“Memories keep us alive”

The Day of the Dead is approaching and in honor of the annual festival of remembrance, Mattel has just released its 2022 Barbie Día De Muertos Dolls.

“Every year when I sit down to design the new Día De Muertos dolls there’s a flood of emotions; I’m honored and excited to represent this holiday that is so close to my own heart. I understand how important this holiday is and am grateful for the opportunity to continue celebrating these traditions with Barbie respectfully. I love celebrating the Día de Muertos traditions with my loved ones each year and honoring my family and friends that are no longer with us. It’s such a powerful and meaningful way to remember them through stories and happy memories,” says Barbie Signature designer Javier Meabe.

Mattel

This year, three dolls make up the collection. Barbie wears a royal purple dress with calavera sugar skulls and flower details. She dons a cempasúchil flower and rose headband with streaming ribbons, with a bone belt to finish the look.

“Ken has a little more complex design than Barbie but I’m always up for the challenge! I wanted to make sure he felt different, and special from the first Día De Meurtos Ken,” Meabe explains.

Mattel

Ken sports a bright blue shirt under a vest with skulls, flowers, roses, and bones to make up his charro look. To finish his ensemeble, he wears a calavera sugar skull bolero tie and sombrero with a golden band.

This year, a special Barbie also joins the collection and is designed by Benito Santos. “I’m excited that we get to expand the world of Día De Muertos in the Barbie portfolio. We also get to see it come to life though the vision of Benito Santos, who also loves and celebrates the holiday,” says Meabe.

Mattel

A member exclusive, this doll wears a red-and-white embroidered gown with a layered mermaid hem, a cropped embroidered jacket, and a holiday-inspired headpiece. You can shop the new 2022 collection at mattel.com, where dolls range in price from $80-$100.

Right now, the Benito Santos x Dia de los Muertos doll is currently sold out, but it could come back in stock.

LEGO has teamed up with IRL astronaut Dr. Kathy Sullivan for the launch of the all-new NASA Space Shuttle Discovery Set! The for-adults set celebrates the 40th anniversary of the first Space Shuttle flight.

Way back in April of 1981 the Space Shuttle took flight. Fast-forward 40 years and LEGO is marking the momentous event with a massive 2,354-piece set for grown-ups.

Not only is LEGO debuting the NASA Space Shuttle Discovery set, the beloved brick brand is also unveiling an informative interview with Dr. Sullivan. The interview is packed with details on the Space Shuttle’s mission and the astronaut’s thoughts on young people and STEM careers.

Dr. Sullivan said of the set, in a press release, “I was thrilled to see the space shuttle in LEGO form, and was very impressed by the amount of intricate detail they have managed to recreate from the module where we used to sleep and eat through to what we called the “milk stalls” on the telescope. Looking at the model, it was great to reminisce about my experiences in space launching the telescope for the first time.”

The former astronaut added, “Hubble is definitely the highlight of my career. This LEGO model is a great way for LEGO builders and space fans alike to get excited about space travel and learn more about the famous mission in a fun and engaging way.”

The LEGO NASA Discovery Space Shuttle set is age-rated for adults 18+. The set includes 2,354 pieces and features the Discovery orbiter with functional landing gear, payload bag doors, elevons and rudder. It also has a mini Hubble Telescope, two stands and plaques.

Get the new LEGO ($199) set starting Apr. 1, 2021 on LEGO.com. To watch Dr. Sullivan’s video interview, visit LEGO’s website here.

—Erica Loop

Photos: Courtesy of LEGO

 

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Grab your Trapper Keeper and scrunchie. Morphe Cosmetics has partnered with the iconic and beloved Lisa Frank to bring classic, colorful nostalgia to the 2020 holiday season. The Morphe ❤ Lisa Frank Collection will be available online at Morphe.com and in-stores at Morphe on Tues. Nov. 24 just in time for holiday shopping.

Lisa Frank

The Morphe ❤ Lisa Frank Collection is the perfect collaboration for collectors, as the eyeshadow palette comes in three custom packaging designs featuring Lisa Frank’s bold, bright art all for under $35. 

Lisa Frank

“At Lisa Frank, intricate packaging has always been our game. We leaned on Morphe for their cosmetic product expertise, and they relied on us to take the design and presentation to the next level. The result is a truly special collaboration for both brands. We hope the elevated packaging and iconic Lisa Frank spirit, combined with Morphe’s trusted formulas, will bring happiness and excitement as the consumer interacts with the collection from beginning to end,” said Lisa Frank Inc.

Included in the Morphe ❤ Lisa Frank Collection:

Lisa Frank

35B by Lisa Frank Artistry Palette ($30)

The 35B palette is back. The same bold and bright shades with custom Lisa Frank packaging designs perfect for collecting.

Lisa Frank

Blend Bright 6-Piece Brush Set ($32)

The set includes six synthetic eye brushes with handles in trademark Lisa Frank neon shades.

Lisa Frank

Treat Me Sweet Beauty Sponge Set ($19)

The set includes two full-size bubblegum beauty sponges and three mini bubblegum beauty sponges.

—Jennifer Swartvagher

All photos courtesy of Morphe

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This Fall Harry Potter fans will have a new way to relive the magic of their favorite film with the deluxe pop-up book Harry Potter: A Pop-Up Guide to Diagon Alley and Beyond. Families will be able to unfold this detailed pop-up book to create a dynamic 3D diorama of Diagon Alley. Step into favorite storefronts ilike Ollivanders, Weasleys’ Wizard Wheezes, and the Leaky Cauldron, plus other wizarding world locales like the Ministry of Magic and platform nine and three-quarters.

Harry Potter: A Pop-Up Guide to Diagon Alley and Beyond

Unfold the book to create a 4-foot diorama of Diagon Alley. Recreate favorite scenes with the 14 character paper dolls including Harry Potter, Hermione Granger, Ron Weasly, Hagrid and more. Pull dozens of tabs and explore intricate pops that bring Diagon Alley to life. Rescue a Ukrainian Ironbelly dragon from the depths of Gringott or help Harry navigate out of Knockturn Alley after a Floo powder mishap. Learn facts and secrets from the making of the Harry Potter films throughout.

Harry Potter: A Pop-Up Guide to Diagon Alley and Beyond
According to Mugglenet the book is “Packed with amazing moments and hidden surprises… a  landmark new pop-up book guaranteed to delight wizarding world fans everywhere.”

Harry Potter: A Pop-Up Guide to Diagon Alley and Beyond

From the magical mind of Matthew Reinhart, creator of the Clio Award-Winning Pop-Up Guide to Hogwarts and one of the world’s bestselling and most acclaimed paper engineers this book will be released Oct. 27. It will retail for $75.

Make this holiday magical with the ideal gift that will delight Harry Potter fans and Wizarding World-loving families.

—Jennifer Swartvagher

All photos courtesy of Insight Editions

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When 7-year-old Evolette expressed to her mom that she was nervous about losing a tooth during the pandemic, she had a good reason. How was the tooth fairy going to safely come to her room and pick up her tooth when we are all supposed to be social distancing?

That’s where her mom, Kayla Westhouse, came to the rescue. At the request of her daughter, the Grand Rapids, Michigan mom did what she’s been doing since the coronavirus started––she made a mask.

While the tooth fairy mask was her 178th mask the seamstress has made during the COVID-19 quarantine, this one was perhaps the most challenging. Kayla told Cafe Mom that she initially put off making it in hopes that her daughter would forget about, but she never did. And so the mom set out to make the tiniest and perhaps most intricate mask the pandemic has seen yet!

And great news: the tooth fairy successfully visited Evolette, picked up her mask and wrote a darling thank you letter to the 7-year-old. Now, the tooth fairy can visit children all over the world while practicing safe and healthy practices!

––Karly Wood

 

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Do you spend hours building LEGO creations with your mini master builders? Now you can put those skills to work with a real-life job as a LEGO Master Builder at a new LEGOLAND Discovery Center.

The new LEGOLAND Discovery Center Bay Area is set to open at the Great Mall in Milpitas in early 2020 and along with all the brick building fun comes some new jobs to fill, including the highly coveted position of Master Model Builder. LEGOLAND Discovery Centers across the country, which are smaller, indoor park versions of LEGOLAND, all have a resident Master Model Builder whose job it is to create the intricate and awe-inspiring builds that visitors come to see.

photo: LEGOLAND Discovery Center

These positions rarely come open so if you live in the area and have a passion for LEGO this job could be a dream come true. In order to apply, you’ll first have to win a two-day competition taking place Jan. 18 and 19. Contestants will compete in timed builds and creative challenges. The top ten contenders will then go on to an interview and a final build challenge. One lucky winner will be selected to take on the job.

The Master Model Builder position involves leading workshops for kids and managing the Legoland Discovery Center creative workshop. Those interested in entering the competition must first submit an application here before Jan. 10, 2020. Applicants must be at least 18.

—Shahrzad Warkentin

 

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Making a gingerbread house is fun holiday tradition and so is trying to solve the mystery of who gobbled up all the gum drops that once adorned the roof. With this new LEGO Gingerbread House you can enjoy the tradition without the sugar rush.

The new LEGO Creator Gingerbread House set features 1,477 pieces and tons of intricate details including clear frosted bricks for the windows and light-up bricks, which make a glowing fireplace and star on top of the Christmas tree.

The set includes a Gingerbread family made up of a mom, dad and adorable little Gingerbread baby.

The LEGO Creator Gingerbread House set is designed for kids 12 and up, but could make an excellent family project for younger master builders.

Priced at $99.99 you can score the new holiday set online and in stores now.

—Shahrzad Warkentin

All photos: LEGO

 

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Every year Pottery Barn Kids releases some of the most intricate, creative Halloween costumes for kids short of the homemade variety and this year is no exception. Flamingoes to pandas and even a yellow submarine fit for the Beatles are just some of the magical offerings in this year’s Pottery Barn Kids Halloween costume collection.

Here are some of our favorite baby and kids getups from Pottery Barn for 2019.

Star Wars: Rey Costume

Get prepped for the last installment in the Skywalker saga when Rise of Skywalker hits theaters this winter. 

Sizes 4-6 and 7-8, $38.99

Light Up Astronaut Costume

Blast off for adventure in this spectacular silver spacesuit.

Sizes 3T to 8Y, $99

3D Yellow Submarine

This seaworthy costume will inspire your young Beatles fans.

Sizes 3T to 6Y, $79

Baby Flamingo

Is there anything cuter than this pink feathered friend?

Sizes 0 to 24 months, $69

Panda Big Head

Transform your animal lover into a life-sized, cuddly panda.

Sizes 3T to 10Y, $89

3D Mermaid Dolphin

A magical mermaid and a dolphin all in one? Yes, please!

Sizes 3T to 6Y, $79

Glitter Emoji

Kids can show off their true emotions with this glittery emoticon.

Sizes 3T to 8Y, $18.99

Baby Skunk Costume

The only thing stinky about this skunk costume is how stinkin' cute it is. 

Sizes 0 months to 6Y, $59

Light Up Pterodactyl

Dino lovers will never want to take off this incredible winged-reptile costume.

Sizes 3T to 8Y, $99

—Shahrzad Warkentin

All photos: Courtesy of Pottery Barn Kids

 

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Looking forward to a little bit of magic and mischief this holiday season? Then you’ll want to wave your wands and send your best summoning spell to collect Pottery Barn’s Harry Potter Christmas collection.

Featuring ornaments, decor and serving wear, there will be plenty of magical yuletide cheer with these beautifully designed items that the whole family will cherish year after year, just like the beloved books. Here are a few of our favorite new items.

Happy Christmas Garland

Spell out the season's greetings with this beautiful red garland.

$49.50

Golden Snitch String Lights

Light up those cold wintry nights with these glittering golden snitches.

$49.50

Hogwarts Crest Holiday Mug

Sip on your eggnog in these festive mugs featuring the Hogwarts impressive crest.

$19.50

Harry Potter Stockings

Prepare the mantel for the arrival of Father Christmas with these stockings featuring intricate designs for each Hogwarts house. All of the choices can be customized with an embroidered name.

$39.50

Harry Potter Ornaments

Dress up your tree with these gorgeous Harry Potter themed ornaments, including a golden snitch, a flying key, the Hogwarts Express and the Deathly Hallows symbol.

$16.50 each

Hogwarts Holiday Crest Glass Tumblers

Raise a toast over some tasty butterbeer with this four-piece set of holiday glasses featuring the Hogwarts crest.

$69.50

Harry Potter Plush Ornaments

Adorn the tree with a few of your favorite characters including Harry, Ron, Hermione and, yes, even Draco.

$24.50 each

You can shop the entire Pottery Barn Harry Potter collection here.

—Shahrzad Warkentin

All photos: Pottery Barn

 

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Inspiring kids to get excited about learning just takes a little bit of magic. One teacher decorated her classroom to look like Hogwarts and the results will make you want to apparate to class ASAP.

Staci Lamb, English teacher at Elkton High School in Elkton, Maryland, decided to give her room a Harry Potter makeover for the new school year. This isn’t the first time she’s put a transformation spell on her classroom, but this year she went even bigger and better than before. Lamb shared the finished look on Instagram and it’s safe to say her students will be picking English as their favorite subject this year.

It took Lamb an entire month to complete her magical classroom transformation, working a few hours each day. She spent all her own money on decorating.

The magic is really in all of the incredibly intricate details Lamb has created, which is especially impressive when you consider that the decor was built from frugal finds at garage sales and Goodwill, among others.

Of course, no Hogwarts classroom would be complete without a Sorting Hat.

According to her Instagram feed, Lamb was awarded Teacher of the Year in 2018 and it’s not very hard to see why after all the hard work she puts in to inspire her students.

—Shahrzad Warkentin

Featured photo: Staci Lamb via Instagram

 

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