Your Hot Chocolate Needs a Red Velvet Upgrade

Lindsay Saito
Dec 06, 2016

As you know, it’s the most wonderful time of year thanks to the holiday tunes, comfy sweaters, lights galore and sweet treats. So, what better way to welcome winter than with a cup of tasty hot chocolate. To start this season right, we teamed up with Hershey to bring you a fun, new twist to this classic drink with our Red Velvet Hot Chocolate recipe. This is one of the most AMAZING dessert hybrids because it combines two of our favorite things AND you can drink it. We have no doubt that you’ll want to sip on this creamy, chocolate-y and divine treat all winter long.

With all the baking and gift making to do over the holidays, Hershey is always there to serve up that chocolate goodness. Enjoy this tasty cocoa with a loved one near an open fire OR serve it with a fully loaded hot chocolate bar at your next holiday gathering. Read on to get more deets on how to serve up this toasty cup of cocoa.

HERSHEY’S Red Velvet Hot Chocolate With Salted Caramel Marshmallows

Ingredients (Makes 2 cups):

  • 1/2 cup HERSHEY’S Kitchens Sea Salt Caramel Chips
  • 1 teaspoon HERSHEY’S Kitchens SPECIAL DARK Cocoa
  • 1 cup HERSHEY’S Kitchens Premier White Chips
  • 1 cups milk
  • 1 cup half and half
  • 2 teaspoons red food color
  • 8 drops blue food color
  • 12 drops yellow food color
  • small marshmallows
  • 1 Tablespoon coconut oil

Instructions:

  1. Melt the HERSHEY’S Kitchens Premier White Chips in a saucepan with the milk and half and half.
  2. Add 1 teaspoon of HERSHEY’S SPECIAL DARK Cocoa and whisk over medium heat. Bring to a boil and then, simmer.
  3. Add food coloring and mix.
  4. Melt ½ cup of HERSHEY’S Kitchens Sea Salt Caramel Chips with the coconut oil in a microwave for about 30-60 seconds.
  5. Serve your red velvet hot chocolate in a glass mug and top with a layer of marshmallows. Pour the melted caramel on top. Toast with a friend and enjoy!

First, collect your ingredients. BTW, we LOVE the new HERSHEY’S Kitchens Sea Salt Caramel Chips.

Make the hot chocolate base by melting the HERSHEY’S Kitchens Premier White Chips with the milk and half and half.

Add in the HERSHEY’S SPECIAL DARK Cocoa for a little extra flavor. Bring to a boil and then, let simmer.

Next, add the red velvet flair! Mix in the food coloring for a nice, deep red color.

Melt the HERSHEY’S Kitchens Sea Salt Caramel Chips with the coconut oil in the microwave. Heat for 30-60 seconds in 30-second intervals and stir.

Serve your red velvet hot chocolate in a mug of choice (we prefer glass so you can really see the color!). Top with a generous layer of marshmallows and drizzle the melted Sea Salt Caramel on top. It’s ready to serve!

Toast with a friend and enjoy!

Look at that red velvet dream. It’s perfection!

Seriously, we can’t get enough of these Sea Salt Caramel Chips. We want to use them for everything. They’re perfect for the holidays!

What do you drink to stay warm this holiday season? Share your favorite seasonal drink with us by tagging @BritandCo on Instagram.

Video: Alonna Morrison, Katie Booker + Ryan Shelley

Production + Styling: Alonna Morrison + Katie Booker

Photography: Chris Andre

7 Spring 2025 Beauty Trends To Glow All Season

City Beauty
beauty products

Spring 2025 beauty is all about bold yet wearable, polished yet playful looks. From the return of the lip liner to fresh, nature-inspired nail and eye colors, this season’s trends blend nostalgia with modern minimalism. Expect soft, dramatic eyes, skincare-infused makeup, and lip liner that enhances without overpowering. These trends are all about embracing your natural features in an elevated, beautiful way so you glow, and look your best, all season.

Here are spring 2025 beauty trends to try this season.

City Lips® Defining Liner

Liner Revival

The lip liner trend for spring 2025 embraces bold definition with a fresh, modern twist. This season, it's about pairing rosy nudes with soft, lighter lip colors and rich, warm tones with deep browns and cherry reds for a sculpted, high-impact look. City Lips Defining Liner is our favorite new lip liner. It prevents color fading, smudging, and feathering, so you can keep your look intact all day or night! It’s available in two pretty shades: Blush, a soft, rosy nude that pairs beautifully with pink hues and lighter lip colors, and Willow, a rich, warm-toned nude that complements brown tones and deeper shades.

City Beauty

Multitasking Makeup

The trend toward skincare-infused makeup is making your beauty routine work harder with nourishing ingredients. City Lips Defining Liner features vitamin E, helping to keep the lip line smooth while subtly enhancing its shape for a fuller, more defined look. For the ultimate plump and polish, pair the pigmented liner with City Lips Plumping Gloss — a duo that gives you a naturally voluminous pout, plus extra hydration.

Shutterstock

Pastel Pop

From butter yellow to sage green, this season’s nail trends are embracing soft, yet statement-making hues that bring a fresh pop of color. Alongside these chic shades, almond-shaped nails are offering a sleek, elegant look that flatters your mani aesthetic.

Monserrat Tosca | Dupe

'90s Nostalgia

A softer, smudged take on the classic cat-eye is making waves, with eyeliner staging a bold comeback in full, effortless sweeps. Blue eyeshadow is also back and better. Expect a nod to cool-toned, ’90s grunge eyes, a trend that lends itself to easy, minimalist lines, like a single, clean swipe of liner, proving that less can truly be more.

Claire Craig | Dupe

Lobs, Bobs & Natural Manes

Haircut season is in full swing, and lighter, fuss-free bobs at all above-shoulder lengths, plus natural curls, are making their way in and out of salons for spring. We couldn't be happier for the low-maintenance 'dos!

Katie Mansfield | Dupe

Satin Skin

This understated look highlights healthy, natural skin with a soft-matte finish — radiant, yet never flat or overly glossy.

City Beauty

Glossy lips, instead, shine this season. Upgrade your lip routine this spring with City Beauty’s new City Lips Defining Liner and lip glosses for a refreshed look.

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8 "Old School" Western Movies Every '1923' Fan Needs To Watch

No films today can quite measure up to old school Western movies, which transport audiences back to a time of dusty plains, rugged landscapes, and larger-than-life heroes.

These timeless classics, which were often set in the wild frontier of the American West, have helped shape much of modern filmmaking and continue to influence storytelling today.

That's why old school Western movies are more than just a genre; they're a piece of Hollywood history. Here are eight of the most iconic films that still deserve to be rewatched today.

Scroll to see all the old school Western movies you should definitely watch!

Stanley Cramer Productions

1. High Noon (1952)

High Noon, which came out in 1952, depicted themes of duty, loneliness, and moral courage. It followed lawman Will Kane, played by Gary Cooper, who intends to retire and start a new life after tying the knot with his wife, Amy.

However, his plans are derailed when he learns that a dangerous outlaw named Frank Miller is returning to town to get revenge. Will has to decide whether to flee or face Frank himself.

The movie builds a sense of urgency and isolation, as well as provides commentary on the nature of heroism, showing how even people who claim they stand for justice can fold when confronted with personal risk.

Warner Brothers Entertainment

2. The Treasure of the Sierra Madre (1948)

In 1948, The Treasure of the Sierra Madre followed two down-on-their-luck oil workers, Dobbs and Curtin, who team up with a miner named Howard to search for gold in the Sierra Madre mountains. Yet, after they literally strike gold, paranoia creeps in, and the group's bond starts to unravel.

While this film is a classic Western, it also doubles as a psychological thriller and features a lot of unexpected twists that will capture the attention of even modern viewers.

20th Century Studios

3. Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969)

Paul Newman plays Butch Cassidy in Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, the leader of a group of bank robbers. Meanwhile, the Sundance Kid, portrayed by Robert Redford, is Butch's loyal partner, and together, their lives get tougher as banks become increasingly harder to rob.

So, they turn to train heists, but even though the new scheme is successful at first, it soon leads to deadly consequences. They become the most wanted men in the West and get caught up in thrilling escapes and shootouts.

20th Century Fox

4. The Gunfighter (1950)

Released in 1950, The Gunfighter provided a fresh take on the classic Western hero. Gregory Peck starred as Jimmy Ringo, a notorious gunfighter who returned to the town of Cayenne to reconnect with his estranged wife and son.

But since his reputation precedes him, Ringo finds himself facing some people who want revenge and others who wish to make a name for themselves by killing him.

The plotline offers a more somber view of the consequences of being a gunfighter, which challenges the glorified image of the Western hero.

United Artists

5. Stagecoach (1939)

Stagecoach follows a group of passengers aboard a stagecoach, one of whom is Ringo Kid, played by John Wayne. Ringo is an escaped convict who wants revenge for the murders of his family members.

It's true that the movie's portrayal of Native Americans is outdated today. Nonetheless, Stagecoach marked a significant moment in John Wayne's career and remains a popular favorite among Western enthusiasts.

Paramount Pictures

6. Shane (1953)

Shane tells the story of a mysterious drifter named Shane, played by Alan Ladd, who gets involved with two homesteaders, Joe and Marian, as they face harassment from a land developer. After the developer's intimidation tactics get more violent, Shane decides to stay with Joe and Marian's family to protect them.

This film defined the archetype of a strong anti-hero, with a main conflict of violence versus the desire for peace. It also has beautiful cinematography.

United Artists

7. The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly (1966)

Unfolding against the backdrop of the American Civil War, The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly follows three men who get tied up in a race to discover $200,000 buried in gold.

A bounty hunter, a convict, and a mercenary each hold a piece of the puzzle, but none of them has all the information they need to pinpoint the treasure. So, despite their ruthlessness, there are some moments of cooperation that arise out of necessity and set the stage for a showdown.

Clint Eastwood, who portrays the bounty hunter, delivered a poignant performance, as did Eli Wallach and Lee Van Cleef.

20th Century Fox

8. My Darling Clementine (1946)

Finally, My Darling Clementine, directed by John Ford, portrays the famous events surrounding the O.K. Corral shootout. It centers on Wyatt Earp, played by Henry Fonda, who becomes the Marshal after the brutal killing of his younger brother James.

Spoiler alert: Wyatt ultimately learns that one of the Clanton brothers was responsible for James' death. This leads to the legendary gunfight at the O.K. Corral.

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5 Pro Tips for Surviving The Small Business Lulls

Verizon Small Business Digital Ready Program
verizon small business program

In our Take 5 series, sponsored by Verizon, we ask women in business about unexpected challenges, their inspirations, recent wins, and how the free Verizon Small Business Digital Ready Program has helped propel their business forward.


In this segment, Paige Wiese, founder & CEO of Tree Ring Digital in Denver, CO, walks us through some of the ways she encourages clients to double down on marketing when business is slow. Paige built her business as a solopreneur graphic designer to a team of 15, helping clients with SEO, online ads, and social media management. Here’s her Take 5, plus more tips for surviving the business lulls below!

What's a recent small win for you and your business?

Paige: A recent small win has been just seeing business pick up again. I am seeing businesses start to engage with their marketing efforts and really trying to get to the root of why their website might be underperforming. We look at what they can be doing to see their money actually go to a place that it should be going.

What's a big piece of advice that you give to your clients?

Paige: A lot of them want to back off anytime there's a little bit of scarcity. I really think that's the time to double down, whether it be your digital presence, your website, or just adjusting how you're spending your money. But instead of just saying, ‘Hey, we're going to stop [investing in marketing],’ ask ‘How do we double down in the correct way and make sure we're seeing measurable results out of it?’ I do it myself anytime business is a little slow. I think we have to either change or we need to be doubling down. A lot of clients come to us when the pipeline is already dry and money is tight and they’re hoping for a quick fix. Marketing, unfortunately, isn't a quick fix.

See more tips for surviving business lulls below!

What's an unexpected business challenge you’ve faced and how did you overcome it?

Paige: I think one of the bigger challenges that we've run into has been more on the employee side, some of the retention or the hiccups that come along the way and then just learning from them. So how can we be a better, stronger company coming out of this and how do we use it as a growing opportunity?

How has the Verizon Small Business program helped propel your business forward?

Paige: I learned about the Verizon Small Business Digital Ready program through the National LGBT Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC). It's a free resource that’s self-paced and very digestible. The variety of topics it covers is a large gamut for any size business. The Selling with Storytelling course, especially, was really valuable to me, just really getting your messaging out there. I laugh that I sometimes enjoy the marketing ones a little bit more just because it is a refresher or another take on how we do this.

Thanks Paige!

Here Are More B+C Tips For Surviving The Small Business Lulls

Photo by Kampus Production

  1. Refine Your Strategy
    • Review your business plan and goals. Are you on track? What can be improved?
    • Analyze customer feedback and sales data to spot trends and areas where you can grow.
  2. Boost Your Marketing Efforts
    • Refresh your website or social media profiles. Verizon Small Business Digital Ready’s free Put Your Website to Work course will help you get started with best practices for building your business website.
    • Create engaging content through blogs, videos, and newsletters. Verizon’s free Creating Compelling Content course can help you create consistent, quality content for your target customers.
    • Offer promotions or limited-time discounts to attract new customers.
  3. Invest in Learning
    • Take an online course related to your industry, like Verizon’s free Planning for the Unexpected course for building resiliency in your business.
    • Stay updated on industry trends and innovations.
    • Engage with customers too. Send personalized emails to loyal customers or clients. Ask for reviews!
  4. Improve Your Processes
    • Streamline operations or explore new tools to increase your efficiency.
    • Organize your workspace and declutter your digital files.
  5. Self-Care and Rest
    • Take advantage of the slower pace to recharge. A refreshed mindset is exactly what you need to bring forth fresh ideas!

Learn more about the free Verizon Small Business Digital Ready Program and Tree Ring Digital.

Illustration by Daniela Jordan-Villaveces.

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Everyone's "Crying" Over This 'The Summer I Turned Pretty' Ending Theory: "I'll Never Get Over It"

The Summer I Turned Pretty fans, we finally have an update on our favorite show! Prime Video just announced that season 3, starring Lola Tung, Christopher Briney, and Gavin Casalegno will be coming in July — and that this season (which has 3 extra episodes, FYI!) will be the show's final season. But while fans weren't too surprised by the announcement (Jenny Han only wrote three books, after all), there's one detail of the official season 3 poster that has TV fans in a tizzy.

Keep reading for a breakdown of the craziest The Summer I Turned Pretty season 3 theory yet — and don't forget to check out the first look images!

'The Summer I Turned Pretty' fans can't wait to return to Cousins

The official TSITP account posted the poster for season 3 on March 7, confirming the next episodes were dropping in July. "Summer is just a season away," the caption reads. "The Summer I Turned Pretty Season 3 premieres this July on Prime Video."

And fans immediately flooded the comments cheering for Team Conrad or Team Jeremiah. While some users admitted they were already "crying," others range from "Prepares to defend Conrad for one last summer" to "WHERE ARE ALL THE JELLY SUPPORTERS COME ON GUYS WE NEED TO STAND UP FOR WHATS RIGHT." And even a very passionate, "If she doesn’t end up with Conrad this will go down as the worst show ever because I’LL NEVER GET OVER IT."

Even Spotify's Instagram picked a side by commenting, "team conrad we have WAITED for this day."

But some eagle-eyed fans picked up on one detail about the poster that's different than season 1 and 2: Belly's by herself.

@thesummeriturnedpretty

We'll always have summer ☀️

♬ original sound - the summer i turned pretty

While the poster for The Summer I Turned Pretty season 1 features Belly, Conrad, and Jeremiah with the summer house in the background, and the main poster for season 2 features the trio sitting on the beach, The Summer I Turned Pretty season 3 poster features Belly standing by herself in front of a bush of hydrangeas. Because, y'all, Belly is in bloom.

She's not the same girl she was at the start of the series — and even if she still has a ton of questions about life (don't we all?) she has way more confidence. She's not lost.

And could the fact Belly stands alone on the poster be a clue to the end of the series? "this poster screams belly choosing herself in the end and I’m all here for it!" one X user tweeted.

@_cooper_koch_ The summer I turned pretty season 3 Belly and Conrad 😍 #foryou#pourtoi#fyp#edit#tiktok#viral#thesummeriturnedpretty#belly#conradfisher @Christopher Briney ♬ Gorgeous - Taylor Swift

Although I will point out Belly's yellow dress actually made its rounds on social media last year when videos of Lola Tung and Christopher Briney filming together went viral. So we'll have to tune in this July to figure out who Belly ends up with for sure ;).

Meet The Summer I Turned Pretty Season 3 Cast before it premieres on Prime Video in July 2025!

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The Beatles Movies Cast Is Finally Here!

Austin Butler as Elvis truly changed Hollywood, because now, not only are we getting Timothée Chalamet as Bob Dylan and Selena Gomez as Linda Rondstat, but Paul Mescal is also one of the actors leading the upcoming biopics about The Beatles. Each movie, from director Sam Mendes, will focus on a different member of the band — and their unique points of view — but will intersect to “tell the astonishing story of the greatest band in history,” per Variety. And it'll be “the first binge-able theatrical experience,” according to Sony's Tom Rothman. But the best news is that we finally just got the full cast.

Here's everything you need to know about Sam Mendes' Beatles movies, starring Paul Mescal, Harris Dickinson, Barry Keoghan, and Joseph Quinn.

Who is playing John Lennon in The Beatles movie?

Eric Charbonneau/Sony Pictures via Getty Images

John Lennon will be played by Harris Dickinson in the new movies about The Beatles! Director Sam Mendes confirmed the casts for his Beatles biopics at CinemaCon 2025. “We’re not just making one film about the Beatles — we’re making four,” Sam said at the convention. “Perhaps this is a chance to understand them a little more deeply.”

Here's the full cast:

  • Harris Dickinson as John Lennon: The Beatles' founder and one of the lead vocalists.
  • Paul Mescal as Paul McCartney: pianist, and one of the lead songwriters and singers for The Beatles.
  • Barry Keoghan as Ringo Starr: The Beatles' drummer.
  • Joseph Quinn as George Harrison: lead guitarist of The Beatles.

Is there a new Beatles movie coming out?

Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images

Yes, director Sam Mendes is developing four movies about The Beatles — one for each member of the band. Each individual movie will tell a story from the perspective of one member (including Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, John Lennon, and George Harrison).

“I’m honored to be telling the story of the greatest rock band of all time, and excited to challenge the notion of what constitutes a trip to the movies,” Sam Mendes told Variety.

How many Beatles films are there?

Stewart Cook/Sony Pictures via Getty Images

We're going to be getting four new Beatles films from Sam Mendes and Sony, which are currently slated for April 2028. But you can actually see the real members of The Beatles in a few movies! The band appeared in the following movies:

  • A Hard Day's Night (1964)
    • Help! (1965)
      • Magical Mystery Tour (1967)
        • Yellow Submarine (1968)
          • Let It Be (1970)

          Where can I watch the new Beatles biopics?

          Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images

          Each of the four movies will be released in theaters, thanks to Sony Pictures Entertainment, and they're currently scheduled for April 2028.

          “You have to match the boldness of the idea with a bold release strategy,” Sony Pictures chief Tom Rothman told The Hollywood Reporter. “There hasn’t been an enterprise like this before, and you can’t think about it in traditional releasing terms.”

          Who is playing Paul McCartney in The Beatles biopic?

          Arturo Holmes/Getty Images

          Paul Mescal is playing Paul McCartney in the new Beatles movies, and during Gladiator 2 director Ridley Scott actually revealed the casting last year! When asked if Paul Mescal was starring in his next film The Dog Stars, Ridley told filmmaker Christopher Nolan, “Yes. Maybe. Paul is actually stacked up, doing the Beatles next. So I may have to let him go.”

          While Paul Mescal's involvement in Sony's upcoming Beatle biopic quartet (say that five times fast) has been around the rumor mill, the news is finally confirmed by the movie studio.

          Check out I'm Drooling Over Jeremy Allen White's First Look As Bruce Springsteen for more biopic movie goodness.

          This post has been updated.

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