retro stuff

Showing posts with label retro stuff. Show all posts

Channeling Charlie

I've had this "Charlie" Zig Zag shirt from Etsy bookmarked for awhile now. Isn't it a great idea for a Peanuts-lover? People are sure to get a kick out of it. The shirt is available in a range of kids' sizes (check the Royal Kane storefront for infant sizes, too) and costs just $18.99. The same shop sells Twilight tees), too (Team Jacob, anyone?), but that's one fad I have managed to avoid. I'll stick with the classics.

Blast from the Past: Sunshine Family Dolls

While scouring for some vintage toys on Ebay, I found this blast from the past- Sunshine Family dolls. Did you have these? My sister and I had these (in addition to Barbie dolls, of course), and pretended they were the shorter (and less sophisticated) cousins of Barbie and Ken. And their grandparents (second photo). I did a little online research about Sunshine Family dolls and at this kinda nerdy site Doll Reference learned that they were produced between 1974 and 1982 (prime doll-playing years for me and my sister). Seeing these photos from the website takes me right back- I remember every little detail down to the little plastic green baby bottles and teddy bear. Oh, and I remember this- that since our Barbie dolls didn't have babies of their own, we pretended that "Little Sweets" (the red-headed cherub in the yellow gown) was actually Barbie's daughter and we made Barbie "carry" her around. Go figure. Anyway, if you have fond memories of Sunshine Family dolls, check out the current selection available for sale at Ebay; you can buy your own Little Sweets with nursery accoutrements for a whopping $119.00 (new in box). I guess I'm not the only one who remembers them fondly!

Photos courtesy of Doll Reference.

Wake Up, Don Draper

I'm pretty sure my grandparents had something like this moonbeam clock in their small Brooklyn apartment decades ago. I love the retro, low-tech look, right down to the font used for the numbers. Maybe it will show up as a prop on Mad Men? Buy it for $39.50 in your choice of five pastels at LL Bean (by the way, it offers your choice of alarm bell, gentle light, or both as a wake-up call).

Remember, Mad Men Season 4 premieres on AMC tonight at 10pm/9c.

I Remember Ramona

I am really excited for this weekend's opening of Ramona and Beezus. The Ramona series by Beverly Cleary was one of my absolute favorites when I was my daughter's age (7 years old). It is the only paperback series that I saved in its entirety in my childhood bookshelves at my parents' house. I have just about every book in the series, including my favorites Ramona the Pest , Ramona and Her Mother, Ramona and Her Father, and, of course, Beezus and Ramona, which was originally written in 1955. I bought my own copy c. 1980 (for a mere $1.75) and my reward for consistently good behavior was another book from the series (wish this worked with R., who is probably more interested in watching Despicable Me than reading Beverly Cleary). Want to introduce your kids to the spirited little imp who is called Ramona? Try this The Ramona Collection, Vol. 1 boxed set which costs just $9.99 at our affiliate Amazon.com.

Did you read the Ramona series when you were a child, and are you seeing the movie this weekend? And does anyone else remember the short-lived 1988 TV series Ramona starting a young Sarah Polley?

Before There Were I-pods

On Ebay I stumbled onto some vintage toy finds from my childhood (I was born in 1972, so that gives you some idea how old this stuff is). There are a whole bunch I want to show you, but I'll start off with this Fisher Price Music Box Record Player + 6 Records, a toy which hit shelves in 1971. I can still picture the wobbly strains of "Au Clair De La Lune" emanating from this record player which my sister and I kept atop a dresser in our tiny bedroom. 35 years later, I'm not sure my kids even know what a "record" is...I think they'd definitely be intrigued by this relic!

Guess what? Fisher Price is re-releasing the "Basic Fun Fisher Price Record Player" in July! Pre-order it for $29.95 at Amazon.com. It actually looks just like the original.

Patriotic Plates

I've always liked Pottery Barn Kids melamine plates, which are now made of eco-friendly bamboo (they're also BPA and phthalate-free). We have a Halloween set (which my kids like to use all year) but I'd love to add these retro-style, soda pop-inspired Americana Plates to our collection, too. They're on sale for $16 (regularly $20) for a set of 4, and I think they work just as well for grown-ups as for toddlers. Take a look at all of Pottery Barn Kids' tableware here.

Meet Flatsy

Have you seen the new remakes of the popular 1960s Flatsy Dolls? Think Barbie meets Gumby. These small, flat, rubbery bendy dolls measure just 4.75" tall but, of course, have beautiful long hair you can comb and accessorize. A family friend just gave one to R. (thanks, Betty!) and R. is obsessed. She wants to collect them all (and at $6.75 apiece, I can't argue with adding a few more to her collection- slowly). And maybe it will inspire R. to read one of my favorite childhood books- Flat Stanley (more on that another time). Buy your own Flatsy(s) at Schylling.com.

Soda to Storage

Three Potato Four is a gem of an online shop featuring vintage housewares and tchotckes. These original PepsiCo Surplus Soda Crates not only work nicely for all types of storage (toys, magazines, stationery supplies), but are an instant conversation piece in any room. Prices start at $25 apiece; see them all at Three Potato Four.

p.s. This must be a new trend, because I just spotted these "Found" Soda Crates ($24; free shipping) in the Pottery Barn store on the Upper West Side.

2010 National Stationery Show, Part 2: Baby and Kid Stuff

One of the great pleasures of "walking" the National Stationery Show each year is the variety of products related to babies and kids- everything from satirical greeting cards to letterpress birth announcements to sentimental keepsakes. I love that so many of these companies are parent-run; I had such a blast meeting moms and dads who started their own businesses and gave me the behind-the-scenes scoop on their products. And, of course, when not talking "shop" we talked about standard parent fare- sleep, sleep, and sleep. It was a pleasure meeting everyone- and seeing old friends again.

Here are some of my top Babies & Kids finds from this year's show (note: these are finds from booths that I actually visited; I may find more things to share with you once I sift through all of the press kits and samples):

"Weeks" Fill-in Baby Announcements by 42 Pressed (debuting at Booth 1351). Here's a reason not to feel bad about getting those announcements out right away; you can send these at 4, 6, or 8 weeks and give updates on your bundle of joy.

Frameable Letterpress Prints ($30) by Sycamore Street Press (Booth 1549). Fun to hang in a nursery, playroom, or kitchen.

Vintage Cover Art Stationery Products (available June 2010) by Galison/Mudpuppy (Booth 2521) to commemorate the 125th anniversary of Good Housekeeping magazine. I'm a big fan (and user) of Galison stationery and office supplies, and I love the sweet nostalgia of these images.

Grade Level Keepsake Books (cover and inside sample) and Kids Artwork Envelope by Penny Laine Papers (Booth 3226). This Dallas-based company has the right idea! I love the idea of a keepsake book for each grade, and the durable see-through artwork envelope is just the right size and shape for storing a years-worth of drawings and school projects. Plus everything is color coded (red for kindergarten, yellow for 1st grade, and so on).

Make-Your-Own "Hello Books" ($10.95) and Get Set Placemats ($14.95) by Hello Hanna (Booth 1529). These keep popping up at various trade shows and in shops- I think they are getting very popular. Looks like fun for the preschool/young elementary age crowd.

Kids Calling Cards from Sky of Blue Cards (debuting in Booth 1363). The one on the left is perfect for 'tweens. I also really like their initial notecards (works for moms or kids), shown below.

Egg 2 Cake (debuting in Booth 1952) had several eye-catching products for a first-time exhibitor, including (top to bottom) witty door hangers and cards for new moms.

Baby stationery by Jennifer Carroll Designs (Booth 2057). Love the scalloped edges and sweet silhouette-style graphics.

Baby Congratulations card ($5.50) by TamTam Design (Booth 1941), a designer that makes sparkly, eye-candy cards. I like the old-school Fisher Price "corn popper" on this one.

"Cars" HomeStickers wall decals by Nouvelle Images (Booth 2240). I keep waffling on which wall decals to buy for my son's room; these are now a top contender.

Our affiliate Frecklebox (Booth 2552) displayed its brand-new personalized Sight Words Pad & Flashcards...coming soon to retailers near you.

Dented Can Greetings (debuting at booth 1345) makes "Brutally Honest Greetings"; the "You're Pregnant" card (inside shown in 2nd photo) is a top seller. Speaks for itself, obviously.

What do you all think? Do you see anything you'd like to buy when it hits stores/websites?

Next up in my reviews of the 2010 National Stationery Show...Letterpress! If you're a letterpress fan, be sure to check back.

Something Fun at the Post Office. Really.

I can't find these on the United States Postal Service website, so I guess you can only buy them in person (good luck with those lines). But I had to show you these totally adorable new Charlie Brown Christmas-inspired USPS packing supplies. I spotted them at our post office and thought they'd brighten up any holiday package, whether you're sending it to a kid or not (in fact, maybe they have more retro appeal to grown-ups anyway). Wouldn't you love to receive a present wrapped in one of these?

Ebay Eighties

I often buy my kids last season's clothing on Ebay, and during my last visit I stumbled onto some great 1980s "vintage" clothing (1980s is "vintage"...boy I feel old). While I don't recommend that you actually *wear* any of these items in public (unless you are an extra in Hot Tub Time Machine), they certainly are good purchases for collectors. I happen to have owned each of these items and wish I had saved them, too.

Boys' Vintage Benetton Rugby. I had this rugby in blue in 7th grade. So did 50% of my homeroom class. (And remember the icon Letter B sweater? I had it in 2 colors with matching cords, of course). Image courtesy Defunkd.

Guess Vintage Ankle Zip High Waist Jeans. I had these in acid wash and in striped denim. I was trying to look super cool.

Vintage Laura Ashley Linen Sailor Dress. And when I wasn't trying to look cool, I was trying to look like I belonged in the English countryside. I had this exact Laura Ashley sailor dress (with navy trim rather than white). I cringe when I think that I wore a sailor dress at age sixteen.

What 1980s clothing do you have stashed in your closet? Someone might just snatch it up on Ebay.

Back in the Limelight

After reading this article in New York Magazine recently, I want to go check out the new Limelight Marketplace. It is located in the same landmark space (the historical Episocopal Church) whose most famous incarnation was as *the* Limelight, the famous NYC nightclub from the 1980s. Now it is the funkiest new place to shop. Inside this beautiful building, there's an array of just-opened boutiques where you can buy everything from a baby gift (Silly Souls) to a pair of boots (Hunter's 1st stand-alone shop), or nosh on a slice (Grimaldi's Pizza) or a sweet (CupcakeStop- whose roaming van I have visited!). Here's a guide to all the shops in the new marketplace. I hope to get over there soon and will report back!

Photo credit: Brooks Osman for SCOTTO.TV

Bargain Alert: Radio Flyer Classic Tricycle

It's the quintessential under-the-Christmas-tree gift: a shiny red tricycle. And it just got even more affordable. I spotted this Radio Flyer Classic Red Dual Deck Tricycle at Amazon.com for just $48.54 (regularly $89.99), plus it ships free in 2 days with Amazon Prime (if you haven't joined Amazon Prime yet, what on Earth have you been waiting for???). The trike has a faithfully-executed retro design, right down to the smallest details- a chrome front fender, red-and-white tassels on the rubber-coated handlebars, and even an old-fashioned bell. Now, if you'd prefer it in pink for a little girl (not that there's anything wrong with that), the pink version is also a steal at $47.38. Go ahead, make a little kid's holiday. And check out Amazon's other big-time Radio Flyer bargains (but hurry, the bargain prices tend to disappear without notice).

Diana, Kate, The Ring....and Me

I wore my vintage glass copy of Princess Diana's (now Kate Middleton's) engagement ring yesterday, and, boy oh boy, did people have questions for me. First of all, they wondered if it was real (it's not). Second of all, they wanted to know if it had been my actual engagement ring from my now ex-husband (it was not). Third, they wanted to know where I got it. I'll tell you the story. I already mentioned that Diana was my childhood idol and someone who had great influence on me. I could probably write a separate blog about this. I've been feeling nostalgic talking about it so much to people over the past two days. Anyway, back in 1987, after I had recovered from the 2nd of my two scoliosis surgeries (more stories for another time), I was lucky enough to tag on a business trip that my dad took to London. I was fourteen years old, and so excited that I might have a chance to see Princess Diana in person. And I did. I waited outside the gates of Kensington Palace, and saw Diana speed by in a chauffered car, taking her son to preschool in the morning (that son was Prince William). I have some really blurry photos that I'll try to rummage up over Thanksgiving and show you when I get back. I also have later photos from other times I met her in person and actually talked to her. I'll tell you about that too. I really cherish those memories.

But back to the ring. On that trip in February 1987 I visited Madame Tussaud's Wax Museum in London. There I was, a very awkward, lanky fourteen-year-old girl with braces on her teeth and a bulky body cast on her back covering up a large scar where I had been cut down the middle a few months earlier. Can you say "awkward phase"? I was a bloody mess. The furthest thing from a fairytale princess that there was. But I had finally seen Diana, even if just through blurry car windows. And at the Wax Museum, I spotted a copy of her engagement ring at the gift shop. It cost about the equivalent of 15 American dollars at the time. I bought it as a souvenir, and gingerly placed it back in its velvet keepsake box every night. I treated it like the Crown Jewels. Back home in New Jersey I wore it to high school sometimes (yes, I was a dork). When I was older, I still wore it for fancy occasions- even after I was married and had my own engagement ring.

Diana is gone now, and Kate has Diana's ring. My own engagement ring is stored away now that I am divorced. I highly doubt that my future daughter-in-law would want to wear it (nor that my son would want to give it to her). But this $15 glass bauble that I purchased as a 14-year-old is back in circulation in my jewelry wardrobe for at least a little while. For a few minutes a day, I feel like a princess again...and I remember the princess who started it all for me.

p.s. Want a copy of this ring for yourself? Sorry to say, there are a lot of bad imitations out there. Mine is nice and oval like the original, but many are not. Some good approximations can be found on Ebay here and here. Like mine, they are vintage versions. I'm sure newer ones will be cropping up very soon.

Mom's Sticker Book Redux

Note: This is a repost from last holiday season, but it is a frequently visited post at the blog. Sticker book "ingredients" are a great gift idea for a group of cousins for Hanukkah or Christmas! And our affiliate Frecklebox.com is a good place to start with personalized notebooks for each kid (they sell personalized stickers, too). Plus Frecklebox is offering 15% off any order now through Monday, November 15th with code "STOCKING" at checkout.

Over a year ago, my daughter R. (then 5 years old) and my niece A. (then 6 years old) found my old grade-school stickerbook- a beat up, stuffed-to-the-gills spiral notebook that I used to house my precious collection of "smelly stickers", Smurf stickers, and very un-PC Garbage Pail Kids stickers. There are even a few errant Ronald Reagan stickers in there (in fourth grade, I was not yet a Democrat). The year was 1982, and with no DS or Wii to occupy my time, I was a sheltered nine-year-old who methodically added my latest stickers to my notebook. The kids were quite taken with this retro object- it was like they had found something from the Smithsonian. They asked if they could start putting their own sticker collections into books.

So for Hanukkah last year, I gave my kids and each of their seven cousins (ages toddler through 8 years) the materials to make their very own sticker books, 21st-century style. Each child got a plain spiral notebook plus a ziploc full of stickers I had chosen especially for him or her (plus a handful of vintage Smelly Stickers- which I snagged on Ebay- and some Obama/Biden stickers to mark their recent victory). This stupendously simple and affordable gift was a hit. R. spent all of the next 12 months filling hers with various stickers from our travels, and sometimes wrote in little "stories" in the margin. She has just one page left and is ready for her next volume.

This Hanukkah I am making the next installment of the present a bit more "special" by giving each kid their own personalized spiral notebook from Frecklebox.com (assorted designs, $9.95 each)

And they'll each get new stickers from Oriental Trading (try out the Super Sticker Assortment for $14.99)

Plus the requisite Stinky Stickers ($11.99 for a variety pack) from Amazon.com.

I highly recommend this as a simple, affordable, and fun holiday gift for kids- and something to help them make a "collection" of their own that their children will admire someday (and will say, Obama who?). Do you have other holiday gift ideas that involve helping children start- or continue- a collection of something?

Please note: MyMomShops affiliates provide a small commission on sales.

You'll Have To Explain This One To Them

I stumbled onto this "Mix Tape" Tee by City Threads, and it made me think of a question my 7-year-old daughter asked me recently: "Mommy, what is 'film'?" Oh my. Can you say "generation gap"? Our kids may never make a mix tape for someone. Or even see a cassette tape, for that matter. The tee's on sale for $17 (before the additional 25% discount) in sizes 6-12 months through 12 at City Threads.

Enjoy 25% off sitewide (including sale merchandise), plus free shipping if your order totals $100 or more, at City Threads now through Tuesday, November 9th with code "CTR25Z".

He's Baaaaack

Note: This is a repost from 2008. Of course, Charlie Brown never goes out of style, and these Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas specials just get better year after year. Our Holiday Collection DVDs have seen lots and lots of use since I first posted this. The price on Amazon.com, by the way, has gone down to about $30.00.

It wouldn't be Halloween (or Thanksgiving, or Christmas) without Charlie Brown, Snoopy, Peppermint Patty, Linus and the gang, would it? I've caught those well-known Peanuts holiday specials on TV almost each of the past 30 years (good grief!) and now, I am indulging in a nostalgia-fest with my five-year-old daughter while we watch them together (her favorite scene: the popcorn Thanksgiving dinner). This brand new Peanuts Holiday Collection-Deluxe Edition DVD boxed set includes three of the most beoved Peanuts holiday TV specials : It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown; A Charlie Brown Thanksgving; and A Charlie Brown Christmas. All are digitally re-mastered and include special features like behind-the-scenes peeks, songs, and bonus episodes. It's a treat to watch- like a big ole dose of holiday-inspired TV nostalgia. Plus, I guarantee that you'll appreciate the subtle humor even more now than you did back in the Nixon era. Go ahead and treat yourself (I mean your kids) at Amazon.com (where it's on sale for about $33.99; regular retail price is $44.98).

Bargain Alert: Punky Brewster on DVD

If you were born after 1980, you should probably skip this post. You're too young. But if you are a Gen X-er who remembesr the mid-80s sitcom Punky Brewster starring Soleil Moon Frye, read on. I just saw that you can buy a sampler DVD of Punky Brewster episodes, called Punky Brewster: Turn My World Around, on Amazon for just $5.49 (normally $9.98). So your own kids, too, can relive those brightly-colored-legwarmer days where spunky little Soleil gets into all sorts of mischief and is reprimanded by curmudgeonly-yet-lovable foster dad Henry (George Gaynes). It's a family-friendly sitcom that will probably appeal to kids as much now as it did nearly 30 (yes, 30!) years ago, even if the cultural references are dated. I have a feeling that my own 7-year-old will enjoy watching Punky a lot. Buy the DVD here.

I'm curious, do your kids watch any "old" family sitcoms? R. is currently fixated on The Cosby Show on Centric TV (especially episodes about Rudy or Vanessa). Which retro sitcoms do your kids watch?