Barbie house for a fiver

If I had a Barbie I'd so be keeping this.

For the chic uptown girl: a modest mauve townhouse with pink and green accents; two levels only, but look at that front door - talk about curbside eye candy. And the front window in the master bedroom? Barbie's drooling over it already. Quelle natural light and south-eastern exposure!

If Barbie were real, this may cost half a mil.

In the 'real' human new retail world, I'm guessing $100+.

In the Grunge Queen alternative universe: five bucks, at my local thrift store, Stretch Thrift.

It folds out to reveal a kitchen and living room on the lower level, and a bedroom and bathroom on the upper level - the green bed isn't folded down here, oops, Barbie you need to work on your housekeeping skills.

Ok, so maybe Barbie's downgraded to the recession version of Barbie high-life with this abode.

But that didn't prevent my nieces - and my nephew - from loving it.

I didn't think they'd love it so well, but they played with it all night - even though there wasn't a Barbie to be had. They haven't quite discovered that phenomenon yet, for which I'm sure my sis and bro-in-law are grateful.