7 Minutes in (Creativity) Heaven With Lollapalooza Artist Frankie

LA-based musician Frankie’s life has changed quitttteeee a bit since her days of singing to herself in a mirror as a child. As an RCA artist working on her debut studio album, she’s heading off to retreats to write music with her band, prepping to play the biggest show of her life when she hits the stage at Lollapalooza this Saturday (be sure to check for our behind-the-scenes piece with her then) and, oh yeah — garnering cred from a little known fellow artist named Taylor Swift.

Swift included this up-and-comer’s tune “New Obsession” from her current EP, Dreamstate, on a list of “New Songs to Make Your Life More Awesome (I Promise!)” back in October of last year, and believe us when we say that no matter where you stand on the Kanye feud, when it comes to this, she wasn’t wrong.

Yet no matter what crazy, exciting things life throws her way, Frankie still finds PLENTY of time to tap into her creative side, whether it be writing new tunes with her bandmates or jamming away on the piano or guitar (both of which she’s adept at). Find out just what makes her tick and how she channels her art below, as she indulges us in a brilliant round of 7 Minutes in (Creativity) Heaven.

BIO: Singer, Songwriter, Recording Artist/Performer + All-around Badass Musician

Originally from the Bay Area and currently residing in Los Angeles, Frankie feels ridiculously lucky that she gets to write songs and sing them for people across the country every single day.

B+C: What’s the crappiest gig or job you’ve ever had on your way to the top, and what did you learn from it?

I’m a lucky girl because my bandmates are my best friends, so even when we would have shows with two people in the audience, we would still go insane and rock out like crazy. We always made each other crack up on stage! However, I used to teach guitar, piano and singing lessons to young kids, and that was just a little rough. I’m self-taught at piano, so I had to step up my game to pull it off like I was a prodigy!

What is the last app you downloaded, and what did you use it for?

The last app I downloaded was Bitmoji and I’m obsessed with it. [My bandmates] and I have a group thread, and for a while we would only text in Bitmoji characters to see how far it would go. We [all] really tried to get our [Bitmoji characters] to look identical to us, but [my drummer Ben’s character] never did, so every time I see his I crack up.

Who would your dream collaborator be?

I have loved Stevie Nicks for so long. She is my ultimate queen, and ever since I was little I would dance in front of my TV as I watched her concerts. My dream is to go to her house and listen to her play piano and sing while she tells me stories about her songs and the meaning behind them. That’s the ultimate “pinch-me” goal. Let’s just all take a moment and pray that [it] happens one day.

Where do you go when you have writer’s block, and how do you overcome it?

When I have writers block, I just listen to my mind and don’t try to write. I can always tell [when my songs are] forced and I just scratch [them]. I write most of my songs with my boys, and we’re true believers that when things are natural is when the best stuff comes out. If it’s forced, we scratch it and wait until it comes organically — even if that takes weeks or months.

What’s on your go-to playlist right now?

I love “Genghis Khan” by Miiike Snow right now a lot. On mainstream pop, the boys and I are loving “Cheap Thrills” by Sia. We’re so lucky because we’ve been playing a bunch of radio shows/festivals with all [of] these amazing artists, so this summer we have had the pleasure [of seeing] so many of [them] live backstage. This summer has been filled with “pinch-me” moments.

Where do you go and what do you do to tap into your creativity when you’re at home in LA?

The boys and I love writing by the water. Any time we do a writing retreat, we always get a house on the beach. There’s something about looking out at the ocean that gets me in a zen state to write, so any place by the beach is our ideal spot!

What was your favorite thing to do or make as a kid?

Honestly, I’ve been writing songs and playing guitar since I was 10! I tried sports and arts/crafts but it never clicked. I was that girl who would come home from school and write a song about what happened that day! I’m a music nerd, and that’s always been my favorite and only way to create.

What is the last thing you made with your hands?

I cook all the time; does that count? *laughs* I probably made a thank you card and decorated it. I do that a lot to send thanks to everyone who has supported me along the way.

What’s your favorite way to be creative? Share with us over @BritandCo!

(Photos via Cindy Ord/Getty)

I truly feel like I’ve been living under a rock when it comes to what’s good at Whole Foods. Turns out, they’ve been hiding some really impressive deals on groceries in the shadows, but I’m here to shed some light on ‘em. Whole Foods offers savings every week, and I’m fully convinced that my local Whole Foods will be seeing a whole lot more of me from now on.

Scroll on for details on Whole Foods’ top deals to shop starting today!

Kaboompics / PEXELS

1. BOGO 50% off packaged soups (Tuesdays)

Tuesdays and Fridays are the main days of the week that Whole Foods offers savings on their groceries. The first amazing deal for Tuesdays is BOGO 50% off packaged soups – perfect for this time of year!

They’ve got every kind of flavor from minestrone and chicken noodle to Italian wedding and broccoli cheddar. Their packaged soups average out at about $9 per 24-ounce tub, so saving 50% on one when you buy one is pretty good, especially for meal prep purposes.

Lukas / PEXELS

2. $2 off classic and organic rotisserie chickens (Tuesdays)

You can take $2 off two kinds of Whole Foods’ rotisserie chickens every Tuesday. Their classic rotisserie chicken goes for $9 while the organic version sells for $13. I love using rotisserie chicken for soups, sandwiches, wraps, and pastas, so getting a whole chicken to use for recipes all week long for just $7 is so nice!

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3. $8 large cheese pizzas (Friday)

Sometimes you just do not feel like cooking on a Friday evening after work – that’s where this Whole Foods savings hack comes in! Every Friday, you can get a large cheese pizza for $8. While there’s nothing wrong with a plain cheese pizza (nostalgia galore!), I’d take advantage of this deal then bulk up my slices with various toppings like peppers, pepperoni, and olives.

Nadin Sh / PEXELS

4. 12 for $12 wild caught oysters (Friday)

Ooh, fancy! Every Friday, Whole Foods’ wild caught oysters go for $1 a pop. Buy a dozen for just $12, and you’re golden. This deal would be perfect for a bougie at-home date night.

Pixabay / PEXELS

5. BOGO 50% off packaged sushi rolls (Friday)

This is another great date night pick! Buy one packaged sushi roll, and get another 50% off on Fridays only. From rainbow rolls to California rolls, this Whole Foods savings hack has my cravings going crazy.

Minchephoto Photography / PEXELS

6. $10 family-sized tiramisu (Friday)

Got a hankering for a sweet treat? Don’t fret – you can shop a whole family-sized serving of tiramisu at Whole Foods for just $10 every Friday.

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7. $12 bottles of prosecco (Friday)

The death of the work week and start of the weekend is obviously a cause for celebration, and Whole Foods has you covered with $12 bottles of Presto prosecco every Friday. Cheers!

Subscribe to our newsletter to discover more deals!

As much as I love celebrity couples, I love celebrity sibling relationships even more. And Elle and Dakota Fanning are two sisters I've grown up watching since I first saw Dreamer in 2005. Considering Elle Fanning is only five months older than me, and I have a sister of my own, this is one relationship that feels particularly familiar. And while Elle has also watched Dakota Fanning act since we were kids, Dakota just revealed seeing Elle onscreen is just as special for her.

Here's why Dakota & Elle Fanning get emotional seeing each other onscreen.

Elle remembers "sobbing" during one particularly emotional Dakota Fanning movie.

“When Elle’s in anything, it makes me feel it deeper,” Dakota Fanning said at TheWrap’s Power Women Summit on December 3. “She never can fully disappear into a character totally for me as her sister. She obviously does an amazing job, but I’m always gonna see my little sister a little bit.”

And Elle is just as touched by Dakota's roles, and remembers "uncontrollably sobbing" after seeing Now Is Good, a movie where Dakota's character was dying of cancer. “Because it was my sister, I had a real traumatic reaction after that premiere and the screening,” Elle says. “Obviously the acting, but it was something felt on a deeper level.”

“I’m doing this job, I’m an actor because my sister started before me and I watched her,” Elle continues. “I wanted to do exactly what my big sister wanted to do.”

And their movies have also made an impact on everyone who watches them.

When Brit + Co caught up with Dakota Fanning at the world premiere of The Watchers, I had to ask about one of her most iconic movies: Uptown Girls. "I love it," she says of TikTok memes and edits giving the movie new life. "It's nostalgic for people who are kind of around my age, who grew up watching that movie, I think it's like a comfort movie for people. And so I love that people are still revisiting it and loving it. And maybe now that everyone's older [they're] understanding different things about it."

Dakota starred opposite Brittany Murphy, who also had roles in movies like Clueless, 8 Mile, and Girl, Interrupted. Brittany passed away in 2009 when Dakota was 15. "I loved Brittany so much and I still miss her," she says. "So anytime that she has, you know, a moment where people think about her is also nice."

You can see Elle Fanning in A Complete Unknown, in theaters December 25, and you can also stream Dakota Fanning's new show The Perfect Couple on Netflix now.

Heaping plates of Christmas cookies are synonymous with the holidays. It seems that nearly every country around the globe has their own variation on the holiday classic. In fact, some of these regions have been making their version of Christmas cookies for literal hundreds of years.

If you’re looking for a way to reconnect with your heritage, or maybe just want a little baking inspiration, check out our picks for the yummiest Christmas cookies from around the world.

The Noshery

Mantecaditos con Guayaba

These may look like ordinary thumbprint cookies, but these almond shortbreads from Puerto Rico are filled with a special guava marmalade. (via The Noshery)

Broma Bakery

Meringues

French meringues are a classic crumbly egg white cookie with a chewy interior. These get an extra European twist with the addition of Nutella. (via Broma Bakery)

Pretty. Simple. Sweet.

Alfajores

Deeply flavored dulce de leche, a caramel made from whole milk commonly found in Spain and many Latin American countries, is the key ingredient in these super pretty sandwiched Christmas cookies. (via Pretty. Simple. Sweet.)

Fancy Peasant

Melomakarona

These Christmas cookies that hail from Greece get their sweetness from a generous soaking of fresh honey! (via Fancy Peasant)

Very Eatalian

Baci di Dama

The name of this Italian treat translates to “lady’s kisses” — how adorable is that? These bite-sized cuties are made with ground hazelnuts and filled with a dollop of dark chocolate. (via Very Eatalian)

Cooking Classy

Linzer Cookies

These Austrian Christmas cookies are typically made with raspberry jam, but feel free to get crazy with a filling of your choice. Plus, the gorgeous windowpane look will make them a prize takeaway at your next cookie exchange. (via Cooking Classy)

Olivia’s Cuisine

Basler Brunsli

If you’re hanging out in Switzerland around Christmas time, you’ll definitely see these chocolate treats around. They’re often described as Swiss brownies due to their deliciously chewy texture. Perfect with a cup of eggnog or coffee! (via Olivia’s Cuisine)

Cilantro Parsley

Buñuelos

These tender miniature fritters from Mexico are a mix between a donut and cookie. Whatever you want to call them, they’re delicious. (via Cilantro Parsley)

Chef Lindsey Farr

Apricot Kolachys

The Hungarians definitely know what’s up when tart apricot jam gets wrapped in a blanket of flaky pastry. They’re a bright spot on a cold Christmas day. (via Chef Lindsey Farr)

Life, Love and Sugar

Cutout Sugar Cookies

In the United States, a plate of these festively decorated sugar cookies is just what Santa ordered. (via Life, Love and Sugar)

Saveur

Polvorones

You’ll find these simple pecan shortbread cookies all over Mexico around this time of year. The coating of powdered sugar and canela, a type of Mexican cinnamon, really bring the flavor to the next level. (via Saveur)

A Healthy Life for Me

Pignoli

These Italian Christmas cookies are made of a chewy almond base and topped with pine nuts. (via A Healthy Life for Me)

Fancy Peasant

Kourabiedes

These Greek Christmas cookies feature a buttery biscuit topped with mass amounts of powdered sugar. (via Fancy Peasant)

Does your family have a traditional cookie recipe for the holidays? Tag us @BritandBo in your Instagram photos and let us know!

This post has been updated with additional reporting by Meredith Holser.

Lead image via Pretty. Simple. Sweet.