LEGO Is Launching New NASA-Themed Sets This Month & They’re Out of This World

by Shahrzad WarkentinJune 9, 2019

If you’re looking to inspire those STEAM skills this summer, look no further. Mini master builders get ready to blast off for fun with new NASA-inspired LEGO sets.

With seven new space exploring LEGO sets, there is plenty of building and playing excitement to keep kids busy over the break. To ensure that the sets captured the details of real NASA rockets and equipment, LEGO designers made frequent visits to Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas and Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida to study the real life counterparts. Here’s a peek at all the new sets.

Satellite Service Mission

$9.99

Rover Testing Drive

$29.99

Mars Research Shuttle

$39.99

Lunar Space Station

$59.99

Deep Space Rocket and Launch Control

$99.99

Rocket Assembly and Transport

$149.99

People Pack – Space Research and Development

$39.99

All of the sets will be available in stores and online starting Jun. 23. In celebration of these new space-themed sets LEGO stores across the United States will be hosting Build & Play Spaceship games Jun. 3-30 and Build & Display prompts related to Mars exploration during the month of July. Check out your local store for more details.

—Shahrzad Warkentin

All photos: Courtesy of LEGO

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These 5 New Oreo Flavors Will Make Your Summer So Tasty

by Erica LoopMay 30, 2019

Oreo is no slouch when it comes to the yum-factor. With flavors that range from the sort of savory Pumpkin Spice to the downright decadent Birthday Cake, the iconic cream-filled cookie just gets better and better.

Dessert enthusiasts rejoice—because Oreo recently announced the roll-out of five new flavors. Starting this week, with the new S’mores flavor, you can expect all kinds of sandwich-cookie snacking goodness to come your way.

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bx7r9UnF5oR/

Following the May release of the campfire fave-turned Oreo flavor, the brand will debut a coffee-themed pick. The Oreo Thins Latte will make its way to grocery store shelves this June.

Along with the java joyfulness of the latte-inspired pick, Oreo will also release its Marshmallow Moon cookie in June. In celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Apollo lunar landing, the limited-edition treats will come with moon-themed designs stamped onto the cookies and an out of this world glow-in-the-dark package.

As mid-summer strikes, and the July mercury rises, Oreo will partner with ice cream icon Baskin Robbins on an ice cream-esque cookie—the Mint Chocolate Chip Oreo. You’ll have to wait until late August for the last of the five new flavors. With fall on the horizon, Oreo’s autumn-ish Maple Creme cookie will hit retailers!

—Erica Loop

Featured photo: Stock Snap via Pixabay

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The Newest Kid Friendly Museum Exhibits to Check Out

by rtguiomarFebruary 21, 2019

Living in the DMV is truly a one-of-a-kind experience. We live in a cosmopolitan city speckled with political flare and we have so many museums to choose from. Many of them are even free! The best thing you can do is introduce your kid, from a very young age to the best museums our country has to offer. From an homage to Egyption queens at Nat Geo to a celebration of the Apollo 11 moon landing at the National Gallery of Art, here are D.C.’s hottest upcoming exhibits that kids of all ages will love.

“Everything in Existence” at ARTECHOUSE
Concepts of eternity and infinity are put on display at this cool museum’s newest digital light exhibition. The exhibit is presented by celebrated Italian artist studio fuse*. Kids will love this show which presents new outlooks from which to observe and consider our reality. It’s super fun!

When: Through Mar. 10
1238 Maryland Ave., SW (L’enfant Plaza)
Online: dc.artechouse.com

“Hollywood Leathernecks: Movie Posters Inspired by Marines” at The National Museum of the Marine Corps
Hollywood and the Marines?…heck yeah! The National Museum of the Marine Corps new exhibit, “Hollywood Leathernecks: Movie Posters Inspired by Marines,” provides a glimpse into how Marines have been portrayed in American movies from the 1920s to today. From 1918’s “The Unbeliever” to “Guadalcanal Diary” to “Heartbreak Ridge” and “A Few Good Men,” visitors can trace Hollywood’s version of Marine Corps history through this colorful and fun show featuring more than 30 posters. A fun exhibit for all!

When: Ongoing
18900 Jefferson Davis Highway Triangle (VA)
Online: usmcmuseum.com

“HOOPS” at the National Building Museum
Got a basketball lover? The NBM does is again with this exhibition that features hoops, backboards, and sometimes blacktops, showcasing the importance of basketball across the globe. Bill Bamberger’s photography exhibit, HOOPS presents a selection of large-format photographs taken across the country and in more than half-a-dozen countries, from the deserts of Arizona and Mexico to the hills of Appalachia, and from the streets of the Northeast to the playgrounds of South Africa. HOOPS opens just in time for “March Madness” and the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball East Regional games that will take place at nearby Capital One Arena.

When: Mar. 9, 2019-Jan. 15, 2020
401 F Street NW (Mt. Vernon)
Online: nbm.org

“Queens of Egypt” at the National Geographic Museum
Starting March 1, you can walk like an Egyptian…for reals! This multisensory exhibition will bring you back in time some 3,500 years, to the 18th and 19th dynasties of ancient Egypt. Get to know such legendary queens as Nefertari, Nefertiti, Hatshepsut, and Cleopatra VII; see more than 300 prestigious objects, including monumental statues, sparkling jewelry, and impressive sarcophagi; and take a 3-D tour of one of the most well-preserved tombs in the Valley of the Queens.

When: March 1-Sep. 2
1145 17th Street NW (Downtown)
Online: nationalgeographic.org

“The Plane of Tomorrow, Today!” at College Park Aviation Museum
If you haven’t been to the College Park Aviation Museum, you’re missing out! Learn about the history of flight at the museum located on the grounds of the world’s oldest continuously operating airport. And check out their current exhibit, “The Plane of Tomorrow, Today!” Within months of the end of WWII, the Engineering and Research Corporation (ERCO) began marketing it’s spin-proof, stall-resistant, anyone-can-fly Ercoupe. The airplane was the work of the brilliant designer, Fred Weick, and was marketed as the epitome of a new era of modern living. This exhibit draws on the museum’s vast ERCO collection to illuminate the design, marketing and worldwide success of the Ercoupe. It features an Ercoupe suspended in flight and a cutaway section, so visitors can see what makes the plane so unique.

When: Ongoing
1985 Corporal Frank Scott Dr. (College Park, MD)
Online: collegeparkaviationmuseum.com

“By the Light of the Silvery Moon: A Century of Lunar Photographs from the 1850s to Apollo 11” at the National Gallery of Art
The exhibit marks the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing on July 20, 1969. Photography played a significant role both in preparing for the mission and in shaping the cultural consciousness of the event. This exhibition will present 50 works including a selection of photographs from the unmanned Ranger, Surveyor, and Lunar Orbiter missions that led up to Apollo 11. The ground-breaking event will be represented by glass stereographs, taken on the moon by Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin, showing close-up views of three-centimeter-square areas of the lunar surface, as well as iconic NASA and press photographs of the astronauts that were disseminated widely in the wake of the mission’s success. A must see!

When: April 28-Oct. 14
6th and Constitution Ave., NW (National Mall)
Online: nga.gov

—Guiomar Ochoa

The Biggest, Brightest Supermoon of the Year Is Coming. Here’s How to See It

by Shahrzad WarkentinFebruary 15, 2019

If you missed the Super Blood Moon lunar eclipse last month, you’ve got another chance at spectacular lunar show. Direct your young stargazers to look up at the skies for the biggest supermoon of the year.

On Tues. Feb 19, the moon will be closer to the earth than at any other day of the year, which means it’ll appear as if someone has lassoed the moon and pulled it in close just for you. If you’re lucky enough to have a cloudless sky on Tuesday night, the supermoon—dubbed the Super Snow Moon—will be full and massive as it will be just a mere 221,681 miles from Earth.

photo: Alexander Andrews via Unsplash

Although the exact full moon will occur during the morning of Feb. 19 at 10:53 a.m. Eastern (7:53 a.m. Pacific), the odd timing actually gives viewers a few opportunities to spot the supermoon in the sky. The first opportunity to see the Super Snow Moon will be near sunset on Monday, Feb. 18 when the moon to rises in the east at 4:30 p.m. Eastern (4:49 p.m. Pacific).

If you miss that sight you’ll have two more chances to see the supermoon. First at sunrise on the morning of Feb. 19 when the moon sets in the west at 6:55 a.m. Eastern (06:46 a.m. Pacific) and finally at sunset again when it rises in the east at 5:46 p.m. Eastern 6:02 p.m. Pacific).

Happy moongazing!

—Shahrzad Warkentin

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Universal Studios Celebrates Lunar New Year with Kung Fu Panda & More

by Shahrzad WarkentinFebruary 5, 2019

The Year of the Pig has arrived and now you can celebrate the Lunar New Year at Universal Studios with some spectacular events throughout February.

Universal Studios Hollywood is ringing in the Lunar New Year with a variety of your favorite friends from Kung Fu Panda to Hello Kitty. The park will be decked out in red lanterns and plum blossom Wishing Trees where you can make your own wishes. At Universal Plaza you’ll find plenty of entertainment including cultural performances. You can also get in on the action during the interactive Dragon Warriors kung fu training show, where the Dragon Warrior himself, Po, will make an appearance.

photo: Courtesy of Universal Studios Hollywood

Speaking of appearances, there are many opportunities for some unique meet-and-greets with characters throughout the park. Say hey to everyone’s favorite adorable cat, Hello Kitty, at the Animation Studio Store. You can also meet several of your favorites, including a Mandarin-speaking Megatron from Transformers and Minions dressed in traditional Chinese attire, at Universal Plaza.

Tasty treats to celebrate the Lunar New Year also await you across the park. At Mr. Ping’s Noodle Shop you can sample some Asian dishes while being greeted and entertained by Mr. Ping himself. Try the Secret Ingredient Stir Fry Noodles, Po’s Dumplings, Dragon Warrior Baos or Oogway Egg Rolls.

Various restaurants and food carts will also be serving up special menu items in honor of the celebration for a limited time only. A Teriyaki Turkey Leg or Asian Sausage on a Stick makes a great savory snack or if you want something sweet, try the Green Tea Lychee ICEE, PB&J Dumplings, Green Tea Churro with White Chocolate Dip or Red Bean Cake Ice Cream, among other tasty treats.

—Shahrzad Warkentin

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Why “Goodnight Moon” & “This Is Us” Will Forever Co-Exist

By Shelby Spear

Tinybeans Voices Contributor

February 4, 2019

Photo: Andrew Seaman

What comes first? Goodnight Moon or This Is Us? Since we can’t definitively answer the question about the chicken or the egg, it’s doubtful we’ll get to the bottom of this question either. Regardless of our philosophical conclusions, after watching last night’s episode the real takeaway is: from this point forward, we will never be able to have one without the other in our heart space Thank you, brilliant This Is Us writers.

But the more compelling question is, “Whose soul-bound idea was it to write Goodnight Moon into the script anyway?” Weaving such a unique thread through an episode set out to prove the human collective has shared experiences across every spectrum is creative genius. Whoever you are, I’m still giving a standing O over here. Listen close and you’ll hear my robust display of hand clapping echoing through time and space.

Here’s the thing. Goodnight Moon is a simple book. No glitz, no glamour—just the story of a bunny saying goodnight to the world before going to sleep. And the simplicity is what turns this tiny classic into a family favorite. Goodnight Moon is a universal, feel-good, tuck-your-kids-into-bed staple for every parent. Who knew a make-believe book with 132 words could touch hearts across the globe? And who knew a T.V. show with pretend story lines could annihilate hearts across the same globe?

This Is Us reminded us we all walk through life with similar journeys in which we experience joy, face hardship, celebrate success, and fight demons. We aren’t alone in our own universe—all of us fall asleep under the same moon. And if we can remember everyone has a story, maybe we can muster up more compassion for our fellow man. The writers used another stroke of genius to help us hone in on this truth with the parallel of everyone has a story they read their child before bed. Just wow.

Because both the book and the show are forever classics, I thought we all could use a This Is Us version of Goodnight Moon.

Goodnight This Is Us

In the great Pearson room

There was a husband and wife

And the Big Three

And many pictures of-

Their family tree

And there were three little hearts stock full of love

And five plates

And a pair of soulmates

And a little yellow terrible towel

And a deep sense of wow

And a Buddhist necklace and a lunar pendant and a Pilgrim Rick descendent

And a quiet karma, warm and resplendent

Goodnight Pearson room

Goodnight family tree

Goodnight hearts beating with glee

Goodnight light

And the Big Three

Goodnight hearts

Goodnight love

Goodnight plates

And goodnight soulmates

Goodnight Bec

And goodnight Jack

Goodnight yellow terrible towel

And goodnight sense of wow

Goodnight Buddhist necklace

And goodnight lunar pendant

Goodnight nobody

Goodnight Pilgrim Rick descendent

And goodnight karma, warm and resplendent

Goodnight stars

Goodnight air

Good night beautiful memories everywhere

And, um, #ThisIsUs writers, this show can never end. Like never ever.

This post originally appeared on Shelby Spear.

Shelby Spear

Tinybeans Voices Contributor

Sappy soul whisperer, sarcasm aficionado and pro-LOVE Jesus-adoring mom of three Millennials writing stuff about motherhood and life, while hanging out with the hubs of 25 years.

Disneyland’s Lunar New Year Welcomes the “Year of the Pig” with Disney Magic

by Shahrzad WarkentinJanuary 18, 2019

Get ready to ring in the Year of the Pig for Lunar New Year at Disneyland. The multi-cultural celebration is jam-packed with special events you won’t want to miss for a very lucky start to the year ahead.

For 24 days, guests at Disney California Adventure Park will be treated to live entertainment and musical performances, including Mulan’s Lunar New Year Procession. The colorful parade led by Mulan and her trusty sidekick, Mushu, will feature appearances by The Three Little Pigs, Goofy dressed as the “god of Good Fortune” and Chip ‘n’ Dale donning red vests. A troupe of Chinese performers with dancers and martial artists will also join the procession that will wind from Pixar Pier to Paradise Gardens Park.

Photo: Joshua Sudock via Disneyland Resort

Visitors will also be treated to daily live performances by authentic musicians and complimentary arts and crafts with local artisans, including Chinese calligraphy, paper lantern making and face painting.

Tasty treats also await with four Asian marketplaces featuring foods inspired by Chinese, Korean and Vietnamese cultures, all with a Disney twist. New this year guests can purchase a Sip and Savor Pass to try a little bit of everything without breaking the bank.

There are plenty of speciality souvenirs you can bring home to commemorate the celebration, like items all the way from Shanghai Disney Resort, including traditional red envelopes for gift-giving, Minnie Mouse ear headbands and lantern glow wands. Don’t forget to add your own wishes to the Lucky Wishing Wall for a wonderful year ahead!

The Lunar New Year at Disney California Adventure Park kicks off Jan. 25 and runs through Feb. 17. Check out limited-time Disneyland Resort hotel and ticket offers during the festivities here.

—Shahrzad Warkentin

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How to Watch The Rare Super Blood Wolf Moon Lunar Eclipse

by Shahrzad WarkentinJanuary 11, 2019

Young astronomers and stargazers alike will be treated to a rare sight when they look up at the night sky later this month and spot the first total lunar eclipse of 2019. Dubbed the “Super Blood Wolf Moon,” the name alone is enough to get us excited!

So what does this crazy name actually mean? Between Jan. 20 and Jan. 21, you’ll be treated to a total lunar eclipse of a supermoon (a.k.a., the term for when the Moon is full and super close to Earth at the same time.) The reddish copper hue that covers the Moon during the event is what makes it a blood moon. As for wolves? The Wolf Moon is typically what the first full moon of the year is called.

photo: Matteo Grassi via Unsplash

But why does a lunar eclipse look red? Astronomer Pamela Gay explains to Space.com. “A blood colored moon is created [by] ash from fires and volcanoes, … dust storms and pollution all filtering sunlight as it scatters around our world,” she says. “A grey eclipse is clear skies. Our world can change the appearance of another world, and during an eclipse, the universe lets us see this color play.”

The eclipse will be visible from anywhere in the United States, provided it’s not cloudy where you are. The event will begin with a partial eclipse around 10:30 p.m. Eastern on Jan. 20 and reach full eclipse by 12:12 a.m. Eastern on Jan. 21.

For kids on the West Coast, that means they’ll be able to catch sight of the full eclipse without sacrificing bedtime at 9:12 p.m. Pacific on Jan. 20. Regardless of where you live, this is a rare event worth staying up for as the next total lunar eclipse visible from the United States won’t happen again until May 2021.

You can check out TimeandDate.com for the exact timing of the eclipse in your own neighborhood.

Happy moon gazing!

—Shahrzad Warkentin

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5 Ways to Welcome the Chinese New Year

by Katrina EmeryJanuary 8, 2018

The calendar’s new year may have passed, but the biggest celebration of the year in many parts of the world is still to come! Celebrating and honoring family, the Chinese New Year offers families a chance to bring in some good luck for the upcoming year (tell your kids to clean the house—it’s lucky!) Find the best ways to join in on the Lunar New Year celebrations in Portland by reading on for more. Welcome the Year of the Dog in a fantastic way!

photo: liana via flickr

See the Lan Su Chinese Gardens
These Ming Dynasty style gardens are one of the premiere attractions of Chinatown and Portland. If you only go once a year, don’t miss out on their biggest celebration! Weekends from February 16th through March 4th, you’ll find special treats like lion dances, Chinese folk art, calligraphy demonstrations, martial arts practices, and family crafts to join in. And the kids will also get the chance to add to the Wishing Tree! For a really special night, grab tickets ahead of time for the evening Lantern Viewing, where the garden glows bright with light, and a dragon procession ends the evening.

Feb. 16 through Mar. 4
Lan Su Chinese Gardens
239 NW Everett St., Portland
503-228-8131
Online: lansugarden.org

Visit the Chinese New Year Cultural Fair
This giant fair has been around for over seventeen years, celebrating the rich Chinese traditions of the Portland community! Fun for the whole family, the festival this year celebrates the Year of the Dog. Your kids will love to see the martial arts demonstrations, lots of children’s games, folk dances, and a special lion dance from the White Lotus Lion Dance Team, who perform on high poles called Jongs. Past all that, the fair is chance to taste the exciting treats from many vendors–everyone will be sure to find something they love!

Saturday, Feb 10
Oregon Convention Center
777 NE Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd. Portland
Online: portlandchinesetimes.com/2018-year-dogfair/

photo: judy via yelp

Visit Portland’s History
Portland’s Chinatown has a rich history — it was once the second-largest Chinatown in the United States! With the new Portland Chinatown Museum set to open later in 2018, you’ll have to save your curiosity for a bit later. Until then, get the family to the Portland Art Museum for it’s 4,000 artifact-strong collection of Asian artwork, like ceramics and objects found in tombs. Children 17 and under are always free.

$19.99/adults, free for children 17 and under
1219 SW Park Avenue
Portland, OR
503-226-2811
Online: portlandartmuseum.org

Enjoy the Library’s Lunar New Year
Multnomah County Library is not missing out on the fun of the Lunar New Year! They’ll be having a few celebrations at libraries around the county, most notably at Central. Join them for fun cultural performances, readings, snacks, and crafts for the little ones.

Sun., Feb 18, 2 – 4 p.m.
801 SW 10th Avenue
Portland, OR
503-988-5123
Online: multcolib.org/events

photo: Walter via flicker

Make Your Own Hong Bao
Bright red envelopes (hong bao) are traditionally given out during the Chinese New Year (especially to kids), filled with money. The red color symbolizes good luck, and the money is a wish for a prosperous year. Make your own with these instructions from the Lan Su Chinese Garden, fill them with a few coins, and have your kids give them to neighbors and friends this year!

Instructions here: lansugarden.org

What’s your favorite Lunar New Year celebration? Tell us in the comments below!

—Katrina Emery

10 Enchanting Facts About the Moon

by Erin FeherJuly 20, 2017

From fairytales and storybooks to lunar modules and space exploration, our fascination with the moon begins as kids and continues well into adulthood. For National Moon Day, we’ve rounded up some scientific fun facts you can share with the kids and maybe your co-workers too! Scroll down to learn more.

Photo: Bruno Sanchez-Andrade via Flickr

1. The distance from the moon to Earth is 238,857 miles. If you drove from the moon to Earth at 65 mph it would take you 3,674 hours to get there, or 153 days if you never stopped for bathroom or snack breaks!

2. The moon was formed when a huge object hit Earth and blasted out rocks that all came together and started orbiting round Earth. They all melted together like in a big heated pot, cooled down and became the moon.

3. The moon goes round Earth every 27.3 days.

4. Our moon is the fifth largest moon in the Solar System.

Photo: jasbond007 via Flickr

5. Neil Armstrong was the very first person to walk on the moon. He stepped out of his spacecraft, the Eagle, on 21 July 1969 and said, “That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.” Weird Fact: There are NO pictures of Neil Armstrong on the moon (they are all of his partner, Buzz Aldrin) except this one above, where you can just make him out in the reflection in Buzz Aldrin’s helmet.

6. Mons Huygens is the tallest mountain on the moon, it is 15,420 feet tall, just over half the height of Mt Everest (29,029 feet). But because the moon’s gravitational pull is about 83% less than on Earth, you could pretty much just float to the top. Easy!

7. The moon is very hot during the day but very cold at night. The average surface temperature is 224 degrees Fahrenheit during the day and NEGATIVE 243 degrees at night. Brrr!

8. The phases of the moon are: New Moon, Crescent, First Quarter, Waxing Gibbous, Full Moon, Waning Gibbous, Last Quarter, Crescent…then it’s back to New Moon.

9. A lunar eclipse occurs when Earth is between the sun and the moon.

10. Earth’s tides are largely caused by the gravitational pull of the moon. You can thank the moon for boogie boarding!

Do you have any out-of-this world facts about the Moon that you can share? Tell us in the comments below!

—Erin Feher

ML Interest Tag: lunar

LEGO Is Launching New NASA-Themed Sets This Month & They’re Out of This World

Satellite Service Mission

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Mars Research Shuttle

Lunar Space Station

Deep Space Rocket and Launch Control

Rocket Assembly and Transport

People Pack – Space Research and Development

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