Disney just revealed an Andy’s Toy Chest Play Set as part of its 2026 “Holiday Toys We Love” list. The set is built around the world of Toy Story, with a whole little crowd of familiar toys gathered together in Disney’s official photo.

What is in the Andy’s Toy Chest Play Set?

Disney describes this as an all-new play set that brings together the rodeo crew, space rangers and pals from Sunnyside Daycare. The official image shows the figures arranged like the world’s tiniest, most chaotic Toy Story reunion.

That is the fun part here. This is not one oversized character doing one trick. It is a scene-building set made for mixing the different corners of the Toy Story universe together.

Disney has not published a complete piece count in the announcement, so I am not going to turn a product photo into an unofficial inventory list. What we can confirm is that the set is real, it is new, and Disney is positioning it as one of its holiday toys for 2026.

When can you buy it?

Right now, Disney lists the Andy’s Toy Chest Play Set as coming soon to DisneyStore.com. The company has not announced an exact release date or price in its September 16 holiday toy reveal.

In other words: put it on the watch list, but do not let anyone tell you it is already sitting in a cart for a confirmed amount. Those details still need to come from Disney.

This one has very specific Christmas-morning energy

Some toys are built for five minutes of button-pushing. This looks like the kind that turns the entire rug into a story.

You can set up a rescue, a race, a very serious meeting between toys, or whatever wildly complicated plot a kid invents before breakfast. It also has the collector appeal of seeing so many recognizable characters together without needing to hunt down every figure separately.

And yes, the timing makes sense. Toy Story 5 is giving this whole corner of Disney fresh attention, while Disney’s own 2026 holiday rollout is leaning hard into toys that feel familiar without simply repeating last year’s shelf.

What we know—and what Disney still owes us

Confirmed: the set is part of Disney Store’s 2026 holiday toy lineup and it is coming soon. Still unknown: the exact on-sale day, price and final Disney Store listing details.

We will update when Disney posts the product page. Until then, our Disney Christmas 2026 guide is keeping the broader holiday rollout in one place, and the Toy Story 5 DJ coming to Alien Swirling Saucers has the park-side news.

But before you make a special trip to the candy aisle: an announcement is not the same thing as a product being on your local shelf. Here’s what the brands have confirmed as of September 17, 2026.

Christmas Slime Lickers are the sour stocking-stuffer option

For the person who would choose sour candy over a chocolate Santa every single time, Candy Dynamics announced Christmas Slime Lickers in its March 25 seasonal lineup.

The holiday bottles come in Blue Raspberry, Green Apple, and Strawberry, with Christmas-themed packaging. The brand’s photo shows the familiar sour liquid candy dressed for the season, right down to the Santa hat on the label.

The announcement does not give a Christmas shelf date, store list, or suggested price. These belong on a holiday watch list—not on a promise that you can find them at your nearest store today.

Ferrero Rocher is doing cinnamon-spice chocolate squares

Chocolate people, you have an option too. In its May 19 announcement, Ferrero North America confirmed a limited-edition Cinnamon Spice flavor of Ferrero Rocher chocolate squares for the 2026 holiday season.

That’s the one to watch if your idea of Christmas candy leans more toward chocolate and warm spice than something aggressively sour. Ferrero did not give an exact on-sale date or price in that announcement.

Kinder has a whole holiday-gift lineup coming

The same Ferrero announcement also puts new Kinder seasonal gifts on the Holiday 2026 calendar. The lineup includes a countdown calendar, a polar-bear plush, a reindeer headband, Elf on the Shelf minis, a fun book, and hanging ornaments.

Those are different gift formats, not six new candy flavors. If the countdown is the part you care about most, our 2026 advent calendar guide has more options to explore.

What to check before you buy

Start with the product’s country and actual retailer listing, then check the price and local availability. A holiday launch window is useful for planning, but it is not a reservation on a shelf. And if you’re choosing treats for someone with food allergies, use the label on the exact package rather than a seasonal roundup.

Blue Buffalo’s limited-edition Game Day Nudges are here, with football-themed bags in Steak Grillers, Chicken Jerky Cut and Chicken Pot Pie flavors. The little football-shaped biscuits are coming later—and that’s the detail to catch before you go shopping.

Game Day Nudges are available now

According to General Mills’ September 9 announcement, the themed Nudges bags are available at participating retailers nationwide, both in stores and online.

Check your retailer for local selection and pricing; the announcement doesn’t set one nationwide price. You can also browse Blue Buffalo’s game-day treat lineup.

The football-shaped Health Bars arrive November 2

Health Bars Touchdown Treats are the separate, football-shaped biscuit release. They’re Bacon, Egg & Cheese flavored and are due at retailers nationwide on November 2, 2026.

So if your goal is a themed bag for this weekend’s couch companion, look for Nudges. If it’s the ready-made little football biscuits, mark November 2. Two launches, two shopping dates, one very interested dog.

The limited-time dessert is available at Oberweis Ice Cream and Dairy Stores throughout September 2026, while supplies last. There’s also a Wednesday discount to know about before you plan your dessert run.

What’s in the Kitchen Sink Sundae?

It starts with a warm Killer Brownie Kitchen Sink Brownie: a chocolate-brownie and blondie combination with chocolate chips, sprinkles and M&M’s. Oberweis adds its Cookies & Cream ice cream, hot fudge, whipped cream, more sprinkles and a cherry.

So, yes, there’s a brownie layer, a blondie layer and cookies in the ice cream. Choosing just one dessert component was apparently not on the agenda.

Wednesdays get you $1 off

The brands’ September 8 announcement says guests get $1 off the Kitchen Sink Sundae every Wednesday in September. The remaining Wednesday dates after September 17 are September 23 and September 30.

The release does not give a standard sundae price. Check your shop for pricing and availability, especially if you’re making a special trip; the collaboration is limited-time and while supplies last.

Where to find it

This is an Oberweis Ice Cream and Dairy Store dessert, not a promise that the packaged brownie aisle has a ready-made sundae waiting for you. Use Oberweis’s official site to find a location and check store details.

Brownie people and cookies-and-cream people can call a temporary truce. There’s room for both in this bowl.

Fantastic.

Because dating wasn’t already confusing enough.

I recently came across the phrase “weaponized anxiety,” which immediately made me roll my eyes a little because the internet has reached the point where every mildly annoying thing another human does gets a diagnostic-sounding name.

But then I read about it.

And I was like:

Oh.

Ohhhhhhh.

Because unlike some of the nonsense relationship vocabulary floating around TikTok, this one describes a dynamic I absolutely recognize.

And here is the part I need everyone to understand before we go any further:

Bro. I have anxiety too.

I have anxiety. I have responsibilities. I have a job. I have a house. I have people who depend on me. I have approximately fourteen thousand things happening at any given moment.

Sometimes things make me anxious.

And then — this is going to sound completely bananas — I still have to do them.

That distinction suddenly feels incredibly important to me.

So What Is “Weaponized Anxiety?”

First, this is not a clinical diagnosis. It’s internet relationship language, and even the therapists quoted in Scary Mommy’s recent piece about the term disagree with the wording because “weaponized” can imply deliberate intent when the pattern may be unconscious.

The basic idea is that someone’s anxiety is real, but over time it starts functioning like a trump card in the relationship.

“I can’t call them. Phone calls give me anxiety.”

“I can’t handle the finances. It overwhelms me.”

“We can’t talk about this right now. You’re making me anxious.”

“I can’t go there.”

“I can’t deal with that.”

“I can’t make that decision.”

Individually, any one of those things could be completely reasonable.

The problem is what happens next.

Because if every single “I can’t” becomes “so you have to,” congratulations: we have identified the issue.

The therapists in that Scary Mommy story describe exactly this kind of pattern: genuine distress gradually becomes a reason the other partner takes over responsibilities, changes plans or stops uncomfortable conversations.

And that is the part that hit me.

Because Where Does Accommodation End And Caretaking Begin?

There is actual psychological research around something called family accommodation.

Basically, somebody you love is anxious, so you naturally try to make their life easier.

You reassure them.

You avoid the thing that makes them nervous.

You handle something for them.

You alter your routine.

Totally normal loving-person behavior.

Except research has found that when accommodation becomes a system, it can reinforce avoidance instead of helping someone learn that they can handle the feared situation. A 2025 study on family accommodation across the lifespan found it was common among both adults and children receiving intensive treatment for anxiety or OCD, and described reassurance, avoidance and changing routines as common forms of accommodation.

That does not mean supporting an anxious partner is bad.

It means there is a difference between support and building an entire household around making sure one adult never has to feel uncomfortable.

And suddenly one partner isn’t supporting another person with anxiety.

They’re running both people’s lives around it.

That feels very different.

And This Is Where My Last Marriage Is Messing With My Head

Here’s what I’m trying to figure out now that I’m dating again.

I don’t want to become cynical.

I don’t want somebody to tell me they’re anxious about something and have my immediate reaction be, Sure you are, buddy. Go make the phone call.

That’s shitty.

People deserve compassion.

I deserve compassion.

But I also never, ever want to end up in another relationship where another adult’s emotional state quietly becomes my full-time responsibility.

That’s the thing I keep coming back to.

I can absolutely love someone who has anxiety.

Of course I can.

I have anxiety.

What I don’t think I can do anymore is be with someone whose anxiety eventually means I have to become their scheduler, emotional regulator, conflict manager, problem solver, social secretary and emotional-support Golden Retriever.

I have already discovered that I am very capable of overfunctioning in a relationship.

Five stars.

Excellent skill.

Do not recommend.

So How Do You Spot This Early?

This is what I’ve been thinking about the most.

Because nobody walks into a first date and says:

“Hi, I’m Brad. I enjoy hiking, IPAs and slowly transferring every adult responsibility in my life onto my girlfriend.”

It happens gradually.

So I think the thing I’m watching now isn’t whether someone has anxiety.

It’s what they do with it.

For example:

Can this person be uncomfortable without making their discomfort everybody else’s emergency?

That feels huge.

Maybe making a phone call gives you anxiety.

Okay.

Do you say, “Phone calls make me anxious, so give me ten minutes and I’ll do it”?

Or do you hand me your phone?

Those are two very different relationships.

Another Red Flag: Anxiety Ends Every Difficult Conversation

This one might be even bigger for me.

Relationships require uncomfortable conversations.

There is no version where two adults build an entire life together and nobody ever gets upset.

So if every disagreement eventually turns into:

“This is too much.”

“You’re triggering me.”

“I can’t talk about this.”

“You’re making my anxiety worse.”

…what happens to the original problem?

Because taking a break from a hard conversation can be healthy.

Never returning to it isn’t.

“I need twenty minutes and then let’s finish this” is one thing.

“This conversation makes me anxious, therefore we aren’t having it” is something completely different.

That means anxiety has effectively been given veto power.

And I’m not building another life where one person’s feelings automatically outrank the other person’s needs.

I’m Also Watching What Happens When I Say No

I actually think this might be one of the best dating tests there is.

Not in some weird manipulative way.

Just… watch.

You don’t have to rescue somebody from every inconvenience.

You don’t have to immediately solve every problem.

You don’t have to smooth every uncomfortable moment.

And then you get to see what happens.

Do they figure it out?

Do they ask for reasonable support?

Do they tolerate being uncomfortable?

Or does their distress keep escalating until you finally give in and do whatever they wanted?

Because that tells you something.

Not necessarily that they’re malicious.

That’s important.

The person doing this may genuinely be anxious. They may not even realize they’ve trained everybody around them to eliminate discomfort for them.

But unconscious doesn’t automatically mean harmless.

The effect on the other person still counts.

Weaponized Incompetence Has The Same Problem

This is why the comparison to weaponized incompetence makes so much sense.

Cleveland Clinic describes weaponized incompetence as a pattern where someone avoids or refuses a task by claiming they don’t know how to do it — or doing it so poorly that someone else takes over. The important distinction isn’t whether someone struggles once. It’s whether the pattern keeps shifting responsibility to somebody else without any real effort to improve.

The part that matters isn’t:

“Are you good at this?”

It’s:

“Are you taking responsibility for becoming capable of handling your own life?”

And I think anxiety works the same way.

Your anxiety might explain why something is harder for you.

It doesn’t automatically make that thing somebody else’s job.

That sentence right there might be my entire dating philosophy now.

Here Is The Green Flag I Actually Want

I don’t need somebody who never struggles.

God, how exhausting would that guy be?

I don’t need somebody without baggage.

I certainly cannot demand that.

What I want is somebody who can say:

“This is hard for me, but it’s mine.”

That is hot.

Seriously.

“This conversation makes me anxious, but I want to finish it.”

Hot.

“I hate making appointments, so I’m doing it online.”

Hot.

“I need a minute to calm down, and then I’ll come back.”

EXTREMELY HOT.

“I screwed that up. I’m sorry. I’ll fix it.”

Sir.

Where have you been?

Because that is the difference I think I’m looking for.

Not perfect emotional regulation.

Ownership.

Anxiety Isn’t The Red Flag. Making Me Responsible For It Is.

That’s where I’ve landed.

I don’t think someone’s anxiety is a reason not to date them.

That would be incredibly hypocritical of me.

But I absolutely think I need to pay attention when someone’s coping strategy consistently requires me to become smaller, quieter, busier or more responsible.

If your anxiety means we occasionally change plans?

Sure.

If your anxiety means I can never make plans you don’t like?

No.

If you need reassurance sometimes?

Human.

If I become responsible for keeping you reassured at all times?

Absolutely not.

If you need a break during an argument?

Same.

If every disagreement ends because your anxiety outranks whatever I needed to say?

Nope.

I think that’s the line.

And after my last marriage, maybe this is the question I should have been asking all along:

Can you have feelings without making me responsible for fixing them?

Because I can love someone.

I can support someone.

I can be incredibly compassionate about somebody’s anxiety.

But I don’t want another adult to hand me their entire emotional life and call that intimacy.

I have my own shit to carry.

And, bro.

I have a job.

Petty Officer Garner Baker, a Colorado Springs native and 2023 William J. Palmer High School graduate, is serving aboard the USS Jason Dunham, a U.S. Navy destroyer based out of Mayport, Florida.

Baker joined the Navy three years ago and now serves as a fire controlman working with the ship’s AEGIS combat system.

He says the work ethic started here in Colorado Springs

In an interview released by the Navy Office of Community Outreach, Baker said growing up taught him the value of working hard. He described juggling different jobs, hunting and helping his dad before joining the Navy.

Military service was also already part of his family story. Baker said joining the Navy felt like carrying on a family tradition.

The USS Jason Dunham has more than 300 sailors aboard

The USS Jason Dunham is a guided-missile destroyer designed for multiple missions at sea. According to Navy officials, more than 300 sailors serve aboard the ship in jobs ranging from engineering and maintenance to weapons and combat systems.

Baker told Navy Outreach he is especially proud of being selected for promotion to petty officer second class because it gives him a chance to help junior sailors coming up behind him.

For a kid who graduated from Palmer just a few years ago, that is a pretty big jump from downtown Colorado Springs to a Navy destroyer operating out of Florida.

Source and photo: U.S. Navy Office of Community Outreach.

General Mills has a limited-time Elf holiday lineup out for 2026, and it is not one lonely cereal box sitting on a shelf. There are six different products across Chex, Pillsbury, cereal and Fruit by the Foot.

There is Maple Syrup Chex because of course there is

Maple Syrup Chex Cereal is exclusive to Walmart and made with real maple syrup, which may be the most aggressively Buddy the Elf thing anyone could have done here.

General Mills also has a Chex Party Mix Holiday lineup made with Rice, Corn, Wheat, Cinnamon, Chocolate and the new Maple Syrup Chex. If you buy three participating boxes in one transaction by December 31, 2026, the brand says you can submit your receipt for a limited-edition Elf holiday tin, while supplies last and subject to the promotion terms.

Pillsbury got in on this too

Pillsbury Elf Cinnamon Rolls with Maple Icing are exactly what they sound like: soft cinnamon rolls with maple frosting in festive Elf packaging.

Then there is Pillsbury Ready-to-Bake Elf Shape Sugar Cookie Dough. The box comes with 20 pre-cut cookies, each topped with Buddy’s green-and-yellow hat. Pillsbury says the dough is safe to eat raw or baked, which feels like information I absolutely did not need to be trusted with.

And yes, Elf cereal is back in the mix

Elf Cereal has sweetened corn cereal with marshmallows shaped like Buddy’s hat, snow globes and stockings.

There are also Fruit by the Foot Elf Mini Feet in a Buddy’s Berry Tie-Dye flavor, because apparently even stocking stuffers have been recruited into this operation.

The whole lineup is limited-time

General Mills says the Elf products are available now nationwide for the holiday season, with Maple Syrup Chex exclusive to Walmart. As always with seasonal grocery stuff, exact inventory can vary by store.

You can see the current Pillsbury Elf cookie dough here, and the Chex tin promotion details are at ChexTins.com.

Source: General Mills PR materials and current General Mills/Pillsbury product information.

So Campbell’s making a whole line of sauces built around the concept of cook the protein, add the sauce, done feels like they know exactly who they are dealing with.

Campbell’s has four new ready-to-cook sauces: Smothered Chicken, Creamy Lemon Garlic, Butter Chicken, and Thai Curry.

The whole point is dinner in two steps

These are condensed cooking sauces meant to go straight into a skillet with your protein. Campbell’s official recipes keep the process extremely simple: brown the meat, add the sauce and water, simmer until everything is cooked through, and serve.

That means these are not pasta sauces or finishing sauces pretending to be dinner. They are very specifically for the nights when you want something that tastes like you tried harder than you did.

• Smothered Chicken Sauce is built for chicken and mashed-potato type comfort-food dinners.
• Creamy Lemon Garlic Sauce is buttery, lemony and garlicky and works with chicken and rice.
• Butter Chicken Sauce is the shortcut-to-naan-and-rice option.
• Thai Curry Sauce is made for a fast curry-style chicken dinner with rice.

These are already rolling out

Campbell’s says the new sauces are available through major retailers including Amazon, Walmart and Target, and its official product locator can show what has been carried near you recently.

The brand also launched a Two-Step Tuesdays promotion around the new line, which honestly makes sense because Tuesday is exactly the kind of night where my original dinner plan turns into “I guess we are eating whatever is easiest.”

You can see all four sauces and Campbell’s official recipes at Campbell’s Sauces.

Source: Campbell’s and Campbell’s PR materials.

La Blanca’s Glam Squad collection leans into black-and-white contrast, pearl-style details and poolside drama. There’s a champagne option, too, if your vacation wardrobe is less little black dress and more glass of bubbly.

The black-and-white one-piece has the standout detail

The Over the Shoulder One Piece pairs a black body with a white neckline and a pearl-style accent at the center. La Blanca lists molded underwire cups, adjustable straps and a hook closure at the back.

It’s $149, and the cut is worth checking before you buy: the brand describes a high leg and cheeky rear coverage. That tells you more about whether it belongs in your suitcase than the glamour shot alone.

What’s in the collection—and what each piece costs

The collection page currently lists six options. Prices below were checked September 17, 2026.

The bikini top and high-waist bottom are separate purchases. Together, their listed prices add up to $176 before tax or shipping, so compare the full outfit price with the one-pieces rather than comparing a top alone.

Check the individual product page for your size, fit details and the final checkout price. The photos show the look; they aren’t a try-on review from us.

You can browse the full Glam Squad collection at La Blanca. Big sunglasses, naturally, are your department.

Josh & John’s says two pumpkin flavors arrive at its stores Friday, September 18, 2026, at noon: Pumpkin Cheesecake Cinnamon Swirl and dairy-free Pumpkin Oatmeal Cookie.

One is pumpkin pie meets cheesecake

Pumpkin Cheesecake Cinnamon Swirl starts with pumpkin ice cream, adds cheesecake chunks, and folds in a cinnamon graham cracker crust swirl. That is a very convincing list of reasons to save room for dessert.

Pumpkin Oatmeal Cookie takes the other route: a dairy-free pumpkin base with soft, spiced oatmeal cookie pieces. The brand labels this flavor dairy-free; if you have an allergy, check its ingredient and shared-equipment information before ordering.

I haven’t tasted either new flavor yet. I’m going off the shop’s announcement and descriptions, and the cheesecake-and-graham-cracker combination is the one I want to try first.

When can you get the pumpkin flavors?

The company’s September 11 announcement puts the in-store launch at noon on September 18, with scoops, pints and tubs. Josh & John’s describes this as a seasonal release intended to stick around through pumpkin season, while supplies last. It has not given a fixed final day.

For downtown Colorado Springs, the shop is at 329 N. Tejon Street. You can check the official shop directory for the location nearest you and current hours.

There is a shipping option, too

You do not have to live near a Colorado scoop shop to look into these. Both pumpkin flavors appear in the nationwide shipping selection.

Check the order page for the current delivery window and total before buying. The shipping format is an eight-pint order, so this is a freezer-stock-up situation rather than mailing yourself one scoop. Seasonal selections and shipping charges need a look at checkout.

If you are local like me, September 18 is the date to keep handy. If you are putting together a fall snack list from farther away, our new pumpkin products guide has more seasonal food and drink ideas.

The Stanley 1913 Halloween Collection launched today, September 17, with two very different spooky moods: deep red Bordeaux Lace and black-and-gold Black Magic. Stanley’s own launch email literally arrived with the subject line “Let’s Go, Witches,” so subtle this is not.

The Stanley Halloween collection has six pieces

Stanley’s launch email lists six pieces in the drop:

• 40-ounce Halloween Quencher H2.0 Flowstate Tumbler in Bordeaux Lace — $50
• 20-ounce Halloween Quencher H2.0 Flowstate Tumbler in Bordeaux Lace — $40
• 11-ounce Halloween Reserve Wine Tumbler in Black Magic — $30
• 40-ounce Halloween Quencher H2.0 Flowstate Tumbler in Black Magic — $50
• 16-ounce Halloween Everyday Tumbler in Black Magic — $35
• 8-ounce Halloween Easy-Fill Wide Mouth Flask in Black Magic. Stanley’s U.S. page is currently displaying both $31 and $30, so I would check the live cart price before ordering.

Bordeaux Lace is the dramatic one

Bordeaux Lace is the deep red design with dark lace-style Halloween artwork and spiders. It looks like the cup a vampire with excellent taste would carry to Target.

The color is part of both the 40-ounce and 20-ounce Quencher lineup.

Black Magic is all moon-and-moth energy

Black Magic goes black with metallic-gold celestial artwork. Stanley uses the design across the 40-ounce Quencher, the 11-ounce wine tumbler, the 16-ounce Everyday Tumbler and the 8-ounce flask.

The 40-ounce Halloween Quencher is $50 and has Stanley’s familiar Flowstate lid, reusable straw, cupholder-friendly base and dishwasher-safe recycled stainless-steel construction. The 20-ounce version is $40 and uses the same three-position Flowstate lid setup.

The collection launched today

Stanley set the U.S. launch for September 17 at 9 a.m. PT / noon ET, and the brand’s September 17 email says the Halloween Collection is here. When I checked after launch, the 40-ounce Black Magic Quencher was showing Add to Cart, although some cached product pages were still showing pre-launch “Coming Soon” language. Translation: if one page looks stale, refresh the exact item you want before assuming it is gone.

Shop the Stanley Halloween Collection here.

And yes, Stanley is offering Halloween customization

Stanley’s launch email is also promoting customization, with the option to add a message or artwork. So if a regular limited-edition witch cup is not extra enough for you, Stanley has apparently decided to support that journey.

We have not physically tested these pieces, so I am not going to pretend I can tell you how the finishes look in person. What I can confirm is the lineup, launch timing, current product-page specs and posted prices.

Emma Hernan’s Coast to Coast Kitchen has launched Lobster Empanadas, Sweet Chili Shrimp Empanadas, and a new Crab Rangoon at Target. The two empanada flavors were developed exclusively for the retailer, according to the brand’s September 16 announcement.

There are two new seafood empanada flavors

The Lobster Empanadas pair lobster with cream cheese and savory seafood flavor. The current Target listing shows an eight-count, 8-ounce package.

The Sweet Chili Shrimp Empanadas are also sold in an eight-count, 8-ounce package. Coast to Coast Kitchen says the lobster flavor nods to Hernan’s Massachusetts upbringing, while the sweet-chili shrimp flavor reflects her years in California.

Target displayed both empanada packages at $5.99 when checked September 17, 2026. Prices, stock, and fulfillment options can vary by location, so use your store in the Target app or website before planning the freezer haul.

Crab Rangoon is joining the launch

The third new item is frozen Crab Rangoon. Coast to Coast Kitchen connects that one to Hernan’s grandfather, a chef who made a crab-and-lobster spread for family gatherings.

The three additions expand a seafood appetizer line that arrived at Target in February 2026. The current lineup already includes New England Crab Cakes, Bacon Scallops, Shrimp Spring Rolls, and Crab Minis.

So this is less “one celebrity product appeared in one random freezer” and more a full appetizer strategy. You could pick one new box for movie night, or let every person choose a different appetizer and avoid pretending the group will agree.

The brand says the rollout is nationwide

Coast to Coast Kitchen says the new products are available at Target stores nationwide, including Alaska and Hawaii. That is the announced rollout scope, not a promise that every flavor is sitting in every freezer today.

Target’s own listings are already live, which is the useful part. Set your store first, then check pickup or delivery availability for the exact flavor. It saves the specific disappointment of making a special trip and discovering someone else cleared the shelf.

Here is the honest tasting note

We have not tried these yet. I am not going to tell you the lobster filling is rich, the shell is crispy, or the sweet chili flavor has the perfect kick when I do not know that.

What we can confirm is simpler: the products are real, the exact Target listings are live, the boxes are eight-count packages, and the brand announced a nationwide rollout. From there, your freezer and your air fryer get to make the final decision.

If Target treats are your favorite kind of news, the retailer also recently added Ritter Sport Duos in two-flavor bars.

The first date to put on the calendar is September 22, 2026. That is when Disney Wonders opens, according to the official Disney Parks Blog announcement.

Disney Wonders opens September 22

Disney describes Disney Wonders as a new shopping destination built around its stories. The outside will feature artwork inspired by Star Wars, Peter Pan, and Toy Story, while the interior includes two chandeliers with more than 40 character illustrations.

The store is joining an already pretty substantial shopping lineup. Disney Village also has Deco by Disney for home items and collectibles, Disney Glamour for fashion and jewelry, Disney Style for more casual apparel and accessories, World of Disney, a LEGO Store, and Pelé Soccer.

If your group treats post-park shopping like an attraction—and I absolutely understand those people—Disney Wonders is the immediate reason to update the itinerary.

A new Italian restaurant is coming later in 2026

Casa Giulia is expected to open at the end of 2026 near one of Disney Village’s main entrances. Disney says the two-level restaurant will focus on Italian favorites, seasonal ingredients, drinks, and cocktails.

There will also be a faster option called Giulia Express with pizza by the slice, focaccia, pastries, and gelato. That detail matters because sometimes a sit-down meal is lovely, and sometimes everyone needs food now before the wheels come off the vacation.

Vapiano is also scheduled for a full refurbishment beginning at the end of 2026. The plan includes brighter interiors, refreshed terraces, new landscaping, and a children’s play area upstairs, with completion expected in early 2027.

Annette’s Diner is closing for a major refresh

Annette’s Diner has been part of Disney Village since 1992. It is due to reopen in 2027 with a refreshed 1950s-inspired design, including booth seating based on vintage car interiors, restored jukeboxes, and a renovated dining room.

Other current food options named by Disney include Brasserie Rosalie, Sports Bar & Lounge, Billy Bob’s Country Western Bar, Five Guys, and McDonald’s. Availability can change during construction, so check the official Disneyland Paris listings close to your visit instead of building the entire day around an old screenshot.

The cinema renovation starts in September

Pathé Cinema is getting its own phased renovation. Disney says the work begins in September while the theater remains mostly open, with the larger project planned for 2027.

The final version is expected to include renovated auditoriums with recliner seating, upgraded projection, a Pathé Café, expanded food and beverage options, a redesigned Häagen-Dazs area with an outdoor terrace, and a new games area.

There is a holiday scavenger hunt too

Disney Enchanted Christmas will extend into Disney Village with new trees, giant snowflakes inspired by Disney stories, festive lighting, and photo spots. A new interactive activity will ask guests to find characters hidden in the snowflake decorations.

Disney says people who find them all can receive an exclusive holiday ornament at Sports Bar & Lounge. That is the kind of small, free-with-effort vacation extra I would make time for, especially if the group is already passing through Disney Village.

What this means for a 2026 or 2027 trip

For a visit on or after September 22, Disney Wonders is the confirmed new stop. Late-2026 travelers may also see Casa Giulia and the start of the Vapiano work. In 2027, the bigger planning variables are Annette’s reopening, the completed cinema renovation, and the next phase of the South Block transformation.

The practical move is to treat Disney Village as part of the trip rather than merely the walkway between the parks and hotels. Build in time for the things your group actually wants—shopping, dinner, or the cinema—then check the latest official operating details before arrival.

And if your next Disney trip is stateside, we also have the newly released Disney After Hours 2027 dates and prices.

At Home’s current Christmas collection lineup has all three covered. This is a look at the retailer’s 2026 seasonal pages, checked September 17—not a claim that every collection or item is brand-new.

Start with the decorations you already own

Here is how I would narrow the shopping tabs before buying another bin’s worth of ornaments:

• For a warmer, quieter room: Yuletide Hearth emphasizes wood and antique brass. Tartan & Tidings brings plaid, while Forma Terra takes an earthy direction.
• For shine without the same old red-and-green: Evergold pairs gold with brown and pearly finishes. Burgundy Brilliance goes toward velvet, crystal accents and silver.
• For a snowy look: Arctic Wonderland uses flocking and icy finishes; Winterbloom combines whites, greenery and champagne accents.

Those are useful starting points, not rules that everything in the room needs to match. Pick the palette that works with your favorite old decorations and fill one actual gap.

Yes, there is a pink bakery option

Mrs. Claus’ Bakery is the sweet-looking detour: the current page includes an 8-inch pink ice cream cone ornament listed at $14.99, a 14-inch pink peppermint cork placemat at $3.99, and a 15-inch chef nutcracker at $12.99.

That gives you a small-scale option if a whole themed tree is not the assignment. A peppermint placemat or a single nutcracker can do the job without replacing your Christmas collection.

Check your store before planning the haul

At Home’s pages change availability and delivery options by location. The prices above were displayed September 17, 2026; your store’s stock and later prices may differ. We have not handled or tested these pieces.

My vote: choose your favorite look, measure the spot, and decide what you are willing to store in January. Future you deserves a little consideration here.

For a different kind of December tradition, our 2026 Advent calendar guide covers the daily-countdown side of holiday shopping.

This is not an official Starbucks menu drink. It is a Totally The Bomb custom order made with ingredients that are available at many Starbucks locations. Order it by the recipe below—not by asking for a “Zombie Frappuccino”—so your barista knows exactly what to make.

How to order a Zombie Frappuccino at Starbucks

1. Start with a Grande Matcha Crème Frappuccino.
2. Ask to substitute raspberry syrup for the classic syrup. If you want a softer, sweeter version, vanilla syrup also works.
3. Ask for strawberry puree on top of the whipped cream. You can also request puree inside the cup for extra red streaks.
4. Finish with strawberry pieces on top, if your store has them available.

Starbucks made raspberry syrup a permanent menu option again in 2026, which gives this old Halloween favorite its punchy berry flavor back. Ingredient availability can still vary by store, so the vanilla version is an easy backup.

What does the Zombie Frappuccino taste like?

It is creamy, earthy, and berry-sweet. Matcha keeps the drink from tasting like straight candy, while raspberry syrup and strawberry puree bring the fruity “brains and blood” look. The strawberry pieces add the final scary-sparkly texture on top.

Tips for ordering this Starbucks secret menu drink

• Use the Starbucks app to check whether your store currently lists raspberry syrup and strawberry pieces.
• Read the customizations in order, and be patient if the store is busy.
• Keep the drink name for the photo caption. The recipe is what helps the barista.

Is the Zombie Frappuccino on the Starbucks menu?

No. This version is part of our Starbucks Secret Menu collection, not an official Starbucks drink. That means recipes and availability can change as ingredients come and go.

Want a sip that leans even harder into the Halloween theme? Try our Starbucks Zombie Brains Drink, an iced matcha creation with a different spooky look.

That is when 2027 Disney After Hours tickets open to the general public. Guests at eligible Disney-area hotels already have an early purchase window for event nights during their stay.

What does Disney After Hours cost in 2027?

The three parks have different prices and hours. Here is the comparison from Disney’s current event information. Prices below are per ticket, before tax, and vary by date.

One exception: Hollywood Studios runs 10:30 p.m.–1:30 a.m. on April 24, 2027. Event tickets allow entry starting at 7 p.m. Annual Passholders and Disney Vacation Club members can save $30 per ticket at Hollywood Studios and EPCOT.

Which dates are on the calendar?

Disney’s September 10 announcement lists selected nights from January 11 through July 19 at Magic Kingdom, January 16 through August 25 at Hollywood Studios, and January 21 through August 19 at EPCOT. These are date ranges, not nightly events; check the exact calendar before choosing a trip.

Included refreshments are ice cream novelties, popcorn and selected bottled drinks. Attraction highlights include TRON at Magic Kingdom, Rise of the Resistance at Hollywood Studios and Cosmic Rewind at EPCOT. Offerings can change.

The part to check before buying

This is a separately ticketed event, not a perk automatically included with regular park admission. Disney says tickets are limited, and admission does not guarantee access to an attraction.

My planning takeaway: compare the rides you care about and the late finish against the price, rather than treating the included popcorn as the whole sales pitch. A night that ends after midnight should fit your group—not just look good on a vacation spreadsheet.

If your plans include spring EPCOT visits, keep the 2027 Flower & Garden Festival dates handy too. That is a separate planning question from buying an After Hours ticket.

Disney has revealed an Olaf Countdown Plush for its 2026 holiday toy lineup, and the countdown is built right into the snowman. The official photo shows him in a Santa hat, with numbered sections across his body and a little Sven marker.

When does the Olaf countdown plush come out?

According to Disney’s September 16 holiday toy announcement, Olaf debuts in October 2026. Disney lists him as coming soon to DisneyStore.com.

That means this is a heads-up for your wish list, not a claim that you can order him today. The announcement does not give an exact October release day or a price.

Sven gets to help with the countdown

The plush comes with a Sven marker to count down to Christmas. It is a sweet alternative to a countdown that needs a fresh batch of little gifts: the snowman himself is the attraction.

I like that he looks like a Christmas decoration and a plush pal at the same time. Put him near the tree, and suddenly the question “how many more days?” has a very enthusiastic snowman assigned to it.

For the wider seasonal lineup, our Disney Christmas 2026 guide keeps the holiday collections together. This little guy’s key detail is simpler: October arrival, with the exact day still to come.

Formulary 55’s holiday calendar has 12 petite shea butter soaps tucked behind little doors, and the packaging makes a strong case for leaving the whole thing out on a dresser. Black-and-white botanicals outside. Black and gold inside. It looks like a fancy book with a very specific agenda: more soap.

What’s inside the Formulary 55 Advent calendar?

The brand lists nine new fragrances and three returning seasonal scents. The lineup includes Cardamom & Milk, Frosted Fir, Cranberry & Lychee, and Sugared Plum & Fig.

This is a 12-door calendar, so plan your countdown around twelve openings. You could start twelve days before Christmas, open one whenever you want a new scent, or ignore the calendar part entirely. I respect the person who opens every little door on arrival.

The box opens like a book and has a double magnetic closure.

Check the preorder timing before gifting it

Formulary 55 is taking preorders and says the calendar ships on or after October 1, 2026. That is the shipping window, so leave time for delivery if you have a particular gift date in mind.

Check the official listing for the current price and shipping details before ordering.

Who would actually use twelve little soaps?

This makes the most sense for someone who already enjoys scented bar soaps: the friend with a pretty soap dish, a guest bathroom they love decorating, or a favorite bar they always pack for a trip.

I would check the fragrance lineup before choosing it for someone else. A beautiful box is fun, but the gift works best when the person will actually use what is behind the doors. We haven’t tried this set, so there’s no scent ranking here.

If you’re still deciding between beauty, food, and other kinds of countdowns, our 2026 Advent calendar guide is a good place to compare.

Sun-Maid Charcuterie Pairings come in four combinations of dried fruit, banana chips, and yogurt-covered raisins. Each box is 4.5 ounces total, with the components in separate pouches. You still bring the cheese, crackers, and anything else you want on the board.

What is in the four Sun-Maid Charcuterie Pairings boxes?

The choice mostly comes down to whether you want dried fruit alone or some yogurt-covered raisins in the mix:

• Dried Apricots, Blueberries & Cranberries: the fruit-only combination.
• Dried Apricots, Dried Blueberries & Vanilla Yogurt Covered Raisins: keeps the apricots and blueberries, with vanilla-coated raisins as the third component.
• Dried Cherries, Banana Chips & Chocolate Yogurt Covered Raisins: the only box in this lineup with banana chips.
• Dried Cranberries, Dried Cherries & Chocolate Yogurt Covered Raisins: the chocolate-raisin option if you would rather have cranberries than banana chips.

That 4.5-ounce size is for the whole box. This is a way to add a few little piles or bowls to a spread, so plan the rest of your shopping around how many people you are feeding.

How I would use them on a snack board

My starting point would be the apricot-blueberry-cranberry box alongside cheese and crackers, especially if I already had something chocolatey elsewhere on the table. For a movie-night spread with cookies or pretzels, I would be more tempted by one of the chocolate-raisin combinations.

Those are board-building ideas, not a taste test. The separate pouches also mean you can arrange everything in its own little bowl instead of pouring a mixed bag into one spot. Sun-Maid includes more pairing suggestions on the back of each box.

Where to find Sun-Maid Charcuterie Pairings

In its September 16 announcement, Sun-Maid says the line is available at select Walmart and Target locations, along with other retailers nationwide. That does not mean every store carries every combination, so check your local store’s inventory before making a special trip.

The announcement does not give a suggested retail price. Compare the price for the full 4.5-ounce box when you find it, particularly if you are deciding between one of these assortments and larger bags for a party.

For a small board, though? Having three different little additions already sorted is a pretty appealing idea.

The brand’s September 16 announcement names two 7.7-ounce options. Here is how to tell them apart before you add one to the cart.

Sweet & Salty or Cookie?

• Sweet & Salty DUO: caramel cream with salty butter biscuit pieces on one side, chocolate brownie on the other.
• Cookie DUO: chocolate cream with cookie pieces alongside vanilla cream with cocoa and vanilla biscuit pieces.

Both have a milk chocolate coating. Based on those descriptions, Sweet & Salty is the caramel-and-brownie pick; Cookie is the chocolate-and-vanilla choice.

How much are Ritter Sport DUOs?

The company lists Target and World Market as DUO retailers, with suggested prices starting at $9.75. That is a starting suggested price, so check your store’s actual listing and availability before making a trip.

The fall caramel bags are a separate launch

Ritter Sport also announced Mixed Caramel Minis and Caramel Choco Cubes in seasonal bags, with that bag assortment starting at a suggested $6.89 through retailers including CVS, Kroger and Publix.

Those are different products from the big DUO bars. If you are hunting for the chocolate in the photo, look for DUO and 7.7 ounces on the package. The lower starting price for the seasonal bags does not tell us which format is the better deal without comparing the bag weights, too.