What was your best childhood Christmas Gift? Read more to find out mine… #ChosenByKids

I will have to say, my childhood was blessed and wonderful in so many ways.  We had little to no money year after year until I was in my teens.  Each Christmas, my mom tried to make it as special as possible with what little income she had.  With some great imagination and the help of my grandparents, she always seemed to manage to get me that ONE GIFT I really wanted.

Now my birthday is in September, and that month was always especially hard on her because of all of the back-to-school purchases she had to make.  I remember one year, money was so tight that I got two presents.  They were items I had always asked for whenever we were at the grocery, but could not fit into the already tight budget.  That year I got a box of Caprisun (they were new to the market back then) and a 70-page spiral bound notebook with Snoopy on the front.  I treasured those two gifts and remember that they were truly gifts of love because that is all she could afford at the time.

By the time Christmas that year rolled around, this beautiful new house was hitting the market and I really wanted it for my childhood best friend – Barbie.  This house was over $100 back then and that was a month’s worth of groceries for us.  I don’t know how she did it, but my mom managed to get me that Barbie Dream House.  It was sparce, of course.  I had to use my imagination and some stuff in my room to create furniture in this illustrious house, because we could not afford the real Barbie furniture, but again, I would not trade that for the world.

I held onto that Barbie Dream House for years before we finally sold it in a yard sale.  I secretly wish I still had it today to give to my daughter and maybe one day, granddaughter.   The memories I have of that house will always be fond and withstand the test of time to me.

A year or two later, Cabbage Patch Dolls hit the market and again, I really wanted one.  My mom hit the store on Black Friday to get me a doll, any doll, that she could get her hands on.  She hid it at the neighbors house until Christmas morning and when I awoke, there was Trisha Noell underneath the Christmas tree.   I still have that doll.  She is tattered and old, but is one of the first year, original dolls that is all cloth and even has Xavier Roberts signature on her tush.  I don’t know why I remember her name, even though her clothing and birth certificate are long gone.  I am glad I held onto her and gave her to my daughter.

Christmas is a huge event in my house now. I am able to do and give more to my family.  I do not over indulge, but try and give the right balance of wants and fond memories.

This was the year iPad first hit the market.  Of course we know it was and still is all the rage, but I certainly couldn’t afford one.  I became an instant “SWEEPER” and was entering every iPad contest I could find.  Thanks to my time and diligence, I did win one and you can clearly tell by that wide grin Hannah as surprised and loved her “big” gift.

Christmas is all over the place already in stores and windows of my town.  It really gets me excited and puts me the holiday festive spirit every day.  I am excited to share that I will be attending the Walmart Toyland Event this weekend at my local Walmart to see what the hottest toys are for 2014!  I will have the chance to play and interact with all of the #ChosenByKids toys for 2014 and pick up a few things while I am there.

Check your local Walmart out in November and December, 2014 to see when you can see all the latest and hottest toys of 2014! Don’t forget while you are there to utilize Walmart’s Free Layaway Service and Walmart Credit Card on all your toy purchases.

Disclosure:  This is a sponsored post on behalf of Sverve and Walmart.  Regardless, all opinions are 100% my own.

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