The next 10 episodes of Bluey season three are landing on Disney+ on January 12, 2024

Crikey! The long-awaited next batch of Bluey season three episodes are making their way to Disney+! What feels like forever ago, BBC Studios and Disney first announced that the show would be returning for a third season set to premiere on Disney Channel, Disney Junior, and Disney+ in all territories outside of Australia, New Zealand, and China. But parents and kids immediately noticed that there were fewer episodes compared to seasons past.

According to The Independent, it was always the plan to release season three in two batches. The first half was dropped in the form of 25 episodes on August 10th, 2022, followed by a surprise drop in July 2023. But now… there’s more! The newest set of episodes is set to debut on Disney+ on January 12, 2024, and will continue to feature beloved pint-sized heroine Bluey, an energetic six-year-old Heeler who lives with her dad, mum, and four-year-old little sister, Bingo.

Per Bluey.tv, viewers will tag along on a relaxing family trip to the beach, a quest to find a dragon, and a friendly neighborhood game of cricket. There are also hints about a backyard workout session and a new waterslide (what could go wrong?!) One thing’s for sure: There will be plenty of meaningful messages woven throughout all the silly hijinks. Take a look at the newest season three episodes in the following trailer:

 

“The relatable, heartfelt, and humorous storytelling in Bluey continues to captivate our young audiences and their families. We can’t wait to bring a third season of the show to our viewers across the globe,” says Jane Gould, Executive Vice President, Content Research, Insights & Scheduling, Disney General Entertainment.

As if the new batch wasn’t exciting enough, there’s also a special 28-minute episode, entitled ‘The Sign’, dropping sometime in 2024. It will air globally on the ABC in Australia and Disney+ around the world, but we’ll have to keep a watchful eye for an exact arrival date.

 

Related: 15 ‘Bluey’ Episodes That Absolutely Nail What Parenthood Is Like

In the meantime, you have several weeks ahead to catch up on seasons one, two, and three of Bluey’s shenanigans.

Seattle has an amazing Instagram community of uplifting, inspiring and awesome accounts. Here are some of our local favorites

Are you looking for Instagram inspiration? We tirelessly scrolled through our Instagram feed to bring you a round up Pacific Northwest influencers. These Seattle-area handles will be your go-to guides for things to do, where to play, where to eat in Seattle with kids, and where to book your next travel adventure. Get ready to meet your next Insta-bestie!

The Best Seattle-Based Instagram Accounts You Should Follow

1. @suitcasesinseattle

This PNW mama of two is an amazing resource for the best playgrounds, hikes and kid-friendly adventures Washington has to offer. She posts amazing photos of all the places her family explores and writes honest reviews. We love her positivity, inclusivity and feed full of incredibly bookmark-able material. Your next outing is a follow away!

2. @emmasedition

Emma is a Seattle content creator with a feed full of fashion, lifestyle and beautiful photography—and she’s expecting! Who doesn’t love adorable baby bump pics? Whether you’re looking for outfit ideas or a place to frolic in a field of towering sunflowers, Emma has you covered. Her account is, in a word, gorgeous!

 

3. @hangryforwhat

Honestly, you need Andrea’s tips for tasty eats in your daily feed! Her reels are so good you can practically taste and smell the food. Be warned though, this account comes with serious cravings. Find the best, most unique (and delicious) hidden gems here!

4. @pnw_wanderings

This awesome Pacific Northwest mama has great recommendations for things to do around Seattle with little ones. We love her tips and if you sneak on over to her curated account, @nicks_plate21, the feed is full of the cutest kids’ plates. If you’re like us and your child is a picky eater—this is the account for you. You’ll be making heart shaped waffles and bento boxes in no time.

5. @mamabearintheair

Krista is a mama of 3, and her account is all about navigating the friendly skies with kids—she loves adventures near and far. We love her travel tips and travel hacks. Book your next adventure with @mamabearintheair!

6. @bookoholicmom

Are you always on the look out for a good book? We have the perfect Instagram account for you to follow next. Sara has the best recommendations for picture books. Make room in your library (and feed) for colorful, wonderful, page-turning books.

7. @janetkimtv

Janet Kim is a TV reporter turned PR pro, and we love her feed. She juggles it all—kids, career and adventures. She makes planning outings a breeze with great tips, detailed itineraries and fun ideas for kids (and adults). We also love how kind she is—you’ll regularly see shoutouts on her stories to other amazing PNW mamas.

8. @thriftynwmom

Do you like easy recipes, shopping, travel, family fun and savings? We thought so. Because we do too! Follow along with these two thrifty moms. They have the best local guides insider tips.

9. @rollin.w.spinabifida 

Whitney is one of the most inspiring mamas we know. Her feed is filled with Malachi (her awesome and adorable son). She gives a glimpse into being a wife, caregiver and “medical mom.” And she’s an advocate for more equitable and inclusive communities for children with disabilities. From lifestyle content to travel and self-care, her feed is so good!

10. @embajkowska

Have you every scrolled through someone’s Instagram feed and had serious photo envy? Yep! Emilia is your photography role model. Her content is breathtaking. Her photos give a beautiful lens into motherhood, and we are here for it.

11. @kathryn_mueller

Editor’s Note: We can’t help but add our very own writer, Katheryn Mueller to this list—she brings so much fun and joy to Instagram while keeping it real. We love how she totally embraces the PNW lifestyle and we can’t get enough of her insider intel when it comes to hikes, wine content, and snow play with kids.

PS: Don’t forget to follow @tinybeanskids for more content crafted perfectly for you! 

Living a couple of thousand miles from my immediate family means that I fly every year—with kids—on tiring flights. On multiple occasions, I’ve flown solo with kids. This summer, I flew alone with four kids aged 2, 4, 6, and 8. Last summer, I did it alone with each of those kids being a year younger. I’ve flown with sleeping newborns, squirmy nine-month-olds, and impossible eighteen-month-olds. On some flights, my kids have been surprisingly angelic. On others, I’ve fought with a loud, kicking toddler for four exhausting hours. Believe me, it’s not fun.

I’ve experienced the anxious, dreading sideline glances of passengers when they see young kids approaching their seats. I’ve witnessed the “huffing, puffing and mumbling.” Honestly, some people seem to be annoyed by the mere presence of kids, even when their behavior is just fine. Unfortunately, only on a small handful of occasions in the last decade of plane travel with kids has someone offered to help, and it’s usually been a kind-hearted passenger.

I know it’s annoying to listen to a young child whine or cry. I know it’s annoying when they talk loudly or get excited and yell (or in my two-year-old’s case, sing their heart out). I know there are a lot of business travelers on flights these days who expect to read, work or sleep the entire flight. But, fellow passengers, try to understand.

The planes my family travel on are public transportation just like buses or ferries or trains. I’m allowed to board them with my kids, and these flights are not designated silent zones. They are not even “adult-only” zones. I promise to do my best to get my kids to behave well during the flight. But I can’t promise you a silent flight, and you are not entitled to one.

If I see one of my kids kick your seat, I’ll get them to stop, but they might sneak one in anyway. My toddler sometimes gets excited and (like a normal child with exceptionally healthy lungs) screams out of joy, fear, excitement, whatever. If that happens, I’ll promptly remind her to use her “inside voice,” but she’s likely to forget at some point during the flight.

If my four-year-old drops a crayon or fruit snack and it somehow finds its way under your seat, let’s not treat it like a criminal offense, ok? If—heaven forbid—my toddler has ear pain because of the changes in air pressure, there might be some loud crying. They are kids, after all, and as hard as I’ve tried, I haven’t been able to get our two-year-old to act 21.

The human family we are all a part of consists of people of all ages. We need to bear with one another a little more. Children seem to have been largely pushed out of many public places, but they have every right to be there. Please don’t treat my kids like they don’t belong on your flight. I know you have important places to go. So do we. My kids need to see their grandparents.

So dear fellow passenger: as long as you’re not hiring private jets and we find ourselves on the same flight, let’s make a deal.  I’ll do my very best—I promise—to have my kids behave well on our shared flight. I’m prepared. I have snacks, activities, iPads, patience, and stamina. But my best efforts can’t 100 percent ensure total serenity.

You do your very best to welcome them on the flight and overlook minor outbursts in their otherwise-good behavior. Oh, and if you see me struggling under the weight of a toddler, diaper bag, purse, carry-on case, and stroller, feel free to be an everyday hero and offer to help with a smile. See you on our next flight.

I'm a wife and mom (to six) who's also a freelance writer in between the craziness of family life. I love the outdoors, reading, cooking and snuggling with the littles. I write to share my thoughts about the things that capture my attention - family, faith, education, health and life.

When it comes to upcycled crafts for kids, there’s no need to head to the craft store to stock up on supplies. You and your little tree hugger can get creative with upcycled crafts using items you already have! From toilet paper roll crafts to K-cup planters, we’ve found unbelievable projects that give your recyclables a second wind. Keep scrolling to see some of the most unique upcycled crafts that are perfect for an Earth Day 2022 activity.

Tin Can Planters

using tin cans for upcycled crafts
Julietta Watson via Unsplash

Not only will you give your used tin cans a new life, but you'll bring joy to a windowsill, back step or fire escape! The kids can paint each can the way they want, then plant and watch your herbs, flowers or succulents grow. Get a tutorial (you'll need to make sure there's enough drainage) from Home Edit by clicking here

Upcycled Under the Sea Charm Necklace

Handmade Charlotte

Using old strips of fabric and clear plastic containers, these upcycled Under the Sea Charm Necklaces from Handmade Charlotte make for perfect Earth Day attire. Kiddos can braid old T-shirt scraps and cut out and paint plastic shapes in this easy afternoon craft.

Mini Drums

using K-cups for upcycled crafts
Sunny Day Family

Don't toss those used K-Cups! These adorable mini drums from Sunny Day Family reuse those old coffee containers in a fun (and not too loud) way. 

Maracas

a picture of easter egg maracas
Made Everyday

This genius idea from Made Everyday is bound to be a hit with your budding musicians. They’ll have a blast filling and decorating old plastic Easter eggs, not to mention the hours of entertainment once they’re done. 

Window Mobile

Buzzmills

The ceiling's the limit with this ultra-pretty mobile from Buzzmills. This easy-breezy creation uses watercolors to create hanging flowers out of egg carton cups. The result is something worthy of a fancy window display—or maybe even a relaxing nursery. 

Creative Crayons

The Everyday Mom Life

Having children always means plenty of crayons on hand, many of which have seen better days. Instead of tossing the broken nubs, you and the kiddos can spend the afternoon melting them down into colorful new works of art that not only serve a purpose but cut down on waste––and look pretty, too! Get the full details over at The Everyday Mom Life.

Darling Dream Catchers

using CDs in upcycled crafts
Pink Stripey Socks

Music and movies have gone digital which is why that pile of CDs has probably been gathering dust in your closet. With a few supplies that include yarn and beads, your kiddos can turn those dinosaur compact discs into upcycled crafts. Get the full details on making your own dream catchers over at Pink Stripey Socks.

Play With Plastic

Tinkerlab

Turn empty water bottles into a dynamic water wall just in time for summer. Your little engineer can get hands-on, helping to mount the bottles at just the right angles to create drops and splashy turns for maximum water flow. Get the know-it-all deets from Rachelle at Tinkerlab.

Powerful Paper

Motherhood and More

In case you hadn’t heard, newspapers aren’t just for reading anymore. They also upcycle into structurally sound geodesic shapes perfect for indoor play on a rainy day. Find out how to make this dome from Annie over at Motherhood and More. Then unleash your little engineers for hours of imaginative play in their cozy new dome sweet dome!

Sweet T-Shirts

Hello Glow

Your kiddo grows like a weed. So it’s not surprising last year’s summer shirts don’t fit her anymore. Don’t hand all of them down…yet. Hold on to a few of the more colorful ones to make these adorable bracelets designed by Stephanie at Hello Glow.

Cereal City

Dinner: A Love Story

Learn how to turn this breakfast staple into a bright-light, big-city playscape with paint and a little imagination, thanks to Dinner: A Love Story. Add a few Mini Figs or other plastic people and the door to a whole new world of play just opened up.

Top Time

Lalymom

Finally! Something to do with all those squeeze pouch caps your sidekick leaves on the table, in the car and under…well, pretty much everywhere! Laura at Lalymom has a simply brilliant craft project to turn caps into wearable art for all.

Eye Spy TP

Lu Bird Baby

After hanging up the aluminum can birdfeeder, why not make binoculars so your sidekick can take in all the action? Who knows where this simple craft we found at Lu Bird Baby will lead. From the wilds of your backyard habitat to the jungles of the neighborhood park, your little explorer will see it all through these creatively colored glasses.

Bag Jumps

A Childhood List

Take those plentiful plastic bags piled up under the sink and put them to good use beyond picking up after Fido. Little hands can help cut and braid them into a colorful jump rope perfect for park play. Simply follow Katie’s easy tutorial at A Childhood List for a reuse project that tips the genius scale.

Coffee Containers

Surf & Sunshine

Whether you’re planning a new garden or adding to the old one, K-cups make for easy-peasy indoor seed sprouting. Add dirt, water, and of course, let your little green thumb bury those seeds deep before setting these dainty cups on a sunny windowsill. Between planting, growing and replanting, this cycle is sure to keep your little sprout entertained the whole season.

Egg-citing Art

Picklebums

Set your petite Picasso to task with paints and egg cartons, cut into bird-like masks by your skillful hand. Kate at Picklebums has all the tips and tricks you need to make this egg-cellent project.

—Taylor Clifton, Allison Sutcliffe & Karly Wood

 

 

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There’s something about a casserole that summons up the cozy comforts of home. Baked mostly unattended, they go straight from oven to table, making them hassle-free to cook, easy to serve and a cinch to clean up. Perfect for pot-lucks, picnics or everyday dinners, scroll down for 13 creative casseroles that’ll give your meal planning a boost.

Enchilada Casserole

Cookie and Kate

For a gluten-free veggie option, this layered enchilada casserole reinvents traditional lasagne with fab results. The recipe at Cookie and Kate uses salsa, veggies, corn tortillas and Monterey Jack for a hearty, veg-packed dinner loaded with fresh Mexican flavors.

Brown Rice Skillet

Cook Nourish Bliss

An easy, one pan recipe with Mexican flavors, plenty of veggies, beans and cheese is the perfect casserole to end the week. It's the pick-me-up the family needs when energy is flagging. Head over to Cook Nourish Bliss for the recipe—you can always ditch the jalapeno if you think that will be too spicy.

Chicken Parmesan

The Weary Chef

Get the classic flavors of an Italian dish all in one pan with this recipe from The Weary Chef. Super simple and gooey with mozzarella this dish, has a crispy panko parma topping, and will likely be added to your list of lifesaving weekday dinner dishes.

Poppy Seed Chicken Casserole

The View From Great Island

This easy chicken recipe has all the elements of the best kind of comfort food; a rich creamy sauce, tender poached chicken, delicate crunchy poppy seeds and a crisp Ritz crust. It's a casserole that will have kids coming back for more. Head to The View From Great Island for the recipe with suggested variations and easy shortcuts.

Breakfast Casserole

Weelicious

The genius behind the breakfast casserole is that it can be served any time of day—and it'll be gobbled up like candy. This recipe from Weelicious is endlessly versatile and super tasty. A comforting casserole at its very best.

Easy Peasy Tuna Bake

The Seasoned Mom

Every household needs a recipe that can be pulled together with just a few pantry staples—and this tuna casserole is it! Make way for a new family favorite as mac 'n' cheese meets tuna 'n' peas. Head to The Seasoned Mom for this simple take on a family classic.

Chicken Wild Rice Casserole

Pinch of Yum

This casserole has all the goodness of chicken soup baked into a comforting gratin and topped with homemade croutons. The kids will love everything about it from the creamy sauce and the tasty chicken to the crunchy topping. The recipe comes to us from Lindsay over at Pinch of Yum who says it's the perfect fix for cold Minnesota winters.

Veggie Beef Casserole

Anna's Cooking Adventure

Sometimes the best recipes are the old ones—and a tasty beef casserole with lots of winter veggies, all covered in gooey cheese, is a classic. This recipe from our archives comes from Anna at Anna’s Cooking Adventure who recommends adding a final helping of cheese five minutes before you pull it out of the oven to give it a crunchy casserole topping.

Overnight French Toast 

Well Plated

Who said casseroles have to be savory? This french toast bake from Erin Clarke at Well Plated is fluffy inside, crunchy on top, and bursting with blueberries—the perfect feast to kick off the weekend in style. Prep the night before, leave in the refrigerator overnight and there's just an hour of unattended cooking time in the morning. Head to Well Plated for the recipe and how-to video.

Veggie Casserole

Weelicious

This veggie casserole from Weelicious is a tasty and easy dinner you can get on the table fast. You can use whatever mixture of veggies you have left in the fridge or freezer. 

Stuffed Cabbage Casserole

The View From Great Island

Try this easy stuffed cabbage casserole from The View from Great Island that everyone in the family will love! This casserole is so flavorful, no one will guess that it's so simple.

Spicy Chicken and Cauliflower Casserole

A Taste of Madness

This spicy chicken and cauliflower casserole from A Taste of Madness is easy to make from things you often already have around the house. This is such an easy, throw-it-together recipe!

Sausage Breakfast Casserole

Sunkissed Kitchen

Make this delicious sausage breakfast casserole from Sunkissed Kitchen ahead of time and just pop it in the oven when you're ready. Everyone will love this tasty dish.

 

— Taylor Clifton & Emily Myers

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Hola! Bonjour! Shalom! If introducing your kids to a new language is on your list of learning, use your tablet or phone to make it happen. From sign language apps to Rosetta Stone and even an Eric Carle word app, scroll down to see our picks for the best apps to learn a language.

 

LinguPinguin

Kids as young as preschool age can get in on the learning fun with one app that offers multiple languages. Each language has 90 new vocabulary words that are practical, everyday words around subjects like the body, nature, clothing, etc. It’s playful and you’ll be surprised how quickly the kids start picking it up.
For ages 4 and up.

Available on iTunes, a bundle of 4 languages for $3.99

Babbel

For older kiddos (or even adults!), Babbel is an app based on real-world conversations to get started speaking fast. Whether you learn best with games, videos, podcasts, or another way entirely, Babbel is dedicated to all learners. Plus, learners are immersed in the culture, history, and people who speak the language, so you get to appreciate all aspects!

Babbel is suggested for 8+ years.

Check out Babbel here!

Montessori Letter Sounds

This phonics program teaches basic letter sounds in English, French, Spanish and Italian and, like the Montessori approach itself, is not full of loud noises, bells and whistles. It’s very simple, which makes it great for younger kids and nice for parents sitting in the same room with their learners as well as sensitive kids. Very self-directed (again, Montessori approach) but also very effective.

Rated for ages 4 and up (but we think 3-year-olds would gain from it, too).

Available on iTunes for $3.99

Little Pim Word Bag

Kids can play along with a panda bear named Pim as he teaches common words via flashcard drills set to music. Using everyday activities to teach kids and available in 12 languages—including Chinese, German, Spanish and Italian—you can browse the whole catalog online at littlepim.com. They even offer streaming now offer streaming videos you can download to your device for offline travel.

For ages 4 and up.

Available on iTunes, Free.  

Rosetta Stone

Want your English-speaking child to learn a little Spanish? Or one of 23 other languages? Rosetta Stone allows you to download lessons for the kids and will give you a personalized plan.

For ages 4 & up.

Available on iTunes and Google Play, free.

The Very Hungry Caterpillar First Words App

Smaller linguists will enjoy this colorful app that uses familiar Eric Carle illustrations to teach a handful of basic words in different languages. The app is simple enough for little kids to use on their own, though it's meant for parents and kids to peruse together. Language options include English, Spanish, French, Chinese, and German.   

For ages 2 and up.  

Available on iTunes, $3.99 and Google Play for $2.99.

Futaba

Got a brood of kids who need language practice? Up to four kids at a time can play this game-show-style app that asks players to pick which word matches the given picture. The first to hit the correct button wins. Along with a roster of basic K-3 school subjects (math, geography, sight words), Futaba (which means "seedling" in Japanese) also has a Spanish and Japanese word game. It is also customizable, so you can add words and pictures to suit your language-learning fancy.   

For ages 4 and up. 

Available on iTunes, $0.99

The Wanderful Collection

Kids will recognize some of their favorite characters (Berenstain Bears! Arthur!) with this nine-app bundle of interactive storybooks read in French, Spanish, or English (one app also offers Portuguese). Through songs, stories, and interactive pages, kids can learn proper pronunciation, recognition and meaning. Kids can navigate the stories themselves—all the pages are animated with characters and features that "come to life" with a touch—or choose the "Read to me" option. 

Ages: 4+

Available on iTunes for $29.99.

American Sign Language Kids App

Not all languages are spoken. Kids will love watching other kids use common signs from the American Sign Language dictionary. Some of the "expert" signers on here are still toddlers themselves, so as long as your kiddo's got the attention span to follow along, he's old enough to play. The layout is simple enough for kids to navigate without a parent and includes fun quiz games with 21 free signs (an optional pack of 87 more signs is available for $1.99). 

Ages: 1+

Available for free on iTunes and Google Play.

Gus on the Go

Kids will think they're just playing a memory game as Gus the friendly owl schools them on numbers, colors, shapes and more. Got time to spare? Conquering basic lessons "unlocks" more games, so the more they play, the more they'll learn. More screen time? OK!

There are 28 language apps available. Check out Gus On the Go to browse more options.

Ages: 4+

Available on iTunes and Google Play for $3.99.

—Melissa Heckscher & Amber Guetebier

Feature photo: iStock 

 

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In partnership with Renew Life.

Feel like you’ve got a lot on your plate these days? Despite packed schedules and never-ending to-do lists, it’s important to find ways to be good to your body—whether that’s finding zen in a yoga class or choosing sleep over social media “doomscrolling.” Another simple way to support health and wellbeing is to give your microbiome some love with a daily probiotic.

Renew Life® Women’s Care Probiotic 25 Billion promotes everyday digestive, immune, urinary and vaginal health*. Get 10% off + free shipping on all Renew Life products by using code TINYBEANS10

Wait… What’s a Microbiome?

According to the Mayo Clinic, the lining of your gut is covered in microscopic creatures, mostly bacteria. But don’t panic—many types of bacteria are helpful. These organisms create a micro-ecosystem called the microbiome. And the key to a healthy microbiome is creating a balance among the different species of bacteria in your gut

Probiotics Add Good Bacteria to Your Body

Probiotics are foods or supplements that contain live microorganisms intended to maintain or improve the levels of "good" bacteria in your microbiome—restoring balance and making you feel better. Adding some balance to a busy life? Yes, please!

Renew Life® Women’s Care Probiotic 25 Billion promotes everyday digestive, immune, urinary and vaginal health*. Get 10% off + free shipping on all Renew Life products by using code TINYBEANS10

Go With Your Gut

Women’s health runs the gamut. You may be dealing with tummy troubles or worried about what’s going on down there after a long day in a bathing suit (the struggle is real!). One small act—like taking the #1 women’s probiotic^ Renew Life® Women’s Care Probiotic 25 Billion—can support your health in big ways. Made by women, for women, some of the probiotic strains in the Women’s Care Probiotic are clinically tested and shown to balance vaginal pH and yeast levels, and promote digestive, immune and urinary health.*

A woman’s gut and vagina have two very different microbiomes—this probiotic supports both. Consider it multitasking at its finest! In a nutshell—addressing your unique needs helps your natural rhythms thrive.*

With a diverse formula developed by microbiologists and researchers, Renew Life® Women’s Care Probiotic 25 Billion has more clinically studied strains than the leading brand,† including the #1 most-studied strain.‡ The delayed-release capsules help ensure the probiotics reach your gut alive.

Women’s bodies are complex—but incorporating this awesome probiotic is a breeze.

Renew Life® Women’s Care Probiotic promotes everyday digestive, immune, urinary and vaginal health*. Get 10% off + free shipping on all Renew Life products by using code TINYBEANS10

—Jessica Solloway

*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
^Based on IRI unit sales data, July 2021.
†PubMed Clinical Trials, August 2019.
‡L. rhamnosus GG strain, PubMed Clinical Trials, August 2019.

Hauntingly yummy, these mummified interpretations of everyday dishes will quickly become your little monster’s favorite Halloween fare. A delicious mix of spooky and sweet, from apple pie to quesadillas, click through to check out 10 recipes that are simply to die for!

Mummy Madeleines

Sugar Bowl Bakery

These Madeleine Mummies and Minions look like you slaved away in the kitchen, but they're actually fuss free. Just put some white frosting in a piping bag with a cross-hatch tip, then make lines or zigzags before popping on some candy eyes and sprinkles. We tend to love these soft and fluffy traditional or pumpkin spice Madeleines from Sugar Bowl Bakery!

Mummy Pouches

The Nerd's Wife

Check out the dressed up GoGo squeeZ pouches from The Nerd’s Wife for an on-the-go Halloween snack. Add them to your little monster’s lunchbox or keep handy while out trick-or-treating. Find the how to at The Nerd's Wife.

Mummy Bark

Bloom Designs

Jenny at Bloom Designs used candy eyes to transform classic bark into a hauntingly sweet treat perfect for Halloween. Find the recipe here.

Apple Mummies

Two Healthy Kitchens

An apple a day won’t keep these mummies away. Serve the kids nature’s candy, and learn how to make this healthy haunted treat plus some delicious dips at Two Healthy Kitchens.

Mummified Oreos

How Does She

How Does She serves up a spook-tacular assortment of haunted treats, including to-die-for Mummy Oreo Suckers. Find the recipe and assembly instructions here.

Mini Mummy Apple Pies

Jillian Harris

Laying the lattice in a haphazard pattern transforms a classic mini apple pie into a frightfully delicious dessert. Create your own mini mummy pies with the recipe and how-to from Jillian Harris.

Mummy Chocolate Bars

Bloom Designs

Bloom Design gave everyday chocolate bars a mummy makeover for her lucky trick-or-treaters. Head over to the blog to find the how-to and a free mummy printable.

Yummy Mummies

Red Tricycle

These mummy dogs are the perfect Halloween dish to make with your little monsters. Let the kids lend a hand wrapping bandages to transform this ballpark staple into an eerie entrée. Check out the how-to video from Red Tricycle’s Bay Area Editor, Erin Feher.

Mummy Pretzels

Simply Being Mom

This salty, sweet, and spooky treat is scarily simple to make. The most difficult step according to Simply Being Mommy is waiting for the chocolate to cool and harden before eating!

Halloweeño Jalapeño Popper Mummies

The Hopeless Housewife

If you’re a fan of spice, this hot idea from The Hopeless Housewife is sure to startle your taste buds. Terrifyingly simple to bake, these Jalapeño Popper Mummies make a great savory appetizer for your Halloween bash. Find the recipe here.

Not-So-Scary Mummy

Red Tricycle

These not-so-scary mummy cupcakes baked up by our Bay Area editor are uber-easy to make and monstrously yummy. Find the how-to and other haunted cupcake ideas here.

—Lauren Hill & Karly Wood

 

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Photo: Habbi Habbi

Like many families, we are an English-speaking household trying to incorporate a second language (for us, Spanish) into our lives. Our boys get the majority of their Spanish exposure through immersion school. But I know that building on that and reinforcing it at home is critical too. As a Spanish beginner myself, I cannot practice popular methods like OPOL (one parent one language), so, I came up with 5 actionable things I could do at home. They’re not fancy or complicated; they’re short and approachable enough, so I can do them consistently, which is the most important thing!    

1. Speak: Add choiceful vocabulary into our everyday routine.

Time: n/a [Just replacing some English vocabulary we use]  

Since I’m a beginner too, I try to learn some new vocabulary words that I can easily use with my kids on a daily basis (e.g. using agua, leche, pan during mealtime instead of water, milk, bread) The two books we ‘go to’ most for this are our In My Home & Foodie Friends books. For example, they are really into brushing their teeth right now (thanks to a new flavor of toothpaste) so we’re adding words like el cepillo de dientes, la pasta de dientes, el hilo dental  (toothbrush, toothpaste, floss) to our daily rotation. These are words that get repeated multiple times a day.   

2. Sing: Spanish songs everyday on our walk to school.

Time: 5 minutes daily [as a fun habit, practice each morning at a specific habitual time]  

Each morning, we have a short walk to drop my boys off at school. I picked a few easy Spanish songs that have a lot of repetition, and I plan to sing those with my boys as we walk. For example, ¡Colores, colores! is fun for practicing colors and names of different jobs; the song traditionally just talks about Dad’s jobs, but we use papá or mamá. Sometimes, we switch it up by using different family members like abuelo, abuela, tío and tía!  Another song that’s fun, easy to repeat, and has great vocabulary is 10 Pececitos (10 little fish).  

3. Environment: Set up their spaces to encourage using Spanish instead of English, with Spanish books and labels.

Time: 5-15 minutes [set up the environment to replace English options with Spanish], more environmental to encourage them to pick up independently   

We have a great reading nook, and my kids love curling up with them in a big comfy chair for story time. We intentionally place our Habbi Habbi collection nearby—both the Spanish-English and Chinese-English, with a Wand for each child. We try to keep them in places that are visible and accessible to the kids (e.g. a low shelf), and encourage them to choose them for story time and independent play. We also rotate titles or display more prominently titles that we want to “lightly suggest” they look at.   

We have also decorated our home environment with Spanish signs and labels. Most recently, we used the Habbi Habbi “In My Home” Printable Flashcard Set to color, cut, and tape them to everyday household objects. It’s a fun activity… and will remind all of us – not only the kids but me and my husband as well—to use the Spanish names for certain objects throughout the house.   

4. Community: Engage and learn from Habbi Habbi Reading Club.

Time: 5 minutes daily [Overlaps with our independent reading time—and keeps me accountable to hear from other parents!]  

Continuing on the Habbi Habbi theme…we are also participating in the Habbi Habbi Reading Club (virtual, on Facebook). The boys already love playing with the Wands & books “freest‌yle” —tapping, making up games, dancing to the music. But I also want to increase their community of Spanish speakers (and/or learners!). So, we participate in the Reading Club, which is an intimate environment for me. It encourages me and the boys to use our Spanish everyday at home (and not just at school). I also love seeing how other families use the Wand and books; it has given us some new ideas (e.g. keeping a Wand and book in the car for a little Spanish when we are on the go—even if it’s just a 5-10 minute ride!). It’s a fairly low time commitment, and we can sprinkle it in throughout the day—e.g. before bed, around mealtimes—which makes it fun and manageable.   

5. Play: Utilize Printables for further tangible play and learning.

Time: Ad-hoc and great time filler [at a restaurant, when looking for an activity, etc!]   

My kids are at an age where they LOVE to color and draw (the chant at breakfast this morning was “¡Más arte!”). Printables are a great way to practice Spanish, not to mention reading, writing, math and more. We love them at home or on the go. When we take the kids out to eat, I like to bring a variety of printables and crayons to keep them occupied while we wait for our food. Some of our (free!) favorites come from this set. In particular—we love this interactive math printable (we use raisins to complete the math problems, which my kids adore).  

We don’t always follow the directions on the page but that means we can use the same printable in lots of different ways. For example, this vehicle printable can be used for coloring, matching, “I spy”, or even a silly “Name that truck sound” game.  

—By Anne-Louise Nieto, Mom of 2 | Grew up in the US | Native English Speaker | Used to speak French | Non-Native Spanish speaker, learning Spanish with my kids in hopes of raising them bilingual!  

RELATED:
 

H&AL of Habbi Habbi
Tinybeans Voices Contributor

Habbi Habbi Reading Wand & Bilingual Books is the easiest way to start kids on Chinese & Spanish. Just turn on and tap. Every inch is tappable, and our books are as intentional in content as they are beautiful - topics like kindness, emotions, and more. @BeHabbi | habbihabbi.com.

 

IKEA’s redesigned classic blue FRAKTA tote is back! In honor of Pride Month, you can shop the limited edition STORSTOMMA Bag in two sizes. 

The large bag ($2.99) is perfect for your IKEA shopping trips, while the smaller version ($.99) is great for everyday use. Even better, IKEA is donating 30% of all sales of the bags (and ENEBY rainbow speaker covers) to GLSEN, Inc., which works to ensure K-12 students have a safe place to learn, free from bullying and harassment. 

Rainbow tote

Donations will come from all sales from Jun. 1 through 30, 2021, up to $50,000.

“LGBTQ+ inclusion is an issue very close to our hearts and we want people of all sexual orientations and gender identities to feel at home – not just at IKEA, but everywhere,” said Samantha Giusti, Chief of Staff & LGBTQ+ Co-Worker Resource Group Co-Chair, IKEA Retail U.S.

Rainbow tote

Don’t wait to grab your STORSTOMMA bags, they’re limited edition! You can find them at your local IKEA or at IKEA.com.

—Karly Wood

All photos: Courtesy of IKEA

 

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