Get the Recap of My Recent #GiveItAWeek Challenges

I’m proud to say that I’m nearly 25 weeks into my #GiveItAWeek challenge on Instagram — whoa! Time sure flies when you’re talking to strangers, learning Spanish, and raising money for a good cause — right? ;)

My seven-day journeys are still far from over, but I can say that having the support from all of you guys has been HUGE. I’m hoping you all will continue to share the love and advice with me over on IG @brit as I put more personal challenges to the test. I have about six months to go, and there are a LOT of fun adventures coming. But for now, here’s what I’ve been up to for the last few weeks…

WEEK 14: Cake Decorating

I went into this week with some previous decorating experience. I’ve always enjoyed cake, cupcake, and cookie decorating and for the past several years, I have made custom cakes for my kids’ birthdays. That said, I wanted to take my skills to the next level (think buttercream ranunculus, brushstroke icing ensembles, and fondant polka-dot accents). I used a few online tutorials, got my organic mixes and frostings from former B+C employee Sarah Jones (@missjonesbakes), and recruited the help of one of my favorite pastry entrepreneurs Melissa Ben-Ishay (owner of the cult cupcake brand @bakedbymelissa) to brush up on my piping, cake pop, and tie-dying skills. Throughout this delicious adventure, my takeaways were that tools matter and a lot of time is involved, especially if you’re baking AND decorating together at once. But ultimately, I loved the zen-like creative state and ability to share sweets with others throughout this process. Now excuse me while I go on a bit of a frosting detox for the next few weeks!

WEEK 15: Limited Hair Washing

I work out a lot, so I typically wash my hair every other day. That being said, I’ve always heard that limiting your sudsing time is actually better for your locks. So I decided to go seven days without washing — eek! The best part? I exceeded my goal and actually made it through EIGHT DAYS! (How was this possible!? I am still shocked.) Big props to everyone who gave me their best dirty hair tips and dry shampoo recommendations, which I definitely used. Ultimately, I found that by skipping my shampoo, I drastically improved my hair’s volume and saved about 20 minutes a day. Not too shabby of a life hack, eh?

WEEK 16: Intermittent Fasting

This one was a big challenge for me since I love my breakfast! Since I’ve heard there are so many great health benefits of eating intermittently throughout the day, I decided it was at least worth trying to forgo those a.m. pancakes. (Spoiler alert: I found out it really wasn’t for me!) Long story short, my stomach was RUMBLING by 10am. Thank goodness I could even make it that long, thanks to the ability to have coffee. And while I discovered that 14-hour fasts were wayyy easier than 16-hour fasts (and I learned that getting used to the process can take up to two weeks), I think I’m happiest sticking to my usual eating routines with the rest of my family. Pass the syrup, please!

WEEK 17: Meditation

Speaking from complete honesty, I never thought meditation was for me. When I would sit down to relax, I simply couldn’t keep my mind from wandering! I’m definitely a Type A person with schedules and to-do lists taking over my mind at all times. (Hence the reason I NEED meditation, ha.) However, after a week of embarking on this zen-filled experiment, I gained a new opinion of it. The entire experience was like having a best friend give you a pep talk and an abbreviated sermon at church all at once, if that makes sense! I most enjoyed myself during moving meditations, like those jogging meditation exercises found in the Nike Run Club app in partnership with Headspace. The good news is that I learned it’s perfectly fine to let your mind stray, as long as you can reel it at times (which I certainly did!). P.S. If you’re interested in kick-starting your own meditation journey, tune into my favorite apps, Headspace or Calm.

WEEK 18: Talking to Strangers

Yes, this sounds like a challenge your parents would convince you NOT to do. However, as someone who is more of an introvert, I decided to step outside of my comfort zone and talk to a different stranger for a few minutes every day. While the initial days were a bit rough (it was tough to come up with a great icebreaker!!), I finally found my groove and walked away having had amazing conversations with everyone from a cute Starbucks barista to a costume-clad doorman. Bonus: I got to attend an NYC Broadway show with a really awesome Instagram stranger-turned-friend, Colleen. How cool is that?

WEEK 19: Learning Spanish

This was a fun one! I grew up taking Spanish classes but hadn’t practiced in forever, so I wanted to motivate myself to use it every day with the goal of holding an entire convo with someone en español. To me, the trickiest part of Spanish is always the conjugations, but the daily practice of listening, reading, and even writing (to many of YOU in my IG messages!) made it much easier by the end. Pro tip: Converting your phone settings to Spanish forces you to spend hours a day reading it. SUPER HELPFUL to me. By day seven, I held a lengthier discussion with a willing IG fan which really surprised me (in the best way, of course!) ;). I give major credit to Duolingo, which was an immensely helpful tool (along with tuning into some v. entertaining telenovelas on YouTube… everyone should do a search on there for Miramar; it’s quite cheesy in the best way possible!).

WEEK 20: Zero Waste

If we’re being honest, I was mostly inspired by @trashisfortossers — as well as many, many requests by all of you — to do a no waste challenge for a week. So for seven days, I attempted to fit all of my trash into a mason jar. Crazy, huh!? I will say that kids, a hectic travel schedule, and an affinity for La Croix proved to make this harder than I planned for. BUT, I legitimately made some progress and learned new products, tips, and insights about how to live with less emissions. I will forever judge myself for using a plastic straw, and I now have converted all of my plastic water bottles at home to glass, plus swapped out plastic baggies for cloth or paper. Even weeks later, I’m still so conscious of how I can reduce my own waste. I wish everyone would try this challenge for a week! Think of the collective good we could do for this world.

WEEK 21: Making $1,000

For these seven days, I was inspired to raise $1,000 for a cause that’s near (it’s in my hometown) and dear to my heart — @raciestexas. With some crafty thinking, I was able to review websites, write poems, and sell dresses on Instagram to hit my goal (and then some!) of $5,000. By the time the week was over, I walked away with some serious cash for a worthy cause and gained some new rhyming skills in the process. I’d consider that a win-win! The bigger takeaway was learning about all the random ways it’s now possible to make some money on the side. I’ve already seen many women try them out for themselves for added income. Love it!

WEEK 22: Wearing Braids

You guys, I love braids. But because I haven’t yet mastered all of the techniques (there are SO many types of braids these days!), I decided to embark on a week-long mission to sharpen my skillset. With expert tips from online tutorials (Brit + Co has a helpful braid how-to here!), I experimented with milk-maid braids, fish tails, dutch braids, and of course, the ever classic French braid. Weeks later and I’m still rocking a braid every few days, now with WAY more confidence. Here’s to switching up my hair game more!

WEEK 23: Going Vegetarian

Believe it or not, this Texas gal has considered converting to a veggie lifestyle before. So this challenge felt like the perfect time to officially try it! My thoughts? I had a travel-heavy week, which was incredibly frustrating for this challenge. Trying to find nutritious vegetarian meals in airports is near-impossible! You end up eating almonds or terrible salads. During other parts of the week, I leaned on lots of eggs, cheese, rice, and beans to get me through, which didn’t always feel super healthy. I also experienced a rather, um, unwanted side effect of intestinal gas, which I was reassured by all of you was perfectly normal during this new eating phase. (Still SO awkward.) All things said, I gained respect for all vegetarians out there who have to navigate their diets in a meat-heavy world. It isn’t easy, and it’s always uncomfortable being “that girl” asking for the substitutes. Veggie eaters, I feel you! (PS One of our editors captured her own foray into being vegetarian here that’s definitely worth watching!)

Have you been following along with my #GiveItAWeek challenges? Share your feedback with me @brit!

In 2019, I took a chance on fitness: I set out to try a different kind of fitness each week of the year. That's 52 different kinds of fitness. I was inspired by Brit + Co Founder and CEO Brit Morin and her #GiveItAWeek challenges. (You can check out Brit's full year of weekly challenges @brit on Instagram.)


I've been a runner for almost 10 years now. Being a runner is part of my identity, it's part of who I am. I can't tell you the number of times people have said to me, "I could never be a runner!!" And the number of times I've responded "Yes, you can!!"

Or, they'd say, "I hate running, but I want to be a runner!"

It hit me one day, when I was talking to someone who loved dance fitness as much as I loved running: there are SO MANY types of fitness out there. There are so many different ways to be active. And I wanted to try more of them.

That's what inspired #fitforsevens.

Below are some of the lessons learned during my 52 weeks of different kinds of fitness:

  1. There are so many ways to sweat and be active. I didn't even make it through my entire list of different kinds of fitness — which included way more than 52 — that I wanted to try!
  2. The fitness industry capitalizes on body shaming, insecurities and diet culture. Unfortunately the majority of the gyms or new workout regimens I tried had a weight loss focus. One trainer even asked me during an introductory assessment, "How long have you hated your body?"
  3. Fitness culture is real and can be hard to break into. It can take a couple visits to know if you fit with the community of a particular gym or fitness space. Be brave and be patient.
  4. You have to do it for you, not anyone else. When I would invite someone to join me on one of the weeks, often they wouldn't show up or would cancel right beforehand. I think that fitness is one of those things that people choose to bail on — it's just too much of a commitment for some — so you can't rely on other people to help you reach your goals. You have to do it for you.

My favorites workouts

A few of my favorites were honestly surprising to me! I did not expect to love axe throwing (Week 13) as much as I did. If you haven't tried it yet, you need to!! I also loved Bar Method (Week 6) and pilates (Week 39) — both were such different kinds of fitness and movement. I was so sore from Bar Method!

My all-time favorite week though was visiting a women-owned CrossFit gym (Week 42) that is new to Fresno/Clovis. It was so different than any other CrossFit gym I've ever visited and the environment that the coaches and members created made me feel at home instantly. It confirmed one of the biggest lessons that I learned all year: that environment and community matters so much to a fitness experience.

Least favorite workouts

I don't love big box gyms (the ones that just have rows and rows of equipment and machines). I need more structure than those spaces offer for me and I need a greater sense of community. The price point for these gyms usually make them more accessible but for me they don't provide the accountability and community that I want and need.

I also had a really disappointing experience at a boot camp gym where I experienced an unfortunate amount of body shaming and weight-loss-only focused goal setting. Fitness is not always about weight loss, and it was disheartening to see some gyms capitalize on body shaming as a marketing technique.

What I learned about my fitness language

I need community. I care much more about how a place makes me feel than the kind of workout that I'm getting. Ideally, you'll find a place or a kind of fitness that makes you feel both. Because I work from home, I appreciate the community that my gym now brings me. It helps me to have somewhere to go and something to schedule my days around.

Would I do #fitforsevens again?

Maybe someday, but not someday soon, haha. It was so fun and I'm so proud of myself for completing the challenge, but I'm ready to focus more on my fitness in CrossFit, swimming, biking and running. There are still so many kinds of fitness that I did not get to try though, so overall, I think this challenge encouraged me to be more adventurous with my fitness.

Looking ahead

As a long-time runner, I never thought I'd find another kind of fitness that I love as much as running. Running is still my greatest fitness love, but I learned that there are so many ways to move your body out there. My #fitforsevens challenge made me realize that I'm stronger than I think I am and inspired me to quit my full-time job to chase a huge dream: training for an Ironman!

THE LIST

Below are all of the 52 kinds of fitness that I tried. You can find videos and more @sweatytearsofjoy on my highlights:

1. Weighted vest workouts

2. Burpees and SUP

3. Yoga

4. CycleBar Fresno

5. Run 5 miles 5x

6. Bar Method

7. Fit Body Boot Camp

8. Blue Moon Yoga

9. Double Unders

10. EmPack

11. TRX Suspension Training

12. Biking

13. Axe Throwing

14. Hip Circle

15. Resistance Bands

16. Juggling and Lunastix

17. Plank

18. Old Town Yoga (online)

19. Old Town Yoga (class)

20. Weight Vest Running

21. Orange Theory Fitness

22. Rollerblading

23. Fitness Social - TRX focus

24. Fit Body Boot Camp

25. Aerial Yoga

26. Swimming

27. 9Round Fitness

28. Driving Range

29. Night Running

30. Stretching

31. Tai chi

32. Dance fitness

33. Esports

34. Hiking solo

35. Peloton

36. Garmin

37. Kettlebells

38. Trail running

39. Pilates

40. Pumpkin workout

41. High altitude running

42. Uncaged CrossFit

43. Fitness Social - Kettlebell focus

44. Park workouts

45. Tennis

46. Step aerobics

47. Body pump

48. Tabata fitness

49. Open-water swimming

50. Open gym

51. Fitness apps

52. MURPH/Hero workouts

I hope that you spend 2020 trying things that you're afraid to try. I hope that you try things that you might be bad at. And I hope you get sweaty.

You weren’t the only one tearing up during90-minute finale of The White Lotus. Season 3 of Mike White’s series has officially concluded, with viewers left shocked, heartbroken, and all-around emotional. And it turns out, the cast felt the same (warning:lots of spoilers ahead).

In preparation for the series' end, Max took over the Four Seasons Hotel in Westlake Village, California, to create a Thailand-inspired White Lotus wellness oasis. The retreat included cooking and mixology classes with Ketel One Vodka and Tanqueray Gin, meditation sessions, and a moving panel discussion (hosted by Queer Eye’s Tan France) with the ensemble after they, too, watched the finale for the first time.

During the cast’s Q&A, we got the tea on how Aimee Lou Wood truly felt about her character’s death, plus Patrick Schwarzenegger’s initial reaction to the explosive ending.

Scroll to see The White Lotuscast's reaction to that heartbreaking season 3 finale...

HBO

The White Lotus Cast's Reactions to Chelsea and Rick’s Death

As audience members know, Chelsea and Rick were the characters that met a gruesome end.

Wood said of her character’s death, “For about two weeks before we shot it, I felt super weird. It was this odd, ominous thing that was just hanging over us.” Her character is a casualty of an intense gunfight ignited by her boyfriend Rick (played by Walton Goggins), who attempted to save her by carrying her to safety. “And then it was the hottest day ever. Walton had to carry me so many times, and it was so hard.

In that time, Gaitok (Tayme Thapthimthong) achieves his vindication by shooting Rick in the back. “Chelsea doesn’t know what’s going to happen to her,” Wood said, adding that the scene “looked exactly how it felt, which was really strange.” There’s a final, dark shot of Chelsea dead, faced down in the pond and Rick faced up, mimicking a Yin and Yang symbol.

HBO

Meanwhile, Thapthimthong felt like his character’s actions were “justified.”

Thapthimthong said, “At first, I felt like, ‘I don’t want to shoot him in the back.’ I wish he would turn around and have a little gunfight with me so we can have a little action scene. But we had a discussion with Mike, and I remember he said, ‘Trust me,’ it will be justified. I feel like it really was.” Gaitok then goes on to receive the promotion he’s always wanted, so you can say things worked out for him.

HBO

Patrick Schwarzenegger, who arguably conveyed the biggest character arc in Saxon Ratliff, built a spiritual connection with Chelsea that translated IRL.

Schwarzenegger told France, “I knew something happened to Chelsea, but I didn’t know the extent of everything. It’s this really surreal weird feeling right now of just spending so much time with all of these cast members and then watching someone die. I don’t know how to describe it. You feel like something really happened.” We did too, Patrick, we did too.

As Aimee Lou Wood said on the panel, “There’s a lot in that episode that made me f---ing sob.” And we couldn’t think of a more perfect way to describe the series ending.

Other Can’t Miss Cast Quotes From The 'The White Lotus' Finale Panel:

HBO

Patrick Schwarzenegger (Saxon Ratliff)

“I think once it happened with Chelsea, I started crying in the theater. I looked over at Charlotte [Le Bon] — it was an emotional moment.”

HBO

Sarah Catherine Cook (Piper Ratliff)

“I was like, ‘Wow everyone in this episode really came to some enlightenment, and she’s trying to get enlightened the whole time.’ Then she’s like, ‘No, I guess I’m spoiled.’ I love that.”

HBO

Sam Nivola (Lochlan Ratliff)

“I've never died in anything before. It was fun to get to do that.”

HBO

Leslie Bibb (Kate Bohr)

“I remember when we were filming because the girls were the first ones to shoot our villa, and we all read the scripts and we were like, ‘Oh, our storyline is boring’....I don't think, honestly, we thought that it was going to take off the way it is.”

HBO

Nicholas Duvernay (Zion Lindsey)

“Finally getting even just a little bit of justice for Tanya was amazing. Amazing to finally, over three seasons, give her that closure, essentially."

HBO

Jon Gries (Greg Hunt)

“I think Season 2 surprised me more somehow. But I guess the enormity of the wealth surprised me.”

HBO

Jason Isaacs (Timothy Ratliff)

“I look at my kids I love in real life, these three, and I love them on screen as well. I think there’s more to them. I doubted them, and they will be fine. They just won’t be fine in gigantic houses with huge Tesla trucks.”

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At Brit + Co, we believe that courage, curiosity, creativity, and confidence are contagious. The more we encourage these qualities in women, the more empowered they’ll feel to empower other women, and the better the world will be. We celebrate all folks from all walks of life, and representation is important to us. That’s why we’re reaching out to you, our community, in search of diverse faces that represent our audience and the world. If you or someone you know is interested in joining our modeling team, we’re holding an open casting call! Join us:

WHEN: Friday, March 29, from 11am-3pm and

Saturday, March 30, from 10am-2pm

WHERE:Brit + Co Headquarters, 550 Sutter Street, San Francisco, CA 94102

WHO: We are looking for all different types of people! Bring your moms, your pals, your partners, and your kiddos!

(Local to Bay Area only)

HOW: Please fill out this questionnaire!

EXPECT: To spend about an hour of your time.

We can't wait to meet you!

Hailee Steinfeld is no stranger to stealing scenes in movies, but her latest role in Ryan Coogler's Sinners is full of sexy and horrifying moments that'll leave audiences begging for more. Based on clips floating around the internet, the historical horror is set to provide a stage for Hailee's bewitching performance. Perhaps what makes us even more intrigued is how delighted the True Grit actress is about playing a character that'll have viewers talking long after the credits roll.

Scroll to see how Hailee Steinfeld feels about Sinners and learn more about the electrifying new movie!

What is 'Sinners' about?

Warner Bros. Pictures

When twin brothers Smoke and Stack return home for a new beginning, they're initially met with welcome arms. But as daylight turns to dusk and gives way to nightfall, unspeakable horrors expose themselves to the townspeople. Evil not only consumes everything in its path, it also changes Smoke and Stack in ways they could've never prepared for.

It's set in the 1930s South which means we'll get dialect, fashion, music, and more themes from that time period.

Who's Hailee Steinfeld starring as?

Warner Bros. Pictures

Hailee Steinfeld will be starring as Mary, the love interest of Stack. Since not much is known about her outside of that, we're assuming their romance is forbidden. What we do know is Hailee's a fan of her character and the overall themes of Sinners.

According to PEOPLE, the actress shared more of her thoughts in her newsletter Beau Society March 28. She wrote, "...This role is far removed from what I've done, but that's part of what drew me to it! I feel like I'm stepping into my own more and more as I get older, and this role mirrors that."

She also shared that it didn't take much for her to be a part of Sinners. "The minute I heard Ryan Coogler, I was in. Then I read his script and was like, 'Holy s---, this feels like a massive undertaking.' The story is so complex and layered," calling herself "fortunate and honored to even be remotely considered." So, how does Hailee Steinfeld feel about Sinners as a whole?

She says it's "thrilling and sexy and daring and dangerous — with bold representations."

Who else is starring in 'Sinners?'

Warner Bros. Pictures

Besides Hailee Steinfeld, Sinners has a robust cast that'll make the storyline even more rousing. In no particular order, viewers will see:

  • Michael B. Jordan as Smoke/Stack
  • Jack O'Connell as Remmick
  • Omar Benson Miller as Cornbread
  • Li Jun Li as Grace
  • Jayme Lawson as Pearline
  • Wunmi Mosaku as Annie
  • Delroy Lindo as Delta Slim
  • Lola Kirke as Joan
  • Miles Caton as Sammy

When can I watch 'Sinners?'

Warner Bros. Pictures

The Sinners movie debuts April 18, 2025, so start planning your trip to your local theater ASAP!

Watch The Official Trailer For 'Sinners'

www.youtube.com

- YouTube

Trigger warning: There's a few jump scares in the Sinners movie trailer that feature bloody moments.

We think the tagline for the film says it best: "You keep dancing with the devil, one day he’s gonna follow you home," (via Warner Bros. Pictures).

Are you ready to see Hailee Steinfeld take on a new daring role in the Sinners movie? Share your thoughts on Facebook!

Spring is finally doing its thing, and one of our most favorite parts of the weather warming up is all the fun foods we can snack on outside, bring to backyard potlucks, and prep for picnics. Luckily, Aldi’s aisles are stuffed with exciting (and affordable!) finds that’ll definitely elevate your springtime grocery game this year.

From sweet snacks (hello, sandwich cookies and Easter candy) to savory dinner bites (mmm, frozen pizza), these 10 new Aldi offerings are not to be missed this April. Plenty of ‘em are limited-time teams, too, so make sure to head to your closest Aldi store ASAP!

Scroll on for the best Aldi finds under $10 to add to your cart this April!

Aldi

Bake Shop Carrot Cake Sandwich Cookies

Oh em gee. These soft sandwich cookies remind us exactly of the Trader Joe's gingerbread dessert that went viral last year, but spring-ified – and we need 3 packs right now. Stuffed with a generous amount of cream cheese filling, the two chewy carrot cake-flavored cookies in this find suit it up to be the perfect spring snack for Easter Sunday and beyond. Plus, it's just $5 for a dozen!

Aldi

Merci European Chocolate Easter Assortment

Fancy European chocolates for Easter? Well, duh! This medley of individually-wrapped, stick-shaped chocolates from Merci highlight delicious flavors like coffee and cream, hazelnut almond, marzipan, and more for a nice lil' treat. Shop it for just $6!

Aldi

Specially Selected Mac & Cheese Pesto Pasta

While your typical frozen mac can be pretty basic, this $2.45 pesto-infused option in Aldi's frozen meal section is anything but. It highlights the luxe flavor notes of garlic and basil, alongside plenty of melty cheese. You can also find these shells in other varieties like Truffle Porcini Mushroom and Smoked Gouda this spring – yum!

Aldi

Emporium Selection Blueberry Vanilla Goat Cheese

It's giving bougie. It's giving decadent. It's giving unique! This $4 log of goat cheese is marinated in a wonderful blueberry-vanilla coating that lends it to a sweeter flavor – one that pairs extremely well with more savory crackers and salty prosciutto (or any other charcuterie meat you adore) for spring snackin'.

Aldi

Fremont Fish Market Oven Crispy Popcorn Shrimp

The fact that this crispy popcorn shrimp can be ready to eat within literal minutes already has us sold, but the fact that it's also only $6 really seals the deal. This heat-and-eat Aldi find would be perfect for a little outdoor at-home happy hour moment this spring, served alongside some homemade tartar sauce and a squeeze of fresh lemon. We're drooling already!

Aldi

Breakfast Best Protein Buttermilk & Vanilla Waffles

You can mention protein once in conversation, and we're going crazy. That's why these new $4 protein-packed frozen waffles from Aldi have us reeling! One serving delivers 12 grams of protein in the form of a deliciously sweet waffle that you could easily enjoy for breakfast or as a stunning midnight snack to hit your personal protein goals!

Aldi

Bake Shop Banana Nut Muffins

Ugh, we are in dire need for a muffin right now. We'll definitely be running to Aldi as soon as humanly possible to add this $4 quartet of banana nut muffins to our cart! Big and bodacious, each one packs in a moist muffin base dotted with flavors of good ol' 'nana and some walnuts for crunch.

Aldi

Mama Cozzi's Thin & Crispy Spinach & Feta Pizza

This $5 find has spinach on it, so it's gotta be healthy, right?! Jokes aside, this frozen pizza topped with greens and feta is perfect for a quick lunch or dinner when you just can't stand to cook anything super intricate this spring. It definitely delivers on seasonal flavors, too, drenched in a lighter white garlic sauce in place of the more-expected marinara.

Aldi

Breakfast Best Chocolate Hazelnut Mini Stuffed Pancakes

Shut up. Shut up! Stuffed pancakes?! Aldi, you're killing it. These $4 mini-sized pancakes are filled with a chocolate-hazelnut spread – reminiscent of your classic Nutella – that qualifies them as a tasty bite for both breakfast and dessert.

Aldi

Sundae Shoppe Dairy Free Lemon Blueberry Sorbet

Lemon and blueberry is a stunning flavor combo come springtime, and the fact that it comes ready to eat in a refreshing sorbet form for $4 from Aldi is just insane. We'll be stocking up to enjoy this one all season long!

Subscribe to our newsletter to discover more fun grocery finds from Aldi!