HABA Brings Stunning Götz Dolls To The US Plus GIVEAWAY! 5/15

***Disclosure: I received a complimentary sample to facilitate my review. No other compensation was provided, and all opinions are 100% honest and have not been influenced in any way.***

Okay, first things first. Just to get it out of the way, and to silence any nay-sayers. Yes, I let my son play with dolls. (Did I just hear a collective gasp?) Before you judge, hear me out....Xander is only 2 years old, and he has a big sister that he spends literally every waking moment with. She likes dolls, and in the name of keeping the peace, I don't discourage him from playing dollies with her. In the same respect, I allow Sophie to play with toys that are traditionally "boys" toys. I personally don't see any harm in ignoring common gender stereotypes, and the way I see it, my little Xan-Man will be an amazing Daddy one day who isn't afraid to have a tea party or play dolls with his daughters. I do realize that some may disagree with this, and that is fine. I am quite comfortable with this decision, as is my husband.

Recently, a little birdie told me that the folks at HABA are bringing coveted Götz dolls to the US market. Yes, there are tons and tons of dolls out there, but these German dolls are truly special. Works of art, even. They're sure to become that one super-special doll that your little one will choose as their constant companion.

You see, not only are they incredibly detailed from head to toe, they have a couple of features that make them stand out in the doll world. First, they're machine washable. (Hallelujah!) This is awesome since toys obviously get dirty as they're being loved. To wash these dolls, simply put them into a standard pillow case and wash them in cold water on delicate. (This does not apply to the standing dolls because of their size. They can be spot cleaned, though!) Then all you need to do is lay your doll tummy down to dry. Pretty cool, right?

The other thing that makes Götz dolls so fantastic is their hair. I don't know about you, but when I was little, I found my dolls' hair to be quite frustrating. It would tangle and kink, and one time I even accidentally burned it because I tried to curl it. (Oops!) This resulted in a smelly, sticky mess, as well as a nasty burn on my hand. The folks at Götz know that little children like to play with and style their dolls' hair. So they have come up with a special type of hair that can be washed, brushed, curled and even blow-dried! The styling possibilities are endless. You can check out some of the achievable Götz hairstyles on HABA's YouTube page!

It's no wonder that Götz dolls have won many of the most prestigious U.S. toy awards; including the Oppenheim Platinum Award, Dr. Toy’s 100 Best Children’s Products and a NAPPA Honors award.

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Our Review of Götz Dolls from HABA :

I was so excited when the generous folks at HABA offered to send me one of these sensational dolls to review. I chose the Julia 18 Inch Doll with Red Hair. When I saw her, I immediately fell in love with her bright, garden-ready outfit and her fiery mane. (Yes, I have always secretly wished I were a redhead. Perhaps I can live vicariously through Julia here, haha)

Our new pal arrived quickly and was very well-packaged in an attractive box. When the kids saw her, something funny happened....Sophie immediately said that Julia was Xander's dollie, and he readily agreed. So the doll I had intended to give my daughter now belongs to my son. No worries here, though. I know that ultimately, they will both enjoy her immensely.

Since Julia is one of Götz's standing dolls, she is quite large in size at 18 inches tall. She also has poseable arms and legs, so she can sit as well as stand. You can even make her "wave"!

Julia is breathtaking in every respect, but I just have to point out the attention to detail in her outfit. Götz dolls are dressed in very realistic clothing with button holes, embroidery, and pockets that are fully functional. They're not simply sewn on like many other doll outfits you'll find. This adds to the authenticity of the product, and can also help little ones' fine motor skills!

In addition to vibrantly colored clothing, Julia comes complete with a handy little purse and some adorable, Croc-like shoes to complete her look. She really looks like she's ready to go plant some beautiful flowers in the garden!

Of course I just had to play with her hair a little. I carefully took it out of the ponytail and brushed it out. This was a lot easier to do than I expected. I am so used to doll hair being a major pain in the rear. Once her hair was brushed, I was amazed by just how full and gorgeous it was. If only my own hair looked quite so good! (Yep, I felt a teensy twinge of jealousy here!)

Then I decided to switch things up a bit by giving Julia a half-updo. This, too, was easier than I expected it to be. I used a regular hair elastic and added the pretty green and pink ribbon she came with. Pretty cute, huh?

Another thing I love about this doll is her eyes. She has realistic eyelashes, and when you lay her down, her eyes close as if she were actually sleeping. Perhaps this will help encourage my own kids to go to sleep when bedtime comes? Or maybe that's just wishful thinking. Regardless, it's just another seemingly minor detail that adds to the enchanting nature of this doll.

Of course my opinion isn't the one that matters the most here. After all, this doll is meant to be loved by a child. Well, Xander was absolutely delighted by Julia, and has been carrying her around quite a bit.

She sits with him on the sofa while he watches Sprout....

She "runs" around the room with him, spins in circles with him, and even lays next to him during diaper changes because he doesn't want to leave his friend behind....

And she even gets put in "time out" when he tries to blame her for his own mischief. This totally cracks me up, by the way. Very clever, indeed, little man...But Mommy wasn't born yesterday!

Overall, I cannot say enough wonderful things about our doll from Götz and HABA. Aside from being very realistic and absolutely gorgeous, she is incredibly well made, durable enough to withstand any adventures my kids take her on, and she is interactive in the sense that they can dress her and style her hair. I also love the fact that she is very easy to clean. Always a plus in my home! With 2 toddlers, things can get messy with a quickness! I have to admit, I was blown away by Götz. These are certainly not your ordinary dolls, and they're sure to become your child's constant companion.

How To Connect :

You can check out Götz dolls and other great toys on the HABA website.

You can also connect with HABA on Facebook, on twitter, and on YouTube to stay on top of their latest products and promotions!

Enter to WIN !

I am thrilled to announce that one lucky reader will receive the Götz doll of their choice! (Excluding standing dolls) You can check out the selection HERE. How cool is that?!

Simply enter using the easy Rafflecopter form below!

This giveaway is open to US residents 18+ until 11:59PM May 15, 2013. No PO Boxes. Winners will be drawn using Rafflecopter's Random Number Generator. All entries will be verified, so play fair! I will notify winner via e-mail and they will have 48 hours to reply before I am forced to redraw winners. No purchase necessary. Void where prohibited. This contest is not affiliated with Facebook in any way. Thanks for entering, and Good Luck!

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