Have you heard the joke about the cows at the White House? It’s a good one! Read on for 16 kid-friendly jokes inspired by all things Washington, DC, from the National Mall to DMV traffic. Let the pun begin!
1. Why can’t you feed the animals at the Natural History Museum?
Because they’re already stuffed.
2. What is the tallest building in Washington, DC?
The Library of Congress because it has so many stories.
3. If you could put the entire DMV on a scale, what would it weigh?
A Washing-TON.
4. Why can’t you just go to one Smithsonian museum?
Because you have to see the Mall.
5. What kind of toast do they serve on Air Force One?
Plane toast.
6. Why did the secret service bring a herd of cows to the White House?
It’s always nice to take the night off and order pizza for dinner. Now you have a good excuse to enjoy some cheesy goodness. National Pizza Day is February 9, and we’ve rounded up some great deals for you.
Blaze Pizza: Get two pepperoni pizzas for just $10 when ordering online. There’s also a special promo with Postmates (keep scrolling to find out what it is!).
Caulipower: Expecting or know someone expecting on Pizza Day? Head to Born On Pizza Day to send them or yourself a year’s supply of Caulipower pizza alongside other new baby essentials.
Chuck E. Cheese’s: Enjoy a medium one-topping pizza and two drinks for $16.99 or two large one-topping pizzas with four drinks for $32.99.
Cicis: Grab three medium one-topping pizzas to go for $12.
The Crafty Squirrel: This Sunday, you can snag $1 slices of The Crafty Squirrel’s gourmet artisan pizza all day long.
Domino’s: Get a large carryout three-topping pizza for $7.99. You can also choose two or more items from a select menu for $5.99 each.
Einstein Bros. Bagels: This popular bagel chain is celebrating National Pizza Day for the first time! Join the brand’s Shmear Society Rewards and redeem a coupon for two pizza bagel slices for $3 with an additional purchase. The pizza bagel comes in cheese and pepperoni and is available at stores participating in the promotion.
Firepit Pizza Tavern: All day long on February 9, $5 cheese pizzas will be served, with the ability to add on toppings, such as pepperoni, spicy capicola, goat cheese, honey ricotta, caramelized onions and portabella. You can also enjoy $5 well drinks, draft beers and house wine from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday.
Hungry Howie’s: Get a large one-topping pizza for $5.99 on carry out orders at participating locations.
Little Caesars: Try the new stuffed pretzel crust pizza for just $9 or the pretzel crust pizza for $6 (this one is back for a limited time) at any location nationwide from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Marco’s: Lots of offers here! You can buy any large pizza and get a medium cheese for free with the code “BOGOCHZ.” Also, get a medium pizza for just $6.99 with the code MED699 through February 23. Note: Check with your local Marco’s on available deals, and these can vary by location.
Olive Garden: Buy one entrée, get a second for $5.
Papa Gino’s: Get two extra-large cheese pizzas, a small order of cheese breadsticks and an order of cinnamon sticks for $29.99.
Papa John’s: Enjoy 25% off regular menu-price orders.
Papa Murphy’s: Get 25% off your next $20 online order with Papa Murphy’s email or text. On National Pizza Day, get $3 off your online order of a large or family-size pizza using the code “PIZZADAY.”
Pizza Hut: Get $5 off online orders of $25+. Plus, earn free pizza when you sign up for Hut Rewards.
Pizza Patrón: Last year, you could order one 18-inch Patron extra-large pizza with three toppings and receive a large one-topping pizza free. Fingers crossed they run this again!
Postmates: Pizza lovers can get one free large 14-inch pizza at Blaze Pizza. Order your favorite and use code PIZZADAY at checkout on your Blaze Pizza order of $25 or more while supplies last. Bonus: Get 20% cash back with RetailMeNot!
Real Good Food Company: Get 10% off your online order this National Pizza Day by using the code GIRLSVSCARBS.
Round Table Pizza: Customers can get a large specialty pizza for $19.99.
Toppers: Through February 9, when ordering online, customers can pick two of the following items for $9.99 each: any large house pizza or three-topping pizza, any triple Topperstix and any 1-pound boneless wings.
Uno Pizzeria & Grill: Enjoy a takeout pizza for either $6, $7 or half-price when you buy a pizza of equal or lesser value. Plus, they’re running $6 add-on deals for salad, apps or wings when you purchase any takeout pizza. Check with your local location to see if they’re participating.
Originally published in 2005, High in the Clouds is a kids adventure novel penned by the Beatles star along with co-authors Geoff Dunbar and Philip Ardagh. The novel follows the story of a teen squirrel who gets mixed up with a gang of rebellious squirrels living in the clouds.
“We are thrilled to be partnering with Netflix,” said McCartney in a statement. “They complement what is already an amazing team with Gaumont and we can think of no-one better to be working with to bring our film to a global audience. I’ve always loved animated films and this is a hugely important passion project for me. I can’t wait for the world to see it.”
No word yet on when the new movie will debut on Netflix as it’s still in the early stages, but Paul McCartney is signed on as a producer and will be writing and recording original songs for the film. McCartney also recently published a children’s picture book Hey, Grandude.
A favorite holiday movie is “Christmas Vacation.” And one of the most memorable (and hilarious) scenes is the squirrel flying out of the Christmas tree. While funny in the movies, the threat of Christmas tree mishaps can actually be quite serious.
Unsecured Christmas trees can topple over and cause serious injury, especially to a young child, and according to reports, Christmas tree fires are the deadliest of household fires. On average, one in every 32 reported Christmas tree fires results in a death compared to an average of one death per 143 total reported home fires.
Here are a few simple tips to ensure a beautiful and safe holiday season.
1. Select a fresh tree. The tree should be green with needles that bend, not break. For pines and spruces, branches should be tough to pull, and fir trees should have needles that snap when bent. Also, look for a trunk sticky with sap.
2. Secure the tree. This will prevent it from accidentally falling over. If possible, make sure the tree stand is not on thick carpeting. Screw some eye-hooks into the wall and thread fishing line through the tree and tie to the hooks.
3. Keep ornaments high. This is true especially for families with young children. Place ornaments off the lower limbs and consider using a gate around the tree to prevent kids from getting too close. Ditch the glass ornaments for non-breakable.
4. Go hi-tech. Safer Alarms Inc. just released a first of its kind Christmas tree fire detector that looks like an ornament. While it looks like traditional tree decor, the ornament wirelessly connects to an alarm placed elsewhere in the home like near where you sleep. If the ornament detects unsafe heat, the alarm will sound (and continue to sound even if the ornament catches fire).
5. Water, water, water. Make sure the tree holder always has enough water. Cut an inch off the bottom of the trunk; fresh wood can absorb more water, so the tree will stay fresher longer.
6. Be mindful of placement. Always place your tree at least three feet away from heat sources like fireplaces, radiators, candles, heat vents or lights. Only use indoor lights indoors and look for the UL label. Do not use any lights that are broken and make sure sockets are in good condition, and that there are no frayed or bare wires. Keep light off lower branches that pets or babies could reach as they might chew on the wire. Be sure to turn the lights off whenever you leave the house. And if you have ornaments that light up with an off/on switch, be sure to turn off as well.
I'm a mom to 4 kids - my first died of SIDS and my second has Intellectual Disabilities. I'm the step-mom to another two. My husband has MS. I write about how to keep everyone in the family happy, safe and sane - especially women!
The Bard might have cornered the market on classic theater, but high schools looking for a modern twist to entice audiences will love the new Marvel Spotlight collection which features one-act plays focused on themes like responsibility and self-esteem using Marvel characters.
The initial installment of plays, which is published by Samuel French and can be licensed for school performances, will focus on three Marvel characters: Thor, Squirrel Girl and Ms. Marvel.
Samuel French and @Marvel are proud to launch Marvel Spotlight, a collection of one-act plays telling the stories of ordinary people doing extraordinary things! Learn more: https://t.co/fD2F4VHgsm#MarvelSpotlightPlays
One of the plays, Mirror of Most Value: A Ms. Marvel Play, by Masi Asare is all about accepting one’s imperfections. Ms. Marvel’s true identity is Kamala Khan, a teenage Muslim girl living in Jersey City who struggles with fitting in. Asare told the New York Times, “It’s so exciting to see more and more of these kinds of stories show up in popular culture and on the stage, because when I was growing up they were few and hard to find.”
License fees for Marvel Spotlight plays are $75 per performance for one play or $125 per performance for two or more. Published copies of the plays are available for $9.95 each through Samuel French.
It might seem hard to believe, but there really are more than just three songs than those your kids listen to on repeat ad nauseum. The Grammy nominees for Best Children’s Album have just dropped they offer an awesome mix of new tunes to shake up your playlists for when you just can’t listen to “How Far I’ll Go” or “Shake It Off” one more time.
Scroll on to see who’s in the running for the best kids tunes of the year.
All The Sounds (Lucy Kalantari & The Jazz Cats)
Lucy Kalantari
Is your kiddo really just an old soul at heart? This album takes all the swingin' beats of the jazz hot era and combines it with delightful, inspired tunes. Think Squirrel Nut Zippers for the younger set. Get it here on Amazon.
Building Blocks (Tim Kubart)
Tim Kubart
Tim Kubart's album has a total Postal Service vibe with catchy, upbeat tracks that were practically made for summer road trips. Get it here on Amazon.
Falu's Bazaar (Falu)
Falu
This album is a musical tour of South Asia, with both Falu and kids singing along throughout the album. Your kiddo won't be able to keep themselves from dancing to super poppy Bollywood-esque tunes like "Tararum Pumpum" and "Bazaar." Get it here on Amazon.
Giants Of Science (The Pop Ups)
The Pop Ups
This album takes trendy, space-y synth-pop tunes and gives it the coolest, nerdiest, science-y-est spin ever. With tracks like "Meteor Dinosaur" and "How Do We Know?" this album is basically an ode to all things STEM. Get it here on Amazon.
The Nation of Imagine (Frank & Deane)
Frank and Deane
Is "hyper" a genre? If so, this frenetic, high-energy kids' album is chock full of tunes like a musical sugar high. Songs like "I Blew a Kazoo at the Zoo" and "Ants in My Pants" pretty much sum up the entire feel of this album: fun like whoa. Snag your copy from Frank & Deane's website.
Can’t pick just one? Check out these albums and more tunes from these Grammy-nom’ed children’s artists on our Spotify playlist below!
For many of us, we grew up with tons of male superhero leads, but for our kids, it’s a whole new world full of diverse, inclusive representation. Today’s kids’ shows are all about she-ros—and we’ve rounded up some of the best kids shows with strong female superhero leads.
Check out our picks below!
Rainbow Rangers
Courtesy of Nick Jr.
The new addition to the Nick Jr. lineup features an all-female cast of characters. Co-created by the team that brought us Disney's The Lion King, Mulan, The Little Mermaid and Frozen, Rainbow Rangers includes a diverse group of young girls, each with unique superpowers. Oh yeah, and they save the world too! Look for this fun, fearless, female-led show to debut on Nov. 5, aimed at kids 6 and younger.
Get ready for a reboot! Oh, but this isn't just an ol' reboot. This is She-Ra. Yep, your childhood female superhero is back and she's all new—and she's on Netflix too. The Princess of Power is joining up with other princesses of power in all-new DreamWorks adventure.
Ms. Marvel, Ghost-Spider, Patriot, Inferno, Quake and Squirrel Girl star in this new animated series. Find Marvel Rising on the Disney Channel, along with the made-for-TV animated flick, Marvel Rising: Secret Warriors.
Don't let the show's name, Steven Universe, fool you: there's a whole lot of incredibly diverse female representation happening here. The popular Cartoon Network just featured a same-sex marriage proposal and wedding between characters Ruby and Sapphire. The show has been praised for its depiction of queer characters and storylines.
While not a superhero in the most traditional sense, older kids will enjoy the first-ever female in the iconic role of Doctor Who. Jodie Whittaker stars in the thirteenth incarnation of the longest-running sci-fi series in TV history. With plenty of team-work, STEM themes and of course, alien superhero awesomeness, this BBC show is can't miss TV.
The San Diego County Mammal Atlas is about to hit store shelves! This wonderful, educational resource and definitive guide to the mammals of San Diego County features in-depth info about the critters who call our city home. Looking for something unique and off the beaten path to do with your little animal aficionados? Thanks to tips from our friends at the San Diego Natural History Museum and authors of the Atlas, we’ve got the top spots for local mammal sightings. Read on for where they suggest you plan your next nature adventure and possible animal encounter with your kiddos!
Kid-Friendly Animal Sightings: Where to Spot 5 Mammals in San Diego
Two of the authors of San Diego County Mammal Atlas, Scott Tremor and Drew Stokes, sat down with Red Tricycle to tell families where they can go to spot 5 mammals in San Diego County, as well as several fun and interesting facts about each animal. Read on for the details provided by Tremor & Stokes.
1. The fox squirrel in Balboa Park. The fox squirrel (above) is an arboreal squirrel that was introduced to San Diego and other parts of southern California. First brought to Balboa Park in the 1920’s, the species resided here solely until recently. In the early 20’s the species started to expand into the neighborhoods surrounding Balboa Park and then into the San Diego River where it has now moved upriver to Santa Ysabel. Unfortunately, this species competes directly and often dominates with our native gray squirrel. This species is easily identified by its orange face and belly.
2. The gray squirrel in Julian and Mount Laguna. The gray squirrel is another arboreal squirrel that was once more widespread, especially in the foothills of San Diego County. Now found mainly in the upper elevations near Julian and Mount Laguna, this squirrel is best identified by its gray or silver coloration and very long tail. The gray squirrel is often seen foraging in the morning or late afternoon on the ground where it is either stashing or retrieving food that is hidden by burying it under the soil. The diet is mainly acorns or seeds from pine trees. With their strong jaw they are able to peel off scales to uncover the seeds. You know there is a gray squirrel around when you find a peeled pine cone. The bark of this species can be heard for long distances and can be followed where one can be watched. These very active climbers are enjoyable to watch as they move about the trees and interact with other squirrels and sometimes birds.
3. The gray whale may be spotted from Cabrillo National Monument at the tip of Point Loma. The gray whale is a seasonal visitor to the San Diego County coastline during its migration south (December- March) to their calving grounds in the lagoons of Baja California. The northbound migration extends from March to May where it returns to feeding grounds in North Pacific from British Columbia, Alaska, to Russia. The distinctive heart-shaped blow can been seen from Cabrillo National Monument at the tip of Point Loma. For more whale sighting opportunities in San Diego, click here.
4. Bats in Mission Trails Regional Park. Bats are reclusive and do their thing mostly beyond the human senses making them generally difficult to observe without special equipment. However, if you go out to the right place at the right time you may catch glimpses of them being batty before it gets too dark. One such place is the old mission (Padre) dam in Mission Trails Regional Park. Here the San Diego River and surrounding vegetation provide good drinking and foraging opportunities for bats that are roosting in nearby exposed rocky outcrops and in tree foliage. Several species of bats forage here including the canyon bat. The canyon bat usually takes flight early in the evening and can be observed before darkness sets in.
5. The coastal subspecies of the black-tailed jackrabbit along the Silver Strand or the Tijuana Estuary. The black-tailed jackrabbit is rare in southern California. Once numerous in open areas like grasslands, this rabbit is both a browser and grazer. Unfortunately, much of this habitat has been converted to urbanized areas. Best distinguished by very large black-tipped ears and a black tail, these rabbits can also be found near the two other local rabbits. The desert cottontail is smaller but also has black-tipped ears, but has a distinctive orange nape and white cotton ball like tail. Another even smaller rabbit is the brush rabbit. This species has the same cotton ball like tail but lacks the orange nape. These last two rabbits are usually found near some type of escape cover that is often either bushes or under buildings. The black-tailed jackrabbit can been seen along the Silver Strand or the Tijuana Estuary. Look for their distinctive round feces and you know one is nearby.
Between the Pages: More About The Atlas
Throughout its 432 full-color pages which took a decade to compile, The San Diego County Mammal Atlas covers the biology of all 91 terrestrial species and 31 inshore marine visitors known to have occurred in San Diego during its recorded history since 1769. Species covered in the book, which boasts contributions by more than 45 biologists, range from the desert bighorn sheep to the abundant California ground squirrel seen in neighborhoods across the county, to the immense blue whale found along the shorelines.
San Diego County Mammal Atlas debuts Dec. 19th. It may be purchased for $49.95 in the Museum store and online here. Proceeds from sales of the Mammal Atlas will support the Museum’s Department of Birds and Mammals.
Where is your favorite place to spot animals in San Diego? Share in the comments.
––Beth Shea
All images courtesy of the San Diego Natural History Museum.
If you’re looking for a top-notch costume for your tiny trick-or-treater, Pottery Barn Kids has released this year’s collection of kids’ costumes — and they’re cute enough to (maybe?) warrant their higher price tags.
Check out some of our faves:
Baby Squirrel Woodland Costume, 0-12 months. We don’t know which is cuter: the kid or the costume. $69. View online.
Monique Lhuillier Baby Fairy Costume, 6-24 months. Make your baby look even more angelic with this gorgeous dress and wing set. $69. View online.
Toddler Disney Pixar Cars Lightning McQueen Costume, small/large. Your Cars fanatic is going to love getting into the driver’s seat of this costume. Note: Pottery Barn Kids also has Mater and Sally costumes! $69. View online.
Toddler Snoopy 3D Doghouse, 3T to 6 years. Kids get the dog and the doghouse with this clever Peanuts getup. $69. View online.
Toddler Star Wars Chewbacca Costume, 3T to 6 years. Your kiddo doesn’t have to be a Star Wars fan to love this furry costume. Note: Pottery Barn Kids has an entire Star Wars collection. $99. View online.
Pink Fairy Light-Up Costume, 3T to 8 years. This costume actually lights up, so not only will your little fairy look magical, but she’ll be super-visible crossing the street on Halloween night.
$119. View online.
Unicorn Tutu Costume, 3T to 8 years. We think this costume is fab because — minus the headband horn — your little girl can wear it on any day of the year! $89. View online.
Do your kids already know what they want to be for Halloween? Tell us in the comments below.
Need a few crafts in your arsenal in response to the “I’m bored” chant you’re bound to hear this summer? It doesn’t get simpler than a paper bag and these five crafts are inexpensive, clever and just time-consuming enough to stave off the summer doldrums. Scroll down to get started.
photo: Sophies World
1. Easy-Peasy Kite Save this craft from Sophie’s World for a windy day! The best part is that the kids can decorate it however they want whether it’s with markers, feathers, streamers, or stickers. They will be thrilled to see their creation floating in the wind for all the world to see.
photo: Easy Preschool Crafts for Kids
2. Fish on the Fly While the last craft soars in the sky, this craft from Easy Preschool Crafts for Kids swims in the sea! It smiles, it swims, it’s simple and it’s sparkly! Grab some markets, glitter, glue, and any other fun additions you have lying around your craft box to decorate your fish. What more could a kid ask for?
photo: Creative Jewish Mom
3. Simple Apple Tree This craft involves a little bit of twist and a little bit of curl. And remember there are many fruits out there that you can jazz the branches up with. Maybe add a bird or a squirrel or two! Check out Creative Jewish Mom for the full low down on how to twist, curl, and create this fun paper bag craft.
photo: Fun Family Crafts
4. Funky Birds Your kiddos will love these friendly bird puppets from Fun Family Crafts because they are colorful and exotic. You will love them because they are easy! Plus: who doesn’t like feathers?
5. No-Heat Fireplace This warm fireplace from Crafts by Amanda is a homey addition to a doll house or a kid’s room to make them feel like real grownups (without the fire hazard, of course!). It will be fun for the little ones to search out sticks in the woods or at your local park for their very own mini fire place! Thanks to Crafts by Amanda for this awesome idea!
Have you tired any of these cute paper bag crafts? Tell us in a comment below.
