Wanna know where to get Silly Bandz, the hottest kids' accessory of the moment? Tough.
by Lindsay Ferrier
"It makes me kind of sad, Mommy," 5-year-old Punky told me the other day. "Everybody in my class has Silly Bandz except me."
"What in the world are Silly Bandz?" I asked. "They're these bracelets that come in different shapes," Punky explained. "Like animals and Christmas stockings and flowers."
"And every single kid in class has them except you."
"Yes," she nodded solemnly. I thought for a moment and then picked up the phone.
"What are Silly Bandz and where do I get them?" I said as soon as my most in-the-know friend picked up the phone.
"Oh my God," she groaned. "Silly Bandz are like the Beanie Babies of our kids' generation. They're just silicone rubber bands, really. The kids wear them and trade each other for the ones they don't have."
"How did I not know about this?" I demanded.
"I'm wondering the same thing," she said. "They don't even let the kids wear them anymore at St. Matthew because they won't stop playing with them. My first-grader actually thinks they're called Contra Bandz now!"
We both giggled.
"Well, where do I get them? I said.
"Oh, I don't know," she said vaguely. "Gift shops carry them."
"Can you be more specific?"
"Like a Hallmark, maybe?" she said. I sighed in exasperation. Clearly, my so-called friend was keeping her Silly Bandz source to herself. I said goodbye and looked up Phillips Toy Mart in the phone book. If anyone had Silly Bandz, it would be Phillips.
"We're out," the clerk told me over the phone. "We should get a shipment of about 2,000 in on Friday, but call before you come over to make sure they're still here."
"OK," I said, frowning. I could only imagine the mommy melee sure to take place in Phillips' crowded aisles when 2,000 Silly Bandz hit the floor. Santa sweaters would be torn at the seams, Kate Spade flats scuffed beyond consignment. That was totally not my scene. I made a few more calls to nearby gift shops, but came up empty-handed.
"I just don't get this Silly Bandz thing," I said to a huddle of moms at a Christmas party the next night.
"Aren't they awful?" one of them said, shaking her head. "I work at Brentwood High School, and even the teenagers are wearing them."
"My 4-year-old asked for some last week," another mom sighed. "I was like, 'Honey, you're in preschool. How on earth do you even know about Silly Bandz?' "
"So where did you actually find yours?" I asked, a little too eagerly. The group grew quiet. "Well, there's a waiting list," one mom said, looking uneasy. "Or you can, you know, order them online."
"There's a Silly Bandz kiosk at Cool Springs Galleria," another mom volunteered after an uncomfortable pause. I laughed bitterly.
"There's no way in hell that I'm going all the way to Cool Springs for a pack of rubber bands," I said. "I'm not that desperate." But as I watched my daughter join a cadre of Silly Bandz-wearing kindergartners on the way into her elementary school the next morning, I wasn't so sure.
"Silly Bandz!" I laughed to a dad beside me. I tried my best to sound friendly instead of how I was feeling, which was slightly maniacal. "They're everywhere!"
"I know," he said. "I wish I'd thought of that idea."
"And they're so hard to find, too," I said, glancing slyly at him. The dad tugged at his collar uncomfortably and said nothing.
"I know where to get them!" his son piped up from beside him. "Sweet-n-Sassy!"
"Hup!" the dad barked at his son as he said it, before looking back at me, abashed. I grinned evilly.
"Sweet-n-Sassy, eh?" I said. "Gee. I did not know that."
I made plans to head to Sweet N Sassy the very next day, but late that afternoon, I found three packs of Silly Bandz in my mailbox. They were a peace offering from the friend I'd talked to on the phone. Thank God for Catholic guilt. "I have good news," she said when I called to thank her. "I found those Silly Bandz at a shop that's right around the corner from your house!"
When she told me the location, I laughed with cruel pleasure. It's the last place you'd expect to see Silly Bandz, which means that I'm pretty much guaranteed an endless supply whenever I need more. The next day, Punky went to school with a big smile on her face and Silly Bandz up and down both arms.
But don't even think about asking me where I got them. I'm sure as hell not telling you.
Read more Suburban Turmoil at www.suburbanturmoil.com.
Email editor@nashvillescene.com.
Comments (25)
Showing 1-25 of 25
Don't know if the shortage has continued beyond Christmas but if you need more try Spruce on Church Street in Brentwood.
like
dislike
Oy. These are like the slap bracelets of the late-80s to early-90s and the jelly bracelets of the late 90s. When will kids learn that fashion is not a bunch of crap on your arms? Oh, well. At least they take up less space than that truckload of Beanie Babies my mom bought when I was in junior high.
Nope, never heard of them here either. My Kindergarten son has not as far as I know and I think I'll keep it that way! citymommacountrymomma.blogspot.com
I've got two kids in school. How have I not heard of these? Guess I'll have to do some digging. Either that or just shut up and be grateful I don't need to find some.
Wow, I missed the Beanie Baby trend luckily. But I do remember in 6th grade when EVERY kid had Timberland boots and I mean EVERY kid and you couldn't find those suckers for cheaper than $120. I got them for Christmas that year, apparently I missed the Cool Kids back to School memo that said all the kids would be wearing them in Aug... :( I was so uncool for like 4 months... Bspeight.blogspot.com
Love to read your blog! I am so glad I don't have to deal with that "everyone has one except me" stuff yet! Wait until it's something more expensive! UGH! I love that you got the inside info from a kiddo...that's great! http://bullinachinashopmom.blogspot.com/
Silly Bandz have not made it to my neck of the woods yet. There is, however, a serious shortage of Wii controllers in my city. I think everyone here got a Wii for Christmas (us included) and now I cannot find any extra controllers--this is a HUGE problem with three kids!! http://prairieknitwit.blogspot.com
This reminds me of smencils last year at my sons school. Everyone had them and my son had to have them too. Those stupid things were so hard to find around here. It's amazing the things we buy for our kids so they aren't left out.
Haven't heard of Silly Bendz. I have a second grader and the only thing I am dealing with is Club Penguin. Apparently, 2 of her friends showed her the website in computer class and now there is a constant nag going on in my house for a membership. My point of view is you don't have to have everything little thing your friends have. Yeah, go ahead pity my poor kids. Oh, I didn't hear about the whole Zhu Zhu thing until recently online. How do these things become popular? And how do they wear those bracelets in different shapes? http://soulprncs2.wordpress.com/
I haven't heard of Silly Bandz...yet. Thankfully! Reading this made me reminisce about those stringy plastic bracelets we used to wear back in the 80's. You'd wear like 100 of them up your arm. Or intertwine them like the celebrities did (a.k.a. Corey Haim when he was still cool). Or Swatch watches where we used to wear three or four at a time. Cause you can never have enough time on your hands (ok, sorry...bad pun). Or the slap bracelets. Can somebody please explain to me why slap bracelets were ever hot? I mean you slapped yourself on the wrist with them. It was like S&M for teenagers. *sigh* The kids things do in the name of fashion.
Never heard of them. My kids range in age from 10-18. Not in SW michigan anyway.
as far as i know, the craze hasn't hit here but i'm trying to keep myself from running right out to buy them at this moment so that we are ready as soon as they trend makes it here... myattkids.blogspot.com
I am a teenager, and everyone in my school wears them.
All the craze. There are only a few kids that don't have them. Most people just have knock off ones you can get at party stores and are just about the same price.
I have heard it is mainly a trend on the east coast (again, what I have heard).
Really, I think they are cute. I have 22 on my arm right now and I want to go out and get more.
I love sily bandz. Do they in planits? just to let knon if you don't have any sily bandz you can buy them at stors like iparty,the paper stor,and you can trade them to i was so uncool for like 5 months...:(
llllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll
You can get Silly Bandz at CVS, Hallmark, Shaws, Wal-Greens, and lots of other places. Im in 7th grade and EVERYONE has them.
You can get them at between friends and family. A 24 pack is only $1.85 there http://mc1.bfandf.com click on bandzmania on the left menu
i'm a kid myself, and i haven't seen anyone without these things! i bought the whole collection on ebay, and i can't help but feel so happy bout it! so many people wanna trade 'em it's unbelievable!
when will these things ever go outta style???
WoW have not seen so many people "out of style" said my kindergartener after he had already asked his grandparents, aunt & uncle, & me if we knew what silly bandz were! Hard to believe that kids all over us are going crazy over "Silly Bands"! Im still wondering when the cicrulation is going to be cut off of my kids wrist from these "Silly Bands"!! :)
Try something like Silly Bandz. It is called Rubberbandbuddyz
Rubberbandbuddyz.com
