The gift lists and giving guides have begun, and after spending the weekend with my brother and sister and recalling childhood holiday memories, I can’t help but kick it back to the Ghost of Christmas Past–my childhood list of the coolest holiday gifts of the 80’s. If you roller skated in your basement to the Pointer Sisters and know who Teddy Ruxpin is, see how many of these you remember, asked for or jumped around on Christmas morning to celebrate.
1. Pogo Ball. I forgot about the pogo ball until a month ago when I accidentally landed on it online. I remember the grip it took to stay on this thing. Keeping a pogo ball between your legs was like doing Kegals with your feet.
2. New York Seltzer. Perfect stocking stuffer. We used to ride our banana seat bikes up to Paul’s Wine Cellar after school just for the thrill of the Very Adult Act of Buying a Seltzer with Your Own Change. Svelte little glass bottle. Trendy labels. Fizzy adultish drink in delicious cool flavors like cream soda and peach. If you were awesome, you’d mix cream soda with peach for a fusion of fizzy flavor, pour it over ice in a glass and say to your cousin who watched you “this is on the rocks.” You were 8. But you thought you were 20 and a character on Dynasty.
3. Pound Puppies. I helped my dad with one of his sermons when I was seven years old. It involved standing on the pulpit while he preached a message about raising kids and how the Bible is the instruction manual for doing so. I conquered some major stage fright in the process, and my dad surprised me afterwards by taking me to the toy store where I picked out the Toy of the Moment—a pound puppy, packaged in a cardboard doghouse. I named him Rusty for his reddish orange color, clung to him through my parents’ divorce and later passed him on to a girl I met at summer camp who needed him more than I did. Fact #1: there’s nothing cooler than Pound Puppies. Fact #2: I did a happy dance the other day when I saw Target brought them back—exactly as I remember them.
4. Neon Rubber Bracelets. Coolness in second grade was measured purely by how many neon bracelets you had up your arm-bonus if you linked two and twisted them together all infinity-like. My friend Scott’s sister Dena worked at Merry Go Round, had spiked hair and a tail, wore black and had an enviable collection of these babies on her forearm.
5. Keypers. We weren’t old enough to put anything hide-worthy in here, but still—creatures with keys to open them is a fascinating concept, no matter the decade. I watched the YouTube commercial for these, and it made me all weird and sentimental. Brought all the feelings back—like digging up the girl I was when I first saw this commercial.
6. Water Ring Toss. If I had a nickel for every water ring I landed on a peg, I could buy the carpal tunnel device that fixes the pinched nerve you get from playing this game. Was an awesome travel toy. Still an awesome travel toy.
7. Popples. Tell me you remember Popples. When the world seems too overwhelming and I want to curl up into a pocket and disappear, I call it Poppleing. I’m sorry. Pardon me while I Popple. It’s just too much. I’m tempted to pay the inflated price on eBay just so my kids can know the great joy of a Popple and Poppleing.
8. Mr. Professor Calculator. Those fancy scientific calculators can suck it. Because everyone knows there’s only one king in calculator land, and it’s Mr. Professor. I owe it solely to Mr. Professor for passing first, second and third grade math.
9. Jelly Shoes.The purple ones. They make me smile—reminds me of summer, backyard sprinklers, new bathing suits, orange creamsicles, Mackinac Island, feeling too cool for school.
10. Kissing Koolers. Watermelon was my favorite followed by Cherry Cola. I can still remember pulling the cap off a new stick and admiring the swirly-colored cream that passed as Chapstick to my mom but was grown-up lipstick to me. They tasted as good as they smelled. You can still buy old ones on eBay, but I can only imagine how they’ve held up—much like the old Avon makeup stacked up on shelves at the Flamingo Island flea market up the street. Maybelline, if you’re listening, bring back Kissing Koolers for 2015 stockings!
11. Exclamation Perfume. In my mind, Kelly Kapowsky wore Exclamation. Enough said.
12. Lip Lickers Tins. I get overly excited about my memories of finding Lip Lickers in our stockings. I remember having to choose what new Christmas gifts we’d take with us to visit my grandparents after Christmas morning and going right for the Lip Lickers. Duh. Those little cousins watching us slide that tin open and smearing strawberry goop on our lips all Christy Brinkley like? We were so cool.
13. Simon. When I taught fifth grade, I could memorize all 22 kids’ names on the first day of school in five minutes flat, and I owe it all to Simon. All those years of sharpening my memory with Blue. Blue, Red. Blue, Red, Green. Blue, Red, Green, Green. Blue, Red, Green, Green, Yellow.
14. Sweet Secrets. I see these and I’m a kid again. Watching Today’s Special. Hoping I’ll find some Sweet Secrets in my stocking so I can stuff them in my backpack and show them off at school recess.
15. Trapper Keeper. The Trapper Keeper gave you so many ways to express yourself. What kind of student were you? A solid color Trapper classic girl? A horse-in-the-meadow Trapper dreamer girl? A cats and kittens Trapper cutesy girl? Or was it Lisa Frank and rainbows Trapper all the way? (Choose the latter! Choose the latter!) Trappers were for collecting cool folders that you may or may not have used to organize your school stuff, covering with holographic stickers, and annoying your teachers by lifting the Velcro flap over and over—the loudest Velcro pull apart sound in the history of mankind.
16. Lite Brite. You had to turn the lights off while you played this for ultimate coolness.You can still buy Lite Brite today although they’ve been stripped of their 80s coolness factors like many other “new and improved” toys from our childhood. The lights are LED now, the device is smaller, the bulbs are safer, you don’t have to plug it into a wall. I liked the monstrous contraption that had the danger factor way better.
17. Shirt Tales Lunch Box. Pammy Panda and Bogey the Orangutan were my jam.
18. Cabbage Patch Preemies. If you had one, you remember her name, the day you got it, how it happened. Receiving your Cabbage Patch was a rite of passage. The first round, a yarn-haired kid version; the second, a bald-headed Preemie. I shall call you Glennis Williamina and you shall be my Cabbage Patch.
19. The Babysitters Club. If you grew up in the 80’s, you have an equivalent Baby Sitter’s Club persona. I was a Kristy but wanted to be a Stacey. Also Ann Martin is a literary hero. I’m sure that woman has a whole army of reluctant readers turned book inhalers to her name.
20. Monchichi. Cutest monkey ever. And they still make them. The baby ones with the pacifiers are the cutest.
21. Eastland Loafers. My sister had the laces twirl down to perfection. And still available today. Just ditch the socks and peg your pants.
22. Perfection. Speaking of perfection, this game. Love stress? Dream of deadlines? Thrive on someone breathing down your neck to finish something RIGHT THIS SECOND? Perfection is totally for you.
23. Garbage Pail Kids. I have no idea how we got away with collecting these with a pastor dad and a Gosh-is-a-bad-word mom. A Google image search had me wincing the other day. Seriously. Guys, the world is not going to hell in a hand basket. We’ve moved on from Garbage Pail Kids. Progress! Morality!
24. Esprit Sweatshirt. Preferably purple, pink or pale blue.
25. Plastic Charm Necklace. No precious metals needed. The jingle-jangle of plastic toilet/sneaker/lipstick/whistle charm was music to my ears. Any why yes, that’s the same retainer from my teen years, and it still fits.
26. Porcupine Pencil Sharpener. We got them for Christmas. Mine was light blue. My sister’s was pink. They sat on our desks, and we owned Barnard Elementary.
27. Six Months to Live. My sister got hooked on sad adolescent novels for a while. It was not unusual to walk into her bedroom and find her sobbing on her bed, curled up with a Lurlene McDaniels book. We passed this one around for a while. Pushin’ emotional bruises, diggin’ deep, forcing ourselves to suck the sad sap out of life. Whatever, we were stronger for it.
Honorable Mention: Scratch and Sniff Stickers, Puffy Stickers (the blue metallic gel ones that you could push and watch the blue stuff change colors), Safety Pins bedazzled with tiny colored beads for your tennis shoe laces, White Keds. 4-color Pens.
Alright, 80s babies. I know you remember some of these and more. Tell me, tell me.
******************
Fun stuff for this week:
1. I’m contributing Setting a Sweet Kids Table for Thanksgiving over on eHow.
2. …and 10 Smart Ways to Find Deals when Shopping for Kids over on eHow.
3. My friend’s beautiful essay, To What End?, on chasing our dreams and balancing motherhood (really loved this).
4. Sam and Mattie’s Teen Zombie Movie Kickstarter. Help support two teens with big dreams. Loved this.
5. Heard this short food essay on the radio the other day, and it took me away. Pure poetry. It also inspired me to make beans, cornbread and cucumber salad last night. Hit play and listen to her talk about the joy of slow food.
ella says
Oh my. I’m just going to marinate in this post for a while if you don’t mind, brings back SO many great memories. Love it!
Signed,
Born in 1975
jenn says
1975 baby too love this so many memories
Nicole Depies says
What about the Alphie II Robot! I’m such a nerd and loved that thing. 80’s babies all the way!!! 🙂
Signed, 1985
meg@ourwaytoeat.com says
How about Barbie dolls? My first Barbie was Crystal Barbie, and I just loved her. I also had a Day to Night Barbie and partially attribute my choice to pursue a legal career to having a Barbie that was all business in the daytime and had a reversible skirt that became a party dress for the evening. Google it!
Leah Scott says
I seriously got all teary eyed over this post. So many good childhood memories. The 80’s were the best and that you mastered the bangs for this post…..priceless. I loved Aqua Net too-purple can!
theandyoneals says
haven’t read the whole post yet, but had to say that Six Months to Live was hands down one of my fave books from the eighties. It also had a sequel, and I loved that too. Now I am going to have to find a copy to re-read. So funny that you have that on your list!!
Renee says
This. Is. Amazeballs!! I totally remember (and had) all of these!! Plus, lace headbands/gloves à la Madonna. And terry cloth-like ponytail holders…memories!!
JLS says
I have my basketball popple. It now belongs to my 19-month-old!
Nikki Daoust says
LOL – laughing because I still have my popple – but it looks much more loved than the one you pictured!
Sarah says
My Buddy and Kid Sister! Oh and slap wrap bracelets, remember those?
Phaedra says
Oh, the Lip Lickers! Sigh….
Stephanie Crooks says
This post made my day!! I couldn’t remember the name of those sweet secrets, so that was the icing on the cake!
Shari says
I remember all of these and the joy of getting some and the sorrow of not getting the Esprit shirt and bag oh the pain lol
Nicole says
I can’t tell you how much this made me smile! I had a Popple, a Pound Puppy, Cabbage Patch Kids, and I loved my plastic charm necklace and Trapper Keeper! Monchichis had a tv show. And I forgot about Exclamation until I read this, I wore that perfume. There was also a perfume by Revlon I loved, but I can’t remember the name. I had a subscription to Sassy magazine and I joined the Especially for Girls book club where I received a package of bad teen fiction every month, that may be how I received Six Months to Live, I read it too.
Andrea Pepe says
Swatch watches! Oh how I remember wearing my muffin bangs and then pulling the rest of my hair back with those terrycloth covered elastics…then pegging my acid washed pleated jeans so they would fall just right above my two layers of scrunchy socks and high top Reeboks.
Mel says
Thanks for the awesome walk down memory lane! I had or coveted all of these things. One of my fave 80’s perfumes? Electric Youth by Debbie Gibson. So. Cool.
Megan says
This post was SO MUCH FUN to read! I had so many of these things and forgot all about them (Mr. Professor??!? – I haven’t thought about that in forever!). And you nailed it on rounds 1 and 2 of the Cabbage Patch Kids. I loved seeing your Esprit bag – carrying one of those to school was the BEST. How about Swatch watches and Coca-Cola rugby shirts? Thank you thank you thank you!!! I have a huge smile on my face now. And I was born in 1976!
Amy says
Well, having s pastor for a dad, I’m sure you remember Michael W. Smith’s “Friends are Friends Forever” song. I cried every time I pressed rewind, stop, & play. *sigh*
Crystal Cox says
Memories!!!
Here are a few more- puppy surprise (which they have brought back and I have them in the attic right now waiting for Christmas for my girls), And I pretty much had every doll made in that time era.. baby alive, baby grow, baby talk, pj sparkles.. i could go on and on.
Those bracelets with the water and glitter inside, care bears, glo worms, koosh balls, pillow people!
Beth J says
You’ve gone and done it, Kelle! I’m in nostalgia heaven right now. So jealous that you still have your charm necklace. CHARM NECKLACE! I went through a terrible, TERRIBLE phase where I tossed every item I had that reminded me of being a “child”: no more NKOTB singles, cassette tapes, PLASTIC CHARM NECKLACE, snap bracelets, kissing coolers, My Little Pony barn, Barbie caravan and volkswagen, my beloved Lil Fridge (remember this? http://media.progressivebusinessmedia.com/photo/267/267520-gda0708LilFridge.jpg) — you name it. I threw them all out. (I blame puberty, the popularity of the CD, and grunge music.) It makes me sad to think I did that. I want my Lil Fridge back!
Danielle Snider says
SOOOOO funny. hilarious. major flashbacks there. I’m so bummed that target has already sold out of pound puppies. I guess we all know a good thing when we see it.
Sandy says
OMG, you just made my day! I forgot all about the plastic charm necklaces! The toilet was my favorite! Hehehe!
Amy says
And, the metal best friend heart necklaces & bracelets where you keep one half and give away the other.lots of fights over those 😉
Life with Kaishon says
Didn’t My Buddy come out then too? My sister got one. We loved the guy! My mom wouldn’t buy us real Cabbage Patch dolls. She thought they were too expensive. So, she got a sweet little old lady from church to make us some. They were the ugliest dolls ever. I wish I still had it though. : )
Angie says
Daaang…I was born in ’84, and I’m surprised at how many of these I remember. I’d forgotten a lot of them until I saw them again, though! Like Keypers–all I have of these is a fuzzy “ohmygodthat’ssocooliwantone” memory. I’m almost certain I never actually touched one.
Jenn says
Got my Pound Puppy when I was 10 and am he still sleeps with me every night.
Signed,
Born in 1974
Alycia Isaacson says
Born in 1988 but I may as well have been born ten years earlier. I remember ALL of this stuff and it brings back so many memories. I still have my pound puppies and a few four color pens lying around.
Elaine Chan says
You’re so funny! I laughed in particular about the cabbage patch kids and the retainer – I have them too, and I’m in my 40s!
A + S says
every SINGLE ONE!! AND I THINK MY MOM STILL HAS SOME OF THESE!!
Steph says
Ahhhhh. Is it okay if I read Lurlene McDaniel now at 32? I haven’t thought of those books in ages. Brings back memories of curling up at night and sobbing into my pillow.
amber says
Wow, I have never commented on your blog before but I have been reading for years. I can’t not comment on this though. The plastic charm necklace (you are amazing for still having yours!), the preemies (I had a Sarah), and Pound Puppies (I also had a Rusty)…so many memories. Babysitters Club may be my favorite, though. I was obsessed…BSC forever. I spent much of my childhood longing to visit NYC because of Stacey and when I finally got there (last year, at 32), you better believe I thought of Stacey McGill shopping at Bloomingdale’s 🙂 .
Lee Ann says
Scrunchies, slap it bracelets, skip-it, and my personal favorite, roller racer!
Ha! This list is great!
-Lee Ann
Rachel Tambornino says
You forgot my favorite! Hypercolor T-shirts! Or the “pump” Nike shoes.
Shari says
Someone reminded me of the toy “Fashion Plates” yesterday. Still sold on Amazon!
Kara says
slap bracelets. shirt clips. plastic lunch boxes. On your list my faves are BSC, jellie shoes, Trappers and charms. LOVED THE CHARMS!!
Otto & co. says
Yes, yes, Yes! I’d forgotten about Mr. Calculator! And those Eastland Loafers were so loved. I wore mine with two pairs of socks – each a different color – the one on top a little more slouchy so the one behind could show a bit.
Lacey says
My Little Pony, Swatch Watch and Swatch Phone, and don’t forget the Kaepa sneakers with the interchangeable triangles. They could match every outfit;)
CLeigh says
My 7 year old is getting a Simon! I love these, remember all most all items. signed, 1980 🙂
Samantha says
Kellee – Just want to make sure Lainey has read The Doll People series by Ann M. Martin. My 3rd grader went nuts for them a couple of years ago!
Samantha says
Kellee – just want to make sure Lainey has read The Doll People series by Ann M. Martin. My 3rd grader went nuts for them a few years ago!
Valerie W. says
I LOVED this post! So many great memories and here are a few more…
Hug-a-bunch dolls
Glow Worms
Banana Hair Clips
Jem Dolls (I had the doll, lunchbox and thermos)
Rainbow Brite
Heaven Scent Perfume
Wuzzles
Paint with water books
Care Bears
Velcro Wallets
Oh man, I could go on forever!
Lisa says
What a fun fun post!! Thank you!!
Kelly Jo says
OMG!!!! I had all those things as well and makes me mad that I still don’t have my charm necklace!! I rocked it like no one’s business, with a passy and baby bottle!!! And Mr Owl was the coolest!!!!! Janie Odea was my Cabbage Patch baby and Tracy Hetty was my preemie!!! God love the 80s!!!
Shauna Barnes says
“I was a Kristy but wanted to be a Stacey” Me too, me too!!
Right Fits says
Oh my gosh, I love this post so much! I am sharing it with my 4 sisters, who were all 80’s babies. They will love it.
Popples…
Shelley Lee says
The safety pins! I forgot all about the safety pins!! Thanks for the awesome walk down memory lane!!
Teresa says
Zachary Eldridge was my CPK!! He was bold and, oh so loved!!
April says
So many of these brought me back! Kissing Koolers – and Keypers! Also, Garbage Pail kids? Looking back… they were so… GROSS. I am now on u tube looking up the commercials for these and I feel, old. Great list.
Sincerely, 1980
Lacey says
Had so many of these! I need to add Wuzzles to the list too. Cannot believe Mr. Professor – had completely forgotten about that!
Kash says
Garbage pail kids, scrunchies, puffy paint, rollersckates, skip it
Kash says
Girl Talk!
Wendy C says
Puffalumps (http://www.amazon.com/Fisher-Puffalump-Kitten-Yellow-Lavender/dp/B000GULVJI)
and I loved Jem and the Holograms!
Jennie says
Oh my gosh! Were you on your way to an 80s party? It must have taken ages to get all that together, well done
Staci Gorski says
I love this list! I thought of rainbow brite and Jem and the holograms:)
Noelle says
You forgot My Little Pony!
What a great post. I had a Popple, Sweet Secret and Keyper…ah, the memories!
crunicorn says
I still have my Mr Professor and my ChiChi’s (I’m 37!!) Every time I declutter I just can’t part with them!!
wdlee says
Oh man, I was just telling my 12 year old about Lurlene McDaniels books last night! We went to the thrift store and there was a copy of “Baby Alisha is Dying” – yup, we used to devour every copy from our school library and oh, book club sales!
mommyto3 says
Oh my gosh! Kissing Coolers!! That brought back such great memories! I absolutely lived them! Thanks for the memory!
Shelby Beauchamp Hogan says
How could you have neglected to add Caboodles to this list??? That being said, yes. All of those things, yes.
Lindsey says
Such a great blast from the past. Oh yes. All of this! xox
Allyson Quirico says
This list is just amazing!
Hugga bunch dolls, man they were ugly
Barbie & the Rockers – WITH the stage!
Rainbow Brite
She-Ra action figures
Yes! Fashion plates!
Spirograph
Snorks
Kimberlee Jost says
I would be embarrassed to admit how much Esprit got of my hard earned high school paycheck. And I wish I had an Esprit bag right now to use for groceries.
Alicia Hutchinson says
Kissing Koolers!!!!!!!!!!!!
Our Life Version 5.0 says
I still have a Sweet Secret but I think the head broke off after my oldest played with it. I still have my original Cabbage Patch Kids doll and the Koosa!!Who else had a Koosa?
I also loved Annie, Care Bears and Strawberry Shortcake. I still have my Annie sheets as well as some Smurf sheets. And the Strawberry Shortcake doll that smelled like strawberries! Good times.
And let’s not forget Jem and the Holograms!
Signed,
Born in 1978
Maria Hale says
I wanted the unicorn Trapper Keeper in 5th grade, but my mom wasn’t into magical sort of stuff. Guess what I saw at the Dollar Tree today….Garbage Pail Kids! This was a fun post!
Karen says
Best post ever! Most of these items I’ve seen or have remembered here and there over the years, excitedly pointing them out to my kids when I see them, but Exclamation perfume?? Oh my gosh, that one hit me like a ton of bricks! Thank you for pulling that out from some far, far corner of my mind. I feel like I just warped back in time and now have a huge nostalgic, memory-filled lump in my throat as I’m holding back the tears. The 80s were simply the BEST. Thank you for posting this…You are so rad. 🙂
Meredith McIlrath says
AH! The memories! My older sister used to make me go to the library and check out Babysitter Club books for her because she was 17 and was too embarrassed to admit she still read them.
Let’s not forget these wonders: http://www.pinterest.com/pin/15481192440978966/
Sarah Beth says
WTF?! That link is not to a Lite Brite. I LOVED playing with that at my babysitters.
I’m pretty sure I still have my Popples hanging in my toy net in the corner of my childhood room. Along with my Teddy Ruxpin bear, and a plush My Little Pony. And don’t worry, the Lurlene McDaniels books are still on my bookshelf in that same childhood room. Really I think you could visit that room and you’d be able to flashback to the 80’s and early 90’s.
Also I currently have a Garbage Pail Kid sticker hanging on my office wall. It’s from my boss. So really these things span the ages.
Don’t tell anyone I secretly want a Traper Keeper instead of my boring padfolio for work.
Janice Trinh says
Wow. Times have definitely changed! I remember about half of those – but then again I was in a 3rd world country at the time! But those things are all so awesome – and you know, I still rock the Exclamation perfume!!!
Jill Kloppenburg says
Yes, to almost all of these! Plus: My Child dolls, Clearly Canadian carbonated water, plastic earrings, Magic Nursery dolls, slap bracelets, Sleepover Friends book series, Wuzzles stuffed animals, Sun-In spray for your hair, Sweet Valley Twins/High books, Loves Baby Soft perfume, Squiggle Wiggle pens, Mall Madness, Luden’s Wild Cherry cough drops, the really, really cheap spray perfume Malibu Musk, Sunflowers perfume, Caboodles…
Sabrina Steyling says
OMG Kelle so many of these resonated with me! I miss my plastic charm necklace, my Sweet Secrets, my Little Professor calculator and my Lite Brite. I still collect Baby-sitters Club books; I’ve got a two-shelf bookcase full plus two dresser drawers full! And yes, I still read them too. I’m even friends with Ann Martin on Facebook! 🙂
I also still have my original Cabbage Patch doll and my Monchichi doll, and I will NEVER get rid of them! I had Pound Puppies AND Pound Purries as a kid but I gave them away – like you, to kids who I felt needed them more. I miss my little grey puppy named Cuddles, though. I should have kept him.
I cannot believe you still have your plastic charm necklace! I had a purple one and a bunch of charms but God only knows whatever happened to them. I’d love to have them all back now, and yes, I’d wear them!
Thanks for bringing back my own childhood memories! 😀
Carol says
I remember my brother was in the service and sent me a cabbage patch doll from Korea and I tried to register her birth certificate. They sent the paperwork back to me and told me it was a counterfeit. Talk about devastating!! 🙂
lisapooh98 says
Let’s see…I have a water ring toss, still have a Popple and “Six Months to Live” from when I was younger, and just purchased my kids (myself) an old school Lite-Brite off Ebay.
Donna says
I forgot all about the plastic charm necklace!! The toilet…holy crap! lol how did we all not think that was totally weird but actually totally cool? The 80’s = cray cray!
Carrie says
YES, YES, all of these things!!!!! This brings back such wonderful memories!!
Farmgirl Paints says
I buy Exclamation for my girls now. Surreal. You are hilarious with that old retainer in. I still wear one to bed every night by the way;)
Shawna Z says
I only wish I:
a) still had my ESPRIT tote
b) still had my charm necklace
c) had a picture of me with my ESPRIT tote and charm necklace
Believe it or not, at the top of my little’s Christmas list is a Monchichi (they were selling them for an outrageous price in China at Epcot)
Thanks for a day brightener and a walk down memory lane
Laura says
What fun! A few other things I remember pining for in the early 80s:
Levi’s shrink-to-fit 501s
White shirt with rainbow across chest and sleeves
Nike Oceania
Braided ribbon barrettes
Gunne Sax dress
Lisa says
I was born in 72, but remember all of these. My favorite was the Speak and Spell. Anyone remember that? Hours of spelling fun!
Tabatha W says
I had the purple Esprit shirt and the teal one. And so many other things here! I love this post. <3
laura@twenty5seven.com says
Oh my goodness, this has brought back memories! I also remember the Little Miss dolls, I had a little miss tiny tears or something and then I had one where if you wiped her face with cold water her makeup appeared including a loveheart birthmark And warm water made it disappear and then my sister got an almost identical doll where cold water made colours appear in her hair and on her denim clothing and warm water made it disappear. I also had little moon dreamers (in the UK), Polly pockets, those weird blocks that are all prickly and stick together, shrinkydinks, I remember a lot of cardboard ‘kits’ which you would colour in (or some came coloured) and you punched out all the pieces and assembled them to make a farm with animals or a house or something similar. I loved puffy stickers and had so many scented pens. Also giant novelty pencils or pens that had a clear bit filled with liquid and something would float up and down or glitter would swirl.
Ryan Wood says
Killin’ it with this post Kelle – hilarious! So many memories!!
Tina Samson says
I LOVE THIS POST! That is all. =)
Like, OMG. Totally LOVE it!
jgalke says
Get in Shape Girl! The ankle weights & ribbon baton.
Kenny and Chrissy says
Rainbow Brite!
Karla Curry says
This is awesome! I’m an 80s kid so this brings back memories. I had two Popples that I held onto, and this past year I gave them to my two older children. They don’t appreciate them as much as they should, but it’s still nice to share the love.
Jenne says
#12. I am putting those tins on my Christmas list NOW, forget back then. I didn’t realize how much I missed them. Oh, and your tote bag? Yes, please.
Becky Youkstetter says
I read all those sad adolescent novels too! What the hell? Why did we do that? And how did we allow an entire genre to be created?! HA!
Karibean says
Oh-my-god. I LOVE this post– and all the comments. Thanks for the awesome trip down memory lane! (My ESPRIT sweatshirt was white with pastel letters, I really wanted a clear phone that lit up when it rang, and we were never allowed to collect Garbage Pail Kids. And I would love to know what happened to my charm necklace) ~1977
Allyson Quirico says
I TOTALLY had a Koosa and named it Jenny Annie Dots from “Cats” because I have always been a theater nerd. 🙂
Lisa M. says
Scratch ‘n sniff stickers…oh my. What memories.
Rebecca Wuth says
You forgot the creepy Hugga Bunch dolls!!!
Angella says
Pogo balls! Hahaha Love this list!
Amberly says
Oh my goodness, so many of these – but I Flipped. Out. over Six Months to Live. I can’t tell you how many times I read and reread that book, and swore that someday I would name my daughter Rochelle. So good!!!
the mom~ says
Banana clips and glow worms, too!
I have almost every one of these items, how fun!
Sandra & Edward says
Ah! Easy-Bake ovens, ABBA, Michael Jackson – Those first clunky walkmans…my super cool American friend let me use hers one summer to listen to the Footloose soundtrack over and over again. Luckily, there was that rewind button. Let’s Hear It For The Boy!!
I rocked the safety-pinned pants again when I was in University in the 90s and made the school paper’s “Fashion Failures” column, which thrilled me. I guess it’s no surprise that I said down with the safety-pin-hating Establishment and became a punk.
A Place You've Never Been says
Oh, I love this!! So many memories. Those jellies made my feet stink so bad but I thought I was the coolest wearing my purple ones with my Guess jeans, Esprit sweater and hair up in a banana clip.
Oh Mr Professor calculator, you were a silent witness to my math torment. How I miss you!!
Robin says
Such an awesome walk down memory lane. I loved my teddy ruxpin and I’ll never forget the day my mean older boy cousin punched it’s mouth and it stopped working. 🙁
Robin says
What Great memories. I loved my teddy ruxpin. I’ll never forget when my mean older boy cousin punched it’s mouth and it stopped working 🙁
Elissa L. says
Yes. To everything yes. If I had to put my childhood into 1 photo it would be this. I have not thought of New York Seltzer or Kissing Koolers in like, FOREVER!
Sarah {Stay at Home Territory} says
I got a pound puppy for Christmas one year from my brother. He wrapped it with air holes so she could breathe. I called her Shelby after watching Steel Magnolias.
Also, your Thanksgiving table is so cute. This gorgeous Christmas one made me think of you…
http://simplysweetsoirees.com.au/blog/index.php/diy-childrens-christmas-table/
All the best for a wonderful holiday season, Sarah : )
Julie Bigboy says
ADORE this list!! So many of these had fallen through the holes in my Swiss cheese 80s brain but yes, had quite a few of these as a child.
We didn’t wear the loafers but on the West Coast it was all about LA Gear. The bright white hi-tops with neon pink and lime green laces (yes, two pairs of laces!) Ahhh, the 80s!
Sarah Z says
I had to comment! This was a great post! I’m grieving the loss of my charm necklace. I lol’d over you wearing your retainer. My headgear did make it through my childhood-do they still make kids wear those? One thing I remember that I didn’t get mentioned in the comments was the tube belt. I’m not sure what we called it but it was a thick piece of material that we bunched around our midsection. I remember thinking I was “fashion hotness” when I went to church dressed in my tight skirt with the scrunched up belt-thing!!! (if you can remember the name I’d love to know)!
Your blog is great!
Signed,
Born in 1978
Laura says
Units clothes! The tube belt comment reminded me… Also the book Flowers in the Attic. And the Sweet Valley Twins! And I so badly wanted one of those inflatable palm trees that were weighted at the bottom and were shelf decor for your room. I recently rewatched Can’t Buy Me Love and she has one in her room and it made me sad all over again that I never got one! Still have my plastic charm necklace though!
Tabby says
Love the charms.i want some now …what about magiclips .and chinese jump rope .i think thsts what they were called.i want one one them now too.lol what about alf .loved him think i still have 1 somewhere.
Dawn says
Loved it all!!! Especially your comments… Trying to figure out which presents you wanted to bring to Grandmas house.. Opening the kissing coolers & admiring the colors& smelling them… Also I loved The rollerball kissing potions.. I miss it sooo much??