12 awesome kids and baby Halloween costumes made with pajamas. Comfy, easy and cool.

by Kate Etue | DIY, Baby, Kids

For years, I’ve had tons of fun using plain pajama sets — like the ones you can find at Primary or Hanna Andersson — as the base for my kids’ Halloween costumes. With some head-to-toe monochromatic pajamas, all I’ve had to do is add some...

Chance Basketballs give every move on the court more style. But that’s not all they do.

by Christina Refford | Toys + Playthings

Looking for a fabulous gift for an athletic kid this year? I’ve got you! Whether your teen can hit a three-point shot from half court, or your grade schooler is still trying to fling the ball high enough to touch the net, the next Lebron James or Sue Bird will...

Here’s the one brilliant tip that got my reluctant teen reading more. And, the books that helped.

by Kate Etue | Books for Kids, Tips + Tricks

My kids devoured books when they were little. Now that they’re teens, the stars of YouTube and Discord seem to be a bigger draw than the classic characters of literature I wish they would spend their time with. (Of course, calling them “classic characters...

8 cool fidget toys that aren’t spinners, to help kids of all ages get the wiggles out.

by Caroline Siegrist | Toys + Playthings

Move over, fidget spinners! Thanks to all the new fidget toys that our kids are loving, you spinners have just been relegated to the junk drawer. (Say hi to those dead batteries for me.) In fact,I think these are even more fun than their predecessors. By now most of...

We found 8 stylish beach coverups for summer. Let’s get out there, already!

by Kate Etue | Fashion

After a year of extremely limited social outings, I’m ready to be at the pool all the time. But, last year I also had skin cancer (I’m okay!), so in order to be safe with my very fair skin I’ll need to stay covered up. I’ve been searching...

50 screen-free activities for kids to do over summer break, indoors and out

by Kate Etue | Kids, DIY

So many parents are looking for fresh ideas for screen-free activities for kids now that we finally turned a corner. I know I’m not the only parent with kids whose screen time increased significantly over the quarantine. It was their primary way to connect with...

Elected leaders need to do more than just “recognize” Juneteenth. Tell them to act on these 5 issues.

by Liz Gumbinner | Uncategorized

Today marks the very first Juneteenth since the US Senate unanimously passed a resolution to make Juneteenth a national holiday this week and it was quickly signed into law by President Biden on Thursday. It’s amazing! So many of us grew up never having heard of...

The coolest safe bike helmets for kids. As in, ones they’ll actually want to wear.

by Kate Etue | Toys + Playthings

The best kids’ bike helmet in the world won’t do any good if your kid doesn’t want to put it on, which is why yes, it matters if they think they have a “cool” bike helmet. We’re here to help! I’ve spent hours searching the...

In the Heights movie is a celebration of love, dreams, community, family, and the melting pot that makes New York the greatest city in the world

by Liz Gumbinner | Entertainment + Media

Fair warning: This is not so much a review of the new In the Heights Movie, opening tonight, as it is a love letter. I am a movie person, as any longtime reader here knows. I’m also a Broadway person, a Lin Manuel person, and a proud native New Yorker. Put them...

NYC is back and these baby gifts celebrate it.

by Liz Gumbinner | Baby

A friend of mine recently asked for a good, affordable baby gift idea fo ra “very NYC couple.” I often recommend the NYC ABC book that’s featured in our list of the coolest birthday gifts for 2 year olds, and has appeared in our annual Best Baby Gift...