ML Interest Tag: baking-kit

All the Kids’ Birthday Party Ideas Trending for 2024

by Melissa Heckscher

When it comes time to plan your kids’ birthday bash, it’s enough to try and figure out the cake, the games, and the party favors. The last thing you need to worry about is the party theme. No worries. From the Taylor Swift birthday party ideas to the still-popular princess and Super Mario Bros. party themes, we’ve got the goods on the hottest kids’ birthday party ideas for 2024.

If you’re looking for seasonal birthday party ideas, check out our favorite outdoor birthday party ideas, our favorite summer birthday party ideas, and some of the best indoor birthday party ideas around.

Birthday Party Ideas Little Kids Will Love

A Unicorn Party

Unicorns are always a popular birthday party idea for kids, but in 2024, with Thelma the Unicorn heading to Netflix, we think they’ll be even bigger. Get some ethereal inspiration from San Diego’s Starry Eyed Events’ gorgeous Elegant Pastel Unicorn Soiree gallery (because, you know, unicorns don’t do parties. They do soirees).

Want to keep young unicorn lovers busy? Try this DIY unicorn horn headband that is an absolute must for your little guests.

Next-Level Princess Parties

a picture of a princess themed birthday party idea for kids
Mint Event Design

There are three secret ingredients to pulling off this party: tulle, gold glitter, and a princess cake. Skip on over to Mint Event Design to see more inspiring pictures. And check out our review of Cakest and other DIY baking kits. 

Messy Parties

iStock

Ditch the nice clothes and let your kids get messy! Our original messy art party uses squirt guns, mega-canvases, shaving cream, and paint-filled eggs to get kids' creative juices flowing. You can also throw a slime party (check out our favorite videos on making slime here), a DIY craft party or a mad scientist party complete with a potion-making station. 

Sleep-Under

Parents treat their children to a colorful evening birthday celebration
iStock

Instead of a sleepover, why not a sleep-under? Perfect for younger kids or kids who aren't ready to make the jump to a whole night, invite friends over around dinner time, and plan fun "nighttime" activities like karaoke, a dance party, glow-in-the-dark games, outdoor games you can play in the dark or even crafts. 

Sonic the Hedgehog Birthday Party

Does your little gamer love Sonic? Turns out, a lot of other people’s kiddos dig the feisty blue hedgehog, too. Since Sonic 3 hits theaters in 2024, we’re betting this kids’ birthday party idea will be everywhere this year. Find a plethora of Sonic birthday party supplies on Amazon.

Super Mario Bros. Party Theme

A picture of a super mario themed party, a good kids birthday party idea
Kara's Party Ideas

The new Super Mario Bros. movie is now streaming, and kids love it just as much as when it was in theaters. Since the classic Nintendo game never goes out of style, we think this birthday party idea will be even more popular in 2024. Get inspired with tons of ideas over at Kara's Party Ideas. 

Spa Party

iStock

Who wouldn't want to celebrate their birthday with a full spa treatment? Drop cucumber slices in water, offer cozy robes and slippers, and twirl their hair up in a towel for a day of pampering that includes manicures, pedicures, and facial masks.

Star Wars Birthday Party

DIY lightsabers, a droid-decorating station, and a Death Star piñata from Spaceships and Laser Beams.
Sweet Pea Parties

The Star Wars franchise may be decades old, but the force is still going strong thanks to The Mandalorian, Andor, Ashoka, and the Star Wars attractions at Disney parks. Young Jedi will love this party plan that includes DIY lightsabers, a droid-decorating station, and a Death Star piñata from Spaceships and Laser Beams.

Want something female-centric for your budding Rey? This Millennium Falcon party from Kara's Party Ideas will get your little girls ready for action.

Birthday Party Themes Big Kids Will Love

Taylor Swift Birthday Party

Gather round, swifties! Between her sold-out Eras tour and being Time’s Person of the Year, Taylor is hotter than ever. Expect her fans to want to celebrate with friendship bracelets, her songs on shuffle, and a lip sync contest.

Active Parties

Booking time at a ropes course, zipline, rock-climbing venue, trampoline park, or laser tag arena is a kids’ birthday party idea that’ll still be strong in 2024.  While most of these courses tend to be for children ages 8 and up, it can sometimes depend on kids’ comfort levels. It’s always good to let parents know in advance, usually a necessity because waivers need to be signed and grownups need to have some kind of activity alternative for kids who decide against it at the last minute (including the birthday kid) like a simple art or hands-on craft. Most places will have a party room for rent.

Video Game Truck Parties

a video game truck is a popular birthday party idea
iStock

If you have a game-obsessed kiddo at home, consider renting a video game truck to show up for a few hours. This birthday party idea has been popping up more in the last year or so, and we expect it to be even bigger this year. 

Related: 15 Birthday Party Favors for $5 or Less

Movie Theater Party

a picture of kids at the movies, a fun kids birthday party idea
iStock

With so many new family movies coming in 2024, a fun kids' birthday party idea we think will be extra popular is a movie theater party! Either look into options for renting out a theater or opt to purchase a row of seats for your kid and their friends. 

Glamping Parties

a fun birthday party idea for 2023 is at-home glamping

Okay, so maybe your child loves a good indoor fort or tent, but the Great Outdoors isn't an option for a party venue. A fun birthday party idea for 2024 is an at-home glamping party! Arrange for a glamping scavenger hunt, a hot dog charcuterie board, plenty of ingredients for s'mores, and even kid-friendly ghost stories. 

Escape Room Birthday

Focused kids look for a way out in quest room bunker at an escape room birthday party
iStock

If you're looking to entertain the always-hard-to-please teens and tweens or give younger kids a challenge, an escape room birthday party can provide hours of entertainment (and boost critical thinking skills). Either plan your celebration at a professionally crafted escape room game spot in your neighborhood or create a DIY escapist birthday party at home.

TikTok Birthday Party

This birthday party theme was huge in 2022, and we expect the trend to get even bigger this year. Play “name that TikToker,” try a (safe) TikTok challenge, do TikTok dances, and make a TikTok with your party guests. Click here for more ideas.

 

 

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40+ Life-Changing Baking Hacks to Save Your Holidays

by Amber Guetebier

Did you run out of food coloring? Are you unhappy with your crust? Do you not have the right tools? It’s no problem with these great baking hacks

It’s that most wonderful time of the year: holiday cookie time! This year, don’t dread it, own it with these Christmas baking hacks to salvage any quandary. From a baking powder substitution and what to do if you don’t have a rolling pin to what to use in place of eggs or butter, we’ve got the goods on making goodies.

iStock

1. Holiday baking often calls for some pepperminty goodness, but who keeps peppermint syrup on hand for once-a-year baking? (No, Schnapps doesn’t count). Use an abundant ingredient: peppermint candies. Just put them in a Ziploc bag and smash them to bits. A great stress reliever!

2. Use tongs to make an even crimping pattern along the edge of your pie crust.

3. No rolling pin? Try this rolling pin hack: Use a wine bottle as a rolling pin (no, it doesn’t have to be full!). 

4. Fill a wine bottle with ice (and cork well) to keep pie dough chill while rolling it out, great for when it's hot or humid. 

5. Sub a little of your water for vodka and your pie crust somehow comes out flakier. And now you have an almost-full bottle of vodka on hand. Just sayin'...

Related: Holiday Treats You Can Have Delivered

A pile of red, green, and white star and present shaped Christmas cookies
rawpixel via Unsplash

6. Add a marshmallow to the top of your cupcakes five minutes before you take them out of the oven for a gooey, perfect topping—no frosting required.

7. If you run out of food coloring, use Jello to tint decorative icing.

8. Looking for a natural way to dye when baking? Check out these simple recipes for making natural food coloring yourself. 

9. Fill an oral syringe with thin icing to get precise lines and letters when decorating. 

10. If you do have piping tips, fill two piping bags or Ziplocks with different colored frosting. Don't overfill the bags; now put both bags into one tip, and you'll squeeze out a swirl of color.  

Related: 38 Classic Holiday Cookies to Try This Year 

iStock

11. Put a pan of water in the bottom of the oven to give your bread a crisp, browned crust. You can also use a spray bottle with water; spritz the oven to create steam.

12. Substitute butter in your next boxed cake recipe for a super-rich and luscious cake. You can even just melt it to make sure it incorporates easily.

13. You can also sub avocado for butter if you want something dairy-free and heart-healthy. Use one avocado to one stick of butter ratio. And if you run out of butter (or avocado), you can use applesauce in its place.

14. When making pies, freeze your butter, and then grate it into your flour mixture, instead of trying to crumble it with your fork. This will help integrate it more evenly and keep the butter cool.

15. Soften your butter BEFORE you mix it into your cookie dough batter, and try using salted butter instead of sweet cream.

Measuring spoons with baking ingredients are lined up on a table
Welcome Industries

16. Use a set of visual measuring cups. Perfect for kids and parents who need to squint just to read the measurements, the shape tells the size! The innovative cups make cooking and baking fun and easy for everyone.

17. Soften butter in the microwave, but be careful. Use a low power level, like two, and put it in for no more than 10 seconds to avoid melted butter (vs. softened). If it's not soft enough, continue to microwave at five-second intervals until it is. 

18. Soften too-hard butter by putting it between two pieces of waxed paper and whacking it hard with a rolling pin. Once it’s been smacked a bit, roll it out (still between the waxed paper). The kids will love helping with this one.

19. Another method for softening too-cold butter without microwaving it to a puddle: set it on top of the stove while the oven is preheating. It will gradually soften: this works great if you are baking a cake and want to use the butter for a no-fail frosting.

20. Bring cold eggs to room temperature by placing them in a bowl of hot water for 5-10 minutes. 

Related: 34 Food & Meal Prep Hacks Every Parent Needs 

A father and daughter stand over eggs in the kitchen baking together
iStock

21. Use the other part of an eggshell to remove any errant bits of shell. Miraculously, this works and is way faster than struggling with a spoon or your fingers.

22. Baking for someone with an egg allergy? Use a flax egg. Simply measure one tablespoon of flaxseed meal (that’s flax seeds you put in the blender or you can buy already blended) to two tablespoons warm water for each “egg.” Mix it and let it sit for five minutes. The consistency will be similar to an egg. Or, opt for this egg alternative from Bob’s Red Mill.

23. If you want your chocolate chip cookies to have a more caramel flavor, sub out ½ cup of white sugar with additional brown sugar. If you want them with a more sugar-cookie-like taste, leave out all the brown sugar and use only white (most recipes call for some of each).

24. Use a muffin tin to make sure your cookies turn out uniform in size.

25. Easiest cookie ever? Hershey’s Kiss in pretzel circle, melt on parchment paper covered cookie sheet in oven until just soft. Boom. Next level: Use Rolos instead. 

Related: Feeling Left Out? These Are the Common Baking Substitutions & Swaps You Need 

A gooey chocolate cookie broken into pieces next to other chocolate chip cookies
Jennifer Pallian via Unsplash

26. Dust your cookie cutters with flour or powdered sugar before you use them to help keep them from sticking.

27. Want soft gooey cookies? Under-bake them slightly. If the recipe says 12 minutes at 375 degrees, pull them out at 10.

28. Sprinkle just a little bit of sea salt on your chocolate chip cookies before baking for that sophisticated professional flavor.

29. Use a wine glass to cut out perfectly even biscuits or sugar cookies.

A clear mixing bowl on a table with bright yellow ingredients being stirred into another ingredient
Taylor Kiser via Unsplash

30. If you’ve “sorta” burned your cookies, use a box grater to shave off the darkest parts.

31. Also, measure out your cookie dough with an ice cream scoop, then chill them on the pan for a bit before baking (you can even freeze them, which means you can do this all ahead of time, bake the cookies the morning of and you get a better cookie). If you can’t afford the time (or space), just chill the bowl of dough for 20 minutes in the freezer before you start to scoop.

32. Store your cookies (or what's left of them) in an air-tight container with an apple wedge to keep the cookies moist. 

A boy and his friend are in the kitchen stirring ingredients in a silver bowl during a baking themed birthday party
Annie Spratt via Unsplash

33. Use an ice cream scoop to assure level amounts of batter for cupcakes.

34. You can make gluten-free flour by blending up gluten-free oats until they are powdered. 

35. Moisten the heck out of your boxed cake mix with a ½ cup of applesauce, yogurt, or even—wait for it—mayonnaise. Try it! We swear it works.

36. Add ½ cup of oil and two eggs to any boxed cake mix and LEAVE OUT the water or other liquids... and voila! You’ve got cookie dough. (Mind. Blown.)

Related: Baking Kits for No-Fail Treats

Baking ingredients, bowls and spoons sit on a table waiting for you to use some baking hacks
Calum Lewis via Unsplash

37. Keep your brown sugar from going rock-hard by storing it in an air-tight container. Toss in a piece of bread to keep it moist. 

38. If it's too late and your brown sugar is already hard, microwave it for 30 seconds in a bowl covered with a wet paper towel or place it in the oven to soften for about 15 minutes. 

39. Does your recipe call for powdered sugar, but you are out? Use a spice grinder or food processor and pulverize white granulated sugar until it’s powder.

40. Slice your cheesecake with dental floss (but not the minty kind).

41. Hate dealing with metal sheet pans and cookie tins? Use a silicone baking mold instead. We love Silpat molds—there's no need to ever grease the molds or use liners, and your goodies bake to perfection (though depending on your oven, you may want to add a couple of minutes to the cooking time). 

42. Need a baking powder substitution? The following are equal to 1 tsp. of baking powder:

  • 1/4 teaspoon of baking soda + 1/2 teaspoon of cream of tartar.
  • 1/2 cup plain yogurt + 1 tsp. baking soda. Mix dry ingredients first before adding yogurt to dry ingredients (Reduce the amount of water or other liquids.).
  • 1/2 tsp. lemon juice + 1/4 tsp. baking soda.

Looking for more common baking substitutions? We've got you covered. 

Great! You’ve got the hacks. Now you need the recipes. Here are our favorite 51 insanely popular cookie recipes.

—Additional reporting by Taylor Clifton and Erin Lem

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Hello, Fall! Welcome the New Season With These Fall Favorites

by Kate Cartia

It’s here, it’s here! It’s (finally) fall. September 22nd at 8:03pm marks the Autumnal Equinox in the Northern Hemisphere and while there are so many ways to celebrate, we’re always looking for the newest fall goodies to scoop up to welcome the new season. We’ve made sure our homes are fall-filled and mapped out our autumn adventures, and now we’re making sure we have everything we need to say “Hello, harvest!” to kick it all off!

latte cup and pumpkin spice kit box
Uncommon Goods

Pumpkin Spice Latte Kit

$30 BUY NOW

Not your average PSL! This Pumpkin Spice Latte kit includes a dozen flavored sugar cubes - six pumpkin spice and six white chocolate cocoa - that melt beautifully into coffee, tea, or warm milk. Top your luxe latte with the included edible rose petals for the ultimate in "Me Time"!

Harry & David

The Favorite Royal Riviera Pears

$40 BUY NOW

If you've ever bitten into a Harry & David pear, you know that the hype is 100% real! Prime pear season is August through October, so treating yourself (or a friend!) to a box of these gorgeous goodies is an excellent way to welcome fall.

Frida Kahlo doll

Frida Kahlo Doll

$83 BUY NOW

This beautiful doll is not only a lovely nod to Frida Kahlo, but a unique and eye-catching addition to your fall vibes. Her hand-painted face makes each doll special and perfect for gracing any flat surface in your home!

Fun.com

Pumpkin Spice Latte Ugly Sweater

$30 BUY NOW

If you're a pumpkin spice enthusiast, this Pumpkin Spice Ugly Sweater is going to be your new favorite layer! We think it's way too cute to be considered ugly, but we'll let you decide.

The
Barnes & Noble

The Complete Autumn and Winter Cookbook

$28 BUY NOW

This do-it-all cookbook will take you from now well into the winter! With recipes for warm soups, weekend spreads, easy weeknight meals, and more, this is our go-to!

flat lay of spatula, rolling pin, cookie stamps, and baking sheet
Michael's

Thanksgiving Cookie Baking Kit

$25 BUY NOW

Get ready for all things fall baking with this Thanksgiving Cookie Baking Kit! With everything you need to create festive baking fun, including Thanksgiving and fall-inspired cookie stamps, you'll be set for cookie creation all season.

Bed Bath & Beyond

Fall Foliage Sheet Set

$52 BUY NOW

Falling (pardon the pun) asleep never felt so festive! These muted colors of this Fall Foliage Sheet Set can be matched to any existing bedroom decor and the microfiber fabrication only gets softer with every wash.

set of three pumpkin kitchen towels
Amazon

Autumn Days are Finally Here Kitchen Towel Set

$14 BUY NOW

These kitchen towels are just saying what we're already thinking! This is a set of three, including two flour sack and one flat-weave, adds a little spice to your kitchen.

If you buy something from the links in this article, we may earn affiliate commission or compensation. Prices and availability reflect the time of publication.

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Sweet Valentine’s Day Activities for Families

by Christine Lai

Love is in the air! There are plenty of ways to celebrate Valentine’s Day with the family and spread some love and we gathered up a few of our favorite ideas to get you started. There are themed hikes, arts and crafts and baking classes to whip up extra special treats.

iStock

Take Your Kids to a Local Candy Shop
Treat your favorite little sweet tooth to a local sweet shop visit that has all the heart-shaped macarons you could ever desire. 

Share the Love
Show some love for the grandparents, neighbors or anyone who needs a little cheering up with a DIY Valentine's Day card or pick up a Valentine’s Day Cards Take Home Craft Kit beginning Feb. 5 or check out a Cards Galore event on Feb. 12

Celebrate Love at the Lake
Lake Chabot hosts a special Valentine’s Day escape with a two hour rental of a decorated, covered patio boat complete with a picnic basket full of snacks and treats. Enjoy an idyllic family Valentine’s day adventure out on the water! Feb 1 - 28. Event details.

Take the Valentine Kindness Challenge
Ideas of how to generously spread love every day of the month are available in this challenge. 

Splurge on Fancy Hot Cocoa
These Bay Area shops have all the fancied-up hot cocoa that you want this Valentine's Day. Be sure to try the spicy versions if you can take the heat! 

Watch Penguins Waddle for Valentine cards
Visit Cal Academy’s penguins as they receive felt Valentine’s cards that they love using to line their nests. Can’t make it down to the museum? Watch the live stream here. Feb. 12 & 13, Event details 

Join a Baking Class to Make a Special Valentine’s Day Treat
Calling all bakers! Kids will love learning how to make Heart cupcakes Feb. 10 or Cake pops Feb. 14. 

San Francisco Ferry Building

Visit a Pop Up Flower Wall
It’s back! The Insta-worthy flower wall at the Ferry Building is back for sweet photo ops along with craft activity stations and other delicious surprises to be found in the Ferry Building. Feb. 13. Event details

Get Outside for Love
Drop by the Del Valle Visitor's center where kids will learn about friendship and love in the wild in this drop-in program also design Valentine’s day cards to take home. Feb. 12. Event details 

Join one of the following Valentine themed hikes: Love is in the Air Hike Feb. 5,  Black Diamond Love Stories hike Feb 12, Art for the Heart Hike & Crafts Feb. 12

 

Laurie Berkner

Valentine’s Day Family Concert
Iconic children's musician Laurie Berkner invites everyone to celebrate the sweetest day of the year at a special LIVE virtual family concert. Fans of all ages can decorate their homes for Valentine's Day and wear something fun and valentine-y to the show. Feb. 13. Event details. 

Visit the Hearts & Crafts Market
Daggett Plaza celebrates Valentine’s Day with local artists and makers who will have treats, flowers and jewelry along with a live jazz band. Feb 12., Event details 

Little GF Chef

Get Hungry for Love

Valentine’s Day often involves sweet treats so we like to try and keep things balanced with healthy snacks and meals with some of our recent favorites below:

Little GF Chef’s baking kits let families bake delicious gluten-free food at home - we loved the pizza party kit, complete with red and white checkered tablecloth! 

There can always be more cheese and Cello’s Fontal and Copper Kettle cheeses are perfect for pairing with crackers, fruit and honey.

Joi

Plant-based almond and oat milk are all the rage these days and JOI makes a sustainable concentrate that is added to water for a delicious, creamy dairy-milk alternative. We also love that JOI can easily be swapped in for all baking needs—brownies, cheesecakes cookies and more! Need more inspiration? Check out these recipes for the sweet low down. 

We couldn’t get enough of NuTrail’s keto nut granola that is delicious over milk or yogurt for either breakfast or a snack. 

—Christine Lai & Kate Loweth

featured image by iStock

RELATED STORIES:

19 Sweet Valentine’s Day Recipes for Kids

44 Easy Homemade Valentine’s Day Cards

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13 Brilliant Valentine’s Day Gifts for $20 & Under

 

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Snag This Conversation Heart Cake Kit before It’s Gone

by Gabby Cullen

Ahh, conversation hearts. As a kid, there was nothing quite like sneaking one across the desk to your crush. Now, as a parent, you can create a (much) tastier version with your kids at home. Confetti Cakes, a mom-owned cake company, is selling an at-home baking kit, and yup, it’s in the form of a giant conversation heart! If this gives you the warm fuzzies, keep reading to find out how to get one in time for Valentine’s Day.

What It Is

This lovable cake kit is designed by Elisa Strauss, the pastry chef behind Confetti Cakes. She's been making cakes for over 20 years and is the author of two cookbooks, and last year, she added cake kits to her repertoire. Elisa says, “Creating a baking kit has been a dream of mine for over a decade! I love teaching, and I want people to feel that they can create amazing cakes at home. Also, being a mom of 3 young kids, I see how wonderful it is to have a fun project to do—especially around sweets. The most important thing in childhood is to make memories. I hope I am helping people to do that whether they are 6 yrs or 106!”

The conversation heart kit sold out in 2021, but it's back and available now. If you’re worried about procuring fancy cake-baking ingredients, don’t be. You’ll get almost everything you need to make the giant conversation hearts: vanilla or chocolate cake mix, buttercream frosting mix, stencils, cake molds, fondant and more. You just need to provide the eggs, milk, oil and butter! 

How Do You Get One? 

If you want the kit to be delivered before Feb. 14, be sure to place your ASAP. Each kit is $65 (plus $12 for shipping), and there’s an option to send one as a gift, which is perfect if you aren’t able to see your loved ones. 

Order one here.

—Gabby Cullen

All images courtesy of Confetti Cakes

 

RELATED STORIES: 

10 Baking Kits to Make You Feel Like a (Cake) Boss

Oreo’s Heart-Shaped Cookie Dunking Kit is Valentine’s Day Love

17 Sweet Valentine’s Day Recipes for Kids

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18 Sweet Valentine’s Day Gifts for Kids

by Karly Wood

Valentine’s Day is often synonymous with candy (lots and lots of it), but there are only so many sweets a parent can handle. If you want to share the love with the kiddos this holiday without all the sugar, you’ve come to the right place. From family Valentine’s Day pajamas to a Love-a-Lot Care Bear, we’ve rounded up plenty of non-candy Valentine’s ideas for kids.

If you buy something from the links in this article, we may earn affiliate commission or compensation.

Little Sleepies Family PJ's

$32 & up BUY NOW

Settle in for a snuggle fest with Little Sleepies adorable new Valentine's Day prints that come in sizes from baby through adult. They come in gray, pink and blue and even offer accessories like headbands and swaddle blankets.

Love Lust Pouch

$32 BUY NOW

Great for pens, pencils or your tween's growing makeup collection, this double-sided bag brings style and function.

 

i heart art crayons

$15 BUY NOW

These heart-shaped crayons can be twisted into an oval shape, and it's really two crayons in one! They're also erasable, which will save your walls and your sanity.

Funboy's Clear Pink Heart Ball Pit

$99 BUY NOW

Dive into fun with this sweet ball pit. It inflates and deflates in under two minutes and can fit multiple kiddos. Balls are sold separately.

CreateOn's LOVE from The Very Hungry Caterpillar

$45 BUY NOW

This adorable storytelling set is compatible with all Magna-Tile sets.

Posh Peanut Queen Of Hearts Duvet Cover Set

$154 BUY NOW

Embrace Valentine's Day all year long with Posh Peanut's luxurious bedding collection. This duvet brings a reversible pattern and comes with a coordinating pillow case.

Care Bears: Love-A-Lot Bear

$10 BUY NOW

This special Valentine's Day Care Bear is all about sharing the love. The classic 14-inch plush is huggable beyond belief and comes with twin hearts on its belly.

Loulou Lollipop Bubble Silicone and Wood Teether

$25 BUY NOW

Made from beech wood conditioned with organic olive oil and beeswax, your teething tot will love to give this teether a chew. There's an additional ring of silicone beads that offers a softer experience. Plus, it doubles as a rattle!

Chance Basketballs

$29 BUY NOW

This Los Angeles-based company is all about updating the sporting goods industry through bold and vibrant products. Their colorful products focus on spreading positivity in sports and bringing communities together.

Happy Valentine's Day, Mouse!

$6 BUY NOW

This sweet addition to the If You Give a Mouse a Cookie book series, the story follows Mouse as he creates valentine's for his buddies, sharing what he loves about each of them.

Piggy Paint Kisses & Wishes Set

$15 BUY NOW

We love that all the nail polish is a non-toxic, water-based formula that’s free from chemicals like formaldehyde and phthalates.

Chasing Love T-Shirt

$13 BUY NOW

This fun love-themed Pac-Man shirt comes in five different colors and sizes ranging from youth small to adult extra-large.

Crazy Aaron's Thinking Putty in Red

$15 BUY NOW

Everyone loves a little putty to pull! Gift this popular brand in Valentine’s Day-themed color.

Yogibo Bean Bag

$219 BUY NOW

Bean bags have never gone out of style, and Yogibo is the leader in comfy seating. Each style has zero pressure points for ultimate relaxation, and the cover is removable, washable and interchangeable.

Plus-Plus Puzzle by Number

$15 BUY NOW

Everyone’s favorite little building pieces are now a puzzle! Use the 250 pieces to create two different hearts and then put them on display.

Customized Reel Viewer

$15 & up BUY NOW

Give your kids a little bit of your childhood with a customized reel viewer. Simply pick the pictures you want to add to your own reel and let them click away.

Schleich's Rainbow Love Unicorn

$20 BUY NOW

This whimsical creature will bring hours of magical play time to your little ones.

 

Baby Jack & Co's Learning Lovey

$26 BUY NOW

This lovey is the only sensory tag blanket with sewn shut ribbon tags for added safety! Each one is made with durable, micro-polyester fabric and paired with a fleece textured backing that helps reduce anxiety and helps kids fall asleep peacefully.

––Gabby Cullen with Karly Wood

RELATED STORIES

8 Gorgeous Handmade Valentine’s Day Gifts We Found on Etsy

Costco’s Amazing Valentine’s Day Rose Sale Is Back

25 Hilariously Sweet Valentine’s Jokes for Kids

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Baking Just Got Epic with This New Duncan Hines Cookie Kit

by Karly Wood

Fall and baking go hand in hand, so why not up your cookie game this year? Going over the top is super easy with Duncan Hines newest EPIC baking kit!

The EPIC Fall Chocolate Chip Caramel Cookie Kit includes everything you need to create eye-popping treats this fall. Each one comes with chocolate chip cookie mix, caramel frosting and autumn-colored leaf sprinkles.

photo: Courtesy of Duncan Hines

Inspired by influencers and master bakers, the new kit joins other flavors in the EPIC line that include S’mores Brownie, Cookies & Cream, Cooke Dough, Fruity Pebbles and Salted Caramel. They make the perfect family baking activity!

You can already find Duncan Hines EPIC Fall Chocolate Chip Caramel Cookie Kit at retailers for just $4.99. And keep your eyes peeled, more festive flavors are coming soon!

––Karly Wood

 

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How Much Candy Should You Buy for Halloween? This Sweet Formula Has Answers

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Hershey’s Is Dropping Holiday Chocolates & There’s an Ugly Christmas Sweater

 

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This New Donut Cake Kit Almost Looks Too Good to Eat

by Gabby Cullen

Is it possible to ever get your fill of donuts? We don’t think so, which is why we’re so excited for Confetti Cakes’ brand-new cake kit that launched in honor of National Donut Day. An adorable way to bond with your kids in the kitchen, we might love this new donut cake kit even more than the original conversation heart, if that’s even possible! Find out more about the kit and where to order below.

Founder Elisa Strauss, the pastry chef behind Confetti Cakes, has been making cakes for over 20 years and is the author of two cookbooks, but the cake kits are a new venture in 2021. Elisa says, “Creating a baking kit has been a dream of mine for over a decade! I love teaching, and I want people to feel that they can create amazing cakes at home. Also, being a mom of 3 young kids, I see how wonderful it is to have a fun project, especially around sweets. The most important thing in childhood is to make memories. I hope I am helping people to do that whether they are 6 yrs or 106!”

The kit includes almost everything you need to make three mini cakes that you can decorate to look exactly like glazed donuts: vanilla or chocolate cake mix, buttercream frosting mix, stencils, cake molds, tons of fondant (there are more colors in this kit!) and more. You just need to provide the eggs, milk, oil and butter! There is even a tutorial video available on Confetti Cake's YouTube page. 

Order one for yourself here, $65. 

—Gabby Cullen

All images courtesy of Confetti Cakes 

 

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This Duncan Hines & PEEPS Baking Kit Is Easter in a Box

by Erica Loop

Duncan Hines and PEEPS teamed up to bring you a box filled with everything you need to make scrumptiously sweet spring-time goodies!

Whether you’re a Pinterest-worthy baker or you’re new to the world of brownie batter, the Duncan Hines and PEEPS Spring Baking Kit is the perfect way for your family to celebrate the season in a sugar-packed way. Not only does the kit contain the basic ingredients to make Easter-themed awesomeness, it’s bundled together for one entirely affordable price.

Photo: Amazon

This cute kit includes one box of Duncan Hines Classic White cakes mix, one box of Duncan Hines Classic Fudge Brownie mix, one container of Duncan Hines Classic Vanilla frosting, one container of Duncan Hines Classic Chocolate frosting, three four-count packs of PEEPS Marshmallow Bunnies, two five-count packages of PEEPS Marshmallow Chicks and one inspiration card with decorating and activity tips.

So what can you make with this box-full of baking bliss? Celebrate spring showers (and the rainbows they leave behind) with ooey, gooey chocolate-packed Rainbow Peeps Brownies or bake a batch of PEEPS Brownie Batter Donuts for Easter breakfast.

Find the Duncan Hines and PEEPS Spring Baking Kit on Amazon for $29.95.

—Erica Loop

 

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