American Girl does the 90s

Meet Isabel and Nicki Hoffman! While I'm a bit disgruntled with AG placing the story in December, 1999 in order to be able to capitalize on the 90s trend, I find the line cute, and I, as usual, enjoy the nostalgia...you can find the complete line here and dig more into 1999 on this post.

American Girl goes 80s

It was a long time coming, but finally two things from my childhood that I love have come together: American Girl and the 80s...to say that I'm excited and looking forward to getting my hands on whatever I can from this collection is an understatement lol. Her name is Courtney Moore and those interested can check out her goods here. Let the nostalgia feels commence!

Class of 86 playlist

This Is Music 1986

I Love the 80s: 1986

I Love the 80s Strikes Back: 1986

The 1970s

TGIF everyone! In this stop in the Decade Spotlight series, we highlight the "decade that taste forgot" the 1970s! Ah yes, the era of leisure suits and peacock fashion for men, hotpants, feathered hair, and platforms for women. The war in Vietnam finally ended, Title IV and Roe Vs. Wade became law, and the feminist movement hit its zenith. Then there was the debacle known as Watergate caused our president to resign for the first time in history. Musically, rock became more divided and bigger, disco and punk hit the airwaves, and Elvis permanently left the building (or did he? Muahahaha!). We also lost three of rock's biggest stars when Jimmi Hendrix, Janis Joplin and Jim Morrison checked out way too soon. This is the decade that brought us something that would change our lives forever as Bill Gates brought us Microsoft and the now late Steve Jobs brought us Apple:

Other things that pop into my head when I think of the '70s? Pet rocks, mood rings, the continuation of lava lamps (hey, I love mine!), roller discos, and, oh yeah, this baby:

Any other thoughts, or stories? Share them below!

Peace and Love '70s Barbie

Celebrate, Disco Doll! Barbie

Celebrate, Disco Doll! Barbie

70s Cher

Kelly as Charlie's Angels

Farrah Fawcett

That's all for this time folks! Next up, oh lordy, the 1980s!

Julie series

September 1-mid September, 1975

Autumn, 1975

December, 1975-February 14, 1976

April 4-May 1, 1976

June 13-July 4, 1976

Autumn, 1976

June, 1976

November 14-25, 1976

February 4-12, 1977

March 6-20, 1977

April 9-16, 1977

Late summer, 1977

Music Links

Accuradio.com: 1970s stations

Accuradio: This is music 1975

iHeartRadio: Class of 1975 playlist

Accuradio: This is music 1976

iHeartRadio: Class of 1976 playlist 

Accuradio: This is music 1977

iHeartRadio: Class of 1977 playlist

Buy

Recommended nonfiction:

The 1960s

It's decade spotlight time again, this time probably one of the best eras of the last century: the 1960s! And where do we even begin? Pillbox hats and sheaths, mods and hippies. Camelot and Jackie. The first man on the moon, the civil rights movement carried on and became more militant at decades end bringing us the Black Panthers. Student and anti-war protests, and the assassinations of the Kennedy brothers and Martin Luther King Jr. Musically, this is the era where things got more splintered: folk, psych, and acid covered the rock end, and as the decade progressed, it also became more politically aware. Motown, bubblegum, girl groups, and country satiated the Am palette. Then there was a little group called The Beatles that straddled the whole thing like some sort of deity. Art went pop and technicolor:

"Tune in, Turn On, and Drop Out" became the mantra of the emerging counterculture, as did smoking large quantities of pot, dropping acid, and many other assorted drugs as a way to "enlighten" oneself. During the "Summer of Love", Haight Ashbury in San Francisco became mecca for dozens of "flower children" then, just as quickly, most returned home and it disintegrated. Vietnam tore the country apart. And while the decade changed us forever, we remained strong and didn't break. Stranger days lay ahead however...Any thoughts or fave books about the 60s? Please share in the comments section!

And now, some of my fave era inspired Barbies:

Spring Break 1961 Barbie & Ken

Groovy 60s Barbie

A Nod For Mod

Mod Redux Barbie

Pop Life Barbie & Friends

Pop Life Ken

That's all for this week folks! Next up, the 1970s!

Music Links

Way too many out there for me to list, but here's a few I have saved:

Accuradio.com: 1960s station listings

Class of 1963 playlist

Class of 1964 playlist

Class of 1965 playlist

Class of 1967 playlist

Class of 1968 playlist

Buy

Buy

If you want some tunes on the psychedelic side, check out:
Plastic Tales From the Marshmallow Dimension
Accuradio.com: Fuzz Factory

Accuradio.com: Psychedelic Classic Rock

Psychedelic Relics playlist 

Accuradio.com: Garage Rock
Beyond the Beat Generation

Psychedelic Jukebox

Melody series

May 8-15, 1965

Dear America series

Recommended nonfiction: