Hilaria & Alec Baldwin Welcome Sixth Baby & It’s a Girl!

by Erica LoopMarch 2, 2021

Hilaria and Alec Baldwin welcomed a new baby to their growing brood—just over five months after giving birth to son Eduardo!

The new mom (for the sixth time), initially announced the Baldwin family’s baby joy with an Instagram post of the whole gang, including their most recent addition. Baldwin fans and followers were initially surprised by the pic of six, not five, kiddos. While Hilaria had made her previous pregnancies public, she kept the arrival of the baby girl a secret.

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A post shared by Hilaria Thomas Baldwin (@hilariabaldwin)

Baldwin later dished on her daughter’s name, posting a sweet pic of her brand-new child on IG, captioning it, “We are so in love with our daughter, Lucia. Just like your brothers and sisters, you are a dream come true.”

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A post shared by Hilaria Thomas Baldwin (@hilariabaldwin)

The now seventh-time dad (Baldwin also has a daughter Ireland, with ex Kim Bassinger) also posted his wife’s adorable pic of baby Lucia on IG. Baldwin caption his post with a simple, “Blessed.”

Congrats go out to the new mom and dad—along with Lucia’s big brothers and sisters!

—Erica Loop

Featured photo: Sam Aronov / Shutterstock.com

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Taylor & Natalie Hanson Welcome Seventh Child

by Jennifer SwartvagherDecember 17, 2020

There is a new addition to the Hanson crew. Taylor and Natalie Hanson recently welcomed their seventh child. Maybellene Alma Joy was born on Dec. 7.

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A post shared by @taylorhanson

Taylor posted a sweet snap of him cradling his newborn daughter with the caption, “Meet our baby girl Maybellene Alma Joy, born Dec 7th 2020. Seven is a beautiful number.”

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A post shared by Natalie Hanson (@nataliehanson)

Natalie also posted a sweet photo of her new baby girl with the caption, “Maybellene Alma Joy Hanson ✨12.7.20″

The new baby joins big brothers Jordan, River, Viggo and Claude and big sisters Penelope and Wilhelmina.

—Jennifer Swartvagher

Featured photo: s_bukley via Shutterstock

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Taylor Hanson & Wife Natalie Announce They’re Expecting Baby Number Seven

by Jennifer SwartvagherSeptember 16, 2020

The Hanson family is expanding. Taylor Hanson and his wife, Natalie, are expecting their seventh child. The couple announced the good news on both of their Instagram accounts.

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The best kind of unexpected. Number seven coming this December. #2020

A post shared by @ taylorhanson on Sep 15, 2020 at 9:13am PDT

Taylor Hanson captioned his post, “The best kind of unexpected. Number seven coming this December. #2020”

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biggest little surprise in a long time. baby number seven coming this December🙏🏼❤️😊

A post shared by Natalie Hanson (@nataliehanson) on Sep 15, 2020 at 10:23am PDT

Natalie Hanson posted, “biggest little surprise in a long time. baby number seven coming this December.”

—Jennifer Swartvagher

Featured photo: s_bukley via Shutterstock

Play On! NYC Toy Stores That Are Delivering

by Mimi O'ConnorMay 31, 2020

Looking for a way to make a kid smile and support a local NYC business? Get some toys delivered from your neighborhood NYC toy store. Whether the kids could use some new toys to play with, there’s a big birthday coming up or you need a LEGO kit delivered, stat, we found several NYC toy stores (and some in the Hamptons) that are delivering and offering curbside pickup. Just browse, click (or call) and wait for the fun to arrive—and if you can’t wait, go pick it up yourself!

Kidding Around

Chelsea's go-to toy store is delivering to families within an eight-block radius, and also offers curbside pickup. This is a great spot for sustainable and wooden toys from companies like Plan, Haba and Hape, as well as cute and cuddly stuffies, PLAYMOBIL, creative kits, STEM toys and more. You can also shop by age, category and collection.

Kidding Around
60 W. 15th St.
212-645-6337
Online: kiddingaroundtoys.com

Toy Space NY

Offering same-day delivery in Brooklyn and Manhattan ($5 flat fee), as well as curbside pickup (2:30-3:30, daily), Toy Space is another Seventh Avenue toy store ready to spread some joy to NYC households. Current hot sellers include arts and crafts supplies, sidewalk chalk, The Two Bros Bows and Arrows, giant glitter beach balls and indoor stomp launchers. The business also offers a subscription box for kids with specific needs, through which you get four to six curated items picked just for your kid. Toy Space is also offering private shopping to birthday kids and their parents, keeping with all social distancing protocol and mask-wearing guidelines.

426 Seventh Ave.
Park Slope
718-369-9096
Online: toyspaceny.com

Boomerang Toys

Downtown Manhattan's Boomerang Toys, in business since 2002, is delivering! Just peruse the Tribeca toy store's website, which features everything from puzzles to scooters to LEGO and building kits to lots of trains and toys that go. (Plus a lot more!) the website has pictures of the actual stocked shelves so you can browse virtually. Delivery below 14th Street is free; call to inquire about areas above. Call 212-226-7650 to place an order!

119 W. Broadway
Tribeca
212-226-7650
Online: boomerangtoys.com

LuLu's Cuts & Toys

That photo above is not archival. That's what's in the window of LuLu's Cuts & Toys on Brooklyn's Fifth Avenue right now! The store is open from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and is offering free same-day or next-day local delivery for orders over $50 (zip codes 11217, 11215, 11238, 11206, 11201, 11231); for orders outside of that, it's $10. LuLu's is also offering free curbside pickup, and shipping out of state. Shop online at lulus-cuts-and-toys.myshopify.com and be sure to check out their "social distancing favorites". (Some very fun and cool stuff there.) You can also set up a birthday registry, and you get a free bunch of balloons for using the service! Know and love the LuLu's stylists? Contribute to the Go Fund Me Page benefitting them here!

48 Fifth Ave.
Park Slope
718-832-3732
Online: lulus-cuts-and-toys.myshopify.com

Piccoliny

For toys for the tiniest of New Yorkers, check out Piccoliny. The hip downtown store stocked with super hip NYC-centric onesies, T-shirts and baby toys (as well as lots of other cute clothes and gifts) is offering $5 flat-rate shipping, complimentary gift wrap and a 20 percent discount on the entire store. Know someone with a newborn? Here's where to go for the perfect I LOVE NYC baby gifts.

167 Mott St .
212-775-1118
Nolita
Online: piccolinyshop.com

Stevenson's Toys & Games

Sheltering in place in the Hamptons? Stevenson's Toys can hook you up! The store is taking order online for shipment, local delivery and curbside pickup at its Southampton location. They are stocked up with puzzles of varying degrees of difficulty, LEGO kits, board games and lots of toys for outdoor fun. (You can even order up a trampoline if you need one!)

69 Jobs Ln.
Southhampton
631-283-2111
Online: stevensonstoys.com

Little Things Toy Store

Park Slope stalwart Little Things Toy Store is delivering throughout Brooklyn and offering curbside pickup from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily. ( There is a $5 fee for toys below $25 and outside surrounding zip codes, and they'll also ship anywhere in U.S. with customers picking up any USPS shipping charges.) They've got oodles of puzzles, crafting and activity kits, games and Micro Kickboard scooters. The store also carries a wide range of LEGO—FYI, Little Things is a LEGO Gold Standard Store.)

Call or text 917-816-8210 or e-mail littlethingstoystore@gmail.com.

159 Seventh Ave.
Park Slope
917-816-8210
Online: littlethingstoystore.com

Norman & Jules

Yet another Park Slope-area toy store (hey, there are a lot of kids there), Norman & Jules is not delivering, but they are offering curbside pickup Monday through Thursday from Noon - 4 p.m. This place specializes in chic and modern-looking toys, STEM activities and sets and wooden toys from brands like Grimm and Grapat.

158 Seventh Ave.
Park Slope
347-987-3328
Online: normanandjules.com

Big Fun Toys

If you're in Hoboken, Big Fun Toys will deliver to you for free! The New Jersey shop is stocked with everything from PLAN toys to LEGO to stuffies and gear for outdoor fun.

602 Washington St.
Hoboken
201-714-9575
Online: bigfuntoys.com

feature photo: Cottonbro via Pexels

—Mimi O’Connor

J.K. Rowling Releases “The Ickabog” a Free Online Book for Children

by Jennifer SwartvagherMay 29, 2020

Have you read and reread all of the Harry Potter books?J.K. Rowling has just announced her new story, The Ickabog. A new chapter (or more) will be posted in installments from now until Jul. 10.

Rowling started writing The Ickabog while she was finishing the Wizarding World series with the intention of publishing it after the seventh Harry Potter book was released. Instead she decided to focus on adult novels and left her draft of The Ickabog in the attic where it remained for ten years.

On the website, Rowling says, “It isn’t Harry Potter and it doesn’t include magic. This is an entirely different story.”

Rowling said she read the chapters aloud to her two younger children while she was writing and after filing it away, it became a story just for them. During the pandemic she brought the book out again and reread it to her kids, adding bits that they liked when they were little.

The author is also inviting young readers to provide illustrations for the story. Rowling will offer suggestions, but she encourages children to let their imaginations go wild. Parents can share their child’s artwork on Twitter using the hashtag #TheIckabog. Rowling will not be judging the competition. Publishers around the world will be free to choose the illustrations they feel suit the book.

The Ickabog will be published in November. All proceeds will be donated to those affected by the coronavirus.

—Jennifer Swartvagher

Featured photo: Andrea Piacquadio from Pexels

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Check Out What’s Coming to Disney+ in March

by Jennifer SwartvagherMarch 6, 2020

Disney+ is expanding its library again. There are a lot of new and exciting titles coming in March. Along with the seventh season of Star Wars: The Clone Wars, you will be able to stream Black Panther, A Wrinkle in Time and the original movie, Stargirl.

Here’s a sneak peek at what’s coming to Disney+ this March.

March 1 – Dr. Dolittle 2

March 1 – Ice Age

March 4 – Marvel Studios’ Black Panther

March 5 – Bedtime Stories

March 6 – The Sandlot 2

March 6 – The Sandlot: Heading Home

March 6 – The Finest Hours

March 6 – Pixar In Real Life: Brave

March 6, 13, 20 – Diary of a Future President (Episodes 8-10)

March 6, 13, 20, 27 – Disney Family Sundays (Episodes 18-21)

March 6, 13, 20, 27 – Disney’s Fairy Tale Weddings (Episodes 4-7)

March 6, 13, 20 – Marvel’s Hero Project (Episodes 18-20)

March 6, 13, 20, 27 – One Day at Disney (Shorts 14-17)

March 6, 13, 20, 27 – Shop Class (Episodes 2-5)

March 6, 13, 20, 27 – Star Wars: The Clone Wars (Episodes 3-6)

March 13 – Wicked Tuna (Seasons 3-8)

March 13 – Wicked Tuna: Outer Banks (Seasons 1-6)

March 13 – Stargirl

March 15 – G-Force

March 20 – I Didn’t Do It (Seasons 1-2)

March 20 – Vampirina: Ghoul Girls Rock! (Season 2)

March 20 – Playtime With Puppy Dog Pals (Season 2)

March 20, 27 – Disney Insider (Episodes 1-2)

March 25- A Wrinkle in Time

March 27 – Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge – Adventure Awaits

March 27 – Be Our Chef (Episode 1)

March 29 – Big Hero 6: The Series (Season 2)

Start your free trial with Disney+ today.

—Jennifer Swartvagher

Featured photo: Disney+ via YouTube

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These Are 2019’s Safest Cities in America

by Shahrzad WarkentinDecember 3, 2019

Safety is likely at the top of every family’s list when it comes to desirable features in a neighborhood. WalletHub has just released its annual report on the safest cities in America so you can see how your own stacks up.

WalletHub compared more than 180 cities across 41 key indicators of safety in order to rank each city. Each indicator was organized into three categories: Home & Community Safety, Natural Disaster Risk and Financial Safety. The data included factors like unemployment rate and road quality.

Based on the 41 metrics weighted under these main categories, the top 10 safest cities in the United States for 2019 are:

Columbia, Maryland
Yonkers, New York
Plano, Texas
Gilbert, Arizona
South Burlington, Vermont
Virginia Beach, Virginia
Bismarck, North Dakota
Nashua, New Hampshire
Chandler, Arizona
Warwick, Rhode Island

Source: WalletHub

While the number one safest city in America, Columbia, Maryland, remained the same since 2018. There is a new name among the top ten cities and a handful that climbed the list since last year. In 2018 Yonkers came in at seventh, but it has since landed in second place. Gilbert, Arizona also jumped to fourth, pushing cities like South Burlington and Virginia Beach a few rungs down.

The new addition to the top ten is Chandler, Arizona, which bumped Boise, Idaho out, which landed all the way down at 25th in 2019.

—Shahrzad Warkentin

Featured photo: Nout Gons via Pexels

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The Boy Who Gave His Savings to Dorian Evacuees Just Scored a Free Trip to Disney World

by Shahrzad WarkentinSeptember 10, 2019

As Hurricane Dorian pounded the East Coast, one boy gave up his dream vacation to Disney World in order to help evacuees and now Disney is rewarding his amazing act of kindness.

Six-year-old Jermaine Bell’s family had been saving up for a special trip to Disney World to celebrate his seventh birthday, but instead the generous, young boy decided that they should use that money to help evacuees in South Carolina. His family spent Labor Day weekend passing out food and water to those evacuating from the coast. Disney Parks got wind of his generosity and decided to gift him with his dream vacation.

As Jermaine appeared on Good Morning America on his birthday, Disney employees accompanied by Mickey Mouse himself, showed up to surprise him and deliver his birthday gift, passes for his entire family to visit the Magic Kingdom. “When Mickey came out I was just really happy,” Jermaine said in the video created by Disney Parks. “Be strong and if you do good things you will be rewarded,” he added.

This is definitely a well-deserved reward. Jermaine and his family plan to visit Disney World later this month.

—Shahrzad Warkentin

Featured photo: Disney Parks via YouTube

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This 6-Year-Old Used the Money He Saved for Disney World to Help Hurricane Dorian Evacuees

by Shahrzad WarkentinSeptember 8, 2019

A trip to Disney World is an excellent way to spend your birthday, which is exactly what six-year-old Jermaine Bell’s family had planned to do. That is, until he decided to donate his birthday savings to help Hurricane Dorian evacuees.

Bell’s family had been saving up for a special trip to Disney World for his seventh birthday on Sep. 8, but instead this incredibly generous little boy decided to use the money to feed those evacuating from Dorian in South Carolina. Over Labor Day weekend, mandatory evacuations were given to South Carolina residents along the state’s 190-mile coast.

Jermaine Bell was supposed to spend his seventh birthday at Disney World. He'd saved up money, but after Hurricane Dorian, he emptied his piggy bank to buy hundreds of hot dogs and serve them for free to evacuees passing through his South Carolina town. https://t.co/Mbqc5QdW3U

— CNN (@CNN) September 4, 2019

“The people that are traveling to go to places, I wanted them to have some food to eat, so they can enjoy the ride to the place that they’re going to stay at,” Bell told WJBF.

As evacuees travelled along Highway 125 in Allendale, South Carolina Bell and his family stood on the side of the road with handmade signs passing out hot dogs, chips and water. They ended up serving almost 100 evacuees. “I wanted to be generous and live to give,” Bell said.

Bell still hopes to make it to Disney World to celebrate his birthday and clearly that would be a well-deserved celebration. His mom Lauren plans to make that wish come true. “He has a very big heart and all-around caring spirit. It definitely makes it a birthday to remember for him,” she shared on Facebook.

—Shahrzad Warkentin

Featured photo: ChasinDatPaperMedia via YouTube

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Kristen Bell Is Using the Power of Instagram to Help Deserving Teachers

by Erica LoopAugust 11, 2019

Kristen Bell is back at it again—and we’re not talking about the return of Veronica Mars. Last year the actress helped deserving teachers to get what they needed for their classrooms through the #10featuredteachers hashtag. Now Bell’s helping out again with the #FeaturedTeacherFriday campaign.

Through her #FeaturedTeacherFriday posts on Instagram Bell is making some very special teacher’s dreams come true. Each post includes a link to teacher-curated Amazon wish lists, which Bell encourages her IG followers to fill.

https://www.instagram.com/p/B0ZPvwmnBlO/

Bell’s latest share, Lanie, a fourth grade teacher from Texas, shared on IG, “The schools I’ve worked at are Title 1 schools, meaning that they receive federally funded support. For some of my students, school is the only place they will receive a meal and have as a safe space with someone to trust. Throughout the year I personally purchase my students supplies, backpacks, coats, clothes, books and snacks.”

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A post shared by kristen bell (@kristenanniebell)

And Lanie isn’t the only educator who regularly buys their own school supplies. Long Island sixth and seventh grade Spanish teacher Veronica Landa wrote, “The majority of the students at THMS are economically disadvantaged and come from low-income families. Students are also given free breakfast and lunch. Many of my students struggle to afford books and other resources needed to succeed academically.”

If you want to help the deserving teachers Bell features, head on over to her Instagram page for more details.

—Erica Loop

Featured photo: Kristen Bell via Instagram

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