Since we’re on a trip about how old I am, I’ve had some time to compile a list of 80’s toys, by request of my friend Eryn. Some of these are my faves and others just ones I found interesting and remember slightly fondly.
Cabbage Patch Kids - I went online and found the site where they have adoptable dolls that are already named. You can adopt one and give it whatever name and birthday you want, but I believe the ones with names are “vintage.” So, I checked through and found that not one of those dolls was named Kara. I mean, I don’t have the most common name in the world so I thought I’d have a shot, but alas. I remember my first Cabbage Patch Kid. She was blonde with pigtails and her name was Glynis. After that I had a preemie named Kendra. I think a Koosa (the pets) came after that and since I was a twin, I had to have a set! They were redheads with braids. They were so damn cute. I don’t remember how many I had but I know it was more than that because I remember having pictures taken with all of them and I was surrounded. I had one of the ones with teeth too. Those were fun. I think there were some that had glasses too. That Xavier Roberts, he sure knew how to start a frenzy.
Um… there was a Boy George Doll? Sorry I missed out on that one!
Etch a Sketch: I could still be completely transfixed by Etch a Sketch.. and Lite Brite for that matter. I was not (and still am not) artistically inclined but I loved trying to make things on my Etch a Sketch. I loved watching those people on TV who could make works of art from it. I could barely draw a square. But hey… all you had to do was shake it and you could start from scratch.
Fashion Plates: Don’t you wonder how many Project Runway contestants got their start designing with Fashion Plates? If you don’t know, they were plastic plates that had different tops and bottoms so you could design your own outfit. You would then put paper on top of your plate and rub something (crayon, pencil, I think most actually had a special contraption for it) over top of it so you would have the outfit and you could color it any way you wanted. Again, no artistic ability, but I do have some fashion sense. If I weren’t reading this is probably the toy I was playing with when my mother literally threw me outside in the summer, mumbling something about “fresh air” under her breath.
Freakie Freezies: Ok, so they weren’t a toy but how f’n cool were they. They were the precursor to Hypercolor (admit it, you all know you had at LEAST one hypercolor t-shirt; can you imagine the sexual harassment complaints if they released hypercolor in this day and age?) and way more fun because they had actual designs that showed up when it got cold. What a fun reason to go outside in sub zero temperatures.
Get in Shape Girl: I think I had every single GISG package. They always came with a tape (I believe white, with a pink sticker) and I believe my favorite was the ribbon. I always had these huge gymnastics aspirations, mainly because I thought I was cool cause I could do a one handed cartwheel. I think I still can but that’s neither here nor there. Anyway, GISG has been re-released for the children of today and I’m not sure if it’s a good thing or bad thing. Granted, most of the kids in the USA today are either overweight or underweight so I guess it’s good to get kids moving early, and in a fun way. But are we starting them too early? Who knows? Anyway, I loved GISG and I still remember the theme song to this day cause “you know the feeling” and “it’s so appealing.” Yes, Get in Shape Girl, I agree.
He-man/She-ra: Obviously I was more of a She-ra fan, but my sister was a bit of a tomboy so she had all the He-man stuff and we ended up having to play with that too. He-man ranks right up there with GI Joes and Matchbox cars for me.
Jem: She’s excitement, outrageous, glamour and glitter, fashion and fame. Isn’t that enough? I LOVED Jem. I’m pretty sure I had everything. I remember the dolls, but not much else. Although, I was so obsessed that I’m sure I had everything Jem that was manufactured. I probably even had the doll of that two-timing greasy bohunk of a boyfriend of hers. Bad role model? Perhaps… but one hell of a cartoon for us gals.
I miss Nintendo. Life was so easy then. My sister just bought and Xbox and trying to work that controller is just too much work for me. Give me Qbert and Super Mario Bros. anyday!
Pogo Balls: Do you remember these? They were basically a pogo stick without the stick. Damn, they were fun. I remember having competitions to see how fast and/or far you could go without falling off. Falling off really sucked because they were REALLY hard to get onto. There was a certain way to hold your feet against the ball and it wasn’t easy. Once you got on it you prayed to God you didn’t fall off cause it might be hours before you were able to get on again. Ok, maybe that was just me, although I doubt it because I’m pretty coordinated.
Speak and Spell: I just recently heard this Dane Cook sketch and if you click on this link, then press play, you will totally understand and more than likely agree. Hysterical! I LOVED the speak and spell until it let me down in the fifth grade spelling bee. I’ll never misspell curriculum again, I’ll tell you that much.
Snoopy Sno-Cone Machine: I’m pretty sure this didn’t come out in the 80’s but it’s a classic and I loved it. That, and the EZ Bake Oven. Both rites of childhood passage and hopefully someday your child will make you a half baked chocolate concoction and force you to eat it. At least the sno-cones were pretty edible no matter how bad you screwed them up.
I know Eryn wants me to wax poetic about the Thundercats and Transformers (inside joke) but I can’t. I remember playing with Transformers (neighborhood full of boys and tomboy sister) and I remember Optimus Prime (yet another entertaining skit from Dane Cook) but Thundercats I just wasn’t into. Those were boy type things that I avoided at all costs. I was probably too busy reading “Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing,” or writing my own mini novel “Henry the Pig.” Oh yeah… it happened. I wish I could find that. I was such a talented child.
In conclusion, the 80’s were great for toys… not so much for style and clothes. No one is more mortified than me that leggings (or as Lacey calls them “flasdance feva” pants) are making a comeback. I refuse.
Back to normal: O’s won in extra innings a couple nights ago but couldn’t pull it out last night. My boy Nick is still kicking some major ass and is looking to have an incredible second half of the season. He’s batting in the three hole now and that doesn’t seem to have an adverse effect on his hitting. The picture I’ve posted is of him and my other boy, Brian Roberts. Oh, to be the catcher in that picture. However, I’d be wearing WAY less equipment. Happy Holiday weekend to all and I’ll try to post some pics from the Chatham Fair, if we don’t get rained out this weekend. Always a rip roaring white trash good time. Have a good one!
1 comment:
Leggings are not only making a comeback in Ireland.. they are taking over the country. As are OVERALLS!!! They wear them with one strap done up and as if to make a point, have crossed them with mini-skirts and leggings to make some freakish 80's come-back. Not sure which direction to run!!!!
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