Listen up Blizzard fans: tomorrow you can order your favorite treat and support a good cause! Miracle Treat Day is October 28 and gives back to the Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals.
To participate, head to your local DQ restaurant and order any Blizzard. In return, $1 or more will be donated to benefit local children’s hospitals. It’s a longtime charitable sponsorship through DQ and it’s a simple (and delicious) way to help out kids in need.
Download the DQ App to learn more and get reminders, or get more info online. You’ll learn more about how the money raised supports various hospital initiatives, including the purchase of a multisensory machine, the expansion of a pet therapy program and the installation of a therapy pool. Grab a Pumpkin or Pecan Pie Blizzard for the whole family tomorrow!
Silent night? Not so much… in preparation for the Christmas season, take your crew’s carol singing to new levels with the Tobi 2 Interactive Karaoke Machine. Here’s how this whimsical machine can create a festive family sing-a-long and memories that’ll last a lifetime:
Prep Your Playlist
Kick off the holiday spirit by asking your family to share their favorite Christmas carols and songs in advance so you can prep your playlist. When it’s party time, connect the Tobi 2 Interactive Karaoke Machine to an external smart device using wireless Bluetooth® technology and play any song through the built-in speaker. Heads up: you’re about to ensure people of all ages are happy and entertained for hours (a win-win!).
O Come All Ye Rockstars
Grab the corded microphone and spread joy to the world (or at least throughout the living room). Reduce the volume of the vocals to let your own voice take center stage. Worried you can’t carry a tune? There’s pitch correction to enhance singing. So, no excuses!
Break Out the Sweaters
Wardrobe is an important part of any superstar's performance, including a Christmas carol karaoke night. Pull your best over-the-top holiday attire out from storage to get in the festive mood!
Rock around the Christmas Tree
There are tons of cool features to make this season extra celebratory. Kids love dancing to the LED lightshow with Tobi’s fun expressions, built-in songs and beats. And things will certainly get silly by adding different voice effects and sounds. Wind down each performance with a rousing round of applause. To keep the festivities going from anywhere in the room, use the Tobi 2 Robot Smartwatch (sold separately) as a remote control.
Who knew grandma was a secret superstar? Or that Dad actually knew all the words to Holy Night? The Tobi 2 Interactive Karaoke Machine lets you save up to nine recordings to make a greatest hits collection for a future listening session.
Have a Dance Off
Not only can the Tobi 2 Interactive Karaoke Machine get your family singing, but you’ll be dancing all night, too. Play seven interactive games including Freeze Dance, Rap n’ Record, and Laugh Attack.
All you need are 4 AA batteries and an audience to get this party started! (Just remember to share the mic.) Merry Christmas!
If you love to cook, it’s hard not to want ALL the cool gadgets out there. But unless you have considerable space, it can be challenging to find a spot for all of them. Luckily, appliances are getting more compact and storage-friendly by the day. We looked around and found 14 kitchen appliances—from an Instant Pot to a food processor—that will not only free up counter space but will make your cooking endeavors that much easier. Keep reading to see them all.
All products featured on this page are independently reviewed and selected by our editors. However, when you buy something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission.
You'll definitely want to add this toaster oven/air fryer to your kitchen gear as it comes in a too-cute red color and stores upright to save countertop space. The toast feature even adjusts cook time based on how many slices of bread you are toasting. Brilliant!
When you are looking to buy a blender, there's nothing better than a Vitamix. This powerhouse appliance will make baby food, blend your morning smoothies, puree soups and even make nut butters (if you're so inclined). Thre's no need for an ice cream maker or food processor with this versatile appliance.
If your counter is packed with both a multi-cup coffee maker and a single-cup pod brewer, we've got the perfect option for you. Ditch them both and snag this 2-in-1 machine from Cuisinart that will brew 12 cups when you are hosting friends, or a single cup when it's just you. A 40 oz. water reservoir with charcoal filter makes this even easier to use in the wee hours of the morning.
Instant Pot Duo Mini 7-in-1 Electric Pressure Cooker
Amazon
This mini version of everyone’s favorite pressure cooker takes the place of seven appliances: rice cooker, steamer, slow cooker and more. See our favorite Instant Pot recipes for busy nights here.
Juicers can be one of the largest appliances that’s hard to find a good place to store. Consider this smaller version that’s just as strong as a bigger version.
Mueller Austria Ultra-Stick Multi-Purpose Hand Blender
Amazon
A hand blender is a secret weapon: it whips, blends and even froths. The best part? It stows away in a drawer instead of taking up precious counter or shelf space.
You love your Nespresso in the morning, but you don’t love how much space the espresso machine takes up. This version offers up the same great quality coffee, but with a compact design that’s perfect for small spaces.
If you don’t have the space for a grill, or if you want to be able to grill on days when the weather isn’t cooperating, this smokeless indoor grill will do the trick. The heat distributes evenly, and the ceramic coating makes for easy cleanup.
You’ve been dying to get on the air fryer bandwagon, but don’t know where you put it. Try this 4.3-quart version that takes up almost no space. See our favorite air fryer recipes by clicking here.
Lights, camera, action! Does your kiddo love captivating an audience with elaborate stories, hamming it up at family functions or belting out ballads in the car? Let their creative juices flow with the Tobi 2 Director’s Camera and the Tobi 2 Interactive Karaoke Machine. The cool features on these gadgets make it simple for your filmmaker or rockstar to tap into their creativity and curiosity. Better yet, you won’t ever hear the words, “I’m bored.” (PS: siblings may quickly find themselves as constant supporting actors and backup singers.)
Hollywood, Here We Come
The high-definition Tobi 2 Director’s Camera takes videos, selfies, and photos. A green screen and built-in backgrounds transform kids into anything they dream up—superheroes, news anchors, astronauts and so much more. Other awesome special effects include creating comic book pages, making video stickers and designing stop-motion videos. Proud parent alert: internal editing software elevates videos, movies and photos into masterpieces. No matter what story your child wants to tell, it’s possible with this cool camera. We can almost hear it now, “And the award goes to…”
Super Selfies FTW!
No newsflash here—kids are experts at sneaking into their parents’ phones and taking selfies. But with the Tobi 2 Director’s Camera, they can have their own device to make silly expressions and say cheese. The flip-out lens, selfie stick, tripod, auto timer and hilarious face filters take typical selfies up a notch. (Your phone’s photo library will thank you!)
Creative Expression, Made Simple
This digital HD camera is perfect for kids 6+. It features a large 2.4” display, a microSD slot for expanded memory, and rechargeable battery with USB cable for easy charging and downloading. Plus, it’s splashproof (because spills are inevitable with kids!). Before you know it, your kiddo will be deep in the creative process, proudly sharing mini-films that magically transformed their everyday world into a movie set.
Sing On
Is there ever a bad time for karaoke? (Ok, fine… maybe bedtime isn’t exactly ideal). The Tobi 2 Interactive Karaoke Machine can connect to an external music device using wireless Bluetooth® technology—playing any song through the built-in speaker. You can lower the volume of the vocals so kids' voices can be front and center. (There’s pitch correction for those working on carrying a tune.) Not only is the singing sensational, but there’s an LED lightshow with Tobi’s fun expressions, built-in songs and beats, voice effects and more. Save up to nine recordings to share your favorite tunes with your crew.
Dance Off
The Tobi 2 Interactive Karaoke Machine inspires superstar singing and dancing. Seven interactive games including Freeze Dance, Rap n’ Record, and Laugh Attack get kids moving and grooving. Consider this practice for when Beyoncé needs some new backup dancers…
Connect to the New Smartwatch
Both of these devices connect to the Tobi 2 Robot Smartwatch (sold separately), which can be used as a remote control to take pictures and videos with the Tobi 2 Director’s Camera or change tracks on the Tobi 2 Interactive Karaoke Machine.
Barbie has always been a gal who takes on challenges and doesn’t shy away from trying new jobs. Now, she’s digging into an underrepresented career where women make up less than 3%: music producers.
Barbie Music Producer ($15) is the newest a doll in a long line of over 200 careers and she’s packing a punch. Dressed in jeans, graphic tee, platforms, crop jacket, and colorful hair, Barbie comes with headphones, computer and sound mixing board.
In addition to the inspiring new doll, Barbie is coming together with Grammy-Award nominated music producer, songwriter, singer and actress Ester Dean and Girls Make Beats to fund Girls Make Beats scholarships so young girls can reach their dreams in music. Girls Makes Beat is an organization whose mission is to give females a larger presence in the industry as audio engineers, DJ’s and music producers.
Young musicians ages 5-17 can tune in live when Barbie, Girls Make Beats and Ester Dean host a live webinar on Sept. 22 at 4 p.m. PST, open to girls ages 5-17 to get more inspiration. Additionally, Barbie and MTV will host a takeover over Saturday Music Video Block on Sept. 18 at 8 a.m. EST with exclusive women-produced music hits. Want even more inspo?
Catch Ester Dean on Barbie’s newest blog, “I Interview Ester Dean, Song Machine” on Fri., Sept. 24th on the Barbie YouTube channel.
For kids who use wheelchairs, regular backpacks are anything but practical. Fortunately, Target’s expanded array of back-to-school items features an adaptive backpack with plenty of mounting options, pockets and ports, plus easy-grab zippers. It’s new this year and available for $39.99 online!
At 17 inches, the Embark backpack has been thoughtfully designed for school or adventure time. The mounting and carrying straps attach the pack to a wheelchair, and it has tuck-away back straps to prevent tangling and dragging. You’ll also find access ports for tubes or cables, plus a laptop sleeve designed to fit a machine up to 15 inches. Plus it completely unzips for easy access and features a side water bottle holder. Grab one in black, blue or purple, depending on your kid’s style preference.
Another great option for younger kids? The Cat and Jack 17 inch dino backpack! It offers many of the same features as the Embark model, plus a fun prehistoric print and an orange dino keychain to complete the look. There’s even a built-in compartment to add a hydration pack. Did we mention it’s a reasonably priced $19.99? It’s currently (unsurprisingly) sold out online, but keep an eye out for restocking.
The new products are part of Target Adaptive, made in collaboration with guests of all abilities. The special collections offer seasonal and everyday products that are stylish, functional and come at a great price.
Summer is in full effect and there’s nothing quite like an outdoor movie night to bring your family together. Scroll through to find all the family movie night gear that we love from a kid-friendly projector that’s already loaded with content, to all our favorite family movies to put on your list. The show is about to begin!
CINEMOOD Movie Projector
Cinemood
CINEMOOD is the way to go when you are looking for a projector for your family movie night. This 3-inch projector is designed for kids and comes with Disney content, games, bedtime stories and even a shadow puppet tutorial all included. Access additional content from Netflix, Prime Video, YouTube and more. Not only is it great for your indoor movie nights, but you can bring it camping, set it up in your backyard or even bring it on your next flight.
There are three different CINEMOOD projectors to choose from. The base projector includes everything above, while the CINEMOOD 360 adds on 360-degree capability to turn your walls into an immersive experience of nature scenes. It also has interactive motion games to get kids moving.
The new CINEMOOD TV comes with the features kids and parents love from previous models—plus it is five times faster and brighter so it can stream content in the daylight. It can be used without the need for WiFi and soon will have voice navigation making it even easier for kids to use.
Is it really a movie night without popcorn? We think not. We love the idea of having your own popcorn machine to bring out for family movie night as it makes it feel that more festive. This popcorn and concession cart has a small footprint and all the space you need to stash your popcorn ingredients away for the next movie night. Or, choose this tabletop version with a vintage flair.
Check out this list of fun flavored popcorn recipes to make it that much more special (churro is our favorite!).
Movie Theater Candy Boxes
Walmart
If you want to be the favorite parent on the block, stock your pantry with movie theater boxed candy and let everyone choose their favorite.
Make It Cozy
Amazon
Snuggling up at home is part of the fun of a family movie night. How about getting everyone their own PediPocket blanket that is made out of super-cozy fleece and comes with a foot pocket? Or go all in and get everyone The Comfy—an oversized blanket/hoodie that is sherpa lined. Another great option is to get the whole family decked out in matching holiday PJs if you've got a holiday movie to watch.
Pick Your Flick
iStock
Sometimes the hardest decision for movie night is which movie to watch. We love the idea of having each family member contribute a few options and picking one out of a hat. Or choose in order of youngest to oldest and have a different family member be the host each week.
There’s nothing like giving kids a place to get creative and messy. And since warmer weather is just a couple of months away, it’s the perfect time to consider an outdoor space to do exactly that. From a classic mud kitchen to one with wheels, we’ve rounded up 11 adorable mud kitchens you can buy on Etsy. Scroll down to see them all.
Double-Sink Mud Kitchen
This gorgeous double-sink outdoor cedar kitchen is begging for mud fun!
If you’re in major family planning mode, it might also be a good time for a career change. Career Expert site Zippia recently studied the best and worst jobs for expecting moms who are looking for paid maternity leave (because who isn’t?) and the results are pretty interesting.
Zippia scraped over one million job listings to determine which companies were likely to offer paid maternity leave by searching for specific keywords. Those jobs with the highest percentage of keywords offered the most maternity leave benefits. Here’s what they discovered.
The following job titles had over 10 percent of listings that mentioned maternity leave:
1. Senior Reliability Engineer
2. Lead Engineer
3. Electronics Tehnician
4. Senior Recruiter
5. Technical Support Engineer
6. Technical Recruiter
7. Compliance Analyst
8. Sales Manager
9. Software Test Engineer
10. Enterprise Account Executive.
Notably, all of these job titles require tons of experience and don’t apply to the majority of job seekers who likely work in entry or mid-level careers.
Zippia also noted the worst job options when it comes to getting paid maternity leave, with less that 1 percent offering the benefit:
1. Cook
2. Server
3. Sales Engineer
4. Case Manager
5. Architect
6. Sales Specialist
7. Machine Operator
8. Systems Administrator
9. Administrative Assistant
10. Material Handler
Many of the worst job options for paid maternity leave pay less than $30,000 annually, adding to the already difficult challenges of how moms can afford to take time off for baby. Obviously not everyone can afford to make a huge career change, but knowing which jobs offer a paid leave definitely helps when it comes to planning––and waiting for the U.S. to finally get its act together on offering a national paid maternity leave program.
PJ Masks is celebrating National Superhero Day with a brand-new album! The new release is the fourth album to drop from your pre-k kiddo’s fave.
Hasbro’s global entertainment studio eOne and producers Pure West are the musical geniuses behind the episodic album “PJ Power Up.” This new addition joins “Heroes Forever,” “Here We Come,” and “Time to Be a Hero!”
photo courtesy of eOne
In honor of National Superhero Day, PJ Masks is releasing the first track from “PJ Power Up”—”Shine on Everyone.” Your littles can look forward to more tracks, with one released every Wednesday. Each track adds to the story, creating episodes for your child to follow. The final track, “Shout Hooray,” will debut Jun. 9.
The “PJ Power Up” tracks and release dates are as follows:
Apr. 28: “Shine on Everyone”
May 5: “Time to be a Hero”
May 12: “Go Cat Co”
May 19: “Let’s Fly”
May 26: “Lizard Machine”
Jun. 2: “Steal the Night”
Jun. 9: “Shout Hooray”
Choose your preferred music service to stream the first track from the album here!
