Somehow I always assume that we in the United States are much more susceptible to consumerist crazes and get-rich-quick schemes! Of course, the Dutch tulip bubble-and-bust of the 17th century disproves my theory. As to England’s “blankie” craze: we had some crazed nights in our home when our daughter’s blankie got lost, but hers was the old-fashioned, scrap of baby blanket kind. Typical, nowadays, that someone would find a market niche for anything. Of course, children will probably always thwart that–somehow our kids always found a way to play with the cardboard boxes rather than what came inside them.

The latest thing here seems to be “blankies” – a purpose made piece of cloth with maybe some sort of toy attached to it to replace the comfort scrap of muslin or blanket babies often get attached to. Someone definitely realised there was a gap in the market!

We loved our local independent toy store for the same reason, though I loved the $5 price and the convenience and knowing it would always be a treasured gift. The craze kind of ruined all that. Our toy store went out of business a long time ago. Now we seem to be in the midst of a nail salon and fitness center craze.

Ah, you bring back memories! We, too, made many McDonald’s runs. Though no doubt we scarfed down the food rather than throwing it in the trash.

Only one of ours is in an acrylic box and only because it was gifted that way: a praying angel polar bear with iridescent wings.