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“One of the amazing things we're excited about is the takeaway that we hope people get from this, which is showing pet parents that they can be an incredible positive force of change,” Somerhalder told me. With this initiative, the actor explained that Nutro intends to “help shepherd, fund, and educate the farmers within their network to start adapting healthy soil practices.”

The farmers market contained everything from a Willy Wonka factory standard of treats, to a build your own flower bouquet station, to a section where you can get your dog’s astrology read (I know, that’s so LA). Of course, there were also many dogs (of which I pet mostly all of them), and a beaming Ian Somerhalder who so graciously led the ribbon cutting. Of those dogs, was Somerhalder’s twelve-year-old pup named Nietzsche, who was as sweet as can be (and yes, I pet her as well). The actor noted that he found Nietzsche as a stray while filming The Vampire Diaries in Georgia, and took her in pretty instantaneously.

Speaking of The Vampire Diaries, I asked him how he felt about the recent 15th anniversary of the CW series airing on television, which was marked on September 10th.

“You know, it's so funny,” Somerhalder answered. “Obviously, it was a lifetime ago, but it feels like it was yesterday. And so, you know, obviously streaming changed the game. The show is one of the most viewed shows in history, period — that's been seen by over a billion people, which is 1/8 of the planet.” I later teased that myself, sisters, and friends were likely responsible for a big portion of those streams.

“[The Vampire Diaries] allowed me to build a platform,” Somerhalder continued. “To work on things that were very close to my heart, but at the global scale, and it's allowed me to help create, enact or build the road for a lot of change, and it's why I have this amazing partnership.”

The Absorption Company founder continued, noting that filming the show “was an unbelievable time,” and he “cannot believe” how much time has passed. Since then, Somerhalder has added environmental advocate (as a former UNEP Global Goodwill Ambassador and aid in the Netflix documentary, Common Ground) and entrepreneur (in both the wellness and alcohol space) to his long list of successful titles.

This is when he panned to the phone camera I had pointing at him. “So, everyone who's seen the show, watched the show, supported us — me — in any way, shape and form regarding the show — I thank you from the bottom of my heart, because you have been a part of this journey with me.” Somerhalder then thanked the media, partners, and all those who have contributed to promoting “the show to be one of the most viewed things that was ever created.” I can’t say I didn’t appreciate that journalist nod.

“So here's to 15 years,” he finished. That’s when we insinuated a fake ‘cheers,’ with Brother’s Bourbon filled in our hypothetical glasses, obviously.

Segwaying from the bourbon brand, I couldn’t miss the opportunity to ask Somerhalder about his longtime friendship withThe Vampire Diaries co-star and business partner, Paul Wesley. With the show falling deep into the supernatural, and their relationship often unserious over fun social media clips, I questioned how they kept it together on-screen without constant laughter.

“I mean, we had to be serious,” Somerhalder said. “But, you know, you're like running from ghosts and vampires and stuff, and then you just cut and someone makes a fart joke, and 130 people erupt in laughter.” Cue my own giggle. “There's only so much you can run for your life, we laugh. That's how we kept each other sane.” I believe it, I told him. The eight-season show carries storylines from mythical sirens to evil doppelgängers.

Somerhalder added, “Paul and I spent eight years on the show, and now we have another company, and now it's 15 years.” He paused, smiling, “It's my longest relationship.” We shared another laugh. That’s when I went back to petting Nietzsche, who, it turns out, is just as professional in front of the camera as Somerhalder is. I’d expect nothing less.

Watch Our Ian Somerhalder Interview On TikTok!

In December 2023, Biles rocked a custom puffer jacket with her husband’s (former Green Bay Packers safety Jonathan Owens) number on it, handmade and shipped by Juszcyzk herself. It’s still a pinch-me moment for the fashion designer. “I’m pretty sure Simone was the first person to ever wear any of my designs. I DM’ed her and was like, ‘Please, let me make you something!’” Juszczyk says in an exclusive interview with Brit + Co. “She is so incredible and so sweet, and she was so great in the process. She trusted me with a ton of creative freedom.”

Like her husband, San Francisco 49ers fullback Kyle Juszczyk, Kristin crushed the 2023 football season. Niners fans have been familiar with her style game for years, but when Taylor Swift sported a custom 87 jacket to Travis Kelce’s game on Jan. 13, Juszczyk’s fashion career skyrocketed into a brand new era.

Juszcyzk’s lifelong love of fashion first manifested itself in 2018. The budding designer founded an online clothing boutique called Origin, which sold everything from knitted sets to hoop earrings to studded jeans. (If 2018 were a brand, it’d be Origin.) “That was where I got my feet wet. I really enjoyed every second of it, but it got to a point where I felt like I lacked the ability to be creative,” Juszczyk reflects. The brand’s Instagram account and website went quiet in late 2021.

But just because Origin shut down doesn’t mean that Juszcyzk’s drive to design did. As she searched for her next venture, she started DIY-ing her own NFL merch to wear to her husband’s games. We’re not talking about screen-printed tees here. Juszcyzk’s rocked up to Levi’s Stadium in custom leather jackets, a jersey reworked into a cropped corset, and a red-hot blazer/skirt combo. Her unique designs caught Biles’s and Swift’s attention, as well as that of Brittany Mahomes, Taylor Lautner, and Olivia Culpo, just to name a few of Juszcyzk’s celebrity clients.

Every piece Juszcyzk designs is completely personalized to its owner. “I always take a look at the person’s Instagram and what they like to wear. I want to make sure I follow their vibe so that they feel confident in my design,” she reveals.

She also considers the weather the piece will be worn in — a lesson she learned the hard way. “When I made that puffer vest for Simone, I didn’t even put two and two together that it was gonna be 30 degrees and snowing. I should have put sleeves on it! I’m still learning,” she says. (Not that Simone minded. On the day of Super Bowl LVIII, the gold medalist tweeted, “I want the 49ers to win just because it’s Kristin Juszczyk’s birthday.”)

Juszcyzk is now an official licensee of the NFL, which means that she’s one step closer to working with her dream clients: the fans. She says, “One-off pieces are obviously not accessible to people, and making them is very time-consuming and labor-intensive. I want my designs to be more accessible to everybody, you know? There’s a huge demand for fresh designs, especially for girls, and I want the fans to have them.”

Before football starts back up in September, Kristin and Kyle have been making the most of the off-season at home with their adorable Samoyeds, Mozzarella and Pierogi. In between competing for Purina treats, Mozzie and Rogi are keeping their mom company as she gathers inspiration for her Fall ‘24 designs. She shares, “I’m so excited to show people some new silhouettes and also to push my boundaries and come up with something new every week.”

As for whether we’re going to see another Simone Biles and KJD collab soon? “Her husband’s on a different team now, so I’ll have to make her something new!” Juszczyk says.

Mummy Jalapeño Poppers

This savory Halloween snack can be made as spicy as your guests want it – just scoop a little or all of the jalapeño seeds out before stuffing these 'mummies' with cheese and wrapping them in store-bought crescent roll dough.

Deviled Egg Brains

Your party pals will definitely be freaked out by this bite! Red food coloring aids in turning traditional deviled egg filling a spooky pink color.

Sweet and Salty Healthier Caramel Apples

Made without any processed sugar, these caramel apples require just a few ingredients: apples, maple syrup, honey, cream, vanilla, chocolate, and flaky salt.

Halloween Popcorn Mix

This candy-coated bowl of popcorn loads up on festive accoutrements like candy corn, pumpkins, and Halloween sprinkles.

Halloween Puppy Chow

Add Halloween-themed sprinkles to some classic Chex mix for a spooky seasonal snack.

Monster Party Bark

Melt a few chocolate bars with some pretzels, candy eyes, and coconut flakes for a salty-sweet Halloween snack that will be ready in only three minutes.

Halloween Pretzel Bites

Just place small pieces of chocolate on top of pretzels, heat them long enough for the chocolate to soften, then lightly place a candy corn on top. Viola! Simple, tasty treats with a twist – and no tricks!

Chipotle Pumpkin Hummus

We don't know anyone who doesn't love hummus. This quick dip can be served with crackers or veggies for a healthy Halloween party snack.

Halloween Pumpkin Covered Strawberries

If you have some strawberries on-hand, this recipe is made even easier. Just grab some orange candy melts and decorate away!

Caramel-Dipped Marshmallows

Simply dip marshmallows in caramel, then cover them in some cute holiday sprinkles for an easy treat that everyone won't stop snacking on.

Banana Boo Pops

Put a festive touch on the classic frozen chocolate “boo-nana" by giving them a ghostly makeover. The only heavy lifting you'll have to do for this recipe is let them sit in the freezer for a bit.

Spiderweb Pretzels

Melt some chocolate, then swirl it over pretzel sticks for a spooky spiderweb-like snack. These could be served alone, or on a cake or ice cream.

Halloween Candy Bark

Whether you're using new or leftover Halloween candy, this bark recipe is super simple.

Apple Kabobs

Buy a package of pre-sliced apples, then dip them in chocolate and caramel for an easy alternative to a favorite Halloween pastime. Plus, they're just easier to eat!

Candy Corn Fruit Parfait

For a sweet treat that's still healthy, skip the candy corn and cut up some colorful fruit in its place.

Sweet and Salty Pumpkin Seeds

For flavors both sweet and salty, these pumpkin seeds can be made in a jiffy.

Strawberry Ghosts

Dip some strawberries in white chocolate, then give them chocolate chip eyes and a mouth for these cute and tasty snacks.

Tangerine Pumpkins

Peel a few tangerines and place a small piece of celery in the middle to make these tangerine pumpkins. Bonus: these can definitely double as the perfect kid's snack for school.

Witches' Brooms

To make these adorable 'brooms,' you'll push a pretzel in the end of a sliced string cheese stick.

Halloween Walnuts

These nutty little guys are the perfect snacking companion for the holiday.

Loaded Halloween Cream Cheese Brownies

These super soft and gooey brownies are the ultimate snack that'll melt in your mouth. They're perfect for anyone who has a sweet tooth and loves a combination of fudge, oreo cookies, and cream cheese. Plus, you'll taste a hint of vanilla extract in it that serves as a nice surprise!

Halloween Candy Bark

Looking for chill Halloween snacks to munch on throughout the day? Make this holiday candy bark that has all the makings of a trick-or-treat explosion. You'll need everything from bittersweet chocolate to your favorite Halloween candies for this fun recipe.

Halloween Popcorn Mix

Got a taste for something that involves trail mix and popcorn? This Halloween snack has your name written all over it! It takes less than an hour to perfect and involves popcorn, a little sugar, honey, salt, and more delicious ingredients! In our mind, it's the perfect sweet and salty treat you'll want to recreate every season!