Netflix’s New Year’s Eve Kid Countdowns Are Back (Hello, Early Bedtime)

by Shahrzad WarkentinDecember 5, 2023

Party like it’s midnight—even when it’s really only 8 p.m

Those excited faces as your kids shout “Five! Four! Three! Two! One!” as the midnight ball drop are adorable—but there’s nothing cute about the next day when they’re exhausted. Thankfully Netflix’s New Year’s countdowns for kids are back and better than ever to help you welcome 2024 without sacrificing bedtime. For even more fun, check out our favorite ideas for celebrating New Year’s Eve at home.

The Netflix New Year’s countdown offerings include a whopping 13 different countdowns featuring some of Netflix’s most popular shows, like Skylanders Academy, Super Monsters, and Boss Baby. The new countdowns also include several tailored for tweens.

To check out what Netflix’s New Year’s countdown might look like, check out the promo for 2019.

Each of the on-demand countdowns will be available to stream starting soon, so you can even pre-screen them to decide which one will make for the best New Year’s Eve bash. All you have to do is search “countdowns.” Easy peezy!

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2023 Poll Shows Tooth Fairy Is Dishing Out More Cash Than Ever

by Gabby CullenFebruary 23, 2023

The going rate for the Tooth Fairy might surprise you

How much should a kid get when they lose a tooth? If you’re unsure what the going rate is for the tooth fairy, Delta Dental Plans Association’s Original Tooth Fairy Poll has an answer. According to the 2023 Original Tooth Fairy Poll®, the average value of a single lost tooth during the past year increased by 16% from $5.36 to $6.23, a record high in the 25-year history of the poll.

poll that shows the going rate for the tooth fairy — Delta Dental

Even though the average under-the-pillow cash gift was over $6, the magic number did vary depending on the geographic area. This year, kids living in the South saw the highest returns, with an average of $6.59 per tooth, an increase of 14% from last year’s findings. Kids in the West saw a huge increase (53%!) with the per-tooth average coming in at $6.25. In the Northeast, the average dropped to $6.14, down from $7.36 in 2022. The Midwest is still trailing the national average at $5.36, but there was still a 32% increase over last year’s rates.

Of the poll, Gabriella Ferroni, Senior Director, Strategic Communications, says, “Delta Dental has been analyzing the Tooth Fairy’s U.S. annual giving trends for a quarter century, highlighting the role of good oral health care habits for children “We know this time-honored tradition will continue to bring great joy to homes across the country, and we look forward to seeing how the Tooth Fairy’s giving changes over the next 25 years. Given the projection, it would be in the Tooth Fairy’s best interest to invest in a larger purse.”

Historically, the Original Tooth Fairy Poll® mirrors the U.S. economy, tracking with the trends Standard & Poor’s 500 Index (S&P 500), but this year, the average price for a tooth increased 16% while the S&P 500 experienced an 11% decline.

—with additional reporting by Erica Loop

A SAHM’s Salary Would Be Over $184K (If She Actually Got Paid)

by Shahrzad WarkentinMarch 8, 2022

We all know that the “job” of a stay-at-home parent is really like a million jobs rolled into one—but how much would a stay-at-home parent make if they were paid? A new study puts quite the price tag on parenthood.

Using data on a selection of jobs that equate with all of the daily tasks that come with being a stay-at-home parent, Salary.com came up with a median annual income for 2021. And, drumroll please… stay-at-home parents should be making a whopping $184,820 a year. This amount was up over $6,000 from the pre-pandemic medium.

Photo: Matthew Henry via Burst

So what’s the job description of a stay-at-home parent? Salary.com pulled information on several different positions including accountant, CEO, coach, dietician, event planner, janitor, plumber, psychologist, teacher—and many more to come up with the salary fitting for the demanding role.

Of course, ask any stay-at-home parent and they’ll tell you that you can’t put a price on being able to stay home with the kids.

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We Are Totally Succas for These Plush Succulent Pillows

by Jennifer SwartvagherJanuary 25, 2022

What’s better than one plant pillow? Multiple plant pillows! Green Philosophy Co. has a new batch to liven up your home sans green thumb.

Snag a beautiful blush peach Big Pop pillow for $69 and enjoy the soft, microplush material. The new pillow is also available in sage green, plus smaller versions as well.

Want to cozy up with a blanket, too? The new Sherpa Gloriosum Leaf Throw Blanket ($149) covers you in green glory. The design is inspired by the Philodendron Gloriosum’s leaves, which boast a heart shape and contrasting veins.

Snag a beautiful Alocasia Micholitziana in forest green or obisidian with a pop of white from its eye-catching vein pattern. It’s available now for $49.

You may be familiar Green Philosophy Co. realistic succulent trio that comes in sage green, olive green and peach. The pillows measure 15 inches wide and 8 inches tall. You can buy them individually ($39) or as a bundle ($109).

Another new growth, the Philodendron Gloriosum, is inspired by a lovely heart shaped plant that looks great in any room. You can buy it in Serene Green (pictured) or Moody Green for $39.

Or order a Monstera deliciosa pillows as well! The only bad news: pre-orders aren’t shipping until September. Pull the trigger on one now and you’ll have it just in time for fall!

And before you wonder if these are just novelty pillows, the reviews and our own-plant obsessed editor can attest: these babies are plush, snuggly and high-quality. So far, they’re even toddler-proof.

—Jennifer Swartvagher, Amber Guetebier, Karly Wood and Sarah Shebek

All photos courtesy of Green Philosophy Co.

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Survey Says This Is the Hardest Part of the School Day for Parents

by Sarah ShebekAugust 17, 2021

Alarm clocks are back in style, but getting back to school isn’t always easy. A survey of 2,000 American parents of school-aged kids revealed some common pressure points around new routines. The most stressful part of the day? School day mornings!

More than half of parents (58%) said the morning was the most challenging time and 59% said they struggle to wake up their kids in time for school. A whopping 87% have two or more alarms set to make sure the entire household is up and ready to roll.

Another substantial chunk of respondents (57%) said they’ve been late to work while trying to get their kids out the door. Parents reported that kids frequently forget to brush their teeth (39%), comb their hair (39%) or remember their homework (31%). And 60% of parents said they struggle to balance their kids’ morning routines with their own.

Despite these struggles, 81% of parents surveyed said they’re ready to have kids go back to the classroom. The survey was commissioned by Amazon Devices and conducted by OnePoll. Fortunately if you have an Amazon device with Alexa, you can assign reminders to your family to make getting out the door (slightly) easier!

––Sarah Shebek

Featured image courtesy of Karolina Grabowska, Pexels

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Now Trending: Stitch Fix Releases Report on This Year’s Hottest Back-to-School Styles

by Sarah ShebekJuly 29, 2021

What’s on trend for the upcoming school year? Stitch Fix, the clothing delivery service, studied shopping data for kid clients and came up with a list of the hottest requests for 2021. From tie dye to loungewear, read on for the results!

Matching lounge sets have surged in popularity among the adult crowd and they’re big for kids, too. An overwhelming majority (87%) of kid clients want coordinated outfits, aka head-to-toe matching sets. And they want them to be easy to wear: the keyword “cozy” went up 65% over the last year. Stitch Fix is calling this combination “chillwear” and adding a new shopping category as a result.

Tie dye isn’t a passing trend for the kid crowd. Requests for the popping pattern at Stitch Fix were up 192% in the last year! In the world of graphic tees, messages around positivity and kindness or outdoor themes are the most popular.

Finally, sporty clothes are here to stay. Stitch Fix’s top 10 most-loved kid styles are all active brands, including Under Armour, Nike and Adidas. Activewear requests have gone up 68% from last year and requests for joggers are up a whopping 138%.

So when you’re making your back-to-school shopping list, don’t be surprised if you hear requests for sporty sets or tie dye. They’re on trend, but better yet, they’re comfortable for both study and play! And if you really don’t want to brave the crowds, you can use Kids Fix for affordable, styled clothes sent straight to your home.

—Sarah Shebek

Featured image courtesy of Stitch Fix

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Oh Baby! Ashley Graham & Justin Ervin Are Expecting Twins

by Sarah ShebekJuly 15, 2021

Party of five! Model mom Ashley Graham announced in July that she was pregnant but the news just got a little bigger. She released a video today from an ultrasound that revealed she’s expecting twin boys!

In the video, Graham asks “is that twins?” before sitting straight up when she finds out they’re both boys. They’ll join son Isaac, who was born at the start of 2020 and her husband, Justin Ervin. Looks like the boys will have the upper hand in the family household!

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by A S H L E Y G R A H A M (@ashleygraham)

After breaking out as the first plus-sized supermodel to grace the covers of the Sports Illustrated swimsuit edition and Vogue, plus a judging stint on America’s Next Top Model, Graham is a super-popular champion of body positivity. She runs a YouTube channel with 22 million views, which includes a sweet video chronicling her son Isaac’s first year. She’s also given a TED Talk advocating self-acceptance and her Instagram account has a whopping 13 million followers.

In 2009, she met her husband, a videographer, with marriage the following year. Graham praised him in a separate Instagram post, “Getting to witness you be a father is the greatest gift.” We’re excited to watch their family grow by two!

—Sarah Shebek

Featured image courtesy of lev radin / Shutterstock.com

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New LEGO Massive Spiderman Set Has 3,722 Pieces for Your Building Enjoyment

by Sarah ShebekMay 18, 2021

If you’re a fan of Spiderman, LEGO, or a challenge in general, you’ll love the newest set from the beloved brick company! The LEGO Daily Bugle set just launched and it’s a complex construction of the classic comic’s newspaper building. It’s also the tallest LEGO Marvel set yet, with over two and a half feet tall, with a whopping 3,772 pieces.

LEGO spared no detail with the newest building, featuring three floors, the front street and back alley. You’ll find J. Jonah Jameson and Peter Parker’s offices, the newsroom with donuts and 25 minifigures. Look for Spiderman, the Green Goblin, Gwen Stacy, Venom, Mysterio and many more.

Mark John Stafford, the LEGO set designer, said “One of my favorite elements is the Green Goblin flying inside the building through the window. Being able to design a moment of frozen action like this in a LEGO set has always been a dream and I finally got to make it happen!”

Round up your partner or some adult friends to take on building this massive set. It’s available to LEGO VIP members online and in stores starting May 26 and to the general public on Jun 1 for $299.99.

—Sarah Shebek

Images courtesy of LEGO

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Yes, Pets Definitely Make Life Better, According to New Study

by Sarah ShebekMay 12, 2021

Parenting a pet is a lot of work, but new data shows that furry friends make life better. A survey of over 2,000 U.S. pet parents revealed that four-legged companions are calming, improve moods and “nourish the soul.”

A study conducted by OnePoll in conjunction with Fuzzy—The Pet Parent Company, found that pets are significantly improving their parents’ lives. Seventy-nine percent of pet owners said they wouldn’t be as happy as they are now without their pet, 76 percent said that having a pet nourishes their soul and a whopping 82 percent said having a pet in the house provides a sense of calmness throughout the home.

Just like parents of human children, pet moms and dads have their fair share of concerns. Almost half (44 percent) worried about becoming parents for the first time and over half (54 percent) didn’t expect to spend so much money on their canine or feline companion.

“Pet parents are often surprised by the unexpected costs and time required to be a good pet parent. From medical bills to toys for playtime it’s a full-time responsibility. Having a pet by your side, however, is worth the cost” says Dr. Cherice Roth, Chief Veterinary Officer for Fuzzy.

Survey respondents certainly seem to agree that it’s worth the cost. And even as the pandemic brought many unwelcome changes to the world, 69 percent said they used the time to bond with their pet more than ever before. Turns out your fur baby might be even more essential than you think!

—Sarah Shebek

Video courtesy of Fuzzy and OnePoll/Feature photo: Annenberg PetSpace

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Mother’s Day Flowers? These Are the Most Popular Picks

by Erica LoopApril 30, 2021

What do moms really want for Mother’s Day? Breck’s recently tried to answer this question with a two-part study that included an analysis of Google Trends search volumes and a survey of 700 mamas across the country.

The first part of the study looked specifically at the types of flowers googled in the week leading up to Mother’s Day in each state over the past five years. It’s no surprise that the iconic rose scored the top spot—with more searches than other flowers in a whopping 18 states.

photo: RF Studios via Pexels

Second place went to three different flowers: Gardenias, cyclamen, and poppies. Other highly-searched flowers across the country included crocuses (the most popular in Hawaii and Kansas) and tulips (the winner in Michigan and Indiana).

The 700-mom survey reflected the search trends, with more than 60 percent of mamas saying they would want to get roses for Mother’s Day. Forty-six percent of participants wanted tulips and 40 percent wanted lilies.

Along with flower choices, Breck’s survey also looked at Mother’s Day spending. The average gift for mom tops $67. Fifty-six percent of moms picked gardening wares as a top gift choice, 52 percent would choose food or wine, and 49 percent want clothing, jewelry, or accessories!

—Erica Loop

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Netflix’s New Year’s Eve Kid Countdowns Are Back (Hello, Early Bedtime)

Party like it’s midnight—even when it’s really only 8 p.m

To check out what Netflix’s New Year’s countdown might look like, check out the promo for 2019.

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