Boxed’s New Loyalty Program Means Cash Back on Your Bulk Buy

Paying for shipping seems so passé, right? Between Amazon Prime and its many competitors, you can get fast and free delivery of everything from paper towels to popcorn shrimp. And today, bulk-shop etailer Boxed is upping the stakes with a new paid loyalty program: Boxed Up. Not only does it offer free priority shipping on orders over $20, but customers also get 2 percent cash rewards on purchases, and exclusive access to special promotions, discounts, and gifts. Hear that, Amazon?

If you’re not familiar with Boxed, the company describes itself as “Costco for millennials.” It offers discount bulk shopping online: no elbowing your way through the people hellbent on getting snack samples to find mega quantities of your favorite items. Your food, home essentials, and other items like flowers, spirits, and more, are delivered right to your door.

Adding the paid loyalty program and rewards was the natural next step, the company said. “This was really a no-brainer for us,” Ash Prashar, VP of communications at Boxed, told Brit + Co. “We wanted to offer our customers a premium service that rewards them with perks and promotions for shopping on Boxed.”

The cost for Boxed Up is $49 for one year, about half the cost of an Amazon Prime subscription. Of course, Boxed doesn’t offer some of the perks like Amazon Video, but Amazon Prime doesn’t offer cash back (yet?). And if you’re not ready to cough up the extra $49 for Boxed Up, Boxed will continue to offer free shipping on orders over $49, even without a subscription. Let the shopping begin!

Will you be trying Boxed Up? Let us know on Twitter @BritandCo!

Brit + Co may at times use affiliate links to promote products sold by others, but always offers genuine editorial recommendations.

(Photos via Boxed)

The new year is coming, so it's time to start making your 2024 vision board! If you're like us, it's likely you're thinking about developing healthy habits and workout goals that you'll actually want to commit to — no judgement. Since we're all in the same boat, we've got just the thing to motivate you — new workout leggings!

From high-waisted to seamless designs, these leggings are going to help you achieve your health goals and then some. Read on to discover the most innovative, edgy, and eye-catching ones we’ve found!

High-Waist Workout Leggings

Fabletics Cold Weather High-Waisted Pocket Leggings

The most impressive detail of this simple, cold-weather design from Kate Hudson’s Fabletics line comes with a cute pocket detail on the side. This means you get to work out without losing sight of your phone.

Nike Zenvy (M) Gentle-Support High-Waisted Leggings

After getting the okay from your OBGYN to work out, head over to Nike to pick up these cute gentle-support workout leggings. The soft fabric will conform to your body and growing baby bump!

Nike Universa Medium-Support High-Waisted Leggings

These squat-proof workout leggings are guaranteed to provide the support you're looking for. Plus, you get to look cute.

Forever21 Active High-Rise Zippered Leggings

These $20 millennial pink workout pants are every bit as cute and trendy as any $100 counterpart. Plus, they have some serious performance elements — like moisture-wicking-fabric — to boot.

Reebok Classics High-Rise Leggings

These premium workout leggings are designed to offer you a flared leg and elastic waist to ensure you're comfortable while going on your morning run.

Athleta Ultra High Rise Elation Tight

These magenta body-hugging leggings should give you a boost of energy when you're working out.

Bootcut & Flared Leggings

Alo Yoga Super Shine Low-Rise Bootcut Legging

High-rise workout leggings aren't for everyone, so we suggest wearing this low-rise bootcut version.

Athleta Salutation Stash Flare Pant

Our Content Editor agrees that flare pants definitely count as workout leggings.

Free People Let's Bounce Pants in Jam Jewel

Free yourself from feeling restricted by a seamless design with these four-way stretch pants. You'll be able to enjoy medium-impact workouts without feeling icky.

Colorful & Patterned Leggings

Lululemon Fast and Free High-Rise Tight 25" Pockets Leggings

You can’t go wrong with a printed pair of leggings, and that’s just what this Lululemon style serves up. This option comes complete with all the amenities you want, including five hidden waistband pockets, and moisture-wicking fabric.

Sweaty Betty Power Workout Leggings

Beloved by the likes of Reese Witherspoon and Jessica Alba, this brand boasts “ultra-lightweight Italian fabric” and plenty of style. Our pick? This black gradient dot print.

Halara Seamless Flow High Waisted Butt Lifting Leggings

Looking for a pair of seamless workout leggings that make your butt look good? We think you've met your match.

adidas by Stella McCartney True Pace Running Leggings

Stella McCartney and Adidas teamed up to bring you the best performance running leggings on the market. Okay, we're being biased. But, they're still a great option for our girls who love to run.

Seamless Leggings

Buff Bunny BBL Seamless Leggings

These workout leggings will give you an illusion of having a BBL — if that's your thing — thanks to the under glute contour.

Victoria's Secret Seamless Workout Tight

Amp yourself up with Victoria's Secret seamless workout tights, which are sure to set you apart from the rest of the gym crowd.

Gymshark Sweat Seamless Leggings

You don't just need another pair of cute workout leggings. You need something that's going to perform well while being sweat-resistant.

Outdoor Voices SoftRib Stirrup Leggings

These leggings are for the girlies who can't get enough of stirrup pants.

OQQ 2 Piece Yoga Leggings

Affordable? Check. Cute? Check. Performing? Check — these OQQ leggings are form fitting, breathable, and practical.

Which pair of workout leggings look the most appealing to you? Let us know and don't forget to add them to your cart!

Brit + Co may at times use affiliate links to promote products sold by others, but always offers genuine editorial recommendations.

This post has been updated.

Lead image via Free People

I’ve seen (and indulged in) so many food trends in my day, and at this point, it can take a lot to really impress me. That being said, there’s one simple hack on the rise right now that truly has me in a chokehold – people have started adding matcha to their McDonald’s milkshakes, and it’s totally transformed how I see mass-produced milkshakes from here on out.

Scroll on to discover the viral milkshake hack that’ll have your matcha cravings running wild!

Nataliya Vaitkevich / PEXELS

As a certified matcha freak (yeah, I said it), I've been disappointed at the lack of matcha offerings amongst fast food giants like McDonald's, Wendy’s, In-N-Out, and more. Of course, Starbucks and Dunkin’ scoop out matcha on the daily, but it never comes in true dessert form!

@eatsbyrachel

That’s where this viral milkshake hack comes in – foodies have been pulling up to the drive-thru with their own doses of matcha prepped and ready, then adding it to vanilla or even strawberry milkshakes. Oh, yum! The matcha turns the frozen treats a gorgeous green color, and of course, gently caffeinates each sip.

Matheus Henrin / PEXELS

I think any theoretical matcha dessert offering from popular destinations like McDonald’s or In-N-Out would surely see an up-charge if the chains were adding in the green powder themselves, so I’m also stoked about this new method from the perspective of affordability.

Anna Pou / PEXELS

This hack also presents those who are not yet totally sold on matcha (um, how?!) with an accessible way to enjoy the powdered green tea blend. Matcha drinks have an infamous reputation for tasting either too grassy or too bitter (or both), so mixing it into a milkshake sweetens up each sip to the point that it doesn’t taste at all like a traditional latte – but a full-on dessert!

Taylor Musser / Dupe

You can apply this super easy food hack to just about any milkshake from any chain that sells milkshakes like McDonald’s, Wendy’s (need me a Frosty, stat), In-N-Out, Dairy Queen, Sonic, and more. I suggest you pick your favorite place and try it out ASAP!

Subscribe to our newsletter to discover more food trends + hacks!

Choosing bleached vs. unbleached flour for the recipe at hand can mean the difference between an okay-tasting treat and a can't-wait-to-stuff-this-in-my-mouth experience. Once you have the proper staple, you can make fluffy cakes, chewy pizza crusts, unforgettable breads, and lighter-than-air biscuits. The biggest differences between each type of flour? Protein content, texture, and the type of wheat used. To find out which is best for which foods, scroll through our primer on all the different flours you need to know.

The Best Bleached Vs Unbleached Flour

King Arthur Flour All-Purpose Unbleached Flour

Chances are the flour most of us have in our cupboards right now is all-purpose. This type of flour has a fairly high protein content, meaning you can use it to make bread and pasta, but it's not so protein-rich that you can't also use it to bake cakes and cookies. A note about bleached vs. unbleached: Unbleached flour turns white naturally as it ages, while bleached flour is synthetically aged with chemicals. Unbleached flour can produce slightly coarser baked goods, but the difference between the two is very slight.

Bob's Red Mill 1 to 1 Gluten Free Baking Flour

Pre-mixed flour blends are a godsend for those who are new to gluten-free baking. Look for a box or bag that says "1 to 1," which means that every cup of the gluten-free flour is equal to a cup of all-purpose wheat flour. BRM adds xanthan gum to its mix, which basically replaces the gluten in regular flour, so your GF baked goods stick together and don't crumble like sand.

King Arthur Flour Unbleached Bread Flour

Bread flour can make all the difference if your homemade loaves never seem to come out quite right. It's higher in gluten and protein, which gives more structure to the rise and bake of your bread. To use whole wheat flour when making bread, you should cut it with 25-50 percent bread flour so you still get the texture you're looking for.

Swans Down Enriched Bleached Cake Flour

Cake flour is milled extra-fine, so you get the softest, fluffiest cakes possible. It's made with soft winter wheat, which has less protein than other types of wheat and doesn't develop as much gluten. Cake flour is also a preferred choice if you want to make fluffy pancakes.

Bob's Red Mill 100% Stone Ground Whole Wheat Flour

Baking with whole wheat flour isn't difficult, but there are a few things that make it different from refined flour. It's coarser and denser, which can inhibit the production of gluten (resulting in gummy, flat bread loaves). Its heaviness means cakes and other baked goods may have trouble rising. To combat this when making bread, use a blend of whole wheat and bread flour, or add a tablespoon or two of vital wheat gluten and an extra tablespoon of water to your dough to increase the protein content of the mixture and get a more traditional rise. For cakes, use equal parts whole wheat and cake flour.

Gold Medal Wondra Quick Mixing Flour

Wondra is a blend of wheat flour and malted barley flour that mixes into gravies, sauces, and stews without leaving lumps like regular flour does. Beyond that, it also yields the flakiest pie crusts. It can make dredging fish and chicken easier than ever too.

White Lily Self Rising Flour

For the lightest, fluffiest biscuits of your life, pick up White Lily self-rising flour. It's made from soft wheat that's finely milled and pre-mixed with rising agents.

Antimo Caputo Chef's "00" Flour

"00" flour is an Italian bread flour that's milled to be extra-fine. It has about the same protein content as all-purpose flour, but because of its texture, it produces superior pizza crust and bread. If you're a die-hard Neapolitan pizza fan, it's worth keeping some on hand.

Caputo Semolina Flour

Semolina flour is what you want to use for making pasta. Created from the ground endosperm of durum wheat, it usually has a slightly sweet flavor, golden color, and coarser texture than regular wheat flour. Look for Italian semolina flour, which tends to be milled more finely than its American counterparts, making for smoother dough and pasta.

Now want to try out your new knowledge of bleached vs unbleached flour? Follow us on @BritAndCo on Pinterest for delicious recipes.

Brit + Co may at times use affiliate links to promote products sold by others, but always offers genuine editorial recommendations.

(Photos via retailers)

Sarah J. Maas is keeping readers in the dark about ACOTAR book 6 book 6, but that hasn't stopped fans from sharing elaborate theories about its plot! Our favorite ones revolve around Feyre's middle sister Elain and her overdue POV. For five books, we've watched her live in the shadows of her sister even after being thrown into a cauldron by the despicable King Hybern. She's only shared glimpses of her personality, but that's nothing compared to what readers feels she deserves.

Here's what BookTok thinks about ACOTAR book 6 being the moment we see Elain step into her power or worse

The first theory that stands out is one TikTok user @savannahlueckk shared in this video. Her caption says, "i have a theory that everyone is going to switch up on her and love her all the sudden lmao," in regards to Elain. I don't think anyone truly doubts where she's loved, but it's clear they're not allowing her to come into her own either. From there, the text overlay on the video compares Elain to "Rapunzel," calling out how she's been "sheltered and underestimated by everyone around her."

The first comment on the video says, "She is going to be a whole different person once we get her POV and I can’t wait" while the second comment refers to Frozen 2's song "Into the Unknown." "...just her hearing voices and getting frustrated with them and what they mean as well and learning to embrace her seer powers," user @emlechoppaa wrote.

Another theory by @thundernoblechristine refers to Elain's naturally extroverted personality and how she's currently dealing with everything she's experienced. She says, "Elain is unique in that out of all three of these sisters, she is the most extroverted and she clearly likes making friends...So it makes perfect sense to explore Elain's story as someone who processes trauma and gets to know people differently than Nesta and Feyre."

Only one comment mentioned Elain's potential mate which is great! @imaginedrealism wrote, "As goofy as it sounds, I want Elian with none of the people she is shipped with. She deserves someone totally normal not apart of the Far royalty drama, & it would be more interesting to see..."

But, we're not above leaning into the "Elain and Azriel Endgame theory. Tiktok user @abi.reads2 made her own video about why she thinks Elain and Azriel are meant to be together. She starts off reading a passage from A Court of Mist and Fury before revealing there's a point where the book left by the queen mentions "sing me." @abi.reads2 then points out that Azriel is a "shadowsinger," meaning he's able to detect things most people are unable to.

But @Shelbyaj319 has other thoughts. "I think Elain will manipulate them [Lucien and Azriel] into a blood duel or died or whatever and start a war. I think she’s the villain. She should have already denied the bond [with Lucien] by now yet hasn’t," she says.

There's so many different theories that could be right, but only Sarah J. Maas knows how ACOTAR book 6 will end!

Follow us on Facebook for more updates!

Pasta makes one of the most delicious meals on the planet, and green pasta dishes allow you to skip the excess cheese and butter to indulge without wreaking havoc on your stomach. Stay on track with your health and fitness goals(plus satisfy your cravings) by throwing a ton of vegetables in there! Additionally, these green pasta recipes are a festive way to celebrate St. Patty's Day with food.

Here are 12 of our favorite quick and easy green pasta dishes to chow down on!

Creamy Avocado Pasta

Brit + Co

This hearty green pasta recipe is chock-full of healthy fats, thanks to the addition of avocado. Plus, it just looks gorgeous! (via Brit + Co)

Vegan Green Goddess Pasta

Blissful Basil

When you've got a big bowl o' noodles in front of you, you hardly need animal products for flavor. That's why we love this super-delicious vegan green goddess pasta! Spoiler alert: the secret to making this super cheesy dish is none other than nutritional yeast. (via Blissful Basil)

Creamy Avocado & Spinach Green Noodles

Jo Cooks

If you haven't jumped on board the creamy avocado and spinach pasta train yet, you're missing out. Ripe avos add creaminess and flavor to your noodles in a similar way to olive oil and butter. But, obviously, they're incredibly healthy and full of nutrients. (via Jo Cooks)

BLT Pasta Salad

Life in the Lofthouse

Speaking of pasta salads – why not combine the flavors of everyone's favorite sandwich with this BLT pasta dish? This super yummy version is made with tomatoes, romaine lettuce, bacon, ranch dressing, and barbecue sauce for a decidedly un-salady salad. (via Life in the Lofthouse)

Vegan Spinach Pici Pasta

The Edgy Veg

This delicious dish is sneaky when it comes to adding in veggies and nutrients – the sauce is secretly loaded up with spinach, though the flavor is masked excellently by garlic and vegan cheese. (via The Edgy Veg)

Green Goddess Zucchini Pasta with Fried Halloumi

Half Baked Harvest

Halloumi is a delicious, hearty cheese that makes for a fantastic meat substitute… especially in green pasta dishes. This tasty recipe requires only a few steps: Cook your pasta, fry your cheese, sauté your veggies, and then combine for ultimate yumminess. (via Half Baked Harvest)

Broccoli Tahini Pasta Salad

Love & Lemons

Broccoli is one of the most nutrient-dense vegetables out there, boasting large amounts of dietary fiber, vitamin B6, vitamin E, manganese, vitamin B1, potassium, and vitamin A. Pro tip: to ensure your broccoli doesn't lose nutrients in the cooking process, be sure to steam it rather than boil it. (via Love & Lemons)

Green Pesto Vegetable Soup

Well and Full

Bowtie pasta is a delightful addition to this healthful, pesto-based soup. Flavorful and herbaceous, this concoction is flavored with a ton of herbs and spices, including cilantro, basil, parsley, and coriander. (via Well and Full)

Pasta with Green Beans & Pesto

Skinny Ms.

This hearty green pasta dish is full of plant-based protein from green beans. Yep, they're actually a very high-protein vegetable and perfect for adding into pastas! Pro tip: to make sure you don't overcook your penne, pour cold water over the pasta after it's done cooking. This will prevent further cooking due to steam. (via Skinny Ms.)

Green Goddess Pasta

The Endless Meal

Top this hearty dish with whatever protein you please. Salmon is a super-healthy choice, but vegans can eat this completely as-is. Bonus health points if you make it with whole-wheat noodles! (via The Endless Meal)

Green Goddess Mac & Cheese

Simply Recipes

Mac and cheese is a perennial guilty pleasure, but there's no need to feel guilty about indulging every once in a while, especially when you're simultaneously indulging in baby spinach and parsley! (via Simply Recipes)

The Best Avocado Pasta

Gimme Delicious

Here's another avocado pasta sauce for you to try out! Be sure to select extra-ripe avocados when you're making this kind of green pasta sauce. If they're not ripe, you won't end up with the creamy consistency that makes it absolutely ahh-mazing. (via Gimme Delicious)

If you enjoy these green pasta dishes, make sure to follow us on Pinterest and join our newsletterfor more mouthwatering recipes!

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