Now that Christmas has come and gone, so have the red and green candy-coated treats. Even though the stocking stuffer sweets have vanished from store shelves, you still have Valentine’s Day (and a limited-edition M&M’s White Cheesecake flavor) to look forward to!
The pink, peach and white candies aren’t exactly new. M&M’s first introduced the White Cheesecake flavor several years ago.
photo: Amazon
Like other limited-edition picks, this Valentine’s fave tends to show up just before Feb. 14—and then magically disappears just in time for Easter. As of now, there’s no info on just how long the candy will stay stocked on store shelves.
So where can you nab a bag of these white cheesecake-flavored sweets for your sweetie? As of now, Walmart and Target both sell the candy. You can also order the limited-edition M&M’s from Amazon.
You might need to dig out the summer clothes to check this one! The Consumer Product Safety Commission has announced that Target has recalled around 181,000 Cat & Jack One-Piece Rashguards that were sold via Target.com and in stores from Dec. 2019 through Oct. 2020 for $15.
Target reports that the item in question has snaps that can break or detach. The recall includes the Summer Blue Lemon, the Coral Icon Story Hawaiian and the Moxie Peach Lemon Rashguards in sizes 12M - 5T. The product item number can be found on the white tag inside of the suit, click here to check the CPSC website in order to cross-reference your purchased item with the recalled products.
Target has received 27 reports of the snaps breaking or detaching, including one report of a laceration. If you have a recalled Rashguard, return it to Target for a full refund. Consumers with questions can contact Target at 800-440-0680 from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. CT daily or online at www.target.com and click on “Recalls” at the bottom of the page, then on “Clothing” for more information. Consumers can also click the “Product Recalls” tab on Target’s Facebook page for more information.
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.
After the year we’ve had many families are looking forward to seeing what 2021 has in store. While New Year’s Eve celebrations might look a little different this year, we can still celebrate the end of 2020 and welcome a new year in a fun and delicious way. Jelly Belly Candy has several non-alcoholic treats to serve at your celebration.
Champagne Jelly Beans
Jelly Belly
Packaged in a mini plastic champagne bottles for a festive touch, the Champagne Jelly Beans are a great themed treat for everyone’s champagne holiday. They have an iridescent finish giving them the “bubbly” touch.
Rosé Jelly Beans
Jelly Belly
Inspired by the trendy, pink sparking wine, Jelly Belly created deliciously dry yet sweet Rosé Jelly Beans. They have an iridescent finish that suggests the effervescence of a real sparkling wine and come in mini bottles.
Cocktail Classics
Jelly Belly
Inspired by the most elegant of shaken, stirred and poured cocktails, Jelly Belly bean mixologists blended the finest ingredients to transport you to the golden age of the cocktail. The Cocktail Classics includes five flavors: Mojito, Peach Bellini, Piña Colada, Pomegranate Cosmo and Strawberry Daiquiri.
Draft Beer Beans
Jelly Belly
Jelly Belly's Draft Beer Beans took the authentic taste of a freshly poured draft beer (without the alcohol!) and turned it into a gourmet jelly bean.
These non-alcoholic products are also a perfect way for those who are participating in Dry January to indulge with a yummy treat.
Kiddos bored at home? Then it may be time to take the plunge with Minnidip’s new Holiday Collection that includes the brand new DiPP!T Inflatable Ball Pit.
Available for pre-order starting Friday, Nov, 20 at minnidip.com, measures 66″ wide and 14″ tall with scalloped edges. Made from velvet vinyl, the DiPP!T retails for $199 and comes with free shipping.
Customer can choose from three colors that include blush pink, cream and mint green. When you order a DiPP!T you’ll also get approximately 500 premium crush-proof 3” ball pit balls in a multitude of colors like blush, lilac, mint, peach, pearl, periwinkle and clear.
To make it even more fun, One ball—aka THE GOLDEN DiPP!T—comes in every box and can be used as a game ball!
Each material used exceeds children’s product safety standards for safe playtime. And bonus: the DiPP!T box can be used as storage and features a side that for kids to color.
You can pre-order the new inflatable ball pit on minnidip.com.
If 2020 has already been scary enough for you, try one of these Atlanta-inspired Halloween costumes on for size, instead. From a classic peach to Stranger Thing—cast and shot in our own backyards—we’ve got a bushel of great ideas for a very Atlanta Halloween. Keep reading for inspiration, below.
Atlanta's strange but long standing tradition of taking our kids to ride on a pink pig during the holiday season can now be celebrated during Halloween, too! Nothing says "holidays" like a pink pig in Atlanta.
The Varsity Hot Dog
Home to the world's largest drive-in, Atlanta wouldn't be the same without The Varsity, and its army of car hops. So when the the kids start talking costumes, be the first to say "What'llyahave" and lock this iconic Atlanta-themed idea down, tight. We're digging this costume.
While not exactly an Atlanta phenomenon, peanuts are kind in the peach state. Georgia produces the most peanuts in the United States, followed by Florida and Alabama. And there's not much cuter than when your peanut dresses up like an actual peanut.
A Peach
You knew this one was coming, right? The peach is about as close as we're going to get to stereotypical Atlanta. Easily whipped together with materials at home for a last-minute get-up, we also like this costume.
Driving in Atlanta is a little bit frustrating, and a little bit thrilling. It helps to have some pro skills on the asphalt, and this Halloween costume is so cute it would make anyone swerve.
Peachtree Road Race Runner
Forrest Gump may not have run through Atlanta (though maybe he did), but 60,000 runners certainly do during the annual 4th of July Peachtree Road Race—the world's largest 10K. Here's a great vintage Gump-esqe costume for inspiration, but we know nearly all Atlantans have a Peachtree Road Race t-shirt somewhere in our closets, making this an easy option to pull together without making any purchases.
Falcon
So maybe the tag on this Amazon costume indicates that it's actually an owlette and not a baby falcon, but we all know that if you say anything with authority, most of the time, no one will question it. Therefore, we present to you the falcon baby. And, in case you missed it, the Atlanta Falcons are our city's NFL team. Rise up!
Atlanta's symbol is a phoenix, representing the city that rose from the ashes. In more modern times, it's become a symbol of a city that unites to overcome obstacles. It also makes a really cute Halloween costume.
Eleven from Stranger Things
If you know her, you love her. The character Eleven from Stranger Things was practically written for trick-or-treaters everywhere, and we in Atlanta get extra pride of place because Stranger Things was shot right here in our own backyard. Check out this costume, which nails it—right down to her bloody nose.
Zombies from The Walking Dead
Speaking of shows shot in Atlanta, The Walking Dead is another good one with roots in Atlanta that's filled with Halloween costume fodder. While your kids probably aren't watching it, there are some seriously delightful zombies in the casting call, like the one you can find here.
At one point, Atlanta's recent skyline showed over 20 cranes where buildings—tall buildings—were being built. We're not certain how many are going up right now, but you can always count on our ever-changing skyline as new skyscrapers are added.
Atlanta Braves Player
Perfect for the kid who might be getting ready to age out of the super-fantasy costumes, this Freddie Freeman jersey can be worn on both Halloween night—and every night—for maximum purchasing value. Just add one of those unused pairs of baseball pants that you bought before his (or her) season was Covid-cancelled this year, and you're set for Halloween, Atlanta-style.
Bobby Jones
Maybe you only know it for the new public course near Memorial Park, but Bobby Jones is an Atlanta golfing—actually, an international golfing—legend who hails from these parts. There might not be a cuter caddy than your kiddo in this get-up. We're practically guaranteeing all the King-Sized candy bars for this costume.
The Big Chicken is a KFC restaurant in Marietta, and features a 56-foot-tall steel-sided chicken statue that rises up from the top of the building. The beak opens and closes, and its eyes spin. You can see it at the intersection of Cobb Parkway and Roswell Road, or you can catch a glimpse as you're traveling northbound on I-75.
It’s time to push the refresh button! As summer arrives Dunkin’ is looking to give guests a boost of brightness, energy and excitement with their new Dunkin’ Refreshers iced beverages. Refreshers iced beverages will be available at participating Dunkin’ restaurants nationwide beginning Jun. 17.
Made with iced green tea, flavored fruit concentrate, and B vitamins, Dunkin’ Refreshers are beautifully bold beverages that will keep guests feeling renewed and refreshed. Dunkin’ Refreshers are available in two vibrant varieties, Strawberry Dragonfruit flavored and Peach Passion Fruit flavored. Both beverages are under 200 calories and are made without artificial dyes and flavors.
To help everyone celebrate summer with a refreshing taste at a special price, the brand is offering medium Dunkin’ Refreshers for $2 all day at participating Dunkin’ restaurants nationwide through Jul. 28.
According to Jill Nelson, Vice President, Marketing Strategy at Dunkin’, “Dunkin’ has been there to keep our guests running during these difficult months. Now, with the start of summer, it’s the perfect time for something fresh and exciting to energize and enliven people again. With a combination of iced green tea, B vitamins, and bright bursts of flavor, Dunkin’ Refreshers stand apart as the perfect, new choice to help anyone get their glow back.”
Currently, the vast majority of Dunkin’ restaurants across the country remain open and have put enhanced preventative health and safety measures in place. In an ongoing effort to help keep its guests and restaurant employees safe, Dunkin’ is currently limiting service to drive-thru, carry-out, delivery, and curbside pick-up at select locations. Guests can order and pay contactless on the Dunkin’ App for a quick, grab-and-go experience.
The U.S. Consumer Products Safety Commission has announced a recall issued by Bonnsu for its’ Miniware Teething Spoons. The food-grade silicone spoons, which are designed for infants to use during the teething phase, can break when used as a teether in an infants mouth and pose a choking hazard.
Bonnsu has received one report where an infant bit through the silicone teething spoon that resulted in a piece separating inside the child’s mouth. All consumers should cease using the spoons and contact Bonnsu for a free replacement product.
photo: Courtesy of CPSC
The spoons were sold in a set of two and in Meal Kit Configurations. The sets of two came in gray, aqua, peach, key lime (green), cotton candy (pink), and lavender colors. The “First Bites” kits came with a bowl, suction foot, lid and spoons. The “First Bites Travel Kit” spoons came in key lime, aqua, cotton candy, lavender, gray and peach and the “Sup and Snack” kit spoons came in peach and gray.
The recalled spoons were sold online on Miniware.com, Amazon.com, and in stores that include Dillard’s, The Tot, Turquoise, The Mellowland, Mom Loves Me, and Bitte from Dec. 2017 through Mar. 2020 for $14 to $42.
Consumers can call Bonnsu toll-free at 855-334-8129 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. PT Monday through Friday, email at hello@miniware.com, or online at www.miniware.com and click on “Recalls” located at the bottom of the page to get more info on the recall.
When you hear the words “summer slide,” what pictures come to mind? A water slide at the pool? A park slide on a hot day? Sunshine and summer fun? Summer Slide is a term often used to describe the tendency for students to decline in achievement gains during the summer months when school is not in session. Fortunately, there are many ways to prevent the summer slide, including reading.
At Stratford School, we believe that reading plays a critical role in warding off summer learning loss by prompting critical thinking, building language skills, introducing new vocabulary and more. When children keep reading, they keep learning. We have curated a list of books by grade that will keep your kids turning the pages in between their playtimes. Enjoy!
Kindergarten
The Last Peach by Gordon Gus: The story of two indecisive bugs contemplating eating the last peach of the summer in a hilarious picture book about anticipation and expectation. Summer’s almost over, and there’s one peach left. There’s also one big question in the air: Should someone eat it? What if it’s rotten inside? But what if it’s juicy? Should the bug who saw it first get to eat it? Should both bugs share it with their friends? Will anyone eat the peach?! EVER?!? A fun book to read together and the ending will surprise everyone.
First Grade
Scribble Stones by Diane Alber: A heartwarming story about a little stone who was able to spread kindness to the world! This story starts off with a little stone who thinks he will become something amazing but then soon realizes he had become a dull paperweight. He’s on a mission to become something greater and in the process meets scribble and splatter and they all come up with a creative way to bring joy to thousands of people.
Second Grade
The Invisible String by Patrice Karst: A comforting story about two siblings who learn that everyone has an invisible string that connects them to everyone they love, anywhere, anytime. You are never alone. The people who love you here and those who have passed away are never far because if you tug on this invisible string they can feel it in their hearts. This is a remarkable message for children who feel lonely, scared, anxious, worried, etc. and this reassuring feeling could help a child cope with a variety of issues from everyday things, like a storm, to serious issues, like the death of a friend or parent. The illustrations are done in soothing watercolors and the simple lines highlight the facial expressions and feelings of the characters.
Third Grade
One-Third Nerd by Gennifer Choldenko: A funny story about a lovable family and the best dog ever from the Newbery Honor-winning author of Al Capone Does My Shirts and the Tales from Alcatraz series. Fifth grade is not for amateurs, according to Liam. Liam lives in the Bay area near San Francisco with his mom and two younger sisters. Dakota is fascinated by science and has a big personality but struggles to make friends; Izzy, a child with Down syndrome, makes friends easily, and notices things that go past everyone else. And then there’s Cupcake, their lovable German shepherd, who guards their basement apartment. Recently, Cupcake has a problem—she’s peeing in the house. The kids need to make enough money to take her to the vet before their landlord upstairs finds out. And Mom and Dad have said if Cupcake doesn’t stop, they will find her a new home. But the kids will never let Cupcake go. Can they save her?
Fourth Grade
The Serpent’s Secret by Sayantani DasGupta (series): On the morning of her twelfth birthday, Kiranmala is just a regular sixth grader living in Parsippany, New Jersey until her parents mysteriously vanish and a drooling rakkhosh demon slams through her kitchen, determined to eat her alive. Suddenly, Kiran is swept into another dimension full of magic, winged horses, moving maps, and annoying, talking birds. There she must solve riddles and battle demons all while avoiding the Serpent King of the underworld and the Rakkhoshi Queen in order to find her parents and basically save New Jersey, her entire world, and everything beyond it. There are two more books in this fun series, so get ready to spend a lot of time reading!
Fifth Grade
Clean Getaway by Nic Stone: Set against the backdrop of the segregation history of the American South, take a trip with this New York Times bestseller and an eleven-year-old boy who is about to discover that the world hasn’t always been a welcoming place for kids like him, and things aren’t always what they seem—his G’ma included. Great for kids studying civil rights.
Middle School
War Stories by Gordon Korman: From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Restart, a story of telling truth from lies —and finding out what being a hero really means. There are two things Trevor loves more than anything else: playing war-based video games and his great-grandfather Jacob, who is a true-blue, bona fide war hero. At the height of the war, Jacob helped liberate a small French village and was given a hero’s welcome upon his return to America. Now it’s decades later, and Jacob wants to retrace the steps he took during the war—from training to invasion to the village he is said to have saved. Trevor thinks this is the coolest idea ever. But as they get to the village, Trevor discovers there’s more to the story than what he’s heard his whole life, causing him to wonder about his great-grandfather’s heroism, the truth about the battle he fought, and the importance of genuine valor.
Keira Pride is the Head Librarian at Stratford School, the leading independent private school founded with a vision of creating a unique, multi-dimensional, educational foundation for children. As Stratford's Head Librarian, she manages the library services department across campuses throughout Northern and Southern California.
Starbucks has released a brand new line of color changing reusable cups. This time the color is bolder than ever. If you haven’t gotten your hands on one of these yet, as soon as you pour in a cold beverage, the cup reacts and changes color.
There are five cups in the set and according to photos of the label that we’ve seen online, tomato turns fades to aubergine, peach becomes hot pink, marigold turns to tangerine, sea turns ocean, and cobalt turns a deep purple. They are also selling a white cup with speckles that turn into rainbow colors.
If your local Starbucks has sold out of these cute cups you can still get in on the color-changing fad. Michaels also is selling color changing tumblers in four colors. Aqua turns dark blue, pink turns purple, white turns blue and yellow turns green. The 24 ounce tumblers retail for $3.99.