It’s Time to PAR-DIY: Announcing the Brit Co-Op

Cecelia Cox
Apr 30, 2013

First thing is first: DIY parties are seriously the new book clubs.

At Brit + Co, we spend our days dreaming of ways to give you all the tools you need to create beautiful things. Brit Kits were our first step, and if you are a loyal Brit Kits subscriber, we want to thank you. If you aren’t a Brit Kits subscriber…well, you’re missing out! You can sign up here to get your monthly creative juices flowing.

Throughout the last few months of hearing from you guys, we’ve repeatedly received one message loud and clear: the only thing better than DIY is DIY’ing together. It’s such a fun way to hang out with friends while using up some creative energy. (Especially if wine is involved.) That’s why we started a new program called the Brit Co-Op.

The Brit Co-Op is a a group of handpicked hostesses selected by Brit + Co. These gals (and sadly, no gents yet!) are some of the coolest and raddest Brit + Co. fans who are willing to host 10 of their friends for a free (yes, free!) DIY party each month. This past month, we sent a total of 11 Brit Kits to each Co-Op member’s door: one for them and one for each of their lucky invitees. We also included a huge box of party supplies and yummy snacks to make SURE they were the hostess with the mostest.

Our Co-Op members threw their first parties in April, and as you can see, they were a smashing success! We teamed up with Kettle Chips for the grub and Party City for the complementary party decor. And of course, we included our Chalkboard Kits for everyone to DIY together.

Sound pretty rad? Want to host your own DIY parties with your girlfriends?

To join the Brit Co-Op, just fill out this application. If you’re selected, we’ll reach out to you with next steps. We’re currently taking applications for our June parties. If you aren’t selected for June, have no fear, we’ll be adding new Co-Op members to the program each month!

Can you believe how great these photos are?! We love them. Thanks again to all of our Co-Op members who hosted an April party and hope to see the rest of you throwing your own par-DIYs very soon!

The Next Big Trend in Housing Is a Real-Life Episode of Friends

We’ve all probably had a post-college roommate at some point or another (you can even use this app to help you find one) — especially those of us living in more metropolitan areas.

But what if we could take it back to your cozily decorated college dorm life and live in a whole community of people, Friends style (cause what WOULD happen if Friends took place in 2016 or beyond)?

That’s exactly what the next big trend in housing, co-living, aims to find out.

Just what is co-living? Basically, it’s college 2.0 — a (mostly) cheap, modest space with all the essentials that you could ever need, such as Wi-Fi, utilities and housekeeping. Its main draw, however, is its built-in sense of camaraderie. With so many built-in friends, you can rest assured that you’ll always be able to borrow a cup of sugar, should you need it — you might even find your next committed Netflix partner!

NYC was one of the first to jump on the bandwagon, with facilities such as Pure House (“a global community of creative misfits and digital nomads”) and Common, along with Los Angeles — its PodShare model (advertised as a “social network with a physical address”) goes as far as to put its residents in the same room with what look like straight up bunk beds — a littttttle close for comfort if you ask us!

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Thursday night #cincodewhat #hangout #artsdistrict

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The trend has even made its way overseas, with London opening The Collective, unique in the sense that it uses a personality test to match up neighbors to like-minded people.

So is co-living for you? Well, according to PodShare, this type of living situation is best suited for “travelers, transitioners and temps” — probably not so much for those looking to settle down.

One thing’s for sure: It’d definitely be an adventure!

Would you consider co-living? Let us know over @BritandCo!

(h/t Hello Giggles, photos via Getty and @podshare)

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17 Vegan Starbucks Drinks & Foods Plant-Based Eaters Need To Know About

Eating out as a vegan can be a true challenge, especially if you don’t exactly know that what you’re ordering is 100% vegan. Fast food faves like McDonald’s and Taco Bell are secretly packed with vegan items, and Starbucks is no exception. From oat milk coffees to satisfyingly savory snacks, you’ve actually got plenty of plant-based choices when you pull up at your local Starbucks.

Scroll on to explore every vegan Starbucks drink and food item you can add to your order!

Vegan Starbucks Drinks

Starbucks

1. Brown Sugar Oatmilk Cortado

This new-to-the-menu espresso drink combines brown sugar syrup and oat milk to balance out the punchy coffee notes.

Starbucks

2. Latte (Iced + Hot)

You can totally enjoy a latte at Starbucks if you're vegan. Their oat, almond, coconut, and soy milks are vegan, plus many of their syrups qualify as vegan, too, if you want to flavor up your drink. According to this Starbucks supervisor, all of Starbucks "clear" syrups are vegan and dairy-free. Starbucks' regular and white mocha sauces and caramel drizzle are also vegan and dairy-free.

Starbucks

3. Americano (Iced + Hot)

Starbucks' Americanos are just water and espresso, so you don't have to worry about any dairy being in there. Optionally, you could ask for a splash of non-dairy milk and pumps of your fave syrup.

Starbucks

4. Brewed Coffee (Iced + Hot)

Same goes for their brewed coffees, including iced coffee. Easily ask your barista to add in some non-dairy milk and a few pumps of syrup if you desire!

Starbucks

5. Nondairy Salted Caramel Cream Cold Brew

This vegan cold brew drink is crafted with non-dairy cold foam that's flavored with salted caramel – and it's delish!

Starbucks

6. Nitro Cold Brew

A plain nitro cold brew from Starbucks is fully vegan and dairy-free. You can choose to add a splash of non-dairy milk, if you wish your sip to be a bit smoother and creamier.

Starbucks

7. Iced Brown Sugar Oatmilk Shaken Espresso

This one's a classic: shots of espresso get shaken up with ice and brown sugar syrup to create a frothy foam, then the drink is topped off with oat milk to cut the bitterness. It's quite a delectable order, even if you're not eating fully vegan.

Starbucks

8. Starbucks Refreshers

All of Starbucks' fruity Refreshers are vegan. Plus, you can can add lemonade, tea, other flavor inclusions like strawberry and peach to add some extra oomph.

Starbucks

9. Iced Black Tea

Their refreshing iced black tea is certifiably vegan, too.

Starbucks

10. Iced Green Tea

If you prefer green tea, Starbucks' offering is vegan-friendly. If you tend to take your tea a bit sweeter, just order it with however many packets of your preferred sweetener, and your barista will add it in.

Starbucks

11. Lemonade

You truly can't go wrong with a lemonade!

Starbucks

12. Hot Teas

Starbucks' hot teas are totally vegan, too. If you want to make them fancier, ask for an additional splash of your go-to non-dairy milk!

Vegan Starbucks Foods

Starbucks

1. Rolled & Steel-Cut Oatmeal

Now onto the food! First up is Starbucks' oatmeal, which you can fancy up with nuts, berries, and brown sugar. Make sure to order it with water to ensure it stays vegan.

Starbucks

2. Plain Bagel

Surprisingly, Starbucks' bagels are also vegan.

Starbucks

3. Everything Bagel

The plain and everything bagels will work for any vegan eater.

Starbucks

4. Avocado Spread

Plus, you can order your bagel with a side of this delicious avocado spread for a nutritious boost!

Starbucks

5. Spicy Falafel Pocket

This 100% vegan snack pocket is new to the Starbucks menu, but it's already become a fan-favorite amongst vegans and non-vegans alike.

Starbucks

6. Chipotle Almond Dip

You can order the Spicy Falafel Pocket with a side of this fully-vegan Chipotle Almond Dip (AKA Bitchin’ Sauce). Yum.

Subscribe to our newsletter to discover more amazing Starbucks orders!

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Enter to Win Adorable Holiday Leggings Kits for Your Kids!

Old Navy
None

The holidays are in full swing and we’re spending more and more time staying cozy and warm indoors. Instead of running around playing in the snow, we’re baking up a holiday storm, decking the halls and wrapping the perfect presents, all in our comfiest threads.

This holiday season, we’ve teamed up with Old Navy to put a festive DIY spin on cotton leggings for kids. Members of the B+C Co-Op recently threw some crafty parties and added some of their own festive spirit to this comfy lounge wear. Now, we’re giving YOU the chance to host your own Par-DIY with five of your friends! Enter below for your chance to win + check out a few of our favorite snaps from the Co-Op Par-DIYs.

sorry, this contest is now closed.

We sent out decorating kits to over 250 makers, who came up with some seriously festive and adorable designs to celebrate the season.

For this Par-DIY, each host received 6 kits (one for her plus 5 for friends) containing the following:

  • Old Navy Kids’ Leggings
  • Fabric Paint
  • Foam Sheets
  • Stamping Block
  • Fabric Marker
  • Painter’s Tape

Even the tiniest of makers had a blast decorating their leggings. They just couldn’t wait to show them off. We even invited some of our favorite folks for a Par-DIY of our own at the Brit + Co Holiday Shop.

With yummy holiday treats, a hot cocoa bar and all the necessary decorating tools, these little DIY’ers really got into the festive spirit. We loved seeing all the creative designs they came up with.

The cutest leggings you ever did see! Shout out to all the fabulous members of our Co-Op and to Old Navyfor making this all possible. Check out more of the Par-DIY fun on Instagram here AND don’t forget to enter to win your own Par-DIY for you and five of your friends!

Show us your holiday DIYs by tagging us on Instagram + using hashtag #iamcreative!

This post is a collaboration with Old Navy.

(Photos via @ashley2tylers, @mauressentials, @mackidsnoqualm! Check out more photos HERE.)

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Jenna Bush Hager's New Book Club Pick Is A Family Drama That "Will Sweep You Off Your Feet"

What is it about family sagas that seem to make book clubs more interesting? Maybe it's because we know interpersonal relationships can be a little dysfunctional. It could be that we still don't know how to communicate with the people we love the most. Even if we love our parents and siblings, reading about other families' fictional twists and turns gives us a rush of adrenaline.

So it's no wonder Jenna Bush Hager's January book club pick feels like something we can read without putting down. It's full of complicated relationship dynamics, love, and reconciling one's identity with their past. You can say it's the perfect read to kick off your 2025 reading goals!

Learn more about Jenna Bush Hager's 2025 book club pick and fall in love with one character's journey of self-discovery.

Amazon

The Life Cycle of the Common Octopus by Emma Knight

Penn should be excited about advancing her education at the University of Edinburgh, but she can't stop thinking about the secret her parents have been keeping from her. For some reason, she believes she'll uncover it while she's in Scotland because Lord Lennox — her father's friend — is in the area.

Her hunger for the truth leads her to Lord Lennox's estate where she she starts mingling with his family and even discovers love in this moving novel.

@readwithjenna/Instagram

Jenna Bush Hager's Thoughts About The Life Cycle of the Common Octopus

Jenna Bush Hager thinks readers will love The Life Cycle of the Common Octopus because "it's a rich novel" with themes of "friendship and motherhood" (via Instagram). It's so good, she's sure "it will sweep you off your feet (via Instagram).

We hope you enjoy reading about Penn's journey in The Life Cycle of the Common Octopus and encourage you to check out Reese Witherspoon's January book club pick next!

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7 New Trader Joe’s Items Under $5 You Need To Try In January

Trader Joe’s loves to keep us on our toes when it comes to their new arrivals. We’re constantly monitoring the aisles to discover all the new TJ’s sweet treats and savory snacks they launch – and these 7 new picks for January 2025 are not to be missed! All of these Trader Joe’s products will run you less than $5, which only makes sealing the deal on your grocery bill easier.

From delicious dips to a very enticing new frozen meal, these are the 7 best new Trader Joe’s finds you absolutely need to try in January 2025.

Trader Joe's

1. Teensy Candy Bars

These tiny little candy bar bites ($2.99) resemble Snickers in the best way possible: layers of nougat, caramel, and peanuts are enveloped in a delicious chocolate coating for maximum snackage. We're gonna have to resist eating the whole bag! TJ's even suggests using these bits as decoration for other desserts, like sprinkling some on a scoop of ice cream or baking them into some cookies.

Trader Joe's

2. Olive Tapenade Hummus

Trader Joe's array of dips is simply too good to resist, and this newcomer hummus ($3.49) is no exception! It's a tub of "smooth and nutty" hummus topped with a tapenade comprised of black olives, manzanilla olives, capers, and olive oil to give it a salty effect. It's gonna taste so great as a dip for crackers or as a spread on a Mediterranean pita wrap.

Trader Joe's

3. Organic Concord Grape Jelly

This squeezable grape jelly ($3.49) is nothing short of nostalgic. Trader Joe's says it's "super smooth, joyously juicy, and potently purple," which immediately has us sold on making PB&Js every day now.

Trader Joe's

4. Spicy Chicken Nuggets

Oh, yeah. Bring on the spice with these spicy nuggs ($3.99) that make the perfect easy meal no matter the time of day! Made from all-natural chicken breast and rib meat, breaded with wheat, rice and corn flours, then covered in hot sauce and lightly fried, TJ's has their texture down to a tee. You can easily cook 'em in the air fryer, oven, or microwave before chowing down!

Trader Joe's

5. Crispy Potato & Poblano Pepper Tacos

These halved and fried frozen tacos ($4.99) will totally crush your Taco Bell cravings, since they come together super quickly and contain flavors with mind-blowing authenticity! Each taco is filled with a blend of seasoned mashed potatoes and some "ever-so- slightly spicy" poblano peppers that'll work so well with any dipping sauce, from TJ's salsa to their creamy Jalapeño Sauce.

Trader Joe's

6. Strawberry Mini Hold The Cone!

Just in time for Valentine's Day, Trader Joe's is debuting a new flavor ($3.99) of their classic Hold The Cone! frozen dessert: strawberry! These tiny, chocolate-covered cones are lined with even more "rich" chocolate on the inside, then packed with strawberry ice cream, which TJ's says is crafted with plenty of strawberry purée.

Trader Joe's

7. Caesar Salad Dip

Trader Joe's shoppers have said this new Caesar Salad Dip ($3.69) makes a perfect girl dinner addition– which, if you get it, you get it! The tub starts with a "creamy" base that's then loaded up with Caesar-seasoned sour cream, mayo, anchovy paste, Parmesan, and finely shredded Romaine for the crunch. It's best enjoyed with crackers or veggie sticks to dip, but you could also smatter fried chicken or seared steak in it for some ahh-mazing flavor!

Subscribe to our newsletter to discover more of the best Trader Joe's new items!

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