The Mega Evolution: Phantasmal Flames expansion has officially dropped, and it has set the Pokémon TCG community ablaze! With its spectacular Special Illustration Rares (hello, Mega Charizard X ex!) and competitively viable cards like Dawn and Mega Lopunny ex, the set has already solidified its place as a powerhouse release.
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| Thank you Nintendo of America! My sons are SO LUCKY!!! So am I! |
The wait is almost over, trainers! The most anticipated Pokémon title of the year, Pokémon Legends: ZA, is officially set for a worldwide release on October 16, 2025. This groundbreaking new installment promises to redefine the Pokémon experience, and you'll be able to play it on both your Nintendo Switch and the next-generation Nintendo Switch 2.
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| Fully customizable player skins! |
Pokémon Legends: ZA takes us on an unforgettable journey through a massive urban redevelopment plan for Lumiose City, codenamed "Project Z.A." This isn't your typical Pokémon adventure across a sprawling region; instead, you'll be exploring a meticulously crafted cityscape, with bustling streets, verdant parks, and hidden corners waiting to be discovered. This unique setting provides a fresh new challenge and a vibrant world that feels more alive than ever before.
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| Lucario showing off his MEGA Evolution! |
One of the most thrilling announcements for long-time fans is the official, full-fledged return of MEGA Evolutions! This powerful transformation mechanic, which debuted in the original Pokémon X and Y, will be a central part of the gameplay in Pokémon Legends: ZA. Imagine your favorite Pokémon unleashing a temporary, more powerful form in the heat of battle, adding immense strategic depth to your team composition and tactics. The stunning visuals of these transformations will be truly breathtaking on the Nintendo Switch 2's enhanced hardware.
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| Rogue Battle with Rogue Mega Victreebell! |
Building on the foundation of its predecessor, Pokémon Legends: ZA features real-time battles that seamlessly blend with exploration. You can engage with wild Pokémon directly in the overworld, giving you a sense of freedom and immersion never before seen in a main-series Pokémon game. This dynamic system makes every encounter feel more immediate and exciting, requiring quick thinking and strategic positioning as you navigate the city's terrain. The urban environment of Lumiose City provides a fantastic new playground for these action-oriented battles.
Just like in Pokémon Legends: Arceus, a robust day and night cycle will have a significant impact on your journey. As the in-game clock progresses, the world of Lumiose City will change. Certain Pokémon species might only appear at specific times, and the entire atmosphere of the city will transform as day turns to night. You'll need to adapt to the changing environment and plan your exploration and battles accordingly.
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| Gift Idea! Pair the Pokémon Mega Evolutions TCG with the new Pokémon Legends: ZA for the holidays! |
The excitement doesn't stop with the video game! The release of Pokémon Legends: ZA is perfectly complemented by the brand-new Pokémon Trading Card Game expansion, Mega Evolution. This new set brings the powerful Mega Evolution mechanic to the TCG in a big way, with stunning new "Mega Pokémon ex" cards. Whether you're a video game player, a TCG collector, or both, the two releases work hand-in-hand. You can now build a deck with your favorite Mega Pokémon while simultaneously using their incredible power in Lumiose City on your Nintendo Switch or Nintendo Switch 2.
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| Perfect gift idea for fans, young and old! |
Pokémon Legends: ZA is one of the biggest upcoming games for the Nintendo Switch 2, and Nintendo is celebrating with an incredible bundle! You can get the new Nintendo Switch 2 console bundled with a full game download of Pokémon Legends: ZA – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition. This is the perfect way to jump into the new generation of gaming with a title that showcases the console's incredible power, including enhanced resolution and frame rates.
With the release date of October 16, 2025, fast approaching, now is the time to secure your copy.
Pre-order Pokémon Legends: ZA for Nintendo Switch or Switch 2 on the Nintendo eShop.
Upgrade from the Switch to the Switch 2 for $9.99!
Hess Toy Trucks have been delighting fans for 60 years with their annual releases of holiday toy trucks; each year just got better and better. It always felt like Christmastime when my dad came home with that large white bag that said HESS, I knew a new Hess Toy Truck had arrived. Each year my dad's collection grew, and as children, we admired the lights and sounds, and the unique pieces that celebrated our local superheroes with emergency vehicles like fire trucks, ambulances, and police cars. My favorite Hess Toy Trucks were the haulers and military vehicles. Each Hess Toy Truck box was carefully stored and unearthed when my sons were born. They too admired the same intricate details and marveled at the size of these moving toy marvels.
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Hess Toy Truck fans can join in on the 60th-anniversary festivities with new collectible releases, Hess Toy Truck giveaways, and reviews from Hess Toy Truck fans like me, so be sure to favorite this page and follow me along on a Hess Toy Truck adventure!
Back to School is around the corner, and I always like to surprise my boys with a gift to commemorate their milestone! If you do the same, I suggest buying My Plush Hess Truck: 2024 School Bus, but get this fast as it often sells out! The My Plush Hess Truck: 2024 School Bus is designed with little Hess Toy Truck fans in mind that is squeeze-activated plush that plays three sounds and lights up. There is even a quiet mode for bedtime squeezies and not middle-of-the-night wake-ups. This is the perfect plush for the up-and-coming Hess Toy Truck fans now in the fifth release of the award-winning plush series from Hess. The plush collectible is available at HessToyTruck.com for $35.99 with free standard shipping and Energizer® batteries and is safe for kids of all ages.
This blog post contains affiliate links. Should you click through, it is at no cost to you! Please let me know if you do shop through my links, so I can thank you directly! I also may have been gifted products for my honest review, all opinions are my own. I give detailed and honest reviews, so follow me for more!
McFarlane Toys announced their collaboration with MMO and ARPG gaming giant, Blizzard Entertainment, with a release of collectibles representing their IPs Diablo, World of Warcraft, and the upcoming mobile game, Warcraft Arclight Rumble universes.
With the announcement of Diablo 4, McFarlane Toys rocked the world of players and collectors alike with their latest venture, immortalizing the games of Blizzard Entertainment in plastic and resin. McFarlane Toys is known for Spawn, and reigniting the flames of collectors every where, especially with their multiple points of articulation, hand painted sculpts, and unique character choices spanning from the pages of comic books to movies and TV.
In addition to my husband playing Diablo 4, looks like I’ll have to create some shelf space for a necromancer, Druid, priest, mage, and more. McFarlane Toys figures usually boast 12+ points of articulation, are hand painted, and are don’t disappoint in size. I am hoping for a Lichking figure and a Lilith figure.
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| Ryan's World Galaxy Explorers Micro Figure Egg (right) |
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| Collect Micro Figures like Ryan's twin sisters, Emma or Kate |
There aren’t just toys at insanely low prices this Amazon Prime Day, you can save big on electronics, too! Apple AirPod deals were just announced today at over 20% off! Everyone is itching to get out of dodge this year, so Samsonite luggage is delivering early deals for Amazon Prime Day! Need a new TV? Save $170 on a 70" 4K television by Insignia! You can never have enough HDMI inputs, so this HDMI splitter is very helpful and under $10! Save big on Amazon Echo this Prime Day as well to give your smart set up a sleek upgrade.
Are you looking for the perfect gifts during Black Friday at Target? I’ve collected the top deals that I think are worth your time for in-person shopping, and the right price for convenient (and safe!) online shopping! Give more this holiday season and spend way less! Shop with your RedCard to get an additional 5% off! If you're shopping online, get an additional 1% Cashback with Rakuten for online purchases (shipped and even online)! I have earned over $1,000 in shopping cashback refunds in the seven years I have been using Rakuten! Sign up now!
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That's me! |
Back to the Future Dice Through Time, Ravensburger With nostalgic nods to this 80s classic trilogy, Back to the Future Dice Through Time will have the whole family working together! Play out key events from the movie and return stolen items before you’re “OUTATIME.” This is the perfect gift for fans of Back to the Future and ‘80s film buffs! 10+ $14.99
Elf Journey from the North Pole, Funko Games I would be sitting on a throne of lies if I didn't include this game in my round-up. You all know how much we love anything Funko, and their games line is no exception. Pour yourself a cup of the World's Best Coffee, and gather around the table for this fun cooperative game. Help Buddy find his dad in NYC! 7+ $9.99
Rummikub, Pressman For a memorable game night, break out Rummikub! The clicking and clacking of the tiles as you “shuffle” your cards are truly the sounds of the holiday season for me! There are also three new Joker cards for a new exciting twist! Incorporate STEM skills during gameplay by sequencing and strategizing your next move! 8+ $7.49
Exploding Kittens Card Game Fan of cats and their quirks? You’ve got to try this card game! It’s like Old Maid meets War! Pull cards from the stack, but avoid an Exploding Kitten card or you’re out of the game! Diffuse the explosion with strategy cards to continue game play. Fast pasted, fun, and totally outrageous! Steal of a deal for Target’s Black Friday Deals! 7+ $9.99
Break the Board, YULU Hi-ya! Become the ultimate karate master with this fun and fast paced puzzle game. Match the lights patter with your best karate chop to win! 6+ $9.99
King of the Ring, YULU You can be the king of the ring by knocking out your opponents with your best sumo moves to be the last sumo standing! This totally fun game will keep everyone laughing! $9.99
The Floor is Lava Game, Endless Games Use this game as a catalyst for some super fun pretend play! Providing endless play, kids to adults will have a blast escaping the flows of the hot lava! Using the power of imagination, the Floor is Lava game will spark ideas to bust boredom and keep families entertained! 5+ $8.49!
5 Second Rule, Playmonster Test your quick wit and ability to answer simple questions in five seconds! This is a great game to play virtually with fellow players! 10+ $8.34
Upside Down Challenge, Vango Toys This is a fun, fast-paced, and silly challenge game! Wear the goggles to turn your view upside down and draw according to each card. Even the simplest of drawings will turn totally wacky. Perfect for families during the holidays and to even bust boredom! Make sure you share you creations on your social media accounts with #UpsideDownChallenge 8+ $9.99
Pizza Party Throwdown, Hogwild Toys An epic night of laughs of fun is pizza, pizza, pizza, and more pizza! Fling your favorite toppings on the rotating pizza! If this isn't true NY style, I don't know what is. Be the first player to complete their pizza first to win, but everyone is a winner with this game! 8+ $9.99
LEGO City Police Dog Unit, LEGO is the perfect stocking stuffers this holiday season! This set includes a patrol vehicle and LEGO Minifigure police officer and his canine, and even a bad guy with jewels! This is an easy build to pretend play and bring the bad guys to justice! 4+ $5.99
LEGO City Forest Fire Fireman Building Set, LEGO Save the day and put out the fire with your neat fire buggy build and fireman Minifigure, and friends of the forest to save. Firemen and firewoman deserve to be honored especially with this year's horrible forest fires. Use this set as a teaching tool of the importance of fire safety! 5+ $5.99
LEGO Friends Puppy Playground, LEGO Stuff the stocking with this adorable build featuring a puppy, LEGO Friend figure, and a bunch of cool accessories! Build a mini playground, and include more of your LEGO Friends sets to create the coolest puppy park in town! 4+ $5.99
LEGO City Space Shuttle, LEGO Send up your LEGO Minifigure to space! Build your shuttle, figure, and even a satellite! 5+ $5.99
LEGO City Monster Truck, LEGO For an epic quick build, this monster truck set will get you on the road for pretend play. With neat details and chunky tires this is the perfect gift to stuff a stocking! 5+ $5.99
LEGO Duplo My First Tow Truck, LEGO Chunky LEGO bricks for chubby, cute little toddler hands! This set is the perfect starter kit to a new LEGO Master Builder in training! 1.5+ $5.99
Gravitrax Obstacle Course, Ravensburger This modular building set is a STEM toy and building set allowing kids eight and up to design their very own marble run obstacle course! Kids will learn the mechanics and wonders of gravity by navigating their little marble through the course using gravity, magnetism, and kinetics to guide their marble to the finish line. This set focuses on building problem-solving skills, improves creativity, and experimentation all by building a totally fun and detailed marble run track! Encouraging hands-on play, the Gravitrax Obstacle Course set can also be expanded with other Gravitrax sets to build the most epic course ever! What a steal of a deal this set is at 40% off as part of Target’s Black Friday deals! 8+ $79.99
Hexbug Battle Bots Arena, Hexbug This amazing set includes robotic battle bots, Bronco and Witch Doctor! Each bot has their own moves to pulverize the competition! The real robotic moving parts create an element of realism and will promote curiosity in robotics. This is a great deal, and really a lot of fun to play and even watch be played! 8+ $39.99
Blacksmith vs. Bite Force 8+ $24.99
Duck vs. Rotator 8+ $24.99
Mastermind, Pressman This game doesn't look like much, but it's only one of the top selling games of all time! Yes, all time! Solve over 2,000 puzzle combinations to make the game different each time. Mastermind teaches basic STEM and STEAM principles which focus on deductive reasoning and logic. There's no mistake that I categorized Mastermind in the Educational category; this game makes you think! 8+ $9.99
LEGO Harry Potter Attack on the Burrow 75980, LEGO The Weasley household is always filled with happiness and laughter! This particular scene of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, the burrow reveals a scene of the fire, screams, and full of fear on that fateful Christmas Day. I love this LEGO set, because you really can play it both ways. This set comes with eight LEGO minifigures – Ron, Ginny, Arthur and Molly Weasley, Nymphadora Tonks, Bellatrix Lestrange, Fenrir Greyback and Harry Potter – plus lots of features, functions and accessories, and special fire elements. 9+ $79.99
Frozen 2 Surprise Slides, Wonder Forge Go into the unknown, and send out best friends Elsa, Anna, Olaf, Kristoff, and Sven! Journey through twists and turns through the Northuldra forest and visit the adorable trolls to unlock the mysteries of the sisters from Arendelle. This is the perfect gift for any young Frozen fan! Eye-popping steal of a deal for Target’s Black Friday deals!! 3+ $4.99
Pop the Pig Feed, Goliath Games The hungry piggy some burgers all while teaching little ones their numbers and colors! This game is so fun, especially when you make the piggy’s tummy pop! 4+ $8.24
Shark Bite, Goliath Games The perfect game for toddlers and little kids is Shark Bite! If your kiddo knows their colors, then they can play. It’s so simple and fun and does not require batteries. Easy to set up, roll the dice, and pull the colored fish from the shark’s mouth! Watch out because you may pull the fish that triggers the shark to bite! 4+ $9.74
Gator Golf, Goliath Games Create a mini-golf course in our own home with this adorable and wacky game! Perfect for toddlers to fine-tune their gross motor skills as well as promote color learning and taking turns, this adorable putt-putt game is just the ticket to bust boredom or the makings of a great gift bundle! Tap the colored ball into the gator’s mouth and he’ll pop it back at you. No batteries required and super easy setup! 3+ $7.99
Greedy Granny, Goliath Games This classic game is full of laughs! Collect the sweet and salty treats while Granny sleeps! Wake her up and her teeth will fly out of her mouth! All kids love this game! 4+ $9.94
Dino Crunch, Goliath Games Oh no! The eggs are gone and there’s only one culprit, the hungry T-Rex! Save the eggs and save the day, but watch your hands because he bites! 4+ $9.99
Lucky Ducks, Pressman Lucky Ducks are just a snuggly and quacktacular game for toddlers! Play this fun game and help your kiddo hone their color matching and shape recognition! 3+ $7.49
Dragon Snacks, Goliath Games This game is truly a favorite in our home! The magical dragon is hungry and just eats about anything he can find - like all of the castle's treasures like goblets, crowns, and rings! Get assigned a color and dig in to find the treasure causing his tummy troubles! No peeking though - you get a magical reveal through his tummy before you dig! This game works on memory skills, color learning, and turn-taking! We love this game!! 4+ $7.94
Burping Boppy, Goliath Games You can't teach Bobby manners, when he has to burp, he really belts it out! Bobby's gaseous fumes even spew out in color! My boys LOVE this game! They need to make a Fartin' Freddy - stat! 4+ $9.99
Peppa Pig Fancy Home Playset, Jazwares Peppa’s house got a makeover! Redesigned for 2020, the Pig Family got major upgrades for each room including golden exclusive accessories! Now including three figures in fancy dress wear Peppa, George, and Rebecca Rabbit, this three story dollhouse is the perfect catalyst for pretend play! Incorporate other Peppa Pig toys by Jazwares with this set for a full play experience! What a great price for Target’s Black Friday deal too! Don’t let this one pass you by! 2+ $29.99
X-Shot XL Crusher, ZURU Blast your opponents to oblivion with this supercharged blaster by ZURU! During Slam-Fire mode, blast four X-Shot darts per second! This such a great price you have to get two for the ultimate game of one on one battle this holiday season! 8+ $12.49
Robo Alive Dragon Ice or Fire, ZURU A Song of ice and fire—two elements comprising of the most ferocious beasts!! There are two Robo Alive dragons to collect in this series. Ice has light-up ice breath, and Fire breathes red! With this dragon's fierce gait and startling roar, dragon lovers all over the realm will love to collect either one! Or both for that low, low Target Black Friday price! t3+ $14.99
Real-Life Rescue Electronic Pet, Moose Toys Teach the importance of pet adoption and how to care for an animal with this adorable playset. Rescue your shivering pet, feel and hear it's heartbeat. It comes with accessories to help fluffy up its fur! 4+ $19.99
Fortnite 10-pack Battle Royale, Jazwares This is such a great deal for this set! You get 10 poseable figures and a collectible map. All of these figures are from the Chapter 1 collection, get them before they are gone! 8+ $39.99
Shopkins Real Little Super Glitter Mystery Pack, Moose Toys Packaged in a vending machine styled briefcase, you get 97 mini packs, 97 Real Littles, and three shopping baskets! This is the ultimate gift set for any Shopkins collector! The best part is that everything is sparkly and an epic unboxing experience! 5+ $49.99
Xtreme Power Dozer, Jakks Pacific This is a great deal! My boys LOVE their Xtreme Power Dozer! The motor is really strong and can push or pull up to 200 lbs. My sonsuse it to push their toys around and climb on piles of laundry! You can use this toy indoors and outdoors. This is such a great deal for Target's Black Friday sale that I think I may just buy another one! 6+ $29.99
Ryan’s World Microfigure Mega Pack, Bonker's Toy Co. Woah! I had to adjust my eyes when I saw this for this extremely low price! You get 20 of 32 Series 2 Ryan's World Microverse Mystery Figures! What a fun unboxing experience for kiddos who are huge fans of Ryan's World! 3+ $20
L.O.L. Surprise Series 3 Confetti Pop Pack, MGAE It's a party in a suitcase! Confetti Pop B.B.s are back! There are nine layers of surprises in each ball. There are also 12 dolls to reveal in this pack. If this is not the ultimate gift and BEST price for L.O.L. Surprise, I don't know what is! 3+ $98
L.O.L. Eye Spy Series 3-pack, MGAE Don't forget to snag the 3-pack of the Eye Spy Series too! This pack is a great stocking stuffer as it includes one Lil Sister, one Pet, and one L.O.L. doll! 3+ $14.99
What's on your list for Black Friday? Comment down below!
