#giggles

#giggles

I see you, and it makes me so happy to see you. There is such a disconnect between what we say America is about and what it is right now. True freedom is the freedom to be who we are, and it hurts my heart so much that in some parts of this country, it is unsafe for trans people to do that right now.

Outdoor sensory play is a fun and educational way for babies and toddlers to explore the world. Activities like digging in soil or feeling different textures promote hand-eye coordination and early science learning.

In frightening times, it makes a huge difference not to feel alone. Creating art with others in community enhances agency and strengthens self. Creativity requires an open heart; love enhances hope and diminishes fear.

Two-thirds of the attempts at humour during these talks fell flat, drawing either polite chuckles or no laughter at all. Almost one-quarter of attempted jokes were judged as a "moderate success", eliciting audible laughter from around half the audience. Only 9% prompted most or all of the attendees to laugh enthusiastically.

It's a doll, Ineke Schmelter, 71, often says as she walks down the street with a pram and someone peers fondly under the hood, asking: How old is the baby? Then she pulls back the blanket and reveals the doll. She points out the craftsmanship the little veins, the creases in the skin and explains that it can take as many as 20 layers of paint to achieve such a lifelike finish.

According to ICE, when agents approached the boy's father outside his home, he fled, abandoning his son. The boy's mother refused to take him, so the agents had to assume custody. The father was soon arrested, but insisted that his son come with him to the Dilley Detention Center in Texas (built under Obama for illegals with children to " send a message that our border is not open to illegal migration").

I was thinking about this the other day while scrolling through my phone on a Saturday morning, realizing I'd been working for two hours without even noticing. Growing up, my weekends looked nothing like this. There were unspoken rules, traditions that just happened without anyone scheduling them into a calendar app. These weren't grand gestures or expensive activities. They were simple rituals that, looking back now, built something most of us are desperately trying to recreate through therapy apps and self-help books: genuine connection.

Remember when Friday nights meant figuring out which party to hit first? Now, I get genuinely thrilled about having zero plans and a new documentary queued up. Last week, I actually canceled drinks to stay home and organize my spice drawer, and the weirdest part? I felt zero FOMO! If you've ever caught yourself getting excited about a new vacuum cleaner or spending Saturday night researching the best mattress for back support, congratulations! You're officially entering that phase of life where "boring" isn't boring anymore.

When I was eight, my grandmother taught me how to make her famous apple pie. But it wasn't really about the pie. Every Saturday afternoon, we'd stand side by side in her kitchen, her weathered hands guiding mine as we rolled out dough. She'd tell stories about her childhood, ask about my week at school, and somehow make me feel like the most important person in the world.

It was his aside that spoiled the secret identity of Santa Claus; he who laughingly revealed the mechanics of sex; he who gave me my first sip of beer. Yet, when he found out I was sneaking cigarettes from my dad's stale dinner party supply, he chastised me before either of my parents could, and when my mum was diagnosed with cancer and I was just 15, he was already a 22-year-old medical student.

A Melissa & Doug ice cream counter for fueling their sessions of make-believe with tons of sweet, stackable flavors, a menu, and - yes - even fake money, because even pretend ice cream comes at a price they simply loovveee charging you. The wooden ice cream counter comes with eight ice cream scoops, six toppings, two cones, a cup, a scooper, tongs, a wooden spoon, a reusable menu card, and six pretend dollar bills.

As a parent myself, I know what I'm mostly looking for when buying another toy is that it'll ACTUALLY keep my kids engaged long enough to bring a sliver of peace to my home (a tough task, to say the least!). From Magna-Tiles and the new Toniebox 2 to colorful sensory tubes and a LeapFrog Touch and Learn eReader, my kids have tried out enough of these items to lead you in the right shopping direction!