Great for family barbecues (or picky pasta eaters) this quick pasta dish takes minutes to throw together and only requires four ingredients—all of which we’re willing to bet you have in your pantry. Rebekah of PDXfoodlove is a big fan of the simple combination of high-quality mayonnaise and freshly ground black pepper. This rich combination really makes the recipe pop. Originally created as a side dish, this Hawaiian Pasta Salad is a must-have recipe for summer. This recipe yields two small servings. You might want to double or triple it if you’re feeding some especially hungry kiddos.

Ingredients for Hawaiian Pasta Salad:

1 c (dry) small pasta, such as shells or elbow macaroni
3 tbsp excellent quality mayonnaise
1 tbsp milk
Lots of freshly ground black pepper

Method:

1. Cook the pasta according to the package directions, and allow it to cool down a bit so as not to curdle your milk. In the meantime, mix the mayo and milk together with a fork to create a mixture a little thicker than say, ranch dressing. You can add milk or mayo to your preference.

2. Stir the two together, and then season with a very very large amount of freshly ground black pepper.

recipe and photo courtesy of Rebekah at PDX Food Love

Few people can say they boast a passion for food like Rebekah at PDXfoodlove. Whether it’s reading about food, thinking about food, or reading about food, Rebekah can never satiate her hunger for all things food. A graphic designer and outdoor enthusiast by day, once in the kitchen, Rebekah dons her apron and whips up seasonal dishes that boast some serious homey comfort. Check out her food blog, PDXfoodlove, for more of her recipes (and her awesome photography!).

Photo: Evelyn Rountree of Love, mamãe

How is it possible to feel anger towards someone you (probably) love more than anything in the world?

When my kids make me angry, that feeling weighs on me more than any of the acts they did to actually get me to that point. So, how do you navigate this feeling when you are already so aware of your own emotions?

Understanding My Anger

I wish there was a moment in my life that would be the “cause” for me ever getting angry at my kids. But the truth is… there isn’t.

I get angry with my kids because I have a heart that beats and a brain that (luckily) functions. I have a body that gets exhausted from sleepless nights and endless chores. I get bored from the lack of adult interaction. There is a point when I just can’t bear changing another doll’s outfit. Or a baby diaper. Or making 7 meals a day.

And so, getting angry with my kids encompasses a daily ritual that sometimes is just Too. Freaking. Boring.

And let’s not confuse boring with “doing nothing.” You can do one thousand things per minute in your day and still feel drained. It doesn’t mean that it’s always boring. Not even that you’d like to be living differently. It simply means that right there, at the moment, you lack something.

What are you lacking in your own life that makes you angry at your kids from time to time?

For me, what I’m usually lacking is a combination of free time plus feeling guilty. Mom-guilt is my number #1 “issue” in my motherhood journey.

I have always been a “free-spirited” person. I would go out to eat at 11 p.m. at night if I wanted to, sometimes I would wake up early on a Saturday morning, pack a bag and start driving until I end up somewhere cool.

My husband and I had dates weekly, I was always surrounded by friends, life was loud and agitated.

The main thing I missed (and miss) is freedom. The freedom to just get up and leave. To grocery shop in peace. Heck, to use the bathroom in peace!

Once you become a mom, those things are gone for a while. And I’m still in the “while”.

And so, I’ve been slowly finding out what works for me.

1. I feel my anger. Give me a good 5 minutes to just be angry (away from the kids) and not try to simply “snap out of it”.

2. I validate my emotions. Taking a few seconds to really think “I am angry because this sucks” or “I am angry because I have just mopped and they threw crackers all over the floor again” and “I am angry because they didn’t sleep all night and now still refuse to nap” or “I am angry because I miss going out alone.” Those are very real reasons that a human being would get angry about.

3. I try not to trap myself into the “guilt” spiral. Things like, “There are moms with kids in the hospital and here I am angry at them for coloring on the walls” are not valid. True, it’s always good to acknowledge your blessings of having healthy, happy kids and a family to care for. But saying things like that invalidate your feelings and, therefore, you don’t work through them. You have a right to feel your emotions.

4. Do not act in anger. I don’t mean to sound cheesy, but this needs to be said. And that’s for everything, especially when it’s about your kids. I am sure you know this, but kids aren’t born malicious or manipulative. They are learning how to navigate through their own little feelings and it’s as hard for them as it is for you, if not more. It’s true, they do not understand WHY they can’t ask the same questions 300 times within a minute even after you’ve told them the answer.

So, for me, I take a beat. If I feel angry, I will step away and let myself feel angry. Cry if I have to. Scream if I need to. I will then come to them and explain, looking in their eyes, why I am angry. And crazy enough, they understand!

Just a few days ago, my almost 3-years-old girl and I had a bad day together. A combination of a bad night, no nap, and pouring rain lead to a difficult day to manage for us.

When my husband got home from work, he saw that we were just not in sync, so, he took her into her room, sat with her, and told her she could cry, scream, whatever she wanted. She was in there with him for a good 15 minutes just crying. And then…silence.

They both came out and she ran to me, and said: “I’m really sorry mommy, I’m ready to sleep now”.

While they were in the room and she was having a meltdown, I was out in the living room having a meltdown of my own. I cried and cried and just felt that anger. So by the time she was hugging me, I was squeezing her back saying “I’m sorry too, mommy is just super tired”.

You see…the both of us didn’t have a good day. It’s easy for me to forget that the tiny human yelling at me isn’t doing that to just make me angry and, while I’m having such a hard time myself, my almost 3-year-old little girl was getting pretty irritated with me too.

But in order for me to comprehend that, I had to first acknowledge, validate and allow my feelings to pour…so that I could let them go.

This post originally appeared on Love, mamãe.
feature image: Ryan Franco via Unsplash

I'm a stay-at-home mom to two toddlers, ages 3 and 1. Also a wife, a homemaker, business owner, and the heart behind the motherhood blog "Love, mamãe". My goal? To help mothers survive the toddler years with joy, grace, and sanity!

Move over PSL, there’s a new fall drink in town! The Apple Crisp Macchiato has fallen in a Starbucks cup near you and it sounds absolutely magical. Complete with a caramelized apple drizzle on top!

The latest and greatest fall beverage is available at Starbucks nationwide starting today and we don’t blame you if you’re drooling over your screen. You can expect layered flavors of apple and brown sugar along with the classic base of espresso and steamed milk. The topper is made of apple juice, apple puree, cinnamon and nutmeg, so it also smells amazing. Basically an apple pie in drink form, it’s available hot or iced for whatever weather you experience this fall.

Starbucks says its research and development team taste tested a variety of apple flavored items before landing on the newest macchiato. The combination of the gooey taste of apple crisp and a hot cup of coffee was too good to pass up!

“Creating an ingredient with a spicy baked apple flavor was crucial to be able to bridge an autumn red apple to espresso,” said Raegan Powell, senior manager on the Starbucks research and development team. “Consider how well a delicious slice of warm apple pie pairs with a cup of coffee or how well the combination of Starbucks roasty signature espresso pairs with warm spices such as cinnamon and nutmeg.”

Like the rest of Starbucks’ fall lineup, this one is only available for a limited time. Pairing with a slice of pie or a cider donut is optional (but highly encouraged).

––Sarah Shebek

All images courtesy of Starbucks

 

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What’s on trend for the upcoming school year? Stitch Fix, the clothing delivery service, studied shopping data for kid clients and came up with a list of the hottest requests for 2021. From tie dye to loungewear, read on for the results!

Matching lounge sets have surged in popularity among the adult crowd and they’re big for kids, too. An overwhelming majority (87%) of kid clients want coordinated outfits, aka head-to-toe matching sets. And they want them to be easy to wear: the keyword “cozy” went up 65% over the last year. Stitch Fix is calling this combination “chillwear” and adding a new shopping category as a result.

Tie dye isn’t a passing trend for the kid crowd. Requests for the popping pattern at Stitch Fix were up 192% in the last year! In the world of graphic tees, messages around positivity and kindness or outdoor themes are the most popular.

Finally, sporty clothes are here to stay. Stitch Fix’s top 10 most-loved kid styles are all active brands, including Under Armour, Nike and Adidas. Activewear requests have gone up 68% from last year and requests for joggers are up a whopping 138%.

So when you’re making your back-to-school shopping list, don’t be surprised if you hear requests for sporty sets or tie dye. They’re on trend, but better yet, they’re comfortable for both study and play! And if you really don’t want to brave the crowds, you can use Kids Fix for affordable, styled clothes sent straight to your home.

—Sarah Shebek

Featured image courtesy of Stitch Fix

 

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The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has announced that Kidde is recalling several different smoke and combination alarms due to a failure to alert consumers to a fire. The alarms were sold at retailers nationwide between May 2019 and September 2020.

This recall involves Kidde TruSense Smoke Alarms and Combination Smoke/Carbon Monoxide Alarms. The model numbers are 2040, 2050, 2060 and 2070, located on the back of the alarm. Only alarms with the TruSense logo or “AMBER=FAULT” printed on the front of the alarm are included in this recall. They were sold for between $10 and $70 and about 226,000 units are involved.

No incidents or injuries have been reported. Customers should immediately contact Kidde for a replacement alarm. In the meantime, continue using the current alarm until the replacement can be installed.

—Sarah Shebek

Image courtesy of the Consumer Product Safety Commission

 

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Cold Stone Creamery is ready to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day—with a new Lucky Charms themed flavor in a cool Creation and a super-sweet shake!

Treat your kiddos to something special on St. Paddy’s Day (or any day leading up to the holiday) with Cold Stone Creameries latest Creation. The treat starts with a base of Lucky Charms Ice Cream and just gets more and more magical from there.

Along with Lucky Charms Ice Cream, The Ice Cream at the End of the Rainbow Creation includes double the Lucky Charms Marshmallows, whipped topping and gold glitter. Nest your topped treat in a green waffle cone or a bowl.

If your kiddos want something sweet to slurp, the Sprinkled with Charms Shake is also covered in magical Lucky Charms Marshmallows, whipped topping and gold glitter!

Sara Schmillen, vice president of marketing at Kahala Brands (the parent company of Cold Stone Creamery) said, in a press release, “Cold Stone Creamery is delighted to partner with General Mills this month to bring the magic beyond the cereal bowl and introduce this limited time flavor.” Schmillen added, “Guests of all ages will enjoy the nostalgia of this combination, and it’s sure to bring some luck your way!”

Both St. Patrick’s Day Lucky Charms menu options are available Mar. 1-31, 2021 in Cold Stone Creamery stores nationwide.

—Erica Loop

Photos courtesy of PR Newsfoto/Cold Stone Creamery

 

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What says “spring time” better than chocolate and lemon? In honor of the impending warmer weather, Dove is launching a special edition of its’ silky smooth chocolate just in time for Easter.

Dove Promises White Chocolate & Lemon Meringue chocolates are the perfect combination of tangy and sweet. Each 6.3 ounce bag coms with 24 chocolates in adorable lemon-themed wrappers.

photo: Target

Can Dove truly pull off the luxurious feel of meringue in this sweet new treat? Only a taste test will tell.

You can find Dove Promises White Chocolate & Lemon Meringue at your fave stores like Target and Walmart during the season for $3.99 a bag.

––Karly Wood

 

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Lisa Tschirlig Hoelzle’s two kids were only playing in the basement for 10 minutes when her son Noah came in with news. Abigail had “something stuck in her hair,” and that something turned out to be a mom’s worst nightmare.

Noah had poured an entire container of “Bunchems” on Abigail’s hair––tiny velcro toys that are normally used to create shapes and animals. The little girl now had nearly 150 of the sticky toys tangled in her hair––a result of the kiddos trying to get them out before calling on mom. Lisa describes the coming ordeal as an “out of body experience” and we tend to agree.

Overall, it took 20 hours for Lisa to remove the tangly toys, using a combination of mineral oil, a comb and a whole lot of patience. Mom even shared with Red Tricycle that “The true miracle was that my Abigail was so amazing with it she was comforting my tears

❤️
.”

Since the ordeal, Lisa shares that she has received countless photos from other families who’ve all dealt with the issue. She was even contacted by an elementary teacher who purchased them for indoor play and one Bunchem got stuck in a student’s hair. The teacher shared that it took the assistant principal and nurse an hour to get out one!

Lisa has filed a formal complain with Spin Master, the maker of Bunchems, especially pointing out the warning label that says “may get tangled in your hair” is not strong enough. She says that an additional warning should be included that addresses that the toys can can become matted in hair––and that including a shower cap would definitely help!

––Karly Wood

 

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Take a virtual field trip to the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum. Starting tomorrow the museum is launching a robust schedule of interactive programs highlighted by daily livestreams on Twitch, YouTube and Facebook.  The programming will leverage the Museum’s unique position at the intersection of history, science, technology and innovation.

Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum

Delivered by a combination of in-house experts and special guests, the content will feature:

  • Interactive conversations with astronauts, scientists, astronomers, aviation experts and other guests
  • Opportunities to discover the science, technology and stories behind some of the world’s most fascinating aircraft, spacecraft, ships and submarines such as the space shuttle Enterprise, British Airways Concorde and the famed Lockheed A-12
  • Behind-the-scenes looks at the Museum and its artifacts including spaces that are little-seen or off-limits to the public
  • A chance to follow along with the process of maintaining and restoring their famed aircraft collection

 Complete information and an updated schedule can be found at intrepidmuseum.org/live-streams.

—Jennifer Swartvagher

Featured photo: Nathan J. on Unsplash

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Just when you thought there couldn’t be a better chocolatey combination. The Whozeewhatzit bar, the Whatchamacallit brand’s first new bar in a decade, takes wacky, crazy, crunchy and chewy to a new level. The brand new bar, which has an added peanut butter crème layer and delicious rice crisps, all covered in chocolate. 

Whozeewhatzit

Last year, the Whatchamacallit brand asked fans to submit their most creative naming ideas for the new bar. The winner was to receive $500 and a year’s supply of chocolatey goodness. After 43,000+ entries, the Whatchamacallit brand declared the name Whozeewhatzit, submitted by Lisa M. from Framingham, Mass., the winner.

“The new Whozeewhatzit bar has all the wacky, crazy, chew-tastic perks that Whatchamacallit fans love, plus a few more,” said Jenna Hamm, Whatchamacallit Brand Manager. “There were lots of great submissions but none that captured the bar’s irresistible characteristics while still paying homage to the beloved Whatchamacallit brand quite like the name Whozeewhatzit.

If you can’t wait to get your hands on the new Whozeewhatzit bar you don’t have long to wait. You will be able to find them in a 1.5 oz. standard size ($1.11) and a 3 oz. king size ($1.66) at retailers nationwide beginning February 2021. 

—Jennifer Swartvagher

Featured photo courtesy of Hershey’s

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