There’s even an edible recipe on our list!

It wiggles, jiggles, and entertains your kiddos endlessly. It’s slime—and your child can’t get enough of this ooey, gooey sensory material. From the basic building blocks and rad recipes to awesome explorations that glow, puff, fluff, and more, check out the slime videos for kids that your science-loving littles will watch constantly.

Super-Easy Slime

Is this your first time making slime? Don’t stress over the recipe. You don’t have to figure out ratios of ingredients or mixing times by yourself. Check out this easy peasy slime video tutorial from Courtney Wohl—for beginners!

Basic Slime with Add-Ins

WhatsUpMoms brings you a Borax-free slime recipe that you can add almost anything into. This slime seriously stretches and is completely easy to customize.

Giant Slime

Mary and Izzy of Life with Brothers have more glue than you could imagine. Watch and see what happens when these two creative kids mix every bottle and jug they have in arm’s reach.

Non-Toxic Slime

While your kiddos can’t eat this ooey-gooey recipe, it is safer to play with. Crazy Kool’s video recipe details the entire process, including the not-so-toxic materials you’ll need.

More Borax-Free Slime

If you don’t feel comfortable adding this cleaning product to your slime recipe, check out this pantry pick-packed option!

Mystery Wheel of Slime

Yes, this video is exactly what the name sounds like. EvanTube HD’s mystery wheel of slime challenge shows what happens when you add random ingredients to a favorite slime recipe. Along with plenty of glitter glue, this duo also mixes in cereal, popcorn, and more.

Make Slime in the Microwave

AmazingStuff’s microwave slime uses kitchen-friendly picks. This recipe is ideal for sensory explorations or concerns about slime safety.

Fluffy Slime

Gillian Bower’s Borax-packed slime is like a dreamy little cloud. This video can help you to make fluffy, puffy slime in a rainbow of colors. You can also learn how to make a textured fluffy slime that feels as amazingly awesome as it looks.

Glow-in-the-Dark Slime

Mister C from Learning Science Is Fun gives a detailed description of how to make glowing slime! This Borax recipe is an awesome exploration for older kids and tweens.

More Glowing Slime

Gross Science’s glow paint slime video can help older kids learn more about the science behind this type of rad recipe.

Let SIRI Pick the Slime

Karina and Ronald of Sis vs Bro let SIRI pick the ingredients for their latest batch of slime. While you might not want to dry the exact recipe in the clip, the SIRI challenge will give your kiddos the giggles!

Glitter Slime

 

Melissa Swigart’s glitter slime recipe can help you whip up batches of shining fun—and you’ll only need to use three ingredients. To find out what the big three mix-ins are, check out the YouTube tutorial.

The Wrong Milk

Is it milk or glue? This hilarious challenge from Life with Brothers gives Mary and Izzy choices that may, or may not, make their slime recipes better.

Unicorn Slime

Your littles are into everything unicorn. Don’t let the rainbow-filled fun stop now. Amy Locurto’s rainbow unicorn slime is everything your kids could imagine and so much more.

Blindfolded Slime Challenge

What would happen if your kiddos tried to mix a batch of slime blindfolded? In this hilarious clip, you’ll get an answer. 

 

The synthesized pop music. The colorful neon clothes. The totally tubular language adults needed a key to—like—decipher. We love everything about the ’80s, especially ’80s food and candy. Take a trip down memory lane with some of our gastronomical favorites from the most rad decade you ever lived through.

Hostess Pudding Pie

YouTube

Flaky crust, creaming pudding filling, tons of corn syrup, and shortening? What didn't we love about this now-discontinued '80s food? 

Slice Soda

Ebay

Introduced by Pepsi Co. in 1984, and replaced by Sierra Mist in most markets by 2000, Slice was THE fruit-flavored soda to drink in the '80s. 

Smurf-Berry Crunch Cereal

via ebay

The only thing better than watching the Smurfiest show around on Saturday mornings was sitting down to do it with a bowl of Smurf-Berry Crunch in your lap. Total kid bliss.

 

TCBY Yogurt

courtesy tcby.com

Your kids enjoy theirs with every topping under the sun. But when FroYo debuted on the scene the flavors were the main (and only) feature, and TCBY was where you went to get it.

Bagel Bites

YouTube

Pizza in the morning, pizza in the evening ... you remember it. While Bagel Bites were largely popular well into the '90s, they had their birth in the good ole '80s, and we're darn proud of that. There was nothing quite rushing home, popping some Bagel Bites in the oven, and subsequently burning the roof of your mouth with piping hot cheese.

Available at target.com

Ecto Cooler

Amazon

There was no shortage of sugary drinks in the '80s, but none so exciting as Hi-C's repackage of their Citrus Cooler into Ecto Cooler. You could watch your fave episodes of The Real Ghostbusters and sip the drink in all its glory.

 

Quisp Cereal

eBay

You could never quite figure out what this guy was and why he wasn’t the star of one of your favorite video games. These are just a few of many deep kid thoughts you had over bowl after bowl of this crunchy corn cereal.

Push Pop Candy

Amazon

The original packing for this popular '80s candy looked like it walked right off the set of Saved by the Bell. But you liked it because the cool checkerboard wrapping matched your Vans.

Available at amazon.com

Lean Cuisine

courtesy YouTube

You probably passed by this one when you were rummaging through the freezer on the hunt for popsicles. But this diet food fad of the ’80s wasn’t lost on moms.

Available at amazon.com

Fruit Wrinkles

YouTube

They may not have looked like much, but Fruit Wrinkles were a pretty tasty snack for the '80s. A sister product to the famed Fruit Roll-Up, the bite-sized bits were supposed to look like wrinkly fruit. 

Pac-Man Cereal

Amazon

A true cross-marketing colossus, Pac-Man cereal fed '80s kids’ Pac-Man fever—literally. Between the cereal, the song and the game, kids could eat, sleep and breathe Pac-Man… for a few years anyway.

 

 

Jello-O Pudding Pops

via YouTube

As if pudding wasn’t awesome enough already, the marketing gurus over at Jell-O made it into a popsicle in the ’80s. Rich, creamy and touted as healthy, these were a go-to fave any time of year.

Squeezeits

General Mills

Squeezeits made lunch and snack time worth it. The plastic, juice-filled bottles came in tons of flavors and were guaranteed to stain your mouth, all while giving you a sugar high.

 

Cool Ranch Doritos

YouTube

Everyone's favorite salad dressing that became a drench-everything-in-it dip became a tortilla chip. Ad spokesman Jay Leno encouraged our obsession with the tagline: "Crunch all you want, we'll make more."

Crystal Light

ebay

You'll be hard-pressed to find a 1980s kid who doesn't know the peppy jingle set to pop music: "I believe in Crystal Light, cause I believe in me." 

Fruit Roll-Ups

General Mills History

A lunchbox staple and must-have, we folded, twisted and tucked the sticky, chewy fruit roll-ups into the right size to stick it to the roof of our mouth for hours after lunch ended. It really did make fruit fun.

Dr. Pepper Gum

ebay

No soda machine? No problem! One bite into a Dr. Pepper piece of bubble gum sent a burst of the spicy cola out of the gum's liquid center to quench your thirst.

Cheez Balls

YouTube

So what if they turned your fingers bright orange and left a cheesy residue all over your hands––Planters Cheez Balls were an easy, airy snack and they came in giant canisters which meant no fighting with your siblings over who got to eat the most.

Toaster Strudel

Taste of General Mills

Your unassuming toaster oven became an instant bakery when you popped in a frozen Toaster Strudel and out came a flaky pastry filled with warm fruit goodness that you got to top with sugary icing. Breakfast was served indeed.

Mr. T Cereal

ebay

You pitied the fool who didn't get to start the day with a big bowl of Mr. T cereal. Let's face it—we all just wanted the stickers inside the box.

Big League Chew

ebay

Move over candy cigarettes, kids of the '80s got more than a mouthful pretending Big League Chew was tobacco. How many of you actually packed an entire bag of the shredded gum into your lower lip? 

Gobstoppers

ebay

Anyone else in awe that the sweet shell of an ingenious Gobstopper changed colors multiple times before arriving at its sour center? Entertainment for hours.

Capri Sun

Anthony Jauneaud via Flickr

If kids today only knew how hard it was to get the straw into the original packaging of a Capri Sun. But the Wild Cherry juice in the metallic pouch really added some punch to school lunches and snack time. 

Lunchables

EWG

In retrospect, Lunchables were like the PlanetBox of the '80s. Circular disks of bologna, squares of neon orange cheese, crackers to stack 'em on and a dessert and drink all tucked perfectly secure into their own compartments. 

Handi-Snacks

Wikimedia Commons

Ahhh, Handi-Snacks. We all pretended to be master chefs spreading that hard blob of cheese ever so gently across a buttery cracker without breaking it. In an effort to be eco-friendly, the red stick is no longer included, but a petition is trying to bring it back.

Diet Coke

ebay

Diet Coke first hit the scene in 1982 and one or both of your parents probably bought it by the case and lived on it as some sort of magical elixir. 

Keebler's Magic Middles

Amazon

The cookie was elevated to an art form in Keebler's Magic Middles which thrilled us all with the chocolatey frosting inside. Two desserts in one.

Jolly Rancher Fire Stix

Candy Favorites

More like a punishment than a treat, Jolly Rancher Fire Stix sticks set your mouth on fire—and cut your tongue once you sucked on them long enough to turn them into a sharp shard.

Sara Lee All Butter Pound Cake

ebay

If you ate all your veggies, you were promised a thick slice of thawed Sara Lee All Butter Pound Cake that every kid of the '80s came to know and love as an after-dinner dessert.

Hot Pockets

YouTube

Hot Pockets were the ultimate DIY after-school snack. You slid the pizza into that silver sleeve from the space age and watched mind-blowing microwave technology do its thing. 

Nerds

ebay

You may still have one of these teeny-tiny pebble-like candies stuck in one of your molars today. You got to pour them straight in your mouth––and if you were really crazy, you slid open BOTH sides of the box to get a mix of each flavor at once. 

Microwave Popcorn

Wikipedia

The decade started with a real bang in 1981 when General Mills got the first patent for a microwave popcorn bag. Sure, it wasn't the perfect pop every time, but the convenience factor outweighed the frustration of unpopped kernels.

 

 

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It’s the cutest boo bark around

Looking for a festive treat to welcome the spooky season? This Halloween bark recipe uses just five store-bought ingredients, requires no oven and whips up faster than you can say “boo!” Nut-free and perfectly customizable, it also makes for a great teacher gift. It’s also a great afternoon activity that you can do with the kids that results in one tasty dessert.

Related: 31 Ghoulishly Good Halloween Dinners That Kids Will Love

Ingredients

-One pound of chocolate (Look for bars, not chocolate chips)

-Pretzels

-White chocolate chips

-OREO cookies with festive-colored creme

–M&M's in a fun color

 

Other supplies:

-Cookie sheet

-Parchment paper

-Microwave Safe Bowl

-Spatula

Step One

Line a baking sheet with parchment paper, then start snapping pretzels into small pieces. Try not to pulverize them! Then take 8-10 OREO cookies and cut into quarters. Don't worry if they don't cut cleanly, it's ok if they crumble! Just be sure to evenly scatter both the pretzels and the cookies on the baking sheet.

 

Step Two

Break chocolate into smallish pieces and place in microwave-safe bowl.

Step Three

Microwave for 45 seconds, then remove and stir. Continue microwaving in 30 second intervals, and stirring until the chocolate is completely smooth.

Related: Scary Sweet: Totally Boos-Free Halloween Crafts

Step Four

Pour chocolate over pretzel and OREO pieces, coating in an even layer so everything is smothered in delicious chocolate.

Step Five

This is the fun part! Grab the kids and start sprinkling the chocolate with M&M's and white chocolate chips.

Related: Trader Joe’s Haunted House Cookie Kit Is Back for the Season

Step Six

Place your baking sheet in the refrigerator for about an hour, or until the chocolate has cooled and hardened. 

Step Seven

Once your bark is completely solidified, carefully cut into smaller pieces with a sharp knife. Keep portioned bark in the fridge until you're read to enjoy!

 

 

Need a new mug to sip from while you binge watch old episodes of your fave gal pals? A new set from Jerrod Maruyama has you covered!

This four-piece barware collection captures The Golden Girls with all their personality. Enjoy either hot or cold beverage with the likes of Sophia Petrillo, Rose Nylund, Blanche Devereaux and Dorothy Zbornak like never before!

Each mug can hold 19-19 ounces, is microwave safe and can be placed top-shelf in your dishwasher. The four-piece set retails for $90 and can be purchased at toynk.com.

Don’t need all four? This set makes the perfect gift for your girlfriends for tuning in for a night of streaming and cheesecake.

If you’re looking for more ways to harness your inner Golden Girl and dress up your space, you should also check out this Sophia-inspired Chia Pet and snag the Little Golden Book all about Betty White. Now that all the actresses have been reunited in the afterlife, we have to keep their girl power strong somehow!

––Karly Wood

All photos: Courtesy of ToyNK.com

 

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


If you are ready to turn over kitchen duty to the next generation, you’ll want to get the kids learning the tricks of the trade from an early age. These play kitchens for kids have all the pots, pans, cooktops and sinks to get the imaginations going. From personalized sets to those that are integrated with your Amazon Alexa, these play kitchens are sure to inspire the kids to whip up a feast!

Dusty Green Play Kitchen with Oven

Etsy

We are totally enamored by this handcrafted play kitchen with oven, cupboard, cooktop, sink, water tap and drawer. You little one will want to bake a cake in thanks for this gift and you'll love that the dusty green color blends in with your aesthetic. The seller can also customize a kitchen to your specifications and offers other colors like dusty pink and natural wood. 

Get yours here, $427. 

Natural Wood Play Kitchen

ChildUniverse via Etsy

This small, natural wood play kitchen will become a playroom favorite, we know it! Sink, oven and water tap will bring hours of pretend play for your little one. 

Get it here, $349. 

KidKraft Amazon Alexa-Enabled 2-in-1 Kitchen & Market

Amazon

Talk about getting a bang for your buck! This two-sided play kitchen is full of pretend play opportunities and it can also be integrated with Alexa. Kids can first take a trip to the market where they can shop and purchase a variety of items using the interactive scanner and register. Head right home to the kitchen (on the reverse side of the store) to put away your recent purchases and begin cooking using the RFID stovetop and cutting board! With two-sided 360° play, and realistic kitchen and market sounds, the fun is magical, inspirational and unlike anything seen before.

Get yours here, $257. 

Step2 Fun with Friends Kitchen Set

Wayfair

This kitchen features an upscale design to match today's home décor. With so many accessories and electronic features, multiple children can play together in this play kitchen set. Use the coffee pods to brew up a cup for mom and then pop some popcorn in the microwave. This kitchen comes with tons of accessories so your pretend play is ready to go. 

Get yours here, $114.50. 

Milton & Goose Essential Play Kitchen

Milton & Goose

Whether your little one is whipping up an original recipe or taking first place in an imaginary cooking competition, the Essential Play Kitchen is the perfect canvas for imaginative play. A beautifully solid piece to be enjoyed day after day, this little play kitchen is as gorgeous as it is safe—expertly crafted by Amish artisans in the US. Available in white, gray and natural. 

Get yours here, $649. 

KidKraft Uptown White Play Kitchen

Amazon

Time to cook up a little fun! The KidKraft Uptown White Play Kitchen has a hip, modern look that young chefs are sure to love. With tile-look backsplash and sleek countertops, the design is emulated from trendy real-life kitchens. Every appliance is interactive, including doors that open and close, knobs that turn and click and a working chalkboard on the freezer door. Kids will love taking calls on the cordless play phone that attaches to the side of the refrigerator. Keep all accessories neat and handy with the pegs for hanging utensils and the side towel rack.

Get yours here, $99. 

Play Kitchen That Doubles as a Mud Kitchen

Etsy

If your little one really wants to get down and dirty with their play kitchen, this is the one for you. It's very reasonably priced and sturdy enough to hold up to the elements as a backyard mud kitchen if you prefer. Parents find the assembly to be super quick and kids will love adding the day's menu to the chalkboard. 

Get yours here, $174. 

Wooden Kitchen

Etsy

This cutie pie play kitchen comes with cooktop, oven and warming drawer. It is handmade in whatever color you'd like. Add on the wooden washing machine and get the kids doing their own laundry as well. 

Get yours here, $117. 

 

KidKraft Garden Gourmet Play Kitchen

Walmart

From farm to plate, food is celebrated with the KidKraft Garden Gourmet Play Kitchen. Upscale elements, like the marble-esque countertops and wooden butcher-block style island, are showcased in a down-to-earth set-up that's reminiscent of today's farmhouse chic movement. Kids will love working with the "pickable" veggies and herbs and chopping them to add to the most creative meal they can make up. Knobs that really turn and click and an ice maker with pretend ice cubes make the cooking experience more real. A recycling bin helps enforce the importance of helping out the environment.

Get yours here, $226. 

Decals to Upgrade Your IKEA Play Kitchen

Etsy

The IKEA Duktig is a solid choice for a play kitchen as it comes in at only $89. If the style is a little too bare bones for you, head on over to this Etsy listing where you can purchase some cute woodland creatures decals that will totally upgrade your play kitchen. Don't forget some felt French bread and wooden dishes to go along with it. 

Get your decals here, $67.50. 

—Kate Loweth

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If you love to cook, it’s hard not to want ALL the cool gadgets out there. But unless you have considerable space, it can be challenging to find a spot for all of them. Luckily, appliances are getting more compact and storage-friendly by the day. We looked around and found 14 kitchen appliances—from an Instant Pot to a food processor—that will not only free up counter space but will make your cooking endeavors that much easier. Keep reading to see them all.

All products featured on this page are independently reviewed and selected by our editors. However, when you buy something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Ninja Foodi 8-in-1 Digital Air Fry Sheet Pan Oven

QVC

You'll definitely want to add this toaster oven/air fryer to your kitchen gear as it comes in a too-cute red color and stores upright to save countertop space. The toast feature even adjusts cook time based on how many slices of bread you are toasting. Brilliant! 

Buy it here, $209. 

Vitamix Creations II 64-oz 13-in-1 Variable-Speed Blender w/Book

QVC

When you are looking to buy a blender, there's nothing better than a Vitamix. This powerhouse appliance will make baby food, blend your morning smoothies, puree soups and even make nut butters (if you're so inclined). Thre's no need for an ice cream maker or food processor with this versatile appliance. 

Get it here, $380. 

 

Cuisinart Coffee Center 12-Cup Coffee Maker & Single-Serve Brewer

QVC

If your counter is packed with both a multi-cup coffee maker and a single-cup pod brewer, we've got the perfect option for you. Ditch them both and snag this 2-in-1 machine from Cuisinart that will brew 12 cups when you are hosting friends, or a single cup when it's just you. A 40 oz. water reservoir with charcoal filter makes this even easier to use in the wee hours of the morning. 

Get it here, $199. 

Instant Pot Duo Mini 7-in-1 Electric Pressure Cooker

Amazon

This mini version of everyone’s favorite pressure cooker takes the place of seven appliances: rice cooker, steamer, slow cooker and more. See our favorite Instant Pot recipes for busy nights here

Buy it here, $66.

Cuisinart 3-Cup Mini-Prep Plus Food Processor

Sur la Table

A mini food processor is better than no processor. This classic Cuisinart has a 24-ounce work bowl and has dishwasher-safe parts. 

Buy one here, $40.

Breville BMO650SIL Compact Wave Soft Close Countertop Microwave Oven

Amazon

If your microwave isn’t built into a unit, this smaller version will fit nicely on a kitchen cart or, take up minimal countertop space. 

Buy it here, $200.

NutriBullet® PRO Nutrient Extractor

JCPenney

Juicers can be one of the largest appliances that’s hard to find a good place to store. Consider this smaller version that’s just as strong as a bigger version. 

Buy it here, $80.

Dash® Mini Waffle Maker

Bed Bath & Beyond

How cute is this mini waffle maker? Perfect for busy mornings or small families, you can stash this in a cabinet with ease. 

Buy it here, $13.

Mueller Austria Ultra-Stick Multi-Purpose Hand Blender

Amazon

A hand blender is a secret weapon: it whips, blends and even froths. The best part? It stows away in a drawer instead of taking up precious counter or shelf space.

Buy it here, $30.

Nespresso Vertuo Next with Aeroccino 3 

Sur la Table

You love your Nespresso in the morning, but you don’t love how much space the espresso machine takes up. This version offers up the same great quality coffee, but with a compact design that’s perfect for small spaces. 

Buy it here, $219.

PowerXL Smokeless Indoor Grill

JCPenney

If you don’t have the space for a grill, or if you want to be able to grill on days when the weather isn’t cooperating, this smokeless indoor grill will do the trick. The heat distributes evenly, and the ceramic coating makes for easy cleanup. 

Buy it here, $140.

IronRen 0.5L Portable Electric

Amazon

This mini kettle boil water, heat milk and cook noodles, so not only is it a good buy for your kitchen, but it’s perfect to take while traveling too. 

Buy it here, $37.

Cooks 4.3 Quart Stainless Steel Air Fryer

JCPenney

You’ve been dying to get on the air fryer bandwagon, but don’t know where you put it. Try this 4.3-quart version that takes up almost no space. See our favorite air fryer recipes by clicking here

Buy it here, $63.

FoodSaver® Compact Food Vacuum Sealer

Amazon

This mini vacuum sealer offers all the larger versions, but its compact design makes for easy storage. 

Buy it here, $110.

—Kate Loweth & Gabby Cullen

 

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Pumpkin Spice is everywhere: lattes, candles, cereal, dog treats…noodles? In late October, Cup Noodles is releasing a special pumpkin spice flavor to boldly jump into the autumnal game. The verdict is definitely out on this one!

It’s made with a “special pumpkin seasoning” that infuses the noodles with the familiar flavor. Like all Cup Noodles products, it’s ready with a bit of water and four minutes in the microwave. The brand suggests adding a little whipped cream on top if you’re feeling extra daring.

Cup Noodles also conducted a survey to see how people really feel about pumpkin spice. Not surprisingly the results are mixed! More than 50% of Gen Z respondents said they are obsessed with all things pumpkin spice. Meanwhile, 65% of non-Gen Z respondents (defined as 25 and up) said they hate the flavor. Fortunately, Gen Z is probably the target audience for this product!

If you decide to try it, you’ll be able to find Cup Noodles Pumpkin Spice exclusively at Walmart. Visit nissinfoods.com to locate the product when it drops later this fall!

—Sarah Shebek

Featured image courtesy of Cup Noodles

 

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Picky eating will be a thing of the past when you break out these new, tasty pepperoni treats from Uncrustables. Pizza fans will love the Uncured Pepperoni Bites, made with bread wrapped around marinara sauce, uncured pepperoni and mozzarella cheese. Pop two in the microwave and in less than 60 seconds you have a delicious meal to satisfy a hangry child.

For the ultimate in convenience, the Uncured Pepperoni Roll-Ups just need to be thawed, not microwaved, so they’re perfect for your kid’s lunchbox, or for tossing in your bag for an on-the-go snack. The roll-ups are made with a flavorful flatbread rolled around uncured pepperoni and provolone and Neufchâtel cheeses with seasoning.

Both sandwich options feature natural uncured pepperoni, meaning the meat is minimally processed with no artificial ingredients and it contains no added nitrates or nitrites except for what naturally occurs in celery powder.

The Pepperoni Bites are available nationwide, and the Pepperoni Roll-Ups can be purchased at Kroger and Target now, and retailers nationwide in October. The Smucker’s Uncrustables line also features BBQ Chicken Bites, Turkey and Colby Jack Cheese Sandwich Roll-Ups and other foods kids love.

—Eva Ingvarson Cerise

Featured images courtesy of The J.M. Smucker Company

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There’s no better way to embrace a movie night than with popcorn. Whether it’s popped in the microwave or on the stove-top, this budget-friendly pantry staple can be dressed up to suit any occasion. Check out our favorite recipes below; you’ll find everything from the best popcorn seasoning to classic caramel popcorn and more.

White Cheddar Popcorn

Georgia Vagim via Unsplash

Always a favorite with kids, this easy white cheddar recipe from The Suburban Soapbox will be a hit. With only three ingredients, even your tween can whip this up! Get the recipe here

Homemade Microwave Popcorn & Mixes

One Lovely Life

If you love the convenience of microwave popcorn but don't love all the artificial stuff that comes along with it, this recipe for homemade microwave popcorn from One Lovely Life is right up your alley! It still only takes three minutes, and there are a few great snack mix ideas like candy and seasonings you can try as well. Get the recipe here

Cracker Jacks

Boulder Locavore

This classic baseball snack can be re-created at home in a snap with this recipe from Boulder Locavore. With peanuts, corn syrup and a lot of love, you can easily make a batch for your next movie night. Get the recipe here

Churros Popcorn

Everyday Reading

You no longer have to wait for a visit to the State Fair for a taste of churros. This popcorn has all the flavor of churro but none of the deep-fried guilt. It combines caramel, cinnamon, and sugar to make a delicious treat you’ll make again and again. Head to Everyday Reading for the how-to, plus top tips on popping the perfect corn.

Circus Animal Melody

The Melrose Family

Create a popcorn animal medley for your own little monkeys! This rainbow sprinkled popcorn, combines white chocolate and animal cookies for a recipe that will get the kids howling with excitement. The recipe comes from The Melrose Family via House of Yumm and is easy to make, looks magical and tastes delicious. Win, win!

Pretty Popcorn Cake

Taste and Tell Blog

Press pause on the remote, this popcorn cake is a showstopper! Dry cake mix and marshmallows are the key ingredients for this festive number. The recipe is open to variation depending on the cake mix you buy, head over to Taste and Tell for the how-to, plus tips on getting the perfect color to get this seasonal red velvet look.

Cookies and Cream

Erica's Sweet Tooth

Popped kettle corn and crushed Oreos with melted white chocolate? Yes, please! This cookies 'n' cream popcorn snack comes from Erica, the baking-obsessed dentist behind the blog, Erica's Sweet Tooth. The recipe couldn't be easier and has inspired some other popcorn varieties on her site, including funfetti, apple spice, and pink strawberry shortcake versions! Check out her blog for more.

Taco-Spiced Corn

Erin at Well Plated

If you want to cut down on sugar, popcorn makes the perfect savory snack. This taco version, from Well Plated, couldn't be easier. Just drizzle your freshly popped corn with melted butter and sprinkle with a spice mixture you can customize for little taste buds. A zest of lime brings this snack to life, and nutritional yeast or parmesan completes the cheesy taco seasoning.

Pizza Popcorn

Food Network

This surprising recipe involves making a fruit-leather style tomato base that's ground up to make the pizza blend.  Get the recipe at the Food Network plus tips on how to cook this up with the kids.  The adorable presentation of this pizza popcorn suggests it could make the perfect neighborly holiday gift.

Popcorn Trail Mix

Endlessly Inspired

For a sweet and savory snack mix that can be customized with whatever you have on hand, try this combo mixing pretzel sticks, popcorn, and M&Ms. Colored candy melts are the key to the green sheen but pick whatever color you like for a party mix that suits your crowd. Get the recipe at Endlessly Inspired.

Easy Everything Popcorn

Flour Arrangements

If you're a fan of the everything bagel, it's an easy leap to make this everything popcorn! With just a few pantry staples, like poppy seeds and toasted sesame seeds, freshly popped corn can be turned into a healthy savory snack—it even works as a crunchy topping for your dinner!  Check out more tips and get the recipe at Flour Arrangements.

Chocoholic Dream Popcorn

Remodelaholic

Nutella popcorn ... need we say more? The kids won't forget this indulgent combo that's the perfect snack for a crowd. Head to Remodelaholic for the how-to and some tweaks to the recipe depending on whether you like your popcorn gooey and chewy or with some pop and crunch.

S'Mores Corn

Endlessly Inspired

Pair a bowl of s'mores popcorn with a summer blockbuster from your Netflix wishlist and it'll be like winter never arrived! This delicious combo will take you back to long mid-summer evenings by the firepit. Just raid the pantry for candy melts and graham crackers and finish off with a sprinkling of mini marshmallows. Find the recipe at Endlessly Inspired.

Lunchbox Treats

Weelicious

This recipe turns popcorn into a snack that works in front of a movie as well as in Monday's school lunchbox! These popcorn balls aren't loaded with sugar. Instead, they are made with high protein nut butter and brown rice syrup making them both nutritional and delicious. Head to Weelicious for the recipe.

Vegan Caramel Corn

Cookie and Kate

Naturally sweetened caramel popcorn made with maple syrup and almond butter! This popcorn from Cookie and Kate promises to produce a snack that's healthy, vegan, and easy to make. The recipe uses almond butter, but any nut butter will work—like peanut or cashew  —and produces a chunky and delicious snack.

 

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  1. You muted your microphone on a Zoom call but forgot to turn your camera off to yell at a child to get back on their kindergarten Google Meet. Your entire team is now terrified of making you mad.
  2. You made an unexpected appearance in said kindergarten Google Meet that you thought was muted but wasn’t. Now your child’s entire kindergarten class is also terrified of you.
  3. You pull on a sweater over your dirty t-shirt ten seconds before a meeting and pop in with a big smile and a bigger cup of coffee.
  4. People constantly tell you that you look tired. Mostly because you are tired. So tired. But you just smile and nod because responding would make more people scared of you.
  5. You have attended a meeting, paid attention, changed a diaper, unloaded the dishwasher, and fed the dog in the last three minutes.
  6. You have been hit in the head with a Nerf dart or some sort of ball during a video meeting.
  7. You don’t wear real pants anymore. Ever.
  8. You are stretched so thin that you think you might not be able to do this any longer.
  9. When you get the rare chance to go to the office, you cherish it. You can be alone and sit in silence and drink coffee and think without hearing crying or barking or the tv or a microwave or screaming YouTubers.
  10. You have had a meeting or important call while crouching in a closet or in the bathroom because it’s the only place your kids can’t find you.

This post originally appeared on HashtagMomFail.

 

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I am a full time working mom with two little boys, Henry and Simon. I write about real life and real life gets messy. Contributor for Motherly, HuffPost Parents, Scary Mommy, Today Parents, Love What Matters and Her View From Home.