You might not think there’s a holiday in between Labor Day and Halloween, but National Coffee Day is a thing—and its falls this year on Wed., Sep. 29. If you’re wondering where to get free coffee on this very special day, we’ve got a few places you can hit up to keep the caffeine flowing.
Here’s your official National Coffee Day celebration guide.
Starbucks
Bring in a clean, reusable cup and walk away with a free cup of Pike Place Roast up to 20oz.
Krispy Kreme
Reward Members can snag a free brewed coffee and doughnut of their choice and non-rewards members can receive a free brewed coffee. No purchase necessary!
It’s a big day for Peet’s! Customers can get a free coffee with the purchase of a 1/2 or 1 pound bag of coffee. You also a chance to win a $2,000 Peet’s Black Card in the Peet’s Coffee National Coffee Day Giveaway, plus 25% off freshly hand-roasted coffee beans, K-Cup Pods and espresso capsules at shops and on peets.com Sept. 25-Sept. 29.
Circle K
Text “FREE” to “31310” to receive a digital coupon for a free cup of coffee to use on Sept. 29.
You’ll get a free regular size brewed coffee with any bakery purchase over $2 at The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf.
Where else can you get free coffee on National Coffee Day? That depends. Your local coffee shops or cafes may offer free coffee or discounts to celebrate the occasion; you can always check local Facebook pages or Instagram accounts for your favorite local roasters.
Fall and baking go hand in hand, so why not up your cookie game this year? Going over the top is super easy with Duncan Hines newest EPIC baking kit!
The EPIC Fall Chocolate Chip Caramel Cookie Kit includes everything you need to create eye-popping treats this fall. Each one comes with chocolate chip cookie mix, caramel frosting and autumn-colored leaf sprinkles.
photo: Courtesy of Duncan Hines
Inspired by influencers and master bakers, the new kit joins other flavors in the EPIC line that include S’mores Brownie, Cookies & Cream, Cooke Dough, Fruity Pebbles and Salted Caramel. They make the perfect family baking activity!
Jump on it! Skyzone, the creator of the world’s first indoor trampoline park is celebrating 17 years with a fun freebie. All locations will offer complimentary 30 minute jump tickets to guests this Friday!
The offer is valid for specific times at each location, so you can look up your closest Skyzone and get more details online. The deal is for walk-in customers only and the pass can only be used on September 17. If your kids have ever wanted to try a trampoline park, the time is now.
With more than 170 locations nationally and internationally, Sky Zone offers fun for the whole family, including Ninja Warrior Courses, Sky Slam and the Foam Zone. The company also offers special birthday party packages and corporate gatherings, if you need a little office break. And if your free jump time leaves you ready for more, you can buy a membership for daily jumps and discounts.
Don’t have a Skyzone close by? How about one of these backyard trampoline picks that are perfect for kids? Whatever you decide, it’s a guarantee that you’ll burn off a little extra energy before bedtime!
Today was one of those days when I was struggling. I had a bunch of work I needed to get done, I wanted to do a long workout to make up for not working out at all yesterday, I had cooking to do to prep for the next few days and Meadow just wanted to play with me. It’s so easy to write off these kinds of days—and I know all us parents have them—and just assume we will find moments to connect tomorrow. But, today Meadow was my teacher. We came back from a walk and she said, “Let’s find some pieces of nature, Mommy.”
So, we did. We went into the front yard. We crawled over rocks, looked under trees, hopped over puddles. At each spot, we collected leaves and sticks, and rocks. We looked at color and texture. We found unusual shapes and unexpected angles. We delighted over a particularly shiny pink-ish pebble. We exclaimed at the brightness of the colors on the leaves. And as we found each treasure we put it in a box.
Spending that time outdoors with her shifted my entire day. I was reminded, once again of the groundbreaking and amazing work of Pediatrician Nooshin Razani, MD who is prescribing nature to kids as part of her practice. If you haven’t heard of her work, check out this UCSF article or her amazing Ted Talk. Being in nature helps with anxiety, depression, loneliness, stress and so many other issues that so many children face.
Particularly, right now in the face of a pandemic, kids and adults alike are facing huge feelings of isolation and overwhelm. My family is very privileged to be able to access nature whenever we want and we talk a lot about how for many kids, that is not an option and we need to work hard to ensure that children in the future all have access to the beauty that surrounds us in California and beyond.
We finished our collection process with a new sense of ease and smiles. I wasn’t looking at my watch or checking my email. I was just out there observing, seeing, noticing with Meadow.
We came inside and Meadow carefully arranged each item on a piece of plain white paper with the detailed eye like you would expect to see on reality TV shows with celebrity designers. Each item had a specific place it needed to be placed. As I watched her work, and she consulted me on my thoughts, I couldn’t help but admire the ease she found in creating balance with the objects. The stick bends one way, so she found a leaf that bent the other way. The rock was pointy, so she found something round to balance it.
It occurred to me that maybe part of the reason that nature relieves stress is because it is by definition, in balance. There is nothing that needs to be changed or switched. Every item in nature is placed exactly as it should be. As we work to destress and declutter our lives, maybe all we really need to do is look outside more often and find the masterpieces in plain sight.
Nina Meehan is CEO and Founder Bay Area Children's Theatre and the host of the Creative Parenting Podcast. An internationally recognized expert in youth development through the arts, Nina nurtures innovation by fostering creative thinking. She is mom to Toby (13), Robby (10) and Meadow (5).
Summer is waning, school is starting, and it’s Pumpkin Spice Latte season again. While summer hikes make fond memories, fall means piles and piles of colorful leaves to gather, collect, throw, jump in, and admire. Soon around Portland fall colors will be popping. That’s why we’ve rounded up some of the best places in Portland to get back outside, enjoy the show, and play with the kids. Don’t forget your camera for the best shots.
Fun is a main attraction every fall on this farming island where Portland fall colors are the big draw in autumn. Besides pumpkins, apple cider, and corn mazes, you’ll also be able to soak in some beautiful fall color from all the oaks blanketing the land. For a perfect picnic spot, head to Howell Territorial Park and spread your feast under the oaks. In the apple orchard behind the house, you’ll find trees that were planted from cuttings carried by wagon over the Oregon Trail.
Tucked near the forested hills of Johnson Creek, Leach Botanical Garden is a hidden gem of Southeast Portland. A collection of over 1,000 native and non-native plants is spread over 16 acres. In 2021, the Upper Garden expansion was completed, with a new canopy tree walk, a pollinator meadow, new pathways and many more plantings. It’s a beautiful place to wander, letting kids lead the way—see if they can find the maple trees for some fall glory. Reserve tickets in advance online before heading over.
Originally built in 1909, the Pittock mansion is perched on top of a Forest Park hill, just waiting to burst into fall color. If you’re a history buff you’ll enjoy the indoor mansion tour, but strolling through the grounds to find a prime picnic spot makes a fine day, too. You’ll be rewarded with stunning views of Mt. Hood. For a more active day under the trees, hike down through Forest Park to the Stone House, or combine a driving tour with a visit to the Audubon Society.
The views from this park anytime of year are nothing short of stunning. Add a blaze of red and yellow and roll in some fog over the river and you’ve got yourself a fairyland to play in for hours. Bring a picnic blanket and a thermos of hot cider and let the kids go wild, A frisbee, a pile of leaves to jump in, or even some games of tag are perfect against such a beautiful backdrop.
If you’ve got time to venture north, consider the Columbia Children’s Arboretum in North Portland’s industrial area. Tucked away from the noise, it’s a quiet and underused wooded park centered around a large meadow and former orchards, with loads of fall color from the sugar maples and American sweet gums. Acquired by Portland Parks and Recreation in 1999, there’s a plan in place for eventual development into a more extensive educational park. For now, it’s a great place to take in the turning leaves.
Portland’s biggest arboretum is a clear choice to watch the fiesta of fall colors explode across the trees. Over 12 miles of hiking trails span 190 acres, and 6,000 trees like the color-changing birches, maples, oaks and magnolias. A stop at the visitor center will help direct you to which trail offers the most colors, whether you want red hawthorn berries or fiery yellow maples. They offer miles of stroller-friendly paths, a scavenger hunt for the kids, and plenty of great views.
Tucked away in Washington Park, this garden is perfectly coiffed and bursts into color every year. Japanese maples and other fall show-offs were planted to expertly frame certain areas, like a pond, waterfall, or statue. Leave the stroller at home, as many areas use steps. Strap the little ones into a carrier and let older kids pick the path—it’s not too big to get lost in, but big enough that they’ll have fun exploring. Afterward, stop in the teahouse for a meal or a mochi ice cream treat. Get your tickets online for timed entry before you head out.
Ready to head a bit further? Hop on the Historic Columbia River Highway for one of the most scenic drives this time of year. It begins in Corbett, 20 miles outside of Portland, and winds along the Columbia through a wide range of both evergreen and deciduous trees. Pack a lunch and make a day of it-- and don’t forget to try out some of the short hikes along the way, just perfect for little adventurers. Latourell Falls is doable at just under 2.5 miles, while Horsetail Falls is another great option. Of course, no one can forget Multnomah Falls, which tends to be slightly less crowded than summer, but no less stunning.
Getting there: From Portland, take I-84 east to Corbett. Take exit 22 and follow the Historic Columbia River Highway/Highway 30 east toward Multnomah Falls.
With Halloween festivities in major limbo this year, parents will take all the suggestions they can get for ensuring a fun holiday. If trunk-or-treating is in the cards, you’ll want to get your hands on an easy Party City kit.
With themed kits featuring some of your kids favorite characters, you’ll have everything you need to decorate your vehicle and have a safe Halloween. Be sure to check back as Party City brings even more fun sets!
PAW Patrol
Make it simple and sweet with this PAW Patrol kit ($!5). The multi-piece set comes with Chase, Liberty, Marshall, Rubble, Sky, an Ultimate City Tower, two sets of buildings, PAW Patrol The Movie Logo and 24 pieces of double-sided foam tape.
Creepy Carnival
For older kiddos (or littles who just love Halloween), this creepy carnival set ($40) will give the neighbors quite a fright. It comes with 15 red balloons, three treat buckets and a creepy carnival room roll.
Frozen 2
The Frozen 2-themed kit ($39.99) comes complete with a “Believe” balloon banner, leaf garland, streamers, serving bowls and photo booth props including Anna, Elsa and Olaf.
Trolls World Tour
The Trolls kit ($41.99) is perfect for fans of Poppy and ranch. It is filled with rainbow colored balloons,, a giant flower Poppy balloon and streamers featuring colorful tassels.
Pumpkin Fun
The Pumpkin Fun kit ($61.99) comes with enough Halloween-themed balloons to deck out your trunk. It also includes cutouts, a serving bowl and other spooky decorations.
The moment the kids head back to school the world pivots away from summer and is in full-on pumpkin spice mode. But what happens if you can’t stand the taste of pumpkin? You’re probably a salted caramel fan!
Swiss Miss is here for the autumn season with its newest cocoa blend. Salted Caramel brings the buttery taste of caramel with the perfect pinch of salt to have you dreaming of scarves and crunchy leaves.
The 8-pack box is a steal at $1.69 and is already available on Amazon and Target. Happy fall, ya’ll!
It’s been quite the ride this year for “Jeopardy”. Between honoring the passing of long-time host Alex Trebek, to a slew of celeb guests hosts, the gameshow finally has a permanent MC.
Since Alex Trebek leaves some large shoes to fill, going forward the show will now have TWO hosts! And for the first time ever, a woman will be among them. Mayim Bialik and Mike Richards will take the reins for the 38th season to start in September.
Actress and mom Mayim Bialik took to Instagram to share the exciting news, stating “Really really honored and astounded and excited for this – it’s beyond anything I ever imagined could happen.”
Jeopardy’s executive producer, Mike Richards will take the podium next to Bialik. Richards has been a long time producer for the show, and many others.
Be sure to tune in when the newest season hits television in September.
––Karly Wood
Feature photo: Ryan J. Thompson / Shutterstock.com
“You can’t use up creativity. The more you use, the more you have.” —Maya Angelou
In the picture book, Nutshell Regatta, a young girl and her beloved grandmother spend an afternoon exploring a pond and the many creatures and plants living in and around the water. Through their interaction, and using imaginative play, their experience transcends what most people might see when looking at a similar landscape. The animals take on unique roles, the plants play their special parts and the little girl and her grandmother transport themselves to a whole other world whereby they share a unique adventure and create their own story. This is imaginative play.
When we engage in imaginative play, we engage all of our senses. Observing a scene is very one-dimensional. Creating the scene, however, is multi-dimensional. All creative people and great problem solvers use imaginative play. At its core, imaginative play, is “thinking outside the box”.
There are those who might worry they are not creative or don’t know how to start. The great thing about imaginative play is there is no wrong way to do it! Start with a simple plan. Next time you take a walk with a child, try to engage with your surroundings.
Collect pebbles or leaves. Think about how you could arrange them in a vase or picture frame.
Take a walk with a child in silence. When you get back home, take turns sharing what you saw, smelled, heard and felt.
The fun part is there is no wrong way to do this. Creativity really has no boundaries—you just need to start. In keeping with that vein, let children color outside the lines. Encourage creativity and story-telling. Keep as many supplies around as you can manage including empty boxes, old fabric, old costumes, catalogs, crayons, pencils, paint. All of these types of items are a treasure trove for imaginative play. And remember, it’s the process of imaginative play that’s important rather than what is created!
Ideas for Imaginative Play:
Have one person start a story. Then, each family member or friend adds the next sentence or two. Round and round the story goes, often ending up in very unexpected places. This is a great boost for memory skills, and a source of delightful silliness for everyone!
Take out any board game. Collectively reinvent the rules. An example of this activity: A word tile game, like Scrabble, could expand to accept made-up words as a long as a pronunciation and a definition is given and the word is used in a sentence.
In this variation of charades, take out a stack of blank index cards. Each person draws or writes out instructions for whoever pulls one of their cards from a stack.
Create an entire new and zany rule book for a familiar game—this works well with strategy board games.
Flip the script. Rewrite or retell the endings of favorite shows or movies. To be able to deconstruct and reconstruct a familiar storyline is a prime example of imagination meets critical thinking skills.
The most important rule of imaginative play is…there really are no rules!
Jonna Laster's earliest recollections take place in an old canvas tent on her parent's Alaskan homestead. The stories told around the wood-stove filled her with wonder, and to this day remind Jonna of why she's always been a writer. Jonna lives in the Pacific Northwest with her family.
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.
