Cue the holiday baking. Hershey is sharing the Holiday Sugar Cookie Blossom, to spark festive cookie baking this year. With a sugar cookie base and the Hershey’s Kisses Sugar Cookie candy at the center, these sweets are a colorful addition to holiday traditions.
The inspiration for the new Blossoms recipe comes from Hershey’s home state, Pennsylvania. The sugar cookie is a holiday favorite that was introduced to the world by Dutch settlers in Pennsylvania in the 1700s, and now serves as the base for the new Holiday Sugar Cookie Blossoms, featuring Hershey’s Kisses Sugar Cookie candy. This is one of over 25 Hershey Blossoms variations to add some flare to holiday baking this season.
“The Hershey Kitchen elves have been hard at work this year creating festive ways to brighten the holiday season,” said Erin Crawford, brand manager, Hershey holiday team. “We know that Blossoms are a holiday cookie staple. This year we wanted to introduce something new and festive showcasing our newest holiday Kisses – Hershey’s Kisses Sugar Cookie candy. The Holiday Sugar Cookie Blossoms are colorful, super easy cookies to make; bound to make sweet and special memories in the kitchen this holiday season.”
Heat oven to 375° F. Remove wrappers from candies; set aside.
Mix cookie dough following package directions for cutout cookies. Divide dough into 36 equal (about 1-1/4 inch) balls; roll in green or red sugar. Place balls about 2 inches apart on ungreased cookie sheets.
Bake 8 to 10 minutes or until cookie edges are set. Cool 2 minutes; press candy piece into center of each cookie. Remove cookies from cookie sheet to wire rack. Cool completely.
The classic Peanut Butter Blossoms recipe, which consists of a peanut butter dough rolled in sugar and topped with a Hershey’s Kisses Milk Chocolate candy, has been around for 63 years and is one of America’s favorite holiday cookies. With holiday baking more popular than ever this year, head over to HersheyHappiness.com to get over 25 additional Blossoms recipes to keep baking this entire holiday season.
For those families who can’t wait to return to the tradition of attending Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker, the 2021 season in the greater Washington metropolitan area has many options. From traditional ballet to circus-style performances, from hip-hop reimagining to a puppet show, there are so many exciting Nutcracker performances to choose from, you won’t want to pick just one!
The Washington Ballet’s American Revolution-themed Nutcracker featured historical figures like George Washington and King George III. Note, the performers dance to a recording of The Nutcracker, not a live orchestra, but the kids won't notice.
Insider Tip: Attend on Family Day, Dec. 12 at 1 p.m. and enjoy craft stations for coloring and ornament making, photo ops with dancers, and watch rehearsal to learn how dancers prepare for performance.
When: Nov. 27-Dec. 26 Where: Washington Ballet-Warner Theatre, 513 13th St. NW COVID Policy: Proof of vaccination or a negative Covid-19 test result within 72 hours is required to attend. Online:tinybeans.com
The Puppet Company
The Puppet Company
For the youngest of the bunch, or families interested in a “My First Nutcracker” experience, The Puppet Company offers Tchaikovsky's familiar story of Clara and her prince with nursery rhyme spin. The Puppet Company is especially sensitive to the needs of children in theater, with gently dimmed lights and family-friendly seating.
Insider Tip: The Irish Inn at Glen Echo is walking-distance from the park and a great spot for a hearty pre- or post-performance meal. The Fish and Chips are delicious!
When: Nov. 26-Jan. 2 Where: Glen Echo Park, 7300 MacArthur Blvd., Glen Echo, MD COVID Policy:Performances are capped at fifty percent capacity and masking is required. Online: tinybeans.com
Cirque Nutcracker
Troupe Vertigo
Troupe Vertigo’s acrobats, jugglers and high-flying aerialists join the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra for a truly unique Nutcracker experience! Fusing together elements of cirque acrobatics, classical dance and contemporary theater, this promises to be a spectacular addition to holiday performances.
When: Dec. 11 & 12 Where: Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall, 1201 Cathedral St., Baltimore, MD COVID Policy:Proof of vaccination or a negative Covid-19 test result within 72 hours is required to attend. Online:tinybeans.com
The Hip Hop Nutcracker
The Hip Hop Nutcracker
A remixed and reimagined version of the classic, The Hip Hop Nutcracker returns to Strathmore as a holiday spectacle for the whole family. Enjoy a dozen all-star dancers, a DJ, a violinist, and MC Kurtis Blow, one of hip hop’s founding fathers, who opens the show with a short set.
When: Dec. 20–22 Where: Strathmore, 5301 Tuckerman Ln., North Bethesda, MD COVID Policy:Proof of vaccination or a negative Covid-19 test result within 72 hours is required to attend. Online:tinybeans.com
Loudoun School of Ballet If you are longing for a Nutcracker-themed tea, head to Purcellville to see excerpts from the Loudoun School of Ballet’s upcoming full-length Nutcracker. Enjoy delicious food and a host of photo opportunities as well. Loudoun School of Ballet will also perform a full-length Nutcracker on Dec. 4-6.
When: Nov. 21 (tea); Dec. 4-6 (stage performance) Where: 200 E Willie Palmer Way, Purcellville, VA (tea); 340 N Maple Ave., Purcellville, VA (stage performance) Online:lbpac.org
Metropolitan Ballet Theatre Metropolitan Ballet Theatre offers a full-length Nutcracker as well as a shorter performance. Their Nutcracker Suite is a wonderful option for younger audiences who want to experience the ballet in under one hour. Audience size will be limited due to safety protocol for Covid-19, so get your tickets today and be a part of this seasonal ballet tradition!
Frederick School of Ballet A Frederick holiday tradition, this full-length ballet features artists from the New York City Ballet and students from the Frederick School of Classical Ballet. Children under 2 are exempt and for children ages 2 to 12, the only requirement is to wear a mask.
When: Dec. 10-12 Where: 20 West Patrick St., Frederick, MD COVID Policy:Proof of vaccination or a negative Covid-19 test result within 72 hours required. Online: weinbergcenter.org
The Maryland Theater The Nutcracker features Washington Ballet artists Nicole Graniero and Oscar Sanchez as The Sugar Plum Fairy and her Cavalier. A full cast of over 100 dancers, brilliant costume and prop design, and a good dose of theatrical magic bring this family Christmas tradition to life!
Editor's Note: The Maryland Theater does not require proof of vaccination or a negative COVID test. When: December 11 & 12, 2021 Where: The Maryland Theater, 21 S Potomac St., Hagerstown, MD Online:mdtheatre.org
Are your kiddos major fans of Blippi? Well it’s time for the YouTube sensation to get out from behind the screen and entertain the family live, in round two of his super popular tour!
Moonbug Entertainment and Round Room Live have just announced that Blippi The Musical will resume touring North America in February 2022. Blippi will be bringing his educational and energetic content to to cities all across the U.S., with tickets already going on sale.
photo: Courtesy of Shore Fire Media
“After multiple sold out shows in over 65 markets this past summer, we’re excited for even more audiences to experience Blippi The Musical in 2022,” says Stephen Shaw (the tour’s producer and co-president of Round Room Live). “We’re thrilled to continue to provide exciting and lasting memories for the whole family while prioritizing safety with venue and health officials in every city.”
While the entire list of cities have not been released yet, so far Blippi will appear in the following locales:
Friday, Feb. 4 – Merrill Auditorium – Portland, ME
Saturday, Feb. 5 – Emerson Colonial Theatre – Boston, MA
Sunday, Feb. 6 – Cross Insurance Center – Bangor, ME
Tuesday, Feb. 8 – New Jersey Performing Arts Center – Newark, NJ
Wednesday, Feb. 9 – Bushnell Performing Arts Center – Hartford, CT
Thursday, Feb. 10 – Proctors Theater – Schenectady, NY
Friday, Feb. 11 – Shea’s Performing Arts Center – Buffalo, NY
Saturday, Feb. 12 – Lyric Theatre – Baltimore, MD
Tuesday, Feb. 15 – Benedum Center – Pittsburgh, PA
Wednesday, Feb. 16 – 1st Summit Arena – Johnstown, PA
Thursday, Feb. 17 – Berglund Performing Arts Theatre – Roanoke, VA
Friday, Feb. 18 – John Paul Jones Arena – Charlottesville, VA
Sunday, Feb. 20 – Macon City Auditorium – Macon, GA
Tuesday, Feb. 22 – SKyPAC – Bowling Green, KY
Wednesday, Feb. 23 – Old National Center Events Plaza – Theater – Evansville, IN
Thursday, Feb. 24 – Rupp Arena – Lexington, KY
Friday, Feb. 25 – Rialto Square Theatre – Joliet, IL
Saturday, Feb. 26 – Fisher Theatre – Detroit, MI
Sunday, Feb. 27 – Carson Center – Paducah, KY
Tuesday, Mar. 1 – Landmark Theater – Syracuse, NY
Thursday, Mar. 3 – Hershey Theatre – Hershey, PA
Friday, Mar. 4 – The Palace Theatre – Stamford, CT
Saturday, Mar. 5 – Kings Theatre – Brooklyn, NY
Sunday, Mar. 6 – Flynn Center for the Performing Arts – Burlington, VT
Tuesday, Mar. 8 – Mohegan Sun Arena – Wilkes-Barre, PA
Wednesday, Mar. 9 – Forum Theatre – Binghamton, NY
Thursday, Mar. 10 – Kodak Center – Rochester, NY
Friday, Mar. 11 – Embassy Theatre – Fort Wayne, IN
Saturday, Mar. 12 – Miller High Life Theatre – Milwaukee, WI
Tuesday, Mar. 15 – Duluth Symphony Hall – Duluth, MN
Wednesday, Mar. 16 – State Theatre – Minneapolis, MN
Thursday, Mar. 17 – Chester Fritz Auditorium – Grand Forks, ND
Friday, Mar. 18 – Washington Pavilion – Sioux Falls, SD
Saturday, Mar. 19 – Five Flags Event Center – Dubuque, IA
Tuesday, Mar. 22 – Hartman Arena – Wichita, KS
Wednesday, Mar. 23 – Pikes Peak Center for the Performing Arts – Colorado Springs, CO
Thursday, Mar. 24 – Fine Arts Theatre – Rapid City, SD
Sunday, Mar. 27 – Theater at the Brick – Bozeman, MT
Wednesday, Mar. 30 – Ford Wyoming Center – Casper, WY
Thursday, Mar. 31 – Eccles Theatre – Salt Lake City, UT
Parents can head to BlippiTheMusical.com for tour dates and tickets. If your littles absolutely can’t wait to catch Blippi on stage, you can stream the North American Tour Cast Recording of his show, which features 13 songs, by heading to moonbug.lnk.to/BLive.
School is officially back in session, whatever it may look like. Whether you’re still doing virtual learning or your children are attending child care or classes in-person, routines have been dramatically altered to accommodate life in an ongoing pandemic. And these routines may already be exhausting you and your family.
One effective way to deal with the stress of “normal” life in a not-so-normal time is to make space each day to practice mindfulness. It’s a lot easier said than done, especially when you look at your to-do list filled with professional and personal tasks. However, when you practice mindfulness, you’re practicing the art of creating space for yourself—space to think, breathe, slow down, connect and be fully present.
“Mindfulness is to pay attention on purpose, in the present moment, to just slow down and notice all the beautiful things around you,” said Sandra Graham, Kiddie Academy’s director of training. “It can help children focus, manage stress, self-regulate emotions and develop a positive outlook. Particularly right now, it can offer them relief from the stress and difficulties that may be occurring in their lives and help build resiliency.”
Practicing Mindfulness Each Day
We’ve developed a few activities for “Mindful Minutes,” suggestions of things you can do with your child to achieve mindfulness each day. These Mindful Minutes reflect the Kiddie Academy Life Essentials philosophy and help children concentrate on the positives around them, developing a sense of appreciation, gratitude and contentment.
In a playful way, use these activities and games to introduce your child to breathing practices and other techniques to develop focus and sensory awareness, while reducing stress and regulating emotions.
Take your children for a walk outside. Invite your little ones to listen to how the leaves blow in the wind. Direct their attention to the warm sun as it bathes their faces. Listen to birds in the distance as they chirp. Focusing on the surroundings helps your children connect to their environment. It brings their attention to the here and now.
Encourage your little one to think from head to toe about how they’re feeling. This can be a good way to start the day or just something to do when you think your children need to center themselves.
Find a relaxing place, or a “happy” place. Sit comfortably in a quiet place that’s free from too many distractions and set a timer for one minute. Breathe deeply in and out, slowly. Let your mind and body rest and relax from any pressures.
The busyness and hurry of life shows no signs of slowing down, but that doesn’t mean you can’t take time when you and your child need it. So, remember to take a minute (or more!) each day with your kid(s) to practice mindfulness and center yourself in the present moment. You may come out with a sense of gratitude or energy for the days ahead of you.
Joy has over 20 years of experience in early childhood education. As Vice President of Education at Kiddie Academy Educational Child Care, she oversees all things curriculum, assessment, training and more. Joy earned a B.S. in Education from Salisbury University.
You asked and Hershey’s answered: Vampire Kisses are back! The red, strawberry-flavored creme center and bat-wrapped treat makes this this must-have candy for Halloween.
Vampire Hershey’s Kisses are made with milk chocolate and are joined by other spooky sweets. You’ll be able to grab Reese’s Franken-Cups, KIT KAT Witch’s Brew and Hershey’s Cookies ‘N’ Crème Fangs.
But back to the Vampire Kisses: they’ll be available for a limited time in a 9 oz. bag at retailers nationwide for about $3.59.
Who do you think gets to spend more time outside? Free-range chickens, prisoners or kids?
The answer is free range chickens get to spend the most time outside, followed by prisoners who are mandated to have 2 hours a day of outdoor time. The sad truth is that most kids these days get less than 1 hour outside and the side effects are pretty scary- including ADHD, social anxiety, depression and even suicide in today’s youth, according to Gever Tulley the founder of the Brightworks School and Tinkering School. Not to mention that the lack of outdoor time for kids leads to a substantial decrease in confidence, creativity, problem solving skills, independence and grit- all skills needed to succeed as adults.
So why is it so important to get kids outside?
Nature is both calming + stimulating at the same time:
Many of us experience and recognize the calming effects of nature. Biologist, Edward Olson may have explained it best in his biophilia theory— that humans are innately drawn to connect and commune with nature. Just being in a natural environment makes us feel centered, at ease and at home. Studies also show that being in nature, or even viewing nature scenes, can reduce negative emotions like anger and fear while increasing positive feelings.
Natural environments not only soothe and center, they stimulate. Outdoor classrooms present learners with captivating sights, smells and textures, stimulating all of the senses. Sensory engagement could not be more critical to early learning—the more kids engage their senses, the more they increase their capacity to take in and turn new information into knowledge.
In an outdoor classroom, the scene is ever changing. Nature’s play objects vary in shape, size and texture, offering endless possibilities for play and learning. It seems impossible to build a playground more engaging or to stock an indoor classroom with such a rich set of learning tools.
In response to this stimulating environment, children’s play in nature is inherently more imaginative, self-directed, and free. Children make messes, experiment and investigate readily, and, in turn, develop essential learning skills. Dr. Kenneth Ginsberg of the AAP (American Academy of Pediatrics) eloquently described this:
“Nature places virtually no bounds on the imagination and engages all of the senses. For all children, this setting allows for the full blossoming of creativity, curiosity, and the associated developmental advances.”- Dr. Kenneth Ginsberg
But even with all of this scientific data at our fingertips, many parents (including myself at one time) are apprehensive to simply “let their kids outside to play.” Our society seems perpetually more worried, more fearful and kids seem to be more overprotected than ever.
So what can we do to prevent “nature deficit” in our kids and to help them succeed?
We need to bring back PLAY, in all seasons.
I recently became a leader within Tinkergarten, an organization that offers outdoor play-based learning classes to local kids (all year round) and have learned that there is no bad weather- only bad clothing.
Tinkergarten’s mission is to bring back something that seems to be lost on this new generation — something that was a most influential part of our own childhoods — free time to tinker outdoors. Kids learn leadership, problem solving, persistence, and more through well-designed, guided play. At Tinkergarten, we think independent exploration, risk taking, getting dirty, and making messes help kids achieve far greater things than drills at the local tutoring center.
The idea that outdoor play (no matter how basic the play) is incredibly important and powerful, is a mindshift that has helped me to become a better mom and a better person. So when my 2 year old daughter is wound up, instead of turning on her favorite TV show, I get her dressed and we go outside. Even if I’m exhausted and need to set up a chair while she plays by herself, I know that she is gaining so much by simply being outside and allowed to explore and tinker. And heck, I’m even happier too!
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I’m a beauty hunter, a dreamer, a learner and a doer. I'm also a mama to 2 wild ones (Lily Love + Bear). As a self proclaimed forest fairy + forest school founder, I believe in nature and magic and know that growth happens when you step outside of your comfort zone.
Feel like you see LEGO everywhere you turn these days? NYC is deep into the summer of LEGO, thanks to a new LEGO store in Rockefeller Center, a fresh LEGOLand Discovery Center in New Jersey at American Dream and the opening of the long-awaited LEGOLAND Resort in Goshen, New York. That’s a lotta LEGO! Get the scoop on the new spots below, as well as the best places to buy LEGO in NYC, from official stores to shops around town.
LEGOLAND New York Resort
LEGOLAND New York
At long last, LEGOLAND New York is open! The Hudson Valley park is located in Goshen, New York, less than a two-hour drive from NYC.
At 150 acres, LEGOLAND New York is the brand's largest park, featuring seven LEGO-themed lands to explore. Attractions include theme park rides for little and bigger kids, the chance to create with Master builders and attend ninja training camp, tinker in the robotic LEGO center, and visit Miniland, a massive LEGOscape featuring the landmarks of 10 cities nationwide. At Disney they trade pins, here it's minifigures—bring some along, or buy them at the park!
You can go for the day ($69.99/kids; $79.99/adults) or rest your head at the on-site LEGOLAND Hotel for the ultimate brick vacation. You'll find LEGO-themed suites with a separate room for the kids here (pirate, kingdom, Ninjago, LEGO Friends, etc.), nightly entertainment for children, interactive LEGO features, a pool and more. Beginning August 6, two-day hotel packages with park entrance are available with rates starting at $98/person.
LEGOLAND New York 1 LEGOLAND Blvd. Goshen, NY 845-410-0290 Online: legoland.com
New LEGO Store Fifth Avenue, Rockefeller Center
Photo by Cindy Ord/Getty Images
As if the previous Rockefeller Center LEGO store wasn't impressive enough, the brickmaker has upped the game—and relocated nearby—with its new flagship store, now the biggest LEGO store in the country. Two years in the making, the totally reimagined store is packed with more opportunities to play with bricks, participate in brick-inspired activities and personalize your experience. Personalize a Minifigure, look for hidden treasures in the enormous Tree of Discovery, hop in the LEGO yellow cab, visit the classic Pick & Build wall, order up a LEGO mosaic of your face ($129) and more! Plus: huge LEGO builds of the Statue of Liberty and other NYC landmarks; superheroes like Spider-man, Captain American and Thor, and Ghostbuster faves the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man and Slimer! And of course, tons and tons of LEGO sets for all ages, from Duplo to Harry Potter and Star Wars to collector sets!
For an extra special visit, head to The Brick Lab, an interactive, 20-minute experience in which walls, floors, and ceilings come to life with animated content, lighting, sound, and music. The Brick Lab is for children aged 5+ and tickets cost $15.00 (for one child and an accompanying adult). Book in advance here.
LEGO store Fifth Avenue 636 Fifth Ave. Rockefeller Center 212-245-3248 Online: lego.com
June brought the debut of a new LEGOLAND Discovery Center at the American Dream Mall in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (And along with it, SEA LIFE New Jersey, an aquarium experience with an underwater ocean tunnel and more than 3,000 sea creatures from sharks, to seahorses to stingrays. Combo tickets are available, with the option to return another day for either attraction.)
Designed for kids ages three to 10, LEGOLAND in New Jersey is home to more than a dozen brick-themed attractions and activities including a 4D cinema, play zones, an interactive ride dubbed the "Imagination Express", a Miniland spotlighting New Jersey and NYC landmarks made up of 1.5 million LEGOs, LEGO Ninjago soft play, DUPLO for younger kids and build workshops. To see a map of LEGOLAND, click here.
Reminder: American Dream could keep your clan busy for days, thanks to the Nickelodeon Universal Theme Park, Dreamworks indoor water park, indoor ski slope Big Snow, a skating rink, blacklight mini-golf, a mirror maze and TILT a 3D street chalk museum!)
Tickets: $28.99/person, online purchase; $79.99/annual pass. Combo tickets with sea life are $43.00/adults; $38.99/kids Mon.-Fri., 10 a.m.- 5:30 p.m. (last entrance 3:30 p.m.); Sat. & Sun., 10 a.m.-6:30 p.m. 1 American Dream Way East Rutherford, NY 551-234-6381 Online: legolanddiscoverycenter.com
LEGO Store: Flatiron District
LEGO
Like its sister store uptown, the LEGO store in the Flatiron District pays homage to its neighborhood with incredible LEGO mosaics on the walls and larger-than-life LEGO sculptures. (Think the history of the area in LEGO, plus Lady Liberty’s arm and torch, a nod to when the statue was on display in nearby Madison Square Park.) There’s a Pick & Build here as well, a large selection of kits to buy, and a spot to make your own LEGO figures, too. Plus: building stations at kid-level for some freestyle creation on site. Bonus: there’s a LEGO lounge here, with comfortable seating and photo charging stations, because you may be there for a while…(P.S. don’t miss the contemporary NYC mosaics in the windows.) Read our write-up of the store’s opening here!
The LEGO Store Flatiron District 200 5th Ave. between 23rd and 24th St. Flatiron 212-245-5973 Online: lego.com/en-us/stores/us/flatiron
The LEGOLAND Discovery Center in Yonkers, New York is about a 30-minute drive from the city. This LEGOLAND features two rides, 10 LEGO build-and-play zones, and a 4-D cinema. No day is complete at the Discovery Center without a stop at the LEGO store located right inside. There you’ll find everything from LEGO City to Nexo Knightsand NINJAGO® plus exclusive sets.
New York City’s famous toy store FAO Schwarz returned to NYC with great fanfare in 2018, and this 20,000-square-foot flagship in Rockefeller Center continues its tradition of delighting kids of all ages. The 150-year-old institution is considered the candy land of toy stores and its selection of LEGOs is impressive. Marvel LEGO, LEGO Friends and LEGO Disney are the top sellers here. So if you’re looking for that perfect Disney Princess or Mickey Mouse LEGO, plus a chance to step on the legendary dance-on piano, you know where to go. Read our writeup of the grand re-opening here!
FAO Schwarz NYC 30 Rockefeller Plaza Midtown 1-800-326-8636 Online: faoschwarz.com
It’s no secret that Barnes & Noble sells a lot more than books but take note: some are great spots to buy LEGOs as well. Check out the big Barnes & Noble location at Union Square, which stocks sets for big and little kids. Plus: the hard-to-find Juniors sets (the ones that come in the cool briefcase!) for kids aged four to seven. Barnes & Noble also has its very own LEGO stationery sections where LEGO-obsessed children can find LEGO pencils, notebooks and stickers.
If your LEGO builder is downright obsessed with all things space and dinosaurs, the American Museum of Natural History store is your go to place. The museum’s LEGO selection is made up of Junior Jurassic World sets featuring different types of dinosaurs species, such as the favored T.Rex to the ultimate astronaut sets where your child can pretend to head to Mars with their very own Lego Mars Research Shuttle. The best part of the store is that it’s right inside the museum, making it a perfect place for your kid’s LEGO fix and a great indoor day of fun!
American Museum of Natural History 200 Central Park West Upper West Side 212-769-5100 Online: shop.amnh.org
At NYC’s oldest toy store, your main problem will be which LEGO to choose! Head to the back of the store, where you’ll find a LEGO-filled wall with sets for every age. If LEGO Friends is what you’re after, Mary Arnold has got it. They’ve stocked up on tons of sets featuring the popular animation series Friends of Heartlake City including the very in demand ‘Stephanie’s House.’ If your house is also known as Gotham City, then you’ll probably be looking for the latest superhero LEGOs. At Mary Arnold, you’ll find just about every LEGO superhero around and some DUPLO superheroes as well if you’re looking for something for a young child. Shopping for Ninjago fans? Mary Arnold is well-stocked with all kinds of sets for your little ninja warrior including the ever-fun Ninjago Spinners.
Mary Arnold Toys 1178 Lexington Ave. Upper East Side 212-744-8510 Online: maryarnoldtoys.com
At this Brooklyn toy store, they’re serious about keeping LEGOs in stock, as the bricks move at a fast clip here. Greenpoint Toy Center keeps customers happy by offering a wide variety of LEGOs. Inventory includes Star Wars and Minecraft LEGO sets to a huge range City LEGO. If your kid likes having the option of three different builds in one LEGO set, Greenpoint also sells a large selection of LEGO Creator sets including a plane, a boat and a car. The store is also currently well stocked with Frozen 2 LEGO sets if you’ve got a little Elsa at home who wants something special for the holidays.
Greenpoint Toy Center 738 Manhattan Ave. Greenpoint Online: greenpointtoys.com
Your ultimate neighborhood store, West Side Kids has been carefully choosing toys for kids for over two decades. They’ve got a comprehensive selection of LEGOs including Harry Potter, Toy Store 2 and Ninjago sets. West Side Kids is particularly great when it comes to choosing toys specific to your child’s age and that goes for its LEGO stock, as well. If you’re not sure what to choose or this is your child’s first LEGO, West Side Kids personnel will take the time to listen to learn about your kid’s likes and interests before recommending a set for them. For the expert builder, the store also carries sets for the ultimate LEGO aficionado ready to tackle a 10-hr project like the Harry Potter: Hogwarts Clock Tower.
West Side Kids 498 Amsterdam Ave. Upper West Side 212-496-7282 Online: westsidekidsnyc.com
Whether it’s located on an accent wall, behind the door or you’ve dedicated and entire corner of your home to it, a family command center (aka: the place where everyone goes to stay in the know) is the key to staying organized. Never get caught heading to practice on the wrong day or showing up late a meeting again thanks to these clever, essential items every family needs.
To define the space, @MImodfarmhouse used wallpaper on a small accent wall and then added all the essentials for a family command center. Dry erase calendar? Check. Baskets to maintain clothing madness? Check. An envelope to hold letters and other small essentials that come in and go out of the house? Check check check. To get the look, scroll below.
Baskets, shelves and a chalkboard calendar has set up Hello It's Bailey Jo's family command center for success. While some families opt for a more utilitarian look, we love that this version blends seamlessly into the style and decor of the rest of the house. Scroll below to shop a similar look.
Rainbow bright stripes separate each family member's own personal drop zone in Oh Joy!'s DIY family check-in station, guaranteeing an awesome and organized start to each day. Handy cubbies down below wait with necessities, and magnetic walls above hold keys, lists, and reminders. We love that you can mix this one up to fit your family's needs, from picking your fave colors to adding extra cubes for storage. Check out all the step-by-step instructions at Oh Joy!
Put together this family command center in less time than it takes to deliver a pizza to your front door. This color-coordinated scheduler has all of the essentials—a place to put loose papers, a handy message board, a calendar—without the sweat or expense some others require.
Ikea's Svensas magnetic white memo board is the secret ingredient that can take your family command center from good to great. These affordable magnetic boards can be hung horizontally or vertically, and they're big enough to hold everything from your child's most recent masterpiece to field trip permission slips. Hang one over a desk and put a calendar plus to-do list on it, or put one over the shoe bins in your mudroom.
The brilliant organizational wizards at The Home Edit put together this modern simple command center that you can fit just about anywhere. A rolling cart is reimagined as a family catch-all while a whiteboard calendar tracks important dates and a rolling wicker basket makes a perfect drop zone for loose papers and preschool backpacks. Check out The Home Edit's tips to create your own command center.
Give an old letter sorter new life with an electric jolt. This rustic charging station will keep cords corralled and electronic devices ready to go. It's stylish enough that you won't mind seeing it on your counter and big enough that it'll hold all your devices. Go to Driven by Decor to find out how you can create your own custom charging station.
A family command center doesn't have to take up space in the kitchen, laundry room or mud room. We love that Jaclyn of Coffee, Pancakes, and Dreams used a wall that leads to the basement to work as her family's command center. With chalkboard paint, clipboards to hold chore charts and a shiny envelope awaiting loose papers, the command center put things in their place. Check out the step-by-step on Jaclyn's blog and as a bonus, get a set of free printable chore charts.
As a parent, you’re constantly busy. So when it comes time to get that Amazon return back in the mail so you don’t miss your return window, you need all the help you can get.
Now you don’t have to make a separate trip to the post office––just head to Whole Foods. The Amazon-owned grocery store will now handle your returns free of charge.
Before heading out for your grocery run, start your return on Amazon’s Online Return Center. Choose your local Whole Foods Market (not all items or ZIP codes may be eligible for returns for now), then get your QR code ready from your email.
Then grab your return items and head to the store where you can find the Customer Service desk or Pickup & Return kiosk. You can leave the boxes at home––Whole Foods will package, label and ship for you!
Sidekicks need more love, especially since they’re often the best movie characters. Disney’s new board game puts your favorite sidekicks—Timon and Pumba, Tinker Bell and Abu—front and center.
Spin Master Games is launching Disney Sidekicks on Aug. 1. The premise? Villains have captured familiar heroes and locked them up in a castle. Sidekicks to the rescue!
You’ll play cooperatively and travel through the gameboard, battling villains, rescuing villagers and collecting locks to open the castle and save the heroes.
Players will have a bevy of characters to choose from, including Lumiere and Flora, Timon and Pumba and Fauna and Merryweather. Familiar nemeses include Captain Hook, Gaston, Jafar and Scar.
Grab this game from your favorite retailer for $29.99 in August. Time for the sidekicks to steal the spotlight and save the day!
