For the Family Man

Top Father’s Day Pick: Movie Night Scoop Boxes

If your dad’s favorite hobby is to spend time with you and the rest of the clan, then give him a gift that’ll inspire the theme for your next family night! Perfect for a movie marathon, these snack boxes come with loads of sharable candy for the whole family: butter popcorn, red licorice twists, malted milk balls, gummy bears and more. Pair them with a few DVDs Dad loves, then head to the living room to enjoy some quality time with the man of the house!

For the Sports Man

Top Father’s Day Pick: Sports Tins

Got a dad who’s crazy for sports? We have the perfect gift for Pops to show off his team pride! Whether he’s a MLB, NFL or college sports fan, he’ll love these sports tins. They’re adorned with tons of team logos and mascots, so you can pick Dad’s favorite. Not to mention that they’re filled with three delicious flavors of popcorn that your father can munch on while he cheers on his best players. But never mind the athletes: Dad will always be the MVP in your eyes!

For the Business Man

Top Father’s Day Pick: Chicago Skyline Snack Assortment

Your hardworking dad has always hauled in long hours at the office to keep his family happy, but that doesn’t mean he can’t have some fun while he’s working overtime! This skyline-themed popcorn tin will fit in perfectly with Dad’s office décor, plus it’s packed to the brim with delicious snacks: popcorn (six flavors, to be exact!), pretzels, chocolate chip cookies, peanuts, jelly beans and a whole lot more. Pop will never have a boring lunch break again!

For the Handy Man

Top Father’s Day Pick: Create Your Own Assortment

Leaky faucets don’t stand a chance: When something around the house needs to be fixed, your dad rolls up his sleeves and gets down to business. If he’s a DIY dad who likes to get things done his way, there’s no doubt he’ll love this create-your-own assortment. Just pick three of Pop’s favorite popcorn flavors for a totally custom snacking experience that you handpicked yourself. It’s a Father’s Day gift that would make any handy man dad proud!

Which category does your pops fall into, and how will you surprise him with popcorn on Father’s Day?

Say It In Color Snacker’s Choice Gift Box

A special occasion like this one calls for a gift with a very special message. So don’t settle for plain snacks; give your grad something with meaning. This neon gift box isn’t just filled with yummy gourmet cheese, cinnamon, almond pecan, and cracked Pepper and sea salt popcorn; triple chocolate cookies; honey roasted peanuts; foil-wrapped chocolate stars; sour stars; Jelly Belly jellybeans; and two original-recipe popcorn balls. It also features a heartfelt graduation message inside that shows your alum just how proud of them you are.

Say It In Color Tins & Towers

With so many accomplishments stacked up high, your grad now has a stepladder to reach for the sky! Show them how monumental their graduation day is with a whopping seven-tier rainbow tower filled with sandwich cookies, gourmet pretzels, chocolate chip cookies, foil-wrapped chocolate stars, sour fruit chews, jellybeans and more. Plus it comes with a 2-gallon popcorn tin with our famous three-flavor assortment: butter, cheese and caramel. The stars are the limit!

ZigZag 3-Flavor Popcorn Tin

Just like your alum stands out from the crowd on commencement day, give them a gift that’ll really pop too! With a vibrant design on the outside and three mouthwatering flavors of popcorn on the inside, this popcorn tin will make grads of all ages beam with joy. To make your gift really unforgettable, personalize it with a thoughtful message, your favorite photo of you with your grad, or both. After the popcorn is gone, the tin becomes a keepsake they can enjoy well after they’re on the road to success.

Celebration Canisters

What graduation bash is complete without some colorful confetti? When your dearest grad finally has that diploma in hand, top off their big day by showering them with confetti popcorn! One canister of this sweet and salty kettle corn comes with four festive colors to celebrate one of life’s most shining moments. Go ahead: Toss that cap into the air and celebrate graduation in a delicious way. A lifetime of achievement starts today!

Which colorful gift will you give to your special grad on commencement day?

Chicago Cubs Trivia

Today, the Cubs are one of the top five grossing teams in the MLB.

The Chicago Cubs are one of four major league baseball teams that do not have mascots.

The Cubs’ logo has been changed so many times over the years that no one really knows who designed it.

Before they were known as the Cubs, the team was also called the Chicago White Stockings, the Colts, the Black Stockings, the Orphans, the Rainmakers and the Cowboys. They didn’t get their modern-day name until 1902, when a newspaper reporter used the nickname “Cubs” to refer to the team in an article.

Every time the Cubs win a game at Wrigley Field, a flag printed with the letter “W” for “Win” is hoisted high above the scoreboard.

Only four Cubs uniform numbers have been retired: 14 (Ernie Banks), 10 (Ron Santos), 26 (Billy Williams) and 23 (Ryne Sandberg).

The Cubs were the first team ever to win two back-to-back World Series championships. They won their first series in 1907 and claimed victory again in 1908. However, they haven’t won a championship since then, though they did win National League titles in 2007 and 2008.

The Cubs didn’t start playing at Wrigley Field until 1916. They called five different parks home before they settled at Wrigley: 23^rd Street Grounds, Lakefront Park, West Side Park, South Side Park, and West Side Grounds.

The first baseball game to ever be covered on the radio was aired on October 1, 1924, when the Cubs defeated the White Sox 10-7.

There are 42,157 seats in Wrigley Field, including standing room tickets.

On July 27, 1930, Wrigley Field hosted its biggest crowd ever: 51,556 fans. There were so many people that, in order to make everyone fit, visitors were allowed to stand along the outfield’s warning track.

Lights weren’t installed in Wrigley Field until after 1942, when the initial fixtures were donated to the war effort after the attack on Pearl Harbor.

In Game 4 of the 1945 World Series against the Detroit Tigers, the Cubs didn’t allow William Sianis—owner of the Billy Goat Tavern—to bring his lucky goat into Wrigley Field. Sianis angrily declared that the Cubs would never win a World Series again. So far, what’s known as “The Curse of the Billy Goat” has come true: The Cubs lost the series that year and every year after that.

The first regular season Cubs game to be broadcast on television was aired on April 20, 1946.

Sammy Sosa hit 33 home runs in his first season with the Cubs. Before he played with the Cubs, he hit 28 runs with the White Sox in fewer than three seasons.

Chicago White Sox Trivia

The fuzzy green Chicago White Sox mascot is called “Southpaw,” a nickname for left-handed pitchers.

When the franchise was first started in 1900, the team was known as the Chicago White Stockings. They took the moniker after the Chicago Cubs—the original White Stockings—changed their team name.

Comiskey Park was home to the White Sox for 80 years (1911-1990) before they started playing at Comiskey Park II. Before then, the team played in Southside Park since 1900.

The White Sox claimed their first win in franchise history on April 22, 1901. They beat the Milwaukee Brewers 5-3.

After their 12-4 defeat of the Cleveland Blues, the White Sox clinched their first American League pennant on September 12, 1900.

The White Sox won their first World Series championship in 1906, defeating crosstown rivals Chicago Cubs 4-2. It was the first and only World Series that pitted the two Chicago teams against each other.

The original White Sox logo was designed around 1910-1912, but the designer is unknown.

Charlie Robertson was the first to pitch a perfect game in Chicago White Sox history. He beat the Detroit Tigers 2-0 on April 30, 1922.

Old Comiskey Park was famous for its exploding scoreboard: Back in 1960, a $600,000 scoreboard decked out with fireworks and lighted pinwheels was constructed. Every time the team scored a home run, a light show would bring the stadium to life.

Disco Demolition Night, one of the most famous events in sports history, took place in Comiskey Park on July 12, 1979. A disgruntled DJ named Steve Dahl organized a night when fans could place disco records in a crate in the middle of the field and blow them up. With a turnout of almost 100,000 people, the anti-disco tirade completely shut down the exit ramps on the Dan Ryan Expressway.

The White Sox had the pleasure of playing the longest game in American history. On May 9, 1984, they engaged in what seemed like a never-ending battle with the Milwaukee Brewers: The game lasted two days and 25 innings. Harold Baines finally put the game away at the bottom of the 25^th inning with his game-winning home run.

In the 1991 season, the White Sox hit a landmark fan attendance record with 2,934,154 fans.

The last time the White Sox won the World Series was 2005. It was their first championship win in 88 years.

On September 30, 2008, the Sox went head-to-head with the Minnesota Twins in a nail-biting winner take all play-in game. To amp up the drama and anticipation, the entire stadium—including the fans—was shrouded in black. The White Sox stole the show when Jim Thome launched the game-winning home run into centerfield.

DeWayne Wise made what’s known as one of the best defensive plays in White Sox history—and possibly even baseball history. Only three outs away from a perfect game on July 23, 2009, Tampa Bay Rays’ Gabe Kapler hit what could easily have been a home run. But when Wise ran after the hit, launched himself off the wall and still managed to hold on to the ball after tumbling to the ground, he smashed the Rays’ hopes of finishing off their flawless game.

So which sizzling-hot Chicago team will have you sitting on the edge of your seat this baseball season?

What You’ll Need

2 canisters The Popcorn Factory caramel popcorn
1 cup (2 sticks) butter
¼ cup light corn syrup
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 cups brown sugar
23 large marshmallows

Directions

1. Pour the caramel popcorn into a large mixing bowl.
2. Melt the butter in a pot over low heat.
3. Add the corn syrup, vanilla extract, brown sugar and marshmallows to the pot and turn the heat to medium. Stir the ingredients until the marshmallows completely melt and the mixture takes on a smooth, thick caramel texture.
4. Carefully pour the caramel marshmallow mixture over the caramel popcorn and stir until the popcorn is evenly coated.
5. Let the popcorn cool for a few minutes, and then serve in a bowl or store in an airtight container.

What other popcorn flavors do you turn to for a midday pick-me-up? Tell us about your favorite!

The time’s come to celebrate the unsung heroes of every successful business: Administrative Professionals Day 2013 is Wednesday, April 24! Although they often work in the background, secretaries, receptionists and other administrative support professionals who keep businesses running smoothly from day to day. If you know a co-worker who always goes above and beyond, give them the big thank-you they deserve with these Administrative Professionals Day gift ideas from The Popcorn Factory!

Administrative Professionals Day Gifts for Men

These cool, classic tins and gift towers come packed with heaps of snacks that any hungry man would love. With piles of absolutely scrumptious rainbow sandwich cookies, gourmet pretzels, chocolate chip cookies, foil-wrapped chocolates, sour fruit chews, jelly beans, mindblowing popcorn flavors and more, these are the perfect gifts for the guys who keep the show running at the office each and every day.

From left to right:

• Say It in Color Tins & Towers
• ZigZag Sampler
• Say It in Color Sampler
• Great Big Thank You Popcorn & Snack Tins

Administrative Professionals Day Gifts for Women

Give the ladies something bright and cheery with which they can prettify their desk space. In addition to being chock-full of yummy treats—honey roasted peanuts, dark chocolate caramels, chocolate chip cookies, gourmet pretzels, tortilla chips, salsa, sour hard candies, foil-wrapped chocolates, fruit chews, flavor-packed popcorn and more—they’re also beautifully decorated with colorful flowers and stripes. For the women who make the workplace a much lovelier place to be, consider these great gifts:

 From left to right:

• Tulips Towers
• Bright Stripe Jumbo Sampler
• Thank You Wishes Design Popcorn & Snack Tins
• Leaves on Gold Popcorn Tins

Do you have any terrific co-workers or employees that you’d like to honor on Administrative Professionals Day? Tell us all about them!

The idea behind this perfect Earth Day gift came straight from you: our lovely fans. When we asked, “What do you store in your empty Popcorn Factory tins?” your answers inspired us to create this one-of-a-kind collection. We came up with six adorable designs for you to choose from, depending on what you want to store in your tins after you’ve devoured your delicious treats:

• Birdseed
• Toys
• Pet food
• Gardening tools
• Snacks
• Christmas tree ornaments

So mouthwatering snacks and extra storage space makes this popcorn gift doubly delightful—plus it helps save the Earth’s resources!

Even More Different Uses for Popcorn Tins

Have other Popcorn Factory tins at home that you’d like to upcycle in honor of Earth Day? If you prefer to take the DIY route and decorate your tins yourself, here are some other items you can store in your crafty creation:

• Arts and crafts supplies
• Sewing or knitting materials
• Gift-wrapping supplies
• Magazines
• Hats, gloves and scarves
• Hair accessories
• Kitchen utensils
• Spare change
• Cookie cutters and other baking supplies
• Umbrellas
• Plants or flowers
• Wood logs for the fireplace
• Small towels
• Ice and cold drinks
• Tea packets or single-serve coffee cups
• Flour or sugar
• Bath toiletries

What will you be storing in your Tin With a Spin to celebrate Earth Day this year?

Happy National Siblings Day!

Have a Just-for-Siblings Picnic

Give your kids one-on-one time to laugh, talk and play over some great food and snacks. Have them work together to fill up a picnic basket with sandwiches, popcorn, cookies, pretzels and any other snack foods they love. Set out a comfy blanket on the living room floor with some toys, pop a movie in the DVD player and let them dig in! They’ll be so excited to have their own private party, and they’ll create memories that will stay with them long after they’ve grown up.

Make Some National Siblings Day Crafts

Instead of having your little ones exchange store-bought presents, show them how to make handmade and heartfelt gifts they can exchange with each other. Help them draw their own National Siblings Day cards and tell them to write what they love most about their brother or sister. You can also get crafty with them and create some popcorn hearts that they can swap along with their cards.

Hold a Sibling Photo Shoot

Every kid should have some great pictures with their brother or sister. What better day to have a sibling photo shoot than today? Don’t worry; you don’t have to go to a professional to get great shots. Make it fun by setting up your own mini studio at home: You can hang up a sheet or tablecloth on the wall for an instant backdrop. Have your kids pick out their favorite outfits or costumes, give them a few cute photo props (like fake mustaches or jewelry), and tell them to strike a pose for the camera together. The sillier they are, the better the pictures will be! At the end of the day, they won’t just be smiling; they’ll also have lots of keepsake photos that’ll make them laugh for years to come.

Play a Sharing Game

Kids love to talk about their favorite things, so why not turn it into a fun game that’ll teach them how to share with their siblings? Tell each child to draw pictures of their toys and stuffed animals—without looking at their siblings’ drawings. Drop the drawings into a bucket and mix them up. Then, have each child pick a random drawing from the bucket and guess who drew it. After the game is done, tell the kids to take out the toys that they drew, exchange them with one another and explain why they love those toys. They’ll have a blast seeing the toys through their siblings’ eyes, and it’ll kickstart hours of fun sibling playtime!

Bond Over a Game of Sibling Trivia

No one knows you better than your sibling, and that close connection starts during childhood. You can help build that bond between your kids by playing an exciting game of sibling trivia. Have them sit in a circle and take turns saying two things about themselves that are true and one thing that is false. They can talk about anything: their favorite TV show, color, food, sport … the list goes on and on. Their siblings then have to try to guess which statement was false. When the game is over, they’ll learn so much about each other that they won’t just be siblings anymore—they’ll be best friends too!

What other kinds of activities will you be enjoying with your kids on National Siblings Day?

What You’ll Need

1 Popcorn Factory popcorn ball per flower
1 or more bags of colored chocolate wafers (depending on what colors you want your flowers to be)
1 shot glass per flower
1 lollipop stick per flower
1 mason jar per flower
Crinkled filler paper
Jute twine
Green tissue paper

Directions

1. So the popcorn balls don’t roll around as you’re covering them in chocolate, stand each popcorn ball on top of a shot glass.

2. Place the colored chocolate wafers into a bowl and heat them in the microwave until they melt. Stir the chocolate every 30 seconds so it doesn’t burn. Using a spoon, drizzle each popcorn ball with the melted chocolate. Place the popcorn balls, along with the shot glasses, in the refrigerator for about a half hour or until the chocolate drizzle hardens.

3. To make the flower pot and stem, fill a mason jar up with crinkled filler paper. Pack it tightly so that the flower snugly and securely stands in the jar. Cut a small, square piece of green tissue paper and pierce the lollipop stick directly in the center of the square to create the flower’s leaves. Then, poke the lollipop stick vertically directly in the center of the jar, right through the filler paper. Make sure the lollipop stick doesn’t tilt over. Finally, prettify the mason jar by tying a piece of jute twine around the mouth of the jar.

4. After the chocolate on the popcorn balls has hardened, take the popcorn balls out of the refrigerator and remove them from the shot glasses. To make the popcorn flowers, insert the top of the lollipop stick directly into the bottom of the popcorn ball. Don’t push too far; you don’t want the ball to split in half!

And there you have ’em: blossoming popcorn flowers you can use to decorate your home … or eat for dessert! Here’s a tip: If you want to make an even bigger popcorn flower arrangement for the center of your table, tightly pack a small planter with filler paper, crinkle up multiple tissue paper squares and line them along the rim of the planter to create a grassy look, like we did above.

Have your own ideas on how to make DIY popcorn flowers? Share them with us!

Here is a fun and creative way to serve a variety of your favorite popcorn flavors that your guests will also enjoy. First, we used our Egg-Ceptional Easter Popcorn Tins filled with  a combo of sweet and savory with something for everyone.

Next, make your way to the Easter aisle where you’ll find an array of spring and Easter inspired decorations and party favors like:

• Easter egg tray
• PEEPS®
• Shredded Easter grass
• Mini springtime boxes.

Finally, all you need to do is use your imagination and you’ll have the perfect snack table at your Easter celebration!

At The Popcorn Factory, we love to celebrate every occasion… deliciously! We celebrate the holidays, birthdays, any national food days, and now we are celebrating something totally unexpected and original. With a little research, we found out that March 26^th is officially National Make Your Own Holiday Day. So we sat there asking ourselves, what would be our ideal holiday? (FYI- National Popcorn Day already exists). So, we decided the best way to discover a new holiday was to ask none other than our Facebook fans! We gave our fans until midnight to answer the golden question, “If you could make your own holiday, what would it be?” We received almost 100 comments! Our fans shared a variety of made-up holidays that were funny, creative, original, and thoughtful.

Here are only a few of our favorites:National Do a Good Deed Day, National Day of Fun, I Get Hugged by Donnie Wahlberg Day, National Smile Day, My Cats Are Gonna Behave Day.

We loved every single made-up holiday that our fans shared, but we knew in the end one had to be declared the winner. So, we present to you… National Singing Day! Who doesn’t love to sing? Whether it’s at karaoke with friends, alone in the car, or just when you catch yourself humming your favorite tune, a day of singing will make anyone smile.