My Teddy Bear (Circa 1988)

First of all, happy National Teddy Bear Day! Second, I have a way-back Wednesday post to share with you. (I would’ve saved this for tomorrow for a true “throwback Thursday,” but since today is National Teddy Bear Day, it only makes sense to share it now).

In my last post I shared my daughter’s connection with Snuggle Bear and how much that teddy bear means to her and her best friend, but I actually have another story I want to tell you about real quick about my Snuggle Bear.

My history with Snuggle Bear actually goes waaaaaaaay back. Back to 1988, if you want to be exact.

Yup, that’s me and my brother back in the 80s!

When I was four years old, my mom won a nationwide Snuggle contest. The giveaway was in the Sunday paper, and she had to call a long-distance phone number to see if she was a winner. Well, she called and actually won! (Side note: this day and age everyone would’ve thought it was a scam, but it was 100% legit.) Since this was before Internet and email, they sent her hard copies of everything, and she kept it in a scrapbook—it’s so fun to see all of the documents and correspondence between her and the Snuggle company.

Her prize was an all-expense-paid trip to New York City for the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. Can you believe it?!

So 28 years ago, we all hopped on a plane and spent our Thanksgiving in NYC. Snuggle gave us the star treatment: we rode in a limousine, stayed at the Marriott Marquee, ate at fancy-schmancy restaurants, gawked at the business of Manhattan from our room, watched the parade up close and personal, and, of course, they gave me and my brother a Snuggle Bear. 

I had several dolls growing up, and lots of toys, but this is the only actual teddy bear I remember owning. Not only that, but I still have it—sort of—it’s at my parents’ house. And get this, a few years after these pictures were taken, we even named our dog Snuggles!

I’ve always had a soft place in my heart for the Snuggle brand and their lovable Snuggle Bear! If you want to read more about what Snuggle is doing for National Teddy Bear Day (today!!), check out this post.

And by all means, tell me about your teddy bear in the comments!