All icons start out as a kid with a dream. OshKosh B’gosh’s new back-to-school campaign, Today is Someday, celebrates that premise with three new inspiring ads. And one of them features Mariah Carey’s daughter, Monroe, in her first-ever brand campaign!
Carey is one of the trailblazers highlighted as children, along with Muhammed Ali and Outkast. The ads celebrate the kids’ determination and honor the real-life stars’ childhood experiences. Ali’s ad features the red bike that was stolen and launched him into a boxing career, Outkast’s ad was scripted in partnership with Andre 3000 and Big Boi and Carey’s ad has the most personal touch with her own daughter appearing. Watch to see how it turned out!
“As a little girl, I was determined to realize my dreams. Now as a mother, it brings me so much joy to see my children visualize and develop the dreams they hold in their own hearts. We did the campaign because we love the message of empowering kids to dream boldly and blaze their own path,” Mariah Carey said.
The campaign officially kicks off on July 23 but you can watch all three spots now on YouTube. They were crafted with the brand’s new creative agency Majority, founded in part by Shaquille O’Neal! Keep an eye out for the launch of the fall collection which promises “timeless and trend-forward styles” along with a new brand identity.
Have you ever been eating a delicious bowl of Kraft Mac n Cheese and wondered how you could make it even better? Forget the hot sauce, bread crumbs or bacon. Say hello to Macaroni & Cheese ice cream!
That’s right, two of your childhood favorite foods have combined for a potentially delicious (or disastrous) treat. Thanks to Brooklyn-based Van Leeuwen Ice Cream, you can try the new flavor starting tomorrow in honor of National Macaroni & Cheese Day. You can order it at $12 a pint online or Instagram it in person at Van Leeuwen stores across the country, while supplies last, of course.
“As big fans of Van Leeuwen, we knew they’d be the perfect partner to create this ice cream with us. Not only does it taste delicious, but it’s also made with high-quality ingredients and contains no artificial flavors, preservatives, or dyes just like our Kraft Macaroni & Cheese,” said Emily Violett, Sr. Associate Brand Manager for Kraft Macaroni & Cheese.
Of course, the color of the ice cream is nearly identical to those familiar blue box cheese packets. The real question: does a sweet, cold version of your kid’s favorite pasta actually taste good? Or is it the stuff of gastrointestinal nightmares? The verdict is out…for now!
Hoping to raise a bookworm? Or want to honor your favorite books, characters or authors with your child’s name? You’ll find everything from classic to unique baby names for your little one on this list. There are gender-neutral baby names, girl names and boy names, all listed below in alphabetical order. Go and find your favorite literary baby names or at least some ideas for new books to read!
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Agatha The queen of detective novels, Agatha Christie was even made a Dame of the British Empire for her literary works. Call her Aggie as a nickname.
Aladdin Based on a Middle Eastern folk tale, the story of Aladdin and his magic lamp has been beloved for generations.
Alice Whether you're a fan of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll or Alice Walker, the first African American woman to win a Pulitzer Prize for fiction, the name Alice is a popular, classic name.
Alonso Meaning both noble and battle-ready, Alonso is the original name of Don Quixote in Miguel de Cervantes' novel. Alonso is also the name of the King of Naples in Shakespeare's The Tempest.
Amber The heroine of the historical romance novel Forever Amber, by Kathleen Winsor, is both beautiful and ambitious. The book caused a scandal but became a best seller and is credited with popularizing the name Amber in the United States.
Amelia Word nerds love Amelia Bedelia, from the classic children's books by Peggy Parish, but the name has other literary ties. Amelia is the heroine in William Thackeray's Vanity Fair, and Amelia is the given name of Princess Mia in Meg Cabot's The Princess Diaries.
Anaïs Famed author Anaïs Nin is known for her journals, novels, essays and short stories as well as her beautiful name. She led a Bohemian lifestyle that she wrote about in journals, many of which have been published.
Anne That's Anne with an "e." The 1908 novel Anne of Green Gables by Lucy Maud Montgomery tells the tale of an 11-year-old girl sent to live with two middle-aged siblings and work on their farm.
Antoine The author Antoine de Saint-Exupéry is known for his children's novella The Little Prince. The much-loved story is about a young prince who visits various planets and makes observations about life, love and human nature.
Arabella Arabella appears as the name of female characters in several books, including Charles Dickens' The Pickwick Papers, Thomas Hardy's Jude the Obscure and Susanna Clarke's Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell.
Aramis Aramis is the alias of Rene d'Herblay, a fictional character in The Three Musketeers and other books by Alexandre Dumas.
Arya Game of Thrones fans already know and love the character Arya Stark, a brave and loyal hero in the book series it's based on, A Song of Ice and Fire.
Aslan The talking lion in C. S. Lewis's The Chronicles of Narnia is called Aslan; the name also means lion in Turkish.
Atticus Harper Lee's book To Kill a Mockingbird popularized the name Atticus, thanks to the character Atticus Finch, a lawyer many fans consider a moral hero.
Beatrice (or Beatrix) The name Beatrice appears in Dante's Divine Comedy, Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing, Veronica Roth's Divergent series and Beverly Cleary's Ramona series, among other books. Spell it Beatrix to make it more unique and to honor Beatrix Potter, who wrote The Tale of Peter Rabbit.
Beckett Samuel Beckett was an Irish writer best known for his play Waiting for Godot. The nickname Beck is where it's at.
Byron Lord Byron, the English romantic poet, was born George Gordon Byron and is best known for the lengthy narrative poems Don Juan and Childe Harold's Pilgrimage.
Charlotte Charlotte is the spider from E. B. White's children's book Charlotte's Web. She befriends a pig named Wilbur and saves his life by writing messages about him in her web.
Coraline British author Neil Gaiman wrote the fantasy children's novella Coraline in 2002. The main character is a curious, intelligent, courageous explorer, and Cora and Lina would make great nicknames.
Daisy One of the popular flower names, Daisy appears in F. Scott Fitzgerald's novella The Great Gatsby and in Henry James's Daisy Miller.
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Darcy Mr. Darcy is the male love interest from Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice, but this unisex name works equally well as a girl name.
Dashiell American author Dashiell Hammett was a mystery writer who created well-known characters Sam Spade and Nick and Nora Charles. Dash is a cool nickname.
Dean The character Dean Moriarty appears in Jack Kerouac's On the Road as a carefree adventurer up for adventure.
Dorian Dorian is the name of the main character in Oscar Wilde's only novel, The Picture of Dorian Gray.
Dorothy The brave and kind Dorothy Gale travels around Oz with a scarecrow, tin man, cowardly lion and her dog, Toto. The movie we know and love was based on Frank Baum's book The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.
Edgar Author Edgar Allen Poe is known for poems such as "The Raven" and "Annabel Lee" as well as the horror story "The Fall of the House of Usher." The name Edgar also appears in Shakespeare's King Lear and Emily Brontë's Wuthering Heights.
Ellison Name your girl or boy after Ralph Waldo Ellison, the author of the National Book Award-winning novel Invisible Man. Fun fact: The author was named after Ralph Waldo Emerson.
Eloise Fans of Eloise, the spunky star of Kay Thompson's children's book series, know she lives on the top floor of the Plaza Hotel in New York City with her nanny, dog and turtle.
Emma Emma is the name of the main character in Jane Austen's book of the same name. She is smart, beautiful and compassionate, all traits you may want for your child.
Finn The name Finn was popularized by Mark Twain in books such as The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. You could also name your child Huckleberry or Huck. Twain would make a more unexpected homage.
Gabriel Gabriel is a protagonist in Thomas Hardy's novel Far from the Madding Crowd, and Gabriel García Márquez is a Colombian author admired for literary works including One Hundred Years of Solitude and Love in the Time of Cholera.
Harriet Harriet the Spy is a classic children's novel by Louise Fitzhugh, based around the adventures of an 11-year-old girl who documents her observations in a notebook she carries with her.
Heathcliff The name of the romantic hero from Emily Brontë's novel Wuthering Heights comes with two excellent nicknames: Heath and Cliff.
Henrik Norwegian playwright Henrik Ibsen is known for works including Peer Gynt, A Doll's House and Hedda Gabler. As a name, Henrik is a more unique form of Henry, which could be used as a nickname along with Rik.
Holden The main character in J. D. Salinger's The Catcher in the Rye, Holden Caulfield has long been regarded as a teen icon for his angsty rebelliousness.
Holly Holiday "Holly" Golightly is the beloved star of Truman Capote's novella Breakfast at Tiffany's. Audrey Hepburn famously played Holly in the much-loved movie version.
Homer If you're a fan of Greek literature and classic names, go with Homer, the presumed author of both the Odyssey and the Iliad.
Josephine (Jo) Jo is a favorite character in Louisa May Alcott's Little Women, thanks to her bravery and principles. She's also a book lover and writer herself, so naming your child Josephine gives her a literary character to look up to.
Jules Looking to raise a child who loves travel? Consider the unisex Jules, either as a given name or as a nickname for Julian or Julia. Your child will share it with Jules Verne, the French author who wrote Around the World in Eighty Days, Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea and Journey to the Center of the Earth.
Langston Inspired by the leader of the Harlem Renaissance, Langston Hughes, the name is of Old English origin and could have Lang as a nickname.
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Madeline The star of a series of classic children's books written and illustrated by Ludwig Bemelmans, Madeline is the smallest of her friends and also the bravest.
Maxine Writer Maxine Hong Kingston has received several awards for her contributions to Chinese American literature.
Maya Poet, memoirist and civil rights activist Maya Angelou is best known for her autobiographical books, including I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings.
Oscar Whether you want to honor Irish poet and playwright Oscar Wilde or the protagonist of Junot Diaz's Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao, this classic name can be spelled both Oscar and Oskar.
Roald British writer Roald Dahl is best known for children's books such as Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and James and the Giant Peach.
Rosalind Rosalind is the heroine of Shakespeare's play As You Like It, as well as the title of a poem by Alfred, Lord Tennyson and a play by J. M. Barrie.
Wilder Fans of Laura Ingalls Wilder's Little House on the Prairie can give their child this unisex name.
Willa American writer Willa Cather is known for her novels about the frontier and pioneer experience, and for her gorgeous first name. It can be a nickname for Wilhelmina or used to honor a relative named William.
Zadie This less-common variation of Sadie is the diminutive of Sarah and makes a cool name on its own. Your child would share the name with English novelist Zadie Smith, whose debut novel White Teeth became an award-winning best seller.
Zora Author, anthropologist and filmmaker Zora Neale Hurston is best known for her novel Their Eyes Were Watching God.
There are so many things to love about summer: the warm weather, the longer days, the slowed-down attitude, and all of the extra time for activities. Whether your family is getting creative, planning something active or wanting to relax by the beach, the summer heat makes it even more important to stay hydrated. Did you know that according to the American Journal of Public Health, 1 in 2 kids is underhyrated*?
Creative Roots is a flavored coconut water beverage that makes it much easier to help keep kids hydrated, thanks to the delicious fruit flavors that your littles will love to sip.
See what activities these moms are looking forward to this summer, and why Creative Roots is with them along the way:
When Texas-based mom Courtney Williams is looking to spend some one-on-one time with her oldest daughter, they like to check out the trails at their local park. Creative Roots is a win-win for the duo’s hikes since Courtney loves that it has one gram of sugar and Carri loves the delicious flavors.
Patricia Chang is using the summer to spend time outside in her garden with her son, Chase. To help beat the heat and avoid underhydration, Patricia gives Chase Creative Roots to sip on. With four flavors to pick from (Orange Pineapple, Mixed Berry, Peach Mango and Watermelon Lemonade), Chase is always excited to try new options!
It wouldn’t be summer without countless trips to the park! Porsha’s daughter Ivy loves the Creative Roots quirky Sploots characters and is always excited for Creative Roots to accompany her on outdoor adventures.
For Florida mom Mandy Cox, summer means sunshine, tan lines and tons of time by the pool. Creative Roots is the perfect waterside treat to help her kids stay happy and hydrated!
Crafty momma Veena Goel Crownholm spends her summertime doing hands-on activities, like these fun kindness rocks that she and her son spread throughout their neighborhood. Creative Roots helps her family stay hydrated while powering creativity.
Living near the South Carolina coast, mom of three Amber Faust spends most of her summer days at the beach. When she’s packing her cooler, Creative Roots is her go-to option, thanks to one gram of sugar per bottle.
Eight-year-old Honor and her mom Destiney Green are always on the go, whether it’s dance class, a bike ride, or a fun spa day. With resealable bottles, Creative Roots is easy to toss in Honor’s bag on her way out the door.
*Erica L. Kenney, Michael W. Long, Angie L. Cradock, and Steven L. Gortmaker, 2015:
Prevalence of Inadequate Hydration Among US Children and Disparities by Gender and Race/Ethnicity: National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2009–2012
Can you believe Walt Disney World is turning 50? In honor of the momentous occasion (which perfectly pairs with the diminished pandemic), the theme park is celebrating with two brand new nighttime spectacular shows.
Starting Oct. 1, park guests can catch “Disney Enchantment” and “Harmonious” as part of “The World’s Most Magical Celebration.” The shows will debut at Magic Kingdom Park and EPCOT and pack a spectacular punch.
Head to Magic Kingdom Park to watch “Disney Enchantment,” which features first time immersive projection effects from Cinderella Castle. The show also incorporates stunning music and enhanced lighting.
Over at EPCOT, one of the largest spectaculars ever, “Harmonious” will combine songs and stories at the World Showcase Lagoon. The lighting, media, moving fountains and pyrotechnics are fabulous enough to entertain even your youngest and wiggliest kiddos.
To make the event pack even more punch, the show will highlight new interpretations of your fave Disney songs that have been translated into more than a dozen languages by over 200 artists around the globe.
Both shows will kick off Oct. 1, in perfect harmony with “The World’s Most Magical Celebration.”
IKEA’s redesigned classic blue FRAKTA tote is back! In honor of Pride Month, you can shop the limited edition STORSTOMMA Bag in two sizes.
The large bag ($2.99) is perfect for your IKEA shopping trips, while the smaller version ($.99) is great for everyday use. Even better, IKEA is donating 30% of all sales of the bags (and ENEBY rainbow speaker covers) to GLSEN, Inc., which works to ensure K-12 students have a safe place to learn, free from bullying and harassment.
Donations will come from all sales from Jun. 1 through 30, 2021, up to $50,000.
“LGBTQ+ inclusion is an issue very close to our hearts and we want people of all sexual orientations and gender identities to feel at home – not just at IKEA, but everywhere,” said Samantha Giusti, Chief of Staff & LGBTQ+ Co-Worker Resource Group Co-Chair, IKEA Retail U.S.
Don’t wait to grab your STORSTOMMA bags, they’re limited edition! You can find them at your local IKEA or at IKEA.com.
Did you know National Rosé Day is Jun. 12? In honor of the special day, female founded Yes way Rosé and Igloo have partnered up on something special!
The Yes Way Rosé Playmate Pal cooler is the perfect way to stay cool this summer, and more importantly, keep your Rosé cool, too. The seven quart, nine can cooler is designed using Yes Way Rosé’s signature pink color and easily fits the brand’s canned drinks.
The cooler is exclusively available on igloo.com starting today, while supplies last. It retails for $39.99 and will undoubtedly sell out fast.
Happy World Ocean Day! In honor of this special day, the creators behind Baby Shark have curated a new playlist for little listeners.
The 40 minute playlist has 27 songs that feature Baby Shark and other sea animals. Designed to education kids on the importance of reducing plastic waste and saving the ocean and sea animals, the fun lineup of songs is just as addicting as the OG ear worm that Baby Shark is known for.
photo: Courtesy of Pinkfong
If your kiddos are looking for more ways to positively impact that ocean, head over to YouTube to see Pinkfong’s World Environment Day Special, Baby Shark vs Waste Monster and ‘No More Single-Use Plastic!, a video that raises awareness about plastic pollution.
Is it possible to ever get your fill of donuts? We don’t think so, which is why we’re so excited for Confetti Cakes’ brand-new cake kit that launched in honor of National Donut Day. An adorable way to bond with your kids in the kitchen, we might love this new donut cake kit even more than the original conversation heart, if that’s even possible! Find out more about the kit and where to order below.
Founder Elisa Strauss, the pastry chef behind Confetti Cakes, has been making cakes for over 20 years and is the author of two cookbooks, but the cake kits are a new venture in 2021. Elisa says, “Creating a baking kit has been a dream of mine for over a decade! I love teaching, and I want people to feel that they can create amazing cakes at home. Also, being a mom of 3 young kids, I see how wonderful it is to have a fun project, especially around sweets. The most important thing in childhood is to make memories. I hope I am helping people to do that whether they are 6 yrs or 106!”
The kit includes almost everything you need to make three mini cakes that you can decorate to look exactly like glazed donuts: vanilla or chocolate cake mix, buttercream frosting mix, stencils, cake molds, tons of fondant (there are more colors in this kit!) and more. You just need to provide the eggs, milk, oil and butter! There is even a tutorial video available on Confetti Cake's YouTube page.
Current events aren’t always easy to navigate as an adult, let alone as a child. That’s why Disney Junior just announced the launch of the new animated short series Rise Up, Sing Out.
The series aims to present critical concepts around race, racism and social justice for a pint-sized audience and will use music-based shorts to make the message resonate. To make the series even more impactful, Disney has recruited the talents of Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson and Tariq “Black Thought” Trotter of the Grammy Award winning musical group, The Roots.
In a joint statement the two musicians said, “It is an honor to work with the Disney Junior team to help create a series of shorts that will empower and uplift the future generations in the way we know best, through music. We hope these shorts will encourage the young audience to recognize and celebrate our differences as human beings while learning the tools to navigate real-world issues of racial injustice.”
That’s not all—The Conscious Kid, an organization dedicated to equity and healthy racial identity development is serving as a consultant on the series and plans to develop a viewing companion guide for parents. Latoya Raveneau, who is involved with the upcoming The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder will serve as executive producer.
You’ll be able to watch later this year on all Disney Junior platforms.
