American Girl Columbus Store Meet-Up Recap - It was WONDERFUL!

[@devilclawz_]

I’m so glad it went well!! It sounds like AGCON needs to be a thing!! 🖤🖤

[@agswiftie16]

i would totally go to Agcon!

[@tinmanlover1994]

Bring AG con Around the USA

[@agtakesover]

I would love that. Ppl have said that the benefit sale is the closest AG fans get to a con, but I don't see why there could be a legit one. For now, I'll settle for trying to set up occasional local get-togethers and aim for a weekend retreat to see how that goes. I know one group has done that (last year it was in NY and I think it'll be in Chicago this year).

[@amber0290]

Hearing about the interpreters coming through for the collector made me tear up! I love this community and I’m so glad you guys had a good time!

[@agtakesover]

Absolutely!! It's a lucky thing to be surrounded by good people (I do mean at the meet-up but more generally, just in my life) who don't mind stepping up when needed.

[@prettypioneer]

I had an INCREDIBLE EXPERIENCE!!!! I was truly a positive experience that I will never forget! Thank you so much for orchestrating the arrangements to make everything come together! (I love our doll community, but even more so do I love our Deaf community)! 🤟🏽

[@agtakesover]

I'm SO glad it worked out. It is a lucky thing to be connected to so many good people.

[@katherinejohnson4184]

What a wonderful meet. It's so great to hear about you experience and how well the meet up went. I'm so glad Bailey was able to make it to the meet up, I love her, she really is just the sweetest person. What a fun and wonderful relationship to have with one of your subscribers to help shop and sent items overseas.

[@agtakesover]

That subscriber just bought Kira from me :) And yes, it was a FANTASTIC meet-up and Bailey is great!

[@tinmanlover1994]

Hey I went to goodwill yesterday and I scored on Alot of AG books the most I've ever found in my life.then I got 2 Bratz dolls and a Shadow High doll at Walmart they were on sale. So I'm going to be doing a video very soon. I've been very tired since yesterday

[@agtakesover]

That is awesome!

[@klhpensil21]

That sounds like so much fun! An adult American Girl sleepover in a addition to the meet-up?! Way better than my weekend, haha. I need to find some local fellow doll lovers around me as you have.

[@agtakesover]

It's funny - the in-person local connections all started online. I know in some of the AG Facebook groups ppl will occasionally create posts for folks to drop their locations in the comments and facilitate in-person connections.

[@saraboyer1392]

Thank You for hosting! We had a great time. The only thing I would change is bring my wheelchair. Overdid it with the walker. I’m still getting used to my hearing aids so I hope I wasn’t rude to anyone. I just do local doll shows and it’s mostly to part with parts of my own collection. It started with way too much Barbie.

[@agtakesover]

I'm so glad you had a good time but sorry you overdid it with the walker. It was so nice of you to bring goodies for everyone - I know they all appreciated it.

[@wowlooz]

I'm so glad this meet-up went well despite the bittersweet circumstances surrounding it! I never comment on videos but it's so genuinely heart warming seeing your love for the hobby and for the community! You are a prime example of someone with true passion for what they do and your energy/commitment inspires me 💝

[@agtakesover]

Thank you SO much. That means a ton!!

[@BarbieGuy-gb9zw]

Meetups are so special. ❤️ I’m so happy for you that you got to experience this!

[@agtakesover]

Thank you so much!! You're absolutely right - gatherings around a common interest (especially one that you might not share with a lot of people in your every day, in-person life) are so special.

[@agdollguy]

I had a lot of fun at the meet up and thank you so much for hosting it.

[@agtakesover]

My pleasure!

[@bethbacarella]

This was so wonderful! Thank you for sharing everything when it was fresh in your mind. Very fun to watch. I'm so glad you're starting an AG Ohio Club - that will be fantastic! I can just see the retreat that you're putting together in your mind with all of the breakout sessions. :) So fun! Thanks for sharing!!

[@agtakesover]

Glad you enjoyed it! It was a lot of fun :-)

[@kathyanderson8299]

Great idea about the name tags. Glad you had an awesome turnout and time. ❤

[@agtakesover]

Thanks so much!

[@mommaholly]

I wish I lived closer and was able to go! Hopefully I can attend one someday!

[@agtakesover]

Maybe organizing something closer to home is an option?

[@DanielleA1855]

Epic meetup! So cool! I’m glad you all had a great time ❤

[@agtakesover]

Thank you!! 😊

[@dollahlah-54321]

oh, I love everything about this!!! What a fabulous time you had, thank you so much for sharing this experience with those of us who couldn't join you in person!! 💕💕

[@agtakesover]

You are so welcome! I hope some folks who wouldn't have considered it will now feel inspired to try to organize something in their areas. In-person gatherings are a special treat.

[@irishseadollies]

i really admire how much you help people in this community and how much you're willing to do to make that community feel! i know you personally have offered me help before if i ever have anything i'm searching for be in your area. i'm so glad the meet up went so well, still desperately looking forward to the day i finally get to go to an ag store 😅❤

[@agtakesover]

Thank you so much! If you could go to an AG store here, which one would you pick?

[@irishseadollies]

@@agtakesover until the AG Fairway place, I would've said NY! now, I think Chicago looks huge and so much fun- but Id love to go to any of them and I am dying to go to NY. which would you recommend?

[@agtakesover]

Somehow I thought I'd responded to this a while back. I haven't been to the NYC store, so between those two I'd have to say Chicago. But I'm sure they're equally amazing!

[@Latinart]

You created a moment for so many of your local AG community. Well thought thru, organized and executed. Congrats on making this happen a second time around KZbin!!!

[@agtakesover]

Thank you so much! I hope you're right.

[@Sandy42800]

Looked like a great meetup, a lot showed up! Very nice of you to coordinate this and pretty pioneer was able to attend! You did get very nice pictures! Your slumber party looked like it was so much fun! I saw your cat in the background joining the slumber party😻

[@agtakesover]

It was so much fun. And the cat in the background is Lily. She is the... "least appreciated" pet of our three and one of the guests was petting her so she was IN HEAVEN lol.

[@americangirlfilms]

I loved this recap almost as much as I loved the meet up!!! It was amazing meeting y’all!! ❤️❤️ (I also gave y’all the snack!) I loved meeting prettypioneer too! I’m so glad she was able to make it!! I got chills when she said she recognized me from KZbin! Thank you for connecting everyone!! ❤ That’s so cool about your friend David! I remember you running to get that orange outfit!!! lol 🧡 Thank you a million times!! ❤️

[@agtakesover]

Oh, thanks - Grace couldn't remember who gave her that bag of snacks. We both had some today :-) I'm SO glad you were able to make it and that you had a great time!

[@junecutting2512]

What an amazing turnout. I wish I could have joined you.

[@agtakesover]

Thanks - and that would have been amazing :-)

[@melangellperry5984]

It looks like so much fun!! Wish I could have gone but it’s a 6 hour drive one way. Maybe someday… We used to have meetups here in the NOVA (northern Virginia) area pre store. We organized via the AG Playthings message board (which is still a thing and we love to have you join and comment. They were so fun. I made so many special friends through those meetups. We have unfortunately lost 2 of the members and we haven’t met up in probably 10 years.

[@agtakesover]

Such is the ebb and flow of things, huh? Maybe someone will be interested in doing a meet-up there? You certainly have the experience ;-)

[@jessnawoods]

Thank you again for organizing this meet-up!!! Georgia was excited to see the bracelet she gave you and we were both excited to see the pictures. We'll keep watching and hope we can attend something in the future!!! Stay warm, ladies!!!

[@agtakesover]

You are so welcome! I love that you and your daughter were able to spend a special day making dolly memories

[@starryeyeschick]

So glad it was a success! Definitely hope you can continue the fun without the store. And those are the On the Go pants from 2005, pictured with the original itty bitty baby in the catalogue back in the day.

[@agtakesover]

Thanks. I definitely hope to do some more in-person stuff locally this year. And thanks for IDing the pants!

[@SuperButterfly217]

This was beautiful! I loved that people were so helpful to each other at this special event. Well done.

[@agtakesover]

Thank you so much!

[@bcn_0629]

¡Hola! Thanks for sharing the meet-up experience especially with all that we were not able to go. I am impressed to see such a big meeting so well organized; An event where all can participate as equal. Love all the tips about organizing a meet-up in the future What a great idea the sleepover party the night before the event!!! So happy to see what you had bought for your little one 🥰

[@agtakesover]

Glad you enjoyed it! And I covered her eyes before she saw the *first* WW item, but my little one saw the outfit we got "from you" and was thrilled. Willa is wearing it now :-)

[@bcn_0629]

Awww@@agtakesover I am so happy to read this!!!

[@clarapineda5454]

que alegría saber que hay mas AG fans en España!!

[@bcn_0629]

Qué bien, sí!!!@@clarapineda5454

[@wand3rdolls]

Honestly, I never thought about what you would do at a meetup or how it should be planned. Having a meet up that has a bit of structure really makes it more understandable for everyone there. Thanks for the insight!

[@agtakesover]

Thanks - there are a lot of neurodivergent adult doll collectors and I didn't want anything overly structured but figured a little bit of organization might help reduce anxiety and make navigating a large social gathering a little easier. But really, everyone benefits from something as simple as name tags :-)

[@nailahvenable7989]

i am so glad it went well. keep building the doll community

[@agtakesover]

Thank you so much for the encouragement

[@NikkiVelazquez]

That sounds so fun! I'm nowhere near Ohio and have never even been there, but I would have gone had that not been the case. Maybe one day you'll be in Florida and have a meet up here!

[@agtakesover]

Well part of why I wanted to share a bit about the logistics is that I hope people might get inspired to organize something in their own areas :-) I know there was a meet-up last year at the Orlando store. If my hunch is right and that store may not be in AG's long-term plans, ppl should take advantage of that store while it's around and have some more gatherings there.

[@chewie5013]

So sad I missed it! I’m also sad the store is closing:(

[@agtakesover]

Same!

[@CherishedDollFriends]

Great recap and I’m glad everyone had fun! 🤗

[@agtakesover]

Thank you!

[@Flanuora]

I’m so glad you had such a great meet up! I would have like to have been there if it wasn’t so far and so cold! You are so on top of things!! 15 video’s ready! I wish I had some ready! I’m editing my all my dolls video and I don’t know if I’ll have it done by Saturday. I think school maybe canceled again tomorrow for 🥶. I just can’t voiceover when kiddos are home 😅 Have a beautiful day!

[@agtakesover]

I feel you. I can only film when the little one is asleep so almost all of my filming happens in the early morning or late at night. Fortunately, she's a late sleeper on days she doesn't have pre-school. This morning I was able to finish editing two videos because I got up at 6:10 and here it is 8:50 and she's still sleeping. :-) Stay warm!

[@Flanuora]

@@agtakesover Wow she is a good sleeper! I woke up extra early today at 5:30 am to do my voiceover. School was indeed canceled due to wind chill. I actually just fished editing my video so it should be out Saturday. Thankfully, when my daughter got up at 7 she agreed to be extra quiet so I could finish. She thought I was talking to someone and said I woke her! Oops 😅

[@AngelicDollCorner]

This is like the major downside of being Canadian and being part of the AG community, like no one in my province is apart of it. 🙃 so the meet up would literally just be me. 😂 maybe one day I’ll go to a meetup.

[@agtakesover]

Are there any FB groups you're in (province specific or even just Canada-wide) for AG collectors? Some I'm in will occasionally do posts where everyone drops their location in the comments as a way to help people find if there are any collectors near them.

[@AngelicDollCorner]

@@agtakesover must of the ones around me or in Canada that I have seen, are mainly buy and sell groups and that’s pretty much it.

[@kaymyers4604]

I really need to know where you got your shoe rack that is behind you in this video. If you made it, please let me know what you did if you bought it please let me know where you bought it. Thank you.

[@agtakesover]

The one one(s) on the wall? They're from Target. They sold them briefly in the Bullseye section. I've seen them twice but the last time was at least a year ago and they always go quickly.

[@katiehempelman6007]

Hope i can come to the next neet up! Id love to join the fb group, how can i get to it... also how can i find out if the location has Nicki ? Im planning a trip going to the store before it closes

[@agtakesover]

It's called the Central Ohio AG Doll Club - just search that and answer the questions it asks you.

[@kathyanderson8299]

Is there any way for you to make your volume louder? Your videos are the only ones are low no matter what device I use.

[@agtakesover]

Kathy, it's a regular struggle. Any videos where I do voice over are plenty loud, but when I'm on screen it's pretty quiet. I bought one lapel mic that's supposed to pair with my android phone but it didn't and I had to return it. I'm currently looking at other lapel mic options, but if you know of one that will work with an android I will gladly take the recommendation!

[@anikacasanova9954]

she has a group chat with grace and i (small flex)

[@agtakesover]

LMAO. You two *are* pretty elite in my world.