Cue the holiday baking. Hershey is sharing the Holiday Sugar Cookie Blossom, to spark festive cookie baking this year. With a sugar cookie base and the Hershey’s Kisses Sugar Cookie candy at the center, these sweets are a colorful addition to holiday traditions.
The inspiration for the new Blossoms recipe comes from Hershey’s home state, Pennsylvania. The sugar cookie is a holiday favorite that was introduced to the world by Dutch settlers in Pennsylvania in the 1700s, and now serves as the base for the new Holiday Sugar Cookie Blossoms, featuring Hershey’s Kisses Sugar Cookie candy. This is one of over 25 Hershey Blossoms variations to add some flare to holiday baking this season.
“The Hershey Kitchen elves have been hard at work this year creating festive ways to brighten the holiday season,” said Erin Crawford, brand manager, Hershey holiday team. “We know that Blossoms are a holiday cookie staple. This year we wanted to introduce something new and festive showcasing our newest holiday Kisses – Hershey’s Kisses Sugar Cookie candy. The Holiday Sugar Cookie Blossoms are colorful, super easy cookies to make; bound to make sweet and special memories in the kitchen this holiday season.”
Heat oven to 375° F. Remove wrappers from candies; set aside.
Mix cookie dough following package directions for cutout cookies. Divide dough into 36 equal (about 1-1/4 inch) balls; roll in green or red sugar. Place balls about 2 inches apart on ungreased cookie sheets.
Bake 8 to 10 minutes or until cookie edges are set. Cool 2 minutes; press candy piece into center of each cookie. Remove cookies from cookie sheet to wire rack. Cool completely.
The classic Peanut Butter Blossoms recipe, which consists of a peanut butter dough rolled in sugar and topped with a Hershey’s Kisses Milk Chocolate candy, has been around for 63 years and is one of America’s favorite holiday cookies. With holiday baking more popular than ever this year, head over to HersheyHappiness.com to get over 25 additional Blossoms recipes to keep baking this entire holiday season.
Are you planning a Nightmare Before Christmas movie marathon this Halloween? Build-A-Bear has the perfect stuffed friends to snuggle up with. The new Oogie Boogie and Zero plushies will be available exclusively on the Build-A-Bear website.
Roll the dice and gamble with Oogie Boogie. He even comes with a sound chip featuring the “Oogie Boogie’s Song.”
Jack Skellington’s beloved canine companion Zero is sure to bring lots of spooky snuggles all year long.
Build-A-Bear also sells Jack Skellington and Sally plush bears which can be accessorized with their signature Nightmare Before Christmas outfits, Jack’s suit and Sally’s patchwork dress, as well as songs. For Jack, you can select a song chip featuring “This Is Halloween” and for Sally, you can choose “Sally’s Song.”
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.
Lace-up your roller-skates because it’s time to get back on this bandwagon. This nostalgic sport has become the hot new trend again, and it’s easy to see why. You can get outside for some fun solo exercise and or join a group of socially distanced skaters to roll with. There are four roller-skating rinks (three of them are even outdoors), fun roller-skating meet-ups, and many scenic flat, paved pathways to just roll on at your own pace. From deejay discos to family-friendly or solo rides, here’s where to find some of San Diego’s finest rinks and boardwalks to keep the good times rolling.
SAN DIEGO ROLLER SKATING RINKS
San Diego has four roller-skating rinks where you can roll into your groove on eight wheels for some throwback fun. They’ll usually have some good skating tunes and a few of them even offer lessons for beginners or re-beginners.
Good To Know Before You Roll: Three roller rinks have skate rentals if you’re not quite sure if you want to commit to your own pair yet. Most of them even have toddler and kid sizes, but it’s best to call ahead and confirm before you go.
-You should definitely buy some protective gear. They usually come in a set to protect your knees, wrists, elbows and head. Note, none of these places rent out protection gear, so bring your own.
-All of these rinks require waivers, so if you can fill them out before you go, you’ll save yourself some time so the kiddos can just get out and skate already.
-Plan ahead because most of the rinks require advanced sign-ups, but some allow walk-ins if there’s space available.
San Diego’s newest, funnest and funkiest outdoor roller-skating spot cranks out tunes for all ages as you roll around the rink. They opened in early 2020 just before the pandemic as a roller-skating derby training center but quickly changed gears as roller-skating became one of the latest pandemic hobbies. You can sign up for classes of all kinds for beginners, intermediate, advanced, dance skate, kids, kids' tricks & skills and many more. You’ll “skate in a relaxed environment with fun music and guided instruction hosted by experienced skaters.”
HOURS: all ages open skate on Wed 8-10 pm and Friday and Saturdays 5-7 pm, check the calendar online for other skate classes and times
COST: $15 per session for open skate or get a punch card for $12/session; $20 for classes or get a punch card for $17/class
MASKS: not currently required but it’s your choice, recommended for those who are unvaccinated when in close contact with others
BYO SKATES: Yes, but rentals are available at no charge (they even have toddler sizes)
LESSONS: Yes
RSVP: Yes, no walk-ins allowed
WAIVER: Yes, fill it out online before you go
Derby United 6060 Federal Blvd., 92114 610-255-5666 Online: derbyunited.com
Your classic indoor old-school roller-skating rink is still around and keeping their original 1975 vibes alive. The nostalgia of childhood memories can be found here as you skate around to music under the disco ball and grab an icee and a pretzel when your skating legs need a break. The snack bar is open and serving up the usual pizza, hot dogs, popcorn, pretzels, soda and more.
HOURS: all ages skating Thursdays-Sundays + Tuesdays, see schedule online for hours and other skating sessions. Skate School is on Saturdays from 9-11 am for a 40-minute lesson followed by a 20-minute practice skate.
COST: $15 per entry includes rentals if needed; $20 for Skate School lessons; $75 Monthly Membership for 30 days of unlimited skating
MASKS: required for unvaccinated guests
BYO SKATES: Yes, but rentals are available
LESSONS: Yes
LOCKERS: Yes, $4 for unlimited access
RSVP: Yes, but you can walk in if space is available
Escondido Sports Complex offers North County residents a great place to get in on the roller-skating action. It’s one of the many activities offered at this multi-sport complex. Their roller-skating days, times and capacity are limited because the rink is shared with hockey. But it’s the cheapest roller-skating ticket around, so it might be worth making a reservation.
HOURS: Wednesday 8-10 pm; Saturday 2-4 pm and 5-7 pm; Sunday 2-4 pm (check before you go)
COST: $5 per entry
CAPACITY: limit of 24 skaters per session
MASKS: required at all times, even while skating
BYO SKATES: Yes, no rentals are available at this time
RSVP: Yes, but you can walk in if space is available
Skate at Southern California’s largest outdoor skating rink in Alpine. It’s at the Viejas Outlet Mall, so you can get in some shopping and let the kiddos play in the splash pad to cool off after a long skate.
HOURS: Thursday – Sunday from 4-9 pm (weather permitting). Roller-skating is seasonal here and the latest season dates announced are from January 8th–September 6th (this rink turns into ice-skating for the holiday months).
COST: $10 per entry, includes rentals if needed; $99 Season Pass
Doing anything with friends is way more fun and the roller-skating community in San Diego is one of the best. Everyone is welcoming for all ages and levels so just show up, have fun and you might make a few new friends. Oh, and there will likely be some live DJ music and a few skate lines to jump into. Here are a few spots around town with known roller-skating meet-up groups.
These are subject to change and they’re usually announced on their Facebook groups at Balboa Family Rollers and Roller Skate San Diego (among others) so check ahead before you go.
Balboa Park at the new Palisades Plaza in front of the Air & Space Museum Wednesday and Saturday nights from approx. 6-9 pm, usually with a DJ 2001 Pan American Plaza, Balboa Park
Civita Park in Mission Valley Saturdays from approx. 3-6 pm 7960 Civita Blvd., Mission Valley
East Mission Bay, next to the San Diego Mission Bay Resort Hotel Sunday evenings from approx. 4-9 pm 1775 E Mission Bay Dr., Mission Bay
Martin Luther King Skatepark in Oceanside Friday evenings 4300 Mesa Dr., Oceanside
If you have your own skates and are just looking for a good place to roll, there are several to choose from. Below you’ll find a list of local paths around town that are known to be flat and will make for a smooth ride.
COASTAL: Mission Beach, Mission Bay Park, Embarcadero (near Seaport Village), Liberty Station (Point Loma), Shelter Island (Point Loma), Harbor Island and Spanish Landing (across from the airport)
NORTH: Lakeview Park (San Marcos), Martin Luther King Skatepark (Oceanside)
SOUTH: Silver Strand (south of Coronado), Bayshore Bikeway (Imperial Beach), Sunset View Park (Chula Vista)
EAST: Lake Murray (La Mesa), Lake Miramar, Mission Trails on Father Junipero Serra Rd.
As much as we love online shopping, there are always time you need something NOW. When that happens, it usually means packing the entire fam into the car for a road trip of errands.
Now, moms have one less trip to make as Ulta is moving into Target! Starting this month, Ulta Beauty at Target is debuting at 100 Target stores and target.com with more than 50 prestige brands for cosmetics, hair, skin, body and fragrance.
photo: Courtesy of Target
While the initial roll out only includes 100 stores (you can see which locations here), Target plans to reach a total of 800 locations in the future. The “shop-in-shop” concept will be near the existing beauty section and will be packed with displays, discovery zones and seasonal items.
Not only that, but you can shop using both your Target Circle and Ultamate Rewards programs! Tack on your RedCard and you’re saving big bucks (plus, not having to drive to another store!).
If you’re not near a Target where Ulta will be moving, you can still grab what you need from Target.com using the retailer’s same-day delivery using Shipt.
Back-to-school time is always a perfect time to get nostalgic about your own days in the classroom, but things have changed a lot since you were the one sitting behind the desk. From hand-operated (gasp!) pencil sharpeners to everyone’s favorite folders, scroll down to re-discover some of the school supplies you probably couldn’t live without.
Scented markers made your papers smell delicious. Lucky for kids everywhere, they're still going strong and available anywhere school supplies are sold.
Bento boxes with Instagrammable food art have replaced plastic lunch boxes packed with fruit roll ups and gummy sharks (don't forget your matching Thermos!).
Picky eating will be a thing of the past when you break out these new, tasty pepperoni treats from Uncrustables. Pizza fans will love the Uncured Pepperoni Bites, made with bread wrapped around marinara sauce, uncured pepperoni and mozzarella cheese. Pop two in the microwave and in less than 60 seconds you have a delicious meal to satisfy a hangry child.
For the ultimate in convenience, the Uncured Pepperoni Roll-Ups just need to be thawed, not microwaved, so they’re perfect for your kid’s lunchbox, or for tossing in your bag for an on-the-go snack. The roll-ups are made with a flavorful flatbread rolled around uncured pepperoni and provolone and Neufchâtel cheeses with seasoning.
Both sandwich options feature natural uncured pepperoni, meaning the meat is minimally processed with no artificial ingredients and it contains no added nitrates or nitrites except for what naturally occurs in celery powder.
The Pepperoni Bites are available nationwide, and the Pepperoni Roll-Ups can be purchased at Kroger and Target now, and retailers nationwide in October. The Smucker’s Uncrustables line also features BBQ Chicken Bites, Turkey and Colby Jack Cheese Sandwich Roll-Ups and other foods kids love.
—Eva Ingvarson Cerise
Featured images courtesy of The J.M. Smucker Company
If you are looking to add some water fun to your summer, head over to ALDI. From a slip and slide baseball diamond to splash pads, there are plenty of options to choose from.
Each item will be available for a limited time and will start rolling out during the month of June.
Wham-O Foam Party Factory
There's no FOMO with this fun foam party factory! Part slip and slide, part party, this unique ALDI find puts a new spin on backyard fun.
Find at an ALDI store starting Jun. 30 for $24.99.
Banzai Splash Pads
These fun splash pads are perfect for your little ones featuring bright and colorful characters. Made of high-quality material, the pads easily connect to any garden hose.
Banzai Splash Pads will be available starting Jun. 23 for $8.99.
Banzai Water Slide Assortment
Choose from a slip and slide baseball diamond or a fun obstacle course. The Grand Slam Baseball Diamond is a 14’ x 14’ waterslide diamond and comes with a baseball bat and ball. The Obstacle Course features a waterslide with limbo pole, inflatable hurdles and a water-filled tire jump.
The Banzai Water Slide Assortment will be available starting Jun. 2 for $19.99 each.
One of your fave classic kinds of candy is making a spring-time comeback! Spangler Candy Company recently announced the return of the Necco Chocolate Wafer Roll.
Instead of an assortment of flavors, this sweet treat features only chocolate wafers. That’s right, all 40 of the paper-thin disks have the chocolate taste you know, love and completely crave.
photo: Courtesy of Spangler Candy Company
Diana Eschhofen, Spangler Candy’s Director, Corporate Communications, said in a press release, “Once we brought back the original assorted roll of Necco Wafers this past summer, the demand for the Chocolate Roll was almost instantaneous.” Eschhofen continued, “We know this has been a long-awaited return, and we’re ready to give chocolate candy lovers something they’ve been missing.”
Even though the beloved wafers have spent more than a century on store shelves, the chocolate wafers vanished two years ago. Now that they’re back, the coco-flavored wafers have an even richer cocoa taste.
You can nab a single roll of the Necco Chocolate Wafers or, if you’re into bulk buys, buy a 24-count tray from SpanglerCandy.com or at select retailers nationwide.
Crunchies in your breakfast bowl? Carvel’s iconic chocolate Crunchies are coming to your breakfast table.
The chocolate cookie pieces covered in a chocolate bonnet shell are a fan fave. Now this sweet treat topping is getting a whole new look—in a lineup of fab foodie finds you won’t want to miss! Carvel recently announced the debut of a brand-new chocolate Crunchie limited-edition cereal. Before you rush out to your local grocery store, read on to find out how to score a box of this delish breakfast blend.
Instead of the cereal aisle, you can only get this chocolatey breakfast goody at Carvel shoppes and food delivery platforms. The first 150 in-store and delivery platform customers at each Carvel shoppe location can nab a limited-edition box of cereal with purchase from Apr. 16 through Apr. 18, 2021.
Nicolle DuBose, Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer, Carvel, said in a press release, “More and more, fans are telling us they want to experience Crunchies in new ways – and we listened to them. With the introduction of Crunchies Cereal and our lineup of limited-time Crunchies-filled ice cream treats, we’re kicking off ice cream season in a big way and providing fans new opportunities to create Crunchies-filled memories.”
Along with the cereal, Carvel fans can also feast on other limited-edition Crunchies treats. These include:
Crunchies To-Go – Carvel’s famous chocolate Crunchies coated with Brown Bonnet.
Crunchies Shake – Vanilla soft ice cream blended with fudge and Crunchies.
Crunchies Dasher – Vanilla soft ice cream with layers of Crunchies and bittersweet fudge topped with whipped cream and a chocolate medallion.
Flying Saucers Rolled in Crunchies – Flying Saucer crackers filled with Vanilla soft ice cream rolled in Crunchies.
Crazy for Crunchies Cake –Deluxe cake made with vanilla ice cream, chocolate Crunchies in the middle, and chocolate ice cream on the bottom, loaded with milk fudge, and covered in Crunchies on the side.
Crunchies Celebration Cake – Carvel Crunchies cake made with Vanilla ice cream, chocolate Crunchies in the middle, and chocolate ice cream on the bottom loaded with Carvel whipped cream, trimmed with milk fudge and covered in Crunchies on the side.
Novelty Cones Rolled in Crunchies – Vanilla soft ice cream rolled in Crunchies on a sugar cone.
Vanilla soft ice cream on a Cake Cone or Cup Rolled in Crunchies.
Don’t wait too long to make your Crunchie dreams come true. These Crunchie-licious sweet treats are available exclusively in Carvel shoppes and from Carvel food delivery platforms for a limited time.
