It’s almost time for the Olympics! To celebrate, Hello Kitty just dropped a Team USA line featuring collectibles, apparel and accessories. Including the cutest kid’s hat we’ve seen in a minute!
You’ll find the girl’s collection ready to buy at Target: a Team USA windbreaker jacket, joggers, t-shirts and much more. We particularly love the Olympic Team x Hello Kitty visor with cat ears and the Team USA backpack clip! Best of all, prices are low, starting at $8.99.
The men in your life can check out Urban Outfitters for apparel, including a Hello Kitty spin on skateboarding, which will debut at the Olympic Games this year. And Sanrio.com and select Sanrio stores carry women’s apparel and fun collectible items, like pins and mini figures.
Parent company Sanrio Inc. is partnering with U.S. Olympic medalist Allyson Felix for the Team USA collaboration. Hello Kitty and Felix will serve as “Global Ambassadors for Inclusivity” to connect friends around the world during the Games in Tokyo. Get excited for the action with this cheerful new line!
LeVar Burton has been busy! Not only has the Reading Rainbow host been selected to host Jeopardy, he has a special new gig: his own book club.
Fable, a social reading app that brings members together to discuss books and build community, is launching the LeVar Burton Book Club. Burton will add three books every month to his Folio, one of which the Book Club will read together.
photo: Courtesy of Fable
Starting out, Burton’s selections are exclusively written by Black authors, many of which he has a strong personal collection. The first three include James Baldwin’sGo Tell It On The Mountain, Octavia Butler’s Parable of the Sower and The Fire This Time, edited by Jesmyn Ward.
Burton shares, “For my first Fable Folio I selected books that have had a tremendous impact on my life. At a time when Black people had very little representation in the publishing industry, Baldwin delivered a debut novel that introduced to the world an essential voice in American Literature. I invite everyone to join me on FABLE as I am both inspired and energized by the opportunity to not only re-read this story but also share my point of view and hear everyone else’s as we read together.”
Access to Burton’s folio is completely free! If you’d like to access his Book Club, where Burton and the community discuss books together, all you need is a Fable premium subscription ($9.99 a month).
For the second year in a row, Skittles is giving up its rainbow for Pride Month! By removing the rainbow from their packaging to celebrate the LGBTQ+ community they are highlighting that during Pride only one rainbow matters.
Skittles Pride Packs will come with all gray packaging and colorless candies inside. The brand is partnering with GLAAD and will donate $1 per pack purchased during the month of June to the organization (up to $100k).
photo: Mars, Inc.
Even though the candies will be all gray, they’ll still pack plenty of flavor! Each one will have the OG flavors of strawberry, orange, grape, green apple and lemon.
The limited-edition packs will come in four ounce Share Size Packs and 15.6oz resealable Sharing Size Stand Up Pouches, and will be available for purchase starting mid-May on Walmart.com, Target.com & in Target stores. You can also find them at select Walmart, Kroger, Albertson’s and other select retail locations nationwide.
For more information about SKITTLES Pride Packs and what Skittles is doing to celebrate Pride in June, follow on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Can you believe we are already Halfway to Halloween? With the spooky season on the horizon, Walt Disney World is gearing up with a new event guaranteed to become a fan fave.
Soon you’ll be able to grab tickets to Disney After Hours BOO BASH, a ticketed experience that will take place on select nights from Aug. 10 to Oct. 31 2020. From 9 p.m. to midnight, park goers can enjoy character sightings, spooky decor, lighting, music and treats, plus special performances by the Cadaver Dans.
All guests can come in costume for this special event and stock up on plenty of candy. While everyone can come dressed up, guests older than 14 will have to skip the masks. Well, costume masks, that is. All guests will be required to wear approved face coverings during the event.
Tickets will go on sale in June. Guests of select Walt Disney Resort hotels will have an an early purchase window available to guests of select Walt Disney World Resort hotels. For all the details, click here.
Amazon is making it easier to get your groceries delivered! The e-tailer recently announced the expansion of Key by Amazon In-Garage Grocery Delivery to more than 5,000 cities and towns across the country.
After a trial of In-Garage Grocery Delivery that started in five cities last November, Amazon has upped the ante and given millions of Prime members the chance to use this super-simple service. Now you can get your faves from Whole Foods Market or Amazon Fresh delivered into the safety and security of your home’s garage.
photo courtesy of Amazon
Pete Gerstberger, Head of Key by Amazon, said in a press release, “Customers who tried Key In-Garage Grocery Delivery have loved the service, which is why we’re expanding it to everywhere Amazon offers grocery delivery.” Gerstberger added, “As customers look for more convenience in their daily lives, we’re excited to deliver another service that not only helps them save time, but provides peace of mind knowing that tonight’s dinner is safe in their garage and out of the weather.”
To use this convenient service, eligible Prime members can shop While Foods or Amazon Fresh online. You must have a compatible garage door opener or myQ Smart Garage Hub ($30) and the myQ app with Key. Select “Key Delivery” at checkout to complete your order.
For more info, visit Amazon here! For a limited time eligible customers can get a $20 Amazon credit after the first In-Garage delivery order.
L.O.L. Surprise! is coming to a stage near you. If you’re ready for some in-person entertainment, the beloved brand is taking its fierce, fab characters on a nationwide concert tour—with dozens of dates announced! New tour dates have been added in big destinations like Washington D.C. and Boston and due to a scheduling shift, some of the previous dates have been rescheduled or removed.
Lady Diva, Royal Bee, Neonlicious, Swag and other faves are hitting the road for the L.O.L. Surprise! Live-Calling All B’B.’s concert experience. With awesomely amazing visuals, the L.O.L. Dance crew and plenty of music, this interactive show is a can’t-miss for your young fan.
photo courtesy of MGA Entertainment
Here’s the full tour schedule, which kicks off in Spring 2022:
March 5 Thousand Oaks, CA Bank of America Performing Arts Center
March 6 Anaheim, CA City National Grove of Anaheim
March 9 Phoenix, AZ Arizona Federal Theatre
March 11 San Jose, CA San Jose Civic
March 12 Los Angeles, CA Orpheum Theatre
March 13 Oakland, CA Fox Theater
March 16 Denver, CO Paramount Theatre
March 17 Ralston, NE Ralston Arena
March 18 Minneapolis, MN State Theatre
March 19 Milwaukee, WI Riverside Theater
March 20 Saint Louis, MO Fox Theatre – St. Louis
March 22 Knoxville, TN The Tennessee Theatre
March 23 Charleston, WV Clay Center for Arts & Sciences
March 24 Chattanooga, TN Tivoli Theatre
March 25 Cincinnati, OH Taft Theatre
March 26 Lima, OH Veterans Memorial Civic Center
March 27 Richmond, VA Carpenter Theatre
March 29 Detroit, MI Fox Theatre
March 30 Warren, OH Packard Music Hall
March 31 Washington, DC Warner Theatre
April 1 Greensburg, PA The Palace Theatre
April 2 Rockford, IL Coronado Performing Arts Center
April 3 Rosemont, IL Rosemont Theatre
April 5 Rochester, NY Kodak Center for the Arts
April 6 Wilkes Barre, PA F.M. Kirby Center for the Performing Arts
April 7 Staten Island, NY St. George Theatre
April 8 Brookville, NY The Tilles Center at LIU Post
April 9 Albany, NY Palace Theatre
April 10 Boston, MA Emerson Colonial Theatre
April 12 Syracuse, NY Oncenter – John H. Mulroy Civic Center – Crouse-Hinds Theatre
April 13 Glenside, PA Keswick Theatre
April 14 Lancaster, PA American Music Theatre
April 15 Wallingford, CT Oakdale Theatre
April 16 Red Bank, NJ Count Basie Center for the Arts
April 19 Mobile, AL Mobile Civic Center
April 20 Huntsville, AL Von Braun Center
April 22 Louiville, KY The Louisville Palace Theater
April 23 Charlotte, NC Belk Theater At North Carolina Blumenthal Performing Arts Center
April 24 Indianapolis, IN Murat Theatre
April 27 Birmingham, AL BJCC Concert Hall
April 28 Durham, NC Durham Performing Arts Center
April 30 Fort Lauderdale, FL Broward Center for the Performing Arts
May 2 Melbourne, FL King Center for the Performing Arts
May 3 Jacksonville, FL Florida Theatre
May 4 Orlando, FL Walt Disney Theatre
May 5 Clearwater, FL Ruth Eckerd Hall
May 6 Atlanta, GA The Fox Theatre
May 7 Columbia, SC Township Auditorium
May 8 New Orleans, LA Saenger Theatre
May 10 Sugar Land, TX Smart Financial Centre
May 11 Midland, TX Wagner Noel Performing Arts Center
May 12 San Antonio, TX Majestic Theatre
May 13 Grand Prairie, TX Texas Trust CU Theatre
Tickets and VIP packages are on sale now for shows that were rescheduled and tickets for the newly added shows go on sale to the general public starting Friday, October 8. Since Citi is the official presale credit card of the tour, Citi cardmembers have access to purchase presale tickets for the new shows beginning October 5 at 10 a.m. local time. Visit Citi or the LOL Surprise Live site for all the details!
Unsurprisingly, the Build-A-Bear and Animal Crossing collection was beyond popular when it launched earlier this month. Now the collab is returning to the workshop with fan faves Isabelle and Tom Nook!
To snag these beary special characters, head to buildabear.com at 9:30 a.m. CST on Tues. Apr. 27 to enter the virtual pre-waiting room for a chance to purchase the collection. You’ll want to make sure you enter before 10 a.m. to be assigned a random spot in the line
When your turn comes up, you’ll be given access to purchase from the Animal Crossing Collection! As long as you join the pre-waiting room before 10:00 a.m. CST you will be randomly assigned a spot in line. If you join after, you will file in at the end of the existing line. If you are selected, you will have a limited amount of time to make your purchase, so make sure your sound and notifications are on.
If you don’t end up making the cut, all is not lost. The Animal Crossing: New Horizons collection arrive in Workshops this summer.
One of your fave classic kinds of candy is making a spring-time comeback! Spangler Candy Company recently announced the return of the Necco Chocolate Wafer Roll.
Instead of an assortment of flavors, this sweet treat features only chocolate wafers. That’s right, all 40 of the paper-thin disks have the chocolate taste you know, love and completely crave.
photo: Courtesy of Spangler Candy Company
Diana Eschhofen, Spangler Candy’s Director, Corporate Communications, said in a press release, “Once we brought back the original assorted roll of Necco Wafers this past summer, the demand for the Chocolate Roll was almost instantaneous.” Eschhofen continued, “We know this has been a long-awaited return, and we’re ready to give chocolate candy lovers something they’ve been missing.”
Even though the beloved wafers have spent more than a century on store shelves, the chocolate wafers vanished two years ago. Now that they’re back, the coco-flavored wafers have an even richer cocoa taste.
You can nab a single roll of the Necco Chocolate Wafers or, if you’re into bulk buys, buy a 24-count tray from SpanglerCandy.com or at select retailers nationwide.
Takashi Tezuka, Executive Officer and Game Producer of Nintendo Co., Ltd., said in a press release, “We are very pleased to add Mario’s twin brother, Luigi, to the LEGO Super Mario family with the new LEGO Super Mario Adventure with Luigi Starter Course.”
The new Adventures with Luigi Starter Course includes 280 buildable pieces. Your kiddo can build the bricks, rebuild them, and continue rebuilding to their heart’s content.
Along with the building bricks, your child can also download the free LEGO Super Mario app. The app is compatible with all LEGO Super Mario products and keeps track of scores, provides building ideas and gives your kids creative tips.
Find the new LEGO Super Mario Adventures with Luigi Starter Course ($59.99) on LEGO.com and at select retailers. This new set is currently available for pre-order only and will launch for purchase Aug. 1, 2021.
Target recently announced the launch of its Designer Dress Collection! This is the second installment of the Collection and features fab fashion creators Christopher John Rogers, ALEXIS and RIXO.
The Designer Dress Collection includes more than 70 chic selections in sizes ranging from XXS to 4X. Look for bold patterns, bright hues and silhouettes you can’t forget.
Jill Sando, executive vice president and chief merchandising officer, Target, said in a press release, “For more than 20 years, Target has partnered with some of the biggest names in the industry, and had the opportunity to introduce our guests to emerging designers who are shaping fashion and culture today.”
Sando continued, “With this collection, we’re celebrating three incredibly talented and diverse designers, all while creating our most size-inclusive collection of original, quality dresses that we know our guests will love.”
Find these fashion-forward frocks in select Target stores and online. This cute and completely cool collection is awesomely affordable, with prices between $40 and $60.
