Don’t like to get your hands dirty whilst enjoying your dessert? Now you don’t have to with the Oreo Ultimate Dunking Set, which allows you to go completely crumb-less without getting milk all over your dainty little fingers.
So what exactly is the Oreo Dunking Set? The set, which retails for $17.98 at Walmart, includes a stack of 13 Oreos, two mugs, two “cookie cages,” two pairs of cookie tongs and two napkins.
Yep, the kit basically contains everything you’ll need to neatly dunk your Oreos. Just attach the cookie cages to the side of your mug to get started. And if you’re wondering just what a “cookie cage” actually is, it’s really just a far more intimidating term for “plastic cookie holster.”
After stacking your Oreos in their cage, grab the tongs, pick up a cookie and dunk away. And just in case you drip a drop or two, you’ll always have the napkins (which are provided) to clean up with.
It’s the perfect gift for the cookie-loving neat-freak in your life. You can snag your own OREO Dunk Kit at Walmart now.
Who says Christmas trees are always green? Even though there’s no replacing the fresh fab holiday scent of a real pine, this rainbow faux tree is everything you need to brighten your holiday and deck the halls!
If you’re tired of the same old holiday decor, the Color Burst Rainbow Christmas Tree is seven feet of pure awesomeness. The tree, which is available on Amazon right now, is made from 1,213 branch tips and comes with a five-year foliage warranty.
photo: Amazon
Not only will you get the tree (it retails on Amazon for $134.99), but it also comes with a white stand. The needles are obviously not the real deal. Instead, they’re made from colorful PVC—providing the tree with plenty of support and the just-right amount of fullness or fluff.
Do you have a few doubts about a rainbow Christmas tree? You’re not alone. One Amazon reviewer wrote, “I literally got told I ‘won’ Christmas with this tree.” So go ahead and brighten up your holiday decor with this colorful Christmas accent.
Two Good, the Danone yogurt brand, just launched the yogurt industry’s first-ever one for one program called One Cup, Less Hunger. For every cup of yogurt purchased, Two Good is donating a cup of food in partnership with food rescue organizations City Harvest and We Don’t Waste. The program launched on the heels of Two Good’s 2020 Earth Week activation, during which the brand donated $100,000 from profits made at select partner retailers to these same food rescue organizations.
Food insecurity is at a high with 1 in 6 Americans facing hunger during the pandemic. Food rescue initiatives are especially important. August also saw the end of the federal CARES Act, which left many families in a lurch. For kids who are returning to virtual classes, 27% of parents say they cannot afford the breakfasts/lunches for their children that their schools would have provided before the pandemic. As students return to school in-person and online, 10% of families report that daily meals are causing them to incur education-related debt.
Through this program, Two Good is empowering consumers to vote with their dollar which, based on current sales trends, is estimated to allow for 46 million pounds of food to be rescued, providing 28 million meals to those who need them across the U.S.
Other food brands are stepping up right now to help fight food insecurity and hunger at this pivotal moment during what would normally be “back to school season,” including:
Capri Sun: Donating 5 million filtered water pouches to schools
Cheerios: Donated $1.3M to No Kid Hungry and partnered with Jerry Harris
SnackNation: For every box sold, SnackNation is donating one meal to families in need, in partnership with Feeding America
Danone North America estimates that the annual impact of Two Good’s One Cup, Less Hunger program will allow for 46 million pounds of food to be rescued, providing 28 million meals to those who need them across the U.S.4 By redirecting this food, the program also helps avoid the emission of greenhouse gases (GHG) that would have resulted if the food was wasted. When considering all of the GHG emissions that go into producing, processing, transporting and disposing of food, what we are helping rescue has a footprint equivalent to the annual impact of over 10,000 cars, or approximately 5.5 million gallons of gasoline burned.
“Two Good is introducing the yogurt industry’s first one for one program, which will be in support of the increasingly urgent issues in our country that are food insecurity and food waste,” shared Pedro Silveira, President, U.S. Yogurt, Danone North America. “Launched last year, Two Good was a breakthrough innovation in the yogurt category with its 2g of total sugar per serving and a delicious taste, aligned to its promise of ‘do more with less.’ We launched our social purpose to support food rescue organizations earlier this year during our Earth Week program, and are committed to expanding the impact our business can make when it comes to food waste and hunger.”
As part of the world’s largest Certified B Corporation, Danone North America, Two Good is critical to the mission of bringing health through food to as many people as possible. Since its introduction to the market in 2019, Two Good has cultivated high loyalty among the brand’s consumers — in fact, 23% of people who have tried Two Good would not buy another yogurt if the product wasn’t available (versus a 4% equivalent figure for a close competitor). As a result, Two Good recently surpassed $100 million in retail sales.
“Since the start of the COVID-19 crisis, City Harvest has ramped up our operations significantly in order to meet the overwhelming need for emergency food we are seeing across New York City,” said Rebecca Fontes, Director of Business Partnerships at City Harvest. “With unemployment at an all-time high, it’s projected that food insecurity will balloon by 38% among New Yorkers, and 49% among New York City children. We are incredibly thankful for Danone North America’s support as we continue to rescue and deliver food for our neighbors in need during these unprecedented times.”
“With this partnership, we will expand our mission of feeding those who are food insecure in the community and continue to keep millions of pounds of high-quality food out of the landfill,” shared Arlan Preblud, Executive Director of We Don’t Waste. “To be selected by Danone North America is a game-changer for our hunger-fighting network and we are honored to be part of the One for One program.”
Underscoring the significance of Two Good’s One Cup, Less Hunger program, the brand is adding its commitment to every pack of yogurt in-stores beginning on October 1, 2020. For more information about Two Good, please visit www.goodyogurt.com.
Dinut worry, be happy! Krispy Kreme just announced that its highly anticipated Times Square Flagship Shop will open Tuesday, Sept. 15. This new location will deliver the most impressive doughnut experience, including hot and fresh Original Glazed Doughnuts 24 hours a day.
The world’s largest Hot Light
An iconic doughnut-making theater
The largest and iconic Glazed Waterfall for spectators to watch doughnuts run through
Stadium‑style seating inside a giant Krispy Kreme dozens box
A 24-hour street-side pickup window where people can get doughnuts as they walk by
Merchandise specific to New York City and Times Square to commemorate the experience
A special edition and commemorative “Big Apple” Doughnut exclusively at the Times Square Shop
The opening of the flagship at 1601 Broadway (at West 48th Street), will serve more guests annually than any other Krispy Kreme location in the world, had been scheduled for May but was pushed back due to the pandemic.
“We’re filled with joy to share the sweet news that Krispy Kreme is opening in Times Square,” said Michael Tattersfield, CEO of Krispy Kreme Doughnut Corporation. “We said earlier this year that when New York City and Times Square are ready, we’ll be ready. We can’t wait to bring a new bright Hot Light to Broadway beginning Sept. 15.”
Safety of guests and team members being the top priority, Krispy Kreme will implement a plan designed to keep everyone safe by controlling crowds, including remote queueing and providing guests the ability to reserve a time to visit the shop online. Krispy Kreme will provide more details on this closer to the grand opening. The shop also has a “grab-and-go” counter and window for curbside ordering and pick-up.
Inside the shop, Krispy Kreme will adhere to COVID-19 regulations and guidelines provided by the city and CDC, including employee health screenings at the beginning of shifts, washing hands regularly, wearing face masks, social distancing floor stickers, protective barriers at ordering points, and additional disinfecting throughout the shop. For added convenience, people can order doughnuts ahead of time for pick-up at the Times Square location by visiting our website or via mobile app.
The Times Square shop is part of Krispy Kreme’s 2020 expansion in New York City, which by the end of the year will total eight shops from uptown to downtown, including the brand’s remodeled Penn Station location. Krispy Kreme will hire more than 400 new team members in New York City so far this year.
“We all need a little joy right now and with that we welcome the Krispy Kreme flagship location to the heart of this great city. We’re thrilled for New Yorkers and visitors to enjoy the one-of-a-kind treats and the famous Hot Light experience. This iconic brand will make Times Square sweeter and we can’t wait to take a bite,” said Tim Tompkins, President of the Times Square Alliance.
Never lose your grip on your Dunkin’ cup again. Toting your favorite Dunkin’ beverage this summer just got more fun thanks to Dunkin’ and PopSockets, maker of expandable phone grips and lifestyle accessories. Dunkin’ and PopSockets announced that new Dunkin’-inspired PopThirst cup sleeves, complete with donut- and coffee-themed PopTops are available now.
The new sleeves are designed to perfectly hold your Dunkin’ coffee and offer fun styles and temperature control so you can sip in style all summer long.
This limited-edition Dunkin’ drop is part of PopSockets’ ‘Poptivism’ charitable program, with 50% of sales going to the Dunkin’ Joy in Childhood Foundation to support health and hunger relief for kids in underserved communities.
“This joint effort is sure to make many Dunkin’ and PopSockets fans happy while helping to support the Dunkin’ Joy in Childhood Foundation’s mission of providing the simple joys of childhood to kids battling hunger or illness,” said Kari McHugh, Executive Director of the Dunkin’ Joy in Childhood Foundation. “This ‘Poptivism’ program will make a big impact to help bring joy to kids who need it the most.”
Dunkin’ fans can choose from two unique PopThirst bundles, one featuring a strawberry frosted donut PopTop, and the other featuring an iced coffee-themed PopTop. The PopThirst sleeves are designed with a non-slip material that reduces hand slippage when sipping your Dunkin’ coffee, and when you’re not using the sleeve, it can fit compactly into a pocket or purse for easy on-the-go use. The PopThirst bundles retail for $20 and are available for purchase on PopSockets.com, while supplies last.
“PopSockets is excited to team up with Dunkin’ to help kids in need through this fun, new PopThirst design. PopSockets’ mission is to create a positive impact, and this limited edition ‘Poptivism’ collaboration gives fans of both brands the opportunity to support Dunkin’s Joy in Childhood Foundation,” said Jennifer Forman, Director of Poptivism and Corporate Citizenship.
The Dunkin’ Joy in Childhood Foundation has granted more than $26 million since its inception in 2006 and will grant $5 million this year. Part of the Foundation’s 2020 giving was centered around COVID-19 relief for families affected by the crisis. Since March, the Foundation has provided $1.25 million in emergency grants to hunger relief and health organizations, given free coffee and breakfast treats to 20,000 healthcare workers, started a first-of-its-kind healthcare worker trauma relief program, Hero Recharge, with First Descents, and more.
As the COVID-19 virus rages on, families are facing a crisis on all fronts. For those with children, the question of school reopening is front and center. Not only is it of importance to the cognitive and social development of their kids, in all likelihood, it will also determine whether or not they will be able to return to work.
Most school systems have either decided to have all learning remote or have taken a “wait and see” approach, leaving parents even more panicked about their plans come September.
As a result, many are taking educational opportunities into their own hands. Some parents are forming “pods” or small groups of children (between 5 and 8) to meet in a family’s home with an individual teacher hired to either “homeschool” or supplement the online learning that schools are providing. This accomplishes two goals; first, it provides much needed support for parents who have been struggling to keep up with their children’s distance learning, and secondly, it provides social interaction for children who have been isolated from their peers for several months.
On the face of it, if one can afford it and has the time to organize and supervise it, it may seem like a good alternative. That said, there are many things to consider before starting this journey.
Finding families that you trust and whose educational and social goals align with yours will be your first hurdle. Families who have high-risk members such as grandparents or immune-compromised individuals in their household are not good candidates. It is also essential to take into consideration the occupation of the parents in your pod; healthcare workers or other essential workers who come into frequent contact with the public may not be appropriate members either.
Equally important is a firm commitment that all members of the pod, including teachers and their families, follow best practices: masking, handwashing, and social distancing.
And before planning an academic schedule, parents must make provisional plans for the possible infection of children, staff, and all family and household members. Strict rules must be in place for if and when members of the pod become sick with coronavirus or other illnesses.
Finding and fairly compensating teachers will be the next challenge, especially if there is a broad range in the children’s grade level and abilities in your pod. Many online sites have sprung up to meet the demand of this new phenomenon, and a google search can help find staff in your area.
Parents who are forming pods have been criticized for poaching the best teachers from already taxed school systems, adding to the existing inequities in their communities. In some cases, parents invite families who could not afford to participate in a pod to attend for free. Other attempts to compensate for their privilege, have pod parents donating funds to their school communities to support those families without computers or internet service. These well-meaning gestures can be tricky territory to navigate, and along with all aspects of this pursuit must be carefully thought through to implement successfully.
If your goal is to provide “homeschooling,” you must contact your public school to withdraw your child and find out the curriculum that is being used in your jurisdiction and to get information about websites they recommend for guidelines.
If the goal is to supplement an online academic program provided by your child’s school, then you and the other families need to discuss and agree upon what content and activities you want to implement to augment their distance learning. In establishing daily and weekly schedules, limiting the number of teachers interacting with your pod is a major concern.
This endeavor is not impossible, but it will require tremendous focus and motivation by entire families who choose to participate.
I am a parent and grandparent with over four decades of experience in early childhood education. I share my passion, wisdom and experience, with parents and the people who care for and about children at Little Folks Big Questions, where we're out to answer the questions parents face in today's world.
Many families are choosing to stay close to home this summer. Amazon Prime is teaming up with Boys & Girls Clubs of America to launch Camp Prime to bring summer fun to families across the country. The program is available to everyone, even if they’re not a Prime member, and families across the country can participate and access the free Camp Prime Handbook.
“The past few months have challenged parents and kids alike, and I know many families, including my own, were looking forward to their summer traditions this year,” said Jamil Ghani, vice president of Amazon Prime. “That’s why we partnered with Boys & Girls Clubs of America to bring families the Camp Prime Handbook. The handbook is free for everyone and is full of activities families can do with supplies easily found around the house. With the Boys & Girls Clubs’ 160 years of experience providing youth camps, we’ve created an experience that will help families make the most of this unique summer, building on Prime’s year-round goal to help make people’s lives a little easier, more convenient, and more fun every day.”
To extend summer camp fun to even more kids, Amazon is also providing $500,000 in donations to Boys & Girls Clubs to help further their mission of enabling young people to reach their full potential. The funds will help Boys & Girls Clubs across the country, including Clubs in New York City, Los Angeles, Miami, Atlanta, Phoenix, Dallas, Boston, Detroit, Denver, Seattle and more offer safe and fun summer activities to youth and families, such as virtual programming options and ‘curbside camp’ kits available for pickup at select locations.
“We are facing the unique and unexpected challenge of providing our Club members with gear and resources to help them stay active and engaged at home this summer,” said Jim Clark, president & CEO, Boys & Girls Clubs of America. “We are extremely grateful for Amazon Prime’s support and donation, which will help us give our kids everything from craft supplies to sports equipment to educational materials and books to keep them entertained all summer long.”
Amazon customers can also donate to their local Boys & Girls Club by selecting them as their charity of choice on AmazonSmile, donate directly through AmazonSmile Charity Lists or simply say “Alexa, donate to Boys & Girls Clubs” to their Alexa-enabled device.
The Camp Prime Handbook features easy and fun activities using items from around the house, including building a classic campfire (minus the flames) for storytelling and s’mores, visiting the camp canteen (aka your kitchen) for easy-to-make, healthy snacks from the Whole Kids Foundation, and learning to garden with an upcycled box. Prime members can also extend their experience through additional Camp Prime-themed content with Prime Video, Prime Reading and Amazon Music as part of their memberships.
In addition to the handbook, starting on Jul. 14, Amazon will be updating their blog with fun how-to videos from popular experts who will walk families through summer activities that can be enhanced with Amazon Devices. From beatboxing and crafts, to wellness and dance, families can learn new skills and create together.
Videos will launch daily from Jul. 14 to Jul. 18 at 1 p.m. ET/10 a.m. PT on the influencer’s platform and live on the Amazon Day One blog throughout the summer. The videos will be available for the entire summer. A full schedule of experts and activities are below:
Jul. 14: DIY Summer Sailboats with Pool Noodles with P.S. I Made This Founder, Erica Domesek
Jul. 15: Family Meditation & Movement with Spiritual Health + Wellness Teacher, Koya Webb
Jul. 17: How to Beatbox with TikTok Star, Joey Klaasen
Jul. 18: At Home Dance Class with Award-Winning Choreographer, Sherrie Silver
Families can also interact with Alexa on compatible devices or via the Alexa and Amazon Shopping apps by saying, “Alexa, What is Camp Prime?” to get more information about the summer program and “Alexa, tell me the fun fact of the day” to start out their camp day with an educational anecdote.
Ford issued a recall for nearly 2.2 million vehicles in the U.S. from model years 2011 to 2016 to replace faulty door latches, which can become unlatched while driving.
The recall, involving numerous models of Ford and Lincoln sedans, crossovers, and vans, covers vehicles that were recalled in 2015 and 2016 for the same issue but may have not had all of the latches replaced or, if they were replaced, it may have been done incorrectly.
The recall population was determined based on a Ford investigation that found that some latches were not replaced or replaced correctly during recalls 15S16 and 16S30. Ford will be providing the means for the customers to self-inspect and report via a website or an inspection at a dealership to determine if the door latches were replaced correctly.
The affected vehicles include 2011–2014 Fiesta, 2013–2014 Fusion, 2015 Mustang, 2013–2015 Escape, 2013–2015 C-Max, 2012–2015 Focus, 2014–2016 Transit Connect, 2013–2014 Lincoln MKZ, and 2015 MKC vehicles.
Owners can inspect the latches on their vehicle and submit the latch date codes online to see if they need to be replaced. They can also bring their vehicles to their local Ford dealer where they can have the latches inspected.
Ford will replace defective latches free of charge. Ford owners can contact Ford customer service at 866–436–7332 or check the NHTSA recalls website to see if their vehicle is involved in the recall.
Parents need a trusted resource to help explain the current climate to their children. The Week Junior is a print publication that aims to help start conversations on relevant, timely topics, including the protests that have been happening in America. The Week Junior is currently providing free universal digital access to the magazine as families continue the conversation at home.
“Encourage children to do their part to decrease racism. If they witness someone doing or saying something unfair, they can speak up and not be a bystander. This may seem like a small thing, but it’s important. Change has to start with kids,” says Dr. Jamie Howard, a senior clinical psychologist specializing in children’s anxiety disorders at the Child Mind Institute in New York City.
The Week Junior’s Editor in Chief, Andrea Barbalich says, “The Week Junior is here to help children ages 8-14 understand a difficult time in America. This week’s cover story explains what happened to George Floyd and why people are protesting in a factual, sensitive, age-appropriate way. We hope our coverage sparks conversations at home about race and fairness and offers parents ideas for discussing complex topics with their children.”
Healthcare workers and essential personnel working on the frontlines have shown their heroism during the coronavirus pandemic. Now Mattel is immortalizing them with a new line of action figures and toys. The popular toy brand has a new roster of #ThankYouHeroes Fisher-Price action figures and Little People figurines featuring these essential workers.
Fisher-Price’s #ThankYouHeroes assortment includes 16 different action figures featuring a selection of doctors, nurses, EMTs and delivery drivers. The brand is also introducing a special five-character Little People set made up of a doctor, nurse, EMT, delivery driver and grocery store worker.
#ThankYouHeroes will be available for preorder starting today through May 31, 2020. Each item will retail at $20, with $15 from each sale being donated to #FirstRespondersFirst. Items are expected to ship to consumers by Dec. 31, 2020.
All net proceeds from the line will go to #FirstRespondersFirst, an initiative created to support first responder healthcare workers as they serve on the frontlines of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Fisher-Price collection is the first of several brand efforts from Mattel designed to support today’s heroes, with others kicking off in the coming weeks as part of the Company’s broader “Play it Forward” platform, which is focused on leveraging Mattel brands to give back to communities in times of need.
“#ThankYouHeroes is designed to immortalize and honor healthcare and every day heroes, and to drive additional donations to support first responders,” said Chuck Scothon, Senior Vice President of Fisher-Price and Global Head of Infant and Preschool, Mattel. “Whether these toys are given as a gift to recognize someone working on the front lines, or used as a tool to help children have conversations about how they are feeling, it is our hope that Fisher-Price toys, and play in general, can ultimately make these difficult times easier for both kids and adults.”
In addition to the launch of #ThankYouHeroes, Mattel is helping combat the fight against COVID-19 by producing face shields and cloth face masks for medical professions and has provided toy donations to non-profit partners domestically and around the world including Baby2Baby, Feed the Children, LA Family Housing, LA Students Most in Need (through the Los Angeles Unified School District), Partners for Pediatric Vision, Save the Children and UCLA Mattel Children’s Hospital, among others.
The company is also providing toys to Bright Horizons Daycare Centers, which recently opened in partnership with #FirstRespondersFirst for the children of first responders. Additionally, Mattel recently launched the Mattel Playroom, a free online resource for parents and caregivers which features activities and content from the Company’s iconic portfolio of brands.
