You’re ready to watch the big basketball tournament—but you need some serious snacks! Auntie Anne’s is here to help. The pretzel-licious brand recently announced a sweepstakes that’s perfect for the salty snack/basketball-loving fan in your fam.
Up to 5,000 lucky winners will score a bucket of bite-sized pretzel snacks, a limited-edition basketball-themed pretzel bucket with backboard and more from Auntie Anne’s.
photo courtesy of PR Newswire/Auntie Anne’s
So how does the sweepstakes work? Auntie Anne’s will give away a bucket of Pretzel Nuggets or Mini Pretzel Dogs to a Pretzel Perks member for every tournament basket scored. If you’re not already a Pretzel Perks member, download the app and create a free account.
As if that’s not enough, Auntie Anne’s is partnering with Coca-Cola to bring basketball fans more prize-filled opportunities. Buy an Auntie Anne’s Basketball Bucket (in-store or online) and scan the code on the backboard to play Auntie Anne’s and Coca-Cola’s Basketball Buckets Challenge Mobile Game.
See how many virtual pretzel nuggets you can get into the basketball hoop in 15 seconds and lucky winners could score prizes such as a small Coca-Cola fountain soda (at Auntie Anne’s stores), an Original or Cinnamon Sugar Pretzel or a $0 Auntie Anne’s Door Dash delivery fee.
Grape-tastic! Some of summer’s sweetest flavors are returning to Sam’s Club. Launched exclusively at Sam’s Club last summer, Grape Soda Grapes and Cotton Candy Grapes are back again.
Grape Soda Grapes are the perfect, flavorful blend of that sweet purple soda with a natural, fruity twist. Grape Soda grapes are only available for a very limited time at Sam’s Club. You’ll want to grab a bunch while they last.
Sam’s Club members can also pick up grape fan favorite, Cotton Candy Grapes, in clubs later this month. Cotton Candy Grapes taste almost exactly like the sweet spun sugar fair treat without all of that sticky mess.
Grab your wands and head to Hogsmeade for some Butterbeer. Flying Cauldron, an out-of-this-world butterscotch cream soda, is now available on Amazon. Order a round just in time to celebrate Harry Potter’s birthday on Jul. 31.
Bringing wizardry straight to doorsteps nationwide, Flying Cauldron leaves drinkers spellbound with an enchanting flavor experience that combines butterscotch with creamy vanilla. Transporting muggles straight to Hogsmeade, the bewitching beverage is perfect for theme parties, marathon movie nights and every magical moment in between.
Flying Cauldron is made with natural ingredients and no artificial flavors, sweeteners, preservatives, gluten, caffeine or GMOs.
“Consumers are looking for simple ways to spark happiness these days. From theme parties to marathon movie nights and anytime in between, Flying Cauldron ‘brews’ joy,” shared Lindsay Martin, Vice President of Marketing at Reed’s Inc. “Fans of the brew have asked for Flying Cauldron doorstep delivery and, now with Amazon, it is easier than ever to taste the magic of our buttery, vanilla cream soda!”
A four pack of Flying Cauldron is available on Amazon for $12.99. In honor of the birthday of “the boy who lived” use the code 10FLYING to receive 10% off of your purchase through Jul. 31.
If you’re looking to keep off the “quarantine 19” but still enjoy a few sweets here and there, then you’ll love the newly released Disney recipe for plant-based Cookie Fries. In an effort to keep the magic alive, Disney Parks have been releasing fan-favorite recipes and this one looks to be the tastiest yet.
The Cookie Fries are normally found at Disney Beach Club Resort’s Beaches & Cream Soda Shop. The sweet treat is part of a revamped menu that includes several new plant-based items.
photo: Courtesy of Disney Parks
The recipe calls for dairy-free products like plant-based margarine, egg substitute and molasses and makes up to 32 sticks. At the resort, each order is served with plant-based dipping sauces like chocolate, strawberry and marshmallow but you can substitute with your own fave sauces at home.
If you have kids in kindergarten through 4th grade, ringing in the new year might be a tough holiday to celebrate. By New Year’s Eve, kids can be overtired, bored, and stir crazy. And worse, for some kids, the prospect of going back to school looms like a dementor ready to suck out all of their happiness. Ok, that is how I felt as I waited to go back to school but I am willing to believe that there are some kids who love packing lunch and carrying a new school bag in January. Either way, New Year can be a rough time.
One tip, unrelated to resolutions, is to celebrate New Year’s Eve in some faraway time zone that fits your schedule. Kids want to feel like they are part of the celebration of a New Year but in some cultures, New Year’s Eve is very much an adult occasion. And, it is always a late night since midnight is the celebratory time. We live on the West Coast of the United States and always celebrated with our kids on East Coast time. So, midnight came at 9 pm. We would hug and clink our glasses of sparkling apple juice before letting off a few noisy party poppers. Kids were in bed by 9:30, perfectly happy that they had seen in the New Year. Then the adults got to wait for midnight in our actual time zone. You’re welcome!
Here are some tips to including younger children in the ritual of making resolutions.
1. Don’t call them resolutions, call them Changes and Promises. These are much more relatable words for younger kids. You can ask your kids “What’s one thing you want to change and one thing you promise yourself to do better?”
2. Make a visual chart. Charts work. You probably have charts for family chores, or homework, or team sports. Making a chart that shows the resolution (or change, or promise) and a series of boxes or columns to note each month, allows your child to see how well they are keeping up with the promise.
It can take two months for a new behavior to become automatic. So, if you want these changes to stick, stay on top of it until at least April 1st. Bring it up at dinner once in a while, update the chart you helped them make, and remind the kids that this was their own change or promise.
3. Make a change or promise yourself and let your kids hold you accountable. Kids enjoy “being the boss” of adults. So if you promise not to drink soda and put that on the chart, let your kids be the ones to remind you when you slip. It makes the whole process seem more fun since they get to call you out. But they will also be more likely to keep their own promises.
4. Expect them to slip once in a while. If the promise or change they came up with was to keep their room tidier, it’s not going to be perfect and it’s not going to be consistent. But, the resolution allows you to bring it up and guide them toward the long term goal of a cleaner bedroom. Do not overreact when they fall behind. That will make it just another thing you have to nag them about.
5. Celebrate milestones and use positive reinforcement. If you are using a chart, have a key that lays out the rewards. Get four gold star stickers in a row and Dad does your chores for one day, or we go out for ice cream, or whatever works in your family. You can decide how success is judged and measured, you may or may not use stars, stickers, etc.
Good changes in habits do not need to wait for a specific day. You can change any time. But around New Year you may find your younger children asking about resolutions because it is such an important part of our end of year traditions and they hear about it everywhere. Using these few tips will help you engage your younger kids in the opportunity to make positive changes and stick with them.
I am a summer camp director and youth development professional. I have 3 kids all now over the age of 18. Oh the lessons I learned! I enjoy writing, walking, travelling, and binge watching on Netflix. I truly believe that Summer Camp is an important learning opportunity for all children.
Is traveling your favorite? If you’re taking a Christmas-time trip to the Big Apple, Club Wyndham Midtown 45 has something special for you—a Buddy the Elf-themed room!
From a playlist of fave holiday tunes to an over-sized Christmas tree (just like the one Buddy and Michael nabbed from the park), this room is stocked with all kinds of Elf-esque amenities.
Beginning Nov. 25 you can book the one-bedroom suite, starting at $399 per night. Along with Christmas music and the tree, the suite also comes with plenty of paper snowflakes, popcorn, garlands, a Lite-Brite welcome message, jack-in-the-box toys and a gift wrap mural.
The suite also comes with everything you’ll need to make Buddy’s favorite meals, including Pop-Tarts, rolls of cookie dough, marshmallows, M&Ms, soda and, of course, spaghetti with syrup. Sorry, doctor’s office cotton ball meals are not on the menu.
Guests to the hotel can book the suite for stays between Dec. 2 and 26. Not only will you get all the Buddy the Elf holiday cheer you can take, but you’ll also score complimentary admission for four to the Empire State Building and Rockefeller Center.
They say the quickest way to a kid’s heart is through his tummy. That’s true where gummy bears and ice cream are concerned, at least. Get your family curious about where their food comes from by taking a factory or warehouse tour. There is a lot of food and drink made in the Chicago area and some manufacturers will take you behind the scenes. Flip through our album to discover tours for fans of candy, coffee and beer (both root and the grownup varieties).
Hop on the Jelly Belly Train (yes, it's a thing) to tour the warehouse and learn through videos how candy corn, jellybeans and gummies are made. Shop the store to enjoy the sample bar, where visitors can taste each flavor as well as any favorite or new confection on the day’s menu. If you find yourself there at lunchtime, small bites are available at the Jelly Belly Snack Bar. Guided tours are scheduled 9 a.m.-4 p.m. and groups of visitors are taken around every 10-15 minutes.
10100 Jelly Belly Lane, Pleasant Prairie, WI (866-TOUR-JBC or jellybelly.com)
Show your kids what happens behind the scenes to create the lifeblood of exhausted parents everywhere by taking them on a tour of Intelligentsia Coffee. Visitors will learn every aspect of coffee making with live demonstrations of the roasting process and discussions of everything involved between the farmer growing the beans and the coffee being savored in the mug. Enjoy all the freshly brewed coffee you can drink while on the tour and leave with the shakes and a free 12 oz. bag of freshly roasted coffee. Tour admission is $30 for adults and free for children under the age of 13. Tour availability is limited and reservations are highly recommended.
This local gem is a wholesale supplier of more than 300 gourmet confections sold throughout the country, their signature confection being the Milk Chocolate Pecan Myrtle. Tours of their facility are offered for groups of 10 or more, but sometimes you can join an existing tour if you’re short a few people. Kids will get a kick out of the 2,500-pound chocolate Statue of Liberty and 500-pound Santa sculptures that greet visitors. The tour starts with a video explaining how chocolate is made and moves on to the kitchen viewing area, were depending on the production schedule, you’ll see anything from caramel being cooked in copper pots to cream and butter filling churning in huge mixers. Watch as staff hand paints colored chocolate into the molds prior to filling, resulting in what looks like miniature pieces of art.
Tours cost $2 per person and are available Monday-Friday. Reservations are required and live production is not guaranteed. Stick around after the tour to shop for treats in their factory store.
Filbert’s doesn’t offer a scripted tour of their facilities, but their friendly staff is always more than happy to show customers around their bottling facility. They’re most known for root beer, but they produce 25 soda flavors in total. Before you go in to buy your mixed case or keg of soda, call ahead to see if they’re bottling that day so you can see the operation in action.
Here’s a tour that the grownups will get excited about. Two Brothers was started in 1996 by — you guessed it — two brothers with a passion for microbrews. They open their doors for guests of any age for 45-minute tours, just check their online calendar for dates and times. Reservations are not required and guests are treated to the sights, smells and, for those 21 years and older, tastes of the brewery. Come hungry so you can enjoy the extensive menu at Tap House.
Not only does Albanese make gummies as pretty as they are delicious, they welcome visitors to take a peek into the manufacturing process for what have become known as the “World’s Best Gummies.” Tours are designed for all ages and consist of viewing the Gummi Factory through eight separate windows and watching videos explaining the creation of gummies and Gold Label chocolates. Free self-guided tours take about 5-15 minutes and are available any time during normal business hours (Monday-Saturday 9 a.m.-8 p.m., Sunday 10 a.m.-6 p.m.); no reservations required. You’re rewarded at the end with samples of the freshest gummi and chocolate samples you’ll ever eat.
5441 E. Lincoln Highway, Merrillville, IN (855-272-3227 or albanesecandy.com)
The Plant is a 93,500-square-foot former pork processing facility that has been transformed into a collaborative community of small businesses focused on growing, producing and sourching a variety of food products. It is currently home to over a dozen small businesses, including indoor and outdoor farms. Take a self-guided tour Saturdays between noon-2 p.m., to learn more about circular economy principles, view their waste museum, hear from interns, and explore and explore a demonstration aquaponic system.
1400 W. 46th St., Back of the Yards (773-847-5523 or plantchicago.org)
To strike up some serious fun for kiddo’s next birthday bash just book a spot at the bowling alley. Many of them offer all-inclusive party packages (think: lanes, shoes, lunch, and signable bowling pins), making party planning a piece of cake. If you’re game, check out these seven alleys that have all of the perks your little bowler could want.
Shake & Bake Family Fun Center
Shake & Bake Family Fun Center
Bowling and roller skating under one roof? Done. Bowling deals include Family Matters Monday, when a family of four gets a game, shoe rentals, a pizza slice and a soft drink for $20 between 6 and 10 pm. Wednesdays are Family $1 Night between 5 and 9.
Birthday party packages include: Two hours of bowling, soda, pizza, ice cream cup, signature bowling pin, bestive baloon bouquet. ($179.90/up to 10 guests).
Where: 1601 Pennsylvania Ave. (Baltimore, Md) When: See website for schedule. Online: skatenbowl.com
Bowlero
Bowlero
Boasting more than 22,000 square feet of fun (and 18 lanes), Bowlero Leesburg is the second Bowlero location to open in Virginia. But it's not your run of the mill alley--spin on fun—there's blacklight lanes, interactive games, and inventive menus. There's also an arcade and laser tag area to take your visit to a whole new level.
Birthday party packages include: 2 hours of bowling, shoe rental, $5 arcade card/ $5 gift card per kid, food, drinks, and a chocolate chip cookie cake ($34.99/kid).
Where: 1602 Village Market Blvd. #100 (Leesburg, Va) When: Hours change by season; see website Online: kingpinzbowl.com
Rinaldi’s Riverdale Bowling Center
Rinaldi's
This quaint family owned and operated facility has been holding court in the D.C. area since 1960. With tons of updates, the center has all of the modern amenities of newer alleys, but with that family run feel you’ll fall in love with.
Birthday party packages include: Two hours of bowling, two menu items, soda, french fries, partyware, a signable bowling pin, $5 gift certificate for each guest ($18.99/kid; 5-20 kids).
6322 Kenilworth Ave. (Riverdale Park, Md) 301-864-5940
White Oak Duckpin Lanes
White Oak Lanes
A fave among local parents with tots, the smaller, lighter weight pins and balls used in duckpin bowling are especially awesome for little people with little arm strength.
Birthday party packages include: One hour of bowling with bumpers, free shoe rental, one hour use of party room, pizza or hotdogs, soda. ($16/kid; 8-20 kids).
11207 New Hampshire Ave. (Silver Spring, Md) 301-593-3000 Online: whiteoaklanes.com
Brunswick Zone
Brunswick Zone
This super-sized bowling center features 32 lanes of bowling awesomeness—plenty of space for you and your family to snag a lane.
Birthday party packages include: Two hours of bowling, two menu items, soda, french fries, partyware, a signable bowling pin, $5 gift certificate for each guest ($18.99/kid; 5-20 kids).
7100 Carved Stone (Columbia, Md) 410-381-7750 Online: bowlbrunswick.com
Bowlmor Bethesda
Bowlmor
No drab beige and gray décor here. Bright colors and glow-in-the-dark lanes make this alley appealing to youngsters and grown-ups alike. Work up an appetite and servers will bring fried pickles and jalapenos or a pizza cupcake to you at your lane. Plus, there’s an arcade when knocking pins down loses its luster.
Birthday party packages include: Two hours of bowling, two menu items, two side options, soda and juice, a signable bowling pin, chocolate chip cookie cake, $5 gift certificate for each guest ($31.99/kid).
Where: 5353 Westbard Ave. (Bethesda, Md) When: 4 pm to 1 am Monday, 4 pm to 11 pm Tuesday through Thursday, noon to 2 am Friday, 11 am to 2 am Saturday and 11 am to 10 pm Sunday Online: <a target="_blank" href="http://www.bowlmor.com/bethesda/"> bowlmor.com </a>
Annapolis Bowl
flickr
ot serious bowlers? Consider joining one of the youth leagues here. The pee-wee league is for ages 4 through 8 and meets weekly for 35 weeks to practice. Or just set up shop at one of 32 lanes during open bowling times.
Birthday party packages include: Two hours of bowling, soda, pizza/hotdog, tub of popcorn per lane, ice cream cup, balloons, invites, ($15.95/kid).
Where: 2057 General’s Hwy. (Annapolis, Md) When: Youth leagues meet at 9 am Saturdays; 9 am to midnight Sunday through Thursday, 9 am to 2 am Friday and Saturday Online: <a target="_blank" href="http:// gobowlingannapolis.com"> gobowlingannapolis.com </a>
Are you headed to the Big Apple for your summer vaycay? If your getaway plans will take the fam to NYC, you need to check out the Steamy Hallows East Village cafe, a Harry Potter-themed pop up that locals (and tourists) are flocking to.
With a Hogwarts-inspired menu, there’s something for everyone in your clan—including a gloriously glitter-covered Butterbeer brew.
Your soda may come with a warning label on it soon. At least if you live in California.
The California state senate recently passed a bill requiring warning labels on soda, energy drinks, and some other sugary beverages. Even though the bill has some pretty heavy opposition, primarily from the American Beverage Association, it looks like the label legislation will go into effect.
What does this bill mean for you? If you don’t live in California—nothing. But if you do live in the state, expect to start seeing labels on the fronts of containers sometime in the not so distant future.
The bill will require manufacturers of sugar-sweetened beverages that contain at least 75 calories per 12 fluid ounces to clearly label the packaging in bold type, reading, “STATE OF CALIFORNIA SAFETY WARNING: Drinking beverages with added sugar(s) may contribute to obesity, type 2 diabetes, and tooth decay.”
