Both Aldi’s beer and wine advent calendars will have the same price as last year

Is it October? Yes. Are we dreaming of Aldi’s wine and cheese advent calendars? Also yes.

The retailer has dropped the 2023 advent calendar collection, and there is definitely something for everyone this year. From global wines and the new Irish Cream Countdown, cozy home decor advent calendars, and pet treats, you’ll want to head to your nearest Aldi on Nov. 1 when the calendars all hit shelves.

Related: Mom Throws Daughter an ALDI-Themed Party & We Want an Invite

Aldi Advent Calendars for Those with a Sophisticated Palate:

Aldi advent calendars for 2023 include this aldi wine advent calendar

Aldi has plenty of holiday cheer to share this year. The Holiday Magic Wine Advent Calendar, in particular, has 24 unique labels and 16 wine varieties from eight countries of origin. Each label has a scannable QR code to learn more about the wine and to explore the region, varietal, and culture of the country.

Other calendars include:

  • Barissimo Coffee Advent Calendar ($14)   
  • Beer Advent Calendar ($50; in select markets)    
  • Emporium Selection Cheese Advent Calendar ($17)  
    • This must-have calendar is packed with European Cheeses like Dutch Goudas, Red Leicester, and Double Gloucester. 
  • Bay Island Hot Sauce Advent Calendar ($15)
  • Wicked Grove 12 Days of Cider ($20)
  • 12 Day of Irish Cream Calendar ($30)
  • Holiday Magic 5 Days of Sweet Red Wine ($20)
  • Holiday Magic 5 Dayd of Dry Red Wine ($20)
  • Moser Roth Luxury Chocolate Advent Calendar ($16)

There's even an advent calendar for your pets! The Pure Being Dog Advent Calendar is just $8, and the Pure Being 12 Days of Cat Treats is just $6.

Related: 2023’s Best Advent Calendars for Kids, Adults, Families & Pets

Aldi Advent Calendars for Some Much-Needed Self-Care:

When it comes to self-care this crazy holiday season, Aldi has your back. Choose from seasonal candle calendars and even fun puzzle advent calendars that'll give you a chance to relax. 

  • Huntington Home Advent Calendar ($40)  
  • Merry Moments Advent Calendar Garland ($13)
  • Mini Puzzle Advent Calendar ($10)

Advent Calendars for Kids:

 Aldi's advent calendars for 2023 also offer several fun kids' advent calendars.  Cool collectibles and chocolate await with this year's lineup.

  • Nickelodeon Paw Patrol Advent Calendar ($25)
  • Pokeman/Cocomelon Advent Calendar ($30)
  • Compound Kings Slime Advent Calendar ($17)
  • Moose Toys Bluey Advent Calendar ($20)
  • Zuri Mini Brands Advent Calendar ($30)
  • Choceur Kids Advent Calendar ($1.50)

As always, supplies are limited, and calendars are expected to sell out fast. Head to your local Aldi on November 1 to commence with the merry-making!

Were you lucky enough to have a spring or summer, or even early fall baby? That is, do birthday-month temperatures accommodate the budget-friendly option of having a birthday party in the park or at a playground? An especially good choice for the toddler set (because, just add cake and friends) a party at a public park can be a real cost-saver, loads of fun and even, with a little planning, easy to pull off. Here’s our guide to throwing a NYC park birthday party with ease! If you are looking for even more outdoor birthday party ideas, we’ve got lots here! (And hey, if you do want to buy a cake, we think these are NYC’s best!)

Choose Your Birthday Party Park Wisely

You can have a party at any NYC public park. You’ll want to suss out your options carefully before deciding on the perfect location. Look for a playground with age-appropriate equipment and a fence that locks securely. You’ll want the playground to be big enough to hold all the kids at the party, but not so big that you can’t see where your kid is at all times. If your party is in the summer, look for one that will be at least partially-shaded at the time of your party. (For both you, and the kids.)

A few other things to consider about your venue: does it have tables you can use? Are there bathrooms? A water supply? Does it have sprinklers to cool kids down? How busy does the playground get? And one very important detail to consider: how far away from is the playground from your home? Don't forget that you’ll be trekking there and back with a lot of stuff, so the closer the better.

Have a Rainy Day Backup Plan

You can never rely on the big party day being sunny and dry, so get your rainy day plan in order. Can you hold it in your home in a pinch? Is there a room in your apartment building you could use if needed? If not, you might want to consider a rain date. Either way, make sure you tell your guests your backup plan, and let them know as soon as you can if you are switching dates or location. 

Get a Permit for Your Party

If you plan to have 20 people or more in a NYC park, or want to reserve a specific area, you'll need a Special Events Permit. The permit is easy to get and costs $25. Just head to this page on the NYC Parks Department web site, create an account and apply online at least a month in advance. Be advised: permits are not issued on major holiday weekends. 

Playground & Park Party Decorating Tips

Obviously it’s a lot different decorating a shared outdoor space than your home, but it can be done. Print out (or buy) a birthday banner and tie it on the playground's fence. Attach balloons behind the table so people can find you. Turn the food into decorations with cute cupcake toppers (which can also be stuck into other food, like fruit). Gift bags also add color and festivity to the area, as do little stuffed animals placed on the table (which make great take-home gifts for kids who get particularly attached to them by the way!). Here's a lesson we learned the hard way: spend a few dollars on balloon weights—or make them yourself using rocks and decorative bags—to keep items that might blow away (plates, napkins, tablecloths) in place. 

Playground Party Extras

Consider bringing some fun things for kids to play with around the party area like balls, chalk and bubbles. Michael's is great for inexpensive options or a simple craft if you're feeling ambitious. Activities a key for keeping little kids occupied so you and the other parents don’t have to chase them around the playground the whole time. If there’s a sandbox, bring a few buckets and shovels. Buy enough of one simple craft or activity so that it can serve as the favor, which is nice and simple and lightens the load of what you have to carry back to your place. 

Playground Birthday Party Food

Don’t get carried away with food, unless you’re having it delivered. Carefully assess how you’re going to get everything there first. One easy idea is to host an afternoon tea party because you can get away with simply offering cupcakes, fruit and crackers. Finger food is the easiest to supply and the easiest for busy parents to grab and eat with one hand. Even easier (to serve and clean up)? Individually-wrapped snacks like mini bags cheddar bunnies, fig bars, etc. For slightly older kids (and parents) many places will deliver pizza to parks. Call the nearest pizza place and ask—chances are they've done it before.

An easy drink is juice boxes in bulk, or bottled water. The economical (and environmental) choice is of course to bring a pitcher and fill it up on site. (Bring cups if that's the case.) Also recommended is some water, seltzer, etc. for steamy adults. FYI: If you're celebrating in the afternoon and you're thinking about providing parents some adult beverages, that's not allowed. (i.e. it's illegal.) 

For sweets, offering cupcakes instead of a cake eliminates the need for forks and plates, which is helpful. If you think your kid will be heartbroken without a cake, make a small one for the big song-and-candle moment, and do cupcakes, etc. for the rest. (If you don't own a cupcake and/or cake carrier and collapsible display stand, it might be a good idea to get them. Even if you're not super PTA mom, they come in handy, and will prevent infuriating and heartbreaking mishaps with baked good in the future. The stand is just cute and will take your party game up a notch.) 

Playground Birthday Party Music

You've gotta have some tunes! Try this one for a lot of "happy", or this one to get kids dancing! 

Boring But Important

There are several things you don't want to be caught without and others that will be nice to have. Make yourself a "go-bag" of these essentials and just-in-case items.

Garbage and recycling bags (those trash cans in playgrounds get full, fast.) 
Paper towels
Wet wipes
Band aids
Scissors and tape 

Transportation To and From the Party

If you don’t have a car or don’t want to hire a car service, you can get creative with transporting your party supplies. One idea: load up your stroller with the party goods. Your child can be put in a carrier if they’re not old enough to walk the distance on their own.

 

 

We are almost halfway to Christmas and with Lifetime and Hallmark releasing their Christmas in July lineup, why not get in the spirit with some festive wines, too?

That’s right, The Hallmark Channel has it’s own batch of wines! Not only that, the purveyor has branched out from their OG batch of holiday-only blends into summer and Valentine’s Day options.

Want to relax with a summer glass of Rosé as you sip away the afternoon? Grab a pack of Rosé Wine Seltzer for just $40.

If you want to spread the love, or just stock up in time for next Valentine’s Day, you can also snag a Love or Blush pack.

And if you’re in the mood to celebrate Christmas in July, don’t forget about the Jingle and Joy duo, a combo of cabernet sauvignon and sauvignon blanc.

Cheers!

—Karly Wood

All photos courtesy of Hallmark Channel Wines

 

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Get ready for a flavor rush. Sparkling Smartwater from Coca-Cola will soon come in strawberry blood orange, fuji apple pear and raspberry rose.

This isn’t exactly the first time Coca-Cola has put its own stamp on the flavored water market. In a 2018 press release Brad Spickert, SVP of hydration for Coca-Cola North America said, “We’ve increasingly seen a blurring of lines between categories like diet soft drinks, sparkling waters, sports drinks and more as consumers look for new choices for every beverage occasion.” Back then Smartwater’s sparkling flavor was…well, just sparkling.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BqQCI6EHo96/

According to reports, by the end of March Coca-Cola will release the three new sparkling flavors in North America. They’ll join the bevy of fun fruity flavors that the beverage bottler has debuted in the past few years.

While the Dasani brand is Coca-Cola’s only other flavored sparkling water, the company’s newly-released Orange Vanilla Coke recently joined Diet Coke’s new lineup of flavors including strawberry guava, blueberry acai, ginger lime, zesty blood orange, twisted mango and fiesty cherry.

—Erica Loop

Featured photo: Rawpixel via Pexels

 

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You may have heard there’s a new axe-throwing joint in town. So did we. And they told us kids as young as seven can try their hand at it. That’s a proposition that’s too hard to resist, so we wrangled up some kids to check out the appropriately-named, Kick Axe.

Get Your Axe in There!
Located on what is clearly becoming an “xtreme sports” alley of sorts in the Gowanus section of Brooklyn (the block is also home to Homage skateboard shop and facility, Brooklyn Boulders, Brooklyn Fnecing, and a cross fit gym) Kick Axe obviously fits right in.

photo: Kick Axe

Come in From the Cold and Chill
We were admittedly slightly terrified of the prospect of throwing axes around, but the giant blue bull that greets visitors outside, and a downright cozy interior with a ski chalet vibe make us feel right at home.

In addition to  a gas fireplace, lots of plaid and furry throws, Kick Axe provides plenty of opportunities for good old fashioned fun in the form of games ranging from Jenga to Connect Four to vintage Operation and more.

photo: Kick Axe

The Ranges
Beyond the cozy lounging areas lie the axe-throwing ranges, roomy, “pens” fenced off on three sides with a wood target on the wall, a la darts.

Safety First!
Of course, the first thing you do upon entering is sign a waiver, because axes. You can do that in advance if you like. 
Our party included five adults, an 11 year-old, a seven year-old, and an eight-and-a-half year old.

Kick Axe knows that most people visitng the place think the idea is at least a little bit crazy, and so each party has its own “Axepert” on hand to not only set some ground rules, teach the basics of axe-throwing, and calm and nerves.

Before you begin, everyone gets some one-on-one instruction and some trial throws.

Throwing Down
The basic game itself, is pretty standard. (Presumably there are more intricate axe games, but we weren’t ready for that.) Your group (maximum players per range is eight) is assembled into two teams, who then face off in pairs at the range, with only one person throwing at a time. Everyone puts on a name tag with their real or axe-throwing moniker.

Each ring on the target has a point value, and the bullseye is of course the ideal spot to hit. We played ’til 30 in one round, and then played one more. The total time for play is an hour and a half.

Is it Hard? Is it Fun?
It turns out that axe-throwing is not as hard as you would think, although it can take a while to get the hang of it. That said, when axe meets wood it’s very satisfying, and once you’ve done that, you want to do it again. By the time we were done, even the seven-year-old with us was sinking the blade in and hitting the bull’s eye.

(Kids can also stand closer to the target for increased chances of success, and for really little ones, the lounge now has rubber axes for kids to throw, scoring based on where they hit the target and bounce off. One-handed throwing is also allowed, which can make things easier.)

How Much Does it Cost to Do This Crazy Thing?
If you and the family want to drop by for some axe-throwing fun, it’s $35 per person plus tax. Book online in advance. if you want a private range, request one, but you may end up playing with strangers depending on how busy things are. (Either way you’ll have fun.)

Sound like a great idea for a party? (Personally, we want to see a badass group of eight-year-old girls do this.) Semi-private party rates start at $525 for two ranges and 24 people. That’s the discount rate offered Mon.-Thurs.; it’s $700 Fri.-Sun.

Kick Axe has basic drinks for sale (soda, water, seltzer, and yes, they do sell beer but eject anyone who’s had too much) and very basic food. However, you’re free to bring in pizza and cake (no ice cream cake) or whatever your little axe-throwers desire.

Kick Axe Throwing
622 DeGraw St.
Gowanus
833-542-5293
Online: kickaxe.com

Would you take your kids axe-throwing? Tell us in the comments! 

—Mimi O’Connor

So you’re finally pregnant and wham – it’s the holiday season. You’re not ready to tell your boss, friends or even family the news yet. But every week on the calendar has a cocktail party in it. Your workplace bash is just one of the many gatherings designed to trip up your carefully planned unveiling of baby news. Here’s how to keep the bump under wraps.

photo: AI404 via Flickr

1. Swap drinks with a friend. This is an easy one and almost all pregnant women cop to it after the fact. Switch your full glass for your husband’s half full one when no one is paying attention. Occasionally, pretend to take sips. Once everyone else gets tipsy, you can pour what’s left in the nearest planter.

2. Get in cahoots with the bartender. Arrive to the fiesta early and explain your situation to whoever is making drinks. Then, when you order a vodka soda, he’ll know to pour a seltzer on ice. Make sure to specify the proper vessel! We had one mom report the jig was up when the bartender served her fake cocktail in a water glass.

3. Avoid the empire waistline. This is the easiest way to look pregnant even when you’re not, so don’t go there unless you’re looking to score a seat on the bus.

4. The baggier the better, to a point. If your belly is growing, look for clothing that’s made to fit loosely so you can hide your bump without looking like you’re wearing everything too big.

5. Keep wearing the same pants. If people start suspecting you’re pregnant, a change in wardrobe might give you away. As your belly grows, keep your pants up with a hair tie looped through a buttonhole and hooked to the button. And since it’s the holidays, your pants getting tighter is par for the course.

photo: Simon LeLoup via Flickr

6. Talk up last night’s party. We’re not saying you should lie, but if people know you were at your husband’s best friend’s birthday over the weekend, say things like, “It was a crazy party! I was sooo tired Sunday!” Everyone knows “tired” is adult code for “hungover.” That’s how your coworkers and acquaintances will understand it, and it’s probably the truth (for different reasons) anyway.

7. In the same vein, if you’re not up for the drink switch or bartender fake-out, just claim to be hungover. “I couldn’t possibly drink again after last night! Ugh! Just the smell makes me want to barf!” Probably also true.

8. Or speaking of claims, claim to be on antibiotics. Women have admitted faking UTIs and infected gums to lend credence to their reports of antibiotic-use.

photo: Alain Bachellier via Flickr

9. Talk about trips or activities that would be off limits if you were pregnant. Tell people you are thinking about skiing soon or how you can’t wait to relax in a hot tub. Tell people about plans for a girls’ weekend in Vegas. It’s all about throwing them off the scent.

10. And when all else fails, dodge. You can get out of a sticky situation by changing the subject or faking a phone call. Sure, it looks suspicious, but when next time you see the person you go on and on about how you can’t wait to party at your friend’s bachelorette in New Orleans, she’ll be confused enough to let it go.

How did you hide your pregnancy before you were ready to spread the news? Tell us in a comment.

— Anna Knoebel

featured photo: Pepe Pont via flickr