Nostalgia Jar

The Nostalgia Jar: A Love Letter to My Childhood

There’s something magical about nostalgia.

A scent, a sound, a jingle, a memory....and suddenly you're back there.

In a simpler time.

In a room that no longer exists, with people who may have changed or drifted.

But for a moment… it’s all right there again.

I created this Nostalgia Jar as a visual time capsule.

Instead of just listing memories, I sketched them out.

Here’s a little tour through the things that shaped me, made me smile, and still tug at my heart:

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My Personal Throwbacks:

Riverview High School: Where it all happened. The drama, the laughter, the growth.

The Sims: My first obsession. I was practically a digital architect.

Riding the school bus: Rainy mornings, sticky vinyl seats, blasting music through headphones

The iPod Nano: The soundtrack to my teen years-complete with headphone tangles.

Motorola Razr Flip Phone: That satisfying snap when you hung up. Iconic.

Windows XP: Boot-up sounds, endless Solitaire games, and LimeWire chaos.

Creme Savers: My Nana and Papa always had them tucked away in their RV. It was like a little treasure chest of strawberry swirls. Every visit came with a hug, a story, and a handful of those candies.

Barbie Dolls: My first imagination playground.

Fear Factor nights with my mom: We’d sit on the couch, dinner on wooden table trays, watching people eat bugs and do wild stunts while we cracked up like we were part of the show. It started as something fun to watch-but it became our thing. A ritual. A little bubble of comfort and connection.

Christmas mornings: The tree. The matching pajamas. The smell of cinnamon rolls in the oven. The warmth and excitement that filled the room. The kind of joy you can still feel when you close your eyes and remember.

My Horizon School Lunch Pin Pad: Yes, I still remember it-902501. I typed it in every single day. That keypad might as well have been a lifeline. Isn’t it funny what sticks?

My dad’s Acura Integra: The one with no A/C, roll-up windows, and a broken seat belt. It shouldn’t have felt safe, but somehow it did.

And in that car… was one of my favorite memories.

He used to flip open the mirror on the sun visor and say, “Is that Regina?” pretending my reflection was someone else. I’d giggle and say, “No, it’s me!”

He told me later he started doing it to distract me after I got sad when my mom dropped me off. But after a while, it wasn’t a distraction. It was just… us.

A silly, sacred game. One that made the car ride feel less heavy.... Less in-between. With my Dad♡

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These little things hold so much weight.

They were part of my becoming.

The world looked different through that lens....more wonder, less worry.

And somehow, in remembering… I feel pieces of myself coming back home.

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Reflection Prompt:

What would be in your Nostalgia Jar?

Grab a pen. Doodle. Scribble. Write.

You might be surprised by what still lives in your heart.

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Scripture:

“He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also, he has put eternity into man’s heart…” -Ecclesiastes 3:11

Kristen, Unfiltered Xo 💋