Forget about teeny tiny conversation hearts. Treat your sweetie to a full-sized sweet this Valentine’s Day with Oreo’s heart-shaped cookie dunking set.
The set, which comes in a completely cute heart box, debuted back in 2018. The seasonal kit repeatedly sells out but we’ve already found it in two spots.
This Valentine’s Day goody box is the perfect present to share. Each set comes with two matching mugs, two pairs of dunking tongs (because you can’t hold hands with messy, milk-covered fingers), a heart-shaped cookie cage and a six-pack of Oreo cookies.
This limited-time Oreo dunking set is available for $25 at Frankford Candy or $31 on Amazon.
Forget about gingerbread, OREO’s Holiday Chocolate Cookie House is this Christmas’s new must-have sweet treat activity.
Instead of the typical gingerbread walls, OREO’s holiday house has chocolate cookie pieces. The kid-friendly kit also comes with pre-made icing, OREO Cookies, OREO Mini Cookies, candy jewels and fruit-flavored gummies.
The only thing your fam needs to bring to a house-making session is imagination. Decorate this cookie-covered house with icing-drawn shingles, stripes, patterns, or a full-on candy door. The holiday house also comes in a mini version, too! The smaller-sized 8.5-ounce kit comes with pre-baked cookie sheets, pre-made icing, candy jewels and mini OREOs.
If you can’t wait until Christmas Eve to decorate a candy-covered house, you can find the full-sized edible OREO cookie house at Walmart for for $13
Do your favorite local candy store a solid and stock up on delectable delights from their aisles this Halloween. And if you’ve already bought your give-away stash, we suggest sneaking over to treat yourself from one of these Atlanta sugar shacks. Keep reading for our favorite Atlanta candy stores, below.
Collier Candy Co.
Inside Ponce City Market, this sweet shop with a vintage feel—right down to the squeaky floorboards—has an impressive collection of old-fashioned confections (remember Boston Baked Beans?) alongside some more interesting options.
Even Sweeter: Feeling adventurous? Try the Seattle Chocolate Company's milk chocolate truffle bar.
Ponce City Market 675 Ponce De Leon Ave. NE Online:colliercandy.com
Chef Brulee’s chocolate store offers 38 of the most beautiful, delicious artisan chocolates you will ever taste. You have to try them all, but if you can only pick one, don't miss out on the leopard-dusted creamsicle chocolate.
Even Sweeter: They make custom cakes, so if you're in the market, make a trip to the store to see what they can do.
1140 Alpharetta Street #500 Roswell 404-953-0369 Online:chefbrulee.com
This whimsical candy store makes homemade gummy bears—everything from pineapple to grapefruit and even champagne for the grown-ups. Decadent truffles, old-fashioned soda and other candies can be purchased to satisfy your sweet tooth. Kids will love peering into the glass display to pick out their favorite pieces. Lolli & Pops carries sweet treats from around the world and some made locally.
Even sweeter: Pick up a gift tin for your friends with a sweet tooth. It makes the perfect hostess gift.
4400 Ashford Dunwoody Rd. NE Perimeter Mall 770-551-7120 Online:lolliandpops.com
Sugar Factory Atlanta
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Sugar Factory’s 800-square-foot Midtown Atlanta retail confectionary features a signature floor-to-ceiling candy wall with more than 500 types of sweet treats, including a selection of novelty and bulk candy like the brand’s world-famous Couture Pops. Completing the confectionary, the café will offer coffees, hot chocolate, frozen hot chocolate, homemade specialty rainbow doughnuts and pastries, in addition to homemade gelato and ice cream.
Even sweeter: Check out the gummy bear chandelier before you go.
1080 Peachtree Street NE Midtown 470-428-4395 Online:sugarfactory.com
So, for my little monster’s second birthday she got a MONSTER (shocking) pajama party. Complete with monster paper dolls, sock monster favors, and, of course, a monster cake! It couldn’t be a monster party without a monster cake.
What you will need to create your own monster cake:
a round cake pan
a cake mix or a homemade one frosting, dyed to your desired color
sixlets, in your chosen color/s
paper eyeballs
wooden skewers
hot glue gun & glue stick
For my eyeballs, I used Photoshop Elements to create what I was looking for. I created one orange and one pink, those were our party colors. I went with only two eyeballs for my monster; but you could definitely add or subtract from this, there are no rules when it comes to monsters!
Once I was done I printed them out, glued them to some grey cardstock to make them sturdier, and then hot glued them to two wooden skewers. With them attached to the skewers, I can just poke them into the finished cake wherever and however I choose.
I used a 7 inch round cake pan, you can use whatever size or shape suits you and your monster needs. As I said with the eyeballs, there are no rules when it comes to monsters!
I used box cakes and store bought frosting because baking is not always my strong suit, and, honestly, it is just simpler. I first dyed my frosting a light pink so that the bits that could be seen would match. Then I baked, I cooled, I frosted, I stacked, I frosted the rest and then the real fun began.
I got out my massive amount of orange and pink sixlets and started covering the cake. I started in the middle of the top and worked my way out and then down the sides. I picked the two colors at random, just reached in and pulled out. You could easily make a pattern out of it if that’s what you want.
It was tedious; but, eventually, the cake was covered in the sixlets and looking like a scaly, bumpy, pink, and orange monster. I situated it on the platter, poked the eyes into place, and voila!
There was singing, wish-making followed by cake slicing and eating!
I also made cupcakes, as the cake was not very big, and I always love to make too much. I made smaller eyeballs and hot glued them to toothpicks for the cupcakes. The cake ones would have been oddly huge on the cupcakes.
I'm a stay-at-home mother of three amazing kids. My days are filled with bus stops, cleaning food off the walls, changing diapers and tackling the perpetual mountain of laundry. And I wouldn't trade it for anything!
Back-to-school shopping is in full effect! Trying to figure out what’s cool for school this year? We’ve partnered with OshKosh B’Gosh, the iconic kid’s brand, to bring you the top three trends that are coming back in a big way. Now you don’t have to guess: “Will they like this? Will they wear this?” because we’ve got the trends they’ll love so you can keep calm and shop on!
It’s not just for hippies—all the cool kids are wearing it (chances are you’ve picked up a few colorful tie-dyed pieces for yourself!). What’s not to love? Tie-dye sends instant cool vibes and is just plain fun. These psychedelic fashion statements are a simple way to add a pop of color to their wardrobe this fall and beyond. Clothes with benefits: Color is the ultimate pick-me-up any day of the week! We love OshKosh’s trendy tie-dye duds. Check them out and buy now, here. Peace and love (and so much fun)!
2. Denim
You may be thinking: “Yes, of course, denim!”. It may seem like a no-brainer because denim is classic, but the kind of denim is crucial to what’s cool this season, specifically overalls and jackets. Who knows kids denim better than OshKosh B’Gosh!
They’ve been in the denim game since 1895, when they started making rugged hickory-striped denim overalls for Northwestern Line railroad workers on Commerce Street in OshKosh, WI. By the 1920s, they began making child-size overalls and jackets. These denim styles have historic cool vibes, and we are loving it—check the latest from OshKosh here.
3. Athleisure
Nothing says “cool without even trying,” like athleisure. It’s comfy, uncomplicated and comes in a range of styles and colors to fit any personality. Bonus: This easy-breezy fashion trend goes from gym class to math class effortlessly, so you get more bang for your fashion buck with these multitasking threads. OshKosh has you covered, with new laid-back styles you can find here.
The latest: OshKosh is bridging the gap by bringing history to the present, by celebrating the confidence and determination of icons before they were icons, to show the next generation it’s ok to dream boldly about who you’ll become someday! Check out “Today Is Someday” here—happy shopping!
This school year is definitely going to be unique so how about you pick out some school supplies that go along with that theme. Etsy has you covered with all the personalized pens, pencils, pencil cases and more, and every rainbow item under the sun. Place your order today!
What a wicked summer it’s been for weather, Chicago! It’s been quite the roller coaster, but no complaints, we’ve been outside and taking advantage of our city being open. We have just a couple more months to enjoy boating season, so make a plan to get on the water. While there are several tour companies that narrate a memorable trip along our waterways and teach a bit of Chicago architectural history, sometimes you want to steer the course yourself. Read on to learn how Chicago Electric Boat hands over the captain’s hat and allows you to do just that.
About Chicago Electric Boats
Operating since 2012, Chicago Electric Boat Company is Chicago's largest self-guided river boat rental operator. They operate with safety as a core focus, as owner Ron Silvia is a member of the Chicago Harbor Safety Committee and President of Downtown Docks and is a driver in the city's exciting waterfront developments.
Their fleet includes eco-friendly private electric boats that create one-of-a-kind opportunities to explore our world-famous waterfront, history-making iconic skyscrapers and moveable bridges from a unique eye-level vantage point.
Renters will find five boat types: all-weather Duffy Boats with fully covered seating areas, Pontoon Boats with adjustable canopies, partially covered Donut Boats that offer 360-degree views of the city, a Vintage Yacht and refurbished 1950s-style Retro Boats for when you want to feel like a movie star.
Each dock has different options available, so which boat type you want to rent will determine the pick-up and drop-off location.
Enjoy a mashup of a boat ride and a bike cruise on a Chicago Cycleboat. Hop on a bike seat set around a table and cycle at your own pace with your friends. The whole boat works together to power the boat as a captain navigates the boat down Chicago River. No worries though, there is a back up electric motor in case you lose steam.
Chicago Electric Boat has four different docking stations, with different boating options available at each: Rockwell on the River (3057 N. Rockwell St., Avondale), Marina City (300 N. State St., Near North) or Chicago Riverwalk/City Winery (11 W. Riverwalk S., Loop) and Chicago Water Plaza/Sweet Home Gelato (151 W. Wacker, Loop).
The prices vary based on which boat you're interested in and which pick-up location, but prices start at $160/hour. Private cycleboats can be rented starting at $550.
If you'd rather be a back-seat driver vs captain the ship, you can choose to enlist the assistance of a licensed captain or accredited tour guide for an additional charge.
Grab the mini marshmallows and your favorite comfy sweater. If you are dreaming of fall, Swiss Miss has you covered.
Swiss Miss Pumpkin Spice Hot Cocoa means you won’t even have to wait that long to get a sip reminiscent of falling leaves and visits to the pumpkin patch. The mix is made from premium imported cocoa and pumpkin spice flavoring with no artificial sweeteners, flavors, preservatives or colors.
photo: Courtesy of Swiss Miss
The best part? A box of eight packets will only set you back $1.69! You can already find this special Swiss Miss at Target for the fall season.
The Halloween spirit is building! LEGO will release two new sets for the upcoming spooky season on August 1. You can buy a Spider & Haunted House and a Halloween Owl to have some fun and decorate with your family.
The first seasonal playset features a brick spider with poseable legs and a miniature haunted house with window and cracked brick stickers. Both feature strings so you can hang them with your other decorations. Kids seven and up can enjoy this one and it’s only $9.99.
Owl lovers will definitely want to snap up the second set, featuring a bird that rotates and can move its wings! It’s attached to a display base with pumpkins and autumn flowers. LEGO notes that this set is best for builders age eight and up and it’s retailing for $14.99.
If you need even more spooky sets, LEGO has you covered! Check out the online shop for a Frankenstein, Haunted House and more.
Summer vacation or summer staycation? The latter is cheaper, easier and often more convenient for families everywhere. WalletHub just released a new study on the best places for a staycation across the U.S. and cities all around the country made up the top 10. Read on for the full list!
Using 46 key metrics, WalletHub compared more than 180 cities to come up with the best spots to staycation. Recreation (including pools per capita, playgrounds per capita and bike score), food and entertainment (including zoos per capita, movies costs and and museums per capita) and rest and relaxation (including public beaches per capita and idealness of summer weather) all factored into the final scores. The top 10 cities:
Honolulu, HI (65.80 total score)
Orlando, FL (60.87)
San Francisco, CA (59.41)
Charleston, SC (57.40)
Las Vegas, NV (57.13)
Portland, ME (57.11)
Chicago, IL (57.03)
Seattle, WA (56.54)
San Diego, CA (56.53)
Cincinnati, OH (56.33)
Some of the individual scores might surprise you! Cleveland and Philadelphia tied for number of swimming pools per capita. Salt Lake City had the most coffee and tea shops per capita. And Tacoma tied for first in the number of zoos and aquariums per capita.
For the full list of staycation spots, you can read the WalletHub study here. If you need extra ideas for your upcoming break (or rainy day distractions) we’ve got you covered!