Your kids will be begging for more bricks when their breakfast is in the shape of blocks. Hammacher Schlemmer’s Building Brick Waffle Maker made its debut on Kickstarter and quickly surpassed its goal. Now it’s available for purchase!
The Building Brick Waffle Maker takes meals to the next level, literally. Create a house or a towering skyscraper made of delicious waffles, then cover it in syrup and demolish it.
Bake up interlocking bricks in this waffle maker that makes10 short bricks, two long bricks, and two individual bricks at the same time. The finished products can be easily stacked, making any structure you can dream of.
The Building Brick Waffle Maker is made from die-cast aluminum with a food-grade, non-stick coating that is easy to clean. It currently sells for $59.99 and the next batch will ship in January. Breakfast for dinner, anyone?
Pumpkin season is officially here! To celebrate, The Cheesecake Factory has released its Pumpkin and Pumpkin Pecan Cheesecakes for a limited time only. These cheesecakes are sure to bring you some holiday joy a little early this year.
The Cheesecake Factory’s Pumpkin Cheesecake is a creamy pumpkin cheesecake baked in a graham cracker crust and topped with fresh whipped cream.
The Pumpkin Pecan Cheesecake has a layer of pecan pie topped with a layer of pumpkin cheesecake, finished with caramel and chopped pecans, all in a pastry crust.
Available through Thanksgiving, you can purchase both flavors by the slice, or as whole cakes for the entire family to enjoy.
The LEGO® Group just unveiled the latest addition to it’s LEGO® City line, and we’ve got total city envy. From recognizable characters in The City storyline to the sweet green space right in the middle, this is one set that’ll keep your master builders occupied for hours on end. Plus, we’re pretty sure Emmett would approve because basically, everything about it is awesome.
The brand-new 1,517-piece set comes with 14 minifigures, a City Hall, an intercity tram, a classic diner, an adorable green space with a statue of Harl Hubbs’ great grandfather, and there’s even a concert stage. It’s a perfect way for kids to enjoy the buzz of city life without having to leave the house. Easy enough for kids ages five and up to tackle, after it’s complete, there’s hours of pretend play waiting to happen. Do you collect the LEGO® City line? Then you’ll recognize several city characters, like Poppy Star, Duke DeTain and even Mayor Fleck, who comes complete with the all-important keys to the city.
This new set also comes with ‘Instructions Plus,’ an interactive building guide you can access via the free LEGO® Building Instructions app for smart devices—there’s a zoom and rotate feature that helps younger builders visualize the finished product as they go. Your kids will become Master Builders in no time.
A job with a flexible schedule is the most desirable flexible work arrangement second only to remote work. To highlight the types of companies that hire for flexible schedule jobs, FlexJobs has compiled the top 30 companies hiring for flexible schedule jobs this summer. This list is based on an analysis of over 52,000 companies and looks specifically at their flexible schedule job posting histories in FlexJobs’ database between Jun. 1, 2020 and Jul. 20, 2020.
Especially as many schools consider distance learning this fall due to the coronavirus pandemic, flexible schedule jobs could dramatically help working parents and other caregivers balance their professional and personal responsibilities during this unprecedented time
“Flexible schedule jobs are a great work flexibility option that puts employees more in control of their day so they can create their ideal arrangement, which may even change day by day,” said Sara Sutton, founder and CEO of FlexJobs. “Especially as many schools consider e-learning this fall due to the pandemic, flexible schedule jobs could dramatically help working parents and other caregivers balance their professional and personal responsibilities during this unprecedented time,” Sutton concluded.
Courtesy of FlexJobs
A “flexible schedule job” refers to jobs that allow workers to vary their hours and mostly be in control of the hours they work. Companies hiring for flexible schedule jobs offer a range of opportunities across many industries and career levels. Additionally, many flexible schedule jobs also allow for remote work. There are primarily six different types of flexible schedules:
Completely Flexible Schedule
A completely flexible schedule is just that, a fully flexible schedule. These types of schedules give the worker control over start times and end times. For some, this means putting hours in early in the morning, then a few in the afternoon, some more late at night, and finishing out the rest of the scheduled hours on the weekend.
Alternative Schedule
An alternative schedule is one in which work hours are scheduled outside of the typical 9-5. Second shifts and night shifts would qualify, as would weekend shifts. These types of schedules free up the normal daytime business hours.
Compressed Workweek
The compressed workweek takes your typical 40-hour, Monday through Friday and compresses it into fewer days. Rather than working five days a week, a compressed schedule will lengthen the hours on three or four of those days, allowing for an additional day or two off per week. The most popular compressed schedules are three 12-hour workdays with four days off and four 10-hour workdays with three days off.
Results-Only Work Environment (ROWE)
Similar to the completely flexible schedule option, the ROWE option is focused more on results and productivity rather than the actual time put in. This means that as long as you get your work finished, and the end product is something to be proud of, you can work whatever hours it takes to complete it, even if it is less than the full-time status.
Split Shift
A split shift schedule means that you are splitting your hours throughout the day. For example, you may put four hours in during the morning, two more mid-afternoon, and end your evening putting in your last two hours. Another variant is putting in four hours in the morning and then four hours at night. The split shift schedule simply means that your schedule for the day is split to allow for other life happenings in between.
Flex Time
Many companies offer a flex-time option, and it usually pertains to starting and stopping times. Flex time offers workers the option to start their schedule earlier or later, but the hours are worked concurrently, and the schedule remains constant, usually until an official change request is submitted or a review is conducted.
As the world adjust to the new normal, everyone is making changes to events that draw large crowds, especially theme parks. While many are starting their plans to reopen that include increased safety measures such as temperature checks and mandatory face masks, they are also evaluating events within the parks that could be a cause for concern.
This week, Disney announced that it would be canceling Walt Disney World’s Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party, a fall event that lasts from August to Nov. 1. The spooky extravaganza offers trick or treating, characters in special garb, fireworks, parades and stage shows––all experiences that put park-goers in very close proximity to one another.
While there has been no official announcement, we assume the parks will still be decked out in Halloween decor, so guests can get in the spirit despite the ticketed event being cancelled. Since tickets to the event went on sale this February, more news is expected to be released about refunds.
In addition, the parks have made the decision to cancel Disney H2O Glow Nights. The special ticketed event at at Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon is finished for the remainder of 2020, and guests who have purchased tickets already will get refunds in the near future.
Father’s Day and the official start of summer is upon us. DQ is helping families ring in the season for family fun with a new limited-release treat with a sweet surprise inside. The Piñata Party Blizzard Treat will be available at participating DQ locations nationwide beginning Thurs., Jun. 18.
A surprise party in a cup, the Piñata Party Blizzard is filled with rich confetti cake pieces, luscious pink confetti icing, a surprise center of confetti cake white choco stars finished with whipped topping and a rainbow of edible glitter.
Have you read and reread all of the Harry Potter books?J.K. Rowling has just announced her new story, The Ickabog. A new chapter (or more) will be posted in installments from now until Jul. 10.
Rowling started writing The Ickabog while she was finishing the Wizarding World series with the intention of publishing it after the seventh Harry Potter book was released. Instead she decided to focus on adult novels and left her draft of The Ickabog in the attic where it remained for ten years.
On the website, Rowling says, “It isn’t Harry Potter and it doesn’t include magic. This is an entirely different story.”
Rowling said she read the chapters aloud to her two younger children while she was writing and after filing it away, it became a story just for them. During the pandemic she brought the book out again and reread it to her kids, adding bits that they liked when they were little.
The author is also inviting young readers to provide illustrations for the story. Rowling will offer suggestions, but she encourages children to let their imaginations go wild. Parents can share their child’s artwork on Twitter using the hashtag #TheIckabog. Rowling will not be judging the competition. Publishers around the world will be free to choose the illustrations they feel suit the book.
The Ickabog will be published in November. All proceeds will be donated to those affected by the coronavirus.
Each season, Starbucks rolls out new menu items. As stores begin reopening, the coffee brand is introducing a new summer-inspired food and drink menu. Along with some new options, they are bringing back the seasonal favorite S’mores Frappuccino Blended Beverage.
New Iced Guava Passionfruit Drink
This past March, Starbucks introduced two new iced coconut milk-based drinks. Joining this collection for summer is the new Iced Guava Passionfruit Drink. This drink combines flavors of guava, passionfruit, pineapple and ginger, hand-shaken with coconut milk and ice for a smooth and creamy beverage to uplift your day. This drink joins the growing number of non-dairy and customizable beverages on the permanent menu.
S’mores Frappuccino Blended Beverage
Back for a limited time, the S’mores Frappuccino layers marshmallow-infused whipped cream, milk chocolate sauce, a creamy blend of vanilla, coffee, milk and ice, even more marshmallow whipped cream and is finished off with a graham cracker crumble.
New Unicorn Cake Pop
Available for a limited time, the Unicorn Cake Pop is a creamy vanilla cake with confetti sprinkles shaped into a unicorn, dipped in a white chocolaty icing, and finished with a magical design.
Lunch is also covered with the new Grilled Chicken & Hummus Protein Box featuring a tender and juicy sous vide grilled chicken breast paired with roasted red pepper hummus and naan bread, baby carrots and snap peas. This item is now a part of the permanent menu alongside a variety of protein options.
Using the Starbucks App, customers can locate a store, order, and pay ahead for their favorite menu items. In most cases, customers who use the App can pick up their order from a barista at the door (without entering the café), at the drive-thru, or (in cases where social distancing can be accommodated) at a counter in a store.
Are you looking for a fun way to keep the kids busy with things you have lying around the house? Amazon recently launched their #MoreThanABox initiative. They are including a series of coloring cut-outs on their recyclable cardboard boxes for the month of April as a way for customers to get creative with their kids during quarantine.
You can check out some of the finished projects here.
To find out all the ways people can stay sustainable when shopping on Amazon, check out Amazon Second Chance.
Sheltering inside is a great time to encourage everyone in your family to fire up those creative juices from the comforts of your own home. All the paints and crayons in the world can only last so long, however, without someone else guiding the activities or suggesting easy-to-do projects (not it!). So check out these LA-based art studios that are offering online opportunities to help your pint-size Picassos turn screen time into dream time.
Calling itself a "process art" studio (meaning it's all about the making and doing, not the finished product), a virtual art class from Meri Cherry is perfect to do at home. The owner places a large emphasis on using whatever materials you might be able to find laying around your house (so it's a green light on saving those pieces of styrofoam and egg cartons!). Check out their virtual videos you can purchase for a small fee that take your little ones on super fun adventures in art such as constructing small magical worlds or making squeal-worthy sensory boxes. These programs feature a list of all the art supplies needed for that particular activity, an intro to the Meri Cherry art teacher leading the video, and walkthroughs of the project making it easy for everyone to follow! New videos for purchase are released each week so be sure to stay tuned to their social media pages for updated episodes! Looking for a more cost-effective option? Follow Meri Cherry on Instagram for daily art project ideas you can do quickly at home with whatever you have on hand!
The folks at the Barnsdall Art Park Foundation know how important is is to stay inspired and create during this time and are offering free family art workshops via Zoom every Sunday through the end of May. Here families, adults, and children are welcome to join the interactive classroom environment from 10 a.m. - 12 p.m. where that Sunday's activity will be repeated by the featured artist every 1/2 hour. The whole family can follow along guided project instruction with materials that can be conveniently accessed from home so be sure to check their Instagram page each week to get an idea of what's needed for the next activity. Did we mention this is free? Visit barnsdallpark to access the Zoom meeting.
For more free art activity options, check out Skirball's Family Art Project ideas on their Instagram page. Each week they post a new project complete with material lists, alternative ways to complete the activity and photos of the finished product. Developed by Skirball's family art educators, these fun experiences like shadow puppets or nature mobiles are intended to be completed with simple materials found in or around the home. So far the activities have been slightly more skewed towards older adventurers or those who might not need as much supervision with their fine motor skills but keep checking each week for new art inspirations everyone can do together!
Another cultural museum powerhouse is stepping up to the "shelter-at-home" plate with their Family-Art-Center-At-Home offerings! Create artworks at home inspired by artists from the Broad's collection with their new weekly art activity tutorials for families, which will be released every Friday morning on their social media channels (Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube). Now you and your tiny crafters can get your artistic inspiration directly from a pretty spectacular source all without spending a dime!
These days ordering food to be delivered is more important than ever, but what about ordering up some plates to paint? Color Me Mine has that covered with their To Go Kits where they basically bring the pottery projects to you. For just the price of the item(s) you choose, you also get to pick 6 paint colors for each piece you purchase and receive free contactless delivery within a 10-mile radius from participating locations ($1.25/mile round trip beyond 10 miles). Use your own brushes at home or they can throw in a pack for an additional $5. When your darling decorators have finished their ceramic masterpieces, drop it off in a designated space outside the studio for Color Me Mine employees to fire in company kilns. Not wanting to spend the money on painting pottery? Then head to their website and print out free coloring sheets at any time!
This adorable Eagle Rock art space may be temporarily closed, but they are offering weekly drawing club subscriptions for any aspiring artists who want to keep up with inspirational art ideas. After signing up (one week at a time), you will receive a drawing curriculum for the week that kiddos can do at their leisure. With that curriculum will come a list of recommended art materials, one warm-up exercise, two still life or self-portrait projects, and one imagination drawing project. These activities will be different each week and are great for families to do together or for crafty kids to do on their own.
This cheerful North Hollywood art studio's website currently has plenty of helpful links to remote activities and resources for the whole family to use while hunkering down at home. Coming soon, however, Cr8Space will be offering up their very own CR8 Kits for purchase which will have all the materials your young ones need to get started on inspiring art projects in the comforts of their own space! There will be a few different packages to choose from so stay tuned to their Instagram page for more information. As if this weren't enough, Cr8Space will also begin offering online private art lessons for your artists-in-training hosted by ZOOM and led by their staff artists. These lessons can be customized to what your mini Monets are specifically interested in creating, whether it be a guided-painting lesson a step-by-step demo on how to build their own stuffed animals or even hosting a virtual birthday party!