Garanimals for Life

It was during a back-to-school shopping trip when I was first introduced to the wonderful world of… Garanimals. I was only 7 years old at the time, yet the concept behind this brand fascinated me. I left the store that day with my very own Garanimals outfit, just in time to kick off 2nd grade. I still remember that striped top and those green pants, with the wooden button. 

The genius behind Garanimals was based on their animal-tag system, which provided each piece of clothing with a designated animal, such as a lion, giraffe, or hippopotamus. You simply matched pieces together that had the same animal. Aside from the specific animal that was assigned to each tag, there were fun instructions on each tag as well, like, “I’m a zebra pant Garanimal, match me to my zebra shirts.” This simple prompt took the guesswork out of shopping, even for children. They could choose their own outfits, which matched perfectly every time, and parents could avoid the daily struggle that came with getting kids dressed and out the door.   

However, Garanimals was more than just brilliant marketing. It was family friendly, as well. At a time when funds were tight for many parents, these clothes were both well made and well priced, making this line of clothing the perfect fit for the family budget. Like most children from that era, I outgrew my Garanimals long before I wore them out. 

The Garanimals tag system eliminated the guess work from a specific segment of life, which not only saved time, but it helped to reduce stress, as well. By removing the ‘trial and error’ phrase, getting ready in the morning became more efficient and more streamlined.

But what would it be like if we could remove the guesswork from other areas of our lives, as well, such as home decor, floral arrangements, or even relationships. A similar tag system could guide us in selecting the perfect area rug for our couch or the perfect flower combination for a centerpiece. It could even help us develop friendships with more like-minded people. 

While my fashion sense was much more predictable with the Garanimals brand, I think there’s a time for being efficient and there’s a time for embracing trial and error. As I started to explore my own sense of style as a teenager, I’ll admit, I had plenty of horrible hairstyles and unflattering outfits. I also had plenty of experience with unreliable friends. Unfortunately, certain lessons in life can’t be made more efficient or more streamlined. 

Throughout the turbulent teen years, I had my share of trial and error where friends and fashion were concerned.  Along the way, I learned firsthand that everything in life isn’t a perfectly matched fit…and that’s ok. From that area rug with a curious pattern to that friend with the perfect pop of personality, oftentimes, it the mismatched parts in life that are the most beautiful. 

As a side note, I will be changing the platform for my podcast,

The Final Thoughts Podcast. This shouldn’t affect anything. I’m just making you aware in case things look a little different for the next couple of weeks.

Also, I’ve published my 2nd children’s book! 

My first book, The Sneaky Freckle, is based on my daughter's journey after discovering her first freckle. My latest book, The Sneaky Braces, is based on my son’s experiences with braces as a child. Both books are now available on Amazon. Be sure to check them out!

I hope you have a great rest of the week.