It’s a… Surprise! The Best Baby Gifts (For a Boy OR a Girl!)

Blake Lively and hottie hubs Ryan Reynolds want their baby’s gender to be a… surprise (gasp!). Let’s be honest, most of us thought that idea was, well, a bit old school — until now. Suddenly, choosing between pink or blue onesies doesn’t seem as exciting as a baby surprise. If you’ve decided Blake’s gender-surprise idea is now novel, we’ve dug up some fab baby finds you can shop for before you know whether your lil surprise is a boy or girl.

1. Shearling Convertible Bundler ($55): Baby it’s cold outside… but not if your baby is bundled up in this sherpa-lined shearling!

2. Wise Guys Organic Swaddles ($55): Welcome your little one into the world of organic softness. These pretty prints will keep your baby comfortable and stylish into the toddler years.

3. Svan Signet Complete High Chair ($213): Finally, a beautiful baby chair that will actually complement your home decor. This award-winning adjustable high chair is crafted to meet baby’s needs at every stage.

4. Timi & Leslie Charlie Diaper Bag ($160): Stow away all those baby essentials in a chic and stylish bag. Celebrities such as Jessica Alba and Pink have been spotted toting this Timi & Leslie baby bag, proving it’s a mommy must-have.

5. MammaRoo ($229): It’s the next best thing to mamma’s arms. Cuddling baby is so much fun, but every mom needs a break sometimes.

6. Cable Knit and Luxe Faux Fur Bunting ($46): We can totally imagine Blake’s baby wearing one of these. Keep baby warm and on trend.

7. Polar Bear Faux Fur Plush Rocker ($169): Move over, horses. Polar bears are the new it rocking animal. Okay, maybe not, but wouldn’t this look perfect in your baby’s nursery?

8. Baby Pibu Newborn Essentials Skincare Kit ($98): Babies have the softest skin on the planet, and we want to keep it that way. Developed by a dermatologist mom, Baby Pibu skincare has been featured on NBC and CBS and comes highly rated by moms everywhere.

9. Pom Pom Mobile ($160): Awww, so sweet. Even Gwyneth Paltrow admitted that she couldn’t resist this fluffy pom pom mobile — who can?

10. Animal Hooded Towel ($39): Because every kid needs to experience the joy of a hooded animal towel.

11. Modern Crib Sheets ($55): These modern geometric sheets are oh-so-stylish and printed in an eco-friendly way. We think Blake would approve.

12. Born Free Bottle ($17): Choosing the perfect bottle is kind of a big deal. Celebrity moms Guiliana Rancic, Jessica Alba and Sandra Bullock have all embraced the Born Free, which is 100 percent recyclable and BPA-free.

13. Kneatly Knit Large Storage Bags ($49): These knit bags are a fun and practical place to store all those blankets and bottles and balls. Because babies come with a lot of stuff.

14. Beaba Pro 2x Baby Food Maker ($200): Making baby’s food from scratch doesn’t have to be difficult. Here’s a product that cooks and purees at the same time.

15. Sherpa Booties ($17): Keep tiny tootsies toasty with these sherpa booties. Wait, are these available in adult sizes too?

16. Wee Workout Baby Gym ($63): Babies need to work out, too. P.S. We totally want the fur blanket/rug.

17. Orbit Baby Stroller G2 ($600): A bit pricey, yes, but it’s made with eco-safe fabric and materials and features a UV sunshade that will protect your baby from the sun’s harsh rays.

18. Baby Long-Sleeve One-Pieces ($60): Half the fun of having a baby is dressing them up and showing them off. These onesies are the perfect basics for layering under any cute clothing ensemble.

19. Baby Bjorn Baby Carrier ($141): When it comes to baby-wearing devices, Baby Bjorn is in its own class. This carrier is one of the most coveted baby items among moms everywhere.

20. Duux Air Purifier ($39): Baby will spend a lot of time in the nursery those first few months, and you want the air to be as pure as possible. The Duux is a top seller and comes with an added bonus that’s sure to help with those late-night feedings: a nightlight.

21. Play Cube ($499): Oh, the possibilities. Your kiddos will enjoy years of play in a wooden cube that instantly becomes a fort, reading nook, castle or whatever magical hideaway their little hearts can imagine.

Are you keeping your baby’s gender a surprise? Talk with us in the comments about your must-have baby essentials that will work for baby boy OR girl.

Gwyneth Paltrow's kids were destined to be in the spotlight the moment she announced the name "Apple." Unique name choices aside, we've watched Gwyneth's kids grow up over the past couple decades. Given all this time, I shouldn't be so surprised to find out these "little ones" are in college now, but WOW — I guess this means we're all officially old now.

Wondering what Apple and Moses are up to these days? Here's everything you need to know about them — including how Gwyneth's processing the "empty nest" life.

How many kids does Gwyneth Paltrow have?

MJ Kim/Getty Images

Gwyneth has two children — Apple and Moses Martin — with her ex-husband Chris Martin. She's been very vocal about them throughout the years, so it's totally bittersweet to see how fast they've grown.

How old are Gwyneth Paltrow's kids?

Harry How/Getty Images

Apple is currently 20 while Moses is — gulp! — 18 years old. I told you time flew by fast!

Why did Gwyneth name her daughter Apple?

Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images

How gorgeous is Apple? She's the perfect blend of Gwyneth Paltrow and Chris Martin, giving her a stunning visage that channels Tyra Banks' 'smize.' But many people have wondered why Gwyneth decided to name her Apple. In 2004, she sat down with Oprah Winfrey to dish about the inspiration behind her daughter's name, and we can't help but fully stan the meaning.

"When we were first pregnant, her daddy said, ‘If it’s a girl I think her name should be Apple.' It sounded so sweet, and it conjured such a lovely picture for me," she said. "Apples are so sweet and they're wholesome, and it's biblical."

Gwyneth went on to explain that even though the name sparked "international outrage," she'd actually heard of a few other Apples out in the world since then! Still, we know this Apple's been one-of-a-kind since day one. Gwyneth said, "The first morning we woke up together in the hospital bed, and we were facing each other, and I opened my eyes, and she's got these huge blue eyes...She was just staring at me with this unbelievable intensity."

Name aside, it's clear Apple Martin was destined to be unique!

How has Gwyneth Paltrow approached motherhood over the years?

Kevin Winter/Getty Images

Last year, Gwyneth talked about what made her put acting on the back burner — and it was probably the realest thing she could've said as a mom. "Well, it's kind of ironic because I really stepped away from acting when Apple was born," she admitted to PEOPLE. "When I had her, it just, everything felt redefined for me, and I thought, 'I'm not sure that I want to do this so much as a career. I definitely don't want to...I'm not going to go away for months on end,'" she remembers thinking.

In 2021, the Goop founder also opened up about becoming a stepmom to her husband Brad Falchuk's two children — Isabella and Brody. Talking to actress Gabrielle Union — who's also been vocal about her own parenting journey — on The Goop Podcast, Gwyneth said, "When I became a stepmother, when I knew I was going to become a stepmother, I was like, 'S–t, I have no idea how to do this." However, she added that stepping into that role was an "interesting challenge" and that she's "learned so much" about herself.

Where do Gwyneth Paltrow's kids go to college?

Getty Images

Apple has been at Vanderbilt University for the past two years (The Zoe Report). Located in Nashville, Tennessee, it's well over 2,000 miles away from where Gwyneth lives in California (via US Weekly). On the other hand, Moses goes to college at Brown University (via News Week) which is even further away — as in a little over 3,000 miles far.

As a first-time mom, I can only imagine how it feels to know the babies you've raised are so far away!

How does Gwyneth Paltrow feel about having an empty nest?

Leon Bennett/Getty Images

Being a mom is a wild ride of emotions whether you're a celebrity like Gwyneth Paltrow or not. Gwyneth revealed her feelings about her kids no longer living at home during a Q&A session she had on her Instagram stories Tuesday. Someone asked, "How's life as a free bird?" according to PEOPLE, and it made Gwyneth reflect about her outlook. After she thanked the person for their question, she said, "It's very different. I have waves of grief and sadness."

From pregnancy to the newborn stage to the land of unruly teenagers, there's never a time where things like mom guilt cease to exist. But more often than not, moms have an overwhelming amount of love for their kids and experience a new pang of hurt when they leave home and leave an "empty nest". It's something Gwyneth Paltrow's finding herself dealing with now that her babies are now adults and don't live with her anymore.

Vittorio Zunino Celotto/Getty Images

But it's not all doom and gloom! Now that Gwyneth Paltrow's kids are finding their way in the world as young adults, she's entering a season where she's learning more about herself. "I am kind of getting back in touch with this part of myself that I haven't felt like since I was in my 20s before I had kids," Gwyneth shared. "Like, a little more space and imagination, maybe. A little more inner space for what I might want to do that day, stuff like that. So, it's evolving. It's interesting."

How do you feel about Gwyneth Paltrow's comments about having an empty nest? Let us know on Facebook!

This edible crescent-roll cornucopia is our way of making a normal cheese boardmore festive — and definitely more fun — during the holiday season. Our go-to this time of year is a massive cheese plate that can stand alone and be the main attraction, or the starter for a larger meal. Press on for the surprisingly easy steps to braid a breaded cornucopia.

Chris Andre

Materials + Tools:

  • 1 roll of tin foil
  • 2 packages of crescent rolls
  • 1 egg (for egg wash before cornucopia goes into the oven), optional

Chris Andre

Instructions:

Start by sculpting tin foil into the shape of a cornucopia (it looks like a cone with an upturned tail). Pro tip: Lightly pack tin foil so it's easier to remove later from your baked cornucopia. Crescent rolls should be buttery enough that this shouldn't be difficult.

Chris Andre

Your tin foil mold should look a little something like this.

Chris Andre

Pop open the crescent rolls and cut the triangles into strips. Pinch together the ends of strips to make strips longer.

Chris Andre

Braid crescent roll strips. You can make these as fancy as you want. Not a braiding pro? Skip this step and leave those strips alone.

Chris Andre

Wrap tin foil cornucopia with braids/strips. Make sure you cover all the tin foil. Leave a little wiggle room at the opening of the cornucopia, so that when you’re done baking you can pull some of that tin foil out.

Chris Andre

Use any extra dough to cover the bottom of your cornucopia. Pinch the sides and anchor those braids/strips in.

Chris Andre

Brush on egg wash before placing your cornucopia in the oven. Bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 20 minutes. Take out of oven and cover spots of cornucopia that are already golden brown with extra tin foil. Bake for another 20 minutes at 250 degrees Fahrenheit.

Chris Andre

Let it cool down until it’s easy to handle. Remove tin foil.

Chris Andre

Place cornucopia in corner of your cheese plate. Arrange cheese on your serving tray.

Chris Andre

Add crackers — we like to have two or three options.

Chris Andre

Don’t forget to fill up your cornucopia. It's called "the horn of plenty" for a reason. Fill with fresh fruit like grapes, apples, and pears.

Chris Andre

Add nuts like walnuts and pistachios to fill in any empty spaces. Garnish with fresh herbs like rosemary and sage to finish it off.

Chris Andre

Voilà! Invite over your friends, open a bottle of wine, and dig in!

Chris Andre

A cornucopia cheese board will become your new favorite holiday tradition.

Show us your crescent-roll cornucopias on Instagram and check out our baking classes (and our Easy Thanksgiving Desserts piece) for more holiday food inspo!

DIY Production and Styling: Paris Fried

Paris Fried: Paris loves any excuse to celebrate and throw a themed party. She loves experimenting in the kitchen and has a terrible sweet tooth. When she's not crafting in her studio, she's at the farmers' market buying seasonal produce or at her favorite local theater watching double features.

This post has been updated.

I’m a fairly active person. I enjoy hiking in the mountains, hot girl walks, dripping sweat at pilates, and working on my defense skills in boxing. I have yet to find runningincredibly enjoyable, like the people my age rapidly signing up for marathons, but I’ll indulge in a solid 3-mile jog about once a week. So when I was asked to join a wellness weekend in the Bahamas with actress Gwenyth Paltrow’s media brand, Goop, I thought it’d be a breeze. For the most part, it was. Emphasis on ‘for the most part.

Olivia Bria

Goop's wellness retreat in the Bahamas.

Wellness is an umbrella term — it looks and feels different to each individual person. Despite the fact that I just named five exercises I attempt to partake in weekly — life gets busy! — I really try to branch out of my usual workouts, due to both the need for a challenge and a general interest in looking for new ways to move my body. What are my most recent exercise acquisitions? Breakdancing, hot yoga, and, well, getting TORCH’D. Goop booked us with celebrity trainer, Isaac Boots, to add the last workout to that list.

Boots has a long roster of celeb clients: Vanessa Hudgens, Kelly Ripa, Jessica Chastain, Gwenyth Paltrow (of course!) and more. I’ve always been a bit envious of how the celebrities of today are able to build at-home gyms and call for private sessions in a flash. Yet, beyond the affordability aspect, I’ve been more curious on how they become so fit — diet and personal chefs aside — with such busy schedules.

I found out in the Bahamas. And the workout is not as easy as it looks.

Isaac Boots

Isaac Boots, Gwenyth Paltrow's celebrity trainer.

Boots first created virtual at-home sessions to teach TORCH’D classes during the pandemic, with the main premise of the workout focusing on the flow of body resistance, dance conditioning, and targeted repetition with the intention of burning fat. We — the other gal pal journalists and influencers on the trip — were set to complete two morning classes, both Saturday and Sunday. I, unfortunately, missed my connecting flight on Friday and wasn’t able to make it to the Saturday class due to a series of unfortunate travel events (let’s not rehash it, for my sake). But, after talking to the girls who were able to attend that morning session, it seems that the only thing I missed was waking up really sore on Sunday. My quads thanked me for that missed flight.

Olivia Bria

The group Torch'd workout class at Goop's Bahamas retreat.

Group fitness is also something I’ve gotten used to over the years, especially when moving to LA where it's common practice, but going into workouts that I’ve never done before is intimidating. Exercising in front of others, especially when you aren’t familiar with the form of exercise, can be a particularly vulnerable activity.

Therefore, before attending the 45-minute TORCH’D session, I searched for the workouts online to study them a little. I’ll admit, I didn’t think they looked that difficult. But boy, was I absolutely proved wrong. Keep in mind that the Sunday session was outdoors, and although on a shaded rooftop with a stunning ocean view, the Bahamas was in the middle of a heat wave. I already didn’t stand a chance against my already innately sweaty and red-faced self during any form of physical movement.

Isaac Boots

Isaac Boots, Gwenyth Paltrow's celebrity trainer.

Boots started the music — an upbeat, EDM like tune — to get us moving to the rhythm.

We began with small movements like arm circles and donkey kicks, pulsed for a bit, and then went ‘double time’ (AKA we picked up our speed). Those rotations would continue throughout the workout. It was during the pulsing portions of the workout where I really felt it target my biceps, triceps, and glutes. A burning sensation formed in my upper arms and legs several times, making it hard to keep going. There were a few instances when I had to take a quick break to get back into it. It was during those breaks when I noticed I wasn’t the only one taking a breather.

As I’ve grown sick of my mundane daily gym routine, I’ve noticed that having fun while I workout is a priority. Boots’ liveliness and charisma matched with his eagerness to teach really helped me get out of my own head (I have the tendency to become frustrated and want to quit during certain moves.)

I now understand now how a lot of celeb women — like Gwenyth — exercise with time constraints. Workouts like Torch'd are simple and tough, but effective at toning all the right places. While I would 10/10 recommend this class to anyone, I (and my sore muscles) definitely encourage you to take a rest day (or two) afterwards. 😉

Looking for more exercise tips? Be sure to follow us on Facebook so you never miss a thing!

Header image via Olivia Bria

Though Black Friday is traditionally the official start of the holiday shopping season, we argue that it’s been kicking since mid-October. We know, we know: it still feels extremely early to start thinking about the holidays, but they’ll be here before you know it! Plus, many brands and retailers are already promoting their holiday goodies with plenty of sales and discounts available right now.

If you’re ready to embark on your holiday shopping journey, but still need answers to questions like ‘when’s the best time to shop?’ and ‘where should I shop for gifts?’ and even ‘how the heck do I save money this season?’, you’ve come to the right place. Consider this your go-to guide for holiday shopping in 2024.

Scroll on for our best guidance on navigating this busy time of year and finding the best gifts possible!

When's the best time to do holiday shopping?

Kaboompics / PEXELS

The best time to do holiday shopping really all depends on your personal shopping goals. Do you want to get a jump on items you know will sell out soon? Do you want to save the most money possible? Do you want to focus on handmade, personalized gifts? These factors will undoubtedly influence your holiday shopping schedule.

Cottonbro Studio / PEXELS

Shopping early can be advantageous for all of the aforementioned goals. A lot of retailers start promoting their holiday products early on, giving you ample time to snatch up that limited-time lip kit or fancy water bottle you’ve been eyeing way before the holidays.

Plus, some of the best deals for holiday shopping happen ahead of Black Friday and Cyber Monday – in 2023, Experian observed a surge in early spending in October, thanks to early discounts, a trend likely to continue in 2024.

Finally, shopping early can be especially helpful if your plan is to focus on handmade or personalized gifts, giving the artisan you buy from (or yourself, if you’re DIY-ing your gifts) plenty of time to craft the item with love and care.

Gallup reported in 2023 that one in four shoppers start shopping as early as September, a trend likely to continue in 2024 – so you might already be embarking on your shopping spree!

Mikhail Nilov / PEXELS

If right now is just still too darn early for you to start holiday shopping, Black Friday and Cyber Monday are some of the best times to shop since so many retailers offer their largest discounts of the entire year. Plus, the late November-early December timeline can feel a bit more appropriate for the gifting season opposed to late October-early November, when everyone’s still recovering from Halloween.

The only thing to consider during this time is the shipping timelines for the items you purchase – but most retailers will typically advise their specific shipping schedules, so you don’t risk your goodies arriving late.

Where should I shop for gifts?

Ron Lach / PEXELS

You have three main options when it comes to where to shop for holiday gifts: online, in-store, and via our amazing gift guides. Of course, each method has its advantages and disadvantages.

Shopping in-store offers a tangible experience: the opportunity to hold specific items in your hands and gauge exactly what they’ll be like when you give them as a gift. The pitfall with shopping in-person is that it typically requires a commute and journeys through potentially very busy malls and shopping strips, which can add to the already-stressful holiday experience.

In-store shopping can be more physically exhausting, but it’s all about preference! Sometimes strolling through the stores that get all dolled up for Christmas is the best part of the season.

Andrea Piacquadio / PEXELS

Per Google, 65% of those planning to shop for the holidays say they will shop online more. Shopping for gifts online can be super helpful since you can centralize your findings in your browser’s bookmark tab or via virtual cart(s). Plus, shopping online can pose more opportunities for saving some money: lots of retailers typically offer discount codes for online users, especially if you sign up for their digital marketing channels (like email and text) and make a purchase.

Shopping online isn’t just shopping, either. The internet can be a stellar research tool to help you vet whether certain products are worth it, where they can be bought, and when they’ll be available. In fact, Google reported that more than half of U.S. holiday shoppers who went into a store last year say they looked up product reviews online and/or located an item in-store by checking it online.

Kaboompics / PEXELS

Last but not least, scrolling gift guides has to be our favorite place to shop for gifts – and not just because we write and publish them.

At their very core, gift guides help streamline the holiday shopping process, alleviating the stress that bubbles up when you’re wondering what the heck to shop for in the first place. Our gift guides are backed by real people, real experiences, and real opinions from our editorial team. We only promote products that we really love and believe in, oftentimes ones we’ve tested and reviewed ourselves.

We have gift guides for just about everyone on your list, with more on the way! Check ‘em out:

What are the best kinds of gifts to give?

Kaboompics / PEXELS

The best kinds of gifts to give are thoughtful gifts that consider the giftee’s interests, wants, and needs. These gifts can be sentimental, practical, or both simultaneously. What matters most in a gift is that it’ll be meaningful to them past just the holiday season, whether it’s helping them get through daily tasks, reminding them of a memorable trip or event, or giving them small doses of joy.

“Shoppers are increasingly looking for personalized and unique gifts that reflect the recipient's personality and interests,” says Mia Anderson, Owner of ChicSew. “With the rise of online shopping, many consumers are opting for curated gift boxes or experiences that add a special touch.”

Cottonbro Studio / PEXELS

Gift boxes, personalized items, books of interest, self-care goodies, and even gift cards can all be thoughtful gifts depending on the recipient. If you have no clue what your giftee is into, it’s not a bad idea to ask them what they want the most!

“My idea of a great gift is something that is in tandem with the recipient's interest and offers something new to the person, be it learning a new skill, enjoying a calming activity, or simply spending quality time with the family,” says Alfred Christ, Sales Manager & Marketer at Robotime. “This season, we encourage shoppers to shift their focus on quality and the memories their gifts will create and not just merely material aspects.”

When is Black Friday?

Sora Shimazaki / PEXELS

Black Friday is always the Friday after Thanksgiving. This year, Black Friday lands on November 29.

When is Cyber Monday?

Kindel Media / PEXELS

Cyber Monday is typcally the Monday after Thanksgiving. This year, Cyber Monday will land on December 2. Oftentimes, retailers and brands extend their online offers through the week (coined Cyber Week) after the event. Salesforce reported that 67% of shoppers in 2024 plan on shopping during Cyber Week!

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The holidays at Starbucks are creeping up on us, people! Peppermint Mocha season will return on November 7. If you’re a die-hard Starbucks fan, you know Red Cup Day is a whole holiday in itself – the frenzy for a free reusable cup is truly no joke. There’s even an entire website dedicated to counting down the madness! Even though there’s no official word on when Red Cup Day 2024 will be, there are several clues that cue us into the annual event. Scroll on for details!

What is Red Cup Day?

Starbucks

Red Cup Day is Starbucks’ highly-awaited annual event that marks the start of holiday beverage season at the coffee chain. For one day only (and while supplies last), customers who order any of Starbucks’ holiday drinks will receive a reusable red cup that features a bespoke design for the respective year.

Starbucks

Here’s a list of all the drinks rumored to be available on the Starbucks holiday menu starting November 7:

  • Peppermint Mocha
  • Peppermint White Chocolate Mocha
  • Caramel Brûlée Latte
  • Sugar Cookie Almondmilk Latte
  • Chestnut Praline Latte
  • Salted Pecan Crunch Cold Brew
  • Iced Gingerbread Oatmilk Chai

What do the red cups look like for 2024?

Starbucks

Starbucks hasn’t officially announced when Red Cup Day will be for 2024, let alone what the famed red cups will look like this go-around. The one obvious point is that the cups will be red! They’ll also likely feature some festive motifs that echo the holiday season. Last year’s red cups boasted playful white and green stars and ornament-like shapes.

Why should I participate in Red Cup Day?

Starbucks

Red Cup Day = freebies, which can feel really rewarding if you’re really into receiving free goodies. Plus, it’s just a fun way to lean into the holiday spirit. The red reusable cup keeps giving beyond Red Cup Day, though! Every time you use the reusable cup for future Starbucks orders, you get a 10-cent discount as well as 25 bonus stars toward your Starbucks Rewards account to save up for more discounts on drinks, food, and merchandise.

When is Starbucks' Red Cup Day 2024?

Starbucks

Again, Starbucks hasn’t alerted us on when Red Cup Day will be for 2024, but based on previous Red Cup Days, we can infer it’ll land on the third Thursday of November. In 2022, Red Cup Day happened on November 17, and for 2023, it was November 16. The third Thursday of November in 2024 hits on November 21, so mark your calendars, everyone!

Additionally, check back here for official info as Red Cup Day approaches.

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This post has been updated.