Believe it or not, LEGO wasn’t always just known for plastic bricks. Once upon a time, LEGO toys were made of wood and the new LEGO Originals Wooden Minifigure pays tribute to those days.
The seven-inch tall wooden LEGO minifigure is a 5:1 upscaled version of the toy that was first introduced by LEGO in 1978.
The minifigure, which features a wooden body and plastic hands, pays homage to the company’s history when the first LEGO toys were crafted from wood.
The LEGO Originals Wooden Minifigure comes packaged in a premium gift box along with LEGO bricks and five ideas on builds to construct with those bricks. It also comes with a booklet featuring the story and history of the minifigure and inspirational ideas for owners to customize it in their own ways.
Friends star Jennifer Aniston just joined Instagram and her pal, and clearly biggest fan, Jennifer Garner welcomed her with an awesome LEGO Friends re-creation.
The actress had previously shared the addition of her new Friends LEGO set in an Instagram post and in a new video she used that set, which features all of the characters in Central Perk, to recreate one of the show’s famous episodes.
In the video posted to Instagram Garner voices every cast member in a hilarious recreation of the Friends episode titled “The One With the Embryos” which is more famously known as the episode featuring the big quiz game. It’s packed with some of the best moments and lines of the show and Garner nails them all in her fitting tribute complete with a laugh track.
The post received plenty of well-deserved praise including a comment from the Instagram newbie herself, Aniston who wrote “Genius,” followed by a handful of applause emojis. If only you could get a Emmy nod for an Insta video.
If you love Disney history and getting surprises, then there’s a new subscription box made just for you––the Disney Backstage collection.
The new subscription box is all about paying tribute to the storied heritage of The Walt Disney Company, with special products that throwback to the early days of Disney and bring forgotten artwork back to life. The contents of each new release will be kept under wraps giving you a mystery to reveal with every delivery.
photo: Disney
The current Welcome Canister for new subscribers is a throwback to the very earliest days, even pre-dating Mickey when the studio was named Disney Brothers Studios. It comes packed with a limited edition t-shirt and pin, as well as a behind-the-scenes story card and the retro-designed canister itself. Every six months the welcoming package will be retired and a new one will be released.
You can sign up for a subscription which will send you a canister once a month for a year, six or three months. Subscriptions start at $34.99 per month. You can learn more and sign up for the Disney Backstage collection here.
Celebration is the name of the game when it comes to that one and only first birthday, and if there’s anyone who knows how to celebrate in style it’s Ellen DeGeneres. So why not have an Ellen cake smash for a first birthday?
German-born photographer Ute Christin has been a huge fan of The Ellen Show ever since she moved to the United States 17 years ago. As a baby photographer, Christin dreamed of having her passion and her work collide with an epic Ellen-themed cake smash photo shoot. Now her dream has finally come true.
“This little girl’s name is Ariella and she had the most blonde hair I have ever seen on a newborn baby, so I knew back then (yes a year ago) that one day she would have to be my Ellen in the cakesmash setup,” Christin told Red Tricycle. “She just turned one at the end of August so it was time to make it happen. Lots of planning went into it, but I am so excited about how it turned out. I have done lots of cakesmashes before and parents always requests the themes such as Elmo, or Unicorns, or The Wild One, Disney characters, but I had never done an Ellen smash before.”
“She was not very interested in the cake but she was very interested in eating mini Ellen and messing with tWitch,” Christin explained. “She kept crawling off the set but once we played (the) Ellen theme song from Pink she started to hang out and got her groove on!”
The Ellen Show launches its 17th season this fall and there couldn’t be a more fitting tribute than this super cute cakesmash 17 years in the making. “I thought it would be a fun way to show off my love for her and the show,” Christin said. “I also think it is a great time to remind people to be kind to one another. Kindness is so much needed these days.”
What’s Serena Williams’ greatest accomplishment? Hint: It’s not her stand-out tennis record. It’s her daughter, Alexis Olympia Ohanian Jr.
Even though the celeb sports mama doesn’t celebrate birthdays (as a Jehovah’s Witness bday parties are not part of her belief system), she did pay tribute to her now-two-year-old daughter on the day of her birth.
Competing in the U.S. Open didn’t stop Williams from posting a family birth pic and cute caption on Instagram. Along with a photo of the tot just minutes after her birth, Williams wrote, “The last 2 years have been my greatest accomplishment.”
Hubby Alexis Ohanian echoed the sweet sentiment with his own IG post, “Thank you for being the greatest thing we’ve ever done.” Ohanian, who recently wrote an essay for The New York Times Parenting section, also added, “And thank you for teaching me that every parent in the US deserves those first months with their newborn. I’m a better business leader because of it. #PaidFamilyLeave.”
Pumpkin spice season has already begun, but if you’re still feeling the last heat waves of summer, you might want to cool off with a different refreshment. Now you can soothe your sweet tooth and beat the heat with 7-Eleven’s new Nerds-flavored Slurpee, but it’s only available for a limited time so act fast.
7-Eleven’s latest special flavor is a delicious tribute to one of your favorite childhood candies. In true Nerds fashion it’s a blend of two of the most popular classic flavors, Grape and Strawberry. The tangy flavor concoction of pink and purple Nerds makes for a pleasant lavender color.
“Slurpee customers, particularly younger ones, love to create fun frozen treats by mixing their favorite candy and Slurpee flavors,” Jacob Barnes, 7-Eleven proprietary beverages product director, said in a press release. “When we started hearing social media chatter that people were suggesting we come out with a NERDS Slurpee, we thought it was a great idea. And, if Slurpee fans want to mix their NERDS Slurpee drinks with NERDS candy, even better. NERDS candy is one of the best-selling non-chocolate candy brands in our stores.”
The new Nerds Slurpee flavor is available for a limited time only, so act fast if you want to get a taste.
For the last show of her residency Dion paid a very special tribute to her late husband René Angélil singing “Somewhere Over the Rainbow.” As she completed her final song her three sons, René-Charles, 18 and twins Nelson and Eddy, 8, joined her on stage carrying flowers, which they handed to their mom.
“I’m both proud and humbled by what we’ve accomplished at the Colosseum since we began 16 years ago when René and I first shared this dream. This entire experience has been a huge part of my show business career, one that I will cherish forever,” she said. “I have so many people to thank, but the most important ‘thank you’ goes to my fans, who gave us the opportunity to do what we love.”
The Holderness Family is back at it again! This time the reigning king and queen of YouTube parenting parody videos is taking on the end of the school year madness.
In a holiday tribute medley, Penn and Kim (dad and mom Holderness) tackle everything from the dreaded sports banquet to that major project the teacher assigns when there’s only two weeks left of school.
If you’ve never heard of MAYcember, you aren’t alone. The fictional holiday-ish time of year is pretty much a reality for most parents. But given that it doesn’t have an official name (short of, “Is the school year over yet?”), we’ll leave it to the Holderness fam to explain!
She may only be three-months-old, but Liberty Wexler has already played many roles. Yep. She’s the baby dressed up as Ruth Bader Ginsburg on Instagram. Oh but that’s not all. Nope. This adorable infant is pictured as some pretty famous figures from history in a series of photos that have since gone viral.
Mom Jenelle Wexler started taking cute costume pics of toddler son River well before she got the idea to put baby Liberty in a RBG costume. So what was thinking behind the Instagram awesomeness? Wexler told Red Tricycle, “I feel it is important to pay tribute to the women who fought for an helped to protect and further women’s causes. I only hope these are the individuals that Liberty herself chooses to admire and aspire to be like.”
What famous women has Liberty played? Check out some of the most imaginative ideas that this creative mama had!
This fab photo features the iconic artist. As the first in Wexler’s “Influential Woman” series, this post is more than just cute. It pays honor to a true pioneer.
With a remarkable career spanning decades, Clinton is much more than a presidential candidate. As a trailblazer and advocate for important issues, such as healthcare reform, she’s a true game-changer. Oh, and this version is aww-dorable too!
Those glasses. That gavel. This couldn’t be cuter pic of RBG highlights the accomplishments of the second female to be confirmed as a Supreme Court justice.
You can’t have an influential women IG without including the “Material Girl” herself!
Wexler also added, “I am hopeful that when Liberty is older and looks back at these photos, she finds them to be fun yet informatively positive. In addition, I wanted to bring attention to specific stories, to show how important these women’s actions were in helping to shape our current society for the better. I believe these women continue to inspire the young females of present day to push boundaries and strive beyond equality.”
If these soooooo sweet photos inspire you (or just makes you squeal, “Aww!”), check out Wexler’s @photographyofliberty IG account!
Ready to make like a hipster and explore one of San Diego’s trendiest districts with your kiddos in tow? We’ve got all the places you must go in vibrant and eclectic North Park. Families and mom and pop shops dot the scene of this extremely walkable hot spot that’s filled with restaurants, cute stores and activities. You and your crew will never lack for things to do. Read on for our guide on where to eat and play in North Park.
Where to Play & Shop
photo: Pigment
Pigment
If you’re looking for a unique gift or party decor, you can’t beat Pigment. The brightly lit, colorful store is filled with gifts, party supplies and handmade cards you just won’t find anywhere else. They also have a make-your-own terrarium section where you can pick the container, sands, and succulents — a great opportunity to help little green thumbs learn about plants. On alternating Wednesdays, they also hold a popular “toddler time” event featuring North Park residents, singers Mike and Jean. Books are read, snacks are eaten and everyone is happy!
Pigment
3801 30th St.
San Diego, Ca
619-501-6318
Online: shoppigment.com
Toddler Time: alternating Wednesdays, 10:30 – 11 a.m./Call for specific dates
Morley Field
At the southern tip of North Park is the northern tip of Balboa Park. This area, known as Morley Field, is full of great ways for your family to stretch their legs and burn some calories. Balboa Park Tennis Club has youth and group tennis lessons, while the Bud Kearns pool provides lessons and free swim opportunities. If you’d like something less structured, there are trails, playgrounds and a Frisbee golf course. There’s also a leash-free dog park for your four-legged family members.
Artelexia
Want to bring a little style from south of the border into your home? This vibrant shop is packed full of handcrafted gifts, art and decor from Mexico. Your niños and niñas will be captivated by the store’s selection of candies, dolls, balloons and games. You’ll love the beautiful ornaments, barware and serapes. They also carry books for all ages: cookbooks for you, pictures books for them.
Artelexia
3803 Ray St.
San Diego, Ca 92104
619-501-6381
Online: artelexia.com
Replay Toys
Replay Toys is a thrifty children’s boutique that specializes in re-selling educational toys (although they also have vast collections of My Little Ponys, Matchbox cars and Lalaloopsies too). Only used toys in mint condition are resold, which means you can pick up good quality items at a fraction of the cost. It’s also an opportunity to teach your kids about basic finances: they can bring in their old toys and earn money to purchase other items in the shop.
Replay Toys
2920 North Park Way
San Diego, Ca 92104
619-294-5904
Online: replaytoysboutique.com
North Park Thursday Market
Each Thursday evening over 90 vendors line North Park Way with flowers, organic produce and eggs, locally made sauces and food stalls serving up cuisine from around the globe. Often chefs from nearby restaurants hold cooking demonstrations (past restaurants include Urban Solace and Cardamom Cafe and Bakery). Enjoy live music; mingle with friends; buy some local kale. Then grab dinner at Gourmet Tamales or Masala Cottage.
North Park Market
300 North Park Way (from 30th St. to Utah St.)
San Diego, Ca 92104 Hours: Every Thurs., 3-7:30 p.m., rain or shine
Online: northparkmainstreet.com
Where to Eat Seriously Good Grub
photo: Waypoint Public
Waypoint Public
Waypoint may be the most family friendly pub in San Diego. Not only do they have a gated play area for little ones, but they have regular movie nights where kids can have dinner and watch movies while parents relax in the main dining area. They also have fun, themed cooking classes for kids throughout the year. Their weekend brunch is extremely popular, so you’ll want to arrive early.
Waypoint Public
3794 30th St.
San Diego, Ca 92104
619-255-8778
Online: waypointpublic.com
Crazee Burger
This North Park mainstay serves a great selection of beef burgers, including some with brie, chili sauce, or Nutella (it’s called the Muddy Pig). But what really sets them apart is their menu of exotic meats — burgers made from bison, lamb, ostrich, camel, or duck. If you have adventurous little gourmands in your house, this is a great place grab a bite.
Crazee Burger
3993 30th St.
San Diego, Ca 92104
619-282-6044
Online: crazeeburger.com
Hammond’s Ice Cream
Want to cool down with a sweet treat? This scoop shop specializes in super premium ice creams (meaning 18% butter fat and an extra creamy texture) with a tropical twist. Unique flavors include Peanut Butter and Guava Jelly, White Chocolate Macadamia Nut and Banana Storm. Can’t decide on one flavor? Order a flight of several different scoops served in mini cones.
Hammond’s Ice Cream
3077 University Ave.
San Diego, Ca 92104
619-220-0231
Online: hammondsgourmet.com
Tribute Pizza
If your kids think pizza only comes in cheese or pepperoni, you need to check out Tribute. A rotating menu of specialty pies include Mademoiselle Chanterelle (mushrooms, gruyere and pine nuts) and Dirty Dancin’s (jalapeno, pineapple and harissa). For dessert, indulge in a little soft serve ice cream with flavors like olive oil and sea salt and apple pie filling. Their weekend breakfast and lunch menu includes egg dishes, sandwiches and breakfast calzones.
Tribute Pizza
3077 North Park Way
San Diego, Ca 92104
619-450-4505
Online: tributepizza.com
Tell us your favorite things to do in North Park in the comments!
