80s Toys Roc

Sorry gang.

6 days ago | [YT] | 92

80s Toys Roc

Sometimes a photo can stop you in your tracks. My mom sent me this picture earlier today… and she’s maybe two years old in it (or close to it) Late 1950s. Snow on the ground. And there she is, being pulled through the snow by her dad (my Grandfather)…

Not in a real sled.

In a cardboard “TRUST COFFEE” box.

She told me, “We were so poor… I didn’t even have a sled.”

And for a second, that hit me hard.

Because when you hear something like that, you automatically think of struggle… of lacking… of hardship.

But then I looked closer at the photo.

And you know what I saw?

I saw happiness.
I saw a little girl smiling like she had everything in the world.
I saw a dad doing the best he could with what he had… turning a coffee box into magic.

And it made me think about how simple life really was back then.

Not easy.
But simple.

No endless noise.
No constant chasing.
Just family… snow… laughter… and a moment that lasted forever.

And then it brought me back to my own childhood… growing up through the 70s, the 80s, the 90s.

Man… life felt simple then too.

Riding bikes until the streetlights came on.
Saturday morning cartoons.
Snow days that felt like the world paused just for you.
Playing outside with nothing but imagination.

And the crazy part is…

We didn’t even know how simple it was.

We didn’t know we were living in the good old days… because you can’t see it while you’re inside of it.

You only realize it later…

When you’re older… maybe pushing 50… looking back through the window of time.

And suddenly you’d give anything just to go back for one afternoon.

One more Christmas morning.
One more snowy day.
One more moment when life felt slow… and full.

And I guess that’s what this photo reminded me of…

That even when people didn’t have much…
they still had joy.

And maybe the lesson is…

The simple moments are still happening right now.

We’re living in days that one day we’ll miss.

So hug your people.
Slow down.
Be present.

Because a coffee box in the snow might not look like much…

But it was everything.

1 week ago | [YT] | 83

80s Toys Roc

WHO REMEMBERS HYPERCOLOR SHIRTS?! 🤯🎨

Alright… who remembers when the height of 80s technology was…

a t-shirt that changed colors?!

Like… forget smartphones.

Back then, if your shirt changed from blue to pink…

You were basically living in the year 3000.

😂

I mean seriously…

If you owned a Hypercolor shirt, you weren’t just a kid…

You were an event.

You’d walk into school like:

“Oh this old thing?
Yeah… it has mood swings.”

And the whole hallway would stop.

People would crowd around you like you were showing off a brand new Ferrari…

“DUDE… do it again! Make it change!”

And you’d just stand there, arms out, soaking in the fame like:

“Yes… yes… behold my magical temperature shirt.”

🤣

Hypercolor was the ultimate flex.

It was like wearing a science experiment with sleeves.

And for about two glorious weeks…

You were the coolest human being in the building.

So I gotta ask…

👇 Did YOU ever own a Hypercolor shirt?
Or did you just stare in jealousy at the kid who did?

#GenX #80sNostalgia #Hypercolor #WhoRemembers #80sKids #MemoryLane

1 week ago | [YT] | 94

80s Toys Roc

5 Thrift Store Friday will not be airing this evening.

I’m gonna be taking some time tonight just for me and my family… kinda soaking in the moment, slowing things down a bit.

And honestly… with this big winter storm rolling in this weekend, it just feels like the perfect time to hit pause.

But don’t worry…

I’m gonna try my best to get another video out Saturday or Sunday…

a full-on “Snow Day Special.”

And man… doesn’t this weather just bring you right back?

Like… remember being a kid in the 80s…

Waking up and looking out the window…

Seeing the world covered in snow…

Hoping you’d hear those magic words…

“School is canceled.”

You’d spend the whole day in your pajamas…

Cartoons on TV…

Hot chocolate…

Maybe a stack of VHS tapes…

And that feeling like the world outside was this giant blizzard wonderland.

That’s exactly the vibe this weekend.

So if you’re in the path of the storm…

Stay warm…

Stay safe…

And most of all…

Have fun with it.

Enjoy the snow day like we did back then.

Alright guys… thanks for understanding.

Snow Day Special coming soon…

And I’ll see you this weekend. ❄️📼🔥

1 week ago | [YT] | 92

80s Toys Roc

Burf’s Top 5 Ways to Enjoy Your Toys on a Snow Day!

All right, Gang, with this snowstorm rolling in, it’s the perfect time to reconnect with your collection! Here are five feel-good snowstorm activities:

First, take a stroll down memory lane. Pull out one cherished toy and write a little story about how you found it. You’ll feel that warm spark of nostalgia instantly.

Second, reorganize a shelf or display space. It’s like you’re creating a fresh little museum—your own personal gallery of joy to brighten up the snowy days.

Third, fix a toy that’s been waiting. Recently, I went to Lowe’s and bought a bunch of O-rings to repair some broken G.I. Joes. Sitting at my desk, lamp on, GI Joe Soundtrack on in the background, working under the light, I replaced those O-rings. Their joints are tight again—it feels like a brand new Joe. It’s an amazing feeling, knowing I took a figure out of commission and put him back on the front line.

Fourth, try some toy photography —maybe a winter wonderland or harsh blizzard scene. You’ll feel that creative spark and a little magic.

Finally, record a video showing off a favorite piece. Sharing that passion will warm the hearts of fellow collectors, and it’ll give you that sense of connection even while snowed in.

Stay Warm and Stay Safe!

Burf

2 weeks ago | [YT] | 64

80s Toys Roc

Burf’s Top 5 Ways to Enjoy Your Toys on a Snow Day!

All right, Gang, with this snowstorm rolling in, it’s the perfect time to reconnect with your collection! Here are five feel-good snowstorm activities:

First, take a stroll down memory lane. Pull out one cherished toy and write a little story about how you found it. You’ll feel that warm spark of nostalgia instantly.

Second, reorganize a shelf or display space. It’s like you’re creating a fresh little museum—your own personal gallery of joy to brighten up the snowy days.

Third, fix a toy that’s been waiting. Recently, I went to Lowe’s and bought a bunch of O-rings to repair some broken G.I. Joes. Sitting at my desk, lamp on, GI Joe Soundtrack on in the background, working under the light, I replaced those O-rings. Their joints are tight again—it feels like a brand new Joe. It’s an amazing feeling, knowing I took a figure out of commission and put him back on the front line.

Fourth, try some toy photography —maybe a winter wonderland or harsh blizzard scene. You’ll feel that creative spark and a little magic.

Finally, record a video showing off a favorite piece. Sharing that passion will warm the hearts of fellow collectors, and it’ll give you that sense of connection even while snowed in.

Stay Warm and Stay Safe!

Burf

2 weeks ago | [YT] | 40

80s Toys Roc

13,000. First off—thank you. Truly.
Not because of the number… but because of who you are.

Here’s the honest truth: I don’t really care if it’s 13,000, 3,000, or 300. Numbers don’t drive me. People do. The laughs, the comments, the DMs, the friendships—that’s the fuel.

I started this channel back in March of 2020, when the world shut down. When everything went quiet. When “they”—yeah, if you’re awake, you know who “THEY” —started pushing this idea of an obedient, “new normal.”

And yeah… that was never gonna be me.

I’ve never been good at following the status quo. Never been good at compliance for the sake of compliance. So instead of buying into something that felt forced and hollow, I did the only thing that made sense to me—I created a place where I could stay normal for my normal.

This channel became that place.

A place where we could talk toys, nostalgia, thrift stores, memories, excitement, and joy—without pretending, without filters, without playing a role. Just real life. Real passion. Real fun.

And man… what a ride it’s been.

We’ve dug through dusty shelves.
Found absolute grails.
Struck out hard some days—and hit gold on others.
We’ve laughed, we’ve geeked out, we’ve relived childhoods one thrift store at a time.

And through all of it, something bigger happened…

Community.

Friendships. Conversations. Familiar names that show up week after week. People who feel like friends I’ve known forever—even if we’ve never met face-to-face.

That means more to me than any subscriber count ever could.

The reason the 70s, 80s, and 90s matter so much to me is simple:
That era was about imagination. Anticipation. Wonder.
You didn’t scroll—you waited.
You didn’t binge—you looked forward.
You didn’t curate a persona—you were just you.

Those decades shaped who I am. And this channel is my way of keeping that spirit alive—not trapped in glass, not locked away, but shared.

So if you’ve ever watched a video…
If you’ve ever commented…
If you’ve ever laughed, smiled, or felt like a kid again for a few minutes…

Thank you.

You made this channel possible.
You made it meaningful.
And honestly? You made it fun.

I’m not chasing numbers.
I’m chasing moments.

And as long as this is fun… as long as it makes people happy…
I’m not going anywhere.

Thank you for being part of the journey.
Here’s to whatever comes next. 🍻

1 month ago | [YT] | 168

80s Toys Roc

Happy 75th Birthday to my mother-in-law, GG 🎉🎂

If you know GG, you know this: we spend about 60% of our time ripping on each other… and the other 40% agreeing way too hard on things we probably shouldn’t say out loud.

Nicole and Caroline call us “Twinnies” — and honestly, they’re not wrong. We’re both a little rough around the edges, we say what we mean (even when it’s not exactly kosher), and neither of us has much patience for nonsense. If there’s an eye roll happening in the room, odds are it’s coming from one of us.

Now let’s address the elephant in the room… 75 years old.
Seventy-five.
Three quarters of a century.
Old enough to have opinions that begin with “Back in my day…”

And yet somehow… she does not look 75. Not even close. If aging is a competition, GG is clearly cheating.

They say if you want to know what your wife is going to be like later in the marriage, you should look at her mother. And after 20 years with Nicole, I can honestly say…

I feel safe. 😅❤️

Happy Birthday, GG. Wouldn’t trade our banter, sarcasm, or “twinnie” energy for anything. Here’s to many more years of talking trash and telling it like it is. 🎉🎂

1 month ago | [YT] | 126

80s Toys Roc

There are certain cartoons you don’t just remember…
you feel them.

I’m 50 now, which is wild to even say out loud. But every once in a while, something pulls me straight back into the 1980s — not in a loud, flashy way… more like a quiet, glowing memory.

Rudolph’s Shiny New Year was one of those.

I remember watching it on one of those weird in-between nights. Christmas was over. The tree was still up, but the magic felt… thinner. Wrapping paper shoved in the corner. Batteries already dying in new toys. School looming again.

And there it was on TV.

Not Christmas.
Not really New Year’s either.
Just… something else.

I didn’t fully understand it as a kid. I just knew it felt different. A little sad. A little hopeful. Kind of dreamy. Rudolph wasn’t saving Christmas — he was racing time itself. Baby New Year in a top hat. Islands made of years. A villain who didn’t roar, but lingered.

It felt quiet.
Heavy in a way I couldn’t explain back then.

I’d sit on the carpet, legs crossed, the TV glowing in a dark living room. The hum of the set. Maybe my parents talking softly in the other room. No phone. No internet. Just me and a story about time slipping away.

And that part about the “Last Years” — even as a kid — stuck with me.
The idea that years age, fade, and disappear. That they don’t come back. That they have to make room for what’s next.

I didn’t know it then, but that cartoon was planting something.

Now I’m 50.
The years really do feel like islands behind me. Some bright. Some blurry. Some I’d revisit in a heartbeat if I could. Others… I’m okay letting drift away.

Watching it now hits completely different.

It’s not about Rudolph anymore.
It’s about time moving faster than you expect.
About learning to let go.
About hoping the next year arrives safely.

Back then, New Year felt slow. Endless. Full of promise.
Now it shows up fast — almost too fast — and you find yourself whispering, “Wait… already?”

But that’s the beauty of it.

That old Rankin/Bass special didn’t just entertain me.
It taught me — quietly — that time matters. That moments matter. That every year, shiny or not, deserves to arrive.

Somewhere inside that 50-year-old guy…
there’s still an 80s kid sitting on the floor, watching the clock tick toward midnight, believing the New Year was something magical.

And maybe it still is.

1 month ago | [YT] | 71

80s Toys Roc

There are moments in life that split time in two.
Before… and after.

This is one of mine.

I was first diagnosed with diabetes in April of 2023. I remember thinking, Okay… this is serious, but I can handle it. I did everything they told me to do. I cut sugar. I cut carbs. I lived on salads and protein. I tried to be disciplined. I tried to be strong.

But my body was quietly losing a war I didn’t even know I was fighting.

The weight came off fast. Too fast.
224 pounds… then 200… then 170… then 150… and eventually 136.

People would say things like, “Man, you look great!”
They didn’t see the shaking.
They didn’t see the dizzy spells.
They didn’t feel the neuropathy and weakness in my legs.
They didn’t know how exhausted I was.

Inside, I was wasting away.

By 2025, I was in really bad shape and hospitalized twice. February was the first admission. September was the one that almost killed me.

That second time, I spent 4.5 days in the ICU with diabetic ketoacidosis. My blood was toxic. My organs were failing. My carbon dioxcide levels were so low that didn’t even register on the guages. My body was literally eating itself to stay alive. Normal blood sugar should be around 80 to 100. Mine lived between 400 and 500. Every day. Sometimes higher reaching upwards of 650.

I was so weak. My hands trembled. My vision blurred. I could feel my heart pounding in my chest at night, and I’d lie there wondering if it would just… stop.

And the scariest part?
I didn’t let anyone see how bad it was.

I smiled. I joked. I told people I was “good.”
Meanwhile, my family was watching me disappear—right in front of them. I knew they were afriad for me.
You know, the way love looks when it’s terrified of loss.

The truth finally came out in the ICU.

I wasn’t Type 2.
I never was.

I was a Type 1 diabetic who desperately needed insulin—being treated for the wrong disease. Adult-onset Type 1 is rare. Uncommon. Something doctors don’t always expect. But rare doesn’t mean impossible. And that misdiagnosis nearly ended my life.

There is something deeply humbling about lying in a hospital bed, stripped of strength, staring at the ceiling, realizing you may not walk out the same… or at all.

In those moments, none of the things you thought mattered actually do.

Not money.
Not work.
Not stress.
Not arguments.
Not pride.

Just breath.
Just heartbeat.
Just the faces of the people you love.

Since my ICU stay in September, I’ve fought my way back. I still have hard days. I still struggle. But I’m alive. I’m stable. I weigh 185 pounds now. I feel stronger. I feel present. I feel grateful in a way you only understand when you’ve stood at the edge.

Seneca once wrote:

“It is not that we have a short time to live, but that we waste much of it.”

And now I understand this truth in my bones:

“He who has health has hope, and he who has hope has everything.”

Your health is not just important—it is everything. It is the foundation that every dream, every relationship, every moment is built on. Without it, the rest of life collapses into silence.

We worry about the dumbest things. We argue over nothing. We chase things that won’t matter in the end. But when your health is gone, the only things left standing are love… and the will to survive.

When I think about 2026, it doesn’t feel like “another year.” It feels like a gift I almost didn’t receive. I carry a different awareness now—one that lives in my bones. I know how quickly everything can be taken away, and because of that, I choose differently. I protect my health. I slow down. I listen. I show up fully for the people I love. I don’t chase things that drain me anymore.

If the past few years taught me how close I came to losing my life, then 2026 represents something far more powerful: a chance to live it on purpose. With gratitude. With presence. And with the deep understanding that every day I wake up healthy enough to hug my family, breathe deeply, and stand on my own two feet… is a victory I will never take for granted again.

1 month ago | [YT] | 246