When I was a child, the most wonderful time of the year officially kicked off on the day that the Sears Wish Book arrived in our mailbox. I circled every item I wanted for the holidays, making sure to write a “D” next to it to make sure my mother knew it was on my gift list and not my sister’s.
My kids used to do the same with the Toys ‘R Us and Target holiday fliers, requesting approximately $3, 428.76 worth of gifts. They had no idea how much things cost; they just knew what they wanted.
Fast forward to 2018: Sears has declared bankruptcy, Toys ‘R Us is gone, and in many ways my personal gift list is a bit more complicated. But it’s also simpler; I buy most things I need or want, while wishing for those intangible items like more time, world peace, and a Saturday to sleep in.
Ah, how things have changed…
What I received then: A manual typewriter
What I would ask for now: A journal and a fabulous pen. I can’t resist a pretty notebook or planner, and I buy myself a new one every year.
What I received then: A Caboodle where I could store my electric blue mascara. I had no idea Caboodles were still around until I saw a display last week at Nordstrom Rack. Now I feel like I failed my daughter by not getting her one.
What I would ask for now: That youthful skin on which I slathered all the makeup stored in said Caboodle.
What I received then: a Cabbage Patch kid, which I named Elizabeth Andrea. I got rid of all my other childhood dolls, but Elizabeth is currently sleeping in a box in my basement.
What I would ask for now: Nothing whatsoever that I would need to care for, dress, or change.
What I received then: A bouncy horse (Technically, he was a gift for my sister, but I loved that guy like he was my own.)
What I would ask for now: A more reliable form of transportation, like a new car
Yes, I still have the horse. He’s been keeping Elizabeth Andrea company.
What I received then: A “mall” outfit. This was a color coordinated pants/top combination that was comfortable and fashionable, to be worn while perusing the mall on the weekends. And yes, I specifically asked for a “mall outfit,” and my mother knew exactly what I meant.
What I would ask for now: Comfy pajamas. They are as matchy as the mall outfit, and I can still shop in them without braving the parking lot or the food court.
What I received then: An easel (at age seven, according to my baby book)
What I would ask for now: Really nice personal stationery. It inspires me to write letters the old fashioned way.
What I received then: Fashion Plates, with which I could create my own fashions and pretend I had artistic talent. I had no idea these were still being sold until I googled them. Of course Amazon has them.
What I would ask for now: Fashion Plates. I’m seriously considering buying them; they are in my Amazon cart right now.
What I received then: Books. As my mother documented in my baby book, I was gifted books as early as age two.
What I would ask for now: The time to read more books
Speaking of books, look for my annual year in review at the end of the month, where I will share the top ten (or eight or nine or eleven) books I read in 2018. How will you know when I post it? Get on my email list right below this post, and you’ll get an email whenever a new post is up.
I hope you get everything on your gift list…wishing you and yours a happy whatever you celebrate!
Joining Finish the Sentence Friday with Kristi and Kenya.
I love this post. I somehow missed the Sears bankruptcy news (I know:((!). I drove my daughter and her friends to the mall a few weeks ago and saw that Sears was boarded up. “Oh gosh, what happened to Sears?!?!” I was upset, and my daughter reminded me that I never shop there. But still, there was day…
It is kind of sad even though I haven’t shopped there in years. The end of an era!
Caboodles!!!! Fun memory. And yes–time. Always wanting more of that. The greatest gift of all. 🙂
Absolutely! Although Caboodles were pretty awesome too.
Yep, smoother skin is definitely on my list. The mirror is a liar! The person I see reflected is… not me! LOL
I know what you mean, Alison!
Oh this brings back so many memories – Caboodles, the Sears Wish Book, mall outfits, cabbage patch dolls and fashion plates – I had them all!!! Now I do love online shopping and I would certainly love more time to read (I think I’m currently trying to read three books at once!) and no party planning or clean up!
Here’s hoping you get everything on your new and improved wish list and some peace and quiet 🙂
I got the Fashion Plates, Allie! Best gift this year, proving I have not matured much since I was nine.
In my post, I had the Sears catalog too but then I changed it to the toy catalog because I started to doubt my memory… did Sears really have such awesome toys? But yes, yes they did. Here’s to getting more time to read, a Saturday morning to sleep in (and then stay in bed to READ — one of my favorite things ever, and I haven’t done so in I don’t know how long). Oh and yes, yes, yes, to the youthful skin. We had a 15yo babysitter today and I almost couldn’t stop staring at her skin. It was like GLOWING. Cheers to your mom knowing what a mall outfit was! 🙂
Oh, my mom was the one who invented mall outfits! At least in my mind, she did.
I can’t believe Sears declared bankruptcy?! And my kids do the same thing – they circle things in the Target catalog. It winds up being useful with all their family members, though!
Ah, I got a Cabbage Patch kid now. I wouldn’t want another, but I wouldn’t mind something to care for. Like Astro!
Two dogs and two almost-adults are enough bodies to care for right now!
Oh my, our wish lists are very similar- more time, smoother skin. (Egads, the neck!) I love the stationery idea (and I’m so proud of you for spelling it correctly!) I like looking at Zazzle for personalized things like that. Thanks for this fun reminder of my childhood (and that heavy Sears catalogue!)
I’ll admit I double-checked my spelling of stationery, because I thought of you!
So funny that when you said fashion plates I almost left your blog to go to Amazon. And I didn’t but I am as soon as I click submit. That moment when you wish you had a girl “to give them to”.
I looked forward to your annual book review to see if we have any reads in common. I really did good this year.
I got the Fashion Plates! My daughter pulled them out of my Amazon cart and my mom bought them for me:)
I still have my childhood “bouncy” horse. Ralph. I loved (love) him so much!
Aww – that’s so sweet! I don’t think we ever named the horse.
I got Quinn the fashion plates a few years ago…they were awesome. definitely complete that purchase today. I loved them! This is a great post as usual. I love you!
Love you too! And my mom got me the fashion plates, so I will have to bring mine over and play with Quinn:)
OK, you seriously just brought me back as I totally remember going through the Sears book making my own Christmas list, which included quite a few from your own list like Cabbage Patch Dolls, Fashion Plates and Books, too. And now how I wish I just had more time to read as my days seem to go too quickly. Just happy when I can read though 🙂