You already love Betty White, the sweetest of the ladies on The Golden Girls who left us at the end of last year. Now watch your child fall in love with her too, thanks to this Little Golden Book about her life.!
This kid-friendly biography covers White’s 90-plus years in show business, including her celebrated work as a TV star, comedian and game show competitor. It also shares her lifelong devotion to animals, along with dreams she has made come true in her 99 years.
Need a few more inspiring tales for your kid’s bookshelf? Check out other Little Golden Book biographies on notable folks including George Washington, Martin Luther King Jr., Frida Kahlo, Dolly Parton and more.
Whether you’ve been blasting holiday music since pumpkin spice lattes arrived, or you’re still adjusting to summer being over, we’re going to let you in on a little secret— right now is the PERFECT time to book a local photographer for your holiday card. San Diego has a fabulous selection of snap-happy, professionals ready to capture the perfect annual photograph. Click through the slideshow to check out a selection of photographers ready to help your family say, “cheese!”
Jamie Street has had a camera in her hand since junior high. So it's no surprise her family photography business is a one-woman labor of love that brings her happiness every single day. Jamie likes to make her families feel as comfortable as possible, from helping to choose a location meaningful to them and letting them have fun and interact, so they are comfortable in front of the camera. Jeni told us, "I love capturing timeless and classic portraits of families on film, but some of my favorite photos tend to be from documenting all of the dreamy, intimate moments of connection in between the perfectly posed shot." She shoots all over San Diego and even ventures to Los Angeles and other parts of California if needed. Be sure to book your holiday photos as soon as possible to ensure enough processing time for the film. Families can choose from mini or full sessions.
Jamie Street Photography 619-913-0763 Online: jamiestreet.com
North county photographer, Sarah Tolmay is a master at capturing shots that feel full of life. For holiday shoots, you'll get a 50-minute session and access to an online gallery of 100 high-resolution photos of you and yours. The hardest thing will be choosing which one makes the holiday card! Holiday shoots book quickly so contact Sarah today to hold your spot.
Pro tip: Sarah also offers puppy portraits that will melt your heart.
Get a cutting-edge photo shoot with local photographer Jen from Of Stardust and Earth. Her work is colorful, fun and fashion-inspired. A true portrait photographer at her core, Jen offers families an opportunity to dream up their own editorial. Book early and be guaranteed some candid moments that are anything by cheesy.
As a mom of two herself, Holly loves to shoot families. And shoot families she does! Based in Carlsbad (but available to shoot all over San Diego), Holly helps capture candid family moments and turn them into pieces of cool art with clever composure, lighting, and editing. This photog is great working with families -- especially young kiddos -- making sure they are comfortable in front of the camera. She can even work with your family on what to wear, types of props, and great locations. Her sunset beach shoots for the holiday season fill up quickly, so make sure to book early if that's the look you want.
Tiffany's goal during your photography session is to capture you (and your crew) in a way that is both authentic and candid. The hope is to forever preserve those special moments with your family. Her photos are stunning and pure and will make you smile for years to come. Capturing a family's true essence in all its glorious mayhem is a gift and the perfect way to celebrate the season.
Hillary -- the "Hill" behind Stills by Hill -- is an expert at taking portraits. She started photographing kids when her oldest niece was born 17 years ago and has since found her niche in shooting newborns, kiddos, and family portraits. If you'd like unlimited time, a location of your choice, and custom art, a regular portrait session is available. Limited edition holiday sessions are on-location, up to five subjects, and are 20 minutes long. Special note: pricing goes up as it gets closer to December so book early to save money!
Hedwig serves as the centerpiece, clutching Harry’s Hogwarts letter. Also included in the set is Harry’s wand and glasses, customizable school scarf, chocolate frog, Tom Riddle’s diary, Albus Dumbledore, Minerva McGonagall and Rubeus Hagrid minifigures, the Golden Snitch and a potions tray with five potion bottles and ingredients.
With 3,010 pieces, this set is geared towards mature builders and is meant for display. Orders open on Sept. 2 at LEGO stores and LEGO.com and retails for $250.
What happens when the mavens of a super successful pool float company and an ice cream business come together? The world’s sweetest collab!
Minnidip and Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams have paired up to create the perfect duo to finish out the summer in epic summer style. The Minnidip x Jeni’s line is crafted around a custom, hand-drawn swirl pattern that will have you dreaming of creamy ice cream all day long.
Emily Vaca of Minnidip worked with Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams on the ice cream-inspired design that brings the textures and color of some of the most popular flavors to life. Not only does the collection boast plenty of fun floats, but it also includes a backyard Ice Cream Pint Toss game and a miniature inflatable ice cream truck pint float.
You can shop products that include the Minnidip x Jeni’s Pool Party in a Box (with options for those both with and without a pool) for $99 and includes a Luxe Inflatable Pool, Minnidip x Jeni’s Ice Cream Pint Toss Game, Ice Cream Scoop Ball and a Minnidip x Jeni’s Ice Cream Truck Cooler. If you opt for the set for those with a pool, you’ll get the Minnidip x Jeni’s Ice Cream Float in lieu of the inflatable pool.
Don’t need them all? You can order each product ala carte too! Prices range from $18 to $45 and will only be around for the summer.
It’s hard to keep up with all of LEGO’s cool new releases, but this one is definitely a showstopper. The group just released a vintage typewriter that’s sure to be a conversation piece in your home. It was designed by a LEGO fan and it’s a fantastic gift for the expert builder or wordsmith in your life.
The typewriter has all the functionality you’d expect, with a center typebar that rises each time a letter key is pressed, a carriage that moves as you type and a roller to feed in real paper. It also comes with a letter signed by Thomas Kirk Kristiansen, the chairman of the LEGO Group and fourth-generation member of the family privately owning the business.
The fan who pitched the idea, Steve Guinness, said “I wanted to create something totally different from anything that LEGO has ever done before and showcase that you really can make anything out of LEGO. I bought a vintage typewriter for my research and then played around with bricks and the mechanism until I was happy with the design. I hope it will bring nostalgia to adult fans like me, and wonder and curiosity to younger fans who might not have ever seen a real typewriter!”
You’ll be able to snag this set starting June 16 if you have LEGO VIP Early Access for $199, or July 1 as a member of the general public. It clocks in at 2,079 pieces for adult builders to construct. Write on!
If you’ve ever visited a store with your little ones in tow, it quickly becomes clear that they think money grows on trees. Or rather, it flows from that magical drive-thru cash dispenser at the bank. It can be a tricky subject to tackle with kids, but those trips to the toy aisle become a bit more meaningful when you try a hands-on approach to teaching finances—even at a young age. From starting a DIY business to chore charts, here are a few ways to master the money game with your kids.
Start teaching your child positive saving habits today with anOnPoint Savers Account from OnPoint Community Credit Union. When you open an account and deposit a minimum of $25, OnPoint will deposit an additional $55!*
1. Play cashier. Use “money” to play cashier with your kids at home. Play money you’ve bought or created works well for this activity! Next, set prices for items around the house—food, clothing, you name it—and allow them to pay with the pretend money, showing them how much they need and how much change they should receive after paying. Pretend transactions at home will help build the foundation for spending money in the real world.
2. Set an achievable goal. First, choose an item with your kids that they’d like to purchase with their own money—something they could reasonably achieve within one to three months. Then, remind them to save up every time they receive money via allowance or gifts. Once your little ones have saved enough money toward their goal, take them to the store to make the purchase with their savings, or possibly continue saving and setting a new bigger goal.
3. Explain how banking works and open a savings account.Your kids may think the bank, credit union or ATM is a place you visit when you need more money or that your debit card just has money. Take them with you to your local branch, and explain that it is a place that keeps your money safe after you’ve earned it, not somewhere that gives it away. Depending on how old they are, this could be as simple as teaching them about money in and money out, or as complicated as explaining compound interest, and the basics of income and budgeting.
4. Grow savings. Show them how to keep track of the money they save by writing deposits and withdrawals in a register or at the top of a piece of paper. Then explain how they can earn more money from their savings by keeping their money in their account. For example, in addition to receiving $55 when opening an OnPoint Savers Account, the account balance will earn 5.00% APY up to $500—a higher interest rate than a traditional savings account! Along with the OnPoint Savers Account, the credit union also provides tips and tools to help savers of all ages learn positive money habits.
5. Help them start a shop. What better way to teach your kids about money than by running their own “business?” Work with your child to determine what they’ll create, where they’ll sell, what their costs will be and how much they’ll charge. Selling homemade dog biscuits near a local dog park or having a DIY plant business is an excellent opportunity for kids to have fun and learn the value of money!
—Kaitlyn Kirby
*OnPoint Savers Account rate of 5.00% APY is accurate as of December 1, 2020 and subject to change. Stated APY is for balances up to $500; balances of $500.01 and higher earn posted Regular Savings Account rate. Account must be established for members age 17 or younger by parent or guardian with a minimum $25 deposit. Parent or legal guardian must be on the membership and present to open the OnPoint Savers Account. When primary member attains the age of 18, accounts will be converted to Regular Savings Account, earning that account’s published rate at that time. Fiduciary memberships, including UTTMA and Minor Settlement Accounts are not eligible for OnPoint Savers. One OnPoint Savers Account per member/TIN. One $55 bonus per tax ID for new members only. Bonus will be included on a 1099-INT for tax purposes. Cannot be combined with other offers for opening a new membership, such as new branch promotions or Refer a Friend.
The full account balance APY is calculated by combining the 5.00% APY earnings on the first $500 with the standard APY on the remaining balance above $500.
A new study has ranked the countries with the best maternity leave and spoiler––the U.S. is not at the top.
Business.org has analyzed data from the OECD Family Database, which includes 37 countries worldwide, to figure out where to get the best perks for maternity leave. The site ranked the highest countries as those having the most number of equivalent weeks of full pay.
photo: Business.org
The top countries were Bulgaria, Greece, Poland, Hungary and Italy which all offered more than 17 weeks of paid maternity leave. Who ranked dead last? If you guessed the United States, you’d be right.
Since the U.S. doesn’t require employers to provide paid maternity leave, the majority do not. Women must either have the luck to find a job that offers it as benefit, or take personal leave hours. Sure, the FMLA act does provide for 12 weeks of unpaid leave, which protects a women’s job, but it does not come with any compensation.
Here’s to hoping that the future looks a whole lot brighter for family leave in America.
It’s easier than ever to support Asian-owned businesses online, thanks to a new initiative from Target. The retailer just announced a badge that identifies Asian-owned brands and they’re spotlighting these products online as Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month continues.
Whether you’re looking for coconut chips or a new children’s book, you can find the badge in the “At A Glance” section of the product description. It accompanies two other badges that Target has released in the past year: a Black-owned business badge and a women-owned business badge. And it’s in line with the company’s mission to leverage change and shift power to communities, as noted in March on the Target Foundation page.
“We stand firmly against racism, racialized misogyny, and xenophobia in all forms. Through our existing approach in driving systems-level change, we are committed to centering equity and investing in Black, Indigenous, and Person of Color-led (BIPOC) organizations. As part of our commitment to action against hate, we are investing $250,000 in organizations led by Asian Americans, working to empower the Asian American community, addressing gender-based violence and xenophobia, and advancing justice.”
2020 wasn’t exactly jam-packed with goodness. That is, expect for the Strawberry Glaze craze.
Given the popularity of this sweet, spring-time flavor last year, Krispy Kreme made the decision to treat the brand’s fans to another round of limited-time Strawberry Glaze doughnuts. The pink pick is available starting Apr. 26, 2021 at participating Krispy Kreme locations.
photo courtesy of Business Wire
Dave Skena, Krispy Kreme Chief Marketing Officer, said in a press release, “Last year, fans couldn’t get enough of Strawberry Glaze and have been asking for it to come back ever since.” Skena added, “So we’re bringing it back. Hurry in and enjoy!”
The delish doughnut flavor is back in two forms—a Strawberry Glazed Doughnut and a Strawberry Kreme Filled Doughnut. The glazed version is similar to the Original Glazed Doughnut, but with a tangy strawberry taste. If that’s not enough strawberry sweetness for you, the Kreme Filled version is exactly what the name sounds like. This sugary selection is filled with the brand’s beloved Kreme, in a strawberry flavor.
When Colleen Chulis’ daughter asked her if she could make a video imitating the busy mom of three while working at home, she had no idea how spot on the 8-year-old would be.
Adelle Chulis quickly got down to business at the family’s home office, multi-tasking as only a mom can. Between the non-stop typing and the finger snapping, this video hits close to home!
It’s hard to choose which resonates with moms most: the imminent Zoom call, the crazy dog or the constant sitting down and standing up. We’ve all been working at home a little too long!
Chulis shares with Red Tricycle, “I am so happy that this post gave so many people a smile or a chuckle – This last year has been a challenging one in so many ways, but there are silver linings everywhere. Working parents are doing the very best that they can – and our kids are certainly watching, learning and in this case, getting famous from us!”
