Flying Finnegan Board Game

Flying Finnegan Board Game from 1978

Every once in a while, I'll get a text or Facebook message from my younger brother asking me if I can recall this game we used to play way back in the late 1970s or early 1980s. He never can quite recall the name of it other than the term, "Flying F-something" ... Tonight he texted me asking if I remembered how much we enjoyed playing, "Flying Flannigan." 

Flying Finnegan from Kenner

We both knew this wasn't what this game was really called. And to be honest, I couldn't even remember what the object of this game was. I just knew there was some wacky board game we loved to play with a funny name. I reminded him about my love for Run Yourself Ragged. But felt bad that I couldn't offer him any other memory behind this "Flying" game that was so special to him.

Thankfully, Board Game Geek once again came through for me. And there it was, the complete Flying Finnegan lowdown.That was it! It was called Flying Finnegan -- a 1978 game from Kenner. Classified as a board game, this game was more of a tabletop action game. It was perfect for two players around the age of 6 or 8 - though I think my brother may have been under the suggested age.

You have to view the above YouTube video to really see how the game is played. It's like a cause and effect type situation game. You launch something and then another thing happens which then causes another thing to happen. It always reminded me of those funny contraptions you'd see in a cartoon usually with a brainy scientist would be behind it. Think Data from The Goonies. 

Anyone remember this?

*Photos take from Board Game Geek.

1980s Dolly Pops & Snap-on Clothes

Like most little girls growing up in the '80s, I loved anything girly (in addition to smurfs of course). Dolls such as Barbie, Cabbage Patch -- you name it, I had to have it! One particular toy I liked you may not remember, Dolly Pops or Dolly Pops Dress-ups. Unlike most dolls, Dolly Pops were made of a hardened plastic, but had soft doll hair. The dolls had snap-on clothes and snap-on toy accessories. 

Here's a somewhat disturbing TV commercial for Dolly Pops featuring a grown woman with a childlike voice. Enjoy!

Ten Things About Strawberry Shortcake

It's no surprise to moms and collectors, that the Strawberry Shortcake character has certainly made a comeback over the past few years. I personally have never gotten over my love of the character. Although she doesn't rate as high as the Sanrio characters in my world, she's still aces just the same.


Thanks to Target, we own a Strawberry Shortcake pillowcase. I blogged about my obsession with fun 1980s bedding a while back. Sadly hubs made me remove the photo of him fast asleep on the Strawberry Shortcake pillow.


Back in 2000, I picked up some cute Strawberry Shortcake juice glasses on eBay. Like 'em?

Now to help keep you in-the-know about all things Strawberry Shortcake ... I've summed it up in 10 quick points below.

10 Things You Should Know About Strawberry Shortcake

1. Strawberry Shortcake is licensed and owned by American Greetings.
2. American Greetings Juvenile artist, Muriel Fahrion is the original designer of Strawberry Shortcake and her cat Custard from back in 1977.
3. The very first line of dolls were made by Kenner and released in 1979.
4. The first line of dolls had flat, outstretched hands and came with hair combs. They consisted of five dolls, each sold separately: Strawberry Shortcake, Huckleberry Pie, Blueberry Muffin, Apple Dumplin' and Tea Time Turtle and Purple Pie Man who had curved hands.
5. The very first Strawberry Shortcake dolls were rag dolls made with plastic doll heads. The heads were too heavy for the stuffed, soft dolls and were later developed to have soft heads.
6. Strawberry Shortcake dolls were scented to match their name. 
7. The character Plum Puddin', originally a male character, debuted in 1980, but wasn't made into a doll until 1984 and was released as a female character. 
8. From 1980-1985, yearly Strawberry Shortcake TV specials aired on TV.
9. As of June 2008, Hasbro owns and markets the Strawberry Shortcake line of toys. The characters have since been updated and no longer reside in Strawberryland. Today's characters live and work in Berry Bitty City.
10. Celebrate 30 years of Strawberry Shortcake on July 16 & 17 at Hasbro's Strawberry Shortcake Convention in Rhode Island. I wish I could attend, but it's hub's birthday weekend and we have a party for my grandma's birthday. 

 

If you're a fan of Strawberry Shortcake and want to make yourself sick with jealousy, check out this collector's stuff. If I owned a house and had lots of extra cash, I would so love to have a collection like that.

photo was snagged from LikeTotally80s.com

Check out Heather O'Rourke from Poltergeist and Happy Days fame in this Strawberry Shortcake commercial.  Sadly she passed away at age 12 in 1988. I'll do a post on her tomorrow. 

I Never Had Fashion Plates

I love complaining about the many toys my parents didn't purchase for whatever reason. You've already read about the Barbie Dream House and lovely ballet shoe box-style tote bags I missed out on. Here's one more item to add to that list... So glad my mom isn't a regular reader.

FASHION PLATES

Growing up in the late 1970s-1980s, every girl wanted them and more importantly it seemed like every girl had them. Get your mind out of the gutter... I'm talking about Fashion Plates. 

Manufactured by Tomy, the idea was based upon 18th century fashion design and consisted of plastic plates with indentations of various skirts, tops and pants.

By rubbing a colored pencil over a piece of paper, the fashionable items instantly came to life. Girls could mix and match the different plastic fashion plates to create winning looks. The finished product was then shared with style savvy friends or posted on the fridge. 

I remember playing with friends' Fashion Plates, but never had my own set. I bet Mom did a quick assessment of the toy and realized it was the type of thing that would keep me occupied for an hour or so, then after a week would collect dust, eventually ending up in a landfill years later.

While researching Fashion Plates, I visited the Tomy USA website to see what they're offering today's crafty kid. I actually stumbled upon an awesome toy I wouldn't mind having today, the Cella Sticker Maker! How cool! 

Sadly, I didn't see Fashion Plates on the Tomy-USA website, although I did notice other toy companies offering more modernized fashion design toys and craft books. I think I even purchased one for my 12-year-old cousin last Christmas.