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Macaroni Kid Chats with Sandra Lee

BuyCostumes.com supports UNICEF

By Eric Cohen - Macaroni Dad November 4, 2014
I was invited to attend a very special event last week by our friends at BuyCostumes.com. They held a series of events this October called Orange Tuesdays. These events were not just a celebration of Halloween, but had a mission to raise awareness for the classic and worthy cause of UNICEF and their Halloween tradition of Trick or Treating and raising money for children.

If you are of a certain age, you’ll remember the orange cardboard box with the slit that we’d ask our neighbors to drop pennies in when we went trick or treating…and in case you haven’t noticed, it’s back.

And while I was at the event, I had a chance to chat with spokeswoman and advocate for children, Sandra Lee. Her Semi-homemade recipes and tips have saved many hours for moms across the Country. I was excited to get to chat with her and learn more (did you know Halloween is her favorite holiday?).

SandraLeeSm

MacaroniDad: So what brings you here tonight to this event?

Sandra Lee: I’m the biggest fan of Halloween that there is. It’s a very special holiday to me, it’s the one day of the year we can all be kids. And I work with BuySeasons.com and Evite.com and it’s my pleasure to be here with all the kids having so much fun.

MD: Those are great brands. And you work with UNICEF too, how long have you had that relationship?

SL: I started working with UNICEF about 15 years ago with their LA chapter. Then after Katrina, I left the board and focused on childhood hunger here in the US. And now UNICEF’s programs help kids in the US, so I’m back and thrilled to be a part of it again.

MD: With the holidays coming up, what the best tip you can give moms to keep their cool and make the holidays easier?

SL: We all try to do too much, even me. I remind myself you don’t have to do everything and make it perfect. I think the most important thing is to remember what it’s about. It’s not about how perfect the cranberry sauce is, it’s about the memories you are making.

In the middle of the interview, my phone rings and it’s MacKid Mama Bear. Sandra grabs the phone and the two of them start chatting. It’s typical Macaroni style…

MD: OK, I have you back, what are your favorite kid friendly recipes and tips?

SL: Anything can be kid-friendly if you get them to participate in the preparation. My niece only ate chicken nuggets and hot dogs until one day I took her grocery shopping. We picked out all the food and cooked it together. If they cook it, they’ll eat it.

MD: You have an amazing body of work, books, TV shows, what’s the best place for our readers to get more info?

SL: My facebook page is a good resource, and my magazine is on the newsstands every two months. Our holiday issue is out now. It has a lot of fun mom-friendly recipes, and sweet treats and baking and cooking ideas to use as gifts. Doing something special with food is not only great on your pocketbook,  but it’s made from the heart. And it’s a learning experience for kids, that creates memories. Look at it this way, we all have childhood memories, specific times, specific years, and as parents, we never know what time, what holiday is going to be the one that sticks. So make sure whatever you do, it’s something that you’ll want your kids to remember. It doesn’t have to be perfect, just memorable, so keep it in perspective.

You can follow Sandra on Facebook and see her magazine here.