Take the Stress out of Designing Baby’s Nursery

by Jennifer SwartvagherJanuary 28, 2021

Planning your baby’s nursery is exciting but can be overwhelming. buybuy BABY is excited to launch a 3D Nursery Design Tool to help make it easier for new and expectant parents to design and build the nursery of their dreams. The digital tool is the latest innovation to be added to the retailer’s Design Squad suite of nursery design services powered by the design team at Decorist, an online interior design company.

The brand’s continued expansion of digital-first shopping experiences provides ew and expectant Millennial and Gen Z parents with a wide range of online solutions to design and shop for all their nursery needs.

The 3D Nursery Design Tool takes the stress out of designing the nursery and allows customers to create a custom look in real-time. You will have the ability to swap furniture and decor such as cribs, dressers, gliders, bedding, rugs, paint color, and even wallpaper in and out of a room of their choice to create a personalized space. There will also be 15 pre-styled designer-curated nurseries to choose from if you prefer not to start the design process from an empty room. Customers will be able to add items in the room directly to their cart or registry and have the option to save their designs or share via email.

“We know how important creating the perfect nursery is to our customers and are excited to expand our Design Squad services to make it easier and even more inspiring for parents to bring their nursery vision to life,” said Patty Wu, Senior Vice President and General Manager of buybuy BABY. “By giving parents the opportunity to visualize their nursery before investing, with the ability to compare décor options side-by-side, the 3D Nursery Design Tool takes the stress out of the design process. Our new fast, safe, and convenient Store Pickup contactless Curbside Pickup and Same Day Delivery services mean we can have everything you need to create the nursery of your dreams in just a couple of hours. This allows parents to have more time to enjoy their new space with their baby.”

The Design Squad suite of services also include:

Style Quiz: Don’t know your style? Design Squad’s fun and quick Baby Style Quiz can help customers determine the look that is right for them with just five easy questions.
Shoppable Nursery Ideas | For those customers wanting a quick and easy way to shop stylish nursery looks, this pre-designed collection of over 35 gorgeous nurseries in every style, from rustic farmhouse to boho and everywhere in between, and at every price point, is ready to shop or add to a customer’s registry.
Ask a Designer: For parents who need quick design help, such as finding an affordable crib or picking the right paint color, Design Squad’s free designer Q&A, powered by professional interior designers, is perfect for bite-sized help and recommendations.
Custom Nursery Design: Those wanting thorough professional design help can use Design Squad’s Room Design service to get a custom room designed online by a professional interior designer (including a detailed floor plan and clickable shopping list) for $199.
Design Squad Blog: For those shopping for the perfect crib, looking for nursery ideas, or in need of styling inspiration, the Design Squad blog has the best tips, tricks, and inspiration for designing a stunning nursery, straight from Decorist’s team of interior design experts.

buybuy BABY offers various tools, services, and baby registry perks that customers can utilize, including Buy-Online-Pickup-In-Store (BOPIS), Curbside Pickup, Same Day Delivery, Price Match Promise, Personalized Gifts, and Free Registry Goody Bag (in-store).

—Jennifer Swartvagher

All photos courtesy of buybuy BABY

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Disney Reveals First Sneak Peek at New Cruise Ship

by Karly WoodJanuary 8, 2021

2022 just got more magical with Disney’s fresh sneak peak at one of its newest cruise ships. The Disney Wish will set sail the summer of 2022 and now you can grab a look at some never-before-seen images of just what the cruise liner has in store.

The Disney Parks Blog released a digital clip of the Grand Hall and a mesmerizing Cinderella character statue at the base of the grand staircase. “A dream is a wish your heart makes,” and this is the Disney Wish, after all.

Disney states that the Grand Hall is inspired by the fairytale Cinderella castle, which makes the statue the perfect accessory.

The Disney Wish is the first of three new ships being added to the Disney Cruise Line fleet over the next three years. Larger than the Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy, the new ships will have 1,250 state rooms, weight 144,000 gross tons and be powered by liquefied natural gas.

Check back with the Disney Cruise Line website for continued updates about the Disney Wish.

––Karly Wood

Feature photo: Disney Cruise Line

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Build-A-Bear & Shipt Are Now Offering Same Day Delivery

by Karly WoodDecember 19, 2020

Need a bear in a hurry? Build-A-Bear Workshop and Shipt have partnered for this beary special reason!

The bear superstore and same-day delivery service provider have announced a new partnership that brings your furry friends straight to your doorstep throughout the week before Christmas and even beyond. Not only that, Shipt and the Build-A-Bear Foundation will be donating 10,000 teddy bears to Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals to bring teddy bear hugs to children this holiday season.

photo: Build-A-Bear

Sharon Price John, Chief Executive Officer of Build-A-Bear Workshop, “As Build-A-Bear continues to execute our digital transformation to drive e-commerce revenue, we have continued to look for innovative solutions to fulfill the high level of order demand and deliver our furry friends to our guests. Therefore, we are pleased to partner with Shipt to provide another delivery option that can allow our furry friends to arrive in homes in time for Christmas gift-giving, especially with many areas seeing restrictions on traditional shopping activities.”

Guests can head to the Build-A-Bear Workshop’s online “The Bear Builder” configurator to start customizing their own bears ASAP, with same day delivery. Just like when you build a bear in a workshop, you can choose from sound chips, scents, clothing, and accessories.

Build-A-Bear Workshop’s same-day delivery is powered by Shipt Driven. When you place your online order, Build-A-Bear Workshop associates will package the order at your local store and it will be picked up by a Shipt Shopper and delivered to your home of your beary special someone.

––Karly Wood

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CNN & “Sesame Street” Announce a New Town Hall for Families

by Jennifer SwartvagherDecember 11, 2020

This holiday season will be like any other and not seeing far away friends and family may be hard on our little ones. CNN and Sesame Street are teaming up next Saturday for their fifth Town Hall to help families prepare for a very different holiday season. The hour-long special, The ABCs of COVID-19, will be hosted by CNN’s Chief Medical Correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta and Anchor Erica Hill, along with Sesame Street’s Big Bird and friends on Saturday, Dec. 19 at 10 a.m. ET on CNN, CNN International and CNN en Español.

Familiar faces from Sesame Street and experts from CNN and across the country will be ready to answer children’s questions about staying healthy through the winter months, celebrating the holidays while distanced from extended family and friends, and coping with big feelings as they continue to face unprecedented challenges in their young lives.

The special will stream live without requiring a log-in on CNN’s homepage and across mobile devices via CNN’s apps for iOS and Android. It can also be viewed on CNNgo and via CNNgo apps for Apple TV, Roku, Amazon Fire, Chromecast, and Android TV) and will be available on demand to subscribers via cable/satellite systems, CNNgo platforms, and CNN mobile apps.

The ABC’s of COVID-19 builds on Sesame Workshop’s Caring for Each Other initiative, which continues to provide free resources for parents and families during this crisis, and is powered by the nonprofit’s Critical Needs Response Fund.

This year, CNN and Sesame Street have collaborated on five Town Halls for children and families, meeting them in moments of challenge and crisis through the COVID-19 pandemic and racial justice movement.

—Jennifer Swartvagher

Featured photo: CNN

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Send Magical AR Holiday Cards with Cardlet

by Jennifer SwartvagherNovember 13, 2020

With loved ones spread far and wide this holiday season, personalized and greeting cards are taking on a whole new meaning. Cardlet, a husband and wife-founded app takes sending your loved ones customized greeting cards to the next level with the magic of AR. Show the ones you care about how important they are to you with this service that requires zero trips to the store.

Cardlet is a physical greeting card delivery service powered by an app that helps you schedule, customize and order high quality greeting cards for an affordable price (starting at $6.95) with ease (delivered in 3-5 business days). Every card is enriched with a hidden AR experience that introduces a new dimension to the message it contains, including a feature that allows the card-giver to imbue their very own voice into the card.

As a new mom, Cardlet founder and CEO Jenny Sich was inspired to create Cardlet after forgetting to purchase a Father’s Day card. Confident that there should have been an app to help with that, she and her husband Matt Sich, a software engineer and Apple Worldwide Developers Conference attendee, set out to make greeting cards simpler and more meaningful with technology. This holiday season, as gift-buyers seek to avoid the stores, personalized cards delivered courtesy of Cardlet are a no-brainer way to connect with loved ones while staying home.

—Jennifer Swartvagher

All photos courtesy of Cardlet

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Review: Fisher-Price Thomas & Friends Talking Thomas

By The Toy Insider

Tinybeans Voices Contributor

November 11, 2020

Photo: Mattel

For generations of kids, parents, and grandparents, Thomas the Tank Engine has been a fixture of storytelling and play that they’ve grown up with and passed along. This year marks the 75th anniversary of Thomas & Friends and the Fisher-Price Thomas & Friends Talking Thomas & Percy Train Set is perfect for little engineers ages 3 and up. It comes ready-to-run with more than 35 pieces of track and accessories. Thomas and Percy are both motorized —powered by included AAA batteries—and recognize each other on their adventures. They’re best friends, so they like to stop and chat about their work throughout the day. Sometimes they’ll simply exchange a cheery “hello, friend,” while other conversations might be longer and delve into where they’re headed and what they’re up to.

Read the full review on thetoyinsider.com, and check out the Toy Insider’s full Holiday Gift Guide to see the top picks of the hottest toys this holiday season!

The Toy Insider

Tinybeans Voices Contributor

The Toy Insider is the go-to source for product information and the latest news about children's toys, tech, and entertainment. Its team of toy experts publishes two annual gift guides—one for summer and one for holiday—and reviews toys 365 days a year on thetoyinsider.com, a trusted resource for parents.

“Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles” Returns to Movie Theaters this November

by Jennifer SwartvagherOctober 29, 2020

Cowabunga! Everyone’s favorite crime-fighting turtles are making a special three-day appearance on movie theater screens nationwide to celebrate 30 years of action, adventure and the art of ninjutsu with the 1990 blockbuster hit Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Fathom Events and Warner Bros. invite fans to experience their favorite turtle-powered moments at hundreds of movie theaters around the country on Thurs., Nov. 5, Fri., Nov. 6 & Sat., Nov. 7.

For tickets and participating theater locations, visit FathomEvents.com.

“We are excited to celebrate 30 years of a film that brings families together in a fun, entertaining and hilarious way,” said Fathom Events’ Vice President of Studio Relations Tom Lucas. “As audiences discovered in 1990, the adventures of the heroic turtles are truly meant to be seen on a giant screen in a darkened theater, so we hope audiences of all ages will make Leonardo, Donatello, Michelangelo and Raphael part of their entertainment plans.”

Adapted from the early Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles comics with characters created by Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird, the movie achieved the then-seemingly impossible feat of bringing its reptilian heroes to full live-action with a team of puppeteers and a voice cast led by Brian Tochi as Leonardo, Corey Feldman as Donatello, Josh Pais as Raphael, Robbie Rist as Michelangelo and Kevin Clash as Splinter, the Turtles’ master. The film also features Judith Hoag and Elias Koteas.

Directed by Steve Barron, produced by Kim Dawson, Simon Fields and David Chan, with a story by Bobby Herbeck and screenplay by Todd W. Langen and Bobby Herbeck, the film opened on March 30, 1990, and immediately became the No. 1 film at the domestic box office, holding that spot for four consecutive weekends. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles would become one of the highest-grossing independent films to date.

—Jennifer Swartvagher

Featured photos: Fathom Events

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Blast Off into STEM Learning with Circuit Explorer

by Jennifer SwartvagherOctober 14, 2020

Launch your little learners into space with these easy to connect circuit-building sets. Circuit Explorer allows kids to make custom builds with lights, sounds and motion. These connectable circuit pieces are simple and durable and do not require reading, so kids can play independently.

Kids will learn how to engineer simple circuits with these off-the-board space-themed circuit playsets, including a Rocket, Rover, and Deluxe Base Station, that combine creative imaginative play with STEM fundamentals. Circuit Explorer’s kid-friendly, 3D design makes it easy to snap the pieces together in the correct order to instantly receive feedback and interactive results to know they are on their way to a galactic journey, such as light, motion, or sound, championing a child’s creativity while encouraging STEM learning and honing problem-solving skills.

Circuit Explorer Rocket, Circuit Explorer Rover, and Circuit Explorer Deluxe Base Station all feature real-working, kid-friendly 3D circuit pieces designed specifically with safety in mind, eliminating the worry of short circuiting or other hazards. Children utilize cause and effect logic to determine when they have completed the circuits correctly. Each set also comes with friendly astronauts, robot figures, and stickers, so children can customize their Circuit Explorer sets and launch into hours of space-age adventures. To add even more customizable fun, Circuit Explorer sets feature a universal grid-like design to allow for additional construction play pieces to be incorporated.

“We’ve reimagined what it means for kids to learn about circuits by providing a product that allows a younger age group to become familiar with these basic concepts, ultimately learning skills that will make future learning less intimidating and more fun,” said Lisa Guili, General Manager at Educational Insights. “Now there is no need for kids to choose between learning basic circuits or expressing their creativity. Circuit Explorer allows for the combination of both that has never been done before.”

The following Circuit Explorer sets are available:

Circuit Explorer Rocket ($29.99)

Follow the easy instructions to build a rocket with light-up nose cone and nozzles, a space rover with light-up headlights, and a landing pad with color changing light effects—or connect the pieces correctly another way to create out-of-this-world custom, light-up builds. Then launch into hours of screen-free, pretend-play fun with the included astronaut and robot figures!

Circuit Explorer Rover ($39.99)

Kids can connect with home base as they build a communication station with a rotating radar dish, and power station, or they can power up with a rover charger to take their space rover with a motor out on a mission along with a non-powered space rover both with wheels and light-up headlights. Explore the unknown for hours with two included astronauts and two robot figures.

Circuit Explorer Deluxe Base Station ($59.99)

Snap the 3D pieces together together to build a fully powered, large-scale, space-themed world including a Deluxe Base Station with towers, rotating diner sign, planetarium with Color changing dome, voice synthesizer that includes 10 space sounds, communication station with rotating radar dish, and one fully-powered space rover and a free-rolling rover, both with light-up headlights. Includes six astronauts and two robot figures for hours of imaginative play.

All Circuit Explorer sets are available exclusively on Amazon.

—Jennifer Swartvagher

All photos courtesy of Educational Insights

Carter’s Launches Virtual Santa Experience with Cameo

by Jennifer SwartvagherOctober 1, 2020

Santa is, like most of us, working from home this year. To bring the magic of the holidays to families and help parents check something off the list early, Carter’s launched “From Santa with Love,” a new, virtual twist on the classic mall Santa photo that families look forward to year after year. Powered by popular celeb video app Cameo, Carter’s is giving 1,500 free virtual visits bookable at each winner’s convenience throughout the end of the year

From Oct. 16 through Oct. 30, 2020, families can enter at CartersSantagram.com for a chance to be one of 100 daily winners to receive a custom recorded Cameo video from Santa. For parents, this might be the perfect gift list check-in, a “Nice List” reminder, or even a birthday message from the big guy live from the North Pole. Regardless of the message they choose, it is sure to be a memory for years to come.

“Carter’s has been with families for generations, and during these unexpected times, parents need us more than ever. Our “From Santa With Love” sweepstakes helps parents create that personal moment with Santa for their children and restore a bit of the holiday magic that makes this season special for our families,” said Jeff Jenkins, Executive Vice President, Global Marketing. “This sweepstakes is one of the many ways we are showing families we have their backs, during the holidays and beyond.”

Daily winners will be notified by email and receive a code to redeem on Cameo where they can select their Santa and provide customized notes for the ultimate surprise. Winners may redeem their Santa gram through January 1, 2021. For official contest rules and additional information, visit CartersSantagram.com.

The “From Santa with Love” program is just one of many holiday experiences Carter’s has in store to make this holiday season merry and bright for families. Follow @Carters on Instagram and check back on Nov. 9, 2020 for more fun surprises.

—Jennifer Swartvagher

Featured photo: RichLegg via iStock

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Jimmy Fallon Surprises Frontline Healthcare Moms with $25K for Mother’s Day

by Jennifer SwartvagherMay 8, 2020

In honor of Mother’s Day, Samsung partnered with The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon to spotlight and surprise six heroic moms working on the frontlines as part of their Put Mom in the Picture #withGalaxy campaign. Powered by the Galaxy S20 Ultra 5G, Fallon video chatted with the moms to hear their stories and learn more about their important work on the frontlines while they also continue to support their families at home.

From spending vacation days traveling to New York City to work on the frontlines, to balancing grad school and everything in between, these moms have provided us with the inspiration to support our neighbors and greater communities.

After their inspiring conversations, Fallon surprised the moms with a special gift: in addition to keeping their new Galaxy S20 Ultra smartphones, they all received $25,000 and a Samsung Galaxy Bundle, featuring the Galaxy Watch Active2, Galaxy Tab S6, and the Galaxy Buds+.

This Mother’s Day, Samsung and Fallon celebrate Dennaia Carter from Severn, Maryland; Jean Kim from Temple City, CA; Cathy Jones from Rochester, MA; Marti Miller from Springfield, MO; Denise Deberry from Woodbury Height, NJ; and Jen Moncada from Carle Place, NY, and all the inspiring Moms around the world who are serving others through daily acts of heroism.

—Jennifer Swartvagher

Featured photo: Samsung

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