Make Hot Sauce and Mustard With These Cool Kits

It’d be a lie to say we weren’t obsessed with DIY. Not only does making something yourself (or with a group of friends… did someone say Par-DIY?) give a sense of accomplishment, it provides you with a totally unique and one-of-a-kind product. In addition to the ever-evolving and amazing Brit Kits, there’s another kit company kindred to the Brit + Co shop. It’s sustainable and eco-friendly Grow and Make. Owner and founder Will Johnston creates the kits in order to “restore that part of our culture that has lost touch with a part of our heritage and humanity, which is the act of making.” Read on to learn more about his kits, ranging from mason jar candle-making to mustard and kombucha making.

Tell us a little bit about yourself.

I spent most of my life in Santa Cruz, California, and I have a background in high-tech startups and entrepreneurial ventures in the San Francisco Bay Area. I moved to Portland with my wife to raise our family. I am an avid soccer player and coach, learning to play the piano, surf and balance my life between raising kids and running my business.

Why did you decide to start Grow and Make?

I started Grow and Make to be a part of the emerging maker and sustainability cultures. After having worked in software and Internet businesses, I wanted to do something that was more tactile and hands-on. I also find that DIY kits are products which excite and inspire customers.

Tell us how the kits are sustainable.

The whole premise of the business is that if we all grow and make more of what we consume, we are acting in an inherently sustainable manner. As a business, we have as a part of our DNA a commitment to sustainability. We know it’s not possible for any company to be 100% sustainable, but it’s possible to give consideration to it in all aspects of your decision making. Some ways we’ve decided to differentiate ourselves in a sustainable way include purchasing organic materials whenever possible, shipping in recyclable boxes, using soy based inks whenever possible, paying our team livable wages, creating our kits with only what is necessary to create the product as well as including materials that can be re-used.

Currently, what is your favorite DIY kit and why?

Right now, the Mustard Making Kit is probably my favorite, because it’s our most recently updated. Mustard is one of the easiest and most interesting ways to spice up a dish or starter plate. I’m really excited for the newly developed flavors, including raspberry, honey mustard, wine mustard, fiery hot chipotle, sweet and spicy beer mustard and classic yellow. Creating recipes for this kit has been fun and is a perfect way to transition from summertime sandwiches to fall harvest dishes. Additionally, the jars can be re-used for re-filling your kit when you want more mustard supplies or for canning season!

Tell us how technology has changed and supported what you do.

The connectivity we can have through our site and through our blog really helps us explain our mission to consumers as well as those interested in learning more about living sustainably. Our online articles allow us to share information and ideas with people searching for ways to DIY their life.

What’s one piece of advice you’d share with other makers?

Creating a sustainable company doesn’t always mean you have to go to extremes for a green product. It’s about simple sustainable solutions along the way to reduce excess or use of harmful materials for the environment.

Ready to get Growing and Making? The Brit + Co Shop has got your kits!

In our consumerist, fast-paced world, it's easier than it should be to be wasteful, and we're always looking for eco-friendly (and simple) changes we can make. In honor of Earth Month (and Earth Day on April 22nd), we rounded up 30 challenges that will educate, reduce waste, and even help you save money. From using up your food scraps to being more intentional with your gasoline emissions, try one of these sustainabilitychallenges every day of April, and keep them going all year long. Let's get into it!

30 Sustainability Challenges For April

Image via Brit + Co

  • Use stainless steel straws: Instead of throwing away plastic straws, invest in a set of stainless steel straws. That way, you can use, wash, and repeat!
  • Shop with a reusable bag: Bring your own tote bag to the grocery store instead of taking home a paper or plastic bag.
  • Text yourself receipts: At coffee shops and boutiques, pick the "text me" option to prevent yourself from throwing away a paper receipt.
  • Read a sustainability book by a WOC: Learn about sustainability from an expert or someone who lives a zero-waste lifestyle.
  • Wash on the cold water cycle: Cold water in the washing machine uses up less energy, and it's actually better for delicates and dark colors than hot water.
  • Shop second-hand: Grabbing something another person has already used prevents those items from ending up in a landfill *and* cuts down on fast fashion production. Check out our Beginner's Guide To Thrift Stores for more inspo!

Image via Brit + Co

  • Choose sustainable fashion: If you do want to grab something new, instead of shopping from fast fashion retailers, purchase any items you may need from a sustainable fashion brand like Sézane, Reformation, MATE the Label, Marine Layer, Girlfriend Collective, or others.
  • Buy seasonal produce: Buying produce in season means you're cutting down on the energy costs of long-distance shipping. There's a good chance it'll be cheaper *and* you'll be supporting local farmers.
  • Get a reusable water bottle: Ditch the single-use plastic bottles in favor of a reusable bottle that will last you at least a few years.
  • DIY oat milk in a glass bottle: Oat milk is surprisingly simple to make. DIY it yourself and store it in a glass bottle to cut down on your trash.
  • Follow a sustainability activist: If you're active on social media, find a sustainability activist that will offer some inspo and tips + tricks every time you get on your phone.
  • Buy a menstrual cup/reusable period products: There are tons of reusable period products to pick from, from menstrual cups to period underwear. In addition to being kinder to your body, they're more sustainable and way cheaper in the long run.

Image via Brit + Co

  • DIY beauty products: Make DIY face mask or sprinkle a mix of cocoa powder and corn starch on your roots in lieu of dry shampoo.
  • Shop in store: While online shopping from the comfort of your couch is easy, head to the store to save yourself from dealing with the paper, tape, and cardboard boxes your shipments will come in.
  • Upcycle out-of-style clothing: Cut the ankles of your skinny jeans and add printed fabric for one-of-a-kind upcycled wide-leg pants. Embroider a top to make it feel more you, or make a quilt out of all the old camp shirts you don't wear but can't part with.
  • Go on an experience date: Instead of getting takeout or grabbing coffee, go on a walk or browse a museum with one of our Affordable Date Ideas.
  • Grocery shop in bulk: Products like nuts, frozen foods, and canned goods can be bought in bulk, which is both cheaper in the long run and less wasteful than a bunch of pre-packaged bags.
  • Turn off the A/C and cool your home passively: Cut down on your electric bill by using passive methods to cool a room. All you have to is close your curtains during hours of bright sunlight to avoid heating the air inside your space. Then open up your windows at night to let the cool air in!

You'll Love These Sustainability Hacks For 2024

Image via Brit + Co

  • Use empty candle jars as decor: Candles these days are so cute — turn the jars into decor to store your makeup brushes or even Hershey kisses!
  • Turn the lights off: When you leave a room, turn the lights off to prevent unnecessary waste. You can also try and keep the lights off until the sun sets. Your wallet will thank you!
  • Carpool: Hop in the car with a friend or family member to save gas money, take up less room in a parking lot, and cut down on gas emissions.
  • Use reusable utensils: Besides the fact that reusable utensils cut down on waste, you can also get them in super cute colors. That's a win-win in our book.
  • Bike or walk around town: If you're able, ditch your car entirely and bike or walk all over town instead! Work out and run errands at the same time.
  • Compost food scraps: Everyone can compost, even if you live in a tiny apartment! Compost egg shells, banana peels, and coffee grounds. They'll breakdown naturally instead of sitting in landfill and they make for a great addition to garden soil. If you live in a big city, chances are there's a composting service you can sign up for to take away your scraps at the end of each week.

Image via Stasher

  • Use Tupperware/silicone baggies: With alternatives like glass storage containers and silicone bags, you'll never need to throw away a plastic bag again.
  • Sew worn-out clothes: Just because your toe is peeking through your sock or you have a hole in your shirt doesn't mean you have to get rid of it! Check out our online sewing class or Google a few beginner's tips to fix them yourself.
  • Get a library card: Instead of ordering books from Amazon, get a library card! Plus, you won't have to find a place to keep all your books.
  • Go vegetarian/vegan: A vegan or vegetarian diet uses up a lot less water than a meat-eating diet. Even making two vegan recipes a week can help the environment, and might just have a positive effect on your health too!
  • Save all your errands for one drive: Instead of driving out multiple times in a few days, figure out all of the places you need to go, figure out the best route, and do it in one go.
  • Get shampoo bars:Shampoo bars are a way to cut down on shampoo plastic bottles while still keeping your hair clean.

Tag us with your sustainability hacks on Instagram and subscribe to our email newsletter for more earth month content!

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

Featured image via Mike Ostrovsky/Unsplash.

This post has been updated.

Fans of Fourth Wing are on pins and needles because Rebecca Yarros just announced she's finished writing the third book in the Empyrean series! It's us, we're fans — along with over half of BookTok.

We can't believe we're getting closer to reading more about Violet Sorrengail's journey, but we know you have a ton of burning questions about the release date for Book No. 3.

We may not have all the answers, but we've done a little digging to share as much as we can because who doesn't want to know what Rebecca Yarros has been up to?

I'm new to the Empyrean series. Are "Fourth Wing" and "Iron Flame" really worth reading?

Amazon

I'm not going to lie to you. The editorial team, including myself, are extremely biased about Fourth Wingand Iron Flame. From my perspective, I think these are great books for anyone who had the pleasure of growing up during the great Harry Potter era and moved on to watchingGame of Thrones and House of Dragons.

Did she announce the name of book no. 3?

Rebecca Yarros/Instagram

YES! Book No. 3 is titled Oynx Storm.

Knowing what we do about the manifestation of Violet's powers, I think this could hint she's going to play an even larger role in the series. According to a fan theory shared on TikTok(via Empyrean Riders), it's believed that Violet and Xaden Riorson are actually gods. Stay with me here.

Empyrean Riders noted that Violet's last name means heavenly and that she's able to control time thanks to her connection to the young dragon Andarna (I love her so much!). That sounds pretty god-like to me.

And when asked which two Taylor Swift songs describe Onyx Storm, Rebecca Yarros chose "Who's Afraid of Little Old Me?" from The Tortured Poets Department and "So It Goes..." from Reputation. "Who's Afraid of Little Old Me?" is one of Taylor's most powerful songs and definitely translates the idea that Violet's powers are going to be stronger than ever, while "So It Goes..." is equal parts suspense and seduction, and is TOTALLY about "all the pieces fall right into place" to get together with the right person.

There's so much more to unpack so I suggest grabbing a yummy snack while you fall down the rabbit hole. All I'm sure of is that Onyx Storm is going to leave our emotions in shambles just like Fourth Wing and Iron Flame did.

When did Rebecca Yarros announce she's done writing book no. 3 in the series?

Rebecca Yarros/Instagram

On June 17, Rebecca Yarros shared this image of her laptop to indicate she'd finished the third book in the Empyrean series.

She wrote, "(Pic from one of the very many locations in which this book was written)," towards the end of the caption before adding a few relevant hashtags to it.

When will Onxy Storm be available for purchase?

Rebecca Yarros/Instagram

Rebecca Yarros exclusively told Good Morning America that fans can expect the book to hit shelves January 21, 2025! That gives us a little over six months to prepare our emotions for what's sure to be a storm of a book.

She said, "There will be politics, new adventures, old enemies and of course, dragons." There's no way she could forget the dragons because I'd willingly riot over them. They deserve to have their stories told forever.

As luck would have it, Cosmopolitan received an exciting first look at what's to come in Onyx Storm. The excerpt begins with Violet realizing the Venin have found their way into Basgiath War College and are wreaking havoc. Alongside Rhiannon, Sawyer, and Ridoc, she races to stop the Venin from releasing Jack Barlowe from his prison cell.

However, Violet's shocked when she discovered one of the "dark wielders" has a long silver braid that closely resembles her own. Before she can fully react, the woman disappears. According to Screen Rant, there are possible theories about why Violet saw her and what this means for her growing power.

Towards the end of the excerpt, Violet discovers the Venin want to capture her too. Also, Xaden makes his long-awaited appearance and it's clear their playful banter in the face of danger hasn't changed. That he hasn't fully changed into the Venin Violet's used to seeing.

I officially can't wait to read the rest of the book in January!

Has Rebecca Yarros revealed the cover for Onyx Storm?

Today/Bree Archer, Elizabeth Turner Stokes for Entangled Publishing

Onyx Storm

Yes!

TODAY received an exclusive look at the cover for Onyx Storm and it doesn't disappoint! Unlike its predecessors, it appears Rebecca Yarros is hinting that darker events will take place.

Fans of the Empyrean series aren't the only ones who are excited to see what fate has in store for our favorite characters though. In a statement to TODAY, Rebecca revealed how elated she is to be working on the series again. "It's amazing to be back with these characters again. She also said, ""I can't wait for readers to see what Violet, Xaden, and the rest of the quadrant have in store for them in Onyx Storm!"

Are you excited for the release of Onyx Storm? Follow us on Facebook for more entertainment news!

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.

Plastics are the most common form of debris in our oceans, and many brands are finding ways to keep plastics out of our oceans and recycled back into the products we use every day. As we head to the beach this summer, it's a good reminder to be gentler on the planet as we shop for the season's sunscreen, beauty, and fashion. We pulled together some of our favorite brands that keep the planet and people in mind by using sustainable materials and fair labor practices. Feel good, look good, and do good with these 19 summer essentials.

LØCI NINE Sneaker ($185)

Put a spring in your step this summer. Made with 20 plastic bottles (for each pair) and recycled rubber, these lightweight vegan sneakers have a water-resistant upper, a custom-made cork insole for extra bounce, and are handmade with sustainable materials in LØCI factory in Portugal. Check out the wide variety of color combos too.

Sunski Miho Sunset Sepia ($58)

Takes these stylish recycled frames from the beach to brunch. They come in plastic-free packaging and block 100% UVA/UVB/UV400 waves.

Summersalt The Easy Breezy Eco Voile Tie-Shoulder Dress Cover-Up ($75)

This flowy maxi dress cover-up, perfect for the beach or backyard, is made from a voile fabric sourced from sustainable forests to help save water, maintain forest cover, and reduce CO2 emissions.

Caminito Sombra Sun Hat ($62)

This wide-brim style protects you from the sun while a vegetable-tanned leather cord keeps it secure on windy days. Caminito collaborates with trained weavers in Mexico and supports fair wages and clean work environments.

Slow Tide Psychedelic Sunshine Beach Towel ($45)

Made from 100% sustainably sourced cotton, this 70s-inspired designed towel is quick drying and features soft velour for cozy lounging. All Slowtide products exceed the Oeko-Tex Standard 100 Certification and do not contain any allergic substances.

Pact The Canopy Button-Back Tank ($54)

Made with organic cotton in a fair trade factory, this top is lightweight with buttons in the back and the perfect go-to for everyday summer wear, from skirts to jeans to shorts. Pact partners with Fair Trade USA, Global Organic Textile Standard and SimpliZero.

Supergoop! Everyday SPF Faves Kit ($60)

This TSA-approved travel kit, made from packaging sourced from recycled plastic bottles, includes four Supergoop! SPF bestsellers for clean skin & beauty that protect against UV rays.

Berlook Tie Floral One-Piece Swimsuit ($38)

This vintage-inspired swimsuit, made from recycled nylon and recycled polyester, gives you a supportive lift up top and a flattering high leg (with sufficient coverage at the back).

Lingua Franca x Judy Blume Forever "i read banned books" Crewneck ($380)

Stand up for literature and human rights on cool summer nights with this handstitched crewneck made from 100% sustainably sourced, ethically produced cashmere. Lingua Franca has partnered with Judy Blume Forever and 10% of proceeds from this sweater will be donated to PEN America, which works tirelessly to prevent books like Judy Blume's from being banned.

Attitude Plastic-Free Mineral Sunscreen Stick SPF 30 ($21)

This plastic-free mineral sunscreen stick uses natural ingredients like non-nano zinc oxide to offer full protection, is ocean-safe, and blends into all skin tones without that white, cake-y residue. It comes in a biodegradable cardboard tube to reduce single-use plastic and oh did we mention: it smells just like summer!

Parade Scoop Bikini ($36 Top, Bottom $34)

Made from recycled bottles, this smoothing swimwear is so comfortable, comes in a slew of fun mix-and-match colors, and keeps your bits secure when you're running around the beach.

Bellroy Market Tote Plus ($49)

Great for beach days or market days, this everyday tote is made from 100% recycled plastic water bottles and is leather-free. It folds flat or stands upright and has two internal pockets for small essentials.

Caminito Luna Upcycled Blanket ($92)

Designed in San Francisco and handwoven in Mexico, this picnic/beach blanket is made with upcycled yarn and rolls up with handmade vegetable-tanned leather straps. Take your pick of colorful, modern prints.

Billie Super Salve ($9)

Watercolor your lips with this moisturizing lip shine made with shea butter, sunflower oil (packed with omega-9 fatty acids), avocado oil, vitamin e, and vegan (bee-free) candelillia wax.

Village Thrive Stripes Rattan Clutch Bag ($39)

Handmade in Bali from palm leaves, this summery yet sophisticated clutch will take you through wedding season in style.

Mejuri Jewelry ($78+)

This jewelry brand offers summer bling made from responsibly sourced and recycled gold, ethically sourced metals and stones, fair labor, and gives back to BIPOC & nonbinary communities. For this collection, stack the following:

Dôen FARLEY TOP ($168)

This soft, lightweight organic cotton top is your summer-into-fall staple. Wear it loose or tucked in jeans.

Klean Kanteen Insulated Water Bottle with Twist Cap ($33)

Keep yourself hydrated and plastic-free this summer with this insulated water bottle that stays 38 hours hot/135 hours cold. Klean Kanteen manufactures 95% of its products from certified 90% post-consumer recycled stainless steel, reducing the company's greenhouse gas emissions from steel by about 50%.

Iris&Romeo Best Skin Days SPF 30 ($48)

Pack light this summer with this clean beauty product that is makeup, skincare, and SPF 30 all-in-one. The result? A glowy hydrated look that keeps you protected from the summer sun's rays.

Follow us on Pinterest and subscribe to our email newsletter for more summer style inspiration!

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

Header image via LØCI

Kate Winslet is THE Hollywood actress to me. Not only has she starred in box office smashes like Titanic and Avatar: Way of Water, but she's proven her acting chops in breakout indie flicks and provided mothers and daughters everywhere with eternal Christmas movie nights thanks to The Holiday. But the actress' consistently viral kindness, her dedication to embracing her natural beauty, and her sophistication don't mean she always feels confident. Kate Winslet just spilled on the one movie from her career that had her "sh—ing" herself, and I just had to dive in.

Here's what Kate Winslet had to say about her scariest movie experience ever.

  • Kate Winslet made a name for herself with Titanic, Sense & Sensibility, and The Holiday.
  • However those movies aren't the film she wants fans to ask about!
  • The actress spills on the movies she's proud of, and the one job that had her "sh—ing myself."

Talking to Vanity Fair for her newest film Lee, Kate Winslet revealed one project she wishes fans asked about more is Iris. The 2001 film stars Kate as a young Iris Murdoch against Judi Dench's older counterpart. And for Kate, nothing was more terrifying than working with such a wonderful actress.

"People don’t really ask me about Iris. It’s such a delicate film," she says. "It was the first thing I had done after having my daughter. Going to work with a baby, I’m playing Iris Murdoch, looking to Judi Dench’s older Iris Murdoch — I was sh—ting myself."

Considering how nervous I get when I meet my heroes, I can only imagine what it was like to meet Dame Judi Dench. Talk about a dream! Another film Kate loves is Revolutionary Road, and not just because she got to reunite with Leonardo DiCaprio.

"The thing that people say is, 'You got to work with Leo again.' Then they go off on the whole Leo tangent, which I totally understand," she says of the film, which follows an ambitious couple who find themselves trapped in the reality of 1950s suburbia. "But Revolutionary Road — f—king hell, it just knocked us all sideways. Unbelievably difficult material. I was very proud of that film and what Leo and I were able to create as Frank and April. It was so brutal."

The process for getting Lee into the world sounds equally brutal, considering Kate started working on it over a decade ago. As producer, Kate tells Vanity Fair she doesn't mind the fact she's done more for the film than if she only had an acting credit. "That has felt very necessary for this film. But it’s also just really important to me," she says. "It’s important to me that people know that it’s out there and might feel compelled to go and see it."

Because it turns out, commercial success or stardom on its own doesn't actually help your movie get made! "It doesn’t matter who you are," she says. "No one’s going to go, 'Oh, I’ll just back that pony because she was in Titanic.' It doesn’t happen that way, and I never expected that. That’s really important to say."

"I've gotten older and I’ve learned more and felt more confident in myself about whether or not I could actually do it," she adds. "It’s not something I would’ve done had I not felt so passionately about the subject, and Lee was just—she wouldn’t let me go."

Let us know your favorite Kate Winslet movies in the comments, and since we've officially entered cozy season, check out Why The Holiday Movie Ending Is The Most Important Scene while you're at it!

Marvel movies are known for their heroes and their hopeful outlook on the world. But in 2025, we're getting a brand new team: the Thunderbolts. This team is made up of antiheroes and former villains, and it's sure to be the wackiest and strangest, as well as one of the most memorable, superhero movies we've seen in recent years.

Keep reading for the latest news on Thunderbolts* before it hits theaters in 2025.

Marvel Studios/YouTube

Thunderbolts* comes out this May, and the cast just showed off some brand new footage at the D23 convention — and thanks to the new 'Celebrating 85 Years' spot, we have the first look too!

We get a look at Bucky Barnes, The Red Guardian, John Walker, and Ghost. Plus, Yelena Belova, of course. This heartbreaking detail about Yelena's new look connects Florence Pugh's Yelena to Scarlett Johansson's Natashaand I'm WEEPING.

Marvel Studios/Walt Disney Studios

And at D23 Brazil, we got a brand new look at my new favorite team. "There’s something in this film, in terms of superpowers and superheroes, that shows that our superpowers lie in how ‘broken’ we are," David Harbour said at the event. "As if our superpowers came from our relationships.”

What is the plot of Thunderbolts?

Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images for Disney

Thunderbolts* Plot

Consider Thunderbolts* to be The Avengers' edgy younger sibling. The movie follows Yelena Belova (who we know off the bat is a "depressed assassin" thanks to a Marvel Studios press release). She's joined by Bucky Barnes, The Red Guardian, and John Walker. Based on a leak, it looks like we'll see this group of misfits team up against Valentina Allegra de Fontaine after she sends them on a deadly mission.

Thunderbolts* Release Date

Jesse Grant/Disney

Thunderbolts* Release Date

Thunderbolts* hits theaters May 2, 2025.

Who's on the Thunderbolts team?

Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images for Disney

Thunderbolts* Cast

Thunderbolts* stars Florence Pugh, Geraldine Viswanathan, Lewis Pullman, Hannah John-Kamen, Wyatt Russell, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Sebastian Stan, and David Harbour.

This is a huge cast, and Viswanathan just revealed how crazy the first day of filming was. “My first day didn’t feel real," she tells Vanity Fair. "I felt this extra pressure of, ‘Know your lines, babe. You can’t really play around like you usually do.’"

Historically, sci-fi fans haven't been kind to actresses in their favorite projects (remember when Star Wars fans bullied Kelly Marie Tran off social media?). But Viswanathan is already thinking ahead. “If it’s overwhelming, I’ll log off. But I like discourse around pop culture,” she says. “[Thunderbolts*] felt a little bit edgier and fresher, more existential and dark.”

Jesse Grant/Disney

The rest of the cast also enjoyed working together. “Everyone is going to f—kin’ love me! It’s really, really, really fun to be with a group of actors that you have a good time with," Wyatt Russell says at Comic Con (via Variety), while David Harbour adds, “Florence Pugh [is] just electric to work with. There’s warmth and humor, but there’s also a lot of pathos.”

“This is why we can't stop laughing together, because we genuinely just had such a wonderful time with each other and we've loved working with one another," Pugh tells People. “I feel like this is something that we've never seen before from Marvel...it's a very open and honest and truthful idea. And I'm just really excited for people to watch it.”

Are you excited for this brand new chapter in the MCU? I really feel like Thunderbolts* will usher in a whole new generation of fans and I, for one, CANNOT WAIT! Let us know your thoughts on Facebook.

Lead images via Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images for Disney

This post has been updated.