The Art of Building the Ultimate Blanket Fort

Lindsay Saito
Nov 30, 2016

I don’t know about you, but on Christmas Eve I was always WAY too excited to go to sleep in anticipation of Santa’s arrival and the festivities that would ensue the next morning. (Oh hi! Lindsay here, Brit + Co’s Creative Content Producer.) It was such an imaginative time filled with wonderment. I love the magic of the holiday season, from decking the halls to Christmas carols. Which is why I’m SUPER excited to team up with IKEA® to make the most EPIC adult fort of all time. Together, we’re bringing back the spirit of Christmas to take a break from #adulting and bring out those kids at heart. Read on to see what 12 items you absolutely need for the ultimate holiday fort.

From seasonal swag to pillows, blankets and twinkly LED lights galore, the IKEA® 2016 Holiday Celebrating Guide is FILLED with all of your fort needs. Not sure where to start? Don’t you worry! I got you covered on what you need to create the most magical fort of your dreams. After all, it is my FORT-é. ;)

It’s All About the Decor

First off, to get into the Christmas spirit, you’ll want to make sure you have your decor on lockdown. IKEA®’s holiday decor game is strong this year with their VINTER 2016 line. (It’s so amazing that B+C couldn’t help but notice its launch.)

1. Tiny Christmas Tree

Who needs a full-sized tree when you can make it a mini!? This little white tree is perfect for a fort. IKEA® even has little ornaments that are too cute, like this Santa Claus set. Plus, you can still fit your presents underneath and leave enough space for other fun, fort-worthy activities.

2. Faux Fire Basket

Make a cool faux fire basket to help bring some warmth into your fort without having to worry about any fire hazards.

Materials:

First, collect your materials. If that doesn’t look like wintertime in a photo, I don’t know what does.

Wrap the VINTER 2016 tape (we chose red with white snowflakes) around the basket. You can space the tape to your liking and add as many strips as you want. We opted to keep it simple and added the trim in three spots toward the top.

Time to add your holiday *flavor!* Start by arranging the birch logs — these will serve as the foundation of your faux fire basket. Next, fill in the open spaces with a green garland. (We stocked up on the SMYCKA spruce garland for this foxy faux fire.) Finish it off by adding your remaining filling. We used artificial holly branches and pine cones. The best part about using fake plants is that they’ll be looking fresh all season long.

Lastly, wrap holiday lights around the logs, like this KILOMETER light chain. Be sure to thread the end of the cord through the back of the basket so you can easily plug it into a socket. When you add the light chain, you’ll want to leave a little extra for the garlands in the front. The loose weaving on the basket allows the lights to shine through for a very dreamy effect.

All you need to do is to find a good spot for some nice wood *fire* ambiance and plug in the lights.

Look at that beautiful glow! Now that’s a basket of joy.

3. Seasonal “Walls”

Sure, you could use old sheets or find things you have laying around your house to make the structure of your fort, but if you’re really going all out, invest in some legit curtains. IKEA® makes that possible by being so affordable, and that extra touch goes a long way. These VINTER 2016 curtains are slightly opaque, making the fort feel extra dreamy.

Make It Cozy

Where to begin! There are so many ways to get your fort comfy and “max chill” ready.

4. Pillows and Blankets

Seriously though, I’m pretty sure it can’t be considered a proper indoor fort without a MILLION blankets, pillows and anything and everything soft, squishy and warm.

5. Slippers

Keep them toes warm with a pair of super cute and comfy slippers, like these VINTER 2016 slippers.

6. Stuffed Animals

You’re never too old for your favorite stuffed animal. PLUS, comfort is also about company, so make sure you bring a friend or two to hang out with.

Get Lit With Some Serious Mood Lighting

It’s all about the winter vibes in your fort, and what better way to make that happen than with some magical lighting?

7. Hanging Star Lights

These beautiful STRÅLA pendant lamp shades are the perfect thing to look up to while reading, taking naps or simply daydreaming in your fort. The design details of these shades are seriously stunning.

8. Merry and Bright Holiday Sign

Make your own illuminated sign to add some season’s greetings to your fort. It’s just the thing to bring some additional merriment to an already bright place.

Materials:

First, get your goods together. It’s so much easier to have everything you need all in one place before you start.

Cover the canvas with silver paint. Be sure to paint the edges as well, and let dry.

Time to make the wreath! This part takes a little patience while each layer of paint dries, but it’s a perfect activity to do while catching up on your favorite show. Create stencils out of the leaf cutout template (using cardstock will help these last longer). Make sure you leave plenty of room around each leaf to prevent additional, unwanted paint on your canvas. Using a different shade of green for each leaf stencil, create a loose circle on your canvas.

DIY Pro Tip: Let one layer dry before moving to the next AND have a moist paper towel on hand to wipe off any excess paint that may have gotten on the bottom of the stencil.

Using your red paint pen, add little holly berries throughout your wreath.

Write out your holiday message in the center of your wreath. You can always start with pencil if you don’t want to commit right away. Make the type really pop by thickening your letters. OR add another skill to your repertoire with our calligraphy or fauxligraphy e-classes and make your sign really stand out.

Lastly, install your lights. There are 48 lights on the KILOMETER light chain, so use your utility knife to make small holes where you want your lights to go. Then, turn your canvas over and make an X with the knife, using the small holes as a guide. Punch the tip of your light through the X. On the backside of the canvas, wrap each bulb with a small piece of painter’s tape. This will help keep the lights in place.

Turn it over and take a look at what you made! This holiday sign is most definitely merry and bright.

Plug it in and hang it in your fort for some seasonal cheer. Now that you’ve seen what we can do with LED lights, show IKEA® what you can do! You could win a $100 gift card. Take a photo of your most creative holiday LED creation and share it with IKEA® by tagging @ikeausa and using #MyHoliDIY. Time to get workin’! Get the full contest details at MyholiDIY.com.

9. Accent Lighting

Supplement your bolder lighting statements with some more subtle tones. LED tea lights are just what you need to achieve this.

Set Up a Utility Station of FUN

Of course, you’ll want to hang out in your fort like all the time, so why not make things easy and accessible for you. IKEA®’s RÅSKOG utility cart is a great go-to piece for organizing and storing all of your holiday needs. Plus, it looks even MORE amazing now that I decked it out with some extra trim! The only question is… what to fill it with?

10. Entertainment Station

Because, duh, you won’t want to be alone in this fort, so be sure to stock up on games and activities to do with your roomie, BFF or boo. The LATTJO toy line at IKEA® is off the chain. As an added bonus, they’re cutely designed and super colorful.

Also, don’t forget about the holiday jams! Bring in a set of portable speakers to listen to your favorite songs and some kiddie instruments to sing and play along. It never hurts to get a little silly when you’re hanging out with a bestie.

11. Craft Station

Stock your utility cart with paper, scissors and colorful pens so you can craft the days away. Get inspired in your fort to make more decorations or holiday cards for your loved ones.

12. Gift Wrapping Station

A gift wrapping station is pretty much a necessity in your fort. It’s the perfect place to reflect on all of the fun things you got for your friends and family.

Time to Toast

While you wait for Santa on Christmas Eve, why not enjoy some cider and cookies and toast to bringing back the magic and imagination of a holiday season celebrated right.

Cheers! Happy holidays to all and to all a good night!

How do you keep the Christmas magic alive? Share your photos of your LED DIY projects with us on Instagram by tagging @ikeausa and don’t forget to #MyHoliDIY (after all, you could win a $100 gift card from IKEA®). Get the full contest details at MyholiDIY.com.

DIY Production: Lindsay Saito

Styling: Lindsay Saito + Cassidy Miller

Photography: Chris Andre

Collaboration Hacks Every Small Business Owner Should Know

Verizon
verizon

In our Take 5 series, sponsored by Verizon, we ask women in business about unexpected challenges, their inspirations, recent wins, and how the free Verizon Small Business Digital Ready Program has helped propel their business forward. Here, we meet Therise Edwards, founder/CEO of Teshley Solutions, an education consultancy firm that helps students and families navigate the complexities of the education system K through 12.

What is an unexpected business challenge that you faced and how did you overcome it?

I wouldn't call myself a FAFSA (Free Application for Student Aid) expert, but I ended up having to know a lot more about it than I ever anticipated. FAFSA is what administers Pell Grants, which is what a lot of colleges base their financial aid on. I knew about the application changes, and some were excellent, but they made a series of critical errors and a lot of parents were scrambling. It was not my intent to have this as my area of focus; it just became a necessity.

What's a recent small win for your business?

Recent small wins are my collaborations. I formed partnerships with one organization that focuses on students with special needs. I hosted a webinar with the executive director of that organization. I formed a partnership with members from an insurance company on planning and paying for college. That was my first corporate sponsorship. And I've got a series of events coming out because others actually reached out to me. One of them I met through another networking platform, but I got to that platform from one of the sessions that I did with Verizon Small Business Digital Ready Program.

How did you start to collaborate with external partners?

Just changing my strategies and my approach, and just being more secure and more emphatic in making connections. It ends up being this continual cycle.

Is there a woman in business that you admire or that you look up to?

I have two. Leontyne Anglin, who runs a nonprofit called Beyond Expectations. She works with a small pool of students, but she just gives them enormous exposure and opportunity. She's brilliant with collaborating with individuals and businesses and really bringing the students what they need. And then the other on a bigger scale is Cate Luzio, founder and CEO of Luminary, who taught her Business Plan Bootcamp through the Verizon Small Business Digital Ready Program. She is just a dynamo. She is just so supportive of women entrepreneurs. She's awesome.

How did the Verizon Small Business Digital Ready Program help propel your business forward?

All of the collaborations and partnerships with the exception of one all came from joining the Verizon Small Business Digital Ready Program. I’ve taken all of the free classes and the one on projections and pricing, something every entrepreneur struggles with, was very helpful. There have been so many of them. Sometimes you're completely ignorant in a category so you take the class and it's like, okay, that's good to have. But then sometimes you sign up for it and it's like, oh, yeah, I did know 90 percent of that, but this other 10 percent is going to be very, very helpful.

Learn more about the free Verizon Small Business Digital Ready Program and Teshley Solutions.

Illustration by Daniela Jordan-Villaveces


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Hold Up, Did Rebecca Yarros' First 'Onxy Storm' Excerpt Just Tease Violet Sorrengail's True Identity?

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.

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How To Build A Local Community When You’re A Digital Creator

Verizon
verizon

In our Take 5 series, sponsored by Verizon, we ask women in business about unexpected challenges, their inspirations, recent wins, and how the free Verizon Small Business Digital Ready Program has helped propel their business forward. Here, we meet Rita Suzanne, a marketing strategist for health and wellness businesses who learned to network, connect with other entrepreneurs, and build her business online and IRL.

What's an unexpected business challenge that you've had to face and how did you overcome it?

The hardest thing for me was my sister passed away and I ended up taking custody of my nieces. I ended up being a single mom of four kids. This is the thing that transitioned my whole entire life. I stopped doing web design and started my podcast Mom Owned and Operated. I wanted to reconnect with other moms and figure out how they were able to run their businesses and raise a family and take care of themselves because I wasn't able to do all three at the same time. Through that journey, I realized that I really needed to connect with other people and how important it was for my business. It helped me to create that community that I was yearning for that I didn't realize that I needed.

What's a recent small win for your business?

For me, the win was just pivoting back to something that I actually wanted to do. Also, I’ve started to say no to things that I no longer want to do.

Who is a woman in business that you look up to and why?

I have always admired and looked up to Amy Porterfield [author of Two Weeks Notice]. I listened to her all the time when I was starting out. I think that she's amazing and I love her stuff. She just seems like a very genuine person.

Is there a resource that has made an impact on you as an entrepreneur?

I listen to a lot of audio books. One of my favorites that has been huge for me is You Are A Badass by Jen Sincero. I was told when I first started my business, by a friend who was a business coach, that I have a mindset problem. Ten years ago, I had no idea even what “mindset” was. Sincero’s book helped me to see what she meant by “mindset” and helped me adjust that mindset and fix some of the things that I didn't realize were broken.

How has the Verizon Small Business Digital Ready Program helped propel your business forward?

There are a lot of things that I have loved about it. There are local networking and training opportunities, and that has been great, and the online training is very valuable. It's a great resource. I find that marketing needs a three-tiered approach, meaning you need to network it locally, socially, and then also have a very comprehensive online approach to your marketing. One of the Verizon Small Business trainings that I took was all about taking advantage of your local resources. I found that to be extremely valuable because often people think they need to just focus on social media. I don't think that people focus enough on their local community.

Learn more about the free Verizon Small Business Digital Ready Program and Rita Suzanne.

Illustration by Daniela Jordan-Villaveces

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WHICH Movie Had Kate Winslet "Sh—ing" Herself?!

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!

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Here's A New Look At Florence Pugh's Return As Yelena Belova

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.

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