Presenting the Brit + Co. Holiday Lights Contest – Enter Your House!

Christmas definitely ranks high on our list of favorite holidays. A few days off, Mariah Carey on repeat, fun times with family, and lots (and lots…and lots) of amazing food — who wouldn’t love such a holiday!? It also got us buzzing around in the office, brainstorming and creating tons of holiday themed goodies to spread the joy. Here’s a recap of a few faves just in case you missed them:

I have to say though, my favorite part of the holidays are the lights. My family (er, my dad in particular) has always been obsessive about our home’s Christmas light display. My dad now even uses a lighting technology called Light-O-Rama to decorate our house in computerized lights that automatically dance to music. (Digital DIY decor? Like father, like daughter, I guess.) Here’s a photo I was recently sent. You can’t tell from the photo, but it’s quite a scene — the lights are all blinking like crazy. You certainly can’t miss it as you drive down the street.

Now that you’ve seen my home, I want to see yours. Thus, we’re officially announcing the Brit + Co. Holiday Light Contest!

submit a photo of your own light display on our Facebook page

hello@brit.co. You can even link to it elsewhere on the web using the comments below. We will be featuring all of the coolest, most creative lights and will pick a few of our favorites as the winners.

Calvalcade of Lights – Canada

We can’t believe this is real life and not just a digitally altered photo. But, our Canadian staff member, Aaron, verified that the Cavalcade of lights is indeed this beautiful. (via Daniel Wei)

Champs-Élysées – France

We wouldn’t mind the rain if all rainy streets looked this beautiful. (via Stuck in Customs)

Callahan Christmas

“Christmas with a Capital C.” We would definitely agree. (via 26StreetLights)

34th Street – Baltimore

How often do you think these people reference the movie, Miracle on 34th Street? PS: Is that a crab? (via Kevin Moore)

Frisco, Texas

We’re loving the salute to Texas A&M cleverly added in the light display. (Even though I personally went to their rival school, UT. Hook Em!) (via Frisco Christmas)

Kobe Luminaire – Japan

Not only is this Luminaire mind blowing, it’s represents hope and unity to the people of Kobe. (via Ryuusenkaku)

Disney World

Of course, no spectacular light display round-up would be complete without Cinderella’s Castle at Disney! Just looking at it brings back fond memories of Main Street. (via Todd Hurley)

Home of Dominic Luberto – Boston

Can you believe this is the work of one man? Amazing! (via Paul Keleher)

Silver Dollar City – Missouri

This theme park in Branson, Missouri goes all out during Christmas. Watch out Disney World, looks like there’s some competition! (via All Things Branson)

Madrid

They’re literally spreading the love (and the lights) over in Espana. Love it! (via cmedrang)

Holdman Family – Utah

Not only is this lightscape beautiful, but it’s charitable. The Holdmans give any donations received to the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Rad. (via Holdman Christmas)

Dearing Dazzle  – Texas

Texas really loves their lights (makes me proud). Dearing Dazzle has lights synchronized their lights to 17 songs that run for about 45 minutes. It’s a whole show! (via Dearing Dazzle)

Santa Clarita – California

It seems like beautiful Christmas lights are also a clever way to market your radio station! We’ll be thinking of new ways to market Brit + Co. during our holiday light set-up next year… ;) (via Z1-1)

Hyatt Extreme Christmas – Florida

Nope, this isn’t lighting put on by the hotel. It’s by a husband and wife pair! The duo use 175,000 lights and have been decorating since 1990. (via Hyatt Extreme Christmas)

Downs Family Christmas – Oklahoma

Check out a beautiful lightscape and also drop off a donation for the local food bank. We love the unique pyramids guarding the house! Very mod-chic. (via Downs Family Christmas)

Seoul Plaza – Korea

We’re loving the intricate patterns and colors of this display. (via Carpe Feline)

Johnson City – Texas

If old Southern plantations had Christmas lights, we imagine it would look like this. (via New York Panorama)

Oxford Street – London

Shopping AND epic lights in one spot? It really doesn’t get better. (via LondonTown)

Alex Goodhind – England

One man. One amazing house. Warning: it’s kind of trippy. (via Daily Mail UK)

Dyker Heights – New York

What’s great about Dyker Heights is that it’s not just one house — the whole community decorates their houses to celebrate the holidays. Now that’s teamwork! (via Bridge and Tunnel Club)

Gangnam Style – Australia

Of course, we had to include this house that lights up to the smash hit by Psy. That man is everywhere! PS: Love the modern and simplistic design going on here. And the winking face, of course. Click the link to see the full video. No really, click it. You won’t regret it. (via Vimeo)

Midtown Tokyo – Japan

We’re definitely wondering how many bulbs it took to make this sea of lights! What a crazy electricity bill they must have. (via Hungeree)

Gardner Christmas Display – North Dakota

Blue and white lights make a very ethereal scene, especially against the white snow. Gorgeous. (via Gardner Christmas Light Display)

Hillside Playground Association – Pennsylvania

Every town needs a lighted playground for the kids. Seriously, my 7-year-old self would never have wanted to leave. Oh heck, my 27-year-old self wouldn’t either. Brilliant. (via Hillside Playground Association)

Ljubljana’s Old City – Slovenia

This reminds us of the hotels in Vegas, but waaaaaaay better. (via Sina)

 Ditto – Australia

Now that is what we call a hack. Well done sir, well done. (via Daily Mail UK)

It may be summer, but we can't help missing the most wonderful time of the year right now — Christmas! The holidays are our favorite time to get together with friends and family, indulge in our favorite treats, and make our space shine for the season. While we can't speed up time, we can bring you a little holiday joy this July! We teamed up with Balsam Hill, Saint Jane Beauty, Surgarfina, Solawave, Cariloha, Kencko, Minkycouture, Better Homes and Gardens, Purewow, and Note To Self for the Jolly All July Giveaway!

Sign up now for our super fun sweepstakes for the chance to win almost $4,000 in prizes, from holiday home decor to skincare favorites!

The giveaway ends on July 31, so be sure to enter for your shot to win ASAP!

Here's what you can expect to win from this $3,801 prize!

Balsam Hill

6' Nordmann Fir Tree from Balsam Hill (ARV $899)

Not all fake Christmas trees are created equally, and this option from Balsam Hill is top tier. According to the brand, the trees are modeled after Nordmann Firs in Europe, with their slight curve and darker green color. This attention to detail makes sure you get all the classic Christmas tree look without all the classic Christmas tree hassle — no watering, or needle vacuuming necessary.

Saint Jane Skincare

Saint Jane Skincare Collection (ARV $622)

No matter the time of year, skincare is incredibly important! These serums, creams, and other stunning Saint Jane products are perfect for refreshing your skin and keeping it healthy. Whether you need vitamin C for some added brightness, retinol for some smoothing, or hyaluronic acid for hydration, there's a product here to revitalize your skincare routine!

20 Piece Candy Trunk (ARV $225) + 2024 Holiday Advent Calendar (ARV $55) + $250 Gift Card from Sugarfina

Nothing says the holiday season like sweet treats, and these delicious candies from Sugarfina are perfect for ringing in that vibe this July! You can taste all the different flavors with the candy trunk, or you can double down on your favorite with the $250 gift card! Regardless, I know that sweet tooth is calling as we speak...

Solawave

$450 Gift Card to Solawave

Like I said before, skincare is essential all year long, and the Solawave 4-in-1 Skincare Wand is a great way to promote healthier skin. The four therapies included in this tiny little product — red light, microcurrent, warmth, and vibrations — combine to firm up your skin and promote collagen production! Plus, Solawave has products you can pair with the wand round out your routine!

Cariloha

$450 Gift Card to Cariloha

Comfort is absolutely key when it comes to the holiday season! Luckily, Cariloha has plenty of cushy, comfy options for you to snuggle up in! Choose from bedding, towels, robes, sleepwear, basics, and even mattresses!

kencko

$450 of kencko Online Store Credit

Okay, so if you're thinking smoothies don't scream Christmas, think again! How many times have you binged starches and cheeses and all the holiday goodies, wishing you had something fresh and fruity to break it all up? I know I have, and kencko has plenty of delish options for you!

Minky Couture

$400 Gift Card to Minky Couture

Finally, wrap yourself up in a luxurious blanket or robe from Minky Couture! Their products are incredibly soft and sumptuous, coming in plenty of different colors and patterns! I can already picture myself cozying up with a cup of tea, a good book, and a holiday playlist in one of these.

Sign up for a chance to win these amazing, high-value holiday prizes here!

Header image by Balsam Hill

Last year, some of us celebrated the holidays apart from our families for the first time. COVID has brought with it many changes, some of them arguably positive (like increased flexibility to work from home), some difficult (such as the realization of vastly different political and social views between family and friends), and some horrible (obviously, the health implications of a global pandemic). However, for some of us, celebrating the holidays without family members isn't exclusively due to COVID. In addition to so many of us living in different areas than our families of origin, some of us simply don't have close bonds with the people we grew up around. Sometimes, this can cause loneliness.

If you're not close with your family members, the holidays can be a difficult time. This is doubly true if you don't have a close circle of friends to call upon. But make no mistake, if this sounds like your situation, you're not alone — there are thousands of other people going through the same struggles you are. We sat down with Irad Eichler, founder of Circles, a website that connects people who are sharing similar struggles, like heartbreak, grief, or loneliness. Here are some of Eichler's tips for coping — and even thriving! — during the holiday season when you're not planning on spending it with your family, for one reason or another.

Don't Fall For "Perfect Families" On Social Media

Laura Chouette

The first VERY important step to having a joyous holiday season when you're going it alone is to stop believing the narrative that others' family situations are perfect, Eichler says.

"Remember people only post a moment in time, and only the moments when they look their happiest and best."

In addition to the fact that everything you see on social media is curated for the 'gram, it's also important to remember that by focusing on what others have and you lack, you risk failing to see the great things at play in your own life.

"These holiday periods can become a time of focusing on who and what we don't have, rather than who or what we do, and can cause a negative spiral into depressing and dreadful feelings of inadequacy," says Eichler.

Gratitude is the reason for the season, after all. So instead of only seeing the negative, try some gratitude journal prompts to help you focus on what's actually really wonderful about your life right now.

Make An Effort To Deepen New Connections

Joel Muniz

While it may seem like everyone has friends and family to spend time with during the holiday season, that doesn't mean no one is available for deepening a blossoming relationship or new friendship.

"Make a list of people you can or would like to connect with, and try to reach out to at least one of them," advises Eichler.

Reaching out doesn't have to mean a big plan or an hour-long conversation. Even a quick text letting a friendly coworker know you're thinking about them can go a long way toward deepening the relationship and moving it in the direction of closer friendship.

Don't have an acquaintance in mind? Then it's time to make new acquaintances. What's more in line with the Christmas spirit than attending a Meetup or event full of people eager to make new friends?

"Join groups with similar interests to yours, such as hiking, baking, or games. Push your boundaries and be brave - you might find new people who have much in common with you."

Give Back

Priscilla Du Preez

The holiday season is a great time to focus on giving back to your community, and coincidentally, acts of generosity and kindness are known to reduce loneliness and help people feel happier. One study found that knowing a few of your neighbors and doing small acts of kindness for them — such as cheering them up, listening to them, mowing their lawn, providing advice about local business recommendations and job opportunities, and chatting over the fence — was statistically correlated with feeling less lonely and having a lower risk of depression.

Helping out elderly neighbors can be a particularly gratifying way to give back.

"Notice older lonely people in your neighborhood or community who might have no family at all, and offer to help them," says Eichler. "These can become mutually meaningful connections, and help you 'adopt' a grandparent."

Connect With Others Online

Thought Catalog

Finally, use the Internet for its highest and best purpose: to connect people. Whether you're using Meetup to find in-person events, digital forums for having conversations about special interests, or programs like Circle for getting support from others in your situation, the opportunities to create new connections are practically endless.

"There are many interest groups that can be found digitally, where or any person can connect with others in the same life stage, going through the same challenges, or who would like to explore the same interests," Eichler states. "Meaningful connections can be formed easily in these circumstances. The Internet enables us to find and connect to people all over the world who fit this, and to whom we can become more easily attached, as we are able to find people with the exact interests that energize us."

If you're struggling with loneliness, you're not alone. Connect with our digital community of makers and creatives here at Brit+Co by following us on IG and signing up for our newsletter!

This post has been updated.

Getting kids to wear their masks isn't easy and for good reason. It's weird! It's hot! It's sort of annoying when they don't just stay on your ears. But it's also SO important during this time. So Kristen Bell has cooked up a new art project with Vistaprint to help kids design their own print.


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The "Masks by Me" Coloring Contest is a fun way for kids to draw what *they* would want to see on a mask. Bell will judge the designs based on creativity, originality and overall design. Six Grand Prizes will include 30 custom masks made with their winning design to share with family and friends, a $500 gift card for school supplies, and 500 masks donated to their school. No purchase necessary and the contest is open to kids ages 5 to 17. It's the perfect DIY to try this weekend! Deadline is September 8, 2020.

How to Enter:

  1. Download the template here (there are a few entries up already that are super cute!)
  2. Design your mask with crayons, markers, colored pencils or color tool of choice!
  3. Share the image on Instagram or submit here. Before you post, make sure the caption includes:
    1. Your child's age (e.g. "Age 6")
    2. What your child loves about their mask design
    3. Both of these hashtags: #VPMasksbyMe and #contest
    4. This tag: @vistaprint

Sky's the limit on what they can draw on the printable mask - animal faces, their name, self-portraits, mustaches? "Kids can see this contest as a way to communicate with their friends," Dr. Mark Frank, PhD, a non-verbal communications specialist. "For example, they can design their masks with smiley faces to share positive feelings, or use vibrant colors to help portray a message of exuberance and excitement."

Want to turn their masterpiece into a custom mask later? Simply upload to Vistaprint (custom masks are $15).


Zach Bryan and Brianna "Chickenfry" LaPaglia's explosive breakup is everywhere right now. From his seemingly one-sided social media posts to all the bombshell revelations she keeps dropping, it's clear this split is NOT amicable. Both parties are dropping tons of lore, info, and everything in between — including new music?! — right now, so it makes sense if you can't keep up. Luckily, I'm here to help break this breakup down for you! Here's everything you need to know about Zach Bryan and Brianna Chickenfry's relationship...or lack thereof.

Neilson Barnard/Getty Images for The Recording Academy

October 22, 2024 – Zach Bryan Announces His Breakup With Brianna Chickenfry

On October 22, 2024, after some recent speculation that Zach Bryan and Brianna Chickenfry split up, Zach took to his Instagram stories. The country star said, "Addressing something: Brianna and me have broken up with [each other] and I respect and love her with every ounce of my heart. She has loved me unconditionally for a very long time and for that I'll always thank her."

He continued, noting, "I have had an incredibly hard year personally and struggled through some pretty severe things. I thought it would be beneficial for both of us to go our different ways. I am not perfect and never will be. Please respect Brianna's privacy and space in this and if you have it in your heart, mine too."

To wrap it all up, he closed by apologizing to his fans. He said, "With everything I am and to anyone I let down, I am sorry. I try my best in everything. I failed people that love me and mostly myself."

www.youtube.com

- YouTube

Brianna hopped on her own Instagram stories shortly there after. She posted, "Hey guys I'm feeling really blindsided right now. Gonna hop off social media for a while and attempt to heal privately, when I'm ready I'll be back and ready to talk. I love you guys so much thank you for all of your kind words. Remember you are so loved and everything's always gonna be okay 🫶"

The Brianna got on Youtube next, posting a raw, emotional video about the situation. Sitting on the floor of her bathroom, she opened up as much as she could in the moment about her breakup. She said, "I just woke up to Zach posting on his Instagram that we broke up and I had no idea that post was going up. He didn't text me, he didn't call me. I just woke up to a bunch of texts, like, 'Are you okay?'"

Brianna, with her teary eyes and red face, explained she's been crying for "five days straight." She said, "I'm at the point where it's like, how can you give someone everything and love them so unconditionally, like through stuff that you shouldn't because you just love them and you want them... like you see the good in them?"

The internet personality said that this is all "so embarrassing" and "really, really heartbreaking." She elaborated that the couple broke up on October 21, but wanted to process on her own and "didn't want it to be public."

Much like her Instagram story, she told her audience that she'll come back when she's ready.

www.youtube.com

- YouTube

November 7, 2024 — Brianna Claims Zach's Emotionally Abusive, Wanted $12Mil NDA

Well, it appears this week, Brianna decided she's ready. On Barstool Sports' BFF's Pod November 7, 2024, Brianna gave an inside look at the breakup unlike any other. Not only did she claim Zach was abusive, but she also alleged that he offered her a $12 million NDA to "not talk about the relationship."

After saying it's been the hardest year of her life, she said. "I'm still scared right now because I'm scared of him. My brain's rewired and I'm scared to make him mad and last week, I didn't want to talk about it 'cause I was scared."

Brianna then described the alleged emotional abuse. She noted that everything was cyclical and that he would build her up only to break her back down again. "There was always another excuse as to why he was treating me so poorly and why I'm crying myself to sleep every night, why he's screaming at me," she said. "And then you wake up, it's the apology, it's the 'I'm going to be better like I need you in my life,' but if you've been through this — I don't expect people to understand emotional abuse if you haven't been through it. I hope you never have to go through it but if you've been there you know what I'm talking about."

Not only does Brianna allege she was offered an NDA, but she said that other women that came before her had to sign their own agreements. She declined the offer because she didn't want to "sign away [her] experiences and what [she] went through to protect someone that hurt [her]." She also wanted to share this experience for other women who've suffered something similar.

And when it comes to the logistics of losing out on the famous lifestyle and alleged $12 million? She said, "It was never about the money — I was with the dude because I loved the dude."

Jason Kempin/Getty Images for Pilgrimage Music & Cultural Festival

November 8, 2024 — Zach Quit Touring Amid Abuse Allegations

On November 8, 2024, Zach posted on Instagram — where he clearly loves to share all his big news — that not only is his new single "High Road" out today, but that he's also ending his tour early. Read his full statement here:

After not being home for a year and a half I drove out to my mothers gravestone in the dead of night a few days back on familiar Oklahoma roads and I came to realize just like in the past, that she never would call me again

Told her I quit touring because I got accepted to get my masters in Paris next year, I told her I was back in Oklahoma, told her about all my best friends in New York and all the nights we howled with the moon, told her about the immeasurable laughter my band and me have shared these last five years, all the calluses on my finger tips, every tear shed, told her about making it on The Rolling Stone and most importantly told her about porch swinging with my beautiful sister.
I wrote the chorus for this song a month or two back and finished it when I realized I was blessed with all these things.

I figured it was about time I released it.

Thank you guys for listening to ‘This Worlds a Giant’ last night and thank you to all the people who love me; who have truly carried the weight with me.

Seems that all these Quiet Dreams have gotten much too heavy but I’m home now and I’ll hold you through the pain.

High Road is out today and I appreciate all of you"

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