Take A Walk Down Memory Lane At McDonald’s

Nostalgia is a funny thing.  My sentimental longing of childhood toys, activities and places I’ve loved, came out in full force when I had children of my own.

I wanted to collect things for them that I had loved, because, I knew they would love them too.

Sharing sentiments with my children has been a pleasant surprise for me along the parenthood journey. When my kids cherish my favorite book, movie, meal or toy, I am delighted. The common affection connects us.

Most recently, my children and I  bonded over McDonald’s  #HappyMeal toys. I felt super nostalgic when I saw the iconic throwback toys. So many memories! 

Do you remember your favorite Happy Meal toy? I do. Those TY Teenie Beanie Babies-I was crazy for them.  Somewhere my mom still has my collection. I made her hang on to them, I thought it would make me rich.

Not so much, but I do have rich memories of collecting and trading those Beanie Babies and when McDonald’s released Patti the Platypus in 1997, I was on a mission to collect her.

Well, guess what, she is back and you can collect her too! From Nov. 7 through Nov. 11 at participating McDonald’s, while supplies last, McDonald’s is throwing it way back.  

In celebration of  the 40^th anniversary of the Happy Meal, McDonald’s is bringing back 15 limited-edition toys in their Surprise Happy Meal. The toys span the past 40 years and the nostalgia will hit you hard. Grimace and Hamburglar, My Little Pony, Furby, even the Fireman McNugget is back.  Take a walk down memory lane with even more fun toy surprises, there is one in each Surprise Happy Meal. 

It has been the most fun collecting and sharing the new Happy Meal toys with my kids. I had to laugh when they thought the Tamagotchi, a digital pet, was a phone.  They were perplexed. But, it did open up a fun conversation of what life was like when I was their age. No internet – you know – because I am as old as the Happy Meal itself. Ahhh the olden days….Head to participating McDonald’s for your dose of nostalgia and bring on the memories.

Exclusively in the U.S. at participating restaurants from Nov. 7 – Nov. 11, while supplies last, there will be two Disney toys: 101 Dalmatians (1997) and Mickey’s Sorcerer’s Apprentice (2002). Only one toy is included with the purchase of a Surprise Happy Meal.  

#Sponsored #McDonalds #HappyMeal

I scrambled for the ‘It’ toy

Picking the perfect gift. It’s hit or miss. With kids, getting the ‘it’ gift elevates things and I become frenzied. Welcome to champagne problems 101.

The ‘it’ toy of 2017? It is the swinging monkeys, aka fingerlings.
Been there, done that. I beat everyone to the punch.
I have already bought and given the ‘it’ toy of this Christmas and my kids, they don’t even care.

I bought the toy back in October as a birthday gift. I thought I was ahead of the game; that my kids would be begging for these; I thought I’d be super mom when I gifted them as birthday gifts.

Nope, my kids are were not all that impressed, at least not anymore. Short lived. Just like the battery inside the fingerling.

Of course, every year there is always a surprise ‘it’ toy that no one saw coming. It always seems to leave retailers scrambling and moms scrambling too.

Even when I think I’ve hit the mark, I’m often side swiped by what my child thinks is the better gift of the bunch.

The ‘it’ gift can end up being some last minute item I threw in the mix. All the hours researching the best toys for their age, finding the best price, purchase paralysis, review reading- down the drain- all for null. Sure, sometimes the random gift I put no effort or thought toward, wins Christmas.
But, a win is a win.

What about when it’s the wrapping that holds their attention longer than the gift? This is especially true if there is bubble wrap involved.

Pots and pans and Tupperware have kept my kids entertained for way longer than any fad toy. Hammering nails into old pallets has given my boys weeks of entertainment and imaginative play. Heck, simply rearranging existing toys can bring hours of fun over the minutes the fad toy may bring.

I know this.

Yet, I continue to scramble year after year for the ‘it’ thing.

Why? Because it’s Christmas and it’s magical.
Because, of that sweet baby face. The smile, joy and excitement felt all around. I scramble to see the dropped jaw and raised brow when my kid gets a gift they’ve been pinning for.
I scramble for the moment when my kids fall hard and fast for a gift they didn’t even know they wanted; until I placed it in their hands. Even if it is bubble wrap.

After all; it is better to give than to receive.

Do you indulge in finding the ‘it’ gift on the holiday? Do you get scramble searching and picking perfect gifts? Tell me all about it.