When I was very young (probably around five, based on when this toy came out), I saw these commercials for this amazing Barbie doll that made bubbles fly out of her wings when you waved her around in the air. All you had to do was dip the wings and then as you took her on high-flying adventures, the bubbles just made their way out of the wings because of the force of the wind.
She was this little hellspawn right here.
My family was poor when I was growing up (not to the extent that their parents were when THEY grew up, but enough so that brand new toys were definitely not a priority), and this doll had the hefty price tag of $50. I begged, pleaded, cajoled and did my damnedest to get my grubby little paws on this this. It took me almost a year, but finally, she was mine.
Elated, I ripped her out of the packaging (or, more likely, had my mother cut her out - those boxes are really hard to open) took her outside, dipped her in bubbles and got ready to take her with me on a great quest.
The bubble solution dripped from her wings, so I made sure to wait for it to stop dripping. I held her up, waved her through the air, and nada. I was sure that I just hadn't used enough, so the next time I dunked the wings, I didn't worry when the glycerin started making its way down my arm. That slimy feeling was all going to be worth it.
Alas, no matter how many times I or my mother tried, that witch of a doll didn't create bubbles as she flew. If you held her up to your face and blew through her wings, then sure - you'd get some bubbles. But that wasn't what she was supposed to do.
I never trusted advertising (or Barbies) again.
Now, friendlets, tell me your tales of woe. They likely won't be as long-winded as mine, but I'm sure that some of you had toys that just didn't live up to the hype (I'm looking at you, Slinky fans).
She was this little hellspawn right here.
My family was poor when I was growing up (not to the extent that their parents were when THEY grew up, but enough so that brand new toys were definitely not a priority), and this doll had the hefty price tag of $50. I begged, pleaded, cajoled and did my damnedest to get my grubby little paws on this this. It took me almost a year, but finally, she was mine.
Elated, I ripped her out of the packaging (or, more likely, had my mother cut her out - those boxes are really hard to open) took her outside, dipped her in bubbles and got ready to take her with me on a great quest.
The bubble solution dripped from her wings, so I made sure to wait for it to stop dripping. I held her up, waved her through the air, and nada. I was sure that I just hadn't used enough, so the next time I dunked the wings, I didn't worry when the glycerin started making its way down my arm. That slimy feeling was all going to be worth it.
Alas, no matter how many times I or my mother tried, that witch of a doll didn't create bubbles as she flew. If you held her up to your face and blew through her wings, then sure - you'd get some bubbles. But that wasn't what she was supposed to do.
I never trusted advertising (or Barbies) again.
Now, friendlets, tell me your tales of woe. They likely won't be as long-winded as mine, but I'm sure that some of you had toys that just didn't live up to the hype (I'm looking at you, Slinky fans).
