Latest news with #JESSICALEE
New York Post
05-06-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Post
Labubu owners are considering insuring their coveted plushies to protect toys from theft
The world has officially gone mad. Mad about a little monster plushie known as the Labubu. If you have a tween or teen child, chances are you've heard a lot about them already. Or maybe you're even housing a few already. The monster fuzzies, which were created by Hong Kong designer Kasing Lungare and often seen dangling off designer handbags of celebrities around the globe, are now so in demand that there has been a rise in thefts. A rise in thefts means people are now forced to consider insuring their precious little toys. Trust me, I also wish this were fake news! 4 Labubus are often seen dangling off designer handbags of celebrities around the globe, leading to a rise in thefts. JESSICA LEE/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock Protect your Labubu at all costs According to a new report from travel insurance company, PassportCard, one in three Millennials or Gen Zers have considered taking out travel insurance to protect their precious Labubu when travelling abroad. But don't go calling THEM crazy. The trend of protection is on the rise, with many believing Labubus will be a huge target as people head over to Europe to enjoy the summer, which in fact makes those wanting to protect their plushies as the smart ones. 4 One in three Millennials or Gen Zers have considered taking out travel insurance to protect their precious Labubu when travelling abroad. JESSICA LEE/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock 'It might seem ridiculous to insure a toy, but it speaks volumes about how emotionally invested people are in what they pack,' PassportCard Australia chief Peter Klemt said. 'When you consider some Labubus are now selling for nearly $652 (1,000 AUD) on resale sites, it makes sense why they want to protect them.' Labubu megafan fan, Olivia Bubalao, admitted she was one of those people who took out insurance during a recent three-week trip to Europe to protect her precious toy. 'I've been hearing about many people having theirs stolen and so I did some research and, once I found an insurance package that included my Labubu in personal items of value, then it was a no-brainer,' the 24-year-old told the Daily Telegraph, 4 The monster fuzzies were created by Hong Kong designer Kasing Lungare. AFP via Getty Images Fellow collector, Rachael Clayton, also revealed that she did the same thing and took out a $98 (150 AUD) insurance package to protect her seven Labubus. 'If I lost one on a trip I'd feel sad, especially nowadays with how hard they were to get and how long ago I bought them – they're a part of me at this point,' she told the publication. What is a Labubu? And why does everyone want one? 4 Labubu dolls have blown up because their identities are hidden behind cardboard boxes. JESSICA LEE/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock These 'cute ugly' toys are marketed and distributed by Chinese toy company Pop Mart as collectable toys, pushing the ideology that shoppers need to have them all, like Jellycats and Funko Pops before them. But, what's really caused them to blow up is the fact that their identities are hidden behind their cardboard boxes. This blind box format has been the basis of so many viral videos, with influencers purchasing boxes and boxes of them in the hopes of getting the one they really want. And, when they fail, they'll buy more and more. Since Pop Mart arrived in Sydney, Aussies have been spotted on TikTok sharing endless experiences of getting to stores just after midnight, scouring all the entries to ensure they have the quickest path to the goods, and preparing to drop any amount of money possible, only to still miss out at the last hurdle. The problem now is, if you miss out, you're an outcast… or you're so desperate that you'll consider resorting to stealing it off someone who was lucky to nab one.
Winnipeg Free Press
27-05-2025
- General
- Winnipeg Free Press
Turn on that barbecue and get grilling
It's a subtle shift. As warm weather settles in for good, the sweet, smoky smell of outdoor cooking becomes an evening staple of neighbourhoods across the city. Make the most of grilling season with reader recipes for Barbecue Lean Pork from Anita Lee, Gale's Barbecue Trout from Gale Petreny and Auntie Shirley Potatoes from Patti Mersereau-LeBlanc. Want to share a recipe? Visit to fill out the submission form. Barbecue Lean Pork JESSICA LEE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS files Anita Lee's barbecued pork dish is easy and flavourful. JESSICA LEE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS files Anita Lee's barbecued pork dish is easy and flavourful. Ingredients Directions Note: The pork can be basted with the remaining marinade half-way through cooking. If cooking on the barbecue, place the meat on the grill over medium heat and keep a close eye to ensure the sugary marinade doesn't burn. JESSICA LEE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS files Anita Lee's pork dish can be done on the barbecue or in the oven. JESSICA LEE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS files Anita Lee's pork dish can be done on the barbecue or in the oven. — Anita Lee Gale's Barbecue Trout Ingredients Directions Freepik Adding lemon to barbecued trout is never a bad idea. Freepik Adding lemon to barbecued trout is never a bad idea. 'Many years ago, I had the opportunity to go to Cranberry Portage to officiate at a local wrestling tournament. While I was up there, I was invited to go ice fishing. We caught a number of lake trout and my host taught me how to cook up our catch. Maybe it was the fresh-caught trout or the pride in catching the fish, but this was the best fish I had ever tasted. This is the only recipe I use now to barbecue fish and is a gold standard in our family. Even the kids that don't like fish love this recipe!' — Gale Petreny Auntie Shirley Potatoes Ingredients Directions 'When I was a child my family would go out on my Auntie Shirley and Uncle Dalton's house boat on the weekends. There was camping, fishing, and swimming all weekend. Endless fun! And of course my aunt would make these potatoes. I loved them. Throughout the winter I would ask my mom to make them but didn't know what to call them, so they became Auntie Shirley Potatoes.' — Patti Mersereau-LeBlanc Eva WasneyReporter Eva Wasney has been a reporter with the Free Press Arts & Life department since 2019. Read more about Eva. Every piece of reporting Eva produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the Free Press's tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press's history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates. Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber. Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.
