Calling all hot chocolate lovers! Last year, Auntie Anne’s launched Hot Chocolate Frost, a frozen twist on a classic holiday favorite which was only available for a limited time. The pretzel franchise just announced that it is bringing the sweet drink back by popular demand for 2020.
Auntie Anne’s Hot Chocolate Frost is a delicious frozen hot chocolate beverage topped with whipped cream and a generous drizzle of rich Hershey’s Chocolate Syrup. Pair this frosty sip with a freshly baked, hot- pretzel for a sweet and salty holiday combo.
“We all know the holidays can be hectic,” Marcel Nahm, Auntie Anne’s vice president of marketing, said in a press release last year. “We just want Hot Chocolate Frost to lift our guests from the stress and add a touch of happiness to their day. And perhaps, help them make a holiday memory with a friend or loved one.”
For more information, visit AuntieAnnes.com, or follow on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. To find an Auntie Anne’s location near you, visit auntieannes.com/locations.
Get in the holiday spirit! Children’s musician Laurie Berkner invites everyone to share the magic of the season at two special “Holiday Party” Live Virtual Family Concerts on Sunday, Dec. 13 at 12:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. ET on Berkner’s website. For double the fun, a family ticket grants admission to one or both livestreams.
“With all that’s going on in the world, I feel so lucky to still be able to share our annual Holiday Concert and celebrate with families this year! These will be my final virtual family concerts of 2020, and I’m so proud and moved by the community that we have built together in these past months,” says Berkner. “Seeing videos of kids and families sharing loving moments and dancing together to my music makes all of the hard work that we put into each of these livestreamed events completely worth it. I truly can’t wait!”
Berkner encourages fans of all ages to decorate their homes and wear their holiday outfits to this show, whether it be a fun sweater, fancy holiday clothes, cozy winter pajamas, or even a Santa suit.
“Get out your holiday lights, dreidels, nutcrackers, candy canes, Hanukkah gelt, wreaths, and stockings!” says Berkner. “Maybe your Christmas tree or menorah is already out. You could make a gingerbread house, an ornament, or some hot cocoa, and bring them to the show. Let’s build a winter wonderland together!”
Longtime Laurie Berkner Band member Susie Lampert will be a special guest at these holiday concerts, which will feature such traditional, secular songs as “Jingle Bells” and “Frosty the Snowman,” along with originals from Laurie Berkner’s well-loved album, A Laurie Berkner Christmas, like “Santa’s Coming to My House Tonight.” Laurie will also celebrate Hanukkah with “Candle Chase” and “The Dreidel Song.” She’ll perform an array of her greatest hits, too, including “We Are The Dinosaurs,” “Victor Vito,” and “Pig On Her Head.”
Your little ones should plan on bringing their instruments (jingle bells if you have them), dancing shoes and a stuffed animal to participate in the sing along.
A fun-filled virtual lobby will feature pre-show music and videos, holiday games and a fun snowflake craft activity to bring to the concert. For those who’d like to spend a few minutes chatting one-on-one with Laurie after the show, special Meet-and-Greet tickets are available.
Blind bags bring an extra level of excitement to toy giving. Be Amazing! Toys, a leader in developing STEM-based kits that offer hands-on fun for kids, announces the debut of Snow Pets, a new line of blind box collectibles revealed by a frosty reaction that sparks a mini-avalanche of overflowing snow. Snow Pets’ initial series of eight characters, along with eight “Rare” icy pets, are available on Amazon and in specialty toy stores, followed by the release of an exclusive collection featuring special “Ultra Rare” gold editions at Michaels Stores Dec. 4.
Combining kid’s love for science, mystery reveals and collectibles with unmistakable, whimsical winter characters, Snow Pets offers kids an immersive experience of fun, friendship, adventure and play. Snow Pets hail from the magical wintry wonderland of Snowy Falls, but await their new friends deep within their snowballs until awakened by adding water. After a jaw-dropping snowy eruption, a Snow Pet is revealed to its new owner.
From a loyal Saint Bernard named Scout to Skye the teaching Owl and a compassionate fawn named Willow, each of the eight series one Snow Pet characters brings a unique personality to their world of Snowy Falls. For an even more thrilling surprise, each character in the first collection also has a “rare” counterpart in the form of a twin covered in a glittery, icy finish. The second series, available exclusively at Michaels Stores, will also include special golden “ultra rare” Snow Pets. Kids will love collecting them all, learning about each character and building their very own village of Snowy Falls.
Discovering the pal inside the snowball is only half the fun. Once revealed, a Snow Pet can be used for endless play, creating stories with other Snow Pet characters, or even becoming an adorable pencil topper. Additionally, the snow included within each Snow Pet provides tactile play and aids in kids’ sensory development.
Snow Pets are available in specialty retail stores and on Amazon and in Michaels stores Dec. 4. Michaels will feature an immersive end-cap display that brings the world of Snow Pets to life, and in addition eight exclusive gold “Ultra Rare” SKUs.
If you’re looking for a frosty treat, start heading to your local Dairy Queen. Customers have been reporting that the long-rumored Cotton Candy Dipped Ice Cream Cones have arrived!
The traditional dipped ice cream cones have taken on the perfect palette for spring and its the ideal way to enjoy two of the world’s sweetest treats at the same time.
The cotton candy cone is already on the Dairy Queen online menu but won’t officially be available nationwide until Mar. 19. In the meantime, you may get lucky enough to snag one at your local DQ franchise.
Ben & Jerry’s is giving Netflix and chill a whole new meaning. The iconic ice cream brand recently released its Netflix & Chilll’d flavors—and don’t blame us if you eat the entire pint binge-watching You!
So what exactly does a Netflix-themed ice cream taste like? Ben & Jerry’s delish delight is a frosty blend of peanut butter ice cream, pretzel swirls and fudge brownies.
Whether you’re craving sweet or salty, this ice cream won’t let you down. Between the pretzels, the peanut buttery taste and the fudge brownie goodness, you’ll get your savory/sugary fix in.
Along with the full-on creamy Netflix & Chilll’s flavor, vegans and anyone who needs to stay far away from milk products can still enjoy the binge-worthy pick. Ben & Jerry’s new flavor also comes in a Non-Dairy Frozen Dessert variety.
Twinkle lights? Green and red garlands? While these holiday decor picks are certainly festive they’ve got nothing on The Gaylord Texan Resort’s 17,500 square-foot replica of A Charlie Brown Christmas—in ice!
For the 15th year in a row the Grapevine, Texas resort is recreating the classic cartoon as an over-the-top ice sculpture. Carved into two million pounds of ice, this is decor on a super-sized level.
The beloved characters are carved by master ice artisans from Harbin, China. The sculpting pros start with pencil sketches that they skillfully transform into Charlie Brown, Sally, Lucy, Linus and the rest of the Peanuts gang. If you’re wondering how the ice artisans turn frozen water into color creations, they infuse the 6,500 300-pound clocks of ice with food coloring.
The 11-room exhibit features Snoopy’s doghouse, six two-story ice slides, and ice bar, a Nativity scene and so much more. Check out the icy exhibit through Jan. 5. Adult tickets cost $24 and kids rickets are $15. In order to keep the ice frozen, the exhibit needs to stay at a frosty nine degrees Fahrenheit. Don’t worry about the chill, complimentary parkas to wear during your visit are included!
What’s better than a massive Frosty the Snowman inflatable? As if a 10-foot-tall Christmas decoration that sits in the middle of your front yard isn’t enough holiday cheer, Hammacher Schlemmer has an inflatable Frosty that comes with a projection belly!
After you inflate the 10-plus foot Frosty, use the projector to play clips from the 1969 animated holiday special (from an included SD card) for some front yard magic.
Along with the classic cartoon clips, the SD card also comes with messages to project onto the snowman’s candy cane sign. If you’d prefer to project your own family photos or a special holiday greeting, play your own picks through the projector’s USB port or SD card slot.
If your holiday decorating motto is “go big or go home,” then you will love these giant Christmas inflatables that would make Clark Griswold jealous.
Available exclusively at Hammacher Schlemmer, these massive inflatables range in size from 10 to 18 feet and might just win you the neighborhood trophy for best holiday display.
Frosty the Snowman Lightshow
This 18-foot Frosty will tower over your front lawn putting on a colorful light show across his belly.
Halloween is in the books. That means it’s time to turn out attention to December’s fabulously festive season—and the heaping helpings of holiday programming that comes with it!
Freeform recently announced its “25 Days of Christmas” holiday lineup. Starting Dec. 1 you can watch everything from timeless classics to new original content on the network.
So what can you catch on Freeform? Highlights of the holiday lineup include the iconic Frosty the Snowman, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, The Santa Clause trilogy and Home Alone. You can also catch originals such as Ghosting: The Spirit of Christmas and Good Trouble (with the full cast of The Fosters).
Along with the roster of holiday happiness, Freeform is also releasing its first “25 Days of Christmas Jingle,” featuring Good Trouble’s Emma Hunton and Freeform Santa.
The full 25 days of programming includes:
Sunday, Dec. 1
7:00 a.m – “Richie Rich’s Christmas Wish”
9:05 a.m. – “Deck the Halls” (2006)
11:10 a.m. – “Arthur Christmas”
1:15 p.m. – “The Simpsons” Holiday-thon
2:45 p.m. – “The Santa Clause”
4:50 p.m. – “The Santa Clause 2”
6:55 p.m. – “The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause”
9:00 p.m. – “Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas” (2000)
11:30 p.m. – “Home Alone: The Holiday Heist”
1:30 a.m. – “The Little Drummer Boy” (1968)
Monday, Dec. 2
7:00 a.m. – “The Little Drummer Boy” (1968)
7:30 a.m. – “The Muppets Christmas Carol”
11:00 a.m. – “Wrap Battle”
12:00 p.m. – “Home Alone: The Holiday Heist”
2:05 p.m. – “Richie Rich’s Christmas Wish”
4:15 p.m. – “Deck the Halls” (2006)
6:20 p.m. – “Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas” (2000)
9:00 p.m. – “Wrap Battle” – New Episode
10:00 p.m. – “Wrap Battle” – New Episode
Tuesday, Dec. 3
7:30 a.m. – “Santa Baby”
11:00 a.m. – “The Preacher’s Wife”
1:40 p.m. – “Decorating Disney: Holiday Magic”
2:40 p.m. – “Rise of the Guardians”
4:45 p.m. – “Santa Claus Is Comin’ to Town”
5:50 p.m. – “Home Alone”
8:20 p.m. – “Home Alone 2: Lost in New York”
12:00 a.m. – “The Simpsons” Holiday-thon
Wednesday, Dec. 4
7:30 a.m. – “Santa Baby 2: Christmas Maybe”
11:00 a.m. – “Rise of the Guardians”
1:00 p.m. – “Santa Claus Is Comin’ to Town”
2:00 p.m. – “The Simpsons” Holiday-thon
4:00 p.m. – “Home Alone”
6:30 p.m. – “Home Alone 2: Lost in New York”
9:00 p.m. – “Ghosting: The Spirit of Christmas” – Freeform Original Feature Premiere
12:00 a.m. – “Deck the Halls” (2006)
Thursday, Dec. 5
7:30 a.m. – “Holiday in Handcuffs”
11:00 a.m. – “Wrap Battle”
12:00 p.m. – “Kung Fu Panda Holiday”
12:30 p.m. – “Unaccompanied Minors”
2:30 p.m. – “Deck the Halls” (2006)
4:35 p.m. – “Arthur Christmas”
6:40 p.m. – “Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas”
8:20 p.m. – “Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas” (2000)
12:00 a.m. – “Unaccompanied Minors”
Friday, Dec. 6
7:30 a.m. – “Richie Rich’s Christmas Wish”
11:00 a.m. – “Kung Fu Panda Holiday”
11:30 a.m. – “Home Alone 3”
1:35 p.m. – “Arthur Christmas”
3:40 p.m. – “Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas”
5:20 p.m. – “Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas” (2000)
8:00 p.m. – “Frosty the Snowman” – Freeform Premiere
8:30 p.m. – “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” – Freeform Premiere
9:30 p.m. – “The Santa Clause”
11:30 p.m. – “The Santa Clause 2”
1:30 a.m. – “The Little Drummer Boy” (1968)
Saturday, Dec. 7
7:00 a.m. – “Cricket on the Hearth”
8:00 a.m. – “Home Alone 3”
10:00 a.m. – “Home Alone 4: Taking Back the House”
12:00 p.m. – “The Santa Clause”
2:05 p.m. – “The Santa Clause 2”
4:10 p.m. – “The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause”
Say goodbye to Imagination Pink and Briar Rose Gold, and hello to Arendelle Aqua. The Frozen-inspired hue is the new color trend strategy to hit Disney parks!
Like the past five color trend palettes, Imagination Pink, Magic Mirror Metallic, Potion Purple, Briar Rose Gold and Millennial Pink, Arendelle Aqua is sure to pop up in everything from delish desserts to magical merch—along with your Instagram feed. So what can you expect from this new color trend?
