90s Nostalgia

Image from Prime Video

I love making collage art with materials from the 1950s-1970s because I love the aesthetics, and I enjoy feeling like I’m visiting another world. I don’t really use materials from the 1980s through the present because I was born in the early 80s. That imagery doesn’t transport me to another world. It just feels like…that’s when I grew up. 

That said, I do have a soft spot for the 80s and 90s—the 90s, especially. I was in high school in the late 90s, and those were good times, indeed.

Earlier today, I came across a video clip on Instagram from one of my favorite teen shows (more on that below), and it really took me back. It also made me think it might be fun to take a spontaneous, quirky little trip down memory lane. I don’t think I’ve done that on this blog before; so that’s what the rest of this post is. A list of stuff from the 90s that takes me back to simpler times.

  1. Caboodles
  2. See-through everything. I had a see-through phone in my bedroom and probably about a dozen see-through Swatch watches. They were the best.
  3. Trapperkeepers
  4. All things Lisa Frank
  5. The original Super Mario Brothers and Duck Hunt Nintendo game. I found a game cartridge on sale in a local antique store yesterday. The store owner is my friend (we’re also the same age), and after taking a short trip down memory lane, she and I proceeded to explain to her much younger employee just how awesome that game was, including the big orange gun we used to play Duck Hunt.
  6. Grunge, mushroom cuts, perms and flannel shirts
  7. The little rubber balls that came out of quarter vending machines at the grocery store
  8. Quarter vending machines. Do you remember the one with the crane that reached down into the big pile of stuffed animals?
  9. Gum that had a liquid center
  10. Coty perfumes—especially True Lace. I spent a large portion of my formative years smelling like cheap drug store perfume. 
  11. Columbia House
  12. Scholastic book fairs
  13. Beverly Hills 90210
  14. Oregon Trail
  15. Who’s Afraid of the Dark?
  16. Goosebumps
  17. Sweet Valley High (my favorite series)
  18. Scream. I remember being scared by this movie when it first came out. On a recent long-haul flight, I decided to watch it again for old time’s sake…and because I ran out of interesting new releases. It was hilarious. I can’t imagine ever being afraid of that movie.
  19. Daria. I loved Daria in the 90s. I still love Daria. I am a lot like Daria in real life, for better or worse.
  20. Starter pullovers
  21. Beavis and Butthead
  22. Ren and Stimpy
  23. Varsity Blues 
  24. Saved by the Bell
  25. Saturday morning cartoons
  26. Lunchables
  27. American Pie
  28. Singled Out
  29. Double Dare
  30. ET
  31. The Golden Girls
  32. My So-Called Life. I loved this show so, so, so much. And in fact, this is the video clip that prompted this little trip down memory lane. It’s the iconic moment when Jordan grabs Angela’s hand in the hallway. I think I actually felt my heart beating faster as he walked towards her, like I was reliving the suspense. I also had a huge crush on Jared Leto back in the day.

6 responses to “90s Nostalgia”

  1. Bob Avatar
    Bob

    I’m a little older. I graduated in 92. But I loved My So Called Life. I had a crush on Claire Danes. Especially when she was in Romeo and Juliet. I remember mostly everything on your list. Thanks for the trip down memory lane.

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    1. theusedlife Avatar
      theusedlife

      My So-Called Life was the best. I forgot about Romeo and Juliet! I loved that movie. I also had a crush on Leonardo DiCaprio back then. Now that I say that, I can’t believe I didn’t add Titanic to this list. I think I saw it 25 times–and cried every single time lol. Glad you enjoyed the walk down memory lane.

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      1. Bob Avatar
        Bob

        I have to admit I cried too watching Titanic. I haven’t seen Romeo and Juliet since it came out. I remember I loved it back then. And it had a great Radiohead song. Going to have to watched it again, and see if it held up.

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  2. theusedlife Avatar
    theusedlife

    I haven’t seen Romeo and Juliet since it came out either…let me know if it’s still as good!

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  3. Janna Smits Avatar
    Janna Smits

    So I absolutely love this post! I love the 80s and 90s and you brought me back beautifully to the 90s era. Although I am older than you, so experienced it a little differently, so many of the things on your list, I remember. Honestly, your list made me laugh and smile and even cry..good tears..because it was a good life back then..it still is now..but I feel I am constantly battling to keep it simple when not that long ago, it just was simple. And I love the clip you shared from My So Called Life. It actually encompasses what relationships were more like back then..simpler, easier…you didn’t have to decode a text or stalk a social media page or hide behind a screen to express yourself…you passed a handwritten note.. my favorite 🙂 or just simply said what you felt, right to someone’s face..just like he did with “you want to go somewhere?” and then they did…go somewhere, him reaching for her hand..not overanalyzing..just doing it..living life in real time with a real person in front of you..it’s awesome..and Jared Leto was indeed very easy on the eyes 🙂 Thanks for sharing such a unique and fun post!

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    1. theusedlife Avatar
      theusedlife

      Thank you very much, my friend! Things were a lot simpler back then. Passing notes was serious business! 🙂 Especially if there was relationship drama involved. But you’re right: it was much better than communicating through a screen. I’m glad we didn’t have social media back then. If we wanted to see our friends, we spent time with them. If we had something to say, we said it without hiding behind an avatar or pretending to be someone else. The older I get, the more I value simplicity, too—and the less tolerance I have for decoding texts or hiding behind a screen to express oneself or to mess with people. Also, I’m glad you liked the video clip. I think I had a Jared Leto poster on my bedroom wall—that’s another thing I should have included! Hanging posters of our favorite celebrity crushes on our bedroom walls. 😂 I also had a big New Kids on the Block poster at one point. If I remember correctly, some of those posters came from Seventeen (or another teen) magazine.

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