8 Things Only 90s Kids Will Remember

Sometimes you need to take a step back to when you were a kid.

To most, those were the good ole’ days. No bills, laundry, or responsibilities, and a lot a free time to play with friends. For nostalgia’s sake, I thought up eight of the best throwbacks, guaranteed to bring memories of the early 2000s flooding back. You’ve been warned.

Webkinz

I might not have been able to take care of a real pet, but a virtual pet? You bet! I can’t imagine how many hours I spent playing the arcade games to earn enough KinzCash to buy outfits, accessories, and room décor. I’m sure you can relate. Our pets had to be dressed in the newest styles and have as many rooms as possible in their houses. There were even cars you could put in your room that your Webkinz could take a drive in.

After all these years, I’m here with good news – you can create a new account and get a free pet, or you can log into your account from years ago. The fun childhood memories of Webkinz don’t have to stay in the past! 

Uncrustables

Throw a Smucker’s Uncrustable in a lunch box with a bag of chips and a Capri Sun and we would be set as a kid. (Who likes the crust anyway?) But let’s be honest for a second, we still eat these occasionally. I would be lying if I said I didn’t have some in my freezer right this minute. They’re the best way to get your peanut butter and jelly fix, no effort needed. Just unwrap the package and chow down.

Nintendo DS

I don’t know how I would have survived traveling for the holidays without my Nintendo DS. Time flew by with that thing – a ten hour drive felt like ten minutes. My favorite games were Nintendogs, Super Mario, and Cooking Mama. (Clearly, I was really into the virtual pet scene.) I must have had seven dogs on Nintendogs. I even felt like a real chef with Cooking Mama. I was trusted to cook a gourmet meal and would never settle for anything less than a gold star.

Fuzzy Posters

How many colored fuzzy posters did you hang up around your house as a kid? I loved them! I have memories of spending hours coloring and making sure that they looked perfect. I would feel rebellious when I used markers that didn’t come in the pack. But come on, the colors that came with weren’t always right. (Am I right?) Red, yellow, and blue for ice cream? Nope, I’m raiding the art closet. 

All I can say is, I hope the next generations get to create Fuzzy Poster masterpieces too.

Lip Smackers

I swear I can still hear the sound of the cap popping off before the lip smacking began. There were tons of delicious flavors to choose from, so it’s a good thing they came in variety packs. If you look in my closet or desk at home, you might just find one… or 15.

Lunchables

It’s almost like Lunchables have grown up with us. I even see students with them in the checkout line at the War Eagle Supply Company. The pizza Lunchable was my favorite, hands down. I never got tired of it.

Silly Bandz

I can still see everyone running around looking like they had arms made of rubber. We couldn’t get enough. If one arm was maxed out with Silly Bandz, we started our stash on the next arm. Those things were collectables, and we traded them like treasure. They were almost like our childhood currency.

Tamagotchi

See, I’m not kidding when I say the 2000s were filled with virtual pets. Raising them from an egg to an adult really made them feel like family. How many of you hooked these bad boys to your backpacks and brought them to school? Come recess, everyone whipped them out on the playground. You were really the cool kid if you had multiple hooked to your key ring.

---

I don’t know about you, but I’ve enjoyed this trip down memory lane! It’s so easy to focus on our “big kid responsibilities” that we have now, but hopefully this reminded you of our prime.  

Take time to appreciate your growth, and, as always… 

Be well, Auburn.

---

Photography: Michelle M.