Following on the heels of retail giants such as Toys “R” Us, Gymboree and Bed Bath & Beyond, Party City recently announced closures for the upcoming year. While the national chain isn’t shuttering all locations (far from it), the company has plans to close 45 stores permanently.

Between bday bashes, weddings, grad gatherings and all the other festivities you attend regularly, it’s hard to comprehend the idea of a top party retailer shutting down. But like other brick and mortars have found, retail isn’t an easy game to conquer in the age of the internet—even for Party City.

According to Chief Executive Office, James M. Harrison, in a press statement, “Each year, Party City typically closes 10-15 stores as a part of our prudent network optimization process and in response to ongoing consumer, market and economic changes that naturally arise in the business.” Harrison also added, “This year, after careful consideration and evaluation of our store fleet, we’ve made the decision to close more stores than usual in order to help optimize our market level performance, focus on the most profitable locations and improve the overall health of our store portfolio.”

Despite rumors of helium shortage-related closures, Harrison did note, “Most importantly, we have signed a letter of agreement for a new source of helium which, subject to final execution of a definitive contract, would provide for additional quantities of helium beginning this summer and continuing for the next 2.5 years.  We believe this new source should substantially eliminate the shortfall we are experiencing at current allocation rates and improve our ability to return to a normal level of latex and metallic balloon sales.”

How do you know if your Party City will close in 2019? The retailer is still yet to release the locations of the 45 stores.

—Erica Loop

Featured photo: Gaelle Marcell via Unsplash 

 

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Beyond “sleep when the baby sleeps” there is no shortage of advice on how to handle motherhood. Whether you’re diving into mommyhood for the first time or wrangling teenagers like a boss, we can all use a little advice now and then. We asked our devoted readers, fellow moms and our very own editors to share the best advice they’ve received on motherhood and they weighed in. Keep scrolling to catch your daily dose!

Enjoy the Moment

Xavier Mouton Photographie via Unsplash

"The days are long but the years are short."–Heather R.

"Enjoy every moment, even the hard ones." –Johanna G.

"Never turn down an opportunity to cuddle." –Elizabeth W.

"Don’t worry that they are growing and you might be sad they are getting big. Enjoy them at each stage..." –Sheila Z.

"You are enough ❤️❤️." –Sharlene H.

Raising Kids

Jennifer Murray via Pexels

"Be the woman you want your daughter to be when she’s an adult." –Mary S.

"Prep your children for the road, don't prepare the road for your children." –Holly E.

"Babies cry. It is ok" –Cicely Kunsman

On having a third baby: "Don’t over think it honey, just throw another potato in the pot and carry on!”–Kendra S.

"The 'smell the soup, cool the soup' method- when emotions are high from mom and/or kids, just remember to breathe. Tell them and yourself to smell the soup (breathe in) and cool the soup (breathe out). It’s such a random thing that has saved the day so many times." –Ayren J.

"The more you do for your kids, the less they will do for themselves." –Sue E.

Because Motherhood Is Funny

Vinnicus Costa via Pexels

"It's fine to have cereal for dinner sometimes." –Megan S.

"Don’t spend money on a purse you’re not willing to catch throw up in." –Tara Z.

"No one judges you in Target if you’re in your pajamas mamma. You rock it girl!" –LeAnne N.

"Never share your drink." –Molly O.

"Always park by the cart return." –Tami R. 

"Don't worry about that terrible phase your kid is going through - it will eventually end and be replaced with an even worse one." –Kelly H.

"Don’t ever load another woman’s dishwasher." –Stephanie J.

"Beware what you sniff check." –EJ H.

One Day at a Time

Ketan Rajput via Unsplash

"When you come home from a hard day, and touch the doorknob of your door, smile and know that the face your kids see is one that shows that’s you’re happy to see them." –Edie G.

"Don't sweat the small stuff. And believe me, the older they get, you'll wish you knew how small that stuff really was when they were younger." –Beth S.

"Do what you need to do to get through the day." & "Get in the photos!" –Eva I.

"If the kids are alive at the end of the day, it was a good day." –Sonnet G.

"If you have the sense of mind to worry if you are a good mom, you are probably doing just fine." –Whitney R.

Take Care of Yourself

Alvaro Reyes via Unsplash

"Do your best and forgive yourself for the rest." –Courteney S.

"Take care of yourself; you can’t fill any cups from an empty pitcher." –Diane M.

"The dishes can wait." –Amber G.

"Your kids want a happy mom, not a perfect mom." –Tamara S.

"Don't be afraid to put yourself first now and again." –Annette B.

It Takes a Village

Katy Belcher via Unsplash

"Find good mom friends. It’s the most important thing." –Andrew H.

"Say yes to ALL the offers of help even if/when you don't think you need it...If someone offers it, take it." –Andi H.

"Ask for help even if you don't think you need it." –Tiphany B.

"LISTEN to all advice because it may not pertain to your current situation, but it sure might down the road." –Sue L.

––Karly Wood

 

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We all know that being a mother is the toughest job in the world. There’s no shortage of work and worrying (but also love) that happens every minute of the day. To show some appreciation for all you ladies rocking the “mom badge” out there, we’ve rounded up some of the most inspirational motherhood quotes. As if there was ever any doubt that moms know best. Keep reading to see them all.

photo: LisaLiza via Pixabay

1. “When you are a mother, you are never really alone in your thoughts. A mother always has to think twice, once for herself and once for her child.” – Sophia Loren

2. “Sometimes the strength of motherhood is greater than natural laws.” – Barbara Kingsolver

3. “We have a secret in our culture, and it’s not that birth is painful. It’s that women are strong.” – Laura Stavoe Harm

4. “There’s no way to be a perfect mother and a million ways to be a good one.” – Jill Churchill

5. “Most mothers are instinctive philosophers.” – Harriet Beecher Stowe

photo: 5540867 via Pixabay

6. “Mother is a verb. It’s something you do. Not just who you are.” – Cheryl Lacey Donovan

7. “It may be possible to gild pure gold, but who can make his mother more beautiful?”– Mahatma Gandhi

8. “The phrase ‘working mother’ is redundant.” – Jane Sellman

9. “The mother’s heart is the child’s schoolroom.” – H.W. Beecher

10. “God could not be everywhere, and therefore he made mothers.” – Rudyard Kipling

photo: Public Domain Photos via Pixabay

11. “A mother’s love for her child is like nothing else in the world. It knows no law, no pity, it dates all things and crushes down remorselessly all that stands in its path.” – Agatha Christie

12. “The mother art is architecture. Without an architecture of our own we have no soul of our own civilization.” – Frank Lloyd Wright

13. “Life doesn’t come with a manual, it comes with a mother.” – Unknown

14. “A mother is not a person to lean on, but a person to make leaning necessary.” – Dorothy Canfield Fisher

15. “Successful mothers are not the ones that have never struggled. They are the ones that never give up, despite the struggles.” – Sharon Jaynes

— Leah R. Singer

 

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Feature photo: pixabay

Next time you swing by the Happiest Place on Earth, you might notice one tasty-looking pair of Minnie ears atop park-goers’ heads. For the first time ever, you can score a set of donut Mouse ears at Disney Parks!

The brand new Minnie ears—which feature pink “frosting” and beaded “sprinkles” topped with a glittery, silver blue bow—have been popping up all over Disneyland and, of course, Instagram.

The ears are reportedly being sold for $27.99 and are available for sale at the Emporium on Main Street in Disneyland. According to DisneyStyle, they will also be rolling out at Walt Disney World soon. You’ll definitely want to get em’ while they’re hot as these donuts are already flying off shelves. (We’re having flashbacks to the whole Rose Gold Minnie headband shortage of 2017.)

https://www.instagram.com/p/BsowWaSj6Z-/

Hopefully Disney will add them to their section of Disney Parks Ear hats and headbands at Shop Disney soon; but if not, there are plenty of other cute Disney donut-inspired accessories to be found there, too.

—Shahrzad Warkentin

Featured photo: Amy Humphries via Unsplash

 

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This is the perfect time of year to get out and about in our hometown. And where better to spend a day than among the cobblestone streets and charming scenery of Georgetown. Here are our suggestions on what to see, where to eat, and how to play.

Photo: Dumbarton Oaks Gardens

See

Begin your day by just wandering down M Street. Be sure to make it to the Old Stone House, the oldest house in D.C. It’s temporarily closed for rehabilitation but makes for a fun bit of history as you stroll. When you’re ready to veer off the beaten path of the Georgetown’s main street for a little more history and nature, you’ve got a couple choices.

Tudor Place
Head north on 31st street to Tudor Place, an 1816 estate offering daily tours. 

Cost: $10/adults; $3/kids
1644 31st St., NW
Online: tudorplace.org

Dumbarton Oaks Gardens
Keep walking north and make your way to Dumbarton Oaks Gardens, a museum surrounded by beautiful gardens, perfect for running and playing

1703 32nd St., NW
Online: doaks.org

C&O Canal Towpath
Wander towards the river and pick up a stretch of the C&O Canal Towpath

Online: nps.gov

Georgetown’s Hogwarts
Make your way to Georgetown University and check out our own local Hogwarts—known to students as Healy Hall

O St. at 37th St., NW
Online: georgetown.edu

Photo: Il Canale

Eat

All of that walking will work up an appetite and you’ll find no shortage of restaurants in Georgetown. For our favorites, check out:

Pinstripes
Delicious food in a welcoming atmosphere is enough to draw us in. But add in bocce and bowling with game-side food service and we can’t stay away. 

1064 Wisconsin Ave., NW
Online: pinstripes.com

Il Canale
Pizza for the kids. A truly authentic Italian experience that will have you feeling as though you’ve made it to Naples for the adults. Everybody’s happy. (illcanale.com)

1065 31st St., NW
Online: ilcanale.com

Dessert
If you’re in Georgetown, then you’re having cupcakes. Our favorites are the classics: Georgetown Cupcake, Sprinkles, and Baked & Wired.

Photo: Daniel Lobo via flickr

Play

With full bellies, find a place to play for the rest of the day.

Georgetown Waterfront
While the splash park is gone for the season and ice skating hasn’t started yet, the Georgetown Waterfront still offers plenty of space to run around, a Labyrinth to follow, lovely river views and overlooks, and a functioning steam gauge.

Online: georgetownwaterfrontpark.org

Big Wheel Bikes
Take a break from walking and hop on a set of wheels. Big Wheel Bikes offers bike rentals so you can go farther and see more.

1034 33rd St., NW
Online: bigwheelbikes.com

—Tricia Mirchandani

featured image: NPS 

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If you’ve got a crew with spurs that jingle jangle jingle, then you’re in the market for a cowboy vacation. From open prairie to luxury ranches, we’ve found 11 places worth hopping along to. Click through the gallery to find your next home on the range.

Ely, Nv

For living cowboy history, Nevada still takes center stage. The Ely and White Pine area in Nevada is original Pony Express Territory, along US Hwy 50. Every summer the old express route is ridden between St. Joseph, MO to Sacramento and Ely is along the way. This is ranching country, too so there’s no shortage of cattle and sheep as far as the eye can see. Spend a day horseback riding in Great Basin National Park and then rest your weary bones at Hidden Canyon Retreat. You can explore nearby wagon train trails, historic log cabins, caves, warm springs, abundant wildlife including wild mustang viewing and more. But the real gem of Ely is the Northern Nevada Railway Museum, which offers different themed train rides designed to take riders back to that Wild West experience. There's a Pony Express mail experience and even a staged robbery! It's open year round and worth the trip alone. 

Online: visitely.com

 

photo: Visit Ely Nevada 

 

What’s your favorite cowboy destination? Tell us in a comment below so we can add it to our list! 

That kiddie pool in your backyard is nice for cooling your feet but this summer it’s time to up the water-play game, big time. The US has no shortage of amazing water parks—from just-opened volcano-themed to revamped old classics—but we’ve picked out favorites from among the many. Click through the slideshow to see our top 14 and find out if your best-loved made the list.

Morgans Wonderland Inspiration Island—San Antonio, Tx

The newest feature of Morgan’s Wonderland—an inclusive amusement park designed for kids of all ages, abilities and special needs—Inspiration Island splashes on the scene June 2017 (open now). Featuring five water play areas full of raintrees, pools, falls, geyers, jets, water cannons and tipping buckets! Every element is wheelchair-accessible, Rainbow Reef has warmer water for those sensitive to cold, and the waterproof wristbands have RFID technology so parents can go to a Location Station and find their family members. And, just like Morgan’s Wonderland, admission for all special needs guests is free.

Morgan’s Wonderland
5223 David Edwards Dr.
San Antonio, Tx 78233
210-495-5888
Online: morganswonderland.com/inspirationisland

 

photo courtesy Morgan's Wonderland 

What’s your favorite water park? Tell us why in a comment below.

New York has always been one of the most dynamic and diverse cities in the world. From language immersion preschools to parades that celebrate backgrounds of all kinds, there is no shortage of opportunities to teach tiny citizens about other countries and cultures. These days, it feels more important than ever to educate our future world leaders about respect and tolerance. Need some ideas on how to get started? Here are some of our favorite NYC spots that promote understanding and appreciation of different races, ethnicities and cultures.

Sugar Hill Children’s Museum of Art and Storytelling

Art workshops and inter-generational storytelling about Harlem and Northern Manhattan are just some of the offerings at this Harlem children’s museum. It was built by Broadway Housing Communities as part of the Sugar Hill Project, a development initiative merging housing, education and art to revitalize community. Catering to ages three to eight, Sugar Hill offers children a chance to learn about Harlem and Northern Manhattan, and celebrate the diversity found within its surrounding communities. History Tales is a program that takes place on the fourth Sunday of each month and shares stories about residents of Upper Manhattan. After the storytime, bring your little bookworm to the museum’s Reading Nook.

Hours: Thursday and Friday, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday, 12 p.m. – 5 p.m. closed Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday.

Admission: $7; $4 for children ages 9 to 17; kiddos ages 8 and under are free.

Sugar Hill Children’s Museum of Art and Storytelling
898 St Nicholas Avenue
Harlem
Online: sugarhillmuseum.org

Photo: Sugar Hill Children’s Museum’s Facebook Page

 

What’s your favorite NYC spot to help kids learn about other cultures? 

–Michelle McIvor Cohen

San Diego kids have a good life! Not only does the sun shine nearly all year long, there’s also no shortage of awesome restaurants that promise way more fun than a kids menu and coloring sheet. Several of San Diego’s culinary spots have fun features to entertain the wee ones while parents savor delicious bites and craft drinks. Click through to see where you need to take the family for your next dinner out.

Kula Revolving Sushi Bar

Even the pickiest of eaters will be excited to eat sushi that comes to the table on a revolving conveyor belt. Kula Revolving Sushi Bar is the newest (and coolest) way to eat with chopsticks. Here's how it works: You're seated at a table that's next to a moving conveyor belt. Throughout your time at the restaurant, the chefs send out tons of different sushi plates on the belt. You pick and chose exactly what you want to eat. Once you finish your food, simply place the plate in the slot at your table that goes right back to the kitchen for washing. Each plate is about $2.25 each, so you can eat as much as you'd like. Kids are especially motivated to eat because they get a prize (right at the table) for every 15 plates returned. Kula Sushi is delicious, affordable and will keep the kids eating and entertained for the duration of your lunch or dinner.

Insider's Tip: If your kiddo isn't a fish or sushi can, you can also select plates filled with edamame, watermelon chunks and other fruit. Save room for mochi or cheesecake for dessert (also from the revolving sushi go-round)!

4609 Convoy St.
San Diego, Ca
858-715-4605
Online: kulausa.com

Photo: Leah Singer

Where do you like to go when you’re craving a delicious meal with the kids in tow?

— Leah R. Singer

From the soccer carpool to the never-ending assortment of mismatched socks, sometimes there are days when you’ve only got a few seconds (or 140 characters) to get in a good giggle. Well, sit back and get ready to scroll because we’ve scoured the Twitterverse for moms and dads that rap about the highs and lows of parenting, and the results are hilarious.

1. Coffee is everything.

2. That is NOT “one little piece of tape.”

3. Wise words little one.

4. HA!

https://twitter.com/LetMeStart/status/714753982569324544

5. Oh, that 4yo is good.

https://twitter.com/StephDsays/status/715689227292438529

6. Any takers?

7. Kids say the darndest things.

https://twitter.com/ValeeGrrl/status/714970543062171648

8. The struggle…

9. Priorities

https://twitter.com/est1975blog/status/714837793596248064

10. As “Angel” plays softly in background

 

Do you have any #funnyparenting moments to share with the Red Tricycle Community? Tell us in the comments below!