Toy Rambles

About an hour ago, I finally unboxed Teresa's new fashion pack and put her in the pajamas. They are fantastic, and the big rainbow bag (which I have stuffed with plenty of stuff, including the backpack she came with) is perfect for her because one of the few details I already know, beyond "all of them are witches and none of them are straight," is that Teresa in particular is very much a lesbian.

The pink bunny slippers that came with this fashion pack do not like to stay on Teresa's feet, but I kind of guessed that might be the case from the product photos, so oh well.

I do have three more two-packs of mystery bags on the way, along with some other fun stuff, but Amazon has an error message I've never seen before: "Potential delivery issue."

???

Clicking on that message gives a bit more info: "Your pakidge may have been affected by an issue that occurred in transit. We understand this may be frustrating and appreciate your patience. We're doing our best to follow up on your pakidge and we'll share an update on Your Orders by January 31." 

January 31 is Saturday, which was originally the delivery estimate for this pakidge (obviously?), so I'm not too upset even though of course I really would like my new fun and slash or useful stuff.

Speaking of new stuff, apparently I do have a few things I can pick up tomorrow, which of course I am very excited about. Right now my plan is to wake up early, walk down to The Ranch for breakfast, get wine and snacks from the general store, pick up pakidges shortly after the post office opens at 8:00, and then catch the 8:30 shuttle back to The Gulch.

Which is relevant to toys because two of the pakidges I'm picking up tomorrow are a LEGO jewelry box and a doll!

One thing I want to do tomorrow is write another post about all of the NEW KPOP DEMON HUNTERS TOYS. Oh my hecking what now.   

Another oh my hecking what now that Lori told me about is an upcoming BUFFY  Monster High Skullector two-pack?! 
Take my fucking money.

Sometime very soon I need to get a new simple shelf, one entire level of which shall be devoted to Dream Besties and a few other friends, such as Fearbook Ghoulia. Beach Detectives Daisy and ILY Winnie the Pooh will be allowed to hang out there, as will another non-DB Daisy who should arrive in a few days. I guess I might as well go ahead and order Daisy Jean soon. She's definitely my least favorite Dream Besties doll so far (that pains me to say because in general I love Daisy so much, but it's true!), but I do need to get her eventually. I guess, depending on other incoming logistics, I might order her once I get Zia out of the box? Hmmm.

So Zia, Daisy Jean, and then my next priority would be . . . Brooklyn 2.0, right? Either her or GRWM? Either of which, when I go to order, I might also decide to go ahead and treat myself to her Malibu as well . . .

My four beach dolls now say "Estimated to Arrive in February 2026," but the Aisha Funko Pop I ordered with them to get free shipping HAS been shipped!

Since Amazon is so unpredictable about how long they wait to actually ship shit, I currently have more than ten orders which have not been fulfilled yet. All of them are small fun things which ought to be packed separately (except for the multiple items in that pakidge with the potential delivery issue). I also have three small fun things on the way from eBay. And of course, one box of cannabis. 

What I'm saying is, I don't need to worry about the logistics of incoming stuff because it's all small and simple. I can go ahead and focus on my next priority purchase, which will be either furniture or an appliance. I just have to choose which ONE thing I most want to pay for next (microwave? tiny drink fridge? snap shelf? storage cart?) and then order it and then wait for it to ship and then wait for it to arrive and then pick it up and then bring it back to my room and then set it up. Gosh, it's so tedious. But so necessary!

I'm still mad that Squish-A-Longs are not squishy at all (you can squeeze them and they sort of give --- but that's it) (this honestly pisses me off SO MUCH). Today I did pick up a two-pack of Nee Doh Cool Cats, which are perfectly squishy because they're literally fidget toys! I happened to get purple and pink, which were the two I wanted most in that order. But now I kind of really want the orange and the teal. I also really wish I could find some toys the size of Squish-A-Longs that are actually squeezable, if not quite as squishy as these cats. 

As of this writing, I have not canceled my pre-ordered Squish-A-Longs Pokemon playset and don't think I will. I am never going to stop being mad that these tiny toys are not actually squishy, but I do still adore a tiny playset, and Pokemon are obviously adorable toys even if the games and shows aren't really my thing.

Okay, that's enough rambling about toys for now --- but, real quick, at some point I am also gonna buy some In Full Bloom Doorables!
 

2026 Collection Spending Focuses

Lately I have been thinking about a list of things I am allowed to spend money on for the entire month of February, but tonight I have also been thinking about the rest of this year and where I will most likely give myself permission to buy toys I do not "need."

1. BARBIE DREAM BESTIES
Obviously.
As of this writing, Zia should arrive soon! And then I will order Daisy Jean (eyeroll), and the cycle shall continue. But after those two, in no particular order, I will only need to get a second Skater Brooklyn, Skater Teresa & Renee, GRWM Brooklyn & Malibu, 2.0 Brooklyn & Malibu, and Original Core 4 Brooklyn & Malibu. 
I may or may not order most of them in pairs like that, but it would make sense and also be fun!
In addition to the actual dolls, I want a few fun playsets for them and lots of accessories like mystery bags, food and drinks, potions, etc.

2. BRATZ MEAN GIRLS
Oh my fucking gosh.
I was browsing eBay just for fun when I found a set of six (the first four, plus Spring Fling Regina and Cady) for $750 plus shipping. That's "only" $125 per doll, which is actually pretty fair for them, so I sent Lori a screenshot and said, "If $750 (plus shipping!) wasn't such a lot of disposable income, I would do it" and she pointed out that this set does not include Spring Fling Janis! 
And then she also told me that Spring Fling Janis is currently on sale! On Amazon!
SO I ORDERED HER! $41.24 total, hahahahaha, oh my holy heck yes, I am seriously giddy with excitement about this! I could cry! When was the last time I got this excited about buying one doll?!

3. VINTAGE BARBIES
And Skippers and Courtneys! And fashion packs!

4. SANRIO

5. KPOP DEMON HUNTERS

6. X-MEN 97
In no particular order: Fabulous Magneto, Bishop, Morph, Nightcrawler, Sunspot, Emma, Jean, Maddie, Cyclops, etc . . .

7. OTHER X-MEN
I can think of at least three Nightcrawler figures I want. I also want Colossus, Mystique & Destiny, Iceman, Pyro, etc.
If I can ever justify the space it would take up and the expense, obviously the LEGO X-Mansion is one of the coolest toys I have ever seen in my entire life.

8. OTHER MARVEL
For example, for some reason, I really want this two-pack (which is currently $55, but was closer to $40 last time I looked at it). There's also a Fantastic Four She-Hulk, so I guess my little alternate team will need one more member. 

9. TMNT
Right now I think I "only" have twelve action figures waiting to be opened. I can always use more! Just from Mutant Mayhem, I would really really like to get the April figure. Eventually I need Street Style Mikey and Leo, the variants whose jackets are all their theme color.

10. POWER RANGERS

11. SAILOR MOON

12. HARLEY QUINN, POISON IVY, WONDER WOMAN, AND OTHER DC

13. SUITE SPACES

14. BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER

15. WICKED

16. ILY DISNEY

17. DOCTOR THIRTEEN BARBIE

18. FEARBOOK GHOULIA
Shut up and take my money! I would pre-order her right now if I could!

19. KENNER BATMAN RETURNS

20. BARBIE THE MOVIE THE FILM

21. BARBIE EXTRA
Without looking up the line as a whole, I can think of at least three that I definitely want. Including one Ken.

22. MORE KENS
Mostly to be new boyfriends for Heath and slash or each other, but occasionally I will get a Ken "just" because I really love his outfit. 

23. DOORABLES
Unfortunately I love the new In Full Bloom series enough that I would really like to get most of them if I can.

24. CLOUDEES
The other day I realized that I gave away ALL of my Cloudees in 2024! I miss them all!

25. LPS

26. MY LITTLE PONY
Right now I have one tiny Pinkie Pie, and that's it. 
At minimum, I need to get the Meet the Mane Six set sooner than later!

27. MIXLINGS

28. CHARMED ACTION FIGURES

29. MORE MINI BAGS 
Not just for Dream Besties! Usually, but not always!

30. OCCASIONAL MONSTER HIGH
Mostly from G3. One G1 doll I know I would like to get again someday is Boo York Nefera. 

31. PLUSH
Mostly Sanrio and Care Bears.

Bratz Mean Girls

Look, let's be honest: $750 (plus shipping, which in this case is at least another $35) for six dolls might be worth it.

I mean, yes, obviously it is a ridiculous amount of imaginary numbers to sacrifice for Something I Can Live Without.

But I really love these dolls. Affordability is literally the only main reason I do not already have all seven (note: MGA should absolutely make a Damian doll, but that isn't the point of this post).

Mean Girls is one of my favorite movies in the history of ever, and I do always get excited that October Third happens to be one day before my birthday! This year, October Third will be extra special because I will have the Janis doll --- but it would be way more special if I also have the other six dolls (and again, not the point, but please let me pay for a Damian doll! Release him and let me give you money for him!).

And the thing is, these dolls are usually so ridonkulously expensive that, um, $750 for all six (or if you slice that math another way, $125 per doll!) is actually a pretty fair price!

I mean, sure, it IS a bit of an investment --- buuuut, IF work and slash or the scorching blazing dangerous heat of another Death Valley summer do not kill me before then, October Third will be here sort of before I know it (and then the next day I will turn thirty-nine, how bizarre), sooo am I thinking about talking myself into pouring money into this particular set? Yes. I'm not going to decide anything right away, but I am seriously thinking about it. Especially if I can pay with Klarna? Actually, I don't know, it might be worth it to pay full price, especially if I can contact the seller and convince them to ship the six dolls in two pakidges . . .

Like I said, not deciding anything right now.

But just for fun, let's look around at other pricing options!

Since I was fortunate enough to order Janis for such a reasonable price on Amazon dot com (thank you, Lori!), that is where I'll start this search.

Okey dokey, they have some options!

Spring Fling Cady is $70, and Spring Fling Regina is $108.

Amazon does have all four of the other dolls, but listen to these prices.
CADY: $185
REGINA: $408
KAREN & GRETCHEN 2-PACK: $512

So yeah, I could not get all four of these dolls from Amazon for under $750: Cady plus Karen & Gretchen would be $697; or Cady and Regina together would be $590 for two dolls; or all four would be over one thousand!

(By the way, when you search for "Mean Girls Bratz," one result that Amazon currently shows you right after the three Spring Fling dolls is one non-Mean Girls Bratz doll, Very Merry Sasha, for $16, and I kind of want her because, you know, she'd be perfect if the Plastics ever needed a fifth girl for Jingle Bell Rock. Thanks a lot for that, Amazon! I'm not usually into Bratz, but you got me!)

I don't think Walmart will have any of these dolls, but you never know.

WOW, they do have Janis! For $55! And Regina for $109! But that's it, only those two!

Entertainment Earth doesn't have any.

I don't feel like scouring the entire Internet for these dolls, so let's just pop back to eBay and see if they have any more ("better"?) deals.

Okey dokey, of course the first result is that set of six for $750 that I can't stop thinking about!

Then what?
 
Karen & Gretchen two-pack for $300 plus $15 delivery

Cady, Regina, Karen, and Gretchen for $850 plus $60 delilvery

Regina for $220

Karen & Gretchen for $305 plus $11 shipping

And so on and so forth.

So yes, clearly, the more I think about it, the more $750 for six dolls (plus shipping) doesn't sound quite as insane as it could, hmmm?

One of the biggest perks of living in the middle of the desert is that rent is basically free, so I can actually afford it.

I do want to message the seller and ask if they would be willing to ship in two pakidges. Six dolls in one box could be a little tricky.

Alright, message sent! If they agree to two separate shipments, I'm ready to make this investment asap.

Holy fucking what now.

WELL, they got back to me very quickly! They said no.

I don't know, it *is* a good deal, but these dolls are in pretty big boxes individually, so six of them in one box could be a pretty huge box. The kind of annoyingly huge box which would not be such a big deal if I still lived at The Ranch, or if I could stand to drive, and had my own car. Blergh.