You can vacation in some pretty sweet homes thanks to Airbnb, but it will be hard to top this booking. Now you can stay in the real life Home Alone house and let your inner child run wild! The overnight stay is up for grabs on Dec. 12 to celebrate the release of the latest movie in the popular franchise.
The McAllisters are headed on their holiday trip and that means four guests have the opportunity to enjoy the stay of a lifetime in Chicago. The home will be perfectly decorated for Christmas and feature plenty of booby trap opportunities. You’ll get to meet the pet tarantula and enjoy plenty of pizza and Kraft Mac n Cheese. At the end of the stay, you’ll get to take home the new LEGO Home Alone set for the perfect souvenir!
Now for the best part: all of this is only $25 if you’re lucky enough to book. Set your reminder for 2 p.m. ET on Dec. 7 and make sure you’re on http://airbnb.com/homealone. The guests who book are responsible for their own travel, but it’s a small price to pay for these bragging rights.
Breaking news!! Santa Clara county has been invaded by over 70 dinosaurs and they are hungry! We advise all curious and inquisitive young paleontologists who desire a safe view of these beasts to proceed cautiously down to Santa Clara County Fairgrounds but to stay within their vehicles at all times. Read on for an exclusive first look at these ferocious creatures then make sure to reserve a time slot (don’t forget the promo code!) for your chance to come face-to-face with these behemoths.
Jurassic Quest is a drive-thru event complete with a digital audio tour. Prior to arrival, guests are texted a link which, when opened on a cellular device, streams one of three different narrated stories through YouTube or SoundCloud. The kid-friendly ones recommended by the staff are The Adventures of Nick & Marty and Safari Sarah’s Big Day. Signs and placards along the route give instructions of when to start, pause and resume the audio tour.
The dinosaurs range from small Velociraptors to an 80 foot long Spinosaurus along with a nursery of baby dinosaurs sure to delight the family. The ever popular Tyrannosaurus Rex and his herbivore friends Stegosaurus and Triceratops are also among the notable dinos. Prepare for the Jaws theme song to play in your head at the sight of the impressive Megadolon and be glad it’s a prehistoric creature!
Meticulous detailing of each dinosaur was made in consultation with leading paleontologists to ensure that every detail is replicated—be it feathers, fur or scales. The dinosaurs move in convincing fashion with heads and tails swinging, eyes blinking and roar intermittently so make sure to have your windows open for the full effect.
We absolutely love that each dinosaur is accompanied by a sign that states not only its name but the correct pronunciation (say “Pachycephalosaurus” three times in a row) — this is particularly helpful in the education of parents whose dinosaur species knowledge might be lacking. We also love that this experience is safe, contact-free and a fun way to entertain the kids and we think you will, too!
Good to know:
• There is an enticing souvenir booth you must drive through to exit so it may help to prepare the kids beforehand (read: prevent meltdowns) or consider purchasing a Quest pack to save money
• A free, safari-style photo with families in their vehicles and a dino as a backdrop is included at the end of the tour
• The tour lasts about one hour, porta potties are on site
Getting there: Santa Clara County Fairgrounds, Lot A
441 Tully Rd (entrance off 7th Ave)
If you were raised like I was, you are probably very familiar with the word grace. Grace was the prayer we said before meals. Grace is a term I still use to describe someone’s elegant appearance, and grace was a term my mom used when someone we loved blessed us with their presence. However, as I grew older, I realized grace is so much more than a church word. Perhaps the most significant thing I learned about grace is that it doesn’t matter what age you are if you’re religious, what your sexual preference is, or where you stand politically. Like love, it is something we are all worthy of, we all need, and we should all give more of.
Grace is a gift. Grace is favor. Grace is letting go. Grace is understanding. Grace is forgiving. Grace is extending your hand. Grace is non-judgmental. Grace is selfless. Grace changes relationships. Grace chooses compassion. Grace ignites purpose and changes stories. At its core, grace is unconditional love in action. In fact, threads of grace are woven throughout the world’s tapestry and can be found everywhere, from historic stories to present-day Hollywood movies.
One of my favorite movies growing up was The Lion King. The story of grace is woven in this Disney classic and simple enough for children to understand. In the movie Simba, the cub leaves home to run away from his overwhelming problems and mistakes. After years of forgetting his past and living a new worry-free life, he eventually realizes he needs to go back home to help save the pride land. He expects to be shamed and unwanted, but instead, he is greeted by his family and friends, happy to have him home. Together, they save the pride land. He received grace and was welcomed back with open arms. If his family and friends had rejected him or punished him for his past mistakes, the pride land would have been lost, and his relationships would have been severed. Grace changed everything.
As a parent, I need grace every day. I mess up a lot. I yell, I lose my patience, I spend too much time on my phone, I can be selfish, I burn food, I’m constantly late, the list goes on and on. But regardless of my mistakes, there is no better feeling than while tucking my children in at night, they wrap their arms around me and meet me with unconditional grace and love. They don’t hold grudges or shame me. They extend their arms regardless of mess-ups.
Shouldn’t we offer the same to our children?
The answer is yes. Giving our children grace is one of the most important gifts we can give them.
Giving children grace not only means you consider their hearts and acknowledge their individuality, but it also teaches children they matter. It doesn’t ignore or excuse bad behavior. Instead, it offers loving guidance through a healthy relationship.
Grace chooses compassion, and according to an article found on the Children’s Mental Health Network, compassion is important for various reasons, including physical, mental, and emotional health.
Author Laurie Ellington, the co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of Zero Point Leadership, explains its powerful effects. She says, “Compassion activates the parasympathetic nervous system as opposed to the fear response. It lowers the heart rate, blood pressure, and inflammation levels in the body, boosting the immune system. It has even been shown to increase the length of telomeres, the caps at the end of our chromosomes associated with health and longevity. Compassion triggers the mammalian caregiving system and causes a release of the hormone oxytocin, increasing feelings of trust and cooperation. We see that this need to emotionally regulate is not just within ourselves, but between each other as well.”
With this in mind, picture this scenario. You still love your child even if they are throwing a temper tantrum. Sitting with them, trying to understand why they’re upset, and helping them calm down so you can address the issue, is extending grace. Becoming angry and punishing them for it is not. Your love for your child doesn’t change regardless of how you choose to deal with their temper tantrum but extending grace will improve your relationship and bond.
A personal example of extending grace was when my daughters were roughhousing and broke a souvenir we acquired on a trip to Amman, Jordan. My husband and I were devastated. To be honest, my first reaction was to put all of them in timeout and ground them for at least two weeks. However, instead of punishing our daughters, we offered them comfort and explained why we were upset. We all picked up the pieces and glued the souvenir back together. It will never be the same, but our relationship was stronger because we all calmly communicated instead of acting out in anger. To this day, it is our grace souvenir. Once again, grace changed the outcome.
Author of Grace-Based Parenting, Dr. Tim Kimmel, says, “if we have done our jobs adequately, our children should leave our homes with a love that is secure, a purpose that is significant, and a hope that is strong.”
Giving children grace does just that. A healthy parent-child relationship gives children the emotional and mental strength they need to grow. It also teaches them how to give grace and that they, and others, are more than their mistakes.
So, as you go about your day, think about what grace is. If grace is just something you say before a meal, I encourage you to dig deeper. My hope is that you see grace is just as important as love. It is a way of life, and just like love, it should be woven in and out of our stories because grace changes everything.
Jamie is married to her high school sweetheart and has three beautiful daughters. Through years of experience working with children, and raising her own, she knows how difficult parenting can be. She is an advocate for children's mental health and is best known for her creativity, optimism, and kind heart.
New York City has enough hot spots to keep you busy for weeks—now there’s one more destination to add to the list for your family trip. The LEGO Group has launched a ‘retailtainment’ NYC store and at 7,175 square feet and two stories, you might want to make an afternoon of it!
The whole family will love the immersive world inside the new store, which blends digital and physical experiences. Head to the Brick Lab where you can build with physical sets and enter a virtual world that brings the walls, floors and ceilings to life with light, sound and music. Scan your build and watch it come to life!
Make sure to stop by the Tree of Discovery for a fantastic photo opp. It’s made of over 880,000 LEGO bricks and took 1,900 hours to construct. The builders want it to symbolize LEGO Group’s commitment to positively impacting the planet. Look closely at the rainbow trunk for hidden details like mini scenes, kaleidoscopes and picture viewers!
Ready for more? Visit the Personalization Studio for fun, unique builds, the Mosaic Maker to create your own personalized mosaic LEGO portrait, or the LEGO Minifigure Factory to create an awesome souvenir for you or a family member. You’ll also find larger-than-life 3D LEGO models throughout the store, including Thor, Spiderman, the Statue of Liberty and Ghostbusters characters.
The new store officially opened on Friday, June 25 at 636 Fifth Avenue in New York City. You can book your in-store experiences now to make your trip extra memorable. And if you can’t make it to the Big Apple, the LEGO Group plans to introduce the immersive concept at more than 100 stores around the world during the next year.
Say it with us: Butterbeer Bar. If your travel plans include New York this summer, you’re in luck, because the first official Butterbeer Bar is scheduled to open soon at the flagship Harry Potter Store.
Just as it sounds, this bar features only one product in all its glory, butterbeer. You can drink it on draft, in bottles, or even enjoy it in ice cream form. Your frothy, butterscotch beverage comes poured in a souvenir tankard or in a bottle with an exclusive collectible label. The bottle is only available in-store and the label is designed by MinaLima, the duo behind the Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts series.
There’s much more to love about your trip to the Butterbeer Bar. Once you step inside, you’ll be greeted by a giant cascade of glowing Butterbeer bottles. As you walk to the bar, the bottles will appear to ‘float’ as Butterbeer transports magically through copper pipes. And the bar is part of Harry Potter New York, the world’s only official Harry Potter flagship store.
The store and bar open on June 3 and are sure to be must-stops for the wizards and Muggles in your life. You’ll find exclusive products, interactive elements and an eye-catching design from top to bottom—three floors, to be exact. At over 21,000 square feet, the store will hold the largest collection of Harry Potter and Fantastic Beast products anywhere. Start plotting your trip now, because what’s life without a little magic!
—Sarah Shebek
All photos: Courtesy of Harry Potter Flagship Store New York
“I don’t know what to say other than today we found out that Whitman is unique. He’ll get a scholarship to help him do great things. Nothing changes and when it does we’ll figure it out.” I sat on our couch staring at this text. I read it. Re-read it. Cried. It had been a long 24 hours. One minute I was in the preschool pick-up line living my best life and the next I was on the phone being told that there was an opening to get Whitman evaluated for autism.
I said yes because it would be another 2-3 months to wait to have the evaluation if I didn’t say yes. So we prepped. I was going to do this appointment with my mom because Jeremy was going to be in meetings all day. It fell in his tech review time. We got up and headed to the appointment.
I first picked up some Chick-Fil-A (aka: Jesus breakfast) we needed a lot of Jesus to get through this long day I could feel it. Whitman did every evaluation. I answered what seemed like 1,000 pages of questions and then the diagnosis came. “After the review of Whit’s scores, we are putting him on the Autism spectrum.”
I remember the words hanging in the air. It was heavy. “We aren’t changing any therapy he is already having, we’re just adding it to the previous diagnosis of Apraxia.” The developmental pediatrician was super dry so this just sounded like her going through the motions. Which to me felt heartless. How could she not grieve with us?! How could she not want to hug us and promise us she’d help us?! She ended with: “Megan will be in in a few moments with your folder of services that Whitman will qualify for, the genetic testing that needs to be done, and you’ll schedule your follow up appointment for 6 months.”
Megan walked in and handed us a light blue folder as if it’s a “Congratulations your life has changed forever.” What you thought your future might look like isn’t remotely close to how it will be. Your souvenir is a folder of tiny things that we can help you with. Which turned out to be tiny things of nothing. Before we left, the secretary hugged us, and off we went back into the world.
I felt like the world should have been in mourning with us. Not because of Whitman’s diagnosis but because of the realization of how much harder Whitman’s life had gotten in a matter of minutes. The uphill battles of what’s to come. The questions we would hear. The natural blame that people place on you like all of this was Jeremy and my fault. It was a lot to take in. I did what I normally do when something doesn’t go as planned. I’m sad for about 20 minutes and then I move on to get things done especially for sweet Whitman. He had such a hard start and now we were adding more so owed it to him to get the best.
When I got home and unloaded the children, my husband called so I could fill him in on everything. I sobbed. He listened. I tried to make a plan. He just kept saying to slow down and we’d figured it out. Which made me so annoyed. We had to get Whitman into every therapy. We had to get him ahead of the game. I was that naive mom who believed the research that says if your child turns six and is nonverbal your child will be nonverbal forever. Whitman was 4 at the time and I felt like I was on borrowed time. I found a sitter for Vivi so I could be at every therapy appointment. I could take all the notes. We could work on everything at home. In my naive mind, we were going to beat this.
I took a break from research to tend to the children post quiet time and that’s when my husband, the man who has nothing to say until it’s the perfect thing to say, texted. He simply said: “I don’t know what to say other than today we found out that Whitman is unique. He’ll get a scholarship to help him do great things. Nothing changes and when it does we’ll figure it out.” He added that he would vow not to be another statistic when it came to the divorce rate among special needs parents. And that he knew that this wasn’t caused by something that I did. He assured me that life would be different and interesting but we’d get through it together. We are three years in and we are still figuring it out. Days are hard. We lack sleep and patience some days. Our house is always a never-ending disaster. We are trying to keep the promises and vows we made to each other on that diagnosis day. It’s a work in progress that we are still figuring it out.
Lindsey is a mom, wife, and blogger at The Althaus Life. She lives in Ohio with her husband and 2 children. Lindsey is grateful all things and to be able to chronicle her beautifully broken laugh til you cry cry until you laugh life.
In a typical year, Santa’s helpers can be found at malls, restaurants, and parks, happy to listen to your little ones Christmas lists and relay the message to the Big Guy, himself. But 2020 isn’t typical, and finding a Santa in Atlanta could be a little trickier than usual. The solution? Hire a Santa to head to your home, or park, or playground, and observe a socially distant visit with your elves. Keep reading for where to find a Santa for hire, below.
Santa Rick is a Santa Claus for hire in metro Atlanta, as well as throughout Georgia and the Southeastern United States. Available for private parties, events, home visits, photos, parades, and even for special deliveries, you can count on Santa Rick to be just the jolly ole' elf you need this season.
Extra Nice: With any Santa Rick booking, you can also hire live reindeer (with or without sleigh), balloonists and face painters, Christmas carolers, a Santa chair or bench, and photographers (who can print “on the spot” souvenir photos, or provide digital downloads).
The Real Black Santa is taking virtual visits to a whole new level this holiday season, bringing Christmas cheer and joy to your family through the computer. Partnering with Jinglering, you can celebrate the Christmas season with The Real Black Santa safely in today's new norm.
Santa Willie is a performing Santa for hire that will bring the spirit and excitement of the holiday season to any special event in your home or office. Santa Willie performs primarily in the East Cobb, North Atlanta area but will travel to locations in the Greater Atlanta and North Georgia area.
Extra Nice: In small group, home visits, Santa Willie does not require children to wear a mask; however, he has his favorite festive ones to don to keep everyone comfortable. He also disinfects his suit and brings extra pairs of gloves everywhere he goes. Be sure to talk to him about your Covid precaution needs, and he's happy to accomodate.
Santa Jeaux has a summer home in Sugar Hill, Georgia, so when he's. not at the North Pole it's easy to find him in the Atlanta metro area. At his home visits, children of all ages will be delighted with his Christmas stories, songs and a bit of Christmas magic. And won’t they be surprised and excited to find out that he knows their names, the names of their pets, school teachers and even their personal elves?!
Extra Nice: As part of a home visit, Santa Jeaux can be booked to eat dinner with the family, all the while spreading the joy of the season with the children. At the end of the meal, when mom says that she forgot to fix a dessert, Santa Jeaux can come to the rescue with the ingredients for making and decorating Christmas cookies with your children.
At St. Nick Express, portraying Santa is a family tradition. This particular St. Nick learned the traditions of feeding reindeer, making toys and wrapping presents from his dad and uncle, who both also portrayed Santa. For families looking for authenticity, this Santa is also a member of the Order of Real Bearded Santas.
Santa Martin is available for home events, including cookies with Santa, breakfasts with Santa, and parties. He's also available for special "Sneak Peaks," where your kids can catch a glimpse of him placing their gifts under the tree.
Extra Nice: Add a special treat to your holiday event and include Mrs. Claus! She is such a big help to Santa and loves children of all ages. Mrs. Claus is also available without Santa for private bookings such as storytelling and photo shoots.
Parents looking to book the ultimate bricktastic vacation will be excited to learn that LEGOLAND Florida is now offering all-inclusive packages for the first time ever. Starting today, guests can begin booking vacays that include everything from hotel to food and entertainment for stays starting Apr. 17.
So what does an all-inclusive stay include? The deal includes a stay at one of the on-site LEGOLAND hotels as well as unlimited admission to the theme park and water park during your stay.
You’ll also get all your meals included, including breakfast and dinner at one of four hotel restaurants and lunch at a restaurant in the theme or water park––with ten places to choose from! Families will also get unlimited golf at Florida’s Wild Side Mini Golf.
As if that wasn’t enough, you’ll also snag a DigiPass photo package, valet parking and unlimited Coca-Cola freestyle refills in a souvenir cup. To make things easier, guests will get an exclusive credential lanyard with each benefit identified.
All-inclusive packages are valid at LEGOLAND Florida Resort hotels which include LEGOLAND Florida Hotel, LEGOLAND Beach Retreat and the new Pirate Island Hotel which opens Apr. 17.
Those vintage ceramic Christmas trees that adorned your grandma’s holiday-happy home are back—Disney style. The Magic Kingdom turned plastic versions of the nostalgic fave into popcorn buckets as exclusive souvenirs for Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party 2019.
The Mickey Light-Up Tree Premium Popcorn Bucket features the signature style of the ceramic vintage trees, but with a Disney theme. Each bucket has real working holiday lights and a pint-sized version of Mickey dressed in a Santa hat!
Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party guests can find the novelty souvenir buckets (which are only available while supplies last) at popcorn carts throughout the park. The Disney Food Blog also reports finding the $25 buckets in the park’s Animal Kingdom.
Reportedly, the buckets are selling out quickly. So if you’re planning a trip to the Magic Kingdom’s Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party 2019, get your mini Mickey-themed tree ASAP.
The Great Wolf Lodge has plenty to offer all ages and stages, from an epic water park to the MagiQuest adventures, story times and more. But if you’re looking for one more reason why you have to visit this hotel-waterpark near you? This summer they’re debuting the first-ever Summer Camp-In for adventures through Labor Day. Read on to find out what else is in store for your family this summer.
1. The Summer Camp-In
Lobby s'mores, anyone? Summer Camp-In, Great Wolf Lodge's summer themed decor and activities are brand new this year. Think summer-camp themed crafts like decorating pins and badges or making friendship bracelets, evening s'mores in the lobby, Bingo or trivia for families each night and super cute activities like the Rubber Ducky 500: Kids select and decorate a rubber ducky early in the day, register it in the water park and then watch to see which ducky wins the race down one of the water slides. (Plus, kiddos get to keep their ducky for a souvenir.) There are organized pool games and parties, and you can even get a summer-camp seasonal rooms.
2. The Waterpark
Great Wolf Lodge
Whether it's too hot or too cold, the Great Wolf Lodge's indoor waterpark that is 84 degrees year round. Relax in Crooked Creek, a winding lazy river or let the tots splash around the multi-level Fort Mackenzie which recently got upgraded to included smaller-kiddo sized water slides and is surrounded by well-placed tables and lounge chairs for the parents. You can also test your balance on the Wolf Rider Wipeout and coax the whole family to take the River Canyon Run, a tube ride with an interactive Splash Cinema.
Plus, as of June 28, 2019 day passes are now on sale to visit the waterpark even if you aren't staying overnight!
Good to know: Safety is a priority, and there are plenty of Coast Guard certified water jackets on hand, including ones fit for toddlers. Some of the rides, like the Totem Towers and the Wolf Rider Wipeout have height requirements but do not fear: even your smallest kiddos will not feel left out.
Dial It In: Claim a lounger by Fort Mackenzie and order yourself up some fancy house drinks from the Watering Hole. You don’t even need your wallet: just scan your wristband and the cocktails get charged right to your room.
The most popular room is the Deluxe Bunk Bed Suite, which has built-in bunks and a queen bed, as well as a pull-out couch. The rooms are spacious enough to chill in after a busy day and all rooms at the Great Wolf Lodge include mini-fridges and microwaves. Other great options include rooms with multiple queen-sized beds, rooms with double bunks in a separate space (Queen Cabin Suite with themed KidCabin) and even big family suites like the Grizzly Family Suite which sleeps 12 and the Northwoods Suite which sleeps 12 and includes a fireplace.
Good to know: Unless you spring for a room with separate bunks (KidCabin) you and the family will all be in the same room. This isn't a bad thing, since this is a family vaycay, but if you're hoping for some downtime/privacy after the kids sack out and you've got light sleepers, you should upgrade.
4. The Great Wolf Adventure Park
Preston Mack. Great Wolf Lodge
If the Water Park is the crown jewel, we think the Adventure Park is the hidden gem. With plenty of different level arcade games, a climbing wall, a ropes course and a mining experience you'll find hours of fun right there. Plus, there's Ten-Paw Bowling (ten pin bowling! you never see these anymore!) that even the littles can master. Grab some pizza and salad at Hungry Like a Wolf on the second level and then hit the lanes.
5. MagiQuest
Great Wolf Lodge
No visit to the Great Wolf Lodge is complete without an introduction to MagiQuest—the interactive game that is like a scavenger hunt meets video game. But don't be fooled—there's very little screen time and kids and their parents will get lots of exercise. Wander the lodge communing with Pixies and battling dragons. Start your Quest at the MagiQuest shop where you procure a wand and declare your Quest name. Throughout the second and first floors, you'll find the wands react with features, stations (called "portals") and more. Light up crystals, make paintings talk and more as you solve each level. And if you find yourself heading to a different Great Wolf Lodge location, bring your wand! It will work for the adventure at any location.
Bonus: See what your wand does to the bear in the lobby.
6. Build-a-Bear Onsite
Great Wolf Lodge
For a souvenir worth snuggling, stop by the main gift shop's Build-a-Bear station where kiddos can build bears or a Great Wolf Lodge character (like a wolf) and then outfit them with Great Wolf Lodge-appropriate attire. character outfits.
7. Food & Drink
Great Wolf Lodge
There are seven different food and drink spots on site, including a Dunkin Donuts, Hungry Like a Wolf pizza place, Camp Fire which offers a breakfast buffet as well as lunch and dinner, Buckets Incredible Cravings (right inside the water park) and a Ben & Jerry's.
Insider tip for coffee drinkers: There's no beloved Caribou on site so your main coffee house is Dunkin Donuts. You have been warned.
8. The Staff
Andie Huber
Every time we've visited, we've noted the wonderful treatment toward guests by the staff. From the enthusiastic customer service at the MagiQuest Marketplace to the managers on site who can make the Northwoods Friend Adventure show appear "like magic" in spite of the schedule, every employee you and your kids interact with will make your family feel like they are honored guests. Knowing your kids are not going to be ignored or chastised goes a long way toward making any parent feel good about taking their family somewhere. Kudos to the staff at this Great Wolf Lodge location.
Special shoutout: On our most recent visit we witnessed a young employee (Sophie M.) take swift action when she found a child crying, separated from his family. She quickly consoled him while she called security to come and help locate his parents, and explained to the boy what was happening all along so he wasn't as scared. As a parent, this is exactly what you would hope for if your kid encountered this situation. Kudos, Great Wolf Lodge!
Best Deal
Preston Mack. Great Wolf Lodge
Rooms start at as little as $99. The best bet for parents with busy kids is the to grab either a Pup Pass, a Paw Pass or an Adventure Park Pass. The most popular is the Paw Pass, which includes a MagiQuest wand, topper and game; one game (for one) at Ten Paw Alley, a pass on the ropes course, and two climbs on the climbing wall. Kids also get a cup of bulk candy and a scoop of Ben & Jerry's, too, along with 20 credits at the Arcade.
All guests receive a wristband. Grown-up wristbands also act as a room key, a "wallet" so that you can charge directly to your room and allows access to the waterpark. Kids wristbands do not open rooms nor make charges but they can help reunite lost kiddos and parents. If a kiddo finds themselves alone, any Great Wolf Lodge employee can scan the band and help locate the parents or alert security to take them to the front desk where the parents are quickly located.
Daily shuttles between the property and both MSP and the Mall of America occur every 30 minutes.
