Disney Junior Announces Themed Weeks and Weekends to Air Throughout the Summer

by Jennifer SwartvagherJuly 1, 2020

Hot dog! Disney Junior wants to help keep your preschoolers entertained while they are home this summer. The channel will debut themed programming events throughout July and August kicking off with “Red, White and Bluey Weekend” just in time for Independence Day.

Red, White and Bluey Weekend

Friday, Jul. 3 beginning at 4:30 p.m.; Sat., Jul. 4 beginning at 12:00 p.m.; and Sun., Jun. 5 beginning at 12:30 p.m. on Disney Junior

Episodes of Bluey, Puppy Dog Pals, T.O.T.S and more will be highlighted. New Bluey-themed interstitials will also debut.

Mickey Mouse Calling All Campers Week

Mon., Jul. 13 – Fri., Jul. 17 at 6:30 p.m. on Disney Junior

This week will feature Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, Mickey and the Roadster Racers and Mickey Mouse Mixed-Up Adventures episodes spotlighting camping and the great outdoors.

Dog Days of Summer Weekend

Sat., Jul. 18 – Sun., Jul. 19 beginning at 12:00 p.m. on Disney Junior

Dog-themed episodes of favorite series including Puppy Dog Pals, Bluey, Mickey Mouse Mixed-Up Adventures and T.O.T.S. will be highlighted this week.

Puppy Playcare Week

Mon., Jul. 27 – Wed., Jul. 29 at 9:00 a.m. and Thurs., Jul. 30 at 9:30 a.m. on Disney Channel; and 7:00 p.m. on Disney Junior

Episodes of Puppy Dog Pals will air daily leading up to the new episode “Firefighter Pups / Hike Paw,” premiering Fri., Jul. 31 at 9:30 a.m. on Disney Channel and in DisneyNOW.

Mickey Mouse Farm Week

Mon., Aug. 10 – Fri., Aug. 14 at 6:30 p.m. on Disney Junior

Episodes of Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, Mickey and the Roadster Racers and Mickey Mouse Mixed-Up Adventures highlighting farming and teamwork lead up to a new episode of Mickey Mouse Mixed-Up Adventures titled “Goofy’s Hot Dog Harvest / Puppy Birthday to You!,” premiering Fr., Aug. 14 at 8:30 a.m. on Disney Channel and in DisneyNOW.

T.O.T.S. Train Week

Mon., Aug. 17 – Fri., Aug. 21 at 9:00 a.m. on Disney Channel and 6:30 p.m. on Disney Junior

This week will feature T.O.T.S episodes highlighting a new baby train and new babies, leading up the new episode “The Big Little Baby / The Super-Secret Mission” premiering Aug. 21 at 9:00 a.m. on Disney Junior.

—Jennifer Swartvagher

All photos courtesy of Disney Channel

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Acorns Early Gives Every Child Financial Access Beginning at Birth

by Jennifer SwartvagherJune 30, 2020

When you welcome a new baby into your family, you are equipped with a car seat, a stroller and a crib but have you given any thought to how you are going to prepare to send your little one off to college. Acorns Financial will provide Acorns Early free to babies born in 2020. Now it is even easier to invest in your child’s future.

With an Early, a UGMA/UTMA account parents have the tools to save and invest beginning at any age. Early funds can be used for anything that benefits the child, and custodians may see tax advantages while they invest, before easily transferring the account when the child is an adult. Acorns Early features automated Recurring Investments, an interactive Potential graph to view the power of compounding, exclusive Found Money offers, and custom financial literacy content, developed in partnership with CNBC. As part of the release, Acorns has introduced a $5 monthly tier, Acorns Family. Customers in this tier get Acorns Early, plus all-in-one investing, retirement, and checking accounts, Smart Deposit, personalized insurance options, and tools to earn more money. To support as many families as possible, Acorns will allow multiple children per Family account, at no added cost.

“We have always been guided by our mission to look after the financial best interests of the up-and-coming,” said Acorns CEO, Noah Kerner. “If we begin as early as birth, we have the opportunity to change the financial outcomes of an entire generation.”

To support its goal of 1 million Acorns children in one year, and boost customers on their family’s financial wellness journey, the company is kicking off a referral campaign today. Any new Early customers will receive a $50 bonus investment for every friend they refer, and each friend will receive a $10 bonus.

“Early is special for me as a mom, but it feels even more important this year,” said Kennedy Reynolds, mother of three, author of the children’s book, “Grow Your Oak,” and Acorns Chief Brand Officer. “Alongside our customers, we can level the playing field, and get our kids financially ready for whatever comes their way.”

Acorns is accessed simply and easily via the app for iPhone, Android or desktop. Visit Acorns.com for more.

—Jennifer Swartvagher

Featured photo: Acorns

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“Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone” to Be Read by Daniel Radcliffe, David Beckham, Dakota Fanning & More

by Jennifer SwartvagherMay 7, 2020

Celebrities reading books has become a bedtime staple for some families. J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone will be read by a lineup of celebrities chapter-by-chapter, in a series of free videos and audio recordings set to be released over the next several months. Rowling’s Wizarding World announced seven readers for the special event on Twitter today: Daniel Radcliffe, Stephen Fry, David Beckham, Dakota Fanning, Claudia Kim, Noma Dumezweni and Eddie Redmayne, with more to come.

Each will read different sections of the beloved novel. All 17 chapters of the book will be released between now and mid-summer. Videos will be posted weekly on The Wizarding World website with an audio-only version available for free on Spotify.

Kicking off the series of video readings will be Daniel Radcliffe reading the book’s first chapter, “The Boy Who Lived.” You can stream this reading today on Wizarding World on Spotify.

The special series is part of Harry Potter at Home, an initiative developed by Wizarding World Digital and Rowling’s agency, the Blair Partnership, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic with the help of partners including Warner Bros., Bloomsbury, Scholastic and Pottermore Publishing.

The initiative includes an open licence to teachers allowing them to post recordings of themselves reading Harry Potter stories on educational platforms and networks and a dedicated hub of information and activities at harrypotterathome.com. In addition, Amazon’s Audible currently is making the audiobook of “Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone” (narrated by Jim Dale) available to stream for free via Audible Stories.

—Jennifer Swartvagher

Featured photo: Julia M. Cameron via Pexels

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Guinness World Records Is Taking Record Breaking Indoors

by Jennifer SwartvagherApril 9, 2020

Challenge yourself or your kids to break a world record. Guinness World Records is looking to support families staying home by expanding their digital portfolio and taking record-breaking indoors. With all this extra time on our hands, why not become a world record holder?

View this post on Instagram

We've seen the #StayAtHomeChallenge, but are you ready to raise the bar? 🤔🧻⁣ ⁣ We're on the look out for the best toilet-roll-keeper-upper in the world!⁣ ⁣ With the ongoing changes around the globe, we want everyone to be able to stay inspired and have fun, while staying inside.⁣ ⁣ That's why we’re pleased to bring you the #GWRChallenge, a weekly record challenge we will be hosting across Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok.⁣ ⁣ A record holder will be announced every following Monday - but what do you have to do for this week's challenge? ⁣ ⁣ Simply follow our guidelines here: ⁣ ⁣ 1. Any brand-new fully raveled unused toilet roll can be used.⁣ 2. Make sure you’re standing for the attempt and after a 3,2,1 countdown start kicking the toilet roll on the feet or bouncing on your head. You can then use any part of your body to juggle the toilet roll except your arms and hands.⁣ 3. Make sure the toilet roll remains in the air between touches and if it hits the floor, a wall, a chair or anything else during the attempt the attempt ends.⁣ 4. IMPORTANT - Please use the toilet roll after the attempt and don’t let it go to waste (they're a precious commodity!)⁣ ⁣ We’re excited to see your best submissions and can’t wait to see who will become Officially Amazing!™⁣ ⁣ Link in bio and stories for more information! ⁣ ⁣ ---------------------------------------------------------⁣ #guinnessworldrecords #challenge #toiletpaper #toiletpaperchallenge #stayathome #stayhome #records #recordbreaking #new #breaking #trythisathome #athomeactivities

A post shared by Guinness World Records (@guinnessworldrecords) on Apr 1, 2020 at 6:12am PDT

Become a record holder at home with #GWRChallenge. This weekly record challenge will be hosted across Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and TikTok.

Every Monday, a new challenge will be announced. All you have to do is follow a simple set of rules for each record.mAlso on Monday, the #GWRChallenge from the week before will conclude and the record holder will be named at the end of the week.

There are a few things you can do to ensure your attempt gets recognized.

Be sure to follow ALL rules
Tag Guinness World Records and use #GWRChallenge
Call out the number or score you’ve achieved in your caption

All attempts utilize household materials, making this an exciting and accessible record-breaking experience for anyone who wants to try. Challenge #1 involved toilet paper!

—Jennifer Swartvagher

Featured photo: Guinness World Records via Instagram

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Here’s What Life Would Look Like If You Actually Got Enough Sleep

by Amber GuetebierMarch 5, 2020

National Napping Day is Mar. 9––yep, it’s a thing. In honor of the one universal truth for all parents that we will never sleep the same again, we’ve rounded up six ways we imagine life would be different if we got enough sleep. We don’t actually know, though, because we haven’t slept in seven years. Still, we can dream, right?

1. Exercise

Fantasy: After eight hours of rest, you’re ready to take on the world. Perhaps, a marathon!

photo: skeeze via pixabay

Reality: 5 hours of sleep and 4 cups of coffee. Let’s do this!

photo: Ryan McGuire via pixabay

2. Vacation

Fantasy: A languid afternoon floating uninterrupted in tranquil waters.

photo: jill 111 via pixabay

Reality: Just trying to get some zzzzs. Any zzzzs will do. Anywhere.

3. Sleeping Through the Night

Fantasy: In her own bed until morning. Not kicking you!

photo: Alon Banks via flickr

Reality: Just gotta get through to morning. (Awwwww!) But also: kicking you.

photo: niekverlaan via pixabay

4. Work

Fantasy: You are alert and productive, full of snappy ideas and witty retort. And you look amazing (i.e. your clothing doesn’t have stains and you brushed your hair). Because you are well-rested.

photo: digital marketing agency via pixabay

Reality: Just five minutes. Please.

5. Dinner

Fantasy: Nutritious, balanced meals with a beautifully set table, candles and actual place settings. Because you are full of energy!

photo: Burst by Shopify

Reality: The bright side is, at least she’s cleaning up her own spill.

photo: mintchipdesigns via pixabay

6. Housework

Fantasy: You’ll tidy up here and there, and “stay on top” of the chaos. In other words, you will have a beautiful clean house.

photo: kimlimkin via pixabay

Reality: Oh, look what happened while you were napping (by napping we mean answering work emails, vacuuming the living room and making a snack). See, that’s why you can’t nap.

—Amber Guetebier

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Dunkaroos Are Making a Comeback & ’90s Kids Are Thrilled!

by Jennifer SwartvagherFebruary 3, 2020

Grab your Lisa Frank lunch box and thermos. General Mills is kicking it back to the ‘90s with the relaunch of your favorite sweet snack. Dunkaroos, your favorite lunch table staple, is coming back this summer.

Speculation of the snack’s return started after Dunkaroos’ official Instagram account posted a picture of vanilla frosting with rainbow sprinkles on January 24.

View this post on Instagram

👀

A post shared by Dunkaroos (@dunkaroos) on Jan 24, 2020 at 2:57pm PST

General Mills officially announced the return of the snack in a blog post on Monday.

“We’re thrilled to relaunch Dunkaroos in the U.S. after years of it only being available in Canada,” Jeff Caswell, president of snacks at General Mills, said. “For those who grew up in the ‘90s, the original cookie-frosting combo represents the taste, color and fun of being a kid during that decade. We know there’s a lot of love for Dunkaroos, and fans everywhere have been asking for it. We’re excited to help ‘90s kids relive all the best parts of childhood.”

View this post on Instagram

🚨Definitely coming back. Summer 2020.🚨

A post shared by Dunkaroos (@dunkaroos) on Feb 3, 2020 at 6:15am PST

Dunkaroos were first introduced in 1992 and then discontinued in the US in 2012. Dunkaroos will be on shelves at participating 7-Eleven stores in late May and rolling out to other convenience stores and grocery retailers nationwide in July. Packs will retail for $1.99.

Get your dipping fingers ready. Fan favorite, Vanilla Cookies and Vanilla Frosting with Rainbow Sprinkles will be here before you know it.

—Jennifer Swartvagher

Featured photo courtesy of General Mills

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OREO Popcorn Is Coming & Here’s the Only Place to Get It

by Shahrzad WarkentinJanuary 16, 2020

If your pregnancy cravings are kicking into gear or you simply love the combo of sweet and salty, then you’ll definitely want get a taste of the new Cookie Pop OREO Popcorn.

The latest in the line of candy and popcorn mash-ups, Cookie Pop OREO Popcorn swaps out the candy of the previous flavors, Candy Pop Butterfinger Popcorn and Candy Pop Twix Popcorn, in favor of cookies.

The latest popcorn concoction is made with real OREO cookies. It’s drizzled with the cream filling from the middle of the OREO and covered in crushed cookies.

The new popcorn is $5.98 for a 20 ounce bag and it’s launching exclusively at Sam’s Club on Jan. 21, just in time for National Popcorn Day. Stay tuned for more Cookie Pop flavors coming later in 2020.

—Shahrzad Warkentin

All photos: Courtesy of Snack Pop

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Have You Tried the New Girl Scout Cookies Yet?

by Shahrzad WarkentinJanuary 12, 2020

Girl Scout Cookie season has officially arrived and along with it comes a brand new cookie to tempt your tastebuds.

Girl Scouts USA has just announced the new Lemon-Ups cookie, the newest addition in form of a crispy lemon cookie baked with inspiring messages. “I am a go-getter” and “I am an innovator” are among the eight different phrases the cookies feature. The Lemon-Ups are replacing Savannah Smiles, a different lemon cookie which was retired last year.

The Lemon-Ups are not to be confused with Lemonades, which are a shortbread cookie with lemon-flavored icing. Each variety is available in select regions across the country along with the rest of the cookie line up, which still includes fan favorites, like Thin Mints and Samoas.

In addition to the newest cookie, GSUSA also revealed a brand new look to the cookie packaging for 2020. The updated boxes feature new images of real Girl Scouts taking part in activities like camping, canoeing and space science exploration.

“Everyone loves Girl Scout Cookies—but the program is about so much more than cookies,” said GSUSA CEO Sylvia Acevedo. “Girls learn about entrepreneurship as they run their own cookie businesses. The important business and financial literacy skills girls learn through the program are proven to build their leadership skills and position them for success in the future. When you purchase cookies you are helping girls power their Girl Scout experience and you’re supporting female entrepreneurs.”

With cookie season kicking off for 2020, be on the look out for a Girl Scout near you or use the official Girl Scout Cookie Finder app to get your fix.

—Shahrzad Warkentin

All photos: Courtesy of GSUSA

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Top 10 New Year’s Resolutions for Real Moms

By Andie Huber

Tinybeans Voices Contributor

December 31, 2019

Photo: Photo by Isaac Quesada on Unsplash

Every year we all do it. We make outrageous resolutions that we will never be able to fulfill for the next twelve months (Soul Cycle twice a week? Feed our kids 100-percent non-GMO, locally raised organic produce? Make weekends screen-free and have the kids put away all their clothes Marie Kondo st‌yle? Sound familiar?). Well this year, I’m kicking those resolutions in the butt and making some that I know I’ll be able to fully accomplish. And this time next year, I’ll be raising my glass and toasting to my success. Want to join me? Here are my top ten resolutions for the real moms in all of us.

1. I plan to misplace my house keys at least once a week.

2. Same goes for my phone.

3. I will eat healthy all day. And even though I promised myself, “Just one glass of wine,” after dinner, I will not feel bad when I find the empty bottle the next morning along with an alarming amount of Hershey Kiss wrappers beside it on the counter.

4. I will white-knuckle the steering wheel in frustration when my kid tells me they forgot their lunch at home…just when we reach the outside of school.

5. I resolve to sniff the milk before serving it to my kids and I promise not to try and pass off the questionably expired stuff.

6. I promise to not make promises about leaving in five minutes. In fact, I promise to never make promises about time ever again.

7. I’m going to stop suggesting mind-numbing, boring games to do with my kids that make me feel better about pulling them off the iPad.

8. Rather than look up their numbers every single time, I plan to put our favorite local pizza and Chinese delivery restaurants on my favorites list in my phone for easy access.

9. I resolve to buy myself Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day, birthday, Labor Day (why isn’t this one bigger for Moms?), and Christmas presents and address the gifts to “The Mom Who Works Hard and Deserves a Little Something” so that everyone in my family sees that someone appreciates all that I do.

10. And lastly, but surely, 100-percent accomplishable—I plan to run at least ten minutes late to everything and blame it on the kid who can’t talk yet.

Andie Huber

Tinybeans Voices Contributor

A lifest‌yle writer whose work can be seen in Red Tricycle, Money.com, Livestrong.com and Redbook. When she’s not checking out new events, museums, and restaurants to keep her and her kids entertained, she can be found wandering around flea markets and thrift stores looking for cool vintage finds.

Pepperidge Farm Just Revealed a New Holiday Cookie & You’re Going to Want to Start a Kickline

by Shahrzad WarkentinOctober 16, 2019

What spells holidays better than cookies and the Radio City Rockettes? How about Pepperidge Farm.

For the first time ever Pepperidge Farm has teamed up with the Radio City Rockettes to create a new holiday cookie inspired by the iconic Christmas Spectacular. The new Toy Soldier cookie will have you kicking up your own feet with joy.

The new shortbread cookie features the shape of a toy soldier spiced with cinnamon and brown sugar. The cookie design is based on the Rockettes’ classic “Parade of the Wooden Soldiers” number.

The new cookie joins Pepperidge Farm’s collection of holiday cookies making their return for the season all dressed up in a winter wonderland-inspired package. The collection features traditional Pepperidge Farm cookies with a holiday twist, like the Chessmen with holiday images in place of chess pieces and the ever-popular Milano with a Candy Cane-flavored dark chocolate filling.

You can score the entire Pepperidge Farm Holiday Cookie collection, including the new Toy Solider cookie at grocery stores nationwide for a limited time.

—Shahrzad Warkentin

All photos: Courtesy of Pepperidge Farm

ML Interest Tag: kick

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Here’s What Life Would Look Like If You Actually Got Enough Sleep

1. Exercise

Fantasy: After eight hours of rest, you’re ready to take on the world. Perhaps, a marathon!

Reality: 5 hours of sleep and 4 cups of coffee. Let’s do this!

2. Vacation

Fantasy: A languid afternoon floating uninterrupted in tranquil waters.

Reality: Just trying to get some zzzzs. Any zzzzs will do. Anywhere.

3. Sleeping Through the Night

Fantasy: In her own bed until morning. Not kicking you!

Reality: Just gotta get through to morning. (Awwwww!) But also: kicking you.

4. Work

Fantasy: You are alert and productive, full of snappy ideas and witty retort. And you look amazing (i.e. your clothing doesn’t have stains and you brushed your hair). Because you are well-rested.

Reality: Just five minutes. Please.

Fantasy: Nutritious, balanced meals with a beautifully set table, candles and actual place settings. Because you are full of energy!

Reality: The bright side is, at least she’s cleaning up her own spill.

6. Housework

Fantasy: You’ll tidy up here and there, and “stay on top” of the chaos. In other words, you will have a beautiful clean house.

Reality: Oh, look what happened while you were napping (by napping we mean answering work emails, vacuuming the living room and making a snack). See, that’s why you can’t nap.

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