Homemade Rice Krispies Treats evokes memories of childhood and hugs from loved ones. Since we can’t always be with friends and family, Snap, Crackle and Pop whipped up a hug you can eat. New Rice Krispies Treat Homestyle are an ooey gooey taste of home.
Rice Krispies Treats Homestyle features extra marshmallows folded into every bite. They’re even 50 percent bigger than the original treats. Available in original and chocolate flavors, these new treats are individually wrapped with a writable wrapper allowing you to leave a little extra love with a handwritten note.
“We all have memories of our families and friends in the kitchen preparing for celebrations and gatherings, and Rice Krispies Treats Homestyle look and taste like those memorable, homemade treats we make together,” said Sarah Reinecke, Director of Brand Marketing for Kellogg’s Portable Wholesome Snacks. “For anyone gathering virtually, we wanted to give our fans a treat to enjoy the recognizable homemade taste that hearkens the emotions time together creates.”
Now through Dec. 31, everyone has a chance to embrace a first taste of new Rice Krispies Treats Homestyle by reaching out to their most-missed huggers. Follow these simple steps to enter:
Share the Tweet and @mention the person you want to hug the most
Tag your post with #RKTHomestyleEntry.
Rice Krispies Treats will randomly select entries and send participants, and the person they’ve nominated, samples of new Rice Krispies Treats Homestyle in both chocolate and original flavors.
Rice Krispies Treats Homestyle will be available in grocery stores nationwide in January retailing for $3.19 for a six-bar box, or $4.98 for a 12-bar box. For more information on Rice Krispies Treats Homestyle, follow Rice Krispies Treats on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram to find more inspiration.
Whether you are keeping it small and celebrating with your spouse and kids or planning to attend larger family gatherings, things may be stressful. Here are seven things to think about before committing and attending family events this 2020 holiday season:
1. “Is this good or bad for my mental health?”
Bottom line, if you know a visit to your family will knock you off your “center” the answer is you should not go. We are living in a pandemic for goodness’ sake—some families won’t be able to see one another even if they wanted to due to COVID-19 restrictions. I don’t think going out of your way to visit people you know will significantly upset you is worth the added stress. The fallout from bad family visits can cause a splash big enough to ripple for weeks before and after the event. Some of the ripple’s effects may include:
Increased self-harm, anxiety, depressed mood, anger, feelings of isolation, and suicidal ideation.
Increased levels of cortisol (stress hormone) which may cause muscle weakness, severe fatigue, irritability, difficulty concentrating, high blood pressure, and headache.
Increase in digestive issues such as diarrhea and/or constipation.
Disrupted sleep leading up to and after the gathering.
2. “Am I able to set boundaries?”
Many of us are learning for the first time in our lives how to respectfully set boundaries in our relationships with others. Often it’s easier to set them with co-workers and acquaintances because we don’t usually have a past with them like we do with our family members. That being said, will you be able to ask your family to respect X? Will they be able to? If they don’t, will you even agree to go? What if they say “yes” and then once you arrive they don’t, what now?
3. “Will I be able to enforce my boundaries?”
Setting a boundary is different from enforcing it. Think of it like legislators vs. police. One writes the laws and the other makes sure we obey them. Make sure you and your spouse are on the same page with who will enforce the boundary and how. This can include a tag-team effort. Just make sure going into the event that you are in agreement regarding who does what. Also, what happens if extended family cross the boundary?
4. “What is the cost/benefits to my family?”
Allowing and encouraging our children to have close relationships with extended family members has been the “norm” for generations. Families traditionally have done everything together and wouldn’t have survived without the help of each member. That being said, all types of abuse have also been happening in families since the dawn of time. The abuse can range from severe to mild, physical to emotional. It doesn’t matter the type, it’s not OK on any level.
If you are potentially putting yourself, spouse, and/or your children into a toxic environment you need to look at who benefits and how much. Sometimes parents who abused their children are wonderful grandparents because they’ve changed and grown. While seeing them may trigger you, you know your children benefit from seeing and interacting with grandparents and your triggers are manageable. Mentally preparing yourself for the visit and having clear expectations allows you to remain in control and decreases feelings of anxiety.
5. “Can everyone agree not to bring up politics (or any other “hot topic”)?”
I believe in setting people up for success. One of the ways to do that with holiday gatherings this year is to have everyone agree to not bring up certain topics. No, this doesn’t make the gathering inauthentic. No, this doesn’t mean we are isolating Aunt Edna because she is the “only one who voted that way.” It means we are showing mutual respect for one another and all agreeing ahead of time to not talk about certain things.
6. “Have I brought a sensory distraction?”
When we feel threatened we stop using our frontal lobes (judgment, reason, understanding), and instead our thoughts stem from either our limbic system (the emotional center which results in over-the-top impulsive responses) or our cerebellum (survival mode which is flight/fright/freeze). One way to regain control of your thoughts and/or feelings at the moment is to ground yourself using one of your five senses.
Wear a rubber band on your wrist and when you get irritated “snap” yourself out of it.
Take some sour candy and/or black licorice with you and “startle” yourself back to the control center by shocking your taste buds.
Lastly, if you do have smelling salts (or strong essential oils) bring them with you and take a whiff to calm down when you start feeling bothered.
7. “Have I created an exit plan?”
Feeling in control will be the No. 1 “stress reliever” you’ve got, which means having a solid exit plan ready to implement if things go sideways. Both you and your spouse need to agree on the exit plan, maybe even have a code word and a prearranged excuse (if you don’t want to have to “get into it” at the moment) for when the plan gets implemented. Talk to your kids about it beforehand so they don’t feel sucker-punched. You don’t have to get into the nitty-gritty of “why” with them if you don’t want to just give them enough info so they know what to do. This will help you get out faster and with less confusion.
There are no right or wrong answers when it comes to how you manage the upcoming holiday season. My final words of advice are this: You aren’t responsible for making sure everyone in your extended family has a “happy holiday season.” Your first commitment should be to protect the mental health of yourself, spouse, and children. It’s OK to hit the “pause” button in relationships. This doesn’t mean you’re a failure and it doesn’t mean you don’t care about the other person. It merely means you are strong and self-aware enough to not set yourself (partner and kids) up for failure.
I am a 42-year-old biological mother of two young children in a same-sex relationship, a clinical psychologist with a specialty in neuropsychological assessment, a music therapist, a trainer of therapy dogs and ex-communicated Mormon from Indiana with a wicked sense of humor.
This holiday season looks much different than previous years, forcing people to find new ways to celebrate long standing traditions and even miss out on celebrations altogether. Hefty is stepping in to keep the festive spirit alive by introducing the Hefty Party Cup Parka and Mitten Koozie. Each comes in three unique, over-the-top designs that take “ugly” to the next level.
The parka even offers fun features like Bluetooth speakers, holiday lights and a fold down drink holder for your Hefty Party Cups and Hot Cups. The Party Cup Parka will keep you festive for socially distanced outdoor celebrations, while the Mitten Koozie will keep your hand warm as you sip from your Hefty Party Cup or Hot Cup.
“Just because we’re celebrating the holidays differently this year, doesn’t mean we can’t still have fun!” said Mary Kay Killoren, senior marketing communications manager at Reynolds Consumer Products. “We know that the ugly holiday sweater party is a staple tradition for many people, so we designed the Hefty Party Cup Parka to help you stay festive and safe this year as you bring the holiday spirit to your outdoor and socially distanced gathering!”
On Nov. 20 at 9 a.m. CT only, the limited-edition Hefty Party Cup Parka and Mitten Koozies will be available on a first-come, first-served basis at www.HeftyPartyCupParka.com for just $2.99—the same price as a 20-count pack of Hefty Party Cups The Hefty Party Cup Parka and Mitten Koozie fits most adults and comes with a pack of Hefty Party Cups and Hot Cups.
Just because you may not be hosting a large gathering for Thanksgiving this year doesn’t mean you can’t go all out when it comes to decor. Thankfully, Etsy has just launched a colorful new lineup that is nothing but cheery.
In collaboration with Roller Rabbit, a company committed to vibrant bedding, accessories and sleepwear, Etsy has launched the limited edition Roller Rabbit x Etsy collection that’s packed with detailed entertaining must-haves. A group of seven Etsy makers were selected to interpret the classic Roller Rabbit style into their own, with items ranging from $4.50 to $100.
Thanksgiving this year may be missing Great Aunt Sue’s famous pumpkin pie and Uncle Joe’s flag football game, but some things will never change: a day to reflect and be grateful for everything we do have. Connect with your loved ones and give thanks—even if it is at a distance or virtually—with a Thanksgiving gathering. Evite has dozens of festive Thanksgiving invites perfect for your virtual party or intimate gathering. Whether you’re throwing a Friendsgiving or a traditional feast with all the Grandma-approved fixins’, Evite has an invitation perfect for the occasion. Scroll through for 10 of our favorites to get you in the spirit of the season.
This Thanksgiving may look a little different for most families, but the most important elements of the holiday—gratitude, kindness, generosity, and spending time together—can still be expressed and celebrated. For many families like mine, giving back and helping others is a big part of our Thanksgiving traditions and volunteering helps to keep us grounded and grateful for our many blessings.
This year, many of these opportunities—serving Thanksgiving dinner to guests in a homeless shelter, or delivering food packages to homebound neighbors—may be canceled or significantly altered because of the pandemic. Nonprofits simply can’t welcome in-person volunteers or children into their facilities due to social distancing limitations. But that doesn’t mean that your family can’t create new family service traditions, spreading kindness and love from home, and helping struggling neighbors celebrate the holiday with dignity. You simply need a little creativity, imagination, and the willingness to prioritize service and kindness in your preparations.
I hope the following ideas will inspire you to find new, “virtual” ways to make giving a big part of your Thanksgiving holiday.
In the weeks leading up to Thanksgiving you can:
Reach out to your local food pantry and ask how you might support their efforts this year. If they are accepting food donations, work with your kids to create a canned food drive at school, in your apartment building, through a scout troop, or at a local community gathering spot.
Start a fundraiser for your local food pantry, food rescue organization, meals-on-wheels program, or a national nonprofit working in the hunger space like No Kid Hungry or Feeding America. Get creative with your fundraising and invite family and friends with whom you would like to connect virtually since you won’t be together in person for the holiday. Host an apple pie bake-off via Zoom, a Tik Tok Challenge, a puzzle completion contest, or a virtual “turkey trot” road race.
Reach out to homebound, ill, or elderly neighbors to ask if they need help getting groceries to make their own Thanksgiving meal and offer to shop for them. Include a sweet treat in the groceries you deliver, or a bunch of fresh flowers to brighten the table.
Help your children create colorful paper placemats, brown paper delivery bags, or Thanksgiving cards, and donate them to your local food pantry or meal delivery non-profit. These organizations typically include these items in holiday deliveries to make them more festive.
During the last week of November you can:
Bake pies, cookies, or other treats and deliver them to neighbors and friends with a note wishing them a Happy Thanksgiving. Kids can create hand-print turkeys and other colorful artwork to decorate these notes.
Donate some of these home-baked treats to your local firehouse, EMT, police station, or hospital emergency room on the morning of Thanksgiving, to thank the first responders and health care workers who will be giving up their family time to keep your community safe.
During your Thanksgiving gathering you can:
Distribute colorful slips of paper and ask every guest to write down the one thing for which they are most grateful. Be sure every slip of paper is dated, fold them up, and add them to a gratitude jar. You can add notes to this jar every year on Thanksgiving or other holidays, birthdays, or major milestones.
Ask children to create personalized placemats for each guest which lists all of the things your child loves, admires, and appreciates about that person.
Of course, many families will be planning “zoom” gatherings for Thanksgiving so that you can see the faces of loved ones who could not join you in person. Consider adding a note of gratitude to this gathering by asking each participant to say something they are thankful for or a silver lining that they have discovered over the course of this difficult year.
Instead of turning on the television while the meal is being prepared, engage kids in some kitchen-table kindness activities.
Purchase or gather some flat rocks and paints. Ask children to paint positive, hopeful messages on the rocks. After dinner, walk through your neighborhood and leave them in spots where they will be seen by people walking by who may need some encouragement. This effort is championed by an organization called The Kindness Rocks Project. Take some photos and post them on social media, tagging @thekindnessrocksproject.
Paint Stars of Hope and send them to a community that is dealing with a natural disaster, forest fire, or tragedy.
Finally, as you gather to enjoy a meal for Thanksgiving, use this time together to brainstorm how you will add kindness and generosity to the upcoming December “giving” holidays of Christmas, Hanukkah, the Feast of St. Nicholas, Kwanzaa, and Three Kings Day. This year more than ever, as many are struggling with illness and job loss, families will need additional help to make the holidays festive and bright. Ask your kids for ideas on how you can be a light for others and come up with an actionable plan to give back through the month of December and into the New Year.
Natalie Silverstein, MPH, is the NYC coordinator of Doing Good Together. She is a writer, speaker and consultant on the topic of family service. Her first book Simple Acts: The Busy Family's Guide to Giving Back was published in 2019 and her second book for teens will be published in 2022.
If your kids are slime obsessed have we got the treat for you. Pillsbury Baking is introducing three exciting new products that finally make slime as delicious to eat as it is fun to play with. New Funfetti Slime Frosting, Funfetti Slime Cake Mix and Funfetti Slime Brownie Mix are the perfect treats for any Halloween celebration.
“For over 100 years, Pillsbury Baking has shared exciting and innovative products that invite families to share the joy of baking delicious treats together at home, especially around holidays,” said Dan Anglemyer, COO of Hometown Food Company. “This Halloween, whether families plan to trick-or-treat, attend a small gathering or celebrate with family and friends virtually, Funfetti™ brings the slimy, the spooky and the fun to any festivity.”
Funfetti Slime Cake Mix
The wickedly awesome Funfetti Slime Cake Mix is a chocolate cake mix – the first-ever in Funfetti’s seasonal line – and includes green, purple, orange and white candy bits.
Funfetti Slime Frosting
The colorful cake mix is made more ‘faBOOlous’ once decorated with vanilla flavored Funfetti Slime Frosting that is slime green with purple and black sprinkles, plus black-and-white eyeball sprinkles for eerie fun.
Funfetti Slime Brownie Mix
You’ll earn extra brownie points for the devilishly delicious Funfetti Slime Brownie Mix that’s disguised with purple, green and white candy bits. Families can add some excitement by frosting them with Funfetti Slime Frosting and making their own monster creations.
Funfetti baking mixes and frostings are now available in the baking aisles of grocery and mass merchandise stores nationwide. Funfetti frostings retail for $1.30 to $2.50 each, Funfetti cake mixes retail for $1.30 to $2.30, and Funfetti brownie mixes retail for $1.85 to $2.35. For more information, baking tips, recipes and activity ideas, visit PillsburyBaking.com or follow @PillsburyBaking on Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest.
Bay Area families have gotten pretty creative with homeschool and stay-at-home activities. And while we’re all trying to keep our chin up, we’re not gonna lie: there are things we are starting to really, really miss. Here are 13 things we’re looking forward to being able to do again.
Stand in line to get a Malted Vanilla ice cream at BiRite Creamery. Or maybe Mint Chip...or Salted Caramel. Make that all of the above.
Amber Guetebier
Visit Yerba Buena gardens for a dash behind the waterfall at the MLK memorial before hitting the LeRoy King Carousel and riding it no less than twenty times.
Spend the afternoon listening to the constant din of a hundred happy children at the Koret Children's Playground, and zipping down the Cement Slide with the reckless abandon of a five-year-old.
Roam the crowded streets of Chinatown on a Saturday afternoon, letting the kids go in and out of stores seeking treasures like rice-paper fans and embroidered Mary Jane slippers.
RADAR Productions
Go to a library story time at our favorite neighborhood library, but especially Drag Queen Story Hour.
Chantal Lamers
Ride the Little Puffer at the SF Zoo more than once while the peacocks scream and the monkeys cackle, after posing for pictures at all the IG-worthy spots.
Wait patiently while someone else makes you a pour-over coffee. Like really, really patiently.
Robin Eagan
Not cooking at home, but instead hitting up Off the Grid anywhere, but especially the Presidio Picnic, where we can all eat exactly what we want (hello inside-out samosa! hello mini donuts!) and dance to live music while we're doing it.
Get mopped at 826 Valencia after bartering for lard, followed by admiring the beautiful murals throughout the Mission. Followed by a visit to Dolores Park to enjoy the view, the playground and the weather, with ALL those other people.
Head to the Saturday Farmer's Market at the Ferry Building for the best peaches in the universe, which don't really transport, so you have to eat them right there by the Bay.
Kathryn Whitney courtesy California Academy of Sciences
Take the kids to Golden Gate Park to see the jellyfish at the Cal Academy, followed by eating french fries at the deYoung's cafe, followed by a run through the SF Botanical Garden. Not necessarily in that order.
Since you can’t get together with friends, some companies are coming up with ways to bring your favorite games to life digitally. Wizards of the Coast today announced that it will distribute 2,000 free digital enrichment kits with Dungeons & Dragons and Magic: The Gathering resources to educators and librarians. The kits, including a “Legendary Bundle” to D&D Beyond that unlocks all current rules and adventure content and 30 Magic: The Gathering Arena digital codes which can be redeemed for three Ikoria booster packs, were designed to engage communities with virtual play while many are practicing social distancing.
Each kit will include a Legendary Bundle for D&D Beyond that unlocks access to all current rules and adventure content for D&D as well as a 15% discount on future D&D Beyond purchases and 30 Magic: The Gathering Arena digital codes, which can be redeemed for three Ikoria booster packs. The kits will also feature tips to help teachers and librarians engage their audiences in a virtual play environment.
Kits will be available upon request through the Wizards of the Coast customer service request portal to organizers over the age of 18 who are employed by or official volunteers at enrichment organizations, such as schools, libraries, community centers and scout troops, and represent the organization’s gaming programming.
D&D Beyond is a web tool and online repository for all officially published fifth edition D&D rules and adventures that provides players access to their characters and rules right at their fingertips. Magic: The Gathering Arena is the free-to-play digital version of Magic, and an exciting, feature-rich experience for anyone with a PC including tutorials to onboard players into the game and free starter decks.
“Right now, play, imagination and connection with the people you care about are more important than ever,” said Nathan Stewart, VP of the Dungeons & Dungeons Franchise. “With these resources, we want to give back to communities and make it as easy as possible for as many people to roll with advantage during this difficult time.”
Dungeons & Dragons offers additional resources on the Stay at Home, Play at Home portal, including new, free content released on a daily basis at 5p.m. PT, as well as tips and tricks for families and children to master remote play. Even more content is available on the DM’s Guild, a PDF web store containing thousands of D&D adventures and supplements for all editions of D&D, and the home to all official organized play content for the D&D Adventurers League.
Many companies are having to either temporarily close or adjust their hours. Starbucks announced in a letter to their US partners that they would be making changes to encourage social distancing to prevent the spread of coronavirus. Starting now, they will strictly provide their menu options to-go in all company-owned stores in the US and Canada for at least the next two weeks.
“As we all know, the situation with COVID-19 is extremely dynamic and we will continue to review the facts and science and make the proactive decisions necessary to protect our partners, customers and communities,” wrote Rossann Williams, executive vice president and president, U.S. company-operated business and Canada.
Customers can still walk up and order at the counter, use the “order ahead” feature in the Starbucks app or utilize the drive thru. There will be a modified condiment bar in all stores. There will be temporary closures for company-owned stores in high-social gathering locations, such as malls and university campuses. There will also be temporary store closures or reduced operating hours in communities with high clusters of COVID-19 cases.
Williams said, “Every community’s needs are incredibly different. We want to make sure we play a constructive role by taking responsible actions, in partnership with the CDC and local public health authorities, so we can continue to do what’s right for our partners and customers.
