5 toys from my childhood I'd rebuy with my adult money

Essentially, it's a nostalgic gift guide

Dec 10, 2024

I don’t know about you, but my inbox is inundated with gift guides at the moment and I’m sick of it.

Admittedly, I am a beauty journalist. So, most of them are coming from PRs, pitching to me, but, still, I have zero interest.

I can’t be the only one that thinks Christmas beauty gifting has got really lazy. The cut backs are noticeable and I long for the heydays of MAC’s 2010 Tartan Tale collection.

Although, I will say, Malin + Goetz stood out to me, as their offering is inspired by the colours in their favourite films.

See, that’s, the kind of originality I want to see more of.

Needless to say, I have no intention of writing a beauty gift guide over here. Instead, I’d like to take us back to a time when writing down the page number of the Argos catalogue, unlocked our deepest desires.

Yes, rather than sharing miniature sized makeup in excess cardboard packaging, let’s discuss the toys from my childhood that I’d still be happy to find under the tree at the age of 38.

1 Sindy Kitchen

I’ve told you before how terrible my memory is, but, I can vividly remember sitting on the toilet and praying I’d wake up to this Sindy Kitchen one Christmas.

There was actually a point last year, when I considered buying one because I just felt so nostalgic for those tiny cans of coke.

2 Baby Sinclair

You know a toy left a mark on you when you still repeat its catchphrases to this day. If you remember the TV show, Dinosaurs, you’ll remember Baby Sinclair and his, “Gotta love, I’m the baby” line.

There’s actually a picture of me, on Christmas morning, with the biggest toothless grin, holding this gigantic baby dinosaur (see above). Fun fact, I found my mother with it a couple of years ago, about to put it in the bin. That’s how much she hated this talking dinosaur.

He had a pull string, which one day stopped working and I really believed my friend when she said the toy man who came to town would fix it.

Liar.

3 Puppy in my Pocket Puppyville Hotel

It’s funny, because when I look at images of this now, it’s literally made of cardboard. But, in my head, it felt as grand as Kevin McCallister walking into The Plaza Hotel.

I mainly remember spending a lot of time putting the puppies in and out of the lift. That’s where they spent the majority of their time as paying guests, but I also gave room priority to my most favourite pups.

The others, stayed outside.

4 Tinkle Tots

In terms of this list, Tinkle Tots are a minor, rather than major addition. But, I have to include them, to ensure I never forget them, because up until a couple of years ago, I had such clear memories of filling these babies up with water and making them “pee”, but I had no idea what they were called.

It’s like saying the Candyman’s name in the mirror. I have to keep saying Tinkle Tots, incase I experience a memory lapse again.

Also, sorry, Sonny Angels, who?

5 Sylvanian Families Canal Boat

I genuinely don’t know why I didn’t buy this for my niece Lyra when I had the chance, because of all my Sylvanian accessories, the barge was and forever will be, number one.