NASA’s Perseverance Rover is set to land on Mars this Thursday! In celebration of the out-of-this-world event, Krispy Kreme has created a limited edition doughnut that looks like the red planet.
On Feb. 18 Krispy Kreme will unveil its Mars Doughnut. The sweet treat is a chocolate Kreme-filled doughnut that’s dipped in caramel icing. As if that does’t sound delish enough, the creatives at Krispy Kreme are adding a red planet swirl and chocolate cookie crumbs to mimic Mars.
photo: Business Wire/Krispy Kreme
Krispy Kreme Chief Marketing Officer Dave Skena said, in a press release, “The landing of Perseverance on Mars will be an epic and important achievement.” Skena continued, “So, we’re celebrating the best way we know how: with an amazing new doughnut discovery right here on earth.”
Not only can everyone who’s into astronomy or donuts snag this Mars-inspired goody on Feb. 18, but the 11 million people who participated in NASA’s “Send Your Name to Mars” program can get a freebie—with their NASA-issued Mars 2020 Perseverance “boarding pass.”
Feb. 18 is the only day Perseverance will touch down on Mars. That means you only have one day to get your limited edition Krispy Kreme Mars Doughnut, too!
Decorating cookies is always fun, but the process of getting to that point—finding a not-so-complicated recipe, shopping for ingredients and actually baking the cookies—not so much. To decorate with ease (and without the mess), turn to Bakery Bling.
Their boxes come with everything you need to make your family’s decorating dreams come true. From pre-baked cookies to icing to their special glittery sugars, Bakery Bling is a legit mom hack for those of us wanting the fun of decorating cookies with our kids, but without the hassle. Scroll down for some of their most popular designer cookie kits, all perfect activities for virtual birthday parties, Valentine’s Day or a lazy afternoon. Bonus: they ship to you so you barely have to lift a finger.
All Bakery Bling kits are free of plastics, craft glitters and other chemicals. Their sprinkle mixes are certified kosher, gluten-free and made only with ingredients approved by the FDA. Available for $12.99.
If you have a birthday party coming up and need to make it special, Bakery Bling also sells designer cake decor. From unicorns to dinosaurs and every theme in-between, check out their kits that’ll make you look like the next British Bake-off master.
For every product sold, Bakery Bling will donate to Empowering She™ to help transform the lives of women and children across the globe. Available for $12.99
Each kit even comes with directions on how to best ice and decorate your creations. And, while the cookies definitely aren’t the same as freshly baked right out of the oven, we love the convenience of these kits and the fact that you get all the fun, without the mess. Available for $9.99
Celebrate Valentine’s Day with Dunkin’! The fave donut brand brought back its limited time holiday menu—and it includes two delectable drinks.
Treat your sweetie, or yourself, to a Pink Velvet Macchiato or Mocha Macchiato on Valentine’s Day. The Pink Velvet Macchiato combines Dunkin’s espresso with a red velvet cake flavor. Add in hints of cream cheese icing flavor and a generous scoop of ice and this chilled drink is a beverage that will make you fall in love. Mocha Macchiato offers the combo of rich espresso and deep chocolate flavors.
According to Jill Nelson, Vice President, Marketing & Culinary at Dunkin’, “Dunkin’ is the perfect place for anyone to find the spirit of Valentine’s Day. With our gorgeous Pink Velvet and Mocha Macchiatos, joined together with our beloved heart-shaped donuts, we’re making it easy to treat yourself and bring a little love and sweetness to any way you choose to celebrate.”
Along with the two limited-edition drinks, Dunkin’ is also serving up a heart-shaped Brown Batter Donut and the Bavarian Kreme-filled, strawberry icing-topped Cupid’s Choice Donut.
Look for the Valentine’s Day menu in participating Dunkin’ restaurants nationwide through the end of February.
Ditch the chocolates and celebrate Valentine’s Day with a chilly treat. If Red Velvet is the way to your sweetie’s heart, then DQ has you covered. The ice cream chain is offering not one, but two delectable options this February.
DQ is bringing back its Red Velvet Cake Blizzard. This love in a cup features rich red velvet cake pieces, silky cream cheese icing and signature DQ vanilla soft serve. The February Blizzard of the month is an extra special treat this Valentine’s Day.
For those looking to surprise the whole family, the DQ Cupid Cake is the perfect Valentine’s Day treat for a family celebration of love. This heart-shaped Cupid Cake is made with a layer of Red Velvet Cake Blizzard Treat (with chocolatey red velvet cake pieces and cream cheese icing) and world-famous DQ vanilla soft serve.
Both the Red Velvet Cake Blizzard and the DQ Cupid Cake are available at participating DQ locations nationwide beginning Jan. 25.
Pillsbury’s Strawberry and Cream Cinnamon Rolls are the perfect Valentine’s Day breakfast sweet for your sweetie!
The ooey, gooey cinnamon-spiked rolls you’ve come to know and love are getting a makeover for a limited time. Like the regular rolls, the refrigerated dough comes in the same pop-open tube and features a sweet swirl of cinnamon along with plenty of icing awesomeness.
photo: Walmart
Even though they aren’t made specifically for the Valentine’s holiday, the sweet strawberry flavor (and accompanying red color) makes the rolls ideal for this all-about-love day.
So where can you pick up a pack of these Pillsbury rolls? Reportedly, the rolls are available at grocery retailers, such as Walmart (for just under $4), nationwide.
New year, new winter menu. Starbucks just launched their new offerings to help customers kick off 2021 feeling their best. Starting today, customers can enjoy the new Honey Almondmilk Cold Brew, Pistachio Latte, Kale and Portabella Mushroom Sous Vide Egg Bites, and Earth Cake Pop as well as celebrate the return of the Honey Almondmilk Flat White and Red Velvet Loaf.
Honey Almondmilk Cold Brew
Cold coffee and cold beverages continue to be a hot trend at Starbucks. This non-dairy beverage is made with slow-steeped Starbucks Cold Brew, combined with honey and then topped with almondmilk for a creamy finish.
Pistachio Latte
Sweet flavors of pistachio pairs with Starbucks Signature Espresso and steamed milk and then finished with a salted brown buttery topping for a cozy beverage crafted to comfort. The Pistachio Latte can also be ordered as a blended beverage or iced.
Honey Almondmilk Flat White
This flat white pairs almondmilk and Starbucks Blonde espresso with honey, making a perfect amount of creamy, nutty sweetness. Customers looking for more non-dairy milk choices will be happy to know that this tasty treat is part of Starbucks permanent menu.
Kale and Portabella Mushroom Sous Vide Egg Bites
These new egg bites feature delicious chopped kale and portabella mushrooms delicately folded into cage-free eggs with Monterey Jack cheese and cooked using the French “sous vide” technique. Joining the menu permanently, this delightful high-protein breakfast has 15 grams of protein and is under 250 calories.
Earth Cake Pop
Rich chocolate cake, dipped in a blue chocolaty icing and finished with green and white sprinkles to resemble the earth, a globe of goodness.
Red Velvet Loaf
Delicious vanilla cake swirled with classic red velvet cake and topped with a white chocolaty icing—a sweet spot of red velvety-yum.
Starbucks Reserve Whole Bean Coffee
If you are looking for new ways to enjoy your Starbucks from home, there are a few new Starbucks Reserve Whole Bean Coffees to discover this winter. These exceptional coffees have been hand-selected from family farms around the world and are roasted daily at Starbucks Reserve Roasteries.
Starbucks Reserve Guatemala Huehuetenango is rich and elegant with notes of candied orange, dark chocolate, and graham cracker.
Starbucks Reserve Ethiopia Yirgacheffe Chelelektu features delicate floral aromas and sparkling acidity with raspberry and tangerine notes.
Customers can use the Starbucks app to find a store near them that carries the Starbucks Reserve whole bean coffees.
I was scrolling through Facebook the other day and saw a post that took me back a little. It laid out the year 2021 in words like this: Twenty Twenty One. Say that to out loud yourself……get it? Hear it? I guess many people would feel as though it is true, that 2020 was the year that defeated us, the year that WON.
I’ll be the first to admit that I’ve felt like giving up many times this past year. Life with special needs kids has always been hard but this year just seemed like the icing on the cake. There was that week back in March where we were told that this “quarantine” thing would only last a week or so. Then a week turned in weeks, a month into months, and so it continued.
Every little detail, every ounce of hard work that I put into getting my children the services they needed was stripped away from them within a week. As time went on, we started to get some services back gradually as fall neared. Things seemed to get back to some sort of “normal” although not really sure if that is the right word to use or if there is such a thing as “normal” anymore.
As we came around the corner to the end of the year, my girls took their turns in the hospital with relapses of seizures. I was once again reminded of how strong they truly are. I could go on and on about the many struggles of 2020, the year of defeat, but I’m done. Instead, I’m going to re-focus on some positives of 2020 and rename it the year of “OVERCOMING.”
We found a new house that met all our family’s needs in the right timing and location. Belle learned how to walk independently. Bryleigh learned how to write her letters and her name. Bryleigh learned how to start reading short sentences with sight words. Bryleigh and Belle started receiving additional therapy services and made big gains. And I found a tribe of women who truly understand this journey and feel supported.
So here’s to 2021, what I’m calling the year of “REDEMPTION.” Here’s to claiming happiness, health, and hope!
My name is Mandi. My husband Lucas and I have 3 beautiful daughters. They are Bryleigh (6), Belle (3), and Briella (2).
Bryleigh and Belle have a rare genetic syndrome called Pitt Hopkins Like 1 Syndrome. Characteristics include epilepsy, developmental delays, low muscle tone, Autism, etc.
Since we’ll all be missing the annual Sheraton Gingerbread Village this year, why not create your own village (or decorate cookies) at home instead? It’s easy with to-go sugar cookie and gingerbread house kits, where local Seattle bakers have done all of the hard work, leaving you with the fun task of decorating. Read on to plan your frosting-filled, at-home adventure this winter.
Stroll the Gingerbread Candy Shoppe
KidsQuest's annual Gingerbread Workshop will be (you guessed it...) a bit different this year. Held at Bellevue Square on December 16-19, families will go on a candy journey through an old time, classic gingerbread candy shoppe. Along the way, kiddos get to pick out their favorite decorating sweets before grabbing a gingerbread house kit to decorate at home. Remember to reserve your gingerbread kit before heading over for this new twist on an old fave activity.
Cost: $50/non-members; $45/non-members; additional kits available for $45.
Bellevue Square 575 Bellevue Square Bellevue, WA 98004 Event details
Holiday Overload at Seatown Sweets
Seatown Sweets
In addition to their batch of classic Christmas cookie shapes (Santa, mittens, trees and stockings and the occasional ugly sweater), Seatown is one of the few bakeries that offers cookies appropriate for Hanukkah featuring stars, menorahs and dreidels too. Kits come one dozen “naked” vanilla sugar cookies, one tub of frostings, sprinkle packets and two colored frosting piping bags. There are three kits to choose from: Christmas Kit, Tacky Sweaters and Hanukkah.
Good to know: Please allow a minimum of two days for your order to be complete. Cookies can be picked up at the store or they can shipped to make it that much easier.
Cost: $25
12815 N.E. 124th St. Suite Q Kirkland, WA 98034 425-605-9537 Online: seatownsweets.com
Shine Bright on The Sweet Side
The Sweet Side
The Sweet Side is offering a nice mix of cookies in the shapes of Christmas trees, candy canes, snowflakes and even lightbulbs, all highlighted by a nice mix of sprinkles. It's up to you to find the time to decorate your box of 18 cookies with the four colors of icing and sprinkles to boot. Time to plan your wintery weekend project!
Good to know: Please allow a minimum of two days for your order to be complete. Cookies can be picked up at the store anytime between noon and 6 p.m., or they can be shipped to you.
Musang is more than a restaurant. It’s a community builder that offers a variety of classes throughout the year. This Christmas, they've got a couple classes to put on your radar: parol-making classes (which sound amazing) and Parent & Me cookie decorating classes offered a few times in December. Even if you can't make it to class (or they sell out) you can your kids can create a similar experience with their cookie kits at home (psst.. they also have parol making kits to go). Each kit has six cookies, three icing piping bags in red, green and white and sprinkles.
Good to know: Pick up your holiday cookie decorating kits on Sunday, December 13 from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Or, book a spot at a Parent & Me Holiday Cookie Decorating class offered on the same day.
Cost: $25
2524 Beacon Ave. S. Seattle, WA 98144 206-708-6871 Event details
Gluten Free? Not a Problem with Nuflours
Nuflours
Why should everyone else have all the fun? Nuflours offers a build-your-own gingerbread house that is gluten free, plant-based and vegan. It comes with everything your family needs to build a basic house including candy for curb appeal. Who needs gluten when you can piece together this basic gingerbread house (complete with instructions) and pose gingerbread people in this festive scene? Let's get building!
Cost: $25
518 15th Ave. E. Seattle, WA 98112 206-395-4623 Online: nuflours.com
Become a Star with a Four Seasons Chef
Four Seasons Seattle
You may not be a world class pastry chef, but you can learn to decorate like one because this kit comes with something extra special: admittance to a virtual decorating class with the Four Seasons Hotel Seattle Pastry Chef, Danielle Grogan. At the end of the class, the chef will pick a holiday cookie champion for best design. When you sign up for this decorating class via Zoom, families will get a bunch of undecorated cookies and plenty of decorating supplies in the kit. Parents can order an add-on mimosa kit for $20 to add extra festivity to the experience.
Good to know: The class meets on December 13 at 11 a.m. Kits must be picked up ahead of time on December 11 or 12. Kits cannot be mailed.
Price: $30
99 Union St. Seattle, WA 98101 206-749-7000 Event details
Paint Your Cookies with KJ’s Bakery Cakery
KJs Bakery
Why frost when you can paint? KJ’s Bakery Cakery is offering “Paint Your Own” Cookie Kits where the design is actually printed on top of a frosted sugar cookie. All you need to do is color within the lines with edible paint. It couldn't get easier than ordering your kit that includes four frosted sugar cookies with a variety of Christmas pictures, a variety of edible paint and brushes. We're crushing hard on this simple decorating idea even toddlers can handle.
Cost: $15
204 Central Ave. N., #102 Kent, WA 98032 253-277-2516 Online: kjscakerybakery.com
Jenny’s Ugly Sweater Cookies
Jenny Cookies/Kelly Clare
These edible sweater cookies can be classy or ugly, dressed up or down depending on your preference. The best part? They don’t itch like your actual ugly sweater. Each kit contains eight sweater-shaped sugar cookies, butter cream icing in three colors (red, green and white) unfilled piping bags and sprinkles. You provide the creativity behind the obnoxious designs.
Good to know: Cookies can be picked up at the shop or sent to your home. And rumor has it that Jenny just might be popping up at her Jenny Cookies pop-up store at Alderwood Mall this year through December 31.
There are two major steps when creating a gingerbread house says Farm Kitchen Bakery. First, construct your house using royal icing and allow it to set for at least eight hours. Then, let your imagination go wild and decorate to your heart’s content. What could go wrong? Actually, this is one of those projects that even if it fails, it's still delicious. Order a kit and your fam will get hand-crafted house pieces, royal icing, pastry tubes and more than a pound of festive holiday candies.
Good to know: You can pick up your kit in person at the farm or they can ship one to you.
Cost: $32
24309 Port Gamble Rd. N.E. Poulsbo, WA 98370 360-297-6615 Online: farmkitchenbakery.com
Decorating holiday cookies is a beloved tradition in many households. If baking is not your thing or if you are short on time Sam’s Clubs has the answer. The popular warehouse store just dropped the most adorable DIY Christmas cookies in clubs across the US.
These kits are perfect for a family activity or a tasty date night at home just before the holidays, so get them while you can.
It’s the most wonderful time of the year for crafters! Mini makers (and their parents) can get in on DIY holiday fun with these at-home projects. From embroidering a Christmas ornament to assembling the perfect gingerbread house, these take-and-make kits are a quick cure for cabin fever or the perfect boredom buster on a cold day or. The best thing about these crafts? Once you pick up a few simple supplies, you can spend quality fam time creating at home – no masks or distancing required!
Who doesn’t love a beautiful gingerbread house at Christmas? But baking and building one from scratch can be frustrating. So save yourself the stress and buy this kit from the Gingerbread House Queen herself, Randi Brecher of Creative Cakes, and use her tips for building a classic (and sturdy!) house out of gingerbread. The kit is $65 and comes complete with all the gingerbread pieces, icing mix, an icing bag, and a bag each of sugar decorations, candy, and plastic decorations. This craft is best for kids who have a lot of patience because you do need to allow plenty of time between steps to ensure the house stands up to the chilly winds of winter.
Holiday baking and decorating is a time-honored tradition. But who has time for all that baking? Save some time and get straight to the fun part – decorating – by ordering these cookie decorating kits from Cake Time. You can order a kit with a dozen cookies, three colors of Royal icing, sprinkles and instructions for $25. Prefer cake over cookies? They have Christmas cake decorating kits for $45! You can place your order online and pick it up or have it delivered. Outside the DC area? They ship too!
Cake Time 4300 Chantilly Shopping Center, Ste #1H Chantilly, VA 20151 (703) 657-0999
Let each kid choose their favorite design and Susan at The Point of It All will provide the canvas and fibers needed to produce it. Once everyone has stitched their canvas, return it to Susan and it will be sent off to make a beautiful (and memorable) pillow. You can also opt to have it turned into an ornament if you’d prefer! While the shop is closed to walk-in shopping, you can make your selections online and arrange for pickups/drop-offs at Susan’s home.
The Point of It All 5232 44th Street, NW, Suite 1 Washington, DC 20015 (202) 966-9898
Love the cozy feel of a Christmas Village decoration but no time to put it out (and keep little hands from grabbing it?). Get the same feel with this easy-to-make, kid-friendly Holiday Houses craft kit. All you need is the kit and a glue stick or some double-sided tape. Each kit contains eight houses, so you can get one kit for the whole family or let each kid make their own kit. Perfect for kids ages 6+, this is super easy to assemble and doubles as adorable and cozy Christmas décor.
Paper Source 3019 M Street Northwest Washington DC 20007 (888) 727-3711
All Fired Up has two holiday pottery bundles available for home crafting. Their Christmas Bundle includes a Santa Bag, two flat ornaments of your choice, six pre-selected paint colors (with additional colors for $1/each), and brushes. The Winter Bundle contains a Snowman bag, Snowman dish, four pre-selected paint colors (additional colors $1/each), and brushes. When you place your order, you can choose to pick it up at one of their two locations or have it delivered for a $20 delivery fee. This is a simple yet fun craft that any kid will love.
All Fired Up
Cleveland Park 3413 Connecticut Ave. Washington, DC 20008 (202) 363-9590
Bethesda 4923 Elm Street Bethesda, MD 20814 (301) 654-3206
Got a little one who loves Frozen and Elsa? Then they’ll love this water sensory bottle that’s reminiscent of Elsa’s frozen castle with silver and blue glitter! The instructions are super simple and it uses materials you can get anywhere – and you might even have some of them in the house already. And you can make this water sensory bottle with anything you want, so if your kiddo’s not a fan of silver and blue or you want to skip the glitter, there are plenty of other options. Check out the video for complete instructions.
Swing by Shop Made in DC for a complete kit to make your own embroidered holiday ornament. The $30 kit has everything you need to make one ornament that will eventually be a cherished memory for both you and your kiddo. Unable to go out and pick it up? That’s okay – they deliver too!
Shop Made in DC- Dupont Circle 1710 Connecticut Ave NW Washington, DC 20009 (202) 270-4065
Shop Made in DC - Wharf 10 District Square SW Washington, DC 20024 (202) 270-1529
Shop Made in DC - Georgetown 1533 Wisconsin Avenue NW Washington, DC 20007 (202) 905-5799
Shop Made in DC - ROOST 1401 Pennsylvania Avenue Washington, DC 20003