Ready to make your commute to school a bit more exciting? Waze, the popular navigation app, is collaborating with PAW Patrol for a fun new experience that turns each drive into a mission. It even includes navigation instructions from your kid’s favorite pups!

To celebrate release of PAW Patrol: The Movie, you can activate this new feature once you’re signed into Waze. You’ll be able to hear navigation commands from Chase, Marshall, Skye and Ryder. You can update your profile’s “mood”  to match one of the pups on your map. You’ll even be able to change your car’s icon to the show’s iconic police car, fire truck or helicopter!

As you negotiate the usual traffic and stoplights, you might even run into Mayor Humdinger and his pesky kittens. Fortunately, Waze makes it easy to find the fastest route to school (or Target).

The feature is only available for a limited time and you can activate it here. Or simply open the Waze app and click the PAW Patrol banner to get started. Time to make family drives paw-some!

––Sarah Shebek

Featured image courtesy of Waze

 

RELATED STORIES

“Paw Patrol” Is Heading to the Big Screen with an All-Star Cast

Who doesn’t love an animated film about a sweet and cuddly creature that’s also packed with music? Thanks to Netflix and Sony Pictures Animation, Vivo checks all the boxes.

Featuring our fave musical guru Lin-Manuel Miranda, Vivo tells the story of a kinkajou on a mission to deliver a special message. Oh yeah, but what’s a kinkajou?

Now that we know all about the rainforest “honey bear,” we’re even more excited to watch the musical adventure. Along with Miranda, Vivo also shares the voices of newcomer Ynairaly Simo, Zoe Saldaña, Michael Rooker, Gloria Estefan, Nicole Byer and more.

Vivo will debut only on Netflix this Fri., Aug. 6.

––Karly Wood

Feature photo: Courtesy of Netflix

 

RELATED STORIES

Mira! Lin-Manuel Miranda Just Shared the Trailer for Disney’s New Film, “Encanto”

Go Behind Your Fave Park Attractions in New Disney+ Series

This Is the Only Place to Watch the New LEGO Star Wars Halloween Special

Invite your favorite flower- and plant- loving friend, mom or grandma to escape with you into these secret gardens for Mother’s Day or any day! The solitude and splendor you’ll find on these magical walks is worth the drive. They’re all kid-friendly with some having playgrounds, alphabet gardens or sensory touch & smell gardens. All are stroller/walker friendly and perfect for taking a slower pace, while allowing bigger kids to run ahead. Read on to find which one you’ll stroll over to first!

Insider’s Tip: 3 of these gardens participate in the American Horticultural Society (AHS) reciprocal membership program. Buy a membership to one of the three gardens, and you’ll get reciprocal admission to all three of them, as well as to 330+ other public gardens across North America.

Japanese Friendship Garden

Bonnie Taylor @famdiego

Jump across the rocks in the stream, walk over the bridges and admire the Japanese culture from this beautifully landscaped garden. The flat gravel trails will take you all the way down to the bottom of the canyon and back up again. Along the way you’ll see all the koi fish ponds, waterfall, bamboo water fountains and sculptures. Afterward, stop at the Tea Pavilion next door to choose from over 50 kinds of tea, noodle dishes or Japanese snacks.

Membership: Get a membership here for reciprocal admission to other AHS gardens.

Bathrooms: yes, at the top and bottom of the trails

Japanese Friendship Garden
2215 Pan American Rd. E, Balboa Park
619-232-2721
Online: niwa.org

Rice Canyon Demonstration Gardens

Bonnie Taylor @famdiego

Wander through this little cactus and succulent garden near the small parking lot before you head down to the trails for an easy hike. It’s a 3 mile path out and back, so only go out half as far as little legs will walk before they get tired. Just across the street is Discovery Park with a shaded playground and bathrooms.

Cost: Free

Bathrooms: not here, but you’ll find some across the street at Discovery Park

Rice Canyon Demonstration Gardens
N Rancho Del Rey Pkwy + Buena Vista Way
Online: ricecanyondemonstrationgardens.org

San Diego Botanic Garden

Bonnie Taylor @famdiego

Stop and smell the flowers in this horticultural wonderland featuring exotic plants from all over the world. There are 37 acres of plant species and 4 miles of trails from which to enjoy them all. There are 2 children’s gardens here that you don’t want to miss. Hamilton Children’s Garden has a big treehouse to climb inside and up to the top, a musical garden, a large sand pit and a stream to play in. The Seeds of Wonder Children’s Garden has dinosaurs, a playhouse and running model trains. Kids will also love the ABC garden with a plant labeled for each letter of the alphabet.

Special Event: The Oceanside Museum of Art has a current exhibit inspired by nature that complements the botanical setting. You’ll find 13 different works of art displayed throughout the Botanic Garden until Aug. 1.

Membership: Get a membership here for reciprocal admission to other AHS gardens.

Bathrooms: yes

San Diego Botanic Garden
300 Quail Gardens Dr., Encinitas
760-436-3036
Online: sdbgarden.org

Point Loma Native Plant Garden

Bonnie Taylor @famdiego

Enjoy the simplicity and quietness in this native plant garden tucked away in a residential neighborhood. You’ll likely have this place all to yourself because it’s not very well known and a little tricky to find. But once you get there, the kids can run ahead to explore while you catch a few beautiful moments to yourself.

Cost: Free

Bathrooms: no

Parking: Street parking only at Greene St. + Mendocino Blvd.

Point Loma Native Plant Garden
2275 Mendocino Blvd., Point Loma
619-297-7380
Online: sandiegoriver.org/point_loma.html

Water Conservation Garden

Bonnie Taylor @famdiego

Learn how to create your own backyard oasis with the water conservation ideas you’ll find here. Even if you’re not planning to overhaul your own backyard, anyone can enjoy these gardens. This has been our favorite spot for years because the kids can wander at their own pace, watch the turtles, drive the concrete cars, play in the children’s dinosaur garden and clubhouse, dig in the sand box, look for butterflies in the butterfly pavilion and run through the spray misters.

Tip: Check their website for Butterfly Releases in May & June

Cost: $8/adults; $5/seniors 55+, students & military; $4/kids 3-17; Free ages 2 and under

Membership: Get a membership here for reciprocal admission to other AHS gardens.

Bathrooms: yes

Water Conservation Garden
12122 Cuyamaca College Dr. W., El Cajon
619-660-0614
Online: thegarden.org

Alta Vista Botanical Gardens

Bonnie Taylor @famdiego

Get lost in over 16 different gardens within this garden! The fun children’s garden and discovery trail is just inside the front gate where you’ll find whimsical sculptures, crawl-through tunnels and flip over trivia question boxes. Meander past this as far as you want to go before looping back around to the front.

Cost: $5/non-members, $3/children ages 3-12, Free for ages 2 and under

Bathrooms: yes

Alta Vista Botanical Gardens
1270 Vale Terrace Dr., Vista
760-945-3954
Online: altavistabotanicalgardens.org

Mission Valley River Garden

Bonnie Taylor @famdiego

Explore the wild flowers at this volunteer-managed garden in Mission Valley. The river is pretty overgrown so you can’t actually see it and the freeway noise is noticeable, but once you start wandering around you won’t even notice it while you’re there. The trails are well marked and will lead you around several loops down and back. You’ll likely have this place all to yourself because the large gates out front are locked so it looks closed. But it’s a public garden, so you can park in front of the gates and walk through the easy to miss side gate to start exploring.

Cost: Free

Bathrooms: no

Mission Valley River Garden
3376 Camino Del Rio N., Mission Valley
619-297-7380
Online: sandiegoriver.org/river_garden.html

Azalea Park Water Conservation Garden

Bonnie Taylor @famdiego

Walk through this small water conservation garden with flat gravel trails that will loop around through recycled art sculptures. My kids favorites are the ones made out of car parts. You’ll find painted car hoods transformed into a tall flower and other car parts turned into a bull. Picnic tables and open grassy fields are behind the rec center for kids to run around.

Tip: You’ll find a playground tucked behind the rec center building.

Cost: Free

Bathrooms: yes

Azalea Park Water Conservation Garden
2596 Violet St., City Heights
619-235-1162
Online: sandiego.gov

Alcazar Garden

Bonnie Taylor @famdiego

Designed after the gardens of Alcazar Castle in Seville, Spain, you’ll marvel at the intricate garden, ornate Moorish fountains and vibrant flowers year round. Take a few slow walks around while the kids have fun dipping their hands in the water fountains. Grab some take out from nearby Panama 66, or sip some coffee from Prado Perk or Daniel’s Coffee as you spend the rest of the day walking around Balboa Park.

Challenge: Try to find all 13 other gardens at Balboa Park!

Cost: Free

Bathrooms: yes

Balboa Park Alcazar Garden
1363 El Prado, Balboa Park
619-239-0512
Online: balboapark.org

––Bonnie Taylor

RELATED STORIES:

Ripe for the Picking! The Berry Best U-Pick Farms

Toast Mom This Mother’s Day at These 10 Brunch Spots with Patios

Take a Hike! 21 Easy Trails for Kids in San Diego

Are you one of those people who makes a New Year’s resolution, stays at it for a couple weeks and fall off the bandwagon? Every day of the year could be a day to start a new routine, kick a bad habit or to start something you’ve always wanted. Despite these facts,  the start of a New Year is a recurring date that reminds us we can make new goals and with the right help, we can follow through. 

Here are some of my tips to help you get started off in the right direction in 2019. The clarity gained by hitting “reset” can have transformative effects to our minds, our health and our families.

De-clutter.

Clutter has a way of making us feel overwhelmed. So many people I know have a tendency to accumulate things. Is there really a point on hanging on to your child’s entire newborn wardrobe? 

Pick a couple items that are really near to you and hang on to them. We tend to place tremendous value on things and fret letting go of them. The relief accompanied by purging things is clarifying. Here are some suggestions of what you can toss:

  • Ttoys not used in a really long time? Toss ’em—donate to second-hand store or try to reclaim some money by consigning them. 
  • Food in your cupboards contributing to making you feel meh? Toss ’em±unopened dry goods can go to your local food bank. 
  • Do you spend most days thinking, “I wish I looked great, but instead I feel meh? Donate your clothes and if you’re environmentally-conscious like me, thrift for new ones! You’ll save money and you won’t feel so bad getting light wear out of them and re-donating them for a fresh st‌yle.  
  • If you’re holding on to lots of family heirlooms or memories, consider taking pictures of these items, filing them and donating the rest of the stuff. Letting go of some of the old things in our lives helps make way for the new.

Schedule a meeting—a very important meeting—with your partner.

Talk about what’s most important to you as a family. Set a family “mission statement” to discuss the most important feature of your family. Is it eating clean? Is it more quality time with family? Is it personal growth? 

Define what your unique mission is and then work to achieve it. Is the piano lesson that your daughter dreads going to giving her life and meaning? Is it helping you achieve your mission statement? If the answer to these questions is no, then pull her out of it and explore something that gives meaning to the mission. 

Don’t do things just because you think you ought to.

Read something that helps “reset” your mindset.

The self-help aisle at the book store might be something you’ve avoided for a while, yet there’s nothing like reading a book from start to finish to help reframe your perspective. 

I think many would agree with me when I say the effect of reading a book is much more beneficial for self-improvement than just skimming random articles on the internet. (Check out goodreads.com for personalized suggestions about what books are up your alley.)

Incorporate small, daily affirmations or meditation.

As a parent, I’m (fairly) certain you’ve heard of The Little Engine Who Could: “I think I can, I think I can.” As a parent, you can either repeat the same words (without relating too much to a train) or you can be more specific. 

Mantras are often really effective when we push out our negative self-talk with an affirmation. For example, sometimes I doubt myself as a parent, I’m too rigid, I’m not fun enough, my kids can’t just be kids and while sometimes realizations can help prompt change, sometimes these thoughts invade our space and prevent us from being the best we can be. 

To counteract some of my “bad-parent” negative self-talk, I repeat to myself, “I’m an amazing parent,” “I am doing all that I can,” “My kids are so lucky to have me and my care for them.” Repeat. Repeat. Repeat.

To be effective, set aside at least 10 minutes a day to sit quietly and boost yourself up with positive affirmations.

It’s time to set your New Year on fire and make this the best year yet with clarity, vision and purpose. 

 

This post originally appeared on MomsCandidConversations.

Hi, I'm Deanna. Mom and step-parent and I'm dedicated to positively contributing to the parenting community! 

Are your kiddos superfans of Mindy Thomas, Guy Raz and the famed “Wow in the World” podcast? News released today is going to change things up in a big way.

Tinkercast and Sony Music Entertainment (SME) have announced a new partnership that will develop premium podcast content that caters to kids and families––and undoubtedly take the growing audio market into the next dimension. Leading children’s media company, Tinkercast, and its vision of bringing engaging stories will soon be available on an even bigger scale.

photo: Meeno Peluce

If you aren’t familiar with Tinkercast, it was founded by media veterans Guy Raz, Mindy Thomas and Meredith Halpern-Ranzer. The Tinkercast team creates award-winning, immersive audio-first content that encourages “thinkers and tinkers” to embrace their role of shaping tomorrow.

SME’s role will broaden the scale and scope of Tinkercast’s work with its content creation, monetization and marketing expertise. So what does that mean exactly? You can expect tons of new episodes, international versions of existing content, PLUS brand new shows that will roll out this year!

Meredith Halpern-Ranzer, CEO, Tinkercast said “When we launched Tinkercast and Wow in the World, we were driven by our desire as parents and media makers to engage kids beyond the screen, in conversations and in their future. As parents, we wanted our kids to feel agency in their world. As media makers and storytellers, we believed that well-told stories could inspire hope, optimism and “wow.” We are thrilled to be partnering with Sony Music Entertainment in order to amplify our mission and to bring beloved and new original content to families around the world.”

Tinkercast content and programming will be available on all major platforms including Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify and Pocket Casts.

––Karly Wood

 

RELATED STORIES

10 Family Podcasts to Download NOW

20 Awesome Podcasts Your Kids Will Flip For

12 Podcasts Every Mom Needs in Her Life Right Now

LEGO has teamed up with IRL astronaut Dr. Kathy Sullivan for the launch of the all-new NASA Space Shuttle Discovery Set! The for-adults set celebrates the 40th anniversary of the first Space Shuttle flight.

Way back in April of 1981 the Space Shuttle took flight. Fast-forward 40 years and LEGO is marking the momentous event with a massive 2,354-piece set for grown-ups.

Not only is LEGO debuting the NASA Space Shuttle Discovery set, the beloved brick brand is also unveiling an informative interview with Dr. Sullivan. The interview is packed with details on the Space Shuttle’s mission and the astronaut’s thoughts on young people and STEM careers.

Dr. Sullivan said of the set, in a press release, “I was thrilled to see the space shuttle in LEGO form, and was very impressed by the amount of intricate detail they have managed to recreate from the module where we used to sleep and eat through to what we called the “milk stalls” on the telescope. Looking at the model, it was great to reminisce about my experiences in space launching the telescope for the first time.”

The former astronaut added, “Hubble is definitely the highlight of my career. This LEGO model is a great way for LEGO builders and space fans alike to get excited about space travel and learn more about the famous mission in a fun and engaging way.”

The LEGO NASA Discovery Space Shuttle set is age-rated for adults 18+. The set includes 2,354 pieces and features the Discovery orbiter with functional landing gear, payload bag doors, elevons and rudder. It also has a mini Hubble Telescope, two stands and plaques.

Get the new LEGO ($199) set starting Apr. 1, 2021 on LEGO.com. To watch Dr. Sullivan’s video interview, visit LEGO’s website here.

—Erica Loop

Photos: Courtesy of LEGO

 

RELATED STORIES

26 LEGO Sets That Will Delight LEGO Fans of All Ages

LEGO Wants to Help Parents Talk About Online Safety

Take Your Brick Building to the Next Level with LEGO and Nintendo

Do your kiddos love the red planet? If they’re clamoring to take part in a future mission to Mars, NASA may have a creative solution.

The opportunity is open to become a passenger on the next Mars mission––well, your name will be a passenger. NASA’s “Send Your Name to Mars” is a program that lets space fans take part by submitting their name which will then become a part of a future spacecraft!

photo: NASA/JPL-Caltech

All you have to do is head to the mars.nasa.gov website and complete the form. Once your name is approved it will then be etched onto a microchip which is placed aboard the next spacecraft for a mission (which may or not be identified yet).

Once approved, you can also print out your very own boarding pass. Not only that, you can become a “frequent flyer” by signing up again when subsequent missions take flight!

Head to mars.nasa.gov to add your name before the program closes.

––Karly Wood

photo: Pexels

 

RELATED STORIES

You Don’t Have to Be an Astronaut to Visit Mars, Thanks to NatGeo

Stargazing 101: Your Guide to Mastering Astronomy with Kids

Here’s How Your Kid Can Get An Astronaut Pen Pal

It’s the most wonderful time of the year—Girl Scout cookie time! We know how delicious those cookies are but did you know just how much good they do? Fun fact: The Girl Scout Cookie Program is the largest girl-led entrepreneurial program in the world. The Girl Scout Cookie Program prepares girls in the Chicago and Northwest Indiana area with the business smarts they need to take on the world! 

When you buy your Samoas® from local Girl Scouts, you’re helping fund unique and unforgettable experiences for girls, their troops and your local community, like learning coding, creating art or identifying insects. The experiences broaden their worlds and instill in them essential skills to prepare a lifetime of leadership. Read on to learn more about how one lil’ Thin Mint® can do so much, and why you should sign your daughter up ASAP!

Visit the Girl Scouts of Greater Chicago and Northwest Indiana Virtual Pop-up Shop, and support your local troops! You can purchase cookies for yourself, or donate them to essential workers and active military.

Cookies On a Mission

The Girl Scouts of Greater Chicago and Northwest Indiana cookie program is not only drool-worthy but a critical source of funding for local Girl Scout councils to deliver essential programming to girls. This funding also supports the council’s focus on ensuring equitable experiences for all through financial assistance and other resources. These are cookies on a mission: a mission to help girls learn essential skills for leadership, success and life. 

 

With each box of Trefoils® sold, these mini entrepreneurs are learning how to set goals and make decisions on how they'll run their cookie sales. Throughout the rest of the year, Girl Scouts set goals and make decisions around which badges they want to work toward and how they'll use their earnings from cookie sales to benefit their troop!

Selling Tagalongs® also sets girls up to practice important life skills from a young age. Each Girl Scout manages her own cookie sales, which helps her learn money management, budgeting and the responsibility and honesty needed to run a business! Girl Scouts also use this time to practice their people skills with their customers, and gain confidence through creating relationships and finding their voices. One box of cookies can set girls up with skills that last a lifetime!

 

Visit the Girl Scouts of Greater Chicago and Northwest Indiana Virtual Pop-up Shop, and support your local troops! You can purchase cookies for yourself, or donate them to essential workers and active military.

 

 

—Jamie Aderski

 

So, maybe you can’t dress like Meghan Markle or Jessica Alba all the time, but lucky for mamas-to-be, Target just announced a collaboration with celeb-loved maternity line HATCH. The newly launched “The Nines by Hatch” line features affordable, comfy clothing that expecting moms can use up until the ninth month and beyond. We got a sneak peek at the collection (available Feb. 9th), and we’re so in love. Keep reading to find out more.

This Target collab is HATCH’s first diffusion line and features clothing like maxi dresses and overalls. “Since launching HATCH in 2011, it has been our mission to bring chic, solution-driven maternity essentials for women at all stages of motherhood,” Founder and CEO Ariane Goldman said. “Offering a Target-exclusive collection is a dream come true and allows us to reach and support even more mamas-to-be across the country in their quest to feel stylish, confident and comfortable through all nine months of pregnancy and beyond.” 

 

The collection will be available starting Feb. 9th on target.com and 155 stores across the U.S. and will have 24 pieces available in sizes ranging from XS - XXL. Everything is priced from $26-$40. Even better, starting April 2021, “The Nines by Hatch” will release additional styles and items. 

 

—Gabby Cullen

All images courtesy of retailer. 

RELATED STORIES: 

Every Postpartum Mom Needs This New Collection From HATCH

Recall Alert: Target Rompers Recalled Due to Choking Hazard

Date Night In: 9 Maternity Looks You’ll Love