You *Have* to See Meghan Markle’s Sorority Portrait

You may know Meghan Markle as Rachel Zane from Suits, a budding style icon, or the future wife of Prince Harry. But back in 2001, she was just your (not-so) average undergrad and sorority girl from Northwestern University.

According to the Chicago Sun-Times, who posted a photo of the bride-to-be on their Twitter account, Markle was studying communications. She was also, it turns out, a member of the Upsilon Chapter of Kappa Kappa Gamma, who were kind enough to share the portrait.

The pic was snapped in her sophomore year at the school, from which she graduated in 2003 with a double major in theater and international studies. In the photo, Markle is wearing a black turtleneck, has her signature perfectly blown out hair, and a radiant smile. It’s re-MARKLE-able, but 14 years later, the stunning star looks exactly the same.

Laura Wayland, executive director of the Northwestern Alumni Association, said, “We’re excited to learn of the news that our alumna, Meghan Markle, will marry Britain’s Prince Harry. On behalf of Northwestern University, we extend our congratulations to the couple. His mother, Princess Diana, visited Northwestern in 1996, so we are particularly pleased to welcome Prince Harry to the extended Northwestern family.”

Markle is remembered especially fondly by one of her former professors, Professor Harvey Young, who taught “Studies in Black Performance” in 2003. Young told the Chicago Sun-Times, “She reminded me of a lot of our other very promising alumni, in that she was passionate about theater and really had a sense of self-confidence that you could imagine would allow her to weather the storms of the professional world.”

Did you recognize Markle? What do you hope to see her do next? Tell us @BritandCo!

(Photos via Daniel Leal-Olivas/AFP/Getty + Chris Jackson/Getty)

Can you believe it's been over 20 years since the Lindsay Lohan and Tyra Banks classic, Life -Size premiered? This is enough to make some millennials shudder — especially those of us who still know every word to "Be A Star." In the era of Barbie and Bratz and Polly Pocket, this film definitely stuck with us since its debut.

And apparently, we're not the only ones! Tyra Banks recently dished about an idea she has for Life-Size 3, and it's triggering allllllll the nostalgia. Keep scrolling to see what she said — and to revisit what makes this franchise so great!

Is there a 'Life-Size 3?'

The Drew Barrymore Show/Ash Bean

Tyra Banks appeared on The Drew Barrymore Showyesterday during the Drews News segment, and she gave us an exciting update on the matter. They initially talked about Tyra's ice cream company, SMiZE & DREAM, before co-hosts Drew Barrymore and Ross Matthews asked if there's a chance fans will get to see Life-Size 3. The supermodel, actress, and entrepreneur laughed and said, "I feel like we should do one!" Of course this made the crowd burst into screams and rounds of applause.

Not only does she think they should make Life-Size 3, but Tyra already has an entire plot in mind! She said, "What if she [Lindsay Lohan as Casey Stuart], in some of kind of way, magically turned into a doll? And then my Eve character had to teach her how to be a doll. I feel like that could be very interesting."

Now, whether this dreamy plot becomes a reality, well that's a different story.

Is 'Life-Size 3' in the works?

Disney Pictures, Inc.

When Ross Matthews asked Tyra if she can actually bring Life-Size 3 to life, she didn't verbally say anything. Instead, she nodded which made the host exclaim, "Done! Thank you! Thank you, Tyra Banks." However, nothing's been officially announced...yet!

The first time Tyra hinted she's open to reprising her role as Eve was on Instagram in August. She expressed excitement about the Polly Pocket Airbnb in her captions, even tagging Lindsay Lohan. "Oh Polly Pocket, so small in size but BIG in memories and inspiration! 💛 I know so many girls who put you in their pocket and sometimes would find you in the back of the washing machine! 🫧 😂 I’m sure so many kids that loved my Life-Size movie thought of you while watching it…guess it’s time to visit this lil place and dream up another script. What say you, @lindsaylohan? xo Eve/TyTy," she wrote.

What is 'Life-Size' about?

Disney Pictures, Inc.

If you've never seen Life-Size, we're sad for you — just kidding! The film revolved around pre-teen Casey Stuart's (Lindsay Lohan) life after her mom died. She's become withdrawn from her former friends and somehow has made it to the football team at her school. At some point she stumbles across a book of spells and believes it's the thing she needs to bring her mom back. But, the spell goes awry and breathes life into one of her dolls, Eve (Tyra Banks).

A series of mishaps and heartbreak happen over the course of the film, but viewers get to see the profound effect Eve has on Casey before she returns back to her original form.

What happened in 'Life-Size 2?'

Disney Enterprises, Inc.

Life Size 2 had a difference scenario from the first film being that it doesn't exactly have anything to do with a pre-teen girl. The focus was on Grace (Francia Raisa), the CEO of Marathon Toys, and her inability to find joy in life. Fans of Life-Size know that the Eve doll was a product of Marathon Toys so it's not shocking that Eve herself senses that Grace needs her help.

Did Lindsay Lohan appear in 'Life-Size 2?'

Disney Pictures, Inc.

Not quite — she made a brief cameo without actually appearing in the movie. Life-Size 2 writer, Cameron Fay explained to TV Line, "Well, the first draft actually had Casey in the movie. That was something Tyra really wanted...But when we realized it wasn’t going to happen, the idea had to shift."

Wanting to find a way to include Lindsay's character some kind of way, Fay was inspired to make it seem that 'Casey' reached out to Grace in a way that felt authentic.

Where can I watch 'Life-Size' and 'Life-Size 2'?

Disney Pictures, Inc.

Unfortunately Life-Size isn't available to stream, nor has it recently appeared on cable TV. It's not quite clear why you can't watch Life-Size on platforms like Disney+, but this Reddit thread has the closest thing that answers on why it's so hard to watch.

Right now you can buy Life-Size 2: A Christmas Eve on Amazon Prime for $6.

Follow us on TikTok and Facebook for updates about Life-Size 3!

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.

Disney continues to keep your childhood alive because alongside several other remakes of beloved titles, a live-action remake of the 2002's Lilo and Stitch is now also in the works. While filming was supposed to begin in April 2023, a costume trailer fire delayed it until May. Thankfully, it looks like the production recovered — and that we'll be seeing Lilo, Stitch, and Scrump soon. Here's everything you need to know about the live-action Lilo and Stitch. Check out the rest of Disney's upcoming live-action remakes for more news!

Who is playing Lilo in the live-action movie?

Image via Maia Kealoha/Instagram

Lilo will be played by Maia Kealoha. The adorable character was voiced by Daveigh Chase in the original 2002 movie, and by Dakota Fanning in the sequel.

Who else is in the Lilo and Stitch cast?

Image via Sydney Agudong/Instagram

In Lilo and Stitch, we'll see Sydney Agudong as Nani, Amy Hill as Tūtū, Kaipo Dudoit as David, Courtney B. Vance as Cobra Bubbles, and Tia Carrere (the original voice of Nani!!) as Mrs. Kekoa. We'll also have Chris Sanders as the voice of Stitch, Billy Magnussen voicing Pleakley, and Zach Galifianakis voicing Jumba.

When is the live-action Lilo and Stitch coming out?

Image via Walt Disney Studios

We don't have an official release date yet, but we could see Lilo and Stitch in the next year. Personally, I'm hoping they release it just in time for summer 2025!

Where are they filming live-action Lilo and Stitch?

Image via Jess Loiterton/Pexels

The new Lilo and Stitch is filmed in Oahu. The original animated film takes place on Kauai, but we'll have to wait and see if they change the story's setting for the live-action remake.

Is there going to be a live-action Lilo and Stitch?

Image via Walt Disney Studios

Yes, we're getting a live-action Lilo and Stitch! According to The Hollywood Reporter, the remake of the animated film will be done with both live-action and CGI. Dan Lin and Jonathan Eirich, who worked on the live-action Aladdin, are producing, and up-and-coming screenwriter Mike Van Waes, who has previously worked primarily in horror, wrote the script.

The live-action Lilo and Stitch remake is the latest in a long list of classic titles Disney is reimagining for modern audiences. Are you excited about Disney’s latest remake? Let us know @BritandCo!

Lead image via Walt Disney Studios

This post has been updated.

Though Black Friday is traditionally the official start of the holiday shopping season, we argue that it’s been kicking since mid-October. We know, we know: it still feels extremely early to start thinking about the holidays, but they’ll be here before you know it! Plus, many brands and retailers are already promoting their holiday goodies with plenty of sales and discounts available right now.

If you’re ready to embark on your holiday shopping journey, but still need answers to questions like ‘when’s the best time to shop?’ and ‘where should I shop for gifts?’ and even ‘how the heck do I save money this season?’, you’ve come to the right place. Consider this your go-to guide for holiday shopping in 2024.

Scroll on for our best guidance on navigating this busy time of year and finding the best gifts possible!

When's the best time to do holiday shopping?

Kaboompics / PEXELS

The best time to do holiday shopping really all depends on your personal shopping goals. Do you want to get a jump on items you know will sell out soon? Do you want to save the most money possible? Do you want to focus on handmade, personalized gifts? These factors will undoubtedly influence your holiday shopping schedule.

Cottonbro Studio / PEXELS

Shopping early can be advantageous for all of the aforementioned goals. A lot of retailers start promoting their holiday products early on, giving you ample time to snatch up that limited-time lip kit or fancy water bottle you’ve been eyeing way before the holidays.

Plus, some of the best deals for holiday shopping happen ahead of Black Friday and Cyber Monday – in 2023, Experian observed a surge in early spending in October, thanks to early discounts, a trend likely to continue in 2024.

Finally, shopping early can be especially helpful if your plan is to focus on handmade or personalized gifts, giving the artisan you buy from (or yourself, if you’re DIY-ing your gifts) plenty of time to craft the item with love and care.

Gallup reported in 2023 that one in four shoppers start shopping as early as September, a trend likely to continue in 2024 – so you might already be embarking on your shopping spree!

Mikhail Nilov / PEXELS

If right now is just still too darn early for you to start holiday shopping, Black Friday and Cyber Monday are some of the best times to shop since so many retailers offer their largest discounts of the entire year. Plus, the late November-early December timeline can feel a bit more appropriate for the gifting season opposed to late October-early November, when everyone’s still recovering from Halloween.

The only thing to consider during this time is the shipping timelines for the items you purchase – but most retailers will typically advise their specific shipping schedules, so you don’t risk your goodies arriving late.

Where should I shop for gifts?

Ron Lach / PEXELS

You have three main options when it comes to where to shop for holiday gifts: online, in-store, and via our amazing gift guides. Of course, each method has its advantages and disadvantages.

Shopping in-store offers a tangible experience: the opportunity to hold specific items in your hands and gauge exactly what they’ll be like when you give them as a gift. The pitfall with shopping in-person is that it typically requires a commute and journeys through potentially very busy malls and shopping strips, which can add to the already-stressful holiday experience.

In-store shopping can be more physically exhausting, but it’s all about preference! Sometimes strolling through the stores that get all dolled up for Christmas is the best part of the season.

Andrea Piacquadio / PEXELS

Per Google, 65% of those planning to shop for the holidays say they will shop online more. Shopping for gifts online can be super helpful since you can centralize your findings in your browser’s bookmark tab or via virtual cart(s). Plus, shopping online can pose more opportunities for saving some money: lots of retailers typically offer discount codes for online users, especially if you sign up for their digital marketing channels (like email and text) and make a purchase.

Shopping online isn’t just shopping, either. The internet can be a stellar research tool to help you vet whether certain products are worth it, where they can be bought, and when they’ll be available. In fact, Google reported that more than half of U.S. holiday shoppers who went into a store last year say they looked up product reviews online and/or located an item in-store by checking it online.

Kaboompics / PEXELS

Last but not least, scrolling gift guides has to be our favorite place to shop for gifts – and not just because we write and publish them.

At their very core, gift guides help streamline the holiday shopping process, alleviating the stress that bubbles up when you’re wondering what the heck to shop for in the first place. Our gift guides are backed by real people, real experiences, and real opinions from our editorial team. We only promote products that we really love and believe in, oftentimes ones we’ve tested and reviewed ourselves.

We have gift guides for just about everyone on your list, with more on the way! Check ‘em out:

What are the best kinds of gifts to give?

Kaboompics / PEXELS

The best kinds of gifts to give are thoughtful gifts that consider the giftee’s interests, wants, and needs. These gifts can be sentimental, practical, or both simultaneously. What matters most in a gift is that it’ll be meaningful to them past just the holiday season, whether it’s helping them get through daily tasks, reminding them of a memorable trip or event, or giving them small doses of joy.

“Shoppers are increasingly looking for personalized and unique gifts that reflect the recipient's personality and interests,” says Mia Anderson, Owner of ChicSew. “With the rise of online shopping, many consumers are opting for curated gift boxes or experiences that add a special touch.”

Cottonbro Studio / PEXELS

Gift boxes, personalized items, books of interest, self-care goodies, and even gift cards can all be thoughtful gifts depending on the recipient. If you have no clue what your giftee is into, it’s not a bad idea to ask them what they want the most!

“My idea of a great gift is something that is in tandem with the recipient's interest and offers something new to the person, be it learning a new skill, enjoying a calming activity, or simply spending quality time with the family,” says Alfred Christ, Sales Manager & Marketer at Robotime. “This season, we encourage shoppers to shift their focus on quality and the memories their gifts will create and not just merely material aspects.”

When is Black Friday?

Sora Shimazaki / PEXELS

Black Friday is always the Friday after Thanksgiving. This year, Black Friday lands on November 29.

When is Cyber Monday?

Kindel Media / PEXELS

Cyber Monday is typcally the Monday after Thanksgiving. This year, Cyber Monday will land on December 2. Oftentimes, retailers and brands extend their online offers through the week (coined Cyber Week) after the event. Salesforce reported that 67% of shoppers in 2024 plan on shopping during Cyber Week!

Subscribe to our newsletter to stay up-to-date on our best 2024 gift guides, shopping advice, and all things holiday!

The holidays at Starbucks are creeping up on us, people! Peppermint Mocha season will return on November 7. If you’re a die-hard Starbucks fan, you know Red Cup Day is a whole holiday in itself – the frenzy for a free reusable cup is truly no joke. There’s even an entire website dedicated to counting down the madness! Even though there’s no official word on when Red Cup Day 2024 will be, there are several clues that cue us into the annual event. Scroll on for details!

What is Red Cup Day?

Starbucks

Red Cup Day is Starbucks’ highly-awaited annual event that marks the start of holiday beverage season at the coffee chain. For one day only (and while supplies last), customers who order any of Starbucks’ holiday drinks will receive a reusable red cup that features a bespoke design for the respective year.

Starbucks

Here’s a list of all the drinks rumored to be available on the Starbucks holiday menu starting November 7:

  • Peppermint Mocha
  • Peppermint White Chocolate Mocha
  • Caramel Brûlée Latte
  • Sugar Cookie Almondmilk Latte
  • Chestnut Praline Latte
  • Salted Pecan Crunch Cold Brew
  • Iced Gingerbread Oatmilk Chai

What do the red cups look like for 2024?

Starbucks

Starbucks hasn’t officially announced when Red Cup Day will be for 2024, let alone what the famed red cups will look like this go-around. The one obvious point is that the cups will be red! They’ll also likely feature some festive motifs that echo the holiday season. Last year’s red cups boasted playful white and green stars and ornament-like shapes.

Why should I participate in Red Cup Day?

Starbucks

Red Cup Day = freebies, which can feel really rewarding if you’re really into receiving free goodies. Plus, it’s just a fun way to lean into the holiday spirit. The red reusable cup keeps giving beyond Red Cup Day, though! Every time you use the reusable cup for future Starbucks orders, you get a 10-cent discount as well as 25 bonus stars toward your Starbucks Rewards account to save up for more discounts on drinks, food, and merchandise.

When is Starbucks' Red Cup Day 2024?

Starbucks

Again, Starbucks hasn’t alerted us on when Red Cup Day will be for 2024, but based on previous Red Cup Days, we can infer it’ll land on the third Thursday of November. In 2022, Red Cup Day happened on November 17, and for 2023, it was November 16. The third Thursday of November in 2024 hits on November 21, so mark your calendars, everyone!

Additionally, check back here for official info as Red Cup Day approaches.

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This post has been updated.