What To Expect This Cancer Season, According To Your Zodiac Sign

cancer season forecast

It's hard to believe that Gemini season is almost over, but the Sun officially moves into the sign of Cancer on the 21st this month. In addition to being the official start of summer, Cancer season calls us all to reflect on the things in our lives we want to nurture and protect. The heat of the summer is a super fertile and highly energetic time of year, so it's time to follow through on all the seeds and intentions we planted in the springtime, and to gather with those we love to celebrate. Looking for more specific advice? Take a look at what to expect this Cancer season, and don't forget: We always recommend reading your rising sign horoscope, but your Sun sign and Moon sign horoscopes are also relevant.

Aries

For the last couple of months, you’ve been feeling the wind beneath your wings, especially in relationship to your confidence levels and appearance. Cancer season promises to add even more fuel to the fire, but you’ll also be called to focus on your home and family life. The major lesson to learn this month is to balance your ego and your own needs with your ability to be there for other people, whether at work or at home.

Around June 21st, make an effort to get your finances in order, and to solidify important matters in your career. It could be a great time to ask for a raise, even if it takes a while to get approval.

The New Moon in Cancer on the 28th will be a good time for you to stay home and hang out with your family. Check in with how you’re feeling about that aforementioned self vs. others balance, and pay attention to how family dynamics impact your own impulses and emotional health.

Around July 9, focus on thinking things through before you speak… you might be prone to saying things you’ll regret later, especially to your parents or other immediate family members.

By the time July 13th’s Full Moon in Capricorn rolls around, all these lessons around self vs. others will have come to a head, this time in your work life. Ask yourself how you can be a good teammate, and what boundaries you need to set for yourself in order to preserve your work-life balance so you can show up fully every day.

Taurus

This Cancer season, there will be a major focus on expressing yourself in a way that has a positive impact on your well-being and that of your community. Throughout the season, you may find that you have strong feelings about what’s happening in your immediate surroundings and day-to-day interactions… it’s a good time to examine those feelings more deeply.

Around June 21, your worldview might be challenged or expanded in a way that has to do with how you perceive yourself and your place in the world. It’s a good time to pull out a journal (or chat with your therapist) about any unresolved issues that may be impacting how you view your identity and your beliefs.

Around the 27th, you may find yourself having an emotional or impulsive reaction to something that happens around your workplace or your public life (including on social media). Remember to take a breather and examine why you’re reacting so strongly to the situation.

From the end of June through mid-July, pay attention to your communication style and how it’s reflecting upon who you are as a person: Are you communicating in ways that support how you show up in the world? Pay attention to what you say on the 9th… are you saying what you really mean, or are you actually emotionally triggered? All these themes will come to head around the time of the Full Moon in Capricorn on July 13th. Unexpected events may cause you to react emotionally. There’s nothing wrong with emotions, but try to be present with your feelings so you can react in a healthy way.

Gemini

Your major themes this Cancer season will involve your body and appearance, as well as your finances and belongings. Many of this month’s shifts may be subtle for you, but you’re gearing up for lots of activity once Mars moves into Gemini in August.

For now, focus on building up your confidence and taking care of yourself, your possessions, and your finances. Around July 2 is a good time to sign any contracts or file any paperwork that will lay the groundwork for income down the road. The 9th may bring additional financial opportunities, particularly stemming from friends, coworkers, and your broader network. If you’re partnered up, your SO’s income may be spotlighted around the time of the Full Moon in Capricorn on the 13th.

Around July 14th, be wary of letting fanciful or unrealistic ideas impact your decision making — it’s a good time to participate in fun and lighthearted activities (think socializing with friends, trying new makeup looks, and trying a new self-care routine) but try not to put too much stock into anything that comes up. It’s probably just a passing fad.

Cancer

If your work life picked up steam and gave you renewed energy and focus last month, you can expect that trend to continue on into Cancer season. This is your time to shine! And with a phase like that comes the unfortunate side effect of burnout and mental fatigue. Be sure to nurture yourself as much as you nurture others.

The New Moon in Cancer on the 28th may have you feeling on top of the world. It’s a great time to plant seeds and put pen to paper on some new goals. Just make sure all you set out to accomplish is realistic and achievable so you’re not setting yourself up for failure.

Around the first of the month, expect to be triggered by some difficult feelings, particularly as it relates to your public image or career and your close 1:1 relationships. If you have an S.O., they may be feeling neglected — or maybe the roles are reversed, and you’re the one in that position. Either way, make space around this time to reflect on how the world sees you and how your closest loved ones are responding. Is everything in alignment?

Be on guard for any relationship drama that may arise around the time of the Full Moon on the 13th. Emotions may be running high, and your friendships may be playing a role in some of the drama. Make sure your priorities are in alignment and that you’re treating your nearest and dearest with love and concern… but don’t sacrifice your time in the spotlight if you don’t want to.

Leo

You may be feeling a little introspective this month, Leo, but that’s not a problem. You’ve been evaluating your worldview and making time for personal growth this year, so this month is a good time to let some of that sink in. Your friends will be along for the ride, especially in late June and the first few days of July.

June 21 is a good time to work through any issues related to your body, health, or habits. These won’t be easy issues to resolve, but if you put your values first, you’ll come up with the right answers to your questions.

Around the 5th of the month, you may notice some renewed energy and vitality around your career and public life, but at the same time, an uptick in anxiety and worries may start to make itself known. Try to balance this dynamic with a lot of time spent getting out of your head and into your body. Yoga, mindful movement, and breathing exercises will serve you well as your work life picks up steam.

July 13th’s Full Moon in Capricorn will reemphasize the themes of connecting to your body and doing your best to stay healthy, especially in the wake of a super busy summer. Eat nourishing foods, tune in to your five senses, and get a mindful workout in if you can.

Virgo

Having a hot girl summer, Virgo? As the Sun moves into the sign of Cancer, it will activate your friendships and social connections, shining a light on your social networks. After the 22nd of June, your work life and public image (including your social media accounts, if you have them) will get a nice boost, and you’ll increasingly find that these areas of your life become fun and rewarding.

Around the time of the New Moon in Cancer on the 28th, take the time to make new connections and set intentions for how you’d like these relationships to grow and benefit you. If you’re interested, you might have some opportunities to hook up with someone in your circle — make sure you think things through before you act.

On and around July 5th, you’ll notice some shifts. Increasingly, you’ll feel ready to speak up and communicate with others about what’s on your mind. You're likely to voice your opinions and worldview strongly, and you may be more opinionated than usual. Just make sure you don’t put your foot in your mouth.

The Full Moon in Capricorn on the 13th will bring even more opportunities for fun and self-expression. As Venus switches signs and moves into Cancer on the 17th, you’ll have even more wind beneath your wings, socially. Have fun and enjoy!

Libra

This month promises to be an interesting one as you navigate feeling pulled in multiple directions. While a large part of the season’s focus will be on your career, you’ll also be negotiating how that impacts your home life, partnerships, and family. A key part of this equation will be figuring out your own worldview and paying attention to what you learn about yourself, especially after Venus moves into Gemini on the 22nd of June.

Around the 28th, the New Moon in Cancer will highlight the tension between your closest partnerships (think S.O.s, besties, and business partners) and your personal glory. In what areas of life are you compromising? Do you default to people-pleasing, or to self-referencing? These are great questions to journal about around the time of the New Moon.

The 1st of the month will bring new challenges around this issue, as you’ll feel compelled to take a stand about family matters and things going on at home. You may find that deep-seated issues around your family life are brought up. Try to reflect on how these themes are playing out in your life as an adult.

Pay attention to how well (or not) you’re prioritizing your significant others around the 9th of the month. By the time we reach mid-July (around the Full Moon on the 13th) you’re likely to be mostly focused on keeping the peace at home and reconnecting or disconnecting from loved ones. Know yourself well enough to know what you should prioritize, and what’s holding you back.

Scorpio

As summer heats up, so will your travel plans! With the Sun moving into Cancer on the 21st, you’re kickstarting a period of time that will highlight travel, your worldview, and your personal philosophy. Get ready for a time of learning and inspiration. There’ll also be a big focus on sex and romance. Maybe you and an interesting someone can spend the end of June dreaming big together?

The New Moon on the 28th will be a great time to reflect on how your views have shifted in the last few weeks. But be wary if you start to feel off-kilter; around this time, you may be prone to health issues. Lots of r&r is in order, and self-care is of the utmost priority.

Around the 5th of July, Mars and Mercury changing signs will bring renewed emphasis to your close 1:1 relationships. This may be a particularly passionate time for you, especially if you try to infuse stimulating philosophical conversation into your dates and meetups.

The Full Moon on the 13th should bring some refreshing relief from the intensity of your month. It’ll be a great day to go for a walk, enjoy your surroundings, and meet up with local friends.

Sagittarius

Sagittarius, the Sun in Cancer is getting ready to highlight some of your hidden, darker aspects of yourself. Around the 21st and 22nd of June, you may notice a shift as your focus turns to your closest 1:1 relationships, your sex life, and even your deepest secrets. It’s a good time to open up to others and let your closest friends and family into your inner world. Just make sure you’re putting up the necessary boundaries to make sure you don’t give in to the urge to merge completely.

The New Moon in Cancer on the 28th reinforces themes of sex and sexuality. Keep things light and fun, and if sex isn't a priority right now, use this energy to create something beautiful, whether that’s a work of original art or a solo performance at karaoke.

Things will shift a bit around July 5th when Mars moves into Taurus, highlighting a renewed vigor for activities like your job, daily routines, and even your workout regimen. Use this energy to get sh*t done, but be wary of injury and burnout… they’re real risks for a little more than a month.

Between the Full Moon on the 13th and Venus’s ingress into Cancer on the 17th, the end of Cancer season will be a great time to refocus on your personal finances (as well as your S.O.'s, if you’re coupled up).

Capricorn

Whether this is a summer of love or a summer of besties for you, your relationships with your nearest and dearest are going to be majorly important this month. So will your daily routines; if your closest relationships are supporting you in your day-to-day activities, you’ll be even more likely to stick with them. So fill your life with people who prioritize their own health and wellness, and who encourage you to do the same!

Around the 28th of June, the New Moon in Cancer will have you cozying up with your S.O., your closest pal, or perhaps collaborating with a business partner. This is great, but the thing is, your own inner emotions, childhood wounds, and family of origin may be finding ways to trigger you in different ways. Try to use this as a self-reflection tool, rather than letting your fears get the best of you.

Around the 5th of July, Mercury and Mars bring extra passion into your relationships, sex life, and hobbies. Use this creative energy to get closer to others, pursue your passions, and just plain have fun.

Around the 9th of July, whatever issues arose around the New Moon regarding your partnerships and private emotions are likely to arise again. Make sure you think things through before you speak so you don’t hurt anyone’s feelings or burn bridges unnecessarily.

Finally, the Full Moon in Capricorn on the 13th will help bring some of these themes into focus as you consider what all of it means for your conception of yourself. It’s likely that you’ll learn a lot about yourself this month if you stay present with your thoughts and emotions.

Aquarius

You might as well call this the summer of self-care, Aquarius. There’s going to be a major focus on your wellness, health, and routines this month. As Cancer season kicks off, take care of your mental well-being by immersing yourself in all the pleasurable activities you know make you happy, whether that’s creating art, hanging out with your pals, or seeking out some solo sexy time.

The New Moon in Cancer on the 28th is the perfect time to set wellness goals and start new morning or evening routines.

You may notice some energetic changes around the time of July 5th and beyond. Disruptions at home could test your newly laid wellness plans, but try to utilize that momentum to get things done. A balance of relaxation and productivity will be essential.

Around the time of the Full Moon (the 13th), self-care will be the name of the game. Any ongoing home projects or chores can be set aside as you make time for mental health and relaxation.

Pisces

Pisces, you love to get creative, and this Cancer season is the perfect time to do it. You’ll be especially well-served by creative matters that center around your home — try out some new home projects, start watercolor painting in your backyard, or create some moodboards for interior designs you’d like to try out.

Around the 5th, you’ll be ready to bring some of these new ideas to life — and to show them off to the world. Get out and about in your neighborhood and consider ways you can bring your creativity to your community. Even if you’re not the artistic type, you can speak up at local events, attend galleries and new business openings, and share your ideas with friends and neighbors. While you’ll feel a renewed desire to get involved in your community, you might find that obstacles or annoyances get in your way… try not to let those things cramp your style.

If you’ve been making your life all play and no work, it’s likely to start having consequences around the 9th. While your personal finances are generally looking pretty good this year, you might find that you overestimated your budget or over-promised your resources. This would be a good time to put things straight.

Around the Full Moon on the 13th, you’ll feel inclined to spend time with your pals and any new connections you might have made over the summer. Keep sharing your passions and creativity with others, and next month is sure to be equally fruitful for socialization and fun.

Love this Cancer season forecast? Be sure to subscribe to our newsletter for more astrological advice, summer ideas, and wellness news!

HBO Max renewedEuphoria for a third season back in 2022, but we sadly haven't seen any progress on the show in the way of filming. Though details surrounding the plot for Euphoria season 3 haven't been revealed, we are awaiting the TV show with excitement!

Euphoria has inspired our coolest makeup looks and on-point Halloween costumes, so we can’t wait to see what the next season of this neon-lighted, drama-filled story holds. Here’s what we know about season 3, thus far. Stay tuned for more updates!

Keep reading for everything we know about Euphoria season 3, filming in 2025.

  • Euphoria season 3 is officially moving forward, and will start filming in 2025.
  • Cast members like Zendaya, Sydney Sweeney, Jacob Elordi, and Hunter Schafer are returning.
  • Despite the fact creator Sam Levinson suggest Zendaya's schedule caused Euphoria production delays, the actress said she's "just waiting" to return to the show.

Is Euphoria season 3 coming out soon?

Eddy Chen / HBO

Euphoria Season 3 Release Date

Variety confirmed that we should be seeing Euphoria season 3 in 2026...but after an almost-three year wait...does anyone actually care anymore? I'm excited to see Zendaya return to the role that won her an Emmy (as well as the rest of the cast, obvi), but it's hard to be thrilled about something after such a long time. Luckily, fans are familiar with waiting a long time for new releases (remember that 2 ½-year wait for Euphoria season 2?), and hopefully the pent-up hype will be worth it when the show finally comes to streaming.

What's going to happen in Euphoria season 3?

Eddy Chen / HBO

Euphoria Season 3 Plot

Season 2 of Euphoria left us with a lot to unpack: Rue’s (potential) sobriety, Lexi’s chaotic play, Fez and Ash’s shootings, Cal’s insane sexual spiral, and of course, the glorious girl fight between Maddy and Cassie. The third season has some loose ends to tie up, and we can’t wait to see how it’s done.

Sam Levinson tells EllethatEuphoria season 3 is more of a “film noir,” and that Rue's plot line will “explore what it means to be an individual with principles in a corrupt world.”

Originally, Sam showed multiple story ideas to both Zendaya and HBO (and although Z doesn't have total creative control, as an executive producer, she does get a say in where her story goes). The show will feature a time jump, bringing the characters closer to the actors' ages. According to Variety, the first draft of the script gave the "meaty" storyline to Sydney Sweeney and Jacob Elordi, and featured Zendaya's Rue as a private detective in more of a background role. More recent rewrites incorporated Z's idea of making Rue, who would now be sober, a pregnancy surrogate. Unfortunately, "the new scripts simply didn’t feel like the show tonally."

HBO chairman & CEO Casey Bloys told Variety that Sam Levinson is furiously working on the scripts. "One of the issues I think that Sam is thinking about is that he doesn’t want to have it in high school anymore. That’s where it was set and what made sense then," he says. "So when you take it out of that, there’s a lot of back and forth about where to set it and how far in the future to set it and all that stuff. But I think he’s got a take that he’s excited about, and he’s busy writing."

Is Storm Reid going to be in Euphoria season 3?

Eddy Chen/HBO

Euphoria Season 3 Cast

No, Storm Reid won't be in Euphoria season 3. On November 20, she revealed she wouldn't return as Zendaya's onscreen sister Gia. “I’m very excited for Season 3,” she said in a Rotten Tomatoes interview at the Governors Awards. “Unfortunately, Gia’s not returning to the third season, but I am so so indebted to the cast and the crew of that show, to HBO. Euphoria’s a really special thing and I’m so glad that that’s a part of my legacy and that I was a part of such a cultural phenomenon.”

However, we also know that Barbie Ferreira (Kat) won’t be returning for season 3, due to butting heads one too many times with the show’s creator, Sam Levinson.

Okay, so who's actually in Euphoria season 3?

Eddy Chen / HBO

At the 2024 Sundance Film Festival, Dominic Fike (who played Elliot in Euphoria season 2) told Variety it “would be dope” to come back for Euphoria season 3, but that “I don’t really talk to them anymore.” And after Angus Cloud's (Fez) tragic passing, some fans were calling for HBO Max to cancel the series.

But when we finally do see the series again, we’ll see more of the main cast: Zendaya (Rue), Sydney Sweeney (Cassie), Hunter Schafer (Jules), Alexa Demie (Maddy), Jacob Elordi (Nate), Maude Apatow (Lexi), and more – but who knows? The production team may surprise us with new additions, like they did with Dominic Fike’s Elliot.

And the cast is even more excited for the show to return than we are! While Sydney Sweeney says she "honestly" doesn't “know anything about it,” (although she's hoping for "Crazy Cassie": "The crazier, the better for me."), Sweeney can't wait to reunite with Zendaya, Jacob Elordi, Alexa Demie, and everyone else from the show.

“They were the crew and the cast that were there at the beginning of my career,” she tells The Hollywood Reporter. “We all came up from different places but came together and were navigating so much at the same time, so it’s really nice having that core group. They’re experiencing a similarity to what I’m going through. It’s nice to have that community.”

Why is Euphoria season 3 delayed?

Eddy Chen / HBO

We've been waiting for Euphoria season 3 for over two years, but there's a very good reason for the delay. After a source told THR Zendaya was to blame, the actress reportedly laughed at the idea. “I will say, I have been off for a couple years, so not delayed because of my [schedule]…I’ve been open, just waiting,” the actress told Vanity Fair. "I haven’t read anything yet, but I’m excited to see what everyone has been working on, and what the future looks like for Euphoria...My most important thing is to do justice by the people who love and care about Rue, and make sure that she’s looked after as a character. I think that’s my number one duty."

Actor Colman Domingo has another explanation for the delay: “[Sam Levinson is] a person who writes and rewrites and writes and rewrites again, because I think he's wrestling with what's important,” he tells GQ. “He's responding immediately to what the ills of the world are. I know that the one thing I can tell you is that he's very much interested in the existential question of who we are right now. Our souls. That's what he wants to figure out with season three.”

“HBO and Sam Levinson remain committed to making an exceptional third season,” HBO says in a statement to Deadlineabout the show's official, if temporary, pause. “In the interim, we are allowing our in-demand cast to pursue other opportunities.”

So much has happened in the real world since the end of Euphoria season 2 that could have an impact on the new installment, and I can't wait to see what that looks like!

When will Euphoria season 3 start filming?

Eddy Chen / HBO

Euphoria season 3 will begin filming in January 2025. “We are shooting Euphoria,” HBO's Casey Bloys said at an HBO/Max press event on November 12. "I think we have a start date, mid to late January. Nothing’s changed...We are shooting the season. I have read the scripts. We’re happy. We’re moving ahead. All of the actors are in the show.”

The Euphoria season 3 delay comes down to significant script rewrites (not to mention how busy the cast is!). According to Variety, the original plan was for the Euphoria cast to work on other projects throughout 2024, and that filming the new season could take at least 25 weeks. However, it looks like that plan could change at any time.

In a March 2024 interview with Who What Wear, Sydney Sweeney shared her excitement to return. "It’s going to be very, very wild,” she says. And regarding the time gap between seasons 2 and 3, Sydney “actually [likes] it because there’s so much room for growth for both me as a person and also Cassie as a character."

Storm Reid, who plays Rue's (Zendaya) little sister Gia in the series, expressed her hope (and a bit of hesitance) in for Euphoria season 3 in talks with E! News at the Challengerspremiere in April 2024. "We're on pause right now, but we're anxious to get back," she said. "If it's meant to be, we'll be back soon and we'll give the audience what they want and deserve. Hopefully, we will be back."

On the other hand, according to an article published by Vanity Fair, another cast member (who wished to remain anonymous) said at the time, “I just don’t think it will happen.”

The anonymous actor also shed some light on the show's delay. “Since January of 2022, we have had a start date of March that turned into June, that turned into January,” they say. “And then they kept pushing every month from then on. It was two full years of HBO telling all the actors we were going back soon, so we couldn’t take some jobs.”

Now that Euphoria season 3 is officially on hiatus, the cast members aren't barred from taking further jobs, they say: “Before last week I couldn’t take any TV jobs. Since they have put it on hiatus, I can now take any job. But what sucks is that we all had more momentum right when the show came out but now it’s been 2 years of waiting.”

Eddy Chen / HBO

Hunter Schafer, who plays Jules in the series, joined the Call Her Daddy podcast podcast in August 2024, discussing everything from relationships to fame. The topic of whether or not Euphoria season 3 is going to happen came up – as it's pretty hard to ignore at this point – and Schafer immediately got emotional.

Alex Cooper, the host of the podcast asked, "Is season 3 happening? What are we doing?"

"I think everyone feels a certain sense of anticipation for, like, if we are supposed to do a season 3," Schafer said between tears. "Obviously, I'm still coming to qualms with what's happened, and losing people that we really loved and were a part of this family and everything," she said, referring to the passings of co-star Angus Cloud and screenwriter Kevin Turen.

"If we do go back, that's going to be tough," Schafer said. "I think there's a world in which we can channel that into making it a beautiful season 3."

Will there be a time jump in Euphoria season 3?

Eddy Chen / HBO

Multiple stakeholders in the Euphoria-verse expressed their interest in seeing the characters out of high school. When asked about season 3 in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Zendaya expressed her eagerness to see what post-East Highland will look like for the cast:

“I think it’ll be exciting to explore the characters out of high school,” said Zendaya. “I want to see what Rue looks like in her sobriety journey, how chaotic that might look. But also with all the characters, in the sense where they’re trying to figure out what to do with their lives when high school is over and what kind of people they want to be.”

Heidi Bivens, the HBO show’s costume designer, hinted further at a time jump between seasons 2 and 3 when talking with Vogue: “There is talk of [season 3] being approximately five years in the future, and that they’re not in high school anymore. Dorothy’s not in Kansas anymore.”

How many Euphoria seasons are there?

Eddy Chen / HBO

There are currently two seasons of Euphoria — both of which you can stream on HBO Max now. And it sounds like Euphoria season 3 will be the final installment. The Euphoria cast is contracted for the junior season, and according to a Variety source, they're all committed to seeing the story "through to the end with a third season."

Sign up for our newsletter to stay updated on all things Euphoria season 3 — plus all the new TV shows coming your way, like Stranger Things 5 and The Last of Us season 2!

This post has been updated.

I’ve triedtons of different food trends in my day. From dumping chili oil on ice cream to concocting my very own Sleepy Girl Mocktail, nothing I’ve eaten measures up to the sheer weirdness we saw go viral on social media this year (major side eye to Dua Lipa’s pickle Diet Coke).

These are the top 5 most ridiculous TikTok-viral food trends of 2024 that left us questioning whether they really should’ve gone viral in the first place.

@claudiaeatsgood chamoy pickles are so good😋😩❤️ @Bussin Snacks #chamoypickle#chamoy#chamoypicklekit#bussinsnacks#takis#fruitrollup#mukbang#asmr#asmrmukbang#chamoypicklemukbang#juicy#pickle#mexicancandy♬ original sound - Claudia💕

1. Chamoy Pickles

People couldn't quit it with the chamoy pickles (AKA chickles) this year. I never would've guessed that chamoy, a condiment made from dried fruits, chilies, sugar, and lime juice, would be slathered atop the sourest pickles money can buy.

But the food trend didn't stop at just chamoy – many snackers stuffed their pickles with everything from the likes of Hot Cheetos, Takis, and Fruit Roll-Ups. What?!

This insanely sour, tangy treat kickstarted what the internet's coined as the 'Red 40 Diet', which certainly cannot be medically advised.

If you care for your GI tract, this food trend is 100% worth skipping and leaving behind in 2024.

@dualipaofficial

What do we call her?

♬ original sound - Dua Lipa

2. Pickle + Jalapeño-Infused Diet Coke

Diet Coke, pickle juice, and jalapeño juice = all the ingredients needed to concoct Dua Lipa's controversial 2024 drink. She loves it, but I on the other hand, do not.

Now, don't get me wrong: I love a good unexpected flavor combo, but gulping down a simultaneous dose of both pickle juice and jalapeño juice was not tasty to me whatsoever.

This trend even sparked a slew of Sonic diners to start ordering their soft drinks with pickles – but as divisive as this trend can be ("Don’t knock it till you try it," TikToker Mississippi Memaw told Food and Wine), it's just flat out weird.

@logagm

New cucumber recipe 🚨

♬ original sound - Logan

3. Cucumber Salad

If you bought a mandolin slicer recently, you might as well admit you're a victim of the TikTok-viral cucumber salad trend that made its rounds this year.

"Sometimes you need to eat an entire cucumber," TikTok user @logagmsounds off in the intro of every single one of his cucumber salad videos. And thus, the food trend was born.

It felt like I couldn't go a day on TikTok without seeing at least 5 recipes for a damn cucumber salad. When it comes down to it, I can appreciate the novelty (and taste) of this trend, but not the oversaturation. I'm gonna eat an entire cucumber one day, and get so tired of it the next. New innovations in 2025, please!

@kylekruegerr Would you try these?😂 #foodreview#seagrapes#food#review#tastetest#weirdfood♬ original sound - Kyle Krueger

4. Sea Grapes

It was like people wanted to eat the weirdest, grossest things in 2024. I can't blame 'em, especially if it's for clicks and views. But this food trend in particular literally made me want to gag – and I was only watching people eat through a screen (any fellow ASMR fans out there?).

They don't look like they're supposed to be crunchy, but they are. Sea grapes grow from aquatic plants and are filled with essentially what is a "salty liquid." They burst in the mouth when you eat them (one TikToker called them 'edible Orbeez'). Yuck.

@julieta.asmr I figured it out!! Blooper at the end 🥴 #asmr#asmrcommunity#asmrtiktoks#asmrvideo#asmrsounds#asmreating#asmrfood#asmrfyp#asmrmukbang#mukbang#asmreatingsounds♬ original sound - Julieta ASMR 🍒

5. Exploding Candies

The final (and especially weird) food trend I propose we leave behind in 2024 is these dang exploding jelly candies. They also made their rounds on ASMR TikTok, and I truly cannot stand to watch a single video featuring them.

First off, they look so annoying to consume. The fruit-shaped jellies are contained in a thin layer of plastic that's meant to burst open when you sink your teeth into it, prompting you to slurp out the sweetness inside. But what irks me the most is the fact that many people trying them can't even break the seal.

I'd rather watch someone make a simple PB&J than go to town on these microplastic-infused candies.

Subscribe to our newsletter to read up on more food news + trends!

Sprinkle the magic of Christmas into every seasonal activity by creating some festive Christmas nail designs! Whether you like to lean towards the traditional reds and greens or prefer to think colorfully outside the box, the polishes and Christmas nail designs below will set your mood and nail look right. Winter nails don't have to be drab – from star-studded nail art to bejeweled nail beds, we've got just the inspo for you.

Christmas Nail Colors

Amazon

essie 'Off Tropic'

You can't get your dream Christmas nail designs done without some stellar nail polishes! If your look involves a deep green, this shiny pick will help you pull it off easily. Use it to coat the entire nail for a sultry seasonal mani.

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OPI Opaque Light White & Gray Shimmer Nail Polish

With Christmas comes cold, and this nail polish screams icy. Wear it alone or apply it over a traditional Christmas color like red or green!

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OPI Infinite Shine 'Bubble Bath'

This baby pink will look gorgeous as a solid coat for Christmas-y dates and dinner parties.

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ILNP 'Ruby'

It's red. It's glittery. It's perfect for the holidays!

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Essie 'Winter Trend'

Spending Christmas with your besties or roommates? It's time for you to have your first 'Pinkmas' with the sparkly magenta nails to match!

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Sally Hansen Insta-Dri 'White on Time'

A super solid white nail polish, alongside a thin nail art brush, can be used to paint snowmen, gift wrap, or snowflakes like some of our featured Christmas nail designs depict.

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RARJSM Holographic Gel Polish

For the lazy gal manicurists, this holographic polish will make any light reflect off your nails which is the point during Christmas!

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essie 'U Wish'

Embrace the holidays with this fiery red that defies expectations of what a Christmas color should be.

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Butter London Patent Shine Nail Polish

This one color will work excellently for minimalist Christmas nail designs – use it to dot, stripe, or wear it on its own.

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Revlon 'Iced Mauve'

Sparkles are a must for Christmas, which is why we're heavily eyeing this potent pink.

Christmas Nails Inspo

Nataszija / July Ninety Six

Nifty-Gifty Gems

Use small nail gems of any color to infuse your Christmas nail designs with festive energy. We're loving red in particular because it just feels luxurious!

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Deep Red Elegance

The bold red French tips, in combination with some art deco-inspired golden stars, can really bring your seasonal mani to the next level.

Charlotte Herberts/Instagram

Colorful Christmas Stars

Use a stencil or freehand these tiny stars in different chrome nail colors for a more jolly vibe this year.

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(Gift) Wrap It Up

A nail art brush can be used to paint on cutie little Christmas bows like this silvery one!

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Oliwia Krauz/Instagram

Classic Colors

Multicolor nails are not dead – take the trend further for the holidays by crafting your look with a mix of whites, golds, greens, and reds.

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Let It Shine

For an understated (yet still spirited) Christmas manicure, glitter will be your go-to. We love the gradient effect that this hand has on!

Peachi Nails/Instagram

Merry & Bright

Tiny star details are sure to turn heads this Christmas! You could use any hue, but a standout gold like this one really makes your nails pop!

Check out our weekly newsletter for more seasonal inspiration!

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

First loves are TOUGH — especially when you start to see all the red flags you missed along the way once it's over. If you've been dissecting your own early love stories by reading Reddit threads or chatting with your girlfriends about their own relationship experiences, just know this: you're not alone! The entire Brit + Co staff even found ourselves discussing the first person we ever fell in love with...and the recounts did not disappoint. From realizing 19 seemed to be a common age for our all-time worst relationships to understanding how our first love was probably not as ideal as we originally thought, it made us wonder why we couldn't pinpoint red flags back then.

Licensed Psychotherapist Prerna Menon, founder of Boundless, LCSW-PLLC and Licensed marriage and family therapist Joseph Cavins, LMFT have a few thoughts that have helped us decode the precarious time in our lives.

Here's why some of us ignored how awful our first love might've been

1. We thought our first love was perfect and would argue with anyone who wanted us to take things slow with them.

Savannah Dematteo

I'll never forget the first time I fell in love at 19. I thought my ex was the "wind beneath my wings" because he had a great sense of humor and was creative like me. I told myself he was the person I was going to marry so I was offended when my parents didn't think he was mature enough to be in a serious relationship. If this sounds familiar, pull up a chair because Menon explains why we tend to idealize our first love.

"Your first love is your first experience with romantic love too, hence you typically see it with rose-colored glasses. The overwhelming emotion is often infatuation, which tends to overshadow the more critical and analytical part of our brain," she says. Sadly, this sounds like something my parents told me before but I couldn't fathom how true it was as a teen.

As the Clinical Director at Southern California Sunrise Recovery Center, Cavins has seen this play out before too. He says, "In your first relationship, there is a tendency to put your partner on a pedestal. The excitement of new love can create a powerful emotional fog that makes it hard to see flaws clearly."

Essentially, this "excitement of having a boyfriend, girlfriend, or partner supersedes" our ability to questions things we normally wouldn't put up with, according to Menon.

2. We tried to ignore the how many times our first loves disagreed with our values or goals.

Keira Burton

While some couples are able to make their relationship work despite having a different outlook on life, sometimes it can be a sign that things aren't going to work long-term. Cavins says, "One major red flag is disregarding differences in values or goals for the future. For instance, you wish to become a parent someday while your spouse swears this will never happen— or vice versa. Early on, you might dismiss these differences, believing love will conquer all. However, these mismatched priorities can lead to resentment and challenges over time."

Honestly, I probably should've ran whenever my ex would mock my belief in God only for us to have to attend his mother and stepfather's church whenever I visited. There was so much confusion there, but I tried to dismiss it as something he needed time to work out.

Menon adds, "If this relationship makes you feel like you'e standing in quick sand - where you are trying to move forward but often feel held back in your individual aspirations, it may not be the right fit for you."

3. We thought it was 'cute' when our first loves made suggestions about which friends to avoid or what clothes to wear.

Luis Zambrano

Cavins says, "Excessively possessive behaviors are another red flag that people often ignore easily when they fall in love for the first time. People tend to justify such behaviors by citing that it's due to love or protective instincts." I'm all for being in a relationship where your partner's able to see different sides of a picture, but controlling behavior shouldn't come with that. What might that look like?

Cavins says, "Your partner may frequently check in on you, offer opinions on who you should spend time with, or subtly pressure you into making choices that suit them." For example, your partner could start off making suggestions about your style that slowly morph into them controlling everything you wear. Somehow I went from being a self-professed 'girly-girl' to trying to emulate the style of 'sneakerheads' in a short amount of time. Though I love wearing everything from New Balance to Niké sneakers now, it's in a way that feels cohesive with my style.

You may have brushed this kind of behavior off because, again, you thought it meant your first love wanted the best for you. "It is understandable that such behavior hypothetically may come off as pleasant or affirming; however, they often signal an unhealthy dynamic of control rather than mutual respect," says

4. We always gave in when our first loves forced us to be affectionate.

Adely

*Sigh* I'm shaking my head for my younger self because there were many times I didn't advocate for myself in my first romantic relationship. I'd often give in to affectionate or intimate moments despite wanting personal space so I wouldn't be seen as 'boring' or uninterested in my ex. Menon says, "Given the infatuation, your first relationship can feel all-consuming and often is codependent. Hence, this may result in you overlooking that your partner does not respect your boundaries or desire for personal space."

Partly because the excitement of the relationship makes you want to spend all of your time together, until you don't. And then, it is often too late to correct a maladaptive historical pattern.

4. We always made excuses for why our partners would shower us with affection only to ignore us days later.

Pavel Danilyuk

Let's be clear, 'love bombing' feels confusing and awful. No one should make you feel like you're the center of their universe only to ignore your calls or texts days later. But, this probably happened while you were with your first love. Cavins says, "There's a tendency for people to brush off their first love's emotional unavailability. When, for example, a partner is not responsive and not engaging in intimate discussions or does not express their feelings, some may rationalize this as them being 'just not ready.'" If that were the case, this person wouldn't have made you feel like being with you is something they truly wanted.

Of that, Cavins believes "it's important to recognize these behaviors early" because "they can result in a one-side emotional investment that leaves one party feeling unfulfilled in the long run." Sadly, my first love would have days where he was super sweet to me only to feel like I was smothering him with attention. This is also the same person who begged me to remain in our romantic relationship when he went to basic training although I felt it would be better if we chose to be friends. Imagine my surprise (and hurt) when he told me we should have an open relationship months after getting stationed for the first time.

I should've known better because he was never 100% on board with the idea of marriage until after he graduated from basic training. Cavins calls this "emotional disconnectedness." His further explanation is this is "when the initial chemistry between the partners subsides that emotional attachment matters." To avoid this, he feels "identifying and addressing any of these is critical in a case where you are looking to create a strong and healthy bond."

5. We ignored the ways our former partner blamed us whenever they got in trouble with their parents or an authority figure.

Ketut Subiyanto

Did your first love have a hard time taking responsibility for things that went wrong by gaslighting you to absorb the blow of their mistakes? If you've furiously nodding, we should start a support group. Cavins says, "A key sign is a lack of personal or relational growth. Healthy relationships encourage mutual development, but if one partner stays stuck in old patterns while the other grows, it can create frustration and distance."

At no point should you be the reason why your first love got in trouble after answering their parents' house phone late at night after telling you to call at a certain time. It's situations like this that should've alerted us to awful behavior, but I can see how easy it is to dismiss things.

What if I'm in love for the first time and recognize these signs?

Andrea Piacquadio

First, my heart goes out to you for being in a relationship that doesn't feel healthy. It hurts when we realize the person we thought was so great is anything but. The road to letting go of idealization may be long, but you can and will get better. Cavins says, "In the process of self-healing and recovery, the first step that must be taken is self-reflection. Ask yourself all of the necessary questions that arise, such as what this relationship means for you, what your boundaries are, and what this partnership has revealed about you as an individual."

I keep saying this, but relying on journal prompts can help you unpack a lot of things and, thankfully, Cavins agrees. He says, "You could always opt to talk to a specialist or being journaling in order to find some closure and draw meaning from the experience." Also, he wants you to start "making new memories." But, don't be passive about it.

"You will have to engage yourself in activities that will help redirect the focus of your thoughts. This could include joining a new class, engaging in a hobby, or traveling that involves some independence. These experiences can help shift your mindset from loss to growth and reinforce your identity outside of the relationship," says Cavins.

Another important thing you can do is "solicit help from others," according to him. "Calling on people you trust, like friends and family, to talk about these feelings can significantly help in healing," he says. This also helped me navigate life outside of my first real romantic relationship, reminding me that I still had a lot of love in my life that didn't begin or end with my ex.

Here are Menon's tips:

  • Let yourself grieve — Let this loss run its course. If you need to feel angry, sad, distraught, nostalgic. Allow yourself the full breadth of this experience. If I ask you right now "don't think a out a yellow monkey", I can bet you just thought of a yellow monkey. We call this "the imp of the mind". When you reject feelings, or thoughts, they come back 10 times more fiercely. To move the feeling along, we must let ourselves experience it.
  • Rediscover your identity (So important) — Your first love is often intertwined with self-discovery, and identity formation. Reconsider your goals, interests, values, friendships and hobbies and try to build your own sense of identity and individuality.

Anastasia Nagibina

I saw my first love again and it feels like we're falling in love all over. Can we have a happy and healthy relationship?

I'm not going to tell you to run even though I told my ex I never wanted to speak or talk to him again. You could easily reconnect with the first person you fell in love with and realize that you're both in a place where you can have something beautiful. However, Cavins and Menon want you to be mindful if you're in this position.

"Reconnection is possible," begins Menon, "if both parties can objectively claim that they have grown emotionally and resolved the issues that held their relationship back." But, "if the reconnection is built on one person growing and the other not, it is likely to fail," she alerts. You'll need to "proceed with caution," she says because "your first love was a nostalgic era in your life that can cloud your judgement." To put it more clearly, she doesn't want you confuse "the fuzzies" with a "true knowing that the two of you can make it work."

Cavins says, "Reconnecting with a first love can trigger a strong wave of emotions, but it is important that such a decision is made with caution and a strong sense of pragmatism. Personal growth is a primary factor. Each party in the relationship must ask themselves how they have grown and evolved as individuals over time. If past patterns of conflict, immaturity, or unhealthy dynamics remain unaddressed, the same issues could resurface."

He wants you to consider these things:

  • Are there any active relationships or past engagements that would make it rather difficult? That's because the feelings that come with reigniting old flames are very strong and can alter a person’s life, making it essential to start thinking from all angles before going ahead with it.
  • Address previous challenges that caused the breakup in the first place. If the reasons behind the breakup have been resolved or do not exist anymore, then yes, meeting again has its prospects. However, keep in mind that, at times, memories can be selective and unfavorably distort the truth by overplaying the good qualities while avoiding the negative ones.
  • Only rekindle things if both individuals are in a healthy emotional state and the decision is grounded in practical, mutual considerations—not just sentimentality or romanticized memories. Clear and honest discussions and an understanding of purpose are vital in ascertaining if rekindling the relationship will be worthwhile for both parties or if it will simply be an act of revisiting unresolved emotions.

Menon's final piece of advice is similar in that she encourages you to be "self-critical, self-aware, and self-nourishing." She doesn't want you to be afraid to be "clear and transparent about your expectations for the relationship" either. Though we weren't a fan of the outcomes of our first real romantic relationships, they've made us wiser. So, shout out to our first loves for being the worst because they've become our best learning lessons.

That's not all! We have even more helpful articles about relationships & family if you're looking for everything from celebrity couples to navigating hard conversations during the holidays.

No matter how many times I rewatch The Vampire Diaries, there's nothing like seeing a cast reunion — and the weekend of December 6, we finally got to see our three favorite Mystic Falls gals together again! Nina Dobrev, Kat Graham, and Candice King were just some of The Vampire Diaries cast members who reunited for Epic Con to chat all things Elena, Bonnie, and Caroline...but things took a turn in the middle of the interview when one of the backdrops almost fell on Nina!

Keep reading to see what happened during The Vampire Diaries cast reunion with Nina Dobrev, Kat Graham, and Candice King.

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Even after all these years, Bonnie and Caroline are still saving Elena #tvd #thevampirediaries #ninadobrev #candiceking #katgraham #elanagilbert #carolineforbes #bonniebennett #epiccons

As someone who's done plenty of interviews myself, I know how fast a situation can spiral — and this interview accident is crazy. While talking on stage about the show, one of the backdrops begins to lean forward, and right before it falls on top of Nina, Candice and Kat quickly move to push it in the opposite direction.

"I don't want to see any 'Bonnie saves the day' memes," Kat jokes, referencing the fandom's love for Bonnie consistently helping the group throughout the show's eight-season run. "I don't want to see it, I don't want to hear it!" You can also see a relieved Nina hug Candice before revealing she thought it was a spider!

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In addition to this "Bonnie saves the day" moment (sorry, Kat, I couldn't help it!), the internet went crazy when Nina posted a video of her, Candice, and Kat recreating a photo they took during season 1 — especially after rumors have circulated for years that Kat Graham was mistreated on The Vampire Diaries set.

While these rumors have never been outright confirmed, fans have paid very special attention to what Kat has said...especially when she confirmedshe was the lowest-paid cast member and cried over her natural hair after revealing she wasn't really allowed to have an afro while filming.

"Love you girls so much!!!!!! 🥹❤️❤️❤️❤️" Kat commented on Nina's post, while a fan added, "And now the rumors can definitely be ended 🫶🏼❤️." These women are so powerful and clearly love each other so much, and I will take any and every cast reunion we can get!

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When Brit + Co caught up with Ian Somerhalder, he also expressed how much he loved filming The Vampire Diaries. "Every single day it was a laugh," he says. "I mean we had to be serious, you're running from ghosts and vampires and stuff, and you know, someone makes a fart joke and a 130 people erupt in laughter, there's only so much you can run for your life."

And thank goodness, Ian confirms just how much fun the cast had! "We laughed, that's how we kept each other sane," he says. "I spent 8 years on the show and now it's [been] 15 years. It's my longest relationship."

"I cannot believe it's been 15 years," he continues. "And so everyone who's seen the show, watched the show, supported us — and me — in any way, shape, and form regarding the show, I thank you from the bottom of my heart."

What would your dream The Vampire Diaries reunion look like? Let us know on Facebook!