Skip- It

Every little I knew wanted a skip it.

You don't remember skip its? Let me refresh your memory!

Skip-It was a toy popular in the late nineties. It was a ring attached to alittle ball that had a counter on it. You put it your ankle and skip basically as fast as you can.

I begged my grandma to get me one for Christmas and she got it. That summer I had a brand new skip it and everyone wanted to play with it.

We would have skip it contests and it was a great way to exercise too!

Kriss Krossed Clothing

I was never into fashion. Even as an adult I'm not into labels, If it's nice I'll wear it, it doesn't have to cost alot.

As a child, before I realized I was a girl and had to cross my legs, wear skirts, and act like a lady, I was a tomboy and proud of it!

While some girls were playing with Barbies and Easy Bake Ovens, wearing their ribbons and barretts, little frilly skirts, and mary jane shoes, I was a basketball playing, dirt bomb hurling, sneaker and overall wearing "little thing" 

My grandmother would often say she didn't know where I came from.

My older cousin Mikey had his own room, (I had to share with my sister unfortunately)and everytime I came to my aunt house I would eye this huge poster he had of a hip hop group called Kriss Kross. 

I thought they were so dope! They were rebel. They had baseball jerseys, jeans, and jordans, but they were backwards!

Me being the tomboy I was followed that trend. My grandma hated it! But she allowed me to be an individual, Sunday I had to dress how she wanted me to dress for church. I went into my 3rd grade class with my clothes on backwards and everyone would just stare, a few of my friends even adopted the trend.

Those were some good times, I didn't stay a tomboy forever, now I've come into my own, I wear dresses, or jeans and a tee sometimes. My mom and grandma would be proud.

Did you remember Kriss Kross? Did you ever wear your clothes backwards?

Check A Box Notes

Do you like me? Check yes, no, or maybe.

You didn't have a childhood if you haven't passed this type of note to a crush or to a potential friend.
This note, as simple as it is, can either make you happy or sad within seconds.

I remember my first check a box note. I was in the sixth grade, and I had a huge crush on this adorable boy named Justin(R.I.P) he had some of the prettiest hazel eyes I've ever seen, he had braids, caramel complexion and was one of the class clowns. Every girl in my class liked him. There were a few he took a liking too, but he never expected the "nerdy girl" aka moi, to like him.

My friends would clown me and call me a punk on several occasions because I didn't have the courage to ask Justin if he liked me. But oh how the fates had me in mind. Our social studies teacher had partnered everyone into groups of two to do an assignment in our textbooks, and thankfully he paired me up with Justin!

I don't think Social Studies was Justin's strong point because all he did was copy my answers, and I didn't care because I had a crush on him. So we're almost done with the assignment, and I quickly scribbled "Do You Like Me?" along with three boxes: yes, no, and maybe. I slid it in his textbook.

School ended and we were all getting our backpacks and things out of the coatroom, and I hear giggling.  Justin had read my note to his friends, and I was so embarrassed. His answer was.... no.

That was my first heartbreak. Once we graduated elementary school, I never seen Justin again. It wasn't until a few years ago that I heard from a friend that he was shot and killed.

Do you remember your first check a box note? What was your answer and what answer did you get?

Getting your Roll Bounce on at the skating rink

Every other Friday night when we had atleast $15 in our pockets and a cute outfit, me and my friends would go rollar skating!
This is a memory that i'm trying to relive because rollarskating, even though it was popular in the 80's during the late 90's when I was a tween, that's where everyone hung out, now everyone just goes to the club.

The most popular skating rinks in my area were Skate 22 and Branchbrook Rollerskating rink. Me and my girls had to catch a train, and two buses to get to Branchbrook, and we would need a ride to get to Skate 22.

The DJ would play the hottest music, the lights were going off, and everyone was on the floor skating, falling, dancing in the dark corners, eating, playing arcade games, or just chilling. My favorite song to skate to was Soul for Reals "Every lil thing I do"

I remember watching the older men and women do skate routines and tricks, the only trick I knew was skating backwards. I also remember my feet hurting like hell because I skated for hours until the dj cut the music.

Good memories, I even got my first kiss at Branchbrook.

Do you remember skating rinks? Check out the vid

Mister Softee

Summer time was my favorite season as a kid. No school, endless hours outside playing with my friends, bbq's. There was one thing no kid could go without.... You would hear the jingle blocks away, I would make a dash upstairs to beg my mom or grandma for $1 and race back downstairs hopefully to be first in line at a white truck covered in pictures of delicious frozen treats. If your mama said no tears would flood your eyes.

Mister softee was a staple in my neighborhood. Every kid in my apartment complex would beg and plea for a soft serve icecream cone with confetti sprinkles or a milkshake. And if you was a big timer you would get a banana boat!

I have yet to get a banana boat, hopefully that will change.

As a adult when I hear the jingle I fight the urge to race to the truck

before we had coldstone, Maggie moos, or even dairy queen, there was mister softee. Next time you see a truck get the chocolate cone dipped in strawberry, it's amazing! Do you remember mister softee? What was your favorite treat?

Word Up Magazine!

WORD UP MAGAZINE!!!

Man oh man! This is a good memory. The 90's bought us some of the most timeless music that is still being played today. Before MySpace, Facebook, twitter, and instagram the only way you could connect or get info on your favorite musical celebs was to buy a copy of Word Up magazine.

Each issue from what I remember would cost $1.50 and in each issue you would get posters! Huge posters that would be taped on the walls of blossoming teenage girls and boys.

I shared a room with my sister and on the wall I would tape up posters and kiss them. I could remember this huge poster of  Ginuwine or Ginu-fine, that I would kiss every night. I was truly smitten with Ginuwine back in the day!

This was also my first introduction to journalism, which is what I'm pursuing now as a career.

Do you remember word up magazine? Which artist was on your favorite issue?

The Loop

 

All my Jersey folks remember this one!

The loop... wow, this brings back memories.

I was about fourteen when "The Loop" was the hottest thing around. For those who aren't from Jersey, you may be wondering "what the fuck is the loop?" Well..

The loop was a telephone chatline, where you called in and chatted with random folks. Most of these people were either horny teenage boys, lonely nerds, crazy old men, or wanna be djs. You could either talk to someone one on one, exchange voice messages, or just talk with dozens of people in the open chatline.

You had to be eighteen or older to even be on the loop, but me being the curious creature that I am, called in. (I had to make sure my grandmother was asleep first, because she would pick up the phone and listen to your whole conversation...love you nana!)

Now when I think about it, the loop was my first introduction to phone sex, I didn't know back then and didn't know how to handle when dudes would send me messages asking me to moan or describe what I had on.

But all in all the loop was fun, and I would be on it for hours! 

I just found out the loop is still running! CRAZY HUH?

Do you remember the loop?