Send a Complimentary Keebler Magical Cookie Bouquet this Grandparent’s Day

by Jennifer SwartvagherSeptember 8, 2020

Social distancing has been keeping many families apart. Kids are missing out on hugs from their grandparents. Keebler wants to connect families and sweeten moments of togetherness, from afar, by giving people the opportunity to send a touch of magic with the gift of a free Keebler Magical Cookie Bouquet to those they miss most.

Grandparents and grandkids are feeling the heartache more than ever during these challenging times, so Ernie and the rest of the Keebler Elves found a way to reimagine family moments for those that are apart. Starting on Sept. 8, in the days leading up to Grandparent’s Day (September 13), Keebler will team up with experiential marketing partner, Fooji, to create some magic and give families the opportunity to gift a loved one a a complimentary Keebler Magical Cookie Bouquet.

During this limited time offer, fans can either send a Tweet using hashtag #SendKeeblerMagic and #promo or go to https://Keebler-magic.fooji.com/#start starting Tues., Sept. 8 and a cookie bouquet will be delivered right to the doorstep of someone you love and miss most.

The Keebler Magical Cookie Bouquets come in an arrangement of “long stem Keebler Fudge Stripe cookie flowers” – complete with a spice drop center. Loved ones who receive the Keebler Magical Cookie Bouquet will also get to try a few of their favorite Keebler cookies, featuring more of Keebler’s Elfin’ Magic from the Hollow Tree and baked with a variety of real ingredients. In addition to the Fudge Stripes, made with Real Keebler Fudge, recipients will also receive Pecan Sandies and Chips Deluxe Original, which are made with Real Madagascar vanilla and more Real Chocolate, respectively.

Everyone can get in on the fun on social, too. Check out Instagram Lenses to play a game of catch with Fudge Stripes, Sandies, or Chips Deluxe cookies. Win and you’ll be transformed into Ernie the Elf and get to visit the Hollow Tree. Users can also take on the challenge of helping Ernie add Real ingredients to the Keebler cookies through engaging arcade-style games on the GIPHY Arcade platform.

“With the Keebler Magical Cookie Bouquets, we wanted to help families feel like they’re together in spirit,” said Senior Associate Brand Manager Ryan Nolan. “And as a part of that, we extended the magic of Ernie and the Keebler elves to families through different means like the games on social where they may be connecting with loved ones most often during this time.”

—Jennifer Swartvagher

All photos courtesy of Keebler

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Flora Lotta Fun: Pick Your Own Flowers

by Meghan Yudes MeyersJune 29, 2020

Editor’s note: We’re making every effort to provide you with the most up-to-date information. However, there may be last minute closures due to Covid-19. We highly recommend that you call ahead or check a farm’s website before you pack your kids (and all those snacks, and diapers…) and haul them across town. Stay safe!

Grab your wellies, your buckets and your cameras, and make a bee line to one of these flower farms–each within an hour drive from downtown DC.

photo: Charlotte Coneybeer via Unsplash

Burnside Farms
Sunflowers reign supreme during summer months. With over eight acres of flowers, this spectacular pick-your-own venue is one of the largest in the entire world. Really! Note: Purchase tickets ($8) beforehand as they are not available at the gate.

2570 Logmill Rd.
Haymarket, VA
703-930-3052
Online: burnsidefarms.com

Butlers Orchard
Located in Germantown, Md and open for 65 years, this orchard is filled to the brim with different crops to choose from. Peonies are available until mid-June with other varieties available through July. There is even an area for farm picnics and a lovely market with snacks for the entire fam to enjoy. Insider suggestion: the blueberry lemon buckle is sososo nommy!

22200 Davis Mill Rd.
Germantown, MD
301-972-3299
Online: butlersorchard.com

Rockhill Orchard
The flower arrangement possibilities are endless here. There are tons of different flowers that are always in bloom and the farm even has guided tours. There’s even a creamery with a tractor ride to the dairy farm! Your little one will LOVE it.

28600 Ridge Rd.
Mount Airy, MD
301-831-7427
Online: rockhillorchard.com

Fields of Flowers
From mid-May until the first frost, families can wander through the acres of flowers and snip and pick at leisure. Once you’ve had your fill, bring your bucket to a workstation where you can clean and prune your bouquet to perfection.

37879 Allder School Rd.
Purcellville, VA
540-338-7231
Online: loudounfieldsofflowers.com

Seven Oaks Lavender Farm
This mother-daughter business has been inviting guests to enjoy their scented hillside for 18 years. Lavender is available for picking through mid-July; stems are 15 cents each. Don’t forget to nab a picture in the gazebo in the middle of the purple fields.

8769 Old Dumfries Rd.
Catlett, VA
540-272-7839
Online: sevenoakslavenderfarm.com

—Meghan Yudes Meyers and Miller Jackson

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Last-Minute Mother’s Day Gift & Activity Ideas

by Karly WoodMay 8, 2020

Mother’s Day is this weekend! If you’ve found yourself on the homestretch without a gift in hand, then you’ll want to keep reading. From homemade cards and artistic activities to buildable bouquets, these last-minute Mother’s Day gift ideas will save the day.

Make a DIY Mother's Day Card

If you want to make Mother’s Day extra memorable, you can’t go wrong with a homemade card! Since we know moms go gaga for all things heartfelt and handmade, we’ve rounded up the easiest, cutest DIY cards that kids can whip up themselves. Click here for 22 ideas that are sure to make Mom smile.

Build a Bouquet That Lasts a Lifetime

Brought to you by a Master Model Builder, Tim Sams shows kids the how-to on building a flower for Mother’s Day! Kids will use LEGO bricks and can can be combined with other LEGO flowers. No need to add water, this bouquet will last for years to come. Head over the the LEGOLAND website to get the tutorial on this Mother's Day activity, and be sure to check out the rest of the Building Challenge website, too!

Whip Up Some Mother's Day DIY Projects

Looking for some fun Mother's Day crafts and activities? Juicy Juice has crafted plenty, including how to make Mother’s Day flowers and a Mother’s Day memory box, seed bundles, coloring worksheet and a DIY bird feeder.

Grab Free Coupons from Disney

As part of its ongoing initiative to help families create Magic Moments at home, Disney is also sharing new activities––and a special Mother’s Day one you won’t want to miss. shopDisney’s Magic Moments Activities page is offeringf a new Disney Coupons download! The freebie includes 10 unique coupons featuring your favorite Disney characters, like Olaf, Belle and Mickey Mouse. You can find all the details here.

Send a Mother's Day Secret Message

Create your Mother’s Day card by printing out and filling in our template, or use the step by step instructions to design your own! Check out how to set up your own card here.

Create a Mother's Day Paper Crafts

It’s the perfect time to help your kiddos make a craft to show Mom how much they love her. We’ve rounded up a list of easy paper crafts that kids can make themselves, from tissue paper flowers to patterned notebooks.

––Karly Wood

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A Love Letter to Seattle: 13 Things We Can’t Wait to Do Again

by Allison SutcliffeApril 28, 2020

When the going gets tough, Seattle comes together. And although we know Seattle families have totally got this, there’s no denying there are things we’re starting to miss. So until we cross the finish line, here are 13 things we’re looking forward to being able to do again.

Play at the beach building sandcastles, throwing rocks and hunting for hidden crabs during low tide. Then end the day with a beach side picnic on a warm night.

Simply walk or jog around Green Lake on a sunny day just because.

Meet a friend at the neighborhood coffee shop—the one that has a kid’s activity area—to enjoy a hand-crafted cup of coffee. In a mug. No to-go cups about it.

Stand face-to-face with the brown bears and the sleepy jaguar at Woodland Park Zoo, before heading off to find the siamangs, hoping all the way they’ll be singing when you get there. Then hitting the Red Mill Burger for a deluxe with cheese, please, side of onion rings and a chocolate shake before heading home.

Roll in to a favorite neighborhood joint for a lazy Saturday morning breakfast, and listen to the busy sounds of clinking silverware and continuous chatter filling the air, during the wait.

Spend the afternoon at City Center, listening to the joyful sounds of children playing at the Artists playground. Followed by a show at SCT…or playtime at PacSci… or the Children’s Museum…or MoPOP (it’s so hard to choose!) before heading to the international fountain so the kids can play “can’t catch me” with the dancing water.

Take a leisurely ferry ride—destination anywhere. One where you park the car and head up deck to find a table so the kids can sprawl, roam and head out into the fresh air whenever they want.

Story time at our local neighborhood branch, where the kids know each other or are always ready to make new friends.

Hit the trail for a hike at one of Washington’s gorgeous state or national parks.

Pack the wagon full of food and blankets, topped with kids, for a Zoo Tunes concert. Then get there early enough to find a prime spot toward the back, maybe on the grassy knoll, near the carousel, so the kids have plenty of space to dance. See ya there in 2021!

Family bike rides on the Burke.

Visit the Bridge Troll on the way to the Fremont Market, where the kids can't wait to peruse the oddities in the underground Hyper Market, and you can't wait to score a $10 bouquet. Followed by a savory waffle from BeanFish (K-pop, please!) and macarons from Alexandra’s as a treat.

Take the kids to a neighborhood festival: West Seattle Summer Fest, Magnolia Summerfest, HONK! Fest West, the Greenwood Car Show. We're not picky, any one will do!

—Allison Sutcliffe

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7 Ways to Bring the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival to You

by Allison SutcliffeApril 16, 2020

Is it really even April in Washington without the Tulip Festival? Coronavirus or not, Seattle families need their tulip fix. So if you’re jonesing for vibrant blooms, growing in muddy fields, set against blue skies, read on to find out how to recreate the tulip festival experience at home.

Tiptoe Through the Tulips Virtually

You won’t be able to feel the muddy ground beneath your boots at the Tulip Festival this year, but you can still experience its sights and sounds. Wander the fields and hear updates about the flowers with Tulip Town’s daily Facebook live tour. Tune in to see what’s blooming!

Enter the Tulip Festival Coloring Contest

tulip festival seattle skagit valley — Kylie Kirkland

Break out the crayons because it’s time for a coloring contest. Print out the 2020 Tulip Festival coloring page and let your kids bring it to life, with the bright colors of spring. Put your kiddo’s name, age and phone number on it and then drop it in the mail before April 20th for a chance to win a gift basket. Here’s where you need to send it:

La Conner Chamber of Commerce
P.O. Box 1610
La Conner, WA 98257

Order Fresh-Cut Tulips or Bulbs

Brighten your day (or someone else's) with an order of fresh-cut tulips delivered straight to your door from RoozenGaarde or Tulip Town. Now is also the time to order bulbs to plant this fall. When they bloom next spring, they’ll be a beautiful reminder of this unusual time.

Spread the Love

skagit valley tulip festival seattle — Tanya Hayes

Take part in Tulip Town’s Color For Courage campaign to help spread joy during this tumultuous time. For $15, you can donate a tulip bouquet to hospitals, nursing homes and other community organizations to say thanks and take care. We’re not crying, you’re crying.

Cook Calico Cupboard Comfort Food

If you look forward to getting oversized baked goods at Calico Cupboard after viewing the tulips almost as much as you look forward to seeing the blooms, we’re right there with you. That’s why we’re stoked Calico Cupboard is sharing comfort recipes families can recreate at home. Find the recipe for Calico’s Tasty Tomato Soup and Parmesan Crusted Grilled Cheese on their Facebook feed. Then, follow it up with a pan of their Fudgy Wudgy Bars you can find on the Love La Conner’s Facebook feed. (Psst… you'll need to scroll through to find them.)

Brighten Your Decor

Add bright colors to your at-home days with this year’s 2020 Tulip Festival poster, designed by artist Jennifer Bowman. It’s an easy way to celebrate the festival when you can’t be there.

Take Prize-Worthy Photos

While you won't be able to snap the cutest ever pics of your kids posed in front of the tulip fields, muddy boots and all, North Coast Credit Union is sponsoring a Skagit Valley Tulip Festival photo contest, open to amateur photogs everywhere. With fun categories like Celebrating the Tulip Bloom While Social Distancing and Beauty & the Tulips (close-up shots), you've got all the excuse you need to find spring blooms in your yard, garden or neighborhood. So snap away and be sure to submit your entries via email before April 30.

—Allison Sutcliffe

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You’ll Want All 6 of These Tasty Alternatives for Valentine’s Day Chocolate

by Karly WoodFebruary 6, 2020

They say life is like a box of chocolates, but that doesn’t ring true with these new Valentine’s Day bouquets! If you’re looking for a fun and fresh way to say “I love you” this year, you need look no further than these Valentine’s Day alternatives to bouquets and boxes of chocolate. From sweet treats to savory sides, these non-traditional gifts will make their way into your heart this Valentine’s Day.

Donut Bouquet

Harry and David’s Donut Bouquet might not be as traditional as long-stemmed roses, but it’s certainly sweet (pun intended). The 10-piece arrangement is wrapped in pink tissue and adorned with a gold bow.

Get it here.

Heart-Shaped Box of Cheddar Bay Biscuits

Surprise your own "bae" this Valentine's with a savory box of Cheddar Bay Biscuits! The antithesis of candy is perfect for your special someone who's not into sweets.

To snag your own, just order a half-dozen Cheddar Bay Biscuits to go from redlobster.com, and you can get the limited-edition box for just $1.

Jack Links Valentine's Day Meant Fur Me Heart Box

Meat lover? No problem! This furry box of Jack Links is bound to make the carnivore in your life happy.

Get it here.

Cookie Bouquet

We smell sugar! This darling bouquet of Valentine's Day cookies is made up of a dozen buttercream frosted cookies that come in gorgeously gift wrapped.

Order them here.

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A post shared by Insider Food (@insiderfood)

Olive Garden Breadstick Bouquet

Nothing says love like a bouquet of breadsticks! Olive Garden's famous carby snack is here for V-day in a big way. Place an order for breadsticks either online or in a restaurant, then simply wrap in the downloadable printed wrapper!

Download the wrapper for free here.

https://www.instagram.com/p/B7riBUqH4i7/

Pickle Bouquet

Yep, it's a thing. Pickle bouquets are the ultimate gift for your dill lover. You can even make your own with just the perfect type of pickle for your special someone.

Check out the full how-to at Grillo's Pickles.

––Karly Wood

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ALDI Has New Orchids and Succulents Just In Time for Valentine’s Day

by Shahrzad WarkentinJanuary 30, 2020

Looking to score a great deal on a Valentine’s Day gift? Head over to ALDI where you’ll find some beautiful orchids and succulents just in time for the holiday.

ALDI’s Finds for February feature some perfect plants to show someone special a little love. Why spend a fortune on a bouquet that won’t last more than a few days, when you can enjoy a potted orchid or flowering succulent for years to come?

ALDI is selling Valentine’s Day Kalanchoe succulents in a colorful assortment of stylish planters for just $3.99 each.

You can also score a gorgeous five-inch orchid for just $10.99. Both planters are part of the February ALDI Finds for the week of Feb. 11., just in time for Valentine’s Day.

If you still prefer a rose bouquet for the holiday of love, ALDI has you covered for that as well. You can get an amazing deal on a dozen roses for just $9.99.

—Shahrzad Warkentin

All photos: Courtesy of ALDI

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5 Ways Portland Families Can Show Gratitude to Teachers

by Whitney C. HarrisJanuary 29, 2020

Teachers deserve more than an apple or freshly sharpened bouquet of pencils when it comes to showing them your appreciation. So why not do something thoughtful to show them how grateful you really are? Here are five ideas for recognizing and thanking your children’s amazing teachers.

1. Nominate a teacher for an award!
The Oregon Lottery has partnered with The Oregon Department of Education to offer a Teacher of the Year program! Nominate a teacher who truly inspires students and makes a difference in the community. The winning teacher receives $5,000 and a special fund to cover all travel costs for the year, plus $5,000 for his or her school. Just in the past two years, the Oregon Lottery has awarded $537.7 million to K-12 public education. (That’s about $460 per student each year!) Nominations for the 2021 award are open until January 31, 2020. And just think about all the textbooks, computers, services and equipment that money can buy!

2. Say something special
Let your child’s teacher know how much you appreciate them by putting pen to paper and writing a heartfelt and sincere note. Be specific with your gratitude. Tell them what they do that you find so wonderful and valuable for students. If you have a specific story to highlight then go for it. There is perhaps no such thing as too much praise in this case! Then, have your child write a card with a poem and/or drawing that illustrates what an impact the teacher has had in their life.

3. Give a really great gift card!
Who doesn’t love permission to buy something just for fun? Pick out a gift card for your child’s teacher and know that they will appreciate the gesture. There are practically infinite online retailers to choose from, in addition to local restaurants and bakeries, bookstores, spas or salons, and fancy food markets.

4. Make something delicious in the kitchen
You don’t have to be a great chef to whip up something sweet to gift a teacher. Bake a batch of cookies, brownies or muffins either from scratch or from a store-bought box. Even better if you enlist your kid to help you! You can have fun in the kitchen making roasted chickpeas or nuts, a warm soup or sauce, homemade granola or whatever your family enjoys and wants to share with a special teacher.

5. Shop local!
Track down the most popular favorites at all your local haunts and get a little something from each store. Grab the best coffee beans, bagels or doughnuts, deli pickles and a gift certificate for a manicure around town and wrap up everything in a basket or tote to gift to your child’s teacher with a quick note of thanks.

Do you know a deserving teacher making a difference for students in your community? Nominate them for Oregon Teacher of the Year at OregonTeacherOfTheYear.org!

—Whitney C. Harris

These Gorgeous Disney Princess Flower Bouquets Are the Dreamiest Valentine’s Day Gift

by Shahrzad WarkentinJanuary 11, 2020

Whether you’re a Frozen fan or you covet that perfect rose in Beauty and the Beast, there’s a gorgeous Disney bouquet made just for you in this incredible collection.

The Roseshire x Disney collab features stunning rose bouquets themed to some of the best and most romantic Disney films and characters of all time. Each bouquet is packaged in a decorative box featuring a personalized message. Unfortunately, only a handful of this gorgeous collection are available for delivery during Valentine’s week, but there’s no rule against sending flowers just because, and these are so worth it.

Beauty and the Beast

$199

Nightmare Before Christmas

$205

Now and Forever Nightmare Black Roses

This unique bouquets features 10 black roses that will keep for a whopping one to two years without water.

$139

Eyes For You Minnie

This four rose bouquet features special forever roses that last one to two years without water.

$79

If you’re a fan of The Little Mermaid, Aladdin or Alice In Wonderland, you’ll definitely want to check out the rest of the Disney collab collection, which is available year round, with the exception of Valentine’s week.

—Shahrzad Warkentin

All photos: Roseshire

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Send Holiday Cheer with a Grinch Rose Gift Box

by Erica LoopDecember 4, 2019

Do you need to send a bouquet of festive flowers for the holidays? Now you have a Grinch-y option, with Roseshire’s Dr. Seuss-inspired arrangement!

The Grinch graces a green box of green roses in this Christmas-time floral gift. The box features the main man himself, and we’re not talking about Santa.

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A post shared by RoseShire (@roseshireco)

Along with the Grinch’s smiling and smirking face in two different poses, the box has “This is me being jolly” and “Contemplating naughty” written on two of the sides. Even though the Grinch box is filled with green roses, you don’t need a green thumb to care for the flowers. According to Roseshire’s website, the roses are preserved with a non-toxic chemical and will last for one to two years—without water!

Get your Grinch rose gift box online at roseshire.com for $59 plus shipping.

—Erica Loop

Featured photo: Roseshire.com

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