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!).
Shopping at Costco can be a bit of an adventure––you never know what kind of treasure you may find. While we can’t get enough of the bulk paper products, oversized bags of cheese and furniture choices, the warehouse retailer also sells some interesting and expensive items you may not know about. Keep scrolling to see our roundup of some of the more ridiculous things you can check out on your next Costco run.
Mario Andretti Signed 1969 Camaro Pool Table
For the game room, how about this unique pool table? Signed by the legendary car driver, it's got real rims, tires and working lights, and can be yours for only $19,999. There's even a white glove delivery service included!
Mountain House 1-Year Food Storage
You never know when disaster will strike, but Costco has you covered. For the bargain price of $5,000, you can outfit your home with 3,986 total servings of food to get you through whatever comes your way. With 220 cans that cover entrees for breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks and a shelf life of up to 30 years, that zombie apocalypse's got nothing on you.
D’Artagnan Premium Locker Pack of Sustainable Meats 41 lbs.
While the idea of having enough chicken, steak and pork to last a year seems like good planning, we're not even sure who would have the freezer space to store 41 lbs. of meat! If you do, it'll only cost you $499.99 to have this delivered to your door.
Cheese lover? This 72 lb. Kirkland Signature Whole Wheel of Parmigiano Reggiano is for you! Imported from Italy, the 24-month aged cheese is actually quite a steal at $12.50 per pound. The beautiful rind make it a great gift or wedding appetizer!
Don't have your own wine cellar? No problem! Costco stocks the Wine Enthusiast 300 which holds––you guessed it––300 of your fave vino bottles! The compressor-cooled fridge comes with Vino View so you can proudly display those fancy labels and a surprisingly affordable price tag of $1,899.99
Round Brilliant 10.03 ct Diamond Platinum Solitaire Ring
Show how much you care by picking up a stunning diamond platinum solitaire ring on your next Costco run. This 10 carat, near colorless diamond has a VS1 rating and a gorgeous platinum band. Act fast––there's only one available and at $420,000 you don't know when this ring will be gone forever.
Urns & Caskets
Costco is all about putting affordable products at your fingertips so it's no surprise they stock a line of urns and caskets. Plan ahead or order in a pinch, most of the products for funeral needs are under $1,000 and make the details of a difficult time a little easier.
Looking to buy a home or refinance? Check with Costco before you do! Members can take advantage of the warehouse's Mortgage Program where up to four lenders will communicate with you on available loans. Costco also offers Veteran options, too!
Almost Heaven Fayette 6-person Steam Sauna
Stop wasting money on a gym membership and just buy your own 6-person sauna the next time you head to Costco. The Almost Heaven Steam Sauna ($4,700) is a sound investment that heats in 30-60 minutes up to 190°F. The outdoor designed product is made with thick cedar, comes with two long benches, backlighting and is "easy" to install in just 4-5 hours.
Osaki OS-4D Pro Maestro Massage Chair
Forget expensive spa memberships when you can come home to a great massage in your $3500 Osaki Massage Chair. The in-home treatment features Bluetooth speakers, touchscreen remote, 3D heated rollers, and knee kneading, toe, foot and ankle air massage.
Gorilla Playsets Wilderness Retreat II Playset
We are all about kids having fun, and if you're ready to fork over the $4,000 it takes to play on the Gorilla Playsets Wilderness Retreat II Playset then more power to you! Your backyard will be the talk of the town with the unit's two play decks, three slides, two swing stations, one ring station, rock-climbing wall, fort and picnic table, phew! And don't worry––installation is included.
You’re used to the big red bullseye retailer’s partnerships with clothing designers and interior designers. Now the beloved brand is teaming up with a plant enthusiast/interior stylist, Hilton Carter!
Get ready to green your home with Hilton Carter for Target, starting May 14. The limited-edition line includes 65 products, featuring both live and faux plants along with accessories.
Jill Sando, executive vice president and chief merchandising officer, Target, said in a press release, “As people have spent more time at home over the past year, our guests are increasingly looking for ways to add more comfort and personality to their surroundings. Searches for plants on Target.com have increased by more than 300% over the last year – a clear indicator that guests want to bring some of the outdoors inside to brighten up their space.”
Interior stylist and line creator Hilton Carter added, “This collection of greenery and accessories was designed with the intention to inspire all—from the novice plant parent to the green thumb expert—and help everyone introduce a little more greenery into their space.”
Find Hilton Carter for Target (prices range from $5 to $130) in Target stores and at Target.com.
LEGO has launched a fan-fave set! For the first time ever Sesame Street will appear in LEGO form in the new building kit, 123 Sesame Street.
The set was conceptualized and voted on through the LEGO Idea program, which gives fans the opportunity to submit their own ideas that can be brought to life with a LEGO master designer. Sesame Street 123 was a product of Sesame Street fan and LEGO enthusiast, Ivan Guerrero.
The new set brings together the details of the famed New York City neighborhood and includes Bert and Ernie’s apartment, Big Bird’s nest, Hooper’s Store and Oscar the Grouch’s trash can. The set comes with minifigures such as Cookie Monster, Elmo, Big Bird, Bert Ernie and of course, Oscar the Grouch.
The1,367-piece set measures 9” high, 13.5” wide and 8.2” deep and is for creators 18 years and older.
Sesame Street 123 retails for $119.99 and is available exclusively at LEGO retail stores and LEGO.com.
Krispy Kreme is teaming up with OREO for a doughnut experience that’s nothing less than extraordinary! Whether you’re a devote doughnut enthusiast, adore OREOs, or just can’t stay away from anything covered in cookie-coated frosting, this combo is for you.
The beloved brand is transforming the iconic Krispy Kreme glaze waterfall into an all-new OREO infused creation, starting Apr. 5. The Krispy Kreme and OREO pairing marks the first time in 84 years that the doughnut maker will partner with another company to create a new flavor of glaze.
Photo: Krispy Kreme
Krispy Kreme marketing office, Dave Skena, said in a press release, “We’ve taken everything fans love about OREO Cookies and ‘glazeifed’ it.”
The Krispy Kreme-OREO glaze will coat two new doughnuts—the OREO Cookie Glazed Doughnut (an original glazed doughnut covered in the special OREO glazed, stuffed with Cookies and KREME, and covered in an OREO Cookie piece icing drizzle) and the OREO Cookie Over-the-Top Doughnut (an OREO Cookie Glazed Doughnut with a Cookies and KREME filling topping, covered with a drizzle of chocolate icing, and finished with an OREO wafer).
The two new doughnuts debut nationally for a limited time starting Apr. 5, 2021.
Do you have a little LEGO enthusiast at home? Then start prepping that resume because the LEGO Group is conducting a search for its first-ever Kid Creative Director to join the Kids Creative Studio!
Inspired by the launch of LEGO VIDIYO, Kids Creative Studio is a team of uber-creative kids that is focused on highlighting the imaginations of youth today. The future Kid Creative Director will onboard to a team of well-known kid creators, creative professionals from the LEGO Group and Universal Music Group.
photo: LEGO
So what exactly do the duties entail? Together with the team of other creators, the director will use LEGO VIDIYO and other creative tools to produce music videos, engaging content and a commercial that will launch this summer. Did we mention they will also receive $10,000 to put towards education and potting their creative endeavors to good use?
“We’re thrilled to be able to empower kids to keep doing what they’ve been doing the last year and truly honor this creativity,” said Amanda Madore, senior brand relations manager at LEGO Systems, Inc. “We’ve seen the ways kids are reimagining play and the innovative ways they interact with their peers. We believe now is the perfect time to celebrate this creativity by turning over the creative reins to them, recognizing and rewarding kids for being the true creative superstars they are.”
The opportunity is open for kids ages seven to 17 beginning Mar. 12 at 8 a.m. EST through Apr. 19. Kids can submit a parent-approved video that shows off their creative skills by heading here.
Want to learn more about Kids Creative Studio and the talent search? Just click here.
Are you an amusement park enthusiast to the max? If you’re a carousel connoisseur or rave about roller coasters to no end, Clementon Park in New Jersey has a deal you’ll want to learn more about.
The park, which was founded in 1907, is for sale—and now you can live out your daydreams and become its sole owner!
photo courtesy of PRNewswire/CRG
So how does one go about buying an entire amusement park? Clementon Park in Clementon, New Jersey will hit the auction block on Mar. 23. Capitol Recovery Group (CRG), a global private equity firm, is auctioning the park as a whole or split into individual parts. This means you can score an entire amusement park with everything you need included or just buy the land, amusement equipment, rides, buildings, or liquor license.
CRG President Bill Firestone said, in a press release, “We are actively seeking a buyer for this iconic park located outside of Philadelphia and expect significant interest in the auction.” Firestone added, “The property includes a 25-acre lake, dam, amusement rides, a water park and a full liquor license.”
Way back in 1907 Clementon was founded by Theodore Gibbs and his sons as a “trolley park.” Located at the end of a trolley line, the park was initially built to encourage weekend ridership. Clementon was family owned until 2011. The park closed its doors in 2019.
If you’re ready to turn your dreams into a reality—bidders can register for the auction on CRG’s website here.
You’re looking for a fun-filled way to celebrate St. Patty’s Day. If your little leprechaun-enthusiast has already crafted shamrocks in spades and painted plenty of pots of gold, Lucky Charms has a whole new way to make this day special.
Lucky Charms wants your kiddos to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day in a colorful way. The beloved breakfast brand recently introduced a limited-edition version of the marshmallow-packed cereal—and it makes milk magical!
photo: Courtesy of Lucky Charms
The Green Milk Turn Lucky Charms cereal has magical clovers that, as the name implies, turn milk green. Forget about messy food coloring tricks. All you need to turn your child’s St. Patrick’s Day breakfast green is a box of the cereal and a bowl filled with plain milk. Your child will delight in the magical transformation that happens before their eyes.
To nab a box of this limited-edition cereal you’ll have to act fast. Green Milk Turn Lucky Charms is available this February, but only while supplies last. Fine the soon-to-be St. Patrick’s Day fave in cereal aisles nationwide for the suggested retail price of $3.33.
Not only is the opportunity to be a mom a miracle in itself, but the way a woman’s body is able to change and prioritize the creation of life is simply beautiful. However, the reality is that postpartum isn’t always easy. A fitness enthusiast for over 5 years, I transformed by body to be as healthy and “”prepared” for baby when my husband and I decided to try and conceive. I was strong in the gym, my endurance was better than it ever had been—I loved my body!
My birth story is a little different than most. I delivered a micro-preemie at just 24 weeks via emergency C-section—my son arrived weighing just 1lb 10oz. I had gained 30lbs at this point and pairing weight gain with the painful recovery of a C-section, it took an extreme toll on my mental health. Regardless of my birth story, my postpartum struggles are like most new moms. Stress. Anxiety. Unfamiliarity with this new “”normal”” life. And like so many times before, fitness became my outlet.
But it was different…I had half the time, not much endurance, I lost nearly all my core strength and muscle tone and my body just didn’t move like it used to. For the first time in years, fitness was hard…really hard! But as moms do and do best…we adapt! We take charge and we forge on.
How I was able to take charge of my postpartum fitness journey:
Self-affirmations – My body may never be the same again, after all, it created a baby! But it is my body and I will love my body how it is.
Listen to your body – Instead of trying to fit myself into a thought of what I SHOULD be like postpartum, I let my body decide and take charge.
Nutrition – I ate with the main purpose of providing nutrients for my baby. Healthy carbs and fats such as oatmeal, eggs, lean proteins, and vegetables kept my milk supply up, and slowly allowed weight to come off.
Time – I used to know her, but not so much anymore. My workouts had to be simple, quick, and most times at home. I made sure to incorporate a balance of resistance band training along with free weights and cardio.
Stretch – Mobility is key, so I found stretching and keeping my body in motion was essential to a full and healthy recovery.
1
Resistance Bands
Tone and Shape
$8
These are totally clutter free, can literally be hung on a wall or put away in a drawer. Resistance bands can be worn around your thigh or ankles for extra leg and booty tone and sculpting.
Mobility and stretching are some of the most forgotten part of fitness. Your body has been through so much, it is important to stretch and recover often. These mats are so soft you can use them anywhere.
Lovevery has become a trusted brand, offering curated play kits for each stage of development. Today, they announced that they will be expanding their Play Kits line. Now, they will offer the perfect play essentials for toddlers ages two to three years old.
Lovevery understands how critical the first three years in a child’s life is for their mental development. Lovevery worked with researchers and specialists to design their Play Kits subscription, offering stage-appropriate play products delivered on a schedule that aligns with the baby’s development. With their newest Two-Year-Old kits Lovevery extends their mission to take the guesswork out of how babies learn and take some of the pressure off of parents.
The new Play Kits offer products for toddlers between 25 – 36 months and start at just $36/month when purchasing a subscription upfront:
The Helper (25-27 months) strengthens a toddler’s independence
The Enthusiast (28-30 months) develops a toddler’s practical life skills
The Investigator (31-33 months) enables a toddler to explore early concepts in STEM
The Free Spirit (34-36 months) further develops a toddler’s creativity with imaginative play
Each piece in all of Lovevery’s Play Kits is sustainably sourced using FSC certified, organic cotton fabrics, water-based non-toxic paint and finishes, and carbon-neutral shipping. Programs ship every 3 months for $120 per kit ($40/month of play).
From newborns to toddlers, Lovevery makes just what your child needs at every stage: toys, books, activities, and ideas for play. Every two to three months, a carefully curated Play Kit shows up on your doorstep, filled with expertly designed and meticulously researched playthings for your child’s growing brain. Baby kits (0-12 months) ship every other month, while toddler kits (13-36 months) ship every three months. Play Kits start at just $36/month when purchasing a subscription upfront.
