"Life would be infinitely happier if we could only be born at the age of eighty and gradually approach eighteen." ~ Mark Twain … [Read more...]
When your room looks kind of weird and you wish that you weren’t there… #ThrowbackThursday
"When your room looks kind of weird and you wish that you weren't there, just close your eyes and make believe and you can be anywhere." Here's my little sister playing with her gifts on Christmas morning, circa 1985 -- complete with baby Big Bird and Muppet Baby Kermit. Anyone else remember the Muppet Baby theme song? Um, no, just me? I really loved that Saturday morning … [Read more...]
Do You Remember Glo-Bugs? You know, the 1980s toy?
I found this old booklet from 1987 that came with the GLO Friends and thought it would be fun to scan and share. Do you remember these guys? My kid sister had them by the dozen. My best memory is of the one time during a sleeping over when I took the frosted glass fishbowl style kitchen light fixture down and filled it with as many GLO Bugs as would fit. End result? … [Read more...]
My Little Pony, from my 1980s childhood
My kid sister circa 1986-ish, proudly showing off her My Little Pony playset with newborn twins Jangles and Tangles. While My Little Pony wasn't a personal favourite, in my childhood memories they are strewn across the bedroom floor my sister and I shared. … [Read more...]
Material Girl
In honour of Halloween, I present a picture of one of the winners of the ShesConnected 80s party costume contest: Julia of Ask Mama Moe. Totally awesome, right? That is one FANTASTIC caveman costume right there. (No clue what I'm talking about? Head over to her place and read one pretty darn amusing story.) … [Read more...]
E is for… Electronic, Speak & Spell {Retro Toybox}
What's electronic, educational, and was featured in the film E.T.? The classic Texas Instruments Speak & Spell! My brother and I has a blast playing with our Speak & Spells when we were young. We actually had two, one for each of us. For something that taught spelling, it sure was fun. I remember enjoying the built in spelling games, like hangman, I also … [Read more...]
C is for… Captain Power {Retro Toybox}
Captain Power and the Soldiers of the Future Power On! I know I originally said I was going to do an A to Z in vintage toys... but I'm finding it pretty much impossible to discuss 80s toys without talking about the TV series that they were tied into. Captain Power and the Soldiers of the Future came out in 1987. It was a live action TV series which tied in with … [Read more...]
B is for… BraveStarr
BraveStarr Marshall BraveStarr What could be better then cowboys? How about space cowboys with robot horses? Oh, and they shoot laser beams out of their pistols. How cool is that? The BraveStarr toyline was produced by Mattel in 1986. My husband had these toys as a child. I didn't see them until I was an adult, but they are pretty darn sweet. Some … [Read more...]
A is for… ALF { Retro Toybox }
ALF ALF or the Alien Life Form, aka Gordon Shumway from Planet Melmac. Favorite pastimes include hiding out from the men in black, trying to find a way home, and attempting to eat the neighbours' pet cat. PVC ALF Anyone else willing to admit to remembering this silly sitcom fondly? Actually, what I remember liking was the rather bad … [Read more...]
My Childhood Memories From When I was Eight…
My first experiences with loss... When I was in grade three we gave away Tina, the cat which I had won in a potato sack race when I was three. I had developed allergies, and was allergic to cat dander. Tina hadn't adjusted well to life in the city. She never seemed happy after we moved and had taken to shredding her claws on windowsills and furniture. My parents spent some … [Read more...]
A Blast from Halloween Past…
As part of my journey to capture my childhood, I recently wrote a bit about some of the Halloween costumes my mom made me over the years. With Halloween being tomorrow I thought I'd share this awesome photo my mom dug up of me and my siblings. That's me as (the ill-fated) Fairy Princess, my brother as Wee Willy Winkie and my sister as Little Red Riding Hood, Halloween Eve … [Read more...]
Childhood Memories from When I was Seven…
When we moved to Windsor when I was five I almost immediately made friends with a little boy who lived a few doors down. His name was Jeff. Jeffie and I were the best of friends. He was one year younger than I. When I was in Grade 2, he was in Grade 1. We played together all the time, and boy did we ever get into trouble! One time Jeff told his mom he was going to my house. … [Read more...]
Childhood Memories from When I was Six…
I had trouble coming up with memories that are distinct to Grade 1. So much of that time flows together in my mind. I've been poking fun at my mom at how few pictures there are from that time, and in particular that there are no photos of her. We sometimes forget how lucky we are to live in the age of digital cameras, no photo development fees, no film to buy, and the film … [Read more...]