Celebrate Barbie's 45th Anniversary in Style

From hot pink slides and faux fur stoles to pink and white pumps and vivid vinyl handbags, it seems that over the past four and a half decades, Barbie celebrated each year by simply adding another fun and fabulous accessory to her wardrobe.

No wonder Barbie has been an integral part of the lives of millions of women since 1959 - becoming the most popular fashion doll in the world.

In honor of Barbie doll's milestone, look for the 45th Barbie Anniversary Collection by Hallmark - a new line of gift items, cards and keepsake ornaments that celebrate friendship, fashion and fun and capture that special bond only women can share.

"Celebrating 45 years of trend-setting fashion, this collection incorporates nostalgic images from the official Barbie archives, which will delight the imaginations of Barbie doll fans around the world," says Greg Raymond, vice president of license acquisitions at Hallmark.

For your next soiree, plan a complete martini-style party with glassware and a unique Bunko game set designed with a high heels and handbags theme.

Don't forget invitations that herald the joy of shoes and shopping. Offer nostalgic Barbie- themed notecards or candles as special gifts and surprise the guest of honor with her very own limited-edition Barbie Keepsake Ornament, inspired by the 45th Anniversary Barbie doll by

Bob Mackie.

With the introduction of the 45th Barbie Anniversary Collection by Hallmark, fashion fanatics and Barbie doll buffs alike will be able to celebrate their own birthdays and other occasions, or give a very special gift in trend-setting Barbie style.

For more information or to find the nearest participating retailer, call 1-800-HALLMARK or visit - NU

A Guide to Dolls

Doll guides are large books for doll collectors, used to help them tell one doll from another. They generally have large colour photos of each doll, together with price information. Thanks to the popularity of doll collecting, doll guides sell surprisingly well, even though they are often large, thick, expensive books. They are generally used mainly by professional collectors as tools for identification and valuation.

Because it would be pretty much impossible to fit every doll ever made into one book or even a series of books, each book tends to concentrate on a particular decade, or manufacturer, or even one doll (Barbie, for example).

Doll guides can be quite hard to find in shops (unless you live near a specialist doll shop), but they're easy to find on the web, particularly on A and eBay. If you get one used, it might not even be all that expensive, although you should expect to have to pay a lot for postage. Make sure you read reviews of any given book before you buy it, because they vary hugely in quality, and not all of them do what they say on the cover very well at all.

It is ironic that doll guides are easiest to buy on the web, however, because it is also the web that is making them slowly obsolete. Even the best doll guides can't hope to even touch the sheer diversity of pictures and information that exists on the web in the doll collecting enthusiast community. There are websites out there that are at least as reliable as any of the books, and websites are usually more up-to-date in terms of price guidance.

The web works particularly well if you know which doll you have and just want to know which type it is. Even if you know nothing about the doll, however, and you can't find it in a database, it's not hard to find doll collectors' forums (search for 'doll forum'). Once you're on a forum, you can post pictures and other enthusiasts will help you out – someone is bound to know the answer.

John Gibb is the owner of doll guides, For more information on dolls please check out

What To Look For When Shopping For Kid's Bedding

When choosing kids' bedding, your first step should be to consider your child's tastes. After all, a child's room is often an extension of her personality. Does your daughter like a particular color? Does she prefer a certain style? If you follow your child's lead, she will lead you to the perfect kids' bedding.

Kids' bedding is available in a variety of designs, from cartoon characters to outer space. When selecting a design you must consider longevity. While your daughter might love Strawberry Shortcake this week, you have to think about the future as well. If you don't mind replacing the bedding frequently, character bedding is fine; otherwise consider themes or patterns that can grow with your child.

Most children's books, television, and movie characters are available on kids' bedding (Barbie, Bratz, Gl Joe, Batman, Spiderman, Disney Princess, Lion King, Yu-Gi-Oh, Scooby Doo, Tom and Jerry, Mickey Mouse, Tweety, Bugs Bunny, Simpsons,etc. ). Before committing yourself to expensive character bedding, try to decide if your child's love of the character is here to stay or just a passing phase.

While a child might quickly outgrow her love of a popular television character, she is more likely to remain fond of flowers or clouds. Here is a partial list of popular themes for kids' bedding: teddy bears, nature, ocean, military, solar system, insects, fairies, flowers, games etc.

Kids' bedding is also available in an assortment of non-themed patterns. Patterns range from soft pastel flowers to wild neon abstracts. Popular patterns for kids' bedding include polka dots, hearts, checks, circles, cow prints, plaid, stripes, and abstract designs. A well-chosen pattern can last all the way through the teen years.

Most kids' bedding is sold in coordinating sets and includes fitted sheet, top sheet, bed ruffle, pillow shams, and comforter. Other sets might include a quilt or bed spread instead of a comforter. All three are used for the same purposes, but comforters are usually thicker. Selection will likely depend on personal preference and climate. Most stores also sell coordinating accessories, including shower curtains, wall hangings, waste baskets, and throw pillows.

Kids' bedding is widely available. Some toy stores also sell kids' bedding. If your child sleeps on a twin- or full-sized bed, you will find that kids' bedding is readily available. If, however, your child's bed is larger, you might have to special order the bedding or opt for patterns.

If you prefer to do your shopping online, there are a variety of websites selling kids' bedding. A search on any search engine will find thousands of outlets offering bedding. The following is a list of popular kids' bedding sites: Company Kids (offers a nice selection of kids' bedding, divided into a boys' and a girls' section; the site also sells furniture and accessories; they are a great source if you are looking for kids' designs that are not based on licensed characters), Bombay Kids (offers kids' bedding and furniture in a nice selection of themes and patterns; many items can be personalized), Olive Kids (is a fun site offering kids' bedding and furniture in themes such as dinosaurs, heroes, cowboys, and princesses).

Choosing a kid's bed can be a daunting task for parents because there are so many options in style and design from which to choose. When faced with the decision, considering other uses and future uses for the child's room, space limitations, safety, budget, and finally, your child's wants and needs should lead you to the perfect selection!

Learn about kids bedding before you buy.