12.22.2009

Babes In Toyland



We all have Christmas memories. For me, nothing compares to the memories of those when I was a child. Homemade velveteen dresses, black patent leather shoes, lace tights. Sometimes even a fur muff.

There was the scheming and cautiously practiced plans with my brother Bruce to pull off a seamless slip out our bedroom doors and met up under the Christmas tree. Parents and little brother in bed and a quick rummage through our stockings was as exciting as life could get when you were under 8.

We were not spoiled; every gift meant a lot. And today, those memories are worth a million times more in the mind of this 50 something 'child at heart'.

These are the memories like it was yesterday.
I am 6, my blond hair is in curlers, and I am all wrapped up in new flannel p.j.'s and
a red chenille robe. My feet are toasty in Christmas mukluks and sugar plums are still dancing in my head.








Are there memories of that special toy that
Santa brought to you?


"Merry Christmas to All and to All a Good Night".

I am thankful this holiday season for each and every one of you.
You have changed my life.
I end this year happily to journey
into the next with hope, passion and determination.
**Make some serious memories**


32 comments:

Outside The Lines said...

Deb, I remmeber most of these toys from childhood so well! What a great post! I want to thank you for being you, and thank you for this blog! I hope you have the most amazing Christmas, and an awesome 2010!

debra@dustjacket said...

Oh wow sounds like you were so stylish as a child. I just love those gifts, so cute.

Just want to say it's been great chatting over the months, you're one great gal, I love your comments.

Sending warm Aussie wishes to you for a Merry Christmas.

love and hugs DJ xxx

Jacqueline @ HOME said...

My dear friend Deb,
Your memories are so much the memories I have as a child. We used to leave an empty pillow case at the end of our bed for Father Christmas. When we woke up it was bursting and overflowing with presents, many similar to the ones you have shown. None of them were very expensive but each one was as exciting as the next. The magical moment was feeling with our feet to the end of the bed and hearing the rustle of paper and seeing it bursting at the seams and knowing that 'He'd been' !! Then, my sister and cousins would run down stairs to see the presents from the family under the tree. We had to wait to open those ones and the wait was never ending.
I have been so blessed to have met you, Deb and have enjoyed every post, comment and email. You are a kind and generous person and I'm proud to call you my friend.
I wish you, your family and friends a very Happy Christmas and for many, many happy times in the New Year. With much love, XXXX

LenoreNeverM♡re said...

Darling Deb, hope we continue to 'children at heart'! Wonderful toys from the past...so much better than playstation if you asked me. Sometimes I miss playing with lego toys!
Have a wonderful Christmas~
xo+blessings*

Couture Carrie said...

Love your memories and all these fabulous vintage toys... Such a sweet holiday post!

Merry Christmas, darling!

xoxox,
CC

Marsi @ The Cottage Cheese said...

I agree with you wholeheartedly, Deb! This is such a sweet post, and I know that you are one blogger who is very special to so many of us. When I'm feeling overwhelmed by busy schedule and go lost in the blogging world for a week or two at a time, I am always drawn back in because of a few special gals like you, who I couldn't bear to lose touch with. Have a very Merry Christmas, sweetie!

alison said...

What a great, seasonal trip down memory lane!
It really all did seem so magical and special!
Have a lovely Christmas
Alison and Fudge x

Toad said...

perhaps Bruce remembers his Mattel Fanner 50 with the greenie stickem caps?

Pamela Terry and Edward said...

Tickle Bee!!! I had forgotten!
I loved that little game.
What toys are you getting this year??!

Bunny, The Paris House said...

Deb, You have just flooded my mind with special memories of my childhood Christmases, I think we had very similar experiences. My parents and grandparents made Christmas so magical on a limited budget and still to this day nothing can compare to those memories...as hard as I try :) Its so funny, I had no idea there was a doll named 'Chatty Cathy' but there is someone I know and I always call his wife 'Chatty Cathy'!! And the bee game, I use to LOVE that when I was little.
Have a Merry Christmas and you and your mom will be in my prayers.
God Bless
xoxo

MFAMB said...

so awesome. fiona has that exact tickle bee. the memories i have at my grandmother's house are great. i am trying to make memories for fiona with the same fierce love of home and comfort.

La Maison Fou said...

Happy Holidays Deb;
What a year it has been, thanks for stopping by the blog!
Leslie

lisa golightly said...

Thank you Deb for taking us on a walk down memory lane ! The homemade velveteen dresses, tights and patent leather shoes playing cootie on the floor ... I remember like it was yesterday ! Merry Christmas to you and your family !!!

xoxo,
lisa

Simply Mel {Reverie} said...

Oh Deb!
What a great post down memory lane! My only hope is to make my little crumb's childhood so wonderful that she fondly remembers every moment!
Love the list of toys - wish they still made them this way!
Merriest of Christmases to you and yours! Thank you for being here and sharing so many wonderful things with us.
Bises,
Melissa

BonBon Rose Girls Kristin said...

My favorite toy was a pair of twin dolls. Oh, how I loved those things. Guess I always wanted to be a mommy. Ah ha. I'm so happy that your fur baby is ok!!!

Unknown said...

Wonderful post daaaaaahling. Love all the vintage toys, but most of all i love that pic of shirley temple. It reminds me of one of my favourite movies, the little princess. Have you ever seen it?
May you have a wonderful christmas daaaaaahling. I hope Santa brings you lots of love, happiness, macaroons, and toys (that being a lovely prada bag).
*lots of kisses*
HH
p.s. my favorite toy was my raggedy ann doll. i still have it. it looks kinda battered. but i love it.

Samy said...

Wish you a Merry Christmas and a very Happy New Year :)

Visual Vamp said...

Deb,
This is my most favorite Christmas post of all!
Really! I mean it! All those wonderful photos of toys I remember very well too!
So Merry Christmas darling!
xo xo

Sarah Klassen said...

Wishing you a wonderful, joy-filled Christmas!!

{xo} Sarah

Julie@beingRUBY said...

HI Deb
What a beautiful post... filled with Christmas memories that we can all relate to... I hope your Christmas if filled with love and happiness and your new year brings more joy into your life... Take care Deb xx Julie

Francine Gardner said...

Merry Merry Christmas to you. As you, i have been reminiscing of Christmas past and i still have some of my oversized stuffed animals, particularly my teddy bear and bunny rabbit. My bedroom in my parents house has not changed, same wall paper, bed and halas...mattress. Christmas brings a swoop of memories back.

red ticking said...

loveee the memories... esp creepy crawlers... where did you find that box??? where is the easy bake oven and big grill? so fun... i had the twist radio in yellow... i has "crissy" the doll that grew hair when you pressed her belly button... i could go on and on... so fun! wishing you many blessings in 2010... x pam

Barbara said...

Fun post, Deb.
I remember most a kitten I received! I loved her so much.
What amazes me when I look back is that my parents never even put up the tree until after we had gone to bed on the 24th! Can you imagine? They put the tree up, decorated it and then did the presents besides. Imagine they didn't sleep that night, ever!

Haute World said...

Hope you had a wonderful Christmas! I agree, Christmas was the most magical and special as a child. I still have fond memories of waiting for Santa and eagerly unwrapping every present. Then again, I think as a child I was a little easier to please when it comes to gifts ;-) I think my favorite item was an electronic keyboard!

Chicago Chic said...

Oh this post is so beautiful and full of meaning. So many sights, smells, and places will instantly bring back memories as a child and Christmas was such an exciting time!

I think it is important as you say to continue the memories now and I think Christmas in Rome will be one I will never forget! Thank you for your inspiring post.... and Happy New Year to you!

xoxoxo
Rachel

Anonymous said...

Rome??? Forgive me if I'm sick with envy. Have a wonderful trip.

Happy New Year.

Porchlight Interiors said...

Oh I love old vintage toys. Now the little girl in the second image has the most cheeky cute face, and she looks like she's hanging on tight to all those dolls like "i'm not sharing with anyone"

Lipstick said...

Thank you for sharing such wonderful pictures.

Anthony said...

What a nice, warm Christmas-y post you've done here, Deb!

MY official Christmas post also started out in much the same vein, but then I somehow got off-track and it ended up being a bit more disturbing than heartwarming...

Love the vintage toys! But I doubt THAT'S any surprise. Do you know if, in fact, that IS Shirley Temple sitting with the nice little Dachshund, 3rd B/W photo down? It's gotta be, right?!

Merry (belated) Christmas, and have a Happy New Year! :)

Duchess of Tea said...

Darling, I thank you for your love and support this past year when I needed it most. Your kindness has left me feeling blessed. You have made my first year of blogging a memorable one!! I am certain that 2010 will be an amazing year for us both. Enjoy the last day of the year and have a marvelous 2010 full of good health, happiness, prosperity, love and blessings.

Love & Hugs
Duchess

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