Nothing spells summer fun quite like a plastic tube-shaped popsicle in a rainbow of colors. What’s the name of that treat? Apparently, it depends on who you’re asking.
Twitter recently exploded over a seemingly innocent post expounding the joys of summer’s best treat. So what do you call them, Otter Pops or Freeze Pops?
Twitter user @fetusleen posted a photo of the treats with the caption: “it’s dead summer. your mom comes home from the store with THESE. what do u call these and what is the best color?”The original poster was quickly schooled on the fact that not everyone calls the icy treats by the same name, however.
The most popular responses were Otter Pops and Fla-Vor-Ice, both of which are regional brands. Twitter users were also divided when it came to the best flavor. Red, blue and pink all appear to be favorites. The conversation even went international with Canadians jumping in to call them Freezies!
Canada I’m guessing
— caprial 🪻is shifting tn (@swanxmaximoff) May 27, 2019
Australians clearly win for best name, however with Zooper Doppers.
20 Zooper Doopers almost look quite sad and lonely. It's not summer if your freezer doesn't look like this. pic.twitter.com/6yT8NFRckx
The Unicode Consortium is at it again. If that sounds ominous—it isn’t. This consortium doesn’t create nefarious plans. Instead, it reviews and selects new emojis. And this time, the Unicode Consortium’s picks include everything from awesomely inclusive emojis depicting people with differing abilities to waffles and falafel.
So what do we know about the new emojis? To start, in the people-related categories (such as body-parts, person-gesture and person-activity), you’ll find a mechanical arm, mechanical leg, ear with a hearing aid, deaf person, woman in motorized wheelchair, man in motorized wheelchair, woman in manual wheelchair, man in manual wheelchair, woman with a probing cane and man with a probing cane.
Of course, that’s not all. Along with these proposed emojis, new potential picks also include non-gender specified people holding hands. And there are the new animals—service dog, guide dog, sloth (and yes, it’s just as adorable as you’d imagine), otter (again, adorable), orangutan (yep, adorable, too) and skunk (um, adorably smell-free).
Other new options may include food emojis such as waffles, falafel, butter and oysters. You know, just in case you want to ask your mama friends to go out for a night filled with buttery oysters or falafel-smothered waffles!
When will these new emojis pop up on your phone? After approval, code updates and art updates, you’ll start seeing these new little texting options.
If you’re a child of the ’80s or ’90s, we bet you can remember the sea of Jennifers, Jessicas, Michaels and Christophers you grew up with. Thankfully, the decades since have seen the rise of unique baby names from which to choose.
Whether you’re looking for trendy baby names, hot new takes on popular picks or something completely different, scroll on for our roundup of the biggest baby name trends to be on the lookout for this year.
According to BabyCenter, two of these royally-inspired names increased in popularity in 2018: Louis (up 17 percent) and Meghan (up 49 percent). We bet whatever Meghan and Harry name the newest royal baby will definitely top the baby name charts by year's end. Keep an eye out for Eugenie and Jack as popular choices, too.
Nonbinary & Gender-Neutral Baby Names
Courtesy of Skip Hop
Gender conformity is so last year. The new hotness? Nonbinary names that aren't typically aligned with one gender or another, says Nameberry. Parents are raising gender-neutral kids more than ever before, whether it from shopping for gender-neutral clothing or shattering gendered playtime stereotypes.
Look for gender-neutral baby names to rise in popularity this year, with names like Briar, Campbell, Drew, Finley, Journey, Justice, Laken, Max, Revel, Robin, Royal, Stevie, Story and Tyler.
Nameberry predicts that 2019 will be the year of globally-inspired baby names. With the rise of inclusivity and representation of cultures and ethnicities in kids books, movies and TV shows, it only makes sense that we'd see a rise in names that hail from all four corners of the Earth. Nameberry has its sights on names like Acacius, Aroha, Cyrene, Jedda, Kiran, Lautaro, Lior, Niabi, Sena and Walken.
We have our eyes on names from popular kids' media that have made great leaps in representation over the last couple of years, such as Disney's Moana, Marvel's Into the Spiderverse new Spider-Man MilesMorales, Shuri from Black Panther or Araminta from Crazy Rich Asians.
While you can work your way around the world in 80 names, Nameberry also predicts that names from Eastern religious traditions steeped with mysticism will also cast a spell on parents-to-be in 2019. Spiritual names with origins in Hindi, Sanskrit, Buddhism and even ancient Egypt are expected to trend this year, including Asherah, Bodhi, Kali, Lakshmi, Manu, Osiris, Raiden, Rama, Tanith and Zen.
Southern-inspired baby names are definitely in vogue for 2019, BabyCenter notes. So, what's the allure? Maybe it's the kindness of Southern hospitality—or maybe it's the hope that a name inspired by Southern slow living will make for a calmer baby! Look for names full of Southern charm, such as Antonio (as in San Antonio), Austin, Carolina, Charlotte, Dallas, Georgia, Macon, Nash (think Nashville), Raleigh, Savannah and Tennessee.
(PS...Reese Witherspoon, if you're reading this—2019 is def your year to drop a Draper James baby collection.)
Pastels are anything but boring and according to Nameberry, some of the hottest names of 2019 will be inspired by muted color palettes. Look for muted color names like Ash, Fawn, Grey (or Gray), Ivory, Lavender, Lilac, Mauve, Moss, Olive and Sage to grace their way into Mommy & Me classes this year.
While muted pastels will be popular, so too will more vibrant complementary color names in gemstone and jewel tone colors rise in popularity in 2019, Nameberry predicts. Break out the color wheel and dial up the saturation for names like Amethyst, Emerald, Garnet, Jasper, Jet, Onyx, Opal, Peridot, Sapphire and Topaz.
Celebrity baby names are always popular every year, but the last few years have afforded us Hollywood stargazers a bounty of particularly unique celebrity baby names. Whether it's the Kardashians and the Jenners (Stormi, Chicago, True), Hollywood power couples like ChrissyTeigen and JohnLegend (with kiddos Luna and Miles) or George and Amal Clooney (and twins Ella and Alexander) new celeb moms like Hilary Duff (baby girl Banks) or Kate Hudson (baby Rani Rose), celeb baby names are seriously on fire right now.
While celeb kids are certainly great baby name inspo, so too are their parents' names...more specifically, their last names, according to Nameberry. Try these celebrity surnames on for size in 2019: (Victoria and David) Beckham, (David) Bowie, (Duke) Ellington, (Jimmy) Hendrix, (Angelina) Jolie, (Heath) Ledger, (John) Lennon, (Annie) Lennox, (Marilyn) Monroe and (Gene) Wilder.
2019's most popular baby names are sure to be fancy, fantastic and fabulous—especially with names that start with the letter F! Nameberry predicts F-names like Faye, Felix, Fern, Finnian, Flora, Florian, Frances, Frankie, Frederick and Frost will festoon plenty of baby name shortlists this year.
There's nothing more unique than the letter U, especially when it comes to vowels. As Nameberry notes, there are very few baby names that start with the letter U, but that doesn't mean you can't achieve that most luxurious vowel sound with other names like Eugenie, Hugo, Jude, Juniper, Keanu, Louise, Luca, Luna, Reuben, Tallulah or True.
Look no further than you local zoo if you're stumped for a middle name. Nameberry's menagerie of middle names includes everything from the cuddly to the fierce, like Bear, Falcon, Fox, Hawk, Koala, Lion, Lynx, Otter, Tiger and Wolf.
Trendiest Nicknames: Old School Boys' Names
Courtesy of Universal Pictures
Any new parent can tell you: it's not just about picking the perfect baby name—you have to think about nicknames, too. But even nicknames can be their own baby name inspo, and according to Nameberry, old-school boys' nicknames are making a comeback as first names.
Get ready for a new generation of Little Rascals with names for boys like Ace, Billy, Buddy, Buster, Hank, Ike, Jimmy, Johnny, Scout, Sonny and Spike.
Kit, Ida and Van: each of these names are short and sweet. Unlike some of the other baby name trends for this year, monosyllabic names with just three letters are easy to spell and pronounce, which makes names like Hal, Jem, Koa, Liv, Lux, Rex and Rio such popular choices, according to Nameberry.
Weirdest Baby Name Trend for 2019: Sneakers
Courtesy of Amazon
If you're a famous athlete like Michael Jordan, you get a pair of shoes named after you. But in 2019, BabyCenter predicts the reverse will be true, as sneaker-heads could tip the scales on names like Chuck and Taylor (of Converse fame), as well as Nike styles like Cortez, Max, Monarch and of course, the ever-iconic Jordan. Adidas shoes like the Stan, Smith and Falcon are also possibilities.
We're pretty sure baby Manolo won't exactly top the lists, but BabyCenter seems to think Fila and Puma stand a chance in 2019.
The U.S. Social Security Administration keeps a fantastic database of baby names in America and breaks down the data in interesting ways, including baby names that are rising in popularity.
From 2016 to 2017, the following boys' baby names have shot up the charts, in order of rising popularity: Wells, Kairo, Caspian, Nova, Colson, Kace, Kashton, Koa, Gatlin and Bjorn.
According to the SSA, the following girls' baby names have skyrocketed in popularity between 2016 and 2017: Ensley, Oaklynn, Dream, Oaklyn, Melania, Emberly, Octavia, Paisleigh, Yara and Kehlani.
Trends come and go every year when it comes to baby names, but these names have withstood the tests of time. According to the SSA, these are the most popular baby names over the last 100 years, in order of popularity.
For boys: James, John, Robert, Michael, William, David, Richard, Joseph, Thomas and Charles. For girls: Mary, Patricia, Jennifer, Linda, Elizabeth, Barbara, Susan, Jessica, Sarah and Margaret.
According to Nameberry, it's the end—or is it the emd?—of an era. Names beginning with "Em" have sharply fallen in popularity in recent years. It's time to retire names like Emerson, Emery, Emily, Emma, Emmett and Emmy to make way for all the new names that will reign supreme in 2019.
This magical Christmas adventure story follows eight-year-old Holly when her wish sends her to Tinsel Town, where it’s Christmas every day. With the help of new friends including a giant candy cane, a mysterious ornament and a polar bear Queen, Holly has to find out how to get back home before it’s too late.
If your inquisitive tots have a million questions about why we chop down trees and put fragile ornaments on them every year, or who decided that fruit cake was an edible food, then look no further than the Christmas Past podcast for all those curious answers. This podcast tells the nostalgic stories behind all those Christmas traditions you love.
If your countdown to next Christmas starts at midnight on Dec. 26, then this is the podcast for you. The year-round series hosted by Comedian Tim Babb covers everything that makes the holidays quirky and magical, from obscure holiday specials like Emmet Otter’s Jugband Christmas, to the top Hallmark Christmas ornaments to score this year.
For the young movie buffs in your family, each week this podcast brings a new discussion on classic Christmas movies and television specials. Tune in to learn about everything from how the holidays are celebrated at Hogwarts to all your favorite quotes in Home Alone.
Introduce your kids to what life was like before iPads and even—gasp!—television. Santa podcasts his favorite, family-friendly old time radio shows from the Golden Age of Radio.
Summer screams curbside lemonade stand. But, if you’re out of the sweetly sour stuff and still want to widen your young entrepreneurs’ selling scope with fun summer jobs, we scoped out eight great alternatives that will get your little people selling out fast. Keep reading to see them all.
1. Watermelon Stand
Ice cold watermelon is a hot weather staple. And, not only does it give you a boost of energy, this is a pretty affordable product to sell. Simply slice it up, store in an ice chest and watch your kids sell a slice of summer.
2. Otter Pop Stand
On a hot day, anything cold is sure to be a hit. So let your kids break open the freezer and get out the Otter Pops (also called Freezer Pops or Fun Pops) to sell to those who need something cold to quench their thirst. Hint: You can also pair the pops with water or juice to make for double-hydration.
3. Popcorn Stand
You can make a ton of this movie-night favorite right on your stove in a large pot. Or, if you have one of those classic movie theater poppers, it’ll add major curbside appeal. Order a few packages of nostalgic popcorn containers and you’re all set.
photo: Melissa Heckscher
4. Advice Stand
It worked for Charlie Brown and Lucy! Let your kids put on their doctor hats (and costumes, if they have them!) and dispense psychological help to anyone willing to pay a few pennies for a little kid-branded honesty. Kids say the darndest things, after all; your little doctors may just do some good.
5. Bake Sale
Bake sales are par for the course at school fundraisers; why not bake some yummy treats for a private streetside sale? This project gives your littles two activities to do: One, in helping you bake the goods; two, for bringing in the bucks when they sell them. Any leftovers can be frozen and stashed for a special occasion. Like tomorrow.
6. Tattoo Stand
Order a few dozen of your kids’ favorite temporary tattoos, add water and a washcloth, and you’ve got yourself the makings of a very fun roadside pit stop.
photo: Melissa Heckscher
7. Greeting Card Sale
Let your kids pen good wishes and illustrations onto their own homemade greeting cards. Since these creations take a bit of work on behalf of your aspiring Hallmarkers, your kids can charge a little more for each product ($1 a card isn’t unreasonable). They’ll be aspiring greeting card writers by day’s end.
8. A Hose-Down Stand
With temps rocketing well over 100 in much of the U.S., a nice misting of cool water might be worth a few pennies. Have your little water hosers hunker down by the street, ready to spray anyone who wants to pay a nickel or two for the instant cool-down. Don’t be surprised if your tots are soaking wet by the end of this little business venture.
It’s only the start of 2017, but a wicked battle is brewing in Twitter world . . . possibly the biggest we’ll see this year. Luckily this duel isn’t about politics, mommy wars, or anything else that’ll make you want to climb under a rock. This battle is full of adorable seals, monkeys, and tiger cubs. Who’s winning? You tell us.
It all started when Smithsonian’s National Zoo announced the birth of this adorable grey seal.
Unless you are a cycling enthusiast, you may not know about the Sea Otter Classic—a mountain and road bike event that takes place every April in Monterey. This year the Sea Otter Classic is celebrating its 25th anniversary on April 16–19, when hundreds of pro and amateur cyclists will converge for a weekend of racing and camaraderie. But did you also know that the Sea Otter is a great place to bring the kids? Keep reading for our 10 reasons why you need to pack up the kids and the bikes and head down to Monterey!
Kids 12 and under are totally free all weekend at Sea Otter! They are not just incidental visitors as Sea Otter has a wide array of activities designed just for kids. Insider tip: Arrive early on Thursday or Sunday to have the best chance of avoiding the crowds. The Expo and Kids Zone both open at 9 a.m. so there will be plenty to do no matter how early you get there.
Bring your bikes and helmets. The 12-and-under crew can participate in bike races specifically designed for them at 11 a.m. each day of the event. The races are divided by age and all finishers receive a medal.
There will be no shortage of snacks! Head to the Expo to see what samples are available. Or go to the food court where you can find everything from pizza to burritos. Go green and bring your own reusable water bottles. Insider tip: Bring your CamelBak and you can refill at their station in the Expo.
Look for Skipper the Sea Otter as he hosts the Sea Otter Egg Hunt at 10 a.m. on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Participation is free for all kids 8 and under. Prizes will be given out!
Need a break from the bikes? Head over to the Wheelie Mobilee to paint, play Plinko or mess around in the Moon Sand.
Keep the kids entertained with the amazing stunt shows happening every day by professional riders such as Ryan Leech and Jeremy VanSchoonhoven. Stay after the shows for autographs. And don’t forget to check out the pump track!
Girls ages 8 to 13 who are looking to get hooked on mountain biking should check out Little Bellas Day Camp that takes place on Friday, Saturday and Sunday at Sea Otter. This girls-only camp focuses on improving skills and having fun! Sign up for one day, two, or all three.
Dress in layers. The days start out cool and can get very warm. Bring your sunscreen and if any owies arise, head to the Red Cross tent for some TLC from the friendly medics.
Check out the event schedule to see what races will be going on during your visit. Insider tip: The dual slalom and cyclocross are kid favorites.
Kids cooped up in the stroller for too long? Head to the carnival where they can bounce, slide and jump on the bounce houses to their heart’s content! Or take a rest on the grassy area in the Expo.
Ticket info: One-day passes are available for $15 on-site or pay $50 for a four-day festival pass. Receive a discount when you pre-purchase your festival passes online. Kids 12 and under are free!
Sea Otter Classic
Located at the Laguna Seca recreation area in Monterey, Ca. Step-by-step directions can be found here. Parking at Sea Otter is free. Carpools of 3+ people and those driving Subarus, electric and hybrid vehicles receive preferred parking when available. Check out parking information here.
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Sign Up & Save June 1st – 30th, 2012 Sign up and we’ll waive the initiation fee on each level of membership! U-Me, LLC http://www.u-meplace.com […] Read more »
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Camp Grow is a program for children ages 3 – 6 to enjoy an extended experience of Studio Grow’s play spaces and programs. Each week-long session (Monday through Friday) features fun, educational acitivities led by experienced […] Read more »
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Who’s faster — a little boy with oodles of energy or an otter with tons of energy to spare? Check out this adorable video of a little boy at the San Diego Zoo playing with an equally adorable otter. We bet they both slept well that night!
