These Top Presents Were Our Editor's Favorite Holiday Gifts They Got as Children

"Like many other children of the '90s and '00s, I was absolutely obsessed with Pokémon, so unwrapping a real Pokédex on Christmas was next-level cool. I cherished this Pokédex like no other gift, used it throughout the years, and still have it to this day. Truthfully, I don't think my parents had any idea of what they were buying me, they just saw the word 'Pokémon' and figured I would like it. Good intuition!" — Nora Smith, senior social media and partnerships coordinator

"From the second I saw Mandy Moore's 'Candy' music video, I wanted this Sony Psyc Discman that she wears. It had a crossbody strap (!) and behind-the-head earphones, which were so ahead of their time. I obsessed over it for months and told my parents (and wrote to Santa) about how cool I thought it was, and when I opened it on Christmas morning, my entire life was made. It was the most memorable Christmas gift from my childhood, and I really, really wish I still had it." — Caitlin Gallagher, senior editor, Living

"A lot of my childhood can be measured out by which toy I would carry around the house with me or insist on playing with as soon as I got home from school, but one of my favorites that I still remember is this Barbie whose hair changed color with water. She came with floral stencils that I never quite aligned perfectly but that I loved because they made me feel like a celebrity hairstylist (and a little bit like a wizard). I also had a Polly Pocket around the same time whose hair changed color depending on whether it was wet with warm or cold water, so maybe toys like these just appealed to my inner scientist. Either way, these dolls were often the highlight of my summer vacations in elementary school, and I would love to go back in time for a few minutes just to experience the magic of seeing Barbie's hair change from blond to pink for the first time all over again." — Chanel Vargas, editorial assistant, Trending and Viral Features

"Having a twin sister is cool and all, but having a doll that looked identical to me was even better. When My Twinn Dolls came out in the early 2000s, my parents thought it would be ironic to get my twin sister and me dolls that looked like us, because, well, we looked nothing like each other (that's fraternal twins for ya). I soon became obsessed with my mini me and took her everywhere I went, dressed her to match me, and thoroughly enjoyed having a twin that actually resembled me. Having such a personalized and thoughtful present made My Twinn Doll the best gift of them all." — Lauren Harano, editorial assistant, Growth and Strategic Features

"My all-time favorite Christmas gift from when I was younger was the Britney Spears tour bus ($260) and doll. I was one of Britney's biggest fans, and when I didn't have 'Oops!... I Did It Again' blasting on repeat, I was playing with my Barbies. I know when my mom saw the set at Toys 'R' Us, she knew she'd hit the jackpot. I don't have a great memory in general, so the fact that this one stands out means it was clearly very special at the time. Alexa, play '...Baby One More Time.'" — Charisandra Perez, social media and partnerships coordinator

"The year was 1991, and I can STILL remember the excitement and anticipation I had for this Holiday Minnie Mouse doll ($35). It was the only gift I cared about that Christmas, and I'm pretty sure my parents pulled a fast one on me by hiding it away so I wouldn't be able to guess based on the size of the box under the tree which gift it was. She had a plush body; a crinkly, iridescent pink dress; and hard rubber components (including removable shoes). But the best part? When you squeezed her, she lit up with twinkle lights and played a song. I mean, does it get better than that?" — Tara Block, director, Growth and Strategic Features

"I was a Barbie girl through and through as a child, so the latest doll, house, or car was always on my wish list. My favorite gift by far was my giant Barbie Dream House ($490) that I received for Christmas one year. It was taller than me and had all of these different rooms to hold my dolls and their furniture. I remember thinking it was the coolest thing, and I played with it daily for years."— Jessica Harrington, associate editor, Beauty