Vegetarians Rejoice! WDW Now Has a Plant-Based Cuisine Guide

by Karly WoodApril 25, 2019

Stuffing your face with delightful food is half the fun when you visit Walt Disney World, and now vegans and vegetarians won’t have to miss out on any of the magic. The Magic Kingdom has finally released a guide for plant-based cuisine in the park!

The pamphlet, called “Disney Plant-Based Cuisine,” is color coded and organized by each land in the park. Vegan options are noted with a leaf, so diners can find meals that are free of meat, eggs, honey and dairy.

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A post shared by VeganDisneyFood.com (@vegandisneyfood)

In addition to identifying actual meals (which look pretty tasty even to a meat-eater), the guide also distinguishes which dining options offer breakfast, lunch and dinner, and whether it’s a quick service or table service restaurant. Get ready to enjoy the likes of cauliflower tacos, vegan brats and vegetarian bangers and mash!

Parkgoers can pick up the guide at any Guest Experience Team kiosk, Guest Relations locations at City Hall or the Liberty Square Ticket Office and at all table and quick service locations.

Here’s to hoping this guide arrives at every Disney Park soon!

––Karly Wood

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Millions of Instagram Passwords Were Exposed: What You Should Know

by Erica LoopApril 20, 2019

During a routine security review back in January 2019 Facebook caught a serious issue. As it turns out, some user passwords were stored in a readable format, making it possible for Facebook employees (but not anyone outside of the company) to find and view. While the initial announcement noted that hundreds of millions of Facebook Lite users, tens of millions of other Facebook users and tens of thousands of Instagram users were affected, a more recent discovery noted a much larger problem.

So how many Facebook and Instagram users are actually affected by this security issue? According to an update published Apr. 18, Facebook found additional logs of Instagram passwords stored in a readable format—bringing the current estimate of affected IG users to somewhere in the millions range.

photo: Toni Hukkanen via Unsplash

If you’re wondering if Facebook routinely stores passwords in readable text, the answer is no. The company’s security “best practices” include masking all passwords, making it impossible for anyone (including company employees) to see them. But, in this case, internal problems didn’t allow the proper masking to happen.

Before you worry too much, Facebook assures its users that the problem is fixed. Beyond that, when the initial issue was detected Facebook didn’t find evidence of employee misuse of the readable text passwords.

Users affected by this security issue will receive notification from Facebook. If you haven’t heard anything, but still have concerns, changing your passwords is always a good idea.

—Erica Loop

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Recall Alert: Some Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream Flavors Have Undeclared Tree Nuts

by Erica LoopApril 17, 2019

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration recently announced a recall of Ben & Jerry’s Coconut Seven Layer Bar bulk and Chunky Monkey pints due to an undeclared tree nut allergen issue. According to an emailed comment by a Ben & Jerry’s spokesperson, the Coconut Seven Layer Bar bulk portion recall only extends to Scoop Shops/franchises.

The spokesperson also noted that while the Chunky Monkey pints are labeled with “may contain other tree nuts,” only walnuts are included in the ingredients list. If you, your child or anyone else in your household has a tree nut allergy, read on for more information on this recall.

Recalled Product Description: Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream

The current recall only includes Ben & Jerry’s Coconut Seven Layer Bar bulk and Chunky Monkey pints. The Coconut flavor is sold to Scoop Shops/franchises in 2.4 gallon tubs—meaning that you can’t find this product in your grocer’s freezer section. The Chunky Monkey product is sold by the pint at numerous retail locations.

Why the Ice Cream Was Recalled

These flavors may contain undeclared tree nuts, including almonds, Brazil nuts and hazelnuts. While the products do include “Contains Walnuts” and “May contain other tree nuts,” the above mentioned nuts aren’t specified.

How to Tell If Your Ice Cream Is Part of the Recall

The affected Ben & Jerry’s Coconut Seven Layer Bar bulk ice cream has the Consumer UPC of 076840104246 and best by date of SEP1520BJ4.The Ben & Jerry’s Chunk Money pints have the Consumer UPC of 076840100354 and best by dates of AUG2820BH2, AUG2920BH2, or AUG3020BH2.

What Parents Can Do

If you have the affected products and your child (or any household member( has a tree nut allergy, don’t eat it. Keep the container and call 833-236-1237 for what to do next.

—Erica Loop

Photos: Courtesy of the U.S. Food & Drug Administration

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Did Kelly Clarkson Just Ruin “Frozen” for Her Daughter?

by Erica LoopApril 17, 2019

American Idol winner, The Voice coach, super-talented performer, mama. While these words all describe singer Kelly Clarkson, there’s one way Clarkson is just like us. Sometimes she says the wrong thing at the wrong time to her kid.

When Clarkson recently explained voice-over acting to her four-year-old daughter River Rose, she may have dished too deeply. While speaking with ET’s Kevin Frazier, the Ugly Dolls star revealed how she may have accidentally crushed her kiddo’s Frozen dreams.

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So what exactly did Clarkson do? When trying to compare her role in the animated Ugly Dolls movie to Frozen’s Elsa and Anna, she inadvertently told River Rose that there are actresses voicing the movie’s main characters.

Clarkson told ET, “I was explaining to her, because she was confused, and I said, ‘It’s my voice. Like, you know, like how Elsa and Anna, there’s a person that plays Elsa and Anna?’ And I didn’t get what I was doing!”

Of course the mama felt terrible for lifting the veil and exposing Anna and Elsa as animated, voiced cartoon characters. But Clarkson also noted that with River Rose, “would’ve figured it out.” Beyond consoling herself with the knowledge that her daughter is “very clever,” Clarkson also flipped her flub into something positive. “I saw her little face, and I just saw the wheels spinning, and it was like, ‘Oh no! But isn’t it exciting that you can meet the real girl that plays Elsa?”

—Erica Loop

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Is Bed Bath & Beyond Closing in 2019?

by Erica LoopApril 15, 2019

Changes are coming to Bed Bath & Beyond. The retailer recently released the results from its fiscal fourth quarter 2018 report and it looks like the company’s future includes both beginnings and endings.

According to an earnings call, following the release of the 2018 report, chief financial officer and treasurer, Robyn D’Elia, the company plans on opening 15 new stores in 2019 and closing 40. But, D’Elia noted, the number of closures may increase if the company is unable to negotiate “favorable lease terms” with its retailers’ landlords.

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

The openings and closures may affect more than just the company’s Bed Bath & Beyond properties. Even though the home product giant will take the brunt of the closings, the company may also shutter some of its other properties, including Buy Buy Baby, Harmon Face Values and World Market. As of now there’s no word on which stores will close and when. Likewise, the company is yet to reveal details on retail openings.

Along with opening/closing stores, Bed Bath & Beyond also announced goals to enhance in-store customer experiences by using lessons learned from its Next Generation Lab stores, enhancing online shopping experiences and helping customers to get the right values for their most-needed products.

—Erica Loop

Featured photo: Mike Mozart via Flickr

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This Toddler Hearing the Violin for the First Time Is Basically the Sweetest Thing Ever

by Erica LoopApril 8, 2019

What happens when a baby hears the violin played for the first time? In the case of one music teacher/singer-songwriter and her toddler, the answer is absolute adoration.

The musician mama recently posted the cute clip to YouTube and Twitter, showing the world the awesome power that music holds. During a performance by Laura Zawarski, the little boy sweetly toddles up to the woman, stares intently and reaches out for a huge hug.

The clip, which already has more than 2.8 million views on Twitter, has certainly made an impact. Plenty of the mama’s Twitter followers commented on the video, applauding the tot and speculating that he’s a musician in the making.

https://twitter.com/AudreysMMB/status/1111058253914480642

The proud musical mama noted that the clip, and the amount of time the little boy stood at the musician’s feet, was even longer than what she originally posted. According to her Twitter response to her followers, she had to edit it down for length. Now that’s some serious music appreciation!

—Erica Loop

Featured photo: Clem Onojeghuo via Pexels

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Parents Often Forget about These Spots When Storing Medicine Away from Kids

by Shahrzad WarkentinMarch 18, 2019

Medication can be a life-saving tool, but when it’s taken incorrectly it can also be extremely dangerous. New research reveals why reviewing medicine safety for kids is an important precaution all parents should take.

A new research report, Medicine Safety: A Key Part of Child-Proofing Your Home, reveals that while most parents understand that storing medicine safely is important they might not be as aware as they think when it comes to all the places where medicine is kept in their homes.

Image: Courtesy of Safe Kids Worldwide

The report, published by Safe Kids Worldwide, noted that while educational initiatives have helped to decrease the risk of kids ending up in the emergency room from poisoning, the rates remain very high, with 142 kids under age 6 seen daily in the ER after getting into medicine.

So why are so many kids still getting their hands on medicine? The report suggests that while many parents do make an effort to store away medications, many that are used daily are still kept in more easy-to-access locations, such as purses and nightstands. The report also suggests that while parents are quick to baby-proof based on their child’s age, they often underestimate their progress developmentally.

photo: Keiko Zoll for Red Tricycle

In order to prevent more accidental poisonings, Safe Kids Worldwide suggests the following tips:

Keep medicine and vitamins out of children’s reach and sight, even medicine you take every day.
Add medicine safety to your initial child-proofing checklist.
Save the Poison Control Help number in your phone and post it visibly at home: 1-800-222-1222.
Share medicine safety information with family and friends.

For more medicine safety tips, check out SafeKids.org.

—Shahrzad Warkentin

Featured photo: Nosheep via Pixabay

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Serena Williams Daughter Olympia Could Be the Next Tennis Star in the Fam

by Erica LoopMarch 8, 2019

It looks like someone has a mini me. Serena Williams and her daughter, Olympia, hit the court together recently—and there’s video of the absolute adorable incident!

She’s a star on the court—and we’re not talking about Serena. Even though the celeb mama is one of the top athletes in the world, this time it’s not the elder Williams who’s showing off performance perfection. (And it’s not her little sister, Venus, either.)

In a “like mother, like daughter” moment, Williams’ 18-month-old daughter took off, running onto the court (followed by dad Alexis Ohanian). Williams captured the magical moment on her Instagram Story, commenting, “Look at that footwork!” as the tot lost her shoe!

photo: Serena Williams via Instagram

At one point the little girl, seeming frustrated, laid down on the ground and covered her face. Williams noted the mommy-daughter similarities, adding, “Ah sweetie, you look like mommy when she’s mad on the court” through her own giggles.

While the tot may have some time before she wins a Grand Slam of her own, if this video is any indication of what’s to come—we might see another Williams (or in this case, Ohanian) on the pro circuit someday.

—Erica Loop

Featured photo: Serena Williams via Instagram

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The New Poster for Disney’s “The Lion King” Is Pure ’90s Throwback Gold

by Erica LoopFebruary 27, 2019

There’s a new poster for Disney’s The Lion King and it’s absolutely everything you want it to be. Even though Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper’s oh-so-intimate performance may have dominated the 2019 Oscars coverage, when Disney dropped its new teaser for The Lion King during the Oscar broadcast, fans took notice.

Along with the new teaser, Disney also posted a sneak peek of the reminiscently-retro poster. The silhouetted scene featuring Simba and Mufasa side-by-side is something that fans of the original film remember well.

July 19. #TheLionKing pic.twitter.com/dDdqPub4vP

— The Lion King (@disneylionking) February 25, 2019

Following Disney’s initial poster post, plenty of Twitter users chimed in. One mama-to-be took note of the movie’s highly-anticipated release date this summer: “My due date is this day but ima skip that and go to my favorite movie.”

Another fan noted its timing during the Academy Awards:

The #Oscars are great but LOOK AT MUFASA #TheLionKing pic.twitter.com/kgiZWtkJ4b

— Samantha Highfill (@samhighfill) February 25, 2019

The live-action remake of the Disney classic features an all-star cast, including Beyoncé, Seth Rogen, Chiwetel Ejiofor, James Earl Jones, Donald Glover, Keegan-Michael Key, Billy Eichner, Alfre Woodard and John Oliver. Look for The Lion King in theaters on Jul. 19.

—Erica Loop

Featured photo: Disney via YouTube

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This New World at Universal Just Might Have You Jumping Over Toadstools

by Erica LoopFebruary 7, 2019

Will Universal Orlando get a Super Mario World addition? According to reports, this Nintendo-themed resort may actually happen. But wait. If it seems like rumors of a Mario-packed park are familiar, you’re 100 percent right. The Universal Studios-Nintendo connection is deep and has a pretty lengthy history.

Over a year ago reports surfaced that the Orlando park was considering this addition. It’s not surprising, given that Universal Studios Japan broke ground in 2017 for its own Super Nintendo World. Putting more than 60 billion yen (which equates to over half a billion U.S. dollars) into the initial design, the project was slated for completion prior to the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

At the time of the groundbreaking, Nintendo announced that the new “World” would include an all-new Mario Kart attraction, among other video game-themed fun. The 2017 press release also noted that both the Universal Orlando Resort and Universal Studios Hollywood would feature Nintendo-themed “areas” at some time in the future.

So, is the future now? While neither Universal Orlando or Nintendo has confirmed the rumors, Orlando Weekly recently reported leaked town hall meeting documents that show Super Mario World concept art for the Florida theme park. Of course, that doesn’t mean that a video game-themed resort is actually happening. For now, we’ll just have to not-so-patiently wait and see.

—Erica Loop

Featured Photo: Alexas_Fotos via Pixabay

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