And the award for cutest winter cake goes to…Baskin-Robbins! The ice cream company’s latest confection celebrates the season with an adorable Brrr the Snowman Cake. It playfully conjures up a scene from Frosty and it’s delicious, too!
The cake sits on a bed of “melting snow” icing and has an icing carrot nose and scarf. Its branch arms, buttons and smile are all made out of fudge and it’s topped with a cake cone and “melted” ice cream. You can customize the playful snowman with your choice of cake and ice cream flavors, but you’ll have to act fast next month before it melts for good!
Want to get this festive creation for free? Baskin-Robbins is giving away 1,000 free snowman cakes starting at 1 p.m. ET on Black Friday. Order online using the code SNOWMAN to try your luck. You can also enjoy 20% off online cake orders through Cyber Monday with the code HOLIDAY.
Finally, make sure you try the newest seasonal ice cream flavor, Gingerbread House. The December Flavor of the Month features gingerbread ice cream full of gingerbread cookie bites and classic peppermint pieces. Don’t forget the confetti drizzle!
There’s one catch: you can only get each donut for one week only! Pumpkin Spice will be available September 6-12. Choose from Original Glazed, Original Filled with cheesecake, or the classic old fashioned Spice Cake donut.
Up next, Apple Cider for September 13-19. You can get an apple cider donut covered in a new Apple Cider glaze, an Original Filled with brown sugar cream, or an old-fashioned cake donut.
Finally, Maple Glazed has entered the chat for September 20-26. You’ll be able to buy a Maple Glazed donut, Original Filled with maple cream, or a Maple Glazed butter cake donut. Pardon us while we drool all over our keyboard.
Fortunately seasonal drinks will be available a bit longer, through late November. Grab Krispy Kreme’s pumpkin spice latte, caramel latte or cinnamon bun latte to caffeinate deliciously! And remember, you can always order online to make life even easier.
The summer sun is peeking through and with all those extra daylight hours and outdoor action, your kiddos need some eye protection. We’ve got the scoop on all the new glasses from our favorite brands. Scroll down to find your kiddo’s best new accessory.
Zenni Optical
With an average price point of around $40, Zenni Optical is a great choice for kids' sunglasses this summer. Kids can really show their own style with different tints, mirrored lenses and lots of fun styles to choose from.
Additionally, Zenni just released its 2021 Pride Collection of rainbow frames and is donating a portion of the proceeds from this collection to the It Gets Better Project for the fourth consecutive year.
UV protection and style galore is the name of the game when you snag some shades from Jonas Paul. With prices starting at just $19 and loads of colors to choose from, you can order a few pairs for when they (inevitably) get lost at the beach. Use their virtual try-on program to see what the sunnies look like on your kid before you order!
These adorable shades are not only sturdy enough for tiny tots, but they come in a wide variety of colors, so your little trendsetter can pick her favorite! The frames are bendable and durable and if you break or lose them within the first year, you'll get a new pair for free! Made with FDA-approved impact-resistant lenses that provide 100% UVA and 100% UVB protection, Weefarers come in sizes from 0-2 and 2-4.
Sunski has launched kid-sized versions of two of their most popular frames: the Mini Dipsea and the Mini Headland. These sunglasses are both sustainable and stylish. The frames are made from recycled materials, there's no plastic packaging, Sunski participates in 1% for the planet, and the company is also carbon neutral. The glasses are also polarized, have 100% UV-resistant lenses and come in sizes that fit kids ages 5-11.
JUNiA offers a range of sweet styles for kids with 100% UVA/UVB protection. They are as durable as they are stylish with shatterproof lenses and unbreakable hinges. Check out all of the styles in JUNiA's collection for a wide variety of sleek, chic sunglasses for kids of all ages. We love that you can shop by "lifestyle," too (adventurer, trend setter, prep school).
These vintage-inspired sunglasses from Toucca Kids offer a classic style with modern perks like pinch-free hinges, 100% UVA/UVB protection, shatter and scratch-resistant lenses and polarization to reduce glare. They also have an extra-large nose pad for a comfortable fit. We adore the gender-neutral Blonde Havana Brandons ($49) for kiddos 2-6, but you'll find a ton of other options at touccakids.com or on Amazon.
Real Shades Screen Shades
Real Shades
Real Shades just launched Screen Shades, designed to protect eyes not only from sun (they offer 100% UVA and UVB protection) but also from damage caused by harmful bluelight emitted from tablets, computers, gaming consoles, smartphones and more! Available in sizes toddler (2+), kid (4+), youth (7+) and adult. They also come in tons of cool colors.
For parents in the know, Babiators are a first-choice for protective and stylish eyewear for babies, toddlers and bigger kids. Best part? They stay on! (Okay, the best part is how cute your kids look in sunglasses.) The Agent are among the newest glasses in the collection and are part of the Blue Series. The black frames with blue, mirrored polarized lenses are perfect for the little spy in your life. They come in sizes 0-2, 3-5 and 6+. $35
This French eyewear line has been making stylish sunglasses for parents for years but they also make amazing eyewear for kids, like the Looping 2, designed just for babies. They're wraparound with curved temples and a flat elastic strap, hinge-free and with a reversible frame (frames are symmetrical so they won't be upside-down.)Total protection for your littlest explorer! $35
Why have just one color when you can have two? These sweet solar-activated shades from Real Shades not only offer the 100% UV eye protection you need but they change colors when your kiddo hits the sunlight. The yellow ones change to orange; the green change to blue; the pale purple turn fuschia and the pinks go from light to bright. And at just $14.95, you can get two pairs! Plus, you can get them in three sizes: toddler, for 2+, kid for 4+ and big kid, 7+ so you can guarantee you’ll get the right fit for your crew.
Oakley is already known for being quality eyewear for athletes and active people, so it makes perfect sense that they came up with sunnies for the smaller set. Prices range from $100-$120 and the styles include the Turbine and the Radar, as well as styles of prescription lenses perfect for active kids.
From Baby Banz, these 100% UVA/UVB protection glasses offer sunglare reduction and cool color combos. Identical in style and function to the bestselling JBanZ style, these ones come in cute dual palettes: black and pink; white and black; brown and tan; and navy and white. Ideal for ages 4-10, they retail at $27.99.
They’re sour…then they’re sweet…and they’re only available for the next two weeks! Krispy Kreme just launched Lemonade Glazed Donuts in four fresh squeezed flavors and they’re (almost) too pretty too eat.
Riffing off the classic thirst-quenching drink, these donuts give you options for your next run. Lemonade Glaze is the original glaze donut with a citrusy twist. It also comes in a Lemon Kreme filled version! Pink Lemonade Cake is topped with lemon buttercream and pink sugar. And Strawberry Lemonade has a strawberry topping with a delicious lemon icing swirl.
If you want to try them all, Krispy Kreme is offering a Lemonade Lover’s Dozen with three of each flavor. Need a new drink? The company also just launched Strawberry, Lemonade and Strawberry Lemonade Chillers that are guaranteed to refresh (and maybe give you a brain freeze).
Sometimes you really just want a slice of cheesecake. Then you remember how long it takes to bake at home—but fighting the restaurant crowds for a slice also makes you shudder. Still, cheesecake sounds so good, preferably blended up with some ice cream. Here comes Sonic to the rescue with new Cheesecake Blasts!
The popular drive through chain is offering two new flavors in its Blast lineup, Cheesecake Blast and Strawberry Cheesecake Blast. Both swirl delicious cheesecake and graham cracker pieces with ice cream, and the strawberry cheesecake even has real pieces of fruit added in.
“From the rich, velvety flavor to the craveable crunch of the graham cracker, SONIC magically perfects the unmistakable experience of indulging in decadent cheesecake, with no fork or plate necessary,” said Scott Uehlein, vice president of product innovation and development for SONIC. “With high quality ingredients from start to finish, our guests can delight in the classic, or Strawberry Cheesecake Blast, to truly capture the delectable flavors of Summertime.”
One piece of bad news: the new blasts are only available for a limited time at participating Sonic drive ins, through June 27. If that news has you racing to your car, you can also order online or through the SONIC app for contactless payment and delivery. Consider your craving satisfied in minutes, not hours.
What’s better for wiggly kids than an outdoor dining experience where you can choose your own adventure? Food carts are a perfect bet for families, where movement is encouraged at all of the local pods, diners can hop between choices and never have to sit in a booth waiting for a server to take an order. Portland is known for its large variety of cuisines and food cart pods – some with added features like fire pits, movie screenings and games. And food carts offer COVID-safe dining and options for the vulnerable like, a streamlined ordering experience either online, by phone, or even delivery. Read on to check out our favorite food carts to visit with kids!
Take a waffle, add practically anything and you've got a winner of a meal for any kid. Smaaken (the Dutch word for "tasty") creates delicious sandwiches out of thin, crispy waffles that can veer either savory or sweet, breakfast or lunch. Try the bacon maple, or grilled cheese, or even the pb&j version!
Hawthorne Asylum 1080 SE Madison St.
The Lot at Scout Beer 5029 SE Division St. (503) 688-8214
BG’s Food Cartel 4250 SW Rose Biggi Ave. Beaverton, OR (971) 235-6578 Online: smaaken.com
Fluffy steamed buns are a carbo-licious treat any kid will love. The ones at Bao Bao are handmade and stuffed with things like pork, chicken, red bean paste, or mushrooms. Try the lotus paste one for a sweet treat! They also have noodles and even frozen bao so you can take them home.
This cart serves up super cozy, homey food from family recipes inspired by Vietnam. The "Vietnamese soul food" includes fried chicken and rice, stir-fried beef, and "mom's omelet" as menu toppers, and any tiny sweet tooth is sure to be pleased by the pandan donut. Matta's been working hard all spring and summer to serve up as many free meals as they can to restaurants workers and kids, and any in need.
1533 NE Alberta St. Portland, OR 971-258-2849 Online: mattapdx.com
For the kiddie carnivore in your life, head to the very popular Matt’s BBQ cart at the Prost food carts on Mississippi Ave. Here you’ll find every type of smoked meat one could wish for, plus fun sides like the queso mac and cheese. Order online to help them reduce contact-- you can even order a day ahead so dinner's already taken care of!
One of the original food carts in Portland (it opened in 2008!) Potato Champion serves up all manner of fry-related goods. Poutine is their specialty, that Canadian dish of French fries and cheese curds covered in gravy. They've expanded to a range of housemade sauces like peanut curry or pesto mayo. Kids will enjoy the buttermilk ranch, or bravely try the pb&j poutine!
The catchy names of their menu offerings will make parents smile, and kiddos will love the fresh OJ and sandwiches. Try the Built To Spill, for obvious reasons, which features a fried egg and cheddar on toasted sourdough. Then stroll among the bricks in Pioneer Courthouse Square to see what interesting names you can find.
To cut down on facetime, you can order online before you arrive at your nearest food cart.-- they’ll have it ready to pick up.
Hawthorne 3549 SE Hawthorne Blvd. 503-610-EGGS 971-808-5727
Slung out of a super-cute retro-looking trailer with wood paneling, The Whole Bowl has the beans and rice bowl scene covered. Check out the Bambino Bowl for only $6, which includes brown rice, black and red beans, avocado, cilantro, black olives, Tillamook cheddar, sour cream, salsa and sauce. Delicious, and healthy!
Check out the tasty homemade fish and chips from Arlo’s! Each bite is battered and fried to perfection and served with a side of french fries. A kid and crowd-favorite! Grab a scoop of ice cream at the neighboring Beau Berry cart afterwards. They're open until they sell out each day! To make ordering faster, you can call it in ahead of time, or order when you arrive.
Family game night is always a fun time, but why settle for the basics when you can go big? Literally. A giant inflatable Twister exists and it looks like tons of fun.
Just imagine playing a game of Twister on top of a bouncy house without walls and you’ll get a pretty good idea of how awesome this inflatable Twister looks. Instead of trying to keep your self steady on the traditional plastic mat, you have to contend with the wobbly movement of a giant inflatable board.
photo: Hammacher Schlemmer & Company
Of course all of this massive fun comes at a pretty massive price tag. The Hammacher Schlemmer & Company Inflatable Outdoor Color Dot game is priced at a whopping $2,000. However, that price includes an AC-powered, 1-hp air blower that keeps the playing surface inflated for play. The inflatable also supports up to 1,500 pounds so the entire family can join in the fun.
The game is available to order online here and usually ships in three to four weeks.
Flowers are nice and all, but if the real way to your partner’s heart is through that sweet tooth, then a donut bouquet makes for the perfect Valentine’s Day surprise.
Harry and David’s Donut Bouquet might not be as traditional as long-stemmed roses, but it’s certainly sweet (pun intended). The 10-piece arrangement is wrapped in pink tissue and adorned with a gold bow.
photo: Harry and David
It features four kinds of donuts including pink-tinted white chocolate with a white drizzle, white chocolate with pink drizzle or mini heart sprinkles, milk chocolate with pink drizzle or mini heart sprinkles and dark chocolate with mini heart sprinkle.
The bouquet is available to order online for $50. As Delish reports, the bouquet is so popular that it tends to sell out, so don’t wait too long to order.
Ah, the holidays. The tree is trimmed, the presents are bought, and you’ve spent days joyously baking with your kids while listening to Bing Crosby. Right. In reality, Home Depot sells trees right up until the last second, Amazon Prime can get it to you in two days up to Christmas Eve, and there’s absolutely no reason you can’t listen to the Bing Crosby Christmas CD en route to pick up your Christmas cookies from one of Atlanta’s best bakeries. So go ahead and fake it, already. We won’t tell a soul. Pick up these traditional holiday cookies—and don’t forget to hide the box.
This Buckhead bakery is known for its buttery shortbread cookies with a perfectly placed dollop of frosting in the middle—as well as its selection of almost-too-pretty-to-eat decorated cookies. But don't let the confection perfection fool you. You'll eat every crumb, and go back for more.
The Frosting: Henri's is now offering Christmas Cookie Gift Boxes for delivery, as part of their upgraded online ordering system.
56 East Andrews Dr Nw Atlanta, Ga 404-237-0202 Online: henrisbakery.com
Locations also in Sandy Springs, Marietta, and Upper West Side.
One of Atlanta's bakery standard-bearers, Alon's is a sure bet for a cookie home run. Whether you're shopping for Hannukah, Christmas, Kwanza, or oh-my-gosh-2020-is-almost-over, you'll find the perfect cookie here.
The Sprinkle: Don't wait to place your order if you're feeding a crowd. The cookie basket has an assortment of holiday cookies that are perfect for passing.
1394 North Highland Avenue NE Atlanta, Ga 404-872-6000 Online: alons.com
What was once just a restaurant located in Old Fourth Ward is now a restaurant rapidly expanding its locations to feed everyone closer to home—and their cookies (holiday and otherwise) will make you glad to be their neighbor. And while you might go for the fun pancakes and outdoor seating, you'll be missing out if you don't pack up a box of cookies to take home.
The Sprinkle: Cookie Trays are available so you'll have a fully stocked selection for your little elves.
655 Highland Ave. NE, Suite 10 Atlanta, Ga 404-586-0772 Online: highlandbakery.com
Locations also in Midtown, Emory, Georgia Tech, Georgia State, and Peachtree City.
If you're looking for an old school seven layer bar cookie, Canvas serves up a whopper of one, and it's better than the ones your mom used to make (sorry, mom).
The Frosting: Pick up a box of artisanal donuts from Canvas' sister company, Donut Dollies, while you're at it.
724 Cherokee Street Marietta, Ga 678-213-2268 Online: canvasfoods.com
My Sweet Things
My Sweet Things
If you're looking for a custom decorated cookie, My Sweet Things is buttercream perfection. Order online from Kathi, and you can arrange the best pick-up for your comfort level.
The Frosting: However you celebrate the holidays, if you can dream a design for your cookies, Kathi can make them.
If you want to kick your fancy level up a notch, order Holiday Macaroons from Southern Peach. They come in Peppermint White Chocolate/Dark Chocolate Swirl, Gingerbread Caramel Cream, Spiced Apple Cider, Hot Chocolate (Chocolate with Marshmallow Cream), Sugar Plum Fairy, and Eggnog flavors. Or, pick up a box of customizable holiday cookies, instead.
The Sprinkle: National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation & A Christmas Story custom cookie sets are available, with sayings like "You'll Shoot Your Eye Out" and "I Triple Dog Dare Ya!" on them.
Start your holiday season off right with a visit to a nearby Christmas tree farm. These farms near Austin offer fragrant fresh trees, hot cocoa and even hayrides for happy families. Scroll through and plan your holiday adventure!
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Evergreen Farms Take a wagon ride out to the field where you can cut your own Texas-grown Christmas tree or pick a precut Noble fir or Fraser fir. Poles for measuring the tree and saws for cutting are all provided as well as the netting and rope for ease in transporting your tree. On the weekends, Evergreen Farms will have a campfire for roasting marshmallows and pine cone painting. Check out their COVID-19 precautions here.
The Robinson Family Farm This farm offers pre-cut Fraser Firs grown in the Appalachian Mountains in North Carolina. Fraser Fir are preferred for Christmas trees because they have the perfect shape, rich dark green color, clean pine scent and ability to hold its needles after being cut. Handmade, fresh wreaths are also available for purchase.
Elgin Christmas Tree Farm This farm offers u-cut Virginia Pine and Leyland Cypress. A nice hayride will take you out to the cutting fields so you can begin your search. Someone will pick your tree up once you cut it, your tree will be shaken and baled and ready for its ride home. If you prefer Fraser Fir, those are imported from Wisconsin and available pre-cut. Military and first responders get 15% off.
Brungot Farms These trees arrive just days after being cut from a mountain side field in North Carolina. They travel to Texas in a refrigerated truck, are fresh cut them when they arrive, and stores in a 6,500 gallon water pit within hours of arriving. Beat the rush and pick out your tree in advance online with delivery.
Papa Noel Christmas Trees You can find some of the best North Carolina mountain trees at Papa Noel this year. There have a number of locations in the Austin area where you can pick your own tree. Or, order online and have yours delivered.
