12 Extraordinary Holiday Gift Toppers

Tired of topping off your perfectly wrapped present with a simple bow and boring gift tag? Us too. This year, we’re going for a more unique look that will stand out from under the tree. We’ve hunted down the most creative gift toppers, all of which are anything but ordinary — clothes pins, cookies and paper straws, oh my! Scroll on for a peek at some of our faves.

1. Clothespin Gift Toppers: How fun are these DIY clothespin toppers? Add a little glitter and a cute miniature tree or creature, and your present will be good to go. (via Creature Comforts)

2. Paper Toppers: Sometimes all it takes is a few extra sheets of scrapbook paper to make fun and unique gift toppers. Our personal fave? The mini tree, of course. (via The House That Lars Built)

3. Gingerbread Topper: Have your gift and eat it too. Well, maybe don’t actually eat your gift, but this gingerbread topper is totally edible. (via Eyes on the Details)

4. Paper Straws, Pom Poms and Honeycombs: This is the prettiest set of gifts we’ve ever seen. DIY these toppers using paper straws, yarn and a couple candy canes. Yep, it’s that easy. (via Country Living)

5. Gift Toppers That Pop: Want to learn how to make toppers that pop? Check out this video tutorial and you’ll become the ultimate gift wrapper in no time. (via Brit + Co)

6. Berry Gift Topper: Bring a touch of nature to your box using twigs and berries. Secure with hemp for an extra-natural look. (via Rue Rococo)

7. Glitter Letters and Polka Dots: For the girly girl in your life, add a glitter initial to the top of an already adorable package. Want to know a secret? Those polka dots were DIYed with wine corks. (via La Crema)

8. Paper Snowflakes: Remember when you learned how to make paper snowflakes in elementary school? Well it’s time to refresh your skillz, because they make the perfect finishing touch to your present. (via Giochi di Carta)

9. Pom Pom Toppers: You don’t always have to use traditional holiday colors to wrap a present. Go for a pastel style using mint and light pink pom poms. (via Style Stek)

10. Clay Tags: We’re loving the chic vibe of the gold wrapping paper with contrasting greenery. DIY clay gift tags to add a personalized touch. (via Vitamini Handmade)

11. Shrinky Dink Gift Tags: LOL. How fun are these gift tags? We’re pretty sure no one will pick up the wrong present when it has their face on it. (via And We Play)

12. Bon Bons and Fresh Greenery: Use an assortment of fresh-colored ribbons and stems to wrap presents as epic as these. We obviously have a sweet spot for the bon bon one. (via Oh Happy Day)

What’s your favorite unique way to top off your perfectly wrapped present? Let us know in the comments below.

When thinking about the holidays, a few things come to mind — decorating, gifts, family and indulgence. Sure, there is slow roasted poultry and ham, buckets of mac and cheese (or at least, we hope you have buckets of mac and cheese) and finally, holiday cookies. If you're guilty of under-appreciating these delicious and intricate delicacies, for that you owe the following 30 recipes an apology. Because here is the best list of holiday cookies ever. Bake them for your next holiday fete, wrap them as gifts, or just toss them in the cookie jar for yourself!

Easy Christmas Sugar Cookies

If there’s one recipe you 100 percent need to crank out some seriously festive Christmas dessert ideas, it’s the classic, basic sugar cookie. This vanilla-bean-speckled version sure holds its own under all that royal icing. (via Brit + Co)

Brown Sugar Maple Sugar Cookies

These chewy Brown Sugar Maple Ginger Cookies are a cross between a really great ginger cookie and a delicious chocolate chip cookie, made with dark brown sugar, rich molasses, ginger, and the real secret…chocolate chips! (via Half Baked Harvest)

Hot Chocolate Cookies

You're going to want a glass of milk with these gooey hot chocolate cookies, complete with big marshmallows and chunks of melted dark chocolate. (via Averie Cooks)

White Chocolate Cranberry Cookie

These chewy White Chocolate Cranberry Cookies are loaded with flavor, and they're so easy to make. Betcha can't eat just one! (via Hello Little Home)

Cannoli Cookies

We say take the cannoli...these delicious bites are packed with Italian classic cannoli flavors with a soft, fluffy texture. Have for breakfast or dessert! (via Kathryn's Kitchen)

Pecan Sandies Cookies

Made with buttery, crumbly shortbread cookie dough, warm spices, and holiday-perfect pecans, these cookies make the best edible gifts! (via Pink Owl Kitchen)

Dark Chocolate Shortbread Cookies

The secret to these dark chocolate shortbread cookies? Two words: Cacao nibs. They’re like brownies but make it shortbread! This recipe is vegetarian and easily vegan too! (via Vanilla and Bean)

Chocolate Kiss Cookies

From the cookbook, Sally’s Cookie Addiction, these classic cookies are fun to make with kids and are the perfect holiday treat to leave for Santa! (via Two Peas & Their Pod)

Pumpkin Pie Cookie

This flavorful pumpkin pie cookies recipe by Chahinez of Lifestyle of a Foodie is totally share-worthy and is sure to pump up the party with pumpkin pie goodness. (via Brit + Co)

Melting Moments Cookies

These buttery eggless treats have a soft and crumbly texture that melts in your mouth, hence the name! (via Give Recipe)

Peppermint Sparkle Sugar Cookies

Make your sugar cookies sparkle with crushed peppermint and white sugar! Just one bowl needed! (via Bowl of Delicious)

Lemon Crinkle Cookies

Roll these lemony treats in powdered sugar before baking to get this delightful texture. (via A Spicy Perspective)

Taylor Swift Chai Cookies

Think Santa is a Swiftie? We followed Taylor Swift’s chai cookie recipe and were starstruck by how painless they were to make! Read on as B+C editor Meredith Holser tackles the ultimate Swiftie cookie recipe. (via Brit + Co)

Hojicha Gingerbread Cookies

The hojicha (Japanese green tea) brings out a nutty flavor in these soft and chewy gingerbread cookies – the perfect canvases for holiday decorating! (via Takes Two Eggs)

Snowman Macarons With Eggnog Buttercream

How cute are these snowman macarons? Filled with eggnog buttercream and decorated with royal icing, they will be the star of your cookie party! (via Barley & Sage)

Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies

You can never go wrong with a classic chocolate chip cookie, add a dash of cinnamon to make them extra seasonal and delicious! (via Cozy Cravings)

Linzer Cookies

Crisp, buttery almond-scented cookies with a sweet raspberry filling say holidays without saying a word. (via Culinary Hill)

Peppermint Chocolate Brownie Cookies

Get all your holiday flavors in with this one cookie: peppermint, brownie and chocolate cookies. Say no more! (via Salt & Lavender)

Spritz Cookies

We might as well start with something healthy-ish and delicious (‘tis the season). With no egg and a whole wheat dough, these light and delicious lovelies just might shock you. (via Food Faith Fitness)

White Chocolate Covered Gingerbread Oreos

A great DIY hack. These tasty treats take no time at all and are great for a holiday party or to be wrapped up as little party favors. (via Pies and Plots)

Fennel and Rosemary Cookies

Every once in awhile a more savory dessert is what will hit the spot, and these will not disappoint. (via Local Milk)

Eggnog Cookies

If you don’t usually love eggnog, give this recipe a try before you write it off completely. (via Half Full)

Peppermint Macarons

Class it up with this fun twist on the French macaron, great for parties or just a lovely family dinner. (via Studio DIY)

Gingerbread Dreidles

We don’t usually associate dreidels with eating, but when we do, we do it with gingerbread batter. (via Could Be Parve)

Gluten-Free Rugelach With Cranberry Port Jam, Chocolate and Walnuts

The perfect way to keep rugelach relevant for all the holidays (via The Bojon Gourmet)

Italian Anisette Cookies

Usually these cookies have a strong licorice flavor, but this adaptations makes them a bit sweeter and lighter with vanilla and lemon. (via Cooking and Beer)

Cherry Chocolate Cookies

Otherwise known as “Rudolphs,” these chocolaty treats have it all — color, holiday flavor and chocolate. What more could you want? (via Eat in Eat Out)

Christmas Sugar Cookies

You can’t have a holiday cookie list without a sugar cookie, and these are some of the most beautiful we’ve seen. Get creative and have fun. (via Pastry Affair)

Shortbread Surprise

Talk about a surprise in the middle. These flaky cookies have an entire Hershey’s Kiss in the center. Sub in a Rolo if you want more of a caramel flavor. (via Baked in Arizona)

Cookie Christmas Trees

Take cookies and turn them into festive trees for the holidays — adorable, delicious, and super fun. (via Brit + Co)

Get more holiday recipe ideas on our Food page and be sure to sign up for our weekend scroll for more inspiration!

Lead image via Vanilla and Bean

It’s time to sound the alarms because Gladiator 2 will be hitting theaters right before Thanksgiving, and it’s the true Roman Empire we’ve been waiting for! We saw Russell Crowe’s character Maximus boldly reclaim his legacy in the first Gladiator, but the sequel will follow another character’s storyline. It’s one of our most-anticipated 2024 movies and we can’t wait to dish about all the important details you need to know!

Get your popcorn and one of our delicious cocktail recipes ready because you’re in for a real treat!

Watch The New 'Gladiator 2' Trailer Now

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- YouTube

Pedro Pascal, Joseph Quinn, Denzel Washington, and Paul Mescal are absolute electricity together! And the use of "No Church in the Wild" by Jay-Z and Ye? My jaw literally dropped.

The only question I have is can these three powerhouses form an alliance that'll change the future in Gladiator 2? No matter the outcome, there's sure to be sizzling action...and bodies. And by sizzling, I really mean it. Paul just revealed in an interview with EW that his arena scene, which will feature a CGI rhino, was so hot, he was "borderline throwing up."

"We shot that for about two or three days, but the heat was just….My Irish blood does not function with Ridley's shooting schedule, which is like sun up to sun down, hottest parts of the day," he says. "It was brutal, the fight. I grew up playing sports, so I would consider myself pretty robust and happy to throw myself around, but it was just the [arena] itself became like a radiator. I was borderline throwing up, irritable, just hardcore. Between takes I was firing ice straight down my back."

Pedro Pascal also recalled a few memorable moments from shooting the film, and my personal favorite was what sounds like the greatest blooper of all time. "I was running off the drawbridge, and they kind of dressed it with some dust so that when it slams against the fortified wall, there's a big puff of smoke, of dust," he says. "And I'm charging off the drawbridge and jumping over the wall, and I slip,. I literally bounce off the drawbridge on my —ss and land splat in front of Paul's feet on the first take." And in true Pedro fashion, he followed up with, "Are you not entertained?"

"There was a moment when we were rehearsing my fight scene with Pedro, and I had an idea towards the end of the scene to kiss Pedro on the forehead," Paul adds, referencing a cut scene. "I was like, 'Ridley: Kiss on the forehead, did you like it? Yay or nay?' There was radio silence for a second. His radio crackles back, and [Ridley] goes, 'I'm afraid I did.'"

Your First Look At Paul Mescal In 'Gladiator 2'

Paramount Pictures

The first look at Paul Mescal's character Lucius features our new lead ready for battle. All I have to say is wherever Paul leads, I follow.

What is the plot for Gladiator 2?

Paramount Pictures

Gladiator 2 Plot

Keeping true to the characters the first film introduced, Gladiator 2 will focus on Paul Mescal's Lucius. He's a gladiator who's been exiled to fight — similar to Maxmius' fate — and hasn't seen his mother Lucila in over a decade.USA Todayalso reports there'll be a nod to Maximus as young Lucius has great respect for the legacy he left behind.

When is Gladiator 2 coming out?

Paramount Pictures

Gladiator 2 Release Date

Gladiator 2 will premiere in theaters November 22, 2024. Check out the rest of this year's fall movies to see what else is coming this year.

Who will play Lucius in Gladiator 2?

Paramount Pictures

Paul Mescal plays Lucius in Gladiator 2.

Who else is in the Gladiator 2 cast?

Paramount Pictures

Gladiator 2 Cast

The Gladiator 2 cast also features Connie Nielsen as Lucilla, Lucius' mother, Fred Hechinger (from The White Lotus) as Co-Emperor Caracalla, Joseph Quinn (from Stranger Things Season 4) as Co-Emperor Geta, Pedro Pascal (from The Last of Us) as General Marcus Acacius, and Denzel Washington as the wealthy and powerful Macrinus, who oversees the gladiators.

Who's directing Gladiator 2 and can we expect a lot of action?

Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images

We're happy to share that director Ridley Scott will once again make the script of Gladiator 2 come alive for viewers. Aside from directing the first film, this is the same genius who gave us other cult classics like the Alien franchise, Blade Runner, Thelma & Louise, Hannibal, and so much more!

Given Ridley Scott's proven film record — and the new trailer — we'll definitely see some action! Variety reports he said, “It is possibly even more extraordinary than the first...well worth the wait.”

He also hinted that he has Gladiator 3 on his mind. "There’s already an idea," he said and even referenced The Godfather II as prime inspiration for it (via The Hollywood Reporter).

Are you excited to see Gladiator 2? Follow us on Facebook for more entertainment news!

This post has been updated.

We love our holiday staples but sometimes we like to mix it up with someone new, whether it's a new appetizer to try (love this baked brie recipe), a new side dish, or even a new dessert or holiday cocktail. Conversations around the holiday table can't help but center on the food, and when you can drop a celeb name to the dish the conversation takes a juicy turn. This year, our holiday dinner goes to Hollywood for celebrity takes on holiday desserts, dishes and drinks. Make them now and well into winter. Who knows, they may become your family favorites too. Now scene!

SOMETHING SWEET

Taylor Swift Chai Cookies

Taylor Swift adapted this cookie recipe from Joy the Baker and our editor Meredith Holser gave them a go in her kitchen. She was starstruck by how easy they were to make!

Dolly Parton's Walnut Pie

  • 1 fold-out pie crust (thawed)
  • 3 eggs
  • 3/4 cup of sugar
  • 3/4 cup of light corn syrup
  • 1 1/2 cups of finely chopped walnuts
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • 1 Tbsp butter, melted
  • 2 tsp vanilla extract
  • whipped cream
Directions:
  1. Preheat over to 400 degrees. Roll out the crust and line a 9-inch pie plate with it.
  2. Beat eggs in a large bowl with hand mixer. Gradually add the sugar, corn syrup, vanilla, and salt. Continue mixing until combined. Add the melted butter and beat until thoroughly incorporated.
  3. Pour the egg mixture into the pie shell. Add the walnuts, spreading them evenly within the mixture. Bake for 10 minutes.
  4. Reduce the heat to 300 degrees and bake 45 minutes more. Place a collar of foil around the edge of the crust after 30 minutes.
  5. Serve with a Dolly-up of whipped cream.

Kristen Bell's Everything Cookies

For your next cookie party serve up the Bell's favorite Everything Cookie (oats, butterscotch and chocolate, oh my!). Get points for gluten-free too! (from Today)

Carly Pearce's Pumpkin Pie

The country music singer, based in Nashville, shared her mom's pumpkin pie recipe with us and we are all over it.

Dough:

  • 1 1/4 cups all purpose flour
  • 2 teaspoons sugar
  • 1/8 teaspoon salt
  • 1 stick of butter
  • 1 large egg, lightly beaten

Filling:

  • 2 cups of unsweetened pure pumpkin puree
  • 1 cup evaporated milk
  • 3/4 cup packed light brown sugar
  • 3 eggs, lightly beaten
  • 1 1/4 cups half-and-half
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
  • 1/3 teaspoon of ground cloves (we like to add an extra pinch!)
  • 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground nutmeg
Instructions:
  1. For the dough, mix together flour, sugar and salt evenly in a bowl
  2. Lightly beat in butter and egg
  3. Cover the dough in plastic and let chill in refrigerator for 2 hours
  4. Once chilled, sprinkle flour on a flat surface and roll out dough, then roll dough onto pie pan. Leave about half an inch extra around the edge and fold underneath the edge of the crust.
  5. Pinch edges of pie with your fingers, then freeze the shell for 30 minutes.
  6. Add parchment paper over the pie shell and fill with pie weights (this can be dried beans or even sugar)
  7. To prep the dough for the filling, bake on a baking sheet for 30 minutes on 375 degrees, or until pie shell is golden brown
  8. Take the crust out of the oven and remove the weights, then let the crust cool.
  9. Set oven temp to 350 degrees
  10. For the filling, mix the pumpkin puree, evaporated milk, half-and-half, light brown sugar and spices and eggs into a bowl. Whisk until smooth.
  11. Pour mix into pie crust, bake at 350 degrees for 50-60 minutes.
  12. Remove from oven, let pie cool for 30 minutes

Sarah Michelle Gellar's Gingerbread Cookies

The Buffy the Vampire Slayer alum makes this adorable Gingerbread family at home with her two little ones. (from Us)

Chrissy Teigen's Sweet Potato Streusel Pie

Buttery pecan topping? Yes, please! Thanks to Cravings by Chrissy Tiegen for the recipe.

Amy Grant's Fudge Sauce

The 6-time Grammy Award winner shared with us her mom Gloria's recipe for fudge sauce. Dip cookies, add to ice cream or drizzle on pie:

  • 4-5 unsweetened chocolate squares
  • 1 can sweetened condensed milk
  • 1 stick butter

In a double-boiler, melt Chocolate Squares and Sweetened Condensed Milk, then fill empty can with water. Add water, a little at a time, to the melted chocolate mixture. Allow it to cook down, and add more water and repeat. After about 20 minutes, remove from heat, add butter and beat until shiny.

Martha Stewart's Shortbread Cookie Wreaths

Slay your cookie party with these candied flowered cookies from the baking queen.

SOMETHING SAVORY

Whether you're heading out to a potluck or tasked with the whole meal (or a meal) these recipes will give you a head start on what to prepare. We've got breakfast, lunch and dinner served.

Blake Lively's Sausage And Brie Puff Pastry

Lively recreates one of her favorite personal recipes using locally sourced meats and ingredients with Elletra's Goodness. (via Vogue)

Jesse Tyler Ferguson's Roast Chicken with Lemon Pepper Rub

If you're over turkey and turkey leftovers, this flavorful roast chicken from the Modern Family star will mix up your holiday meal with lemon-y deliciousness.

Gwyneth Paltrow's Potato Apple Latkes with Smoked Salmon

We never met a fried potato we didn't like. This Hanukkah hit from GP makes a great holiday breakfast or side dish. (from Goop)

Joanna Gaines' Friendsgiving Casserole

This chicken casserole is the perfect one-pot meal to take to your holiday potluck or just whip up for a delicious winter meal for days. (from Magnolia)

Kylie Jenner's Famous Matzo Ball Soup

Warm up a winter holiday day with a bowl of matzo ball soup courtesy of the Kardashians star. She walks you through her recipe — the matzo balls can be made by following the instructions on the box.

SOMETHING SPIRITED

Get in the spirit of the holidays with hot and cold spirits! Enjoy a cocktail or two with the help of a few celeb friends and ring in the new year right. Cheers!

Jamie Chung's The Moet 75

A twist on one of our faves, the French 75, this official Golden Globes cocktail created by the The Misfits star has a kick of tequila. (from Haute Living)

Meghan Markle's The TIG Cozy Cocktail

The duchess calls this warm and cinnamon-y bourbon-based drink "the very best apres ski drink I can think of." Cue the roasting fire. (from The Mail)

Kourtney Kardashian's Pomegranate Champagne Punch

So easy and so tasty! Give this festive Champagne-based cocktail a swig to ring in the new year in style. (from In Style)

Cheers and happy holidays! Want more trending entertainment news? Follow us on Facebook for the best pop culture updates.

Lead image via Today.

Austin Butler as Elvis, Selena Gomez as Linda Rondstat, and now Timothée Chalamet as Bob Dylan — there will never be enough biopics for me! (The real question is when are we going to get a Taylor Swift movie?). When pictures from the set of the new Bob Dylan movie, A Complete Unknown, hit Twitter, I had to do a double take because Timothée Chalamet looks so much like the musician I couldn't believe my eyes! You can watch the A Complete Unknown trailer here.

Timothée is going to be joined by Met Gala queen Elle Fanning, as well as Top Gun superstar Monica Barbaro. Here's everything you need to know about the movie — and our favorite Bob Dylan songs to listen to while you wait for its release.

Monica Barbaro Sings Her Heart Out

twitter.com

We got a look at Monica Barbaro as singer-songwriter Joan Baez, who was one of the first major artists in the 1960s to record Bob Dylan's music!

I was super impressed to learn Timothée showed up and sang live for the film. "It was important for me to play and sing on set because it was in the spirit of the movie to do it live," he says in a video from People. "Many of the artists through American pop culture that had the balls to turn their back on what was expected of them, that moment started with Bob. His words are relevant; 'Times They are A Changing' ' is relevant, 'Blowin' in the Wind' is relevant."

Elle Fanning and Timothée Chalamet In "A Complete Unknown"

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Elle Fanning totally embodies the late '60s vibe in this fall outfit. The bold maroon blazer, the long straight hair, and the striped turtleneck — I love it all! Elle is starring this Bob Dylan movie as Sylvie Russo, a university student and artist Bob falls for in the '60s.

twitter.com

Thanks to some onset leaks, we also got a glimpse of the movie's version of The Freewheelin'! Elle Fanning and Timothée Chalamet look incredible as Sylvia Russo and Bob Dylan. I'm a sucker for any kind of recreation, so seeing this new version of the classic record cover is incredible!!

The First Pictures From Timothée Chalamet's Bob Dylan Movie

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Timothée Chalamet has totally transformed into Bob Dylan on the set of A Complete Unknown. And when I saw the pictures of Timothée carrying the guitar my jaw dropped!! He completely engrossed himself in Wonka and Dune 2 and I'm so excited to see him do the same for this Bob Dylan movie.

What is the movie about Bob Dylan called?

H. Thompson/Evening Standard/Hulton Archive/Amy Sussman/Getty Images

A Complete Unknown Plot

Timothée Chalamet's Bob Dylan movie is called A Complete Unknown. The movie filmed around New York City in the spring of 2024, and James Mangold is serving as director (you might recognize his name from Logan, Girl, Interrupted, and Walk the Line). The movie will cover the period during the 1960s when Bob Dylan shifted from folk to rock'n'roll, changing the face of pop culture (and culture in general, TBH), forever.

"When that movie finally comes out, people are going to be shocked because you're going to think you're hearing Bob Dylan sing," vocal coach Eric Vetro tells PEOPLE. "[Timothée Chalamet] just has this uncanny ability to not impersonate, but really breathe life into it. He's embodying Bob Dylan and what he was like at that age."

Who else is in A Complete Unknown with Timothée Chalamet?

Amy Sussman/Jon Kopaloff/Getty Images/Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for The Gotham Film & Media Institute

A Complete Unknown Cast

The A Complete Unknown cast is incredible! Alongside Timothée Chalamet as Bob Dylan, we'll see Top Gun: Maverick's Monica Barbaro as Joan Baez, Elle Fanning as Sylvie Russo, Edward Norton as Pete Seeger, Boyd Holbrook as Johnny Cash, and Nick Offerman as Alan Lomax.

When is the Bob Dylan movie coming out?

Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images

A Complete Unknown Release Date

A Complete Unknown will hit theaters on December 25, 2024. And since Timothée Chalamet has been seen in turtlenecks, hats, and jackets on set, this sounds like the perfect cozy movie to me!

I always need some brand new music to listen to once the weather gets chilly, and I will for sure be listening to anything Timothée records.

What song did Bob Dylan write for a movie?

Christopher Polk/Getty Images for VH1

Bob Dylan wrote "Things Have Changed" for the 2000 movie Wonder Boys, which starred Michael Douglas, Tobey Maguire, and Katie Holmes. This Bob Dylan song ended up winning the Academy Award for Best Original Songand the Golden Globe Award for Best Original Song!

"Knockin' On Heaven's Door," which is arguably the singer's most popular track, was released two months after the 1973 premiere of Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid as a part of the film's soundtrack.

What are some other Bob Dylan songs to listen to?

Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images

I totally agree that one of the best Bob Dylan songs is "Knockin' On Heaven's Door," but "Blowin' In The Wind" and "The Times They Are A-Changin'" are also great songs to listen to if you're a new Bob Dylan fan. So far, "The Times They Are A-Changin'" is my personal favorite song.

His style is the perfect blend of rock and folk that reminds me of summer picnics and walks in the woods. His sound also reportedly inspired Taylor Swift's Folklore!

What are you most excited to see in Timothée Chalamet's Bob Dylan movie A Complete Unknown? Check out our Facebook for more movie news!

This post has been updated.

Aside from Luke's coffee, the most iconic and consistent aspect of Gilmore Girls are Friday Night Dinners. Any GG fan knows the weekly dinner kicks off in the pilot, when Lorelai asks Emily and Richard to help pay for Rory's Chilton tuition. In addition to paying Rory's way through school, Emily also requests the weekly dinners be part of the deal (and while Lorelai assumes it's manipulation, I'm convinced Emily just wants to be in their lives!!).

But despite the fact the Friday Night Dinners are incredibly entertaining, I can't decide whether or not they're realistic for one reason: you're telling me Emily, Rory, and Lorelai had no Friday night plans for seven years straight?!

Warner Bros. Television

After a long week of work or school, Friday is always my night to relax and unwind. They're the night I crave time with friends, whether it be a movie night or going out to eat, or I just simply don't want to leave my apartment. TLDR; I've never had a standing commitment on Fridays. I have to admit I like the flexibility!

"Usually Fridays are for going out with friends and staying out late, and then Saturdays and Sundays are for the family," one Reddit user says of their own experience. "It [especially] rubbed me the wrong way because this may not be an issue with an older person, but Rory is 16 at the start of the show."

Warner Bros. Television

Rory might not have a packed social schedule, but I can't help but wonder if, after driving to Hartford every day for school, she'd rather just curl up on her couch with a book. But considering life in Stars Hollow is pretty chill, maybe it's nice to have some kind of weekly plan, and a change of scenery to boot.

Despite the time commitment, our favorite mother-daughter duo still has no problem maximizing their weekend. "The weirder part was that they had time for Friday night lingering social dinners in a different town and THEN went out on dates," another Reddit user jokes.

Overall, you might have to suspend your disbelief that Lorelai never had Friday night plans (or that she made double the plans — who has the energy?!) but it's one Gilmore Girls tradition we simply couldn't live without.

Warner Bros. Television

Even though Friday Night Dinners start off as an obligation, I firmly believe Lorelai ends up really enjoying them — and the fact they give her the chance to reconnect with her parents. I think she realizes she actually wants to be at the dinners (which is probably as surprising for her as it is for us), whether it be because she was finally replacing unhappy childhood memories with pleasant adult ones, or because she actually had fun going back-and-forth with Emily.

"Emily was the only person in Lorelai’s life who could keep up with her banter in a similar way. She may have channeled that in a different way, but Emily was just as witty as Lorelai," a third Reddit user says, while another agrees, "Oh, she definitely did. I think she always craved an intimate relationship and saw that her daughter could give her that [segue] into their lives."

And there's nothing that brings people closer together than sharing a meal. Pour me a glass of wine Lorelai!!

​Is there a Friday Night Dinner in every episode of Gilmore Girls?

Warner Bros. Television

Out of 153 Gilmore Girls episodes, there are 71 Friday Night Dinners. Meaning there's a dinner for about every two episodes.

​What episode is the chaotic Friday Night Dinner?

Warner Bros. Television

Given how chaotic Lorelai is (and Lorelai and Emily are together), I'm afraid you'll have to be more specific! But one especially chaotic Friday Night Dinner comes in season 6, episode 13, "Friday Night's Alright For Fighting." After Lorelai reveals Christopher is paying Rory's Yale tuition, she attempts to smooth things over by bringing Friday Night Dinners back. And as the title might suggest, things don't exactly go according to plan.

But if Luke, Christopher, or Trix is present for a Friday Night Dinner, you know it's going to be a memorable one.

Still thinking up a Halloween costume? DIY This Epic Gilmore Girls Group Costume for (Stars) Hallow-een!