53 Fourth Of July Puns For Kids & Adults

— AleksandarNakic/E+/Getty Images

The Fourth of July is a time to toast American independence, spend the day with the fam, and enjoy all of the carbs. It’s also a ripe time to have fun with some puns. Whether you have a dad joke expert in your life or love a little word play yourself, you can get all kinds of funny with these Fourth of July puns.

The key is to think about the most well-known Independence Day terms, from liberty to freedom, fireworks to revolution. From there you can build all kinds of silly sayings your family will love or give you the hard side-eye for. (For example, Let’s celebrate the “red, wine, and blue!”) There are Independence Day tropes to work with, you just have to get a little creative. And when in doubt, personalize your puns, for instance: “Look at my little Yankee Doodle Mandy.”

And if you want to share your eye-roll-inducing puns with your larger social media following, by all means, go ahead and post your pun-believably brilliant turns of phrase. Even if they’re pun-ishingly bad or use improper pun-ctuation, the biggest pun-haters have got to give you props for your pun-chlines. It’s the American way.

Historic puns for July Fourth

Gotta give props to the Founding Fathers; they certainly gave us plenty of pun fodder when it comes to the Fourth of July.

• Four score and seven beers ago
• Give me li-beer-ty or give me death
• Party like a patriot
• “We must all hang together or assuredly we shall all hang separately.” — Benjamin Franklin
• This day is revolting
• Life, liber-tea, and the pursuit of happiness
• "You're welcome."— George Washington
• Stay fly, it's the 4th of July!
• More like George Washing-FUN (This also works for Thomas Jeffer-FUN, Alexander Hamil-FUN, James Madi-FUN, even Benjamin Frank-FUN if you really stretch it. Just pick your favorite Founding Father...)
• Wheeeee the people
• The shots heard ‘round the world
• Yeah, the Boston Tea Party was great, but I’ll stick to a Long Island Ice Tea at this party
• Party like it’s 1776!

Fourth of July food puns

Food is a major part of the Independence Day holiday. Naturally, you might want to mix in a little cookout-related copy to amp up your hilarious puns.

• Red, White, and Brew
• Happy Fork of July
• Let us relish Independence Day
• Lettuce celebrate freedom
• May the fork be with you
• Serving big ol’ glasses of Liber-tea
• Red, white, and barbecue
• Hot dog! I love the Fourth of July
• Living the AmeriCONE dream 🍦
• (Hot) Dog bless America
• Give me liberty or give me death by chocolate
• A meal fit for Benjamin FRANKlin
• If you don’t think this meal tastes like freedom, JULY

— kali9/E+/Getty Images

Fireworks-focused Fourth of July puns

With any luck you’ll be watching the rockets' red glare in the night sky on the 4th (or shooting some off yourself.) Which means you’ll need some witty repartee to go with them.

• I guess I have a flare for the dramatic
• These fireworks red, white, and blue me away
• Come on baby, light my fire
• We didn't start the fireworks
• I’ve got a flare for fireworks
• Having a blast watching the fireworks
• Keep calm and sparkle on
• Can a firework lose its job? Yes, after you’ve fired them
• My ins-pyro-tion!
• You can say that you’re my little firecracker!
• Fireworks make me wanna fire-twerk
• Not to get pyro-technical, but I love fireworks
• These fireworks are lit
• Let freedom ring and sparkle

Patriotic 4th of July puns

Get weird with the heavy patriotic vibes this 4th by playing with your wording. Might as well. Free speech is one of our most important rights.

• May the Fourth be with you
• You’re my Independence bae
• Let’s Indepen-dance!
• This party is booming
• Party in the U.S.Yay!
• Since it’s the Fourth of July, let’s indepen-dance the night away!
• Land of the free, home of the rave
• This year’s party was a star-spangled banger
• I’m an AmeriCAN not AmeriCAN’T
• I’m a Liberty Belle
• Spill the liber-tea, sis
• Forever in peace may you rave
• Proud to be an American, where at least I know I’m WHEEEEEE

These punny Fourth of July Puns will make you laugh and roll your eyes. But don’t forget to post them to your social media along with all of your festive Fourth of July photos you’ll be sharing. Enjoy and use that American freedom of speech to let your puns fly high in the sky like a firework.

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20 Beach Breakfast Ideas To Fuel Your Day Of Fun In The Sun

— Foodie Crush

I am lucky to live just about an hour’s drive from the beach. Any summer day that we want to have a beach day, we’re not far, but the planning and packing up still has to be done. Before we head out, preparing everyone for a day of fun in the sun definitely involves making sure everyone eats a good breakfast before we go. Or, we at least have something ready to eat that we can grab and enjoy on the way there. That’s where these beach breakfast ideas come in especially handy.

The perfect beach breakfast is filling without being too overwhelming — it’s enough to keep you full until it’s time to open the cooler and break out the PB&Js. From breakfast meals for a crowd like french toast casserole that can fuel your whole beach house crew to classics you can pop in your beach bag and enjoy surf-side like homemade pop tarts and blueberry mini muffins, you’ll find an array of delicious ideas here. Whether you need something to fuel your family’s beach vacay or want to enjoy a grab-and-go meal as you head out for some fun in the sun, one of these beach breakfast ideas is sure to hit the spot.

Ham, Egg, & Cheese Breakfast Quesadillas

— Damn Delicious

Beach breakfast on-the-go just got a whole lot easier thanks to this ham, egg, and cheese breakfast quesadilla recipe from Damn Delicious. Pack them up with fresh fruit in individual containers for everyone to enjoy at their leisure.

Freezer-Friendly Breakfast Croissant Sandwiches

— Family Fresh Meals

Not only are these freezer-friendly breakfast croissant sandwiches from Family Fresh Meals totally portable for beachside breakfasts, they can be made in advance. Whenever you have time, cook the bacon and eggs, layer them up with some cheese on a croissant, and wrap it all up to store in the freezer. Then, when it’s time to fuel up before a day on the water, just heat and enjoy!

Blueberry Muffin Smoothie Bowl

— Family Fresh Meals

These blueberry muffin smoothie bowls from Family Fresh Meals are the perfect beach breakfast to make use of ripe, juicy blueberries this summer. Plus, you could easily make this parfait-style in some mason jars to pack in a cooler and have at the beach.

Baked Strawberries & Cream French Toast

— Damn Delicious

A day at the beach feels like a special occasion, so why not make the day special with a fancy breakfast? This baked strawberries and cream French toast recipe just *screams* Saturday summer brunch at the beach house. It can be put together the night before and it’s perfect for feeding a crowd.

Mini Blueberry Muffins

— Half Baked Harvest

Bursting with ripe blueberries, Half Baked Harvest’s mini blueberry muffins are easy to store in a giant baggie and throw in your beach bag. And the best thing about taking a batch of muffins to the beach for breakfast is that you can snack on the leftovers for the rest of the day.

Summer Fruit Salad

— Simply Scratch

It’s summer, so why not make the most of the fresh produce you have at your disposal? This summer fruit salad from Simply Scratch is light and refreshing, making it ideal to enjoy beachside.

Egg Bites

— A Spicy Perspective

Easy to pack up and take with you to the beach, these egg bites from A Spicy Perspective are a great way to make sure everyone in your crew is well-nourished for a day of playing in the sand and sun. The recipe calls for bacon, cheese, and chives, but you could easily customize the mix-ins to your liking.

Breakfast Garbage Bread

— Family Fresh Meals

Pizza dough stuffed with scrambled eggs, bacon, sausage, and cheese — what’s not to love about this breakfast garbage bread recipe from Family Fresh Meals? It’s a crowd-pleasing choice to kick off your family’s beach day with something hearty and satisfying.

Overnight Chia Pudding

— A Beautiful Plate

If you want to enjoy something light and refreshing before you hit the beach, this overnight chia pudding from A Beautiful Plate is the way to go. It’s packed with nutrients from the chia seeds and can be customized with a variety of toppings to please everyone.

Freezer Breakfast Burritos

— Gimme Some Oven

In our family, breakfast burritos are a go-to car breakfast, and we’ve surely consumed more than I can possibly count on the way to the beach over the years. If you need a great recipe to make ahead of your next beach trip, these freezer breakfast burritos from Gimme Some Oven are top-notch.

Coconut Pineapple Smoothie

— Wholefully

Not big on breakfast, but looking for something summery to sip on while your kids play in the waves? Try this coconut pineapple smoothie from Wholefully. Cool and refreshing, it’s just bursting with ripe fruit flavor.

Breakfast Taquitos

— Damn Delicious

Looking for a beach breakfast you can take with you? These breakfast taquitos from Damn Delicious are perfectly portable when you need to have something ready that your kids can grab on their way out the door and into the sand.

Everything Bagel Sandwich

— A Beautiful Plate

This everything bagel sandwich from A Beautiful Plate is just the right amount of filling for a beach breakfast. Between the creamy spread, nutrient-dense avocado, and crunchy arugula, it’s also a really refreshing and tasty choice to start your day.

Cherry Berry Banana Overnight Oats

— Foodie Crush

Make these cherry berry banana overnight oats from Foodie Crush the night before you head out to the beach and you’ll have a nutrient-packed breakfast waiting for you when you wake up. All you’ve gotta do then is grab a spoon and go!

Apple Butter Cinnamon French Toast Sticks

— Half Baked Harvest

Whether you’re feeding a crowd or just want some sort of finger-food that’s easy to eat on-the-go, Half Baked Harvest’s apple butter cinnamon French toast sticks are sure to be a hit. You can even make a big batch to freeze and just re-heat what you need before you head out to the beach.

Breakfast Fruit Pizza

— A Spicy Perspective

How adorable are these breakfast fruit pizzas from A Spicy Perspective? The “crust” is made from biscuit dough and topped with a cream cheese spread and fresh fruit. Pop them in individual bento-box style containers for breakfast on-the-go on the way to the beach or to enjoy there.

Homemade Pop Tarts

— Brown Eyed Baker

Could you grab a pack of toaster pastries to eat in the car on the way to the beach? You could... but you could also make a batch of these drool-worthy homemade pop tarts from Brown Eyed Baker. Fresh strawberry filling, flaky layers, and creamy icing make for a fantastic summer breakfast.

Instant Pot Oatmeal

— Foodie Crush

This Instant Pot oatmeal recipe from Foodie Crush comes together in 25 minutes for a quick and nutritious breakfast before you head out to the beach. Scoop it out and let your kiddos top their helping with whatever toppings you have on hand — berries, nuts, chocolate chips, honey, or anything else you like.

Cheesy Scrambled Eggs

— A Beautiful Plate

To fuel your family before a big beach day, this recipe for cheesy scrambled eggs from A Beautiful Plate is packed with greens for a nutrient boost. Plus, after consuming all that protein, you won’t need to worry about everyone getting hungry for quite a while.

Sausage Cheddar Biscuits

— Brown-Eyed Baker

If you want a beach breakfast that packs all of your breakfast faves into one handy bite, these sausage cheddar biscuits from Brown Eyed Baker are sure to hit the spot. Whip up a big batch to bring with you on your next beach adventure.

So, whether you make a batch of transportable taquitos to take with you or enjoy a pan of scrambled eggs before you head to the shore, these beach breakfast ideas are sure to satisfy your family.

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4th Of July 2024 Nail Designs That Are Pretty & Patriotic

— Shutterstock

Nail art is such a fun way to flaunt your personal style, and the summer season offers plenty of opportunities to get creative with your manicure — the most obvious of which being July 4th. Whether you're hosting a backyard barbecue, watching fireworks with friends, heading to a parade with the family, or simply soaking up the summery vibes, these 4th of July 2024 nail designs will have you feeling the spirit of Independence Day. From classic stars and stripes to creative twists on red, white, and blue, there’s plenty of design inspo here.

Among the tried-and-true favorites like American flag nails, you’ll also find more modern takes on patriotic themes. Think glittery accents that will catch the light during evening fireworks, bold color blocks that make a statement about the state of our union, and intricate designs that can showcase your (or your manicurist’s!) nail art skills. Perfect for showing off all summer long, these nail designs are as versatile as they are festive.

Whether you prefer simple, understated looks or intricate, eye-catching designs, you can find a nail art idea here that suits your tastes and skill level. Whether you go the DIY route or head to the salon, these 4th of July 2024 nail designs can offer plenty of patriotic inspiration.

Bright & Bold

Fourth of July? You’ve nailed it, @gracepearlnails. This gel mani is a splashy way to showcase some red, white, and blue without being too flashy.

Waving Flags

— Shutterstock

Look at those flags, billowing in the breeze. Oh wait, that’s just your nails! Let this stunning set inspire your 2024 Fourth of July nails.

Red, White, & Bejeweled

— Shutterstock

Catch some sparkle from your bejeweled accent nail as the fireworks fly this Independence Day when you sport a set like this. Alternating red, white, and blue nails is a classic choice, but the shimmery stones take things up a notch.

Flag Accent Nail

— Shutterstock

This almond shaped set features deeper hues of navy and dark red with a stars and stripes accent nail that’s really eye-catching. The sophisticated color palette adds a touch of elegance to the festive design, but it’s still perfect for casual celebrations as well.

Stars & Stripes On Chrome

— Shutterstock

The silver chrome base color on this Fourth of July manicure really makes the thin stripes and bold stars pop. Since the chrome is a bit reflective, it catches the light for a slightly shimmery effect.

Summer Strawberries

This fun 4th of July gel nail design by @madnails.ut is just plain adorable. There’s a subtle nod to Independence Day with the color scheme and stars, but also some super fun summer elements like gingham and strawberries, too.

Stripes, Stars, & Dots

— Shutterstock

Adding a different element to each nail is a fun way to experiment with different nail art techniques. Use this Fourth of July 2024 nail set to inspire your own manicure with stripes, stars, and polka-dots.

Center Stage Stars

Using stickers to create “clean, uniform stars,” this at-home mani by @hannahs.handiwork has such a festive feel. They’re bright, bold, and super charming for all of your Fourth of July celebrations.

Colorful French Tips

— Shutterstock

When you want to go for a subtle, yet festive look, this manicure idea with colorful French tips looks fantastic in bright red and blue. Add a simple flag motif to one accent nail for an even more customized Fourth of July look.

Polka-Dotted Patriotism

— Shutterstock

Who doesn’t love a polka-dotted accent nail? The white base really makes the red, white, and blue dots pop. This is a fabulous look to try this Independence Day if you love matte nails.

Subtle & Sophisticated Stars

Stars and stripes, but make it subtle. This stylish manicure from @sammismanis looks so clean and summery with the negative space, colorful french tip, and bold red star accent.

Textured Details & Sparkle

— Shutterstock

Give your Fourth of July manicure some textural pearls of color with red, pearl white, and blue dots on a sleek white base coat. The splash of silver sparkle on the non-accented nails will shine like fireworks this Fourth of July.

Sport one of these Fourth of July nail designs to show your patriotic pride this summer.

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LeBron James' Reacts To His Son Bronny Getting Drafted By The Lakers

— Alex Bierens de Haan/Getty Images Sport/Getty Images

The James family is making history. Bronny James, the oldest son of NBA legend LeBron James, has been drafted by the Los Angeles Lakers at 19 years old and the dad of two clearly couldn’t be more proud.

Bronny, who had been enrolled as a student at the University of Southern California and played as a guard on the university’s basketball team, was picked by the Lakers during the second round of the NBA draft on Thursday, ESPN reports. Shortly after the news, LeBron hopped on Instagram to gush about his son’s accomplishment.

“LEGACY!!!!!! 🤴🏾🤴🏾” the 39-year-old basketball pro wrote on Instagram, alongside several photos of him and Bronny, including a shot of the two of them in Lakers jerseys. LeBron, who shares Bronny and 17-year-old son Bryce with wife Savannah, has played for the Los Angeles Lakers since 2018; previously he had been on the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Miami Heat.

Now, the two are making history. “In the history of the NBA, there’s never been a father and a son that have shared an NBA basketball court and that feels like something that could be magical,” Rob Pelinka, Lakers vice president of basketball operations and general manager, said in a statement. “We know, and have to respect of course, that LeBron has a decision on his opt-out ... but if it worked out that he was on our team next season, NBA history could be made. And NBA history should be made in a Lakers uniform.”

The James family were reportedly all together at a dinner party when they got the news about Bronny and LeBron was “very emotional,” sources told ESPN.

While LeBron posted a photo of him and Bronny in Lakers jerseys on Thursday, there is the possibility that he doesn’t play for them this season. Next week, LeBron can become a free agent and could decide to leave the Lakers and sign with another team.

Whatever happens, there’s no denying how emotional and special this news is for the family. Last summer, Bronny, whose full name is LeBron James Jr., went into cardiac arrest when he collapsed during a preseason workout with the USC Trojans, an event his family said was caused by a congenital heart defect, per the Associated Press. By November, he was cleared by doctors to play basketball again and returned to the court for a December game. His dad, of course, was cheering him on from the sidelines.

“Can’t even tell y’all how EMOTIONAL today was for me!” he wrote on Instagram after the December game. “I’m literally drained and all I can say is @bronny you’re simply INCREDIBLE!! Damn the wins and loses that will occur. You’ve already won the ultimate goal/championship and that’s LIFE!!! Proud of you kid and today you’ve given me more life! Thank you and I love you.”

Now Bronny is ready for the next chapter of his basketball career and already has his #1 fan.

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Travis & Jason Kelce Gushed About Meeting Princess Charlotte At Taylor Swift's Concert

— New Heights/ Karwai Tang/Getty Images

Travis and Jason Kelce are currently across the pond in London, and they’re meeting all the cool people. The future King of England, for example, who they both raved about during the most recent episode of their New Heights podcast. They met Prince William at Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour concert at London’s Wembley Stadium, and Jason in particular admitted to being a bit awestruck. By Prince William, sure, but even more so by his 9-year-old daughter Princess Charlotte. Who is, according to Travis Kelce, a “superstar.”

The Kelce brothers recorded the latest episode of their New Heights podcast from a pub in London, where they shared their experience of meeting Prince William and his two oldest children, Princess Charlotte and her 10-year-old brother Prince George. “I gotta say, Prince William was fantastic,” Jason said, with Travis later describing the future King of Englas as “the coolest motherf*cker.”

“But the highlight was Princess Charlotte,” Jason went on to say. “Prince George was great too. She was so f*cking adorable. Like, I cannot.”

Travis agreed that she was adorable, going on to add “she was a superstar.” Which Princess Charlotte, as a young Swiftie who wore a pink sparkly dress to the concert and danced alongside her dad to “Shake It Off,” singing all the words, would surely love to hear.

Jason went on to admit that he might have had an affinity for Princess Charlotte as dad to three daughters himself, 4-year-old Wyatt, 3-year-old Elliotte, and 1-year-old Bennett with wife Kylie Kelce. It didn’t hurt that Princess Charlotte was also super charming.

“She had fire to her. She was asking questions,” the dad of three added, while Travis gave Prince William credit for being the kind of dad who encourages his kids to get involved. “I love it when parents ask their kids to be present, be vocal,” Travis said on the podcast, adding, “If anyone’s doing it right, Prince William is doing it right.”

The Kansas City Chiefs star was so overwhelmed that he didn’t quite know how to behave when he met Prince William, Prince George, and Princess Charlotte. “They were an absolute delight to meet,” Travis said. “Wasn’t sure if I was supposed to, like, bow to them, curtsy, just be an American idiot and shake their hand.” Which is pretty funny considering Jason Kelce had said “f*ck royalty” on a previous episode. How his tune changed. He called Prince William a “down to earth human being” and even went so far as to put his beer aside for His Royal Highness.

Who knew we needed the sweet crossover of the Kelce brothers and the royal family? What a delight.

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21 Million Miniverse Make It Mini Sets Recalled — Here's What Parents Need To Know

— CPSC

If you’ve recently purchased a Miniverse Make It Mini playset for your kids, there’s a new recall to put on your radar. On June 25, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) announced that MGA Entertainment has recalled about 21 million Miniverse Make It Mini sets as the liquid resin the toys come with, before it cures, could cause irritation to your little one’s skin, eyes, and airways.

The recall includes several models and series of the toy, with unused liquid resins, including the “Make It Mini Appliances,” “the Make It Mini Lifestyle” sets, and all models and series of the “Make It Mini Food” sets. You can find a full list, including item #s and product descriptions, here on the CPSC’s recall announcement.

“The recalled Make It Mini sets contain resins that, when liquid, can cause skin, eye, and respiratory irritation or sensitization when inhaled, touched, or ingested by children or adults,” the CPSC explains. “The resins contain acrylates (hydroxyethylmethacrylate ‘HEMA’ and isobornyl acrylate ‘IBOA’) in amounts prohibited in children’s products by the Federal Hazardous Substances Act. After the resins cure, they no longer present this hazard.”

For example, the liquid resin in a “Make It Mini Food” set is used to look like things like peanut butter, water, syrup, jam, or milk, and will eventually hardened to be played with as a miniature toy.

MGA Entertainment, which makes the toys, says it’s aware of 26 reports of children and adults experiencing skin burns and irritation, and respiratory irritation, and one person told the company their asthma was triggered when playing with the product.

The recalled Miniverse Make It Mini sets were sold between October 2022 through June 2024 at several stores across the nation including Target, Walmart, Family Dollar, Dollar General, ALDI, and Hobby Lobby. The toys were also sold online at Amazon.com, shop.mgae.com, Target.com, Walmart.com, and other sites. The toys sold as an individual sphere retailed for $7 to $13, while sets sold in boxes retailed for about $14 to $52.

If you find that you have purchased one of the recalled Miniverse Make It Mini sets with unused resins, the CPSC says to stop using it immediately and contact MGA Entertainment for a refund or replacement. You can find MGA Entertainment’s contact form for the recall here, or call at 800-222-4685 or send an email to mvcustomer_care@mgae.com.

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Tickets To See Taylor Swift In Europe Are the Status Family Vacation Of The Summer

Forget Greece, the Amalfi Coast, or Majorca; the “it” places to spend family vacation this summer are Vienna, Lisbon, Amsterdam, and Dublin. While all culturally rich destinations, these cities also happen to be stops on the European leg of Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour. For a certain crowd, the summer of ’24 will not be complete without a selfie video at Wembley or San Siro Stadium. If you’re lucky, you might even catch a glimpse of famous Swifties in the audience — the Kelce brothers, for example, or Prince William, Prince George, and Princess Charlotte.

It started in Paris, where Swift’s tour dates came a little earlier than most schools let out. But what’s a few days out of school for a mother-daughter trip to Paris? And while there are certainly bragging rights to be had, there are also very practical reasons to take school-age Swifties on an eight-hour schlep across the Atlantic. For one thing, tickets are generally less expensive and the prospect of tacking on a vacation to, say, Madrid, Milan, or London is an appealing proposition for many parents.

After Embark Beyond, a luxury travel company sent out an email in May with the subject line, “Yes, We Can Get Taylor Swift Tickets in Europe and Canada!,” they had 70 booking requests in 12 hours. “It was shocking. Taylor Swift’s ability to move business is like nothing I’ve ever seen in my career,” says Jack Ezon, founder and managing partner of Embark Beyond. “More than the Olympics, this is the status ticket — it’s ‘where can I go to be cool and see Taylor Swift?’”

Certain stops, however, are more desirable. “You have to be a real die-hard fan to want to go in Warsaw,” he says.

At the boutique hotel in Paris where one family stayed, there was a basket of friendship bracelets — a Swiftie badge of honor — at the front desk.

Ezon says that some ticket brokers are selling tickets for $5,000 to $10,000, but because of Embark Beyond’s extensive network all over the world, they can find prices that are much lower and plan a unique and equally “’grammable” itinerary to tack on. Think: a stay at Ashford Castle after a performance in Dublin or a jaunt to the exclusive seaside town of Forte dei Marmi combined with seeing Swift in Milan.

Nicky, a New York City-based mother of a 9-year-old and an 11-year-old, took her daughters to the Taylor Swift concert in Liverpool this month as part of a larger family trip to England. “We paid less than we did in the United States,” she says, estimating the cost was around $1,000 per ticket.

This all might sound like a real-life fairytale for Swifties, but there’s a hitch. (There always is, right?) Nicky, who asked to only be identified by her first name, says the tickets weren’t sent to her until a week before the concert — standard practice for Viagogo, the third-party site she purchased them from. (Ticketmaster is no longer brokering sales for the European Eras Tour. And according to reports, the show, which spans three-and-half hours, sold out within minutes on Ticketmaster and AXS in the United Kingdom, with nearly 40,000 people joining the online queue for the presale.)

“It was nerve-wracking because you just hope you haven’t gotten into a false ticket situation, which of course could also happen in the United States,” Nicky says. “I read extensively on Viagogo’s site, and they said they do their best to give you replacement tickets, but there is no replacement ticket when you are standing in line in Liverpool. Everyone I know was stressed about this. We didn’t really relax until we received the tickets.”

It also pays to read the fine print while planning the trip of a lifetime. After purchasing tickets for Helsinki, one mother discovered that the venue did not permit anyone under 13 and had to unravel the whole trip.

“It’s one thing to have fun watching the Taylor Swift concert on Disney Plus; it’s a whole other thing to venture to another country to see her, even though it’s quite tempting and the Instagram posts do make it look fun.’”

Another mother based on the East Coast, who asked not to be identified, says she was considering taking her rising first grader to London, Milan, or Vienna, and while price was not an obstacle, she didn’t want to spend thousands of dollars on a trip she wasn’t sure her 6-1/2-year-old could truly appreciate, especially a three-and-half hour concert while jetlagged.

“I’m just imagining we get to Wembley or some other venue, and my daughter, even though she loves Taylor Swift, is overwhelmed by the crowds, it’s too loud, she wants to leave early, doesn’t like the food and has a hunger meltdown, is bored, or falls asleep, and then I’ve come all this way and spent a fortune,” she says. “It’s one thing to have fun watching the Taylor Swift concert on Disney Plus; it’s a whole other thing to venture to another country to see her, even though it’s quite tempting and the Instagram posts do make it look quite fun. And I say this as someone who is not ‘a concert person.’”

Others, however, are not deterred. Sarah Evans, a partner at J. Public Relations, is taking her three daughters, ages 5, 9, and 12, to London in August for one of Swift’s concerts at Wembley. “After I saw Taylor in Denver last July, I was mesmerized by her,” Evans says. “She is such a great role model. We had floor tickets and we, my middle daughter and I, danced for three-and-half hours.”

Another appeal of a Taylor Swift concert for parents is an experience with their children that isn’t mind-numbingly boring or tedious for the adult. When she travels to London in August, Evans is staying at the chic Dorchester hotel, which happens to be one of her clients. “My kids will hopefully look back on this and it will be like seeing Madonna in the 1980s or New Kids on the Block in the 1990s,” she says. “I am always thinking about how to create core memories and how to really be in the moment with my children.’” (The cost of Evans’ four tickets in London is comparable to what she paid for two seats in Denver last July.)

Evans, too, has ticket anxiety, wondering if they will indeed come through. She is comforted, however, by friends who went to see the Paris concert in May and had no issues with Viagogo.

Comparing notes on the buzziest vacation of the summer is half the fun. Urban legends are already circulating. “I heard someone got a ticket for $95 in Stockholm,” Evans says. Kristin McClutchy, who is based in Darien, Connecticut, took her 11-year-old daughter to Paris in May, paying around $900 a seat. “The concert,” she says, “was so amazing that we decided to go back the next night.” Her daughter found a third-party site that was selling seats for $350.

The special touches — not just the surprise songs and celebrity sightings, but the posh hotel sleepovers and group lunches and dinners with other friends who traveled for the concert — are all part of the experience. At the boutique hotel on the Left Bank where McClutchy stayed, there was a basket of friendship bracelets — a Swiftie badge of honor — at the front desk. And when McClutchy’s plane landed in Paris, the pilot started playing “Love Story.”

Some may rightfully wonder: Do elementary and middle schoolers really need to travel to Europe for a concert? Of course not, but it offers a chance on something that feels in short supply these days: wholesome (or at least screen-free) fun.

“The flight home was filled with girls in Taylor Swift concert ‘merch,’ and they were all comparing stories. It was cute to see everyone interact in such a positive way,” McClutchy says. Now the conundrum is: Will she go back to Europe for another concert? A few months ago, when more seats were released, McClutchy received a Ticketmaster code and purchased tickets for London. “Still TBD,” she says, “if we will go or not.”

What is not uncertain, however, is that McClutchy will have no problem reselling those tickets — most likely making some other American girl’s summer dream trip come true.

Hannah Seligson is a freelance writer who has written for The New York Times, Town & Country, and more. She has previously written for Romper about the Summer Nannies of the 1% and the Mommy Wars of Covid.

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30 Instagram Captions For Cousins, From Sweet To Funny Quotes

— Catherine Falls Commercial/Moment/Getty Images

As summer approaches, it’s time to fire up the grill, turn on the sprinkler, and spend as much time as possible with friends and family. And when you’re a kid, if you’re lucky, your friends and family are the same people. That’s right — it’s officially Cousin Season! Near or far, seen every day or only on special family get-togethers, there’s no relationship our children have that we love watching more than this. And, needless to say, Cousin Season also comes with the expectation of lots and lots of adorable pictures. That means your Instagram captions for cousins better be as ready to go as the grill and sprinkler. It can be hard in the moment to come up with something clever or cute, so here are some ideas to help you document this special relationship.

Funny Instagram Captions for Cousins

• Cousins? More like Chaos-ins.
• A (2/3/4+)-kid wrecking crew.
• Everyone has that one cousin. They’re ALL that one cousin.
• It’s a cousin thing.
• Brothers from other mothers/Sisters from other misters.
• Cousins: the friends you can never stay mad at because it would upset Grandma.
• Who needs screen time when you have your favorite cousin(s)?
• Here comes trouble.
• Playing with cousins: because it’s cheaper than yet another extracurricular activity.
• Life without cousins would be like a sundae without whipped cream.

Sweet Instagram Captions for Cousins

• Friends come and go, but cousins are for life.
• Born cousins, growing up siblings.
• I hope they remember these days with as much joy as I feel watching them.
• So this is love...
• Can’t wait to see what’s in store with these kiddos.
• The first friend each of them ever had.
• I remember when their dad/mom and I used to play like this.
• No one will ever love and understand you quite like your cousin.
• I love how they love each other.
• Built-in buddies for life.

Quotable Instagram Captions for Cousins

• “A cousin is a little bit of childhood that can never be lost.” — Marion C. Garretty
• “My dear young cousin, if there's one thing I've learned over the eons, it's that you can't give up on your family, no matter how tempting they make it.” — Rick Riordan
• “Cousins are people that are ready-made friends, you have laughed with them and remember good times from a young age, you have fights with them, but you always know you love each other, they are a better thing than brothers and sisters and friends cause they all pieced together as one.” — Courteney Cox
• “Cousins are like stars: you can’t always see them but you always know they’re there.” —Unknown
• “Cousins are those rare people who ask how we are and then wait to hear the answer.” — Ed Cunningham
• “In my cousin I find my second self.” — Isabel Norton
• “Cousins are like celebrities for little kids. If little kids had a People magazine, cousins would be on the cover. Cousins are the barometers of how fun a family get-together will be. ‘Are the cousins going to be there?’ Fun!” — Jim Gaffigan
• “A cousin sees the first tear, catches the second, and stops the third.” — Unknown
• “Side by side or miles apart, cousins are connected by the heart.” — Unknown
• “We didn't realize we were making memories, we just knew we were having fun.” — A.A. Milne

A very Merry Cousin Season to you and yours — and be sure to print a few of those photos for the grandparents, you hear?

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Kate Middleton's Nicknames Really Run The Gamut

— Chris Jackson/Chris Jackson Collection/Getty Images

She is known by many names. Her Royal Highness, the Princess of Wales, the Duchess of Rothesay, the Countess of Chester. But to her family and friends and the people who love her, Kate Middleton has a few choice nicknames she answers to. We should go ahead and keep calling her Your Royal Highness if we happen to meet her out in the wild, but her family and friends have a few other, less formal options.

Kate is technically a nickname.

While the world knows her as Kate Middleton, this is not actually her name. Her parents Carole and Michael Middleton named her Catherine, and that was always the name she used. She’s not even a Middleton anymore and has not been since she married Prince William in 2011, but for some reason she is almost always referred to as Kate Middleton by the media. Despite the fact that her name is now Catherine, Princess of Wales. It looks as though the British media initially started to refer to her as Kate Middleton in the decade she was dating Prince William before they married. In fact, she was often cruelly referred to as “Waity Katie” in the tabloids because they dated for so long. Fortunately, that unkind nickname died off, but Kate has stuck.

She was Squeak to her sister’s Pip.

When Middleton was still a child, long before she became an HRH, her school friends gave her a nickname. A nickname based on some guinea pigs, in fact. “There was one called Pip and one called Squeak, so my sister was called Pip and I was Squeak,” she told friends at St. Andrew’s University, per OK magazine.

Prince Harry called her Cath.

There was a time when Kate Middleton and her brother-in-law Prince Harry were very close. Close enough that he had a nickname of his own for her. As he wrote in his memoir Spare, Prince Harry simply referred to Kate Middleton as “Cath.” Hopefully one of these day, the family will get back together and get back to their fun nicknames.

Big Willie loves his Babykins.

Royal fans might have heard about Prince William’s nickname of Big Willie, bestowed upon him by Middleton herself before the two were married. But the often reserved future king has his own mushy nickname for his wife. He reportedly calls her “Babykins,” according to royal expert Ingrid Seward. She told The Sun, “Prince William was Big Willie, I think. Kate was Babykins.”

She is both Mama and Mummy to her children.

While 6-year-old Prince Louis calls his mother “Mummy,” as he did when he comforted her after Queen Elizabeth’s death in 2022, his 10-year-old brother Prince George was seen calling her “Mama.” As for 9-year-old Princess Charlotte, we can only assume she chose one or the other. Or perhaps, being the perfect model royal, she went with Your Royal Highness for a real sense of occasion.

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Elle Purrier St. Pierre Is The Fastest Woman In America. She's Also A Mom.

There is something to be said for the one-track mind. In her pre-baby life, pro runner Elle Purrier St. Pierre was laser-focused on success. Specifically, she was dead-set on becoming an Olympian — and she did it: At the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo, she placed 10th in the 1500m.

“That was really, really important to me,” says St. Pierre, 29, of making it to the Olympics. “It was like this box that I just needed to check.”

That’s the thing about pre-baby life: If you want to go all-in on something, it’s easier to find the time and brainspace to do so. Back then, she says, “I was able to put my hard work and my passion in one place.” The following spring, she won silver in the 3000m at the World Indoor Championship. She was on a roll.

But around that time, she says, she found herself in what she called a “lull” when it came to her motivation in her sport. Not burned out, exactly, but getting close. “It just was never ending,” she says. Another goal, another race. “There was always something.” But none of it seemed particularly interesting.

And then, she got pregnant. Here was a novel physical challenge: Pregnancy and childbirth, yes, but also the challenge of recovery and returning to her pre-pregnancy level of fitness. What would that be like? “I felt like becoming a mom was something that was daunting — thinking about coming back from that,” she says. “It was something that I knew I really wanted, and was missing from my life. And so doing that — and then coming back — it was like that was the next challenge that I needed.”

“It’s nice, now, to share it with Ivan, and to take care of him — to have this other person that I’m running for.”

As a motivator, it appears to have worked. In February, at 11 months postpartum, she set an American record for the mile. The next month — two days before her son Ivan’s first birthday — she set another American record, this time in the 3000m. This summer, she’ll compete in the U.S. Olympic Trials, racing the 1500m and the 3000m; she is currently the fastest American woman in both distances. “St. Pierre was an excellent runner before having a baby, but she has come back at a new level,” the newsletter Fast Women wrote earlier this year.

St. Pierre is part of a mini baby boom among elite runners, due in large part to a small group of pro runners who went public in 2019 about losing their salaries after getting pregnant. Since then, many athletic brands have introduced new maternity policies; St Pierre’s own sponsor, New Balance, even featured her pregnant belly in the “Run Your Way” ad campaign in late 2022.

Now, St. Pierre says, it’s not unusual to see her peers bring their babies to the track as they practice. A few times this training cycle, her coach has driven her car, with Ivan in his carseat, and tailed St. Pierre as she runs. “He’ll pull up next to us and we’ll just look in the window and wave as we’re running,” she says.”

It’s a reminder that she’s not just in it for herself anymore — which, to St. Pierre, is a major factor in her impressive postpartum comeback. It feels as if the only way to achieve excellence is a single-minded, almost obsessive pursuit of it, but for St. Pierre, that hasn’t been the case. Before, she says, running felt selfish; a career in athletics does tend to make you self-centered, quite literally. “Like, you’re always thinking about your body,” she says. “You’re always thinking about hydrating and sleeping and taking care of yourself — it’s all about you, all the time.

“And it’s nice, now, to share it with Ivan, and to take care of him — to have this other person that I’m running for,” she says. “He just makes everything better.”

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Princess Diana Was The Original Fun Summer Mom

— Pool RAT/REY/Gamma-Rapho/Getty Images

There’s a lot to admire about the People’s Princess. Her love for others, her deep compassion, her turning the royal family upside down while she was still inside Kensington Palace. But I think her summer personality might be my favorite. Forget #hotmomsummer or old-fashioned summers or a summer full of “lazy parenting.” We’re going with Princess Diana summer. And literally everyone’s going to benefit from it.

All over social media, you can find fun galleries and posts dedicated to photos of Princess Diana. You can see her in the “revenge dress,” doing her infamous “there were three of us in this marriage” interview, walking through landmine areas for awareness, and lately, as summer officially begins, you can see her in her full summer glory. Jet skiing with her sons, diving off of boats into the ocean, her hair soaking wet as she laughs without abandon in her swimsuit. And it’s so refreshing.

Of course it’s easy to be the fun summer mom when you’re literally on a yacht for the summer. When you don’t have to worry about affording summer camp or working while your kids are all home with you. But there’s something so genuine in the photos about Princess Diana splashing and fully enjoying the season. She seems full of life and happy and it’s not lost on me how devastating it is to know that most of these photos were taken during the summer of 1997, just weeks before she died.

I’ve listened to countless podcasts and read hundreds of articles to know that many say this time period — this summer of 1997 — was one of the happiest of her entire life. And you can feel that in every photo. Her enormous grin, her body seeming to soak up the sun, her being the fun mom with her boys.

— Anwar Hussein/Hulton Archive/Getty Images

Summers are often fraught for moms, and I have to read one more Facebook post warning me that my kids only have 18 summers before they blast off from home like a rocket, never to return again, I’m going to smash all the popsicles I can find. There are bucket lists to download, there are movie lists to watch, there are Instagram influencers building “super easy, DIY” fire pits and building an entire s’mores concession stand while you stand there with a bag of marshmallows. There is just a lot. A lot of insisting you soak in every minute, which feels overwhelming on its own, and then a lot of “and here’s exactly how to do that” which makes you just want to crawl back into the cool A/C of your house and wait for the pumpkins to come out.

But not if you have a Princess Diana summer. Because all you need for a Princess Diana summer is to laugh with your kids, to have fun, and to just get your hair wet already. (I know. A yacht in Europe would help.)

When I look at pictures of her during this summer, all I can think about is how little time she had left. How she had no idea, but was still living her days to the absolute fullest. I think of her boys at home, missing her, how some of their last memories were hugging her in the sun, riding on a jet ski with her, jumping into the water and hearing her laugh.

— Tim Graham/Tim Graham Photo Library/Getty Images

What a gift she gave all of them that summer. What a gift she gave herself.

So do yourself a solid and go get a swimsuit you feel good in. It doesn’t matter what Instagram thinks or what your husband thinks or what your mother-in-law thinks (even if she is the Queen of England). Do things this summer with your kids that make all of you happy. And let them see just how happy you are.

Go have yourself a Princess Diana summer.

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Lion King x Squishmallows Anniversary Collection Features Scar, Timon, & Pumbaa

30 years ago, we were all crying in the movie theater as Simba tried to wake Mufasa in The Lion King and now... well. We’re still crying as we watch it with our kids on Disney+. (The way baby JTT’s voice cracks as Simba when he says, “C’mon Dad, we gotta wake up” will never not get me.) But the good thing is, now we can cry and soften the sadness with the Lion King x Squishmallows collection.

I know, your kids have a million Squishmallows. But do they have one shaped like Scar or Pumbaa? Of course not. This brand new special anniversary collection from Squishmallows features young Simba, young Nala, Scar, Timon, and Pumbaa. Each of them are crafted to look exactly like their movie counterpart (but obviously softer, squishier, more like a pillow), but they also each have the silhouette of baby Simba that Rafiki draws near the beginning of the movie embroidered onto their front. Oh goody.

While I do wish there were a few more characters, like Mufasa and Rafiki, these characters are so good and iconic and will look incredible lined up together on a shelf or bed. I’m extremely partial to the Scar Squishmallows, which even has his mane pompadour right there on top of his head for that extra villainous look. (Pumbaa’s hair is also pretty perfect.)

— Squishmallows

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— Squishmallows

You can find the Lion King x Squishmallows anniversary collection at Walmart, Amazon, GameStop, and Walgreens. Each character retails for $14.99 and pretty soon, you’ll be renacting all of your favorite scenes with these perfectly soft characters. If Squishmallows puts out a Zazu, you can bet your butt I’m getting ready for my own Squishmallows rendition of “I Just Can’t Wait to Be King!”

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