Buried Secrets waves 3 and 4

When Mattel started packaging budget Monster High dolls in blind boxes I made it my mission to collect one from each wave.  Just one, to avoid duplicates.  So far there have been five waves, and I've got...two dolls.  Draculaura is from Wave 1/Cozy Creepover, and Frankie Stein is from Wave 2/Scare-master Style.

I'm fallin' down on the job, y'all!!!  But there's no need to fear, because I've got Waves 3 and 4 now!  Wave 5 will be released sometime this year and it's apparently gonna have a music theme.  Wave 3 is entitled Haunted Dance and has a masquerade theme.  Cleo de Nile, Twyla Boogeyman, Clawdeen Wolf, and Lagoona Blue are the characters available.

I own a G3 Lagoona Blue already, but she's the only character I do have in this lineup.  Cleo de Nile is my favorite with her bright blue hair, but as the book says, you get what you get and you don't throw a fit.  Opening the box...

...I got Cleo de Nile!  I've never gotten my favorite before!

I know I've griped quite a bit about the changes that Mattel made when seguing from G1 to G3, but with Cleo I have no complaints.  She's got a beautiful face...

...and her hair is every bit as blue as I could've hoped for.  The fibers feel like polypropylene, but Cleo wears her hair up so it's all good.

Since the dance in question is a masquerade, all the characters have masks.  Cleo's is a jackal.  Twyla's is really cute, by the way; it's her dust bunny.

This is a solid attempt by Mattel, especially for a budget doll, but then again I've been wanting a G3 Cleo de Nile for quite some time, so her presence may be clouding my judgment a bit.

Now...put the mummy girl down, Moon.  One other box.  Wave 4 is called Courtside Fang-out and has a tennis theme.  Not as exciting to me as a masked dance, but I won't gripe too much.  There's nothing wrong with tennis.

Frankie Stein, Clawdeen Wolf, Ghoulia Yelps, and Toralei Stripe are my options this time.

Ghoulia Yelps is my favorite this time, and Frankie Stein is the duplicate character.  If the wiki is to be believed then this is only Ghoulia's third appearance in the G3 era.

It's Toralei.  Not my favorite doll of the four, but still satisfying.  I've never owned a Toralei before, not even during the G1 days.

Hold on, here's a better picture of her face.  She's got glorious eyes.

Y'know, I can see echoes of the Wild Hearts Crew in Toralei.  She looks a little like Jacy Masters in the face, particularly in the mouth.  I love Toralei's hat, by the way. 

I don't know about y'all, but I thought the Wild Hearts Crew was pretty kick-a$$.  Mine are, of course, out of reach at Casa Del Luna, but I'll retrieve them.  I'd managed to complete the set before they were discontinued.  Anyway, aside from theming Toralei is pretty much the same as my other Buried Secrets girls.  Same stiff body with uneven shoulders, though Toralei doesn't look as uncomfortable as Frankie Stein.

Poor Frankie looks like they've got some kind of spinal condition, and the fit of their sleeves don't help much.  On the other hand, Toralei has soft, smooth hair in lovely colors.  Her wiki says it's polypropylene, but it doesn't feel like it.

I wish Mattel would quit their love affair with polypropylene.  Frankie and Draculaura have it, and it looks alright but feels nasty and styles worse.

They're still cute, though.  Plus, I've opened four of these packages and haven't gotten a repeat character yet...hold up, yeah I have, but my two Draculaura dolls are pretty different.  These Buried Secrets dolls are a lovely way to get a Monster High fix for cheap, though.  I hope maybe Venus McFlytrap will make an appearance in a future wave.

Let's just face it, Venus is just awesome.  I'm still waiting for Skelita Calaveras, but Venus is the gem of my G3 collection so far.  Cleo isn't far behind. 

Now that that's all outta the way, what else but a weather report?  I read yesterday morning that temperatures were supposed to bottom out Sunday night and be ridiculously cold for the next couple'a days.  I'd assumed that would come eventually, since the ants aren't out yet.  Fast-forward to 4:30 or so yesterday, and I get this lovely headline.  There's a chance of VERY severe weather on Monday!

What in flaming purple hell???  The app is AccuWeather, so I popped over to Weather Underground for a second opinion.  They say the severe weather threat is Sunday night, and THEN the cold moves in.

Still not convinced, I consulted NOAA and they're calling for a lot of rain and maybe some thunder.  The SPC outlook suggests that Sunday night has the healthiest chance for bad weather in the Bootheel, but even they don't sound sure!  I can't wait to hear what Ryan Hall says about all this, LOL.

Love and monsters,

RagingMoon1987 

So random, March '25

March 2nd.  I was puttering around with a future post that tangentially involves Orange Blossom. 

I'd only then learned that the brim of Orange's hat was supposed to be curled back.  I had been leaving the brim uncurled; it threw shadows like mad, but I thought it was supposed to be that way.  I stand corrected, though I don't guess it matters too terribly.

March 2nd.  I was gearing up for Bae Day Monday and caught Valencia Rose and Candela Laura together. 

I love the #4 head!

March 3rd, Bae Day Monday asked for green-eyed and/or red-haired Cabbie girls.  I've got several with one or the other, but for simplicity's sake I'm only doing my sole girl with both attributes.  That one is Valencia Rose, as seen above. 

She's still wearing her gummy bear overalls from last fall, but that'll be a good ensemble for Easter so I'm leaving her be.

March 6th.  Andra strikes a pose.

I love this doll.  In the short time that she's lived at Casa Pizarro Andra has become one of my favorites.

March 7th, 2025.  The new meets the old.

Ever the ladies' man, Ernest John cuddles with Princess Pipp Petals, one of my Baby Alive dolls.

March 9th.  It was a beautiful, mild day (with some wind, since it's March).  My spring fever was high, as was someone else's. 

This is Megan Byte, a Jaggets doll by Famosa.  I discovered the Jaggets about ten years back and thought they were cute, and before I put myself on this infernal budget I bought my own Jaggets.  Megan will get her review in late May, hopefully. 

Talky Velvet also decided to pop in.

I forget just how cute Velvet is!  I have her braids pulled a smidge tight, but oh well.  Their purpose is to prevent tangles.

March 10th, another Bae Day Monday, for green-eyed and/or red-haired Cabbie boys.  Again, I have one boy that ticks both boxes, Gavin Andrew. 

I think he's just as happy about the beginning of spring as Megan Byte is...and I owe poor Kory Aryan an apology, as he also is green-eyed and red-headed.  His hair is usually covered by a hood, so I forget!

March 13th.  Candela Laura was my companion that day, and the flowers at Casa del Luna were out in full force. 

I wish I knew what kinda bush that was, because I love the leaves.

March 16th.  Buried Secrets Draculaura strikes a pose.  These stiff budget dolls can still look freaky fabulous if given enuff time.

I found out a few weeks ago that there's gonna be another wave of these, and I'm excited for that.  Looks like Toralei Stripe and Clawdeen Wolf are gonna be in on it, along with Frankie Stein and Draculaura.  They have simple little outfits like my Draculaura does, and they have specialized makeup.  I'm looking forward to those; I don't have any of those characters in G3 form except Draculaura, and even she's cute.

March 17th.  It goes without saying that Cabbie Love (my Failbook group) wanted Kids in green that day.  Candela Laura makes another appearance, but this time she's joined by Primrose Jessalyn and Kory Aryan.

That same day I snapped a picture of Matthew Tommie and Kitrick Randolph Fergus together. 

Matt predicted that he and Kit would grow close as time passed, and he turned out to be right.  Lucey Dena is always close by too; she's just out of frame to my left/Matt's right.

March 20th.  The sky was clear, the wind was high, and I had Gwenda Cecile with me.

Posin' Kids have stiff arms due to their internal frames, and Gwenda looks to me like she's reaching out for a hug.

March 21st.  Margot Madeline got a new outfit!

Thank you, Mama!  I love the outfits you pick for my dolls!

Same evening, different doll.  Solana Sunburst tries to wave, but her arms are a mite stubby for that.

Solana is the Glitter Babyz that I referred to yesterday, by the way.  As I promised, a review is in the making, though it'll be awhile yet.

March 23rd.  ColorSilk Kids came up on a Failbook group, so I let Kory Aryan show off.

Kory's such a little ham!  The weather was poopy again that day, hence the indoor picture with the pillow, but Kory didn't let it bug him.

For some reason this image popped up in my memories on March 23rd, but it was taken on October 28th, 2021.  It's Kailey in a sweater set.

The colors do flatter her, I must say.

March 24th, Bae Day Monday.  The theme was yellow, and the weather that day was perfect for such a happy, sunshiney color.  Cleopatra Chantale is the doll in question. 

I ended up having to do two takes, the sun was so bright.  These lawn chairs are as old as Cleopatra Chantale is, by the way, and both chair and Cabbie are a only a couple'a years younger than me.  I was two when Mama and Daddy bought those chairs for Grandma, and they've been put to good use. 

Same day, different dolls.  These dolls are Peggy Pumpkin (left) and a Cry Baby, Ayla, both fresh out of their packaging.  Oh yeah, and Draculaura is photobombing.

I solemnly swear that I did not deliberately put Peggy's hand on Ayla's.  I just put her where my Barbie box meets the couch cushion, and her hand slipped over Ayla's.  Pretty cute.

March 29th.  My Cabbage Patch group calls mail related to the Kids as Cabbie mail, and for me it's usually a cute little outfit (usually bought by Mama).  This was the case on the 29th.

Candela Laura slipped out of her shamrock dress and into a romper that she can wear clean through to fall.  Unless I want to put her in her elephant outfit, that is.  I love that set.

March 30th.  There was a confirmed tornado in the Neelyville area and another severe storm angled to our south.  These two were helping me stay calm (some hot and heavy praying helped too).

In addition to Candela Laura, I've got one of the dolls that Setsu-P sent me.  An in-depth discussion of that stuff is coming.  As to the storms, Malden got a lot of rain and a lot of wind, but again, we came through it fine.  

And that brings a very stormy March to a close.  Doesn't look like the first week of April is gonna be any better.  Our eyes turn now to Wednesday...

God bless,
RagingMoon1987 

A secret...

This post kinda ties in with my Cutie Reveal Barbie post, except that this time we're doing Monster High dolls.  I think Buried Secrets is a cute concept, even though the doll inside is cheapened up quite a bit (duh, she IS a budget doll).  She won't have elbow or knee joints, but she will have a simple but full outfit and she'll be...well, a surprise!  Here's what the package looks like; my inner mortician is delighted by the coffin-shaped boxes.

Cozy Creepover is the name of the game, meaning that whoever I get will be in pajamas.  I don't know why, but I like dolls in pajamas, possibly because sleeping is something everyone (literally, EVERYONE) can relate to.  Frankie Stein, Clawdeen Wolf, Draculaura, and Cleo de Nile are all options here, and I'm hoping for Cleo since her coloring is the prettiest.  I'm strongly hoping against Draculaura since I have a G3 Drac already, and since Draculaura has never been my favorite character to begin with.  I know how to cheat at this Buried Secrets game, since the paper has identifying markings buried in the folds, but since I've already bought this doll off eBay I'm already committed.  Admittedly, Buried Draculaura has a really nice paint job, so if I end up with her I won't cry too hard.  Indeed, I've seen several G3 Draculauras that I've considered grabbing; my favorite one so far has been Skulltimate Secrets:  Fearidescent.  I like how her hair is almost all pink instead of its usual mix, and I think she's got a sweet face.  She reminds me of strawberry ice cream, one of my favorite treats.

Alright, I'll admit that Mattel has done a nice job with G3's Draculaura dolls, much more so than they did with G1.  A lot of Draculaura's G1 dolls looked alike, with only this one or that one sporting dark lips, or a different color of hair, or something out of left field.  G3 dolls are all pink for the most part, but they have things to set them apart like Fearidescent's frosty pink hair, Creepover Party's half-and-half hair, Neon Frights' purple lips and yellow eyeshadow, or Garden Mysteries' overall darker color scheme.  So I won't be too upset about getting another Draculaura in my little coffin, and that's good because her insignia is on the inner wrapping. 

Sure enuff, here's the pink vegan, without sparkles or poorly rendered CGI teeth.

Indeed, G3 Draculaura's fangs aren't anywhere near as obvious as her G1 self's.  Dig this faceup, by the way.  Sister Drac has dark makeup and freckles!  My other G3 Draculaura doesn't have either one.

Unfortunately I've heard that the Buried Secrets all have polypropylene hair, and I've read horror stories about that stuff.  Indeed, Draculaura's hair looks okay, but it feels stiff and kinda cheap.

Draculaura told me not to kill the messenger...or the unfortunate doll that got saddled with such hair.

Poly hair aside, it's obvious that Mattel tried to make these nice, even for stiff-armed budget dolls.  They still come with accessories, though I don't know what the sam-hill either of these items is.

Drac's stiff arms are a bit of a pain in the posterior, but she can still relax if given a little time.  Oh yeah, and Count Fabulous is a plushie.  For the record, Clawdeen's Crescent plushie reminds me of Gengar.  Count Fabulous just looks like a Squishmallow.

Time to let the pastel goth sleep now!  I reckon that ride from wherever was tiring.

Unboxing Draculaura was fun!  I hope Mattel revisits the idea, maybe with a swimsuit line or a sundress line, or maybe a focus on hair like the Electrified line.  It's a thought. 

Frosty love (seriously, it's cold outside!),

RagingMoon1987