Unsurprisingly, the Build-A-Bear and Animal Crossing collection was beyond popular when it launched earlier this month. Now the collab is returning to the workshop with fan faves Isabelle and Tom Nook!
To snag these beary special characters, head to buildabear.com at 9:30 a.m. CST on Tues. Apr. 27 to enter the virtual pre-waiting room for a chance to purchase the collection. You’ll want to make sure you enter before 10 a.m. to be assigned a random spot in the line
When your turn comes up, you’ll be given access to purchase from the Animal Crossing Collection! As long as you join the pre-waiting room before 10:00 a.m. CST you will be randomly assigned a spot in line. If you join after, you will file in at the end of the existing line. If you are selected, you will have a limited amount of time to make your purchase, so make sure your sound and notifications are on.
If you don’t end up making the cut, all is not lost. The Animal Crossing: New Horizons collection arrive in Workshops this summer.
Parents and caregivers need camp more than ever. Whether camp serves as child care or a just needed break, day and residential programs have become important for families. However, it is harder than ever for some families to pay for summer camp with unemployment and more limited funds or access to disposable income. Summer camp expert, Allison Miller, Founder, and CEO of Happy Camper Live, a 365-day year platform centered around the world of summer camp offers some advice for financing programs.
1. Camper Scholarships: “Camperships” are offered to families in need. Ask the Camp Director if full or partial scholarships are available. Most camps reserve a number of spots for campers in need.
2. Offer your services: Working for a summer program is a great way to pay for camp. Camps have a variety of roles besides the typical camp counselor role. Office, food service, activity leaders, camp moms are common needs and roles for adults that may provide a way for you to earn money to pay for the camp experience for your children.
3. Ask your employer: Some employers will assist parents with summer camp tuition.
4. Consider Non-profits: Non-profits such as the Boys & Girls Clubs, YMCA’s, Scouts, and local Parks and Rec Centers provide great free or low-cost day and residential programs. Local groups and organizations such as churches, synagogues, civic and military programs run camps as well.
5. Research organizations that provide camp experiences for income-eligible families. For instance, SCOPE (Summer Camp Opportunities for Children) complete an application, including an essay, and apply to one of their partner camps. Morry’s camp is a free-of-charge program for children from underserved communities in New York City. Another great organization to check out is Kids2Camp.org which also provides camp scholarship programs. Google the word “camperships” plus your area to find participating camps.
6. Create your own neighborhood camp: Parents and caretakers can hire local camp counselors or share hosting a program. Happy Camper Live provides great on-demand camp activities that they can use to run the program or reference from art to dance to music and sports.
7. Check to see if you qualify for a tax credit. The child and dependent care credit gives a tax break for many parents who are responsible for the cost of childcare if your child is under 13 years old or no age limit if they are disabled. Day camp or summer camp fees may apply if the camp was selected to provide care while the parents are at work. Overnight camps do not qualify. You will be required to get a receipt from the camp or organization and then file Form 2441 to claim your credit. Be sure to speak with your accountant or tax expert if you have any questions.
8. Try virtual camp: There are plenty of great options for campers to experience right at home. For as little as $4.99 your child can experience camp on-demand at happycamperlive.com. Other virtual camps that offer live programming do so at a significantly lower price than in person.
Allison Corey Miller is the Founder and CEO of Happy Camper Live, a lifestyle brand centered around the world of summer camp. Her vision is to bring the magic of summer camp to every kid in the world 365 days of the year.
With 2020 firmly behind and the 2021 summer around the corner, our hopes are on the rise for the resumption of travel this year. While grateful for being relatively COVID-safe in Singapore’s golden cage, the smallness of our island has us pining for the outside.
2021 and there are 227 inhabited Greek islands. Where should we even get started?
As they say in Greece, hope dies last. Under lockdown, I’ve combed through island after island, selecting our visions of paradise for the next three summers. By now, I’ve read every major travel magazine article, little known blog post, and forum review on the destinations of interest. Each island has a tab in my spreadsheet and a file on Instagram collecting information and inspiration as I go.
Finally, I have the luxury of time to plan a vacation. A true rarity for moms. And finally, I’ve found exactly what we’ve been looking for: stylish and reasonably priced vacation villa gems located directly on child-friendly beaches in mid-size Cycladic seaside villages. Day trip options for semi-private cruises to neighboring islands with out-of-this-world beachscapes. Where to send the kids for a pottery workshop while in Sifnos…Any trip from here will never be so well planned. And as parents with the load of baggage we carry, some volatile with surprises, invaluable is a seamlessly organized holiday.
The simulation of travel in the planning process soon became therapeutic escapism. From home, I visualized us on that beach house patio with a cool glass of Assyrtiko in hand. Slowly sipping, we watch the kids frolick in fine white sand as the sky changes color. Later, we take an evening to wander through cobblestone paths of whitewashed villages, alive with the soul of Greece. I deviate to shop online for kaftans. I think we will dine at a Greek restaurant tonight.
Sure, I may have to cancel everything a month before June but herein lies a precious exercise in non-attachment and letting go: There is meaning in learning to defer to forces beyond our control. So much of our days as parents never go as planned anyways. And if the process of pursuing an end result designed to bring happiness, instead dominates with anger and frustration, what then is the point of the whole endeavor?
Savor the planning, inhabit the surprises, heal if you must, and journey on. Enjoy the entirety of your travels, and consider 2021 an opportunity for the most well researched you, ever. Whether in a summer sojourn, or the journey of life.
A restless city-loving Singaporean learning how to be still, embrace the antithesis of her husband's Greek nature and homeland, and master motherhood. After moving from Athens, we now live in Chicago, and are set to return to Singapore for a proper village welcome of our second baby.
I am a wife and Mom of 2 boys, living in NYC trying to make it work. Not a minimalist but a realist. I run Stylish Spaces, a full service luxury home organizing company.
I love that I get to work with all types of people to really help them reclaim their homes. Families are my favorite to work with because I understand the struggle of everyday life as a Mom and think it’s important to help people’s home support their life so they can spend time doing the things they love with the people they love. I am also here to let everyone know there is no such thing as perfect but there is such thing as simple and easy when it comes to organizing.
1) Keep a designated donation bin in your house, so as you find things you are ready to let go of, you can easily toss it in the bin and donate that bin once a month. – Works great for parents, as children are always growing out of clothes and toys.
2) I hate to say it but tidy up your apartment every night before bed. You will be amazed at the difference just 10 – 15 minutes makes.
3) Please don’t roll your eyes but kids really do like organization. Empower your kids by getting them involved. Have them help you clean up. When you have designated spaces for toys and their belongings, they can help clean up and will know where to find the things they want.
4) File folding. Anyone who has worked with me knows…. I love file folding. It’s easy to see all your clothes, great use of space and easy to maintain ( even for kids! )
1
i Design Linus Turntable Kitchen Organizer
A modern update to a lazy susan.
$29
Perfect for your kitchen table, pantry, shelf, outdoor dining table, or countertop. Also great for your bathroom, office, cabinet, or vanity
These clean modern baskets help keep the mess at bay with kids running around. Encourage habits like picking up their toys into these easy to carry baskets.
The twisted design maximizes the bottom half of the S-hook's space, allowing your totes to hang perpendicular to the hook, rather than hidden along the side.
Great for remote learning for kids or baby essentials
$35
These carts work great for kids learning to baby products next to a changing table. Easy to put together and sturdy it's a organizational dream on wheels.
Drawer dividers are the ultimate organizational tool. Separate your drawers from socks to undies to different kids clothes. Maximize the space you have while keeping it organized.
I am a wife, a Mom of 2 boys, and founder of NYC home organizing company, Stylish Spaces.Not a minimalist but a realist. Passionate about helping fit big lives in city sized homes.
Parenting is hard. Even in the best of times, it can seem overwhelming to manage all the responsibilities that come with having children. Then a global pandemic hits and well… we’re now in charge of navigating the “new normal” and everything that entails, including virtual learning.
The struggle is real for both parents and kids alike; social interactions have been replaced by hours of Zoom calls, and digital homework needs to be completed despite the distractions of home.
We could all use a little help these days. So I’m sharing my top tips for organizing your home to set up your kids (and you) up for success:
Tip 1: Eliminate distractions:
It seems simple but let’s face it, little kids make big messes and the mess is distracting. Clear surfaces = clear minds. If you don’t already have a system in place, I would suggest drawers. This is a simple, inexpensive, freestanding solution that toys and other distractions can be placed into and closed until the class is dismissed.
Tip 2: Get a Calendar:
This new schedule is hard and having a calendar in your kids’ room is a great way for them to understand their schedule. Whether that means managing their time throughout the day or keep track of “in-school” vs “virtual” days. Kids have an incredible ability to adapt, but children thrive when they’re given structure and know what’s expected of them.
Tip 3: Designate a space to learn:
Whether it’s a desk or a seat at the kitchen counter, designate a spot for learning to occur. Clear surfaces of everything that isn’t school related. I love using a desk mat for kids because not only are they easy to clean, in case of a spill or marker slip, but they also define the workspace.
Tip 4: Organize school materials
There is value in organizing your kids’ school materials. Supplies should be easy to reach and easy to put away. For example: a cup for pencils. It’s easy to grab what you need and easy to throw it back in the cup! A file sorter is another easy way for kids to organize what they need. Whether it’s a shelf for each subject or one for paper, one for homework – everyone knows where to find what they need.
Will these tips magically transform virtual learning, maybe not, but you might be surprised at the big impact of small changes.
1
Rolling Drawer Storage
Clean it up and roll it away
$39.99
Bonus: you have some control over this storage! If you can’t trust your kids to stay out of those drawers, simply wheel it next to your WFH station to keep it under control. This could also allow for your kids to choose one drawer to access during break and it makes clean up easy when it’s time to get back to work.
This particular calendar set gives you the option to use 1 or all 3 calendars and break down the week, and/ or the month. The dry erase is easy to use and it is a peel and stick calendar meaning no need to hang it or worry about kids knocking it off the wall when writing on it.
You can get desk mat's in all different colors and I suggest having fun with this one. This desk mat is waterproof and will protect your desks/ countertops but the occasional slip of a marker or glue stick. Easy to pick up, clean and move. This mat even comes with a wrap for when you're traveling or need to store it.
This is an easy place to organize all paper/ folders/ homework etc. Not only will this cut down on kids constantly asking for help because they can't find something but it makes it super easy to grab what you in for in-school days.
I love these magnetic storage solutions because it allows kids (and adults) to take the whole containers right off the wall, use them and replace them back on the wall when they are done. For everyone who is trying to keep their homes tidy and preserve space, this is a fantastic solution.
Let's face it, we're talking about getting kids to be successful at virtual learning... we've got to remember to have some fun with it. This spinning pencil/ pen holder is just that.
This product is great for kids who might be at a kitchen counter or table somewhere that isn't a designated desk because it can be rolled over and moved so easily. Everything you need to store can be placed on this cart which ultimately becomes a traveling desk caddy.
We are all learning to live in the new normal these days, where items like gloves and face masks are part of our daily routine. With much of the population unable to find necessary items to keep them safe, many have stepped up to the challenge, including Quinn Callander.
As a young Canadian Scout, 12-year-old Quinn found out about a request from local hospitals to make “ear guards,” small items that attach to face masks and help alleviate pressure on the ears due to long-term wear. Not only did he rise to the challenge, making dozens on his 3D printers, his efforts have encouraged others to do the same.
Quinn’s mom shared a link to the 3D file used to make the ear guards, and since then the file has been downloaded over 66,500 times! In addition, the Facebook post where his efforts were originally documented has been shared more than 462,000 times.
Making the ear guards is a labor of love, taking four hours to make eight of them. Since March, Quinn has made over 500 before handing them off to a local Registered Nurse to be handed out to fellow health care workers.
To those of you who haven’t gone into full “shelter in place” yet, 20 tips from your friend on the other side:
1. Your local pharmacy will feel like Saks on Fifth Avenue before too long. Going in here is a treat. Don some gloves, grab a trolley and saunter those aisles as slowly as you please. Bypass the toilet paper aisle, we both know it will be futile.
2. Your local grocery store will feel like Harrods Food Hall. Spotting a jar of pasta sauce and a packet of penne will feel like you’ve found a truffle under an oak tree. Savor the moment.
3. Don’t buy tins of tuna. Not even the dog will eat it.
4. Buy pencils. Lots of them. Preferably pre-sharpened. They don’t make sharpeners like they used to.
5. Open a Zoom account. Stat.
6. Get an Ipad stand so you don’t have to use family heirlooms to keep the Ipads in place during class.
7. Get your hair colored immediately.
8. Buy root spray. If you were too late for #7.
9. Get your nails done.
10. Buy nail clippers and a nail file. Learn how to use them.
11. Get your eyebrows waxed. And other parts if you need to.
12. Buy razors. See above.
13. Realize that by Day 7 things are going to start to fall apart.
14. Set up Zoom cocktail hours with your buddies. See above.
15. Get 30 minutes of fresh air a day. From a distance.
16. Get your neighbors email addresses and phone numbers and don’t be afraid to use them.
17. Clear out your freezer of last year’s “I’m sure I’ll eat that one day” leftovers and fill it with pizzas, frozen fruit and veges and bread. ALL the bread.
18. Buy ice cube trays.
19. Wash your hands every time you say to yourself “when will this end?”
20. Take comfort that the whole world is in this together and we will all triumph together. And then we will hug.
I am an Aussie who has lived in the Bay Area of San Francisco for 6 years with my 2 adorable boys and their pretty awesome Dad. I believe we get to choose our mood and attitude each day and I ALWAYS choose positive!
What happens when you are considering divorce (whether in your head or out loud) and February rolls around? If it is still all internal thoughts, you may still go to the card store and spend an extra half hour finding a card that does not overpromise love forever or make claims of soulmates. You may not want to be obvious in your questioning of the marriage, but also not insincere about making promises in a signed Hallmark document that you are not looking to keep.
If you are feeling bad and do not want your change of heart to be obvious, do be careful what you write in that card. I have had clients who save Valentine’s Day cards and use them as evidence against their ex during divorce! It can be that much more hurtful if you write about undying love on February 14th and then a week later you are serving divorce papers. And if you the word “divorce” has been bandied around the dinner table, then it feels even worse to send a “I will die by your side” card and you may just opt for a Shoebox funny card that makes fun of his lack of ability to fix the dishwasher. What about if your spouse takes it upon themself to use the day for a grand romantic gesture as a way to bring you back into the marriage? Who knows—it could work! If the reasoning you may be planning your exit is due to a lack of communication and effort on your spouse’s part, Valentine’s Day could give them the excuse to address what is lacking in the marriage.
If your spouse does not take the opportunity that Feb 14th gives (Hallmark or not—it is a great day to show love), then it may be your final straw. And of course, if you learn that their Valentine’s Day love is misdirected…well…that could be your answer as well. When in the first stage of divorce—the deciding stage—Valentine’s Day can be the day that makes you or breaks you.
Valentine’s Day during Divorce
Now let’s assume that you already know what the inside of your divorce attorney’s office looks like when Valentine’s Day rolls around. Under most circumstances, you nor your soon-to-be-ex acknowledge the holiday to each other.
If you are in the sad stage of the divorce process, you may have a sentimental exchange with your ex, reminding them of happier Valentine’s Days of the past, which depending on where your spouse is in the emotional rollercoaster of divorce will be responded to with a sad emoji face or ignored altogether.
If you are in the angry stage of the divorce process, there may be bitter and sarcastic text exchanges with your friends about sending black roses or chocolates filled with toothpaste (cures his gross halitosis). There are thoughts of sending edible thongs and leopard skin handcuffs (with or without the keys) to his conservative new girlfriend or her new boyfriend claiming that is what she is into. Obviously, these should be just fun fantasies and not acted upon (I am not looking to give anyone any good ideas).
It is perfectly normal to acknowledge that while Valentine’s Day was meaningless to you in the past, during a divorce, it can be an emotional day. Just be sure to keep yourself in check as your divorce is not over and you do not want your impetuous antics on Valentine’s day to affect the resolution of your case.
Valentine’s Day after Divorce
So, divorce papers are signed off by the judge and you now can file taxes separately. Whether this is a good thing or a bad thing, Valentine’s Day may still not be just like any other day. You may have accepted the divorce, but you still may feel the old feelings of anger and sadness creep up on February 14th. The hope is that as you have more and more years of distance between you and the divorce, those feelings will lessen and the day goes back to just being a Tuesday.
However, the real hope is that you have possibly found someone else who will once again be making the dinner reservations a month in advance looking to impress. Or that you will be at Hallmark reading cards and having a hard time deciding which one because they are all so perfect for your new love. I have seen it happen.
Jacqueline Newman is a divorce lawyer and matrimonial law expert. As managing partner of a top-tier 5th Avenue Manhattan law firm focused exclusively on divorce, her practice runs the gamut from prenups for high net worth people contemplating marriage to high conflict matrimonial litigation in dissolutions.
Fans just can’t get enough of Baby Yoda and with the holiday season in full swing you might been the hunt for one of your own to put under the tree. Now you can crochet one to gift to your favorite young Jedi.
While there are already dozens of plush and collectible Baby Yoda in the making, none of them will be available until after the holidays are long over. If you just can’t wait that long, break out your yarn and check out these Baby Yoda crochet instructions you can score from Etsy shop PhilaeArtes.
For just $5 you can get a digital file with a crochet pattern to create your very own Baby Yoda, or as he’s actually called in The Mandalorian, “The Child.”
If you want to add a tiny Yoda to your tree, PhilaeArtes is also selling a crochet pattern for a Baby Yoda ornament.
Disney just revealed dozens of movies and TV shows set to debut on the new streaming platform––and get ready for a trip back in time.
The launch of the highly anticipated Disney+ streaming platform is less than a month away and it’s time to clear your schedule and get really excited about all of the movies and TV shows you’re going to want to watch. Disney+ has unleashed a Twitter-storm of titles and while you’re probably well aware of the new and recent titles Disney will feature, like The Mandalorian, Lady and the Tramp and Captain Marvel, but there might be a few Disney titles you haven’t thought about in years.
It. Is. Time. From Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs to The Mandalorian, check out basically everything coming to #DisneyPlus in the U.S. on November 12.
There are quite a few older titles that you probably haven’t seen in years as they were locked away in the Disney vault, like the original Swiss Family Robinson and The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad.
If there’s one thing the over 200 Tweets prove, it’s that Disney has plenty of content just waiting to be devoured the moment the new Disney+ streaming platform launches on Nov. 12. Check out our full guide to everything coming to Disney+.
