Lisa Congdon On Creativity, Activism, and Finding Your Flow


Lisa Congdon on Creativity, Activism, and Finding Your Flow

If you're a fan of bright colors, folk art, social justice and heartstring-pulling work, you've definitely seen the art of Lisa Congdon. Lisa's ability to capture complicated feelings and emotions in her work is truly magical. She manages to infuse a breath of fresh air into meaningful stories and heavy topics, and puts just as much care and love into the light and airy pieces she's been creating for over 20 years.

Anjelika Temple here, co-founder of Brit + Co. I first became familiar with Lisa Congdon's work over 10 years ago, when I worked at 20x200 and was in touch with her about an upcoming print edition we were in the midst of producing. Since then, I've been a total fangirl and am deeply honored to be able to share a slice of her creative journey with all of you in this edition of Creative Crushin'.

From her first art show via a Flickr connection to her most recent project, a playful children's picture book called "Round", Lisa is as prolific as she is authentic, genuine and so giving of herself and what she's learned to everyone that's game to learn. Read on and take in the creative inspiration.

Anj: Let's kick things off by getting to know you! What's the quick version of your life story?

Lisa: I was born in upstate New York in a little city called Schenectady, which is outside of the capital, Albany, and that was in 1968. My dad is a scientist. He's retired now. Both my parents are in their 80s now, and my mom is an artist, but she was kind of similar to me, very much a hobby artist, and now takes commissions and does things on a more professional level, even still in her 80s.

I take after her in so many ways. She's a risk taker. She does stuff even though she doesn't know what she's doing. She'll try anything. She doesn't have that kind of perfectionist fear gene that so many people have, and I inherited that from her. That's not to say I don't have fear, it's just that part of why I've made this professional career out of my creativity is that I'm willing to try things even though I don't know what I'm doing.

So in my 20s, when I discovered creativity as a hobby, similar to what my mom was doing, it was kind of a surprise to everyone. I think people expected me to maybe do great things in the world, but not necessarily as an artist. In fact, I thought I was a terrible artist. Then, when I was in my early 30s, so 20 years ago, I went through a big breakup with somebody I had been with for almost a decade, and I changed jobs. I went from working as an elementary school teacher to working in an office.

I think what happened was that I really felt this kind of dearth of creativity in my life. Teaching little kids forces you to make things interesting for them, so you have to be really creative. I went to work at an office job and I found myself kind of depressed. I was lonely because I was single for the first time in my adult life, and I just kind of set up this little art station at my kitchen table. I wouldn't have even called it a studio. I just started experimenting, and I started taking classes at community colleges. At the LGTBQ center, I took this drawing class, and I just kind of fell in love with the process of making.

This was in the early 2000s, so this was at the birth of the Internet... not the birth of the Internet at large, but the birth of the Internet as a space for creative people. Flickr was becoming a thing, blogging was becoming a thing, and there were not yet online classes, Brit + Co, or learning platforms, no social media, but there was this DIY movement happening on the Internet. I started a blog and I started sharing pictures of the crappy stuff I was making. Let's be clear, my work did not look the way it looks now. I was very much a beginner, but I loved it, and I just kept working at it. Then, at some point later on, I realized I could make a living at it if I kind of pivoted in all of the right directions, which included both getting better, developing my skills, but also working on the business side of it, too. So, that's the short long version.

Anj: Tell me more about what it was like when you realized "Hey, maybe this can be my career?" Was there a specific spark or turning point when you thought, "All right, let's see?"

Lisa: One of the moments was in 2006 when I had my first show, and that came about because I think I had posted some images of some stuff on Flickr, which some of you are probably too young to remember. It was this photo-sharing site, which I like to call the original social media, because you could follow people and post your work and like and comment and all the things that are now so normal in our lives. I started meeting people on Flickr, and this woman who owned a store in Seattle asked me if I wanted to have a show. My mind was blown. She asked me if I wanted to have a show because she was seeing the stuff I was making, and I remember sitting at my desk the day that she ... and I was like "Oh my God, this is real." Butterflies and everything. "I'm an artist. Wow, this is so cool!" Then, I started getting inquiries from the hair salon where I went to get my hair done in San Francisco, and there was another little shop in San Francisco called the Candy Store where I had a show, and this was all 2006-2007. So, that started happening. I got an inquiry from Poketo, a brand-new (at the time) Los Angeles-based brand, and I released a bunch of products with them really early on.

So, it was kind of like "Okay, let's see." At the time, this whole idea of being an illustrator was something I couldn't really wrap my head around, but I thought, "All right, maybe if I can figure out the illustration part and do these other things, and then kind of cobble together some kind of income ... " At the time, social media was kind of starting. There was no Instagram yet, but there was Facebook. I made a fan page. I got on Twitter. I had this blog and I just started directing traffic to my blog. I started an Etsy shop in 2007, and I started to make a little bit of money, and in 2008, I was so lucky. I signed with an agent, and slowly, things started to happen. Now, what that didn't equal at the time was money. I was still working part-time at my job and, even after I left my job, I was freelancing for my old education non-profit where I worked because it was so hard in the beginning, but I was determined.

In hindsight, I realized it happened really quickly, but it felt like it took forever, especially to get to the point where I was making enough money to pay my mortgage, buy food, get myself out of debt, and that kind of thing.

Anj: Bringing it back to your creative process, talk to me more about what the creative flow feels like for you, and what you love about making things.

Lisa: We were talking earlier about the excitement I felt when somebody wanted to give me their space to take over to hang art. For me, it's this combination of the enjoyment of making something that, to me, looks cool or is beautiful, interesting, or says something, but it's also about how other people react to it. There's my creative process, which is super satisfying to me because it's problem solving, it's kind of seeing your ideas come to life, and that is all super satisfying.

That's why I think being an artist in this time in history is such a blessing for me because I get to share my work with other people, and then that is super exciting to me, too. I'm really interested in seeing other people's reactions to my work, whether it's through my books or through social media, and that, to me, is just as motivating as the feelings I have when I'm creating something. I got my first taste of that back in the day when I had my first show. There's something about interacting with my audience that I love.

I think people imagine that people like me who do a lot of work and are identified as being prolific, that we sit around all day in this state of flow, and that we're drawing and painting, listening to NPR and classical music, drinking tea, and it's all so easy. I mean, there are definitely days that are like that. There are definitely days where I'm just like "God, I'm the luckiest person on the Earth. I get to do this for a living and I love it," everything's flowing out of me perfectly, and I'm so satisfied with everything I'm doing, but that's maybe 20% of the time, which isn't bad. The rest of the time, it's frustration, deadlines, not being in the mood to draw something but I have to for this job that I accepted two weeks ago, or not having any good ideas. Especially in the beginning, I wasn't as skilled as I am now, so just rendering things that I was supposed to make took longer, and so it was exhausting. So, I do definitely have that flow state sometimes, where I'm just really into it, but most of the time, it's hard.

Anj: Your work is so playful, colorful, a clear folk art influence, and has such a recognizable color palette and aesthetic. How did you hone in on it?

Lisa: You know, I've always been influenced by two of the things that you mentioned, which is folk art and also color. It seems weird to say you're influenced by color, but I really am. I'm drawn to other people's art based on color or lack of, you know what I mean? Or the palette. It's a thing that a lot of artists don't get. They're really good at rendering things, but they don't necessarily have a sense of color. Another thing that has always been a huge influence to me is mid-century art and design. Alexander Girard is my absolute all-time favorite artist. Interestingly, he was also influenced by folk art and was a founder of the Folk Art Museum in Santa Fe. So, he's always the example I give of stylistically. He also was a collector of a lot of things and that's a huge part of my story. I draw a lot of my collections or imaginary collections. I love drawing arrangements of things, so order is also very important to me. I'm always drawing on the imaginary grid.

All of that has sort of been part of my story all along, even when my skillset wasn't as developed as it is now, but I would also say that, and I talk about this a lot: I wrote this book called "Find Your Artistic Voice", and one of the things that people ask me the most is how does one find their style? How does one arrive at a place where things are sort of locked and things are recognizable? For me, I always say I could paraphrase the book in one sentence, which is show up and just work at it: draw every day, make ceramics every day, or whatever your thing is, do it every day. You can't do something every day, practice it, refine it, et cetera, without it developing into something that's truly, an extension of your DNA.

A lot of what a person's style is, is already in there from influences or the stuff that we find beautiful. Our brains are constantly filtering visual stimuli, especially in this day and age. You can't walk down the street without seeing a cool billboard or a mural, or walk into Target and see cool things on t-shirts. We're bombarded, not to mention what's on our phones and what we're scrolling through. Your brain, even if you're not conscious of it, is constantly saying yes, no, yes, no, yes, no. You could walk by a million murals, billboards or whatever, walk into a stationery store, and walk by a million cards, but then you stop at one because it speaks to you. You're like "This is the most beautiful card," or "This is the most beautiful mural." There's a reason: because it's something about your taste that resonates.

So, we're always collecting this and that, and "Oh, who made that? Okay, I'm going to look her up when I get home. Oh, wow, she has a website. Oh, look at her influences. Oh, I'm going to go down that rabbit hole and see who she's influenced by." So, that's where we collect influences, and then, hopefully, we're collecting lots of them so that eventually, our work might look very similar to somebody who we're influenced by, but eventually, we kind of develop our own style, and that's just kind of a normal part of the trajectory.

For me, it was like that. It was just collecting influences, immersing myself in the world of art and design. I like this. I want my work to be more like this. I love the look and feel of this. It's sort of a mishmash of all of those things. Also, just getting better at drawing and executing, and my skills improved. I feel like, in the last five or six years, I kind of arrived in this place where yeah, I have this identifiable style, and it's crazy because people are like "It only happened five or six years ago? You've been making art for 20 years," and I'm like "Yeah, it takes a really long time." I finally don't feel like I'm still searching. That doesn't mean that my work still won't evolve. It doesn't mean that, eventually, I won't land on some new inspiration that makes my work pivot in a different way, but that's what finding your voice feels like, or actually finding that flow.

It's like you arrive at this place where you actually like your work as much as other people do. I started getting my work tattooed on my body and it took me forever to get there because I realized I didn't really like my work very much before, and then I finally was like "Okay, I like it enough to tattoo it on my own body. That's a big deal."

Anj: So, just riffing off of that, I think that a lot of people, myself included, when they're embarking on a new body of work or trying to find their voice, feel intimidated by all the artists/humans out there doing similar things. How do you give advice or even deal with this yourself? That self-doubt and that "I don't know that I have something to visually say?"

Lisa: That's a totally normal feeling. I feel like I kind of, in the last few years, got over a hump, and it was around the time that I felt very kind of solid in my own work. It is so natural to compare yourself to other people. I mean, how can we not? Not just the quality of our work or the ideas behind our work, like "That's such a great idea, why didn't I think of that," kind of thing, but also, on social media, it's like "Oh, so many people like her work. I feel like my work is just as good. Why don't as many people like it? We have the same amount of Instagram followers." There's this whole mind game we play with ourselves.

I realized about three or four years ago that I was spending an inordinate amount of energy having those thoughts, and I think a lot of people would've imagined that someone as far along in my career wouldn't have had them anymore. I would admit to people that I also had anxiety around social media, and people were surprised. They're like "Oh, you seem so confident, so many people love what you do, you have so much engagement," and blah, blah, blah. Yet, I was really struggling, not to the point of it being debilitating, but I would post something that I wanted people to be excited about and maybe they weren't as excited as I wanted them to be, and then I would put too much weight on that instead of my own feelings about whatever it is I was posting. It would bum me out, you know what I mean? I think most people can relate to that.

So, one summer, I started working with a coach, and one of the main things I worked with him on was letting go of these expectations around social media and only posting when I felt like I really had something to say, and posting regardless of whether or not I thought the thing was going to be Instagram-friendly or not. Really being authentic and really honoring my own creative process and my own voice versus whether or not other people liked it, it got engagement, or it sold in my shop, if it was something I was selling. I set my mind to it. It was extremely intentional on my part. I did a lot of work with him, talking through what that was like and how I could shift my perspective.

I also had to get over this impostor syndrome situation, which was "I suck, I'm just lucky to be here," and really, that was related to the social media anxiety. I really turned a corner that year. I wrote about it, I meditated on it, and every time I posted, I promised myself that I was going to honor my own experience and not worry about what other people thought. It took a lot of effort, but I can honestly say I've worked through it. There are moments every now and again where I feel disappointed, there are moments when I still have a slight bit of impostor syndrome, there are moments when I still compare myself to other people. I'm human, but do I dwell on it? Does it control my life? No.

Anj: On the note of putting it all out there, talk to me more about how activism comes into play with your work.

[Editor's Note: This interview and conversation took place before the November 2020 election.]

Lisa: I've integrated so much activism into my postings and to my Instagram in particular, and into my work, I had to really let go of what other people thought because the minute you start doing that, you're going to lose followers, people are going to not agree with you, and I constantly had to say "I'm here to be me. I'm not here to make you comfortable, I'm not here to please you. I'm here to be me." That also really helped me. I've always kind of been open about where I'm coming from ... I say kind of because I've definitely done more lately, but even before the 2016 election, I've been openly gay since I was in my early 20s, I've never hidden it from anywhere, at any job, at any platform. In fact, I talk about it like it's no big deal because I think that's kind of better than anything: just people casually seeing me with my wife and things like that. That's always sort of been part of my life.

My best friend is black. The reason I bring that up is it's an important part of how I sort of show up in the world: that I am in constant interaction every single day with somebody whose experience is vastly different than mine. We are so similar in so many ways, we are both artists, but our experience walking through the world is totally different. That has been personally the most important experience of my life: to attempt to see the world through this person that I love so much. The pain that she experiences, the confusion she experiences, and the anger she experiences, and sort of waking myself up to that. That, in addition to my own sort of being part of a marginalized group myself has made it almost impossible for me not to talk about social justice in my work because it's such an important part of my everyday experience, including my need to do work on myself.

After the 2016 election, I was so angry about the rights of people being taken away and the massive shift in policies in the US government, and I started writing about it. I was like "I don't care what anybody says, this is too important." I feel like it seems like everybody does that now, but I was one of very few artists in the beginning who was willing to just really put her neck out there. So, I started talking about stuff. I started writing about it. Then, it just kind of became something I was known for, and I started getting asked to design things for non-profit organizations and for different marches and initiatives. I started raising money through that work and drawing attention to different causes. I started really loving that work, and it became a really important part of my voice and my identity. Then, in the last year, things have been so wack that it's just times 10 now. Now, I can't imagine ever going back.

It's so important to me personally, and it's so important for the world, that I feel like I have a responsibility. People often say ... "We're not interested in your politics, we just want your pretty pictures," basically. I had to write a couple very intense posts about why I was making this work and that a lot of people argue that all art is political... what you choose not to represent is a political statement in and of itself, so that I was making overtly political work was one thing, but really, all art is political, and that was something that I didn't necessarily even realize until the last five years.

I get a lot of satisfaction and joy from it. I mean, the stuff we're dealing with isn't joyful, but making work to shift people's attitudes or give people something to be hopeful about feels important to me.

Anj: Now shifting gears to your new children's book! Authored by Jennifer Ward and illustrated by you, tell us what inspired it and what the experience was like. Talk to us more about "Round."

Lisa: I think it was the most fun illustration project I've ever worked on and one of the reasons it was fun is because I wasn't attached to the words. I loved the text in the book but the great thing about picture books is that the text is usually really simple.

In this book in particular, there's a narrative, but it's pretty loose. It's not like there are characters. I mean, some characters emerge a little bit in the book in the form of some of the animals reappearing, but it was a really easy place to start because I could really be me, and also honor the text in the book.

Round... I like to call it a lyrical poem all about round things that we find out in the world. Some are literally round and some are more ... well, not figuratively round, but less perfectly round. It's all in nature, and that's one of the things I love to draw are animals and plants. They wanted me to be me. In fact, the cover is like this kind of big explosion of round things arranged really close together. It's like something I would draw for fun, and it actually was inspired by some drawings I had made of things kind of drawn really close together and in an arrangement. And I love the cover so much. Covers are usually the thing I hate most about a book, which sucks because it's the thing that people see on the shelf, and it causes them to open it or not, so I'm hoping it has a good shelf life because the cover is so colorful.

Anj: When you're feeling burnt out, or you're starting a project, what are ways that you reset? What are things that work for you, things that you could recommend to others?

Lisa: When I can, the very first thing I do is take a break. That's not always possible, as you know from somebody who runs a business. Sometimes, you just have to show up and do the work, even when you don't feel like it, and there's a certain amount of grit involved. So, sometimes, I just plow through, force myself to do it, and then I feel better when it's done. If I'm not working on any client projects or client projects that have immediate deadlines, I give myself this passcard. "You don't have to post anything on social media, you don't need to make any new work right now. If you don't feel like it, don't do anything, just go read a book, go take a hike, go shopping," which is, of course, harder now except doing it online because of the pandemic, but go do something else and give yourself permission to not be productive and to kind of give yourself a rest.

Then, during that rest time, what I'll often do is kind of dive into inspiration. I go down a Pinterest rabbit hole or I go to Powell's Books in Portland and plant myself in some aisle that has books about something I'm interested in. Not necessarily art books, maybe history books, picture books, or whatever, and that will sometimes help me kind of get excited about a new direction. Sometimes, I just go to my studio and mess around with clay. I have a kiln. It's not something I'm known for, but I do kind of make and sell ceramics a little bit. It's kind of my fun getting my hands dirty experimental low-pressure nothing hardly ever gets put on Instagram, it's just kind of this fun thing that I do.

I also love to sew. Quilting is one of those things that's so straightforward to me. Aspects of the process take some creativity, but once it's pieced, I can just sit there and stitch and watch Netflix. So, I think taking breaks, allowing yourself to go down rabbit holes of new inspiration that's going to wake you up and light you up a little bit. In the old days, before the pandemic, I would go to museums even, or go shopping in my favorite stores.

Then, the combination of a break, collecting inspiration, maybe getting my hands dirty with some work that's a little bit more tactile and a little less cerebral, eventually, I kind of am able to work through blocks, but they happen to everyone, especially when they're burned out. Even when you're not burned out on art, maybe you're burned out on your kids, the business part, your relationship, or some issue you're having with a family member.

Making art in times of stress is like trying to run in humidity. You can do it, but it feels so exhausting and uncomfortable. We've all been, in the last year, in this really weird time of stress, and I think some people are surprised that they're depressed and anxious, and they can't make art. It's completely normal. Creativity requires a certain amount of relaxation and letting go, and that's really hard when there are so many things in the world that are so hard to wrap your head around.

See more of Lisa Congdon's artwork on Instagram @lisacongdon and shop her books, prints and more at lisacongdon.com.

So long, pumpkin spice season: Starbucks’ holiday menu is on the way, and per menu leaks, it reportedly brings back a ton of seasonal favorites starting next week.

From a classic Peppermint Mocha to the beloved Caramel Brûlée Latte, the recent menu rumors say a new Refresher flavor, 6 unique cold foams, and 4 new bakery items are on the way as the holidays draw near – including many items we predicted! The speculated lineup is honestly wild. Starbucks teased that the holiday menu will hit stores on November 7.

If you just can’t wait to order off the Starbucks holiday menu, here’s every offering reportedly coming to your closest cafe!

When will the Starbucks holiday drinks for 2024 come out?

Starbucks

According to an Instagram post from Starbucks, new holiday drinks and snacks will come out on November 7, 2024.

Will there be holiday cups?

Starbucks

We do anticipate that the Starbucks holiday menu will include some new holiday cup designs! Though we don't know what they'll look like just yet, previous holiday menus over the years have featured vibrant reds, greens, and pinks, plus stars, sparkles, Christmas trees, swirls, and stripes. Typically, Starbucks' holiday cups span across hot and iced drinks. Additionally, a new lineup of reusable cups and mugs should become available!

What's missing from this year's rumored Starbucks holiday menu?

Starbucks

Per rumors around the Starbucks holiday menu, the Eggnog Latte, Toasted White Chocolate Mocha, Irish Cream Cold Brew, and Gingerbread Loaf won't be returning to cafes for 2024. We're especially sad to see the Toasted White Chocolate Mocha not included, though the official menu lineup has yet to be released!

When is Starbucks Red Cup Day 2024?

Starbucks

Though there's no official word out about Red Cup Day for 2024, our best guess – based on the Red Cup Days of years past – is it'll return mid-November. In 2023, Red Cup Day fell on November 16. In 2022, the coffee chain held the event on November 17. Both dates landed on the third Thursday of November, so we predict it to hit on November 21 for 2024. Red Cup Day is when Starbucks customers can get a free reusable red cup when they order a seasonal drink off the holiday menu.

Drinks On The Starbucks Holiday Menu 2024

@markie_devo

NEW! Cran-Merry Orange Refresher

The Starbucks holiday menu leak reported that this brand-new Refresher is packed with sweet orange, tart cranberry and warm spice. It also has cranberry inclusions and is order-able mixed with water, lemonade or coconut milk.

Starbucks

Iced Gingerbread Oatmilk Chai

Chai is a totally underrated holiday flavor in our opinion. This iced drink is crafted with warm chai spices and creamy oat milk, then gets topped with even more frothed oat milk infused with gingerbread-flavored syrup and a sprinkling of spice.

Starbucks

Peppermint Mocha

You know it, and you love it! The Peppermint Mocha has hit Starbucks menus year after year, making it a total statement sip for the holiday season. This drink (available hot or iced) combines peppermint syrup, mocha sauce, and your milk of choice with espresso for a festive feel. It's traditionally topped with whipped cream and tasty chocolate curls.

Starbucks

Peppermint White Chocolate Mocha

Similar to the classic Peppermint Mocha, this bev swaps chocolate for white chocolate sauce.

Starbucks

Caramel Brûlée Latte

This rumored Starbucks holiday menu drink is very rich. The sweet caramel brûlée sauce totally completes the sip, along with plenty of whipped cream and crunchy lil' brûlée bits for textural variety.

Starbucks

Sugar Cookie Almondmilk Latte

Literally like a sugar cookie in liquid form, this super-sweet latte is handcrafted with blonde espresso (it's sweeter and lighter than Starbucks' traditional espresso shots), sugar cookie syrup, and almond milk for a little bit of a lighter effect. It's finished off with red and green sprinkles to up the seasonal vibes even more!

Starbucks

Chestnut Praline Latte

This nutty latte – rumored to return for 2024 – brings on notes of chestnut and praline, which is a nice, flavorful departure from the very expected peppermint you'll see everywhere come holiday time.

Starbucks

Salted Pecan Crunch Cold Brew

Initially introduced for fall 2024, it appears as though the Salted Pecan Crunch Cold Brew will stay on the Starbucks menu well into winter. The salted, pecan-flavored cold foam offers that classic sweet n' salty twist you'd enjoy on fall snacks like trail mix or dipped pretzels. The best part is you can now also order the cold foam in non-dairy form!

Starbucks

Holiday Cold Foams

Per the menu leak, Starbs will be bringing back four beloved holiday-flavored cold foamsand two new options for 2024. They're the perfect drink customization to add to your iced coffees and cold brews if you don't want to order an all-out holiday drink. See all the predicted flavors below:

  • NEW! Gingerbread
  • NEW! Salted Pecan
  • Peppermint Chocolate
  • Sugar Cookie
  • Chestnut Praline
  • Caramel Brûlée

Snacks On The Starbucks Holiday Menu 2024

@markie_devo

NEW! Dark Toffee Bundt

Per the menu leak, this sweet toffee-flavored bundt will be topped with holly- and berry-shaped sprinkles. How perfect for the holiday season!

@markie_devo

NEW! Turkey Sage Danish

This savory snack reportedly includes "turkey sausage with creamy béchamel sauce in a pastry." It sounds like Thanksgiving in a single treat, and we can't wait to try it!

@markie_devo

NEW! Penguin Cookie

This cutie sugar cookie is decorated like a lil' penguin bundled up for the cold.

Starbucks

Snowman Cake Pop

Starbucks' classic vanilla cake pop gets a wintry twist with an adorable snowman face – this sweet really makes us crave the holiday season!

Starbucks

Sugar Plum Cheese Danish

This cream cheese-filled danish is topped with a slightly-spiced sugar plum jam. It's been one of our go-to's over the past few holiday seasons at Starbucks!

Starbucks

Cranberry Bliss Bar

The Cranberry Bliss Bar has become an absolute staple on the Starbucks holiday menu, and for good reason! This blondie treat is smothered in a delicious cream cheese frosting and sprinkled with orange zest and dried cranberries for added seasonal enjoyment.

What People Are Saying About The Leaked Starbucks Holiday Menu

Though most commenters on @markie_devo's Starbucks holiday menu leak post seemed to be excited for the upcoming rumored menu items, some Starbs fans noticed a few things missing from the leaked lineup.

"Still missing eggnog 😢," someone noted.

"Where is the toasted white chocolate mocha 😢😢😢😢," another questioned.

"ALLLLLL these cold foams, and not the one people want: Irish Cream," one more commenter said.

"Ugh still no gingerbread loaf 😭," a disappointed user wrote. "Everything else looks bomb though!"

Despite the Eggnog Latte, Toasted White Chocolate Mocha, Irish Cream Cold Brew, and Gingerbread loaf not being part of this year's menu predictions, the holiday season is our favorite time of year at Starbucks. Many more users shared the same sentiment:

"So excited for all chestnut praline shaken espressos & cranberry bliss bars 🎄🎄🎄🎄," someone wrote.

"Oh hell yess all the chestnut praline offerings," another rejoiced.

Subscribe to our newsletter to stay posted on the latest Starbucks news, including when the official holiday menu lineup drops!

This post has been updated.

Party on! Game nights are the best nights, at least in our opinions. Seriously, what's more fun than sitting around the table playing a game, drinking a cocktail or two and laughing with friends?! We'd totally take that over a night sweating (and very awkwardly dancing) at the club.

We know you've made it through that Cards Against Humanity deck too many times to count, so refresh your adult game night stash with some of the best new party games around.

Game of Phones

Uncommon Goods

This techy card game prompts you and your friends to compete in smartphone-based tasks. With assignments ranging from “Find your best #selfie” to “Create an emoji masterpiece,” you’re guaranteed belly laughs and conversation starters galore. Just like with Cards Against Humanity, each round has a judge that picks the winner, so get your phone stacked with game changers now.

hella awk-ward Card Game

Shopify

If you want to spark real conversations with your guests, this is the game for you. By the end of this game, you’ll be surrounded by plenty of new pals. Play by drawing a card and answering the prompt to get to know friends and strangers alike on a deeper level.

What Do You Meme?

Amazon

This is the perfect game for anyone who has spent way too much time on the internet. Match funny captions with well-known internet memes (a rotating judge picks the best one) to create an afternoon or evening of hilarity.

Exploding Kittens Party Card Game

Amazon

This card game is like Russian Roulette “for people who are into kittens and explosions and laser beams and sometimes goats.” Count us in.

My Ex [A Deck of Conversation Starters]

Amazon

Gather your closest BFFs and spend the night with some good ol’ trash talking (therapeutically, of course). You’ll definitely find out who had the craziest ex. Gather friends that are down for the drama and start by pulling a card. Some of the topics you’ll fill-in-the-blank include: 1. The biggest red flag. 2. What is your ex up to now? 3. The worst rebound.

WHAT DO YOU MEME? for The Girls

Shopify

Grab your girlfriends and stir the pot with this hilarious card game. To play, whoever has the most Instagram followers goes first and rolls the die. “Whichever side of the die lands face-up, take the top card from the corresponding color deck. Read it aloud to the group & perform whatever action is on the card,” the instructions read. “Some cards involve just that player, some require the whole group. The player to their left then rolls the die & the game continues like this. Every winning card gets you a point. 1 Card = 1 Point. The player with the most cards at the end wins!”

Say Anything

Walmart

If you’re looking to reeeally get to know your friends, this is the game for you and your group (um, and maybe an invite to the new person you’ve been dating is in order). By reading questions and providing answers, you’ll quickly and creatively get inside the mind of all your party guests fast.

BAD CHOICES - The Have You Ever? Game + After Dark Edition Set

Amazon

You’ll really get to know the other party guests with this game. This might not be one to play with your new coworkers or mother-in-law!

To play, each player will draw six cards. “When it's your turn, choose one of your six question cards, then ask it to the player you think is most likely to answer YES. If they say YES, you get to discard your card. If they say NO you have to keep the card and try to use it again later,” the instructions read. With Skip Cards, Draw +1, Draw +2, and ALL PLAY cards, there's a surprising amount of strategy. The player who discards all of their cards first becomes the winner.

The Game of Things

Amazon

This provocative game will leave your jaw on the floor from the hilarious, creative and outrageous things your friends say. Simply by drawing topic cards like “Things a chimp thinks about when he sees you at the zoo,” responses are sure to be out of this world. After everyone writes down a response, and the best part starts — you all guess who said what. Let the finger pointing begin.

What’s Yours Like?

Walmart

Tell it like it is and you’ll excel at this one. Players have to guess words based off of creative word clues after asking the question, “What’s yours like?” Seriously, we wanna know.

If You Know You Know IYKYK - The Question Card Game

Amazon

Who knows each other best? This card game will (literally) put everyone’s cards on the table.

Getting started and playing this card game is super simple. A rotating judge asks the group a question about themselves from each of the three levels (indicated on the chosen card). Then, everyone chooses their answer. If you guess the judge's answer correctly, you get a point. The player with the most points wins.

That’s What She Said

Amazon

Are you basically Michael Scott from The Office? Any sucker for jokes and innuendos will love this saucy game.

Bananagrams

Shopify

This one is fun to do with the kids or you can spice it up with an adults-only game. Like speed scrabble, the game comes in a convenient banana-shaped pouch making it great to play on the go.

Never Have I Ever

Amazon

You and your friends can put your trust to the test by sharing your deepest, most embarrassing secrets in this revealing game.

Secret Confessions Game- Adult Version

Amazon

Get ready to laugh the night away with this far too funny game. Each group member will take turns reading the cards’ prompts. With each prompt, every player will answer “yes” or “no.”

The Voting Game

Amazon

In this game, instead of voting for the funniest answer, you vote for the player each card seems to describe. Talk about finding out who your real friends are.

Drawing Without Dignity

Amazon

It’s part Cards Against Humanity, part Pictionary. If you have friends who are particularly good artists (or even if they’re not), this game will bring you hours of fun.

Catan Strategy Board Game

Target

Like a medieval monopoly, full of knights, peasants, robbers and everything prehistoric. This game is focused around building settlements and protecting your land.

Relative Insanity

Walmart

Created by comedian Jeff Foxworthy, this game is based around familial interactions gone wrong with a Cards Against Humanity style of playing.

Influencers in the Wild

Amazon

If you follow the popular Instagram account, then you can probably guess the basics of this board game. Go places, gain followers and get famous to win this pop culture game.

We hope you've enjoyed this round-up of our favorite adult card games, and even if Cards Against Humanity is now somehow worth $500 Million your memories from these nights will always be priceless!

Keep you party going with Brit + Co.

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.

I L-O-V-E season 3 of Bridgertonin all its friends-to-lovers, springtime, romantic glory, and I'm already thinking about Bridgerton season 4. I'm a sucker for any storyline about siblings, and the Bridgertons are some of my favorites. We've been speculating that season 4 of Bridgerton would follow Benedict and his love interest Sophie, or Eloise's love story, and on July 23, Netflix finally confirmed which sibling the series would cover next. Here's everything you need to know about season 4 of the hit TV show. And check out everything you need to know aboutThe Bridgerton Season 3 Ending!

Your First Look At 'Bridgerton' Stars Yerin Ha & Luke Thompson

Gavin Bond/Netflix

Yerin Ha and Luke Thompson are already getting to know each other ahead of Bridgerton season 4 filming. And Yerin is loving every minute. "I don’t think there are enough words in the dictionary to describe what it’s like joining the family, but I’m just very, very grateful, and everyone’s been so welcoming with open arms," Yerin Ha tells Shondaland. "It’s been a lovely experience so far."

"And it’s yours now too," Luke adds before Yerin says, "Ours. It’s our family." I'm crying!

And after teasing the next installment will be the perfect mix of reality and fairytale, Yerin describes Sophie's journey like a prism. "Like when the light comes in, and then it goes into a rainbow," she says. "I’m using that as a metaphor for the character of Sophie for before she meets Benedict and after."

We already knew season 4 of Bridgerton was going to be romantic, but I really don't think we're prepared for how romantic it's going to be. At the Dune: Prophecy premiere on October 30, Yerin Ha revealed that one particular scene with Luke Thompson reminded her of Pride and Prejudice.

"There was a scene, and I literally said to Luke, ‘You’re giving Mr. Darcy vibes, 100 percent,’" she tells TVLine. “I don’t think the showrunners are thinking that, but for me, I’m thinking Pride and Prejudice." Oh I am so in!!!

Will there be season 4 of Bridgerton?

Netflix

Yes, we're getting a Bridgerton season 4! The senior season of the Shondaland show will follow An Offer from a Gentleman, which revolves around second-eldest son Benedict (played by Luke Thompson). While Anthony and Colin are now happily married, Benedict isn't sure he wants to settle down — until his mother's masquerade ball introduces him to a Lady in Silver he can't stop thinking about.

In an interview with the LA Times, showrunner Jess Brownell revealed one major change. "We always live in this perpetual spring in Bridgerton, but we’re playing around with the idea of fall...for the first time," she says. "Some of that is about story and some of it is, honestly, just for practical reasons because we’re shooting in the fall. It’s still going to be just as lush and colorful, but just more in those warm fall colors instead of the pastels. There will still be some pastels, so it won’t look like a totally different show. I’ll give you that." It's giving Gilmore Girls and I'm more than happy with that!

Season 4 is already in rehearsals, which includes dance lessons for Yerin Ha and Luke Thompson! “I’ve only stepped on Yerin’s toes once, which is good,” Luke says in an interview with Tudum.

The dance lessons have been “really special and very vulnerable,” according to Yerin. “The dancing is like an extension of their emotions, and a way for them to connect."

Who's in the Bridgerton season 4 cast?

Kevin Winter/Getty Images

Variety confirmed on August 16 that Yerin Ha (Halo) will star in Bridgerton season 4 as Sophie Baek! Bridgerton season 4 will also star Luke Thompson as Benedict Bridgerton, as well as Luke Newton, Nicola Coughlan, Jonathan Bailey, Simone Ashley, Claudia Jessie, Hannah Dodd, Will Tilston, and Florence Hunt as the rest of the Bridgertons + their spouses. Plus, Harriet Cains, Nicola Coughlan, Jessica Madsen, and Bessie Carter!

Michaela is played by Masali Baduza, who fans had originally thought was playing Sophie. You might recognize the actress from movies like The Woman King and Slumber Party Massacre. "They never disappoint, casting geniuses," one Reddit user says.

When is Bridgerton season 4 coming out?

Image via Liam Daniel/Netflix

Considering part one of Bridgerton season 3 is hitting Netflix May 16, 2024, we definitely won't see season 4 of Bridgerton for awhile. So far, there have been two years in between each season, so I'm expecting season 4 to start streaming in 2026. And showrunner Jess Bronwell agrees.

"We are working to try and put the seasons out more quickly, but they do take eight months to film and then they have to be edited, and then they have to be dubbed into every language,” she told The Hollywood Reporter. “And the writing takes a very long time as well, so we’re kind of on a two-year pace, we’re trying to speed up but somewhere in that range.”

How many episodes will season 4 of Bridgerton have?

Image via Liam Daniel/Netflix

Considering all three seasons of Bridgerton so far have eight episodes each, we can expect Netflix to keep up that pattern. Having the same number of episodes each season means the pace and arc for each Bridgerton sibling will be equal, making it a much more balanced watching experience! Plus, eight siblings, eight episodes, eight seasons.

Will Bridgerton have all 8 seasons?

Image via Liam Daniel/Netflix

Yes, Bridgerton will have all 8 seasons, one for each Bridgerton sibling — at least, that's the plan. "This being a family of eight children and there being eight books, I would love to be able to focus and really tell stories and love stories for all the Bridgerton siblings. For each character, for sure," showrunner Chris Van Dusen tells Collider.

After Bridgerton season 4, I'm most interested to see youngest sibling Hyacinth's love story play out! Seeing her arc throughout all eight seasons, especially mirrored with the way her brothers and sisters evolve over the course of the show, is going to be the perfect way to wrap this series up.

What are you looking forward to the most for Bridgerton season 4? Follow us on Facebook for more TV show news!

Lead image via Kevin Winter/Getty Images

This post has been updated.

The holidays are here! Well, kind of. Thanksgiving isn’t until November 28 but as far as I’m concerned, November 1 is the day the festivities can begin. I’m pulling out my holiday candles, Christmas PJ’s, and even my How the Grinch Stole Christmas vinyl to make the dreary seasonal blues a little more cheerful. And a huge part of getting into the spirit is stacking up the perfect holiday movie marathon. Thankfully Netflix already has a bunch of holiday titles coming out over the next few weeks. Here are the best (new!!) holiday movies and specials coming to Netflix starting November 1.

Dinner Time Live With David Chang: Holiday Edition — On Netflix Now Until December 10

Adam Rose/Netflix

Nothing says the holidays like tons of delicious meals, and Chef David Chang is cooking some amazing food for his celebrity friends — and he's doing it all live. (Because, a lot of TV cooking uses swaps and stylists to make it look better than it actually is). I'm getting hungry just thinking about it!

Dinner Time Live With David Chang: Holiday Edition is hosted by David Chang.

Meet Me Next Christmas — On Netflix November 6

Sophie Giraud/Netflix

Christmas in New York City is truly a magical experience, and Layla's looking for her own fairytale romance this holiday season. And believe it or not, the ticket to finding her one true love is getting into the Pentatonix Christmas Eve Concert.

Meet Me Next Christmas streams November 6 and stars Christina Milian, Devale Ellis, Kofi Siriboe, Tymika Tafari, Mitch Grassi, Scott Hoying, Kirstin Maldonado, Kevin Olusola, Matt Sallee, Kalen Allen, Nikki Duval, and Wesley French.

Hot Frosty — On Netflix November 13

Petr Maur/Netflix

Nobody puts me in the holiday spirit like seeing Lacey Chabert onscreen, and this year, she's playing Kathy, a widow who happens to bring a handsome snowman to life. (I don't remember this in the "Frosty the Snowman" lyrics!). He helps Kathy reconnect with her emotions as they begin to fall for each other — and as he begins to melt.

Hot Frosty will stream on Netflix beginning November 13 and stars Lacey Chabert, Dustin Milligan, Craig Robinson, Joe Lo Truglio, Katy Mixon, Lauren Holly, and Chrishell Stause.

Netflix Stories: A Virgin River Christmas — On Netflix November 19

Petr Maur/Netflix

It's almost time for Virgin River season 6, which means we're getting closer to the ultimate cozy TV show. I mean, just look at those twinkly lights and pine trees in this preview image! It gives me the same exact feeling as drinking a mug of hot cocoa. This year, we're getting closer to Mel and Jack’s wedding, and confronting some serious secrets and drama along the way. This might not count as a Netflix holiday movie but I couldn't NOT include it!!!

Virgin River season 6 hits Netflix November 19 and stars Alexandra Breckenridge, Martin Henderson, John Allen Nelson, Tim Matheson, Annette O’Toole, Colin Lawrence, Benjamin Hollingsworth, Zibby Allen, Sarah Dugdale, Marco Grazzini, Mark Ghanimé, Kai Bradbury, Kandyse McClure, Jessica Rothe, and Callum Kerr.

The Merry Gentlemen — On Netflix November 20

Katrina Marcinowski/Netflix

Remember that One Tree Hill episode where the Ravens take part in the "Boy Toy" charity auction? Complete with a shirtless fashion show? Consider this the Netflix holiday movie response. When former dancer Ashley learns her parents' performing venue is in danger, she puts together the ultimate Christmas-themed show to raise money. Shirts not included.

The Merry Gentlemen hits Netflix November 20 and stars Britt Robertson, Chad Michael Murray, Marla Sokoloff, Beth Broderick, Michael Gross, Maxwell Caulfield, Hector David Jr., Colt Prattes, and Marc Anthony Samuel

Spellbound — On Netflix November 22

Skydance Animation/Netflix

Okay, this fantasy movie might not technically be a Christmas movie, but it has everything I need in my Netflix holiday movies: family, hope, and love. After her parents are turned into monsters, princess Ellian must go on the ultimate quest to put everything right.

Spellbound hits Netflix November 22 and stars Rachel Zegler, John Lithgow, Jenifer Lewis, Nathan Lane, Tituss Burgess, Javier Bardem, and Nicole Kidman.

Our Little Secret — On Netflix November 27

Bob Mahoney/Netflix

If EXmas taught us anything, it's that spending the holidays with your ex is anything but calm. And in Lindsay Lohan's new movie, she finds herself at the same Christmas celebration as her ex when they realize their new SO's are siblings. No, that's not awkward at all.

Our Little Secret hits Netflix November 27 stars Lindsay Lohan, Ian Harding, Tim Meadows, Jon Rudnitsky, Henry Czerny, Judy Reyes, Chris Parnell, Kristin Chenoweth, Dan Bucatinsky, Katie Baker, Jake Brennan, Ash Santos, and Brian Unger.

Is It Cake? Holidays — On Netflix November 28

Netflix

The only thing more enjoyable than eating delicious food is watching master bakers create beautiful food. This holiday special features edible ice skates, nutcrackers, and reindeer that will change the way you look at baking forever. Watch it in one sitting and it definitely counts as a holiday movie ;).

Is It Cake? Holidays hits Netflix November 28 and stars Jonny Manganello, Andrew Fuller, April Julian, Elizabeth Rowe, Miko Kaw Hok Uy, Danya Smith, Henderson Gonzalez, Grace Pak, and Jujhar Mann, with judges Rachel Bloom, Hannah Berner, Tiffany Haddish, Devon Walker, James Austin Johnson, Chris Witaske, Sasheer Zamata, Terry Crews, Punkie Johnson, and Randall Park.

The Snow Sister — On Netflix November 29

Netflix

Julian's turning 11 on Christmas Eve, and even though it's usually the best day ever, this year is overshadowed by the death of his older sister. A newfound friendship with Hedwig helps him heal, but he can't help but feel like Hedwig's house — and the old man that's always around — are hiding secrets.

The Snow Sister hits Netflix November 29 and stars Mudit Gupta, Celina Meyer Hovland, Ole Steinkjer Øyen, Jan Sælid, Samsaya, Gunnar Eiriksson, and Advika.

Which Netflix holiday movie are you excited to watch? Let us know in the comments!

This edible crescent-roll cornucopia is our way of making a normal cheese boardmore festive — and definitely more fun — during the holiday season. Our go-to this time of year is a massive cheese plate that can stand alone and be the main attraction, or the starter for a larger meal. Press on for the surprisingly easy steps to braid a breaded cornucopia.

Chris Andre

Materials + Tools:

  • 1 roll of tin foil
  • 2 packages of crescent rolls
  • 1 egg (for egg wash before cornucopia goes into the oven), optional

Chris Andre

Instructions:

Start by sculpting tin foil into the shape of a cornucopia (it looks like a cone with an upturned tail). Pro tip: Lightly pack tin foil so it's easier to remove later from your baked cornucopia. Crescent rolls should be buttery enough that this shouldn't be difficult.

Chris Andre

Your tin foil mold should look a little something like this.

Chris Andre

Pop open the crescent rolls and cut the triangles into strips. Pinch together the ends of strips to make strips longer.

Chris Andre

Braid crescent roll strips. You can make these as fancy as you want. Not a braiding pro? Skip this step and leave those strips alone.

Chris Andre

Wrap tin foil cornucopia with braids/strips. Make sure you cover all the tin foil. Leave a little wiggle room at the opening of the cornucopia, so that when you’re done baking you can pull some of that tin foil out.

Chris Andre

Use any extra dough to cover the bottom of your cornucopia. Pinch the sides and anchor those braids/strips in.

Chris Andre

Brush on egg wash before placing your cornucopia in the oven. Bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 20 minutes. Take out of oven and cover spots of cornucopia that are already golden brown with extra tin foil. Bake for another 20 minutes at 250 degrees Fahrenheit.

Chris Andre

Let it cool down until it’s easy to handle. Remove tin foil.

Chris Andre

Place cornucopia in corner of your cheese plate. Arrange cheese on your serving tray.

Chris Andre

Add crackers — we like to have two or three options.

Chris Andre

Don’t forget to fill up your cornucopia. It's called "the horn of plenty" for a reason. Fill with fresh fruit like grapes, apples, and pears.

Chris Andre

Add nuts like walnuts and pistachios to fill in any empty spaces. Garnish with fresh herbs like rosemary and sage to finish it off.

Chris Andre

Voilà! Invite over your friends, open a bottle of wine, and dig in!

Chris Andre

A cornucopia cheese board will become your new favorite holiday tradition.

Show us your crescent-roll cornucopias on Instagram and check out our baking classes (and our Easy Thanksgiving Desserts piece) for more holiday food inspo!

DIY Production and Styling: Paris Fried

Paris Fried: Paris loves any excuse to celebrate and throw a themed party. She loves experimenting in the kitchen and has a terrible sweet tooth. When she's not crafting in her studio, she's at the farmers' market buying seasonal produce or at her favorite local theater watching double features.

This post has been updated.