Champagne Gold Macarons New Years Party Beautiful Sweets to Celebrate

Good Food

New Years is a time to celebrate new beginnings and our bright hopes and dreams for the future. So what could not be more apropos than serving champagne to welcome the new year along with some sweet Champagne Macarons from Dana's Bakery?

Champagne Macarons from Dana's Bakery

Each Dana's Bakery Champagne Celebratory Box of Macarons ($36) includes a dozen golden sparkling macarons, beautifully boxed as shown below. Certified Kosher Dairy K-of-K, these glittering edible jewels are always baked fresh and available nationwide for shipping via UPS two day delivery. The champagne variety is not just for New Year's, either. It makes a wonderful gift for any occasion where congratulations are in order, too. 

Lucky for New Yorkers all of Dana's pretty yummy sweet bites are also offered for same day delivery by local courier in Manhattan between Battery Park and 90th Street. The entire line of beautiful French-inspired champagne macarons with an American twist may also be picked up in-store in New York and New Jersey.

The Dana's Bakery champagne macarons featured in this post are just one of the many year-round flavors which also include my favorite Thin Mint and others, including various customer choice assortments. 

The bakery, established by photo-editor turned trained pastry chef Dana Loia, also markets limited edition seasonal options for major holidays throughout the year as well as others perfect for special occasions such as a new baby girl or boy, weddings, birthdays, graduations, and more. 

Boxed by the dozen, these are also available in larger quantities for special events and parties. Best of all, if you'd like to try your own hand at baking up some macarons at home, they also offer a Red Velvet Make It Kit ($24) with the ingredients and tools needed to make 20 macarons and parchment paper ($10) pre-marked with circles.

To keep your macarons bakery fresh after arrival, Dana recommends that you consume them within 5-7 days of arrival or they can be frozen for up to 4 weeks. Remember: All macarons are best served at room temperature. If storing them in the fridge, allow approximately 10 minutes to reach room temperature or 30 minutes if coming out of the freezer.

About Dana's Bakery

Learn more and order by visiting the official site. You can also keep up to date on all the Dana's Bakery news by following the brand on Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest and Instagram.

FTC Disclosure: I did not receive payment or compensation associated with this post. See complete FTC disclosure information that appears at the bottom of MommyBlogExpert's main page and at the bottom of every page including this one.

9 Children's Holiday Specials New & Returning on Amazon Prime Video Kids Review

Kids

Outsmarting Winter Vacation Boredom

For those of you celebrating the holiday season, keeping children busy between Christmas night and New Year's Day can be especially challenging. Actually, I'd bet that few parents with young kids would disagree that soon after the excitement of opening all the presents under the tree wears off on Christmas morning, boredom sets in. Yet, with the first day back at school after winter vacation still a week or more away, what's a mom or dad to do? 

MBE partnered with Amazon Prime Video for this post

Host a Stream-a-thon Party

The answer is to extend the festivities with an abundance of quality, engaging kid-friendly entertainment, enjoying an Amazon Prime Video Kids Holiday Stream-a-thon together with the entire family across the generations.  

In addition, you might want to invite some of your child's friends over for a cookie decorating party to binge watch some of the best kid-appropriate digital seasonal home entertainment offered today. Better yet, why not go all out with a simple hot chocolate bar so everyone can sip and be entertained simultaneously?

Amazon Prime Holiday Specials Abound

On Amazon Prime Video Kids alone there are a whopping nine holiday options streaming right now including two new Prime Original holiday specials and two returning kids holiday features. There are also five children's series with new and existing holiday theme episodes. 

Each of the feature length specials as well as series episodes imparts a unique mix of take aways for kids and their families in the form of learning about traditions and life lessons in the holiday spirit, and even counting down to the start of a new year.

New Amazon Prime Kids Specials

Both of the brand-new Amazon Prime Original holiday animated specials are inspired by beloved children's classic award-winning book authors that young and old will recognize. 

The Click, Clack, Moo: Christmas at the Farm movie takes its cue from the Click, Clack, Moo children's book series (2001-present) by New York Times bestselling writing duo Doreen Cronin and Betsy Lewin. My own four children (triplets plus one all born within a year) are in college now, but I'll never forget how much they loved when I read the Click, Clack, Moo stories to them. Voicing the lovable human and farm animal characters are Rachel Bloom (Crazy Ex-Girlfriend) as Cow 2, Pete Davidson (Saturday Night Live) as Duck and Patton Oswalt (Ratatouille) as Appliance Al, among many others.

Just as much fun and wholesome for parents to watch with children is Pete the Cat: A Groovy New Year, premiering today. This new special is based on the popular Pete the Cat books by New York Times bestselling authors Kimberly and James Dean. Voice cast members include seasoned child actors Jacob Tremblay (Wonder) and Django Marsh (Phineas and Ferb) as well as other talented adults and kids in this music-driven animated movie about a cool cat who teaches kids about important lessons in life, friendship, good character, and other positive, upbeat ideas for making the coming year the best yet.

Returning Holiday Specials & Series

A pair of popular returning specials are also must-watches including If You Give a Mouse a Christmas Cookie and The Snowy Day. The former program is informed by the If You Give a Mouse book series first published in 1985 by author Laura Numeroff and illustrator Felicia Bond and will certainly have special appeal to millennials who are now parents. The latter show, inspired by the 1962 Caldecott Medal winning book The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats, will reach deep into the souls of three generations, making even grandparents reminisce about a truly classic title from their own Baby Boomer youth. 

The fun, educational and entertaining programming continues with new and existing holiday episodes from the Amazon Prime shows that today's young boys and girls already enjoy, including Wishenpoof, The Stinky & Dirty Show, Bookaboo, Creative Galaxy and Tumble Leaf.

Here's a peek at the fun in store for kids...




With so many fun specials and holiday-inspired kids' show episodes new and old to see exclusively on Amazon Prime Kids, your child will have a full schedule with many hours of life enriching age-appropriate entertainment. 

About Amazon Prime Video Kids

Whether at home or on the go, Amazon Prime Video members have exclusive access to all these original kids specials, animated series and much more. Accessible via the Prime Video app for compatible smart TVs, Fire TV, Apple TV, Fire Tablets, Android and iOS phones and tablets and online at Amazon Prime Video Kids. Stay in the loop on the latest children's programming news by also following Amazon Kids on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

FTC Disclosure: I received Amazon Prime Video access, products and compensation to facilitate this review post. However, opinions here are my own. See complete FTC Disclosure information that appears at the bottom of MommyBlogExpert's main page and at the bottom of every individual post on this blog, including this one.

Merry Christmas from MBE to Everyone Celebrating with Your Family and Children

Celebrations

Merry Christmas to

Everyone Celebrating!

FTC Disclosure: I am not receiving payment or compensation associated with any party on this calendar. See complete FTC disclosure information that appears at the bottom of MommyBlogExpert's main page and at the bottom of every page including this one.

Twitter Party Calendar With Prizes Twitter Parties December 24-30, Multiple Updates Daily

Twitter Parties

Constant Updates, Keep Checking Back + Sneak Peek at Future Weeks

Master Twitter Party  Calendar -  USA & Canada

Here's how to find Twitter Parties offering great prizes. Get all the details in this free constantly updated Master Twitter Chat Party Calendar listing tons of family friendly parties including specifics on prizes you can win and links to RSVP and participate. Includes Twitter Parties in the U.S. and Canada. 

A brand new weekly Twitter Party Schedule is published every Sunday at 9 am ET. Check back often each week as new events are added on an ongoing basis -- often with new prize-winning opportunities added several times per day. You'll also get a sneak peek at Twitter parties coming up next week and in the month ahead. Now listing Facebook, Pinterest, and Instagram parties with prizes, too.

Be the first to know when the latest MommyBlogExpert Twitter Party schedule goes live by subscribing to this blog and following MBE on Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, and Instagram. Unless indicated otherwise, parties are for U.S. residents only. Parties for Canada residents are highlighted in purple.

THIS WEEK

Wednesday, December 27

Parent's Choice Twitter Party at 1 pm ET with @freebies4mom @lomargie and others. Prizes: TEN (10) $100 Walmart giftcards. #ParentsChoice RSVP

Friday, December 29

Mobile Living New Year's Resolution Chat Twitter Party at 3 pm ET with @theonlinemom and the Mobile Living team. Prizes: TBA. #MobileLiving Details

NEXT WEEK

TBA

COMING SOON

Wednesday, January 31

Love With Food Twitter Party at 7 pm ET with @lovewithfood. Prizes: Food prizes TBA. #LoveWithFood RSVP


About this Weekly Twitter Party List
Compiled by MommyBlogExpert.com, Master Twitter Party Calendar is the most comprehensive, constantly updated resource of its kind online. However keep in mind that each party is run by a different brand and/or hosts and MommyBlogExpert, unless specified otherwise, is not responsible for any dealings readers have with these events including, but not limited to, prizing of any party on the calendar.

For Brands

How to Add a Twitter Party
to the Calendar

Add an event to the Mommy Blog Expert Master Twitter Party Calendar FREE by emailing janis@janiselspas.com

Hire MBE to Plan, Promote and/or
Host Your Twitter Party

Want to hire MommyBlogExpert for your next Twitter Party? 

Email janis@janiselspas.com with "Twitter Party Consulting" in subject line and we'll be glad to prepare a free customized proposal for your brand.


FTC Disclosure: MommyBlogExpert does attend some Twitter Parties as a guest and works as a consultant, host, co-host and/or panelist for others. I am not receiving payment or compensation associated with any party on this calendar. See complete FTC disclosure information that appears at the bottom of MommyBlogExpert's main page and at the bottom of every page including this one.

Home Wifi Router + Network Security Dual Solution Norton Core Modern Design

Connected Home

The reviewer has been compensated in the form of a Best Buy Gift Card and/or received the product/service at a reduced price or for free.

It's difficult to remember what family life with kids was like before wi-fi since it has become such an integral part of the way parents and children live, work and play today.  For sure, wifi routers certainly have progressed by leaps and bounds in efficiency and speed since the first consumer product in this category for wireless home networks launched almost two decades ago. 

Yet, it is only recently that these devices that we can no longer live without have begun to evolve into something more than ugly clunky looking pieces of equipment that were typically hidden away in our homes. Similarly, home network cyber security solutions have experienced a technological renaissance in functionality as well as aesthetic design. 

Leading the pack in both niches is the Norton Core Secure High Performance Wi-Fi Router. This new innovative device, which is about as wide in diameter as a smartphone is in length, is among the most advanced router and cybersecurity in-one systems on the market today for managing and protecting home wifi networks and all the smart devices and connected home appliances tapping into it. 

It's a single, compact device that protects everything you care about from cyber criminal attacks, blocking them all from infiltrating your home and your family's privacy. 

Norton Core Benefits

• Easy Setup - Just plug in to your modem and download the app to your iOS or Android smartphone with mobile data plan
• High-performance wi-fi router - Stream movies, watch TV shows, play online games, and download content with Core's dual-core processor
• Multi-layer protection - Comprehensive network security, protecting your connected home against malware, viruses, phishing attempts, and botnets.
• Protection for all connected devices - A one year subscription to Norton Core Security Plus is included with purchase.
• Smart parental controls - As a mom of four, I love this feature which allows moms and dads to manage each child's screen time by setting content filters and daily limits on usage. Just think: You can even pause the Internet for selected devices during dinner and family meeting time, creating a more peaceful home environment for all. 

Functional Modern Home Decor

But that's not all, beautifully designed with a contemporary vibe in the form of a many-sided polyhedron complex solid in contemporary granite gray, the Norton Core is one piece of technology that you will actually be proud to show off in a prominent place in your home. 

Watch this short clip to see Norton Core within a typical home environment, multi-tasking as a high performance wifi router, home network security solution and a modern home decor statement piece.

What's in the Box

Everything you need to get started with the Norton Core Secure Wifi Router is in the box. 

• Norton Core WiFi Router in Granite Gray
• Quick Start Guide
• Cable Management Clip
• Ethernet Cable
• Power Adapter

About Norton Core

Norton Core Secure High Performance Wi-Fi Router is a secure, high-performance wifi router that helps protect your home network and an unlimited number of connected devices ranging from computers and mobile devices to smart home products and appliances. 

Available in Granite Gray (retail $279.99), this is currently on sale at Best Buy for $229.99. A one year subscription to Norton Core Security Plus is included with purchase to protect Macs, PCs, tablets, smartphones and smart devices. 

After the complimentary subscription expires, you can choose to continue it for $9.99/month + applicable taxes for uninterrupted access to network, IoT, and device level security as well as parental control features. Even if you don't resubscribe to the monthly service, you can continue to use Norton Core as a high performance router. 

Learn more about the Norton Core Secure Performance Wi-Fi Router by following Norton Online on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and Instagram.

FTC Disclosure: MommyBlogExpert was compensated for this post. However, opinions here are my own. See complete FTC Disclosure information that appears at the bottom of MommyBlogExpert's main page and at the bottom of every individual post on this blog, including this one.