Are you a major TWIX fan? Thanks to a new product, you can take your love of the two-fer chocolate bar to a new level!
TWIX Shakers Seasoning Blend brings the crunchy cookie, caramel and chocolate flavors you already know and love into a delightful topping. Perfect for shoving in your purse or diaper bag, you can add a lil of this tasty shaker onto just about anything from ice cream and popcorn, to your morning cup of coffee.
TWIX Shakers Seasoning Blend will hit Sam’s Club and samsclub.com starting Sept. 1. The 13.5 oz. shakers will eventually roll out to grocery stores and online retailers in the next few months as well.
The summer outdoor movie season is underway! Boston families are flocking to nearby movies in the park to get their blockbuster fix while they can. So grab your lawn chairs, blankets and plenty of popcorn before you head out. These under-the-stars events and free summer movies are what you’ve been waiting for. Watch on!
Mayor Kim Janey’s Movie Nights
iStock
August is all about the Mayor’s movie series that park hops around the city so families can catch one nearby whenever they choose. You won’t need to register, but you will need to bring your outdoor movie gear along—low-back chairs, blankets, snacks and drinks. Shows start at dusk so activities to keep the kids busy while you wait is another must-have on this city excursion. Here’s what’s playing and where:
Aug. 9 in Jamaica Plain - How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World Aug. 16 in Roslindale – Missing Link Aug. 17 in South Boston – Onward Aug. 19 in West Roxbury – Descendants 3 Aug. 24 in Dorchester – Raya and the Last Dragon Aug. 26 in Roxbury – Trolls World Tour Aug. 30 in Hyde Park – Toy Story 4 Aug. 31 in Charlestown – The Croods: A New Age Sep. 10 in Downtown/Chinatown – Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker
We couldn’t think of a better place to watch movies on the big screen than at Enel Plaza. This free outdoor movie series has a little something for everyone, including summer blockbusters you’ve seen and a few you may not have caught yet. You’ll need to pack blankets and chairs so everyone can lounge. But leave the snacks to them. Concessions will be available from Showcase Cinema de Lux for purchase.
Cost: Free Hours: Reserve your seats starting at 6 p.m. Movies start at dusk.
Enel Plaza 2 Patriot Place Foxborough, MA Event details
Drive-In Movies at MVP
iStock
Change up your movie in the park experience for an old-school drive-in with this series that’s been running strong since Memorial Day. We love that movies play Thursday through Saturdays, giving families lots of options. And the fact you can get in a round of half-price mini golf first just adds to the appeal of this two-fer event.
Cost: $25/carload Hours: Movies start around 8 p.m.
MVP Family Fun Center 2087 Main St. Tewksbury, MA Event details
Cambridge Crossing Movie Nights
This summer Cambridge Crossing is teaming up with Brattle Theater to bring you family-friendly movies on the Maria Baldwin Open Space Park. For three nights this summer, families can take in a double-feature and enjoy their favorite movie oldies. With each ticket families will get popcorn and water. If you’re thirsting for more, food trucks will be onsite to help. Bring lawn chairs and blankets to keep everyone happy and comfy while you watch movies under the stars.
Cost: Free Hours: Doors open at 5 p.m. Movies start at 5:30 and 7:30 p.m.
Baldwin Park 222 Jacobs St. Cambridge, MA Event details
Friday Night at the Movies
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You bring the blankets and snacks. Leave the entertainment to The Loring Greenough House staff. They'll be playing movies on the lawn throughout the summer and you're invited. Tickets are required, as space is limited.
Cost: $5/adult, members; $7/adult, non-members; $3/kids, ages 3-12; Free for kids 2 & under. Hours: The curtain goes up at 8 p.m.
The Loring Greenough House 12 South St. Jamaica Plain, MA Event details
Monday Night Movies at the Beach
We love this series that starts your week off right, with the perfect ending to a Monday road trip adventure—an ocean-side movie. We’re talking surf and sand and a nearby playground to keep everyone busy throughout the day. Then it’s on to beach chairs and popcorn before the show starts around dusk. All movies are weather dependent and the rain date is planned the following Tuesday.
There’s no better way to embrace a movie night than with popcorn. Whether it’s popped in the microwave or on the stove-top, this budget-friendly pantry staple can be dressed up to suit any occasion. Check out our favorite recipes below; you’ll find everything from the best popcorn seasoning to classic caramel popcorn and more.
Always a favorite with kids, this easy white cheddar recipe from The Suburban Soapbox will be a hit. With only three ingredients, even your tween can whip this up! Get the recipe here.
If you love the convenience of microwave popcorn but don't love all the artificial stuff that comes along with it, this recipe for homemade microwave popcorn from One Lovely Life is right up your alley! It still only takes three minutes, and there are a few great snack mix ideas like candy and seasonings you can try as well. Get the recipe here.
This classic baseball snack can be re-created at home in a snap with this recipe from Boulder Locavore. With peanuts, corn syrup and a lot of love, you can easily make a batch for your next movie night. Get the recipe here.
You no longer have to wait for a visit to the State Fair for a taste of churros. This popcorn has all the flavor of churro but none of the deep-fried guilt. It combines caramel, cinnamon, and sugar to make a delicious treat you’ll make again and again. Head to Everyday Reading for the how-to, plus top tips on popping the perfect corn.
Create a popcorn animal medley for your own little monkeys! This rainbow sprinkled popcorn, combines white chocolate and animal cookies for a recipe that will get the kids howling with excitement. The recipe comes from The Melrose Family via House of Yumm and is easy to make, looks magical and tastes delicious. Win, win!
Press pause on the remote, this popcorn cake is a showstopper! Dry cake mix and marshmallows are the key ingredients for this festive number. The recipe is open to variation depending on the cake mix you buy, head over to Taste and Tell for the how-to, plus tips on getting the perfect color to get this seasonal red velvet look.
Popped kettle corn and crushed Oreos with melted white chocolate? Yes, please! This cookies 'n' cream popcorn snack comes from Erica, the baking-obsessed dentist behind the blog, Erica's Sweet Tooth. The recipe couldn't be easier and has inspired some other popcorn varieties on her site, including funfetti, apple spice, and pink strawberry shortcake versions! Check out her blog for more.
If you want to cut down on sugar, popcorn makes the perfect savory snack. This taco version, from Well Plated, couldn't be easier. Just drizzle your freshly popped corn with melted butter and sprinkle with a spice mixture you can customize for little taste buds. A zest of lime brings this snack to life, and nutritional yeast or parmesan completes the cheesy taco seasoning.
This surprising recipe involves making a fruit-leather style tomato base that's ground up to make the pizza blend. Get the recipe at the Food Network plus tips on how to cook this up with the kids. The adorable presentation of this pizza popcorn suggests it could make the perfect neighborly holiday gift.
For a sweet and savory snack mix that can be customized with whatever you have on hand, try this combo mixing pretzel sticks, popcorn, and M&Ms. Colored candy melts are the key to the green sheen but pick whatever color you like for a party mix that suits your crowd. Get the recipe at Endlessly Inspired.
If you're a fan of the everything bagel, it's an easy leap to make this everything popcorn! With just a few pantry staples, like poppy seeds and toasted sesame seeds, freshly popped corn can be turned into a healthy savory snack—it even works as a crunchy topping for your dinner! Check out more tips and get the recipe at Flour Arrangements.
Nutella popcorn ... need we say more? The kids won't forget this indulgent combo that's the perfect snack for a crowd. Head to Remodelaholic for the how-to and some tweaks to the recipe depending on whether you like your popcorn gooey and chewy or with some pop and crunch.
Pair a bowl of s'mores popcorn with a summer blockbuster from your Netflix wishlist and it'll be like winter never arrived! This delicious combo will take you back to long mid-summer evenings by the firepit. Just raid the pantry for candy melts and graham crackers and finish off with a sprinkling of mini marshmallows. Find the recipe at Endlessly Inspired.
This recipe turns popcorn into a snack that works in front of a movie as well as in Monday's school lunchbox! These popcorn balls aren't loaded with sugar. Instead, they are made with high protein nut butter and brown rice syrup making them both nutritional and delicious. Head to Weelicious for the recipe.
Naturally sweetened caramel popcorn made with maple syrup and almond butter! This popcorn from Cookie and Kate promises to produce a snack that's healthy, vegan, and easy to make. The recipe uses almond butter, but any nut butter will work—like peanut or cashew —and produces a chunky and delicious snack.
Summer is in full effect and there’s nothing quite like an outdoor movie night to bring your family together. Scroll through to find all the family movie night gear that we love from a kid-friendly projector that’s already loaded with content, to all our favorite family movies to put on your list. The show is about to begin!
CINEMOOD Movie Projector
Cinemood
CINEMOOD is the way to go when you are looking for a projector for your family movie night. This 3-inch projector is designed for kids and comes with Disney content, games, bedtime stories and even a shadow puppet tutorial all included. Access additional content from Netflix, Prime Video, YouTube and more. Not only is it great for your indoor movie nights, but you can bring it camping, set it up in your backyard or even bring it on your next flight.
There are three different CINEMOOD projectors to choose from. The base projector includes everything above, while the CINEMOOD 360 adds on 360-degree capability to turn your walls into an immersive experience of nature scenes. It also has interactive motion games to get kids moving.
The new CINEMOOD TV comes with the features kids and parents love from previous models—plus it is five times faster and brighter so it can stream content in the daylight. It can be used without the need for WiFi and soon will have voice navigation making it even easier for kids to use.
Is it really a movie night without popcorn? We think not. We love the idea of having your own popcorn machine to bring out for family movie night as it makes it feel that more festive. This popcorn and concession cart has a small footprint and all the space you need to stash your popcorn ingredients away for the next movie night. Or, choose this tabletop version with a vintage flair.
Check out this list of fun flavored popcorn recipes to make it that much more special (churro is our favorite!).
Movie Theater Candy Boxes
Walmart
If you want to be the favorite parent on the block, stock your pantry with movie theater boxed candy and let everyone choose their favorite.
Make It Cozy
Amazon
Snuggling up at home is part of the fun of a family movie night. How about getting everyone their own PediPocket blanket that is made out of super-cozy fleece and comes with a foot pocket? Or go all in and get everyone The Comfy—an oversized blanket/hoodie that is sherpa lined. Another great option is to get the whole family decked out in matching holiday PJs if you've got a holiday movie to watch.
Pick Your Flick
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Sometimes the hardest decision for movie night is which movie to watch. We love the idea of having each family member contribute a few options and picking one out of a hat. Or choose in order of youngest to oldest and have a different family member be the host each week.
Are you dreaming of snowy scenes, improbable romance, quaint small towns and cheesy but enjoyable dialogue? Then we’ve got the scoop for you! Hallmark has announced its annual Christmas in July event, featuring new movies and binge-worthy classics.
Starting the weekend of July 10, tune in to catch Crashing Through the Snow, starring Amy Acker and Warren Christie. Maggie (Acker) joins her ex-husband and his girlfriend Kate for a getaway to Aspen, Colorado. Before you wonder about the logistics of vacationing with an ex, don’t worry, love is still in the air. Maggie meets Kate’s brother (Christie) and we have to imagine sparks flying on the ski slopes.
Also on July 10, you can binge some of your favorite Hallmark Christmas selections from 2020, including Love, Lights, Hanukkah and A Tree Grows in Colorado. The following weekend, tune in for “Soap Sunday” because obviously Hallmark movies are exponentially better with soap opera stars. Keep an eye out for Cameron Mathison in The Christmas Club and Jesse Metcalfe in Christmas Next Door.
Finally, on July 24 and 25 you can start your countdown to the holiday in earnest with some of the greatest hits from Hallmark. Crown for Christmas,The Nine Lives of Christmas, and Christmas Under Wraps! Similar, but just different enough to keep you glued to the screen. Grab the wine, popcorn and enjoy some self care!
Whether or not you’re making a trek to a Disney park this summer, you can still make it a Disney summer. That’s thanks to the reveal of the Disney+ programming over the next few months, including hit movies, original series and documentaries. It’s quite the list watch for, so read on for more!
The Summer of Disney+ kicked off over the weekend with the release of Raya and the Last Dragon, free to all subscribers on the platform. On Wednesday, you can start watching a new series, Marvel Studios’ Loki and keep up with the God of Mischief. And on Friday, the second season of Zenimation premieres, giving you a mindful soundscape experience with clips from eight decades of Disney films.
You’ll want to tune in to Luca starting June 18, a new original animated movie about a boy having an unforgettable summer in Italy. Monsters at Work premiers July 2 and brings back your favorites from the Academy Award-winning movie, Monsters Inc. On July 30 another big drop, Jungle Cruise, stars Dwayne Johnson and Emily Blunt in an adventure down the Amazon. And all summer beloved classics will pop up on the platform, like The Sandlot, Ice Age: The Meltdown and Ms. Doubtfire.
Which one will your family be most excited to see? Grab the popcorn (or have an outdoor movie night), pull up Disney+ and get ready for hours of entertainment this summer!
—Sarah Shebek
Featured image courtesy of August de Richelieu from Pexels
I’ll be there for you—again! FRIENDS: THE REUNION is coming to HBO Max on Thurs., May 27 and the original cast will return to the OG soundstage, Stage 24 on the Warner Bros. Studio Lot. It’s a real-life, unscripted celebration of one of the most popular shows of all time and also boasts a wealth of special guests.
Keep your eyes peeled for David Beckham, Justin Bieber, BTS, James Corden, Cindy Crawford, Lady Gaga, Mindy Kaling and more! HBO Max dropped a teaser today and we’re already clearing our calendars and prepping our popcorn.
Friends is one of TV’s most loved series and one of the highest-rated shows in its original 10-season network run. It won the Emmy for Outstanding Comedy Series as well as Emmy Awards for Jennifer Aniston and Lisa Kudrow. The plot centers around a close-knit group of friends living in the Big Apple siblings Ross (David Schwimmer) and Monica Geller (Courteney Cox), along with friends Chandler Bing (Matthew Perry), Phoebe Buffay (Lisa Kudrow), Joey Tribbiani (Matt LeBlanc) and Rachel Green (Jennifer Aniston).
The reunion is in celebration of the first anniversary of HBO Max, WarnerMedia’s direct-to-consumer platform. It brings together content from HBO, Warner Bros., DC, Cartoon Network, Turner Classic Movies and more. HBO Max plans to launch in 60 additional markets this year, including Latin America and upgrades in Europe.
Tune in on Thur. May 27 to catch up with your favorite pals.
—Sarah Shebek
Video courtesy of HBO Max and WarnerMedia. Featured image courtesy of Featureflash Photo Agency / Shutterstock.com
This last year has brought a ton of changes when it comes to celebrating birthdays. From drive-by parades to Zoom gatherings, birthdays got a makeover we didn’t know they needed
Is it time to say goodbye to another soiree staple? This birthday charcuterie board has us thinking yes. So long, birthday cake!
Not only does this dessert concept avoid the “blowing out the candles and spreading germs everywhere” moment (thanks, COVID), but it also works great for guests with food allergies. Parents can thoughtfully include allergy-friendly snacks or create a completely unique board so kiddos don’t feel left out.
Whether you’re hosting a family-only event or planning your next party when things are back to normal, birthday charcuterie boards are a surefire win.
My son was born on July 31, 2015, along with his twin sister Aria. They were perfect and they were mine! It was one of the happiest days of my life. I waited so long to become a mother. We had had many losses until this pregnancy and I had never felt such joy and happiness. The feeling was incredible. I never realized I could love a person this much until this day. I couldn’t help but think of our future and how bright it would be with these two amazing little humans joining us. We were going to make so many happy memories and have lots of fun. I was ready for our new life to start. We had so many new adventures waiting for us. It was the four of us, we were finally a family.
I started to imagine all of the fun things we would do as a family. I saw us playing together at the park. I was chasing the twins as we played tag, they would chase me too and I could see their beautiful bright smiles. I could see me and my husband pushing them on the swings. I could hear the laughter fill the air, it brought a smile to my face and my eyes filled with tears.
I envisioned us at Sea World cheering during the shows as we ate popcorn and watched the dolphins gracefully emerge from the water and do flips in the air. There was one thing that made me the most excited. That was seeing us board an airplane to visit my parents, the kid’s grandparents, in Wisconsin. They would get to see where I grew up, which is much different than California. I could see them having so much fun playing in the country with the fresh clean Midwest air flowing through their tiny little bodies. The kids would be able to run wild and free through cornfields as I did when I was a child. I couldn’t wait to see their faces light up just like the lightning bugs we would chase on a warm humid summer evening. I had so much to show them about the world I grew up in and I couldn’t wait.
As the twins got closer to turning one, I couldn’t help but notice the difference in their development. My son was much further behind than his twin sister. I started to worry and question everything. Everyone told me he’s a boy, don’t worry. I brought up my concerns to the kid’s pediatrician. She confirmed what everyone else had told me, he’s a boy, they take longer than girls for mostly everything, so don’t worry. I still worried because my motherly instinct knew that something was wrong with my sweet Dom. I knew I had to help him and fast.
I started researching on the internet and became obsessed. I spent many days and nights searching for answers. I got on Facebook groups and asked other moms lots of questions. One Facebook group I found was called Finding Cooper’s Voice. Another Midwest mama, I was intrigued by all of Kate’s posts. I knew then that my son had autism. Now it was time to get the ball rolling. I made appointments to get an assessment done to see if my gut was telling me the truth. I was right, Dom had autism.
I was confused, hurt, and mad. I didn’t know how this happened. Was it my fault, did I not take good enough care of myself when I was pregnant. What did I do wrong? Why did this happen to us? Why did this happen to my son? I couldn’t make sense of it all. I don’t think I will ever understand, but I did know that I had to get it together and help my son.
We started rigorous therapy programs to get Dom all the help he needed. Our lives changed in an instant and it was a drastic change. We had to accept the new normal, our new normal. We did everything we could to help our little guy. I prayed every day for God to help us.
I have learned a lot throughout the years. I’ve learned that some friends will disappear, that family will be your best support system, and that you will have good days, and you will have very difficult days—many more than you want. The most important thing I learned is that the love I have for my son is stronger than anything. I will go to battle for him and stand up for his rights. I will never quit on him and I will always be his biggest advocate. Our family has grown so much and we will always be Dom’s biggest supporters!
Wendy Robles lives in California with her husband and twins. She's an ICU Registered Nurse, she advocates for her patients and her son who is on the autism spectrum. Through her blog she tells her experiences of raising a child on the spectrum, the good and the ugly.
Right now is about the time when you have started to be inundated with advertisements and articles about back to school. And almost every kid cringes when they hear the words, “back to school.” With this reminder glaring at us in almost every direction, part of you might be a little relieved that you don’t have to keep entertaining kids!
If these last weeks of summer seem to be dragging on as the boredom has struck (and when it strikes, it strikes hard!), here’s a little list to give you some oomph before kids get on the school bus.
1. Book a last-minute camping trip.
What a great way to enjoy the outdoors! Plan a short weekend getaway to a campsite to jam in some extra fun summer memories. Here are some of the things you’ll need. Don’t stress! Enjoy a sporadic trip to the good outdoors.
2. It’s not too late for a bonfire.
What kid doesn’t love roasting marshmallows or making s’ mores? Would you dare try to mix up the delicious perfection of the s’ more? Here’s a list of 15 OTHER ways to create delicious s’mores. Go ahead and give them a try!
3. Make an outdoor movie theatre.
Because nothing says summer entertainment like “an outdoor movie.” Butter-up some popcorn, fill a cooler, bring out your TV, extension cord, DVD player, blankets, a comfy blanket (the more the merrier!), and some family and friends.
4. Plan a last-minute party.
If you’re feeling like you just haven’t been able to see everyone, and your kids, too, then don’t despair and plan a party. Take a minute and plug a date into your calendar to invite some friends over. If you want to impress your guests, plan a refreshing mocktail, and some easy-apps.
Hopefully, with some proper encouragement and inspiration, you can pack the rest of your summer days with memories and kick boredom goodbye! Summers are short with our kids, and it’s easy to spend the latter days of summer longing for school to start. But why not create all the memories we possibly can?
