Once upon a time, there was a little girl named Lily who loved playing with dolls. She had a collection of dolls of all shapes and sizes, but her favorite were her wooden dress-up dolls. These dolls were unique because they had a magical power - they could transport Lily into different stories and adventures. Every time Lily picked up one of her wooden dress-up dolls, she would be instantly transported into a different world. She could be a princess in a fairytale kingdom, a detective solving mysteries, or an explorer discovering ancient treasures. The possibilities were endless, and Lily's imagination soared as she played with her magical dolls.
The possibilities were endless, and Lily's imagination soared as she played with her magical dolls. One day, Lily was playing with her dolls in her room when she decided to try on a new outfit for one of her dolls. As soon as she dressed the doll in a beautiful ball gown, a swirl of sparkles surrounded her, and she found herself standing in the middle of a grand ballroom.
tv review: good witch
We’ve talked about Belle and the Beast. We’ve rehashed Love Finds you in Nebraska. We’ve even lowered ourselves to watching a movie called Rodeo and Juliet. By now, you should know that nothing makes us happier than low-quality television programming. So, the ultimate treat for me is Hallmark Channel’s series, Good Witch. It’s cheesy. The acting sucks. Their wardrobes are ridiculous. And I love it.
There are currently five seasons of Good Witch on Netflix, and I think the sixth season is coming out on Hallmark right now. The series is based on the Good Witch series of movies that Hallmark made back in the 2010’s. I think I’ve seen the first one but I didn’t remember much about it.
The series doesn’t really recap what happened in the films, but you’re quickly informed that Cassie (the Good Witch herself) is a widow because her husband who was a cop was killed in the line of duty. Right off the bat this seems strange because Middleton is portrayed as a veritable heaven on earth, not a seedy place where police shootings occur. Anyhow, Cassie runs Grey House, a bed and breakfast, and has a biological daughter, Grace (super annoying) and two stepchildren, only one of whom you really need to know about. I can’t even remember his name, but he’s an adult male policeman who is married to a whiny woman named “Tara” which is pronounced TAAAAAR-uh.
You might wonder what kind of powers Cassie has. I’ve watched about 50 episodes of this show and I’m still wondering about that. According to Wikipedia: “Cassie and Grace share a gift of enchanted insight and magical intuition.” So, basically all Cassie (and annoying Grace) do is say, “Hello, so-and-so” before turning around to see who’s walked into the room. Then whoever’s walked in responds by saying, “Oh, Cassie, I can never sneak up on you!”
In Season One, Cassie gets a new neighbor, a big-city doctor named Sam Radford. He has a troubled teen son named Nick, who immediately clashes with goody-goody Grace. (Who wouldn’t clash with her?) At one point these two get locked in a library and complain about how there is nothing to do despite the fact that every library has movies, tv shows, computers, books, magazines, televisions, toys for kids, games, puzzles…basically every boredom buster ever. Of course after a few seasons Sam and Cassie become an item and you’re left wondering if they’re going to make Nick and Grace a troubling item as well. They don’t, sorry. It’s not that spicy of a show.
Just some playful, and absolutely not dating each other, siblings….Other characters include Abigail, the redheaded cousin of Cassie who also has the stunning power to predict who’s just walked into the room, Martha Tinsdale, the over the top mayor of Middleton who fawns over darling Cassie, and Stephanie, the boy-crazy restaurant owner who’s named her eatery the “Bistro Cafe” in a fit of creative genius.
L-R: Stephanie and AbigailIt seems like the only point of Abigail, Stephanie, Cassie, Grace, and any single woman who stays the night at Grey House, is to be set up with a man. Countless singles come to the B&B for a good night’s sleep and leave with a new romantic partner. There is always something standing in the way of the relationship, but don’t worry, Cassie will fix it with some platitude wisdom like, “Sometimes, you have to wait for what you want.” The recipients of these words of wisdom always act as if they’ve received an updated version of the Ten Commandments from the hand of God.
Profound…but isn’t that on a dishtowel that my mom has?After about thirty-five false starts, Sam and Cassie finally get married in season five, and start their happily ever after. They have little to no conflict in their relationship, because Cassie is such an angel and Sam is so perfect and romantic and playful. Every two seconds they’re kissing, not like a married couple, but more like cousins or something, in the kitchen, the supermarket, the middle of a stampede…nothing, and I mean nothing, keeps these two from lightly touching lips.
One of my favorite moments of the show occurs in the episode where Sam and Cassie get married. Annoying Grace is admiring a horse and reaches out to pet the renegade animal who of course no one else has been able to get close to. Just then, another girl who’s not as soft and vibrant as Grace, how could anyone be, steps out and tells Grace to keep her sticky little mitts off the horse. The horse rears, then jumps over the fence and runs off into the woods. Acting as if nothing has happened (like a multi-thousand dollar horse bolting off INTO THE WOODS) the girls start talking to each other then angelic Grace goes off back to the wedding rehearsal or whatever they were doing at this farm. At the end of the episode, Sam and Cassie look up from sharing a kiss and see that the horse than ran off is still on the loose in the woods and has found another horse (presumably a mate). They go back to kissing like they didn’t just see two horses emerge from a woods.
Other highlights of the series include characters you forget about like George, or whatever his name is, Grace’s dad’s dead first wife’s father…so yeah, no relation to Grace or Cassie at all. Yet, he lives in Grey House with them and pops up every few episodes to speak in a mildly accented voice and impart grandfatherly wisdom. Don’t get too attached to Cassie’s stepdaughter Lori, she’s only in a few episodes then flits off to the big city to pursue a writing career. And TAAAAAruh, Cassie’s step-daughter-in-law, who agrees to have a kid with her husband even though she doesn’t want to, then is annoyed because she wants to move to Paris and leave her husband, but doesn’t get pregnant and stays around Middleton anyway. If none of that made sense, I’m sorry. It’s just what happened in the show.
I said that the wardrobes are ridiculous and I wasn’t kidding. The characters are always dressed as if they’re heading to a millionaire’s charity auction, not to high school, or to run their bistro (cafe). Grace (who’s in high school) literally wears pointy-toe stilettos around her house, and even lounges on the couch wearing them, in season five. Cassie must have an entire room in her house dedicated as a closet for her peacoats, as she wears a different one in every scene of the show. Martha Tinsdale is the Dr. Deborah Birx of Middleton, and dons a new scarf every day.
Apparently Grace is not going to be in season six, which is a mercy for everyone. Every season ends with a “cliffhanger” and the cliffhanger for season five, spoilers, is that Abigail can’t say “I love you” to her boyfriend and there’s probably a curse hanging over their relationship. Compelling stuff. But hey, it’ll keep me watching.
One of my favorite moments of the show occurs in the episode where Sam and Cassie get married. Annoying Grace is admiring a horse and reaches out to pet the renegade animal who of course no one else has been able to get close to. Just then, another girl who’s not as soft and vibrant as Grace, how could anyone be, steps out and tells Grace to keep her sticky little mitts off the horse. The horse rears, then jumps over the fence and runs off into the woods. Acting as if nothing has happened (like a multi-thousand dollar horse bolting off INTO THE WOODS) the girls start talking to each other then angelic Grace goes off back to the wedding rehearsal or whatever they were doing at this farm. At the end of the episode, Sam and Cassie look up from sharing a kiss and see that the horse than ran off is still on the loose in the woods and has found another horse (presumably a mate). They go back to kissing like they didn’t just see two horses emerge from a woods.
The doll had brought her into a fairytale world where she was the princess of a magical kingdom. Lily could hardly believe her eyes as she looked around at the towering castle walls, the shimmering chandeliers, and the elegant ball gowns. She danced and twirled among the other guests, feeling like a true princess. The wooden dress-up doll had truly worked its magic, allowing Lily to experience the enchantment of a fairytale firsthand. As time went on, Lily continued to use her wooden dress-up dolls to explore new stories and adventures. From being a superhero saving the world from evil villains to becoming a famous astronaut exploring distant planets, there was no limit to the magical worlds she could enter with her dolls. Lily learned many valuable lessons through her imaginary adventures. She learned the importance of bravery, kindness, and perseverance. The wooden dress-up dolls not only provided endless entertainment, but also helped her develop important life skills and values. As Lily grew older, her love for her magical dolls never faded. She kept them as cherished mementos of her childhood and always looked back on the memories they created together with fondness. The magic of the wooden dress-up dolls had left a lasting impact on her life, shaping her imagination and inspiring her to embrace new adventures. In conclusion, the story of the magical wooden dress-up dolls is one of imagination, creativity, and endless possibilities. These dolls have the power to transport children into different worlds and allow them to explore new stories and experiences. Through the magic of these dolls, children can learn valuable life lessons and create memories that will last a lifetime..
Reviews for "The Secrets of Story Magic: Exploring Wooden Dress Up Dolls"
1. Sarah - 2 stars - I was really disappointed with the Story Magic wooden dress up dolls. The quality was poor and the paint started chipping off after just a few uses. The clothes didn't fit properly and kept falling off, making it frustrating for my child to play with. The dolls also didn't have much variety in terms of features and outfits. Overall, I feel like I wasted my money on this product and I wouldn't recommend it to others.
2. Mark - 1 star - This set of Story Magic wooden dress up dolls was a complete letdown. The dolls were poorly made and didn't look anything like the characters they were supposed to represent. The wooden pieces were flimsy and easily broke apart, making it impossible for my child to dress them up properly. The set also included very limited clothing options, making it repetitive and boring after just a few minutes of play. Save your money and look for a better alternative.
3. Emily - 2 stars - I had high hopes for the Story Magic wooden dress up dolls, but unfortunately, they fell short of my expectations. The paint on the dolls was uneven and smudged, giving them a cheap and unfinished look. The clothes were also poorly designed and didn't stay on the dolls properly, which frustrated my child. Additionally, the dolls didn't have any movable parts, limiting the playability. I suggest looking for a different set that offers better quality and more versatility.