Everyone’s favorite budget furniture store makes it easy to create a cozy space for kids

IKEA lovers, take note: you can transform your kid’s room from drab to fab with a few clever ideas. We’ve rounded up the coolest ideas below, from a genius take on IKEA bookshelves to the cutest kid-sized stools. It’s amazing what a bit of paint and creativity can do. Check out all the things you can make with a simple box or shelf! Whatever you’re looking to add, there’s an IKEA kids’ room hack for it. If you let your DIY imagination run wild, these IKEA hacks will put the perfect, unique spin on your kiddo’s room.

Book Box

Check out this DIY book box made from the KNAGGLIG box. Your kiddo will have access to their books in an adorable way!

Toy Shelf

Try out this great shelf idea for storing your kid’s toys! This IKEA hack is made with the TROFAST storage set.

Instant Dollhouse

You know that adorable house bookshelf from IKEA? It can be a dollhouse too! This adorable version even adds extra rooms with a box shelf.

Animal Stools

Cute animal stools - IKEA kids room ideas
Biz Jones via Project Kid

These pint-sized stools are the perfect blank slate for a whimsical upgrade. Get inspired by Project Kid to transform the FLISAT stool into your kiddo’s favorite animal.

Make-Believe Market Stand

With some KNAGGLIG wooden crates and a few other supplies, you can craft a mini market stand to help fuel your little one’s imagination. Get the full instructions from Little Lifelong Learners, including printables that will bring your sushi shop to life.

Related: 17 IKEA Organization Hacks You Can Easily Do Yourself

LEGO Table

IKEA kids room LEGO table hack
IKEA

While this storage system isn't technically a table, all you'd need to do is glue a few base plates to the top of the unit. The colorful bins underneath make a perfect place to stash LEGO bricks, and you can easily buy two or three of these to create a whole LEGO wall! This IKEA hack uses the TROFAST set. 

Wasted-Space Reading Nook

If you’ve got a cupboard that doesn’t do much but collect clutter, get inspired by @pagesofemma‘s IKEA kids’ room idea for turning wasted space into a cozy reading nook using IKEA’s Kallax picture shelf units.

Book Wall

Some books are just as beautiful on the outside as the inside. Turn those colorful picture books into a wall of art by repurposing the MOSSLANDA Picture ledge into a book wall like this inspiring one from Waco Book Mom.

Play Kitchen Upgrade

The DUKTIG Play Kitchen is the perfect addition to your playroom as is, but that doesn’t mean you can’t jazz it up a little. Your imagination is really the limit when it comes to this creative IKEA hack, a paint job, new knobs, and even a tile backsplash are some options. To keep it easy simply grab some marble-printed contact paper and cover the countertop and the shelves for a classic kitchen made for a mini master chef.

LATT Table Makeover

The $30 LATT Table Set at IKEA is one of the best bargains you can find. There are so many fun ways to upgrade the table and two chairs, but for a gorgeous makeover, you actually won’t mind having in any room of your house check out this hack from Cook Like A Champion.

Related: 19 IKEA Products Every Parent Needs in Their Life

Changing Table

IKEA kids room ideas for a changing table
Shahrzad Warkentin

You don't need to invest a lot of money in a changing table you'll only need for a year or two. A quick hack to IKEA's Kallax Shelf unit gives you a changing area with plenty of storage, this is especially helpful for shared rooms. All you have to do is strap a changing pad to the top and when you're blissfully done with the diaper stage just remove it and keep the storage.

Stuffed Animal Catch-All

IKEA kids room ideas for toy storage
Shahrzad Warkentin

This IKEA hack is so simple, but it will change your life. If your kids have a zoo full of stuffed animals, clear the clutter quickly by popping open the FYLLEN Laundry basket and tossing them in. It'll keep the hoard of toys contained, and it makes for a fun game at clean-up time tossing them all in.

Art Supply Organizer

IKEA kids room ideas for art supplies
Shahrzad Warkentin

Keep all of those markers, crayons, and art supplies organized and easily accessible with this easy IKEA Hack with the KUNGFORS Container. Hang the rail and containers from the wall above a desk or craft table, and you keep all your supplies front and center for craft time.

 

 

 

If you ask a kid who has the hardest job on the planet, they might say something like, “Fireman, Wonder Woman, and the president.” Touché. Being the president isn’t for the faint of heart; only those with superhero qualities need apply. The fun facts below prove that presiding over the Oval Office takes a special (and sometimes quirky) kind of person. Read on to check them out!

iStock

1. Barack Obama: I Scream, You Scream, We All Scream for Ice Cream?
Who doesn't love a scoop of ice cream on a hot summer day? Our 44th president, that's who. He worked in a Baskin-Robbins ice cream shop as a teenager and now can't stand ice cream.

2. Bill Clinton: You've Got Mail
While sending and receiving email is now a run-of-the-mill thing in most households, Bill Clinton was the first person ever to send an email from the White House.

3. Gerald Ford: Paging Frank Underwood?
Seemingly out of a Hollywood (or NetFlix) script, Gerald Ford was the first person to be both vice president and president without ever being elected by the public. How? He was appointed vice president when Spiro Agnew resigned from his post, and then he succeeded to the presidency when Nixon resigned due to the Watergate scandal.

4. Martin Van Buren: Born in the USA  
While it is currently a law that you have to be born in the U.S. (or a US Territory) to become the President, Martin Van Buren was the first President who was actually a US Citizen. All previous presidents were born British subjects.

5. James Garfield: America's Got Talent  
Most people only speak or write one or two languages at a time. James Garfield could write Latin with one hand and Greek with the other hand simultaneously. #coolpartytrick

fun facts about George Washington, the person in this picture
unsplash

6. George Washington: Party of 1?
George Washington was the only president that wasn't affiliated with a political party? Washington was neither a Republican nor a Democrat.

7. Thomas Jefferson: Lights, Camera...
Today, the president is on television or making a speech almost daily, but did you know that Thomas Jefferson had such stage fright that he only gave two speeches during his entire presidency?

8. John Tyler: Big Poppa  
John Tyler was the father of 15 (!!!) kids, more than any other president.

9. Teddy Roosevelt: That's Going to Sting a Little in the Morning  
An excellent hunter and athlete, Roosevelt was notorious for having a tough guy image. Once, while giving a speech, he was shot in the chest during an assassination attempt. He continued AND FINISHED the speech with the bullet still lodged in his chest.

10. James Madison: Hey, Down Here!
For some reason, presidents are characteristically tall figures. James Madison was definitely an exception. He only stood 5 feet 4 inches and never weighed more than 100 pounds.

Ern M. via Yelp

11. Abraham Lincoln: Try, Try, and Try Again
Lincoln lost five separate elections before he became President of the U.S. (Never, ever, ever give up!)

12. Herbert Hoover: Hide and Seek Champion
Herbert Hoover gave all the White House servers strict instructions to hide from him whenever he passed by. Those who failed to do so were fired. Yikes.

13. Chester Arthur: Night Owl
We all know that being the president means you probably have a lot on your mind. Arthur always went for late-night walks and rarely was in the bed before 2 a.m.

14. Dwight D. Eisenhower: Pancakes, Dave?
One of the most important positions in the White House now is being the official White House chef. However, Eisenhower was a skilled chef himself and was known for cooking delicious vegetable soup, steaks and cornmeal pancakes.
 
15. Harry S. Truman: Is it Sean? Stillman?
Harry S. Truman's name is very distinguished. Mainly because of the 'S.' that is included with his name. Did you know Truman doesn't actually have a middle name? It's just the letter 'S'.

 

—Ayren Jackson-Cannady
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It only comes around once a year—a birthday! It can be tough keeping up with the latest fads for young kids, which is why choosing LEGO® DUPLO®  is always a winner! With exciting characters they know and love, creative, imaginative and hands-on play with Mickey & Minnie’s Birthday Parade will make their day extra special!

Be the champion of gift-giving this year with LEGO DUPLOit all adds up to a Happy Little Human!

When children are diagnosed with cancer, their childhoods are put on hold. Navigating countless procedures, enduring lengthy treatments and meeting emotional needs takes incredible strength and resilience. To bring much-needed joy and smiles to families on this unfathomable journey, Northwestern Mutual, through its Foundation, recently connected children and families affected by childhood cancer for a one-of-a-kind virtual “camp” experience: the Ultimate Mini-Camp.

In recognition of Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, the Ultimate Mini-Camp united families nationwide affected by childhood cancer who often lack crucial support networks that truly understand this battle. Hosted by Super Bowl champion and former NFL player Donald Driver, participants got to listen to stories, ask NFL pros questions and show off their favorite accessories—casting their worries aside as they enjoyed an afternoon of pure fun.

Aaron Jones, NFL Running Back for the Green Bay Packers, acted as the “director of activities,” talking to kids about everything from his ranking in Madden NFL to why he wears a sombrero on game day, and taking participants behind the scenes for an exclusive tour of Lambeau Field. The children were also encouraged to submit a customized design for a chance to be featured on Aaron’s cleats for this season’s “My Cause, My Cleats” game in December. “I look forward to wearing one of you guys’ cleats this upcoming December…having a special game in them and seeing what you come up with,” said Jones. 

Kids and parents were able to ask Jones and Driver questions, which ranged from their other favorite sports to what advice they’d give to children battling cancer. Driver, who has experienced multiple friends and family members fight cancer, shared an emotional response. “You’re the most special person in the world,” said Driver. “Never give up, keep fighting. Believe that anything is possible.”

The Northwestern Mutual Foundation launched its Childhood Cancer Program in 2012 to accelerate the search for better treatments and cures, provide necessary family and patient support, and aid those who continue to struggle with the long-term effects of treatment. The program has contributed more than $35 million to the cause, funding more than 455,000 hours of life-saving research. It also provides two scholarships—one to childhood cancer survivors and another for siblings of those affected by childhood cancer—so they can pursue dreams of higher education and inspiring careers.

Since 2018, Northwestern Mutual has been hosting special camp events virtually and at renowned venues – Rose Bowl Stadium in 2018, Lambeau Field in Titletown in 2019, and virtually in 2020 and 2021. This year’s Ultimate Mini-Camp served as an uplifting (virtual) destination to help families rediscover hope, create unforgettable memories, and build meaningful connections among a loving community.

Get a peek at the full event:

 

 

-Jessica Solloway

If your family is obsessed with shows like Nailed It and The Great British Baking Show, there’s a new bake-off coming your way, courtesy of the Disney Channel and Tastemade.

Disney’s Magic Bake-Off is the first competitive series just for kids 6-14 from Disney Channel, where contestants will work in teams of two to create amazing cakes inspired by Disney magic. Read on to learn more about this magically delicious new show!

The hosts for the show will look familiar for Disney fans too. Dara Reneé stars as Kourtney on High School Musical: The Musical: The Seriesand Issac Ryan Brown from Raven’s Home. The two will team up with Pastry Chef Graciela Gomez to guide kid bakers through challenges, games, and some unexpected twists.

You’ll be able to watch the show over 13 episodes, and each will declare a winning team. The victors will be proclaimed Disney Baking Champion, and the winning recipe will become a featured Tastemade video, available on Disney Channel and Tastemade social media platforms.

Disney is partnering with Tastemade, a modern media company that creates award-winning video content and original programming in the categories of food, travel, and home & design.

Disney’s Magic Bake-Off premieres Fri., Aug. 13 at 10:05pm ET/PT on Disney Channel and DisneyNOW. Following the debut, you can catch the show every Friday evening at 8:00pm on Disney Channel and DisneyNOW.

—Sarah Shebek

Images: courtesy of Disney 

 

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The results are in on the ALDI Fan Favorites annual survey. Shoppers have voted on their top ten picks from a variety of ALDI-exclusive items.

Without further ado, here are the 2021 Fan Favorites winners:

  • Cult Favorite: Appleton Farms Premium Sliced Bacon*
  • Stream & Snack: Clancy’s Kettle Chips*
  • Morning Meeting Must-Have: Specially Selected Brioche and French Toast Bagels
  • Guilt-Free Go-To: Friendly Farms Almond, Coconut & Oat Milk*
  • Guess Who’s Back: Huntington Home 3 Wick Candles
  • Mama Knows Best: Mama Cozzi’s Pizza Kitchen Take and Bake Deli Pizza*
  • Little Fan Favorite: Happy Farms String Cheese*
  • Sip & Celebrate: PurAqua Belle Vie Sparkling Flavored Water*
  • Dinner Delight: Fresh Family Pack Chicken Breasts
  • Keeping it Fresh: Strawberries*
    *Denotes repeat winner

It’s no secret that ALDI shoppers are big fans of the store’s low prices and wide selection of high-quality foods. More than 360,000 shoppers have voted over the last three years.

The Mama Cozzi’s Pizza line earned its own category this year, after being the overall fan favorite in 2020. And it’s still a winner: The brand’s Kitchen Take and Bake Deli Pizza was a top vote-getter this year, with more than 45,000 votes.

Among kid favorites, three-time champion Happy Farms String Cheese earned more than 50% of the votes in its category this year, winning by a landslide.

You’ll find these winners by looking for a blue heart-shaped logo on store shelves and on the ALDI website. Learn more about the 2021 Fan Favorites here.

—Eva Ingvarson Cerise

Photo courtesy of ALDI

 

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Party of five! Model mom Ashley Graham announced in July that she was pregnant but the news just got a little bigger. She released a video today from an ultrasound that revealed she’s expecting twin boys!

In the video, Graham asks “is that twins?” before sitting straight up when she finds out they’re both boys. They’ll join son Isaac, who was born at the start of 2020 and her husband, Justin Ervin. Looks like the boys will have the upper hand in the family household!

 

After breaking out as the first plus-sized supermodel to grace the covers of the Sports Illustrated swimsuit edition and Vogue, plus a judging stint on America’s Next Top Model, Graham is a super-popular champion of body positivity. She runs a YouTube channel with 22 million views, which includes a sweet video chronicling her son Isaac’s first year. She’s also given a TED Talk advocating self-acceptance and her Instagram account has a whopping 13 million followers.

In 2009, she met her husband, a videographer, with marriage the following year. Graham praised him in a separate Instagram post, “Getting to witness you be a father is the greatest gift.” We’re excited to watch their family grow by two!

—Sarah Shebek

Featured image courtesy of lev radin / Shutterstock.com

 

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Shawn Johnson East is an Olympic gold medalist, “Dancing with the Stars” champion and New York Times bestselling author. Even so, she feels insecure like the rest of us. In a stunning new maternity shoot, she faced her doubts about her pregnant body head on—and documented the entire experience!

You can watch the 12 minute behind the scenes video below, as Johnson East and her husband Andrew discuss the thought process behind scheduling the shoot and her feeling during it, as well as Andrew’s reactions. Early on, she notes “I can sometimes struggle with pregnancy to feel beautiful.” Despite her doubts, the results are stunning, as she partners with photographer Nanda Santos for a studio shoot.

In the description on YouTube Johnson East wrote “This was so exciting. I’ve never done a shoot like this but it was SO exhilarating. I was really nervous at first honestly, but Nanda really made me feel so special and comfortable. Never in a million years did I think I’d want to do something like this, but I’m so glad I did. It was really empowering to go through that shoot and then getting to see the final product was even more exciting.”

A popular figure on social media, Johnson East has humorously chronicled pregnancy and mom life, including posting bump shots in her Olympic leotard and and dance challenges with Andrew. The couple had daughter Drew in November 2019 and will welcome a baby boy this summer––just in time to cheer on Team USA as they go for the gold!

––Sarah Shebek

Featured Image: Kathy Hutchins / Shutterstock.com

 

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Ronda Rousey and hubby Travis Browne are expecting! The former WWE wrestler and champion mixed martial artist announced the couple’s baby news in a sweet, ultrasound-packed YouTube video.

Rousey and Browne married in 2017—and in just a few short months the family of two will expand to three. The couple didn’t share their pregnancy news immediately. As it turns out, Rousey is already four months pregnant.

The YouTube clip kicks off with the couple seated on their couch. Rousey holds a pillow over belly, quickly lifting it away as she exclaims, “Pow! Four months pregnant!” The soon-to-be new mom goes on to add, “I’ve been pregnant since January.”

Along with the announcement, the couple shared several ultrasound videos of their growing baby….boy or girl? Even though the ultrasound images show the sex of the baby, the couple splashed the words, “Gender reveal to come” across the screen.

While they may not have given away their baby’s gender, Rousey and Browne did share their little girl or boy’s due date—Sep. 22.

—Erica Loop

Featured photo: Jaguar PS / Shutterstock.com

 

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Get ready for a collab that’s packed with super-cool, super-comfy mom style! HATCH and Keds recently teamed up to create a brand-new line of fab footwear.

If your S.O., kiddos, or other loved one are still on the search for a Mother’s Day gift, the Keds x HATCH pairing is the perfect present for any mama on-the-go. With clothes and gear for every step of a mother’s life, HATCH’s must-have products now extend down to your toes.

Beloved brand Keds has kept your feet completely comfortable for decades. The new collaboration features three styles—The Champion Canvas ($65), The Ace Leather ($85), and The Doubledecker Terry ($75). The cool kicks are more than just functional footwear. Even though the shoes provide the support your tired mama feet need, the collection is also high on style.

With pretty pink accents and two sets of heart-covered laces, The Champion Canvas is breathable, comfortable, and so much more. If you’re more of a leather sneaker girl, The Ace Leather is chic, sleek, and completely cute.

Whether you’re just too preggo to bend over and tie your laces or you just don’t have the time to add one more muss and fuss chore to the list, The Doubledecker Terry is a sweet slip-on that will make you feel carefree.

Find the Keds x HATCH collection online here!

—Erica Loop

Photos courtesy of Keds x HATCH

 

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