. Sleepover themed dolls? They have a sleepover. One of the doll is dressed for gym? And episode where they wear gym clothes. Hell, even the Build-Your Own monster figures are featured in background shots.

Sniper Barbie would like to have a word

Actually that's Seattle Supersonics Barbie in a Sniper uniform. But same difference.

Oh yeah, I've decided I'm just going to post weird pictures of some of my toys every now and then.