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Articles by Karen Flieger

About Karen Flieger
I was born in the late 1970’s, spent my childhood in the 1980’s, and my pre-teen and teen years in the 1990’s. I graduated from Kennesaw State University in 2001 with a B.A. in English. I collect various forms of media (books, music, movies, and television shows) as well as plush toys, dolls, and Funko figures.
Features

Toy Spotlight: Raspberry Tart and Rhubarb Monkey

Karen Flieger

One day when I got off the bus in kindergarten, my mom was waiting for me in the car with my brother strapped into his car seat. It was March of 1983 and we had CONTINUE READING…

Features

Event Spotlight: IBM Christmas Party

Karen Flieger

Sometime in December, my parents would get us dressed up and into the car and my dad would drive us all downtown to a big office building or hotel or banquet hall. I don’t remember CONTINUE READING…

Features

Media Spotlight: Little Drummer Boy/Peace on Earth (David Bowie & Bing Crosby)

Karen Flieger

1. Why did I choose to cover this recording?  It’s now officially Christmastime, for starters. For another, this now classic version of the song is celebrating its forty-fifth anniversary this year.  My mom told me CONTINUE READING…

Aladdin
Features

Toy Spotlight: Aladdin Toys

Karen Flieger

1. Why did I choose this toy/these toys?  This isn’t just one toy, it’s a whole bunch of toys in two formats: Barbie style fashion doll and (mostly) plush animals. Aladdin was my favorite of CONTINUE READING…

White Ranger
Features

Toy Spotlight: Search for The White Ranger

Karen Flieger

1. Why did I choose this toy?  I chose the White Ranger for two reasons: 1. It’s a story about looking for a popular toy for a child at Christmastime. 2. The recent tragic passing CONTINUE READING…

California Ken
'80s

Toy of the Week: California Ken

Karen Flieger

                     Over the summer, I wrote an article about the first Ken(s) I received, Roller Skating Ken. I also wrote about how those first Ken dolls CONTINUE READING…

'80s

Toy of the Week: Mr. Sketch Scented Markers

Karen Flieger

If the 1980s had to be summed up with one specific sense, it would be scent. From Strawberry Shortcake dolls to Scratch and Sniff stickers and anything from Yankee Candle or Bath and Body Works, CONTINUE READING…

Cody the Coca Cola Plush Critter
Features

Toy of The Week: Cody the Coca Cola Plush Critter

Karen Flieger

The selection for this article is inspired by my one of the prizes from my entry in the TRN Summer Camp program earlier this summer: a metal lunch box filled with penny candy. The winners CONTINUE READING…

Features

Summer Reading Program: A season full of books

Karen Flieger

When Eric announced his idea for this series, I was very excited. Books have always been a big part of my life. My mom always read and the library was a frequent errand for us.  CONTINUE READING…

Features

Toy of the Week: Roller Skating Ken (Mattel, 1981)

Karen Flieger

Growing up as a girl in the 1980’s, Barbie and her friends were a major portion of my childhood. Barbie was (and still is) present at birthday parties, on Christmas morning, every Saturday morning, after CONTINUE READING…

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'90s

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