Since it was founded in 2012, grocery delivery service Instacart has grown to provide shopping services to customers across the U.S. and Canada, employing more than 500,000 personal shoppers who scour stores to bring the products consumers need right to their door.

I’ve been using Instacart for more than five years, depending on its shoppers to bring me everything from my weekly groceries to Gatorade and cold medicine when I’m sick to printer toner when my printer has run out during the middle of a deadline. Instacart is fast and easy to use, albeit a little pricier than services like Walmart Plus. Still, there have been plenty of times I’ve found the service invaluable and more than a little worth it.

Walt Disney World puts on a lot of outstanding annual festivals and after-hours events, but Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party is one that many families (mine included) look forward to every year.

At Disney World, Halloween is among the best times to visit and it's largely because of this fun after-hours event. During Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party, the entirety of Magic Kingdom Park transforms into a spooky celebration where guests wear costumes and everyone can trick-or-treat throughout the park.

For college students, one of the most vital school supplies is a good laptop. College is tough without the ability to check for professor emails, type up term papers and do online research, so it’s important to keep those laptops safe and in good working condition. Enter the laptop backpack — a carry-all designed to protect precious laptops from drops, spills and other hazards.

As college students return to the classrooms, one of the best back-to-school investments is a good laptop backpack, so we’ve rounded up 8 of the best ones to keep your kid’s laptop safe.

Ask any parent and they’ll tell you: It’s much easier to shop for younger kids than teenagers. At back-to-school time, parents of high schoolers face the unique challenge of buying school supplies, clothing, shoes,and other necessities that their teens think are cool, or at the very least are not embarrassing.

Choosing the best backpack for high school students can be tricky. Bigger kids need more space for necessities like textbooks, tablets and laptops. And, since their school necessities are heavier than those of elementary-aged kids, they need backpacks that ease the strain on their backs. At the same time, a high schooler’s backpack needs to be stylish enough to keep them sure their peers will approve. It’s a lot.

Heading back to school brings kids lots of things to get excited about, but one of the most fun things about a new school year is picking out a brand-new backpack. For younger kids, backpacks are often chosen because of the design or color. Still, there are features that can benefit even the smallest of kids as they head back to the classroom — ones that go beyond that animated character on the pocket or that perfect shade of Barbie pink.

From water bottle pockets to matching lunch boxes, we’ve rounded up nine backpacks on Amazon that have features perfect for kids of all ages as they return to school. And yes, we like to think they’re still pretty stylish, too.

While warehouse clubs like Costco and Sam’s Club have existed for years, still many are new to shopping in the stores, which are known for selling items discounted in bulk and having incredibly-affordable food courts in addition to offering exclusive discounts to members.

Sam’s Club was started by Walmart founder Sam Walton in 1983. In addition to more than 600 locations in the U.S. and Puerto Rico, Sam’s Club has international locations in Brazil, China, and Mexico. Costco began as Price Club in 1976, and today has more than 800 locations worldwide. Both warehouse clubs require a membership to shop there.

On a hot day at Walt Disney World, there's truly nothing better than taking a break from the crowds and excitement to find a seat in the shade and enjoy a Dole Whip. The delightful and delicious frozen treat has been a Disney Parks staple for nearly 40 years, but its roots go back to 1976, when Dole became the sponsor of Walt Disney's Enchanted Tiki Room at Disneyland Park in California. Dole Pineapple Whip, as it was known back then, debuted at the Florida resort's Magic Kingdom Park in 1984 as a sweet treat sold at Aloha Isle.

Dole Whip arrived at Disneyland two years later and has since spread globally to the company's resorts, including to Disneyland Paris, Hong Kong Disney Resort and Aulani in Hawaii. In 2017, Dole Whip even hit the open seas, sailing aboard Disney Cruise Line.

The Texas State Aquarium is the largest aquarium in the state of Texas and one of the largest aquariums in the entire U.S. A visit here makes for a fun family day of learning about the sea creatures and wildlife who call this Corpus Christi aquarium home.

While the nonprofit organization is passionate about helping people learn about and engage with animals, the aquarium's biggest goal is to conserve wildlife in both the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea — as evidenced by its new addition, the Port of Corpus Christi Center for Wildlife Rescue, which opened in March 2023.

Counting down the days until "Barbie the Movie" hits theaters? You’re not alone. As the July 21 release date of the film, approaches with a star-studded cast including Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling, Barbie fans everywhere are obsessing over which doll-inspired merchandise to stock up on.

Not only are brands like Gap and Stoney Clover Lane getting in on collaborations to celebrate the new addition to the Barbie universe, but neon, pink and heart-shaped products are more popular than ever as Barbie girls prepare to dress like everyone’s favorite fashionista. From Barbie dolls that look just like Robbie and Gosling to inline skates inspired by the film, the amount of shopping options for Barbie fans can seem a bit overwhelming.

At San Antonio Aquarium, guests can get up close and personal with sharks, reptiles, parakeets and other wildlife through interactive exhibits and educational programs. With thousands of species calling the aquarium in San Antonio home, the facility offers a wonderful day of fun and learning for visitors of all ages.

Located in the Leon Valley area, the locally-owned aquarium has been open since 2014 and offers additional programs beyond encounters with wildlife and aquatic animals. From photo opportunities with a mermaid to an iguana-themed bounce house, there's lots to see and do on a visit.

It’s been nearly three years since Walmart launched Walmart Plus, its yearly membership program that offers subscribers everything from in-home grocery delivery to discounts at the gas pump. An early adopter of the program, I’ve been a Walmart Plus user since its September 2020 launch, and have saved money and time through my membership. Each year when my Walmart Plus membership renews, there’s no question in my mind about whether to continue subscribing or to cancel.

There’s nothing better than leaving your house for a day of errands without being weighed down by purses, bags, or backpacks. For those of us who have discovered the magic of using a belt bag instead of these other carry-all items, that hands-free freedom is ours every single time we walk out the front door. To head out into the world without bag straps falling down your shoulder and with the ability to carry essentials like a water bottle or your car keys in your free hands is to truly live.

As the summer sun causes temperatures to rise, it’s tempting to get outside with our pets for some warm-weather fun. But cats and dogs can easily overheat, putting our furry friends at risk for heat stroke and dehydration. When it’s hot outside, it’s important for pet owners to be vigilant about making sure animals are staying cool.

Any keeper of houseplants will tell you, there's nothing worse — or more irritating — than having gnats in the house. Not only do these pesky bugs fly all around your home, but they also lay larvae in the soil of your leafy plants, making sure your gnat problem will last indefinitely if it's not dealt with.

David Price, an associate certified entomologist at Mosquito Joe, explains these flying pests are most often fungus gnats. Price says fungus gnat larvae often enter the home inside plants purchased at the store, adding that adult fungus gnats have a knack for slipping into homes through doors or windows left open for even a moment.

Summer days bring trips to the beach, pool days and outdoor parties, but there’s nothing worse than returning to your car after a warm-weather outing to find that your ride home hotter than the face of the sun. Sure, you can wind down the windows and blast the air conditioning, but the best way to ensure your car stays cool on hot summer days is to invest in sunshades, fans, and other products that help prevent your car from warming up in the first place — or can at least cool it back down fast.