My “find” totaled $0.99. As you can see it is a glow-in-the-dark eyeball bouncy ball. There is something magical about bouncy balls when you’re a kid. Maybe it’s their unruly and unpredictable nature. Maybe it’s because it’s one of the only cool prizes in the gumball machines that you can afford as a kid. I’m not sure but I think it definitely serves as a product that captures the spirit of childhood. Jason and I actually went into the dark bathroom to see how it glows. Boy, did that bring back memories.
Two words: silly string.
I bought 2 items both totally under $5. With quite some giddiness, I bought a frosty from Wendy’s (99 cents). Something I haven’t had in a really really long time, but I remember every once in awhile as a kid, my mom would take me & my younger sister there. As soon as I took one bite, I was wisked away back to sitting there with my mom & my sister….and boy did it taste yummy. I also purchased a little toy replica of the Wright brothers ‘Flyer’ that made the first flight ever in a machine heavier than air in 1903. To think of the courage, that it took Orville & Wilbur to dream up a concoction like that, must have made lots of people think they were crazy. But they pursued their dreams, in my mind, with a childlike persistence to making an imagination become reality.
Comment by Sue on 1/31/2006 @ 5:59 pm
I also bought two items for under $5 today. I got FUN socks. One pair has different colored coats all over them. And the other pair really captures the spirit of childhood — light blue, cornflower, lavender, dark purple and white stripes plus a pink and blue butterfly right on my ankle bone. The cake topper: it came with a ponytail holder with a plastic butterfly on it. All for the bargain price of $1. 
Comment by Jaimie on 1/31/2006 @ 6:26 pm
I bought three helium balloons today - they are a gift for someone else - but gave me childlike glee as I carried them out of the store and into my house!
As for a $5 purchase for myself - I’d planned on getting ice cream tonight with a friend - but lo and behold the ice cream place was closed when we got there! 
I settled on an apple cider at Starbucks - reminded me of the fall weekends we went apple picking when I was a kid! Fall is still my favorite….
So, I didn’t get my “fun” ice cream tonight, but the apple cider was a good second choice!
Comment by Marci on 1/31/2006 @ 10:43 pm
After hearing this challenge I knew where I was headed - the toy aisle! It took me two different stores before I found what I was looking for - a small Lego kit. I’ve always loved Legos and I was disappointed to see that there were very few options in the under $5 category. The best part about the little kit I found is that it comes with it’s own container that also can be used to build with - bonus! It’s definitely something that feeds my creative thinking and I will be having fun with for a long while!
Comment by Jenna on 2/1/2006 @ 1:02 am
The item that I wanted to buy was a metal cap gun. Back then there were lots of choices. The birthday present quality were really heavy metal with pearl-like handles that came with leather holsters with leather ties at the bottom to tie to your leg. Very pricey! Then there are the everyday models that were small that fit nicely in your hand. They were made of tin and usually rusted by the end of summer. Sooner if you left it outside and of course it rained that night and then just before you went to bed you remembered you left it by some rock. I can up empty on that find. I did go to Target with the main purpose of getting a toy and I thought about it all day at work. Luckly I got off at 3:30 and Linda and I rushed up to Target. I calmly approached the toy dept. trying to hid my excitement. I looked at some card games and they were OK. But then LInda called me over and on one end cap there it was, the mother load of old time toys. They had about a dozen offerings and I settled on not 1 but 2 toys. You can do this when you are the boss(almost). I settled on a wooden catch ball. Wooden ball and nicely painted handle with cup to “catch” the ball. Linda said I can open it after I eat my supper. I’m taking it to school I mean work tomorrow.
The other toy is a classic. I spent hours reading the back of cereal boxes wondering how and if this thing really works. I was unbelievable! Old boys, you remember this one, the diving submarine powered by baking soda. I don’t take baths like I did as a tot but I bet I could impress my granddaughters the next time they take a bubble bath!
Comment by Walt Kotecki on 2/1/2006 @ 5:38 pm
[...] Dreary-ness, that begins with ‘D’. The twenty-eighth task: Buy something that captures the spirit of childhood for under $5.00 (including tax). [...]
Pingback by The Rodeo » Blog Archive » Gumball (T.G.E. - Part 28 of 40) on 2/6/2006 @ 4:05 am
Well today we hit the dollar store and found probably the most exciting thing ever! HUGE pink sunglasses. Katie was really excitied to pay for them. They are a great purchase and really helped us out with another challenge. Read #32 for more details….
Comment by Doug and Katie on 2/11/2006 @ 3:35 pm
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