This Mother's Day, Give Mom the Only Little Blue Box She Needs with Kraft Mac & Cheese's 14k Gold Macaroni Necklace
Kraft Mac & Cheese is collaborating with luxury fine jeweler, Ring Concierge, to bring its iconic noodle smile to the jewelry box. An homage to the classic children's craft, the limited-edition necklace features a single 14k gold noodle strung on a delicate 16-inch gold chain. The statement piece, which is served up in a classic blue box (Kraft Mac & Cheese Royal blue, of course) is the perfect way for families to show moms their long-lasting appreciation.
'For nearly a century, Kraft Mac & Cheese has given moms fun, delicious and trusted ways to care for their families at mealtime,' says Alyssa Galiardo, Associate Brand Communications Manager, Kraft Mac & Cheese. 'This Mother's Day, we're offering families the ultimate way to say thank you, with an elevated twist on a timeless tradition. Families can feel good knowing every time mom wears her necklace, she'll remember special moments shared together – especially those that took place over a bowl of Kraft Mac & Cheese.'
Kraft Mac & Cheese has long-believed that quality products should be made accessible for all, and with gold prices at an all-time high, the brand and Ring Concierge have partnered to offer the 14k gold necklace at a record low price – just $25. Families can get this must-have statement piece starting May 1st, exclusively at http://ringconcierge.com/kraft-mac-and-cheese. And beyond a necklace for mom to wear, each gift comes with a box of Kraft Mac & Cheese for the whole family to share.
'There's something beautiful about taking a childhood ritual—like gifting your mom a handmade macaroni necklace—and turning it into a real piece of fine jewelry,' said Nicole Wegman, Founder and CEO of Ring Concierge. 'As someone who grew up loving Kraft Mac & Cheese, and now makes it for my kids, I was so excited to reimagine it through a luxury lens.'
Show us mom's surprised delight as she opens this unforgettable gift on social using #KraftMacaroniNecklace. For more information on Kraft Mac & Cheese and to stay up to date on the latest news and announcements, follow Kraft Mac & Cheese on Instagram @kraft_macandcheese and TikTok @maccheesebykraft. And to learn more about Ring Concierge and to stay updated on new launches, follow the brand on Instagram and TikTok @ringconcierge.
1 National Retail Federation | Consumers Expected to Spend Near-Record $33.5 Billion on Mother's Day (2023)
ABOUT THE KRAFT HEINZ COMPANY
We are driving transformation at The Kraft Heinz Company (Nasdaq: KHC), inspired by our Purpose, Let's Make Life Delicious. Consumers are at the center of everything we do. With 2024 net sales of approximately $26 billion, we are committed to growing our iconic and emerging food and beverage brands on a global scale. We leverage our scale and agility to unleash the full power of Kraft Heinz across a portfolio of eight consumer-driven product platforms. As global citizens, we're dedicated to making a sustainable, ethical impact while helping feed the world in healthy, responsible ways. Learn more about our journey by visiting www.kraftheinzcompany.com or following us on LinkedIn.
ABOUT RING CONCIERGE
Ring Concierge is a luxury jewelry brand offering trend-forward and timeless designs for the modern woman. Since its inception, Ring Concierge has disrupted the historically close-knit, male-dominated diamond industry — redefining the engagement ring process to put women first. Today, in addition to its sought-after engagement rings, the distinctive Bespoke Bridal collection, Ring Concierge offers a covetable fine jewelry line boasting showstopping statement pieces and elevated every day staples.
Founded by Nicole Wegman in 2013, Nicole has scaled year-over-year growth by strategically utilizing social media and opening two NYC storefronts with continued plans for expansion. As the brand name suggests, Ring Concierge prioritizes the client experience first. The team is dedicated to providing an exceptional shopping experience, offering guidance and educating the client as they build their dream jewelry wardrobe. With its New York City roots and status as both brand and influencer, Ring Concierge has its finger on the ever-changing pulse of what the modern woman wants utilizing the latest technology in innovative ways.
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Business Upturn
9 hours ago
- Business Upturn
Inside the Business Model of Smudge the Cat
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The photo of Smudge sitting at a dinner table with a grumpy expression, paired with the yelling woman meme template, exploded across Twitter, Reddit, and Instagram in 2019. Almost overnight, Smudge became a face recognized worldwide. What makes Smudge's story unique is that his fame was not initially manufactured by branding agencies or marketing professionals. Instead, it was entirely grassroots — powered by shares, reposts, and remixes from millions of online users. This organic virality laid the foundation for what would later become a carefully managed and profitable influencer business in the USA. Smudge's human family quickly realized the potential of this fame and began shaping it into a sustainable income model. How the Smudge the Cat Business Model Works in the USA When it comes to understanding how pet influencers make money, Smudge provides one of the clearest examples. His business model combines meme culture, influencer economics, and traditional branding strategies. Here are the core pillars: Smudge Pet Influencer Income USA: Brand Sponsorships and Partnerships One of the primary revenue streams for Smudge comes from brand sponsorships. With millions of meme fans across social media platforms, Smudge has a built-in audience that brands want to tap into. Pet food companies, lifestyle brands, and even tech firms see value in associating with an instantly recognizable internet celebrity. In these deals, Smudge's image is used to promote products in fun, meme-inspired ways. Unlike traditional influencer ads that sometimes feel forced, Smudge's campaigns often use humor, making them more authentic and shareable. This keeps engagement rates high, which in turn drives up his value to advertisers. Smudge Meme Brand Deals: Merchandise and E-Commerce If there's one place Smudge has truly thrived, it's merchandise. The Smudge meme brand deals often come to life in the form of T-shirts, mugs, stickers, and even plush toys. 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USA Today
10 hours ago
- USA Today
You probably forgot about some of 2025's most viral moments. Here's a recap.
A recap might be in order. Between a 24-hour news cycle and a never-ending loop of social media trends, remembering what happened yesterday, much less at the start of the year could prove difficult. From American Eagle's controversial jeans ad and the ongoing Labubu pandemonium, 2025 (at least so far) has been chock-full of viral moments. In an effort to remind you, our readers, what some of those big moments were, we've rounded them up and recapped them (in case the train passed you by on one or more of these.) See some of the moments that perfectly capture the zeitgeist of 2025, at least so far. Americans say 'goodbye' to TikTok Before TikTok "went dark" for 12 hours in January, some of its American users had already prepared for the worst, issuing last goodbyes and posting heartfelt tributes in case they would never be able to use the social media platform again. Influencers, content creators and casual users shared memories and posted memes and for an app they said fostered a sense of community and belonging, in addition to income. The federal legislation that required ByteDance, TikTok's parent company, to the divest the app's U.S. assets, was designed to assuage national security concerns, i.e., fears that the Beijing-based company was sharing U.S. user data with China. Fortunately, for TikTok, President Donald Trump came through with an executive order that delayed the ban for 75 days so ByteDance could find an owner in the U.S. Trump has since issued three executive orders to delay the ban, with the most recent deadline being Sept. 17. The fate of the short-form video app now lies in the hands of Chinese officials, U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said, and they have yet to approve a U.S.-drafted deal to sell the app's American assets. If Chinese officials don't approve the deal before the deadline, and if Trump does not issue another executive order to delay the ban, TikTok could go dark again. What's the latest on a TikTok ban? There's just a month until the app could be banned – again. Here's where things stand. Gulf of Mexico? Gulf of America. Gulf of Mexico? More like Gulf of America, President Donald Trump decreed on Inauguration Day. The name change went into effect on Feb. 10, a day after Trump declared Feb. 9 as the "first-ever Gulf of America Day" while en route to Super Bowl 59. Tech giants Google and Apple moved quickly to honor Trump's order after the new name was formally adopted by the Geographic Names Information System. Trump's executive order ruffled more than a few feathers, most notably Mexican president Claudia Sheinbaum, who threatened legal action against Google and joked that she would start calling the United States "Mexican America" in retaliation. Kendrick Lamar brought the heat to Super Bowl LIX Between the fashion and the set list (featuring SZA), Kendrick Lamar's halftime show performance at Super Bowl 59 was one for the books. Not to mention surprise cameos from Uncle Sam, i.e., Samuel L. Jackson and tennis legend (Drake's ex) Serena Williams, who crip-walked onstage. Kendrick Lamar and Drake rap beef: What makes this music feud so significant? Within the span of 13 minutes, the Grammy- and Pulitzer-winning rapper dropped easter eggs, trolled Drake with famed diss trick "Not Like Us" and performed a total of 11 tracks (with stunning visuals and an ensemble, to boot.) Troves of spectators, including fans, took to social media to either react (live) and/or discuss all things related to Lamar's performance. But the fun did not stop there, as Lamar and SZA took "GNX" collaborations on the road for the Grand National Tour, which concluded at Northwest Stadium in Washington, D.C. on June 18. Katy Perry hate (space?) train Haters gonna hate. And Katy Perry, one of six notable women catapulted to the edge of space, got a lot of it. Because of billionaire Jeff Bezos' private space company Blue Origin, Perry and her crewmates got the chance to take a quick trip beyond Earth's atmosphere, complete with out-of-this-world views and a dose of microgravity. The internet, including fellow celebrities Olivia Munn and Emily Ratajkowski, were critical of the voyage, which some considered "out of touch," even a "bit gluttonous." The hate train, mostly aimed at Perry, continued through the end of the mission, which took place on April 14. Perry, for her part, did not comment on the controversy until weeks later, telling a fan who congratulated the "Dark Horse" singer on the opening of her tour, that the online world tries to make her a "human Piñata." "I take it with grace and send them love, cause I know so many people are hurting in so many ways and the internet is very much so a dumping ground for unhinged and unhealed," Perry wrote. Instant replay: Katy Perry, Gayle King, 4 other women head to space on Blue Origin launch 100 men vs. 1 gorilla debate Could 100 men defeat a gorilla in a fight? The hypothetical question sparked discourse (and inspired memes) across social media platforms for several days in late April. We, like everyone else involved, were just as curious about the answer so we decided to ask an expert. Tara Stoinski, president and chief scientific officer of the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund, told us to think about the numbers. 100 men vs. 1 gorilla? Expert weighs in on viral debate Haunted doll blamed for New Orleans hijinks Annabelle was in the wrong place at the wrong time, or the right place at the wrong time. (Depends on who you ask.) The haunted "Raggedy Ann" doll, which served as inspiration for a horror movie of the same name, was minding her own business when the internet turned on her. Annabelle, on a multi-city tour across the U.S., was accused of orchestrating the escape of 10 inmates from an Orleans Parish jail and a fire that decimated a plantation just south of Baton Rouge, event thats coincided with her visit to Louisiana. Some were amused by the coincidence, while others, like the X user above, were certain Annabelle had something to do with it. Once the rumor mill gets going, especially on social media, its hard to stop, something Ghost City Tours learned quicky. Tim Nealon, founder of Ghost City Tours, told USA TODAY they had received death threats. Most of them came from people who were "absolutely convinced" that the company had something to do with all of the hijinks, Nealon said. "I did not think people were taking it seriously, (because) I kept seeing jokes about it on Instagram and TikTok," Nealon said. "But, I didn't realize people were out here like, actually thinking that this was legit." Ghost City Tours also released a statement on social media, writing that they while they were of the comments being thrown around, they could confirm Annabelle had nothing to do with the fire. In photos: Original 'Annabelle' doll of paranormal infamy visits Gettysburg orphanage Labubu craze Labubus are to 2025 like Stanley cups were to 2024. And the monster plushies, so popular it spawned a knockoff, are this season's fashion accessory of choice. The doll was designed a decade ago by Kasing Lung, a Hong Kong-born artist. The toy, part of "The Monsters" line, and other figurines are currently sold by Beijing-based toy maker Pop Mart in "blind boxes," a sealed package that contains a mystery toy, typically from a themed series. But the craze for Labubus began to surge in popularity months after Lisa of K-pop girl group BLACKPINK mentioned her "secret obsession" with Pop Mart collectibles in a December 2024 interview with Vanity Fair. "The video that started all the Labubu craze.." one user wrote in VF's comment section. Labubus have become a hot commodity since then, as consumers worlwide struggle (and sometimes fight each other) to nab the real thing for themselves. While those lucky enough to get one, or more are either already plotting their next kill or buying outfits for the one, or ones they already own. Is your Labubu real? We spot differences between Pop Mart dolls and 'Lafufus' Jeans or genes? American Eagle ad starring Sydney Sweeney blasted American Eagle sought to promote its jeans through its campaign starring Sydney Sweeney, but somehow managed to elicit controversy online and support from the White House in the process. "Genes are passed down from parents to offspring, often determining traits like hair color, personality and even eye color," the "Euphoria" star said in the ad. "My jeans are blue." Critics were quick the slam the ad, arguing that the wordplay was a subtle attempt at endorsing eugenics. By glorifying the actor's white genetics as "good," many argued the ad promoted the belief that some genetic features are better than others. President Donald Trump, Sen. Ted Cruz and White House Communications Director Steven Cheung rushed toward the ad's defense saying that the backlash was just nonsense coming from liberals. Sydney Sweeney is everywhere: A look at her viral ad campaigns. 'Kiss Cam' incident at Coldplay concert Things got a little uncomfy for a couple attending a Coldplay concert in Foxborough, Massachusetts last month. You know the one. Two concertgoers (and tech company Astronomer, by proxy) were thrust into the spotlight after a "Kiss Cam" cameo. The clip shows a man and a woman leap out of close embrace and duck out of view after they realized everyone at Gillette Stadium, including front man Chris Martin, could see them on the jumbotron. "Come on, you're OK!" Martin told the pair. "Uh oh, what? Either they're having an affair or they're just very shy." Internet sleuths were on the case shortly after the clip went viral, with many curious and determined to uncover the identity of the couple. And some of them did. Days later, Astronomer CEO Andy Byron and the company's chief people officer, Kristin Cabot, resigned. Then Astronomer hired Martin's ex-wife Gwyneth Paltrow, a "temporary spokesperson" to be the face of its newest advertisement. The scandal also became a sort of spectacle, spawning reenactments and prompting musical artists to issue warnings ahead of shows.
Time Magazine
13 hours ago
- Time Magazine
Why the U.S. and China Are Playing Nice
The U.S. and the People's Republic of China are strategic rivals in the battle for global leadership in the 21st century. So it was no surprise when President Donald Trump hit China with 20% tariffs in the first few weeks of his second term and then imposed reciprocal tariffs of 34% on 'Liberation Day.' And when Trump a few days later lowered tariff rates for everyone else to calm markets, he quadrupled duties on China to a whopping 145%. But all that now feels like ancient history. Over the past four months, Trump has bent over backwards to be kind to Beijing. The two sides announced a 90-day ceasefire in Geneva in early May, agreeing to reduce tariffs and negotiate their differences over export controls and other issues. (Remaining U.S. tariffs on China are still at roughly 55%, and China's tariffs on the U.S. stand at almost 33%. These are historically high levels, but not sufficient to outright stop trade.) Further discussions in London and Stockholm made enough progress for the two sides this week to announce another extension of the ceasefire, with the White House praising Beijing for being cooperative and flexible in the negotiations to date. Read More: Why Trump Will Blink First on China In the same vein, the Trump Administration has not shut down TikTok in the U.S. despite the fact that it is still Chinese-controlled, in contravention of American law; it denied a transit visa for Taiwanese President William Lai; and it is allowing Nvidia and AMD to sell advanced chips in China despite originally blocking many of these sales, following a pay-for-play deal. So why the sudden about-face on China? It is doubly odd given the U.S.'s simultaneous tough tact toward other members of the BRICS—a rival to the U.S.-led G7 that includes Brazil, Russia, India, and South Africa—not to mention many of America's traditional allies. Three reasons stand out. First, both Washington and Beijing now have proven weapons that are restraining the aggressive instincts of the other side. Unlike others who caved in to Trump's pressure, Beijing retaliated, first with its own high tariffs, and then, more importantly, with restrictions on rare earth minerals, over which they have a global chokehold. Once Trump began lowering most of the initial reciprocal tariffs and calling for talks with Xi, they had confidence that restricting rare earths minerals and magnets would be met not with counterstrikes but with concessions. That includes the Trump Administration backing off imposing new export controls on several technologies and scrapping their threat to 'aggressively revoke' Chinese student visas. Beijing now believes it has perfected the recipe for making a 'TACO' ('Trump always chickens out'). Second, Trump and Xi both have an interest in strengthening economic confidence at home. With persistent overcapacity and price wars across industrial and consumer sectors, 'involution' has become the word of the year in China, a nod to the excessive competition that is hurting local businesses. Xi needs to shore up government finances, consolidate industries, and avoid further international barriers to Chinese exports and investment. The U.S.'s current economic picture is stronger, but constituents in town halls across the country have expressed deep worries about lost export markets, inflation, budget deficits, and a potential recession. Third, both Trump and Xi want to meet each other, most likely in the Fall in Asia. Trump has been signaling his desire for direct communication with Xi since at least April. He wants to assemble a deal that he can sell at home as boosting U.S. business opportunities and stopping the fentanyl epidemic, given China's role in producing most of the precursors in the synthetic opiod that is trafficked to America. The Chinese have played hard to get, privately saying any summit must be preceded by detailed negotiations and planning. Based on my conversations with experts in China in recent weeks, Xi wants to avoid being disrespected, as Ukrainian President Zelensky and other world leaders were during their White House visits. And with Trump making concession after concession, Beijing may want to consolidate its recent gains and aim even higher, perhaps inducing Trump to make further compromises over tariffs, export controls, and Taiwan. Read More: It's Time for Trump and Xi to Meet Although one should not dismiss the value of stable ties between the world's two largest economies, each equipped with massive stockpiles of nuclear weapons, this warming trend is unlikely to last very long. Both sides prefer calmness now because it aligns with their short-term interests. Chinese official rhetoric aside, neither side sees the relationship in cooperative terms, and neither is willing to take major steps to provide strategic reassurance to the other. The underlying fundamental challenges created by the countries' deep divisions over their economic ties, the potential for conflict over Taiwan and other hotspots, and their competing visions of the international order can only be papered over for so long. At some point Beijing may run out of luck, and either not concede enough in negotiations or push too hard to make a TACO, and instead generate a Trumpian tirade or policy overreaction. Trump's unpredictability make linear extrapolations of any U.S. policy or strategy a risky bet. At some point, for either reasons of policy or fashion, the U.S.'s current gentle approach toward Beijing is likely to eventually harden, and for a new scene in the drama to unfold. Read More: Why China Can't Win a Trade War Beijing knows no deal with Trump is permanent. They will enjoy the peace and quiet as long as they can, but they know they need to be prepared for the next round of escalation—whenever it arrives. Other countries, companies, and markets should, too.
