Where are you going on spring break? While packed indoor spaces are still no-go’s, outdoor destinations and attractions are the places to be this spring. With that in mind, LawnStarter rounded up the best of best cities for spring outdoor activities.
The website ranked the top 200 biggest cities for outdoor activities and safety. Factors included in the ranking are the number of public gardens, campsites and trails, along with the amount of spring sun in the city and walkability.
The top 10 best outdoor cities for the spring are:
San Francisco, California
Portland, Oregon
Honolulu, Hawaii
Mesa, Arizona
Washington, DC
Tucson, Arizona
Los Angeles, California
Long Beach, California
Huntington Beach, California
Las Vegas, Nevada
Even though the nation’s capitol came in at number five on the list, Washington, D.C. was rated as the most walkable city in the country. It also outperformed other cities in its bike score, number of attractions and number of public gardens. If you live on the West Coast or prefer to travel to an ocean-side city, California, Oregon, and Hawaii all have top-pick places to consider for your fam’s outdoors adventures.
Before you book your vaycay, you might also want to consider how the weather could impact your outdoor plans. According to LawnStarter’s stats, Nevada cities have the least rain in the spring season—with a five-way tie between Paradise, Spring Valley, Las Vegas, North Las Vegas and Henderson.
Forget about fruit-flavored jelly beans. Dunkin’ is pairing up with Frankford Candy to bring coffee lovers a whole new super-sweet experience!
Iced coffee doesn’t only come in a cup at Dunkin’. Now the beloved brand is treating fans of the company’s coffee menu to a tasty selection of jelly beans inspired by some of the most notable signature drinks.
photo courtesy of Dunkin’
Whether you prefer a burst of buttery pecan, are nuts for coconut, or prefer another flavor profile, the new jelly bean bag includes everything coffee-lovers would or could want. Dunkin’ Iced Coffee Flavored Jelly Beans feature favorites such as French Vanilla, Butter Pecan, Caramel Latte, Hazelnut and Toasted Coconut.
Brian Gilbert, Vice President of Retail Business Development at Dunkin’, said in a press release, “Jelly beans are such a classic and popular part of the holiday and seasonal celebration.: Gilbert continued, “We are thrilled to team up with Frankford Candy, the leader in confections that have delighted Americans for decades, to create a fun and sweet new way for people to enjoy the great taste of Dunkin’.”
Get your iced coffee in jelly bean form ASAP. The Dunkin’ Iced Coffee Flavored Jelly Beans are only available for a limited time. Find the fun flavors at participating Walgreens and Rite Aid stores ($3.49/bag).
I am trying to think positive thoughts and send out happy summer vibes that include packed beaches, dips in the ocean and ice cream before dinner. I hope I don’t look back at this post and roll my eyes because we are still social distancing. But, if if is going to happen, this post is to help prepare you for trips to the beach with children! This will be Amelia’s third year going to the beach. She was born in July and got a few trips in before the weather cooled down.
1
Pop Up Tent
Easy Pop Up tent for beach and home
$99.99
Perfect place for babies and toddlers to play at beach and can also nap in. Great way to keep them contained while also enjoying the beach day. Works in homes and yards as well.
These chairs fold easily and are a great place to feed your child at the beach and have them play right in it. Easily transported and wiped down to avoid sand in their meals!
Not that you needed another reason to stay safe and cozy at home, but Walmart just announced a new program that lets you return unwanted items from the comfort of your house. Yup, that’s right! Even better, you can arrange for a pick up right from your smart device or computer. Curious about the fine print? From how long this program will last to what happens if you don’t have a printer, we’ve got all the details you need to know. Keep reading to find out more.
How It Works
Walmart
The new service is called Carrier Pickup by FedEx, and it allows you to set up a return via the Walmart app or on Walmart.com. Simply pick the item you want to send back, choose the return pickup location and preferred date, then pack it up, slap on the label, and drop it on your front porch. The best part? This new service is totally free and won't be ending anytime soon.
What if I don’t have a printer? There’s an option for folks that don’t have a way to print out a label. Simply choose “Drop off at FedEx” as the return option, get a return/QR code and take the package to a FedEx location, where the code will be scanned and the label printed.
What if I bought something in the store? No worries. You can set up a return of any item bought at Walmart, whether it was in-store, via the app or online.
Can I read the fine print? Get more details about this new return program and Walmart's updated return policies by clicking here.
Pediatricians are so much more than a just your baby’s doctor, they become confidants, guides, encouragers, honest opinions and friendly faces. Trying to find the right pediatrician can be a dance; you need to dodge the docs that don’t jive with your parenting philosophy while holding on to the doctor that makes you feel cared for and listened to. During those crazy first months with a newborn, you’ll visit the pediatrician often. And after that, you’ll be there for annual well visits and for any health issues that come up throughout the year. You need someone you trust and someone who trusts your maternal instincts. So, what should you look for when searching for the perfect pediatrician? Here are a few of our tips for narrowing down the field.
photo: Julie Seguss
1. Check your network. It sounds easy enough, but don’t forget to be sure that your pediatrician of choice is in your health insurance network. Even better, be sure that your pediatrician of choice has access and rights at your preferred hospital. If you live in a large city or suburb, the hospital closest to you may not be one that your pediatrician is affiliated with; while it may not be a big deal if you have a healthy child, it can cause problems if you need your pediatrician to follow your child in the hospital.
2. Choose whether you want to see aractice or an individual. Decide if you prefer a practice, meaning a group of pediatricians, or an individual doctor. There are certainly benefits to both, but with a practice you are increasing your chances of getting an appointment quickly when needed, at hours that fit your busy schedule.
3. Convenience is key. During the first year of your child’s life, you are at the doctor’s office a lot. A lot. Between immunizations and well baby checks, you are going to become besties with your pediatrician’s receptionist. Add in a few sick visits, and you will have more appointments with the pediatrician than you have date nights with your hubs. Since you will be spending a lot of time there, pick an office that is relatively close and accessible to you. Trust us, you’ll appreciate not having to drive across town and park two blocks away in the middle of winter when your child has a fever.
4. Ask for recommendations. Rally your mom friends to ask for pediatrician recommendations. Sure, you’ll hear good things and bad things about nearly every practice you’re considering, but getting the experiences of your pals will help you make a more solid decision.
5. Take a test drive. Many times, pediatricians will have open-house events for expecting parents. Use this time to meet the doctors, find out their policies and see if they appear to be a match for your parenting style and preferences. You’ll learn what makes the office standout too: Do they have separate entrances for sick and well patients, what do the exam rooms look like, and can they do the latest tests right in the office?
6. Look at special services. Some pediatrician offices have specialists on staff that may come in handy during your child’s early years. Look for offices that have a lactation consultant on staff, or practices that have allergy specialists. Nursing or not, allergies or not, these staff members can be invaluable assets when you do need them.
7. Dial in. Ask about the office’s phone call policy. Some practices are strict about not walking through issues on the phone, but prefer parents to bring the child into the office. However, sometimes you may just need a few questions answered via phone instead of schlepping your infant carrier into the office. Ask if there are nurses available to answer reasonable questions via phone.
8. Check the clock. Take a look at the hours of the offices you are investigating, and make sure those match with your schedule. Practices often have the luxury of having more evening and weekend hours, but be sure that your office has hours that you can actually swing with work and other obligations.
9. Emergency, emergency. Emergencies are going to happen, and you are going to have questions in the middle of the night. We may know of a certain story of a two-year-old swallowing a rock while giving it a bath in the tub and a certain daddy freaking out about it and paging the pediatrician after hours to determine if said rock would pass on its own. Weird things are going to happen, and scary things (like your first real fever) are going to happen; you are going to need after-hours support. Ask about your office’s pager policy and any restrictions that may make you feel uncomfortable.
photo: iStock
10. Feel the vibe. Sometimes, when it comes down to it, your intuition will guide you to the office that feels like home. Sure, you want a well-respected and experienced doctor, but you also want someone who can offer a deep breath when you are freaking out and a high-five when you need one.
Take the time to find the right pediatrician for your family. You will be glad that you did, especially when your toddler swallows a rock in the bathtub.
The holiday season usually means an above average consumption of special treats, and a recent study by Zinnia has figured out which sweets are the most popular by state.
The career site used Google Trends to search over 40 classics and determined which treat was searched for the most in each state. They found some interesting results!
All in all, 20 states prefer cake, 12 love candy, 10 need their cookies and nine states vote cheesecake as their top treat. Other notable treats include cinnamon rolls, vegan Christmas cookies, yule logs and yes––even fruitcake.
Zinnia also let a few liquids slip through, including egg nog and hot chocolate. You can get a more detailed view of the report at Zinnia.
Start your holiday season off right with a visit to a nearby Christmas tree farm. These farms near Austin offer fragrant fresh trees, hot cocoa and even hayrides for happy families. Scroll through and plan your holiday adventure!
iStock
Evergreen Farms Take a wagon ride out to the field where you can cut your own Texas-grown Christmas tree or pick a precut Noble fir or Fraser fir. Poles for measuring the tree and saws for cutting are all provided as well as the netting and rope for ease in transporting your tree. On the weekends, Evergreen Farms will have a campfire for roasting marshmallows and pine cone painting. Check out their COVID-19 precautions here.
The Robinson Family Farm This farm offers pre-cut Fraser Firs grown in the Appalachian Mountains in North Carolina. Fraser Fir are preferred for Christmas trees because they have the perfect shape, rich dark green color, clean pine scent and ability to hold its needles after being cut. Handmade, fresh wreaths are also available for purchase.
Elgin Christmas Tree Farm This farm offers u-cut Virginia Pine and Leyland Cypress. A nice hayride will take you out to the cutting fields so you can begin your search. Someone will pick your tree up once you cut it, your tree will be shaken and baled and ready for its ride home. If you prefer Fraser Fir, those are imported from Wisconsin and available pre-cut. Military and first responders get 15% off.
Brungot Farms These trees arrive just days after being cut from a mountain side field in North Carolina. They travel to Texas in a refrigerated truck, are fresh cut them when they arrive, and stores in a 6,500 gallon water pit within hours of arriving. Beat the rush and pick out your tree in advance online with delivery.
Papa Noel Christmas Trees You can find some of the best North Carolina mountain trees at Papa Noel this year. There have a number of locations in the Austin area where you can pick your own tree. Or, order online and have yours delivered.
It’s just not Christmastime without the smell of a fresh-cut Christmas tree in your house. These Christmas Tree lots around Las Vegas offer lots of different varieties of Christmas trees that are ready to be decorated. Scroll through and find a spot near you!
Rudolph's Christmas Trees This spot offers Douglas , Nordmann, Fraser, Grand and Noble Fir trees that are hand selected from across the Las Vegas Valley. Tree flocking is available if you prefer a white Christmas. Order your large trees in advance to make sure you get the one that you want.
Seasonal Adventures This spot is open to sell you a fragrant, fresh tree that will look perfect in your home. They offer Douglas, Fraser, Noble, Nordmann and Grand Firs of all sizes from table top to over 10 feet. Delivery is available.
Are you a stuffing fan? Or are you more of a mashed potato and gravy guru?
Career site Zippia recently used Google Trends to determine the most popular Thanksgiving side dish in each state––and the results are pretty awesome. See below to see where your state shakes out.
There were several notable findings including the fact that 47 out of the 50 states prefer carby and cheesy goodness for their sides. Notably, only three states opted for vegetables as their go-to, with Maine’s numero uno being a side salad (ok, what’s THAT about?).
The Mid-West is all about the green bean casserole, the South loves their mac and cheese and ten states claim mashed potatoes as their fave side.
Perhaps the most interesting? Only one state believes the most iconic side, cranberry sauce, is the living end: New Hampshire.
It’s aca-mazing! The Bellas are back and it’s for a good cause. Money raised from the downloads of their rendition of Beyonce’s “Love on Top” will go directly to UNICEF to help children in Lebanon and around the world.
The Barden Bellas got together virtually from their homes complete with a hilarious introduction by Elizabeth Banks and John Micheal Higgings in character as Gail Abernathy-McKadden-Feinberg and John Smith.
The Bellas, including Anna Kendrick, Rebel Wilson, Hailee Steinfeld, Anna Camp and Brittany Snow were there to lend their vocals to the acapella performance.
