Surprise! L.O.L. Dolls are Hosting a Concert & It’s Free

by Karly WoodJune 21, 2021

Are your littles major LOL fans? Well, get ready for the biggest virtual concert ever!

MGA Entertainment, the makers of L.O.L Surprise Dolls, wants to give a big thank to all its fans with the ultimate immersive experience. Complete with dancing, trivia and tons of surprises throughout, the event will also announce the biggest U.S. fans!

Pressley Hosbach, TikTok star, will host the event with That Girl Lay Lay and other special guests like Big Will and his crew. In addition to awesome trivia and surprises, 100 Superfans will get $500 to support a cause of their choosing.

The free event is happening on Jul. 7 at 9 a.m. PST/12 p.m. EST. You can register for free tickets at LOLSurprise.com/LOLDay to receive a one-use link to watch on-demand.

––Karly Wood

All photo: Courtesy of MGA Entertainment

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These Are the Best Spots for Summer Staycations, According to New Study

by Sarah ShebekJune 3, 2021

Summer vacation or summer staycation? The latter is cheaper, easier and often more convenient for families everywhere. WalletHub just released a new study on the best places for a staycation across the U.S. and cities all around the country made up the top 10. Read on for the full list!

Using 46 key metrics, WalletHub compared more than 180 cities to come up with the best spots to staycation. Recreation (including pools per capita, playgrounds per capita and bike score), food and entertainment (including zoos per capita, movies costs and and museums per capita) and rest and relaxation (including public beaches per capita and idealness of summer weather) all factored into the final scores. The top 10 cities:

Honolulu, HI (65.80 total score)
Orlando, FL (60.87)
San Francisco, CA (59.41)
Charleston, SC (57.40)
Las Vegas, NV (57.13)
Portland, ME (57.11)
Chicago, IL (57.03)
Seattle, WA (56.54)
San Diego, CA (56.53)
Cincinnati, OH (56.33)

Some of the individual scores might surprise you! Cleveland and Philadelphia tied for number of swimming pools per capita. Salt Lake City had the most coffee and tea shops per capita. And Tacoma tied for first in the number of zoos and aquariums per capita.

For the full list of staycation spots, you can read the WalletHub study here. If you need extra ideas for your upcoming break (or rainy day distractions) we’ve got you covered!

––Sarah Shebek

Feature image courtesy of Pixabay

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Emmy Rossum & Husband Sam Esmail Welcome First Child

by Karly WoodMay 27, 2021

Surprise! Emmy Rossum was pregnant!

The “Shameless” actress announced on Tuesday that she welcomed her first child with husband, Sam Esmail. The news came as a lovely surprise, given that the star had not previously shared the couple was even expecting.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CPUPQqNF7xC/

The parents to a baby girl, the couple has just now shared a few bump pics from a few weeks before Rossum gave birth. The couple married in 2017 and this is the first child for both.

No word yet on a name for the sweet new addition, but may congrats to the new family of three.

––Karly Wood

Feature photo: Featureflash Photo Agency / Shutterstock.com

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Surprise! Your Fave L.O.L. Dolls Are Going on Tour in the Spring

by Erica LoopApril 27, 2021

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!

—Erica Loop

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New Survey Shows How the Pandemic Changed Parenting

by Erica LoopApril 27, 2021

How has parenting changed in the last year? More specifically, how have parents changed? Millie Moon Luxury Diapers recently tapped OnePoll to conduct a survey of 2,000 millennial parents—and the results may surprise you!

It’s probably not a shock to many parents that the events of 2020 changes plenty of attitudes towards just about everything. Between the sudden, drawn-out together-time families found themselves in, working from home, schooling from home and doing everything else from home, parenting has had to change in the past year.

photo courtesy of Millie Moon

The survey found that four out of five moms and dads surveyed felt 2020 made them completely reevaluate their parenting. Seventy-two percent said the pandemic helped them to show more compassion as parents and 73 percent began prioritizing the smaller moments they could share with their kiddos.

When it comes to work, more than 40 percent of parents put less of an emphasis on their jobs. This extra time reportedly had a major affect on the littles, according to the parents surveyed. Seventy-six percent of parents also discovered new ways to connect with their kids!

The increased emphasis on connecting with the kiddos may make you wonder how parents are spending more time with their families. The survey found that nearly half of parents say story-time is a bonding moment. With that in mind, Millie Moon is donating a portion of the proceeds from the brand’s new Luxury Diaper line to the national early literacy nonprofit, Reach Out and Read. Nab these luxe diapers and wipes exclusively at Target!

—Erica Loop

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Nick Carter & Wife Lauren Announce Birth of Their Third Child!

by Erica LoopApril 22, 2021

Nick Carter and wife Lauren are parents—for the third time! The couple recently announced the birth of their baby, following some minor complications.

The former boy-bander posted an Instagram pic from the hospital showing himself dressed in delivery room blues.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Nick Carter (@nickcarter)

Hours later Carter tweeted a birth announcement, writing, “We are proud to announce that our baby has officially arrived.” The Backstreet Boy continued, “But as a parent knows all to very well, sometimes things don’t turn out the way you plan it. We have been experiencing some minor complications but things are looking a little better after the first night.”

Earlier this year Carter’s wife Lauren opened up to PEOPLE about the road to this pregnancy and the couple’s multiple miscarriages, “I was fully set on just having two children and I had prepared for that and made arrangements for that.” Lauren added, “We were going to have two children and it was a surprise. I didn’t find out I was pregnant till I was about five-and-a-half months pregnant. I didn’t have any symptoms; I didn’t have anything indicating that I was pregnant.”

The newest baby joins the couple’s five-year-old son Odin Reign and 18-month-old daughter Saoirse.

—Erica Loop

Featured photo: Kathy Hutchins via Shutterstock

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Celebrate National English Muffin Day with a Sweet Cinnamon Bun Flavor

by Erica LoopApril 9, 2021

National English Muffin Day is coming up! You can celebrate the Apr. 23 holiday in a very special way—with one of Thomas’ English Muffins’ new Cinnamon Bun flavor.

The limited-edition English muffin pick is only available for a short time. This means you need to nab a pack of the Cinnamon Bun breakfast treats as soon as they go on sale.

photo courtesy of Thomas’ English Muffins

These flavor-packed cinnamon-infused muffins are available starting Apr. 12 in retailers nationwide. Whether you want to warm up your morning menu, serve a sweet snack to the kids, or add your fave topping and transform your English muffin into a delish dessert, the limit-edition Cinnamon Bun flavor is a can’t-miss. I

f you’re not into filling the nooks and crannies with a slather of butter or other option, these cinnamon-y picks are also pretty perfect as-is. Like original Thomas English Muffins and all the other fun flavors, Cinnamon Bun is sold in standard six-packs. Surprise your fam with this foodie find starting next week!

—Erica Loop

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Here’s How You Can Finally Own a Stay Puft Marshmallow Man

by Erica LoopApril 9, 2021

The newest member of the Ghostbusters franchise is coming this fall, and you can nab super-sweet merch just in time for the big screen premiere. The Stay Puft Marshmallow Man is back—in mini form.

The Mini-Pufts are part devilish and part awesomely adorable. In celebration of the film’s debut, Hasbro is introducing a new line of Ghostbusters Mini-Pufts Surprise figures.

The new Hasbro collectibles are 1.5-inch Mini-Puft figures, inspired by the mischievous little guys from the film. The figures will sell for the approximate retail price of $5.39.

The Pufts are available this fall in retailers nationwide. Look for six-figure release waves starting later this year.

Ghostbusters: Afterlife is coming to a theater near you later this year. Even though you’ll have to wait until November to watch the full-length movie, Sony Pictures Entertainment already released the trailer and it’s a can’t miss.

—Erica Loop

Photos courtesy of Hasbro

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Here’s Why Families Are Dancing in Their Kitchens

by Erica LoopApril 8, 2021

In-home discos are the new way to celebrate! According to stats from L.O.L. Surprise!, 65 percent of American households are staging impromptu dance parties in their kitchens.

L.O.L. Surprise is celebrating its new Dance Dance Dance toy line with a few fun facts about family dance parties. Along with the number of fams turning their eating areas into makeshift discos, the brand’s survey also found that 42 percent of kiddos think dad’s dances are totally embarrassing—but only 37 percent believe mom’s moves are equally as bad.

photo courtesy of MGA Entertainment

Isaac Larian, CEO and Founder of MGA Entertainment, conducted the research as part of the L.O.L. Surprise! Dance Dance Dance toy launch, said in a press release, “Dancing is always something that has brought people together from around the globe. We love that our toys have inspired our fans, parents and children, to find escape and joy together in kitchen disco parties, and that they have embraced dance as a way to connect no matter what is happening in the world around them.”

When it comes to the time and the tunes, the survey stats show that Saturday at 6:00 pm and Queen’s “Bohemian Rhapsody” are the most popular picks. Following Queen’s iconic anthem are Justin Timberlake’s “Can’t Stop the Feeling” and Marvin Gaye’s “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough.”

So what’s with all the dance parties? The data shows spending time together and the mood boosting effects of dance may have more than just something to do with the sudden uptick in at-home disco activities. Two-thirds of parents surveyed reported that dancing with their littles lifted their spirits and 82 percent said it always improves their mood. Fifty-five percent of parents also said they use family dance parties to let off some steam.

—Erica Loop

Featured photo: gradyreese via iStock

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Roblox Is Getting a Fashionable Update Thanks to LOL Surprise Dolls

by Karly WoodApril 2, 2021

Make way Roblox, the LOL Suprise Dolls are moving in! The fashionable dolls that are known for their fun surprises have just landed in the new “LOL Surprise Official Party” game.

The kid-safe digital game is available today on Roblox, where kiddos can enjoy a free gaming experience with tons of features. Players will be able to use interactive doll characters where they can mix and match LOL Surprise outfits and accessories, have dance offs, play surprising challenges with unlockable rewards and more.

photo: Courtesy of Roblox

The new game is designed for co-play, and engages parents in their children’s play that is fun for the entire family. Isaac Larian CEO and Founder of MGA Entertainment says “LOL Surprise is a global phenomenon that continues to surprise and amaze fans with product innovations and novel ways to play.”

“LOL Surprise Official Party” has best-in-class trust and safety features which include real-time AI moderation of comments and in-game chat, removal of in-game purchases, daily compliance monitoring and dynamic moderation of problematic terms and words. Even better, parents can use Roblox’s menu of parental controls to configure the perfect experience for their child.

Head to roblox.com to get playing!

––Karly Wood

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