St. Patrick’s Day is coming up and you’re looking for a little “luck of the Irish.” If you’re not feeling particularly lucky, it’s possible you just don’t live in the right place.
Zippia recently released its list of the luckiest states in the country. From the highest lottery winnings to the places where people live longer lives, some states are luckier than others.
photo courtesy of Zippia
Along with lotto winners and overall life expectancy, Zippia measured median income, weather-related fatalities, unemployment rates,and car accident fatalities per 100,000 people to determine the luckiest states in America. And the winners are:
Minnesota
New Jersey
New Hampshire
Massachusetts
New York
Utah
Washington
Rhode Island
Connecticut
Hawaii
As the luckiest U.S. state, Minnesota had an impressive 22 lotto winners and a life expectancy of 81. New Jersey residents had even more lotto winners—with an annual total of 33, but life expectancy was one year lower, however. Number three on the luckiest states list, New Hampshire, also had a life expectancy of 80 (the same as New Jersey)—but only had 12 big lotto winners.
The fourth luckiest state, Massachusetts, was tied as one of the lowest extreme weather areas. It also had a high life expectancy of 81. Rounding out the top five, New York had an awesomely impressive 50 big lotto wins and a life expectancy of 81-years!
Getting your three-year-old to agree with you can sometimes feel like negotiating with a foreign diplomat who doesn’t speak the same language. Still, there are times when your tots will surprise you with the occasional “yes.” It’s definitely a challenge to figure out how to raise cooperative toddlers, but according to one study, some might be more prone to being agreeable than others.
The study by researchers at the Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences and the University of Virginia found that certain behaviors in babies could predict whether or not they would grow up to be cooperative toddlers. The study concluded that babies who paid attention to fearful faces in adults were more likely to be altruistic as toddlers and preschoolers, and altruism is considered a key component in cooperative behavior.
The study measured infants’ responses to fear in others at seven months old by tracking eye movement. Babies were exposed to faces that displayed several emotions including fear, happiness and anger. They later looked at the same babies’ altruistic behavior at 14 months. Responding to happy or angry faces was not linked to altruism later, but a response to the fearful faces was.
“From early in development, variability in altruistic helping behavior is linked to our responsiveness to seeing others in distress and brain processes implicated in attentional control. These findings critically advance our understanding of the emergence of altruism in humans by identifying responsiveness to fear in others as an early precursor contributing to variability in prosocial behavior,” said Tobias Grossmann, the lead author of the study and research team leader.
If you find that your baby takes note when you look terrified that you just ran out of coffee or panicked when you accidentally spill that freshly pumped milk, it could be a sign of calmer, more cooperative days ahead.
What’s better than chocolate eggs for Easter? A chocolate egg with a marshmallow center featuring your kids’ favorite characters for Easter. Yes, for fans of The Mandalorian, Frozen, Paw Patrol, Trolls or LOL Surprise!, these adorable hot chocolate melts will be a hit. Measuring in at 6.5″ x 4.5″ at costing $5.99, drop it in hot milk to see the marshmallow pop out, or eat it as a chocolate egg. Keep reading for the details and adorable pics!
Frozen
Who's in the middle of this Frozen-themed hot chocolate melt? Why, it's Olaf, of course! Click here to buy.
Trolls
This happy troll will be a fun surprise on Easter! Buy it here.
Paw Patrol
How cute is this puppy paw marshmallow? Fans of Paw Patrol will go wild for it. Buy it here.
LOL Surprise!
LOL Surprise! is one of the original unboxing collectibles, so we're not surprised (see what we did there?) that there's a hot chocolate melt too. Buy it here.
This Baby Yoda hot chocolate melt will be a hit with any Mandalorian fans this Easter treat. While it's currently sold out, be sure to keep checking the website to see when it's good to order!
Let me preface this by saying that my kids (well, at least half of “my kids”) now have children of their own, so it has been a while since we were teaching them how to cook.
However, my granddaughter recently wanted to help baste the turkey (she’s three), and I realized we are definitely at an age where she can help out around the kitchen.
This realization has led to a walk down memory lane, dragging out old photo albums featuring my son in a miniature chef’s hat and my daughter incredibly proud of her very first pretzels.
This brings us to today and this article. If you are trying to figure out which cooking skills your child (or grandchild) is ready to adopt, I’m hopeful I can help out.
1. Keeping the Kitchen & Their Hands Clean. We all know just how important cleanliness is when cooking. Washing our hands often, making sure we don’t leave a mess behind as we go, and tidying away after cooking are integral parts of being a good cook. Kids can learn how to keep the kitchen clean and the importance of washing their hands very early on—you can engage them in the cleanup as young as 2 or 3, and they’ll be more than happy to contribute.
Pro Tip: Get a special soap they get to use and a set of kitchen cloths with an appealing design to ease the process along.
2. Washing Fruits & Veggies. Along the same kinds of lines, there’s washing all that glorious food you are preparing. This can also be their task from a younger age.
Explain the differences between different kinds of fruits and vegetables: what needs to be peeled, what needs to be washed, what can be cooked with the skin on, and so on. This is also the perfect time to explain what each item is, where it is grown, and what it is used for. Because, remember, our kids might not know as much about food production as we had hoped.
3. Making a Simple Breakfast. This can mean boiling an egg, making toast using a toaster, making porridge—something they can whip up for themselves.
Putting together a sandwich is often the first thing you can teach them, as it does not have to involve turning on the stove, using any kind of appliance for that matter, or the use of a knife.
When they learn how to read, you can create a little recipe book that houses all these simple recipes, and illustrate the steps with their own drawings.
4. Understanding Basic Measurements. As your kids begin to learn basic math, you can easily apply the principles they are working with in school in the kitchen.
Teach them how to measure liquids, how to use kitchen scales, and how to measure in cups and spoons. Let them actually do the measuring—and if they get it wrong, they learn they need to be more careful in the future.
5. Using Appliances. Make sure the appliances you have around the home are safe for your children—auto-offs, timers, doors that close firmly, all will come in handy when working in the kitchen with your younger kids. If you need a bit of help using and choosing them, you can check out some of my pointers on The Confused Nester.
When they can understand the basic concepts of heat, electricity, and cooking, teach them how each appliance works, what it is used for, and how they can turn it off in case of an emergency.
Now you can then move on to actual recipes!
6. Meal Planning. Planning meals is another important aspect of working in the kitchen. It involves knowing which items from the fridge and pantry need to be used first, what goes with what, and how much time you have to prepare a meal. Portion sizes will also come into consideration.
This is a skill you should definitely work on with your older kids. Take them to the store with you and have them join you as you map out a meal plan for the week. Explain the logic behind buying certain items, and watch as they start to get a hang of the usual meals you make and what needs to go in them. You can also use handy sheets and lists to help you out.
7. Basic Knife Skills. When teaching knife skills, start with a plastic knife. Use it on bananas and other soft foods, until your kids know how to handle the knife with confidence. You can then move up to using a duller kind of knife for the rough chopping—fruits and veggies that don’t need to be finely diced. Finally, you will graduate to a real metal knife and work on fine motor skills—onions are your best friends here.
8. Seasoning & Other Flavors. Finally, you can work on adding extra flavor to your dishes and teach your kids the importance of spices and seasoning.
The most fun, but perhaps not the most appetizing way to do this will be to make a lot of mistakes. Use spices one by one and teach your children what they actually taste like and what they go with nicely. Of course, make sure you read up on the use of spices yourself first, if you are not already a pro when it comes to the use of the spice rack.
Most kids will be happy to join you in the kitchen and will enjoy working on different aspects of a dish with you. Don’t push them out with the excuse of “you’re too young, you’ll hurt yourself.” Teach them the skills they need so they don’t injure themselves in the kitchen, and you will be nurturing their love of cooking and food alike.
Mother of two and an aspiring star baker, Joyce started blogging during the 2020 pandemic. She is still unsure about her voice (which is why she writes under a pseudonym), but is aiming to overcome her fears and write as much as she can.
If you’ve got mini wizards at home, you can make this holiday gift-giving season even more magical with Harry Potter holiday wrapping paper.
The wrapping paper collection, which was created by MinaLima’s wizarding shop in England, is so intricately detailed and gorgeous you could frame it and hang it on the wall as artwork. It does, however, make the absolute perfect gift wrap for a Harry Potter-themed gift.
The paper comes in six different prints including a Maurader’s Map pattern, the Daily Prophet, the Black Family Tapestry, Quidditch gift wrap and more.
Each print comes in a set of two sheets measuring 50 by 70 cm each. Each set can currently be pre-ordered online for £5.95 and will be available starting Nov. 4. While the company is U.K. based, they do ship worldwide.
Theater kids rejoice!. Today, Disney+ released the trailer for High School Musical: The Musical: The Holiday Special, which premieres Fri., Dec. 11 on the streaming service. Later this week, on Fri., Nov. 20, the soundtrack from the special will be available on all streaming services.
The trailer includes a preview of “The Perfect Gift,” a new song from the highly anticipated second season of the series, written and performed by Joshua Bassett.
In addition to “The Perfect Gift,” the soundtrack and special will provide fans a sneak peek of “Something In The Air,” the first major musical number from the upcoming second season of the series.
High School Musical: The Musical: The Holiday Special will also feature Bassett, Olivia Rodrigo, Matt Cornett, Sofia Wylie, Larry Saperstein, Julia Lester, Dara Reneé, Frankie Rodriguez, Joe Serafini, Mark St. Cyr and Kate Reinders sharing their childhood holiday memories, best – and most embarrassing! – gifts, favorite traditions and family photos.
The track listing for the special and soundtrack is as follows:
“This Christmas (Hang All The Mistletoe)” – performed by Sofia Wylie
“The Perfect Gift” – written and performed by Joshua Bassett
“Feliz Navidad” – performed by Frankie Rodriguez and Joe Serafini
“The Hanukkah Medley” – performed by Julia Lester
“Last Christmas” – performed by Matt Cornett
“White Christmas” – performed by Larry Saperstein
“Little Saint Nick” – performed by Joshua Bassett and Matt Cornett
“Believe” – performed by Dara Reneé
“What Are You Doing New Year’s Eve” – performed by Kate Reinders and Mark St. Cyr
“River” – performed by Olivia Rodrigo
“Something In The Air” – performed by the season two cast of “High School Musical: The Musical: The Series”
“That’s Christmas To Me” – performed by Frankie Rodriguez, Kate Reinders, Julia Lester and Joe Serafini
“Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)” – performed by Dara Reneé
High School Musical: The Musical: The Holiday Special is executive-produced by High School Musical: The Musical: The Series creator and executive producer Tim Federle (Golden Globe and Academy Award-nominated Ferdinand) and Ashley Edens (Dancing With The Stars). The series has been “Certified Fresh” on Rotten Tomatoes as measured by a consensus of reviews by top critics and audience members, and recently received the 2020 GLAAD Media Award for “Outstanding Kids & Family Programming.”
Crate and Barrel has recalled their Kids Danish Tall Bookcases because the legs can break and cause them to collapse when fully loaded. This recall involves Crate and Barrel Danish White and Natural Tall Bookcases (SKU 325982) and Danish Walnut and White Tall Bookcases (SKU 325943). Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled bookcase and contact Crate and Barrel to receive a full refund.
The bookcases have four shelves and measure 60 inches tall by 32 inches wide. The bookcase has a two-tone white and wood finish. There is a label underneath the bottom shelf with Crate and Barrel, the SKU number and the name of the product.
The bookcases were sold at Crate and Barrel stores nationwide and online at www.crateandbarrel.com from June 2017 through January 2020 for about $300.
Crate and Barrel has received five reports of the bookcase’s leg breaking. No injuries have been reported.
Consumers can contact Crate and Barrel at 800-451-8217 from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. CT Mon. through Fri., 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. CT Sat. and Sun. or online at www.crateandbarrel.com and click on “Recalls” located at the bottom of the page for more information.
Coin battery ingestions by young children has been on the rise for nearly twenty years, but Duracell is doing something about it. In an innovative move, the trusted battery brand has developed a new bitter-tasting coating on specific coin batteries to keep kids safe and help deter accidental ingestions.
Duracell Lithium Coin batteries (sizes 2032, 2025, and 2016) are now made with a clear, non-toxic, bitter coating. This unsavory coating is specifically added to batteries that measure 20mm, which is similar to the size of a child’s esophagus in hope of helping to discouraging swallowing.
photo: Courtesy of Duracell
Unfortunately, when children swallow lithium coin batteries, they can become stuck and burn through the sensitive tissue of the esophagus in only two hours. It is Duracell’s hope that the new coating, coupled with child-safe packaging and other education can help prevent the swallowing of coin batteries.
The new batteries have been awarded the Parent Tested Parent Approved Winner’s Seal of Approval.
Christmas carols meet the high school drama club. The cast of High School Musical: The Musical: The Series are coming together to perform their favorite Christmas, Hanukkah and New Year’s songs and share their fondest holiday memories in High School Musical: The Musical: The Holiday Special. The 45-minute special premieres on Fri., Dec. 11 on Disney+ and will also feature a sneak peek performance from the highly anticipated second season of the popular series.
Series regulars Olivia Rodrigo, Joshua Bassett, Matt Cornett, Sofia Wylie, Larry Saperstein, Julia Lester, Dara Reneé, Frankie Rodriguez, Joe Serafini, Mark St. Cyr and Kate Reinders will get viewers in the holiday spirit with their renditions of holiday classics, popular hits and a medley of Hanukkah favorites. They will also share anecdotes of memorable holidays from their childhoods, best – and most embarrassing – presents, favorite traditions, family photos and poignant New Year’s resolutions. Bassett will also debut an acoustic version of an original song which he wrote for season two of High School Musical: The Musical: The Series.
“The holidays remind us of the universal importance of family and loved ones,” said Tim Federle, executive producer and director of the special. “The cast of High School Musical: The Musical: The Series is its own kind of family, and we are delighted to have the opportunity to share their favorite holiday music and traditions with our viewers.”
High School Musical: The Musical: The Holiday Special: The Soundtrack, featuring holiday songs performed by the cast in the special, will be available beginning Fri., Nov. 20 on all major music services and streaming platforms.
The special is executive-produced by High School Musical: The Musical: The Series creator and executive producer Tim Federle (Golden Globe and Academy Award-nominated Ferdinand) and Ashley Edens (Dancing With the Stars). The series has been “Certified Fresh” on Rotten Tomatoes as measured by a consensus of reviews by top critics and audience members and recently received the 2020 GLAAD Media Award for “Outstanding Kids & Family Programming.”
Season one of High School Musical: The Musical: The Series is currently available on Disney+.
Feel silly having a conversation with a baby that can’t talk? Don’t, because those one-sided conversations about farm animals and the colors of the rainbow are actually vital to your kids as they grow. A new study has found that how much parents talk with babies can have an impact on their IQ later in life.
The 10-year longitudinal study was conducted by LENA, a company that creates curriculum and programs for educators and parents to help with early language development. The researchers concluded that the amount of talking parents did with their babies up to age three had an impact on their IQ and verbal abilities, like vocabulary and verbal comprehension, in adolescence.
“We know all of the child’s conversational partners matter, from their parents and primary caregivers to their child care teachers,” said Dr. Stephen Hannon, president of LENA. “This research confirms a growing body of science that says adult-child interactive talk is essential to early development and success in school.”
The study showed that while talking to babies at this age was important, what was most vital was talking to them in a conversational manner. In other words, even if your baby is too young to answer you, its important to speak to them as if they might answer.
In order to complete the study, LENA researchers developed and utilized their wearable “talk pedometer” to measure things like adult words spoken, “conversations,” like a parent saying something and a baby offering a coo or sound in response. The first phase of data collection was conducted in 2006 with 146 families. Ten years later in 2016, the same kids at ages nine to 14 were given language and cognitive tests. The amount of adult words recorded in the first phase of the study correlated with the kids test results ten years later.
“It’s incredible that we are able to measure the relationship between the experiences of babies and their cognitive skills 10 years later,” said Dr. Jill Gilkerson, Senior Research Director at LENA, and lead author on the paper. “It strongly supports what other research has shown: talk with babies may make a huge difference in their futures and there is a need to begin early, since parents’ talk habits in the 18-24-month window start forming from the moment the baby is born.”