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While in America we may toast to the new year with Champagne and eat black-eyed peas for good luck, those who celebrate the Lunar New Year have a host of food traditions that symbolize wealth, health, and family unity. At a Lunar New Year celebration dinner at Hakkasan in San Francisco hosted by Tiger Beer, we learned about the eight items that have been served each year on the Lunar Near Year for centuries. Why eight? In Chinese, the number eight (huat), translates to “get wealthy.”
Scroll to see the 8 lucky Lunar New Year foods you should eat this year!
1. Dumplings
Steamed dumplings are shaped like the ancient Chinese gold currency, called ingot, and represent wealth. According to legend, the number of dumplings you eat during the new year corresponds to the amount of money you’ll make that year. That’s reason enough to eat an extra dumpling (or five). (via China Sichuan Food)
2. Whole Steamed Fish
Yu means both fish and prosperity in Chinese. Dining on a whole fish during the Lunar New Year embodies family unity. (via The Woks of Life)
3. Longevity Noodles
Here’s your reason to slurp noodles and not break them — the longer the noodles, the longer the life of the person who consumes them, legend has it. If you can, splurge on Longevity Noodles, a large portion of noodles that contains just one long strand that is not cut, which is why it tends to be on the pricier side. (via Woks of Life)
4. Rice
The stickiness of steamed jasmine rice is another symbol of a family “sticking” together. Some families celebrate with an “Eight Treasures Rice Pudding,” a stunning rice dessert that stars glutinous rice and eight toppings: candied lotus, green raisins, pine nuts, black raisins, dried dates, dried wolfberries, dried apricots, and red maraschino cherries (for luck!). (viaThe Hong Kong Cookery)
Dumpling Sisters
5. Garlic
The word for garlic in Chinese is suan, which translates to “counting.” Tradition has it that those who celebrate the Lunar New Year eat lots of garlic to count all of the money they will make in the new year. It’s found in almost every dish, including stir-fried prawns. (via Dumpling Sisters)
6. Red Foods
Red is the prominent color used in the Lunar New Year and is found in the decor, food, and most notably, the red envelopes filled with money gifted to loved ones during this time. The color red is associated with good luck, fortune, and joy. A table during the Lunar New Year will be filled with red foods like crab, peking duck, shrimp, barbecue pork, and more. (via The Woks of Life)
7. Glutinous Rice Balls
Dinner ends with sweet, round glutinous rice balls filled with red bean paste. The round shape supposedly indicates a smooth year ahead, family reunion, and good luck! (via Chinese Healthy Cooking)
8. Mandarin Oranges
The official fruit of the new year, mandarin oranges, ju in Chinese, sounds like the word for lucky, ji. They are abundantly gifted throughout the New Year celebration.
If you want to learn more about the foods eaten around the world, and about the Lunar New Year, check out Brit + Co’s recipes on Pinterest.
This post has been updated.
It's been 17 years since Gossip Girl first premiered on The CW, thus opening our eyes to the scandalous lives of Manhattan's elite and introducing us to a new generation of stars like Blake Lively and Leighton Meester.
In the six seasons the show was on air, it captivated fans and critics alike, serving up week after week of delicious drama and continuously upping the ante for TV show fashion. ("So many designers were lining up to be a part of it — they wanted their stuff on Blake or Leighton," costume designer Eric Daman told Vanity Fair.) Click through to find out what the Gossip Girl cast has been up to since the show's success, and where they are today.
Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for Michael Kors
Blake Lively (Serena van der Woodsen)
Of all the Gossip Girl cast alumni, Blake Lively is arguably the most well-known. Not only has she gone on to major roles in movies — including The Age of Adaline, The Shallows, All I See Is You, and most recently, It Ends with Us— but she's also married to fellow actor Ryan Reynolds (married in 2012).
Blake shares four beautiful daughters, James, Inez, Betty, and the youngest (born in 2023) whose name has not been announced publicly with Ryan. True to her Gossip Girl character, she's quite the fashionista! In her spare time, she likes to hang out with her BFFs, who just so happen to include Taylor Swiftandthe Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants ladies.
Frazer Harrison/Getty Images
Leighton Meester (Blair Waldorf)
Leighton Meester has a career that would make even her cunningly ambitious Queen B character proud. Since Gossip Girl's end in 2012, she's acted in films including Life Partners, The Judge, The Weekend Away, and most recently, EXmas. She even recorded and released songs such as "Good Girls Go Bad" with Cobra Starship and the solo effort "Somebody to Love," and even starred on Broadway in Of Mice and Men back in 2014.
Leighton is married to actor Adam Brody (The O.C., Jennifer's Body, Gilmore Girls) as of 2014. She has two kids – one daughter and one son.
She has been heavily involved in philanthropy while taking on acting projects, primarily volunteering and campaigning with Feeding America and the Los Angeles Food Bank.
Dominik Bindl/Getty Images
Taylor Momsen (Jenny Humphrey)
Long gone are the days when Taylor Momsen played Dan Humphrey's sweet (and a bit messed up) little sis, Jenny. The actress left the Gossip Girl cast in 2010 in order to pursue her dreams of a music career, and all these years later, she's still doing just that as the frontwoman of the uber-successful rock group, The Pretty Reckless. With four records under their belt, the four-member band has supported bands like Evanescence, Soundgarden, and Guns N' Roses, and has toured in numerous cities and music festivals.
Momsen has typically kept her dating life on the down-low. She is currently single and appears to be putting all of her energy into her band.
Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images
Penn Badgley (Dan Humphrey)
Everyone’s favorite Gossip Girl — er, guy — Penn Badgley, followed in his on-screen sister's footsteps after the show ended, pursuing his musical interests with rock band MOTHXR. The band's most current project, Centerfold, was released back in 2016.
Badgley has since acted in several movies and TV shows including Easy A, The Paper Store, and Here Today, but his most notable work has been on the ongoing book-based Netflix series, You. He plays Joe Goldberg, a charming bookkeeper with eerily odd characteristics, especially when it comes to love.
Badgley currently has a podcast titled Podcrushed, which explores the awkwardness of adolescence and revisits guests' best (and worst) middle school memories. He cohosts with Nava Kavelin and Sophie Ansari. One episode even features ex-Gossip Girl co-star, Leighton Meester!
Badgley is married to singer and doula Domino Kirke as of 2017. Kirke already had a child from a previous relationship. Badgley and Kirke had their first son together in 2020.
Vittorio Zunino Celotto/Getty Images for Diesel
Ed Westwick (Chuck Bass)
Ed Westwick tapped into his angsty side post-Gossip Girl, starring as Tybalt in a 2013 adaptation of Romeo & Juliet. Since then, he has fought crime as Kent Grainger on Wicked City, played a crime lord on Snatch, and sold double-glazed windows on White Gold. Is there any role he can't play? Most recently, Westwick stars in the movie DarkGame.
With a background in music, Westwick also currently sings in the bandFor You. Their most recent release is the song "Tailspin," and they're set to release a new single "Here Comes Trouble" in March 2024.
Westwick had been dating model and actress Amy Jacksonsince 2021, with the pair getting happily engaged during a ski trip in January 2024.
Leon Bennett/Getty Images for MBJx DAVID YURMAN
Chace Crawford (Nate Archibald)
Following his stint as a wealthy Upper East Sider on Gossip Girl, Texas native Chace Crawford tried his hand at playing a greedy oil worker on ABC's short-lived TV series, Blood & Oil. He's had several film roles since – you can catch him in movies like Undrafted, Eloise, Nighthawks, even voice-actingin Belle. Most recently, Crawford stars as The Deep on The Boys.
Crawford has previously dated Carrie Underwood, Rachelle Goulding, and Rebecca Rittenhouse, though he is currently single as a Pringle.
Jon Kopaloff/Getty Images
Jessica Szohr (Vanessa Abrams)
Jessica Szohr, who played Dan Humphrey's BFF slash on-again, off-again girlfriend (needless to say, we were confused too), has been a lot busier than her character was after season four, when she was all but written off the show.
In the years since Gossip Girl, the actress scored several roles on TV shows such as Complications, Kingdom, Twin Peaks and The Orville. She even starred in Taylor Swift's music video for "22" back in 2013!
Jessica also welcomed a daughter with her longtime boyfriend in early 2021.
Jessica currently hosts a podcast called "XOXO" that dives deep into the Gossip Girl cast, crew, and behind-the-scenes moments. Some notable episodes have featured Zuzanna Szadkowski (Dorota), Aaron Tveit (Tripp van der Bilt), Kelly Rutherford (Lily van der Woodsen), and Michelle Trachtenburg (Georgina Sparks).
Jemal Countess/Getty Images
Michelle Trachtenberg (Georgina Sparks)
Since her stint as the "bad girl" Georgina Sparks, Michelle Trachtenberg landed roles on shows like Criminal Minds, NCIS: Los Angeles, Sleepy Hollow, and Sister Cities among other numerous series and movies. She even reprised her role as Georgina for the 2021 remake of Gossip Girl on HBO Max!
She managed to keep her personal life largely out of the tabloids, including her dating life. The last update on her relationship status was in 2023, and that she was dating her talent agent, Jay Cohen. She reportedly previously dated Shawn Ashmore, Joshua Radin, and Jason Segel.
Unfortunately, Michelle passed away on February 26, 2025.
Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images
Kelly Rutherford (Lily van der Woodsen)
Besides being a New York Fashion Week icon (we'd expect nothing less of Lily van der Woodsen's alter ego!), Kelly Rutherford has popped up in several TV shows over the years, including Quantico, Jane the Virgin, and Dynasty.
She also frequently travels to France and Monaco, where, after years of custody battles with her second ex-husband, Daniel Giersch, she has extensive visitation rights to see her two children, who reside there with their father.
"Yes, it was a challenging time. It was a heartbreaking time," she told People. "But I focus on the good most of the time, I really do," she says. "I'm very thankful of where we are. I have a great relationship with my kids."
When she's not with her kids or working on a project, Kelly is dropping iconic 'fit pics on her Instagram account.
Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images
Matthew Settle (Rufus Humphrey)
Matthew Settle, who played rockstar dad Rufus Humphrey, continued acting after the Gossip Girl cast dissolved. He hasn't been on any other TV shows other than one episode of Criminal Minds: Beyond Borders in 2016. He mostly stuck to movies, acting in titles like Ouija, Marshall the Miracle Dog, and Valentine: The Dark Avenger.
Settle is also a dad of two children, having welcomed his first with actress and model Naama Nativ in 2009. He had divorced her in 2011 and went on to have a second baby with girlfriend Maria Alfonsin in 2015.
Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images
Zuzanna Szadkowski (Dorota Kishlovsky)
Though Blair's loyal maid and, ultimately, best friend, wasn't technically a main character, there's no denying that it would have been a different show without her unwavering presence! Zuzanna Szadowski has dabbled in film and television since then, appearing in shows such as Girls,The Good Wife, and Modern Love.
In 2010, she partnered with Sam Weisman to open The Sam Weisman Studio, an acting school (now closed).
Oh, and did we mention she just so happens to be one of Leighton Meester's real-life BFFs?
Which Gossip Girl cast member is your fave? Tweet us @BritandCo!
This post has been updated with additional reporting by Meredith Holser.
Amid the devastation of the LA fires, neighbors opening their homes to one another (like Hilary Duff housing Mandy Moore), internet users have found a new way to support people who have lost everything by streaming their old songs. When Heidi Montag's 2010 album Superficial hit #1 on iTunes, generating income for the popstar and her family, Gossip Girl fans called for another celebrity to get the same treatment: Leighton Meester (AKA Blair Waldorf) after she lost her home with husband Adam Brody.
Yep, in case you didn't know, Leighton Meester wasn't just an actress during her Gossip Girl days, she was also a singer! In addition to her role in Country Strong (which gave us the MASTERPIECE "Words I Couldn't Say"), Gossip Girl featured some of her music, like when the season 3 finale featured “Your Love's a Drug.”
Here's how fans are resurfacing Leighton Meester's old music right now!
Leighton Meester's fans include none other than Flavor Flav.
Hip-hop artist Flavor Flav posted his support of Leighton Meester's "Somebody To Love" on TikTok on January 15. "Starting to hype up my girl Leighton Meester and help her family recover from the fire," he says in the onscreen text. And he's not the only one who loves her music, because fans started flooding his comments with their favorite songs.
"Good Girls Go Bad still goes triple platinum in my house annually," one user commented, while another added, "Stream Heartstrings by Leighton Meester too."
A third TikTok user ended up offering their own (phenomenal) idea when they said, "Can someone put together a LA fire playlist (philanthropy edition) so I can stream it all week?" Literally let's do it. I'm listening to the songs over and over anyway.
And the best part is that Rolling Stone reports that Heartstrings is now at 21 on iTunes!
Leighton Meester released some incredible music in the '00s and '10s.
Leighton Meester changed lives when she was a feature on Cobra Starship's "Good Girls Gone Bad" in July of 2009. This is quite literally one of the best pop songs of the decade — I never get tired of listening to it.
And she has some incredible features on her discography.
Leighton Meester follows up "Good Girls Gone Bad" with a song alongside Robin Thicke in a very steamy music video that Gossip Girl would definitely be writing about.
And in 2014, Leighton Meester released a full-length album called Heartstrings, which includes this title track. It's a little country, it's a little pop, and it's very addictive. It feels totally different than the Blair Waldorf vibe we'd come to associate Leighton with, and it's like a breath of fresh air.
Here's the full Heartstrings tracklist!
- Heartstrings
- Run Away
- Good for One Thing
- Sweet
- On My Side
- LA
- Dreaming
- Blue Afternoon
- Entitled
If you need me for the next few weeks, I'll be listening to all of Leighton Meester's music on repeat. Check out the latest news on Adam Brody & Leighton Meester's New TV Show Good Cop/Bad Cop.
Jewelry is truly the cherry on top of a good outfit — so you definitely don't wanna top everything off with an outdated trend you pulled from the bottom of your jewelry box. And while some jewelry will always be timeless, there are plenty of pieces that are way past their prime. Whether too gaudy, too much of a flash trend, or some combination of the two, these are the six outdated jewelry trends you should totally retire in 2025.
Ditch these six outdated jewelry trends for good this year!
1. Beaded Jewelry
Target
Universal Thread Seed Bead Necklace Set
Once upon a time beaded jewelry was a popular status symbol among the "it girls" in middle or high school. It was a nostalgic trend that's come been recycled over the years, but it's finally time to put it rest. Why?
It's time to wear jewelry that doesn't feel so juvenile.
2. Excessive Charm Braclets
Anthropologie
Anthropologie Western Monogram Charm Bracelet
Sometimes we fondly remember the days we used to wear chunky charm bracelets that featured our initials, hearts, stars, seashells, and more. You usually could hear us before you saw us because our favorite accessories made a lot of clinking noises. Maybe we're traumatized by how loud our bracelets each time we moved our arm during tests, but we're finally over wearing excess charms. That's not to say this style is 100% "outdated" though!
We're all in favor of this trend, but we'd rather see you choose 1-3 meaningful charms instead of squeezing 10+ on a chain link.
3. Cuban Link Bracelets
Pandora
Pandora Timeless Pavé Cuban Chain Bracelet
Jewelry trends are supposed to be fun and cute, but this one is giving us "Mob wife" energy...you know, the trend from 2023? We know it's been a popular style that some people gravitate towards, but we prefer to see you wearing bracelets that indicate you're in your "soft girl era."
4. Chunky Gold Earrings
Alexis Bittar
Alexis Bittar Molten Gold Puffy Teardrop Earrings
The quickest way to age yourself is by making makeup mistakeswhile wearing the heaviest chunky gold earrings you own. Unless your goal is to walk around like you're auditioning to be an extra in a spoof of an '80s or '90s comedy, don't ever pair the two together.
As a matter of fact, give your ears a break from the heaviness of this trend.
5. Thin Rings
gorjana
Gorjana G Ring Set
Thin rings seem like they're perfect for the set of Severance, but how practical are they in real life? We're afraid you'll spend your hard earned money on a cute ring set only to lose one or two of them while doing your daily activities.
Then again, we're a little biased because chunkier rings are taking center stage for their ability to infuse personality in your everyday casual outfits.
6. Seashells
Ettika
Ettika Private Island Assorted Shell Necklace
Shell necklaces remind us of that one tongue twister that we just couldn't ever get right: "She sells seashells by the seashore."
For obvious reasons, this jewelry trend gets a hard NO from us — it's gaudy and doesn't really complement many personal styles. Even if you swear it does, we'd rather see you wear a pair of shell earrings instead of a statement necklace like this.
Subscribe to our newsletter to see which fashion trends we'd actually love to see you wear.
Brit + Co may at times use affiliate links to promote products sold by others, but always offers genuine editorial recommendations.
We may have left mountains of homework and questionable cafeteria food behind years ago, but that doesn't mean we can't learn anything from educational podcasts. From online classes to language apps, we’re all about expanding our knowledge, especially if it’s fun.
When your commute turns into a bore or you’re up for picking up a new skill, these educational podcasts will drop some serious knowledge on you, no backpack required.
Good Job, Brain!
What began as a Kickstarter project has now become an extremely popular trivia podcast. Half quiz show and half offbeat news, Good Job, Brain! will have you laughing and dominating your next trivia night.
Curiosity Daily
Curiosity Daily is an award-winning podcast that allows you to learn a little bit more about the world around you. It takes listeners through research-based life hacks and the latest science and technology news, allowing you to walk out into the world more knowledgable.
Hidden Brain
Hidden Brain explores something we all strive to understand better - our thoughts! Each episode teaches about social psychology and the neuroscience behind our thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. What I love about this podcast is how practical and applicable the information shared truly is.
Ologies
Ologies is designed to be a crash course on all things science. It talks about everything from dinosaurs to space to the human body, giving you all sorts of information you never knew you needed or wanted. The host is able to interview experts in the field, giving you a really comprehensive look on the subjects tackled.
Stuff Mom Never Told You
This podcast is filled with valuable information that is going to make your life better. Its two female hosts talk about everything from sex and relationships to health and career. They break down really complex topics in a way that feels accessible, educational, and engaging.
The History Chicks
This podcast dials you into the "herstory" you never learned. It tells the tories of girl bosses from queens to warriors to scientists and artists.
The Gist
Radio journalist Mike Pesca leads this Slate podcast, which covers three hot, political topics a week. From JFK to debates, The Gist will keep you in the know.
Stuff You Should Know
HowStuffWorks writers Josh and Chuck educate listeners on everything from the ecosystem to Jack the Ripper and sharks. What stuff should you know? Take a listen to how sushi works or the science behind3D printing.
Planet Money
Mo’ money, mo’ problems, right? Not if you’re Planet Money. They’ll teach you how to handle your money, check your finances and work with the economy, all without being a bore. Where to start? Learn more about homeowners insurance policies or free money.
TED Radio Hour
TED talks are known for their thought-provoking topics and speakers. This podcast is a coproduction of powerhouses NPR and TED to bring ideas, creations and problem-solving tips to the table. Listen as individuals share their ideas each week, like singer-songwriter Megan Washington, who talks about how singing achieves stillness.
The School of Greatness
Former pro-athlete Lewis Howes takes business, leadership and personal development to the next level. The School of Greatness features top professionals who aim to inspire and encourage growth in their listeners. Ready for change? Find out the 10 essential truths needed to upgrade your life or discover simple ways to overcome stress.
No Stupid Questions
Angela Duckworth, a research psychologist, partners up with tech and sports executive, Mike Maughan, to answer all of your science questions. They answer them in a knowledgable and non-condescending way, no matter how silly the question may seem.
Science Vs
We all know sometimes the internet can bombard us with info, and it's hard to decipher what's true and what's not. Science Vs explores the science behind popular claims and trends, interviewing experts and conducting in-depth research to help you decide what's worth following.
Which educational podcasts have you listened to recently?
Lead image via Ivan Samkov/Pexels
This post has been updated.