Thursday, November 6, 2008

Build-A-Bear Giveaway!



Halloween is over, so my thoughts are turning to Thanksgiving and... I can't even believe it... CHRISTMAS!

I know it wasn't too long ago that I was complaining about rushing the season. But the leaves have turned their beautiful fiery colors and most have fallen from the trees. Just yesterday, Evie and the girls next door raked leaves and jumped into the piles. Though it's been warm, there's a change in the air. It's feeling like scarves and hot chocolate and Christmas lists.

Oh, Christmas lists!

This year, I have to be particularly careful with the money we spend. So I must make good choices about toys for Evie. Instead of a toy with only one function, I want to purchase toys that inspire play. I can't tell you how many expensive toys we have around the house that Evie just ignores. Things like art supplies and dried lentils and scraps of ribbon and empty boxes keep her attention - go figure.

Most of all, I lean toward an "experience" rather than a thing. Attending The Backyardigans LIVE show was a better use of our money than if we had bought a toy. I know a membership to The Magic House will certainly be a gift this year.

Recently, Evie and I had the opportunity to attend a Mom's Mixer at Build-A-Bear Workshop. I had a great time talking to other "Mommy Bloggers" while Evie made a bear. Actually, Evie ran around wild while the other moms and very, very sweet Build-A-Bear employees helped me keep an eye on her. By the end of the event, everyone in that store knew her name!

While we were there, I kept thinking about how Build-A-Bear perfectly fits my idea of a great gift. It's an EXPERIENCE and you take something tangible (a new best friend, even) home with you. We also had the opportunity to meet and talk with Maxine Clark, the company's founder and Chief Executive Bear. She is warm and friendly, and has such an evident passion for her work. For her, it's all about the experience of making the bear - choosing the perfect little bear, warming up and kissing its heart, helping stuff, brushing it, and shopping for clothes. They've even expanded their line of $10 bears, so almost everyone can afford this experience.

Bloggy Friends, I am the "bearer" of good news! One lucky reader will win a $25 gift certificate to make your very own stuffed friend at Build-A-Bear. Simply leave a comment on this post before Friday, November 14th, telling me the best gift you received as a child. Don't forget to include your email address so I can notify you if you win. I'll choose a winner at random to receive the gift certificate.

Go "fur" it!

**This contest is closed to new comments. The winner has been contacted, and will be announced within 24 hours. Thanks for participating!**

313 comments:

1 – 200 of 313   Newer›   Newest»
Rachel said...

Hmm, best gift given to me as a child? It was probably my HUGE doll house! It was big enough for my Barbies, which incidentally, were also always a great hit with me.

Shari Baby said...

My Mother.

Shari Baby said...

oh and nice puns by the way. haha.

Henry said...

I got a Herself the Elf Doll back in the 80's. Wish I still had it. They're quite collectable now!

quitecontrary1977@hotmail.com

Unknown said...

OK, so, I think the best gift I ever got as a child was the pencil that grandma brought me back from Croatia. Do you remember it? It was like 3 feet tall and she gave one to me and one to Lauren. It had lots of little diamonds and triangles carved into it. I think I took that thing to show and tell like half a dozen times, lol.

Michele P. said...

This is going to date me, but my favorite two dolls I had as Christmas gifts as a child were Mrs. Beasley and my Blythe doll, and I still have them!


micaela6955 at msn dot com

Jackie said...

I totally agree with you regarding gifts that create an experience - those are definitely the gifts they remember the most.

I have to say it was the old upright piano my parents bought for us when I was about 6. I loved that thing and I still play it every time I go back home.

arielle said...

I got a baby doll when I was 1, it was about as big as I was!! I loved that doll so dearly, named her Nanny.. and I still have her sitting in my room so many years later! :)


ariellezander (at) gmail (dot) com

Betsy said...

I don't remember how old I was, but I got a stuffed unicorn rocking horse. You could sit on it and it rocked. I loved it and my mom said I wore it out.

Kristi said...

My best gift ever was a pink huffy bike I named Strawberry Shortcake.

I had fun reading this post because we are from Michigan and took a vacation last ,arch to St. Louis an d LOVED the Magic House. The kids ask on a regular basis to go again.

Anonymous said...

My best give ever was a homemade kitchen my dad made for me out of cardboard & extra wood, painted white with red trim. I was in *heaven*!

mom2leah[at]gmail[dot]com

Reiza said...

When I was about 3, I got a Strawberry Shortcake kitchen that I adored. It was really just thick cardboard, but I played with that thing forever.

Reiza said...

I just posted, but forgot my e-mail address. Sorry about that.

offthespaceship at myway dot com

Unknown said...

My cabbage patch doll was my favorite toy as a child, I had it for years!

Rae said...

I think that the best gift I ever received was when mom and dad said they had a surptise for us at Christmas. Zac kept guessing it was a robot or a new car. I'm sure I was hoping it was a new pet, something along the lines of a pony perhaps. It wasn't any of those things. It was GRANDMA!!! :) I think Martha was born right after that, and while she wasn't the best gift at the time (she totally stole my attention), she's at least in my top ten now. ;)

Anissa said...

Hmm, I think the best gift (or at least fondest memories) was a joint gift for my sister and me. The Playmobile Victorian Mansion. This was the ultimate dollhouse, but my favorite part was spending all of Christmas Day assembling it. It was a whole family event and a lot of fun:)

CC said...

Great giveaway!!

I got a Monchichi for Christmas when I was 7. I loved that thing to death. I even brought him to college. He's still in my home, looking ragged and horrid, but he was my favorite gift. :)

Prasti said...

i also prefer to give "experience" gifts. i think it engages the kids more and it's usually something that the whole family can participate in.

i think one of the best gifts i received as a child was a princess dress from my parents. i used it until the length of the dress almost reached my knees.

Jessica @ Piece Of Me said...

The best gift I ever received was a new water baby. I had several because they kept springing leaks.
livlifelov at yahoo dot com

Anonymous said...

Some of my best gifts from childhood. . . 1) a birthday day with my dad where I got to choose all the day's events, from where and what to eat to what park to visit; 2)a Christmas gift of a day with my grandmother where we sewed together and made fresh maple-frosted doughnuts, and 3) a beautiful handmade blouse my mother sewed for me to replace one that had been ruined.

Thanks for the contest!
sttil@juno.com

Gaitha said...

It would have to have been my bicycle.I got so much use out of that thing:)
ggp42304(at)gmail(dotcom)

Mechelle said...

The best gift I ever got was my horse King George. I spent every cold, waking hour I could with him too~ Mom would have to make me come in. Best gift ever!!
((hugs)) Mechelle

Anonymous said...

My dad built me a doll house and he and my mom decorated it with carpet, lino and wall paper!
Thanks for the giveaway! I'd love to bring my 4 yr old to BAB for her first time!
mybabyappleseed(at)yahoo(dot)ca

MOMFOREVERANDEVER said...

BEST GIFT I GOT WAS...a box my older brother made me...he was much older than me and it was made with love.

jennifer said...

oh. definitely my cabbage patch doll. I loved her.

jhtillman@gmail.com

Anonymous said...

I remember making my own bear at their workshop and I LOVED IT. Now that I have my own daughter, I would love for her to experience the joy they give to kids. :)

Anonymous said...

Dont forget to turn around and jump up and down, and you have to make a wish.

Anonymous said...

My Barbie House!

sarah.barnett (at) gmail.com

Unknown said...

I think it would be our trampoline! We spent hours and hours and hours playing on that thing!
frog123 (at) cyipcom (dot) net

*Tanyetta* said...

my first red shiny bike with a basket and bell.

i rode it until the wheels fell off!

tanyetta at hotmail

Katie said...

I once got a little dollhouse that I LOVED. I still have the picture my parents took when they gave it to me and my face was hilarious!
katiekarr at gmail dot com

Stacy said...

A dollhouse.

hetz-junk(at)hotmail(dot)com

Janelle said...

First of all, WE LOVE THE MAGIC HOUSE!! It is so cool, definitely gift-worthy.

Second of all, my first Cabbage Patch doll. I was on the tail-end of that fad but I still loved her!

Jenna said...

The best gift I received as a child was a real pot bellied pig named Spam. I loved that pig!

Unknown said...

One year Uncle Mike bought my little sister and I new bikes. Then taught us how to ride them. All! Day!

It was a precious gift at the time and it's a precious memory now.

Rattled Mom said...

I think the best "gift" I ever received was my baby brother! He's 8 1/2 years younger than I am, and I loved him and wished for him more than anything!

beezerly (at) yahoo dot com

rachie said...

My favorite childhood gift would probably be our fantastic ATARI GAME SYSTEM! My sister and I loved that thing...our parents would sometimes surprise us with a new game, and we felt so high class with our own video game machine in our house! We had so much fun with that thing...

Unknown said...

I don't know that I would call it a gift, but rather a blessing. I was an only child for 6 years, when my parents decided to adopt they cam to me and told me they wanted to bring another child into our family. They then let me help choose whether I would get a brother or a sister and made me a part of the process.
beccaj73[at]hickorytech[dot]net

cpullum said...

My daughter would love this in her stocking! I loved my Barbie Dream House!!!!

Carla
cpullum(at)yahoo(dot)com

Jenn said...

My best gift as a child was the handmade baby doll cradle my grandpops made me when I was six. Many babydolls were put to be in it and I have now passed it down to my own sweet girl for her baby dolls as well.

Thanks for the great giveaway!!

Anonymous said...

One year, my dad gave me a huge wooden doll house that had to be put together. It took us weeks to get it all assembled, but it was the most fun I had ever had with my dad. We never got around to painting it, but he still has it in his office. It brings back great memories. And one day, I'd love to give it to my daughter and help her paint it.

Email: jennae {at} greenyourdecor {dot} com

Miss Spoken said...

Best gift? Probably some clothes from Madonna's original clothing line way back in the 80s. Should've kept'em.
gkstratos@yahoo.com

AmandaK said...

The best gift I ever gotten was this Barbie doll that I had been wanting! My mom said that we wouldn't have enough money to get it for my sister and I. You should have seen the expression on our faces when we opened up the box and saw her in there!

orchestratenoise0726[at]yahoo[dot]com

JACLYN said...

My best gift was a My Little Pony set I had wanted. Also my Punky Brewster doll!

Unknown said...

I got a really cute dog puppet that barked. Had a gerat time with it.

Unknown said...

My two teddy bears agnus and bearhug.

rebbi511 at peoplepc.com

Dee said...

My favorite thing was this set of 6 dolls...more like tiny barbies. I'm sure they had some name or something...but the came with their own playground, strollers, and LOTS of other stuff! I loved those things and played with them all the time!

Armywife73 said...

The Original Cabbage Patch Doll by far was the best gift I received as a child.
abrockelman73[at]yahoo[dot]com

Tonibelle said...

Baby Alive! I was never even a babydoll kind of girl, but this doll fascinated me. I remember playing with this forever!

kathy55439 said...

corn silk cabbage patch doll The first year they had real hair I really wanted one but you could not find them anyway.... I was told i was not getting one and I did it was the last Christmas I was suprised.....

peg42 said...

The best gift that I received was a home made doll cabinet that my dad had made for me to hold all my doll clothes and dolls in. It had a little pole and little hangers, so I could hang my doll clothes. Dad even put flowers on the front and varnished it. What a wonderful gift this was.
Thanks so much for this wonderful giveaway.

Forgetfulone said...

I have two "best" gifts. Baby Alive (remember that?) was the last doll I ever received as a gift. I was ten. I loved dolls, and I especially wanted her!

A couple of years later, rabbit coats were all the rage, and I received a beautiful, brown jacket. I wouldn't want one now, but at the time, I loved it.

Brimful Curiosities said...

One Christmas from Santa I received a child size house made out of cardboard. It had a door, windows, and roof. My parents must have assembled it overnight and put in front of the tree for me to find Christmas morning. I was so, so excited and played with continuously for quite a few years.

Stephanie said...

I remember being so excited about getting brite lite for christmas.
tvollowitz at aol dot com

tritty74 said...

My cabbage Patch Doll

Anonymous said...

I would love to have this bag.

agordon10 said...

a new computer

Sonya Cocherell said...

A stuffed elephant that my Dad gave me when I was little. I had it for over 14 years, until our house burned. I wish I still had it.

Anonymous said...

Food!

Unknown said...

My best gift was a large Teddy Bear when I was 5. At least I thought it was big back then. I am 40+ and still have it. It was from my mom.

chromiumman said...

star wars action figures!

Cadmar said...

Best give was a ten speed bicycle that I wanted so bad!
dcadmar at gmail dot com

Anonymous said...

my new fishing pole from Santa.

bosslady2898 said...

I got a weaving loom when I was about 8. I loved it!

janetfaye said...

The best gift that I remember was a red sled.

Thank you!

janetfaye (at) gmail (dot) com

Unknown said...

A train to go around the Christmas tree.

RebekahC said...

I'm entering this on behalf of my daughters who would just be super excited if we could finally go to BAB. One of my favorite and best childhood gifts would hands down be my Love-A-Lot Carebear. I received her for Christmas when I was 3 in 1984, and I still have her to this day. She's been everywhere with me, and is totally worn out- but still with plenty of love to share. My daughters fight over who gets to sleep with her at night actually, and we have to work out an alternating night plan. LOL

RebekahC
littleminx@cox.net

Marisa said...

I love the original cabbage patch doll. I played with those for a long time.
marisajayne_16@hotmail.com

endrase said...

My favorite gift was a mumu that my Godmother brought home from a trip to Hawaii. It was HOT, hot pink, orange and red. I'm sure you could see it from the moon, but I loved it.

sweepmom said...

The best gift I ever got as a kid was progably my bike. My mom had it kept at a neighbors. Instead of the gift, I got a hint "who's afraid of the big bad wolf". I knew immediately I had to head to my neighbors (he had a wolf named Lobo as a pet). I went and there in his shop (he was a carpenter) was a shiny new bike :)

idahomom said...

I got a stuffed Snoopy that I loved for years.

Jen lleras said...

i remember getting my first pair of roller skates, they were carebear and i wore them around the house for months, i refused to talk them off and tried to wear them to school on several occassions, best gift ever!

jennifer.lleras@gmail.com

Anonymous said...

A doll that my mother made for me.

liquidkite@yahoo.com

mverno said...

i think building a bear for someone is nice

zekebamm said...

The best gift I received was books -- my love of reading continues to this day!

kmbennet said...

It probably was the Cabbage Patch doll that was all the rage back in the day.
Thanx for the contest.

Erica C. said...

my niece loves build a bear

Amber said...

My best childhood gift was an antique wooden rocking horse from my grandma.

Thanks for the giveaway and please enter me!

hurdler4eva(at)gmail(dot)com

Anonymous said...

Mine was my Cabbage Patch Doll, Felice Octavia!

denyse said...

I loved my cabage patch.

Unknown said...

My Barbie dreamhouse...by far the best gift ever!

Fun giveaway, thanks for the chance!

Lalycairn said...

Horseback riding lessons. We didn't have a great deal of money, and I'm not sure how Mom pulled it off, but for about 8 weeks, I got to ride. It was the best thing EVER~!

Lalycairn (at) gmail.com

Melissa B. said...

I was totally into Barbies. One year I got a Barbie Trans-am and I jumped clear off the floor. My mom took a picture of me in mid air.

Heather said...

WOW! Look at your turnout...that is awesome. I can't wait to see who wins.

:)

Nicole Brady said...

When I was old enough to wear makeup, despite money being tight, my mom gave me a color analysis and makeup session at a modeling agency. Figured if I was going to wear makeup, it should be right. I was young and didn't know how valuable that information would be an pouted that my brother got a boom box or something. I still regret that I didn't appreciate it more at the time.

sahmtoo (at) gmail (dot) com

Brittney OK said...

My favorite toy was this stuffed animal sock money I got when I was 2. I named him D.D. Kong because I couldn't say "Diddy Kong." I took him EVERYWHERE!

Crazycat said...

A Rudolph doll when I was six. That was the one thing I had wanted so badly. I still have it.

danosor said...

A rocking horse with a horse's head,body and tail

Kendra Field said...

The best gift I received as a child was a stuffed bear (I named it Grizzly...original, I know). It was special because it was something my big brother had bought with his own money. My oldest son now loves it, too!

Anonymous said...

Hi.My favorite toy as a child was a Velvet Doll.She was so pretty with her long blonde hair and purple velvet dress. PLease enter me in this giveaway.My kids have never had a Build a Bear or clothing.Thanks for the chance !

tammyduc7@yahoo.com

CaseyDeuce said...

My favorite gift when I was a child was barbies corvette. I spent hours upon hours daydreaming about that corvette, saying that one day I'd have a car just like it. Needless to say, I dont have my red corvette yet.

Liz G. said...

I received a 'Peaches and Cream' Barbie from my Papa. I loved it back then, but now it's one of the few memories I have of my Papa.

Kneon Transitt said...

My favorite gift was also a doll house. But mine was hand built by my Dad, my Mom, and my crush (my Dad's friend.) They actually used wallpaper, paint, and carpet leftovers from our house to put in it. It had real windows and a door that opened and they even gave me a Barbie toilet for my Bathroom. It was the best gift. Who says things have to be bought to be great.

Anonymous said...

my best present would have to be my first bike!! bad_girl_4_u_1984@yahoo.com

kygirl said...

my best gift as a child was my bike.

Nicole said...

I got a Cabbage Patch kid for Christmas when I was little and boy did I love that doll! I took her everywhere with me and I still have her to this day in my bedroom - shes old/scuffed and has a rip in her leg but sometimes I STILL cuddle up with her when I'm sleeping LOL.

Linda ★ Parker's General said...

I grew up in the 50's so many of our Christmases were a coloring book and a new box of crayons. Back then, you dodn't buy school supplies. Your teacher provided them. I attended a 2 room school and there were 4 grades in each room. A lot of sharing went on, so we were thrilled by our own box of crayons. But my favorite gift ever was the brown teddy bear my Grandma made for me on her treadle sewing machine. Button ears that required occasional replacement and hand stitching for a face. You know you are loved when you get a gift like that.
lindanuts@yahoo.com

michelle said...

The best gift that I think I received as a child was my play kitchen. I spent hours playing with that thing and used it for all sorts of imaginative play. Thanks for the giveaway.

michelle at northofthe49 dot com

Jen said...

my very favorite gift I recieved as a child was a good old fashioned tape recorder. I loved to sing as a child and I would lock my self in my room for hours and sing into the tape recorder (mostly Christmas songs) and play them back. I still have a couple of the tapes from back then -- pretty humorous!

Karen said...

My mom.

ktgonyea at gmail.com

Anonymous said...

My dad bought me a "real" baby doll with porcelain face and hands.

fivewinks(at)cox(dot)net

Anonymous said...

I got a "life sized" doll (3 ft) and I loved it!

Nicole D. Johns said...

I had a set of Muppet drums that I adored. My parents kept it in the basement, but it didn't stop me from pounding away just like Animal every chance I got. I think I was 4 or 5.

Anonymous said...

The best gift I ever got as a child was a single roller skate. My sister got the other one. That gift forced us to share or at least hang onto to each other while we each used one skate.

sirena1124@yahoo.com

pamelarm said...

Mine was a blue stuffed cat I named Boo Boo. I miss him!

Unknown said...

It would probably be a record player.

Anonymous said...

A gray stuffed bunny that I loved and took everywhere with me!!

annemarie562000(at)yahoo(dot)com

Tonya said...

very cool love to win this

Maude Lynn said...

A Barbie Dream House!

kelli at pfrog dot net

Kandyland29 said...

My favorite gift was a strawberry shortcake record player!

Anonymous said...

Cricket Doll

Tina said...

Best gift given to me, was a Holly Hobby doll I received for my 9th birthday..

Rainey Daye said...

I'd say my very best gift as a child was a wooden dollhouse that was handmade for me by an elderly gentleman who wanted to do something nice for the missionary children. (He also made wooden cars for one brother and a wooden rocking horse for another brother). I still have it packed away with the intention of sprucing it up for the little girl I hope to have one day...which could be soon, as I'm expecting our first baby!!

hayley said...

The best gift I got when I was a child was a tape player!

oreo89 [at] gmail [dot] com

lindoksu said...

I was given a brides doll and I still have her with me.

tatertot374 said...

Thank you for having this. I would love to win to take my 3 little ones. My favorite gift as a child was my Strawberry Shortcake bike. I loved that thing. I grew up in a really really small town and could ride everywhere and have a great time. Thank you!
tatertot374@sbcglobal.net

Anonymous said...

Alison would love the stuffed Husky. Thank you.

Jenn S. said...

The best Christmas gift I received was my Barbie Doll House. It was huge! I played with it everyday.

soha said...

My favorite gift as a child was a doll my grandmother gave me.

eddiem1.1@dslextreme.com

Princess Golden Hair said...

the best gift i've ever received as a child was a children's bible. i read that thing over and over and over again. I loved the stories and tried to implement the lessons into my life

Anonymous said...

My best gift given to me was staying up late when I was 8 years old and with my birthday being christmas day, I watched my mine bake and decorate my cake that had santa skiing down a slope on the cake. I felt so special that is was made from scratch and with me in mind filled with love from my mom.

Nora
neneelynn@yahoo.com

julied said...

I got a stuffed Oscar the Grouch. I loved him, he old and faded, and had lost most of his fur the last I saw him.

David, Julie, Dakota, Emma, Wyatt, and Abbie said...

The best gift I received was my American Girl doll Molly for my 12th birthday! I wanted that doll so much (I still have it) and can't wait to pass it down to my daughter one day. =)

Holly said...

The Christmas that I was eight my Dad and Grandpa made me a doll house for Christmas. I still have the doll house and my daughter is now playing with it.

Anonymous said...

M stereo of My own and I pushed tape record and this was in Junior High and taped My Mother talking nothing big but Her voice and She died when I was 19 and that is My only thing I have with Her voice It is very special....kay wolter

vboackle said...

my bicycle.snoutlyz

Anonymous said...

The best gift I recall receiving as a child had to be my easy bake oven. Only back then it wasnt the as small as it is now. I remember it being green and white and it looked like a real oven, complete with dials, pull down door and oven light.

SantaFe said...

My Lite-Brite provided hours of fun.

Thanks for the giveaway.

bkh61959 said...

I had a pretzel jetzel that run the dough under a light bulb made fat pretzel with salt,loved that thing, thanks for the giveaway

Cori Westphal said...

This should pretty much date how old I am but when I was 8, I will never forget finally getting a Pillow Person for my birthday. If you don't know, it was just a pillow with a face and little arms and legs (sort of like spongebob). I thought I was gonna die I was so excited. All of my friends had them first, of course. I just had to have one. So stupid... Thanks for the great contest!

Jawan said...

I begged for a Cabbage Patch doll for three Christmas-es but never go one. Instead, I received a handmade "Adoption Doll", complete with the birth certificate, etc. To this day, that was my favorite gift I received as a child. My mother put lots of love into it.

Anonymous said...

I had a GI Joe with a kung fu grip in which I still have in the original box.

Unknown said...

When I was 8 I desperately wanted a GI Joe doll, but my dad, an old-fashioned guy, kept saying, "Boys don't play with dolls." I was very surprised when I received a GI Joe doll that Christmas. That was the best gift I received as a child.

Anonymous said...

The best gift I ever got was a Cabbage Patch Baby when I was 5. I still have it today (I'm 27 now).



dolphin_lover458 [at] yahoo [dot] com

Unknown said...

My best present as a child was a 10-speed bike when I was 11 years old. It was yellow with a brown seat. I put many miles on that bike!

shel704[at]aol[dot]com

Anonymous said...

My best gift was a stack of albums(remember BMG buy 1 get 10 free?!?) There was about 5 Madonna albums and Warrant probably Paula Abdul and Guns N roses too. lol:)

cyclona66@aol.com

noreen said...

Alphie!! It was a toy robot that litup and you could play simple games on the front. I was three and I remember walking around all christmas day hugging the plastic toy and evertually sleeping with it

Anonymous said...

My best gift ever was a life size doll my grandma made me that I named Elvira!

amber (at) heavenlyhold (dot) com

Sara said...

I had a cabbage patch doll I was in love with

Unknown said...

My best gift was an "adoption" doll. I had wanted a cabbage patch doll so badly when they came out, but they were so expensive and I knew we couldn't afford one . My mother knew how badly I wanted one , so she found a lady that made these hand made/sewn "adoption" dolls. She made me one with the same color of my hair and eyes, with the prettiest , brightest yellow dress and booties you have ever seen. I was so happy that I just cried when I saw that doll ! I still have that sweet doll and have given it to my little girl.

Anonymous said...

Definitely Baby Alive! I changed more diapers and mixed more rice cereal than I did w/ my own 3 kids. Diapers must have been cheap b/c I went through tons of them.

tigerfannall(at)yahoo(dot)com

Anonymous said...

My favorite toy was my Snoopy Ice cone maker. Thanks for the chance, sweetascandy579 at yahoo dot com.

HarmsBbyGrl said...

The best gift given to me as a chile (and I still have to this day) was a Baby Doll that looks just like me. I still have her and nicknamed her after me.

Haasiegirl said...

To be honest, my family was pretty poor when i was growing up. I can remember my carebears and i loved them. My cloud keeper got thrown away by accident christmas morning. I should pick up another one. LOL

Charlotte would LOVE to do this!

Trisha
momdot

iggysaysno said...

The best gift I received was my grandparents moving to live near us when we moved to another state :)

Unknown said...

I love the pet food dishes with the plastic lids.

Sarah said...

We've never done Build A Bear, and I'd love to take my girls to do it!

I echo quitecontrary1977 -- I loved Herself the Elf!! My favorite was probably Strawberry Shortcake though. Because she had red hair, and so did I.

Abby said...

My cabbage patch kid would be my favorite gift!

ajcmeyer AT go DOT com

Anonymous said...

The Easy Bake oven i got when I was about 10. I Loved baking all of the miniature confections!

okbarbie5 said...

Best gift given to me as a child would be a Barbie doll. I used to dress her up in all different kinds of clothes. Thanks!

Anonymous said...

I loved my collection of my little pony dolls...each and every one of them!

Unknown said...

My first cat Claudia was my best gift when I was 12.

Anonymous said...

My favorite gift was a Clip Clop spring horse I rode all day every day.
maquel@emmiekate.com

Carolyn said...

My aunt worked for the Forestry Service of the government and I really wanted a Smokey the Bear toy that talked. When I opened the gift I lost my little 6 year old mind! I still remember the joy, though the bear is lost to history!

Guitar Guy said...

My red radio wagon

kristilb19 said...

My son loves Build A Bear!
kristilb19@yahoo.com

brandy said...

my best gift was another life. i was in a accident and had a 20% chance of full recovery. here i am. material posessions i would say my babyface dolls
bwalleshauser AT yahoo DOT com

Anonymous said...

Chicago Bears

Kit Kat K said...

raggedy ann doll

Anonymous said...

It's going to be a frugal year for us. Investing in more toys that seem to hold our boys attention the longest...building toys like legos and the like :)

Anonymous said...

The best gift that I received as a child was the love of travel. My parents weren't rich but they watched their money so every year we could go on vacation. Sometimes it was camping at a national park or visiting relatives in another part of the country. Those family vacations are still talked about today. Thanks for the giveaway! I have a daughter who loves Build a Bear.
skstigger (at) hotmail.com

Cjnedrow said...

One gift in particular that I remember is my E-Z-Bake oven! Maybe because I loved to eat baked things also!!
cjnedrow@gmail.com

Veronica said...

The best gift that i have given my child has been a Thomas train table. He had been asking for it for such a long time and to see him finally have it, it was he dream come true!

jassmg2024 said...

My Easy Bake Oven!!!!

Unknown said...

Time!

If a tangible item, our dog when I turned 18.

risanjax@metrocast.net

Unknown said...

I had a stuffed Lion named Buddy. I loved that thing and I still have it in storage. I think I want to be burried with that lion.

Brian said...

Christmas 1979, I was told to go outside in the snow to retrieve something off the porch. Grumbling and complaining, I put on my snow gear and went outside to find a minibike sitting there. I didn't dare assume it was mine. I got what I was asked to retrieve and came in. After a short silence, my parents asked me if I noticed anything else out there. I told them I saw the minibike and I asked who it was for. They said 'you, silly!'

Of course I flipped over the handlebars the first time I tried to ride it....

Anonymous said...

My Suzi Homemaker sink and dishwasher.

LS said...

The best gift I ever received was this doll when I was 5 that had a little record in the back that played "I'd like to teach the world to sing". Now I had wanted this doll like every other little girl at the time, but I guess they ran out of the Caucasian dolls(our family background), and against the families opinions my Mom got me the African American one. I loved her and at the age of 5 kids don't have all that baggage, you know? I remember everyone staring at me to see my reaction and when I played with her talking about it. They started saying things like, "Well I guess it's okay afterall" and "Yeah its fine" etc. and it ended up being a time where they started to get over their "stuff" and I got a cool doll :)

Anonymous said...

The best gift I got as a child was the time and love I was given by my grandparents.

RachelD said...

Definitely Cabbage Patch dolls in 1986.

Tracysweetangl said...

The best gift I got when I was a child was a baby doll! I took it every where!

Ginny said...

This is a hard question, I got a cool Glamour Girls cruise ship that I spent hours & hours playing. I think my favorite gift though was my very first Barbie doll. It led to tons of creative play & years of enjoyment.

Bebemiqui said...

Definately my Lego sets! I loved Legos.
bebemiqui82(at)yahoo(dot)com

llkent said...

The best gift I received as a child was my collection of horse models.

miriama said...

I came home one Christmas to find a large Barbie house!! It was very exciting for me.

Brooke said...

My best gift was a Planet of the Apes land house thing. It was one of the few things my brother and I played with together.

Anonymous said...

my best gift as a child was the Cabbage Patch Doll my mom made for me. I still have it and my daughter loves it too.
thanks, Kelly
coolteacherof3@yahoo.com

Smooshy said...

The best gift I received as a child was when I was in grade school and it was my birthday. Everyone gave me cute and nice things but one boy gave me a poem he wrote about how nice I was! That was my favorite!

Alexandra said...

I got a nutcracker when I was little. It seems so silly now but it was the only thing I asked for that year and was so afraid I wasn't going to get it. lol. It's one of the only presents I remember when I was that young.

Anonymous said...

Hot wheels track.

Anonymous said...

Hot wheels track.

Brandy said...

The best gift I got was probably my powerwheels truck. It was a long time ago, so it was not nearly as advanced as the ones they sell today, but I did love to play on it.

destee said...

My mom found a Cabbage Patch Kid for me when they were so popular they caused fights in toy stores across America. I wasn't expecting one at all because she told me she couldn't find them anywhere. 2 Two days before Christmas she found 2, a boy and a girl, it was the best surprise ever!.

DOODLEGIRL said...

my doll with hair that grew

Anonymous said...

Hello Oakbriar -

When I was too old for toys and couldn't think of a thing that I really wanted for Christmas, my favorite aunt gave me a complete set of Madeleine L'Engle's "A Wrinkle In Time" books. At the time I thought it was a lame gift, but I started reading them over the Christmas vacation and absolutely fell in love with them! I kept reading all kinds of books after that - it was a perfect gift!
cathy54321@hotmail.com

Mozi Esme said...

There are so many gifts coming to mind right now!

One of them is a barbie house made by my sisters (I have 3 older ones). It was out of cardboard boxes, with doors & windows cut in. Plastic containers for bathtub/toilets, smaller boxes for beds & furniture, miniature blankets sewn.

Anonymous said...

It had to be my Drowsy doll. She was pink with white polka dots and would talk. I carried her everywhere I went. Ironically, Drowsy made a reappearace a few years ago in the stores - just in time for me to buy one for my 3 year old!

jcarland1@tampabay.rr.com

joahsgrandma said...

Books. I loved them as a kid and I love them now.

mogrill said...

My Cabbage Patch kid and my Brooke Shields Barbie!

Anonymous said...

A stuffed bunny I got when I was 5, now at 22 I still have it, it has no nose though.

mdstesuom24@yahoo.com

Heather B said...

My grandmother bought em a cabbage patch doll and made both her and I matching clothes! and did her hair the way she always did mine

Anonymous said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Anonymous said...

A stuffed animal toy. I still collect them today :)

rayraychel at gmail . com

Charlotte said...

I think the Cabbage Patch dolls were my favorite gifts! I got a preemie and one with cornsilk hair.

charlotte(dot)evard(at)comcast(dot)net

Anonymous said...

My best gift as a child was a Winnie the Pooh lamp. I was afraid of the dark and Pooh was always there to make me feel better :)

smileysmg@gmail.com

Brooke Lorren said...

My parents bought me a computer in 9th grade. I never thought they would have done it, so it was a real surprise.

Carliss said...

My favorite present was a little birthday book my aunt gave me when I was about 8 it was Holly Hobbie she wrote in it and signed her name I still have it and I am in my 40's now and my aunt has passed on everytime I see it I think of how special it made me feel and how special she was.

Asylumgirl said...

My aunt sent me a bunny with candy on my birthday one year to school. It was so exciting to receive something at school!

Deidre
deidre_durance at hotmail dot com

daytoncat said...

My parents got me a doll that had replacable yarn hair so that I could cut it's hair as much as I wanted with no harm done!

daytoncat1(at)yahoo(dot)_com

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