Ring My Bell!

I love when new shipments come in. Makes it seem like Christmas! I've always wanted one of these bells. I've been annoying the staff all day.....

I may need one of these at home.

Hey Diddle Diddle




The dish may have run away with it, but looks like the Fork's been keeping time with the Spoon!

This cool Cutlery Clock was also in the shipment. I'm thinking this time piece would look cool in my kitchen.


For Better Tips


Rounding out the new items in our toy box is the Saint Martha, Patron Saint of Waiters and Waitresses. In these challenging economic times, your favorite waitperson could most likely use a little help in obtaining generous tips. For a mere $4.95 plus tax & shipping, this figurine might be a worthwhile investment!


Looks like there is a food / diner theme to this recent order. I must have been hungry when I was putting together my shopping list. *note to self: start ordering after lunch!*

Speaking of which, it is almost noon and I am starting to get a bit peckish. Better sign off and take lunch. Think I'll head to my favorite diner.

I'm thinking comfort food!

WTHWWT - Trailer Trash Dolls

This is the first edition of what promises to be an enlightening feature of this blog.

There comes a time for those of us who work in retail or perhaps are compulsive shoppers, when we find an item in our stock (closet) that makes us stop and scratch our heads. And ask the age-old question, "What the heck were we (was I) thinking?". Which is usually followed up by the answer,

" It seemed like a good idea at the time."

Trailer Trash Dolls

The first of this award in the Oh Boy! Toy Company Hall of Shame goes to the Trailer Trash Dolls, Trash Talking Turleen & her sister with the nickname of "Little Miss Guzzler".

While the exact details are a bit fuzzy, I stumbled upon these gems late one night while surfing the Internet for fun new products. I had the best time playing on the manufacturer's website, listening to my "must-have find" belch, cackle and trash-talk.

My "better half" checked in to see what was so hysterical on the laptop, took one look and walked away muttering, " That's not funny. I grew up with these people."

Which only made me want these dolls even more!


A Brief History

The Trailer Trash Dolls got their start in 1996 as a simple "genetically re-engineering " of a famous toy-maker's dolls. Thanks to national media coverage and a subsequent lawsuit to stop production, the process of custom designed and manufactured dolls began in 1998.

The First & Second Edition Trailer Trash Dolls (non-talking one) are no longer in production and are highly collectible. As of today, we have four left of the 2nd Edition. The pregnant, "Trash Talking Turleen" doll while unavailable from the manufacturer until Summer of 2010, is also available at Oh Boy! Toy, while supplies last.

For a preview of the trash that Turleen talks, the manufacturer's website Red-Neck Warehouse gives a preview here! Fun Fact: The voice of Turleen was provided by an Opera Singer from Seattle. To protect her career, she remains anonymous. We can tell you that Daniel "Gibby" Gibson was responsible for the belch because quite frankly he has nothing to lose and is a bit proud of this accomplishment.

For die hard "Trailer" aficionados, we even carry fan-girl tees!




Lessons Learned

The moral of the story is:

#1 - Never buy anything after a few glasses (bottles) of wine (favorite adult beverage), late at night, from the Internet (or QVC). Common sense will usually prevail in the light of day and after your morning cup of java.

#2 - If you hang on to anything long enough, it most likely will become a collectible!

Kickin' it Old-School Style

This past weekend, I volunteered for 6th Grade Fun Night at my son's Middle School. There were games, a man making balloon animals, face-painting, a cake walk, an obstacle course and a roving photographer. I was assigned to the Bingo room.

The carnival-like atmosphere took me back in time. It was nice to kick it "Old-School" style for a few hours without the aid of modern-day electronics that we take for granted.

Now that the kids are older, we try to have a family game night a few nights each month. I even let my boys invite a few friends, and I will bake cookies or brownies.

It is fun to watch my children enjoy favorites from my childhood such as Life, Monopoly, and more recently, Scrabble.

Another game we enjoy is Bananagrams, which I refer to as "Scrabble Light, a portable, quicker twist to this timeless word game.


Don't tell my kids, but I really look forward to family game night.
Not only are we making new memories but I am transported for a few hours back to kinder, gentler times.

The Great Sea-Monkey Experiment Days 3, 4 & 5

Day 3: The morning after I had added the Sea-Monkey eggs to the Magic Castle, I did a bit more research on line. Much to my dismay, I realized that I used tap water, not bottled water to the my container.

I also learned I need to be more patient. The eggs may take a bit longer to hatch due to a slightly cooler than optimal environment and lack of Northern exposure sunlight. (Not much sunlight this time of year!)

While it will be a bit of an embarrassment to have to start over, if I send a self-addressed stamped envelope with $3 I can get another set of packets 1 & 2 PLUS a free Sea-Monkey handbook (a $6 value).

I guess I'll give it another few days.

Days 4 & 5: I have moved the container to a warmer area of the house. I am also trying to get more light, both sunlight and from a lamp. Still no real sign of life yet.

When we jostle the Magic Castle by lifting it to get a better look inside or when transferring it to a spot of sunshine, we can see specks of matter swirling around. At first we fool ourselves into believing we can see tiny tadpole-like creatures. Upon closer inspection, we can only see moving flakes and dots that stop moving once the liquid is still.

I don't know which is more disturbing; the possibility that our tap water is not fit for even Sea-Monkeys or that we are not able to take care of even the tiniest pet.

Several Blog & Twitter friends have had succeeded to a point where as @madebyamyD put it,

" kids had those. They refused to die!" and continued on in an effort to make me feel better,
"hmm, I would be glad. They are pretty gross. They mate like crazy and it totally grossed me out. enjoying YOUR story though :)"

Right now I am not glad. In fact I am quite sad. And feeling a bit inadequate....

I will give it until Monday and then contact the manufacturer.

Stay tuned!

The Great Sea-Monkey Experiment - Day 2

Day 2 - Step 2

It's hard to believe that 24 hours have finally passed. After what seemed like an eternity, the clock struck 5:00 and it was time to blow the whistle and go home.

As soon as I was inside my house, I raced to find Packet 2 that contained the precious eggs and "magic crystal powder". I ripped open the packet and carefully added the mixture to the Magic Castle.

After gently stirring the soon to be re-animated life forms, I placed the Magic Castle back in its warm, bright corner of my kitchen counter.

Now all that's left to do is wait another few days until they hatch. AND then 5 more days until the next step: Step 3- Sea Monkey Growth Food!

While there is much Magic involved in creating life, not much is magical about all the waiting...

Stay tuned.....

The Great Sea-Monkey Experiment - Day 1

Tonight I took the plunge and brought a Sea-Monkey Magic Castle home with me. I was inspired by success stories such as the "Fish-Killer" aka MoM of BoYs with ToYs who is using her Sea-Monkeys to teach her boys about the facts of life!

Not only has she kept them alive, from the sounds of it, may be a "grandmother" soon!


Taking the Plunge -

Nervously I opened the contents of my Magic Castle Kit. I can't believe after all these years, I am finally doing this! Here goes...

Step One: Fill the tank with water and add the contents of packet 1: Sea-Monkey Water Purifier. Stir in the powder for a minute and let sit for 24 hours @ 72-76 degrees Fahrenheit.
DO NOT add the Sea-Monkey Eggs!

Okay.. done and NOT done! Seems easy enough so far.


Step1: Purify the Water



Forgot to tell the kids about the not adding the eggs part, though. Found them staring at the tank admiring the water-purifier crystals swirling about, thinking it was their tiny pet-babies instantly coming to life.

Kept them quiet for a half-hour while I was able to get dinner ready!


The boys were a bit disappointed when I had to break the news to them that the eggs won't be added until tomorrow night. It should take another 2-6 days for the eggs to hatch. I hope we can survive the wait!

Stay tuned!

Sea Monkeys - A Blast From The Past

When I was a child, my parents would not let me buy Sea Monkeys. I really wanted them! I was sucked in by the ads that were placed in the comic books we read back in the 60's. I was convinced that this is how they looked. ( see above image ) I fantasized about growing these tiny underwater people and how they would be my tiny pet-friends. My dad refused to let me waste my allowance on brine shrimp.

Almost 40 years later, I came across this blast through one of my wholesalers.

I once again felt the urge to own these mail order pets.

I asked my boys what they thought about Sea-Monkeys. In addition to the picture in the catalog, I showed them a few actual images from the web. "Ew!!! They look like mosquito larvae!" was the response.








Yet when the Sea Monkeys Magic Castle boxes arrived at my shop, the same kids that were repulsed, suddenly wanted to take a kit home. Even though my boys were aware that the images on the package, are not what "Sea Monkeys" actually look like when hatched, they still had to have them. This is the power of good (albeit misleading) packaging!


The Best Sea Monkey Story

A while back, I was at a gathering where somehow the subject of Sea Monkeys came up in a discussion of nostalgic toys. A gentleman in our group, also a child of the 60's , was lucky enough to have owned these sea creatures. That is until his sister's friend drank them!

Why would someone drink Sea Monkeys?

Apparently the teenage friend was drunk and mistook the glass container the Sea Monkeys were in for a glass of water. She vomited after she realized what she had done. She also was afraid that she might become pregnant from swallowing these tiny sea creatures.
What would these hybrid babies look like? How would she explain this to her parents??? Who would put their beloved pets in a glass of water?

This would never have happened if only he had owned the Sea Monkey Magic Castle!!!