Ready to make weekend breakfasts feel extra festive? Your fam will love eating “waffle webs” thanks to this adorable new appliance that cooks up mini waffles in spiderweb shapes.
The Dash Spider Web Mini Waffle Maker is available to buy at Target now for $10. At a petite 2.8 inches high and 5 inches wide, it will easily slide into the smallest of kitchens. The nonstick cooking surface ensures that you’ll get get perfect creations every time!
If you’re hoping to make the first meal of the day slightly creepier, you can also buy a skull version of the waffle maker. This one’s a bit more expensive at $17.99, but it’s already racking up great reviews.
The appliances also come with recipe guides for both sweet and savory waffles. If you need even more inspo, check out our list of other foods you can make with a trusty waffle maker!
What we say when we kiss our kids goodbye can often fly under the radar when it comes to school mornings. But, even though the other stuff must come first (breakfast—check, lunch packed—check, shoes on feet—check!) those last-minute attributes are important, too. We asked parents all over the country for their daily traditions and collected our favorites! From creative silliness to classic kisses, scroll down to see them all.
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The Classic Kiss
While some parents end up with an unusual tradition, the classic kiss and “I love you, have a good day” hold strong.
A Hiccup
Totally unique and evolved out of SPOKE contributor Corey W and her kiddo's Kindergarten transition, the "hiccup" consists of "a high five, a kiss, and then I'd pick her up and hug her. We called it a 'hiccup' goodbye because the first letters of the first two steps and the last two letters of the last step seemed to spell it out!"
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A Reminder to Put on Their Listening Ears
From one mom who actually puts on her listening ears with her kid to other parents who gently remind their little ones to listen to their teachers, it's popular for mom and dad to instill the importance of paying attention.
A Sweet Tradition
Red Tricycle's very own Ad Sales manager had a sweet school morning tradition with her own mom growing up, "every year before the first day of school, my mom would say the Shehecheyanu prayer (to celebrate something new) and always tell me to take the first step out of the house with my right foot."
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Hugs, Hugs and More Hugs!
Some parents twirl their kids around in a hug, some give a tight squeeze at their kid’s eye level, and one mom had us giggling with her unique version: “Before my kids walk out in the morning, we give each other what we call a T-Rex hug. I put my elbows really close to my sides, extend my forearms at a 90-degree angle and awkwardly pat the arms of my children, while they do the same to me. Not all that affectionate, but it makes us giggle every time.”
Blow Kisses
A twist on the traditional, some parents and kids send out an airborne version of a kiss. We especially love the way one creative mom does it “We blow each other a kiss and catch the kiss, and rub it on our cheeks so we can keep it with us all day.”
Keep It Simple
Teacher Jill Hornstein shares her favorite: "A fist bump. The kids that have a simple ritual are the ones that come in ready and excited to learn. Parents should NOT walk their kids into school every day. Start from the beginning allowing them to be independent."
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A Secret Handshake
Writer Amber Guetebier says she and her son have developed a secret handshake, “We change them seasonally, and they are goofy. So after the love you's and hugs, we have a quick ‘handshake’ that says, I'll be here when you're done with this school thing."
A Good Start
Another way to start the day with affirmations is how SPOKE contributor Iliana Rosario-Urban does it, "Every morning during the school year I wake up before the boys and I write a positive note on the bathroom mirror so while they are brushing their teeth they can start their day with positive affirmations."
Affirmation Questions
The drop-off line is a great place to throw in last-minute positive reinforcement. From “Are you going to make someone smile?” and “Are you going to be confident?” to “Are you going to make good choices?” there’s no end to the ways you can remind kids of what they need to be doing each day.
Love Signs
Signing the words “I Love You,” is a sweet and easy tradition to start. One mom, who has a difficult drop-off kid says “Peace Out!” while throwing up the peace sign out the car window.
Mom Jesseca charmed us with her sweet goodbye tradition: “I draw a small heart on my hand, and one on my daughter’s. We 'charge' them by holding hands to drop off. Then if she needs extra love or encouragement during the day, she can press the heart for a boost.”
Rock Star Mornings
Mom Sara Schultz Borgstede doesn't draw hearts, she draws stars instead. "I draw a little star on their wrist because they are my rock stars!"
Power Jams
Yup, power jams are still, well, powerful. From one mom’s slightly shocking version, “I take musical requests on the way to school which usually means that I pull up to the Catholic school drop off with something very inappropriate like Gangsta's Paradise, Hypnotize (the clean version, of course) or California Love blasting from my minivan” to the most motivating songs around (Thunder, Born this Way, What About Us, etc.), kids love heading to the classroom with a killer beat and positive lyrics on the mind.
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Other Favorites
Readers and parents shared so many sweet goodbyes that we had to include a few more.
“Be kind, I love you.”
“You are an amazing kid! Go have an amazing day! “
“Eat, sleep, and play well! Learn something new!
“Te amo mi vida! Or I love you mi vida!”
"Every morning at drop-off, I race my son up the stairs at school. It's a "me and him" thing that leaves us both cracking up and energized for the day. He beats me every time." - SPOKE contributor Elizabeth Silva.
"My son goes to a Montessori school. Most of the rooms have different class pets. Every morning my husband and the kiddo stop into a different room to visit them before getting settled into his own class. The bluefish room is currently his favorite." - SPOKE contributor Elysa.
— Gabby Cullen with Amber Guetebier, Andy Huber, Maria Chambers, Ayren Jackson-Cannady, Beth Shea, Kate Loweth
Advent calendars truly are the gift that keeps on giving. A fun way to countdown the holiday season, we tend to love any LEGO version that launches––especially this year.
The LEGO Marvel The Avengers Advent Calendar ($40) has everything young super heroes need to recreate iconic movies from the film franchise. Geared towards kids seven and older, the 298-piece calendar has comes with everything from minifigs to the perfect backdrop.
You’ll get seven minifigures that include Iron Man, Spider-Man, Black Widow, Thor, Captain Marvel, Thanos and Nick Fury. But that’s not all!
Also included are tons of accessories like a Quinjet, Helicarrier, Spider-Man drone, Avengers Tower and more.
While it may seem silly to be thinking of buying advent calendars in August, these sell out amazingly fast. You can order this Marvel version from lego.com starting Sept. 1.
Calling all Target lovers! Now you can combine your love of the bullseye retailer and your prowess as a property owner in a whole new game: Target Monopoly!
Target and Hasbro are bringing shopping enthusiasts a limited edition version of Monopoly that you can finally get now. Monopoly: Target Edition plays the same way the OG version does, but with all the things that make Target the magical place it is.
Instead of buying property, you get to pick up Target items, and in typical Target Circle fashion you can earn tokens that will help you increase your savings. When you pass GO, go ahead and buy those items in your Target basket! To win, be the player with the most savings at checkout.
“Monopoly: Target Edition is the latest example of how we are always exploring new ways to spark moments of joy with all of our guests within our curated assortment of fan-favorite and Target-exclusive games and toys,” says Nik Nayar, senior vice president, hardlines, Target.
The limited edition game is available now stores and Target.com.
Once the temperature heats up, our Crock Pot tends to be a little neglected—after all, no one wants heavy soups and stews when it’s 90 degrees outside! But it’s time to dust off the slow cooker and whip up a light, summery meal that won’t leave you stranded at the stove for hours. Still not convinced? Scroll through the slideshow below to discover 23 no-fuss slow cooker chicken recipes perfect for summer.
With only six ingredients, this honey lime chicken is perfect for sandwiches, tacos, salads and more! Get the recipe from Sweet Peas and Saffron.
Slow Cooker Orange Chicken
The Flavours of Kitchen
The key to this succulent chicken is in the orange sauce, enhanced with brown sugar, soy sauce and fresh ginger. It’s easy to remix this recipe too—you can substitute chicken breast or different veggies if that’s what your crew prefers. Grab the recipe here.
This slow cooker recipe from The Seasoned Mom is sure to find a place in your meal rotation. There are lots of ways to remix it—serve it with pasta or rice, or make it into a cheesy sandwich. Plus, if you’re an Instant Pot fan, it can be put to use with this recipe.
Chicken salad in the slow cooker? This recipe from The Dinner Mom is so genius we wish we’d thought of it ourselves. It’ll be delicious when freshly made, and works well as a packed lunch, too.
Chowder isn’t just for winter, and this version from A Zesty Bite is sure to become a summer staple. If you’ve got fresh corn on hand, this is the perfect dish to use it in (and if not, frozen works great too!). Click here to get the whole recipe.
Chicken Tortilla Soup
Your Crock Pot doesn’t have to gather dust in the summertime, thanks to this fantastic recipe from The Nerdy Chef. It’s full of veggies and spices and packs a big punch of flavor. If you’re short on time, you can put everything in the pot at once instead of searing the chicken first.
This Hawaiian chicken recipe screams summer. Kids will love the blend of sweet, tangy and savory flavors, and parents will love that it's easy to cook up! Head over to Averie Cooks for the recipe.
For an easy dinner, nothing beats relying on your Crock Pot. This Crock Pot dinner recipe—from Phyllis Good’s new book, Stock the Crock—is truly a slice of heaven. Convenient, delicious and adaptable to Paleo diets, we’re betting this recipe will soon become a part of your nightly rotation. Grab the recipe by clicking here.
We love this lightened-up version of classic buffalo wings from Domestic Superhero. Shredded chicken is bathed in a mouthwatering sauce, then wrapped in butter lettuce. Click here to get the recipe.
Shredded Chicken Tacos
Food Fanatic offers this take on Mexican food that couldn’t be easier. Just pop chicken and taco seasoning in the Crock Pot in the morning, then pile on toppings like salsa, sour cream, cheese, and lettuce for a complete meal.
Mango Chicken Stuffed Peppers
This tasty recipe from Worth Cooking makes use of your Crock Pot to cook a combo of chicken, mango, and spices. Then, after the chicken’s done, just pop the mixture in some red bell peppers and bake for a few minutes.
Skip the takeout the next time you’re craving Chinese food—this crispy chicken recipe from Crockpot Gourmet is much healthier, and it’s sure to be a hit with even picky kiddos.
Put a twist on your usual quesadilla recipe with kid-favorite ingredients like barbecue sauce, pineapple, and (of course) lots of gooey cheese. Get the recipe over at Prevention RD.
Summer Chicken Chili
Who said chili was just for wintertime? Check out this summery take on the dish from Back to Her Roots.
Barbecue Chicken Coleslaw
Combine two well-loved barbecue foods into one awesome dish. This recipe from A Sunshiny Day is a surefire hit for your next summer party.
Buffalo Chicken Meatballs
For a fancy hors-d'oeuvre or a fun weeknight meal, whip up these buffalo meatballs from Damn Delicious.
Honey Mustard Drumsticks
Think of this recipe from Kitchen Trial & Error as a classed-up version of chicken nuggets with a honey mustard sauce. Pair the drumsticks with an apple slaw for a tangy and savory combo.
Barbecue Chicken Sandwiches
Whip up these delish (and super simple!) barbecue chicken sandwiches from Fearless Homemaker. Kiddos will love the chicken on sandwiches, mixed into mac and cheese, or stuffed in enchiladas—the sky’s the limit!
Butter Chicken
Try out Brittany’s Pantry’s lightened up version of butter chicken, an awesome way to treat your fam to Indian food without packing on the calories.
Chicken Caesar Sandwiches
Throw these no-fuss sandwiches together in no time thanks to Apple of My Eye’s simple recipe.
Shredded Chicken Barbecue Baked Potatoes
Baked potatoes take on a whole new meaning in this recipe from A Sunshiny Day. Pile ‘em high with barbecue chicken, shredded cheese, and green onions for a super satisfying meal.
Chicken and Artichoke Pasta
Pasta-loving kiddos will go crazy for My Cup is Full’s creamy chicken and artichoke pasta.
Believe it or not, we’re over halfway to Christmas! And if you’re mentally starting to prepare in advance, Igloo Books just launched three awesome advent calendars that your kids will love. The Disney calendar, the Disney Princess calendar and the Marvel Super Heroes calendar each feature 24 books and they’re available to pre-order now.
When you’re ready to unveil for the holiday season, you’ll open a large fold-out wallet that contains two dozen paperback storybooks featuring beloved characters. Each book is wrapped in a recyclable paper sleeve and stored in a number pocket. The Disney Advent Calendar features stories from both Disney and Pixar. Disney Princess and Marvel have a collection of stories from each franchise.
Previous versions of the calendar boast more than 1,700 five-star reviews on Amazon. The reading age is listed at three years and up so the whole family can get in on the fun. The calendars are retailing online for $25.49, so a little more than one dollar per story for a whole month of fun.
Last year the Disney Advent Calendar reached #1 on Amazon’s Christmas Books list in Fall 2020, so you’ll want to preorder soon! And if you need a few more ideas for advent calendar fun, may we suggest the Harry Potter version?
IKEA’s redesigned classic blue FRAKTA tote is back! In honor of Pride Month, you can shop the limited edition STORSTOMMA Bag in two sizes.
The large bag ($2.99) is perfect for your IKEA shopping trips, while the smaller version ($.99) is great for everyday use. Even better, IKEA is donating 30% of all sales of the bags (and ENEBY rainbow speaker covers) to GLSEN, Inc., which works to ensure K-12 students have a safe place to learn, free from bullying and harassment.
Donations will come from all sales from Jun. 1 through 30, 2021, up to $50,000.
“LGBTQ+ inclusion is an issue very close to our hearts and we want people of all sexual orientations and gender identities to feel at home – not just at IKEA, but everywhere,” said Samantha Giusti, Chief of Staff & LGBTQ+ Co-Worker Resource Group Co-Chair, IKEA Retail U.S.
Don’t wait to grab your STORSTOMMA bags, they’re limited edition! You can find them at your local IKEA or at IKEA.com.
Musical fan? Or maybe just a huge fan of Lin-Manuel Miranda? Then you’ll want to run, not walk to YouTube because the writer, actor and director is sharing something special.
This morning, Miranda shared the first eight minutes of the much anticipated film version of his 2005 Tony Award-winning musical, In the Heights. Keep scrolling to watch!
The film adaptation stars plenty of big names, including Hamilton alums Anthony Ramos and Lin-Manuel Miranda himself. In addition, you’ll spy Jimmy Smits, Marc Anthony and Corey Hawkins to name a few.
In the Heights hits theaters this Fri., Jun. 11 and is available on HBO Max for 30 days.
If you own tons of LEGO building kits, but still can’t get enough, then the newest online experience is coming. For the first time ever, you can attend LEGO CON!
Hosted and live-streamed from the LEGO House in Denmark, fans will be treated to a two-hour event on Jun. 26 starting at 9 a.m. PST. Keep reading to see all the deets!
Attendees will be the first to see new products, live building demonstrations with special guests and one of a kind opportunities to interact with LEGO designers. Not only that, guests will be able to leave their personal mark inside the LEGO House!
Nearly all the LEGO product lines will have a spot in LEGO CON, including LEGO Ideas, DOTS, Friends, Star Wars, Super Mario, City, Harry Potter, VIDIYO and more.
The event is free and open to everyone. Head to LEGO.com/legocon on Jun. 26 or catch the recorded version after LEGO CON concludes.
What do you get when you combine Sesame Street and The Wiggles? Tons of fun!
Sesame Workshop, a nonprofit organization that backs Sesame Street, and The Wiggles have partnered up for a two-music video collaboration that honors the 80 years of children’s entertainment between the two shows. The first of the two videos is already available, so keep scrolling!
The “ABCs of Moving You” with Sesame Street and The Wiggles is an updated version of the Usher-sung song on Sesame Street. The second video will drop in June and will be a brand new version of the Wiggle hit, “Fruit Salad.”
“Collaborating with Sesame Street feels so natural and makes so much sense,” says Anthony Field, Blue Wiggle and founding member of The Wiggles. “We share the same desire to consistently make music that entertains and educates. It was particularly fun performing together on this Sesame Street classic.”
