This colorful holiday is all about excess. But while we love all the buttery, sugary, deep-fried goodness that this epic celebration is known for, we aren’t huge fans of all the cheap, wasteful junk that passes as decorations this time of year. So we committed to making a Mardi Gras mask from things we already had around the house. From old costume jewelry, we haven’t worn in years to craft paints on the verge of drying up to a handful of colorful feathers, we pulled together a magical mask without making more waste. Party on!

 

What You'll Need

1. Creativity: All these materials are optional, and we recommend just looking through what's in your recycling bin, craft area and jewelry box for any items that will work. We used the following.

2. A sheet of yellow foam paper for the mask base. We were out of yellow paint, so this was the solution! Before we stumbled on this at the bottom of the craft box, we had sliced a rectangle of cardboard off the box that held the garbage bags.

3. Paint, markers or glitter glue. Traditional Mardi Gras colors are yellow, green and purple, but we promise, any colorful outfit will be welcome on Mardi Gras.

5. Feathers and glue.

6. 3-4 rubber bands connected into a daisy chain.

7. An old beaded necklace that we deconstructed.

Other suggestions: Colorful cereal, macaroni or other pasta, beans, glitter, googley eyes, sequins or gems. 

 

What to Do

1. Cut a mask shape out of your base. Leave a little extra space up top to hold plenty of feathers or other decorations.

2. Draw a simple diamond pattern. If you have paint, outline a simple diamond pattern (a traditional Mardi Gras motif) and have your child paint it in.

3. Decorate! Now that you have a simple, Mardi Gras-themed based, just go nuts! We used two layers of feathers for the top, then decorated with beads.

4. Use a hole punch or scissors to make two holes for the rubber band.

5. Don your mask and DANCE!

 

–Erin Feher

All images courtesy of the author

Feature image: Izzy Park via Unsplash

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The moment the kids head back to school the world pivots away from summer and is in full-on pumpkin spice mode. But what happens if you can’t stand the taste of pumpkin? You’re probably a salted caramel fan!

Swiss Miss is here for the autumn season with its newest cocoa blend. Salted Caramel brings the buttery taste of caramel with the perfect pinch of salt to have you dreaming of scarves and crunchy leaves.

The 8-pack box is a steal at $1.69 and is already available on Amazon and Target. Happy fall, ya’ll!

––Karly Wood

 

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Are you a fan of Joanna Gaines and her Magnolia Table cooking show? On episode six, which is currently available on Discovery+, JoJo shared her buttery biscuit recipe that is to die for.

Now, for the first time ever, you can step away from the stove and order Joanna’s biscuit dough! The frozen dough will be available on the Magnolia website starting Apr. 1 alongside other baked goodies and coffee.

You can order a dozen biscuits for $25 plus $15 shipping as soon as Apr. 1 arrives. Can’t wait that long? You can try your hand and making the recipe yourself, which Joanna has shared on her website.

––Karly Wood

All photos: Courtesy of Magnolia

 

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Forget about fruit-flavored jelly beans. Dunkin’ is pairing up with Frankford Candy to bring coffee lovers a whole new super-sweet experience!

Iced coffee doesn’t only come in a cup at Dunkin’. Now the beloved brand is treating fans of the company’s coffee menu to a tasty selection of jelly beans inspired by some of the most notable signature drinks.

photo courtesy of Dunkin’

Whether you prefer a burst of buttery pecan, are nuts for coconut, or prefer another flavor profile, the new jelly bean bag includes everything coffee-lovers would or could want. Dunkin’ Iced Coffee Flavored Jelly Beans feature favorites such as French Vanilla, Butter Pecan, Caramel Latte, Hazelnut and Toasted Coconut.

Brian Gilbert, Vice President of Retail Business Development at Dunkin’, said in a press release, “Jelly beans are such a classic and popular part of the holiday and seasonal celebration.: Gilbert continued, “We are thrilled to team up with Frankford Candy, the leader in confections that have delighted Americans for decades, to create a fun and sweet new way for people to enjoy the great taste of Dunkin’.”

Get your iced coffee in jelly bean form ASAP. The Dunkin’ Iced Coffee Flavored Jelly Beans are only available for a limited time. Find the fun flavors at participating Walgreens and Rite Aid stores ($3.49/bag).

—Erica Loop

 

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Check your freezers. Nestlé Prepared Foods is recalling approximately 762,615 pounds of frozen pepperoni hot pockets product that may be contaminated with extraneous materials, specifically pieces of glass and hard plastic, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced.

Hot Pocket Recall

The frozen not-ready-to-eat (NRTE) pepperoni hot pockets product was produced from Nov. 13, 2020 through Nov. 16, 2020. The product has a shelf life of 14 months. 

54-oz carton packages containing 12 “Nestlé Hot Pockets Brand Sandwiches: Premium Pepperoni Made With pork Chicken & Beef Pizza Garlic Buttery Crust with a Best Before Feb. 2022 date and lot codes 0318544624, 0319544614, 0320544614, and 0321544614.

The product subject to recall bears establishment number “EST. 7721A” inside the USDA mark of inspection. The product was shipped to retail locations nationwide.

The problem was discovered when the firm received four consumer complaints of extraneous material in the pepperoni hot pocket product. The firm has received one report of a minor oral injury associated with consumption of this product. FSIS has received no additional reports of injury or illness from consumption of this product. Anyone concerned about an injury or illness should contact a healthcare provider.

FSIS is concerned that some product may be frozen and in consumers’ freezers. Consumers who have purchased this product are urged not to consume it. This product should be thrown away or returned to the place of purchase.

Consumers with questions about the recall can contact Nestlé consumer services at (800) 350-5016. 

—Jennifer Swartvagher

Featured photo: U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service 

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Is cheese your love language? Send a complimentary heart-shaped box of delicious Wisconsin Cheese to your sweetheart. Just in time for Valentine’s Day, beginning today, through Jan. 31st, you can nominate the cheese-lover in your life to receive one of 500 limited edition gift boxes from Wisconsin, The State of Cheese.  

Wisconsin Cheese

Each limited edition box features a selection of five specialty Wisconsin cheeses, crafted by multi-generation cheesemakers including Master Cheesemakers, and sponsored by the experts at Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin. To personalize the gift, nominators can add the lucky recipient’s name to a cheesy greeting – with a friendly light-hearted option for colleagues and neighbors, a sweet note for friends and family or a sexy fromage-filled poem for the most daring and romantic cheese lovers.

“It’s the season of love, and this year we’re thinking beyond traditional symbols of romance for a more inclusive holiday that everyone can enjoy. From now until Valentine’s Day, we’re taking the pressure for receiving a rose off the table and celebrating our love for all things cheese,” says Suzanne Fanning, Chief Marketing Officer for Wisconsin Cheese and Senior Vice President for Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin. “In Wisconsin, cheese is our love language, and we know many of our fans across the country feel the same way, so this is a “grate” way to celebrate with cheese lovers nationwide.”

Wisconsin Cheese

Wisconsin specialty cheeses featured in the heart-shaped gift box include:

  • Crave Brothers Chocolate Mascarpone – Sweet cream kissed with chocolate, this velvety ambrosia adds a touch of luxury to desserts and can be enjoyed as a dip for fresh strawberries as your meal’s pièce de résistance. 
  • Cedar Grove Butterkäse – Short for “buttery cheese” because of its soft and silky, buttery texture, this decadently creamy cheese will make anyone who tastes it instantly swoon.
  • Wood River Creamery Black Truffle Cheddar Gruyere – The aromatic truffle married to this aged cheddar and gruyere blend creates a complex and sophisticated flavor that your date will surely want to linger over.
  • Roth Buttermilk Blue – Stop the world and melt your loved one’s heart with this award-winning luscious and creamy blue cheese. Simply drizzle with honey to soften any mood.
  • Henning’s Maple Bourbon Cheddar – Perfect for anyone with sophisticated taste, this full-bodied white cheddar charms with mouthwatering hints of maple, caramel and molasses, and surprises as a delightful pair with chocolate truffles.

Find cheese gifts, pairing guides, Valentine’s Day recipes – including Chocolate-Raspberry Mascarpone Fondue, Mini Chocolate Covered Strawberry Cheesecakes and more on WisconsinCheese.com.

—Jennifer Swartvagher

All photos courtesy 

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Start off 2021 on the right scoop. Baskin-Robbins wants fans to embrace their love for chocolate and treat themselves in the new year. Indulge in a decadent chocolate experience with the January Flavor of the Month, Chocolate Trilogy.

Chocolate Trilogy

Available for a limited time only Chocolate Trilogy is an explosion of chocolatey goodness, swirled to creamy perfection. Bringing together the best that chocolate has to offer with each unforgettable bite, Chocolate Trilogy combines the toasted, earthy notes of malted chocolate, the buttery, sweet flavor of white chocolate, and the classically delicious, milky flavor of Belgian chocolate to create a delightfully decadent chocolate experience. 

“We wanted to take a classic flavor and elevate it to a whole new level by combining multiple chocolate flavors,” said Jeanne Bolger, Director of Research and Development.. “We wanted to create something familiar, yet exciting, and highly crave-able.”

This new flavor is the ultimate treat for even the most discerning chocolate lover’s palette, this brand new flavor is perfect in a scoop or as a seriously delicious milkshake.

—Jennifer Swartvagher

Featured photo: Baskin-Robbins

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Decorating holiday cookies is a beloved tradition in many households. If baking is not your thing or if you are short on time Sam’s Clubs has the answer. The popular warehouse store just dropped the most adorable DIY Christmas cookies in clubs across the US. 

Sam's Club DIY Cookie Kit

These kits are perfect for a family activity or a tasty date night at home just before the holidays, so get them while you can.

Sam's Club DIY Cookie Kit

The 18-pack of DIY tree and bell-shaped buttery crisp cookies comes with 3 pastry bags pre-filled with red, green and white icing. Sam’s Club also includes holiday-themed sprinkles, all for just $5.98.

Sam's Club DIY Cookie Kit

You can also snag a 20-count pack of gingerbread cookies to decorate with the same fun icing and toppings, also for just $5.98.

—Jennifer Swartvagher

All photos courtesy of Sam’s Club

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Thanksgiving may not be a huge family affair this year, but KiwiCo is here to make sure your kiddos are entertained.

The STEAM project leader has curated several a la carte crates and free DIYs that will up your Thanksgiving activities in a big way. Designed for kids ages three to 16, there’s a little something for everyone this Turkey Day.

photo: KiwiCo

A few of KiwiCo’s offerings include the Science of Cooking: Bread & Butter kit ($19.95). The five and older kit helps kids discover the science of cooking while baking! Kiddos will have the tools to whip up baked goods and buttery spreads.

In addition to paid kits, you can get your hands on several free DIY activities, too! Check out turkey bowling for kids three to eight, and pumpkin powder for give to 16 year olds where kids can see how many volts a pumpkin can produce!

––Karly Wood

 

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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. 

Butterbeer

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!”

Flying Cauldron will be giving away five cases of their butterscotch beer, along with sweet treats from Toasted Mallow, for one lucky winner. 

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.

—Jennifer Swartvagher

Featured photo: Flying Cauldron

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