On a recent visit with my in-laws, I noticed my father-in-law and I were wearing the same shoes. “Are those Kiziks?” I asked him. “Yes,” he replied, “they’re my airport shoes.”

I knew exactly what he meant. Since purchasing not one, but two, pairs of Kizik sneakers a few months before, I had become obsessed with the ease of slipping them on and off without bending down, tying, and untying them. The sneakers, which cost a little over $100 on average, come in tons of different styles and colors — from pink athletic shoes to white canvas sneakers — and have become my go-to for everything from travel to theme parks to Target runs.

Entering your 40s is full of empowering perks, from being more confident in your own skin to truly learning which friends are the ones you want to invest your energy in. But aging is not without its struggles. As a busy 43-year-old mom, I find my skincare routine becoming increasingly focused on evening out my skin tone, keeping my face moisturized to the max, and avoiding things like under eye circles or fine lines.

Move over WaterTok, TikTok creators are moving their quests for hydration out of their kitchens and into the fast food drive-thru. While millions of TikTokers have been sharing flavored water combinations made at home using sugar-free drink mixes and syrups, some have been visiting their local Sonic instead, posting their “Sonic water” orders made with sugar-free flavors and fresh fruit.

I really love a good escape room. From solving puzzles as a team to taking in the elaborate theming, visiting an Orlando escape room on a date night always feels like the perfect way to spend time with my husband. But escape rooms also make me more than a little anxious. The solution? Universal Orlando escape room – but with a twist!

Warm weather and sunny skies seem to put everyone in the mood to cook outside, potentially with a cold beer close at hand. But, as you're daydreaming of trying out a new smoker to cook the perfect pork butt, or a pellet grill to make a savory dinner of grilled fish and vegetables, it's a good idea to think hard about what needs to be added to your patio's arsenal. Are you interested in dabbling in the world of smoking meats for the first time? Or are you a seasoned barbecue boss who wants to upgrade to a better pellet grill or smoker this summer?

As the days get sunnier and the weather warms up, more and more skirts and shorts are finding their way into our daily outfits. Whether you’re a busy mom throwing on the perfect white tee for a playdate or a traveler looking for a white tank to match all the skirts you’ve packed in your suitcase, the classic white top is a wardrobe staple that seems simple but can be tough to choose.

Orlando is known for its theme parks, which makes the city a popular destination for kids who are critically ill and their families. But when kids with life-limiting diagnoses visit Walt Disney World or Universal Orlando, where do they stay?

Enter Give Kids the World Village (GKTW), an 89-acre non-profit resort in Kissimmee that provides wish vacations for critically ill kids and their families. When a sick child wishes for a Central Florida vacation, GKTW springs into action, hosting the family free of charge for one week while they visit destinations like Disney, SeaWorld, and more.

There’s no shortage of restaurants at Sparkman Wharf. Still, only one sits nestled in a prime spot on the corner of Channelside and Garrison, beckoning passersby to sit and have a margarita on one of its breezy patios. In fact, there’s never been a time of day when I walk past Jotoro and don’t feel a wistful moment of wishing I could abandon all other plans, grab an outdoor seat, and order a paloma and some Street Corn Chicken Nachos. It’s a “hip-hop meets mariachi” and “sequins mix with sandals” vibe, according to the Jotoro website, and I couldn’t agree more.

The internet is obsessed with a brand new salad, and there’s zero lettuce involved. “Cucumber pepper salad” has gone viral, thanks to former The Bachelor winner Rachael Kirkconnell, who shared a video of her making it on TikTok in early March. Since Kirkconnell shared the dish, which she describes as her “absolute favorite snack or salad,” the video has been viewed more than three million times. The hashtag #cucumberpeppersalad has garnered millions of views on the app as other TikTokers have made their own versions and shared their rave reviews.

Crossbody belt bags are having a moment right now, so when I realized I had multiple trips planned where air travel was involved, I decided to buy one to make navigating the airport a bit easier. As a mom of two who often takes my kids along on trips, I know all too well the importance of having my hands free to help someone roll their suitcase or open their water bottle, so the fanny pack trend seemed to be a fad made just for me.

With amazing places to swim, theme parks to visit, and family-friendly activities to participate in, Orlando has no shortage of ways to keep kids entertained. But on those hot, Florida sunny days, it can be incredibly relaxing (and fun!) to visit pools at Orlando area hotels and resorts with your children. Enter ResortPass, an online booking service that allows you to purchase a day pass for Orlando area pools without having to stay overnight at the hotel that maintains them.

Through ResortPass, parents can book both a day pass to use a resort’s pool facilities and a private cabana, perfect for relaxing and grabbing lunch while the kids wear themselves out. Spend the day enjoying splash pads, swimming in kiddie pools, and jumping on water slides.

Whether you’re a local or visiting, Orlando is full of places to cool off. No matter the time of year there are plenty of places for swimming in Orlando, especially with kids. From whimsical water parks to natural springs and everything in between, there are many ways to make a splash. And with our guide to the best places to take your kids to go swimming, you might just impress your kids.

If you are coming to Orlando, or you’re a local looking for a staycation, scope out these Orlando Hotels with Water Parks, Orlando Water Parks, and other swimming destinations in Orlando.

There’s a new way to hydrate, and it’s surprisingly affordable. Like the viral $4 grocery store cake and 3-ingredient pasta earlier this year, The hashtag #WaterTok is taking over TikTok, racking up nearly 140 million views to date, but what exactly is WaterTok? And why is the social media platform filled with videos of happy hydraters sharing their daily water recipes?

Most people know that taking a trip to Disneyland requires a bit of planning ahead. There are dining reservations to make, parade and show times to research and character meet-and-greets to map out — not to mention the decision of whether or not to opt for Disney Genie Plus to ostensibly remove some of that planning fatigue (at a cost, of course). But one of the decisions Disneyland guests are faced with from the moment they decide to buy passes is whether or not Disneyland Park Hopper tickets are worth it.

Any Target fan will tell you: There’s no such thing as a bad shopping experience at the bullseye-laden retailer, from the distinctive welcome of the big red spheres outside to the free coffee refills inside at Starbucks and scoring deals on favorite products. But they’ll also let you know that not all locations are created equal when it comes to grocery shopping. Some Target stores sell a few fresh groceries (like dairy products and minimal frozen items), some have a limited grocery selection that mainly consists of non-perishable goods, and others carry everything from fresh produce to high-quality meats.

I'm the kind of girl who finds an outfit I love and buys it in every color — bonus when that outfit falls into the athleisure category. So when I noticed multiple women wearing the same style of flowy shorts on a recent trip to Universal Orlando Resort, I immediately started searching Amazon for summer shorts in the tennis skirt-style I was observing, and I hit gold.

As a mom of two, my relationship with Dollar Tree has changed throughout the years. A store I once only visited for birthday party favors or Easter basket fillers has become a place my tween likes to shop for makeup and hair accessories or, thanks to TikTok, a shopping destination I visit for supplies for the occasional DIY project. But in recent years, I've started picking up more and more of my weekly groceries at Dollar Tree as well.

My husband and I have always prided ourselves in the fact that we rarely eat at chain restaurants and try to support locally-owned businesses whenever possible.

But lately, our teenagers have been asking about the chain restaurants they've seen in ads or on TikTok, so we decided to try some together as a family.

If Shula's is pricer than you'd like to have on your Swan and Dolphin crawl, then consider Rosa Mexicano. With appetizers like guacamole made tableside and Camarones Diablos — crispy, spicy shrimp cooled down with avocado ranch — and a bar menu made up of beer, wine and 101 different types of tequila, mezcal and sotol (another distilled spirit made from the agave plant), Rosa is a great spot to grab a bar seat and share some snacks and cocktails.

I spend a lot of time at the theme parks throughout Central Florida. I've sweated it out in 100-degree temperatures to ride popular roller coasters and battled crowds to see the return of beloved parades and shows after the coronavirus pandemic caused them to be canceled. The theme park life is fun, but stressful at times. But there's a place where my family has never experienced a stressful day — Volcano Bay, the South Seas-themed water park located at Universal Orlando Resort.